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486,299 | 386,241 | 105,898 | 4 |
Amateurish , but not as bad as it looks
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The first thing you should know about " Zipperface " is that it was shot on video , so it has that peculiar " home-video-ish " look that is terribly distracting and makes it hard to take this seriously as a " real " film . And " Zipperface " indeed looks as if a bunch of amateurs got together for an attempt at a " real " serial-killer thriller . It's not quite that , but it's not as bad as it looks , either . Having a woman as one of the two detectives on the case puts a spin on the exploitation genre . Dona Adams gives an appealingly amateurish performance in the role - her obvious inexperience in front of the camera somehow works for her . Plus , she puts up a GREAT fight against the killer at the end . The red herrings appear ludicrous at first , but ultimately they work - I guessed the killer INcorrectly . And you have to wonder if perhaps Tarantino had seen the Zipperface guy when he came up with the idea of " The Gimp " for " Pulp Fiction " . ( )
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486,351 | 386,241 | 82,399 | 4 |
Really tacky .
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The only thing " Force : Five " proves is that the chances of finding a good American martial-arts film are about as many as those of finding a good Hong Kong Western . Yes , the film stars real martial artists who obviously know their stuff , but keep in mind that : a ) most of them can't act ( Richard Norton is excepted ) b ) most of the time they're fighting useless morons who stand around like sitting ducks , waiting to be kicked . And how about the fact that the doors of the rooms where the " bad guys " keep their drugs-and-guns-for-sale and the dead bodies of their victims are unlocked and unguarded ? Cheap and stupid . But the actors sure know how to kick high . ( )
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485,856 | 386,241 | 70,672 | 4 |
Great car chase , but can you stay awake until then ?
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I don't know if this exceptionally dull movie was intended as an unofficial sequel to ' The French Connection " , but it does have many of the same drawbacks : the script is so confusing that the viewer remains uninvolved and feels left out of the picture , and the direction is so cold , so lacking in energy , that even the great chase sequence can't liven things up . ( )
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486,408 | 386,241 | 94,889 | 4 |
Extremely superficial .
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Cocktail is a slick , thoroughly empty comedy-drama in the corny-junky tradition of " Dirty Dancing " . The people are all beautiful , the locations gorgeous , and the soundtrack is packed with MTV-style songs . Dramatically , it's just a collection of old cliches and LAUGHABLY old stereotypes ( Shue's typically stupid and stubborn father is very funny ) . The leads are certainly attractive , and Brown is so obviously superior to the rest of the picture that he somewhow never seems to fit in . Overall , an OK diversion , but only if you're prepared for how cliched and superficial it is .
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487,363 | 386,241 | 114,666 | 4 |
A familiar and drawn-out thriller .
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Awfully familiar thriller stuff that takes longer to play out than it should and ends with a particularly overdone , overextended climax . The performances are generally good and there are a few bits of imaginative camerawork , but the familiarity of the material proves to be overwhelming . The film has no personality , and most of the scenes seem to be just copies of similar events in other thrillers . ( )
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486,522 | 386,241 | 86,051 | 4 |
With this cast , it should've been much better .
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With this once-in-a-lifetime cast ( reuniting the four greatest blaxploitation stars of the early seventies ) , this picture should be more fun than it is . Someone seems to have drained the life out of these performers ; Jim Brown , in particular , comes off very badly ( judging only from this movie , you'd come to the conclusion that he can't act ) . The film is also poorly structured , keeping the stars away from each other ( and from any enjoyable interaction ) for laaaaarge periods of time . And Williamson must have really had it in for Jim Kelly ; he barely gives him of the screen time devoted to the other leads , and he features him in only two brief fight scenes ( he even loses in one of them ! ) . Cool score , though . ( )
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486,219 | 386,241 | 79,488 | 4 |
Bronson is fatigued , and so are we .
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This is an extremely boring Bronson thriller , one of those movies that nobody has seen , and deservedly so . Charlie looks understandably fatigued , Rod Steiger gives a hammy performance as the gangland boss and Henry Silva plays an assassin very much like the one he played in " Sharky's Machine " , only far less memorable . The movie was filmed in beautiful locations , and has a good Lalo Schifrin score , but you'll still be checking your watch frequently . ( )
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485,739 | 386,241 | 79,522 | 4 |
Overrated - to say the least .
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Many films that remain even today wildly overrated come from the 70's . They are films that have either aged badly ( " Jaws " ) or were never any good in the first place ( " The French Connection " ) , and continue to receive excessive praise over the years , without really deserving it . " Manhattan " should be included in that list . This is a comedy with very few laughs , and a drama with four main characters but only with ONE who has any depth ; Woody Allen's . The other three are superficial caricatures . And who thought it was such a wise idea to make Keaton's character so unlikable ? It's depressing for anyone who remembers how sweet and lovely she was in " Play It Again , Sam " . As for Mariel Hemingway's performance , it could hardly be more forced . And the ending is so abrupt that you'll be surprised , but not pleasantly . Allen's most astonishing accomplishment in this movie may be that he actually managed to make New York City look perhaps more uninviting and unattractive than I've ever seen it before in the movies . Even films than focus on its " ugly " , crime-infested side manage to suggest that there is life in this city , that it's exciting and thrilling . Here it looks just DRAB . Yes , the background music is wonderful , but the b / w cinematography isn't particularly beautiful - there were many scenes that would benefit greatly if they were filmed in color . After reading all the reviews and comments about this movie , I expected a lot more . It was a big disappointment . How can people prefer this to the vastly superior " Hannah And Her Sisters " ?
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485,600 | 386,241 | 110,108 | 4 |
Not among Tweed's best
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Illicit Dreams is not the first film to feature the premise of a woman who has recurring nightmares ( remember " Still of the Night " ? ) , and it certainly isn't the best , either . But this being an erotic thriller that fails both with the eroticism and with the thrills , we have to content ourselves with whatever interest the plot holds . And it does hold some , mainly due to the metaphysical angle ( psychokinetic connection , or something like that , bonds the two leads ) that's rare for a Shannon Tweed flick . Andrew Stevens directs , and he gives an unusually bright , richly colored look to the film . But he can't do anything about the ludicrous , hard-to-swallow final " twist " . ( )
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486,342 | 386,241 | 90,970 | 4 |
There are about 100 tortures in your living room . . . the 101st must be the pacing of this movie .
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In the opening and closing credits , the filmmakers acknowledge the services of sleep research centers and consultants in the making of this movie . But while there is some educational dialogue about dreams , the main concept - the heroine acting out her dreams - is not as innovative as they seem to think ; haven't these people ever heard of the word " sleepwalking " ? Kristy McNichol is fine ( if one-note ) in a demanding role , but director Pakula's pacing is off , the thrills are few , and the finale , with one character apparently transforming into Superman , is ludicrous . ( )
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486,027 | 386,241 | 59,549 | 4 |
Tedious .
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Mostly tedious spy / WWII film , filled with uninteresting characters and lifeless , inexpressive performances . There are maybe one or two tense moments and some good explosions at the end , but generally the pace is way too slow for a movie that goes on for 112 minutes .
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486,677 | 386,241 | 90,927 | 4 |
Claptrap !
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Dumb , claptrap about the hijacking of a plane by Arab terrorists and the rescue attempt by the all-American Delta Force unit . Of course , there is absolutely no suspense , since the movie stars Chuck Norris and Lee Marvin as the good guys - how can the viewer have even the slightest doubt about whether they will succeed ? And did I mention that this adventure is also insanely overlong ? ( 129 minutes , come on ! ) ( )
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486,829 | 386,241 | 86,141 | 4 |
- all of them for Kay Lenz
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This stereotypical , low-grade fantasy lacks both the budget and the directorial imagination to be really exciting . The only epic thing about it is the music score . The film is too cheesy for most adults , but it also has some unpleasant scenes that are unsuitable for kids - making you wonder what audience exactly they had in mind . What kept me watching it is Kay Lenz : she's both endearing and feisty , and she looks particularly sexy when she's angry . Her face has a great " bone structure " - she looks a bit like Kim Basinger ( trivia note : they were born the same year , 1953 ) , only more beautiful . And she can even keep a straight face through lines like " But . . . . he's green ! " ( when the male lead suggests that they should follow a man ) . Take Lenz out of the movie and you don't have a movie - just a midget , a giant , an evil John Saxon , and other stereotypes . ( )
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486,751 | 386,241 | 90,934 | 4 |
Purposeless .
