michellelocke007 Reviews

Girl Slaves of Morgana Le Fay (1971)

original piece of art-house film-making for its time. *contains spoilers*

[7/10 · 16 April 2012]

purchased this previously censored french erotic/horror/fantasy film after viewing the trailer from mondo macabro. didn't have any high expectations for this film but after viewing was pleasantly surprised by how much i enjoyed it. a very simplistic storyline which can be slow and trodding at times if not for the presence of many beautiful, European starlets. francoise and anna the two main characters at the start of the film are on vacation and taking a road trip when their car has engine trouble and breaks down. they decide to spend the night in a deserted barn and like so many erotic films before have a romp in the haystack. in the morning however, francoise awakes to find anna missing and goes out looking for her. it is her that she is approached by a dwarf by the name of gurth who takes her through the forest before stopping at the sea where boat conveniently awaits to take francoise across to a castle. upon reaching the castle she is welcomed by a trio of beautiful young sirens dressed in flowing almost sheer gowns as they take her into the castle to be introduced to the lady of the house. it is here that francoise meets the sorceress morgana le fay. and she is stunningly beautiful and has may striking physical features played coolly and icy by dominique delpierre. the six lead actresses are stunning to look at. while not a lot goes on in this move, there is enough eye candy, nudity and countless love scenes to keep the viewer interested. the director said when he was casting for the extras he had to find women who were not ashamed of performing nude scenes with one another. he said he enjoyed shooting and directing the many lesbian love scenes because he wanted those scenes to be tender and loving...nothing vulgar or pornographic. the many scenes shot of the french countryside are stunning and breathtaking and i thought the director had a real eye for detail. an original piece of film making though it is for certain tastes and audiences.

Gigola (2010)

60s lesbian pulp fiction

[9/10 · 16 November 2011]

based on the long-censored novel by Laure charpentier and finally brought to the big screen and directed by the author as well. Lou Dillon stars as the titular character and she suited the role exquisitely. the move is set in the 1960s lesbian underworld of Paris, and the way she carries herself to her mannerisms and strut she is every bit the refined young man she portrays. Dillon relishes the character that she plays and looks every bit the part of gigolo who spends her evenings wandering through the lesbian nightclubs and cabarets flirting and ca noodling with potential suitors. gigolo eventually begins a relationship with a wealthy, older aristocrat by the name of Odette who lavishes gigolo with money and a sports car in return for sexual favours. that saying, the sex/love scenes which there are plenty of are not particularly graphic and are tastefully shot. i found the storyline a bit too fast paced and scenes were quickly cut off before moving onto the next one. one needs to be fairly quick when reading the subtitles and understanding what is going on in the storyline. i liked the musical numbers and the classy feel and look inside the nightclubs and how everyone took part in the festivities and were not ashamed of being openly lesbian or gay. an interesting piece of cinema for people looking for something different.

Hobo with a Shotgun (2011)

best exploitation flick and kicks-ass for a Canadian made film *spoilers*

[8/10 · 9 July 2011]

saw the trailer for this and decided that i was going to get my hands on this film once it hit the home DVD market. soon enough it was released in a two-disc special edition complete with a set of hobo postcards. i didn't have high expectations for this film and was pleasantly surprised by how much i enjoyed watching it. this film was shot on a budget of 3 million dollars and i loved what was produced and show on screen.

the only actor that i was remotely familiar with was that of rutger hauer of blade runner fame. i thought he suited the role very well of the nameless hobo who enforces his own version of street justice when he grows tired of the crime, lawlessness and rampant destruction of the town he is now a part of. his weather-beaten features tells a story of a life lived hard and ruined by a series of unfortunate events that led him to becoming a hobo.

the film is loaded with gory death scenes which includes but not limited to a decapitation, a foot being smashed with a sledgehammer and of all things someone getting their penis blown off with a shotgun. the effects were realistic enough to make me cringe, so kudos to the people responsible for the special effects.

i have seen a lot of exploitation flicks in my time most recently, machete and planet terror but this one was hands down the best. the title alone won me over. it kept me entertained from start to finish and that's all i was looking for. a film that didn't take itself too seriously, the actors were giving over the top performances and having fun with it and it had enough gore, violence and nudity to keep me glued to my chair.

