Change Your Image
michael-mccarroll
Reviews
Experience Jimi Hendrix (2001)
Hendrix, playing and interviews
There are several "behind the scenes" interviews with Jimi talking about his thoughts and feelings and about his music. This film also shows Jimi Hendrix playing several performances including the Popside at Stockholm, Sweden; Number Nine at Stockholm, Sweden; Olympia at Paris, France; the Hey Joe promotional video; as well as, the Dolly Dagger video created in 1997. One of the performances has Jimi using the white three, pick-up Gibson SG to perform Red House, which is actually very bluesy in this version. He covers Cream's Sunshine of Your Love and the Troggs' Wild Thing. One of the behind the scenes pieces show him playing the acoustic version of Hear My Train a-Comin', which is particularly helpful if you want to learn to play it. I would recommend checking this out. It would make a good supplement to Woodstock, Isle of Wight, Monterey, or Berkeley.
Deadline Auto Theft (1983)
Knock off of original Gone in 60 Seconds.
This movie is essentially identical to his original Gone in 60 Seconds. Most of the car and chase scenes are identical. Actually, I don't recall any being different. The Dodge Challenger scene is there, the garage showing all the cars, as well as, the several encounters with Eleanor. Only a few of the dialog sequences are changed. Halicki I believe did this because he didn't like the original plot. The changes add more law scenes. Primarily a loud talking sheriff who constantly demands that the need to find the culprit. I rated this low not really because of the virtual similarity to the original. Really, it's not that bad. I actually rated the original a 7 or 8. There's just no reason to buy both versions in my opinion. However, there is a DVD version that contains both this, as well as, Gone in 60 Seconds 2: Junkman. If you have to have it, I would recommend buying this DVD as it would save you a few bucks.
In His Life: The John Lennon Story (2000)
Good movie that is mostly accurate
If you are familiar with John Lennon's early life, including the development of his various bands, and the evolution of the Beatles through Germany and the Liverpool scene, then this movie doesn't offer much in the way of history. The history is accurate by most accounts. The actors portraying the Beatles a relatively similar in looks. The music is good, they recreate scenes from the Quarrymen, the German era, and the Cavern Club performances. It is also interesting to note that many of the scenes were filmed on location in Liverpool, so you get to see the actual quarry, Strawberry Fields, etc. I would at least recommend watching this once if your a fan of early rock and roll, and would even purchase it if you are a fan of the Beatles and/or John Lennon.
Pánico en el Transiberiano (1972)
Very good movie for Lee and Cushing fans.
Being a big fan of Lee and Cushing, I obviously gave this a higher rating than many people did. Also, the fact that they are isolated on a train in the middle of Siberia keeps it interesting. Basically Lee has discovered a cave man frozen in ice. After it is placed on a train, it thaws out and begins killing people. They way that it kills people is pretty interesting in the fact that it is actually an alien life-force inside of the caveman who can pass to other people through eye contact. As it leaves their bodies they die. The whole purpose is that the alien was left behind and needs a way to get home. As it passes through people it absorbs their memories, which conveniently there is a scientist on board familiar with physics and know some rocket scientists. However, Cushing being a doctor comes up with a test to determine what the alien is and who it it has possessed at the time. In order to kill, they have to drive the train over a cliff.
Telly Savalas is also in the movie as a cossack. Kind of funny watching him slap a priest around without any guilt.