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Visual Intensity 4
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Visual Intensity - Issue 4 (1994-05-29)(Dual 4Mat)(Disk 2 of 3).adf
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Films
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117
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117
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1978-01-04
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{te{L{8
M O V I E S F R O M E U R O P E
{C{7
BY BOB TESTICLES
{A{5
This is a guide for all those people
that (incorrectly) thought that all
the best movies come from the good ol'
US of A. They do, don't they...NOT!
Anyway, over the last few years there
have been a lot of good, damn damn
good and not so good movies being made
across the studios of Europe.
Admittedly, most of these films would
fall into the "arthouse" bracket but
that is not necessarily a bad thing as
a lot of these movies have a freshness
and serene beauty sadly lacking in
Hollywood movies. One of the current
Hollywood trends is remaking European
movies ie.
{6Sommersby - The Return Of Martin
Guerre (1982) France
The Assassin - Nikita (1990) France
The Vanishing - The Vanishing (1991)
Holland
{5and that's just last year! Other
famous Hollywood movies that were
remade from European movies were "Down
And Out In Beverly Hills", "The Woman
In Red" and "Three Men And A Baby".
So sit back in your armchair and
prepare yourself for the attack of the
subtitles...
{te
{I{:Little Vera (1988)
{A{5Director: Vassili Pitchul
{6UK Cert: 15
{7Country Of Origin: Russia
{8Language: Russian
{9 This movie was a turning point in
Soviet cinema ie. It was the first
film to show an explicit sex scene and
show Russians enjoying Western
culture. It was a smash hit in its
home country and acclaimed by UK
critics but I personally didn't think
it was anything special.
{4Rating: 2 out of 5
{I{:Belle De Jour (1967)
{A{5Director: Luis Bunuel
{6UK Cert: 18
{7Country Of Origin: France/Italy
{8Language: French
{9 An intriguing movie about a shy
newlywed who attempts to fulfil her
sexual fantasies by working in a high
class brothel behind her husband's
back. Director Bunuel suggests all
varieties of kinkiness and
sado-masochism but none of it is
actually shown on sceen which adds to
the movie's effect.
{4Rating: 4 out of 5
{te
{I{:Monsieur Hire (1989)
{A{5Director: Patrice Leconte
{6UK Cert: 15
{7Country Of Origin: France
{8Language: French
{9 A stunning and very french movie
about a lonely balding man who spies
on a young woman who lives across the
courtyard and she is involves in a
murder. The acting couldn't be
bettered and it has that sensuous
atmosphere that all french movies seem
to have. Excellent.
{4Rating: 5 out of 5
{I{:Nikita (1990)
{A{5Director: Luc Besson
{6UK Cert: 18
{7Country Of Origin: France
{8Language: French
{9 Ultra-stylish thriller about a
self-destructing and drugged out young
woman who is hired by the government
to be an assassin after killing a
policeman. This was remade as "The
Assassin" last year. The original has
the edge over the remake in terms of
style and technical merit but the
remake has more action and is
undeniably exciting. Anyway, this
version gets...
{4Rating: 4 out of 5
{te
{I{:What Have I Done To Deserve This?
(1984)
{A{5Director: Pedro Almodovar
{6UK Cert: 18
{7Country Of Origin: Spain
{8Language: Spanish
{9 Eccentric fun from Spain's resident
weirdo Almodovar. Like all his movies
this has large quantities of sex and
death and is most entertaining. This
story revolves around the trials and
tribulations of a housewife and her
wacky family and neighbours. Bizarre
but never a dull moment.
{4Rating: 3 out of 5
{I{:Last Tango In Paris (1972)
{A{5
Director: Bernado Bertolucci
{6UK Cert: 18
{7Country Of Origin: France/Italy
{8Language: French/English
{9 A notorious "filth masquerading as
art" movie which if anything is more
amusing than erotic and deadly dull.
The critics loved it; I didn't. Worth
watching for the famous butter scene
though.
{4Rating: 2 out of 5
{te
{I{:High Heels (1991)
{A{5
Director: Pedro Almodovar
{6UK Cert: 18
{7Country Of Origin: Spain
{8Language: Spanish
{9 A disappointing Almodovar movie
about the relationship between a
famous actress and her TV newscaster
daughter. There is one classic scene
in it though where the newscaster
confesses to murdering her husband on
live TV.
{4Rating: 2 out of 5
{I{:Man Bites Dog (1992)
{A{5
Director: Remy Belvaux
{6UK Cert: 18
{7Country Of Origin: Belgium
{8Language: French
{9 A thoroughly depraved and nasty
black comedy about a camera crew
following a serial killer around and
filming him doing various murderous
deeds. This film was made on a
miniscule budget by three Belgian
students and remains one of the most
contraversial movies of recent years.
{4Rating: 3 out of 5
{te
{I{:Blanche (1971)
{A{5
Director: Walerian Borowczyk
{6UK Cert: 15
{7Country Of Origin: France
{8Language: French
{9 A compelling fairy tale for
grown-ups set in a castle in the
thirteenth century. Both the King and
his stepson have the hots for Baroness
Blanche which causes just a few
problems...
{4Rating: 3 out of 5
{I{:A Short Film About Killing (1987)
{A{5
Director: Krgyztof Kieslowski
{6UK Cert: 18
{7Country Of Origin: Poland
{8Language: Polish
{9 A dark and brooding movie (about, if
you hadn't guessed, killing) from arty
Polish director Kieslowski. I found
it quite disturbing.
{4Rating: 3 out of 5
{te
{I{:Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! (1990)
{A{5
Director: Pedro Almodovar
{6UK Cert: 18
{7Country Of Origin: Spain
{8Language: Spanish
{9 A very entertaining black comedy
about an escaped mental patient who
kidnaps a movie star/junkie actress,
ties her up, slaps her around, and
then says he loves her and wants to
settle down with her! One of
Almodovar's best films and highly
recommended.
{4Rating: 4 out of 5
{I{:L627 (1992)
{A{5
Director: Bertrand Tavernier
{6UK Cert: 15
{7Country Of Origin: France
{8Language: French
{9 An interesting and compelling movie
about French drug cops (L627 is the
French drug trafficking laws). This
is a gritty and realistic movie and
sometimes the cops seem as bad as the
criminals they are trying to catch!
{4Rating: 3 out of 5
{te
{I{:L'Ecole Des Facteurs (1947)
{A{5
Director: Jacques Tati
{6UK Cert: U
{7Country Of Origin: France
{8Language: French
{9 AKA School For Postmen. This is a
very amusing short from Gallic mime
King Tati about a postman's daily
routine. More visual gags than you
can shake a stick at.
{4Rating: 4 out of 5
{I{:Romuald Et Juliette (1989)
{A{5
Director: Coline Serrau
{6UK Cert: 15
{7Country Of Origin: France
{8Language: French
{9 An enjoyable romantic comedy about
an executive who falls for his buxom
black cleaning lady after she uncovers
a plot to take over his company.
Lightweight and good fun to watch.
{4Rating: 4 out of 5
{te
{I{9Night Sun (1990)
{A{5
Directors: Paolo and Vittorio Taviani
{6UK Cert: PG
{7Countries Of Origin:
Italy/France/Germany
{:Language: Italian
{< A period drama in which a young
noble finds out his bride-to-be has
been cheating on him with the king.
Not my cup of tea but if you like
period dramas add a star.
{4Rating: 2 out of 5
{A{:
End.
{PD