Bloomington (2010)

well-written and executed film *possible spoilers*

[7/10 · 22 June 2011]

the storyline is simple enough; a former child star,jackie who was on a hit sci-fi TV series grows up and decides to leave the show business and pursue an education at a local college where she starts mixing with her peers and getting to live life away from TV sets and other fellow actors. she clearly wants to live a regular life and start doing things on her own terms but gains un-wanted interest, admiration or jealousy of being famous by her her peers.

while at a department mixer, she meets and is instantly attracted to psychology professor catherine stark who has a reputation of seducing her students. so it's not much of a surprise when these two start a secret affair. by all accounts, catherine is attentive, giving and caring towards her much younger lover. the two lead actresses had great chemistry and enough sexual tension between them for a believable relationship.

while controversial student and teacher relationship have been portrayed on screen before ie. loving annabelle and madchen in uniform, this one is legitimate as both are consenting adults and this does not take place in a boarding/high school. jackie is an adult who has made up her mind to further her education and start living in the real world.

i had read reviews where people were disappointed with how the storyline ended since both characters did not end up together. while attending school, jackie is offered an opportunity to reprise her role in the hit TV show that made her famous to the big screen. she is hesitant and un-sure if she is ready to make that step back into the show business as it would clearly change the course of her life and relationship with catherine which at that point is flourishing.

i felt the ending to the film was left on a positive note and was realistic. since jackie hasn't identified her sexuality she isn't ready to go public with her relationship with catherine as it could possibly jeopardize and end her future career. this part is brought up in the film during one of the climatic scenes.

i really liked the film and thought it was well-paced, directed and excellently acted.

Elena Undone (2010)

Nicole conn's best film to date *spoilers ahead*

[6/10 · 12 February 2011]

saw the trailer for this movie and waited patiently for it to be released on DVD. Nicole conn is just a handful of lesbian filmmakers out there and this was the best of the bunch...aside from the awful Claire of the moon. it has the standard and predictable story of a married woman with a teenage son who is having difficulties in her marriage and realizes she has fallen out of love with her husband who just happens to be a pastor of the local church.

Elena the title character and her husband Barry are trying to have another child. Elena decides to visit an adoption agency as an alternative option, where she meets lesbian novelist Peyton. the two hit it off and start spending a lot of time together and getting to know each other. eventually things heat up when Elena realizes that she has developed a strong attraction to Peyton who is wary of the situation. Peyton knows that Elena is married and has a child and tries to end the friendship before it leads to something more. but poor Elena can't stop thinking about Peyton and the times they have spent together and keeps coming back...phoning her, showing up at her her doorstep.

Elena's husband Barry is all too clueless to figure out his wife's extracurricular activities. Elena tries to initiate a physical relationship with Peyton who lets her know that once they go forward there is no going back and the consequences that may surface if their relationship is discovered.

the two lead actresses are attractive and have very good chemistry, so the love scenes were believable and sensual...nothing too graphic.

however, i do feel that Elena was neglecting her husband and son and eluding her responsibilities as a wife and mother in order to carry on her affair with Peyton. knowing that she was no longer in love with Barry but stringing him along was selfish...she was un-willing to communicate with him or talk about her feelings.

yes, Barry had no backbone when it came to preaching his homophobic sermons mostly due to pressure from his congregation who were also organizing pickets against gay rights and marriage. but i don't think that should be a reason for Elena to cheat on him regardless of gender. she should have been up-front about their marriage and problems she was experiencing. at least Barry tried to open the walls of communication but Elena completely shut him out.

Elena's son Nash, who discovers the affair, goes haywire ie. shoplifting, drinking and cutting school...his way of dealing with the devastating situation...fully aware that his parents marriage may be over.

aside from the above issues i had with the movie, it was over-all a positive film watching experience. one of the better and positive lesbian films. check it out for yourself.

Satanico Pandemonium (1975)

a nice slice of seventies nunsploitation *possible spoilers*

[6/10 · 27 January 2011]

one of the few stand out films during the nunsploitation invasion during the early seventies. not really much of a plot as it follows the exploits of a god-worshipping and selfless nun by the name of sister maria. she is kind, caring and devoted to helping the less fortunate and has a natural bond with animals as it showcases in the beginning of the film.

it isn't too long before she has an encounter with a naked man who offers her a bite of his red apple. frightened she runs away and back to the convent, confused and bewildered by what this all means. to the viewer it is clear that the man is the devil in disguise, trying to tempt sister maria as he continues to re-appear to her. from there, maria begins a descent into sexual depravity, loss of her sanity and eventually, murder...three to be exact.

the actress who portrays the title character did an admirable job in conveying the anguish and torment the sister is going through...battling her many demons and darkest desires all the while, trying to do the right thing and continuing her worship of the lord.

while the film is over thirty years old, it has aged well over time and i admired the cinematography and the direction of it. beautiful scenery and sharp contrasting images and colour as well.

anyone interested in taking a peek into the nunsploitation genre should check out this rare Mexican film as it has all the right elements to a good exploitation.

