Reviews

The other reviewer hit the nail on the head in regard to just about everything, so I will merely emphasize and further praise the dark motifs, clever storytelling, and stylish presentation. It's essentially a neo-noir/detective piece with a horror element and vaguely/infinitesimally supernatural twist.

My one point of departure from the other reviewer is the difference between seasons 1 and 2. Season 1 is nearly perfect---the pacing, writing, music, action, performances, set design, and character development. It's all there in spades. And even though there are a handful of unresolved threads, the series could very well end there and be a masterpiece.

Still, I was excited to watch the half-as-long season 2, and while it has many great moments and more of the same stylings, certain aspects of the story become a little larger-than-life. That is basically fine, but contrasts somewhat with the gritty realism of season 1. Likewise, the philosophical banter that came at just the right moments and to the appropriate degree in season 1 becomes a bit super-saturated and on-the-nose in season 2. It's not bad by any means; it's just a little too self-aware and reality-plus in contrast to season 1. As a related point, a charismatic character (who shall remain nameless) who plays just within the bounds of believability in season 1 sort of becomes a bit of a caricature in the second season, specifically in conjunction with the overt philosophizing. Again, not bad by any means, but the character ultimately morphs into a personality more suited for anime (which is not a criticism so much as a sensitivity for what works well in certain genres and less effectively in others). Along similar lines, the supernatural component gets notably stronger by the end of season 2, at least implicitly (which is to say---and I think this is a good thing---the extraordinary occurrences aren't formally explained in supernatural terms. They're just implied to be beyond all the "normal" events in the story.

Lastly, one or two of the story lines held over from the first season are not exactly resolved in a manner I would regard as thoroughly substantive or satisfying. Granted, they are all put to bed in one way or another, but again, one or two of them end in a way that felt a bit rushed and mostly implied (and in fact, in a manner that opens up many subsequent questions).

And yet, despite all that, you'll see from my 10/10 rating how highly I regard Mozu as a whole. It is absolutely genius and a must see if you're into J-drama. But I wouldn't be surprised if you end up enjoying season 1 tangibly more than season 2.

Cheers.

As indicated, this movie won't be for everyone; that said, few movies are, particularly in the realm of comedy.

In any case, for those of us who enjoy Broken Lizard's other films, this movie is sure to impress. Indeed, it has all their hallmarks: amusing, witty, even absurd dialogue; hilarious ensemble scenes; wonderful character/cameo performances; and an incredibly funny blooper reel during the end credits.

And, as others have indicated, Michael Clark Duncan's performance is classic -- just awesome. And to be sure, the two female leads are both great, as well (and quite easy on the eye, it must be said ;).

At any rate, as the title of this review indicates, I have no doubt that some people will criticize this film; but for me, it's classic Broken Lizard, and I think that's a great thing! Peace.

This is one of those, "It's so bad, it's kind of good" type of movies. To wit, it somehow manages to synthesize dubious morals, mediocre acting, absurd character behavior, and shaky dialogue into one film, and yet, the whole is much greater than the sum of its parts. It's fun in that genuine 80s sense, and is more sentimental rock ballad than moral parable.

As such, watch it with an open mind, enjoy, and don't expect any legitimate life lessons.

(PS, note some of the behavior of Stallone's character, and ask yourself if this would be acceptable in a real world environment ;)

A ten, you say? Sure, you might admit, Mitchell is decent, certainly better than the usual MST fare. But a ten on IMDb?

Let me justify: As a fan of many movies, not just those with big budgets or respected reputations, I am willing to address a film on its own terms. And, having done so with Mitchell, I am proud and unabashed to state that it is a great movie. The plot is easily navigable, and contains a handful of genuinely intriguing moments. In addition, several of the characters, including even Mitchell himself, are somewhat morally ambiguous, lending a certain credibility to the film.

