kirbylee70-599-526179 Reviews

Scream (I) (2022)

FRANCHISES NEVER DIE

[9/10 · 3 May 2022]

When it comes to hugely successful movies, especially horror films, studios will find a way to ensure that the movie never stops. Every character in the movie except one could die, including the bad guy, and they will find another way to resurrect the series with something new. For the most part a series like this will falter at some point and the series will die only to be rebooted by a Hollywood lacking new ideas. But on occasion the series will turn out to not only remain successful but to have a whole run of good films as well. Such is the case with the new SCREAM movie.

The first SCREAM came out in 1996, 26 years ago, to huge success. Directed by Wes Craven and written by Kevin Williamson it told the story of two psychopaths who were killing the teens in Woodsboro, CA. The fun of the film was that it was a horror film that at the same time made fun of the tropes of horror films. One character even listed the rules of things that took place in every modern horror movie. This film was followed by three more films all with the same director and writer except one. With the passing of Craven it would have seemed the series would end. Not so.

Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett along with writers James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick are keeping the series going with this new release that reverts to simply using the original's name of SCREAM. When looking for it just check the year to make sure you grab the right one, this one is 2022. Taking the old formula and making it still feel original is something they've done here and in so doing have made it remain as fun as it was the first time.

Taking place 25 years after the first series of murders that took place in Woodsboro things are slightly different. Dewey (David Arquette) is no longer sheriff having fallen apart after his divorce from TV celeb Gale Weathers (Courtney Cox). Sidney Prescott (Never Campbell) has moved away. And the killers of the previous films are all gone.

Now a new Ghostface killer is on the loose. High school student Tara Carpenter (Jenna Ortega) is home alone and attacked by the new Ghostface left alive and taken to the hospital. Miles away in Modesto her sister Sam Carpenter (Melissa Barrera) is told by one of Tara's friends, Wes Hicks (Dylan Minnette), about the attack. Fearing for her sister she decides to return to Woodsboro and her boyfriend Richie Kirsch (Jack Quaid) insists on going with her.

Tara's friends are all there to support her when Sam returns to visit her. When they have time alone they talk and Sam is forced to explain to her sister why she abandoned her all those years ago and left Woodsboro. She had left Woodsboro because she had learned that her biological father was Billy Loomis (Skeet Ulrich), one of the two original killers. Afraid she might carry on his legacy she left to save Tara. But she's been having visions of Billy lately and now worries this is all coming true.

Sam and Richie go in search of help from the one man who has faced down every Ghostface that's come along, Dewey. At first he refuses to help but eventually his sense of duty prevails and he agrees. When word of the new killings gets out two more faces from the past return as well. Gale shows up to cover the story taking place, the new killing that have followed the first attempted murder and Sidney who arrives because of...that is better left unsaid. With the two strong female leads back in town to stand alongside Tara and Sam the new Ghostface doesn't stand a chance. Or does he?

Once more the tropes of horror films are taken to task, in this case those of horror sequels. The number of suspects remains high as they have in the rest of the series but so is the body count. Thankfully not so much of the past films needs be in your memory as this film moves forward. It contains the saddest moment in the entire series and delivers not just the mystery but the scares as well.

The best part is that the cast from the original has all come back again to stick with this series. Nothing is worse than seeing someone inserted into a role made familiar by another actor or having a character either disappear or simply killed off screen when an actor doesn't return. All of the returns here are great performances and a welcome sight to fans.

The film is dedicated to Wes Craven and there is little doubt he would have enjoyed the film. It lives up to the expectations put in place by the four previous films to be entertaining and to keep you guessing. That rarely happens. In this case the result is a movie worth picking up and adding to your collection.

Dexter: New Blood (2021–2022)

NATURE VS NURTURE

[9/10 · 3 May 2022]

There are some fictional characters that take on a life of their own. As readers the fans flock to their adventures, waiting for the next book to be released with anticipation. If those books become films or series the same thing happens with fans always wanting more. Sadly all good things come to an end. Or do they?

The character of Dexter Morgan and the series DEXTER based on the books of Jeff Lindsay was hugely successful even if it aired on Showtime and not over the air television. Morgan was a forensics expert who specialized in blood pattern analysis for the Miami Police Department. On the side he was a serial killer who specialized in killing other serial killers, a moral compass given to him by his late father. The show aired from 2006 through 2013 and ended with Dexter sending his infant son off to live with his love interest and sailing into a hurricane with the intent to kill himself. Follow up footage at the end showed he survived.

So here we are in 2022, and time has passed. Ten years in the world of Dexter (a returning Michael C. Hall). He has relocated to the town of Iron Lake, New York in the uppermost part of the state. He's assumed a new identity as Jim Lindsay, working in a sporting goods store and dating the town chief of police Angela Bishop (Julia Jones). This is a small community where everyone knows one another and says hello while passing on the street.

But there is something beneath the surface of every town. In the case of Iron Lake there are a number of girls, runaways, who have gone missing for the past 25 years beginning with Angela's best friend Iris. Only kids then it still haunts her and she blames herself for not being there to help her.

Two converging storylines follow. One is the arrival of Dexter's son Harrison (Jack Alcott), now a teenager filled with questions. His step mother passed away several years before and he's been in and out of the foster care system. He wants to know why his father abandoned him years before, not knowing that he did so with the hope that he wouldn't be influenced by Dexter's desire to kill.

The other story involved a man named Matt Caldwell (Steve M. Robertson), a spoiled arrogant young rich man who feels he can do what he wants when he wants. Matt is the son of local legend Kurt Caldwell (Clancy Brown), the owner of the local truck stop and trucking line who supports numerous things about town financially.

Dexter has been tracking a white deer in the local woods. When he finally gets close to the deer it is shot and killed by Matt using a rifle far too powerful for hunting and nearly killing Dexter. In retaliation Dexter knocks him out, takes him back to his place and releases his old tendencies, noting that this is a worthless human being and killing him.

After he finishes up with him is when Harrison arrives. They talk and he moves in with Dexter. Throughout all of this Dexter sees hallucinations of his dead sister Deb (Jennifer Carpenter) taking over the role of conscience from his late father from the previous series. The two of them go back and forth about just how much to tell Harrison.

In addition to all of this, the search for Matt, learning about his son and traveling through the maze of lies he must make to stay alive there is another serial killer on the loose in Iron Lake, the same one who killed the missing girls. As the search for Matt moves forward the possibility of finding the killer's hunting ground exist as well. And that killer will do everything possible to protect its hunting ground.

Just like the original series this one keeps you on your toes, guessing the big whodunit question while at the same time wondering how Dexter will protect not just himself but his new budding family. Everything about this series is spectacular from the acting to the way it is shot to the story itself. Hall has immersed himself in the character so well that he doesn't miss a beat even after years from being the main character.

Gruesome at times, plenty of language (this was on Showtime after all) and with a twisted sense of humor here and there, this was an entertaining series that was fun to watch and I will most likely revisit along with the original. If you haven't seen the original, read about it and then dive in with this one. It is well done.

Shaolin Mantis (1978)

FAMILY MATTER

[9/10 · 3 May 2022]

Yet another great Chinese martial arts film from 88 Films is released, this time featuring mega-star David Chiang. Chiang was the first major star I became acquainted with after seeing him star alongside Ti Lung in DUEL OF THE IRON FIST. I knew then this was someone to watch.

SHAOLIN MANTIS stars Chiang as Wei Fung, a young scholar and martial arts master recruited by the Emperor to infiltrate the Tien Clan, a family that he suspects of supporting rebel group and those faithful to Ming becoming Emperor. To ensure that he follows through on this task he gives him a year to follow through while he continues to remove the stature of his family and at the end executing them.

Wei works his way into the family when he witnesses the youngest granddaughter of the clan, Tien Chi-Chi (Cecilia Wong), berating her teacher and kicking him out. Chi-Chi is a brat to end all brats, misbehaving and doing as she pleases while at the same time being the apple of her grandfather's eye. When she asks her grandfather Tien (Lau Kar Wing) to take in Wei to be her new teacher he does so but remains suspicious of him.

Wei is able to contain Chi-Chi better than any of her previous teachers and eventually the two fall in love. Sadly Tien discovers who Wei is and plans to have him executed. Chi-Chi pleads for his life pledging her love for Wei. Tien considers what to do and tells them both that if they marry and Wei never leaves the family compound ever he will spare his life.

Remembering the promise the Emperor made concerning his family Wei decides that he must return to prevent them from being killed. Tien follows through with his threat and the only way the Wei and Chi-Chi can leave is by passing through the various uncles and their specialized techniques to finally leave. What happens following it tragedy on a grand scale.

Perhaps more than any of the other releases 88 Films has offered this one contains the mix of humor and drama we've seen in some but not to this degree. The sequences between Chiang and Wong have a simplicity and playfulness that takes skill to make work just right. They do so with ease. As well as these comedic touches the tragedy that follows is equally strong, completely changing the tone of the film before the end pops up.

Directed by Lar Kar Leung, who most famously made THE 36TH CHAMBER OF SHAOLIN, this film features some stunning fight sequences that play into the storyline. Each battle takes on its own persona and makes for fascinating viewing. Couple that with Chiang's dynamic acting and martial arts skills on display and you have a film worth seeking out. Thank goodness 88 Films has made it easy for fans to find.

Not only is the film presented in pristine restored HD presentation for the first time they've included several great extras as well. Those include a limited edition slipcase with brand new artwork by R. P. "Kung Fu Bob" O'Brien, a double-sided A3 foldout poster, an audio commentary track with Asian cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema, an audio commentary track with Asian cinema expert Frank Dieng, "Complicated Families" David West on SHAOLIN MANTIS, an interview with actor John Cheung by Frédéric Ambroisine, the US trailer and the Hong Kong trailer.

