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Brought back memories of a fantastic little film of the 80s I had watched awhile back called Runaway Train, with Jon Voight and Eric Roberts. Superb fast-paced action thriller, with some really neat cinematography and effects.

Recommended for a weekend evening watch to all.

* * * ½

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I thought this was quite tense and the small largely unknown cast did quite well.The scenes involving the shark really were excellently crafted and very convincing. 8/10

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As I thoroughly enjoyed The Reef,I thought I'd better check out the directors (Andrew Traucki) previous film Black Water.
I wouldn't say I was disappointed with this film,but it certainly was not as effective as Traucki's latest offering, main culprit was the unconvincing Croc effects which devalued a few scenes. 6/10

Well if it's anything like that killer flick I'm really keen to give it a watch.

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Watched this one last night:

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Mimic (1997)

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>>: B+

Pretty solid, actually. You might dig it quite a bit.


Fantastic film.

The Thief (1997). This Russian flick painfully captures the stark realities of Soviet life as felt by the commoner. People are forced into communal housing where privacy is unknown. Likewise they are forced into the unthinkable in order to exist. The paternal prevarication that Stalin strangles his people with becomes the emblem of this story, conflicts and contradictions that must be faced and coddled in order to survive. The unjust notion of love is seen here as an unconscionable glue, binding our characters together for better or worse, and for worse is the usual case in Soviet Russia. The acting was solid on all accounts, from the piercing emanations of the "heroic" soldier to the open-hearted stare of the mother's "squirt" of a son. Though the production values are occasionally weak, this only adds to the desperation that has become the permanent guest of this expansive land. Further explication of this flick's special qualities would be a fruitless affair as its many special attributes must be seen to be appreciated. Merci beaucoup.
Genruk

I've had that one in my queue for a couple of weeks...I saw it when it was first released...many moons ago...perhaps tonight.

after watching the trailer for Hobo With A Shotgun, I needed a Rutger Hauer fix

watched

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then for a change

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nice documentary

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Stuart Gordon's post-apocalyptic machine-ridden sci-fi blast. Loved it.

* * * ½

Robotjox and Surviving The Game are both great. Nice choices there guys.

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Paperhouse

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Finally got to watch this after wanting to for years. Excellent film. Definately deserves its place on the 'Other HDC Top 100'

The Sentinel (1977)

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>>: B+

Anamorph (2007)

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>>: C

Where Eagles Dare (1968)

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Luckily I read some Bengali adaptation of quite a number Alistair MacLean's original novels almost like ages ago and this was one of them. But I wasn't aware of this excellent film adaptation at that time as I rarely used to watch films then. I think 50's to 70's were the golden ages of Spy thriller that came with lots of actions & adventures in the stories than the post modern era of this genre. Though I don't "read" anymore but I assume to some extent the hi-tech espionage style of works/activities have made things bit dull & tough for the spies as well as less entertaining for the readers.
Anyway it was definitely a splendid treat for me to check out this movie last night. But the reason I wanted to see this not for as a Richard Burton & Clint Eastwood classic or a highly acclaimed WWII based war cum spy thriller epic or as it was based on my favorite Alistair MacLean's one of the greatest novels. I saw it for that little supporting role done by our beloved late Ingrid Pitt...the Hammer Queen of Horror. Yeah...perhaps it'd more worth to check out any of her famous films where she appeared on the leading role like Countess Dracula or The Vampire Lovers but the thing is I have only seen them online months ago as I don't have them on my collection right now. The interesting thing is I didn't know that she did a small role in WED until I read about it in several online news last night. Glad I bought that 5 in 1 Clint Eastwood collection years ago.

>>: A

The Signal- I kinda dug it, a bit offbeat IMO.

Lord of War (2005). The biting humor of Lord of War almost leaves one sickened to have made light of such a dark subject. Almost. Instead of taking sides this flick teeters on the fence of judgment, leaving the viewer locked and loaded to make his moral decision sans any Hollywood influence. The opening credits, in a tragically spectacular fashion, allude to this, placing guilt in the appropriate lap such that the movie can get back to the business at hand and manifest a flick free of the PC crowd's wishful thinking. Nicolas Cage is perfect for this role, the middleman of evil whose mantra of inevitability forms the Teflon skin that sheds any and all icky guilt that might cling to his vocation of choice. Deep down though, his character simply has found his role in life, something fate seems to have gifted or maybe cursed him with, and is fate to be denied? The story slightly veers from highlighting the typical storyboard anatomy, concentrating more on human nature and purpose of being. In doing so, it sets up an uncritical canvas upon which the viewer must come to terms with the reality of the human creature without the filter of rose tinted glasses. Not a film for everyone, it is a flick for those not afraid of the mirror of humanity. Merci beaucoup.
Genruk

loving netflix

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Skyline.
Some impressive visual effects and digital sound.
Not really a film for those who like a storyline.
Some tense moments.
Acting as you'd expect from mainly tv actors.
Great looking alien crafts.
Feels as though it borrowed a lot...kind of like Cloverfield meets Independance Day, with maybe a touch of district 9, though again, not much plot at all.
Go if you want to see some cool alien shit and battle scenes.
Perhaps if there's a sequel it'll be more well rounded.
I'd still probably give it a 6-7/10, for what it was, it was alright.

