MovieManiacX Reviews

Terminator Salvation (2009)

Excellent

[9/10 · 22 May 2009]

Let me start off by saying that Terminator 2: Judgment Day is my all-time favorite film. Because of this, I was very annoyed to hear of another Terminator film being made, let alone by McG. I was all for boycotting the film but then, little by little, things started to look up. First Christian Bale was cast...OK that's great. Then I started seeing things pop up that being a fan of the franchise, made me more interested. Things like the inclusion of Kyle Reese and the only-mentioned T-600 model Terminators. Then the trailer was released and I went from interested to very excited. Swimming Terminators? Cool. Terminator motorcycles? Even better! Badass car chases? Oh hell yes! Then I saw the film itself.

My expectations were met in nearly every regard. The casting was excellent. Christian Bale was superb and very intense and Sam Worthington was great as well. I'm looking forward to seeing Worthington in James Cameron's Avatar. Anton Yelchin was a dead ringer for a young Reese and did a fine job. Everyone else was fine. It was cool to see Michael Ironside in a Terminator film.

The action was spectacular! I love action, especially car chases and I haven't enjoyed a car chase like the one in the film since The Island in 2005. Most of it was live-action too, which only added to my enjoyment. The gunfights and Terminator battles were violent and intense, while the explosions were massive and bone jarring. Needless to say, the action was quite thrilling.

The special effects were top-notch and there was also a surprising amount of live-action effects as well, all of which were utilized to perfection. The cinematography and direction were fantastic. I have a new respect for McG after seeing this film. The score was great as well and only added to the experience, especially the use of the original score from the first two films.

I think the thing I enjoyed the most was the nods to the earlier films that made me realize that the people that made this were really here to make a quality Terminator film, not just a moneymaker. I yelled when Reese said "Come with me if you want to live" and and I jumped out of my seat when John Connor played "You Could Be Mine" by Guns N' Roses (used by Connor in T2 as well) to attract a MotoTerminator. If you're a fan, this only sweetens the experience.

I had a few gripes, but as I went through them in my head, they're kind of superfluous and might only bother a die hard fan.

All in all, I was impressed and extremely happy with how the film turned out. Go see it on the big screen if you can!

Watchmen (2009)

Watchmen Is No Longer Unfilmable!

[10/10 · 6 March 2009]

Watchmen was everything I had hoped for. It delivers a great story, interesting characters, top-notch special effects, gore, nudity, and a visual style that matches the graphic novel perfectly.

For starters, I have read the graphic novel and enjoyed it immensely. I was initially wary of the adaptation, but with the very competent Zack Snyder directing, I was sure that he would be able to deliver on his promise of a faithful adaptation. Boy did I hit the nail on the head! The story is multi-layered and involving, and has been adapted perfectly from the graphic novel. If you've read the novel, you won't be disappointed and if you haven't read the novel, you'll enjoy just as much (though you may not pick up on the subtle things included for the fans).

The characters are excellent and well-developed, something comic adaptations can fall short with. Each actor is superbly cast, especially Jeffrey Dean Morgan as The Comedian, Billy Crudup as Dr. Manhattan, and Jackie Earle Haley as Rorschach. Each plays their character exactly how I envisioned them from the graphic novel. Haley is particularly unsettling and extremely effective. Malin Akerman was wonderful too; she was not just eye candy. Everyone else does a great job, even the supporting actors. It was also nice to see very minor characters in the novel make an appearance in the film.

The special effects were downright amazing, especially Dr. Manhattan who looks completely real and not at all like a CGI piece of crap I feared he might turn out to be. I'm not sure how they shot it, but he looks great. Rorschach's mask was very cool as well. Its ever-changing patterns evoked a certain identification with the character's complex and disturbed mind. The scenes on Mars were great but the standout effect was Dr. Manhattan's disintegration and reformation - by far one of the coolest things I've seen in years! The film was also quite gory, especially when Dr. Manhattan explodes people from the inside. Let's just it's not for the kids!

The music was great too and utilized flawlessly. Some people thought it was inappropriate but I thought its use was more than justified in context. I loved the opening montage set to Bob Dylan's "The Times They Are A-Changin'" and the use of Hendrix's "All Along The Watchtower" near the end. By the way, "All Along The Watchtower" is originally a Dylan song, in case you didn't know!

Lastly, Snyder did make some changes to the graphic novel, mainly for pacing and to help the cinematic transition. However, nothing that was left out felt missing. The ending is changed slightly, and if you've read the novel, you will most likely be perfectly fine with the change unless you are a die hard perfectionist. My friend thought that the ending change actually worked better than the novel's real ending.

The Bottom Line: A satisfyingly well-done adaptation of Moore and Gibbons amazing graphic novel that delivers everything one could want and more! A+

Dead Silence (2007)

Enjoyable, But Not Without Flaws

[7/10 · 23 July 2008]

First things first: Dolls/puppets/toys that move, talk and kill creep me out. Whether it be the clown doll from Poltergeist or Chucky, there is just something disturbing about an innocent toy being turned into something evil.

Anyway, on to the review. Dead Silence is a enjoyable, boo-scare filled little horror movie that succeeds for the most part by delivering on its premise. If you saw the trailer and said "Hey, that looks like it could be decent" then you will most likely enjoy the movie itself. Director James Wan and writer Leigh Whannell have crafted a movie that will satisfy most movie-goers and give them at least one chill down their spine.

First the good things. The cinematography is excellent. The use of fog, eerie lighting, and some downright creepy settings make this a treat for your eyes. The town and all of its buildings are decrepit, moldy, and uninviting. The special effects for the most part are pretty well done. The design of the dolls themselves was perfect, giving them lifeless eyes and all-too-human looking faces. There was only one part in the climax where I was taken out of the movie by poorly done special effects.

