reverend_darkshadow Reviews

Race to Witch Mountain (2009)

Family fun

[8/10 · 24 August 2009]

Race to Witch Mountain is a surprisingly fun and enjoyable remake of the classic "Escape to Witch Mountain"...a movie one year older than I. Some plot elements have been changed in a manner to "update" the film for modern audiences, and to give it more "meaning" rather than a couple kids on a random adventure.

A nice note, though, is that this is an action adventure film that a parent can comfortably allow their children to watch with little to know worries of overt violence. Scenes where traditionally someone would die in most films of this nature, they are either badly injured, but will live, OR simply not mentioned/shown dying.

Disney does know how to make a family film that can rely on plot and story, over violence and questionable content. Yet, while doing this, still deliver a film that the entire family can enjoy.

District 9 (2009)

NOT Alien Nation

[10/10 · 23 August 2009]

When you first start watching this EXCELLENT film, you want to compare it to Alien Nation. However, this film takes a different approach. Rather than the human race almost happily welcoming the "Prawn" into society, we shun them, and treat them disgustingly.

The documentary approach to presenting this film makes it nearly believable. It gives you an honest impression of what our race would do, and how it would treat, a stranded alien race. How our species would prey on them to advance our own, and subjugate them into a second class stature.

This is not a film for the weak of heart. It is not exactly a "gore fest" alien movie, but one filled with social parallels, and social commentary.

Some are saying that this is currently the "best Sci-Fi movie, EVER", but I would definitely place in in the top five.

Mutant Chronicles (2008)

Surprisingly Good

[7/10 · 15 August 2009]

So, going into this film, I was not expecting to much. However, after watching this film, I can say I was impressed. There were good actors with Okay rolls. I also have to say, this is what CG effects and backdrops were used for, to give low budget films the interesting environments and effects without killing the budget.

To say the least about this film, it ranks as a top notch SyFy Channel movie. Yes, there are a couple movies on that channel that were good films, and this would be comparable, at the least, to them.

Admittedly, you don't really "feel" for many of the characters, other than Sgt. Hunter. His character, of course, was the primary of the bunch, so that makes sense. The remainder of the cast is just for support, and add for drama.

I have to say, I would like to see a sequel, considering how the film ended. I won't go into that as not to spoil anything.

The Invasion (I) (2007)

Good, but not great

[7/10 · 15 January 2009]

Okay, another take on the Invasion of the Body Snatchers. What does this offer the others do not? Nothing really. The major draw is how it is simply modernized. I like how the Russian, Yorrish, makes some comments about a perfect world without war, poverty and the ilk can only exist without man in it. This movie demonstrates that in the sense that man is being taken over by a spore. It genetically alters the host putting the original consciousness into "sleep mode", while the altered person continues on.

The big things that this movie hits at is how our society today relies on drugs, any form, to suppress our problems. We are constantly struggling with not our selves, but with one another in a fight to find our own identity, and thusly retain it. Shedding that individuality, the self, and become of a superorganism we can shed the issues that plight us. However, at what costs? The point in older films is the idea of why fight it is because what would the purpose of living be if there was no sense of being an individual.

This movie, does not really go down this angle much, but focus's more on Kidman's struggle to find her son. Considering the boy is the answer to the epidemic, they don't play on it hard enough.

As far as the background conspiracy and cover up angles, it is played well enough to give you the gist of it all. The government uses the concept of "inoculations" to fight a pandemic flu infection. People line up for the shots, hoping not to become infected with this supposed deadly super virus. This however, is what I drew from it, as it is only hinted at in quick snips whenever a television is in the scene. Casual viewers may miss this, astute viewers won't.

All in all, a good suspense film. It has a few edge of your seat pieces, but not enough to get the heart pacing quick enough. Personally, I also found the ending a bit to "cheery", even though it is "business as usual" for the human race. I just don't care for the idea that the director didn't seem to be gutsy enough to create a truly dramatic ending for the film. It was anticlimactic, honestly. Either way, though, not a bad addition to any movie lovers collection.

Battlefield Earth (2000)

Uhhh, not bad, but definitely not good...

[2/10 · 5 January 2009]

Okay, set aside the fact that L. Ron Hubbard, the father of Scientology, wrote the book this movie is based on, and you may find the ability to enjoy this film for the campy sci fi goodness that it is. Another thing you will need to set aside is any knowledge of how things REALLY work, and what their shelve lives are. Matter of fact, just set aside everything, dumb down a few levels, and you can enjoy this movie.

Overall, there are so many gaping holes in this story, it is absurd to even remotely think it could be "remotely possible". Of all the alien invasion films, this is the least believable. After a 1000 year occupation, I would have to believe the Earth's resources would have long been depleted. Especially since the aliens are vastly technologically superior to humans. And, on top of that, I would have figured that an uprising would have taken place LONG before a thousand years would have even come up.

This is why L. Ron Hubbard is referred to as a "Failed Science Fiction Writer" in many circles. Come on, even his Xenu based alien mythos that is the basis to all of Scientology sounds like a really bad, and borrowed, science fiction story. Go to Wikipedia, and look it up! Aside from the Canyon like plot holes, the acting, special effects and musical score are NOT that bad. I have scene a LOT worse than this, trust me. I doubt many of the humorous lines were intended to be as humorous as they were, but that is one of the little quarks about this film that make it a guilty pleasure to watch.

