my thoughts on.... 'The Slammin' Salmon' aka 'Broken Lizard's the Slammin' Salmon'

(terrible poster, by the way.... it looks weird.... and Kevin Heffernan's character is only a waiter for the first 10 minutes, the rest of the film he's in a suit and tie as a manager.)

When I first saw 'Super Troopers', I really didn't know what to make of it. But like with any great cult classic, it grew on me the more I heard about it. Soon, I was a convert. I've since seen and purchased 'Super Troopers', 'Club Dread' and 'Beerfest'. I haven't seen their stand up DVD 'Broken Lizard Stands Up' or their first film 'Puddle Cruiser'. (I am a big enough fan to have Jay Chandrasekhar's 'Dukes of Hazard' remake in my queue) It's bee a while since I've heard anything from Broken Lizard, but I recently came across one of their newest films, 'The Slammin' Salmon'. It has all of the regulars of Broken Lizard and their extended family. It feels and has the comic sensabilites of all of the others. I guess what I'm saying is, "I loved it!" I won't pull any punches with this review, it holds up to all of the other films they've made a 4 out of 5 star classic. Michael Clarke Duncan is a great addition, as well as a special appearance by Lance Henriksen.

The storyline from Netflix.com: "When a boxer turned restaurateur (Michael Clarke Duncan) announces a contest to his waitstaff, the good news is that the winner will get a $10,000 bonus. The bad news? The loser will be on the receiving end of a heavy-duty smack-down at the hands of the champ himself." What they fail to mention is that the contest is based on the fact that Michael Clarke Duncan needs the restaurant to make $20,000 in one night to pay off a debit and the only way to motivate the staff is to offer his prize. The math is obviously a little fuzzy for him. There is a lot of other stuff going on throughout the night and even though it feels a bit like the classic 'Waiting...', it's still a great flick and one I want to own.I really don't know what else to say that I haven't already said. Did I mention that Morgan Fairchild is in the film? Did I also mention that there is a lot of use of the phrase 'Mother F#$ker' by Michael Clarke Duncan?

What's really great about this film is how it blends the comedy into the storyline in even doses so you can enjoy it just as a film as well as a comedy. There's also a lot of subtle stuff going on that makes it re-watchable. If you don't catch it all on the first go around, you might get it on the next. It's like that with all of their films. I'm kind of guessing that this might not be the film for everyone, just like 'Club Dread' wasn't. I recommend you watch it and see for yourself. It's avaiable to rent from Netflix now and I'm returning my copy tomorrow, so you should be able to get it by Tuesday or so.

The only drawback of the film, lots of fish being served in the restaurant and I don't really dig on fish too much.

If you like this, check out 'Super Troopers', 'Beerfest' and 'Club Dread'

my thoughts on.... 'AAAH! ZOMBIES!!'

As I've said in earlier posts, it's really hard to find anything new in the zombie genre. It seems like everything has been done and re-done. However, I was pointed in the direction of 'AAAH! ZOMBIES!!' and what I saw was something new. It proved that there may still be some life in the undead. Before I get into why it was fresh and new, I have to confess that I HATE talking zombies. By "talking", I mean ones that speak in complete sentences. Zombies are basically a shark. One track mind to kill and eat, nothing else. They grunt, goan and moan but they do not talk. 'AAAH! ZOMBIES!!' had talking zombies, but they presented them in a way that I didn't hate! It was a unique twist on how zombies might communicate with each other. It shows how zombies might think and what it might be like to turn into the walking dead. Haven't you ever wondered what it's like on the flip side of the undead coin? I know I have.

So what's the plot and the big secret to success? The plot is that of some friends who are just hanging out, when the military messes up and toxic chemicals are released. Eventually, people start turning into zombies. The four friends become zombies too. The thing is, they don't realize they're zombies right away. And as far as the audience is concerned, we see them as still human in black and white, but as zombies in color. So one minute they're having an intelligent conversation and trying to figure out what's going on and then we flip to color and they're just standing there (as zombies) moaning and groaning at each other. After the four realize what they've become, they start fighting for the rights of the living challenged. They also take on the military to try and get to a 'safe zone' where they might be able to start a new life with a colony of zombies all living together. Do they make it? Do they eat people? Do they get shot in the head? You'll have to watch it to find out. 'AAAH! ZOMBIES!!', rated 'R'.

