Reviews

I watched this movie because I heard Jeff and Steve McDonald, from my favorite band Redd Kross, we're in it. The movie itself was nothing great, but it had enough retro fashion and faded pop-culture icons to keep your average kitch-addict entertained. An enjoyable cartoon, but if you're looking for a truly honest depiction of 70's culture, check out "Boogie Nights", "Dazed and Confused", or that Matt Dillon teen-apocalypse classic, "Over the Edge".

I think Russ Meyer really topped himself with this one. It's camp, but it's camp created by truly TALENTED people. That's what makes it so special. The dialogue is crisp and believable, and the performances (particularly the ones given by Michael Blodgett as "Lance Rock" and John LaZar as the immortal "Z Man") are actually pretty good. I am convinced that the climactic bloodbath in Z Man's crib is Meyer's take on the Sharon Tate murders (I imagine the scene was written before Manson reared his ugly head). Also, I love how Russ played the 20th Century Fox theme on the soundtrack during the decapitation of Lance! The man truly has guts!

With the seemingly endless stream of overrated non-events that have been coming down the pike this decade. ("L.A Confidential", anyone??), this one is a real rarity: A film that genuinely lives up to its hype.

This movie provided me with something not many movies have been providing lately: A good time. This is the kind of quirky, edgy, but ultimately warm hearted independent movie that I grew up watching, long before the Neil LeButes and Kevin Smiths of the world sucked all the fun out of everything. "Love and a .45" is no great shakes, but, if anything, it will make you nostalgic for the good ol' days of independent cinema, back when indies were sorta...you know...fun and wacky.

Wow, this movie was freaky! I can't think of a more disturbing way to spend 90 minutes than by watching "Henry". After being deluded by repeated viewings of everything from "Scarface" to "Reservior Dogs" to "Goodfellas", I thought I had become pretty numb to on-screen violence. Seeing "Henry" was like being slapped in the face. As iron as my stomach is, even I had to cover my eyes during that awful "home invasion" scene! Overall, it's a soul-shaking movie experience that you will not forget, no matter how hard you try.

"L.A. Confidential" is a good movie. There's no denying that. Now..is it a "great" movie? Well, it's a great noir exercise, let's just say that. "Greatness" usually translates into "originality". This is where "L.A. Confidential" falls short. For all it's undeniable quality, "L.A. Confidential" is basically just a really well done pot-boiler. No more, no less. So was Michael Mann's "Heat", but I didn't see that movie sweep the critic's circle awards. All in all, it's an entertaining little thriller, but it has no real distinguishing features to separate it from a hundred other cop movies, and it will never have the cultural resonance of a "Pulp Fiction".

The first time I saw "Boogie Nights" in a theater, I walked out flabbergasted. I'd never been that affected by a movie since "Pulp Fiction" (and that's saying a lot). After being numbed by a decade's worth of stark, Kevin Smith-style indie banalities, I just wasn't used to seeing a movie that covered that much emotional and cultural ground. I saw it three more times in the theater, never getting bored with it. I own it today on video. I really can't say enough great things about this amazing movie. A movie which will no doubt be regarded as a classic in years to come.

OK, by now anybody with half a brain knows how great this movie is. It is a rare movie that crafts a bizarre alternate universe out of stark reality. It's as funny as it is suspenesful and disturbing. If you haven't seen "Fargo" yet, what are you waiting for??

This movie knocks me out every time I sit down and watch it. Not only is it one of the best films of the 90's, it also happens to be THE best gangster movie ever (that's right..even better than "The Godfather").

One-of-a-kind musical documentary. Not only do you get to see the Stones at their drugged-out peak, but you also get to witness an apocalyptic battle between the hippies and the Hell's Angels! Not to be missed!