Change Your Image
milligancharm
Reviews
The Enforcer (2022)
Couldn't Take My Eyes Off the Screen
What a great flick! I threw this movie on because the story sounded interesting and I wanted something to have on while I did some work in my living room. Well I didn't get a lick of work done because I couldn't take my eyes off the screen. There is more to this one going on. Lots of story elements that make the characters so interesting to watch and actually has soul to them. I was surprised by the "buddy film" element to it around the mentor/protege relationship which became a big part of the theme and character arcs. So it's just not a run of the mill action flick like I see and even enjoy most of the time. It was far better and deeper and intense to see where it was all going. Satisfying action and kick ass moments from those you are rooting for. I just had to put my two cents in because I really had fun with this one and would love to see more movies like this. I'll check out more from this writer and director. I guess it's the writer of the Point Break movies and a few other familiar ones. Entertaining! Now I better finish my work...
Bite the Dust (2023)
Absolutely Wonderful! Sequel Please!!
What a delightful surprise this movie was! I wasn't sure what to expect as I knew almost nothing about the story, but was immediately taken into the adventure and had a blast with these characters. First of all the writing is top notch and had some of the best dialogue and characterization that I have seen in any movie of the last couple years, let alone a western. Snappy and funny, it never forgets its genre and perfectly toed the line of light-hearted humor and western action/adventure with stakes. The acting also deserves mention because every character was well acted and had depth. Some were hilarious (Zeke) and our heroes were so likable and real, it was so refreshing to have a western hero that you care so much about and want to see win the day. They had such great chemistry and I want to see more adventures of our bounty hunters. The fight scenes were another surprise because they were entertaining as hell and well choreographed and stunted, far superior to any of the westerns I have seen lately. And off beat things happening during the fights. Just a hell of a lot of fun! Very well done and just watch it because you will be taken in. It has the spirit of great westerns of the past with a unique touch that I haven't seen and can't quite put my finger on. It all works and I'm glad I took a chance on this one. Will watch repeatedly.
The Bounty Killer (2018)
Entertaining "Throwback" Western
This was a good low budget western that I am going to watch again. I almost passed it by because of the unfortunate cover art and change of name of the DVD release. It has the greasy bad guy on the cover for some weird reason. A shame because the hero played by Crispian Belfrage was a really cool character and did a great job. I'm kind of tired of the modern western where no one is good. The hero here is a complex character but is someone you want to root for and has heart and kicks ass. The story is a classic western tale and there's a reason we like to return to these stories again and again. It's got some good scenery, fun characters, decent music and never loses your interest. Fun movie with a great western bounty hunter with a back story that rides in to save the day...hopefully!
Space Wars: Quest for the Deepstar (2022)
A Super Fun Corman-esque Space Adventure
What a fun movie! It sort of reminded me of the space adventure movies of the 70's and 80's with a hint of the Ray Harryhausen monster flicks or the voyage of Sinbad. I was reminded even of the great sci-fi flick Contamination in some scenes. It had great characters who have chemistry and are easy to root for. Pare is awesome as the heroic captain. The tone and pacing are perfect and if you go into it to have fun and get lost in an adventure it will be a blast. There's a lot of humor or tongue in cheek moments that were great. There is an episodic feel to it that makes you want to watch more of their adventures for sure. Overall a fun movie I will watch again.
Da xue guai (2019)
Monster Movie with an Actual Monster!
This is a fun Monster Adventure movie. That's what it is and it excels at it. This was a great ride and way more fun than I figured when I picked it up. If you are a fan of monster movies then you will love this. The main monster is awesome and they show you alot of him and you wish he still had more screen time. It has a group of adventurers who stumble on an area of mountain where there are lots of reasons for creatures to crop up. The story is a good one and has a mix of mystical mountain mythology and adventuring with characters that have back stories and that you care about. It has a sort of timeless feel, and made me feel like I did when I watched old monster movies for the very first with excitement and joy. I want a sequel so please continue the series!
Slayers (2022)
Fun Quirky Horror Adventure
This was such a fun movie I had a smile on my face the whole time. Thomas Jane has been doing some great stuff lately and his character was awesome in this. He's like Van Helsing meets Wyatt Earp meets Obi Wan Kenobi. There's so much going and different cinema "flavors" that it's best to just go in not knowing much and just let it unfold. The story is good and draws you in. I was worried the internet star characters were going to be really annoying and drag it down, but that wasn't the case and the social media stuff was an interesting dynamic with some subtle commentary on our culture perhaps embedded in there. But first and foremost it is a good vampire tale that isn't all "Twilighty" and serious. It has all the right tropes and twists them a little to make it fun and different. I would love a sequel.