With the set up of the undead being able to still communicate and understand each other, but sound unintelligent to everyone else, that's what sets up a lot of the comedy in this movie. Because they shift back and forth between the zombie world and the real world and seeing them hiding out, talking to the military, etc. it's very entertaining. One of the other things that's humorous, is one of the main characters realizing that he now has a taste for human flesh. For example, a living person gets their head blown off and while everyone else is talking about it and in shock, he starts eating their brains. He asks, "Is anyone going to finish that?" At which point, everyone else gets kind of grossed out. This movie is very clever and pretty well written. It's not without its flaws, but I very rarely ever see a movie that's 'perfect'. Have you? This movie is low budget and it's pretty obvious, but that doesn't take away from its charm. It just shows how much heart this movie has. Somebody was really proud of this concept and gave it the best they could to make it the best movie they could.

Between the good, the bad and the flaws, I gave it 3 out of 5 stars. I think it has 're-watchability' and that's saying something. It may even deserve a higher rating. I mean, any movie that can have talking zombies and still have me enjoying it, has accomplished something. The actors are good, the direction is good and even the special effects and look of the movie are good. It's on Netflix OnDemand right now, so I would take advantage of that fact.... if you can. You could even watch it tonight, if you wanted too! So all that being said, are you still one of those jaded horror fans who's said that they've seen it all in the zombie genre? Perhaps you haven't and perhaps you should watch this movie and prove to yourself that an old dog can learn new tricks.... even a dead one.

Movies similar to this? 'Shaun of the Dead, 'Doghouse' and 'Stacy'

my brief thoughts on.... 'Piranha' (2010)

when Alexandre Aja released his film 'Haute Tension aka High Tension' in 2003, i hailed him as one of the up and coming directors that was going to save horror.... he was part of an elite group of artists that had a unique vision and something fresh to contibute to a genre saturated with PG-13 crap fests.... he had something gritty, dark, original, well thought out, violent, and beautiful to watch (cinematography).... over the years he's released some good and some okay horror films.... i don't think he's done yet and i still have faith in what the future holds.... regardless of all of that, when i heard he was remaking the cult classic 'Piranha' from 1978 i was a little concerned.... and when i heard it was going to be yet another 3-D movie, i got a little more concerned.... i thought maybe i was wrong and that maybe he had bought into all of the recent trends in Hollywood filmmaking.... because of that, i stayed away from this for a bit.... the only thing that turned me around on watching this sooner than expected was some very glowing reviews.... not only did the press enjoy it, but a lot of my friends felt the same way.... no one said this was high art, however they all agreed that it was a damn fun ride worthy of an audience.... and that brings me to now....

this movie is about a spring break like scenario at Lake Havasu.... while all the young people are partying and getting drunk, an earthquake strikes the town.... some researchers are exploring the phenomenon and find an underwater lake beneath the lake.... what they discover there is killer piranha's from 1000's of years ago.... soon the killer fish begin to attack and kill everyone around the lake and chaos ensues.... only a few survivors remain to stop the attack....
i hesitantly gave this 3 out of 5 stars.... i think with another viewing of this movie, that i will probably raise it to 4 stars.... it's just such a fun little excursion from the average movie going experience.... it's big stupid fun with a silly script and storyline.... the fish are over the top.... the acting is over the top.... there's nothing small or half-assed about this movie.... it knew what it was going to be and relished in that fact instead of trying to pretend it was something other than a B-grade movie with a big budget.... this is not the defining moment of Alexandre Aja's career, but it's a nice little notch in his accomplishment belt.... if you want a silly little bloody getaway, this is the movie you need to see.... even the ending is funny.... the only thing is, before you watch this movie, grab some fish to eat.... before it eats you....!

some other Alexandre Aja films: 'Haute Tension aka High Tension', 'The Hills Have Eyes' (2006), and 'Mirrors'

my brief thoughts on.... 'Zombies of Mass Destruction'

once again, a simple browse through Netflix and you come across a little slice of gold.... i'd heard of this once a while ago.... but forgot about it.... and when i saw it pop up, i did a little research and heard a lot of good things.... so i added it to the queue and watched it the same night.... wow.... what a keen little flick.... it proves that there are still good zombie movies being made under the radar.... this is kind of along the lines of 'Shaun of the Dead'.... ie: kind of funny, but this one is not over the top hilarious.... it's more satire.... i mean, you can probably gauge that from the title.... and the tagline on the poster.... it is a bit of a commentary of the state of affairs in 2003, when the movie is set.... the characters are unique and fun to watch.... the situations are silly and gory.... i mean the special effects are pretty damn well done.... a LOT of blood and guts.... almost anime-ish.... the zombies are traditional and creepy.... they shamble, not run.... the one big difference is that with the actual premise of the movie, the dead don't come back from the grave.... they're living people who've been turned.... or killed by a zombie and come back.... that's a huge change from a lot of the movies like this you'd normally see.... but once again, another simliarity to 'Shaun of the Dead'....

