WadeVC-1 Reviews

When Calls the Heart (2014– )

Who knew frontier folks were in to fashion....

[1/10 · 19 January 2021]

Keeping g an eye on this as the wife watches, and I have to say the acting is exceptionally wooden and dull.

The fact that this is a frontier town yet everyone has 21st century hair styles and makeup, and is dressed to the teeth is beyond "fantasy", it is outright idiotic. Perfect makeup, perfect hair, perfect clothing and the finest furnishings in the homes makes this series a complete disaster.

Although I am not a huge fan of these types of shows, at least many of them have some sort of likeability to them. This is not one of them.

Jurassic World (2015)

Complete garbage

[2/10 · 27 October 2015]

Just finished watching Jurassic World...wow...what a steaming pile of garbage this movie is.

If you are a fan of Jurassic Park and enjoyed that movie, like I do, do not even waste your time on Jurassic World.

The story was basically a rehash of the original, and the acting...I have seen better acting in old 70's porno's than what this film offered up.

As can be expected, the Special F/X were top-notch, but even that isn't enough to carry this poorly written & acted steaming pile of celluloid garbage.

Unless you have extremely low-expectations, or poor taste, wait until this movie hits the $5.00 bargain bin.

Blood Red Earth (2009)

Excellent Short Story

[8/10 · 15 March 2009]

Just finished watching Blood Red Earth, and I can say that this is a very well acted short story with an equally excellent plot summary which infuses creative and imaginative script-writing. The plot and actors make this 30 minute short quite believable, and the show hooks the viewer from start to finish.

The viewer follows the lives of a Native American family on the plains and their inadvertent encounter with a supernatural/evil force known as the "Burrowers"...which until now was more legend than reality. However, this legend takes form and we see how the Indian people try to ward off this evil once it surfaces.

Not what you would expect from a short, and certainly not the results one would expect neither. Gripping, exciting, and an overall great way to spend 30 minutes.

The Happening (2008)

Enjoyable escapism.

[7/10 · 9 November 2008]

I must certainly be in the minority after reading many of the other comments here, but I though The Happening was quite enjoyable and plan on adding it to my DVD collection.

Compared to the onslaught of trash that is normally seen in the "Gore/Slasher" types of films that have become so popular today, I found The Happening a great departure from these bloodbath type of films that contain nothing more than buckets of blood, miles of entrails, and acting that is so incredibly horrific as to be laughable.

I found The Happening to contain quite a few truly eerie scenes, and the overall feel was equally creepy and foreboding. As with all of M. Night's films, I thought it contained intelligent scriptwriting and a novel approach to the interaction of the human populous and the universe we live in.

I do have to agree that the acting wasn't Oscar-worthy, but as noted earlier, the acting in The Happening was much better than what can be found in the "Gore/Slasher" films of late, and overall I would consider the acting certainly passable if compared to the plethora of garbage Hollywood is putting out nowadays.

It is a movie of fantasy, suspense and the incredible, and should not be taken as anything other than that. If watched and enjoyed as pure escapism, The Happening will deliver.

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007)

An intimate look at inner torment

[8/10 · 12 October 2008]

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is both inspirational and woeful in its telling of Elle editor Jean-Dominique Bauby, and his life after a stroke left him completely paralyzed, with the exception of his left eye, with which he could see and blink.

A powerful homage to the inner turmoil, horror and desperation that one must feel when entombed within their own body.

However, Jean-Dominique Bauby learned a language "code" with the help of his speech therapist, and letter by letter, word by word, he was able to create a book that described what it was like to be trapped within ones own body, and of the stories he had created within his own mind as a means of escaping the personal turmoil of his entombment for a little more than 14 months.

Sadly, Jean-Dominique Bauby passed away two days after his book was published due to complications of pneumonia.

A gripping, powerful movie that is well deserved of the numerous awards for which it has been nominated.

Zathura: A Space Adventure (2005)

Fantastic space adventure for all ages.

[7/10 · 12 October 2008]

Zathura is a great space adventure movie that can be enjoyed by those of all ages, and is equally impressive in its FX, acting and storyline.

