Review πŸ‘‰ Burn The Stage : The Movie

Thursday, November 15, 2018 |

I was going to give this a silly review, but due to a lack of genuine reviews on letterboxd, I'll give this the serious review that it deserves. TLDR: Don't let subject matter of it being about a boyband turn you away; 'Burn the Stage' was a brilliantly executed, edited, and directed documentary and I think certain non-fans would enjoy watching it for it's music history/pop cultural relevancy.

Long version: Most of BTS's documentaries/series thus far have always been lighthearted and humorous, meant to give viewers laughs and cheap entertainment with challenge games, silly animations, and general antics from the members. Most of these docuseries are quite shallow in that BTS and their producers only ever show us a very... staged portrayal of the members and their lives. Things like clips of the members without makeup or bedroom tour vlogs are shown to create a sort of false sense of intimacy, but these series and videos are in actuality quite shallow and leave much to be desired.

'Burn the Stage' completely subverts this precedent and shows us a much more contemplative and introspective portrayal of the members that finally treats them seriously as subjects and profession and less so as objects for entertainment or products to be consumed.

(Spoilers? if you can call it that? below)
Some scenes were almost uncomfortably invasive into the personal matters and crises of the members, such as when Jimin needed to be talked down from a panic attack after his voice cracked during a live performance; or when Taehyung and Seokjin got into a fight with each other minutes before a concert and Taehyung was visibly shaken and crying. The scene where Taehyung and Seokjin try to talk out their fight after the show felt like I was stepping in on a something very private and intimate that you really shouldn't be a part of, kind of like being in the room when your parents are fighting.
I... do have to admit that there's something deliciously, sickeningly voyeuristic about witnessing such personal, sensitive moments; especially in contrast to all the artificial and staged docuseries we've gotten from them in the past. There was definitely a big 'fly on the wall' feeling with a lot of the scenes, and I really liked that a lot.

I think the two things that hit me the most about 'Burn the Stage' are 1) the physical strain/pain the members go through for the sake of their careers 2) the psychological impact of being so famous at such young ages. For point 1, I don't have much to say other than it was gut-wrenching to see things like Jungkook blacking out from exhaustion mid-concert, or Jimin having to sit in a chair for the Macau concert due to muscle pain/injury, or Yoongi hiding his injuries from a car accident to avoid any potential consequences from his company (such as getting fired for being unable to dance). These moments were definitely the most distressing for me personally to watch as a fan, but I'm glad we got to see them.

For point 2, Namjoon's interview where he says (I'm paraphrasing) that he feels like he missed out and will forever miss out on living a life as Kim Namjoon and that he feels like he's permanently stuck with this identity as RM, the idol rapper, and he wishes he could have more a normal life was one of the most personally stirring scenes in the documentary. I don't think he meant to make viewers feel bad per se, especially when he emphasizes how grateful he is that he's able to make a living off of his greatest passion, but when paired together with Jungkook's interview about how his own self-perception and identity have been completely shaped by idol life since he was 13, it definitely makes me question the ethics of supporting a band/industry that denies these seven young men (and thousands of other idols) of a normal life from where they can't travel or have romantic/sexual relationships or go to the grocery store without being questioned, harassed, and mobbed.

Specifically with the case of Jungkook, (he's only about 2 or 3 weeks older than I am, so we're essentially the same age and I do feel somewhat of a kinship with him because of that) knowing that when I was 15, my biggest stress was literally just acne. Maybe it was my mile time for PE class? While I was doing that, Jungkook was debuting officially with the rest of BTS; performing on TV, doing interviews, touring, photoshoots, video shoots, being treated as a product. Realizing that just made me feel like a giant question mark emotionally. Since watching 'Burn the Stage', I can't really stop thinking about what kind of psychological damage has been done to this poor guy by grooming him and molding him into a object for visual consumption since he was 12 or 13.

