Chaves7777 Reviews

Disturbia (2007)

A Review: Disturbia

[5/10 · 1 January 2009]

Directed by D.J Caruso

With Shia LaBeouf, Sarah Roemer, Carrie-Ann Moss, David Morse

A rebel without a cause(LaBeouf), is locked in his home for being a bad boy in class -own reason to the death of his father -, he falls in loved but also he found that his neighbor is a mad killer ... and police don't believe him. After an impacting and effective introduction, it simply don't knows what it wants to be. There are really thrilling sequences - but few and unplugged to the premise and mood that Caruso has given. The worst is, funny thing, the better thing: The love story. If this were a romantic teen comedy, it would be superb, but at the hour you know it just was an excuse and not something real important. Is not that the two things can't be tied, but here it seems an independent thing from each other. Besides, you now you have heard this before from Hitchcock. If something is good, well, is Shia LaBeouf, who is at least a sweetie and charming but too a real good actor. Caruso takes his star for his next film, "Eagle Eye".

Blood Feast (1963)

A Review: Blood Feast

[3/10 · 31 December 2008]

Directed by Herschell Gordon Lewis With William Kerwin, Mal Arnold,Connie Mason Really stupid camp film about fan of an Egyptian god (Arnold, with all his kind-of gray hair)stalks and kills a go-go girls as a rite while detective Kerwin tries to catch him without know his girlfriend Mason is the next girl on peril. Bad acting, excessive effects (Pure red), stupid script and bad, really bad camera work completes this, now, cult film for being one, if not the first, that start the gore mood. Stands out the color (Named as Bloodcolor here) and, if we must say something good, Kerwin is the only capable of anything. Brings laughs for it's campness, but is really an awful film. Gene Courtier is - of course - Tony, the boy on the beach.

Ordinary People (1980)

A Review: Ordinary People

[10/10 · 31 December 2008]

Directed by Robert Redford

With Timothy Hutton, Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, Judd Hirsch, Elizabeth McGovern

Directional debut for Redford, based on the novel of Judith Guest, about a dysfunctional family where a young son (Hutton) tries to forget his past, past that hides the uncontrollable hate of his mother (Moore), hate that question her husband (Sutherland)about their marriage. It's a depressive, hard and slow film, but it never goes lost. Is veridical, non melodramatic, thrilling and, at least, human. Everyone are great in their roles, but young 19 year-old Timothy Hutton is more than fantastic. Music adapted by Marvin Hamlisch. Winner of four Academy Awards including Best Picture of the Year.

Easter Parade (1948)

A Review: Easter Parade

[10/10 · 29 December 2008]

Directed by George Stevens With Fred Astaire, Judy Garland, Peter Lawford, Ann Miller

It might not be THE happiest musical ever made but is one of the greatest. It's story is simple, maybe too simple, but overall is sweet and engaging. It has Fred Astaire as a dancer who tries to forget his ex partner, Ann Miller, and knows, by a funny thing, unexperienced but beautiful and sweet Judy, making her his dancing partner. In the middle of this are wonderful songs of the usually great Irving Berlin, candy Technicolor to spare. Peter Lawford is so gentle as the man who falls in love on Judy. A happy, beautiful movie. Only complain: What the hell get in their minds to delete that wonderful Judy number called MR MONOTONY?

Garfield: The Movie (2004)

A Review: Garfield (2004)

[8/10 · 21 December 2008]

Directed by Peter Hewitt. With Breckin Meyer, Jennifer Love Hewitt and the voice of Bill Murray

It may not redeem at all the comic book itself, but strangely, the digital effects this time are not so superficial and are actually believable bringing the famous selfish character alive. Some Fans and critics hate it, but actually, even if they don't bring all the magic of the comic book, at least make it justice with the lead character, who is selfish, hungry and lovable, as always have been. Here, Garfield tries to save dog Oddie from an animal abuser. Family entertainment this time have a sincere moral message about violence to animals, and you can't denied that the movie is intelligent and fun. Meyer is ideal and very, very nice as Jon, and Hewitt is sweet as the girl who stole our hearts. Give it a chance; it worth it. Pure fun.

