Anatomy (Special Edition)
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Movie Reviews of Anatomy (Special Edition)
Movie Review: Run Lola Run! Run for Your Life !
Summary: 3 Stars
"One Studies; Another One Is Studied." If I am allowed to translate German tugline for this movie with poor knowledge of the language, this is what you get. And in fact "Anatomy" offers some eerie feelings you might get after hearing those words like "operation" "surgery" or "scapel" that directly attack your nerves. Franka Potente of "Run Lola Run" fame goes back to German, as an ambitious student at a prestigeous college for doctors. But one day, during the anatomy course regularly done in the study, she finds one dead body she is familiar with. OH! "I know him!" she goes for she met the dead guy on the train on the way to the college. But things don't end here because she notices there is some strange mark on his ankle. And his cause for death is, she thinks, too unnatural while her instructor wouldn't listen to her. Is she just mistaken, thinking too much about dead bodies? Or is there some conspiracy behind the body and this seemingly usual institute?
As the first product of Deutsche Columbia Tristar, new project that one of the Hollywood's major studios set up, it is not so unusual that "Anatomy" looks greatly influenced by Hollywood pictures. You can find some European characteristics here and there, like the film's insistance on dead bodies (which are not shown very much on the acreen, though) or its dry, metalic touch of anatomy room, but overall the film has little difference from American product except its language and slightly irregular development of the story. Even the loud background music sounds familiar, compared with the perfect soundtrack of German techno-pops in "Lola."
Potente, as is expected from her dynamite performance as Lola, is perfect as the heroine of this horror thriller, and the menace you find in her Lola character is totally gone with her red hair. Instead, you will find in that place a rather ordinary girl you might find in young Julia Roberts before the time of "Pretty Woman."
Basically, the premise sounds European like "The Nightwatch" or its original as far as it theme on dead bodies or morgue goes, but the result turns out more American. If you like darker, more original thriller, you might be disappointed, but I admit I was certainly entertained, and at times scared too. This is not a masterpiece of horror, indeed, but shows some scary moments in a unique way as its title suggests. For fans of genre and Franka Potente.
Movie Review: Gothic visuals and supercharged shocks
Summary: 3 Stars
ANATOMY
[Anatomie]
(Germany - 2000)
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1 (Super 35)
Theatrical soundtrack: Dolby Digital / SDDS
Exploiting all our worst fears about human corpses and invasive medical procedures, this hair-raising thriller pitches brilliant med student Franka Potente (RUN LOLA RUN) into a centuries-old conspiracy at Heidelberg University involving a secret fraternity of medical deviates who practice dissection on living subjects! Photographed in widescreen Super 35 by Peter von Haller (STALINGRAD), this straight-faced shocker displays all the confidence of its US counterparts - it's actually the first entry in Columbia's newly-created European production outfit - whilst remaining true to its Germanic origins: The picture-postcard views of Heidelberg (described as 'kitsch' by debut writer-director Stefan Ruzowitzky [ALL THE QUEEN'S MEN]) contrasts abruptly with the specially constructed anatomy class - a silver-grey nightmare dominated by dozens of gruesome anatomical displays - where most of the film's action takes place.
Potente, a huge star in her home country, is quietly effective as the heroine who traces the central conspiracy back to its origins in the 16th century, raising the inevitable spectre of similar state-sanctioned atrocities during the Nazi era (an unavoidable detail which has nevertheless provoked criticism from various quarters, particularly in Germany). Strong support is offered by singer-actress Anna Loos (playing a sex-mad student whose encounter with the film's primary villain is genuinely scarifying), Sebastian Blomberg (the potential love-interest), and second-billed Benno Furmann (THE PRINCESS AND THE WARRIOR), the 'token' beefcake who emerges as a key player around the movie's halfway mark (beginning with a nerve-shredding set-piece which evokes chilling memories of the potato truck sequence in Hitchcock's FRENZY [1972]). In a happy turnabout from standard practices, all the nudity in the film is male-oriented, including what Ruzowitzky describes as Furmann's "famous butt shot"!! Great fun.
Followed by ANATOMY 2 (2003).
Movie Review: Unpretentious, old-fashioned "Halloween"-style horror fun
Summary: 3 Stars
I enjoyed this, i'm not afraid to say. After the Scream-trilogy and all those "in-jokes", it is almost refreshing to watch a horrorfilm that pretends "Halloween" was made last year and "Scream" never existed. "Anatomie" plays it's cards totally straight (thank god!!) and you know all the way how the plot is going to unfold. After the stylish opening credits, we are immediately thrown into some (obviously fake) dissections of living humans (nothing too messy, but scary enough). The heroine is introduced and we know right from the beginning she will be alright at the end of the movie. The same can not be said for her female friend who has a healthy appetite for sex and, accordingly, heads for certain death (Anita Loos makes the most of her part with a very vigorous performance). All nasty things happening are hung onto some conspiracy plotline (secret ceremonies by candlelight is also thrown into the stew) and keeps the viewer watching, even if the interest flags sometimes. We have a final confrontation that's really quite suspenseful, adequate performances that play it straight, terrible dubbing (you will warm up to it as I did) and a final twist (although a minor one). Almost old-fashioned horror (70's - 80's style) by and for people who knows the horror-slasher genre. Competent all the way!Movie Review: Poorly written, but I enjoyed it.
Summary: 3 Stars
At a prestigious medical Summer school, medical student Paula Henning (Franke Potente) discovers that a secret society of doctors is conducting illegal experiments on her fellow pupils.
"Anatomie" is a bad film, primarily due to the fact that the script is predictable and incredibly poorly written: the writer doesn't seem to understand the concept of a contained thriller; he misses out on many opportunities that could have made for interesting viewing; and breaking all rules of good screenwriting, has the killer revealing himself to our heroine 2/3 of the way through the film, rather than having the heroine discover him for herself. Don't even get me started on what I think of the film's completely useless hero. Nevertheless, in spite of its multitude of faults, I actually enjoyed watching "Anatomie". It's not the best horror film that I have ever seen (duh!), but it's a fun way to spend an evening, and the film's writer/director does seem to have tried very hard to make it into something more than what it actually is: a B-grade teenage hack and slash.
Movie Review: Are there any other German actresses?
Summary: 3 Stars
The movie itself was creepy and entertaining, even though the concept is not exactly original. I knew pretty much where the movie was going, but still, was curious to see how the formula would be executed.
I have nothing personal against Franka Potente, but she seems to be the only German actress known in America. She is bearable, overall. Doesn't have any major physical flaws or annoying habits, but without her orange mop that we saw in "Lola" she is quite plain. She should play psychos and troubled girls. "Normal" roles are not for her. Without funky makeup, she is boring to begin with, and when she plays boring normal people, that's like a double dose of sleeping pills.