The JazzX Movie Vault »» Topic »» Yes, this month in the brand new JazzX Movie Vault Channel, there are a wealth of featured films, many of which are classics. In fact, I don't think there was a single month which had so many great films in it than November 2007 - surely the best month for extremely high quality TMO films (and not just because I'm in a large proportion of them!)

Any film marked with a [b][C][/b] is a must-watch classic and represents the best of what TMO had to offer according to yours truly.


For more information, visit the dedicated thread on TMO [url]http://community.lionhead.com/forums/4/2823521/ShowThread.aspx[/url] or post your questions, observations and requests here.


[i][u]November 2007 Highlights[/u][/i]

[b]Cleopatra (Part II)[/b] (not online, now available edited together with Part I as [url=http://www.tmunderground.com/watch/a8ce66358eb576b8912c/Cleopatra]Cleopatra[/url])

by TheMGMKid

Genre: Historical Epic

Duration: Part II only: 25 minutes - combined Part I and Part II: 43.5 minutes

BBFC rating: (12) - for violent scenes (both parts)

The epic saga continues with sumptuous locations, romance, skullduggery and a climactic ending - and we're only half way through!



[url=http://www.tmunderground.com/watch/2fced83f79975ec59a3a/Wacky-You-Want][b]Wacky You Want[/b][/url]

by Rysto

Genre: Wacky Easter Creature Comedy

Duration: 4 minutes

BBFC rating: (12) - for bad language

Completely crazy, but some great gags as we see multitudes of Easter bunnies going head to head and toe to toe with Easter chicks. Who wins? Well there's a nice twist at the end.  



[b]Operation Black Widow[/b] (no longer online)

by simpsdog

Genre: Secret Agent Action Thriller

Duration: 10 minutes

BBFC rating: /PG - for some mild violence

This is what America has in store if it doesn't promote one of its female officers to General any time soon:

They might quit the army, go to Mexico and start their own army composed entirely of women, before acquiring some nerve gas and attempting to use it on their erstwhile military superiors in the US just to teach them a lesson! ("we'll show them who the weaker sex REALLY is!")

Luckily, should they even think of doing that, America's best female CIA operative will be sent in to single-handedly sort them out!

That looks corny - and it is - but this movie has good blockbuster music, some great VOs from the mainly female cast and nice one-liners. Very entertaining!



[url=http://www.tmunderground.com/watch/be180185cac7d243c5eb/wiwanyank-Wacipi---The-Sundance---Part-2][b]Wiwanyank Wacipi - La Danse du Soleil: Part 2[/b][/url] (aka. "Wiwanyank Wacipi - The Sundance: Part 2") (French with English subtitles) [b][C][/b]

by Cinecitta

Genre: Street Crime Drama

Duration: just over 18.5 minutes

BBFC rating: (15) - for violence, bad language and drug use

The saga continues with Elliot hitting rock bottom on the streets; a world of pimps, prostitutes, drugs, begging and hopelessness ... not to mention the cops. Masterfully created - I waited until the next episode before giving this series my highest award. Atmospheric and engaging, this series is definitely a must-watch. Check out the way the camera and lighting are used in the drugs trip sequence!



[url=http://www.tmunderground.com/watch/9a1678042477183b7ac3/May-Flowers][b]May Flowers[/b][/url] [b][C][/b] (Hi-res version available)

by josephkw

Genre: Supernatural Gothic Romance

Duration: 21.5 minutes

BBFC rating: /PG - for one scary scene and drunken behaviour

This brilliantly written and played film made the director the first person ever to win my highest award twice. Such an original story told in a languid style which kind of washes over you like the passing of the seasons themselves. It starts off as a very sweet and engaging romance story as Henry takes a fancy to a girl called May that he meets on the street, but beyond that I'm not spoiling anything! You can take it from me that it's unusual and very worthwhile though.

This is film-making at its finest - so good that it won first place in the H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival 2007. [i]When[/i] you see it (not if), you'll easily see why.



[url=http://www.tmo-hi-res.com/TMOinGloriousHighResolution/TheDeadCases/TheDeadCases.html][b]The Dead Cases - Part 1[/b][/url] (Hi-res version available) [b][C][/b]

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[url=http://www.tmo-hi-res.com/TMOinGloriousHighResolution/TheDeadCases/TheDeadCases.html][b]The Dead Cases - Part 2[/b][/url] (Hi-res version available) [b][C][/b]

by Jase180

Genre: Supernatural Detective Noir

Duration: 21.5 minutes & just over 22.5 minutes

BBFC rating: (15) - for bad language and scenes of gore (both parts)

Here's a superb noir film with a difference. It's about John Noble, a man who ends up in prison wrongly convicted of manslaughter. In a skillful piece of story telling, we find out halfway through why he never even attempted to defend himself in court. You see (well not really unless you watch the film!), John has a special power that allows him to bring the dead back to life for questioning! [British TV sci-fi fans will recognise a similar concept from Torchwood: the resurrection glove!]

