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Roger Corman recommended Avatar (2009) in Movies (curated)
LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge (1985) in Movies
Aug 7, 2021
There are a whole bunch of reasons to love this sequel to one of the most iconic horrors of all time.
From the get go, it deserves respect for trying something different. It doesn't just rinse and repeat the events of the original, with the whole possession plot being an inspired direction to take.
Mark Patton as lead character Jesse is an absolute riot to watch. He will go from suave ladies man, to high pitched screaming and sweaty scream queen in an instant. The homo-erotic undertones are hilariously brilliant, and make for a breath of fresh air in a genre, from an era, that was usually awash in a sea of boobs.
The supporting characters are all pretty likable as well, giving the audience an entertaining cast to watch when the big bad isn't on screen. Talking of which, Robert Englund's Freddy Krueger is pretty damn intimidating in this one, and is the subject of some all timer shots for the franchise.
The practical effects, especially in Jesse's transformation scene are quite something as well.
All in all, Freddy's Revenge is an over the top and enjoyable sequel and deserves more love than it gets!
From the get go, it deserves respect for trying something different. It doesn't just rinse and repeat the events of the original, with the whole possession plot being an inspired direction to take.
Mark Patton as lead character Jesse is an absolute riot to watch. He will go from suave ladies man, to high pitched screaming and sweaty scream queen in an instant. The homo-erotic undertones are hilariously brilliant, and make for a breath of fresh air in a genre, from an era, that was usually awash in a sea of boobs.
The supporting characters are all pretty likable as well, giving the audience an entertaining cast to watch when the big bad isn't on screen. Talking of which, Robert Englund's Freddy Krueger is pretty damn intimidating in this one, and is the subject of some all timer shots for the franchise.
The practical effects, especially in Jesse's transformation scene are quite something as well.
All in all, Freddy's Revenge is an over the top and enjoyable sequel and deserves more love than it gets!
LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated Dolls (1987) in Movies
Feb 13, 2021
Plain and simple - Dolls is a belting 80s horror, overflowing with fantastic effects work, unsettling monster designs, and a fantastic cast all whilst having a sub text about how it's ok to still be a child at heart.
A complete shift for Stuart Gordon from his work on Re-Animator a couple of years earlier, but equally as bonkers. It packs in a fair helping of gore, but still feels weirdly family friendly. Perhaps this is due to the lead child character, played by a great Carrie Lorraine. The supporting cast manages to be a selection of likable, and equally unlikable characters. Highlights for me are the creepy but oddly wholesome, if slightly murderous, older couple who inhabit the house that the narrative takes place in, played by Guy Rolfe and Hilary Mason.
As mentioned, the practical work is incredible. The dolls' movements are kept hidden for a lot of the runtime, but when you see them in all their glory just over the halfway mark, the pay off is completely worth it.
Dolls is hugely memorable in all the right ways. A hidden gem of a horror.
A complete shift for Stuart Gordon from his work on Re-Animator a couple of years earlier, but equally as bonkers. It packs in a fair helping of gore, but still feels weirdly family friendly. Perhaps this is due to the lead child character, played by a great Carrie Lorraine. The supporting cast manages to be a selection of likable, and equally unlikable characters. Highlights for me are the creepy but oddly wholesome, if slightly murderous, older couple who inhabit the house that the narrative takes place in, played by Guy Rolfe and Hilary Mason.
As mentioned, the practical work is incredible. The dolls' movements are kept hidden for a lot of the runtime, but when you see them in all their glory just over the halfway mark, the pay off is completely worth it.
Dolls is hugely memorable in all the right ways. A hidden gem of a horror.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Project Power (2020) in Movies
Sep 9, 2020
Another glossy but slightly underwhelming Netflix genre movie. A new drug granting temporary superpowers is being sold on the streets of New Orleans, and a maverick cop, a ex-military drifter and a teenage girl team up to put a stop to it.
Maybe some of these Netflix movies would be more impressive on a big screen where all the special effects and sound design would get an appropriate delivery and have the faculty-numbing effect this sort of film is depending on. Or maybe not, I don't know. As it is this has an interesting premise, charismatic leads and seems to genuinely want to do some social commentary about US society, the nature of power, etc etc. But that would require a level of downbeat grittiness wholly at odds with the extravaganza of lavish CGI and show-offy direction this film also wants to be, and it's the latter elements that win out. As a result it is watchable and engaging on a superficial level but you sort of lament the loss of the more interesting and restrained film this could have been instead. Hey ho.
Maybe some of these Netflix movies would be more impressive on a big screen where all the special effects and sound design would get an appropriate delivery and have the faculty-numbing effect this sort of film is depending on. Or maybe not, I don't know. As it is this has an interesting premise, charismatic leads and seems to genuinely want to do some social commentary about US society, the nature of power, etc etc. But that would require a level of downbeat grittiness wholly at odds with the extravaganza of lavish CGI and show-offy direction this film also wants to be, and it's the latter elements that win out. As a result it is watchable and engaging on a superficial level but you sort of lament the loss of the more interesting and restrained film this could have been instead. Hey ho.
LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated Hogzilla (2014) in Movies
Sep 9, 2020
Just so there is no confusion, Hogzilla is a massive pile of wank.
However, the episode of The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs (who himself 'stars' in Hogzilla) is thoroughly entertaining, and the only medium available where I could even half recommend giving it a view.
Watching Joe Bob and Darcy tear it apart is pretty damn funny.
The actual film is just balls awful. The dialogue, the acting, the sound mixing - even the poster is shitty.
Above all else though, it's just plain boring. I appreciate that it was made on a tiny budget, but this means that the titular monster's screentime clocks in at around 10-12 seconds (and you don't really see it properly then either). It also means that 98% of the run time is a group of insufferable characters walking aimlessly around a forest, constantly being dicks to each other, and never being funny.
Even their unavoidable deaths are unsatisfying - The limited blood effects look they were done on Microsoft Paint.
I guess seeing Joe Bob aka John Bloom on screen is sort of comforting, but it really doesn't do much to elevate Hogzilla above being a garbage fire of a film.
However, the episode of The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs (who himself 'stars' in Hogzilla) is thoroughly entertaining, and the only medium available where I could even half recommend giving it a view.
Watching Joe Bob and Darcy tear it apart is pretty damn funny.
The actual film is just balls awful. The dialogue, the acting, the sound mixing - even the poster is shitty.
Above all else though, it's just plain boring. I appreciate that it was made on a tiny budget, but this means that the titular monster's screentime clocks in at around 10-12 seconds (and you don't really see it properly then either). It also means that 98% of the run time is a group of insufferable characters walking aimlessly around a forest, constantly being dicks to each other, and never being funny.
Even their unavoidable deaths are unsatisfying - The limited blood effects look they were done on Microsoft Paint.
I guess seeing Joe Bob aka John Bloom on screen is sort of comforting, but it really doesn't do much to elevate Hogzilla above being a garbage fire of a film.
LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated Species (1995) in Movies
Sep 18, 2020
Ahh Species. A film I loved to watch when I was a young teen for...research purposes...
It's a bit rubbish really though isn't it? Watching it again now, it's pretty much a bunch of characters talking their way through a manhunt, strung together by regular moments of nudity.
It's suitably corny, boasts some terrible CGI (effects that may have been good back in the 90s, I honestly don't really remember) but in spite of all this, it's still pretty entertaining.
It's cast boasts the likes of Ben Kingsley, Alfred Molina, Marg Helgenberger, Forest Whitaker, Michael Madsen, even a young Michelle Williams...it's pretty stacked. Natasha Henstridge of course plays the creature, and gives the role a sense of empowerment rather than exploitation.
The rubber suit aesthetic of the alien is pretty awesome (in the parts where it's not haunting CGI) and it has a pretty decent music score.
I fully see why a lot of people consider Species to be trashy, but honestly, it's a fun slice of 90s (as fuck) sci-fi horror. Enjoy it for what it is and just pretend the sequels don't exist.
It's a bit rubbish really though isn't it? Watching it again now, it's pretty much a bunch of characters talking their way through a manhunt, strung together by regular moments of nudity.
It's suitably corny, boasts some terrible CGI (effects that may have been good back in the 90s, I honestly don't really remember) but in spite of all this, it's still pretty entertaining.
It's cast boasts the likes of Ben Kingsley, Alfred Molina, Marg Helgenberger, Forest Whitaker, Michael Madsen, even a young Michelle Williams...it's pretty stacked. Natasha Henstridge of course plays the creature, and gives the role a sense of empowerment rather than exploitation.
The rubber suit aesthetic of the alien is pretty awesome (in the parts where it's not haunting CGI) and it has a pretty decent music score.
I fully see why a lot of people consider Species to be trashy, but honestly, it's a fun slice of 90s (as fuck) sci-fi horror. Enjoy it for what it is and just pretend the sequels don't exist.
LoganCrews (2861 KP) rated Final Destination 3 (2006) in Movies
Oct 18, 2020 (Updated Nov 26, 2020)
Rather chintzy and objectively garbo but a complete and utter blast almost from start to finish. Just plain cruel, reeks with the stench of death - whereas in the others the characters pretty much all reacted to impending demise with paranoia and/or denial, here we see them react with sardonicism, competitiveness, and even boredom. The deaths nor the effects aren't as good but this is infinitely better than the second one because the melodrama filler is actually back to being semi-entertaining (if never 'real movie' status) and has some pretty interesting musings about death's presence in these films. The whole product seems rushed out the door but has a good talking + dying ratio and it's also super funny with as enjoyable characters as can be expected for a mid-2000s horror sequel with none of the original cast. Plus the acting's decent again! Feels like Wong is winging it but even most half-assed Wong products look better than Ellis at his best. The tanning beds are one of the elite deaths in the entire franchise - and then the smash cut to the coffins right after? Lmfao, dug it.
LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated Galaxy of Terror (1981) in Movies
Oct 20, 2020
Listen, I enjoy a trashy Roger Corman horror effort as much as the next person, but Galaxy of Terror is a chore to get through.
These films are known for being cheap, but they usually have a sort of charm to them, that I just found lacking here. The main issue is that it's not very cohesive. Various aspects of the narrative are so unexplained and seemingly random, that it's ultimately super boring, and very easy to zone out. I mean, I watched it earlier today and I've already forgotten how it ended...
Even the usually reliable gore is mostly rubbish, with the exception of a couple of half decent practical effects.
The only aspects that I found positive was seeing Sid Haig, Robert Englund, and Grace Zabriskie in early roles and some of the synth music is fun but other than that, it's straight up bollocks.
A lot of films tried to ride the coat tails of Alien following it's release and Galaxy of Terror does nothing more than remind you that you could be watching that instead.
Final note - definitely in the running for Most Misleading Movie Poster Ever.
These films are known for being cheap, but they usually have a sort of charm to them, that I just found lacking here. The main issue is that it's not very cohesive. Various aspects of the narrative are so unexplained and seemingly random, that it's ultimately super boring, and very easy to zone out. I mean, I watched it earlier today and I've already forgotten how it ended...
Even the usually reliable gore is mostly rubbish, with the exception of a couple of half decent practical effects.
The only aspects that I found positive was seeing Sid Haig, Robert Englund, and Grace Zabriskie in early roles and some of the synth music is fun but other than that, it's straight up bollocks.
A lot of films tried to ride the coat tails of Alien following it's release and Galaxy of Terror does nothing more than remind you that you could be watching that instead.
Final note - definitely in the running for Most Misleading Movie Poster Ever.
Anne (15117 KP) rated Mulan (2020) in Movies
Dec 29, 2020
Rating between 6 & 7 - Not quite what I expected
Thanks to Smashbomb for letting me watch and review this movie. I was looking forward to seeing this movie and what they did with it, but it wasn't as great as I expected or hoped it would be.
The thing is this was supposed to be a remake of Mulan - a live-action version instead of the animated one, but a remake nonetheless and this movie was not Mulan. It was like they took the very basic storyline from the animated Mulan and then completely redid the movie into something totally different.
This movie was like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon crossed with the basic idea of Mulan. What my husband said and I agreed with him is that this movie is okay on its own by itself, but looking at it as a live-action remake of the animated Mulan it's not so great.
I liked the general idea of the movie, the special effects, and the different background for Mulan with some of the changes in the movie, but it just wasn't Mulan. I still prefer the animated version myself.
The thing is this was supposed to be a remake of Mulan - a live-action version instead of the animated one, but a remake nonetheless and this movie was not Mulan. It was like they took the very basic storyline from the animated Mulan and then completely redid the movie into something totally different.
This movie was like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon crossed with the basic idea of Mulan. What my husband said and I agreed with him is that this movie is okay on its own by itself, but looking at it as a live-action remake of the animated Mulan it's not so great.
I liked the general idea of the movie, the special effects, and the different background for Mulan with some of the changes in the movie, but it just wasn't Mulan. I still prefer the animated version myself.
Darren Fisher (2447 KP) rated The Stanford Prison Experiment (2015) in Movies
Dec 11, 2020
Interesting adaptation of the notorious experiment
Along with the Milgram Experiment (1961) the Stanford Prison Experiment (1971) has been widely discussed. Both attempted to investigate the psychological effects of perceived power and its effect on the human psyche. The SPE focused on the struggle between prisoners and prison officers. The randomly chosen participants were university students who agreed to take part in the two week experiment (in a prison recreated under the university itself). Of course things take a turn for the worst when the guards revel in their power and push the prisoners beyond their limits in the name of scientific research. The experiment lasted only six days before psychology professor Philip Zimbardo pulled the plug on the whole sorry mess.
The film is mostly faithful ,offering a lean, straight to the point account of the events. No boring or irrelevant subplots going on. The actors are convincing and appear to relish their roles (maybe a sense of irony on the directors behalf..?). A good solid adaptation. Recommended.
Note: Footage from both the actual Milgram and SPE Experiments are available over the internet to watch (including youtube)
The film is mostly faithful ,offering a lean, straight to the point account of the events. No boring or irrelevant subplots going on. The actors are convincing and appear to relish their roles (maybe a sense of irony on the directors behalf..?). A good solid adaptation. Recommended.
Note: Footage from both the actual Milgram and SPE Experiments are available over the internet to watch (including youtube)