Opinion on two movies

[Evan3]

Hey all, I wasbrowsing through Blockbuster and want to see two movies, but  I am not sure wheather they are worth the price.  Let me know what you think.

1) Ballistic: Ecks Vs. Seever - this is a newer flick with Antonio Banderas and Lucy Liu. I read a preview for it about two years ago and thought it sounded like a good, mindless, action brawl. However, most critics (who I tend not to trust in any case) panned it and I know it was even ridiculed as an action film. Still would like to see it though and assume it is better than the crap that was XXX.

2) Phatasm: I believe that is the name. I seem to remember hearing it float around this board. It is about two guys who go into the house of a mad scientist I believe. It has a tall dude and a white bubble on the cover. If my memory serves me correctly, they carried Phantasm 2 as well. Im sorry, but so far it looks pretty droll, and I think I would rather watch Jack Frost.

So, what are your opinions on these.

[Grumpy Guy]

Ecks vs Sever is an hour and a half of my life that I will never get back.

I don't think I have ever seen a worse action film.  It was really suprising, because I LIKE Antonio Banderas, and I wanted to like this film.  But it just wasn't happening.  The movie was horrible.  I want to sue the studio for stealing time from my life.

Sorry.  Got into a bit of a rant there.  Still, the movie is BAD.  The photography is sub par, the "action" sequnces are dull, and the fight coreography was... blech.  I'd tell you a bit about the plot, but I'm really not sure what it was about.  The story, such as it is, is long and convaluted, but it basicly comes down to a basic kidnapping-for-revenge tale.  Don't waste your time.  It gives bad movies a bad name.

Phantasm is better.  It's a basic horror movie in the "Nightmare on Elm Street" category, but it's actually a pretty good film, as I remember it (it's been about 8 years or so since I last watched it).  

There's my two cents worth.  Hope you enjoyed it. :-P

[Damien01]

Ballistic... is boring as hell... I wished I could tell you much of the story, but I fell asleep in it... and that is bad... this was supose to be an action flick.

Phantasm... Cult Classic!!! Its a good movie, but you would have to be into those "odd" horror stories. This movie is like a SF dream gone bad, similar to Nightmare on Elm Street... but less on the jokes and heavy on the oddness...

I do think Phantasm is the best of all the Phantasm movies, but part two is pretty good.

[Gerry]

I agree with Grumpy Guy and Damien01 that PHANTASM is a classic.  Can't recommend the sequels because I haven't seen them.  I've been avoiding BALLISTIC: ECKS VS. SEVER...it looks terrible!

[jmc]

The movie reviewer for the local free paper likes most action films, regardless of quality.  Even he hated Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever.  

Phantasm is a must see, one of my all-time favorites.

[Fearless Freep]

I'm tempted to pick up "Ballistic" simply because I like Antonio Banderas*, but I have no illusions about it being very good.




* I hope he doesn't get typecast as an action hero because I really liked him in "Mambo Kings" and some other pieces of more dramatic film I've seen him in

[Grumpy Guy]

Fearless Freep wrote:

> I'm tempted to pick up "Ballistic" simply because I like
> Antonio Banderas*, but I have no illusions about it being very
> good.

Don't do it.  It's a trick.

[Brother Ragnarok]

Phantasm rocks.  The first one is, as the others said, a cult classic, but the second one is my favorite.  Used to be on Monstervision with Joe Bob Briggs all the time.

Brother R

[The Burgomaster]

1. Haven't seen it.

2. I have seen it many times and find it to be a very enjoyable horror movie.

[Cullen]

Ballistic: Ecks Vs. Sever - Eh.  Passable time waster, I guess.  Looked like a dozen other action flicks to me.  Nothing really grabbed me; I don't think I'd ever watch it by choice again.

Phantasm - I used to like this one a great deal, but when I bought the DVD, I found I couldn't stand the main character.  Didn't cared if he lived, died, or became one of the midget undead.  The movie itself has some remarkable images, though.
_________________________-

[AndyC]

Phantasm is definitely worth buying. The first has an extremely low budget, but makes up for it with some really cool characters and ideas. Worth watching for the sphere alone.

Phantasm II is also good, because they basically took the first and kicked it up a notch. Better effects, more action, more spheres, henchmen for the tall man, cool weapons for the heroes, and Reggie goes from wimpy supporting character to the coolest guy in the whole series.

Oh yeah, and the car is pretty sweet too.

[Funk, E.]

So... in sumation:
Phantasm, good (or bad in a good way)
Ballistic, bad (bad in a bad way)
There you have.

[Evan3]

Well, I followed your advice....

Rented Phantasm (they only had it on VHS dammit). I saw none of you mentioned Phantasm OblIVion is that one no good???

Also, saw a flick by Ed Wood called Orgy of the Dead or something like that? Any news on this?

Also picked up Porky's,. which I have never seen, instead of ballistic.

[Funk, E.]

Porky's is the American Pie of the early eighties

[Cullen]

Evan3 writes:
Also, saw a flick by Ed Wood called Orgy of the Dead or something like that? Any news on this?

Rule of thumb: If Ed Wood's name is on it, it will be BAD.  Sometimes in a good way, BUT NOT ALWAYS.  Be wary.