The actors all do a decent job with the roles they're given, but no one stands out in particular. The music is good, nothing to write home about. The score was reminiscent of Silent Hill, but not used nearly as effectively.

Now onto the bad. The storyline was not as fleshed out as I was hoping. Now I'm not the type of guy who wants Citizen Kane from a horror movie so let's get that straight. What I mean is that the characters kind of stumbled around onto certain key plot points and I had a hard time believing some of the transitions. I also was hoping for more of a back story on Mary Shaw. We're told most of her story through flashbacks, but they go by way too fast. I did, however, love the flashback to her ventriloquist show in the old grand theater...very cool.

I only have one character nitpick with Donnie Wahlberg's Detective Lipton. He played the role with this smarmy attitude that rubbed me the wrong way. He turned into a much cooler character near the end, but by that point I really didn't care if he lived or died.

So should you see it? I'll put it this way: it's a lot better than most of the other horror crap coming out these days. The last 20 minutes are very well-done; scary, fast-paced, and different (in a good, "this is an interesting concept" sort of way). It's not a fantastic movie that you'll come out of clamoring for a sequel, but it's a well-made, fun movie for a Friday night.

RoboCop (1987)

How Can You Not Like RoboCop?

[10/10 · 30 April 2006]

RoboCop is just about as close as you can get to the perfect sci-fi action movie. With Paul Verhoeven behind it, RoboCop gives us a gritty and depressing look at a violent future. Speaking of violence, this is an ultra-violent film that is not for the squeamish. Blood, guts, and body parts fly in all directions, which is what we've come to expect from Mr. Verhoeven. The action sequences are wonderfully over-the-top. You couldn't ask for any more huge explosions, intense car crashes, or crackling shootouts (all about the shootout at the cocaine factory). Peter Weller is perfect as RoboCop. No one could've played him better. And that's final. Ronny Cox and Kurtwood Smith are excellent as the villains...you just can't wait for them to get stabbed in the neck. The score is one of the most memorable in movie history and you will be humming it for days. The cinematography is top-notch as well. To sum up: great action, great story, great music, GREAT FUN! You go Robo!

Total Recall (1990)

Action Packed & Thought-Provoking

[10/10 · 28 April 2006]

Total Recall is just a damn good movie. There's something for everyone here. Tons of great action sequences (complete with over-the-top violence), a compelling and interesting storyline that will give your brain a workout, excellent special effects (still to this day), a wonderful score, and great acting.

Schwarzenegger as Quaid and Michael Ironside as the psychotic Richter really shine here, giving excellent performances. You want action? YOU GOT IT! From the intense shootouts to the insane chases, this movie delivers on the action. Aiding the sizzling action are special effects that are as amazing as they were in 1990, from the vast stretches of Mars to all the futuristic weapons, cars, buildings and gadgets. Plus, you have a woman with three boobs. How can that NOT be good? The score by Jerry Goldsmith is powerful and fits the movie perfectly. Sci-Fi master Paul Verhoeven provides us with a kinetic, bloody, and amazing view of the future, just as he did with RoboCop and Starship Troopers. If you like Sci-Fi, don't miss this one.

The Boondock Saints (1999)

To Love Or To Hate

[10/10 · 11 January 2006]

This is one of those movies where there is no 'grey area.' You'll either love it or you hate it, plain and simple.

Personally, I haven't enjoyed a movie this much in a long time. I could give tons of reasons why I loved the film, but basically, it's just a damn good movie. Everything you've read in the good reviews I agree with, while most of the bad reviews came across as if they didn't watch the movie. As for the ripping off of Tarantino, I couldn't care less. Not every crime/action/comedy movie is ripping off of Pulp Fiction. Spare me the comparisons. Either way, you should just rent it (or buy it like I did) to see for yourself.

The Island (2005)

You've Got To Hand It To Michael Bay...

[10/10 · 29 December 2005]

The man knows how to make entertaining movies. Bad Boys, The Rock, Armageddon, and now The Island. The Island is one of the most satisfying sci-fi action movies of the year.

The acting by everyone is excellent. Ewan McGregor is great as Lincoln, playing the role with curiosity and bravery. Scarlett Johansson, looking very hot, plays Jordan just fine, giving the character a sweet and tender touch. The two have great chemistry together and both discover the new 'outside world' in some very amusing ways. Sean Bean nails the role of Dr. Merrick superbly, downplaying it with a hint of madness. Djimon Hounsou and Steve Buscemi are great in their supporting roles, making the most of them. I also enjoyed the 'practically-a-cameo' appearance by Michael Clarke Duncan.

The ideas thrown out there by the movie are handled fairly well. The thought of whether or not cloning should be used for something like it is in the film is looked at almost like abortion. Though I think they could have delved deeper into all the ideas and problems, they didn't need to here. This is a Michael Bay movie! Let's blow some stuff up!

The action sequences and special effects are eye-poppingly spectacular. My favorite action sequence, probably of the entire year, was the amazing 'train wheel chase', which has our two heroes rolling gigantic metal train wheels off the back of a speeding truck, onto the freeway where enemy cars are tailing them. Even though it lasts less than two minutes, watching these vehicles flip over, roll end over end, and get torn to shreds was incredible! One other note-worthy scene is where a huge building logo falls off the building and crashes into a helicopter. Great stuff! The other special effects are generally well done, not relying on CGI too much.

Michael Bay knows how to polish things up damn good. The cinematography is excellent, with teal blues and golden ambers permeating the screen. Bay manages to give the film a sleek and shiny look, really giving the movie a futuristic feel to it. The chases are all shot with a kinetic intensity that fits the lightning pace of the movie perfectly.

