bonnie91 Reviews

Unrest (I) (2006)

The best at Horrorfest (mind you, I didn't see all of them)

[10/10 · 13 January 2007]

Horrorfest was an amazing event. And Unrest was an amazing movie. The huge draw for me in Horrorfest was the movie Gravedancers. After seeing the previews for it I was a goner. I was prepared to spend even money I didn't have to try and go see ALL of the Horrorfest entries. Unfortunately, that's not the way it worked out, and I only got to see three, which I selected as carefully as I could, although I'm sure I missed out on some really good ones. I ultimately went to see Dark Ride, Gravedancers and Unrest, in that order.

Let me tell you, after seeing Gravedancers, I thought nothing at Horrorfest would beat it. But strangely enough, I found Unrest to be even better. I know a lot of you may not agree with me on that, but there was something about Unrest, a "je ne sais quoi" that I can't pinpoint, that had me thinking, "Wow, this is what a horror movie is all about!" Maybe it was the the new faces who also knew how to act, maybe it was the plot, or the fact that they used real cadavers (by the way, guys, is this confirmed or just a merchandising gimmick?), maybe it was the non-gratuitous gore or the gut-wrenching surprise moments, I really don't know. The entire package that is Unrest just works for me, and I hope it will work for you, too! See it and continue to support R-RATED (and for that matter, UNRATED) HORROR MOVIES! I know they'll never be able to make enough good ones for me! Keep 'em coming, loves!

Dark Ride (2006)

Too slapstick to be true horror, but still a great ride

[8/10 · 13 January 2007]

Dark Ride looked like it would be a good one, but don't expect dark, creepy horror when you go see it. There are too many hilarious moments for it to be anything other than yet another movie in the horror-comedy genre, although the execution was right on, which ultimately made it not only tolerable but enjoyable for me, usually a straight-horror type of girl.

Ms. Bogart completely stole the show, in my opinion, as the happening hitchhiker who is about the wackiest, funnest character I've ever seen in a movie of ANY genre, period. She should really look into getting herself more comedic roles, since it seems like she was born to be a comedy star! What great talent and excellent delivery! Her monologue when her character was first introduced in the plot had me in stitches. I was afraid somebody in the theater would throw their popcorn or soda on me, since I couldn't stop laughing even after she had finished that first passage.

Great entertainment, and a refreshing addition to the amazing "2006 Horrorfest - 8 Movies 2 Die 4" event! Watch out for the DVD releases of all the entries, and be sure to purchase them before they're all gone! You won't be sorry AND you'll be supporting R-RATED AND UNRATED HORROR MOVIES. HIP-HIP-HURRAH!

The Gravedancers (2006)

The Best Ghost Imagery in a Horror Movie

[9/10 · 13 January 2007]

It was unbelievable how much I enjoyed this movie! As the plot summary already reveals, it's basically about ghosts, but those ghosts are about the scariest looking things I've ever seen! Too bad they aren't shown for longer. That's my one major gripe about this film: the ghosts needed more scream... oops, sorry... screen time! Another small gripe is that the filmmakers kind of dropped the ball there at the end with some sloppy special effects, but the entertainment factor for Gravedancers is off the charts, which totally made up for that! Don't miss it! I saw this one at Horrorfest and am already drooling over the possibilities of being able to purchase a complete 2006 Horrorfest DVD box set. I don't know how they're planning to market the DVDs, but anything less than a box set would not do all the awesome entries to this great event justice, plus I'm sure a lot of us didn't get the chance to see all of them at our local theaters.

And please keep supporting R-RATED HORROR MOVIES with your patronage! It actually looks like the movie producers and directors out there are listening to us. The year 2006 was a great year for ADULT horror, and I'm sure that this year it'll just keep getting better!