Yet another in the series of martial arts masterpieces brought out as part of 88 Films Asian Collection that deserves to find a spot on the shelf of all martial arts and action fans.

New Year's Evil (1980)

CALL ME...EEEEVIL!

[8/10 · 3 May 2022]

Horror films based around holidays were nothing new but they really kicked off in the 70s. BLACK CHRISTMAS and SILENT NIGHT BLOODY NIGHT were two films that did decent at the box office. Who would have thought that the release of HALLOWEEN in 1978 a whole new slew of films would solidify holiday killers in the mainstream? FRIDAY THE 13TH in 1980 just cemented the genre and Hollywood was off and running with a ton of low budget holiday based horror. The same year that came out a film was released that has found a cult following of sort. That movie was NEW YEAR'S EVIL.

Video DJ Diane "Blaze" Sullivan (Roz Kelly) is working her way towards bigger things. She's covering this year's New Year's celebration live from a Hollywood hotel where fans are dancing the night away to live bands and getting countdowns from across the country with each time zone's own celebration. Diane's concentration is so intense that she pays little attention to her son Derek (Grant Cramer) who's just gotten a big part in a TV series telling him they'll talk later. She also has a problem with her husband who is nowhere to be found.

The show goes live and fans are calling in. One in particular talks straight to Diane and tell her his name is Evil. He then let's her know that with each midnight celebration across the country, he will kill a naughty girl there in LA, culminating with her murder at midnight pacific time. Upset she contacts the police who blow off her concerns. Until the first body shows up.

As the body count rises the police search for the killer. We the viewer watch and know the face of the killer early on. He goes though his choices of victims carefully and yet at one point begins to make mistakes that could land him in trouble with not just the police but a biker gang as well. But the twist in the story comes when he makes his way to the hotel where Diane is.

It's easy to see why this movie has developed such a faithful group of fans. It's not pretentious enough to consider itself a class act, aiming more towards a campy fun type film that some movies in the genre failed to follow. Sure there is an amount of seriousness needed when doing a film about a serial killer but ones like this have to display a certain amount of charm and fun along the way as well. This one accomplishes that.

The film is no display of enormous thespian talent and yet the cast handles their roles perfectly, in particular Kip Niven as Evil who brings a combination of charm and dread to the character. Roz Kelly is slammed in most reviews of this film. This is about the fourth time I've seen the film since different companies have released it in the past. This is the first time I noticed that her performance doesn't deserve the criticism that she's received. Certainly some moment are over the top but those fall in line with the action taking place. There are others where she shows her skills though and that needs to be recognized.

Also of note is Cramer in his first film role here, long before he became a regular on THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS. What I found interesting about his playing this role but never mentioned or discussed is that in real life he was the son of a famous movie star, Terry Moore who had starred in MIGHTY JOE YOUNG among others.

The film was co-written and directed by Emmett Alston who only directed eight films in his career. He was a solid enough craftsman when it comes to his film and it makes you wonder what made him decided to stop.

Released by Shout Factory some years ago the new version is coming out from Kino Lorber. Their version starts out with a brand new 2k master of the film making it better looking than ever. Extras include an audio commentary track featuring director Emmett Alston moderated by Code Red's Bill Olsen, "The Making of New Year's Evil" featuring interviews with the cast and crew, the theatrical trailer, newly commissioned art by Vince Evans and reversible original artwork for the sleeve. They've done a great job of it and if you're a fan you'll want to pick this one up.

Monster from Green Hell (1957)

WASPS IN A B MOVIE

[8/10 · 3 May 2022]

I love old horror movies. Everything from the classic Universal creatures to the Hammer films of the 60s. But there is a special place in the heart of horror fans for the low budget drive-in fillers of the 50s and 60s that offered the schlockiest monsters, the giant bugs, the walking trees and more. Watching them as children they were frightening, watching them as adults they are ridiculously funny. But the fact of the matter is that some of them were actually entertaining and pretty well made for having no budget. Case in point MONSTER FROM GREEN HELL.

Scientists Dr. Quent Brady (Jim Davis) and Dan Morgan (Robert Griffin) are working on a space program that includes sending various animals and insects into space to see what effect it will have on them. One of their rockets goes astray and crashes in Africa, a rocket that was carrying wasps.

In Africa, Dr. Lorentz (Vladimir Sokoloff) and his daughter Lorna (Barbara Turner) have had an outbreak of deaths in their area. The autopsies reveal that these natives have had an enormous amount of venom injected into them. All of the deaths seem to have taken place in an area the natives call Green Hell.

When word reaches Brady and Morgan about these attacks and reports of giant bugs, they realize that these were the same wasps they sent into space and lost. Having been exposed to radiation they have grown to enormous size and are now responsible for the deaths in Africa. Worse yet, if they don't stop these wasps and kill the queen they could breed and overrun the entire world.

Brady and Morgan head for Africa and intend to meet up with Dr. Lorentz. The trek is 400 miles through the jungle to get there and they experience every problem possible. When they arrive they find the doctors daughter there but he hasn't returned from an expedition into Green Hell. Mounting their own group to follow they head out to discover just what has taken place to Dr. Lorentz.

Of course we've seen what happened. They were attacked by giant wasps!

This is yet another movie that used radiation turning innocent animals and bugs into giant killing creatures. We had spiders and Gila monsters and ants and even a praying mantis. So why not wasps? What sets a movie apart from the rest is the special effects and for a movie made on a miniscule budget these are amazing. A combination of stop motion animation and fiberglass creations work together to make these giant wasps at least somewhat believable.

In the tradition of all movies in this genre a romance develops between Davis and Turner's characters. The dialogue may not be the best but it does help explain things even if in the most simple style possible. The plot is just right for the running time of this film but it does at times feel like it takes a while for it to move forward with far too many trudging through the jungle scenes.

In the end the movie was one of the better entries into the genre of giant bugs and is quite entertaining. I was pleasantly surprised after seeing the ad artwork. It turned out to exceed my expectations which to be honest weren't that high. Still this is one I'm glad to add to my collection and will watch again.

The Film Detective is showing tons of potential with the release of several films in the classic drive-in category. This one shines among them. To begin with the film is being released with a 4K transfer, including both widescreen (1.85:1) and full frame (1.33:1) versions of the film and the rare, colorized version of film's climax. In addition to that the extras featured include "Missouri Born: The Films of Jim Davis" an all-new career retrospective with author/film historian, C. Courtney Joyner, "The Men Behind the Monsters" an essay by author Don Stradley featured in a full color booklet and a commentary track with artist/author, Stephen R. Bissette.

Raging Fire (2021)

GOOD COP, BAD COP

[9/10 · 3 May 2022]

Donnie Yen deserves credit for becoming the next mega-star in the world of martial arts movies. His style on screen shows he can not only deliver when it comes to fight sequences but he is a talented actor as well. From historical dramas to comedies to police thrillers he always gives it his all and it shows on screen. His film RAGING FIRE shows this.

The film opens as police detective Cheung Sung-bong (Yen) is about to arrest his longtime foe. As he moves in to make the arrest a heavily armed gang breaks in shooting everyone in sight, from the criminal he was going to arrest to members of his team. Surviving the attack Bong begins to look into who this gang is and who their leader might be. He's stunned to learn that the leader is Yau Kong-ngo (Nicholas Tse), his former partner just released from prison.

The past story of what took place between these two police officers and how Ngo was disgraced is broken down as the movie unfolds. Having taken things to the extreme as an office Ngo was disgraced and sent to prison on the testimony of Bong. Now Ngo alongside the officers who were disgraced as well are seeking revenge, turning their skills and knowledge into becoming criminals. Their revenge seeks what they feel is justice against everyone from the top police staff to the banker who set them up to Bong himself.

There is no way mere words can describe how well made this movie is. The story is solid and the acting is superb. While Yen shows that he can continue to make fantastic movies giving his all for both the fight sequences and acting, it is actually Tse who steals the show here. Where most bad guys are fairly cardboard cutouts of characters seen in the past, he brings a life to Ngo that makes him dangerous and sympathetic at the same time. He exudes charisma in the role while Yen's character is more bland. But that's what you would expect from these characters.

The film is the last to be directed by Benny Chan who died during post production of the film. This was the 25th film by the Hong Kong director whose first feature film was made in 1990. He was noted for his high octane fighting sequences and fast paced films that were faithful to the tradition of Hong Kong action films. It's sad to think after watching this that he's gone.

While watching this film I never found myself wanting to reach for the remote, to hit the fast forward button to get through some boring sequence or car chase that we've seen over and over again. Everything here felt fresh and new, even if it wasn't. I felt myself pulled into the story as it was revealed and that's something amazing for a film to do.

So many people still can't bring themselves to watch movies made in other countries and that's sad because they limit themselves and miss out on some fantastic films. This is one of those. Well Go has done an amazing job of bringing Asian cinema to the home market and that should be taken advantage of. If you don't believe me pick up this movie and see what I am talking about. For action fans this is a must have for your collection.

Escape from Mogadishu (2021)

WE ARE NOT ALONE

[9/10 · 3 May 2022]

Far too often most people in the U. S. think that everything revolves around this country. It's not always the case. There are people, issues, cultures, films and more that take place around the world on a daily basis. Unless there is some crisis in the world most here in the U. S. never think about that. I think it is because of this attitude that many do not expose themselves to what the rest of the world has to offer and that's sad.