Sure, it's 70s fabulous, and parts of it are slow-developing. However, those facts are easily ignored when one chooses to focus on the acting performances in the movie, perhaps highlighted by the work of Martin Balsam, who plays the shrewd yet compromised white-collar gangster. Indeed, his performance is to be commended.

And the same goes for the rest of the cast: in almost every case, the actors and actresses do a commendable job, including that object of so much comedic ridicule, Joe Don himself.

Bottom line, this is a cool, fun renegade cop movie, and I highly recommend it, in either version (original or MST3K). Enjoy, please!!

My goodness.... Well, this game is simply amazing. It has everything; sleek, refined graphics, generally improved game play, a multitude of awesome weapons, an incredible storyline, excellent voice acting,......... Truly, the list just goes on and on. This finale to the triumvirate cements both Halo and Bungie's place among the all time greats in the video game world. Whether you're a tried and true hardcore Halo fan, or a newbie just getting into the craze, you must get this game. It is truly an incredible experience, not only to behold, but to be the most integral part of. Plus, there is online Co-op play, so you can go through the story mode with an online friend, or more than one!

Of particular note are the voice performances of Keith David (the Arbiter) and Robert Davi (the Ship Master Elite, a very cool returning minor character from Halo 2).

The only downside, I suppose, is that Michael Wincott, who voiced the Prophet of Truth in Halo 2, does not return in the role for Halo 3. While his replacement is by no means poor, the new voice simply does not have that metallic, sinister quality that Wincott's does.

That being said, long live the Arbiter and Master Chief!!!! Halo 3 is everything it was built up to be, and more.

I still don't understand how this movie isn't regarded as a comedy classic. While still displaying appropriate atmosphere and thematic technique, this film just simmers with good, old-style Mel Brooks comedy, and is hilarious throughout. For starters, the script is well written, and contains a nice mix of simple gags and more subtle comedy. Similarly, while the movie is clearly satire, it displays more than enough original material to warrant genuine praise. As is often the case, however, all these facts pale in comparison to one simple truth: the performers MAKE this film. Leslie Neilsen and Mel Brooks shine as two of the major characters, while smaller gems are found in the performances of Steven Webber and Peter MacNicol; truly, MacNicol's performance is unbelievable, and is a testament to his range as an actor. Bottom line, this is simply a lovely film, and deserves much more respect than it has been given, both commercially and critically. If you haven't, do yourself a favor, and watch this movie, although you might want to watch a handful of the classic Dracula films first, just for comedic context. Enjoy!!

When one looks back at this film (released in 1990, thus displaying all the characteristics of the 80's), one's first reaction might be to deride it as cheap, or at least silly. That being said, the more one watches it, the easier it becomes to identify the factors that make this a classic, even if it's of the cult variety. For one, the movie never takes itself too seriously. Two, despite some of the jokes falling into the "badoom-ching" category, much of the humor is genuine, and one or two running themes are paid off quite well. Third, and most importantly, there are a handful of good performances in the movie; Sheen and Estevez are excellent together (not to mention their 80's style haircuts), as are their two "rival" trash men, played by Geoffrey Blake and Cameron Dye. Interestingly, the movie contains quite a few "pairings" of characters, if you will, with a duo of hired thugs and tandem of self-important bicycle cops beautifully adding to the humor. However, the finest performance in the film might come from Keith David, who plays the deranged and imbalanced veteran, Louis Fedders. All things considered, this is not cinematic genius personified. In fact, by today's standards, this is a garden variety comedy. However, neither of those statements diminish, in any way, my enjoyment of this film, and I fully recommend it to any fan of Sheen, or anyone who enjoys a good "blue-collar" comedy. So, in that vein, I salute you, Carl Taylor and James St. James!!!

