croatiansensation29 Reviews

Jarhead (2005)

The "Full Metal Jacket" of the new millennium....

[18 February 2006]

Just finished watching "Jarhead", and I must say, it is one of the most powerful war films I have ever seen! It is the "Full Metal Jacket" of the new millennium, which is a compliment!

"Jarhead" is based on actual events that happened during the Gulf war. We follow the true story of a Marine from boot-camp, to being thrown in the middle of Desert Storm.

The story is top-notch, as we've come to expect from films like this. The cinematography is fantastic, as is the soundtrack. Brought back a lot of memories from high school for me. Some songs I haven't heard in years! The acting was great! Especially Jamie Foxx. Definitely one of his best performances! The film is violent, and not pretty. But nobody said that war was pretty. This is the truth, and sometimes the truth hurts. Also, quite a bit of swearing, some may find this offensive. I was in the military, and everyone did speak like the characters in the film, so it is realistic.

This is a definite must see for everyone that loves war movies, or for the curious that would like to see one interpretation of the Gulf War. If violent images and bad language offend you, you better steer clear of this one.

This film should have been nominated for Oscars!

Ultimate Avengers: The Movie (2006 Video)

Great animation....but story lacking.....

[13 February 2006]

Now before I get flamed, I have never read the "Ultimate Avengers" comic book. I have always been a fan of Iron Man when I was a kid, and this is the only reason I watched this animated feature.

The Ultimate Avengers tells the story of the Avengers. We see the birth of the team of Captain America, Iron Man, Wasp, Giant Man, The Hulk and Black Widow. The team is put together when the earth is attacked by extra-terrestrial beings.

The animation is superb! It is nice to see cartoons get back to the animation I was used to as a kid watching Saturday morning cartoons. The cartoons of today are terrible. This was definitely a plus for this animated film. However, the story did not do too much for me. I was hoping for a lot more of Iron Man, but the film mostly centers around Captain America. Again, I have never read the comic, so I can't tell if this is true to the original story. Also, the film was laughably short. Only 70 minutes. But I guess that is to expect from an animated film.

Overall, a fun time-waster. Fans will definitely love the film. I unfortunately, was never really a fan of most of the heroes in this film, so I guess I just didn't get it.

The Cave (2005)

Not bad, but not great either.

[2 January 2006]

Well, once again, we get another clone of Aliens / Predator from Hollywood. Guess they are seriously running out of ideas. Well, at least this one is not a bad clone.

The Cave is about a team of deep-sea divers who are called to investigate a newly discovered cave in the Carpathian Mountains. Little do they know, that life already exists deep in the underground caverns.

Again, the film is not original, but it is not totally bad. Most of the scenes are very dark, and it is hard to really make out the creatures attacking. I suppose the creatures weren't too life like, therefore they tried to hide them with quick editing and hardly any lighting. The acting is also very mediocre in this film, which has been typical in this genre of late.

A fun popcorn movie, but not something I would recommend to anyone in particular. If you like the Sci-Fi / Horror genre, stick with the Alien franchise, you will be disappointed in this one.

Venom (2005)

Typical slasher film....but still a lot of fun.

[2 January 2006]

So shoot me...I have a soft spot for slasher films, so "Venom" was a fun little horror film for me. I had never heard of it, but luckily I have access to rental screeners before they are released, otherwise I never would have seen this film.

Typical story, guy gets killed, guy comes back to life, guy starts killing people. Though this time it takes place in the swamps of Louisiana instead of Camp Crystal Lake. A bit of voodoo gets thrown in just for good measure.

Sure, the story isn't the greatest, and it's not going to win any Oscars for best actors, but the film still is a fun little time waster for all horror fans out there.

If you enjoy the slasher films of the late 70's and the 80's, be sure to check this one out. Could be a surprise for you. Otherwise, steer clear of this film.

Peter Pan (2003)

Wonderful family film!

[28 December 2005]

I am pretty sure that everyone reading this knows the story of Peter Pan, the boy who refuses to grow up. I'm sure many people have seen the Disney Animated Classic, or have read the book, or even seen the stage play. Now, we get a live action film of one of the most beloved children's stories of all time.

Peter Pan tells the story of three siblings who love stories of pirates and adventure. Fearing growing up, the trio are visited by Peter Pan, the boy that refuses to grow up. With his help, they are whisked away to Never Never Land, where they meet the scary Captain Hook, and have many adventures!

The special effects in the film are great! From the beautiful landscapes, to the effects of Tinkerbell, you can definitely see that this film had a big budget. The cast is also fantastic! From the child actors, to the adults, they all do a fantastic job in bringing this classic to the screen.

