Thai Horror: Sick Nurses

SICK NURSES: 2007: Horror:  If you're in the mood for a little "tongue in cheek" horror, Thailand style, Sick Nurses will satisfy your hunger.  Not only is it filmed with panache, but it also had enough gore to make this one of my favorite Eastern filmed horror movies.  



The directors Piraphan Laoyant and Thodpol Sirsiant did a great job injecting some diversity in a genre filled with ax murders and other psycho nut jobs.  They also captured many of the elements of the culture with amazing scenery shots and wide camera scenes depicting city and rural backdrops during the beginning.  Above all else though, they demonstrated a keen sense for setting up scares and although some weren't entirely original in their material, the delivery was.  Focusing on shock value, the directors often took wide camera shots from above to "frame" the killing scenes as if they were works of art. 


Many of the scenes were framed after the killing is done.

Did this movie steal an exact scene from Ju On? Yes it did.  Did it steal most of the scares from Ju On? Well, that remains to be interpreted but I didn't mind.  It had enough of it's own element that I forgot about it.  Maybe it was a homage to Ju On. I Will give this the benefit of the doubt.  

  
Even the ghosts looked similar to Ju On.

Speaking of Ju On, there are some similarities to The Ring, especially with the scene where the young lady is in her room and the television starts to blur and distort.  This was one of the main elements in The Ring that caused the paranormal killings in the first place.  The Ring was conceived in 1998 while Ju On's first movie was made in 2002, as a direct to film project.  

   
Ju On isn't in the clear either, having "borrowed" some elements of The Ring.  

The more and more I've watched horror movies, I've noticed that it's very hard to come across a truly original concept.  Some exceptions are The Conjuring, The Possession, and Sinister. 

 
These were 2 great horror movies that had original concepts or changed a concept.

On my 24th day of nonstop horror movies, Sick Nurses was a welcome surprise because it had enough humor, sex appeal, gore, and style to keep me interested.  The killing scenes were very original and showed just enough of the ghosts to be effective, while being elusive.  The special effects and makeup were all done very well.  

  
Sick Nurses had some very stylish and creative killing scenes.

Stand out scenes are the first possession scene when the annoying girl's purse attacks her.  Also, the scene where the "pretty girl" gets it and of course, the Ju On copy scene in the shower.  Hell, they stole THAT from Hitchcock anyway, so let's not be picky here. 

Sick Nurses killing scene

This is on Netflix right now, watch it::80%

THIS WEEK'S HORROR SHOWCASE: THE EXORCIST, THE BEGINNING

THE EXORCIST: THE BEGINNING:  2004: -+:  HRR:  This movie is one of my favorites of the movies involving demonic possession because it is a prequel to the 1973 movie, The Exorcist  starring Linda Blair.  Not only does this movie have great character development, explain the origins of the evil that plagues Linda Blair and others in the subsequent movies, but also is in itself pretty scary.

Stellan Skarsgard, who plays father Merrin, is excellent as is Izabello Scorupco.  There is plenty of foreshadowing in this movie and interesting use of flashbacks.  You get see why Father Merrin loses his faith during this movie because it shows how in WWII, he had to deal with a very traumatic experience. 

The mythology surrounding the buried church, as well as explaining the origin of the demon is very well done and make the movie believable, (in as much as you believe in demons).  It does take a little while to get moving, but during that time explanations regarding the church, the characters, and the archaeological dig take place.  Many don't know that there are actually 4 formal Exorcist movies, and this one is one of the better ones in my opinion.  The second one is forgettable and very campy, while the third one was pretty good.

This movie has excellent music and the special effects are spot on.  Stand out scenes are when the child first gets possessed and the tribesman conduct an African Exorcism, when the dogs tear apart the young bully, when the spirit possesses Izabello and finally when Father Merrin realizes she is possessed because her room is completely taken over by evil.

This was directed by Raymond Harlin and didn't do well in the theatres or with critics. It actually bombed which is odd, because I enjoyed it, especially in the context of being a prequel to The Exorcist.  Perhaps it was too hyped up or people just didn't want to sit through it:::86%

Flashback Time: Flateliners..

FLATLINERS: 1990: ++: HRR:  Well, this movie has Julia Roberts, Kiefer Sutherland, William Baldwin and Oliver Platt.  Who the heck is Oliver Platt?  Exactly..One of my favorite movies that I quiz "so called" movie buffs on, this movie will keep you guessing until the end.  Isn't that the point?

Yes, Julia Roberts was her usual charming self and Kiefer Sutherland basically played the part of the Lost Boys' vampire but this movie has serious teeth.  It deals with an intriguing premise and draws you in with it's background, development and characters.

Although it's a late 80s early 90s movie, you forget about that pretty quickly, except for some of the music choices and costumes.  When you boil it down, it's still a pretty creepy movie that has it's fair share of very convincing horror.  It just gets under skin in a way that all great movies should.  That's why you should watch it.

Do the characters at times seem a little "over dramatic"?  Yes, but I guess that's what the director was going for.  Stand out scenes are the dream scenes, the flashback scenes, the scene in the subway with the foul-mouthed girl, when William Baldwin has flashbacks about his trysts, and of course, when the kids with roller blades chase one of the main characters. 

I don't want to give away the ending, because it's one of the best parts!  Just watch this hidden gem when you have a moment, and watch it alone, in the dark!::::88%

Stephen King's Horror Showcase

Since Damien asked me to take over his blog while he was on vacation, I informed him that I would only be rating horror movies. In the process, I realized that many of the movies that I enjoyed were originally novels by Stephen King, so I decided to devote an entire section to the movies inspired by his novels.

Never one to shy away from the limelight, he regularly played cameos in his movies, playing obscure characters in a similar fashion to Quentin Tarantino; He played a caretaker, a bartender, a driver etc.

If you haven't already seen my weekly horror showcase featuring King's Pet Semetary , the movie is definitely worth seeing again or seeing for the first time! Well, without further adieu, let's get going on some classic King..

THE SHINING: 1980:+-: HRR:  Starring Jack Nicholson, this movie is very difficult to rate since it's already been dissected by so many.  The only thing that I might add is the fact that the insanity portrayed in the movie builds steadily to create a moment of suspense, or moments of suspense that are probably the most tangible of ANY horror movie.  This movie had it all...

Not only is it a historical piece with plenty of supernatural elements, it also had that psychological element to it that made it extremely hard to watch unless you were ready for what it throws (check verb tense) it at you.  At some points, this movie wears you down and makes you easily impressionable to sudden attacks of stimulation, which differ from the obnoxious silent to loud sequences of most cheesy horror flicks.  This movie SCARES you and SCARES you in a realistic way.  Cabin Fever is real.

Then again, we are talking about a Stanley Kubrick film and therefore this is no ordinary film.  I actually ran into someone this weekend that didn't watch this movie and I was so utterly insulted that I suggested he watch it with his family!  LOL, just kidding, LOL I'm not..

Stand out scenes are the point where he was drooling by the typewriter, his tongue stuck out with the bat, when he was stuck in the freezer and of course when the two girls said..."Come play with me Danny!"  Not to mention the Soirée and the bathroom scene.  I can go on and on and on.  I won't talk about the axe scene...you know what I'm talking about or you wouldn't be reading my blog.

At some point, you need to talk about the sound and the music.  It was a PART of the movie that blended seamlessly.  The sound effects and the suspense were extremely related and at many points, you have to imagine the movie without the sound effects and know it wouldn't be the same. 

Mr. Holloran was great as was the bulgy eyed mother with extreme Thyroid problems, that also starred as ...well that was a LOOONG time ago.  No need to date myself.  Anyway, there was killing, blood, people dressed as stuffed up animals having sex, and basically, you need to watch this excellent ,but disturbing movie!  95%




IT: 1990:  +-: HRR:  Although not "technically" a horror movie, but a mini-series on television, it still earns a place in this segment.  Borrowing from Stand By Me, this movie deals with a ghost or apparition that takes different forms as the person's worst nightmare.

This is a concept that King deals with many times.  Pennywise, the clown, is both frightening and convincing as a horror figure and gives proof to the notion that clowns ARE in fact weird and people have an absolute right to fear them.

Honestly, watching this mini-series was a RARE treat and I wish I could get it on video or Blu-Ray.  I just can't find it yet.  I remember it being very convincing and I loved it.  If you can find it and haven't watched it like The Stand, get it and remember what television was meant to be.  I Can't rate it because I don't exactly remember every part of it..I know if was intriguing and I challenge you to find it!::::UNRATED!


THE CHILDREN OF THE CORN:  1984: +-: HRR:  Linda Hamilton, as seen in the better Terminator movies, is in this film which portrays the uprising of children against their parents because they are being spurred on by an entity in the corn...only King could make this believable, likeable and understandable..

This movie develops nicely, paces extremely well, and the casting is spot on.  It's a very short and sweet movie that takes itself as seriously as it needs to.  The main "baddy" is Malachi, an extremely odd looking man and the main mastermind is even weirder.  Don't believe me?  Watch it although you have probably seen the "South Park" treatment of the "Don't go down that Roooad part".

There are many parts of this movie which I love and it Easily gets in the 90s.  It was just that creepy and became a cult classic and was used in many adaptations and spoofs.  In terms of the scary aspect, it had it's blood as evidenced in the diner scene, the scene where Malachi and his buddies kills the mechanic. 

Much of the suspense is built organically, and the music is still in my head.  Da DA da Di Da DAaaaaa.  Very nice.

Watch it and get a good scare!  90%


CUJO: 190??:  -?:  Cujo was just such a visceral movie that there isn't much to be said about it but try to watch it because it will torment you. 

The star of this movie was definitely the dog, a magnificent St. Bernard whose drool and growling made this movie hard to watch.  This is one movie that you felt worse for the humans than the animals.  It should have almost read, "No humans were harmed in this film".

Not the most "successful" movie, it still holds the cult following.  Also, when there is a bad, menacing dog, don't you say, "It's not a Cujo is it?"

Stand out scenes are the whole time the dog tries to break into the car, little by little, bit by bit.  It's so realistic, it's as if King had this happen to him.  That's the magic of King!:::::87%



CARRIE:  1976: --:  Sissy Spacek, isn't that a great name?, was brilliant in this adaptation.  Again, this movie hit all the chords such as in the scene in the showers, the scene where the blood was poured on her, as copied in whatever that 70s movie was, it's a classic.  You don't believe me??

