WelshFilmCraze Reviews

Escape in the Fog (1945)

Taut Columbia pictures 40s B-noir

[7/10 · 8 November 2022]

ESCAPE IN THE FOG starts NINA FOCH as US Army nurse Eileen Carr, who is resting at a countryside inn following a breakdown whilst serving during the tail-end of WW2.

At the beginning of this limited budget 63-minute espionage B-movie from COLUMBIA PICTURES. Our character Eileen is walking along a foggy San Francisco bridge at night when she witnesses 3 men tumble out of a taxi with 2 of the passengers attempting to kill the 3rd, during which she lets out a bloodcurdling scream - she then wakes in her hotel room and it was all a dream, but then 2 guests break down her door after hearing her scream and to her amazement one of the men standing in the doorway is the man she saw attacked in her dream, federal agent Barry Malcolm (WILLIAM WRIGHT a sort of cutprice Clark Gable, who had a relatively short career in 40s B Movies before his death from Cancer in 1949 still in his 30s).

Was her dream really a premonition?

Federal agents, Nazis, espionage, kidnappings & attempted murders - all within a barely 1 hour run time - I dont mean that as a criticism, ESCAPE IN THE FOG is a very fast moving, solid little B-Noir.

Not the most well known of 40s Film Noirs (at least not to me)

Co-starring OTTO KRUGER (a side character here but he's still top billed and a rare good guy role)

Directed by BUDD BOETTICHER (here credited as OSCAR BOETTICHER Jr) in one of his first directoral duties, He later spoke rather disparagingly of this and his other early works, calling them "nothing pictures" and while ESCAPE IN THE FOG is a definite low budget B-pic, I feel Boetticher was rather too hard on this picture, which is still an enjoyable, if minor noir, which doesnt outstay its welcome.

This also has SHELLEY WINTERS in her film debut in a uncredited, blink and you'll miss her role as a Taxi Driver who picks up our main characters from their Hotel.

6.5/10 rounded up to 7.

Zero Tolerance (1994)

Watchable mid 90's direct-to-video action

[5/10 · 8 June 2022]

Robert Patrick stars as an FBI agent out for revenge after his wife and child are murdered by a drug cartel led by main goon Titus Welliver.

Patrick & Welliver are really too good for this trash by 90's B movie producers Richard Pepin & Joseph Mehri and their PM Entertainment Group, The script is dreadful, The acting by everyone (aside from the aforementioned above) is poor.

Plenty of gunfights & explosions, which is where most of the budget goes on this type of Straight-to-video trash, Patrick looks embarrassed to be in this - coming after his career defining role as the T-2000 in Terminator 2: Judgement Day, and we even get Mick Fleetwood - Yes, THAT Mick Fleetwood as a drug cartel boss.

It's watchable enough with very low expectations, but we've all seen this many, many times before, "Zero Tolerance" doesn't break new ground or even tries to, it is what it is, a mid 90's bottom shelf, action cheapo with a far better leading man than this kind of trash deserves.

Jungle Cruise (2021)

Enjoyable Disney adventure for the whole family.

[8/10 · 17 August 2021]

"JUNGLE CRUISE" is the first movie Ive seen at the Cinema since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, Going in I didnt have massively high expectations, but seeing as I thoroughly enjoyed the similar in tone "PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN" & "NATIONAL TREASURE" series of films, in which the former (like Jungle Cruise) is based on a Disneyland ride, I expected 90 minutes or so of high adventure and family fun.

"JUNGLE CRUISE" stars Dwayne Johnson in one of his IMHO most likeable performances as a Captain of a riverboat who takes a scientist with modern, feminist views (Emily Blunt) along with her Brother (Jack Whitehall) on a journey through the jungle in search of the tree of life.

At least $200M was thrown at this flick and every penny shows - it looks great, the SFX are really well rendered, if slightly overused If im being picky, its also very easy to pick holes in an relatively weak screenplay. But this is really by-the-by, Jungle Cruise is an enormously enjoyable Disney adventure flick and its nice to see Disney portraying a character who is subtly hinted to be LGBT.

