jamie's Reviews
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One of the worst movies ever. Christopher Ray has joined Ulli Lommel as a director to avoid at all cost. It's not that it's so bad it's funny; even though we spent a lot of time laughing at the film. The problem is we were laughing at it not with it. Bizarre cut away's, clunky dialogue, wooden acting are just some of the reasons to avoid. The victims are meant to be Federal Judges and Prosecutors among others but are dumber than burger flippers. The title also suggest a desperate attempt to appear as a sequel to Shark Night, or confuse pay TV viewers into thinking it has something to do with Discovery channels Shark Week,
(Don't bother!) - review by jamie
Oh my god the Simpsons segment "I can't believe they invented it" comes to mind. A synopsis that reads like "A vicious killer The Fachman who rapes and kills fathers is pursued by a renegade priest who recruits a man who is haunted by his failure to bring the Fachman down years ago, his stripper sister and a teenage male prostitute intend on revenge after witnessing the rape and murder of his father" A long the way you will hear deadpan lines like "Don't call people trees John, it;s mean." This is the type of thing that could earn 5 stars if it was more like the fake preview. Some slow premise set up and hit and miss lines are largely forgivable. If you have ever liked even one thing from Troma then you will not regret taking a chance on this movie.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
So what if the kid go's full retard I am Sam style it isn't as bad as I feared and may bring it out for a seasonal re-watch. Not a bad twist in a film where I was satisfied enough not to even need a twist. As the title suggest this is not to be taken seriously and the only gripe is the killing starts too late.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
For a rape revenge film there is not quite enough of either. I would have enjoyed it more if it was more like the movie I was rewriting in my mind.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
It is a long way to go for what is essentially a Serbian Film style twist with less humour and heart of a Serbian Film. Heavy accents and a little slow but that said there is a pay off.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Well there are some okay kills but all in all this movie is just a tease. There is the usual penis torture for penis tortures sake, and the will she, but she wont take her clothes off for pointless purity.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
Frozen was a snow version of Open Water and this a steam version of Frozen. The thing with this movie is that it is slow,the main thing going for it, is it will be a horrible way to go. Living in Alice Springs you don't want to hear about how hot it is, made me turn on the air con even though it was 2am and not quite hot enough for it. Could have thrown in more death or upped the stakes somehow.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Three stars might be a bit charitable but if you can ignore cheesy acting and some dodgy CGI you may find yourself with the odd laugh. The bimbo is too bimbo'y the jock is too jocky the dorky instructor is too dorky. There is too much of too everything not to be deliberate and throw in the odd decent line it is watchable.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Rating this movie more on the back of good film making rather than a good film experience. Traci Lords pitch perfect as the bitch mother/wife, there is a significant buy in for the tortured teen bit, which is probably why this film is mistaken for indie when it is clearly art house. If you find yourself wondering why you're watching it stick it out there is a minor pay off.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Much like parents expecting their 7th child I was not looking forward to this one's arrival. Not too bad it would have been a horror classic if a lot of the kills were not done off camera. It had pretty much kicked off with the rather decent burnt alive kill, so not sure why they didn't go all in. If the director thought it was going to have more impact he was wrong. Modern horror has proven you can have cake and eat it when it comes to gore and suspense.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
It's been a weekend of slow movies so I might be being a bit hash on this one. Could have been a tele movie but not a two parter because there would not be enough of a repeat audience for the second part. Not enough twists and turns probably best to swerve to avoid. Wonder if anyone else has done that joke.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
Too pointless to be an indie film and too slow to treat as a straight horror. There is a gore pay off and the black comedy starts to hit the mark but by then then rating was already decided and there is not enough good will to change it. Besides if you are old enough to watch it then you should already know white bitches be crazy.
(Don't bother!) - review by jamie
Boring and pretentious much like reading Poe's work. A pretty good pendulum kill, and a reasonable cast, main problem is they seem to be sleepwalking through the whole movie.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
Must be feeling generous, not one of the best of the after darks, but not as bad as the stupid haunted house one. It had the ingredients for a good movie but some members of the cast are sleep walking through it.
(Don't bother!) - review by jamie
Such high expectations alas it is thanks largely to Vincent D'onofrio that this is even passable as most of the horror is implied. It is up to Vincent to convey the monster as the movie shy's away from the direct violence that would have made this a horror fans staple. The main hurdle is D'onofrio's character is no Hannibal Lecter Jennifer Lynch's direction offsets this but still wish she decided to push the envelope.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Usually slow burns pee me off in horrors but the pay off is worth it. I was kind of expecting a social commentary on office politics in the modern world, but this works best as a straight slasher/horror.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
You can tell when a movie loves its self and the reaction is usually the same as when encountering a person who loves themselves. There was too much story build up for a thin premise and not enough build up. Kind of like having the biggest present under the Christmas tree only to unwrap it and find out it is a mushroom farm.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
Have to agree with Lloyd on this one. Don't know what the other reviewers were expecting Silence of the Lambs? Like a classic Guns n Roses song this film changes pace and rhythm on a dime, there are just as many killers as victims and killers who become victims, not your usual slasher fare but still fits comfortably in the genre.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
When this wasn't released on its expected date of November 2011, I began to get worried that this promised sequel had ran into problems of Grisly 2 proportions. No more money and the backers - after seeing what's been filmed pulling out.
So it was with expectations at an all time low that I went into this. The bad acting is offset by the gratuitous nudity and dumbed down humour (also gratuitous), come on the Hoff is gratuity personified. Just when I was beginning to think this could be a four star film Ving Rhames puts on his prosthetic limbs and like turned to outright love. Only watch if you are prepared to give your brain a rest because if you let it get in the way it will protest. If you're honest with yourself you will realise some of the best fun is had in spite of your brain not because of it.
(Not to be missed!) - review by jamie
Could have either had better kills nudity or spoof value but missed on all counts.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
Very very very very very very slow by the time something happens you will be over it.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
The posters promise more gore the MA rating promises less. Joss Whedon promises tight writing with suspect (but sometimes funny ha ha) dialogue. The bunker is reminiscent of Buffy's Adam days or Doll House. It is best to go into this with little knowledge of the plot so ignore spoilers. But you do get to see the difference between Zombies, Zombie red neck hillbilly's and Mermen et al. Just misses 5 stars due to the nagging notion that this could have been more edgy come on Joss you're writing for the big screen here.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
The mechanic retard and other two are reminiscent of I spit on your grave but the action a bit to tame to be sure this is an intentional homage. A bit bash and crash, with more imagination this could have been better than good.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
Was worried that this would be one of those films that might as well be an episode of Criminal Minds, but it worked well with an interesting killer and premise.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Why did this have an R rating? Could have been G if the censor was to lazy to type PGR. To give it credit the performances and story were strong enough to keep me watching, even if I was saying there better be some kind of pay off, and yeah there was, but it was kind of like being told there will be desert hoping for, at the very least hot apple pie and ice cream and getting instead jelly.
Warning this film contains adult themes and not much eles
(Maybe) - review by jamie
Could have been a lot better if it was up front about trying to be a commentary on the plight of the American working class, instead of pretending to be gore and horror. Misery has done this better amongst others.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Just shy of perfection for being too slow, the fleeing bank robber back story was unnecessary unless they were trying for the From Dusk to Dawn or the Horde sudden change of genre. The film is trying to comment on the rise of extreme right wing Europe but the NAZI angle seems misinformed as Hitler rose in the guise of left wing politics, it could work as a commentary on extremism itself. Once it gets going as a cannibalistic slasher this is up there with the best of them.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
The freak had it's moments but for a film trying so hard it was missing some soul.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
If it is a parody of Jaws the comic timing is off making it look like it's trying to pay homage to the franchise. The main problem being it is not quite good enough to tip the hat to anything.
(Don't bother!) - review by jamie
The only problem with this is that it could have gone further, seems dumbed down when it could have gone the extreme torture porn route. There is not enough tension built up towards a fairly decent pay off, Worth a watch.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Borders on art house more than independent film as the two aren't always mutually exclusive. Be prepared for violence for violence sake which for me shouldn't be bad. It's just that this one is better when there is some meaning to it like the bullies, if you can get past the kid factor that is.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
After a strong start this movie just keeps loosing ground. From bad character development, poor direction and a story that just goes nowhere. It is not funny enough to be a comedy, even if some scenes are set up as such. The film has an Some truly horrific moments and the odd chuckle is all you can expect, just be prepared to be annoyed.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
Has some good kills, and even though the premise has been done before ah-la Patrick with a hint of The Burning, it still manages to look fresh. Not sure about the title could have been more sequel friendly like Freak Dog something that can have a mythology built around it. The film could have been more confronting going for an R rating.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
The characters are unredeemable and the setting bewildering. I'm sure the breakdown of the group is plausible but it does not make for great viewing. It was frustrating as the back story seemed really interesting but was only a passing glance in the whole scheme of things.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
This is the type of film that I should like. Road trip hill-billies, back story, a monster, and its fair share of taboos. Somehow the movie either loses me or itself. Kind of like it is trying too hard.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
Started warming to it and before long found myself enjoying it. Some good torture slaughter and humour. Normally I get annoyed when most of the characters are as unlikeable as these, maybe the trick is not to expect too much and just enjoy them being killed.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Got to love a good mad scientist movie especially one filled with gore mayhem and yes zombies. Could easily see this in the back of Stephen Kings mind as he penned the more heavy Pet Semetary, Good fun
(Excellent) - review by jamie
Noticed similarities with the Girl Next Door so shouldn't have been surprised to see Jack Ketchum as a co-writer. If you know what I mean then you will know what to expect. If not be warned the heavy atmosphere of incest, female degradation and subjugation hang above each scene. Not as overt as Ketchum's Girl Next Door, it is more about what is not said than said with skilful direction by Lucky Mckee. As a viewer I am sure I was reacting exactly as Mckee intended thanks to a solid cast and in spite off the confronting story hence the perfect score.
(Not to be missed!) - review by jamie
Similar theme of The Tortured only very very good. You can bet the previously mentioned film is trading on the Saw name and is more talk than action. 7 Days on the other hand is unrelenting but not for the sake of it. We are watching the physical demise of the paedophile and the psychological demise of the captor. The Director is making no apologies and lets the film speak for itself with no musical score. An absolute must see.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
The first remake is almost an intense blow by blow English speaking version of the original. This is not the same as Rec 2. Quarantine 2 changes the setting to a plane, and instead of just being zombies on a plane the film moves to the terminal. The nature of the infection is also different, and whilst Rec 2 is the superior of the films this is still worth the effort and shows how two good but different stories can be told from virtually the same starting point.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
With a bit of telekinesis to keep things fresh this instalment is just good enough not to be the stale slasher. The sub plot is almost good enough to stand alone to the films credit does not overshadow Jasons shenanigans.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Surprised to like this, had good classic slasher formula with a well thought out back story. This could go anywhere as it has the potential for prequels and sequels. The town is just strange enough and the house being made of wax was a nice touch.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
One star because it is borderline so bad it's funny and so bad it's just bad. When it is trying to be funny it is borderline almost funny and funny because it is trying hard to be funny and mostly like the worst of dad humour just not funny at all, which is kind of funny.
