Reviews

Corporate intrigue between the Giant, World, and Apollo caramel companies. Nishi is an ad exec for World, his best friend from college works in the advertising division of Giant, and his girlfriend works in the advertising division of Apollo. Nishi's boss, Godo is married into the family that runs the company, and it is obviously not a happy marriage, Godo disrespects his wife and has worked himself into a bleeding ulcer. When Godo and Nishi discover a cute hillbilly girl with rotted out teeth on the streets, Godo thinks she would make a good model and convinces her that Nishi is in love with her. While the rival companies create competing campaigns the young workers attempt to find a middle ground between loyalty to the company and loyalty to your friends. Eventually things turn very bad, and this may be the only movie in history where a guy walking around in a spacesuit with a bubble helmet, shooting a toy gun is a downer ending. The movie features a very weird musical number where Kyoko the hillbilly girl (after getting her teeth fixed) sings a jazzy little number about death, destruction and cannibalism. It is amazing that this film was made in 1958, it is light years beyond any other movie from the 50's I've ever seen. The use of Nishi's lighter to trigger montages is a really interesting idea visually, and I've never seen anything like that before. I give it a 10, and now I definitely need to see more of Masumura's films- the only other one I've seen is Blind Beast which is a horror/sexploitation flick in the style of The Collector.

Most commentary I have seen on Cannibal Man focuses on the psychological horror, but the political side of the story seems more important to me. The film seems to place more blame on the society of Spain under Franco than even on the killer, the ultra cool swimming pool sequence is very reminiscent of Chaplin's "the Great Dictator".

Really odd movie starts out as a slasher flick then turns into a Ultra Man style super hero thing with great punk-pop tunes by a (on screen) band that reminds me of Shonen Knife and the Monkees. The special effects are really cheesy, the super hero has ping pong ball eyes and shoots laser beams which are indicated by scratching the film negative.

In short- really bad special effects, really great music, and a plot that veers wildly from genre to genre without treating it as a joke.

You normally don't think of subtle and sci-fi anime in the same sentence, but that's what Serial Experiments Lain is. The atmosphere is slightly sinister all the way through, with beautiful animation. The story could be compared to the Matrix and the Sixth Sense, while the atmosphere and style is reminiscent of Twin Peaks, eXistenZ, and the end of Neon Genesis EVA.

The ending makes this clear that you won't be getting any easy answers.

This movie is excellent! The cinematography and music are some of the best I've seen, the story is strange and funny, and the Red Elvises rock. If you like heavy metal music don't watch Six-string samurai, otherwise you'll love it. If you liked El Topo or any Lone Wolf and Cub movie you'll love it.

The Red Elvises rock!

I can always tell I'll like a movie when other people call it pretentious. Considering that science fiction is based on ideas it is surprising that most sci-fi movies are content to have cool special effects and recycled ideas. Zardoz is one of the last original ideas in sci-fi movies and it was made nearly 30 years ago.

There is so much to see in this movie (besides the nekkid people), Great special effects, weird sight gags, penisaurs, robots... Many images are indelible, The black swan spaceship of the lesbian queen, the great claymation monster saying "My AAAsss!", robin hood seducing flash gordon (those aren't the character names but you get the idea...), oh yeah, and emperor Wang's cheerleaders.

Not a great movie by any means, but really odd. And so much better than the Dino DeLaurentiis version that came later.

Very reminiscent of Dario Argento's films without being anywhere near as violent. The story is somewhat muddled but the cinematography is amazing. The film's many weak points are overcome by an incredible look and feel and atmosphere. Like the recent anime Perfect Blue the problems with the story only bother you when it's over, while you're watching it the atmosphere carries you along.

The second half of this film is excellent, the first half is very, very good. This is definitely one of those films that will stay with you long after seeing it- I remember the expired pineapples when in a situation like the character in the film, and NO ONE who has seen this can hear California Dreamin' without picturing Faye Wong doing her funky little dance.

Whether you love or hate this movie, it will have a powerful effect on you. I think the most interesting thing about it is that it makes you laugh at things against your better judgement, and some viewers may feel weird about that. It was similar in that way to _Spanking_the_Monkey_, in that it makes you feel bad about laughing at what's going on. I can only recommend this one to the most adventurous viewers, if you have _ever_ disliked a movie because it went too far, don't watch _Happiness_.

