REDdog-1 Reviews

The Mangler 2 (2002 Video)

Oh Man!

[5 March 2002]

First I'll admit that I liked the first Mangler. In fact I own it. I was really anticipating this movie when I first heard about it when it was suppose to star Malcolm McDowell. Then I really had to see it when McDowell dropped out at the last minute and he was replaced by the great Lance Henriksen. Unfortunately the movie is pretty tame. There is just a bunch of running around and wires being dragged across the floor. How scary is that. I read an article about this movie where the director had the nerve to actually bash the first movie and brag about how much better his movie was and that more sequels were a definate possibility. Its a good premise, but poorly executed. This movie looks amateurish. The only plus is Henriksen's performance. He really looks like he is having a good time and he goes wonderfully over the top in the climax. Fans of the first shouldn't see this, Henriksen fans will be the only ones to find any enjoyment in this. 2.5/10

2001: A Space Travesty (2000)

O.K.

[10/10 · 13 December 2001]

I love Leslie Neilsen, but the fact is he hasn't been in a good movie since Dracula: Dead and Loving it. Wrongfully Accused had some moments, but Mr. Magoo and Safety Patrol were absolutely unwatchable. This isn't as bad as those movies. You could watch this movie at least and even laugh once in awhile. I will admit the three tenors singing In the Navy at the end was a funny bit, but you have to be under ten to really enjoy this movie. 5/10

Ticker (2001)

Pretty Good!

[10/10 · 1 December 2001]

After Exit Wounds opened at #1 at the box office I figured Steven Seagal's next film would go to theatres too. Unfortunately Ticker ended up going straight to video just like The Patriot a few years back. But just because it went straight to video doesn't mean it is bad. The opening action scene is poorly put together with some sloppy editing, but it gets better as the movie goes on. Steven Seagal is good. He doesn't do much fighting till the end, but that is the only time it's appropriate. Dennis Hopper plays the bad guy with an Irish accent, but in some scenes he seems to forget to do it. When he does do it he does it well. Tom Sizemore plays a cop on the edge. He does it well, then again he plays all his parts well. Ice-T shows up and plays a similar role to the one he did in 3,000 Miles to Graceland, but it's just a fifteen second walk on part. This is a real entertaining flick. Some flaws that I mentioned above, but really good. It could have gone to theatres. It wasn't as good as Exit Wounds, but it is a solid Steven Seagal flick. Rent it or buy it. It is worth the money. One of the director's best movies too, along with Posmortum and Mean Guns.

Deadly Manor (1990)

Surprisingly Good!

[10/10 · 25 October 2001]

I was not expecting much when I rented this from my corner store. I rented it anyway because I'm a huge horror movie fan. Most of the time when I rent crappy looking films, they turn out being crappy. This time I lucked out. This movie was really, really good. The plot is nothing new but it is very fast paced and suspenseful at times. The acting is good too. Give it a look if you see it. It is surprisingly enjoyable. A lost gem that deserves more attention.

Watchers (1988)

Watchers is not as bad as you probably think.

[15 June 2001]

A lot of people do not like this movie. In fact, almost all the reviews here are negative. The problem seems to be that a lot of loyal fans of the book were angered by all the changes made in this movie adaption. I had the same type of feeling after I saw "The General's Daughter." "The General's Daughter" left a lot of stuff from the book out and changed lots of stuff too. I found myself disliking the movie barley a half an hour into it. Luckily I have yet to read Dean Koontz's book "Watchers" and that is probably one of the reasons why I liked it so much. I was able to watch it on it's own and not compare it to the book and in my opinion it is a fine little horror movie.

Corey Haim wasn't as bad as I thought he would be. After I had seen the hideous "Fever Lake," which is on the IMDB's bottom 100 list where it deserves to be, I became cautious not to rent anything with Corey Haim for a long time. Then I found out Michael Ironside was in it and decided to risk the dollar and thirteen cents. Michael Ironside was excellent as always. He seems to be at his best when he is playing villains, like he did in "Total Recall" and "Highlander 2."