Watch it and let me know...it's great, builds suspense, has great characterization, and plus it's KING. Again the music was spot on, almost Quentin Tarantinoesque, Yes, I just used his name as an adjective...first time..SORRY... expect more PRAISE::89%

This Week's Horror Showcase..THE WOMAN IN BLACK

THE WOMAN IN BLACK:  2012: +-: HRR:  This is admittedly a BIG movie for Daniel Radcliff as he was just coming out of the Harry Potter series.  Some artists wouldn't want to take a chance with a British Canadian/ Swedish horror script.  He did and the results are somewhat interesting to attack on a critical level because if you exclude his work as Harry Potter, he isn't half bad.  Could he have another place in Hollywood?  Probably, as long as he doesn't hang out with the riff raff..

What I saw here was obviously a movie that took Heavily from The Others, a movie to be reviewed soon.  The sets almost looked Exactly like the ones in that movie and it was almost embarrassing.  Not to mention the part when there was a Terminator3 ( or one of those movies) effect used with the ghost that rose from the dead in a bed and looked precisely like the Terminator that was the liquid steel.

I digress, again.  Let's just say that Mr. Radcliff did in fact have the fakest sideburns I have seen since Elvis impersonators and a painted on 5 o'clock shadow...the makeup artist should be and was probably FIRED after this one!.. BUT... It was way too long...

Another movie plagued by this pacing issue.  It was basically a "house of horrors" movie whereby the house was the horror and it was similar to walking through an amusement park-like scenario.  Only it took 45 minutes to get to the house!  IS there something or someone out there telling directors that they need to drag movies on?  They aren't going to build the suspense like The Shining so JUST STOP ASKING for 2 1/2 hour movies. 

This movie would have been much better, much shorter!  Do they think that people need to be in a movie theatre that long and it justifies the price?  IS it dollar per minute?  Don't try to make movies and theatrical art like a commodity..  Leave that up to the merchandisers.  Let the directors direct and make good movies PLEASE!!

Sometimes you need to understand a GREAT movie by understanding why a mediocre movie doesn't "WOW" audiences.  It's a very subtle quality that is hard to describe.  Usually it has to do with plot pacing, cinematography, casting, and music.  This movie didn't fail on anyone of those in particular, but didn't excel in one either.  It's watchable because it shows how an actor can break the mold.  It's mildly scary and I was scared a few times like when the woman showed up behind him and the woman hung herself. 

Ideally, this is just going to have "cult appeal" because Harry Potter was in it and didn't butcher it.  Plus it did use some nice tactics to scare you like with the mirror affect in the peripheral vision, but that was it.  LOW 80s..:83%

THIS WEEK'S HORROR SHOWCASE: PET SEMATARY! (some spoilers)

PET SEMATARY: 1989: -+: HR:  ONE OF STEPHEN KING'S BEST MOVIE ADAPTATIONS, THIS MOVIE IS STILL COMPELLING TODAY AND HAS MANY SCENES THAT ARE NOT ONLY MEMORABLE, BUT QUITE ORIGINAL.  DIRECTED BY MARY LAMBERT THIS FILM HAS THE FATHER FROM THE MUNSTERS SHOW OF THE 60s, FRED GWYNNE AS THE NOSEY BUT HELPFUL NEIGHBOR , DALE MIDKIFF, DENISE CROSBY AND MIKO HUGHES AS GAGE.

PUTTING FRED GWYNNE IN THIS MOVIE INSTANTLY ADDS A CERTAIN EERIE QUALITY, BECAUSE HE IS IN HIMSELF EERIE.  THERE IS SOME FORESHADOWING AS KING LOVES TO DO BECAUSE THEY MOVE TO A PICTURESQUE HOME NEAR A BUSY STREET FLOWING WITH HUGE TRUCKS WHICH HAVE A CRUSHING ROLE IN THE MOVIE. 

WHAT REALLY SEPARATES THIS MOVIE FROM IT'S COMPETITION SUCH AS THE OTHER STEPHEN KING MOVIES IS HOW TIGHTLY THE PLOT IS WOUND AND SEEMINGLY UNWINDS ONCE THE CAT GETS RUN OVER.  WITHOUT GIVING AWAY THE PLOT, THIS MOVIE HAS SOME EXCELLENT USE OF FLASHBACKS, (THE SCENES WITH ZELDA) AND ALSO SOME SIDE STORIES WITH THE MAID WHO KILLS HERSELF.

IT'S ONE OF THOSE MOVIES WHERE YOU KIND OF KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT IT DOESN'T RUIN IT.  AS THE SPANISH AND ITALIANS SAY, IT'S THE "DESENVUELVO" OR UNRAVELING OF THE STORY THAT MATTERS.   THIS SHOWS KING'S MASTERFUL WRITING STYLE BECAUSE HE MAKES YOU REALLY CARE ABOUT THE CHARACTERS SO IT'S NOT SO MUCH KNOWING WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT SEEING IT UNFOLD IN FRONT OF YOU LIKE AN OMNIPRESCENT 3RD PERSON. 

THE STAND OUT SCENES ARE THE SCENE WITH THE GHOST, WHEN THE FATHER HAS TO UN EARTH HIS DEAD SON, THE SCENE IN THE FUNERAL HOME WHERE ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE AND MY FAVORITE, WHEN GAGE KILLS FRED GWYNNE.  ALSO MEMORABLE ARE WHEN THE WIFE COMES BACK..KIND OF SEXUAL AND KIND OF GROTESQUE.  THIS IS A GREAT MOVIE AND DEFINITELY WORTH SEEING AGAIN.  IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?:::91%

PS, ITS MISSPELLED BECAUSE THE KIDS MISPELLED IT IN THE BOOK AND IN THE MOVIE IF YOU WERE WONDERING BETWEEN "CEMETARY AND SEMETARY"
PPS; I'M CONSIDERING DOING A FULL STEPHAN KING SECTION FOR THE HORROR MOVIES, SO HOLD TIGHT!

A HORROR MOVIE TRIPLE FEATURE!

THE LAST EXORCISM II: 2013:--:  SO THIS MOVIE STARTS OUT WITHOUT MUCH EXPLANATION ABOUT THE FIRST ONE, WHICH DOESN'T SEEM TO MATTER BECAUSE YOU GET THE SENSE THAT THE FIRST ONE WASN'T REALLY WORTH WHILE.

THE MAIN CHARACTER GETS SHIPPED AWAY TO SOME HALFWAY HOUSE!!  OMG, THIS HAS LITERALLY BEEN THE PLOT FOR 80% OF HORROR MOVIES, PLEASE DON'T INSULT MY INTELLIGENCE..

THE ACTORS ARE NOT WORTH MENTIONING, WHICH MAKES SENSE.  THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME CORRELATION BETWEEN RADIO FREQUENCIES AND GHOSTS STOLEN FROM WHITE NOISE".  BASICALLY, THE WAY THAT THIS MOVIE "SCARES" YOU IS BY HAVING A QUIET POINT, THEN AN EXTREMELY LOUD POINT.  THIS TACTIC IS SO OVERUSED AND CHEESY IT MAKES ME SICK.  I'M GLAD TO REVIEW THIS MOVIE, BECAUSE IT WILL BE THE "PLACEBO" OR INSULTING BENCHMARK TO WHICH OTHER ACCEPTABLE MOVIES WILL BE BASED UPON.

WHEN THE MOVIE SEEMED TO GATHER SOME STEAM IT WAS RIPPING OFF ANOTHER MOVIE, LIKE WHEN THE BIRDS HIT THE WINDOWS OF THE CHURCH AND WHEN THE PERSON TOOK A PICTURE WITH THE MAIN CHARACTER AND HIS FACE WAS DISTORTED LIKE THE GRUDGE, THE OMEN AND THE RING.  THIS MOVIE HAS NO SHAME!!

THE MOVIE STARTED TO GAIN SOME MOMENTUM AFTER THE POSSESSION SCENE WHEN THE DUFUS PRIEST PERSON CONJURES UP THE DEMON, AND SHE GETS POSSESSED BY THE "EVIL SPIRIT"?  I DON'T KNOW WHO SINCE I DIDN'T WATCH THE FIRST ONE.  SO I GUESS THEY ASSUMED EVERYONE WATCHED THE FIRST ONE??  OH AND THEN IT ENDS..ABRUPTLY.  WOW, THIS MOVIE WAS HORRIBLE:::::59%


SILENT HILL:  2011: -+:HR:  I REALLY WANTED TO LIKE THIS ONE, BUT IT FAILED.  I FELT LIKE A DEJECTED PROM DATE THAT PAID A LOT FOR THE TUX, BUT GOT LEFT IN THE AUDITORIUM BY MYSELF.  GREAT EFFECTS AND GREAT LOOKING BAD GUYS DO NOT MAKE UP FOR A VERY FLIMSY PLOT. 

I WOULDN'T EVEN CALL IT A PLOT REALLY.  AGAIN, MAYBE IT WAS BECAUSE I DIDN'T SEE THE FIRST 2?  WHY SHOULD THAT MATTER?  THEY WEREN'T EXACTLY ESSENTIAL MOVIES TO SEE.  I WOULD KNOW.

THAT BEING SAID, THE QUALITY OF THE HORROR MOMENTS ARE QUITE GOOD, ESPECIALLY THE SCENE WITH THE SPIDER MANNEQUINS AND THE ZOMBIE NURSES.  I ALSO LIKED THE FIGHT SCENE AND WHEN THE TRIANGLE HEAD GUY CHOPS OFF THE HANDS OF THE PERVERTS IN THE ASYLUM.

OTHER THAN THAT, THIS MOVIE HAS NOTHING ELSE GOING FOR IT.  IT WASN'T SCARY, NOR WAS IT COMPELLING.  IT WAS A BUNCH OF PUKE WITH SOME NICE LOOKING CHUNKS IN THE BLOODY MESS::69%


THE POSSESSION: 2012, --:  THIS MOVIE WAS ACTUALLY A SURPRISINGLY GOOD MOVIE GIVEN THE FACT THAT THE PREVIOUS TWO MOVIES I RENTED WERE PATHETIC.  I WAS STARTING TO THINK THAT HORROR MOVIES HAVE BECOME SOME SORT OF WAY STATION FOR HORRIBLE DIRECTORS.

THIS MOVIE STARTED OUT AUSPICIOUSLY BY DECLARING THAT IT'S A "TRUE STORY"..YHEA SO WAS PARANORMAL ACTIVITY AND THE AMITYVILLE HORROR (WHICH WAS A GREAT MOVIE IN IT'S ORIGINAL FORM BTW).  THERE ARE NO ACTORS OR ACTRESSES WORTH MENTIONING BUT THEY DO AN ACCEPTABLE JOB HERE I.E THEY DIDN'T OVER ACT OR BUTCHER THE MOVIE.