The music is also excellent, complimenting the movie perfectly. Steve Jablonsky did a great job. Keep up the good work Steve!

The Bottom Line:

An excellent sci-fi actioner from the Bay-man with some awesome chase scenes, great acting, and a little something for you to think about.

Fun with Dick and Jane (2005)

Jim Carrey Does It Once Again!!!!

[9/10 · 21 December 2005]

Let me start off by saying that Jim Carrey is my favorite comedian, hands down. He can make ANYTHING funny, with his crazy facial expressions and gangly flailing limbs. If you don't find Jim Carrey funny (I really can't see why some people don't), you probably won't find the movie funny. It's that simple.

Onto the review! Jim Carrey shines here like he does in everything else as Dick Harper. Carrey being the everyman that he is, he slides right into the role. His manic insanity is ever-present, especially in a scene where he has to literally chase down a customer he didn't greet at the door of his new job. Téa Leoni does a great job as well, off-setting Carrey's craziness with amusing sarcasm. They have great chemistry together, which adds to the movie's charm. In one scene where they rob a car dealership, I was laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes!

All the supporting characters are good, especially Richard Jenkins as Frank Bascom, the drunken superior to Dick. Alec Baldwin is also good as the seedy CEO of Dick's company.

A great deal of the movie is physical comedy, which Carrey handles wonderfully. The movie really kicks into high gear once Dick and Jane start robbing people. Watching them get back everything they lost by robbing such places as Starbucks and Chinese buffets is hilarious.

The music was well-done, adding a lot to the movie. I also enjoyed the poke at Enron at the end. Go see it.

The Bottom Line:

A funny, over-the-top romp with almost non-stop laughs. With Jim Carrey you really can't lose!

Brain Damage (1988)

Deliciously "Mindblowing"

[9/10 · 20 December 2005]

My main interest in Brain Damage came from its awesome holo-foil DVD cover. The side of a man's head shattered open, expelling white lightning was too good to NOT to look at. After doing a little research and taking the advice of the comments on the trusty IMDb, I bought it and discovered a gory, over-the-top, awesome horror movie!

The performances by everyone are decent. Rick Hearst as Brian does a great job, expressing fear and portraying addiction very convincingly. Both Brain's brother and girlfriend do a fine job. I felt for them and didn't want them to get their brains ripped out. The character of Aylmer is great, voiced wonderfully by John Zacherle. All the minor characters do a good enough job, some being a little over-the-top.

The special effects are deliciously gory! People getting their brains ripped out through practically every orifice is done very well, my favorite being when Brian pulls his own brain out through his ear! Aylmer looks like a very large turd, but is still a convincing character. All the trippy drug effects are suitably 80's with all kinds of neon colors. The ending was also very cool.

The music is very 80's, creating a nostalgic feeling that really sucks you into the movie. I also loved the nod to Basket Case on the subway. Good job Frank!

My only minor complaint is that a few of the scenes of Aylmer attacking someone are one long shot of the entire attack, lasting over a minute. It got a little monotonous, but only once or twice.

The Bottom Line:

An enjoyable cult classic with some juicy gore, over-the-top acting, and a side order of nostalgia, all in one nice little package!

King Kong (2005)

Absolutely Incredible!!!

[10/10 · 16 December 2005]

Being a huge fan of the original King Kong (though nowhere near as big a fan as Peter Jackson himself), the minute I heard about Universal remaking it with Jackson behind the camera, I was thrilled! I was anticipating this film for over a year and I can tell you that I was in no way disappointed. King Kong is pure magic: what the movies are all about.

King Kong is one the most exhilarating adventure movies I've seen in a long time. Everything about it is fantastic: the setting, the story, the acting, the special effects, and the music are all perfect. There are a few liberties taken with the story that are different from the original, but they work fine here. Peter Jackson did a masterful job in remaking one of the greatest adventure films of all time.

The acting by everyone is superb. Naomi Watts is incredible as Ann Darrow, capturing innocence and beauty in her face and injecting the character with life and substance. She develops a heart-felt and believable relationship with Kong that drives the story. Adrien Brody fleshes out the character of Jack Driscoll wonderfully, portrayed as a screenwriter instead of a sailor. Jack Black is suitably crazy (in a good way) as Carl Denham and nails the role perfectly. Kong himself becomes more than just a CGI creation, he actually becomes a lovable yet ferocious character, as important to the story as any of the other characters.

The special effects are breathtaking. Seeing Kong fight not one, but four V-Rexes while trying to protect Ann is a sight to behold. Watching him climb to the top of the Empire State Building and obliterate attacking bi-planes is incredible to witness. Andy Serkis did an amazing job capturing the movement and facial expressions that make Kong so much more real. The new spider-pit sequence is very cool and effectively creepy. The CGI effects are great, actually giving the creatures 'mass', so they actually appear to be moving and interacting with the environment. So, basically, the effects are astonishing!

The music is fantastic and does not overpower the film. Bits of Max Steiner's original score can be heard in places, which is a nice homage to the original.

King Kong is emotional intense as well. The relationship between Kong and Ann is wonderful. Their interaction is funny and amazing. To see Kong's rage when Ann is taken from him is frightening. And it is incredibly sad to see Kong fall from the Empire State Building, a scene that brought tears to my eyes, making it the first movie I have ever cried at.

So, in short, King Kong is pure escapism from start to finish and definitely one of the most exciting and emotional films in the past decade. A masterpiece of adventure.