Possibly down to the Worldwide Pandemic thus far Jungle Cruise hasnt perhaps been the smash-out-of-the-park blockbuster hit it might have been Pre-covid, but Disney is more often than not great at this type of flick and gets two thumbs up from me.

Queens of Mystery (2019– )

Quirky British murder mysteries in the vein of "Agatha Raisin" & "Pushing daisies"

[8/10 · 6 June 2020]

"Queens of mystery" has only just arrived on British shores, But finally thanks to its producers Acorn Tv's streaming service (availible through Amazon Prime video as an extra or through its own website for a seperate monthly fee) we can now watch the series of 3 feature length mysteries over 6 episodes of 45 minutes in length. First impressions are good. The light hearted murder mysteries are set in twee picture postcard settings in largely rural England - it follows 3 middle aged crime writing sisters that run their own bookshop in a rural English town (played by Julie Graham, Siobhan Redmond & Sarah Woodward) and their attempts to help their late 20-something niece Matilda (played by relative newcomer Olivia Vinall) a Detective sergeant in the Police to solve quirky murders. There are similarities to the too short-lived U.S tv show "Pushing daisies" especially in the manner of narration throughout - which some may dislike, but which I thought added that little bit extra, but it's not a negative comparison like other reviewers have suggested, Its also very similar in tone to "Agatha Raisin" the UK mystery tv show (currently shown on SKY 1 in the UK with a 3rd season starting the week of this review) . I wouldnt say this was a "comedy" as such, more a case of a "lighthearted mystery", very good acting - especially from the aforementioned Aunts and (total MILF) Julie Graham in particular as well as good characterisation. Other reviewers here criticise the somewhat generic mysteries involved, I dont, infact I really like to watch shows such at these where you dont need to have a degree in Criminology to follow the plot. The last episode ended on a little bit of a cliiffhanger, so I'm really hopeful that Acorn TV renews "Queens of Mystery" for another (and longer) season soon. Unless you have access to Acorn's streaming service I dont if you will be able to enjoy the series like I have, It is the sort of tv show that UK cable channel ALIBI would be interested in or BBC1 would air in the early afternoon slot alongside FATHER BROWN & SHAKESPEARE & HATHAWAY. Well worth watching (especially in these times of pandemic lockdown & quarentine) Fingers crossed for further episodes

From Paris with Love (2010)

Over-the-top mindless action.... and I loved it!

[8/10 · 29 June 2012]

I wasn't expecting much when I sat down to watch 'From Paris with love' this evening, I bought the DVD for a couple of quid recently and I already knew from looking on here that it had been a Box-office disaster on its theatrical release a couple of years ago and that critics had been anything but kind, but damn it I loved it.

I'm not a fan of Travolta, which was the main reason I hadn't seen the film till now, but I was pleasantly surprised as his role as the unpredictable special agent Charlie Wax IMHO is one of his best. Jonathan Rhys Meyers is pretty wooden as expected but he didn't really need to be any great shakes for the role he took on, he fitted in well as the Chess playing aide to the U.S. Ambassador whose desperate to get a job he can really get his teeth into.

Outrageous action and explosions, plenty of violence (most of it unexpected) - with a very high body count, this is the type of Film that Luc Besson does very well. Great locations and Cinematography, and very important for Films of the genre - It's fast moving and never boring. There have been rumours of a possible sequel, but given the poor Box office returns, that, for the moment at least seems unlikely

Ice Twisters (2009 TV Movie)

Not bad, better than i thought it would be...

[6/10 · 8 December 2010]

...but that's because I've become very wary of Films which appear on the SYFY channel and my expectations were lowered considerably.

ICE TWISTERS is a clichéd,unoriginal made-for-Cable movie, that's 'in the line of' (Rips off) other better theatrically released films (TWISTER & THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW to name two) but then I knew that before the Film started, all I wanted was to be entertained for 90 Minutes, and ICE TWISTERS does manage to do that - The FX and performances were acceptable.

