Just Watched Movies: 2009

[Heineken Skywalker]

Happy New Year everybody and welcome to the 2009 edition of the thread where members of "The Board" can post what movies they've seen lately.

Whether you saw it in a movie theater or in your home theater we wanna hear about it. Whether it was on BlueRay in widescreen and with 6.1 sound, or it aired on the USA Network where it was edited for content and loaded with commercials, we want to know.

And don't just give us a list of movies, please. Tell us a little about it. Did you love it or hate it? Is it a "must see" or a "must avoid"? Sometimes I'm too lazy to go look up a title on imdb.com so a little info from you guys is nice.

And if you want to really go all out with a full blown review of any title you see, new or old, feel free to write a review for the "Review Hell" section. But please check first to make sure one hasn't been written already and just add your comments to that one.

Also, if it was a made-for-tv movie or miniseries, and not a theatrical release, please go to the "Where's the Remote" section and tell us about it in the similar thread over there, "Just watched on tv".

Cheers!

[raina]

Return to House on Haunted Hill (2007)

Okay, so I admit, I am one of the few people that LIKED the House on Haunted Hill remake, despite the fact that I am not a big fan of remakes in general, the dumb ending, and the sometimes annoying camerawork. It had a good cast, some good scenes, and I found it to be pretty entertaining.
One thing most of you might not know about me yet is that I LOVE bad horror movies. I will watch almost anything horror, and if I can make fun of it, even better. ;D So don't be surprised by the sheer amount crap I will watch AND even enjoy.
So with all that said, this was not as bad as I was expecting it to be. The acting is just bad for the most part, but sometimes passable, there was some okay gore, and it kept me watching and cracking jokes. The storyline is dull, nothing new or interesting there. So not great by any stretch of the imagination or even GOOD... but not a total waste of time if you enjoy horror the way that I do.
I also happen to be a huge Jeffrey Combs fan, so anytime I get to see him....well, always a good thing.

But yeah, it still gets a low rating: 3.5/10


Dead and Breakfast (2004)

I enjoy the hell out of this movie, some misses humor wise, sure, but for the most part its just a cheesy, bloody good time. And you know, dancing zombies, whats NOT to love about that?
But very campy, if you aren't into campy and silly, avoid, avoid, avoid, you will just be annoyed.

6.5/10

[Heineken Skywalker]

Jan 3, 2009 13:59:16 GMT -5 raina said:

One thing most of you might not know about me yet is that I LOVE bad horror movies. I will watch almost anything horror, and if I can make fun of it, even better. ;D So don't be surprised by the sheer amount crap I will watch AND even enjoy.

Not necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes a movie can be so bad, that it's sheer awfulness makes it entertaining.

Watched over the last couple of days, a couple of flicks I'd never seen before...

STREET SMART (1987)

Christopher Reeve plays a magazine reporter who is in danger of losing his job. He comes up with the idea of doing a "day in the life" article about a pimp. Facing a deadline and not being able to get anyone on the streets to participate, he decides to fake the story. Problem is, the details about his fictional pimp are very close to a real pimp (Morgan Freeman) involved in a murder case, and the reporter finds himself in over his head.
The film is pretty standard, but Morgan Freeman is so good, in one of his first starring roles, that he elevates every scene he's in.

6/10

BRIDGET JONES'S DIARY (2001)

Renée Zellweger is really good in the lead role of a British woman in her 30's dealing with her weight, her job, her friends, her parents, dating, etc.
I started to lose a little interest towards the end, and romantic comedies aren't really my thing, but this was funny enough and not too typical of the genre.

6.5/10

[raina]

Killer Diller (2004)
Thoughts in the Genre of the Month thread.

House of Carnage (2006)

A disastrous rip off of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre films and the like that has absolutely nothing going for it. The ONLY reason I watched this cinematic gem all the way through is that my husband knows the director, some of the cast and the special effects guy. So I have a feeling there is going to be a few of these in my future.....*sighs* Seriously this was just an excuse to get women naked and throw some fake blood on them. A total bore.

1/10

Hemoglobin aka Bleeders (1997)

Actually, this started out kind of interesting....then it started to get bad, really bad and more than a little stupid. Yet I could not look away. Maybe because the scenery is quite pretty? I don't think that was it....