Counterfeit World: Making 'to Live and Die in L.A.' (2003 Video)

Great Documentary

[10/10 · 21 November 2005]

This awesome documentary is included on the special edition DVD of 'To Live And Die In L.A.', one of the best and most under-appreciated action movies of the 1980's. It features interviews with all the main cast members, including William Petersen, Willem Dafoe, John Pankow and William Friedkin. It details many of the important scenes and shows you how they were done, including the spectacular freeway chase and the 'happy' alternate ending, which Friedkin views as a piece of crap. It has all sorts of insightful and informative bits of information that make it a great supplement to the film. If you liked the movie (and you should), this documentary is definitely worthwhile.

The Many Days of 'Day of the Dead' (2003 Video)

An Excellent Documentary

[10/10 · 2 November 2005]

This is a very informative and very entertaining documentary on the 2-Disc Divimax Edition of Day of the Dead. It has interviews from everyone involved, including George A. Romero, Tom Savini, Greg Nicotero, and Richard P. Rubenstein. It explains how they pulled off some of the fantastically gory special effects and also informs us that Romero originally intended this to be a 'zombie epic'. It uses many clips from the movie and lots of production footage to explain everything. It's also never boring and edited nicely, making it easily re-watchable. If you're a fan of Romero's Dead films or zombies in general, this documentary is well worth your time.

The Lost Tape: Andy's Terrifying Last Days Revealed (2004 Video)

Enjoyable

[8/10 · 31 October 2005]

This supplement for the Dawn of the Dead DVD is pretty enjoyable. It's not supposed to be scary or frightening, it's supposed to be funny in a tongue-in-cheek sort of way. It's also interesting to watch if you liked the movie or if you like zombies in general. It's very amusing to watch Andy try different things to deter the zombies trying to get in or describing how he found out that headshots were fatal. Bruce Bohne as Andy is excellent. He seems like someone you could hang out and have a drink with, if the world wasn't being overrun by zombies, of course. The only part that I didn't really like was the intercut scenes of Andy's wife and his daughter. All in all, a great extra on the DVD.

Nightmare City (1980)

Pure Zombie Mayhem

[9/10 · 7 October 2005]

Nightmare City is probably one of the most unorthodox, crazy, over-the-top, wildly entertaining zombie movies that exists. Unberto Lenzi gave us a movie that doesn't play by any rules and goes straight for the jugular.

First, the pace of the movie is very fast. This makes the film very easy to watch because all sorts of interesting things happen. The characters go from a news station to a hospital to the countryside to amusement park all while trying to escape from the fastest zombies I've ever seen. This keeps you on the edge of your seat.

The special effects are decent and the zombies look extremely gross. Their faces look like they're melting away and the mayhem they cause is deliciously gory. There are a bunch of nasty slit throats, lots of stabbings, many cool exploding heads, and to top it all off, a cut off nipple! And I thought I'd seen everything.

The acting is mediocre, with the best job being done by Mel Ferrer, the military leader during all this. Hugo Stiglitz's character looks very unhappy and his dialogue is sketchy. But this isn't a movie you go to see for the plot or dialogue.

The ending, which many feel is a cop out, was very satisfying. It leaves you hanging, wondering whether or not it is really going to happen.

The Bottom Line:

If you're looking for pure zombie entertainment with some good gore, Nightmare City is for you.

The Beyond (1981)

Lucio Fulci's Epic Masterpiece

[10/10 · 17 August 2005]

It's been said before: This is Lucio Fulci's masterpiece. It is Fulci's most entertaining and most coherent work. It has a great story, good performances, fantastic gore, and a pulse-pounding score. Let's open the Seven Doors of Death.

The acting in a horror movie, especially a Fulci film, is usually mediocre. The performances in The Beyond are better than any of the director's previous films. There are no standout performances; everyone does a generally good job. Fulci regular Catriona MacColl does a good job as the female lead, as does David Warbeck. The one character that I remember vividly is Joe the Plumber, who meets a very painful end.

The gore in the movie is spectacular. As usual, Fulci lives up to his reputation of 'The Godfather of Gore' and gives us a lot of nasty moments of blood and guts. We have a man's eyes ripped out, a man's face eaten by spiders, a lady getting impaled in the head by a screw, a nasty torture death at the beginning, a throat ripped out, lots of zombies, and a very, very cool exploding head. Let the feast begin.

The music is very well done, giving us a memorable theme, especially at the end. The cinematography is also very beautiful, using the scenery of Louisiana to great effect. Fulci creates an eerie atmosphere that fits the film perfectly. His trademark visuals with close ups of the eyes and damage to eyeballs is ever present, producing cringe-worthy results. The ending of the film is definitely a great way to end it, leaving you hanging and wanting more.

The Bottom Line:

This film is Fulci's masterpiece and is with a great story and lots of juicy gore. Good job Mr. Fulci!

Cemetery Man (1994)

Weird & Wonderful Horror

[10/10 · 17 August 2005]

Cemetery Man, or Dellamorte Dellamore as it's known in Italy, is not your typical horror movie. Yeah, it has zombies, but it also has a genuine love story, a sympathetic antihero, an engaging storyline, a random killing spree, and a great ending, all wrapped up into a nice little package. Michele Soavi gives us one of the most original and thought-provoking horror movies of the 90's.

Rupert Everett gives a superb performance as the tortured caretaker Francesco, who goes through life day by day, burying people and killing the occasional 'returner.' He knows that there's nothing worth living for, since 'everyone ends up here eventually.' The performances are excellent from the other relatively unknown actors, most notably the characters of Gnaghi and She. Gnaghi (na-gee) is great as Francesco's sidekick / helper. He only says one word, but manages to be a funny and likable character. The character of She represents how evil women can be and plays three different characters that break Francesco's heart. Claudio, The Mayor, and his daughter do a good job, along with everyone else.

This movie is a very interesting way to look at both love and death. Here they are interconnected because every time a character finds love, death follows close behind in one form or another. There cannot be love without death. It can be interpreted either positively, that in order to love, death must be a part of one's life, or negatively, that love is evil and should be taken care of with death. You figure out how you want to interpret it.

