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Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) rated Dracula (1958) in Movies
Nov 5, 2020 (Updated Nov 5, 2020)
The Vampire Rises Once More
Dracula- is a great movie. Hammer films is a excellent studio, cause their brought back the universal monsters and put their own spin on it. And with Dracula their put their own spin on Dracula. And did it work, yes.
First Christopher Lee played as the creature in The Curse of Frankenstien, now he plays as Dracula. When you think of Dracula you think of Bela Lugosi and Christopher Lee. Christopher Lee played Dracula more times then Bela Lugosi. But both actors are iconic, legends and icons.
The plot: On a search for his missing friend Jonathan Harker (John Van Eyssen), vampire hunter Dr. Van Helsing (Peter Cushing) is led to Count Dracula's (Christopher Lee) castle. Upon arriving, Van Helsing finds an undead Harker in Dracula's crypt and discovers that the count's next target is Harker's ailing fiancée, Lucy Holmwood (Carol Marsh). With the help of her brother, Arthur (Michael Gough), Van Helsing struggles to protect Lucy and put an end to Count Dracula's parasitic reign of terror.
In the United States, the film was retitled Horror of Dracula to avoid confusion with the U.S. original by Universal Pictures, 1931's Dracula.
Its a excllent film.
First Christopher Lee played as the creature in The Curse of Frankenstien, now he plays as Dracula. When you think of Dracula you think of Bela Lugosi and Christopher Lee. Christopher Lee played Dracula more times then Bela Lugosi. But both actors are iconic, legends and icons.
The plot: On a search for his missing friend Jonathan Harker (John Van Eyssen), vampire hunter Dr. Van Helsing (Peter Cushing) is led to Count Dracula's (Christopher Lee) castle. Upon arriving, Van Helsing finds an undead Harker in Dracula's crypt and discovers that the count's next target is Harker's ailing fiancée, Lucy Holmwood (Carol Marsh). With the help of her brother, Arthur (Michael Gough), Van Helsing struggles to protect Lucy and put an end to Count Dracula's parasitic reign of terror.
In the United States, the film was retitled Horror of Dracula to avoid confusion with the U.S. original by Universal Pictures, 1931's Dracula.
Its a excllent film.
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Every Waking Hour in Books
Apr 22, 2021
Another thrilling entry in the Ellery & Reed series
Ellery Hathaway is trying to have a normal life. She's attempting to become a police detective in Boston. She's even trying to have a relationship with Reed Markham. But then Chloe Lockhart, a twelve-year-old girl, goes missing, and the case threatens everything Ellery has tried to build. Ellery has many scars--physical and emotional--from her own kidnapping. Is sending a former kidnapped child out to find another the right thing to do? Every moment that Chloe is missing reminds Ellery of her past--and how much she wants, needs, to find Chloe.
I just love the Ellery and Reed series so very much. Book number four is yet another excellent entry. There are two parallel case running, and both keep your attention. I love the tension between Reed and Ellery and how well so many present-day cases can tie back to Ellery's past. She's damaged, yes, but so strong. This is a compelling read, with plenty of twists and turns to keep you reading. And, the epilogue, oh my gosh! What a cliffhanger!
I cannot recommend this entire series enough! 4 stars, and I cannot wait for book #5.
I just love the Ellery and Reed series so very much. Book number four is yet another excellent entry. There are two parallel case running, and both keep your attention. I love the tension between Reed and Ellery and how well so many present-day cases can tie back to Ellery's past. She's damaged, yes, but so strong. This is a compelling read, with plenty of twists and turns to keep you reading. And, the epilogue, oh my gosh! What a cliffhanger!
I cannot recommend this entire series enough! 4 stars, and I cannot wait for book #5.
Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) rated Tales From the Crypt (1972) in Movies
Sep 11, 2020
In The Vault of Horror!
Tales From The Crypt- is anethor excellent film by Amicus Productions.
