ShadySovereign Reviews

Backdraft (1991)

An explosive film that lacks some spark

[6/10 · 5 February 2007]

The first time I saw the DVD of Backdraft available at the local entertainment store, I was not at all interested in watching it because of my naive mind-set that "firefighters are boring". But then I found out that Jennifer Jason Leigh (one of my all-time favorite actresses) starred in the movie, so I decided to buy the DVD and give the film a chance.

After seeing the movie, I was mildly impressed by its spectacular fire special effects. I had never seen a film that focuses on fire as much as this one. The strong focus on fire kept me interested throughout the movie, as I had never known that firefighters had to put up with so much fire problems in their daily lives.

The movie has a great all-star cast, ranging from Kurt Russell to Donald Sutherland to Jennifer Jason Leigh. All these familiar Hollywood faces will surely appeal to movie lovers and keep them interested until the end of the movie.

I loved seeing Jennifer Jason Leigh's post-Fast Times at Ridgemont High acting skills. Her character in Backdraft was beautiful and fascinating, and her relationship with William Baldwin's character was clearly shown.

This brings me to the problems I had with this movie. First of all, Jennifer's character never interacts with any character except William Baldwin's character. This really got on my nerves because I wanted to see her be a main character in this movie. She had so much potential to be a strong character in the film.

Another problem is the movie's long running time. In my opinion, the film did not need to be 2 hours longs. There were some scenes that could have been deleted to keep the film moving better at its fast pace. After all, this film IS classified as a thriller, and thrillers should never be too long because you would get too tired to follow the plot twists & turns.

Overall, Backdraft is an above-average thriller that gives some focus on the issue of firefighting and the problems they have to face in their lives battling fires. But to tell the truth, the movie is not for everyone. It will mostly likely appeal only to real-life firefighters and fans of the all-star cast.

I give this film a 6/10.

Genji: Days of the Blade (2006 Video Game)

Genji 2 Genji

[1/10 · 28 November 2006]

Here is a brief description of "Genji: Days of the Blade" : Genji 2, as most people call it, is an ACTION game. It is based on ancient Japanese history. So here is this giant enemy crab (yes, a CRAB). You must flip over this crab with your weapon and attack its weak point for MASSIVE damage. Special features in the game include features such as real-time weapon change (a feature which almost every other new game nowadays has already). And that's all this game has to offer.

I played this game at a friend's house. This friend of mine actually bought a Playstation 3 and bought this game along with it. He seriously wasted his money on both the game system and the game itself. Do what smart people do: avoid Genji 2 and the PS3 like the plague.

The Cat in the Hat (2003)

This cat's 9 lives are over

[1/10 · 30 April 2006]

The Cat in the Hat is yet another PG-rated film which defies the laws of film ratings. The movie is supposed to be a kid's film, but sneaks in some mild adult content to get laughs.

This film is unfunny on all levels. Okay, there are probably one or two scenes that made me laugh, but the rest of the movie has stupidly unfunny jokes. Worst of all, the funny parts are supposed to be those that have the mild adult themes. I thought this was a FAMILY movie, not a sex comedy!

I guess only those kids who are spoiled and are used to nudity & porn will like this movie. There is a cameo appearance by Paris Hilton, who has done a sex video before. Maybe those kids who watched her sex tape will love seeing her dance suggestively in this movie. They would also love the mild sexual jokes, since they would understand them. It is sickening to think about the young children knowing about all this adult stuff at a young age.

The cat himself is very annoying. It seems that the filmmakers were trying to make him scary & funny at the same time. They were probably thinking of creating the cat as a Freddy Krueger carbon copy. Freddy is one thousand times funnier than this lame cat. In fact, Freddy could slice him up any time. I would get more laughs that way.

And lastly, of course, this film has nothing to do with the Dr. Seuss books. It's no wonder that the fans of the Dr. Seuss series were angry at this movie. If I was a fan of those books, I would be angry too.

To sum up, this film was really an insult to Dr. Seuss, to nursery rhymes, and to comedy itself. I despised this film on all levels, even if a few parts were funny. Watch this movie only if you're a kid who knows a lot about adult themes.

I give this movie a 0/10.

Saw II (2005)

Jigsaw returns...with more idiocy

[1/10 · 29 April 2006]

"Saw 2", like the original, is arguably one of the most overrated films ever. Although this film is slightly better than the original Saw, it still has the same boring ideas and tries badly to be a horror movie.

This time, instead of just two guys trapped in a room by Jigsaw (from the first movie), there are now about 7 people locked up in a house with deadly gas. These people must figure out the clues given by Jigsaw in order to escape the house. Meanwhile, police have located Jigsaw himself and start questioning him about how to release the trapped victims...

The previews were right when they said that there would be more blood than the original film. Nevertheless, along with more blood, there is more stupidity brought by the characters that are locked inside the house. Each and every one of them are among the dumbest characters I've ever seen in film history. The clues they were given were so obvious that they all should have figured everything out. But alas, they all take wrong turns and end up killing each other.

