| Movie | Rating | Review | Date | Your Rating | Match | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jungle Holocaust (Ultimo mondo cannibale) (Cannibal) (Carnivorous) (Last Cannibal World) - Unrated |
Far tamer than Cannibal Holocaust, Last Cannibal World is better pegged as a jungle adventure thriller (with cannibalism, primitive people's rituals, and an overall harsher and realistic bite than a typical jungle adventure) than exploitation, and it's certainly not a horror. The main character's descent into madness is quite believable, as the plot is very focused on him. This film has none of the overt societal commentary of Cannibal Holocaust. It's a very simple man vs. nature plot, and the other characters in Robert's party are quickly dispatched so that the film can focus on him and his observation of the native cannibals' culture. Certainly inferior to Cannibal Holocaust, with very little shock value except the crocodile killing. The "home" or "village" of the natives is a lot more interesting setup than the ones from CH, especially the cavern bit. Overall, these cannibals feel more dangerous and less human than the ones in CH, which makes them just blend with other elements of the jungle as opposed to highlighting the potential for violence and relative "evil" in the human condition. This film raises loads of questions: If it predates Cannibal Holocaust, why did animal rights activists wait til CH to press the issue when this features just as much animal killing? Why are the male natives playing/tugging at/with the main character's penis when they take his clothes off; are they surprised that an adult is uncircumcised (the natives appear to be circumcised)? Why didn't the survivalist dolt bother taking a compass along both times they ventured off into the jungle? Is it just for sex appeal that they cast a female lead with breast implants even though she breaks the realism of the film? What's the point of the flesh eating ant ritual? "Most fucked up" highlight: For me, the crocodile killing because I adore reptiles. For you, take your pick; I'm mostly immune to simulated gore and cannibalism, but your average viewer will find plenty to disturb. |
December 24, 2008 | N/A | |||
| Intruder - R | December 22, 2008 | N/A | ||||
| Timecode (Time Code) - R | the split four screen film | December 17, 2008 | N/A | |||
| Biohazard: Degeneration (Resident Evil: Degeneration) - Unrated |
Far better than the live action Resident Evil movies. Puts forth a solid case for the end of live action for horror and scifi films, despite the obvious presence of the uncanny valley appearance and speech-to-lip synch problems. The action sequences look great. The movie is basically in two parts: the first is a zombie outbreak in an airport and the second is a massive battle with a G-Virus boss-type character set in a sprawling lab. Fans of the series will love this, and general zombie fans should also check this out. The script plays out like it's just a collection of cutaway sequences from the video game, but that's fine because the game storylines are still superior to the live action scripts that were filmed. Character design for the "boss" character is top notch, as is the layout for the WilPharma lab where the battle takes place (it would be an AWESOME setting to play in a game). The first half with the zombie outbreak leaves one wanting more, and RE fans will rejoice at Claire brandishing an umbrella to take out zombies and may squeak when we get to see Hunnigan's office from a perspective other than a com-screen for the first time. Great to see what Leon's been up to since RE4 and explanation of the rollover of Umbrella into other corporations is a must-know for RE/Biohazard players and fans. My love for the game series and the excellent CG rendering tip my score up to four stars, and if the visual quality were lesser, this would be getting three and a half. |
December 16, 2008 | N/A | |||
| Encounters at the End of the World - G | December 16, 2008 | N/A | ||||
| Bear Cub (Cachorro) - R | December 16, 2008 | N/A | ||||
| Låt den Rätte Komma In (Let the Right One in) - R | A new classic of vampire film and also a great coming of age drama with stunning cinematography. So many people are recommending this film with good reason. It's tender and genuine, very relationship focused, but the horror shots that are here are super memorable, inventive, and look just as beautiful as other shots in the film. There's nothing that smacks of horror cliche or of a forced plot, and besides one of the main characters being a vampire. this film doesn't really sit right with the bulk of what is presently acceptable as "horror" but feels better in a serious drama or art house genre because it is such a well done and subtle film. | December 15, 2008 | N/A | |||
| Dogma - R | December 15, 2008 | N/A | ||||
| Un Chant D' Amour - Unrated | December 15, 2008 | N/A | ||||
| Trailer Park of Terror - R |
