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.... 'The Cottage'

it's rare that i come across a movie that makes me say WTF....? and in a good way.... i have no idea how to review this film.... so i'm going to come at it this way....
don't read anything about it. don't look it up on Netflix other than to add it to your queue. just rent this movie, sit back and enjoy.... it's an hour and a half you won't regret.... and once i hear that some people have seen it and get some reactions from them.... i'll write a full review..... a solid 4 out of 5 stars.... well worth your time an energy.... please go get it now.... a sleeper of a movie that deserves an audience....

if you enjoy this movie, check out: 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre' (2003), 'From Dusk Till Dawn' and 'House of a 1000 Corpses'

my thoughts on.... 'Severed: Forest Of The Dead'

it's late.... you're in the mood for some zombie killin' and stompin'.... you see that Netflix has this movie called 'Severed: Forest Of The Dead' available OnDemand.... and this peaks your interest.... then you read the description:

"When a forestry company's profit-driven decision to genetically engineer trees goes horribly wrong, a mismatched group of loggers and environmental activists become ravenous flesh-eating zombies. And although a few uninfected survivors remain, their chances of getting out of the wilderness alive are as remote as the forest itself. An ensemble cast stars in this undead gore fest that makes a run-in with a wood chipper seem tame."

sounds like it might be interesting, right....? well, that's where you'd probably be wrong.... not that it's not without some charm.... and i'm sure the people that worked on the film, worked real hard.... it's just too bad that it's all a big mess.... just look at it this way.... tree huggers + loggers + zombies + corporations = craptastic results....

i gave it a very generous 2 out of 5 stars.... it was fairly boring.... the story held little to no interest.... the message, if there was one, about conserving the forest was lost on me.... the kills were mediocre.... the acting was sub par.... the special effects were probably the high point.... but that's about it.... it was a big mess of confusion and blood....

unless you're REALLY bored and in need of a zombie fix.... stay away.... watch 'Dead Snow' instead.... it's OnDemand too and has Nazi zombies.... and who doesn't love a good Nazi zombie movie....? damn it....! i tell you no one doesn't enjoy seeing Nazi zombies blow up.... no one.

oh and one more thing about 'Severed: Forest Of The Dead'.... the ending sucked.

if you enjoy this movie, check out: 'Dead Meat', 'Hide and Creep' and 'Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things'

just a friendly reminder....

if you like what you read here.... my old MySpace blog has tons more reviews available for your viewing.... feel free to cruise on over and check them out....!

here's the link, kids.... enjoy....!http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=414317&blogId=507914524

my thoughts on.... 'Witchblade' (the TV series)

during the summer of 2001.... we had just moved back to Kansas City and i was in the midst of remodling our soon to be house with Amy.... sadly, we were having to live with my parents at the time.... but they had cable, so it made things a bit easier.... and i kept seeing this ad on TNT for 'Witchblade: The Series'.... and it intrigued me.... i'm not sure why.... i was never a fan of the comic and barely knew anything about it.... but the commercials really sold me on the whole idea of the show, the characters and made me drool over the idea of becoming a fan.... and they didn't make me wait long.... soon it was on the air and from the first pilot movie, i was hooked.... it was what i had been longing for in a TV show.... it was cool, sexy, had some pretty sweet fight scenes and a great storyline.... it was my crack.

now before you 'purists' jump all over me about how this was no where near the same quality or storyline as the comic.... i don't care. nothing will ever translate from the page to the screen exactly the way anyone wants it.... it's just not physicially possible.... and i understand this.... all i knew is that i liked the show for what it was and soon became interested in the comics and toys later.... so i guess for all the comic fans, the show did serve a purpose.... it fed the retail sales of the comics.... and built a larger fanbase.... right....?

