I know it's quite rare for me to post two blogs in under 24 hours, but after viewing a movie that I just have to ramble on about for a little while, I felt inspired. So here's an impromptu movie review you can add to the ones I posted last night.
Brotherhood of the Wolf - It was at 4:30 in the morning while I was tucked away nicely under the covers that a car alarm went off in my building's back parking lot. Thinking the owner would have half the brain to eventually get out of bed and turn the thing off, I found myself disappointed with the realization that the owner was probably a complete tool since and hour later it was still going in 10 minute intervals. I finally gave up and got out of bed, went to the living room and turned on the tube. I was very glad I didn't have to go into work today. After flicking through a sea of infomercials (What the hell is Peter Fonda doing in one of those????) I decided I would pop one of the movies I got from my rental club. It was one I had heard rumors of for the last couple years and kept my eyes open for. But, I couldn't find it for the longest time. When I joined my online movie rental club I put a search out for it. It had the title in its library, but it was marked as unavailable. I put it in my queue anyway.
Then, this past week I receive the title in the mail. A pleasant surprise, indeed, in every way shape and form. I'm no fan of French movies that have subtitles, let alone ones that are period pieces! Usually the idea of having to sit through a 2 hour plus movie of the like would get me quite nauseated. Well, I have to tell you, the experience was quite the opposite.
This 2001 movie blends a whole bunch of genres into one sweet experience while at the same time still retaining a tight cohesiveness. Sure it's part drama and period piece, but it also has a lot of goodies mixed in.... A good dose of martial arts, some horror, a little fantasy, some political intrigue, a dash of swashbuckling, suspense, mystery and a slight teaspoon of fairy tale.
Based on actual French folklore of the 1700's, the dreaded Beast of Gevaudan is running about the French countryside attacking and slaughtering fair maidens. The creature is believed to be some sort of monster wolf. The king sends two men into the area to seek out and hunt down the creature. No sooner do Grégoire de Fronsac, a knight of the king, and his cohort, Mani, an American Indian arrive that trouble rues it's ugly head. They find themselves defending a woman who's being accused of witchcraft by a bunch of barbaric townspeople. The two get off their horses as dole out a nasty can of Prime Grade-A Whoopass! It is here that I realized this wasn't going to be your usual dry, dull, boring, subtitled French film (actually, one thing that helped was that I turned off the subtitles and activated the English dialouge).
Being a French film there are of course bouts of the movie that drag a bit, but all of the goodies this film offers make up for them. The cinematography is top notch, beautiful, bright and lush. The set designs were fantastic and gave a slight dark fairy tale feel to the fim. The costuming was phenomenal!! I'd love to get my hands on one of the trench coat outfits that the two heros are wearing when we first see them for a Halloween costume.
There are a few twists and turns in the plot, keeping it fresh. The story itself has all sorts of elements that keep in moving. Some of the characters are right out cool pulp stories. Advenurous hero, spiritual sidekick, dastardly villians and of course buxom, exotic women (Monica Bellucci, anybody?).
I have to say that I was quite blown away at how epic this folklore story ended up being. It left me wanting to know more about the hero and his other possible adventures. There a comic book, role playing game or new series of books out there just waiting to be created out of this.
In the end I was pretty blown away with it and would like to find out where I can find it to put it into my collection!
Oh, and here's #225 of Zangz's Completley Useless Pop Culture Trivia: The actor who plays Mani in the film is none other than Iron Cheff host Mark Dacascos. he also played the part of The Crow on the quasi comic book related, syndicated TV series.
I hope you all try and seek this big treat out. You can always set the language to spoken English and avoid the subtitles. You will NOT be dissapointed!
I now have to go and take out the trash, enjoy the nice weather with a cigar and then some Fable II.
We'll talk with you later. Stay vertical!
Zangz.
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