Reviews

"Death Warrant" is another good film from the early nineties featuring Van Damage and all his greatness, this time Van Damme (a police officer) goes undercover to a prison that supposedly has been the hosts to some rather mysterious deaths. What transpires from there is your usual prison flick: fights, gangs, murders, plotting to get the bad guy, the eventual fight sequences, etc. Considering the time this film came out (1990), it isn't too bad at all, I have definitely seen much worse in the action film department than this. There are some flaws, continuity errors, goofs, and what have you, but Van Dammes films in my opinion should be devoid of any Roger Ebert-laden scrutiny. They are entirely designed for the action sequences that many fans (along with myself) find enjoyment in watching for the simplicity of entertainment value. I recommend 'Death Warrant' to anyone who appreciates your good old rock 'em sock 'em Van Damage (Bloodsport, Kickboxer and Lionheart for example). Good stuff.

This might possibly be one of the best films I've ever seen Van Damme in. I understand the legendary 'Bloodsport' remains the most popular of Van Damme's works but "In Hell" in my opinion at least should rival 'Bloodsports' popularity. The story of a man (Van Damage) who murders his wifes murderer in cold blood and gets sent to a Russian prison that specializes in torture, brutality and the usual host of atrocities that commonly occur at corrupt prisons. Through all the beatings, embarrassments, tests in courage and dignity, Van Damme creates an entire turnaround from the pushover that he once was. The film is not for the weak of heart, the brutality in this film is so strong you can practically feel it while watching it. That to me shows how good of a film "In Hell" truly is, it is very captivating, which is not usual of your typical Van Damme fare. I recommend this film to anyone who is a fan of Van Dammes films, and prison-related films as well. Good stuff.

I was really impressed with how this movie was done considering the budget for it. Van Damme's lines are short and sweet as usual but his overall acting in this film is not typical of his earlier works in the early nineties. The fact that the film was done on a low budget is very obvious (most of Van Damme's work these days is straight to video) but for what the director had to work with, I really feel that he did a great job. There is so much more drama in this film compared to other Van Damme films that I was really surprised, sometimes an actors departure from their usual works isn't such a bad thing and I feel this film is proof of that. I would recommend Until Death to anyone who can tolerate low budget films, as well as anyone who appreciates Van Damage in all his greatness, and a little bit of a genre twist added in. Good stuff in my opinion.

Already being noted for his stellar work as a Director, Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds" is in my opinion, another successful chapter in the impressive career for the director. Brad Pitt's portrayal of Lt. Aldo Raine to me is award winning material, the accent, the comedic yet serious side, Pitt definitely out-does himself in this film. The German and French subtitles are marvelous, the cinematography is amazing, it is quite evident that Tarantino did his homework before making this picture. The Nazi leaders, Hitler, Goebbels, Goering and Bormann are all mentioned (and shown as well) so I was impressed with the historical significance that Tarantino incorporated into the film (although it is fictitious). The ending is more than memorable, for a two and a half hour film, it does fly by. With Tarantino's unorthodox blend of comedy,suspense,horror and drama all mixed together, it is beyond fair to conclude that this picture is a film that is deserved of its own pedestal.

This film is definitely one of the better J. Lee Thompson/Charles Bronson outings. Although certain scenes in the film show the shoestring budget it was created upon, the acting, score and the haunting white buffalo itself keep the film worth watching. It is a very simplistic film that was shot and released about ten years to late, if it had been done about 1967 (when westerns were popular and still prevalent), then the response probably would have been greater but filmdom by 1977 had evolved into bigger and better things. The thing I really appreciate about this film is that it almost has a dreamy,fantasy approach to it, not typical for Charles Bronson but it definitely works. Trust me I'd want to bump off a white buffalo too if I had dreams about it coming after me while it roared like an Amtrak going 200 mph! Good film.

