cklein-2 Reviews

Quest for the Mighty Sword (1990)

Am I the only person who recognizes the plot?

[10 July 2009]

It's Richard Wagner's "Siegfried" With All The Names Changed!!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siegfried_(opera)

Grindl- Mime. Ator- Siegfried. Dehamira- Brunnhilde.

I can't believe there was no credit at all given to Wagner. Sure, he was a proto-Nazi but the man at least could weave a yarn!

So is there any recognizable music at least in this? Maybe perhaps something operatic? Something vaguely... Wagnerian?

And how is it that I never saw this masterpiece? A message board I'm on had someone ask what the movie was with a plot about a young man raised by a evil dwarf & he reforged the sword that was rightfully his... and I said "Sounds like Wagner's Siegfried to me!" Someone else actually knew the movie & gave the title as "Quest for the Mighty Sword". And so I am here.

Tribulation (2000)

actually a review of the sequel JUDGMENT....

[30 March 2001]

I haven't seen the first 3 in the series (Apocalypse, Revelation & Tribulation) but Judgment was on the rack at the store where I work so I bought it out of curiosity & because it was 1/2 price of the TV offer *L*

VERY IMPRESSIVE- Nick Mancuso is back as the AntiChrist, now looking much like Jerry Springer (he changes his look in each film), putting Christian evangelist Helen Hannah on trial for opposing his New World Order & thus disturbing the peace. Her court appointed defense attorney is (Surprise) Corbin Bernsen- who has yet to really choose sides. Before it's over, Helen's not on trial as much as is Corbin, God/Jesus & the AntiChrist himself. A very well thought-out human & philosophical drama that does not rely on special effects or even one buying into the Bible prophecy interpretation to work.

The Haunted World of Edward D. Wood Jr. (1995)

I saw this at its HollyWOOD Premier!

[25 March 2001]

It was the Nu-Art theatre in a rundown part of Hollywood, and I got autographs from Dolores Fuller, Conrad (Kelso) Brooks, Paul Marco, Forrest J Ackerman (YAY Uncle Forry! Also toured his Mansion of Horror- SciFi memoribilia later that week), & Rev Lyn Lemon- the Baptist pastor whose church financed Plan 9 (a tall gracious dignified man, not as all as portrayed in the Tim Burton film which many saw as slanderous of Bela, whose son was also at the premier.)

The best Hollywood experience of my several visits there!

Btw, it's an informative & fun movie!

Hannibal (2001)

Generally satisfying, but cut too many subplots

[12 February 2001]

My companion & I liked it- she a bit more than I as I was comparing it to the book. Not the suspense fest of SILENCE but then again I never expected that.

Italian scenes gorgeous & atmospheric & a bit slow moving but more menacing because of it.

Captivity & (SPOILER) escape of Lecter from Verger, & his courting of Clarice went way too fast. Twist ending from book well done.

Julianne Moore excellent! Had the accent totally down. Worthy as an older Foster-Starling.

Now main spoilers- contrasting to the book- No hints on Lecter's background- no happy Italian villa, no little sister killed & meant to be revived in Starling (read the book- you'll get what I mean)

No abused sister Margot of Verger- the cut from the book I missed most. Her character made Verger more loathesome & his demise MUCH more satisfying. Hence tho Barney is in the film, he is not in as much as in book. Margot could easily have replaced the Cordell character without much complication.

Lecter's escape from the pigs TOO fast- lacked confrontation of animal will vs Lecter's primal will.

Absolute last scene with little boy at dinner- PRICELESS!

Left Behind: The Movie (2000)

better than I expected

[23 January 2001]

I haven't seen the APOCALYPSE series by the Lalonde brothers, but I imagine that would be slightly lower in quality than this. LEFT BEHIND is COMPLETELY superior to much other Christian efforts to dramatize the Futurist view of Revelation. Most of the acting is so-so but Gordon Currie is marvelously understated as humanitarian-turned-AntiChrist Nicolae Carpathia.

better than The Omen series, not as good as Stephen King's The Stand, and far inferior to Michael Tolkin's THE RAPTURE with Mimi Rogers & David Duchovny

as an interesting curiosity, compare this to the 1970's-early '80's series THIEF IN THE NIGHT, A DISTANT THUNDER, IMAGE OF THE BEAST, and PRODIGAL PLANET

don't bother with a cheap piece of junk called YEARS OF THE BEAST

Jesus of Montreal (1989)

unjustly eclipsed by Last Temptation

[23 January 2001]

I have only seen the last half of this film- caught it late one night on cable, but it is every bit as moving as one of my other favorite Jesus films- Last Temptation. And I am an evangelical, charismatic, politically & theologically conservative Christian. A good challenge to casual & unreflecting faith as well as to hidebound resistance to the Gospel. Not for everyone's tastes, I'll admit.