altea Reviews

Bloodline (1979)

Example movie from an end of an era!

[8/10 · 11 January 2009]

At the end of the 70's making a movie in Hollywood and Europe was not easy! Looking back one can see that an era of old movie making was coming to an end and a new era was starting! In Europe with the downfall of European cinema, and especially Italian movie making at Cinecitta, movie producers were forced to make movies with actors from different countries as it was in this case like Romy Schneider and Gert Fröbe for Germany, Audrey Hepburn and Ben Gazarra for US, Omar Sharif and Irene Papas for Greece and Egypt,... if they would like to sell their movie. Movies were not made in first instance for the cinema's anymore but for the commercial television stations that started to pop up everywhere over Europe due to the end of state television in a lot of European countries. In Hollywood, it was also the end of era around 1979. Producers, actors, actresses that made it big in the 50's-70's period were getting older together with their audience and it was getting more difficult to find good material for them. Classic stories are those of for example Rock Hudson, Sophia Loren, Audrey Hepburn, Liz Taylor, Richard Burton,... On the other hand new actors, directors and producers were entering the field like Spielberg with Jaws focusing more on the action cinema than the character driven story or actors. From that moment on it was down hill for old school movie making. The death of classic cinema came with the introduction of CGI where we are today with almost only action cinema. Other movies are hardly ever made. So in this light the movie Bloodline is a prime example of a movie at the end of the golden era of Hollywood with classic actors like Hepburn, Mason, Schneider, Sharif, Papas, Fröbe...

Futureshock: Comet (2007 TV Movie)

Decent CGI but....

[5/10 · 19 December 2007]

Last night I saw this movie and was disappointed! It had some good CGI and the impact is OK but the story has a lot of plot holes or facets that are not seen or talked about. The list is to long to mention but some items not discussed are what is the position of the world leaders in face of this catastrophe, what is the position of the president of the US, what is the future of earth after the catastrophe...etc. Normally those plot holes do not deter from the complete story but in this case it does and you as a viewer get annoyed. Another strange story is the romance between Marcie and the scientist. Do they have a sexual relationship or are they just good friends. You never know. The complete story is a build up to the impact but not very realistically told. Pity!

Steam: The Turkish Bath (1997)

Beautiful movie

[10/10 · 13 September 2000]

"Steam", also known as "Hamam" or "Il Bagno Turco" is one of the best movies I have ever seen! After repeat viewing you will notice the beauty of the story, characters and the city of Istanbul! Francesco is the sole heir of his aunt, the sister of his mother, whom he has never known! Being single, after a life of love and tragedy, she was living the last years of her life with a Turkish family in an old original part of Istanbul. Due to the downfall of tradition, the Hamam lost its appeal and had to be closed. Francesco, an architect/interior designer, living in Italy, in a wealthy part of Rome with his girlfriend goes to Istanbul to take care of the estate of his aunt. From his arrival he is drawn into the mysterious world of Hamam! Great is his surprise that his inheritance is a Hamam! After getting to know the family, Francesco is engulfed in this new old world of Turkey and Istanbul. Going from very wealthy in Rome to being a guest of a very poor Turkish family, Francesco's life and the Hamam become "one". Francesco has decided to rebuild his life without his girlfriend and Rome and starts rebuilding the Haman in Istanbul to its former glory with the help of Mehmet, son of the Turkish family, who, during the course of the restauration, becomes his lover. From then on things start to develop very quickly in a storm of old against new, east against west, money against poverty, greed against tradition, love against hate and finally gay against straight untill the very end! The conclusion is as shocking as unexpected! A movie to be viewed and reviewed again and again! Highly recommended!