Keep your expectations realistic, and you should find some enjoyment from this B-movie.

Poirot: Murder in Mesopotamia (2001) Season 8, Episode 2

Hugely enjoyable Poirot mystery - despite the slower-than-usual pace and implausible denouement.

[9/10 · 31 May 2010]

I'll start by saying I'm a very big fan of all the Poirot mysteries. I find the locations, writing and acting along with the costumes excellent in every episode and Hercule Poirot is a character that David Suchet was born to play, having said that I don't hold anything against Albert Finney & Peter Ustinov, It's just that I feel Suchet after over 20 years has made the role his own.

In 'Murder in Mesopotamia' Hercule Poirot (Suchet) accompanies his sometimes rather naive friend Captain Hastings (Hugh Fraser) to a dig in Iraq and becomes involved in - and attempts to solve the murder of an Archeologist's Wife, who had been receiving threatening anonymous letters.

As I say in my summary - The story takes a long time to reach its conclusion, but I was quite happy enjoying the beautiful surroundings of Tunisia (Filling in for Iraq) and the solid acting by all to really care, though others might.

One plot point which did disappoint me was the revelation of the Killer(s) - which I found to be highly unlikely, but that's not a criticism of the production at all as Agatha Christie herself wrote the rather implausible denouement.

Highly Recommended!

Murdoch Mysteries (2008– )

Very well made and acted Victorian era set Canadian crime series.

[8/10 · 4 April 2010]

'Murdoch Mysteries' stars Yannick Bisson as Inspector William Murdoch who solves crimes in 1890's Toronto, is an exceptionally well made and acted series, which makes a nice change from CSI/NCIS etc. staple of whiz-bang, FX laden crime shows

Bisson is likable as the handsome Inspector, with English Actor Thomas Craig suitably sceptical and at times dopey as his by-the-book boss and Johnny Craig is good as his rather naive partner and at times hindrance Constable Crabtree.

Helene Joy is suitably understated as the resident Doctor/Pathologist.

Now in its Third series, currently being shown on UK Cable channel ALIBI, (It surely deserves a wider audience on a Major British Channel)

The writing, set design and Photography is exquisite and convincing

Fans of well made and intelligent Mystery Series will find much enjoyment in Inspector Murdoch's cases.

Murder 101: New Age (2008) Season 1, Episode 4

Enjoyable TV thriller in the vein of 'Diagnosis Murder'

[7/10 · 1 April 2010]

MURDER 101: NEW AGE is the 4th and so far last in the HALLMARK CHANNEL Mystery series of TV Thrillers,

I say it's in the vein of 'DIAGNOSIS MURDER' the Doctor solving TV Mystery Series which ran from 1993-2001 because the stars of that show, Father and Son DICK & BARRY VAN DYKE return in this - DICK isn't a Doctor but a College Professor of Criminology and BARRY isn't a Cop, but a Private Eye, who USED to be a Cop and they aren't Father and son, but close Friends who have known each other for decades, But to be honest having seen a couple of these now - their characters aren't a World away from their 'DM' counterparts.

NEW AGE has Jonathan (Dick) and Mike (Barry) investigating a seemingly impossible Murder at a New Age/Spiritualist retreat where its Leader is killed in a locked room surrounded by a handful of people in a deep trance.

Co-Starring SHANE VAN DYKE & CAREY VAN DYKE (Barry's sons - This episode is a family affair)

Yes It's undemanding stuff, but it's played with such enthusiasm by the Van Dyke's it's thoroughly enjoyable.

Flight of Fury (2007 Video)

More awful trash from Seagal 1/2 * out of *****

[1/10 · 26 March 2010]

FLIGHT OF FURY takes the mantle of being the very WORST Steven Seagal flick I've ever seen...up to now.

It's a dreadful bore with no action scenes of any interest, Seagal isn't really trying in this - he's fat and his voice is dubbed once more.

The co-stars fare no better, being a rather sorry load of 3rd raters.

