Highlander: Movie Review #18

Princes of New York

 

“I have an eye for the underappreciated” that line from my JACKIE BROWN review applies to many of my personal favorite films including 9 (2009), PAPRIKA (2006), THE NAKED GUN (1988) and in my opinion THE greatest fantasy film from the ‘80s: HIGHLANDER (1986).

 

The setting: New York City. The event: THE GATHERING. The time when all of the remaining immortals come together, and battle to the last, to fight for THE PRIZE. Among them is a man by the name of Connor Macloud, who like many of the others has lived many secret lives waiting for this very moment. As the Gathering unfolds, this draws the attention of NYPD forensics specialist, Brenda Wyatt, who soon gets caught in-between, but does not hesitate to find out the truth. What will she find? Something spectacular or something deadly, in the end there can be only one!

 

HIGHLANDER is in a word: simple. A simple premise, simple characters, but amazing action, from beginning to end. While calling the characters simple may sound disheartening, they’re anything but that, due to the performances in this film. The real show-stealers are Sean Connery (Macloud’s mentor) and Clancy Brown (the film’s big baddie), both put in a great amount of effort into their parts and have such charisma you can’t help but enjoy every second of them. That isn’t to say Macloud himself is not horrible. Christopher Lambert, who plays the Scottish immortal, has this other-worldly presence that makes him unpredictable and gives off the impression that he has seen A LOT of stuff in his life, despite his weird accent (Fun Fact: prior to filming, Lambert didn’t speak any English).

 

So, if you’re a LORD OF THE RINGS fan (or a fantasy fan in general) and are looking for something different, then you should definitely check out HIGHLANDER. (P.S. most of the songs in the film are performed by Queen!)

 

Final Rating:

 

HIGHLANDER is available on Blu-Ray and DVD, online and at your local video store. I’d recommend buying the “director’s cut” (which is actually the European version of the movie), there’s really no other version of this film I’d rather watch, for alternate recommendations, I first point you towards another fantasy flick from the ‘80s, THE PRINCE’S BRIDE, a classic love story with amusing swordfights and hilarity abound and lastly I recommend checking out, JOHN WICK, a movie with an over-used revenge plot with action that is nothing short of astounding.

Until Next Time, Don’t Lose Your Head…

Frankenstein Versus Baragon: Movie Review #17

Review of the Week:

Japan's Finest Product

Japan has a knack for producing some of the strangest, but entertaining monster films ever to hit the big screen. Their movies are proof that stuff like that can only be made in one place and I salute them for it. Some examples of such films include The Mysterians, Varan, Mothra and the movie that will be discussed in this review: Frankenstein Versus Baragon (aka Frankenstein Conquers the World, in the U.S.).

            The heart of Frankenstein’s monster is transported from Nazi Germany to Imperial Japan, near the end of World War II. Unfortunately, the heart is lost during the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Years later, a group of scientists working at the Hiroshima Hospital, discover a feral boy who’s been feeding on small animals and causing distortions within the city. They take the boy into their care, but as time goes on they soon discover the shocking truth: the boy is actually Frankenstein’s monster! Totally didn’t see that coming. The creature escapes, but not without leaving a little bit of destruction in his wake. Frankenstein’s monster makes his retreat towards the mountains, meanwhile a mysterious creature, now known as Baragon, begins causing mayhem in neighboring villages and soon crosses paths with Frankenstein (obviously, you know where it goes from here).

             This is truly a unique monster flick. The premise is just so bizarre and original it’s just amazing. The designs of both Kaiju are very cool, this reviewer is especially fond of the monster, Baragon. While the monsters are awesome, the humans fall into the same routine as in most other monster flicks and only act as plot devices. Though the movie has mediocre characters, the action scenes more than make up for that and the set pieces are unbelievable with amazing detail put into them, just be forewarned it does take a little while for the action to get going.

            So, if you’re looking for a bizarre monster movie from Japan, this one’s for you.

Final Rating:

Frankenstein Versus Baragon is currently available on DVD, though it’s another one of those that’s hard to find. You might have some luck looking for it on the internet, that’s probably your best bet. As for alternate recommendations, I first point you towards, War of the Gargantuas, a semi-sequel to FvB, though the story is different in the English version, lastly, I suggest checking out Rodan, a Kaiju classic. That’s it for me, if you’ve seen the movie, let me know what your thoughts on it are, in the comment section below.