the small town of Port Gamble is over run by hordes of zombies after terrorists release a biological weapon that creates zombies.... (hence 'Zombies of Mass Destruction').... the movie centers around a group of different people who's lives all intersect over the course of the evening of the outbreak.... you've got gun toting Republicans, two gay men who came to town for one of them to come out, an Iranian family who get the finger pointed at them for the mess, two candidates running for mayor, an overzealous preacher and the rest of the town....
this is a really well done movie.... i recommended it to zombie fans of either the regular kind or the funny kind.... this covers both.... it's well written.... the zombie action is high quality.... the characters are ones you can get behind and you care about what happens to them.... it has it's share of twists and turns and is well worth the time to invest in watching it.... so if you've run out of good zombie movies to watch these days.... this one is one you should watch.... it'll make you feel good and get out that zombie cravings you've been having.... it's OnDemand right now.... so no wait for Netflix to bring it to your mailbox.... i gave it 3 out of 5 stars with the consideration of giving it 4.... watch it and check it out.... i think you'll dig it....

if you like this, check out: 'Dead Alive aka Brain Damage', 'Shaun of the Dead' and 'Hide and Creep'

my brief thoughts on.... 'The Sarah Silverman Program' and 'Jesus is Magic'

i like Sarah Silverman.... i'm not sure why exactly, but i do.... i'd never seen her stand up.... or her show.... so i figured it was time.... plus Brian Posehn is in it and i really enjoy his work.... anyway.... i saw it finally appear OnDemand on Netflix for season 1 and 2 as well as her 'Jesus is Magic' special.... so i added them all.... and sat down to see what all the fuss was about and to possibly give myself an actual reason to like her.... about midway through the first episode, i could already see myself enjoying the series.... it was just absurd enough for my tastes.... there were some uncomfortable moments and some laugh out loud moments.... overall it was a fun experience.... i didn't realize how mean spirited it was going to be in places, but yet it had it's semi-touching moments.... Sarah's character is not very likable.... she's self-centered, rather mean to the people around her.... she's not very smart in a lot of ways.... she does a LOT of stupid things and gets away with them.... i could see a lot of people really not liking this.... because people want to connect with the characters on the show.... and that's where the rest of the cast comes in.... they make up for downfalls.... not too mention her dog Doug....

the basic premise is that Sarah lives in an apartment that her sister pays for.... she's jobless and has two gay neighbors.... she lives with her dog and does goofy things all day long.... her sister (played by her real life sister) is in love with a cop whom Sarah hates, but he's always getting her out of jams regardless.... and that's about the whole premise of the show.... and from this we get 21 minutes of comedy....
i gave it 4 out of 5 stars.... i'm still not 100% sure why.... and i'm still not sure why i enjoy her work.... i guess it's a guilty pleasure of sorts.... by watching it, it allows you to live through her.... and do and say all of the things you may have wanted to, but couldn't.... because you had a filter for saying awful things.... Sarah doesn't.... after i watched the first season, i ended up watching the full 2nd season as well as the 'Jesus is Magic' stand up special.... this stand up was even harder to watch then the show was at times.... she leaves no taboo topic untouched.... and despite that, i still gave it 3 out of 5 stars.... and i admit that i enjoyed it all.... however, i have a feeling that God may strike me down because of it.... and if you've seen the show or the special, then you know why.... i can't wait for season 3....

if you like this, watch: 'The Sarah Silverman Program: season 2 - volume 1', 'The Sarah Silverman Program: season 2 - volume 2' and 'Sarah Silverman: Jesus is Magic'

(there is no trailer for this movie to embed.)

my brief thoughts on.... 'Mystery Science Theater 3000: Zombie Nightmare'

i've been a fan of MST3K for as long as i can remember.... i've seen quite a number of episodes, but it's been years since i had seen one and when this popped up OnDemand, i figured maybe it was time to hop back in the saddle.... (wow, that was a long sentence.).... and as much as i love zombies, i figured it was a no brainer.... (no pun intended.).... so i invested the hour and a half and re-introduced myself to the boys.... i fogot how cheesy the inbetween stuff was.... but that's part of the charm of the show.... it's so homegrown.... now, as far as this episode went.... well.... i can't say it was genius.... there was one particular part that i laughed so hard my sides hurt.... but that was it as far as the laugh out loud moment went.... maybe i wasn't in the right mood.... perhaps this just wasn't their best episode.... who knows....? it just didn't hit the mark....