The Illusionist (2006)

Great drama and love story, but don't expect a lot of action

[8/10 · 13 January 2007]

Don't get me wrong. This move is not slow or boring, despite an overall lack of what we've come to know as action (basically brawls, cat-fights, chase scenes, people doling out and receiving violence, etc.). The plot is entertaining, the glimpses of the world of the magician are interesting, albeit not very detailed, and the love story that basically holds it all together is believable and well-acted by the protagonists, Edward Norton and Jessica Biel. Edward's role is understated and, at first glance, might seem wooden, but overall he is able to gain our empathy with his character, Eisenheim, and Eisenheim's dilemma and self-appointed mission.

It is beautifully filmed and keeps you so well entertained that the surprises along the way become that much more enjoyable, given the fact that you're so distracted. It certainly lives up to its title. The Illusionist is not only about a magician, but it weaves a magical spell all it's own. Although not perfect in it's execution, I'd still recommend it as a movie not to be missed and an awesome example of how fiction movies should depict their subject-matter, which usually involves molding pieces of reality and fantasy to aptly tell a story, anyway.

Two for the Money (2005)

A great exposé of the sports gambling racket

[9/10 · 21 August 2006]

I should probably clarify right off the bat that I am not a person who is into movies that have sports-related themes at all. I hated Rocky, Young Blood and all of those other flicks that focus on a hero/heroine battling it out in one sports arena or another. But maybe that's one of the reasons why I loved this movie. It doesn't really follow a sport per se, but goes more into the intricacies of sports betting. Yes, you do see football being played and people watching it and cheering the teams on, but as an important part of a much deeper plot.

Al Pacino's performance alone makes this movie worth seeing; his character probably has more twists and turns than even the plot itself, and that's saying a lot. Matthew and Rene are also great in their roles as the people who love him and want to do the right thing by him, even when it means being "cruel to be kind." It's a movie I've enjoyed watching over and over again, which makes you laugh, makes you cry, and, if you've ever bet on sports or called the betting hot lines, will have you cracking jokes about certain well-known personalities in the racket.

A very solid 9 out of 10.

The Devil's Rejects (2005)

This is more of an action movie than a horror movie

[5/10 · 21 August 2006]

I went to see "Devil's Rejects" because I absolutely loved "House of a 1000 Corpses", but I found it disappointing. Yes, there is gore and violence, yes the bad guys are scary, and yes, it has atmosphere, but not a creepy one; to me it played more like a shoot-em-up action movie than a horror film. It's as different from HoaTC as could be and, for me, that took a lot of the magic out of the movie. I'd even go so far as to say that sometimes it had a decidedly Western feel to it, and no, I don't like Westerns! I guess if you watch it without the idea that it's a horror movie it might be fairly entertaining, but don't expect too much if you're a lover of the genre.

I'd recommend maybe renting it, but just to help support the WE WANT MORE R-RATED HORROR MOVIES campaign.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

Truly one of Jim Carrey's best roles, BUT...

[5/10 · 21 August 2006]

...the plot goes nowhere! I found this movie to be extremely confusing, jumping from scene to scene and from one point in time to another and back again without having anything coherent holding it together. However, having said that, Jim Carrey is great. He looks absolutely adorable with his 5 o'clock shadow and longish hair and does none of the crazy antics that he's known for in his comedies. I thoroughly enjoyed him in a serious role and would like to see him do more, but in a movie that also has a well-told story that is understandable and more engaging for the audience.

See it if you're a Jim Carrey fan or if you're not but would like to watch something that might change your mind about him. At least this movie goes to show that he has genuine talent and is amazingly multifaceted!

The Libertine (2004)

Over-hyped, overestimated, overdone

[3/10 · 21 August 2006]

First of all, let me start by saying that the only reason I didn't give this movie a 1 is because the acting was good. However, without an engaging plot and with the overextended monologues and dialogues, as well as the dreary sets and general lack of beauty except for some very brief scenes, this movie is not in the least bit entertaining. I watched all the way through waiting for something to happen, but nothing really did. To be honest, it's very boring, and not even the very fine Johnny Depp or the touted importance of the subject-matter could save it.

Watch it only if you're an insomniac. It might work better for you than Lunesta.