Aside from the stupidity happening in the the deadly house, the police arrive at Jigsaw's hideout to persuade him to set his victims free. Jigsaw himself is a laughable rip-off of Dr. Hannibal Lecter. The questioning scenes between Jigsaw & the main cop are carbon copies of the questioning scenes between Dr. Hannibal Lecter & FBI agent Clarice Starling in "The Silence of the Lambs". The film-makers attempted to make Jigsaw look "clever" by letting him use metaphorical sentences, much like Hannibal. However, Jigsaw is in no way as psychologically menacing as Hannibal, since Hannibal uses his mind to frighten his victims, while Jigsaw relies solely on traps to keep his victims scared. In my eyes, Jigsaw is a lame Hannibal wannabe.

Jigsaw is much more weaker than I expected him to be. In this film, he is a very old man in a wheelchair, supported by oxygen breathers. As the movie progresses, the audience learns that he ended up this way due to being in a freak car accident. He reveals that he has an assistant who helped him build the traps. This assistant is actually among the victims from the booby-trapped house! However, it is hard to believe that Jigsaw's assistant is a teenage girl. I would never believe that she could have helped Jigsaw build the traps. She seems too much of an amateur to be an assistant of a so-called "criminal mastermind". Both Jigsaw and his assistant are totally unrealistic and pathetic.

Finally, the traps in this movie are better than the first film. Some of them were impressive, but still not good enough to make this film a horror movie. I guess people consider this film a horror movie because of the dangerous traps. But traps are not scary at all.

To conclude, this movie is almost the same as the original Saw movie, except that it has more blood than the first one. There are also stupid characters who do dumb things. It's still a thriller, with more horror elements than the first movie. If you liked the first film, then you will enjoy this sequel. If you are a horror movie fan, however, avoid this movie.

I give this film a 1/10.

Saw (2004)

Should have been called "Jigsaw"

[1/10 · 29 April 2006]

Boy, was I fooled by this movie's title. As a horror movie fan, I thought it was going to be a horror film that consisted of a saw-wielding maniac stalking some unsuspecting victims. Little did I know, it was nothing like that at all. It turned out to be a thriller with ridiculous & non-scary moments.

I don't really want to get into the story, because it's really stupid. There is nothing "horror" about this movie. It is only a thriller with some horror moments. The films takes itself too seriously and tries to scare the audience. However, I ended up laughing at the "scary" scenes instead (especially the infamous scene where a victim saws his own leg off).

The killer in the movie is very lame. In fact, Jigsaw (the killer) is not even seen until the end of the movie. So many sub-plots are there to confuse the viewer. It tries to cover up the obviously stupid ending. And worst of all, the killer has a strange resemblance to Dr. Hannibal Lecter from "The Silence of the Lambs". I don't want to see a movie villain copying Hannibal, because Hannibal is one of a kind. Dr. Hannibal Lecter is far superior than Jigsaw, as you may have seen Jigsaw's weakness in the sequel of this film.

Overall, this movie is just your average thriller-fest. There isn't enough horror in the movie for it to be considered a horror movie. True horror fans should avoid this film at all costs.

I give this film a 1/10.

Casual Sex? (1988)

A Cute Comedy

[6/10 · 29 April 2006]

"Casual Sex?" is one of those movies that will either be totally forgotten over time, or will be slightly remembered. It's a very cute comedy, but it can easily be forgotten if you don't have it on video or DVD (I've got it on DVD).

The film has some average performances by little-known actors & actresses. Lea Thompson is very cute in her role, and Victoria Jackson was almost as good (although she was sometimes over-the-top with her character). Viewers will be able to see them both fully nude from their backsides at one point in the movie, but Victoria shows herself in other parts of the film as well.

Perhaps what makes this movie really worth watching is Andrew Dice Clay. He gives a really classic performance as "The Vin Man", and he's really funny in some parts of the movie. He looks really cool too, especially when he wears his leather jacket. And best of all, his lines that he says are terrific and sometimes memorable.

To sum up, this is a cute-but-average comedy movie. It will appeal more to women than men, but it's a great movie to watch with your partner on a date. It's a very light comedy, so don't expect it to be raunchy. And don't miss Andrew Dice Clay's performance! I give this movie a 6/10.

Land of the Dead (2005)

The way a zombie movie should be!

[9/10 · 29 April 2006]

I used to think that the Dawn of the Dead remake was the best that zombie movies can be. However, after watching "Land of the Dead", I quickly changed my mind. Land of the Dead is superior to Dawn of the Dead on every level.

The film is about the world being taken over by zombies, with only few locations populated by human beings. These locations consist of major cities; this movie focuses on the walled city called Fiddler's Green. The walls will not protect this city for long, however, as the zombies become more intelligent. They make their way to the city, getting smarter with every step of the way...

The performances in the film are very good for a horror movie. John Leguizamo and Asia Argento were especially great in their roles. Dennis Hopper is calm-yet-menacing as the city's "president", but his villainous character is generally unlikable. And the actor who played the "leader" zombie was very scary and convincing.

The special effects were great. I loved how the blood and gore was splattered throughout the film. The zombie makeup designs were more realistic than in the Dawn of the Dead remake. The sound effects worked very well with the visual effects.

