Tuesday, January 31, 2006

Dark Water

Written by:
Kôji Suzuki (novel)
Hideo Nakata (film Honogurai mizu no soko kara)

Directed by:
Walter Salles

Made in:
USA in 2005

Actors:
Jennifer Connelly .... Dahlia
John C. Reilly .... Mr. Murray
Tim Roth .... Jeff Platzer
Dougray Scott .... Kyle
Pete Postlethwaite .... Veeck
Camryn Manheim .... Teacher
Ariel Gade .... Ceci
Perla Haney-Jardine .... Natasha/Young Dahlia
Debra Monk .... Young Dahlia's Teacher

Plot:
Dahlia Williams is starting a new life; newly separated with a new job and a new apartment, she's determined to put her relationship with her estranged husband behind her and devote herself to raising her daughter, Ceci. But when the strained separation disintegrates into a bitter custody battle, her situation takes a turn for the worse. Her new apartment--dilapidated, cramped, and worn--seems to take on a life of its own. Mysterious noises, persistent leaks of dark water, and strange happenings cause her imagination to run wild, sending her on a puzzling and mystifying pursuit to find out who is behind the endless mind games. As Dahlia frantically searches for the links between the riddles, the dark water seems to close around her. But one thing trumps all others in Dahlia's world: no matter what it is that's out there, she'll stop at nothing to find it. IMDB

Review:
This movie was very hyped and it made me want to see it. I thought it would be a pretty decent scary movie, like The Ring, The Grudge, etc.., but it was actually pretty bland. It was completely missing a plot. The acting was great but it was only just a little scary - but not really what I was expecting. It was an okay movie, not something I would go out of my way to see, and not something that I'd really want to see again.

I haven't seen the Japanese original, Honogurai mizu no soko kara (AKA Dark Water), but I hope that it is much better than this.

Asylum of the Damned

Original title:
Hellborn

AKA:
Asylum of the Damned (USA)

Written by:
Matt McCombs

Directed by:
Philip J. Jones

Made in:
USA in 2003

Actors:
Bruce Payne .... Dr. McCort
Matt Stasi .... James Bishop
Tracy Scoggins .... Helen
Julia Lee .... Lauren
Tommy 'Tiny' Lister .... Smithy (as Tom 'Tiny' Lister)
Gregory Wagrowski .... Hadley
Bill McKinney .... Gas Station Attendant

Plot:
James Bishop is a young psychology resident, excited about his new job at St. Andrews Mental Hospital and the chance to help severely ill patients. The excitement changes to puzzlement, concern and finally terror as some of those patients mysteriously die and James' efforts to find the cause results in increasingly strange behavior from the St. Andrews staff. Things begin to clarify when James finally encounters the Harvester... IMDB

Review:
Not that good of a movie. :/ :D
The actors can't act but the plot really isn't that bad. They take the movie very seriously and they are definately trying to make this be a good movie.

Some flaws include the Satan-monster-demon costume thing.. That was a little funny.. :/ :)

It wasn't horrible, I've definately seen worse, but it would have been better if it was an 80's movie.

It works for me, but most will hate it.

Monday, January 9, 2006

Night of the Living Dead

AKA:
Laugh Track: Night of the Living Dead (USA) (video title (redubbed comic version))
Monster Flick (USA) (working title)
Night of Anubis
Night of the Flesh Eaters
Night of the Living Dead: 30th Anniversary Edition (USA) (recut version

Written by:
Dean Lachiusa
George A. Romero

Directed by:
John A. Russo
George A. Romero

Made in:
USA in 1968

Actors:
Duane Jones .... Ben
Judith O'Dea .... Barbara
Karl Hardman .... Harry Cooper
Marilyn Eastman .... Helen Cooper/Bug-eating zombie
Keith Wayne .... Tom
Judith Ridley .... Judy
Kyra Schon .... Karen Cooper/Upstairs body
Charles Craig .... Newscaster/Zombie
S. William Hinzman .... Cemetery Zombie (original and new scenes) (as Bill Heinzman)
George Kosana .... Sheriff McClelland
Frank Doak .... Scientist
Bill 'Chilly Billy' Cardille .... Field reporter
A.C. McDonald .... Zombie/Posse Member
Samuel R. Solito .... Zombie/Posse Member
Mark Ricci .... Washington scientist

Plot:
Chaos descends upon the world as the brains of the recently deceased become inexplicably reanimated, causing the dead to rise and feed on human flesh. Speculation rests on a radiation-covered NASA satellite returning from Venus, but it only remains a speculation. Anyone who dies during the crisis of causes unrelated to brain trauma will return as a flesh-eating zombie, including anyone who has been bitten by a zombie. The only way to destroy the zombies is to destroy the brain. As the catastrophe unfolds, a young woman visiting her father's grave takes refuge in a nearby farmhouse, where she is met by a man who protects her and barricades them inside. They both later discover people hiding in the basement, and they each attempt to cope with the situation. Their only hope rests on getting some gasoline from a nearby pump into a truck that is running on empty, but this requires braving the hordes of ravenous walking corpses outside. When they finally put their plans into action, panic and personal tensions only add to the terror as they try to survive. IMDB

Review:
This is another one of those movies that I grew up watching.
I love this movie and I think everyone should see it!
It is a classic, and not only for the genre. Very well made and very exciting. Very scary and I never get tired of the ending.