The film is well directed and it moves at a very fast pace. The monster isn't that bad. You don't really see much of it thought, other then a flash of hair, or and arm coming out of the roof or something. You start to see the whole thing during the ending climax at the cabin, which by the way I thought was pretty exciting.

All in all, I enjoyed this movie. It is fast-paced and it doesn't fall apart at the end like many horror movies do. It doesn't try to insult the viewer either with a dumb twist ending. Not that their bad, we just don't need them all the time. Michael Ironside was good as always and his scenes are the best parts of the movie. I think tomorrow I'll rent "Watchers II." I give this 8/10

3000 Miles to Graceland (2001)

Costner is King!

[10/10 · 13 April 2001]

3,000 Miles to Graceland is a very good action movie despite a few flaws. I am a huge fan of both Kurt Russell and Kevin Costner so I was really anticipating this one for a while, particularly since the last time I saw Kurt Russell was over three years ago in "Soldier (1998)."

The film starts out with a very entertaining and stylish action sequence involving the robbing of a casino during an Elvis convention.

The rest of the film deals with the backstabbing that goes on between the crooks after the event. I think I would like to see another film by Demian Lichtenstein. He made a very entertaing movie. The action scenes are very exciting and are aided by one of the best soundtracks I have heard in a long time.

This film has a great supporting cast including Howie Long who impressed me alot in "Broken Arrow (1996)" and "Firestorm (1998)." He is very good here, really funny. It also has Ice-T in his first theatrical release in like six years. He has been in about two dozen direct-to-video movies over the last three years. Did anybody see "Leprechaun in the Hood (2000)?" Believe it or not it wasn't that bad, but I was having a very good day when I saw it. Ice-T isn't in it that long, but he is also very funny.

But the film has a few flaws. I felt that Courteney Cox's character came across like, sorry, a bit of a slut. Cox isn't even that great, during a scene when she is suppose to be upset it looks like shes smiling through the whole scene. It is a beautiful smile though. I also didn't get that whole thing about ***small warning, this next few lines may give away some of the plot: when she runs off with the money she leaves her son with Russell, later she says she did it to help her because she can't can't raise her son by herself anymore. But how was she going to get her son back, it was never explained how they were planning on reuniting. It is a small thing but it bugged me.***

Then there were all the small characters that pop up during Costner's road trip that don't proceed the plot at all and are a bit distracting. The girl he picks up at the Gas Station for example. I though maybe Costner was going to fall in love with her are something but then she leaves and thats it, shes gone. Then theres the redneck cop that Costner has the shootout with. It was a funny scene but think for a second. The scene was completely pointless.

Also and it's a small thing but Kevin Costner is so good as the bad guy that he steals every scene he is in. Kurt Russell is the hero right, but you barely notice him. Kind of like in "The Jackal (1997)," Richard Gere was the star but you really kind of just cared about Bruce Willis.

All in all though, 3,000 Miles to Graceland is a very entertaining action packed film with a few minor flaws. But still a fun ride with a killer performance by Kevin Costner. I give it a solid 9/10.

Titan A.E. (2000)

cool

[10/10 · 20 August 2000]

This movie rocks it was jammed packed with awsome effects. Bill pullman was a cool charecter. if you haven't seen the movie please don't read any further.............................

Bill Pullman was cool as a good guy but the bad guy thing then change back was a little much well I liked it.

End of Days (1999)

Arnold Schwarzenegger's Best Movie Since True Lies!

[21 January 2000]

End of Days was very good and without a doubt the best movie Arnold has made since True Lies. Schwarzenegger stars as Jericho Cane, an ex-cop, turned alcoholic who now works as a bodyguard for high priced lawyers. But after a priest tries to kill one of his clients, played by Gabriel Byrne, Jericho and his partner Chicago, played by Kevin Pollack, find themselves investigating a series of puzzling events.