For some unknown reason, this film bombed at the box office, but don't let that stop anyone from seeing this magical piece of film. A great film for the whole family to enjoy!

Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977)

Unnecessary sequel.....

[28 December 2005]

After many years, I finally purchased and viewed this film for the first time. Utter trash!

This story takes place years after the events of the first film. Regan, once again played by Linda Blair, is trying to be a normal teenager. With the help of a priest and her psychiatrist, she begins to remember the original demonic possession that happened to her years ago.

Totally unnecessary film is incoherent, and not scary at all! The original film was a classic, and this film, as well as the other sequels, are just trying to cash in on the success of the original.

The original was genius, this film is a turd! Avoid at all costs!

Wedding Crashers (2005)

Hilarious film, that sadly turns into a romantic comedy....

[29 July 2005]

With all the hype and hoopla surrounding this movie, I finally caved and went to see it. Sure, "Wedding Crashers" has some extremely hilarious moments, but in the end, it turns into your basic romantic comedy.

Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughan star as two life-long friends who's main goal in life is to sneak into weddings to indulge on the free food, booze, and scores of hot chicks. Little did either of them know, that one of them was going to fall for one of these girls.

Some incredibly hilarious moments in the film make it a better than average comedy. However, I must say, I've been to tons of weddings, and NEVER have I seen or danced with women like the one's portrayed in this film. Typical Hollywood, only beautiful women.

By far the funniest film this year, and one that you should go out of your way to see. Either on the big screen, or just wait for the DVD release.

Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)

The best in the prequel trilogy.....the second best of all six films....

[9/10 · 29 July 2005]

After almost 30 years, the Star Wars saga is finally done. I for one, am sad to see this film series go. For me, these were more than films, these were a cultural impact while I was growing up, and bring back many memories of my childhood. With that said, "Revenge of the Sith" goes out with a huge bang, and brilliantly sets the stage for the original trilogy filmed a long time ago.

At the start of the film, the clone wars are in full swing. Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker are caught in a huge space battle over the planet Coruscant. Their mission, to rescue Chancellor Palpatine from the clutches of the evil Count Dooku. The opening shots are just breathless, with cutting edge technology, and edge of the seat action. I can write forever about the actual story of the film, but I will leave that for those that have not seen it, as I do not want to spoil it for the one or two people out there that have not seen it.

Anakin Skywalker's fall towards the dark side is a compelling story, and finally, after two "decent" films, we all get what we are looking for. Although I find the reason for Anakin's turn to be somewhat weak, when he finally does turn, all hell breaks loose! Hayden Christiansen has much improved as the tortured Anakin from the previous installment, "Attack of the Clones". He actually seems to show some emotion in this film.

Ewen McGregor is fantastic as young Obi-Wan Kenobi. There are certain scenes in this film where is is strikingly similar to the original Obi-Wan, Sir Alec Guiness.

However, the star of the film is not the story, and not even the amazing special effects. The main character that totally blew me away, with incredible acting, and an overall great character, was Ian McDiermand's portrayal of Chancellor Palpatine. Ian brought a credibility to the character, and watching him hiss and sneer as he turned into the supreme Emperor was engrossing!

Overall, "Revenge of the Sith" is a fantastic end to 30 years of excellent story telling from George Lucas, and a great end to the Star Wars universe. A fantastic summer movie full of action and special effects, this movie is definitely a bang for the buck! Thanks George for the great memories these last 30 years. Here's hoping we can get more adventure in that galaxy far far away.

Driven (2001)

Stallone's best in years.....and that's not saying much.....

[19 June 2005]

"Driven" is one of the few films that Stallone has done in recent years, that I somewhat enjoyed. Unfortunately, Renny Harlin had to direct the film.

Stallone plays a retired veteran driver who is brought back into the world of racing by Burt Reynolds, to help mentor a young rookie, played by Kip Pardue.

This film does have some great racing scenes, however, much of the film plays like an overlong music video, thanks to the terrible directing of Renny Harlin. Also, a lot of the scenes are very fake looking, thanks to the terrible computer graphics. Still, we do get to see the gorgeous Gina Gershon.

Definitely not a film everyone will enjoy, and race fans will tell you that the racing scenes are way too fictional. Still, I did enjoy it somewhat, and seeing Toronto take the place of other cities, cracked me up.

Are We There Yet? (2005)

Enjoyable film!

[26 May 2005]

This is yet another film that I almost did not view, due to all the negative reviews, and the 3.5 rating. Once again, I took a look, and was pleasantly surprised. This is actually a pretty funny film!!