The Descent (2005)

Dark and Claustrophobic Horror

[8/10 · 17 August 2006]

The Descent is a horror movie that develops a plot that's original, harrowing and not for the claustrophobic or faint-of-heart. I had never seen the actresses who play members of a hiking group embarking on a misadventure in an unexplored cave, but I was duly impressed. Natalie Jackson (Juno) is beautiful almost to a fault and very gifted. It would be nice to see her in prominent roles in the future.

The psychological aspect of the horror in this movie keeps building tension and is intelligently handled, where a lot of things are hinted at but not spelled out for the audience, and the caves and the things that happen inside them are unexpected and disturbing.

No doubt about it, this movie does justice to its genre and I daresay that even the seasoned horror fan will be affected by it in some way. It is not a movie that leaves you indifferent to the fate of the characters, and the ending is unapologetic and uncompromising (European version).

Support the WE WANT MORE R-RATED HORROR MOVIES campaign! Buy it, rent it or see it at the theatres.

The Da Vinci Code (2006)

True to the book; a strangely beautiful film

[9/10 · 17 August 2006]

The Da Vinci Code, directed by Ron Howard, is an excellent adaptation of Brown's novel that leaves you with an odd mixture of quizzicality, wonder and contentment by the time the movie is over.

All the actors put in an excellent performance, but Audrey Tautou, the actress who plays Sophie Neveu, is exactly how I imagined her when I was reading the book and practically steals the show with the interpretation of her character.

As those who have read the book know, the plot goes into very controversial subject-matter, and that atmosphere of intrigue, mystery, religious zeal and hermeticism that keeps you in its grip from the first page to the last is expertly conveyed in the film. Lavish production, beautiful sets and locations (the Louvre!) and an ending that pretty much left me in a daze (I enjoyed the ending more watching the movie than when I read the book) make for a truly magical movie-going experience.

The Omen (2006)

If it ain't broken, don't fix it!

[1/10 · 12 August 2006]

I can't understand this remake binge Hollywood has gone on. Has everyone just gotten too lazy to come up with any original ideas? Some remakes that improve on the original might be worth the time, money, and effort to produce (not to mention our hard-earned money to go see), but not this one! The original The Omen is a horror classic and one of the scariest movies of all time. There was no way they could have topped it. So why did they do it? Like in almost every horror movie, some characters die. The deaths in the original are, to say the least, imaginative. In the remake, the deaths are either watered down copies of the original or changed in such a way that they take away from the story or just aren't as effective, and one death near the beginning of the movie doesn't even make any sense. Who is this person and what does he have to do with anything? Absolutely no explanation, just a disembodied scene that has no connection whatsoever to the plot that I could see.

The atmosphere in the original builds and builds, and is very creepy. In the remake, the atmosphere is kind of blah. And what about Damien? The kid says like three words in the entire movie. And he just doesn't have the presence of the little boy who played Damien in the original.

There's a lot to gripe about and almost nothing good to say about this one. There's probably only one scene in the entire movie that I enjoyed, only because it looked a bit more realistic than in the original. But why pay 4 or 5 dollars to rent a movie out for only one scene? It's just not worth it.

I can only hope that they don't remake Damien: Omen 2, my personal favorite of the Omen trilogy (I don't count the fourth one they made with the little girl in the starring role of the AntiChrist, which is a joke). It would be adding insult to injury!

Alien (1979)

One of the best combinations of Sci-Fi and Survival Horror ever!

[9/10 · 7 May 2006]

Alien is a terrifying experience in another world, a world in the future and in another galaxy. As the title evidently infers, the movie is about an Alien that torments the crew of a ship that makes a landing on a planet from which a distress signal is being transmitted. What follows is some of the best shocks in film history and plenty of surprises that keep you guessing.

The Alien creature itself is a nauseating thing to look at, from its beginnings to adulthood, and has a way of doing things that are, well, unorthodox. And it looks like Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) and company are pretty much out-powered from the get-go, although Ripley has a pension for survival and uses all the tricks in the book.

