Folkish Film Revue
29.03.202518:32
14.02.202504:59
Don't Be a Menace... (1996)
DBaMtSCwDYJitH is a densely-packed, gross-out comedy that satirises the tear-jerker black dramas from the era, and is so crass that it was debated whether to include it at all at FFR. The crudity of the film's humour is, however, strong enough to force a laugh from most viewers at any rate; the truly interesting parts of the film are its portrayals of the social ills plaguing American blacks. Its 'agree and amplify' approach does not detract from its (South) central points: that the blacks themselves are responsible for their violence, fatherlessness, drug abuse, promiscuity et al.; that black nationalists are unserious people; that those with enough potential and discipline to make change would rather leave The Hood than be dragged down into the figurative bucket. All this to say that, from the horse's mouth, the pity-the-blacks films are wrong, and so too the egalitarian worldview.
Suitability: Adults for language, sexuality, mild violence
Key themes: Social ills, adulthood
DBaMtSCwDYJitH is a densely-packed, gross-out comedy that satirises the tear-jerker black dramas from the era, and is so crass that it was debated whether to include it at all at FFR. The crudity of the film's humour is, however, strong enough to force a laugh from most viewers at any rate; the truly interesting parts of the film are its portrayals of the social ills plaguing American blacks. Its 'agree and amplify' approach does not detract from its (South) central points: that the blacks themselves are responsible for their violence, fatherlessness, drug abuse, promiscuity et al.; that black nationalists are unserious people; that those with enough potential and discipline to make change would rather leave The Hood than be dragged down into the figurative bucket. All this to say that, from the horse's mouth, the pity-the-blacks films are wrong, and so too the egalitarian worldview.
Suitability: Adults for language, sexuality, mild violence
Key themes: Social ills, adulthood
30.08.202403:59
Reign of Fire (2002)
Set in a post-apocalyptic vision of an early 2000s burned out by dragon's breath, Reign of Fire splits the difference between 'stupid explosion movie' and 'contemporary update of dragon-slaying knight-errant tale.' A consequence of this shift in setting is a kind of archeofuturism wherein the people retreat to a mediaeval fortification with autoloading rifles in hand, and by the same token, retreat to a simpler, more tribal way of life in order to survive. Obviously, the film is not so serious-minded as this (it is at bottom tongue-in-cheek), but this is food for thought regardless. There is a lot to say about the colouring of McConaughey's wandering warrior as American military, but suffice it to say for now that it belies the New-Worlders as being as much a part of this European tradition as those in the old country.
Suitability: Teens and up for gunplay and violence
Key themes: Community, leadership, the mad quest
Set in a post-apocalyptic vision of an early 2000s burned out by dragon's breath, Reign of Fire splits the difference between 'stupid explosion movie' and 'contemporary update of dragon-slaying knight-errant tale.' A consequence of this shift in setting is a kind of archeofuturism wherein the people retreat to a mediaeval fortification with autoloading rifles in hand, and by the same token, retreat to a simpler, more tribal way of life in order to survive. Obviously, the film is not so serious-minded as this (it is at bottom tongue-in-cheek), but this is food for thought regardless. There is a lot to say about the colouring of McConaughey's wandering warrior as American military, but suffice it to say for now that it belies the New-Worlders as being as much a part of this European tradition as those in the old country.
Suitability: Teens and up for gunplay and violence
Key themes: Community, leadership, the mad quest
28.03.202503:58
The Adventures of Tintin (1991)
Tintin's attempt at a vacation, combining the adventures The Cigars of the Pharaoh and The Blue Lotus into a single plot, reads like a Dennis Wheatley novel (with perhaps more comic relief), replete with exotic locales, smuggling, banditry, mystical enemies and full-blown political terrorism. No explanation is proffered as to the supernatural events in the story - they simply happen, and they must be dealt with - which adds a sense of romanticism to the setting.
