Aliens (1986)

The holiday season is always a great time to catch up with friends and family, but also a great time to revisit some of the classic horror/sci-fi flicks of the past decades. Last night, I finished reviews of the Phantasm franchise, now my plan is to continue with the Alien franchise, with the 1986 sequel Aliens.

Plot/ Fifty-seven years after Ripley survived the moon LV-426, all communications with the terraforming colony on the outpost have been lost. The Company enlists Ripley to aid a team of space marines on a rescue mission to the moon to find out if there are aliens or survivors.

It isn’t often when a sequel may be more satisfying than the source material, but that may indeed be the case with the classic franchise. Aliens is both more entertaining and more diverse than the original Alien. While this may not be by a gigantic amount, it is still the case. This one has all of the elements that made the made the original fun with an awesome soundtrack, a claustrophobic atmosphere, a tremendous cast with outstanding performances, and of course the tension that continued to build throughout. Really, every part of this movie was just as good (if not better) than the original including the action and scripting. If there were a downside, it would be the fact that the computer technology presented in both the facility on the ground and in the ship did not really seem to develop as much as it should considering the timeframes that were being used  (57 years in a long time), but that would be nitpicking. In the end, this film is one of the best Sci-Fi movies ever made and one of the most memorable. With another sequel on the horizon, it is a great time to revisit all of these to get primed. Check it out!

Phantasm (1979)

Before I could dive into Phantasm: Ravager, I needed to get back into the series by revisiting the classic Phantasm. When I saw it on Shudder, I was excited to reenter one of my favorite horror films. So, without anymore of my babbling here on Christmas Day, the next review it the 1979 low budget classic Phantasm.

Plot/ A teenage boy and his friends face off against a mysterious grave robber known only as the Tall Man, who keeps a lethal arsenal of terrible weapons with him.

As I mentioned last night in my review, Phantasm is one of my favorite horror franchises and a movie that left a lasting impression on me as I was growing up. When I decided to revisit the remastered version, I already knew what to expect, and it is a movie that can be very polarizing for viewers. There is so much to love in this low budget horror classic, featuring both surrealistic and sci-fi/fantasy elements. Set in an atmospheric and layered storyline, there are many elements that make it a strange ride into its own dimension of horror. Complete with the Tall Man (Angus Scrimm), the silver blood draining spheres, and the crazy superhuman dwarfs, the emotions of love and loss, as well as coming of age are all woven into the scripting. Yes, the performances are uneven and some of the overall feel is incoherent, but those factors are easily overlooked when immersing yourself into the story. In the end, this is one of the most memorable horror films of the 1970s, and a movie that is a must see for horror fans. If you have not seen it, shame on you! Highly recommended.

Phantasm: Ravager (2016)

As I settle down for the Christmas Eve adventure, I decided to finish a review on one of the first movies I watched on the new television. In many ways, this flick, while an ending of an era, served to be the perfect movie to start my new television with, because it made me also revisit the source material (which will be reviewed soon-maybe tomorrow). This movie is the 2016 entry Phantasm: Ravager.

Plot/ Reggie is wandering through the desert seeking out his friend Mike and the evil The Tall Man. Along his journey; he is hunted down by the dangerous spheres and stumbles upon the gorgeous Dawn. Out of the blue, he finds himself in an institution with Mike explaining that he has dementia and then in another dimension.

Being a fan of the series from the start, I was definitely saddened by the word of the passing of Angus Scrimm, but I knew we would have this last entry to complete the saga. While this one may not be as great as some of the earlier entries in the series, I definitely enjoyed many of the dimensional aspects and of course the use of the spheres. I also loved the way the storyline revolved around Reggie and the way he was dealing with a real life turmoil that in many ways plagues all of us in some way. The performances and effects work and in some ways the storyline and its surreal nature does serve as a solid ending to the franchise. Of course, this story may not be for everyone because of the way it is portrayed and with the fact that there are a bunch of unanswered questions lingering inside the different dimensions, but to me, that was fine. In the end, this entry will definitely have mixed reviews. For me, who watched the original in my youth at the drive in, it was a solid yet subdued entry in a classic franchise.