This movie has all the great special effects you would expect from a good science fiction film set in outer space, some groundbreaking for their time, which are still convincing today. For someone who hasn't already seen this classic, the best description I could give you is that it's a combination of Invasion of the Body Snatchers (some plot points) and Star Wars (special effects) with a little bit of Halloween thrown in for good measure (the Alien definitely has a psycho-killer attitude).

Lucky they made four of these, because after you see the first one you'll be left wanting more!

Sleepy Hollow (1999)

A Superb Version of Washington Irving's Classic Horror Story

[10/10 · 6 May 2006]

The movie, Sleepy Hollow, embodies Tim Burton's unique take on one of the most well-known horror tales of all time, with a few new plot twists and greater character development, including a dark past for Ichabod Crane and a "story behind the story" of what's going on in the haunted town, which is beautifully rendered, dark and foggy for an eerie atmosphere.

The dream cast puts in great performances, but obviously it's Johnny Depp who steals the show with his intuitive and sometimes over-the-top portrayal of the anti-hero, Ichabod Crane, who displays admirable bravery while at the same time often succumbing to fear.

The lavish production, masterful acting, background music, beautiful periodic sets and costumes and the careful attention to detail, most notable in the special effects used to bring the headless horseman "to life", if you will, all come together to tell the tale of Sleepy Hollow's plight and deliverance as it's never been told before. It's unlikely that this cinematic version will ever be surpassed. Superb!

Constantine (2005)

Excellent fantasy/horror movie

[9/10 · 5 May 2006]

I've seen Constantine three times and I enjoy it more each time I watch it! It is truly well-done and extremely entertaining, and I can guarantee that if you like horror, suspense and/or fantasy you will love this movie! Keanu Reeves plays a very cool Constantine, who is a modern-day exorcist but most certainly not to be confused with a priest, as he has his issues and a burden of sins from his past that he carries with him. Constantine is a very realistic and human hero who is devoid of superpowers but has all the cool gadgets and the kick-ass attitude needed to survive in a world slowly being invaded by demons and scheming angels. He meets Angela (Rachel Wiesz) after she loses her sister, Isabel to the forces of evil. She comes to Constantine in search of an answer on where Isabel has ended up following her apparent suicide. Constantine journeys to other realms/dimensions in an attempt to get those answers, even paying a couple of visits to hell. Needless to say, with such a plot the special effects, acting, sets, script and even wardrobe have to be carefully conceived and executed to make it believable, and they are... in spades.

Constantine achieves what all great movies always do: it takes you into another world that makes you forget everything about your own world the whole time you are watching it. And really, in the end, isn't that what great cinema is all about?

Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004)

What a disappointment!

[2/10 · 4 May 2006]

After seeing the first Resident Evil movie and liking it, I was expecting a whole lot more from this film, which I had been anticipating as soon as I found out they were going to make a sequel. Unfortunately, RE Apocalypse doesn't have any of the things that made the first one good! Resident Evil was first and foremost a horror movie, with zombies and other creatures and a bit of a sci-fi touch, a lot of story going on and a great addition to the mythos of the game, with a plot that tied in neatly and nicely provided more fictional background for the RE world. The make-up and special effects were top-notch, and all of the actors, including the ones with minor roles, did a fantastic job.

RE Apocalypse accomplishes none of these things. If you're expecting a horror movie, what you get is a weird combination of the Kung-Fu and action genres. There's no character development, the plot is shallow and even Mila dropped the ball with her acting in this one.

I found the movie to be extremely boring and run-of-the-mill, and was also sad to see what they did to a franchise that could have been great if they'd improved upon the first movie's many strengths and taken out just some of its weaknesses.

In short, this movie was a complete waste of time and has thoroughly discouraged me from seeing the third one, which is set to be released next year. Somebody would literally have to pay me to see it!

From Hell (2001)

A beautiful piece of cinematographic work

[9/10 · 26 April 2006]

From Hell is meticulously produced and has some of the best cinematography I've ever seen in a horror movie.