Until Next Time, Never Mess with Nature…

 

The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms: Movie Review #16

Review of the Week:

The Birth of a Sub-Genre

Everything has a beginning, it must start from somewhere. Most days, a trend can appear out of nowhere and no one usually knows how it came to be. That isn’t always the case, especially when it comes the giant-monster craze of the ‘1950s. While most people credit King Kong (1933) as the first gargantuan beast to start this whole trend, the idea of a monster being spawned by nuclear radiation was created by ‘1953s: The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms.

            The film starts out in Antarctica, where a group of scientists and military personal test an atomic bomb which awakens a dinosaur called the Rhedosaurus (red-o-soar-us). The creature makes its way out of Antarctica and arrives in New York City causing mayhem and destruction in its wake. The plot is VERY basic, but considering a lot of other monster movies of the time followed the exact same structure, it’s very original by comparison. This film also served as the inspiration for the king of the monsters himself: Godzilla.

            To save time, the human characters in the film will not be discussed, mainly because they’re only there to move the plot forward, the real star of the film is the monster itself. Ray Harryhausen, the man behind the special effects, did a great job of both, designing the creature and giving it enough personality to make it stand out above the rest. The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms, represented Ray’s first solo venture as a stop-motion artist. Prior to this film, he was a co-animator with Willis O’Brien on Mighty Joe Young in 1949.

            So, if you’re wondering where giant monsters truly got their start on the big screen, then you should definitely check out The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms.

Final Rating:

The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms is available on Blu-Ray & DVD, possibly at your local video-store, but you’re more than likely able to find a copy online. As for alternate recommendations, I first point you towards the original Gojira (Godzilla), another important piece of monster movie history, lastly, I suggest checking out Tremors, a giant monster flick on a smaller scale. That’s it for me, let me what your thoughts on the movie are and if you have any other movies I should review, down in the comments.

Until Next Time, Never Detonate a Bomb Next to a Giant Monster…



20 Million Miles to Earth: Movie Review #15

Review of the Week:

Space Kong Invades Italy!

 

There are many people who claim to be the best at what they do. Some mean it, some use as a sales pitch, but not in the case of Hollywood’s most influential figure, the visionary that is: Ray Harryhausen. The man inspired an entire generation of filmmakers from James Cameron, to Guillermo Del Toro and even esteemed actors such as Tom Hanks, he certainly inspired me to go into the business as well. Harryhausen was living proof that you could have so much fun with your work and he showed it through his movies. This will be the first of two of Ray’s flicks that I’m going to be covering this month and this film easily makes it on my top five favorite Harryhausen movies.

            A group of American astronauts and their spaceship, crash land back on earth, off the coast of Italy, with a special capsule that contains a creature from the planet Venus. The creature is soon released from its capsule and goes on a rampage through Rome. The plot does have some similarities to King Kong, from 1933, though it has more differences to makes it stand out. Also, while the creature in this movie does cause destruction to property and attacks people, it’s only acting on instinct and does have a couple of sympathetic moments which are very noticeable. The creature in this film (called the Ymir, by Ray himself) definitely has a unique design when it comes to extra-terrestrial monsters, with its humanoid shape, dino-like feet, scaly skin and its head, love the head.

            Ray’s effects and stop-motion are top-notch. The way he animates his creatures were what set him apart from other stop-motion animators at the time, the same goes for the Ymir. The way the creature moves and acts gives off this feeling that it’s actually alive. The only down side I can think of for this movie is that the human characters are more or less plot devices for the film and don’t exactly have a natural vibe to them. Other than that, there isn’t whole lot you can go wrong with in regards to this film. So, if you’re interested in checking out Ray Harryhausen’s work and are into ‘50s sci-fi films, then you should check out 20 Million Miles to Earth.

Final Rating:

Twenty Million Miles to Earth is available on Blu-Ray and DVD for reasonable prices, though mostly available to purchase online. You might be able to find a copy at your local video store, if you do try that route, I can only say good luck to you. As for alternate recommendations, I first point you towards another one of Harryhausen’s movies, The Valley of Gwangi, cowboys, and dinosaurs, enough said and lastly, I recommend checking out John Carpenter’s: The Thing, if you’re a big fan practical effects, you should check this one out. That’s it for me, please do check out my other reviews and let me know what your thoughts are on this film.

