VIDEO REVIEW: Clash Of The Titans

VIDEO REVIEW: Dr. No

VIDEO REVIEW: The 10th Victim

REVIEW: The 10th Victim

The 10^th Victim

Director: Elio Petri

Year 1965

The 10^th Victim is a groovy science fiction satire that takes all of the 60’s pop art style of the era and injects it with an over the top futuristic gloss that just screams camp. This Italian gem is a juggernaut of impressive visuals and witty social commentary, as it mixes an interesting story about a deadly game show like club that pits people against each other in order to obtain fame, fortune and glory, and combines it with all kinds of wacky situations and outlandish moments. With its camp approach, wonderfully vivid style, and engaging lead cast, The 10^th Victim is a film you won’t likely forget as you soak up all of the outrageous 60’s fashions and satirical overtones.

The film follows two members of a human hunting organization called The Big Hunt, which is a global game show that pits citizens against each other in order to gain fame and fortune. Caroline Meredith is assigned the task of being the hunter, while Marcello Poletti is unknowingly given the role of the hunted. Cast out into the Italian futuristic landscape, both Caroline and Marcello butt heads in a battle of wit and skill, as they both try to outdo the other in this twisted futuristic game of violence and voyeurism. As the game and stakes begin to heat up, the two find that the greatest challenge of this Big Hunt isn’t surviving, but trying not to fall in love with the other combatant. Caught between a rock and a hard place, will they kill to love or love to kill? What the hell does that mean? Who cares, because this is some entertaining shit right here!

Marcello Mastroianni takes on the role of Marcello Poletti, the professional hunter who finds himself on the other end of the hunt. Mastroianni is a legendary Italian actor who has been in a number of classic films such as La Dolce Vita, 8 ½, and City of Women. With The 10^th Victim he’s able to bring that same esteem and charisma to the production, which results in perfectly mirroring the film’s highly engaging subject matter and fun aesthetics. Mastroianni emphasizes the whimsical nature of the movie as he adds his own trademark cool to the role, simultaneously sprinkling brash amounts of comedy, action and satirical wit into the mix. I’ve still till this day never seen a Marcello Mastroianni movie I didn’t like and this entry is no exception. The man is a cinematic wonder and in The 10^th Victim, he absolutely shines.

Pairing up perfectly with the aforementioned Mastroianni is the beautiful and vivacious Switzerland born actress Ursula Andress. The goddess of cinema, who first graced the silver screen in the James Bond film Dr. No, is a real treat in this special little sci-fi production. She’s cool, sexy and dangerous, and she lights up the screen whenever she appears. This is as to be expected for she made a career out of stealing the limelight from her costars in such films as She, Casino Royale, Safari Express, Africa Express, and The Mountain of the Cannibal God, just to name a few. In the 10^th Victim she plays the role of Caroline Meredith, the hunter, and she nails the character with a playful gusto and a more than sexy approach. The only thing more impressive than Ursula’s presence in this film is her outlandish and wild wardrobe, which super-charges the already over the top style of the 60’s with its shock and awe attempt at fashion.

With two cinematic assets like Marcello Mastroianni and Ursula Andress at the helm, you know you’re in for one hell of a wild ride and the film never wastes a second in celebrating this most entertaining of unions. Right from the start, the two main characters begin to clash as they play a cat and mouse game while under the influence of the The Big Hunt. Replacing violence with flirtatious interactions, the two probe each other, never revealing their true intentions. This coy approach is both enduring and interesting, as it takes the harsh and brutal game of The Big Hunt and turns it into a sort of twisted romantic comedy or Italian sex farce, which was highly popular during this time and frequently starred Marcello Mastroianni in the lead role.

As we watch their sordid relationship unfold and we witness the game unwind, we’re plunged into the weirdness that is this future society. Not only do they glorify a game show that depicts people hunting each other, but there is a whole plethora of weirdness that is slowly revealed to the audience as the courtship between Marcello and Caroline heats up. From a strange religious cult who weeps at the sight of the setting sun, to the psychedelic retro-induced night clubs and locations that liter this movie, to the blatant disregard for life and brutality that the society seems to have as a whole, the film is jam-packed with otherworldly and stimulating visuals. In this vein, the style of the film is top-notch and it allows us to get wholly lost in the world that this movie has set up, no matter how weird and unusual it gets. With imagery as solid as this and two lead stars who match the visuals with their scene-stealing light, you really can’t deny the overall intriguing qualities of this cinematically obscure gem. It’s got just the right amount of attitude and pull to suck you in and the unusual aspect of the story and world that is on display is just so engrossing that you can’t help but lap it up.

