de_cafe6914 Reviews

Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004)

Excellent Sequel

[7/10 · 5 November 2006]

Resident Evil: Apocalypse is an excellent sequel in my eyes. It didn't try to mimic the first film, and did things its own way to further the storyline. However, too much action just about eliminates the horror aspect of the series, and the end is just way too out there for my tastes.

Story: Well, that pesky Umbrella Corporation doesn't know how to leave well enough alone, and re-opens the Hive, unleashing the virus onto poor Racoon City. The city becomes a necropolis, and Alice bands together with a few other survivors in an attempt to escape the city and bring Umbrella down. This time, Umbrella steps up the game, unleashing Nemesis, a monster bent on taking them out.

Direction: Alexander Witt is no Paul Anderson, but he is a grand action movie director. He brings a different style and look to this film, which I liked. However, he never really builds up any suspense or horror into this film, which was my main problem. Still, he did a solid job and made a damn good sequel.

Acting: Milla Jovovich(Alice) kept her performance from the first film, but is much tougher. She can do just about anything. Sienna Guillory(Jill) portrayed the games heroin Jill excellently, and I was not disappointed with her at all. Mm, sexy! Oded Fehr(Carlos) is one of my favorites, and as usual, he rocked the part. However, their talent seemed wasted in this film, because none of the characters really have any depth.

Score: Jeff Danna scored an action film. Not the hardest thing in the world to do, but he did so with great skill. Though, it was pretty standard stuff.

Violence: As with most sequels, the violence is kicked up a notch or two. There may be a total of five minutes in between shoot outs if we're lucky. The blood level was also increased. We get head shots, bloody gunshot wounds, zombie bites and related gore, decomposed bodies, hideous creatures, an exploded head, and impalings. Yum!

Profanity/Sexual Themes: Mike Epps was in the film. Enough said about the language. As far as sexual themes is concerned, we get to topless zombie strippers, and a naked Milla Jovovich in a tank of liquid. Nothing to invoke any wood.

Substance Abuse: None.

Overall: Overall, Resident Evil: Apocalypse is a good zombie sequel. The only thing that bothered me was that there was no real horror or suspense. Perhaps even a bit too much action, and the ending was way too far fetched. Still, I was entertained, and that is all I expected to be. 7/10

Resident Evil (2002)

Entertaining Zombie Flick

[7/10 · 5 November 2006]

Resident Evil is one of the few films based on a video game that, as a whole, didn't disappoint me. As far as I am concerned, it was a very good video game-based movie, and an entertaining zombie flick. Let me break it down.

Story: Alice, a woman with no memory, is brought into a world she doesn't understand when a team of paramilitary commandos take her down into a research lab to aid them. Apparently, the entire lab was wiped out by the area's supercomputer, entitled "Red Queen." Their mission is to wipe out the supercomputer, and determine the cause of why everyone was killed. The trouble is, a deadly virus was released through the facility, and the people that were killed are still walking around. Resident Evil is a film about conspiracy and scientific experiments gone horribly wrong.

Direction: Paul W.S. Anderson, in my opinion, is a fine director. He knows exactly what he wants to achieve in each film, and sets out to do it. Anderson knows how to build up the audience, and submerse them into a film. The pacing of the film is terrific, with just the right blend of action and horror. Anderson can work wonders with a budget, and knows how to set up the mood for the entire picture, and keep it that way. Solid! Rock on, Mr. Anderson.

Acting: This was the part where the film faltered. While not horrible, the acting isn't top par, either. Milla Jovovich(Alice) played the part of the amnesiac quite well. She was definitely the finest actor in the film. The girl has talent. Michelle Rodriguez(Rain) played her usual tomboy no-nonsense character almost as good as usual, though something was missing in this performance. Eric Mabius(Matt) did a poor job. His performance was just not believable to me. James Purefoy(Spence) is a gifted actor, and I look forward to seeing him more often. As for the rest of the cast, some were good, some were poor, and some just plain sucked.

Score: Marilyn Manson and Marco Beltrami composed a fantastic score for the film. Their combined efforts really helped set the tone for the entire movie, and fit in so well with what was going on. I loved it.

