Movies I Own On DVD

I like Stephen King and I like the actors involved in this film, so I went to see this 'un in the theatre. It's not terribly clever (the resolve was a bit disappointing...I'd expected more) actually considering it's based upon a Stephen King thing, but still it manages to be better than so many other modern horror tales. Also it has the fact that it's a pretty easy watch going for it and there aren't a ton of films quite like this one which was nice also.


The story is about a man has lost his faith and his Daughter and now works as a disillusioned haunting inspector going from hotel to hotel looking for hauntings. Well he doesn't really believe in ghosts until he winds up at the Dolphin hotel room 1408. Not a bad premise really, sort of an interesting idea only parts of it could/should have been a bit better explained I think.


Parts of the evil that attack him seem a bit cliche but I'm sure it's hard to be entirely inventive when dealing with ghosts. It's relatively intense, not much gore but still a few jumpy type moments. Not as good as it could have been, but worth watching none the less.

I'm pretty much always up for a good zombie movie, an inventive one? Even better. This film had been so highly touted that by the time I actually got to watch it I couldn't help but being disappointed in some ways. I didn't see anything that new was the problem, I suppose if you aren't familiar with a lot of older (in particular '70s style) horror films then this would seem new however.


Okay so the plot is that the "Rage" has taken over London and most people are dead. A few are on the run but under attack. The zombies move quickly and are rather difficult to escape which is why most people I've talked to really enjoyed it. Truth is that I didn't find it very thrilling. I couldn't care less about the characters I was dealt, and I couldn't wait to get back to watching some less pretentious zombie movies that at least try to have a little fun.


On the other hand the serious nature of the film does aid it as well as it does hinder I suppose. It's got good atmosphere, and the scenes towards the end (which I shan't ruin) are actually really quite good. Unfortunately I found that every time the movie would get interesting, it would sort of die down and so on. I actually saw this one with my parents who shared my lack of enthusiasm although we did have fun mocking "the rage". This is a good film overall even though I'm heavily critical of it. I would recommend people watch this however there are many better zombie films, this one is just really easy to find!

When dealing with anything "extreme" like say this film, there are two ways the films seem to go. They are either low budget, predictable and gory as heck, or you get something wonderfully creative and extreme like these stories. These have things to gross us out (which of course we want) yet the stories are well put together, it appears to have a budget and it actually works as a good movie.


Well what this is are three short stories from different directors. It starts off fantastically with "Dumplings" the best in the set and actually one of the best Asian tales I've seen in a long while. I do not want to ruin this in any way but it's about some dumplings which give youth to the consumer but they are made of something rather disgusting (you'll see). Anyhow that tale seemed too short but fortunately on the DVD there is a longer version of this tale too (but I haven't seen that one yet).


Next we move on to "Cut" which is demented and sadistic but the ending is less than satisfying. A young Man finds himself in a terrible situation when he finds his wife super glued to the piano (and she's a pianist). Can he stop the torture being inflicted upon her before it's too late? It's rather bloody, weird and generally artistic looking which I really appreciated. It's twisted, but heck so was the opening story.


Both stories to this point are grotesquely fascinating, but can the third story hold up? Nope, sorry but it in fact doesn't. It's not impossible to watch or anything, but the last tale "Box" which is confusing, and non satisfying but bizarre enough to warrant at least one viewing. It's something to do with two gymnastic sisters, and well a box and fire and....well you'll see. I'd definitely recommend watching this trilogy but I do question the order of things, who ends a movie with it's worst material? Anyhow watchy watchy, especially "Dumplings"!

Without having seen the movie I actually shelled out $28 dollars for it just because it looked like it was going to be awesome. It wasn't worth what I paid but at least parts of it (mainly the first half) were great, and it was shot very competently at least! The big issue with this film is how sheerly confusing. I mean the basics are there and I think I understand them, but nothing is really clearly explained, nor is motive necessarily. I did look this film up afterwards to see what had just happened because I definitely wasn't sure. That's not a sign of a good $28 movie, now is it?


Well in the beginning we watch the spoiled Brooke Shields character (Nancy) get a fancy new communion dress and necklace from the priest while her older sister Alice is basically ignored and or blamed for every little thing. I hate to say that it reminded me of a slightly over the top version of my own childhood, but it's honest seeming and relatable. We see Alice in a yellow rain slicker and she seems to have lots of creepy looking semi-transparent masks she likes to wear. Because she is jealous she plays little pranks on her sister to frighten her.


Then we move to communion, but before Nancy can come out she is strangled and lit on fire! From here others start dying and we are pretty much led to believe that Alice is the culprit. Then part way through something changes and we learn that a Sister (as in Nun I think she was anyhow...) has a yellow rain slicker and seems to be killing. Whom is doing what is a big question mark and motive is a bit sketchy too. It has a lot to do with Catholicism (which doesn't mean a lot to me) and the fact that Alice and Nancy's mother is considered a "whore" by that Nun-like character. Confused yet? I sure was. Still it was entertaining and the first half was wonderful, it's just a shame that this is as clear as mud, it could have been a creepy tidy little thriller but nooooo.

Wow, now this is an absurd yet delightful musical/sci-fi film. We start out at the Worldvision Song Festival in the future (erm 1994 to be exact) and we meet Alphie and Bibi, two Canadian folk singers who lose the competition. They are surprised when Mr. Boogalow (who is in charge of BIM...the "movement" which backed the winning songsters) wants to take them on and sign them. Of course he has plans to turn them into BIM members (Which seems to mean you get some sort of triangle symbol and you wear freaky clothes).


We get to see Bibi get hooked on speed (which makes for the best song of the movie) and the duo get pushed apart, all sorts of excitement really! It's full of bright colors, garish sets, and anything extreme and late '70s as you can get it's quite the spectical! Most of the songs are surprisingly memorable although cheesy of course but that's what brings the laughter! The best part has to be where we see God drive out in a car from the clouds, but I can't give away more. It's absurd, it's laughable but it's darned entertaining and that's all I require!