Graham Clarke Movies
- 2008
The Brazilian form of personal expression known as Capoeira may not have an equivalent in North America. A multifaceted combination of dance, martial arts, games, pagan religion, and indigenous music, Capoeira originated with Afro-Brazilian slaves of centuries ago. Intriguingly (for a practice partially rooted in martial arts) it functions not as an outlet for hostility and rage but as an expression of nearly limitless joy and hope. Challenging the notion that poverty tends to automatically breed crime and violence, documentarian Daren Bartlett travels into the destitute areas of Brazil known as the Baixadas - not variants of the traditional favela slums, but communities regarded as socioeconomically inferior to those slums - where he witnesses and films capoeira thriving, a sign of the inner spiritual freedom that natives have found. The film then segues into discussions with Jonas Russo, considered the zelador (grand master, or "caretaker") of Capoeira. Bartlett and his cameras travel with Russo to the Roda de Caixas, or one of the largest outdoor meetings of Capoeristas, for firsthand glimpses of the vitality of Capoeira to the Brazilian people. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
Chase Moore and Arie Verveen are the human stars of this period drama about the extraordinary life and times of a horse. In 1914, a German supply ship is en route to Africa with a cargo of work horses when one of the mares gives birth to a foal. The pony is soon separated from his mother when the ship docks in a mining community, and he has a hard time getting along, but an orphaned boy who works at a stable takes a liking to the little horse and looks after him. When war breaks out, the stable is abandoned and the pony escapes into a nearby desert, where an Oryx antelope and a native girl become his companions and teach him how to survive on his own. Running Free was directed by award-winning Russian filmmaker Sergei Bodrov; it was produced by Jean-Jacques Annaud, who displayed a flair for unusual stories about animals with The Bear. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Chase Moore, Jan Decleir, (more)
- 1994
- R
While on a special assignment to Africa to photograph an endangered bird, a wildlife photographer runs into a dashing experienced stranger. Though she is engaged to her publisher, the photographer embarks upon a wild night of passion with the stranger, unaware that in so doing, she is about to become a pawn in an international struggle involving a list of the world's greatest assassins. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Eric Roberts, Jeff Fahey, (more)
After spending his time in jail for manslaughter, a formal world-champion kick boxer B.J. Quinn (John Barrett) is released after doing time and sets out to regain his former stature as a top-notch fighter. Unfortunately he begins his comeback at a drunken party (he's drunk) and he tangles with the current top-dog of kick boxing, Jacques Denard. Denard beats him to a pulp, which sends our hero Quinn into hiding where he teams up with another kick boxer, and together they begin to train for a real-time head-on with the champion Denard. ~ Rovi
- Starring:
- John Barrett, Keith Vitali, (more)
- 1991
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Richard Wagner's opera "Das Rheingold" -- the first part in the epochal "Der Ring des Nibelungen" cycle -- is given a stellar production in this staging recorded in Germany as part of the Festspielhaus Bayreuth in 1991. Concerning the magical "Ring of Gold" and those both noble and nefarious who want to possess it, Das Rheingold features John Tomlinson, Günter von Kannen, Linda Finnie, and Bodo Brinkmann; Daniel Barenboim conducts the Orchester der Bayreuther Festspiele. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- John Tomlinson, Bodo Brinkmann, (more)
In this action adventure tale, Professor Braun (Ernest Borgnine), an expert in weapons technology, is kidnapped by Soviet terrorists who intend to force him to make a high-tech laser cannon for them. Intelligence agents Michael Gold (Brandon Lee) and Alissa (Debi A. Monahan) are sent in by the CIA to rescue him and recover a cache of stolen diamonds before it's too late for Braun and the world at large. Laser Mission marked Brandon Lee's first starring role in a U.S. feature film, three years before his tragic death while shooting The Crow. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Brandon Lee, Ernest Borgnine, (more)
- 1990
- R
In this thriller a Chicago policeman grows suspicious after his daughter does not return from a modeling assignment on a Caribbean island. He flies out to find her and finds himself in some rather strange situations. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Kris Kristofferson, Jeffrey Meek, (more)
Dolph Lundgren stars in this controversial action film directed by Joseph Zito (Missing in Action). The beefy Swede plays Soviet KGB agent Lt. Nikolai, who is sent to Africa with orders to eliminate a black rebel. Eventually, Nikolai begins to side with the locals, has a red scorpion tattooed on his chest by a shaman, and helps fight against the Cubans and the Soviets. Horror fans should note Tom Savini's expert gore effects during a torture scene, while others will be pleased with a fine supporting cast including M. Emmet Walsh, Carmen Argenziano, and Brion James. The film was originally commissioned by Warner Bros., which dropped it after controversy over its South African genesis, but they might as well have dropped it for its endless desert treks and uninvolving screenplay. An unrelated Canadian sequel followed five years later. ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi
- Starring:
- Dolph Lundgren, M. Emmet Walsh, (more)
- 1988
Filmed on location, An African Dream stars John Kani as a black African resident of the early 20th century who spends several years in England. Having received a "proper" white man's education, he returns to his homeland as a teacher. While his illusions about bridging the gap between the white and black populations in Africa are doomed to failure, he finds a unexpected kindred spirit in the form of Kitty Aldridge. A white resident of a recently established British colony, Kitty is attracted to the idealistic Kani, and he to her. That their relationship fosters resentment from others is indicated by the "PG for violence" rating bestowed upon An African Dream. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Kitty Aldridge, John Kani, (more)
- 1987
In this horror-adventure, a treasure seeker gets more than she bargained for when she and her partners try to locate and raise the cursed ship "El Diablo" which is said to contain a fortune in sunken treasure. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Wayne Crawford, June Chadwick, (more)
- 1987
- PG
In this sword and sorcery film, a wimpy college professor Tarl Cabot (Urbano Barberini) is mysteriously thrown into the world of Gor, where he must battle the evil Sarm (Oliver Reed) to save the innocent people of Gor. ~ Iotis Erlewine, Rovi
- Starring:
- Urbano Barberini, Rebecca Ferratti, (more)