Charmed (1998–2006)

Poor second season

[11 May 2000]

In November 1999 I saw the first season of Charmed! It was a great season with some flaws but it had potential! Today I am sorry to say that the second season is "HORRIBLE" beyond words. OK the acting of the 3 witches, eh, stars is great as ever but storywise "Charmed" is a terrible show with no structure or background! Every episode is almost always a single story and has to be finished within its time-frame! The solution to the problem is always very simple and the witches never show any fear of danger losing their lives! They often have a smirk on their faces in front of possible demons! The deus ex machina is always the Book. Thank God, Buffy is still in the neighborhood! Next...

The Phantom (1996)

Not bad at all...

[8 May 2000]

The Phantom, together with movies like "The Rocketeer", is one of those films that has to be seen through the eyes of a child. Not with those eyes of an adult. The only purpose of this movie is to give the viewer 2 hours of entertainment, fun and escapism! Nothing more, nothing less! So the Phantom is an excellent example in this department with great nature scenes, breathtaking production values and a great story! If you watch this movie with your entire family you will spend a great afternoon or evening! Just like its origin the comic-book the movie is candy for the eye! Enjoy the moment and forget about it until the next time! Highly recommended!

Horatio Hornblower: The Wrong War (1999 TV Movie)

The best in the current series!

[31 January 2000]

The 4-part made for tv-series comes to an end, at the moment that is, with a terrific final episode! This episode is the best installment of all four movies! It has everything from espionage, intrigue, murder, war, horror to romance and beyond, you name it! It is a classic! Each minute of the movie is filled with great drama! This is Horathio Hornblower at its best! BTW the use of music in this episode is excellent. So now that the series comes to an end I hope that we will see Horathio Hornblower very soon again on the little screen, until then, it is back to the novels of Forester to fill in these waiting days!

Conclusion: The series is highly recommended! It is an oases compared to the desert of day to day tv-fare!

Horatio Hornblower: The Duchess and the Devil (1999 TV Movie)

Cherie Lunghi is a delight to see in this movie!

[24 January 2000]

Having a great start with the first movie, falling into a dump for a second movie, I was very curious about the outcome for this third movie in the made for tv-series! For the third time we have again brilliant production values, as we have come to expect, after the previous ones! Story-wise it is a much better story than the second and a little better than the first! What makes this movie exceptional is the presence of Cherie Lunghi! Cherie Lunghi is one of Britain's most underrated actresses! She gives a terrific performance. It is a delight to see her in this movie! BTW this movie has a continuation of the homo-erotic tension between Hornblower and Kennedy as hinted in the first movie!

Horatio Hornblower: The Fire Ship (1998 TV Movie)

A disappointment???

[21 January 2000]

Having seen the first in the series of 4 movies, I was quite eager to see the next installment of the saga! Well, I have to admit that I was disappointed after seeing it! Disappointed not in the overall production value of the movie, because that was as terrific as the first movie, but in the story department! The story was very flat with almost no tension! In the first movie you had conflicts on several levels like the way of life on the ship, the arguments between the crew, the looming of war...and finally the hate until death between Hornblower and a crew member! In this movie you had almost the exact story items i.c. Hornblower rescues, Hornblower being lucky, Hornblower being alone with a little crew on a boat/ship...even the end of the movie where the captain thanks Hornblower is the same! Conclusion: beautiful movie with a flat story! Hopefully the next movie will have a different structure!

Horatio Hornblower: The Duel (1998 TV Movie)

Great entry to the series!!!

[21 January 2000]

Hornblower: The Even Chance is a great entry to the four made for television movies! Its production value is outstanding starting with the original ships, costumes, cities... and ending with the very convincing battles at sea! This is one of the rare cases where CGI is very clever put to use! Ioan Gruffudd is an excellent choice as Horatio Hornblower! You believe immediately that he is the character! Gruffudd is not a typical Hollywood handsome man but a traditional beautiful European(he is Irish from origin!) lad. Watching this movie makes an exceptional evening! Highly recommended!

Merlin (1998)

Terrible beyond words!!!