The only part of the film that I didn't like was the ending. It was a very short ending that could have been much better. The ending didn't do much justice to the rest of the movie. But still, I got over it. The ending was abrupt, but not that bad.

To conclude, this film is the was zombie horror movies should be made. It's exactly what I wanted to see (with the exception of the ending). George Romero has finally created a zombie movie that many horror fans will love. I highly recommend this film to horror movie lovers.

I give this movie a 9/10.

Predator 2 (1990)

Predator will never be the same after this...

[2/10 · 14 April 2006]

As a loyal fan to the first Predator movie, I was really expecting more out of the sequel (Predator 2) which was released in 1990. Although there are more things learned about the monstrous Predator species in the sequel, there are so many downsides that disappointed me, and many unnecessary additions to the Predator saga.

The story takes place in 1997 in Los Angeles, where the once-starry-eyed city is now a zone of local gang warfare. Amidst the gang wars, something is causing brutal killings in various parts of LA. A tough detective (Danny Glover) sets out to see who is behind these gruesome murders, while a secret agent (Gary Busey) has his own plans for the mysterious killer...

The main problem with this film is that it's less realistic than the first one. I wouldn't believe that Los Angeles would be so dark & dank in 1997. The police couldn't have been weaker than the ridiculous gangs in the city. And furthermore, Danny Glover doesn't look tough enough to face the Predator (he should have stayed in the Lethal Weapon films). All these points are an insult to fans of the first film.

Another problem is the fact that Xenomorphs (from the film "Aliens") were actually linked to the Predators. In the film, a Xenomorph skull was shown in the Predator's trophy room in its spacecraft, which means that Predators have hunted the creatures before. If the stupid film-makers didn't put that damn Alien skull in the movie, the link between Aliens and Predators wouldn't have existed. Furthermore, there wouldn't be any trashy sci-fi films and video games that linked the two franchises together (such as the film AVP and the Aliens vs. Predator video games). Sadly, this link has been established and nothing can be done about it.

Finally, the Predator in this film was extremely weak. Unlike the frighteningly powerful Predator in the original film, this Predator is pretty much a novice. It actually gets beaten by a puny little police officer. Its attempts at scaring audiences are absent, as this Predator spouts ridiculous one-liners. Its makeup effects look terribly fake when compared to the first movie; it looked more funny than scary. Worst of all, it is hard to believe that this naive Predator would hunt in a city. Who cares if the weather is hot there?! Would a Predator go hunt in the Sahara desert then? NO!

There ARE a few good things about this movie. Gary Busey's performance was great; he was arguably the most memorable character in the movie. There are some impressive areas where the Predator attacks people, such as in the meat factory. But those are the only good things about this mediocre sequel.

To sum up, this movie is definitely NOT for faithful fans of the original film. Only hardcore fans would like this film, and action-movie fans would like it too. But to others, this movie will remain a disgrace to the Predator franchise.

I give this movie a 2/10.

Beetlejuice (1989–1991)

It's show time, Beetlejuice-style!

[10/10 · 7 April 2006]

I remember when I was around 7 years old, I got to watch the cartoon version of Beetlejuice. Boy, I loved that show! I miss it so much.

I loved the way Beetlejuice was drawn as a cartoon character. He looks a lot like the Beetlejuice character from the live-action movie (take note that the movie version was made BEFORE the cartoon series).

Lydia was a cute goth-girl character. I hate to say this, but she looks a lot cuter as a cartoon character than in the movie. But this doesn't mean that I like the cartoon series better than the movie; I think both the cartoon & the movie are equally great.

And best of all, this show was even created by Tim Burton, the director of the original Beetle Juice movie! It's very rare that directors would actually be a part of a TV show that is based on their films.

I wish I could say more about this show, but I haven't seen enough episodes and it's been a long time since I've seen this show. Hopefully the show's episodes will get released on DVD, because I will definitely buy the episodes.

I give this show a 9/10.

Slash (2002)

Blood in the Cornfield

[6/10 · 7 April 2006]

When I first laid my eyes on the DVD cover of "Slash", I was thinking that this film would be very bloody and gory. However, as I was going to find out, the movie isn't too bloody at all. It's more thrilling than bloody, with some hilarious performances from the virtually unknown actors & actresses. And the killer in this movie looked cool.

The movie is about a rock group on their way to the lead singer's family home, upon hearing that his aunt had passed away. The group is forced to cope with the singer's father named Jeremiah, and his creepy hill-billy assistant Billy Bob. However, it's not all peaceful in this farmland, as a mysterious killer in the form of a scarecrow is on the loose, waiting to get some new blood...

I think I'm making it sound like a horror movie masterpiece. The truth is, the movie is not bad, but it's not too great either.

There are some funny performances delivered by the supporting characters (especially that black guy and Billy Bob), and the 2 female characters in the movie are gorgeous (especially Candy, the blonde cutie). However, their lines are kinda cheesy and they spit out foul language frequently from time to time.

I liked the way the killer looks in this movie. It's rare to see a killer in a horror movie who wears a hat similar to Freddy Krueger's (from the "Nightmare on Elm Street" horror movies). I also loved the weapon that he used: a scythe. I've never seen horror villains use that weapon before in previous horror films.

