shannonphoenix Reviews

Molokai (1999)

Inspirational

[10/10 · 27 March 2010]

I have heard of Father Damien, and even think I saw part of a biography on him. He was the "Mother Teresa" of his time.

The performances were excellent and the cast was basically all star with actors such as Sam Neill, Alice Krige and so many others that set the tone of this movie. A practically unfamiliar actor of the time, David Wenham, played Father Damien with the strength, kindness and determination that for a while during the movie, you actually believed he was the real Father Damien. His performance was nothing short of excellent as he showed how Father Damien advocated for his people and struggled at time with his faith during a time when Lepers were in some circles thought to be not only diseased, but sinful. Never asking for anything for himself, David Wenham's performance as Father Damien is very true and honest making this movie a must see.

I would highly recommend this movie to anyone and everyone. In my eye, David Wenham will always be Father Damien.

Mutant Chronicles (2008)

Actually, a pretty good, original movie

[8/10 · 31 May 2009]

I will usually watch any movie with Ron Perlman in it. His characters are generally bad with a sense of humor and his good characters are extremely well played. Also, I like John Malkovich because regardless of his part or the movie, he always puts on a great performance.

I am a big fan of horror and Sci-fi. I have read what others had to say, but I thought it was actually very good. What I find original is that a seal was put on this "enemy" and was unsealed due to war among corporations instead of nations. This seal was broken and unites the corporations, which is not original, but the part where the seal is broken and these mutant humans come out is a bit original.

All the people in it really put on great performances and I think that should count for something. The FX were not bad at all and the story flowed great. If people did not like the movie, I am sure they have their reasons, but I can't believe it was because of the acting or how the story flowed.

I thought it was a very upfront movie and explained itself. The one thing that I did not quite understand is who the "enemy" was, where they came. The movie tries to explain this in the beginning, but it did not explain it in a way that was sufficient enough to wonder if they came from the sky, why didn't more come after they were sealed. If it was a dying planet that came to Earth and started this, then it would be understandable. John Malkovich says that "they" will move to other planets and I felt that left the audience hanging. However, it could have been explained to but I missed it.

It is a lot like "Silence of the Lambs" in that you have to watch it a second time and they you find out more info. Every time I see SOTL, I always saw something that I missed the first time I saw it.

I liked the way they mixed war, humanity, faith all together. It made for a good entertaining movie. Some parts were predictable, but still a good movie and I would recommend it to anyone who is a horror/Sci-fi fan.

Karla (2006)

Good performances, disrespectful to the victims families

[6/10 · 25 October 2008]

I did like the acting because I think it gave Laura Prepon a chance to get out of her "Donna" persona and I think Misha Collins is good as well. Both are young actors and gave a good performance as being both seemingly the perfect couple and the cold people that they were portraying.

I don't blame the Canadian people for being upset. I do not know much about the Canadian Justice system, but I can say this; they are doing something correct because they have fewer social problems than the US does and I do believe they are more proactive with their judicial system as in actually having real rehab instead of pretend rehab.

I have always thought that making a movie or TV show without the victim's families permission is wrong unless there is a big lesson that people need to learn from. Many parents will give permission to TV to warn kids and parents of dangers of somethings, but to do a movie about real events without consent is appalling. Canadians seem more quieter than we are in the US and no Hollywood filmmaker had any right to do that without the victims permission.

Some stories should be told because we as citizens of this world should learn from them. But, I have a hard time seeing what good could come of this story, EXCEPT Laura's performance of Karla as NOT being a victim like she has said she was. She had people she could go to. I really just wanted to see how Laura would do with this character, I felt terrible for the families.

Striptease (1996)

This movie is the very definition to what is wrong in our "American" society

[7/10 · 24 March 2008]

I remember watching this and thinking, "Wow, if Demi Moore was the father in this, she wouldn't have had to go through all this crap," which I think and hope the movie was pointing out. I could relate to her very much. I had to go through a bad custody battle when my very abusive and religiously zealot, cultist ex-husband did everything he could to have me pistol whipped in the court. It eventually backfired, of course, but I was under so much scrutiny and he was under none. That was a double standard, discrimination and extremely unfair.