The Direction by Keusch is very poor and it comes as no surprise that he's also responsible for another couple of Seagal stinkers (SHADOW MAN & ATTACK FORCE) The screenplay Co-written by Seagal himself is laughably inept.

According to IMDb $12M was spent on this boring load of old tosh - more like $1.2M

FLIGHT OF FURY is actually a shot for shot remake of the Michael Dudikoff flick BLACK THUNDER - A B-movie remake of a B-movie.

This has NO redeeming qualities whatsoever,Give it a MISS! 1/2 *

Pulp (1972)

Rather bizarre comedy thriller.

[6/10 · 26 March 2010]

PULP re-teamed Actor Michael Caine and Director Mike Hodges just a year after their Box-Office hit and Modern Classic GET CARTER (1971)

Anyone hoping for a Film that is up there with GET CARTER will be sorely disappointed as PULP fails to match the success and quality of the former.

PULP has Michael Caine playing Mickey King a rather seedy Author of trashy Pulp Fiction who is hired by a reclusive and quirky former Actor Preston Gilbert (played with huge enthusiasm by Mickey Rooney) to ghostwrite his Autobiography.

PULP was a big flop on its original release back in '72 and to a large extent I can understand why, very little actually happens in the Film and Caine's sarcastically witty narration - although funny - has to carry the entire Film - and it ends very suddenly which makes you think 'Oh, that's it then?' which is never a good sign.

Filmed on the beautiful surroundings of Malta and Co-starring Lionel Stander and 40/50's star Lizabeth Scott with a rather pointless role played by Dennis Price (in one of his last roles) - PULP is worth watching, but it's never as good as it probably should have been and isn't a patch on GET CARTER.

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009)

Imaginative escapism from start to finish

[10/10 · 25 March 2010]

Don't go into G.I. JOE: THE RISE OF COBRA expecting anything very substantial, G.I. JOE exists purely for it's breathtaking action.

Based upon the Hasbro toy line of the same name it was made after the huge success of TRANSFORMERS (another Hasbro Toy) along with its sequel.

There isn't a lot I can tell you about it. as the plot is irrelevant.

Directed by Stephen Sommers - The man responsible for THE MUMMY, THE MUMMY RETURNS & VAN HELSING - so if you've seen any of those you'll know what to expect, but on a even grander scale.

$150M plus was spent here and every penny of it is on the screen in mostly tremendous Special FX.

It had a troubled production and a ballooning budget, but it did well enough Internationally to warrant a sequel, currently in Pre-Production and scheduled for release sometime in 2012.

G.I. JOE won't win any awards (apart from for it's FX that is) but as an pure Action Film, its probably the best ever made to date and so gets a 10/10 on the basis of quality.

DON'T LOOK FOR FAULTS - JUST LEAVE YOUR BRAIN AT THE DOOR AND ENJOY!

Polar Storm (2009 TV Movie)

Bargain basement disaster movie.

[3/10 · 14 March 2010]

which made me laugh all the way through - which I doubt was one of the Producers' intentions.

The Budget for POLAR STORM is Low, but then again being an SYFY channel production you have to expect that, but the FX are very poor by 2010 standards.

What made me laugh all the way through is the appalling dialogue - which is unintentionally hilarious, The acting is only adequate at best, the plot holes are many and there is very few people actually in the Film - ALL expense spared on extras it seems.

The 'star' of the film is Jack Coleman (No - I haven't heard of him either) although he will be known to fans of NBC's drama HEROES.

Written and Directed by Paul Ziller who has made dozens of B-Movies - none of which I have seen or now intend to see given how rubbish POLAR STORM turned out to be, even with my very low expectations.

BUT, having said all that - POLAR STORM was still cheesy enough to be just about watchable.

CSI: NY: Death House (2009) Season 6, Episode 10

Entertaining CSI: N.Y. episode

[9/10 · 13 March 2010]

In 'DEATH HOUSE' (Episode 10 - Season 6) A desperate caller rings 911 for help, he's trapped in a Penthouse on the 25th floor and someone is trying to kill him - Det.Flack (Eddie Cahill) & Mac (Gary Sinise) arrive at the scene and find a mummified corpse in the Apartment which had been sealed for over 80 Years - So who made the call?.

