Change Your Image
WeirDave
Reviews
Eyes of Fire (1983)
One of the best Low Budget Horrors out there
I saw this film by accident back in 1983 as a rental from Blockbuster. I have been hooked ever since, turning many people on to it's original story. The movie is creepy and eerie and yes the ending is open ended by the references and the characters make up for this trust me! It is an old American settlement in the woods with references to witches and druids and the evil that lies within us all. There are some neat Hitchcock like quick pans and sounds with only references to the actual happenings allowing your brain to fill in the pieces nicely. The scenes mostly take place in a dark and omniscient woods. There are some religious references which play into the plot as well. I am looking for it on DVD, you should too.
Open Water (2003)
A low budget film that scared the audience more than Blair Witch
Susan (Blanchard Ryan) and Daniel (Daniel Travis) are a modern day stressed out married couple that have "planned" a last minute vacation to a remote island resort hoping to get away from it all. Their relaxing vacation turns into horror when a careless diving boat crew leaves them in the middle of the ocean. The mood shifts from a peaceful island getaway to shark infested blood pool over the course of the film. The camera work is adequate and shot from low enough angles to make you feel like you are at times in the water with them and the realism with the dialogue keeps you so involved emotionally that you will not be doing the dreaded watch look to see when the film is over. Shot in mostly one scene, this low budget film does a great job of frightening the audience several times throughout without the glitz of special effects. As a newly certified diver my wife and I found it provided good examples of what not do on a remote dive trip.
The Bourne Supremacy (2004)
***** out of *****
Plot: A CIA operation lead by Pamela Landy (Joan Allen) to purchase classified Russian documents is blown by a rival agent Kirill (Karl Urban). Kirill leaves "clues" to frame the "ghost" agent Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) and then shows up in a remote section of India where Bourne and his girlfriend Marie (Franka Potente) have been living under the radar. Kirill then attempts to kill Bourne only to assassinate Marie. A grief stricken Bourne, sets out on revenge and finds himself being hunted by both Kirill and Landy in this edge of your seat thriller.
Character analysis:
Damon does a good job of convincing you he is once again a formidable killer and Urban as his nemesis adds a bit of Bondish plot to the movie. The role of Landy is played well by Allen who is believable as a gutsy "prove I'm wrong" woman at the top of the CIA. Playing the role of Ward Abbott (Brian Cox) does an excellent job of convincing you he is an old dog at the CIA when the cold war made everything different and he never made the transition when it ended.
This movie has proven that there can be other reoccurring good roles outside of Bond and will make a great addition to anyone's DVD collection when released.
King Arthur (2004)
Matinée date movie
The film is based on a more realistic portrayal of "Arthur, Lancelot and Guinevere" than other movies and TV stories have told before. The film focuses on the history and politics of the period during which Arthur ruled. The Roman empire is collapsing and battles were waging with the pagans and the Norseman. The film itself isn't too bad but hardly a blockbuster event. It is entertaining and that is mostly because of the charismatic Clive Owen as Arthur and the sometimes show stealing performance by Ray Winstone as the knight Bors. His character development is both believable and heroic. Of course from a guy standpoint Keira Knightly looks as lovely as ever if not radiant at times. As I said, I was fortunate enough to spend a matinée at the film as apposed to a late night, and would highly recommend it for a good afternoon.