Reviews
Battlefield Earth (2000)
Good enough to watch and enjoy
So I watched this movie (DVD) and was able to enjoy it quite a bit. Much in the same way as I enjoyed Armageddon. You know, where you just sit back and say to hell with all the technical flaws and just take it as it comes. forget about the 1000 year old weapons and jet fuel that still work fine. Forget about the 1000 year old tritium in the nuclear warhead that really only has a half life of 20 years. Forget the fact that the aliens knew that the man animals had built all the buildings and technology on the planet and now don't even think that they can mine ore. Forget that,,, okay, wait, maybe I'm asking you to forget way too much.
Anyway, I'm an engineer so technical flaws are usually pretty abundant in any sci-fi movie, so I just eventually decide to forget about them.
With all that behind us, the movie was actually pretty enjoyable. The special effects were very good and Barry Pepper was performing some very impressive action scenes. This was a way that I've never seen him before and I thought that he did one hell of a good job. If nothing else, this movie showed us what he is capable of. Anyway, Travolta as a arrogant alien was also pretty good but a little overdone and simplistic at times. His endless interaction with Whittaker was on the verge of too much though. All in all it was a pretty good escape fantasy type movie though.
I wonder if all these negative reviews on it are really the way people found it or just anti-scientology propaganda. I think scientology is a joke but I'm not about to hold that against this movie. I enjoyed it.
From Dusk Till Dawn 3: The Hangman's Daughter (1999)
Interesting movie and worthy of the title, not like part 2.
So after not enjoying the flop, better known as FDTD II,,, I only decided to check out the 3rd one from seeing the scenes on numerous other rental tapes. Well that was good, or maybe I wasn't expecting much. I mostly wanted to see Little Becky Gayheart is something. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see enough of her. On the other hand, the movie was actually pretty good. A western set in Mexico with vampires. Obviously the work of Rodriguez. Okay we didn't have the big names like in part one or Desperado but the cast did an excellent job of filling the bill. I still like Sonja Braga, although mostly in "The Rookie" with Eastwood, and she made an excellent mother vampire. This movie held true to the nature of the original by putting a few "not-so-good" guys in the middle of a mess and watching them band together to overcome common enemies. The stunts were very well done and the special effects looked nice. Pretty gross but hey, it's about a bunch of bloodsuckers so what could you expect? Worth seeing on video most definitely.
Stigmata (1999)
Excellent movie for any level of entertainment.
If you're interested in seeing a scary movie with intense special FX and graphic violence OR an intriguing religious based story with a few twists,,, this is the movie. At a top level there is plenty to keep you entertained, but getting deeper, there is a lot of thought provoking material here. It deals with many issues related to the great Catholic dynasty/attitude. The technique/strategy of the church to control the disclosure of God's miracles and revelations was certainly not unbelievable. Time should be spent on contemplating the relevance of details relating to the selection of an atheist for messenger, accompanied by the transference of spirit via rosary beads. I don't know what you expect from a movie but put away any preconcieved notions long enough to enjoy and experience this one. Although graphic, the scenes were necessary to show the vision that Paige was experiencing during the attacks. If anything, there should have been more intstead of less. But hey, why quibble over the little things.
This is easily one of the best/original plots for a movie in quite a while. The only weakness was having to cut it down for normal presentation length. This lessened the potential impact of seeing more the effects that the events truly played on the three main characters. I WANT THE UNCUT VERSION ON DVD!!!
Three O'Clock High (1987)
Darn funny movie with serious plot
This single little cult hit is the perfect example of how using relatively no-name actors (at the time) can result in negligible attention by the public. This movie was so well done and so extraordinarily filmed that it stands out as one of the most noticeably different movies of the 80s. How ironic that it was centered around such a childish plot. Did I say "childish"? Well even so, it successfully depicted its story in such a way as to totally suck in the viewer and make them experience the life of Jerry. So here we end up being an actual part of the movie. As each event unfolds to further foil the attempts of the star, we feel the pain and irony that follows. The effect is so well achieved that it somewhat distracts from our ability to laugh at him. It's sort of happening to us as well. In any case, this is one of the best films made in the 80s and it's just too much of a shame that it didn't get the recognition it so obviously deserves.
Payback (1999)
Well worth seeing. Mel kicks butt.
So now we have Mel playing a bad guy. He really has almost no redeeming value. He's after other bad guys to get his money back but it really isn't even his money to start with. He stole it, and his partners screw him over. Now it's time for revenge and to get the money back.