The Fly II (1989)

not a bad sequel

[6/10 · 27 January 2011]

the sequel tries to pick up where the original left off. though seth brundle died in the original directed by David cronenberg, the follow-up focuses on seth's son, martin, and his transformation from an infant to a young man within a short period of time as his appearance and intelligence accelerates due to experimental drugs and injections.

i didn't mind the sequel though it could have taken a different turn in plot had cronenberg re-prised his role in the director's chair. it was a rather basic plot which i felt relied more on the gore and special effects wizardry in order to keep audiences glued to the screen. i felt that the graphic nature of the gore and violence in the original was more believable and realistic and essential the plot. here, it seems more gratuitous and there to gross-out or amuse the audience.

either way, it isn't a bad effort, though most sequels or remakes never like up to the original.

Bob's Burgers (2011– )

liked the second episode and hoping the show wil stick around*possible spoilers*

[6/10 · 17 January 2011]

saw a preview of bob's burgers on fox and unfortunately missed the first episode but was lucky enough to sit in for a viewing of the second. and i was pleasantly surprised by what i saw. while the animation isn't the greatest of quality i got a few good laughs from some of the zingers and lines said by the colourful characters mainly from the title character bob. the second episode dealt with bob's hatred of his mother in law and his attempts of avoiding having to spend time with her. while complying with his wife, Linda's request to clean out the attic he lies and tells her he is stuck and unable to come out from there just as his mother in law arrives. what ensues is without a father at home to help with the child rearing, their three kids run afoul at school and are all ceremoniously sent to the counsellors office who misinterprets everything they have to say. fox isn't known for having great animated programs with the exception of long running series the Simpson's and the now defunct king of the hill. i'm hoping that audiences will stay and tune into the many shenanigans that this little show has to offer. i think if the writers continue with their offbeats story lines injected with some good laughs, they will gain a following.

Double Impact (1991)

early nineties action fodder

[5/10 · 13 January 2011]

bought this movie new for five dollars so i wasn't expecting too much. thoroughly enjoyed after viewing it because it has van damme as an action star playing dual roles as twin brothers who avenge the murder of their parents. it's van damme in tip-top shape coming off the success of his earlier films bloodsport and cyborg. in this feature he gets to show quite a bit of skin as he kung-fu's his way through an array of henchman and villains. it's nice to see the film being shot on location in hong Kong as it shows the city social scene at night. i though the nineties fashion was also fun to see and groan at. while van damme is no Shakespeare, he gets through the movie fine enough with his boyish good looks and charms. the action sequences and his one on one combat scenes are well choreographed and fun to watch. it doesn't hurt either that alonna shaw is in the film too. a film worth watching if you're a fan of action stars at their finest before age sets in and their physique is longer prime.

Flash Gordon (1980)

flash Gordon; saviour of the universe *possible spoilers*

[5/10 · 31 October 2010]

remember watching this movie back in the eighties when it was first released and years later found it for sale at a video store and purchased it right away. i don't remember much of the plot from when i was watching it growing up as a kid but after viewing it again...there really wasn't much of one. i found myself liking this film which is based on a comic strip all over again, in large part due to the casting ie. 007 timothy Dalton as prince barin, max Von sydow as ming the merciless and here he plays the role for laughs and camps it up for the audience. i'll admit now, the special effects are terrible, the acting is choppy at best and the main score performed by rock icons queen is downright cheezy. but i think that is the charm and appeal of this movie which now stands as a cult favourite. the set designs and costumes are colourful and creative and not easily forgotten. everything just seems so sharp and vibrant. i thought that ornella muti who plays ming's daughter princess aura was incredibly hot throughout...wearing very tight and skin-hugging outfits and her seductive smile and charm that seemed to entrance the men around her. the actress, melody Anderson who played the role of dale Arden got on my nerves after a while. it was her neediness and clinging to flash Gordon that really irked me. all she was given to do in her role was pine and long for flash when he was captured than executed for defying ming's orders. when he was resurrected, all she could do was hope he would come and rescue her after ming selected her as one of his muses and later a bride. still worth a look, though. it's fun and nostalgic and remind of other cheezy, schlock filled cult classics of a by-gone era.

