Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 11th, 2002
Synopsis
If you’ve ever seen a Big Bug film, you already know the plot: chemical spill leads to giantspiders attacking small desert town. Everything from monsters to broadly drawn characters tosetting is present and correct. Eight Legged Freaks doesn’t take itself seriously for a second,which is a bit of a shame. Clearly it would like to be Tremors, but doesn’t quite achieve themagical chemistry of humour and terror that film achieved. Still, this is a movie the deliversprecisely wh...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 11th, 2002
Outrage is actually the DVD release of a 1980’s made for TV film, Christopher Rage’s Outrage. Changing the title was probably a pretty good idea. West Wing star Rob Lowe is the focus of this B film. It’s actually a very watchable film if you’re willing to ignore plot holes large enough to drive a starship through and some lazy legal writing. (When the kids trash his home they leave more fingerprints than a 3 year old with an overstuffed peanut butter and jelly sandwich, but the cops see no evidence.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on November 11th, 2002
Few films have had the impact of the original Exorcist. William Peter Blatty’s original book was a phenomenal hit. The film’s intense imagery and in your face brutality was all the more disturbing coming from a young teenage Linda Blair. What makes this film effective, however, is the subtle touches: The quick flash demonic faces, the eeriest backward language of the demon, and the haunting moans that culminate in one of the truly scariest films ever made. This release restores footage, long legendary, but not seen by a movie audience. I remember seeing pictures of Linda Blair’s “spider crawl” in Famous Monsters of Filmland in the 70’s. To call this film a classic would be stating the obvious.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on November 11th, 2002
Written by Dan Bradley
The right to bear arms has been a heated debated for many years now. Entertainment industries, Hollywood included, have often been singled out as culprits for violence at the hands of these legally-owned weapons. Liberty Stands Still serves as a direct commentary from Hollywood towards the effects of this law, and the influence gun manufacturers and politicians have on the distribution of firearms. Although not released theatrically in the United States, Liberty Stands Still comes home to DVD in a confusing but intri...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 10th, 2002
This is without a doubt the ultimate chick flick. Guys who find themselves subjected to the film can take heart in fact that there are a few moments that they will find interesting. Although this film will likely not give you a better understanding of your wife/girlfriend, it will most assuredly provide insight into your mother-in-law. Turns out she really is as crazy as you thought she was. There is also a subdued but pivotal performance by James Garner, who steals practically every scene he’s in with his wonderful “suffering in silence” Shep.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 5th, 2002
Synopsis
Set in Mexico, Beat shows us the final days of the relationship between Burroughs and hiswife Joan Vollmer. While Burroughs vacations in Guatemala with his latest boy toy, Vollmergallivants about with two other members of the beats, notably a rather innocent Ginsberg.Somehow this is all going to lead to the fatal William Tell trick with the gun. Keifer Sutherlandturns in a startling bit as Burroughs, perfectly mimicking his speech patterns. But the film itself islittle more...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 5th, 2002
Synopsis
Ingrid Bergman is a psychoanalyst and, according to her male colleagues, a cold fish. Thischanges when Gregory Peck shows up as the new head of the psychiatric institution. The onlyproblem is, Peck is not who he says he is. In fact, he doesn’t even know who he really is.Bergman is determined to help him find out, but meanwhile, the man whose identity Peck hasassumed is missing, perhaps murdered... The psychoanalysis in the film is pure hokum, and theplot’s contrivances are ...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 5th, 2002
Synopsis
Three working class friends have their hopes set on motorcross stardom to bring them fameand fortune. Their friendships get complicated by, among other things, the arrival of ambitioussexpot Renee Soutendijk (also seen in Verhoeven’s The Fourth Man).
Audio
The sound is mono, and it gets the job done. Nothing exceptional, but clean andserviceable.
Video
The print appears to be in good shape. The colours are very drab, but thi...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 3rd, 2002
Synopsis
Based on the life of Jim Morris, The Rookie stars Dennis Quaid as a high school coach inrural Texas who has had to give up his dream to play in the major leagues. When he sees his highschool team giving up on themselves, he challenges them with a deal. If they turn themselvesaround, he’ll try out for the Major Leagues. Guess what happens. That’s right, once againbaseball is a metaphor for the American Dream. (Deep sigh from cynical reviewer.) It’s all puttogether very nicel...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 3rd, 2002
Synopsis
Jennifer Lopez plays a waitress named Slim. She meets Prince Charming in the person ofMitch (Billy Campbell). They get married, have a kid, and overnight Prince Charming turns intoJason Voorhees. After suffering a relentless campaign of terror, Slim shifts from Sleeping withthe Enemy to I Spit On Your Grave, and fights back. Her retaliation, which is the entire pointof the film in terms of title and promotion, only begins 80 minutes in. That’s a long time to waitthrough wha...
