THIS FILM WILL TRIGGER HAPPY MEMORIES OF THE GOONIES
Review
ANIMAlION FAMILY MONSTER HOUSE (PG) 90min 0...
Fear of what Stephen King calls ‘the bad place’ is a staple element in horror films from The Haunting to The Shining, but this handsomely mounted CGI production, which lists both Spielberg and Robert Zemeckis amongst its production credits, takes things one stage further. Not only is the titular house a personable villain, terrorising a cutesy cyclist on stabilisers during the opening scene, but it actually tears itself up from its foundations and chases the terrified children down the street in the climax of Gil Kenan’s skilfully realised family film.
Spielberg and Zemeckis have chosen a decidedly eighties feel for Monster House with mild bad language and innuendo which may trigger happy memories of
The Goonies for parents. Kids, however, may well be too scared to pick up on such nuances, as trouble- making tykes DJ (voiced by Mitchel Musso), Chowder (Sam Lerner) and Jenny (Spencer Locke) investigate the creepy house previously inhabited by the crotchety old Nebbercracker (Steve Buscemi). There’s a roll call of comic talent to assist, including Maggie Gyllenhaal and Jason Lee as a counting couple whose front-sofa fumblings end in horror, and Nick Cannon and Kevin James who turn in hilarious shifts as the inept local cops. But the film’s strongest suit is its groundbreaking appearance - Kenan’s debut marks the first time an animation has put completely realised human characters centre-stage, and the three investigators have more charisma and charm than might be expected from live-action counterparts. A welcome antidote to cute animated features, Monster House is wicked fun for all ages. (Eddie Harrison)
I General release from Fri 7 7 Aug.
COMEDY
NACHO LIBRE
(12A) 92min 0..
There's a generous helping of cheesy humour in this Jack Black vehicle about a Mexrcan monk who realises a childhood dream when he adoiits a secret identity as a Lucha Libre masked wrestler. becomes famous and wrns enough gate money to save the orphanage in which he works by day as a lowly cook. But the film. co-written and directed by Jared Hess. who prevrously made nerd comedy Napoleon Dynamite. is lacking a spicy Jalapeno edge. Initially amuSing gags. involving bad 'Mehican accenths‘. the 88M bent of chaste monastic life. the unbecoming tights Black dons as his ‘luchador' alter ego and peOple being battered black and blue in and out of the ring. swiftly become repetitive. leaving one hungry for tastier comic material. And even the input of talented co-writer Mike White (Chuck 8. Buck, The Good Girl. School of Rock) doesn't stoii the dairy humour from becoming stale.
Nevertheless. there's something inherently funny about watching overweight. middle-aged. hairy men inot to mention twrn dwarfs and butch dykesi wearing spandex costumes hitting one another. And Black is as watchable as ever. not least because he invests his performance wrth his trademark absurd seriousness. iMiles Fielder)
I General release from Fri 7 7 Aug.
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THE BEST FILM & DVD RELEASES
* Monster House Gil Kenan's excellent CGI comedy horror for all the family is the point where The Goonies meets The Shining. Spielberg and Robert Zemeckis are on producer duty and it shows. This is arguably the first CGI film to put completely realised human characters centre- stage. Highly recommended. See review, left. General release from Fri 7 1 Aug.
* Miami Vice Michael Mann's stunningly precise big screen makeover of his popular 805 TV show. General release.
3|: The Passenger Michelangelo Antonioni's breathtaking 1975 masterpiece gets a long overdue cinema re- release after being caught in copyright dispute for over 30 years. Filmhouse, Edinburgh until Mon 7 4 Aug; GFT, Glasgow from Tue 75 Aug.
* The Innocents Beautiful new print of Jack Clayton, Truman Capote and William Archibald‘s masterful 1961 adaptation of Henry James' The Turn of the Screw. Filmhouse, Edinburgh (Thu 70 Aug only); GFT, Glasgow from Sun 13—Tue 75 Aug only.
* In the Mood for Love Wong Kai-wai's gorgeous tale of ill fated love in 19603 Hong Kong gets a big screen outing as part of 59 Years of the EIFF season. Filmhouse, Edinburgh (Fri 71 Aug only).
* Repo Man Alex Cox's hilarious 1984 debut also gets an outing as part of the EIFF season. Filmhouse, Edinburgh (Mon 14 Aug only).
* The Films of Yasuzo Masumura Two of the master of Japanese surrealist cinema's best — Blind Beast and Fted Angel are finally released on DVD a huge treat for old and new fans alike. See review. Yume Pictures (out now).
is» x ,2. x; 29w, THE LIST 19