in the movie, the plot revolves around a young man who's killed at the prime of his life and is resurrected by a voodoo priestess to have his revenge on those who killed him.... there's also a subplot about the young man's father who was also senselessly murdered.... which all of it kind of ties together at the end.... that's about the entire plot....
the zombie parts are lame.... the chase scene in the health club is worth the price of admission.... because who doesn't want to see a preppy/punk girl chased around by a zombie with a baseball bat....? am i right....? the deaths are sub par.... it does have the distinguishing honor of having Adam West as a lead character.... yes, Batman himself.... he's chessy as ever.... and he plays the chief of police.... who's gun is silly.... all in all in all in all it's a mere 2 out of 5 star attempt for the boys of MST3K.... not their best, but not their worst.... one for die hard fans only, i would say....

if you like this, watch: some of the other episodes.... there's a ton of them available OnDemand on Netflix

(no trailer availble for this movie to embed.)

my brief thoughts on.... 'nbt: Never Been Thawed'

"This year's 'Napoleon Dynamite'." hardly.... entertaining....? somewhat.... i'll give it originality points.... and a few subtle laughs.... but nothing to write home about.... it's 100% low budget.... it's obvious it was someones pet project.... and i'm sure they're pretty proud of it.... however, i just didn't care for it too much.... or maybe i just didn't get in on the joke....? i don't know....

the basic story revolves around frozen entree collectors.... one's who are so obsessed that they have multiple stand alone freezers in their homes and apartments.... they wait patiently for the newest releases of the dinners and get them as soon as they come out.... there's also a subplot about one of the collector's having a Christian rock band that he converted from a non-Christian band just to try and make it big.... this bit lends itself to some funny moments, especially the little concert they have at one point where they're swearing while playing songs about God.... all of these stories lead up to the frozen entree convention that they've been planning for a long time....
i think 2 out of 5 stars is all this deserves.... like i said, it has a few moments of fun.... but overall it's not all that exciting and kind of a mess.... i wouldn't really recommended it other than for the novelty factor of the script itself.... how many movies have you seen about frozen food and Christian rock....? i can only think of one.... anyway.... watch it if you want.... maybe you'll get the joke.... but i missed the boat on this one i think.

if you like this: there isn't much else to compare it to, it's in a league of its own

my brief thoughts on.... 'Futurama: Into the Wild Green Yonder'

in the final installment of the 'Futurama' movies.... and the one that would eventually tie directly into the opening episode of the new season, they saved one of the best for last.... and they made it fairly complicated, so i'll skip the plot details.... i'll just let you watch it for yourself.... but needless to say, Fry steals the show in this movie.... he wears a tin foil hat for most of the movie.... and it keeps changing during the course of it all.... it just tickled my funny bone for some reason.... and his importance to the storyline is great.... not unlike 'The Beast With A Billion Backs'.... where he was the focus there too.... it's like we got two Bender movies and two Fry movies.... well, sort of.... i've honestly run out of things to say.... i'll just say that i enjoyed it.... i gave it 4 out of 5 stars.... and highly recommend it to fans of the show.... and you should especially watch this one before starting the new season.... or watch it and then go back and watch the first episode again.... it'll make a bit more sense.... i kind of hope that they make more of these in the future.... maybe inbetween seasons....? it would be nice filler.... and i would love to add more 'Futurama' to my collection.... it's a great series that never got the audience it deserved and i'm so glad that it's back.... maybe this time it'll get a fair shake.... watch it and you'll see....

if you watch this, also check out: 'The Beast With A Billion Backs', 'Bender's Game' and 'Bender's Big Score'

my brief thoughts on.... 'Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter'

i'm surprised how many people have heard of this and seen it....! first advice for you, if you watch this, watch it with friends.... and beer.... it's not fantastic.... it's poorly acted.... the special effects are below low grade.... it's silly and poorly scripted.... not too mention it's overdubbed.... i suppose to get a better sound quality.... but it's kind of distracting.... the only real saving grace of this movie is the Mexican wrestler.... Santos....! (and even he's not that good.).... i guess the point of this brief review is that this is a guys night out kind of movie.... plain and simple.... for b-movie lovers only....

as the story goes.... lesbian vampires are running wild.... a couple of priests go and get Jesus from the oceanside.... and he cuts his hair, gets his ears pierced and sings a song then goes out to kick some ass.... the ass kicking is sub par by the way.... it's entertaining in a way.... especially the scene where he fights all the Atheists.... it's the crowning moment of the movie.... i gave it a low 2 out of 5 stars.... the only thing that raised it out of the gutter was Santos.... other than that.... this does not come with the Uncle Joel seal of approval.

if you enjoyed this: i'm sorry

my brief thoughts on.... 'Futurama: Bender's Game'

during the brief hiatus before 'Futurama' was brought back to television, there was a series of movies put out.... four of them total.... i just watched this one finally and i have to say it was a lot of fun....! it makes a lot of references to pop culture of the recent past and things i did as a kid, like 'Dungeons & Dragons'.... if you're a fan of fantasy movies and games there's a lot of little nods to the genre.... not too mention if was pretty damn funny....

