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Film & TV on DVD - John Doe News & Reviews

Greetings Film Fiends and welcome to John Doe's Film Blog. 30 years of dedicated celluloid obsession has meant that I have seen a few films. Drawing attention to some of the lesser discussed gems that I love. Cult classics, obscure curios and quality genre pictures. This blogs purpose is to translate some of my passion for these films and with luck, inspire you the reader to go check em out.

Animated - Film & TV on DVD

TV Clip of the Moment - The Muppet’s Bohemian Rhapsody

November 25th 2009 23:47

A Queenly salute to Rock n Roll Royalty.

jim henson, muppets, bohemian rhapsody, puppet, muppet show

Jim Henson and his most famous creation exposed

John Doe knows he is not alone in his love affair with the puppeteer maestro Jim Henson and all the imaginative creations that sprung from his fantastic cerebrum (The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth etc).

The ebullient response JD got to his reviewing Season 1 of the seminal variety show and sharing The Muppet Movie Poster Collection provides more than enough impetus for Johnny to post this latest musical delight from the timeless masters of childish mayhem.

queen, bohemian rhapsody, classic rock, freddie mercury

Take a good look, you may never see Bohemian Rhapsody the same way

Always aware of their parodies place in the lexicon of pop culture and respecting the inspirations obsessive fan base. Here the personality disordered, eccentric cloth creations rework Queen’s epic rock anthem Bohemian Rhapsody with hilarious results.

Pure genius, it’s hard cite a favourite moment with the “Swedish Chef”, “Beeker” and “Gonzo’s Chickens” all bringing their A-Game to harmonized hilarity. “Animal” goes off on his own mama frenzied tangent and that bovine bitch Miss Piggy naturally thinks it’s all about “moi”.

So grab a coffee, make sure you aren’t sipping it as you press play and bask in magical delight that proves truly great art never ages, it just evolves.

The Muppet’s do Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody.

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Posted By: JohnDoe - Category: Animated, Television, TV Clip of the Moment

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Wall-E (2008) - Trailer Included

September 24th 2008 00:01

Open the Pod Bay Doors Wall-E, I want more

In Australian Cinemas Now

Writer/Director: Andrew Stanton
Music: Thomas Newman
Voices: Ben Burtt, Sigourney Weaver, Jeff Garlin, John Ratzenberger, Fred Willard, Elissa Knight

Pixar studios are the modern day pantheon of animated feature films. Ever since the success of their first full length cinema event Toy Story in 1995 they have continued to raise expectations of what can be achieved through the medium.

The production houses latest achievement, WALL-E shatters any doubts that a manufactured reality can connect on an emotional level with audiences.

A marvel of pure visual storytelling harking back to the days of cinemas golden age, there is a nickelodeon pantomime quality to the characters that reminds the viewer of iconic silent comedians like Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. Setting this tone against a state of the art digital future makes for a charming and often dazzling cinema experience.

Wall E, EVE and that Cube

Welcome to earth, circa 2800. Mankind has destroyed its natural resources, human life can no longer be sustained. Forcing a total evacuation of the planet we have lived in outer space for 700 years.

All that remains on the surface post apocalypse is one lone robot named WALL-E (an acronymn for Waste Allocation Load Lifter-Earth-class.). Isolated and lonely, he continues to complete his prime directive, of cleaning up the endless trash left behind. Building towering structures from the compost bricks he makes, the landscape is now filled with high rise garbage piles.

Developing a personality all his own, over time WALL-E’s daily routine includes collecting relics and curios that he places in his lunchbox. They are symbols that intrigue his mechanised yearning for understanding. Most importantly though Wall-E craves companionship, a friend, someone he can share his time.

While endlessly rewatching an old VHS tape of the film Hello Dolly he comes to comprehend the nature of love and also recognises his own lonely plight.

Then one day, without warning the earth begins to shake, a deafening noise is heard and then a spaceship lands. From it emerges a sole probe droid, EVE (Extraterrestial Vegetation Evaluator) and Wall-E is immediately infatuated.

Wall E - The tin man with a heart

John Doe Says:
Poetically imaginative, by blending live action footage with CGI for the first time Pixar has created a work of artistic splendour. Delivering not only a touching and beautiful work, but also a classic science fiction film that can be mentioned in the same breath as the likes of Solaris and 2001 A Space Odyssey.

Written and Directed by Andrew Stanton (Finding Nemo) this romantic and tender film, bravely decides to make the opening 40 minutes virtually dialogue free. Endearing itself almost immediately with its simultaneous bleak scenario of optimism . Even later on the script remains sparse, preferring to show instead of tell its plot. This engages the mind, letting the audience assess and make conclusions on what they have seen. It also allows for a level of subtlety that has been missing from the genre till now.

The films messages are not rammed down your throat, the sentimentality is never vocalised and so we are left to take from it what we will. There is much about over reliance on technology, a disconnected society and the shape of things to come.

Due to the minamilist style of the action, Thomas Newman’s musical score has to lift us and carry us through, and it does. There is a magical nuance to the experience that comes largely down to his emotive melodic accompaniment. When combined with the ingenius sound FX that are pivotal to the miracle this film performs, it is the big budget experimental film.

Love across the universe

A bleak, alien atmosphere exudes from the opening shots and the cinematography throughout has a raw, naturalistic feel. (Something that many live action sci-fi’s fail at) The filmmakers actually consulted the Coen Brothers Director of Photography Roger Deakins, discussing the use of light and camera angle in order to shoot scenes to appear as if they were live action. The results are staggering, it takes all of about 5 minutes before you forget you are watching an artificial computer enhanced world.

Normally relying on big name stars to voice their characters, here Pixar has gone largely unknown save for the Axiom Ship’s voice of Sigorney Weaver (A clever twist on her parts in Galaxy Quest and Alien).