I remember staying up when I was really young and watching this on "Big Chuck and Little John!" A perfect movie to watch if you are staying up late.

Sunday, January 8, 2006

House

AKA:
House: Ding Dong, You're Dead (USA) (video title)

Written by:
Fred Dekker (story)
Ethan Wiley (screenplay)

Directed by:
Steve Miner

Made in:
USA in 1986

Actors:
William Katt .... Roger Cobb
George Wendt .... Harold Gorton
Richard Moll .... Big Ben
Kay Lenz .... Sandy
Mary Stavin .... Tanya
Michael Ensign .... Chet Parker
Erik Silver .... Jimmy
Mark Silver .... Jimmy
Susan French .... Aunt Elizabeth
Alan Autry .... Cop #3
Steven Williams .... Cop #4
James Calvert .... Grocery Boy (as Jim Calvert)
Mindy Sterling .... Woman in Bookstore
Jayson Kane .... Cheesy Stud
Billy Beck .... Priest

Plot:
Roger Cobb is a Vietnam vet. Whose career as a horror novelist has taken a turn for the worse when his son Jimmy mysteriously disappears while visiting his aunt's house. Roger's search for Jimmy destroys his marriage and his writing career. The sudden death of his aunt brings Roger back to the house where his nightmares began. The evil zombies in the house force Roger to endure a harrowing journey into his past, at the end of which he find his son. Desperate to escape from the tortures of the house, Roger must battle the evil forces which have haunted him for a lifetime in order to save himself and his son from certain death. IMDB

Review:
A very decent movie. This is one of these that I grew up watching, so I have a close attachment to it.

Most will probably find it cheesy, but I think it has a good essence of horror and suspense. Also funny in many parts.
Not a perfect movie, but I like it!

Saw

Written by:
James Wan
Leigh Whannell

Directed by:
James Wan

Made in:
USA in 2004

Actors:
Leigh Whannell .... Adam
Cary Elwes .... Dr. Lawrence Gordon
Danny Glover .... Detective David Tapp
Ken Leung .... Detective Steven Sing
Dina Meyer .... Kerry
Mike Butters .... Paul
Paul Gutrecht .... Mark
Michael Emerson .... Zep Hindle
Benito Martinez .... Brett
Shawnee Smith .... Amanda
Makenzie Vega .... Diana Gordon
Monica Potter .... Alison Gordon
Ned Bellamy .... Jeff
Alexandra Bokyun Chun .... Carla (as Alexandra Chun)
Avner Garbi .... Father

Plot:
Adam (Leigh Whannell) and Dr. Lawrence Gordon (Cary Elwes) wake up chained to pipes at opposite ends of a dirty utility room. They soon learn that they have become the victims of the Jigsaw, a serial killer who devises intricate situations to get his victims to kill each other. Pitted against the clock and each other, the two must work to outwit their captor and save Gordon's family, who have been taken hostage by the killer. IMDB

Review:
A very good movie. I definately recommend it. Not a very scary movie, but tons of suspense. Very well thought out and lots of fun!

The Thing

Written by:
John W. Campbell Jr. (story)
Bill Lancaster (screenplay)

Directed by:
John Carpenter

Made in:
USA in 1982

Actors:
Kurt Russell .... R.J. MacReady
Wilford Brimley .... Dr. Blair (as A. Wilford Brimley)
T.K. Carter .... Nauls
David Clennon .... Palmer
Keith David .... Childs
Richard A. Dysart .... Dr. Copper (as Richard Dysart)
Charles Hallahan .... Vance Norris
Peter Maloney .... George Bennings
Richard Masur .... Clark
Donald Moffat .... Garry
Joel Polis .... Fuchs
Thomas G. Waites .... Windows (as Thomas Waites)
Norbert Weisser .... Norwegian
Larry J. Franco .... Norwegian passenger with rifle (as Larry Franco)
Nate Irwin .... Helicopter pilot

Plot:
An American scientific expedition to the frozen wastes of the Antarctic is interrupted by a group of seemingly mad Norwegians pursuing and shooting a dog. The helicopter pursuing the dog crashes leaving no explanation for the chase. During the night, the dog mutates and attacks other dogs in the cage and members of the team that investigate. The team soon realises that an alien life-form with the ability to take over other bodies is on the loose and they don't know who may already have been taken over. IMDB

Review:
One of our favorite movies.
Besides there being some humor in it (always calling the Norwegians Swedish) it is filled with suspense. A great cast and story. Very simple but very effective.

