I admit, this trailer has been floating around online for a while now, but I really do need to post it, considering the focus of TomJupiter includes both films AND dinosaurs!
First up, check out the brilliant poster.
And now, the trailer…
King of Devil’s Island is essentially a prison movie, starring the wonderful Stellen Skarsgard as the Governor. However, due to some great touches to the script and performances the film manages to rise above so many others in this genre.
The build of tension is superbly done, and it is beautifully shot throughout.
I really, really liked it. I wrote a full review of King of Devil’s Island for CinetalkTV.
The next release from Picturehouse Entertainment looks pretty exciting. Electrick Children seems to be an incredibly hip road trip / self discovery type of movie. The film is playing at the East End Film Festival. Here’s the trailer for you:
It’s not long until Terracotta’s Hong Kong 15 festival is underway, celebrating the fifteenth anniversary of Hong Kong being handed back to China. This, of course, makes me feel a little old (Was it really fifteen years ago?).
Below is a list of the films playing, in date order and with the start times. I hope to be attending a few, so expect reviews for TomJupiter and Cinetalk to follow at some point.
The festival is taking place at the Odeon, Covent Garden from 3-14 July. I’m particularly excited to see A Simple Life, as I have been informed by someone I greatly respect that it is one of the best films she saw last year!
Click on the film titles for more info and trailers on the official site, and you can book tickets here.
A SIMPLE LIFE
Monday 2 July, 7.00
INFERNAL AFFAIRS
Tuesday 3 July, 6.15
WHITE VENGEANCE
Wednesday 4 July, 6.15
THE DETECTIVE 2
Thursday 5 July, 6.15
MADE IN HONG KONG
Friday 6 July, 7.15
EAST MEETS WEST
Saturday 7 July, 2.15
THE 36th CHAMBER OF SHAOLIN
Saturday 7 July, 6.15
ONE-ARMED SWORDSMAN
Saturday 7 July, 8.45
SWORDSMEN
Sunday 8 July, 2.15
BIG BLUE LAKE
Monday 9 July, 6.15
WHEN BECKHAM MET OWEN
Tuesday 10 July, 6.15
SPARROW
Wednesday 11 July, 6.15
THE BOUNTY
Thursday 12 July, 6.15
DREAM HOME
Friday 13 July, 8.45
LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLE
Saturday 14 July, 6.30
A couple of reviews have gone up over at Cinetalk.
Chernobyl Diaries, a horror in which a group of young holidaymakers find more than they bargained for in the ruins around Chernobyl.
Kosmos, in which a strange figure turns up at a small town, possibly with the power to heal.
Dinosaurs, Herzog and magic mushrooms…
We played Dinotasia for only a week at the Gate Cinema, and I didn’t get a chance to see it until Thursday, the last day of screening. (Cinemas work on a Fri-Thu week). Hence, I didn’t bother reviewing it at the time. However, it’s such a niche film that I realised I was doing it a disservice by ignoring it!
Dinotasia is a weird film. It was billed as a dino-documentary narrated by Werner Herzog, but it isn’t really. It’s a series of shorts, all starring different dinosaurs going about their daily lives, but vaguely anthropomorphised so that stories can be told. Battling T-Rex’s, who are out for revenge, a sauropod getting high on magic mushrooms, giant deadly frogs… Between each short, Herzog narrates. He doesn’t get a lot of time, so he has managed to squeeze ‘extra Herzog’ into each line he has. It is brilliant.
Although the science behind the film is relatively sound (not just in my opinion, but that of a palaeontologist friend also) this is not a documentary and it isn’t out to teach us anything new. If you’re after depth and learning, then you’re better off visiting the Natural History Museum. It is also not a film for young children, as it’s fairly violent in places, and includes some dino-sex.
Dinotasia is, essentially, a late-night beer film for people like me. I am the niche audience, and I loved it. (The film should have been sold with a great B-Movie poster: SEE Dinosaurs fight, love and Get High! SEE giant deadly frogs! HEAR Werner Herzog!)
The film is unlikely to be seen a great deal in cinemas, but if a screening does come up I recommend the film. Go in ready to laugh, and you’ll have a great time.
Some reviews…
I spent three days enjoying some great science-fiction and fantasy films at the festival. It was great fun, and I met some lovely people.
The first of my reviews have been published at Cinetalk.
CYCLE
SOL
ZERO ONE
I also saw the fantastic doc BEING ELMO, which I reviewed too. It’s being distributed by Dogwoof, who are working with the Gate Cinema on a great season of docs this May.
Learn interesting stuff at a cinema
I’ve been lucky enough to get involved in the Saurian Saturday project, which is taking place at Hackney Picturehouse at the end of June.
Palaeontologist Dr David Hone (who is a very nice man, and has a wonderful blog) will take you through the history of Dino-discoveries using clips of films (both true classics and best-forgotten B-movies.) We’ll be looking at everything from Willis O’brien’s take on the animals of KING KONG, via Harryhausen, the rubber suits of GODZILLA, the advent of CGI in JURASSIC PARK, and much much more. Each tells a story of science and public perception of Dinosaurs over more than a century.
There is a screening of the original KING KONG included (Or, you can book just for the film). Following the end of the day-course, there is also a screening of JURASSIC PARK. This is only £5 for attendees. (Or can be booked separately.)
What’s not to love?
Find out more and book HERE.
Here are some updated links to a few reviews I’ve written for Cinetalk.tv:
AVENGERS ASSEMBLE
BATTLESHIP
BREATHING
And a review of A THOUSAND KISSES DEEP for Starburst Magazine.
I went and saw Ghost Rider 2
I do love Nic Cage. His very own brand of awesomeness is really addictive to watch. This is why I decided to go and boil my own eyeballs in the flaming depths of Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance.
Was it good?
No.
Did I enjoy it?
Go read my review for Cinetalk to find out!
