Reviews

As a long time JCVD fan, from time to time I look up to see what he has coming out later in the year. I've been waiting to check out We Die Young since I found out about it last year. Since I grew up 20 minutes from Washington D.C. (not far from where the film takes place) I was extra curious about this one. Although not the actionfest I was originally hoping for, it turned out to be a surprisingly good film. Solid directing and acting make this one of the better Van Damme movies of the last decade. Nothing revolutionary, but an entertaining "day in the life" of a teenage gang member who suddenly tries to get his little brother out of the gang life. The films main character is a teenage drug runner for the MS13 gang in a D.C. neighborhood. The same day he is making the biggest "package" run of his life, some gang members decide to "jump in" his little brother. Deciding he doesn't want that life for his little brother, they try to take off, and things get hectic from there on out. Van Damme is a former marine, who was injured and lost his ability to speak (yes, Van Damme has no dialog in the film) and is now a junkie who buys from (and eventually helps) our teenage lead. Don't let that deter you, JCVD is in the whole movie, it follows both characters over the 24 hour period in which the film takes place. There isn't a single martial arts fight, but there is a good amount of violence from beatings, stabbings and shootouts. Van Damme gives a solid performance, especially for no dialog. If you just enjoy gang films it's worth giving it a watch. If you like JCVD movies than definitely check this one out, it's one of this best films in years.

I can't deny that I'm still a Van Damme fan after all these decades. I've accepted that he will never make another film like Bloodsport, Kickboxer or Time Cop as his age simply won't allow. However, he's proved in the past ten years with kickass films (like Expendables 2 and the two most recent Universal Soldiers) that he can still execute impressive fight scenes. And with his solid acting (shown most notably in the 2008 film JCVD) I think Van Damme still has some kicks, punches and performances left in him. For this reason I couldn't resist checking out Jean Claudes newest flick (that just released yesterday here in the U.S.), Kill Em' All.

The films director, Peter Malota, may be a first time director, but he's been working with Van Damme since 1990. I looked him up to discover that they met that year on the set of Double Impact. Malota was the martial arts action choreographer and an actor in the film. He and Van Damme then teamed up, and Malota continued to handle all martial arts fight coordinating on films such as Universal Soldier (the original and The Return), Nowhere to Run, The Quest, etc. All of the above gave me much confidence in this being a fun action packed B-movie with some (hopefully!) exciting fight scenes. Does Kill Em' All deliver is the question..?

Unfortunately, this isn't the "low-budget but super badass" Van Damme flick that I was hoping for, but it's worth rental if you still enjoy watching an older Van Damme kick dudes in the face. It's not particularly bad (for what it is), it's just not particularly good. This film doesn't really do anything we haven't seen before- it's fight scenes are pretty average and what you'd expect. Van Dammes stunt double is obviously younger (and has a slightly different haircut/fade) and pretty easy to notice. Van Damme still gets into the fight, but most of the high kicks are shot from behind and obviously a double (though not nearly as obvious as Steven Seagals have been for the past decade!). On top of all of this, the film doesn't have the budget to ever feel convincing- after the intro scene you never see a single doctor, nurse or patient in the 5 floors of hospital they are running and hiding through (not one!)?! Combined with a weak story and script, Kill Em' All doesn't have too much to praise.

On the upside, the action is consistent from start to finish, even if it's nothing spectacular. It was cool to see Van Damme fight his own son (Kris Van Damme) in this flick (though I was hoping for a more brutal or impressive fight scene between father and son) as well as 90's B-movie martial artist Daniel Bernhardt (star of Bloodsport 2-4). Peter Stormare (The Last Stand) and Maria Conceit Alonso (The Running Man) co-star as the two detectives trying to figure out where Van Dammes character has disappeared to and what exactly happened at the hospital.

Kill Em' All isn't particularly exciting or original, but it is a worthwhile rental if you (like me) enjoy low-budget action movies and still want to see Van Damme beat up the baddies. If you are a JCVD fan and haven't watched the Amazon pilot for Jean Claude Van Johnson (2016) then check that out immediately. If you're caught up with Van Dammes resume (or like low-budget 90's actioners) then it might be worth a rental (or watch on late-night cable TV) but otherwise you should probably look elsewhere.

"Re-Kill" is an action-horror found-footage film that takes place 5 years after "the outbreak", aka the zombie apocalypse. I am a big fan of martial artist Scott Adkins, and had read about this back in 2010 when it was being filmed (or about to go into production). 5 years later, it's finally available. Is it worth the wait and price of admission?? Well, that depends on why you are watching…

"Re-Kill" plays like an R-rated version of the TV show "COPS", following an elite squad of QUASI SWAT soldiers in a contaminated zone, fighting off seemingly endless hoards of zombies aka "ReAns" (short for Reanimated). The opening of the film is exciting, FULL of blood, bullets and gore. Since it plays like a TV episode, every 15 or so minutes commercials come on, a la "Starship Troopers" (still one of the best science fiction-horror-action films to date in my opinion), which are amusing and later in the film break up the bleak tone. It also peppers in personal interviews of our squads members throughout the movie, helping you (somewhat) get to know the guys who are doing all the shooting- and there is a LOT of shooting.