Anyway! 'Burn the Stage' was an absolute treat. I'd love to see BTS create more serious documentaries and programs like this, but if they don't, I'm very grateful that we got this. I think beyond BTS's fanbase, I think fans of documentaries would get great enjoyment out of watching this; it was masterfully produced. With their slew of records such as being the most discussed celebrity on all of social media in 2017, to their Billboard Music Award wins, to their multiple #1 albums in 2018, BTS are unquestionably some of the world's biggest and most impactful celebrities/musicians of the 2010s. For that, 'Burn the Stage' is also well suited for fans of music history and pop culture history.

I can't yet say if BTS is here to stay or if things like their looming mandatory conscription for the South Korean military and/or their 2020 contract renewal discussions are going to serve as their undoing. (Edit 10/18/2018 LMAO DISREGARD THIS ENTIRE PARAGRAPH THEIR CONTRACTS GOT RENEWED UNTIL 2025 HELL YEAH) But for now, BTS is contemporary and relevant and blazingly powerful in music and media right now, and this documentary captures this moment in time brilliantly. It is... well worth watching.









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Written by Heulwen Blade

Review πŸ‘‰ Hunter Killer

Thursday, October 25, 2018 |


On October 24, 2018, Americans have just 2 days to wait for the latest action-adventure movie showcasing brave and capable American heroes saving the world, a submarine based thriller featuring almost super-hero-like Navy Seals.  Oddly enough, Hunter Killer has a high profile cast of Hollywood stars that are not even American!  Gerard Butler (Scottish, as the captain of the USS Arkansas), Gary Oldman (English, as the American Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff), Caroline Goodall (English, as the American President), David Gyasi (British, as Chief of the Boat on the Arkansas), Troy Stephens (English as the commander of the Navy SEALs squad), and Michael Nyqvist (Swedish).  In spite of the large number of foreign actors in the cast, many of which play Americans, every actor cast to play a nationality other than that of their birth does a creditable job and the audience would be totally unaware of international flavor of the cast if they were not familiar with the actors.  In fact, the casting works well to a satisfying degree.
The short story is, we were entertained by the movie.  Lots of action, nifty special effects and eye candy and the sort of over the top action American audiences seem to adore.  (By American audiences, we include us!)  Sure, some of the action is a little unrealistic, with wounded characters somehow finding the unlikely ability to functions almost without regard to injury at times, giving a level of inconsistency to the film.  No matter how highly you regard Navy SEALs, what 4 men can accomplish against a heavily defended Russian military base cannot possibly approach the level of mayhem and effective action Hunter Killerwants us to believe is possible.  Bits of corny dialog will also draw attention from those looking to analyze the movie as if it were a documentary and not an action-adventure film meant to entertain, not educate.  Along with some of the corn, the humor thrown in has already drawn some critical comment, although our test audience laughed at the right times, so we think the writing must have worked.  Another criticism we have of the film is that the Russian submarine sailors are dressed in what appears to be a dress uniform rather than a working utility type uniform.  What the heck?  Seriously, could the movie makers not have researched the actual uniforms Russians wear when under the ocean?  (By contrast, American submariners are clad in no-nonsense working uniforms.)  Finally, we strongly feel that the extreme resistance to the decisions of Captain Glass, skipper of the Arkansas, by his executive officer were way overplayed in a glaringly unrealistic way that in real life would get the XO locked up on the spot and later court martialed.  Instead, Gerard Butler calmly lives with his recalcitrant, damn near mutinous XO and magnanimously remains his buddy when the coast is clear.  The injection of a Russian submarine captain into the American response is a little ridiculous, as the incredibly fast bonding between the American and Russian captains is most improbable as they team up to save the world.  While the American President is in the thick of early response to the crisis, she is weirdly absent from the most critical part of the operation.
War related movies are seldom without inaccurate depictions of people, weapons, and events, but in this case despite our pointing out of the above flaws in the film, the bottom line is the story works.  Submarines fighting below Arctic ice, Russian political mayhem that threatens the peace of the world, fantastically capable and heroic Navy SEALs, blundering, blustery lily-livered senior officers versus calm, intelligent and serious senior officers, lots of shooting and explosions make for an action film with plenty of action to keep the audience entertained and involved at all times.  Hunter Killer is a fast paced film that provides real tension and gut wrenching developments, even if some aspects are a little hokey.
Hunter Killer (no real spoilers here) is about a US submarine and team of Navy SEALs sent to investigate the sinking of an American and a Russian submarine near an Arctic Russian naval base.  Dire political shenanigans among high ranking Russians threatens the Russian government and the peace of the world, something these few Americans must put right against incredibly long odds.  Not meant to be as somber as a submarine classic such as Das Boot, and without quite the seriousness of The Hunt for Red October, Hunter Killer is more along the lines of London Has Fallen, White House Down or Olympus has Fallen, The Marine, or Rambo: First Blood Part II.
Hunter Killer addresses the current world situation in which Russia represents a threat to world peace, though in a different way than the current political situation in that country.  The film is definitely entertaining, and we suspect it will be enjoyed by audiences as much as our test audience obviously enjoyed the movie, although with serious competition from Venom and Halloween this October the box office will probably not reflect a decreased box office than the film deserves.  We were wishing the movie had been shown in 3D, so if you get a chance to see the film in 3D, do it!  The running time of 121 minutes seems much shorter, which is always a good sign.
We liked Hunter Killer and we recommend the film to virtually all audiences that love action and “American” heroes.