As Wall-E and numerous other robots we have Ben Burtt doing the vocals. Burtt is a highly respected and sought after sound FX guru who amongst others did sound design for the Indiana Jones and Star Wars films.

There is something very Joshua in War Games meets number 5 from Short Circuit about the leads mode of communication and it is endearing. There are also plenty of references to movies of the past, parallels between HAL in 2001 and AUTO being the most obvious. Keep your lens focused too because a lot of WALL-E’s toys in the background are easily recognisable. (Eg: Rex from Toy Story)

Going against the conventions in much the same way as E.T did for Alien invasion, here we have machines that act more human than the de-evolved humans. Instead of trying to take over the world or destroy it, the robots are our friends. JD is not a fan of animorphising in films, making animals talk, giving inanimate objects human characteristics, but here it won him over.

For John Doe this is Pixar’s greatest achievement (Though the Incredibles is still a close second), he cried, he laughed and he was awestruck. Tackling important issues with a steady hand, the way the story is told makes every scene intriguing. Piquing curiosity and inspiring thought, as the Hollywood Reporter said in their review, “the films one fault really is where does Pixar go from here after setting the bar so high.”

Truly a film for “Children of any age” the sense of wonderment and joy that comes from viewing is sublime.

It would be wrong to not also acknowledge the fabulous short “Presto” that precedes the film. A Looney Tune/Tex Avery style escapade of hijinx between a Magician and a bunny, JD was taken back to his childhood and giggled from the first frame to the last.

WALL-E Trailer

WALL-E trailer 2

Behind the scenes of WALL-E

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Posted By: JohnDoe - Category: In Cinemas, Animated, Science Fiction

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Akira 2009

March 29th 2008 12:36

Akira is one of my favourite films of all time. Released in 1988, it’s an achievement not just in Japanese animation of it’s time, but continues to demonstrate a quality of animation that equals that of modern cartoon animation.

Original Japanese Trailer.

Akira is an incredibly complex film. The government, the military, the scientists, the anti-government rebel groups, the delinquent children, the New age psycho hippies, the biker gangs; each live in a kind of intertwined struggle – each fighting against one other for power, frighted of each others potential. There’s a lot of varied motivations intertwined here, and it’s easy to loose track.

The film touches on many themes, but the most prominent is of the concept that ‘all power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.’ The above groups are locked into their own power struggles, which are soon dwarfed by Tetsuo’s new, military testing induced psychic powers. As Tetsuos power grows, his control wanes, and everything spirals desperately out of control.

One of the things I love so much about the film is it’s soundtrack. The following video features one of the songs from the film. The visuals are enjoyable too, but I’d simply like to share the music with you. (Does contain violence).

Song: 'Kaneda' by Geinoh Yamashirogumi.

Lyrics; Japanese;

Arashi, gareki, honoo, kakera, machi, tatsumaki, chikara, hikari, yatsura, matsuri, sora, nakama, hashiru!
RASSERA, RASSERA, RASSE, RASSE, RASSERA!
RASSE, RASSE, RASSE, RASSE, RASSE, RASSE, RASSERA!

English: Storm, Rubble, Flame, Shards, City, Tornado, Power, Light, Them, Festival, Sky, Friends Running.
RASSERA, RASSERA, RASSE, RASSE, RASSERA!
RASSE, RASSE, RASSE, RASSE, RASSE, RASSE, RASSERA!

More information on the original Soundtrack can be found here.

The following video features the opening six minutes of the film, including the famous opening explosion.

The reason that I’ve been put in the mood to rant and rave over this film in particular, is that at present I’m equal parts nervous and exited over the announcement that there’s a new Akira film in the works.

Unlike the animated film which manages to squish six massive volumes of comics into one relatively small film, the live action film will be done Lord of the Rings Style, in two parts. This is probably for the best, as the current film is essentially a rough adaptation.

It is set to be produced by Leonardo Di Caprio, Andrew Lazar and Jennifer Davisson. No, I’ve never heard of those last two either. The script is said to be written by hardened computer/comic geekmaster Gary Whitta. Wikipedia in it’s wisdom has given rumour that Di Caprio is to play Kaneida, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt is to play Tetsuo.

I have high hopes for the film, so let’s all cross our fingers and hope we don’t end up seeing it all set in America or anything silly like that.

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Posted By: Brenton - Category: Animated, Coming Soon

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Supanova 2008 - A Preview

March 10th 2008 00:01

Supanova Nirvana Returns.

Hands on and completely interactive, this year “Supanova” returns to Australia with a cavalcade of familiar faces that have John Doe ready to attack the nearest clone if it sped up the events arrival.
[ Click here to read more ]

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Posted By: JohnDoe - Category: Animated, Coming Soon, Film News and Views, Science Fiction

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Shrek the Third – A Fimink Review

August 8th 2007 02:38

Shrek the Third – A Fimink Review

Regular visitors to the site will know that I freelance for FilmInk magazine. The new issue is on the shelves and a few of my reviews are published online so Johnny thought he would partake in a bit of self promotion. Hope you like them.
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Posted By: JohnDoe - Category: Animated

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Classic Disney Tunes have John Doe in a trance.

May 30th 2007 13:06

Classic Disney Tunes have John Doe in a trance - HELP!

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Posted By: JohnDoe - Category: Animated

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A Looney Tunes Monday Morning - Includes Full Length Classic Shorts

May 7th 2007 00:00

What’s your Favourite Looney Tunes Toon?

US DVD Box Set- Available individually in Australia

Whacky, self referential, slyly ridiculing the artistic elite, adult ettitquette and cultural idiosyncrasies, the WB Looney Tunes remain hysterically funny regardless of chronology or maturity.
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Posted By: JohnDoe - Category: Animated

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