It's sad because there is so much out there to see and be exposed to. And the easiest way to do so is through film. Movies from other countries are now readily available to U. S. audiences since the invention of the first VCT and more so now on disc. Well Go is a company that has been bringing quality product to the DVD/Blu-ray market for some time now. And not just martial arts movies, but solid dramatic films as well telling compelling stories. Like ESCAPE FROM MOGADISHU.

In 1991 South Korea is attempting to be recognized and welcomed into the United Nations. But they need the votes of several countries to gain that recognition. One of those countries is Somalia. Han Sin-seong is the chief ambassador to Somalia in the capital Mogadishu. Along with intelligence officer Dae-jin he is supposed to meet with the president of Somalia with gifts on hand that were requested. But on the way they are carjacked and the package is stolen.

Late for this meeting they find that their counterparts from North Korea led by Rim Yong-su are already meeting with the president. Han feels that he is responsible for this treachery and the attack on his vehicle. The truth is it was done by his intelligence officer, Tae Joon-ki. None of this will matter soon.

The corruption that runs rampant in Somalia leads both parties to contemplate more and more bribes in an effort to gain what they want. All of it is for naught as the people of Somalia revolt against the president and his regime. A revolution begins and there is blood in the streets as the people take over the city of Mogadishu, scouring the streets for the deposed president. And anyone in the streets is fair game.

Trapped in their embassy both the North and South Korean delegates find themselves in the midst of war. There is little protection for either embassy as the loyalties of those Somali guards are only as strong as your ability to pay them. Those revolting have no care about respecting embassies. And time is short before the airport will shut down and no one will be able to escape.

The first embassy to fall is the North Koreans who were lucky to escape before the building was breached. They appeal to the South Koreans for aid and it is Han who allows them in. Both Han and Rim know that the only way for them to escape is to work together but their intelligence officers find it hard to trust one another. Deals with other countries are made, rules are broken and the members of both countries unite to save one another. Who will and will not make it out and escape from Mogadishu though?

The film is a wonderful movie to watch capturing the reality of what was going on in Somalia and with both North and South Korea at the time. This isn't fiction, this is a real life drama that unfolds from viewers to watch. The people were real, their story is real and the dangers that they face were real as well. While watching you can't help but feel emotions for the danger that they were in and the losses that they faced.

The film also shows that those beliefs that other countries are not as adept at making films as the U. S. is on display as well. These are not the confined to a set using poor film stock movies of the past. The film is shot incredibly well, the sets and lighting top of the line and the acting carries well even in translation. All make this a fantastic movie to watch.

If you can tell a story in a compelling way, be it fact or fiction, and you can do using the technology and equipment that are now available worldwide then you have made a movie worth watching. It's time viewers in the U. S. set aside pre-conceived notions about foreign films, stop thinking that everything must be dubbed (though it does help with this transition) and realize that subtitles are not a bad thing. Once you do that there is a whole world of film out there to explore and enjoy. And ESCAPE FROM MOGADISHU is a good place to begin.

Legendary Weapons of China (1982)

DISPLAY OF WEAPONRY

[9/10 · 3 May 2022]

Yet another in the now growing line of martial arts films being given spectacular treatment by 88 Films. This time a film that combines martial arts sequences, weapon skills and a combination of drama and humor that works in the best way possible.

Taking place during the Boxer Rebellion around 1899, a secret sect the Yi Ho Society, has learned of a technique using mysticism and martial arts combined that leaves them impervious to blades. When they try to use the same techniques against bullets they fail miserably. Seeing they are willing to sacrifice their men to these weapons Lei Kung (Liu Chia-Liang) disbands his men and leaves the sect. The Chief of the Yi Ho Society, insulted by his claims, orders his execution and puts a bounty on his head.

To assassins arrive in the same small town seeking out Lei. Tien Hau (Hsiao-Hou) is asking questions and finding few answers. Fang Shau-Ching (Kara Wai), the niece of the Chief and following clues to the same location. As they ask around and look to see any clues as to Lei's secret identity they both come to the same conclusion as to who he is. Not knowing one another, both arrive to take him out but end up fighting with one another instead. In the end their guess as to who Kung is is wrong and they've found clan member Lei Ying (Lau Kar-Wing) instead.

Tien and Fang join forces to find Kung. The more the pair learn, the more they come to realize that they have been lied to. When they find out the members of the clan were willingly sacrificed for no reason they decide to join forces with Lei and put an end to the methods of their own clan, resulting in a final showdown between Lei Kung and Lei Ying who turns out to be his brother, the man who sent the assassins to kill him and weaken him to he can deal the death blow and raise his stature in the clan.

This description is the most basic one can give but there is so much more going on in this film. The persona Lei takes to hide his skills is a comedic one as is how he handles the much less skilled assassins sent to take him out. Voodoo dolls are used in portions of the film allowing non-skilled combatants to take part in fights as the dolls' handler manipulates them about.

One of the most amazing aspects of the film is the use of the titled weapons in the film. While various items had been used in the past no film had actually focused on all of them and brought them to the forefront of any film. This one makes up for that. The film opens with an acrobatic display of each being used. This bookends with the final showdown in which Lei Kung arrives with them all and one by one the duo battle it out with each.

Once more 88 Films has brought this out with an amazing HD print that captures all the action and color magnificently. The extras on hand include an audio commentary track with Asian cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema, and audio commentary track with Asian cinema experts Frank Dieng and actor/martial artists Michael Worth, an audio commentary track with Asian cinema expert Frank Dieng alone, "Eighteen Weapons" David West on THE LEGENDARY WEAPONS OF CHINA, "Gordon at Shaw" and interview with actor Gordon Lui by Frédéric Ambroisine, "Titus At Shaw" an interview with producer Titus Ho by Frédéric Ambroisine, the original trailer and a reversible sleeve with brand-new artwork from R. P. "Kung Fu Bob" O'Brien & Original Hong Kong poster artwork.

I keep saying this but it is simply the facts. If you are a fan of martial arts movies or action films in general then you need to add this film along with the other 88 Films offerings to your collection.

CSI: Vegas (2021–2024)

A WELL THOUGHT OUT RETURN

[10/10 · 3 May 2022]

Some might not remember when CSI first broke onto the scene. At the time sitcoms were the rage on TV. Then this new breed of investigative police procedural broke out and became an enormous hit spawning two spin offs. Those also opened the doors for shows like NCIS that became immensely popular. So when word came out that the series was coming back for a reboot fans were overjoyed. But could they capture lightening in a bottle twice. Thankfully yes.

If you never saw the original it revolved around the Crime Scene Investigative unit in Las Vegas, NV. Cast members came and went and when we last saw Sara Sidle (Jorja Fox) and Gil Grissom (William Peterson) they had retired from CSI, married and were off on their own research around the globe. All of that changes with the opening episode of this new series.

Jim Brass (Paul Guilfoyle) was the police officer who worked hand in hand with the original CSI team. Now going blind and living alone, he is attacked and nearly killed before he takes out his killer. This could easily be passed off as an act of revenge from one of the many criminals put away by Brass over the years. But here is something more going on here. And rather than sit back and watch it happens, Brass contacts Sidle to return and help find out who it was that wanted him dead.

From there things continue to spiral downward. Sidle comes back and along with her she brings Gil. But as they arrive to help an old colleague of theirs is accused of doctoring evidence. David Hodges (Wallace Langham) is being charged with committing the crime of evidence tampering and all the physical evidence seems to prove the charges are based in fact.

The new head of the CSI unit is Maxine Roby (Paula Newsome) and she welcomes the assistance of Sara and Gil. Problems pop up with the charges against Hodges though with the thought being that since they worked with him their objectivity might not be the clearest. Helping the crime lab while working out their theories about Hodges on the side, they pursue every angle possible in the hopes of helping him become vindicated.

As the season progresses we discover the real culprit of course. A disgruntled attorney who saw most of his cases destroyed by the factual evidence that was gathered by the CSI unit. Anson Wix (Jamie McShane) also happens to be running for office. Using their own methods against them and placing them in a position where if they investigate him it will look like a political ploy, the team must work diligently and by the book if they are to save Hodges and put Wix behind bars.

A new crime lab and new characters combined with the familiar faces of the past works to great effect here. Originally intended to be a one off the show was so popular that CBS has renewed it for a second season. Sadly the two main old stars will not be returning but another will.

The feel of the old series is on hand here and all that fans loved about it remains intact. Using the various forms of forensics to find the clues needed to put the culprit behind bars is front and center once more. This makes it as much a howdunit as it is a whodunit. That technology keeps the viewer guessing as to what it will turn up and who it will help.

It was fantastic seeing Fox and Peterson together again as these characters. When series end or characters leave there is a feeling of sadness that follows with them. Seeing them return and doing what they do best in a fresh environment brings a feeling of contentment and happiness to fans.

The show was incredibly enjoyable and the choice to make it a combination of day to day crimes surrounded by an ongoing story that runs through all ten episodes was a stroke of genius. I don't know if I'd follow the same path for season two but here it works perfectly.

Just released on disc you can own this series and put it right next to the old ones on your shelf. That's where mine is sitting. In spite of streaming services I like having a physical copy on hand. You might get rid of that service, the internet might be down for hours or you might be on vacation with a disc player or disc capable laptop on hand. When that happens it will be a joy to pop this in and watch it one more time.

The Flag of Iron (1980)

BETRAYAL

[9/10 · 3 May 2022]

Once again 88 Films is releasing yet another classic Shaw Brothers production and doing it right. This time the film is THE FLAG OF IRON. Filled with plenty of story as well as action this one was quite enjoyable.