A Dirty Harry clone? The Stone Killer is an interesting film, Bronson portrays a plain-clothes cop named Lou Torrey, Torrey has a penchant for being a little violent at times and it costs him his badge in NYC. Torrey eventually picks up a Lieutenant position at the Los Angeles department and gets knee deep in some real problems. War veterans (Vietnam) with itchy trigger fingers, anti-war sentiment, druggies, prostitutes, civil rights issues, a mafia-related vengeance plot that has been in the works for forty two years as well as a host of other problems. I had to watch this film twice in order to really follow the films somewhat confusing pace, there are some subplots which confused me a little bit but upon the second viewing I had, the film made a lot more sense to me than in my initial viewing. There are some scenes that go straight from Los Angeles to New York City and back throughout the film but the pace is easy to keep up with. There is a ton of action to feast your eyes upon, many gun fights, a few car chases, etc. Bronson acts in his usual tough-guy role as Lou Torrey and plays it very well in my opinion. The ending is not as satisfactory as I would have liked, but Director Michael Winner is known for having unique endings/twists to his films. As far as rating the film goes, The Stone Killer in my opinion is just a notch or two below other Bronson/Winner collaborations such as 'The Mechanic' or the classic 'Death Wish', but all in all I would recommend this film to any Bronson fan, or anyone who appreciates old, dated action films. I certainly enjoyed it.

Charles Bronson plays Holland, a man who has retired from his 'professional killer' days and lives at a beautiful island home. Suddenly, Bronson's character is coerced into un-retiring upon hearing about various crimes committed by a sadistic Josef Mengele copycat-killer/torturer named Mulloch (J. Maher). By plotting his vengeance step-by-step, Bronson eliminates Mullochs inner circle in a cold, calculated fashion leading up to the inevitable confrontation at the end of the film. This film to me seems to follow the vigilante-Bronson thread pretty well, his character in this movie seems to reflect previous characters he portrayed in earlier efforts in his career (i.e. The Mechanic and Death Wish). Director J. Lee Thompson's pace throughout the film was enough to keep me interested, Maher's portrayal of the sadistic Mulloch was very eerie and uncomfortable at times, his methods/beliefs of and about torture are pretty gruesome, which greatly impacts how we as the viewer look at him during the film. This is definitely a good installment to the collaborations that J. Lee Thompson and Charles Bronson have had together in film, it isn't the best they've done together but it is well worth a watch if you are a fan of either Thompson's or Bronson's works.

"Friday the 13th" Marcus Nispel-style is a rather odd entry to the series. The beginning is a direct re-imagining of the ending to the original first film when Mrs. Voorhees got hers and then we learn that Jason happened to be present that evening as well.... well then we fast forward to twenty years later, we have some teenage/young adult kids (6?) hiking in the middle of nowhere, wanting to find some marijuana (with GPS devices no less!) so they can sell it and become rich, blah-blah-blah, and oddly enough at the same time, they learn that they just happen to be in the crystal lake area by chance! Insert a short synopsis on the Jason legend next to a campfire and well guess who shows up eventually and ruins the sex, drugs and the rock 'n roll, I'm sure your following me in this review just fine so far...this film is a little predictable in the scare department, its almost as your lead into the scare through the sounds accompanying it and not being caught off guard so much, although I'll be the first to admit to being 'jolted' in my seat from time to time during the scare scenes. Jason himself is quite an intimidating figure nowadays, he must have a personal trainer in the winter months or something, he also seems to own quite a stretch of property up in Crystal Lake (above and below ground) and its even equipped with fully working power! At one point there are flood lights that are turned on at the Voorhees residence by Jason! At least he pays his electric bills, right? The characters are lame, they really didn't give me a reason to pay any attention to their dialogue, let alone pay attention to the grisly ends they all met. The only 'incorporating' Nispel did in homage from Parts 2 and 3 were Jasons potato sack mask (which looked like Darkman's bandages to me...) and the inevitable acquisition of his noted Hockey Mask. The ending is your usual 'Friday the 13th' ending, I wasn't shocked and ecstatic by no means but I definitely was in no state of satisfaction either. I really think that after the opening title came across the screen after a fifteen minute 'introductory' sequence, I really became numb to the film. Granted, I give Nispel credit for trying to add something 'fresh' by giving a new vision to how this could have been the replacement to Steve Miner's 2nd and 3rd entries to the franchise years ago. But in the end it was just a lot of the same to me, just given a more modern/updated treatment. 5/10

