This movie is essentially about 'cover up'. Two people and two deaths, linked together. One is a cop, another is a killer. Together, in secret, they work together. Until. Killer decides to punch another cop and take their weapon. What the heck? The entire movie is about 'getting away with murder(s)' and now you have gone and punched a cop that is questioning you...WHY why WhY? You may love everything else about this movie, however, the change of pace towards the end made no sense. The movie was slow at times, too! Great acting and cinematography.
Reviews
12 Reviews
Upgrade
(2018)
Not bad, but could have been so much better. (super slight spoiler)
19 May 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I do not want to say too much although I will say this...the plot was basic...with futuristic attributes that actually seemed less futuristic and more modern day warfare.
This movie had a rather elementary plot of revenge...tangled with corporate ideals pertaining to human enhancement, finance and power. I found the movie to be slow and stuck in second gear.
I did enjoy the action scenes and the IDEA behind the movie...but it seemed to fall flat. Like something was missing. There was not enough of something but I cannot put a finger on it.
Ultimately this is a groovy little sci-fi action thriller that claims to be part horror...although it is not. The gore in this movie is pretty much in the operation to install the microchip into a human. It is quite graphic.
Aside from the operation I would give this movie a PG-13 rating. Maybe PG-13 with the operation. Either way it is still worth a watch but do not expect to be talking about it much the day after. CHEERS! :)
This movie had a rather elementary plot of revenge...tangled with corporate ideals pertaining to human enhancement, finance and power. I found the movie to be slow and stuck in second gear.
I did enjoy the action scenes and the IDEA behind the movie...but it seemed to fall flat. Like something was missing. There was not enough of something but I cannot put a finger on it.
Ultimately this is a groovy little sci-fi action thriller that claims to be part horror...although it is not. The gore in this movie is pretty much in the operation to install the microchip into a human. It is quite graphic.
Aside from the operation I would give this movie a PG-13 rating. Maybe PG-13 with the operation. Either way it is still worth a watch but do not expect to be talking about it much the day after. CHEERS! :)
Gaia
(2021)
A 'solid' five. Memorizing to a point. Convoluted ending...
20 March 2022
Invest yourself in the first 45-55 minutes and then let your brain float down the river during the third act. The acting was at least adequate for the story. Everyone was on the same page and most of it seemed genuine.
This movie was not trippy beginning to end, rather mainly during one prolonged scene(s) about two thirds or so into the story. There are also plenty of messages while I suggest picking one or two and not diving in very deeply. You would lose interest.
All in all not too shabby for four actors...maybe five. The cinematography was good but not brilliant (like it could have been). I'd say the same about the editing. Not an awful way to spend 96 minutes. A definitive five.
This movie was not trippy beginning to end, rather mainly during one prolonged scene(s) about two thirds or so into the story. There are also plenty of messages while I suggest picking one or two and not diving in very deeply. You would lose interest.
All in all not too shabby for four actors...maybe five. The cinematography was good but not brilliant (like it could have been). I'd say the same about the editing. Not an awful way to spend 96 minutes. A definitive five.
Halloween Kills
(2021)
A modern horror attempt at HALLOWEEN, circa 2021.
20 March 2022
This is not a remake or a 'slow building' of suspense type of movie. In fact, there is little to no suspense what so ever. The story is thin, although the effort to bring you back and forth between 1978 and 2021 was pretty dang awesome.
Did everything work? Heck no. Was the acting good? It was good enough. The budget seemed decent and the product showed as much. This was definitely a mellow dramatic movie...where you knew right away what to expect.
Contrary to what many people have stated in the comments, this movie had virtually NO gore. The death count was a whooping 32 with an extreme amount of blood and violence...but the only gore I saw<---(hint) was in one particular kill, with moderate lingering.
I was not a fan of the ultra serious Halloween 2018. My wife and I tried three different times getting through that movie. Unfortunately we never made it. At least we get to see the ending of that movie at the beginning of this current one.
In all fairness, I think Halloween is trying to compete with brutal movies like Hostel and Saw and Hatchet...while clinging to it's own roots. They did a good job with that this time. KUDOS!
Did everything work? Heck no. Was the acting good? It was good enough. The budget seemed decent and the product showed as much. This was definitely a mellow dramatic movie...where you knew right away what to expect.