L'Avventura (1960)

A Review: L'Avventura (1960)

[10/10 · 10 December 2008]

Directed by Michelangelo Antonioni With Monica Vitti Booed at Cannes Festival, received a "condemned" rating for it's vision of moral, slow and heavy-going ... Michelangelo Antonioni's third feature film is a masterpiece, maybe one of the best film ever made. Antonioni makes a deep examination of human nature in a wonderful and never seen way, he creates a new form of telling stories with topics that might you think it couldn't be a story at all. If you pay attention you will find real beauty, and, most of all, how successful is talking about human relationships. The final shot is breathtaking. This movie is a must, is a universal work of art! MASTERPIECE

The Trip (II) (1967)

A Review: The Trip

[9/10 · 18 November 2008]

The Trip (1935)

*** out of ****

Directed by Roger Corman

With Peter Fonda, Susan Strasberg, Bruce Dern, Dennis Hopper

Fonda found lost when he and his wife get divorced, then, to scape from reality, he take a pill of LSD. What we're going to see is his entire trip. Psychodelic surrealism at it's best. Jump on that inconsistent Warning at the begin of the film, this is not a propaganda is pure homage to the drug itself. Written by a young Jack Nicholson. Music by the American Flag (Named here as "An American Music Band"). In psychedelic color!

Star! (1968)

A review: Star!

[6/10 · 21 July 2008]

Star! (1968)

Directed by Robert Wise

Starring Julie Andrews

Musical biography of actress Gertrude Lawrence tries to be entertaining but it's sometimes unnecessary lenght makes it sometimes yawning, but the main problem is the lost focus of the plot. The movie have it's songs for sure, and Andrews is terrific, but the movie passed in front your eyes. The team who brought you "The Sound of Music" surely want this to be a big hit ... but this never happen. In spite of that, is worth seeing for that last big musical number - Choreographed by Michel Kidd-.

The Fly (1958)

A review: The Fly

[9/10 · 21 July 2008]

The Fly (1958)

Directed by Kurt Neumann

Starring Vincent Price, David Hedison, Patricia Owens

Full color, the original FLY is an unforgettable sci fi/horror experience. The story is well known now: A scientist make a machine which transported objects, but something is wrong when a fly get into the machine at the same he is in. Very entertaining, and scary to be sure. Have aged well - Really the "Help Me, Help Me" scream makes it a must! Count with 2 sequels and one remake by director David Cronenberg which get a kind of cult status. Still, the original remains shock and power through the years. A jewel.

Way Down East (1920)

A review: Way Down East

[10/10 · 21 July 2008]

Way Down East (1920)

Directed by D.W Griffith

Starring Lillian Gish, Richard Barthelmess

This big modest spectacle is one of Griffith's best! This tale full of melodrama is about Gish (Beautiful as ever!) being lost in a world full of lies and greed and suddenly she founds Barthelmess, but not all is perfect when Sherman arrives the place. Creative, entertaining, funny and sweet - maybe a bit too religious, but that doesn't care if you see that magnificent scene of Gish and Barthelmess in the ice in the waterfall. One of the greatest. A must see!

American Gigolo (1980)

A review: American Gigolo

[9/10 · 21 July 2008]

American Gigolo (1980)

Directed by Paul Schrader

Starring Richard Gere, Lauren Hutton, Bill Duke

Stylish and full of sense love story about Gere being a very sensual gigolo who gets involved in a murder. Schrader makes and obvious critic, not only of American high society life, is about loneliness and, at the end, change. The film is full of colors and sticky Giorgio Moroder score (Inclcuding Blondie's hit "Call Me"). Of course, it tries to be a thriller, but it really doesn't work like that. Is about Gere character, how he think, how he dress and how he smiles making a interesting character study as a study about the sordid and lost life of pleasures. Co-starring Lauren Hutton as a women searching for a new life.

Beyond the Darkness (1979)

Buio Omega (1979)

[8/10 · 12 July 2008]

Buio Omega (1979)

Directed by Joe D'Amato

Starring Kieran Canter, Cinzia Monreale and Franca Stoppi

Gruesome, sadistic and clearly repulsive story about an obsessive man who steals the body of his dead bride and kill to those who try to separate from her. Yes, is full of unnecessary gore and scenes of extreme violence but the manage of Gothic really makes it worthwhile, of course if you have the nerve to support it. Not a clever dialog sometimes but bright direction, photography and music (By Goblin) made it. Also known as "Beyond the Darkness" and "Demencia".

