Based on Alan Moore’s influential graphic novel, “V for Vendetta” is a movie that’s managed to carry much of his influence in to film form. Despite his usual protests and dismissal of the big screen adaptation, “V for Vendetta” is a richly developed action thriller with immense substance and still relevant commentary about fascism. It’s stunning with James McTeigue and the Wachowskis manage to accomplish with such an engaging adaptation.
Tag Archives: Thriller
Killing Spree (1987)
Tom may just lose his mind and end up becoming a serial killer if another of his wives cheats on him. How do we know that? Well, Tim Ritter in his brilliant writing explains that to us in an ever so blunt exposition that Tom may just–lose his mind and end up becoming a serial killer if another of his wives cheats on him. Why the repetition? It’s probably because director Tim Ritter’s attempt at a facsimile of a film is absolutely unwatchable.
Sensitive New Age Killer (2000)
Director Savage has all the elements to create a film that’s gritty, grimy, contemporary and rich in texture, and yet, all we really receive is a film that’s just pretty good with a tone Savage can never seem to decide on at any instance. “Sensitive New Age Killer” wants to be many things at many times, and when it touches on all squares on the genre floor, it never seems to touch them with full satisfaction.
The Last Starfighter (1984): Remastered [Blu-Ray]
Nick Castle’s science fiction adventure film is one of my all time favorite “Star Wars” rip offs. It’s a film that fully embraces the hero’s journey trope and has a damn good time with it, bringing in robot clones, big headed aliens, and a pretty great mythology begging for a franchise. “The Last Starfighter” thankfully hasn’t lost any of its luster even in the midst of the glut of “Star Wars” wannabes, and it’s still a big personal favorite of mine.
The Dark and the Wicked (2020)
Darkness lurks in a farm house where a family reunites as the father is slowly dying in his own bed. As things start going weirder and darker, the family has to decide if they want to stay and face the darkness or run and avoid themselves.
Seis días en la Oscuridad (2003)
Director Gabrial Soriano’s “Seis días en la Oscuridad” is yet another of the many commentaries on a society that’s dominated by kidnappings for the purposes of profit. In a land where employment is slim, kidnappings are almost a way of life there, almost mundane. And a way to use that method to pull someone out of hot water eventually snowballs in to endless bouts of shit hitting the fan.
Dynamite Warrior (2006)
The clear indicator that this is simply the lamest of the exports so far is the first twenty minutes where director Chalerm Wongpim asks us to enjoy the realism of the epic battle scenes, while also forcing us to swallow a scene of our hero Siang riding a large rocket in the air. He then takes part in one of the most boring fight sequences I’ve ever seen. Most notable is the choreography which is slow and clunky, while most of the scenes are so poorly edited that they look like rehearsals for actual scenes we’ll never get to watch. It’s the first time I’ve seen a flying knee kick and not gasp in amazement.