jr-daboss Reviews

Vanishing Point (1997 TV Movie)

Simply Unnecessary

[11 August 2011]

I'll start by stating that I have not seen the original 1971 "Vanishing Point", yet. I only picked this movie up from the library because the title stood out after I had remembered it mentioned several times in "Quentin Tarantino's Death Proof", and it was the only copy there. No original. So I took a look.

First off the whole religion/spirituality theme underlying the whole movie was very unnecessary and forced. Several people are seen performing the signs of the cross, Kowalski's conversion to Catholicism is very prevalent, and even the doctor he contacts at the hospital his wife is at, is named Nazren. Sounds a lot like Nazarene or Nazareth. So the whole religious side of the film was unnecessary.

The Flashback/Dream sequences were edited very poorly. It takes a second before you realize it's really a flashback/dream because they are edited into the current scene like it's similar scene or parallel moment somewhere else.

And finally the action. I love car chases in film. Movies like Death Proof and Gone in 60 Seconds have amazing car chases, with lots of crashes, side by side collisions, all the fun stuff. This film has some decent car chase sequences but they are split apart too many times to make way for the drama that it really tarnishes the adrenaline rush they should be evoking. Not only that but they are not spectacular. The first few are a bit of a rush because you he has his "mission" and he means to fulfill it. But after a while, with all the stops and drama, the action not only feels less engaging or tense but the action itself feels a little tired, as in the stunts and speedy feeling become less and less powerful and amazing.

The story was simple but with all the "hero" messages and religion "advertising" it started to feel too contrived and mixed up. Finish it off with a poorly written and COMPLETELY unnecessarily ambiguous ending and you get 1997 "Vanishing Point".

Again I have not seen the original (something I will get on top of ASAP), so I can't decided for myself how it holds up but my experience with this film has strengthened my powers of clairvoyance and they say: "It doesn't..."

The Thing (1982)

Slow, Haunting, Slient... True Horror

[10/10 · 10 June 2011]

I'll be honest, this is the first John Carpenter film I've really seen. I saw Big Trouble in Little China when I was a little kid so I wasn't paying attention the way i do now that I'm older, so that doesn't really count. This is the first John Carpenter film I have seen with an attentive attitude.

Before watching this I never knew who John Carpenter was. But he always intrigued me. I'd walk through the DVDs at Borders and see John Carpenter's The Thing or Escape From NY. I wanted horror one day and bought The Thing with no expectations... Perfect purchase.

From the opening to the finish I was hooked. The way the film opens with little to no music, just some synth bass popping in every so often, really makes the film more mysterious right off the bat. Why Ennio Morricone's score would be nominated for a Razzie is beyond me since considering the film and genre it fits perfectly.

The fact that the crew doesn't fight the alien by going all guns blazing is very reminiscent of Alien. These aren't soldiers, these are scientists and workers. No professional combat experience here. They have to rely on their wits and their peers to survive. Tensions begin to run higher and higher as the film progresses. It doesn't get any easier as the creature picks off and replaces each crew member one by one, making the one-by-one scenario a bit more terrifying because not only are people dying but the alien is mimicking them so nobody knows who's dead and who's an alien.

The special effects are top notch for the time. In fact I thing it's better than some CG effects that appear today. With CG effects the first thing crossing my mind is noticing all the imperfections. Physical effects actually feel real and much more believable, which made the transformation sequences pretty disturbing.

The acting is first rate as well. All the characters felt believable as did their relationships with each other during the rising fear and tension. And Kurt Russel is a joy as always.

Again on the music. The lack of music actually helps define the lonely mood and sense of claustrophobic solitude in the arctic wasteland. It deserves an Emmy not a Razzie.

Final Rating: 10/10 Right on par with Alien.

Scooby-Doo and the Witch's Ghost (1999 Video)

One of the best of the animated movies.

[10/10 · 8 January 2011]

I will start by confessing that I have not seen all of the animated Direct-to-Video Scooby Doo movies. The ones I have seen, on cartoon network years ago, were the early ones and in my opinion the better ones. I have seen Zombie Island, Witch's Ghost, some of Alien Invaders, and The Cyber Chase.