Not a Troma original oh and it has some boobies.
(Don't bother!) - review by jamie
Does a good job of suspending disbelief, and a nice change from the we never went to the moon conspiracies. Now don't be confused this is not the 5th Apoolo 13 sequel. To enjoy it you have to be okay with the documentary lost footage style and need to be a bit of a space nut.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
Alien creature feature with some good kills, could not decide if it was aiming for black comedy or political satire.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
If you got to 6 then your half way there counting Jason V Freddy and the remake which could be a noughties sequel. Not a bad return to Crystal lake aka camp blood. Wish it could have been as brave as The Burning since the kids have arrived giving Jason a smorgasbord of victims, but unlike The Burning cops out and lets them all live.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
This is a slow burn black comedy, and needs to be seen with memories of Waco, an appreciation of religious nuts and a tolerance of Kevin Smith indulgence. John Goodman is perfect as the middle management Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms agent. His statement explaining how the siege ends is perfect understatement.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
Has a lot of potential but just falls short. Just okay, did not go far enough promised a lot with some good kills but the killer was lacklustre and with most of the victims you were glad they were dead.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
There is a lot to be said about CGI and other computer editing techniques, and then there are the tragic failures like this example. Sure easy special effects can up the kill count, but like taking the preservatives out of bread it does not make it better. I'd rather soft bread that gives me a head ache than slightly stale bread that is good for you.
I Usually rate anthologies based on the average score of each story, the only one worth a score is Lump my son said 'I can't get the Lump out of my head' and I replied 'Yeah it gets to you' but even then it gets less than 2 stars which makes the film as a whole less than 1 star.
(Don't bother!) - review by jamie
Weak characters the story could note save. The killers motivation is paper thin and the kills themselves pedestrian.
(Don't bother!) - review by jamie
One of the better After Darkers; the prison reality show setting is a good choice, just missing something for a bit more buy in.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
Not one likeable character in a not overly likeable film. Luckily the makers had a decent plot going towards a strong conclusion.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
Make no mistake this is an art house Movie and if you are not expecting art house you will be disappointed. Themes of desolation, revenge, and the sorts of blind-sides, which only films with well crafted depth of story can achieve are what you can expect. Gore galore oodles of sex and nudity uniquely delivered. That's uniquely not brilliantly.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Was hoping for more of a Wrong Turn meets The Hitcher, but this is more Eden Lake. Some decent kills but for torture porn seems to be holding something back.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Could have been better could not see one reason why this film should be rated R and might be removing a star for not meeting that expectation. Could have had more kills some nudity and more fish out of water interactions.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
This is one of those gems that make you wonder what took so long to find it. Just needed the characters to be slightly more likeable and it would have been perfect. The tension between the cast is one of the driving forces of the film.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
not as bad as it could of been, bear in mind giving it an extra star for one death in particular.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Love the Vegas setting and the fact that the whole film has its own plot structure and not just hinging everything on the Hostel premise. This is a sequel worth seeing
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
A bit of a hotchpotch and the worst ending ever, but mostly just relived it was over by that point. For zombie or apocalyptic horror fans only, even then I was a little miffed that the makers thought we would accept any old rubbish. Only just slightly better than bad.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
This is the kind of movie I should like, if there was anything to like about it.
(Don't bother!) - review by jamie
Good film. Enough gore but not enough of the atmosphere of John Carpenters version. As a prequel it stands alone but I was hoping for more fun and insight.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Two stars purely for gore, good story badly told and in this regard the movie only just misses out on sucking big time.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
There are better held captive by a male female team, forced into sex acts, with the ever present threat of death about. And I mean better by a mile, this is too slow, the captors are too weird and the killings pedestrian.
(Don't bother!) - review by jamie
Yep it's a wrong turn movie mutant hillbillies eating people alive. The new setting brings to mind Cold Prey and would like to think they were paying homage to it but Hollywood does not tend to recognize foreign films when they can just rip them off. Not a I now pronounce you chuck and larry rip off just similar that's all.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
Firecloud obviously inspired Rambo seeing this influence is what makes it worth a look, some great revenge kills the only problem being the main man does not get it enough.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
This is obviously a horror by numbers film and that is not necessarily a bad thing. Brings to mind Poltergeist, only not as cool.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Think about how offensive a film with this title can be and double it, you still wont be close. And that is what they got right, just short of being brilliant by the cliche nature of the film. Pushes the envelope in just the right places to be more than good.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
For some reason have been resisting this film, glad to have given in and seen it. Now when number 2 is inevitably shown on a certain TV network in the near future I might just make the effort to watch it from start to finish instead of just flicking between channels.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Have to decide if you go into this wanting a horror or a comedy. As a comedy it tries to be a spoof misses. As a horror it nearly hits the mark but that's not great. Nearly hitting the mark would be considered a fail if you were trying to shoot JFK.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
Most Zombie movies take on social issues. With the African setting the film takes on the plight of refugees with humans seeking a place of asylum from a world unable to help. Too much of a slow burn and would have worked better if the outbreak was contained to Africa.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
Pretty good for torture porn, loses stars for hand held camera effect mainly because there are points where we don't even know who if anyone is holding a camera. Attempts to answer the age old question is it worse to cut out a vagina or off a penis.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
This film had to overcome my other half's unfair bias against Naomi Watts and to its credit did so. The boys terrorizing was pitch perfect. The flaws are if you are going for shock value there is no such thing as too much, the film doesn't have the same impact as The Strangers. Naomi, if your character is getting humiliated and degraded let us see it too.Tim Roth works well as the hapless husband who cannot protect his family. If there was less implied violence and nudity there would be more stars.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Why is this the mega cut MA version? Where is the original R version? Classic scene guy getting torched gone and man getting sack with rat on face gone this is a five star film cut to 2 stars very disappointing! Can be enjoyed without knowing the cuts have been made but all censorship is evil.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
Should disclose I am a huge Dario Argento fan and have had to wait years since seeing everything else in the collection. This is nowhere near as good as Tenebre, Suspiria, or Phenomena, and nowhere near as bad as these reviews suggest. As for the acting Stephen King says it's the story not he who tells it.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Wow never got passed 4, and couldn't believe how much I was enjoying this installment. A home for troubled souls a trailer park, various townsfolk, and hick neighbors give plenty of slasher fodder for a jolly old repeater like Jason.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
Think Robo Cop, Class of 84, The Exterminator, any of those trashy films from the 80's and you can truly appreciate how Hobo has captured a mood from an entire era. This film looks like it is taking itself seriously, but has perfectly placed the outcast hero in no win situations inspiring the uninspired, beating the unbeatable and facing a world that's no longer scared of the bomb but scared of its self.
(Not to be missed!) - review by jamie
Visual spectacular that thinks it's more brilliant than it is. Can't fault the cast but the story is predictable even with it's flights of fancy.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Not as good as Laid to Rest and feel this film was trying to be too clever. A sequel should retain some of the elements that made you like the first film and this tries to but ends up being more Saw 4 than Haloween 2.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
You can't expect Shakespeare when hiring a slasher film with a killer Santa. The crazy grandpa was a nice touch and wish there was more of him. My father used to say in Holland St Nick would come with Black Peter to help him, and if you were naughty Black Peter will turn you into a ginger nut. Until a certain age there was always a bit of worry when waiting for Santa who would always leave ginger nut cookies (supposedly made from bad children). Got to love Santa with an axe and the catch phrase "Punish"
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
First seen this on late night TV as a teenager and could not belive they could screen it. Missed the opening sequence and did not catch the title and been searching for it ever since. How good to discover this was the film that spun me out all those years ago. The special effects are clumsy by todays standards, and linking the anthology is weak even laughable, but the stories themselves still have a sinister appeal that any horror fan should check out.
(Not to be missed!) - review by jamie
No bad, but this crop of after darkers seem to be just missing the mark. To have this being one of the better 8 films to die for so far this year tells more about the rest than the quality of this film. Needed more kills to make the evil twins just that bit more sinister than just plain creepy.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Wish I could be kinder, but what haunted house movie doesn't have the hubby go psycho and try and kill his wife?
