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Reviews
The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017)
Recompense...
THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER is the sort of movie that starts out odd, then slowly progresses into being quite uncomfortable, before drifting into disturbing territory.
A heart surgeon (Colin Farrell) befriends the teenage son (Barry Keoghan) of a former patient, and brings him home to meet his family. It's not long before it's evident that this was not a good idea. The boy's name is Martin, and his low-key quirkiness just might be hiding something much darker.
Director Yorgos Lanthimos has created a subtle, supernatural horror film. The idea is unique, and very unsettling. Everyone involved is outstanding, with Nicole Kidman giving a great performance as the doctor's wife.
A sinister, ultimately bleak shocker...
Deep Impact (1998)
Incoming...
In DEEP IMPACT, amateur stargazers discover an astronomical anomaly. A year later, a news reporter (Tea Leoni) believes that she's got the scoop on a big story about a Washington DC affair, but the more she digs into it, the more mysterious it becomes. What began as a sordid story about the infidelities of a politician soon takes on a far more ominous tone.
What differentiates this movie from other, similar apocalyptic films, is its attention to the human story. While there are heroics, adventure, and suspense, the focus is never solely on these elements. This makes it all feel more realistic.
The cast is excellent across the board. In addition to Ms. Leoni, Vanessa Redgrave is her mother; Morgan Freeman plays the President; Robert Duvall leads a crew of astronauts in a last-ditch-effort attempt to thwart certain doom; and Elijah Wood and Leelee Sobieski are young teens in love.
Don't worry, there are huge effects sequences. They're saved for the denouement...
Knowing (2009)
Rolling Numbers...
KNOWING stars Nicolas Cage as M. I. T. Astrophysics professor, John Koestler. Fans of Mr. Cage take note: he's pretty restrained here. In fact, compared to many of his roles, Koestler is downright sedate. When his son brings home a piece of paper covered in numbers, Koestler soon finds himself absorbed in it. Scouring the internet for clues and news stories, he discovers an unthinkable, but seemingly factual reality. Koestler then sets out to uncover whatever he can about the origin of this paper, encountering tragedy and disaster along the way.
The main theme of the story pits determinism against random chance in relation to events throughout history. Koestler is a bitter man who has suffered a great loss, and is just drifting through his daily routines. The central mystery sends him on a crusade, and actually gives his life a purpose. He's a bit like Mel Gibson's character in SIGNS.
Much of the movie plays like an extended episode of The X-files, with lots of creepiness and bizarre sci-fi elements. Director Alex Proyas ties several fragments together, making them -mostly- work. The biggest problem that people have with this film is its ending. It's part doomsday, part pie-in-the-sky melodrama.
It's not a terrible movie, but the finale does feel tacked-on...
The Core (2003)
Drill Baby, Drill...
Sort of a wild combination of JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH and FANTASTIC VOYAGE, THE CORE takes us along with a team aboard a train-like, laser-drilling machine, as they make their way to the Earth's core. It appears that our planet is suddenly out of whack, and our electro-magnetic field is no longer functioning properly. This is, of course, an extinction level event.
The story is highly condensed, causing the "science" and the planning / preparations, as well as the construction of the vehicle, to sail along in minutes. In no time, the crew is ready and on their way. Aaron Eckhart and Hilary Swank are the likeable headliners, getting most of the screen time. Stanley Tucci rides along as the insufferable Zimsky.
The trip through the rock, metal, and molten material, aside from a few mishaps and tragedies, is a snap. In other words, suspension of disbelief is an absolute must with this film.
An absurb, yet enjoyable sci-fi yarn...
Volcano (1997)
I Lava LA! ...
In downtown Los Angeles, all is well. That is until an underground event causes death and concern. No worries, OEM operative, Mike Roarke (Tommy Lee Jones) is on the case. At first, Roarke has no fear. It's probably nothing. Enter geologist, Dr. Amy Barnes (Anne Heche). She suspects that this could be the beginning of something really bad.
Unfortunately, but not too surprisingly, Dr. Barnes is right.
VOLCANO is one of the movies that came out during the 1990s "disaster film" resurgence, that brought back the formula started by Irwin Allen in the 1970s. This formula works fairly well here, building tension, while introducing us to characters we're supposed to care about. Then, Ka-Boom! All hell breaks loose!
The special effects are decent, with molten magma rolling down city streets and through subterranean tunnels. The effort to thwart the flow is heroic. There are also huge explosions and "lava bombs" flying around. While there's billions of dollars in property damage, there are a miraculously low number of fatalities. So, megadeath lovers beware.
Mr. Jones is his usual, dependable self. Ms. Heche is actually quite believable in her scientific role.
