Change Your Image
j.g
Reviews
On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)
Perhaps the best Bond movie
I remember as a kid when the first videos arrived in my country(around 1984)and my family bought one i was amazed.I could watch the greatest movies on my own tv.The most desired movies for me,then,where the JB films.Warner Brothers were starting bringing them on video in Greece and finally i could watch the Bond movies of both the Connery and Moore era.The last Bond movie that came out in Greece at that time was a movie called"on her majesty's secret service".When i first saw it at the video store i wondered what it was,i didn't know that a Bond movie existed that didn't feature either Connery or Moore.I rented it with very low expectations,it was the failed Bond movie after all.When i was done watching it i couldn't believe what i had just saw.The best Bond movie. Almost 20 years later and having done some research on Bond movies i can reaffirm my childhood opinion,this IS the best Bond movie rivalled only by"From Russia with love".Lazenby plays 007 like there is no tommorow(quite ironic).He sometimes seems a little stiff when delivering his lines(it was his first acting job)but he has 2 major advantages:the way he moves is fantastic(he was a model at that time)and he is in a leauge of his own in the action scenes.The supporting cast is definately the best in any Bond movie:Diana Rigg is by far the best "Bond girl" even,her part is way bigger and more serious to be labelled as another Bond girl anyway,and Telly Savalas is in terrific shape and is only rivalled by Gert Frobe(goldfinger).The setting is definately inspiring and the action scenes truly memorable.The chase scenes in the snow and the assault of Draco's forces(along with Bond)at Blofeld headquarters are simply unforgettable.As for the sound score,it captures the essence of Bond as much as the original Bond theme does(no wonder it was made by the same composer) The only 2 reasons i can find for this movie's"failure" are that people weren't ready for a replacement to Connery and that the ending was not a happy one (a first and last for Bond movies). I still wish that this movie was succesfull and that the Bond franchise would have several more movies of this caliber and tone instead of the comical turn it took with "diamonds.." and the movies of the Moore era.
Mask (1985)
I cried at the end
Let me tell you something:I am a person that his taste in films contain films from Lucio Fulci and others like cannibal holocaust.I usually watch dramas and love stories just to get a good laugh by them.I laughed until my stomach hearted with films like titanic,armaggedon and other hollywood "emotiononal" crapfests.I even found seven's ending perfect.But not with this movie.When i first saw it i was 15 and at the end i was crying like a baby.I saw it 12 years later(a few weeks ago) and guess what,a tear slipped through my eye again at the ending.This is the only movie that has made me cry.The casting is perfect,the story unfolds with a great pace and you never get bored during this movie.I didn't know it was a true story and it makes me even sadder knowing it.This is not an entertaining film but it can really touch you.Hell it even touched a deranged movie fan like me!!Wonderful movie.
X-Men (2000)
Dissapointment
Bryan Singer shows with this movie that he feels a little embarrased that he has to direct a comic book movie.As a result he has made xmen completely different than the original material of the comic book.First of all the casting is almost all wrong.Ian Mc Kellen as Magnetto is one of the worst choices that could be made.I respect Ian Mc Kelln cause he is truely a great actor but that role simply didn't fit him.Magneto is a powerfull and menacing force and that feeling we never get in this movie,not once.All the actors who play the Xmen are inadequate and are a disgrace to the original material with one exception:Patrick Steward was born to play professor x.The movie feels slow and boring.The action sequences are sparce and boring.The effort to make an antiracist message out of this movie is blown out of proportion and feels quite cheesy.I have to dissagree with the wood,spider man has finally done it right as far as comic origin movies go.Sam Reimi wasn't afraid to make a movie first for the fans of the comic and then for the casual movie audiances unlike Bryan Singer who did the exact opposite.I am really happy that spider man is going to crush xmen at the box office.It's not that Xmen is a bad movie(it's actually a descent one)that bothers me,it's the fact that the director had the most spectacular comic book heroes in his hands and made such a boring and unexciting film out of them.Descent film but much much worse than Spider Man and Batman 1+2.