The story of two siblings that are constantly fighting and trying to out-do each other as brothers will, find themselves and their house adrift in space after they engage in a old game found in the basement of their fathers house. The game (called Zathura), is a space adventure game that, as each player takes their turn, comes to life.

What ensues is a great science fiction/fantasy movie that will keep you engaged and enthralled as the two brothers now come to rely upon one another to finish the game and return to earth.

Excellent cast, acting and storytelling. If you enjoyed Jumanji, you will certainly enjoy Zathura!

The Racket (1928)

Excellent early gangster movie!

[8/10 · 13 July 2008]

An excellent cast and directing make The Racket a must see for the Silent Movie fan and fans of gangster movies in general. Starring Thomas Meighan as Capt. McQuigg, a no-nonsense police officer in Chicago who does not back down from the Mafia's "Big Boss" Nick Scarsi (played by Louis Wolheim).

Nick Scarsi is the leader of the Chicago Mob who has every politician and judge in his hip pocket, and in return for fixing the local election, Scarsi is apparently immune from the long-arm of the law, much to the chagrin of Capt. McQuigg.

However, it is a woman named Helen Hayes(played by the beautiful Marie Prevost) that is the undoing of Scarsi, whom refers to women as "poison" several time throughout the film. Helen proved to be the final dose of poison for this underworld boss as she gets him to admit to the killing of a couple of people in front of Capt. McQuigg and the District Attorney.

The acting and storyline of The Racket is excellent, and the cast brings believability and conviction to the characters they play.

I Do (1921)

Not the best , but worth a watch

[5/10 · 15 June 2008]

Not the best Harold Lloyd I have seen, but it has a few moments. It does show that obnoxious children are nothing unique to these recent decades and that these types of kids can drive an adult half-insane.

There are a few funny bits scattered here-and-there, such as the scene where he tries to cross the street and when it is discovered that the couple (Llyod & Mildred Davis) are pushing a large jug of "hootch" in the bassinet, and not a child.

A bright spot in the film is the beautiful Mildred Davis who stars as Lloyds wife (and became his wife in real-life as well). Overall not the best Lloyd film I have seen, but not a waste of time neither.

Shen nu (1934)

Excellent silent from Asia

[8/10 · 8 June 2008]

Although I am a big fan of silent movies, I have to admit that The Goddess is the first Asian silent movie I have ever watched.

Well acted, The Goddess tells the story of a mother who is a prostitute selling herself to make ends meet for her and her young son. Scorned and ridiculed by the neighbors, the community and (in the case of her son) local children, The Goddess is an intriguing and engrossing silent.

Although ashamed of her way of life, the mother has nothing but love for her son, and she is determined to provide him with a good education so he has a better chance at life than what she had. However, local parents complain to the school about this child being a bad influence on the other children and the morality of the school due to his mothers disgraceful way of making a living; resulting in the child being expelled from the school.

There are a few twists and turns in this movie that provides a well-balanced and intriguing storyline. Wonderfully filmed, The Goddess captures the desperation of a struggling single mother quite well. Overall, I thought The Goddess was an excellent silent, and one I would highly recommend to others who are also fans of the silent age of movies as well.

One of the Hollywood Ten (2000)

An interesting look during a time in history

[7/10 · 8 June 2008]

Although everything I know about this era comes from reading about it, nonetheless One of the Hollywood Ten seems to accurately depict a darker side of our history during the Cold War years when Communism was a threat to our country. (If this was real or a perceived threat is controversial).

However, One of the Hollywood Ten does accurately tell the story of Herber Bieberman and his trials and eventual conviction of being branded a communist by the US Government, and the ramifications this had to not only his life, but also that of his actress wife as well.

Well written and excellently acted, One of the Hollywood Ten is certainly worth watching.

The Water Horse (2007)

A good movie.

[7/10 · 20 May 2008]

I sat down and watched this the other weekend, and I have to say that it was indeed very enjoyable; and has been permanantly added to our DVD collection.

The Water Horse is a very family-friendly movie that is part Sc-Fi, fantasy and adventure. The acting was extremely good, and the writing and plot is very imaginative and original...which is a nice change of pace compared to the many "copycat" movies that abound. The sets were very authentic and the outdoor settings quite spectacular.

The SFX/CGI was quite good; on a scale of 1-10 I'd give the EFX a solid 8; not the best I have seen, but very much above average.