Until Next Time, Remember That Even Aliens Need Love Too…

Varan The Unbelievable: Movie Review #14

Review of the Week:

Beware the Flying-Squirrel Lizard!

 

 

Ever since I was kid, I’ve always had a fascination for Japanese culture, from the technology they produce, to their lifestyle and most importantly their version of media entertainment. Like most people, I was introduced by watching monster movies, or Kaiju flicks (Kaiju is the Japanese word for giant beast). I grew up with unusual creatures such as Mothra, Rodan, Anguirus and of course the King of the Monsters himself: Godzilla. Despite Japan’s wide variety of radioactive miscreants, there’s one Kaiju that hasn’t received the same amount of attention as the rest and I’m going to talk about his film today.

            Varan is as straight-forward of a monster movie as you can get. The plot of the film is that the monster is awakened in the northern mountains while a group of scientists attempt to conduct research on a rare butterfly, who ignore the warnings of the natives from a neighboring village. They warn the scientists that their intrusion will cause the wrath of their god Baradagi, or as researchers soon discover turn out to be a prehistoric creature known as Varan (who can also glide like a flying-squirrel, apparently). From there you can probably what happens next, so I won’t say any more.

            Now calling this movie straight-forward may discourage some of you, but don’t be a fool, as basic as it is, it’s a fun piece of Kaiju history that’s worth checking out. It has everything that you can expect from a monster flick, a big man in a rubber suit flailing his arms around like a baby (Varan’s design is still one of my favorites), miniature planes and jets shooting fireworks everywhere like a bunch of Stormtroopers and a lot of stock footage implanted in the film. If you are going to check this one out, it’s highly recommended that you either watch it with friends or wait until you’re in the right mindset (trust me you don’t want to miss a minute of it).

            So, if you’re interested in watching an old monster movie, look no further.

Final Rating:

Varan is available on DVD, though unfortunately it is one of those movies that you are going to have a hard time finding. You might have better luck finding a copy if you look online, in my case I managed to grab one just before it became a rare item, especially the one released by Tokyo Shock, which includes the original version of the film. As for alternate recommendations, I first point you towards The Mysterians, one of the cheesiest sci-fi movies I have ever seen and lastly, I suggest checking out Planet of Dinosaurs, an amazing stop-motion film from the ‘70s that’ll have you laughing your ass off (pardon my French). That’s it for me, let me know what your thoughts on the film are down below and if there are any other kaiju flicks I should review.

Until Next Time, “Fear the Unknown” …

Kingsman The Secret Service: Movie Review #13

Review of the Week:

Even Spies can Learn from Sting



Everyone loves surprises, I certainly do, especially when it comes to movies. It’s refreshing to watch something you never expected to enjoy. A few years back, I discovered a trailer for a film which had an interesting cast and story. When I saw it for the first time, I quickly realized just how awesome the experience was going to be. Kingsman was that movie (but you already knew that since that’s what this review is about).

            The film centers around a young man from south London (played by Taron Edgerton) who is recruited by a member of a secret organization dedicated to protecting the world from various threats. The young man is sent on a current mission, to stop a psychotic billionaire who’s taking extreme measures to “save the planet”. What follows are a bunch of shenanigans that are both hilarious and action-packed (there’s a particular scene that’s my personal favorite).

            Kingsman represents Colin Firth's first performance in an action-orientated film. While that may create some concern for people who are familiar with him, and have not seen this film, all fears are thrown right out the window almost immediately. He does his action scenes brilliantly and adds this sense of style to his character, I don’t see in a lot of spy flicks and action movies in general (Fun Fact: Firth did 80% of his own stunts in the film). A big bonus, Harry Hart, his character, likes to quote the famous singer Sing (though it’s just one).  

            If you want to see a more recent film filled with espionage, comedy, balls-to-the-wall action and bad-ass gentlemen, then Kingsman: The Secret Service is the movie for you (warning: do not watch this with toddlers, parents, or grandparents).

Final Rating:

 

Kingsman: The Secret Service is available at your local video-store, and online, on Blu-Ray and DVD for a reasonable price. Definitely get it on Blu-Ray to have the full experience (trust me), as for alternate recommendations, I first point you towards Starship Troopers, it’s a fun satire on military and sci-fi films with grand action that exceeds even Kingsman, lastly, I recommend checking out Desperado, it’s my favorite action film from ‘90s and has an amazing sense of style also similar to Kingsman. That’s it for me, if you agree with my thoughts on the flick, feel free to let me know in the comments below and give me other movie recommendations for me to review.

