JCLMikeK's Completed Shelf
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BarbarellaBarbarella, DVD
DVD - 1999DVD, 1999
JCLMikeK's rating:
Added Mar 27, 2024
The Grand TourThe Grand Tour, DVD
DVD - 2023DVD, 2023
JCLMikeK's rating:
Added Mar 27, 2024
Comment:
"The Grand Tour" is a really solid little science fiction movie! I went in knowing virtually nothing about it, and that contributed a lot to my enjoyment, so I'll try to be very spoiler-free here. Basically, Jeff Daniels plays a guy who lives in a huge but shabby Victorian house in a small town (as seemingly every movie character did in the '90s) with his daughter (Ariana Richards a couple years before she was Lex in "Jurassic Park") after his wife has died in an accident. He's in the process of converting their house into a bed and breakfast, and one day some tourists arrive from out of town and request to stay with them, even though the B&B isn't ready. There's something off about them, but they insist (and give him a lot of money), so he says, "Sure why not." I won't say much more, but since it's right there on the cover, I'll just say time travel is involved and the stakes get big pretty quickly. It's not a perfect film by any stretch, but it's a good, low-budget genre gem that feels just like you're reading an old sci-fi paperback. It's very well-written. It starts off a little slow but gets more and more interesting as it goes along. Daniels is fantastic in it. The production value is impressive considering what a small budget picture this must have been. And it's directed by David Twohy who did "Pitch Black," "Below," and - one of my all-time faves - "The Arrival." Also a reaction shot of Richards that made me laugh because it's almost exactly the same as the famous reaction shot of her in "Jurassic Park," which came out a couple years later. Anyways, if anything I've written above sounds good to you, I highly recommend giving this one a spin!"The Grand Tour" is a really solid little science fiction movie! I went in knowing virtually nothing about it, and that contributed a lot to my enjoyment, so I'll try to be very spoiler-free here. Basically, Jeff Daniels plays a guy who lives in a…
Top Secret!Top Secret!, DVD
DVD - 2002DVD, 2002
JCLMikeK's rating:
Added Mar 22, 2024
Comment:
"Top Secret!" is a great, unsung comedy masterpiece from the writer-directors who blessed us with "Airplane!" and the Naked Gun films. It stars Val Kilmer as an American pop star who travels to East Germany during the Cold War on a mission for the US government. It's a parody of Elvis films and World War II films, mostly, but it's loaded with wordplay, sight gags, musical jokes, and so on and so forth. If you like the Naked Gun films, you absolutely need to check this one out! Even if you don't laugh at all, you might pick up a little German."Top Secret!" is a great, unsung comedy masterpiece from the writer-directors who blessed us with "Airplane!" and the Naked Gun films. It stars Val Kilmer as an American pop star who travels to East Germany during the Cold War on a mission for the…
Dickie RobertsDickie Roberts, DVDFormer Child Star
DVD - 2017 | EnglishFrench dialogue versionDVD, 2017. EnglishFrench dialogue version
JCLMikeK's rating:
Added Mar 22, 2024
Comment:
I love David Spade, and so I love "Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star." I would never defend it from critics, but it makes me laugh regularly and it's never too much dumber than it needs to be. It's about a man, Dickie Roberts (David Spade), who starred in a popular sitcom as a child and has grown into a sad, emotionally-stunted loser desperate to reclaim the public's admiration. He auditions for a coveted role in a new Rob Reiner film, and is told that since he never had a real childhood, he can't be believable in the role. So, he does what any normal person would do and hires a family so that they can pretend that he's their kid and give him the childhood he missed out on. It's a little uneven dramatically, and doesn't rise to the heights of the greatest man-child comedies ("Pee-wee's Big Adventure," "The SpongeBob Squarepants Movie," etc.), but Spade is really great in the role and it's just generally good fun for... well, maybe not the whole family, but teenagers on up. It's an early effort from Adam Sandler's Happy Madison production company, and I'd say if you like Adam Sandler movies in general, you'll dig this one.I love David Spade, and so I love "Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star." I would never defend it from critics, but it makes me laugh regularly and it's never too much dumber than it needs to be. It's about a man, Dickie Roberts (David Spade), who…
The In-laws (Criterion Collection)The In-laws (Criterion Collection), DVD
DVD - 2016 | DVD special edition.DVD, 2016. DVD special edition.
