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Reviews
Quintet (1979)
Different take on Sci/Fi
I saw the film for the first time about a month ago on cable. Always heard about it, but never had a chance to check it out.In sharp contrast with most of the reviews on this page I enjoyed the movie quite a bit. While not a big budget film, production team created an interesting world of constant snow. Altman must also be given credit for successfully creating an atmosphere of constant dread. That combined with a powerful music and loud ambient sound effects, presents a cinematic work with imagery that will haunt you weeks after seeing the film.It's not a perfect film, but what film is? Sure, movie takes it's time....,but so what? Sure not everything is explained, but where does it say that story must be spoon fed to the audience? How about letting me think on my own? Sure, it's a low tech Sci/Fi, but so what? Just because there's no plasma rifles or space battles doesn't mean the film is bad...Altman's film is an unusual take on Science Fiction genre...More of a play than a film...more of an allegory than a linear storytelling...and it's just keeps getting better with repeated viewings. More things noticed that were missed before...A surprisingly rich film. In it's tone, the movie I would compare"Quintet" to would be Tarkovsky's "Solaris".... I loved "Quintet"! Too bad it's not on DVD!
Dawn of the Dead (2004)
Worst remake ever
Some movies should be left alone and not remade for MTV generation. Original DOTD is a classic of horror genre...Remake is a rotten cheese ball...Pondering to the trend of "fast" zombies new version gets rid of character development, suspense, scares and half way decent plot...All the things that made an original film a cult item. Stay away from new version. Awful...Not for a second do we care about any of the characters since they are all uniformly irritating... The only thing that's worse than the cast is the pedestrian direction of Zack Snyder, whose idea of directing a film is point and shoot and make lots and lots of cuts...Like a car commercial or a rock video...Anyway...Skip 2004 version and rent 1978 one...It's great!
THX 1138 (1971)
Pure Sci/Fi
This is possibly one of the "best 10 Sci-Fi films"list . Pure Sci/Fi from beginning to end. Early,uncompromising vision by Lucas..unspoiled by PC worries and dregs of merchandising. Low budget actually works in the film's favor. Everything is on the screen. Viewer is given exactly enough information. Design, direction and Decalogue...It's all there. It's a unflinching and brutal look into a possible distant future...Star Wars is a good , fun picture, but THX appears to be strangely the most "adult" and well rounded work in Lucas's portfolio. Beautiful. PS: I'm talking about original version, not the CG "sweetened" incarnation.I wish THAT version was on DVD!
C.H.U.D. (1984)
They just don't make them like that anymore!!!
"C.H.U.D" is a great,80's poverty row ,low,low budget horror film...It features an amazing cast of character actors, monsters that are so bad that they don't show up untill the end of the movie, a meandering script...and you know what it's tons of fun! For best effect watch the DVD version. This letterboxed disc contains lots of cool extras plus an MST3K like commentary track with writer, director and three male leads from the film!You should listen to it! These guys are really having a great time!!Anyway! This is a great example of low budget 80's horror! They just don't make them like that anymore!!! Anyway... it's one of my favorite DVDs.
Underworld (2003)
Giant waste of time....
One would think that it's not possible that a movie dealing with ancient war between vampires and werewolves could be so incredibly boring....And yet here it is! "Underworld" is a vapid attempt to capitalize on vampire chic by ripping off just about every genre film that came down the pike in the last fifteen years...Everything seems to be second hand. Strange casting choices, "barely there" storyline ,predictable plot turns...Even the dense effects have "been there, done that" quality...Filmakers seem to think that if you fill the screen with enough black leather outfits, viewers will automatically love the movie...Unfortunately one can't enjoy a movie that has no respect for movie fans....Skip it, don't waste a price of a rental... Go for a walk, or something.
Taken (2002)
...been there, done that.
A derivative ,long and boring mini series that's more irritating than entertaining.The only reason that I can imagine some viewers enjoyed this poor excuse for "must see TV" is being asleep last ten or twenty years.It's as if there was never any other "UFO" movies made at all... "Taken" plays with historical information from UFO lore and changes it as it pleases.
Steven Spielberg's name is thrown about as much as possible, but if one expects a Close Encounters like experience, one will be sadly disappointed.Perhaps Spielberg had nothing to do with "Taken"...Just lending his name to another UFO project...Kind of like Andy Warhol's Dracula...
Anyway, "Taken" features stiff acting, stiff writing,strange casting choices, incredibly amateurish special effects and false, self appointed sense that viewers are seeing something special and historically significant....Don't buy "Taken" DVD set...save your money and buy original The Outer Limits sets...You won't regret it.