The film, shot in Bulgaria, has a generic but suitable look, fitting for a zombie apocalypse. After the first act (which has outdoor battles during the day), the film stays almost entirely gray, taking place in either the dark of night, in old run down buildings, underground corridors etc. Another issue is that everyone in the squad is wearing the same black SWAT uniform and helmet, so it's very hard to tell who is who, especially during the action sequences. There is a LOT of action in "Re-Kill", some of which is rather cool (especially in the big opening battle) but much of it is lost due to the shaky cam that plagues so many found-footage films. That being said, when it's not a "shaky cam" moment the movie looks good. There is a ton of action throughout the film- there is no shortage of bullets, blood or zombies (which are runners like in "28 Days Later", one of my favorite modern zombie films). I would love to know how many rounds of ammunition were used in the making of the film, it's probably in the tens of thousands.

The acting is adequate, but there isn't much for them to do besides fire their guns at the endless onslaught of zombies. Veteran B-movie actor Bruce Payne ("Passenger 57", "Highlander Endgame") is almost wasted (because there really isn't much for him to do) although he gives arguably the most memorable performance in the film as the religious zealot of the squad. Martial arts master Scott Adkins ("Undisputed" 2&3, "Ninja" 1&2) is the alpha male in the squad, and is totally wasted in the sense that he doesn't display a single punch, kick or flip- he just mows down hoards of charging zombies with his machine gun. I think its important to note that both of the aforementioned actors are supporting cast. The lead of the picture is the Sarge, chameleon actor Roger R. Cross (who has over 100 credits on IMDb), as the somber squad leader.

Recommended to fans of the genre, "Re-Kill" is a fast paced action-horror found-footage film, that focuses on action over scares. There is no shortage of carnage from start to finish. If you play video games, specifically first-person shooters, or enjoy the occasional found footage film (and not seeking an impressive martial arts display from Adkins or an intense monologue from Payne) give this movie a shot. It's a shame that this didn't release back in 2011 before the market was flooded with so many crappy low budget zombie movies. It's easily one of the better direct to video zombie movies to come out since the success of "The Walking Dead". It's a fun action packed, bullet and blood soaked, zombie filled 87 minutes and is a fairly fresh take on the zombie apocalypse.

Checkout more low-budget film reviews at TheBMovieReview

The Michael J Fox Show is very funny. It feels like Modern Family but it revolves around Michael J Fox (who parodies himself except is a loved news anchor instead of an actor) and his family. The cast is great, his wife Betsy Brandt (Walter White's sister-in-law on Breaking Bad) is hilarious. They have two sons and a daughter (Modern Family in reverse) who are funny and well cast. Fox essentially plays himself and is hilarious as ever...

I was born in 1979, so I grew up with MJF. Back to the Future was (and still is!) one of my favorite movies as a kid, as well as Family Ties being one of my favorite TV shows. I was saddened when I heard MJF was diagnosed with Parkinsons Disease, as much of America was. The show plays of this brilliantly, and even spoofs their own ad campaign (the TV network his character works for mimics the ads NBC used to promote this show). Brilliant. The show really is a lot of fun.

After these first couple of episodes I am impressed, I am excited I have a new favorite show. I definitely recommend this show, whether you like Michael J Fox, like Modern Family, or just like good comedy. I'm excited for the potential, The Michael J Fox is off to a great start!!

Gary Busey is fantastic as a just-out of jail Vietnam vet, wrongly imprisoned years before by his hometown Sheriff. He returns home to his wife and daughter, only find himself harassed by the local Sheriff (Seymour Cassel) that had him imprisoned years before. Buck Mathews (Busey) refuses to leave town, so the Sheriff hires the local biker gang to harass Mathews and and his family. Things go too far, and Mathews sets out on a mission of revenge against both the gang, headed by Blade (a maniacal Vernon Wells of Commando fame), and the Sheriff.

Eye of the Tiger is a great B-movie. The cinematography and directing are great, and it has a wonderful cast. Yaphet Kotto is perfect as Mathews old buddy, who is now an about- to-retire deputy to the corrupt Sheriff. The two team up to wreak havoc on the biker gang and deal out damage from the ground and air.

If you enjoy 80's action, and especially if you like Gary Busey, this is a B-movie worth seeking out. It's a good revenge story, full of good over the top 80's violence, and it has a great cast. Plus, it uses Survivors classic Eye of the Tiger song as it's theme! Whether you are relaxing on a lazy Sunday afternoon, or drinking beers with buddies on a Friday night, if you enjoy 80's action, this movie is for you...