3/10

Dead Meat (2004)

Low budget Irish zombie film that is actually kind of effective at times and is almost good. Compared to the previous two I just reviewed, a freakin' masterpiece. Fans of low budget horror might not think this is a complete waste of an hour and half.

5.5/10

Graduation Day (1981)

Typical early '80s slasher film. Not bad for its type, just not particularly interesting either, though its another that is great to watch and poke a little bit of fun at.

3/10

The Majorettes (1986)

Ah, yes, the cherry on the top of our day of bad horror.....starts out as a typical slasher film (a hooded killer is slashing his way through the local high school's majorettes) but then the killer is revealed too soon (to the audience)...only to then have the movie inexplicably turn into an action/revenge story where the high school quarterback suddenly turns into Rambo or something.
The rather abrupt shift in the tone of the film is (unintentionally, I think) hilarious.

4/10

[Heineken Skywalker]

THE GOLDEN COMPASS (2007)

Well made fantasy movie, but with the rash of these types of films lately, I just had a feeling of been-there-done-that.

6/10

SON OF RAMBOW (2007)

A couple of British kids, inspired by a pirated copy of the Stallone movie FIRST BLOOD, and armed with a video camera, decide to make their own low budget sequel to it.
The two lead boys give good performances and I enjoyed a few scenes with some of the supporting characters and the kids' imaginations running wild. Cute idea and decent movie, but I didn't find it as amazing as some critics would have me believe. The ending was sweet.

6/10

[slayrrr666]

Rock Star-See thoughts in Movie Genre thread.

[Termination]

Think I'll share this year.

Eraser (1996) (Blu-Ray)

Film - 7/10
HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 9/10

Its nice to revisit the real action star of the 80's & 90's for a change. Arnie the top gun of Witless Protection err.... Witness Protection that is, helps Vanessa Williams escape from assassination after the FBI got her to get information from a company she works for which sells arms. Nice guns by the way. Um.. I liked the action scenes & felt the one liner dialog to be on the cheese side but overall entertaining. Not Arnie's best for sure but also not his weakest.
So close to a 9 for video, not even funny. A few scenes are washed away with blur ..errr.. should say look as though ya took your glasses off midway through the picture while all other shots are near reference quality for a film now 10+ years old. The TrueHD track is on par with the lossy Dolby 640k mix during dialog scenes. Only action scenes really boost the audio quality which thankfully there are plenty.

[Heineken Skywalker]

And it's nice to have you posting in this section again, Term. If you can, pop on over to Genre of the Month from time to time too.

RIGHTEOUS KILL (2008)

Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, together again for the first time since HEAT. This time, they play New York City police detectives on the trail of a vigilante killer who may be connected to an old case they worked on.
Nice to see these two on-screen together, but wish it was in a better film. Not much suspense for a crime thriller, and the "twist" really isn't. At one point I thought I had the movie all figured out and had a much better twist in my mind, thinking that the other would be way too obvious. They went with "the other" so I guess I gave the writer too much credit.
Not the complete train wreck I was expecting based on critical word of mouth, but could've and should've been so much more. Hopefully these two acting legends will hook up on film at least once more and maybe it'll be for someone like Scorsese, so the opportunity doesn't get squandered again.

6/10

[raina]

The Garden (2006)

A man and his troubled son, on the trip back to the son's home with his mother, have a car accident and they are taken in by Ben, a man living alone on his farm. Not just any man, but......the devil.... ;D who has plans for them.
Actually started out promising enough for a low budget effort, had a nice look, there were several scenes that were done well.....but then it gets really, really, REALLY hokey and clumsy (in the way that religious horror can be) . The bright spot is Lance Henriksen, who makes a pretty good devil.