American Siege (2021)
This One Was Good
I always rate things on this stupid site either a 1 or a 10 just to adjust for all the morons on here. I enjoy B action films and Indy movies of all kinds, so I have watched a lot of Bruce's recent VOD films. I get if they're not your thing, but this one stands out so thought I would review it. It was one of his best roles of the last few years because he had some really great scenes and emotions. And kicked some ass. The directing was good and there was a cool story that had plenty of tense moments. And you care about the character. A perfect ending. Good flick. If you like Indy action movies, check it out. If you don't, then stop writing reviews of a movie you shouldn't have watched in the first place you idiots!
A Tale of Two Guns (2022)
Very Enjoyable Western. Not Run-of-the-Mill
This movie was Way Good! This may be my top movie of the year so far. It was so much better than I expected and took surprising turns in a wonderful character-driven story that had much more depth than many films of this genre. Casper Van Dien is not a stranger to Westerns and stole the show, in my opinion. But the other lead was also well acted and played a character you care about. The movie takes you on a journey following both men to what will inevitably lead to a showdown. But the journey gets complicated and so does your thoughts on where it's all heading. There are some badass western moments all over and the gun fights pack a punch that is really satisfying. And in some beautiful backdrops. Speaking of badass, Tom Berenger had that in spades! His Marshall character was awesome and I would love to see him play that character in another movie. Very well acted. Very excellent Western and I had a blast watching it. More please!
Outsource (2022)
Fun Action Flick
I took a chance on this movie since I knew almost nothing about it. But I really enjoyed it. It had flavorings of Heat, Mission Impossible and Bourne movies, but not derivative of any of them. It was a unique spy story with some cool action scenes with martial arts, which I am a sucker for. And it was surprisingly funny. It was well filmed with characters you care about and had a great ending. I would be interested in seeing more of these characters in future adventures. All in all a fun action movie if you are into those "international spy" style films.
She Was the Deputy's Wife (2021)
Really Bad. Man this Sucks.
I almost never write bad reviews for Indy movies, and especially Westerns. It's really easy to please me and I love low budget flicks. Just check my reviews. But man, this one just needs someone to voice reason and is quite possibly the worst movie I have ever seen. It pains me to say it. The acting was good. It just has no reason to exist. There is absolutely nothing compelling about the story or anything that happens. Who bloody cares? And the soundtrack is so freaking annoying. It plays the same song over and over again no matter what the emotion is supposed to be on the screen. And the kicker was, at the end credits the same of played. And it was really bad. I mean I love simple, computer program scores. But it didn't fit anything that was going on. I bought this movie because I figured it would be hard to wreck a western like this. But it really is so very boring, with no reason to exist. I had to watch it in installments like eating my peas. Because it was so awful. Again, the actors were good and the scenery and cinematography was fine. Just so utterly uninteresting and dumb. Literally the worst movie I have ever seen and I am a movie buff who loves cheesy cult and b-grade cinema. I will not watch another one of the 12 months of westerns or whatever this guy does.
Schlaf (2020)
My Take of What This All Means
I really enjoyed this movie and found it very engrossing and well acted. I love when things are not quite right and we are left to discern what the heck is going on. Lots of creepy and unsettling things that become a little more clear as the movie progresses. I found it had a satisfying ending after staying with it for so long. But I love to share interpretations, so what follows is a bit of mine:
Major Spoilers Ahead!!!! *****************************
I may be way off, especially because of the language barrier, but in a nutshell, sleep is where all the "action" takes place. I think this represents our inner thoughts and the nature of things that are in us that people don't get to see. Who we are when the world isn't watching. The mother starts out by having nightmares that are related to her past. That is another theme, and she was orphaned in a tragic way, which seems to be haunting her thoughts and dreams. She is insecure about her being orphaned. Yet through her own actions, she is seeming to "orphan" her own daughter as well. Their relationship is strained and she is alienating her through her own inner thoughts of insecurity and unresolve through her past. The daughter takes center stage and begins to have these dreams as well. Is she just repeating her mother's craziness now too? Doomed to repeat the sins of the past? The weird owner of the hotel has some major screwed up inner thoughts and opinions. So much so that he has to be strapped down at night or he will repeat the sins of his past all over the place. In the lullaby that is heard on the tape recorder, it mentions the incubus at her door. An incubus is a demon that has sex with sleeping women. The hotel owner is a slimy guy who did that with Mona's grandmother. He also carves wooden boars and gave one to the little girl who was the offspring of that relationship. It had her name on it. The boar is his symbol for all the boarish nastiness that he is in his inner self. Which includes even Nazi hate and bigotry. A nasty boar. The channeling of the woman he killed (Mona's grandmother) is a supernatural way of representing the overcoming of this nasty dude by the women he victimized and the ultimate wrestling of the sins of the past to finally put to death those tendencies in them. The spirit tells Mona it can all end with her or her mother. That is true of any generation. But is it easy? Well it was a fight in the film. And at the end, when they are reunited and all is well and the sins of the past have been destroyed, literally symbolized by the boar-ish man... well there is a coda. I didn't get all the language stuff but it appeared that Mona was at a party and there was some discussion about the dude being a "she" or at least some identity issues, and she was talking to the gal next to her about how she thought it was weird and stuff. Then she sees a boar at the end of hall. Could it be that those same sins of her grandfather are struggling to reappear in Mona. Are they ever really put to death? Or do they need to be continually killed? That is my take. Overall a really good flick.
