gokeymichael Reviews

Dokken: Live from the Sun (2000 Video)

Sunsational! DOKKEN!

[10/10 · 9 April 2021]

I grew up in the "Hair Band" era and had the posters, the vinyl and the torn ticket stubs from them all, including multiple shows with Dokken. Mostly them opening up. My band was Ratt, but Dokken just kept getting better while Ratt fizzled with the dried up vocals of SP. Sad. But Don Dokken's voice just kept going and strong. This video/audio is sensational. Live Too High To Fly is one of the best live songs I have ever listened to and I've been around awhile. The entire show is just blistering hot. Pun intended. Reb Beach is awesome. I have always loved George Lynch. I have listened to all of his Lynch Mob material and I'm a fan. But Beach can just perform. What a masterpiece of live music. The sound is just incredible. Its like the difference after an album is remastered comparing earlier live albums to this one. Such a great sound. And like Rockin' with Dokken wrote in his review, it is pure bliss to just put it on the DVD or CD player and just cranking the hell out of it. If you like Dokken or the bands of the era or are just experimenting with different live stuff, watch/listen to this. You will thank me and thank Dokken. Enjoy!!

The Wild Wild West (1965–1969)

Western Sci-fi

[10/10 · 28 September 2020]

First off, Wild Wild West is a true Western TV show. And a damn good one. It blends in sci-fi in just the right amounts as to not become ridiculous. Yes, they have tech that is well before its time in some respects and in others, impossible. Like shrinking. Jim West gets shrunk in Night Of The Raven, by one of the greatest bad guys, and shortest, Dr. Miguelito Loveless, played by Michael Dunn. For Trek fans you can find Michael Dunn in the episode Plato's Stepchildren. Dunn is a mainstay in the series as the ultimate villain and the most slippery. The gadgets that they use, the various disguises used by Artemus Gordon and the over the top tech used by the villains, give WWW that sci-fi feel. The fight scenes with Jim West are excellent. And you can tell that Robert Conrad does a lot of his own fight scenes. Which makes the show even better. 60's shows had a bad habit of using stunt doubles that were just too damn obvious. Just watch the big fight scenes in Star Trek. Not even close to William Shatner. If you love western shows or movies, great action and cool villains, you will love this show. It is one of my all time favorites in any genre. The only drawback for me is that there are only four seasons. Would love to see more. So many cool things about that show that make it so unique. If you watch you will see. Please check this show out.

The Witcher (2019– )

LOVE IT!

[10/10 · 21 December 2019]

I just finished episode 3 and I'm hooked. For those that will compare this to Game of Thrones, please stop. Yes, this is a sword and sorcery show as was Game. But give the writers some credit. They didn't copy GoT or rip it off in any way. They have created a beautiful stand alone sword and sorcery show that has every thing that a fan of this genre can ask for. Knights. Kings and Queens. Magic. Monsters. Fighting. Sex. Nudity. Humor, but not so much that you don't take it seriously. Henry Cavill is great as The Witcher. I am a fan of his anyways. Superman of course but loved him a lot in MI: Fallout. Great baddy for Ethan Hunt to take on. And for those that want to call this a poor mans GoT, please dont do that. Netflix has spent a lot of money on this show and it is apparent. The acting. The effects. The production value. The great writing. Wipe thoughts of GoT right out of your mind and let this stand alone in your mind, as it should. Comparing the two only makes you want things that will never happen because they are not copying GoT. They have made a wonderful sword and sorcery show that is every bit of the 9.2 IMDB rating that is posted as of today. For those that knock it below that, what is your problem? Dont be haters if you were GoT fans and think its a knock off or ripoff. Just open your mind and let this show carry you away. You will love it. I do. And I am a big fan of GoT. I frigging loved that show. But I already love this show and I suspect I wont be disappointed as I continue towards episode 8 and sadly, the end of the line for Season one. Please release season 2 quick!

The Mansion (2017)

Much better than rated.

