Weekly Witch Hunt: The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus & Futility, or The Wreck of the Titan

We decide what artistic endeavour passed approval to earn the Scorcher label from the past seven days & what also had the dishonour of being that week's Torture...

It is normal for me to indulge in some festive themed entertainment in the month of December.  Christmas carols and songs will be played ad nauseam; Films about or set at Christmas will be given a viewing and books about the happiest time of the year will be read.
One such book makes it into our Scorcher list this week, while a short story about something totally not related to the birth of Christ is the subject of Torture.

The Scorcher

L. Frank Baum is most famous for giving the world his tale The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and the many adventures set in the legendary Land of Oz.  This other lesser known work of Baum's called The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus is a little gem.
This is a fantastical imagining of Santa growing from a child into a man amongst fairies and other mythical forest creatures.  While Baum does incorporate a few Christmas themes, he doesn't stick rigidly to all the common conceptions of Santa lore.  Some of his ideas do seem a little out of place; such as Santa's location, but overall he strings this fairy tale together nicely.
It is a refreshing perspective and offers up a different perspective as to how Santa Claus came into being.  I can see this story becoming a seasonal staple of mine along with my all-time favourite Christmas story (and many other peoples too): Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol.
What this tale truly deserves is a good cinematic adaptation to bring it the wider attention it warrants.

The Torture

Like many people the tragedy that befell the Titanic on its maiden voyage has always piqued my interest.  Imagine how I felt upon learning that an author had penned a short story fourteen years prior to the Titanic's doomed voyage; which seemed to predict the coming event.
Morgan Robertson was that very author and his novella goes by the title of Futility, or the Wreck of the Titan.  Originally it was just Futility but in 1912 the story was reissued under the longer title after people had started to recognise the similarities from Robertson's fictional tale and the real life sinking of the Titanic.
Robertson's ship even bears the name Titan, which is eerily close to the Titanic.  The Titan strikes an iceberg in the North Atlantic and in the same month of April.  Whereas the Titanic had just over two thirds of the passengers and crew lost at sea; the Titan loses nearly everyone with very few survivors.  One of the reasons being the lack of lifeboats, again mirroring the Titanic.
Now all this sounds fascinating and makes you wonder at the power of Robertson's coincidental foresight.  The reality though is not as exciting as imagined.  The actual description of the ship and the subsequent sinking all take place in quick succession.  Yes what is depicted does closely resemble what happened to the Titanic; but it is only a small part of the tale being told.
The main crux of the novella is a rescue attempt and one man's story of redemption.  This in itself makes for a decent read; but if like me you come to this expecting to find the main theme being about an unsinkable ship dropping to the bottom of the ocean; then you too will be sadly disappointed.

Film: "Captain Fantastic"

The Witch Trial:
Is this a film about tree hugging hippies, freeloading off the land; or a comment on the consumerism that envelops the majority of people's lives?  Let us delve deeper to see what we can uncover.

Who:
Director: Matt Ross
Starring: Viggo Mortensen, George MacKay, Frank Langella, Kathryn Hahn, Steve Zahn
What:
Comedy/Drama
Why:
Original script
When:
Released 2016
Where:
Set in the forests of the Northwest of America

The Case For:
Captain Fantastic is a simple story about a family who have turned their backs on modern society in favour of raising their six children in an idyllic forest home; subsisting off the land.  Into this idyllic lifestyle choice tragedy occurs when the mother of the family takes her own life while she is away in hospital for treatment.
Viggo Mortensen is Ben, the father of this family.  He decides to take his children across country to attend the funeral against his father-in-law's wishes.  What follows is a road trip movie of discovery for the children as they see the country and life they have been sheltered from.
The story is both uplifting and tragic at the same time.  On the one hand you can see in what ways these children are better off; being taught by Ben and learning life skills that would not be taught in the real world.  At the same time you also get to see everything that they are missing out on by being so isolated; things that we take for granted.
One of the great strengths of the story is the lengths the writers have gone to portray these characters in a way that doesn't make them seem like outcasts.  They might have some queer practices and certain foibles that aren't all that common but on the whole they are normal, well-adjusted individuals.

It is more often than not people around this family who view them as outcasts and are unaccepting of someone who don't live in a traditional way.  This is very evident when Ben stops off at his sister's house and her children are amazed at their cousin's behaviour and mannerisms.  These are the type of scenes in particular where the filmmakers are asking the audience to judge if what Ben is doing is acceptable.  It gets you thinking as you observe the ways in which society expects us to interact with one another and what would generally be considered unusual; when this family acts in a way which is completely natural for them.
The assembled cast are excellent, even the youngest children perform admirably which isn't something too often said when kids are involved.  The focus isn't on the little ones though; the crux of the story revolves around Ben and his eldest son Bodevan, played by George MacKay.  Kielyr and Vespyr, the two eldest daughters are also prominent; but it is the relationship and the conflict that occurs between Ben and Bodevan that is central to the overall arc.
It is only in Bodevan's awkwardness around strangers that we really get an insight into how this different upbringing has affected his social interaction.  You start to realise that if the isolation that they have all been forced to endure can affect such a clever young man; then it will have the same, and possibly worse, consequences for his siblings.
These conflicts between father and son are fascinating and help show that even though Ben thinks he is doing something good for his children that, in actual fact, there is no right or wrong way to raise your kids.  What one person does is not always going to be right for another.
Bodevan is an interesting character.  He is extremely loyal to his father, even though he questions his motives and methods.  That loyalty is also extended to his family and it has to be said that the loyalty is reciprocated from each member; this is definitely a close knit family, one of unity and solidarity.  We get a couple of glimpses of him wanting to break away from this life.  Bodevan also gives you a clear indication of how he feels torn as he contemplates leaving what is probably the only existence he remembers.  Apart from Ben, his is the most interesting story arc.
Mortensen is perfectly cast as Ben, I can't think of another actor more suited to this role.  He has that bohemian look about him and you could well imagine Mortensen going all method and living this lifestyle to prepare for the part.  He gives Ben so much depth, generally just from a facial expression or by using his body language; he is able to show the audience what he is thinking and how he is feeling.  So much of this film is riding on Mortensen being able to pull this off and he gives yet another stand out performance.
The story isn't solely about their life choices, hidden amongst this living off the land are some pertinent social comments surrounding commercialism and consumerism.  Here is a family, seemingly happy on the whole with what they have been given in life.  In contrast to this once again, is Ben's sister who is part of your average two adults, two children family living in modern suburbia.  The message is pretty clear that not all is well with the standard family who seem to have everything.  Of course we come to learn that not all is right with Ben's family too; but it is intriguing to see the comparison.
I like the pacing of this film.  It doesn't rush to the funeral scene; the director takes his time getting us there which allows us to get to know the characters.  We then care about what the final outcome will be and what will occur once they reach their final destination.  While the film might have started under tragic circumstances by the end there is a sense of hope that the family will end up in a better place.

The Case Against:
The opening scene has a deer being hunted and finally killed by Bodevan in what appears to be a coming of age ceremony; one that Ben has possibly borrowed from some native custom.  This opening is slightly confronting and doesn't really portray how the rest of the film will pan out.
What it does do is show that this family are capable and possibly dangerous.  Some of the practices that Ben has his children performing are very cult like.  The fascination that each one seems to have with knives is disturbing.  You can understand it to a certain extent as they have to fend for food from the land, but it is still a little unnerving.
Ben's rigid authority and regimental nature work against you warming to his character.  On the one hand you can see that he clearly loves and cares for each of his children; but you sense an undercurrent of his overly possessive nature towards them.  It looks like he is missing a vital point about parenting, which is providing your child with the necessary tools to allow them to discover things for themselves.  A person achieves this from the encouragement and guidance offered by the parent.  It appears however that Ben wants to control every aspect of their lives.
The children have to learn what he chooses, they have to exercise the way he wants and they have to do as he says.  Now while most children have to obey their parents; generally speaking they are allowed a certain amount of freedom.  With Ben that is not the case and his indoctrination of his beliefs is his attempt to create people that think and act the way he does.
This practice backfires later on once Bodevan confronts him.  These scenes are played well by both actors and it does make you realise what a manipulative person Ben has been towards his family.  To the writers credit you can see that Ben does realise the error of his ways but it is definitely a character flaw that doesn't make Ben particularly endearing.  Of course having such a complex character is also more refreshing than having someone who is just straight forward; where everything is black and white.