JCLMikeK's rating:
Added Mar 22, 2024
Comment:
"The In-Laws" is a comedy about two men (Alan Arkin and Peter Falk) whose kids are a few days away from getting married when we meet them. Arkin is a mild-mannered dentist, and Falk... it's unclear at first, but at the very least we know right off the bat that he's a bloviating liar. The day after the two meet, Falk pulls Arkin into escalating criminal shenanigans that pull them further and further away from the wedding. Falk is constantly lying and hustling with just enough plausible deniability to string Arkin along. I'm not always big on comedies where bad things keep happening to the protagonist and the stress keeps increasing, but holy moly did this movie work for me. It starts off fine and just gets better with each passing minute, building to a completely absurd and hilarious finale. Falk and Arkin are incredible together. "The In-Laws" became an instant favorite for me."The In-Laws" is a comedy about two men (Alan Arkin and Peter Falk) whose kids are a few days away from getting married when we meet them. Arkin is a mild-mannered dentist, and Falk... it's unclear at first, but at the very least we know right off…
The Grey FoxThe Grey Fox, DVD
DVD - 2020 | Special edition.DVD, 2020. Special edition.
JCLMikeK's rating:
Added Mar 11, 2024
Comment:
"The Grey Fox" is loosely based on the true story of stagecoach robber Bill Miner (played by Richard Farnsworth). At the beginning of the film he is arrested and sent to prison for 33 years. When he is released in 1901, he happens to stop into a theater screening "The Great Train Robbery" and decides that a train robbery would be pretty fun. After the robbery, he goes to hide out in a small town, where he befriends many and falls in love. Sure, he could settle down, but after a bit he starts itching to rob another train. I really enjoyed this one. Richard Farnsworth was great, and the film is full of great Canadian wilderness and turn-of-the-century interiors. It's a really well-made movie, and worth a watch for anybody looking for a quiet, wintry "Western" adventure of sorts."The Grey Fox" is loosely based on the true story of stagecoach robber Bill Miner (played by Richard Farnsworth). At the beginning of the film he is arrested and sent to prison for 33 years. When he is released in 1901, he happens to stop into a…
The Day of the JackalThe Day of the Jackal, DVD
DVD - 1998DVD, 1998
JCLMikeK's rating:
Added Mar 11, 2024
Comment:
"The Day of the Jackal" is a fantastic, engrossing film that builds tremendous tension very slowly without ever being dull. It's about an assassin named "The Jackal" (Edward Fox) who is hired to kill the French President Charles de Gaulle by a group of terrorists who are upset de Gaulle has granted independence to Algeria. We follow The Jackal as he develops and works to carry out his plan, and we follow the French authorities as they try to hunt him down before he can act. The film is so meticulously made and feels too quiet and classy to be as wildly entertaining as it is, but boy does it work. I loved it and would strongly recommend it to anybody looking for an excellent political thriller."The Day of the Jackal" is a fantastic, engrossing film that builds tremendous tension very slowly without ever being dull. It's about an assassin named "The Jackal" (Edward Fox) who is hired to kill the French President Charles de Gaulle by a group…
Drugstore CowboyDrugstore Cowboy, DVD
DVD - 1999 | Special ed.DVD, 1999. Special ed.
JCLMikeK's rating:
Added Feb 28, 2024
Comment:
"Drugstore Cowboy" is a shaggy crime drama that feels like an indie film midpoint between John Waters and Quentin Tarantino in some ways. It's about a group of drug addicts in Portland who rob drugstores and hospitals for pills and money before disbanding when one of them wants to get clean. It has a solid cast (Matt Dillon, Kelly Lynch, Heather Graham) and a quiet sense of humor that make it worth a watch. It takes place in the early 70s, but was made in the late 80s and the costuming feels very "thrift store," but I actually kind of liked that about it, along with the very little done to dress up the locations. I honestly didn't know it was a period piece for a while, and just thought the characters were hipsters. It didn't make the movie feel totally tongue-in-cheek, but it gave it a casual sensibility that worked well with the performances and story. If you like movies about characters that are on the fringes of society, you should give this one a spin!"Drugstore Cowboy" is a shaggy crime drama that feels like an indie film midpoint between John Waters and Quentin Tarantino in some ways. It's about a group of drug addicts in Portland who rob drugstores and hospitals for pills and money before…
ThanksgivingThanksgiving, DVD
DVD - 2024DVD, 2024
JCLMikeK's rating:
Added Feb 28, 2024
Comment:
"Thanksgiving" is the most fun I've had with a new slasher film in many years. That said, it is GROSS, so if you don't like gory horror, do not watch this. The film opens with a "Black Friday massacre," where several people are killed (in a variety of ludicrous and disgusting ways) as hysterical shoppers push their way into a store on Thanksgiving night. A year later, people involved in the massacre start to turn up dead, and it's clear somebody is out for revenge. The film is really over-the-top, but for me it achieved a pretty successful blend of horror and dark humor, with some satire thrown in for good measure. I think it could have been tightened up into a real masterpiece with a little script-work and editing, but as it is, it's very much worth watching for horror fans. It's a self-contained good time, and it's chock full of references to other great slashers, which - let's admit - were also rarely perfect. "Thanksgiving" is as close to a classic slasher as we're likely to get for a while. Check it out!"Thanksgiving" is the most fun I've had with a new slasher film in many years. That said, it is GROSS, so if you don't like gory horror, do not watch this. The film opens with a "Black Friday massacre," where several people are killed (in a variety…
The FunhouseThe Funhouse, DVD
DVD - 2014 | Collector's edition.DVD, 2014. Collector's edition.
