Directed By: Steven Goldmann
Written By: Timothy Dolan
Cinematography By: Jeff Vinditti
Editor: Jarred Buck
CAST: Nichole Hiltz, Priscilla Barnes, Trace Adkins, Lew Temple, Tracey Walter, Ryan Carnes, Duane Whitaker
Better then you would think this being a straight to home video film now with that title alone I knew I would enjoy it. I wasn’t wrong.
If you are expecting something great or new with this film you will be sadly disappointed this film is based on the comic book of the same name and it plays like a mix of tales from the crypt mixed with a b-movie.
The title is so cheesy you expect a subpar movie. This film reminds me of the 1980’s that don’t have a care. TheFilms were a pure product and that’s it. Some of the movie is tongue in cheek but it plays like most horror movies aimed at teens the victims are picked off fast and as violently as possible.
The storyline is two decades ago a girl from a trailer park who has had bad-luck and hard living her whole life finally finds a way to leave the trailer park and after a accident that dream is smashed so she goes on a shooting spree massacaring the residents now every few years people traveling around the area disappear so of course this is the perfect time and place for a youth group filled with troubled kids and a youth preacher to travel through. The film has a already downtrodden feel to it. The girl’s past is so troubled you wouldn’t wish it on anybody so as she says it is true she never had a chance. I won’t spoil the movie
Let me just say that this film has the old staples of anyone who doesn’t follow the rules and if they sin even a little there is no mercy for them they are picked off. The film doesn’t let you really get to know each character through and through but you know there types it doesn’t make there deaths effect you in anyway but you watch to see the interesting waves they are dispatched.
Once you get to know the characters you already can predict who will live and who will die but the film does violate it’s own rule by eliminating a character who really did nothing wrong.
The film achieves what it wants along the way you don’t like the victims but you do feel sorry for them when they are being stalked and killed but the film also creates these monstrous evil characters who are interesting so you can alos kind of root for them to catch these characters and do there worst to them. Which is strange as before they were pieces of shit as hman beings but they are more likeable in there later incarnations. I guess because you expect the worst from them already they don’t have the mask of being a so-called human being.
I believe so that the filmmakers can make this film a franchise like Jason or Freddy Kruger. The possibilities of that happening I don’t know but I wouldn’t be surprised if this film gains popularity.
It’s a strange film but I was never bored.
GRADE: C
Monday, September 28, 2009
AMONGST FRIENDS (1993)
Cast: Patrick McGaw, Mira Sorovino, Louis Lombardi
Written & Directed By: Rob Weiss
Cinematography By: Michael Bonvillian
Editor: Leo Trombetta
I Don’t know what happened to director rob weiss but I remember the hoopola over this film when it first came out immediately made it onto my list of must see movies and then it came on home video I went to my local blockbuster (It was the 90’s) and rented it I waited for a Friday night so it could be a premiere with me as the only guest
While it borrowed heavily from Martin Scorsese films and the then current kids who want to be criminals and must be taught a lesson about the life it was interesting as a story of three childhood friends who grew apart one becomes a minor league criminal the other wants to be a mobster and is coming up with all these plans for a big score that never seem to happen the third goes to prison for a crime all three of them were in on he was just the only one who got caught now years later he comes back to town to visit his family finds that the minor criminal is dating his ex-girlfriend who he is still in love with. Let’s just say there is a lot of double crosses and betrayal leading to overwrought dramatic finale that even though the director thought he was making a bold statement feels underwhelming.
Now in the book spike mike slackers and dykes john pierson writes about his time on the set and doesn’t paint a pretty picture of the director or the production. In the end this film is ok nothing necessarily to set him apart form the new directors that were coming out but a minor flair behind the camera at least this film has more heightened dialogue and scenes filled with edge of the seat drama Rather then Gratuitous action and violence that is there just to be there.
Another reason this film is a footnote in cinema history is that this is Mira Sorovino’s first starring role her part is more supporting and doesn’t really give her a chance to show the dramatic chops she would in later films she is gorgeous.