Dawn of the Dead (1978)

A review: Dawn of the Dead (1978)

[10/10 · 12 July 2008]

Dawn of the Dead (1978)

Directed by George Romero

Starring David Emge, Ken Foree, Scott H. Reiniger and Gaylen Ross

The sequel to "Night of the Living Dead" is an apocalyptic poem and the definitive zombie classic. Here, four people get locked in a shopping mall while a bunch of zombies dominate the world. All the stage production, performances, music (Goblin and Dario Argento) and direction is perfect and makes this one of the best horror movies ever (Atleast the best zombie movie ever). Full of satire, clever and gory. There's available various versions of the film including the original theatrical exhibition (126 minutes), the longest (140 minutes) and the Dario Argento's version runs for almost two hours. Remade in 2004. Followed by Day of the Dead. Watch Lucio Fulci's "Zombi 2" for an untented sequel.

Blood for Dracula (1974)

A review: Blood for Dracula (1974)

[9/10 · 27 April 2008]

Blood for Dracula (1974)

Directed by Paul Morrissey

With Udo Kier and Joe Dallessandro

Warhol's famous Dracula (Who else than Kier!) need blood from virgins and goes to an Arystocrat house in search of it, at the same time communist servant Dallesandro suspect of the thing for an ending of bloody consequences. Beautiful, dark, bloody and kind of funny vision of famous vampire, with a great Gothic atmosphere and a magnetic Kier vomiting blood. Look for Vittorio De Sica in a small role. Also known as "Dracula cerca sangue di vergine ... e mori di sete!!!". Rated X in it's time, see it uncut.

The Student Prince in Old Heidelberg (1927)

A review: Student Prince in Old Heidelberg (1927)

[10/10 · 27 April 2008]

Student Prince in Old Heidelberg (1927)

**** out of ****

Directed by Ernst Lubitsch

With Ramon Novarro and Norma Shearer

Prince Karl Heinrich have an easy life, with all pleasure, but he hate that, he want to know the world. Suddenlly, he is send it to old Heidelebrg to study and there known, not only friends but love. Beautiful, rich, splendorous Lubitsch gem is so fresh than ever, with a gentle, incredible and beautiful Novarro and an adorable and stunning Shearer. Beautiful scenes that get sticked in your head with an uncommon ending for the time. A must see!

The Cat o' Nine Tails (1971)

A review: Il Gato a Nove C ode (1971)

[10/10 · 23 April 2008]

Il Gato a Nove Code (1971)

**** out of ****

Directed by Dario Argento

With James Franciscus, Karl Malden and Cinzia De Caloris

Superb giallo with Malden as a blind reporter who with another one - Franciscus - decide resolve a murder mystery, but they don't know that their lives are in danger. There's a lot of twist in that typical plot, full of great actings and a genius ending. Great Argento film - much better than "Bird with Crystal Plumage" is terribly infravalored, just because is not so gruesome as other works from the master. Incredible and frighting jazz score by Ennio Morricone.

Sleepaway Camp (1983)

A Reviw: Sleepaway Camp (1983)

[8/10 · 23 April 2008]

Sleepaway Camp (1983)

*** out ****

Directed by Robert Hiltzik

With Felissa Rose and Karen Fields

Rose is the "Carrie" type girl , at the same time campers are being stalked by a crazy maniac. Maybe, the weirdest slasher ever made, confusing in form but at the end is something well made; here the central topic is not the killings. Full of gay subtext, different special effects, teenage drama, more of the accustomed young actors and one of the favorite endings of most of horror fans. Avoid if you don't want a bizarre thing, for the rest you must see it!

Body Count (1986)

A review: Camping del Terrore (1987)

[3/10 · 23 April 2008]

Camping del Terrore (1987)

* out of ****

Directed by Ruggero Deodato

With Luisa Maneri and David Hess

No novelty if you have seen "Friday the 13th". Campers goes to for a weekend of sex but they find a crazy killer out there; each by one going to be killed. End of plot. Interesting Simonetti score but not so good as its other works. Sensacionalist Deodato almost do it with some camera moves and one "flashback" scene, but that don't help much. Look for David Hess ("Last House on the Left" and it's rip-off "House on the Edge of the Park" - other Deodatto! -) in the same pulse of always. Nehh.

Threesome (1994)

A review: Threesome (1994)

[4 April 2008]

Threesome (1994)

*** out of ****

Directed by Andrew Fleming

With Josh Charles, Lara Flynn Boyle, Stephen Baldwin

Great comedy drama about three friends who share the room: Baldwin wants Boyle, Boyle wants Charles, Charles wants Baldwin. Strong, decent comedy about friendship, unrequited love and sex. Full of life and well executed. Is not excellent and nothing from another world, of course, but is nothing pretentious as much others. Spectacular performances by all.