The Plot: In the film, five strangers (Joan Collins, Ian Hendry, Robin Phillips, Richard Greene and Nigel Patrick) in a crypt encounter the mysterious Crypt Keeper (Ralph Richardson), who makes each person in turn relive the manner of their death.
Milton Subotsky of Amicus Productions had long been a fan of EC Comics' Tales from the Crypt and eventually persuaded his partner Max Rosenberg to buy the rights. The copyright owner, William Gaines, insisted on script approval. The budget of £170,000 was higher than usual for an Amicus production, and was partly funded by American International Pictures. Peter Cushing was originally offered the part played by Richard Greene, but wanted to try something different and played the elderly Grimsdyke instead.
And All Through the House, Blind Alleys and Wish You Were Here were all somewhat remade into episodes for the Tales From the Crypt television show. Blind Alleys and Wish You Were Here were both changed.
I love the fourth wall breaking in this film and The House That Dripped Blood. Talking to you the viewer.
Its a great film, but a better tv series.
The Plot: In the film, five strangers (Joan Collins, Ian Hendry, Robin Phillips, Richard Greene and Nigel Patrick) in a crypt encounter the mysterious Crypt Keeper (Ralph Richardson), who makes each person in turn relive the manner of their death.
Milton Subotsky of Amicus Productions had long been a fan of EC Comics' Tales from the Crypt and eventually persuaded his partner Max Rosenberg to buy the rights. The copyright owner, William Gaines, insisted on script approval. The budget of £170,000 was higher than usual for an Amicus production, and was partly funded by American International Pictures. Peter Cushing was originally offered the part played by Richard Greene, but wanted to try something different and played the elderly Grimsdyke instead.
And All Through the House, Blind Alleys and Wish You Were Here were all somewhat remade into episodes for the Tales From the Crypt television show. Blind Alleys and Wish You Were Here were both changed.
I love the fourth wall breaking in this film and The House That Dripped Blood. Talking to you the viewer.
Its a great film, but a better tv series.
LoganCrews (2861 KP) rated Dead Man (1995) in Movies
Sep 20, 2020
On the one hand you have this audacious, visionary, deeply memorable film experience unlike any other that - in some ways - does earn its masterpiece distinction. But on the other, you have a movie where every scene ranges from about 10 seconds too long to 3+ minutes too long. I completely understand the need for much of this lingering, uncomfortable dread caused by the silence and negative space here - and a lot of the time it really does work. But injecting that same trick into *every* single scene sort of subtracts its original potency. I still cop to loving Jarmusch's sardonic delirium even with this, but in my opinion he achieved more success with his leaner nihilism like 𝘉𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘍𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴 and (shitty ending aside) 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘋𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘋𝘪𝘦. But in its own right this is still an excellent western with some of the most evocative music ever made for the genre courtesy of that righteous Neil Young score. The imagery, too, is just about to die for - the huge, unsafe rustic machinery of the opening factory and increasingly ubiquitous scenes of nature from then on are expressive, convincing, *and* gorgeous. Those final moments are unforgettably haunting. Plus it's still got that trademark Jim rousing dry humor aplenty. The "New World" is a lie.
LoganCrews (2861 KP) rated Magic in the Moonlight (2014) in Movies
Sep 20, 2020
𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘔𝘢𝘯. A movie that has no reason for existing, does virtually nothing more except over-explain the movie to you - leaving nothing else behind to chew on. Not just slight but good *Lord* is it ever drab. Yet another Woody Allen film where Stone falls for an unlikable, pompous asshole who thinks he's genius because he tells everyone else they're stupid and recites the same misanthropic bullshit you can find on those awful pre-commentary videos on YouTube from 2013 - except in this one he never perks up and the plot forgets to happen. And that's all not to mention how this is easily nu-Allen's crummiest looking movie. Has a few good moments, Stone is dependably sterling, and it's got a hell of a twist/reveal - but can this guy quit taking beyond excellent premises and spinning them into mostly wack fluff? Granted this is the first of his films I've disliked, but he's toed the line more times than once. The Firth dialogue is near as insufferable and amateurish as Allen has been - real thesaurus abuse going on. Starts off agreeable but soon after becomes a hell of a bore, pretty sure I checked out of 18 of the last 20 minutes.