Ben also has to deal with a very upset father in law.  Jack, played by Frank Langella, shows his disdain towards the lifestyle he feels was forced upon his daughter because of Ben's controlling nature.  He feels a lot of anger towards Ben which you can sympathise with.  Langella is very convincing and has an intimidating presence.  His attitude is only natural when someone is looking for someone to blame after a person close to them chooses to take their life.  Jack is mourning the loss of his daughter and Ben is the obvious choice to shoulder that blame.
As a consequence some of Jack's ire seems to extend to his grandchildren and I found this a bit odd.  They shouldn't share any portion of his resentment; they have no say in how and where they live.  This could be a consequence of Jack not knowing the children and not being a part of their lives for such a long time.  It did seem strange that he would act this way towards people who are no more at fault than his daughter was.
While I was okay with Jack's behaviour towards Ben, I was not so convinced by Harper, Ben's sister.  Once again you can understand someone thinking that what Ben is doing is unconventional and Harper certainly feels this way.  I would have just liked for the writers to have one person have the balls to stand up for him and say they admired him for his convictions.  Who better to fulfil that role than his own sister?
Instead we get another person telling him what he is doing is wrong and how it is having a detrimental effect on his children.  Speaking of children, Harper's own brood act exactly how I expected them too towards their cousins.  They couldn't have written these two annoying brats any more conventional if they tried.  In much the same way I would have liked Harper to show some compassion towards Ben's choices; how refreshing would it have been to see her offspring behave in an inquisitive way towards their relations, rather than in the derogatory manner displayed?
Everyone can agree that the way Ben has chosen to bring up his kids is certainly different.  By showing some people commend him for his convictions would have just put a twist on the angle.  These are the type of tropes that if the writers had chosen to avoid; would have resulted in a stronger film that possibly would have had more impact.  These differences of opinion would have added to any debate on the rights and wrongs of what Ben is trying to do when discussing the film after it ends.
One final comment on Mortensen: did we really need to see his little Viggo on display in yet another role?  He must have it written into his contract these days that he is allowed to appear nude in at least one scene.  Just because Ben has chosen to live a lifestyle close to nature doesn't make him a nudist.  It felt randomly thrown in just to get a cheap laugh.

Verdict:
Although dark and disturbing at times, I can't fully condemn a man for sticking to his principles when trying to do the right thing.  I just hope he isn't indirectly raising children who will become the next Manson Family!  As you can see I do have some reservations about letting this get off completely free; which I feel is exactly what the filmmakers intended.

Evidence:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_Fantastic_(film)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3553976/

Weekly Witch Hunt: Scream Queens & Free State of Jones

We decide what artistic endeavour passed approval to earn the Scorcher label from the past seven days & what also had the dishonour of being that week's Torture...

It feels like I keep bringing up Western's in this section, both good and bad!
I was tempted to include the Absolutely Fabulous movie but realised it would have been for purely sentimental reasons.  It really isn't that great a film but it did bring back a lot of nostalgia for a much loved British comedy.  Instead we do have something darkly humorous tickling my fancy this week.

The Scorcher

Finding the right balance in a horror comedy is not an easy task.  Too much comedy and it can become parody.  Too much horror and the comedy can feel like it has been shoehorned in.  Having just watched season one of Scream Queens I can confidently say that Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan have found the right combination.
This show has some great comic moments spread through every episode.  The horror doesn't go for gore but instead shoots for the Scream film franchise level of surprise horror.  In fact I would bet that particular film franchise heavily influenced the tone of this series.
The Red Devil killer definitely shares some of the same traits as the Ghostface killer from Scream as they are both equally inept when it comes to attacking their victim.  I would also suggest that the costume of the Red Devil killer took a little inspiration from Ghostface too; both using a mask to conceal the identity of the murderer.
Emma Roberts is particularly nasty in her role as the leader of the Chanel's.  This is an obvious tribute to Heathers; naming the four sorority girls of Kappa Kappa Tau all Chanel.  The overall tone of the show shares so much in common with Heathers actually, in a good way.  In Roberts they couldn't have picked a better leading lady; she seems so genuine when dishing out her brutal lines. 
Snagging Jamie Lee Curtis who is truly one of the original iconic Scream Queens is a real coup.  She is terrific as the bitchy dean of the campus.  She shows her comic chops, as well as returning to her horror roots, although this time around she isn't the type of girl to run away in high heels!
If there is one character that I could pick out who has the best lines it would have to be the completely naïve, sexually perverted: Chad Radwell.  Nearly everything that comes out of his mouth is comedy gold and Glen Powell nails his performance.  Equally amusing and just as welcome every time she appears is Niecy Nash as Denise Hemphill; the security guard out to protect the members of Kappa Kappa Tau.
I will say that this isn't a show that you should binge watch.  To get the most benefit I feel it is a show where you need to view one, possibly two episodes at a time; otherwise it loses some of its appeal.  The humour is great but in smaller doses and watching them one after another kind of dulls your senses and some of the smarter, quick witted jokes will pass you by.
The story itself keeps you guessing as to who the murderer is.  This is one busy killer; barely an episode goes by without someone being done away with; and in some rather inventive ways.  I have a confession to make: I was unable to solve the mystery of who was the main culprit.  Yes I failed as an Inquisitor in this instance and I have dutifully been punishing myself with self-flagellation since!

The Torture
 

Well a second entry in the Torture category for a Matthew McConaughey film!  I like Mr McConaughey but I am afraid that Free State of Jones did not live up to my expectations.  Being a fan of the Western I was looking forward to this with eager anticipation.  I especially love films about the American Civil War and the premise of this intrigued me.
This film ended up being just so flat and underwhelming; I was left feeling really disappointed with the final outcome.  It is such a shame because I am sure that the source material is worthy of a movie adaptation but this does not do justice to the story.  A quick look at the history of Newton Knight shows that there are at least four books on the subject, so how they didn't manage to come up with a more cohesive script is somewhat of a surprise.
There may be a lot of conjecture across these books but with a bit of research they should have been able to decide on the story that they wanted to tell.  Instead what we get is a film that goes too big on scope; whereas it would have been better served by narrowing the focus to possibly just the war years.  I think they lost the core of the story which should have been about Jones County and instead made it more of a biography of Newton Knight.
The film is interspersed with historical photos from the Civil War detailing what events were occurring to help move the narrative along; this is used in place of a narrator.  While this is a different way of showing the passage of time it does give the film a television movie of the week feel.  There is generally no lead up to any of these time jumps either, they just seem to be thrown in at random when the director feels it is time to move to the next stage in Knight's life he wants us to see.
To confuse matters there is the completely unnecessary inclusion of a court case involving one of Knight's descendants Davis Knight.  He is fighting for his marriage to be recognised as he is considered to be of African-American descent and at the time interracial marriage is still not recognised in the state of Mississippi.  The scenes of this trial are also strewn in at irregular intervals throughout.
They have no effect on the main plot and only serve as a distraction to the story you want to see unfold.  If I was editing this, these scenes would have ended up on the cutting room floor.  It is merely an interesting footnote and could have been included as such in the end credits if they felt it necessary to bring the audience's attention to this matter.
As you can see there are a few gripes in regards to how disjointed the whole thing feels.  On top of that we have the length of time the director wants to cover.  It starts in 1862 and finishes, if you include Davis' story, in 1947!  Of course it doesn't include all events during this period and I am exaggerating but it does show that they try to incorporate too many parts of the Knight family story.
The concentration should have stayed on the fourteen skirmishes Knight and his followers had with the Confederate forces in Jones County.  Instead we have Knight establishing a farm after the war has finished; Knight's fight alongside his African-American friends to establish their right to vote; Knight's estranged wife returning to his farm; Knight rescuing Moses' son from a new form of slavery after abolition and finally Knight and the freedmen practicing their right to vote.  It is just too much to fit in and makes the film just drag on and on, testing ones endurance.
Disappointed is the word that best sums up my feelings towards this, I hope that one day this interesting story gets a much better telling than what was on offer here.

