Reviews

First off, I have to say that this is the best horror movie that I have seen in the last two years, from any country. It combines the aspects of action movies like The Matrix, and all out gore and zombies from The Dead Trilogy by George A. Romero. Add quite a bit of swordplay, and you have the perfect combination for a great movie. This would be ranked #5 in my list of all time favorite movies. To say the least, I was really impressed with this movie. Proves that the horror scene is still alive in certain areas in the world. Being from the states, I cannot offer any insight in the actor's abilities, except for the roles they play in this movie. But all the performances are superb, from the main characters to the zombie extras. This movie is all about 666 existing portals to the "other side". The main character is a prisoner who has been broken out of jail for an unknown reason. He is unaware of his surroundings or what his captors have in store for him. But the agenda is laid out soon enough. He comes in contact with strange yet familiar characters who are small time gangsters and cold blooded murderers. He then meets a woman who is being held hostage that he feels a strong bond with. After the first zombie is introduced, they break from the group and try to sort things out. Now that his prisoner friend has been executed, he is all alone taking on a small band of gangsters and a forest full of zombies. Have to say that it is very comical to see a zombie with a gun. Don't think that it has been done before. These zombies are also capable of a few acrobatics also. They start to sort things out and realize that they are in the Forest of Resurrection. That the have been here over and over in their lives. And there are many powerful forces within their surroundings. And eventually find out who has brought them there and for what purpose. Seems that the female contains the blood of resurrection, that can only be used once in her life. The main antagonist in this movie is a total bad-ass. Appears to be an expert with various weapons and martial arts styles. There are a couple of time shifts in the movie that show exactly how lethal this character is. They all keep crossing paths until the final battle. All the secrets have been revealed and it becomes known that the whole purpose of getting them together is to send them to the "other side" so they can all be on the same side again. But it is not that easy, due to the fact that the protagonist has some skills also. In the end, you see that this is a neverending battle, that continues over time and was started during the age of the samurai, or maybe even before. This movie is really hard to find in the unrated version. You can pick the r-rated version up at almost any movie chain, but have to search the net for the 2 disk unedited version. There is a U.S. version with an English dubbed track, for those who don't care for subtitles. I would recommend this movie to anyone who is a fan of horror and/or action movies. I rate this one 5/5 for great cinematic detail, perfect setting, great fighting scenes, and plenty of zombie gore. A very powerful film that reminds us that Japan still has a few masterpieces up its sleeve. Makes Ringu look like an episode of Sesame Street.

I have to say first that everyone will not be ready for this film. First, it's not the typical linear beginning to end film. And the plot cannot be picked up in the first five minutes. It sheds light on a society that we see everyday but tend to stray away from, or possibly even overlook. It deals with a dysfunctional family and the encounters of a brave Julien, played by Ewen Bremner (Snatch, Trainspotting). He portrays a young man dealing with schizophrenia in an upbeat urban town, pretty much based on Harmony's real life uncle Eddy. You experience and discover what it is like existing in a world that might not totally make much sense. You meet his loving and caring sister, played by Chloe Sevigny, starring yet again in another Korine story. She is forced to play the role of sister and mother to a fragile Julien. You hit the streets with Julien and encounter a very powerful cast of strangers. Of them are a very talented armless man, an African American albino, and quite a few more people with minor physical and mental handicaps. As most people would feel sorry for these individuals, I tend to go another route. You see the strength and ability of all these characters. Juleins favorite places to frequent are a local bowling alley, a southern pentecostal church, and the skating rink. He goes to these places to appear normal and fit in with society. But his family life is quite a different story. You see the environment in this household that is filled with many points of culture, but very distorted and unorthodox. A household that is filled with music, morals, fashion, but mostly the absence of a mother/wife figure. The whole of the family is forced to cut their losses and move on with life the only way they know how. Depending on each other to fill the void. The camera work is very non-traditional and covers many different formats. Yet again, another element that would shake the average viewer. I give this film 4/5 for its honesty, artistic value, and how much you really identify with the characters. If you are into cinema that doesn't take you from point A to point B, I highly recommend this film. Full of wonderful performances and true to life characters. Favorite parts for me: armless man's drum solo, the skating rink scenes, and all the solo Julien scenes. This film taught me that there is two sides to everything and a curse for one might be a blessing for another. But mostly how we all survive obstacles in life, despite the hand we have been dealt. This film is closer to a documentary than that of a fictional story. I have never seen a Harmony Korine production that I didn't like. Full of every emotion and very witty, he is a very talented writer/director.

