Topic: DSig's Short List of what I'm Watching

[samuelrichardscott]

Never  heard of Shooting Gallery but sounds like something I might enjoy. Going to add it to tonights order as it is very cheap, but can you tell me, does the R1 have extras? The UK release doesn't and I can get the R1 for only £0.98 more...

I recommend Poolhall Junkies though. That's fun. Not great, but fun.

[DSig]

Careful, "Shooting Gallery" is (aka) "Poolhall Prophets"

"Shooting Gallery" has the following special features;

1) The Long frame: GThe Making of Shooting Gallery
2) Pool Hall Lingo
3) Trick SHot
4) Previews
  a) Shooting Gallery
  b) Dirty Love
  c) Animal
  d) Silence Becomes You

[samuelrichardscott]

Okay thanks. I'll grab the R1.

EDIT: Opted for UK as the US seller is one I have used in the past and they have the horrible rental stickers on the disc.

[DSig]

Ash Wednesday Hell's Kitchen, Ash Wednesday, 1980.  Sean Sullivan (Elijah Wood) is killed in a vendetta.  Three years later, Sean's brother Francis (Edward Burns, The Brothers  McMullen) receives word that Sean may be alive.  But the truth isn't always what it seems in this neighborhood, where violence and betrayal are the local currency. Co-starring Elijah Wood (The Lord of the Rings), Rosario Dawson (Men in Black II) and Oliver Platt (Don't Say a Word). 3.0 Wikipedia Film Info Staring: Edward Burns Elijah Wood Rosario Dawson Oliver Platt Thoughts: This was a another Christmas present, along with several others.  If I had seen it before I would not have bought this one.  It isn't a bad film.  The story is involved but carrys off well. Elijah Wood is actually very good in this film.  Shows his chops as a dramatic actor.  Edward Burns also turns in a pretty good performance. It is a gritty, 'under-bellie' look at gang/mob neighborhoods.  And payback turns out to be a bitch. Might be better than I thought, but you are warned.

[DSig]

	National Lampoon's Black Ball Try as he might, Cliff Starkey just can't keep out of trouble. With a dead-end career, there's not much that makes hin want to get out of bed in the mornings... except his one passion: Lawn Bowls. Almost as soon as he learned how to walk, he displayed a genius for the sport. To the dismay of the elderly, uptight bowls fraternity in town, Cliff honed his mastery of the games alone, playing by no one's rules but his own.   But the time has come for his skill to be recognized, and Rick Schwartz (Vince Vaughn), an American sports agent, is going to ensure that this 'Bad Boy' of bowls gets the spotlight he deserves. Cliff's rock 'n' roll attitude and army of screaming female fans soon take England by storm, but can he take on the stuffy, business-like attitude of the Bowls Association and his senior arch-rival, Roy Speight? Starkey is only one match away from super-stardom as he competes with Roy in a ball-busting championship showdown. 2.0 Wikipedia Film Info Staring: Paul Kaye Alice Evans Vince Vaughn James Cromwell Thoughts: This film is about a sport called Bowls which outside a few areas in the US is practially unknown.  I watched a lot of matches while living in England and found it at time interesting, challenging geometic but at all times very close to watching paint dry. Paul Kaye plays a very disturbed Bowler who thwarts Bowling society with his antics.  James Cromwell is brilliant as his primary antagonist .. the ever proper 'stuck up' 'proper' english gentleman.  Alice Evans nicely plays Cromwell's daughter and Kaye's love interest.  I am not sure why Vince Vaughn is in this one.  He adds nothing to the film. Overall I find this to be one of the worst Nationl Lampoon films I have seen.  Luckily I got this as a Christmas gift and don't feel cheated by the $1 paid for it.  Since I now own this one it might pop up in my watch list again, but I don't think I will search this one out in my collection on its own. Recommendation ... leave this one alone.
	The Last Drop In a daring attempt to end WWII by Christmas, 35,000 troops are dropped behind enemy lines. In the midst of the largest airborne invasion in history, one small unit of men, codename "Matchbox" has its own agenda; to lay claim to a horde of Nazi gold in the vicinity. When Matchbox is shot down short of their landing zone, the odds of success seem hopeless. Seven very different soldiers find themselves separated from the Allied Invasion on a collision course with renegade German soldiers who also want ot lay claim to the horde. 2.0 Wikipedia Film Info Staring: Billy Zane Michael Madsen Karel Roden Tommy Flanagan Thoughts: Not much about this film I enjoyed.  I invested nothing in it.
	King of California After spending several years in a mental institute Charlie (Michael Douglas) is sent home, reuniting with his teenage daughter Miranda (Evan Rachel Wood). Charlie becomes obsessed with the notion that a long-lost Spanish treasure is buried underneath their local suburban California Costco. Disconnected from reality and his daughter's life, Charlie's erratic behavior further strains their relationship and completely disrupts her peaceful existence. Initially skeptical, Miranda soon finds herself joining in Charlie’s questionable antics in an effort to believe in her father and give him one last shot at accomplishing his dreams in this darkly funny, exciting and surprisingly hopeful take on the modern family and the American dream. 4.0 Wikipedia Film Info Staring: Michael Douglas Evan Rachel Wood Thoughts: Primarily this is a film about George (Michael Douglas) and his daughter Miranda (Evan Rachel Wood).  I almost always enjoy any film that Michael Douglas is in and this is no exception.  He plays the obcessive George to a 'T'.  Evan Rachel Wood is simply wonderful in her role as the daughter having to be 'the parent' in the relationship. This is a wonderfully inventive film.  Script and direction are crisp and fun.  Michael Douglas puts as much passion in this as he seemingly did in the wonderful Falling Down. I strongly recommend this film.