Film: "Don't Breathe"

The Witch Trial:
I am hearing reports of three burglars breaking into the home of a defenceless blind man.  This sounds like something that must be investigated.

Who:
Director: Fede Alvarez
Starring: Stephen Lang, Jane Levy, Dylan Minnette, Daniel Zovatto
What:
Crime Thriller
Why:
An original script
When:
Released 2016
Where:
Set in a rundown suburb of Detroit

The Case For:
Fede Alvarez was responsible for the, not particularly terrible but not particularly great, remake of Evil Dead released in 2013.  This was a valiant attempt at updating a true horror classic; but also one where people were asking why this is needed.  While I thought it was alright I did feel that Alvarez had missed the most important aspect of the original and that was in retaining the humour to go along with the horror.  For a directorial debut though, it was a solid effort.
Sam Raimi helped produce that remake.  He must have been suitably impressed as he returns as one of Alvarez's producers on Don't Breathe.  To me that is a sign of true faith when someone with the reputation of Raimi is keen to help further the career of this young director.
Alvarez once again shares scriptwriting duties with Rodo Sayagues as they did on Evil Dead.  They have produced something that is a bit different for a genre that is used too many ideas being recycled.  The home invasion theme might be something that has been done before but this has enough fresh concepts to plant its own originality.
Jane Levy could be considered a muse for Alvarez after her lead appearance in Evil Dead.  Once again she plays the central character of Rocky; who along with Dylan Minnette's Alex; and Daniel Zovatto's Money, form the trio of burglars.  They use information gathered from Alex's father's security company to help them plan and break into homes that contain items of wealth.
Acting on some of this information they target the home of a war veteran who became blind on active duty.  He is said to be stashing $300,000 in his home; compensation he received after the death of his daughter in a motor accident.
Using an abandoned Detroit neighbourhood for the setting is an inspired choice.  It allows the characters to make all the noise they wish; without the chance of a pesky neighbour sticking their nose where it wouldn't be welcome.
The Blind Man is a particularly intriguing character.  He appears both frail and capable at the same time.  His unshaven face and haggard looks belie the abilities that he is still able to bring to the fore from his muscular frame.  The eyesight might have left him but his overall strength is still there when needed.

Stephen Lang's portrayal is much nuanced; playing a person who remains virtually silent throughout the whole film could not have been easy.  We get a man who at different stages appears vulnerable, pitiful and in need of your sympathy.  On the flip side he can also become sadistic; vicious and deadly.  In many ways he reminds me of Mick Taylor from Wolf Creek; only without the smart quips.  Both of these people appear on the surface to be regular Joe's, but both have their hidden sides and are capable of acts of extreme violence.
Alvarez has created a memorable fighter in the Blind Man and I hope he isn't ruined in future sequels by becoming a one note character.  At the moment he is someone in the grey area: not all bad but definitely not all good.  It would be a terrible shame to make him a wholly black hearted person.
I am at pains to not call him a villain or antagonist.  In much the same way I would not call Rocky the hero or protagonist.  Either one could equally switch labels.  The film does a decent job of giving both the Blind Man and Rocky different aspects to their persona that pigeon holing them in one category would be a great disservice.
At different points you find yourself rooting for each of them to win through in the end.  Personally I was more on the side of the Blind Man but I can fully appreciate how someone would also be cheering for Rocky.  This in itself is one of the major plus points of the film; you can debate rightly and wrongly for who exactly you would prefer to survive the ordeal.
The film score is eerily creepy and fits the tone well.  It doesn't rely on dramatic crescendos for when you are meant to jump; instead it goes along at a steady pace, instilling dread in the viewer as the movie progresses.  That isn't to say that there aren't moments where the music lifts up to hit the high notes; as it certainly does but it is used sparingly.  There are so many horror films that require the music to help the impact of the scare that it was refreshing to have a score compliment the scene rather than embellish it.
A common trope in horror, especially these days, is to rely more on jump scares to get the reaction from your audience than utilising any other form of scare to create dread.  Don't Breathe has a few but it isn't a one trick pony.  Alvarez uses the location to great effect to raise the tension in the viewer.  The way the Blind Man appears from the shadows or is revealed during the shot is excellent at raising the pulse.  They are simple methods but work wonderfully well in making this man appear as menacing as can be.
The one star of the show I have failed to mention is the Blind Man's pet Rottweiler.  This dog is truly terrifying in the best tradition of Cujo and he is probably an homage to that movie too.  Some of the best scares come from this animal.  The car scene is definitely one that will have you squirming in your seat.
For a small cast; a simple premise; filmed on mostly a single set and having an eerily written and tight script; this film is definitely worthy of attention.  It isn't perfect by any means but it achieves its aim and that isn't something that can be directed at a lot of horror films.

The Case Against:
The one major hurdle this film has going against it; is how do you make three burglars sympathetic?  These guys are breaking into people's homes and making off with their goods to raise cash to make a better life for one another.  At the same time they are hurting the families whose homes they are raiding; maybe not physically but definitely emotionally.
I found it very hard to want any of them to survive; especially Money who is the most despicable of the three.  You get a clear indication of his character in the opening robbery the gang perform; as he is the only one causing any kind of destruction.  He is irredeemable in every way and I wanted him to get his just deserts sooner rather than later.
There is very little character development for any of the four players.  At a running time of eighty-eight minutes that is understandable.  No one wants to see half an hour of back story when the main aim of the game is to scare the pants off you!  What little there is though I found to be a bit heavy handed.
Alex is shown as someone who does question the morality of what they are doing but still goes along with it anyway.  This makes little sense as he is using his father's company to gather the details of each home they break into.  If he was so conflicted about what they were doing then he wouldn't need to act on this information to begin with.
The script does its best to paint Rocky in a good light by including a scene showing her home life and what a terrible mother she has.  There is also the added responsibility she feels towards her younger sister and the hope she has of providing her with a better life.  It is a vain attempt to rally some to her cause by playing on your emotional heart strings.  She seems like a smart girl though; I am sure there are other ways she could have achieved her aims without resorting to breaking and entering.
Overall these characters were a problem for me.  I disliked Money from the first scene; I found Alex to be unrealistic and Rocky too switched on to be hanging out with these two losers.  So how would I find the Blind Man in comparison?
Well at first I wanted him to kill them all, but then you find out more about his agenda; then it becomes a little more unclear.  Without wanting to give too much away I didn't like what was going on with him in the basement.  It made him just as unlikeable as the trio of robbers.  His one saving grace was that the circumstances that had occurred in his life had driven him to this course of action.  It may not excuse his behaviour but it does give him motive which played an important factor in making my mind up.
By the end, after some toing and froing, I did find myself wanting the Blind Man to come out on top.  After all these three people had come to rob someone who they thought was an easy target.  When opportunity presents itself for them to leave early on in proceedings the lure of the cash still prevails.  Their motive outweighed their instinct for survival.  That choice helped galvanise my opinion.
The one horror trope that does prevail is what I like to term 'Horror Strength'.  It is when a person suffers an injury so severe it would normally cripple a regular human being; but somehow they find the strength and will to carry on.  This happens to more than one character and while it annoyed me, it didn't have as much impact as it normally would on my overall enjoyment of the film.
The Blind Man did have an uncharacteristic ability to move around his home extremely quickly when the script required him too.  On more than one occasion he would appear in a location that made me think how did he get there so soon?  It might not have been a supernatural ability but it did seem an unnatural occurrence.
I would have preferred a different ending to the one we got.  I am not going to spoil it at all; but it is obvious why it ended the way it did: it leaves things open for possible sequels.  I would have preferred to have either had some clearer closure; or better yet, I would have closed off with the Blind Man and Rocky in the basement.  I will assume you will get what I mean when you see the scene.  Now in my opinion that would have given you an "Oh shit!" moment and it keeps it open for a potential follow up.