Although many of the death scenes in the film are not very bloody, there is one particular death scene that really blew my mind: A harvester machine actually "eats up" a victim and makes mince-meat out of his body. You have to see this death scene to believe it.

And if you're a rock music fan, you will like the music in this movie. There are various scenes that play rock music in the backgrounds, and most of the main characters even perform rock songs. You might feel like you're watching a rock concert!

To sum up, this movie is not exactly a horror classic. However, I think the movie tried its best to thrill audiences. It had some pretty imaginative death scenes (especially the one where a guy is "harvested"), and fresh new actors & actresses who may have greater acting careers in the future. If you've got a girlfriend or boyfriend, rent this movie to watch at home and have some nice thrills. Your partner will enjoy the evening. Just make sure you're far away from farmlands...

I give this film a 6/10.

Friday the 13th: Part 3 (1982)

Jason's causing chaos once again!

[7/10 · 11 March 2006]

I remember first viewing this "Friday the 13th" sequel on videotape, and in the beginning I thought it was stupid. But now, after seeing it again on DVD, I have changed my mind about the movie. It isn't that bad.

The film starts with a recap of the last scene from Part 2, where Jason is seen getting up after he is assumed dead. Then the movie begins, with a funky and upbeat 80's background song starting the film. Right after the song ends, Jason begins his killing spree, starting with two unsuspecting store owners, and then moving on to unsuspecting teens at a small farm area...

The thing I like about this movie is the fact that Jason first gets his trademark hockey mask in this movie. The mask is a big improvement over the sack from part 2, and makes Jason look much scarier.

Another good thing about this movie is Dana Kimmell. Although her lines & dialog in the film are somewhat cheesy at some points, her character is very convincing as the teen heroine. And whenever she's frightened, she screams the cutest scream ever. I loved how she screamed in the film; she was cute and funny at the same time!

A bad part of the movie is the fact that the rest of the characters are unlikable. The teens are generally stupid and naive, and the biker gang are very mean-spirited. Those characters are so unlikable that you will really want Jason to kill them all.

Another bad thing: Some viewers might be disappointed that they cannot see the film in its actual 3D format. I myself would have liked to see the movie's 3D effects.

Overall, Dana Kimmell and Jason save the movie from being bad. You have to hear Dana's screams to know how cute she is. And you must watch this movie in order to know how Jason gets his hockey mask.

I give this movie a 7/10.

Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984)

Jason is back...with a vengeance!

[8/10 · 24 February 2006]

The DVD poster of "Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter" doesn't really justify how good the movie really is; the poster looks very cheap in comparison to the other Friday the 13th movie posters. But don't judge this film by its poster; this is arguably the best "Friday the 13th" sequel.

The movie starts off with a recap of scenes from the last 3 films. Then after that, the police and paramedics arrive at the scene of the massacre, where the teens and bikers from the last film (part 3) were killed. Jason's body is discovered laying on the floor of a barn, and he is assumed dead. However, Jason's body disappears from a hospital's morgue, and then our attention is focused on the Jarvis family and 6 carefree teenagers who moved in next to the Jarvis house...

The way Jason kills his victims in this movie is very impressive. There are scenes where he stabs them in the most unlikely parts of the body, and there is even a scene where he uses a saw to cut open a man's throat! In addition to the killings, the blood pouring out of Jason's victims looks very realistic.

The movie has a great cast when compared to the other "Friday the 13th" sequels. Corey Feldman stars as the younger brother of the leading heroine, and Crispin Glover is absolutely hilarious as a sensitive teen (watch his funny dance scene!). There are also two cute twins starring in the film: Camilla and Carey More. Although both twins look the same, I liked Camilla much better. She was cute and sexy at the same time.

And thanks to the makeup artist Tom Savini, "Friday the 13th" fans will be happy to see the most hideous and believable face of Jason. When compared to the other Friday the 13th films, Jason's face looks the most realistic in this one. You have to see his face in this film to believe how terrifying he REALLY looks.

The bad part of this movie is that we don't really get to see much of Jason most of the time. Since most of the film is shot in the night, it's difficult to really see Jason. But I guess that's the whole point of the Friday the 13th movies, because there must be darkness in order to feel afraid of Jason.

Overall, this is the best Friday the 13th sequel. It has great makeup effects, an interesting cast of characters, and the best Jason face. Only see it if you are a fan of the "Friday the 13th" films and other horror movies.

I give this movie an 8/10.

Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989)

Jason vs. New York City

[6/10 · 18 February 2006]

This 8th part in the "Friday the 13th" series, called "Jason Takes Manhattan", sounds like a promising new addition to the Friday movies. In some ways, this movie is actually more creative than the previous sequels. In other ways, the movie misses out on many things.

In this movie, Jason Voorhees is shocked back to life and climbs aboard a cruise ship filled with college students. The ship is heading for New York City, and Jason starts killing most of the people on board. Then later on, some remaining people survive and arrive at New York, with Jason following them...

I must say that I love the very beginning of this movie. There are nice shots of New York City at night, as well as a great 80's song to begin the movie. However, the film doesn't really begin in New York; the scene shifts away to Camp Crystal Lake, where Jason is about to be resurrected by an electric shock from an underwater electric cable.