It bears pointing out that the inspiration for the character of Tintin is Léon Degrelle, who had a successful career as a journalist before the war. Those unfamiliar with Degrelle's story are encouraged to look him up.
Suitability: Children and up
Key themes: Decency, courage, conspiracy, racial caricature
Tintin's attempt at a vacation, combining the adventures The Cigars of the Pharaoh and The Blue Lotus into a single plot, reads like a Dennis Wheatley novel (with perhaps more comic relief), replete with exotic locales, smuggling, banditry, mystical enemies and full-blown political terrorism. No explanation is proffered as to the supernatural events in the story - they simply happen, and they must be dealt with - which adds a sense of romanticism to the setting.
It bears pointing out that the inspiration for the character of Tintin is Léon Degrelle, who had a successful career as a journalist before the war. Those unfamiliar with Degrelle's story are encouraged to look him up.
Suitability: Children and up
Key themes: Decency, courage, conspiracy, racial caricature
02.11.202400:01
Guys will see this and just think "hell yeah"
23.08.202403:59
Sword of the Valiant (1984)
Sword of the Valiant is a cheesy, fun romp through the tale of the Beheading Game with a star-studded cast and rather good soundtrack. While the fight scenes are at parts laughable and even the dining scenes are silly (you don't need plate armour to eat dinner), there is a kind of strange respect for the dreamlikeness of the story - a perhaps accidental nod to the legend's Celtic origins.
It is also devoid of racial foreigners in leading roles, unlike a more recent adaptation of the tale.
Suitability: Older children (it is about decapitation, after all)
Key themes: Romance, wisdom, adventure, honouring one's word
Sword of the Valiant is a cheesy, fun romp through the tale of the Beheading Game with a star-studded cast and rather good soundtrack. While the fight scenes are at parts laughable and even the dining scenes are silly (you don't need plate armour to eat dinner), there is a kind of strange respect for the dreamlikeness of the story - a perhaps accidental nod to the legend's Celtic origins.
It is also devoid of racial foreigners in leading roles, unlike a more recent adaptation of the tale.
Suitability: Older children (it is about decapitation, after all)
Key themes: Romance, wisdom, adventure, honouring one's word
28.03.202503:49
The following is an FFR special presentation. Originally aired in four parts, the feature has been re-assembled with extraneous credit and title cards excised for a more immersive viewing experience. The original scene breaks and fadeouts have been left untouched; consider them markers for intermissions.
31.10.202416:01
It is now All Hallows' Eve come sundown. FFR wishes you all an evening safe from ghouls and ghosts. Hug your children, enjoy your hauls of candy, showcase your spooky carvings, snuggle close with a pretty girl in front of a spooky movie or campfire story. Most of all, remember that this tradition is older than we can say. We feel it in the blood and carry it on the same way. Oidhche Shamhna shona dhuibh.
11.07.202403:59
Fantastic Voyage (1966)
A Cold War adventure predicated on impossible science and driven by the potential, political ramifications of failing a daunting task, Fantastic Voyage harks back to a time when a scientist on the cutting edge of new developments could also be a man of action with a strong jaw. That the end twist is not the result of a betrayal, but of an emotional failing adds a human touch to what might otherwise be a two-dimensional film, and a psychological element in contrast with the materialist themes otherwise dominating the text. A fun bit of a film trivia is that a classic scene in Fantastic Voyage would later be spoofed in Airplane!, which has by now become better-known than the original being mocked.
Suitability: Older children (pre-teen) and up, if only for the gunplay in the establishing scenes
Key themes: cold war, duty, biology, science, inner space, shellshock
A Cold War adventure predicated on impossible science and driven by the potential, political ramifications of failing a daunting task, Fantastic Voyage harks back to a time when a scientist on the cutting edge of new developments could also be a man of action with a strong jaw. That the end twist is not the result of a betrayal, but of an emotional failing adds a human touch to what might otherwise be a two-dimensional film, and a psychological element in contrast with the materialist themes otherwise dominating the text. A fun bit of a film trivia is that a classic scene in Fantastic Voyage would later be spoofed in Airplane!, which has by now become better-known than the original being mocked.
