Category Archives: Reviews

Review: Shin Godzilla (Japan 2016)

Posted on April 4, 2017 by David

As a Godzilla fan of the old school, I’ve always loathed the occasional American attempts at the Big G – whether the truly awful Matthew Broderick version or the decent-monster-movie-but-in-no-way-Godzilla attempt by Gareth Edwards from 2014 – but I think … Continue reading →

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Review: Empire of Lust (South Korea 2015)

Posted on April 2, 2017 by David

Trashy enough to live up to its title, Empire of Lust is a hilariously overwrought and deeply, deeply silly historical action/drama that takes itself deadly seriously. Full of preening villains, sexy femme fatales, and convoluted scheming, Empire of Lust wants … Continue reading →

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Review: Hell Comes to Frogtown (USA 1988)

Posted on April 1, 2017 by David

I watched this grotty little treat recently as a tribute to the late, great Rowdy Roddy Piper. Actually, I did see about half of this on late night HBO as a misguided teen, but pretty much forgot everything.

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Review: Phantasm: Ravager (USA 2016)

Posted on March 27, 2017 by David

It breaks my heart to have to give this film a bad review. I love the Phantasm film series. The first one is a freaky trip, and the second one is a campy, action-packed blast – and both do an … Continue reading →

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Review: The Black Tavern (Hong Kong 1972)

Posted on March 25, 2017 by David

An obscurity from the Shaw Brothers’ libraries, this film is definitely staffed with the Shaw B-team but still manages to be an energy-filled take on King Hu’s classic Dragon Inn.

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Review: Hacksaw Ridge (USA 2016)

Posted on March 23, 2017 by David

If this steaming pile of garbage could get nominated for Best Picture, I guess that is definitive proof that Mel “Sugar Tits” Gibson has been forgiven by the Hollywood community. Hacksaw Ridge commits the worst sin of war movies – … Continue reading →

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Review: Death Race 2050 (USA 2017)

Posted on March 21, 2017 by David

Well, that was more entertaining than I expected. Don’t get me wrong, this remake of the Roger Corman/Paul Bartel 1975 trash classic Death Race 2000 is total garbage, mostly stupid and low budget as hell. But compared to the other … Continue reading →

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Review: Royal Flash (UK 1975)

Posted on March 15, 2017 by David

To date, the only film adaptation of George MacDonald Fraser‘s highly entertaining Flashman novels, which follow a Victorian-era British officer’s globetrotting misadventures as he snivels and connives his way to women, wine and safety, while maintaining the appearance of a … Continue reading →

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Review: Love and Friendship (UK 2016)

Posted on March 13, 2017 by David

I have had a deep affection for Whit Stillman since his Barcelona helped open my eyes to indie cinema in the 90s, and I also love me some Jane Austen (though generally the books far than the movie adaptations). So … Continue reading →

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Review: Arrival (USA 2016)

Posted on March 11, 2017 by David

This big budget, somewhat highbrow science-fiction picture ultimately glossed over potentially interesting scientific and technical material in favor of an emotional angle on the material, and also forced me to watch the pile of anti-charisma that is Jeremy Renner.

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