dukerail Reviews

Wedding Crashers (2005)

Hilarious Fun

[10/10 · 6 December 2023]

This is a Romp and a half superbly acted it's just good fun and harks back to slapstick movies of years past Owen Wilson is the straight partner to Vince Vaughn's comic madness , both of these leads have a unique deal going on they get their kicks crashing weddings in itself a bizarre but comical pastime , all runs smoothly until they attend a wedding where Rachel McAdam and Isla Fisher are in attendance .Isla Fisher steals every scene she is an absolute riot In supporting roles the always out there Christopher Walken and his beautiful wife the stunning Jane Seymour add another dimension , throw in Bradley Cooper as the villainous Boyfriend adds some spice and vigour .

This is one crazy movie that I've watched over and over again , I know what's coming in every scene but I always find myself laughing out loud .

Kick back and have these guys crash your next function you won't regret Not Inviting them.

Thanksgiving (I) (2023)

Thanksgiving Cooked to Perfection

[10/10 · 22 November 2023]

Eli Roth has delivered an Ode to the Slasher Films of the 80s only in true to form Roth style has amped up the Kills and made sure there is plenty of variety and some great throw away lines There is a storyline with a twist .Gina Gershon in a cameo role albeit short lived and Patrick Dempsey as the New Plymouth Sheriff with a secret .

The acting won't win Academy Awards but it's all entertaining fun .

Lesser Lights Nell Verlaque, Addison Rae,Jalrn Thomas Brooks and Milo Mannheim add provide solid support and Rick Hoffman ( Louis Litt from Suits) is a scene stealer reminding me Of Dick Dastardly from The Wacky Racers The film has a sense of humour and some classic lines ... "There will be no leftovers" It doesn't take itself too seriously and serves up the main course with all the trimmings If you enjoyed Cabin Fever , Hostel and Green Inferno you will be lining up for Thanksgiving .

Friday the 13th (2009)

Formulaic Friday Fun

[8/10 · 13 October 2023]

From Michael Bay comes this revisit to Jason Voorhees and Camp Crystal Lake released in 2009 some 29 years after the original and the best Friday the 13th this effort much higher production values and a beefed up Budget $19,000,000 over the original film a paltry 500,000.00 these movies are ultimately a licence to make money $90,000,000 and $39,000,000 respectively .

In Bay's Film Jared Padalecki of Supernatural fame leads hotties Amanda Righetti and Danielle Panabaker. Support from Travis Van Winkle and Julianna Quill all are fodder for Jason Voorhees played with style by Derek Mears .

There's plenty of what we have come to expect Buckets of Blood , bare breasts , body count that piles up and acting that meets the expectation in such a film .

In the end there are no surprises but it doesn't disappoint given we all get what we came for ... interesting that this film is now 14 years old and there hasn't been a sequel ... Have we seen the last of Jason ? Surely Not ......

Red Sun (1971)

Something different For Bronson

[10/10 · 11 October 2023]

I find Red Sun a most unusual but excellent vehicle for Charles Bronson where he not only brings his usual cardboard style but also packs a sense of humour in this Terence Young Oriental flavoured Western about the search for Loot and a Gold Samurai sword stolen by the suave Alain Delon in a Train Robbery where Delon double crosses Charlie in the heist .Toshiro Mifune as the Samurai Guardian of the stolen sword charged with its return is the perfect foil for our Charlie and together they form one of the truly unique "Buddy" duo that I have seen on film . Mifune's swordplay is brilliant and with Bronson in form there is no shortage of blood being spilled . The gorgeous Ursula Andress shows a little more skin than usual which adds to the enjoyment .

Nice cameo by Capucine rounds out a most entertaining and perhaps under rated and not often seen Western.

Sissy (I) (2022)

Sissy is Sassy

[8/10 · 23 September 2023]

Stumbled across Sissy on Shudder very pleased I did . An Aussie gem of a Horror Movie with a few messages about the world we live in where On Line status and your follower numbers are a measure of success . Moreover in this film Online status and profile is a place to hide from Some of the more unpleasant aspects of life .

This film delves into bullying and jealousy and it all sounds quite malicious and dramatic ...And it is but also has a sense of humour and some heavy gore aspects for the horror hounds.

Aisha Dee steals the movie in the lead role as the somewhat self conscious bullied but ultimately psychotic Sissy who is welcomed to a hen's party by a childhood best friend where unfortunately she is reacquainted with school bully Erica and the movie takes off from there This one is a sleeper and well worth a look.

Out for Justice (1991)

Early Pesky is the best

[10/10 · 13 September 2023]

Out For Justice is now 30 + years old and it reminds me of when Seagal was cool smart several kilos lighter and a bad ass . The action hero is in good form here the film clips along with action in every corner as he tracks William Forsythe as the psychotic Richie This film was one of Seagal's first loaded with violence snappy dialogue and our hero in good form The acting is somewhat cardboard and the plot somewhat predictable but you don't watch Steven Seagal films expecting an Oscar . They are however entertaining if you like mind numbing violence martial arts bevy of beauties Gina Gershon amongst others and the Seagal one liners Out For Justice hits the mark.

Evil Dead Rise (2023)

Evil Dead Rise is Alive and Well......

[10/10 · 23 April 2023]

We cry out for great Horror Movies and when watching any Evil Dead movie you know exactly what you are going to get .... In my view 2023's Evil Dead Rise does not let the fans or the franchise down and manages to move the storyline away from The woods without skipping a beat Blood is spilled by the bucket and the Horror Hounds rejoice , the film breaks some new ground and goes to places again in my opinion that have been somewhat taboo but for me it just works .