Plan Z (2016)

After spending last night getting caught up on a few of the films that I watched in between trips to Family Video, it is now time to get back into the swing of things. The next movie that falls closer to the horror genre up for review is the 2016 zombie entry Plan Z.

Plot/ One man has a plan for a zombie outbreak, when one occurs it will take all his will to stick to it and all of his courage to change it.

I went into this unsure of what to expect, but was excited by the independent aspects of the film. This was definitely more of a zombie themed character piece than straight zombie entry. This movie definitely had some of the elements that are prevalent within independent cinema, but it also had enough positives to make it at least entertaining. While I do not think, it reached its potential; the atmosphere and performances were at least solid. Unfortunately, the storyline was somewhat thin, the cinematography was uneven, and overall the film lacked memorable qualities that would make a lasting impression. In the end, it is a decent character piece that will help pass some time on a cold evening. Other than that, there is nothing new. Watch it, but be warned it is far from perfect.

The Imitation Game (2014)

Having spent some time with true stories such as Black Mass, I decided to stay with that type of film for one more entry prior to getting back into horror (which is coming with Plan Z, Phantasm V Ravager, and 31). The final true story is the 2014 biopic The Imitation Game.

Plot/ Based on the real life story of legendary cryptanalyst Alan Turing, the film portrays the nail-biting race against time by Turing and his brilliant team of code-breakers at Britain's top-secret Government Code and Cypher School at Bletchley Park, during the darkest days of World War II.

Being in a mood for true stories, I followed up Black Mass with this one and I am glad I did. This is one of the best biopic films to come out in some time and features a tremendous cast led by Benedict Cumberbatch. This film has a lot going for it including an awesome script, tight cinematography and direction, emotional and solid performances, and true backstory that must be seen. The events played out in this movie (and true story) definitely are part of a historic event that changed the face of the planet during World War II. Yes, there may have been a few historical inaccuracies sprinkled in with locations and such, but those are but small flaws that were easily overlooked as part of this important, yet saddening story of true genius that died for all the wrong reasons after being destroyed by an intolerant society. In the end, this was an outstanding movie and a story that everyone should know about. I highly recommend that you check it out.  

Black Mass (2015)

I know, I know, it seems like I have been taking quite a few breaks from the blog recently (and I have). Why, not quite sure, but I know that the New Year is almost upon us and I am ready to get back into the swing of things. Since my last post, I got a new television, a 60-inch LG LCD (thanks PIA), and now it is time to get rolling. Next up is the 2015 entry Black Mass.

Plot/ The true story of Whitey Bulger, the brother of a state senator and the most infamous violent criminal in the history of South Boston, who became an FBI informant to take down a Mafia family invading his turf.

When I saw this one, I was interested in what type of performance Johnny Depp would offer. Yes, he is a great actor, but it had been some time since I watched him in something conventional, and this seemed like an awesome story for him. What I found was a tremendous performance that in many ways carried this somewhat flat true crime entry. While the cast and performances were solid, Depp clearly embodied the character. Being a true crime entry, the storyline was predictable and really never rose to a great level (unless you were unfamiliar with the Whitey Bulger case). As is the norm for this genre the pacing is slow, the character development is somewhat off, and because it was based in reality, never truly reaches its overall potential. In the end, this is an entertaining film, but it fails to reach the level of some of the great gangster movies of the past. Yes, it is worth watching, but do not expect something great.

Equals (2015)

With all of the craziness that surrounds us every day, I felt at home watching something based in a dystopian society. Plus, I definitely wanted something different and that is exactly what I found with this one. I imagine this is what Agenda 21 would shape if the future were now. What was that movie? The 2015 Sci-Fi flick Equals.

Plot/ In an emotionless utopia, two people fall in love when they regain their feelings from a mysterious disease, causing tensions between them and their society.

This one was definitely different and a movie that I expected would sit outside my wheelhouse. Fortunately, what I found was something both entertaining, but interesting (at least if you understand the globalist eugenics ideology). While it is not a perfect film with some uneven pacing and sound quality issues, it is a movie that does have a lot to offer. The cinematography and direction do a great job creating a heavy (almost claustrophobic) atmosphere, the performances are solid, and the storyline does an amazing job in creating something that was somewhat surreal especially considering the way the thought police are attempting to create a mindless society devoid of emotion and expression. In the end, this one is much better than I ever expected and created a thought-provoking look at what could be potential reality if the globalists rise to full power.

