dubnut Reviews

Requiem for a Dream (2000)

Artistically Spewing the bile of Hell

[7 October 2002]

This film had the amazing power to affect me far greater (or worse) than any other film I have ever seen. The outright nausea each character experiences through the course of their descents into self-degradation are accurately portrayed, hauntingly realistic and yet more surreal than the wildest, darkest dreams.

Requiem is a disturbing commentary on the lies that human beings tell themselves over and over until the wires all burn out and there is nowhere else to go except to the place one fears the most, which in this case would be the realization of free will, choice, and consequences.

This is the story of a few slightly interesting people that sink like rocks to the bottom of the apocalyptic stew. If you are looking for something enlightening or meaningful, you won't find it here. On the other hand, if you need to experience such deep places in pain and torment, addiction and insanity, you couldn't get any better than Requiem for a Dream.

Gappa the Triphibian Monster (1967)

So bad it's, well, bad!

[10 December 2000]

Being a casual obsessive in regard to giant monster movies, I caught this on Sho Extreme one lonely night while the wife was out shopping for a christmas tree.

Not to bore you with the details, but here is a fine example of movie-making gone awry. Giant, black big birds attacking Tokyo might be fun after a few drinks (with friends who understand your obsession), but if you're in the mood for something which is not of the lowest-common-denominator variety, I suggest you pick up something else. This is worse than the King Kong vs. Godzilla movie, folks. But it is safe for the kiddies.

Gappa is a concept only some fat-cat, anti-artistic producer could have devised. Ka-ching went the box office register when this movie came out, but it offers no creative merit whatsoever. Imagine what YOU could have done with half of the budget. Doesn't it irritate you?

It's a BADDD movie. Plus it's in MONO, and the dubbing is terrible. Watch at your own risk, and have a heckling party with this one.

Trekkies (1997)

Lunch is supposed to stay down!

[12 August 2000]

Yes, I was entertained by this film, and I almost cried when 'scotty' told his story about the suicidal fan. But aside from that, this film is a rather nauseating and very real portrayal, shining a certain light upon the obsessed and deranged attentions of the fandom fringe.

Trekkies is more of an anthropological study on the impact of television than anything else, which is the main reason it disturbs me. I admit to being a 60's Telefantasy enthusiast, but I would never dream of sporting a Bentley and changing my name to Steed. What seems to be lacking in the average celebrity fan is a sense of individual importance, and this film shows the results of that particular mental deficiency in the form of copier clerks who insist you call them captain, dentists who urge their assistants to don Starfleet uniforms, and dozens of other examples I have all but forgotten at this point.

It is a good, sinister poke and may cause a few bouts of laughter, but Trekkies is not a treasure-trove of importance. The fact that it was released to theaters should tell you something about its true intentions.

Phenomenon (1996)

Augmented Human Interest

[12 August 2000]

I'm not usually inspired to review your average hollywood fare, but I was moved by this film. Not only did it portray dramatic tension between one who is experiencing 'supernatural' awareness and their hokey, small-town friends, but Phenomenon also gains rank by being one of the first few films with a completely 'open mind.' I attribute its existence to the film Powder, which came out a few years ago, and I am honestly looking forward to more innovative dramas in a similar vein.

It will probably not become a classic, but it deserves to be seen in its time. Perhaps the honesty of this film will inspire other, greater filmmakers with more influence to change their ways and provide more thinking elements in their films.

Watch it with a loved one on a Saturday night.

A good alternative to show those boyfriends who are caught up in their own male-ness. Try this before plopping in Gone with the Wind. It may bridge the gap.

A Brief History of Time (1991)

Stunning, moving, and ultimately unique

[12 August 2000]

I was one of the few locals who had the opportunity to watch this on the big screen. The film was pulled 3 days after its release, but I happened by chance to be visiting the strip mall where the theater was located on its last day. I feel very lucky, although I wonder how a film of this nature ever made it to the big screen in the first place.

I don't recall having heard of Hawking before this film, mainly because I was fresh out of high school and carefree at the time. However, I am now well versed in many of his theories, and althought I disagree with many of his opinions, I still find him to be one of the most amazing individuals of our time. Simply, his willpower is enough to put us all to shame, and his cosmic imagination is unfathomable.

A Brief History of Time should be required viewing for anyone with any interests outside of mundane popular culture. I also recommend it if you are a writer, a thinker, or an admirer of cosmology. Anyone can enjoy this film, and I hope that you enjoy it as much has I have. We need more films like this at the theaters! Please?

Koyaanisqatsi (1982)

A powerful film

[12 August 2000]

I have seen this film 3 times in its pan/scan format, having no access to laserdisc or unconventional film houses. Being a moderate fan of Philip Glass, I was utterly glued to this film each time. It reflects the power and majesty of our planet, revealing its beauty and reflecting the horrors and numbness of our devolution upon its surface. It depicts the vastness of nature and the vast loneliness of a humanity which struggles to cope with cities and buildings.

This film should be watched by all with an eye for beauty, nature and truth. I have never before seen a more honest film, and I am greatly looking forward to the proposed war documentary of the same vein.