[12 January 2000]

Having seen the almost 3 hours telemovie "Merlin" in one go on the state channel, I have to say that the special effects are ok, though not exceptional, but for the rest...well not very positive things come to my mind. The fist halve of the movie has it's moments like the little eleves flying around in Mab's castle, the little golden fish swimming around the Lady of the Lakes neck...the second halve of the movie on the other hand deflates like a soufflé, so at the end you only have some childish movie in a nice somewhat adult package! Comparing the movie with John Boorman's "Excalibur" is an insult to that movie and director! Sam Neill, a fine actor, is totally miscast as Merlin, Isabella Rossellini, hitting 50 in real life, is to old and unbelievable as Nimue, Martin Short is terrible as Frik...The only actress well cast is Miranda Richardson as Mab and Lady of the Lake! Terrific performance! What a waste of big money and talent! Dump it to never be seen again and onto the next item of the day please!

The Devils (1971)

Boring as hell!!!

[12 January 2000]

After having heard so much about this movie, read the great article in the excellent Video Watchdog-magazine and finally coming on my local cable "Arte", I was very eager to see this movie! It is was the restored original flick with all the deleted scenes in it! Well, I am sorry to say that this movie is one great disappointment. The only bright highlight in this movie is the acting of Vanessa Redgrave! Superb but for the rest...fffttt!!!! What a mombo-jombo movie! I hate historical movies that put in modern aspects like colored spectacles, modern buildings etc...It is one way or the other. Then the endless pseudo-philosophical blabering of Oliver Reed, his wife and the entire cast, it almost drives you to throw your tv-set out of the window! But I should have known better after having endured Ken Russell's other terrible movie "Gothic"!

Charmed (1998–2006)

Great show but...(1st season)

[9 November 1999]

Living in Antwerp, Belgium I had the opportunity to see the first season of "Charmed" during each working day of the week on Ka2, a local TV-station. Seeing this show for the first time during a period of several weeks and not weekly during 6 months gives another view on the whole. Overall the first season is rather good for a new show. The show has great potential for the next seasons. It has some great acting moments and chemistry from the leading girls or better witches, some decent acting from the male counterparts (Brian Krause is very good in his role) but the weak department is also represented in a big way. First the special effects are very poor or in some cases childish like the episode with the Egyptian guardian of the vase. Some stories are as old as television itself and have been done much better 30 years ago. The most annoying aspect of the first season are the continuity errors. Almost each episode has several major continuity errors with hands, ears, cups, people, backgrounds that change from one scene to another and back to the original scene. You notice the different takes of each scene or the pick up shots! Some of the producers should be noticed about this problem because coming from "Aaron Spelling Productions" with a credit list as long the Chinese Wall, these problems should not occur because it cheapens the show! Hopefully the second season corrects these errors with great male acting, good writing and superb special effects so that "Charmed" becomes the show that already is visible underneath the current season but waits to bloom. It is a show that deserves to be a lot better!

Breaking Through (1996 TV Movie)

Kellie Martin at her best!

[12 October 1999]

Breaking Through is one of those tricky movies for an actor/actress where they have to show the audience what they are made of. Kellie Martin has no speaking role in this film being a deaf and mute 14-year old girl who is kept locked up in her home since her birth by her abusive father. Kellie Martin, a veteran in TV-movie land, has to show us her capability to portray this girl by body-language and facial expression only - no words! Seeing this movie, you realize that most of the actors can only show us their emotions with the help of words put in their mouth by the scriptwriter. After the end credits you come to the conclusion that Kellie Martin is one of Hollywood's greatest actresses. This film is Kellie Martin at her best! Highly recommended!

The Birdcage (1996)

Worst than I have ever expected!

