Premonition (2004)

Netflix Synopsis: On a family outing, Hideki Satomi (Hiroshi Mikami) comes across a news clipping containing his young daughter’s obituary; trouble is, the girl isn’t dead. Next thing you know, a freak accident kills her exactly as the article described. Fast-forward three years: When broadsheets again start delivering disastrous future news — from slayings to train wrecks — Hideki finds himself trapped in a living nightmare in this chilling horror flick.

Review: Asian filmmakers, particularly the Japanese, have spent the past decade finding ways of making the most mundane things into objects of horror. Videotapes (”Ringu”), cell phones (”Phone”), first dates (”Audition”) - you name it, they can scare the bejeezus out of you with it.

“Premonition” uses a newspaper. Not just any newspaper, of course, but the Akashic Record … the “newspaper of terror”. While that may sound like something out of an episode of “Aqua Teen Hunger Force”, it does provide quite a few startling moments in this well-made film. A workaholic father finds the newspaper, which has a report about the death of his still-living daughter. She is suddenly killed in a car accident, and her parents spend the rest of the movie attempting to find the source of the mysterious newspaper, with the father trying to change the outcome of the prescient tragedies it reports.

There are a good number of shocking moments, but this film is more similar to the original version of “Dark Water” than anything else, being much more a story of redemption and second chances than a straight horror movie. There are some excellent performances by the lead actors, which you can feel even through the subtitles.

If you enjoy modern Asian horror films, this one, while a bit more subdued than many, is definitely worth a spot in your queue.

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Submitted by: Rich 3/30/07

Psycho a-Go-Go / Rawhide Terror: Double Feature (1965)

Netflix Synopsis: Psycho killer Roy Morton murders innocent victims who own jewelry that he thinks belongs to him. Filmed in Chill-O-Rama, this bloodcurdling movie was directed by legendary schlockmeister Al Adamson. A special bonus feature, The Rawhide Terror, is also included on this disc. This “lost” 1935 film was co-written and produced by Adamson’s dad, proving conclusively that nepotism is alive and thriving in Hollywood!

Review: “Psycho A Go-Go”, for all of its luridly sixties’ title, is a very good film. In fact, it is probably one of the best exploitation flicks I’ve ever seen. It has a jewel heist gone awry, lots of hip and groovy music, a psychotic serial killer of women, a darling little child, and one of the best chase scenes ever filmed in a cheapie, ending with a “Night of the Hunter”-esque twist. Al Adamson, known for his cult “bad” films provided the story and directed and produced, while soon-to-be multiple Academy Award winner Vilmos Zsigmond was director of photography. The acting in this movie is also way above the norm for this kind of picture.

“The Rawhide Terror” is one of the single worst movies I have ever seen. It’s not “bad” like an Ed Wood or Phil Tucker movie Â… it is simply inept. A bunch of thieves disguise themselves as Indians and kill a gold miner and his wife, leaving their children alive, who later grow up and exact vengeance against the now-legitimate men who killed their parents. I’ve seen a lot of bad westerns (if you want to really see totally inept filmmaking at its best, find a copy of “The Irish Gringo” and prepare to be amazed), but this is one for the books. You’re never quite sure what the relationships are between the characters, as their names can change from scene to scene. The two kids’ names change back and forth at least six times, and the one boy (who grows up to be sheriff) was addressed by at least four different names during the film. Add to that the single worst Native American disguises in cinema history, and you’ve got one for the books. I think there’s a good reason while this movie is only accessible through the “Special Features” menu instead of the main one (it is on this DVD because it was “supervised” and written by Al Adamson’s father Victor).

I’m basing my rating (and recommendation) on the first movie, since that film was the real highlight of the disc. Queue it up for that movie to stay awake … and play the second feature when you need to get some sleep.

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Submitted by: Rich 3/30/07

Empire Falls (2005)

Netflix Synopsis: Richard Russo’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel was adapted into this HBO miniseries featuring a star-studded cast. Within the borders of a tiny Maine town, modest restaurant manager Miles Roby (Ed Harris) goes through the motions as he attempts to keep his Empire Grill afloat while dealing with an abrasive boss (Joanne Woodward), a wife (Helen Hunt) who ran out on him, a nosy father (Paul Newman) and a teenage daughter (Danielle Panabaker).

