Review of Cemetery Man (1994) by Eden L — 24 Aug 2007

I didn't realize that I had gotten so far behind.

I found [b]Stomp the Yard[/b] surprisingly enjoyable. Perhaps it was my mood at the time, or maybe just because I secretly enjoy dancing movies. Whatever the reason, despite the predictable story and just average acting, I had a good time. The choreography is outstanding. It won't change your world, but this is a good afternoon distraction.

From director Takashi Miike ("Audition"), [b]Ichi the Killer[/b] is a strange and often disgusting film. The story has rival Japanese gangs, and a sub-group bent on destroying one of the gang's pain-loving lunatic members. Ichi is just a quiet guy who has been trained to fight and kill because of some traumatic childhood memories. He's got some crazy moves (which my husband says are from the game Tekken). There's lots of torture and awkward sexual moments. I thought the end was a bit abrupt. But the main bad guy had an excellent iridescent suit during the final battle. Worth watching, but very strange and not for the squeamish.

Netflix kept recommending [b]Cemetery Man[/b], so I broke down and queue it up. Netflix describes it as a "droll send-up of 1950s drive-in horror flicks." And maybe I haven't seen enough of those because I just didn't get this film. Rupert Everett ("Stardust"), all young and hot by the way, stars as the caretaker of a cemetery where the dead keep coming back to life. So he and his helper are always rekilling and reburying the bodies. He falls in love with this woman and she's killed by zombies, but then he keeps meeting other women who look like her and falling for them too. Things get weirder and weirder and the movie goes on and on. I can't recommend it. But if anyone else has seen it and liked it, please let me know why.

Danny Boyle ("Millions")'s newest film, [b]Sunshine[/b], is amazing. We're not bothered with a lot of back story, we're just on the spaceship with the crew of the Icarus 2 as they try to reignite a dying sun. The visuals are beautiful and surreal, especially as the crew gets closer to their destination. All of the acting is solid, especially Chris Evans ("The Nanny Diaries") who I had only thought of as a pretty boy before seeing this film. The interactions between the crew seem very realistic, like they have really been on this ship for a very long time together. The philosophy is also very thought provoking. I can't wait to see this again.

I have not seen the original, but this remake of [b]The Hitcher[/b] is terrible. Some kids pick up a hitchhiker and then he goes on a killing spree, terrorizing them across the state of New Mexico. What could easily have been a really creepy story is turned into a mess of ludicrous and improbable stunts and events. Sean Bean ("Outlaw") gives it his evil best and that is the only redeemable thing about this movie. Otherwise it's boring and annoying. Please avoid.