the story, for those who don't know, revolves around a police officer who finds a bracelet that allows her to weild great power.... primarily in the form of the Witchblade.... now she's not alone in the desire to own this piece of history.... she's constantly pursued by the badguys and has to deal with everyday life and being a cop to boot.... so life isn't easy for Sara.... the backstory on the blade is slowly revealed throughout season one and is played like a violin to the viewer.... it reveals just enough at just the right times to keep you watching.... and the characters she meet are well written and well cast.... they're all perfect fits for the characters they portray.... particularly Ian Nottingham.... granted, he's NOTHING like in the comic.... but i really dig the way they went with him for the television show.... he's a bad ass mo-fo....

so season one ends.... i'm all crazy about the start of season two and can't wait to see where this is all going.... but rumors of Yancy Butler's battle with alcohol addiction starts to impead the shows progress.... and the fate of the show hangs in the balance.... but season 2 starts regardless and this is where the shit hits the fan.... for some reason they basically re-boot the entire series.... and let me tell you.... as much as i love the show and will forever hold it as one of my favortie sci-fi TV shows.... season 2 almost made me quit altogether.... it's not very good.... not very good at all.... it just blows up everything you've grown to love and doesn't seem to care.... it's like if you watched 'I Love Lucy' for a season and then the following season Ricky and Lucy were divorced, Fred and Ethel were dead and Little Ricky was hooked on meth.... it was just that bad.... so i can't forgive them for that.... but i tolerate it, because i love it still.... even if it's the red-headed stepchild of season 1....

the entire series is finally available on DVD now.... and you can rent or buy it just about anywhere.... it's worth it for season 1 alone.... but if you want to submit yourself to the trainwreck of season 2, don't say i didn't warn you....

this is a classic show that lost out on a possible long running series due to some bad timing, bad writing and a bad actress who couldn't stop drinking.... and it's a damn shame.... i gave the series 5 out of 5 stars and proudly own it as part of my DVD collection and watch it often.... i even have a Sara action figure that i cherish along with several comic books.... granted i don't gush too much about TV shows, because frankly there's not that much out there to gush about.... but this is one time i'll let myself off the leash to let rip with a review to show my love.... perhaps i'll get around to 'Six Feet Under' one of these days.... but i don't think you want a 10 page dissertation on that show.... now do ya....? go rent 'Witchblade' and see if you recongnize a certain character from the movie 'Teeth' in a primary role.... have fun....!

if you enjoy this television show, check out: well, there's nothing else like it.... so just enjoy it for what it is.... brillant.

my blog....

i just wanted to stop for a moment and say, 'Thank you." to all of you who read this and have subscribed.... i only do this as an outlet for my pent up creativity.... and as a healing tool for all of the shit i've had to endure over the past several months.... so all of the comments and love has been much appreciated, but not necessary....

i can't say that i think this is my best work.... it's not really intended to be.... it's just kind of my thoughts spit out on the screen with no re-writes and no editing.... just me.... faults and all.... if you get something out of it, wonderful.... if you think it's crap, that's okay.... either way.... it's out there on the internet to be enjoyed or hated by as many people as feel like giving it the time of day....

i will continue you with this as long as i see fit.... or until it ceases to be fun.... so enjoy it while it lasts.... and thank you again for everything....

my thoughts on.... 'Dead Air'

Bill Moseley. you all know that i have a man crush on him.... as he's a favorite of one Mr. Rob Zombie.... who i have a bigger man crush on.... so it was a no brainer that if you make a movie with Bill in it about lunitics killing people at random ala' 'Night of the Living Dead' or 'The Crazies'.... i'm down....! granted, it was directed by Corbin Bernsen.... yes, that Corbin Bernsen.... but i give the guy credit.... he did a pretty darn good job.... it has it's moments of feeling like a Sy-Fy movie of the week.... but one of the better than average Sy-Fy movies....

