What a mixed bunch!

Well that's more accurate than saying what a load of rubbish because it wasn't, but yesterday's viewing was rather weird:

Sergei Eisenstein: I spent much of the day transferring minor works of the great Russian director from VHS to DVD.  He went to Mexico in 1930 to shoot an epic portrait of the country, but the American funds ran out and a Hollywood studio appropriated the footage.  Part of it was used as background material in B-movies until 1940 when parts were edited into an hour-long narrated film called "A Time in the Sun" which is full of brilliant images -- full stop.  In the 1970s the footage was finally returned to Russia and a former colleage edited it into an approximation of Eisenstein's vision called "Que Viva Mexico"  - very much like the shorter film, only longer!  I also looked at what remains of a film the director made in the mid-thirties called "Bezhin Meadow" which he withdrew to re-edit and which was then destroyed completely during World War II.  Now all that is left is a half-hour compilation of stills giving an idea of what might have been.  With so many excellent completed Eisenstein films still available, today's exercise felt very much like the obsessions of a completist!

For very light relief, I then watched three modern efforts which I will touch on very briefly.  First off was "Racing Stripes" (2005) which I guess is one for the kiddies.  It's about a zebra who thinks that he is a racehorse until he learns the truth.  It was full of talking animals, but believe me, it was no "Babe", although it was harmless fun.  This was followed by "Unleashed" (2005) also known as "Danny the Dog" which I'd seen before as an inflight movie; for anyone who likes the speed and agility of Jet Li, it was an invigorating watch, but ultimately marred by his desire to be a great actor as well ,and not just a little on the soppy side as he escapes the cruel treatment of Bob Hoskins for the loving tenderness of blind Morgan Freeman.  Finally I tackled "Seed of Chucky" (2004) the fifth film in the "Child's Play" franchise.  The first three were more or less straight horror movies with diminishing returns, but the fourth "Bride of Chucky" was a hoot and the latest is in the same vein of horror comedy.  Jennifer Tilly returns to the role of voicing the murderous female doll, but also plays an aging actress called Jennifer Tilly.  She may not be the world's greatest player, but she is good value and not afraid to take the mickey, even at her own expense.  And with director John Waters in a cameo role, this was a fine way to end the day back on earth.