Perhaps there is some confusion about this movie. The first ten minutes or so is a condensed version of the whole story of the first movie. When Ash gets put through the trees and whatnot, the second movie begins. It is the same night in the cabin and all, but a totally different story. Bruce Campbell pretty much carries this movie from start to finish. All of the sequences from the first movie are carried out in this one, to a point where all questions are answered. His girlfriend is unearthed and comes back to settle the score. Lot of great special effects in this one. But, they were threatened by the MPAA, so most of the blood is rainbow colored. You won't see much red blood is this flick. Sam Raimi's brother Ted gives his best performance to date as the late Henrietta Knowby. "Someone's in my fruit cellar, someone with a fresh soullllll". Bruce teams up with Prof. Knowby's daughter to send the evil forces back to their origin. Seems that she has a major in translating the necronomacon. After a couple of incantations from the book, a portal is opened, forcing all the spirits back in, and Ash as well. Some of my favorite parts are the Henrietta skit, the possession of Ed Getley, and the whole evil hand skit. Lot of funny moments in this one. And when all the objects are animated in the parlor. This was a cabin completely constructed by the film crew, since the original cabin in Tenn. was torn down shortly after the first movie. If you look close enough, you can see where they forgot to put the ceiling up in a couple of shots, especially when Ash is running through the length of the house. You can also notice The Three Stooges inspiration in some of the gags, especially the eye in the mouth bit. Pure slapstick throughout the movie. You should notice the same style of effects in From Dusk Till Dawn, because it is the same company. I have heard that Rodriguez kept saying "Give me something like Evil Dead 2" through the whole shooting of Dusk. This movie is in my top 10 of all time for all the zany antics and Ash's super ego. The ultimate protagonist. I rate this movie 4/5 for the multiple replay value. I watched this movie every day for a week after I got it on DVD. You can pick it up almost anywhere for under 15 bucks. But be sure to get the version with all the interviews, bonus footage, and making of. You really gain more appreciation after viewing the bonus footage. And if you already own the vhs, flip the cover over and read the liner notes. I found them by accident. Only printed on the animated cover though. Don't miss this one. I personally think it beats the hell out of Spiderman and Raimi should return to his roots. And I don't mean more Darkman films. I think that Evil Dead 2 is the perfect marriage of comedy/horror/gore.

I cannot say enough good things about this movie. From the warped mind of Savage Steve Holland comes this superior laughfest. First, I have to say that I haven't seen many movies that start out with a David Lee Roth tune. This could be a good or bad thing. The main character is John Cusack's character, who calls himself Hoops. Which is a total oxymoron if you have seen his basketball skills in the movie. This movie is all about leaving your troubles behind and getting away for the summer to Nantucket. Hoops is afraid of boats, but has no choice when his friend George launches his clunker onto the ferry at the last minute. He shacks up with future love interest Demi Moore, the worst actress in history. But she is pretty young and 80's looking in this one. They finally hit mainland and meet a whole host of odd characters. Of these is Bobcat Golthwait and Dudley Dawson, from the Revenge of the Nerd flicks. Hoops is still practicing his drawing and falling head over heels for a debutante named Cookie. But Cookie has a muscle bound rich preppy ass boyfriend named Teddy. And he has it out for Hoops and co. As the plot thickens, Demi's character is about to lose her grandfathers house to the bank, so they decide to plan a benefit at a local dive. You can just imagine Demi lipsyncing. She ends up with plenty of money, but the bank has already sold the mortgage to the house. The movie comes to a happy ending via boat race on the lovely waters of Nantucket. Cusack and co. build a riff raff boat and blow everyone out of the water, despite some unfair play along the way. So they get the trophy, house, and Cusack ends up in a liplock with Demi. Despite the cheesey story, there are some really funny moments in this one. Some of my personal favorites are: the guy getting stabbed during the hat toss at graduation, Uncle Frank getting launched out of the bathroom window, and Bobcat getting stuck in a Godzilla costume. Also expect cameos from Rich Hall, Rich Little, and Taylor Negron. I rate this movie 4/5 for the great comic moments and the fact that I grew up watching this one. Very hard to find on dvd, and am not sure on bonus footage, but this is a comedy classic. But I think Better off Dead is equal or a little less funnier. Both have their moments. And this was way before Cusack ruined his career doing Pushing Tin.

