mikeallen21

IMDb member since August 2013
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Reviews

Tremors: The Key
(2003)
Episode 11, Season 1

Hollywood stars packed into one short episode!
One of the best of the Tv series and certainly the episode with the most star power. Cool twist in the Tremors universe with Hollywood stars throughout. Michael Rooker, Vivica A. Fox, Nicholas Turturro, and Richard Riehle all in the same episode! It is fun and fast paced, it keeps the old school Tremors vibe alive but introduces movie like plot angles with a more complicated story line and more main characters than usual. This series should have had a lot more seasons made- great show! The desert is definitely one of the main characters in the Tremors world. This episode is unique in that it is two separate stories happening at the same time. It is a continuation from an earlier episode and also the start of a new pursuit of another weird creature in Perfection!

Bullet Train
(2022)

The comedy and action stay on the tracks for the whole ride!
Fun. The sets and action are top notch. The acting is over the top on purpose; and is spot on and hilarious. I really enjoy a movie I cannot predict. Bullet Train was original even while keeping stereotypes and cliche' alive and well.

DC League of Super-Pets
(2022)

The Rock + Kevin Hart = FUNNY
Great family movie! Just enough character development to start the jokes. Lots of chuckles, my 7 year old howled with laughter many times. Summertime Family fun at the movies.

Prey
(2022)

I "Prey" they make a couple more Predator movies this good!
I am Predator fan. Big time. I have seen all of the Predator films multiple times and the two I like most, the original "Predator" and "Predators" dozens of times. This one, Prey, is REALLY good!! New spin on a prequal- going waaaay back in the past. Good action, beautiful wide angel nature shots, cool animal interactions, and likeable lead characters. Realistic battle scenes and a 'mean' different look for the creature, highlight a great film.

Nope
(2022)

Barely a 6
Mystery = 9 stars. Cinematography = 9 stars. Cast minus Keke Palmer = 9 stars. Keke Palmer = negative 1000 stars. Opens with extremely confusing and unnecessary scene. Has a good 10 minutes, then 40 minutes of nothing. Has an hour of solid movie then 2 unneeded scenes and finishes strong. Keke Palmer's character is so annoying and worthless as a human being it's hard to give a positive review.

Jungle Cruise
(2021)

2017 Jumanji + 1999 The Mummy = Jungle Cruise = OK
Cool sets, under achieving acting, average action. The Rock and Emily Blunt have a ZERO compatibility score. BUT... it all gels enough to still be fun. The Disney "formula" worked to produce an average ride.

The Tomorrow War
(2021)

Edge of Tomorrow meets Starship Troopers!
Tomorrow War is really fun! The characters are likeable, the story has original twists, and the "bad guys" are Legite scary. I liked all the combat scenes and the movie never stalls out into a boring patch- it keeps itself interesting the whole way.

Siren
(2016)

B Movie Horror fun with better than expected acting
Siren starts at a good pace and gets just enough character development to care if someone gets into danger. The 'Siren' character really is SCARY. Some original twists and some formula, only 1 or 2 slow spots with plot holes. Overall well done and a fun watch.

El hoyo
(2019)

It's a VERTICAL version of CUBE and it's pretty good!
I am not usually fond of subtitled films, but this movie has enough character and atmosphere to push right through that barrier. I wanted to unravel the mysteries and story twists and cared about the protagonist right away. It is scary and fun at the same time and quickly moves along. Fun to watch!

Scorched Earth
(2018)

Seen Quick and the Dead? You know the entire story line for this film already.
But........ Gina Carano carries it and it's still pretty good! EVERY single thing is copied straight from the 1995 western. They did make it in the future and they have gas mask on 1/4 of the time, but the rest is straight a western with all the same characters. Still pretty fun to watch.

Zombieland: Double Tap
(2019)

Sequel done Right! Double Tap was worth the wait!
This movie is FUN! That is what made the original great. The Zombies have their place, but the main characters are back- ALL of them. A little less scary than Zombieland but a good time with adventure, comedy, and and a little romance.

Once Upon a Time in... Hollywood
(2019)

Do you love Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill, Django, & The Hateful Eight? You will probably hate this.
Boring, boring, and more boring. I absolutely love Pulp Fiction- I watched it 4 times at the theater alone. I have seen every Tarantino movie. I love some, and deeply enjoy most. I was straight up was bored to death during Once upon a time. I actually looked forward to taking a bathroom break, knowing full well I had zero chance of missing anything important or exciting. There is at least 45 solid minutes of no dialogue while Brad Pitt drives in circles in Hollywood....literally 45 minutes. It has two 3 minute action scenes via scenes from other movies shown inside this movie, and one 10 minute action scene as the finale, the other 2 1/2 hours of film is without consequence. Even the cameos are flat. You do see hundreds of vintage cars in the background and lots of neon store and bar signs. Do not waste your time or money.

