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Crawl (2019)
Excellent!
If you love horror or suspense, this is a must-see. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Vault (2017)
Wish there were more movies like this
This is a good solid fim. It keeps you guessing right until the end. It was so good, I had to watch it a second time. DEFINITELY WORTH WATCHING if you love suspense. 👍👍👍👍👍
Hostel (2005)
Suspense as sharp as a scalpel
This is the first good suspense film I've seen in a very long time. Please notice that I say film, not movie. It is something you must see for yourself to truly enjoy, but to summarize the plot I will say that the 3 guys backpack thru Europe and encounter something so evil that the mind can hardly fathom it. Kudos to Eli Roth for the incredible suspense it contains and a minimum of gore that is so overdone these days. I dare say this film hearkens to the touch of the master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock. Jay Hernandez is spectacular as the protagonist and is totally believable in his character. I will be purchasing this on DVD very soon. If you have the chance, check it out. It is well worth it.
Heartaches (1981)
An oldie but a goo-die
I recently caught this film on Showtime, after looking for it for well over twenty years. I had first seen it as a young girl, but it is just as fresh, sweet and endearing as it was back then. If you get a chance to check it out, please do. Margot Kidder is hilarious as Rita, and Annie Potts is good too. The ilm is essentially about a young woman who is really just learning about the world, and she is lucky enough to connect with an older, more experienced woman who is good hearted and kind. They run into many adventures along the way, and of course become friends. This must have been a sleeper back then, but it is still a gem. They don't make too many sensitive films that are funny anymore.
Open Water (2003)
Very suspenseful
I can't believe that so many people didn't like this film, with the key word being film, not movie. I enjoyed it very much. There are very few films nowadays that provide real suspense. I am an avid film fan, and this flick totally caught me off guard, and I loved it. When the sharks start moving in, and you can see the terror building in Susan and Daniel, you begin to feel terrified too. Add to that the wonderment o what is going to happen to them, you have it. Perhaps it's because I didn't know much about it before seeing it. Don't sell the "indie" films short- they have a lot to offer if its a good one. If you get a chance to see it, check it out. You wont' regret it.
Ragtime (1981)
A Visual Masterpiece
This is a rare gem of a film~yes, I said film, not movie. I suppose it would suffice to say that it is a character study of rich and poor, the famous and the nondescript. In part it is a glimpse of the very public and very private lives of several famous people, to include Harry K. Thaw, Stanford White and the notorious sex symbol of that time, Evelyn Nesbit. The most intruiging aspect of the film is the appearance of several excellent actors and actresses, which include Howard Rollins, Jr., Mary Steenburgen, Mandy Patinkin, and of course the great James Cagney, in his last major film appearance. In smaller roles, but no less interesting is Jeff Daniels as a turn of the century policeman, and also Fran Drescher, as Mandy Patinkin's unfaithful wife in an early scene. Also appearing in a small but important role is Debbie Allen, as Howard Rollins's future bride. This is a must-see! Don't miss it!
The Green Mile (1999)
Wonderfully different!
Excellent, excellent, excellent!There are no other words to describe this film. I say film because this is a film, not a movie. Tom Hanks is no stranger to excellent roles, and he really takes the cake in this one, supported by a fine cast of character actors and the wonderful man who portrays John Coffey. This is a must see! Don't miss it! Kudos to director Frank Darabont for writing and directing one of the most touching films ever made. This ranks along with "It's a Wonderful Life," and of course that other touching prison film "The Shawshank Redemption," also taken from a story by Stephen King. Sit back, relax, and enjoy. You will be amazed by what you see!
Gladiator (2000)
An excellent spectacle and historical film.
I don't know where all this sarcasm about recent films is coming from(perhaps too many previews), but in this film it is completely undeserved. Russell Crowe is excellent as Maximus, and Joaquin Phoenix as his archenemy delivers a splendid if not disturbing (after his innocence in "Inventing the Abbotts") performance as well. The story may be old, but is not known to all. How true the film is to the true story I cannot say, but the performances and the excellent cast alone is worth seeing it for. Oliver Reed and Richard Harris are excellent as well as their young counterparts. But be warned~ I did not expect the violence and gore that was displayed in the battles. However, this film will move you and the ending is very touching. I talked two friends into seeing it with my husband and I, and they thoroughly enjoyed it.
Enjoy, Carmen :0)
The Bone Collector (1999)
An excellent film.
This is a seriously underrated film if ever I have seen one. The story is quite different as the main detective on the trail of a sadistic serial killer happens to be paralyzed. Denzel Washington is wonderful as always, truly demonstrating his acting ability in what could have been a limited role otherwise. Angelia Jolie is interesting as the rookie cop forced into what she is meant to do: forensic investigation. A person would have to have lived in NYC to truly understand the real police force desire to catch killers, and this is an important element in the film. Suspense is the key, and as this is lacking in so many supposed "suspense" films today, we are sometimes slow to recognize when it finally comes along. The main thing I would advise before seeing this film is the possession of a strong stomach, because it does get gory at times. Otherwise, it is an excellent and spine-tingling film. Enjoy!
Random Hearts (1999)
A great Movie for the romantic in all of us.
This is a wonderful film, and it gives a different premise on two people meeting and falling in love. Harrison Ford is a police detective, and Kristin Scott Thomas is a congresswoman, and they both discover that their spouses, after having died in a plane crash, had a long standing love affair. Without revealing too many details, I will say the the movie is enchanting and the ending is quite unpredicable! This is a must-see for Harrison Ford fans. Kristen Scott Thomas is also quite good as the spouse left with a daughter, of which she doesn't know what to say about her deceased husband while the scandal of the affair surfaces in the press. This is a good movie-don't miss it! I will warn you that this is not a good first (or even a second) date movie. See it with friends first.
