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brandonennals
Reviews
Kichiku dai enkai (1997)
From 0 to 90 mph in one scene
Oh man, this one took me by surprise. I bought this movie because I heard it was one of the more graphic movies in the past 10 years. That kind of talk always peeks my interest since I love action and horror films. I was bored after watching the first hour or so of this movie. I was thinking about sending it back and demanding a refund (even though I knew that would never happen). I was told to be patient, most of the gore was at the end of the movie. Well, that was totally correct. What I didn't know was that the gore was so over the top. I have a very strong stomach, and this movie made me want to turn away. I don't like to write a movie comment with spoilers so I wont get into the different things you could see at the end of this movie. I will say after I saw this movie to completion, I felt like I needed a shower. This movie makes you feel dirty. I makes you feel nauseous. I really cant see myself watching this movie again, but I don't think I will sell it to anyone either. I think I will keep it and lend it out to friends. This way I can be the guy who has one of the most graphic and disgusting movies ever made. I want to see my friends faces when the return this movie to me. I'm sure I will get a phone call right after they watch it, with them telling me how nasty it is. Thats why I will keep it, because it is the nastiest, most vile movie I have seen in a long, long time.
Gladiator (2000)
Bonus points for sword fights
I love action movies, in particular movies that contain warfare. Modern warfare is okay, but I like to old school fighting.Swords will always win points with me. Dismemberment and decapitations will also win points. The movie has a great screenplay, good acting, good environments and the first battle scene was great! The chariot scene is pretty cool.It also has the ending that I felt was right. I was actually hoping it was going to happen, and when you think of it, does that make sense? It does for this movie. One of my all time favorite movies, I could watch this movie any night. I might watch it later this week now that I'm thinking of it.
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Thank god this came out on DVD
I grew up with this movie. This movie was my favorite movie for almost all of my youth. Star Wars was it when I was a kid. Everyone had the toys, costumes, everything. Empire Strikes Back was huge because you had already seen great characters and a really cool villain, and you really wanted to know what was going to happen next. Sometimes you don't care, but this, you waited and anticipated and when it came out, it didn't disappoint. I thought it would blow my mind and it did. The Hoth planet was my favorite part of the movie. You see Luke training and of course Yoda. I don't like fantasy movies (I don't think you can call this sci fi) but every now and then I can handle a little. Looks great on DVD. I like it even more now.
Resident Evil (2002)
Video game movies are tough...
almost just like comic book movies. Everyone has their own interpretation of what they think the movie should be like and what they really like about the games differs too. The things I like about this movie is Milla, zombies, and guns. The things I don't like about this movie is the story could have been better. The screenplay could have been better. And especially the Lickers, they should have been better. I'm really not really a big Licker fan, I would have rather have seen Hunters instead. Either way, the lickers were a little weak, but they definitely made an effort to improve the Lickers in the sequel. I really don't like zombie dogs. You mean a zombie man cannot run, but a dog can? Makes no sense. I understand this movie was also made to set the stage for other future movies and sometimes I hate that. I love for each movie to tell its own story without having to worry about leaving something for later. The scene with the laser security system was cool, reminded me of the cool scene in Ghost Ship. This movie is okay to watch from time to time, but its really something that I wont watch more than once every few months. I love zombie movies but I have others that are better than this. I'm only half way through the second RE, but once I am done, I will post my feelings on this too.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
Once again, Harry makes a great movie
have been a fan of Harry Potter movies ever since they came out. I really knew nothing of the books, but the trailers had me curious. I loved the first two, and this one is just as good. Some of the movie I actually like even better then the first two. The story isn't as strong, but the direction is great. I love the style of the film. The movie just seems darker, more dangerous, dirtier. The first two movies really seemed like movies made from books. This movie seems as though it was written to be a movie. ALl of the characters are getting older and learning more so I think the change in tones and feel of the movie were appropriate. Really the one thing that makes the Potter movies are the stories. Every story is well written and so are the screen plays. This is a movie for kids as well as adults. Everyone can enjoy this movie. It was one of my favorite movies of '04. Very good sequel.
Reservoir Dogs (1992)
really a great movie!
I watched this movie for the first time without knowing what the movie was about. I remember hearing about how cool this movie was and I saw people wearing shirts and listening to the soundtrack, but I had never seen it. So when it first came out on DVD, I bought it without ever watching it before. In Tarantino I trust. For good reason. This is a classic movie, a throwback. A movie about a jewel heist gone wrong and the consequences of working with strangers. This flick has a great cast, great script, and flawless direction. Taratino films are great because they stress the story more than anything else. In all of his movies, the script is strong enough to carry the movie. Now add good over the top acting and you have a hit. The realism of this movie is what grabs you. You really feel like you are in that abandoned warehouse. If felt privileged to have bought such a movie without watching it first. An instant classic. I love this movie!
