jexlin01 Reviews

Magnum Force (1973)

Best Terrorism Movie

[10/10 · 5 May 2009]

Dirty Harry takes on the Death Squad of rookie cops- all Special Forces veterans. For 1973, the violence of the film makes today's action films meek by comparison. It features assassinations, bombings, shooting sprees, and bare-handed murder scenes in explicit detail. The former Marine Dirty Harry-Red Astrachan fight to the death gave me chills! It is the best terrorism movie bar none. The forerunner to Lethal Weapon and Die Hard, its the perfect Post-9/11 film about the lone cop who stumbles on a secret organization- and lives to tell. "A man's got to know his limitations." is the best line. All the casting is excellent as is cinematography and dialogue. Look for David Soul and Tim Matheson in early roles.

9/10

The Civil War (1990)

Never forget..

[9/10 · 10 May 2007]

Living next to Antietam- the bloodiest single day of the Civil War, I am always reminded of the men who were claimed from an orderly violence performed to reunite a nation. I screened this in 1996-97 as a student who knew next to nothing about the war and my ancestors. I've been to most museums and parks and reenactments in my area, but to take in a recreation of the voices of the actual figures of the war gives the documentary a realism so strong it can be riveting. "It was not war-it was murder," begins a segment on the futile charges ordered by U.S. Grant at Cold Harbor in 1864, where 7,000 men were killed in 7 minutes. Following that, we come to the details of the failed crater attack of the Petersburg defenses where the Federals were fair game in a deep pit blasted through the defensive breastworks. The blend of narration and period photography is unique mix of media.

One Man War

A Good Ol' Boy Action Flick

[7/10 · 13 February 2007]

This country vigilante tale centers around the homecoming of singer Cole Jackson (Haggerty) who discovers strange happenings centered around his brother, redneck crooks, and the FBI. It has clever dialogue ("I've never been shot before"), Dukes of Hazzard-style chases, as well as a collection of firearms from Ruger revolvers to Colt Peacemakers to hunting rifles to tactical shotguns. All of which are pointed at someone during the course of the action. The movie title says it all as it ends with a war between the do-good Jackson brothers and their tormentors that hassle them. The film reminds me some of Road House and Fire Down Below. It was a great find as a Dan Haggerty fan since childhood.

Combat! (1962–1967)

Season four DVD stands at attention!

[8/10 · 7 October 2006]

Season four of this WWII drama stands out with several intense episodes such as "The Steeple," on which a paratrooper is stuck on a church. A Nazi officer leaves his body hanging to gloat to the French villagers. Vic Morrow makes many attempts to save the very alive airborne officer. In "The Odyssey" Morrow feigns to be in shellshock and wears a German uniform to fool the Nazis in to believing he is one of their own. In "Hellbeast" he and Frank Groshin (the Riddler from Batman) command a disabled German tank in a desperate attempt to get to friendly lines. All are nail biting episodes today as well as 45 years ago. I never heard of this show until recent years. Well worth the wait.

WWF Superstars (1986–2001)

In the early 80s, the WWF was the wild west!

[8/10 · 7 October 2006]

Before the WWF became cartoon with Hulk Hoagan leading the way, the events of WWF TV broadcasts of the very early 1980s resembled the wild, wild west with all kinds of grudges and vicious acts of violence performed by some of the wrestlers that are known today to be the WWF's most beloved stars. Some of these seemingly very real moments stand out. A maniacal Sgt. Slaughter whipped then champion Bob Backlund with a riding crop after Backlund showed him up in a fitness test. Welts were all over Backlund! Sarge made the Iron Shiek look like a daycare provider! Slaughter also issued a challenge to anyone who could break his dreaded cobra clutch hold. This led a legendary and bloody alley match with commentator Pat Patterson. Hall of Fame member Blackjack Mulligan with Freddie Blassie came into the WWF with a claw hold that was censored on television. He claimed he was the true giant at 6'7" and challenged Andre long before Big John Studd in 1984. Adrian Adonis used his ominously named "Good Night, Irene" sleeper to take out the competition. A New Yorker clad in black leather, he was an ominous figure. George "the Animal" Steele was far from a crowd pleaser, as well. Even Jimmy Snuka was a fearsome sight as he set out maim opponents until Ray "the Crippler" Stevens delivered a piledriver onto the cement floor leaving Snuka a bloody mess. All these encounters took place a decade before hardcore wrestling was ever spoken of.

The Firm: Total Body - Aerobic Interval Training (1995 Video)

Sandhal Bergman looks nothing like her Conan role..

[7/10 · 7 October 2006]

Sandhal Bergman shines as our instructor in this fast-paced sweaty workout video in the Firm series of the 90s. Her tangerine leotard and red-tinted hair looks nothing like her role as Arnold's amazonian lover in Conan the Barbarian (1982). But she is excellent as class leader as this video features intense leg exercises for an excellent fat-burning workout. My edition also features a bonus Firm workout documentary about benefits of the video workout series. I don't believe I have seen Bergman's other films, however, I did see that she has aged well after a lifetime of dance and exercise on VH1 I Love the 80s as a commentator for a brief moment.