Review: “Every small town has a big story” and the story of Empire Falls is especially captivating. With the all-star ensemble cast (only a small few are mentioned in the synopsis) that was tapped for this mini-series, I was expecting something pretty special to unfold on my TV screen. I was not disappointed. The movie meanders slowly through the lives of the residents of Empire Falls, it’s a journey from beginning to end. So much thought is put into the characters and their development that the script becomes a rich detailed tapestry telling their separate stories while weaving in and out of the overall picture of small town existence, especially here in Maine. If you expect instant gratification from movies, Empire Falls is not the movie for you. However, if you want to get to know the characters on a level usually only accomplished in books, then stop in for a visit with Miles at the Empire Grill. You won’t be disappointed.

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Submitted by: Brandy 3/30/07

Rat Pfink and Boo-Boo (1966)

Netflix Synopsis: After a gang of hoodlums kidnaps his main squeeze, rock star Lonnie Lord (Vin Saxon) and gardener Titus Twimbly (Titus Moede) — who moonlight as the titular superheroes — set off to rescue her. But no sooner do the hapless crime fighters save her than a runaway circus gorilla makes off with her again in this camp classic. Filmmakers adopted the title gaffe after a budget shortfall kept them from fixing the misspelling of “fink” in the credits.

Review: Besides having one of the oddest titles in movie history, this film is one of my favorite Ray Dennis Steckler films, and one of my favorite sixties flicks period. It has a lot of action, a lot of humor, a few scares, and even a couple of musical numbers.

The story behind the title is that the guy who did the titles made a mistake and wanted too much money to correct it (even though it was his fault). The movie itself began as a thriller called “The Depraved”, and Steckler wasn’t exactly happy with the way it was turning out (and he couldn’t afford to toss the footage he had already shot). One day in the midst of filming, he asked his stars (Ron Haydock and Titus Moede) what it would be like if they jumped in the closet and came out as Batman and Robin. Thus, Rat Pfink and Boo Boo were born, and the movie took a decidedly surreal turn into a screwball camp comedy that really hasn’t been equaled. Not that many folks have tried.

My VHS copy of this one nearly wore out from all the times I watched it. The DVD is much better than the tape, with some excellent commentary by the director. Steckler gets into the making of a movie in his commentary tracks a lot more in depth than most DVDs allow, possibly because of how cheap his movies were to make (not by choice usually). He lets you know all of the tricks he had to use to get his ideas on the screen. Filmmakers really can’t make movies in the same fashion anymore, since everything has to be a huge million-dollar blockbuster or no one will even bother to watch it. So these reflections are an interesting look into a world of shoestring production values and fly-by-your-seat directing. Steckler’s films should be required viewing at film schools.

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Submitted by: Rich 3/30/07

Berlin: Symphony of a Great City/Opus 1 (1927)

Netflix Synopsis: Beginning at dawn and ending at midnight, this innovative documentary chronicles a day in the life of Berlin in the late 1920s. Director Walter Ruttman’s “symphony” presents Berliners working hard by day and, later, enjoying the city’s boisterous nightlife. The feature-length montage, created less than 20 years before the Nazi occupation, includes such sequences as a shot of pedestrians on the street followed by a brief clip of a herd of cows.

Review: Well, I know silent movies are probably an acquired taste for most folks nowadays, but I’ve always enjoyed them. A silent, foreign documentary is probably even harder for someone to get into nowadays, but I found this to be a fascinating film.

The film begins with a train traveling through the German countryside, finally entering the station in Berlin, at around five in the morning - the start of a typical day. The entire movie follows the myriad activities that occur during a day in this European metropolis, ending around midnight. The film’s charm to me is its simplicity. All you see is what would normally happen during that “typical day”. You see buses and trains get ready to start running, printing presses warming up, people readying their shops, manufacturers starting their work days, Berliners relaxing after work with numerous sporting activities and theater (posters for stars like Tom Mix are evident), right up to the final cab ride home to sleep and start everything again the next day.

Like many of the Netflix reviewers have mentioned, the synopsis is a tad off, though for me it is incorrect for a different reason. I don’t believe the cows in the synopsis are really a social statement. They’re just shown on their way to get milked. At most, they’re an attempt at humor, though I suppose that allowing cows to regularly parade through city streets would mystify any modern viewer (or city-slicker). The film seems to be remarkably empty of political and social allegories. The sole exception to that is a shot of pedestrians going to work juxtaposed with a shot of World War I soldiers marching in the streets.

“Opus #1″ is an animated film also created by Walter Ruttman. A series of geometric shapes move to orchestral music. There’s no story (unless you envision one yourself - I found myself thinking of a conflict between nature and man/technology as I watched it). The film somehow reminds me of the work of the Residents or the Brothers Quay.

This is not a DVD for everyone, but if you like actual cinema verite or enjoy seeing what really went on in days gone by, I would definitely recommend it to you.

