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Garth Marenghi's Darkplace
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Garth Marenghi's Darkplace is a British horror parody television series created for Channel 4 by...
Blazing Minds (92 KP) rated Mountain of the Cannibal God (1978) in Movies
Nov 1, 2021 (Updated Nov 3, 2021)
The term “Video Nasty” is a term you used to hear a lot on the 80s, The Mountain of the Cannibal God (aka Slave of the Cannibal God – La montagna del dio cannibale), released in 1978, is one of the many titles that was given the title and was subsequently banned in the UK until 2001. The Mountain of the Cannibal God has now found its way on to Blu-ray with a 2k restoration to bring the horror to a new generation of horror fans in the UK.
The blu-ray starts with an introduction about the movie from director, Sergio Martino, and a text screen explaining, “this Shameless rebuild reinstates the long-missing original dramatic gore and the complete extended orgiastic pandemonium, yet despite very best efforts the quality of a few reinserted scenes will vary“.
The blu-ray starts with an introduction about the movie from director, Sergio Martino, and a text screen explaining, “this Shameless rebuild reinstates the long-missing original dramatic gore and the complete extended orgiastic pandemonium, yet despite very best efforts the quality of a few reinserted scenes will vary“.
Ross (3284 KP) rated Malevolent (2018) in Movies
Apr 17, 2019
A Netflix unoriginal
Horror-by-numbers from Netflix. A young American man looks to make some money by tricking Glaswegians into believing their house is haunted and banishing the spirits. He makes his sister pretend to have the gift of communication with the spirits, and the use of some technology to baffle the mid-80s victims. Just before their last such scam, his sister discovers she may have some real sixth sense after all.
The acting is mediocre (Celia Imrie totally hamming it up from the off), with the rest of the (non-Scottish) cast adequately carrying their roles.
James Cosmo is something of a standout as their grandfather in his one scene, telling of how their mum became more and more odd and reclusive until her death.
The plot is far from original with some half-decent jump scares along the way, though quite spaced apart in the short runtime.
The acting is mediocre (Celia Imrie totally hamming it up from the off), with the rest of the (non-Scottish) cast adequately carrying their roles.
James Cosmo is something of a standout as their grandfather in his one scene, telling of how their mum became more and more odd and reclusive until her death.
The plot is far from original with some half-decent jump scares along the way, though quite spaced apart in the short runtime.
David McK (3372 KP) rated Northlight in Books
Jan 30, 2019
I think I read one of these Adam Hall (Elleston Trevor's pen name) Quiller books years ago and wasn't really that impressed, but things (and tastes) change. When this one was recommended to me as being 'better than Ian Fleming' I thought I would give it a second chance. Unfortunately, I now remember why - generally speaking - I don't really read spy novels.
Written and set during the mid 80s, this is the time of the Cold War, when the Iron Curtain was still up and when the Iron lady (Margaret Thatcher) was still in power. In this, Quiller has to go undercover into Soviet Russia to investigate the sinking of a US submarine. Told in first person as Quiller remembering the mission, I found this hard to get into, slow moving and - unfortunately - not really that exciting.
Doubt I'll read any more anytime soon.
Written and set during the mid 80s, this is the time of the Cold War, when the Iron Curtain was still up and when the Iron lady (Margaret Thatcher) was still in power. In this, Quiller has to go undercover into Soviet Russia to investigate the sinking of a US submarine. Told in first person as Quiller remembering the mission, I found this hard to get into, slow moving and - unfortunately - not really that exciting.
Doubt I'll read any more anytime soon.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Nomads (1986) in Movies
Aug 11, 2019
Excitable LA-set horror-fantasy. A French anthropologist (Brosnan) becomes obsessed with his discovery that Los Angeles is infested with evil Eskimo spirits, apparently disguised as bikers and punks, one of whom is played by Adam Ant. (Yes, this really is the plot.)
Starts off showing signs of promise but becomes thoroughly unravelled well before the end; the presence of a frame story about a doctor (Down) investigating the French guy's death clutters rather than deepens the story. Stylish in a very mid-80s way: lots of drum machines, synth music, and indiscriminate use of slow motion. Brosnan's allo-ah-ahm-Fronsh performance is, well, interesting; he does the accent about as well as he sings. It just about stays watchable but isn't quite bad enough to be fun. Apparently Arnie saw it and was impressed enough to hire McTiernan to do Predator, which probably justifies its existence.
Starts off showing signs of promise but becomes thoroughly unravelled well before the end; the presence of a frame story about a doctor (Down) investigating the French guy's death clutters rather than deepens the story. Stylish in a very mid-80s way: lots of drum machines, synth music, and indiscriminate use of slow motion. Brosnan's allo-ah-ahm-Fronsh performance is, well, interesting; he does the accent about as well as he sings. It just about stays watchable but isn't quite bad enough to be fun. Apparently Arnie saw it and was impressed enough to hire McTiernan to do Predator, which probably justifies its existence.
Sarah (7798 KP) rated Evil Dead II (1987) in Movies
Nov 24, 2019
Bloody good fun
This could possibly be one of the few sequels that actually surpasses the original. Not only does it start off by recapping (and slightly alterating) the first film, it goes completely over the top with the gore and physical effects and it is brilliant.