Carmen
Random Hearts (1999)
A great Movie for the romantic in all of us.
This is a wonderful film, and it gives a different premise on two people meeting and falling in love. Harrison Ford is a police detective, and Kristin Scott Thomas is a congresswoman, and they both discover that their spouses, after having died in a plane crash, had a long standing love affair. Without revealing too many details, I will say the the movie is enchanting and the ending is quite unpredicable! This is a must-see for Harrison Ford fans. Kristen Scott Thomas is also quite good as the spouse left with a daughter, of which she doesn't know what to say about her deceased husband while the scandal of the affair surfaces in the press. This is a good movie-don't miss it! I will warn you that this is not a good first (or even a second) date movie. See it with friends first.
Carmen
Masquerade (1988)
Suspenseful and Sad.
This is an excellent film if you love character acting, where the story centers just as much around the supporting characters as the main characters in the plot.The story centers around a young girl who becomes an heiress after the death of her mother, her only close relative. She meets & falls in love with a sailor with some very dark secrets. Their love affair upsets just about everyone they know, and when they look towards marriage everyone is opposed, mainly because they think he is only after her money-$300 million.The only person in the way of her inheritance and ruining her life, her step-father, is taken out of the picture, and that's when the truth begins to come to light. Rob Lowe is the sailor that Meg Tilly falls for. This is a very underrated film, and all the performances are excellent.The ending is sad, so don't say I didn't warn you. You might even need a box of tissues handy. Get ready for an interesting and thought-provoking film.I searched for this film for years before I found it in a video store, so you might have to do the same. Believe me, when I found it, it was well worth the wait.
Vision Quest (1985)
Wonderful coming-of-age movie!
This is one of the finest coming-of-age films I have ever seen, ranking well above such films as "The Breakfast Club" or "Pretty in Pink." The story concerns a young high school wrestler and his decision to drop two weights so that he can wrestle the local high school terror.It is not only a rare look at what high school life really is, but it has many memorable lines in it, such as: "You have a lifetime left. Why waste it missing what's already gone? Just think of all the wonderful world you haven't seen yet." This film also has an excellent sound track, including Journey and the song "Crazy for You" by Madonna. If you decide to rent this film, curl up on the couch with your sweetie or even a close friend and remember the bittersweet days of high school and the days of your youth. Enjoy!
Rebecca (1940)
Visually stunning and tragically beautiful.
This is a classic film, not only because it was Hitch's first American film, but because the story and the idea of tragic romance is virtually non-existent in films today. The story centers around an wealthy English man who is suicidal and gloomy after the death of his wife. This role is carried out brilliantly by Laurence Olivier. He meets and falls in love with a young and very naive girl he meets in Monte Carlo. He marries her and brings her back to his boyhood home, called Manderley. This is when the trouble begins. The wife, played wonderfully by Joan Fontaine, is ill at ease as a mistress of the house and is intimidated and frightened at the idea of the first wife, Rebecca, haunting the house and the idea that she does not measure up to Rebecca, who was charming and beautiful to all who knew her. Rebecca allegedly died in a sailing accident, and when the wreck of her boat is found near the estate, all the past rises up again to destroy Maxim and his bride. Films like these are no longer made, which is why they are called classic. If you enjoy suspense, romance, or even Alfred Hitchcock films (Heaven knows I can't be the only Hitchcock fan around!), rent this film. It is rarely shown on cable, so don't look for it on TV. A Hitchock film celebration was recently held on Starz!, Turner Classic Movies (TCM), and AMC and none of these channel showed this film. I cannot recommend this film highly enough!
Enjoy a rare glimpse of Hitchcock when he was first getting started in Hollywood, and look for Hitch's quick cameo at the beginning of the film.
Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988)
Very, very, very scary.
Terrifying. There is no other word to describe this worthy sequel. When I first saw it, I was terrified, checking the house and turning on lights. It still scares me enough to still do this. Michael returns once again and is hunting his little niece, who is absolutely terrified of him and knows of his past. The whole film is filled with atmosphere, high suspense and terror. Thank God no blood and guts prevalent here, as in other so-called "horror" films.
Enjoy, but as I said before. . don't watch it alone.
carmenl
pelion, sc
Halloween II (1981)
As scary as the original- even scarier!
I seem to be the only female horror movie fan using this service! I totally agree with Dan Grant's review (london, ontario). I love horror (and suspense) and this is one of the best horror films ever made. Yes, I said horror NOT GORE! I agree with the idea of suspense ( it is the quickest path to fear) and this movie plays it to the hilt!I don't want to give away too many details of the story, but I will say that it is a continuation of the first film, with Michael hunting Laurie through long, dark hallways in what seems to be a deserted hospital. The absolute silence of Michael gives me chills every time I watch it, along with the helplessness of Laurie as her fate seems to be sealed.
If you want a good scare, see this film. But don't see it alone. . . .you might have nightmares!
carmenl
Pelion, South Carolina
Revenge (1990)
This is one of the most romantic and touching romances I have ever seen.
Kevin Costner and Madeline Stowe are the lovers, and Anthony Quinn is the dangerous husband. I don't want to say anymore or it will ruin the plot and the conclusion of the film. I have read many reviews on it and none of them give this film any credit. See the film for yourself, and I promise you will not be disappointed- but make sure you have a box of tissues handy!