Collection ID 419
Director: John Singleton
Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Vanessa L. Williams, Jeffrey Wright, Christian Bale, Busta Rhymes
Genre: Action
Studio: Paramount Pictures   Release date: 2000   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English, French (Germany)
Summary: New York City police detective John Shaft (nephew of the original 1970s detective) goes on a personal mission to make sure the son of a real estate tycoon is brought to justice after a racially-motivated murder.
My Rating:
My Review: Directed by John Singleton, starring Samuel L. Jackson, Vanessa Williams, Jeffrey Wright, Christian Bale, Busta Rhymes, Dan Hedaya ... Jack Roselli, Toni Collette, Richard Roundtree and others. This isn't a remake in the classic sense, but it is a stylish reprissal of the character and setting from the earlier movies and the television series of the same name. Samuel L. Jackson gave a fantastic performance as Shaft; the cooler than cool NY police detective. When Shaft arrests a racist murder suspect (played by Christian Bale) things get complicated. The suspects father is a politically influential business man, and the kid gets off with no bail! He immediately flees to Switzerland, making a mockery of the police and justice system. Two years later he tries to sneak back in, but Shaft is waiting for him! Will his money and influence buy him a second chance? Or will he take things a step further and murder the only witness? The acting in this action flick was excellent. Jackson, Bale, and Jeffrey Wright (as Peoples Hernandez) all turned out top notch performances. While the script was a bit predictable, the direction, pacing and acting were all great. I give it a 4 out of 5.

Collection ID 1138
Director: John Singleton
Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Vanessa L. Williams, Jeffrey Wright, Christian Bale, Busta Rhymes
Genre: Action
Studio: Paramount Pictures   Release date: 2000   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English, French (Germany)
Summary: New York City police detective John Shaft (nephew of the original 1970s detective) goes on a personal mission to make sure the son of a real estate tycoon is brought to justice after a racially-motivated murder.
My Rating:
My Review: Directed by John Singleton, starring Samuel L. Jackson, Vanessa Williams, Jeffrey Wright, Christian Bale, Busta Rhymes, Dan Hedaya ... Jack Roselli, Toni Collette, Richard Roundtree and others. This isn't a remake in the classic sense, but it is a stylish reprissal of the character and setting from the earlier movies and the television series of the same name. Samuel L. Jackson gave a fantastic performance as Shaft; the cooler than cool NY police detective. When Shaft arrests a racist murder suspect (played by Christian Bale) things get complicated. The suspects father is a politically influential business man, and the kid gets off with no bail! He immediately flees to Switzerland, making a mockery of the police and justice system. Two years later he tries to sneak back in, but Shaft is waiting for him! Will his money and influence buy him a second chance? Or will he take things a step further and murder the only witness? The acting in this action flick was excellent. Jackson, Bale, and Jeffrey Wright (as Peoples Hernandez) all turned out top notch performances. While the script was a bit predictable, the direction, pacing and acting were all great. I give it a 4 out of 5.