Two rival clans are found in the same town. The Iron Flag clan is the better of the two, so named because their weapons are spears with flags on them. The other is the Eagle Hill clan. This one is disreputable, owning a brothel where they sometimes kidnap women to work there. Two members of the Eagle Clan, Luo (Phillip Kwok) and Yuan (Chiang Sheng) discover this and beat up the man in charge freeing the girl they find kidnapped.

As the rivalries between the two clans grow the Eagle Clan decides to settle things and invite the Iron Flag clan to a dinner to broker peace. Or so they claim. Instead they have brought the clan together in the hopes of destroying them all. The leader of the Iron Flag clan is killed by a paid assassin known only as the Spearman (Tien-Hsiang Lung). Afterwards Cao (Feng Lu) takes his place. When police investigate the disturbance, follower Luo takes the fall and agrees to leave the town until things calm down. Cao promises to send him funds to keep him going.

Luo moves far away and does his best to get along. He takes a job in a restaurant waiting and cleaning tables. This helps him survive since no fund ever seem to make them his way. A year passes and his friend Yuan comes to visit. He informs Luo that Cao has changed since his taking over. He now does the despicable things that the Iron Flag clan was known to stop, enriching himself in the process.

Assassins show up to kill Luo but he survives with the help of Yuan and the Spearman. It is then that they learn that the Spearman was tricked into killing their master and that Cao was behind it all. Vowing revenge for the misdeeds of Cao, the three head back to seek justice.

Yet another great film directed by Chang Cheh this one delivers on all fronts from story to the action sequences involved. Not only does the film involve skilled martial arts this time various exotic weapons work their way into the mix as well. Extremely well choreographed fight scenes could have resulted in severe injury or even death had the not been performed with caution and care by some amazing actors here.

Fans of the genre will notice that most of the stars from the various Venom films make an appearance here. No, not the Marvel character Venom but movies like THE FIVE DEADLY VENOMS and RETURN OF THE FIVE DEADLY VENOMS. But this film really doesn't connect to those films.

I know I keep praising the films being released by 88 Films but what can I say? They deserve the praise! They're releasing this in yet another HD format making it look spectacular. The extras this time are a little limited but well worth it. They include a limited edition slipcase with brand new artwork by R. P. "Kung Fu Bob" O'Brien, a double-sided A3 foldout poster, extensive booklet notes "Red and Black Attack Unfurling the Fury of Cheh Chang's Gloriously Inventive Martial Arts Masterwork FLAG OF IRON by Andrew Graves and a reversible sleeve with new artwork by O'Brien and the original Hong Kong poster artwork.

Yet another must have for marital arts and action fans.

Bedtime Story (1964)

NOW YOU CON SEE THIS

[10/10 · 3 May 2022]

If you asked someone if they had seen the film DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS the movie or the musical they most likely would say of course. Some might tell you that they saw the film THE HUSTLE with Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson but that didn't do near the business. But how many would be surprised to learn that both of those were remakes of a movie that came out in 1964? Even more stunning would be to learn that one of the main actors in the film was Marlon Brando.

This is all true. The film in question is BEDTIME STORY. Not only did it star Brando, it also featured David Niven and Shirley Jones. So how is it this film is overlooked and no one talks about it any longer?

David Niven stars as Lawrence Jameson, a con man living in Beaumont-sur-Mer in the French Riviera. Jameson is well connected with the police and hotel owners in this resort area patronized by numerous single women either divorced or widowed. His contact at the hotel directs him to those women that seem ready to be bilked and Jameson takes over, telling them he is a disposed prince of a war torn country in need of funds to combat those who took over.

In nearby Germany Corporal Freddy Benson (Brando) is plying the same trade of sorts but for far less stakes. He finds a single woman and a picture of the house she lives in, telling her that the picture was given to him by his ailing grandmother and he promised her he'd make a point of seeing it while in Europe. All of this is to seduce the young woman. Unfortunately Freddy is interrupted in his latest conquest by the girl's father, the town Burgomaster. Freddy convinces his colonel to give him an early discharge and he sets out to see more of Europe.

The two con men meet one another while sharing a train compartment on the way to Beaumont-sur-Mer. Freddy brags to Jameson about his exploits and tries to give him tips about how to pull off a con. Jameson plays dumb but arranges for Freddy to be arrested once they arrive. Thinking he is done with him he heads home. But Freddy has other plans. He intends to invade Jameson's territory.

Eventually the two decided it would be better to be partners than rivals. Jameson has Freddy pose as Ruprecht, his mentally challenged brother. Together they bilk several wealthy women of a portion of their wealth. Jameson keeps this on hand claiming he is training Freddy to be bigger than he was.

Eventually the two realize there can be only one con man in town. To determine who stays and goes they decide who stays and who goes they come up with a challenge. The first person to steal $25,000 from a selected mark wins and is allowed to remain.

They pick Janet Walker (Shirley Jones), a naïve American heiress and set out to be the one to win. Freddy pretends to be a war hero suffering from psychologically induced paralysis. Jameson counters posing as a world renowned psychotherapist who happens to be in town on vacation. As each attempts to woo Janet, they sabotage one another's plans in a hilarious competition unfolds.

I can recall seeing this movie years ago on TV and thinking it was funny. Watching it again I was happy to learn that it was funnier than I remembered. In addition to that certain scenes brought back memories of DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS which also handled to same story quite well. The film holds up after all these years.

Niven is his usual dapper self here playing the more sophisticated of the two. He was always good at these kind of parts and this displays his talents well. Brando is the surprise. He's always been praised for his dramatic achievements but he was always good in comedies as well and shines here as Freddy. Jones isn't given as much to play with here but her portrayal of the unknowing Janet fits perfectly between the two con men.

Kino Lorber is releasing this on Blu-ray and it's a wonderful addition to anyone's collection who enjoys a good laugh. I find most comedies lose something the second time around but that isn't the case with this one. I know I'll be watching it again. My suggestion if you've never seen it is to make sure you do. And maybe, just maybe, make a triple feature night of it with the other two movies.

Belfast (2021)

FAMILY MATTERS

[10/10 · 3 May 2022]

In an attempt to sum up what a movie is about many critics have focused on the linear story that takes place in Kenneth Branagh's new film BELFAST. The problem is that while there is a story that has a beginning, middle and end, it is more than that. There is something more important here than that linear tale. It is about family and life. The film is one of the many nominated for Best Picture for this year's Oscars. I don't know if it should win not having seen all the others but it does deserve to be there.

The movie is a semi-autobiographical film about Branagh's life growing up in Belfast in the late sixties just as what is known as the Troubles began there. Different factions of the country were fighting in the streets over staying a part of England or separating to be a part of Ireland. Most summed it up as a battle between Protestants and Catholics but the core problem was Ireland.

The film opens in the neighborhood Branagh grew up in. Nine year old Buddy (Jude Hill) loves his home and all that surrounds him. This is the old style of neighborhood where people knew their neighbors, watched out for one another and where kids played in the streets without fear of anyone nearby. Buddy is being called in to tea by his mother here called Ma (Catriona Balfe). As he nears home he's confronted with a mob tossing Molotov cocktails and brandishing clubs. They are calling for the Catholics to leave the neighborhood and threatening everyone.

The thing is not everyone in the neighborhood agrees. For them these are simply their neighbors. The next day barricades are set up at the end of the street to prevent these ruffians from getting easy access to their street. British soldiers help reinforce the barricade and armored vehicles patrol the streets.

Buddy's father Pa (Jamie Dornan) is not there at the moment but on his way back to visit. Jobs are scarce and he's found work in England, coming home on weekends to be with his family. Living in the house is Buddy's older brother Will (Lewis McAskie), just a few years older. His cousin Moira (Lara McDonnell) lives nearby as do his grandparents Pop (Ciarin Hinds) and Granny (Judi Dench). More family members live in the area as well and this is where not just the sense of community but family runs throughout the film.

While home Pa is confronted by local ruffian and criminal Billy Clanton (Colin Morgan). He demands that Pa join the cause which Pa has no interest in becoming a part of. Buddy witnesses this confrontation from the shadows. And while Buddy doesn't know it, his family is in financial straits as well with back taxes leaving them in debt.

There is more to the story including a love interest for young Buddy and his love of movies that he uses as an escape. There is also his father trying to convince the family that the safest thing for them to do is leave Belfast. The problem is this is their home and has been for generations and they are reluctant to do so in spite of the danger that is taking place all around them.

So what makes the movie good? Nearly everything. There is an ease and rhythm with the dialogue and movements of the film from one scene to the next. It feels less like a movie and more like a slice of life for those who live in it. This is due to a combination of things from the script to the directing to the performances of each and every person on screen. This includes young Hill in his first film. You'd never guess it.

While there are bits and pieces in color the majority of the film is in black and white. Why? Perhaps because the drab setting in the film are seen that way through the eyes of young Buddy, the center of the film. Or maybe because color would add little to the story here. Suffice to say it works.

Since we here in the U. S. were not a part of conflict we have little clue as to what happened or how it affected people there. This film doesn't dig into the politics of the conflict but shows us how bad it was in how it took its toll on the people there. This make for a much more compelling film. And one that you might want to take a look. This one is worth watching.

Disciples of Shaolin (1975)

FOR A PAIR OF SHOES

[8/10 · 3 May 2022]

88 Films once more offers a fantastic example of Chinese martial arts movie with the released of DISCIPLES OF SHAOLIN. Though the Shaolin temple is nowhere to be seen in the film two students are. It is there story that is the focus of the film.

