What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out of 5

[saltysam]

No Surrender 2/5 dark comedy from Alan Bleasdale set in a shady night club in Liverpool on New Years Eve who've double booked the orange lodge and a group of rabid catholics into the same room.not particularly funny,nasty at times but worth a watch.

American Ninja 3:Bloodhunt 1.5/5 least of the Ninja series is minus Dudikoff and brings in David Bradley as the new American Ninja.While he has some decent moves he has zero charisma and the movie is saddled with Marjoe Gortner as the villain.Steve James ensures it's not all bad though.

American Ninja 4: The Anhillation 2/5 Dudikoff returns to the series and teams up with 3's Bradley to battle the insane James Booth and an arab warlord.Better than the 3rd that's for sure and James Booth is a truly despicable baddie.quite shocked to read that the female lead here, Robin Stille committed suicide at age 34 a few years after making this,her final role.

Commando:DC 4/5Arnie action classic,full of great action and cheesy one liners.BNever got round to watching the old BD,was quite pleased with this one,the transfer is very filmic.

[Markgway]

I haven't seen AN4 in a long time (mainly because I thought it was rubbish).

I might need to give it another shot.

[saltysam]

Pet Sematary 2/5 Stpehen King adaption is well made but a bit depressing and the cast (the great Fred Gwynne excepted) are very non-descript.

Letter To Brehznev 2/5 Two Liverpool slappers meet two russian sailors, one falls in love within a few hours and decides she wants to be with him,it's not that easy,hence the movie's title.ok but very much of it's time. useless fact number #208.. the co-star in this movie,Margy Clarke was until recently hosting a quiz night in a boozer by me

Jaws 2 3/5 underrated sequel suffered at the time for the fact it wasn't Jaws.As good a follow up as could be reasonably expected,it has pacing isssues (far too much talk in the first 70 minutes) but the last 40 minutes are well done and Roy Scheider fits the Brody role like a glove.move over JLC,the real scream queen was Donna Wilkes,my ears are still ringing

[Markgway]

I haven't seen AN4 in a long time (mainly because I thought it was rubbish).
I might need to give it another shot.

OK, I did, and I'm sorry I did...

American Ninja 4: The Confrontation (1990-USA) *

Shockingly poor sequel. Dudikoff (noticeably doubled) looks bored, James is sorely missed, and Bradley is tied to a post for much of the movie. The direction and editing are terrible, the choreography ineffectual. I think this is worse than Part 3.

[saltysam]

nah it's better than 3 imo.that's not saying much though.Saying that the series as a whole hasn't aged well having watched all four recently.

[saltysam]

The Drownsman 2/5 passable enough low budget horror.

Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films 2.5/5 entertaining though overlong documentary about the cult 80's film studio run by two crazy cousins, Golan & Globus.lots of talking heads with interesting anecdotes but could've done with 20 minutes cut from it's length.

[saltysam]

Maggie 2.5/5 interesting change of pace for Arnie,here he plays a widowed father in the midst of a zombie outbreak who's teenage daughter gets infected.Knowing what's going to happen he brings her home..but can he bring himself do what he needs to.? despite the Zombie angle do not go into this expecting a Walking Dead type movie,it's not like that at all.pretty slow moving but decent,well worth seeing.

The Punisher 2.5/5 Dolph Lundgren actioner based on the marvel character gets a bad press,i think for what it is,a low budget DTV it's pretty good.loads of violent action,watching this i'm amazed it's now a 15 while the bloodless American Ninja is still rated 18..

[grim_tales]

I quite enjoyed the Dolph Lundgren Punisher, used to have the old Korean DVD

[saltysam]

Brotherhood Of Death 2/5 3 Vietnam vets vs the ku klux klan.low budget no name actors 70's exploitation movie is actually not bad for what it is.

Charley Varrick 3/5 Solid 70's heist thriller from Don Siegel.the always excellent Walter Matthau in the title role and a great supporting cast including Joe Don Baker & Andy Robinson.