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Written by Heulwen Blade

Review πŸ‘‰ Goosebumps 2 : Haunted Halloween

Friday, October 19, 2018 |

While collecting junk one day, best friends Sonny and Sam meet Slappy, a mischievous talking dummy from an unpublished “Goosebumps” book by R.L. Stine. Hoping to start his own family, Slappy kidnaps Sonny’s mother and brings all of his ghoulish friends back to life — just in time for Halloween. As the sleepy town becomes overrun with monsters, witches and other mysterious creatures, Sonny joins forces with his sister, Sam and a kindly neighbor to save Sonny’s mom and foil Slappy’s plan. Kids First! Film Critic Zoe C. comments, “The movie is funny and spooky in equal amounts. There is mystery and discovery all combined in the storytelling.” See her full review below.
Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween is spooky, fun and creative! It is very engaging and entertaining throughout the whole film.

The story is about a young boy, Sonny (Jeremy Ray Taylor) and his best friend, Sam (Caleel Harris) who finds a book. When they open it, a doll called Slappy comes out! The boys lose the book, but keep Slappy. The friends are very surprised and a bit scared when they discover that the doll can talk. He seems nice at the beginning. He wants to have a family. But later, the boy, his sister Sarah (Madison Iseman) and his best friend realize he is strange and don’t want him to be part of their family anymore. Slappy has his own personal agenda and decides to create his own family.

He makes Halloween come to life as he invades the whole town with monsters and all the creatures as allies. This is a very scary Halloween for the town of Wardenclyffe, where the story takes place, as all creatures make real chaos. Sonny, Sam and Sarah team up with neighbor Mr. Chu (Ken Jeong) to find the book that Slappy from to figure out how to stop him. They discover that the book can suck up monsters and they are determined to save the city.

The story is based on R.L Stine’s books. This is where Jack Black comes in as he reprises his role from the 2015 film, playing the writer who came to help. His performance as the author is excellent. I love his voice work giving life to Slappy the Dummy.

The movie is funny and spooky in equal amounts. There is mystery and discovery all combined in the storytelling. There’s kind of a homage to horror films, as we see some classic monsters. My favorite scenes are the ones with the Halloween decorations coming to life in the store and the fight with the gummy bears that become real and attack Sonny and Sam.

The effects are very well done. This story focuses on the 3 main characters and the actors did a good job carrying the film. There’s a tribute to the books and literature. There’s a beautiful metaphor with the blank pages in the book which is powerful. It is so interesting and kind of reminded me that reality is scarier than fantasy and there will be more stories to be written. The message of this film is, “when we face our own fears we learn how not to be scared.”