The effects and the horror aspects are the best thing about this film. The gore is so brilliantly done and despite the fact that the physical effects look maybe a tad dated, they still look a lot better than any modern day effects. The humour and comedy fits in really well and the whole thing is just gloriously bonkers and a riot from start to finish. I think Bruce Campbell may be a tad too over the top at points (even for this film) but it was made in the 80s after all.
They don't make horror films like this anymore.
The effects and the horror aspects are the best thing about this film. The gore is so brilliantly done and despite the fact that the physical effects look maybe a tad dated, they still look a lot better than any modern day effects. The humour and comedy fits in really well and the whole thing is just gloriously bonkers and a riot from start to finish. I think Bruce Campbell may be a tad too over the top at points (even for this film) but it was made in the 80s after all.
They don't make horror films like this anymore.
David McK (3372 KP) rated Live Free or Die Hard (2007) in Movies
Dec 10, 2019
Known simply as 'Die Hard 4.0' in the UK, this sees Bruce Willis's NYPD cop John McClane sent to pick up a computer hacker (Justin Long) for the FBI, before getting caught up in increasingly preposterous events.
But, then again, it's Die Hard!
Unlike the John McClane of the original, this version does come across as somewhat of an 80s throwback action figure, quipping his way throughout the film:
"You took down a helicopter, with a car?!?"
"I was out of bullets"
being, for me, the best line of the entire film (and that was changed in the Die Harder edition).
this is also the one that Bruce Willis, in a truck, faces off against a Harrier Jump Jet, and is the one where McClane is described by the villain as:
"a Timex watch in a digital age"
which should give you some idea of the general outline of the plot!
But, then again, it's Die Hard!
Unlike the John McClane of the original, this version does come across as somewhat of an 80s throwback action figure, quipping his way throughout the film:
"You took down a helicopter, with a car?!?"
"I was out of bullets"
being, for me, the best line of the entire film (and that was changed in the Die Harder edition).
this is also the one that Bruce Willis, in a truck, faces off against a Harrier Jump Jet, and is the one where McClane is described by the villain as:
"a Timex watch in a digital age"
which should give you some idea of the general outline of the plot!
Kirk Bage (1775 KP) rated Once Upon a Time in America (1984) in Movies
Mar 3, 2020 (Updated Mar 5, 2020)
Seen by some as an 80s Godfather light, this masterpiece of storytelling stands very much on its own two feet. There is a melancholy and nostalgia that make you care about the characters in ways many crime films don’t achieve. Led by one of the best cinema scores there has surely ever been. Ennio Morricone’s haunting melodies stay with you for life, evoking in turns the spirit of childhood, the regret of old age, and the ache for love and happiness that ultimately evades every one of them. Moments of laughter and glory turn to brutality, betrayal and bitterness, leading to an ambiguous end that breaks the heart. The look and feel of New York, captured with immense care in every shot, is a character in and of itself. An extraordinary allegory of what we were, what we dreamed we’d be and what we actually became.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) in Movies
Apr 11, 2020
Action-adventure sequel from Lucas and Spielberg. Indiana Jones and his friends find themselves in India where they discover an ancient cult with plans on world domination.
Not quite the perfect, gleaming classic that the first film is, nor as much fun as the third, but if you want a knockabout adventure film that goes boom-boom-boom from one classic set-piece to the next virtually non-stop, then you could do very much worse than this. Watching closely you can tell there's a chunk in the middle where a subplot has been cut to keep up the pace and shorten the film, but apart from this it's a virtually perfect thrill-ride: not as subtle, thoughtful, or textured as Raiders, but then I'm not sure it was ever supposed to be. Still very reliable comfort viewing for those of us who grew up in the 80s.
Not quite the perfect, gleaming classic that the first film is, nor as much fun as the third, but if you want a knockabout adventure film that goes boom-boom-boom from one classic set-piece to the next virtually non-stop, then you could do very much worse than this. Watching closely you can tell there's a chunk in the middle where a subplot has been cut to keep up the pace and shorten the film, but apart from this it's a virtually perfect thrill-ride: not as subtle, thoughtful, or textured as Raiders, but then I'm not sure it was ever supposed to be. Still very reliable comfort viewing for those of us who grew up in the 80s.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Krull (1983) in Movies
Apr 13, 2020
Daft but charming sword-and-sorcery adventure, one of the more distinctive products of the early 80s fantasy boom. The planet Krull (a generic fantasyland) is invaded by vaguely Giger-esque alien conquerors and rightful king Colwyn must go on a quest in search of a rather unwieldy magic weapon to save the galaxy (or something).
Looks good, and is helped along considerably by a slightly unhinged score from a young James Horner. One of the many fun things about it is the fact that ostensible hero Ken Marshall is, these days, one of the least well-known people in it - the lower reaches of the cast list are stuffed with well-known actors just starting out (Alun Armstrong, Robbie Coltrane, Liam Neeson). In the end the story is nothing very special - the usual quest for plot coupons - but it's played with gusto and very hard to dislike.
Looks good, and is helped along considerably by a slightly unhinged score from a young James Horner. One of the many fun things about it is the fact that ostensible hero Ken Marshall is, these days, one of the least well-known people in it - the lower reaches of the cast list are stuffed with well-known actors just starting out (Alun Armstrong, Robbie Coltrane, Liam Neeson). In the end the story is nothing very special - the usual quest for plot coupons - but it's played with gusto and very hard to dislike.