Wild at Heart (1990)

Loved it, hated it, loved it

[2 August 2000]

This is the film I showed an old girlfriend to PROVE that I could sit through a 'romantic' film. Now that I've actually seen it alone, I can safely say that Lynch works wonderfully well with the Barry Gifford story, conjuring each page onto the screen with near-perfect vividness. It's a film better watched alone, without the tedium of temporary love gnawing at the air beside you.

Having read the book, and the sequel anthology, "Sailor's Holiday," I have a certain affinity to this film. Others may not, possibly due to their view of what a 'David Lynch' film should be, or perhaps, like my girlfriend, they set themselves up for something entirely different before the opening credits began to roll. I for one hold no reservations about his artistry. I disliked Lost Highway and wasn't too impressed with his short films, but all of them add something interesting and unique to the world. And Wild at Heart is VERY interesting, if not a little unique.

Definitely not for everyone, but highly recommended for those who can cast aside a few inhibitions and expectations. Wild at Heart is not in my top 10, but it's beyond and above the vast majority of Hollywood productions.

A word of warning: if you are a smoker, be glad that you didn't see it at the theater and do not watch it in a non-smoking environment.

Millionaires' Express (1986)

Silly, campy, amazing stunts, just bizarre

[2 August 2000]

This film would sit comfortably next to A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum, The Great Train Robbery, every other Jackie Chan/Sammo flick, and then some. It's not as funny as it could be (the dubbed version, that is), but aside from that I have no complaints.

There is no time to develop character traits (aside from a few cliches), but this is a slapstick so that shouldn't really be expected. If you are familiar with the slapstick-martial arts genre, or if you simply love bizarre, zany movies, then I recommend it. If you're looking for a substantial plot with lots of characterization, find something else to curl up on the couch to.

It is exactly what it proclaims to be, a madcap Kung Fu western. But I doubt if you'll ever see a man jump without safety mats from a 4-story building (on fire, I might add) in any other film. Wow.

Dreadnaught (1981)

Clever, funny and off the wall

[8/10 · 1 August 2000]

This film begins so similarly to Young Master that I almost felt I was rewatching it. However, to my surprise, it matched and surpassed the classic Jackie Chan movie by miles. The Dragon/Lion fight scene is worth the admission price alone, and it only gets better after that. The comedy is almost Martin/Lewis, and the fighting is amazingly choreographed. Anything less would be your standard Kung Fu fare.

Highly recommended.

Scary Movie (2000)

POINTLESS.

[1/10 · 10 July 2000]

i'm a fan of just about every genre. I can even deal with Manos: Hands of Fate and found something worth laughing at in I'm Gonna Get You Sucka. I've sat through Can't (Please) Stop the Music and lived to not tell about it. I'm a rabid fan of b-films, pre-80s slasher films, Troma Films, britcoms, and all sorts of other bizarre genres, but SCARY MOVIE is Hollywood eating its own biowaste, folks.

THIS FILM SHOULD BE ERASED FROM THE TIMELINE. And its creators with it.

No plot to speak of. No acting. No class. The lowest, most degenerate form of entertainment, surpassing Jerry Springer and watching beached whales die.

We watched it at the Drive-In, hoping for a Drive-In sort of movie. Afterwards, we all but made a blood oath to rid the world of SCARY MOVIE and its responsible parties. Shaft came afterward, and what a relief to watch such a miracle of filmmaking after suffering through this trite (anything could have been seen as a miracle after this film)! AVOID THIS MOVIE!

I can imagine how popular this film will be, and by looking at it's opening-weekend sales, I am now convinced that perhaps someone should push the red button. If anyone reading is responsible for the making of this film, please seek therapy. The humor in this film might promote a few suicides and make a few citizens wretch with disgust, but it will also entertain a large number of Americans. This is sad. And true.

AVOID THIS MOVIE! Paying for it will encourage Hollywood to make more, and we don't want that unless it creates a serendipitous moment, a terrible on-set tragedy which might rid the world of anyone with the desire to make another one like it.

Shaft (2000)

flawed but satisfying

[6/10 · 10 July 2000]

Violence. Revenge. Typical action-vigilante plot. All white people are racist b***ards except for those pretty, young, troubled girls. So why did I enjoy this film so much?

Because of the soundtrack. And Sam Jackson. That's it. I'll probably never watch it again, but for one viewing it was very satisfying. Shaft fans will appreciate the nod, but it's all very uninspiring in the end.

Watch it after Scary Movie, and you'll think this is the greatest film ever made (especially if you can insert the Wayans' faces on the bodies of all the baddies).

The Vault of Horror (1973)

Great 'little' movie

[10/10 · 30 June 2000]

What more could you ask for? This movie shines with a brilliant line-up of actors playing up the script for all it's worth. Directed by Roy Ward Baker, VoH oozes with direction and style (see his filmography). Fans of classic not-too-low-budget horror will appreciate this film, as will anyone with a lust for british films. And Hammer films.