[DSig]

Command Performance Rock 'n' roll drummer Joe (Dolph Lundgren, Universal Soldier, Rocky IV) and his band are about to make it big as the opening act for America's hottest pop star (Melissa Smith) in Moscow. Fame and glory quickly turn into chaos as armed terrorists storm the arena, capturing the pop star and the guests of honor—Russian President Alexander Petrov and his two teenage daughters. With the death toll rising and the hostages' lives on the line, it is up to one man to come to their rescue and save the day. Nonstop action, hand-to-hand combat and a rock 'n' roll edge make COMMAND PERFORMANCE a jam-packed hit. 3.0 Wikipedia Film Info Staring: Dolph Lundgren Melissa Smith Hristo Shopov Dave Legeno Thoughts:Being a Dolph Lundgren film you can't expect great things.  Having said that this isn't a bad film.  Directed, written and staring Lundgren did give him the ability to showcase the talents he has and I think he did a pretty good job. Working with a very small budget Lundgren managed to make a fun action drama.  In an interesting side note, from researching him it appears that Lundgren is no dummy.  From wikipedia .. "A graduate in chemistry from Washington State University, chemical engineering from the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm and the University of Sydney in Sydney, Australia in 1982, Lundgren holds a rank of 3rd dan black belt in Kyokushin Karate and was European champion in 1980 and 1981."   He was also awarded the Fullbright Scholarship to MIT.  Seems he is more the real deal than 99% of the other 'action' stars. Not best in class but fun watch.

[samuelrichardscott]

Nooooo, I love Black Ball which isn't actuallhy a National Lampoon movie and was just marketed that way for the US market. Everything about does require knowledge of low-end British celebs as those who star make nods to other parts of their career and if you're not familiar with them, it'll go right past you!

Whatever you do, do not watch National Lampoon's TV: The Movie. Now that really is beyond bad!

Agree with Ash Wednesday though I could do with a rewatch. I have King of California in the unwatched pile.

If you're a fan of Lundgren/Van Damme/Seagal, I recommend Second in Command which is one of the better DTV actioners of recent years. I gave Command Performance a 2.5/5. I think we have quite similar tastes and apart from a couple of films we seem to score roughly the same so I look forward to many reviews to come from you!