Guan (Alexander Fu Sheng) arrives in town with nothing but an old pair of worn out shoes to his name. Unable to find work he reaches out to his old friend Wang Hon (Chi Kuan-Chun) who takes him in and gets him a job at the textile factory where he works. Guan is a bit naïve and clueless about how things run in the big city which will play into his story as the film move forward.

Getting into a fight with the group sent by a rival textile mill to disrupt their business, Guan comes out on top to the cheers of his co-workers. But Wang knows once his skills are seen he will be in danger. The head of the textile mill congratulates Guan and puts him in charge of teaching his workers, promoting him and rewarding him with a new pair of shoes.

Guan see this as a stepping stone to bigger things in spite of Wang's warnings. He continues to move up the ladder and at times plays off one mill against the other. He continues to have gifts heaped upon him but can he truly trust those who employ him? And will all of this lead to a greater life or simply one with more luxuries but no meaning?

Directed by famed director Chang Cheh this films is a joy to watch. The fighting sequences are some of the best put to film. This shouldn't come as a surprise since the Lau Kar Leung was the fight choreographer for the film. Leung would go on to become a director himself overseeing many of the classics in the genre.

In addition to that is the performance by Fu Sheng who rose quickly to stardom and was sadly taken away at age 28 in a car crash. His ability to combine an innocence and sense of humor with his martial arts skills always made him stand out. It shows often in his role here.

The final sequence of the film features an all-out bloodbath of a battle. So intense was it that at the time it was shot in black and white to appease the censors. Today it wouldn't be bothered with that. It does make for one of the most brutal fight sequences on film.

As they've shown already 88 Films has released this with a spectacular version beginning with a restored HD print of the film. Extras include a limited edition slipcase with brand new artwork from R. P. "Kung Fu Bob" O'Brien, a double-sided A3 foldout poster, extensive booklet notes "The Visceral Arts Cinema of Chang Chech" by Matthew Edwards, "International Bright Young Thing: A Look Back on THE DISCIPLES OF SHAOLIN and Its Charismatic Star Alexander Fu Sheng" by Andres Graves, an article by Kung Fu Bob, an audio commentary track with film journalist and author Samm Deighan, an audio commentary track with Asian cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema, "Jamie Luk at Shaw Brothers" an interview with actor/director Jamie Luk by Frédéric Ambroisine, the original trailer and a reversible sleeve with brand new artwork by R. P. "Kung Fu Bob" O'Brien along with the original Hong Kong poster artwork.

Once more if you are a fan of martial arts films or action films this is one to add to your collection.

The Emperor's Sword (2020)

BEST LAID PLANS

[8/10 · 3 May 2022]

Well Go continues to bring Asian films to the U. S. with some amazing offerings. For the majority of people out there films from China and Japan bring back memories of scratched and faded copies of old kung fu films or giant man-in-suit monster movies. But the history of film in Asia consist of far more than that. And the quality of films being made there rivals those being made in the U. S.

Case in point THE EMPEROR'S SWORD. The story opens with war in China and one emperor winning over all. To do so he possessed a special sword. It was considered so powerful that it was determined to divide the sword into two halves to insure peace would last, one half staying with the emperor and the other with General Meng. With the two halves separate it was felt that no one could usurp those now ruling.

As with most plans of this nature it only lasts for a decade. The emperor dies and a member of his staff has the rest of his family killed, then sending his men out to recover the second sword from General Meng. Mend and his family are killed but not before his daughter escapes with the sword before it can be captured. She then heads out to seek the aid of the General's staff from a decade earlier in the hope that they can help protect the sword and defeat those who would use its power for personal gain.

But these warriors have grown old in the past decade. Some of them no longer have the will to fight once more. Some begrudgingly do so. And a lone young archer takes it upon himself to help in the battle for the young daughter. Not all will survive and the sword might be lost to this new hopeful ruler. But no one will allow honor to be ignored nor the fight for what it right to continue.

The film is a perfect example of how Asian made films have changed over the years. This film is beautiful in many aspects when it comes to the cinematography, the set designs and costuming. The colors burst from the screen and the subtle dirt poor villages look realistic. The acting is fantastic and loses nothing in translation. The fight sequences rival anything coming out of Hollywood these days.

For me the film was a hit on so many levels. Not only did it look amazing the story involving honor and tradition stand the test of time even if the number of films coming out of Asia that use this as their theme is numerous. They may not wear black and white hats but you know who the good and bad guys are here.

If you haven't given Asian cinema a try this might be a good starting point. You may find yourself seeking out more films from Well Go. That's a good thing. They are one of the best at this and it shows. Give this one a watch, it will be worth your time.

Stroke of Death (1979)

AGILE ACTION

[8/10 · 3 May 2022]

88 Films have not limited themselves to the works of only 1 or 2 directors when it comes to their Asian Collection, films featuring the classic martial arts films from the Shaw Brothers Studios. The amount of films that came from that studio could not have been carried by 1 or 2. This time around they give us the work of director Mar Lo aka John Law whose output might not have equaled some of his contemporaries but whose work remains solid.

MONKEY KUNG FU (also known as STROKE OF DEATH) opens with small time crook Ching (Siu-Tung Ching) arrested and tossed into prison. Ching is young and cocky and thinks of himself as the toughest guy in prison due to his martial arts skills. The problem is they are nothing compared to those of an elderly one eyed fellow prisoner Ma Siu Tien who teaches him better. The two become friends and just before he is about to be executed, the man gives a medallion to Ching telling him to find the man with the other half.

Working on a chain gang and connected to fellow prisoner Zhou (Hau Chiu-Sing) circumstances provide them with a chance to escape. They do so only to be followed by the members of an evil clan determined to recover the medallion that Ching possesses. Ching and Zhou escape, find a way to break their chains and go their separate ways. When the clan members return the pair are reunited and fight their way out. After doing so Zhou reveals that he has the other half of the medallion. Joined together they discover it provides the location of a manuscript that will teach them the Gibbon Style technique, sought after by the evil clan. The two men train and an eventual showdown with the evil clan is inevitable.

So many others have noted that the plot of this film is thinner than most. But that doesn't mean it isn't jam packed with plenty of action. In addition to that the film has numerous comedic moments as well, most popular among fans the sequence where Ching is beaten up by a bevy of beauties in a brothel after he fails to have the funds he owes there.

Nearly every review I've seen of this film references Jackie Chan and his early comedic martial arts films while talking about this film. Perhaps I've not seen enough of those to feel the same. I found this film to be its own entity, its own film without that connection. Siu-Tung Ching does a great job in the role of a young man who thinks he knows it all only to learn better. And Hau Chiu-Sing complements him as the more serious character. Together they work amazingly well.

While the plot might be thing the action sequences here are fantastic. They fill up much of the screen time and do so with acrobatic ease in all of the performers as well as fight sequences that are dazzling. Even the sequence in the brothel displays skills one would not associate with that location.

88 Films once again provides plenty of extras alongside the release in beautiful HD remaster from the original 35mm negative. These include a slipcase with brand new artwork by R. P. "Kung Fu Bob" O'Brien, booklet notes by Andrew Graves, a double sided foldout poster, an audio commentary track by Kenneth Brorsson and Phil Gillon of the Podcast On Fire Network, "Stunting Around" an interview with choreographer Tony Leung Siu-hung, the original trailer and a reversible sleeve with brand new artwork by R. P. "Kung Fu Bob" O'Brien and the original Hong Kong poster artwork.

88 Films is giving Arrow a run for their money when it comes to releasing these classic Chinese martial arts films. As good as they are let's hope they continue doing so.

Tentacles (1977)

DON'T MESS WITH MOTHER NATURE

[7/10 · 3 May 2022]

When a movie is released and does tremendous money at the box office one thing immediately follows. Tons of movies that want to follow the original as close as they can without breaking copyright laws. When JAWS was released in 1975 it was followed with numerous films that found man pitted against something in the ocean. ORCA and PIRANHA and UP FROM THE DEPTHS are but a few of the movies that came out. And in 1977 TENTACLES was released.

Solana Beach is your typical seaside tourist city on the California coast. Their big event is a sailboat race that's due to take place soon. Before that happens stranger things begin to occur. A baby is lost sitting in its stroller near the water while her mother talks to a friend. A fisherman's body is found and later the baby's. Both are have had the fluids and marrow sucked from their bodies.

Intrepid reporter Ned Turner (John Huston) believes that this is somehow connected to the drilling being done by the Trojan Construction company. They are in the midst of building a tunnel underwater on the coast and using unapproved methods to do so. Mr. Whitehead (Henry Fonda) insists nothing is being done wrong. But the head of the project John Corey (Cesare Danova) isn't quite letting him know what's going on.

After a submersible underwater vehicle is crushed underwater and the two men inside gone, Sheriff Robards (Claude Akins) contacts the one person best suited for the job. Wil Gleason (Bo Hopkins) is an oceanographer who deals specifically with ocean animals. Currently he's been training two killer whales in captivity, learning how to communicate with them. He and his wife Vicky (Delia Boccardo) arrive in Solana Beach and are met first by Turner who he met back home.

As this is transpiring we also meet Tillie Turner (Shelly Winters), Ned's sister. Single and playing the field she lives with Ned along with her pre-teen son. He and his best friend have talked her into letting them enter the sailboat race. She agrees and goes along with them to add her support.

We've seen bits and pieces of the culprit and know that this is a giant octopus creating the carnage. It turns out that the radio signals the Turner Company has been using have exceeded legal limits and brought forth the giant creature. Is there any doubt this creature will attack the sailboat race? While Gleeson is out looking for the octopus his wife's sister's boat is attacked and later hers as well, leaving all behind dead. With a personal motive now Gleeson heads out to confront this monster from the deep.