Although the story about who Jack the Ripper is is a little contrived at times, in general the plot is interesting. All the actors involved are excellent and the movie has the grisly moments you'd expect, considering the subject-matter. It keeps you interested and involved for the whole two hours, not to mention it looks beautiful.

Heather Graham and gang as prostitutes put in a great and touching performance, showing the human side of the women that are unfortunate enough to have been in this profession in the Victorian era, and Johnny Depp is amazing, as usual, although (as others have pointed out) his English accent may be a little off, which I wouldn't know about since I'm American.

This film is great entertainment and I would highly recommend buying the DVD (if you rent it you'll more than likely end up buying it anyway, it's that good). From Hell makes a great addition to any movie collection.

Also, buying it will help support the "WE WANT MORE R-RATED HORROR MOVIES" campaign!

Wolf Creek (2005)

EXTREMELY overrated

[3/10 · 26 April 2006]

After reading all the great reviews about this movie, I rented it on DVD. What a waste! Wolf Creek has everything a bad horror movie should have in it: potential victims making every mistake in the book so that they are even easier targets for the psycho killer, shallow characters, no background story and an aimless plot. Even the title is ridiculous, since the tourist spot known as Wolf Creek is only featured for about 5 minutes out of the entire movie.

The only redeeming quality about it is that it shows some great Australian scenery, but this is no horror film. I mean, even after the major shift in personality, the villain is still pretty likable and not at all credible.

Please support the "WE WANT MORE R-RATED HORROR MOVIES" campaign, but avoid this one like the plague. It does nothing for the genre.

Shutter (II) (2004)

Truly a horror masterpiece!

[10/10 · 22 April 2006]

This Asian horror film starts off with a young couple (Tun and Jane) driving back from a get-together late one night and hitting a girl that suddenly appears on the road. This may sound very cliché to seasoned horror fans, but what ensues in the film is anything but. Tun (Ananda Everingham) is a professional photographer. He starts noticing some strange flaws in his pictures. This is the beginning of the best ghost story I've ever seen, with truly amazing special effects (so good they make you feel that they're really happening and not just concocted for the movie), excellent acting, lavish production, a creative plot with some great surprises, and just enough blood to justify an R rating (oh, and. Ananda is not only a great actor; he's eye candy!)

If you're not put off by having to read subtitles, you'll absolutely love this movie. If you are, I recommend that you try to muddle through them because, believe me, it'll be worth your while.

A true gem and a DVD that I am proud to have in my horror collection. Perfection!

Silent Hill (2006)

A horror movie fan's wet dream

[9/10 · 21 April 2006]

First of all I have to say that I've only played the SH1 game, so I'm not as knowledgeable about the whole SH mythos as others.

I tried going into the movie with the most objective attitude possible, which was very difficult since I loved SH1 and played it all the way to the end.

No doubt about it, Silent HIll is a dark movie with a layered plot. However, I don't see why so many people have said that they couldn't understand it. IF you were paying attention throughout the entire movie, there's nothing in it that's not understandable by the end. It's obvious why Rose is looking for her daughter, it's obvious that the daughter has a mysterious past the parents don't know about because she's adopted, it's obvious what's going on with Rose's husband Christopher and why their paths don't cross much, and the ending is self-explanatory, even if you haven't played the game. Of course, it's not Halloween or Friday the 13th, which in my opinion have very linear plots and spell everything out for you. Like I said, it's layered. You have to read between the lines and think a little bit about what's going on.

Silent Hill, the movie, is mostly a visual experience. It could almost be understood without any dialogue, but I don't mean that in a bad way. It's a stunning film that had my eyes glued to the screen the whole time (I almost didn't want to sip my drink so as to not block the screen.) The acting is top-notch. Pyramid Head (one of the SH gamers' favorite creatures) only appears twice, but both appearances are worth their weight in gold (or should I say, blood). It almost fully recreates the atmosphere of the game (and I say almost because there's really no replacing that first-person, interactive experience you get in a video game); however some gore and violence could keep people who are not hardcore horror movie lovers or averse to blood and disturbing images from liking it.