What did you think of it? I was quite disappointed with that one. It could've been a lot better/had more scope.

I agree....I thought it was a bit rushed.....it was broken up into too many categories and not enough time was spent on them.

But if not for netflix, I would not have seen it at all.

Yeh bit of a shame really. Have you seen Not Quite Hollywood? It was a great watch on Aussie exploitation flicks. I reviewed it awhile back and definitely recommend it.

predators
the loved ones
horseman of the apocalypse
the tournament
cold & dark
the undertaker
humanoids from the deep
violent shit 1-3

Catfish (2010)

Another great movie made disappointing by a misleading ad campaign. To go into detail about just what is misleading about it would be to spoil the few surprises that it does have up its sleeve - suffice to say you'll be much better off if you entirely disregard the trailers.

Its still a fascinating movie...anyone interested in internet culture should totally give it a look...just don't go in with big expectations. You'll be let down.


Throne of Blood (1957)

To start - yes, this was my first exposure to the masterful filmmaking of Akira Kurosawa. Shameful, I know...but what a place to start.

I haven't really posted about many (any?) of them, but I've been watching a ton of films adapted from Shakespeare lately for one of my classes - this is easily among the best I've seen (its based on Macbeth, if anyone didn't know). Takes its liberties with the play to be sure, but transposing it to medieval Japan is nothing short of brilliant. The cinematography is utterly breathtaking - so many moments are just simply stunning.

Loved every second of this...I'll be watching more Kurosawa as soon as possible.

haven't heard of this yet, big Schnaas fan though. good?

thans for the rec....just put in in my instant queue

Nice. Hope you dig it man!

I'll Sleep When I'm Dead (2003). This slow burner portends to be a revenge flick proper but instead is more a study of the social trappings of one's criminal background. For those looking for extending scenes of violence and action, disappointment is sure to find its way to your doorstep. Instead this was a dark, moody, and subtle flick whose paucity of explication leaves the viewer distant but thoughtful. Clive Owen was perfect as the recluse returned, a monster in waiting whose time away may have left an indelible scar in his social capacities. His character's capacity for extended, contemplative silences gave an air of chilling awkwardness. The direction accomplished its feat, eschewing the Hollywood mold by telling a tale in according to his own unorthodoxy. The score was smart and jazzy, setting the scenes with the appropriate heights of disturbed psychologies. The end was a coup de resistance, smartly aloof, thereby allowing the imagination to fill in the gaps. Not a movie for everyone, but for those not detracted by expectations left unfulfilled then this might make for time well spent. Merci beaucoup.
Genruk

Resident Evil - Afterlife
While I didn't pay to go and see it, I still don't really know why I bothered.
I *did* think it was better than the last one, if only slightly.
But yeah...no atmosphere whatsoever, no real scares at all. The "new" zombies jut looked fucking stupid, and I don't think the guy who played "Wesker" should just never act again, I mean I'm not sure if it was an intentional joke, but most of his dialogue/delivery sounded like something out of the first couple of RE games.
This WS Anderson guy just keeps pumping out these films though...I suppose I watch in the hope he MAY make a half decent one.
I didn't mind the first, didn't even dislike the second though I didn't think it was as good...the third was utter crap, this one right next to.
The series has pretty much been a downhill run...
They should continue with the animated ones, the one I saw was better than IMO any of the movies.

Admit it Cheebs, the girl in the opening credits was smokin'. :D Absolutely loved the soundtrack there, too.


Finding long-forgotten stuff in my VHS collection has never been more fun...

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Sci-fi horror, Italian style. Director Luigi Cozzi takes everything which made films like Alien and Body Snatchers great, and cooks up a concoction which is packed with gorific sequences and bizarre plot twists. A more than decent, low-budget, low-brow film which is an absolute hoot to watch.

Recommended to Elvis, Ferox, Newb and anyone else who likes these.

* * *

I've got that Blue Underground DVD pictured. I dug Contamination.

I've got Alien Terror (aka Alien 2 :D) on VHS it wasn't as good but still a nice companion piece to that one you might wanna check out. Surprisingly it's getting a flash Blu-ray release!