The movie also has many things that are completely irrelevant to the plot, but are entertaining and effective nonetheless. There are blue flying orbs that zoom around the cemetery. Francesco goes on a violent killing spree, only to have the credit taken by someone else. Death manifests itself in a cemetery statue every now and then to talk to Francesco. The film is filled with macabre humor as well, which is very enjoyable. These things have no real point, but make for a great addition to the movie.

The gore and special effects are well done. Being the protégé of Dario Argento, Soavi injects the film with visually stunning imagery and over-the-top violence. All of the scenes in the cemetery at night are eerie, as well as the scene in the ossuary. There are some excellent moments of gore, especially when a group of teens on motorcycles get squished by a bus (one of which later reanimates complete with a 'death cycle'). There are also some bloody headshots and a nasty split head. Gorehounds will not be disappointed.

I also have to mention the ending. I really thought it was a very clever way to end the film. Most people shrug it off because it doesn't make much sense, but I loved it. Great job Soavi!

The Bottom Line:

A very entertaining, thought-provoking film that mixes zombies with a twisted love story. This is a film you won't soon forget.

The Stuff (1985)

Enough Is Never Enough!

[10/10 · 17 August 2005]

It tastes delicious. It's low in calories. It even gives you energy. It just happens to be a deadly alien that takes over your body. The Stuff is a fun movie that makes sure not to take itself too seriously. Larry Cohen manages to poke fun at the culture and mindset of people in the 80's, all the while delivering a witty satire on consumerism and the domination of big businesses. It has an interesting story, good performances, and some nifty special effects. Can't get enough of The Stuff!

Michael Moriarty is excellent as David 'Mo' Rutherford. His lazy voice and laid-back attitude annoyed me at first, but grew on me very quickly. He's very clever and believable as an industrial saboteur, but plays dumb. After all, he says it himself: 'No one is as dumb as I appear to be.' He manages to be a decent tough guy and keeps his cool the entire movie. Garrett Morris almost steals the show away from Moriarty as Chocolate Chip Charlie, who claims his hands are registered with the police department as 'lethal weapons.' He provides some welcome comic relief. Paul Sorvino shows up halfway through the movie as an anti-Communist General and hams it up. The rest of the cast is made up of unknown actors who do a great job with their roles.

Larry Cohen takes mindless consumerism and satirizes it wonderfully. When The Stuff is discovered, it's being mass produced and sold almost immediately. It takes the country by storm, as most new products do, and everyone can't get enough of it. No one realizes that The Stuff is deadly and turns you into a mindless drone, which is exactly what all new products do: turn us into mindless consumers. Cohen also uses commercials to great effect. The Stuff commercials look exactly like all commercials do as they try to get you to buy their product, even if it's not good for you. Just look at tobacco and soda companies. He even uses the 'Where's The Beef?' lady, which is absolutely priceless. The ruthlessness and greed of big businesses is here too. When The Stuff outsells ice cream, they hire someone to sabotage The Stuff. I'm pretty sure those aren't proper business ethics. Even when The Stuff is destroyed, the businesses still try to market it as something else, a tactic used by real businesses everywhere to make more money.

The special effects are pretty cool, considering the low budget. The effects of The Stuff are well done, most notably when it bursts out of people to attack. We get some nasty squirts and splatters of white gunk, along with some nifty exploding heads. Though not a special effect, the poster / cover art for the movie is very wild looking, definitely one of my favorites. The music is also good. Cheesy 80's music at its best!

The Bottom Line:

A deliciously fun movie that gives a nice satire on consumerism while keeping you very entertained. Go ahead, have a taste...if you dare!

Shaun of the Dead (2004)

Hilarious & Scary

[10/10 · 12 August 2005]

After hearing all of the buzz online about Shaun of the Dead and seeing the Dawn of the Dead remake earlier in the year and enjoying it (though it had nothing to do with or was nowhere near as good as Romero's Dead films, including Land of the Dead), I had extremely high expectations. Needless to say, it far exceeded my expectations. Shaun of the Dead is a fantastic movie.

First off, you will enjoy the film more if you like British humor, like Monty Python or Mr. Bean. This is not saying you won't enjoy it if you don't like British humor, but you may not find some of the jokes funny.

The characters are great. Simon Pegg is perfect as Shaun and looks good sporting the white shirt and red tie. Nick Frost is laid back as Ed and pulls it of wonderfully. The always useful Bill Nighy gives a great supporting performance as Shaun's step-dad. All of the other characters are perfect in their roles as well, especially Liz and Pete.

The comic genius of Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, and Edgar Wright is exactly that: genius. The film has so many hilariously funny parts, especially whenever Shaun and Ed encounter zombies. The way they deal with them is gut-bustingly funny. There's great dialogue between the characters, especially between Shaun and Ed, who are obviously friends in real life. I won't give away any of the jokes, you've got to watch it for yourself. The likable characters play off of one another so well that it makes the film ten times better. The film also has many amusing and much appreciated nods to Romero's Dead films. When they talk to Shaun's mom on the phone, listen to what Ed says before they hang up. Being a big fan of Romero's Dead films and horror movies in general, I was laughing at things most people didn't get.

Once the dead rise, Shaun of the Dead becomes an effective zombie movie, but still retains its comedic elements. The zombies themselves are very well done. These are the 'shambling' zombie variety, which I prefer because I find them scarier. The scenes when Ed and Shaun are driving through London are excellent, displaying chaos and lots of zombies (I loved the ambulance zombie, very clever). My favorite scene in the entire film is when Shaun walks to Nelson's shop after the zombies have risen. The movie showcases some top-notch gore, with some chunky zombie bites, messy headshots, and a scene where one character gets ripped in half and eaten. If you're a gore-hound like me, you won't be disappointed. Yummy!

