Change Your Image
jimmynz
Reviews
B.T.K. (2008)
Not great, but not bad either...
Okay first up, I have never heard of the "BTK Killer" or "BTK films". Must be some sort of American folklore serial killer thing, that I haven't heard of since I'm not American. So my judging of this film is based on THE FILM rather than certain people's expectations of what the film should be.
It's an okay movie. It's one of those (rent) and 'watch it once on DVD late at night when there's nothing else to do'. It's NOT a movie you'll want to watch again and again... like an action blockbuster, because there's not a whole lot that's fun or interesting about it.
BTK, THE MOVIE... is about a serial killer. He ties women up, and generally chokes them to death. Sometimes he uses a gun. There's basically nothing here you haven't already seen in any other serial killer movie, like Ed Gein, Copycat, Henry, etc. In this sense it's fairly straightforward and predictable.
The pace is slow and remains slow the entire duration, but considering this is a low budget straight to DVD exploitation film, the acting is actually surprisingly good from an ensemble of no-name actors, and the star attraction is seeing Kane Hodder as Dennis, burns and all, in a role that's not under a white hockey mask.
I could go on a bit more about the good points and the bad points, but ultimately it's a case of you get what you pay for. This is a cheap, rent and watch once serial killer movie, with Kane Hodder. It's no movie of the week, no blockbuster, and really the only reason to watch it at all... is if you are a Kane Hodder fan.
Gloomy Sunday - Ein Lied von Liebe und Tod (1999)
Wow, what a fantastic film
Contains minor spoilers: Well as you can see in the trivia, the film has been playing at the Arts Center Academy Cinema in Chch, NZ for the past 5 years. I live in Chch, NZ and went to see it yesterday in this very cinema. Cinema- well it's actually a black room with 11 seats, 2 speakers and a 60 inch screen, and a small café outside of it. Going 5 years and still going apparently...
Now I'm no drama lover. Gimme action, horror, scifi any day. Anything with sex and violence and explosions are good. So I had reservations about seeing this. But wow I must say, this is a contemporary classic. It's the sort of film they must be showing film students in Germany, since the film is in German with subtitles.
The 4 main characters are Laszlow (restaurant manager), Ilona (Waitress), Andras (Composer) and Hans (Nazi corporal). It's set in Nazi occupied Hungary during the time Hitler was effecting his 'final solution'. The title 'Gloomy Sunday' comes from the song the composer writes which gains him notoriety, and attracts attention to the (Jewish) restaurant. The film is largely about the love triangle between Andras, Ilona and Laslow. At least until Hans returns half way through the film.
The character of Hans appears initially as a lonely, rejected young German man, who after being rejected by Ilona, comes back years later a changed man, a Nazi colonel on charge of the rounding up of Jews in his area. He turns out to be one of the films most 'important' characters. (I won't give away the ending).
So all in all, there's romance, there's (some) comedy, there's mystery, and it's all tied in with the Nazi's 'final solution'. After you finish the film you walk away feeling the film is very thought provoking... still thinking about each of the characters and how they changed during the course of the film. It's also worth noting too, that this is not an 'artsy fartsy' film. The dialouge is simple and the story is easy to follow. WHich is appreciated since I don't speak German and was reading subtitles.
So anyway, if you don't like dramas but you do like a genuinely good movie, then give this one a try.
Doom (2005)
DooM fans, read the bad reviews before seeing the film
Truly awful.
First and foremost, if you're a DooM fan and wanna know about this movie, go read all the reviews that are like 2 stars or less. Because this film is the epitome of the 'sellout' cliché.
The game:The Movie (See below)
Imps/Demons/Hell Knight: 'Monster' Lots of guns: Not enough guns Lots of shooting: Not much shooting Demonds from Hell: Monsters from Genetic experimenting Contains lots of gruesome stuff: Film Doesn't Has a cool action packed ending with a big monster: Film Doesn't
Seriously, the whole thing is basically a play on Resident Evil, just like the other reviews say. The ironic thing is... in the game... the Space Marines armour/attire was quite obviously copycatted from the 1989 film 'Aliens'. Furthermore... in Aliens, they were ALSO called 'Space Marines!"
Alas the 'RRTS' in Doom the movie are just the run of the mill black clad doorkickers.
Yes, I know my review isn't very well structured, but seriously, if you're a fan of the game, these are the things you will notice... and not be happy with.
Truly one awful film. Made worse only by the cheesy kick-in-the-teeth end credits.
Go watch 'Aliens' again. Aliens is closer to the original DooM game than this movie.