(Don't bother!) - review by jamie
Corey Feldman at his best (any movie before lost boys 2) and the best 13th seen to date, true slasher fun
(Excellent) - review by jamie
Remember this better than it was. Why an R rating? one quick boob scence and MA killings maybe. Liked the dated obvious 3D moments. Gets an extra star for being the true slasher formula with fries.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
You have to expect any anthology to be hit and miss, who would remember creepshow 2 without the raft? The problem with this is there is no raft. There are bad effects for some good stories it's as kind as I can be.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
Can forgive the dodgey acting, try hard mythology, and bad special effects it's par for the course for this genre, what really dragged this film down was the terrible kills. If the filmakers were aware of these limitations they could have had some fun and made it good, instead of thinking they were making something good.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
The first instalment tries too hard to be funny (like an embarassing father) even though the story was strong enough to carry itself. This one could have tried a bit harder for laughs, but same deal, good story, good kills and a growing mythology that should set up the franchise.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
"She's not mamma's little girl no more and I'm the first to know" the suggestive line from the theme song playing all the way through the preview attached to Alvin Purple was funny enough to spark interest and I've quietly looked for the movie ever since. Worth the watch to see John-Michael Howson as the ambiguously gay lingerie salesman. What happened to you John? The once affable entertainment reporter from the Mike Walsh show now turned vehement musilm hater and campaigner against suspended sentences unless his friend (Derryn Hinch) needs one. Probably been absorbing social views with Alan Jones in public toilets.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
Can not be called a sequel to Day of the Dead or a prequel in fact not sure why they are trading on the name at all since it was released 10 years after Day of the Dead and in the same year as the actual sequel Land of the Dead. Now that gripe is out of the way it's not bad, if it wasn't for the stupid alien DNA plot and the hot cold mental paitents (tropic thunder full mental or not mental enough) it would have been a near perfect gore fest.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Not a total write off but I was expecting more, why would a slasher film maker want to create a sausage fest? Hellbent has more taco burgers.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
Frustrating as I kept thinking of ways to make this an extreme horror instead of a slow burn thriller. Good conclusion but you can see worse on criminal minds.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Nearly lost a star for the last story but it redeemed itself well at the very end. Just the right amount of warped sickness to make up for a lack of actual horror, ahla human centipede.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
Might have been able to enjoy it more if a few issues were addressed. Firstly the creatures are too vampire like, either be vampires or don't be, the film was aiming for ambiguity which only invites annoyance for someone like me who is tired of vamps. Also the powers of the monsters seem too excessive to require practice hunting, these kids should have been killed in a matter of minutes. Either the predators are really stupid or can't think for themselves. In all the movie is set up for one unsatisfactory twist that in retrospect only adds to the plot holes.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
This could have been great and I have to resist the urge to savage the film because in fairness all flaws aside it is pretty good. The main flaw being that it is nowhere near as hard core as the rating would suggest. Most producers will attempt to influence censors to get an MA rating, but these morons seem to have bribed the board for an R rating. Also the makers seem to want us at times to feel sorry for the in crowd, but the revenge is too soft core, all to often we were heckling the movie suggesting more vicious torture. Most annoying is that some of the victims were let off the hook altogether even though they deserved punishment, like the blond mean girl for instance. May have been due to the themes of fate and destiny but these themes were already well established. The cast an dialogue are good, as is the movie over all.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Not a bad old English horror becomes too much of a sausage fest at the end though.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
From the very start this seems like it's going to be great but then the movie begins. Almost feel like giving it one star but in fairness it is ok and that is this films biggest sin.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
Thanks to New York Ripper I have seen more Fulci films than I can tolerate. Maybe my first impression raised the bar too high but unlike Argento who always seems to craft his characters and stories with care Fulci's are long winded and wodden. So if you only see one Fulci film ever make it the New York Ripper which almost seems too good for him.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
Worth it for the opening scence alone, not to mention the heartbreaking English twin story. Not a major Matt Damon fan but see he is more than just an all American pretty boy in this. Just feel like it was missing something or needed more than just serendipity to complete the film.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
Barley two stars, tries to hard too be different but only ends up being the same old thing. Some people may have a thing for Bikinis and that's fine for them but for those of us that don't I'm sure a few more of these girls could have taken them off. And whats with the deleted scene being better than the included kill?
(Maybe) - review by jamie
Something missing here like a big christmas dinner without the flavour or something. Maybe it;'s the one dimensonal killings almost always with the same weapon, or the inane dialogue, or the gratuitous nudity (alright not the last one). Its biggest crime being that the first kill in a slasher should be a cracker not a fizzer.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
He took it 'till he couldn't take it no more. Hilarious in parts, and worth it for the very ending if nothing eles. The main flaw being it can tend towards caricature as the violence and shock value does not stand up to its peers like I Spit on Your Grave.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
High quality horror on low budget. By leaving blanks in the story the film makers put the viewer in the victims shoes. The main criticism is the need to tag the movie as a true story. Apparently based on the serial killer Robert Hansen, if so very loosely based, in fact the only thing that event would have in common with this film is the woods. Recomended for those that appreciate good horror and can think for themselves.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
Before Buffy and Twilight there was this stylized vampire love story of sorts. It's main flaw is the rating. The censors must have been particulary squeamish to slap an R rating on this film with virtually no nudity and the most sanitised killing spree since Spike came to Sunnydale. Kathryn Bigelow ability to craft flawed heros is not at its best here and it's done much better in the Buffy series which to be fair pays homage to much of Bigelows work in Near Dark.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Good sequel and captures a sense of time and place well. The serial killer sub plot ties in well but the ending seems contrived and rushed.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
The fact that this film stays with you makes it an important experience, would you want to be the middle? back? or head? It seems many people considered it unrealistic, but being a Europe setting invites perceptions of euro trash fetishes to lend an air of authenticity. Also the actor that played the doctor said he wasn't going for the mad scientist angle but rather the real horror of Dr Mengele. He did it so well my partner got the feeling this was a snuff film and searched IMDB to make sure the victims had done other stuff since this film. Four stars it just falls short of perfection because it shy's away from opportunities for more gore and some of the more logistical problems are not satisfactorily explained.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
If they weren't overacting they were underacting. Ended with the promise of a sequel, the problem being the target audience for a sequel would be the people who have seen this and the people who have seen this wouldn't want to sit through seconds.
(Don't bother!) - review by jamie
A social commentary on brute vs brains tyrant vs compassion the activist vs the complacent, conformist and the different and how we invent bureaucracy to keep everyone in their place. What happens when very different people need to work together for the same goal.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Pure pain gore and violence I loved it!
(Not to be missed!) - review by jamie
Still yawning now I know how those people who expexted big things from (and hated) Independence Day feel. Cynical ending and no soul.
(Don't bother!) - review by jamie
Went into this with a totally wrong impression. Had seen the doco of how the lost film was found moments from destruction. This fascinated me almost as much as the premise of a man finding himself in a hell that is only slightly worse than the world he knew before it. Not so much hell more a purgatory. At the height of cultural cringe it's no wonder this film was rejected by Australians, we're right to cringe at Crocodile Dundee but this is a real mirror. All the qualities of male bonding in the small towns I have lived in are here, free loading, drinking, gambling, hunting, unwanted conversation, unwanted rounds of shouts, fighting (play and real) and did I mention drinking.
In a literal sense the protagonist is the character that makes the story happen so it could be argued that Outback Australia and not John Grant is the protagonist. In the small outback city the out of luck Grant finds he is not out of friends it's only his misguided sense of worth that fails him.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
Not as much punch as Maniac but still a more original slasher flick. Wanes a bit in the middle and would have liked to have seen more innocent victims. Even though things tie together well there is almost a sense the story is made up on the fly, this adds to the charm of the thing.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
The Big Bird Cage was meant to be a toned downed send up of this unexpected drive in hit. That was not our experience this is practically as graphic and offencive and that's not a criticism, so wrong it's right.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Would not be as good if not for the hapless widower being so likeable. A twist on female revenge being misdirected.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
For some reason a wite up or preview made this seem like a movie we would like to see. Luckily we can't remember what or who, as we were planning to sue.
(Don't bother!) - review by jamie
My worries were this would play like any blacksploitation film and rely on general cheesy laughs. It's genius lies in the ability to be genuine spoof for the initiated whilst running as a blacksploitation. The downside being more a one joke show like Flying High 2 and not the timelessness of Walk Hard.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Could not help thinking this could have been smarter, funnier, sexier, scarier, all in all better than what was on offer.
(Don't bother!) - review by jamie
Almost more of an art house classic than si-fi thriller. Eerie and beautiful this is a briliant argument of existentialism verses corporate dominance.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
One of the better classics that had me wondering why it had taken me so long to get around to watching.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
Read the book a long time ago and even with an open mind found the writing to be desperate bordering on crackpottery. The only thing that stimulated my imagination back then was the evidence of modern items being used centuries before their supposed invention. Aliens? Timetravel? most likley religion banning it as wiitchcraft and man kind having to wait to invent it again. For curiosity sake the film is worth a watch.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Even with its deficiencies there's no denying that this is well shot in real time. Just seemed like a lot to sit through for a few jumps and a weak twist.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Needs to be watched in the spirt in wich it was made Grindhouse. This started out as a fake preview for the cinema release of Death Proof and Planet of Terror double feature. Made with a great cast in good humor, only with Rodriguez genius can we see all the scenes from his preview of a movie never made fit in with the finished vision. Now bring on Eli Roths Thanks Giving.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
This could have easily been an above average teenage slasher film but Wes Craven plagiarizes himself in all the wrong ways. The slow reveal works well in Scream but only boggs this film dowm when it needs momentum. Great story and origiinal ideas delivered in a seen it all before way.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Never agood sign when you start thinking about a movie you've watched instead of the one you're watching. If you want a haunted vehicle story hire or read Christine. The upside to this one is the scenery (but I'm from the red centre and get that looking out the window) and the cast.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
Glad to watch the film even if it's only a shadow of the first one. The story is strong and makes up for the cynical ending of the second film. But in all it is too tame as if trying to appeal to a yonger crowd.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Was starting to think this was a watered down remake, and said hey why don't they remake Duel without the scary truck? Then found my cynicism premature. The proplem with the first film is the rape sequences are overstated almost to the point of making the viewer feel like a victim. And the revenge in comparison (complete with penis decaptitation) seem understated,
This remake adresses that particular deficiency with a vengence worthy of a woman scorned. Every perpetrator is made to pay in a manner fitting of a proper revenge horror flick. This movie has its deficiencies but more than makes up for the originals.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
What set the first one apart from the other road slasher flicks were the inventive kills. Sadly that ingredient is missing in this one causing it to be a middle of the road affair.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Only in the queuento fill space and only watched to fill time. For the life of me I could not imagine what more this franchise could possibly have to say. Pleasently surprised to see this is a prequel and good escapism.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
A lot to go through just to make what is essentiality an adolecent extended film clip. Transylvainia please!
(Maybe) - review by jamie
An okay troma presents film. If it didn't take its self to seriously it might have been more watchable. In all only just worth sticking it through till the end and the end my friend is where the true unique horror lies, in all its cheesey glory.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
I was expecting a poor mans Misery at worst or passable black comedy at best and was pleased to find a slick smart high school horror in it's own class. There are genuine moments of sheer horror mixed with a bit of tragedy and just a few laughs, more than enough to suggest Sean Byrne is going to be a film maker to watch out for.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
First saw this as a half hour Alfred Hitchcock Presents special more than 20 years ago, and it may have been the first story to blind side me because it stayed with me all this time. Amused to see the first 30 minutes play out pretty much the same way right up to what should have been the last line. But that wasn't enough for the Donnie Darko director who thinks he has added another twist by convoluting a story that was beautiful in its simplicity.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
Look I know it's a classic and I loved the remake but this one just seemed to take itself way to seriously. Where's the fun? Sex? and Gore? why the R rating? is it because it's Canadian? A pre Superman Margot Kidder was interesting to watch and her character good enough to be more central. The cast in general makes the movie above average especially the cops, but the Christmas setting is tertiary and seems like an add on for the producers to get funding. In fact the killer is so obscure to the point of being almost defunct. Would have been more effective in the original form as the babysitter being taunted by phone in the campfire story "Have you checked the children yet?"
