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The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)
I'm Taking Your Train...
Though it may seem dated by its lack of special effects explosions and testosterone, what the 1974 thriller THE TAKING OF PELHAM ONE-TWO-THREE has in abundance is more than sufficient to make it one of the most well-thought-out thrillers on record.
The film involves the takeover of a New York City subway train by four very heavily armed men, led by a very ruthless Robert Shaw. Beyond their actions throwing the Big Apple's transit system into a frenzy, they are also holding seventeen passengers and the train's conductor as hostages. At 2:13 PM, the demands are made: $1 million is to be delivered to them in EXACTLY one hour, or they kill one hostage for every minute the money is late. And if any outsiders interfere in any way, the hostages get killed immediately, regardless! It is thus up to a very cagey NYC transit cop (the late, great Walter Matthau) to try and buy some time to not only get the money to the hijackers through the Big Apple gridlock, but to also get a bead on them. He winds up finding two of Shaw's associates (Hector Elizondo, Earl Hindman) already dead; and when he finds Shaw, the mastermind of the hijacking electrocutes himself! One man, however, has escaped detection--the motorman (Martin Balsam). And in order to wrap this caper up, both Matthau and an associate (Jerry Stiller) must find that elusive motorman and, if possible, the money.
Full of snappy and rather salty dialogue, plenty of suspense, and black comedy, THE TAKING OF PELHAM ONE-TWO-THREE offers up a solid contrast between Matthau and Shaw, which keeps the film moving through the slow spots, what few there are. Joseph Sargent, who directed the 1970 sci-fi drama COLOSSUS: THE FORBIN PROJECT, really lays the tension on, buoyed by an excellent score by David Shire. This is an absolute must-see for those fans of action and suspense films who believe that you don't need testosterone and explosions to be on the edge of your seat. 10/10 Amazing.
Kane & Lynch: Dead Men (2007)
The most underrated game ever
How come so many reviews are slating this game. i really do think its quite excellent probably second only to saints row in my xbox360 collection (with the usual candidates GOW and Halo3 way below). First of all I'd like to say a lot of the issues other people have with the game i just haven't had. I didn't find it too hard. It's challenging, yeah just like hit-man. I didn't find aiming a problem, OK machines guns are hit and miss but a rifle is pretty much spot on, surely thats quite realistic? i didn't hate the story line, it's no enthralling quest like good old mass effect, thats for sure, but it isn't bad. it's definitely entertaining. I thought the cover system worked rather well. I think that playing this game is more like doing it in real life, in a way. Whereas you might be looking for cheap leg-shot kills and cover that makes you totally invulnerable in other games you won't find it here. I think as what it set out to be a games take on true Michael Mann style action movie its truly superb. Hosts of memorable levels, very good game-play (i think anyway) and good variety too. This isn't run shoot repeat like halo or GOW or the army boy approach of COD4 (which is pretty excellent admittedly), this is a more stylised film approach with much more vulnerable and edgy characters. I'm a big fan of IO, loving hit-man and the equally underrated Freedom Fighters and i don't think this game disappoints at all. Whatever is said about this game it doesn't look like many people are sitting on the fence. And as for divided opinions go, my opinion is very high. If you like hit-man or Micheal Mann's Heat (1995) then give this a try. 10/10 Great
The Deer Hunter (1978)
Boring!
Wow. After hearing all the praise this movie has gotten , I figured this would definitely be a good watch. After just a half hour of the movie, I became so bored I really wanted to turn it off. I didn't however, and kept the movie running. During the next 2 1/2 hours I was baffled at what people saw in this snooze-fest. It's a horrible movie. Beyond horrible! This couldn't keep you interested no matter what happened. It just drags and drags and drags. A couple war scenes are slightly entertaining, but besides that it totally sucks. In closing, do not judge a book by it's cover. Just because De Niro is in this do not think it will be good. This is probably one of the most overrated and boring movie I've ever seen. Steer clear of this unless you like wasting your time. 0/10 Boring!
Dog Soldiers (2002)
What do you get when 'Assault On Precinct 13' meets ' American Werewolf In London'?
You Get this! The best darn Werewolf movie ever!