Until Next Time, Oxfords Not Brogues…

 

 

Tokyo GodFathers: Movie Review #12 New Year's Themed

Review of the Week:

Satoshi's Bums

 



2016 was a year where way too many artists lost their lives. Some of my favorite actors and actresses have died and that has left a massive hole in my heart and everyone else’s. Unfortunately, we’ve lost many other celebrities prior to this god-awful year, Anime fans lost an aspiring icon in 2010, acclaimed director Satoshi Kon. Despite directing only a hand-full of films Kon was instantly recognized for his brilliance, but wasn't able to reach his peak. For today, I’m going to be introducing you one his most beloved works: Tokyo Godfathers.

            It’s Christmas Eve and everyone’s settling down for the holidays, well almost everyone. While everyone’s enjoying the holidays, three homeless people discover an abandoned baby among a pile of trash. The three-homeless people, a transvestite, a washed-out gambler, and a runway, decide to take it upon themselves to find the child’s parents and create a “holiday miracle” before the new year.

            A lot more happens in this film, but I don’t want to go into more detail. This is something you must experience yourself and trust me the journey is worth it. Now, unlike my previous anime reviews, this movie has a more “normal” appearance. There’s no swords, guns, violence (to a certain degree) and not whole lot of questionable material (again, to a certain degree). This movie is much more grounded and this can be a factor in attracting people to this film. A lot of the topics that Tokyo Godfathers discusses is very relatable, the way most of the characters solve their problems are things that the viewer can instantly connect to. It’s reasons like this are why, if people are interested in checking out anime, should definitely check out this film as a gateway into this form of entertainment.

            So, if you’re looking for a film for New Year’s Eve, and a gateway into Anime, then you should watch Tokyo Godfathers.

Final Rating:

Tokyo Godfathers is available on DVD, though not exactly at your local video-store, as far as I can tell, you’ll probably have better luck online. Amazon or E-bay are good places to look if you decide to buy the film, which I highly recommend you do by the way. As alternate movie recommendations, I first point you towards another film by Satoshi Kon, Paprika, if you were a big fan of Christopher Nolan’s Inception, then you should check it out, and lastly, I recommend watching Planes, Trains & Automobiles, it’s a non-traditional holiday film like Godfathers and it’s an amazing movie overall. Are there any other films you would recommend, then let me know in the comments below.

Until Next Time, See You in the New Year…

 

Sword of the Stranger: Movie Review #11

Review of the Week:

Blood & Swords Galore!

 

Sometimes I like to be reminded of why I love a certain thing, an amazing discovery that reignites my interest in something that I already consider fantastic. In recent years, I started watching a different form of entertainment known as Anime. It all started when a friend introduced me to show called Attack on Titan, at first I didn’t know what to expect from it and boy when I saw the first few minutes, I was ABSOULTELY blown away. Since that time, I have seen a wide variety of “inventive” shows, from Fullmetal Alchemist, to Cowboy Bebop and many others. It was and is those types of shows that kept me going, I continue to find unbelievably great shows and a lot of them have shown me what animation is capable of, but to me, none of them come close to the spectacle that is: Sword of the Stranger.

Sword of the Stranger, tells the story of an orphaned boy named Kotaro, and his dog Tobimaru, who are being pursued by assassins under direct orders from the emperor of china. While on the run, the boy runs into a name-less samurai, who soon becomes caught in the affair. It’s through these dire circumstances, that Kotaro enlists the samurai to help escort him to safety.

The plot of the film is fairly simple, but the animation is not. The animation was handled by Studio BONES, the studio most famous for animating the two shows I previously mentioned at the intro. They did good on those and they did a hell of a job in this film. A lot of the animation has such fluidity it’s unbelievable. It's those moments, especially during the final fight, is when BONES’ efforts is shown. As for the decision to listen to it in Japanese, or English, is simple: it doesn’t matter. Both versions are great to listen to and are very satisfying (though go for Japanese, if you bought it from Funimation, you'll find out). Also, the music is some of my favorite in Anime, my personal pick from the soundtrack is Battle Theme, it’s extremely epic (I listened to it repeatedly while making this review and you should too while reading).