Verdict:
It is very difficult to allow these three delinquents and an old man of such dubious nature off with a warning; but I feel it has to be done.  Be aware Fede Alvarez, I will be monitoring your future output with great intrigue.

Evidence:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don't_Breathe
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4160708/

Weekly Witch Hunt: Johnny Yuma & Game of Death

We decide what artistic endeavour passed approval to earn the Scorcher label from the past seven days & what also had the dishonour of being that week's Torture...

I continued my sojourn into both the spaghetti western and martial arts worlds this past week and so we have an entry from each genre.

The Scorcher

I had the displeasure the other week of watching a really bad spaghetti western; this week I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed Johnny Yuma.  A lot of spaghetti's follow similar themes without much difference so it is nice to occasionally come across one that plays with the formula a little bit.  While not rewriting the rulebook this film does have enough of a departure from the regular format to make it more appealing than many others from this genre.
The story is a simple one about someone profiteering from committing a murder so they can gain a goldmine.  The difference is the antagonist is a western femme fatale played with much gusto by the beautiful Rosalba Neri who is no stranger to the spaghetti western, having appeared in plenty during her career; as well as Jess Franco's infamous 99 Women.
Our hero of the piece is played with tongue in cheek relish by Mark Damon who looks like he is having a ball.  I certainly enjoyed his portrayal and he had good chemistry with Lawrence Dobkin whose Linus Carradine is hired by Neri's scheming Samantha Felton to kill Yuma.
There is double crossing, bar fighting, cheating at cards and high noon shoot outs; all the things you come to expect from this sort of fare.  But they are done with a smile and a slight nod and a wink at how ridiculous all this macho bravado actually is.  They are definitely trying to capture the feel of For A Few Dollars More and surprisingly I think they more or less achieve it.
It is none more evident than the final set piece where Yuma and Carradine have a running battle with the Felton gang members.  The Felton gang must have gone to the Stormtrooper school of shooting as none of them can hit a target but you don't expect them too.  Some might consider this scene a complete rip off of For A Few Dollars More, but it was a common occurrence for spaghetti westerns to lift whole chunks from a previous film and rework parts into their own story.
While it is not amongst the best from the era; this one certainly captured my attention and contained enough surprises to keep me amused and entertained.

The Torture
 

I feel it is almost sacrilege to include the great Bruce Lee amongst the Torture category; but Game of Death warrants inclusion.  It was only last week that I was wailing on a martial arts icon after abusing Jackie Chan's Skiptrace.  This week I am going to pick on probably the most iconic of all; albeit the one person who is not responsible for the final outcome of his last work.
For those who do not know the history of the events surrounding this picture, let me give you a concise version.  Lee had started work on this production and stopped to appear in his biggest hit, the Warner Bros. produced Enter the Dragon.  This was the first big budget martial arts film from a major studio.  Tragically Lee died not long after filming wrapped and so was unable to come back and complete work on Game of Death.
That wasn't the end of the film though, as Lee's director from Enter the Dragon was drafted in to complete Game of Death using two stand-in actors for scenes that should have had Lee appear.  Whilst there was plenty of footage originally filmed by Lee, most of it was lost by Golden Harvest; the production company responsible for all of Lee's Asian filmed movies.  The finished product only has just over eleven minutes of the original footage; everything else was filmed after Lee's death!
As you can imagine the final film leaves a lot to be desired.  The stand-in actors may resemble Lee physically but facially are nothing like him.  They try to copy his fighting stance and moves and also throw in the distinctive noises he would make during his fights.  Even using different camera angles to disguise that it isn't Lee doesn't help.
The film stock is completely different and very noticeable when it switches from the earlier filmed footage to the later material.  This is especially true during some of the fight sequences; which forms the bulk of Lee's actual appearances.
There is the sense of Deja vu in what seems to be foreshadowing what will become of Lee's son Brandon Lee.  Bruce's character is shot by a prop gun during the making of a film within the film.  The prop gun contains a real bullet which mimics what caused the death of Brandon while filming The Crow.
What was most disturbing of all though was the inclusion of recordings taken from Lee's funeral; which tied back in to the story taking place during the film.  To say this was in poor taste does not really do justice to just how disturbing this actually is.  How did they ever get permission from the family to include this?
It is both uncomfortable and inappropriate to watch.  It makes you feel like a voyeur looking at something that you shouldn't be witness too; this should have been left as a deeply personal thing for the family.  As soon as this came on screen my opinion of the film soured dramatically.
The story itself is a solid one and if it was filmed on its own without the Lee factor it would have made a decent entry for the Golden Harvest archives.  But because of the baggage involved with Lee's death and the sickening inclusion of the film from his funeral; it just left me feeling cold.
It has to be said the fight scenes in the pagoda; which forms the big set piece finale; and does include the majority of Lee's eleven minutes are probably the strongest part of the film.  It is just such a shame that this martial arts legend was tragically not able to come back to conclude what would have been a fine addition to his legacy.

Weekly Witch Hunt: The Avalanches 'Wildflower' & Skiptrace

We decide what artistic endeavour passed approval to earn the Scorcher label from the past seven days & what also had the dishonour of being that week's Torture...

I seriously considered including one of the Now You See Me films for this week's torture after giving them back to back viewing.  I had seen the first one before and gave it a flogging; but I thought it deserved a revisit prior to seeing the sequel.  My opinion didn't change.  The second one, while being sillier unbelievable hokum, was actually more entertaining.  However neither one is worth my ire as I decided to hang another terrible, terrible film instead...

The Scorcher

The old adage of 'good things come to those who wait' should be fully applied to The Avalanches album Wildflower.  Sixteen, yes sixteen, years in development since their debut album Since I Left You.  There are some albums that have a profound effect on a person and that debut was one such record for me.  It opened up a whole new avenue of music and possibly changed my perceptions and definitely broadened my musical horizons.
To say that I had given up all hope of ever hearing any new material from The Avalanches would be an understatement.  There had been so many rumours for years about possible releases; that I thought it was just record companies trying to maintain some interest in a band that had given up after one huge hit album.
All of a sudden from out of nowhere comes this new record with only two original band members still on board; all the others having left in less than good circumstances over the years.
I haven't rushed this record; I have taken a bit of time to get into it.  I normally put a new album on repeat for a few days to really familiarise myself with it; but after waiting for this one for so long I wanted to savour the experience.  So it was only over the weekend that I finally gave it a few repeat listens to immerse myself in the experience.
Wildflower does not disappoint.  Let's get one thing clear, it was going to be impossible to hit those lofty heights of Since I Left You again; so I had already tempered my expectations.  I was hoping for something in a similar vein, with some subtle differences.  On the whole Wildflower delivered on these hopes.
The first half of the album is definitely the strongest part with songs like Because I'm Me and Subways; both of which would not be out of place on Since I Left You.  There are psychedelic influences peppered throughout; especially songs like The Noisy Eater.  Frankie Sinatra has more of a European flavour which makes me want to drink Sangria and dance the Zorba!
The theme of the record and overall effect that it has is one of happiness and joy.  Since I Left You invoked the same euphoric feelings.  This is one record you can put on for a summer party and just watch as people start to tap along as the playful mood infects them.
It is a glorious return from obscurity and I only hope we don't have to wait so long for another injection of pure musical pleasure from these artists.