...so in my book this is a good time. It's not on the same level as Anaconda and Lake Placid, but it's fun and worth a watch for creature feature fans. As I've already mentioned, Frankenfish has lots of kills and some good gore peppered throughout the quick 84 minute feature, as well as nudity (I never mind seeing pretty naked ladies with my B movies).

The film takes place in the bayou, and some freak fish are on the loose eating the locals. That's pretty much the plot, but the script is fun and the movie speeds along, I never checked my watch, err- cell phone once.

If you are reading this review looking for a fun creature feature with bodies being bitten in half and heads being bitten off by giant carnivorous fish in a swamp...then Frankenfish is for you!!!

First off, this premiered on the SyFy channel, so you should understand this movie does not have a big budget. However, Croc is much better than most of the SyFy movies made. I am watching (or re-watching) every killer Croc or Gator movie I can get my hands on right now, and Croc a is mediocre but fun killer crocodile flick...

Croc is set (and actually shot) in Thailand. The scenery is beautiful, this fact alone almost makes this movie of the week worth watching. The majority of the local casts acting is laughable, but the woman are beautiful so that helps. Michael Madsen plays Croc Hawkins (yes that's really the characters name!), a crocodile hunter who has been tracking this ferocious beast for months. Madsen has fun with the part, it is a shame that he doesn't even make an appearance until (exactly) 45 minutes into the movie, but once he joins the group he is there until the end.

The killer croc is executed fairly well, using almost all real crocodile footage except for the actual attacks, which are a mixture of CGI and practical. There is a fair amount blood but really no gore (however you do see people in the mouth of the croc as it attacks). I would've preferred some good gore, but I am a gore hound!

Overall, Croc is mediocre at best. I was entertained from start to finish thanks to the beautiful scenery, beautiful ladies, Madsen hamming it up, and lots of good crocodile footage. It is not a film anyone "must" see, but if (like me) you have seen every other killer croc/gator flick out there and are looking for something to watch, this is a fun (enough) 90 minutes of crocodile carnage...

I watch any and every creature I can get my hands on, no matter the reviews. I even watch the bad (some worse than others) SyFy movies. So when "Primeval" was a new release in US video stores back in 2007/8, I was excited for an R-rated, bloody, giant Croc movie. I was disappointed. Now, in 2013, as I am in the middle of re-watching every Alligator and Crocodile creature feature I can get my hands on, I watched it again and enjoyed it much more the second time.

The big problem (without giving away any spoilers) any creature feature seeker needs to know (going into the film) is that "Primeval" has two main plots going on, and the croc is the one (plot point) with less time spent. The first half the film revolves around our TV reporting crew getting to Africa to get footage of this giant murderous crocodile (dubbed Gustave), but once they get there and set a trap, the movie suddenly switch's gears and becomes about the crew dealing with the local cartel hostiles (maniacal boss dubbed Little Gustave) and Gustave (our killer croc) is no longer the big threat. Of course he comes back in the end, but the film lost focus of what we wanted, a movie about a giant killer crocodile.

With all that said, the giant 20+ foot Gustave looks great when we see him. The creature effects are pretty darn good. There is also decent amounts of blood, and a couple good gore scenes. I am often disappointed in creature feature films lack of blood or amount of creature screen time, but I don't feel cheated from "Primeval", it supplies enough gore (although I wouldn't of minded more!) and good creature effects to entertain, just don't expect a new favorite Gator/Croc flick and you can have fun...

For the record, my favorite all time Gator/Croc movies are Alligator (1980), Lake Placid (1999), Black Water (2007) and Rogue (2007).

I grew up watching Arnold, I own every film of his, I am what you would call a serious Schwarzenegger fan. I have waited a decade for his return to the cinema, and I wasn't disappointed. The Last Stand isn't perfect, but Arnold fans can rejoice, for he truly is back!!

The premise (for those that haven't watched the trailer a dozen times like me) is a Mexican cartel boss (Eduardo Noriega) has escaped custody during transport and is heading to the Mexican border, and he is going to get there by going through the sleepy town of Sommerton, Arizona. Arnold is the Sheriff in this sleepy little town, and he is the FBI's last hope at stopping the ruthless gangster.

This movie is full of intense, bloody action, exciting car chases (thanks to a supped up Corvette ZR1 with over one thousand horsepower!) and funny one liner's. The film never takes itself too serious (which is good thing) and is surprisingly funny throughout. Arnold's acting is a little rusty, but he more than made up for it in the action scenes. And the (many) action sequences were exciting and bloody, the theater kept cheering out loud. The pacing was perfect, the film flew by.

The cast was great...Luis Guzman is hilarious as Arnold's Deputy, Forest Whitaker as the lead FBI agent, Peter Stormare as the maniacal "right hand man" villain, Johnny Knoxville as the town clown, Harry Dean Stanton as the crotchety old farmer, the list goes on...

The film was everything I wanted from an Arnold movie, it's fun(!), full of fast paced action and lots of (funny) one liner's. The non-Arnold fan probably won't get much from this, but this movie was made for Arnold fans, and it delivers.