I would dare say that this films is a good "starter" sci fi film for the youngsters as it does not require thinking to enjoy the action and adventure qualities. For the more astute viewer, there is a lot of films out there that are better, and don't even come close to the standard that Star Wars and Star Trek have established.

Don't buy this film. Hell, don't even steal it. Also, remember this... Friends don't let friends with IQ's watch Battlefield Earth.

In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale (2007)

I was surprised

[5/10 · 16 November 2008]

OK, so this isn't Lord of the Rings, as everyone seems to compare it to. Get past that folks. Nothing will compare to that trilogy for YEARS to come. However, In the Name of the King was NOT a horrible film as everyone makes it out. Now, that doesn't mean it is a "Great" film, either. I would definitely say it was an "Okay" film.

I can't stand Uwe Bowle. He is a joke when it comes to movies based on Games. However, a game like Dungeon Siege is perfect for him. He has a basic premise, and a very open plot to work with. You can't screw that up. Honestly, he didn't. This movie is FAR better than some of the drudge that Sci Fi channel has put out over the recent years. This is also leaps ahead in quality to previous Bowle film's.

Yes, the acting was not gripping, and the action was a little "eh", but again, it was better than some low budget fantasy movies.

Look at it this way, there was a solid beginning, a meaty middle, and an actual finish to this film. Bowle referenced towns and locales from the game from time to time, he maintained a basic drive and purpose for the enemies, and kept the heroes on track with their purpose. This movie did indeed hit on Fantasy Movie cliché's, but they managed to work well enough.

Now, I know some will say a "5" is to gratuitous, but if this was NOT a Bowle film, would people actually have rated it higher? I am sure they would. Again, I am NOT a Bowle Fan. Alone in the Dark was not up to par, Blood Rayne was WAY to far from the plot of the game, and House of the Dead was dead in the water. In the Name of the King was enjoyable for the most part. Get over it. Just be glad he will never do Metal Gear Solid!

The Storyteller (1987–1989)

A wonderful tale of tales.

[10/10 · 6 November 2008]

Jim Henson always seemed to put out wonderful television shows. This was sadly one of the shortest lived. It was endearing to hear each tale with their delightful morals. Each episode was a new story, with new characters. John Hurt did a wonderful job playing the Storyteller, and the sarcastic tone of Brian Henson as the dog was always enjoyable.

The set designs and costumes were very well done. The Muppet work, when required, is classic Jim Henson work. You know it is a Muppet, but it's endearing appearance more than forgives. You find yourself enchanted and compelled. When each episode comes to an end, you realize that you were quite entertained. An entertained that is fulfilling, not the kind that wears off after a few moments. You sit back and think about each episode, realizing that each story is indeed timeless, and presents a strong tale of morality.

I have yet to show this to my own children, but this is indeed a series that is more than family entertainment. I implore you to find it on DVD, and snatch it up. If you can't do that, then just find it some how.

The War of the Worlds (2005 Video)

Stick to the 1953 version, or wait for Spielbergs rendition

[1/10 · 13 June 2005]

I am currently sitting here, forcing myself to finish this. I figure I blew 6 bux on the VHS, might as well suffer for it. I remember about 4 or 5 years ago doing a search on the internet for "War of the Worlds" cause of the rumors of the Spielberg movie at the time, and I missed the old TV series from the early 90's. The website make it out that this was a multi-million dollar budget rendition of the classic book. It was going to be a "perfect translation". Perfect CRAP is more in tune with this film.

First off, the video on this movie was glitched! It looked as if I was watching the Full Motion Video from an old mid-90's PC or Playstation CD-Rom video game. Sadly enough, the color quality was similar. The acting made Shatners classic "dramatic pause" look damn near Shakespearean in quality. The CG rendering of various scenes was horrendous, and green screen sequences were worse than those seen in old Dukes of Hazardd scenes.

Secondly, it is slow and terribly drawn out. I sat thru 45 minutes of the video (no promo's at the beginning) before the cylinder actually Opened to reveal the first alien. After that, the alien was a terribly constructed CG squid. I am now an hour into it and the most of the alien weaponry I have seen is a spinning silver disk (crappy down even) attached to a mechanical arm. The dramatic scenes are murdered with overly done instrumental's. The last thing on that, for an alien invasion in the turn of the century 1900's NO ONE is concerned for their life. It's like they have no concept. Even though media was slow, word of mouth spreads fast and people would have known. The "illusion" of day and night was shoddy at best. Simply changing the color around the people to purple, blue or green does not signify NIGHT TIME. Perhaps some lighting and actual night time shoots would have given a MUCH better illusion. THere is a lot of wasted sequences throughout the film of just watching the "hero" gallop around or walk down silly roads. Get on with the film. I know how people get around, you do NOT need to be so in-depth.

Now, finally an hour and 5 minutes into the film and they show the alien machines. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers had better looking effects. Even the skeletons of vaporized humans looked as if animated by a freshman high school computer app class student. The animations do NOT match up to the scenery at all.

In closing folks, if you want "The War of the Worlds", do one of four things. 1) Watch the 1953 original, 2) watch the early 90's TV series, 3) wait for Spielberg's rendition to be released shortly, OR 4) Read the frikkin book (something we all probably did in elementary English class). AVOID THIS MOVIE. IT IS A WASTE OF YOUR MONEY.