Zombi 2 (1979)
Best zombie film ever.
This is the definite zombie film.Dawn of the dead pales in comparison.One woman with the aid of a reporter seeks for her father at a small island.At that island however...the dead are coming back to life and our 2 heroes(along with the 2 people that bring them to the island and a doctor who was the assistant of the main hero's father)struggle to escape the island.The plot might sound simple and it is,with none of the sophistication of Romero's films but PLOT ISN'T EVERYTHING in a horror film.Here Fulci delivers in spades.The zombies in this movie are the best i've seen.The make up is fantastic with maggots crawling on the dead people's faces,blood dripping from their bodies...a trully amazing sight.The atmosphere is mind blowing and the soundtrack plays a major part in this.From the fantastic synth music that accompanies the zombies' attacks to the brilliant voodoo drumming that is heard from the moment our heroes arrive at the island.The fact that the zombies are a result of voodoo and not some chemical polution is perfect.The acting is much better than the average acting in this kind of movie, especially Christopher Johnson as the doctor gives a great performance.Some of the scenes in this film like the attack of the zombies at the church or the zombie-shark duel are truely unforgettable.As for the gore..well IT IS a Fulci movie so what do you expect?I don't find the gore on Fulci movies disturbing though just entertaining because it's somewhat comic like.Anyway this is a hardcore horror movie and like the other 3 great Fulci movies a perfect representation of a nightmare.
Paura nella città dei morti viventi (1980)
Can anyone explain the end???
This is the second of the four movies that gave fulci the reputation of godfather of gore.It is great.You can read the plot in every other comment so...The gore is plenty,in fact this probably is the goriest of fulci films.IT has almost everything:squashed brains,worm attacks,a drill in the head,vomiting your insides out...everything.It also has a good atmosphere,though nowhere near as good as the beyond or house by the cemetary.I love this film BUT...it has the two most inconceivable scenes in any fulci film(and you know there are many inconceivable scenes in fulci films).First the drill scene:you see a man you believe is a pervert and guilty of many crimes but now he seems weaker than a fly.So what do you do??Call the police??NO!Punch him?NO.You put a drill in his head!!Why??The supposed pervert seems much more normal than the man who kills him.Second and much worse:the ending scene.Whether you like it or not this IS a happy ending.The demonic priest dies in flames,the zombies are destroyed and the gates of hell stay shut.So what does Mac kol screams about??And why does this kid suddenly seem scared.Nobody will ever find out.A happy ending is a happy ending and sorry great late Fulci this is a happy ending no matter what!!
Rocky IV (1985)
What went wrong?
Sometimes I just wonder.The original rocky was a masterpiece and Stallone looked like he had a very good chance of a great acting career.First blood was also quite good so... what happened to the sequels to those movies??Rambo II released on the same year was bad but this is awful.Rocky II was average,III hillarious and this ...oh my god!!I think Rocky 4 is the worst Stallone movie ever!The only fun part is when Creed dies(What a drama!!).We also see the worst actress of all times(you know who she is)AND the worst actor of all times(Dolph...)together in a movie.I don't really care about the propaganda because it is so funny and so poorly presented it ads an amusing element.Rocky in this movie becomes officially Superman after beating that monstrous russian...from Sweden.The actors who play the russian officials are creepy in a bad way.Believe me plan 9 from outer space is a better movie than this.Poor Stallone....
Dark Waters (1993)
a TRUE horror movie
This movie is way too scary and atmospheric.I mean it is way scarier than anything that was made during late seventies-early eighties by directors like fulci,argento etc.The setting is the best in any horror movie and the acting is great.The feeling of this movie is unbelievable.I can't believe the low rating of the movie.Have the people who voted really seen this movie or are they kidding??Ultimate horror!!!
Batman Returns (1992)
the best!!!
