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The Lords of Salem (2012)
A welcome witch picture by Rob Zombie
When "Lords of Salem" ended you can almost hear a pin drop. People didn't know what to make of it. I felt like that for a moment but I also felt I just had an experience. And it wasn't a miserable one. A number of early reviews for this film made me feel as if I was about to watch a movie that made absolutely no sense at all. That wasn't the case. In fact, the movie has a decent with story with some gruesome images. I wouldn't say it's anything too much. But I am one that never uses the cliché "Less is more". The performances range from naturalistic to gleefully quirky. The latter goes to Dee Wallace Stone but her enthusiasm was appreciated. The film had a story that was both intriguing and easy to follow. Sure there was what the ____ moments. But its story about witches!
To add to more pros of the movie I liked the score and the cinematography. Good sound that more fiancé didn't like too much because she found it piercing. I think it was effectively unnerving. Lots of great images and stylistic surprises that sometimes turned out to be a nightmare or daydream kind of a thing. Bruce Davison was great as the author that learned more than what he wanted to know about the Salem Witches. That's as far as I will go into the plot other than to say Sherri Moon Zombie played a dread-locked radio DJ with a drug history past. She receives a record in a wooden box by a band named "The Lords" and the film unfolds from there.
I really have no complaints about the acting. I wouldn't call witches chanting out of unison a major gripe. To be honest when I saw the photos of this film I thought some of it looked very silly. I was wrong. Only one moment kind of made me say "That's kind of silly looking" but even a classic like Hellraiser has a hokey moment like that (some stop motion effect...never liked stop motion). Other than that there was some creepy stuff. I heard some goofs in the crowd giggling because some of the naked women in the story didn't look like models. I think for the story it was refreshing and made a lot of sense. The biggest surprise...Just kidding not a surprise at all was Meg Foster. She is blessed with those eyes and it worked to great effect for her character.
In closing I thought Sherri Moon Zombie did great and none of the dialog had really had cringe inducing moments. This is high on Rob Zombie's cinematic accomplishment list. Probably right behind The Devil's Rejects. Definitely stomps the Halloween films (even though i have a guilty pleasure for part II despite some silly Laury Strode moments. Thought it was quite stylish) and I think its ranks above House of 1000 Corpses because I found the tale ending much more satisfying. Where a cool character like Dr. Satan kind of jacked up the Texas Chainsaw vibe that film had going "Lords of Salem" had the goofiest looking creature (calling it a creature, don't want to spoil), its not a major character and things bounce back quickly after that character is shown. Lots of great make up and creature design. Not a splatter picture but lots in implied and there is some blunt violence. I think the coolest thing about the film is it centers around one person unraveling, and while not everything on screen is completely clear cut, enough is shown and explained to make the movie satisfying. While there is still a little mystery to it.
It's a film I can't possibly call a classic but I enjoyed the heck out of it. Will be someone's least favorite film of all time and another person's favorite Rob Zombie movie that will anticipate his next release. I call it an intriguing movie that was imaginable with imagery while relying on some popular horror conventions.
Home Sick (2007)
Home Sick: Bill Mosely, Razors, Boobs, Artsy and Blood!
I haven't seen it in a while. Let me think if I can cook up some words for it. I know that I am going to review it once Synapse releases it. I loved Bill Mosely's performance. Its a bizarre and gory acid trip. The blood is thick and its too weird to be predictable. Its not by any means conventional but thats what kept my mind on the movie after I watched it. There's stuff for fans of brainless splatter entertainment and a wacky/ artsy vibe that should appeal to art-house fans that can accept some thing low brow. It's a psychedelic slasher thats more original than typical but impossible to describe. The ending is wacky!
Synapse should be putting this out on DVD sometime this year!
Fight for Your Life (1977)
Must See Exploitation!
This is a movie for people who enjoy offensive dialog and taboos on display. Movies like this are not made anymore and i feel that is sad. We live in a country that's at war but we are too afraid to show fictional violence. This was made in the era that put out such cult classics like "Last House on the Left", "Cannibal Holocaust" and "I Spit On Your Grave". Three convicts escape jail and then hold a religious black family captive in their own home. This film has all the exploitive treats like rape, humiliation, child murder and racism. For it's time "Fight For Your Life" had to be one of the most offensive movies in 1977. I have news for you it still is today. The cast was wonderful, especially the bigot played by William Anderson. He hit all the right notes when it came to portraying a despicable and hateful character. He makes a minister do a shuck and jive dance while shooting at his feet for crying out loud. The thing i like about exploitive films like this is that it delivers with eventual revenge. I don't mind being showed ugliness because it reminds me how wrong things like bigotry and crime are. If you want to see a movie with guts and thats willing to push the envelope and entertain, this is the film for you. The Grandma in this movie is hilarious , especially when the whole family is singing gospel at gunpoint. ***1/2/****
Day of the Woman (1978)
Important horror movie for horror fans
A lot of critics dissed this film and that is very understandable if you are a movie chump. MOVIES ARE NOT REAL. So if a movie appalls you , isn't that a good thing. The rape scenes are raw with no score in the background and it feels like you are experiencing the mayhem. The main character goes from going on a peaceful getaway to a cold revenge mission. This movie shows rape in a disgusting way so it therefor makes rape look vile. It's an awesome revenge movie with a hot main character who slaughters these male pigs that many men in the world resemble. This is one of the best horror movies ever and is the blueprint for how to make an exploitation film!