[26 July 1999]

After reading in the tv-guide that "the Birdcage" would be a comedy with Robin Williams as a gay owner of a nightclub having a straight son getting married, I feared the worst! The film is even worst than I have ever expected. It is a terrible movie. Robin Williams and Nathan Lane are horrible over the top and totally unbelievable as character. I know that this movie should be a gay comedy but the characters are so stereotype that it hurts your eyes. Knowing the French "La Cage aux Folles" series of movies from the late 70's and the beginning of the 80's, this movie is a bleak carbon copy that should have never been made. The Birdcage was dated before it even got made. The negative side to this movie is the confirmation of the prejudice about gay people that they all act, live and think like Williams and Lane in the movie. The truth is that the gay community is as diverse or even more diverse as the hetero community! A missed opportunity!

Emilienne & Nicole (1975)

Only for the viewer who would like to torture their brain!

[22 April 1999]

In the wake of the world and French success of "Emmanuelle" with the stunning Silvia Kristel as the erotic heroine, producers went searching for other erotic material to be made into an erotic movie in the hope to get a piece of cake that the world was discovering. The novel by Claude des Olbes was removed from its dust and rewritten into this movie. Everything what the movie "Emmanuelle" makes as an erotic experience lacks this movie. Starting at the top with its heroine down to the script, production, setting, story, actors...Both movies are as opposite as black and white. As colorful and mysterious Sylvia Kristel is as Emmanuelle so flat and stuffed is Betty Mars as Emilienne. She is so boring and uninteresting as a character that you wonder why her husband did not go sooner in a relationship with a younger woman. Seeing Kristel as Emmanuelle gives you the notion that she is capable of leading a life that she lives with her husband and lovers (male and female) in an exotic locale like Bangkok, Bali, Hong Kong...Emilienne as a movie gives you such a claustrophobic bourgeois feeling in Paris/France and their houses that the only thing comes to your mind is to get out of the room screaming longing for fresh air and sunshine. Emilienne is a movie only for those who would like to torture their brain or would like to have a good laugh.

Spawn (1997)

Some great SFX but the rest...!!!

[31 March 1999]

Following the tradition of the Punisher, the Crow, Darkman...Spawn is another movie about a man, being killed by gangsters or crime-lords, who comes back for revenge after being saved in this case by Malebolgia, Lord of Hell. The same old recycled story. So why would you spend your hard earned dollars to see this movie? Well, this movie has some highlights. First there is the great pre-credits opening. That segment is very original and could have been an opening for a James Bond movie. They have of course more money to develop this opening but the Spawn opening could have been a good rough cut. Another great scene is the transformation of the Clown into the Violator. The whole Violator segment has quite a horrific tension. The transformation of Spawn during the whole course of the movie is very convincing, you could believe that he has been build by necroplasm. Melinda Clark is not only very beautiful but terrific over the top as the assassin Jessica Priest. I do not understand why they killed her in the first half of the movie. The tension between her and Spawn could have pulled this movie to another level rather than sticking with Martin Sheen as the dull unconvincing crime-lord. His acting is as stiff as the make-up on his face. On the other hand this movie has some serious failures. There is absolutely no development of caracter. They are as flat as a piece of paper. Their dialogue comes directly from the comic-book. The acting is as wooden as my front door. The SFX of Hell, Malebolgia and the final confrontation scene is the worst I have ever seen. Totally unconvincing, even childish. The story has no tension or build up at all. In fact you are watching a feature music-video without any music. Last but not least the character of the Clown is so annoying that you have to have a real good stomach to swallow his crap. Knowing Todd McFarlaine from his comic book back ground, I can not understand that he, as producer, agreed to go ahead with this movie. He, who is always proud to master and control all levels of product development that leaves his production firm, you only have to look at his great toy-line, should have known better. He should have raised more money to develop this movie and deliver a better product. Hopefully the sequel will be better. Hopefully!

There Goes My Baby (1994)

The end of an era!

