Arts Movie Reviews

Family movie reviews for "Arts" sorted by average review score:

F**K The Disabled

Released in DVD by Wolfe Video (09 July, 2002)

MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)

Starring: Greg Walloch

Average review score:

Walloch bubbles over!

I recently viewed this film at the Out On Screen Festival in Vancouver. Greg Walloch's natural charm and talent bubbles over in this film featuring his smart and very funny stage show.

"Keeping It Real: Adventures With Greg Walloch" (as the film was titled in the festival) is best when we see Walloch simply telling stories and sharing with his audience, for whom he seems to have a true respect and affection towards.

Greg Walloch is the new garde in the tradition of Sandra Burnhard, Spalding Gray, and David Drake, his honest and puckish world view might well shake you up and it will certainly make you laugh. I can't wait to show the DVD to friends who couldn't make the festival. Don't miss this!

Sweet genius

Greg Walloch is a brilliant performer--he observes the world deeply, with great compassion and humor. This movie is a tour de force; Greg Walloch is a splendid force of nature.

An Evening with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

Released in DVD by Image Entertainment (23 January, 2001)

MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)

Starring: Alvin American Dance the Ailey and Alvin Ailey

Average review score:

very entertaining

i must warn you im not a dancing or video buff, but i found this dvd very entertaining. judith jamison's divining is very atheletic, and innovative from the ballets i have seen. and i cant stop watching ailey's revelations because it not only good ballet but the gospel songs are fun to listen too. other than that the dvd only offers a lil clip of how ailey started the alvin ailey company, and the special features only have the last three songs done w/o interruptions, meaning w/ no credts scrolling over the performance. hope you likey

j.b.

The great black choreographer.

This is a great DVD, it is very caracteristic of Alvin Ailey's works. It is an inspiration for many young Black-American Dancers.

Enjoy the DVD.

Everyone Is Kung-Fu Fighting

Released in DVD by A55 Films (21 October, 2003)

MPAA Rating:

Director: Jeff Centauri

Average review score:

Solid look into independent martial arts shorts!

For fans of martial arts and low budget films, A55 films delivers a full featured action packed dvd with 9 short films from various directors. Particularily interesting is the stringing together of the movies to make one long film, breaking them up into chapters.

Everything from director commentaries on each film, to photo galleries, outtakes, bloopers, a crazy fighting game, and hidden menues can be found on the dvd. This is a must purchase for fans of independent cinema, and those looking to get into making movies themselves.

The nine movies are DARE, KAELA, GUNG-HO, TEAMWORK 2, PRISON WARZ, COLLECTION AGENCY, CRADLE OF THE BLIND, KUNG-FU LEGENDS: TURBO, and CROUCHING WAITER, HIDDEN CHEF

Every film has something different to offer, some shot on 35mm, some on digital, different lighting, plots etc.., and best not to spoil them here, just buy it and find out!

An Evening with the Royal Ballet / Nureyev, Fonteyn

Released in DVD by Kultur Video (31 July, 2001)

MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)

Directors: Anthony Asquith and Anthony Havelock-Allan

In An Evening with the Royal Ballet (1963), Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn, the most famous ballet partnership of the 20th century, dance together in the first two numbers, a dreamily romantic treatment of Les Sylphides, with the choreography by Michel Fokine, and a dazzling pas de deux from Le Corsaire. Les Sylphides is treated as an ensemble number, with full involvement by the Covent Garden company as well as graceful solos by the two stars. Le Corsaire, as choreographed by Nureyev, gives him opportunities to display his remarkable technique but also allows Fonteyn to shine.

Neither appears in Frederick Ashton's choreography for La Valse, which gets to the heart of Ravel's music in a visually impressive treatment. In "Aurora's Wedding" from Sleeping Beauty choreographed by Marius Petipa, Fonteyn dances beautifully with David Blair, an excellent Florimund, though not on the Nureyev level. "Aurora's Wedding" has many brilliant solos and, like La Valse, is an impressive showcase for the company. --Joe McLellan

Average review score:

unacceptable

the video quality of this dvd is bad, terriable and completely
unacceptable. i strongly against the purchase of this dvd because of it's video quality. if you do purchase it you will proably return it as i did.

Aa delightful evening at the ballet.