All in all, not a terrible effort, but not quite as good as its far more dynamic competitor, DANTE'S PEAK...
Elysium (2013)
Worlds Apart...
Director Neill Blomkamp's ELYSIUM is another of his futuristic nightmares, using the titular, super-sized space station to represent the ultimate, upper class world. It's a floating paradise, populated by the ultra-elites, who hover above the ruined Earth below, where the teeming poor struggle to survive.
The symbolism / metaphors are obvious, but never preachy or heavy-handed.
Enter Max (Matt Damon), a man with a criminal record, just trying to maintain his job and his sanity. When Max finds himself forced to commit a crime, he has no idea how huge the crime actually is. Soon, he's on the radar of a corrupt government official (Jodie Foster), and her team of homicidal mercenaries.
Mr. Blomkamp is so adept at bringing these dystopian visions to life, that it's astonishing. This is helped immensely by his superior CGI and realistic characters. Mr. Damon's Max comes across as an authentic "loser"-turned antihero. He's out for himself, until circumstances arise that challenge his selfishness. Ms. Foster gets to really play up the wickedness, making us hate her right away!
Special mention must go to Sharlto Copley, and his utterly reprehensible Kruger. This guy is scary!...
Outbreak (1995)
Beware Of The Bug!...
Back in the good old days, when the threat of a new, global OUTBREAK was only a hypothesis, this movie scared the living $h!t out of us. The idea of an emerging viral Armageddon was brought into the social consciousness with this movie.
Dustin Hoffman is military doctor, Sam Daniels, who takes on the corrupt shenanigans of his superiors (Morgan Freeman and Donald Sutherland) in order to combat a terrifyingly lethal, quickly-mutating viral strain.
The tension level remains high throughout most of the movie, with Daniels scrambling, along with his team, to track down the original animal host. Of course, in retrospect, we see how condensed and fudged-over some of the "science" is, but at the time, this really freaked us out!
Regardless, OUTBREAK remains a suspenseful, action-packed experience...
Unstoppable (2010)
Head-On...
UNSTOPPABLE gets rolling right away when a numbskull gets off of his moving train engine, figuring he can just hop back on. Of course, this decision leads to the titular locomotive becoming a speeding missile on rails, endangering everything and everyone in its path. The action is handled well, making the train a near character in itself, as in all good "disaster films". The camera work keeps the situation hot, leaving us on the edge of our seats for most of the movie.
What really makes this effective are the characters of Frank and Will (Denzel Washington and Chris Pine), with Frank being the seasoned veteran conductor to Will's green newbie. Starting out as more adversarial toward each other, as things get increasingly dangerous, they're relationship evolves in a realistic fashion. Rosario Dawson also does a tremendous job as Connie, who leads the central command center, and must serve as a go-between, between the runaway train and the greed-driven bosses at corporate.
A fantastic thriller with a very high nail-biting factor...
Under the Silver Lake (2018)
"<><> ///"...
UNDER THE SILVER LAKE is Director David Robert Mitchell's ode to Hollywood, both old and new. It's also a unique mystery-thriller that takes slacker / everyman, Sam (Andrew Garfield), on a bizarre odyssey in search of a missing woman. Oh, and there's a maniacal dog killer on the loose. Oh, and Sam is being stalked by what just might be a succubus. Oh, yeah, and there's a death cult.
In addition, you may never look at chess, cereal box prizes, or video games in the same way again!
Mr. Mitchell packs his movie with all sorts of fun images and symbols, making the whole thing like an adult Easter egg hunt. There are mysterious cyphers, subliminal images, and hidden clues sprinkled throughout the movie. The cast is a vast array of oddball characters for Sam to encounter.
If you enjoy movies like Scorsese's AFTER HOURS, or anything by David Lynch, then you'll probably love this crackpot gem...
Snowpiercer (2013)
Microcosm...
SNOWPIERCER is a perfectly wicked satire, wrapped in a post-apocalyptic / dystopian veneer. It's an acidic lampoon of class warfare, social injustice, and the insane megalomaniacs who run it all through violence and intimidation. It's what BRAZIL might have been like had Terry Gilliam decided to have it take place on a train.
The titular locomotive is a futuristic marvel, barrelling its way through the ice and snow that cover a frozen Earth. Those in the back cars of the train live in abject poverty, kept in line and in place by a cohort of armed soldiers and the walking malignancy known as Mason (Tilda Swinton). The "food" is disgusting, and the living conditions are deplorable.
Revolution is in the air.