This would be my favorite Kevin Smith release, minus Clerks, which is in a league of its own. This is one big budget laughfest full of cameos, weed references, and dick/fart jokes. Not for the kids, I must say upfront. The movie is made up of a journey to get a movie stopped, based on the two characters, Bluntman and Chronic. Going hand in hand w/Chasing Amy, these characters are based on a comic book written by characters played by Ben Affleck and Jason Lee. They get consultation fees for the comic book, but are stiffed when the strip makes the big screen. So our heroes set out on a journey to track down the makers and make them pay. This movie is full of great one liners and big name cameos. Some are: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, George Carlin, Wes Craven, Shannen Doherty, Gus Van Zant, Chris Rock, Tracey Morgan, Judd Nelson, and so on...Most are people who have either been involved in a former view askew production, or just admirers of this genius comic. Don't be expecting a big, drawn out plot in this one. Just expect laugh a minute jokes and antics that you thought you would never hear. Some include: A drug induced ride in the mystery machine w/Scooby and the gang, a mock Star Wars skit including none other than Mark Hamill, and a full out version of Jungle Love by Morris Day and The Time. Don't feel left out if you don't get all the jokes in this one. A lot are personal jokes that only the view askew members will catch. And I must say that you have to see all the Smith movies to get the full effect of this one. A few of my personal favorite parts are: Jason Mewes visioning laying on a bed of ice after his kidneys have been yanked to be sold on the black market, A Smithesque rendition of Mission Impossible, and the ending sequence starring Morris Day and The Time. Don't miss out on this one. Very crude but very, very funny. I rate this one 4/5 for comic brilliance and the fact that it stars Jay and Silent Bob. And please see the directors cut for the hilarious bonus footage. You can get the 2 dvd set for like 15 bucks. Probably the 2nd best Smith film, falling right behind Dogma.

Can't really place this one in a certain genre, so I am still undecided about this one. Has quite the cast, and even a couple of funny moments, but I don't really think it has any replay value. You have Danny DeVito, Bette Middler, Neve Campbell, and Jamie Lee Curtis to headline. All are seasoned actors, but really don't add up in this one. Directed by Nick Gomez, who I am not familiar with. I seem to think his next film HAS to be better than this one. The whole town is loaded with Yugo's. There has been a murder. And everyone in the town is pretty much a suspect. The most interesting characters are William Fichtner (Go, Strange Days), Marcus Thomas, and Mark Pellegrino, who frequently guests on sitcoms and similar shows. These three haven't had any starring roles, but make up the comedy in this one. You have Casey Affleck and Neve Campbell trying to start a future, and the dysfunctional family of Bette and co. DeVito plays the sheriff trying to sort through this whole mess. Sooner or later, a couple more people start ending up dead. And you find out that Jamie Lee Curtis is sleeping with multiple partners. There is also a great cameo by Will Ferrell. Despite all the twists and turns in the weak plot, all is well in the happy ending. I bought this one on vhs and got the dvd just because it was in the bargain bin. Was only four bucks. I give this one 2/5 for mild comedy and semi decent dialog. I would rent this one or maybe purchase it on mark down.