(Maybe) - review by jamie
Infantile puerile and just plain dumb so a three star rating may seem very charitable, but the film seemed very familiar to me, not because it has all been done before and again (it has), but I suddenly realized some of these scenes had been described to me blow by blow in year 7. It is for this audience the rating applies and it was the adolecent inside me that decided to laugh instead of cringe.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Very promising to start with and inspite of loving the first one I was skeptical the M rating had me expecting a lack of edge. And I was right in that the kills are boring, but the themes are good and the story given more of a flesh out. I didn't really like the freak show direction the film took but Duane takes on more shape and the predicted outcomes turn out to be red herrings. Was thinking 3 stars but the film stayed with me and 4 seems more fair.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
Pure escapism and on that levek works well enough, in fact half the film was spent day dreaming about how great a night out at the casino like that would be. Can't remember much eles though was to busy escaping.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
After a slow start this film redeems its self well, both in scope and pacing. It's not until the half way point that we realise this movie is more than we bargained for, and by that time it's to late for well just about everyone. If you rent this stick with it there are well thought out developments on offer.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
Thank goodness this goes beyond the limits of most horror films, as my greatest fear at the moment is that all new horrors will be as bad as this.
(Don't bother!) - review by jamie
Enough people who comment on or review the horror genre I so love have recommended this so I had to get over my resistance to it. Went in to the film with even more good will when I saw the Basket Case connection. Yeah it's good Frank Henenlotter can structure a film with skill but the slow reveal was done better in Basket Case and there were just to many of the same conventions used. Good back story though and the apperance of Duane and his Basket was a treat showing the director is not afraid to shy away from self reference, almost aknowleding the similarities. Just a pity this was not as brilliant as the predecesor.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Was only in the queue to fill space, and from the get go was only hoping it didn't totally blow goats. Moaned when it seem to clumsily take on complex ethical issues by using the physics Schrodingers cat paradox. I jumped to the conclusion that the film was biting off more than it can chew. I was wrong this movie does not ask any more from the audience than the viewer is prepared give, it's content to rely on the action and flow of story, delivered by a more than competent cast. There is more to it than that though, the ethical questions will stay in my thoughts for days and amuse me long after the stop button is pressed. Almost prepared to rate this film in the four to five star range thanks to a brilliant kill sequence, but the twist was predictable and there were a few premises that just don't get past my bull dust detector. And I don't mean the far fetched aspects of the film 'cos that's the point of Sci-fi, it's more some of the characters thought processes. Well worth the trip to the mail box.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Don't know if I'm adding stars for Inn of The Damned or removing stars for Night of Fear. At a time when Australian cinema was in love with period drama it was only a matter of time someone would use the props sets and costumes on hand to make a kind of 1800's Wolf Creek well a Wolfs Creek before Wolfs Creek anyway. Night of Fear on the other hand thinks it's paying homage to the silent horror genre but only succeeds in being as sad as someone who gives themselves their own nickname.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
Holmes as an eccentric difficult to like character may be true to Conan Doyles telling but the modern TV series with Benedict Cumberbatch worked better for me than Downey Jrs creation. That said Downey Jr is good enough to carry the film without Guy Ritchies indulgences.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
One of the better Zombie films out there even if it owes a lot to From Dusk 'Till Dawn in that it starts out as straight crime action and could morph unezpectedly to outright horror. I only say could morph because the marketers of these films miss the joke completely and fill the cover and posters with Zombies and Vampires thus giving away the punchline before the joke gets told. This works better as the kills are more full on and the morality even more ambiguous.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
This works more on the fish out of water story, as there is no where near enough kills, and the portrayal of the outback hunter hicks is close to criminal but that's part of its charm. Like all characitures it is fun to examine and look for the truth in the middle of the exaggeration.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Can't bring myself to outright bag this movie just because it's no Donnie Darko. As a moody self discovery drama this works but without the same wicked humour and heart of Donnie.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
Smart funny and subversive. The only reason it felt wrong to say this is an anthropmorphization of apartheid is because it forces us to acknowledge such atrocities as a human trait. In fact the "prawns" are more human than human it's impossible not to empathise with them. From the bumbling bureaucrat to the hapless prawn this film covers more of the human spectrum than one cares to admit. From ride along doco style to full blown sci fi action, this is an easy film to enjoy and a good way to confront the more uncomfortable traits of the human condition and the painful path to redemption. For those who think this message is passed its time just take a moment to consider how far away are we from Christmas Island.
(Not to be missed!) - review by jamie
Lots of machine gunning with loud and daring robberies, stylish and fast paced why didn't I love it? Well for some reason I feel the movie was in love with itself.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
Not much to write home about, it would seem there's only so much trailer trash cliches out there and they've all been done. Wish I had just stuck to My Name is Earl. Most Zombie flicks have a social commentary but seriously the disfranchisement of American white poor is better left in the hands of Michale Moore.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
There has been enough of these fly on the wall kind of things so it's no longer new. That said this is well scripted and delivered and that is not all together a compliment as it makes the film too good to pass as fly on the wall.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Well the modernisation of Shakespeare is nothing new but the Tromazation may be just as sophisticated. Not sure if the makers realize it but the dismemberment may have just been what Shakespeare wanted as his first priority is to entertain and there is a lot of darkness in his tales. As Stephen King once said I'll try to thrill you, and if that don't work scare you and if that doesn't work I'm not proud I'll go for the gross out.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
Very under rated road movie put it in the queue for curiosity value but found Jacobson to be a fine actor so good he made Hoges seem plausable. Enough heart in this to make up for a lack of laughs.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Does enough Justice to Dirty Harry to be a worthy sequel. Love the over the top bad guys and top notch villans to be fodder for our anti hero. It's one flaw may be just a little to formulatic towards the end but that's small bickies.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
Near perfect survival horror black comedy, great kills and very smart makes you not trust the expected conventions whilst at the same time sticking to them. Each viewing reveals a little something more.
(Not to be missed!) - review by jamie
Not all together bad but just falls short on just about every level. I mean I can relate to being under the thumb but seriously these guys couldn't really be friends cos they just wouldn't get the free time and I know that's kind of the point so all ready the premise is streched and the Zombies haven't even started yet.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
to say there are better ghost stories is an understatement it's these kinds of films that make the whole experience full of trepidation. Not because it's so well made, but mainly due to the fact you can tell you won't know if the whole thing is worth sitting through till the end. In this case it isn't.
(Don't bother!) - review by jamie
I did not expect to like this film at all just selected it as queue filler. Turns out it works as a social commentary and even with the over the top premise it's more easy to suspend disbelief than say Surrogates.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Well crafted survival horror and rare sequel that exceeds expectations. Good kills, lots of laughs, and goes in a completely different direction than what seemed to be set up during the first installment. Upon second viewing of this franchise it seems apparent that this was deliberately thought out follow up. New characters blend in well and there is a truly horrifying moment that would sicken any parent followed by a one liner that sums up the group as a whole.
(Not to be missed!) - review by jamie
The least enjoyable of all the Dirty Harry films only Harrys one liners save it from being totally bad. Has all the charm of a bad 80s action TV series and none of the grit of the 70's cinema experience.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
An unsatisfactory ending to an otherwise filling franchise. Realized it's not as bad on second viewing with my son (watched them all back to back) . Whilst its predecessors were always heavily sauced with black comedy this almost goes out to full blown spoof. Sticks to enough of the conventions of the previous films to just meet the standard.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Original and highly intelligent. How can you tell your children are going nuts when kids are by their very nature are practically nuts anyway? Well at least mine are.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Like Lantana the twist is there is no twist. No spoiler because that's not exactly true. Works more as a character study and goes in unexpected directions. Has enormous scope.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
Nothing compares to the original over the top can get it done homicidal homicide cop of the 70's but this one almost fully brings back the Harry that was almost lost in The Enforcer.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
More curiosity value than anything. Gets its pass mark more from good performances from the cast and genuine suspence more so than a barely satisfactory twist.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Moore has done more with less. That said in an area I thought I was well versed he has revealed things I never knew, like companies taking out life insurance on employees to profit from their death. Maybe because of this and other appalling revelations his stunts seem flat and uninspired.. He does offer hope and solutions with examples of human centric companies and a call to arms to vote in a country that preaches democracy but has leaders that count on apathy. Even re-hashes some Stupid White Men material writen during the boom with an insight into where work choices could have taken us.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
It's good and has some unexpected moments like the hybrid mutations. But also to formula driven and hero centric.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
It was months ago and i'm still mad at myself for putting this in the queue. Couldn't even have fun mocking it to busy waiting for something to happen.
(Don't bother!) - review by jamie
Go see Daybreakers rather than waste your time with this drawn out slow indulgent rubish. It may have inspired better films but that don't make it right.
(Don't bother!) - review by jamie
I don't mind historical drama and a good war movie but for some reason this did not grab me like it should have. It's good but didn't inspire me to find out more about this incident maybe I was more impressed with what I had already learned and wanted more of a documentary telling.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Went in wanting to like it, and came out wanting more, not in the way you never want a good book to end but more in the way a trip to Maccas can leave you unsatisfied. That sounds harsh but remember it's not the taste of the burger it's more that there's not enough substance all sugar and carbs, throw some real bacon on it and beetroot an egg and real meat and you got a meal.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Bava knows how to set a scene and here he shows light and dark in much the same way i remember reading it in Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre. Makng a point of light off setting the darkness or shadows off setting the light. This is no celebration of sadomasochism, the cruel Christopher Lee character has no regard for safe words. It is his performance and the revolutionary film making, with daring subject matter that raise this film above the bar.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
Not quite sure if I'm being generous with 2 stars because my friends had me expecting a complete turkey. Nah 2 is about right, not bad enough to pan, but not good enough to have a sense of what a surprise it's good kinda thing. Still not sure why most of the population were using surrogates it's not like they did all the work leaving the user free to do other things, you still have to live your life hooked up to some contraption. Seems a bit pointless really.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
I like a bit of variety in my slasher films, that is variety of victims. Try not to make it mostly dudes or chicks or criminals, or even worse dude criminals who lets face it we don't really care if they live or die. There is enough of the Wrong Turn mythology to keep this one on the right track.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Look it's no Firestarter and not the first time Stephen Kings themes have been mimicked by other writers. In short it seems like a lot to go through just to see a guy explode. Not bad though and De Palmer would have made a better director of Firestarter than say Carrie.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Trying to think of a reason to give this film a single star .................................................... nope still can't think of one.
(Don't bother!) - review by jamie
Troma can deliver in fact the previews are the only thing worth mentioning. What realy irks me is that home made Zombie films can be done and done well. Troma is hit and miss and this one is out by a mile.
(Don't bother!) - review by jamie
Proof James Cameron isn't perfect here is manages to almost kill a franchise before it even had a chance to be born. So much so the completely enjoyable Piranha 3D had to rebadge itself, is it a remake? Sequel? Or stand alone film? Thanks to this turkey it's forced to hide behind ambiguity.