Only one possible drawback, and I hope I'm wrong on this, but the lack of a major male character in the movie could hurt it at the box office. Sean Bean's role can hardly be called a leading one, as he appears more sporadically and for less time than many of the women in supporting roles.

That aside, Jodelle owns the role of Sharon Da Silva. I also like Alice Krige as Christabella. She portrays the role of insane religious fanatic very well and the ending of her character is as good as it gets in an R-rated horror movie.

Atmosphere, good acting, good direction, intelligent plot with a message, gore and violence, emotional situations and frightening revelations, this movie is the complete package for the discerning horror movie fan.

All in all a very satisfying movie. I'd give it a 10 in the genre, and an 8 overall, so I'm splitting the difference to a 9.

P.S. Support the "WE WANT MORE R-RATED HORROR MOVIES" campaign! Go see it!

Wrong Turn (I) (2003)

See the unrated version

[9/10 · 16 April 2006]

I really like this movie. I've seen it 3 times, once in the theatre and then twice on DVD (the unrated version). There's a big difference between the version shown in theatres and the unrated version: as usual, the theatre version is cut a lot, leaving out some pretty gruesome scenes that are not for the squeamish or faint-at-heart.

The premise for the movie may be a little cliché (mutated, possibly inbred, group of people living in the remote countryside, wreaking havoc on innocent tourists), but, oh, the way it's carried out! I liked it more than the original The Hills Have Eyes (haven't seen the new one yet).

If you're into horror, I highly recommend the unrated version of Wrong Turn.

Crash (I) (2004)

Matt Dillon was incredible in this

[9/10 · 16 April 2006]

I'm rating this movie a 9 mostly because of Matt Dillon's performance. I've always liked him; he's very versatile and he's always great in all his roles, whatever the genre (i.e, Something about Mary, Drugstore Cowboy), but in this film he just blew me away.

I won't lie, one of the main reasons I was interested in this movie was because I had heard Sandra Bullock was in it, but at the end of the day her part was very minor. However, Matt Dillon's character was a gratifying surprise.

Even if you're not a Matt Dillon fan, I recommend that you see this movie. It just might change your mind about him.

Hostel (2005)

Steps the horror genre up a notch

[10/10 · 15 April 2006]

I'm reviewing the unrated version of Hostel, now out on DVD.

First of all, let me say that Lion's Gate, responsible for the film's distribution, has come a long way from the days when it was almost exclusively synonymous with bad B-movies. It has become one of the major distributors of good horror movies that push the envelope, such as the Saw franchise and High Tension, and it could now be said that it's a patron of the genre.

Hostel develops an interesting premise and is better seen in ignorance of any plot summaries/background information on the movie. In the style of Asian horror, there is plenty of over-the-top gore, and in the style of campy American horror, there's plenty of nudity, but this doesn't detract from the ability of the director, Eli Roth, to take us to new and ever darker places as the plot thickens, building suspense right up to the gratifying finale.

Unlike many horror movies nowadays, it has an ending that provides some closure and does not leave you thinking that a sequel sometime in the near future is inevitable, although IMO this concept could be taken further and the movie ended too soon for me. Then again I'm somewhat jaded when it comes to horror fiction in general, so maybe it's just the right length to not overwhelm non-targeted audiences.

Because of the level of entertainment, I have to give this movie a 10 within the genre. It has everything the modern horror fan could want, like good direction, great makeup and special effects, an atmosphere all its own. and a main character that is believable because he's not making the cliché, inane mistakes that most horror leads are scripted to make with the inexplicable notion that this somehow adds to the scare factor.

If you are not easily grossed out or offended, I recommend renting or, better yet, buying Hostel. Who knows? You may want to revisit it...

P.S. Support the "WE WANT MORE R-RATED HORROR MOVIES" campaign. Go buy it or rent it now!

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

The Fellowship of the Ring: Not just a Movie, but the Door to another Dimension

[10/10 · 14 April 2006]

The first part of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, the Fellowship of the Rings opened the door to a whole new world for me. I'd never read any of Tolkien's books when I saw the film for the first time at the theatre and, now that I've read them, in retrospect I think being a neophyte to the mythology made my LOTR movie experience all the more miraculous.

