Old Clip, New video play

My first post from android

Today square space lunched the android app, I love it. I have to say this might be the best friday, if only it was a pay day

HUNTER PREY

Hunter Prey; Released on DVD in 2010. But apparently came out on film in 2009. This is currently available on Netflix stream and DVD.

I had no idea what this film was about. In all honesty all I saw was the two characters and the title “Hunter Prey”. I had to watch it. This poster really did what its’ suppose to do. It captured my imagination and made want to see what is going to happen.

Although I personally would rate it a 4 our 5, its’ current average rating is 3 stars, on Netflix. So in all it’s not a bad rating. While some might call this a B movie, due to lack of funds and well it is a low budget film. Personally I think that it rivals some of the A titles out there. It also does what films like “Monsters” tried to do, but 100 times better.

So as one can tell I have sweet tooth for this film. This was only after watching it, I swear. It really is a must see! I’m not saying it’s going to blow your mind. But the film is shot beautifully, nice story and the use of people in monster suits instead of replacing actors with cheep cg characters is a plus. These creatures where nicely done, nothing to fancy but not to unbelievable. Elements for this type of film where present, with a small twist. I was really not sure who the human was.

While I do like to keep it short since most of information is available and other reviews are long winded. I'll say this, the director(Sandy Collora) of this film really proved that you can do a lot with a little. While many other films in the genre would have spend well over millions, with no plot or story and character build-up. This Film did it better with an estimate of 425,000; where those other would have none of plot/story and character build-up.

So as far as the cons in my mind, the ending was bit predicable. I did enjoy it, in any case. It was a little funny when a bounty hunter shows up to try to take the human. Kind strange but you have make the shots count right.

As far as other films I would compare it to, “Enemy Mine” staring Dennis Quaid. If you enjoyed this film, then definitely check out “Hunter Prey”. If anything rent it, I would buy it. But that's juts me.

MONSTERS

Monsters, released in 2010 and available on DVD or streaming on Netflix.

I like the idea of an alien species setting up residences after a NASA shuttle crashes in Mexico. At least that’s the premise of the film. This shuttle had gone to a near-by planet/moon, to bring back some alien life samples; only to crash-land south of the border. Its’ cargo then infected an area of Mexico, Starting at U.S Border and down a large portion of Mexico.

But this has nothing to do with monsters, but more to do with two Americans trying to get back to states. It felt more like a bad version of “Romancing the Stone”, but no stone. Sure a few bad guys (monsters) show up here and there, to make things difficult.

So straight out I’ll jump in and rate it and explain more as the review progresses. I almost felt like giving it 2 out 5, but when it ended I was like no way! A 1 out 5 it is, so I didn't like.

This infection spawns, what seem to be giant aliens? These aliens where rarely seen thought the film. Even though the two main stars are force to travel through the infected zone of Mexico on foot, in attempts to make it back to the states. When you do finally get to see them, they didn’t seem alien at all. But more like giant land walking octopus. Or more like a Squibbon mixed between a Megasuid. That’s right from Discovery channel's show “The Future Is Wild”. I know it’s hard to be original, but this no excuse.

Before I go into what one would consider a rant, I'll start with the good. Visually this movie was shot very clean. The jungles they shot in where very gorgeous, great colors and the sound of the jungles where all well captured. While the two main actors had limited dialog it was well written. As an independent film, it felt well cut and put together. It would have done better without the title “Monsters” and the genre Sci-Fi, Thriller on it.

So why didn’t I like it? As an indie film I have certain expectations. I expect the basics to be there, not all of them but at lest some follow through. A few things like character building, motifs, antagonist and protagonist.

Who were the main characters in this film, the monsters or the guy and girl trying to get home? What happened to the foreshadowing I swear was presented. Also where in the hell did the love interest begin, between our Americans? Better yet I don’t recall any Aztec/Mayan temples so close to U.S. border, also there’s no dang jungle between Texas and the parts they traveled in. It’s all desert. I understand once you get closer to Mexico City you get your lush jungles, but not here people.

Which way did it go, as I ponder the direction of the film? Throughout the film I swear the girl was infected. They gave all kinds of clues and hints. One such scene like on a TV playing in the background had a show talking about creatures that would track a female through urine for miles and miles, when searching for a mate. So why the girl, well she was the only one pissing throughout the film. It’s not just because she went to the bathroom in the open, but only because she made a big deal out of it.

That wasn’t all, also her arm. What was the deal with her right arm? It was covered and wrapped and she said it was hurt, but not broken, which was established 5 minutes into the movie. No other detail was given, but the camera would focus on it quite often and so would the guy. Since infection was so widely used, her arm must have been infected, but it wasn’t. There where few other hints, but I guess that’s wishful thinking, for such a boring film.

The introduction of fungus from Mars (not really from Mars) as the true infection and the source of the alien plague had me lost. Was this fungus growing on her arm? But it wasn’t. The security escorts of two American’s said something along the lines of “leave the aliens alone and they leave you alone”. 5 minutes later with their own known fact, the escorts rushed in guns blazing trying to save a few others, but not surviving…why.

In the end the two manage to make it to the states, only to make-out under aliens, where you finally see the aliens for what they are, also kissing, I might add.

At some level it seems like the direction of film was to mimic “The Abyss”. Making viewers feel pity for the aliens, as the innocent life-form. But portraying the humans as the invaders, better yet the Americans. The Americans seems to be the only one doing air raids, bombing with gases and jeopardizing human health in the process. I sure hope this film was not an attempt to highlight the controversy of the U.S. and its border wall and drug war in Mexico. That would be truly insulting. Well the film had a good start but not great follow through. It’s not that its' slow, it is and it’s not that you’re left think “what it’s over”; it’s the feels like something is missing.

Behind schedule

Time just doesn't seem to sit still. No new reviews or videos. I should have had more uploads by now. No  way to predict that i would have falling behind so much. Or maybe i should have figured. I's hard to write reviews on Documentary's. That's really for the most part all I've watched. Other then old TV series, like Lexx.