Violence: Unlike most zombie flicks, this film is not extremely gory or revolting. The zombies shed very little blood, because, as stated in the film, it has already coagulated. Still, there are a few bloody bits. We get countless head shots, gunshot wounds, decayed zombies, some creature violence, and a particularly nasty segment with a laser.

Profanity/Sexual Themes: Of course, cussing is found in this film, though I must say, it is almost always justifiable in the flick. As far as sexual themes, there are two very brief sex scenes between Milla Jovovich and James Purefoy, with a brief glimpse of nudity on Milla's end.

Substance Abuse: None.

Overall: By the end of the movie, I found myself thoroughly entertained. Resident Evil is a good video game adaption, and a pretty entertaining zombie flick with the perfect blend of scares and action. 7.5/10

The Crow: City of Angels (1996)

An Emotionally Driven Film

[7/10 · 17 August 2006]

The Crow: City of Angels is the sequel to the amazing 1994 film "The Crow." While in some ways it tries too hard to be like the first, the film also succeeds in other areas, such as emotion and style. While not as good as it could have been, it is still pretty enjoyable.

Story: The film begins in post-apocalyptic Los Angeles, with a grown up Sarah, who as you may recall, is the little girl from the original. She has visions of another man rising up. In comes Ashe, a single father raising a son, Danny. Ashe and Danny accidentally witness a gang attack, and therefore, are attacked and killed themselves. Guess what happens? Ashe returns from the grave to seek vengeance. One by one, Ashe hunts down those responsible for his murder, which eventually leads him to Judah, a drug kingpin and crime lord of the city. The story really focuses on Ashe's pain of losing his sun, and there are some really powerful and emotional moments in the film.

Directing: Tim Pope is an acclaimed music video director, and his knack for music videos really shines in this film. While he sets and certain mood and doesn't let it up, the movie really jumbles around in terms of style. It's like watching one huge rock video, and at time, it can be a little hard on the eyes. Most scenes were staged quite well, and other than the style, Pope did an adequate job.

Acting: Vincent Perez(Ashe) did an excellent job with his part. He had a lot to contend with, such as filling Brandon Lee's shoes. Regardless, he shined, and in his scenes of pain and grief, I really felt for him. Bravo. Mia Kirshner(Sarah) did great with what she had. I felt that the character was wasted in the film, but she did fine. Richard Brooks(Judah) played the sadistic drug-lord quite effectively, although I never really had an opinion of the character either way. That could be the fault of Brooks, the director, or the writer. I'm not sure which. Iggy Pop(Curve) overacted beyond belief, and I was quite amused.

Score: Once again Graeme Revelle proved himself an excellent composer. His music helps the mood incredibly. I only wish more of his music was in the film, and less of the hard rock.

Violence: While it is felt and implied everywhere, there really isn't tons of on screen violence, and when it was there, it wasn't overly bloody, though it had quite a brutal feel to it. The violence was in your face, and not overly entertaining or exciting like in the first film.

Profanity/Sexual Themes: Strong language throughout. The f-bomb is used all through the film. There is also a lot of S&M in the film, as well as female nudity.

Substance Abuse: The film is about a drug-lord, so, there is quite a bit of drug use in the film. Almost all the villain characters snort the coke-like drug, Trinity.

Overall: The Crow: City of Angels was a decent sequel, and really excelled in some ares, although it failed in others. If you're a fan of the first, it's worth a look. I really dug the fact that the movie was mostly about the pain of losing a loved one. It's a pretty stylish adventure. 7/10

The Crow (1994)

A Gothic Love Story

[10/10 · 17 August 2006]

The Crow is a Gothic masterpiece. It is perhaps one of the only action movies to have a lot of heart, and a very uplifting love story and message. There are no other words to describe it other than amazing. It is one of my personal favorites, and I loved every minute of it.