okay, Bill Moseley plays a radio shock jock working the late night shift.... some naughty terrorists release a toxic gas into a basketball stadium in an attempt at bio-terrorism.... the plot backfires a bit.... and they take it on the lamb.... somehow they end up at Bill's radio station.... and take him hostage while the world begins to collapse.... Bill's main concern is his family at home and wants to get to them.... but as the only voice of reason on the air, he has an obligation to keep the public informed of what's going on.... the storyline degrades from there.... as primal instincts take over and you know the rest.... aka a doomsday scenario....
Bill is outstanding in this film.... he puts on a solid role and a fairly normal one for him.... not his usual over the top character acting.... which proves he's not a one trick pony.... i personally, just like to watch the man work.... whether it's as ChopTop, Otis Firefly or in something like this.... he's just mesmorizing.... (did i spell that right....?!?!).... i could have used a bit more of the crazy people out in the streets.... as the majority of the storyline took place in the radio station.... so it was almost more of a drama than a horror film.... but other than that i had no complaints.... it vaguely reminded me of 'Right At Your Door'.... another film you should check out.... with a doomsday scenario....

all in all.... 3 out of 5 stars.... i would've given it one more for more crazy killer people.... but we can't have it all.... especially not on a budget.... and we're lucky that Corbin Bersen didn't put Larry Drake into this.... (L.A. Law and Dr. Giggles reference).... go rent it when you have some spare time and let me know what you think.... it's one of those rare gems that just kind of slips under the radar and deserves a bit of an audience.... even if it's just a few people.... oh and one final thing.... terrorism sucks.... especially bio-terrorism.... but not Bill Moseley.

if you enjoy this movie, check out: 'Right At Your Door', 'The Crazies' and '28 Days Later'

my thoughts on.... 'The Hills Run Red'

have you ever seen 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre'....? or 'Friday The 13th'....? 'The Hills Have Eyes'....? then more than likely you've seen 'The Hills Run Red'.... granted the storyline is a bit different, the killer is different and the ending is different.... but other than that, it's basically the same premise and steals heavily from all of these films.... and from many others.... i sat through the entire thing and was never bored and felt like it was worth my time.... however, i would never accuse the creators of being original....

the first act opens with a whole backstory about a film that's so violent that it's never been seen in full since it was released.... it was only out for a brief time and then all of the prints disappeared.... from there, with the hel of the internet, the legend has grown to outlandish proportions and the cult following is immense.... every horror hound on the planet wants to see the movie and one fan is so obsessed that he talks his friends into following up on a lead he has on the directors daughter.... and also decides to document the entire journey to create a film about the film.... this all leads them to the backwoods.... inbreds.... a masked killer and blood spews.... then the twist.... then the end.... then one more twist and then you can go home and stew about the film and it's higher purpose an meaning.... if there was any.....
overall, the killer is fairly original, the plot twists are dark and unique, but nothing is groundbreaking enough to set this apart from many other copycat films or the groundbreaking originals.... the acting is good....the scenery is beautiful.... the story is interesting enough to carry the whole movie and i honestly sat with my eyes glued to the screen the entire time.... i just kept hoping for something more than it delivered.... and ultimately that's what brings the level and rating of this movie down a notch or two....

my final verdict, check it out.... it's available to rent through Netflix and other fine rental places.... it's worth the price of admission and will please the bored horror-phile.... i don't want to give away the twists and turns.... but let's just say i felt dirty at the end.... 3 out of 5 stars.... and if the director and writer come up with something else that's a bit more original or revamp something that is older that needs a re-do, we may have something worth mentioning....

p.s. stay away from strippers.

if you enjoy this movie, check out: 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre' (1974), 'The Hills Have Eyes' (2006) and 'The Hills Have Eyes II' (2007)

my thoughts on.... 'Don't You Forget About Me'

i don't have too much to say about this film.... it's a documentary in tribute to John Hughes.... worth the time, if you're a fan.... but it's not the best made or thought provoking documentary ever made.... i enjoyed learning a little more about the man and his films.... but it wasn't as good as i was hoping it would be.... and the end of it was a bit of a let down....

for die hard fans only.