The Torture

 Let me start off by saying that I am a big fan of Jackie Chan and his particular style of Action/Comedy movies.  Being someone who particularly enjoys Asian cinema, it would be hard not to like one of its greatest exports.  That is why it was such a big disappointment to see just how low Jackie Chan's star has fallen after viewing Skiptrace.
This film is awful on so many levels, in fact nearly every level it is hard to know where to begin.
Johnny Knoxville is passable in his role and Chan's acting is still mostly enjoyable but on the whole the acting is diabolical with so many caricatures, especially the villains of the piece.  Eve Torres does a terrible mock accent which is a mix of evil Russian and evil German; but never settles on either.  Incidentally she is playing a Russian but obviously the East Berlin kind from before the wall came down.  All the Asian bad guys are from the Fu Manchu school of villainy.
It is left to the audience to guess who the mysterious 'Matador' kingpin is leading this gang of hoodlums.  It doesn't take a genius to figure out who this is either for anyone who has seen a misdirection trope in any action film.
The comedy has all the common racial stereotypes you can imagine; it abuses the customs, diet, dress and economy of the region.  There is also a smattering of misogynistic and homophobic jokes throughout.  These might have been mildly amusing thirty years ago from a film set and made in the 80's but none of them hit the mark in this day and age.
Guess what though?  The film will let you know when you are supposed to laugh by playing some cute little ditty in the background that sounds like it was lifted straight from a Bugs Bunny cartoon.  This happens from the first minute to the last; there is hardly a scene where there isn't some music playing.  And don't get me started on the Adele singalong; cringe worthy is an understatement.
Regardless of all this criticism; the one thing above all others that annoyed me was how much the action seemed staged.  There were scenes where you could see the combatants waiting for their cue to throw a punch or swing into the fight.  This to me is the worst offence one of his movies can commit.  Unfortunately it is probably a result of our main action star being in his early sixties but still wanting to put on a show of someone at least twenty years younger.
Jackie Chan was The Man when it came to doing his own stunts and performing fighting feats that would leave you breathless.  Age has caught up with him and he looks like an old man trying to recapture his glory days.  It would be such a shame if he continues along The Expendables route.  Please Jackie don't ruin your legacy by continuing to appear in more appalling movies of this nature, let us remember you from films like The Young Master, Project A or Armour of God instead.

Poster Pride & Prejudice: case study JAMES BOND

Where we look at one Scorching piece of artwork that generates excitement for what it is advertising.

Then on the flipside we also have a Torturous piece that makes you wonder how it ever got approval to promote the product...

With 24 films to choose from in the James Bond franchise there are plenty of choices for our Poster Pride & Prejudice category.  There are lots of beautiful hand drawn posters, especially in the earlier years as that was the popular trend at the time.  Later years have seen more composite style posters.  My personal preference has always been for drawings over composites so it is hardly surprising which styles end up in both camps.

The Scorcher

I had such a hard time deciding which poster I liked the most from the many choices.  In the end A View to a Kill won the day over close runner up Thunderball.
I love the vibrancy to this particular poster.  There are many shades of blue but the blending of these shades is done perfectly.  The blue helps focus your attention straight on James Bond in his standard tuxedo, who is the focal point of the whole picture.
The scene is also central to the plot and setting of the film; which is something that can't be said of all the Bond posters.  Having the striking red frame of the Golden Gate Bridge helps break up the colour; even if Bond and his damsel in distress seem to be defying the laws of gravity!

The Torture

Out of all the Bond posters the ones that I particularly dislike all seem to star Pierce Brosnan.  It was bound to be one of these that worked its way into the Torture category.
Once again it was a close call, this time between our dubious winner GoldenEye and Tomorrow Never Dies.  To be honest there is very little to choose between the two; neither one is particularly inspired but GoldenEye is distinctly more boring.
The washed out sepia tone to Bond and the Bond girls placed in the corners, makes this one look really bland.  The 007 logo gets a little lost in amongst the flames too; which are the only bright spot in this art piece.
I would have thought that the return of Bond to the big screen after a six year hiatus would warrant something more spectacular to promote it other than this boring poster.  It certainly didn't hurt the film's box office though so I guess sometimes the accompanying promotional material can be overrated.

Below is a collage of all 24 of the Bond posters for you to decide which ones would get your vote.

Weekly Witch Hunt: IWM Voices of the First World War & The BFG

We decide what artistic endeavour passed approval to earn the Scorcher label from the past seven days & what also had the dishonour of being that week's Torture...

Unfortunately life has got in the way a bit this week and cut short the amount of time I have had available in my role of Inquisitor.  I did catch Doctor Strange at the cinema and was highly entertained by this new Marvel movie, I recommend seeing it on the big screen.

The Scorcher

This week's Scorcher is something completely different to anything I have had on trial before.  The Imperial War Museum's podcast Voices of the First World War is a series of fifty episodes covering all aspects of the Great War.
The series tries to run sequentially while tackling the many different and varied methods of warfare employed, some for the very first time, during WWI.  Each episode goes for about thirty minutes.  The focus isn't only on the combatants as there are episodes covering such topics as conscientious objectors; women's war services and animals in war.
Each episode has a narrator to provide some background information.  In between this narration are the people who were present during the events discussed.  These ex-service men and women give their own views on what took place from their perspective.  The stories they tell are fascinating and give a real insight as to what they experienced.
While the vast majority of the interviewees are British, there are also people from other nations represented.  A lot of these are from the Allied countries but we do get some of the German perspective; especially from those stationed on the Western Front.
I can't fathom what it must have been like to go through this harrowing experience.  To think that these people not only survived the war but still managed to maintain their sanity afterwards is a credit to them.
There were many times whilst listening to this series where I found myself feeling deeply moved by what I was hearing.  These brave men and women, from both sides, were thrust into a conflict that they had no control over; much like every war that has occurred throughout history.  Their stories deserve to be heard and I can only hope that by doing so it makes future leaders think before going to war ever again.  Lest We Forget indeed.

The Torture

I will start by saying that this is not a particularly bad film.  The BFG has a lot going for it; the motion capture is excellent as are most of the special effects.
At times though I did feel that Ruby Barnhill, as the heroine Sophie, had been inserted into a scene.  It felt at points that she was acting against a green screen.  This is not an indictment on her overall performance because I can imagine just how hard it would be for any actor to perform against such a backdrop.  I would expect it to be even harder on someone twelve years of age and starring in their first big movie.
This aspect did have a big impact on my overall enjoyment of the film.  It also felt that some of the conversations between Sophie and BFG were a bit stilted too.  I don't know if this was due to Mark Rylance performing opposite Barnhill and having to accommodate for scale or due to something else.  I couldn't quite put my finger on it; but their conversations felt a bit like: then he says, then she says, then he says and so on and so forth.  These conversations felt more like a stage play.
Overall though I just found this to be run of the mill Steven Spielberg.  I get the impression that he could do this type of film in his sleep.  I would have appreciated him stepping out of the comfort zone a little and challenging himself a bit more.  I guess when your films generally resonate with audiences though he doesn't have too.
For me this was just a little bit run of the mill; nice for a Sunday afternoon watch but quickly forgotten.

Weekly Witch Hunt: The Nightmare Before Christmas & The Sea of Trees

We decide what artistic endeavour passed approval to earn the Scorcher label from the past seven days & what also had the dishonour of being that week's Torture...

I have interrogated a few comedies this last week such as Bad Moms and Mascots which nearly got my Scorcher vote.  With Halloween in mind I have also seen a couple of horrors and thrillers.  The two selected here are a bit different to the normal fare and I thought it fitting to cover them.
 

The Scorcher

This was actually the first time I have seen this Tim Burton classic and I am so sorry I haven't caught it sooner.  I am a big fan of stop motion, particularly the creature features of Ray Harryhausen, so I don't really know why it has taken me this long to check out The Nightmare Before Christmas.
The music and songs go so well with the story.  I have a soft spot for musicals when done well and Nightmare certainly fits the bill.  Danny Elfman is one of Burton's usual collaborators.  Because of that close relationship you get the feeling that they are very much in synch with one another.  I am sure the process of creating the tunes for this musical would have been quite easy for Elfman because of the level of trust he shares with Burton.
The casting of Chris Sarandon and Danny Elfman to do the voice of Jack Skellington was pretty seamless.  It was very hard to spot the difference between the singing and speaking voices.
The figurines themselves have so much life to them and the stop motion is excellent.  It is such a slow, painstaking process but the rewards are on the screen for all to see.  There are also no scenes that are there just to show off the stop motion; there is no need when the story being told is doing that all on its own.  Why resort to technique trickery when you don't have too?
I loved the design of Oogie Boogie the most out of all the characters.  He really would be the stuff of nightmares and he didn't have Burton's normal big eyed design, he felt more unique that way.
It isn't a film that outstays its welcome either, it tells the story in a nice succinct way.  It does this without wasting a minute on exposition.  This was Henry Selick's directorial debut too and it shows a lot of faith from Burton that he trusted him to bring his vision to the screen.
I can certainly see this becoming one of my favourite Halloween films to throw on when I want something nice and short at this time of year.