Cabin Fever (2002)
Bloody ,Scary Horror movie with some goofy comedy
This movie is fun and has some very memorable scenes. I feel it is realistic how the characters react to the disease. I love that song from "Last House on the Left" they used!!! If you like horror movies , you got to own this. Its comedy is cheesy and vulgar at times but it fits the whole homage to horror mixture in this movie. The scene in the bed made me walk out of the theater because it made me sick(finger in the sore)... no horror movie ever did that to my gut, i wanted to york..This movie played with my emotions the whole time. Eli Roth's cameo is hilarious. "Positive Bonfire" to all!! I recommend everyone watch Frailty, American Werewolf in London and Last House on the Left. B+
25th Hour (2002)
6 great performances with the best by Barry Pepper
Excellent movie by Spike Lee once again. In my eyes he never misses. Even "Girl 6" was some what interesting. When i found out last year that Spike Lee and Edward Norton were working together i got excited. This is a great movie about a character who is going away for 7 years for dealing drugs. This is a raw and sad story about the reality of losing your freedom. Monty knows what he did was wrong and he has to deal with the situation. Basically he spends his last day lining up with his buddies played by Barry Pepper and Philip Seymour Hoffman. A lot of great dialogue throughout the film with those two guys. They discuss everything from 911 to their friend going to jail and the reality of life. Anna Paquin plays a 17 year old student that Hoffman teaches and has a guilty crush on. She plays the roll well as a hyper and weird young chick. Rosario Dawson plays a good girlfriend and is amazing looking! A lot of sad stuff in this movie and a lot shout outs to new york and america. Great movie ..9 out of 10.... Oh yeah Brian Cox had a great scene at the end! This guy is talented
Martin Lawrence Live: Runteldat (2002)
Vulgar, Hilarious and Insightful
Okay there was a lot of foul language. What do i care? i swear like every other second and so does everyone else. Some people are vulgar and use shock value to get a reaction. Martin Lawrence is vulgar and say shocking things but it got a huge laugh out of me. The way he talked about the male and female lower anatomy was sick and funny as all hell. He makes faces that make you laugh. Sure he stereotypes white people like a lot of comedians do but it was funny. He talked about his personal life and i enjoyed that. I smiled throughout the performance. 8?10
The Majestic (2001)
Jim Carrey is one of the worlds greatest performers!
Jim Carrey can be a wacky character like "Ace Ventura" or a can perform in hilarious skits with his "Fire Marshall Bill" character. He can make Bio-Pics like "Man on the Moon"(great movie). He can be believable in one of the most creative movies of all time , "The Truman Show". In one year he can satisfy kids with "The Grinch" and his hardcore "Dumb and Dumber" fans with "Me, Myself and Irene. Cable Guy was a great dark comedy and he probably loved playing Riddler in "Batman Forever". Another film he did, "Liar, Liar" was a comedy and a great family film. I think Majestic is a very great old school drama. It has a lot of heart and anyone who enjoys film should like this. Hardcore Carrey fans may not enjoy this since he is not using his comedic talents. I loved this because i can be a fan of his and enjoy the performance. This movie was unique and Jim Carrey deserves props from every movie fan on earth. Truman Show is my favorite movie of his and he never sucks. So with saying that he doesn't suck. This movie does not! Go check it out. If you like this , check out Robert De Niro in Guilty by Suspicion. They both have a lot to do with Communism.
Swingers (1996)
One of the best comedies ever
This comedy made me laugh out loud from beginning to end. Trent (Vince Vaughn) is the funniest character i've ever seen in a movie. This is a great comedy because the situations the characters get in are realistic. This movie isn't about shock value and gross out tricks. Its a movie regular guys can relate to. They made me laugh about how they basically have a guide to approaching females.. and how they have rules on how long to wait to call a girl when you get her number. There is a classic scene where Trent talks trash on his friend when he scores on him in a hockey video game. I've seen "Made" than John Favreau wrote also. I thought that was great and they both worked good in that but after seeing "Swingers", I went to my computer i gave it a 9 out of 10. I rank this among my favorite comedies . Rushmore, The Jerk, Stripes, Ace Ventura, What about Bob and now Swingers is among my list. Please rent, buy or borrow off a friend and never give it back. Great film about friendship, moving on to better things and the club scene.
Panic Room (2002)
Great Characters in the movie especially Forest Whitaker
This movie starts off with a house tour and then moves slowly up like the first hill of a roller coaster. Next it really gets moving. Jodie Foster ( "Contact", "Silence of the Lambs") and (Kristen Stewart) play mother and daughter. Jodie Foster plays Meg Altman a newly divorced parent. They seem to have a good relationship. The villains in the movie are Jared Leto ("Switchback", "American Psycho") and Dwight Yoakam (Sling Blade". Dwight Yoakam is a little psychotc to put it lightly and Jared Leto's character is a little over the top and crazy. When he panics it is sort of funny. Forest Whitaker "Ghost Dog: the Way of the Samarai" is part of the crew but he seems like the man with a "heart" throughout this thriller. The cinematography was great and even though this is classified as a thriller it had a sppoky vibe to it. It really almost gave the feel of a horror picture. There is some violent scenes but everything seemed pretty realistic. I would rank this as my third favorite David Fincher Picture . My favorite being "Fight Club" then Seven. I am also a fan of the game. So this being my third favorite is a good thing! Its very watchable and different from most movies i have watched lately. GO SEE IT!!!!
The Score (2001)
Best movie i've seen in 2001!
When i looked up Edward Norton's profile a few months back i noticed he was doing a movie with Robert De Niro. From that moment i knew i was going to go see it the day it came out. All i got to say is Edward Norton made himself another winning performance! De Niro made this movie at the end.. Bottom line is you should go see this movie. Its not the most complicated but in a way it was brilliant. A simple twist at the end made the theater roar! 9/10