if you enjoy this movie, check out: 'Sixteen Candles', 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' and 'Uncle Buck'

my thoughts on.... 'Moon'

if you're into big shoot em' up sci-fi, this ain't it.... it's one some would clasify as 'hard-sci-fi'.... something a bit more cerebral.... and i would tend to agree.... there's no acid spitting aliens or giant smurfs riding dinosaurs.... it's all about atmosphere and a good story.... which is all you can really hope for in a good piece of filmaking.... nothing more, nothing less.... i've been hearing about this for a long time and i was excited to see it, as i'm a fan of Sam Rockwell.... the man just makes good movies.... case in point, 'Choke'.... go rent it if you haven't already.... (fron the writer of 'Fight Club'....)....

this isn't a movie that's probably going to make it too far into the mainstream.... it's minimalistic and sparse.... the story is fairly simple, but grows more complicated at the movie progresses.... and nothing is more telling of good storytelling is to not have everything given away all up front.... this builds tension and reveals things little by little so as to peak your interest and keep you intrigued.... it also is more about character development than big budget special effects and loud noises.... and that's on the of the things i love about this film.... the chance to enjoy a good storyline set in space.... not a movie in space with good special effects.... and no storyline....

i don't want to give up too much information about the story.... but we'll just say that Sam Rockwell is a man on the moon manning a base for a set number of years.... with the promise of returning home at the end of his tenure.... however, as things progress, we find out that things just aren't that simple.... and as they progress even farther.... things just get flat out complicated.... it's worth the investment of your time to enjoy all the twists and turns....

the effects are good, as minimal as they are.... the acting is great, as always.... the story is unique and original.... the director is David Bowies son.... i could go on and on, but the point is that you need to see this film.... it's time you won't regret spending.... but i will warn you to invest the time wisely.... pay attention and lose yourself in the story.... otherwise, it may just not have the same impact.....

all in all, a solid 4 out of 5 stars.... one of my favorite recent sci-fi films.... i was engrossed in it from beginning to end and felt satisfied after it ended.... it's worth the price of admission.... so run out and pick this one up.... it's available to rent just about everywhere and is for those of you who are tired of the old sci-fi standards.... granted it's not scary by any means.... it's not that kind of movie.... but it has it's tense moments and sad ones....

go get it and we'll talk about it later.... it raises a lot of questions and does it's best to answer them all, but i still found myself thinking about this movie long after it ended.... it's just that good.... enjoy....!

if you enjoy this movie, check out: '2001: A Space Odyssey', ' Even Horizon' and 'Sunshine'

my thoughts on.... 'Rest Stop: Don't Look Back'

so you really wanted a sequel to 'Rest Stop', eh....? oh wait, you didn't....? neither did i.... however, damn the people who make the DVD covers for this movie and the original because it makes me want to watch them for some reason....! not to mention i'm a slasher movie guy.... but in this film, you realize that perhaps the killer is more than your standard hack and slash kind of guy.... needless to say, i really didn't care for the first one all that much.... the killer was kind of lame and the people in the Winnebago were the only really creepy part.... overall it was just kind of lame.... but for some godforsaken reason i put myself through another one....

here's the deal.... people in Winnebago kill man in yellow truck. (not to be confused with the man in the yellow hat.).... they rip out his eyes and bury him after mutilating the body.... little did the world know that if you do that, the native american legend of them coming back to haunt the earth will happen.... and he won't rest until you burn his eyes.... sounds pretty cool, right....? nope. guy in the yellow truck kills all the people in the Winnebago and makes them suffer the same fate as him.... so people show up at this rest stop and never leave.... because he comes and takes them back to his big yellow school bus.... i'm not kidding about that.... and in this sequel, the brother of the original guy in the first film comes looking for his younger brother with his girlfriend and another guy.... and the rest writes itself....
the story is predictible.... but not without it's entertainment values.... i did watch the whole thing and was curious the whole time about how it would end.... don't mistake that for any desire to ever watch it again.... because it ain't gonna happen.... the ending is nothing new.... the story is a mess.... the supernatural element and horrible bad guy make this one for the lame movie books.... i dont' recommend it unless you really liked the first one and are just dying to see what happens next.... and i highly doubt you're that guy.

