Supernova (2000)

After a long and tiring day yesterday,  I decided v to kick back and relax. While I had thought about doing side filming, I just didn't have it in me. My recovery from transplant surgery is definitely still ongoing; something I expected but I often forget about  because I do feel so much better already.  So, what did I watch? The 2000 Sci-Fi flick,  Supernova.

Plot: Supernova is a science fiction thriller that chronicles the high-stakes adventures of a deep space hospital ship and its six member crew. When their vessel, the Nightingale 229, answers an emergency distress signal from a distant galaxy, the crew soon finds itself in danger from the mysterious young man they rescue, the alien artifact he smuggled aboard and the gravitational pull of a giant star about to go supernova -- the most massive explosion in the universe.

During my recovery,  I have really been watching a lot of Sci-Fi. This movie was one that I couldn't believe that I hadn't seen or remembered. As a big James Spader fan,  I didn't remember seeing it when it came out, although I was on active duty back then and was in and out of the US quite a bit. Now, after watching it, I can understand why. Honestly, there is nothing remarkable or memorable inside this one. Yes, it is not all bad, as the storyline had promise, the performances were solid, and there was a touch of atmospheric tension throughout. Unfortunately, it was riddled with clichéd moments (I could almost see four different films as main influences), the scripting is all over with uneven dialog, and the visuals were flat and uninspiring. In the end, this was not a terrible movie, but unless you are a huge Sci-Fi fan, you will get nothing from watching it. Its up to you, but I think you could find something more entertaining.

Sideshow (2000)

Last night I had to start on my big project for the week. Knowing that, I definitely had to find something that could keep my attention (and maybe serve as some inspiration). After a quick search, I settled on the 2000 low budget horror Sideshow (AKA Haunted Freakshow).

Plot/ While visiting a traveling carnival full of human freaks, high school students nearly join as permanent members.

Most of the time it is easy to predict what to expect from Director Fred Olen Ray and Charles Band, but every once in a while they throw you a curve. That was the case with this dated horror flick that captured the creepiness of the carnival/sideshow atmosphere. While the characters are somewhat unlikable and underdeveloped and the performances uneven at best, there was still enough entertainment and storyline to keep my attention. Couple that with some of the better low budget effects from that day, decent cinematography, and a storyline that was rather coherent, and you have an interesting no budget flick that served as a perfect backdrop for an evening. In the end, this one will definitely not be for everyone, but if you love low budget horror, Charles Band, or Full Moon Entertainment you should love it. Check it out!

Sideshow (2000)

Last night I had to start on my big project for the week. Knowing that, I definitely had to find something that could keep my attention (and maybe serve as some inspiration). After a quick search, I settled on the 2000 low budget horror Sideshow (AKA Haunted Freakshow).

Plot/ While visiting a traveling carnival full of human freaks, high school students nearly join as permanent members.

Most of the time it is easy to predict what to expect from Director Fred Olen Ray and Charles Band, but every once in a while they throw you a curve. That was the case with this dated horror flick that captured the creepiness of the carnival/sideshow atmosphere. While the characters are somewhat unlikable and underdeveloped and the performances uneven at best, there was still enough entertainment and storyline to keep my attention. Couple that with some of the better low budget effects from that day, decent cinematography, and a storyline that was rather coherent, and you have an interesting no budget flick that served as a perfect backdrop for an evening. In the end, this one will definitely not be for everyone, but if you love low budget horror, Charles Band, or Full Moon Entertainment you should love it. Check it out!

Sideshow (2000)

Last night I had to start on my big project for the week. Knowing that, I definitely had to find something that could keep my attention (and maybe serve as some inspiration). After a quick search, I settled on the 2000 low budget horror Sideshow (AKA Haunted Freakshow).

Plot/ While visiting a traveling carnival full of human freaks, high school students nearly join as permanent members.