Finally, I loved the music. Edgar Wright utilized some of Goblin's original music from the original Dawn of the Dead throughout the film. It worked well with the film and was a nice nod to Romero. The music through the rest of the film ranges from British pop/rock to Queen and it works perfectly.

The Bottom Line:

A side-splittingly funny zombie movie with some nice gore and excellent nods to George A. Romero. Shaun of the Dead is the perfect Rom-Zom-Com (romantic zombie comedy).

Blade (1998)

Kinetic, Bloody, & Extremely Cool

[10/10 · 11 August 2005]

Blade is the movie that made me start collecting movies. I had seen a little bit of it when I was 12 and it gave me nightmares. But four years later, I rediscovered it when I bought the DVD and it quickly became one of my favorite films. What I saw blew my mind: This movie was absolutely awesome! It had everything a kick-ass action movie should have and then some! Blade is a dark, bloody, testosterone-filled action film from start to finish with a character that epitomizes badass.

The opening scene in the nightclub sets the tone for not only this film, but for the entire Blade series. The action and fight scenes in this movie are intense, kinetic and well-executed with crazy stunts, impressive martial arts, and blood and ash flying everywhere. Blade has a wild arsenal with some truly amazing weapons, particularly the stake launching shotgun and the glaive (S-shaped boomerang thing) that he uses to their full potential. Blade moves so fast that sometimes it seems like a blur of leather and silver. Throughout the entire film Blade stylishly deals out insane amounts of punishment and death in some very inventive ways, especially with the E.D.T.A., a chemical that causes vampires to explode (use your imagination). You'll be cheering for Blade as he destroys any and all vampires that get in his way.

This movie is very bloody. Vampires nastily disintegrate into ash after being blown away or impaled. Limbs are chopped of many times. Vampires literally rip out your throat when the feed on you. And did I mention that vampires explode into chunky heaps of blood and guts? If you like blood and gore, this movie will satisfy any gore-hound.

Wesley Snipes IS Blade. No other actor could be Blade. He has the look, the voice, the demeanor, and the badass personality to make Blade entirely believable and extremely cool. When he puts on the leather trench coat and the sunglasses, he becomes Blade. In this movie, Snipes evolves the character of Blade and shows some of his human side, but not before killing as many 'suck heads' as possible. Stephen Dorff as Deacon Frost does a great job, even though he doesn't pose too much of a threat to Blade because he is so small and pale. Dorff has the menacing and brutal Deacon Frost down perfectly. N'Bushe Wright does a good job as Karen, as does Donal Logue, who provides plenty of comic relief after his repeated run-ins with Blade. Kris Kristofferson is excellent as Blade's hardened mentor Abraham Whistler. The guy is at least 70 years old, but he could definitely beat the crap out of someone half his age.

Stephen Norrington shot the movie very stylishly. Everything has a blue-gray industrial feel to it, which suits the dark, tortured character of Blade perfectly. We only see daytime once or twice the entire film, which I thought was great, since it's how Blade and the vampires live. Norrington also stages some truly spectacular scenes, like in the subway and in the temple of La Magra. I really enjoyed his use of fast forward shots that show the city turning from day to night. Very nice, Mr. Norrington.

Followed by two sequels: Blade II in 2002, which is just as awesome and also extremely stylish, and Blade: Trinity in 2004, which is also pretty good.

The Bottom Line:

Blade is an outstanding action movie, with kinetic action, great special effects, a top-notch performance by Wesley Snipes, and a dark and gritty visual style. One of my top ten movies.

Hellboy (2004)

Wild, Fun, & Very Entertaining

[10/10 · 11 August 2005]

I love Guillermo del Toro. The man makes great movies that are always fun and extremely entertaining. Cronos was good, Mimic was great, Blade II was the best movie of 2002, and now he gives us Hellboy, a great action movie that is funny and enjoyable, with all kinds of neat comic book touches, very original superheroes and lots of disgusting creatures.

Ron Perlman, who is one of my favorite actors (and obviously one of del Toro's too) is perfect as Hellboy. He IS Hellboy. No one could have played him better. His attitude, his personality, his physique and his voice are all dead on, making him ideal for the role. Perlman makes Hellboy very cool, but also extremely likable. Hellboy's wisecracks are hilarious and Perlman nails them with just the right amount of sarcasm and wit. Perlman also does a wonderful job portraying Hellboy's soft side when he's with Liz Sherman, played decently by Selma Blair. John Hurt is great as Professor Broom, Hellboy's 'father', displaying wisdom and kindness in his old age. The bad guy, Rasputin, is evil enough, but doesn't seem like too much of a threat. The real threat comes from his henchman, Kronen, a sword-welding badass whose mechanized body keeps him alive and makes him almost invincible. Meyers and Abe Sapien do a fine job too.

The special effects are amazing, especially Hellboy's make-up. Rick Baker did a fantastic job turning Ron Perlman into the red-skinned, yellow-eyed Hellboy with a variety of prosthetics and make-up effects. Hellboy's stone arm is wild and devastatingly useful when it comes to beating the crap out of people. I enjoyed his horns and red tail, which in one scene pays homage to Indiana Jones. Abe Sapien's aquatic effects are done very nicely, as is Sammael, the hell-hound Hellboy fights multiple times. Hellboy's gun, 'The Samaritan', is also a nice touch. My only complaint is that the CGI was overused, as in most movies these days.

The action scenes, though short, are very cool. The scene in the museum that leads into an all-out chase between Sammael and Hellboy is pretty cool, with Hellboy punching the hood of an SUV, flipping it wildly into the air to save Meyers from being run over. Hellboy's fight with Kronen is fun and very original, as well as his demolishing brawl with Sammael in the subway. The giant tentacled creature at the end is very cool too.

