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I
keep hearing that French audiences were demanding more popcorn fare
but did they really want director Christopher ("Crying Freeman")
Gans to make this overlong, mix of ill-fitting elements? Could any
film that is one part monster film, one part kung-fu actioner, one
part costume drama, one part Harlequin romance really make any sense?
The answer is still no. I saw this at the Vancouver
International Film Festival last fall and I still don't understand
how it could be opening worldwide. You could blame the French but
that would not explain why this is opening again in North America
to positive reviews. While it has a certain charisma in its portrayal
of the 18th century French countryside and the concept behind the
monster is somewhat inventive, one would be hard pressed to explain
the presence of a martial arts kicking duo (a naturalist and his
Mohawk blood brother), an occult conspiracy, a murderous monster,
and an incestuous union in one film. While the temptation to sit
back and let the ride blow through any pretense to logic is there,
the movie is just too damned long. It has a fistful of false endings
for one, and it has lengthy atmospheric interludes taking place
on castle towers, balconies and in candlelit dinners to break up
any rhythm in what should really be a monster romp. For those looking
for fight scenes, the ones here are not spectacular and are filmed
in slow motion to make it even more clear that this is no "Crouching
Tiger".
In theatres now
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