[DSig]

Well , except for your liking "Black Ball" i agree .. "we" do have good taste 

I was really surprised by "Command Performance", especially when I say Lundgren's involvement with it.  Also a hoot to see him play drums as that was a passion of his as a kid.  Funny old world.

[DSig]

	Slaughterhouse-Five Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.'s classic novel comes to life in this haunting and darkly humorous film from acclaimed director George Roy Hill. Billy Pilgrim (Michael Sacks) is an ordinary World War II soldier with one major exception: he has mysteriously become unstuck in time. Billy goes on an uncontrollable trip back and forth from his birth in New York to life on a distant planet and back again to the horrors of the 1945 fire-bombing of Dresden. This dazzling and thought-provoking drama co-stars Ron Leibman and Valerie Perrine. 4.5 Wikipedia Film Info Staring: Michael Sacks Ron Leibman Valerie Perrine Eugene Roche Sharon Gans Holly Near Perry King Lucille Benson Thoughts: Kurt Vonnegut wrote about the film soon after its release, in his preface to Between Time and Timbuktu:     "I love George Roy Hill and Universal Pictures, who made a flawless translation of my novel Slaughterhouse-Five to the silver screen ... I drool and cackle every time I watch that film, because it is so harmonious with what I felt when I wrote the book." Very VERY seldom you hear or read an authors praise for a film made from his works.  And when you know the author is Kurt Vonnegut and the book is [ur=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slaughterhouse-Five]Slaughterhouse-Five[/url], you KNOW you are in for a wild ride.  I remember reading Slaughterhouse-Five in the early seventies shortly after the book came out ... and man it blew my mind. The storyline is brilliant, the characters are engaging and the actors here do an excellent job in bringing those characters to life.  The direction is good and filming is good.  All bits of this film are excellent. Having said that, I have to admit that this film is not the book.  Of course I feel that it is a problem for anyone to create a film of what we create in our mind ...I am pretty inventive when reading .  As noted in the wikipedia article there are bits different in the film or missing.  But there is nothing that keeps this film from being excellent even with the changes. Sharon Gans, as Billy's wife, Holly Near as is daughter and Perry King as his son round at a great cast.  Their performances as his SO dysfunctional family who actually continue the the same vain as his ever dysfunctional mother portrayed by Lucille Benson.  Hers was a short bit but definitely transforming. If you haven't read the book it is a must do.  And if you haven't see the film it too is a must do. Note: the quote above from Kurt Vonnegut was taken from the wikipedia article linked to above.
	Morning Glory For Becky (Rachel McAdams, The Notebook), running a TV show in New York City was the big break she dreamed of...until star co-anchors Mike (Harrison Ford, Indiana Jones) and Colleen (Diane Keaton, Something's Gotta Give) declare an all-out, on-air war. Making the show work with its cast of eccentric characters and outrageous story angles will take a major miracle, but Becky is ready to rise and outshine. From the writer of The Devil Wears Prada and 27 Dresses, Morning Glory is a "Tart, terrific comedy*" that critics rave is, "Smart! Fresh! Brilliant! Heartwarming! Morning Glory has it all!*" *Peter Travers , Rolling Stone **Neil Rosen, NY1 3.0 Wikipedia Film Info Staring: Rachel McAdams Harrison Ford Diane Keaton John Pankow Patrick Wilson Jeff Goldblum Thoughts: 3.5 would be to high for this one but this is a fun show, packed with a lot of my favorite actors.  Rachel McAdams, as always, is wonderful in this.  Perky, beautiful and able to capture the camera in every scene.  Harrison Ford is great as the crusty old (world class) reporter who has been reduce to co-hosting a morning talk show.  Being the most hated man at the network (3rd worst person on the planet) he is a *good* fit for the show.  He is developing the 'old crusty' guy character and should be able to play it for years to come. Diane Keaton is wonderful as the perky longtime co-host, who behind the scenes is very bitchy.  Patrick Wilson is good in this as the love interest for Rachel McAdams.  Really small part but good.  John Pankow is fun as the longtime co-producer who had seen producer come and go.  Nice and cynical.  And Jeff Goldblum, though his roll is very small, is also fun in ths one. This isn't rocket science nor an entirely new storyline, but it is a fun watch.  Like i said, 3.5 might be a bit high ... but it is well done for what it is.