Soderbergh's tense thriller "The Limey" is very beautifully crafted into a sleek, smart and cool masterpiece of revenge. Terence Stamp plays Wilson, a criminal who has got out of the clink (for a third time) and later found out his daughter had passed away suddenly. Fonda plays Valentine, a rock 'n roll producer who has a morbid fascination for young women and corruption. This movie rolls at such a pace that you are instantly left wanting more (I know I was!). It was great to see Director Soderbergh mix flashback footage from one of Stamp's previous films from the late sixties, "Poor Cow" I believe is the name of the film. Lesley Ann Warren and Luis Guzman both show up with great performances throughout the film, lots of great sixties music and a really "groovy" atmosphere make up for a really cool flick. I would recommend this to anyone who is breathing. 10 out of 10 stars any day of the week!

Before watching this film I had heard a lot about it and certain scenes in the film, but listening wasn't doing it for me so I planned on watching it and wow! Ned Beatty, Ronny Cox, Jon Voight and Burt Reynolds make for an interesting group of individuals who are hell bent on canoing down the Cahulawassee river and the unfortunate series of events that transpires upon them all. The character development takes some time in enveloping the viewer with a better understanding of each person, but eventually you know these guys like they were your friend. The acting, dialogue is very very real, as close to reality as you can get for Hollywood acting. Reynolds character "Lewis" was interesting as a guy who comes off very tough but underneath the manly veneer lies a very soft and broken man (I was impressed with his performance!) Jon Voight seems to be the character thats on the spotlight the most, the unfortunate circumstances that seem to find him at every corner really mold and caste him into a different man at the end (his character transition was excellent). Ned Beatty and Ronny Cox really seem like the silly lunkheads that just like to joke around and don't seem to get too awful serious unless they have too, and they did... I really was amazed at Director Boorman's vision of Dickey's novel, very impressed. You cannot go your whole life without watching this film. I give it eight out of ten stars, extremely impressed.

A Fantastic effort from director Richard Fleischer, Bronson stars (in a great performance) as Vincent Majestyk, owner of a rich stretch of property that he uses to grow melons. Al Lettieri probably steals the show in his role as mafia bad dude Frank Renda (his performance is a big wow!) Between Bronson and Lettieri's performances, the film easily sustains an interesting pace and the action sequences are very tense and well edited together to keep the audience captivated. I really didn't know what to expect in this film before watching it, but now after viewing it, I must say I'am proud to have purchased this film. 9 out of 10 stars because this movie will only get better after each viewing. I really don't know which Bronson character is cooler? Paul Kersey of 'Death Wish' or Vince Majestyk of "Mr. Majestyk'? I'll let you be the judge!

I'am sorry IMDb readers, but I was woefully letdown with this installment to the Indiana Jones series. Just watching this film I was amazed at how ridiculously cheap and computer enhanced the sets at different points in the movie were, I understand at the same time that we are living in a different age now with technology so advanced, but I feel along with other Indiana Jones fans that the cinematography and CGI definitely made for quite an obvious departure from Lucas/Spielberg's previous work. The dialogue was lacking a lot of substance and really didn't give me any reason to care about what was going on. Although I really tried my hardest to 'keep with the program' all throughout the film. Karen Allen's return to the series was a nice retro moment but still there is too much not going on in this film to really consider it as compelling as the previous entries. I'm sure all you guys out there were expecting just as much as I was, although it was very nice to see the great Harrison Ford reprise a role that had been nineteen years removed. Five out of Ten stars.

