The Salton Sea - Serious Review
Written: May 23 '02 (Updated Feb 12 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: A dark drama (dark humor) with good acting and interesting characters.
Cons: It starts off slow and takes time to pick up.
The Bottom Line: I gave a very detailed review, so check it out on DVD!
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| joncocco's Full Review: The Salton Sea |
Salton Sea is not all-out great, but it is entertaining. It has several great moments if you like dark humor and interesting characters, but this film is not for everyone. Anyway, let me break it down.
Acting - Val Kilmer does a very good job at playing his character. If you remember the two films called The Doors and Willow, I can honestly say that Salton Sea is Kilmer's best film since those two films. In short, this role was meant for Kilmer and the chance of someone doing better with this character (and how it is played) is highly unlikely. We can feel the emotion from the expression on Kilmers face, as he brings life and interest to a character we know nothing about. When he is mad, it is like we can feel it.
Salton Sea is a very gritty, somewhat colorful, yet very dark, interesting looking film. It is well directed, acted, and written. It involves some very good (when used) dark humor. The many reviews that said Salton Sea is like Fight Club, Momento, and Pulp Fiction is somewhat vague, (if not misleading) so I'll explain.
Salton Sea is nothing like Fight Club, but you can tell that few scene's were probably influenced from Fight Club. The fact that Fight Club was wild and crazy, is that Salton Sea is not nearly as wild and crazy, but it takes you on a trip with some crazy, unexpected events. It is more like an experience, (like Fight Club) you don't know where it will take you next, and the dark, extreme humor that we loved in Fight Club, exists here, but only at times. "Salton Sea" is not a comedy, as some people hail "Fight Club" to be.
Salton Sea is like Momento in the general sense that (like in Momento) Val Kilmer wants revenge for the death of his wife. I know that sounds pretty simple and cliche', but the film is more deep and intricate than that. The great thing is that the whole revenge thing is not even mentioned in the film until half at least half way into the story.
Regarding the comment on Pulp Fiction: The characters in "Salton Sea" are all either far-out, or weird, or cool, psychotic, and/or insane. In reality, we don't exactly know which of these Val Kilmer truly is, whether it be all or some of the above, or none at all. You will have to see the film to determine that for yourself.
Like Pulp Fiction, you did not know what to expect. Salton Sea does indeed have those moments of unexpected, random events, but it's main focus is to tell the story of Danny (played by Val). In short, there is a decent amount of dialogue and character-development as the movie builds up, so don't expect crazy violence and action everywhere, because Salton Sea is usually not like that. It does have it's decent share of violence, but only enough to blend in with the sense and purpose of the story. In other words, nothing is dramatized or exaggerated just for the sake doing so. (except maybe, an insane-funny scene of dark humor or two)
Salton Sea is it's own dark film which has been inspired by other great films before it. I must add however that where it ends up is pretty unoriginal, and theme theme of revenge for a loved one has been done before 100x over. Regardless, this film does a fairly good job at making us comfortable with the main star, from his point of view (or views). It is non-commercial, in the sense there are no crazy, special effects, and it is fairly slow moving at times, (the movie gives you time to think) but if you like what you've heard about this film so far, I suggest checking it out because it is far from bad, although it is far from a must-see also.
I give this film around 2.3 out of 4 stars, which is decent in my book. I am certain the majority will consider this film to be anywhere from okay to good.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
joncocco
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Member: Jon Cocco
Location: USA
Reviews written: 49
Trusted by: 9 members
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