2 out of 5 stars.... plain and simple.... pretty people + violence + low budget sequel = this movie.... there is some nudity, but trust me.... it ain't worth the price of admission.... go rent some of the other movies i've reviewed instead.... and if you want a backwoods, dirty desert killer movie.... rent 'The Hills Have Eyes'.... the remake or the original.... they're both far superior to the 'Rest Stop' duo.... about all that the rest stop is good for is taking a poop on a long trip.... and writing something nasty on the bathroom stall with a sharpie....

oh and it's not just a clever title.... when they say 'Don't Look Back'.... they mean it.... seriously....

if you enjoy this movie, check out: ' Rest Stop', 'The Ruins' and 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning'

my thoughts on.... 'The Crazies' (1973)

as you all well know, i love zombies.... and anyone who loves zombies, loves George A. Romero: King of the Modern Zombie.... this all but forgotten movie of his, which was sandwiched between 'Night of the Living Dead' and Dawn of the Dead' has very similar themes.... just minus the dead folks.... a lot of people consider this to be a classic and love it like a cult religion.... and it has drawn enough attention to create a remake that is about to hit theaters.... which looks like it has promise....

the idea behind the movie is very similiar to his zombie films.... in so much that people start going crazy and killing each other due to a government screw up.... the big wigs call in the army in biohazard suits to contain the virus and start the clean up.... but soon all hell breaks loose and people start getting killed as mass hysteria adds more fuel to the already problematic fire....
i love George.... he provided me with one of my all time favorite movies and in the zombie genre can, basically, do no wrong.... however, everytime i venture outside of that realm i get lost.... his other films tend to not have the same punch.... or something just feels like it's missing.... as a matter of fact, i haven't seen a non-zombie Romero film yet that i loved.... or even liked very much.... sadly, this falls in that category.... granted.... it's not terrible.... it just seems like it might be trying to say too much about society and the government and the like.... or maybe i'm just reading too much into it.... who's to say....? but it rubbed me the wrong way....

so all in all, not something i would recommend except to die hard Romero fans.... there is hardly anything to really do with the 'crazies'.... as a matter of fact they're barely a part of the story at all.... it's more about the guys in the white suits with the guns.... and how they react to the situation.... i wish i had more positive things to say and i could tell you all to run out and see this.... however, i'm thinking that you may want to wait for the remake and give that one a try instead.... (i can't believe i just said that.).... either way.... 2 out of 5 stars.... sorry George, i love you, but just not that much.

if you enjoy this movie, check out: '28 Days Later', '28 Weeks Later' and 'The Crazies' (2010)

a friendly reminder....

if you like what you read here.... my old MySpace blog has tons more reviews available for your viewing.... feel free to cruise on over and check them out....!

here's the link, kids.... enjoy....!http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=414317&blogId=507914524

my thoughts on.... 'Dead Meat'

Irish zombies. that should be enough to get your attention.... that's what this little gem of a movie is.... an Irish zombie film.... and not a bad little one at that.... for a no budget horror film.... it vaguely reminds me of 'Bad Taste', Peter Jackson's first film.... entertaining and clever, but you can tell it was all friends and family involved and the effects were done in someone's garage.... with oatmeal, water, flour and corn syrup.... however, it doesn't really take too much away from this movie....

the story is simple.... almost a copycat of 'Night of the Living Dead'.... boy and girl in car come across corpse.... corpse bites man, woman runs.... woman finds other man who helps her.... they find more people to join in their little band of survivors.... and blood and guts are chewed.... sounds pretty familiar, right....? but i'll say it again, don't let that take too much away from this movie.... it deserves an audience....
the characters are likeable.... you can tell someone put a lot of heart into the making of the movie.... the locations are beautiful and green.... the zombies are pretty well done.... and you gotta love the couple that they join up with that sound like Brad Pitt in 'Snatch'.... i couldn't understand one damn word they said other than the 'F' bomb.... and that was dropped quite a bit.... i'm not 100% sure i would give this as high of reviews as i am if it wasn't for them.... they added a nice twist....
oh, did i mention that the zombies were created due to a strain of mad cow disease....? and that there are zombie cows....?!?! how could i forget that....?