All I know is rob weiss was dating shannen Doherty for a little while and was supposed to direct a film about the history of the milk bar but after that he seems to be a producer/writer for the show “Entourage” Which in a way feels right since the characters on the show a reminiscent of the characters here or at least would have been cast if amongst friends was made today
Interesting tidbit was that Rob weiss wrote this film in desperation after dropping out of design school, kicked out of film school and failing to become a club promoter.this film reminds me of the type of guys you run into from Long Island, New York
The Film is not yet on DVD it’s worth a look but only if it is on cable
It makes you wonder sometimes if some of the great films that directors have on there resumes are like music one hit wonders. They are supposed to be artists but if they didn’t write or come up with the material are they like a singer who doesn’t write there own songs they have a visual style to interpret the story but it seems to only work once or twice since there re so many directors out there who do have talent but are stuck working on hack work maybe some directors are just given the chance they don’t deserve because they bring nothing new to the table do work that 20other just starting out directors could do no real new interpretation.
GRADE: C+
Written & Directed By: Rob Weiss
Cinematography By: Michael Bonvillian
Editor: Leo Trombetta
I Don’t know what happened to director rob weiss but I remember the hoopola over this film when it first came out immediately made it onto my list of must see movies and then it came on home video I went to my local blockbuster (It was the 90’s) and rented it I waited for a Friday night so it could be a premiere with me as the only guest
While it borrowed heavily from Martin Scorsese films and the then current kids who want to be criminals and must be taught a lesson about the life it was interesting as a story of three childhood friends who grew apart one becomes a minor league criminal the other wants to be a mobster and is coming up with all these plans for a big score that never seem to happen the third goes to prison for a crime all three of them were in on he was just the only one who got caught now years later he comes back to town to visit his family finds that the minor criminal is dating his ex-girlfriend who he is still in love with. Let’s just say there is a lot of double crosses and betrayal leading to overwrought dramatic finale that even though the director thought he was making a bold statement feels underwhelming.
Now in the book spike mike slackers and dykes john pierson writes about his time on the set and doesn’t paint a pretty picture of the director or the production. In the end this film is ok nothing necessarily to set him apart form the new directors that were coming out but a minor flair behind the camera at least this film has more heightened dialogue and scenes filled with edge of the seat drama Rather then Gratuitous action and violence that is there just to be there.
Another reason this film is a footnote in cinema history is that this is Mira Sorovino’s first starring role her part is more supporting and doesn’t really give her a chance to show the dramatic chops she would in later films she is gorgeous.
All I know is rob weiss was dating shannen Doherty for a little while and was supposed to direct a film about the history of the milk bar but after that he seems to be a producer/writer for the show “Entourage” Which in a way feels right since the characters on the show a reminiscent of the characters here or at least would have been cast if amongst friends was made today
Interesting tidbit was that Rob weiss wrote this film in desperation after dropping out of design school, kicked out of film school and failing to become a club promoter.this film reminds me of the type of guys you run into from Long Island, New York
The Film is not yet on DVD it’s worth a look but only if it is on cable
It makes you wonder sometimes if some of the great films that directors have on there resumes are like music one hit wonders. They are supposed to be artists but if they didn’t write or come up with the material are they like a singer who doesn’t write there own songs they have a visual style to interpret the story but it seems to only work once or twice since there re so many directors out there who do have talent but are stuck working on hack work maybe some directors are just given the chance they don’t deserve because they bring nothing new to the table do work that 20other just starting out directors could do no real new interpretation.
GRADE: C+
Friday, September 25, 2009
TRANSFORMERS (2007)
Directed By: Michael Bay
Written By: Alex Kurtzman & Ronerto Orci
Story By: Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman & John Rogers
Cinematography By: Mitchell Amundsen
Editor: Tom Muldoon & Paul Rubell & Glen Scantlebury
CAST: Shia Lebouf, Megan Fox, Kevin Dunn, Julie White, John Turturro, Jon Voight, Anthony Anderson, Josh Dummel, Tyrese Gibson, Zack ward, Amaury Nolasco, Bernie Mac, Rick Gomez, Tom Lenk
At this point I have to recognize Michael Bay as a auteur. He has 2 films in the Criterion Collection ARMAGEDDON and THE ROCK. When he makes a film you know it is his he puts his own signature on his films, That at first were produced by Jerry Bruckheimer the perfect producer for his style of filmmaking. Which seems to have rubbed off on the director as there films usually employ, Loud sound, Light plots, plenty of action, inventive shots, quick cuts and attractive actors who are more or less like mice in a maze ping ponging and running from one explosion to the next. The man has a certain filmmaking style that I’m not sure anyone else could make or would really want to but he will certainly be around for a long time because his films make money and audiences love them.
