"Barbarella" & Jane Fonda

I was looking forward to writing a blog about Barbarella. As I sat in front of this stark, white blogger box, I realized I don't have much to say about it. Don't get me wrong, I loved it. I have a deep affection for fantasy ala The Neverending Story, Willow and Time Bandits. Barbarella definitely sent off similar vibes. For that reason I will forever love it without question.

So yes, I enjoyed the film. What's more important is how much I enjoyed Jane Fonda in the film. From the opening credits Fonda is basically on parade. I was shocked at how OK I was with that. Sure I knew Fonda wasn't always a legwarmer wearing workout maven. I just didn't realize how sublime and lovely she was. She was approximately 30 years of age in Barbarella. Time has been kind to her. My love goes beyond her physical appearance. The second she opened her mouth my heart belonged to her and her alone. She basically carried that whole movie. I was just blown away.

The spaceship set covered in shag was amazing. The psychedelic view screen and array of costumes were dazzling. This film is so dated and so wonderful. Very rarely do I walk away from a film wishing I could be a character. I want to be Barbarella, Queen of the galaxy.

The Objective - Review

The Objective is brought to us by Dan Myrick (the guy behind The Blair Witch Project). I'm a big fan of Blair Witch, so my expectations were high. I guess I had forgotten Dan also brought us Blair Witch 2. The Objective trailer peaked my interest so when I watched the film, I was ready to be impressed. That feeling lasted through the set up and well into the middle of the film.

"In the supernatural thriller The Objective, writer-director Daniel Myrick locates the action in a remote mountain region of Afghanistan, where a team of US Special Ops forces is dispatched with the ostensible orders of locating an influential Muslim cleric. While on the mission they find themselves lost in a Middle Eastern 'Bermuda Triangle' of ancient evil and faced with an enemy that none of them could have imagined."

There is sort of a Blair Witch dynamic as the group gets smaller, no one knows what's happening, they argue and whatnot, terror ensues. I was disappointed in the explanation of the real reason why these soldiers were deployed on the mission. The actual appearance of the unknown entity causing the deaths & disappearances wasn't horrific or memorable for that matter. The acting was pretty on point, the writing was decent (although I thought the CIA agent voiceover providing exposition came off pretty lazy), it wasn't directed or shot poorly, but all in all it was just okay. Maybe if I knew nothing of Blair Witch, I would have expected less and thought this film better.

Viva

A wonderful little gem from Cult Epics has fallen into my lap! Set for release February 24th is Viva, a film about sexual awakening in the 1970's. Before I begin my lovefest, I have one very important detail to get out of the way. This movie was made in 2007.

At the heart of the story is Barbi, an innocent, naive housewife. We are introduced to her while she is bathing. The next 120 minutes chronicle the birth of her alter ego, Viva, and her rise to sex goddess status. All that isn't nearly as important as the look and the tone of the film. While it is soaked with nudity, drugs and lecherous sex, it is also steeped in innocence. It's a strange blend. Going on plot alone, this could very easily sound like a one dimensional soft core porno. But I assure you it isn't. It glides along seamlessly, never crossing the invisible line between lighthearted romp and sleazy skin flick.

This is film is spot on in it's portrayal of the early 1970's. The labor put into making this production authentic was so obviously painstaking. From the set design and costuming to the mindset of the characters, this film is truly a journey. Anna Biller not only writes and directs this throwback, she stars as Barbi/Viva. Most of the credit must be given to her. Biller obviously had a vision and took great care in crafting this tribute. The sets pieces alone are enough to ensnare even the most jaded film enthusiast.

Watch this film if you love the 70's. Watch it if you love sex comedies. Watch it if you long for the days when costume changes were abundant and everyone always had a drink it their hand.

Alien Trespass

I'm not quite sure how I happened across this film, but the second I laid eyes on the poster, it was love. The campy B-movie aesthetic won my heart and even caused me to gloss over its "lost masterpiece" proclamations. You know what? I don't care if this movie has to employee some unearthed gimmick. I give it kudos for paying homage to the schlocky 'things in outer space' genre.

This is a tough thing to pull off. It's nearly impossible to resurrect or even channel dead genres (that means you slasher). And that's why it is so tricky to delve into something as dated (in a good way) as a 50's style alien flick. I don't know what to expect from this film. At it's best it could turn out to be a fun romp; a glowing homage. At it's worst? Jeez, I suppose it could be as stale and bland as an old bag of rice cakes.

Take a look at the site. Looks like it's getting a limited release April 3rd, so keep your peepers peeled!

Gitane Demone: Life After Death (Cult Epics Review)

What Kizmit it is to follow Christine's review of S&M Hunter, with Gitane Demone: Life After Death. This DVD features a brief window into the leather and rubber laden life of Gitane Demone. Demone is a throaty bohemian singer that has worked with many Industrial legends such as Rozz Williams and Christian Death, EXP and others. Life After Death is a fitting title for this DVD for most of the footage features now deceased musician and artists, not to mention Industrial music itself has become a uncredited source to many current musicians financial gain.

Gitane Demone is still very much alive despite the title of the DVD. Life After Death features European live performances and interviews with Demone. The opening interview for VPRO Dutch television, reveals some of Demones early life/death experiences, and allows her to set the stage for her fascination with death, sexuality and independence, themes that are seen and heard later in her music performances. The Cinema Verite style footage of Demone finds her with bleached blonde hair, fetish garb and other S&M paraphinalia, while she sings Jazz standards for VPRO radio one minute and follows that with straight rock industrial performances in shady German night clubs in the next chapter.

The folks over at Cult Epics have delivered the goods once agian with this DVD. The DVD package for Life After Death contains a biography booklet with foreword by Demone (August 27, 2008), demo recordings on CD and a double DVD disc of pure live debuachery with one of the great Mistresses Gitane Demone. If you have ever been curious and even frightened by S&M, fetish culture, or the strangely evocative sounds of Art rock, Jazz Ballads and/or Industrial, Miss Demone will guide you into this world.

Pink Eiga & "S&M Hunter"

I know the circles I run in have been abuzz with the 2 recent releases from Pink Eiga. Needless to say, I was thrilled when I got the chance to view S&M Hunter. I was not disappointed.

This is my first Pink Eiga film and I am pleased to say it was everything I expected. Nudity, sexual situations and inappropriate behavior abound! This isn't a flick you pop in and wait to for it to get to the point. It isn't shy so you shouldn't be either.

As I have stated in the past, I'm not the type that likes to rehash all major plot points of a film. But this film isn't really relying on it's plot twists to reel you in. The title says it all; there really is a gentlemen who goes by the title of 'S&M Hunter' and he ties up women in order to dominate them. Huzzah! It's like soft core porn... with ropes... and a guy with an eye patch. If that doesn't make you want to see it, you may not have a soul.

I can't say enough about this film. It's sleazy, goofy, tongue-in-cheek, offensive and totally entertaining. It's amazing.

A few quick side notes:
If you would like to hear more on Pink Eiga and S&M Hunter you can check out The Gentlemen's Guide to Midnite Cinema and Cinema Diabolica.
Be sure to head over to the Pink Eiga site and support them. They have 2 films available for purchase with 2 more coming February 23rd.