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Hostel: Part II, a review by Jon

HOSTEL: PART II

3 out of 5

The first Hostel came in for a lot of criticism for perpetuating "torture porn". Whereas I feel the Saw films fit this description in full, I thought Hostel had more substance. That said it was certainly a guilty pleasure for sick little gorehounds! 

Hostel: Part II also came in for the same complaints, if not more. I must admit, I was put off seeing it for a while because I was given the impression it was more of the same, with less structure; a classic sequel mistake. Also the idea that it uses girls where before it was boys seemed so damn obvious I assumed that was probably the limit of its ambition.

Well I was wrong! Thanks to Empire magazine and a balanced DVD review I was tempted to give it a chance. Overall I liked it. First of all it opens with a simple scene I found very disturbing, then it finishes off the arc of the first film and smoothly demonstrates the depth of the organisation running the show. Then we get two threads running in parallel; the girls being lured into the trap via similar methods that befell the boys, and two business men travelling to Slovakia to take part.

By giving more time to demonstrating the mechanics of the "Hunters Club", the film isn't as immediate and potent as Hostel. It lacks the focus and therefore the punch. The gore seems scaled back, or at least less gratuitous. That's right! It isn't as shocking. This has to be by design though, showing a confidence in the back story. I think I'll appreciate it more on a second viewing when my "I MUST SEE BLOOD!" thoughts have calmed down. Trust me, I really am quite, quite sane. Honest. Really I am...    It'll work really well in a double-bill because it doesn't just repeat, it tries to add something new.

By the way, gorehounds, the blood is still there. There's some really nasty inventive shit to make you squirm! But mainly it's from the point of view of the killer and there's less shock value in seeing the cutter cut than the cuttee be cut. Erm... you know what I mean... 

I found the whole film to have a more slow burn disgust. Hostel was brutal, presenting the killers as relatively faceless monsters with weird fetishes, but here it is more explicit in showing them as normal business men just looking for kicks. I found that quite powerful, probably because it's closer to the truth. In one of the featurettes Eli Roth mentions business men he has met that travel the world just to try different prostitutes. Not so far away really. Those interviews also show how much he is trying to give his film relevance.

This film is worth seeing because it doesn't treat the viewer like a prat. It gives us something new and both parts compliment each other. The first is all round a better film because it has that basic premise of a lonely traveller in a hopeless situation, but two films of that wouldn't have worked (Saw, anyone?). By the end there's been a couple of dafter plot points and cliches, but a nice twist or two. However it's the stories broader targets that are more interesting and give this film real value.

(From Hostel: Part II on November 1st, 2007)

All About Eve, a review by Antares

All About Eve





Year: 1950
Film Studio: Twentieth Century Fox
Genre: Drama, Classic
Length: 138 Min.

Director
Joseph L. Mankiewicz (1909)

Writing
Joseph L. Mankiewicz (1909)...Written By

Producer
Darryl F. Zanuck (1902)

Cinematographer
Milton R. Krasner (1904)

Music
Alfred Newman (1901)...Composer

Stars
Bette Davis (1908) as Margo
Anne Baxter (1923) as Eve
George Sanders (1906) as Addison DeWitt
Celeste Holm (1917) as Karen
Gary Merrill (1915) as Bill Simpson
Hugh Marlowe (1911) as Lloyd Richards
Gregory Ratoff (1897) as Max Fabian
Barbara Bates (1925) as Phoebe

Review
       While CasablancaAll about EveAll about Eve can be ranked high on that short list. With the breathtaking new restoration and re-mastering that this film was given for its DVD release, new generations will be able to appreciate the classical collaboration of a flawless screenplay and bravura acting performances.



Review Criterion
- The pinnacle of film perfection and excellence.
- Not quite an immortal film, yet a masterpiece in its own right.
- Historically important film, considered a classic.
- Borderline viewable.
- A gangrenous and festering pustule in the chronicles of celluloid.


(From All about Eve (1950) on June 25th, 2010)

Smallville Marathon #2, a review by DJ Doena

Synopsis: A solar flares makes Clark's abilities go kablooey. Unfortunately there's a witness to his accidental uses of his powers: Perry White, a former reporter, whose career has been terminated by none other than Lionel Luthor. Now he works for a TV show that deals with paranormal events and Smallville is the Mecca for this.

My Opinion: I didn't like that Perry White that much, most likely because of the way he's portrayed. And I can't imagine that a man like him would ever forget what he has seen in Smallville. So, when one day he is the editor of a certain "Daily Planet" and a young reporter called Clark Kent gets his job there, I doubt he would have forgotten that young man, especially when soon after a certain "Superman" appears. But then again, who says that this Perry White will ever become editor of the "Daily Planet"?

Synopsis: Lana visits his great uncle, who is convicted of the murder of his wife. It happened back in 1961 but some things don't add up. He claims that there was a mysterious drifter and that drifter looked a lot like Clark Kent. Clark helps investigate this case and finds a "journal" hidden in the Kawatche cave: Jor-El of Krypton had been visiting Earth 40 years ago.

My Opinion: I liked the episode because it made Jor-El much more "human". Before this we just knew his voice and his orders. Now we've learned that he had the same problems as Clark currently has. I also liked that there's a link between Jor-El and Jonathan's father Hiram. Martha said in the pilot that they didn't find him, but he found them. How right she was.

Synopsis: A young man is attacked and an infection of his blood with kryptonite and an MRI give him the ability to move metal objects as well as control emotions of persons he touches. He uses this to "persuade" Lana to go out with him but Clark sees through the charade and tries to help.

My Opinion: FotW episode with Lana once again as the victim and Clark once again accused of jealousy.

Synopsis: Lex is attacked in his mansion but can escape. He hides out at Clark's and Clark tries to help him. But was Lex really attacked or did he have a mental breakdown?

My Opinion: One thing I have to admit: Michael Rosenbaum is a way better actor than Tom Welling. I really like Tom and I don't know if it's due the role or not, but his range of facial expressions is rather limited (smiling, backing off, lying, looking worried and a few others). Michael on the other hand did a great job in this one. I "loved" to see him go nuts and the end was great.

(From Smallville Marathon #2 on May 31st, 2008)