I wish they could all be this good!

Slumber Party Massacre IV

Original title:
Cheerleader Massacre

Written by:
Lenny Juliano

Directed by:
Jim Wynorski

Made in:
USA in 2003

Actors:
Tamie Sheffield .... Ms. Hendricks
Charity Rahmer .... Parker Jameson
Erin Byron .... Angela Caruso
Lenny Juliano .... Buzzy (as Leonard Johnson)
Bill Langlois Monroe .... Sherrif Murdock (as E. Eddie Edwards)
Samantha Phillips .... Officer Phillips
GiGi Erneta .... Deputy Adams
April Flowers .... Tammy Rae (as Elizabeth Short)
Nikki Fritz .... Debbie
Tylo Tyler .... Ryan
Brad Beck .... Mark
Summer Williams .... Shelley
Brinke Stevens .... Linda
Melissa Brasselle .... Det. DeMarco
Julie Corgill .... Dina

Plot:
Five high school cheerleaders, their coach and a couple of adolescent sex-crazed guys travel to a cabin in the woods for a weekend getaway only to be killed off one by one by an unseen maniac. IMDB

Review:
This doesn't really fall under the "Slumber Party Massacre" theme. And it really doesn't have much to do with cheerleaders, besides the horrible jumping around that they did in the gym in the beginning of the movie.

20-30 year olds playing high schoolers.
And the script...!! A 5 year old could write better dialogue about a turtle than this junk. :/

The suspense is.. well... there really isn't any suspense.
The movie is a sorry excuse to show fake boobed females naked.
Cheesy actors, who really shouldn't be able to call themselves actors.. :/ :)

But the acting is so bad, and the dialogue so forced and fake, that I love it. :D
I love watching this movie. It is SO easy to make fun of.
Especially since it looks like it was filmed with a personal, hand-held video camera. Looks like it should be from the 80's.. but from 2003.... :/ :D And I think that they only took one shot of each scene.. that is what it looks like at least. ;)
Fredrik cries when I put this in, but it is fun to watch.

Not really for everyone, it is a very badly made film.

Harry Potter 2

Original title:
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

AKA:
Incident on 57th Street (UK) (fake working title)

Written by:
J.K. Rowling (novel)
Steven Kloves (screenplay)

Directed by:
Chris Columbus

Made in:
USA in 2002

Actors:
Daniel Radcliffe .... Harry Potter
Rupert Grint .... Ron Weasley
Emma Watson .... Hermione Granger
Richard Griffiths .... Uncle Vernon
Fiona Shaw .... Aunt Petunia
Harry Melling .... Dudley Dursley
Toby Jones .... Dobby the House Elf (voice)
Jim Norton .... Mr. Mason
Veronica Clifford .... Mrs. Mason
James Phelps .... Fred Weasley
Oliver Phelps .... George Weasley
Julie Walters .... Molly Weasley
Bonnie Wright .... Ginny Weasley
Mark Williams .... Arthur Weasley
Chris Rankin .... Percy Weasley

Plot:
Harry Potter is in his second year of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He is visited by a house-elf named Dobby and warned not to go back to Hogwarts. Harry ignores his warning, and returns. He is still famous, although still disliked by Snape, Malfoy, and the rest of the Slytherins. But then, strange things start to happen. People are becoming petrified, and no-one knows what is doing it. Harry keeps hearing a voice.. a voice which seems to be coming from within the walls. They are told the story of the Chamber of Secrets. It is said that only Salazar Slytherin's true descendent will be able to open it. Harry, it turns out, is a Parsel-tongue. This means that he is able to speak/understand snakes. Everyone thinks that it's him that has opened the Chamber of Secrets because that is what Slytherin was famous for. IMDB

Review:
A fantastic movie!
A great adaptation from the book.

I do recommend reading the books before seeing the movies, though.
The movie is fun and very adventureous. Very well done!

Scary Movie 3

AKA:
Scary Movie 3: Episode I - Lord of the Brooms (USA) (working title)

Written by:
Shawn Wayans
Marlon Wayans

Directed by:
David Zucker

Made in:
USA in 2003

Actors:
Pamela Anderson .... Becca
Jenny McCarthy .... Kate
Marny Eng .... Tabitha
Charlie Sheen .... Tom
Simon Rex .... George
Jianna Ballard .... Sue
Jeremy Piven .... Ross Giggins
Anna Faris .... Cindy Campbell
Timothy Stack .... Carson Ward (as Tim Stack)
Elaine Klimaszewski .... Elaine
Diane Klimaszewski .... Diane
Camryn Manheim .... Trooper Champlin
Drew Mikuska .... Cody
Regina Hall .... Brenda Meeks
Darrell Hammond .... Father Muldoon

Plot:
Roving reporter Cindy Campbell sets out to find a hard news story in the middle of television sweeps. She soon uncovers an outrageous onslaught of globe-threatening developments including alien invaders, killer videotapes, freaky crop circles, prophecies of The One, eerie-eyed children, ambitious white rappers and even a run-in with Michael Jackson. Faced with conspiracies of massive proportions, and a crew of very strange people following her around, Cindy must fight to stop evil from taking over the world yet again. IMDB

Review:
Not a bad movie.
It starts out well, and then around the funeral scene, it just.. dies. But then after that it picks up again, and it ends up being pretty funny. I wouldn't go out of my way to see it, but it is pretty good. A lot of good laughs.

