Luc Besson

Video Dispatches: ANNA, VAMPIRES & A BUCKET OF BLOOD
Video Dispatches: ANNA, VAMPIRES & A BUCKET OF BLOOD

Shawn Glinis takes a look at the recent home video releases of Luc Besson’s Anna, John Carpenter’s Vampires (1998) and Roger Corman’s A Bucket of Blood (1959).

ANNA: An Empty, Convoluted Spy Thriller
ANNA: An Empty, Convoluted Spy Thriller

Anna just isn’t quite the fun thrill ride that one might have hoped for, suffering from a disorganized plot, characters devoid of personality, and less-than-stellar action.

THE TROUGH: A Potential Cult Classic
THE TROUGH: A Potential Cult Classic

Much like Neil Breen’s current filmography, the horribly-titled The Trough definitely has cult movie potential if it ever hits the underground festival circuit.

VALERIAN & THE CITY OF A THOUSAND PLANETS: Visually Astonishing But Narratively Exhausting
VALERIAN & THE CITY OF A THOUSAND PLANETS: Visually Astonishing But Narratively Exhausting

Though visually enticing, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets is bogged down by a bloated script and poorly written characters.

THE FIFTH ELEMENT: Have 20 Years Been Kind To Luc Besson's Schizophrenic Sci-fi?
THE FIFTH ELEMENT: Have 20 Years Been Kind To Luc Besson’s Schizophrenic Sci-fi?

The Fifth Element 20 years later: it’s still the packed with resplendent imagery, inventive art direction, and some well edited set pieces.