Overall, if you’re looking for a simple, but amazing film with super awesome animation, but extremely violent action, then you should definitely check out Sword of the Stranger. Just don’t watch it with kids under 15, they’ll probably get mentally scared from this.

Final Rating:

Sword of the Stranger is available on Blu-Ray, DVD combo, by the fine folks over at Funimation Entertainment, for a reasonable price, you may have better luck on other pages, though it’s still worth buying regardless. It’s also available for legal streaming on their site. Unfortunately, I have no alternate recommendations at this time, but if you have any, feel free to sound off in the comments below.

Until Next Time, Thank A Helping Stranger…

 



Ninja Scroll: Movie Review #10

Review of the Week:

Nineties Ninjas

 

There are a lot of Anime out that have this distinct appearance, a certain aspect that labels them as a product of the time they were released. Ninja Scroll is very much a product of nineties, down to its animation, style and the quality of its English dub. In this movie’s case, it works to its advantage, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it works in all areas.

            Ninja Scroll takes places in a land where supernatural beings and monsters exist, that just happens to look like feudal Japan which justifies some of character designs. Probably the biggest example is the main character, Jubei, who looks like an American who decided to cosplay as a samurai. I should get into the plot before I lose track, in the film, Jubei gets caught in a scrimmage between a league of demonic ninjas and a shogun spy, who forces Jubei to help him out. While getting entangled in this mess, he also runs into a mysterious ninja girl with a deadly secret. I would try to explain the rest of the plot, but it's just too complicated and weird for me.

            While Ninja Scroll is a great standalone film, some of the animation did remind me of another animated film, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust. Though this isn’t much of a surprise since both films were animated by Studio Madhouse, this studio is also responsible for famous titles such as Death Note, Black Lagoon and more recently Death Parade. As for the decision to listen to it in either Japanese or English, surprisingly enough I still say English. While the dub is more or less standard, there are some big names in the cast. Some of the names include Wendee Lee (Cowboy Bebop) and even Richard Epcar (Ghost in the Shell). Both of their performances are great and memorable.

            Just want to add some final thoughts before the verdict, one thing people should be aware of is the violence. It’s extremely graphic and there are some depictions of rape as well, so if you decide to watch it: DO NOT watch this in a public place or with family, they’ll probably think something’s wrong with you. Other than that, this movie is a good time, if you’re into ‘90s anime.

Final Rating:

Ninja Scroll is currently available on Blu-Ray and DVD both online and at some local video stores, I found my copy at a Bullmoose store in Salem, NH. I’m not sure if you can watch it on legal streaming, if anyone knows, please do inform me in the comments along with thoughts on the film itself. As for alternate recommendations, I first point you towards another ‘90s anime, Berserk, though the series is only part of a larger story, it’s still worth checking out, lastly, I recommend checking out the film Highlander, while this has a more modern setting, it’s better as a whole and it also has some songs performed by Queen (which is AWESOME).

Until Next Time, Relive the Past…

Escaflowne: Weekly Review #9

Review of the Week:

An Interesting Introduction

 

Anime is a different form of entertainment all together, or least that’s what some people think. It maybe from a different country, but there are plenty of similarities, some more obvious than others. Escaflowne: The Movie, is a great example.

            A high-schooler by the name of Hitomi Kanzaki is transported to the magical, but grim world of Gaea. It is there, she is prophesized as The Winged Goddess, an all-powerful being who will bring life to a massive suit of armor known as Escaflowne. She soon learns being labeled as a goddess, isn’t exactly a good thing. She becomes the target of the Black Dragon Clan, who seek to use her to end Gaea. Among Hitomi’s companions is Van Fanel, the former king of a destroyed country, who’s now a vengeful soul out to kill his brother Folken, who’s responsible for the destruction of Van’s home. Time will tell if Hitomi and Van will either be Gaea’s salvation or annihilation.

            Now, there's something the reader needs to be aware of: this movie serves as both an introduction to newcomers in Anime and to the original show this movie is from. Escaflowne is an adaptation (of sorts) to a ‘90s Anime called The Vision of Escaflowne. This reviewer had the honor of watching the original show prior to viewing the movie itself and there are reasons why the movie should be viewed as an introduction. The focus of Escaflowne is the two main characters, Van and Hitomi, despite being the leads, their developing relationship isn’t explored as much as the original show. Also, major characters from the series are reduced to either supporting or background characters. Not to mention the fact that Escaflowne itself makes brief appearances at the beginning and end of the film. Besides these accusations, there are plenty of things to enjoy about this movie. The action is astounding, backed up by beautiful animation by Studio Sunrise. The violence is a little more brutal in movie than the series, this point is especially clear during the opening sequence.