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Submitted by: Rich 3/29/07

Eragon (2006)

Netflix Synopsis: When 15-year-old Eragon (Edward Speleers) stumbles upon a dragon’s egg — and then that egg hatches — he sets in motion a series of events that leads him to assume the legacy of a legendary race of dragon riders. Jeremy Irons plays the wise storyteller Brom, and John Malkovich plays the evil king Galbatorix in this fantasy adventure based on the first book of Christopher Paolini’s popular Inheritance trilogy.

Review: Cute family-friendly movie, more suitable to preteens and young teens than adults but as a fantasy fan, I enjoyed it well enough. There are corny scenes and cliches in abundance, especially a certain “deathbed” scene. Even so, the acting is decent considering the title role of Eragon is played by such a brand-spanking new talent, Edward Speleers. Not much about the plot is believable but this is fantasy so who cares? The effects and imagery are pretty good too. Unfortunately, the problem with Eragon lies with the most important movie element - the script. It plays out more like a Saturday morning cartoon. There isn’t much character development, very little emotion in the dialogue and the story never really gathers momentum. I liked it enough to give Eragon 2 a chance in the future, hopefully Part 2 of this trilogy will help Eragon find more secure footing in the fantasy genre. Reality is harsh and there can never be too many fantasy movies in my opinion.

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Submitted by: Brandy 3/29/07

Man of the Year (2006)

Netflix Synopsis: Directed by Barry Levinson, this comedy stars Robin Williams as the irreverent host of a political satire talk show who runs for president. But his stunt to expose Washington corruption goes further than he expects when he actually wins the election. Meanwhile, a software engineer (Laura Linney) suspects that a computer glitch is responsible for the surprising victory, but will she speak up? Jeff Goldblum and Christopher Walken co-star.

Review: So-so movie, not what I expected but not a total loss. Robin Williams is great, his forte is comedy and I love him in comedy movies more than the dark thrillers he has been showing up in lately. Comedy is where Williams made his mark and hits his stride, why mess with a good thing? Anyway, Williams plays a comedian in the movie and he shows a great balance of serious normal person and sharp witty political funnyman. It works. What does not work in Man of the Year is Laura Linney and her character. I never quite felt sympathy for her or her situation. It was a boring and forgettable performance. Jeff Goldblum’s character was uninspired and as dull as dishwater as well. The scenes with Williams are vibrant, funny and charming but when Williams isn’t there to carry the scene, that’s when the movie sputters like a candle near an open window until Williams breezes back into the spotlight to save Man of the Year from being extinguished for good.

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Submitted by: Brandy 3/29/07

300 (2007)

Netflix Synopsis: Zack Snyder directs this faithful adaptation of Frank Miller’s (Sin City) graphic novel about the storied Battle of Thermopylae, a conflict that pitted the ancient Greeks against the Persians in 480 B.C. The film, which blends live-action shots with virtual backgrounds to capture Miller’s original vision, co-stars Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, David Wenham, Vincent Regan, Rodrigo Santoro and Dominic West.

Review: I have been anticipating this movie since the first moment I learned it was in production. Early on, I could sense that 300 was going to be a cinematic experience like no other and I was correct. 300 is absolutely magnificent and I find it fascinating that it was filmed entirely with green screens and CGI technology - the first movie to be filmed entirely in this manner. The visuals are stunning, the lighting is appropriate, the casting is perfect, the plot…well, there were some scenes that could have been cut but overall it held my interest from the appearance of the Warner Bros logo on the screen to the closing credits. As I am sure everyone has heard - 300 is graphic and it’s violent. But war is graphic and violent in any century and yes - war is oftentimes a necessity, a point that 300 drives home most emphatically. The Spartans, raised from infancy to be fighters and defenders of their ideals, knew they were going to die but they also knew that what they were fighting for was worth that sacrifice. I could not help but draw a comparison between the absolute devotion to freedom by the Spartan’s to the current world climate today. We Americans drive our high tech flashy cars home to our cushy houses, gorge ourselves on our fast food diet, watching the overindulgent politicians and media on our big screen TVs dictating how we should decide the lives of others…how many of us have ever really had to worry about oppression? Tyranny? How many of us have had to fear for our lives, fear that our children would be enslaved? Modern Americans have never had their freedom taken or even threatened. The Spartans and their battle at Thermopylae teach us that freedom isn’t free and it isn’t always handed to you on a silver platter, you have to be willing to fight for it or die trying. Even the Spartan women were strong, willing to do whatever it took to defend their existence and way of life. One of my favorite lines from the film is when the queen says “Only Spartan women give birth to real men.” The queen was just as much a force to be reckoned with and she supported her husband even when it cost her more than most women could bear. She sends her husband off with the parting words “Return with your shield or on it” As a military wife who supports her husband, that resonated with me and I could relate to the meaning. I could relate to the over-involvement and corruption of politics, politicians and policy portrayed in the Spartan government. I could relate to the entire movie and I left that theater with tears streaming down my cheeks. America has her “Spartan” Warriors willing not only to defend and fight for our freedom but also for the freedom of the less fortunate on this planet. There are lessons to be learned from 300 that can be applied today, if you are open-minded enough to really listen and take them to heart and not get so caught up in the irrelevant details and finger-pointing of those with less honorable agendas. 300 is one of the best movies of all time, a must-see that is destined to become a classic not only for it’s groundbreaking filming but for it’s message of courage and strength against all odds.