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This movie will really give you better understanding of such terms as " purposeless " and " pointless " . It's simply a series of episodes , which never add up to anything . The only thing one can recommend about this familiar drama ( which still doesn't make it worthwhile ) is the solid acting : Barkin's performance stands out .
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486,906 | 386,241 | 90,887 | 4 |
Boring .
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Amateurish effects ( the critters usually seem to be thrown into the frame by offscreen hands ) , a boring , bland storyline and a few explosions too many make even the moderate box-office success of this film inexplicable . If you thought " Attack of the Killer Tomatoes " was funny or scary , you might enjoy this one too . But if you didn't . . . . run , run away . ( )
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486,005 | 386,241 | 66,995 | 4 |
One of the worst
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Diamonds Are Forever is my personal candidate for " worst Bond film of all time " ( rivaled perhaps only by " The Man With The Golden Gun " and " Licence To Kill " ) . The flaws here are too numerous to list : incoherent , illogical script ( you can watch this film 100 times and still not be able to follow the story ) , unexciting car chases , total lack of tension and urgency , Connery in his most bored and by-the-numbers performance as 007 , one of the dumbest Bond Girls ever ( though she begins as smart ) , and so on . The redeeming virtues are few : the brutal and realistic fistfight in the elevator , the memorable ( and sexy ) encounter with " Bambi " and " Thumper " , the sometimes-funny quips of the " Mr . Wint-Mr . Kidd " team , Charles Gray's amusing ( if not imposing ) performance as Blofeld . Overall though , it's a shame Connery had to end his early Bond legacy ( 12 years before his not-much-better comeback in " Never Say Never Again " ) with this turkey . ( )
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486,986 | 386,241 | 67,004 | 4 |
Vapid film
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What's the point of this film ? What does it have to say ? And why does Dyan Cannon disappear so early on ? You'll have all those questions running through your mind while you're watching " Doctor's Wives " , but this vapid , pointless , soap-opera-level film provides no answers . A very superficial treatment of potentially strong subjects . A great cast that is thoroughly wasted . And a heart-surgery scene that is not for the squeamish . ( )
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486,312 | 386,241 | 85,601 | 4 |
Too silly .
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Hill and Spencer are mistaken for secret agents . At the time , the Bond franchise was still popular , so this film was probably an atempt at a Bond spoof , but it clearly lacks the wit to put it over . It's unabashedly silly - too silly to engage anyone over the age of ten ( wait till you hear the villain's plan for world domination ) . This kind of movie should always wrap things up in under 80 minutes ; this one goes on 25 minutes longer than that . ( )
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486,993 | 386,241 | 118,644 | 5 |
Morally repugnant , cinematically exciting .
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Michell Seraut is an aging assassin who trains the young , disoriented Mathieu Kassovitz ( who also directed ) to be his successor . And this is yet another movie that blames TV and video games for the violence in our society , and repeats the idea of killers with moral codes , who are not really butchers and . . . well , it's a rotten world anyway , the politicians are on the take , you know . I found it morally repugnant . But because Kassovitz is a talented director , it's often cinematically exciting . There's a startling plot development midway through , although the story generally shows little concern for logic . However , the film has to get extra points for its grim ending , which , considering more recent tragic events , proved to be almost prophetic . ( )
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487,107 | 386,241 | 118,645 | 5 |
Sexy Shannon Tweed sparks a typical , brainless action film
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Shannon Tweed spends much of this movie bikini-clad , and if there is a 40-year-old actress out there with a better body than hers ( except maybe for Ursula Andress ) , I can't remember her right now . She also looks spectacular firing two guns simultaneously , and her fighting moves are quick and graceful - you don't expect a woman who made a name for herself by starring in countless soft-core erotic thrillers to be a convincing fighter , but somehow Tweed is . Of course this is first and foremost a Hulk HOGan film , and of course he HOGs the spotlight : his delivery is totally flat , but I have to admit that his climactic fight with Billy Blanks is pretty good . Carl Weathers and Martin Kove are both past their prime , but hell , they can still have a go at the action genre if they really want to . Production values are better than expected and there are lots of explosions , but Tweed is basically the only reason I'm giving this film a rating ( could have been higher if she fought more ) .
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485,848 | 386,241 | 66,093 | 5 |
Lacks focus .
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Noble intentions do not necessarily make a satisfying film . " Monte Walsh " has good acting , a good score and generally good sequences scattered about . . . . BUT , it's just not terribly interesting . There's just not enough action here - physical OR emotional . The script lacks focus and most of the time it seems to meander around with no particular purpose . A no more than OK film . ( )
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486,449 | 386,241 | 442,857 | 5 |
One great match . . . .
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. . . . and it most certainly is NOT the heavily hyped main event , but the match right before it . 1 ) Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero ( RIP ) vs . The Basham Brothers ( for the WWE tag team title ) . Good teamwork by the Bashams , who go for an interesting mix of power moves and technical holds . Eddie does some creative cheating , but Rey Mysterio fans may be a little disappointed in this match , as he doesn't get to do much of his usual high-flying and spends most of the time on the receiving end of the Basham's offense . Rookie Diva Contest ( RDC ) - Round 1 . Joy , Rochelle , Lauren and Michelle walk down the aisle , enter the ring . . . . and the contest is over . I guess the object of the contest is " which woman looks better walking in a revealing dress " . I pick Torrie Wilson . 2 ) Heidenreich vs . Booker T . First of all , Heidenreich's " psycho " gimmick is stale . Victoria already did it - and did it better - three years ago . And he is also totally static in the ring . Booker T tries to wake up the crowd a little , but fails . A poor match with a poor DQ finish . 3 ) Paul London vs . Chavo Guerrero vs . Shannon Moore vs . Spike Dudley vs . Akio vs . Funaki . Elimination Match for the cruiserweight title . Fast-paced action , as you'd expect from the cruiserweights , in fact TOO fast , almost rushed ( it reminded me of the women's fatal 4-way in " Bad Blood 2004 " ) . In my opinion , Shannon Moore gives the best show , but he only has 2 minutes of action . The crowd was pretty much dead throughout - just a like a sign that a guy holds says , the division definitely needs a bigger push . RDC - Round 2 . Talent competition . Joy massages Torrie . Rochelle tells a bad joke . Lauren dances a little . Michelle finally does something wrestling-related by body-slamming Dawn Marie , proving that at least this time they made the right choice by keeping only her in the roster . 4 ) Luther Reigns vs . The Undertaker . Boooooooriiiiiiiing ! Barely any wrestling holds in this one , but plenty of fake-looking punches . The commentators can hype up The Undertaker as much as they want , I just plain don't like the guy . RCD - Round 3 . Swimsuit competition . Self-explanatory . The crowd seems to prefer Michelle . The fans on WWE . com voted for Joy . I'd still pick Torrie over any of them . 5 ) Kurt Angle vs . John Cena . A very good match , mostly thanks to Angle , who is without a doubt the best wrestler in this PPV . Very well-thought-out in terms of psychology , with Angle going for some exceptional freestyle mat wrestling and Cena trying to counter with a street-fighting style . Easily the match of the night . 6 ) JBL vs . The Big Show . Barbed Wire Steel Cage Match for the WWE title . If you're looking for blood , you'll find it here . If you're looking for quality wrestling , you won't . JBL spends more time trying to find a way out of the cage than trying to fight The Big Show ( smart move on his part ) . Funny ending , though . By the way , the " Wrestlemania 21 " teasers are surprisingly successful .
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485,640 | 386,241 | 118,615 | 5 |
OK pic .
