Recent viewings

[Jack]

Alien 51 (2004) - Some monster (guy in a cheesy rubber suit) gets loose from Area 51.  It runs around killing people, while some other people try to chase it down.  It's all pretty tongue-in-cheek.  There are some hot babes in this movie, though little actual nudity.  Plot?  I have to say that if you're sober enough to care about stuff like plot, you perhaps should watch a different movie.  Acting is uniformly bad.  Heidi Fleiss gets lead billing, but she's just a secondary character.  Judging by her performance, I'd guess they paid her in vodka and cocaine.  After about an hour of this junk I found myself checking the DVD display, wondering how the hell much of it was left.  It wasn't horribly bad, just dull and stupid.  2.5/5.

[Rev. Powell]

THE EYES OF LAURA MARS (1978):  Photographer Laura Mars begins literally seeing murders through the eyes of a serial killer—a curse that turns her effectively blind at tense moments, such as when the killer begins stalking her.  A fine cast of Faye Dunaway (Laura), Tommy Lee Jones (as the cop), Rene Auberjonois (as the gay best friend) and Raul Julia (as the ex-husband) buoy this otherwise preposterous thriller.  Be forewarned: there's lots of obnoxious disco music and (even worse) Barbara Streisand on the soundtrack.  2.5/5.

STEPPENWOLF (1974):  Suicidal Harry Haller withdraws into a symbolic dream world where he comes to terms with his dual nature as man and beast, his destructively cynical assessment of Goethe, the fact that he desperately needs to get laid and smoke some dope, and other problems facing 1920s German intellectuals.  A reverent and faithful adaptation of Herman Hesse's classic novel with some cool moments, but the performances are too restrained and languid, some of the accents of the international cast are impenetrable, and many of the "money shot" psychedelic effects in the Magic Theater finale seem campy and dated today. 2.5/5.   

[Torgo]

MR. BROOKS  *** out of ****.  Extremely well acted Kevin Costner/William Hurt starring film that suffers from an overstuffed plot at times. But the movie still works thanks to the excellent cast that also includes Demi Moore and comedian Dane Cook.  Taut direction, good use of extreme bloodletting  and a slightly unique take on the serial killer makes this worth checking out.

[Torgo]

THE HOWLING   *** out of ****.  Not quite as good as An American Werewolf in London but just as in important in the history of horror. Nice pacing and a quirky sense of humor make this stand out. Dee Wallace Stone is adorable in this.

[Rev. Powell]

THE MOTHMAN PROPHECIES (2002): A Washington reporter loses his wife in an automobile accident, then finds himself spirited away to a West Virgina town where the residents are spotting monsters and undergoing horrifying precognitive hallucinations.  Creepy, bloodless "based on true events" chiller builds fine suspense through a series of unsettling, unexplained occurrences, and Gere is effective as a grieving widower who seems fated for even greater tragedy.    4/5.

[Jack]

Sea Beast (2008) - Some sea monsters attack people in a small fishing village.  This actually wasn't too bad for a Sci-Fi Original.  The creatures were moderately cool looking, characters were sufficiently likable, and they acted in a reasonably intelligent manner.  Of course, it had it's moments:  At one point a lamp cord was used to electrify an entire steel roof, resulting in CGI electricity effects dancing over the sea creatures.  There was enough action to keep it adequately interesting.  I'll be generous and give it a 3.5/5.  When it comes to Sci-Fi Originals, I've seen much, much worse.

[Wag]

Resident Evil: Degeneration Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield coincidentally reunite to stop another outbreak of T and G viruses. Aside from a few bits odd ropey hair that doesn't flow like real hair, this CGI animated movie is fairly impressive if you are impressed by CGI. It's no Advent Children though, and not quite as nerve shattering as actually playing the games, but entertaining enough. Just don't watch the self indulgent "voice bloopers" extras. They are not funny. 3.5/5

[Joe the Destroyer]

Caught Doomsday, and I have to say it's my least favorite Neil Marshall movie, but still decent.  It's fun, but it moves a little too fast at times.

[Rev. Powell]

CARNIVAL OF SOULS (1962):  Dang, this creepy classic gets better everytime I view it.  I think the first time I saw it I gave it 4/5, several yars later I would have given 4.5/5 out of 5, and now I rate it a perfect 5/5. 

[Doggett]

CARNIVAL OF SOULS (1962):  Dang, this creepy classic gets better everytime I view it.  I think the first time I saw it I gave it 4/5, several yars later I would have given 4.5/5 out of 5, and now I rate it a perfect 5/5. 

The dancing in the abandoned amusements chills the spine everytime...

I've been watching lots of Red Dwarf DVDs, especially VI and VII

[InformationGeek]

DOA: Dead or Alive: Not finished yet, so I'll tell you what I thought later.  So far, the movie is only staying alive because of the sex appeal of the female leads and some cool fights.  Get rid of them all and I would be bored out of my mine.

Paul Blart: Mall Cop: This was a good comedy for me.  I'm so tired of all these rated R adult comedies that never appeal to me, so I liked the fact that this one was far more tame and didn't need the use of the f bomb or sexual innuendo or what not to be entertaining.  It had it's dumb moments, but I would give it a 4 out of 5 in my book.

[Rev. Powell]

TIDELAND (2005): A girl left alone in an old country house retreats into a fantasy world after being left to her own devices by her junkie father, all the while not recognizing the dangers posed by her mentally challenged adult playmate and his bizarre, vindictive sister. A sinister, shocking and fantastic movie about childhood's oblivion towards the dangers of the adult world that flirts with greatness but never quite reaches it. 3.5/5.

[InformationGeek]

Alright, I finished DOA: Dead or Alive and I already did my review on it.  But to say what I thought about it hear, here's what I have to say.  The only thing that keeps this film afloat is the hottest actresses and the fight scenes, otherwise this film falls flat on its butt.  It's as bad as Street Fighter or Mortal Kombat the movie, but it is a slight step above them.  Anyways, the film is below average, enough said.

[lester1/2jr]

In the bonus materials on "Carnival of Souls"  they mentioned that some of the film was destroyed, a scene where the ghouls are seen emerging from the ocean.


MST3K I accuse my Parents - classic early episode.  This film is unique in that it isn't that bad.    It doesn't have that patented painful dullness.  The show was still rudimentary in some respects but this ranks highly if not at the very top. 

[RCMerchant]

THE MOTHMAN PROPHECIES (2002): A Washington reporter loses his wife in an automobile accident, then finds himself spirited away to a West Virgina town where the residents are spotting monsters and undergoing horrifying precognitive hallucinations.  Creepy, bloodless "based on true events" chiller builds fine suspense through a series of unsettling, unexplained occurrences, and Gere is effective as a grieving widower who seems fated for even greater tragedy.    4/5.

I enjoyed this one quite a bit. Gere's charecter hit very close to home with me. And having read John Keel's book made it all the more interesting.

BLOODY PIT OF HORROR-Hilarious! The Crimson Executioner's obbssesion with his 'perfect body' had me rollin'! A classick!!!