27 horas con la muerte (1982)

A review: 27 Horas con la Muerte (1981)

[8/10 · 4 April 2008]

*** out of ****

Directed by Jairo Pinilla

With Julio del Mar, Ivonne Maritza Rodriguez and Francisco Vergara

Bad performances don't even get down the amusing story of a doctor, a man and his wife making an insurance fraud taking pills which makes you died for 9 hours. Incredible script is darkly rich with a perfect ending of Rodriguez, the Hanna Shygulla look - a - like girl, laughing in the floor. One of the best known of fantastic director Pinilla, but definitely not so well known worldwide. Look for "Funeral Siniestro" for a similar effect.

Tenebrae (1982)

A review: Tenebrae (1983)

[10/10 · 26 March 2008]

Tenebrae (1983)

**** out of ****

Directed by Dario Argento

With Athony Franciosa, Daria Nicolodi, Mirella D'Angelo and John Saxon

Beautiful, futuristic and excellently made giallo about a mad killer whose crimes are based on a new book of writer Franciosa, whose work is based in a killer who wants to punish unmoral people. Violent (One of the most recognized Video - Nasties in UK) but excellently made, with unconscious sequences, master electronic score by Goblin and a camera-work of first class, as always, specially in the roof scene, where a camera in a shot goes from a window to the other side of the house through a roof; besides, inspiration comes from true fears when an Argento fan pursue him terribly and even, threaten him of death. Probably if you like "Seven", but this one is more exciting, more done; it's shocking and extremely effective, with an impacting ending of hell. Argento's piece is a parallel study of obsession and insanity respective moral. An Argento masterpiece, a back to Giallo, a glory for Argento! Look for Michele Soavi and Lamberto Bava in small roles. Known too as "Unsane" and "Tenebre". Please: See it Unrated!

The Unnamable (1988)

A review: The Unnamable (1988)

[23 March 2008]

The Unnamable (1988)

** out of ****

Directed by Jean-Paul Ouellette

With Mark Kinsey Stephenson, Charles Klausmeyer and Alexandra Durell

Here is JaJa when four bourgeoisie's college kids goes to an abandoned old house without known an unnameable creature lives killing people. Performances, storytelling and effects are totally out in this funny film - it is supposed to be an horror one -, in spite of it, the scene in the library is good as Mark Kinsey Stephenson, who is the only one who have a respectable performance with an amazing character an give it to this movie a kind of "decent" rating. For the rest, beware. Based on a story of H.P Lovecraft.

All About Eve (1950)

A review: All About Eve (1950)

[10/10 · 23 March 2008]

All About Eve (1950)

**** out of ****

Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz

With Bette Davis, Anne Baxter, Gary Merrill, Celeste Holm and George Sanders.

Wonderful, acid and sarcastic masterpiece about Baxter as the dreamed fan of Davis, but soon all going to discover "all about Eve". One of the best written films ever made, with immortal dialogs and probably, the best Davis performance - and surely, one the best performances ever too-. Look for Marilyn Monroe and Thlema Ritter in small roles. Winner of best picture of the year - Davis don't won the award! -. One of the great inspirations for Almodovar's masterpiece "Todo sobre mi Madre". Released in Spanish as "Los secretos de Eva" or "Eva al desnudo". This movie going to give you a bumped night, undoubtedly, one of the greatest!

Deep Red (1975)

A review: Profondo Rosso (1975)

[9/10 · 23 March 2008]

Profondo Rosso (1975)

*** out of ****

Directed by Dario Argento

With David Hemmings and Daria Nicolodi

Good Argento piece about Hemmings involved in a mortal mystery when he witnesses a brutal murder. Beautiful photography, as always, with one of the best musical works of rock group Goblin (Rock, jazz and other great influences) and the best performance of Nicolodi, but is not so amazing as other works of the Italian master; violent, physically great but empty inside. Not really a masterpiece.

The Last Laugh (1924)

A review: Der Letzte Mann (1924)

[6/10 · 23 March 2008]

Der Letzte Mann (1924)

** out of ****

Directed by F.W Murnau

With Emil Jannings

Technically creative Murnau piece about Jannings being tortured and humiliated by anyone when is fired of his job. Count with first rate camera work which shows that big talent of one of the most important directors of all time. Jannings is excellent in his role but the story is quickly forced to an unrealistic and disappointing ending. Named for much - but not for all - as one of the greatest silents of all time. Just one with some highlights but not as incredible as much said; Not the best Murnau.