So yes, there is a lot of hokey stuff going on in this movie. And so much of it is familiar to fans of JAWS. But it actually stands up better than one would expect. The underwater photography is well done and that makes it a step above many movies in this genre. The creature effects are actually well done here too, especially when you realize this was made in the days before CGI took over.

The acting here is better than one would expect of a low budget film. Huston does a great job as the time weary dogged reporter. Hopkins was always an actor that few gave credit to and who deserved more. He carries the film for the most part. The worst piece of casting here was Shelly Winters. By this time her abilities as an actress were questionable. And the fact that she was 57 years old here playing the mother of a pre-teen son was just so wrong.

Kino Lorber is releasing the film to Blu-ray with new cover art as well as the original artwork. The extras are sparse on this one and include a radio spot and a collection of trailers. I was pleasantly surprised by this one. It was better than I expected. If you enjoy films in this genre then make a point of picking this one up.

Vera Cruz (1954)

FORESHADOWING CHANGE

[8/10 · 3 May 2022]

Western films were a staple in the U. S. for decades. The number of westerns made until the late 1960s was huge and for many studios the bread and butter of their existence. But times and interests change and the western fell out of favor eventually. While this was beginning to happen westerns themselves changed. The stories were less simplistic and the amount of violence within them increased. Most cite THE WILD BUNCH as being the first of these but VERA CRUZ released in 1954 was released long before that.

The Civil War has ended and many war weary men with skill sets that led them to violent careers had no reason to return home. Instead they began takin jobs as mercenaries and thieves. The Franco-Mexican war was taking place across the border and some headed there for work. Like Ben Trane (Gary Cooper), an ex-Confederate officer with more morals than most looking for work as a mercenary.

Trane encounters and falls in with a group led by Joe Erin (Burt Lancaster). Erin has a certain charm about him but is far more cutthroat and violence prone than Trane. His gang consist of Tex (Jack Elam), Donnegan (Ernest Borgnine), Ballard (Archie Savage) and Pittsburgh (Charles Bronson). None of them are to be trusted but Erin keeps them in line.

As the gang travels south they encounter Marquis Henri de Labordere (Caesar Romero), a member of the Mexican aristocracy. He entertains them and then makes them an offer. He will pay the $25,000 to escort Countess Duvarre (Denise Darcel) to the city of Vera Cruz. Erin negotiates with him and gets him to double the offer which he agrees to.

As they travel Trane keeps an eye on things and notices that the wagon seems heavier than it should. One night when they stop in a town to spend the night he investigates and finds Erin doing the same thing. They discover 6 cases of gold hidden in the base of the carriage. The countess finds them there and tells them the money is intended to pay for reinforcements from Europe. $3 million in gold. She agrees to split the money with them if they will help her.

Crosses and double crosses, Juaristas fighting for their cause and the battle within the characters of Trane and Erin that involves their moral cores take place from the beginning to the end of the film. A showdown between the two world weary gunslingers is inevitable.

VEAR CRUZ was part of a two package deal Lancaster had made with United Artists and both films he made, this and APACHE, were directed by Robert Aldrich who would go on to such classics as KISS ME DEADLY, WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE?, THE FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX and THE DIRTY DOZEN. His style of directing was always one that presented a macho side of things often highlighted with violence. That all shows in this film.

Lancaster shines in a role most would never have associated with him, a completely amoral character who doesn't care who he harms along the way. A controversial scene in the film has him threatening the life of a child, something audiences at the time were shocked by.

Cooper does what he always did best. His performances were always filled with subtle nuance. Movements and subtle glances showed his ability to use his body as well as his dialogue to create a character. He was always considered a representation of the everyman and he does so here even while playing a man hired for his ability with a gun.

The film did well at the box office and was later hailed by critics as well. Most later saw this as the film that would inspire those more violent westerns that were later made in the sixties. It's easy to understand that while watching it. There are certainly elements that display the typical Hollywood gloss to historical films but this one has that ground in the dirt atmosphere as well.

Kino Lorber is releasing the film in Blu-ray format and it looks great with a brand new 2k master. Extras include a commentary track by director Alex Cox, TRAILERS FROM HELL with John Landis and the theatrical trailer for the film. If you love westerns then this is one to add to your collection.

A Walk in the Sun (1945)

WAR IS HELL

[8/10 · 3 May 2022]

During WWII numerous movies were made to support the troops fighting overseas. Looking back at them now you can see the depiction of war as brutal yet at the same time more inspiring than realistic. There was a motive for that. It was to keep the morale up of those going to war as well as those back home. A WALK IN THE SUN does that but at the same time shows more of the reality of what would take place, something missing from many movies made at the time.

The lead platoon of the Texas Division is about to be dropped on the beaches near Salerno, Italy. This platoon has been through battles before, hardened by what they've seen but still wary of what is to take place. The danger is there before they even hit the beach when their leader is hit by a shell fragment and taken out.

The men get to the beach and while waiting for instructions take cover in the nearby woods. Sgt. Tyne (Dana Andrews) is left to wait for word from their new leader only to find out he never made it back. He joins the rest of the men and they head out for their objective, to blow up a bridge next to a farmhouse designated on their map.

Where most movies take time to build up to the action that takes place this one jumps in from the start with the landing and set up establishing the goals of the platoon. It also takes no time at all to show the first casualties of their long trek. Instead of that usual pattern, this film moves the story telling of what is going on to the middle of the film as the men move forward and stop either to rest of take cover. And with each step we get to know the men, their dreams, their hopes and how they will stand when the time comes.

The two characters of Sgt. Tyne and PFC Windy Craven (John Ireland) seem to be the most war hardened of the bunch. They've been there and seen what can happen. They have no qualms about what they are doing and know that most of the men aren't likely to make it through this day. Still, they take care of the troops they fight alongside and do their best to make the right calls.

The film also tackles something rarely seen in movies based on the war at the time, shell shock which was later renamed PTSD. Sgt. Porter (Herbert Rudley) is put in charge of the men as the line of those in command keep getting shot. As the movie progresses you can see him slowly crumbling under the weight of command until he eventually he completely falls apart.

All of the characters in the film are portrayed as everyday guys you would meet on the street, brought here with a common goal and doing their best to survive. They talk about home and what they want. A great example of this is Sgt. Ward (Lloyd Bridges) who was a farmer talking about apples in every way possible, taking their mind off the drudgery of walking to possible death as he does so.

The action at the beginning of the film is topped by what takes place at the end. The farmhouse has been taken by the Germans and the remnants of the platoon must still complete their mission, blowing up the bridge and taking the farmhouse back. As a movie made during this period there is little surprise if they succeed or not but just who will remain becomes the question.

This is not a war film like most. You don't have the Marine Corp Hymn playing in the background. This is down in the dirt warfare, as much as it could be depicted in 1945 when the film was made. To use the word entertaining for this film feels wrong but it does hold your interest from start to finish. And it gives us a glimpse, a depiction of war that wasn't seen so much this way at the time. The movie is a classic and deserves to be seen. If you're a fan of war films then this will be a must for your collection.

This new version is being released by Kit Parker Films on disc and they've done an amazing job. Included is a Blu-ray edition of the film made from a 4K Master from the UCLA Film & Television Archive's 35mm photochemical restoration. This disc also includes a commentary track by Alan K. Rode. A second disc included is a DVD that features a number of extras. Those include "Zanuck Goes to War: The WWII Films of Fox", "Living History: Norman Lloyd on Saboteur and A Walk in the Sun (2014)", "The Battle of San Pietro" an un-cut version from the Academy Film Archive preservation negative, WWII Fox Movietone Newsreels and the theatrical trailer.

The Hammer of God (1970)

WANG YU DIRECTS

[8/10 · 3 May 2022]

Fans of Chinese martial arts films should be incredibly pleased lately. Many of the classics, especially those from the Shaw Brothers studios have been making their way to Blu-ray in recent months. Arrow Video put out their Shaw Brothers Collection Volume 1 to great acclaim. But closing in on them is 88 Films with their rapid releases of other classics including THE CHINESE BOXER.

THE CHINESE BOXER from 1970 was the first film to be directed by Jimmy Wang Yu who'd become a rising star in Chinese films by this time. Also known as HAMMER OF GOD the film used a somewhat familiar tale but gave it its own spin. Add to that the fact that Wu also starred in the film and you had a guaranteed hit.

Wu stars as Lei-ming, a dedicated martial arts student in 1940s China during the occupation by the Japanese. Living in Shanghai problems for those living their increase when the triads work hand in hand with the Japanese to keep the population down. Lei-min attempts to stand up to them and the results are deadly.

The triads hire a group of assassins to wipe out the martial arts school Lei-ming belongs to. Master Kitashima (Lo Lieh) and his group decimate the every member of the school and leave Lei-ming behind as well thinking him dead. But Lei-ming survives the attack and hides while he rebuilds his strength. Aided by Li Hsiao Ling (Wang Ping), the daughter of his master, Lei-ming heals.

Recovering is painstaking but he does so. Determined more than ever to seek revenge he practices his martial arts skills daily to achieve that goal. Remembering the words of his master he sets out to learn the "Iron Fist" technique, the only way to defeat his enemies. Along with this he must train himself to learn to leap in order to avoid the deadly karate strikes thrown his way. And when he finally reaches the point where he has the abilities he needs, he sets to exact that revenge.

The usual sights to be seen in martial arts films from China are on hand here. The high flying leaps, the bone crunching punches and the determined hero setting out to get revenge for a wrong doing done to him. Rather than being simple tropes in the films though the each film using this theme has always had its own flavor and this one proves that.