A low budget, multi-cultural, fantasy B-movie epic! Not for most audiences, but I enjoyed it... worth watching for Chris Judge fans. It needs to be seen to be believed!!! Totally family friendly by the way...

This film needs to be seen to be believed, its's not easy to describe. It stars Thai little people (as in midgets, dwarfs, little people, etc.), along with Chris Judge (Stargate SG-1) and Bai Ling (The Gene Generation). The Thai cast is completely dubbed over in English. This fact alone makes this unwatchable to most (HENCE THE HORRIBLE REVIEWS!!), but if you are okay with dubbing (like me!) then you might enjoy this heartfelt, family friendly action/fantasy film. The CGI is surprisingly good(!), the lizard/dragon/dinosaur beasts look great, along with the spider beasties and assorted monsters that attack the heroes...

This film is hard to describe, but it is family friendly and full of fantasy action! It is dubbed over, so most will find it laughable, but those that are okay with dubbing (like children for example!) might actually enjoy this film...

This low budget sci-fi film is cheesy but entertaining for anyone that enjoys sci-fi B movies. It's basically a SYFY channel quality film, even though I'm pretty sure it's never actually aired on the SYFY channel. The writer clearly mixed Dune and Star Wars, however this is not close to as good as either! My biggest problem is that there isn't a single impressive fight sequence. The film acts like an action sci-fi, but it never delivers a single impressive action sequence...

It's one saving grace is the film's costume design, which steals from the Star Wars video game Knights of the Old Republic (Sith specifically), however there is plenty of bland costume design as well.

If you want to see a bad-ass sci-fi action film, go rent (or buy) Casshern, an Asian film that not well known but totally kick-ASS!!!

A surprisingly fun "found footage" film, "The Dinosaur Project" is great for dinosaur junkies, or anyone that can handle the POV experience. Much better than than some of the super low rated reviews I've read, I was glad I ignored the bad ratings and rented (VOD) it anyway. Although it's no where near the scale (or budget) of Jurassic Park, it's a well made and good looking low budget dino flick.

A group of archeologists, complete with TV film crew, all decked with Go Pro's (mini HD video camera's that you wear to record your POV-many extreme sports athletes are using them now) head into the jungles of South Africa to find Africa's equivalent of the Loch Ness monster. Of course, on the flight into the jungle some pre-historic birds fly into the blades of there helicopter and the team crash lands in the middle of the jungle (right where the sitings have been, luckily). The surviving team must now navigate through the harsh jungle, and prove whether or not there are still dinosaurs hidden in the jungle that locals swear are there...

The dinosaurs look great, surprisingly since it was a low budget indie film. The acting is, for the most part, good and believable. The story was entertaining, but I felt it got a little absurd in the last act (but its a movie with dinosaurs in the jungle so it gets a pass). It is Unrated but is an easy PG-13, so you can watch it with the kids on family night.

The Dinosaur Project is a great rental with good looking dinosaurs and an absurd but fun last act, so check this film out on your next family movie night!

..that pretty much sums up this mediocre animated feature film. Apparently, in the future humans mutate into two races, the Frogmen and the T-Hy (cockroach people). They now battle for the planet, dubbed the MALO war.

The animation is (very!) simple and basic, looking like it was made in the year 2000. It doesn't look bad in HD, but it isn't impressive either. The characters are generic in every way (from design to stereotype), except the voice acting is actually pretty good (unfortunately the dialog isn't!).

Youngish children (5-12), boys specifically, might greatly enjoy this as an action/adventure. It's something you can comfortably put on for the family and not worry about excessive violence (there is action but I wouldn't call it violent), sexuality, or anything inappropriate for children. Heck, it even has a pseudo environmental message to it!

All in all, I would only suggest this film to someone looking to put on an action/sci-fi for a younger audience. If you are an adult looking for an animated action/sci-fi, go check out Starship Troopers Invasion (2012)...

Where do I start about this film. I love it! As a child, the Conan movies and Clash of the Titans were my favorites. I watched everything and anything that had a warrior, sorcerer, dragon, knight, etc., on it's VHS cover. Back when video stores rained supreme and there was no internet to watch trailers, no movie review sites, and no IMDb (the horror!), the cover of the VHS was what made you pick it up and read the 2 or 3 paragraph synopsis of the film (and look at a picture or 3 if you were lucky), or just walk right by it and keep browsing until something caught your eye. The "Sword and Sandal" genre was my favorite (along with sci-fi) but was also probably the most plagued with awesome cover art that mislead you on the often crappy, low quality movies (which I still loved). And one day, I picked up the movie The Barbarians...