Thinking XXX (2004 TV Movie)

interesting look behind the scenes of the adult industry

[5/10 · 29 October 2010]

bought the book first titled thinking xxx thirty porn portraits that features the industry's top performers and stars clothed and un-clothed by photographer and author timothy greenfield sanders. i bought the DVD a while later and thought it would interesting to see the book being borough to film. viewers looking for x-rated clips of their favorite adult stars will be disappointed as there is none but more a journey of sorts as the performers sit down for a frank and thought provoking interview where they discuss their trade. they talk about growing up and their childhood, how they got started in the business and how it as affected their personal and professional lives. i was more fascinated with the veteran performers from the 70s and 80s who had so many wild tales to tell. back than, sex on camera seemed more enjoyable, worry free and fun where there wasn't the scare of sexually transmitted diseases or the aids epidemic that hit the eighties and devastated the industry. recommended to those wanted to take a further peek behind the curtains of the adult entertainment industry.

Dracula A.D. 1972 (1972)

great stuff with a seventies psychedelic twist

[5/10 · 29 October 2010]

bought a four movie pack dedicated to the great era of hammer studios release of classic Dracula movies starring the now legendary duo of christopher lee in his trademark role as count Dracula and peter cushing as van helsing. in this particular take, Dracula is resurrected from the grave by a group of hippie shaking youths looking for a little excitement in their lives. but it's a price far too great to pay upon Dracula's rising and the havoc he wreaks on those around him. it is now up to van helsing to stop him before time runs out. christopher lee is synonymous with this role and is superb in how he portrays the count with his towering height, dark and menacing eyes, and little dialogue to boot. in classic style, van helsing always manages to bring Dracula down with holy water, a stake through the heart or a good old religious cross or bible. i like how creative the script writers get with Dracula's death and how he always get resurrected and comes back for a blood-sucking good time usually at some poor damsels's expense. a great slice of horror nostalgia that people should check out.

Grandma's Boy (2006)

the mother of all stoner movies and hilarious at that. *spoilers*

[5/10 · 28 October 2010]

bought this movie straight after viewing this one on a late night cable network over the weekend. i wasn't expecting too much out of this one but was pleasantly surprised by how much i enjoyed it. i immediately recognized Shirley Jones from the partridge family and the actress who portrays Raymond's mother on everybody loves Raymond. i thought the scene where the three women are watching all the different network programs ie. food network, antiques roadshow afer they had drunk tea made from the marijuana leaves were great. it's nice to see actresses at their age being open minded and having fun with the movie's subject matter of pot-smoking, masturbation, sex and video gaming. but i thought that Shirley Jones icky induced romance with nick swarsdon took the cake. they stole all the scenes that they were in together. snl alumnus David spade and rob Schneider made cameo appearances as well. loved David spade as the slightly effeminate and sarcastic waiter at the organic vegetarian restaurant where the main characters go for a celebratory dinner. so many funny lines. Joel Moore's character of JP kicks ass as well. he's just creepy and strange enough to keep you tuned to the television and wonder what is going to happen next. i kind of felt sorry for him as he really tries to fit in and be one of the regular guys at the gaming centre where the crew all work that is until he stole someone else's idea for a video game...but he gets his in the end. too many funny scenes to mention but the one i like is the dance-off competition between nick swarsden's character and another co-worker. one of those Japanese computerized dance-offs where they match the dance moves on the screen to the one on a giant dance pad. just a light comedy for those looking for laughs.