After so many recent hard-core gross out comedies have wussed out in the last reel, it is good to see a straight-forward trash talkin' no holds barred _funny_ movie.

The outrageousness doesn't let up, and the main characters don't grow or learn anything (with the exception of Kenny's selflessness). That's the point: adults learn from children. It's all about the innocent thrill of naughtiness, being in a hurry to use that new curse word you learned even though you're not quite sure what it means.

It just goes to show that films don't have to go all sappy to have a message.

If you are a fan of David Cronenberg you will love this, otherwise you'll hate it. It's too self referential for casual moviegoers, and relies on the viewer's knowledge of past Cronenberg films.

I loved it, it really involves the viewer actively in a way that Hollywood movies don't. The performances are great, but require a second viewing to understand why they are great.

The story is basically an update of Videodrome to the information age, and explores the violence of videogames, without necessarily condemning it, in a much deeper way than any editorialist ever has.

My advice is to make sure you have seen Videodrome and Crash before seeing eXistenZ, it will greatly improve your enjoyment of the film.

Cheap thrills, goofy gore, and killer kitties, all the ingredients of a cheese ball classic. The cheap look really makes the film. If you enjoyed Manos, Hands of Fate or Blood Feast you really owe it to yourself to see this.

This movie is pure evil. Manipulative Hollywood action movie that tries to manipulate the viewer into rooting for a worthless, racist sh*t. The main character is so vile that most rational viewers will be sick. Most bad movies are kind of funny, but Navy Seals will only make you angry.

This is actually pretty funny in a reeeeeealy low budget way, and not as offensive as you might think. Actually the film is pretty much an equal opportunity offendor and makes fun of those straight white guys we all hate as well as gays. A guy gets bitten on the ass by a gay werewolf, and not only turns into a werewolf but also turns gay, to say more ruins the movie.

It's too bad they didn't call it "the Monster in the Closet" though...

Really bad, in that weird seventies movie way. Basically one joke, and the premise wears thin, but it is one hell of a weird premise. For similar bad/weird/sexy kicks see Percy and Percy's Progress.

This film played recently on the Independent Film Channel, And was a total revelation. The story, cinematography, and most of the acting were great. The guy who played Walt Whitman should become a huge star if there is any justice.

Cheesy-ass low budget horror comedy is a laugh-and-a-half for open-minded viewers.

The story involves a plot by the religeous right to kill homosexuals using sexually transmitted diseases and killer condoms, luckily in real life purple teletubbies keep them distracted.

The acting is awful, the special effects are awful, and the script is too goofy for it's own good, but the movie is fun anyway. File it under good/bad.

Brilliant!! if you get a chance to see this film by all means do. It is a little too long, but if you liked O Lucky Man, the only comparable film I have ever seen, you will enjoy Arizona Dream.

Apart from the dorky telephone repairmen everything in this movie is done perfectly. The monster is the coolest ever, and the kickboxing female bounty hunter is a great hero.

Visually stunning despite the sometimes immature tone.

First of all if you want to see this your best bet is to find the video of Tetsuo: the Iron Man. The story starts with a band auditioning drummers. The guy who loses the gig kills the other drummer. The dead drummer is brought back Frankenstein style using jumper cables, mayhem ensues.

Humorous, funky, and weird. It reminded me of Frankenweenie in a way, and also of early Sam Raimi films: Crimewave, Evil Dead etc.

To anyone interested in this movie, I say you have to see it. If you find it at your local video store and are the type to be intrigued by the title and video box, you will enjoy it.

The poor lighting and practically non-existent special effects actually make the mood more effective, although it may be slow going for some horror movie fans.

Some movies in a similar vein are The Company of Wolves, el Topo- if you can find it, and Ravenous (1999)

The images and certain quotes stick with anyone who has seen this (Chocolate Sandwich), but what makes this movie great is that it features the best possible use of the greek chorus and the music is really good.

I originally saw this under the title The Veteran, and I don't know how the film was cut under its various titles, but the basic story is the classic monkey's paw story padded with heavy handed allegory of the Vietnam war's effect on small town America. Despite, or possibly because of, the obvious allegory, the horrors resonate more than you would expect. Bob Clark is an underrated director, see: A Christmas Story, Black Christmas, Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things, and of course Porky's, all good "bad" movies.

This is a great movie, the "story" is amusing, and for those who don't normally like "Art" films, Wait for the sequence with the soldier- that'll grab you.