This film has all usual touches but for this type of film it actually fits. There is no way you can tell the story of the transformers in any realistic way based on the cartoon series of the 80’s which mainly consists of the battle of the Autobots (The good guys) VS. The Decepticons (The bad guys) The Subject is ripe for bay’s bombastic style of movie making. This time produced by the one and only legend Steven Spielberg.
There is no subltlety in this film everything is ham fisted with a good cast that strangley makes this popcorn movie watchable. The action sequences and effects are both excellent. The only problem is towards the end of the film when the transformers are fighting the bad guys it’s hard to tell who is who because they all look the same, like hunks of metal.
Another staple of Michael Bay is to install stale awkward jokes or bad comedic scenes into his action oriented films. Though it is usually a macabre humor like the BAD BOYS films but in those films it at least fir the criteria. In this film there are full on scenes of physical comedy. There are also important characters who are more comedic invention and act that way then being serious characters. For the comic relief they cast Anthony Anderson which also is nice to have the black guy be the smartest guy in the film which I haven’t seen in a sci-fi movie since VIRUS.
I will give Bay some credit he Is a good technical director. He is just lacking in the aspects of making a film though he does bring the goddess that is Megan Fox to the big screen in a substantial role her role as a love interest for Shia Lebouf. It’s a role that is unbelievable. She is so gorgeous like a Angelina Jolie Clone that she doesn’t seem real. I don’t know what role she could ever be cast in and be believable or look natural.
This film is so big it actually goes global bringing together the members of the cast who have survived numerous attacks from the Decepticons to face them in a building destroying fight in Los Angeles to save the world.
In the end this is a entertaining Perfect popcorn movie for a rental. If yo like his previous films you will like this one.
GRADE: C
Written By: Alex Kurtzman & Ronerto Orci
Story By: Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman & John Rogers
Cinematography By: Mitchell Amundsen
Editor: Tom Muldoon & Paul Rubell & Glen Scantlebury
CAST: Shia Lebouf, Megan Fox, Kevin Dunn, Julie White, John Turturro, Jon Voight, Anthony Anderson, Josh Dummel, Tyrese Gibson, Zack ward, Amaury Nolasco, Bernie Mac, Rick Gomez, Tom Lenk
At this point I have to recognize Michael Bay as a auteur. He has 2 films in the Criterion Collection ARMAGEDDON and THE ROCK. When he makes a film you know it is his he puts his own signature on his films, That at first were produced by Jerry Bruckheimer the perfect producer for his style of filmmaking. Which seems to have rubbed off on the director as there films usually employ, Loud sound, Light plots, plenty of action, inventive shots, quick cuts and attractive actors who are more or less like mice in a maze ping ponging and running from one explosion to the next. The man has a certain filmmaking style that I’m not sure anyone else could make or would really want to but he will certainly be around for a long time because his films make money and audiences love them.
This film has all usual touches but for this type of film it actually fits. There is no way you can tell the story of the transformers in any realistic way based on the cartoon series of the 80’s which mainly consists of the battle of the Autobots (The good guys) VS. The Decepticons (The bad guys) The Subject is ripe for bay’s bombastic style of movie making. This time produced by the one and only legend Steven Spielberg.
There is no subltlety in this film everything is ham fisted with a good cast that strangley makes this popcorn movie watchable. The action sequences and effects are both excellent. The only problem is towards the end of the film when the transformers are fighting the bad guys it’s hard to tell who is who because they all look the same, like hunks of metal.
Another staple of Michael Bay is to install stale awkward jokes or bad comedic scenes into his action oriented films. Though it is usually a macabre humor like the BAD BOYS films but in those films it at least fir the criteria. In this film there are full on scenes of physical comedy. There are also important characters who are more comedic invention and act that way then being serious characters. For the comic relief they cast Anthony Anderson which also is nice to have the black guy be the smartest guy in the film which I haven’t seen in a sci-fi movie since VIRUS.