[8/10 · 11 October 2018]

I am a fan of foreign language film. I love to see how they do it elsewhere. This movie was great. Funny as hell. Comedy and horror together. A group of friends with each personality type included. It could be your friends, exaggerated with hyperbole, but you will recognize the different types in there. The couple broken up with the woman moving on and the guy still clinging to hope. The stoner. The narcissist. The moody guy who's never happy. The party guy. The tough chick. You get it. The nerdy girl who feels out of place and then gets an education in the real world and she changes. Cool stuff. Nothing a good mix of mushroom/mushroom muffins cant fix.

Terrifier (2016)

A lot of gore and good gore.

[7/10 · 4 September 2018]

I love gore movies. I don't watch them often, but occasionally I'll feel the itch. When I do, I look to movies like this. Just pure gore, no fillers or preservatives. Don't worry about anything else. Hatchet and its sequels have done a nice job bringing gore back into the mainstream horror genre. Or somewhat mainstream. The use of real bodies and no CGI is a great thing to enhance the idea of the gore. The characters are mainly bozos running around with empty heads searching for their brains but not remembering that they have phones in their hands and could call 911 at any time. Like Tara's sister. She sees Tara's friend sawed in half. She then proceeds to spend the next few minutes running around with a cellphone in her hand. Hmm. Cops maybe. I know, then it would be more realistic. I know. If this college student couldn't think to call 911 after seeing a girl sawed in half, then better off for the viewer. It is funny how frigging dumb people really are in horror movies. Just plain idiots. Other than the obvious moronic characters, the movie is a gut spilling delight with lots of blood and body parts. Fun times for all!

The Jerky Boys (1995)

Jerk!

[10/10 · 8 July 2018]

If you were hip to the boys back in the day doing their prank calls, then you will love this movie. They were just ahead of the tech age that would have made their phone calls a lot more problematic, legally. Just before caller ID was a basic in all homes, the Jerky Boys made their way from home to home and business to business making me laugh my ass off. The characters these guy created sting ring in my ears. The catch phrases and insults. Beautiful. If you can appreciate dumb humor then you may end up loving this movie. If you are a hater of movies like Dumb and Dumber and Ace Ventura, Little Nicky, etc... then don't bother. You won't laugh and you will end up coming here and putting the boys down. Then I'll have to split you from your nuts to the back of your ass as Johnny once said. Dont worry Bottle Nose, you'll love it or else!

The Forest (I) (2016)

Enjoyed The Forest

[8/10 · 4 September 2016]

I've read reviews that state confusion with the story. Well, the story was pretty clear. You have a pair of twins. One is off on her own, independent with issues. It turns out she witnessed something in her childhood, something traumatic. So did the other sister, but not before the troubled sister caught a face full of trauma. The troubled sister spread her wings and flew off to Japan. She then decided to go to the forest near Mount Fuji and a path that leads to an area known for being grounds for suicide and the ghosts of the suicides. When she doesn't hear from her sister Jess, Sara packs up and heads to Japan. She then hires a guide and also has a man she met in the bar who knows a thing or two about the area and is a writer for a paper I believe. He asks Sara if he can help and also do a story on her and her sister. When they find Jess' tent Sara decides to stay at night despite the protests of the guide. Aiden, the bar guy, decides to stay. Night time in that area is supposed to be creepy and dangerous. After that night in the forest, Sara no longer trusts this guy Aiden even though he hasn't really done anything wrong. But the forest makes you see and do things that are out of character for you. Sara starts to get paranoid and runs off. One key element is the guide telling Sara from the beginning that her going into the forest is not smart because she is depressed or feeling down. The forest supposedly feeds off the negative feelings, depression, anger, sadness. Bottom line is, the movie had a clear message and some nice jump scares. I haven't seen a lot of jump scares in today's horror so I was happy to catch myself jumping on more than a couple of occasions. A creepy vibe is felt throughout the movie so you never really get to let your guard down and feel at ease with the movie. The music lends to that as well. Nice creepiness in the forest as well. I think people will enjoy this movie. I did. 8 Stars minimum.

It Follows (2014)

It Follows, well done.