I was warned about this movie before I saw it. I had friends who were expecting the typical Mel Gibson Lethal Weapon type movie and were dissatisfied when they didn't see the good old happy-go-lucky guy they expected. Well I decided to watch it anyway. This is an excellent movie. I didn't have a problem with his character's impurity. Gibson's acting skills were not exactly pushed to the limit in this one, as they were in Ransom, but he did a great job anyway. The scenes with Lucy didn't hurt anything either. It was nice to see her somewhere else other than just Ali. Some of the details were a little unrealistic but hey, it's a movie.
All in all this was an excellent action movie. I enjoyed it much more than LW4, except for the Jet Li parts. I gotta see more of his movies. He kicks butt. Anyway,,, if you don't live in Mr. Roger's neighborhood and can handle a little excitement, SEE THIS MOVIE
Blade (1998)
Excellent movie and great Snipes film.
Okay, some of us have never seen the comic book before, get over it. As a movie, this one is a possible classic. The opening scene is EXCELLENT,,, you see some poor fool tricked into attending a vampire party. He's surrounded by blood-suckers and things look extremely grim (this is typical of a vampire movie) but then suddenly there is this black dude in full leather who starts chewing up these anemic low-lives (this is not typical). That was the moment when this show took a turn into a different area and things just got more interesting after that.
Snipes was perfect as this character. He holds the intensity and physical capabilities to truly bring such a character to life. The fighting scenes were excellent. The amount of gore was unexpected but done so well that it fit right into the sequences (I had a problem with silver killing vampires but I got over it). The way that bodies/body parts disintegrated was reminiscent of Lawnmower Man but quicker.
Snipes, like Steven Seagal, hits someone and they stay hit. If I was fighting someone who was trying to kill me and I knew they would keep trying to kill me,,, I would break legs, arms, ribs, or anything else I could get to. These guys do this and it makes their movies so much more realistic than a lot of the karate flicks you see. It's graphic but it's real.
The other thing that stands out about Snipes portrayal of this character is his extreme focus. When he is going from point A to point B he only gives opponents enough attention to remove them from his path, permanently in some cases. With this, the movie flows very well and keeps your interest.
Great original plot, even if it is from a comic book. I wish I'd seen this one on the big screen.
Point of No Return (1993)
Great Americanized remake of French film
Okay, let's set the record straight, I've seen both movies several times (La Femme and Point). In a nutshell, if you like foreign (non-US) films see Nikita. If you like domestic films,,, see Point. I found each to be excellent movies and very well done. The fact is, with few exceptions, a Hollywood film made for the American public IS NOT going to have the same flavor as a French film. Get over it.
To the point (pun intended). This was a very well done and well-made Americanized version of the original. Fonda's portrayal of the main character was transitioned a little too fast and therefore appeared to be under-acted. This was probably the result of editing. Her acting at each phase was actually well done however. Her portrayal of the growth of the character and learning to care about someone else was very impressive.
Harvey made a great cleaner. People just need to get used to seeing major actors in short parts. I am a big fan of his and would have certainly enjoyed seeing him more, but still think that his portrayal of this character was great. He was very cold and direct. He was there to get the job done and nothing else.
See this one if you get the chance, but expect an American type movie.
Dark City (1998)
Excellent movie with nail biting moments.
Okay, we have a race of aliens who have taken a whole city of humans and transferred them to space. They play little tricks with their memories to test the responses. They want to learn more about being human. They hate light so it's very dark. Sounds like something a little out there in left field. Well, it's way out in left field. Definitely a very thought provoking movie. A very nice mixture of plot, special effects, action, and drama. The acting was superb. This movie earns a place in the "make you think" arena any day.
Everything was well done. The plot unfolded in a sequence, which kept me on the edge of my seat at several parts. The darkness (feel) of the surroundings played an excellent part in setting the mood. A must see movie for anyone who doesn't scare easily and likes to stimulate their cerebellum.
Shot Through the Heart (1998)
Great acting and all TOO real for most.
This was definitely one of the best movies I have seen in quite a while. It wasn't the most exciting and it wasn't the most inspiring, it was simply the best drama and acting depicting a horrific situation. This movie may not necessarily make you feel better about yourself but it certainly makes you happy to be living in a place where you're safe. The focus on two men who are life-long best friends and get pulled apart by surrounding events is a story that tracks back to the beginning of time and was most noticeable in the U.S. civil war. The buildup to the inevitable confrontation at the end was all too realistic and very well done. The scenes where people are okay and then suddenly fall over from being shot were very well depicted. One of the more subtle but well-done transitions was the eroding condition of the buildings and landscape as the war went on. This is one of those movies that is about something real and horrible and therefore rather difficult to watch.