Batman returns is the best batman movie and one of the best movies in general.This movie is way darker than the first and the characters are maybe way too creepy for some.The arch villain of the film,the penguin,is a tragic figure and Danny de Vito,although has a little more make up than needed,gives a performance of titanic proportions.Michelle Pfeiffer is the only worthwhile female character in any batman movie.She is amasing.Sexy and dangerous.Christopher Walken is the real bad guy of the film and his performance is so good you are happy when he dies(and with the way he dies!!!).The story is maybe "too much"for some people and I guess that's why Burton never had a chance directing Batman 3.See this movie and avoid the next sequels at any cost.
Sleepy Hollow (1999)
Tim Burton IS God!!
I can't believe the beauty of Burton's films.He is a genious.This is another masterpiece which has to be seen to be believed!!This is the way modern gothic horror should be made.It makes films like "Bram Stocker's Dracula"look even worse than they really are.Sleepy Hollow delivers in spades.The plot is very interesting and has enough twists to keep you interested.Johnny Depp gives another great performance in a Burton film.They make the perfect couple!!This is how hammer films would be made today if they had the right budget.Sleepy Hollow is both funny AND creepy.I am a hardcore horror fan and I really enjoyed this movie.With"Ed Wood","Batman" and now this,Tim Burton ranks as the number 1 director of the whole movie industry.Give him Batman 5 NOW!!!
Quella villa accanto al cimitero (1981)
Trully frightening!
It's true that this movie has many flaws.The plot has way too many gaps and the ending is hideous.Yet,I love this movie because it is really scary and way scarier than "the beyond".With this and "the beyond" it seems that Fulci had many ideas of a great horror movie and didn't have the money to fully accomplish his visions so both these movies look a bit confusing.But especially "the house..."is way too scary to criticise it.The setting of the movie(The house)is fantastic,the atmosphere is creepy,the acting surprisingly good and the killings...enjoyable.The gore effects are very good(although a bit funny)and the soundtrack amazing.Sometimes I wish Fulci had a bigger movie budget.Even with it's flaws"the house..."is a movie all horror fans MUST watch!!It is scary and THAT's what counts after all!!
Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)
Mega budget doesn't make a good movie.
O.K.This is the most expensive dracula film of all times.That doesn't make it the best though.In fact the only thing I like in this movie is the,beyond belief,fantastic soundtrack.Other than that,there are too many flaws in the movie.First of all it is not such a faithfull adaption of the book as many would have you believe!There's too much romance in this movie.The actors,although big names all of them,are awful.Gary Oldman as Dracula is ridiculous.I hate him.He is not creepy at all.Winona Ryder as Mina is o.k,and Keanu Reaves as Harker is really good.But the huge disappointment is Anthony Hopkins as Van Helsing.He makes Van Helsing look really foolish.This is the worst part Hopkins has ever performed!!The film is slow and dull.It is clear that is was made for big audiances,much bigger than your average horror film.If you are a horror fan you won't like this,if you're not you will.I expected much more though.A missed oportunity for vampire though.
Un gatto nel cervello (1990)
This is fun!!
I don't think that this is a serious horror film.Instead it is a parody of every other film Fulci has made.The main character is no dramatic at all,he is amusing!!The gore elements are completely out of sense,making them hillarious.To fully understand that this is a comedy just watch the ending.Don't compare this to the "serious" Fulci films.On a serious note Fulci looks like a really nice guy,and it is sad that he died after a few months.We'll always remember him!!
Howling VI: The Freaks (1991)
vampire vs werewolf...in a circus!!
I really enjoyed this film.Normally I don't like werewolf movies but this one is very entertaining.It might not be scary enough,but it has really good characters.The werewolf is a good guy which is something,unlike other people,I enjoy!The real star of the film though is Bruce Payne who is once again amazing to watch as the bad guy.The fight scenes between werewolf and vampire are reasonably well executed.I don't like most of the other sequels to the original howling(especially that awful 3rd film)but this turned out to be much better than I had hoped.