movies-8 Reviews

Scream 3 (2000)

Relies too heavily on what it was trying to parody...

[18 March 2000]

"Scream 3" is pretty good, though. It's still not as good as the first two. The whole deal with Sidney's mom being in Hollywood was, I thought, a bit far-fetched. Also, it relies WAY too much on standard horror cliches. Hello! This is what the "Scream" films were trying to parody. Dewey and Gale both split up to look for the killer.

Also, this film is not that bloody at all! Ugh! That was part of what made the first two what they were. Don't get me wrong. My heart goes out to those who were lost and their families in all the school shootings that have happened lately (that was the reason, wasn't it?), but still, don't let it affect one of the greatest horror movie franchises of all time!

Last Call (1991)

Pretty good for T&A flicks. Not as good as "Night Eyes."

[24 October 1999]

"Last Call," a 1990 erotic thriller from Jag Munhdra, the director of the steam-fest, "Night Eyes," starring Tanya Roberts and Andrew Stevens, is on the loose again with this little sexcapade which involves handsome real estate guy (William Katt) falling in love with the secretary of the guy he's just merged businesses with (Shannon Tweed). Anyway, the guy, Jason is his name, turns out to be a crook, and he embezzles millions of dollars from his clients' companies. Katt and Tweed, soon fall in love, and together they embezzle back what Katt's company has lost in assets, all the while having little escapades in elevators, staircases, and even on the roof of Tweed's apartment building. Stella Stevens (Andrew's mama) even turns in an appearance.

Overall, this movie was pretty good. It was one of the first to launch the wave of erotic soft-core sex thrillers, which were SUPPOSED TO (but they haven't always) feature: a good plot, decent acting, alluring actors and actresses, and scenes of feverish sex and nudity. "Last Call" directly followed the much sturdier predecessor "Night Eyes," which had scenes with candlewax, in the show, and a health hazard on some stairs.>However, "Last Call" is still enjoyable. Oh, by the way, while Shannon's character is a secretary by day, she is a bad girl exotic dancer by night.

Be forewarned that her act is very, very scary!!!

Poltergeist III (1988)

This movie was great! I think it's the best of the series!

[11 August 1999]

I LOVE this movie. It's one of my all-time favorite horror movies. And guess what? You don't hear the F-Word (****) you've all heard before in this one AT ALL! It's great. Aside from the lack of a lot of nasty language, there was a good, sturdy plot with great acting, good special effects (they look great, because this was filmed before computerized special effects came into the film scene) and a good story. The story involves Carol Anne (Heather O'Rourke, who died about 3 months before the film's release) coming to live with her Aunt Pat (she hates to be called "Trish") and Uncle Bruce (Nancy Allen and Tom Skerrit) and cousin Donna (Lara Flynn Boyle in her first performance). Well, Kane's found her again! And he won't settle for NOT having her. Watch in suspense as Allen and Skerrit travel through a maze of illusions conjured by Kane! It's priceless!

**Note** Julian Beck, the original portrayer of Rev. Kane in the first two films, died either before this film was started or in the filming or something from stomach cancer. So, another guy plays Kane. That explains why the viewer doesn't see many close-ups of his face.

Caligula (1979)

Disgusting, yet entertaining.

[5 January 1999]

The film "Caligula" has to be one of the most bizarre, disgusting, vile, depraved, yet, beneath the muck, entertaining. Tinto Brass, I believe, began directing it, but in post-production, none other than Bob Guccione, publisher of Penthouse Magazine, got his hands on it, and added about six minutes of hard-core footage, and some very, very, very explicit violence. This caused Tinto Brass, and Gore Vidal, who supposedly wrote the screenplay, to remove their names from the credits.

Well, anyway, the film starts with that infamous quote from Mark about a man losing his soul and gaining the whole world, but I can't help but think it opens on the wrong note, with Caligula and Druisilla, his sister, a dreadful Teresa Ann Savoy, screwing around in a field. Anyway, the acting is good, but two of the characters, John Gielgud and Peter O'Toole, whose names were used to attract attention, probably, are knocked off early. Malcolm McDowell is the insane Emperor, organizing orgies and torture, and even a man gets castrated and his genitals are fed to a hungry dog (in a very close-up shot, mind you). But somehow, beneath all the muck, and that silly hardcore footage, there are some very good performances to be found.