Ice Cube stars as Nick, a sports memorabilia store owner, who falls head over heals for a woman that works across the street. Unfortunately, Nick hates children, and this woman has two kids! To try to win her heart over, he agrees to take the kids to Vancouver on New Year's Eve, where their mother is working. This is where the mayhem begins!

This is probably my favorite Ice Cube film that I have seen. He was genuinely funny, and can really hold his own in the comedy department. Some of the scenes really had me laughing, and the kids were great co-stars to Cube.

A fun film that the family (with older children) can enjoy. Parents may want to watch this film before letting their younger fry check it out, due to some language.

Assault on Precinct 13 (2005)

An exciting, violent action film!

[4 May 2005]

Now, before you criticize me, I have never seen the original John Carpenter version of this film. Being a huge fan, I really should see it, and after seeing this remake, I will definitely track down the original to see if it is as good as this film. I had a blast!

New Years in Detroit, a cold winter's morning as Precinct 13 prepares to close it's doors and move to a new building. There are only three people in the building on New Year's Eve, and as a storm draws closer, a criminal being transported to a maximum security center is re-routed to the deserted precinct. Only, there are some other people that would like to get closer to the villain.

Very exciting story and excellent acting by both Ethan Hawke and Laurence Fishbourne take this action over the edge. Some people may find the film ultra violent, but violence on the big screen never bothered me, so I enjoyed it quite a lot! Definitely worth a look for action fans, and fans of the original who are curious. However, those that are disturbed by violent images, would like to steer clear of this film.

The Amityville Horror (2005)

Good old fashioned horror film!

[3 May 2005]

Now, it's been years, and I mean YEARS since I saw the original "Amityville Horror", but one thing I do remember, is that I thought that film lacked something. Not only was it not scary, but I remember being bored out of my tree. Now, years later, Hollywood remakes the original, and they did a great job in my opinion!

"The Amityville Horror" tells the story of the Lutz family, who in 1975, move into their dream home in Amityville, New York. Unfortunately for the family, they are not aware of it's dark past, and slowly, George Lutz begins to fall prey to the evil spirits in the house, tearing his once happy existence apart.

The story is basically the same as the original (from what I remember), but with the new advances in special effects technology, the horror that the family lives through comes to life. I really enjoyed the film, and genuinely jumped out of my seat a few times. Another plus for this film is seeing the vintage KISS posters and shirts in the film. KISS have always been one of my favorite bands, and seeing them in the young sons room was an added surprise.

Definitely not one of the best horror films around, but horror fans may wish to take a look, as they may be pleasantly surprised, as I was.

Starwoids (2001)

Makes Star Wars fans look like complete idiots.....

[14 April 2005]

Since I heard about this movie, I was really looking forward to checking it out. I finally got a copy from my online DVD rental company, and boy, was I disappointed!! Not at all what I expected! "Starwoids" basically tells the story about a bunch of losers waiting in line for the first prequel in the Star Wars films.

With a cast of losers, what can you like about this film!??! Now, I am a mega Star Wars fan, but these guys are just total geeks!! This film made me feel embarrassed at times to even be a fan of this film series! I wouldn't wait in line a few hours for the chance to sleep with Elizabeth Hurley, let alone wait in line 40 freaking days to see a freaking movie!!! Even if that film is a Star Wars film!!

I was hoping that this film would show stuff about the collectors and collectibles. Really, we do not need a 80 minute movie seeing a bunch of virgins waiting in line 40 days to see a movie. Again, this film made me feel ashamed to be a fan of Star Wars.

I just have one thing to say about the people in this film....get a freaking life!!

The Fantastic Four (1994)

The worst superhero film ever made!!!

[13 April 2005]

The Fantastic Four is a terrible, terrible film. Never have I seen such a horrendous superhero film. Thank the maker that this film is unreleased, and hopefully will stay that way.

The film focuses on the incredible feats of the Fantastic Four as they battle Dr. Doom.

From laughable special effects, a plot that is not even there, and terrible acting skills, this is one film that comic book fans should avoid like the plague! Let's hope that the new film due out summer 2005 is much better than this. Also, lets hope that the movie studios try not to cash in on that project, and release this turd to the unsuspecting public.

Avoid at all costs!!!

Elektra (2005)

Fun superhero film!

[29 March 2005]

Growing up, I loved all of Marvel's characters. However, the two that I was never really exposed to were Daredevil, and Elektra. So, having no comic book resources to go by, the film "Elektra" is still a fun superhero film!

Jennifer Garner plays Elektra, an assassin who is called upon to kill a father and his thirteen year old daughter. However, Elektra can not bring herself to kill them, and soon finds herself protecting them from a secret group called The Hand. Only now, she has also made herself a target.