THERE WAS AN INTERESTING BACKDROP IN THIS AND SOME ENGAGING MYTHOLOGY REGARDING JEWISH EXORCISM.  APPARENTLY THERE IS SUCH A THING AND IT MADE FOR A MOVIE WHICH HAD IT'S FAIR SHARE OF FRIGHTENING PORTIONS.  IT DID ACTUALLY SCARE ME A FEW TIMES, AND NOT WITH CHEESY QUIET TO LOUD SEQUENCES. 

IT HAD A GOOD LENGTH, NOT TOO SHORT AND NOT TOO LONG.  THE SPECIAL EFFECTS WERE INTERESTING, AND THE SHOT WHERE THE HAND WAS IN THE THROAT WAS REALLY COOL, AS WAS THE SCENE IN THE MRI.  SOME ORIGINAL SCARES IN THIS MOVIE, SO MAYBE THEY WERE ORIGINAL BECAUSE IT'S A "TRUE STORY"?

I WASN'T REALLY EVER BORED WITH THE MOVIE AND IT HAD SOME GREAT SCENES LIKE THE LAST POSSESSION EXORCISM AND THE EXIT SIGN, THE PART WHERE THE MOTHS WERE FLYING EVERYWHERE, AND FINALLY WHEN THE A HOLE BOYFRIEND DENTIST HAD HIS TEETH PULLED.  GOOD STUFF!  I GIVE THIS A:::87%

OBSCURE MOVIES OF THE MONTH AND DEGREES OF SEPARATION: ICHI, ICHI THE KILLER, & AUDITION

ICHI:  2000: --F:ACT:  I BOUGHT THIS MOVIE ON A WHIM, BUT IT OPENED UP A WHOLE WORLD OF DIMENSIONS FOR ME, ALA DEGREES OF SEPARATION.  FROM THIS, I ACCIDENTALLY FOUND ICHI THE KILLER, ANOTHER WEIRD, BUT KILLER MOVIE...AND AUDITION, WHICH STILL HAUNTS ME TO THIS DAY..THIS POST WILL ATTEMPT, I STRESS ATTEMPT, TO DEAL WITH THEM ALL..

THIS MOVIE HAS A SPECIAL QUALITY, AND I APOLOGIZE FOR USING SUCH A GENERALIZED TERM LIKE "SPECIAL".  I SAY THAT BECAUSE IT MAKES ME FEEL THAT EVERY TIME I SEE IT.  THE MAIN CHARACTER IS BLIND AND IS ALSO A MUSICIAN.  THIS CORRELATION OF MUSICIAN AND MARTIAL ARTIST PLAYS OUT IN CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON BECAUSE THE FEMALE ROLE IS A GREAT CALLIGRAPHIST.  I CAN APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE IT IS "ALL IN THE WRISTS"

I DIGRESS, BUT THIS MOVIE MAKES YOU REALLY APPRECIATE THE SUBTLE QUALITY OF A MARTIAL ARTS MOVIE THAT DOESN'T HAVE PEOPLE FLYING OVER ROOF TOPS AND PERFORMING UN-REALISTIC MOVES.  WHAT YOU SEE HERE IS POSSIBLE.  HARUKA AYASE IS BRILLIANT IN THIS FILM AND KEEPS YOU AWAY BUT BRINGS YOU IN AT THE END.  THIS IS ONLY DONE WELL BY A QUIET, BROODING FEMALE ROLE AND SHE NAILS IT..NAILS IT.

I BROUGHT UP ICHI THE KILLER BECAUSE WHILE I WAS TRYING TO FIND OUT ABOUT THIS FILM, THIS OTHER MOVIE CAME UP, SO I WILL TAKE A SHORT SEGUE...



ICHI THE KILLER:  2001, -+: F ACT:  VERY QUICKLY, IF YOU HAVE A QUEASY STOMACH, DO NOT, I SAY DO NOT WATCH THIS MOVIE.  IT IS EGREGIOUSLY OVER THE TOP AND A COUP DE ET AT OF PIERCINGS, BRUTALITY, SADO-MASOCHISM AND TURTLES, YES TURTLES..

ANYWAY ,THIS EXTREMELY VIOLENT, YET CONSISTENTLY LOGICAL MOVIE MAKES YOU THINK LIKE A YAKUZA WARLORD, THEIR ASSASSINS, AND THEIR LOVERS.  THIS IS QUITE A MOVIE.  THE MAIN CHARACTER HAS A PENCHANT FOR PAIN, AND HIS "BOSS" DOLES OUT THE BEST TYPE.

ONCE HE IS MISSING, HE GOES TO LOOK FOR HIM.  THE ONLY PROBLEM IS THAT SOMEONE IS HUNTING HIM..WOW, THIS MOVIE IS WICKED..WATCH IT, BUT DON'T EAT LUNCH BEFORE HAND. 

STAND OUT SCENES ARE WHEN HE REFUSES TO CUT OFF HIS FINGER, THE TRADITIONAL MANNER OF DEALING WITH DISHONOR, BUT ACTUALLY CUTS OF PART OF HIS TONGUE AND SHOWS IT TO THE OTHER YAKUZA LORDS.  ALSO WHEN ICHI FIGHTS AT THE END, IT'S BRUTAL..THIS MOVIE GETS A SOLID::::87%

NOW BACK TO ICHI...



THIS MOVIE GETS A GREAT, AND WELL WORTH 91%% BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THIS DIDN'T END HERE.  NO, I HAD TO STUMBLE UPON ANOTHER GRIPPING BUT EXTREMELY WRONG MOVIE..AUDITION.


THIS MOVIE GAVE ME NIGHTMARES FOR A WEEK, AND SOME OF THEM WEREN'T EXACTLY THE BAD ONES LOL
AUDITION: 1999:+ HRR:  THIS MOVIE IS SURPRISINGLY SENSUAL, WHILE IT RIPS YOUR HEART OUT OF YOUR THROAT.  THE WAY THAT THE FEMALE ROLE JUST TOYS WITH YOU, AND CAREFULLY UTILYZES HER TOOLS TO DEVASTATE HER GREEDY TARGET IS EXTREMELY DISTURBING.

I HAVE TO ADMIT, I SPENT SOME TIME GETTING THE IMAGES OUT OF MY HEAD HERE, SO I WILL WATCH IT AGAIN TO PUT MORE DETAILS HERE...BUT YOU WATCH IT IF YOU CAN..I CHALLENGE YOU!

WATCH IT TO GAIN A NEW RESPECT FOR A POWERFUL WOMAN ROLE IN A MOVIE.  IT DOESN'T GET ANY CRAZIER THAN THIS ONE.  UNREAL MOVIE THAT I WATCH ONLY WHEN I AM IN A GOOD MOOD.  I LOVE THIS MOVIE::95!!!%%%

This Week's Showcase: Amadeus

AMADEUS:  1984, + DRA: A VARIATION ON THE STORY BY PUSHKIN ( 1830), THIS HAUNTING MOVIE WILL UNDOUBTEDLY MAKE YOU REMEMBER THE CACOPHONOUS LAUGHTER OF MOZART, PLAYED SUPERLY BY TOM HULCE.  THE SCREENPLAY AND CINEMATOGRAPHY ARE TOP NOTCH, AS IS THE CASTING.  I COULDN'T PICTURE ANYONE ELSE PLAYING SALIERI, THE JEALOUS COURT COMPOSER WHO WORKS DILIGENTLY AS HE SPEAKS TO THE LORD, IMPLORING HIM FOR "INSPIRATION".

NOT ONLY DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE PART OF THIS MOVIE WITH THE SCREEN SHOTS, BUT YOU ALSO ACTUALLY FEEL SORRY FOR SALIERI, PLAYED EASILY BY F MURRAY ABRAHAM (YOU GET THE FEELING THAT HE DIDN'T HAVE TO TRY VERY HARD FOR IT). 

DIRECTED BY MILOS FORMAN AND WRITTEN BY PETER SHAFFER, IT'S A MUST WATCH AND IF YOU HAVE SEEN IT, WATCH IT AGAIN BECAUSE YOU WILL DEFINITELY FIND SOMETHING NEW IN THE MOVIE.

MEMORABLE SCENES WERE WHEN MOZART SURPRISES SALIERI AS HE PROPOSES TO HIS SOON TO BE WIFE BY TALKING BACKWARDS; SALIERI PAINFULLY REALIZES THAT THE "HEATHEN" HE SEES IS ACTUALLY MOZART. 

IN ADDITION, THE SCENE DURING THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO WHEN THE GHOST BREAKS THE BRICK WALL, SYMBOLIZING MOZART'S FATHER POSSIBLY BREAKING MOZART'S PSYCHE, IS PERVASIVE AND GIVES THE MOVIE IT'S "IMAGE"..THIS CONNECTS BACK TO SALIERI WHO TRIES TO DESTROY THE OPERA, BUT SECRETLY GOES TO EVERY PERFORMANCE.

FINALLY, MOZART'S GRADUAL DEMISE IS VERY REALISTIC BECAUSE IT SHOWS HOW THE JEALOUSY OF A PEER CAN BE DEVASTATING AND CONFUSING, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE PERSON IS AS SERVILE AS SALIERI. 

THE ONLY THING THAT I WANTED MORE OF WAS THE DEBAUCHERY, BUT THAT WAS ONLY BECAUSE IT WHET MY APPETITE WITH IT'S SCENERY.  COSTUMES, CHOREOGRAPHY, AND THE KING, WHO DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO SIGHT READ, WERE GREAT.  WATCH IT AGAIN::90%

NOTE:  THIS WAS NOMINATED FOR 53 AWARDS AND RECEIVED 40 INCLUDING 7 ACADEMY AWARDS (ONE OF WHICH WAS BEST PICTURE).  IT WAS ADAPTED FROM A STAGE PLAY BY SHAFFER IN 1979, WHICH I AM SORRY TO HAVE MISSED.  I'M STILL LOOKING FOR ANY MEMORABILIA FROM THAT PLAY

Movies: Part II (UPDATED)

LEGEND OF PI:2012, ++::  ALTHOUGH I HEARD A LOT ABOUT THIS MOVIE, I WAS STILL SURPRISED.  THE DEPTH AND LEVELS IN WHICH IT CHALLENGES THE VIEWER ARE ADMIRABLE AND OCCASIONALLY A BIT DISTURBING.  THERE ARE MANY ELEMENTS AT WORK HERE AND THE FACT THAT THE AUTHOR OF THE NOVEL, YANN MARTEL, ALLOWED THIS MOVIE TO BE MADE IS SURPRISING.  AT SOME POINT, I'M SURE THERE WAS SOME APPREHENSION, BECAUSE THE EFFECTS WOULD HAVE HAD TO BE STUNNING.  THEY WERE STUNNING.