Most of the time it is easy to predict what to expect from Director Fred Olen Ray and Charles Band, but every once in a while they throw you a curve. That was the case with this dated horror flick that captured the creepiness of the carnival/sideshow atmosphere. While the characters are somewhat unlikable and underdeveloped and the performances uneven at best, there was still enough entertainment and storyline to keep my attention. Couple that with some of the better low budget effects from that day, decent cinematography, and a storyline that was rather coherent, and you have an interesting no budget flick that served as a perfect backdrop for an evening. In the end, this one will definitely not be for everyone, but if you love low budget horror, Charles Band, or Full Moon Entertainment you should love it. Check it out!

Sideshow (2000)

Last night I had to start on my big project for the week. Knowing that, I definitely had to find something that could keep my attention (and maybe serve as some inspiration). After a quick search, I settled on the 2000 low budget horror Sideshow (AKA Haunted Freakshow).

Plot/ While visiting a traveling carnival full of human freaks, high school students nearly join as permanent members.

Most of the time it is easy to predict what to expect from Director Fred Olen Ray and Charles Band, but every once in a while they throw you a curve. That was the case with this dated horror flick that captured the creepiness of the carnival/sideshow atmosphere. While the characters are somewhat unlikable and underdeveloped and the performances uneven at best, there was still enough entertainment and storyline to keep my attention. Couple that with some of the better low budget effects from that day, decent cinematography, and a storyline that was rather coherent, and you have an interesting no budget flick that served as a perfect backdrop for an evening. In the end, this one will definitely not be for everyone, but if you love low budget horror, Charles Band, or Full Moon Entertainment you should love it. Check it out!

AVP: Alien vs. Predator (2004)

After having an enjoyable birthday dinner last night, I decided to bypass the blog (and twitter) for most of the day today. But, that could only last for so long, and I decided that it was time to enjoy some type of sci-fi/horror flick for the evening. After some debate, I decided to breakdown and watch the 2004 entry AVP: Alien vs. Predator to see two of my favorite characters in action.

Plot/ During an archaeological expedition on Bouvetøya Island in Antarctica, a team of archaeologists and other scientists find themselves caught up in a battle between the two legends. Soon, the team realizes that only one species can win.

I have stayed away from this movie for some time because I had a feeling that I would be disappointed by the results. While I was not very disappointed, I was not overwhelmed either. In fact, while there were some positive aspects, I could not help but think that this could have been better if it would have pushed past the PG-13 threshold into an R category. I did enjoy the storyline, some of the visuals, and the cinematography and pacing, and felt it was really well done. Unfortunately, scripting was an issue where the characters felt flat and much of the dialog was beyond forgettable. In the end, this was not a terrible movie, it just did not move me as much as I expected. If you have not seen it and are a fan of the two franchises, give it a shot. However, unless you are looking for a flick to introduce a younger generation to these classic creatures, stay away.

The Watcher (2000)

After taking a couple days to focus on homework for my new college class, I decided that I needed to get back at it with a few different movies tonight. First up is the 2000 thriller, The Watcher, featuring Keanu Reeves and James Spader.

Plot/ A detective tracking a serial killer gives up all hope of solving the crimes and moves to another city. After he has settled in, the old acquaintance he makes himself known. The serial killer has resurrected and resumes sending him pictures of his next victim.

While I have watched this one a few times, it was a nice change of pace to get back into the swing of things. An older thriller, this movie does have a few Hitchcockian moments that made the predictable moments feel right at home. This one also featured some outstanding pacing, a dark atmosphere, a solid cast, and some of the better performances in a serial killer thriller. Yes, some of it feels a touch dated at this point, but it still delivers an interesting story. In the end, if you have not seen this one, give it a shot, it will definitely help pass some time on a chilly evening.

Mission to Mars (2000)

After spending some time with some low budget entries, it was time to venture into something a touch more serious. Having spent a lot of time recently diving into Ancient Aliens, it was only fitting that I would find something with a similar theme. After some thought, I decided to watch Mission to Mars from 2000.

Plot/ When the first manned mission to Mars meets with a catastrophic and mysterious disaster, a rescue mission is launched to investigate the tragedy and bring back any survivors.