The Barbarians is directed by Italian director Ruggero Deodato (most famous for his 1980 cult horror Cannibal Holocaust), and he makes an adventure comedy that is one of the "best worst movies" ever made. The film opens in a serious tone, complete with narration explaining who the Ragneks are, essentially free spirited traveling entertainers. As we see the caravan of colorfully clad Ragneks traversing a lush landscape (the film is filled with beautiful scenic landscapes and locations), a band of horsemen is suddenly upon them and starts killing off the peaceful entertainers. After a long, entertaining chase scene (with a decent amount of blood and death!), we meet our film's main villain, Kadar (Richard Lynch, The Sword and the Sorcerer). He wants a magical gem the Ragneks are known to have, and the Ragnek Queen Canary (the stunning Virginia Bryant in one of her 6 film roles) as his companion. During this scene, which is 15 minutes into the movie at this point, we meet two young twin boys and a young girl (who become our heroes later). After more killing, Queen Canary promises to go with Kadar (Lynch) if he and his men promise to never hurt the 3 children...

Now fast forward 17 years, we finally meet the title characters, twins Gore and Kutchek, aka the Barbarian Brothers. For better or worse, these two muscle bound knuckle heads turn an otherwise serious movie into an all out fantasy comedy. The brothers, kept separated and told the other was killed, have been tortured and trained as gladiators, each tormented by a man in a mask (one brother by an iron mask, the other brother a brass mask). The brother's, each now the size of Arnold in Conan, are made to wear the other brothers' tormentor's mask (still with me?) and put in a cage to fight each other to the death! Of course the masks come off after a few swift blows and the brother's realize they have been lied to and decide they have to team up to break out. Now free, they decide they must rescue Queen Canary and kill the evil Kadar who killed their people and imprisoned them all those years. They soon team up with young, lovely Kara (Eva La Rue, CSI Miami), who just so happened to be that young girl from the beginning! The trio ventures forth in search of weapons and the aforementioned magical jewel, getting into bar fights (there is a great scene with Italian cult actor George Eastman), battling a werewolf creature, zombies and even a giant dragon (which is one of the most laughably mechanical dragons ever put on film!).

The Barbarians is a bad movie no doubt about it, but it knows exactly what it is and goes for it. It is one of those films that is so bad that it is great. The Paul brothers are so over the top, they are clearly not actor's (one of them has the worst over the top laugh ever heard on film). They obviously are not even trying to act and instead use their charisma and charm (if you can call it that) to make an entertaining, fun, fantasy adventure comedy. The movie is full of brawn, babes, swords, sorcerers, monsters, action and laughs. If you like bad movies, sword and sandal flicks, or Italian exploitation films, then The Barbarians is definitely for you and could quit possibly be a new favorite! I just hope that this film get's a DVD/blu ray release soon, because unless you want to spend $50 - $100 on an old VHS on eBay, the only way you can currently (2012) see this fantastic piece of trash cinema is on YouTube, cut up in 10 minute increments, in low resolution. This cult classic is remembered by a select few, but most that remember it, remember it fondly. And some, like myself, will treasure this movie for decades to come...

I am a big Albert Pyun fan (The Sword and the Sorcerer and Cyborg being my favorites), I will watch anything he does. I just came across Vicious Lips on Netflix, and remembered thinking (as a kid) that this movie was a lot of fun. So I just watched it for the first time in probably 20 years. It's fun, if for nothing else, for the 80's big hair and synth music. The premise is simple (and never gets any more interesting), an intergalactic all girls band (in total 80's big hair style) gets a chance for their big break, if they can make it to a club on another planet in time... Yup, that's the plot! So the girls board a space ship carrying a caged monster (don't get excited, it's not at all as cool as it sounds) and head off to there gig...

I remembered this movie being really funny and having lots of T & A, neither is true. I'd classify it as cute (not funny) and it has next to no nudity (except a brief scene with two beautiful ladies on the sand planet). And the caged "monster" is more of Lon Chaney Jr Wolfman than a monster. The all girl band is fun, with all the girls being fun and believable as and 80's hair band. One of the biggest problems is there are only a couple locations in the movie, and it restricts the story immensely (even for a Pyun film!). Once the girls are on their way (about 30 minutes into the film), the ship crash lands on a desert planet, and the rest of the movie takes place here. The films lack of budget shows, and didn't even try to look like it had one.

If you are an Albert Pyun fan, check it out, its definitely worth a watch. If you like bad sci- fi or bad 80's movies, give it a try. All others should probably stay away...

John Carter is a valiant attempt at Edgar Rice Burrough's sci-fi classic The Princess of Mars, but is not the epic film I was hoping for...Period.

I have read The Princess of Mars several times over the years. I love the book. As one would imagine, I was very excited when I heard that it was going to be made into a movie. Sadly, this movie has gone through development hell for close to a decade and perhaps the time took its toll. In 2004, Paramount owned the rights and Robert Rodriguez (Sin City) was attached to direct, and then Kerry Conran (Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow), and then Jon Favreau (Iron Man). And then, finally, in 2007 Disney got the rights back and hired on Pixar's Andrew Stanton (WALL-E) to direct this science fiction classic.