Zombie Island and Witches Ghost are by far my absolute favorites because their plots deviate far from the original series plot. It allowed for the Scooby Doo franchise to explore real horror elements and show events with supernatural elements.

Note: Don't get me wrong. The Original Series is still one of the greatest shows ever.

Now Witch's Ghost.

It pulls off the supernatural-under-the-illusion-of-petty-masked-crime beautifully just like in Zombie Island. It gives the audience the same feeling like they are investigating another simple crime but realize that there really is a supernatural force at work without it being too far fetched.

Tim Curry, one of my favorite creepy actors, gives an excellent performance as Ben Ravencroft a horror writer whose family name has some dark history that he wants to clear up. He delivers his role quite well and gives fruitful character development. The additional Hex Girls, a Gothic Metal band, are another very nice addition, if a bit darker and mature for very young minds. Led by Thorn, voiced by the veteran video game voice actress Jennifer Hale, The Hex Girls provide some additional metal music for their introduction and for the credits.

These new characters as well the original gang provided an excellent cast for another grand supernatural adventure. This movie provides plenty of laughs, light scares, and a simple yet solid plot that anyone can appreciate.

As Tim Curry, Jennifer Hale, Metal and Scooby Doo-fan My opinion may seem biased. But realize that this is a kid's family movie, a genre that has now degenerated into blatantly unintelligent works of absurd fiction without a shred of cleverness or brilliance. This and other Scooby Doo movies (not the live action ones) have stayed true to what can be called proper Family Film values. It has comedy without being a straight-up comedy, it has peril without being traumatic, it has horror without being nightmarish, and it has dialog (one very important key element) that is simple enough that children can understand it easily, but not so lame and dumb that anyone else would find it irritating. It is a film for all ages and a very good one at that. A must watch for fans of the original series, fans of the "What's New Scooby Doo" series, and anyone else who has kids for that matter.

Dragons: Fire & Ice (2004 TV Movie)

Not LotR but still an epic kids movie

[8/10 · 26 January 2010]

I caught this movie on Cartoon Network one night 6 years ago, when I was 12 years old, and was hooked. I had always been a huge fan of dragons and could not take my eyes off the screen for 5 seconds, even through commercial breaks. Unfortunately I was called away to dinner just as the plot really picked up. I never got to see the movie to the end. So later I found it at blockbuster and purchased it instantly. That was money well spent.

Now, at 18 years old, I still enjoy this movie. The length is good enough to keep a child's attention and still serve the story with good pacing. The animation has a simple, unique 3D cell-shading style. The action scenes were very well animated, and not overly violent. All kids can enjoy a small dose of "Lord of the Rings" every now and then. Even though the whole animation looks a bit stiff sometimes it's not that important. I try not to let technical flaws like continuity or stiff motion gte in the way of the actual movie.

The acting is nothing Oscar-worthy. But at least its better than some other kids movies and TV shows out there with appalling acting (i.e. Care Bears, Nick Jr. shows...). There are some serious moments, but not that serious. There's is a good blend of comedy even during the action.

Mark Hildreth (Prince Dev) does a pretty good job of making a strong-hearted, yet impulsive, warrior with a smooth blend of some comic relief to brighten up the mood.

Chiara Zanni (Princess Kyra) is pretty much Mark's polar opposite. She has the same desires for peace but she has a more spicy attitude. Both their fathers do there parts well as the old "wise" veterans.

Mark Oliver (Xenos) plays the dragon ambassador between the two warring kingdoms. He does a good job at being a wise wizard of sorts while keeping certain secrets.

Some say the characters were predictable. Maybe the heroes but not the villain. Considering the audience, I don't think kids would pick up on the villain's hints of evil. As a kid when I say it for the first time I had no idea of the big plot twist in the middle. So for the sake of the plot, the acting is well served.

The concept of of two "rebellious teens" from warring factions seeking peace or unity has always intrigued me. The "Romeo and Juliet" style plot is always good to watch. It shows how people must stop looking at petty differences between cultures and unite together to defeat evil. Today that may never happen but I always keep hoping.

On the whole this is a good movie for kids, a very good movie for dragon fans, and a decent movie for everyone else.