Jennifer Garner is great as Elektra, a sexy ass-kicking woman. It was nice to see both Goran Visnjic and Terrance Stamp, I really enjoy these men as actors.

The special effects in this film are top notch. The only thing lacking however is the story. It seems to borrow from many other films. It mostly reminded me of "The Golden Child" for some reason. Even one scene had me laughing, since it reminded me of "The Karate Kid".

Though there are far superior superhero films out there to choose, Elektra is still a fun film that most comic book lovers will enjoy. Plus, you just can't turn down a film that has the beautiful Jennifer Garner in that scrumptious red suit.

Lethal Weapon 3 (1992)

Another great addition to the Lethal Weapon series!

[27 March 2005]

Once again, we get Mel Gibson and Danny Glover together as the irresistible cop dual Murtoch and Riggs, and once again, this sequel works magic!

Murtoch and Riggs discover a new type of weapon has hit the streets, armor piercing bullets. These bullets are called cop-killers since they can pierce the body armor that the LAPD uses. Now, together with Leo (played once again by Joe Pesci) and Lorna (played by Rene Russo), the cop duo hit the streets of LA looking for the supplier.

With endless action, terrific stunts, and of course, the comedy that has become a staple of this film, "Lethal Weapon 3" is an amazing film not to be missed by action fans. The on screen chemistry of Glover and Gibson just gets better and better in each new entry in the series, while the chemistry between Gibson and Russo is a nice addition.

Once again, an excellent action film. Don't miss this one!

Lethal Weapon (1987)

Best buddy cop movie ever made!

[26 March 2005]

Mel Gibson and Danny Glover are sensational in "Lethal Weapon", the first in a long series of excellent buddy cop films.

Danny Glover stars as Murtoch, a veteran on the LAPD. When his friends daughter is found dead, he is teamed with the volatile Riggs (played superbly by Gibson), and the two of them try to find the killers.

Mel Gibson is sensational as the lethal weapon. An out of control suicidal cop. He brings genuine humor and an attitude that everyone can relate to to his character. Danny Glover equally shines in his role. A family man, who just turned 50, and just wants to survive.

Excellent action sequences, a great plot and the chemistry of the leading actors brings this film to the top of the genre. Plus, the comedy supplied by Gibson is an added touch to the film.

This is one film that action fans definitely do not want to miss!

Dark Prince: The True Story of Dracula (2000 TV Movie)

Good interpretation of the history of Vlad Dracula

[26 March 2005]

I have always been fascinated by the history of Vlad Dracula, and am glad that someone finally decided to make a film of this fascinating man. Low budget or not, this film is a great interpretation of the history of the legend.

Not your typical Dracula film, this film tells the story of the real Dracula, who inspired the story by Bram Stoker. It shows his birth, to his reign as prince of Romania, to his death. Some of the scenes are based on fact, others, I'm sure, were written just for the film. I have quite a few historical books about the man, and yes, the atrocities shown in this movie, were in fact done by the man.

The film was filmed in Romania and Hungary, so that does add to the realism of the story. The film is low budget, but even so, the sword fights had excellent choreography, and the special effects were above par for the budget. The only drawback for me was the length. Only 90 minutes.

All in all, this movie is worth a rental by both historical buffs, and horror fans. Hopefully someone will make a big screen version of this story one day. It sure does deserve one.

Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995)

Third times a charm!

[25 March 2005]

This third film in the Die Hard movie series, is just as action packed and funny as the previous films.

Once again, Bruce Willis stars as John McClane. John McClane is about to have a really bad day. Not only does he wake up with a huge hangover, but there is a mad bomber loose in New York City called Simon, and he seems to have a beef with our hero. So, once again John McClane is here to save the day. With the help of unlikely hero Zeus (played by Samuel L Jackson), John McClane goes through all of NYC, to try to stop the next bomb from going off.

Once again in this fantastic series, the stunts are incredible, the car chase scenes are simply fantastic, and the chemistry between Willis and Jackson is fantastic! I find their chemistry to be the magic in this film, some of the lines they come up with are hilarious! This is a great ending to a great series. If they do make a fourth entry, lets hope it can live up to this one.

A great film for action buffs. Do not miss it!

Fat Albert (2004)

Hey, hey hey! Fun for the whole family!

[24 March 2005]

Reading all the bad reviews "Fat Albert" has gotten here, I really don't know what people are thinking. This is a fun movie that the whole family can enjoy!

Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids are cartoon characters on a daily television show. However, when Fat Albert hears a girl from the real world crying, he and the gang step into the real world to help her out.