JCLMikeK's rating:
Added Feb 28, 2024
Comment:
"The Funhouse" is a fun, sleazy, and very effective horror flick from director Tobe Hooper ("The Texas Chain Saw Massacre," "Poltergeist"). It's about a group of teens who decide to spend the night in the funhouse of a traveling carnival that's come to their town. They witness one of the carnival workers commit a murder, and after they're spotted, they try to escape the carnival grounds with their lives. It's a really solid movie that's a less heavy than "Texas Chain Saw Massacre," but still good scary fun for horror hounds and horror-skeptics alike. The carnival setting, unexpectedly interesting characters, and excellent photography really helps this one stand out among other early-80s slashers. Strongly recommended for anybody looking to kick back with a scary movie on a Saturday night!"The Funhouse" is a fun, sleazy, and very effective horror flick from director Tobe Hooper ("The Texas Chain Saw Massacre," "Poltergeist"). It's about a group of teens who decide to spend the night in the funhouse of a traveling carnival that's come…
Wise GuysWise Guys, DVD
DVDDVD
JCLMikeK's rating:
Added Feb 23, 2024
Comment:
"Wise Guys" is usually regarded as a "lesser De Palma" (maybe the LEAST De Palma), but I thought it was charming and reasonably funny. It's a comedy about two, low-level, best-friend gangsters (Danny DeVito and Joe Piscopo) who lose a lot of their boss's (a fantastic Dan Hedaya) money, and are - unbeknownst to each other - ordered to kill each other as punishment. It's not the kind of comedy where you're constantly laughing, but it's consistently amusing, and does indeed have a few bits that made me laugh out loud. It's light, and it's carried by the performances more than anything. Critics were apparently very hard on it because they had such high expectations for a Brian De Palma film (and many also probably wanted to pile onto one of the greatest directors of all time when given an opportunity), but I think they missed a charming little mob comedy that's worth appreciating here. It's not your typical De Palma, but man, it's pretty great when there's suddenly a random extraordinary camera flourish in what is otherwise a totally standard 80s crime comedy. God bless you, Brian!"Wise Guys" is usually regarded as a "lesser De Palma" (maybe the LEAST De Palma), but I thought it was charming and reasonably funny. It's a comedy about two, low-level, best-friend gangsters (Danny DeVito and Joe Piscopo) who lose a lot of their…
Christ stopped at EboliChrist stopped at Eboli, DVDCristo si e' fermato a Eboli
DVD - 2003 | ItalianDVD, 2003. Language: Italian
JCLMikeK's rating:
Added Feb 15, 2024
Comment:
"Christ Stopped at Eboli" is about a Communist Italian man in the 1930s who is internally-exiled by the Fascists to a small, rural town in the south. He interacts with the locals and spends his year very... quietly. It's an extremely calm and slow (and long) film where very little happens (other than a graphic pig castration (you'll know when to cover your eyes)), but I found it captivating, thought-provoking, and very enjoyable. Every camera set-up looks like a great painting, and the scenery and buildings are beautiful. The story is modest, but the themes are powerful and, in my opinion, speak to the hopelessness of politics, but not in a hopeless way. The film is four-hours long, but thankfully is broken up into four distinct hour-long parts, so you can just watch it over four nights or whatever you'd like. I would recommend this to anybody feeling a little worn out with "the world these days," or anybody who loves the Italian countryside."Christ Stopped at Eboli" is about a Communist Italian man in the 1930s who is internally-exiled by the Fascists to a small, rural town in the south. He interacts with the locals and spends his year very... quietly. It's an extremely calm and slow…
Christ stopped at Eboli (Criterion Collection)Christ stopped at Eboli (Criterion Collection), DVD
DVD - 2020 | Criterion collection. | ItalianDVD, 2020. Criterion collection.. Language: Italian
JCLMikeK's rating:
Added Feb 15, 2024
Comment:
