rockerace Reviews

Dead Men Don't Count (1968)

Excellent, Excellent, Excellent Spaghetti! In my Top Ten!

[10/10 · 10 July 2009]

Warning: One or two slight spoilers ahead! I recently began collecting any and all spaghetti westerns that I have been able to get my hands on. I had no information on this title, other than knowing Anthony Steffen stars. Now I have seen numerous Steffen Westerns and have not been particularly impressed with his movies nor his acting. But this movie changed my opinion of him DRAMATICALLY! The story centers on 2 Bounty Hunters (Steffen and Mark Damon)that ride into the town of "Blackstone" after killing an entire gang of wanted men. Once in town they find themselves in the middle of rash of murders and a corrupt Sheriff who is working for the local "Rich Man" who, in turn, is trying to control all the land because the railroad is coming through.

A few plot twists to keep you guessing, and some great acting all the way around provide for an entertaining Spaghetti! This is not your typical "revenge" theme Spaghetti Western.

The chemistry between Steffen and Damon is perfect. I can say with almost certainty that the U.S. television series "Alias Smith and Jones" drew heavily from this film! I HIGHLY recommend this film to not only fans of Spaghetti Westerns, but Western fans in general. The plot is cohesive and interesting, the scenes well edited, the cinematography excellent and the gun-play is perfect. No over-acting here except maybe the maniacal laughing at the end by Steffen...although it's not over the top.

A MUST-SEE FOR SPAGHETTI FANS!!!

Cjamango (1967)

Excellent Spaghetti!

[7/10 · 5 July 2009]

This movie is beautiful. It was shot beautifully and the acting is above average. Sean Todd (Ivan Rassimov) is both beautiful and rugged. He plays the ant-hero with a twist..he IS a hero. He takes care of a little orphaned boy and saves a girl from certain rape. He only goes after gold that was originally stolen from him. Everything he does is heroic!

Helen Chanel has got to be one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen.

Cjamango sits firmly in my top 25 Spaghetti Westerns thus far. (I still have about 450 to track down and view!! If you like Euro or Spaghetti Westerns, then this is a must have for your collection!

Rambo (2008)

Wow! Saving Private Ryan reborn as RAMBO!

[9/10 · 12 June 2009]

This movie is by far the best of the 3 Rambo films (I don't consider "First Blood" to be a RAMBO film)!

The film is certainly not heavy on plot and there are no real twists, but, the story is simple, believable, honest and has very little "Hollywood" to it. War is hell and good people die!

This movie is totally brutal and it shows you where Rambo has been living for the last 20 years and the ending gives the Rambo character satisfying closure!

Sylvester Stallone finally got the Rambo character right.

If you liked Saving Private Ryan then you will ABSOLUTELY love this film.

New York Doll (2005)

Excellent, excellent documentary on the life of Killer Kane.

[10/10 · 12 June 2009]

When I was 10 years old and living in Texas, I began reading a crummy little black and white "Rock n Roll" magazine called "Rock Scene". It was pretty much strictly about the NY music scene. There I was introduced to the Ramones, Television, Blondie, Talking Heads, Roxy Music, and a host of others. One band in particular, the New York Dolls, caught my eye. Unfortunately for me, I could only read about these bands because, living in Texas, there was no way of hearing any of these bands. They certainly didn't get airplay in Texas and there was no way my parents were gonna buy a New York Dolls or Ramones record for me.

By the time I was able to buy my own records I had already moved on in my taste to heavier rock like Kiss and Black Sabbath and Judas Priest, etc.

I never forgot those bands from Rock Scene Magazine though and thanks to the internet and youtube I was able to finally see them and hear them! The New York Dolls were WAY better than I ever thought they were! They were WAY underrated as well! It was amazing to see the naked truth about the road Killer Kane's life took after the demise of the NY Dolls.

It's also amazing that the Film was made, Killer Kane got to reunite with the Dolls and play a HUGE show and enjoy the adulation of long-time fans only 22 days before his untimely death! What an amazing true life event folks. This is amazing stuff!

Face to Face (1967)

Not as great as some reviewers seem to think.

[5/10 · 12 June 2009]

This is a nice little spaghetti western, but the acting is sub-par. I have seen approximately 4 Thomas Milian spaghetti westerns and generally find that he tends to over-act. Gian Maria Volonte apparently fel the need to measure up to Milians over-acting as well. Volonte looks rather pasty in this film to as if he was freshly dusted with talcum powder before every scene.

For classic Gian Maria Volonte see The Sergio Leone movies. To see Thomas Milian in a better performance, well, there really isn't one, because he just isn't that good of an actor.

I like the story but found it unbelievable due to poor dialogue and dubbing.

Overall a lesser Spaghetti in my opinion.