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This movie has been viciously attacked by most reviewers , yet it's actually an OK horror pic . At least it's acceptable , while " Jaws 3-D " , for example , isn't . The effects were uneven and the snake DID look fake at times , but the performances were all decent . Voigh is supposed to be slimy , and he pulls it off pretty well . The it's-not-dead-yet ending is very cliched .
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487,138 | 386,241 | 105,121 | 5 |
Acceptable but flawed .
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This bloody horror movie had the potential to be a terrific little picture ; great , inventive set design , original story , a likable kid as the lead . But the performances of the actors who play the villains get increasingly over-the-top ( " I got him ! I got him ! I got him ! " ) , and the movie begins to slip into self-parody . And there is also the matter of some exceedingly ugly scenes that were quite unnecessary ; we had already been convinced that the villains are really demented .
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486,707 | 386,241 | 88,044 | 5 |
I have seen this film before - it was called " Class of 1984 " then
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Seriously , replace Linda Blair's vigilante high school student with Perry King's vigilante high school teacher , change a few other minor details , and you have that exploitation film instead of this one . Blair makes a terrific , fiery " bad girl " , with some classic one-liners ( " it's a pity you're not double-jointed . . . . because if you were you'd be able to bend over and kiss your a$$ goodbye ! " ) , but overall this film is little more than a typical , simpleminded revenge piece : bad things happen to people Linda cares about , so Linda goes on the revenge path . It's a film that you watch more for its nostalgic value ( as everything in it , from the music to the clothes to the high school settings , gives off that 80's " vibe " ) rather than for its artistic one , which , to be honest , is pretty limited . ( )
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486,734 | 386,241 | 95,626 | 5 |
An OK change-of-pace for Bronson .
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Bronson is rather miscast as a reporter ( who still can punch and defeat any opponent ) , but this is one of his least typical and most solid vehicles from the 80's . It begins with a weird , effectively staged massacre and includes some offbeat elements along with the familiar ones . It's still nothing special , though . It's one of those curiously forgettable films that keep you interested while you're watching them , but leave no lasting impression .
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486,267 | 386,241 | 156,408 | 5 |
Well-directed but pretty ho-hum French thriller
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Using dreams as a means of expressing a character's hidden fears and desires is an old trick , and Claude Miller overdoes it ; there are probably more dream sequences than actual events in this movie . Some of them are startling ( one involving a severed talking head , another a machine-gun massacre ) , but the story is boring ( you don't have to be a detective to figure out the truth ) , and the kid is boring , too , with a fixed stare that never changes throughout the film ( though it's probably not his fault , but Miller's ) . " La Classe De Neige " belongs in a subgenre that could be called " the world from a child's point of view " , but doesn't make its way into the top of the list . ( )
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486,552 | 386,241 | 73,744 | 5 |
A " so what ? " kind of film .
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This Italian crime film is interesting at first , but the pace never picks up . Fabio Testi is a good-hearted robber stranded at the " Last Chance Motel " , Ursula Andress is the beautiful ( but somewhat stiff ) wife of the motel's owner , and Eli Wallach is Testi's partner , who comes after him when the diamonds they stole somehow disappear . You'd expect that the appearance of Wallach would help increase the tension , but that doesn't happen . Some of the night scenes ( including the sex scene ) are so dark you can't see anything ! ( )
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486,203 | 386,241 | 95,719 | 5 |
Unimaginative .
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Unimaginatively directed , often preposterous horror / sci-fi film that borrows heavily from a lot of other movies - but mainly from " The Birds " , " The Fly " ( it's here that the movie gets really preposterous ) and " Alien " . It isn't terrible , but it isn't successful , either . Even if you seriously hate cockroaches , this movie isn't really going to scare you .
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487,263 | 386,241 | 83,642 | 5 |
Energetic but insipid .
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Boisterous and insipid musical comedy . Burt Reynolds is quite likable in one of his least typical films ; Dolly Parton is well-cast ( and buxom beyond belief ) ; Dom De Luise's performance is overshadowed by his awful wig ; and Charles Durning has the film's best number , in which he celebrates his own elusiveness ( as a governor ) . The film's glorification of prostitution and general old-fashioned approach make it seem like it came from an earlier era . ( )
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487,186 | 386,241 | 455,362 | 5 |
A clichéd but effective horror film
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Movie concepts don't get much simpler than this : on a supposedly deserted island , genetically enhanced , rabid-like dogs attack five college kids who have gone there for a weekend of fun . It's kind of surprising that a movie like this , made in 2006 , still gets theatrical release in some countries ; this is usually direct-to-DVD stuff . With that said , however , " The Breed " is effective at what it sets out to do . What gives this movie an edge over other contemporary " creature features " is that the " creatures " are real , highly-trained dogs instead of fake CGI bats , crocodiles , snakes , spiders or whatever . This adds an element of realism to the proceedings , as does the fact that the characters behave rationally for the most part . Michelle Rodriguez looks great ( what else is new ? ) and shows her physicality , and the rest of the cast may not be brilliant , but they're not bad , either . The movie does suffer from a terrible ending though - it was probably intended as a shock but it's so sudden that it looks as if the producers ran out of money or time or something . ( )
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487,470 | 386,241 | 65,143 | 5 |
No big deal .
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This was the first film that the famous Italian horror master Dario Argento made , and it has some of the ( expected ) amateurishness of a directorial debut ( especially in the guidance of some of the actors ) . The plot , mixing slasher-movie elements with a homage to Hitchcock , is clever enough to keep your interest , but the movie as a whole doesn't go far beyond the level of respectable mediocrity . ( )
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485,768 | 386,241 | 78,087 | 5 |
Decent , bloody " Jaws " rip-off .
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Often mistaken for a parody , " Piranha " is actually a full-blooded ( and extremely bloody ) " Jaws " rip-off , with only a handful of humorous lines . While it can't even approach the level of " Jaws " , it's a lot better than the three fairly terrible " Jaws " sequels , and provides decent entertainment . . . if you don't mind the heavy doses of blood
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485,950 | 386,241 | 47,794 | 5 |
Loaded with technical trickery , but not with laughs
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Abbott and Costello Meet the Keystone Kops is a film about the early days of cinema , and contains a lot of cinematic tricks itself : stunt doubling , back projection , fast motion , reverse motion , freeze frame , special effects , etc . Some of these tricks work ( the horse jump over a cliff is a fantastic shot which I still can't figure out how they pulled off ) , some don't ( the plane scenes look especially fake ) , but the real problem is that the story is episodic and A & C have only two routines worth mentioning : one at the start , with Abbott mistaken as Costello's violent father , and one involving two pairs of cops and burglars , one fake ( Bud & Lou ) and one real . The climactic chase , involving the title " Kops " , is frenetic but unfunny . This type of slapstick will still appeal to young kids , but anyone over the age of 12 will probably be begging for some more verbal humor . ( )
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486,307 | 386,241 | 112,782 | 5 |
Disappointing Andy Sidaris fare
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The Dallas Connection delivers the expected breasts , travelogue footage , explosions , and even some legitimate plot twists , but it has too many drawn-out non-action sequences , probably the result of Andy Sidaris & son Christian stretching the film to make it reach the 90-minute mark . As the female lead , Sam Phillips is a poor replacement for Suzi Simpson ( not to mention Dona Speir ) . Suzi did a very good job in " Enemy Gold " , and I wonder why Sidaris didn't cast her again . Sam is portrayed as useless in the action scenes . She is easily controlled by an unarmed man , while in " Enemy Gold " Suzi easily disarmed an armed man in about 3 seconds - see the difference ? Julie K . Smith and Wendy Hamilton ( a stunningly beautiful woman ) do about 95 % stripping and 5 % action . Julie Strain is fine as long as she doesn't have to speak - when she does , the illusion is ruined . In terms of the female action quotient , this is probably Sidaris ' most disappointing film since " Malibu Express " . ( )
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487,555 | 386,241 | 105,212 | 5 |
Mediocre
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Richard Norton and Cynthia Rothrock have teamed up several times in martial arts movies , either as partners or as opponents , both in Hong Kong and in America . This is one of their American pairings , and it cannot qualify as one of their best . The story is sloppy in parts , and the fight scenes are only so-so ( and sometimes poorly shot ) . However , the two leads make an enjoyable team , and the movie gets some extra life from a colorful supporting cast that includes Brian Thompson as the main villain , a quite funny Alex Datcher as " Hannah the Hun " , Stephen Davies as a druggie ex-stockbroker that everyone calls " Baby " , not one but TWO ( Terri Treas and Catherine Bach ) stunning redheads ( I love redheads ) , and in a bit part , female kickboxer Kathy Long . A good B-movie cast in a mediocre B-movie . ( )
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487,340 | 386,241 | 160,644 | 5 |
Hollow .