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Written by Heulwen Blade

Review πŸ‘‰ Halloween

Thursday, October 18, 2018 |

After years of waiting for a Halloween sequel that felt like it did justice to John Carpenter’s original masterpiece of slasher horror, David Gordon Green has brought us a vision of terror that gives fans what they’ve been craving.

Forty years after surviving the infamous Babysitter Killings, Laurie Strode (Curtis) is a broken woman, living in self-imposed isolation with enough armaments to start a small war. Her life is devoted to one thing and one thing only: preparing for the inevitable day that Michael Myers escapes custody. And on October 30th, her demented wish comes true, plunging Haddonfield into chaos and putting her daughter (Greer) and granddaughter (Matichak) at risk.
The film opens with the same font and presentation as the original, only this time the jack-o’-lantern begins as a rotten pile of mush that reverses back into cohesion, an early hint that what is about to unfold is a resurrection from a franchise that dwindled into mediocrity. The new theme from Carpenter, his son Cody, and frequent collaborator Daniel Davies, pulsates with the same 5/4 rhythm but updated for a new generation, as is the rest of the score.
We begin with Michael’s story, where we see a duo of investigative journalists (read: podcasters) go to the Smiths Grove Sanitarium where he’s been held ever since the original events. Dr. Loomis has died and Michael’s caretaker is Dr. Sartain (Haluk Bilginer), who finds his subject fascinating to the point that Nietzsche quote “…if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you” is quite prescient. The duo unsuccessfully tries to interview Michael before he is transferred to a new institution, one where he will spend his remaining days. Failing that, they then seek out Laurie too hear her side, although they are far more aggressive towards her than they are towards Michael. This theme runs throughout the first half of the movie, with her community and family ignoring her “always be prepared” mentally, a mistake they clearly realize and suffer from once the blood begins to flow.
Curtis, Greer, and Matichak all shine as the Strode clan. Curtis owns her dysfunctional character with strength and conviction, unafraid to show the emotional and psychological damage her choice of life has imparted. Greer, while not as present as Curtis or Matichak, still has a vital role to play and she does so wonderfully. Matichak, essentially playing a new Laurie, goes through her own character development that feels entirely authentic. The rest of the cast does perfectly well and both Nick Castle and James Jude Courtney breathe vicious and terrifying life into Michael. While he’s not in the movie for long, young Jibrail Nantambu steals the show as Julian, a young boy being babysat.
Packed with gore, although never overly done, Michael’s kills are vicious and cruel. It’s said in the film prior to his escape that Michael is responsible for five deaths. Before he puts on his mask, that number is eclipsed with gleeful abandon. The body count in this film will rival any Friday the 13th entry, so don’t worry whether or not the blood will flow.
Paced very similarly to the original, there are peaks and valleys that allow the shock of deaths to linger before we move on to the next helpless victim. It’s also a chance for the story and characters to develop, which it does quite smoothly. Questions that might arise almost all have good answers, so plot holes are kept to a minimum. And for as intense as it is, Halloween is surprisingly emotional and touching at moments while fiercely hilarious at others. Remember, this is a movie written and directed by those who have a strong relationship with comedy, so they know how to employ it wisely here in ways that don’t feel forced.
Now, I will say that the film isn’t really all that scary. There’s a segment in the third act – which is incredibly strong – where Laurie is on the prowl for Michael and it’s a nail-biting scene but that’s the only part where I felt actual fear and wanted to cover my eyes. Throughout the rest of the film, it’s all predictable but never in a way that feels disappointing. However, it should be noted that this is quite possibly the scariest Michael Myers has ever been.