Alien (1979)

Being back into the swing of some horror flicks this weekend; I figured that it was time for me to revisit a classic. While at Family Video, I saw the perfect film to fill that void. That movie is the 1979 classic Alien.

Plot/ After a space merchant vessel perceives an unknown transmission as distress call; their landing on the source moon finds one of the crew attacked by a mysterious life form. Continuing their journey back to Earth with the attacked crew having recovered and the critter deceased, they soon realize that its life cycle has merely begun.

I know that there are movies that need no introduction or lasting homage, and this is one of those films. Really, there is nothing more that I could add about this classic, except maybe the fact that it holds up tremendously well even after all of these years. Honestly, it is incredible that this movie came out in 1979 and remains one of the greatest and most influential Sci-Fi/Horror films ever made. The cinematography and direction is perfectly done and helps develop the dense and claustrophobic atmosphere that saturates the entire movie. The performances are outstanding and take the script to a very memorable level with actions and dialog that also stand the test of time. On top of that, the special effects are amazing and the soundtrack blends in with the darkness and creates something that may never be duplicated. In the end, this is a movie that will definitely outlive many films that have been considered classics and should always find a new fan base to entertain. If you have not seen it, what are you waiting for?

Razors: The Return of Jack the Ripper (2016)

After some documentaries and movies that drifted off the horror genre, I felt that it was time to jump back into it. With a quick trip to Family Video, I was able to pick up something that sounded interesting. I decided on the 2016 entry Razors: The Return of Jack the Ripper.

Plot/ A young writer believes she has discovered the holy grail of terror; the knives used by Jack the Ripper for his notorious murders.

Having spent a lot of time researching Jack the Ripper, when I saw this one, I had to watch it. Sure, I understood that there were possibly some flaws ahead with this being a low budget entry, but I did not care. What I found was interesting. Yes, it is not a perfect film (and anyone thinking it would be should be committed), but it had some intriguing elements that I really liked. The storyline was in no way coherent, but it created an entertaining narrative that seemed to blur the lines of existence within the film creating a thin line between nightmares and reality. While this is somewhat unusual, it does work to create some atmosphere and aid with the performances. There were some of the usual flaws with uneven pacing and predictable decisions and dialog, but those were minor flaws. In the end, this movie will not be for everyone and will likely fall into the love/hate category of horror films. Personally, I liked it and have seen much worse. Give it shot, it will at least help pass some time on these cold winter nights.

Charlie Wilson's War (2007)

I have taken a few days off from the blog researching into a couple of topics (conspiracies) over the past week. While I did not find any new revelations, I did find a few tidbits that may prove interesting. During this period, I did catch a couple movies. One of the first was the 2007 entry Charlie Wilson’s War.

Plot/ A drama based on a Texas congressional representative Charlie Wilson's covert dealings in Afghanistan, where his efforts to assist rebels in their war with the Soviets have some unforeseen and long-reaching effects.

I sat down to watch this one because I wanted to see how Hollywood portrayed this time in history. Of course, what they created was a one-sided piece of propaganda that does not provide a clear narrative on the aspects of this period that still haunts us today. The overall depiction of the Russian army is quite atrocious. While I am not saying they were great or saints, they were also not quite the bloodthirsty rapists that were depicted. Plus, the movie never truly reveals the truth about the Mujahedin (or gives even a hint that they would become al Qaeda). With the way paragraphs can be added to the visual effects, Being loosely based on a true story and book, Hollywood should have informed viewers of this fact before the end credits (but, I understand that does not meet the propaganda aspects I am sure Hollywood was going for). Yes, the acting, cast, and scripting was solid (especially Phillip Seymour Hoffman), but overall the movie fails to take advantage of those elements by creating a one-sided and inaccurate account of history and a film that should be considered demeaning to women. In the end, like many films that deal with history, the liberties taken to create a singularly focused narrative distort reality. Sure, it has its moments, but it should not be taken seriously in any way.

Star Trek Beyond (2016)

As I finished checking out some documentaries, I decided to get back into some regular movies. After a trip to Family Video, I settled on a flick that I have heard different things about. That movie is the 2016 entry Star Trek Beyond.