But you will do anything for your kids and if I would have had the guts to, I may have done the same. With all the skills she had and all that she could offer any company or agency, but has no feasible choice but to work in a strip joint to earn the money for attorney's fees to get her daughter back and yet be a good mom and keep her self respect, dignity and deal with the stigma that goes with being one of "them" meaning the label that society has marked on women who do this for a variety of reasons, mostly because of their kids. If I still had the body I use to, I would do it now.

I mean, did anyone see "Independence Day?" Vivica Fox played a similar character and yet she was probably the most loved character in the movie. I remember "Don't be, my baby's worth it.

There were some really good actors in this movie and they did good. No one can ever say that Demi Moore is bad at anything; Ving Rhames always puts on a great performance; Robert Patrick, a excellent and gifted actor, Frances Fisher is a great talent. So, it is not like the cast was bad or they did a bad job. Burt Reynolds is the only one I don't care for both professionally and personally, but that is not to say that he was not good in her heyday.

I believe that what people had a problem with is the subject matter because strippers are not suppose to have their kids, but addicts, drunks and convicts should, especially if the woman is a stripper.

The character of "Erin" even said that she would have to find another job, a "respectable" job. Go figure. She was not a prostitute and even a prostitute can be a good mom.

I thought the acting was quite good, but I have to agree, it could have been made a little better, such as it seemed as if the story line would go over in one direction and then suddenly get back on track. But, most of that ended up on the floor in the editing room.

Just my take on it.

Lost Colony: The Legend of Roanoke (2007 TV Movie)

Let's be a little fair here

[5/10 · 24 November 2007]

I wouldn't be so hard on this film. No one has ever been able to give a good account of what really happened, and the whole mystery is there to speculate and to guess and write stories about. Sci-fi channel has had it's good stories and dull ones, and this is not at good as I was hoping for, but I don't believe it was half bad. It could have been better if they had a seasoned director and producer who is use to doing mystery/suspense thrillers, but I don't think that was the case. I wonder what George Lucas could have done with it or someone with a little more imagination. Besides, think about it, we didn't see the entire movie, we saw the edited version and I willing to bet that it would have been a lot more scarier and would have made a lot more reasonable sense if those parts were in there. Sometimes I wish when they came out with movies on DVD, they would give you a choice of seeing the extended version with the deleted scenes or the theater movie.

As for the acting, the movie, just like X-men III, it seemed very rushed and I am sure they were times constraints. However, actors do a better job when they have more time to get into the part and make some suggestions of their own and I am not sure that happened. I think they were just given the part and told to "do it!" which also does not make for a good movie. But, you can't blame the actors who are given a script that they can only do so much with and I think the actors did the best they could and were not able to live up to their talent.

I also think if just a little bit more money was put into it, it would have been a better picture. I hate it when things "happen" and there is a reason why they may be happening, but no one tells or says what it is. You see that in a lot of horror movies. People want to know background history, legends, etc. I thought a halfway descent effort was made for this. But like Eddie Murphy says, "Why do white people stay in a place that is haunted?" I am white but I would have gotten the HE** out.

The whole incident is a bit haunting itself. It is very hard to really know how many Native American nations and tribes there really were. Many died out before the settlers came and some were dying off about that time. But, the word on the tree, "Croatian" (SP) does seem familiar and I do believe it was the name of a Native American tribe that may have befriended the colonist and took them into their tribe and that word was put on their so that the coming settlers would know where to find them. But, instead, the just left it a mystery and may have wanted to on purpose because they may have wanted a plan or something to scare people about in the event of any indigenous people in the area they wanted to get rid of. I mean, look what happened after wards? I believe that those colonist did not want to return and stayed with the Croatians since a lot of tribes were nomadic during the seasons. That is just a theory with no scientific backing. But it beats thinking that they were slaughtered because the Native Americans were blamed for a lot of things they didn't do and we nearly committed Genocide.