Once the reistence begins, the terrible truth starts to emerge. We are made privy to the way of life in the cars up front, and boy, it's astonishing indeed. As soul-scorching as these revelations are, they pale in comparison to what lies ahead in the final act, which is nothing short of life-shattering for everyone, including the viewer!
If you crave intelligent science fiction that has something to say, then look no further...
Signs (2002)
Preordination...
Writer-Director M. Night Shyamalan's SIGNS is, on its surface, a film about alien invasion. However, it's far more than that. Mel Gibson plays former Reverend Graham Hess, who is in a crisis of faith after losing his wife. The atmosphere is already somber before the extraordinary events begin to happen. Mr. Gibson does a superior job of evincing Graham's inner torment. Without a word, we know this man is in deep pain.
Joaquin Phoenix is Graham's brother, Merrill. He's living with Graham and his kids. When the bizarre occurrences start creeping in, the family must pull together, ultimately turning their farmhouse into a sanctuary / fortress. Throughout the movie the focus is on the family and their relationship, not on the extraterrestrials. This actually adds to the mystery and suspense, giving us glimpses of things, and allowing our own imaginations to fill in the blanks.
The Director has said that he drew influence from Alfred Hitchcock's THE BIRDS and George Romero's NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, both of which also pit a group of people against a terrifying onslaught, fortifying a house for an Alamo-style "last stand". SIGNS pays tribute to these films without ripping them off.
The finale is another signature jaw-dropper, tying several threads together. Another classic from Mr. Shyamalan's heyday...
Out of the Dark (1988)
"It's Time For BoBo!"...
In OUT OF THE DARK, a maniac in a clown mask threatens the women working for a "fantasy phone call" service. This is no ordinary pervert, and soon the girls are biting the dust one by one. The cops are baffled, and there are several suspects, some more obvious than others.
This is one of those rather lackluster, late 1980s slasher films that came along after the subgenre had mostly been played out. It's sluggish, sort of goofy, and not all that frightening. The killer is absurd, which would have been alright if this had been more of a comedy. As it stands, it's not very memorable. There's also plenty of soft core cheeeze, if that's to your liking.
It is nice to see Karen Black, Bud Cort, and Geoffrey Lewis, though their talents are wasted here. Paul Bartel produced this movie. If only he'd directed it as one of his comedies and starred in it (watch for his cameo as a be-wigged hotel manager), it might have at least been funnier...
Riddick (2013)
Battleground...
In RIDDICK, Vin Diesel returns as the titular ultimate antihero. After rising from his premature burial, Riddick finds himself on a hostile planet, full of creatures that rival those in the original PITCH BLACK. We are taken along with Riddick as he adapts to this new environment, getting stronger, and awaiting those who will inevitably come for him.
The violent fun begins when, not one, but two groups of mercenaries arrive, armed like small armies, and hungry for blood and bounty. Of course, they have no real idea what they're up against. While the humans are formidible, it's the monsters that everyone, including Riddick, have to worry about. These things are ferocious, and attack in unique ways.
This could be the best movie in the series, and Mr. Diesel's help with the production is the reason why. It probably wouldn't have been made without his input, both creative and financial. Director David Twohy keeps it all gritty and bleak, allowing Riddick to be a true survivor type.
A high-energy sci-fi thriller with explosive action and interesting twists...
The 6th Day (2000)
Facing Yourself...
In THE 6TH DAY, Arnold Schwarzenegger stars as Adam Gibson, a successful businessman with a wonderful family and a great life. That is, until circumstances lead him to find out a terrible secret. A secret that threatens everything he loves, and forces him to question what it means to be human.
This is an above average sci-fi thriller. It's sort of like a cousin of TOTAL RECALL, only in this movie, Arnold's character finds himself up against futuristic, illegal cloning instead of memory implantation. As in RECALL, there's a nefarious corporation, and a squad of goons, this time led by the one-and-only Michael Rooker! The corporate head is also odeous, and we can't wait for Arnold to deliver his comeuppance!
Though the premise is somewhat silly, and the "science" calls for some serious suspension of disbelief, Arnold is great in his dual role, and there's plenty of action. His fans will love every minute of it...
The Chronicles of Riddick (2004)
Planetary Cleansing...
THE CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK picks up 5 years after the events of PITCH BLACK, with prison escapee Riddick (Vin Diesel) being hunted by mercenaries, only to find himself recruited to save an entire planet. He must draw upon all of his skills in order to face an intergalactic threat. The Necromongers are a cult-like army of planet comquerers that have set their sights on Helion Prime, and only Riddick stands a chance of defeating them.