Merissa (12911 KP) rated Imprisoned Heir (Atlantis Institute For Dangerous Criminals #1) in Books
Sep 21, 2020
Imprisoned Heir is the first book in the Atlantis Institute for Dangerous Criminals series and we meet Nyx. She is a very rare twin-soul which means whenever she sleeps or is unconscious, Eos comes out to play. That's okay except for when Eos kills two brothers and leaves Nyx too injured to escape. Nyx ends up in prison, tormented by her guard whose brothers Eos killed, and surrounded by her new 'friends', Frost, Dax, and Titus.
This was a well-written story with excellent characters. I enjoyed seeing Flavian struggle against the fated mate bond as he hated Nyx for what 'she' had done. The prison itself was well described as well as the Deep One's effect on people but Nyx in particular.
This does have an overall story arc so you don't get everything neatly tied up. Instead, it ends on a cliff-hanger, leaving you wanting the next book straight away.
A great story I thoroughly enjoyed and have no hesitation in recommending.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
This was a well-written story with excellent characters. I enjoyed seeing Flavian struggle against the fated mate bond as he hated Nyx for what 'she' had done. The prison itself was well described as well as the Deep One's effect on people but Nyx in particular.
This does have an overall story arc so you don't get everything neatly tied up. Instead, it ends on a cliff-hanger, leaving you wanting the next book straight away.
A great story I thoroughly enjoyed and have no hesitation in recommending.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
LoganCrews (2861 KP) rated 47 Ronin (2013) in Movies
Jan 12, 2021 (Updated Jul 4, 2021)
As expected this is a lot of eye-popping visual work in service of a story void of even a single drop of weight. Too much gorgeous design fetish on display to truly dislike in spite of it being executed as plainly as can be otherwise - for every mechanical, generic expository beat there's a splashpad of stunning locales, vibrant costumes, luscious CGI, sweeping sets, excellent props, and fully realized art backing it up. It's super atmospheric and the money is *definitely* on the screen but everything underneath the hood is not only lackluster but genuinely problematic. The idea to take one of the most legendary events in Japanese history and not only turn it into another passive whitewashed popcorn flick is gross all on its own, but to frame the entire thing around a bunch of wronged Japanese men + women having to constantly praise and apologize to a white man for bullying him or whatever is - quite frankly - beyond insulting. As much as I won't soon be forgetting the pop aesthetic experience this delivered upon, I'm also glad it bombed. A screenplay this goofy has no right being so tame. And see the skull guy on the poster? He's only in the movie for like 30 seconds so fuck you.
LoganCrews (2861 KP) rated Swallow (2019) in Movies
Jan 13, 2021 (Updated Jan 13, 2021)
To be fair, I'd rather swallow a screwdriver than hang out with rich white people too. Gorgeous, nasty, and mean - but never disrespectful. Medically accurate? Perhaps not, but these seldom ever are anyhow so what can you do? In fact I found this to be much more compelling and satisfying as a depiction of obnoxious old-money business whities having their perfect little synthetic image destroyed by people who refuse to shape themselves around it than a portrait of pica. As everyone has already pointed out, Austin Stowell and in particular Haley Bennett are just astounding - easily not only her best performance to date, but the type of galvanizing role that should propel her star-power vastly beyond just Jennifer Lawrence comparisons considering that this is way better work than anything J-Law has done in years anyhow (excluding 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳! [I'm a simp for stupid, manic arthouse cinema I know you don't have to tell me]). Deeply, deeply, *deeply* unsettling - can pleasantly report that its reputation is as airtight as claimed. Super messy but I think that gives it more character tbh, and what an excellent use of music. A bit too on-the-nose at times but also the type of movie that's destined to be misinterpreted by morons everywhere.