As the characters say in the titular scene of the movie, this is a clear tribute to Herschell Gordon Lewis. Instead of an entire town as in 2000 Maniacs, this is a small trailer park of six (or seven) murdering ghouls. The original music is the highlight of the film, and so is the character that plays the songs on his guitar. Most of the teenage victims get a killing suited to their in-life vices, and the girl we all know is gonna live does. It is unclear what happened to the gay fella, but I'm not gonna rewatch this to clarify. The fat lady that "smells meat" is pretty damn scary, and the backstory gives Rob Zombie a run for his money in terms of hillbilly hell. There are some creative kills including deep frying one of the kids. The effects appear as if they stay practical, and they're mostly pretty cool. The one definitely CG effect that I loved was Norma Jean re-applying faces to herself. This will scare the bejesus out of pre-teens to mid-teens, but your experienced horror enthusiast will just find a somewhat satisfying intoxicated weekend night flick. Better than most of the dreck in this genre, but you do have to be predisposed to the genre. |
December 11, 2008 | N/A | |||
| A Very British Gangster - Unrated |
This is one of the best filmed documentaries I've seen since Winged Migration. The shots here make the film appear as a narrative piece, and the film-maker interjects himself just enough to remind us that this is the "cameras allowed" side of these people's lives. Thoroughly intriguing portrayal of this crime family and of the social and political functioning of Manchester. A film that proves reality is more compelling and creative than fiction. A must see for anyone. |
December 10, 2008 | N/A | |||
| The Ungodly (The Perfect Witness) - R |
The first twenty minutes suggest a brilliant re-imagining of C'est arrive pres ches vous as a straightforward objective linear, but around the halfway through mark, it degrades into predictable thriller. The killer kills outside of his profile, the same shock scene of trying to force the filmmaker to film a kill is used twice. The "source" of the killer's psychological distress is not unique, though the setting for it is very well done. There are loads of interesting dialogue. The most interesting scene is revealing an AA group for serial killers. The ending is a blinder, just as the first shot is terribly tense and suggestive of a great film. Too bad the plot gets in the way. Had this film taken the more natural approach that Man Bites Dog does in terms of plot, this would have been a great film, but as I said it degrades into thriller standard fare. I hope Wes Bentley hasn't been pigeon-holed as the stone-faced guy with a camera, as that's his job in this film. Hope this director gets a good career launch from this, but that he will insist on better plotted scripts in the future. |
December 10, 2008 | N/A | |||
| Timber Falls - R |
It's not bad considering its genre (check my "Went Down the Wrong Road" Backwoods Horror List), but the last shot gives an auto deduction of half a star (the killer is still alive! and traveled to the victims' home town - it's not even laughable satire, just PATHETIC). Anyways, the rest of the movie is decent. There are a mix of crap and good special effects, and most of it appears to be practical (well done there). The actors give their all, and I like the idea that these captors want their victims to have a baby for them. The set design of the torture basement is tops, and the pacing is decent. Action segments are well filmed. The primary weapon is really cool, but I don't really like Deacon's (main baddie) makeup job; it could have been tweaked a little better. The plot structure is fine, but some of the dialogue is really weak in conveying the perversion of religion to violent means and portraying the stereotypical secular response to this violent fervor. Okay if you like this niche genre of horror. |
December 10, 2008 | N/A | |||
| The Mighty Boosh Live - Unrated |
If you don't know the Boosh....well, you sad little person. It's easy to see Boosh episodes on YouTube - so goest thou now to view them if thou be unawares of the Mighty Booshness. Anyways, this is a great live performance with some really fun improvised moments and audience interaction. I think you should already have seen the show, though, to get all the jokes and the guys' overall sense of humor. Also Rich Fulcher delivers crazy great performance (he's my fave member of the troupe). |
December 8, 2008 | N/A | |||
| Irreversible - Unrated |
