tangwen Reviews

The Initiation of Sarah (2006 TV Movie)

Starts slow but ends in a conflagration.

[8/10 · 22 October 2006]

I saw this movie on ABC Family's "13 Nights of Horror". I began watching it because of the cast, specifically Summer Glau of Firefly and Serenity (The 4400, Sleepover, etc) renown. It's a slow starter, but if you're a fan of mild horror and teen flicks, I think you'll find enough to keep you interested. The actors seem to take some time to get into their roles, but around the halfway mark the performances become quite sound and the plot really starts to click. Jennifer Tilly delivers a solid, if slightly bizarre, performance as the nutty occult professor, and Morgan Fairchild can't help but please as the image-conscious, pushy sorority mother. Basic plot, no spoilers: twin sisters arrive at Temple Hill University as legacies to the elite sorority Alpha Nu Gamma. Sarah, the blonde one (Mika Boorem) is trying to live down a history of being "the weird one" and a cutter. Lindsey, the dark one (Summer Glau), is trying to live down a history of being Sarah's sister. They elect to rush Alpha Nu Gamma until strange things start happening and Sarah decides to rush the rival sorority and discovers that the rivalry is not just about who dates the hottest guys or throws the best parties.

Slither (2006)

Heavy on the slime--go light on the popcorn

[8/10 · 31 March 2006]

I'm a Firefly/Serenity fan, so when I saw that Nathan Fillion was in this, I knew I had to see it. It helps that I love creature-based horror movies, the sillier the better. Slither is crazy, funny, and not scary enough to give me nightmares, although there were plenty of moments when I jumped and squeaked. The movie is fast-paced, alternating lots of running, smacking, or staggering action with dialogue that is only as stilted as it needs to be. What with all the running and jumping and shrieking and sliming, the ninety-six minutes went very quickly. My partner, who doesn't like creature features or cheesy movies, enjoyed my reactions as much as the movie, I think, but he did enjoy it. If you like Nathan Fillion, funny/scary movies, or ...interesting... creature effects, and you have a high tolerance for cheese and a bulletproof startle reflex, you will love this movie. If you object to profanity, especially amusing profanity, or have a serious slug phobia, I'd suggest skipping it.

Hint: be sure to stay all the way through the credits!

Maximum Velocity (2003)

Plot point saves planet.

[3/10 · 27 November 2005]

Maximum Velocity is your basic mid-budget disaster movie. The characters are superficially likable but undeveloped, the plot is predictable, and the disaster itself unlikely in the extreme. It is comprised of a potpourri of major cultural concerns: collision with an asteroid, global warming, superstorms, and the venality and hubris of the government, in this case represented by the character of Air Force General Anderson (played by B-movie veteran Michael Ironside). The plot attempts to exploit the tensions between the protagonist, Dr Briggs (Dale Midkiff) and Anderson, and the tension inherent in a small group of people in a tin can battling a superstorm for the fate of the planet, but neither attempt succeeds. I am powerfully reminded of the "climax" of the earthquake movie 10.5, when the seismologists read off the increasing power of the quake as though there is any doubt in our minds that the earthquake will in fact reach 10.5.

If you are a fan of disaster movies, in particular the lower-quality exemplars of the genre, this movie is a don't-miss solely in the interests of completeness. If, however, you'd like to see a good plot, dynamic characterization, or some semblance of feasibility, you should probably skip it. It is so far from being memorable that as I watch some of the details are fading. However, I am watching it, so if you're an undemanding disasterophile like me, watch it if you catch it on cable.

10.5 (2004)

Implausible and rather silly, but fun if you like disaster movies.

[3/10 · 20 March 2005]

"10.5" was apparently made as a miniseries; I caught it in a solid three-and-a-half hour block on cable. Some of my quibbles with this movie have to do with the pacing, which is all wrong for a feature-length film; I suspect it hung together a bit better broken into segments. The science is all over the place, but that's only to be expected from a lower-budget disaster movie. There are a couple of decent effects in this movie, but several more that are unconvincing or just plain bad. My major problem with "10.5" was its disproportionate emphasis on the family problems of the principals. I assume this was an attempt to make the characters as sympathetic as possible, but I found myself chafing at the boring and predictable familial angst and longing for a few more crashing buildings. At 165 minutes it's a significant time investment, but if you like disaster movies and don't mind bogus science and derivative plot points, give it a try.

Reign of Fire (2002)

Flaming good fun.

[9/10 · 12 July 2002]

This movie was a lot of fun. I like the creature fx--the dragon had logical construction and moved in a believable way, which is a big make-or-break for me. The plot was a bit sketchy in places, and the pacing was a little off toward the end, but all in all, I enjoyed it, and would recommend it to anyone who likes post-apocalyptic fantasy/sf movies.

I enjoyed the performance given by Izabella Scorupco, as well. She was excellent in Vertical Limit, and I've been wanting to see more of her. She did not disappoint. And of course, McConaughey was as cute as ever, even grimy and ash-streaked.

The nod to Star Wars: A New Hope had everyone rolling.