MeanYOB64

I only saw the original Deadly Prey a few weeks ago and I enjoyed it so much I went out of my way to get this follow up. The original is really a great Gem of a cheapy, David Prior was well aware of the production limitations and just has an absolute Ball with the hokey material, in some ways it is even more funny than Rambo First Blood Part 2! The Deadliest Prey is more of a rehash than a true sequel, sort of like how Terminator 2 lifts many scenes from the original with slight context alterations, but TDP is a more extreme case. The new slant added to the story is the human hunting is caught on camera and broadcast over the net. Many of the original actors have come back to reprise their roles which bolsters the authenticity of the proceeding for fans, you will be surprised to hear their acting prowess hasn't changed one iota, and we wouldn't have it any other way! In all honesty, TDP isn't quite as entertaining as the original, but with that said there are still some great gags like when Danton is 'recruited' again, and if the Hackers don't at least make you smile, there is something seriously wrong. For all lovers of B films, Deadly Prey & The Deadliest Prey makes a great double- bill...True that!

I find it very interesting that the at times Mega-Sleaze merchant like Aristide Massaccesi can knuckle down and make a pretty good action PA movie delivering tense atmosphere, well choreographed shoot-outs and some real forward-thinking between character relationships but all the while also keeping the sickening depravity (mostly) off the screen. For these reasons, if say you love Jesus Franco's latter movies that just seem to degenerate into pawn then you probably won't like 2020 Texas Gladiators that much. One of the interesting things about the movie is when one central character gets killed off and then the focus changes to another character then suddenly the situations tend to take on progressive changes in perspective, if that made any sense. The budget of the movie is obviously low, but the resourceful effects like the animated electricity on the futuristic riot-shields brandished by the enemy soldiers sometimes let you forget the shield frames are cardboard on close inspection. Because there are not many faces attached to the actors here at IMDb I forget the character name of the enemy boss, he was kind of a neo-Nazi type, not the best actor but he looks creepy and was funny at times. In conclusion, I liked this a lot more than any Mad Max film, it is definitely way better than Fury Road, so it is well worth seeking out.

I have watched my fair share of Post-Apocalyptic movies and I thought I would probably like this one but it honestly didn't really grab me in a big way.

When the movie starts up and it said Directed by Franky Schaeffer, I remembered I had seen a movie by him yonks ago, 'Booby Trap' I think it was, which was another PA movie but if my memory serves I don't think it was as jokey as Rising Storm is. To set the tone of RS it starts out kind of like a parody of the opening sequence of Blues Brothers, with the character that is played by Galligan collecting his brother from Prison upon his release...it even makes the joke about the absence of the nice car they used to own.

As the movie slowly progresses we learn about the wastes being governed by a Televangelist, which is a unique plot point but doesn't add anything interesting to the movie. The brothers set off on their adventure, get up to some low-brow high-jinx and eventually meet up with two women whom end up becoming their companions. Will they bring down the dictatorship? Will they live to eat McDonald's again? Will Bill Katt make a small but significant appearance more than once? You have to watch to find out...but I thought this was really a bit drab, only half the jokes seemed to work and even then they were very mild. If you are still interested then by all means, head into the wastes for the VHS!

I had an epiphany during this movie, for my whole life I naively thought Citizen Kane had no equal, but now I can say with complete confidence that Stunt Rock is unequivocally it.

The similarities are subtle but many, there are moving pictures & sound - so far so good, plenty of thoughtful mugging is going on just like what Orson Welles did and lastly while you are watching twelve monkeys don't encroach around you hurling their feces in your general direction.

One of the reasons I discovered this movie is I found the soundtrack to Rocktober Blood, which I listened to hundreds of times before finally deciding to watch the actual movie and of course Sorcery (not Sorcery of Chicago) does the music and they Rock! I feel the movie (Rocktober Blood) is underrated, the plot is more interesting than you may initially think, but then again you get great music as well!

I feel many parallels can be drawn between Rocktober Blood and Stunt Rock, which can only bode well for you, the viewer, since you could have a great night with friends, make it a double-bill!

I suppose for me the idea of John Wick was something like 'Falling Down' but without the social comments and instead of an ordinary guy pushed over the edge, here the protagonist is a retired hit-man.