Darren Fisher (2454 KP) rated Siege (1982) in Movies
Dec 13, 2020 (Updated Dec 13, 2020)
Overlooked excellent grindhouse thriller.
I rented this out a lot back in the 80s. This film needs an official re-release desperately (remains only available on VHS and Laserdisc).
Siege motors along at a fast pace, no lulls, just scene upon scene of intense cat and mouse between a gang of murderous thugs and a group of people (in what looks like the most rundown and scuzziest building ever) who take in a survivor from the gangs previous assault. Shades of John Carpenter's Assault on Precinct 13 and a cheeky wink towards Escape From New York, the gang take on more than they bargain for when the ever resourceful victims strike back. Solid acting all round and a sucker punch of a twist at the end. This is a must see! Essential grindhouse viewing!
Trivia:
1# It contains the only existing news footage of the actual 1981 Halifax Police strike.
2# Aka Self Defense (USA), Night Warriors (Europe), New York 1991 (Various countries). Seige was the UK title.
3# The Japanese release has a further 7 minutes of extra 'day-time' footage. Although this is interesting it doesn't really add anything to the final cut. Personally I prefer the 'night-time' version as it evokes more menace and gets straight to the point.
Siege motors along at a fast pace, no lulls, just scene upon scene of intense cat and mouse between a gang of murderous thugs and a group of people (in what looks like the most rundown and scuzziest building ever) who take in a survivor from the gangs previous assault. Shades of John Carpenter's Assault on Precinct 13 and a cheeky wink towards Escape From New York, the gang take on more than they bargain for when the ever resourceful victims strike back. Solid acting all round and a sucker punch of a twist at the end. This is a must see! Essential grindhouse viewing!
Trivia:
1# It contains the only existing news footage of the actual 1981 Halifax Police strike.
2# Aka Self Defense (USA), Night Warriors (Europe), New York 1991 (Various countries). Seige was the UK title.
3# The Japanese release has a further 7 minutes of extra 'day-time' footage. Although this is interesting it doesn't really add anything to the final cut. Personally I prefer the 'night-time' version as it evokes more menace and gets straight to the point.
Emma @ The Movies (1786 KP) rated Girls Trip (2017) in Movies
Sep 25, 2019
I love films like this next one. Girls Trip looked like so much fun every time I saw I clip that it was definitely going to be on the list. So here's the Red Band trailer for you...
The Flossy Posse haven't seen each other for five years, somewhere along the way, life happened. But that's about to change. Ryan Pierce is the keynote speaker at this year's Essence Music Festival, and she's getting the gang back together for a long overdue reunion.
While Ryan has great things to look forward to in her career, everything isn't all smooth sailing, and the same goes for the others, although no one wants to admit it. Can they find their old spark again and set themselves on the right path before the partying ends?..
This film made me sad... oh, it wasn't a sad movie, it made me sad that I've never had a group of girls to dance off with. These four lovely ladies really worked well off each other. And hey, if you fancy setting the internet trolls off... I think they would make an excellent front line for the next Ghostbusters movie. Just saying.
Seriously though, this film was really funny. You'll laugh, you'll cringe, and you'll do it along to some fantastic music.
The Flossy Posse haven't seen each other for five years, somewhere along the way, life happened. But that's about to change. Ryan Pierce is the keynote speaker at this year's Essence Music Festival, and she's getting the gang back together for a long overdue reunion.
While Ryan has great things to look forward to in her career, everything isn't all smooth sailing, and the same goes for the others, although no one wants to admit it. Can they find their old spark again and set themselves on the right path before the partying ends?..
This film made me sad... oh, it wasn't a sad movie, it made me sad that I've never had a group of girls to dance off with. These four lovely ladies really worked well off each other. And hey, if you fancy setting the internet trolls off... I think they would make an excellent front line for the next Ghostbusters movie. Just saying.
Seriously though, this film was really funny. You'll laugh, you'll cringe, and you'll do it along to some fantastic music.