Stanton's vision of Burroughs beloved book is flawed, yet still an enjoyable film. The film opens on Earth in the 1890's. John Carter (played convincingly by Taylor Kitsch, Friday Night Lights) is a Civil War Solider who gets chased into a cave by a group of Indians. Here is where he gets transported to Mars to awaken only to find a race of green, 12 foot tall, 4-armed aliens known as Thark's. John quickly realizes he has super hero like powers due to Mars' change in gravity. He can jump hundreds of feet and has the strength of a dozen men, and this impresses one of the Thark's greatest warriors, Tars Tarkas (voiced by Willem Dafoe, Boondock Saints).

Tarkas brings John back to their alien city, and John starts making friends (and enemies) quickly. Soon there is complex political story involving the other 'human-like' alien race who control most of Mars, which is where the genuinely beautiful Princess (Lynn Collins, X-Men Origins: Wolverine) comes in. She is set to marry the villainous Sab Than (Dominic West, The Wire) but wants nothing to do with him and eventually falls for our hero, John Carter.

One of my favorite characters from the book, Woola (a six legged creature with dog-like tendencies) who becomes a sort of guardian to Carter, was a standout character in the film as well! Still, I really wanted to love this movie... I didn't.

I was surprised at how many things were changed (seemingly for no real reason) from book to film. John Carter can still be considered a faithful adaption, but it could have been better. The visual effects are absolutely stunning, and perhaps the best reason for seeing this film on the big screen. They convey a beautiful alien world, and (animated) characters that interact with the live action flawlessly. The 3D was also a nice treat. It actually added noticeable depth to the world of Mars. Unfortunately, I found the movie somewhat slow, and at times, uninteresting except for the striking visuals. With that said, the film does have some great action sequences featuring alien on alien combat.

Overall, John Carter is a valiant attempt at Edgar Rice Burrough's sci-fi classic The Princess of Mars, but is not the epic film I was hoping for. If you have read the book or love sci-fi or big visual effects movies, it's worth checking out on the big screen. Otherwise, wait for the DVD. I'm sure it will be out in just a few months!

Chronicle led the Box Office this past weekend, pulling in $22 million. Not bad considering this film's meager $12 million budget! Directed by the virtually unknown 27-year old Josh Trank, it is an uncommonly well put together 'found footage' film.

Trank, who also wrote, produced and directed the surprisingly good 2007 TV mini-series Kill Point, co-wrote the story for Chronicle with Max Landis (who wrote the screenplay and happens to be the son of Director John Landis). The film is shot primarily in first person. One of the three main characters, Andrew (Dane DeHaan) uses his newfound super-hero like power of telekinesis to also hover the camera around himself to document his (and his two friends) new powers. This alleviates the ever so annoying shaky cam that plagues most first person or 'found footage' movies of late. It also allows you to get to know his character once he masters this ability, but I am getting ahead of myself...

Chronicle opens with Andrew (DeHaan)- a high school misfit with an alcoholic abusive father who films everything with his camcorder- and his popular cousin Matt (Alex Russell). The two attend school and eventually going to a Rave out in the woods. This is where we meet Matt's best friend Steve (played charismatically by Michael B. Jordan), who found a hole with a mysterious object in the ground. The three boys go in to investigate the object, and this is where things start to get really fun.

The three boys quickly discover that they can now move and control things with their minds by simply thinking about it (with varying degrees of success). This film does a great job showing what teenage boys would likely do if suddenly given super powers, from playing pranks and trying to fly, to getting emotional and hurting people.

The three characters are great, each boy handling their newfound powers differently. Soon they are flying through the sky, beating up bullies, and lifting cars...all with just their minds. And that's all before one of them starts to loose self control, which has violent, destructive consequences.

I have wanted to see this movie since I first saw this trailer many months back. I have to say, as cool as the trailer was, I wasn't expecting too much from the actual film. Was I ever surprised! Chronicle is such a fun, fresh movie with entertaining characters and some great action and effect sequences. With that said, the effects aren't perfect, but they never hinder the story or take you out of the film. And sometimes (the end sequence especially!) they are fantastic.

If you can get on board with the 'found footage' concept, Chronicle will entertain and surprise you. If you like super-hero movies, it's a must see (you are in for a real treat!). This is an exciting movie that is totally worth the price of admission, and deserves watching on your favorite local big screen.

Okay, I was born in 1979, I grew up on 80's Action films. I love action films with all my heart, and 80's Action films are some of the best. However, in this day and age, many of these once amazing action movies are...well, not so amazing. And often times just plain hard to watch. Now, it's 2011 and I am home from work sick. I want to watch something fun, hoping it will distract me from my sickness. I fire up Netfilx's Instant Stream knowing exactly what I am going to watch...Action Jackson. Written by Robert Reneau (Demolition Man, another favorite of mine), and directed by Craig R. Baxley (A-Team), I watched this movie over and over as a teen. Wondering how it holds up after all these years, I was excited (and nervous!) to see if Action Jackson is still the man I remember him after all these years. And the answer is...YES!!! Action Jackson is still the man!!