Later on, the film introduces us to the characters that will board a ship, which Jason climbs aboard as the ship leaves for New York. Most of the film's run time is spent on the ship to explore the characters, while Jason hunts many of them down and starts killing them.

The problem with this time spent on the ship is that it can get pretty boring just seeing the characters do dumb things. Thankfully, Jason kills them off quite well, although in not as good a fashion as in the previous sequels. There was just too much time spent on the ship and on useless characters.

Another problem is the portrayal of New York City, when the few survivors (and Jason) finally get there. New York is a really dangerous place in the movie, with drug dealers and dirty barrels of toxic chemicals everywhere on the docking bays. I have never been in New York, but I'm sure the docks weren't that bad. I guess the film-makers had to make the docking bays look horrible so that the movie can remain a horror film.

There are some good points, though. The idea of Jason being in a big city is fascinating, since Jason can finally get a taste of city life, rather than the usual forests on the outskirts of New Jersey (namely at Camp Crystal Lake). Also, the film seems to have borrowed elements from the "Nightmare on Elm Street" films: The lead female character actually daydreams about a younger Jason in various parts of the movie.

Overall, the best part of the movie is when the action happens in New York City. It's really interesting to see Jason stalking his victims in the Big Apple. If you're a fan of the "Friday the 13th" movies, then you might like this movie. However, don't expect it to be better than the sequels; it's just more creative than the sequels. Fast-forward to the last 30 minutes, when Jason & his victims are in New York City.

I give this movie a 6/10.

Child's Play (1988)

Nice try, Chucky

[5/10 · 4 February 2006]

"Child's Play" is the kind of horror movie that would scare people whom are afraid of dolls. I have to say that the idea of a doll being scary is pathetic, especially since dolls can be easily ripped apart and thrown away. My point is: Chucky is not scary at all.

The movie starts out as some kind of action movie. We see this criminal named Charles Lee Ray running away from a police officer. He gets shot a few times, and then hides out in a toy store. When he's about to die, he says some kind of voo-doo chant, and then his soul gets transported into the body of a doll. Later on, when a mother of a child buys the doll for her son, Charles (nicknamed Chucky) starts terrorizing the son and the mother and others that are in the way.

The movie has some good thriller elements in it, but they only last for a short while. The movie is more of a thriller than a horror film. There are just not enough scares.

The acting in the movie is very goofy and annoying at times. The kid was extremely over-acting in his role, and the mother seemed like a clichéd character. The hero cop in the film didn't seem tough enough to be a cop!

Finally, the character of Chucky seemed more like a criminal than a horror villain. Well, he was actually BOTH criminal & horror villain. But he's one of the weakest horror villains ever, along with Jigsaw from the "Saw" movies. If you were to put Chucky against horror villains such as Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees, or the Candyman, Chucky would get ripped to shreds. Chucky isn't a true horror villain; he's just a typical criminal that doesn't do enough to scare others.

To sum up, this is a very weak horror movie. It has a few good scenes, but the horror element is missing. The film is more of a kind of crime/thriller than a horror, which at least makes the movie watchable. Watch it if you haven't seen it before, or if you are afraid of dolls.

I give this movie a 5/10

Prozac Nation (2001)

Christina Ricci's most gripping performance

[8/10 · 26 January 2006]

I picked up the DVD of "Prozac Nation" at a great low price, and I am pleased to say that this movie was well worth the money. I liked this movie so much that I can't wait to read the book when I find it (the film is based on the novel of the same name).

The movie tells the true story of Elizabeth Wurtzel (played by the beautiful Christina Ricci)and her battle with depression. She gets tired of life and nears suicide. However, she struggles to stay alive throughout her life in the 1980's, when sex and drugs ruled.

Christina Ricci was the best at acting in this film. Her performance was very realistic and true as the depressed Elizabeth. I myself had to combat depression before, so I know the things she was going through, and I know how she feels. She was really trying her best to survive in the movie, and I appreciate the film-makers efforts to show it on the screen. And aside from her character in the film, Christina Ricci herself was beautiful; her gorgeous nude body is shown at the beginning of the movie!

The movie put great effort to give the background scenery an 80's feel, since the book was based in the 1980's. However, I noticed that there were glaring anachronisms (mistakes in the timeline setting of the movie) that distracted me slightly from the story. But still, I got over it and continued watching the movie.

The anachronisms was one of the two things that I didn't like in the movie. The second thing I hated was Elizabeth's mom (played by Jessica Lange); she was a very annoying and clichéd character. Without Jessica Lange's exaggerated performance, the movie would have been nearly perfect.

Aside from those two things, the movie was very good and interesting. I never imagined that there would actually be a true story about depression portrayed in a movie. It was good to see this movie, since it would help spread awareness about depression. It's too bad that the author of the book didn't like the film.

I give this film an 8/10.

Trainspotting (1996)

Can you spot the train?

[10/10 · 26 January 2006]

This was the first British film that I've seen, and it remains the best one I've seen so far. It features great acting, superb background visuals, and some of the most bizarre & disturbing moments ever shown on a movie screen.