Kick-Ass (2010)

a lot of fun to watch if you can stomach the excessive violence *spoilers*

[7/10 · 26 October 2010]

bought this movie at the video store and finally sat down to watching it one evening and was pleasantly surprised by how much i enjoyed this film. i usually have reservations about graphic novels being adapted for the big-screen but after seeing the trailer several times, decided to give it a go. while the trailer looks like a movie for kids, it is definitely not for kids due to the excessive amount of violence and coarse language spoken by the young adult stars. i do agree with one reviewer who said that the actress who plays the role of hit-girl steals almost every scene she is in. this is evident when she appears on screen during the apartment massacre and saves kick ass's life by single-handedly wiping out all the villains with her kung-fu style moves and and expert weaponry skills. a very cool scene with great background music to match. while nicholas cage didn't have a major role in the film i still liked his character 'big daddy'. you really get to see how he got into the business of becoming a superhero and vigilante of sorts through a comic book he created and how got his daughter involved. i loved his costume which greatly resembled batman's. i didn't get too into the character of kick ass who i thought was a wannabe superhero and hanger on. he didn't possess any physical abilities or hand to hand combat skills which is evident as he tries to fight off goons and thugs who cross his path. he doesn't have any specially made weapons or gadgets except for his two batons that he uses to beat up on criminals. his character was wimpy and kind of pathetic at times that i found it hard to sympathize with him. red mist was just okay as he was never a superhero but used as bait to lure kick-ass to the secret lair of hit-girl and big daddy and expose them as the real culprits behind all the slayings of the drug-lords in town. he had a pretty cool costume and drove a car that reminded me of the bat mobile. over-all i enjoyed the many action/fightings sequences which were excellently done. some witty and sharp dialogue and solid script. recommended to anyone looking for a good time and fun ride.

Score (1973)

one of radley metzger's best

[6/10 · 17 October 2010]

enjoyed watching this movie late one evening. one of the better movies out there that dealt with sexuality openly and explicitly from the seventies. well-written and directed by the auteur of erotica, radley metzger who went on to do more films of the same nature ie. the lickerish quartet, carmen baby, the alley cats. a very simple plot that involved a married couple who make a wager to seduce a newlywed and somewhat naive couple. Lynn lowry and Calvin Culver (a.k.a Casey Donovan) are the newly hitched couple who meet the more mature and experienced couple played by Claire Wilbur and Gerald grant. interestingly enough there's an un-cut/un-censored version that has just been released that shows a couple extra minutes of full-front nudity and other inserted shots. Lynn lowry would later say that during the shoot of the film, Claire Wilbur learned that Lynn was making three times the amount of money she was and for the duration of the shoot, there was tension between the actresses. Wilbur also stated that she only did the movie to earn enough money to finance a friend's film and was disappointed that she was only remembered for this role in particular. as one movie reviewer said, 'there's something for everyone' in this film. i agree.

The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane (1976)

creepy, brilliant and downright outstanding

[8/10 · 17 October 2010]

i generally don't give too many movies a high rating but after this particular viewing, i was completely floored by jodie foster's brilliant performance as thirteen year-old rynn jacobs who lives with her never seen father in a small new england town. through her many interactions with the people in her life, she is clearly wiser and older beyond her years. she is clearly independent, intelligent and capable of out witting and out smarting the adults in the town which includes a nosey neighbour and her paedophile son played by a young martin sheen, and a police officer who routinely makes visits to rynn's home. jodie plays the role and delivers her lines with icy coolness and calm. i could not see any other young actress of today's generation repeating such a fine performance. i especially enjoyed the tense conversations and interactions between foster and actress alexis smith who portrays mrs. hallett. scott jacoby who plays the role of mario, rynn's love interest and confidant also did a fine job. i read somewhere that foster begged and pleaded with the director and producers of the film not to shoot the love scene between her and mario. considering that she was only fourteen at the time, it is understandable. instead they used her sister to stand in for the scene. the movie is difficult to get a hold of, but i highly recommend people to view this.

The Brown Bunny (2003)

what was the point of this film

[4/10 · 2 October 2010]

had read and heard so much hype about this indie film when it was first released and roger eberts comments about it and i quote, 'the worst movie ever featured at the cannes film festival'. and i would have to agree with his summary. i'm not sure what Vincent gallo was trying to say when he wrote, directed and starred in this piece of egocentric film. like one reviewer said, i wanted to turn off my TV about five minutes into it and merely finished the films because of the notorious un-simulated fellatio scene with chloe sevigny who i give kudos for agreeing to star in this contrived piece of trash. i felt even more sympathy for her when she was immediately dropped by her talent agency and was blackballed by the industry for a period of time. fortunately she was able to bounce back by starring in the acclaimed series, big love. she had stated in previous interviews that she was comfortable doing the fellatio scene because she had known Vincent gallo in an intimate situation from before. i still don't understand the point of this film but maybe i should give it another viewing.

