gravesing Reviews

Party Monster (2003)

Different than expected.

[7/10 · 17 February 2004]

I saw clips of this movie on 20/20 and it caught my attention. Oddly enough, I really wanted to see this picture. I am not into the club scene and never was, nor have I ever taken drugs, nor listened to techno music. I am, however a fan of true-crime. I missed Party Monster's theatrical run as it was very limited. When the DVD came out, I bought it within a few days and watched it that weekend. I really liked the story telling, and the way James St. James (Seth Green) keeps emphasizing that HE is, in fact, the star and Michael is just a wanna-be.

On the 20/20 segment, they were really emphasizing that this was the 1st movie Macuaulay Culkin has made in about a decade... and IT SHOWS. His facial expressions and body language are pretty much dead-on, but his verbal acting is so bad it took away from my enjoyment of the movie. In the Extras on the DVD, it features interviews with Michael Alig, who speaks rather effeminately with a lisp. Culkin's rendition sounded like a highschool play, and a bad one at that.

That, however, was my only downside for the movie. Seth Green makes the save with a hysterical performance of James St. James. The costumes were very well done and a lot of the camera shots were well placed (esp the bathtub scene) To me, the jury is still out on Marilyn Manson's performance as a post-op transvestite... He did well, but I'm wondering if it was typecasting...

Bottom line: Worth a watch..

Ed Gein (2000)

Creepy

[6/10 · 2 September 2001]

This movie was CREEPY to say the least. Knowing that it is based on a true story makes it even more so. The music and flashback sequences made nice additions. Great acting especially on the part of Gein's mother. Having read a little into the actual Ed Gein, I was a little disappointed that some of his more famous "one-liners" were omitted. The movie seems to keep a single pace throughout, but over all a very enjoyable horror film.

Valentine (2001)

Expect nothing, never be disappointed

[30 July 2001]

I'm guessing in an attempt to separate itself from the rest of the films in this genre, VALENTINE neglected to finish the movie. There are a few loose ends that I can't quite explain without spoilers. Overall, it's not completely bad. The tone of the movie is a bit different from the norm. The Killer/Stalker is not some superhuman/immortal/entity with a catchy name. There are a few good "jumps" and the score is pretty intense (and LOUD!) I rented it with nothing but bad reviews in my ears, so I wasn't expecting much. There are much worse out there.