***Note***

It's hardly possible to come across the original version of this film, unless your local video rental or store carries hardcore stuff. An edited R-version, more like the one Tinto Brass directed, at 105 min. is more commonly found. And, too, if you are the least bit squeamish, do not see this movie!! (at least the X-rated version!!)

**********

Night Eyes Three (1993)

A mighty good rise-up from 2. Andrew and Shannon together make a better pair.

[25 December 1998]

This movie was great!!!! It's a gem to the erotic thriller market. Andrew, what can I say, bud, you did a great job!!! Will Griffith is back, this time providing security for Zoe Clairmont, a TV actress on TV's hottest cop show, "Sweet Justice." Anyway, he falls in love, the usual drill...

But, there are a few twists in this one...

I loved this movie for so many reasons. The sex scenes were great (no joking). And the part with the wine, was very, very sensual. And the acting was a lot better. I think Shannon (who is a veteran of these types of movies) does a better job in this one because she, well, I don't know, has more spunk. Great direction by Stevens. He really outdid himself. As for errors, well, not many, except I don't like MONO sound too well. Great movie!!!!

**Review based on UNRATED version**

Contains:

Not much nudity, sex, or violence. Although when they pop up, they're orchestrated and,um, executed very well.

Night Eyes II (1991)

An inferior step-down from the first, as with most sequels!

[25 December 1998]

Well, I said it all. Pretty much what's in the one-line summary. And, no, I don't think Shannon Tweed helped.

Will Griffith (Andrew Stevens), star of Night Eyes I, has found a new job: protecting Marilyn Mejenes (Shannon Tweed), an American-born woman, and her husband, Hector. Hector is some kind of diplomat I think, and is running for President. Anyway, a mysterious attacker has been stalking over Marilyn's mansion. It isn't long before Will and Marilyn fall in love. And the usual trouble ensues...

I found this movie to be a RATHER inferior step-down from the first. It wasn't a complete waste, but the action (and I mean the violence, with guns), didn't help it. The sex scenes, I suppose, bring to us creative uses for gym equipment and how to use berries as an aphrodisiac. I LIKED the movie a little. This doesn't in any way, shape or form measure up to the first. Also, I thought the whole thing with Mejenes being some Spanish diplomat who has fallen from grace rather silly.

**Review based on R-version**

Contains:

Nudity Sex Violence Profanity

Night Eyes (1990)

Nice and steamy femme-fatale thriller.

[25 December 1998]

Tanya Roberts and Andrew Stevens together heat up the screen in this scorching erotic thriller. I swear, I think (referring to UNRATED version here,) that this is the biggest amount of sex scenes I've ever seen in a movie!!!

Well, I don't want to spoil the plot for anyone;-)

Basically Nikki (Tanya Roberts) hires Will Griffith (Andrew Stevens) to be her security guard. Trouble with her scuzzy ex-husband ensues, and Will and Nikki have wild passionate sex from there on out every 71/2 minutes of screen time. But, Nikki has some secrets of her own...

I loved this movie. It's my favorite erotic thriller because of Andrew Stevens (great job, Andrew), and Tanya Roberts, although this is the only erotic thriller I've seen her in. I feel the major faults of the movie, are few, but there could have been a bit more character development in the case of Tanya. Overall, sumptuous sets in her mansion. A true winner. But I think this will probably ONLY be liked by straight-to-video erotic thriller fans.

**Review based on UNRATED version**

Parental Discretion Advised:

Contains:

Nudity(a lot) Sex(every 10 minutes) Violence Profanity (not much)

Gothic (1986)

Not the usual visual orgy from Russell, but still as bizarre!!!

[25 December 1998]

This film deals with Mary Shelley and all those other rich pompous twits at a villa one night. I found the film to be rather intriguing, and it did have some decent effects, though it does get quite bizarre at times. It's not Ken Russell's usual touch, like with "The Devils" or "Crimes of Passion" but it's still decent.