IMDb Page
Hackers is one of my favourite movies of all time. It is terrible unrealistic (technically exaggerated)and the script overall is pathetic. They make a poor attempt to recreate the l33t language of the time (the opening where 2 hackers are fighting over a system particularly annoys me) so then you ask, why is it one of my favourite movies of all time? Well the answer is a simple one, Hackers tells the story of the ideal world for the pop culture side of hacking in the 90s. Beautiful talented female hacker "Acid Burn" (Angelina Jolie)stepping up to the plate and taking most of the men down, with her slick, sophisticated style and talent. A man wrongly accused of a crime, Dade Murphy also known as Zero Cool, Crash Override and "that Murphy kid" (Jonny Lee Miller) in the the process of clearing his name proves himself as elite. The hacking crew at this school really is amazing though with the 2 aforementioned hackers, a conspiracy theorist/anarchist, a guy with photographic memory, the cool kid and the prerequisite n00b (all played quite convincingly) and with a quirky love story on the side that make this movie perfect to see with a date. Also The combination of psychedelic colour and electronica over the sound of typing will give any programmer or tech fan the itch to type.
I refuse to rate this film straight out because in my books it is 10 out of 10 for keeping my interest over the many many many times I have watched it. It manages to fit itself neatly inside tech flick and romantic comedy with neither aspect seeming like an add on. Although I do completely agree with the IMBd rating of 5.8. due to the issues I listed earlier I do think of it as worth slightly more, It is not a sterotypical classic and definitely not timeless, but I think if I become a parent or carer or a child then I would show them this film to explain to them what technology was like the year I was born. Like how my father got me to watch the original Tron. And funnily enough Tron Legacy seems like it is the summary of tech in the naughties with its slick black forms and bright LED like lighting, although still a young male protagonist (we can only hope for a sequel girl gamers :) )
Showing posts with label film critique. Show all posts
Showing posts with label film critique. Show all posts
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Doctor No (Film Critique)
This review includes no introduction to the film Doctor No.
Click here the IMDB page for Doctor No.
Doctor no, before the time of the feminine M. There was a man in a grey suit thick glasses, very much a male boss. Doctor No is a film made for men, for both there entertainment, fantasizing and tears over male inadequacy compared to bond. Though it is entertaining to both men and women (Bond is quite the handsome gentleman).
It clearly reflects the times of both the film and the book of Doctor No by Ian Fleming. Smooth accent provided by Sean Connery himself, in the role that made him famous. Due to a combination of that accent, reaction times equally sharp as his wit and intelligence he made espionage the dream job of the day. Backed by an icon theme, especially that guitar riff. That just makes most people want to smile suavely and claim to be “Bond, James Bond”
Doctor no’s fight scenes are unconvincing, in both execution of the fight. The throws being incredibly stiff, the punches never giving the illusion of connecting and the cutting of the film used in an attempt to make the actor appear if he has been thrown brutally into the floor is a flunk. The music being a distraction from the fight and highlighting the awkwardness and incorrect pacing and overall speed of the fight.
A white Felix Lighter also reflecting the times compared to the modern casino royal’s African American version of Felix Lighter, (Lighter is also portrayed as an African American in some of the later films well before Casino Royal.) In Doctor No, Lighter is boring and immediately gives me a negative vibe. The pacing of the film is awful anyway until bond gets inside Dr. No’s Fortress
There is a strong level of racism and some sexism in the film; though it is existent in the book it is accentuated. With all the Black characters believing in sprits and superstition along with some of the women, women being “feisty” and just there to entertain or be protected. With the Chinese women obviously on the bad side or being “Smilers” grinning and apologizing, simply stupid. Doctor No’s name itself is a pun, taking oriental name that might actually be pronounced “noh” and turning it into no a sign of disobedience and unwillingness to co-operate. All of the good guys in the film are White American or Englishmen. Transforming Felix from black to white accentuates racism and removing Honey Riders disfigured nose (That was included in the book) along with her “Cutely Feisty” not “Strong Woman” adds to the objectivcation of women in Doctor No.
The ingenious nature of Bond still stands with using a hair to tell if a door has been opened and other tricks. If you can ignore or cope with the fact that the film was made to stroke the egos of middle aged white men of that era, who did not acknowledge other races or women as even half as good as they were.
Verdict,
“leave the movie alone and read the book, or listen to the talking book”
2.5 stars
Click here the IMDB page for Doctor No.
Doctor no, before the time of the feminine M. There was a man in a grey suit thick glasses, very much a male boss. Doctor No is a film made for men, for both there entertainment, fantasizing and tears over male inadequacy compared to bond. Though it is entertaining to both men and women (Bond is quite the handsome gentleman).
It clearly reflects the times of both the film and the book of Doctor No by Ian Fleming. Smooth accent provided by Sean Connery himself, in the role that made him famous. Due to a combination of that accent, reaction times equally sharp as his wit and intelligence he made espionage the dream job of the day. Backed by an icon theme, especially that guitar riff. That just makes most people want to smile suavely and claim to be “Bond, James Bond”
Doctor no’s fight scenes are unconvincing, in both execution of the fight. The throws being incredibly stiff, the punches never giving the illusion of connecting and the cutting of the film used in an attempt to make the actor appear if he has been thrown brutally into the floor is a flunk. The music being a distraction from the fight and highlighting the awkwardness and incorrect pacing and overall speed of the fight.
A white Felix Lighter also reflecting the times compared to the modern casino royal’s African American version of Felix Lighter, (Lighter is also portrayed as an African American in some of the later films well before Casino Royal.) In Doctor No, Lighter is boring and immediately gives me a negative vibe. The pacing of the film is awful anyway until bond gets inside Dr. No’s Fortress
There is a strong level of racism and some sexism in the film; though it is existent in the book it is accentuated. With all the Black characters believing in sprits and superstition along with some of the women, women being “feisty” and just there to entertain or be protected. With the Chinese women obviously on the bad side or being “Smilers” grinning and apologizing, simply stupid. Doctor No’s name itself is a pun, taking oriental name that might actually be pronounced “noh” and turning it into no a sign of disobedience and unwillingness to co-operate. All of the good guys in the film are White American or Englishmen. Transforming Felix from black to white accentuates racism and removing Honey Riders disfigured nose (That was included in the book) along with her “Cutely Feisty” not “Strong Woman” adds to the objectivcation of women in Doctor No.
The ingenious nature of Bond still stands with using a hair to tell if a door has been opened and other tricks. If you can ignore or cope with the fact that the film was made to stroke the egos of middle aged white men of that era, who did not acknowledge other races or women as even half as good as they were.
Verdict,
“leave the movie alone and read the book, or listen to the talking book”
2.5 stars
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