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Although the premise is far from original ( like someone else already said , it had been used only two years earlier by Raoul Ruiz in a film called " Shattered Image " ) , it is certainly interesting . It's the kind of premise that makes you want to see a movie , and that keeps you watching it all the way to the end . The film itself is dull , however . The filmmakers have chosen to de-emphasize the mystery / fantasy aspects of the story , and to emphasize the romantic aspect . But for all the time that is devoted to them , both romances that Demi gets involved in are pretty hollow , and visually the film is much less inventive than " Shattered Image " . Eventually the truth is revealed , but even that is done in a most anti-climactic manner . ( )
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486,744 | 386,241 | 30,696 | 5 |
Big disappointment .
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A big disappointment from the Marx Brothers . The few and weak " memorable quotes " simply indicate the low level of invention in this stagey picture . Groucho Marx in particular looks tired and indifferent . Harpo seems to be in a happier mood , but he has hardly enough screen time . It's hard to believe it , but this Marx film is at times downright boring .
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487,008 | 386,241 | 118,541 | 5 |
Not recommended .
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The premise of eight elusive disembodied heads is promising , for a black comedy at least , but the rest of the script is way too convoluted , with way too many characters . The entire cast tries hard ( in Dyan Cannon's case , TOO hard ) , and there are some sporadic laughs , but overall this is a pretty desperate - not to mention appallingly racist - comedy . Terrific makeup effects , though . ( )
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486,549 | 386,241 | 78,330 | 5 |
Straightforward Craven thriller is not bad - for a TV movie
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Linda Blair is this film's main draw today , but Lee Purcell is the real star of the show : at first I wasn't too sure about her , but she has the mysteriously seductive presence that her role calls for , and her performance literally gets better by the minute . This may be a Wes Craven movie , but it is also a TV movie , so it is rather tame in terms of sexuality and violence ; there are few real surprises and few real thrills until the last 15 minutes and the ( long awaited ) catfight between Blair and Purcell . With its " evil stranger is disrupting the life of a normal happy family " plot , you could say that this film was ahead of its time ; thrillers of this type didn't become popular until the early 90's , with " The Hand That Rocks The Cradle " and others like it . But one look at Linda's hair will convince you that it was NOT ahead of its time in other areas . In short , rent it but don't buy it . ( )
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487,200 | 386,241 | 91,193 | 5 |
Forget the " names " . . . . Nelia is the real show here
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Maud Adams ( of " Octopussy " fame ) is a Nazi hunter who tries to get close to an infamous Nazi war criminal ( Stewart Granger ) by marrying his nephew . But the Nazi finds out her plans and has her killed . Now it's up to her daughter and a young soldier ( who saves her life ) to go to Paraguay , discover the Nazi's secret base and take him out . Despite being shot on location in Brazil and Paraguay , and having some semi-big names in the cast ( it must be noted that George Lazenby has a very small role ) , " Hell Hunters " is a low-grade , fairly unbelievable action film that moves in fits and starts . Main point of interest , for me at least , was a strong action-girl supporting role for the beautiful Nelia J . Cozza , who helps the heroes in their mission . The female lead is not bad either , she looks a bit like Martha Plimpton . ( )
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485,841 | 386,241 | 104,998 | 5 |
Works best as a celebration of Tweed's body .
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Shannon Tweed , who is of course incomparably better that Tanya Roberts ( the star of the first " Night Eyes " ) in every possible way , spices up this erotic thriller that is a sequel only in the sense that Andrew Stevens plays the same character . Tweed has some really steamy workout scenes , and her sex scenes are very well-photographed , but eventually get a little boring through overlength . The plot is minimal , though the film tries to " pump up " the thriller aspect in the last 20 minutes , by including some unexpectedly brutal and raw violence . ( )
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487,466 | 386,241 | 87,909 | 5 |
Visually impressive but unmemorable .
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This gory and somewhat dreamy horror film has acquired a cult following over the years , but don't count me among its fans . Argento does deliver some effective shocks ( especially in the scene where the face of the mutant kid is revealed ; it is far more grotesque and repellent than you might expect ) , but they don't add up to much . The film lacks substance , and its nice visuals can't completely make up for that . Warning : this pic is definitely not for the squeamish . ( )
|
486,957 | 386,241 | 26,138 | 5 |
Warning : this is an irreverent comment .
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Right from the extremely hokey prologue , I knew that I was going to be disappointed with this film . I was right . This film has lost much of its edge over the years . You can still appreciate it intellectually , of course , for its historical importance ( the prototype for horror sequels ) , you can admire its great sets , and watch some memorable , famous sequences . But it is never scary in the slightest , and none of the characters is developed enough . Elsa Lanchester has only a couple of minutes as the Bride , but she upstages the rest of the cast with her heartbreaking performance - she plays it straight . Perhaps the rest of the movie would have benefited from a similar approach . ( )
|
486,684 | 386,241 | 78,294 | 5 |
. . . And You Won't Care To Find Out Who It Was
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What do you get when you mix together cutesy-poo romance , self-conscious comedy and a muddled mystery plot that nobody cares about ? You get this Hitchcock imitation that can't stand up to any kind of comparison with the real thing . Farrah Fawsett is too flat here to make us believe that any man would become infatuated with her at first sight . ( )
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487,150 | 386,241 | 198,279 | 5 |
The absence of many good serial killer thrillers is indeed a problem . . .
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This is a fairly dull , yet still moderately engaging police procedural . Stephen Baldwin plays the detective who tries to stop a serial killer by finding the clue to his motives in his sordid childhood . The detective has also lost his son recently , a side-plot which adds nothing to the main plot whatsoever , except perhaps that it gives Baldwin the opportunity to be brooding and soulful throughout the film , making the already grim atmosphere ( although there is almost no on-screen violence ) even more gloomy . The biggest shock of the film comes at the very end , in the credits , when it is revealed that the female psychologist-police consultant is played by Tyne Daly ! I wouldn't have recognized her in a million years ! ( )
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485,817 | 386,241 | 61,401 | 5 |
Tepid comedy .
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A tepid , extremely mild , fairly tedious , slightly overlong comedy . The first half has some reasonably funny bits ( like the one that takes place in a phone-booth ) , but in the second half things get pretty desperate . Jerry Lewis himself is appealing when he is playing the " straight man " , but irritating when he appears disguised . And the direction has no comic timing whatsoever .
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486,262 | 386,241 | 160,484 | 5 |
Some good shocks , but the story is very tired .
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This movie does offer a couple of good shocks , and Ben Chaplin is impressive as the-man-destined-to-be-Satan ( he gives a new meaning to the phrase " Sympathy for the Devil " ) , but the story is tired - just another " Omen " / " The Exorcist " knockoff ( and if you're an atheist , very close to being mindless hokum ) . The ( intentionally ) underlit cinematography is more unattractive than atmospheric ; however , I did like the strangely downbeat ending . ( )
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486,063 | 386,241 | 83,959 | 5 |
Too dark and choppy to be enjoyed .
