Pina

• First Released Internationally in 2011 
• Showing at St James Cavalier, Valletta, from the 3rd to the end of April, to commemorate International Dance Day (April 29th)
• Showing in 3D 

Review (03/04/13)

I approached this critically-acclaimed film in the knowledge that I know very little about the world of dance, and next to nothing about the “dance theatre” style for which the late Pina Bausch is mostly famous. This unconventional documentary by the celebrated German director Wim Wenders (Buena Vista Social Club, The Million Dollar Hotel) showcases her dance company’s major works, and looks back on her artistic work through the eyes of her dancers.

The format is fairly simple – there is no obvious narrative, but rather a fluid and sequenced trip through her four major works, recreated for the film. The film is punctuated by brief, intense and original interviews with her dancers, who come from all corners of the globe, and evidently miss her a great deal. There are also numerous brief dance sequences set in various gorgeous locations, making wonderful use of 3D and giving an all-round better picture of her style of dance. Pina herself appears in numerous older clips, but unfortunately she passed away when the film was still in its early stages.

There’s no denying that this is vivid, beautiful and very different cinema, but whether you actually enjoy it or not as a film experience will probably depend highly on your relationship with dance. And on whether you view Pina’s quotes as inspirational nuggets to cherish, or vague statements that could really mean anything. But ultimately, I’m quite sure that everyone leaving the cinema will have a very good sense of who Pina was, at least professionally, and what an indelible mark she has left. Which is a testament to Wim Wenders and his observant and thorough approach here.

 

Trailers:

http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/independent/pina/

 

St James Cavalier have recently installed new digital projectors and a larger screen. Upcoming highlights which will make use of this technology include showings of Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake, Jeff Wayne’s War of the Worlds and many more. For more info visit http://www.sjcav.org/.

District 9

• Released Internationally on 13/08/09
• Released in Malta by KRS on 09/09/09 (how appropriate)

In a nutshell

Blurring the line between immigrants and aliens, this original and gripping science-fiction film from South Africa puts extra-terrestrials in a whole new light.

Aliens

The film wastes no time in presenting the striking image of an enormous spacecraft hovering ominously over the Johannesburg skyline. The engaging mock-documentary style mixes in a few interviews with news footage to quickly explain how 28 years ago this massive mothership appeared in the sky, came to standstill, and then did nothing. After much debate, we humans decided to break in, and a million weak, malnourished and generally docile aliens were found inside. With the eyes of the world watching, the South African government did the noble thing and gave them asylum in a fenced district – District 9.

Illegal immigrants

The metaphor for illegal immigration is immediately apparent, also thanks to not-so-subtle imagery. The aliens are treated by Johannesburg residents as a drain on resources, a nuisance, and a potential source of crime and danger. The town is full of signs prohibiting their entrance, they are nicknamed ‘prawns’ due to their appearance, and as the years go by the government is pressured into somehow getting rid of them. A huge eviction campaign is started, with plans to shift the entire prawn population to a ‘tent city’ far from the city centre.

Wikus Van De Merwe

During the opening documentary-style scenes, we are given a quick tour of the operation headquarters by a geeky-looking type who seems eager to impress. Wikus (impressive newcomer Sharlto Copley) is put in charge of the evacuation, thanks to some good old favouritism, and we join him on the much-advertised first day of the project. The replies his fellow colleagues give during interviews give us a sense that something is going to go incredibly wrong, but we are initially in the dark as to the nature or scale of the problem.

The issues at stake

Besides the focus on tensions between locals and immigrants, the film also delves into the artillery issue, with large corporations putting lives at risk in the search for dominance in the weapons market. These dubious ethics and the overriding racial conflicts manage to lift this film high above similar outings in the genre. The middle section of the film relies less on the documentary style and progresses like a thoroughbred sci-fi action film, but the hand-held camera work and overall style maintain the sense of realism and urgency that makes this film so distinctive.

Who’s in it?

Young South African director and visual effects artists Neill Blomkamp made a short film in 2005 entitled ‘Alive in Joburg’ (available online here). This film is a development of that 6-minute film into a fuller story, and was made with support from Peter Jackson’s production company. There are no big names on show, nor are they missed. The two principal actors both contributed to the original short, and they do a fine job, as do all the cast and crew. The visual effects are effective without ever being overdone, and the sparse score is a fine finishing touch.

In the end

Whilst borrowing concepts from Aliens, Independence Day and even The Fly, this film stands out as wonderfully original film, and should also appeal to those not usually drawn towards sci-fi. One of the best films of the year, and hopefully the start of a fruitful and entertaining directing career.

Trailer:

http://www.apple.com/trailers/sony_pictures/district9/ (High-res Quicktime)

Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour

 

• Released Internationally on 01/02/08
• Released in Malta by KRS on 13/08/08

 

Showing exclusively at Empire Cinemas in Buġibba, in Disney Digital 3-D

Huh?

Yes, that’s actually the title of a film. It’s very forgivable for us Europeans to have never heard of Hannah Montana, or Miley Cyrus, or the Best of Both Worlds tour, or Disney Digital 3-D for that matter. They’re all the rage across the Atlantic though, and I hope this sort of 3D will soon be all the rage here too.

One at a time please. 3D?

Ok, let’s start with this new 3D. RealD Cinema is the latest development in the world of three-dimensional film. Like older versions, it involves the viewer wearing tailor-made polarized glasses, but the results are much more impressive than what we might have experienced in the past. The concept is proving so successful that Disney/Pixar have announced that all their future film releases will use the technology (under the brand name Disney Digital 3-D), and so have DreamWorks animation. Other big names with RealD films in the pipeline include Robert Zemeckis, James Cameron and Tim Burton.

This summer marks the release of the first ever live-action film to be released in this new format – Journey to the Centre of the Earth 3-D (starring Brendan Fraser, and soon available locally), and Empire Cinemas in Buġibba have launched their own 3-D cinema just in time.

Hannah Montana? Miley Cyrus?

Hannah Montana is the name of a hugely-popular American TV series conceived by Disney a couple of years ago. It stars one of the richest teenagers in the world, Miley Cyrus, as a girl who leads a double life – she’s a normal schoolgirl by day, and a successful pop musician by night. Buoyed by the show’s popularity (amongst pre-teen and teen girls, mostly), Disney’s next step was to launch a US tour where Miley Cyrus could perform the show’s numerous songs, both as herself and in character. The concert was a huge success, as screaming girls dragged their parents to arenas across the country. This film serves as a short résumé of the whole tour, showcasing the highlights of one of the performances, as well as giving the viewers some backstage access.

Worth the funny glasses?

The 3D is pristine. Forget the flimsy cardboard frames with green and red lenses you wore back in the 90s or during your trip to Florida – this time around we’re given chunky but comfy frames (which thankfully fit over my prescription glasses) and which align with the big screen to make you think that for some strange reason you attended a Miley Cyrus concert. Admittedly, I’m not exactly the target audience for the film in question, but sitting through the teenage scream-fest was made much more enjoyable by the impressive 3D effects – from the arena audience raising their hands in the seat around you, to guitar picks and drum sticks flying towards your face. If the cinema’s air-conditioning wasn’t working I might have actually thought I was in Utah, not Buġibba. Let’s hope we get a steady stream of quality 3D films to suit all tastes in the near future, because this is what ‘going to the movies’ should be all about.

 

The 3-D Experience:

The Hannah Montana concert documentary:

 

Trailer:

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1809949460/trailer (Higher-res)