the plot is long and confusing and is best just to be seen.... plus it won't spoil any of the surprises.... if you're a fan of 'Futurama' and haven't already seen them.... add them to your queue and sit back and enjoy.... it's well worth and hour and a half of your time.... i gave this one 4 out of 5 stars.... it's just too damned entertaining.... and boy am i happy the show is back on the air.... thank goodness.

the other three 'Futurama' movies: 'Bender's Big Score', 'Into The Wild Green Yonder' and 'The Beast With A Billion Backs'

my thoughts on.... 'Film Geek'

it's been a slow month of reviews for me.... and sadly, i have a backlog of films to review.... so i may just have to review them in short to catch up.... however, this film caught me off guard and kind of pumped me up to write something.... so here i am.... this is one of those little diamonds in the rough.... something i stumbled across on Netflix OnDemand and decided to delve into.... and i was not sorry i did.... this is a gem of a movie.... one that is near and dear to my heart.... i mean, i used to work at a video store and at a record store and i have always considered myself a bit of a media geek.... all things entertainment.... and especially film.... so to see it represented in a film like this is refreshing and fun.... and i had no idea how they would carry an entire film around this character and his love of movies, but it's so well done that it kind of created a 'DUH' moment at the end.... it made me wonder why i second guessed it in the first place..... think of the first time you saw 'Clerks' and you'll get the idea.... this is kind of along those same lines.... but in color....

the story centers around a video store clerk who runs his own website http://www.scottysfilmpage.com/ and who knows all there is to know about film.... to the point of being annoying about it.... pushing too much of it onto the customers, the employees and anyone else who's in range.... and at first you feel that same sense of annoyance that they do, but gradually you come around to love him in a weird sort of way.... and you take up his plight of being a film geek in a world of merely movie watchers.... he soon meets up with a fellow film lover, who starts to broaden his horizons a bit and Scotty begins to grow a little.... granted, he never leaves his geekdom far behind.... i don't want to give away the whole plot as part of the joy is taking the journey with him.... but let's just say it's worth the price of admission....i gave this 4 out of 5 stars for being a great film for those whole love the medium and for those who just want to be entertained.... i can't say enough good things about this film and i highly recommend it to anyone with an hour and ten minutes on their hands.... it's worth it.... i don't know how easy it is to track down on DVD, but i'll be looking.... so stop reading and go watch.... NOW....!

if you enjoy this, check out: 'Clerks', 'High Fidelity' and my own life story

my thoughts on.... 'The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day'

before i even start this review.... what in the hell happened to Sean Patrick Flanery....?!?! he looks NOTHING like he did in the first film.... i kept thinking they just couldn't get him back for the sequel so they replaced him with someone who looked sort of like him.... but they didn't....! it was actually him....! and i didn't realize it until the credits rolled and i saw his name at the top.... so i ask again.... what in the hell happened to him that made him look so differently....?

so onto the review.....

i remember the first time i saw 'The Boondock Saints' and how cool i thought it was.... it was a good little movie with some cool gunfights, some cool characters and a fairly interesting storyline.... it had the makings of a cult classic.... but then nothing happened after that.... Troy Duffy (Director, Writer, Actor, etc) just kind of disappeared.... then i heard of a documentary called, 'Overnight'.... a fascinating look at someone's almost overnight rise to fame.... and how he handles it.... and he's really kind of a jerk.... he starts to believe his own hype and the more he tries to make 'The Boondock Saints II' the less likely it seems to be that it'll ever happen.... and that's kind of where we're all left.... and Troy Duffy just sits in limbo with no other projects and he drifts off into no where land....

fast forward 10 years later.... and it's finally here.... 'The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day'.... and i got excited to see where the characters have been all this time.... and as i sat down to watch it, i was instantly thrown back into the characters, the settings and the film itself and was reminded why i loved the first one to begin with.... and as the movie went on, there wasn't much new to see.... but i don't think Mr. Duffy was out to break new ground.... i think he just wanted to finish what he started.... and at that, he succeeded.
the saints have moved to Ireland and live on a sheep farm with their father and have been hiding out all these years from the law.... you might say they were on the "lamb" (yuck yuck).... when suddenly they get wind of a copycat killer back in their hometown who's trying to call them out by copying their style of killing, but on a priest.... this causes the boys to go back home ready to right the wrong and kill everyone involved that gets in their way.... of course during the trip, we run into all the old cast of characters.... including some new ones that have a familiar feel.... it's like going back home again and meeting some new friends and seeing some of the old ones.... it was comfortable....

