Movie reviews

eXistenZ (1999)
“Life is a hospital where every patient is obsessed by the desire of changing beds. One would like to suffer opposite the stove, another is

Twin Falls Idaho (1999)
“…I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all. Thousands of little kids, and nobody’s

Fellini Satyricon (1969)
Imperial Rome is back in the news these days. Director Ridley Scott’s recently released Gladiator has garnered glowing reviews from just about everywhere. I’m glad.

Shall We Dance? (1996)
Before I begin talking about this month’s film, I’d like to congratulate the new owners of Crawford Bay Video, Theresa and Lorne, and wish them

Seven Beauties (1975)
“Multiply the above [execution of seventeen prisoners of war] by scores, aye hundreds—verify it in all the forms that different circumstances, individuals, places, could afford—light

Supercop (Police Story 3) (1992)
“You killed my master! Now, you die!”<primal screech of rage, followed by loud slapping noises> –a very brief summary of Hong Kong martial arts cinema,

Naked (1993)
Johnny: “And what is it what goes on in this postmodernist gas chamber? Night Watchman: “Nothing. It’s empty.” Johnny: “So what is it you

My Neighbor Totoro (1988) & Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989) directed by Hayao Miyazaki
First, a recommendation for those of you who don’t have small children: to fully appreciate the films talked about in this month’s review you might

Smoke Signals (1998)
“Some days it’s a good day to die; some days it’s a good day to play basketball.”—Victor Joseph Grim and grimmer. That pretty much sums

Dark City (1998)
The urchins are writhing around in the mud, Like eels playing tag in a barrel The old Sally Army sound mournful and sweet As they

The Sweet Hereafter (1997)
Eat crow, Panio. You rented Atom Egoyan’s The Sweet Hereafter (1997) in order to bury him, and instead you’re forced to spend this entire column

Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
Somewhere in the Kootenays. The Mad Film Critic is alone in his study. His graying hair spikes upward as if he’s permanently wired to a