The 10^th Victim is a kaleidoscope of style, substance and outstanding concepts, which serve to tell the most cynical and satirical of tales in the most bizarre of ways. Marcello Mastroianni and Ursula Andress are exceptional in their respective roles, and you really can’t refute the appeal of both actors as they literally give it their all and let loose in this most wondrous and absurd of cinema worlds. The decision to peg both Mastroianni and Andress for the two main characters was a stroke of genius, and you can feel the chemistry between the two actors as the film spins wildly out of control on its sex farce journey.

Added upon this already solid foundation is a visual style that is just out of this world campy and simplistically fun. From boob cannons, to mind-boggling architecture, to hypnotic interior designs, to color coordinated assassins, this film literally has it all and in abundance. The surreal atmosphere of this film is energized by its vivid style and expressive color palate, and the audacity of the movie’s cinematic sensibilities is a real treat to visit. If you are a lover of the obscure and you revel in films that play with the notion of reality and bend it to their will, then give this one a go and bask in its strangeness and grandeur. The 10^th Victim is one hell of a.....

It's a booby trap! Lookout!

Shhhhh. I'm hunting people.

Snow-angels in the concrete... Not a good idea.

I have the strange feeling..... We're being watched!

So........ Whatcha reading?

Get that damn camera out of my face you sexy son of a bitch!

Well hello there!

Don't bother me mom! I'm taking her to my room!

Maybe her heartbeat is lower? Easy boys.

Not only is Ursula hypnotic, but so is the room.

Dear sweet lord! That is one fantastic piece of art on that wall!

What the shit is going on here?!?!

For the love of god! Stop the snoring already!

Shot to the heart and your to blame. Ursula, you give love a bad name.

You wouldn't shoot a guy with glasses on would you?

This is my BOOMSTICK!

I can't believe that they don't have salted nuts on this plane. RIDICULOUS!

BOND 1: Dr. No

Dr. No

Director: Terence Young

Year 1962

Dr. No, the first film in a long and outstanding cinematic legacy of stylistic espionage, introduces us to the legendary character of James Bond, played by the always cool Sean Connery. While not the first motion picture to shed light on the character of 007, it is credited for launching what would become one of the most enduring film series in the history of the silver screen. 

In the film, James Bond is sent off to investigate the disappearance of a fellow agent, who was last reported working in the tropical locale of Jamaica. Indulging in the sights, sounds, and dangers that the intoxicating island setting provides for our hero agent, Bond finally follows all clues to a mysterious man named Dr. No. Conspiring from his hidden lair on his own private island, the mastermind secretly plots to bring about the downfall of the United States space program. With the help of a few undercover allies and one beautiful young woman, can Bond foil Dr. No's diabolical plan while looking cool as shit? You're damn right he can.

The names... oh screw it. You know my damn name!

James Bond... Man about town.

In Sean Connery's first stab at the icon role of James Bond, he absolutely nails it. The constant cool demeanor and charismatic ambiance that he exudes from the character, resonates through and through in the performance and really gives us a good feel for the kind of man James Bond is. In fact, Connery did so well in my opinion that he gave his predecessors an impossible task in trying to fill his shoes. His mannerisms and carefully crafted movements became the staple for who 007 was, not to mention his expertly delivered one liners and smooth talking dialogue.

Connery's confidence level in this film and all of his following efforts in the role, are tremendously captivating and wholly honest in the portrayal of the quid-essential superman mold that Bond has so famously been branded in. I've enjoyed all of the various James Bond actors throughout the years, but Sean Connery's performance as the super agent has always been my all time favorite. In Dr. No, he really shines and sets the bar so high that no one would be able to fully take the reigns in his absence.

Looks like he's the only one who showed up for the party. Awkward.

James Bond is driving through the DANGER ZONE!