(Don't bother!) - review by jamie
Only just a pass mark. Could not belive it when the cops clear out the party removing a mass of potentail victims, leaving us with a ho hum body count in what was already ho hum film.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
Well crafted and executed. The cheesy feel adds to the atmosphere, and is almost subversive as like what's hidden in the basket it almost masks the depth of plot. The New York setting is shot with skill and captures a sense of time and place. What we get here is a classic horror with very few real flaws.
(Not to be missed!) - review by jamie
Not a great premise and suprisingly for Bava the delivery is only ok. It just seems as if Bava can't decide if he is making a slasher film or a who dun it?
(Maybe) - review by jamie
Could be seen as nothing more than a comic book style pile of.... well replace the Sl in Slap with Cr. But it's a little bit better than that and there are worse avenues for escapism out there.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Not bad but seems to try to hard. In love with atmosphere and forgeting substance. The twist is obvious and barely worth waiting for. That said it is hard to hate there are moments of good development and it stays with you for a while.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Even with the cool outcome of the mad doctors experiment this is still nothing more than a ho hum lardy da hospital horror. The only point of interest is the exploration of lawlessness that could fill a void after a natural disaster. Otherwise unlikeable uncaring victims results in who cares if they die characters.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
Tarrantino's appeal to me is more than unexpected shocking violence. It's his ability to make villans likeable both before and after we know they are beyond redemption. In this regard Christoph Waltz is delicious as the jew hunter. Also part of Tarrantino's arsenal is his use of language, with a good part of this film in French his dialogue flows naturally with tragic humour and an almost poetic pace. Most of all this is not an historic film. It would be fun to think of some year 10 student cramping this film for their WW2 report.
(Not to be missed!) - review by jamie
Can give it a charitable one star because Corey Feldman seems to realise he is a caricature of himself. Only forced myself to finish it so I could review it, as I refuse to be one of thoes peoples who feel qualified to submit a review only to say they switched it off five minutes in.
(Don't bother!) - review by jamie
Firstly you need to appreciate the kind of film this is and compare to others in the same ilk. It more than holds its own in the slasher flick universe. All to often filmakers seem to think it's money for jam and are lazy and insulting. Here we can see there are budget limitations, and the film is obviously dated, but Joe Spinell makes this killer plausible in that the mother fixtation is neither cliche or sympathetic. This seems to be an under rated film inspite of the cred a cameo by Tom Savini should bring and deserves to be seen as a genuine horror classic.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
Seen it when I was a kid and just because I'd forgotten more than I remembered doesn't make it forgetable. The young viewer is looking for the kill shot. Whereas the older me is happy to find this is more than a one dimensional cash in of Jaws. Might just be better than the enjoyable 2010 serving.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
They don't make movies like this anymore. Classic in both look and feel in a genre I don't realy care for.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Let's do a sequel to Gladiator. Yeah great, no wait did'nt we kill him? Oh Yeah well we could do this thing instead. Curiosity value at most.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
The first ten minuets is 5 out of 5 awesome then the movie starts. Becomes a below average slasher with unlikeable teenage cannon fodder.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
So so serial killer fare production values of the hillside strangler but not the quality. Seems this review is not long enough hope it is now.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Not sure why this didn't work as well as it should. Had some pacing issues but redeems its self well with a satisfactory conclusion
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Above average haunting movie yes it's better than the Amityville Horror so don't be put of by past renditions.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Until absorbing this film straight after the original I have always been dubious of shot by shot remakes. Not against remakes so long as they add more to the story. The presence of Kavavan and the cast of two helped shape this as a character study that would work as a play. The main problem being that the scenes of environmental vandalism work better in a nineteen seventies context.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
This is a real comedy that serves as a great drama not the other way around as I was led to expect. The only problem being that it's about forty minutes too long. All aspects of the genre are on show with genuine black comedy and irony like Sandler adding to his range by playing himself.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
One of those books I haven't got around to reading so I had no trouble enjoying the film. Would have liked it without the effects.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
High expectations that do not deliver. Could have been so much better, no real funny moments when there could have been (found myself rewriting scenes in my head) luckily Peter Serafinowicz is funny just to look at. My actual divorce was better than this cautionary tale.
(Don't bother!) - review by jamie
Was not expecting to enjoy this as much as I did. This previews give the impression of Gervais revisiting his office character, so it is a pleasant surprise seeing him playing a more human version of that guy with his limited range. A silly premise that somehow manages to suspend disbelief, the main flaw being the nagging feeling they could have done more with it.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Nothing new in this spy-fi film. Ridley Scott tries to give an impression of honesty but it feels about as real as weapons of mass destruction. Still good on the level of escapism.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Well made adaptation of book. Certain aspects predictable but this in no means takes anything away from the brilliant perormances from the cast particularly the child stars.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
Has all the elements I should like, road movie, drug use etc but I didn't much care for it. The old term 'try hard' springs to mind.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
A cast of two is hard to do and this deserves credit for pulling it off. Has less context in a pre environmentalist era. It's easy to accept the random cutting of a tree in a 70's back drop. In that regard it's ahead of it's time and completely ok to look to the remake.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Queue clogger that's much better than what I was expecting. Could have been great but is just one big cleaver ironic joke. The curse of suicide to be stuck in a depressing world, in other words nothing changes except the scars are visible. Just enough black humour and hope with road movie elements to be good.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Annoying voice over and a clumsy ending that has a twist that is underwhelming at best. Average use of the whole genre.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
Expect the full disaster movie formula loose science family problems thrills spills and the impossible. Suspend all disbelief don't expect any insights into aMyan caendar or culture and you'll be alright.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
As a closet political junkie I actually expected to enjoy this more. Loved the detail paid to the time and Penn obviously went "full gay" (see Tropic Thunder) which unlike I Am Sam worked paying full respect to Milk himself.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
The cast seem to be sleepwalking the plot oh so thin was expecting some intrigue or thrills and got neither.
(Don't bother!) - review by jamie
Indulgent and pointless. If I could care less for just one of the characters there may have been a reason to continue thinking about the film past the end credits rather than the profound relief of having it be over.
(Don't bother!) - review by jamie
Heard good things and it's nice to have high expectations met. Would have been a perfect score if not for the mainstream American movie idea of having an ending that satisfies the focus groups. Up till then was loving the modern day Guy Fawkes irony aiming to destroy a flawed republic.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
If Schumacher was trying to ambush us into the horror experience it is a miscalculation something is not quite right with this film. Too much time spent in over indulged drama had me bored from the start. From there it was catch up footy to gain interest, and everything about this film should have had me interested.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
For a movie that I put off watching as it was just meant to be a queue clogger it did not take long to win me over. No Animal House but as a fan of the genre there is enough comedy to cover the bases. Kind of like a rich less funny Borat.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Only if you want to see a bunch of people you won't like face death. I once thought you could never have too much back story but I don't like being lectured to with my horror.
(Don't bother!) - review by jamie
Seems to be doing over previous deaths but still a fun place to revisit. A bit too heavy on the CGI but this is a common side effect of 3D films shown on 2D TV.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Only a few laugh out loud moments and cardboard cut out characters. Even a format that's been done to death. Still could not out right hate it. Even if you know what's making it warm the shallow end of the pool can be a good place to paddle for a while.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Have to atone for hiring this. It's bad enough that my Lit teacher made us do the Go Between without dealing with similar pretentious rubbish all these years later.
(Don't bother!) - review by jamie
What the F? Gets two stars for being just worth checking out......................................................
(Maybe) - review by jamie
Kubrick for Kubrick's sake, forget scientology I think this is responsible for the end of their marriage and Kates pending imprisonment.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
Took a while to review this as it's hard to press the three star button. Was ready to hate it. Cringe worthy beginnings and a feeble ending prevent it from being anything more than just good. Baz should have ended it where everyone thinks it was going to end.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
So much movie, so little to say. Ever wondered what happened to Ralphs Students in the Greatest American Hero? Well one of them is here. A solo reason for the solo star.
(Don't bother!) - review by jamie
Gets better with each viewing the opening credits worth three stars alone the rest of the rating is the consolidation.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
This movie is in love with itself got me wondering if Satan's vanity is where the title stems from. The censors must have dozed off, how this got through and Larry Clarks Ken Park needs to be sent from Amazon in a Russian cover I will never know. Two stars for getting away with it.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
More of a back plot with minimal links to the first film. Different story altogether really, still good just don't need to have seen the first one.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
For a film that resorts to the gross out gore factor this has some good laughs. "officer she said she was 18 and I always believe the things children say to me". Not as dry as the first film.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
The writing is tight and just a little too natural which isn't a crime. I know someone who had two doors in their bedroom making it a walk through, like this movie I always wondered why?
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
I love you Natasha King but she knew it and like Beth took us for a ride. We know we're on a ride and just happy to be with her.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Taking a star off for an extended dream sequence. If it didn't happen I don't see why we should care. Glad to be experiencing the Halloween series if they make a third remake it might remove the sour taste I've had since the original Halloween 3.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
At one point in the film the blond had to take her undies off, later the wind blows up her dress and she's wearing undies. I mention this to my partner who suggests we send it in to Hey Hey It's Saturday. 'No' I reply 'That's for mistakes in movies not movies that are mistakes'.
(Don't bother!) - review by jamie
Uncut hey? Well I wish they made some cuts to all of it..................................................
(Maybe) - review by jamie
Kind of feel like I've seen this before which isn't surprising it's the type of thing I'd watch. At least one great kill.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
A vampire love story why hasn't any one done it before? Sarcasm aside spent much of the film daydreaming about my first love. To be able to evoke such ancient memories makes this love story a success.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
Oh no a horror that exposes the victims worse fears how can we endure it? No seriously how can we endure it?
(Don't bother!) - review by jamie
One of the more linier Lynch films, doesn't make it one of the best though. May have inspired some of Tarrantinos True Romance.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Even if the twist didn't surprise, the delivery and performance was on pitch, you could do worse. . .
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
An ironic four stars, like Ed Wood the makers of this film had no intention of making a comedy. "He can have a productive worthwhile and yes even a fulfilling life- as a paraplegic."
(Excellent) - review by jamie
Atmospheric horror with delivery and style making up for some predictability. Better volumes in the series.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Relies a lot on the shock value of the cruelty of children. Still tight script some genuine shock moments, and just a little bit to realistic.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Watchable teen slasher, not much ,more that can be said, very eighties, reasonable kills and all that jazz.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
If you are going to remake a horror you should at least be able to make it more shocking. In a politically correct world I rightfully suspected this film can only be diluted. No lesbian rape scene, everyone's penis remains attached. Would they (or could they) remake I spit on your grave? Then why remake this?