Every horror movie fan should watch this film. 'The Prowler' to me ranks close to other films at its time like 'The Burning' or 'Friday the 13th part 2', this time the story is of a WWII soldier who was screwed over by his "ex" (the dreaded 'Dear John' letter), lets just say he doesn't take 'Dear John' letters too well, he arrives home from overseas and eventually gets his revenge at a homecoming/graduation dance and years down the road for some reason he decides to gear-up and become the prowler all over again thirty five years later! The story is a little bland and at times tends to get boring but The Prowler is a lot better in contrast to others that I've seen of its type/genre. Savini definitely provided some great gore FX, I can admit to 'slighty cringing' at some death scenes... Joseph Zito did very well directing this film, now I understand why he was hired on to do Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter, which is also a good horror film. Overall, I enjoyed it very much. 10/10 stars.

Wayans and Voight are the two main subjects in the film and there is really nothing but cardboard cut-outs in between. The dialogue is cheesy and a lot of the action scenes require you to give up your belief in reality and let your imagination roll with the punches and shots fired and all the plentiful action and violence in this film. There are some good moments (the ending especially) but for the most part this film is very campy to say the least, definitely not getting a Oscar any time soon. This movie is trying to push the bad cop good cop message (at a higher level) but it doesn't seem to stick as movies like Dark Blue and others have before. It's a lot of Keenan Ivory Wayans and his tough as nails brutish military strut, while still able to throw in some humor from time to time, which trust me is not funny at all, you practically laugh at the jokes in sympathy for how cheesy they are! 6 out of 10 stars.

Wesley Snipes is the only fun there is about this movie and he really isn't that fun in this movie! He stars as former air security rep. John Cutter, Cutter lost in wife in a tragic holdup and he blames himself wholly because of it. Virtual Unknown at the time Elizabeth Hurley plays a crooked stewardess, the villain Rane is cool, a little too mysterious but cool. Everything in this movie is rushed along in a quick hour and twenty minutes pretty well so there really is no time to go to the bathroom or get popcorn while its going (not that you'll miss much). Overall not a horrible movie but still is cheesy and campy in some spots (almost like this movie should have been on TV instead). The ending is silly and a lot of the action in this film depends on your ability to disassociate yourself with reality and let the campiness do its work.

The Siege is one of those movies where they employ realistic ideals and then try to amalgamate those ideas with some far fetched, semi-ludicrous plots and action scenes. Bruce Willis is wasted in this film, maybe I've seen too many "Movies where Willis is the good guy". Denzel Washington is always money every role he ever takes on in film, Annette Bening was testing my nerves in the film, I really didn't appreciate her presence in the film. Yes I can see the controversy and all that stuff but think about it...do you think filmdom would go on through its finite existence without making a film of this nature? Of Course not. I felt this film was an utter waste of time with cardboard cutouts, yes there is the "touchy topic" but jeez look in the world we live in now!!!!!!!!

Shelton's "Dark Blue" is a very no holds barred look at L.A. early nineties at the hilt of the Rodney King beating and the thick corroded line of corruption that is slowly leaking its way out of LAPD. Kurt Russell is at his best acting as a horrible man. Russell plays Eldon Perry, a detective (with quite an open window as far as people's rights are concerned) who also has issues with race and his upbringing. The movie tests Russell's characters ability to be able to see through the destruction and chaos he is a part of and come clean and be able to be on the outside looking in rather than the one on the inside doing all the dirty work. It is not a bad movie but maybe I over-hyped myself for this one a little too much.... 7 out of 10 stars will do.

