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lostinlodos
I have an extensive background in computers, video games, and movies. I own most of the video game consoles and an extensive movie library of more than 3000 DVDs and VCDs and over 500 VHS/Beta tapes, as well as a growing number of Asian-specific formats such as CVD and HVD movies.
Reviews
The Da Vinci Treasure (2006)
Not for the Hollywood crowd, great for fans of international action
If you're an American or British fan used to films from those countries, films of this style will not suit you. This is typical of the French dark-dramatic action films. Great story, decent acting. Gripping suspense all the way through. Contrary to what was noted in the other review, quite a bit of filming was done in Italy. Yet another insight to the mind of DiVinci. The story keeps you on the edge. Some intriguing plot twists are worth the price of rental or a purchase. The acting does not stack up to the over-paid over-priced Hollywood fare, but it's not supposed to. If you liked Banlieue 13 (District 13 in US), Le Baiser du dragon, (Kiss of dragon), or Pacte des loups (brotherhood of wolf); this is right up your alley.
Godzilla, King of the Monsters! (1956)
American butchered recut of "Gojira" (1955) sans story/plot
American release of Japanese classic, with a new story that makes NO sense at all. Raymond Burr is shoved into the American release of the Gojira movie that has had the core message ripped out of it. While Gojira remains the key to what would become Asian cinema in the 50's through the 70s and American "B" movies in the 70s on; this horrid butchered American release was far from the 9.5 stars I gave the original. Raymond Burr was never a great actor to begin with, always propped up by batter actors(s) around him. Problem is there is no real supporting cast for him here, and it shows.
The fact that the American release removes the Anti-atomic bomb message from the movie, which is what the film is about, left them with a need for a new story, the resulting mix-n-match nonsense that comes in the final product is so far from the original that it becomes it's own new film, and 2 stars is being generous. Godzilla (Gojira) saves the dismal performance of Raymond Burr. Matched with a plot-line that a film-student can't follow, and you have a real mess. Typical political recutting of Anti-American-weapons international films of the time period, watch Gojira, stay as far away of this as you can, they've cut out huge parts of the movie, changed the story, and shoved in Raymond Burr. Not worth the pain of watching.
The Witch's Sabbath (2005)
It is great at being what it's supposed to be; horrorotica.
It is great at being what it's supposed to be; horrorotica. This movie is directly along the lines of the Devil Inside Her and Devil in Miss Jones; Scrap Book, and others of that style. It's a poor horror movie, and a poor adult entertainment film, but it works as horrorotica. If you'll looking for sex and gore to the Nth degree, this is a good movie, if you're looking for anything else, go somewhere else. Satanic love abounds in this tribute to "porn" and satanic worship. Many cameo appearances by both porn stars and independent circuit wrestlers. The story line is straight out of late 70s slasher flicks, and makes a good modern throwback the that era. Beyond that, it's a B movie, take that into consideration before going after this one
Kingdom of Heaven (2005)
This Movie starts slow, and just gets slower!
Something Needs to be said as somehow this movie has kept a rating above 5. While this move is constantly compared to Gladiator, there is no basses for that comparison. This movie starts off extremely slow. There is little semblance of a solid linked plot-line, and the movie tries to shove way to much extra information into your head throughout. The little anecdotes would have been nice if they were followed up on, but throughout the flic, we are told of little bits and pieces of information that are then just passed on. On top of that, the film tried so hard to stay "in the middle" of the crusades debate that it completely misses the realities of how gruesome and needless the entire event was. Where as Gladiator showed an (historical accurate) honest portrayal of all sides of the situation, Kingdom just skips the facts that this was a battle between two nearly identical religions, born from one starting point, in an all out race to see who could convert the most "non-believers" that didn't want anything to do with ether religion. Instead, it puts an emphasis on a lost-cause storyline broken by action scenes of epic proportions.