"Christ Stopped at Eboli" is about a Communist Italian man in the 1930s who is internally-exiled by the Fascists to a small, rural town in the south. He interacts with the locals and spends his year very... quietly. It's an extremely calm and slow (and long) film where very little happens (other than a graphic pig castration (you'll know when to cover your eyes)), but I found it captivating, thought-provoking, and very enjoyable. Every camera set-up looks like a great painting, and the scenery and buildings are beautiful. The story is modest, but the themes are powerful and, in my opinion, speak to the hopelessness of politics, but not in a hopeless way. The film is four-hours long, but thankfully is broken up into four distinct hour-long parts, so you can just watch it over four nights or whatever you'd like. I would recommend this to anybody feeling a little worn out with "the world these days," or anybody who loves the Italian countryside."Christ Stopped at Eboli" is about a Communist Italian man in the 1930s who is internally-exiled by the Fascists to a small, rural town in the south. He interacts with the locals and spends his year very... quietly. It's an extremely calm and slow…
Buffalo '66Buffalo '66, DVD
DVD - 2000DVD, 2000
JCLMikeK's rating:
Added Feb 12, 2024
Comment:
I really liked this movie the first time I saw it, and I've gone on to love it dearly after five or six re-watches. It's about an abrasive man (Vincent Gallo) who has just been released from prison. He stops in to a dance studio to use the restroom and kidnaps a young woman (Christina Ricci), both for her car and to have someone to pose as his wife so he can impress his folks. It's not for everybody, but nevertheless it is a perfect masterpiece. First off, it's gorgeous. It was shot on "reversal stock" film, which, I'll be honest, I don't completely understand what that means, but it looks unbelievably good here. Practically no other movie looks this good, and the style suits the substance perfectly. Second, it's extremely funny in a very unique way, but still heartfelt, and you wind up fully pulled in to these characters and what they're going through. Third, you've got excellent, complicated performances from Gallo and Ricci, plus Anjelica Huston, Ben Gazzara, Mickey Rourke, Jan-Michael Vincent and (my love) Rosanna Arquette pop up in nice little roles as well. Fourth, this is the film that introduced me to Yes, and I'll be forever in its debt for that. I could go on, but just check it out!I really liked this movie the first time I saw it, and I've gone on to love it dearly after five or six re-watches. It's about an abrasive man (Vincent Gallo) who has just been released from prison. He stops in to a dance studio to use the restroom…
RageRage, DVD
DVD - 2009DVD, 2009
JCLMikeK's rating:
Added Feb 11, 2024
Comment:
"Rage" is a deliberate and sorrowful tale of government malfeasance and one man's revenge. It's about a rancher (George C. Scott) who is out camping with his son one night, and in the morning awakens to find his son extremely ill. He takes him to the hospital, and we find out that he and his son (and their dog) have been exposed to a deadly chemical that the military has been transporting around the area. The audience learns of the exposure and cover-up before Scott does, which interestingly makes the film less of a "paranoid thriller" (which I've seen dozens of) and more of a frustrating drama about a man up against a crooked system that does nothing but cover its own behind (which I haven't seen as much of before). Soon, Scott's son dies from the exposure, and the slimy bureaucrats (Martin Sheen is really great in a small role here) align to try to hide even that from him. But Scott's no fool, and this time... they've poisoned the wrong guy! Although the film came out in 1972, shortly after the peak of the violence of the Vietnam War, its government-critical themes and sentiments are evergreen and give it a resonance viewers today can appreciate. Watching the film in 2024, I couldn't help but think of parallels between the film and the recent Covid-19 pandemic, where, according to many investigative journalists and the official assessment of FBI, the US and Chinese governments were directly involved in the creation of a deadly virus and then negligent enough to let it get released into the world, causing the deaths of millions of people and disrupting and worsening the lives of billions of others. In "Rage," the incident is much smaller scale, but the bureaucracy's response is strikingly similar, and it made this otherwise slightly clunky and unremarkable old film surprisingly compelling and even moving in moments. There's no grand catharsis for Scott or for the audience, but I liked that about it, because it felt real. I would recommend this one to anybody out there looking for a good 70s flick and feeling a little disenchanted with "The Man.""Rage" is a deliberate and sorrowful tale of government malfeasance and one man's revenge. It's about a rancher (George C. Scott) who is out camping with his son one night, and in the morning awakens to find his son extremely ill. He takes him to…
Cinema SpeculationCinema Speculation, Book
by Tarantino, QuentinBook - 2022 | First edition.Book, 2022. First edition.