Mission to Mars is definitely a film that has aged well. In fact, watching it again for the first time since it came out made me appreciate it more than I originally did. The performances are solid; the underlying narrative is amazing, the characters believable, and the overall feel of this movie is tremendous. Yes, there are some cliché moments that drag viewers toward Kubrick’s 2001, but this does in no way ruin the movie. On top of that, the ending may be one of the best in a Sci-Fi film and honestly hits upon a topic that make ancient alien theorists smile. In the end, this flick may be more drama than modern science fiction, but it is an entertaining journey that all should see. If you have not seen it, check it out!

The Patriot (2000)

As I was talking to some of my students about recent events and the rumored actions on the horizon in areas such as gun control, taxation and health care. While a lot of the rhetoric points to potential unconstitutional actions, nothing has happened yet. It is amazing when you think about our founding fathers; they were men beyond their years. In many ways, their words ring truer today than when they were written in the 1700s. With that in mind, I decided on a period piece for the evening, my choice, The Patriot.

Plot/ Peaceful farmer Benjamin Martin is driven to lead the Colonial Militia during the American Revolution when a sadistic British officer murders his son.

Historical pieces are usually polarizing to viewers, as many cannot take the outlook backing the somewhat fictional traits they hold. Too many times, one sees the words based on a true story and believe that is what happened. For those people, I say wake up, no one knows for sure exactly what things were like during some of these times, so it is all interpretation. In this case, there is a lot to like. The acting was solid, the cinematography and scenery tremendous, and the plot interesting. Sure, it may have been a bit long with some uneven character development, but it was interesting and entertaining. To me, the storyline (while mostly fictional) should be what people pay attention to, on the surface, it was about revenge and liberty, but at the heart  it was about an awakening, something that we must start to see in the world today. In the end, this is a solid film and one that must be seen. Yes, there are some historical inaccuracies, but that will happen. Watch it; understand it, as you never know when that type patriotism will be needed again. 

Bloody Murder (2000)

 

The 1980s had some of the best horror, especially in the slasher arena. Unfortunately, people like Tipper Gore and her minions pushed for censorship and almost ruined the genre. That is what makes the rise of stuff such as the Saw franchise so refreshing in the 2000s.  However, there were the 1990s and the rise of the PG-13 horrorfest. What a terrible decade that was… That being said, I decided to venture right there with 2000s slasher Bloody Murder.

Plot/ Julie McConnell is one of a dozen camp counselors working to re-open a summer camp when a series of murders and disappearances begin committed by a hockey masked killer who may be the urban legend killer Trevor Moorehouse.

After their heyday in the 1980s, the slasher genre took a beating by censorship organizations, which led to the rise of PG-13 horror. That is possibly the darkest period in horror, as everything is watered down. That is the case with the flick. Clearly intended to be a clichéd schlockfest hearkening to the Friday the 13ths that started the movement, this flick is a watered down, teen driven slasher without the blood and gore. There were less murders, more blood-spray, and more dialogue, all along there is a drop in body counts. The acting is OK, and the story, while cliché had enough potential to at least be extremely entertaining. Unfortunately, it does nothing to make it anything more than another flick in the mode of the PG-13 that populated the 1990s. I watched this again tonight onDemand for free, and I do not recommend watching it unless you have to see every slasher ever made. 

The Crimson Rivers (2000)

I had been spending some time on Netflix trying to find some good movies from the vintage giallo genre. For some reason, I have been stuck with that type of film in my head. After populating my instant queue, I decided to take a break yesterday and attend my first Pittsburgh Pirates game since retiring and moving home, what an amazing experience that was. Luckily, for me, the Bucs beat the Astros 2-0 to complete the sweep; my only disappointment was I forgot my broom. I decided to get back at it tonight with one of the flicks I put into my queue. While it was not a vintage giallo, it was an interesting thriller, The Crimson Rivers.

