nko_123 Reviews

Absolute Evil - Final Exit (2009)

A must see

[9 February 2009]

I saw "Absolute Evil' at Berlin International Film Festival in Zoo Palast theater. The premiere and the next screening of the movie were sold out and it's one of the biggest theaters - if not the biggest - in Berlin. It had a great review on a German magazine so I wanted to see it and I was lucky enough to get the ticket.

"Absolute Evil' is simply the best film Ulli Lommel has made since 1980s. And the important thing is that it proofs that the director still has his talent after all these serial killer movies and everything.

The movie tells a story about Savannah (Carolyn Neff) who's boyfriend Cooper (Rusty Joiner) gets killed after she finds out who Cooper really is. She wants to find out the killer of Cooper, and things leads to the old leader of 17th street gang, Raf (David Carradine). I don't want to tell too much about the movie, so that's all I say about the story.

There is some great performances by the actors. Neff is beautiful, believable and good in her first big film role, Joiner gives a touching performance and the "old stars" Christopher Kriesa, Ulli Lommel and David Carradine are as good as always. It's nice to see that Carradine has made at least one good movie after "Kill Bill" films.

It's a must see and it was b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l on the big screen in a theater with 1,000 people.

Olivia (1983)

Incredibly good

[8 January 2008]

You all can read the plot summary from IMDb, so I won't write about it.

I got my hands on the DVD of "Olivia" yesterday. DVD cover didn't look great, more like erotic b-film, but WOW! The film runs only 1 h 20 minutes but many things happens during the film, and you won't be bored. There is something for everybody; romance, thrill, erotic and murders. Does that sound awesome combination? Maybe not, but in this film it is.

It looks like a big Hollywood studio film from the end of 1970's, but it was actually made with budget of $500,000. I have to admit that there are few moments when you can see that it was made with small budget, but it doesn't bother watching.

A must see for people who likes to see erotic thriller, but also for the IMDb users here who says that Lommel hasn't done any good film.

This is incredible.

Ulli Lommel's Zodiac Killer (2005 Video)

Not bad, not bad

[4 January 2008]

There has been many films about infamous serial killer named Zodiac. This isn't exactly film of his story, but he is the main reason for the film.

Young kid Michael has had rough childhood, and as 19-year-old he works in home for the aged. But he realizes that young people doesn't care for their older relatives and doesn't come to visit them in old people's home. So, as a not-so-clear-headed-guy he decide to revenge to them the fact that they have abandon their relatives.

Michael finds out about Zodiac killer and starts using his methods and name while murdering people. Novelist Simon Vale, specialized on Zodiac killer, and Michael does meet and they'll became friends. But of course Vale is considering that Michael is the murderer.

It's shot with digital camera, budget wasn't "that big" and some of the cast members weren't good, but the film is much better than the IMDb rating says.

I'll give it 6 of 10, because it was entertaining, a deep look in the life of a serial killer.

Jailhouse Rock (1957)

Left in history

[9 August 2007]

It was 50 years ago when this film was made. You have to remember that in those days, Elvis had just made rock 'n' roll famous and changed almost everything; fashion, music etc. Before Elvis young people did dress like their parents, after Elvis parents dressed as their child's.

Richard Thorpe had made a good career in Hollywood before Jailhouse Rock. Films like Lassie and Tarzan made him wanted director for movies which had good or at least okay scripts and middle-class or high budgets with some famous actors. So he was kind of a director who was known to be good and had made commercially successful and critically acclaimed films but never became as much respect as his fellow directors, like David Lean, Alfred Hitchcock, Vincente Minnelli. He wasn't that good.

The story of the movie was at the time very original. Well, same old basic idea of a nobody became somebody was there, but the story of a young boy who accidentally kills a man is sent to prison where he finds his ability to sing from fellow prisoner, who makes a contract with him and becomes his manager. Well, the young talent leaves jail after few years when manager stays for a while. When manager is waiting to get out, young boy became famous because he invent new way to sing (like Elvis did with rock 'n' roll) and makes big money. When manager gets out, he want's his share of the money. Of course there is also romance, but between young talent and his female assistant, you could say.

Jailhouse Rock is just about everything you expect to see for a 50-year-old dramatic story of a man who becomes sensation. It has all the elements; romance, violence, music, comedy.

Jailhouse Rock is left in history because of Elvis Presley. The man who sold more records than any other artist or group has sold is still today highly underrated actor. There is a good reason for it, thought: Elvis was never teach to act and you can see it in his first film. He is good, but not until King Creole he becomes great. In King Creole and in Flaming Star he makes such performances that it was a shame he did not won an Oscar. Later scripts started to be stupid musical comedies and he didn't want to try make good performances. So if you make 31 feature films in your career and only less than 10 of those are really good and the other 20 nothing special, you will be remember as an bad actor. And mostly if you make the good movies first and next ten years bad movies, like Elvis did.

After Elvis' good performance there is this incredibly beautiful Judy Tyler. Elvis was most good looking man ever, but sure Tyler wasn't bad looking woman. She makes good performance as Mickey Shaughnessy in his supporting role, but there is no Oscar worthy performances on the film.

Richard Thorpe directed film in very usual way. This is not Stanley Kubrick picture; original and awesome directed; but it's not Ed Wood film either. I would say Thorpe had all the things good director does need but he never had the eye that Kubrick had.

This film is shot in black and white. You can find colored version on bootleg markets, but I'm sure no one will enjoy this in color as much they do with black and white version. If a movie is shot in black and white, it has a reason for it. It maybe money or the fact that color movies was not made at the time, but in Jailhouse Rock there was two reasons; money and artistic way. This is a black and white story shot in black and white.