[31 March 1999]

"There Goes My Baby" (title of a 1965 song) is one of the many movies that deals with the end of an era in this case: the American innocence established between the end of WWII and the murder of President Kennedy. The movie shows us the last day and evening of the class of '65 where the boys and girls are together before they take off to the real world i.c. college, tour of duty in Vietnam, discovering the real America by car, becoming a music-star or a member of the flower-power movement in San Francisco... Each of these students have their hopes and dreams. Each character represents a different aspect of the American society. At the end of the movie not many dreams have come true. The difficulty of this kind of movie is that there are several students that are being followed so each story is very thin spread during the course of the movie. There is no real depth of caracter or background. The movie never explains why these students act the way they act or what their motive is to do something. Nevertheless the performance and drive of each actor is superb especially Dermot Mulroney, Rick Schroder and pre-E.R. Noah Wyle. They are all very convincing in their role and they glue very well together. A great asset of this film is the use of the music from 1965. Dialogue is not needed because the songs of that era say it with more passion and determination than any scripted dialogue could ever do. This movie is a-must-see for everyone who wants to know how it was in 1965 when America lost her innocence. After seeing this movie it seems that the golden sixties were never that golden and the youth had as much trouble as they have today! Highly recommended.

The Stranger Within (1990 TV Movie)

First class acting!

[24 March 1999]

"The Stranger Within" is one of those stories that keeps you glued to your seat untill the end!

Having your 3-year old son abducted in a grocery-store is every mother's nightmare. After several years of pain and guilt Mare found some happiness with her new boyfriend Dan. What is she going to do when one day a handsome boy appears on her doorstep claiming to be her long lost abducted son? Can he prove who he claims to be? Is it a setup? What is his gain by tormenting Mare with her past? Will Mare choose between her new boyfriend and her son? The chemistry between Rick Schröder and Kate Jackson is incredible! Both actors give a top notch performance resulting in horrific screen moments and tension. You keep on guessing untill the end whether or not Mark is the lost son! Whatever the outcome, this movie stays in your memory for many years to come!

A word of advice: do not go near the frozen lake!

Emmanuelle (1974)

Beautiful, erotic and...historical!!!

[18 March 1999]

The Emmanuelle-trilogy is "the classic" among the European and even world erotic movies. Being filmed in the mid 70's, these films are of historical importance. Never before had the audience in Europe seen this kind of movie where a totally liberated couple made love to each other and every other person they were sexually attracted to in such beautiful exotic cities and/or landscapes like Bangkok, Hong Kong, Bali...For the first time a beautiful young woman (the stunning Silvia Kristel) captured the hearts of millions not only by her innocent looks but foremost by her sexual audacity! Women discovered their own sexuality and desires. Emmanuelle became the embodiment of that women: totally free to do whatever she wanted, wherever she wanted, whomever she wanted. The movie stayed on the Paris billboard for more than 1 year in the same theater and is even playing today in some theaters! Almost everyone in Europe knows Silvia Kristel and/or the famous movie-poster i.c. Emmanuelle sitting naked with her legs crossed, playing with her pearl necklace looking at the audience. Emmanuelle is a historical moment in movie-history! Today's audience should therefore always see these movies in this context and not with their spoiled modern eyes.

Dying to Remember (1993 TV Movie)

Great actress, lousy story!

[1 March 1999]

Being a fan of Melissa Gilbert's work, I was very eager to see this movie because I never got the chance to see it before on TV. Unfortunately the plot shall not stay long in my memory. The movie is horrible in writing, directing and building up tension, if at all. Miss Gilbert is running around in San Francisco trying to reconstruct what happened to her in a previous life. Dull, dull, dull...The story had so much more potential. It could have been a movie about a women getting to accept that she had lived a previous life in SF and what effect that will have now on her social, professional, emotional and religious life. Instead the audience is treated with another TV-mystery movie of the week going for the cheap thrills. A lost opportunity! Melissa Gilbert is the only plus in the movie.

Geisterjäger John Sinclair: Die Dämonenhochzeit (1997 TV Movie)

A slap in the face of the true JS-fan!!!