Director David Twohy presents us with a futuristic mix of sci-fi and mystical elements, with loads of action and intrigue. Mr. Diesel really gets a chance to show off what his character can do. Iron-tough, gritty, and fearless, he's up to the task, even when diverted to the prison planet Crematoria, where he reunites with Jack (Alexa Davalos). We all know that Riddick is at his best when he's up against overwhelming odds. He does not disappoint! This time, Jack is able to help, since her childhood adulation of Riddick has turned her into a fierce ally.
Judi Dench has a small, but important role as the supernatural being, Aereon. She is an elemental who lives in both the physical and spiritual realm. Keith David reprises his role as Imam.
A solid, engaging sequel...
Pitch Black (2000)
Night Vision...
PITCH BLACK is one of the best horror-sci-fi movies of the 21st Century. Vin Diesel plays the ultimate bada$$, Riddick, a murderer aboard a spacecraft that crashlands on a barren desert planet. Riddick soon becomes the most important passenger, when it's discovered that something is on the planet that is a dire threat to everyone involved.
Director David Twohy effectively presents the alien world by keeping all outside shots over-saturated, and giving it either a blue or yellow tint, depending on which of its three suns are up. The title comes in due to the lining up of other planets that bring about total darkness every 22 years. This also awakens the creatures that are very, very hungry.
Radha Mitchel is fantastic as the co-pilot of the marooned ship, and Keith David plays a convincing role as an Imam. However, there's never any doubt that this is Mr. Diesel's movie. Everything about him projects toughness and total self-confidence, making him one of the coolest antiheroes ever!
As for the monsters, they're uniquely hideous abominations, and pretty damned scary! Some of the CGI might seem dated, but it's forgivable considering its vintage.
High-octane, deep space entertainment...
2012 (2009)
Destroyed Again, Naturally...
2012 is another super-charged, hyper-condensed "disaster film" from Director Roland Emmerich. This time, we find out that the Mayan's were right, and that the Sun will cause the Earth to self-destruct in the titular year.
Enter John Cusack as disengaged dad, Jackson Curtis, and Chiwetel Ejiofor as geologist, Adrian Helmsley, one of the few humans in this movie with a functioning brain. We are taken along the divergent paths of these two, while the world crumbles, rattles, and floods.
As usual, Mr. Emmerich takes about 20 hours worth of material, and squeezes it all into 2 hours and 30 minutes. This is not only head-spinning, it's insane. We go from 2009 to 2012 in minutes, allowing for no character or real story development. It's blatantly obvious that the Director just can't wait to plunge us into his nightmare catastrophe, which he certainly does.
Bottom Line: Mr. Emmerich is committed to making the same, basic movie over and over again...
Rampage (2018)
We're Gonna Need Bigger Bananas...
RAMPAGE starts off in space, where a tragic event has caused a secret genetic experiment to be hurtled back to Earth. This causes three animals to mutate, two of which are in the San Diego Zoo.
Enter Dwayne Johnson as Primatologist, Davis Okoye, ex-Special Forces, and friend of George, an albino Silverback gorilla. George is a well-realized CGI creation, with some nice touches that really give him a personality. The interactions between George and Davis seem genuine.
Of course, the title comes in, and George, and two other creatures, grow to enormous proportions, and run amok. This is when it turns into a true monster movie, with tons of action, explosions, and billions of dollars in property destruction. Most of the mayhem takes place in Chicago.
Get the popcorn and drinks ready, and prepare to be entertained...
Gojira -1.0 (2023)
Up From The Depths...
GODZILLA MINUS ONE opens with a bang, introducing us to Koichi Shikishima (Ryunosuke Kamiki), a kamikaze pilot taking refuge on a small island, only to witness the terrible onslaught of the titular monster. Set right at the end of World War Two, Japan has already suffered devastating losses. Unfortunately, their troubles have only just begun.
The first thing that must be said is that this is more than just another giant monster movie. While it is that, and an astonishing one, it also has a deep, complicated human story, mostly set around Shikishima and those he encounters. Especially, young Noriko (Minami Hamabe). There's a lot of pathos, and a vulnerability that isn't usually associated with the genre.
Of course, Godzilla is the enormous, looming threat that makes it all work. Godzilla is a wonder to behold, sure to satisfy fans with some awe-inspiring CGI. The catastrophic attack sequences are breathtaking.
The whole movie looks like something made in the 1940s-50s, with convincing black and white that makes it all seem like some lost, vintage epic.
Watch immediately. You won't be disappointed...
Meteor (1979)
Urgent Diplomacy...
METEOR is a disaster movie that sports a stellar cast. Sean Connery stars as Paul Bradley, an ex-NASA man, brought back when a comet causes trouble in the asteroid belt. Now, the titular space boulder is about to make a catastrophic appearance on Earth.