	Millenium The film begins in the cockpit of a U.S. passenger airliner (Boeing 747), shortly before they are struck from above by another airliner (McDonnell Douglas DC-10) on a landing approach. The pilot handles the airplane as well as he can while the flight engineer goes back to check on the passenger cabin. He comes back in the cockpit screaming, “They're dead! All of them! They’re burned up!” Bill Smith (Kristofferson) is a National Transportation Safety Board investigator hired to determine whether human error is the cause of a collision of two aircraft, both of which crashed. He and his team of investigators are confused by the words on the cockpit voice recorder because there had been no fire on board before the plane hit the ground. At the same time, a theoretical physicist named Dr. Arnold Mayer (Travanti) has a professional curiosity about the crash, which borders on science fiction. While giving a lecture, he talks about time travel and the possibility of visitors from the future. 2.5 Wikipedia Film Info Staring: Kris Kristofferson Cheryl Ladd Robert Joy Brent Carver Al Waxman Daniel J. Travanti Thoughts:Although this is not a terrible film, it isn't very good.  Director Michael Anderson has had several good film including All the Find Young Cannibals and Around the World in 80 Days but also has some stinkers like Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze, The Martian Chronicles and Logan's Run (these stinkers are from really good books ... how could they fail so badly) and I hate to say it but "Millenium" falls in the latter category. But looking at the actors you can start to see a problem.  Kris Kristofferson and Cheryl Ladd ... REALLY?  But along with the tedious actors giving mediocre performances, the direction and filming are simply not good. The only saving grace is the storyline.  Although there are some jerky bits the story is good and could have produced a good film. Watch it if you can for free and if you have a couple of hours to waste.
	Just Visiting Just Visiting is one very funny fish-out-of-water comedy the whole family will enjoy.  It's 12th century France and the Count Thibault of Malfete (Jean Reno, 'Mission: Impossible') finds his beautiful bride-to-be (Christina Applegate, TV's 'Jesse') done in by malevolent magic. So he and his loyal servant André (Christian Clavier, 'Les Visiteurs') request the help of a local wizard to right the wrong and bring his beloved back. But the wizardry goes awry and the pair is transported to 21st century Chicago where they meet Thibault's descendant Julia (Applegate) and her scheming fiancé.  With their timeless values of courage, they wreak hilarious havoc as they foil diabolical plots in modern-day Chicago and try to find their way back home. 3.0 Wikipedia Film Info Staring: Jean Reno Christina Applegate Christian Clavier Malcolm McDowell Tara Reid Bridgette Wilson Thoughts: I really like this film.  It isn't great but there are some laugh out loud bits.  The cast is very good with Jean Reno and Christian Clavier back.  They have howned their parts.  And with what seems as growth of Jean-Marie Poiré as a director from the original Les Visiteurs. Christina Applegate is not one of my favorite actresses.  I really didn't enjoy her character in Married...With Children and I am sure that is part of it.  But at times she surprises me like the early one for her Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead/url] and this one.  She has some good bits here. This is definitely a recommended film.
	The Visitors (or Les Visiteurs) This outrageous time-travel comedy follows the misadventures of a wacky medieval knight (Jean Reno – Just Visiting, The Professional, Mission: Impossible) and his faithful servant (Christian Clavier – Just Visiting) when they suddenly find themselves zapped into the present day! Mayhem rules as these 12th Century visitors try adapting to the wildly confusing modern world! To avoid being stuck here for good, however, they soon begin an all-out comic assault on their former castle – now a luxury hotel – in their quest to return. But you can be sure The Visitors won't leave without first delivering nonstop laughs and outstanding comedy entertainment! 2.5 Wikipedia Film Info Staring: Christian Clavier Jean Reno Valérie Lemercier Christian Bujeau Thoughts:This is a fun film.  