all in all, worth a beer and a bit of your time.... who knows.... maybe the director will be as big as Peter Jackson became and you can say you knew who he was back when he directed 'Dead Meat'.... i'll give it a solid 3 out of 5 stars.... i'm taking some of my love away due to the ending.... it was a bit too abrupt.... check it out via Netflix OnDemand while you can.... and if Fangoria puts there stamp of approval on it, you don't even have to take just my word.... i've got back up.... man do i love me some zombies....!

if you enjoy this movie, check out: 'Bad Taste', 'Dead Alive' and 'Undead'

my thoughts on.... 'Fritt Vilt aka Cold Prey'

who doesn't like Norwegian horror, right....? oh wait, you haven't seen much or any before....? well, here's your chance....! it seems that lately, some of the best horror has been coming from overseas.... it seems that there is still some art left too it over there.... and even ideas that we've all seen before or unoriginal themes, take on a new life and feel fresh.... this movie is the perfect example of that.... not unlike 'Let The Right One In'.... i mean, it was a vampire movie.... but it was anything but your atypical vampire movie.... and it was artistic and amazing....

some could compare 'Cold Prey' to 'The Shining' and a slew of slasher based movies.... and both would have some truth to them.... however, the commonhood they share only goes so far.... it's artistic and pretty to look at like 'The Shining' and it takes place in a frozen place at a hotel.... however, there's no spiritual aspect to it.... and yes, it has a slasher with a mask and whom is gigantic and menacing.... and yes, you'll probably figure out the end long before it happens.... but the ride is so much fun, it really doesn't matter....

the plot centers around a group of friends out snowboarding on a deserted mountainside.... they figure it's a better idea to do that than to brave the hordes of people at the major ski slopes.... bad idea.... one of the guys breaks his leg and they realize quickly that they're a long way from help.... so noticing a hotel off in the distance, they head over to take refuge.... the hotel is closed and appears to have been closed since the mid 70's.... and they break in so they can keep warm until they can get back to the car and go get help.... little do they know that they're not alone.... and soon they'll find out the hard way....

the pacing and feeling of this movie is wonderful.... it kept me on the edge of my seat for the entire film and i found myself actually caring about the characters.... which is rare in American horror films it seems.... it's more about the kills and the possability of a franchise.... 'Cold Prey' is not original however.... but the source material is presented in such a way that it feels new to you.... i mean, how many time have you seen the masked serial killer slowly killing off the teenagers one by one....? and he keeps killing until one of them steps up and brings the madman down.... maybe i just gave away the story and the ending.... but don't let that stop you from spending the time to watch this movie.... trust me, it's worth it....this movie is currently available through Netflix OnDemand.... and you should take advantage of that while you can.... if you like your horror a bit more artistic and with a little more feeling to it.... but still with that killer edge.... this is the movie for you.... sadly, the version on Netflix is dubbed (which sucks), but if you can deal with that.... it's a good investment.... however, if that's just too much for you to handle.... rent it and watch it in it's original language with subtitles as it should be viewed.... all in all.... 4 out of 5 stars.... for some reason this movie really stuck with me.... even though i knew the entire story and ending by the first 10 minutes of the film, it just didn't matter....

the sequel is out there, but not readily available yet.... and is getting pretty good reviews so far.... and i can't wait to get my hands on it.... once you're done with this, start looking into other foreign horror.... the French have raised the bar along with the Swedish and now this.... i mean, there's still good stuff coming out right here at home, but don't limit yourself.... it'd be a damn shame to miss out on this one and others....

if you enjoy this movie, check out: 'The Shining', 'I Know What You Did Last Summer' and 'Prom Night'