Saturday, January 7, 2006

Slumber Party Massacre III

AKA:
Slumber Party Massacre 3 (USA) (trailer title)
Stab in the Dark (USA)

Written by:
Catherine Cyran

Directed by:
Sally Mattison

Made in:
USA in 1990

Actors:
Yan Birch .... Weirdo
Brandi Burkett .... Diane
Hope Marie Carlton .... Janine
Keely Christian .... Jackie Cassidy
Maria Claire .... Susie
Alexander Falk .... Davis
Maria Ford .... Maria
Brittain Frye .... Ken
Wayne Grace .... O'Reilly
David Greenlee .... Duncan
Garon Grigsby .... Michael
Michael Harris .... Morgan (as M.K. Harris)
Devon Jenkin .... Sarah
Marta Kober .... Pizza Girl
David Kriegel .... Tom

Plot:
After a hard day of volleyball at the beach, a teen whose parents are away decides to have a slumber party with her girlfriends. Their boyfriends predictably show up to scare them, but a stranger from the beach is also seen lurking around the house. Soon the group begins experiencing an attrition problem. IMDB

Review:
Ehhhh... No!!
This isn't one of those movies that are so bad that they are good (or charming). This is just bad. Like all the other movies in the collection. This is much worse than the two before it.

Horrible actors and acting.
The movie that never ends.

King Kong

Written by:
Fran Walsh
Philippa Boyens

Directed by:
Peter Jackson

Made in:
New Zealand & USA in 2005

Actors:
Naomi Watts .... Ann Darrow
Jack Black .... Carl Denham
Adrien Brody .... Jack Driscoll
Thomas Kretschmann .... Captain Englehorn
Colin Hanks .... Preston
Andy Serkis .... Kong/Lumpy
Evan Parke .... Hayes
Jamie Bell .... Jimmy
Lobo Chan .... Choy
John Sumner .... Herb
Craig Hall .... Mike
Kyle Chandler .... Bruce Baxter
Mark Hadlow .... Harry
Geraldine Brophy .... Maude
David Denis .... Taps

Plot:
Set in the 1930s, this is the story of a young and beautiful actress Ann Darrow from the world of vaudeville who finds herself lost in depression-era New York and her luck changes when she meets an over-ambitious filmmaker Carl Denham who brings her on an exploratory expedition to a remote island where she finds compassion and the true meaning of humanity with an ape Kong. The beauty and the beast finally meet their fate back in the city of New York where the filmmaker takes and displays the ape in quest of his fame by commercial exploitation which ultimately leads to catastrophe for everyone including a playwright Jack Driscoll who falls in love with Ann and plays an unlikely hero by trying to save her from Kong and her destiny. IMDB

Review:
I don't like King Kong movies ... and I wasn't really interested in seeing this one as well. But I was more curious than anything.

So I went into the movie with no expectations.

And I really, really liked it!
They told the story well, so that it wasn't boring or annoying.
A lot of the movie was extremely drawn out, the movie is shy 3 hours long, and it probably could have been about 2 hours.
But the time went by quickly and it wasn't difficult to sit the 3 hours to watch it.

The actors did a great job (especially Jack Black), and most of the effects look pretty good.

I do think it is worth taking the time to see, even if you aren't too interested in the movie!
I wasn't expecting the deep emotional pull into the movie that it affected me with. I was surprised to see how they could show the emotional connection btwn Kong and Ana.

It was a pretty good movie.

Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3

Original title:
Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III

AKA:
Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III (USA) (video box title)
TCM 3 (USA) (short title)
Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3 (USA)

Written by:
Kim Henkel
Tobe Hooper

Directed by:
Jeff Burr

Made in:
USA in 1990

Actors:
Jennifer Banko .... Little girl
Ron Brooks .... T.V. Newsman
William Butler .... Ryan
Miriam Byrd-Nethery .... Mama
David Cloud .... Scott
Beth DePatie .... Gina
Tom Everett .... Alfredo
Ken Foree .... Benny
Kate Hodge .... Michelle
Toni Hudson .... Sara
R.A. Mihailoff .... Leatherface
Viggo Mortensen .... Tex
Joe Unger .... Tinker
Duane Whitaker .... Kim
Michael Shamus Wiles .... Checkpoint Officer

Plot:
A couple encounters a perverted gas station attendant who threatens them with a shotgun. They take a deserted path in Texas to seek help, but only meet up with a cannibalistic clan interested in helping themselves to fresh meat. IMDB

Review:
I love these movies!
This is what a movie is supposed to be like. :)

I love the acting, I love the plot.
It is serious, but doesn't take itself too serious (which is important to me with a genre like this).