I don't think I have seen a film with Jean Reno that I didn't like since I first saw him in the great film Leon: The Professional and the the following year in French Kiss.  But I had not seen this one so thought I would watch it.  I have to say that I was not greatly taken by it.  I am not sure what it is but it just doesn't seem like a complete film.  Very possibly the difference between French film making and American film of the same genre.  I am just not sure.  Jean-Marie Poiré directs both this and the very funny Just Visiting .. maybe it is the difference in experience for him.  Having seen this after seeing Just Visiting, I just didn't laugh out loud with this one as i did with the other.
	Dawn Rider Christian Slater (Lies & illusions), Jill Hennessy (TV's "Crossing Jordan") and Donald Sutherland (Hunger Games) star in this gripping story of vengance and passion set in the American West. When the father of a gunslinger John Mason (Slater) is shot to death by masked bandits, Mason sets out with guns blazing to track down those who killed him. During his quest, he finds himself involved in a grim love triangle when he falls for Alice, the determined and beautiful woman also adored by John's best friend. Based on the timeless John Wayne adventure, Dawn Rider is a riveting saga of retribution, duty and valor in the American West. 3.0 Wikipedia Film Info Staring: Christian Slater Jill Morrison Jill Hennessy G. Michael Gray Mike Dopud Ben Cotton Douglas Chapman George Canyon Matt Bellefleur Thoughts: A 3.0 might be to high for this one but I enjoyed it (and 2.5 would be to low).  A good storyline with some fun action.  I enjoyed Christian Slater (as I normally do) and Jill Hennessy I still very fun.  Good additional cast doing a very good job. It is not the best western I have ever seen ... but it isn't the worst.  Possibly Red River was the last great western, and most current westerns including this one look like they are 'made-for-tv'.  But overall this is a good watch.
	The Encounter Stranded in the middle of nowhere five strangers find themselves marooned in a deserted roadside diner. An arrogant businessman, (Steve "Sting" Borden), a lonely single woman, (Jaci Velasquez), a couple on the verge of divorce, and a youthful runaway all come face to face with a diner owner who serves them more than temporal nourishment. This genial host is a certain Nazarene, (Bruce Marchiano) who knows all of their secrets and possesses the answers to all of their problems - if only they would trust him. It is a miraculous Encounter that will leave them all changed. 3.0 Wikipedia Film Info Staring: Bruce Marchiano Steve Borden Jaci Velasquez Jamie Nieto Danah Davis Madison Gibney Thoughts: This is an interesting Christian film.  In the same vein as the book The Shack, in this case a meeting with Jesus and the resulting answers.  It *is* heavy handed at times but overall attempts to give a message of hope. Although I *enjoyed* this one and recommend it to anyone who enjoys the genre, once again it can at time seem heavy handed.  Don't let this stop you from watching.
	K-9 James Belushi stars as Thomas Dooley, an unorthodox narcotics cop who teams with an independently minded police dog in this hilarious action-comedy. Headstrong Dooley is one step away from nailing a prominent socialite in a $50 million cocaine bust. He's branded as too crazy to partner with, and no one will work with him except Jerry Lee, a superbly trained German shepherd police dog with the best nose in the drug-busting business. The unconventional pairing pleases neither partner, but after a series of shootouts, stakeouts, brawls and romantic misadventures, they develop a grudging respect for each other. It's a heartwarming, fast-footed adventure about an unlikely and unbeatable police team that will have you rooting for man's best friend. 3.0 Wikipedia Film Info Staring: James Belushi Jerry Lee Mel Harris Kevin Tighe Ed O'Neill Daniel Davis Thoughts: I haven't seen this one for a long time and find that I enjoy it as much as the first time i saw it.  It is a pedestrian story but it is just good fun.  James Belushi is very funny having just come off The Principle, Real Men and Red Heat here he shows growth with comedy and the marriage to comedy and action. Jerry Lee is a greatly trained dog and pulls off the 'character' well.  Mel Harris is charming but a very limited time on the screen.  A 'young' Ed O'Neill is fun to see with the very fun film Dutch, and Kevin Tighe is again a very good bad guy.

