amirkhaw

The release date (July 2025) of this documentary is rather curious. It's almost as if the powers that be want to stir up the old "hate for the brown" feelings that have served them so well in the past, especially when the general public is now really opening their eyes to what's going on in the Middle East and how western governments are indeed enabling it all.

Knocking off a whole star for interviewing war criminal Tony Blair like he had no hand in what happened as a result of the decisions he made when he was Prime Minister.

That's not to detract from the weight of the innocent lives that were taken as a direct result of this incredibly evil act.

Horror-comedies often thrive on absurd premises, but it's the execution, particularly in tone and humour, that determines their success. Monster on a Plane teased a fun ride with its trailer, promising gore and a cheeky tone. But does the film deliver on that promise?

Well, that depends on your tolerance for low-budget genre fare. The creature's rampage is mildly entertaining, and the film shows occasional flashes of inventiveness. However, the decision to shoot a German production in English backfires somewhat as the dialogue, acting and line delivery is absolutely brutal to get through. May be this one works better with the German language track.

In more capable hands, this could have been a gleefully chaotic cult hit. As it stands, it's a curious misfire with moments of charm buried beneath its many flaws.

Controversial upon release, and banned in South Korea before later being re-rated/edited, Lies is a provocative examination of desire, power, and obsession. But more than two decades on, does it still shock, or has time dulled its edge?

Lies is an explicit movie, with some scenes blurring the line between soft and hardcore. Yet we've seen this type of boldness many times in the two decades that have passed since this movie was first released. So it's probably easier to rate this movie for it's own merits today without being distracted by the controversy which has now passed.

Firstly, is Lies a good movie? I would say not really. It's amateurish and doesn't really give us much of a narrative or character depth. Yet this depiction of an S&M relationship is honest and authentic enough to warrant interest for the almost two hour runtime.

Lies remains as a unique piece of cinema that is still mildly provocative.