[9/10 · 28 April 2016]

Horror movies are a dime a dozen. Great horror movies are not. What used to be great isn't great anymore because its old hat. This movie is an original idea that doesn't really follow any of the horror rules that have been set in place over the last 3 or 4 decades. I'm not saying this is the best horror movie ever, but I appreciate the originality of what they did here. The atmosphere created by the acting and the music really helped this movie hit its mark. There is a creepy vibe given off at times that suck you in and then nothing happens. Then the opposite happens. The killer(s), now there's a great idea. This is a fight that you just can't win. You can't run, you can't really hide, you can't fight it or use weapons to destroy it/them. And the form the killer takes can be someone you know or love, someone you've seen before or just some random person walking down the street. Only the person targeted can see the killer, but you will learn that others can see the effects of what happens when one gets its hands on the followed. But the idea that it is sexually transmitted is awesome. If you read that in a description you may automatically think its a comedy or that the idea is ridiculous. Well, it just works. The idea just works. You don't even think it to be ridiculous once the movie gets going and you see the first victim in the movie. She is just messed up. So any potential for laughs is scrubbed clean by the visual of the first dead girl. Well done horror. I'm a new fan of this movie.

Avalanche Sharks (2014 TV Movie)

Same old B-Horror!

[22 March 2016]

This is what happens when a movies like Sharknado 1-3 make money and become successful. Sharknado has spawned more copycats, hopefuls and plain old rip-offs, than any other movie franchise out there. Aside from that, this movie was what you would expect from the title and the rating. Typical B-rated SFX. Typical B-rated script, story and acting. The casting is right out of a B-Horror For Dummies self help book. My opinion of this movie is what I would say about most of these movies, it entertained me enough to watch it until the end. I laughed, I cried, I took a dump. You know, that old chestnut. If you enjoy the genre you don't really need me to tell you anything. This is a B-Horror guide followed step by step. Enjoy.

He Never Died (2015)

Loved it!

[10/10 · 22 March 2016]

I loved this movie. Nobody besides Henry Rollins could have pulled this one off successfully. Amazing job by the former front man from, well, a dozen or more different bands. I have been a fan of Rollins for years and I clicked play on this gem immediately after seeing his name attached. The movie sounded good and the trailer sold me. Rollins nails it. If you know anything about Rollins and you watch this movie you will see exactly what I am referring to. This role was made for him, nobody else. The dark, subtle humor along with the monstrous darkness that he obviously lives in, was captured perfectly. If you don't figure out who he is after a short time, you will not be surprised to hear who he is when he discloses that fact near the end. You want to know, you have to know. He is one bad mother. His bland reactions to the people around him make for some decent humor. After realizing who he is and what he does, it becomes apparent that his world isn't as innocent as you would like to believe. You want to like this guy. By the end you still like him, but you shouldn't. Really. Liking him is not a good thing, but it feels right. The supporting cast all did a great job, but Rollins is the guy who sells this movie and sells it perfectly. Watch this movie if you can stand some serious violence. If you can't, watch it anyways. Have fun.

Supernatural (2005–2020)

My new number one. Even over X-Files.

[10/10 · 31 January 2016]

Greatest show since X-Files. Surpassed my old number one after about season 4. I'm 47 and I feel like a kid when the show hits the air. I get to live, like many of us, vicariously through Sam and Dean Winchester. Traveling coast to coast killing monsters, demons, angels and any thing that needs to be ganked. The mythological angle to the show after the introduction of Castiel, played to perfection by Misha Collins, took the show to a whole new level. Sure, there were demons and other kinds of monsters, but it never seemed to have any order to it. Once Castiel hit that barn and walked through everything Bobby and Dean could muster, things changed. That is still one of my favorite episodes. See season 4 episode 1:Lazarus Rising. I'm not saying 1-3 are bad, not at all. Excellent show even before season 4. Just that season 4 took the show in a whole new direction, a direction that has led to the overall success and longevity of the show. And the characters that have arisen from those stories, awesome. King of Hell, Crowley, played perfectly by Mark Sheppard. Not too many people get to stay on very long. As Crowley always likes to remind Sam and Dean, anybody who gets close to them dies bloody. Fact. If you have not watched this show, do so, NOW!