I will give Bay some credit he Is a good technical director. He is just lacking in the aspects of making a film though he does bring the goddess that is Megan Fox to the big screen in a substantial role her role as a love interest for Shia Lebouf. It’s a role that is unbelievable. She is so gorgeous like a Angelina Jolie Clone that she doesn’t seem real. I don’t know what role she could ever be cast in and be believable or look natural.
This film is so big it actually goes global bringing together the members of the cast who have survived numerous attacks from the Decepticons to face them in a building destroying fight in Los Angeles to save the world.
In the end this is a entertaining Perfect popcorn movie for a rental. If yo like his previous films you will like this one.
GRADE: C
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
THE ADVENTURES OF BARON MUNCHAUSEN
Directed By: Terry Gilliam
Written By: Terry Gilliam & Charles McKeown
Cinematography By: Guiseppe Rotunno
Editor: Peter Hollywood
Cast: John Neville, Eric Idle, Robin Williams, Sarah Polley, Jonathan Pryce, Oliver Reed, Uma Thurman, Charles McKeown, Sting, Jack Purvis
While not the crowd pleaser his earlier works had been. This is truly watching a natural storyteller tell a story with all the materials he could get his hands on. It is quite a remarkable film a little long but definitely worth watching. The film is a feast of costumes, production design, make-up, mattes, models and special effects to tell a story.
This film s a epic yet very simple. It’s like a bedtime story that is adequate for children but made for adults who have a need to see sincerity for there mind to be open for wonder and imagination.
The plot is exactly as the title says we watch as Baron Munchausen a fantasy world traveler goes on many adventures trying to find members of his old gang to help him stop the sultan from attacking the town in which he is staying. As the film goes on though we see that there are stories within stories within stories.
The cast is all spectacular and while not all the adventures are exciting or interesting. They are there for a reason a piece of the puzzle that is needed to be completed. The fun of this movie is you truly never know what is going to happen next because whatever it is it could never be too outlandish.
It’s a fun ride with it’s unpredictability A scene could be violent, Funny, Heartbreaking or magical. It would almost be perfect for the whole family though some scenes may not be appropriate for younger children. Plus the film may be a little too visceral for the kids even though it has a childlike innocence.
It bombed when it came out I can see why some might not like it.
This is a film I remember all the commercials and posters when it came out. I really wanted to see it but was worried it was a little too arty for me. I was 11 at the time.the commercial/preview which is included on the DVD made it seem like a fantasy comedy filled with tons of one-liners and I still remember to this day the vision of Uma Thurman coming out of a shell barely clothed. It was her entrance onto the screen and into my mind as she still is a screen goddess. The star John Neville should have become a star off of this film. At least a more respected actor as this is one of the only times he played a lead role.
This film is amazing and just the scope of it amazes you to the imagination it took to make this film and come up with this story that gives you a partial Don Quixote like hero. This was in the days when director Terry Gilliam could still get budgets to match his imagination and make it come true. He was at his creative peak. Which I now wonder if it has wavered over his last few films and dealing with studios to make it or has his imagination just gone too far to alienate conventional storytelling and entertaining audiences that at this point he only makes sense to him and his collaborators.
Either way and I don’t throw this term around lightly the man is a genius and I always await news of his new projects with excitement
This is Definitely one for the home library.
GRADE: A-
Written By: Terry Gilliam & Charles McKeown
Cinematography By: Guiseppe Rotunno
Editor: Peter Hollywood
Cast: John Neville, Eric Idle, Robin Williams, Sarah Polley, Jonathan Pryce, Oliver Reed, Uma Thurman, Charles McKeown, Sting, Jack Purvis
While not the crowd pleaser his earlier works had been. This is truly watching a natural storyteller tell a story with all the materials he could get his hands on. It is quite a remarkable film a little long but definitely worth watching. The film is a feast of costumes, production design, make-up, mattes, models and special effects to tell a story.
This film s a epic yet very simple. It’s like a bedtime story that is adequate for children but made for adults who have a need to see sincerity for there mind to be open for wonder and imagination.
The plot is exactly as the title says we watch as Baron Munchausen a fantasy world traveler goes on many adventures trying to find members of his old gang to help him stop the sultan from attacking the town in which he is staying. As the film goes on though we see that there are stories within stories within stories.
