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Zatoichi (2003) --> Takeshi Kitano both directs and stars in the newest of the Zatoichi franchise. If you are familiar with it, you will notice that the star of the previous 26 films, Shintaro Katsu (he first starred as the blind swordsman in 1962) is not present. Katsu died in 1997 of throat cancer. The success of this film (the first in over 10 years for the character Zatoichi) was how well Kitano could make people forget about Katsu. He succeeded. Kitano is blonde in the film (instead of the regular black hair), he quickened the pace of the film (swordplay is fast and violent and dialogue is short when the action starts), and CGI is used in a unique way (it is quite noticeable). Kitano's film succeeds and can be added along side the previous movies as a great addition to the Zatoichi franchise.


Full Spectrum Staff

Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004) --> The CGI in director Kerry Conran debut film is extraordinary. It is worth watching for this reason only which is serendipitous since the story and characters lack depth. This of course could be on purpose as the whole feel of the movie is comic-bookish. But what is most striking about this film is its attention to detail in portraying a New York circa 1930s down to the proper advertising on the buildings. All directors in the future should take a page from this movie and use advertising in an honest way. Get rid of the obvious promo shots for various products and subtlety mix those sponsors into the actual production of the film.


Scott D. Brown

Deer Hunter (1978) --> One of the greatest Vietnam films ever made, Deer Hunter was nominated for nine Academy Awards in 1979 and won five of them. It won for best picture beating out Coming Home, Heaven Can Wait, Midnight Express, and An Unmarried Woman. What put it over the top in the minds of many including myself were the Russian roulette sequences throughout the movie. The first at the POW camp ranks in the top echelon of dramatic and shocking scenes in the history of film. Robert De Niro, and Meryl Streep were nominated, and Christopher Walken won an Oscar for their stellar performances. Deer Hunter is a must see by any movie buff with sense and should be one of the first purchases in any DVD collection. It's too bad the recent re-issue deluxe 2 DVD set is so disappointing in bonus features.


Full Spectrum Staff

Mindhunters (2004) --> Seven FBI trainees are dropped on an island to finish their work in the art of profiling. As the film states, killers are usually known to their victims, those that aren't (i.e. random murders) will go unsolved if evidence doesn't turn up in 48hr time period. That is, except for serial killers. This particular type of killer will usually be caught because he will give the FBI an extra 48hrs each time he commits a crime. Profiling developed because of this type of behaviour. The seven students are placed on the island to profile a mock murderer whose crimes were committed there. When actual murders occur, the trainees must figure out who of them is doing it. Mindhunters will keep you interested but it isn't a movie that rises to the top of the thriller genre that a Silence of the Lambs (1991) or a Se7en (1995) does. Although the puppet master scene (you will know it when you watch the movie) is truly creepy.


Full Spectrum Staff

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