I have spent the last five or so years defending the reputation of this movie. Just because this movie cost quite a bit to make, the critics had it out. Predicted a flop before it was even released on the silver screen. I can imagine the polar ice caps melting and flooding the majority of the world. Jesus, look at the Greenhouse Effect. And has anyone else noticed how weird the seasons are anymore. But this movie is true sci-fi. First, you have the not so appealing cast. Kevin Costner takes the lead, and does a great job. He plays a mariner that has evolved from normal homosapiens. He now has gills to help him live in this future world. So it makes sense that he should have more street smarts and belongings than most. But the Jeanne Tripplehorn character stank as bad as the fish in the water surrounding them. I could see any actress cast in her spot. She brought nothing to the movie. Jesus, young Tina Majorino did a better job in this one. And she is probably triple her age. But the main star that made this movie what it is, would have to be Dennis Hopper, my favorite actor of all time. He plays the ruthless, greedy, fearless tyrant, The Deacon of the 'deez. Exxon Valdez that is. He is the only one with a half a brain in this film, besides Costner. He decides to take the helm and draft as many drifters as he can to be in his army. And it is a race against time to find the greatest prize, dry land. Full of great dialog and wonderful battle scenes, this movie should be viewed at least once. I will admit that there are a few slow scenes, but shouldn't be skipped the first time around. My friends and I based a shot game on this movie. I have seen it twenty times easily. So I guess you can sum up the movie by saying that it is a journey to find dry land, if it even exists. And just like 98% of all movies, it does have a happy ending. But Hopper doesn't go down without a fight. I rate this movie 4/5 for the presence of Dennis Hopper and all the aquatic battle scenes. I would at least rent this one if you aren't brave enough to buy it. Of the record, Costner directed a few of the sequences in this one. Probably the best Kevin Costner movie I have ever seen.

I have to place this Kevin Smith picture in a class of its own. It has that raw feel proving that you don't need a big budget to make a fabulous and witty movie. Full of great dialog, hilarious jokes, and on screen antics drawn out by a perfect yet unknown group of 20 somethings that make up the cast. It's not too hard to figure out what this movie is about. A day in the life of a convenient store/movie rental clerk. This one really put Kevin Smith on the map. Most people swear off black and white films, but this format doesn't take away from the story one bit. More or less adds to the effect. Dante and Randall are known as the two main characters of the story. And it is all about the people and situations they are confronted with. When you see this film, you can really relate to the people that frequent the store. From the milk maids, rude customers, and boneheads who pose such idiotic questions. The role of Dante was written for Kevin Smith, hence Dante having the best dialog. But Smith realized early on that he could do a much better job on both sides of the camera by just simply playing Silent Bob. Another member of the cast would be Jay, Jason Mewes, a long time friend of Kevin Smith. It is obvious that this guy is burnt around the edges, but says and does some of the funnies things in the movie. Some of the big thumbs up of this movie, are Olaf Olafson, the Russian metalhead, the nagging toilet paper/porno mag customer, and a song appearing on the soundtrack by Alice in Chains. Can't really add too much more, for you have to see the movie for yourself. But I can say that the movie is divided as Dante's Inferno. Full of continuity and teleprompting, this movie is almost perfect in every aspect. I have seen this movie ten plus times and listened to the director's commentary over three times. Clerks cannot be compared to any other Kevin Smith project. I give this movie a 5/5 for being witty, fast paced, and laugh out loud hilarious. Can get this one fairly cheap at almost any department store. It is an honor to have this as part of your movie library. And be sure to check out the deleted scenes to see the shocking alternate ending which was shown early on at some of the film festivals.

