willpak

How is this movie rated at only 3.9? It's easily the most entertaining Argento flick I've seen. I enjoyed it much more than when I'd seen it on its original release, and thought it was okay. Bravo to Argento for playing with the story, and all but turning it into a black comedy. There is a certain level of atmosphere, how could there not be with such fantastic sets, but with the rat catcher, Kristina's Baron, and the ultimate prima donna, Carlotta, oh, and don't forget the dirty old men and their Swiss chocolates, it plays as much as a black comedy as it does a love story or a horror movie. Heck, I haven't even mentioned Julian Sands, who played the Phantom with more pathos than camp, even when he's getting comfortable with a rat friend. Asia was fantastic in the role of Kristina, displaying a talent for comedy, I'd for one, would like to see more of.

Great sets, lush costumes, all around good acting, nice Morricone score, decent effects by Sergio Stiviletti, nice photography by Ronnie Taylor - Entertaining - Is all I can say - Damn Entertaining!

If you like private, this is a top end production. Other than the delectable Ms. Wild (all hail!) you can enjoy the talents of Veronica Sinclair and Patricia Diamond, in what's, actually, a fairly entertaining movie. The plot dialogue is horrendously dubbed into English, but fortunately the important moments are untouched.

The movie is very well made, nicely shot, and doesn't drag. Oh, and most importantly, the scenes are hot! Especially Michelle Wild's. If you're not familiar with her work, run, don't walk to your nearest porn stockist and see what you've been missing!

I'd also recommend DNA and Private Reality 5 - Click Here to Enter.

Get to it!

Watched Conquest last night and while it had some good stuff going on, Jenna getting down and dirty, Tom Bryon's salty seadog, Asia Carrera's Island hottie and Juli Ashton's pirate treats, overall it wasn't very satisfying. It's certainly lavish, by porno standards, but I found the camera work flat, most scenes under lit (A big porno no no, in my book) and some of the worst camera angles, I suppose, masquerading as style. All these aesthetic choices somewhat killed the erotic intensity of what looked like being an interesting, sexy movie.

I commend the efforts off all concerned, I liked the fact they played it pretty much straight, very little comedy, and the Gregorian chanting worked quite well (even if it was post 1700s).

Worth a look, others reviewers seem to like it, but I'd recommend renting.

And even though it was one of Brentwood's awful DVD prints, I have to say I really enjoyed it. At 82 mins, the pace never slows, and with plenty of action and some eerie slow motion footage of the Vampire women, I never found my interest waning. Gaby Fuchs, while not the most impressive actress ever, does a passable job in the lead. Barbara Capell and Patty Shepard -spoilers-..... do a fantastic job as the vampire women, with the former, in particular, catching my eye. Andrés Fuerno, turns up late on, and doesn't get up to much other than being eye candy for any ladies that might be watching, a lead he certainly isn't. -Spoilers-..... The hero of this piece is Paul Naschy, who was pretty good as the tortured, Waldemar, and did his best to menace, as the werewolf, in less than spectacular makeup.

I really look forward to getting Anchor Bay's complete version (95mins) for a great print and anamorphic W/S, as Werewolf's Shadow, certainly deserves it.

Caught this over the weekend, and I have to say that it lived up to my expectations. Some great performances, esp. Michael Reilly Burke as Bundy. Strong direction by Matthew Bright, that grabs the attention from the start, and sucks you into Bundy's spiraling descent into madness. If you liked Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, this is for you, if not, stay clear, not for the weak hearted.

Caught this as the surprise movie, at the Dublin Horrorthon festival, over the weekend, and found it pretty unengaging. It was well put together and decently acted, but, the only surprise this movie had to offer was that it was scripted by Darren Aronofsky. The plot was incredibly weak, and the movie's resolution was like something you'd see on an episode of some naff TV show. And as for the horror element (make no mistake, this is 90% submarine movie and 10% other)to say it felt, tacked on, is an understatement.

Enjoyable throughout, I was left guessing until the end, as to the identity of the killer(s), although I did suss out who was the killee.

My only complaint is Charles Dance's lack of screen time. Other than that, good work, oldman!