Citizen X (1995 TV Movie)

The BEST made for TV movie about a true story

[10/10 · 30 May 2007]

This movie was totally surprising. I was expecting the same type of movie made for television which most are alright, but this was is great. It was an excellently chronocaling of the Chikitilo case from the beginning and was very well timed with the usual time allotted. It was very thorough and explained a lot about why this man was not brought to justice as quick as he was.

The performances were outstanding. Stephen Rea was awesome as the detective in charge; Donald Sutherland was at his most dignified and Max Von Sydow was uncompromising. Other outstanding performances were from Joss Ackland and especially Jefferey DeMunn as Andrei Chikitilo. DeMunn's performance deserves especial attention because it takes an extraordinary actor with his experience to play such a man. All in all, the entire cast was outstanding beyond words.

The sad reality is how the Soviet politics of the time hampered the investigation. It shows the arrogance and stupid pride of the powers that be to refuse help, deny resources, and refuse to warn the public. The Soviet people deserved and should have been warned and it is just a miracle that things turned around when they did.

All in all, this was the BEST TV movie based on a true story.

Exorcism: The Possession of Gail Bowers (2006 Video)

A low budget movie that was not that bad at all

[7/10 · 4 December 2006]

I have probably seen every horror movie from excellent FX and totally stupid to low budget and actually good. Well, this is one of those low budget but and actually good. I have read many comments and a lot of complaints about the acting. No one is going to win an academy award, but the actors did a good job considering that the sound was probably not the best in the world and they were having to speak louder, which makes the acting not as good as it should be. I think if this movie had a descent budget it could have been actually really good. It was good considering the obstacles the actors had to go through and it was a good attempt to try to try a new idea.

All in all, I would definitely recommend this movie. The nudity was not as bad as in many soap operas I have seen and the talk was not near as bad as the Exorcist or any stupid male bonding movie. I have heard worse.

House of the Long Shadows (1983)

A rather original idea

[8/10 · 20 July 2006]

The whole plot was constantly turning and twisting which I believe is a good element in a thriller, such as finding out things or truths towards the end, the element of fear as each character is "killed" off. However, I believe that this was a very original idea for the time it was made and undoubtedly would be something to read.

I do want to say this, as for the "Fab Four" of horror masters go, they were the Masters at that time. But, lets not forget the other masters such as Bela Lugosi (sp) Boris Karloff, Lon Channey and Lon Channey Jr, etc. It seems to me that there was a movie with them in it, excepting Lon Channey to where they all wore their costumes but were not playing the part. But, I can't remember what it was called. Oh Well.

All in all, I did think it was unique and I like the way it ended. What better way to end a "horror" movie than with something comedic.

The Toolbox Murders (1978)

Who writes this stuff

[1/10 · 6 July 2006]

I saw this movie some years ago and asked myself a few questions: (Considering it was the 70s) Why is it that this guy was able to kill some of these women when he was so far apart from them and could have easily eluded him without injury? Answer: Because they were women and even in the 70s, women were considered brainless. Why didn't some of them just pick up something and throw it at him and then kick the crap out of him? Answer: Because in those days women were still considered weak and damsels in distress and still needed a strong empty-headed man around to "save" them. Why is it that for absolutely no reason at all, their shirts would suddenly fly open for no apparent reason? Answer: Because it was the 70s. Why were the women described as "exhibitionist?" Answer: Because if you didn't know already, all women are that way, right ladies. God knows that's what I like to do in my spare time (sarcastic of course.) I found myself screaming at the TV for the women "throw the lamp at him!" since they just stood their screaming when he was clearly at least 10 feet from them. It is just your typical low budget B horror movie full of butts, boobs, brainless, bubble headed bimbos from the Planet Playtex. I doubt very seriously if the female actors in it really wanted to do some of the stuff in this movie, but hey, I understand, a paycheck is a paycheck and they may get noticed to do something substantial.