The story focuses on the many drug-filled misadventures of Renton(played by Ewan McGregor) as he tries to figure out if he wants to really "choose life". He also faces a challenge in which he has to decide on his friendship with his bungling buddies: The braindead Spud, the suave Sick Boy, the psychotic Begbie, the truthful Tommy, and his under-aged girlfriend Diane (played by the adorable Kelly Macdonald). All along the way, heroine and music are saturated in the story.

The characters stick to their characterizations so well that it actually works. Renton is very honest about himself, but also dishonest in some situations. The character of Spud is a doped-out as he can get. Sick Boy is a sociopathic James Bond copy. Begbie is crazy and villainous. And Diane acts very mature for her age (which is just like most teenage girls nowadays). Tommy is a little too regular for his own good, especially since he is living among his deranged and unusual friends.

There are some scenes that are very bizarre, disgusting, and disturbing. These scenes include Renton swimming in a toilet, Renton having sex with the much-younger Diane, and Renton's deadly "withdrawal from drugs" scene. These scenes may be disturbing & gross for many people, but it shows how unusual life can really get (I must point out that all these scenes feature Renton as the main character. This is a great thing, since it keeps the viewer's attention fixed to Renton when needed).

The music featured in the movie is pretty good. You will hear some groovy tunes from Iggy Pop, as well as some nice dance tunes from Underworld and other gods of dance & techno music.

Overall, the movie was excellent and sticks to its story very firmly. It's also based on a book that I haven't read yet. Upon watching this movie, I have an urge to read the book that inspired this movie. Once I find the book, I'll read it.

I give this movie a 10/10.

The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Will the lambs break their silence?

[10/10 · 24 January 2006]

"The Silence of the Lambs" is truly a masterpiece. It's a thriller that requires brains to figure out the twists and turns. It's not a mindless horror movie either; the horror elements are very psychological and tend to be disturbing. Furthermore, the film is almost exactly like the novel of the same name.

I really love the characters in the movie because they stayed true to the characters in the book. Jodie Foster played the role of FBI rookie Clarice Starling in a very realistic setting, and Anthony Hopkins played his role as the cannibalistic Hannibal Lecter superbly. Both characters were very convincing, thanks to the powerful performances done by Foster & Hopkins.

The cinematography is outstanding. Everything about the background imagery mentioned in the book sprang to life in this film. Some locations look very beautiful, while others are downright creepy.

The theme music throughout the movie is good and scary, enough to make your nerves tingle. There are also little scenes where familiar popular songs are featured.

To conclude, this is a very rich film and sticks to the book very well. It is just as enjoyable as the novel.

I give this film a 10/10.

Friday (1995)

I wish my Fridays were like this!

[7/10 · 24 January 2006]

After listening to Ice Cube's song "Friday", I was very curious to know how good the actual movie was. Then when I finally bought the DVD of the film, I was very pleased. The movie was a great comedy, filled with laughs and an interesting story.

The whole movie's story takes place on a Friday. It's about two friends (played by Ice Cube and Chris Tucker) who try to get through a regular Friday in their urban neighborhood. Little do these two fellows know, this Friday will be anything but regular. This Friday will be the most different Friday they will ever experience.

The best thing about the movie is Chris Tucker. He gives a very comical and humorous performance as Smokey, the weed-addicted home boy. I've heard that Chris Tucker didn't star in the sequels to this film, so I refuse to watch the sequels. Ice Cube was pretty good in the movie too, but I wish he didn't have to star in the Tucker-less sequels, since Cube & Tucker go well together as buddies.

The soundtrack of the movie is great as well. There are lots of hip hop songs played in various parts of the film. I particularly like the songs from Dr. Dre, Cypress Hill, and Ice Cube himself.

The bad part about the movie is that the story itself seems to be over-simplistic. I think a way to improve the movie would have been to add more sub-plots, therefore making the movie contain many funny twists. But still, the movie is pretty good as it is.

To sum up, this is a great movie to watch on a day when you're in need of some good comedy. I'd recommend watching the movie on a good ol' Friday night!

I give this movie a 7/10.

Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)

They've got the beat!

[10/10 · 23 January 2006]

"Fast Times at Ridgemont High" is a very special film to me. It's the first high school movie that actually portrayed what REALLY went on inside the schools of the 1980's. What is seen in the movie is not only true and slightly disturbing, but also really funny in ironic ways.

The movie shows the interactions of a bunch of high school students, all of which are unforgettable. I was especially very fond of Jennifer Jason Leigh, since she gave a very realistic performance as a 15-year-old high school student who finally gets laid at the beginning of the movie (but later decides that she wanted a real relationship instead of just sex). Sean Penn's performance was arguably the least realistic, but he was hilarious as the doped-out high school dude. And Judge Reinhold (who later on co-starred in the "Beverly Hills Cop" films) was funny and likable as Jennifer Jason Leigh's older brother.