it's not the original, but i really enjoyed it.... i was a little let down by the ending and could have used a strong finale.... however, i'm not Troy Duffy and these aren't my characters.... it'll be a part of my collection and i'm sure i'll have a Boondock Saints marathon and watch them back to back.... i'm not really sure i would want to see a 3 installment.... i think it's gone about as far as it can go.... so what did i think overall....? i'll be generous and give it 4 out of 5 stars (the same rating i gave the 1st movie).... because it's exactly what i wanted it to be.... something like the first movie, but something different.... it was like that new pair of shoes that's replacing the exact same pair of ones you had before.... they feel the same in ways, but they're not nearly as comfortable.... however, you know in time they'll be just as comfortable as the old ones you just need to give it time....

if you liked the first movie at all, i recommened you see the sequel.... end of story.

if you enjoyed this movie, also watch: 'The Boondock Saints', 'Equilibrium' and 'The Big Hit'

my thoughts on.... 'The Hangover'

hype can make or break a movie.... and in most cases it tends to break it.... but every so often a movie lives up to the hype and it's well deserved.... with 'The Hangover', i don't know that i'd say it lived up to the hype.... but it was a pretty funny movie and worth watching once.... i mean i laughed out loud a couple of times and found myself smiling at quite a few spots.... was it the best comedy of the year....? nah.... but it wasn't the worst....

so you take 4 guys and put them in Vegas for a bachelor party and fill them with booze and what do you get....? 1 and a half hours of confusion and comedy.... three of the guys lose the 4th guy and end up with a baby in the closet, a tiger in the bathroom, a missing tooth and a whole lot of unanswered questions as they can't remember what happened the night before.... not one thing.... and that's the plot in a nutshell.... it's the guys putting together the last nights events as you join in and learn as they learn.... it's well put together and fairly original.... but i wouldn't recommend watching 'Bachelor Party' the same night.... (the Tom Hanks movie.)
i'll give just about any movie a shot.... and hype or no hype, every movie deserves some kind of an audience.... i mean, someone put a lot of time, energy and love into making it.... so why shouldn't at least a few people watch it, right....? this movie felt fairly fresh.... although i think with any other cast it might not have been nearly as enjoyable.... you almost needed smaller caliber actors to make it more believable.... plus you get Mike Tyson singing Phil Collins.... what more could you want....?

i'd give this a solid 3 out of 5 stars.... and would probably watch it again.... it's worth a second or third viewing and i think it will hold up to the test of time.... i would recommended it to anyone who likes their comedy with a dose of gross and a tad bit of screwball-ness.... however, you might think twice about your next plan to go on a bender....

if you liked this movie, check out: 'Bachelor Party', 'The 40 Year Old Virgin' and 'Out Cold'

my thoughts on.... 'Undead'

i've owned this movie for a few years now.... and if you think you've seen it all in the zombie genre..... then you need to see this.... it's a terrific little Austrailian low budget horror flick that is as fun as it is worthwhile to watch.... it reminds me a bit of early Peter Jackson fare.... but perhaps with a slightly larger budget.... i just recently re-watched it during a zombie movie marathon that i had and i had forgotten how much i enjoyed it.... and how refreshing it was compared to all the other zombie movies out there.... and trust me, you've never seen a movie quite like this.... it's funny, it's gory, it's got great action and it takes a whole new twist on an old theme....

without giving all the plot away.... i'll try and stick to the basics.... it seems that things are falling from the sky and turning the population into the living dead.... a small group of survivors hold up in an old farm house and try and protect themselves from the onslaught of the undead headed for the house.... but that's when it gets weird.... i don't think i could explain it if i wanted to anyway.... so it's better for you to just watch it for yourself....
our main hero is unique.... our main heroine is a beauty queen.... the rest of the cast are all fun to watch and extremely likable.... especially the head police officer.... he says the 'F' word so much he makes it an artform.... not to mention he's hilarious.... the movie is worth it just for that.... and the action scenes with our hero are pretty kick ass.... nice double gun, slow-mo, triple barreled shotgun fun.... and a few acrobatics to boot.... (and you don't really notice until the end that he's missing a front tooth....!)

this is a great little unknown gem of a movie that needs a cult following.... it's worth multiple watchings and i would give it a high 4 out of 5 stars.... there were a couple of things i would have changed if i could.... but nothing major.... all the people involved must have had a lot of love for the project, because it bleeds through every scene.... it's not available to watch OnDemand.... so you'll have to rent it.... (that or stop by the house to watch it with me some night.).... in the end, if you like zombie movies.... this one is for you.... a zombie movie made by people who love zombies and wanted to share a new twist to make you remember why you loved zombies in the first place....

