Ramden Reviews

Wake of Death (2004)

Not as good as I'd hoped, but better than I expected.

[8/10 · 7 January 2005]

"Wake Of Death" is no master piece. But it's easily the best Van Damme movie since "Hard Target" and probably his best performance ever. I was pleasantly surprised to see that he does know how to act. Especially in the scenes right after his wife's death. Granted, he's not going to win an Oscar anytime soon. But his performance was definitely worth more than a direct-to-video release. Also the directing was a lot better than I thought it would be. Phillipe Martinez has actually put together a pretty nice package of a movie. We get pretty much everything: Gun play, car chases, nudity and a solid performance by Van Damme. But I would like to have seen a bit more story. It seems that the movie is mostly driven by the action scenes. If only we'd learned a little more about the characters, the movie would have had that last touch that would make it great.

Bloodsport (1988)

After birth there was Bloodsport!

[9/10 · 6 August 2003]

Bloodsport is one of the first movies I remember seeing. And I have to admit it: I love it to death. With all it's bad acting, bad editing and awesome action scenes. For me it's the ultimate martial arts movie. It has all the ingredients for an hour and a half's good entertainment. Sure it has a few dull moments, but luckily they are quickly replaced by spinning round kicks and corny dialogue. It is the cream of 80's movie making. The kind of movie you can see over and over again, without the use of your brain.

Kickboxer (1989)

Bloodsport 2

[7/10 · 17 May 2003]

This movie is nothing special. You sit with the feeling that you've seen it all before(Perhaps in Van Damme's "Bloodsport"), and you wonder: "Why did they make this movie?" And the answer is: The scene in the bar! Without giving away too much I have to say that when Van Damme gets completely hammered and then proceeds to dance, it's the funniest thing I ever saw. You wouldn't believe the moves on that guy. Besides from that the movie is nothing out of the ordinary. But if you're a sucker for action movies then it isn't all that bad.

Reign of Fire (2002)

An action hero for the future!

[3 May 2003]

This movie is extremely thin. The story has holes. And the general acting performances are pretty weak. Except for one man: Matthew McConaughey gives a mighty performance as the American dragon slayer, Van Zan. He is brilliant in this movie! Not only has he been pumping enough iron to build a 32 story building, but with his constant snarling and rusty voice he is the perfect action hero for the future. In a world with too many boring wannabe action movies that tones down the action in order to put a PG-13 sticker on their posters, we need men like McConaughey. I say: Give the man an Academy Award and put him the next Triple X movie(Instead of that wimp Vin Diesel). Watch this movie because of McConaughey. He is brutally funny.

Get Carter (1971)

A man of few words, but decisive action.

[9/10 · 1 May 2003]

Get Carter is without a doubt one of the best gangster films ever made. Even though I'm especially fond of action movies it's easy for me to see that this is truly a masterpiece in cinematic history. The story of Jack Carter coming home to find how his brother died wasn't even original in 1971, but the further outcome is. Michael Caine, an actor I've never thought of as a man of action, gives maybe his best performance ever. His ability to show: Anger, hate, sorrow and regret with just a look, is astonishing. He shows no mercy towards those who have hurt his family or try to hurt him. Violence is then of course inevitable, but the good thing is that it's realistic. The camera doesn't focus on the graphic violence like in many of today's films, but rather just gives you a glance.

The movie is close to perfect. I recommend it highly.

Webmaster (1998)

A race against time in a dark neo noir Denmark

[30 April 2003]

The look of this movie is definitely inspired by "Blade Runner", and it looks pretty cool. It's very dark, and there are a lot of people wearing strange clothes. I guess the directing is fine, but the acting is very superficial. And a lot of the so called one-liners completely tank! Also you've heard the story before: Our hero, J.B., has to find out who stole his boss' money or he dies. The whole race-against-time concept has been used several times before, and the use of it in this film isn't very good. Watch this movie for it's set design, because that is spectacular.

Xchange (2001)

Face/Off part 2

[6/10 · 29 April 2003]

To say that this movie is original would be just as true as saying that Steven Seagal will ever win a best actor award. But it does have a few original ideas. The acting and the special effects are so so, but you're generally entertained. The movie could have used some more action scenes though, to make up for the insufficiencies. If you're just looking for a movie that doesn't require too much brain activity but isn't completely moronic, then "Xchange" isn't too bad an idea.

Dreamcatcher (2003)

The s***'s hit the fan!

[6/10 · 26 April 2003]

I saw this film at the premiere in Denmark, and like so many others I didn't really know what to expect. But I most certainly didn't expect it to be a monster movie! Without giving away to much, the monster's entrance is marked the the sound of farts(As juvenile as that may be). This gives a certain amount of comic relief, but if you're kind of a movie buff you'll notice how this movie constantly borrows ideas and clichés form other movies(For example the classic "Alien"). The acting from the four main characters is okay(Especially Damian Lewis, even though his British accent is pretty thick!) But what the hell Morgan Freeman and Tom Sizemore are doing in this movie is beyond me! The kind of suck! But if you don't mind the clichés and can live with the thin plot, then by all means see this film. I can find bad this about this flick every five minutes, but I was entertained! And that's what counts...

The Hunted (2003)

The return of Rambo!

[6/10 · 26 April 2003]

Welcome to a world of clichés! From the very beginning we see absolutely nothing original. Benicio Del Toro suffers from war traumas, and Tommy Lee Jones lives i harmony with nature. If it wasn't for the excessive coolness factor in having Benicio Del Toro and Tommy Lee Jones in the same film, then this would have been a complete bust. This is by far not their best acting performances, but they're not bad either. Also it is always good to see the older Hollywood veterans in really physical movies. William Friedkin has made a movie that is pretty much indifferent, if it wasn't for the last showdown between the two main characters. I was filled with joy when I saw them making their own knifes out of scrap iron and stone. I got "Rambo"-flashbacks seeing this. But if you're not a sucker for the b-action movie genre, then this might not be the movie for you...

Rage to Kill (1987)

B-Movie to the MAX!

[3/10 · 21 April 2003]

This is a b-movie to the smallest detail. Our hero is a former war hero and current race car driver(Can you be more macho?!). When he hears of his brother's troubles, he immediately comes to his aid(As any true man of action would!). And after being caught, beaten up and electrocuted you would think that he's done for. But think again!

Not only does kill half an army, but he manages to turn ordinary students into a guerilla army.

This movie has almost everything a b-movie requires: Dumb violence, heroes & bad guys and the obligatory sex scene between a our hero and a student.

But it needs one liners! It takes itself too seriously, and that is a huge mistake. It makes the movie kind of pathetic when it could have been excellent entertainment.

But hey! If you need to watch something without using your brain this is not a bad idea. Enjoy!

Fear X (2003)

The best thriller I've seen in a long time. Good acting, good cinematography, good idea!

[9/10 · 19 April 2003]

Unlike other "some-guy-killed-my-wife-and-I-need-revenge-movies" Nicolas Winding Refn doesn't make the mistake of turning this into a semi action movie(Like in the end of Insomnia). He lets Harry Caine(Brilliantly portrayed by John Turturro)proceed gradually forward in slow pace. There is no rush to get to the end and to the killer. Even with the slow pace it never becomes a dull movie because you constantly feel a certain unease. The answer to his his wife's death is lurking somewhere beneath the surface. The answer to his wife's death, however, is the only weak link. Besides from that we are dealing with a movie that is unique. Of course you can point your finger and say that you've some similar scenes in other movies. But you cannot do anything original on film anymore, you can just do it in an original way. All in all a great movie.