Righteous Blood (2021)
More Michael Pare Westerns Please!
Michael Pare makes an awesome cowboy. He is really cool in this and plays a complex character. I was surprised at how cool the story was. Pare is an outlaw on the run who goes around as a gun for hire. The person he has to kill is a mentally challenged child. What to do, what to do? The dynamic of relationships between this boy he has to kill, and others he meets on his journey are interesting and never as simple as you would think. Overall a really good movie that I will watch again. Rewarding and interesting. Pare is a great actor and a kick-ass cowboy in this unique western that deals with more under the surface than you typically find in this genre.
Honor Among Thieves (2021)
Really Fun Modern Western
Lots to enjoy in this flick. Well directed, well acted and just an all around good story. Unfortunate cover art, because it looks like Luis Guzman, so I almost passed this up several times thinking it was a comedy (no offense to Luis Guzman, he's hilarious but I don't like Western comedies). Glad I took a stab and picked it up. Surprisingly good and very entertaining with a protagonist you can cheer for.
Logan (2017)
What an Overrated Movie
Absolutely zero fun at the movies. Even the western motif manages to barely register any added interest. I love Wolverine and can enjoy any other one of his cinematic outings, but this one was boring, depressing and even the action sucked. It was as much fun as visiting a relative dying of cancer. What a stupid self-important movie.
Goodnight for Justice (2011)
Very Entertaining Western
This movie is a delight. Like the fun old Western novels with good characters, nasty baddies, inevitable gunplay and interesting women. Luke Perry wrote the engrossing story and played the lead, who is a complex character that embodies the American spirit, walking the balance of justice and assuaging his own personal hurts. Not sure why I haven't heard of this before, but I'm glad I stumbled on it. A good western for the collection. And I believe there are two more in the series.
Scorched Earth (2018)
Very Fun Flick
This was a super entertaining movie with fun world-building in a distant apocalyptic future where Gina Carano is a kick ass bounty hunter. It's a cool Western motif with a lot of sci-fi twists to genre tropes. Gina's character is awesome, has a lot of heart and steals the show. If you like Sci-Fi or Westerns, you'll get caught up in the adventure and the little details that make it a fun story of freedom and heroics.
The Wolf of Snow Hollow (2020)
Wow what a surprise! Excellent Film!! And nothing like you have seen.
Man these reviewers must not be movie fans. I really enjoyed this film. It was a welcome twist to the werewolf genre, multi-layered with a very human story. It was so fun and well acted, but had a lot to say about the human spirit and how we come back after we mess up. It really was a unique film, and I've seen a gazillion horror/thriller movies. So to review this movie like it's a standard B horror is ridiculous. Check it out for a fun take on genre movies, and a great story that takes you in all the way to the end.
The Fallen Ones (2005)
This is Such a Fun Movie
This movie is so fun and one I watch multiple times. I discovered it on DVD so didn't see it when it first came out. I was completely caught off guard by how much I enjoyed this film. The characters are very good, and they are all helped because of the amazing actors that came on board for this one. It is like a classic George Lucas or Steven Spielberg movie, with an old "serial adventure" vibe. The story is unique and fun, with an amazing score. Just a really well written and fun adventure/supernatural/horror/comedy blend.