Star Wars (1977)
The movie that made me a movie fan!
This was it! When I was growing up, this was the best and more influential movie of my childhood. Classic good versus evil tale. I love watching this even more now that newer episodes have been releasing. Their are a lot of references to what is going on in the new movies. This movie is a classic and ranks as one of my favorite movies. I love the story lines and for its time, the visuals were incredible. I watch other movies that came out around the same time as this movie, and visually, you cant even compare them. This was a movie that raised the bar. Nothing felt forced even though many movies were going to be spun off of this one. One of the greatest heroes and villains in the same movie. Everything about this movie is great, even if it is a little cheesy.
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
The end of all things
loved everyone one of the first three movies. Don't tell me that Episode 1 and 2 are the first two. We all know what the first two is. They can title a movie whatever they want and change whatever they want to about a movie, but when all is said and done, it is our movie, not theirs. It is something that is part of our culture, not just a movie. Enough about that, this movie is great! Jabba, Yoda, Leah in the gold bikini (classic). Even as a kid I wasn't feeling the Ewoks or their village. Yeah they look cute, but remember, they wanted to eat Luke and Han. They like to eat people. I don't care how cute they are, if you are willing to eat me, I'm going to kill you. This movie looks great on DVD and I would recommend it to anyone. Just go rent it and remember how great this movie is. Or better yet, just buy it!
Braveheart (1995)
Everything and more...
When this movie was being made and I heard the hype, I found it hard to believe. Time pieces from this era usually do not attract me. When this movie came out on HBO, I decided to watch it so I got comfortable for a long haul. I don't think I moved once the entire movie. This movie has so many great scenes it holds you attention the entire 3 hours or so. Sophie Marceau looks great in the movie. The battle scenes were incredible. Slashes, decapitations, dismemberment. This movie has great costumes, good performances, a great script, and some gore to add realism and it works in every way. The movie really feels like an accurate depiction. This is one of the best time pieces ever!
Wo hu cang long (2000)
A great movie that changed my view...
on how I view other movies. This movie was so fresh and exciting that it made me look at the Asian cinema scene a little closer. The story alone is great. It is simple and very different from what I am used to here in the States. Visually it was one of the best movies I have ever scene. From the effects matching the tone of the movie, to the locations and the colors used in those locales. The fight scenes were very cool. I love good fight scenes and I love swords. This movie pulls off both very nicely. Since I have watched this movie, I have watched many other Asian films and I find them refreshing. The movies are more story driven with a heavy emphasis on tones. I might watch this movie this weekend now that I am thinking of it. Really cool movie especially on a rainy night.
Tomie (1998)
A little been there done that, but Japanese
I have just finished watching this movie, I think. I know Japanese movies are not like your standard American flicks. This movie was a little more subjective than other Japanese movies that I have watched. A lot of Japanese movies are very simple, no matter how many twists they may have. This movie definitely has a lot of holes in it, especially the ending. I think I know where they were going , but I really don't know anyone else who has seen the movie so I cant ask them if they came away with the same interpretation. The movie is okay, the story is okay, I just wish it were either more in depth or gorier. I don't mind giving up a little depth for more gore. One posting on this movie compared this to a Japanese David Lynch flick. I wouldn't go that far, but I understand the comparison. There are no real shocking moments in the movie, no scenes that make you jump or turn away. Even though I was not totally impressed by this movie, I still may go to Blockbuster and rent one of the latest titles in this series to see if they are any different. I'm not sure yet if I would recommend this to anyone else, let me check out more from this title and I will let you know.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
Lord of the Rings - Nothing better!
This is the final installment of the best Trilogy that I have ever seen. I love all of the Rings movies and I love this one just as much. Everything about this movie is great. Great costumes, acting, story, scenery, CG, everything. I really am not a fan of fantasy, actually I do whatever I can to stay away from it. Ever since I saw the first LOTR movie I was hooked. Actually I can say I like this LOTR movie the last since it is the last. I really didn't want this story to end. Personally, I can only find one thing in the movie that I didn't care for and that would be the people, for lack of a better term (I don't like to give away anything in my reviews), Aragorn recruits to assist him. Other than that I really love everything about this movie. Also, I am a huge fan of battle scenes and this movie had the best battle scene I have seen since the Helms Deep scene in the 2nd movie. Peter Jackson has earned a fan for life since I had seen this movie. I realize that nothing else he does will ever compare to the trilogy, but maybe just maybe something will come close. When comparing movies to this movie, even if it is only half as good, it is still twice as good as most films. Classic film! In my top 10 ever.