Sure, go ahead; make fun of this movie. Rip it for the occasionally questionable editing, the typically (as far as second rate fantasy movies go) overly-ambitious plot, or the eyebrow raising subtext. Do all of that, and you're still left with a gem, if unpolished, of a sword and sorcery film. For starters, this movie exhibits an enthusiasm, more so than others of its kind, and forgiving a couple marginal performances, the actors and actresses fall right in line with this theme. Is it a classic, up there with Conan the Barbarian, or the Lord of the Rings Trilogy? Of course not. But if you enjoy action, strong female characters, and fantastic stories, then by all means, take the time to watch this little-known pearl, whether it be the original, or the MST version.

This is good stuff!! Long live Deathstalker!!

Truly, this game is remarkable. Drawing on elements from a variety of game types, this game is a sheer classic, and remains immensely fun to play to this day. For starters, the fictional universe (literally) constructed for this game is nothing short of amazing: dynamic, charismatic alien races; a massive galaxy to explore and liberate; and the perfect soundtrack, guaranteed to put you in the galactic mood. If you've played this classic, then you know of what I speak: quite possibly, the best and most engaging star-faring game of all time. If you haven't played it, go to this site and download (for free) a version for your computer: http://sc2.sourceforge.net/downloads.php

Seriously, what a game!! Enjoy!!

I love this film. True, it's got flaws, and no small amount of them. It's slow, somewhat predictable, and a bit clichéd. Heck, even the acting is questionable in some areas (although, not from three of the performers; see below). That being said, one can't help but become mildly invested in the story as it develops, and as that happens, the mediocre sets seem to slowly dissolve into obscurity. None of that, however, touches on the reason most directly responsible for my affinity for this film. For that, one must look to the performances of John Ireland, Allison Hayes, and Beverly Garland. Cast in the three lead roles of the film, their acting was absolutely critical to the appeal of the movie. And, in that regard, I can gladly say that they all do an excellent job. Allison Hayes is wonderful as the tough, shrewd businesswoman, and lends some real credibility to the movie. In particular, her scene with Bruno Vesota is a good example of her acting in this film. Then, we have the strong, earnest performance of John Ireland. From his dynamic interaction with Rose (Beverly Garland) to his believable hunger for vengeance, he displays fabulous versatility, and I feel gives the finest performance in the film. Lastly, we have the strength and vigor of Beverly Garland, who unfortunately is given some of the movie's most sappy dialogue, and yet, delivers a powerful performance as the widowed de-facto sheriff of a dangerous frontier town. As she does in most of her films, she exudes strength, and does much to make the audience at least sympathize with her. All in all, the three of them save this film, and make most of the scenes engaging. Again, this movie is not an Oscar-winner, and certainly isn't remembered as a Western classic. But I feel that's a small shame, because this movie isn't just watchable, it's enjoyable. Somewhere past all the signature nuances of a Corman movie, one can find a lovely little gem of a film in Gunslinger. So, if you get a chance to watch the original, or the MST3K version, do take the opportunity; you'll end up watching a good, old-fashioned action-drama.

Sigh.....what can one say about this relic from the early era of sci-fi films? Well, I suppose no discussion of this movie can begin without a clear denunciation of the supposed shrews. As Servo, Crow, and Joel are keen to point out, the alleged antagonists of this film are nothing other than dogs with shaggy rugs thrown on their backs. The farther the film progresses, the more this becomes evident. Indeed, if one is looking for real horror, suspense, or even semi-believable mock-science, this film is not the place.

But wait, I say; to quickly dismiss this film as total refuse would be doing it a slight disservice. The reason for this asterisk is the simple fact that despite its technological and prop deficiencies, the movie demonstrates a hardy attempt at character development, and succeeds, in a way. James Best is convincing as the rough-around-the-edges, no-nonsense Captain Sherman, and despite the slimy nature of his character, Ken Curtis (who also produced the film) plays his part well. Furthermore, the character Griswold is jovial and light-hearted, albeit a bit unlucky;) And, if you can manage to work through the incoherency of some of the lines, the dialogue is half-decent; in some scenes, I'd even say it's good (particularly one of the scenes where Captain Sherman talks to Ann, the daughter of one of the doctors). Also, the alcohol switch Jerry pulls on Thorne in one particular scene is truly cinematic comedy, and I am convinced that it was intentional. I don't mean to offer a false pretense; this is not a great film, and in truth, most film-goers likely couldn't make it through the entire movie without falling asleep. However, from someone who enjoys film, and is willing to accept movies on their own terms (at least to a point; I have seen Hobgoblins, after all.....*shudder*), I confidently state that this movie has some redeemable qualities, if only the extra effort is made to see them. Oh, and please: don't copy the drinking habits of the people in this film; your liver will thank you for it.