Collection ID 407
Director: Tom Dey
Starring: Jackie Chan, Owen Wilson, Lucy Liu, Brandon Merrill, Roger Yuan
Genre: Action
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment   Release date: 2000   Rated: PG-13   
Language (Country): English, German, German (USA)
Summary: Jackie Chan plays a Chinese man who travels to the Wild West to rescue a kidnapped princess. After teaming up with a train robber, the unlikely duo takes on a Chinese traitor and his corrupt boss.
My Rating:
My Review: Shanghai Noon - 2000 (Action, adventure, comedy, western) A ‘cop-buddy’ movie wearing chaps. This comedy is set as a western in the 1800s Wild West of the US. Directed by Tom Dey? (I’m totally unfamiliar with that name), this movie has a great cast. Jackie Chan (as Chon Wang (Sounds like ‘John Wayne’)), Owen Wilson (as Roy O’cannon), Lucy Liu (as Princess Pei Pei), Brandon Merrill (as the Indian Wife), Roger Yan (as Lo Fong), Xander Berkeley (as Van Cleef), and others. Jackie Chan is ‘Chon Wang’ - An imperial guard who feels personally responsible for the kidnapping of Princess Pei Pei. He travels to America (against the wishes of the Imperial Guard) in an effort to help free Princess Pei Pei. While the official ‘entourage’ tasked with delivering a ransom are completely clueless, Chon Wang takes his duty seriously and does all he can to… His efforts are soon derailed by Roy O’Bannon (played by Owen Wilson) a minor criminal with more charisma than brains. In an unlikely pairing, train robber O’Bannon and Chon Wang team up to defeat the Chinese traitor who’s teamed up with a corrupt American Marshall and free Princess Pei Pei from the clutches of these evil men. The movie features some fantastic choreographed martial arts (by a 53 year old Jackie Chan) and lots of laughs by both actors. Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson were fantastic together and the movie is far more enjoyable than some of the other Jackie Chan pairings I’ve seen in the past. I give it a 4 out of 5.

Collection ID 1128
Director: Tom Dey
Starring: Jackie Chan, Owen Wilson, Lucy Liu, Brandon Merrill, Roger Yuan
Genre: Action
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment   Release date: 2000   Rated: PG-13   
Language (Country): English, German, German (USA)
Summary: Jackie Chan plays a Chinese man who travels to the Wild West to rescue a kidnapped princess. After teaming up with a train robber, the unlikely duo takes on a Chinese traitor and his corrupt boss.
My Rating:
My Review: Shanghai Noon - 2000 (Action, adventure, comedy, western) A ‘cop-buddy’ movie wearing chaps. This comedy is set as a western in the 1800s Wild West of the US. Directed by Tom Dey? (I’m totally unfamiliar with that name), this movie has a great cast. Jackie Chan (as Chon Wang (Sounds like ‘John Wayne’)), Owen Wilson (as Roy O’cannon), Lucy Liu (as Princess Pei Pei), Brandon Merrill (as the Indian Wife), Roger Yan (as Lo Fong), Xander Berkeley (as Van Cleef), and others. Jackie Chan is ‘Chon Wang’ - An imperial guard who feels personally responsible for the kidnapping of Princess Pei Pei. He travels to America (against the wishes of the Imperial Guard) in an effort to help free Princess Pei Pei. While the official ‘entourage’ tasked with delivering a ransom are completely clueless, Chon Wang takes his duty seriously and does all he can to… His efforts are soon derailed by Roy O’Bannon (played by Owen Wilson) a minor criminal with more charisma than brains. In an unlikely pairing, train robber O’Bannon and Chon Wang team up to defeat the Chinese traitor who’s teamed up with a corrupt American Marshall and free Princess Pei Pei from the clutches of these evil men. The movie features some fantastic choreographed martial arts (by a 53 year old Jackie Chan) and lots of laughs by both actors. Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson were fantastic together and the movie is far more enjoyable than some of the other Jackie Chan pairings I’ve seen in the past. I give it a 4 out of 5.

Collection ID 1629
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Starring: Sally Hawkins, Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins, Octavia Spencer, Michael Stuhlbarg
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Horror, Romance, Thriller
Studio: Bull Productions   Release date: 2017   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English, American Sign Language, Russian, French (USA)
Summary: From master storyteller Guillermo del Toro comes THE SHAPE OF WATER, an otherworldly fable set against the backdrop of Cold War era America circa 1962. In the hidden high-security government laboratory where she works, lonely Elisa (Sally Hawkins) is trapped in a life of isolation. Elisa's life is changed forever when she and co-worker Zelda (Octavia Spencer) discover a secret classified experiment. Rounding out the cast are Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Doug Jones.
My Rating:
My Review:

Collection ID 641
Director: Wolfgang Petersen
Starring: Hayden Christensen, Peter Sarsgaard, Chloë Sevigny, Rosario Dawson, Melanie Lynskey
Genre: Art House & International
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)   Release date: 1991   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English, Dolby Digital 5.1, Commentary by writer-director Billy Ray and former &#34, New Republic&#34, editor Chuck Lane, Unknown (USA)
Summary: Tom Berenger stars as an amnesiac who investigates his life before a car wreck took his memory, and finds that things were not all they should have been. The promising mystery gets less interesting as the script becomes more perfunctorily complicated, and a crucial plot twist toward the end throws the story onto a different track rather than letting the existing one grow richer through better characters. People don't count as much as surprises do in this film, so in that sense "Shattered" is a passable potboiler, no more and no less. Wolfgang Petersen ("In the Line of Fire") capably directs, but even he can't work depth into the margins. Solid supporting performances from Greta Scacchi, Bob Hoskins, and Joanne Whalley-Kilmer. "--Tom Keogh"
My Rating:
My Review: Wow! I've seen this one before, but it came up on the NetFlix recommended list. When I saw it, I honestly couldn't remember the ending, the twist, the plot turning point. I remember that it was quite a surprise, but I just couldn't remember what it was. Directed by one of my favorite directors - Wolfgang Petersen (Das Boot and Troy), this movie had a pretty good cast (Tom Berenger, Bob Hoskins and Greta Scacchi), and the acting was o.k. The best part of this movie was the writting and direction. The story involves a man with amnesia. After surviving a horrific car crash, the lead character tries to put his life back together. Unfortunately, he can't escape the feeling that something just doesn't feel right. After a little digging he discovers a deadly plot involving murder, infidelity and money. The ending of this movie is absolutely shattering. Despite the fact that I've seen it before, I was still astonished by the amazing twist at the end.

Collection ID 1337
Director: Wolfgang Petersen
Starring: Hayden Christensen, Peter Sarsgaard, Chloë Sevigny, Rosario Dawson, Melanie Lynskey
Genre: Art House & International
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)   Release date: 1991   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English, Dolby Digital 5.1, Commentary by writer-director Billy Ray and former &#34, New Republic&#34, editor Chuck Lane, Unknown (USA)
Summary: Tom Berenger stars as an amnesiac who investigates his life before a car wreck took his memory, and finds that things were not all they should have been. The promising mystery gets less interesting as the script becomes more perfunctorily complicated, and a crucial plot twist toward the end throws the story onto a different track rather than letting the existing one grow richer through better characters. People don't count as much as surprises do in this film, so in that sense "Shattered" is a passable potboiler, no more and no less. Wolfgang Petersen ("In the Line of Fire") capably directs, but even he can't work depth into the margins. Solid supporting performances from Greta Scacchi, Bob Hoskins, and Joanne Whalley-Kilmer. "--Tom Keogh"
My Rating:
My Review: Wow! I've seen this one before, but it came up on the NetFlix recommended list. When I saw it, I honestly couldn't remember the ending, the twist, the plot turning point. I remember that it was quite a surprise, but I just couldn't remember what it was. Directed by one of my favorite directors - Wolfgang Petersen (Das Boot and Troy), this movie had a pretty good cast (Tom Berenger, Bob Hoskins and Greta Scacchi), and the acting was o.k. The best part of this movie was the writting and direction. The story involves a man with amnesia. After surviving a horrific car crash, the lead character tries to put his life back together. Unfortunately, he can't escape the feeling that something just doesn't feel right. After a little digging he discovers a deadly plot involving murder, infidelity and money. The ending of this movie is absolutely shattering. Despite the fact that I've seen it before, I was still astonished by the amazing twist at the end.