Wang Yu was one of the first mega-stars in the genre, even before Bruce Lee came along. Earlier films he made were filled with sword play but here the hand to hand combat sequences equal any of those previous films. His star power is evident throughout. Lo Lieh was another huge star in the genre and seeing the two of them together is a treat.

88 Films has done a fantastic job with their release of this film. Not only is this a restored HD master they've added a ton of extras as well. Those include an audio commentary track from film journalist Samm Deighan, "Open Hand Combat" an interview with journalist David West, "Wong Ching at Shaw" an interview with actor Wong Ching by Frédéric Ambroisine, the US 'Hammer of God' trailer, the Hong Kong trailer, the English trailer, the US TV spot and a reversible sleeve with brand-new artwork from R. P. "Kung Fu Bob" O'Brien & original Hong Kong poster artwork.

If you love the genre or are simply a fan of action films by all means this one needs to go into your collection.

The Final Option (1982)

DEALING WITH TERRORISTS

[7/10 · 3 May 2022]

While earlier generations dealt with spies from foreign countries all of that changed as terrorists began attacking on their own in splinter cells secretly located in various countries, in some cases aided and abetted by people born and raised in those countries. No longer could James Bond face off against and all-encompassing evil organization or foe. Instead home grown terrorists were now the problem.

In May of 1980 a group of Iranian Arabs captured the Iranian Embassy in London. With 26 hostages negotiations went on for a few days. Then the SAS (Special Air Service) put in play an operation and saved the hostage. The story was turned into a book and then later used as the basis for the film THE FINAL OPTION.

British forces have learned of an imminent attack to be committed by a group that calls themselves the CND (Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament). When one of their men planted in the group is killed they decide to take on a different tactic.

The SAS receives two foreigner to train with them, one American and one German. During their training the two men are tortured and accused of being spies by team leader Captain Peter Skellen (Lewis Collins). With no authority or cause to do so, Skellen is dismissed from his regiment and out on his own. In reality this provides him cover to infiltrate the CND as a disgruntled ex-SAS officer.

His contact advises him to meet Frankie Lieth (Judy Davis) and Rod Walker (John Duttine), the leaders of a group known as the People's Lobby. This is the real group behind the CND and the terrorist organization in the midst of a major operation they've been planning. Skellen becomes involved with Lieth who sees him as an asset while Walker is skeptical. A few incidents put into play to solidify Skellen's credentials with the terrorists and he's soon on the fast track to help them.

But Walker still distrust Skellen and has him followed, watched as he meets with his wife to assure her that he's safe and doing what he's been instructed to do. With this evidence in hand Lieth finally worries that Skellen might not be who he claims. She instructs other members of the group to kidnap his wife and daughter and uses their abduction to force him into aiding them in their plot.

That plot involves raiding the US ambassador's estate and capturing the ambassador, US Secretary of State and other high officials along with their wives. In return for their release the terrorists led by Lieth demand that a nuclear missile be launched at the Holy Loch naval base.

Only Skellen can find a way to aid his fellow SAS team into the building to stop the plans of the terrorists. But can he do it and contain casualties to a minimum if at all?

The movie is a solid piece of entertainment and allows its star Collins the chance to have become a major actor in the heroic styled films that the Bond films had become. For some reason that never came to fruition. It certainly was not due to this film or its reception by the public. When released it was the #6 film at the box office in UK that year.

The film had its supporters and detractors when released though. Producer Euan Lloyd wanted to take movies back to where they had been portraying soldiers in a more positive light than seen in recent years. President Reagan and his staff viewed the film positively. But critics weren't as kind viewing the film as a hawkish and terrible.

All in all the films does offer a solid action film that fans of the genre will enjoy. Perhaps a bit slower than most but that's to develop the storyline on display. When push comes to shove the depiction of the SAS team shows them in a positive light doing what they do best, what their mission is. The acting is very well done and the performance by Davis led her to many more substantial parts. It might not be a film that everyone will want to add to their collection but it is definitely one worth giving a watch.

Retribution (1987)

POSSESSED REVENGE

[7/10 · 3 May 2022]

Made in 1987 with a very limited release it looked like the movie RETRIBUTION would fall by the wayside, making its way straight to video like so many other horror titles. Also like so many of those straight to video titles the film began to develop a following of fans who watched it repeatedly. Now it's getting a special release from Severin and treated with respect.

Its Halloween night and kids are trick or treating and walking around the neighborhoods. But the most frightening thing to walk the earth that night is death and it arrives at the doorstep of two individuals. One is Vito Minelli (Mike Muscat), a small time mobster and gangster in debt to the mob who kill him over unpaid debts. The other is more complicated.

George Miller (Dennis Lipscomb) is a struggling artist. Unable to cope with life he is standing on the edge of the roof of the building he lives in. A crowd gathers, police show and he jumps. Unlike Vito he survives his encounter with death.

George goes through a painful and time involved rehab. In his case his body is working to repair itself. But it is also his mind that needs aid. He gets better physically but continues to have nightmares. These bad dreams that plague him involve mobsters and death. His psychiatrist Jennifer Curtis (Leslie Wing) feels that he has recovered enough to go home but still stay in touch with her.

George returns to his room at the Don Hotel and resumes working or at least trying to. At night the dreams continue and he begins to think there is more reality that dream to them. He walks the streets at night and then can't remember where he was. When he wakes the next morning to read the newspaper he sees a murder has taken place, a murder he saw in his nightmares the night before.

While Dr. Curtis thinks this is just a coincidence George thinks it's more. As the violent nightmares continue and as we, the viewer, see that there is indeed something going on within George it isn't long before we realize that when George and Vito technically died that night, Vito made his way into George. And now he's using George to exact revenge on those who did him wrong.

The question becomes can George overcome Vito? Can he find love in the romance he strikes up with Angel (Suzanne Snyder), the street walker who takes an interest in him? Will Dr. Curtis be forced to admit that this isn't all in George's head? Or is it?

The 1980s saw a surge in horror films that tied in directly to the video market. That this one came and went only to be discovered in that format isn't surprising. Most theaters weren't that interested in these kind of films and spent little to promote them. But the young people who scoured shelves at the local mom and pop video store found these movies and loved them. As they grew into adults they looked for them first on tape and then on disc. Those looking for this one could do no better than the release of the film from Severin.

Severin is one of those boutique companies that finds a film like this and gives it loving care, making the release to disc as fantastic as possible. In the case of RETRIBUTION they are releasing it in a newly scanned 2 k version from recently discovered pre-print elements with over 2 hours of all new special features. These include two versions of the film (the theatrical cut and the extended Dutch video release version), an audio commentary track with co-writer/director Guy Magar, "Writing Wrongs" an interview with co-writer Lee Wasserman, "Shock Therapy" an interview with actress Leslie Wing, "Angel's Heart" an interview with actress Suzanne Snyder, "Santa Maria, Mother of God, Help Me!" an interview with actor Mike Muscat, "Settling the Score" an interview with soundtrack composer Alan Howarth, "Visions of Vengeance" an interview with special effects artists John Eggett, "The Art of Getting Even" an interview with artists Barry Fahr, "Living in Oblivion" and interview with production designer Robb Wilson King, "BINGO" a student short by Guy Magar with optional director commentary, the trailer, a stills and poster gallery, reversible artwork and as a bonus a CD soundtrack. Not bad for a movie made 35 years ago and releases on a limited scale.

I enjoyed the movie and thought it was one of the more creative films to come from this era of horror. The performances were better than most, especially Lipscomb in the lead role. The photography is well done, the sets perfect and believable and the direction very well done, even more so when you consider this was Magar's first feature film. This may have been one you missed over the years but what better time than with this release to check it out. A must see for horror fans.

Freud (1962)

THE BEGINNING

[6/10 · 3 May 2022]

The name Sigmund Freud is well known today but not so in the past. His founding of psychoanalysis changed the world as we know it, creating a new way to treat patients who might otherwise have been locked away. While he will forever be associated with that field few movies have been made about his life. The first to do so was John Huston's FREUD, known outside of the US as FREUD: THE SECRET PASSION.

The film looks at Freud (Montgomery Clift) early in his career. After finishing his schooling in Vienna in 1885, Freud is now a neurologist and well respected in that field. But he comes to loggerheads with the head of the school, Theodore Meynert (Eric Portman) when it comes to treating what he considers "hysteria". Freud sees a path to a different treatment which Meynert refuses to recognize. Rather than be ignored, Freud makes the decision to go to France to study under Dr. Jean-Marin Charcot (Fernand Ledoux) who has been using hypnosis to treat patients.

Freud returns home after his studies to open his own practice. He marries his fiancé Martha (Susan Kohner) and begins using adapted techniques he formed while working with Meynert to treat the neuroses of his patients. When one of his patients has a breakthrough that disturbs Freud he considers abandoning his theories and becoming nothing more than an ordinary doctor.

This changes when he meets and partners up with Josef Breuer (Larry Parks) who has had some small success with hypnosis. They begin seeing patients, in particular Cecily Koertner (Susannah York). When Cecily becomes sexually attracted to Breuer he transfers her treatment to Freud. Abandoning the use of hypnosis and instead using the techniques that he has pioneered Freud treats Cecily who transfers her feelings towards him.

While his wife has concerns about the situation with Cecily, Freud is able to discover the basis for her issues and help her to heal. Some, including Breuer, are not completely convinced of his methods or conclusions but Freud is certain he has found a way to help many.

The movie is similar to most biopics that have been made, condensing large parts of a man's life into one 140 minute film. Patients that Freud actually treated are mingled together to form one character, Cecily. That is the nature of film. But in that 140 minutes we are given a glimpse into the beginnings of psychotherapy, to see where the ideas and concepts came from.