JCLMikeK's rating:
Added Feb 11, 2024
Comment:
This is my kind of book! It's a blend of memoir and film criticism from one of our most interesting and talented filmmakers, Quentin Tarantino. Each chapter covers a specific film in good detail, but touches on at least a dozen others, and it's just filled with great information and perspective. There were sections of this book that felt like a lecture from a fascinating and eccentric film professor, other sections that felt like they were from an omniscient film historian, and still other sections that made you feel like you'd been cornered by an obsessive but lovable stranger at a video store who everybody else knows not to mention the Bowery Boys to. Which is to say: I highly recommend this book!!! Also, if you enjoy "Cinema Speculation," I strongly recommend listening to The Video Archives Podcast, hosted by - you guessed it - Quentin Tarantino and Roger and Gala Avary.This is my kind of book! It's a blend of memoir and film criticism from one of our most interesting and talented filmmakers, Quentin Tarantino. Each chapter covers a specific film in good detail, but touches on at least a dozen others, and it's just…
The gospel according to St. MatthewThe gospel according to St. Matthew, DVD
DVD - 2003 | Widescreen ed. | ItalianDVD, 2003. Widescreen ed.. Language: Italian
JCLMikeK's rating:
Added Jan 13, 2024
Comment:
Given that "The Gospel According to St. Matthew" was directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini, I thought this film was going to be provocative or against the grain like "The Last Temptation of Christ" or something. However, much to my pleasant surprise, it wound up being as sincerely religious as I anticipated it would be sacrilegious. It's a pretty straight-forward adaptation of the Book of Matthew, which tells the story of Jesus's life. In the restoration I watched, some shots looked like an Italian B-movie while others looked like a big-budget Hollywood epic, but overall the filmmaking is superb. There are some surprisingly great performances from the cast considering that apparently none of them were professional actors. The movie is rather cold for the most part, in the style of other European art films from the time, but Mary is regularly cut to in ways that I felt were meant to highlight the humanity and heart of the story, and (like the rapid-fire-Jesus-wisdom segments) perhaps get around the defenses of the artsy, intellectual, skeptical, and/or anti-Christian audiences that would have been flocking to the latest Pasolini flicks back in the 60s. But maybe I'm just seeing a provocative intent from Pasolini where there is none based on my impressions of his other films and writings? Regardless, very good film.Given that "The Gospel According to St. Matthew" was directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini, I thought this film was going to be provocative or against the grain like "The Last Temptation of Christ" or something. However, much to my pleasant surprise, it…
Melvin and HowardMelvin and Howard, DVD
DVD - 2004DVD, 2004
JCLMikeK's rating:
Added Jan 13, 2024
Comment:
After really enjoying "Licorice Pizza," I listened to an interview with Paul Thomas Anderson in which he touted the merits of Jonathan Demme (who is also beloved by one of my favorite film critics, Armond White). I set out to watch several early Demme films that I hadn't yet seen, but only wound up watching "Melvin and Howard" before I got distracted by other projects. Nevertheless, I loved this movie. It's about a guy who picks up billionaire Howard Hughes on the side of the road after a motorcycle accident, and later winds up being bequeathed $150 million in Hughes's will... or does he? It's based on a true story, but only loosely, since from what I gather the actual true story is quite contested by various parties. Veracity aside, "Melvin and Howard" is a wonderful, warm film about a guy who never met a get-rich-quick scheme he didn't like. The cast is great, and their characters are charming. The story is fun and free-wheeling. And I loved all the late-70s locales the filmmakers captured. Highly recommended to anybody looking for a low-key comedy about slightly offbeat people.After really enjoying "Licorice Pizza," I listened to an interview with Paul Thomas Anderson in which he touted the merits of Jonathan Demme (who is also beloved by one of my favorite film critics, Armond White). I set out to watch several early…