OCCASIONALLY CGI WORKS AND DOES WHAT IS IMPOSSIBLE ON THE BIG SCREEN AND I AM SURE THAT THIS MOVIE FALLS INTO THIS CATEGORY.  THE ONLY WAY THIS MOVIE WOULD WORK IS WITH CGI, PERIOD.  ANG LEE DOESN'T DISAPPOINT IN THIS EPIC MOVIE AND REALLY, IT TAKES A FEW TIMES TO WATCH TO REALLY GET INTO THE DETAILS.

THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE RELIGIOUS ASPECTS IS DIFFICULT TO EXPLAIN, BUT HANDLED RATHER WELL.  WHY SHOULDN'T THERE BE A UNIFORM WAY TO WORSHIP A GOD?  MORE THAN THAT THIS IS A MOVIE ABOUT FAITH AND OVERCOMING OBSTACLES THAT SEEM INSURMOUNTABLE. 

SURAJ SHARMA PUTS ON A GREAT PERFORMANCE AND I WONDER WHAT HE WILL DO NOW.  THIS MOVIE OPERATES UNDER A CERTAIN GRACE WHICH IS HARD TO DESCRIBE AND PROBABLY DIFFERENT FOR EACH VIEWER.  STANDOUT SCENES ARE WHEN THE TIGER IS TAMED, THERE IS THE STORM AT SEA, AND OF COURSE WHEN THEY ARE ON THE ISLAND.  THIS MOVIE IS A MUST WATCH AND I PLAN ON OWNING IT::93%


JACK REACHER:  2011:++ ACT:  A SURPRISINGLY ACCEPTABLE MOVIE FOR TOM CRUISE WHO SHOWS THAT HE CAN STILL ACT AND BE A LEADING MAN.  THE FEMALE ROLE OF PAULA WAGNER IS ALSO A PLEASANT SURPRISE AND SHE IS ATTRACTIVE AND OVERALL PUTS ON A GREAT PERFORMANCE.  NOT TO BE FAN BOY, HERE, BUT THE SCENE WHERE SHE WORE BLACK WAS STUNNING.

THERE ARE SOME INTERESTING DYNAMICS HERE, ALTHOUGH IT'S WAY TOO LONG.  THIS MOVIE COULD HAVE DEFINITELY BEEN SHORTER.  GOD HELP YOU IF YOU HAD A KID KICKING YOUR SEAT OR THE OBLIGATORY CELL PHONE TALKER; THIS MOVIE WOULD HAVE BEEN INTOLERABLE IN THE THEATRE. 

PERHAPS CHRISTOPHER MCQUIRIE WANTED TO DO LEE CHILD'S CHARACTER JUSTICE, BUT AFTER 2 HOURS, THAT'S ENOUGH.  GREAT FIGHTING SCENES, AND I ESPECIALLY LIKED THE CARS IN THIS ONE.  PAULA WAGNER ALSO GAVE IT A SIDE THAT IS PERSONABLE.  ROBERT DUVALLE HAS A CAMEO AND GIVES THIS MOVIES SOME DEPTH.  THE STAR FROM THE NEW DIE HARD IS IN THIS MOVIE AND SEEMS TO BE WELL LIKED BY DIRECTORS.  HE MIGHT HAVE A GOOD CAREER GOING AFTER THESE TWO FLICKS.

STAND OUT SCENES WERE DEFINITELY WHEN TOM ALMOST KISSED PAULA AND HIS IMAGE WAS DISPLAYED IN MIRRORS LIKE ALTERNATE SIDES OF HIS COMPLICATED PERSONALITY...WELL DONE!  IN ADDITION, I LIKED WHEN HE BEAT UP THE BAD GUYS BY HAVING THEM HIT THEMSELVES IN THE BATHROOM.  GOOD FIGHTING CHOREOGRAPHY WAS SEEN THROUGHOUT THIS MOVIE.  IT'S A GOOD MOVIE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN SHORTER.  AGAIN, I WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED AFTER THIS ONE THOUGH, SO A SORT OF MUST WATCH IF YOU CAN TAKE A BREAK IN THE MIDDLE:::79%

PS, THIS WAS POSTPONED DUE TO THE SANDY HOOK MASSACRE


A GOOD DAY TO DE HARD::2013, +, ACT:: OK, SO I DID WATCH THIS MOVIE, ONLY BECAUSE I WAS EXTREMELY BORED AND IT MADE A DECENT SEGUE FROM JACK REACHER. 

JOHN MOORE DOESN'T BUTCHER THE SERIES AND THIS MOVIE DOES HAVE IT'S POSITIVE ELEMENTS.  BRUCE WILLIS DOESN'T LOOK HORRIBLE IN THIS AND IS STILL DOING HIS BEST TO IMPRESS FANS, WHICH I FEEL ARE TOO OLD TO APPRECIATE THIS AND HIS ONE LINERS, BUT HE TRIES.  THE ENEMIES ARE RUSSIANS, GOD IS THAT ALWAYS THE CASE, AND YES, THEY ARE RUDE AND BRUTISH.  CAN SOMEONE DIRECT A RUSSIAN VILLAIN WITH SOME PANACHE? 

I FELL ASLEEP DURING THIS, BUT I DO REMEMBER A CHARMING FEMALE VILLAIN. THE NEW LEADING ROLE (JAI COURTNEY), WHO WAS ALSO IN JACK REACHER, SEEMS TO BE GOOD ON FILM AND WILL PROBABLY HAVE A GOOD CAREER.  YULIYA WAS ABSOLUTELY BREATHTAKING IN THIS AND I NEED MORE, MORE MORE. 

OK, SO THERE WERE HELICOPTERS, BIG GUNS, LACKLUSTER BADDIES AND THE USUAL DRIVEL IN ACTION MOVIES LIKE THIS...  NOTHING TO REALLY REMEMBER IN THIS MOVIE.  I EASILY RANK IT BELOW JACK REACHER.  PLUS, BRUCE SAID, "YIPPIE KAY YAY!!"  NOO, JUST STOP, THAT GENERATION IS ALREADY WORRIED ABOUT MORTGAGE PAYMENTS AND PAMPERS TO LIKE THAT LINE::69%, BARELY 70% BECAUSE OF YULIYA..


FIRE WALK WITH ME:  1992, ++, THR:  HOW MANY TIMES CAN I SAY THAT THIS IS MY FAVORITE MOVIE OF ALL TIME?  WELL, A FEW TIMES, I GUESS.  DAVID LYNCH MIGHT HAVE LOST HIS MIND AT SOME POINT, BUT I GOT TO SEE IT HAPPEN ON THE BIG SCREEN...THAT COUNTS FOR SOMETHING.

WHETHER OR NOT IT WAS THE PSYCHEDELIC MONTAGES, OR THE TALKING BACKWARD, OR HAVING DAVID BOWIE AND CHRIS ISAAC DO CAMEOS..HOW CAN YOU DOUBT THIS TROUBLED GENIUS' ART FORM?  JUST BECAUSE HE "LOST HIS MIND" DOESN'T MEAN THAT HIS ART SUFFERED.  QUITE THE CONTRARY, IT WAS THE DRIVING FORCE BEING SUCH PIECES AS BLUE VELVET, LOST HIGHWAY AND OF COURSE HIS TOURE DE FORCE, FIRE WALK WITH ME.

SINCE THIS IS AN UPCOMING "SHOWCASE OF THE WEEK", I WILL NOT FULLY RATE IT....YET


NATURAL BORN KILLERS: 1994, ++, ACT::OLIVER STONE IS AT HIS BEST, WELL WHEN IS HE NOT AT HIS BEST, IN THIS EYE OPENING SATIRE ABOUT SERIAL KILLERS MICKEY AND MALLORY, LOOSELY BASED ON REALITY.  WOODY HARRELSON IS EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE IN THIS FILM, BUT I WAS ESPECIALLY SURPRISED BY JULLIETTE LEWIS' PERFORMANCE AS THE PSYCHOTIC, SEX CRAZED DAUGHTER OF A FATHER WHO MOLESTED HER.

AS THE POT DEALER IN DUE DATE, JULIETTE PUTS ON A VERY MATURE, STRIKINGLY VISCERAL PERFORMANCE THAT WAS TRULY MEANT FOR HER.  I CAN'T IMAGINE SOMEONE ELSE PULLING THAT OFF.  THIS MOVIE IS DISTURBING, BUT A MUST WATCH.  I SUGGEST HAVING AN "OLIVER STONE" NIGHT IN WHICH YOU WATCH PLATOON, JFK AND THIS AT LEAST.

STAND OUT SCENES ARE THE TOUCHINGLY ROMANTIC SCENE ON THE BRIDGE WHEN THEY TIE THE KNOT AND MALLORY CURSES OUT SOME ONLOOKERS FOR BEEPING THEIR HORN.  ALSO WHEN MALLORY DANCES IN THE DINER AND KILLS THE PERVERT.."BEEP BEEP!"; AND OF COURSE, THE SCENE WHERE THEY TRIPPED ON PEYOTE AND THE SNAKES WERE EVERYWHERE..

DID I MENTION THAT ROBERT DOWNEY JR IS IN THIS AS WELL AS RODNEY DANGERFIELD AS THE PERV DAD,.. TOM SIZEMORE AS THE COP AND MANY MANY OTHER PROMINENT ACTORS?..WAS THAT EVEN A SENTENCE???

THIS MOVIE HAS EVERYTHING, A JAIL BREAK SCENE, EXCELLENT MUSIC, SUPERB PHOTOGRAPHY, SUSPENSE AND THE PLOT JUST TAKES YOU ON A ROLLER COASTER THAT THRILLS AND SENDS CHILLS DOWN YOUR SPINE.  PLEASE WATCH THIS, BUT NOT WITH THE KIDDIES!  :::91%


WANTED:  2008, ++, ACT:  SOMEONE ASKED ME WHY I TEND TO RATE MOVIES PRETTY HIGHLY, AND SOMEHOW FIND REDEEMING VALUE IN MOVIES.  WELL, THE WAY I LOOK AT IT, WATCHING MOVIES SHOULD BE ENJOYABLE; MORE THAN LIKELY YOU'RE HOME, OR IN A THEATRE, HAVING A SNACK, IN A COOL ENVIRONMENT AND GENERALLY LETTING GO.

ANGELENA JOLIE WAS EXCELLENT IN THIS MOVIE, NOT JUST BECAUSE SHE LOOKED GOOD, BUT SHE ALSO PERFORMED THE STUNTS WITH EASE.  SHE IS GOOD AT PLAYING THAT "BAD" GIRL TYPE AS SEEN IN GIRL INTERRUPTED, SALT, AND SOMETIMES EVEN TOMB RAIDER. 