There are many great 80's songs featured in the soundtrack. The very first song, called "We Got the Beat", jump-starts the beginning of the film with a blast. Then later on we hear the song "Somebody's Baby" twice, when Jennifer's character has sex two times with different men. Although the song is a happy song, it can make the sex scenes awkward since Jennifer looked very young for her age. I always had to look away from the screen whenever Jennifer was naked, because she looked too cute! It was disturbing to see at first, but I got over it.

The only bad thing about the movie is that it's very short. But it can also be a good thing, since a shorter film means that people can watch it more times in a row. When I first got the DVD, I watched the movie 3 times in one day! It's one of the only movies that I can actually watch many times in a row.

Overall, this was a great high-school movie with lots of laughs and memorable moments. And despite the fact that some may get offended by the nudity and the short film duration, the movie will still remain as a cult classic in my book.

I give this film a 10/10.

P.S: Look out for early roles & cameos by Forest Whitaker and Nicholas Cage in this movie!)

Police Academy (1984)

The wackiest cops you'll ever see!

[8/10 · 22 January 2006]

I had the opportunity to first see "Police Academy" on a movie channel, and I really liked the movie. It had really funny jokes and gags, mostly slapstick and verbal jokes. It also proved that a team of misfit cops-to-be can actually help fight crimes! The great thing about this movie is the humor. The funniness of the film can keep you laughing, and the comedy is very original. It's especially funny to know that each of the police cadets have their own unique crazy ability that gives them advantages over their foes. The characters are very memorable too.

The downside of this film is that the climactic scenes at the end seemed to end the movie too fast, since I expected more crime-fighting. But since this was the first movie, I guess the film-makers didn't think too much about villainous characters. They probably just wanted to keep the movie as it was, with good clean comedy. The other downside is that there are extremely terrible sequels that follow. A word of warning: NEVER WATCH THE SEQUELS OF THIS MOVIE.

Overall, the movie was hilarious and fun. Watch it when you need to be cheered up on a bad day. I guarantee that you'll be happy after viewing it.

I give this movie an 8/10.

Cool World (1992)

It's a cool, cool, cool world...

[6/10 · 22 January 2006]

"Cool World" is the first-ever mature-themed animated film that I have seen so far. Actually, the movie is a combination of live action & animation. The film's poster looked good, and the film had 3 big movie stars: Brad Pitt (from "Ocean's Eleven"), Gabriel Byrne (from "The Usual Suspects"), and Kim Basinger (from "LA Confidential").

Although many people seem to hate this movie, I actually enjoyed it. Sure, the actors didn't act too well and there were lots of visual mistakes, but the animation was dreamy, dreary, and had Gothic background features. I love the way the funny & crazy cartoon characters mingled with the dark architecture of Cool World (the toon world). This was a little treat for me since, when I was a kid, I always imagined cartoon characters in crazy cities.

The main female character, named Holli Would, is a real dream diva. She's hot & sexy, but at the same time seems to be villainous. To me, she is a sexier alternative to Jessica Rabbit (from the live action/animation film "Who Framed Roger Rabbit").

The soundtrack is excellent, featuring some early 90's dance songs. I particularly like the opening song at the beginning of the movie called "Play With Me".

The only thing that I didn't really like about this movie is that the last 30 minutes seemed rushed. The beginning of the movie was exciting and had the feel of a great movie. But in the next hour of the movie, the actors start acting lazy, the jokes get cheesy, and the animation spins out of control. And most of all, the ending was stupid.

All in all, I kinda enjoyed this film. It's definitely not for everyone, but the movie had an interesting idea. It's too bad that the movie didn't manage to achieve success at the box office in 1992 (it had to compete with better films such as "Terminator2: Judgment Day" and "The Silence of the Lambs").

I give this movie a 6/10.

A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Dream Child (1989)

The weirdest "Nightmare" movie

[7/10 · 4 January 2006]

The 5th movie of the "Nightmare on Elm Street" franchise is arguably the weirdest part ever. There are so many things in the movie that make it hard to watch, yet at the same time it is still fairly watchable.

The movie continues after the 4th part with Alice & Dan engaged. Alice finds out later that she is expecting a child and she starts having dreams about Freddy Krueger (again). But she doesn't know why she is having the dreams, especially after she defeated Freddy in part 4. Then much later on, she discovers that her unborn baby inside of her has caused Freddy to be resurrected again, and with the help of her friends must stop Freddy from making her baby evil.

From beginning to end, the film shows strangeness. In the beginning, their is a weird close-up sex scene (but nothing explicit is shown) illuminated with blue lighting and dark background music. Freddy's dream powers are still awesome but are very weird (such as him changing into a motorcycle, overfilling a girl's mouth with food, transferring dead souls to Alice's unborn son via her womb, and a gross scene featuring Freddy "growing" out of Alice's face and body). There are lots of special effects, but I think they were way over-the-top.

However, unlike with Part 2 of the "Nightmare" movies, there are some things in the film that I like. The comic book geek's part 4-styled dream was the most fun, and it showcased one of Freddy's greatest superpowers (he transforms to an indestructible "Super Freddy!"). The boy who played Alice's son Jacob was creepy-looking and acted pretty good; at least he wasn't like those other bratty kid actors in certain immature horror films. Lisa Wilcox was okay as her character Alice, and after the birth of her character's child at the end, she says a cute addictive line: "Sweet dreams, Jacob Daniel." Finally, the background imagery in the movie is very dark and Gothic, which is a real treat for fans of Gothic horror movies.