if you enjoy this movie, check out: 'Dead Alive', 'Bad Taste' and 'Dellamorte Dellamore aka: Cemetery Man'

my thoughts on.... 'Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever'

i've been the first in line to say that Eli Roth is one of the savior's of the horror genre.... along with a few select others.... he wrote and directed the original 'Cabin Fever'.... this movie has nothing to do with him.... and Ti West who directed it, wanted no association with it once the producers got done with it.... he felt they ruined it.... granted, i have no idea what it would have been like if they never got involved.... but i'm not so sure it would have been that much better....

if you saw the original then you know the basic premise.... a flesh eating virus is killing off people one by one.... and luckily it hasn't spread outside of the small town where it started.... in the sequel, it picks up RIGHT where the last one left off.... and continues the story.... but not for long.... and once the plot of this movie begins, the movie bears little resemblance to the original.... in this case.... the water that is contaminated with the virus has been shipped out.... and the first place it goes is to the local high school.... the rest kind of writes itself.... ie: bloody high school kids, attempts to stop the virus, the government getting involved.... etc.... your typical virus scenario. the first point where this movie fails is that it goes to much for the humorous side of the storyline.... granted the original was satirical and had it's comedy moments.... but it never went all out for the ha ha funny.... this one does.... or seems to.... and it doesn't do it very well.... the virus has no real rhyme or reason and doesn't react the same with everyone, like in the original.... and they go for the gross out factor in a major way in this.... and turn it comical.... whereas the original never took the effects of the disease as being funny.... those parts were always serious....

would i recommend this....? well, if you're a completionist like me.... then you'll want to watch it.... just be warned that it really doesn't hold a candle to the first one.... the only worthwhile thing is the return of Officer Winston.... i would give this a solid 3 out of 5 stars.... but no more than that.... i would love to see the directors cut.... and find out what he was really going for.... because i can't imagine what he could do differently to salvage the script for this.... i mean, the disease at prom....? save your time and watch 'Dance of the Dead' instead.... MUCH better movie about the prom and zombies....

if you enjoy this movie, check out: 'Dance of the Dead', 'Prom Night' and 'Return of the Living Dead' (not really virus movies, but prom themed and i guess you can qualify zombies as a virus based reaction to something nasty.)

my thoughts on.... 'Dead Snow'

You're sitting at home and considering what to watch. What's the first thing that comes to mind? A horror movie? A zombie movie? A Norwegian zombie movie? A Norwegian Nazi zombie movie? Well, that's what you've got on your hands with 'Dead Snow'. Granted, back in the hay day of the 70's zombie films, one of the most popular sub-genre's was the Nazi zombie movie. I mean, who doesn't want to see some zombies killed? Espcially if they're Nazi's! You'll find that with some limited seraching, you can find a lot of "classics" out there to absorb. You will need a little bit of spare time to watch them all, but it'll be worth it. 'Dead Snow' is the first time I've seen anyone delve back into this genre, since it was popular. It's been re-vamped for a modern audience, but it's for the best.

It starts out simple enough with some younger folks in a cabin in the woods. You then hear about a legend of a Nazi miliatary outfit who was on the lamb from prosecution after stealing all of the gold and precious items from the town. Shortly after, they disappeared. Slowly, over time, they became less of a reality and more of a boogeyman story of sorts. The young folks are warned that it might not be the best idea to stay in the area, due to the legeng, but they stay anyway. Soon.... they're over run by Nazi zombies! Go figure. The rest of the time is spent fighting for their lives.

One thing to keep in mind before you watch this film, is that the zombies aren't your typical zombie fare. They don't shamble, they don't lack intelligence and they don't avoid the use of weapons. These aren't your grandmother's zombies. However, if you can get over that fact, you'll really find this to be a very enjoyable film. It's fun, it's campy, it's bloody and it's way over the top! A real gem of a movie, in the rough.

All in all, a solid 4 out of 5 star movie. Also, a welcome one that is trying to revitalize a long lost sub-genre. It's made it fresh and new again. Something all the jaded zombie lovers out there can get behind. It's also an extremely fun movie, which pays homage to all of it's predecessors. There's not a previous zombie movie out there that doesn't get a little bit of a tip of the hat. That just makes 'Dead Snow', all that much better. It almost reminds me a bit of 'Dead Alive', but not quite as bloody. My suggestion to you? Check your brain at the door, rent this little slice of heaven and enjoy. It's just that simple. A great little movie, that I think qualifies as a masterpiece in it's sub-genre.