Much of the fun comes from the behind-the-scenes, political wrangling between the United States (Henry Fonda plays the President) and the USSR, during the height of the Cold War. The cooperation / trust required is a monumental leap, even though the threat is overwhelming, and time is short.
It's also quite humorous to watch Mr. Connery's character find time to flirt with the russian interpretor (Natalie Wood), in spite of the possible impending doom. Special mention goes to Martin Landau, who plays his Air Force Commander with manic glee.
As for the various impacts from meteor fragments, their fairly effective, with the one hitting NYC being particularly eerie in retrospect. However, the subway scene is the best disaster sequence of the entire film.
An enjoyable yarn for popcorn lovers...
Vermines (2023)
Pest Control...
INFESTED works well because it uses the fear of spiders, in conjunction with the fear of darkness, mixed with an overall sense of claustrophobia and paranoia. Right from the opening we know that these are no ordinary arachnids, and that anyone coming in contact with them is in big trouble.
Once they are unleashed upon the unsuspecting denizens of an apartment building, the true, gruesome fun begins.
Director Sebastien Vanicek keeps things closed-in and poorly lit, allowing the tiny creatures to skitter out at unexpected times, causing our hearts to jump and our flesh to crawl. Real spiders were used, as they were in the classic, ARACHNOPHOBIA. This helps with realism. Some CGI had to be utilized in later scenes, but it's above average, and doesn't take us out of the movie.
There are realistic bonds among the neighbors, as well as a few poignant moments between friends and family members.
A superb first effort from the Director...
Rambo: Last Blood (2019)
Final Glory...
RAMBO: LAST BLOOD is the perfect bookend to the original FIRST BLOOD (1982). It finds John Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) in his later years, attempting to finally settle into a quieter life. In this, he's fairly successful, until the day his Neice (Yvette Monreal) decides to head for Mexico in search of her deadbeat father. Not surprisingly, this doesn't go very well, and Rambo must once again return to his former self.
This is a rather bleak, though action-packed film, pitting Rambo against the most reprehensible adversaries / criminals he's ever faced. It's a fitting denouement for the character, giving him one final battle to fight. Fans of these movies will not be disappointed...
Dante's Peak (1997)
"Please! Stay! Calm!"...
DANTE'S PEAK is one of the better "disaster films", due to its solid story about a volcanologist (Pierce Brosnan) and his team's discovery of an imminent volcanic event. Said event spells doom for the small town in its wake, headed by Mayor Rachel Wando (Linda Hamilton). Mr. Brosnan and Ms. Hamilton have great chemistry together, which is a good thing since the first act is mostly about their evolving relationship.
However, this is no sappy love story! Once the lava hits the fan, we're taken along on a hellride of explosive action and adventure, right up to the hair-raising final act. The special effects are effective throughout, with both practical and digital FX being used. The eruptions, lava flows, and ash clouds are all rendered masterfully.
A solid, seat-of-the-pants thriller...
Batman Begins (2005)
Becoming Fear...
Director Christopher Nolan's BATMAN BEGINS scores high points for its thorough, engrossing portrayal of the origins of the Dark Knight. Christian Bale proves immediately that he's the man for the job, playing Bruce Wayne as a man with a tragic past, able to channel his anger and sorrow into his Alter ego, in order to clean up his beloved Gotham City.
Michael Caine is Alfred, Wayne's butler, friend and confidant. Katie Holmes is Rachel, Bruce's life-long friend. Liam Neeson is the mysterious Ducard, and Morgan Freeman puts in a wonderful performance as Lucious Fox. Gary Oldman makes a perfect Gordon.
Watch for Nolan regular, Cillian Murphy as the more-than-he-seems-to-be Dr. Crane. He's creepy in this, no matter what he's doing!
Mr. Nolan packs his movie with action and danger for our hero, keeping Gotham the dark, bleak place we all know and love.
A superior super hero film...
Conan the Destroyer (1984)
More Hyborian Hijinks...
CONAN THE DESTROYER had a lot going against it right out of the gate. While Arnold returned to play the titular character, there was no real replacement for Sandahl Bergman's character, who had such great chemistry with Arnold in the first film.
Also, instead of an R-rating, this time there are the limitations of a PG-rating, keeping the sword-swinging action "child safe", which sort of takes some of the punch out of this follow-up.
Still, there are good points as well. Grace Jones plays the smart, resourceful warrior, Zula, and Wilt Chamberlain towers over everyone as the imposing Bombasta. There are the familiar settings and a quest for a magical item. As an added bonus, Andre Rene "The Giant" Roussimoff suits up as the hideous monster toward the end.
All in all, not a bad way to spend a lazy afternoon...