This leads them to believe that Satan has come back to Earth and intends to bring about the end of days by mating with a young woman named Christine York, played by Robin Tunney.

The special effects were great, and the action scenes are very well done. The entire cast gave great performances. Schwarzenegger did a fine job with his role, and Gabriel Byrne was a very good Satan. On a scale from 1 to 10, End of Days gets a solid 10/10. So check it out while its still in theatres.

The Secret Agent (1996)

Pretty Good!

[2 November 1999]

The Secret Agent was pretty good, but not as good as I had expected, especially since it starred Bob Hoskins. I am a big fan of Bob Hoskins, but here his performance was below average. In fact, the entire cast performed badly, except for Robin Williams. Williams has a minor role but he makes the best of it and steals every one of his scenes. Overall I give a couple of points for an interesting storyline and a few more for Robin Williams. 5/10

Muppets from Space (1999)

A Great Family Summer Movie!

[10/10 · 1 August 1999]

Kermit the Frog Rules! Gonzo Rules! Fozzie the Bear Rules! Rizzo the Rat Rules! Miss Piggy Rules! The Muppets Rule! It is that simple! Muppets From Space is the sixth Muppet movie and it is one of their best! This movie is non-stop laughs! Only "The Muppet Christmas Carol" is better! F. Murray Abraham is absolutely wonderful as Noah, who won't allow Gonzo on to the Ark because he is one of a kind. Ray Liotta and David Arquette also have humourous roles. The soundtrack to this movie is great. It is the perfect family film to see this summer. I give it 10/10

A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987)

Great!

[20 July 1999]

This was one of the best of the Freddy movies. It's not as good as the original "Nightmare" or "Wes Craven's New Nightmare". But it is still good fun. It's way better then the second and "Freddy's Dead". I still haven't seen part 4 and 5. There are 4 reasons why this is one of the best of the series.

1.) Wes Craven wrote the script and brings back some original characters Nancy played by Heather Langenkamp, and her father played by John Saxon.

2.) Laurence Fishburne, one of my favorite actors, in a early role as the head security guard at the hospital were the movie takes place.

3.) It tells us more about Freddy. "Hes the bastard son of a 100 maniaces" says one character. It seems a young nurse got lock in the hospital over the holiday and she was raped by the patients.

4.) There is a great fight scene near the end were John Saxon and another character fight a skeleton.

I give it 8/10

Body Snatchers (1993)

Terrible!

[6 July 1999]

The Body Snatchers was a mess of a movie from start from finish. This version takes place on a military base. But despite the fact that the movie tries hard to be scary, the bad direction and mostly terrible acting ruin this movie. There are still two good performances that stick out Gabrielle Anwar and Forest Whitaker both try hard with their cardboard characters. I give it 2/10

Wild Wild West (1999)

The Best Movie of the Summer!

[4 July 1999]

Wild Wild West is the best movie of the summer, and one of the 10 best of the year. What makes Wild Wild West so good is it's great cast. Director Barry Sonnenfeld makes the perfect follow-up to "Men in Black". Will Smith (Enemy of the State) plays James West, famous gunslinger teamed up with Artemus Gordon, played by Kevin Kline (In & Out) to protect the president played by Kevin Kline, again, from a plot to take over the United States by evil madman Dr. Loveless played by Kenneth Branagh (Hamlet)in the most over-the-top performance I have ever seen. There are some great scenes like the part where Kline and Smith are being chased through a cornfield by magnetic saw-blades, or the final impressive climax on that gigantic mechanical spider. The film also stars the sexy Salma Hayek(From Dusk till Dawn) and Ted Levine (Silence of the Lambs). I give it ****1/2 (stars) out of ***** (stars), or 9/10.

Wild Wild West (1999)

Wild Wild Fun!