The cast is all spectacular and while not all the adventures are exciting or interesting. They are there for a reason a piece of the puzzle that is needed to be completed. The fun of this movie is you truly never know what is going to happen next because whatever it is it could never be too outlandish.
It’s a fun ride with it’s unpredictability A scene could be violent, Funny, Heartbreaking or magical. It would almost be perfect for the whole family though some scenes may not be appropriate for younger children. Plus the film may be a little too visceral for the kids even though it has a childlike innocence.
It bombed when it came out I can see why some might not like it.
This is a film I remember all the commercials and posters when it came out. I really wanted to see it but was worried it was a little too arty for me. I was 11 at the time.the commercial/preview which is included on the DVD made it seem like a fantasy comedy filled with tons of one-liners and I still remember to this day the vision of Uma Thurman coming out of a shell barely clothed. It was her entrance onto the screen and into my mind as she still is a screen goddess. The star John Neville should have become a star off of this film. At least a more respected actor as this is one of the only times he played a lead role.
This film is amazing and just the scope of it amazes you to the imagination it took to make this film and come up with this story that gives you a partial Don Quixote like hero. This was in the days when director Terry Gilliam could still get budgets to match his imagination and make it come true. He was at his creative peak. Which I now wonder if it has wavered over his last few films and dealing with studios to make it or has his imagination just gone too far to alienate conventional storytelling and entertaining audiences that at this point he only makes sense to him and his collaborators.
Either way and I don’t throw this term around lightly the man is a genius and I always await news of his new projects with excitement
This is Definitely one for the home library.
GRADE: A-
Monday, August 24, 2009
KISS OF DEATH (REMAKE) (1995)
Directed By: Barbet Schroeder
Written By: Richard Price
Story By: Eleazer Lipsky
Based On The Original Film Written By: Ben Hecht & Charles Lederer
Cinematography By: Luciano Tovoli
Editor: Lee Percy
CAST: Samuel L. Jackson, David Caruso, Helen Hunt, Kathryn Erbe, Michael Rapaport, Nicholas Cage, Stanley Tucci, Ving Rhames, Paul Caledron, Jay O. Sanders, Philip Baker Hall, Anthony Heald, Kevin Corrigan, Anne Meara, Hope Davis
The film is about a ex-con who ends up going to jail for a crime he tried to help his cousin with. while in prison his wife is killed and he decides to help the feds by going undercover to catch the boss who he did the job for but as usual complications rise and a lot of dirty dealing and double crosses.
This was one of the most exciting trailers I had seen at the time. So I anxiously wanted to see this film though it didn’t live up to the trailer I enjoyed it none the less.
Coming on the heels of PULP FICTION at the time it came out it borrows heavily from that film. The quirks and at least three cast members that make it feel like a sort of Pulp fiction redux at times. Which beat many of the imposters that started to be made for years afterward.
None of the characters feel realistic in this film. They feel like movie characters, Normally this would be ok but when you are trying to look gritty and truthful it doesn’t at all it looks like a polished production. I would go as so far as to say it feels like a LAW & ORDER episode come to life the locations and the plot are reminiscent only this time it focuses more on the criminal side of the equation.
The cast is great with the characters and there quirks. Nicholas Cage gives one of his best performances as kind of a comic book villain sequel gangster in a realistic world with all his bulked up muscle. It shows a certain dedication to the role. David Caruso is a consummately good actor whose personal life and attitude may have cost him film roles before he got NYPD BLUE he was a dependable character actor then after he decided to leave the show at it’s height of popularity to be a movie theater. It was a bad decision that he seemed to keep getting punished for and hurt his career until he got another hit TV series. Before he would pop up here and there in various films this was one of his first starring roles that was a hit that made him decide to leave the show. But here he proves he has what it takes to play a lead.
This was the first Stanley Tucci Performance I remember vividly. It made me really notice and pay attention to him as an actor.
This film feels like a graphic novel version of a gritty pulp thriller. It’s too colorful and gloss to be a true down and dirty tale. Though it surprisingly funny in a lot of scenes intentionally. It has scenes of Nicholas cage bench pressing strippers and Samuel l. Jackson as a FBI agent with a constantly tearing eye. But it is a fun film that is never boring. Though he does get over his dead wife rather quick.