This CSI:NY episode is cleverly made and written and full of little surprises.

It's a sort of CSI meet Saw meet Agatha Christie meet Jonathan Creek episode.

Some aspects make no sense, and it may be highly improbable, but it's great entertainment.

**** out of *****

Original Sins (1995 TV Movie)

Average TVM that's sunk by its complete predictability. **1/2 out of *****

[5/10 · 12 March 2010]

ORIGINAL SINS or it's alternative title ACTS OF CONTRITION is another one of those 'Radio DJ menaced by mad caller films' it's a sort of low rent PLAY MISTY FOR ME.

TV series regular and Tom Cruise lookalike Mark Harmon (NCIS) IS Johnathan Frayne, who starts a call-in radio show in Boston where listeners call and tell him their deepest secrets - when a mysterious caller confesses to Murder and draws Frayne into a deadly game.

Harmon is the best thing about this thoroughly average TVM - the acting is strictly TV grade, The worst aspect of ORIGINAL SINS - like I say in my summary, is the COMPLETE predictability of the entire plot, You know who the perpetrator is within 10, maybe 15 Minutes at the most and the film doesn't make the most of its Boston locations.

Co-Starring Julianne Phillips and Ron 'Hellboy' Perlman.

Harmon keeps it watchable, but only just.

It gets a **1/2 out of ***** from me, but only because of Harmon - without him my vote would be a lot lower.

First broadcast in May 1995 on U.S. Network 'CBS'.

Sudden Death (1995)

Highly enjoyable mid-90's Van Damme nonsense. **** out of *****

[8/10 · 11 March 2010]

SUDDEN DEATH has Jean Claude Van Damme playing Firefighter Darren Mccord, who after a personal crisis during a Fire in which he was unable to save a young girl is removed from active duty, he now works as a Fire Safety Officer and takes his kids to a Ice Hockey Game where he is working. The same night The V.P. of the USA also happens to be in attendance - but on that very night and at that very stadium a bunch of baddies led by a menacing Powers Boothe take the V.P. and his entourage hostage and it's up to Van Damme to save the day as usual.

SUDDEN DEATH is ludicrous and clichéd (it's an obvious Die Hard Rip off) but it's enormously entertaining although it was a flop on it's original release - It opened to just $4.8M during Christmas 1995 and ended up with only just over $20M in the U.S, but it did do somewhat better internationally, taking $64M by the end of its Worldwide release and it also did relatively well on home Video.

Directed and Photographed by Peter Hyams who also Directed Van Damme's 1994 Hit 'TIMECOP' and Produced by (at the time) the Owner of the Pittsburgh Penquin Hockey team.

It's all nonsense of course, but SUDDEN DEATH is one of Van Damme's best flicks!

Released by UNIVERSAL PICTURES.

**** out of *****

Black Rain (1989)

Stylish thriller ***1/2 out of *****

[7/10 · 9 March 2010]

BLACK RAIN is not as well known as it probably should be - When you think of Ridley Scott flicks you think of ALIEN, BLADE RUNNER, THELMA & LOUISE and GLADIATOR - very rarely do people think of this well made and stylishly filmed flick which happens to be as good as those aforementioned films.

MICHAEL DOUGLAS & ANDY GARCIA play two NYC cops who get involved with a gang war raging between members of the Yakuza when they arrest and transport a Killer (Yusaku Matsuda - who was gravely ill during production and died only weeks after the film's release) to Japan, who gets help to disappear as soon as he gets to the Country.

BLACK RAIN is surprisingly violent, and although the plot is pretty unremarkable - The Japanese location and good performances as well as Scott's Direction and Jan De Bont's dark Photography lift this above most generic 80's flicks.

Released by PARAMOUNT PICTURES, Budget - $30M Worldwide total - $134M

***1/2 out of *****

Angels & Demons (2009)

Suspend your disbelief....