But for the most part, this movie was the antithesis of all the dumb low budget B horror movies of the 1970s and even some of the 1980s. Although some of the acting was actually descent, the story line itself was choppy of ridicules and down right stupid and stigmatized women as being weak and stupid.

My condolences to the female actors in this film.

Full Metal Jacket (1987)

A Movie that you will always wonder about

[10/10 · 11 March 2006]

"Full Metal Jacket" is one of the legends of any service person in basic training. As a young recruit in the Army, we talked about it, and we talked about it further and it is one of those movies that you always find something new to say about. The beginning, the young men come to be trained as "killers." And it is at this point where you may realize later that not everyone is meant to be in the military, example, Leonard (Pyle.) He is a nice kid with probably a good sense of humor, probably liked among for his sense of humor and would have done better in college, but instead is in the Marine Corp where he does not fit in well. Then you have Hartman (excellent portrayal by Gunny Ermy) who has the heartless job of making killers out of these young men. It is here that you question if he is truly mean spirited or is doing what he knows he has to do by being as hard as he can so that these young men will survive the horrors of war. This is a point that I think is sometimes missed. Joker, a rather smart young man, attempts to take Leonard under his wing and the two become friends until Leonard messes up and is given a "blanket party" by the rest of the platoon. Hartman is the reason for this, but behind this hides another reason; he has to make them tough and solid so that they will work as a team and have each other's backs in combat. He knows this to be true, but no one else does. This sends Leonard into a psychotic break and for a while, Hartman begins to show interest in Leonard due to his progress. Joker, noticing the change in Leonard, does not bring this to anyone's attention and thus begins his journey through his own private war because he believes from his inaction, he may have been the cause for the aftermath of the confrontation of Leonard and Hartman and the eventual fate of Leonard.

After that, the movie shifts and they are in Vietnam and only then does Joker begin to see why Hartman was so mean as he sees his friends become more like Leonard and may be destined to share his fate. When the young sniper is shot is when a part of humanity returns to Joker and we are left to guess at what follows.

The performances by Ermy, Modine and D'Onofrio were remarkable, especially D'Onofrio. I often wonder what went on behind the scenes, especially with a seasoned Marine war vet such as R. Lee Ermy on the set. I often wonder how much he contributed to the movie as an actual adviser.

By the way, I am a Gulf War I Army Veteran and I am female, so it could be that I may be looking at this differently. Females usually were not in combat situations, but some were. I do wish the movie would have shown that a little, but as far as making you think, I think the movie did what it was suppose to do.

To Heal a Nation (1988 TV Movie)

Extremely Heartwarming and it set out to do what it set out to do

[10/10 · 16 November 2005]

Eric Roberts should have won the highest award their is for his part in this. I was 15 years old when my class visited Washington D.C. and they were just starting to build the memorial. I was too young to think about all that went into the making of it all. I remember the war, but very little and I remember all the broken men who came back and had the burden of surviving the aftermath, including my two uncles. When I saw this movie, I was en captured by the entire theme of it as I watched the bitterness of the vets complain about benefits, which is something I can relate to all too well to Jan's simple request of a simple memorial to the rallying of support to the people realizing that their anger was terrible misplaced in these young men to the final building to the actual opening. It was all very emotional for me.

I do not understand why it has not been shown again on Memorial Day or Veterans Day. I thought there were many tender moments in the film such as when Jan received the letter from the kid who sent him five dollars to have their father's name that inspired him to have ALL the names put on, to the winner of the contest to construct the memorial who just happened (as I remember to be) a young Asian girl who was adopted because of all of the orphans (I think.) And the scene where the engravers where engraving the names and the one engraver burst out into tears because it she came to her brothers name.

The final scenes were about when the memorial was open and the people came and when the white elderly lady came and the black vet asked her who she knew and she said her son and how he held her hand and helped her with the flowers she wanted to put there and there was no thought of race there, just humanity. I think one of my favorite parts was when the brother was there to find his brother's name only to see him there after 20 years to find out that he wasn't dead, but just lost for so many years.