All-in-all, The Water Hores is a movie that is definitely a suggested viewing for those looking for something a little different and fun.

Wrong Turn 2: Dead End (2007 Video)

A Great Movie...if you have low expectations.

[3/10 · 2 November 2007]

Ho-hum...it never amazes me to see just how little substance and just how thin plots can be in movies anymore. Wrong Turn 2: Dead End is just another in a long line of maximum gore and minimal quality that seems to have plagued the horror movie genre. If you have an affinity for buckets of blood, guts and gore; but very little else, then this movie will be right up your alley.

Oddly enough, the best acting to be found in this film is not from a trained actor, but a singer: Henry Rollins. Henry is the only person in this movie that brought a true believability to his role, and played it extremely well. Unfortunately his character was short-lived, meeting a demise very early into the film.

I find it amusing that, with all the high-tech SFX and camera work that went into this destined-for-the-bargain-bin movie, that the one shining star of the film came from someone (Rollins) whose profession is far removed from the big screen.

If you like Henry Rollins, then you will like this film and his performance. If you like a quality movie with an equally crafted script, you may want to pass on this one.

Devil Girl from Mars (1954)

A must see of bad cinema.

[6/10 · 4 May 2007]

Now, for those that like bad Sci-Fi (like I do) yet also find it amusingly interesting, then you may want to give Devil Girl from Mars a watch sometime.

As is common with most low-budget Sci-Fi movies from this era, the FX are a little...well...bad. The movie does suffer from some incredibly long bits of dialog, and the indoor scenes are reminiscent of a stage production. I did however like the few outdoor scenes scattered throughout though. As odd as it may sound, the acting is actually quite well done; the dialog suffers through writing more than the actors abilities.

The premise of the movie is that a flying saucer lands near an old English boarding house, and surrounds the area with a sort of force field, trapping the occupants with a certain boundary. The alien invader is a woman (who fits into her tight leathers quite nicely I will add). Her mission: To take men from Earth to her planet which is now void of such occupants.

Overall a nice bit of 50's Sci-Fi for those who enjoy the less-than stellar stuff.

The War of the Worlds (1953)

One of the best in early Sci-Fi.

[8/10 · 4 May 2007]

Adapted from the novel by H.G.Wells, The War of the Worlds is, in my opinion, one of the very best Sci-Fi's of the 1950's; and one of my "Top 10 Sci-Fi's" of all time. The War of the Worlds was one of the first movies that actually gave me the creeps the first time I watched it.

From the excellent special effects to the eerily futuristic-looking spaceships (which many refer to as Swan-like), this "Doomsday" film isn't the result of a wayward planet or asteroid, but from intelligent beings from another planet. They are not here on a mission of peace or goodwill, their mission is even simpler than that: Total annihilation of the human race and the conquest of the planet earth.

Not only does The War of the Worlds treat us to great acting and a screenplay that is superb, but in one particular scene when one of the aliens sneaks up behind our heroine and touches her shoulder...well...THAT has got to be one of the scariest moments in film! It also produced what I think is one of the greatest screams ever caught on film.

20 Million Miles to Earth (1957)

Harryhausen at his best!

[8/10 · 4 May 2007]

Not only is this a Ray Harryhausen classic, but a truly excellent movie that features some of the best stop-motion animation of the era.

Returning from a secret mission, the first astronauts to land on the planet Venus crash into the Atlantic just off the coast of Sicily...on board they carry a gelatinous cargo that turns out to be the egg of a Venutian life-form. It quickly hatches and terrorizes the local citizens and continues its rampage towards Rome.

Can it be stopped? You will just have to turn out the lights and plop 20 Million Miles to Earth in the ol' DVD (or VCR) player to find out! The incredible alien life-form, known as the Ymir, may not have a familiar name to many, but it does remain one of the most recognized movie monsters/aliens from the 50's; and is among Ray Harryhausens best creations to date.

Them! (1954)

Giant bugs at their best!

[9/10 · 4 May 2007]

Playing on the fears of both the unknown effects of radioactive fallout and the cold war, director Gordon Douglas delivered to audience members a chilling look at nature gone wild and one of the most recognized and likable classic movie monsters of the 1950's. Not only was THEM! a hit with audience members, it was also Warner Bros. highest grossing film the year of its release.

