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Rasheem
Reviews
Chakushin ari (2003)
Sad, Sad, Sad. Go watch Juon.
***** SPOILER ALERT - You have been warned!!! ***** . . . . . . .
I've gotta say it. For those obsessed with Miike, they'll like the movie. But if you've seen most Japanese horror, you'll get rather miffed.
1. OMC is strangely similar to Juon in style of haunting. In fact, some scenes I can see were directly ripped off from that series of films. The elevator was almost exactly the same as in Juon 1, and the closet scene was straight from the TV movie(s). As well, the haunting was a chain-of-victims instead of isolation within a certain group (leading me away from my original guess that this was a Phone remake).
2. Darkwater ripoff. BIG ripoff. The girl making the ghost peaceful by accepting fate and joining with it to be 'family'. True, this was daughter to undead ghost mom instead of the other way around. And yes, it didn't really do anything as it did with DW, but it's way too close.
3. Ringu ripoff. If anyone doesn't see the ending Ringu ripoff with discovery coming late, they're blind.
Don't get me wrong, the movie wasn't bad, but it was worse of a ripoff than most Ringu clones. Cinematic ally this was brilliant, but Miike sadly falls flat with this one. Sorry.
Ju-on (2002)
Under Appreciated Brilliance
I first ran into this director's work when someone loaned me a copy of the original Juon TV movie. I let it rot for a few days before sticking it in the VCR when I was alone and bored.
How deeply it affected me is about on par with this first production movie. To put it simply, this series of films are terrifying and genius, but only if a certain qualities are met.
First of all, NEVER watch this movie with a loud person or someone who chatters through a movie. In fact, watch it alone so you won't laugh either. Some aspects seem absurd, but when there's no one to laugh with, you won't get distracted.
And genius because the director has completely broken from the standard norm of American or Japanese horror movies. Honestly? I'm tired of Ringu clones. This movie shows a startlingly workable change in plot style, suspense and theatrics. Instead of hiding the monster, it's there at every second. Instead of yet another boring, convoluted plot, it simply exist as a video time line of events as this plague of supernatural rot spreads.
I love this movie, and as long as you stay away from laughers, you very well might too.
Nagai yume (2000)
Unique, and not for everyone
Having added this one myself to the IMDB, I figured I would give my personal opinion. Nagai Yume, or, 'Long Dream', is not for everyone. Even die-hard Japanese horror buffs might find it annoying or too bizarre.
However, if you enjoy the erratic and twisted movies such as Uzumaki, I highly recommend this film. Done with an immensely small budget, the story manages to make up for the ridiculous special effects. Wonderful acting all around make this a true winner of the obscure, nade-for-TV genre.
Give it a shot, if you can find it. I adored it.
As Boys Grow... (1957)
Frightening
I found this video on an archive site not too long ago. Being public domain, this film is actually really easy to find. It is, however, horribly made.
This is, in effect, a 1950's Sexual Education video, specifically for boys. The cause itself is noble, but scenes between two young men discussing semen is rather amusing in an oh-so-horrid way.
Don't get me wrong, there are some really good parts of this film. First of all, for its time, it was very open and did not beat around the bush. At the same time, it is filled with horrid acting, mind-numbing production quality and overall is a hilarious, tacky and overly embarrassing film to watch.
See it with the whole family.
Movie quality: Crap Humor value: Priceless
xXx (2002)
Good? Bad? Hard to tell.
While I cannot say I am completely unbiased, as I am a Vin Deisel fan, I can say with some objectivity that XXX was either pretty good or pretty bad.
Let me explain. This movie is stereotypical, yes. It is highly tuned for the 'X-treme' sports fan or mindless action fanatic. It is also an often proclaimed 'Bond Movie for the 00s'.
I'll get this out of the way: THIS MOVIE WILL NOT STIMULATE YOUR MIND. So many people complain because a movie is dumb or unoriginal. The point is, Vin Deisel does an amazing job playing a typical action hero. If all you watch is classy movies or art films, you'll hate it.
Now, if you like mind-numbing action, insane stunts and extreme sports, you'll fall in love. This movie far surpasses the directors earlier attempt with that piece of tripe 'Fast and the Furious'. This has enough substance to have a decent story which gives purpose to the action and violence.
And there is something about punishing an overly-conservative senator that really makes me smile...