Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Review: Boa vs. Python (2004)
Certain films evoke the purity of the term B movie. Boa vs. Python is one such film. Not only is the title humorously evocative, but the very properties of the film reinforce the nature of the beast. For starters this is an effort to exploit not one, but two big budget creature features. The giant snake genre returned to the big screen in Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid (a sequel to 1997’s Ananconda) and "vs" movies are in vogue thanks to Freddy vs. Jason (2003) and Alien vs. Predator (2004).
A crossover sequel which bears little connection to its predecessors, Boa vs. Python is also appropriately tongue-in-cheek. A well made effort, which makes a commendable attempt in its cinematography, editing and musical score to emulate the likes of Michael Bay (specifically Armaggedon (1997)), this creature feature also evokes the tone of classic SF pulp and creature features. The ludicrous plot even gives the film a keiju flavour which even the US Godzilla (1998) failed to create.
Unfortunately the tone is difficult to maintain once the core narrative of snake vs. snake takes centre stage. The relatively brief screen time for the scaly stars, culminating in an all too brief final showdown, causes things to get pretty boring in the second half. The first portion of the film is an impressive embrace of the B movie codes of conduct, with the female stars of the film displaying their charms, some comical moments and novel stylistic devices keeping things interesting until it’s time for the CGI stars to take to the stage. Of particular note is the extended nude scene, in which co-star Angel Boris takes a bath, then performs a full-frontal dialogue scene (carefully shot to avoid being overtly sleazy).
Just as in the classics of the genre, the protagonist is a gorgeous blonde scientist; here introduced to us wearing a bikini. This is classically misogynistic filmmaking. Despite the chiselled presence of a cigar smoking man’s man, as the antagonist and instigator of the ensuing carnage, this is a film about fantasies of women. The intelligent but non-threatening blonde and the dangerously sexy bad girl are both present and invite a good deal of attention from male onlookers both onscreen and off.
The cast of beautiful people, the bikini-clad extras, the emphasis on style over substance, the distinctive rock soundtrack - this is American filmmaking at its most basic. But backed by a major studio, Columbia Tristar, and with the material in the hands of a talented cast and crew of unknowns, Boa vs. Python exceeds the limitations of its type and budget. Not only is the film of an impressive quality, it also understands the genre and the requirements of the audience. Pure pulp, it also features an unmissable risque scene in which a young woman is orally pleasured by a giant snake.
Certain films evoke the purity of the term B movie. Boa vs. Python is one such film. Not only is the title humorously evocative, but the very properties of the film reinforce the nature of the beast. For starters this is an effort to exploit not one, but two big budget creature features. The giant snake genre returned to the big screen in Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid (a sequel to 1997’s Ananconda) and "vs" movies are in vogue thanks to Freddy vs. Jason (2003) and Alien vs. Predator (2004).
A crossover sequel which bears little connection to its predecessors, Boa vs. Python is also appropriately tongue-in-cheek. A well made effort, which makes a commendable attempt in its cinematography, editing and musical score to emulate the likes of Michael Bay (specifically Armaggedon (1997)), this creature feature also evokes the tone of classic SF pulp and creature features. The ludicrous plot even gives the film a keiju flavour which even the US Godzilla (1998) failed to create.
Unfortunately the tone is difficult to maintain once the core narrative of snake vs. snake takes centre stage. The relatively brief screen time for the scaly stars, culminating in an all too brief final showdown, causes things to get pretty boring in the second half. The first portion of the film is an impressive embrace of the B movie codes of conduct, with the female stars of the film displaying their charms, some comical moments and novel stylistic devices keeping things interesting until it’s time for the CGI stars to take to the stage. Of particular note is the extended nude scene, in which co-star Angel Boris takes a bath, then performs a full-frontal dialogue scene (carefully shot to avoid being overtly sleazy).
Just as in the classics of the genre, the protagonist is a gorgeous blonde scientist; here introduced to us wearing a bikini. This is classically misogynistic filmmaking. Despite the chiselled presence of a cigar smoking man’s man, as the antagonist and instigator of the ensuing carnage, this is a film about fantasies of women. The intelligent but non-threatening blonde and the dangerously sexy bad girl are both present and invite a good deal of attention from male onlookers both onscreen and off.
The cast of beautiful people, the bikini-clad extras, the emphasis on style over substance, the distinctive rock soundtrack - this is American filmmaking at its most basic. But backed by a major studio, Columbia Tristar, and with the material in the hands of a talented cast and crew of unknowns, Boa vs. Python exceeds the limitations of its type and budget. Not only is the film of an impressive quality, it also understands the genre and the requirements of the audience. Pure pulp, it also features an unmissable risque scene in which a young woman is orally pleasured by a giant snake.
# posted by Richard Hawes @ 12:49 AM 
