Phil Hubbs

Phil reviewed...

20 Million Miles to Earth (1957)

Now you'd think judging by the lizard-like monster running around that… More Now you'd think judging by the lizard-like monster running around that this is yet another nuclear experiment gone tits up by the Americans. But no, this time its actually a captured alien from the planet Venus that has been set free by some stupid little Italian kid with a cowboy fetish. So in this film there is life on Venus and man has been there!, some strong imagination there considering the intense surface heat, unsavory atmosphere and atmospheric pressure. The creature in question also seems to have a slightly aquatic look about it too, almost like the 'Creature from the Black Lagoon' or the Kraken, similar scaly appearance, but living on Venus is quite out of the question I'm afraid. Anyway realism aside this is your typical bog standard beastie runs amok affair really with very little on offer. I know that sounds really harsh but by this point we've had two good Harryhausen monster flicks and this does feel a bit of a rehash. We've had a giant four legged dinosaur-like lizard and a giant octopus, so this creature doesn't really feel very original, a bipedal dinosaur-like lizard creature. It still looks terrific of course, the usual high standards of Harryhausen. To be honest there is only one truly great sequence in this film for me and that's the fight against the elephant. Not only does it visually look excellent but the detail and animation for the elephant is some of Ray's best work for me, much better than the creature. Watch its movements and even the way he's captured the thick heavy skin...even around the elephants legs, the saggy skin. The other highlight is actually the old 50's footage of Italy and the Colosseum (yes the film is set in Italy). The film really gives a wonderful panorama of this ancient Roman architectural feat, truly superb, makes me wanna go see it asap ha!. Love how the Italian military are happy to shoot bazooka's at their priceless ancient ruins. Another slice of monster rampage that is fun in places but is bogged down with a lot of planning dialog and the usual romantic side plot. Glad they have changed the general storyline from nuclear weapons but end of the day the film is still a bit of a cookie cutter fan film. Shame we never find out more about the alien race from Venus or how they captured one, what was that jelly stuff they had it encased in? I think it was a baby, who knows.

9 hours ago via Flixster

Phil reviewed...

Warm Bodies (2013)

Another zombie flick, oh...great, but wait! this one is different, its… More Another zombie flick, oh...great, but wait! this one is different, its about a zombie falling in love with a female who's still alive...wait what?. Yes that's right the zombie in this flick is the undead hero and goes after a young girl saving her life. He then goes about looking after her and trying to woo her for her affections, yeah it does sound kinda sick doesn't it. OK so the plot is pretty unique I give it that, its original to see a zombie flick from the zombies point of view. This still doesn't alter the fact its an incredibly silly idea and amazes me it actually got the green light. The start of the film is actually quite good as we see zombie life, the kinda things we all know from zombie horror flicks of the past here presented in a mundane way, daily undead routines. Its got a nice quirky light feel to it, a horror comedy that really got me hooked I must admit. Things do get a bit daft as the zombies try to communicate, as narrated by our hero zombie, we hear his thoughts throughout. Its at this point you're thinking this is why no one has done this before, its ridiculous. The film goes up a gear of course once our zombie meets his girl and sweeps her off her feet. Its also the start of many many plot and idea issues. Not that I'm surprised seeing the content of the film, you know not to expect a completely coherent storyline. Why do the zombies seem to shuffle along yet in flashbacks they run? why do bonies run so well? why do bonies all look exactly the same? why do bullet hits anywhere kill bonies yet zombies need one in the head? how do the zombie masses manage to recover/come back to life? we know it was some kind of biological/viral outbreak that has killed everyone and turned them into zombies. But how would the body recover from this when its been clinically dead for a long period of time? decaying, no heartbeat. Its funny how the zombies are suppose to be completely brain dead (including our hero) yet still manage to speak, think, act etc...At the start when the girl is taken by our hero zombie she can escape at anytime quite easily. All she has to do is run off because the zombies only shuffle around, plus she accepts so easily that she's been captured. Anyone else would have smashed his brains out at the first chance they got, and she gets many. Also why did the other zombies believe she was dead? just because he smeared a tiny bit of zombie blood on her face?? really?. I could go on but I won't simply because its a very easy film to pick apart, but its not suppose to be a thinker. Its a silly zombie flick with a twist and leaning towards comedy, I won't say romance because its just too stupid. Yes the inevitable comparison to 'Twilight' lingers in the air but its not really like that, yes our hero zombie is an 'Edward' type of character with lots of pretty blue eye close ups but he doesn't sparkle. The female 'love' interest is not like 'Bella' either, its not that sappy thank god, although she does kiss him whilst he's still undead (seconds before he is revived), so is that soft core necrophilia?. Nicely original apart from the whole zombie apocalypse/last remaining humans in barricaded city stuff, and I liked the undead bonie zombies. Its not overly funny nor is it overly slushy and wet, its not scary but its not for kids either, it hangs somewhere in between. Had this been a tad more adult, had a bit more dark gallows humour, it could of been in the same league as 'An American Werewolf', but it holds its own.

1 day ago via Flixster

Phil reviewed...