Worldofgrim Reviews

Mirageman (2006)

A Great Vigilante Comic Book Hero

[25 October 2009]

I really really really enjoyed this movie. It carried an emotional & self effacing quality to it. From his love for his tragic brother to his meager attempts at heroic acts. This story tells a literally realistic way, in a comic book style of course, how one could be become a comic book vigilante. There were many levels & details to this film, his comical attempt to design his costume (with homage doodles) and the build up of the final design by his institutional brother's own nightmarish drawings that then ascend to the dream of a hero. I mean the intensity of it really worked for me. I fell for the feelings, the tragedy, the loss and hope.

And it was funny! He had to stop, pull of his mask, and wipe the fog off the lenses! Subtle but awesome! Realistic setup as opposed to over written contrived setup comedy, you know, the kind you laugh it because it makes sense, not because it was setup via caricatures and over acted 2ndary characters.

If not Tony Jaa, then gosh darn close! I could easily go from Tony to Marko and enjoy both thoroughly. And I'd take both over big Hollywood comic book heroes! Though I'd enjoy all just the same.

Infestation (2009)

A diamond in the rough

[25 October 2009]

I'm personally tired of and generally ignore the CG monster horror flicks that premiere on the SyFy Channel. I read that this was one of them. Well this one was done great! The jerk hero was actually likable in his purposely annoying way, very funny, and the story happens quickly, so you are in the bug infestation, what the heck is going on, just after the main guys humorful intro.

The other survivors are decent, the story paces along well, no argument lasts too long and no character however annoying, steals the show. There's that used dad-son expectation loss thing but it works well and lots of good natured character humor. The CG was done rather well, even though I still felt it was composited, it was at least fast paced.

The Tournament (2009)

WHY SO HARSH? Good Entertainment, Lots of Stuff

[25 October 2009]

This was a grand ole good movie. I like rating things 10 since there are so many bad films, ones that are 7 and above should just get a 10. It had a nice simple story, 30 assassins get together and kill each other off till there is 1. The story gets right into it! The action is constant throughout! Great impact martial arts, hot Chinese femme fatale with great MMA moves! Lots of gun fire with great impacts, some really bad assassins killing wanton, and blasting gore.

There's a lot of great street car chases with MMA body work, car crashes, car collisions, truck blasts, epic, big, I mean, this felt like a BIG MOVIE! I'm actually shocked it didn't go on the big screen? At least in digital projected theatres!? Carlyle plays his role great as the drunken fallen priest who unknowingly drinks an assassin's locater that the assassin cheatingly removed. So there's more to it then just shootem up, there's the fallen drunken disparate priest affecting the Chinese femme fatale. So nice stuff... good stuff. ENJOYED.

Road to Moloch (2009)

could've shouldve wouldve - been a feature

[11 October 2009]

this was well done. it felt like a feature. even a big screen feature. an action packed horror feature.

the action was well done, hard, full of effects and gutsy resolve.

the quick pacing got you into it pretty quick, and i even felt for the characters.

the setting, lighting, and props felt bigger than a short on a budget. judging from the credits, these folks are already in the industry and know what their doing, and they did it.

the blood, gore, f/x, minimal cg, and makeup were tops.

good job.

Pandorum (2009)

i liked it but action a bit of a downer

[25 September 2009]

i enjoyed it, it was what i expected. it did not break any expectations. it was well done, nice sets, lighting, dirtiness, claustrophobia, expanses, costumes, & decent creature makeup, cg, and costumes alamix.

the acting, dialogue, writing, & directing were good. the story nice. the pacing was good. the hot chic, hot & a bit overdressed... ;) so what's my problem? well, the action. it was a bit muddled i'd say. there's no guns, so that right there, kills the classic & underused feel of the scifi premiereship of Aliens & its scifi militant approach. the characters are not military, are very few, and their skills at close combat lethal force is odd, untrained, strange.

the mutants, the chasing, the running, the few crude blade swings aren't as compelling as i'd like. there's no real action climax, a final fight scene seems odd, not that exciting, limited. i base my action on Aliens, Braveheart & Rambo (the latest). Those to me are the premiere fulfilling action, gun action, bloody impact, and violent reperations i come to expect and long for in any scifi or action film. This film, though nicely done, did not give me that full satisfying feeling. thusly, i can only recommend it as an awesome DVD rental/purchase, but not a big screen pleaser. still i hope much success to film makers & hope they do more.