Guillermo del Toro's trademark visuals are in full effect here. His use of color, most notably amber, is excellent and gives the movie a very unique and interesting feel. His utilization of the elements is ever-present with lots of fog, smoke, and rain. The Gothic architecture and grimy locations are used very nicely with the Nazi island, the dark and dank subway system, and the Rasputin's temple. He also chooses some neat camera angles and movements, which give the movie a genuine comic book appearance. Good job, Guillermo!

Bottom Line:

Hellboy is a great popcorn movie. With a great director, excellent cast, fantastic special effects, and del Toro's unique visual style, Hellboy turns out to be a helluva lot of fun.

Suspiria (1977)

Stylish, Eerie, & Visually Stunning

[10/10 · 11 August 2005]

It's been said many times before, but I will say it again: This is Dario Argento's masterpiece. Out of Argento's collection of masterful creations, Suspiria is his best and most accomplished film for a number of reasons.

First, we have the score. Goblin is at the top of their game here, producing their most energetic, atmospheric score ever. It fits in perfectly with the film, from the opening theme that will send chills down your spine to the pounding beats that accompany Suzy's discovery of the witch. The music draws you in and completely immerses you in the film. It is a soundtrack you won't soon forget.

Argento's trademark use of color is also superb. Everywhere you look, bright reds, greens, yellows, and blues jump out at you, pulling you deeper into the film's surreal atmosphere. You'll be totally engulfed, almost hypnotized, by this bombardment of colors. Argento utilizes the colors to reflect what's happening on screen. If someone is being murdered or evil lurks nearby, everything glows red. If it is dark and silent, blue will permeate through the screen. Yellow will gleam brightly if something of importance is going to happen. Green usually signifies something peaceful or benevolent, which is a welcome break from the horrors witnessed so far.

The performances from everyone are top-notch, especially Suzy and Madam Blanc. Jessica Harper nails Suzy dead on, expressing deep concern, intense fear, or amazing resilience. She does a remarkable job crafting her character. Everything that happens to her is entirely believable and we are right there with her through the entire frightening ordeal. Joan Bennett is brilliant as Madam Blanc. She establishes herself as a maternal figure early on, making it very easy to trust her. Throughout the entire movie, her honesty and dependability do not falter, as you continue to trust her completely. All of the supporting actors and actresses do a great job, portraying their characters wonderfully.

The gore is cringe-worthy and very convincing, especially the brutal murder that starts of the movie. Argento uses the gore to maximize the effectiveness of a scene. Many of the bizarre and wonderfully original murders are memorable and will become etched in your memory. All of Argento's trademarks are here in full effect as well: Glass shattering symbolizing the shattering of the character's idyllic worlds, the violence toward women, the extreme zooms, and the very wild camera angles and movements. All of these are used very effectively to create an incredibly creepy and dreadful atmosphere.

The plot is very coherent, despite what some people say, and flows nicely. The ending is effective and very disturbing. It may not be very scary, but it is creepy and unsettling. I hope to see the third and final entry in The Three Mothers Trilogy.

The Bottom Line:

An absolutely fantastic horror movie in every respect. One of my top ten movies.

Soylent Green (1973)

A 70's Sci-Fi Classic!!!

[9/10 · 28 May 2005]

Is this the future that awaits us? An overpopulated, unforgiving wasteland with a hellish, unwanted existence? This film brings to mind a problem that still plagues us, doubly so since the film was released in back in 1973. Let's hope that the world isn't going to end up like this...

Soylent Green is a wild movie that I enjoyed very much. It had likable characters, a semi-apocalyptic setting, a compelling and thought-provoking storyline, and the macho-est macho man out there: Charleton Heston. Richard Fleischer gave the movie a very unpleasant, dirty feel. You're almost choked by the stench from the city and its filthy inhabitants.

The characters are wonderful. Charleton Heston, who has become one of my favorite actors, IS Thorn. The man created this role of badass, yet likable tough-guy. I could definitely put myself in Thorn's shoes. He sees that something isn't right, but everyone around him either doesn't listen (more like paid not to listen) or wants him dead. Edward G. Robinson (in his last film, R.I.P.) plays the lovable old Sol, who has had enough of this nasty place. Everyone else is great, especially Leigh Taylor-Young as Shirl, a piece of "furniture" that comes with the apartment in which she resides.

The special effects are fantastic, even for 1973. The Soylent Green factory, the futuristic apartments, and especially the "scoops" (bulldozers that get rid of people) were excellent. The polluted air outside looks disgusting and very nasty. The empty city streets filled with the vile and putrid people are very unsettling.

One final note is the ending, which even now still shocked me. It is gruesome, but if you think about it, it's a pretty good idea.

The Bottom Line:

An excellent 70's Science Fiction flick that makes you think and leaves you feeling very uneasy.

Phantasm (1979)

A Horror Classic

[10/10 · 28 April 2005]

Phantasm is a horror classic. Don Coscarelli crafted an atmospheric, creepy, and very entertaining movie dealing with all kinds of unexplained terrors of the unknown. Made on a shoestring budget, the film has a few flaws, but is definitely worth watching at least once.

The musical score, which many horror movie lovers know very well, fits the film perfectly. You'll probably find yourself whistling or humming it long after you've seen the movie. This single theme creates a creepy sense of dread that stays with you the entire movie.