Suitability: Older children (pre-teen) and up, if only for the gunplay in the establishing scenes
Key themes: cold war, duty, biology, science, inner space, shellshock
21.03.202503:59
FernGully: The Last Rainforest (1992)
Set in a fairy society visited by an outsider hero, FernGully oozes folkloric elements and emphasises conservation. A local filth deity sealed in an ancient tree is unwittingly released from his prison (cf. Ernest Scared Stupid), and begins a rampage; the heroes, a fit, post-adolescent, will-they-or-won't-they couple with big 80s hair, thwart him and restore peace to the verdant bower. The film takes its time with its simple plot, preferring to demonstrate the importance of the natural, the seminal and the magical than to hurry itself along, and the climax makes it clear that a community and its environment are inextricable - quite literally a blood-and-soil message.
Trivia: Robin Williams, a bat escaped from an unethical scientific lab (cf. The Secret of NIMH), delayed the production of Aladdin in preference for working on FernGully, so passionate was he about the role and the film's message.
Suitability: Young children and up
Key themes: Youth, vitality, mullets
Set in a fairy society visited by an outsider hero, FernGully oozes folkloric elements and emphasises conservation. A local filth deity sealed in an ancient tree is unwittingly released from his prison (cf. Ernest Scared Stupid), and begins a rampage; the heroes, a fit, post-adolescent, will-they-or-won't-they couple with big 80s hair, thwart him and restore peace to the verdant bower. The film takes its time with its simple plot, preferring to demonstrate the importance of the natural, the seminal and the magical than to hurry itself along, and the climax makes it clear that a community and its environment are inextricable - quite literally a blood-and-soil message.
Trivia: Robin Williams, a bat escaped from an unethical scientific lab (cf. The Secret of NIMH), delayed the production of Aladdin in preference for working on FernGully, so passionate was he about the role and the film's message.
Suitability: Young children and up
Key themes: Youth, vitality, mullets
31.10.202403:59
The Mummy (1959)
Ostensibly a re-envisioning of The Mummy (1932), but really a blend of it, The Mummy's Hand (1940) and The Mummy's Tomb (1942), The Mummy relies on the living-descendent-guardian mechanism to move the plot, but complicates it with a romance element that ends up being key to the violent climax. The film showcases glimpses of the lifestyles of both the well-to-do and lower classes (if only all pubs were still so inviting...), and the cosiness of both runs up hard against the brutality of the killings; the home is no castle when an otherworldly assassin simply destroys the door and crushes his target with his mere hands. This is of course a reflection of the crime of tomb-robbing itself. As ancient Egypt's sanctity is violated, so it retaliates against merry England. The finale shares this tone - what better ending than a shotgun ambuscade in a swamp (L-shaped and all) for a monster so brutal?
Suitability: Teenagers and up
Key themes: Intrusion, retribution, the old belief
Ostensibly a re-envisioning of The Mummy (1932), but really a blend of it, The Mummy's Hand (1940) and The Mummy's Tomb (1942), The Mummy relies on the living-descendent-guardian mechanism to move the plot, but complicates it with a romance element that ends up being key to the violent climax. The film showcases glimpses of the lifestyles of both the well-to-do and lower classes (if only all pubs were still so inviting...), and the cosiness of both runs up hard against the brutality of the killings; the home is no castle when an otherworldly assassin simply destroys the door and crushes his target with his mere hands. This is of course a reflection of the crime of tomb-robbing itself. As ancient Egypt's sanctity is violated, so it retaliates against merry England. The finale shares this tone - what better ending than a shotgun ambuscade in a swamp (L-shaped and all) for a monster so brutal?
Suitability: Teenagers and up
Key themes: Intrusion, retribution, the old belief
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