[8/10 · 6 March 2010]

...which is what you'll have to do in large parts of 'Angels & Demons', but then again I'm sure you already know that, right?

'Angels & Demons' - Based upon the novel by Dan Brown (far and above the worst Author to become financially successful) has Tom Hanks (again totally miscast) as Harvard Symbologist Robert Langdon whose needed in the Vatican as four Cardinals - any of whom are favourite to take over as Pope from the recently deceased Holiness - have been kidnapped, with the kidnapper intending to kill each Cardinal on the hour, every hour between 2000 & 2300 with an Anti-Matter Bomb stolen from a Nuclear research facility produced by the Hadron Collider being detonated at Midnight destroying everyone and everything in the Vatican.

Tom Hanks as I said above is badly miscast (as he was in The Da Vinci Code) but he gives the the solid performance that you would expect him to. Ayelet Zyrer is poor, she's practically invisible throughout the Film and there is no chemistry whatsoever between her and Hanks.

The Co-Stars fare better with great performances from Stellan Skarsgård,Ewan McGregor and Armin Mueller-Stahl.

The Assassin (Nikolaj Lie Kaas) is poor and a cardboard cut-out baddie at best.

The Cinematography is incredible with 'Angels & Demons' being beautifully filmed and the Direction by Howard is solid as expected.

I've haven't read the book, but having spoken to people who have - It differs greatly and some plot points within the Novel are ignored.

'Angels & Demons' was a Box-Office success taking $485,000,000 Worldwide against a Budget of $150,000,000 meaning that Brown's latest Novel 'The Lost Symbol' is already in Pre-Production - But it wasn't AS successful as The Da Vinci Code - due in part to that particular book being more widely known and read and the critically panning that Da Vinci' received.

'Angels & Demons' is a beautifully filmed and thoroughly enjoyable Film (I saw the extended 140 minute version) It IS slightly overlong and it has some plot holes you could drive a truck through, but when all is said and done, it's absolute nonsense, but well made & hugely enjoyable nonsense.

Submerged (2005 Video)

Not the Steven Seagal DTV stinker I was expecting. *** out of *****

[6/10 · 28 February 2010]

STEVEN SEAGAL's Direct-to-Video career since his last Theatrical bomb that was 'HALF PAST DEAD' 8 years ago has been pretty terrible, with the only half decent DTV release being 'BELLY OF THE BEAST' in a sea of awful trash, So my expectation were rock bottom going into this.

SUBMERGED is not THAT bad, but it isn't THAT good either, in essence it's a rip-off of THE DIRTY DOZEN with STEVEN SEAGAL playing Mercenary Chris Cody being freed from Prison and reunited with his previously incarcerated team, but there is one catch, They have to take down a renegade Scientist who has created some sort of mind control technology which has turned American Soldiers into mind controlling killers.

There's plenty of action throughout, especially in the last quarter with a very high body count

Co-Starring B-Movie Martial Artist Gary Daniels in a minor role & Former Footballer turned Movie tough guy Vinnie Jones as one of the good guys.

There really is no need to go into the acting on display, because this being a Seagal Flick - The Acting is neither here nor there, It's decently Directed by Anthony Hickox (who has dozens of B-Movies to his name) The Plot on the other hand is muddled and incoherent but I've come to expect that from Seagal.

Pleasant enough trash, It's not up there with Seagal's best (Under Siege) but it won't go down among his worst (Flight of Fury,Into the Sun & Shadow Man) Keep your expectations low and if you're in the mood for some mindless action, then you should enjoy.

*** out of *****

Carry on Nurse (1959)

One of the first 'Carry Ons' and one of the best. ***1/2 out of *****

[7/10 · 28 February 2010]

CARRY ON NURSE was the second of 30 Films in the series which ran from 1958-1992 and has most of the regular team appearing including Kenneth Williams, Kenneth Connor, Charles Hawtrey, Hattie Jacques, Leslie Philips and Joan Sims (on her Carry on Debut).

