What Have You Just Seen... Marks Out of 5

[grim_tales]

Hellboy - Theatrical Cut: 4/5.. and wierd extras...

Very good movie. I didnt know anything about the Hellboy character but this was a very dark (considering the rating) comic-book film. Even though its obviously a fantasy there seemed genuine menace in the film (unlike say, the comic style of Raimi's Spiderman).
Ron Pearlman (sp?) is superb as Hellboy, and there is great style and effects in the film.

However, the selection of extras is very odd, particularly the section called "From The Den: Hellboy Reccomends..", which includes a trio of surreal 1950's cartoon shorts with names like "Gerald McBoing Boing" and an adaption of Poe's "The Telltale Heart" - crazy. What do they have to do with anything? I thought.

The cartoons are sweet, if strange. Can you guess who wrote them? Study the rhyming pattern and you may get it... (my suspicions were confirmed when I looked at the opening credits).

This is the story
Of Gerald McCloy
And the strange thing that
Happened to that little boy

They say it all started
When Gerald was two
Thats the age kids start talking
'Least most of them do...

"You've got to help our son
Somethings wrong with his head
He doesn't talk words
He goes "boing boing" instead!"

[EvaUnit02]

However, the selection of extras is very odd, particularly the section called "From The Den: Hellboy Reccomends..", which includes a trio of surreal 1950's cartoon shorts with names like "Gerald McBoing Boing" and an adaption of Poe's "The Telltale Heart" - crazy. What do they have to do with anything? I thought.

Perhaps cuz the story involves summoning an ancient god and particularly one with tentacles. The idea is obviously based on works of horror writer H.P. Lovecraft, particularly Cthulhu. Poe was also a horror writer.

Hellboy's presentation was great, Ron Perlman was perfectly cast providing an utter badass character. But the story was rubbish IMO, just like the X-men movies.

[grim_tales]

Yeah the story was nonsense hokum. But you're right, I loved Perlman's badass hero :mrgreen:

[grim_tales]

Pink Panther Cartoons - (MGM) - 4/5

Having been through almost all the set, I give it 4/5 overall. Its' great fun to watch but its clear that in many cartoons gags/stories/ideas are ripped off or else repeated wholsesale (disobedient horse/pestering fly joke in several shorts for example), and the whole enterprise lacks the freshness of say, Looney Tunes. This I can forgive BUT one gross oversight is apparent on Disc 4:

Which clown (when making the shorts originally) decided that some 70's toons (Pet Pink Pebbles, Yankee Doodle Pink) should be EXACTLY THE SAME (and I'm not talking retreads here, they are exactly the same cartoons but with different titles and music!!!!) as earlier cartoons presented elsewhere on the disc??? For example I felt I was seeing double when I saw "Yankee Doodle Pink" (Disc 4) and found it VERY similar to "Pinky Doodle" (Disc 3). Well thats because it IS THE SAME.

The same goes for "Pet Pink Pebbles" (a repeat of a cartoon on Disc 3 with a different title). Crazy.

Could the makers sue themselves for plagarism???? :mrgreen:

[EvaUnit02]

Vertigo - 5/5
This movie was simply excellent. Great cinematography, masterful acting from Jimmy Stewart and a great ending. Also Kim Novak was HOT.

[grim_tales]

Emmanuelle 2 (1975) [uncut Momentum DVD - 2001)

2/5

Better than the first film (IMO) - good production values, locations, nicely shot with a nice music score (better theme song than the first for example). Maybe because this film was shot in French it has a more of an "arty" feel to it, I think if it was shot in English we would think "This film is shite " Does that make sense? :mrgreen:
Slyvia Kristel also looks nicer than the first installmet...

[Markgway]

Behind Enemy Lines **/4

One for Gene Hackman (even though he's coasting) and the other for the exciting missile/plane crash sequence.

Leon - Dir's Cut ***/4

Liked some of the 'new' scenes more than others. I think the theatrical cut may have the edge, but the ideal is probably a hybrid between the two. Glad I got the Korean edition so I have both. AND the extras. AND better picture.

[EvaUnit02]

Emmanuelle 2 (1975) [uncut Momentum DVD - 2001)

If you're gonna see soft porn, may as well see high-class soft porn .

Rear Window - 5/5
A great thriller, better than 90% of the shit coming out of Hollywood today.