            Now, when it comes to listening to it in either Japanese or English is a little complicated. There are currently two different English versions, both the movie and series were previously dubbed in the early ‘2000s, but when Funimation (a major Anime distributor) acquired the rights in 2016, they decided to create a completely new English dub. This reviewer can personally say that the Funimation re-dub is MUCH better than the original.

            So, if you’re looking for an action-packed introduction to Anime and to The Vision of Escaflowne, then you should definitely check out this film.

Final Rating:

Escaflowne is available on Blu-Ray and DVD by Funimation Entertainment and is also available for legal streaming on their website in both Japanese and English as long as you’re a subscriber. I highly recommend buying it via other sites, their prices are a bit expensive at the moment. Whether you decide to buy it or not, is up to you. As for alternate movie recommendations, at this time I can only think one and that is the ‘80s cult hit Labyrinth, this one does lack action, but it has David Bowie in it, so it’s worth it (R.I.P. Bowie). Thanks for checking out this review, if you have seen it, do let me know what your thoughts are in the comments below.

Until Next Time, Expand Your World…

Planes, Trains & Automobiles: Weekly Review #8 Thanksgiving Themed

Review of the Week:

Road Trip Gold

Happy Belated Thanksgiving everyone! While this review is past thanksgiving, it’s never too late to post it. For my first holiday review, I’ll be reviewing a comedy classic directed by the genius that is John Hughes: Planes, Trains and Automobiles.

            The film’s plot is nothing special, it’s your average road trip movie, something many people have seen before. But with someone like John Hughes as the director, it’s anything but average. Family man Neil Page (played by Steve Martin) is struggling to get back to his home in Chicago, along the way he meets an estranged fellow by the name of Del Griffith (played by the late John Candy). Through bad and worse, Neil and Del travel cross-country in order to get Neil home.

            This film’s greatest strength are the two leads, Steve Martin and John Candy have the most impeccable chemistry on screen. Most of their interactions are part of what make this a comedy classic, which is saying something considering this from the director of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. What sets this movie apart is the fact that the inner conflict between the two characters is resolved almost near the beginning of the film, this is something not many other movies like this do. With the inner conflict out of the way this makes for more interesting conversations, less time wasted and better comedic timing. The movie also hints at a revelation on one of the characters throughout. When the revelation is revealed along with the end scene, it makes for an emotionally satisfying conclusion.

So, when Thanksgiving comes around the corner, you should definitely pick this one up and watch it with the whole family, it makes for a greater experience.
      
                                                            Final Rating:

 

Planes, Trains and Automobiles is available on Blu-Ray and DVD for a reasonable price, at your local video store and should not be very hard to find. As for alternate movie recommendations, I first point you towards Due Date, it’s a more current road-trip movie starring Robert Downey Jr., and Zack Galifianakis, it may not be as good as PTA, it’s still entertaining regardless, lastly, I recommend checking out Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, it’s an iconic film, which makes it so memorable. That’s all for today feel free to check out the other reviews on this site and do let me know your thoughts on this film down below.

Until Next Time… Be Thankful for Others

Starship Troopers: Weekly Review #7 Veteran's Day Themed

Review of the Week:

Only Dead Bugs Are Good

 

In honor of those who serve in the military, I’d like to commemorate the brave men and women who do their part for the Federation. This is one of the most satirical movies I have ever seen in my life and that’s why I love it so much.

The movie wastes no time and brings you straight into the action. The military Federation is in the middle of a conflict that spans across our galaxy, the enemy: Bugs. Now these aren’t your average insects, not by a long shot. Some are the size of a dinner table, some of them are 8 feet tall and then are some bugs that are the size of four-story buildings! The film centers around a high school kid named Johnny Rico, who has just graduated and decides to join the military just as the dispute with the Bugs starts to intensify. As for the rest of the movie, you’ll have to find out for yourself.

