Collection ID 560
Director: David Mamet
Starring: Gene Hackman, Danny DeVito, Delroy Lindo, Sam Rockwell, Rebecca Pidgeon
Genre: Drama
Studio: Warner Home Video   Release date: 2001   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English, French (Canada)
Summary: After eagerly awaiting the release of this DVD I found it frustrating and disappointing. Danny DeVito frequently loses me when he crosses the line between comedy and unfunny violence. This movie got off to a good start -- I liked the camaraderie of the "gang" and, as always, Gene Hackman held my interest from the start. About halfway through the film it suddenly felt as if a different hand was doing the writing and directing -- characters started acting out of character, the plot became riddled with loopholes, and toward the end of the film a lot of completely unnecessary violence took over where the plot left off. What had started out as an "Ocean's 11" type heist film, with classy actors and tension relieved by humor, became a sort of "Die Hard Meets Rambo". Yes, the twist at the end was clever, but also completely expected. The characters behaved in ways that made no sense at all based on their previous history, so at the end I felt like saying "What the heck?" and feeling I had just wasted a couple hours of my time. If you want a movie with some good twists, get "Sleuth" instead.
My Rating:
My Review: Written and directed by David Mamet (House of Game, The Spanish Prisoner, State and Main). Starring Gene Hackman, Rebecca Pidgeon, Danny DeVito and many others. Here is a masterpiece of twists and turns and double-crosses. A great character based film-noir evoking drama which examines the Maxim of 'Honor among Thieves'. This movie is directed like a three ring circus, the casting is ironclad, the plot is full of more twists than a roller coaster, and the camera work was flawless. This heist movie is full of great acting and terrific lines. 'Love makes the world go round - Love of money', 'He's so cool, sheep count him'. I give it a 5 out of 5.

Collection ID 1261
Director: David Mamet
Starring: Gene Hackman, Danny DeVito, Delroy Lindo, Sam Rockwell, Rebecca Pidgeon
Genre: Drama
Studio: Warner Home Video   Release date: 2001   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English, French (Canada)
Summary: After eagerly awaiting the release of this DVD I found it frustrating and disappointing. Danny DeVito frequently loses me when he crosses the line between comedy and unfunny violence. This movie got off to a good start -- I liked the camaraderie of the "gang" and, as always, Gene Hackman held my interest from the start. About halfway through the film it suddenly felt as if a different hand was doing the writing and directing -- characters started acting out of character, the plot became riddled with loopholes, and toward the end of the film a lot of completely unnecessary violence took over where the plot left off. What had started out as an "Ocean's 11" type heist film, with classy actors and tension relieved by humor, became a sort of "Die Hard Meets Rambo". Yes, the twist at the end was clever, but also completely expected. The characters behaved in ways that made no sense at all based on their previous history, so at the end I felt like saying "What the heck?" and feeling I had just wasted a couple hours of my time. If you want a movie with some good twists, get "Sleuth" instead.
My Rating:
My Review: Written and directed by David Mamet (House of Game, The Spanish Prisoner, State and Main). Starring Gene Hackman, Rebecca Pidgeon, Danny DeVito and many others. Here is a masterpiece of twists and turns and double-crosses. A great character based film-noir evoking drama which examines the Maxim of 'Honor among Thieves'. This movie is directed like a three ring circus, the casting is ironclad, the plot is full of more twists than a roller coaster, and the camera work was flawless. This heist movie is full of great acting and terrific lines. 'Love makes the world go round - Love of money', 'He's so cool, sheep count him'. I give it a 5 out of 5.