This is a Rocky movie of a different kind, it doesn't seem to possess all the testosterone filled action that the five other installments in the series had. This movie shows a more 'realistical' Rocky who just recently had his wife pass on, his only friend is his Uncle Pauly and he manages somehow everyday to put a smile on his face at his restaurant amidst all the depressing moments we get to view of him through the film's progression. Director Stallone definitely made an effort to keep a lot of the things from previous Rocky films the same, he still has Pauly and his only son who he is very proud of, he still has that rough and gruff city accent and his lack of debonair has always been a quality of his character that dates all the way back to the original when Rocky and Adrian first met each other. This has a more gloomy, depressing tone at first but ultimately leads up to a (very well I must say) fine conclusion to his career by fighting and keeping up with a boxer (Mason "The Line" Dixon) who is thirty years his junior. Overall I really liked this movie and I think it is the perfect bookend to the series. 9 out of 10 stars.

Breakheart Pass is a good, mystery western with an appeal relative to the 1985 movie "Clue" (except there isn't three or four different endings like there was in Clue). This movie makes you keep guessing who the culprit is and the action nor suspense ever let up at all. Some very interesting death sequences for a western, a train wreck scene that is almost impossible to believe it when you see it! Bronson's real life wife Jill Ireland plays one of her better roles in this film. Richard Crenna does a remarkable job portraying the character of Governor Fairchild. Ed Lauter portrays a command chief (Seargeant, Colonel???) for his army that is supposedly stranded out west in the middle of a diphtheria epidemic that is raging like wildfire. Bronson as usual is his in character stoic self playing his character with cool and calm ease as John Deakin, a supposed assassin and robber with a criminal history but hey wait! that's not all folks...

Why so serious? Why make another movie! I'am an avowed Batman fanatic, I'm talking from the Adam West/Burt Ward days, on through Tim Burton's 1989 masterpiece featuring the aforementioned duo, after that film it seems that the Batman movies became quite dumb. Batman Begins I felt was completely unnecessary as along with Batman Returns, Batman Forever and who can't forget Batman and Robin! The content is always rehashed into an even grimmer format than before and Batman always gets new toys and for some reason Michael Hough turned into Michael Caine! Christian Bale's "hoarse" rendition of the bat-voice was completely foolish and I could never take his mouth movements while he spoke in this 'dark' tone too seriously at all. I never cared for Heath Ledger as an actor but his performance as the Joker I'll say was pretty good, a little kooky but far from the intensity that Jack Nicholson or even Cesar Romero for that fact could provide! Michael Caine I'll admit was a nice touch as Alfred, he had a few funny lines ('Courage juice' for example). Never cared for Christian Bale's Bruce Wayne at all, very cocky and undeserved, Aaron Eckhart's role as Harvey Dent/Two Face wasn't even necessary, only to let the movie continue longer than it definitely needed to. These DC comics movies are getting dumb and dumber each year. I praise the individual who was gripped by these performances amidst chaotic bunk because it takes a strong willpower to deal with all that garbage at once. What was up with Batman's new toys? And the fact that he could disappear and reappear anytime he wanted, a little stupid. At least Tim Burton's Batman was designed with a little more realism. If I really wanted to suspend my belief of reality and go into drone-mode for a little while, I think I'd watch some Saturday morning cartoons instead. Five stars because the cinematography was very good and Heath Ledger left our world with a very startling last performance, R.I.P.

Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim are geniuses, they know how to get a laugh out of someone, yes their humor is a little eccentric, but it is hilarious. I understand a lot of people do not understand or really particularly care for their blend of humor but I feel that this show is a silly satirization of how kooky our real world culture is like in America. Upon watching the DVD of season one a few times you as the viewer can start to piece the puzzle of Tim and Eric's inner circle together, I find it really interesting to see all the new 'character's' they bring on the program. Casey and his brother are insanely funny as the Uncle Muscles hour participants, Jan and Wayne Skylar as the 'Only married news team' are some of the funniest skits featuring one of my favorite characters Dr. Steve Brule, who throws out random 'Brule's Rules' throughout random shows, Weird Al Yankovic makes numerous appearances on the show, plus many other funny individuals that make great contributions to the show's excessive surrealism (and when I type 'excessive' I mean that in an awesome way!). I wish I could give this season one DVD a million stars out of ten stars because that's what this work deserves. So I say to you Tim and Eric, Great Job!