A Satisfying Rental
GRADE: C+
Written By: Richard Price
Story By: Eleazer Lipsky
Based On The Original Film Written By: Ben Hecht & Charles Lederer
Cinematography By: Luciano Tovoli
Editor: Lee Percy
CAST: Samuel L. Jackson, David Caruso, Helen Hunt, Kathryn Erbe, Michael Rapaport, Nicholas Cage, Stanley Tucci, Ving Rhames, Paul Caledron, Jay O. Sanders, Philip Baker Hall, Anthony Heald, Kevin Corrigan, Anne Meara, Hope Davis
The film is about a ex-con who ends up going to jail for a crime he tried to help his cousin with. while in prison his wife is killed and he decides to help the feds by going undercover to catch the boss who he did the job for but as usual complications rise and a lot of dirty dealing and double crosses.
This was one of the most exciting trailers I had seen at the time. So I anxiously wanted to see this film though it didn’t live up to the trailer I enjoyed it none the less.
Coming on the heels of PULP FICTION at the time it came out it borrows heavily from that film. The quirks and at least three cast members that make it feel like a sort of Pulp fiction redux at times. Which beat many of the imposters that started to be made for years afterward.
None of the characters feel realistic in this film. They feel like movie characters, Normally this would be ok but when you are trying to look gritty and truthful it doesn’t at all it looks like a polished production. I would go as so far as to say it feels like a LAW & ORDER episode come to life the locations and the plot are reminiscent only this time it focuses more on the criminal side of the equation.
The cast is great with the characters and there quirks. Nicholas Cage gives one of his best performances as kind of a comic book villain sequel gangster in a realistic world with all his bulked up muscle. It shows a certain dedication to the role. David Caruso is a consummately good actor whose personal life and attitude may have cost him film roles before he got NYPD BLUE he was a dependable character actor then after he decided to leave the show at it’s height of popularity to be a movie theater. It was a bad decision that he seemed to keep getting punished for and hurt his career until he got another hit TV series. Before he would pop up here and there in various films this was one of his first starring roles that was a hit that made him decide to leave the show. But here he proves he has what it takes to play a lead.
This was the first Stanley Tucci Performance I remember vividly. It made me really notice and pay attention to him as an actor.
This film feels like a graphic novel version of a gritty pulp thriller. It’s too colorful and gloss to be a true down and dirty tale. Though it surprisingly funny in a lot of scenes intentionally. It has scenes of Nicholas cage bench pressing strippers and Samuel l. Jackson as a FBI agent with a constantly tearing eye. But it is a fun film that is never boring. Though he does get over his dead wife rather quick.
A Satisfying Rental
GRADE: C+
BLOOD & BONE (2009)
Directed By: Ben Ramsey
Written By: Michael Andrews
Cinematography: Roy H. Wagner
Editor: Dean Goodhill
CAST: Michael Jai White, Eamonn Walker, Nona Gaye, Dante Basco, Kimbo Slice, Julian Sands, Francis Capra
A typical straight to Home Video movie that seems to partially a remake of LIONHEART mixed With a episode of KUNG-FU only with a minority cast and more brutal violence.
The film is violent but thankfully when bones are broken many times they don’t protrude like a Steven Seagal film. While the film is brutal at times, you never worry about the hero who always seems to be in control no matter what the situation. No one really seems to put up a challenge for him even when he is outnumbered which hurts the film. Sure it makes the hero a total Bad ass but there is a lack of tension. You never worry about him you know almost exactly what is going to happen.
One of the strengths of the film is the villian played by Eammon Walker his character has many good one-liners and a certain demented philosophy that makes him a memorable screen villain the problem is that it is a shame someone with so much talent is reduced to working in this film. When you know he is capable of so much better.
Though they are predictable the fight scenes are memorable.
Michael Jai White is a good leading man he has slimmed down some of his muscle but still looks solid and still makes a viable leading man he could be a superhero.