To date, this is the ONLY multiple-story film I can watch more than once. Maybe it's the era bleeding through the screen into my brain, bringing me back to a time when cgi didn't exist and movies held their own magic without having super budgets spewed into them. Maybe it's because Tom Baker, my all-time favourite Doctor, plays a rather scruffy-looking artist with a serious dark side. Maybe it's the memorable soundtrack, oddly orchestral amid the tumult of intrusive moog soundtracks of the period.

As mentioned in another review, get the UNCUT version if you can. If there are kiddies about and you want to frighten them without the (very mild) gore found in most films of today, the edited version will do. It is near-impossible to find a commercial copy of this film in the states, but maybe Cinemax will run it again late at night? Please?

If you see it on a shelf, get it.

Timeslip (1970–1971)

An enjoyable romp thus far...

[4 June 2000]

Personally, I've only had the opportunity to find the first complete story, "The Wrong End of Time." I found it quite enjoyable, seeing past the 'children's show' facade and enjoying it as I would a Pat Troughton Doctor Who adventure. Timeslip is a completely different concept of time travel as compared to most programmes/movies, and with an even lower budget than Tomorrow People, the creators have thus far managed to instill a minor obsession in me to find the remaining stories.

If you are looking for vintage British SF without the gloss, then by all means find a copy of this wonderful show. Fans of classic Doctor Who will be very impressed, I think.

The only drawback to the story is the child acting, although it improves a great deal as the story progresses. Also, there is a mild amount of padding, but that is to be expected in a serialized programme. The theme song is VERY reminiscent of another, extremely popular british SF series, as well.

The Champions (1968–1969)

Slightly Dry but very entertaining

[7/10 · 4 June 2000]

You can tell by the Buddhist overtones in the first 2 episodes that Dennis Spooner was involved here. The Champions, or what I've seen of the series (6 episodes), is yet another in the long line of 60s-70s spy shows from Great Britain. But the marked difference here is the special abilities given to each of the main characters.

They all have unusual, superhuman powers which aid them in their crime-busting. It's a bit cheesy at times, but whatever gets the job done...

I know that The Champions are virtually unheard of in my native country, but the videos are commercially available in the UK. If you're fond of obscure technicolor british action-adventure, then you can't miss The Champions.

The only problem I have with the series so far: Why do so many British shows have American actors at the helm?

The Haunting of Julia (1977)

artistic pointlessness

[11 October 1999]

This movie showed great promise for the first hour. Unfortunately, it leaves the audience behind about halfway through, becoming a pointless run-around and killing off the only interesting characters.

If you're on painkillers, it might be something to keep your eyes busy for 2 hours. But other than that, why bother?

Dog Star Man: Part I (1962)

...a flash of memory still burning a final design into my retinas...

[18 December 1998]

This is not a "movie" in any hollywood-sense.

Close your eyes, watch as the patterns emerge from the darkness, slip in a few memory stills from the movie of your life, make the white noise as silent as possible in your cranium (no sound in this movie at all, unless your vcr makes a hissing noise), take this seemingly unreal experience and transpose it to film, scratch the film with forks, burn it with lighters, paint on the film, crinkle it, twist it, swallow it whole the way the tibetans swallow strips of cloth to clean their intestines, wash it, reel it and see the movie of your dreams.

"great" isn't good enough. This film goes off the scale, as we mere humans have no method of measuring the value of such an experience. If I had 30 thumbs they would all be up. If I had to choose from 1 to five stars, I would have to obliterate the stars, turn them into black holes, wait til a few more stars gather round and post them all right here for the world to see::::::::>

The Stranger (1973 TV Movie)

HONEST MOVIE REVIEWS--1 TURKEY (OUT OF 5 STARS)

[1 December 1998]

HERE WE GO... Featuring several actors from an amazing array of b-movies and made-for-tv flics, this turkey might appeal to the die-hard fan of velveeta cheese, spam and/or atari 2600, but not to the masses (except perhaps those watching a uhf channel at 3 in the morning after a binge at the local pub). Seemingly a failed pilot for a pre-doomed series, the only thing going for this movie is the sheer ability to crack jokes about the plot. Come on...

An astronaut, adrift in space, wakes up to find himself in a hospital bed surrounded by slightly-paranoid medical staff. Later he finds out (through the silliest of methods) that he's actually on a twin planet to earth (on the other side of the sun where we can never see). He wanders off (actually, it's supposed to be an escape, but my grandmother's escape from the nursing home would be more exciting to watch, not to mention more challenging), and the government wants him back (of course), to pry from him certain details (I won't spoil it). Later we find out that their space technology is slightly better than ours, as he manages to steal a shuttle for the trip back home (anyone doped up on sleeping pills could have been more sneaky, and why would they have to pry in the first place. Didn't they get his ship too?). And to top it all off, he crashes into the ocean, only to find himself....

(sorry, not allowed to spoil it. Too bad, because the truly pathetic

"twist, climax," whatever you'd prefer to call it, proves just how much of a groaner this film is). the end.

And thank heaven they didn't make the series! Great flick for drunken

bouts, cheese-fests and late-night viewing, but nothing I'd want to suffer through again.

I can't even believe I went on about this turkey for more than a few sentences.

Watch it on one of those mondo, make it funny shows late at night, but please don't watch it alone. 'Tis not proper to be a closet cheese-aholic!