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Submitted by: Brandy 3/29/07

The Flying Serpent (1946)

Netflix Synopsis: While investigating a strange, treasure-laden cave, mad archeologist Andrew Forbes (George Zucco) finds that it’s guarded by a huge feathered serpent — the ancient Aztecs’ killer bird god Quetzalcoatl. When Forbes also discovers the secret of the killer bird’s feathery fury, he unleashes the beast on his unwitting foes. Now, no one is safe from the bloodthirsty bird and its malevolent master in this quirky B movie from Sam Newfield.

Review: This movie is simply a remake of “The Devil Bat” (1940) with George Zucco in the role originally portrayed by Bela Lugosi. By most standards it would probably be considered “bad” and “grade Z”, but luckily, I don’t have those kind of standards. The only really bad movie is a boring one, and this one isn’t boring. Sure you’ll go “oh sheesh” a few times and laugh a lot, but you won’t be bored.

The special effects rival most serials of the era and the acting does the same. George Zucco performs at his delightfully hammy best as the wacko archaeologist who uses Quetzalcoatl (an ancient flying lizard) to kill anyone who annoys him or gets too close to the secret of the lost riches of the Aztecs (which he, of course, covets for himself). Apparently, the creature loves his own feathers and will kill to get any that he loses back. So naturally, Georgie just has to “accidentally” put one in his enemies’ jacket pockets or in their cars to get rid of them. There’s also a New York radio show that seems to find the murders in this Mexican locale so interesting that they do a remote broadcast or three from the region.

The film has been fairly hard to find in recent years (the company that put out the only VHS version that I know about went out of business about a decade ago), so this movie and disc, for whatever faults they may have, is a near-forgotten gem to any B-movie fan. The flick’s less than an hour long, so you can queue it, get it, watch it, and have it back out in the mail before they pack up the mail for the evening. Give it a try!

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Submitted by: Rich 3/28/07

The Departed (2006)

Netflix Synopsis: To take down South Boston’s Irish Mafia, the police send in one of their own to infiltrate the underworld, not realizing the syndicate has done likewise in Martin Scorsese’s Oscar-nominated crime thriller, for which he won a Best Director Golden Globe. While an undercover cop (Leonardo DiCaprio) curries favor with the mob kingpin (Jack Nicholson), a career criminal (Matt Damon) rises through the police ranks. But both sides soon discover there’s a mole among them.

Review: Wow, there was some absolutely amazing acting going on in this film. I loved the Boston attitude, not to mention the language. In many scenes the over the top “attitude” made for good comic relief in an otherwise very tense situation. I loved the cat and mouse aspect of the bad guy on the force trying to find out who the undercover cop amongst the mafia guys was, and the undercover cop trying to figure out who the mole on the police force was. It made for some very nail-biting moments. Leonardo DiCaprio played his most demanding role yet in my opinion, we have really seen this guy grow up since he played the young man aboard the Titanic. People raved about Mark Wahlberg’s performance, and while I absolutely love him as an actor, I felt his performance was the weakest of the main characters… not that he was bad mind you, just that his role didn’t get as much onscreen time, nor was his character as explored as Leo and Matt’s.

There is a phone call between the two, where after the call they are each staring at their phones in shock and disbelief that I thought made for a great scene, well shot and very tense. I think this movie deserved much of the acclaim it received for being a very solid script with great acting and a lot of great mafia scenes.

I didn’t care for the ending, it was very Goodfellas to me, but I suppose if you want to do a good mafia/gangster movie there really were very few alternatives. I would have chosen it end differently though.

Overall a fantastic movie, one I want to own. I recommend it.

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Submitted by: Heather 3/28/07