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Written by Heulwen Blade

Review πŸ‘‰ First Man

Wednesday, October 10, 2018 |

The remarkable true story of the Moon landing proves to be another giant leap for director Damien Chazelle’s career, whose star has been on a meteoritic rise for the past few years. The Oscar winning director behind La La Land and Whiplash takes a keen eye and a novel approach to portraying this expansive story, deciding to focus on the man rather than the mission. The end result is a heartfelt and utterly engrossing account that leaves a captivating mark on you.

That’s not to say that First Man isn’t about the nuts and bolts of the Space Race and the plight of the USA to beat Russia to the Moon.It’s all there, but the narrative chooses to explore in greater depth the life of Neil Armstrong – the first man to walk on the Moon – and the struggles and challenges he and his family had to overcome to make history.

Neil Armstrong (Ryan Gosling) is drafted into a high priority NASA mission to reach the surface of the Moon. With the Russians making leaps and bounds in their space program, the race is on to get there with the best minds in their respective fields working overtime to make this dream a reality.Relocating with his wife Janet (Claire Foy) and his kids, Neil must handle the pressures of the job at hand, with setbacks, complications and tragedy poised at every juncture.

What initially grabs you is First Man’s unwavering determination in telling the human interest story first and foremost. There are a lot of milestones and big moments to cram into this story but First Man always has Neil Armstrong’s journey at its core, and that’s why the film works so effortlessly. Ryan Gosling hands in a fantastic performance as a determined man who is challenged daily and who can be fearless in every aspect of his day job, but who struggles to convey the gravitas of the situation to his young children.

A film like this, and especially one that is set in this era (1961-1969), could have taken a lazy approach to the character of Janet Armstrong, just painting her into the background as dressing. Josh Singer’s screenplay, adapted from the book by James R. Hansen, thankfully never lets this happen. Her character is real and integral to this story. Claire Foy is a revelation here and gives the film a real balance and strength with her powerful portrayal. Her exchanges with Neil are a cornerstone to the film’s success.

The supporting talent are all superb too with a who’s who of great character actors all lending their considerable talents to this gem of a film. Jason Clarke, Kyle Chandler, Olivia Hamilton, Patrick Fugit, Ciaran Hinds, Ethan Embry, Shea Whigham, Corey Stoll (as Buzz Aldrin), Lukas Haas and Pablo Schreiber all hand in note-worthy performances that collectively leave a mark on the story. First Man is exceptionally efficient in its storytelling, utilising these actors well in a 2hr 21min movie that never lags or feels superfluous at any point.

The film is blessed with a stellar cast and wonderful creatives behind the scenes, but it also has to succeed in a visual sense. Having the lunar surface scenes filmed in IMAX gives First Man a ghostly beauty that really places you on the Moon. It’s immersive in conjuring its atmosphere and expansive in its scope and grandeur to make this sequence truly breathtaking. Throughout the film you get a very real sense of the physicality of the things that these astronauts have to endure. The movie opens with a staggeringly effective fighter-jet scene which conveys speed in a way that I’ve never seen realised on film before. There are more than a few scenes that will cause a bit of motion sickness too – it’s not pleasant, but vitally important in telling this story.

US Republican’s recently took to bashing First Man, calling the film unpatriotic. It’s anything but that, and their narrow-minded opinions (from people who hadn’t even seen the film in the first place) has certainly taken focus away from what an incredible piece of filmmaking First Man actually is. Their complaints stem from (what they see as) a political statement by Chazelle by not featuring a direct scene about the planting of the US flag on the moon.But the American flag is front and centre of this entire film, and it was an artistic choice to focus on the story of the man behind the moment.

First Man is breathtaking cinema told by a true auteur that is fast becoming the voice of a new generation. Chazelle’s choices behind the lens are staggeringly beautiful and chronicle one of the most incredible stories of human endeavour in a way that leaves a lasting impression on the soul. With Ryan Gosling once again leading the line exceptionally well, First Man lands as one of the finest movies of the year, and one that deserves a huge audience – if just to remind modern society that working together, rather than causing conflict and division amongst ourselves, is the key to our existence and growth as a species.









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