Superb acting by the lead and an immersive atmosphere are the main features of this film. My own contribution to the movie was to supply the trumpet theme (which I'm very pleased with) and to act as one of the main characters. Book was the toughest character I've ever played, requiring a lot of redos - my voice isn't normally that low and a sore throat was inevitable! But there's no doubt this was a project I was very proud to be a part of. The effort was worth every packet of Strepsils it cost to make! Watch it!



[b]Athena Project: The Series - Episode I: The Portal[/b]

&

{b]Athena Project: The Series - Episode II: "Best Laid Plans"[/b]

by Fulkster

Genre: TV Science Fiction

Duration: just over 8 minutes & nearly 12 minutes

BBFC rating:
Episode I: U - suitable for all
Episode II: /PG - for some violence


This is an extremely well presented sci-fi TV series. I'm a sucker for time travel stories - so when it turns into one in part 2, I was on tenterhooks! The spaceship is forced to land on earth in the 1800s for repairs to the damaged warp drive. But a previous time traveller was already raising their teenage daughter in that era to be ready for the arrival of future invaders, in particular robots, by teaching her how to shoot with deadly accuracy! I just fell in love with this concept. I also like how each episode begins with a great quote. In part 2, this is supplied by Isaac Asimov and his "Rules of Robotics". They basically say "Don't harm humans", "Obey humans unless ordered to harm them" and "Protect yourself at all times unless that conflicts with not harming humans". Needless to say, the robot in part 2 breaks these rules! I would most certainly have liked to see more of this series if it exists. Check it out. 



[b]Real Estate Agent Smith[/b]

by Bongoman

Genre: Military Science Fiction Satire

Duration: 5.5 minutes

BBFC rating: (15) - for bad language


This film is supposed to be an anti-war movie, but in its entertaining recurring episodic structure you get to see some cool animations of humans and aliens duking it out with a ton of hardware. This was one of the first films to use in-game footage from a non-The Movies game, with the video capture exported as hundreds of overlays for the battle sequences. Very impressive to watch.



[b]Gamma Force: Operation Liberty - Part I[/b] (no longer online)

&

[b]Gamma Force: Operation Liberty - Part II[/b] (no longer online)

by Cruise1970

Genre: Action Thriller

Duration: nearly 9 minutes and nearly 6.5 minutes

BBFC rating: (12) - for violent scenes (both parts)

In this action film, I got to play the part of Shawn Grease aka. Snake Eye! The story is about an elite team of three civilians drafted into the military to take on a German drugs/terrorist group in Katrina-hit New Orleans. In "Enter the Dragon" style, each member of the team is introduced in flashback - my character is shown doing his day job of sniping for a SWAT team in New York, then we see an American bare-knuckle boxer in action (this is a cool sports scene right down to the instant crowd reactions according to who's winning). The film has some really good visual effects and sound design in its running time. Some good acting as well, the drill instructor is superb! It's worth watching just for that!


[url=http://www.tmunderground.com/watch/c9f30cecb34f0c195b13/SKETCHES!][b]SKETCHES![/b][/url]

by RavensFan_09

Genre: Wacky Comedy Sketch Show

Duration: nearly 6.5 minutes

BBFC rating: U - suitable for all

Some good laughs to be had in this comedy sketch show. I'll not give away the jokes here, but the weatherman and the basketball coach are my favourites!



[url=http://www.tmunderground.com/watch/aee4aae62035497da138/Phantoms][b]Phantoms[/b][/url]

by OD-Ork-Boy

Genre: Military Science Fiction

Duration: just over 25 minutes

BBFC rating: (15) - for bad language

An elite team of commandos is sent in to a base on a far off planet to recover some secret documents. Getting in seems to be too easy - could it be a trap?

There's great banter and one liners from the soldiers in this film and a lot of attention to detail in the operational procedure (such as the use of a running hologram to act as a diversion). I got to chew the scenery as the Emperor, called out to witness the birth of a brand new race of super soldiers. I loved playing that role in this film and the sequels - I hope it doesn't look like I'm enjoying it too much as my character marches around with a permanent scowl on his face expressing his displeasure at every opportunity!

This film is a prologue to the "Sorrows of the Spy" series.




[url=http://www.tmunderground.com/watch/33f3fdb077ca70bbd5d6/Daydreams-of-Waking-Night][b]Daydreams of Waking Night[/b][/url] [b][C][/b]

by thebiz

Genre: Bizarre Arthouse Fantasia

Duration: 6.5 minutes

BBFC rating: PG - for one use of bad language

This is just terrific! Almost like "Salesman in Wonderland". A fantastical excursion into the mind of a salesman when he drifts off to sleep during a boring meeting (the eye-closing overlay gets things off to a good start). Full of memorable images and truly bizarre situations, a lot of the events are surprising and funny, and there's no chance of me giving them away here, but I can say that the custom-made music is outstanding in the way it changes to each circumstance sort of in the same way as in the old cartoons.