Drool (2009)

liked the trailer...bought the movie to find out more *spoilers*

[7/10 · 2 October 2010]

saw the trailer for this indie flick while watching youtube one night and ordered it through my video store the following day to find out more. since the movie is shot on a shoe string budget the cast is largely unknown with the exception of laura harring who previously was seen in mulholland drive and oded fehr who appeared in the mummy movies. i was kept entertained and amused for the entire duration of the film as it was well written with mainly witty and sharp dialogue from its cast. the story lines mainly concerns an abused housewife by the name of anora fleece who is married to a rotten husband named cheb and has two bratty disrespectful kids. she lives a lonely existence with no possible way out but all that changes when she meets the new next door neighbour who is an African American woman selling ladies cosmetics. the two strike up a friendship and start spending a lot of time together. cheb catches the two in a lip-lock when he comes home un-expectedly from work and goes ballistic, striking anora who winds up shooting him dead. from the there the story gets darkly funny with some strange situations thrown into the mix. i recommend more people to see this film.

Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects (1989)

bronson's many collaborations with j. lee thompson *spoilers*

[4/10 · 2 October 2010]

despite the fact that most critics hailed this movie as trashy and sleazy i thought it was a slick and well-made film. again this vehicle stars bronson as a worn out cop hot on the trail of a small time pimp by the name of duke and trying to put him out of business. while the movie tries to send out a strong message, i felt the subject matter could have been handled better if the script had been revised a few more times. there were too many story lines being told at one time and by the end of the movie, i think the writers were trying to tie up all the loose ends. i did however was entertained by several scenes from the film. the first was the opening sequence where bronson and his partner bust into an apartment complex after being tipped off that a supposed under aged prostitute is entertaining a client. in typical bronson style, he punches, kicks and beats up the john to teach him a lesson about abusing and taking advantage of young girls being forced into the sex-trade. but the best scene is where bronson trails the pimp, duke, one night and takes him hostage. duke tries to bribe bronson into leaving him alone by offering him a diamond studded watch. bronson doesn't bite but with a dead pan expression says, 'i'd like to shove this up your ass, but i don't want to get my hands dirty'. he than menacingly orders duke to open his mouth than forces him to eat the watch. funny stuff. i highly recommend getting the 4-dvd pack of bronson's collaboration with director j. lee thompson. lots of violence, nudity to keep viewers interested.

Pollyanna (1960)

an absolute treat for the whole family

[8/10 · 2 October 2010]

i can't say enough great things about this wonderful Disney vehicle that launched Hayley mills career in the sixties. based on the book of the same name, it stars mills as the effervescent Pollyanna as she brings joy and happiness to a small town ruled by her seemingly cold and indifferent aunt played by jane Wyman. with a-list stars such as Richard Egan, Karl malden, Nancy Olsen, Agnes moorehead and countless others, it's an excellently written and direct film from start to finish. while the film runs well over the two hour mark, one doesn't notice as it is well-paced. when the film was released, many male viewing audiences were not interested as they felt the story line was geared more towards women and young girls. there is a lot to like here as the films touches on the many different lives of the towns habitants and how Pollyanna changed them through her charm and presence. she is not one to be deterred or stopped in her tracks by someone who is a grouchy hermit such as Mr. pendergas or Agnes moorehead's character who is chronically ill and forever in her nightgown and bed. somehow, Pollyanna is able to add some sunshine and life into their dreary existence. i especially enjoyed the scenes where the town has a carnival and everyone participates and for once without the rule of aunt Polly, begin to experience the joy and happiness of the good things in life. over-all i suggest everyone see this film at least once. you won't regret it.

Psychopathia Sexualis (2006)

not much going on here

[5/10 · 2 October 2010]

bought this film through an independent film distributor as i had seen the trailer on their website and was intrigued to see more. i don't remember too much of this film as i found myself being bored early on into the plot. the production was beautifully shot and lit but that was about it. the only aspect of the film that had me remotely interested was the focus on homosexuality for both men and women. the mini story line about a governess, lydia, who was developing a strong attraction to her charge, annabel was intriguing while it lasted. the love scene was tastefully done and it didn't end tragically. unfortunately that's all i can recall.

Death Wish 4: The Crackdown (1987)

enjoyable movie even with the same old plot lines.