Plot/ After docking at Starbase Yorktown, the USS Enterprise, halfway into their five-year mission, ventures into new dangerous uncharted territory. There, the Enterprise is destroyed by a new ruthless enemy with a deep hatred of the Federation, and strands Kirk and his crew on a remote planet with no means of communication. Kirk must then work with the elements to reunite his crew and get back to save Starbase Yorktown from this dangerous menace.

After watching this entry in the rebooted version of Star Trek, I am sure that it will be one of the more polarizing entries. Fans and viewers will either love it or hate it, with very little middle ground mentioned. I can definitely understand that as I was torn myself (although, to be honest I am not a huge Star Trek fan). There were many facets of the movie that were interesting and entertaining including the solid cast (which are growing together as a unit), some exciting effects in the battle scenes, and there are some cool new characters added in. Unfortunately, the storyline is a bit thin with an enemy that does not truly strike fear into the film, the pacing felt off for a Star Trek film, and the scripting did not truly develop anything with the characters creating almost a repetitive shadow with extremely predictable actions. In the end, I did enjoy this as a Sci-Fi entry and likely would have loved it if I were not expecting another movie in the Star Trek franchise. You can give it a shot, but be warned, it is not your typical Star Trek flick.

Zeitgeist (2007)

After being somewhat disappointed in Conspiracy of Lies, I needed something to quench my craving for an interesting documentary. After some thought, I decided to revisit one of my favorites (plus informative): 2007s conspiracy themed documentary Zeitgeist.

Plot/ This film gathers information from many sources and puts it together in a way that shows it is possible for people to be manipulated by large institutions, governments and economic powers.

After watching Conspiracy of Lies, I could not shake the need for a solid documentary. That is exactly what this movie is. Zeitgeist is one of the most thought provoking and entertaining documentaries, I have seen, and it does a great job at tying what many see as unrelated topics into a coherent conspiracy driven documentary. There is a lot to like in this one, with solid production values, strong research, and enough material to make the viewer want to dive in and research it one their own. As a fan of conspiracies, I have dug into some if these elements and have come out with some similar beliefs. The 911 section is extremely eye opening and is a section that everyone should watch with an open mind, as there are a tremendous amount of flaws in the official investigation report and there are still major unanswered questions about the attack that opened the door for the 1984 style police state that we now live in. On the downside, there are some moments where the pacing seems a touch off. Plus, there is so much information brought out in this documentary that it is hard to wrap your head around it if you aren’t a semi-informed viewer. For me, I loved it, but it could turn some viewers off. In the end, this movie does a great job of presenting information and challenging the viewer to become more informed about the topics. While some may blow it off as just another set of conspiracies, if you are awake, you know how real the deception is and how important it is for us to get involved and help expose the truth. As President Reagan said, “Ask Questions and Demand Answers!” Check this movie out; it is well worth watching for anyone.

A Conspiracy of Lies: Flight 370 to 911 (2014)

I decided to take a couple more days away from the blog as I continued to try to rid myself of this nagging cold. Fortunately, it seems to be working, as I am finally starting to feel normal. I did watch a few movies though, including the 2014 documentary Conspiracy of Lies: Flight 370 to 911.

Plot/ We have now discovered the NSA can and does spy on every American citizen and we only need the national media to see that many of the New World Order plans are already in place.

I live conspiracy theories and watching documentaries on any and all conspiracies. However, I do not just subscribe to all of the different theories that exist. Of course, I also enjoy when these documentaries are coherent. Even if they are low budget, they can present fact (or theories) in a way that is informative. Unfortunately, this movie is all over the place and never truly presents anything new that is groundbreaking (although, I did like the Ebola portion). In all, there are excessively many topics in this documentary including Flight 370, 911 (Building 7), MK-Ultra, JFK, Roswell, Ebola, and even Reptilians. While all of those subjects can be interesting topics, combining them into one video could never do them justice. In the end, while the narration does make do a decent job laying out the theories, there really is no new evidence to back up the claims that are being portrayed in this documentary and it definitely hurts the overall feel of the film. While it did help pass some time in an evening, it did not leave a lasting impression. Be warned.