As the title suggests,it's set in a Hospital ward where the 'Carry on' team is suffering from various ailments, driving the Nurses (Joan Hickson, Joan Sims, Shirley Eaton) along with the feared Matron (Hattie Jacques) to despair with their antics.

Also starring, Wilfrid Hyde-White,Terrence Longdon & Bill Owen

CARRY ON NURSE is very amusing without going overboard with the smutty and sexist innuendo that later productions in the Series became dependant on.

CARRY ON NURSE was the most successful 'CARRY ON' of the series becoming the highest grossing Film in the UK during 1959 and it was also highly successful in the United States.

***1/2 out of *****

Followed by CARRY ON TEACHER (1959)

The Librarian III: The Curse of the Judas Chalice (2008 TV Movie)

The third and best 'Librarian' - Please DON'T let this one be the last!!!

[9/10 · 27 February 2010]

Just forget that this is a Made-for-Cable (TNT) movie, THE LIBRARIAN: THE CURSE OF THE JUDAS CHALICE is such a well made Film, with a fun pulp story with great acting and decent visual effects, it easily rivals theatrical releases.

Noah Wyle is back as Flynn Carson, The geeky Historian/Adventurer - this time around after retrieving the philosophical stone at an auction house in London and getting dumped by his Girlfriend in the process, Judson (Bob Newhart) and Charlene (Jane Curtin) decide that Flynn needs a Holiday, especially after his meltdown at the Library, so Flynn travels to New Orleans for a break away from his work as 'The Librarian'

His Holiday doesn't last for very long as an incredibly sexy & mysterious woman Simone Renoir (the gorgeous Stana Katic 'Castle') A guardian to a key which gives clues to finding the Judas Chalice (An artifact capable of resurrecting vampires) needs Flynn's help, because a former Russian defence minister is after the Chalice himself so that he can resurrect Vlad the Vampire along with the forced assistance of Professor Lazlo, an acclaimed Historian who they kidnap (Bruce Davidson).

The Direction by Jonathan Frakes is first class, The acting by all is solid - Wyle,Newhart and Curtin give very likable performances as always and Stana Katic is such a mesmerizing beauty. The Visual effects (considering this is a TNT Movie) are outstanding.

THE LIBRARIAN: CURSE OF THE JUDAS CHALICE is just such an entertaining Film from start to finish - I have thoroughly enjoyed all 3 'Librarian' movies - They are the most superior quality of TVMs that I have ever seen, and would love to see another!

Murder, She Wrote: The Celtic Riddle (2003 TV Movie)

The last 'Murder She Wrote' feature length TV Movie. *** out of *****

[6/10 · 27 February 2010]

After MURDER SHE WROTE - The Series, Finished in 1996 after 12 Years and nearly 300 Episodes, Angela Lansbury returned in 4 Murder She Wrote TVMs, with THE CELTIC RIDDLE being the last.

This time around Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) is solving another mystery - this time in the picturesque surroundings of Ireland, Where she has been invited to attend an old acquaintance's recorded last Will & Testament, Where each family member (who are really unlikeable and don't get on at all) along with Jessica are given clues, which supposedly are used to uncover a secret treasure, and as this is Murder She Wrote, a dead body falls at JB's feet within a matter of minutes so Jessica as always investigates.

Not bad, But I can't help but feel that this is a 60 Minute TV episode stretched out to feature length with a lot of padding along with some very shaky Irish accents but nevertheless it's enjoyable enough with another great performance from Lansbury.

*** out of *****

Into the Sun (2005)

A really awful Steven Seagal Direct to Video release. * out of *****

[2/10 · 25 February 2010]

Steven Seagal, The man who seemingly can't walk past a Mcdonalds these days, is back and plays ex-CIA (as always) agent Travis Hunter whose assigned to investigate the killing of the Govenor of Tokyo, as the Murder seems to involve the Yakuza and as Hunter was raised in Japan, he has a lot of connections with the underworld.

It actually sounds much better than it is, because INTO THE SUN is such an awfully boring waste of time.