This film was very enjoyable for me. I really loved the cartoon when I was growing up, and it was nice to see the characters again. It would be nice for the original series to go back into reruns. The story was okay, nothing special, however, the film does leave you with a good feeling. This film will teach some youngsters of the new generation, some of the lessons that Fat Albert taught my generation every Saturday morning.

If you are looking for a film to share with your children, you can not miss with "Fat Albert". There are no adult references as in some other kids films....just an easy story, and a few lessons to be learned.

Hey, hey, hey! Check it out with your family today!

A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)

Another stunning film from Spielberg.

[20 March 2005]

"A.I." is one DVD that has been sitting in my DVD collection for almost three years, and tonight, I finally decided to watch it. Now I am sorry I did not watch this film before. Simply stunning!

David is a young Mecha, a clone of a human boy. Designed to give the love of a child to a lonely woman following a tragic loss that left her real son in a coma. After her real son revives and moves back home, they leave David in the woods to fend for himself. David goes in search of the Blue Fairy, after hearing the story of Pinnochio, so that she may turn him into a real boy.

The special effects in this film are simply incredible. What we have come to expect from Industrial Light and Magic. The story is very touching. It kept my interest for the full 2 and a half hours that the movie ran for. Jude Law as Gigolo Joe was also great. It was a shame that he was not in the film longer. I am really beginning to like him as an actor.

Simply put, this is one film that everyone should see. It took me 3 years to watch it, put I am glad that I finally did.

The Goonies (1985)

A fun adventure film the whole family can enjoy.

[20 March 2005]

It has been years since I saw "The Goonies", when I was 10 years old back in 1985, it was one of my favorite movies. I recently found the movie on DVD, and it still has all the charm and fun that I remember.

The Goonies are a group of friends who's families are being evicted from their homes by a rich family to make way for a new country club. On a typical Saturday afternoon, the boys find a treasure map in their father's attic, and decide to try to track down the treasure to save their homes.

With a great fun story, classic comedy lines, "The Goonies" is definitely a film that the whole family can watch. It is interesting to see Sean Astin as a young boy. How different he looked! Josh Brolin was also great.

This is your typical 80's film, but is timeless and still stands up today. Check it out with your kids. It is worth the effort to find on DVD.

Hollow Man (2000)

Great special effects....standard slasher thriller.....

[15 March 2005]

"Hollow Man" has fantastic special effects that almost make up for the standard slasher thriller that this film in actuality is.

Dr. Sebastian Caine (played by Kevin Bacon) is a scientist working for the U.S government. After successfully taking animals and making them invisible, and visible again, Sebastian decides to be the guinea pig, and use his own body as the first human experiment. The experiment succeeds, however, as each day passes that Sebastian is invisible, he slowly begins to go insane.

The story starts off as an interesting science fiction story, however, it slowly turns into a typical slasher film towards the end. The special effects are excellent, and are worth watching.

All in all, a decent popcorn flick, but those looking for more story, and less blood and guts in their thrillers, may wish to veer elsewhere.

Cellular (2004)

Great thrill ride from beginning to end....

[14 March 2005]

"Cellular" is one top notch thriller that should not be missed by anyone that enjoys fast paced, thrilling stories. Definitely one of the better thrillers I have seen in years.

A young man receives a mysterious phone call on his cell phone from a woman claiming to have been kidnapped. Soon, the young man realizes that this is no prank phone call, and attempts to help the woman escape from her captors, and save her son and husband who have also been targeted by the kidnappers.

Excellent story had me on the edge of my seat throughout the rather short 90 minute run time. The plot twists were great and well thought out. It was also nice to see Kim Basinger in a good role, although I do have to say that she did not age too gracefully.

Definitely a film all thriller fans should pick up. You will be pleasantly surprised. Although this film did not fare well at the box office, I believe that this will be a sleeper hit on DVD and video.

Flight of the Phoenix (2004)

Entertaining and enjoyable film.

[13 March 2005]

Reading some of the reviews here, I don't understand why a lot of people do not like the 2004 version of this film. Granted, I have never seen the original, so I can never make the comparison. Nevertheless, "Flight of the Phoenix" is still a very enjoyable film.

After a devastating plane crash in the Mongolian desert, the survivors of the crash must band together to build a new plane from the wreckage. But with a limited amount of water and food, their time is slowly running out.

Sure, the film is predictable, but the story kept me interested. Some of the effects in the opening scene of the sandstorm that brings the plane down, were awful. However, don't believe all the bad reviews here. If you liked previous disaster type flicks, I am sure you will enjoy this one.

Definitely worth the rental, and because of this one, I will definitely be on the lookout to see the original.