I must say that the location of Jamaica for Bond's first mission in this cinematic interpretation of Ian Fleming's larger then life secret agent series, is just superb. There's enough variation across this expansive island to satisfy the globetrotting aspects that will eventually come to be the staple of the series and the hundreds of imitators that would soon follow in the wake of Dr. No's success. James Bond takes in the sights as he battles over land and sea, while also finding some time to mingle with a few of the lady folk of the area.

The locations of coastal towns, dusty roads, and sandy beaches caressed by crystal clear waters make for a nice visual palette of extremely pleasurable senses. If there's one thing that I've always loved about the James Bond series, it's the beautiful and exotic locales. In this first entry, they started out on the right foot. Having been there on two separate occasions, Jamaica is a wonderful place that director Terence Young has captured beautifully and melded seamlessly within the extravagant trappings of Bond's world.

Hands off the merchandise Mr. Bond.

You can take these beautiful sea shells when you pry them from my cold dead hands!

While I'm on the topic of beautiful visuals, we come to another cornerstone of the Bond series and that's the woman. James Bond just can't seem to keep his mind out out of the gutter and who can blame him when he's up against such a stunning caliber of stylish beauties. Ursula Andress, of She, The 10th Victim, Clash of the Titans, and The Mountain of the Cannibal God fame, introduces us to the long running tradition of presenting to the world the most exotic and enticing women of the era. Playing the role of Honeychile Ryder, or more simply Honey Ryder, Ursula projects a confidence that is both sexy and intriguing. Her character has a duality to it, like most Bond girls do, and that's the ability to appear both helpless and at the same time fully capable. It's a conundrum in itself, but it seems to be a staple for what would appear throughout the Bond series and it's a fact that would help damper the misogynistic trappings that James Bond tend to represents. The effort helps, but in the end James Bond really and truly is a man's hero and who can fault him for staying true to his demographic.

Catering to the boys is presented none to clearer, when we are gifted an introduction of a lifetime by the curvaceous Ms. Ryder. Her entrance is legendary among Bond fans and has been payed homage to in a handful of films including the 21st installment of the Bond franchise where James Bond, played by newcomer Daniel Craig, emerges from the ocean showcasing one of the more muscular looks that the secret agent had showcased up until this point. Ursula's presence in the film and her iconic scene, made a clear and precise line in the sand that dared her Bond girl predecessors to cross, let alone live up to. She definitely left her mark on the franchise and stands high among the rich cast of Bond girl legends.

They found me. I don't know how, but they found me. Run for it Quarrel!

It's not the size of your fish display that counts, it's how you use it.

Finally that brings us to the dastardly bastard, Dr. No. Every Bond film must have a villain and in the case of Dr. No, there's no exception. A scientific madman, bent on collapsing the United States space program, Dr. No is no slouch when it comes to the villainy department. The guys got one of the sweetest evil lairs this side of Dr. Evil's volcanic lair and he's one hell of a snazzy dresser if I do say so myself. Sporting what can only be described as a full body condom, Dr. No really knows how to impress the ladies.

What makes him even that much cooler is the fact that he is played dead serious by accomplished actor Joseph Wiseman. Having an uncanny resemblance to Patrick Stewart, Wiseman plays the evil genius to the letter, ordering his army of minions around and basically being a total bad ass. I mean come on, you'd have to be pretty bad ass to pull off an outfit like that. Bubble boy suit and all, Wiseman wholly excepts the absurd and goes with it, creating one of the most memorable and formidable villains that James Bond will come to fisticuffs with. A word to the wise, look out for his judo chop.

Does this suit make me look fat?

Let's get the hell out of here!

Dr. No is a perfect introduction to the world of Bond, which sets up all the elements that would make the series so popular for the next handful of decades and greatly achieves some of the most iconic moments in the rich Bond history. Sean Connery does a tremendous job in portraying the super secret agent as a charismatic ladies man who takes danger head on, while Ursula Andress and Joseph Wiseman set the standard for their individual roles in the Bond universe.

With the lavish location of Jamaica and the inventive set designs for Dr. No's lair, Dr. No is a highly enjoyable ride that showcases all of the things I love about the James Bond films. Definitely highly recommended to anyone that loves espionage with a side of adventure and a full serving of fun.

5 out of 5 stars          An Iconic Bond Introduction!