Final Prayer (2013)

Good movie, Great ending.

[8/10 · 29 November 2015]

I am like a lot of movie lovers these days, I have had my fill of found footage flicks. Once in awhile one comes along that doesn't make me want to break my TV. This movie had enough coverage with all of the cameras, the story was intriguing and the actors did a very nice job selling their characters. If you want a movie with a ton of jump scares then go elsewhere. If you want a buildup to a great, unexpected ending, then stick around. Yes, the ending of this movie was completely unexpected. I am so glad that I didn't read any reviews or comments about this movie before I watched. I just went on blind faith and I was treated to a great movie. I am a fan of the genre of movie that has to do with the idea of hell or demons or what other place there is in the afterlife. Hell, Purgatory, Heaven, Limbo, whatever. This movie had enough of the in the dark creep factor to keep me on the edge of my seat and the ending just capped it off like a nice Grand Marnier.

Willow Creek (2013)

Too little too late.

[5/10 · 9 September 2015]

This movie has promise and is instantly ruined because it is a found footage film. Grrr! The beautiful scenery that we could have seen. But no. But in the end the found footage method is the only way to make the ending any good. The reason I say too little too late is because 3/4 of this movie is spent with these two clowns doing fill shots and interviews about Bigfoot. Annoying parts include the boyfriends insistence that his girlfriend believe in Bigfoot because he does and because he believes there is so much evidence. She is not buying it but he harps on her about it. Just shut up dude. Also, what I said, too much of the film spent watching these two do camera-work and interviews. Way too much time spent in town and not nearly enough time spent in the woods where it gets nice and creepy. I liked the movie when it finally got to the part where something scary happens. But by the time that happens, the movie is literally fifteen minutes from the end. I liked the end. The ending was fitting and I'm glad it happened.

The Inbetweeners (2011)

The Inbetweeners: Laughs, Start to Finish!

[9/10 · 19 July 2015]

This is a prime example of why I love British comedy. Great writing, great storytelling. Then cast the proper blokes and you've got yourself a winner. I watched the show on Netflix and couldn't believe how funny these guys were. The Inbetweeners Movie is very good. It is great to see them in a more open environment, free to spread their wings and bungle things up like they always do. The epic search to get laid is always present, as usual. The guys are all unique and have their own story. Each as funny as the next. The follow-up to the movie is The Inbetweeners Two. Hilarious stuff. But that's for another review. If you have never checked out the Inbetweeners and you have an opportunity, check out the show first. It'll go by pretty quick. Then hit the movies. It will give you a much better appreciation for the guys and their individual quirks and their collective ideas.

Primal (2010)

Primal. Good idea but packed with morons.

[4/10 · 1 July 2015]

This had good written all over it and then the characters started to interact. Unfortunately these morons had to speak and ruin the movie. First there is the "Sensitive" guy. God, I hate Sensitive Guy. The "Group of Friends" movie genre is a hit or miss proposition. This one swung and missed, not because of the story or the horror effects and not even the acting itself, no, it lost its way simply because of dialogue and character. Take for instance the "Sensitive Guy". This moron was so far out of touch with reality that it made me think he was some Hollywood stereotype of a chick. Trust me, listen to this guy when the crap hits the fan and a decision has to be made. Sure, sensitive people will say that he was just heartbroken, therefor his decisions were off. Bullcrap! He goes from delusional to self righteous in zero point five seconds. I don't know which one was worse. Fightine, bickering, back stabbing and overly sensitive adults. The ultimate failure of a group movie. I've never understood the whole idea of packing five or six people in an SUV and then have them fight for the better part of an hour. It pisses me off. I understand human nature and people packed into an SUV for hours, yeah, someone is going to get cranky and some bickering will ensue. But petty squabbling the entire movie? Yuck. If it weren't for the characters I would have put this in the 7 range for horror and bloodshed.

As Above, So Below (2014)

As Above, So Below: Loved it!

