Cinema Egzotik: Xmas
This edition of Cinema Egzotik is all about that ragged edge of December, not only the darkest month of the year, but also the month that witnesses many a flaming family row around the dishevelled Christmas tree, hangovers of epic proportions and the inevitable good intentions that go up in smoke as New Year’s Eve approaches. Thank goodness for Egzotik’s Xmas Special.
Egzotik programmer Martin Koolhoven explains: “An absolute no-no, of course, your average Christmas film. But Egzotik wouldn”t be Egzotik if we hadn”t managed to extract a perfect double bill from all that sentimental rubbish: the Christmas Creature Feature Gremlins and the Batman film to end all Batman films: Tim Burton”s Batman Returns. Stuff humourless Nolan, let”s have that sexy Michelle Pfeiffer as cat woman. Meow.” Gremlins (Joe Dante US 1984 English spoken, Dutch subtitles. 106”)Gremlins was Joe Dante”s way of redefining Christmas cheer. The cute, furry and hamsterlike creature that Dad Hoyt Axton gives to his son as a Christmas present turns out to be nothing less than a font of evil. It only takes a splash of water for it to spawn and produce “Gremlins”, who blow up the whole jolly Christmas atmosphere sky high as they gibber and jeer. Even Snow White gets a hammering in this hilarious mix of comedy and horror. Way to go Xmas!+Batman Returns (Tim Burton US 1992 English spoken, Dutch subtitles. 126”)Tim Burton”s gift as a storyteller appeared to be fading , according to the 1993 Motion Picture Guide Annual review of his second Batman film. Still, you will find the macabre humour of this superbly styled sequel a refreshing antidote to all that Christmas punch and Christmas pudding. Michael Keaton is Batman, Michelle Pfeiffer is Catwoman and Danny DeVito is the misshapen master criminal. The Penguin: “You gotta admit I played this stinkin' city like a harp from hell.”
Details
Share your love for film and become a member of the Eye Society.