Collection ID 573
Director: Edgar Wright
Starring: Simon Pegg, Kate Ashfield, Nick Frost, Lucy Davis, Dylan Moran
Genre: Horror
Studio: Umvd   Release date: 2004   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English (UK)
Summary: A man decides to turn his moribund life around by winning back his ex-girlfriend, reconciling his relationship with his mother and dealing with an entire community that has returned from the dead to eat the living.
My Rating:
My Review: Shaun of the dead: (British) A spoof on zombie flicks, or is it a romantic comedy set in a Zombie movie? Hugely hillarious. Kim and I went and saw this one at the theater. It was quite humorous. Shaun and his friends are so wrapped up in their own personal little dramas, that they fail to see the bigger picture. It takes a 'Dawn of the Dead' to wake them from their suburban stupor. A comic, horror, drama, romance. Great music, a fantastic cast, and a great story. This one gets a 5 out of 5.

Collection ID 1274
Director: Edgar Wright
Starring: Simon Pegg, Kate Ashfield, Nick Frost, Lucy Davis, Dylan Moran
Genre: Horror
Studio: Umvd   Release date: 2004   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English (UK)
Summary: A man decides to turn his moribund life around by winning back his ex-girlfriend, reconciling his relationship with his mother and dealing with an entire community that has returned from the dead to eat the living.
My Rating:
My Review: Shaun of the dead: (British) A spoof on zombie flicks, or is it a romantic comedy set in a Zombie movie? Hugely hillarious. Kim and I went and saw this one at the theater. It was quite humorous. Shaun and his friends are so wrapped up in their own personal little dramas, that they fail to see the bigger picture. It takes a 'Dawn of the Dead' to wake them from their suburban stupor. A comic, horror, drama, romance. Great music, a fantastic cast, and a great story. This one gets a 5 out of 5.

Collection ID 742
Director: Michael Reeves
Starring: Barbara Steele, John Karlsen, Ian Ogilvy, Mel Welles, Joe 'Flash' Riley
Genre: Horror
Studio: Euro American Pictures   Release date: 1966   Rated: Not Rated   
Language (Country): English (UK, Italy)
Summary: A young woman is driving alongside a lake. She has an accident and the car plunges into the water. Her body is then possessed by the spirit of an 18th-century witch who was killed by local villagers, and is bent on avenging herself on them.
My Rating:
My Review: An amazingly bad horror movie filmed in Italy and the UK. Story - The movie starts out 200 years in the past when the villagers hunt down a 'witch' to blame for some hideous murders (of course she didn't actually do it, but a little thing like evidence or proof doesn't deter the villagers). The witch is nailed to a chair and dunked repeatedly in the 'purifying' waters of the nearby lake. Before she dies she spits out a curse on the descendants of all the villagers. Vowing that she "Will be back". When she finally drowns, her body sinks to the depths of the lake and it's never recovered. Flash forward 200 years. Phillip (played by Ian Ogilvy) and Veronica (played by Barbara Steele) are on vacation in Transylvania (Communist Romania). The stop for the night at a roadside Inn where they meet the Count Van Helsing (played by John Karlsen) - Yes the ancestor of the Van Helsing who slew Vampires. After a brief conversation about the curse upon the people of this village, the couple retires for the night. They engage in some 'husband' and 'wife' activities, spot the innkeeper spying on them and Phillip nearly kills the innkeeper. In the morning Phillip beats up the inn keeper again, gets his car keys back and they split. While driving past a lake Phillip loses control of the car and it plummets into a lake. Phillip is pulled free and passes out. When he comes to, there's no sign of his wife, but the villagers have fished the decomposing remains of an ancient witch from the icy waters of the lake. From that point on the movie jumps into the realm of screaming witch attacks all the villagers. Nothing intelligent ever escapes the witch's lips, and the other characters are occupied with one of three motivations. Kill the witch, die at the witch's hands or capture the witch in order to perform an exorcism. The story started out pretty good, but it quickly went off the rails. The video transfer, direction, acting, sound, dubbing, makeup, lighting, color and framing (you could tell that much was missing from the way shots were cropped) were all horrible. Especially ridiculous was the fast-forward car chase at the end of the movie. Utterly forgettable. I give it a 2 out of 5. Part of a 15 film horror compilation called "Night of Horror - Do not watch alone"