Very fun and nasty.
The movie keeps with the same TCM theme, but introduces new people into the story.

Most people probably won't like this, but this is my type of movie.

Banned in: Iceland, Finland, and UK.

House 3

Original title:
The Horror Show

AKA:
Horror House
House 3 (Australia) (video title)
House III (USA) (working title)
House III: The Horror Show (UK) (video title)

Written by:
Alan Smithee
Leslie Bohem

Directed by:
James Isaac

Made in:
USA in 1989

Actors:
Lance Henriksen .... Detective Lucas McCarthy
Brion James .... Max Jenke
Rita Taggart .... Donna McCarthy
Dedee Pfeiffer .... Bonnie McCarthy
Aron Eisenberg .... Scott McCarthy
Thom Bray .... Peter Campbell
Matt Clark .... Dr. Tower
David Oliver .... Vinnie
Terry Alexander .... Casey
Lewis Arquette .... Lt. Miller
Lawrence Tierney .... Warden
Alvy Moore .... Chili Salesman
Zane W. Levitt .... Executioner

Plot:
Detective Lucas McCarthy finally apprehends "Meat Cleaver Max" and watches the electric chair execution from the audience. But killing Max Jenke only elevated him to another level of reality. Now Lucas' family is under attack, his sanity in question, and his house haunted. Aided by a disreputable college professor, can Lucas reclaim his mind, house, and family? Features Lance Henriksen as the Lucas McCarthy and Brion James as Max Jenke. One of the few movies featuring these actors as main characters. IMDB

Review:
Many recognizable faces in this movie.
A lot of over acting and a very, very bad plot.

I know cellars/basements are scary and so are fernaces, but this movie, is horrible.

Some parts are "decent," (decent as expected) but then it just.. becomes over produced and over acted.

Not something I would recommend. :/ The worst of the "House" movies.
And for some reason, it really follows Nightmare on Elm Street with a lot of aspects.
Lots of flashbacks and horrible dialogue.

Try to avoid this. :/ But it is easy to make fun of.

Oh yeah - and the "kid" that plays the younger brother, was born in 1969..... the movie was made in 1989... so he is 20 years old!!!!!! :/

Friday, January 6, 2006

Sliding Doors

Written by:
Peter Howitt

Directed by:
Peter Howitt

Made in:
UK & USA in 1998

Actors:
Gwyneth Paltrow .... Helen Quilley
John Hannah .... James Hammerton
John Lynch .... Gerry
Jeanne Tripplehorn .... Lydia
Zara Turner .... Anna
Douglas McFerran .... Russell
Paul Brightwell .... Clive

Plot:
Arriving at work one morning, Helen (Gwyneth Paltrow) discovers that she had been unjustifiably sacked from her PR job. She is returning home when an amazing thing happens, time reverses itself for a few seconds and a second version of herself is created. In one reality Helen catches the tube train, meets James (John Hannah) and arrives home to find her loathsome lothario lover Gerry (John Lynch) cheating on her with his ex-girlfriend Lydia (Jeanne Tripplehorn). In the other reality, Helen misses the tube train, gets mugged, goes to hospital and eventually arrives home to find Gerry alone in the shower. The two realities move forward in tandem; in one Helen leaves Gerry and forms a happy, new, loving relationship with James; in the other Helen's live becomes more and more wretched as she takes on two jobs to support her worthless, cheating boyfriend as he supposedly writes his novel but in fact carries on a torrid affair with Lydia. IMDB

Review:
I really love this movie!

I am not into romantic movies, I just don't like them. Even though this is a romantic movie, it still isn't "romantic." It isn't too over-the-top and annoying. It is a sweet, beautiful movie, with a wonderful plot and perfect cast.

I defiantely recommend it and wouldn't change anything about it.
It really makes you think about the chance or fate thing!

Thursday, January 5, 2006

Dr. Z

Original title:
Zaat

AKA:
Attack of the Swamp Creatures (USA) (bootleg title)
Blood Waters of Dr. Z (USA) (intended reissue title)
Dr. Z (USA)
Hydra (Canada: English title) (video title (bootleg title))
Legend of the Zaat Monster (USA)

Written by:
Ron Kivett
Lee O. Larew

Directed by:
Don Barton

Made in:
USA in 1975

Actors:
Marshall Grauer .... Dr. Kurt Leopold
Wade Popwell .... The Monster
Paul Galloway .... Sheriff Krantz
Gerald Cruse .... Marine Biologist Rex
Sanna Ringhaver .... INPIT Agent Martha Walsh
Dave Dickerson .... INPIT Agent Walker Stevens
Archie Valliere .... Deputy Sheriff
Nancy Lien .... Girl camper

Plot:
A shuffling, evil marine biologist/janitor who speaks only in voice-overs develops a process to turn people into super-powerful amphibious sea creatures. Once he transforms himself, however, he seems to lose focus, as he starts Windexing a nearby pond. Only later does he vaguely start chasing after nubile women so that he can transform them as well, mate, and produce a race of super beings which will RULE THE WORLD!! IMDB

Review:
WoW!! Possibly one of the worst movies ever made.