This film was directed by Ben Ramsey unfortunately not written by him which you can tell because it lacks his dark sense of humor. Though the film does contain the line from all his productions “I’m From Pittsburgh, You know what that means”
With this film what you see is what you get the film is rather simple. You know what you are getting into in terms of quality when you watch a straight to home video or now DVD Movie they will be low budget not the best quality of movies but this is one of the better ones. It’s not a classic but it will entice you for two hours.
I hope this is the first in a series of films about this character so we learn more about him in future installments. This film keeps most of his past a secret.
The film is about a man who gets released from prison and works his way up a street fighting circuit with his eyes on defeating the top fighter to get close to his boos the villain.
While the film has Excessive violence it doesn’t have excessive sex or nudity. Even tough it plys like a modern update of a black exploitation film of the 70’s though not as much a time capsule of the times it does have a social message. but no sex and more hand to hand combat action instead of weapons plus this film has better actors.
A Good Rental
GRADE: C+
Written By: Michael Andrews
Cinematography: Roy H. Wagner
Editor: Dean Goodhill
CAST: Michael Jai White, Eamonn Walker, Nona Gaye, Dante Basco, Kimbo Slice, Julian Sands, Francis Capra
A typical straight to Home Video movie that seems to partially a remake of LIONHEART mixed With a episode of KUNG-FU only with a minority cast and more brutal violence.
The film is violent but thankfully when bones are broken many times they don’t protrude like a Steven Seagal film. While the film is brutal at times, you never worry about the hero who always seems to be in control no matter what the situation. No one really seems to put up a challenge for him even when he is outnumbered which hurts the film. Sure it makes the hero a total Bad ass but there is a lack of tension. You never worry about him you know almost exactly what is going to happen.
One of the strengths of the film is the villian played by Eammon Walker his character has many good one-liners and a certain demented philosophy that makes him a memorable screen villain the problem is that it is a shame someone with so much talent is reduced to working in this film. When you know he is capable of so much better.
Though they are predictable the fight scenes are memorable.
Michael Jai White is a good leading man he has slimmed down some of his muscle but still looks solid and still makes a viable leading man he could be a superhero.
This film was directed by Ben Ramsey unfortunately not written by him which you can tell because it lacks his dark sense of humor. Though the film does contain the line from all his productions “I’m From Pittsburgh, You know what that means”
With this film what you see is what you get the film is rather simple. You know what you are getting into in terms of quality when you watch a straight to home video or now DVD Movie they will be low budget not the best quality of movies but this is one of the better ones. It’s not a classic but it will entice you for two hours.
I hope this is the first in a series of films about this character so we learn more about him in future installments. This film keeps most of his past a secret.
The film is about a man who gets released from prison and works his way up a street fighting circuit with his eyes on defeating the top fighter to get close to his boos the villain.
While the film has Excessive violence it doesn’t have excessive sex or nudity. Even tough it plys like a modern update of a black exploitation film of the 70’s though not as much a time capsule of the times it does have a social message. but no sex and more hand to hand combat action instead of weapons plus this film has better actors.
A Good Rental
GRADE: C+
Saturday, August 15, 2009
TROY (2004)
Directed By: Wolfgang Peterson
Written By: Daid Benioff
Based on the poem – The Illiad by Homer
Cinematography By: Paul Bond & Roger Pratt
Editor: Peter Honess
CAST: Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, Orlando Bloom, Rose Byrne, Peter O’Toole, Brian Cox, Diane Kruger, Garrett Hedlund, Julie Christie, Saffron Burrows, Owain Yeoman,
The film is grand but in trying to tell this grand story a lot of things have to fall by the wayside to make a enjoyable entertaining movie. Because above all else it seems the effects are the thing that is most important to the film then characters, plot or acting. The only other thing that seems important is the beauty of the actors.
The disappointments of the film are many. For instance you have this great dramatic cast of classically trained mostly British actors in supporting roles. They gear up like this will be a historical epic with plenty of dramatic opportunities. Instead they get a middle ages war film with many overwrought melodramatic scenes. Mostly though battle scenes that the main cast is not involved in so they are more like window dressing and wasted. Which is one of the films major flaws. The Film tries too hard to be something it’s not then can’t decide what type of films it wants to be.