Everyone in this movie is fantastic, hands down. Rico’s played by Casper Van Dien, who’s mostly known for b-movie roles including Python, meanwhile Dina Meyer, who plays Rico’s fellow cadet Dizzy, has made appearances on several famous TV shows like Monk, and Burn Notice, lastly I can’t help but laugh, the movie also stars Neil Patrick Harris as Johnny’s best friend Carl. I think it’s hysterical, the contrast between his performance in this movie and his role as Barney Stinson in How I Met Your Mother.

The society that the movie establishes may seem fascist, but the way it’s presented and how satirical it can be at times, lets it off the hook in my opinion. It mainly focuses on the pros of what this society brings and how it unifies people, which isn’t a bad thing because again the film plays it as satirical so it doesn’t take itself too seriously and so people don’t get upset over this movie (but I’m sure people will get upset anyway). Besides the fascism, the action in this film is what it has going for it. Seeing a bunch of soldiers in a massive shootout against decently animated CGI alien bugs is pretty sweet.

So, as long as you don’t have a light stomach and totally okay with a satirical fascist society, you should definitely check out Starship Troopers at your earliest convenience.

Final Rating:

Starship Troopers is available on Blu-Ray and DVD at your local video store and you can probably pick it up at good price these days (it honestly shouldn’t be hard to find). As for alternate film recommendations, I first point you towards RoboCop, an '80s film by the same director who did Starship Troopers and lastly I recommend checking out the sci-fi classic Aliens, though it’s a sequel I still say you should check it out because, it’s Aliens (anyone who has seen it, would probably tell you the same thing). That’s all for today, if you have any other thoughts about the film I just reviewed please sound off in the comments below, let me know if you agree or not.

Until Next Time, Hold Your Ground…

Dr. Strange: Weekly Review #6

Review of the Week:

A Journey into The Strange

 

Marvel once again shows off its superiority in bring comic book characters to life on the big screen with its FOURTEENTH installment in their ever-expanding cinematic universe. This film franchise has explored various heroes and villains, some more unique than next, for example, Guardians of the Galaxy, Ant-Man, Thor, Loki, Vision and many others. This time they tackle (HA, right) with the Sorcerer Supreme himself: Doctor Strange.

            Spoiler Alert! This is another origin story, but a visually satisfying origin story. The film centers around an esteemed neuro-surgeon by the name of Stephen Strange who one day loses his hands in a near-fatal car accident (not literally, but close). Now he no longer possesses the ability to firmly operate on his patients and slowly loses confidence in himself and seeks outside help. As his options start to run low, Strange decides to visit a secret temple in Nepal, where certain people might be able to help with his situation. Instead of finding a solution, Strange finds an alternative.

            This movie has THE most impressive cast list I’ve ever seen in a MARVEL film. Probably the greatest casting choice from MARVEL comes in the form of Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock) as the title character. He embodies Doctor Strange without any effort whatsoever, basically he was born to play this character. Though I can say the same for everyone else in the movie and all the other MCU* films (*Marvel Cinematic Universe). Another memorable performance for me, was Madds Mikkelsen (Hannibal) as the villain. He just adds this charisma and swag that many of the bad guys in the MCU lacked and not to mention that him and Cumberbatch have some of my favorite interactions between a hero and villain. I will admit, to me, I thought of this film as more of a battle between Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Hannibal Lecter, to be honest (which is still pretty awesome).

            Visually… good lord! This IS the most visually stunning MARVEL film I have ever seen. Just from the opening scene alone, I could tell a lot of hard work was put into this. While some people have pointed that the visuals are very reminiscent of Inception, that’s not really a bad thing, in fact Doctor Strange takes the visuals from Inception and amplifies them times ten! Another thing the film has going for it is the magic as well. While the magic the character’s use, may seem limited by some fans of the original comic, it does help the film from straying too far from the story and keeps it on point (it still looks cool regardless).

FINAL RATING:

I had the opportunity to watch the film in IMAX 3-D and I can confirm it is worth every single penny. You can get the most out of this movie when it’s on a big screen especially an IMAX screen. I highly recommend watching Dr. Strange while it is still in theaters and available on IMAX, or else it will not be as memorable for you (who knows, maybe it still will be).

Until Next Time, Believe the Unbelievable...

Day of the Dead: Weekly Review #5

Review of the Week:

A Bloody Celebration

 

Considering the fact, that The Walking Dead will be making its return to television on October 23^rd, I figured it be the perfect time to review a zombie movie. I thought, if I were to do a review, it had to be on something from the original creator of the modern zombie: George A. Romero. This movie represents the third entry in Romero’s Dead series, starting with Night of the Living Dead.