The acting is terrible (even by Seagal standards) The action sequences make no sense, Seagal walks around with an FBI agent (you end up thinking this is going to end up a Buddy Movie) but the Agent serves no purpose and doesn't last long anyway and gets quickly forgotten about.

They couldn't even afford to hire English Speaking Japanese actors as you need to put your subtitles on to know what's happening, even then you don't care.

This is such a disjointed, poorly edited, badly scripted mess. it's woefully Directed by a guy called 'Mink' only on his 2nd feature and it shows.

This is such a badly made pile of garbage and a chore to sit through and it's even worse than SHADOW MAN (2006) - No way was anything close to $16,000,000 spent on this dud, maybe a tenth of that at the most.

To add insult to injury, this trash is supposed to be a remake of the classic Robert Mitchum Film 'The Yakuza'

AVOID!

* out of *****

Jane Doe: Ties That Bind (2007 TV Movie)

Yet another Hallmark Channel 'Jane Doe; TV Thriller. *** out of *****

[6/10 · 25 February 2010]

JANE DOE: TIES THAT BIND is one of 8 Jane Doe Mysteries so far made by the Hallmark Channel and it's from the creator of the 1980's/90's PERRY MASON MYSTERIES & Dick van Dyke series DIAGNOSIS MURDER, so if you've seen either you'll know what to expect.

It stars Lea Thompson as soccer mom Kathy Davis who lives a secret life as 'Jane Doe' an agent for the Central Security Agency who works hard to separate her work and home life (her husband Jack is played by PERRY MASON star William R. Moses) while she solves crimes along with her boss Frank Darnell (Joe Penny).

In TIES THAT BIND Kathy & Frank investigate when CCTV surveillance put a CEO at the murder scene of his Friend who was going to be a whistle blower to some dodgy goings on in his Company - You actually see the Murder take place, which makes you think this is going to turn into a COLUMBO style mystery when it's a How-do-they-know-he-done-it rather than a Whodunit, but it becomes intriguing when the CEO has an apparent water tight alibi because he was having Dinner with the Mayor at a Restaurant the same time as the Murder took place.

So does the alleged killer (Robert Carradine) have a Twin?

You'll have to watch to find out!

The story ends up becoming improbable, bordering on ridiculous, but On the whole TIES THAT BIND is no better or worse than all the other JANE DOE Mysteries, once again the best performance comes from Joe Penny as CSA boss Frank Darnell, Lea Thompson is likable but rather unconvincing.

If you've seen the rest of the series, you'll know what to expect and you should enjoy.

*** out of *****

Belly of the Beast (2003 Video)

Wow! a Direct-to-DVD Seagal flick which doesn't wholeheartedly stink.

[6/10 · 24 February 2010]

BELLY OF THE BEAST - while being an awful title it isn't actually THAT bad, it probably takes the mantle of Steven Seagal's best DTV release to date - mind you, this was a 2003 release, and in the years since then Seagal's Direct-to-DVD output has been pretty terrible.

This time around Stevie plays an ex-CIA agent who gets told his daughter along with her Friend (A Senator's Daughter) have been kidnapped - Pretty much the same story as his woeful 2006 release SHADOW MAN, but this time the story is tighter and much easier to follow and the action is not a badly edited blurry mess, and instead of the rather drab areas of Bucharest shot on the cheap, we are in the beautiful surroundings of Thailand and we even get some mysticism thrown in.

Seagal is thinner here, and there's plenty of well directed and at times exciting action with a very high body count along with some pretty good acting by all (apart from the Seagal that is - but to be fair Seagal does seem to be more interested in the proceedings here despite some obvious dubbing in one particular scene and gets into the action a bit more than later releases)

Stylishly Directed by Hong Kong Fight Choreographer Siu-Tung Ching, who brings a touch of class to the thoroughly B-Movie plot and is FAR superior behind the Camera than Michael Keusch & Michael Oblowitz who have FIVE pretty appalling Seagal Flicks to their name between them, so it's a shame that this is his only Seagal flick.