AFTER SEEING ONLY 2 OF 25 found my review helpful: I feel bad that my review sounded totally negative. I did give the film an 8 out of 10. I think I am ruining it for folks saying the action just wasn't as intense as I'd like, still IT IS A FUN ENTERTAINING FILM. And you know what, it is WORTH THE BIG SCREEN. It does have a good ending. It does have lots of detail, great sequences, great imagery, epic areas, intense concepts of violence. So again, I feel bad that folks are dissappionted in my lackluster review and if more films like this came out every week, well, I'd have a serious gout problem with all the popcorn I was ingesting.

Angel of Death (I) (2009)

a great fun flick

[23 August 2009]

I enjoyed this. I have the all i can rent blockbuster membership so i see A LOT of flicks. And many only the first chapter, then skip to last to see f/x or finale. This was thorughly enjoyable. Zoe did a kick booty job. She was hot, acted well, even the tough scenes, I never cringed at all. I sort of cringed in 'Death Proof' at the acting she did, which was non per Quentin's direction... but in this, she did it. she delivered her lines. Her acting, and her fight sequences were great. Hard, gritty, sexy but not SEXY ridiculous, but sexy hot gritty cool, you know what I mean. Her moves looked & felt real, like, oh yah, that's how a women can fight a big dude, like me, I'm buying it. gun play was excellent too, as in, no gunplay, just solid use of guns, knives, fists, mirrors, ground, ...great! story was simple, straightforward & well paced. direction was solid.

kudos to the Director of photo, i really liked the lighting, the contrasts, the light/shadow, the silhouettes, really done well. i think i'm buying this one. something i can enjoy watching every few years along with Leon/the professional, seagal's first 4 movies, bruce lee, streetfighter, old boy, & pink panther.

Punisher: War Zone (2008)

extremely enjoyable but 1 critique

[5 December 2008]

so i gave it a 9 for 1 critique below but everything had so much effort into it. from lighting (over the top great), to gore (rambo like awesome), to great sets, guns, to action, and a decent simple story with a nice tinge of emotion.

i thought Ray & director managed to pull off some corny lines pretty good. I immediately knew the lines were corny but did not cringe, and went along. So that's pretty good.

having said that... :) ...i thought one thing was lacking. though everyone, including main villains did some good performances in that dark comic pulp way, i didn't feel scared of them. the villains and bad guy goons seemed unprepared, typical, and if i may say, afraid. i guess i'm was hoping for more the Bruce Lee Game of Death sequence or some big brutish bad guys, and i'm seeing this a lot in films lately where the villains and their mass of goons just seem like fodder and i'm just not scared of them. they seem ill prepared yet there's this Punisher killing them all for years now. i mean i like the numbers! but quality... WITH quantity, was my stickler. my suggestion or expectation is like they hire some BAD MOFOs from all over the world kind of thing, ya know? PROFESSIONALS. and to see scared gang members not wanting to answer the door for fear it would be the Punisher, and its a climactic part... was kind of goofy.

but I digress! a fun great well done kudos to cast & crew movie. fun big screen, DVD, and purchase. goes great with mountain dew & butter popcorn. even gory scenes weren't slasher gory so i didn't feel like i was eating rubber pukey styro pops whenever there was a blood splat.

An American Carol (2008)

every emotion will be tested

[3 October 2008]

i laughed, i cringed, i smirked, i got mad, really mad, i felt, i almost cried, definitely choked, this was a good film. and so much of it i hated, because it was true. and you all know what i mean.

i am conservative in Hollywood, my friends treat me exactly like this movie. i do feel alone, a lot.

was it entertaining? well, in very few movies do i laugh out loud, and this is one of them. it was so much fun to laugh, yet as the movie went on the burden of truths took their toll on me. thank goodness for the zombie reprieve in the 3rd act, that helped! it will actually take me a few days to recover from the emotions i have, but knowing Zucker and others are out there, in Hollywood, and for them and the companies involved, the actors, and crew, to make this film, is a great thing indeed.

on so many levels, this film did a lot, acting, jokes, sets, story, message, lines, i actually think this should be an option in university & high school viewing! you know, students can choose Inconvenient Truth, any Michael Moore film, or American Carol. After all, we believe in choice.

A great film.

