Kevin-278 Reviews

Cube (1997)

One of the best Indie films ever made

[25 July 2004]

I had seen Cube many years ago and was very immpressed at the time. When it aired on IFC the other day I thought I'd check it out for a while before watching something else....problem was that I found myself watching the entire thing.

The film is so simple, one set (lit many ways), seven actors, and a lot of suspense. The most interesting thing about the film is that it wasn't even made by a major or minor studio, but instead by some students at the Toronto film school (run by Norman Jewison). The acting is not the high point but the complex storyline is a work of genius.

Simple, yet amazing

Kull the Conqueror (1997)

He ain't no Conan

[28 November 2000]

Like most reviews in this file I agree that this film is basically Hercules with Sorbo using another name but not really changing the character. He starts the film as a barbarian for Atlantis and not 5 minutes later he's righting the political wrongs of the world like slavery. I'm sure most of your everyday barbarians wouldn't turn down a harem of women and get rid of all the forced help.

The film has its good parts (not great and their far between). Some effects are better then you'd see on TV but their placed next to a scene with a bad effect. The soundtrack even mixes in rock music for the fight scenes. People, this is the reason Ladyhawke isn't remembered in a very positive light.

Some research of mine indicates that this script was written quite a few years as the third Conan film. Arnold didn't want to do another one so it was shelved until some bone head thought they could re-tool it and make some money. Maybe they should have let it gather some more dust.

The Iron Giant (1999)

One of the best

[9/10 · 24 November 2000]

Like most of the people to have commented on this film I can find nothing bad to say about it. It was certainly a breath of fresh air from all the Disney-ish cartoons out there. The animation is of a classic style and goes together with the actors voices perfectly. The setting, which is in the cold war culture of the 50's, is also an added bonus to the story as the fear of the Giant gets out of hand. The bottom line is that it is very enjoyable and teaches a lesson about violence and intolerance in a way that isn't sappy. Enjoy

The Rez (1996–1997)

Good Canuck TV

[24 November 2000]

This short lived series was based on characters created by W. P. Kinsella, who also wrote Shoeless Joe(which was filmed as Field of Dreams). It was spun off from Bruce MacDonald's very good film "Dance Me Outside" and retains much of the same cast. A very good 1/2 hour program it jumped between serious issues and humour very well. The last episodes had the cast actually leaving the rez and travelling to Toronto. Unfortunately the CBC canceled the show and we never got to see what happened next.

Buried on Sunday (1992)

It's a social commentary people!!!

[24 November 2000]

First let me say that this is not the great Canadian movie (that would be Jesus de Montreal) but it does entertain. It was made by the same studio which makes "This Hour has 22 Min" and "Codco" (non Canadian readers will not have a clue what I'm talking about)and a similar type of humour exists here. The basic story of a small fishing village attempting to break off from Canada and become a nation is a comment on the real problem of Quebec independence. The acting is not the best (Gross and Cherney are OK) but some of the references are so canuck they jump out at you. At one point two nuclear missiles are being used to force the governments hand. One is aimed at Mt. Rushmore, because the Americans would get after the Canadian government and force a resolution. The other is aimed at what they believe is a Canadian landmark of similar importance...Canada's Wonderland (for those who don't know it's an amusment park).

Not the greatest, but worth a watch on a rainy day..

Outland (1981)

Sean Connery as Gary Cooper???

[24 November 2000]

One of the better sci-fi films of its day it has Connery playing a law man on a mining colony. The film has that gritty "it could really work" quality about everything, much like the ship in Alien. The coolest part of the story is that if you've seen High Noon, you've basically seen this film. The story line is almost a mirror in its basic form. Connery is the law man who wants to put things right. The bad guys don't like that and send for some bad boys to rub him out. The clocks that were in every room in High Noon are replaced by the countdown timer for the shuttle which will bring the killers. Not the best film but well worth a view.

Journey to the Far Side of the Sun (1969)

A very backward land

[24 November 2000]

I must admit that this film is a guilty pleasure. I first saw it when I was a kid and when I found out it was on again I couldn't miss it. The story is like an episode of the Twilight Zone and the effects, while looking alot like something from the "Thunderbirds" are quite good for '69 (especially the space shots). The funnest part I found on my latest viewing is watching the future technology. We have already gone to Mars but everything, except the cars, looks a lot like the 60's. I mean even Star Trek tried harder. Punch tape...really people. Enjoy.

Unknown World (1951)

Not as bad as I would have liked

[11 September 2000]

I thought that this would be a typical "lost world" type movie. A bunch of people set out on an adventure to find a hide away from the threat of nuclear war by drilling deep into the earth...sounds similar to a lot of other story lines. Problem is that with effects of this style (not too bad for the time), and acting this bad, I thought at least we would get a cave man or a cheap dinosaur. No, they just keep going deeper and deeper, losing members of the team as they go. It also ends so abruptly that you think the writer just gave up.

It's Alive! (1969 TV Movie)

What was that all about??

[30 August 2000]

I started watching this film thinking it was the one about the killer baby, that was until I saw the monster!! I've seen a lot of cheap movies in my time but what was that?? The acting (what acting) was beyond belief and the biggest problem with the script was that if the wife could enter the cage where the people are trapped through an unseen (but mentioned) tunnel, why do they not try to escape through it. They just seem to like hanging around the prison door and drink tea. Some movies I can watch again, not this one.

The Giant Behemoth (1959)

not too bad...but

[30 August 2000]

This film is a pretty good "big monster" movie, especially since the British only did a few during this period. It has some good acting and once the creature comes to the surface the stop motion is not bad. The only real problem I found was that the first time you see the creature is when it attacks a ship in the Thames. Throw the effects book out the window, all you see is a plastic serpent hitting a model. The head doesn't move, nothing. Its just a tub toy hitting another tub toy. Doesn't ruin the movie, but it will either make you laugh or groan.