Burnt Offerings 1.5/5 An interesting cast (Oliver Reed,Karen Black,Bette Davis) can't save this overlong and boring haunted house chiller from Dan Curtis."memo to self"-after watching The Sentinel recently i must stop watching 70's horror movies featuring Burgess Meredith

[Shingster]

Weird film Burnt Offerings. The original novel/story has some great ideas and the film has a fantastic cast & both have been hugely influential, but it's such a fucking chore to watch!

[Markgway]

Strange Days (1995-USA) ***½
Ambitious, pumped-up storytelling from producer-writer James Cameron and director Kathryn Bigelow delivers on its promise to throw the viewer into a thrill-seeking nightmare of virtual reality.
The script is strong, the acting (mostly) very good, and the direction highly accomplished.
The politics are as relevant today as they were 20 years ago.
Contains the edge of a dozen similar movies.

Frightnight (2011-USA) **½
Not bad remake of 80s horror favourite.
(It's been so long since I saw the original that I honestly can't make any comparison).
Colin Farrell does a nice job as the suave, yet sinister vampire.
The CGI is what it is; you guys know how I feel about it.

I Give it a Year (2012-UK-France-Germany) **½
Quite funny (if typically overly profane) romcom -- I wouldn't say 'no' to Rose Byrne.
Stephen Merchant and Minnie Driver get most of the laughs.

Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (2012-USA) **
Suspiciously modern weaponry and decidedly non-child friendly language and (CGI) bloodshed mark this anachronistic (to say the least) update of the Grimm fairy tale. Love it or hate it, it isn't dull. Co-produced by MTV, which might be all you need to know.

[Masterofoneinchpunch]

Strange Days (1995-USA) ***½
Ambitious, pumped-up storytelling from producer-writer James Cameron and director Kathryn Bigelow delivers on its promise to throw the viewer into a thrill-seeking nightmare of virtual reality.
The script is strong, the acting (mostly) very good, and the direction highly accomplished.
The politics are as relevant today as they were 20 years ago.
Contains the edge of a dozen similar movies.
...

One of the most underrated films of the 1990s. I've shown several people the opening to it and lent it out several times as well. SO underrated that I put it on my My Top Movies Not On An Official ICM Listat icheckmovies. Interestingly enough Roger Ebert gave it ****/****.

Now let me playback while I do a robbery. That's a good idea.

[Markgway]

Shame it flopped at the box office.

I guess it was ahead of its time.

[Markgway]

Mad Max (1979-Australia) **
Dated ozploitation "classic" is actually pretty dull and sorely lacking in the kind of vehicular mayhem found in the sequel. This is more like Mildly Upset Max. I don't think I picked up on how camp this one was when I was a kid.

[Markgway]

Dark City (1997-USA-Australia) ***
Bizarre, fascinating sci-fi-neo-noir-mystery may be too oppressive (and yes, dark) for the mainstream, but game viewers should find something to appreciate in this stylish and intelligent Twilight Zone-like tale.

[Markgway]

Quiz Show (1994-USA) ***½
I watched this late last year (Nov, I think) and forgot to post a rating so here goes.

Another one that slipped thru the net from around the same time...

Full Metal Jacket (1987-USA) ***

[saltysam]

The Redwood Massacre 1/5 A Scottish! attempt at a gory horror movie,some nice widescreen cinematography but hampered by some terrible acting from the mainly youthful cast.The titular masked killer adds a bit of needed atmosphere to proceedings.

Duel 3/5 Very good early Spielberg thriller with Dennis Weaver as the travelling salesman being hunted by a faceless truck driver.good as it is,it does feel a little padded,i imagine the 74 minute original tv version (which i've never seen) would play even better.

Burying The Ex 2/5 New Joe Dante zomcom is a world away from his earlier efforts. Full of his usual in jokes,the female lead name is a nod to an old italian horror,the male lead works in a monster movie store and of course it has Dick Miller.not bad,just very much by the numbers.

Rollerball 2/5 overlong,dated and rather dull 70's sci-fi picture starring James Caan as the the star player in the vicious sport of Rollerball.