Simple Things (2007)

like watching a breeze in the trees

[16 May 2008]

this is a calming nice movie. rare! the performances were just fine. subtle and under acted, which is a good thing. the "mountain folk" had some caricatures, but in the end, all were good people. great to watch with kids, mine, 3 & 9, watched this calm talking movie with interest, just as much as watching flashing zip zap action cartoons and laugh track Disney shows which is pretty much all the choices there are. i hope more movies like this come out. it hit on some serious issues with subtlety and a sense of reality like a well staged play. my kids learned some strength things here. kudos to crew, actors, writing, director. my only real critique, and i hope the DP learns from this, which may have been due to budget & constraints, but the lighting felt a little too even handed, too well lit. but i am picky about that and like my fog machines, rays of light, dark shadows and negative space. course i'm a monster scifi geek myself.

Murder Party (2007)

giving this one star must have alterior motives

[1 March 2008]

Granted I gave it 10 stars, but I have no affiliation with this production. However I did go to UCLA Fine Art and WOW these guys hit the art scene on the belly button, jabbing Rabies needle right through, and into the inside of your spine! This film cracked me up, from beginning to end, it has a Jim Jarmusch feel to it in some spots, and lots of great indy, almost short film artsy fartsiness to it, but hits them all with great satire and loathing. I almost feel, like the adjoining film & art buildings at UCLA, that these guys film school was next to the euro hippy liberal art scene I was stuck in. And they fed off of and were tortured by no doubt. I can see now, how both artistes & film makers probably looked at each other like the grass is greener... only it's illegal and not bucolic.

I got that turn around pass at Blockbuster so I can rent dvds just as fast as I can watch them, thusly most dvds don't get past 7 minutes, but this will be one of those rare DVDs I will buy! And it will fit in with my fond memories of those KRAZY DAZE & KRAZY NIGHTS. Along with Mystery Train, Wild at Heart, the Moderns, School Daze, etc... it really hits a chord and made me crack up! The humor was awesome, biting, real, and so... well awesomely lame. Just like it was...is...shall ever be.

Great job guys, I hope you made a profit, to make your next.

Rambo (2008)

great action but unbelievable christians (sarcasm)

[25 January 2008]

if i enjoy something, i give it high marks. this was hardcore action, terse dialogue, and a do or die motto. really detailed work on action, gore, blood, how guns really blow apart flesh. man...

the atrocities felt real and compelling. when you see a village destroyed, you see everything. and you finally know what evil really is.

the only thing unbelievable was that christians were trying to help others. with my Hollywood/liberal education, i found that depiction really strange. unheard of... but if you can get past that inaccurate Hollywood depiction of christians, because their supposed to be liars, sexual deviants, self centered, weak spirited, and manipulators, than you will THOROUGHLY enjoy this movie.

btw I was being sarcastic. this is the first movie to show christians doing what they do. missionary work, but also, helping others. and risking their lives. and also showing true EVIL. i mean as a history buff, there are so many accounts of whole cities, villages getting slaughtered, by all sides granted. but by the sheer volume, numbers is what one has to look at, and christians above all others, the West above all others, is by far helping others more than any other govt, society, religion and/or idelologie.

I Am Legend (2007)

a geek guys criticism of a decent movie

[14 December 2007]

major spoilers, so please only for film makers, critics & those who have seen it.

i wonder if this movie won't do so good for this reason... i was pretty disappointed in the zombies, how they moved, what they did, and how many are actually depicted on screen. in new york city, the zombie scenes show no more than 30ish zombies?

i'm a 'christiany' kind of guy so i appreciated the hopeful ending but wonder if critics will pander that. which is not the disappointing aspect. this is: there is this epic setting, NYC! and i was expecting some Return of the King kind of return. but nope.

the small gang of zombies moved like the cg monsters in Van Helsing. too fast, too cg, too spider mannish. so they weren't as biting or gritting as 28 days/weeks or zac's dawn of the dead.

they were rendered with too many layers of soft focus, glistening, vein layers, etc... so they looked more ultra real and lit etc then the hero. when one shows up and a huge awkward skip over was when the 'main' or 'leader' zombie set a trap for the hero. that seemed like a HUGE turning point in story, yet was glossed over.

its a good film. but again, no Return of the King pay off, in a Return of the King setting. so its not a great film.

Daddy's Little Girls (2007)

something wrong with rating this a 1

[21 June 2007]

This movie should not be given a 1 rating. I wish that would be taken off. Some people must be affronted somehow which is very confusing. This movie felt like a maturing of a black film maker. Yes it brings up some black issues, based on common concepts, statistics we all hear about. The film maker made a noble effort to portray these issues into a 2 hour entertaining, fairytale story.

There is nothing gratuitous or manipulative or exploitive that would make me rate it a 1. This film preached to the black man, but also to all fathers and gave us all a real sense of worth and worthiness. As a father I was totally moved by this portrayal, this simple yet defining story of American culture, black culture, and a film makers message.