Story: The movie is about rock guitarist Eric Draven and his girlfriend Shelly that get murdered the day before their wedding by a group of thugs. One year after his death, Eric is resurrected from the grave, and guided by a mysterious crow. His mission: To avenge the death of himself and his lover. While seeking his vengeance, Eric is plagued by the pain of losing his love, and constantly reminded of what he lost via flashbacks. Sarah, Eric's daughter-like friend, soon learns of Eric's return, and the film deals with her aspect of the situation as well. It sounds like a simple enough mindless action plot, but the movie packs so much emotion and power into it. The movie really exploits the power of love and friendship. Although gritty and violent, it is emotional enough to make even the biggest man teary-eyed.

Direction: Alex Proyas(Dark City) filmed a Gothic masterpiece. The directing is very slick and stylish. Proyas was not afraid to make the film have a very dark and bleak look, as to really show how sad Eric is. Rain is a character in this movie, and even the rain is filmed beautifully. Proyas got everything right: Pacing, Color, Mood, and Style. Excellent stuff! Acting: Four actors stood out in my mind in this film. Brandon Lee(Eric Draven) played his part with excellent skill. He knew what he was doing. He nailed every line, and brought a real humanity to the part, which is great. It's important to be able to relate to a character, and care about it. Michael Wincott(Top Dollar) executed the part of the villain with ease. There's a definite evil in the part, as well as humanity, and Wincott knew exactly how to do it. Ernie Hudson(Officer Albrecht) portrayed the city cop quite well. Even though the part was simple enough, Hudson made it very memorable, and brought a lot of meaning to his character. One of the most amazing actors was Rochelle Davis(Sarah) This girl can act! I felt her pain and anger throughout the whole film, and that voice! Man! All the acting in the film was top-notch, but those performances stood out to me.

Score: The music was powerful. It draws you in to every scene. Graeme Revell is outstanding as a composer. The music fits the mood for the film.

Violence: The film is an action movie, so, there is violence. It is pretty straight forward, and quite gritty. There's plenty of stabbings, brawls, and bloody shootouts.

Profanity/Sexual Themes: They are not afraid to drop the f-bomb in the film. Language is throughout, and pretty strong. There is a mild rape scene, as well as some brief female nudity.

Substance Abuse: One of the characters is a morphine addict, and some others snort coke. Moderate.

Overall: The Crow is an excellent action-thriller that goes into deep and powerful territory. I loved every frame, and every minute of the movie. A must-have. 10/10

Doom (2005)

Doom?

[6/10 · 26 February 2006]

Having just watched the film last night, I still am not quite sure how I felt about the whole thing. I, for one, was disappointed, because, the monsters were not demons from Hell, nor were they aliens from space. In short, this was basically a Resident Evil movie with a higher budget and bigger monsters. I suppose now I shall summarize the story.

A group of Marines receives a stress call from a research station on Mars known as Olduvai, or, something of that nature. Led by Sarge(Played beautifully over-the-top by The Rock), and the group of Marines heads to Mars through some type of travel device known as the Arc that was found 20 years ago on Mars. Their mission: To find the 6 missing scientists, find any government property, and search and destroy any threat they come across. Soon, all hell breaks loose.

One of the biggest problems with the movie was what they decided to be the cause of the monsters. They were not demons from hell or from outer space, but they were the result of uncontrolled genetic mutation in humans. Sound like Resident Evil to you? I thought so. THe cast does a great job for the most part, especially the lead, Reaper(Played by a gruff Karl Urban). The film is very poorly lit, and is extremely graphic and bloody. I don't know, I was guess I was expecting more suspense and a survival horror element, but that was not here. It was a pure action movie. I must say, the creature and digital effects were done very well, though.

Overall, as long as you don't go into it with high expectations, or a knowledge of the games, you won't be disappointed. The action is, for the most part, non-stop and very gory. The acting is pretty solid, and the film moves at a very quick pace. A pretty decent way to kill two hours, and a good popcorn movie. However, I still felt very disappointed. DOOM runs 1hr. 53min, and is rated R for Strong Violence/Gore and Language. 6.5/10

Night of the Demons 2 (1994)

Atmospheric, Gory, Fun

[7/10 · 6 October 2005]

NotD2 is one of the most fun horror movies I have watched in a long time. The story focus' on a Catholic School that decides to have a Halloween Party for the students, however, a group of them decide that the school party is too lame, and decide to have some fun of their own. They go to Hull House, and have their own brand of fun. In the process, they are stalked by Angela, a demon. One by one they are killed and turned to demons, resulting in some of the greatest moments in B-movie cinema. The film is gory and fun, and doesn't take itself to seriously. It's best if the viewer doesn't either. The acting isn't the absolute best, but it's expected for a film of this sort. The visual/demon effects are also quite effective, and the whole movie has a dark, creepy atmosphere to it. Also, there is teen sex throughout the whole film, another cliché for this type of film. In all, I found the film to be satisfying. A good way to kill and hour and a half.