[24 February 1999]

Since 1973 John Sinclair is one of Germany's longest running written weekly pulp horror series in a long standing tradition like Jerry Cotton, Doc Savage, The Spider, Diabolik... So when finally the JS-community in Europe heard about the filming of their hero's adventures, the hopes where very high. Very soon they noticed that this hope was idle. The transfer from novel to screen is an example on how-not-to-do-it. The movie is really a bad and unnecessary hoax. A slap in the face of the many thousand fans of John Sinclair. The difference between the movie and the weekly serial is as different as the sun and the moon. They have nothing in common. You even get the impression that the production company did everything in their power to stray as far away from the basic ingredients of the pulp series as possible so that the informed fan has no point of recollection. So the conclusion is that if you are going to watch this movie it is best to see it without knowing any information about the weekly serial. If you do watch it with pre-knowledge this movie could be a very bad horror trip for you!

Welcome Back, Mr. McDonald (1997)

A hilarious night at the radio!

[22 February 1999]

Imagine being a desperate house-wife in Japan falling in love with a man who doesn't have a clue that you are in love with him. So how do you transmit your feelings as a women in modern day suppressed Japan? Your solution: writing a radioplay mentioning your feelings and love for him. You are in luck because a radio-station is willing to broadcast your play. Mission accomplished? During the course of the broadcast of your play, one of the radio-actors has the bright idea that he has to improvise on his role. Outcome: the whole story has to be rewritten at will by the actors, director, producers, sponsors of the show...because of the continuity. Are you going to defend your script at all costs? I had a great night at the radiostation. The actors are wonderful and hilarious. The direction is first class. A must see movie for everyone who loves world cinema and is looking for a different kind of movie than normal US fare.

The Hunted (1995)

How far can a code of honor go?

[19 February 1999]

"The Hunted" is one of those movies that tries to give you an insight in the Japanese code of honor. So when a western business-man, a witness in the murder of a call-girl, becomes the hunted, the question arise "How far can a code of honor go?". What struck me in this movie is the excellent use of the Japanese scenery i.c. Tokyo, the bullit-trains, the temples, the ninja way of life...The score is by the heart beat drummers Kodo. A great action packed movie with a lot of tension in a very beautiful package! Don't lose your head!

Dark Angel: The Ascent (1994 Video)

A love-story from Hell

[17 February 1999]

Viewing a Full Moon production from owner Charles Band is often quite a risk because you never know what to expect on your screen. The great covers of their videotapes/laser discs give hardly any indication about the quality of their movies inside. Keeping that in mind, I was very curious to see what this movie was all about. After viewing it I was quite surprised at the quality of this low-budget flick. It had a good script which isn't often the case, including the last episodes of the Puppet Master series.

Being filmed in a former eastern communist country adds a lot of flavour to the whole production. It gives it a lot of credibility. Every film fan knows by now all the back-lots of the American production companies, so a change of scenery gives this movie a fresh breath of production air. The story is the classic Romeo and Julia with a horror twist. Will their love reach across the borders and horrors of Hell? What is the cost of loving a man from another dimension?

Airport 1975 (1974)

Help, is somebody out there?

[17 February 1999]

"Airport 1975" is one of my favorite movies! After each viewing I often ask myself why I like this movie so much. Is it because I saw this movie 25 years ago in a theater? Is it because nothing really happens in this movie? Is it because this is one of first movies depending on hype without delivering the goods? Is it because of the many 70's stars who babble during the whole movie without helping the plot to proceed? Is it Charlton Heston who has difficulty saying his lines due to his irregular teeth? Is it because Karen Black is one hell of a stewardess in need? (Keep your score card ready to count the times she says "Hello") Is it because Linda Blair has nothing to do than to look worried? Is it the great music-score? I don't have any answers! Just see for yourself but together with "The Towering Inferno" it makes a great disaster evening that you hopefully will survive!