The cast is excellent. Michael Baldwin plays Mike to a tee. He can be a bit annoying at times, but he delivers a genuinely great performance. Bill Thornbury as Jody is good as well, playing his part with skepticism at first, and then once he believes Mike, he goes through the rest of the movie with caution and a shotgun. Reggie Bannister as Reggie the ice cream man supplies a bit of comic relief, which some people find unneeded, but I enjoyed it. The best performance is by Angus Scrimm, who plays the extremely creepy Tall Man. Due to this fantastic performance, The Tall Man has become a horror movie icon, just like Jason, Freddy, and Michael.

The special effects are top-notch for 1979, especially on such a small budget of $300,000. A few of the props look fake, like The Tall Man's severed finger and the giant mutated fly that it becomes. But these are only minor annoyances, with everything else looking great, most notably the flying metal spheres. These things fly around, impale the victim in the forehead, then drill a hole right between their eyes. Ouch! The actual setting for the film is also very ominous. Inside the marble halls of Morningside, there is no movement, no noise, nothing. It produces a particularly unsettling result.

The ending of the film is very interesting. Most people shrug it off because they don't understand it, but I found it to be a very unique way to end it. It not only made way for a sequel (three, to be exact), it stuck to the horror movie rule that not all endings should end happily.

The Bottom Line:

Phantasm had stood the test of time and is still to this day a shocking, creepy, and extremely entertaining horror classic.

Lifeforce (1985)

An Excellent Horror / Science -Fiction Film

[10/10 · 19 April 2005]

Lifeforce is a very ambitious film from Tobe Hooper. It has so many strange and interesting ideas in it that you can't help but have fun while watching it. Tobe Hooper and Dan O'Bannon jammed this movie full of all kinds wild set-pieces, decent characters, amazing special effects, and nifty subplots, that sometimes the movie overpowers itself. There so much happening that sometimes it's a tad difficult to keep track of what the heck is going on! But that only happens once or twice. I think some of the plot points could have been slimmed down, most notably the scene at Thurstone Penitentiary, which I didn't like very much. There is also a lack of humor present, which only adds to the film's appeal. I don't want to laugh when I can see some poor guy getting the lifeforce sucked out of him!

The actors are good. Steve Railsback overacts occasionally, but that's what he's good at! Peter Firth was my favorite character, acting like Van Helsing, hunting down all of these nasty, rotting soul suckers. He's got a serious, take-no-crap attitude and is pretty intimidating at the end when he kicks some undead butt. Frank Finlay as Dr. Fallada was great. His character is sensible with a hint of madness. He makes an excellent mad scientist-type person. Mathilda May is very attractive as the lead vampire, but she doesn't say much and lets her body do the talking. I was really surprised to find Patrick Stewart in here. His character is decent, but like I said, the whole subplot with him is unneeded. The one character I would have liked to seen more of was the second male vampire at the end, whose presence was very intense. Everyone else does a good job.

The effects were absolutely astonishing. The design and look of the alien needleship was really cool. I loved the interiors with all of the dead winged aliens. The design of the vampire's coffins was neat. Hanging them upside down which was a nice touch. The draining of the vampire's victims was amazing. Done entirely with animatronic puppets and fantastic make-up, the results are extraordinary! Everything appears so life-like, especially the scene when they do the autopsy on the guard. Wow! The overuse of CGI today makes me crave stuff like this more and more.

I have to note the ending. The entire city of London overrun by zombie-vampires and in complete and utter chaos was incredibly well done. I love anything apocalyptic and the fact that it was infested with zombies only made it cooler. It reminded me of the beginning of Day of the Dead, with the world completely deserted and in shambles. This was by far my favorite part of the film.

The Bottom Line:

This is a very entertaining movie that is just meant to fun, exciting, and enjoyable. The effects really make the movie stand out. I recommend it to anyone who likes Romero's Dead films, anyone who likes vampire movies, and anyone who enjoys science fiction.

Sin City (2005)

Simply Amazing!!!

[10/10 · 4 April 2005]

This is one of the wildest movies I've seen within the last five years. It's dark, gritty, violent, funny (at times), bloody, sad, and over-the-top, all at the same time. This makes it a heck of a lot of fun. My eyes never left the screen.

The look of the film makes it interesting to watch with the splashes of color (mainly blood) thrown in here and there. It gives the film an uber-cool, highly stylized feel. It is so close to a comic book that you can practically imagine someone turning the pages as you watch. Since it's based on Frank Miller's graphic novels, the movie also doesn't shy away from it's graphic subject matter, which includes cannibalism, rape, and pedophilia. While some might find this disturbing, it only adds to the film's dark and sinful themes.

The characters are wildly entertaining. Usually in comic book movies, the characters are one-dimensional and boring. Not so here. The acting is great, especially by the three leading men, Marv (Mickey Rourke, in an outstanding performance), Dwight, and Hartigan. Marv is one of the coolest badass characters to come across the screen in the last ten years. He's a hulking behemoth of a man that is cool and could probably beat the crap out of anyone. Each of them commands the screen and you can't take your eyes off of them. The stand-out females are Gail, Goldie/Wendy, and Miho. You would not want to cross these women. Miho can kill you before you even know she's there. All of the characters are excellent and with an A-list cast like this, you can't lose.

The gore and special effects are absolutely fantastic. On the gore end, we have everything you can imagine! It's graphically violent with lots of blood and body parts flying around. This includes, but is not limited to decapitations, impaling, stabbings, nasty bullet hits, chunky flesh bites, a gooey head smashing, dismemberments, and some bone-shattering punches. And I enjoyed every minute of it! The effects are excellent, though a few definitely look computer generated. The coolest ones are the brutal car crashes and the ear-shattering explosions.

Hands down to Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller for creating one of coolest and most enjoyable films in a long time! I haven't been this excited and enjoyed a film so much since Blade II came out in 2002!

The Bottom Line:

A highly-stylized, graphically violent comic book movie with an excellent cast that is extremely fun!