An excellent cast which includes James Whitmore, Edmund Gwen, James Arness and Sandy Descher as the "Ellison girl".

THEM! is the best of the "giant bug"-type movies, and was responsible for the popularity of those to follow, including Tarantula (1955), The Dealdy Mantis (1957), and Earth vs. the Spider (1958) to mention a few.

Although the FX are somewhat dated, the storyline and acting hold up well, and remains one of the most beloved classics of the 50's.

The Perfect Storm (2000)

Batten down the hatches...its rough out there!

[7/10 · 18 April 2007]

I thoroughly enjoyed The Perfect Storm, the loosely based movie about the ill-fated crew of the Andrea Gale which disappeared while caught in the "Holloween Storm" of 1991. (The term "Perfect Storm" is based upon the novel...meteorologists officially called it the "Holloween Storm" as it occurred on Oct. 31).

Although a highly speculative and fictionalized account of the actual events, The Perfect Storm does contain some fact-based elements regarding the storm itself as well other rescues the US Coast Guard was involved in during the storm which battered the Eastern seaboard.

George Clooney and Mark Whalburg give great performances (actually I thought this to be George Clooney's best performance to date), and the story depicts the "love-hate" relationship commercial fishermen face fairly accurately.

The SFX are great, although at times quite exaggerated, and give the viewer an idea of what it would be like to be on a small ocean-going vessel during rough weather.

Overall a very good film and excellent on a big screen TV with the surround-sound on full blast.

Spider-Man (2002)

Excellent Superhero Movie!

[8/10 · 18 April 2007]

Stan Lee's Spider-Man comes to life on the big screen in a big way! One of the best Superhero movies Spider-Man is far better than any of the Superman movies, and slightly better than the original Batman. Spider-Man is sure to get your blood and adrenaline pumping.

Acting was superb as were the generous SFX which were well integrated into the film. The story, although based on the fantastic, also contained a very well thought-out human element and overall storyline that keeps the viewer engaged.

Willem Dafoe is excellent as the Green Goblin/Norman Osborn, and Toby Maguire was equally excellent as Spider-Man/Peter Parker. Highly entertaining and one that viewers will watch again and again.

The Astounding She-Monster (1957)

So bad you will love it.

[6/10 · 9 March 2007]

What can be said about a movie that is so bad in special effects, acting, storyline, writing and directing...it is so bad it is oddly likable. That is not to say that The Astounding She-Monster doesn't take some definite willpower to sit through, because it most definitely does. This movie is so bad that one almost feels compelled to watch it out of pity for the cast and crew who put this on celluloid.

The Astounding She-Monster is so astoundingly bad that it defies words, but it is definitely a must see for fans of bad cinema; or at the very least one should see it just to make every movie you will ever see or have seen seem just that much better.

When Worlds Collide (1951)

Excellent 1950's SciFi

[9/10 · 8 March 2007]

Despite the obvious lack of modern day CGI & SFX, When World's Collide is a great mid-afternoon or rainy day SciFi, and one of the better SciFi's from the early '50's.

A rogue planet has been discovered to be on a collision course with earth, and the end of the world is eminent. There is only one recourse: Build a spaceship that is capable of transporting a select few to a distant planet to continue the human race.

Overall, the f/x are as would be expected from the early '50's; but given the relatively low budget, they work quite well and at times are good. The approaching planet as it grows larger in the sky is quite good and adds to the panic and fear of those in the path of this doomsday vessel...primarily the entire population of earth! Now, don't expect any great accuracies in either Astronomy, Physics or Planetary Science, but what one can expect is a fun SciFi that grabs your attention and plays on our biggest fears: Our own extinction with which we have no control.

A suspenseful film with a great ending, When World's Collide is one of the best SciFi's from this era.

Hawaii (1966)

One of the few true masterpieces of film.

[9/10 · 7 March 2007]

Max von Sydow, Julie Andrews and Richard Harris are excellent in this film that depicts how the missionaries descend upon the tropical paradise of Hawaii to convert the native people to Christianity and to "save" their souls.