For Ellen
(2012)

Slow pace does not equal poor movie "For Ellen" is proof
Some movies are for fun. Some movies are for adventure. Some movies are art and are actually a "film" For Ellen is art. Yes it is slow, yes it has few words and little action. This film is about emotions that do not need laughs and action to be nurtured. Dano is approaching Oscar level acting at a very young age. I can't wait to see his skills grow and deepen. This movie is sad because that is what the characters are feeling! It is powerful and emotional and really well made. I don't have much else to say except that a lot of movie goers expect to be surprised with original twist and plot turns, but are not impressed with deliberate quality. This film is deliberate and delivers quality.

Brown's Requiem
(1998)

NOIR at it's BEST
Brown's Requiem is a gritty, realistic, detective story. Michael Rooker is top notch and very believable. His supporting cast is excellent.

The casting was spot on. William Sasso of Mad TV fame is spectacular. He really is a versatile actor that needs more and larger roles. Brad Dourif adds some veteran skills and Selma Blair gives a good performance as an enticing teen with trouble always in tow.

If you like realistic suspense/thriller situations you will love this.

It lifts the veil of the shiny city and shows the dirty, dangerous underbelly of a large city filled with unpredictable misfits.

Dark, not so perfect, lead character with all his flaws and fears trying his best to do right against the odds. Rooker can be VERY menacing when backed in a corner!

Delgo
(2008)

Bad, boring, confusing, waste of life!
I have never seen an animated film this bad.

The narration is like nails on a chalkboard.

The direction is like a 3 year old throwing darts at random ideas and actually missing the entire board often! The characters are sooooooo cliché that the word cliché doesn't keep up.

The plot is very simple and yet totally confusing at the same time- something that is very difficult to do.

I watched with my 5 year old son thinking it would go over his head and he could just enjoy the animation- WRONG! He told me 'Dad I want to like the movie, and its a cartoon and everything but my brain is telling me I don't like this movie even a little bit. Can we just turn it off? I did. The night improved as soon as I hit the off switch.

Miracle Mile
(1988)

Original plot "springing" from the sky is falling premise
This is a fun ride thriller.

It is not meant to be a deep thinking film.

Goofy slow start to lull the audience- then bang! Fast paced all the way through.

I always thought it would be cool to make a movie like this with several characters having different stories happening at the same time- IE some make it out of the city, some die quickly, some decide to sit down and wait etc.

The actors carry this with very little effects having to be used.

Great apocalyptic movie without the senseless gore and silly explosions.

I had fun watching Miracle Mile all the way to tia ******* uana!

Mad Max: Fury Road
(2015)

Grow up watching The Road Warrior in the 80"s? Prepare to be disappointed.
This new movie has none of the grit, fierceness, or reality of the 80's version.

This version of Max is 3rd best behind The Road Warrior and Mad Max. Beyond Thunderdome was a full disgrace to the franchise.

The new movie is cool and full of action - but has ZERO character depth or development. I never cared if any characters including Max lived or died! I never felt tension or fear or anything but tired from watching endless explosions that have no effect on the story.

I never thought I would say it- but, there was too much battle! You need to have the calm quiet lulls between heavy action to really appreciate who the characters are while they navigate the highs and lows of the story.

Mad Max Fury Road = watered down reboot of original

Battle of the Damned
(2013)

Better than most zombie films
This movie does what I have always wished zombie movies would do. Make the men fighting the zombies competent but not superhuman. The "good guys" shoot with accuracy and don't waste ammo. They also don't just stand still and let the zombies eat them - they fight like their lives depend on it! When they do die the soldiers/mercs die because even though they fought well they were simply over run by superior numbers not because of total complete incompetence which is the standard for 99% of zombie flicks.

Most movies like this have some sort of special forces or organized shock troops that go into battle against the zombies and then just slowly take random unaimed volleys into the zombie crowds with little or no effect and then die pointlessly- their entire lives full of training and discipline completely forgotten and unused- VERY unrealistic. This movie doesn't do that- it is the complete 180 degree opposite and makes you like the characters and want them to live! Fun movie for action and sci-fi fans.

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