Collection ID 545
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Starring: Ron Perlman, John Hurt, Selma Blair, Rupert Evans, Karel Roden
Genre: Adventure
Studio: Revolution Studios   Release date: 2004   Rated: PG-13   
Language (Country): English, French (USA)
Summary: A demon, raised from infancy after being conjured by and rescued from the Nazis, grows up to become a defender against the forces of darkness.
My Rating:
My Review: Directed by Guillermo del Toro (I like his work), and starring Ron Perlman, the voice of David Hyde Pierce, and others. A little demon finds its way to our world after Nazi's open a portal to Hell. American GI's thwart the Nazi plan, slamming the portal shut, and routing the villains behind the scheme. The little demon that stumbled into our world is adopted by the FBI, and helps fight and banish paranormal creatures. Years later, Rasputin and his side-kicks return in an attempt to open that portal again. Hellboy and his buddies rally to thwart a plan that would bring armageddon to earth. The movie was o.k. A pretty good action/adventure/fantasy flick. It could have been better written. This movie contained elements of the Cthulhu mythos, parts that seemed like Indiana jones, a good measure of history, lots of MiB dressing, and a fair amount of comedic spin on the dialog. The plot was a bit pedantic, predictable and preposterous - It was based on a comic book. Aside from Ron Perlman as Hellboy, there wasn't much in the way of acting. The music was good. The costumes, lighting, and sets were fantastic. The effects were - blase to say the least, but the monster and set designs made up for it. I liked it, they managed to push all the right buttons.

Collection ID 1250
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Starring: Ron Perlman, John Hurt, Selma Blair, Rupert Evans, Karel Roden
Genre: Adventure
Studio: Revolution Studios   Release date: 2004   Rated: PG-13   
Language (Country): English, French (USA)
Summary: A demon, raised from infancy after being conjured by and rescued from the Nazis, grows up to become a defender against the forces of darkness.
My Rating:
My Review: Directed by Guillermo del Toro (I like his work), and starring Ron Perlman, the voice of David Hyde Pierce, and others. A little demon finds its way to our world after Nazi's open a portal to Hell. American GI's thwart the Nazi plan, slamming the portal shut, and routing the villains behind the scheme. The little demon that stumbled into our world is adopted by the FBI, and helps fight and banish paranormal creatures. Years later, Rasputin and his side-kicks return in an attempt to open that portal again. Hellboy and his buddies rally to thwart a plan that would bring armageddon to earth. The movie was o.k. A pretty good action/adventure/fantasy flick. It could have been better written. This movie contained elements of the Cthulhu mythos, parts that seemed like Indiana jones, a good measure of history, lots of MiB dressing, and a fair amount of comedic spin on the dialog. The plot was a bit pedantic, predictable and preposterous - It was based on a comic book. Aside from Ron Perlman as Hellboy, there wasn't much in the way of acting. The music was good. The costumes, lighting, and sets were fantastic. The effects were - blase to say the least, but the monster and set designs made up for it. I liked it, they managed to push all the right buttons.

Collection ID 79
Director: Clive Barker
Starring: Andrew Robinson, Clare Higgins, Ashley Laurence, Sean Chapman, Oliver Smith
Genre: Horror
Studio: Cinemarque Entertainment BV   Release date: 1987   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English (UK)
Summary: An unfaithful wife encounters the zombie of her dead lover, who's being chased by demons after he tampered with one of their gateways to Hell.
My Rating:
My Review: Clive Barker's directorial debut. A fantastic horror flick, written and directed by Clive Barker. Starring Andrew Robinson, Clare Higgins, Ashley Laurence, Sean Chapman, Oliver Smith and others. In this movie, a couple moves into a family homestead where the cheating wife encounters the undead remains of a former lover. Murderous human sacrifices restore his flesh, but nothing can abate the evil that follows him. A graphic movie, that crawls across the surface of your soul like some sickening disease, peeling away your humanity, bit by bit… Excellent pacing, suspense and special effects. The acting by Ashley Laurence was excellent, but the supporting cast was only fair. The acting wasn't the star of this movie. The writing, direction and editing were all excellent. The surreal, sado-masochistic imagery of the Cenobites made this original horror flick a classic that spawned several sequels and a mythos of 'Cthulu-like' proportions. I give this movie a 5 out of 5.