This classic won the 15th [b][i]Prufrock Award for Outstanding Cinema[/i][/b].



[url=http://www.tmunderground.com/watch/ca09a626eeddefd1b74c/High-School-Girls-Part-1][b]High School Girls: Part 1[/b][/url]

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[url=http://www.tmunderground.com/watch/9ed25912dff5b0669f2c/High-School-Girls-Part-2][b]High School Girls: Part 2[/b][/url]

by rposhard

Genre: Pedophile Drama

Duration: 22.5 minutes & just over 22.5 minutes

BBFC ratings:
Part 1: (12) - for adult themes, disturbing scenes and pedophile behaviour
Part 2: (15) - for scenes of a sexual nature, bad language and implied sexual violence


A young girl tells the police her story of how she came to know and be raped by an upstanding psychologist. Meanwhile, in his cell, an interrogator interviews the alleged pedophile. He seems to be corroborating the story. But, an ingenious twist at the end throws everything up in the air! This film has two very good performances from the female leads and also from Dr McAvoy, a very memorable character for sure. There's very good suspensful music in this film as well. The ending is gripping!



[b]The Dance of Death - Part One[/b] (no longer online)

&

[b]The Dance of Death - Part Two[/b] (no longer online)

by SGPorsche48

Genre: Kidnap Drama

Duration: 10 minutes & nearly 11.5 minutes

BBFC ratings:
Part One: (15) - for bad language
Part Two: (12) - for mild bad language and some violence

A woman wakes up in a theatre on a stage dressed in a skimpy costume. Her only company is a mysterious voice commanding her to get ready to perform a show ... and there's no way out! The two parts are very different, the first part takes place over a week in the theatre, the second part is told from the husband's perspective as he searches for his wife during the same week. A clever ending ties the two stories together nicely. There's great writing here, especially in Part 1 as the woman and her captor banter with each other, often to blackly hilarious effect!




[b]Alien on Vacation[/b] (Music Video) (no longer online)

by Bongoman & "In-Stereo"

Genre: Progressive Rock

Duration: 5 minutes

BBFC rating: U - suitable for all

It's not just the music that's good in this one. The visuals are often staggering as we see the main character doing stunts on his hoverboard in and around a deserted city. There's an environmental message in the film as well.



[url=http://www.tmunderground.com/watch/4f8dddeb95fc584cd965/A-Very-British-Sketch-Show-#1][b]A Very British Sketch Show[/b][/url]

by Sparky

Genre: TV Comedy Sketch Show

Duration: nearly 17 minutes

BBFC rating: (15) - for bad language

This is a good laugh - it has the typical British TV sketch show format down pat. Fans of "The Fast Show" or "Smack the Pony" or "Harry Enfield" will be familiar with its use of recurring gags and short sketches with the odd big one thrown in (an hilarious finale involving a frustrated AOL customer this time). I believe this was my first proper go at doing comedy characters (well 2 comedy performances and a straight man) - I think it came out alright, but you can never be sure if what you've done is funny or not without a live audience to watch it. Anyway, that aside, there's lots of fun to be had here; the variation on the horse-walks-into-a-bar joke was my personal favourite. Be warned, unlike the typical British TV sketch show, the language in this is much worse - but if you can stomach that, you'll be falling about through much of this...



[url=http://www.tmunderground.com/watch/0610b44d9b9fed0ff954/Super-Duper-Uber-GALAXY-FORCE][b]Super Duper Uber GALAXY FORCE[/b][/url] [b][C][/b]

by MefuneAkira

Genre: Science Fiction Spoof Comedy

Duration: 23 minutes

BBFC rating: (15) - for bad language

An undoubted comedy classic - this one has it all! Even if the Mel Brooks thing doesn't float your boat, watching this is a lesson in how to craft a movie in terms of pacing, editing and the use of reaction shots for comic effect.

But for me, this isn't just the best comedy ever made for TMO (in my own mind and by proxy this archive, it will now always retain that place in history thanks to the closing of TMO), but one of the finest crafted films as well. No doubt that, if I didn't have a role in the film (a pompous admiral which I thoroughly enjoyed playing), it would have easily got my highest award.

"Ramm Zees Ghost"
"I Pwn U Wit Hax Noob"
"Freedom Fighters: Revolution" (Parts I & II)
"Redenzione de Mazza"
"Score Settled"
"Score Settled 2"
"Preachers"
"Nosferatu: Eine Symphonie des Grandes"
"Tasha's Corner Commercial"
"On the Highway with Yahweh"
"The Batman"
"PACMAN FAN!"
"Inbreeding Cousins 2"
"The Break-up Letter"



All films in the vault are available for you to download on request - there are currently 896 to choose from, the latest addition being "Three Lives" by Meowan.