Great setup at the start that leads into a different setting of a single Mother and her two kids living in a ghetto when through circumstances the son goes to a place he should have left alone This film goes from 0 to 100 in a flash ... If you like the franchise and buckets of the red stuf f hang on and take the ride it's worth it.

Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey (2023)

Winnie The Pooh it just Stinks

[1/10 · 22 April 2023]

Grade Z Garbage it's actually worse than Grade Z There is no acting some semblance Of a story of revenge and several gratuitous kills and a couple of bare breasts all the ingredients of a great slasher ... but for mine it just fails on all levels and becomes comical in its cardboard nature The premise of using story time characters is novel but it could have been done so much better .. Still on a shoe string Budget Rhys Frake-Waterfield has managed to no doubt create larger than life characters that I'm sure will return in a sequel and will no doubt become a Jason or Freddy character slashing his way to millions $100000 Budget and a $9000,000 return is sure to see interest in doing more of this rubbish ... Perhaps Winnie will join forces with Goldilocks and The Three Bears in the next instalment ..

Tobruk (1967)

Dramatic Departure For Rock Hudson

[10/10 · 2 November 2021]

Rock Hudson leads his own band of Desert Rats through the Sahara enroute to Tobruk and a Nazi Fuel Dump .

For mine a terrific WW11 yarn plenty of action,drama with strong performances from Rock and George Peppard in the Lead Roles.

Midsommar (2019)

Long winder but keeps you watching

[6/10 · 19 October 2021]

Very abstract at times absurd and over long but at the same time you keep watching knowing there will be a bizarre sequence to follow .

For mine a movie not for repeat viewings once was enough but J sat through the full two and a half hours.

A Classic Horror Story (2021)

European Rubbish

[1/10 · 17 September 2021]

Absolute crap insipid That's 80 Minutes I won't get back Last 15 minutes I had on Fast Forward.

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (2008)

Nick and Nora make a great couple

[10/10 · 2 May 2021]

This movie is just so good Kat Dennings and Michael Cena are so believable and likeable it's a simple love story covering one night in New York superb .... Where's Fluffy ...

The Wrong Teacher (2018 TV Movie)

So Wrong

[1/10 · 14 February 2021]

Absolutely one of the worst it's so poorly acted the actors are recycled from a host of other "Wrong" movies ... This one is just plain wrong on every level

Sea Fever (2019)

Sea Fever has bite

[8/10 · 8 January 2021]

Something Different on offer here a Marine Parasite causing havoc off the Irish Coast Well acted with a solid cast perhaps an implausible storyline but convincingly played . Alien with sea legs...

Final Girl (2015)

Final Girl is just dull

[1/10 · 14 December 2020]

Abigail Breslin does have appeal unfortunately this film for mine lacks any . Decidedly lacklustre

The Undoing (2020)

Undoing is Done ...Brilliantly

[10/10 · 30 November 2020]

We just finished the Series Wow ... Six Episodes of emotion and drama .This Show is just brilliant Acting from Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant is first class both leads are exceptionally well supported .The Final Episode plays out with enough twists to finish with a gasp ! Some say the ending undermines the series not a chance ... The Undoing is superb

Nobody Sleeps in the Woods Tonight (2020)

That's 90 minutes I won't get back

[1/10 · 20 November 2020]

Netflix Abomination absolute 1st rate Garbage Polish claptrap with no redeeming features

The Devil All the Time (2020)

It's a Gem

[10/10 · 12 November 2020]

Extremely well crafted and superbly acted . Not for the faint hearted it's gritty violent i in n parts disturbing overall absorbing like a good book couldn't put it down

Holidate (2020)

Holidate is just good fun

[10/10 · 9 November 2020]

Well cast doesn't take itself too seriously and it just feels good . Watch it and don't think about it ... just enjoy and Laugh ... It's a great Date

A Dog's Journey (2019)

A Dog's Life

[10/10 · 25 October 2020]

A beautifully told tale of life through the eyes of a dog and retold in lives over . Remarkable uplifting and sad all at once We need more stories like Bailey's

Godless (2017)

West is Won with Godless

[10/10 · 31 May 2020]

A true Western plenty of shooting terrific characters love stories and no shortage of drama interwoven into one of the best Series I've seen on Netflix ... It's a winner

Sweet Magnolias (2020– )

Thoroughly Enjoyable with likeable Characters

[10/10 · 29 May 2020]

Terrific Season One that was like a good book you just couldn't put it down. The Leads are totally believable playing roles with heart .Its not all sugary sweet adding good doses of drama and real life . Well done Netflix let's see Season 2

High Plains Drifter (1973)

Clint at his coolest delivering retribution

[10/10 · 25 May 2020]

A remarkable and thoughtful Western that challenges the audience to answer the questions the Town of Largo have on their minds . Clint is in peak form as The Stranger or is He the resurrected Marshal? Top notch Western Geoffrey Lewis is typically great at playing the villain , plenty Of violence blood loss and mayhem . Vera Bloom provides the strong female lead but overall it's all about Clint ....

Five Days (2007–2010)

Catches The Interest

[8/10 · 22 May 2020]

Well acted BBC Crime Drama involving abductions has a few twists and a fresh feel using five random days over the course of time There is a second series so will be tuning in

The Dirty Dozen (1967)

Stands the Test of Time

[10/10 · 18 May 2020]

Easily makes the top ten War Movies of all time . An all star cast clearly appear to enjoy every minute of the journey . Loaded with Machismo Bronson ,Marvin, Savalas ,Sutherland Cassevetes ,Walker ,Jim Brown and others never let up .Great Action , humour provide Two Hours of quality Entertainment , sadly movies such as the Dirty Dozen are largely not seen now and we are the worse for it