Collection ID 873
Director: Clive Barker
Starring: Andrew Robinson, Clare Higgins, Ashley Laurence, Sean Chapman, Oliver Smith
Genre: Horror
Studio: Cinemarque Entertainment BV   Release date: 1987   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English (UK)
Summary: An unfaithful wife encounters the zombie of her dead lover, who's being chased by demons after he tampered with one of their gateways to Hell.
My Rating:
My Review: Clive Barker's directorial debut. A fantastic horror flick, written and directed by Clive Barker. Starring Andrew Robinson, Clare Higgins, Ashley Laurence, Sean Chapman, Oliver Smith and others. In this movie, a couple moves into a family homestead where the cheating wife encounters the undead remains of a former lover. Murderous human sacrifices restore his flesh, but nothing can abate the evil that follows him. A graphic movie, that crawls across the surface of your soul like some sickening disease, peeling away your humanity, bit by bit… Excellent pacing, suspense and special effects. The acting by Ashley Laurence was excellent, but the supporting cast was only fair. The acting wasn't the star of this movie. The writing, direction and editing were all excellent. The surreal, sado-masochistic imagery of the Cenobites made this original horror flick a classic that spawned several sequels and a mythos of 'Cthulu-like' proportions. I give this movie a 5 out of 5.

Collection ID 563
Director: Yimou Zhang
Starring: Zhang Yimou, Jet Li, Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Maggie Cheung, Ziyi Zhang
Genre: Action & Adventure
Studio: Buena Vista Home Vid   Release date: 2004   Rated: PG-13   
Language (Country): English (USA)
Summary: Director Zhang Yimou brings the sumptuous visual style of his previous films ("Raise the Red Lantern", "Shanghai Triad") to the high-kicking kung fu genre. A nameless warrior (Jet Li, "Romeo Must Die", "Once Upon a Time in China") arrives at an emperor's palace with three weapons, each belonging to a famous assassin who had sworn to kill the emperor. As the nameless man spins out his story--and the emperor presents his own interpretation of what might really have happened--each episode is drenched in red, blue, white or another dominant color. "Hero" combines sweeping cinematography and superb performances from the cream of the Hong Kong cinema (Maggie Cheung, "Irma Vep", "Comrades: Almost a Love Story"; Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, "In the Mood for Love", "Hard Boiled"; and Zhang Ziyi, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"). The result is stunning, a dazzling action movie with an emotional richness that deepens with every step. "--Bret Fetzer"
My Rating:
My Review: An action flick, or a talky? This movie combines drama with action. But doesn't pull it off too well. The talking is paced too slowly, the conclusions are forgone, and I found myself hoping this one would end soon. The directing was good, but the writing wasn't. The acting holds it together. This one was on my 'Must Watch' list, but I jumped the gun and bought a copy. Oops!

Collection ID 1264
Director: Yimou Zhang
Starring: Zhang Yimou, Jet Li, Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Maggie Cheung, Ziyi Zhang
Genre: Action & Adventure
Studio: Buena Vista Home Vid   Release date: 2004   Rated: PG-13   
Language (Country): English (USA)
Summary: Director Zhang Yimou brings the sumptuous visual style of his previous films ("Raise the Red Lantern", "Shanghai Triad") to the high-kicking kung fu genre. A nameless warrior (Jet Li, "Romeo Must Die", "Once Upon a Time in China") arrives at an emperor's palace with three weapons, each belonging to a famous assassin who had sworn to kill the emperor. As the nameless man spins out his story--and the emperor presents his own interpretation of what might really have happened--each episode is drenched in red, blue, white or another dominant color. "Hero" combines sweeping cinematography and superb performances from the cream of the Hong Kong cinema (Maggie Cheung, "Irma Vep", "Comrades: Almost a Love Story"; Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, "In the Mood for Love", "Hard Boiled"; and Zhang Ziyi, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"). The result is stunning, a dazzling action movie with an emotional richness that deepens with every step. "--Bret Fetzer"
My Rating:
My Review: An action flick, or a talky? This movie combines drama with action. But doesn't pull it off too well. The talking is paced too slowly, the conclusions are forgone, and I found myself hoping this one would end soon. The directing was good, but the writing wasn't. The acting holds it together. This one was on my 'Must Watch' list, but I jumped the gun and bought a copy. Oops!