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Ryan Reynolds should have Jonathan Bennett arrested for stealing his personality. If he wasn't so convincing the prequel would have no cred at all. Pity about the rest of the cast. Same gross out bits don't watch over lunch.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Look as a part time Trekie road movie, and flashback fan I should have been all over this. But right up front we know Jar Jar Binks is going to destroy The Phantom Menace, so you can't help foreseeing and personalizing their pending disappointment.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
Jason Segel has great timing and it seems you can trust he will both write and select good films. Bromance man- the term is more applicable here than The Hangover.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
Was hoping for more splatter like a Turkey Shoot or something. Wanted to be too deep and was quite colonial but worth a watch.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Laugh out loud comedies are always fulfilling and while it has pacing issues and some bland bits there is a chemistry there that works.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
wow so bad it deserves a wow. This is a public service announcement only had a star for some gore and nudity
(Don't bother!) - review by jamie
Tried a bit too hard, mind you they were stretching a 19 page story into a full length movie; normally with king your shrinking a 1000 + page book into 1 hour 20 minute movie. Took awhile to accept Slater as the crime boss Dolan and the final vengeance has more impact in those 19 pages than on screen.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
Poor old Anvil you can't help feeling sorry for Lips and at the same time admiring his blind optimism. Sometimes sad sometimes affirming and almost always funny. A real life Spinal Tap.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
It's okay but can see why critics have been under whelmed. For much of the film I found myself willing it to get better. Did not see the twist coming and that found me forgiving the not quite right effects.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
If you've seen one female gay flick you've seen them all was expecting more laughs and less important social commentary.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
Not half as bad as i was expecting. It had me with Amy Sedaris. Gets one star for each of the laugh out loud moments.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Was not expecting mockumentary and that put me off side straight away. Manages to redeem itself even if it was a little hard to find its rhythm.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Ghost stories are hard to get right and when they are they are special. There's something about Kristen Stewart she manages to succeed in the two genres that are hardest to pull off. Might be a bit of a Freudian slip in that last sentence.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
Even with a penchant for the quirky this was a little too slow and no Donnie Darko. Still good enough to see through to the end.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Whilst admiring them I don't wet my pants over De Niro and Pacino and it was more the serial killer story that got my attention. Forget that this is more a oretty good cop buddy story, even though I feel like punishing this because it wants a twist and it's to easy to see it coming.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Dark and dialogue charged female revenge story. Not as shocking as say a I spit on Your Grave but deserves credit for essentially being a one scene film that could have been shot in one take like a play. The cover asks how far will they go? I kind of wish they went further.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Above average horror that could have done with more kills. Got to devote 100 characters to these reviews so you can ignore this sentence
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Sketch comedy movie with more than its fair share of laugh out loud moments. To give it less than very good would gratuitously prudish.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
Loved the first one loathed the second and put this in with serious reservations. To be able to cut through my jadedness was remarkable. Not bad at all.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
I wonder if this would have been better if not for the shadow of Borat. Cohen is just as subversive, the film is wrongly accused of being one long gay joke, By using stereotypes like the fashion industry and the nature of celebrity, he is actually lampooning the underlining bigotry in one of the most politically correct nations on Earth. Any cringe factor is a natural straight reaction because that's what we're laughing at seeing ourselves exposed by this most hideous character. There's nothing to like about the character of Bruno, he's a fish out of water like Borat but with out the innocent facade and an easy target being American society.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Always good to find another good slasher and tight story to go with it. Even Sophie Monk couldn't wreak it and I was sure she would. Hats off to you Sophie. Looking forward to the sequel.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
Shaun of the Dead managed satire and to be a passable horror movie in its own right, this one does neither. Manages to be okay for some laugh out loud moments but all in all it's a rip off. If the aim is to market the film honestly then it should appeal to vampire lovers or lovers of lesbians and being partial to good representations of both well I've been ripped off.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
All in all I was mostly disappointed when this film ended. It's one flaw was also it's genius. Like Halloween it's more a collage of horror themes than a seamless story line.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
A so so psychological thriller. Could have upped the anti by introducing some more shocking kills. Not a bad twist but didn't leave me numb.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
Not just amother dumb wanna be cop comedy. With Subtley and sensitivity explores social isolation and self absorbed importance. With more laugh out loud moments this would be worth more.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Look I have never hid my love of dumb college movies and I'm not about to here. ................just filling time from here on in, this should fulfil the maddening minimum word count.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Played a drinking game with this one. Here any Terminator one liner 'I'll be Back, Sarah Conner (in any context), come with me if you want to live' take a drink. See what should be a destroyed machine come back to life take a drink. See humans walk through flames take a drink. You don't need to put your self through this to make it good, but why not? We're humans not machines- take a drink.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
My father always said when in doubt don't. For once he makes sense just glad I never went to the theatre to watch it.
(Don't bother!) - review by jamie
As a bit of a politics follower loved the boxing analogy. Only just almost made me feel sorry for Nixon, who makes me hope for a Heaven and Hell outcome for deeds done on Earth.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
Where did we get this my better half asked holding a candle brought on special almost a year ago. I didn't mind her buying it because I thought it would look good burning on table whilst watching some DVD's. I explained when and where we go it and she put it back in the cupboard with the wiz bang iron and H2O mop amongst other things. Back to the movie poorly written no laugh out loud moments and pointless therapy. Why throw everything out in the world of EBay? Green Scarf Girl? What is it meant to be the bi-line of the everyday person? Should i call my partner candle woman? And why can't Isla Fisher do nude scenes when Sacha Baron Cohen gets it off all the time? Not all together horrible
(Maybe) - review by jamie
Handles a difficult topic with care and dignity. Poetry is hard to do and even harder to appreciate it's a testimony to the movies use of language. Like Hard Candy it's almost a re-telling of Little Red Riding Hood, keeping in mind the moral of that story is not little girls shouldn't be walking in the forrest but that Big Bad Wolfs should beware of little girls. She tells the wolf exactly where she's going, and when she'll be there. The wolf runs ahead and the heroine arranges his beheading.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
I'm sure it makes sense to Lynch, getting his three stars for the cast alone Henry Rollins that's always worth a bonus star.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Big pond won't let me swear and some of the most innocuous terms get vetted here. Pointless load of (here is where I would use such terms not allowed). Will give it one star because It's Christmas and still means bad, no stars I will reserve for Ulli Lommel films or worse.
(Don't bother!) - review by jamie
Ho hum watch able bleak affair, corny adam and eve ending, a little subtlety would not have hurt. Not sure how it could have been better and that's not all together a compliment.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Bromance is not dead. Cleaver, with a premise of remembering the night before not one flash back scene is used while the pieces are put together.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
A plot that most prominent writers resort to from time to time. Thought it was above Barker who King describes as the Beatles compared to his Elvis. Well constructed just used to better from this series.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Oh how I like nasty and this one is up there. If you find it too hard to watch you have no business putting it in your queue. If you want to squirm go ahead. Now to be fair I had no idea what I was getting into so after a low key start this got better with each act of depravity.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
Forget the plot so intent on not being one dimensional it seems to be from the fifth dimension. Forget the poor direction and pontificating ripe in Aussie films for the era. Taking a homogenous view this one is worth three stars for the previews. Not the theatrical trailer but the other attractions. Felicity, A-Z of sex Australian Style, and something about a banana. The film itsself is fine, not much to do with nightmares and no real surprises.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Almost immediately I could tell this will be a guilty pleasure. If you are looking for depth maybe you'll be lucky enough to be flicking through the channels and come across OZ on SBS. This on the other hand is pure popcorn.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Look I may be being harsh considering all I expected, but the pacing seems to be off, and I fear the ugly hand of a censor has touched this. Whoever these family first people are I wish they would stop speaking on behalf of my family. Still manages to be good even if it has been sanitized to protect Australian families.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Be warned this will keep you up a night. Stephen King can write through the eyes of a child and is not afraid to explore the dumb evil that can accompany childhood, but he has nothing on this.
(Not to be missed!) - review by jamie
What the? No realy what the? so many words required to write a bigpond review and so little to say.
(Don't bother!) - review by jamie
Takes a while to get going, and that is not to say it is slow to start. Like a good bottle of wine the first glass eases you in and before you know it you have finished a bottle when you intended to save half. Great badie, good kills and heroes you get to like and then despair as they die horribly. It's wonderful.
(Not to be missed!) - review by jamie
Never judge a book by its cover, and that goes for the good covers too. Paper thin character development, not enough scale to appreciate the monsters, not enough budget to do it right, and too much dialogue saying the wrong kind of things. Still can't outright hate it though.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
Thankfully didn't go the remake route and more like a sequel going back to the roots. Friday the 13th started my penchant for slashers and darn near ended it by number ten. Some of the modern slashers are starting to bring me back to the fold this one included.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
The jokes fall short, and most of the cast seem to be trying to get the whole thing over and done with. Jane Lynch's role might of saved it if there was anything to save.
(Don't bother!) - review by jamie
Had no expectations as unfairly I followed the review of a metro newspaper reviewer who gave Life is Beautiful one star and the naked gun five stars. The same paper employees Andrew Bolt so ill informed opinion is endemic there. Good without being great.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Look I never wet my pants over Lantana, it was good and all and so's this. I can understandwhy this can be seen as brilliant so worth a shot.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Well seems like Sandler was a little too in love with his characters accent so would have been better with subtitles. Austin Powers, now that's an accent you could sit through a movie with. At least millions won't be imitating the Zohan. Another funny enough movie while he holds out for more cash to do Happy Gilmore 2.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Always liked the X Files more when they go off the UFO plot, and when I heard they signed for three movies ten plus years ago I thought awesome, then went to the cinema to see indulgent extended episode. Being a true believer (fan) I forgave enough to keep watching but not to fork out for cinema tickets again so thanks Big Pond. If they go ahead with third instalment I might just be buying pop corn and a choc top after all. Still love you Scully.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
I remember in Primary School being introduced to An American Werewolf in Lon don and finding it hilarious, so I shouldn't be surprised to see my 10 year old laughing away at this one. Landis black humour makes this, the jaded hero perfect, for this reason alone give it ago, lets face it beyond the format there's nothing original in the Thriller video but we like it anyway.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
The twist here seems to be there is no twist. Was kind of hoping it would go somewhere I wasn't expecting, if not in the capable hands of Carpenter I would feel completely ripped off.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Was all set to like this so expectations were rightfully high. The sexual tension of When Harry met Sally was old before Harry met Sally, gets five stars for essentially napalming that man woman friend sex thing. Once again Rogan tackles the impure with innocence and genuine heart. With ample opportunity never once did I feel they went after the cheap laugh, even with Jason Mews in the cast.