Under Siege 2: Dark Territory (1995)
Great action and good personality development.
Okay, it's not going to win an Oscar. That's a given. Okay, there are technical flaws everywhere. That's also admitted. Now for the good stuff,,, this is one of Seagal's best combinations of action and acting. This truly is "Die Hard" on a train and done well. The bad guys were excellent. McGill was excellent as Penn and surpassed his performance intensity as the werewolf in Silver Bullet. Excellent casting for this character. Bogosian also gave an entertaining performance as the heartless computer genius. The few scenes where he got scared proved that he was willing to act in this movie. This is one of my favorite Seagal movies.
Hard to Kill (1990)
Hard to watch, the acting
Okay, first the good,,, there are great action scenes in this one. The whole revenge thing was also entertaining. The only bad/weak part of the flick was the acting and that was mostly due to Kelly. Gees, here's a nurse who just got a friend's house shot up by people trying to kill her and some post-comatose fugitive cop and without a single bit of stress-induced emotion she makes stupid one-line comments like she just got back from the hair dresser or something. She appeared to be making the statement, "This isn't a very serious movie so I won't give it much of an effort." This is what happens when you make the mistake of using disinterested actors. At least Seagal maintained his normal level of intensity. Well worth watching but not the woman. Correction, watch her,,, just don't listen to her.
Dark Angel: The Ascent (1994)
Strange movie with cool plot
Certainly gets the gold star for originality. I personally believe that the whole basis for the plot is preposterous but I've always been the type that can put those feelings aside long enough to sit back and enjoy the ride (hey I did it for every Bruce Willis movie I ever saw). Anyway, this was a prime example of what hell would be like if God designed and ran it. We also get some interesting insight as to "zero tolerance" of a divine nature. Pretty scary if you are an evil doer. After watching this film I wanted to see something else that Featherstone starred in. She was a real trip in this one. The acting was pretty good worked well. This movie should definitely be watched if you are open minded and enjoy major paradigm shifts.
Lifeforce (1985)
Good horror movie with okay Sci-Fi.
A much more interesting marriage of Sci-Fi and Horror than Alien. Not quite as suspenseful though. Here we have beings from some other planet that are referred to as vampires. That is a rather loose interpretation but close enough anyway. The special effects are excellent, especially the transforming of people while having their lifeforce sucked out. No single element of this movie is totally original but the way they are put together is almost a masterpiece. The acting is extremely good. The only weakness, which is common to most other movies where character development is a goal, was that it is a little too short. I wish the DVD had added more of the original footage back in. All in all it was a great movie. Just don't watch it all alone late at night like I did.
Billy Jack (1971)
Good movie with strong messages for its time.
Generation Xters will not have a chance at understanding this to the magnitude planned. Keeping things in proper perspective requires consideration of the time frame of this movie. In the real world we were still "in country"/Nam and getting very fed up with the associated atrocities both there and here. The differences between liberals and conservatives were at an all-time-high. This movie definitely leans to the left on many issues but only really to point out how important it is to not lose our humanity. It was really about a man who, disillusioned by what he saw his own country do overseas, came home to find the same thing. The fighting scenes were excellent for their time. The use of a hard style of martial arts was different and very impressive. Tom's execution of moves were both well done and in most cases reasonably realistic (maybe a few too many karate chops). The acting was anywhere between good to just adequate,,, which in some cases gave it a more realistic feel (less hollywoodlike).
The Born Losers (1967)
Adequate Billy Jack movie, sorta...
Very interesting start for the character. Fills the gap between return from Nam and returning to the reservation. Although many reviews of Billy Jack series complain about uneven slant to the left there is a very strong message in this film about the effects of over-liberalism of the law, as it pertains to the protection of the evil bikers. They can't be dealt with until someone presses charges or has some proof. Well, it's just a movie so what the heck. I , like many others, didn't see this movie until after seeing Billy Jack,,, probably because it didn't get distributed due to lack of interest. That was easy to see. The plot still made some since in that after returning home, it was the local screwed up world of the white man that drove Billy back to his Native American heritage. This movie barely worth seeing to the regular viewer and should be viewed objectively by any Billy Jack fan.