JCLMikeK's rating:
Added Jan 03, 2024
Comment:
I was deep in a "Scream"-induced slasher obsession when "I Still Know What You Did Last Summer" came out, and (even though I was only 12) my dad took me and a friend to go see it. I didn't like it then, and I didn't like it upon a re-watch almost 25 years later. It picks up where the first film left off (sort of), and follows Jennifer Love Hewitt's character (now in college) as she wins a trip down to the Bahamas. She brings along her new boyfriend, her friend (Brandy), and her friend's boyfriend (Mekhi Phifer). Soon, the bodies begin to pile up and so on and so forth. To me, the movie feels like it never really gets a good momentum, and you never feel particularly invested in what's going on. It feels thoroughly obligatory in almost every way. HOWEVER, I can say two nice things about it. First, the tanning bed scene is pretty well-done, and even though it doesn't really make sense, it has always remained in my head. (No, not because it features JLH in a bikini! It's because I'm claustrophobic!) And two, Jack Black has a small role in this movie... he is completely over-the-top ridiculous, and it's hilarious. Every single second he's on screen is gold. It's like a guy from an entirely different movie just appears, says a few lines about marijuana, and then leaves. Potentially worth the price of admission just for that, but otherwise I would say spend your time on a different slasher.I was deep in a "Scream"-induced slasher obsession when "I Still Know What You Did Last Summer" came out, and (even though I was only 12) my dad took me and a friend to go see it. I didn't like it then, and I didn't like it upon a re-watch almost 25…
I Know What You Did Last SummerI Know What You Did Last Summer, DVD
DVD - 1998DVD, 1998
JCLMikeK's rating:
Added Jan 03, 2024
Comment:
"I Know What You Did Last Summer" is a very solid 90s teen slasher film about a group of teens (Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe, and Freddie Prinze Jr.) who are involved in an accidental death and hunted down by a man with a big hook exactly one year later. It's loosely based on a Lois Duncan novel with a screenplay by Kevin Williamson. Williamson also wrote "Scream" which came out the year before "I Know...", but he actually wrote the "I Know..." script first, and it's a much more traditional 80s-style slasher than the hip, self-aware "Scream." It has its flaws, but it holds up pretty well thanks to the cast, a seaside setting, and some good scares. Recommended to fans of horror who haven't picked it up yet!"I Know What You Did Last Summer" is a very solid 90s teen slasher film about a group of teens (Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe, and Freddie Prinze Jr.) who are involved in an accidental death and hunted down by a man…
PumpkinheadPumpkinhead, DVD
DVD - 2008 | Collector's edition.DVD, 2008. Collector's edition.
JCLMikeK's rating:
Added Dec 26, 2023
Comment:
"Pumpkinhead" is a really under-rated horror movie about a group of teenagers who accidentally kill a young boy in a motorcycle accident and grapple with what to do afterward. As they grapple, the father of the boy (Lance Henriksen) conjures a demon to get revenge. It's a really unique movie, and even though it's a monster movie through and through (directed by special effects maestro Stan Winston) it's also about grief and guilt and vengeance. I would recommend this one to people looking for a good dark fairy tale."Pumpkinhead" is a really under-rated horror movie about a group of teenagers who accidentally kill a young boy in a motorcycle accident and grapple with what to do afterward. As they grapple, the father of the boy (Lance Henriksen) conjures a demon…
LinkLink, DVD
DVD - 2019 | Special edition.DVD, 2019. Special edition.