Once again, the leaders in directing and literature team up again to bring you three more glimpses of terror. Lacking in stories and cast, Creepshow 2 still has enough plot to keep you glued to the television. No major stars in this one except George Kennedy and Tom Savini as The Creep. First, you have Ol' Chief Woodenhead to start it off. This tale is all about a group of misfit teens destined to make it big in Hollywood. This group will stop at nothing to be living large in the cinema industry. They decide to stop by the general store in town for a quick score before heading out. They shoot George Kennedy and try to make off with what little goods they can scoop up. Then comes the Chief to exact his revenge. He takes matters into his own hands and sets the group straight. Lack of gore in this one, but a decent plot. Next, you have The Raft. This one is all about a group of teenagers having some summer fun while spending some time on an abandoned raft. Everything is going great until they notice something wrong with the water. There is something inside it that is haunting them and won't let them get back to shore. Everyone starts to panic and make very stupid mistakes. Come to find out, this sludge can eat through human skin like butter. Just when the last one thinks he is home free, he is sucked back in by the force, with no one to pass on the knowledge. Guess they should have paid more attention to the No Swimming sign. Last, and my favorite, The Hitchhiker. This one is the goriest and has the funniest moments. All about a woman who mows down a hitcher that is Dover bound or bust. At least that's what his cardboard sign says. She plows him and leaves him for dead, not giving a second though about it. Until she travels for a bit and spots him standing there again. Seems that she can't shake this vagrant. She starts to get desperate, and stupid. Plows her Mercedes into a pine tree trying to shake this menace. She awakens and thinks she is home free. Until she reaches her garage and gets out. Thanks for the ride lady. This is pure dark comedy at its best. But don't laugh too hard. This one happened in real life about a month ago. Once again you have Tom Savini on special fx, so you are really in for a treat. I give this one 3/5 for being a little on the dull side, and lack of gore. Maybe if they had added one more story. But Romero and King are still the best. Be sure to pick this one up. Usually less than ten bucks.

What can I say about the pair that brought this movie into existence. You have writer Stephen King and director George A. Romero. The best in their respective fields, if you ask me. This feature is divided into five different tales of horror, in the style of 50's comic movies. First, you have Father's Day, which is about the ultimate return of a scorned father. This is probably my second favorite segment. It stars Adrienne Barbeau and Ed Harris. It's all about a father sent to the grave for being menacing, meddling, and over protective. Then he returns to receive a special Father's Day wish. Second on the list is The Lonesome Death of Jordy Verrill, starring none other than Stephen King. This segment has no other cast whatsoever, and let's King show his true acting ability. He has cameos of a wide range of characters, but this one is probably the funniest. He is a bumpkin who discovers a meteor and automatically schemes a way to get rich off of it. But being a little dimwitted, he touches the meteor and contracts some kind of chloro-virus off of it. He is then forced to live his dying evening getting trashed on vodka and orange juice, watching professional wrestling, and playing back past moments in his life. He meets his ultimate end by placing a double-barrel shotgun to his head repeating "Just this once.....". Next, you have Something To Tide You Over. This is the most star studded tale of them all. Starring Leslie Nielson, Ted Danson, and Gaylen Ross (from the timeless classic Dawn of the Dead). This is all about a husband who finds out about his wife's affair and decided to put it under him, literally. He gathers them up, burying them to their neck in sand, and leaves them for the tide to do them in. Little does Leslie know that he will be getting a few uninvited guests late in the evening. This one is my favorite, by far. Was surprised to see Nielson pull off a serious role, after all the Police Squad and Naked Gun movies. Next, you have The Crate, a tale of a professor with a very nagging and obnoxious wife. He is working at a college and discovers a crate in a crawlspace that has been long forgotten about. He and the janitor decide to take a peek inside, and the janitor pays with his life for his curiosity. Then the prof. gets the wise idea of getting his wife down to meet the specimen. Last, and least is They're Creeping Up On You. A story of a very wealthy and paranoid shut-in. He has a phobia of almost everything and can't stand to touch anything that isn't sterile. His paranoia leads him to believe that he is infested from floor to ceiling in insects. You get to witness the worst fears coming to life on this poor soul. But, if you read into the story, it is very well deserved. Overall, this is a great movie. A lot better than part 2. All stories are based on a collection that King released in '80 or '81. Romero read these and was ultimately inspired. And to make this package complete, Tom Savini does all the make-up special fx, and even has a cameo as a garbage man. A lot of people think that this is a major ripoff of Tales From the Crypt. But I have to say that it was loosely inspired by the comic series. But all the stories are King perfection. Don't miss out on this one. I rate it 4/5 for the men behind the camera and the dark comedy value of it. You can usually find this one in a bargain bin for about 4-6 bucks. Be sure to pick this one up.