[Tom]

I haven't seen "Les Visiteurs" for a while now, but as far as I remember I liked it much more than the American remake. Maybe it is because I grew up with it and saw it often on TV.

[DSig]

And that is probably why my favorite is the other way.  But the first just doesn't seem to be as well made.  But again that could also be a 'where you live' kind of feeling.

[DSig]

	Stephen King's Storm of the Century From Stephen King, the best-selling novelist of all time, comes the terrifying tale of a town besieged by evil. The inhabitants of a picturesque, sleepy little town on a small island off the coast of Maine find themselves completely cut off from the rest of the world when they are hit by the worst storm of the century. As snow steadily buries everything familiar, terror arrives in the form of an evil stranger. As streets disappear and an eerie darkness envelops the town, a series of bizarre murders creates a nightmare of fear. With no help coming from the outside world and no end to the storm in sight, the townspeople are forced to take drastic action before it's too late. 3.5 Wikipedia Film Info Staring: Timothy Daly Colm Feore Debrah Farentino Casey Siemaszko Jeffrey DeMunn Thoughts: Having seen this before I was happy to find this mini-series very cheap.  Got it home and watched and I have to say that it really hasn't lost anything.  It is a very good implementation of a Stephen King script (actually written for tv).  Not often can Stephen King material be captured in film let alone TV.  But this is very good. I also have to say that I am still surprised by the performance of Timothy Daly.  I have never really seen him in a good compelling performance.  But here he is very very good.  Great supporting cast including Colm Feore as the bad guy ... and what a bad guy he makes. If you haven't seen this one and you like Stephen King storys try this one out.  I think you will like it.
	Kiss of Death In Barbet Schroeder's gritty thriller, DAVID CARUSO is an ex-con who's lured back into a life of crime for one last heist. When a detective (SAMUEL L. JACKSON) offers him his freedom in return for turning on a gangster (NICHOLAS CAGE), he becomes a reluctant pawn caught between federal agents and the mob. HELEN HUNT, STANLEY TUCCI and MICHAEL RAPAPORT co-star in this stylish, streetsmart film noir. 3.5 Wikipedia Film Info Staring: David Caruso Nicolas Cage Samuel L. Jackson Helen Hunt Ving Rhames Stanley Tucci Kathryn Erbe Michael Rapaport Thoughts: I really like this one.  Yes, yes I know David Caruso, the kiss of death for a movie but I think he does a good job.  The play between him and Nicolas Cage is very good.  This film has a great supporting cast.  From a still youngish looking Samuel L. Jackson to a really young Kathryn Erbe .. just a couple years from her first real performance in What About Bob?.  With Stanley Tucci playing a sleazy district attorney to Ving Rhames playing a coked out criminal ... the cast just really works. Storyline is good and direction/filming does not get in the way of the story. A good recommendation for this one.
	Wisdom Plot Synopsis: Unable to find work after a past felony, graduate John Wisdom and his girlfriend (Moore) embark on a cross-country bank-robbing spree in order to aid American farmers (Just call him Robin Hood). 0 Wikipedia Film Info Staring: Emilio Estevez Demi Moore Tom Skerritt Veronica Cartwright Thoughts: I have to say that this one really stinks.  Emilio Estevez, having had his first real performance in film just 4 years earlier, wrote, directed and starred in this one.  Possibly the big trouble with this one is that someone let him be so self indulgent.  I don't think there is anything about this film that i liked ... and I feel cheated out of an hour and a half.  To paraphrase Meatloaf and great song Life Is a Lemon and I Want My Money Back ... this movie is a lemon AND I WANT MY HOUR AND A HALF BACK!
	Wag the Dog When the President is caught in a sex scandal less than 2 weeks before election, White House spinmaster Conrad Brean (Robert De Niro) creates a phony war with the help of Hollywood producer Stanley Motss (Dustin Hoffman). From acclaimed director Barry Levinson and writers Hilary Henkin and David Mamet comes this biting look at American politics and its relationship with the media that we have all come to embrace. 3.5 Wikipedia Film Info Staring: Dustin Hoffman Robert De Niro Anne Heche Denis Leary Thoughts: A very fun story with a great cast and very well directed by Barry Levinson.  It is funny that the original story, a book by Larry Beinhart, was actually about George H. W. Bush but that the film came out with a president with no name ... and just before the scandal that rocked Bill Clinton's presidency.  Pretty weird coincidence. Great supporting cast including Willie Nelson, Kirsten Dunst, William H. Macy, Woody Harrelson and Craig T. Nelson. This is a great film with good interesting characters portrayed by very good actors. This is a strong recommend.

