2006 January Voom HD Originals Highlights

[Sean Mota]

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TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS:
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(All times Eastern)​

FilmFest HD: On Valentine's Day (1986) @ 6pm
"On Valentine's Day" is the central film in Horton Foote's semi-autobiographical trilogy that also includes "Courtship" and "1918." It is a nearly verbatim retelling of his stage play "Valentine's Day," and the sets and costumes beautifully transport the viewer back to the days of homefront World War I. Foote's central characters, newlyweds Horace and Elizabeth Robideaux, are acted with what might be termed "British" sensitivity (high praise!), and even his subsidiary characters are fascinating -- particularly Uncle George and Cousin Bobby. Though leisurely (some might say "stagy") in director Ken Harrison's affectionate realization, "On Valentine's Day" remains a gripping narrative. In the context of the filmed trilogy, it becomes much more: a shattering experience peopled by some of Horton Foote's most indelible characters.

KungFu HD: The Big Boss (1971) @ 11:30pm

Chein is a city boy who moves with his cousins to work at a ice factory. He does this with a family promise never to get involved in any fight. However, when members of his family begin disappearing after meeting the management of the factor, the resulting mystery and pressures forces him to break that vow and take on the villainy of the Big Boss.
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[Sean Mota]

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TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS:
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(All times Eastern)​

FilmFest HD: Islands in the Stream (1977) @ 9:30pm

A slow moving film that examines the summation of one man's life. A man who's run away from life and the world en large, but comes to term with his many foibles.

On the face of it I think a lot of us men come to this point in our lives, but do so without the emotional theatrics portrayed in this film. Some do it sooner than others, but for the film's main character it comes almost too late.

The film's essentially a beautifully shot character sketch, staring the legendary George C. Scott. We see Scott's character go through the motions and angst of coming to terms with his personal history, and going through an act of redemption at the end of it.

The film is slow moving, somewhat pretentious in a very masculine sort of way, but overall pleasing to the eye. There's some good solid cinematography, and a number of very appealing coastal and ocean going shots. Unfortunately there're also a couple of process shots that probably should've been left on the cutting room floor, including one cutaway that was probably shot due to a scheduling problem. There's also a miscued in camera SFX sequence, but that's nitpicking.

As someone else said the film is fairly manipulative, and thin at parts, but it still has a kind of basic appeal. It's the kind of film that were it shot today would have be made for couples, and the emphasis of the story would have been put on the people surrounding Scott's character, instead of solely focusing on him. In this sense it's really a film about people of another time and place.

Somewhat pretentious but endearing and watchable, and, from what I've read of the novel, a bit more palatable than Hemmingway's verbose prose.
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[Sean Mota]

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TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS:
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(All times Eastern)​

KungFu HD: bichunmoo (2000) @ 8pm

It is 14th century Yuan Dynasty China, the country is under Mongolian rule and the star-crossed lovers, Jinha (Shin Hyun-june) and Sullie (Kim Hee-sun), illegitimate daughter of a Mongolian commander, are caught in the middle. When her mother died, SullieÕs father, Taruga, took her away and later planned to marry her off to form an alliance with a powerful Chinese warlord. Things get worse when Jinha learns that Taruga was the person who ordered the massacre of his entire family. Fuelled by hatred, he masters his family secret martial arts, the Bichun Secret Art. Many top pugilists, who are also after the secret scroll, try to kill him. During one of such attempts, Junkwang, a rich and powerful son of a Han lord, helps Jinha. But fate has it that Junkwang is the person that Sullie is forced to marry. When Junkwang knows about their love, he plots to have Jinha killed.

Equator HD: Gardens of Europe: Guell Park @ 9pm

Equator HD: Culture & Music of Mali 3 @ 10pm

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[Sean Mota]

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TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS:
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(All times Eastern)​

Gallery HD: Jose Maria Jujol: Mary's Architect @ 8pm

FilmFest HD: The Tempest (1979) @ 8pm

Prospero, a potent necromancer, lives on a desolate isle with his virginal daughter, Miranda. He's in exile, banished from his duchy by his usurping brother and the King of Naples. Providence brings these enemies near; aided by his vassal the spirit Ariel, Prospero conjures a tempest to wreck the Italian ship. The king's son, thinking all others lost, becomes Prospero's prisoner, falling in love with Miranda and she with him. Prospero's brother and the king wander the island, as do a drunken cook and sailor, who conspire with Caliban, Prospero's beastly slave, to murder Prospero. Prospero wants reason to triumph, Ariel wants his freedom, Miranda a husband; the sailors want to dance.

KungFu HD: The Legend (1993) @ 9:30pm

This Hong Kong martial-arts extravaganza tells of evil emperors and true love. The secret Red Lotus Flower Society is committed to the overthrow of the evil Manchu Emperor and his minions. One of his Governors is sent on a mission to retrieve a list of members of that secret society. Meanwhile, Canton kung fu practitioner Fong Sai-Yuk falls in love with the beautiful daughter of a rich merchant, recently moved to Canton. Her father, in an attempt to gain influence in the region and thus improve his business, offers his daughter in marriage to the winner of a kung-fu contest. Some interesting gender role-reversals take place during a 'comedy of errors.'
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[Sean Mota]

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TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS:
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(All times Eastern)​

KungFu HD: Tiger on Beat (1998)

FilmFest HD: Mojo (1997) @ 8PM

FilmFest HD: Qudrophenia (1979)
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[Sean Mota]

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TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS:
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(All times Eastern)​

Gallery HD: The Saatchi Gallery, Shock Art and Second Skin @ 9pm

Ultra HD: Behind the Label: Donna Karan @ 10pm

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[Sean Mota]

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TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS:
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(All times Eastern)​

KungFu HD: Throne of Blood (1957) @ 6PM
4.0 Stars... This was fun to watch. B&W 4x3 OAR but it is a nice adpation of MacBeth... Yes MacBeth...

FilmFest HD: Rhyme & Reason (1997) @ 8pm

A study in the world of hip-hop, done mostly with interviews, in order to see why it is as popular as it is today and what the future holds.

Rave HD: Montreux Jazz Festival: Chic with Nile Rodgers @ 9pm

FilmFest HD: Amadla Revolution in Four Part (2002)
Through a chronological history of the South African liberation struggle, this documentary cites examples of the way that music was used in the fight for freedom. Songs united those who were being oppressed and gave those fighting a way to express their plight. The music consoled those incarcerated, and created an effective underground form of communication inside the prisons.

FilmFest HD: Billy's Holiday (1995) @ 11pm

This movie is all about a normal guy called Billy Apple (Max Cullen). He is a social drinker and sometimes lead singer of a band. While he is doing all of this, he still manages to bring up his teenage daughter. One night while sitting at home Billy finds that he has a talent! He finds that he is able to sing like his idol, 50's singer Billie Holiday. From there he is going places, from huge live performances to even cutting a hit record, but in the end he must make a choice between the life he has, and the life he once knew.

FilmFest HD: Paul Bowles: The Complete Outsider 4am

2 stars : Nothing too exciting, but kinda interesting. A doc about a writer/songwriter dude who hung out with William S. Burroughs and the boys.
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[Sean Mota]

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TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS:
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(All times Eastern)​

Monsters HD: The Thing from Another world (1951) @ 3:30pm
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