Films of this magnitude don’t usually have top of the line actors. This film having so many is very uncommon. So to try and please them and there fans they each have scenes to shine in. Which makes the film too long and feel bloated. It’s no wonder when Terry Gilliam Was considered to direct the film he only made it 5 pages into the script before he stopped and turned it down
The film builds up to a great sword fight scene that the film has been hinting at throughout and when it finally happens. It is pretty much a letdown. It is realistic for the believability of the weight of the armor and weapons but for the most part is one-sided and not much of a spectacle. In fact the fight between Eric Bana and the imposter was more impressive albeit quicker.
I will admit Brad Pitt has never looked better physically and facial wise This movie presents him as a fierce warrior who is almost womanly beautiful. But still gives a barely passable performance.
Another one of the more laughable aspects of the film is how fast the royals cousin who is kidnapped and turned into a slave to brad Pitt. Becomes his willing lover so fast is questionable then at the ending of the film it’s presented as a great love story.
I don’t know too much about history but Orlando Bloom’s character is made through most of the film to be a spoiled pretty boy. Stealing another rulers wife. Then getting beaten badly while barely putting up a fight his family has to suffer for his crimes defending him. He chickens out of another fight. Then at the end he finds courage and becomes a heroic archer warrior (That reminds the audience of his role in the LORD OF THE RINGS TRILOGY a little too much) this leads to learning the story of Achilles Heel.
While the film tries for epic and does have some amazing shots. Half o them you can tell are digital and feel like videogame scenes. This film just feels inauthentic and like a bad game of Dress-up.
The film is never really exciting nor do you feel anything for its characters. I advise skipping.
GRADE: F
Written By: Daid Benioff
Based on the poem – The Illiad by Homer
Cinematography By: Paul Bond & Roger Pratt
Editor: Peter Honess
CAST: Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, Orlando Bloom, Rose Byrne, Peter O’Toole, Brian Cox, Diane Kruger, Garrett Hedlund, Julie Christie, Saffron Burrows, Owain Yeoman,
The film is grand but in trying to tell this grand story a lot of things have to fall by the wayside to make a enjoyable entertaining movie. Because above all else it seems the effects are the thing that is most important to the film then characters, plot or acting. The only other thing that seems important is the beauty of the actors.
The disappointments of the film are many. For instance you have this great dramatic cast of classically trained mostly British actors in supporting roles. They gear up like this will be a historical epic with plenty of dramatic opportunities. Instead they get a middle ages war film with many overwrought melodramatic scenes. Mostly though battle scenes that the main cast is not involved in so they are more like window dressing and wasted. Which is one of the films major flaws. The Film tries too hard to be something it’s not then can’t decide what type of films it wants to be.
Films of this magnitude don’t usually have top of the line actors. This film having so many is very uncommon. So to try and please them and there fans they each have scenes to shine in. Which makes the film too long and feel bloated. It’s no wonder when Terry Gilliam Was considered to direct the film he only made it 5 pages into the script before he stopped and turned it down
The film builds up to a great sword fight scene that the film has been hinting at throughout and when it finally happens. It is pretty much a letdown. It is realistic for the believability of the weight of the armor and weapons but for the most part is one-sided and not much of a spectacle. In fact the fight between Eric Bana and the imposter was more impressive albeit quicker.
I will admit Brad Pitt has never looked better physically and facial wise This movie presents him as a fierce warrior who is almost womanly beautiful. But still gives a barely passable performance.
Another one of the more laughable aspects of the film is how fast the royals cousin who is kidnapped and turned into a slave to brad Pitt. Becomes his willing lover so fast is questionable then at the ending of the film it’s presented as a great love story.
I don’t know too much about history but Orlando Bloom’s character is made through most of the film to be a spoiled pretty boy. Stealing another rulers wife. Then getting beaten badly while barely putting up a fight his family has to suffer for his crimes defending him. He chickens out of another fight. Then at the end he finds courage and becomes a heroic archer warrior (That reminds the audience of his role in the LORD OF THE RINGS TRILOGY a little too much) this leads to learning the story of Achilles Heel.
While the film tries for epic and does have some amazing shots. Half o them you can tell are digital and feel like videogame scenes. This film just feels inauthentic and like a bad game of Dress-up.
The film is never really exciting nor do you feel anything for its characters. I advise skipping.
GRADE: F
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