DOG SOLDIERS revolves around a squad of British soldiers on a training mission in the Scottish highlands. Soon strange things start happening. They encounter a badly wounded Special Operations officer, whom they take with them. Attacked by werewolves, the squad suffers the first casualties but manages to make a narrow escape with the help of a young woman. After reaching a remote farm, things turn from bad to worse when their car is destroyed by their furry foes. Besieged, with no radio or phone connection, desperately trying not to panic and running out of ammo, a fierce fight ensues with the almost invincible werewolves.
This film draws inspiration from the very best elements of many horror/SF films and successsfully wraps them around a lycanthropic theme. The werewolves are top notch---some of the very best ever depicted on screen (no kidding...and no CGI, either! )---and the acting is superb. What a rare and wondrous combination to find a film that simultaneously forces the viewer to love its antagonists (in this case, the lycanthropes)and identify with the very human protagonists (the soldiers). This is a remarkable effort, and I can only hope to see a sequel of equal intensity in the near future. As far as effects go, It's "Assault On Precinct 13" meets "An American Werewolf in London" and a refreshing twist of everything in between. Truly inspired horror for die-hard genre fans and casual viewers alike.
P.S. I must also mention that there are no bloody teens in this movie either. I think some of the film makers in the US should take a look at what the British are doing with their horrors and take some notes. 10/10 Excellent
Reservoir Dogs (1992)
Bloody Brilliant
Despite what critics think, this is a Tarantino masterpiece with unforgettable characters, smooth and cool dialogue, and a shocking finale.
Since this is a crime flick, the plot and storyline isn't that complex or deep, and there is no reason for it to be. It's pretty simple. Perfect strangers plan the perfect crime, but end up in a bloody set-up. With only four of them left alive, they must uncover the rat in the house. But which one is it? That is something they must find out before the cops get a hold of them in this unforgiving and spectacular crime/noir movie.
The writing is off the hook. Tarantino is a master when it comes to dialogue. Why? Because the characters talk like real people. In ordinary movies, all the characters ever talk about it the plot or scheme. In THIS movie, they talk about everyday normal things that we would talk about, which makes them seem more realistic and convincing. His writing reminds me a lot of Raymond Carver, except with more humour.
The cast is terrific. Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Chris Penn, Lawrence Tierney, and Steve Buscemi all did their roles justice. Michael Madsen is awesome and cool as Mr. Blonde, who will always be remembered for that very particular role. Buscemi is hilarious, and your eyes never leave his sight when he's on screen. But really, everyone is outstanding in this movie. 10/10 Outstanding.
Pulp Fiction (1994)
Very Good but ...
I didn't get what all the fuss was about really. Well it wasn't a bad film it was a very good film, the acting for one thing was brilliant, especially by Samuel L. Jackson, the Diolauge was at its best for another thing, but the only problem was that it was really slow in parts like the JACKS RABBIT SLIM or whatever you call it. Before John Travolta and Uma Thurman start dancing their talking about foot massages and some other things while doing nothing but sitting down in a 50's restaurant. Now like i said, the Diolauge is very good and its really funny but while their doing nothing the film can get boring. Another thing like that was the ending, the big Mexican duel in the restaurant. Sam Jackson has a gun to Tim Roth's head, Amanda Plummer is pointing a gun to Jackson and John Travolta is pointing a gun to Amanda. All that is happening for about ten, fifteen minutes and nothing proper happens. Sam Jackson is telling Roth about a miracle he witnessed this morning, and then he gives Roth his money and then he lets him go, and its like oh come on get on with it all ready. As for the really good parts there was the hamburger scene, OK now that was slow but not boring like some of the others, there was the dance scene, the overdose scene was the only part in the film where i was on the edge of my seat, then their was the pawn shop scene which was really funny and shocking. And finally there was the 'The Bonnie Situation' which was boring and good.
Not long after i watched the film, my friend asked me to borrow it and i said OK. A day later he gave it back and said it was crap. I can see why people could hate this film, apart from the racial stuff, and i can see why people love this film but as for me, i give it a 7 out 10 for being and not being good. I recommend Reservoir Dogs instead. 7/10 OK.
Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo (1966)
The Best Of The Best
When i first saw this film i thought it was slow and pointless. It really didn't seem to be going anywhere at all and worst of all, the story didn't make any sense.
A few months later i watched, A Fistful Of Dollars and For A Few Dollars More and i decided to give this a chance again, realising that it was part of the Dollars Trilogy. After watching it a second time all i can say is this ... Sergio Leonios Best, Clint Eastwoods best and the best Western of all time. The battle sense's were by far the best and most life like battle sense's i have ever seen , the best thing about this film is the music, that theme composed greatly by Ennio Morrocone has become a modern classic.
The Story really came to me this time watching it. Clint Eastwood plays Blondie (THE GOOD), Eli Wallach plays Tuco (THE BAD) and Lee Van Cleff plays Angle Eyes (THE UGLY), three men who are after a fortune in gold. It sounds like a typical story, but to get to the gold they have to go through the civil war. Well, only Blondie and Tuco have too. Angle Eyes is a general in the war.
I really don't know what made think this was crap the first time i watched it. I guess it was because at that time, i really didn't like Westerns at all. But now watching it a second time, it has become one of my top 5 favourite films of all time. One thing i'm happy to see is this is in the top 10 on the IMDb Top 250. It deserves it. 10/10. Perfect
Raging Bull (1980)
Raging Bullshit Indeed
First Mean Streets then Taxi Driver then this. Martin Scorsese is defiantly the most overrated director in history and De Niro is just a terrible actor. The Academy awards must have been high on something that year to give De Niro an Oscar for gaining weight. He was supposed to win an Oscar for best 'acting' not for best weight gainer of the year. People who don't see that must need some help. I agree with STAN39520. It should be burned (along with Taxi Driver), and if anybody else directed this or stared in it they would pay no attention to it. So what makes Martin Scorsese great, huh! To me, the only great films hes ever done are 'Cape Fear', 'The Aviator', 'Casino' and the 'The Departed'. I really felt like i was doing a sinful thing watching this piece of crap! One of the greatest films of all time they say, one of the 'worst' films of all time. A boxing film with hardly no boxing in it.
I think the only reason why Scorsese made this film is because of Taxi Driver losing to Rocky at 77 academy awards. I bet he said i can do a better boxing film than Rocky. Sorry Marty, Rocky won best picture, this and Taxi Driver didn't. 0/10 Awful
Twin Town (1997)
Makes Me Proud To Be Welsh
What can i say. This was a Great film that i really enjoyed. Very funny.
When i first watched this film they said its a WELSH TRAINSPOTTING A Welsh Trainspotting - No. Its completely different from Trainspotting and in my opinion, better and funnier. Don't get me wrong though, Trainspotting is still a great film but i prefer this. I don't know why really, i guess its because i'm Welsh (and proud of it). And i'm happy to see they made a decent WELSH film. Trust me, if your into foreign films that speak English or if you like British comedy films, then watch this. 10/10.
Best line ever was:
'And this glue is for my submarines and not for sticking up your f****** noses. And don't think i don't notice because i do. Buy your own f****** glue!'
Scarface (1983)
A real classic staring a real actor
Without a question, the greatest film i have ever watched in my whole life. Al Pacinio is the greatest actor in Hollywood to date.
Pacino plays Tony Montana, a Cuban refugee who slowly climbs the ladder to become Maimi's top drug king. Montana won't let anybody get in his way, all he has in this world are his balls and his word and he won't break them for no one. Along with his pal, Manny (Steven Bauer), they are about to take this town by the balls.
Without Al Pacino, there would be no film. Nobody could have played Tony Montana like Al Pacino.
The film can be quiet violent in places and a little uneasy (Watch the Chainsaw bit and you'll see what i mean) but it's Pacino who lights up the screen. Everything he does and says is brilliant. Watch this film because of Al Pacino. Through the whole film you begin to wonder, is he good or bad (There's one scene with two kids in a car that will make you think about that question).
Go out and rent SCARFACE from your local video shop and watch it. You won't be disappointed. And if you are disappointed and hate this film -jump of a bridge a die a really horrible death. 10/10.