A Bit of a Review of a Bit of a Film
OK, so it's not a film in the strictest feature-length sense, but there are so many PNS perversities online now that I should probably "review" (an ugly word) at least one.
The latest opus is entitled Two Blokes a Beast and a Bar Wall - Episode Three (2007), following on from the likes of 2005's original and the second outing in 2006. All the hallmarks of the previous entries are there - the same repertory company, settings, editor, cinematographer, director (most of them mysteriously called CG), and so on. There is also the same rich vein of depraved humour, a rather diffuse juxtaposition of "schoolboy humour" (well, allegedly) and incest among a ribald family of sexually provocative libertines. That's a line for the poster.
I think you can pinpoint this entry as the turning point of the series, veering off in the direction of the epic. Everything is Bigger! Bolder! Louder! This can sometimes be a detractor from the subtleties of filmmaking. My only question is: what subtleties? So yes, I think it just about works here. York is a fabulous adventure playground filled with beautiful scenery that should be taken maximum advantage of. I look forward to some abseiling down the Minster next time.
There are many blessings on hand. Recycled yet again is the original opening intro, which comforts and reassures and terrifies a viewer, rather like the repeated main titles sequence at the start of Universal's twelve 1940s Sherlock Holmes outings (sorry... I'll crush down the film historian within). There's a considerably larger sense of scope and pageantry this time round, with a fairly protracted chase scene up walls, down walls and across grassy knolls. Camera motion is generally more fluid, and the soundtrack compliments the onscreen insanity well. It's a solid, high quality exercise in low budget (sorry, no budget) filmmaking, with only one instance when it becomes difficult to see what's going on (a Blair Witch homage, perhaps?). The accents are dodgy as ever, but I wouldn't have them any other way. The use of stop motion for sudden disappearances is seamless, and probably the funniest single moment on display. The pure, unadulterated shoddiness is absolutely delightful... in the best possible sense.
However, I must take slight issue with the general sense of humour. The last episode pushed the envelope just as far as I was prepared to see (and, rest assured, I found it very amusing) - but, in that timeless fashion, this one felt the urge to go even further. I don't have a particularly weak stomach (yeah, you go off and take the stench of rotting flesh at the morgue). I just don't find certain elements of it funny anymore, that's all. The sort of daring mischief that made the original almost endearing is getting just a bit old and bilious for me now. It ain't zealous ro charming - it's just shunte din there for macabtre shock effect, like a dead cow sweating it's life juices at a family barbercue. That's not to say you shoudln't continue - if you find it funny, I will defend to the death your right to carry on. Just please don't expect me to enthuse about a bit of comedy I don't find all that funny. I wholeheartedly encourage everyone with something meaningful to add or disagree with to comment.
Nevertheless, a decent production that probably won't receive so many brickbats from the mainstream. I anticipate (with joy and overwhleming fear) the next entry. And when are you getting your page on the Internet Movie Database?
The latest opus is entitled Two Blokes a Beast and a Bar Wall - Episode Three (2007), following on from the likes of 2005's original and the second outing in 2006. All the hallmarks of the previous entries are there - the same repertory company, settings, editor, cinematographer, director (most of them mysteriously called CG), and so on. There is also the same rich vein of depraved humour, a rather diffuse juxtaposition of "schoolboy humour" (well, allegedly) and incest among a ribald family of sexually provocative libertines. That's a line for the poster.
I think you can pinpoint this entry as the turning point of the series, veering off in the direction of the epic. Everything is Bigger! Bolder! Louder! This can sometimes be a detractor from the subtleties of filmmaking. My only question is: what subtleties? So yes, I think it just about works here. York is a fabulous adventure playground filled with beautiful scenery that should be taken maximum advantage of. I look forward to some abseiling down the Minster next time.
There are many blessings on hand. Recycled yet again is the original opening intro, which comforts and reassures and terrifies a viewer, rather like the repeated main titles sequence at the start of Universal's twelve 1940s Sherlock Holmes outings (sorry... I'll crush down the film historian within). There's a considerably larger sense of scope and pageantry this time round, with a fairly protracted chase scene up walls, down walls and across grassy knolls. Camera motion is generally more fluid, and the soundtrack compliments the onscreen insanity well. It's a solid, high quality exercise in low budget (sorry, no budget) filmmaking, with only one instance when it becomes difficult to see what's going on (a Blair Witch homage, perhaps?). The accents are dodgy as ever, but I wouldn't have them any other way. The use of stop motion for sudden disappearances is seamless, and probably the funniest single moment on display. The pure, unadulterated shoddiness is absolutely delightful... in the best possible sense.
However, I must take slight issue with the general sense of humour. The last episode pushed the envelope just as far as I was prepared to see (and, rest assured, I found it very amusing) - but, in that timeless fashion, this one felt the urge to go even further. I don't have a particularly weak stomach (yeah, you go off and take the stench of rotting flesh at the morgue). I just don't find certain elements of it funny anymore, that's all. The sort of daring mischief that made the original almost endearing is getting just a bit old and bilious for me now. It ain't zealous ro charming - it's just shunte din there for macabtre shock effect, like a dead cow sweating it's life juices at a family barbercue. That's not to say you shoudln't continue - if you find it funny, I will defend to the death your right to carry on. Just please don't expect me to enthuse about a bit of comedy I don't find all that funny. I wholeheartedly encourage everyone with something meaningful to add or disagree with to comment.
Nevertheless, a decent production that probably won't receive so many brickbats from the mainstream. I anticipate (with joy and overwhleming fear) the next entry. And when are you getting your page on the Internet Movie Database?
posted by James C. Swanton at 10:23 PM
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