Contrary to what many people have stated in the comments, this movie had virtually NO gore. The death count was a whooping 32 with an extreme amount of blood and violence...but the only gore I saw<---(hint) was in one particular kill, with moderate lingering.
I was not a fan of the ultra serious Halloween 2018. My wife and I tried three different times getting through that movie. Unfortunately we never made it. At least we get to see the ending of that movie at the beginning of this current one.
In all fairness, I think Halloween is trying to compete with brutal movies like Hostel and Saw and Hatchet...while clinging to it's own roots. They did a good job with that this time. KUDOS!
Brazil
(1985)
It is almost as if the camera was at the TOP of the universe...
10 February 2022
Slowly and methodically zooming in, and from time to time you'd have to 'jar' the camera to keep it moving forward.
And in it's slow zooming we can surely see the intricacies of every nuance and machination allowing our own brains to determine how much or how little is going on.
There are many things going on and with that we should all determine to watch it at least twice. If we can handle it. Many truths and exaggerations here.
Certainly enjoyable even if you choose to shut your mind off and just float about the duration. WOW!
And in it's slow zooming we can surely see the intricacies of every nuance and machination allowing our own brains to determine how much or how little is going on.
There are many things going on and with that we should all determine to watch it at least twice. If we can handle it. Many truths and exaggerations here.
Certainly enjoyable even if you choose to shut your mind off and just float about the duration. WOW!
Just Before Dawn
(1981)
An early slasher for the picking. Woodsy/Campy...
31 October 2021
But not with teenagers. These five people heading up a mountain in Oregon are 20's/30's ish. This movie never tries to do too much, and with that you have a solid horror movie with plenty to enjoy.
There is little violence and gore although enough to keep most happy. The kills were simple and yet brutal. There was a true joy to the kill for the killer. That can be unsettling. With all asides this movie was worth the time. It's basic and simple and well done. The acting was better than average and the scenery was amazing. The ending was initially quite good and then ended up being pretty bad. It is the difference between a 6.5 or 7. Six isn't too bad though. Enjoy! :)
There is little violence and gore although enough to keep most happy. The kills were simple and yet brutal. There was a true joy to the kill for the killer. That can be unsettling. With all asides this movie was worth the time. It's basic and simple and well done. The acting was better than average and the scenery was amazing. The ending was initially quite good and then ended up being pretty bad. It is the difference between a 6.5 or 7. Six isn't too bad though. Enjoy! :)
The Ranger
(2018)
They should have taken the finished project...
14 September 2021
Warning: Spoilers
And adjusted accordingly. A very basic affair with much better than average potential. It was nice that two of the so called punks (I thought this was a British movie) were gay males.
It was quite the fluid movie although tempo/style/mood all played against one another and never really come together. And the most violent death was a combination binocular beating and eventual shooting. Odd. There was no tension what so ever. The decent acting neither added to or took from the over all product. The lead female was better than the ranger and that's a shame. He wasn't terrible but I am sure the tired script gave him nothing original.
This is surely more of a Thriller/Drama than a horror movie. There is no way this should be considered a horror movie or even a genre' piece.
This is a scosh.
It was quite the fluid movie although tempo/style/mood all played against one another and never really come together. And the most violent death was a combination binocular beating and eventual shooting. Odd. There was no tension what so ever. The decent acting neither added to or took from the over all product. The lead female was better than the ranger and that's a shame. He wasn't terrible but I am sure the tired script gave him nothing original.
This is surely more of a Thriller/Drama than a horror movie. There is no way this should be considered a horror movie or even a genre' piece.
This is a scosh.
Willy's Wonderland
(2021)
The players were better than the script.
20 July 2021
Sleazy Chris Warner did an excellent job. So did the gentleman who played Tex. The sheriff was OK and the additional cop was quite well, too!
Although the younger cast had very little to work with, none of them stood out in any way shape or form. Cage was Cage although this time he had ZERO dialogue.
I'd suggest watching this when nothing else is on or you are a die hard Nic/Cage fan. The budget was dreadful...as well. A '5' isn't too bad if you are expecting nothing. Enjoy (or not)
Although the younger cast had very little to work with, none of them stood out in any way shape or form. Cage was Cage although this time he had ZERO dialogue.