            The film takes place in an underground silo, where a group of scientists and military personnel are trying to both, figure out the cause of the epidemic and merely survive. Just from the first thirty minutes of the movie, the viewer can already tell that the situation the characters are in, is a hopeless one. Both the scientists, and the soldiers assigned to protect them are starting to doubt their mission and are considering to abandon the silo. Most of the men are feeling claustrophobic and are slowly losing their minds. Some of them are more screw loose than others, especially one of the scientists, that the survivors nicknamed Dr. Frankenstein. It doesn’t take long before everything goes wrong in ways the audience never expected! Don’t worry, no spoilers from me.

            Most of the cast in this film aren’t well known, but they do an excellent job of expressing the characters slow decent into madness. For me the stand-out characters are Colonel Rhodes, played by Joe Pilato and Sherman Howard who plays a zombie named Bub. Pilato’s performance as Rhodes is amazing, it’s incredible how unlikable he portrays his character, he’s someone you just love to hate with all your heart. Howard’s portrayal of Bub is great. He’s supposed to play a zombie who’s slowly evolving human traits and Howard does it brilliantly. The performance reminds me of Andy Serkis’ performance as Caesar from the Planet of Apes reboot series, where a creature slowly learns to do human tasks, even at one point learns how to use a gun. Coincidently, this film stars Greg Nicotero, the main zombie makeup artist on The Walking Dead, just thought I should mention it.  

            Fair warning, for whoever decides to watch this movie, there is a SHIT ton of gore in this movie (sorry about the language, but it’s true). If you’re not used to that sort of thing, I recommend at least checking out the original Night of the Living Dead, the gore is much tamer than this movie, there’s hardly any at all. If you’re not that kind of person, then you should check out this film from the OG creator.

Final Rating:

            Day of the Dead is available on Blu-Ray and DVD, my copy was made by the lovely people at Scream Factory, their collector’s edition is well worth your time and money (they did not pay me to tell you this, it’s just my opinion). As for alternate recommendations, I first point you towards Dawn of the Dead, the second entry the Dead series, it’s not as dark as Day, but has a really cool setting with memorable characters, lastly I recommend checking out 28 Days Later, while it’s not exactly your typical zombie flick, it does provide an interesting scenario.

Until next time, remember to aim for the head…

 

Evil Dead 2: Weekly Review #4

Review of the Week:

Bruce Campbell + Demons = Groovy

When it comes to ‘80s horror, no movie is more iconic than Evil Dead 2, John Carpenter’s The Thing is a close contender in my opinion. The first movie was already a house-hold name in the horror community, but the sequel cemented itself in the minds of fans and casual moviegoers alike.

Evil Dead 2 takes place almost immediately after the first one, be it with some slight variations. (Spoilers Alert) During the first Evil Dead, five friends spend the weekend at a cabin in the woods. It is there that they discover Necronomicon Exmortis also known as, the book of the dead. I’m pretty sure you can guess what happens next. After witnessing the death of his friends and his girlfriend, Ash, the movies main protagonist, gets ready for round two against the forces of darkness, that are coming to swallow his soul! Ash soon faces new challenges both physical and mental, his only hope is the daughter of a scientist who was previously studying the book of the dead. It’s going take a ton of effort from the both of them if they want to survive the night.

This movie solidified Bruce Campbell, who plays Ash, as one of the greatest heroes in the horror genre. He carries this movie from beginning to end, becoming more bad-ass with every scene. Most people are familiar with his current appearance in the new TV show on STARZ, but if there are those that still want to see how Ash became the way he is, then they should definitely check out this movie.

Most of the effects in this movie can be considered outdated by some people, as for the rest, they’re pretty impressive especially the makeup. Even to this day, after watching it several times, some of the jump scares still get me, that’s pretty impressive on its own.

If you’re looking for a horror movie classic, then this is the one for you.

Final Rating:

Evil Dead 2 is available on Blu-Ray and DVD for very reasonable prices, both at your local store and online. As for alternate recommendations, I point you towards Army of Darkness, the third installment in the Evil Dead series, this one’s much cornier and has awesome one-liners, lastly I recommend checking out BeetleJuice, this movie takes some notes from Evil Dead when it comes to dark humor and most of it is hilarious.

Until next time, when you see a book wrapped in human flesh, BURN IT...