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)

my thoughts on.... 'Shuttle'

how many times have you been at the video store and saw a movie case that caught your attention, but you never rented it....? the one that sounded interesting, but you were just never in the right mood for it....? the one that good pretty damn good reviews, but that just didn't matter.... you just needed the right day and time to commit to watching it.... well, this is that movie....

i can't tell you how long this one has been sitting in my queue for Netflix OnDemand and i kept looking at it and thinking that i should spend the time to watch it.... granted, it didn't have any big name celebrities.... it wasn't big budget.... the storyline was extremely basic.... but something just was intriguing.... and the reviews kept talking about how the film stayed with them for days after they watched it.... and i love to watch a movie that leaves me thinking when it's over.... one that i keep coming back too and re-thinking over the finer points of the plot, the ending and the message....
the story starts out simply enough.... two girls are back from a trip to Mexico they're trying to get downtown and have a choice between two airport transports to take them where they need to go.... one offers a cheaper fare than the other and the girls are sold.... sadly, they made the wrong choice.... along with two other men that they met at the airport and a gentlemen that was already on the transport when they got on all head out towards their destination.... however, over the course of their trip they realize that they're not being taken to where they had planned on going.... and rapidly the trip decends into a hell ride....

one of the big things that kept coming up in the reviews i was reading is how the tension keeps getting turned up during the course of the film.... granted there are some big plot points that needed some fine tuning.... and some of what the passengers do to try and escape are flat out stupid.... but it doesn't matter.... you're so invested in the characters and the storyline that you just lose yourself in the action.... and as the story unfolds and you learn little by little what the plan is of the hijacker and how things are going to be played out.... you can't help but keep watching.... and that's the sign of good filmaking.....
all in all the storyline keep me 100% engaged and by the end i was left with a lot of questions and i couldn't stop thinking about it.... i don't want to give away the ending, but it leaves you with a feeling that you will remember.... it's not what i was expecting and i had no expectations.... and because of that i was pleasently suprised at how much it affected me....

i gave this 4 out of 5 stars for the impression it left and the emotional roller coaster it took me on.... i recommend that you watch this one with nothing else on in the background and you need to just focus on the film as it plays itself out.... this is not something to just casually view.... it's something to be absorbed and i would love to hear some other people's thoughts on the ending.... so drop me a line or leave a comment here.... if nothing else, it will make you think twice about the airport shuttle....

if you enjoy this movie, check out: i have no other movie to compare this too.... it's a film all by itself.

my thoughts on.... 'Amusement'

with my ongoing trend of watching low budget slasher flicks, i came across this little gem of a movie.... the poster was enough to gain my attention and the premise seemed interesting enough.... so once again, Netflix OnDemand provided another nights entertainment.... now, it's not your atypical scary movie.... it feels a bit disjointed and uneven, but there are enough good things about it to make it worth your time to watch it at least once....

i don't know how many of you have seen the movie 'Dead Silence' by James Wan....? he's the original creator and director for the original 'Saw' movie.... now 'Dead Silence' had a cool poster, had an interesting premise and seemed to offer some serious promise.... the first scene was genious.... parts of it were good, but on the whole it was kind of a let down as it got washed away into the bland world of horror films and cliches.... this is kind of how i felt about 'Amusement'.... it held a lot of promise, but gets overshadowed by cliches and a lack of direction....

the basic premise is that the kid in grade school that everyone thought was the weirdo and the one no one wanted to hang out with.... this is what happened to him when he grew up.... the kid that was out to shock you to get attention and the one that seemed to have a few screws loose in the head.... and the story centers around the three girls at the center of the whole situation.... and out of those three girls, one is the primary focus.... there are no name actors in the movie and that lends some credibility to the storyline.... although one of the characters from the opening scene was also in my previous movie i reviewed, 'Laid To Rest'....