We watched this with MST and it was completely impossible to watch. It was actually painful. :/

MST even had a very difficult time even coming up with funny things to say about the film. :/

The plot was horrific, the acting was even worse ... It was easy to laugh at a lot of things, but more than anything - it was painful.

If you do watch it, please: only with MST!

The Breakfast Club

Written by:
John Hughes

Directed by:
John Hughes

Made in:
USA in 1985

Actors:
Emilio Estevez .... Andrew 'Andy' Clark
Anthony Michael Hall .... Brian Ralph Johnson
Judd Nelson .... John Bender
Molly Ringwald .... Claire Standish
Paul Gleason .... Principal Richard Vernon
Ally Sheedy .... Allison Reynolds
John Kapelos .... Carl the Janitor

Plot:
When five high school students, Andrew, John, Allison, Brian, and Claire, meet in detention one day. The principal wants them to write an essay, and they think they are in for a boring 8 hours of doing nothing. At first, they argue and hate each other, but after smoking some marijuana, they pour their hearts out to each other, and tell about their fears, secrets, and their deepest emotions, and problems. IMDB

Review:
This is another one of those coming-of-age movies that every teen needs to see.
A fun and serious movie, that teaches you a lot about being a teen.

Definitely a classic.

House on Haunted Hill (remake)

Written by:
Robb White (story)
Dick Beebe (screenplay)

Directed by:
William Malone

Made in:
USA in 1999

Actors:
Geoffrey Rush .... Stephen H. Price
Famke Janssen .... Evelyn Stockard-Price
Taye Diggs .... Eddie Baker
Peter Gallagher .... Donald W. Blackburn, M.D.
Chris Kattan .... Watson Pritchett
Ali Larter .... Sara Wolfe
Bridgette Wilson .... Melissa Margaret Marr
Max Perlich .... Carl Schecter

Plot:
When an eccentric millionaire offer a group of opposites $1,000,000 to spend the night in a so called "Haunted House" with a murderous past, they figure it is a quick way to get quick money and leave. All of them are sure it is some made up story just to mess with their heads a little and test their courage. But, once they stay in the house they start to think about the mistake they made in coming there when mysterious things start to happen. IMDB

Review:
This isn't too bad of a movie. Not the original, but it is charming in its own little way. I like it up until the end - when the house comes to life or whatnot. It is good until that point. Has good scare appeal, but just not the original.

Groundhog Day

Written by:
Danny Rubin

Directed by:
Harold Ramis

Made in:
USA in 1993

Actors:
Bill Murray .... Phil Connors
Andie MacDowell .... Rita
Chris Elliott .... Larry

Plot:
A weather man is reluctantly sent to cover a story about a weather forecasting "rat" (as he calls it). This is his fourth year on the story, and he makes no effort to hide his frustration. On awaking the 'following' day he discovers that it's Groundhog Day again, and again, and again. First he uses this to his advantage, then comes the realisation that he is doomed to spend the rest of eternity in the same place, seeing the same people do the same thing EVERY day. IMDB

Review:
A fun-loving movie that is extremely entertaining.
Very funny, very witty, definately worth watching.

The Devil's Rejects

AKA:
House of 1000 Corpses 2 (USA) (working title)
The Devil's Rejects: House of 1000 Corpses 2 (USA) (working title)

Written by:
Rob Zombie

Directed by:
Rob Zombie

Made in:
USA & Germany in 2005

Actors:
Sid Haig .... Captain Spaulding
Bill Moseley .... Otis
Sheri Moon .... Baby (as Sheri Moon Zombie)
William Forsythe .... Sheriff Wydell
Ken Foree .... Charlie Altamont
Matthew McGrory .... Tiny
Leslie Easterbrook .... Mother Firefly
Geoffrey Lewis .... Roy Sullivan
Priscilla Barnes .... Gloria Sullivan
Dave Sheridan .... Officer Ray Dobson
Kate Norby .... Wendy Banjo
Lew Temple .... Adam Banjo
Danny Trejo .... Rondo
Dallas Page .... Billy Ray Snapper (as Diamond Dallas Page)
Brian Posehn .... Jimmy