Le cinquième élément (1997)
Bruce saved the world
The first time I watched this movie was on pay per view. I had no idea what it was about, I just thought, what the hell. I had nothing better to do. After I saw it I called my girlfriend and I couldn't stop talking about it. Sometimes its better to watch a movie you know nothing about because most movies just don't live up to the hype. This movie is your basic save the world/love story. This movie has tons of action, some comedy, and great visuals. I am a Bruce Willis fan and he does not disappoint in this. Milla Jovovich is great in this movie. For someone who does not have much dialog, you always feel like she is always communicating with you. Is their a better bad guy than Gary Oldman? Maybe Walken, but Oldman makes a case for himself in this film. Who is Luc Besson? I never heard of him before until I watched this movie. After this I researched him a little and found that he has many other good films that I have checked out since. I'm not a fan of fantasy movies, but this is more than just fantasy. A classic tale of good versus evil. This movie is groundbreaking and is a movie you can pop in your DVD player and watch any time. Two thumbs up, way up!
From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)
Cool movie, great cast!
When I first saw this movie , I had no idea what it was about. I was pleasantly surprised to find out it was a gory, vampire, splatter-fest. The movie starts out like its just going to be a couple of bad-asses running from the cops, tearing it up along the way. Then, after the best part of the movie (the snake dance), the movie takes a strange turn and turns into something totally not what you expected. This movie is heavily influenced by both Tarantino and Rodriguez and the movie is a direct reflection of their styles, which I believe are very similar. I really cant think of any characters that I didn't like. Everyone was cool , the makeup was decent, and the pace of the movie keeps you interested at all times. This is a really cool movie, and I'm really glad I bought this years ago. I wish they would release a better DVD with more features and 5.1 . Whenever they do, I'm picking it up that day because this movie still carries a good replay value.
Night of the Living Dead (1968)
Classic Romero
The first version that I saw of this movie was the 1990 remake. I had seen a lot of horror before watching it, but I have always been a fan of the zombie. Slow, stalking, continuous danger, I love them. After I watched the remake, I just knew that I would have to watch this movie. Once again, I think the first time that I saw this movie was on USA Up All Night. I used to love that show. I like this movie just for its simplicity. People are here, they are out there, they have to get there, how do you get there? Simple, classic. The lead actress kind of gets on my nerves and I would have used her for zombie bait to escape. Pretty cool movie if you want to watch a classic.
Ju-on (2002)
Definitely different than The Grudge, still cool!
I finally got to see this movie after I saw the Grudge first. I probably shouldn't have done it this way, but I was left with no choice. The Grudge was a little darker, a little spookier. Both movies follow the same basic core story line. Some of the supporting roles are revised, but it works very well. Its nice to see these changes , it makes both the Japanese version and the American version different enough where I like each movie for different reasons. Both movies are made to please the viewers. Japan has a different idea of what horror is, and I like their view. Even cheesy Japanese horrors have personality. Something too many American horrors lack. You wont see much gore or violence in this film. This movie is more psychological than slasher. Plus this DVD has English dubbing so you don't have to read if you really don't want to.
The Thing (1982)
This was a movie that made me love horror
I remember when I was a kid and I watched this movie. This movie used to creep me out. When I was 9, this was what scared me. Now that I am older, I still enjoy this movie every time I watch it. I may even like it even more now in some respects, but nothing compares to when you are young and a movie really scares you. What I love about John Carpenter movies isn't just his style, but the sound he puts to the movies. I'm not sure how much say he has in that, but I do know that music plays a large part in the psychology of his movies. This movie is great on a windy, winter night. With some hot chocolate, a big blanket and a comfortable pillow. It doesn't get any better than that.
Versus (2000)
Camp and Gore
This movie actually turned out to be cooler than I expected. I really didn't know what to expect when I was first about to watch this. I only knew it had some zombies,and had something to do with a portal and reincarnation. Its also totally campy, very bloody and gory, and one of the more memorable characters in it. The guy who runs around and screams all the time is hilarious. The dialog is cheesy. It has a decent story to it. Its just a fun movie. The visuals will keep you glued by themselves. This is a very low budget movie, but just remember , if you go to watch it, have no expectations. This movie will make you say " What the F" more than make you think. There is also a nice shot at Matrix movies too. Pretty cool movie and I in no way expected the movie to end the way it did. I wonder if there is more to come?