Alone in the Dark (2005)

Alone in the Dark?

[4/10 · 5 October 2005]

The title of this film is very misleading, since I can't think of a single scene where someone is alone in the dark, save for one brief scene in the museum. Now, this is the part where I would summarize the story of the film, but this is rather difficult, since it was mostly non-existent and incoherent. I will try my best. Paranormal detective Edward Carnby(Slater) is a man with a troubled past. It seems he was an orphan selected to be a part of a genetic experiment involving creatures from another world, but escaped before the scientists got to him. He spent his life being afraid of the dark and looking for things that go bump in the night. He is then chased by some goon and fights him, and then uncovers the mystery behind the monsters that thrive in the dark. This is done of course with the help of his ex, a paleontologist(Reid) and an FBI agent(Dorf). It could have been a stylish, atmospheric horror film, but instead it turned itself into an action flick. The violence seems to take over the plot. The director cared more for the action than the story. Much more time was needed for all of the characters, yet they seem to be just breezed through in between shoot outs with the monsters. The only reason I gave this film a four was because of Slater's and Dorff's performances, and because the action sequences were done relatively well. Alone in the Dark is a standard shoot the monsters B-movie with little in terms of suspense and plot, and contains Pervasive Strong Violence, Language, and a Brief Sex Scene.

The Crow: Salvation (2000)

A Different Take

[7/10 · 8 September 2005]

The Crow: Salvation tries to make a name for itself by trying something new in the series. Not only is it about revenge and love, but the film incorporates a mystery element, bringing much-needed freshness to the franchise. I liked it! Story: Salvation begins at Alex Crovis' execution. Alex had been convicted of murdering his love, Lauren. Obviously, Alex is innocent, and the real killer is at large. After being executed, Alex is brought back to life and guided by a crow to seek vengeance. With the help of Lauren's sister, Erin, Alex tries to figure out why he was set up, and why his love was killed. Alex soon uncovers a conspiracy and a bunch of corrupt cops. Let the vengeance begin! Directing: Personally, I didn't like Bharat Nalluri's directing style. The way he shot things seemed way to T.V. movie-ish. There's a lot of close-ups, and tight spaces in the film. All of the scenes are evenly lit, and don't differ much from each other. There is an occasional nice shot, however, such as a scene with Alex walking down an alley towards the screen, with it snowing. Nalluri was alright, I suppose, but nothing special.

Acting: Eric Mabius(Alex Corvis) brought a totally different feel to the role. He has a definite liveliness about him that I liked. However, I wish he would have drawn me in more during the emotional scenes. I was very disappointed with Kirsten Dunst, who acted very amateurish in this film. It was like she hardly knew what to do with her part. What's the deal? Fred Ward(The Captian) did a fine job as the villain in the picture, and did no wrong that I could see.

Score: Marco Beltrami did an outstanding job scoring the film. The music has never been a problem in the Crow series. Beltrami takes a slightly different tone as far as the music, but still stays true to Revelle's Gothic roots.

Violence: The violence is prevalent, and quite bloody. Shootings, stabbings, impalings, even a severed arm. However, although graphic, the blood is a really bright red, and has a definite fake look to it.

Profanity/Sexual Themes: As with the other two, the f-bomb is used throughout the film. There is also a fair amount of female nudity, as one of the settings is a strip club.

Substance Abuse: No drug use going on, and I don't recall alcohol abuse either.