The Torture

 

I recently watched The Forest with Natalie Dormer about the Aokigahara Forest in Japan; a forest renowned for the amount of suicides that take place there each year.  To say I was disappointed with this mind numbingly boring horror would be an understatement.
With this in mind I was hopeful that The Sea of Trees would be an improvement considering Aokigahara was once again the main setting for the movie.  There was also the added incentive of seeing Ken Watanabe and Naomi Watts who are two reliable actors.  Not only did it boast these two fine thespians but also Matthew McConaughey whose recent run of roles have seen him win much acclaim.
Oh how my faith was so misguided to believe that this would be any better.
The actors overall aren't too bad; Watanabe's Takumi Nakamura suffers most as he doesn't have a lot to do but moan and groan as he follows McConaughey's Arthur Brennan as the two try to find a way out of the forest.
I will admit that the scenery and the way the film is shot is quite beautiful.  Considering the majority of the film takes place in a forest you would think that the scenes would become a bit repetitive but the cinematography of Kasper Tuxen has to be commended.
The pace of the film however is just too slow and pondering.  The story of the Brennan's is told in flashback so we learn why Arthur has travelled to Japan.  The relationship he has with his wife Joan is clearly not in a good place.  It only seems to mildly improve as events unfold; you therefore feel very little sympathy for what they are going through.
It is hardly surprising that I had a hard time trying to reconcile his current behaviour and bleak outlook considering how poorly the couple relate to one another.  Neither of the Brennan's do anything to give you a positive emotional connection to them.
To top this off we get some supernatural mumbo jumbo at the end of the film to try and give it a spiritual and uplifting finale that just falls flat.  At no point during the preceding events do you get an inkling that the story will end this way and it feels so out of place when it unfolds.

Weekly Witch Hunt: K.Flay 'Blood in the Cut' & Seven Guns For Timothy

We decide what artistic endeavour passed approval to earn the Scorcher label from the past seven days & what also had the dishonour of being that week's Torture...

I was going to put Green Room for this week's Scorcher but I have had two films already take out that mantle; so I thought I would go for a musical number instead.  But I do highly recommend seeing Green Room; it is a terrific thriller with some top notch performances.  While it does hint at following some movie conventions; instead it does manage to throw in a surprise or two which is always welcome.

The Scorcher

I have had Blood in the Cut by K.Flay stuck in my head since I first heard it.  It isn't particularly ground-breaking; in fact it follows a very simple formula.  What it does do though, is follow that formula very well to create a very catchy tune.
You have the simple slow start to the song as the instruments introduce themselves.  Then it goes into the faster tempo of the chorus before bringing the tone down again for the next verse.  You then get the lift as the chorus comes back in; then just past the halfway point it enters into a clap &chant combination.  Finally it ends on another faster, louder rendition of the chorus to close out the tune.
It is the type of song that you get quite often but once it gets you going; you will find that you are humming it or singing along too.  I love discovering songs like this; ones that get me excited to hear what else the artist has in their repertoire.  I was also pleasantly surprised to find out that K.Flay already has one album to her name which I will no doubt be perusing very soon.
In the meantime I will just have to content myself with repeat listens of this awesome tune.

The Torture
 

With the release of the remake of The Magnificent Seven I decided to watch another version of the story; the 1966 spaghetti western Seven Guns For Timothy.  Italy and Spain had a reputation throughout most of the 60's and early 70's of remaking any hit western and adding their own spin on the story.
This is of course the Italian version of the Yul Brynner movie which was in turn a western version of Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai.  In typical spaghetti western tradition we get a much shoddier acted, staged, filmed and directed version.
I think it is safe to say that this film is terrible.  For starters there aren't even seven guns for Timothy when it comes to gathering the troops; there are six and that includes Timothy himself.  Plus one of the five recruits doesn't actually join the group until very late in proceedings.
A lot of what takes place is done with a nod and a wink to the audience and played very much for cheap laughs.  This is especially true when Timothy is being trained by the men who have come to his aid.  While this is not exactly a bad thing it does mean tonally the film goes all over the place.
There are also some very weird shots that last too long and then there are shots of quick edits from one person to another.  This direction also does nothing to give the film an even flow.  One particular scene has the character Slim show up at Timothy's residence on his horse.  He hitches his horse to the rail and runs inside the home.  Normally your view would switch to the interior to see the conversation that then takes place.  Not here, the director thought it would be far more entertaining to linger on the shot of the horse eating hay outside; while we can hear the dialogue between Slim and Timothy.  This scene goes for at least a minute of just a shot of a horse!
Timothy is played by Sean Flynn, the son of Errol Flynn.  He is passable in the role, a bit wooden, but he does look the part.  What was worth my time; was further investigating the tragic end to this young man's life.  His career as a photojournalist would make a pretty good movie of its own.
The ever reliable Fernando Sancho plays the villain of the piece, as he did in many spaghetti westerns.  I make no apologies for spoiling the end of the film here; but it isn't even Timothy who gets to be the hero of his own film when it comes to the final showdown.  That was a big letdown and just about sums up my whole feeling towards this poor remake.  Hunt out one of the better versions instead.

Weekly Witch Hunt: Battle Royale & Money Monster

We decide what artistic endeavour passed approval to earn the Scorcher label from the past seven days & what also had the dishonour of being that week's Torture...

I spent most of last week with my head buried in a couple of books after I decided to continue with the adventures of Miss Peregrine's peculiar children.  I still managed to watch a few films as well as continue my re-watch of Buffy and Angel; something which inspired my previous trial.  Without any further ado here are the items for this week's witch hunt.

The Scorcher

I loved this film.  I have wanted to see Kinji Fukasaku's final movie for a number of years and finally had the chance to view it.  I can understand why people say The Hunger Games copied the template set out in Battle Royale to a certain degree.
Apart from pitting young adults against one another and supplying them with weapons they both then move in different directions.  I have to say The Hunger Games movies are definitely light entertainment in comparison to the visceral bloodletting that happens in Battle Royale.
What I enjoyed the most was how nearly every child competing has their moment of death play out on screen.  Now that I have written that as a sentence it feels so wrong!  But, regardless of morality, I was highly entertained.  When you have over 40 people competing it would be easy to miss a few but we do see everyone's death scene or at least their body after they have been slaughtered.  The death tally appearing was a cool notion too.
There are so many varied ways they kill off the unwilling contestants and the brutal instinct of kill or be killed comes out in the most unlikely people.  I particularly enjoyed the scene where some of the girls have teamed up together.  Then when the wrong person takes a sip of poisoned soup suddenly all hell breaks loose as trust goes out the window and the survival instinct kicks in for every one of them.
Beat Takeshi is excellent as the teacher who has had enough of these unruly pupils.  You get a real sense from him early on that he has been beaten down and knows that no matter what methods he tries; nothing will get these students to learn and become contributing members of society.
If you are after some bloodthirsty action with a reasonable story and some decent acting then this will not disappoint.  There are also social messages hidden amongst the violence but, hey, I just came to see a bunch of teenagers chop one another to pieces!