Cannon films always had a knack of being exploitative and very uncanny with its vivid, trashy releases but there was always a bright spot in the crew and that was Charles Bronson. Director J. Lee Thompson hung his reels up after this film and it seems fitting enough that he did after directing this slick actioner starring Mr. Bronson himself. The story of a Japanese businessman who travels to America, only to have his daughter kidnapped by some sicko named "Duke". Duke 'the sicko' has a big fan base, his biggest fan is Lieutenant Crowe (Bronson) who will do anything he has to in order to show Duke that he will take him down by any means necessary. The story is a bit confusing in moments but for the most part I could easily keep up with the pace that Thompson went with. I really enjoyed this movie, I honestly would give it a little bit higher of a rating than "Messenger of Death" which was a previous Bronson/Thompson entry under the Cannon films franchise from 1988. Overall I thought it was good stuff and as always there is a memorable Bronson line or two. Don't miss out on this movie Bronson fans!

Fred Williamson rocks! I will admit that the cinematography is horrible, the acting is way below sub-par, the direction is beyond weak but this movie just rocks! Some movies can be "so bad that they're good" and this film is honestly a fine description of that phrase. Yeah the villains are awful dorky in their little bike-suits and dirt-bikes they haul around in. Williamson is solid gold as Detective Robert Malone in this flick, he's bad, he's mean, he's had a rough past that he'd love to forget and he gets to protect a photographer that took some incriminating photos of a biker gang (The Black Cobras) committing a crime that unfortunately for her and Malone didn't develop properly, soo (you guessed it!) that leaves the face of the culprit(s) as unknown. So Malone's gotta get out on the streets and do it his own way , this film should've been called "Dirty Robert", Williamson's character is practically a mirror image to Clint Eastwood's famous "Dirty" Harry Callahan character. I suggest this movie to everybody that breathes on the face of this earth. If you are having an evening alone (or with friends) and you wanna watch a movie that doesn't ask much of the viewer and you wanna see some butts get kicked....Then my friends, The Black Cobra is for You! 10 out of 10 stars because I'm sure nobody else likes this movie as much as I do!

I loved the first installment of this series and the sequel is just as good and maybe even a touch better than the previous installment but for me it is just all about Fred Williamson's character Detective Robert Malone, bringing justice to the streets, nailing the bad guys, he's bad, he's mean, he's gotta past that he'd love to forget and now he's gotta go to the Phillippines and work with INTERPOL to capture some terrorists. The character study between Hammond's character and Williamson's character and the reversal of their respective personalities that takes place towards the final shootout of the film is very interesting. The soundtrack to this film is awesome, really encompasses the creepy street vibe ala Jimmy Page's "Death Wish 2" score. Again I would recommend this film to anyone that doesn't judge films too harshly and would just rather sit back and watch some low budget action. 10 out of 10 stars any day of the week.

This is possibly one of Charles Bronson's best cinematic performances with the exception of a few of his other films. Albeit the story is a little corny and there seems to be a lot of action going on all the time (which is O.K. with me) this movie really spoke volumes to me. Learning that this film is based on an incident that supposedly happened around 1870, that blew me away alone. A gunslinger, a samurai and a woman who only cares for herself (Ursula Andress) make up for the meat of the cast. A lot of action sequences in this movie and it is a little funny in some spots, Bronson (unusually) provides a lot of the laughs in the film. This movie is incorporating all different types of stuff and it just seems a little to-good-to-be-true type movie, but I really really really liked it! It's not to often that you get to see a gunfighter and a samurai fight on the same side in a "traditional" spaghetti western. Terence Young did a great job on this film. 8 out of 10 stars any day of the week.