Tag Archives: brazil

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Bus 174 (2002)

Review of the documentary Bus 174

The discussion is as old as time: Are people a product of their environment or is most of it genetics? After watching this documentary my conclusion would be that environment is the biggest influence. This documentary is a riveting example of it. A failed robbery aboard a bus, which then changed into a hostage situation (and was broadcasted live) was something which kept Brazilians glued to their TV in 2000. The perpetrator, Sandro Rosa do Nascimento, was unpredictable, threatening, but also in control of his situation. This single event is used to make clear that there are some pressing issues in Brazilian society, which might have led to this hostage situation. Continue reading →

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The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009)

Terry Gilliam has already proved that he knows how to create believable worlds (for example Brazil or 12 Monkeys). In the Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus he proves this again. The story is about Dr. Parnassus who has made a bet with the devil and to do win it he’s travelling through Great Britain with a show. With an old-fashioned play he tries people to step into his imaginarium. When a person steps in he will be able to see all the things he is imagining. So dream worlds are created for that person Continue reading →

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Brazil (1985)

This cult movie from 1985 is set in the future (which looks very different from ours), where everything is controlled centrally. Director for this movie was Terry Gilliam, who later in his career directed 12 Monkeys and Fear and loathing in Las Vegas. The effects in this movie are very well done. Instead of CGI, miniatures and special camera angles are used. Personally I like these type of special effects better as the effects being created on computers. At the end of the eighties it took over the craft fo creating miniatures, which has been used much less afterwards. Adding new CGI effects to old movies is also something that should not be done in my book. A good example is E.T., for which I prefer the original version. E.T. might move less dynamic, but he feels like a real creature. But enough about special effects, back to my Brasil review. Continue reading →