SeanValen Reviews

Cold Creek Manor (2003)

Creepy and well acted

[10/10 · 19 August 2008]

I don't understand why this is underrated, because I was entertained. Dennis Quaid is always excellent, and raises this film alone by his presence, and Sharon Stone is a very good actress come a decent story. Stephen Dorf is a actor I always want to see more of, any fans of Blade, take note, Dorf is on form here.

This is a very atmospheric film, creepy in the tension. It doesn't excel over the best horror films on someones list, it's not looking to be something different, but in its execution for what it is, it can be entertainment. I'm a fan of Dennis Quaid, Stephen Dorf and Sharon Stone, so this is a major plus for me.

Alias (2001–2006)

Great Entertainment, just don't expect perfection

[9/10 · 8 August 2008]

This show has so many elements that make it entertaining. Jennifer Garner is like a female James Bond, like someone else writ, this is really is how a James Bond TV series kinda would work, although Bond still is different in tone. The locations are very international, this is the shows plus points, it never feels rooted in one city, like some shows are shot, it's concept allows for international scope, and I remember a lot of great scenes of action and escaping by characters.

Not all shows are thought out well throughout. But even a less then stellar episode seemed not to be worthwhile. A lot of the characters are likable, and this is the plus point.

I actually think Sloan's journey in Alias is as important as Sydneys. I think Sloan is quite a complex character that addes a bit of Shakespeare tragic journey, I at times couldn't help but wanted his character to win and redeem his soul, I thought his relationship with his daughter was a real powerful one, very sad as well, I actually wanted to see things work for them, it would of been nice, I wish Sloane could of been the hero someway. I think at times, he knew his daughter was enough for him, but it was fate perhaps, that she had to make him choose, very powerful and moving.

Vaughn I thought was a great male lead Dickson, a great sidekick Marhsall, great comedy relief Stark was a great nemesis Anna was too

Rambaldi was a interesting thing, some of the set pieces made it seem real.

I have other favourite shows, but I enjoyed this one.

Bless the Child (2000)

Great supernatural ride

[10/10 · 17 December 2002]

Kim Basinger is great in this, great good vs evil, every good deed is high lighted. "A good man is not alone in the world." Great quote.

You'll get film snobs who will over search too many things, but the story and entertainment is top notch, great star in Basinger, good morale and religious overtones. A enjoyable supernatural ride that has elements of horror. It's a story done before with End of Days and Lost Souls, but I like them all, if they dress it up to entertain, then no problem with me, these stories are important and timeless. Good vs Evil, and its done well for me.

Cannibal Holocaust (1980)

What Horror is on film. This is the benchmark.

[10/10 · 11 January 2002]

I saw this today at college, film studies class, I thought I'd seen alot of scary and disturbing horror films, but this one really got to me, I recommend talking to someone after it, I watched it with a group, all disturbed or quiet, maybe had to laugh just as a shield to the horror, that's how this film is rated, by the reaction. It's the disturbing horror you think about during and definately after the movie, to me it was and I rate this the finest horror film ever made, people who thought Blair Witch Project was clever, what started the whole documentry lost in the woods type movie, then Cannibal Holocaust is first and only to do it so well and remains the best.

Strange, some horror films I proudly talk about and say it's the best, but Cannibal Holocaust is so shocking and disturbing, it's painful to actually rate something that is shocking, but as the film had a morality about who really are the Cannibals, it's us for wanting to see such gory stories and images, that morality to the story alone makes the film so much better and the best. Credit to the film makers for making everything so real, I would actually want to know that it was not real, that's how real it was to me! I doubt though we'll ever know the history of making of this film.

The best horror remains in the 20th century, thanks to Cannibal Holocaust.

Blade Runner (1982)

The symbol of Sci-fi is Bladerunner, deserves it.

[10/10 · 4 December 2001]

Great soundtrack, music shows it means alot to films in this film. Great story, very well told, visually beautiful, a vital element to the story, and each time I watch it, I come away thinking about my life, as it's too bad I won't live, then again who does, great words, especially from Roy, "Like tears in rain."

I'm a replicant? My childhood memories implanted, great stuff.

Timeless experience that is Blade Runner.

Heat (1995)

A classic, deserves to be up with there with the greatest films ever

[10/10 · 24 November 2001]

Mann's story, cares about characters first, which serves the action well, not the other way round, characters are as real as I've seen in movies, Pacino and De Niro serve the storyline in great fashion, so do the rest of the cast who are very impressive also.

This is the best crime/drama/action film ever made. Not since Bladerunner, has a film touched me on life in such a profound manner within the narrative, yes it has action and drama, but it has a message about peoples lives in modern society, Destiny/fate, spiritual elements, e.g De Niro's Neil: "I know whatever time we get is luck." I end up just about rooting for Neil, as I feel I know him so well, film does that greatly, top marks.

Young Guns II (1990)

Being outlaws is explored more deeply in the sequel

[10/10 · 19 November 2001]

The sequel happens to conclude Billy the Kids story, and focus on outlaws being the hunted alot more then the first film which the Young Guns were at a point the hunters. With Blaze of Glory, we get more of a spiritual element to death thanks to Lou Diamonds character Chevez, rubs off on Billy and the gang, as their runaway riding has the eventual end nearing, life and death along with friendship played brilliantly with the Young Guns, which makes the appeal of these characters as such to root for, so it should be as back then outlaws were hero's and Billy the Kid sounded like someone you would not mind riding with just for the thill of the chase and being a outlaw, although it has to end sometime, the brutal truth to all outlaws. Highly emotional, but enjoyable action western sequel, especially seeing characters back from the original.

Young Guns (1988)

Fresh look at the west with the young

[10/10 · 19 November 2001]

With so many middle to old men in Westerns, through John Wayne and Clint Eastwood, so little of the focus on the young and the wild, the whole Billy and his gang story is told and we realise what we've been missing in a Western we've never seen before. Great actors, great performances, great film. Kiefer Sutherland and Emilo great chemistry.

The Godfather Part III (1990)

Themes of Redemption, Pacino's performance, movie magic

[10/10 · 17 November 2001]

Part one and two were masterpieces, part three, although not completely having the power of the first two movies, does have something that sets it apart, the focus on one character, Pacino's Michael, the themes of redemption are powerfully acted, Oscar worthy, in my opinion Pacino's all time best performance, people are quick to look at some flaws like Coppola' daughters' acting, but its a small hole to complain about, a excuse to not praise the performance of Pacino and a character so richly put on screen.

Licence to Kill (1989)

Movie gets better with age.

[10/10 · 17 November 2001]

Licence to Kill brings realism to Bond like never before, with help of a great story, and a very good performance from Dalton, who in my book is every bit as good as Sean Connery in a more realistic way, makes this Bond film perhaps the best, alongside Goldfinger. Future Bond movies may get better special effects and action sequences, but good stories, villians and performances is a hard mix to come up with all the time, Licence to Kill does it with class.

The 'Burbs (1989)

Underatted, gets better with age.

[10/10 · 17 November 2001]

One those movies that gets better with age, Bladerunner took a few years before people realised it was one of the best sci-fi movies ever made, well Burbs is not the best movie ever, but it's one of those movies that has everything, great comedy, great performance by Hanks and supporting cast.