Kingsman Of The Secret Service 2.5/5 overlong and stupid at times but quite entertaining British spy actioner.Colin Firth,Mark Strong ,Samuel L. Jackson & Michael Caine head a solid cast.

[Markgway]

It Follows (2014-USA) **
A ponderous update of those 80s 'have sex and you'll die' slasher movies -- only without the slasher element. Not terrible, but terribly derivative, and far less impressive than its critical acclaim would have you believe. The entire 'swimming pool sequence' (which leads to the inevitable open ending) I still don't understand. Piss poor synth score sounds like a droning John Carpenter reject.

[saltysam]

The Forger 2/5 John Travolta crime drama plays almost like a tv movie.Here he plays an art forger who gets himself released from prison early to spend time with his dying son.good support from Christopher Plummer as Travolta's taciturn father,an ok watch but wow Travolta is looking tired these days.

Thief 3/5 Michael Mann's feature film debut is a solid,stylish crime drama with James Caan as a jewel thief wanting to pull off one last big job so he can settle down to family life.good support from James Belushi & Willie Nelson.

Focus 2/5 Will Smith's latest is fairly entertaining during it's running time but very disposable.he plays an ace con artist who hooks up with the gorgeous Margot Robbie and trains her in the art of the con.

Red Sonja 1/5 dreadful sword and sorcery movie starring Brigitte Nielsen & Arnie,this certainly isn't no Conan.terrible dialogue,poor effects,it plays like a pantomine at times.

[Markgway]

Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa (2013-UK) **
Intermittently funny big screen transfer for Steve Coogan's egotistical media windbag.
The script (credited to several authors) could've done with a rewrite to inject more satirical jabs.

Far from Home (1989-USA) **
Max Headroom and his jailbait daughter Drew Barrymore get stranded in the trailer park from hell with a psycho killer. Odd, but undistinguished thriller.

Sleep Tight (2011-Spain) **
Exceptionally cruel thriller in which a perverted sociopathic concierge systematically does unspeakable nasties to a beautiful female tenant. Just about credible, suspenseful at times, but is this really entertainment? NB: I assumed this would've been an '18' due to a protracted, very bloody death, in which a man's carotid artery is cut with a shard of glass - but it's only a '15'. Don't watch it with anyone squeamish.

[Markgway]

Red Dawn (1984-USA) **
The ne plus ultra in jingoistic, right-wing paranoia is pure John Milius and - let's be honest - pure hokum. Though it's easy to sneer in retrospect at this teens-shooting-commies nonsense, you have to remember this was made at the height of the Cold War when some people thought such an outlandish invasion scenario might actually happen. But story takes itself far too seriously and is much less fun than the like-minded Invasion USA - what a double bill!

[saltysam]

Used Cars 2.5/5 entertaining if somewhat overlong comedy from Robert Zemeckis about warring car dealerships.Kurt Russell and Jack Warden are excellent in this one.

Batman: The Televsion Series Season One 3.5/5 Cult 60's classic gets an incredible looking blu ray release.Adam West and Burt Ward are perfect as the dynamic duo,as are the regular supporting cast.Have to say though,it was getting repetitive towards the end of this season,same villains popping up,still got 80 odd episodes to go.

The Enfield Haunting 3/5 Well done Sky drama based on the 70's famous poltergeist case.

[grim_tales]

Red Dawn (1984-USA) **
The ne plus ultra in jingoistic, right-wing paranoia is pure John Milius and - let's be honest - pure hokum. Though it's easy to sneer in retrospect at this teens-shooting-commies nonsense, you have to remember this was made at the height of the Cold War when some people thought such an outlandish invasion scenario might actually happen. But story takes itself far too seriously and is much less fun than the like-minded Invasion USA - what a double bill!

I'm sure there was a recent remake/retread of this - cant remember what it was called though

[saltysam]

I'm sure there was a recent remake/retread of this - cant remember what it was called though

Are you taking the piss

[Markgway]

Are you taking the piss