This is a hypnotic film utterly self-contained and deserving of the proclamation as genius. I was skeptical of this film, as I am skeptical of any movie that uses rape to sensationalize itself and gain publicity. Most films like that, the rape scene is the only decent part and the rest of the film is dreck. Well, this whole film is just astonishing, blinding, and mind-warping. The camerawork had me in a trance state, and it is some of the most amazing cinematography I've seen in ANY recent film. For people who clearly do not know anything about film technique and openly admit that with their negative reviews of the cinematography: this isn't the handheld crap you gobble up at the box office, you just think that because you think "oh camera's moving and that means they mustn't have bothered setting up the shot", when actually these are some of the most cleverly coordinated sequences in film history. I love the reverse linear implemented here, as it really drives home the film's spoken point: "Time ruins everything". There is NO excuse for anyone serious about film not to view this entire work. Hot Gay Sex commentary: another one on the list wherein the hot gay sex is a minor detail in a large shock/exploitation plot centered on rape. Still, the third scene of the film is entirely set in an uber butch leather/BDSM sex den, and features some quite memorable snippets, especially the guy begging to get fisted. There's also loads of male frontal nudity here - something Americans know next to nothing about. "So Fucked Up" highlight: Bashing in the guy's face - it's one of the greater special effects achievements in history; it's HOW ONE DOES practical and CG together. |
December 8, 2008 | N/A | |||
| Audition (Ôdishon) - R |
When people say that the film is predictable in their reviews, they MUST mean that they know the torture sequence is EVENTUALLY coming and that Asami is psycho, right? (SPOILERS) Yall don't mean that you knew Asami had to quit ballet because her uncle abused her, that Aoyama would meet this uncle character, that Miike would pull an "inside the dream" sequence, that he had cut crucial revelations Asami makes about her past out of the first versions of the dates to insert them in the replays in the dream, that the hotel scene really didn't end where it did? Because I'm DAMN good at predicting even small plot details, and I HIGHLY doubt that you dolts saw the majority of that stuff coming. One or two things, I grant you. I knew that the man in the bag would be either the record industry man or the man from the bar, and that his limbs would be severed, so I'll give you one or two odd details you could predict, but all to the point that it made the crucial details predictable? Wanna say the movie's predictable - okay, as long as you mean that everyone knows the synopsis of "a man meets a girl and she tortures him". You may know physical torture from Asami is coming, but you couldn't have anticipated the layers of psychological torture the main character puts himself through in addition to the physical torture. Because we know the synopsis, the first 48 minutes (which are devoid of scares or distortion and devoted to character and sedating the audience) can drag. It could easily be reduced to under ten minutes. Hell, you could just skip to the last thirty minutes of the film and still understand the whole story without missing the gore. Maybe it's because I just saw Irreversible, but I thought it was a little dull to save the torture until the end. Seeing as Miike already plays with non-linear telling here, there's no reason why the torture scene couldn't have been earlier, and then the film reverts to showing how they met. I just think it's typical to build to a blood end, and it would be great to subvert that and Miike is the sort of director who would. This is nearly describable as "weak for a Miike piece", but another flisxterer put it better by saying it is primitive, as in primitive early work. I wholeheartedly agree. Compared to other Miike fare, this is a TAME movie. But compared to the majority of American horror, this is in another league of accomplishment. I can tell that Miike was limited in terms of budget, which is why there is less gore than what he probably wanted, but he still films it SO beautifully. His flair for the eerie is uncanny, as proven by how he lights and shoots his main actress, who is a brilliant casting decision. Miike fans may be underwhelmed, but many other audience members may vomit or turn the film off, uninitiated and susceptible fools they are. "Most Fucked Up" highlight: meeting the guy in the bag and watching him eat his supper |
December 8, 2008 | N/A | |||
| Blackmail Boy - Unrated | December 7, 2008 | N/A | ||||
| Koroshiya 1 (Ichi the Killer) - R |
This is a landmark gorefest, with some of the most inventive torture scenes in cinematic history. The plot is a little convoluted but I believe that's because when this transfered from manga to script, alot of characters and unnecessary segments were kept which could have been condensed. Also I've been mislead by the box art for years now. Having just watched it, I now know that the character on the posters is not the infamous Ichi, but his masochistic equivalent Kakihara, who is a far more interesting, if less complex, character than Ichi. Some of the CG doesn't fit right, especially the halved body or the first time Kakihara unhinges his whole jaw, and that's not acceptable when the semen used in the title sequence is real (and looks it). Miike could have re-shot the halving scene in a more traditional "Cube" way and it would have been just as good. Kakihara should (if you are a stable human being) blow you away with his insane acts of self mutilation; they're truly impeccable and Kakihara is a villain of the highest order. MSG TO YOU PEOPLE KNOW WHO YOU ARE: DO NOT WATCH A FUCKING DUB. These dubs redo everything INCLUDING screams and gasps and it just RUINS the movie (obviously the creators wanted viewers to not favor the dubs as they are done so shittily). Dubbed, you won't get the full experience; it's a complete star rating worse with the dubs. "So Fucked Up" highlight: the jaw unhinged properly, Kakihara having himself tortured |