Overall: The Crow: Salvation is a good attempt to take the series in a slightly different direction. I think given a different director, the film really would have shined. It's still enjoyable, however, the mystery subplot did seem to take away from the love story a bit. A good action flick a fair bit better than City of Angels, and worth a look. 8.5/10

Four Brothers (2005)

Best Action/Revenge Film This Year

[8/10 · 2 September 2005]

Four Brothers is by far, the most entertaining and emotional film of the year that I have seen. The performances are just simply awesome. Emotions are constantly felt through the film. What the brothers are feeling, so are you. The story centers around four men, Bobby(Mark Wahlberg), Jeremiah(Andre Benjamin), Angel(Tyrese Gibson), and Jackie(Garret Hudlund), adopted by a woman to get them off the streets. They see themselves as brothers, and are closely knit. However, they go their separate ways, and are again united once their mother is killed. Bobby wants answers, and revenge, and he gathers up the brothers to find them. What follows is a sequence of breathtaking action and performances that will keep you thinking and on the edge of your seat. Four Brothers is extremely entertaining. 8 out of 10.

The Crow: Wicked Prayer (2005)

A New Direction

[5/10 · 20 July 2005]

The Crow: Wicked Prayer boldly steps out of the box, and takes the series into a completely different direction, bringing much needed fresh air to the series. By far, this is the best sequel.

Story: Ex-con Jimmy Cuervo and his girlfriend Lily, are picked by Luc Crash and his gang to be used in a ritual to make Luc the Devil himself. Little does Luc know, Jimmy is raised from the dead by the crow to seek revenge and stop the evil ceremony. Plagued with anger from his past, and grieving the loss of his love, Jimmy sets out to make the wrong things right. The film has several sub-plots, including a feud between the Indians and the White Men, and villain back stories. A different story, and I liked it.

Directing: Lance Mungia did a fantastic job with the severely limited budget that he had. The mood, pacing, and setting was wonderful. There are some truly breathtaking shots of scenery. My only complaint is how well lit everything was. Mungia has great style, and I look forward to seeing some of his future work. I can only imagine what this guy could do with a decent budget.

Acting: Here is where the movie shines. Edward Furlong(Jimmy Cuervo) played the part of Jimmy well. There is a lot of anger in his performance, which I think fits the character quite well. I really felt for him, and his emotional scenes have a real impact on the viewer. David Boreanaz(Luc Crash) really stole the show for 3/4 of the movie. He plays a bad guy well, and nailed every line he had. His presence is amazing. However, in the last act, when he becomes Satan, he severely overacts. Someone should have told him to calm down. Tara Reid(Lola Byrne) did surprisingly well. Usually she's awful, in this, she's just not that great. Overall, all the actors did an excellent job, the worst being Dave Ortiz.

Score: Jamie Christopherson composed an amazing score. The music in this film is my favorite, second only to the first. It draws you in, and holds you in the scenes.

Violence: The violence is pretty constant. However, it is either off-screen, or for the most part, bloodless. We get some down and dirty brawls, stabbings, shootings, light blood, a heart rip, and a somewhat juicy impaling.

Profanity/Sexual Themes: The language is used throughout, and it quite vulgar. There is some light sexual content, though on nudity, or anything like that.

Substance Abuse: There is a scene in which the characters get high off of peyote, but it is done in a very stylish way.

Overall: The Crow: Wicked Prayer is by far the best of the sequels. It is a rocking good time, with action, emotion, and passion. I really enjoyed the flick. Worth a look for any fan boy, or someone looking for an action movie with heart. If only the budget hadn't been so tiny, the film could have totally blown me away. 9/10

The Punisher (2004)

Awesome comic book movie

[9/10 · 27 June 2005]

This is the best comic movie ever. It's dark. It's gritty. It's violent, and it has a few moments of real emotional power. Not just a great comic movie, but a great all around action pick. The action is fierce, the humor is witty. Everything abut the movie just screams pure entertainment. I'm not a huge fan of comic book-based movies, but this really brought my interest back into them. I liked the first two Blades, but the third one killed my interest in comic book movies. Same with the Crow. The Punisher, however, brought back my interest. All of the actors did terrific, and you would never know how small the budget was when your watching it. Everyone did a great job. The best action/comic film I have seen in a long time. I wonder if Sin City will be as good...