SGN Page 25

Friday
April 20, 2007
SGN.org

Volume 35
Issue 16

search only SGN online

Wednesday, Oct 15, 2008

PREVIOUS EDITIONS

SGN ADVERTISING INFORMATION

site map

Two films worth seeing, no matter what else you've heard about them

Two films worth seeing, no matter what else you've heard about them
by Rajkhet Dirzhud-Rashid - SGN A&E Writer Pathfinder Directed by Marcus Nispel Starring Keith Urban, Moon Bloodgood, Russell Means Clancy Brown Now playing Perfect Stranger Directed by James Foley Starring Halle Berry, Bruce Willis, Giovanni Ribisi Gary Dourdan, Nicki Aycox, Florencia Lozano Now playing Sometimes I think I'm the only critic/reviewer I know who sees each film independently and only brings to it a childlike wonder, something I've had from the first time I saw my first film in a theater. Maybe it goes back to how I love the movie going experience so much, that I don't try to outthink or intellectualize the story, but just sit there, munching nachos, being excited. Unless it's a really, really bad film (Battlefield Earth and Kingdom of The Giants come to mind), then, I usually start to fall asleep halfway in (as I did in both versions of The Grudge, Japanese and English). And, true, I'm easily entertained. Give me a car blowing up, a little fooling around by pretty people and I'm happy. I guess that's why I loved Pathfinder (which has been ripped to shreds by most other reviewers) so much. There's hunky Karl Urban, who plays the survivor of a group of Eastern European raiders much resembling the early Vikings (or more accurately, those called 'berserkers' for their bent toward complete carnage), and beautiful Moon Bloodgood, who plays his 'love interest'. Pretty people, excitement aplenty in the form of harrowing battle scenes that resemble some of the artwork of the great Frank Frazetta, when he was still drawing for Warren comics early 'Vampirella' series. And that awe inspiring landscape that is the backdrop for this, strangely uplifting film. I loved the little bit of history--yes, there is now proof positive that the Vikings may have actually come to America long before Columbus did, with the same aim in mind, conquering the land--woven with a tale as sweeping as Clan Of The Cavebear. And the heroic struggle by Urban's character, who is simply called 'ghost' because he's paler than the natives he lives with, to keep his new clan safe really moved me. Heck, give the film a chance, especially if you're a fan of swordfights, good fantasy stories and strong female characters (Bloodgood plays a very good, kick-ass heroine that deserves some note, when Hollywood is mostly churning out stereotypical roles for females of all races). You won't be sorry you did, just be aware the battle scenes are pretty gruesome, even as they're done mostly in black silhouette, or under that blue lighting a lot of films use when they're depicting extreme gore. I also loved Perfect Stranger, but for different reasons. Mostly because the low hum of fear that permeates the entire film, hooked me from the start and made me want to get to the end of it to see what really happened. And when that moment comes, you'll probably be as flabbergasted as I was, maybe. Halle Berry plays an up and coming, perky reporter for a major big city daily, who first has a major story pulled because of an uncomfortable link between the publisher and the person she's done a big expose on. Then, another, even tastier story is dropped in her lap by a woman who we think is Ro's (Berry) friend , only there's tension between them, so we're not sure. And when the friend winds up dead from mysterious circumstances, Ro decides to follow the leads her supposed friend allerted her to, which lead her to a mega ad agency executive (Bruce Willis in perhaps his most interesting role to date). Thus begins a multi-leveled game of cat and mouse where nothing is as it seems and everyone is hiding something. But, believe me, you have no idea just how much is being hidden, until the final, unexpected ending (which I will not reveal here). Trust me, this is a film worth plunking down money for, if only to see the lovely Halle Berry up close, and to watch the tension between her and Bruce Willis on a big screen.