Reviews

...or rather Mariana Trench (because "Inglourious Basterds" is Tarantino's unhuman cur-cousin of "Schindler's List" in jew-exploitations).Ultimate violent western-fantasy (jews in place of American Indians (where are you,Tarantino's Madre?!),cowboys-gunfighters replaced by nazies no doubt) keeped by director of "Inglourious Basterds" in perfect order.Especially apply to visual fetish of the movie and dialog - aces of main contemporary exploitation director."Inglorius Basterds" is new milestone of bad as good cinema like "Blazing Saddles" in 70s or "Pulp Fiction" in 90s.First grade V.I.P. trash.Shame and fame in one bottle.

I don't understand why is too much noise around DISTRICT 9? As a fiction like no-fiction we saw many recent (or not too recent) films such Zack Snyder's WATCHMEN,Christopher Nolan's THE DARK KNIGHT,Bourne trilogy,James Bond (as Daniel Craig) and others.In the middle of the listed subjects DISTRICT 9 is most technically overproduced and dramatically overload.Background of film big as it's possible.That's why we have so hysterical,persistent,emotional noisy main line of film.Double unsympathetic by humane-politics-correct sh*t.Peter Jackson (inspirer of DISTRICT 9 as I understand) from the pointed trash maker became a strange beneficent figure. Sad..Very sad...

...misscasting (who knows why in film Dennis Quaid and Christopher Eccleston? - that's because Ray Liotta in A DUNGEON SIEGE TALE and Jurgen Prochnow in HOUSE OF THE DEAD),missacting (compound effects like recent Mikhael Bay's TRANCEFORMERS and now classic MATRIX mutate in strange nonstop firework cocktail of kung-fu elements,supermen's affairs,wonders of sci-fi spice with innumerous explosions, detonations,(car)crashes.Plus stupid near SCARY MOVIE hum-our adapted for whole family (without toilet and sexual contents).What else?Old friends Arnold Vosloo and Brendan Fraser,eternal recent forward pupil Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje...Worth to see as strong modern popcorn movie.

As for me it is principle question: who was the first in modern horror genre?Italy or Japan?Father of Italian horror Mario Bava was first who explore sex and violence theme ("The Vampires"," The Mask of Satan ").Most cinema products of Italy interest (at 50s) rather "historycal" adventures than tits and blood.Front edge of Japanise genre cinema was Godzilla (at 50s).Without sexual tits too.

It seems that Nobuo Nakagava one of the first directors who knowingly using shocking images (blood,tortures) and naked bodies for creation of modern sad Gothic movie - "Jigoku" (1960).May be some times "Jigoku" is too much slow movie.But always impressive style (espetualy in second part of the film).

The many Shinya Tsukamoto's films (such as "Snake of June","Tokyo fist","Tetsuo" and others) appears psychological exploration of "love triangle" situation.Unusial in "Gemini" absence urban constituent.Therefore "Gemini" is not hypertrophied as "Tokyo fist",not surreal as "Tetsuo" and not so atmosphere as "Snake of June".Total is not so intensive as others Tsukamoto's works.But it is a good movie because qualified lighted , acted and cinematographied.Pleasant momentary turn (by using equipment in manner sci-fi movie) from "historical film" to "modern" (plague child scene).Synthetical music soundtrack is the part of "urban" instruments of director Tsukamoto.

There is two kind of drugs-movies."Slow" (I called it "opiatic")- as good example this kind of movie is Gus Van Sant's "Drugstore Cowboy" (tranquile,abstract,autentic and all-sufficient type of vision things). "Fast"("acid") - action type of drugs movie - as Danny Boyle's "Trainspotting" (movie about heroine but with very big influence of acid culture of 90s).In "Andy Warhol's Trash" we have perfect sample "slow" drug-movie.It is very soft punk movie.Slow Joe's acting in good contrast with provoking expression manner of his girl-friend speech.Scenes made without music help.Branded branchy dialog. Funny final around Welfare vs. silver shoes.

May be Grindhouse interesting to watch on big screen.But I don't understand its automatic cult status .This great empty movie look like overlong parody on good trash,exploitations,b-movies from Russ Mayer to John Carpenter.Original encyclopedia for smallest children.Robert Rodriguez's Planet Terror average because pointless but a lot of action,special effects,different silly characters with drop of black humor.Tarantino's overlong cameo is distillation of modern cinema state.Mr. Tarantino became the real John Carpenter's THE THING.Dynamic ending of Planet Terror the best part of Grindhouse.Quentin Tarantino's Death Proof is boring one joke.Very overlong dialog and below average car chasing.Bounty amotivational violance.5/10 : Planet Terror .2/10: Death Proof.