This 1963 movie features Fonteyn and Nureyev in excerpts from LE CORSAIRE, LA VALSE, SLEEPING BEAUTY (ACT III AURORA'S WEDDING), & LES SYLPHIDES. This can be enjoyed for the music, the dancing and as a piece of wondurful ballet history with two of ballet's greatest stars.

this is one of my favorite videos

Les Sylphides, Le Corsaire, La Valse, and Sleeping Beauty (Act III)....

Les Sylphides is absolutely magical, the best performance of this ballet I've ever seen. Nureyev gives his usual intense, wonderful performance, and Fonteyn -- words cannot describe the beauty of her every exquisite movement. This ballet is, perfectly suited to her lyrical style. IMO, Fonteyn had the most incredibly expressive arms.... But before I start rambling (or have I already?)....

Le Corsaire is an absolutely brilliant performance from Nureyev, and Fonteyn dances beautifully as well (although her performance is perhaps a bit too subdued in comparison to Nureyev's mindblowing one).

La Valse was probably wonderful to see live, but the magic is kind of lost on film. I think it's one of those ballets you had to see in person.

Sleeping Beauty is a joy to see. Fonteyn is wonderful as usual, and David Blair makes a superb prince, very noble and suave. A young Antoinette Sibley gives an exquisite peerformance in the Blue Bird pas de deux.

A great buy!

Fantasy Mission Force

Released in DVD by Front Row Video, Inc (15 May, 2000)

MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)

Director: Yin-Ping Chu

Jackie Chan makes a brief guest appearance in this surreally goofy action comedy, a high-spirited shambles from 1982 that hovers awkwardly somewhere between Monty Python and The Three Stooges. When all else fails, cult director Chu Yen-ping (Island of Fire) resorts to exploding cigars, guys making funny faces, men dressed in women's clothing, even a ghost or two. The nominal star, '70s kung fu veteran Wang Yu (The One-Armed Swordsman), is an Allied agent assembling a troupe of commandos for a mission behind enemy lines during World War II. (Although the landscape is obviously Asian, there are Hogan's Heroes-style Nazis scampering through the jungle.) Every member of this movie's mismatched clown-squad seems to hail from a different planet, including one inexplicable fellow who looks like an Elvis impersonator in a kilt. Most of the exhilarating action is handled by the glorious Brigitte Lin Ching-hsia, from Peking Opera Blues and The Bride with White Hair, who kicks heads and looks smashing in a red-and-black-leather jumpsuit. --David Chute

Average review score:

Disappointment for Jackie Chan Fans

Thsi movie is a complete waste of time and money for Jackie Chan fans.His screen presence is only a few minutes, in 2-3 scenes.
The story is obscure.Editing is poor. One cannot understand what is going on!Sound is poor with poor quality dubbing as well. picture quality is also worse than an old VHS tape.it is a complete waste.

Has to be seen to be believed

Like I said above, this movie just has to be seen to be believed. I can't really describe it, except to say that it features some of the oddest situations and visuals I've ever seen in any movie. It's supposed to take place during WWII, but features old beat up 1970's chevy's (being ridden chariot style by Nazis!), Scottish UN Troops, and references to James Bond and Rambo.

Visually, the characters are almost comic book in appearance. Apart from the Scottish UN Troops in Kilts and Chrome helmets (this is a good place to point out that this film has an all chinese cast), we have a soiler, a hobo, a woman in tight black leather, and Wayne Newton.

The dubbing is laughibly atrocious. At one point, they refer to prisoners being taken to Tokyo, while pointing at a map of Europe! But that's part of this films goofy charm.

This is not really a Jackie Chan movie, though. He has a small supporting role and does little of his trademark fighting. It's one of those films that have been released to cash in on his name. But don't let that stop you. Overall, this movie is a total riot! It's the kind of movie that will make you miss the glory days of MST3K. Watch it with friends and have your own MST evening!

NOTE: If all you like are "normal" movies, stay away.

Cult classic? Got to be seen to be believed!

This film is so bad its great! This is not for people looking for a more typical Jackie Chan movie, but rather for affectionados of truly bizarre movies. A potential cult classic.

This movie has everything-from agile Asian Amazons to a Mad Max at thunderdome type of scene where the bad guys chase the heroes in 70's vintage cars (this movie was supposed to take place during WWII) Not to mention the haunted house . . .

I highly recommend watching this movie with a couple of friends, and perhaps a beer or two.