[DSig]

The Uninvited (2009/United States) DreamWorks Home Entertainment (United States) Director: Charles Guard [The Guard Brothers], Thomas Guard [The Guard Brothers] Writing: Craig Rosenberg (Screenwriter), Doug Miro (Screenwriter), Carlo Bernard (Screenwriter), Kim Jee-Woon (Original Material By) Length: 87 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, French: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital: 5.1 Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Stars:
Emily Browning as Anna
Arielle Kebbel as Alex
David Strathairn as Stephen
Elizabeth Banks (1974) as Rachel
Maya Massar as Mom

Plot:
From the producers of The Ring and Disturbia comes a nail-biting thriller, THE UNINVITED. Following the suspicious death of their mother, sisters Anna and Alex become entangled in a deadly battle of wills when their father becomes engaged to Rachel, their mother's former caretaker. As the two sisters investigate Rachel's questionable past, they are confronted with ghostly visions, terrifying nightmares and deadly consequences. All leading to an ending so shocking it "will send chills down your spine!"

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Feature Trailers
• Deleted Scenes
• Featurettes
• Closed Captioned

My Thoughts:

Genre: Horror, Suspense/Thriller
Rating: PG-13
Have I seen it before: No
Do I Like it as much:
Last Watched:  02/06/2013

Review: 3.5/5 

I really like this one.  I understand that this comes from a Korean movie of the same name.  I have not seen that one so don't know how the comparison is.

I know that I found this compelling on a couple of levels and found the ending very good.  Some elements of the film I hadn't guessed at (i really hate doing that) when they happened.

Overall this is a fun watch.  I really like Emily Browning as I have stated in other reviews.  She could become a very find actress.  Pretty, smart and has a very good presence on the screen.

Definitely a suggested film.

[DSig]

Streets of Fire (1984/United States) Universal Home Video (United States) Director: Walter Hill Writing: Walter Hill (Writer), Larry Gross (Writer) Length: 94 min. Video: Widescreen 1.77:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, French: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround Subtitles: English, Spanish

Stars:
Michael Paré as Tom Cody
Diane Lane (1965) as Ellen Aim
Rick Moranis as Billy Fish
Amy Madigan as McCoy
Willem Dafoe as Raven
Deborah Van Valkenburgh as Reva
Richard Lawson as Ed Price
Rick Rossovich as Officer Cooley

Plot:
Streets of Fire is a movie unlike any ever seen before—a rock and roll fable in which songs are as essential to the film as the action sequences. Michael Paré stars as Tom Cody, handsome, heroic soldier of fortune who returns to his old neighborhood to rescue his gorgeous ex-girlfriend, rock star Ellen Aim (Diane Lane) from the clutches of the evil motorcycle gang that kidnaps her. Together with Ellen's manager, Billy Fish (Rick Moranis) and Tom's two fisted, beer guzzling sidekick McCoy (Amy Madigan) they set off into a timeless world of smoke, neon, rain-splattered streets, hot cars and deadly enemies to bring Ellen back. In the words of Director Walter Hill of 48 Hours fame, "...Leader of the Pack steals the Queen of the Hop and Soldier Boy comes home to do something about it." All to the sounds of today's top rock stars.