(Not to be missed!) - review by jamie
Vengeful clowns, bully youths, suburbia, adults forced to confront their past, ordinary objects becoming sinister- takes every theme from the Stephen King playbook and runs with it. If for one minute I thought they were doing anything less than paying homage I'd savage this and renounce the entire Masters of Horror Series. Barley a pass there is only one Stephen King.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
All good zombie flicks have a political sub text so very quickly I realized this is a well written masterpiece. Without subtlety this is a modern attack on Bush and his ilk and the very concept of war itself. When the argument is becoming stale to have this approach not only breaths fresh life in the dead horse (yes the similarly is deliberate) it also reminds us of the importance of satire.
(Not to be missed!) - review by jamie
Rudimentary episode with enough of a twist to belong in the same company of others. Unlike this review they didn't have to pad the film out to reach the prescribed time. Years of english and lit teachers telling us less is more and here it seems to be a crime to be concise, there should be 100 characters by now.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Be warned my two stars are mitigated by the fact that I knew I wasn't going to a five star restaurant, so was ready for McDonalds. The cast is as crap as their acting but there was enough substance to fill the hole.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
It's as good as you've no doubt heard. High expectations do nothing to dull the experience. Wonder why there is a minimum world limit to these reviews, when considering so many member reviews wouldn't it be great if some people had one word reviews like 'Wow' or yawn.
(Not to be missed!) - review by jamie
Every school has a Mandy Lane, coming from a family that moved often I've been to a lot of them. Spent a lot of the movie thinking about my Mandy Lanes and before I knew it everyone was dead.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
As a cheese lover this film passes the taste test. If your palate craves sophistication rent the cook the thief his wife and her lover that title and these puns should satisfy the minimum word count.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
The Saw franchise asks a lot from its audience, and the maze of tests formula is getting a bit too familiar. Amazingly there is still room for Saw VI and like McDonalds secret sauce formula I'll be back for more.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
Right from the start the ominous anxiety that accompanies a relationship in trouble starts to creep into the viewer. Like an itch that can't be scratched, Winslet frustrated and frustrating, DiCaprio who can no longer talk his way out of or into anything. The two leads were way too good. Like a rollercoaster that makes you sick this film should be given five stars for doing its job.
(Not to be missed!) - review by jamie
Sometimes you get the idea a movie is being quirky just for the hell of it, and other times there seems to be a definite point. Fight Club comes to mind for the later, and while this seems to struggle for relevance it amazingly fails to annoy.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
So in tune is the premise of this film that at one point in the first 15 minutes I actually forgot I was watching a movie and thought a fly on the wall infotainment show was on. Jennifer Carpenter brings an incredible fun and then intense presence to the screen, complementing the rest of a fine cast. Have not seen Rec so can only assume it is out of this world.
(Not to be missed!) - review by jamie
There was so much scope for this to be funnier yet it's still hard to be annoyed with the thing. Only Rob Schneider can use the word rape in such a gratuitous way and still remain innocently endearing.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
If you could not see yourself slowing down to view a car accident congratulations you have more moral high ground than me, now consider yourself warned and stay away. The poor guy, if true has serious issues and this film may not be the forum to address them. The fact that his mum was so willing to participate might just be part of the problem. If your thing doesn't work it won't help if your mother constantly comes to mind. Giving it three stars shamefully I will slow to look at an accident and this one is cringe worthy!
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Walked out of the cinema for a quick smoke half way through The English Patient and the coffee shop across the road suddenly looked more appealing. English Patient refugees the Barista called us, needless to say we could feel Elaines pain in Seinfeld, and we didn't even have to see the whole thing. Luckily I Love Kate Winslet and couldn't see enough of her in this, so there was one redeeming feature. I know her character was hateful so was everyone else.
(Don't bother!) - review by jamie
Like a beautiful girl who loves herself this should be nice to look at. Full of what I can only guess are private jokes it's like being stuck with a group of friends reminiscing about some event you didn't go to. Oh you'll laugh at some bits and painfully smile through others. It's a testament to these guys that the laughter out ways the feeling of being a third wheel.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Nobody plays ugly like Toni Collette and this is a warts and all performance by the entire cast handling an unappealing subject. As for Luke Ford's portrayal of Charlie, the line from Tropic Thunder comes to mind, in a conversation regarding Ben Stillers character in a similar film '...never go full retard'. Ford however had better skills.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
As a recovering addict I have mixed feelings about this one, less glamour and easier not to feed into than Drugstore Cowboy or the Trainspotting elk, yet doesn't go far enough. Liked the message about so called cures such as the dome or brutal psychiatric drugs being worse than the disease. There are only two solutions harm minimisation or total abstinance.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Ashton Kutcher has been responsible for many of my guilty pleasures, Beauty and the Geek, True Beauty, and That 70's Show. This is NOT one of them. Now i know Romantic Comedies are not meant to have too much substance. Let's face it they are designed to get you and your partner from the cinema to the bed with no room for analysis.
For the Characters in this movie all they had to do is live together for the prescribed time and share a windfall. Not hard no need to make a competition out of it.
Someone must have owed someone a favour to get this one off the ground.
(Don't bother!) - review by jamie
May have a certain cheesy taste that renders the experience okay at best. Can't help feeling there were too many missed opportunities, wooden and stereotypical acting from the lead role down are hard to overcome. Still quite watchable.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
Was all set to hate this and waited for the last possible moment to put it on. What a crack up seeing Corey Feldman as the still nerdy Frog tying and not quite pulling off the hardened vampire hunter role. Its worth seeing for this reason alone.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Look my 10 year old son liked it and for him and the chipmonks I'll give it two stars. Now I wish he will stop going up to people shouting Evil.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
If you can suspend disbelief enough and don't have to be like Dr Spock and find logic in everything then Yes you might like this, otherwise take heed of the other word.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
There have been some excellent episodes in this series and I have to remind myself not to be too harsh when one is just good. Got caught up in the Jackson death and Thriller connection.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
It's easy to forget that sometimes chick flicks can be a guilty pleasure. Unlike Sex in The City and Love Actually annoying characters and indulgent dialogue is easy to overlook.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Nice work, good kills, but let down by the annoying drug induced flashbacks or forwards. Still worth the watch just a three star movie that could have been a four star classic.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
If you go into this expecting the artful direction of the original then you will be disappointed. Had to remind myself this is a different movie and modern premise, good effects and enough tension, just tried too hard and it shows. Also went too Hollywood for an ending that won't upset audiences. Don't tell a story if you think the crowd can't take it!
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
You will hope in vain it gets better. The type of twist an adolescent in writing class will be proud of.
(Don't bother!) - review by jamie
Given media reviews went into this with low expectations and as a fan of Saw. Not anywhere as good as Saw or bad as they say. Give it a go.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
This is my third viewing and I'm rating it highly because it gets better each time. Like a cloudless night sky the stars dazzle in this.
(Not to be missed!) - review by jamie
Not sure if this was a dramatic play remade as a movie because it's a dialogue charged film. Liked this in a descent midday movie kind of way.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
As usual with the Coen Bros by the end you know you have been exposed to subversive genius. 'What did we learn?' I guess we learnt not to do it again... whatever the @#$% we did'
(Excellent) - review by jamie
Simon Pegg reminds me of the saying the whole is greater than the sum of its collective parts. Big Train and Spaced are surreal comedy greats. Pegg only just hits the mark in Shaun of the Dead, strays by Hot Fuzz and is totally off course with this one. As a fan of his TV stuff I really tried to find an excuse to like this, maybe away from the Hollywood machine they were trying to satire it could have been done well.
(Don't bother!) - review by jamie
What a crack up those involved spend more time than the chaser appologizing for this one in the features, but for what it is it's great. Slash and burn horror go for it guys.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Seems like the type of movie that was made for the preview. Pity unlike Gindhouse Tarrantio couldn't just mock up a preview he had to make a movie around it.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
For some reason I went into this with low expectations, and for some reason I could not stop laughing. They went for gross out laughs without needing to they went for the absurd, and kept the heart of the movie beating. Will Ferrell seemed more of a supporting after thought on Saturday Night Live yet his movies have him without peer, in a group that includes Adam Sandler and Mike Myers.
(Not to be missed!) - review by jamie
You need to be able to take a bit of cheese with your film to even begin to like this one. It is worth the rental price just to see Wilbur Wilde as an angst punk. Was really hoping for more exploitation and feel it tried to get too deep when all it needed was popcorn.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Firstly I will declare being a sucker for these American School flicks from Animal House to American Pie. For much of this film I was caught up in the veneer of innocence that didn't seem out of place considering the Playboy link, the only thing stopping this one being more than good is how obviously it loses it's way, the last half hour or so seems tacked on when so much more could have been developed.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
So now we know Downey Jr is more than just good and this movie is only just good. I suspect I was expecting too much from this, certainly more than just the preparation for the sequel or spin off or whatever is comming next.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Not counting the first which has no peer this might be my favourite of all the Bates sagas. Good back story and sense of time and place. Well made and a welcome sign off.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
No one is likeable here, they could all die for all I care. Tries to be cleaver and the result is the same as any response when faced with someone trying to be too smart.
(Don't bother!) - review by jamie
Given the similarities will have to check what I gave Timber Falls before rating this. Instead of being peeved that everyone just copies everyone nowadays I will just accept that they are both good and look for the next thing.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
At around the same time as I was thinking they were paying homage to The Man Who Knew Too Much I realized this was essentially a remake. Unlike Disturbia it's not a complete unacknowledged rip off but a cleaver reworking of the story that raises the esteem of the premise just when it was getting tiresome.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
Whilst the makers concede that they are in no way endorsing the content made up of this doco as good, it won't stop me seeking much of the movies discussed.Tarantino's delight is contagious "Australians shoot cars in such a way that just makes you want to jack off". Reflecting on this you have to realise it's true, Death Proof is the only American car flick to come close.
(Not to be missed!) - review by jamie
Much better planed sequel than the second and caters for the slasher fan for it's time without denigrating the previous two.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
For some reason the Eric Banner version always had me falling asleep at around about the same point, I have never finished that film. Kudos for this one that I can get through it doesn't do much for me though except for the easy to look at Liv Tyler.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
A slow starter that thankfully redeems itself toward the end. The dope buddy thing's been done better by Cheech and Chong and to a lesser degree Jay and Silent Bob. With Seth Rogen it was never going to be outright bad but without the final half hour or so who knows.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
My first Dirty Harry outing was The Dead Pool mainly for the Guns n Roses Cameo. The previous movies highlight the final instalment as almost a send up, Eastwood and Co making Harry even more over the top. The later of the films capturing the rock star sex and death obsession of the time, just as the first captured the fear and fascination with the Zodiac serial killings.