Reverand Hale (Max von Sydow) excellently portrays the role of an extremely pious, resentful and contemptible man of the cloth determined to destroy the harmonious way-of-life that the islanders have enjoyed for generations. Jurusha Hale (Julie Andrews) is the complete opposite of her husband showing extreme compassion for the islanders and their customs.

This movie depicts quite well how a clash in customs and religion can utterly destroy generations and leave an impact on the indigenous people that no one could have imagined or thought possible.

A long but extremely well acted movie, Hawaii will at times make you laugh, make you think, make you mad and above all take you on a ride of movie excellence that will soon make this "must have" for your movie library.

Carnival of Souls (1962)

Odd but likable cult classic.

[8/10 · 7 March 2007]

I have often times wondered if Carnival of Souls wasn't trying to capitalize on the fame of the Twilight Zone, as this low-budget horror has very many of the same elements found in TZ.

Although the acting has something to be desired, and the story jumps around a bit, there is something both creepy and uneasy about this film. The deaths of 3 girls who drown after their car plunges off a bridge sets the mood of this campy yet effective thriller. Although it does have its faults, the camera-work and use of shadows has an almost (using the term very lightly) Hitchcock-ness quality to it.

If you watch this late at night with all the lights off, The Carnival of Souls does have some very creepy parts and can give you the willies, so to say. When you first watch this creepy flick, you may at first think what a weird movie...kind of makes no sense...but you soon find yourself wanting to watch it again, and again, and again.

Overall, a good, though odd, cult classic.

The Land Unknown (1957)

Excellent Dinosaur film of the 1950's!

[8/10 · 2 March 2007]

It is a shame that this little known movie hasn't gotten more exposure over the years. For fans of all ages The Land Unknown is a great film that is sure to delight all but the most critical of viewers.

This has got to be one of the most atmospheric movie sets ever to be captured on film, and it just gets better from there. The acting is very decent, as is the storyline and pace of the movie. We are treated to many dinosaurs that, although not the most realistic looking, are quite effective and are integrated well into the movie and the overall storyline.

Yes, the FX are somewhat lacking, but compared to the many, many low-budget horror and SciFi films of the 1950's, The Land Unknown stands tall and delivers a face-paced action adventure that surpasses many of this era. Actually, this movie reminds me a bit of the 1925 silent The Lost World...from what I have read was indeed an inspiration for this film.

If you are a fan of dinosaurs, action-adventure, SciFi, thrillers or just plain fun, well made movies, The Land Unknown has just what you are looking for and will deliver a pleasant viewing experience for all ages.

Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)

Universal's best monster ever.

[9/10 · 2 March 2007]

Universal has long been known for their Classic Monsters: Frankenstein, Dracula, The Mummy, The Wolfman...the list goes on and on, and there is no shortage of great monsters delivered to us by this studio.

Of all the great movie monsters, The Creature from the Black Lagoon is the best of the best, and has become a favorite among many "Monster Kids" as well as those just discovering monster movies of a bygone era. Everything from the exquisite sets, the excellent atmosphere and of course the Creature himself are just pure monster movie magic.

Not only has this prehistoric creature survived unchanged and undisturbed in the deepest regions of the Amazon for eons, we are surprised and somewhat delighted to see that the creature is scary enough to capture our imagination, but also human enough that audience members can relate to this "missing-link". The Creature from the Black Lagoon is so well scripted that the audience members not only root for the Creature, but actually feel saddened by the Creature's demise.

Stylish and memorable, The Creature from the Black Lagoon is a must-see for fans of classic movie monsters and those just discovering Universal's classic movie monsters.

Phantom from Space (1953)

A fun but dated film.

[4/10 · 1 March 2007]

As a whole, Phantom from Space isn't all that bad. It does suffer from the usual low-budget f/x of the times, but it is a fun movie to watch. But watch is what you will have to do as the movie does start out exceedingly slow. The first 20 minutes or so can be downright boring, but stick with it and try to follow the storyline and the movie soon turns into a fun bit of fodder for a lazy afternoon or a rainy day.

Fans of old SciFi movies will definitely enjoy this little-known film, and those looking for a bit of movie nostalgia will also enjoy this campy movie. Just like many of these old films, Phantom from Space is one that can be enjoyed by all family members.