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Yet another " Alien " imitation , except that the monster here is not an alien but the product of a genetic mutation , and also appears to be able to understand English and operate computers at one point . Exploitations fans will be thrilled to know that the film has not one , but TWO sensuous ( and promiscuous ) women in it , and ends with a pretty gruesome ( if unbelievable ) climax . However , the film is SO darkly photographed and choppily edited that it's often REALLY hard to decipher what's going on ( especially when the monster attacks ) . And see if you can figure out what's the point of the opening flash-forwards . ( )
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486,334 | 386,241 | 87,796 | 5 |
You've seen it all before .
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Toxic chemical fluid infects the residents of a small Southern town , turning them into mutated , bloodthirsty monsters . So what else is new ? This totally ordinary film ( technically not a zombie flick , though the monsters do look a lot like zombies ) , has good acting by Wings Hauser and Bo Hopkins and OK special effects , but . . . . . you've seen it all before . Lots of Southern stereotypes , too . ( )
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486,466 | 386,241 | 105,399 | 5 |
Terrible but fun .
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By any objective standards , this movie is absolutely terrible . The direction is extremely sloppy , the " special effects " ( though undeniably time-consuming ) are pathetically obvious and the script . . . well , let's just not go there . Nevertheless , it does boast some witty , top-notch fight choreography and some legitimately funny moments , so Jackie fanatics may want to give it a look . But if you're new to Hong Kong action cinema , don't make " Twin Dragons " your introduction to it : you'll have a hard time believing that a movie this bad can actually be produced anywhere in this world . ( )
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487,385 | 386,241 | 101,004 | 5 |
Lots of heavy breathing and local color . . .
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This is a great-looking film , filmed in rich colors and beautiful New Orleans locations . But dramatically it doesn't fare so well ; it's mostly a monotonous series of heavy-breathing sequences , interrupted by dialogue passages that seem to exist only because a film can't be made ONLY with sex scenes . We also get lots of gratuitous nudity from the statuesque Erika Anderson , who's married to Judge Reinhold ( fairly good , but not good enough to be taken absolutely seriously as a dramatic actor yet ) and pursued by Nicolas Cage ( in a smug performance he would probably like to forget today ) . Overall , not a horrible film , but not outstanding , either . ( )
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487,574 | 386,241 | 91,575 | 5 |
OK if predictable .
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An OK if relentlessly , thoroughly predictable Bronson thriller , certainly better than a " Death Wish " sequel . Some amusing profanities stand out and almost save the very boring script . Thomson's direction is routine .
|
486,714 | 386,241 | 105,459 | 5 |
Totally derivative
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Split Second is nothing more than a transparent " Predator " ripoff . The script of this sci-fi thriller is hopelessly derivative . . . . and stretches out an overly simple premise to 90 minutes of repetitive situations ; try counting how many times we see the two heroes walking slowly side-by-side , holding their " big guns " and searching for an " invisible " menacing presence , while we're supposed to be on the edge of our seats because the monster could " attack at any moment " . This is not a horrible film , but since both the " Predator " films are more fun , why should you see it ? ( )
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485,924 | 386,241 | 213,984 | 5 |
Monty Python Live , Part II : Not Exactly Live
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I suppose if you see this compilation as a stand-alone feature , you'll probably find it good enough . But I saw it as part of the 2-disc " Monty Python Live ! " DVD edition ( and this comment is meant ONLY for those who see it this way ) , and although it has some funny moments ( " nobody ever expects the Spanish Inquisition ! " ) , it is largely a waste of time . For one thing , you can see all these sketches elsewhere . For another , you can see many of them on the SAME DVD PACK . And for another , most of the best sketches ( " The Argument " , " Lumberjack's Song " , " World Forum " ) are infinitely better executed in " Live at the Hollywood Bowl " ( which is included on the other disc ) . If anything , this film helps you gain a greater appreciation of that film , and of how much experience improved the Pythons over the years . This disc also includes the first " German Episode " , which is alternately brilliant ( with some of Terry Gilliam's best animation ) and labored , and mostly of historical interest .
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486,313 | 386,241 | 118,301 | 5 |
Attempted vehicular homicide . . . whatever the f that is !
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Can a comedy be likable and dismal at the same time ? If your answer is " no " , you obviously haven't seen " Dead Man On Campus " yet . On the one hand , this is a blatantly insensitive and tasteless film , with some moralizing thrown in at the end , as if the filmmakers want to convince you that yes , deep down inside , they know that suicide and depression are serious matters . On the other hand , there are some laughs , courtesy mostly of the much-mentioned " Cliff " guy , and some accurate observations about college life . On the whole this premise seems better suited to a thriller than to a comedy . . . I'll have to check out " Dead Man's Curve " sometime soon . ( )
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487,337 | 386,241 | 105,242 | 5 |
Routine horror cheapie .
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Like another film based on H . P . Lovecraft's books ( " From Beyond " ) , " The Resurrected " takes such high concepts as time , immortality and even the control of the universe and reduces them to a cataclysm of messy , jelly , gruesome special effects . The effects , even in their occasional clumsiness , do have a morbid fascination , but the movie is padded with long scenes of people investigating dark rooms / corridors / catacombs , and it tries your patience , because the ultimate nature of the " mysterious experiments " is not that hard to guess ( ehm , look at the title ) . ( )
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486,335 | 386,241 | 87,622 | 5 |
Mostly talky and boring , but offers a few shocks .
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The Lift does have some suspenseful scenes scattered here an there , but too many talky , boring stretches leading up to them . The premise is handled in a way that has us knowing all along what is causing the horrible " accidents " , and we're simply left in the uncomfortable position of waiting for the characters to figure it out , too . And the atrocious dubbing doesn't help . If you absolutely must see a Dutch thriller , try catching " Amsterdamned " , which was made five years later by the same director ( and with the same leading man ! ) . It's more exciting . ( )
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486,126 | 386,241 | 112,995 | 5 |
Standard action film with a solid female lead
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Excessive Force II has a thin revenge plot ( which can almost be summed up in the following sentence : " They left her for dead . . . . and now they're going to pay " ) , but the action ( fights , explosions , and a car chase ) is not bad , and Stacie Randall is a solid heroine . Not only does she have a stunningly beautiful face and a magnificent body , but she also handles the action like a pro . Some of her fight scenes are thrilling ( the choreography is by James Lew and Phillip Tan , both with numerous similar credits on IMDb ) , and she's not afraid to get down and dirty when the part requires it . In short , those expecting a brilliant action film won't get it here , and the fans of the original ( yes , all 3 of them ) won't like the fact that this " sequel " is completely unrelated , but fans of action films with strong female leads won't be disappointed . ( )
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486,962 | 386,241 | 105,219 | 5 |
Formulaic but painless .
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Highly formulaic action picture , Brandon Lee's last fully completed film . It's far inferior to the stylish , almost poetic " Crow " , and Lee's fighting skills aren't quite in the class of those that his father presented in his movies , but it's not too bad if you're looking for a childish , painless actioner , where a shootout breaks out every three minutes .
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487,517 | 386,241 | 83,791 | 5 |
Plods .
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The Dark Crystal is a technical achievement , to be sure , no arguments there . . . but it's also as ponderous in its pace as the eternally plodding Mystics themselves . There are two major possible responses to a film like this : the first ( and obviously the most popular one , especially for those who saw it for the first time when they were kids ) is to fall in love with the film and admire its uniqueness ; the other is to find it simply interesting to look at , but to feel completely shut out emotionally . They created an artificial world , all right . . . . ( )
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487,289 | 386,241 | 66,434 | 5 |
2378 , can you come to 7654 , we have a 4721 . . . .