There are faults with TFotR, mainly, the timeframe is way off and some of the CG is less than perfect, but I still gave it, 10 out of 10, as I've seen it 3 times now, and I just can't get over how awe inspiring it is. I cannot understate this when I say - I have never, as an adult, been so caught up in a movie. Post movie drink, after my first viewing, I sat with two friends, mostly in silence. Now and again one of us would comment on the experience we'd just had, or mention the fact that after so much slack-jawed staring, our heads felt numb. A couple of pints in time later, and our, wow conversation, kicked in. later, In excitedly, describing the movie to a couple of women, who had yet to see it, I thought - this must be how "born agains" must feel when they're spreading the "good news".

Well, maybe I am slightly overstating it a little, and being an atheist, I am using some pretty flowery language to describe what is after all, only a movie. With that thought in mind, I'll leave it there, as I should try and save some enthusiasm for the Two Towers.

Presidential candidate, Warren Beatty, has a nervous breakdown, and in the process of his election campaign, starts "tellin' it like it is". I liked the premise, nice to hear ideas from outside the "voter pleasing" political box, get an airing. But the premise is wrapped up in an incredibly uneven movie, which at times is quite hard to watch.

The second, Alan Towers/Franco, collaboration I've seen, and along with the Bloody Judge it lacked something. Could be the fact that Franco is working from someone else's script and so, lacks his vision. Or could just be "have camera, will travel" got to pay those bills. Still, a good cast makes this watchable, even if Soledad Miranda is horribly mis-cast as the fragile Lucy.

Director/co-Writer Gabriele Lavia plays a hitman who has fallen out of favour with his bosses. They want him dead, and the only think keeping him alive is a list of names which they think lavia has in his possession, actually, he flushed it down the toilet. Bidding his time, Lavia hides out at a bordello, where he starts an affair with a mysterious women (Monica Guerritore).

Typical, cross and double-cross thriller, but is still fairly enjoyable. Not much in the way of gory violence on offer (when there is its effective) and don't expect an erotic, titillater, as its far too tame for that.

All in all, a solid enough movie, with a strong ending that wont disappoint. Certainly makes me want to check out Lavia's, "Scandalous Gilda" which I've read good things about.

I've being avoiding Zombie Lake for a while now, as I'd heard such bad things about it. But a couple of weeks ago I was hard up for some, Euro sleeze, so I popped it into the old VCR and hoped for the best. In many ways, Zombie Lake, is a disaster of a movie. Mainly, having the word Zombie in the title, and actually having badly, face-painted, football fans as the titled Lake owners, the dubbing is atrocious, and the plot all but comes to a crashing halt in places. But, other than that, i enjoyed it! Only the hardest of heart, would not be touched by the Zombie love affair, especially, as its score, is the enchanting theme from Female Vampire (played over and over). Or, the relationship that develops between the head honcho, Zombie, and the girl that turns out to be his daughter! The other treats I'll leave for your viewing pleasure, but rest assured, this is no where near as bad as some people make out (well, if you enjoy this sort of thing). Its certainly, cheeper than cheep, but at least you get two Euro sleezemiesters, (Rollin + Franco), for your money.

Been looking forward to "The Tombs of the Blind Dead" for a while, as I'd heard some good things about it, but I was certainly a bit disappointed. In places it was well put together, mainly, any of the Blind Dead scenes, esp, on horseback and the train scene, but their just not featured in the movie enough, which is a real let down. I was surprised by the lack of gore, and what was the story with that morgue assistant(?), giggling frog torturer?!

TotBD is an interesting addition to the Zombie genre, high on mood, and with a satisfying ending, but still not as good as I would have hoped. Oh, well, can't please everyone.

I've read with interest some comments relating to CTHD, mainly that its overrated and leans too much toward fantasy. Both of these points, IMO, are undeserved. Of the four HK Movies i've seen recently, Magnificent Warriors, Once upon a time in China and the Bride with White Hair and, of course, CTHD, the former is the one i was most impressed by. Not having watched many HK movies in recent years (the odd Jackie Chan flick, mainly) CTHD pickled my fancy, and led to me buying or renting the aformentioned movies, and while they were certainly watchable, (esp TBwWH), I didn't get the same thrill i got, as when I watched CTHD (4 times, now).