THE STUNTS WERE ENTERTAINING AND COMPRISED MANY OF THE STAND OUT SCENES SUCH AS WHEN THE VIPER FLIPPED ON THE BUS, AND AT THE END WHERE THE..WELL, NO SPOILERS.  THE MALE CHARACTER (JAMES MCAVOY) WAS FORGETTABLE, BUT MAYBE THAT WAS THE POINT.  THIS WAS CONFIGURED FROM A COMIC STRIP, SO I BELIEVE MOST OF THE ATTENTION WAS DONE WITH THE STUNT SCENES.

THE BUTCHER WAS PRETTY BRUTAL WITH HIS KNIVES AND MORGAN FREEMAN WAS TYPICAL FREEMAN, BUT THIS TIME IT CAME OFF A LITTLE BIT PRETENTIOUS.  WATCH FOR ANGELINA JOLIE.  I ALSO LIKED IT WHEN THE MAIN CHARACTER FLIPS OUT TO NIN MUSIC.  THIS BROUGHT THIS MOVIE UP FROM A LOW 80S, TO A 85:::85%


INCEPTION: 2010, +++, ACT/DRM:  I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THIS MOVIE IS 3 YEARS OLD.  DIRECTED BY CHRISTOPHER NOLAN, THIS MOVIE FEATURES ENOUGH STAR POWER TO BE 3 MOVIES.  LEONARDO DICAPRIO IS STERN AND PENSIVE (DOES HE KEEP DOING THIS OR IS IT ME LATELY?)

I HAD TO SEE THIS MOVIE ABOUT 4 TIMES TO FINALLY GET IT.  IT'S JUST A LITTLE TOO LONG TO GET THE WHOLE FIRST TIME IN.  I ENJOYED MAL'S PERFORMANCE ELLEN PAGE AS WELL AS MARION COTILLARD BECAUSE THEY AREN'T EXACTLY THE LEAD FEMALE ROLES BUT THEY WORKED TO GIVE THE MOVIE AN EDGE.

I WOULD HAVE CHANGED THE WAY IT STARTED AND MADE IT FLOW QUICKER, BUT THAT'S NOT A HUGE GRIPE.  THE SCENERY WAS UNREAL AS WERE THE EFFECTS.  THIS WAS THE FIRST MOVIE TO REALLY TAKE THAT STOP ACTION PHOTO TO THE NEXT LEVEL AFTER THE MATRIX. 

IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT, SEE IT.  IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT MORE THAN ONCE, SEE IT AGAIN AND TAKE SOME BREAKS.  IT WILL MAKE A LOT MORE SENSE THAT WAY.  ONE OF MY FAVORITE MOVIES, THIS WILL KEEP YOU GUESSING LIKE A GOOD SPY MOVIE DOES AND HAS GREAT MUSIC AND PSYCHOLOGICAL INTERPLAY THAT WILL MAKE YOU KEEP COMING BACK FOR MORE.  SEE IT AGAIN AND AGAIN, UNTIL IT'S IN YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS::!::92%

This Week's Showcase: Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (English Version)

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO:  +, DRA:  HAVING SEEN BOTH THE ENGLISH (2 TIMES) AND THE SWEDISH VERSIONS (3 TIMES),  I WILL SAY THAT THERE AREN'T ENOUGH DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN THE TWO THAT STYLISTIC ELEMENTS AND THE ACTORS/ ACTRESSES THEMSELVES AREN'T ENOUGH FOR ME TO LIKE ONE MORE THAN THE OTHER.

I HAPPEN TO LIKE THE ACTRESS IN THIS MOVIE A LOT.  ALTHOUGH SHE CAN SEEM UNEMOTIONAL AT TIMES, THIS WORKS IN THIS ROLE BECAUSE WHEN SHE DOES ERUPT, IT'S USUALLY PRETTY DRAMATIC (I FELT THAT THE SCENE WHERE SHE INKS HER PERVERT 'GUARDIAN' WAS MORE VISCERAL IN THIS VERSION. 

I LIKED ROONEY MARA IN THE NEW NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, YES I DID SEE THAT, AND I'M REALLY STARTING TO LIKE HER MORE AND MORE. I WANT TO SEE HER IN MORE FILMS.  GRANTED, THIS MOVIE HAD THE ADVANTAGE OF BEING DOING AFTER THE SWEDISH VERSIONS, BUT THAT SHOULDN'T REALLY MATTER.

BEFORE THIS MOVIE, I HADN'T HEARD OF HER, BUT HERE SHE IS, TAKING ON THE ROLE OF THE HEROINE THOUGHT UP BY STEIG LARSSON AS LISBETH.  NOT ONLY IS THIS A CHALLENGING ROLE, BUT SHE HAS TO LIVE UP TO THE EXPECTATIONS OF EVERYONE WHO HAS READ THE BOOK AND/OR WATCHED THE SWEDISH VERSIONS.  CHANCES ARE YOU HAVE SEEN THE MOVIE AND READ THE BOOK, SO I'M PUTTING A DIFFERENT SPIN HERE.  

90% OF THE PEOPLE ASKED WILL TELL YOU THAT THIS VERSION DOESN'T HOLD A CANDLE TO THE ORIGINAL, BUT I DISAGREE.  DANIEL CRAIG IS JUST AS CAPABLE AS THE EMBATTLED MAGAZINE EDITOR BLOMVQUIST.  THE MUSIC HAS JUST THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF NIN TO BE DARK.

I REALLY FEEL MARA PULLED OFF THE ROLE BETTER.  SHE HAD MORE CHARISMA AND IT JUST WORKED FOR ME (I LIKED THE SCENE IN THE CLUB BETTER.  SHE HAS A MORE FEMININE QUALITY WHICH I THINK IS IMPORTANT TO NAIL DOWN THE WHOLE SEXY/ TOUGH GIRL ROLE.  I ALSO FELT THE CHEMISTRY BETWEEN SHE AND CRAIG WAS MUCH BETTER. WATCH THEM BOTH AGAIN SIDE BY SIDE AND SEE IF YOU DISAGREE THAT THE FINCHER VERSION IS AS GOOD OR BETTER.

STAND OUT SCENES ARE THE SCENES FOR ME ARE ANY WITH MARA IN THEM.  SORRY, I'M BEING FAN BOY HERE:::91%

Hangover III, Lets get the RECORD STRAIGHT!!

HANGOVER III 2013, ++ CMD:: 

So I had high expectations with this movie, as I should have had.  But these weren't expectations to hate, but to expect, and to ENJOY..And once I took that mindset I did..ENJOY

The intervention makes sense.  Is it the exact replica of the first two?  NO.  That's the point!  Is the giraffe funny?  YES it is, actually within a composition of form context, it makes sense, since ALLEN, AKA ZACH GALAFIANIAKIS, is driving the Mercedes, WITH PLATES DADYSBOI, and there is a young kid looking on, and he comments as he did in the first one...  Composition. 

Up to that point in the movie, everything was "Gelling Perfectly"!  Plus the Jim Croche music was "classic!"

I especially liked it when Dr Price "got schooled" and had to write some prescriptions.  Had this been the first movie, everyone would have liked it, but since, it 'was sooo' hyped up, it was not as generally accepted.

BTW, Tijuana is the BOMB!!  There was SOME tangible tension at the wire cutting scene..it would be funny if everyone wasn't so uptight about it!  I like the "I'm killing Dougs Today!" plus when ZACH acts like Carlos' dad from part I, that was great!  How can you NOT like that??

How many times does this movie need to reassert itself?  Trust me, this is going to be the first positive review and everyone is going to jump on the band wagon.  I'm taking a leap and it feels great!  Ok so the Vegas part wasn't that good, this movie is only getting a 73%, but it's passing!

I especially liked it when Zach falls in love in the Pawn shop, who else would do that?  That is Zach 100% playing Allen.  What else do you want?? 

Again, I digress, but this movie finishes what it started..expect more praise!
::73%

A QUENTIN TARANTINO FEATURE!

Here are the reviews of 1 obscure Tarantino movie (is there such a thing) and some newer ones:  Remember, since I'm an owl, I don't always get the jokes, but I try. I won't bore you with Kill Bills, or Pulp, or Jackie Brown, although I might put in scenes that I love from those movies.  These are some new takes on Tarantino that you might not have "scene" yet..

In addition, the tree I live in has spotty internet service, so my Netflix doesn't get all the movies and sometimes they end abruptly, so bare with me..

Let's start it off with a lesser known flick:


DEATHPROOF:  2007, ++, ACT:  THIS MOVIE IS INTERESTING BECAUSE IT TREATS IT'S VEHICLES LIKE MAIN CHARACTERS IN THE MOVIE ITSELF.  THE CARS ARE LITERALLY HOMAGES TO OTHER MOVIES AND REFERENCES TO SUCH FLICKS AS VANISHING POINT (WHITE '70 DODGE CHALLENGER).  THE CASTING IS EXCELLENT, FEATURING KIRK DOUGLASS AS STUNTMAN BOB, ROSARIO DAWSON, ROSE MCGOWEN (GREAT TO SEE HER IN A MOVIE), ZOE BELL AND TRACIE THORNS AS SOME OF THE EYE CANDY IN THE MOVIE. 

THIS MOVIE IS SPLIT UP INTO TWO HALVES, MAKING IT SOMEWHAT LONG BUT IT'S WORTH WATCHING UNTIL THE END BECAUSE IT BUILDS UP NICELY.  THE STUNTS ARE DONE VERY WELL WITH VERY CAREFUL ATTENTION TO DETAIL.  THE MUSIC IS EXCELLENT AS WELL, BUT THAT'S USUALLY A GIVEN WITH QUENTIN.  THE NOTABLE SCENES ARE THE SCENE IN THE BAR WITH A CAMEO OF TARANTINO, THE SECOND CHASE SCENE FEATURING A VALKERIE LIKE STUNT, AND OF COURSE, THE SCENE WHICH IS A "REMAKE" OF VANISHING POINT.  NUFF SAID.. DEFINITELY A "GUY" FILM BUT IT'S WORTH WATCHING:::83%




RESERVOIR DOGS: ++, DRM:  MUCH HAS ALREADY BEEN WRITTEN ABOUT THIS CLASSIC, SO I WILL PUT A DIFFERENT SPIN ON IT IF POSSIBLE.  THIS MOVIE GOT MANY ACTORS GOING IN THEIR CAREERS AND MIGHT HAVE CAUSED SOME TO STAY WHERE THEY WERE.  I HAVE WATCHED THIS SEVERAL TIMES AND THE MUSIC/ SCENE CORRELATION DOESN'T ALWAYS "CLICK" AS WELL AS IN SOME OF TARANTINO'S OTHERS, BUT IT'S STILL WAY ABOVE AVERAGE.  EXPECT GREAT CINEMATOGRAPHY, CHARACTERIZATION, PLOT TWISTS AND PHOTOGRAPHY IN THIS INDEPENDENT MOVIE.