[5/10 · 2 October 2010]

one can usually rely on charles bronson to give a deadpan performance as the iconic vigilante paul kersey now synonymous with the death wish series that rocketed him to stardom in the late seventies up to the eighties. since the sequels have always done well at the box office, you wonder how many more the studios were going to churn out. it's always nice to see veteran actors like bronson kicking ass and shooting them up at the ripe old age of 60+. here, bronson is dealing with drug lords and turf wars between two rival mafia gangs, all the while romancing a reporter whose covering the story. as usual, there's plenty of violence and hackneyed dialogue to carry the story along. it's just another death wish sequel which shows bronson waging a one man war against the evil-doers poisoning and corrupting the city. entertaining but it does get tiring after you've seen all the sequels.

Out for Justice (1991)

one of segal's better films *some spoilers*

[6/10 · 27 September 2010]

what more can i say about steven seagal. only in a seagal movie can he fatally injure a man with a stick of salami and turn a butcher shop into a house of pain. i have seen many of his films and like this one immensely as it was one of his earlier roles and i understand that it would be his breakout performance. needless to say, there is a a lot of graphic violence and brutality throughout the film but that is typical of his action flicks as it makes up for the weak plot. he delivers his lines with deadpan expression and one will never get an Oscar worthy performance from him. but like so many other actions stars before him and present, it's the well choreographed action sequences and hand on hand combat scenes that keep the viewer interested. one of the most fun scenes is at the bar that steven seagal's character visits in search of his partner's killer and winds up kung-fuing his way through all the patrons who take him on. the other one is where he's in a butcher shop and the employees attack him with little success. he whacks one guy with a stick of salami and ducks out of the way as another takes a butcher knife to his own leg...screaming and writhing in pain on the floor. highly enjoyable with plenty of gratuitous violence, coarse language and nudity to keep one entertained.

Night of the Living Dead (1990)

tom savini directed remake of a classic romero film *possible spoilers*

[6/10 · 15 September 2010]

i admired the fact that they remade this film for the 1990s and did a pretty good job with the end result. relying more on dialogue than just sheer gore and violence to keep the audience's attention, this film is definitely worth a second look. it was nice to see the main character named only as barbara develop from a once meek and frightened thing into a strong-willed, feisty and independent person who can hold her own against the hordes of the un-dead. she starts thinking for herself and finding different tactics to over-come the zombies as they descend on the small farmhouse she is holed up in with several other survivors. upon finding refuge, she meets another line survivor named ben played by tony todd famous for his role in the horror franchise candyman. i respected ben's take charge attitude and not letting anyone tell him differently. he always kept everyone in line and was open to suggestions and ideas on how they can continue to survive in such desperate times. tom towles who has a knack for portraying sleazy and despicable characters does a great turn as harry cooper, a man you love to hate. he merely scoffs at the others as they try their hardest to keep their spirits up and find means of survival. while he mocks and ridicules their ideas, he does nothing in aiding them except insisting the safest part of the farmhouse is the basement where his wife and ill child are being kept. one is just itching for someone to kill him off but you know by the end he's going to get what's coming to him one way or another. i however, did not like the character of judy rose who i found was just annoying and grating on the nerves. for most of the picture she's just screaming, crying and having a lengthy emotional breakdown while doing little else. it's difficult to sympathize with her as most of the time you just want to slap her to shut her up. i was thankful when she finally got killed off towards the end. otherwise a fine and intelligent update of a classic zombie flick.

Murphy's Law (1986)

classic bronson doing what he does best; kicking ass

[6/10 · 15 September 2010]

while he was still making movies for cannon films which is no longer in existence, bronson took the lead in this cop thriller from the early eighties. he stars as jack murphy a worn and beaten down cop who has been framed for the murder of his wife who left him to become a stripper in a sleazy bar. while on the run from the mob as well, and trying to clear his name, he is handcuffed to a mouthy petty thief named arabella mcgee. considering it is kathleen whilhoite's first starring role in a feature (she plays arabella) she turned in a great and funny performance. she has a mouth like a trucker but has some very creative and imaginative ways of telling people off who displease her ie. snot-licking donkey fart among other things. while she is more than half of bronson's age the writers were trying to build some kind of weird sexual tension between the two and it clearly wasn't working. it came off more creepy and awkward than anything else. while bronson's later movies won't win any awards it will keep you entertained.