[9/10 · 29 June 2015]

I am not typically a "Found Footage" genre kind of guy. But if there was ever an exception, this movie is that exception. Very well done. Great use of the catacombs with multiple POV's. Each person had their own helmet cam and there was a cameraman who had his camera and a head cam. That means full coverage and multiple views in order to see more of the environment. That is key to me. Found footage flicks tend to miss so much of the environment because of limited POV's. The acting was good, so no complaints on that front. The environment they used, the catacombs, made the film. You could just feel the tension and anxiety of being in there, not to mention the claustrophobia. This movie went into an area of storyline that I love, actually a couple of elements. The two academics could interpret the writings on the walls in order to get to the treasure they sought. Sort of a horror films Da Vinci Code. The other element was the destination of the forbidden area, the gates of hell. I have this weird interest in filmmakers interpretations of what hell is or the road to hell. How they see it and what it represents visually. Weird things kept happening the closer they go to their destination. Quick little visuals that were there and then gone. Going in circles when the route they took was straight. Going forward and the way is identical to what they had already passed, except things were opposite, mirrored. Trippy things so to speak. In a nutshell, this movie kicked azz and made me happy that I watched it, period.

John Wick (2014)

Big Fan of John Wick

[10/10 · 29 June 2015]

I am a big fan of Keanu Reeves, have been for three decades. I don't care about critics of his acting ability or style. His style is unique and that's what separates him from other actors. Over the years he has been put in a certain mold, the mold of the quiet weird guy. Neo or Klaatu from The Day the Earth Stood Still, that type. Think of Tom Ludlow from Street Kings. That would be as close to John Wick as you can get as far as comparisons. But John Wick is much more bad-ass. He is a retired hit-man who has found love for the first time. The description on IMDb describes what happens so this stuff is not a spoiler. He loses his wife and you can tell that it was devastating. After her funeral he receives a pet carrier at his door and signs for it. It is a puppy. Cute as hell! It is a gift from his wife, a last gift in order for him to grieve with someone and not alone. You can tell he falls in love with the dog. Between that and the fact that it was a gift from his dead wife, it makes the dog that much more important. When a mob bosses son, (Alfie Allen), and his crew decide they want Wicks 69' Mustang, sweet car indeed, they break in and catch him off guard. He is retired. They beat him senseless and then kill the dog. Bad move. They should have killed Wick, but they don't know who is. But his father does. Viggo, the Russian mob boss and former employer of John Wick. He then has to explain to his disappointment of a son that he just killed the dog of the man that is not the boogeyman, but he is the guy you call to kill the boogeyman. From there things go from bad to worse for all involved. A lot of death. A lot of blood, gunfire, hand to hand fighting. Car chases, explosions and slimy hit-men and women out for a bounty. There is also a hotel that is specifically designed for the shady world that John Wick and other hit-men live in. Pretty cool. Keanu is at his best in this movie, not just physically, but emotionally. Yes, his character is quiet just like you would expect from Keanu. But once he gets going, he is one scary dude. Cold as ice. Great acting by all involved and great story. Just a wonderful movie all around. I don't care how many movies they make in this genre, as long as they all stand up to John Wick.

Cloned: The Recreator Chronicles (2012)

Not too shabby.

[7/10 · 16 February 2014]

To be honest with all of you, this movie impressed me. My expectations were low based on some reviews elsewhere. I usually ignore reviews so that I might make my own judgment. I'm glad I continued that trend because I would have skipped this had I followed the majority of reviews I read. The only thing that really bugged me was the reactions of the three mains. They seemed oddly comfortable with what was happening. I guess if you have actors with zero emotional range you can't have them get too emotional. Otherwise, I enjoyed it. The ending was pretty nice too. Kind of an FU at the end. Nicely done overall. John de Lancie is the name in this flick but don't look forward to too much screen time from the veteran. His role is a quick flash of about five minutes total. This story centers more on the three friends and their experiences on the island.

Witchboard 2 (1993)

Witchboard 2, I really wanted to like it.