alright.... now for the good and bad points of this movie.... the bad points start with the opening scene that makes no sense with the rest of the story.... although if my theory is correct and it would have been explained better, i guess it's not a total waste of time.... there are also some serious plot holes and some jumps in logic.... no too mention, i want to know where all of thise unstable killers find these awesome places to hold up and kill people with no one being the wiser....! now the good point of the movie.... and i mean the really bright and shining part involves the poster and the photo shown above.... the main character is babysitting and finds the master bedroom full of clowns.... and one inparticular is life sized and sitting in a rocking chair just looking f'ing creepy.... we soon find out that the owners have no idea where that clown came from and it just gets scary from there.... this is the one big reason i recommend this movie.... not unlike the reason i would recommend 'Dead Silence'.... one good scene can justify an hour and a half of your life getting used up....

overall.... i wasn't happy with the movie, but i wasn't totally let down either.... it's a popcorn movie and would make a good double feature with 'Laid To Rest'.... both sold 3 out of 5 star movies.... decent stories, decent gore and scares, decent acting and not skimpy on the quality of the filmaking.... not a bad way to waste some time.... and you don't have to think too much....

i think if the filmaker comes up with another good idea and spends more time developing the truly scary parts and leaving out the filler.... we might just have an above average horror film that could gain some serious buzz.... so pop it in your queue and let me know what you think.... maybe i'm jaded and over critical of it, but when i see a movie and i don't want to see the same things i've seen 100 times before.... and i want to be suprised.... and boy did that scene with the clown put me on edge and offer some nice suprises.... dig it.

if you enjoy this movie, check out: 'Dead Silence', 'Clownhouse' and 'Killer Klowns from Outer Space'

my thoughts on.... 'Laid To Rest'

last night i had the pleasure of watching a little low budget nasty called 'Laid To Rest'.... is it going to win any awards, no. is it going to re-invent the wheel, no. but it's an hour and a half of non-stop blood, guts, gore and icky stuff.... not too mention that the killer was fairly original and entertaining to watch and learn about.... and in a sea of less than stellar slasher flicks.... it's nice to find one that is a tad above the bar.... the basic premise is that a woman wakes up in a casket with no memory.... she soon finds out that she's being chased by a serial killer called Chrome Skull and we're off to the races....! she tracks down some help along the way and one random kill after another, more and more is revealed.... soon we've reached the climax of the film and you wonder where all the time went....? the stand out parts of this movie involve the gore.... the effects are above average and tend to overshadow the story, which is very simple in scope.... there are some violent kills, but nothing new or too inventive.... still, it's worth the price of admission.... one thing that left me feeling a bit let down by the end, was the lack of closure.... it seemed like we got a lot of build up to a slightly abrupt and unsatisfying ending.... it pays off, however not as well as i'd hoped.... i mean, they built up this killer so much that it would have left itself wide open for a franchise.... sadly, it probably won't happen.... but i've said too much.... (or not.) all that being said.... if you have Netflix, it's available OnDemand right now or to rent.... and i would say it's worth a night of popcorn and brainless slaying.... you won't find any great revelations and will probably feel slightly let down, but the rest of it is so strong that it holds up to the test of an above average slasher film.... and if this piece of bloody good fun is any indication of what the director and writer have in store for the future, then i'm eager to see what's next....

all in all: 3 out of 5 stars.... worth your time, but perhaps not worth repeated viewings.... check it out for yourselves and let me know what you think.... a killer for a new age.... one of cell phones, fast cars and video cameras.... but not for the faint of heart....

if you enjoy this movie, check out: 'Splinter', 'Scream' and 'P2'

my thoughts on.... my first post....

so, i decided that since Facebook doesn't seem to offer a blog option.... and i barely touch my MySpace account.... i'd start something new.... and rather than repost all of my old blogs, i'm including a link here to the old page.... if you'd like to go back and read the old stuff....

the majority of this will be movie reviews.... some TV reviews and sometimes random stuff.... including album reviews, etc....

i hope you dig it.... i may not update too often, but i'll do my best to do it when i can....

here's the link, kids.... enjoy....!
http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=414317&blogId=507914524