To sum up, "A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child" is one of the weakest sequels of the franchise, but it has some good points that make it worth watching at least once. It's much better than Part 2 of the series, and much more imaginative.

I give this movie a 7/10.

A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988)

My personal favorite "Nightmare on Elm Street" movie

[9/10 · 3 January 2006]

The 4th installment of the "Nightmare" movies is arguably the most fun of all of them. Sure, it's not so scary, but it showcases Freddy Krueger's strongest dream powers.

The film takes off where the last movie left off, and this time the cute singer/actress Tuesday Knight plays as the character of Kristen (instead of Patricia Arquette, who turned down the "Kristen" role that she played in the 3rd movie). After her character gets killed by Freddy Krueger(Robert Englund), the film focuses on Alice (played by the beautiful Lisa Wilcox) after she acquires Kirsten's dream power. As many of her friends die, Alice gets all their unique dream powers and uses them to fight off Freddy.

Lisa Wilcox was really good in this movie. She had a beautiful face and orange-red hair, and acted good. And alongside Freddy Krueger, her character proved to be Freddy's greatest nemesis.

Alice's dream powers, however, couldn't quite match Freddy Krueger's superior powers. Freddy's powers made him nearly invincible in the face of his enemies, and also added some little humor to the ways his victims were killed (such as eating a guy's meatball-shaped head from a pizza, laughing while being punched in the face, and even sending Alice going in circles when she tries to stop him!). There are very creative deaths in this movie, which is a real treat for horror fans.

The only bad part about the movie is that there is not as much blood & gore as the rest of the "Nightmare" movies. There would have been much more frightening scenes if there was more blood. Perhaps the filmmakers decided that the main part of the movie was to show how powerful Freddy really is. I enjoyed the movie as it is anyway, despite it having little blood & gore.

To sum up, I loved this movie. It really had imaginative ideas and great-looking actors & actresses. I especially loved Lisa Wilcox and Tuesday Knight in this movie. And as always, Robert Englund was great in his role as Freddy Krueger. (As a side note, this was the most successful "Nightmare on Elm Street" movie, since it earned the most money at the box-office) I give this movie a 9/10.

P.S: Look out for Hope Marie Carlton (a Playboy Playmate) in a cameo role!

A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987)

The best "Nightmare on Elm Street" sequel

[9/10 · 2 January 2006]

"A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors" is the best "Nightmare" sequel of all of the rest. It really explains nearly everything about Freddy, including bits of his background information.

The special effects were pretty good for its time, and also alittle freaky. Freddy's makeup was almost as good as in the first film, and there is a great look at Freddy's hellish dream world.

The actors & actresses were good, too. I particularly liked Patricia Arquette's performance as the troubled teenage patient at the mental ward. Fans of the first "Nightmare" film will love to see Heather Langencamp's return to this movie. John Saxon also returns, but has a smaller role than from the first movie.

Best of all, there is no mention about the awful second "Nightmare" movie. I am very glad that the filmmakers of this movie didn't put in any reference to the 2nd movie (other than Freddy himself). That means this movie truly sticks to the first film's rules and ideology, and remained true to the first movie.

That being said, this is the best "Nightmare on Elm Street" sequel. Although not as good as the original, this sequel makes use of referring to the first movie and not the messed-up second movie.

I give this movie an 9/10.

P.S: Look out for the sexy Stacy Alden in this movie!

Doom II: Hell on Earth (1994 Video Game)

Good sequel to the original game

[9/10 · 1 September 2005]

"Doom 2: Hell on Earth" is a good sequel to the original Doom game, despite some disappointing aspects.

The storyline is quite exciting: You are the surviving marine now back on Earth, but you see that Earth is being attacked by Hell's demons. Some of the monsters survived from the previous game, and have opened up another inter-dimensional gate so that they can seep into the Earth and cause chaos. You must shut the gate so that Earth can be rebuilt again.

There is a new weapon in this game: The Super Shotgun. It's stronger than the standard shotgun, but it takes 2 shells at once and reloads more slowly. Still, it is very effective on the tough demons.

There are new monsters as well. The newer demons are much harder to beat than the ones from the original "Doom". I would say the most difficult demon is the Pain Elemental, which produces Lost Souls if it is not destroyed. And once killed, it releases 3 Lost Souls. Get a powerful weapon ready!

And lastly, the maps are almost like the ones in the original game. However, I expected more out of the maps. For example, a level called "Downtown" (which means a downtown area on earth) seems incomplete in that there are no dead bodies of human civilians on the ground. Also, there are no cars, trucks, motorcycles, and other human vehicles found on the streets. It makes the town seem less realistic than it's supposed to be. Some humans may have fled the city, but there should have been at least some dead bodies and vehicles laying around.

Overall, this sequel to the original "Doom" game is pretty good and fun to play (especially with the addition of the Super Shotgun), but it still seems to have some things missing. However, if you liked the original Doom (as I did), then I would highly recommend that you play this sequel.

I give the game a 9/10.