Needless to say, the entire plot is adequately summed up in the trailer and if you like movies that set out to entertain in a simple way, the comic book logic and emphasis on stunts and action here will be right up your alley. From my viewpoint, I hesitate to say Reeves carries this movie to a certain extent, but I don't want to take too much away from the rest of the cast, though some like Palicki aren't given much of a chance to demonstrate their full range of talents or have a strong impact on the proceedings for lack of time on screen. Nyqvist gives an interesting performance but is fighting against a particularly weak script even by action movie standards, and his Russian Mob Boss character often comes off as somewhat of an imbecile, even if there are deliberate attempts at humor peppered in.

Overall, Reeves is appealing and inherently sympathetic with a sombre low-key performance sort of reminiscent of what he did in 'The Watcher'. Notably his physical work with regards to the action is commendable, but in my opinion it is a shame it was not applied to a movie with a slightly stronger script and direction, when compared with a movie that strives for similar goals like 'The Equalizer' which lacked those deficiencies and made for a more well- rounded and engaging viewing experience.

Worth watching, could of been better, so

** out of ****

* Spoiler alert * I will describe the opening events of the film

Escape From Paradise is yet another film that takes place sometime in the future after an ecological disaster has occurred.

At the beginning a child finds a medallion at the beach and then stumbles across an old man who claims the medallion is his, subsequently the old man goes on to tell the story behind it, so that is the setup for the movie.

The tale concerns two young people, Teo and Beatrice, whom live apart in an underground vault. Their separation is not by choice however, since this vault is governed by a computer named Harry - it decides which males and females are compatible to be paired together. Of course, Teo & Beatrice are very much in love and wish to be together, but doubt whether Harry will give them its blessing. The two can see each other on view screens, and neither having seen the outside world, only experience a limited controlled version of it through holographic simulations, in one scene it appears Teo is running on a tread-mill while Beatrice is running along a field on-screen - the low budget is clearly in evidence, but the idea of them being alone together is nonetheless adequately conveyed.

One night Teo decides to borrow his father's cherished Medallion to find out what all the fuss is about while his parents are out for the evening to take in some cultural entertainment, featuring (gulp) semi-nude Gladiatorial combat on harnesses - this really has to be seen to be believed, quite hilarious. When Teo & Beatrice discover the medallion contains a video-disc showing images of the outside world, both beauty and disaster, they decide it must be investigated. Together with the help of a robot (think Buck Rogers '81 season two) Teo and Beatrice find a way out of their designated sectors to the ruined world above. Of course, the parents are worried sick their children are missing, so a military-like group are sent out to retrieve them headed by the menacing commander Thor, played convincingly by the late Buchholz.

I suppose at its core the scenario is akin to one found in an episode of the original Twilight Zone or Outer Limits, brought up to date with more cruelty and violence. There are definite shades of Bronx Warriors with the obligatory flame-throwers featured prominently, but given the innocence of the central characters' there is moments of sensitivity and warmth that characterizes this piece and moreover puts some distinction between it and the glut of Post-Apocalyptic outings of the 80's & 90's.

This movie was nothing like I expected from what I read in a horror movie guide before watching, which stated the movie consisted of alternating dance routines and brutal murders, but this description is simply wrong. The first twenty minutes or so is really fast moving and entertaining, when the lead actress fights with the two thugs, I was utterly mesmerized by her wrestling moves, and in general the fight scenes are fairly well choreographed. The initial tone of the movie is surprisingly cheerful and upbeat, with loads of comic overtones, notably Queen Kong and her compatriot are an absolute riot as a couple of bumbling small-time crooks, I couldn't stop laughing while they were on screen, they were just so ridiculous. Classic. The movie grinds down a bit in the middle, which I attribute to the director blowing all the rest of the budget on the CG dagger that spins on the films' title, yes you read right, there is CG in this movie, take that Jim Cameron's Abyss! Things gather steam again towards the end and there is even a tease at a sequel we will never know about. Overall, Slash Dance is streets ahead of most Troma movies, granted there are some competitive lulls, though if you watch it after midnight with someone close who also loves B movies, you will remember the experience forever, even if the memory of the film may fade away.

Peace

Nichole