STEVE BUSCEMI AS MR. PINK REPRESENTS WHAT REALITY IS TO ME (can't change it, just accept it) AND THE HOT HEADED MR. ORANGE IS OUR PERCEPTION OF OUR WORLD AND THE WAY IN WHICH WE ARE DELUDED TO THINK WE CAN CHANGE IT OR "MOLD" IT.  MR. WHITE, HARVEY KEITEL, IS SANITY AND THESE ELEMENTS COLLIDE WELL IN THE SCENE IN THE HIDEOUT WHICH IS SIMILAR TO A PLAY.  THIS MOVIE WAS VOTED "BEST INDEPENDENT FILM" BY ESQUIRE MAGAZINE AND IS A MUST SEE IF YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK ABOUT MOVIES AND FILMS::90%









INGLORIOUS BASTERS:  ++ DRA:  I HAVE SEEN THIS MOVIE ABOUT 4 TIMES AT DIFFERENT PERIODS AND AT DIFFERENT TIMES & I THINK DIFFERENT THINGS ABOUT IT.  IT'S STILL A GREAT MOVIE AND VERY TARANTINO, IT'S JUST THAT BRAD PITT'S PERFORMANCE HITS ME WRONG SOME TIMES.  HIS ACCENT JUST DOESN'T JIVE 100% OF THE TIME.  OK, SO THAT'S OUT OF THE WAY.




THE WAY THE PLOT IS PUT TOGETHER IS GENIUS, AND IT REALLY GETS YOU TO UNDERSTAND THE WAY THE CHARACTERS WORK.  CHRISTOPH WALTS PUTS IN A STANDOUT PERFORMANCE AS THE HUNTER AND MELANIE LAURENT WILL MAKE YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH HER.  THE SCENE IN THE BAR WITH THE GUY FROM MADMEN IS A STANDOUT AS IS THE MEXICAN STANDOFF SHORTLY THEREAFTER. 

DOES TARANTINO LOVE THAT OR WHAT?  I ALSO LIKED THE GHOULISH SCENE IN THE END AND THE TRAGEDY OF THE GERMAN HERO.  REALLY A STANDOUT MOVIE AND IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES, SHORT OF KILL BILL 1.  I PUT THIS SLIGHTLY ABOVE PULP FICTION IN RATING, SIMPLY BECAUSE IT WASN'T AS OVERLY GLAMORIZED AND I LIKE THE HISTORIC ELEMENT::94%



#DJANGO UNCHAINGED

DJANGO UNCHAINGED: 2011 ++ ACT:: THINS ONE HAD IT ALL, AND YES IT WAS A RESPONSE BY TARANTINO FROM SPIKE LEE'S TYPICAL WHINY ATTITUDE OF SAYING THAT TARANTINO USED THE "N" WORD TOO MUCH IN JACKIE BROWN..WOW, JUST GO TO A KNICKS GAME..REGGIE..

ANYWAY, THAT ASIDE, THERE IS GRATUITOUS USE OF THE "N" WORD, BUT AS TARATINO SAID, HE HAS THE RIGHT TO BE AND ACT LIKE ANY CHARACTER..THAT'S HIS ARTISTIC RIGHT.

JAMIE FOX PLAYS THE LEAD WITH HONOR AND A SUBTLE DEVILISH GRACE.  SAMUEL JACKSON IS HIS USUAL, NOT USUAL SELF, AND PUTS ON A STAND OUT PERFORMANCE.  THE HUNTER FROM INGLORIOUS, CHRISTOPH WALTZ, IS RIGHTEOUS AS THE BOUNTY HUNTER AND I LOVE THE CORRELATION.  I BELIEVE BOTH OF THESE MOVIES ARE RELATED, BE IT SUBCONSCIOUSLY OR NOT BY TARANTINO.

STANDOUT SCENES, THE FIGHT SCENE WHERE LEO IS INTRODUCED AS CANDIE MAN..ALSO, THE INITIAL SCENE WHERE THE TOOTH ON TOP OF THE COACH IS INTRODUCED..THAT'S HOW YOU MAKE A CHARACTER!

I ALSO LOVED WHEN MIAMI VICES OWN, WHAT'S HIS NAME, IN THE SCENE WHERE THEY ARE ARGUING OVER THE MASKS IN A LYNCH MOB.  THAT IS CLASSIC COMEDY AT IT'S BEST. 

THIS MOVIE HAS ANOTHER MEXICAN STAND-OFF, ALA INGLORIOUS, AND ALSO HAS A HOMAGE TO IE CLOCKWORK ORANGE, WHERE THE BOUNTY HUNTER ASKS THE HARPIST TO "STOP PLAYING BEETHOVEN" AS HE IS DEMEANING THE SLAVE WIFE OF DJANGO.  TOP NOTCH TARANTINO.  MUSIC WAS PERFECT, PHOTOG WAS EXCELLENT.  MORE MORE MORE :::93%

This week's Movie Showcase! I'm a Cyborg But That's OK!

I'M A CYBORG, BUT THAT'S OK

If you can find this movie of Netflix, it's worth a watch because it is a very unique love story with excellent characters, plot structure and comedic elements, without trying too hard. 

Starring Su-jeong Lim, Rain, Hie-Jin Choi and directed by Chan-wook Park, it is a whimsical story about a girl who is taken to a mental institution because she thinks that she is a cyborg.  Subsequently, she doesn't eat, but only "connects" herself to appliances and her other "friends" which include a soda machine, a light, a television and other machines.

She finds someone who is equally "touched" who thinks that he can be invisible if he wears a paper helmet and walks like a rabbit.  Together they find out how to be "normal", in as much a way as a cyborg and a rabbit thief could be.

Without giving away the plot and surprises, it is filled with funny moments that are also pretty heart warming.  The characters are very well acted and the storyline moves with ease.  A highlight is when the male role convinces the female role that he has to "fix" one of her machines, thus allowing her to eat otherwise she will die.

I didn't know what to expect from this one, but it was one my quirky favorites which is a must watch if your on a date with someone with an open mind and doesn't mind subtitles.

91%

Movies PART I

The first three or four letters denote the genre, the next is the year, the next is how "famous" or well known the actors are.  For instance "++" is a very commercial film with well-known actors.  "--" means the actors are new or not "mainstream", but sometimes this is a good thing.  Also, they may be breaking into the mainstream."0" or "00" means they are often foreign or completely unknown actors. 

THR, 06, +: THE NEXT THREE DAYS: R CROWE'S PERFORMANCE IS BI POLAR IN THE BEGINNING, ACTING JUST LIKE AMERICAN GANGSTER. LOOKS CONFUSED MOST OF TIME (I THINK HE DOES THIS ON PURPOSE?)  BUT HE GETS BETTER WITH THE RAID ON LAB. A DEFINITE HIGHPOINT WAS SHOOTING THE COUSIN FROM DEPARTED (KEVIN CORREGAN-MAN IS HE ANNOYING SOMETIMES!). THE STORY DRAGS A LITTLE BUT GETS INTERESTING; ESCAPE, CHASE, ETC ARE WELL DONE.  IT FEATURES CLIMACTIC MUSIC DURING THE CHASE SCENE TO CREATE TENSION. LIAM NESSON IS BELIEVABLE, BUT HAS A SMALL ROLE. THE GIRL FROM I LOVE YOU MAN (RASHIDA JONES) IS ACCEPTABLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN SHE TRIES TO FALL OUT OF THE DURING THE CHASE SCENE. BRIAN DENNEHY LOOKS SICKLY. RZA CAMEO::71%   
 

THR, 04, +: VANILLA SKY:  DIRECTED BY CAMERON CROWE, THIS HAS GREAT ACTING AND THANKFULLY TOM WASN'T TOO TOP GUN WHICH WAS GOOD..PENELOPE IS HER USUAL CHARMING SELF AND COMPLIMENTS TOM.  WAS SHE STANDING ON A BOX THROUGH THE WHOLE MOVIE THOUGH? SHE'S TALLER THAN TOM IS.  I HAVE TO QUESTION IMITATION OF TOTAL RECALL, MATRIX, THOUGH BUT OVERALL, I DID LIKE THIS MOVIE.  CAMERON DIAZ ACTS LIKE A TOTAL PSYCHO WHICH SHE DOES EXCEPTIONALLY WELL  THIS IS WORTH SEEING JUST TO SEE THAT SIDE OF HER:: 84%

  

ACT, 10,+ +: EXPENDABLES 2::THIS IS ANOTHER ONE OF THESE MOVIES BUT IT HAS CHUCK NORRIS IN IT WHICH IS A DEFINITE PLUS AND GIVES IT SOME CULT FOLLOWING POTENTIAL. THE FEMALE ROLE IMPROVES THE MOVIE AND SHE WAS SOMEWHAT CHARISMATIC THE SECOND TIME AROUND. (YES I SAW IT TWICE, DON'T ASK) ARNOLD WAS VERY CHEESY THOUGH AND MADE ME CRINGE A FEW TIMES. THERE WAS A SET THAT LOOKED HORRIBLE AS WELL. TACKY AT TIMES BUT WATCHABLE:::: 70%

  

ACT F, 94, 0: NAKED WEAPON:THIS IS AN INTERESTING ASIAN FIGHTER-GIRL-SEMI -SEX-ROMP WITH DECENT ACTION. I ACTUALLY LIKED THIS ONE AT TIMES!  PRODUCTION IS ACCEPTABLE BUT AT TIMES GETS VERY TONGUE IN CHEEK (AT LEAST I HOPE THAT'S THEIR INTENTION)...IF YOU ARE IN THE MOOD IT'S FUNNY.  THE FIGHT SCENE AT THE END WAS UNREALISTIC.  I PREFERRED THE ONE IN THE CAGE.  WERE THE TWO GIRLS LOVERS OR JUST FRIENDS??::72%

  