Plot:
Sequel to 'House of 1000 Corpses' is set some months later with the Texas State Police making a full-scale attack against the murderous Firefly family residence for the 1,000+ murders and disappearances of the past several years. But three of the family members escape, including Otis, Baby Firefly and Baby's father Captain Spaulding. The evil trio go on a road trip, leaving dozens of mangled bodies in their wake. Evading a massive Texas Rangers dragnet as well as a group of equally murderous bounty hunters led by Ken Dwyer (the brother of a policeman Mamma Firefly killed in 'House of...') who's obsessed with finding the deadly killers, the surviving Firefly clan gather at a run-down amusement park owned by Captain Spaulding's half-brother, Charlie Altamont, whom offers them shelter and a new base of operations for their killing spree as Sheriff Dwyer, the Texas Rangers, the FBI and others slowly close in. IMDB

Review:
Very comedic, entertaining, fantastic movie - just like House of 1000 Corpses.

The sequal to House of 1000 Corpses, it definately lives up to the original, and even surpasses.

A pleasant homage to Last House on the Left, as well.

The movie is soothing in so many ways. I love the music. And it is so emotional.
How often do you get to see the point-of-view of a loving, murderous, pyscho family? And see how much they love each other, and that they, too, can be normal and silly.

The ending is priceless, one of the best ever!!

House of 1000 Corpses

Written by:
Rob Zombie

Directed by:
Rob Zombie

Made in:
USA in 2003

Actors:
Sid Haig .... Captain Spaulding
Bill Moseley .... Otis Driftwood
Sheri Moon .... Baby Firefly
Karen Black .... Mother Firefly
Chris Hardwick .... Jerry Goldsmith
Erin Daniels .... Denise Willis
Jennifer Jostyn .... Mary Knowles
Rainn Wilson .... Bill Hudley
Walton Goggins .... Deputy Steve Naish
Tom Towles .... Lieutenant George Wydell
Matthew McGrory .... Tiny Firefly
Robert Allen Mukes .... Rufus 'R.J.' Firefly Jr. (as Robert Mukes)
Dennis Fimple .... Grandpa Hugo Firefly
Harrison Young .... Don Willis
William Bassett .... Sheriff Drake Huston (as William H. Bassett)

Plot:
Jerry, Bill, Mary, and Denise are two couples out on the road in hopes of writing a book on offbeat roadside attractions. When the four meet Captain Spaulding, they learn of the legend of Dr. Satan. When the four take off in search of finding the tree that Dr. Satan was hung from, they pick up hitchhiker Baby. When their car breaks down, Baby invites them into her house. This is where the two couples meet the Firefly family, a murderous clan of bizarre people. As the family attacks the unsuspecting couples, Jerry and his friends try to survive the house of 1000 corpses and it's dark secrets. IMDB

Review:
This is a fantastic movie!!
I love the characters and the plot.
If you love Texas Chainsaw Massacre, then you will love this movie. Everything concerning this movie is owing tribute to TCM.
One of the main characters is even in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre II movie!

Extremely entertaining and very bloody and gory.

Sunday, January 1, 2006

Göta kanal

AKA:
Göta kanal eller Vem drog ur proppen?
Who Pulled the Plug?

Written by:
Hans Iveberg

Directed by:
Hans Iveberg

Made in:
Sweden in 1981

Actors:
Kim Anderzon .... Lena
Janne 'Loffe' Carlsson .... Janne (as Janne Carlsson)
Stig Ossian Ericson .... Sigurd
Yvonne Lombard .... Rut
Nils Eklund .... Rune
Stig Engström .... Björn H:son Larsson
Magnus Härenstam .... Peter Black
Rolv Wesenlund .... Ole
Per Oscarsson .... Ulf Svensson
Georg Rydeberg .... Gustav
Peter Harryson .... Policeman
Svante Grundberg .... Canoer
Lars Amble .... Leif Andersson
Marie Göranzon .... Astrid Ohlsson
Frank Andersson .... Man in Boat

Plot:
To get an order for 1000 yachts to a middle-east sheik, two boat companies have to race 'Göta Kanal', a canal from the Swedish east coast to Gothenburg. The winner gets the order and there are no rules in this game. IMDB

Review:
We've been trying to see this movie for some time now, but they finally showed it on TV right before Christmas.

It is a hilarious movie, too! Definately worth the time to see.
It is difficult to rate it, though, because it is funny - and I really doubt it could be any better than what it is, but how to compare it to other movies like it is challenging.
It is a good comedy, and that is saying a lot since it is Swedish. :)

Definately worth watching! The beginning is a little boring, but once they get on the water, it is a blast. :)

Not sure about the translated title (Who Pulled the Plug) .. makes no sense whatsoever. :/ :) The "Göta Kanal" is a canal in Sweden that runs from Norrköping to Göteborg (Gothenburg).

This is a Swedish classic.

Language is in Swedish, probably available with subtitles somewhere.