Carl Weathers is Sgt. Jericho 'Action' Jackson, which is (in my opinion) his coolest role ever. He plays a tough as nails Detroit cop with a reputation for being a one man army, and a real loose cannon. Jackson beats up dozens of 80's bad guys from ninja assassins to junkies, all while delivering classic cheesy one liners. Speaking of classic cheesy one liner's, Weathers also starred in Predator (one of my all time favorite action films!) with Arnold Schwarzenegger. Action Jackson brings Predators squad mates Bill Duke (Mac) and Sonny Landham (Billy) back together again. The whole cast is great in this film, from a strung out Robert Davi, to Craig T. Nelson as a Kung Fu kicking Crime Boss. And with Sharon Stone as his Nelsons girlfriend and Vanity as his junkie mistress (Vanity is smoking hot, albeit slightly annoying at first, as a singer/junkie that Jackson has to protect from Nelson), to the aforementioned Bill Duke as Jacksons Police Capt., the movie is filled with familiar faces from start to finish.

This movie is exactly what it set out to be, a non stop, over the top, tongue in cheek action film. Its got a tone that is set early on and holds true to the end. There are kung fu fight scenes, shoot outs, car chases, car crashes(!), blonde mullet having assassins, nudity, drugs, a classic 80's soundtrack (including The Pointer Sisters and Vanity),basically everything you need for an 80's good time! I mean, Action Jackson even does a front flip over a car speeding towards him thats trying to run him down, because he is just that much of a badass. Cool cars, hot women , cheesy one liners, and all the action you can fit into a 96 minute movie! If you enjoy action films, this is one 'Action' fest you need to check out, or re-visit, because they don't make em like this anymore....and in this case, that's a bad thing.

I assume if you are reading this review you enjoy horror movies to some degree. Blood Creek is by no means a movie you need to own, but its totally worth watching (its currently on Netfilx's Instant Stream in HD and 5.1!). Ignore the fact that this film is a Joel Schumacher film, its no where near as good as The Lost Boys but its MUCH better than Batman & Robin. And for an almost unknown horror action film, its quite fun!

The films opening actually starts in the 1930's, in black and white, and is not needed. This scene was probably added by the studio once Michael Fassbender became popular due to Inglorious Bastards, as its the only time you ever see his face without undead makeup. The movie picks up pretty quick from there (now modern day), and soon its two brothers off to battle a family with a dark secret. Soon there is a powerful Nazi (Fassbender, who is part zombie, part necromancer, part vampire) who spawns zombies and undead animals and who will stop at nothing to feed upon the humans remaining at this secluded farmhouse and free himself to terrorize the world. The movie has a lower budget feel to it, with a small cast and the majority of the film taking place at this farm. However, with its action movie pacing, lots of blood and fun gore, and original elements, despite its flaws it a fun 90 minute ride.

If after reading this review you are still interested, check this movie out, its a good time. If this doesn't sound like fun, well, go watch something else! Like, My Name is Bruce, perhaps...

The Academy of Motion Pictures ran a film series (here in L.A.) earlier this year, of some of histories best silent films. If the film I saw tonight, The Artist, had been released (yet) this film surely would have made the list. This is one of the most charming, funny, sweet, clever movies I have seen in years. Everything about this movie works and is executed to perfection. Due to the fact that I actually watched several silent films on the big screen earlier this year, I can say this film looks straight out of the 1920's and is one of the best reminder's of why America fell in love with the movies.

The Artist opens in 1927, to a packed movie theater enjoying another silent Hollywood film premiere. As the credits end, its star George Valentin (played by Jean Dujardin in a sure- fire Oscar nomination for Best Actor),who is strikingly similar to Douglas Fairbanks, walks onto the theaters' stage. Considering the man never udders a word throughout the whole film, it sounds funny to say I think he will get an Oscar nomination in the Best Actor category, but I do! And yup, I think The Artist's stunning leading lady Berenice Bejo will probably get nominated for her portrayal of Hollywood's favorite "talkie" star Peppy Miller. Peppy Miller (Bejo), an aspiring Hollywood actress, bumps into star George Valentin (Dujardin) leaving the opening film premiere, and there relationship continues over the nest several years. As his career fades with the silent film era, her career grows with the "talkies". There is delightful cast of characters peppered throughout the movie, played by actors such as James Cromwell, John Goodman, Penelope Ann Miller, Missi Pyle, Ed Lauter and Malcolm McDowell.

Do not let the fact that this film is in black and white and silent deter you. The music is so perfectly matched to every scene, and still authentic to the era. In fact, you guessed it, the music is so good I am sure that it will be nominated for Music (original score). And while i am predicting this films chances at the 2012 Oscars, adding to what I have already mentioned, I expect it to also get nominations for Art Direction, Cinematography, Costume Design, Directing, Film Editing, Makeup and Writing (original screenplay). This is a film that can't be given justice with description, it must be scene on the big screen. Go see The Artist and get transported back to a different era, and enjoy old Hollywood as you probably never have, or will again...

