200 Motels [VHS]
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VHS Movie Reviews of 200 Motels [VHS]
Movie Review: Conceptual Continuity
Summary: 4 Stars
200 Motels fits neatly in Zappa's concept that everything is related. Using members of the Mothers from different time periods and following a storyline that places characters in amd out of space (one character is talking to one group of mothers, then suddenly we are shifted to another location where the conversation is being continued in a completely different context with other band members). This is Zappa at his most audacious. Music is not easily digestible 3:30 songs with memorable hooks, this is Zappa playing with the Orchestra. Frank himself rarely appears on screen, allowing Ringo Starr to fill in his part. With Beatle Ringo, Turtles Flo & Eddie, and Who Drummer Keith Moon making appearances on and off throughout the film, what we have is Zappa's dream/nightmare of what it is like to spend a year on the road, where every town looks the same. Sets are relegated to cardboard cut-outs to increase the uniformity, and Zappa also pays tribute to Kubrick, with appearances of 2001's monolith and Clockwork Orange's pig-masks. This is the first film shot on video, then transfered to film stock, which allows for quicker editing and electronic image manipulation. Rated R for nudity, language and beer drinking (Remember, Zappa was anti-drug)Movie Review: Zappa fans only... eveyone else, avoid it like the plague!
Summary: 3 Stars
Man, I'm a big Zappa fan, but this was quite a disappointment for me. Zappa was good at many things, but making movies wasn't one of them. Don't watch this and expect it to make any sense at all. One of the things that bothered me the most about this movie is the fact that Frank's appearances are pretty much limited to the band performances. Instead, Ringo Starr plays Zappa's part, which basically involves him following the band around with a tape recorder. The cinematography gives me a headache too. On the bright side, the music *is* good, and we do get to see the band play a few songs. I guess my biggest problem with the movie is that I can't watch it without thinking about what it could have been. If you are new to Zappa, DO NOT start out with this movie as it could very easily turn you off from Zappa. Start with the albums.Movie Review: Entertaining? No. Different? Yes.
Summary: 3 Stars
As a film, this is a bit of a mess. Frank fits in too much stuff for our own good, so repeated viewing is required. If you don't know anything about the band, it will seem pointless!If you do, it will still seem quite pointless!THere are a lot of weird images here, almost psychedelic except Frank was anti-drugs. It's about his rock group on tour and they moan about how bad it is to be in the band and how they can't get any action playing this silly comedy music and how little money they make and how FRank tapes them talking and uses that material in his compositions and takes all the credit...frank was a bit like a documentary maker. THere's also a lot of invented characters like the industrial vacuum cleaner from chunga's revenge, the keith moon nun character, theodor bikel's character.
Other interesting people appear, like jimmy carl black and ringo starr as FZ. Ringo's chauffeur plays the bass.
THe music is the best thing about it. Rock:Magic Fingers is a song about that favourite zappa subject, sex. It has a fabulous guitar solo. THere are other great songs like Mystery Roach and She painted up her face. And of course LOnesome cowboy Burt. Classical:there's lots of it. It's Zappa so it has elements of avant garde composers like varese,stravinsky,ligeti,webern if you like that kind of stuff. THe orchestra appear all over the film.
Also there's a cartoon sequence which is very strange.
You won't have a clue what's going on in this film but you might like it.
Movie Review: He's at it again
Summary: 5 Stars
By a narrow margin my favorite composer, mucician of all time, it's no surprise to myself or those that know me that I love this movie. The Finale is by far the highlight of it all. Other classics include the plastic haze of the centerville yokals and the scene in which Ted Bikel (Rantz ran tan tan tan ran tan tan tan)seems to have Jimmy C. Black (the indian of the group, lonesome cowboy burt) under remote control "Please jab yourself in the finger with the pin so that I can give you your imaginary beer". Many non Zappa fans have critized the continuity of the film but Rantz said it all "In the conceptual framework of this filmic event, nothing really maters. It is possible for several subjective realities to coexist. It is possible that all things are a deception of the senses." RIGHT ON RANTZ!Movie Review: I knew you'd be surprised!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Well, maybe it isn't a 5 star movie, but I had to counter-balance all the 1's on here! This is a movie for fans. It DOES get better the more you watch it! Enough said.