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory

Written by:
Roald Dahl (book)

Directed by:
Mel Stuart

Made in:
USA in 1971

Actors:
Gene Wilder .... Willy Wonka
Jack Albertson .... Grandpa Joe
Peter Ostrum .... Charlie Bucket
Roy Kinnear .... Mr. Henry Salt
Julie Dawn Cole .... Veruca Salt
Leonard Stone .... Mr. Sam Beauregarde
Denise Nickerson .... Violet Beauregarde
Nora Denney .... Mrs. Teevee (as Dodo Denney)
Paris Themmen .... Mike Teevee
Ursula Reit .... Mrs. Gloop
Michael Bollner .... Augustus Gloop
Diana Sowle .... Mrs. Bucket
Aubrey Woods .... Bill, candy store owner
David Battley .... Mr. Turkentine
Günter Meisner .... Mr. Slugworth

Plot:
The world is astounded when Willy Wonka, for years a recluse in his factory, announces that five lucky people will be given a tour of the factory, shown all the secrets of his amazing candy, and one will win a lifetime supply of Wonka chocolate. Nobody wants the prize more than young Charlie, but as his family is so poor that buying even one bar of chocolate is a treat, buying enough bars to find one of the five golden tickets is unlikely in the extreme. But in movieland, magic can happen. Charlie, along with four somewhat odious other children, get the chance of a lifetime and a tour of the factory. Along the way, mild disasters befall each of the odious children, but can Charlie beat the odds and grab the brass ring? IMDB

Review:
One of my most favorite movies of all time!
Enjoyable for children as well as for adults.
I think this is a classic that every child needs to grow up watching.

The songs are so fantastic. It is so much fun to sing along with the film.
Fun-loving, a great plot, perfect cast.. no one is better than Gene Wilder for Willy Wonka.

Hannibal

AKA:
The Silence of the Lambs 2 (USA) (working title)

Written by:
Thomas Harris (novel)
David Mamet (screenplay)

Directed by:
Ridley Scott

Made in:
UK & USA in 2001

Actors:
Anthony Hopkins .... Dr. Hannibal Lecter
Julianne Moore .... Clarice Starling
Giancarlo Giannini .... Inspector Rinaldo Pazzi
Gary Oldman .... Mason Verger
Ray Liotta .... Paul Krendler
Frankie Faison .... Barney Matthews (as Frankie R. Faison)
Francesca Neri .... Allegra Pazzi
Zeljko Ivanek .... Dr. Cordell Doemling
Hazelle Goodman .... Evelda Drumgo
David Andrews .... Clint Pearsall
Francis Guinan .... FBI Director Noonan
James Opher .... DEA Agent Eldridge
Enrico Lo Verso .... Gnocco
Ivano Marescotti .... Carlo Deogracias
Fabrizio Gifuni .... Matteo Deogracias

Plot:
Part three in the Hannibal Lecter Trilogy. Having escaped the asylum in "Silence of the Lambs," Dr Lecter goes into hiding in Florence, Italy. Back in America, Mason Verger, an old victim of the doctor's, seeks revenge. Disfigured and confined to a life-support system, he plans to draw Lecter out of his hiding place, using the one thing he truly cares for: Clarice Starling. IMDB

Review:
This is an okay movie. I don't think it is anything spectacular. :/
There are a few things with this movie that I don't really like. Especially parts concerning Lecter's obsessive lusting over Clarice. But luckily they cut out the worst of those parts, which are available on the DVD.

I don't think I'll be going out of my way to be seeing this movie again. Compared to the other Lecter movies, this one is a dud.

The Goonies

Written by:
Steven Spielberg (story)
Chris Columbus (screenplay)

Directed by:
Richard Donner

Made in:
USA in 1985

Actors:
Sean Astin .... Mikey Walsh
Josh Brolin .... Brand Walsh
Jeff Cohen .... Lawrence 'Chunk' Cohen
Corey Feldman .... Clark 'Mouth' Devereaux
Kerri Green .... Andy Carmichael
Martha Plimpton .... Stef Steinbrenner
Jonathan Ke Quan .... Richard 'Data' Wang (as Ke Huy Quan)
John Matuszak .... Lotney 'Sloth' Fratelli
Robert Davi .... Jake Fratelli
Joe Pantoliano .... Francis Fratelli
Anne Ramsey .... Mama Fratelli
Lupe Ontiveros .... Rosalita
Mary Ellen Trainor .... Harriet Walsh
Keith Walker .... Irving Walsh
Curtis Hanson .... Elgin Perkins

Plot:
A group of west coast kids facing their last days together before a development paves over their homes stumble onto evidence of pirate's treasure, which attracts the attention of a family of criminals. IMDB

Review:
A classic!
This is a movie that every child needs to see. (And the original version, not the Disney horribly-cut version.)
This is a coming-of-age movie that every child needs to see. And I still love it to this day!

Fun-loving, adventureous, romantic, silly.. everything a movie needs to be.