If you enjoy this movie, check out: 'Shockwaves', 'Oasis of the Zombies' and 'Evil Dead 2'

my thoughts on.... 'Hide and Creep'

i'm all for low budget horror films.... and Troma is the king of that genre, but Troma this ain't.... but for some reason this one kept popping up as a film i would enjoy.... and it was available on Netflix OnDemand.... so i eventually caved and put it in the queue.... and the other night i went ahead and invested the time to watch it.... let's start by saying that the quote on the poster above is not true at all.... it's nowhere close to 'Shaun of the Dead'.... yes, it's a comedy.... yes, it's a zombie movie.... but no, it's not nearly as good.... now that's not to say that it's not without its charm....

it basically starts out with some confusing but typical zombie movie situations.... except for the naked man falling out of the tree.... yes, i said a naked man falls out of a tree.... so long story short.... zombies have taken over.... people band together to fight them.... blood and guns ensue.... and then credits roll.... that's about it.... however bland that sounds.... it's still a fun little slice of low budget goodness....
the comedy is dry and poorly timed.... the acting is dinner theater at best.... the script is creative, but the budget needed to be larger and the characters developed more to really showcase the raw talent that was behind the curtain.... the characters are likeable.... and there are some laugh out loud moments.... it almost feels like a poor man's 'Clerks' + 'Night of the Living Dead'.... or at least that's what it seemed like they were going for.... all in all, i guess what i'm saying is that if you have an hour and a half, a few beers and nothing better to fill you time.... watch this movie.... probably with friends would be my suggestion....

cult classic....? nah. something that will last the test of time....? nah. does it show promise....? yes. i'd be interested to see what comes next from this filmaker and writer.... they did the best they could with the budget they had.... and that's all you can really ask for in this type of movie.... i mean, it's not 'Waterworld'.... right....? (3 out of 5 stars)

if you enjoy this movie, check out: any movie made by Mark Palonia

my thoughts on.... 'Zombieland'

when i first started reading about this movie.... i wasn't sure what to expect.... i was hoping that America wasn't trying to cash in on the 'Shaun of the Dead' popularity.... but the more i read about it and the more info that came out, the more i wanted to see it.... i've always been a fan of Woody Harrelson and seeing the trailer to this finally sealed the deal.... sadly, i didn't have the time or money to see the movie when it came out.... and despite more constant trying, it just never worked out.... so i began my wait.... my wait for the DVD.... and then it came.... and thanks to a friend who got me my own copy (thank you so much!) i was able to watch it last night.... and i was not let down.

this was not 'Shaun of the Dead'.... but yet it was still a "Zom-Com".... granted the blood, guts and gore were still there.... it was handled with a large dose of humor.... now for all of you who know me, zombies are my bread and butter.... pound for pound they're your best horror movie value.... they provide social commentary about everyday life, they provide an overwhelming sense of dread and they make you realize that it doesn't always take one person with evil intentions to kill you.... but a mass horde of slow moving and brainless creatures can overtake anyone eventually and just as effectively make them dead.
the storyline is your atypical zombie storyline.... some unknown event has happened and caused the human population to turn into the living dead.... in this case we have an unlikely hero who has a fear of just about everything.... and has created a series of rules that have kept him safe up to the start of the movie.... along the way of his journey towards home, he hooks up with several other survivors and they form an unlikely and unstable partnership.... what transpires from there is their adventures in 'Zombieland'.... a nickname given to the earth by our young unwilling hero....

one of the original concepts in this movie that i really found enjoyable were the way his rules were presented.... throughout the entire film, anytime a rule was enforced it would appear as a large set of letters on the screen and would then disappear.... i don't know why i found this so fun, but it just made me feel a little more apart of the story.... i guess.... you also could relate to the characters.... everyone didn't exactly become a super hero zombie stomper.... they all had their human nature and will to survive.... but not all of them could handle a shotgun like a pro just because of that.... and this is what i love about a good zombie film.... it's where the characters you grow to love and feel attached too.... like you could be in their shoes.... and you care if they live or die.... the writers did a good job of this in this movie.... and they created memorable characters that will stick with you after the credits roll....
all in all, a great time at the movies....! a tad slow in the zombie department during the second act.... but the third act more than made up for it.... and left you feeling satisfied about the last hour and a half you just invested.... i would give this 4 out of 5 stars easily.... and look forward to watching it again very soon.... i just hope that when the sequel is made, they keep the freshness and what made this film so likeable....

keep an eye out for a few suprises and let's all hope that the next time around, we get to see a few more 'Zombie Kills Of The Week'.... i highly recommend this to fans of serious zombie films, zombie comedies and anyone who likes to see Woody Harrelson kick some ass.... and lust after twinkies.

if you enjoy this movie, check out: 'Natural Born Killers', 'Shaun Of The Dead' and 'Dawn of the Dead' (1978)