Very good quality spaghetti western!Without exploration in genre but strong professional work on all levels.Not bad scenario (rude variation on THE GOOOD THE BAD THE UGLY scheme).Without inventions in plot and dialog but successful inside fighting and especially torture (rope,water(pit),fire) scenes.Red hair Bill San Antonio not demonic power character but sly fox.Terence Hill as Cat Stevens is equal parts of Franko Nero's (Django) and Clint Eastwood's (in "dollars trilogy") "good" guys performances.Bud Spencer's Hutch Bessy is pretty with limit (relatively for latest Spencer's characters) physical power. Generally: for all spaghetti western fans!

Classic slapstick action meets Hitchcock's type of plot at NATI CON LA CAMICIA (1983).If you like Terence Hill - Bud Spencer duet - this is your movie.Two country Jamesbonds vs. band of mad criminals.Little jokes around sex vs. relatively much toilet humor.As usual for Spencer-Hill movies abundance of fighting scenes (but car and stunt scenes not very much).Beautyfull big bad girl (Faith Minton) and sweet barmaid (Susan Teesdale) are good alternative to any James Bond's woman.I think budget of NATI CON LA CAMICIA possibly compare with old James Bond movies (it's my personal visual impression).Comic resources of the movie may be too much straight but result is perfect for circus culture.

First of all I don't understand this title's very low user rating(I gave 10 because of it).This is not masterpiece of art.But it is very good way of spending time for careless and fun.You said - stupid fun.Yes it is!But very hilarious and resourceful kind stupidity.On the one hand is good ironic-sarcastic dialog (may be lost with translation - I don't know).Only one unprintable word of that dialog made burst comic effect not less then red flag at BRONENOSETS POTYOMKIN made dramatic effect."Russian rap" soundtrack is lucky for dull humor too(on the others hand).But my favorites in this movie are beautiful glitter boxing card-girls! 7 of 10

Very funny to watch "Beretta's Island" as kind of natural trash-film.It is like answer to Jess Franko's type of b-movie.Bodybuilders strikes back (!face to face!) to pushers.The very very very stupid strike!Action: unbelievably bad directed firing(shooting) scenes look even better than hand-to-hand fighting.Chasing scenes ridiculous.Saving beauties scenes incredibly stupid.Erotic scenes are very unerotic.The main luck of film is pretty landscapes and festival scenes.Don't miss:Arnold Schwarzenegger's joke at start of film and list of Franco Columbu's kin at the end. Special attraction: naked bosom.Almoust forgot - Franco can sing!

Not correct to call Jesus Franco's interpretation of MARQUIS DE SADE: JUSTINE as "drama" or "horror".It is very soft kind of exploitation cinema for easy viewing in the evening.This is not bad kind of movie.Because it's unexpected version of De Sade's world.With some soft humor and romantica.No straight violence and brutality.No much nudity?Fogget it!(so many good another porno-movies at 60-70-th)!There are two alter egos of marquis personality at film.First:Klaus Kinski - suffering convict writer.Happy drunker mad poet(Jack Palance no named De Sade at the movie?-Who cares?!)- second alter ego.Feverish work of cinematographer to memory of surrealistic cinema.This is good trash-film!Don't be boring!

It was first British talky film.Made as silent with after photographing sounding. Viewer can see the born great innovative method genre direction.Effective camera traveling (up-stairs scene) ,maximum laconic acting,using details,sexuality,sudden plot twists(victim girl-killer for example) ,not usual watch to usual objects and situation,music for deeper atmosphere...And masterpiece dialog exploitation("KNIFE,KNIFE"). This is not absolute film for all tastes - may be little schematic sometimes(in following films of master we can see deeper exploration of BLACKMAIL themes - famous scene in bath of PSYCHO - rephrased scene of killing from BLACKMAIL,for example).But simple of first class style of director's thought.

Most of COLUMBO series present unequal duel between proletarian policeman and rich or (and) famous (succsessful) murderer. Usually there is hidden (sometimes open ) antipathy between Columbo and criminal.That is why often we see forbidden tricks by lieutenant Columbo (provocations,forgerys...).But not in the case of "Columbo: Any Old Port in a Storm ".Donald Pleasence perform character who commit murder because suffer from fact to lost only passion of his life - make good wine and collect beautiful expensive wine.His ratio scheme of murder breaks because of passion.Therefore the bottle of wine from Columbo to Carsini at final scene of the film - the sign of sympathy and understanding.

The sequel of PUT V SATURN.Perfect war spy detective with some noir screen atmosphere.Very strong cast.Sometimes little slow action.But thanks for clever scenario dialog - always interesting to watch.Minimalistic decorations works for creation of more rough atmosphere.Short battle scenes looks truthful and dangerous.Duel of German and Soviet secret services shown in this film as cool game of chess.Documentary shots in the ending produce ecstatic effect.This film for those who like stylish cinema .Not for the action fan.Based on near-documentary story SATURN POCHTY NE VYDEN by author Vasylyi Ardamatskyi.