[4/10 · 1 January 2014]

I really wanted to like this. I am a fan of horror/supernatural films that range from the 50's up through the late 80's to early 90's. I have seen a lot of them and they all have their own hang-ups considering they are so aged compared to 2014. The problem with this movie isn't so much the movie itself as the choice for the lead actress. Sure, Amy Dolenz is very beautiful, but that voice and her acting is just pure hell. I wanted to contact a demon on my board just to shut her up. I would rather have Mickey Dolenz as the lead actress than Amy. The movie itself was what you would expect from the era and the genre, decent B quality stuff that keeps you entertained and you can poke fun at it because of the time. Give it a shot if you really must, but watch some other stuff first.

Gate 2: The Trespassers (1990)

Gate II, intentionally bad or not?

[31 December 2013]

If you watch this movie you will no doubt find out what I mean by bad, intentional or not? The acting is so far beyond good that it makes Troma flicks into Oscar worthy pictures. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Troma, but you know what I'm saying. This has parts that are funny and parts that are pretty decent. It also has a lot of bad parts to it too. But I think the bad is actually meant to be that way. If it is, then I can cut it some slack. The two buddies, Johnny and his hole-in-the-heart buddy, Moe are perfect examples of the "bad" acting aspect of the movie. I think they are funny, because they are so horrible it can't be for real. The magic is actually thought out somewhat, although I'm sure using English won't help to raise many ancient demons from billions of years ago. I do believe that hamster sacrifice is a no-no as well. But you have to give them credit for going off the reservation and trying to be cute and clever and more along the lines of an offbeat dark/horror/comedy flick. Not too bad, not the best. Try it if you have watched a lot of other stuff first.

The Pit (1981)

The Pit is NOT the pits.

[8/10 · 30 December 2013]

This was an extremely entertaining early 80's find. I loved it. The little kid, Jamie, was one little creepy kid, not to steal a Wally Beaver line. There was the horror aspect to this creep out and then there was the comedic part to it. The part of the movie where Jamie realizes that the pit trogs like human meat and then goes on a spree. The kid is creepy because he acts so much older than his 12 years in some places and then in others he is less mature than that 12 years. His best pal "Teddy" gives him advice and helps him out with his moral dilemma's. You can see the ending coming from a mile away, but it is funny anyway. This is a little kid creeper that is a lot of fun to watch. Right up my alley. You can tell this is an early 80's flick by the clothing and the look of the movie. It doesn't hurt the movie, it actually makes it better, more cult. If you don't like dated movies or poor film quality, then go elsewhere. If you appreciate the offbeat flicks from our neon decade, then go for it.

Bunnyman (2011)

Bunnyman, AWFUL!

[1/10 · 18 September 2013]

Some of the dumbest characters to ever be put on film. Dumb choice after dumb choice. Horrible dialog coupled with dismal acting make this hard to stomach. The gore is off screen and includes the disappointing spray. I expect that from television, even though shows like Supernatural have more gore than this movie. This movie had a million opportunities to be good and failed, miserably every time.

From the moment the turds in the car began speaking, I wanted them dead. I wanted them all dead. Lets walk down a dirt road lined forever with upside down crosses and then human bones in bags hanging from trees. The guy says to his girl, "I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation". Are you F'n kidding me dude? I see human remains in bags I run, the other way. If there was a sign that said "HELL" and it pointed down, this crew of idiots would go down.

Smiley (2012)

Smiley. Yikes!

[2/10 · 13 September 2013]

How this movie could be taken seriously is beyond me. The lead actress in this movie, Caitlin Gerard, is awful, just plain awful. She couldn't act her way out of a wet paper bag. Her manner, her screams and her facial expressions are actually annoying, not just awful, but annoying. In my world, annoying=FAIL! Epic Fail! The story itself is just ridiculous. I am not one of these guys who thinks that every movie needs to be A list material, trust me. I have a collection of movies that are far off the beaten path. This movie does not qualify for the worst movie in my collection though. Do yourself a favor, watch it and make up your own mind. It might just be me with the movie and the actress, but I'm sure there will be others out there who hate both.