(Not to be missed!) - review by jamie
Given the similarities will have to check what I gave Backwoods before rating this. Instead of being peeved that everyone just copies everyone nowadays I will just accept that they are both good and look for the next thing.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Whilst no Argento this was still a nifty thriller. Good plot twist and a nice back story. Would make a good remake in a more daring time.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Started to think to myself here we go a rip off of Stephen Kings Cell and the film hasn't even been released yet. There were enough points of difference to distinguish itself as a black comedy in its own right.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Not only was the narration off putting, it goes so far as to mock the long suffering audience. Will give it two stars mainly thanks to Matt Berry his mere presence is funny, yet unlike The Mighty Boosh and Garth Marenghis Dark Place, this is no comedy.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
As far as prequels go this is mostly a ho-hum affair. The body count is either too low or uncreative, and the back story thin.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Was expecting little from this but could tell about fifteen minutes in that this was going to be the kind of slasher that will appeal. Owes much to Elm St 3 and Boogeyman 2.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
I wasn't expecting much from this one and that's how it should be viewed. Good thriller along the lines of Dead Calm without the charm.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Not just a great prison movie, it also captures the essence of its time. Brad Davis seemed made for the role, so much so it takes this viewing many years later to acknowledge the all star cast surrounding him.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
In the right frame of mind I may have given this as high as three or as low as one so lets just split the difference. The boredom was offset by some real laugh out loud moments and the bizarre drive in clip was almost worth a three star rating.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
Okay not sure if I am being overly generous and letting my fandom stop me from panning this. My earliest cinema memory is Raiders of the lost ark, and like the South Park crew I could see Indie being raped by Lucas and Speilberg. Aliens have no place in an Indiana move but killer ants, and non stop action do. It's worth a look.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
I'm sure there are several people here who feel qualified to review this film in the same breath as claiming they turned it off without finishing it. Well at a similar point I was ready to cane this movie but then something strange happened, it grew on me. Could have been great if it didn't so blatantly aim for the gross out factor, at the same time that was part of its charm.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
By god someone finally made a hand held camera movie without it getting on the viewers nerves. Romero may not be the first to try this medium but he is the first to get it right!
(Excellent) - review by jamie
I was expecting more from this, the story moved too slowly just to get to a heartbreaking twist. It could have done with some more scares and less drama. The film is good enough without being great enough.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
This did well to turn a one joke TV show into a sustainable movie. You gotta love the chief having it out with the CIA and Secret Service, then going the vice president (That's it I've been wanting to do this since Nixon). Enjoyed this far more than I thought I would.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
This gets one more star than it should for the half naked crazy chick trying to eat our not quite sane hero's. Like Seed this film is too intense for its own good, wish they had lightened up just a tad.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Worth it just for the snooker ball scene (think what a stripper may do with a ping pong ball and insert a pool ball) it was my partners idea to super slow mo it. I think she was looking for a trick I was looking for something else. Naked chick fights galore but just can't bring myself to give it more than three stars.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Relentless you know they are doomed and feel every hapless attempt to get through the night. Had the feeling all the way through this that I was watching more than a horror film, then the makers summed it up in the special features- "This is a terror movie not horror".
(Not to be missed!) - review by jamie
I sometimes think of Johnny Depp as overrated, his Jack Sparrow seems too much of a caricature knowing that's the point does not help. Yet time after time he surprises me, Ed Wood comes to mind as does this. With a soundtrack that makes it just as pleasing on the ear as the eye Depp delivers an aptly understated performance. If you're used to being hand fed by Hollywood stay away (and there's nothing wrong with that - some very tasty films have been spooned out). Depp fans would be well advised to wait for that next pirate movie unless willing to open their minds.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
This could have worked as a cheesy horror comedy, and I may have rated it more kindly if not for Herschell Gordon Lewis being mentioned in the same breath as Argento in Juno. This did the film a disservice unfairly raising expectations. Not as intense and pointless as Blood Sucking Freaks but similar vain.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
Most of the time I am woken by the end credits every time someone puts on a Batman film. By God I still can't get over the Governator as Mr Freeze, or to begin it all Jack Nicholson playing the same character yet again. So yes Heath is most likely the best Batman Villain in film to date but his predecessors were not much chop. The story is tight and Heath didn't have to die to carry this film.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
"A ringing phone demands to be answered.." I do believe Phone Booth stole this line from Stephen King, who has explored, or perhaps pioneered phone horror in some short stories such as Sorry, Right Number and to some degree 1408, and of course the novel Cell. Knowing this to be a ghost story lowered my expectations and it was a nice surprise to find myself enjoying this one.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Never ever trust a one word review. The preview sucked us in with one word exclamations lifted from respectable sources such as Fangoria and Rolling Stone. Words such as "Amazing" which may have been from a sentence that goes on to say "Amazing more people didn't walk out". Or "Wonderful" sounds good on its own but not when strung together as 'Wonderful to see the end credits." How about 'Twisted' as in 'After about half an hour I took my tie and twisted it around my neck praying for some kind of end.' The tragic schizo character reminded me of a comic Young Ones Rik Mayall. The ending was just a final insult.
(Don't bother!) - review by jamie
My doctor will not prescribe barbiturates to help me sleep, lucky I will always have this, snoooze.
(Don't bother!) - review by jamie
I will always admire Steve Carell, even so resisted this film thinking the best bits are most likely on the preview reel. I was right, in spite of my cynicism the movie managed to take me along with its impossible premise. Almost gets a fourth star for the Strangers With Candy end credits dance homage.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Am reviewing this from the boyfriends perspective, what could be worse than an episode? Yeah we know don't we? You may think you'll get some kind of brownie points for watching this with her, but once she considers things even there's no more remuneration. Sit through Titanic instead at least some of them end up dead.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
No one really likes hand held video style films, Blair Witch and Cloverfield are good in spite of the effect not because of it (Although I maintain the effect is necessary for Cloverfield more so than Blair Witch). For the most part this was a two star movie and only just goes from average to good on the back of an unexpected ending.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Very average Saw rip off if not for the dark themes of the film it would have been a dead boring gritty police drama.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
Okay you probably heard by now it's good. Was resisting it due to the hysteria over it's pro-life message. That's not to say I have any stake in the debate, I just don't like having opinions shoved down my throat, and so far the pro-choices haven't put pictures of dead babies in my letter box. This film does not have an agenda; the cast are a pleasure to watch and the dialogue a pleasure to hear.
(Not to be missed!) - review by jamie
Whilst not the five star quality of Austin Powers, it passes the most important test of comedy, it made me happy the whole time I was watching it.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
Was listening to Kenny Rogers on the radio the other day, and even though the twang twang of country music is evident as is usual with The Gambler I sang along and didn't change the channel. My partner has come to share some of my taste in films and T.V, but when it comes to Si-Fi I still watch Dr Who alone. If I told her what this film was about she would not have seen it instead she was demanding I pause it when she had to get up. Like Kenny Rogers and his crossover country this movie is pioneering crossover Si-Fi.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
This major motion picture is mediocrity at its best. This could have been a rudimentary episode of Fringe. Since The Ring it seems seeing Asian women move in unnatural ways is going to be the basis of any lazy mans horror.
(Maybe) - review by jamie
All was going well for this movie but felt a few of the twists and the ending did not really serve the film well. Will watch it again and like a good stew have a hunch it may be better the second day.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Being unfamiliar with the graphic novel I feel this is a good movie with a bad ending. For all those comic fans who feel cheated by the adaptation, as a lifelong Stephen King fan I can relate. Sometimes you wonder why they go through all the bother of buying film rights and then make something different, especially as I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry proves you can just steal the idea and get away with it anyway.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Why make an imitation of an already mediocre film (Ray Bradys Boy Meets Girl) worse? Only those responsible for this one will ever know.
(Don't bother!) - review by jamie
Actually thought I had not seen this one before and about halfway through realized I had that's how memorable this one is. Will give it three stars for a strong story and being well handled but lacks the class of its predecessor.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Gets four stars mostly for showing good cinematography is not just about sweeping shots of the outback, and reconstructed bombings of Darwin. Could throw around words such as inspiring and heart wrenching, but the best thing about this piece of work is how it's essentially the story of writing a story, it would want to be good filmmaking and it is.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
Due to luke warm reviews and many a panning during this films cinema release I came to this one with low expectations. Shamalan will never again be able to ambush audiences like he did with 6th Sense, but his follow ups do manage to linger. Ignore the bad criticism, some of it comes from a clear anti-climate change agenda much like Andrew Bolts pro American triad in response to Borat. As usual M Night has made a movie designed to follow the viewer home.
(Excellent) - review by jamie
If you're the chick who couldn't finish the Ferryman because the dog died then don't bother with this one (or Old Yella for that matter). This is too dark for its own good, there is no kind of reprieve as it's all murder and mayhem. Shame this is usually my kind of thing and this could have been a classic.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Katherine Heigl is so good to look at I could find at least one reason to give this one star, that and the end credits are the highlights of this one.
(Don't bother!) - review by jamie
My partner has low patience for subtitles and was engaged enough to see this one through. This genre will now always be in the shadows of Life Is Beautiful for me. Still worth putting on the list.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
An old favourite I'm always glad to revisit. Great dialogue, and a brilliant sense of the absurd. If you haven't been exposed to this one then put it on your list.
(Not to be missed!) - review by jamie
Some stupid horror makers just can't bring themselves to make likeable victims nowadays. The mad professor looks more like a Castro wannabe rather than a Darwin waannabe. As for the monkeys well you don't really get to see what they look like. Too gutless to be horror and one star may be one too many.
(Don't bother!) - review by jamie
Good story but took its self too seriously. Could have been a great slasher or ok thriller instead hedge its bets and did neither well.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Could easily give it an extra star for the sound track, but that would give the impression of a more superior movie than this. Not a bad dark comedy but like He Was A Quiet Man just seemed to miss the mark a little.
(Worth watching) - review by jamie
Far superior to the South Park Movie this is the one that could have been a viable cinema release. Miss Kenny at least there's no Terrence and Phillip.
(Not to be missed!) - review by jamie
Could barely give it one star. I have said before that good horror should disturb, but not just leave it at that. The films social commentary on the evils of the net is not only hypocritical but also dangerous in a world where our freedoms are being challenged daily. Whilst trying to preach this film is nothing but voyeuristic garbage.
(Don't bother!) - review by jamie