ss336
Joined Aug 2006
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ss336's rating
Reviews6
ss336's rating
I think I'll remember most of the scenes in this movie. It was extremely memorable. It was also skillful and clever. However, I'm surprised by all of the negative feedback towards it. I can only imagine that the reason it wasn't appreciated was that it's a Tarantino-style movie, and most people, to this day, don't 'get' Tarantino.
To put it simply, Tarantino established a movie genre of his own, by making **movies about other movies**. Every scene references another, in a completely different movie. All of his references are from popular culture. The problem is that most people don't have even 5% of his movie knowledge, and are unsympathetic and lack understanding regarding his personal psychological issues, which also, always, find expression in his movies.
While this movie wasn't directed by Tarantino, it's still firmly positioned in, and faithful to, the Tarantino style. For example, the scene where Leonor Varela tries to seduce the Pistolero Presidente across a snooker table, in a hallway, while giving him 'prophecies'. This is basically an allusion to a scene in the original Conan the Barbarian, but if you weren't aware of this context it would just strike you as lascivious, pointless lewdness (which, incidentally, is a popular myth or urban legend in its own right, but that's another matter)...
What is this movie about? Again, if you watch this movie and expect to find things from the real world as opposed to a collection of homages and references to the yesteryear's classic cinema, you'll be disappointed. But if you watch it as it was intended - a piece of popular, entertaining art - you'll get the picture. It belongs to the Alexandre Dumas camp of enlightened liberty of consciousness. In short, it's about the romance of freedom. Even down to the arrow-in-the-chest scene, the characters are bandits cast in an exotic frame a la Dumas... I won't spoil it but you will need to have done some reading and/or movie watching before approaching this one.
To put it simply, Tarantino established a movie genre of his own, by making **movies about other movies**. Every scene references another, in a completely different movie. All of his references are from popular culture. The problem is that most people don't have even 5% of his movie knowledge, and are unsympathetic and lack understanding regarding his personal psychological issues, which also, always, find expression in his movies.
While this movie wasn't directed by Tarantino, it's still firmly positioned in, and faithful to, the Tarantino style. For example, the scene where Leonor Varela tries to seduce the Pistolero Presidente across a snooker table, in a hallway, while giving him 'prophecies'. This is basically an allusion to a scene in the original Conan the Barbarian, but if you weren't aware of this context it would just strike you as lascivious, pointless lewdness (which, incidentally, is a popular myth or urban legend in its own right, but that's another matter)...
What is this movie about? Again, if you watch this movie and expect to find things from the real world as opposed to a collection of homages and references to the yesteryear's classic cinema, you'll be disappointed. But if you watch it as it was intended - a piece of popular, entertaining art - you'll get the picture. It belongs to the Alexandre Dumas camp of enlightened liberty of consciousness. In short, it's about the romance of freedom. Even down to the arrow-in-the-chest scene, the characters are bandits cast in an exotic frame a la Dumas... I won't spoil it but you will need to have done some reading and/or movie watching before approaching this one.
How do you make polygamy within Islamic relationships in Britain appear socially acceptable? Easy. Art Malik.
Or so it should be... However, it doesn't work like that. This movie is about as subtle as a blow from a sledgehammer. It proceeds on the assumption that all it would take to make the abhorrent appear palatable is for an Oriental-looking gentleman, evidently monied, with an upper- class English accent, to open doors for ladies at the right moment.
It also tries to pull off some neat tricks, including having the working classes quaffing champagne at the gentrification of London, and the demolition of a housing block! It all seems to work out. It turns out, all the viewer needs to be 'educated' about is that everyone who resisted the encroachment of the 'new' ways (polygamy, being forced out of one's own neighbourhood, etc.) is simply backward, and needs to accept the Brave New World.
Bravo, Art Malik! Supremely patronising, politicised nonsense.
Or so it should be... However, it doesn't work like that. This movie is about as subtle as a blow from a sledgehammer. It proceeds on the assumption that all it would take to make the abhorrent appear palatable is for an Oriental-looking gentleman, evidently monied, with an upper- class English accent, to open doors for ladies at the right moment.
It also tries to pull off some neat tricks, including having the working classes quaffing champagne at the gentrification of London, and the demolition of a housing block! It all seems to work out. It turns out, all the viewer needs to be 'educated' about is that everyone who resisted the encroachment of the 'new' ways (polygamy, being forced out of one's own neighbourhood, etc.) is simply backward, and needs to accept the Brave New World.
Bravo, Art Malik! Supremely patronising, politicised nonsense.
This movie is at the pinnacle of a genre produced by an industry before it lost its genuine joie de vivre. Quite simply, the generic, boring, blonde actress type usually found in this type of movie doesn't feature. The actresses in this one are unique, exquisite physical specimens representing the very best of the European and Asian worlds. Usually, in this type of movie one finds only one racial type, and the actresses involved are blessed much more by surgical enhancements and the treadmill than by genetics. That's definitely not the case with this movie. They are clearly NATURAL beauties of the highest calibre, both in body and in the face. What's more, they genuinely appear to be having fun.
There is an element of humour, within acceptable limits. The movie as a whole is highly watchable, mesmerising and stylish. This really is such a breath of fresh air. The locations are stunning. The sets are genuinely elegant and sumptuous. There is such attention to detail, you will note the real Dom Perignon labels on the champagne bottles. A great deal of attention was paid to the actresses' clothing. None of it looks cheap or made for cheap thrills or some cheap effect. All of it is tremendously exciting. The lace looks like real lace. The fur coats look real as well. And there are some splendid 80s fashions on display. The director clearly had an acute sense of what's important and what the elements of visual appeal actually are. The undergarment becomes a centrepiece of many exciting, erotic scenes. Well worth watching - they don't come better than this, and in these days where there is longer any room for creative judgment it's safe to say they will never be made to this standard ever again. 10 out of 10.
There is an element of humour, within acceptable limits. The movie as a whole is highly watchable, mesmerising and stylish. This really is such a breath of fresh air. The locations are stunning. The sets are genuinely elegant and sumptuous. There is such attention to detail, you will note the real Dom Perignon labels on the champagne bottles. A great deal of attention was paid to the actresses' clothing. None of it looks cheap or made for cheap thrills or some cheap effect. All of it is tremendously exciting. The lace looks like real lace. The fur coats look real as well. And there are some splendid 80s fashions on display. The director clearly had an acute sense of what's important and what the elements of visual appeal actually are. The undergarment becomes a centrepiece of many exciting, erotic scenes. Well worth watching - they don't come better than this, and in these days where there is longer any room for creative judgment it's safe to say they will never be made to this standard ever again. 10 out of 10.