JCLMikeK's rating:
Added Dec 26, 2023
Comment:
"Link" is a very strange film, and I almost hesitate to call it a horror movie... but it's definitely freaky. It's about a college student (Elisabeth Shue) who travels to a professor's (Terence Stamp's) massive remote mansion to help with his primate research. He has several chimps around the house who he is trying to teach various things, and he's getting ready to retire the oldest one: Link. (Confusingly, Link is played by an orangutan, but they always refer to him as a chimp.) Well, the professor goes missing, and Shue is left alone at the house trying to survive an all-out ape war. It's a pretty decent, albeit odd, thriller, and it's really well-directed by Hitchcock acolyte Richard Franklin (Roadgames, Psycho II). Shue is pretty great in it too, especially when you think about how tricky it would have been to act against all the apes."Link" is a very strange film, and I almost hesitate to call it a horror movie... but it's definitely freaky. It's about a college student (Elisabeth Shue) who travels to a professor's (Terence Stamp's) massive remote mansion to help with his…
The HitcherThe Hitcher, DVD
DVD - 2010DVD, 2010
JCLMikeK's rating:
Added Dec 26, 2023
Comment:
"The Hitcher" is a solid little horror flick that works better as a nightmare-logic type of movie than a "realistic" type of movie. If you keep that in mind going into it, I can't imagine you'll have a bad time. It's about a guy (C. Thomas Howell) who's transporting a car across the country and picks up a hitch-hiker (Rutger Hauer). Soon they pass a car that's on the side of the road, and the hitcher tells Howell that he killed the driver and intends to kill him too. The rest of the movie is Howell trying to outrun the hitcher, getting framed for the hitcher's crimes, and trying to warn others with little success. It's very much like the kind of nightmare where you're being chased and just can't get out of the situation no matter what you do, and the movie has some really fantastic sequences. I highly recommend this one to people looking for a little action with their horror!"The Hitcher" is a solid little horror flick that works better as a nightmare-logic type of movie than a "realistic" type of movie. If you keep that in mind going into it, I can't imagine you'll have a bad time. It's about a guy (C. Thomas Howell)…
CroupierCroupier, DVD
DVD - 2004DVD, 2004
JCLMikeK's rating:
Added Dec 11, 2023
Comment:
"Croupier" is a clever little crime thriller starring Clive Owen as a cynical and jaded aspiring novelist who takes a job at a small casino to pay the bills. Once there, he gets wrapped up in the various nefarious schemes of the casino staff and its clients. The movie is pretty low-key but effective, and it's fun to see behind the curtain at a little casino. Owen's performance was good, although I found his character to be a little hard to spend ninety minutes with. He just has that edgy, know-it-all kind of personality that you see in a lot of protagonists from the late 90s. Still, it's a good movie, and I bet that if you roll the dice and watch it you won't regret the gamble. :^)"Croupier" is a clever little crime thriller starring Clive Owen as a cynical and jaded aspiring novelist who takes a job at a small casino to pay the bills. Once there, he gets wrapped up in the various nefarious schemes of the casino staff and its…
Dark CityDark City, DVD
DVD - 2008 | Director's cutDVD, 2008. Director's cut
JCLMikeK's rating:
Added Dec 11, 2023
Comment:
Today "Dark City" is probably most famous for being similar to "The Matrix." It came out the year before the enormously successful sci-fi action extravaganza, but is similar to it in the sense that it has a distinctive dark visual style and is about a protagonist caught in an illusory world who is striving to find out what's really real. ("The Thirteenth Floor" (very good movie) is also famously "Not The Matrix" for nearly the same reasons, but somehow "The Truman Show" isn't usually lumped in with these movies despite thematic similarities, presumably because it's a much brighter picture. Anyways.) It's a shame though, because "Dark City" is a pretty rad movie that deserves to be remembered as more than a footnote to an admittedly better movie. It begins with a man (Rufus Sewell) waking up in a bathtub in an old-timey art deco hotel. He receives a phone call telling him that a group of men are after him, and he flees. The movie is about him solving the mystery of his past, and I won't go any further other than to say that it's a science fiction film about what makes us human and it's a mindbender. The story is very solid, and the cast is really good (it includes William Hurt, Jennifer Connelly, and Kiefer Sutherland), but the true reason to see the film is its incredible art direction and production design. It's is directed by Alex Proyas, who also directed "The Crow," and he and his team seem to have set out to give Terry Gilliam and Jean-Pierre Jeunet a run for their money with this one. My only complaint with this film is that it moves a little quicker than I like. With all of the atmosphere and visuals, I found myself wanting to sink in a little more, but the movie was going to fast for that. I doubt that will bother most people though, and it certainly isn't a dealbreaker for me. If you're a fan of "Blade Runner," "Brazil," "City of Lost Children," or, yes, "The Matrix," you're going to want to check this one out.Today "Dark City" is probably most famous for being similar to "The Matrix." It came out the year before the enormously successful sci-fi action extravaganza, but is similar to it in the sense that it has a distinctive dark visual style and is about…
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