The Maltese Falcon (1941). This classic flick is a rare character heavy piece whose plot is as rich as Thanksgiving gravy. Though we cannot help but cheer for Bogart's hero, we are still a little apprehensive about our emotional investment. Industrial strength duplicity seems high on the list of everyone's curriculum vitae, and in this noir flick it is not apparent who might end up with the prize for their cunning efforts. The supporting cast is a high octane affair, each threatening to outshine the others as well as the lead, but this only seems to catalyze Humphrey Bogart's theatrical prowess into the sidereal realm that legends are cast in. John Huston's directorial debut is nothing short of astounding, having made this first enterprise an all-time classic. The editing was occasionally sloppy, but such a sniveling trivia can easily be overlooked as mere pedantry in this swell classic. This third effort to get Hammett's story right was rewarded with acute success where the viewer is the winner, able to lap up this rich movie time after time with only renewed admiration. Merci beaucoup.
Genruk

The Monster Club (1980) just love this movie, for some reason I always thought this was a Amicus production, how wrong was I, directed by the great Roy Ward Baker, the Shadmock story was sooooooo cool.:o
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Toy Story 3 (2010)

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>>: A-

Thanks for the reminder - Been wanting to see this for a while but keep forgetting about it.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

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Fantastic - magical - whimsical - I absolutely loved this movie. It's fast-paced, well-written, well-acted, and an absolute blast. Perfect from star Michael Cera to supporting actor Kieran Culkin. HIGHLY recommended. I want to own it.

4.75/5


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High Lane

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Pretty miserable Descent wannabe - with redneck cannibals. Bleah.

1.5/5


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Doghouse

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Pretty disappointing horror comedy fare from across the pond. I actually had high hopes for this one, as it's helmed by director Jake West who did the fantastic comedic splatterfest Evil Aliens. However, while Doghouse starts strong (clearly taking a page our of Evil Dead) with some fantastic deadite-like Evils, the gag grows old pretty quickly. With the directorial, acting, and special effects power I think that this movie COULD have been great - It just needed a bit more imagination and better writing. Also, the overall message winds up being incredibly misogynistic, which alienates and aggravates me as a female horror fan.

2.75/5


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Jonah Hex

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Wow, that was a whole lotta MEH. I was hoping that it would be fun at least, but I found it boring and pretty poorly acted. Sure, Megan Fox is pretty damn easy on the eyes, but her acting prowess was somehow worse than usual... Also, Josh Brolin, while he definitely looked the part, was kinda laughable. Ohh, John Malkovich, how you have fallen...

2.5/5


...


To make up for the abomination that was Jonah Hex I watched...

The Quick and the Dead

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One of my favorite little movies - What a blast. Raimi is such a fantastic director and the acting is superb from a very young DiCaprio and Mr. Gene Hackman. And BOY Miss Stone is a FOX.

I love this movie - If you're looking for something fun, it's a great movie to check out. It's clear the Raimi just had pure fun making this movie - It's so well-crafted.

4/5

Junkyard Dog (2010)

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>>: D

Saw VII: The Final Chapter (2010)

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Though I loved the first 3 parts but I somewhat lost my interest about the series from its 4th installment. Anyway, SAW 7 was fine...in a sense that the franchise is finally over. There was clear rush like part 4 to 6 as I guess they were in a urge or desperate to finish it as quickly as possible. And the way they somehow managed to give an "end" to it was pretty lame & must be quite disappointing according to its fan's expectations.

Overall, traps = ok, story = very average, final twist = A disappointment.

>>: C

Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth (1992)

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>>: C+

Salvage (2006). Low-budget flicks rarely deal out high entertainment, at least in this camp. Salvage is the exception. After nearly quitting this DVD in the first 5 minutes, the ghetto feel of this hidden gem was not only tolerated, but ultimately admired. Once this story got going, it became apparent that the Crook brothers had something worthy to say but only 25G with which to tell their story. And what a story! This time-honored film timeline was given a new lease on life, navigating amazingly uncharted territory with aplomb. The acting was tolerable, with the top three players burping up decent performances. Our heroine Lauren Currie Lewis actually gave a pretty stellar showing, of course her natural beauty might have smoothed over some of her histrionic bumps. The dialog was at times lamentable, but not so bad that it detracted from the story. The film quality was a tad rugged, and the audio sounded like it was recorded in a honey hut, but this ultimately underscored the strength of the story. The cheap scares were forgivable-what low-budget thriller has a surfeit of Beverly Hills effects. A great story and laudable direction helped pull this one out of the time-killer bin and into the valley of respectable ghetto horror. Merci beaucoup.
Genruk

Kick Ass

It was kick ass...

Will track that one down. Thanks for the heads up, mate.


It's amazing the things one finds when you dig up stuff you have forgotten about...

...like I am in my VHS collection.


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Neat little sci-fi western with loads of atmosphere. I still love it quite a bit. Too bad Peter Hyams will always go down as an undiscovered, underrated sci-fi director...I rate him as one of the finest.

* * * ½