Primeval (2007)

A Great Creature Flick, if only there were more

[15 June 2007]

I hate slasher flicks, and that is how it was advertised, so I was turned off. But upon renting it, I loved it. A great setting, different characters, and very intense creature animation, editing, gore, and chase stuff. I love a film that makes me feel: ooooh I sooo don't want to be there.

I'm very bummed this film is getting such a low rating. Compared to all the pornographic slasher flicks, this stands head and shoulders above the onslaught of slashers in theatres and at your local Blockbuster.

I wish there were more creature flicks like this. No over acting, no broad audience appeasement, just a straight story, that keeps building and building. And the violence is incredible and real. As in, oh, my gosh, nature is that cruel and so are humans. Without having to those demented oh so godlike scary serial killers who are so perfect in every way.

Great job film makers and CG guys! I feel for ya!

I'm buying it!

Aussie Park Boyz (2004)

everyone is way tooooo harsh on this amateur joy

[12 July 2006]

this is like a 3 ccd digital cam, use available lighting, overcome audio problems with minimal dialogue and lots of techno. it has an odd pacing but if you love seeing fights, well done, and with gang characters then why not? yah it has 'The Warriors' feel, but so what, it's a classic storyline. Anyone hear of Jason & the Argonauts? and it's not gay. amateur yes, but not gay.

it was a joy to see a bunch of machismo street ruffians all fighting each other. there was a unique rock'em'sock'em style to it, less flashy then overly done Chinese wire operas or the latest martial arts wire, digital double, trainer double celebrity. it had a real gritty, real compelling pain factor feel to it.

i hope they get to do more, quite frankly. i watch a ton of action, b-monster, c-monster dvds and i base my comparisons to that and this has a fresh feel to it. even if it uses a tried and true story (what a crime), and what we all love to see... fighting. raw... unedited... not flashy... nice...

Guardian of the Realm (2004)

yucky digital, yucky sound, but hey i was entertained

[15 June 2006]

SPOILER: NOT ABOUT STORY JUST EFFECTS & PRODUCTION

Everything about this movie reeks of cheap sets, props, effects, sound recording & post, too long of shots on too long of inexperienced actors, but gosh, lots of character demons, gore, some action, a decent attempt at humor... not bad.

As a cg artist I saw all their cg attempts, all cheesy, but used... and used... and I'm just impressed these guys went for it... I mean the sparks and clouds and fire and meteors and computer interface stuff. And as for demon designs, wow! I'm impressed with the sub demons, the pure demon, the warrior demon, the shaman demon, the pet demon, the she demon... etc... I mean, not just one silly monster, but a whole bunch of power ranger things, and they all made sense, as an entourage. And why not! So as schlocky as digital feels, as cheap as digital audio sounds, as glaring as video colors are, as painfully obvious gel lights glare... they went for it and i hope they get a chance to go for it again with more money. But I hope they keep to the same fun schlock! Good luck guys.

And love all the downtown L.A. sites, brings back memories, and all the sites in my neighborhood of Hollywood. You guys stayed here to do it, awesome.

Tristan + Isolde (2006)

Just a Rule In Hollywood for All Big Market Epics

[30 April 2006]

I'd like to say, to all Hollywood movie makers... it's a rule we should ALL follow.

When you have a few hundred guys on screen, a castle or whatever, an epic premise, a build up.... go ahead and have the battle.

Okay? Let's go ahead and give the 'guys' in the theatre some pay off to all the dribble.

Ever since the Postman, I have seen far too many epics, all lame, where a bunch of dudes are ready to fight, but then don't. You know, in history, I don't hear about these confrontations, I hear, ready, & study about wars, battles, and the terrible struggles of humanity.

Roll Bounce (2005)

a great film

[15 January 2006]

Yah there is something wrong when a ton of people who just vote '1'.

This movie is great, entertaining, and has depth. The music is awesome, the homage, I feel bad I didn't take my daughter to go see it the movie theaters but in happy I bought the DVD for her. And she laughed, cried, and danced, and to see both my daughters do that, well I give it a 10.

And I might have felt something too.

For a guy who loves Aliens, Conan, LOTR, and movies like that, this was a great escape!

I really liked Xavier and even the nemesis who really played his role as cool, suave, and silly. There was a lot of cultural, racial and 'growing up' issues that were portrayed with candor, wit, and honesty.

Though I have many disco & 70's compilations I definitely am going to get this one too!