I enjoyed this episode of The Masters of Horror thoroughly. Dario Argento, Steven Weber and Carrie Flemming made this sick little short story come to life beautifully. I have been a fan of Argento's since I was a young teen (I was born in 1979), and I loved the TV show Wings (with Weber) as a child, so I was curious how these two would team up in this day in age. I have to say, this is probably my favorite episode of MoH in all of season one. It's sick and deranged yet I couldn't stop watching. That's in part due to the super sexy Carrie Flemming as the title character. Jennifer has an amazingly sexy body, but the face of demon (if you will), and this girl has quite an appetite! Weber plays a cop who takes pity on her, and he (Weber) is just great in this... I don't want to say much else, except that this is one of those sicko films that isn't for everybody. However of you are a fan of MoH, Argento or like your horror sexy, sick and twisted - this is one film you should see...

I just saw Wrong Turn 4 last night at Screamfest, at Mann's Chinese Theater here in Hollywood. The director, Declan O'Brien, introduced the film, and the cast was in the audience as well. I am a fan of Wrong Turn 1 (I own it) & 2, so I was happy to get to see direct to video film on the big screen. "Bloody Beginnings" starts off in 1982 in a sanatorium in West Virginia. After the opening sequence, which explains where 3 Finger and the gang came from, it fast forwards to 2003. Now in 2003, insert some nudity (great tits on the 3 sexy actresses, thumbs up) and some friends with snow mobiles decide to head out into a snowstorm, and get lost and take a wrong turn (surprise!), and end up at that sanatorium we met the brothers in at the opening...

Sadly, this can't be taken seriously as a horror movie. It has some bloody scenes, but there is nothing scary or creepy in this movie. However, if you grab some friends and beers (or cocktail of choice) this can be a laugh riot! This film is scene after scene of cheesy dialog and character choices. Lines like "I think they just turned Porter into a Porterhouse Steak!" are present throughout the whole movie. So this movie can be entertaining, but its got to be watched as a silly bloody comedy, NOT a horror film. This should only be viewed by someone that enjoys direct-to-video films (as I do). With that said- if you want a scary film, avoid this, but if you want a sexy cast, bloody deaths and scenes so ridiculous that you can't help but laugh out loud (at the absurdity), then maybe (and I stress the maybe) you will enjoy this as much as i did...

PS I highly suggest that IF(!) you watch this, do it with a group of friends and get ready to laugh...

"What were they doing flying that low? Shooting at a dog...at us??!!?" "Stir crazy...cabin fever... Who knows!??" These questions finally get answered 29 years later.I have been very excited for this film for some time now, but unsure if id enjoy it. This film gets an A+ in continuity, that needs to be said. Everything you see in John Carpenters classic 1982 film "The Thing" is here. EVERYTHING!!! Whether you like this film or not, continuity is there. With that being said... I thoroughly enjoyed this film, but it isn't perfect. However, its a damn fine horror/sci-fi film, especially if you enjoyed Carpenter's film. The creature/monster/alien effects are great, they match Carpenter's film yet manage to be even more graphic. I saw this movie with friends, some of which i know (as in I've watched Carpenter's film with them) are big fans of the '82 classic, and there was a mixed bag of reviews. Everyone i saw it with enjoyed the film. Period. However, some of us enjoyed the film much more than others. One of my friends thought "It felt too much like the original", which to me was a good thing... With that being said, it starts slow but becomes a gore fest!! I might have written the end sequence slightly different, but i enjoyed it non the less...

I expect this film to become a cult classic, just like the 1982 version. It is very gory, and will not be for the general public. However, for true fans of John Carpenter's version, this is a real treat that is exactly what it should be...a gory, grim nightmare of a story. I thank the film makers for not making a Hollywood film, but a TRUE CHAPTER in THE THING story...

Okay, I actually laughed at the trailer and thought..."Really, Hugh??" And then read he made this for his son and that at least made sense. I was going to wait for the DVD, but got the chance to see a free screening tonight, so I thought "Why not..."

I should say off the bat, this film is much more engaging than I originally expected. It IS predictable in every way, however, it is (actually!) an enjoyable film. I think that Dakota Goyo (Hugh's son in the movie) was excellent. He truly stood out. Hugh, of course, was charismatic as a deadbeat dad, and former (pre robot boxing) boxer, that had a title shot but never made it. The visual effects were excellent, as expected. The sound effects were amazing (at least in the theater I saw it in) and added to the Robot fight sequences (especially) and the overall film.

This is a great family movie, and a surprisingly engaging film, even though it is predictable. It has fun characters, cool robot fights, and the classic story of the underdog rising to the top. If you have kids it is a family friendly film, that everyone (like adults!) can enjoy. If not, its basically Rocky but with Robots and a big budget, so if you want to re-watch something you have seen before but with a big budget robot twist...this is for you...