Summerslam (1990 TV Special)

The tremors of the late, great Earthquake..

[10/10 · 4 October 2006]

Roddy Piper joined Vince McMahon to comment this standout SummerSlam event of the good old days of WWF action. Power $ Glory took it to the original Rockers in a sneak attack before the bell. Watch for the final, wild moments of the Hulk Hogan-Earthquake revenge bout. Big Bossman was in Hulster's corner. He rushes the ring with a chair as Hogan is held up in a vicious choke hold-the, one, two shots to the 5-foot wide back of Earthquake (John Tenta)! Piper screams in disbelief to Mr. McMahon: "Did you see the welts on his back from that chair!" A steel cage main event title match follows with the late Rick Rude challenging his toughest opponent then WWF champion The Ultimate Warrior.

Bad (1992 Video)

Not a deeeeep plot for a John Leslie title.

[6/10 · 16 September 2006]

This is my third John Leslie adult title...he was most certainly, the premier adult director of the early 1990s video era. Dr. Deeeeep is hilariously wacky. Jamie Gillis doesn't perform- but just contributes endless obscenities during one of Leslie's trademark voyeurism scenes (watch for this!). He also includes his trademark dance sequences- although very brief in this title. Not much of a plot here compared to Leslie's more compelling work in such releases as Cat Woman and Peter North's performance in 1992's Angels (highly recommended, by the way). I even read that this title was a so-called potboiler and was also very short. It was the only Leslie title available to rent in my area.

Walk Away the Pounds with Leslie Sansone: High Calorie Burn - 2 Miles (2001 Video)

A reliable title to own.

[10/10 · 16 September 2006]

Check your local library for a cheap source of exercise videos such as this one that I used some years ago. You are simply walking in place with the video host who limits her props to ball-shaped hand weights for a little extra resistance. The accessibility of this title and series is you are simply walking and are still walking at the end of the title. Talk about using it any time! A rainy day, a blizzard, morning, noon, night, heat waves, traveling, college, urban areas, are all factors in limiting walking for exercise. But this simple video offers a simple solution. And it also limits the amount of pesky equipment people often have to sell.

The Firm: Total Body - Better Body and Buns (1998 Video)

Caution: Get Ready To Sweat..

[9/10 · 16 September 2006]

Get ready to sweat with this total body workout tape from '98. I paid a penny for the VHS and could not have picked a better exercise video. Get ready dumbbells, squats of all types, Pilates, dance moves, and aerobics. The drawback is the number of workout tools from steps and boxes to dowel rods. A lot of clutter. The instructors are sweet and motivating in their delivery, ending with "Good workout!" at the forty-five minute mark. ***In commenting on this tape, I feel an urge to stress that all IMDb users should try to post more comments on exercise titles.*** With the problems we have today with obesity, it's a necessity.

*******9 Dumbbells OUT OF 10 ( :-: X9/10)*********

Deep Throat V (1991 Video)

How clever to pick a different actress..

[7/10 · 25 August 2006]

A hotter, blonde Linda Lovelace has just lost her job. She studies and dreams about Roman-era orgy practices featuring butter and wine. Some of the performers stand out in a good effort by director and narrator Ron Jeremy. The first few moments recap the previous four films moving from the 1972 film to the 90s video installments with Victoria Paris. The film, however, doesn't live up to its name. But the dream scenes give the film some life in how the story is told. Whoever played the professor was a rough-looking customer if ever cast in this type of movie. In the end, Linda uses her dreams to her advantage in a happy ending.

The Cat Woman (1988 Video)

A one-night stand brings out the animal in a fashion photographer!

[10/10 · 12 August 2006]

A one-night stand brings out the animal in a fashion photographer! Actor-Director-Writer John Leslie blends a number of genres in this adult masterpiece. Great effects, erotic thrillers, horror, and humor all come together here. However, the 80s fashion dates the film. Watch for the dance number! Right or wrong in his career choice, Leslie is indeed a standout- as is the Cat Woman! Of note, many articles have been written about Leslie's film style and praise his cleverness in blending skin with story. I would recommend this to a wide demographic which seems to be what Leslie was setting his sights on. I have even heard Cat Woman called the greatest adult title ever made. J. Exline

Highlander: The Final Dimension (1994)

Several good elements come together here!

[28 July 2004]

A good revenge plot drives this third Highlander installment. An old enemy similar to the Kurgan of the first film, escapes an entombment after 400 years and begins a quest for the head of McLeod. Kane- the Sorceror -makes a great villain and blends into modern America easily with his tattoos and piercings. The film also boasts some Conan elements with Mako again playing a wizard named Nagano and there also some f/x similar to T-2 as the sorceror's power is made apparent. Debra Unger is also a plus as a smokin' leading lady who provides the best and sweatiest sex scene of the "Highlander" cycle. There are also some great locales used in the film. From snowy Japan to African deserts to the Scottish Highlands, the film features all three beautifully. McLeod also has an adopted son and is hounded by a new NYC detective who is wise to his immortal habits. But through it all, he keeps his cool demeanor. However, the soundtrack leaves much to be desired. 7/10. Check out the DVD!