Perfect hybrid of slapstick and western.Two-side medal of Honnor with traditional refined hero (Henry Fonda) inside and grande modern buffoon (Terence Hill) outside.The spirit of film is rather American than European (both of genres typically American) but work done by European director (Tonino Valerii) with great erudition in genre cinema. As result we had very good western exploitation kind of movie.The idea of film belong to Sergio Leone (whose style is most severe in spaghetti-westerns) but wild realization of that idea by Tonino Valerii is beautiful example of bad taste cinema(using toilet and fair humor). Ennio Morricone's music score is buffoon too.

Beautyfull film on all levels.Script with perfect dialog.Thanks for-oddball humor it's very fast movie. Military characters shown deep ,strong and powerful.The drama not only for single hero but for great romantic warrior era.That is why it's epic film.On screen have no politics,technology and cowardice,slyness drive away.Resources of the film are great.Vivid battle scenes.Hounting music theme.Amazing George Scott's acting.Karl Malden convincing as general-soldier.Nazys and Russian characters shown with part of sympathy and soft humor. The way of warrior in film described not violence and evil but merry and poetic.This film the one of the best in war genre ever made.

The only failure of THE WOODSMAN is average cinematographer work.Because of medium shot the film rather for TV than theatrical.That effect reinforced by not numerous actors stuff in majority of scenes.So this is chamber film predominantly.Plot is strong and has many remembering details.Red ball is latent citation of Fritz Lang "M".Another interesting detail is black people's accusatory function.Normal soundtrack music.Good performance of majority actors.And superb of Kevin Bacon and Hannah Pilkes actors work!Sadly: blond lover of boys is very schematic for bad character.Mos Def as police detective is looks like cool neighbor rather.

Not bad flick with interesting conception.This is not a sequel Michael Myers's adventures at first and second parts.It is single investigation about Halloween celebration and business.If the Halloween is occult festival then businessman which serve for Halloween is warlock.That is why businessman's assistants are robots (black magic of science - the Frankenstein school).Main mistake of the film: "good" characters looks like robots too.Sometimes they actions more schematic than robots.As result we had surrealistic splatter.Absolute synthetic product.It is good for mass culture.Injoy if you like total sarcasm.Exact for this flick electronic music soundtrack.

The most success THE SKELETON KEY because clever modern scenario full of niceties.It is Lovecraft's type of story (old house which hides evil inside).There are some postmodern twists .This is rather "vampire" (Primordialy "voodoo" genre is modification of "vampire" film (WHITE ZOMBIE:the first "voodoo" film with greatest vampire of all times -Bela Lugosi))than "voodoo" (or "house")genre movie(evil immortal creatures take away life of human victims) .One can interpreted this flick like survival horror.We have multilevel scenario.Alright moody visual atmosphere(in manner of Alan Parker's ANGEL HEART).Ordinary for modern home cinema "Forte-Piano"-sudden-shockers sound effects.OK operator work.Correct music score.And normal actors stuff.THE SKELETON KEY and Neil Marshall's DESCENT are most successful horror movies of last years.Don't miss!

More melodrama than Sci-Fi,rather propaganda than melodrama.Film has cinema roots at Fritz Lang "Frau I'm Mond" (as for design and special effects) and literature ground at books of Konstantin Eduardovich Tsiolkovskii (with mad faith in great space future of mankind).Characters shown very schematic and action is very poor.Scenario courses are at placard style too.Funny animation like educational school type of movies.Collors are powerful and very impressive.With little dark romantic atmosphere.Symphony music score is over-dramatic.But of cause will be happy-end.See very popular soviet comic Georgiy Michailovich Vitsin as serious scientific engineer .

Possibly , this short 17min. film is first film-noir in history of cinema.There are living in poverty woman (almost fatal) and criminal who's not so bad how seems at first sight.And of cause dark criminal atmosphere of Pig Alley made in film-noir style too.One exception is happy end.But in this case happy end is more unexpected than tragic final.And therefore more interesting even for modern viewer.Excellent Griffith's staff do them job quick and accurate.They all (director,cinematographer,actors...) are good and professional.Nevertheless "The Musketeers of Pig Alley" not for the fans of crime genre.For study of roots(much killings,mystery and shock)better watch Louis Feuillade genius serials(Fantomas,Les Vampires,Judax).

Criminals in film looks harmless ( with one exception of Don Swayze who's acting more precision and less melodramatic than playing of his famous brother Patrick in different movies of 1980s ).Possitive characters are like milk-suckers ( but Michael Ironside's work is OK as Sheriff ).Teresa Blake for aerobics - beauty is perfect. Director Russell Solberg takes quick start (silly imitation of Sam Peckinpah's filming formula ) continue for sleepy country scenes of life and romance of main character (whith some trashy fights for variety) .Most of budget waste for couple of shuts and explosions in ending.Low-key work of stunts and plain soundtrack are applied.