Cross of Iron (Full European Cut) - 4/5
The 2nd movie Sam Peckinpah movie I've seen (the first was The Wild Bunch DC on the shitty old flipper that's been around since the dark ages). Foremost superb action; good characterisation and story. James Coburn was excellent as Steiner.

Point Break - 3/5
Big dumb popcorn movie fun. Keanu's wooden chops are never more so apparent. Well directed action sequences ... erm... and I guess surfing sequences. Quite unintentionally funny at times, all the 2D surfee caricatures; especially the guy from Red Hot Chilli Peppers as the head surfee/drug dealing punk. Wanted to see this cuz I enjoyed Kathryn Bigelow's 1995 scifi thriller, Strange Days.

[grim_tales]

If you're gonna see soft porn, may as well see high-class soft porn.

Is it high-class in your opinion then? Not sure what you mean?
IMO It certainly has more of an "arty" feel to it then the supremely naff British, *ahem* "comedies" of the 1970's, and okay performances. For that it makes a better, more watchable film

[Markgway]

Strange film. Kept me intrigued throughout. Not sure I'd say it was good though. Very uneven in fact. I thought the acting was generally good (bordering on the hammy on ocassion from Cruise). Part of the problem for me was that even the "real" world seemed kinda fake. So that when thre "fake" world takes over... it's not much different. Interesting, certainly, but probably a misfire. Kurt Russell was excellent in his guest appearence as the shrink.

**/4

[degeneration]

Around The World In 80 Days 3/5

Good fun, but was just lacking that little something to make it a really good JC comedy.

Slumber Party Massacre 2/5

Gratuitous T&A scenes were in here, not as many as I'd hoped though! Very cheesy, very bad acting, very stupid characters, not great gore, but still so bad it was a little bit good. What else could I expect for £1.99 brand new on DVD?

[grim_tales]

Thats what I think about ATWI80D too Degen, 3/5.
I think it would of been nicer if Jackie had got the girl for once...

[degeneration]

I think some of the humour (particularly Coogan's) in ATWI80D would be far more suited to watching whilst a little tipsy to drunk...

Things like "And I'm not scared of you silly bracelet"... *shczing* "Alright, it's not silly." And his comment to Karen Mok about her being a something or other small girl, going to something like, "Well you are very lethal, but you're still quite small"... looking back, I'm finding them funnier than I did at the time, and I think that's the sort of one liners type thing that would be hilarious while drunk and watching the film with friends... my opinion anyway.

[grim_tales]

Yes I thought Jackie was funnier.
He deserved Monique (who was actually really cute ) more than Fogg (Coogan) did. Coogan spends most of the film being mean to her but Jackie is nice to her, tries to make her feel at home and was actually keen on her.

[Markgway]

How could Jackie get the girl? Didn't you know that all Chinese actors have to hand over their penises before entering Hollywood?

I'd give the film **/4

Amusing in fits and bursts but not as a cohesive whole.
The action was nondescript.

[grim_tales]

Warriors Two - 4.5/5

Really enjoyed this :mrgreen: Simple story (isn't it the same story as Prodigal Son?) but the fights are great. Sammo/Casanova Wong are both awesome in particular
Is Boss Mak the same guy from Drunken Master and SITES (Jackie's teacher?)
The transfer on the HKL DVD is amazing Sound is wierd though, WTF were those tweety bird noises during some fights about?

Also I thought it didnt live up to its' 18 certificate until the closing reel, and even then probably should be just a 15 IMO. Why does some fake Shaws blood make a kung-fu film adults only?

Why does the Grandmaster (main villain) wear a wig etc to make him look old? At the climax he takes off this mask and he's a mantis style master or something.. huh? :mrgreen:

[Markgway]

Is Boss Mak the same guy from Drunken Master and SITES (Jackie's teacher?)

If you mean the odious Dean Shek... then yes.

Why does the Grandmaster (main villain) wear a wig etc to make him look old? At the climax he takes off this mask and he's a mantis style master or something.. huh? :mrgreen:

To Grim:

So that he can fool everyone into thinking he's a useless old geezer. Everyone thus underestimates him. Simple really... And yeah, it's Mantis. No one does bad mofo like Fung Hark On!! 8)

[grim_tales]

I dunno if Shek is "odious" but yes I found his character and manner very annoying in all the films I've seen him in. :x
The other actors are tops though
Fung Hark On.. so thats who it was 8) Thanks for pointing that out

[grim_tales]

Also another thing I didnt like was in the teahouse scene they put some daft Canto-pop over the top!? When I first heard that I didnt realise this was part of the remix and thought it was the filmmakers fault but it sounded ridiculous.