The question then becomes is the film entertaining? Is it worth watching for over 2 hours? The answer to that lies in the types of films you enjoy. If you want the slam bang bash up nonstop images style of film most movies today offer then no. This one will bore you to tears. If you enjoy something with a little more depth then you might enjoy this film. Myself? I was torn between the two. I enjoyed the story and the performances of the entire cast but felt it could have been cut just a bit.

An interesting note about two of the main leads seen here. This was the next to last film for Clift who had worked before with director Huston in THE MISFITS. He died 4 years later of a heart attack at age 45. Parks was hired by Huston in the hopes of restarting his career after being blacklisted in Hollywood during the McCarthyism era. Sadly this was his last film.

Kino Lorber has done a wonderful job with this release beginning with a new 2k master of the film. It features a new audio commentary track by film historian Tim Lucas, an edition of TRAILERS FROM HELL with Howard Rodman and includes the theatrical trailer as well.

Fans of Clift will want to add this version to their collection. With only 18 films to his career it's hard to imagine what he could have done had he lived on.

The Long Night (2022)

MOODY MYSTERY

[4/10 · 3 May 2022]

A genre of horror more often ignored until recently is the folklore horror genre. These films use folklore as a mean of escalating the horror that is the center piece of the film. Perhaps the most well-known of these films is THE WICKER MAN. There are many more out there though and recently Severin Films released a box set that included a documentary on the subject. New to the genre though is THE LONG NIGHT from Well Go.

Scout Taylor-Compton stars as Grace Covington, a young woman with no clue about her past. Given up for adoption after being born she now lives in NYC with her successful boyfriend Jack Cabot (Nolan Gerard Funk). Grace has hired Frank Caldwell (King Orba) when she finds out where she was born to dig into her past. He's contacted her and she and Jack are on their way to meet with him in the small southern town she was born in.

Upon arrival things begin to feel off. To begin with Caldwell is not at the house he told her to go to. Having told her where the key is she and Jack go into the house with their luggage to wait for him. Scouring the house they find no clues as to her past or Caldwell.

As night falls even stranger things begin to happen. The biggest of these is a group of robed cult members standing outside with torches blocking an exit from the property. Disturbed by this Jack threatens to call the police on them but they are unfazed. When they discover the phone isn't working their fears increase.

Into the house comes Wayne Caldwell (Jeff Fahey), Frank's brother. With no clue who Grace and Jack are he tells them to get off of his property. They explain what's going on and point out to Wayne the group outside who apparently stepped aside when he arrived. He tells them to get off his property and when he attempts to force them to do so, the leader of the cult uses supernatural powers to break his body and kill him.

A phone call from the leader to Jack informs him that they only want the girl. If he will turn her over they will allow him to live. As he contemplates whether to give them to her or not, Grace begins having dreams of her past and the cult. What is it they want her for? And will Jack give her up?

Visually the movie has a ton of style going on here. The cult members in robes wearing animal skulls for masks are truly a cringe inducing group. The secluded location offers plenty of opportunities to escalate the fear factor. The problem is these items are the best things about the film.

While the acting is well done the movie feels like there wasn't enough story here to make an entire feature film. The pacing drags along at a snail's pace and little happens with the cult members other than their standing and looking intimidating. Images of these cult members just standing outside fill the film and while disturbing aren't enough to make the film frightening or to flush out a tale. If you've ever seen a horror movie then it takes seconds to figure out the backstory of Grace and why she is here, even if it isn't clearly defined in the script.

In the end the movie isn't one I'd recommend to most. Horror fans looking for something new might enjoy it. Sadly most others will find it tedious and boring. To be brutally honest I dozed off and had to restart the movie 3 times.

Jack Frost 2: Revenge of the Mutant Killer Snowman (2000 Video)

GET THE SNOWPLOW

[3/10 · 3 May 2022]

The movie JACK FROST (the 1997 horror film) was a low budget affair with a lot of heart and plenty of humor to get it by with fans. It ended up developing a cult following of sorts and those folks were tickled to death to hear that the film was coming out on Blu-ray from MVS as part of their MVD Rewind collection, films that developed a life on the shelves of video stores. When they learned the sequel was being released as well they were ecstatic. Sadly the sequel is nowhere near as fun as the first film.

Serial killer Jack Frost, having been transformed into a killer snowman by a spilled chemical truck, was last seen melting away as the townsfolk of Snowmonton hosed him down with antifreeze. But that can't keep a good killer down. Yet another accident involving scientists resurrects Jack and he sets out for revenge against his nemesis Sheriff Sam (Christopher Allport).

But Sam is still recovering from the events of the first film and is on vacation in the Caribbean with his wife and friends. One would think the sun drenched beaches there would stop Jack from attack. Not to mention the fact that this is thousands of miles away. Then again we're talking about a movie that involves a killer who turned into a snowman.

Of course Jack shows up and mayhem follows as he begins killing off various visitors to this island retreat. When the bodies begin to appear the staff at the hotel does everything they can to keep it secret so that it doesn't destroy their business.

It isn't long before Jack goes into full blown kill mode and bodies are dropping left and right. Sam is still in shock from the previous film and it takes his wife and friends to bring him out of it and go on the attack. But how does one now kill Jack since he's developed an immunity to anti-freeze? Come on, you know they'll find something.

Where the first film was witty and filled with some juvenile yet funny moments, this one feels forced. It feels as if they made enough money with the first film to think that another one would do just as well. Sadly this was the result. The jokes are lame, the sets insulting and the acting is lacking. That may have been charming once but not twice. And to think the director is hoping to make a third film is the most frightening thing about these films.

But MVD is doing their best to please fans and I have to say they deserve a ton of credit for doing so. In spite of this being a terrible movie all films, especially those with a fan base, deserve to be saved and they are doing just that. They have plenty of extras here that include an audio commentary with director Michael Cooney, a new audio commentary with Tony Piluso, Newt Wallen and Crystal Quin of 'Hack the Movies', a new Full Empire Promotions' Dominic Mancini Interview with Scott MacDonald: Part 2, an interview with Director Michael Cooney, behind the scenes featurettes, a music video spoof, the original theatrical trailer, reversible cover art featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Alí Hdz / Brutal Child and a collectible mini-poster.

Pursuit (I) (2022)

DON'T BE MISLED

[3/10 · 3 May 2022]

Actor John Cusack has had a fantastic career. He went from minor roles where he played a school geek in SIXTEEN CANDLES to lead roles in films like THE SURE THING, BETTER OFF DEAD and THE SURE THING. He later displayed his acting chops by starring in more serious roles in films like CON AIR, HIGH FIDELTIY and IDENTITY. But somewhere along the way he seems to have fallen out of favor with Hollywood. Fewer leading roles in major releases have found him following in the path of Bruce Willis making movies that went straight to DVD. Solid performances in them all but still not those major movies of the past.

In the case of Willis it was recently released that his not doing well health wise. This might explain his willingness to appear in a ton of movies to bank what he could before retiring. He had a reputation for being difficult with some but not all. But why the same route for Cusack? He's better than most of the films he's been in. So why be limited to smaller roles? Which brings us to PURSUIT.

Emile Hirsch stars as Rick Calloway, a big time hacker with skills that are unsurpassed. The film opens with him paying off a ransom for the return of his wife. But rather than surrender the woman to him he is provided clues.

Jakes Manley is Detective Mike Breslin. In the midst of an undercover drug buy the window of the motel room he's in is riddled with bullets and members of the gang selling the drugs are killed as he dives behind a bed. In walks Rick who asks the leader of the gang where his wife is. He's given a clue but escapes before he can be arrested by Breslin.

Eventually Rick is caught and wants to talk to no one but Breslin. He lets Breslin know that he has the names of the three people who killed Breslin's wife but won't release them to him unless Breslin is put in charge of the escort taking him to prison. Breslin is placed on the team and Rick is rescued from the transport. At least it seems that way. In reality he's been captured by the cartel he's been tracking who kidnapped his wife.

As all of this plays out, Ricks father has been doing all he can to prevent his son from being killed. John Calloway (Cusack) is the head of a criminal organization in Lanoke, Arkansas, with ties to the cartel. He's been raising Rick's son as his own. Talking to cartel head Frank Diego (Andrew Stevens) he tells him he has things under control. But Frank has plans of his own.

Breslin arrives to work with the local police and is shuffled off to a low level uniformed officer named Zoe Carter (Elizabeth Ludlow). Her chief Taye Biggs (William Katt) and most of the force have ties to the cartel. But with her help Breslin begins to track down Rick. The question is can he do it in time and will he find the answers he's been looking for.

The movie is a mess in many ways. Plot holes line the script on each and every page. The movie is shot well but the staging of certain sequences make little sense. The same with bits and pieces of the story. While the story is weak it can be entertaining enough but it's easy to see why this went straight to DVD.

Manley doesn't look old enough to be a recruit let alone have reached the Detective stage of his career in the NYPD. His performance is fine but he doesn't suit the character. Hirsch comes off as the tattooed career criminal with nothing to lose the best here. And Ludlow does a great job in this supporting role as well.

But the casting of Cusack is perhaps the worst here. He's better than this. This feels like an easy money paycheck type role for him. Walk through, say most of your lines into a cell phone, walk away. The amount of acting done for this role is negligible at best. You end up wishing that the phone would ring and he'd be given a better part in a better movie. Worse yet is that he's featured prominently on the cover making you believe he's the main attraction here when it's really a small role.

If there is nothing else to watch then you might give this one a go. I didn't hate it as much as many of those online writing about it did. Still it leaves much to be desired.