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Muddled , pretentious sci-fi allegory , though it does have some good ideas , buried under a load of pretension . I'd recommend this only to the most fanatic genre fans . But try , if you can , to see the widescreen version , because I've rarely seen a film that suffered so badly from being presented in the standard format . In a film filled with awkward things , the MOST awkward is Donald Pleasence's presence . He walks around looking as though he just escaped from the loony bin . Even this mad future world is too sane a place for him . ( )
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486,544 | 386,241 | 206,220 | 5 |
Rent it for Shannon Tweed , stay with it for Danielle Ciardi
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Shannon Tweed is beginning to look her age here ( she was 42 when this was made ) , but she is still in top physical shape , and she briefly gets to put her kickboxing lessons ( probably from the two " No Contest " films ) to use . Although her name is the main - er , the ONLY - reason anybody will rent " Powerplay " , she is not " exposed " as often as her co-star , Danielle Ciardi , who is an extremely hot woman , with a great face and body , and a decent actress as well . On the other hand , the male actors range from wooden to horrible . The plot starts out as predictable , and then just gets stupider by the minute . The characters make so many blunders that after a while you lose count of them . ( )
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486,085 | 386,241 | 95,246 | 5 |
Excruciatingly muddled
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Tommy Lee Jones certainly knows how to deliver a sharp line when he gets one : a man tells him " I want you to find my wife . She's following me everywhere " , and he immediately responds " Why don't you slow down and let her catch up to you ? " . But soft-core sex scenes are not exactly his forte , especially when his partner is the 17-years-younger Virginia Madsen ( though if your sole interest is seeing a young Madsen naked you WILL be satisfied , repeatedly ) . However , the main problem with the film is that it tries to be smart and unusual and hip , but counts on your not thinking about the story for more than a minute ; if you DO think about it , it's really utterly stupid . To quote Jones , this film is like " a bad dream that you can't wake up from " . ( )
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487,315 | 386,241 | 83,755 | 5 |
A grim , straightforward WIP drama
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The Concrete Jungle doesn't offer anything you haven't seen before , but it's still an absorbing , fairly well-made & acted little Women-In-Prison drama . What the fans of this sub-genre need to know is that the filmmakers have taken a mostly serious-minded approach here , at least until the last 10 minutes when a massive fight that breaks out in the prison yard turns into a mudbath ! Most of the time , though , the film simply chronicles , in a straightforward manner , the daily struggle for survival of a 100 % innocent woman who tries to adapt to the harsh prison life . Tracey Bregman's sweet , innocent-looking face is perfect for the part , and she is surrounded by actresses who mostly manage , in a short amount of time , to build their own characters . The standout for me was June Barret as the bad girl Icy , who is both strong and insecure . ( )
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486,370 | 386,241 | 65,486 | 5 |
Disappointing teaming of two top French stars .
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When a movie pairs Alain Delon and Jean-Paul Belmondo , casting them as initially small-time crooks who work their way up the underworld ladder in 30's France , I think we have a right to expect something better than this . Pedestrian direction and a script that manages to be both dull and rushed make for a pretty unexciting movie . The stars are as charismatic as ever , but that isn't enough . ( )
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487,239 | 386,241 | 87,578 | 5 |
Broadly silly , at times funny Jackie Chan comedy .
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How much you'll enjoy this film depends on how much silliness you're willing to tolerate . Sample exchange : " I know seven ways to break into that castle " " Why not six or eight ? " " Because seven is my lucky number ! " It's all rather shoddily made , but at the same time winningly lighthearted . There's very little action until the last 10 minutes . . . . then there's some really good action ( Jackie's fight , Yuen Biao's amazing acrobatics ) . ( ) P . S . Doesn't the pretty Lola Forner look a lot like Carole Bouquet ?
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486,397 | 386,241 | 100,968 | 5 |
A mess , with some redeeming factors
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Okay , since nobody else has commented on " Born To Fight " / " Angel's Mission " so far , I should probably write a short plot synopsis to give you an idea what it's all about . Problem is , the script of this movie is so disjointed and sloppily thrown-together that it's quite hard to keep track of all its characters and subplots . Let's just say that Yukari Oshima plays a Japanese policewoman who , while on vacation in Hong Kong , is asked to investigate the disappearance of several Japanese girls who were working as strippers / hookers at a night club that Yukari's mother happens to be the manager of . One of those girls is Dick Wei's sister , and he also comes to HK to find out what happened to her . Meanwhile , a local female cop is investigating the activities of a high-profile HK citizen who is actually a crime boss , and whose right hand man ( Phillip Ko ) is planning to betray him and take over his business . Got all that ? Not that it matters much , anyway . What matters is that Yukari is impressive in her several fight scenes ( I liked her sporty outfits too ) , and the other female cop is a bonus babe who looks as good as she fights and shoots . for the action , 3 for everything else , 5 in average .
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487,301 | 386,241 | 61,176 | 5 |
Chaotic
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The first half is promising : Blake Edwards ridicules the foolishness of militarism and sets up an unusual situation full of comic possibilities . But in the second half the film changes tone and the action is so poorly staged that it all becomes a loud and chaotic mess . It's still better than " The Great Race " , though . . . . . ( )
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486,880 | 386,241 | 390,463 | 5 |
Should have been better
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Despite the ( wooden ) family drama and the ( half-baked ) sci-fi elements , this is essentially a fighting movie , in the style of , say , " Mortal Kombat " . The fights are acceptable , but nothing special . The film makes a noble attempt to include a variety of styles ( grappling , streetfighting , weapons fighting , " monkey kung fu " , etc . ) , but although all the participants are legitimate martial artists , the director and the choreographers don't get maximum performances out of them . Second and third-billed Cynthia Rothrock and Lorenzo Lamas have one fight each , and Lamas ' part is pretty much a cameo ; the real second lead after Don " The Dragon " Wilson is Dan Mayid who plays his son , and who is obviously a gifted athlete ( and breakdancer ! ) . A lot of cheesy digital effects and some picturesque locations complete the picture . . . . oh , and Rebecca Chaney ( The Scorpion ) is HOT . Get this girl in more action movies as soon as possible . ( )
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487,325 | 386,241 | 108,588 | 5 |
OK film with wooden acting .
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Moderately interesting mystery tale , but hampered by some unclear plot points and wooden performances by the three main leads ( Robert Mitchum , in a supporting role , towers above them all ) . Bo Derek is in great shape for a woman in her late thirties , but she's totally expressionless ; still , it's the smug Steven Bauer that ranks at the top of the bad-acting list . Sex-wise , there is really only one scene worth mentioning ( on a motorcycle ) , but at least it's a memorably bold one . ( )
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486,052 | 386,241 | 83,715 | 5 |
Slapdash comedy
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Bud Spencer plays a cop ( named , in an obvious attempt to pass him off as an American , Alan Parker ( ! ) ) who has to temporarily cancel his family vacation to re-capture a gigolo ( named Tony Roma ( ! ) ) who seduces older women and then steals their jewelry . But when that man becomes a witness to a Mafia killing , he and Bud team up to put the REAL bad guys behind bars . After seeing him in about 8-10 films , I've come to the conclusion that Bud Spencer has an undeniable comic talent . Unfortunately , in " Cane e Gatto " there is no one else to support him or play off against him : Tomas Milian is an unfunny caricature of a self-assured gigolo who wears kitschy suits , drives a pink car and is dubbed with an overdone Italian accent , and Marc Lawrence is a less unfunny , but still unfunny , caricature of a Mafia don . This is slapdash ( notice the rapid night-to-day change between the hotel scene and the chase that follows immediately afterwards ) , simple-minded film-making . out of 4 , and that's very generous .
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486,382 | 386,241 | 95,311 | 5 |
Acceptable , if ordinary , action film .
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Hit List is a perfectly acceptable little actioner . Anyone who has seen a fair amount of action pics will agree that the quality of this movie is average , and not nearly as low as it often gets in this genre . An extremely untalented lead is a major disappointment here , but the good supporting roles ( particularly a colorful Torn , who seems to slightly imitate De Niro's version of Al Capone from " The Untouchables " ) make up for that . The script is ordinary , and gets far-fetched at the end , but the slick production values keep the film watchable .
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486,235 | 386,241 | 95,299 | 5 |
Not the worst of its type .
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Yes , it's another ( belated ) slasher film , and not the worst of its type , actually . It has at least SOME believable characters ( though a few are poorly played ) , and for a while it's fun just trying to predict who's gonna die first and who will be the ultimate survivor ( s ) . The resolution is dumb , though , and the ending is even dumber . Devoted slasher fans may want to check it out , but just wait until it's shown on TV , don't rush out for it . ( )
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486,812 | 386,241 | 95,296 | 5 |
Very minor .