Plot/ Parisian murder detective commissioner Pierre Niemans is called to Gueron, a self-sufficient, prestigious university in a mountain valley, to investigate the murder on 32-year old professor and librarian. Inspector Max Kerkerian examines two crimes in the town: a school break-in with theft of old photos and archive papers as well as a graveyard desecration of Judith Herault. Little do they know that the crimes may be connected.

When I was searching Netflix for some giallo flicks, this one popped into the recommendations and I am glad that it did, as this is one of the better psychological thrillers I have seen in some time. The intricate storyline is amazing. Yes, there are some parts that maybe a bit too conspiracy ridden to believe for some viewers, but it really works well. The scenery, cinematography and visuals are excellent, that acting solid throughout and the atmosphere draws you in. On top of that, the audio dubbing and use of horror elements are tremendous. In the end, if you love mysteries or thrillers about twisted serial killers, you should love this one. Check it out!

Sacred Flesh (2000)

  

After spending yesterday dissecting the kitchen, I decided to take a break today and relax with some Netflix. I have been spending time engrossed in the original Kolchak: The Night Stalker, I decided to venture into something else. My choice for the morning was some nunsploitation in 2000s Sacred Flesh.

Plot/ A number of people who have devoted their lives to God find themselves undone by desires of the flesh in this unusual erotic drama. The abbess of a convent invites the leader of a group of monks to visit her and offer needed advice. A wave of sexual temptation has begun to flood the convent, with the Mother Superior aving bizarre sexual fantasies about Mary Magdalene, and many of the other nuns suddenly attracted to each other.

This was an interesting flick and one that helped pass 73 minutes with ease. Now, I am not saying this was a good flick by any means, and honestly, if you are not a huge fan of nunsploitation, you should not even give this one a second glance. This semi-porn plays on the look of the nuns and the erotic moments they create and nothing else. The plot is incoherent; the script ridiculous, there is little to no atmosphere and the timeframe does not match the storyline.  In fact, other than some appealing sex scenes and a large amount of nude nuns, there is really nothing here. In the end, this piece is for fans of nunsploitation, if you do not know what that is, just stay far away.

Urban Legends: Final Cut (2000)

As I was trying to nap this evening, I decided to put something on that could help pass the time. I decided on Urban Legends - Final Cut from 2000.

Plot/ A student at Alpine University struggles to complete her thesis film on urban legends - only to have her crew members fall prey to fatal 'accidents.' Suspicious, Amy investigates and discovers a much more sinister hand at work. Now she must unmask the killer before she, too, becomes an urban legend.

I actually like movies-within-movies and the elements that they can add. Unfortunately, this sequel but not a sequel entry is just a bit too blah. Somewhere between a slasher/horror flick and a mild comedy, a lot of this film is just ridiculous. The plot is ok, but a bit cliché. The killer is typical, there is little to no gore and the acting so-so. I honestly felt like there was a lot of potential, but it did not show through. Fortunately, there were some decent kill scenes and the pacing was really good which at least kept things flowing. While not perfect, it is at least worth watching once. Although, I would try to catch it for free like I did.

CUT (2000)

After spending the majority of my weekend at Blobfest 2011, it was nice to sit down and enjoy a movie last night. My choice was the year 2000 slasher CUT.

Plot/ A group of film students attempt to finish a horror movie that stopped production years earlier when the director was killed. Unaware that every attempt to complete the picture coincided with the murders of those involved, the students return to the original location in an isolated part of the country. When filming begins, so do the killings.

After spending the majority of my youth enjoying the 1980s, I have to admit that I love the slasher movie! While over time the genre has changed, it does have its moments. This movie falls somewhere into this same ideal, not overly original, but it does have its moments. While some of it is cliché, it boasts a nice mixture of slasher, mystery and comedy. The acting is solid, with Molly Ringwald playing her role as a washed up B Movie actress perfectly!  The atmosphere and effects are also solid and make the movie a lot better than it probably should have been. However, there are some flaws. The script is uneven and riddled with holes, there are some editing issues that transition scenes in a choppy manner and really it is way too short. However, in the end, this entertaining and campy throwback was better than expected. I would definitely think it is worth watching for horror or slasher fans.