I'd suggest watching this when nothing else is on or you are a die hard Nic/Cage fan. The budget was dreadful...as well. A '5' isn't too bad if you are expecting nothing. Enjoy (or not)
Madman
(1981)
This is an 'HONEST' 5 (five) of 10 (ten)
15 April 2021
Warning: Spoilers
And with that, you get a half way decent movie. Make sense? (lol) Here we have 'Madman', a movie filmed in 1981 and released in 1983 (USA). Some places split the difference and say 1982. Now you know.
This movie is FANtastic for those who have a difficult time with overly gory and graphic horror movies. There is very little (if any) nudity and the gore is slight with decent amounts of blood.
The story is OK, as you hear the lore right from the get go, while the one who actually mocks Madman lasts from beginning to the end.
In between you get tons of slow moving action...and not really camp like activities. There are 6 counselors for the 5 preteens who attend the camp. That was weird and outside of the first 5-7 minutes, you maybe see the campers for an additional minute or two.
The cinematography and filming are excellent and the work in the woods at night is quite well done. Don't go into this movie expecting too much and you should be just fine. There are some half way decent kills in this movie and a decent body count. Corny as all hell though. Enjoy!
This movie is FANtastic for those who have a difficult time with overly gory and graphic horror movies. There is very little (if any) nudity and the gore is slight with decent amounts of blood.
The story is OK, as you hear the lore right from the get go, while the one who actually mocks Madman lasts from beginning to the end.
In between you get tons of slow moving action...and not really camp like activities. There are 6 counselors for the 5 preteens who attend the camp. That was weird and outside of the first 5-7 minutes, you maybe see the campers for an additional minute or two.
The cinematography and filming are excellent and the work in the woods at night is quite well done. Don't go into this movie expecting too much and you should be just fine. There are some half way decent kills in this movie and a decent body count. Corny as all hell though. Enjoy!
If ever there was a couple's horror movie to look back on and enjoy every year or so!
29 March 2021
This is a simple and complex movie rolled into the beginning of a decade of movies that could never catch up. It is funny, charming, amusing, scary, gory, sexy and as unpretentious as a movie can be...
It sometimes feels like an acid trip on mushrooms. Make sure you get an uncut version. There is about a 5 minute difference with a few minutes of gore/violence/nudity chopped away. Most outlets show the full length 97 minute long movie.
Brawl in Cell Block 99
(2017)
Thank god for Gil...huh? ......(AWESOME MOVIE)
21 October 2018
I don't do reviews generally, and I do not BS. But if you like a modern day love story that doesn't end the way you might think, this might be for you. Definitely a gritty movie. Vince Vaughn was very good. Jennifer Carpenter not possessed is best. Also, Don Johnson kicks ass in a role that seems perfectly made for him. Let's not forget Udo Kier. What a JERK! But he plays his part perfectly. The other players fit their roles as well.
This is NO Academy award movie by any stretch. Those kinds of movies I wouldn't review with a 10 foot pen. ********/10
Quitters
(2015)
Good performances in a sometimes 'heavy' movie...
27 July 2016
Sometimes a movie comes along, where it hits home in kind of a way where you can excuse some of the nonsense. With Quitters you get that. At least with me. Being 25+ years removed from the main characters age, I was still able to relate to his family dysfunctional mess. Everything did not hit home, but somehow you find yourself 'feeling' the situation even if you don't like the character so much. How far is a teenager willing to go when his home life is compromised by selfish parents? Quitters gives us plenty of angst, loss and pendulating moral predicament. One wonders how teenagers can survive and grow into proper human beings when their minds are constantly bombarded with aggravating and sometimes overtly disappointing adult/parental behavior. There's also the dilemma of going too far, regardless of what's happened. This movie will surely make you laugh, think and take you through some entirely awkward, heavy and uncomfortable situations. It is not perfect and sometimes we get too much too slowly. The acting was quite good, while Greg Germann was absolutely outstanding. His best role to date. Though this movie is rated R and definitely has adult themes, they are based on 'family' situations making this suitable for teens somewhere in the 13-15 year range and older.
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