My suspension of disbelief was broken by how many liberties the film took--how did a 17yr-old cross the border without a passport? How did the bad guys cross the border with all their cars and weapons intact? I'm not saying these are impossible, but the film glosses over it. The morale: bad guys only get more bad over time. ;)
A must-see for rock climbers. It's other-worldly watching this dynamic duo repeatedly send 5.14s! The camera work, graphic novelry, and backstory are fantastic, too.
I've created a curated list of Abduction Horror movies! I'd be curious what others think of my selections - https://www.icheckmovies.com/lists/abduction+horror/ca_horror_fan/
I <3 this list--and greatly appreciate the undertaking. It's not trivial to rank Dracula, 1931 (weak but famous) alongside Freaks, 1933 (an older unknown gem) and Martyrs, 2008 (extreme but powerful). This list, imho, strikes a good balance for the 358/1000 I've seen.
If you're a seasoned horror, cannibal, or exploitation fan you should watch this--once. As the pinnacle of shock horror films of the 70s, it's brutal, led to murder charges for its makers, and raises interesting questions. Questions about limits, morality, and why we so quickly condemn this film for animal cruelty.. but rarely more mainstream films like Apocalypse Now. Good musical score.
6 out of 10. Ian McGregor shines, but even his performance can't justify this movie.
The transition from Angry-Pouty Ani to Youngling-Murdering Ani (even if a rage he's killed children before) is abrupt and unbelievable. The ending goes on indeterminably. Padme loses the will to live--but not to push-out and name her kids. Chewbacca loses his sass. Inter-trilogy plot holes galore. "You were the chosen one!" Thanks for that, Ian.
5 out of 10. Lucas toned down Jar Jar and the shiny-new vehicles--yet fell even flatter due to Anakin. Ani was pouty and insubordinate--but the super-perceptive Jedi hardly notice, and the leading lady inexplicably falls for him. For all my frustration with the main character and in-jokes, the visual effects were strong, and the sound effects phenomenal. I found the arena and first two saber battles with Count Dooku compelling.
7 out of 10. Many competent visuals and it entertains, but it lacks the strong characters and attention to detail of the originals. E.g., annoying Jar Jar Binks vs Chewbacca, CGI models that seem outside the scene such as Greedo and overly-shiny ships lacking the rust and dings of the originals, even poorly-thought out Yoda-isms ("fear leads to anger" - fear can lead to anger, but so can and does compassion which presumably Jedi cultivate; "anger leads to hate" - trite). The "in" bits about characters we know from IV, V, VI are presented in a heavy-handed way. Still, I can dig the Droideka, Darth Maul's double saber and his battle vs. Qui Gong, and I'd never describe as a bore. I like the undersea creature visuals and it totally works as a fun family popcorn film.
The debut film of the Soska sisters. It's a brave effort and astounding that they completed this on only a $2500 budget. At the same time, the low budget shows. This film can't compare to more sophisticated grindhouse features like Planet Terror or Deathproof. The Soskas do have some good ideas! I look forward to what they'll make of a bigger budget and more experience behind the camera.
Another great Corman/Price collaboration, featuring key horror starlet Barbara Steele. It's creepy, intriguing, packed with twists.. and obviously influenced by the release of
Another amazing Poe adaptation by Corman with standout acting by Price. Filming was delayed several years so as not to seem like a clone of the "The Seventh Seal".
According to Price, this movie was almost never made due to its lack of a concrete monster. I loved the depth he gave to Roderick, the gothic true-to-Poe atmosphere, and the not entirely expected twists and turns.
It's curious they showed the rescue from one camera's view, then from another. They apparently hadn't worked out yet how best to intertwine two views into one story.