The Torture

I will start by saying that this is not a terrible film I just found a certain plot point to be totally unrealistic which made the whole premise fall to pieces before it had a chance to get going.
Jack O'Connell's Kyle Budwell takes money advisor Lee Gates, played by George Clooney, hostage during a live broadcast of Lee's show Money Monster which is where we get the film's title.  Julia Roberts plays the shows director Patty Fenn.
As soon as Kyle comes in waving a gun around Patty rightfully shuts down the broadcast.  This infuriates Kyle and he forces them to put the show back on the air, which Patty then does.  Now I am sure that in reality this would never happen.
What could have taken place is the studio monitors should have still been able to stream the camera feed.  This would give Kyle the impression that his message is being broadcast.  They could have kept the tension level just as high if both Kyle and Lee thought that they were streaming live to millions of viewers but in reality it was only seen by those present in the studio.  Neither would be any the wiser.  It would have made the futility of Kyle's attempt to make these big corporations accountable for their errors, have more of an impact once you get the reveal at the end that no one in the outside world saw what unravelled.
After all one of the messages that I got as the film concludes was that it didn't make much difference what action Kyle took; it would be business as usual come the morning.  Once they started showing the hostage situation live, and the constant switching to people watching events unfold, it lost something for me and this happens reasonable early on in the film. 
The other plot point that infuriated me was how Lee and Kyle were allowed to leave the studio.  The police have managed to clear all but a few people from danger and yet they allow this terrorist to then leave an isolated building.  They don't know where he is going, or why, or what he intends to do; thus endangering far more civilians than were originally taken as hostage in the first place.  It just wouldn't be allowed to happen.  They would have shot him as soon as he stepped outside and taken the subsequent death of Lee as collateral damage rather than put all those other people at risk.
Those two flaws in the plot took away from my overall enjoyment.  There is definitely a half decent story to be told here, it just isn't portrayed very well overall.

Television: Buffy the Vampire Slayer

The Witch Trial:
"Into every generation there is a chosen one.  One girl in all the world.  She alone will wield the strength and skill to stand against the vampires, the demons and the forces of darkness; to stop the spread of their evil and the swell of their number.  She is the Slayer."
Well surely we can't leave one girl to fight on her own; we must ride to her aid and offer our assistance...

Who:
Director: Joss Whedon, Bruce Seth Green and others
Starring: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, David Boreanaz, Anthony Stewart Head, Charisma Carpenter
What:
Horror/Drama
Why:
Season 2
When:
Released 1997/98
Where:
Set in Sunnydale...on the Hellmouth!

The Case For:
Next year will see the 20th anniversary of Buffy the Vampire Slayer first airing on television.  Who would have thought a show about a teenage girl battling all sorts of things that go bump in the night would have such a massive impact.  It is a show that not only had a wide group of loyal followers but also showed the way to make a successful television show that many others have tried to copy.  While some have reached the same heights; there are far more examples of others who have failed to capture the same lightning in a bottle.
I was a bit late in coming to the party as I started watching partway through season two.  I admit that the premise had turned me off originally; a girl in high school fighting vampires didn't really inspire me.  Considering season two was my first experience of the Buffyverse I felt it my duty to put this particular season of the demon hunter in the dock and see how well she and the Scooby gang pass cross examination.
My first experience of actually giving the show a go came when I watched Inca Mummy Girl.  Without the knowledge of what had occurred in the earlier episodes I didn't get the reference that Xander was attracted to yet another bad choice for a potential girlfriend; but I would rectify that in the future.  From viewing that first episode I was hooked and didn't miss a show after it; whilst also going back and watching season one when I managed to get my hands on it.
My first impressions were that Buffy was a badass kicking vampire and demon butt and helping people and her friends out of dangerous situations.  Those friends were privy to her true nature and rallied around her helping out where they could.  They had to do research about who they were coming up against and find a way to eliminate the threat rather than just resorting to brute force, although in a lot of cases that still worked.
This wasn't just some teenager tripe only there for mild entertainment.  Buffy dealt with issues that kids growing up all over the world come across every day.  I don't mean zombies attacking your home; but dealing with emotions, handling relationships, making and losing friendships, coping with the loss of loved ones and many, many others.
After a few episodes I started to take note of these things and realized that I was really invested in these characters and could relate to them on so many levels.  There were many traits in more than one person that I could see were a reflection of my own persona.  I may not have been in school at the time but those memories of what they were going through were still fresh in my mind.  Who hasn't experienced rejection or come across a bully in school?  The situations and the way they handled them in most cases felt real.
It is the reality of the show that resonates most with audiences.  You can empathize with the characters because their experiences in everyday life are normal occurrences.  The fantastical element of the show only helps to enhance or place more emphasis on those experiences.
Take Angel for instance.  He appears to be the perfect boyfriend but turns out to be a monster.  They literally turn Buffy's ex-boyfriend into a monster and I bet there are plenty of girls who have felt that way about their ex.  The pain Buffy goes through during this breakup is heartbreaking to witness.  It is helped by the reactions of her friends too.  Willow is the shoulder to cry on; Xander is the one saying I told you he was no good.  Again these reactions are ones you would see in the real world and therefore have more impact for the viewer.
You only get this invested in characters when they are developed to a high degree and because the writing of Whedon and his team is so good; each and every one of the main cast have their personality presented to us as fully fleshed out people.  The decisions they make have consequences and as the show progresses we get to view how their choices affect not only themselves but the people around them.

Having good heroes is one thing, but they would be nothing without developing some terrific villains and in season two we get two of the best the show has to offer in Spike and Drusilla.  One thing they do very well at the start of the season is have you think that the Anointed One, who is carried over from season one, is going to be the main antagonist.  However he proves to be just a MacGuffin once Spike and Dru appear on the scene.
Straight from the off you know Spike is going to be a vampire different in appearance and mannerisms to The Master; her previous main foe.  You know he means business as soon as he is introduced and he does not disappoint when it comes to terrorizing Buffy and her friends.
His beau Drusilla is another thing entirely.  At first she appears to be totally unhinged and extremely weak.  You get the impression that she is going to be Spike's Achilles heel.  As the story unfolds though she comes into her own and is equally, if not more of a scary proposition for our protagonists.  Juliet Landau plays her perfectly, giving her childlike qualities when she appears at her most vulnerable and then transforming into a she-devil to truly be feared once she regains her strength.  Likewise James Marsters plays off her so well and the two of them together are a formidable duo.
Of course their nastiness pales into the background once Angelus makes an appearance.  It says a lot for the writing and acting again; what David Boreanaz is able to achieve in just nineteen episode appearances.  For much of season one he is little more than a supporting character right up until the episode Angel and he only appears twice more in that season.  He becomes a regular cast member for season two and so it is really only fourteen episodes in which we establish he is a vampire with a soul who falls in love before losing said soul and reverting to his evil alter-ego: Angelus.
The trials and tribulations that Buffy and Angel go through before the series climax really helps to build the tension and boost the emotional gut punch that occurs once Buffy is faced with the ultimate decision in the season finale.  There is real beauty and sadness on display and again I can only applaud the actors and the script they were working from.
They truly nail the relationships between the characters and their love interests and this is not only true of our two leads but the wider cast too.  We get the most unromantic, incompatible of couples in Xander and Cordelia and while it is presented in an amusing way; it also resonates as not out of the realms of possibility as these two opposites attract.
The sweetest coupling by far is that between Willow and Oz.  For Willow the whole romantic relationship is a brand new experience and she fumbles her way through it with all the excitement and nervousness that comes with starting to date someone.  Oz proves to be a perfect gentleman and the way he nurtures Willow through her awkwardness would have plenty of ladies swooning wanting to take her place.  His self effacing nature goes a long way to putting Willow at ease as she comes to realize that what truly matters is only what concerns herself and Oz and not how others view them.
Not only are the teenage relationships presented well but also those of the adult variety.  Spike and Dru might have a rather tempestuous relationship but it is one built on an (undead) lifetime together; both knowing what buttons to push to get the reaction they are looking for.  You can see the understanding of each other they have developed which only comes from a long term relationship.
Giles' feelings towards Jenny Calendar; and the way she is onto him from the beginning; and the way she playfully toys with his romantic bumbling is handled in a lovely manner.  She reciprocates those same feelings but doesn't play easy to get.  This only adds to the affection you feel towards them as the viewer, once they do finally get together.  It also adds greatly to the emotional impact when tragedy befalls them later on.