[Markgway]

Also another thing I didnt like was in the teahouse scene they put some daft Canto-pop over the top!? When I first heard that I didnt realise this was part of the remix and thought it was the filmmakers fault but it sounded ridiculous.

Blameth not Sammo but thy arses at Fortune Star.

[EvaUnit02]

Blade 2 - 3/5
A fun and well-made action movie with cool characters and a weak story gaping plot-holes (like most action flicks ). Much much better than the fucking awful Blade Trinity. My first (well, 2nd if you count Highlander 4, but I'm trying to forget that mess) Donnie Yen flick (who is criminally underused here) and I can see why people could find his under-cranking fight direction style annoying; not me though, plus it perfectly suits a movie where the characters are supposed to move at super-human speeds.

Iron Monkey - 4/5
The fights in this movie are stunning, especially the finale. I don't see why reviewers say the HKL PE transfer is rubbish, it looked excellent to my eyes viewing it on a 32" widescreen w/ component input at 480i. The commentary w/ Bey and Donnie was superb IMO, best HKL commentary I've heard to date.

[EvaUnit02]

I Still Know What You Did Last Summer - 0/5
Utter bollocks. It was on TV last night at 11pm, I watched it out of boredom. Seen one formulaic teen slasher flick, seen 'em all. Was quite funny at times. What ever happened to "Love" Hewitt? She was hot.

Anna and the King - 4/5
A beautifully acted, well-made film. I wish Hollywood would cast CYF in more dramatic roles like in this movie.

[ReconFive]

Rikidozan - 4/5
Very well done biographical drama on the Korean born pro-wrestler Rikidozan. Sol Kyung-gu gives a terrific performance, putting on alot of weight and becoming fluent in Japanese for the roll. The character is portrayed very accurately, not just seeming like a Korean patriot with no flaws at all. Although I enjoyed "Fighter in the Wind" as well, this is overall a superior film. Deffinetly worth a viewing if you have the chance.

3-Iron - 5/5
Finally got around to watching this, and I REALLY enjoyed it. Kim ki-duk has been one of my favorite Korean directors ever since seeing "Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, and Spring", "Address Unknown", and "The Coast Guard". 3-Iron is visual, symbolic filmmaking at its best. Very highly recommended!

Rambo III - 4/5
I just watched this after not having seen it in a few years, and i can't deny that i love this stuff. This movie is so much fun! Destroying a helicopter with a explosive tipped arrow....pulling the pin out of a big Russian guy's grenade and throwing him down a hole on a rope, so he is hanging when he blows up....one man driving, shooting, and reloading a tank all at once while charging head on into an enemy helicopter....clearly a classic.. 8)

[EvaUnit02]

The Haunting (1999) - 1/5
On TV last night (at around 11pm), watched out of boredom. An utterly vapid film, just a showcase of special effects. The acting was horrible too. Jan de Bont is a complete hack.

Star Wars Holiday Special - 0/5
Truly god-awful. Lucas was wise in burying this dreck.

[degeneration]

Yeah the SW Holiday Special is one of the worst things I've ever seen. The cheap Millenium Falcon cockpit in this one is hysterical!!

Anyway:

24, Season 1 5/5

I was absolutely hooked by the 3rd episode and loved it all. What follows in the spoiler bit doesn't give specific scenes/examples, but does mention general tones/themes so could still ruin it a bit for people who haven't seen it yet.


I did like how it didn't always follow the general convention of everything working out in the end, no one was safe and it really did feel like anyone could die in it at any time, and indeed most people do!!

Despite not really going with convention in some ways, it still had quite a few "saved at the last second" moments. I know you kinda need them to help build up tension, but with everything else more realistic in approach I did find this a little bit of a disappointment.

Most of the twists I didn't see coming, a very few I did, but the major one in the 2nd last episode knocked me for six. It was so not what I was expecting.

And boy is Sherri (spelling?) Palmer a bitch!! By the end I was singing in my head "Go David, Go David!!"



On the whole though, this was an amazing series. Gripping throughout and made more so by having absolutely no "filler" episodes. All the other TV series I've liked (B5, X-Files etc) have all had a main story in a series, but have had filler episodes in the 20 or so episode tally, but here there is none and that kept me on the edge of my seat all the way through.

I NEED season 2 NOW!!!