To truly, TRULY understand the pain, banality, and horror (not the intentional kind) associated with this movie, I suggest an activity: Douse your eyes in battery acid, have someone with an annoying voice scream misogynistic phrases into your ear for an hour and a half, and then, just for kicks, have someone remind you that life is unfair and brutal. Then, and only then, will you have some semblance of knowledge as to the unbelievably poor quality of this film. In truth, I don't know where to start. The writing is acerbically bad. The acting isn't much better, and the characters are so overwritten that the performances were doomed, anyway. The hobgoblins themselves are laughable, in that they appear completely inanimate. And all of that does little to address the blatant and suspect sexual themes of this movie. Truly, one can only wonder about the motivations and inspirations of Rick Sloane, the person most singularly responsible for this piece of dreck. In a few words, DON'T EVER SEE THIS MOVIE. It's low-budget, it's unimaginative, and mephitic doesn't begin to describe it. Seriously, stay away, and forget you ever heard about its existence.

So, without delving too deeply into the annals of "worst-to-first" sports movies, or counting off the multitude of "cultures in contact" stories, let me simply say this about the movie, "The Air Up There:" it succeeds, quite well in the mind of this critic, at what it sets out to accomplish. It is thematic, formulaic, and a tad predictable in parts, but none of that degrades its overall quality as a film. In fact, despite this movie getting lost somewhere in the recent history of film (and being overshadowed by similar movies such as "The Mighty Ducks"), I genuinely believe it to be the best movie of that genre, maybe ever, but certainly of this era.

Now, I'm aware some of you might raise eyebrows at that statement, but let me elaborate; Not only is the scenery absolutely breathtaking, but all of the artistic design, costume styling, and cinematography is beautiful. On top of that, the story is engaging, regardless of one's ability to forecast the ending at any point. Additionally, the mere fact that themes such as maturation, redemption, independence, loyalty, "progress," and family all play central roles in this film, should qualify it is a deeper work of art than countless (sports) movies of today.

Most significantly, this film contains something else that is occasionally lost in similar movies: DECENT ACTING. Say what you will about Kevin Bacon, or even this movie, but without a doubt, Kevin gives a wonderful, believable performance. He excellently displays the passion that is a prerequisite to be an athlete or coach in highly competitive sports such as College Athletics. Furthermore, the character Jimmy Dolan exhibits a wide gamut of emotions over the course of the story, and Mr. Bacon plays this perfectly. Interestingly, the best performance of the movie (and there are plenty of good ones: 'Kid' Sithole as Nyaga, Wilson Ntshona as Urudu, and Dikembe Mutombo's brother, Ilo, as Mifundo) comes not from Bacon, but from Charles Gitonga Maina, who inexplicably, has only appeared in one episode of SeaQuest DSV since this movie was made. He is immensely likable, charming, and completely believable as a star basketball player (after all, he was a world class sprinter in real life!) from a humble village. Truly, his performance is absolutely spectacular, even when placed within the context of the other stellar performances in the movie.

Is this movie perfect, devoid of all stereotypes and patronizing cinematic techniques? No. And yet, nothing is lost because of that fact. As it was over a decade ago, it remains a wonderful, adventurous, heart-warming movie, one that deserves a far more solid place in cinematic history than it has been relegated to. I, for one, love this movie, and usually watch it a couple times a year, enjoying it every bit as much with each successive viewing (in fact, I feel the truth of the matter is, I enjoy this film MORE with each successive watching, as I continue to find noteworthy facets every time).