I'm gonna say it, nobody else has said it; Jailhouse Rock is truly a classic motion picture. It has been left in history because of Elvis Presley and his performance and voice on the film. Without Elvis this film would have been forgotten. Now it just got Deluxe Edition DVD and Blu-Ray and HD DVD releases are coming. It appears on TV every year. You see publicity photos of the film on magazines when talked about Elvis. Jailhouse Rock has it's own life in this cruel world still after 50 years, and it will not be forgotten.

Grand Theft Auto (1977)

Highly underrated comedy film

[22 March 2007]

I did buy the DVD of this film because it was a Ron Howard's first movie. Since the film he has made a few good films and few really bad Hollywood entertaining films.

With Roger Corman producing this has always been considered as an "B" film. Well, it certainly isn't that. It is a funny action comedy with good cast, good director and good writers. And what a name for the film!

If you're looking for fun, non-boring, happy and even romantic film, you should definitely get this.

7 of 10

Night at the Museum (2006)

Not masterpiece but very entertaining piece of film history

[9 March 2007]

Night at the Museum. The name tell's it all. I gotta to tell you; the idea of the movie is simply great. Maybe it's not very original idea, but who cares.

With 110 million dollar budget Shawn Levy has directed 110 minutes piece of film history. It's not the Casablanca or The Godfather. It's more piece of SFX history and one of the most entertaining Hollywood comedies of the year 2006. Also cinematography is amazing in some parts of the film and Alan Silvestri's music is great but in some scenes too big for the story.

Ben Stiller act like he have always done. Robin Williams on the supporting role is quite good. Actually, I don't anymore think why he won Oscar few years ago. Old actors Dick Van Dyke, Bill Cobbs and Mickey Rooney are making probably their last really big movie.

If you wan't spend quiet night watching a good popcorn movie, this is it. I saw it on the big screen and I don't think it's even nearly as good on the DVD and small TV.

7 of 10 with 7 reasons: - good idea - very entertaining - beautiful cinematography - good actors - beautiful beginning - good special effects - good music

3 reasons why not 10 of 10: - only the last part of the film was good on every scale - not so great direction in some scenes - too dramatic, powerful music for some scenes

Rock My World (2002)

Peter O'Toole still got it

[27 February 2007]

"Global Heresy" is a British movie directed by American B action movie director Sidney J. Furie and has a plot that doesn't sound interesting, but the film includes something wonderful. No, isn't Alicia Silverstone. It is legendary actor, living legend you could say, 8th times Oscar nominated Peter O'Toole. O'Toole's performance on the film is absolutely brilliant and it's the only reason why I have the DVD and why I still keep watching it.

In some way the whole film is great. Like I said, the plot doesn't sound interesting, but the director and writer have got good performances from actors and writer has made up good jokes, most of them belongs to O'Toole's character.

Direction isn't worth for an Oscar but it's better than you have used to see in this kind of films. Director Furie hasn't made much bad movies but not much great either. This is his best by far.

20 years from today, this film will be remembered because of Peter O'Toole and Joan Plowright.

Truly entertaining film.

Getting Away with Murder (1996)

Great comedy

[30 December 2006]

I did DVD of this only because it cost 1 EUR. I didn't expect nothing, but I got great comedy.

The plot is very good and not seen often. Dan Aykroyd is a narrator too, but doesn't make so good performance than we have used to. Jack Lemmon is too old or he act's too old. In Grumpy Old Men few ears ago he was still in shape.

This is good written feel good comedy. Harvey Miller isn't great director but he makes decent job.

I'll give 8 of 10 because it's entertaining, good written and easy to watch again.

Murphy's Law (1986)

Not bad

[12 December 2006]

1980's was the time of bad music on the Hollywood films. It doesn't make any difference in "Murphy's Law".

Only reason why I did buy "Murphy's Law" was Charles Bronson. Bronson makes good job as a drunk police who's wife has left him. Things starts look bad when Murphy is framed for the murder of his ex wife and her new boyfriend. Murphy goes to jail but escapes with young female criminal with him.

J. Lee Thompson was a fine director. This is not a "Cape Fear" but it isn't meant to be. This is fine entertaining from the magical duo; Bronson, Thompson and Cannon Group.

6/10

10 to Midnight (1983)

Damn Good Movie!

[27 October 2006]

I've always think that Charles Bronson wasn't really an actor. He was good when he didn't speak on the screen. But I was wrong. He can be good also when he is speaking.

"10 to Midnight" is one damn good movie! Often seen plot, but J. Lee Thompson has made better thriller than he made with "Cape Fear". This film isn't about murders. This film is about that what's right, and what's legal. And this time, right is not legal.

I'll give 10 of 10 for few reasons; it's very entertaining, Charles Bronson makes good work on his role, killer is very good also, and because of J. Lee Thompson great directing work. And it's very, very thrilling, particularly in the ending.

10/10

Tales from the Crypt: Deadline (1991) Season 3, Episode 12

This was great!

[15 October 2006]

I was watching TV in midnight here in Finland, and I decide to watch this episode of Tales from the Crypt. Before of that I hadn't seen any other episode.

So, I started watching, and after intro and those puppets, "Deadline" started. It was directed in very good way, and it was a surprise that Walter Hill was the director. Very good director indeed.

I think this show is going to be in future too only a cult classic, not "real" classic. Some peoples loves the show, some doesn't watch it because they don't know what it is. I didn't, but I did watch it, and I liked it.

8/10