THRF, 99, 0: GOTH: DIRECTED BY GEN TAKAHASI, THIS IS AN ADDICTIVE MOVIE WITH SOME INTERESTING DYNAMICS. THE LEAD GIRL RIN TAKANASHI IS STOIC BUT EMOTIONAL WHILE THE MALE ROLE KANATA HONGO IS ODD BUT FITS THE CHARACTER.  THE MUSIC LEADS INCREMENTALLY. THIS IS A NONCHALANT LOOK AT JAPAN WHICH I ENJOY, SIMILAR TO THE GRUDGE. FEATURES SUBTITLES ONLY BUT IT LEADS TO THE IMAGE OF THE MOVIE.  IT HAS A CLEVER TWIST AND EXCELLENT PHOTOGRAPHY.  THIS ONE STUCK WITH ME AND I WATCHED IT A FEW TIMES WITHOUT GETTING BORED OR TIRED OF IT::: 92%

  

ACT, 09, --: MACHINEGUN PREACHER THIS HAS THE GIRL FROM DUE DATE (MICHELLE MONAGHAN) AND SOME GRATUITOUS VIOLENCE AND DRUG USE.  A  TYPICAL MOVIE ABOUT AN ANTI HERO, THE PACING IS SPOTTY AT TIMES BUT THE CHARACTERS ARE DEVELOPED WELL.  IT'S ALSO A TRUE STORY SO I GUESS THAT'S MEANS SOMETHING:::69%

 

ACT, 10,+: IRONCLAD: RUSS ANDERSON DIRECTS THIS ACTION MOVIE WITH GOOD CASTING AND SOME VERY VIOLENT SCENES WITH GOOD EFFECTS. ACTORS WERE CONVINCING (BECCA COOPER AND SCOTT RODLIN) AND THE PLOT MOVED WELL.  THE FEMALE ROLE WAS NOTEWORTHY AS WELL AS LEAD MALE.  THIS GENRE IS PRETTY FULL OF THESE BUT IT WAS ENTERTAINING:: 74%
  

 

DRM, 11,0: CITIZEN GANGSTER: DIRECTED BY EDWIN BOYD, THIS HAD INTERESTING CASTING (SCOTT SPEEDMAN, KELLY REILLY) ANDTHE FEMALE ROLE WAS ATTRACTIVE AND STOOD OUT.  THIS WAS SET IN GREAT TIME FRAME AFTER WWII SO IT HAS SOME GREAT SCENES AND SETS, AS WELL AS AUTOS..VERY GOOD ACTING MADE THIS A SURPRISINGLY GOOD MOVIE WITH NEW ACTORS RECOMMENDABLE::85%

 

ACTF,10,--: SECTOR 7: THIS WAS A MIXTURE OF ALIENS AND RESIDENT EVIL AND THE ACTORS OVERDID IT A LITTLE.  THE EFFECTS WERE 'RUN OF THE MILL' BUT CGI OVERKILL BY THE END.  THERE ARE TOO MANY OF THESE MOVIES PLUS JOVAVICH (I AM A FAN BTW) ALWAYS, JUST ALWAYS,  WINS WITH THE RESIDENT EVIL MOVIES:: 67%

 

ACTF, 08,--: GO JOE: AN EXCELLENT MARTIAL ARTS/ SWORDSMAN MOVIE WITH AN INTERESTING STORY. THE MOVIE IS PRODUCED WELL WITH GOOD CHARACTER DEV, A SURPRISING ENDING AND EFFECTS::PLEASE WATCH THIS MOVIE, YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED: 86%

  

HOR, 11,--: HELLAVATOR SEEMS A BIT LIKE THE M NIGHT SHYAMALON MOVIE WITH AN ELEVATOR, SOME TYPICAL CAMPY F FAIR.  I TRYIED TO LIKE THIS BUT COULDN'T DUE TO THE PLOT DRAGGING AND CHARACTERS THAT AREN'T MEMORABLE.:: 53%

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HORF, 10, O: COMA IS A PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER/ HORROR MOVIE THAT TAKES SOME IMAGES FROM JU ON, BLACK WATER, AND THE RING. ACTRESSES ARE CONVINCING PROVIDING SEXUAL TENSION AND SOME OF THE YOGA SCENES ARE EROTIC. CAN YOGA BE DEADLY?

:69%

  

COM,09,+: GENTLEMEN BRONCO: JARED JESS DIRECTS THIS MOVIE THAT TAKES A LITTLE GETTING USED TO BUT IS RECOMMENDED BECAUSE OF 2 CHEESY ACTORS FROM DINNER WITH SCHMUCKS ( THE ONE THAT DRESSES LIKE A FAUGHN AND STEVE  CARELL AS WELL AS THE ONE FROM CLEVER STORY.  THE CASTING WAS SPOT ON, PLUS A SNAKE THAT POOPS.  ALSO A SURE FIRE WAY TO NAME YOUR MAIN CHARACTER IN A SCI FI BOOK, JUST END IT WOULD ANOUS, IONUS, OR OINUS::85%

  

HOR, 68:+: ROSEMARIE'S BABY; ROMAN POLANSKI'S CLASSIC WITH A GREAT MIA FARROW. THERE IS A VERY INTERSETING SEX SCENE IN THIS ONE, AS WELL AS A GREAT MONTAGE SEQUENCE WHICH IS NOTWORTHY.  A TRUE TIME CAPSULE PIECE AND WORTHY HORROR PSYCH MOVIE, ON A SIDE NOTE, MY MOM WATCHED THIS WHILE SHE WAS PREGNANT WITH ME!;; 91%


  

COM, 11--: JESUS HENRY CHRIST: WOW WEIRD MOVIE, ALMOST HAD POTENTIAL UNTIL THE PLOT COLLAPSED, REVIVING AT THE END BUT AT THAT POINT, I WAS ASLEEP::::67%

 

ACT,11, +::: KILLER ELITE::JASON STATHAM IS PASSABLE IN THIS OBVIOUS ACTION MOVIE AND FOR SOME REASON MY EX LOVES HIM..GRRRR. WE KNOW YOU CAN KICK, WE GET THAT..LET'S SEE SOMETHING ELSE, TENDS TO GET GOOD ROLES, ALTHOUGH HE ALWAYS PLAYS THE SAME PERSON.. BARELY RECOMMENDED..72%
 

ACTF 11,--: BATTLE ROYALE: THE ORIGINAL HUNGER GAMES, SOME ELEMENTS DEFINITELY WORK BETTER IN THEIR NATIVE JAPAN BUT SOME OTHERS DO NOT. JAPANESE FATALISM AT IT'S BEST, IT WORK THAT WAY BUT DIALOGUE SUFFERS. GOGO FROM KILL BILL 2 HAS AN INTERESTING, ALSO VIOLENT ROLE. WATCH IT TO COMPARE;;;82%


  

DOC, 09,--: COLLAPSE: A SOMEWHAT NEGATIVE VIEW OF THE FUTURE IN THIS DOCUMENTARY, BUT RUPPERT MAKES AN INESCAPABLE POINT, HOW CAN WE KEEP LENDING AND BUYING MIDDLE EASTERN OIL?:::85%

 

DOC, 08,--: THE REINACTORS: AN ENTERTAINING, YET LONG, DOC ABOUT IMPERSONATORS ON HOLLYWOOD BLVD. MEET THE FAKE SUPERMAN, FREDDY, AND MARILYN MONROE, SHOWS THE CUT THROAT SIDE TO THESE LOOK ALIKES WAY OF LIVE. WAS JOHN SPARROWS THAT EMACIATED?:::75%

  

DOC, 12,--: CRAIGSLISTJOE: CAN SOMEONE TRAVEL THE US AND LIVE SIMPLY ON CRAIG'S LIST BARTER SYSTEM AND GENEROSITY? APPARENTLY, BUT I THINK HAVING A PROFESSIONAL CAMERA MAN WITH YOU HELPS, HEY HE MANAGES IT, SOMEWHAT::83%

  

DOC, 11,--: NATURE  BIRDS OF THE GODS: A TRULY EYE OPENING EXPERIENCE, YOU SIMPLY NEED TO SEE THESE OTHERWORLDLY BIRDS PREPARE TO DANCE, ENTRANCE, AND EVEN MATE WITH THEIR FEMALE COMPANIONS, THESE BIRDS ARE LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF A DALI PAINTING:: 91%

 

DOC,09,--:: END OF THE ROAD:::, A COMPELLING TAKE ON THE INFLATION CRISIS, SOMETHING MANY PEOPLE WANT TO IGNORE. IT DIDN'T PUT ME TO SLEEP, IS THE US AND WORD ECONOMY A PONZI SCHEME ITSELF???:81%

  

ANI, 10,+:: DANTE'S INFERNO; VERY GOOD (ANIMATED & VIOLENT) DEPICTION OF THE ACTUAL INFERNO WITH CIRCLES INTACT. GOD, IS HE STILL JUST TRYING TO SAVE HIS GF, WIFE, PRINCESS?? HOW OLD IS THAT THEME, BUT IT IS MEMORABLE WITH EXCELLENT ANIMATION, VOICE ACTING, AND OVERALL EFFECT::89%

THR, 11,+::MEETING EVIL: SAM L JACKSON AND JAWL MAN LUKE WILSON FROM SCARY MOVIE HAVE RAPPORT, WORK WELL TOGETHER. ALSO GIRL FROM TALLADEGA NIGHTS HAS AN ENORMOUS LINE THAT'S HILARIOUS. SLJ YELLS AND SCREAMS AND HAS SOME GREAT LINES, AS USUAL. A QUIET THEN VERY LOUD MOVIE AND MUSIC WAS HORRENDOUS AT TIMES...CAN'T THEY FIX THAT? DID STEPHEN KING DO THIS BEFORE??::76%

  

THR, 01,+::CYPHER; THE ACTOR PLAYS A DUMB DAVID DUCOVHNY AND LUCY LIU IS ATTRACTIVE BUT NOT BELIEVABLE. THE PLOT IS MATRIX/LAWNMOWER MAN/ CLOCKWORK ORANGE. PLUS MAY CAUSE SEIZURES WITH IT'S RIDICULOUS BRAINWASHING MONTAGES;;;59%

  

DOC 08,+: ZEITGEIST; ADDENDUM; SEQUEL TO THE HIGHLY ACCLAIMED FIRST MOVIE. PRESENTS A CONSPIRACY THEORY FUELED DEPICTION OF AMERICA, THE FED RESERVE BANK, INFLATION AND DEBT AS A PYRAMID SCHEME. A MEMORABLE PART WAS WHEN TIME SQUARE GOES COMPLETELY DARK:::93%

 