In summation, I implore you to do yourself a favor: the next time you're feeling depressed, inadequate, or entirely stressed, rent or buy this movie, and watch it. I guarantee, you won't be able to make it to the end without a smile finding it's way onto your face.... :D

Once again, Broken Lizard proves they are one of the elite comedy troops out there. This time, the movie is Beerfest, and despite a tiny change in style, all the Broken Lizard themes are evident: Hilarious, witty dialogue; outrageous, unexpected scenes; and a cavalcade of characters that count on the versatility of the Broken Lizard actors. Indeed, this critic feels that the five of them are building an acting resume equal to that of their writing credentials.

The movie itself displays a slight shift towards a more "over-the-top" style of comedy in some scenes, but even those are incredibly hilarious, and are done in a way only Broken Lizard would do. Furthermore, as stated earlier, the subtle dialogue that they have become famous for is found throughout, and in many ways is the best the group has written.

As for the characters, Broken Lizard again shuffles the cards, and cast themselves in unique roles, most of them different from those previously played in their other movies. All are hilarious, with Steve Lemme's character "Fink" perhaps taking the cake as the "scene-stealer."

Throw in a handful of smaller, but strong performances from MC Gainey, Nat Faxson, and Donald Sutherland, and Beerfest is absolutely bubbling over with sheer comedy.

If the movie has a weakness, I would point to the occasional reliance on a token visual joke (more so than in their previous movies), and a disappointingly short Blooper Reel during the credits. However, too fine a point can't be put on it; this is a great movie, a comedy that will no doubt develop a cult-like status, irrespective of its commercial success, and should be viewed by anyone who likes to laugh (that's pretty much all of us humans, right....?)

An excellent movie, and my salivary glands burst into action at the mention of a Super Troopers prequel.....Great show, Broken Lizard, great show.

Ahhh... Pod People. Very rare is the movie that is obviously shot on a limited budget, contains a particularly ridiculous plot, and yet finds a way to be oddly entertaining. Such is the case with this infamous Mystery Science victim.

Along those lines, let me make clear what i think is decent, if not good, about Pod People. Despite jokes stating otherwise, the plot is somewhat simple; linear, interwoven, and predictable. However, that mere fact alone makes this film higher quality than countless other MST movies. Furthermore, there is an attempt, despite it falling prey to the painful trap of stereotypes, at character development; admittedly, a handful of the characters are irritating, but even then, they have their moments. The trollop character plays her part with genuine enthusiasm, and serves to provide a shred of actual comic relief.

Ultimately, Pod People is a mediocre film. Its story is laughable in parts, drawn out in others. However, much of the scenery is intriguing, if not outright beautiful, and as a result, the movie has an almost surreal atmosphere.

It's as if Pod People has an intangible charm to it, borne out of its clear vision, mild ambition, and occasional moments of decent film-making. All in all, a watchable movie, but probably just that....

Once again, Broken Lizard delivers stellar comedy with the tongue-in-cheek slasher Club Dread. Aside from the hilarious performances from generally "more serious" actors Bill Paxton and MC Gainey, Club Dread is ripe with witty dialouge, subtle timing humor, and the occasional visual joke. As in Super Troopers, the characters are amusing individually, and absolutely hilarious when all thrown in a scene together. Certainly, the movie is not flawless; a few stretches of logic are evident, and yet, it seems to this critic, that most (if not all) of them are deliberate, and in fact enhance the satirical nature of the film. Kevin Heffernan's performance is particularly notable, even more so if you've seen Super Troopers; his character could not be more different than Farva.

All in all, a great comedy that never takes itself too seriously and ultimately scores a resounding 10! If you haven't seen it, stop reading this and go rent it, ya slacker...