Evil Takes Root (2020)
Father Olawale Kickin Demon Ass
Ok this movie is way better than I thought it would be. It has a lot of surprises in it that I just thought made for a really great story and kept me interested in these characters. Lots of subtext about our brokenness and the possibility of redemption and grace. I'm always a sucker for those kinds of films and this handles it brilliantly. Keep a lookout for Father Olawale. He has all the best lines, and when he finally comes in to kick the hell out of the demon, my buddy and I were cheering because he is not messing around and is ready to bust some demon heads. I want to see him come back for a sequel.
The Haunting of Alcatraz (2020)
I Really Enjoyed This One!
I'm giving it a 10 to adjust for the nonsensical 1-star reviews. This is definitely not a 1-star movie. I was surprised how good it was and I enjoyed it way more than I typically do with these haunting type films. This was almost like a 1930's style mystery with a horror bend, and it's cool because it takes place in the '30's and plays off of that in really clever ways. If you keep that in mind, this will be a really fun movie. If you expect a slasher movie in a prison, you will be disappointed because there is far more here and it is a character-driven story with an unfolding mystery that makes you question if there's a supernatural element or what is really going on. There were some cool metaphors and Shakespeare played a part. And I was also taken in by the side love story and found it to be cleverly written in that 1930's sensibility. It was just a really good movie with a satisfying ending and I'm going to watch it again. Recommended for those that like something a little different.
A Nun's Curse (2019)
Surprisingly Great Flick
I passed this one up originally because I'm not too into the "creepy nun" sub-genre. But the trailer looked good so I picked it up. It exceeded all my expectations and is a very fun horror flick! It has a great buildup to the eventual reveal of the nun, which is so effective that you wonder if she's even bad at first or if she's even a real thing. And then...bam! The dialogue is actually well written and funny. It's got an old school vibe to it at times and is set in a creepy and atmospheric abandoned jail. The pacing and suspense was very well done and I absolutely loved the ending which was a little different than I expected and way better than the usual way this genre wraps up. I'm so glad I got this one and will show it to my friends now. If you haven't seen the trailer, don't watch it as I think it spoils some of the reveals and buildup that are much better earned from the natural tension in letting the film unfold. A director I'm going to watch for what's next.
Adopt a Highway (2019)
Wow! Excellent Movie!
This is a beautiful film. Every frame and detail. It takes you along and you are lost in the story of a man who made a costly mistake that you can only hope will find redemption of some kind. The baby in the dumpster is a perfect metaphor for his situation - lost, alone and with the potential for a new life if given half a chance. Will they get their chance at life? Will they find love again? You have to watch and see. But the journey is a beautiful one to take. Well done all around.
The Postman (1997)
My Favorite Movie
This is my favorite film of all time. Excellent story, beautiful score, perfect direction and wonderfully acted. The reluctant leader who starts a movement reminds us why people will lay their lives down for the cause of freedom. Especially poignant for today, with all the statues of our leaders and forefathers coming down. Like the postman, no man is perfect. But the ideas that they stand on and promulgate are the only things powerful enough to make humans free against the inertia of tyranny and selfishness. And we would be wise to remember and study those ideas. Watch The Postman again. It is a near-perfect movie from a talented story teller in Kevin Costner.
Hell on the Border (2019)
Great Movie!
I bought this on a whim because I love westerns and the story seemed intriguing. It was. I thought this was a very good movie. Very well acted with characters you care about and some good classic western action. I have been growing tired of the westerns that have no heroes that seems to be the thing lately. The main character is refreshing because he is tough as nails, and yet is heroic and sacrificial in his service for justice. It is based on a true story, or they play real historical characters at least, which makes it all the more interesting. The soundtrack was fun also with a primarily single guitar just like a western should have, but with some interesting modern music thrown in to add emotion to some scenes. It was effective. Super fun movie.
On a different note, I am getting tired of this site because of all the ridiculous negative reviews on every movie title. They are not helpful because they all are versions of "it is bad." I don't even pay any attention to them anymore, but it used to distract me. Who wastes time reviewing a movie they hated? (If, in fact, they actually watched it...) This movie's negative reviews do not match what was on the screen and are very harsh for what the film is. If you like westerns this is a worthy watch for something different.
The Courier (2019)
I Really Liked This
This was a really good movie. I enjoy these kinds of films, and this was really well done and super fun. I love how the protagonist is heroic and has heart so she's not just a one-dimensional antihero type. I would love to see another Courier movie because her character is so great.