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Chuck Norris is better than usual here . He's still not much of an actor , but at least he gets the rare chance to portray some human emotions like fear and doubt , and he also gets to flash his appealing smile . But the rest of the movie is a tiresome , familiar cop thriller ( with slasher-flick overtones ) , and it's amazingly skimpy on plot . The climax does not meet our expectations , either . ( )
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486,485 | 386,241 | 83,734 | 5 |
Banal Delon vehicle with well-executed violence
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As an Alain Delon vehicle , " Le Choc " is a shockingly ( pun intended ) banal programmer , occasionally livened up by the well-executed moments of violence ( and they are plenty : fork through the palm , knife through the head , fireplace poker through the stomach , etc . ) . As one of the very few Delon-Deneuve pairings , it's nothing much : the only surprising thing about their love scene is how early into the film it comes . Delon has played this kind of role a million times before , but he does give a convincing performance , and easily ( at least on this occasion ) outclasses Deneuve . They both go for a rather " inexpressive " style of acting , but you can read a lot more on his face that you can on hers . For those who might care , he also has a full-frontal nude scene in this film BUT it's shot from a long distance and he's behind a glass wall . ( )
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486,758 | 386,241 | 171,326 | 5 |
Standard straight-to-video erotic / courtroom thriller
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High-profile lawyer falls for her client , a suspect in a kinky murder case , but is he innocent or guilty ? Could she be in danger of becoming the next victim or is it all a conspiracy ? As you can see , " Forbidden Sins " is the umpteenth variation on the familiar " Jagged Edge " / " Body Of Evidence " formula and unfortunately this film is not made with enough energy or style to set itself apart from the pack , though it must be said that it is more explicit than most mainstream releases in this genre . Shannon Tweed herself has only one sex scene , but the woman is still in such fantastic shape that I'll push the rating of the film to a probably undeserved just for her .
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485,750 | 386,241 | 69,920 | 5 |
How did that woman get yellow all of a sudden ?
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This disappointing giallo does offer some atmospheric sequences and lots of nudity , but the story progresses in a very fragmented fashion , making it hard for the viewer to even tell the characters apart , and the gore effects are embarrassing , actually some of the worst I've ever seen in an Italian horror film . As for the identity of the killer , I have to admit the movie fooled me into a wrong guess . However , that doesn't say much ; considering " Torso " ' s obvious disregard for credible motivation , the killer could have been just about anyone . ( )
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487,306 | 386,241 | 65,555 | 5 |
Aimless , but with some imaginative sequences .
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One of Bronson's oddest films , but still not as odd as Morricone's ultra-weird score . The plot is standard " revenge " stuff , but there are some imaginatively shot sequences ( like the unexpected finale ) by the Italian Sollima , who shows some flair . The fast-cutting , " neurotic " editing is clumsy , however , and reminded me of the editing in " On Her Majesty's Secret Service " , which was made one year earlier . The widescreen photography really suffers on TV .
|
486,023 | 386,241 | 87,538 | 5 |
Good for kids , lethargic for adults .
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This is a good film for kids and a pleasant diversion for the whole family . But it's just SO utterly predictable ! It suffers from lethargic pacing , which makes the predictability even more apparent . If a " classic " is a film you can watch over and over , then this is no classic : if you're an adult and you've seen it at least twice , try it one more time : it may put you to sleep !
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485,657 | 386,241 | 69,947 | 5 |
Tedious
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Very tedious . It requires a lot of patience to keep watching , yet you're expecting a great finale . Unfortunately , the climax is pretty anticlimactic , and certainly not worth the wait . The film succeeds as a tour around Europe but fails as a suspenser . It's slow and unrewarding , with one plus : Fox's on-target performance .
|
486,364 | 386,241 | 221,889 | 5 |
Bad imitation of Tarantino with female leads .
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Too routine for a thriller , too unpleasant for a " comedy " ( a comedy ? please ! ) , too contrived for a crime caper ( let me get this straight : the whole mess begins when a dog bites off a corpse's finger ? ) and too reverse-sexist ( all the men are vicious , sleazy bs ) for its female characters to be even the least bit sympathetic . A misfire . ( )
|
486,846 | 386,241 | 91,799 | 5 |
A slight improvement over " II " . . . but still nothing new .
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Psycho III is actually a slight improvement over the routine and muddled second part ; it has much better production values , Perkins gives a sly performance and his direction is often stylish . Still , it often feels like a typical 80's exploitation film , because of its explicit violence and nudity . And it contains some undoubtedly campy moments - Norman asks his " mother " to stop " laughing at him " , while the only one who is laughing in the room is the famous " Woody Woodpecker " in a cartoon that's on TV at the time . " Psycho III " is NOT for Hitchcock followers , but for those who want to waste some time .
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486,557 | 386,241 | 83,178 | 5 |
Unpleasant , with a good Bruce Dern performance .
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As a psychopathic tattoo artist , Bruce Dern has to work extra hard here , because the script is very sketchy as far as his motivations and background are concerned , but he is up to the task - he has some very creepy moments ( like his first outburst at a dinner table ) . As his " object of desire " , however , Maud Adams is fatally miscast : the way she plays the model in the first half of the movie , you just can't understand why anyone would become infatuated with her . This strange film might be worth a look if you can find it , but don't expect too much . ( )
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486,271 | 386,241 | 109,515 | 5 |
Trivial " Terminator " rip-off .
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This is the first Don " The Dragon " Wilson movie I have ever seen , and nothing propels me to try out another one - sure , he is good at martial arts , but as an actor he has an uncharismatic screen presence . There's plenty of action in this film , with a new explosion every two minutes , and the effects are decent ( considering the low budget ) , but the final Wilson vs . Richard Norton ( a villain in some Jackie Chan movies also ) showdown is the only notable fight scene . stars if you look at this as a " normal " film , if you look at it as a " B-movie " .
|
486,774 | 386,241 | 56,937 | 5 |
Is it ever going to end ? ? ?
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This one is only for patient viewers . It's visually dazzling , all right , with some truly breathtaking crowd scenes ( although some of them do seem to exist only to call attention to the film's extravagant budget ) , but it's so unbelievably draggy that it seems to last four centuries instead of merely four hours ! The good acting ( Richard Burton has some strong monologues near the end ) is about the only thing that may sustain you for the whole duration . ( )
|
486,528 | 386,241 | 87,461 | 5 |
Not much impact .
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Despite wild chases galore , a great B-movie cast ( rather wasted ) and a very enjoyable score , this is an utterly routine action programmer . It pushes moviemaking back to the primitive " cops chase crooks " level , and does little to stand out in one's memory . It's not the worst way to spend a free hour-and-a-half , but not the best either . Not by a long shot . ( )
|
486,795 | 386,241 | 69,986 | 5 |
Crude but fun
|
The only other Ted V . Mikels film I had seen before this is " Blood Orgy of the She-Devils " . And the only thing I remember about it is that it was completely awful . Thankfully , " The Doll Squad " is considerably better . It is crudely directed , with often poor continuity and laughable " special effects " ( low points : the fake explosions ) . But it is also ahead of its time : how many films do you suppose had been made before 1973 featuring female commandos using guns , explosives and martial arts to wipe out small armies of bad men ? Not many , that's for sure . Whether dressed in their bikinis or in their tight , form-fitting uniforms , the women in this film look good , and handle their basic action scenes fairly well . So " The Doll Squad " may not be art ( far from it , in fact ) , but from a female action cinema fan's perspective , it delivers where it counts . ( )
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485,938 | 386,241 | 87,464 | 5 |
Disappointing .
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Impulse is a movie for which I had relatively high expectations : the idea of people losing the ability to control their impulses and totally disregarding all the established social rules sounds very , very intriguing . However , the result we get here is ( despite a few unexpected twists ) a disappointing and very slow-paced ( there is a dialogue-free passage where a man simply walks around for about seven minutes ) thriller . George Romero had used basically the same story ten years earlier in " The Crazies " - and he did it much better . ( )
|
486,389 | 386,241 | 69,994 | 5 |
Effective BECAUSE of its ineptitude .