Comments 1 - 19 of 19
Movie comment on Rambo: Last Blood
ca_horror_fan
My suspension of disbelief was broken by how many liberties the film took--how did a 17yr-old cross the border without a passport? How did the bad guys cross the border with all their cars and weapons intact? I'm not saying these are impossible, but the film glosses over it. The morale: bad guys only get more bad over time. ;)Movie comment on Creepshow 2
ca_horror_fan
The "Raft" story's stayed with me over 20 years.Movie comment on The Dawn Wall
ca_horror_fan
A must-see for rock climbers. It's other-worldly watching this dynamic duo repeatedly send 5.14s! The camera work, graphic novelry, and backstory are fantastic, too.Group comment on Horror Lovers
ca_horror_fan
I've created a curated list of Abduction Horror movies! I'd be curious what others think of my selections - https://www.icheckmovies.com/lists/abduction+horror/ca_horror_fan/Movie comment on Die Farbe
ca_horror_fan
A.k.a. "The Colour Out Of Space", an adaptation of an H.P. Lovecraft short story.Toplist comment on TSZDT's The 1,000 Greatest Horror Films
ca_horror_fan
I <3 this list--and greatly appreciate the undertaking. It's not trivial to rank Dracula, 1931 (weak but famous) alongside Freaks, 1933 (an older unknown gem) and Martyrs, 2008 (extreme but powerful). This list, imho, strikes a good balance for the 358/1000 I've seen.Movie comment on Cannibal Holocaust
ca_horror_fan
If you're a seasoned horror, cannibal, or exploitation fan you should watch this--once. As the pinnacle of shock horror films of the 70s, it's brutal, led to murder charges for its makers, and raises interesting questions. Questions about limits, morality, and why we so quickly condemn this film for animal cruelty.. but rarely more mainstream films like Apocalypse Now. Good musical score.Movie comment on Amy's Torch
ca_horror_fan
te18, I agree.. I just believe if someone can make a jaded adult laugh, cry, or react at all in 2 minutes, it's a win.Movie comment on Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
ca_horror_fan
6 out of 10. Ian McGregor shines, but even his performance can't justify this movie.Movie comment on Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones
ca_horror_fan
5 out of 10. Lucas toned down Jar Jar and the shiny-new vehicles--yet fell even flatter due to Anakin. Ani was pouty and insubordinate--but the super-perceptive Jedi hardly notice, and the leading lady inexplicably falls for him. For all my frustration with the main character and in-jokes, the visual effects were strong, and the sound effects phenomenal. I found the arena and first two saber battles with Count Dooku compelling.Movie comment on Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
ca_horror_fan
7 out of 10. Many competent visuals and it entertains, but it lacks the strong characters and attention to detail of the originals. E.g., annoying Jar Jar Binks vs Chewbacca, CGI models that seem outside the scene such as Greedo and overly-shiny ships lacking the rust and dings of the originals, even poorly-thought out Yoda-isms ("fear leads to anger" - fear can lead to anger, but so can and does compassion which presumably Jedi cultivate; "anger leads to hate" - trite). The "in" bits about characters we know from IV, V, VI are presented in a heavy-handed way. Still, I can dig the Droideka, Darth Maul's double saber and his battle vs. Qui Gong, and I'd never describe as a bore. I like the undersea creature visuals and it totally works as a fun family popcorn film.Movie comment on Dead Hooker in a Trunk
ca_horror_fan
The debut film of the Soska sisters. It's a brave effort and astounding that they completed this on only a $2500 budget. At the same time, the low budget shows. This film can't compare to more sophisticated grindhouse features like Planet Terror or Deathproof. The Soskas do have some good ideas! I look forward to what they'll make of a bigger budget and more experience behind the camera.Toplist comment on Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film
ca_horror_fan
Also, Gravity won at the 40th annual awards.Movie comment on The Pit and the Pendulum
ca_horror_fan
Another great Corman/Price collaboration, featuring key horror starlet Barbara Steele. It's creepy, intriguing, packed with twists.. and obviously influenced by the release ofMovie comment on The Masque of the Red Death
ca_horror_fan
Another amazing Poe adaptation by Corman with standout acting by Price. Filming was delayed several years so as not to seem like a clone of the "The Seventh Seal".Movie comment on House of Usher
ca_horror_fan
According to Price, this movie was almost never made due to its lack of a concrete monster. I loved the depth he gave to Roderick, the gothic true-to-Poe atmosphere, and the not entirely expected twists and turns.Movie comment on Évocation spirite
ca_horror_fan
https://archive.org/details/EvocationSpiriteMovie comment on Life of an American Fireman
ca_horror_fan
It's curious they showed the rescue from one camera's view, then from another. They apparently hadn't worked out yet how best to intertwine two views into one story.Movie comment on Electrocuting an Elephant
ca_horror_fan
Wikipedia says Topsy the elephant was executed for killing her trainer, James Fielding Blount.