This movie has remained in me for many years and I would love to see it again. I think that the title speaks for itself because this nation needed to heal from the Vietnam war and we needed to forgive ourselves and the young men and women who were over there and I think the movie did what it set out to do. I think it is very important to point out that this was done through the people and not through our government, which makes it all the more special.

Love Bites (1993)

Poor Ole Zachary

[10/10 · 25 September 2005]

I must say, as vampire movies go, this one is just adorable. I have seen some comedy vampire movies, but this one just grabs you. It took me years to find this movie on video for US video, the only ones I could find were for British video and every time it would come on TV would be about 2 in the morning. Adam Ant was great as well as everyone in the cast. It put a different take on the whole vampire legend thing and the dialog between Zachary and Kendall was just terrific, especially their first meeting.

It really was a feel good movie from start to finish and I would recommend it to anyone who likes a light hearted comedy with a hint of the supernatural.

Snow White: A Tale of Terror (1997)

Please correct me if I am wrong

[10/10 · 25 September 2005]

I saw this movie many years ago, I remember it specifically because I have never really seen Sigourney Weaver play an evil character like this before. However, I never really saw her character as completely evil and this is why. From what I can remember, in the beginning when Lillianne's mother dies and she is alone with her father, he introduces her to the Lady Claudia, who seems very nice and pleasant. Lilli, being a child, is not happy with her father remarrying and is not very pleasant to Lady Claudia, some thing very normal and after the marriage when the couple is trying to have a child of their own is performing some sort of "good luck ritual" that was common of that day and Lilli basically curses it, being too young to really understand what she is doing not really intending for any harm to come upon anyone. When the Queen loses her child, she becomes so consumed by her own grief and anguish that she becomes isolated into her room and does not realize that a evil spirit lives within the mirror and begins to speak to her and slowly takes possession of her. In the meantime, Lilli realizes what she has done and tries to befriend her step mother, but it is too late because the spirit in the mirror has turned her against Lilli, and eventually turns her into the famous "evil step mother" then everything begins to go downhill, at least for a while.

Now, someone correct me if I am wrong because as I say, it has been many years since I have seen it, but I do agree that it was more realistic than other versions I have seen.

Alice Cooper: Welcome to My Nightmare (1975)

Great showman

[10/10 · 23 June 2005]

I saw this in either the late 70s or early 80s on television in Pennsylvania on a horror movie program. At that time, I was getting over the fear of him, or actually the snakes. I have hated snakes since I stood on one when I was six. But, he is a great showman and his stage antics made an excellent show/concert.

Any fan of the Masters or classics have to see this. I cannot figure out what my favorite part of it was, but Vincent Price was a great touch. It is strange that "Welcome to my Nightmare" was considered "acid rock" and now is seems so much more mellow compared to today's music.

I lived in Phoenix and just about everyone there knows him or has met him a few times and he is very approachable and a great guy. He gives back a lot to the community and does a lot of good with some of his fund raisers. Not to mention, he owns half the town. He should run for governor again, "a messed up governor for a messed up state" is an understatement for those who live or have lived in Arizona.

But, any one interested in the History of Rock needs to see this. It is a great story and he is a great showman and puts on a good show.

Call Me Anna (1990 TV Movie)

Call me Anna

[10/10 · 8 June 2005]

I think it took a lot of guts for her to come forward like that. It is unfortunate that when a celebrity suffers that is what helps people most. But, in her case, what she did was remarkable. I have been in the mental health field for five years and I think it is great that mental illness is not a terrible word anymore and I believe she helped. I always thought she was great and always will. I am glad that she wrote this book and that the movie was made. She is a remarkable lady and I hope she continues to act. She has been through a lot and has faced it. I would really love to see her work more with children, especially child actors. Her ordeal should not have happened and I think she would be wonderful as a mentor to young people. The movie was so moving to me that I was very touched. Suffering a TBI which brought the onset of my disorder and having PTSD, it is good to know that someone has the courage enough to display her life as she did. I believe it helped this nation and people in general realize that there are others like them and that there is help. Thank you Ms. Duke, or Anna, which ever you prefer.