December 6, 2008 | N/A | |||
| Broken Flowers - R | Memorable for its remarkable ability to bore. Slow even for Jarmusch, this plays like what it is: an attempt to cash in on Bill Murray's newly found ability (in Lost in Translation) to play middle age malaise to perfection. There isn't much of a story, and I can't care about Murray's character because he plays it TOO somber. | December 6, 2008 | N/A | |||
| The Serpent and the Rainbow - R |
See this if you want a Voodoo horror drama about an American who goes to Haiti in search of uncovering the truth and feasibility of zombification. This film has an interesting, and in horror, not always effective, structure where the first two thirds are spent on genuine plot and character development, with only hints at the lurking malice to come in all its gory. Craven pulls off this tough format with utter grace and natural pacing. The horror stuff kicks in at an hour into this 90 minute feature, and it's a regular Craven wallop of effective and inventive horrific distortions of reality. So it's a divided film (but the parts compliment and tie together). The first segment is legitimate drama and if done through to feature length by a non-horror director, would be praised as such. That's what makes the horror part work - that Craven's whole film balances and feels real in its plot and characters. So much horror films cannot achieve this. Bill Pullman does a really stellar job as the scientific Westerner scouting for the next pharmaceutical breakthrough in a dangerous politically upset poorer nation. His character falls into the Haitian world so well, that the second half, wherein Voodoo takes center stage, the magical and spiritual elements his character once doubted now seem wholly real, and for him, beyond lethally dangerous. We can believe that souls are really at stake; this is what any good drama with Voudon or or Christianity or paganism or any faith-based practices aims toward. The production design is stellar. The Voudon temple setup reminds me of old Hammer Voodoo films. Reflecting on many of the earlier non-supernatural action sequences in the movie, I really like Craven's action style in the 80s, and think he doesn't always get acknowledged for his extreme flair for orchestrating action because his primary peer their is John Carpenter. (They are each complete masters of the action horror, but Carpenter is utterly and incomparably genius with his action directing, and Craven is utterly and incomparably genius in his talent for horror.) The three primary zombie (or zombified) examples here are just plain great. The makeup is subtle and the sell is in the acting and scene framing and lighting. The harsher and gorier bits (which are non-zombie but still atypical and advanced in concept) are very 80s; they're NOT BAD but they have that distinctly 80s makeup aesthetic going on and the big tell is in a poorly done decapitated head. Like how the finale reconnects the spiritual and physical worlds - while a small group combats for their souls, a nation-forming revolution ensues in the streets above. |
December 5, 2008 | N/A | |||
| Kaze no tani no Naushika (Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind) (Warriors of the Wind) - PG | December 3, 2008 | N/A | ||||
| The Shawshank Redemption - R | December 3, 2008 | N/A | ||||
| Sexy Beast - R | December 3, 2008 | N/A | ||||
| Trouble Every Day - Unrated |
Minimal dialogue, a film that tells its story with images instead. At first the pacing and cinematography were hypnotizing, but an hour in, the slowness was effecting my viewing experience. It's clearly a very visually calculated movie, and obviously wants to be considered art house. Due to the minimal dialogue and articulate angles, this movie causes some plot ambiguity that I hoped would not be frustrating, that it would all sort of come together in the end and that acute observation could carry the bulk of the film. It does to an extent, but still too many relationships are left unexplained and there are some disposable characters that simply muddle the story. The main thing I longed for was some more revelation about the dynamic between Dr. Leo and Dr. Brown. The Coré character is chilling, and she certainly makes this fit in a "horror" mode, though it is primarily an art house mystery that emphasizes sex and sensuality with its many flesh-on-flesh closeups. "Most Fucked Up" highlight: Coré at work on the "boy next door", Gallo's character (Dr.Brown) literally eats pussy "New Wave French Horror": this is more an extreme cinema/art house film than horror, but the gory scenes and cannibalistic subject qualify it |
December 3, 2008 | N/A | |||
| The Invention of Lying - PG-13 | December 2, 2008 | N/A |
1678 ratings
588 reviews
