dynamite warrior Tagged Articles at Cinematical
Indies on DVD: Avenue Montaigne, Dynamite Warrior and Other Mindless Treats
Filed under: Action », Drama », Foreign Language », Horror », New on DVD », Cinematical Indie »
A lovely, light comedy/drama, Avenue Montaigne is out this week on DVD, and it's my top pick because of one scene. French country girl Jessica (Cécile De France) stumbles onto a rooftop and sees the Eiffel Tower looming across the Seine. The early morning sky is gray and threatening, but it seems like the perfect moment for the sun to burst forth upon our plucky heroine. Instead, the clouds grow darker and a rainstorm soaks her. It's a welcome reversal of expectations, for up until that point it appears Jessica will skip merrily around the upscale Avenue Montaigne forever, making friends and influencing lives with the light touch of an angel. But the rooftop rainstorm -- intercut with wordless images of the other key characters -- makes it apparent that writer/director Danièle Thompson is after something more elusive than simply riffing on Amelie. The DVD includes a "making of" feature and is anamorphic, so it should look gorgeous.When I wrote about Dynamite Warrior earlier this week, I didn't mean to damn it with faint praise. Among the new releases, it's what I would choose for a weekend party picture rental: gather your friends, shake some cayenne on your popcorn, serve the beverages of your choice and have a cheesy good time with the Thai rocket master of your dreams. You can even be a heretic and (horrors!) play the English dub. Extras include a "making of" feature, "behind the scenes" stunts and on-set footage. Other indie releases that sound like mindless treats include Baxter, a 1989 French horror flick about a bull terrier who can think (?!), and Yo-Yo Girl Cop, a 2006 Japanese action pic about an undercover operative who uses ... wait for it .. a yo-yo as her weapon of choice. Will wonders never cease?
'Dynamite Warrior' Midnight Burial a Mercy Killing
Filed under: Action », Foreign Language », Independent », Magnolia », Cinematical Indie »
When I heard that Magnolia Pictures had picked up U.S. distribution rights to Dynamite Warrior, I rejoiced. Magnolia was also behind the theatrical release of Ong Bak and Tears of a Black Tiger, so I thought they would know what to do with a Thai action picture that was bound to appeal to a fringe audience. My anticipation had initially been buoyed by my friend Joey, who sent along a link to the trailer on YouTube last November with a very simple message attached: "SOLD." Indeed, the trailer is filled with wild action: a masked hero riding a rocket, intense gymnastic fighting, explosions and lots of bodies flying through the air. With Dan Chupong, stunt man turned star of Born to Fight, on board, I looked forward to seeing it on the big screen.I was, therefore, more than a little irritated to learn that the only theatrical screenings in my area would be two midnight screenings at one theater. As with many cities in flyover country, Dallas often has to wait -- sometimes months -- for foreign-language prints to make their way to us, if they make it at all, so I grumbled at the late hour, drank plenty of coffee and bought my ticket last night. Alas, the trailer contains all the highlights of the film. Giddy action sequences are stranded by confusing exposition and needless extended flashbacks. I still enjoyed myself, though, and was glad I was able to see it in a theater -- despite the hyenas who sat in my row, loudly talking and inappropriately laughing at everything. Maybe midnight screenings will again become a viable place to see new, odd little movies that you can't see anyplace else. If you missed the midnight madness, Dynamite Warrior comes out on DVD this Tuesday, July 17.
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