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Don't Look In The Basement is an ineptly directed cheapie that will no doubt be considered indifferent and trashy by most viewers . While it is by no means a good film , I found it surprisingly effective BECAUSE of its ineptitude , which gives it a strange authenticity . The performances , probably by amateur actors , are convincing and add to the authenticity . But the film has its share of stupidity , too : those who complained about the " under-staffed " hospital in " Halloween II " haven't seen anything yet !
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486,577 | 386,241 | 118,040 | 5 |
Mediocre thriller .
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A bungled whodunit that had good potential but was poorly executed by director John Dahl . He relies too much on cliched gimmicks ( mainly " shocking " illusions and dreams ) , and his plodding pacing only induces impatience on the viewer's part , which is the last thing a good mystery needs . But this isn't a good mystery anyway ; the villain's identity is way too easy to guess ( if you think about it afterwards , you'll realize that the plot follows practically the ONLY possible path to make the resolution " surprising " , although it's far from that . ) Ray Liotta is not particularly good here , but Linda Fiorentino , unexpectedly sweet , at least wins our sympathy . ( )
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485,740 | 386,241 | 69,995 | 5 |
More yawns than chills .
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This movie is wildly overrated . I think that most of the viewers who call it " wonderful " or " unforgettable " actually recollect only some isolated effective sequences . But if you sit down and watch the whole thing from beginning to end , then it probably won't live up to its reputation ; repeated viewings will only reveal even more weaknesses . As a psychological study , the film doesn't succeed ; the characters are cold and lack depth . As a " horror " film , it doesn't succeed , either ; it's almost never horrifying . And as a " supernatural " thriller , it's hampered by a poor script - there are too few " weird " events , considering that the movie depends almost exclusively on them . I'll be the first person to admit that the climax is stunning and chilling , even in the third viewing . But if you know how the story will turn out , there is another problem : the exceedingly slow , SLEEP-INDUCING pacing . As for the unexplained details , they don't frustrate me so much ; I don't think director Roeg knows more about the meaning of this story than we do . As for the legendary love scene , yes , it IS bold and erotic and " natural " . But it's also as redundant and unnecessary as any sex scene in the cheapest " Friday The 13Th " sequel or in the most pretentious " art " film . And stop searching for symbolic meanings related to the color red . Although it IS present in the film's two most important scenes , it is absent most of the time . If there is a color that makes a strong visual impression here , that's the color gray , without a doubt .
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486,764 | 386,241 | 167,832 | 5 |
Ambitious Gary Daniels vehicle . . . . but " Bloodmoon " was better
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What do you get when you mix Hong Kong-inspired fights and stunts , John Woo-type shootouts , spaghetti Western-like faceoffs and post-apocalyptic settings ala Albert Pyun ? You get " Cold Harvest " , except that this ambitious mix is not as interesting as it sounds . Gary Daniels is fun to watch , especially in the fight scenes , and Barbara Crampton does a surprisingly good job in her role , but why do they have the main villain , who turns out to be an awesome fighter , fight only once ( at the end ) , and kill people with his guns throughout the rest of the movie ? If you're a fan of Gary Daniels ( and I'm slowly becoming one myself ) check out " Bloodmoon " first , as it has more fights and a fantastic villain ( Darren Shahlavi ) . ( )
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486,361 | 386,241 | 64,615 | 5 |
Mediocre .
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Pretentious Western , with a routine , ordinary " get-the-gold " script that can't match its pretencions . Still , there are some spectacular scenes and the unpredictability of the story does produce some mild suspense . Many big stars appear , but they don't give particularly memorable performances ; Sharif comes off best . ( )
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486,098 | 386,241 | 485,976 | 5 |
Overambitious and overlong , but has its moments
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Rob-B-Hood tries to be too many things at once ( caper movie , slapstick comedy , action flick , " message " melodrama ) , and ends up quite messy . I found the story needlessly hard to follow , and the tearjerking at some points ( the " car battery " scene ) shamelessly overdone . The baby-in-jeopardy incidents aren't particularly entertaining either , especially for young mothers ! But there are some pretty good chase / fight scenes , a couple of amazing stunts ( though you can see in the making-of that some of them were done with the help of wires , you still can't deny Jackie's precision ) , and it's a treat to see Yuen Biao in ( brief ) fighting action again . It's also nice to see the HK film industry continuing its long tradition of impossibly beautiful women - Yuanyuan Gao , Charlene Choi and Cherrie Ying have the kind of faces you can just look at for hours . . . . neither of them are on the screen for very long though . For a better Benny Chan - Jackie Chan project , check out " Who Am I ? " or " New Police Story " . ( )
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486,090 | 386,241 | 87,481 | 5 |
A two-joke comedy
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2 Bud Spencers and 2 Terence Hills in this one ; they play two Brazilian millionaires with many enemies AND their exact lookalikes , a saxophone player who is often in trouble with the law and a daring stuntman , who are hired by the millionaires to impersonate them for a week . No doubt you are familiar with the term " one-joke comedy " . Well , " Double Trouble " is a little better than that : it's a two-joke comedy . The first joke is that the rude and crude lookalikes try to adapt to the real millionaires ' lifestyle and end up turning it upside down , and the second is that only one Hill-Spencer pair can fight as usual ( guess which ) ; the other two are snobbish sissies who always run away from fights . It's fun to watch Hill and Spencer playing against type ( half the time ) , and Spencer in particular gives one of his most joyful performances . And the editing that allows all four of them to be on screen together in some scenes is seamless . But during the long segments between the fight scenes , I completely lost interest in the movie . ( )
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486,996 | 386,241 | 118,025 | 5 |
Something is missing here . . . .
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Now here's a movie that's hard to know how to react to . It's more interesting as a drama ; there are surprising complexities in Larry Cohen's script , and unexpected poignancy in some of the scenes with Isaac Hayes as a disillusioned war veteran . But as a horror film it's kind of half-hearted , and most of the blame for this failure must go to director Lustig , who has made several cult films over the years , but it's doubtful whether he has made one that can be called , without reservations , " good " . ( )
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485,998 | 386,241 | 43,425 | 5 |
Mildly amusing at best , creepy at worst
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In " Comin ' Round the Mountain " a 14-year-old girl ( actually the actress who plays her looks about 25 , but that's beside the point ) has the hots for Lou Costello , and after they both drink a love potion Lou falls in love with her and she gets the hots for Bud Abbott ! At another point Lou says " You can't marry a 10-year-old girl . . . unless you come from these hills " . And I thought these films were supposed to be clean , wholesome entertainment ! The comedy never gets beyond the mildly amusing , the portrayal of the " country hicks " is totally stereotypical , and although Dorothy Shay is quite beautiful , her singing takes up too much screen time . The ending ( which I won't spoil here ) is by far the cleverest part - it has the kind of absurdist inspiration that the film needed more of . ( )
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486,282 | 386,241 | 74,258 | 5 |
Well-made film is almost ruined by a stupid ending .
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Until its last 5 minutes , " Burnt Offerings " is a highly intriguing , very well-made horror film that has you glued to the screen , trying to guess what will happen next . Unfortunately , the final " revelation " is all-too-apparent at least 20 seconds earlier and the ending feels stupid because it doesn't make sense and it doesn't provide the explanations we have been expecting . Although I admire the screenwriter for not using too many " haunted house " cliches , I have to say that the final 5 minutes show incompetence on his part .
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486,820 | 386,241 | 109,456 | 5 |
Perfectly bearable mystery .
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Critically trashed erotic thriller is not so bad , actually . Bruce Willis brings his trademark likability to his role , Ruben Blades gives a spirited and funny little performance and the rest of the cast is decent , as well . What the movie lacks is pacing ; the direction , although technically competent , has no rhythm , and that , along with the fact that the plot gets too far-fetched , damages the film . It's a flabby and long yarn , but does have its enjoyable moments . ( )
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