4.5/10

[Termination]

Every Which Way But Loose (1978) (Blu-Ray)

Film - 8/10
HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

Clint Eastwood stars as Philo, a regular country folk who just so happens to be a good street brawler. Once & awhile he makes extra cash by fighting alongside his best friend Clyde who is a orangutan. While enjoying his days & nights at bars he finds himself attached to a country singer named Lynn Taylor. Once the relationship becomes more than sex, she hits the road without telling Philo where she is headed. Two friends of Philo & Clyde venture off to find her while a silly biker gang & a few cops follow in pursuit for revenge. I liked Clint's character in this one. He is real down to earth & his friendship with the baboon makes for an interesting comedy chalked up with some Drama but is not to be taken seriously. My fav seen has to be when the Biker gang shows up at his mom's place to intimidate her but she is more than prepared for confrontation with her giant hand cannon.
The video is presented in its native 1.85:1 aspect ratio. A few nighttime scenes suffer from minor noise & grain. No edge enhancement or digital noise compression. Color reproduction is excellent during outdoor daylight scenes & the extra resolution definitely shows with incredible detail. I actually wasn't expecting this one to look this good sinse it was made 30 years ago but you would not think it seeing today! Warner gives ya the usual soundtrack options, lossy Dolby & lossless TrueHD tracks. Unfortunately dialog is distorted a bit on both tracks & there really isn't enough of an improvement with the TrueHD track to warrant a higher rating. Surrounds are pretty much inactive throughout, being a comedy, most of the track is front heavy with the mains & center receiving the most attention & oddly the LFE channel is also very quiet throughout.

[slayrrr666]

Fun in Acapulco-See thoughts in Movie Genre thread.

G.I. Blues-See thoughts in Movie Genre thread.

[raina]

The Tattooist (2007)

A tattoo artist, played by Jason Behr, unwittingly summons an angry spirit through his art after becoming interested in traditional Samoan tattooing.
Here's one I have mixed feelings about. Its really slow near the beginning and some of it is quite dull, but its also pretty interesting at times, the premise is interesting, the death scenes are also. The ending is rather trite. But not nearly the disaster I was expecting.

5.5/10

[LivingDeadGirl]

Jan 8, 2009 12:39:31 GMT -5 raina said:

The Garden (2006)
The bright spot is Lance Henriksen, who makes a pretty good devil.
4.5/10

Ewww, I'll have to check that one out if Lance is in it... Especially as the devil, heh.

[Termination]

The Gauntlet (1977) (Blu-Ray)

Film - 9/10
HD Video - 10/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

Clint Eastwood stars as Ben, a Phoenix cop who gets a job escorting a hooker to city hall. Along the way Ben struggles to keep Gus (Sondra Locke) in check while they are encountered by just about everybody trying to stop him from reaching his target. An escort to hell, I'd call it. The mob, The Police & some bikers all want a piece of Ben. During his "journey" to city hall Ben & Gus find a bond with each other. The title & picture on the case is misleading for sure. This is a great film & one I feel almost dumbfounded I had not seen before. Clint's character isn't a tough guy who will smash your face in if ya give him a dirty look but rather a beat down cop who just wants to full fill a dream of his which to achieve something worthwhile in the police force. Gus, his escort, played by Sondra Locke also is great in this film & you wonder who will steal the thunder of the scene while watching. I really enjoyed her smart witted acting throughout & look forward to checking other titles she has been in.
The 2.40:1 video transfer is nothing less than perfection. Having just seen "Every Which Way But Loose" which was a surprise in the video department, Warner really must like Clint Eastwood because I couldn't detect a single flaw with "The Gauntlet" which is rare for a film this old. Skin tones are dead on throughout, no contrast wavering, excellent color, no EE or DNR. Because of this, most of the transfer has that 3D pop. I can't imagine this film looking any better! On the other hand, Warner offers its lossy Dolby & lossless TrueHD tracks which both are unfortunately underwhelming. Given its age I can understand some audio limitations but either track didn't sound as good as I thought it could. Mostly front heavy, dialog comes off a bit distorted & surrounds do not have any sort of a 360 soundfield when there is action. LFE is again weak to when bullets fly by or explosions occur.

[Termination]

Jan 3, 2009 10:51:49 GMT -5 Heineken Skywalker said:

Also, if it was a made-for-tv movie or miniseries, and not a theatrical release, please go to the "Where's the Remote" section and tell us about it in the similar thread over there, "Just watched on tv".

Hey heineken, is thread reserved for theatrical releases only? My next to watch title is "The Invincible Iron Man" which is a movie but a toon. If so I can skip my thoughts on it & transfer rating & just post titles I've watched which are movies "only"