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Their review:
Our Take:
Never judge a book by its cover. It sounds clich?©, but it‚Äôs true. Upon viewing the cover of the El Segundo DVD I was a bit skeptical, thinking I was in for a confusing indie film that would leave me trying to buy back 90 minutes of lost time. Thankfully, this was not the case. When you give the film a chance, it‚Äôs actually a very intriguing plot, and the characters become more interesting as time passes. You begin to sympathize with Hank Jacobs‚Äô Sam and his role of unwilling participant in an insane quest. Along with a very attractive female lead, this ends up being quite the thrill ride. The best part is that there is a mystery to the quest and the meaning of the search is still somewhat ambiguous, even if you think you have the answer. So, by going in with slightly lower expectations, I was pleasantly surprised.
The only complaint that I must make is the quality of the filming. Camera shots at times were all over the place and there were even bits of the dialogue that seemed as though they were voiced much later on and didn’t quite seem to fit. At times, I even felt as though I was watching someone’s home videos, as it just didn’t seem to have that “movie feel.” I guess this added to the imagery of the film in a strange way, and perhaps it was an intentional choice by the filmmakers, but at times it was just a bit distracting. The main problem is that the quality isn’t even consistent all the way through, especially the audio. In the beginning, I had my hand glued to the volume knob, as it seemed to change drastically from scene to scene. Ah well, maybe someday if they feel ambitious, they’ll remaster it. Still, technical complaints aside, the film itself is very engaging.
Special Features (Standard):
Conclusion:
Wow, an indie film with special features, this is pretty impressive. They actually do even add some insight into how the film was made and further delve into the story. I guess for all this I can forgive the somewhat shoddy quality of the technical side of the film and respect it for what it is.
Overall Picture:
Movie: B
Extra Features: B
- Chris Laurenzo
Staff Writer
El Segundo’s note: Well, I guess we’re a B-movie after all!
Not sure you’re ready to spend your hard earned money or time on an indie film? Here’s something to whet your appetite: the prologue to El Segundo. Animation by Jack Myers, narrated by Carlos Guzman.
Jeffrey Velazquez, our 1st AD and a great filmmaker in his own right, took this super 8 film detailing all the craziness happening behind the scenes that I didn’t even know about.
Another short film from the Gorilla Film Factory.?جø¬? This is your car on drugs.
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