There is a respect shown to all the age groups of the characters by the writers and it is no wonder that the scripts are one of the shows main strengths.  It also comes as no surprise that most of the writers for Buffy have gone on to other shows with some acclaim.
One of the things that I do notice now more than ever is how much foreshadowing and set up the writers incorporate as the season progresses.  There are some things that come to fruition in a couple of episodes but then there are others which won't truly see the light of day until future seasons.
For example the word passion is used a couple of times in the earlier episodes and it just seems like a throwaway line when it crops up; that is until we get to the episode Passion and then it takes on an entirely new sinister meaning.  I have to say it is one of my most favorite episodes from the show as a whole; the narration that opens and closes the episode and the way the cameraman shoots Angelus at the end fit perfectly together.
I didn't realize that it was this early on that Willow would start to show an interest and aptitude for magic.  This is something that will grow and become more prevalent as season's progress culminating in one of the most powerful foes the show produced in season six.  Whether this was planned from the beginning who knows, but they definitely started laying the groundwork here.  We also see Giles question Willow on a couple of occasions and warn her of the dangers about dabbling with the mystical arts; as we come to learn about Giles own history with abusing magical forces.
When we start to get a bit of back-story for Giles in Halloween we also are introduced to another great villain in Ethan Rayne.  He proves to be a terrific little nemesis; or a more accurate description would be an annoying stone in the shoe of Buffy and the Scooby gang.  His appearances in later seasons were always much welcomed by myself.
Ethan isn't the only minor character whose part in the Buffyverse is established here.  Other people who would go on to become more involved as the story continues such as Jonathan Levinson, Harmony Kendall and Amy Madison would start to make more appearances.  It is those repeat appearances which help strengthen the show and helped coin the term Buffyverse.  This is a show intent on world building and having characters constantly interacting with each other; in much the same way as people do in superhero comics.
There are a couple of bottle episodes that really stand out as favorites of mine.  Xander Harris gets to be the main focus of Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered and it is one of the funniest from the whole canon.  Killed By Death has a creepier tone to it and one of the scariest demons in Der Kindestod.  I can't help but wonder if the makers of The Babadook took inspiration from this design as there are some similarities between the two.
Overall I consider season two to be the strongest, most consistently entertaining of all seven seasons.  I might have a bit of nostalgia related to that opinion with it being my first; but I don't think I would be alone in that assessment.  It is the season that saw me fall in love with this universe; whose inhabitants would go on to provide me with hours of emotional roller coasters of entertainment.

The Case Against:
After all that praise I guess you are wondering if there is anything that I do not like about the second series.  While there is very little that I have against it; there are still some moments that particularly irk me.
I loved the idea that Buffy would be dealing with some post traumatic stress disorder after her ordeal with The Master; but it was dealt with during the first episode.  They could have drawn this out a bit more to cover a couple of episodes and delved deeper into what it means to have come so close to dying - permanently, I realize Buffy was technically dead for a short period of time.
The episode I hate the most appears during this season and taking that mantle is: Ted.  I don't know what it is about this in particular, but I don't find anything about this story enjoyable.  I am not a fan at all of John Ritter so that might have something to do with it.  His appearance feels like a "special guest starring" role which annoys me in any show where they use gimmick casting to try and draw in a particular audience or demographic.
While I have said how much I enjoy the main villains in Angelus, Spike, Drusilla and a couple of the lesser ones like Ethan Rayne and Der Kindestod; there are some duds present too and not just the aforementioned Ted.  Top of that list are the assassins sent from the Order of Taraka.  If these are supposed to be members of an order of the most deadly assassins ever, then there must have been a shortage of skilled applicants when they inducted these three.
Each one is dealt with very easily; the first one in particular.  Patrice, the assassin who has disguised herself as a police woman, acts like the T1000; she even does the role-call in a deadpan voice "Buffy Summers" then KAPOW she starts blazing away!  She has no regard for stealth or a facial disguise so she can continue operating once the contract has been fulfilled on Buffy.  I am sure she would have had her face plastered everywhere and headlines reading: "Woman impersonates officer, goes on shooting rampage in school".
For what is essentially the midway point of the season and a double episode to boot; I just felt that these antagonists were a bit weak.  Even Norman Pfister, the Bug Man, whilst having a cool ability is just squished to death.  Overall they are poorly presented assailants if ever there were some.
I do get a bit confused as to the conflicting logic of Spike.  He appears to go along with the idea to use The Judge to destroy humanity in Surprise and Innocence; which would affect his "happy meals on legs" philosophy.  Later on however he turns against Angelus when he wants to use Acathla for the similar purpose of ending the world as we know it.
Is it because he has regained his strength so feels like he can now go against Angelus and Drusilla which in turn would allow him to escape to continue his existence with Dru?  Whereas previously he wasn't at his full power when they had The Judge.  If so then that does make sense; but it still seems like he is doing a bit of a back flip later on with the Acathla plan.
The romance between Buffy and Angel can be a little melodramatic at times.  I get the impression this is on purpose to try and portray the emotional turmoil both are feeling; Angel because of his age and vampirism; and Buffy because she is just starting to mature.  It isn't a major gripe but can feel a little overdone shall we say at times.
I am going to say it: I think Joyce Summers is a bitch who rides her daughter way too much.  That felt good!

Buffy has been taken from her home town and has made some nice new friends who don't seem to have any major social or violent behavior issues.  She is shown to be studying and seeking help when she needs it.  Her principal obviously has it in for her as Snyder is always trying to catch her out and label her, unjustly in most cases, as a troublemaker.  Giles has spoken highly to Joyce about Buffy which you would think should carry some weight and help her cause.
So why does Joyce always give her such a hard time?  Out of all the characters in the show I don't think they ever got Joyce right.  I understand Buffy had issues at her old school and Joyce thought that the change of scenery would improve matters.  From what we are presented with that seems to be the case.  Joyce rarely sees the dangers Buffy faces from her encounters or sees her acting out in a violent manner; so I just don't get her logic for being so unreasonable with her daughter.
The other main character who I take umbrage with is Xander Harris.  Some of his actions and decisions make him appear to be one of the most selfish people in the show.  His constant pining for Buffy's affections is so irritating and at times makes him out to be a little bit of a stalker.  There are times during this season where I wonder why Buffy and Willow remain friends with him.  I still like him but if I was Buffy I would have to restrain myself from hitting him on occasion.
Some of his actions I do feel come from his own insecurity and sense of feeling inferior to these powerful women in his life.  That is all well and good but he can act like a total douche bag from time to time!
As you would expect with a show set in a high school location you do get the usual stereotypes appearing.  From the recurring cast there is the nerdy Jonathan who is a prime example.  Harmony as a vacuous bimbo is another one.  A number of the episodes feature others, such as the jocks from Go Fish and the beefed up (undead) quarterback in Some Assembly Required.  It is an understandable trait and makes the characters relatable; but is that only because we see these tropes so often, is it a true reflection of what school life is like?  They are easy characters to knock out during the writing process and I do think sometimes it can be a bit lazy on the writer's behalf.
I would like to finish off with a slight moan about another bit of poor scripting.  At the start of Becoming Part 2 Buffy flees from the police after striking the officer holding her.  As she runs away - unarmed and with her back to the officers, one of them tells her to freeze before OPENING FIRE ON HER!
Now I know American law enforcement have a bit of a reputation for shoot first ask questions later; but it feels far too excessive to shoot at an unarmed teenage girl just because she is fleeing the scene of a crime!  I would have loved to see Joyce Summers in court the following season seeking damages for the traumatic experience the police put her poor daughter through.
I might seem like I am wailing on about the writers as I close out here, but trust me I am not.  I mentioned in 'The Case For' how much I admire the tautness of the script writing for Buffy.  Overall the writing team does a superb job for a twenty two episode season.  However when there are parts that don't quite gel, and there are bound to be one or two dud moments, I do feel I have to point them out for 'The Case Against'.

Verdict:
Buffy has to be set free to continue her one girl in all the world prophecy against the denizens of evil.  It would be a dereliction of duty to imprison a fellow Witch Hunter.

Evidence:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffy_the_Vampire_Slayer_(season_2)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffy_the_Vampire_Slayer
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118276/