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Feature Trailers
• Production Notes
• Closed Captioned

My Thoughts:

Genre: Action, Music
Rating: R
Have I seen it before: Yes
Do I Like it as much: YES!
Last Watched: 02/06/2013

Review: 4/5

I really like this film and I think it gets a bad rap.  I really like the primary actors in this ... Michael Pare, Diane Land, Rick Moranis, Amy Madigan and Willem Dafoe.

Michael Pare always gets a bad rap and like Peter Weller his presence is almost the kiss of death for a film.  But he is great in this film.  The *innocent* true believer in Right/Wrong and what a man must do to make things right.  Diane Lane is fun and it really stuns me, after seeing this one after so many years, just how young she was in it.  Rick Moranis is a hoot as 'Billy Fish' the promoter/manager for Diane Lane's character.  And Willem Dafoe .. what can be said about him in this film.  He is great .. intense .. over the edge.  Another early performance where he gives it his all.

Okay, now for the Music.  Again, experience is everything.  The great songs in this film are done by Jim Steinman.  This is no knock on Ry Cooder or the music he wrote for the film.  And listed as the "Music By" he does an excellent job bringing all the elements to bare.  But when creating a film bigger than life .. a grandiose experience you need someone who writes songs that are SO BIG that normally only the great Meat Loaf can perform them.  And although Meat Loaf does not perform the songs here, but luckily by Fire Inc. with lead vocal performed by Holly Sherwood did an absolutely marvelous job.  Yes ... Jim Steinman, the Richard Wagner of the 70's, 80's and 90's.  Infact they even have a term for his music ... Wagnerian Rock.

Finally the films storyline.  This also is great.  It contains characters bigger than life with morality challenges that match.  Dark sets, creepy scenes and style that is somewhere between 50's biker films like The Wild One, 50's early 60's D0o-Wop and the original New Wave dews from B-52's and A Flock of Seagulls.

EVERYTHING comes together very well from music to acting to production.

If you like great music, fables and things larger than life ... this film is for you.

[DSig]

Blind Horizon: Widescreen (2004/United States) Lions Gate Home Entertainment (United States) Director: Michael Haussman Writing: F. Paul Benz (Writer), Steve Tomlin (Writer) Length: 99 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1 Subtitles:

Stars:
Val Kilmer as Frank Kavanaugh
Neve Campbell as Chloe Richards
Sam Shepard as Sheriff Jack Kolb
Noble Willingham as Deputy Shirl Cash
Amy Smart as Liz Culpepper
Gil Bellows as Dr. Theodore Conway
Giancarlo Esposito as JC Reynolds
Faye Dunaway as Ms K

Plot:
Left for dead in the remote Southwest, Frank (Val Kilmer) is found clinging to life and in a state of amnesia. As he recovers from the bullet wounds, ominous memories begin to flash back – offering clues that point to an impending Presidential assassination.

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Feature Trailers
• Bonus Trailers
• Featurettes
• Closed Captioned

My Thoughts:

Genre: Suspense/Thriller
Rating: R
Have I seen it before: Yes
Do I Like it as much: Yes
Last Watched: 02/07/2013

Review: 4/5

This is a pretty good thriller.  I really like the cast in this one and the storyline is pretty good.  I didn't find much with this one I didn't like.

I would suggest this to anyone who hasn't seen it.  If you are a Kilmer, Campbell or Shepard fan this one is for you.