I loved The Two Towers and Return of the King almost as much as FOTR, but not quite, because seeing Fellowship for the first time was like taking a journey to a fabulous new place and meeting incredible new friends that you don't want to leave. I've never felt anything quite like what this epic evoked in me. It was akin to being a child again, with that tireless sense of wonder and enjoyment of each and every moment, maybe because as a child you are discovering your surroundings, and whatever age you are, when you watch the Fellowship of the Ring you are rendered in awe upon being introduced to the purity and beauty of Middle Earth and darkly enthralled by the majesty of Eisengard, Saruman, Sauron and all of their mighty malice. One of the things that makes this movie so special (and there are so many!) is that you fall in love not only with the "good" characters, but also with the "evil" ones. For example, Christopher Lee was amazing as Saruman, and I can't imagine the movie without him.

Some films that might be comparable to the Lord of the Rings trilogy are: The Fifth Element, the Star Wars Trilogy parts IV, V and VI (forget the newer prequels), the Matrix trilogy (especially the first part), Interview with a Vampire, the Legend of Sleepy Hollow (with Johnny Depp), Logan's Run and The Island. They are all excellent movies and works of art that weave that movie magic that keeps you spellbound and entranced for the duration of their runtime.

But after seeing The Fellowship of the Ring, I knew I had found the movie by which I would judge all other movies. Based on J.R.R. Tolkien's beloved books, Peter Jackson has set a new standard in the industry of cinema, one that I honestly think has not and won't be surpassed, at least not in my lifetime, not even by PJ himself.

It is truly an instant classic that will stand the test of time and be loved by generations to come. God Bless Tolkien and Jackson and everyone involved in the conception and making of this film, for creating a world that is at my fingertips, only takes the touch of a button to go to whenever I want, and makes me forget everything else.

The LOTR Trilogy is undoubtedly MY precious, the non plus ultra of all movies!

Jacob's Ladder (I) (1990)

It gets under your skin

[8/10 · 29 March 2006]

Jacob's Ladder is a hallucinogenic piece that starts with a soldier in the Vietnam War who's been badly wounded. It has some elements of classic horror but could be described better as a psychological thriller, where the director achieves the effect on the audience of putting them in the shoes of the protagonist through effective imagery, camera angles and an excellent script and acting. Tim Robbins, as usual, makes his character quite lovable and is backed by stellar performances from the entire supporting cast to makes this a movie that is difficult to forget and will capture your full attention for the entire 90 minutes. I'd highly recommend this movie to anyone who likes to be made to think outside the box a bit, and also to horror movie fans like me because it has some disturbing and, at times, gory images.

Three... Extremes (2004)

Some uncomfortable moments with this one

[8/10 · 13 March 2006]

This movie is incredibly cruel and unrelenting. It plays as a single feature divided into three sections: "Dumplings", directed by Fruit Chan of Hong Kong, "Cut" directed by Park Chan-Wook of Korea and "Box" directed by Miike Takashi of Japan. Each section is like a dissertation in horror, although "Dumplings" could also be classified as an exploitation film.

All of them are beautifully produced and directed, and I especially found "Box" to be quite lavish in sets, costumes and atmosphere. They each show a lot about the culture of the respective countries they were made in and also provide new takes on the terrifying and the appalling. They are each original in their own right, although "Cut" could be compared to the "Saw" or Hannibal Lecter franchises in that there's a psycho who's trying to get a message across by way of murder and mayhem.

I don't want to give details on the plots of any of them because I think that viewers need to experience them for themselves with no preconceptions going in, but what I can say is that "Dumplings" has the most plot and is probably the one with the highest "squeam" factor, "Cut" covers a rather familiar premise but with lots of fun moments (you'll see) and "Box" is more of an artistic endeavour with not much of a plot, but for some reason I was enthralled and couldn't look away; it's the one I liked the most.

A solid 8 out of 10 for the efforts of these genius Asian directors.