Collection ID 91
Director: Jack Sholder
Starring: Kyle MacLachlan, Michael Nouri, Claudia Christian, Clarence Felder, Clu Gulager
Genre: Action
Studio: New Line Home Video   Release date: 1987   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English (USA)
Summary: An alien is on the run in America. To get his kicks, it kills anything that gets in its way, and uses the body as a new hiding place. This alien has a goal in life; power. Hotly pursued by another alien (who's borrowed the body of a dead FBI agent), lots of innocent people die in the chase.
My Rating:
My Review: This thrilling crime drama features a fantastic sci-fi slant. (Spoiler) When an alien ends up on Earth, it goes on a rampage. Bank robbery, murder, fast cars, loud music and loose women are all it wants. While this wacko, looking like any ordinary joe (or jane), engages in his lustful rampage of wanton acquisition and discard (reeking of consumerism and a corrupted version of the disposable 'me first' ethic), another alien (played by Kyle MacLachlan) hooks up with a top-notch LA police detective (Michael Nouri) in order to stop this murderous mutant. As our two protagonists go on the hunt for this amoral killer, the alien is on a bloodthirsty rampage. We soon discover the true nature of the alien. A slug like beastie that inhabits human bodies like some bloated parasite. Once it wriggles into it's victim's body - by way of the mouth, it takes them over completely. Wearing the new victim like a trench coat, the rampage continues. While we get some insight into the quirky but law-abiding alien (MacLachlan (Paul Usul Muad'Dib Atreides from the original Dune), the ultra-violent amoral alien remains quite the mystery. As MacLachlan and Nouri get closer to their quarry, it begins to look for a more powerful victim to 'wear'. Ultimately, it sets it's sights on a powerful political figure, and the stakes are raised dramatically. This sci-fi action flick moves forward in fifth gear. The fast cars, hot chicks, and loud music complement the pacing perfectly, and the story keeps you watching all the way through to the flaming hot ending. 5 out of 5.

Collection ID 880
Director: Jack Sholder
Starring: Kyle MacLachlan, Michael Nouri, Claudia Christian, Clarence Felder, Clu Gulager
Genre: Action
Studio: New Line Home Video   Release date: 1987   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English (USA)
Summary: An alien is on the run in America. To get his kicks, it kills anything that gets in its way, and uses the body as a new hiding place. This alien has a goal in life; power. Hotly pursued by another alien (who's borrowed the body of a dead FBI agent), lots of innocent people die in the chase.
My Rating:
My Review: This thrilling crime drama features a fantastic sci-fi slant. When an alien ends up on Earth, it goes on a rampage. Bank robbery, murder, fast cars, loud music and loose women are all it wants. While this wacko, looking like any ordinary joe (or jane), engages in his lustful rampage of wanton acquisition and discard (reeking of consumerism and a corrupted version of the disposable 'me first' ethic), another alien (played by Kyle MacLachlan) hooks up with a top-notch LA police detective (Michael Nouri) in order to stop this murderous mutant. As our two protagonists go on the hunt for this amoral killer, the alien is on a bloodthirsty rampage. We soon discover the true nature of the alien. A slug like beastie that inhabits human bodies like some bloated parasite. Once it wriggles into it's victim's body - by way of the mouth, it takes them over completely. Wearing the new victim like a trench coat, the rampage continues. While we get some insight into the quirky buy law-abiding alien (MacLachlan (Paul Usul Muad'Dib Atreides from the original Dune), the ultra-violent amoral alien remains quite the mystery. As MacLachlan and Nouri get closer to their quarry, it begins to look for a more powerful victim to 'wear'. Ultimately, it sets it's sights on a powerful political figure, and the stakes are raised dramatically. This sci-fi action flick moves forward in fifth gear. The fast cars, hot chicks, and loud music complement the pacing perfectly, and the story keeps you watching all the way through to the flaming hot ending. 5 out of 5.