This is definitely the best Leo Di Caprio film to date. The story is about a pop icon named Jim Carrol. I have both of his books and one of the albums he has made. This man is a decent artist in all forms. He teamed up w/Pearl Jam and redid a couple of songs for the movie. And Jim also has a cameo as the guy in the shooting gallery. First, I have to brag on the cast. There is a wonderful ensemble of characters. You have Mark Wahlberg, Ernie Hudson, Lorraine Bracco, and Bruno Kirby. The movie sticks to the book pretty well, except for a few name changes and graphic detail about what he does for money. And it cuts out a lot of the time where he was happy getting stoned on weed and liquor. I have seen this movie over 25 times and it is one of my top 10 films of all time. Some of the antics that the 3 main characters get themselves into are unforgettable. I.E. puking on someones head on the ferry and nodding off on heroin while stealing a car. And then you see a scene where Mark Whalberg's character gets his arm broke and then you see the limp arm falling right after shooting a fix. This is a definite drug movie. You see redemption by Jim, and eventually has a happy ending. But the whole movie is all about the downward spiral and the lows you stoop to to get a fix. Also a cameo by Juliette Lewis. This movie was pulled off of shelves shortly after the Columbine incident, due to the daydream Carrol has about popping a couple of the faculty and students. I would definitely add this one to my collection. I rate this movie 4/5 for all the drug content and superb acting by the cast. I wouldn't miss out on this one folks.

This documentary follows Jesco to Hollywood to appear on the Roseanne show. By chance, Roseanne and Tom ran across the PBS special of the first Dancing Outlaw and were destined to meet this legend and get him on the show. I was fortunate enough to see the actual broadcast on ABC many years back. It is just a two minute spot clogging at the end of the show, playing as the religious Elvis impersonating uncle, mentioned for many years in the show. They also drafted Dweezil Zappa to play Wildwood Flower on acoustic for him to dance to. This film was a major letdown after seeing the first one, before he found fame. But you do get to see Jesco in a limo jamming to Pink Floyd. I am glad that there was a follow up for one of my favorite cult icons. He had changed residents, got a few new pets, and lost a couple of friends and family members. I was fortunate enough to find both movies in a bundle for one reasonable price. The 2nd part didn't really accomplish much, except for showing that his prophecy of becoming a star had come true. I give this movie 2/5. Maybe a 3 if you are good and trashed.

This film definitely belongs in the library of any cult collector. This documentary exploits the happenings of a small town West Va. resident named Jesco White, and his immediate family. You can look at this movie as a serious work of art or just a cheap redneck exploitation film. There were several parts in the movie where I found myslef wondering if it was really improv or scripted. It is so insane that it has to be authentic. Jesco is a multiple personality/gas huffing/mounting tap dancer (clogger) destined to take his fathers shoes and carry on the family name. Personally, Jesco has too many interests and doesn't do his father justice. It shows footage of his father dancing at mountain arts festival. He is truly talented for this almost forgotten form of dance. And his accompanying banjo player isn't that bad either. The film portrays how to fill the lazy days in their Boon Co. town. Full of family get- togethers, a little music, and stories about the good ol' days when he was doubling up on huffing gas and glue. This film is very hard to find, but definitely worth the money. I also own Dancing Outlaw 2, which outlines Jesco being discovered By Roseanne Arnold and co., and being escorted to Hollywood to appear on the show. Not as informative and captivating as the first one. If you do manage to see this one, snatch it up and relish the moments. One of the best documentaries that I have seen. I give this movie 4/5, even if you are sober.

Definitely the best of the "Dead Trilogy" Every emotion is captured in this zombie masterpiece. I can never get tired of watching this film. It is the sort of movie you can get entrenched in. You see yourself as one of the gang surviving in the Monroevill mall. You can identify with every character and the obsticles they are confronted with. Full of special effects from none other than Tom Savini and co. You can't help but be sucked in to this masterpiece. If you prefer horror movies with an edge and psychological undertone, look no further. This is truly the best.