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Explained: Dance Crazes (2021)
Excellent, pointed examination of cultural appropriation
Essential viewing!
This episode concisely pinpoints the importance of recognizing the historical roots of various dance forms. More importantly, it spotlights how corporations and people in power appropriate those forms without giving compensation, support, or acknowledgment to the communities and cultures in which they developed.
I have been teaching African-American jazz dances for over 20 years. This episode is spot-on and I can't recommend it more as an introduction to this topic.
D-War (2007)
Every 500 years...
... a movie comes out that sucks this much.
Holy crap this movie was bad. This movie needed to be either a lot better (like say, King Kong) or a lot worse (say, like Tremors). At least Saturday night SciFi Channel original pictures have funny, creative deaths.
Granted, the dragon special effects weren't bad, but the dialogue makes George Lucas seem like William Shakespeare. Notably the other special effects are laughably bad (most notably anytime there is a car crash).
The acting is atrocious. These guys make Keanu Reeves seem like Laurence Olivier.
If you want a really bad dragon movie that's at least somewhat entertaining, check out Dean Cain in Dragon Fighter (2003).
Dragon Fighter (2003)
Dean Cain, what happened to you?
First, I love horrible direct to video SciFi movies. Dragon Fighter has all of the typical SciFi standards (crazy scientist, hot chicks, bad cgi, absurd dialogue, predictable plot). Dragon Fighter is not one of the greats bad SciFi greats(that's reserved for Frankenfish), but this film does have a few things that separate it from the pack.
*Dean Cain. Yes, he can actually act and is actually quite likable. Despite having to speak some ridiculous dialogue, he does his best and makes it work.
*Editing. During the more boring parts of the movie, they do some fancy editing to show the scene from multiple angles. This actually keeps the movie moving along in a much more interesting way.
While the deaths aren't particularly creative, this movie did a reasonably good job of entertaining me. Give it a whirl if you love this kind of crap as much as I do.
Cerberus (2005)
I love crappy sci-fi movies, but this "film" just sucks
OK, this movie is not supposed to be good. But it's not a "so bad it's good" movie, it's just plain bad. There is not enough clever/gratuitous violence to keep me interested. In fact, this movie is horribly mean-spirited at times. For a movie that tries to have clever funny one liners to lighten the mood, it seems horribly out of place to have a girl raped. The tone of this movie is just misguided.
There is no one in this movie to cheer for or want to watch. There are some people you wish would die, but unfortunately they don't.
If you are looking for an awesome creature movie, check out Frankenfish. That is real entertainment!
Sabretooth (2002)
Awesome party movie... horrible but funny
OK, first thing's first: This is not high cinema. The special fx are laughable, the acting is ridiculous, and I could have written a better script over a sixer of Bud Light.
That said, this is an awesomely entertaining movie because it so terrible. Laugh out loud funny. My friend was in tears because the special fx are so poorly done. I mean, 2002 was not that long ago and the creature effects are absurd.
So, if you want a genuinely awesome bad movie experience, rent this movie... or be like me, and own it. You may want that sixer of Bud Light while you watch, though.
Mansquito (2005)
This movie is not good...
OK, so I wasn't expecting anything brilliant from a sci-fi channel original picture. After all, this is the same channel that brought us Pterodactyl and Sabretooth. But this movie was just bad. Not even funny-bad like Sabretooth, but just bad.
This movie lacked all of the funny and interesting ways for unnecessary characters to die. I don't need good acting or a particularly good story. Just some funny death scenes and minimally corny dialogue.
And for god sake, they got the guy from Parker Lewis Can't Lose to play the lead? What, Antonio Sabato Jr. or Richard Grieco wasn't available? There are B-list actors and then C-list actors.... and then there's the guy who played Parker Lewis in a failed sitcom.
My recommendation: Rent Sabretooth instead.
Matango (1963)
You'll need to be on mushrooms to possibly enjoy this boring disaster
This movie could have been worse... but I'm not sure how. An epic disappointment on every level. Granted, you can't expect Citizen Kane from a movie titled Attack of the Mushroom People, but this movie was utterly lame. I truly wanted to like this movie but could find nothing of value in it whatsoever.
First, the characters are given no definitive personalities, nor any real purpose other than to bicker about nothing and then become mushrooms.
Of course, if this was going to be the kind of horror/thriller where people were going to die in interesting ways or be put in suspenseful situations, who needs good characters? Alas, nothing is suspenseful or creative. Low budget is fine, lacking creativity is not.
The "twist" ending was pointless and easily anticipated. To discuss it would waste further time that I have already lost by watching this crappy movie.
Do yourself a favor and never watch this movie. Do the world a favor and if you ever see it on a video store shelf, ask the manager burn it. Recommend this movie only to your enemies and their unborn children.
Last Cry (2001)
this movie gives you what you expect.... if you don't expect much
Look, this plot is horrible. HORRIBLE! This movie wants to be a very sexy version of The Usual Suspects. It does not succeed. Granted if your primary goal is just to get a look at Angie Everhart in all her glory then that is another matter. She certainly looks fantastic and that might make it worth renting. Having a laugh while telling your friends that you actually watched a Richard Grieco movie also might make it worth renting. How can anyone possibly take Richard Grieco seriously?!?! Angie Everhart may actually have some talent, but roles like this do nothing to build her credibility. If she's got to get naked to get a role, at least do it in a better movie.
Dark Angel (1990)
classic "so bad it's good" action film
One of Dolph's best (which might not be saying much, since I recently watched the horrible "Silent Trigger). Without question it has one of my favorite lines of the 90's.
Alien: "I come in peace." Dolph: "And You go in pieces." How beautiful is that? Too bad Dolph keeps making horrible movies. He should probably get back together with Van Damme and make something. Hell, why not throw Steven Seagal in there, too?
Anyways, if you ever get a hold of this movie on DVD, life will be grand! Check it out, Dolph has yet to do much worthwhile since its release.