The Short Take:
I laughed out loud more than once.
There was some creative camera work.
The acting is solid.
The third act wobbles a bit and the final boss is a bit disappointing.
Lottsa cool little visual flourishes and repetitive motifs if you keep your eyes open.
If you are savvy, it can be a bit predictable (there were numerous plot twists that I figured out from the jump).
But in the end, highly entertaining.
Rating: 3.5/5
RIYL: Ghostbusters; Anna and the Apocalypse
Monday, April 27, 2020
Tuesday, April 21, 2020
Hermaphrodites, James Bond, and Risque Baby Oil Application: The Never Too Young To Die Film Review
How I managed to go 34 years without seeing this film is the only real travesty here.
This 1986 B-grade action thriller is so gloriously awful that it transcends awesomeness; I mean it reaches near epic levels of gonzo genius and sheer flamboyant insanity. We’re talking poor editing, bad (over) acting, almost a complete lack of exposition, and more often than not, cringe worthy dialogue. Yet when all cobbled together, it works. Hell, If I didn’t know better, I would swear it is meant as an homage (albeit one gone horribly awry) to Saturday matinee serials from the early 1900s. Whatever the case may be, director Gil Bettman and screenwriter Steven Paul crafted one of the seminal red-eye matinee films of all time.
So, what are you in for? How about Vanity prancing around the screen in lingerie, bikinis, and/or torn clothing, as well as one extended scene of her slathering herself in oil). Or John Stamos resplendent in the most spectacular bouffant mullet you’ve ever seen.
Still not convinced? Well, then there’s Gene Simmons--in drag no less--chewing the scenery with mouth watering gusto every chance he’s given. Plus there are cameos from a former James Bond and Freddy Kruger. Top it all off with Road Warrior cribbed costume design and plenty of Old School practical pyrotechnics (no bullshit CGI here, amigos!), as well as a Corvette-underneath-a-semi stunt that predates The Fast and The Furious by 15-years, and you’ve got one of the greatest B-movie experiences this side of Hell Comes To Frogtown. To say anymore would just deprive you of the grand pleasure of experiencing this forgotten milestone of high-octane low-grade cinema for your ownself.
Rating: 4.5/5
RIYL: Hell Comes To Frogtown; Reno Williams: The Adventure Begins; Runaway
PS
It is currently streaming on Prime (at least as of 4/20/20). Catch it while you can.
This 1986 B-grade action thriller is so gloriously awful that it transcends awesomeness; I mean it reaches near epic levels of gonzo genius and sheer flamboyant insanity. We’re talking poor editing, bad (over) acting, almost a complete lack of exposition, and more often than not, cringe worthy dialogue. Yet when all cobbled together, it works. Hell, If I didn’t know better, I would swear it is meant as an homage (albeit one gone horribly awry) to Saturday matinee serials from the early 1900s. Whatever the case may be, director Gil Bettman and screenwriter Steven Paul crafted one of the seminal red-eye matinee films of all time.
So, what are you in for? How about Vanity prancing around the screen in lingerie, bikinis, and/or torn clothing, as well as one extended scene of her slathering herself in oil). Or John Stamos resplendent in the most spectacular bouffant mullet you’ve ever seen.
Still not convinced? Well, then there’s Gene Simmons--in drag no less--chewing the scenery with mouth watering gusto every chance he’s given. Plus there are cameos from a former James Bond and Freddy Kruger. Top it all off with Road Warrior cribbed costume design and plenty of Old School practical pyrotechnics (no bullshit CGI here, amigos!), as well as a Corvette-underneath-a-semi stunt that predates The Fast and The Furious by 15-years, and you’ve got one of the greatest B-movie experiences this side of Hell Comes To Frogtown. To say anymore would just deprive you of the grand pleasure of experiencing this forgotten milestone of high-octane low-grade cinema for your ownself.
Rating: 4.5/5
RIYL: Hell Comes To Frogtown; Reno Williams: The Adventure Begins; Runaway
PS
It is currently streaming on Prime (at least as of 4/20/20). Catch it while you can.
Tuesday, April 14, 2020
The Wild Goose Lake [Film Review]
Iam not 100% sure where I stand on this film.
It is a modern take on the classic "hunted man"/"criminal fugitive" noir trope, complete with duplicitous femme fatale. But there were several continuity/editing gaffes which made some of the narrative a little confusing.
Intense action sequences and high drama moments were buffered by overly long slow periods that could easily have been trimmed.
Great neon saturated cinematography and cool use of shadows and light made it visually stunning, plus it is well acted and the subtitles were readable and seemed on point.
Rating: 3.5/5
RIYL:
Only God Forgives; Drive; Drug War; The Villainess
It is a modern take on the classic "hunted man"/"criminal fugitive" noir trope, complete with duplicitous femme fatale. But there were several continuity/editing gaffes which made some of the narrative a little confusing.
Intense action sequences and high drama moments were buffered by overly long slow periods that could easily have been trimmed.
Great neon saturated cinematography and cool use of shadows and light made it visually stunning, plus it is well acted and the subtitles were readable and seemed on point.
Rating: 3.5/5
RIYL:
Only God Forgives; Drive; Drug War; The Villainess
Thursday, April 9, 2020
Zombi Child [Film Review]
This is one of those films that is simultaneously captivating and irritating, yet because of these conflicting elements, it is undeniably watchable. Also, because of this I am not quite sure what my final takeaway is.
The film is a bit disjointed, not only in its storytelling, but also in yerms of its overall mood. It freely bounces between 1960s Haiti and present day France; the misrepresentation of history seems to be the underlying theme, as well as privileged white people's cultural appropriation.
While the film is visually arresting, the pacing is extremely languid and then bugged out finale leaves more unanswered questions than I care to have left lingering.
Still, an interesting, albeit somewhat frustrating watch.
The film is a bit disjointed, not only in its storytelling, but also in yerms of its overall mood. It freely bounces between 1960s Haiti and present day France; the misrepresentation of history seems to be the underlying theme, as well as privileged white people's cultural appropriation.
While the film is visually arresting, the pacing is extremely languid and then bugged out finale leaves more unanswered questions than I care to have left lingering.
Still, an interesting, albeit somewhat frustrating watch.
Rating: 3.5/5
Wednesday, April 1, 2020
Bacurau [Film Review]
This is a strange, but no less beguiling pastiche of myriad genres, it starts out as a quirky slice-of-life dramedy, then swerves into The Most Dangerous Game territory, before culminating with some small-town-under-siege sensibilities. Obvious debts owed to Johns Sayles and Carpenter.
Rating: 4/5
Rating: 4/5
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