DOC, 07, -; CHASING GHOSTS: BEYOND THE ARCADE: A REALLY INTERESTING DOC ABOUT THE LONG FORGOTTEN WORLD.OF THE ARCADE HALLS, AND DIMLY LIT ARCADES FILLED WITH LONG HAIRED YOUTHS WHO PLAYED DONKEY KONG, PAC MAN, AND SPACE INVADERS. ALSO INCLUDES FAMED STAR BILLY MITCHELL WHO HAD A PERFECT PAC MAN SCORE AND WAS AWARDED A PLAQUE BY NAMCO. THEY BATTLE IN A FIGHT FOR SUPREMACY IN A NERD FILLED COMPETITION FOR BRAGGING RIGHTS. NOTABLE PORTIONS WERE THE CHARACTERS AND HOW SERIOUSLY THEY TAKE THESE GAMES. ALSO WATCH SPECIAL WHEN LIT ABOUT PINBALL:::83%

  

COM, 04,++::SNL: BEST OF CHRISTOPHER WALKEN: ARGUABLY ONE OF THE BETTER HOSTS, AND ONE OF MY FAVORITE ACTORS THIS IS A MUST SEE TO COMPARE TO JOHN BELUSHI, CHRIS FARLEY, CHRIS ROCK, DAN ACK, AND OTHERS, IT HAS SUCH CLASSICS AS COL. ANGUS, THE CORINTHIAN, TRIVIAL PSYCHIC MAN, AND THE MINOTAUR MAN JOB INTERVIEW, I NEED MORE COWBELL!!. HE IS A CLASS ACT:::92%

  

COM, 00,++:: SNL, BESTOF CHRIS FARLEY::SINCE WE ARE COMPARING SNL HOSTS, THIS HAS TO BE ON THE LIST. FARLEY'S COMBO OF PHYSICAL HUMOR WITH TIMING IS SORELY MISSED. MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER SKIT, SKIT WITH PATRICK SWAYZE AS CHIPPENDALE DANCER, MY DADS MAYOR, EL NINO ARE ALL HILARIOUS. ALSO HE HAD SOME MEMORABLE GUESTS MAKE THESE GEMS::91%

  

DOC, 11,0: ANTICS ROAD SHOW: FOLLOW BANKSY, FAMED STREET/ CULTURE CRITIC ON HIS VARIOUS WAYS TO GET HIMSELF INTO ODD SITUATIONS SUCH AS BEING CHASED BY THE GHOSTS AND DRESSED AS PACMAN IN A SUPERMARKET. ALSO SOME OTHERS LIKE ARTISTS WHO PUT UP CONES IN ODD PLACES TO MAKE PEOPLE WALK AROUND THE ROPES IN A MAZE OR INTO A WALL. ALSO HE RODE A MARIO KART IN REAL STREET WITH TRAFFIC. SOME OF THIS IMPROMPTU ART IS BEAUTIFUL SUCH AS WHEN THE CARS WERE DRIVING THROUGH PAINT TO MAKE ABSTRACT ART. THIS IS WHAT FREEDOM IS ALL ABOUT. ALSO SEE EXIT THROUGH GIFT SHOP. THE UNDERGROUND STREET MOVEMENT IS ALIVE AND WELL::89%

  

DOC, 10,-:: THE PARKING LOT MOVIE: I HAD NO IDEA WHAT TO EXPECT ABOUT THIS MOVIE BUT I WAS SURPRISED. PARKING LOT ATTENDANTS IN A FAMILY/POTHEAD ENVIRONMENT DESCRIBE THE EBB AND FLOW OF CARS. THE ACTUAL FILMING/ PACE/ AND OVERALL STYLE MAKE A TYPICALLY MUNDANE SUBJECT INTRIGUING AND WORTH A LOOK::76%

 

DOC, 11,-: THE HIGHEST PASS: I HAD MUCH HIGHER EXPECTATIONS FOR THIS MOVIE ABOUT MOTORCYCLISTS THAT TRAVEL UP THE HIMALAYAS BUT I WAS DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE THE TIMING WAS SPORADIC, THE GURU WAS VERY ANNOYING AND IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS TRYING TO BE ICE ROAD TRUCKERS ON MOTORCYCLES. SOME NICE SCENERY, BUT YOU CAN GET THAT FROM MUCH BETTER MOVIES. I FELL ASLEEP DURING THIS::59%


  

DOC,10,0: ART OF FLIGHT: I ACTUALLY GOT CHILLS AS SOME OF THESE EXTREME SPEED SKIERS AND BASE JUMPERS SKI AND THEN TAKE OFF, DOING FLIPS IN THE AIR ATTACHED TO PARACHUTES. PUT THUS ON YOU BUCKET LIST OF THIBGA TO DJ AND WATCH IT. FILMING AND SCENERY WAS GREAT.::90%


  

DOC, 09, -: FIXATION: THESE NUTS GO FULL SPEED INTO TRAFFIC WITH LEG BRAKES ON THEIR BIANCI TRACK ALANTE BIKES W/ ONE SPEED...PRETTY GNARLY. THEY STOP BY SKIDDING OUT. YES THEY ARE GROWN MEN RIDING BIKES, BUT IT'S A "FREEDOM" THING. I WANT TO LIKE IT...PACING OFF, FOCUS UNCLEAR, BUT IT'S WORTH A WATCH, STAND OUT SCENE WAS A GUY WITH A BIKE AND SUIT ON THE HIGHWAY, BEATING TRAFFIC!:::75%

  

COM,11,+: BUTTER, WHEN DID THIS MOVIE COME OUT? JENNIFER GARNER IS CREEPY AND CRAWLY, THE GIRL FROM THE NEW TRON IS GREAT, AND THE OVERALL MOVIE WAS INTERESTING, ENDING WAS ODD. KIND OF LIKE BEST IN SHOW IN A WAY:73%


  

COM,09,+::ADVENTURELAND:::DOES JESSE EISENBERG PLAY THE SAME CHARACTER IN EVERY MOVIE? KRISTEN STEWART SAVES HIM IN THIS MOVIE WHICH HAS A FEW GOOD LAUGHS. KRISTEN WIIG IS IN IT AND IS HER USUAL NONCHALANT, FUNNY, NOT MEANING TO BE FUNNY WAY OF ACTING. I SAW IT TWICE AND IT'S NOT HORRIBLE, SOME NICE NOSTALGIA AND OLD SCHOOL CARNIE STUFF. :::78%


  

ACTF, 11-: PHASE 7: AN ARGENTINE MOVIE WHICH SURPRISES WITH EXCELLENT PACE, CHARACTERIZATION, THRILL AND SUSPENSE, IT'S WORTH A WATCH. THE ARGENTINE TAKE ON AN END OF THE WORLD SCENARIO IS INTERESTING AND THE CHARACTERS CALLING THEMSELVES "PIPI" IS AMUSING. OLD THEME BUT THE CULTURAL ASPECTS GIVE IT SOME CHARM::82%


  

COM,12,+:BERNIE:: ANOTHER SURPRISE. MOVIE BY JACK BLACK WHICH IS DECENT AND MAKES A GOOD BLACK COMEDY. MATTHEW MCCAUNEHEY (OR HOWEVER YOU SPELL HIS NAME) IS BELIEVABLE WITH SHIRLEY MCCLAIN PUTTING A GOOD PERFORMANCE. DEFINITELY AN OFF BEAT PREMISE, BUT WORTH A LOOK IF YOU LIKE JACK BLACK:::81%

  

COM, 10,++: TALLADEGA NIGHTS: ANOTHER WILL FARRELL & JOHN C REILY MOVIE THAT IS ONE OF THE BETTER ONES, ECLIPSED ONLY BY STEP BROTHERS. BOSS FROM OFFICE SPACE IS VERY GOOD IN THE ROLE, COUNSELOR FROM ROLE MODELS IS DECENT AND THIS HAS THE FAMOUS, BABY JESUS LINE. PLUS DECEASED ACTOR OF GREEN MILE..GREAT CRASH SCENES AS WELL AS SCENE WITH FERRELL AND DAD OUT OF APPLEBEES:::85%


  

COM, 13,++: SEVEN PSYCHO PATHS: I HAD HIGHER EXPECTATIONS WITH THIS MOVIE SINCE CHRISTOPHER WALKEN, WOODY HARRELSON, SAM ROCKWELL, AND COLIN FARREL, BUT IT WAS TOO LONG, UNFOCUSED, AND AT TIMES DISJOINTED. IT HAD POTENTIAL BUT IT LEFT ME LIKE ONE OF THE VICTIMS IN THE MOVIE, BORED TO DEATH. WATCH IT TO SEE C. WALKEN. BTW COLIN, HOW MANY ACCENTS DO YOU FAKE IN A MOVIE AND WHO DOES YOUR EYEBROWS?...JEEZ:::72%

  

DRMA, 12,++: FLIGHT: WOW DOES HE KNOW HOW TO PARTY IN THIS MOVIE. DENZEL IS HIS USUAL ADAPTABLE SELF AND PLAYS THE ROLE SIMILAR TO AMERICAN GANGSTER. BTW HE'S DENZEL SO YOU CAN'T ARGUE TOO MUCH. HEAVY DRUG USE, DRINKING, SMOKING ETC, I ALMOST HAD TO CALL FOUR PEOPLE AFTER WATCHING THIS..JUST KIDDING..HAD SOME HIGH POINTS BUT THEY WEREN'T BALANCED WELL WITH THE LOW POINTS. STANDOUT SCENES WERE DRAMA IN THE AIRPLANE::70%


  

THR,10,++: INCEPTION::I NEEDED TO WATCH 3 TIMES TO GET IT...GET IT? EASILY ONE OF MY FAVORITE MOVIES, LEO IS GREAT AS ARE MOST IN THE CAST. STANDOUT SCENES ARE THE SNOW BATTLE AND THE DREAM TEST SEQUENCES. MANY OTHER ACTORS USED THIS TO BUILD CAREERS:::94%  




THR, 71, ++:  A CLOCKWORK ORANGE::ALRIGHT, NOW FOR A SERIOUS KUBRICK FILM.  BASED ON THE NOVEL BY ANTHONY BURGESS, THIS DISTURBING TALE OF A SOCIETY GONE WRONG AND DOMINATED BY "ULTRA VIOLENCE" IS EXTREMELY WELL EXECUTED IN TERMS OF PACING AND CHARACTERIZATION.  MALCOLM MCDOWELL PLAYS IT BRILLIANTLY AND SO DO SOME OF THE SUPPORTING CAST.  MEMORABLE SCENES ARE THE "SINGING IN THE RAIN" SCENE, THE "HOGS OF THE ROAD SCENE", AND OF COURSE THE TORTURE THEY PUT HIM THROUGH WITH THE SOCIAL EXPERIMENTS.  IT'S A MUST WATCH, BUT I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT. 
THE SCENERY, COSTUMES, MUSIC, MOOD, AND OVERALL EXECUTION ARE ONE OF A KIND!:::97%