[4 July 1999]

Wild Wild West is one of three movies I wanted to see most this summer. The other two movies are Deep Blue Sea and Star Wars. I haven't seen Deep Blue Sea yet, but this movie is about 10 times better then Star Wars. It has a great cast. Will Smith and Kevin Kline are great together, and Kenneth Branagh is a superb villian. I highly recommend this movie. It has great special effects. I give it 4 out of 5 stars, or 8.5/10.

Millennium (I) (1996–1999)

Millennium Rocks!

[2 July 1999]

Millennium is the best series on television and I have been watching it since the pilot episode in 1996. The best thing about Millennium is the perfect casting of Lance Henricksen, one of my favorite performers, as Frank Black. Millennium is better then Chris Carter's other show X-Files. I give it 10/10

Leviathan (1989)

Leviathan is Great Fun!

[1 July 1999]

Leviathan is lots fun, with great special effects and slick directing by George P. Cosmatos (Tombstone, Shadow Conspiracy). Its part Alien, part The Abyss. Its a fast-paced action-packed thriller with a great cast. Richard Crenna (First Blood, Wrongfully Accused)is especially good as the doctor with a cloded past. The movie came out in 1989 along with the similar Deepstar Six. I haven't seen Deepstar Six but it would have to be a classic to be better then this movie. Leviathan also stars Peter Weller (Robocop, Screamers) and Ernie Hudson (Ghostbusters, The Hand that Rocks the Cradle, Congo). I give it 10/10

Batman (1989)

Batman Is One Of The Best Movies Ever!

[10/10 · 28 June 1999]

Batman is one of the greatest movies ever! It is a classic and ranks with movies like "Jaws" and "The Sting". Michael Keaton is the best Batman. He was better then Val Kilmer and George Clooney and never should have left. Jack Nicholson is the best of all the Batman villians. His over-the-top performance is the best thing about this movie. NOBODY else could have been as good as Jack Nicholson as the Joker. The supporting cast is also top-notch, Kim Basinger, Pat Hingle, Billy Dee Williams, and Jack Palance are all great. Tim Burton is a marvelous director and this is his best work.

Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984)

Slightly better then the last one!

[26 June 1999]

Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter is a slight improvement over the last "Friday" sequel. What helps is a new director, Joseph Zito, who manages to produce a few scary moments. Unfortunately as always the performances are poor, especially Corey Feldman as the boy who kills Jason in the end. And there is one particularly bad scene when Jason kills a hitchhiker while eating a banana. I give the movie 4/10

Dusting Cliff 7 (1997)

For Lance Henricksen Fans Only!

[24 June 1999]

I am a big Lance Henricksen fan. He was in 2 of my all-time favorite movies: "Aliens" and "Terminator". I also think he is just great as Frank Black on Fox's "Millennium". I am also a big fan of Nancy Allen. I thought she was great in Dressed to Kill, Blow Out, and the Robocop movies. So when I saw this movie at the video store I just had to rent it. It was actually called "Last Assassins" which I think is a much better title then "Dusting Cliff 7". The plot makes little sense and the overall quality of the film is poor. But there are some good action scenes and Lance Henricksen is great in his over-the-top performance. I give it 5.5/10

The Day Lincoln Was Shot (1998 TV Movie)

Bravo!

[24 June 1999]

I really enjoyed this movie. What makes this movie so good is the great performance by Lance Henricksen. He truly is one of the greatest actors of all time. If you want to see him at his best see this movie. Lance Henricksen was born to play the role of Abraham Lincoln. I also recommend "Aliens", "Pumpkinhead", and "Hard Target" to see him at his best. I give this movie 10/10

The Patriot (1998)

The Patriot isn't so Bad!

[23 June 1999]

The Patriot is getting a lot of bad reviews from fans because of its lack of action. But The Patriot is suppose to be a vehicle to show that Seagal can really act, and I am happy to report that the guy is a really good actor. The plot is about the outbreak of a deadly virus in a small town. I am a big fan of Steven Seagal and I like the way he has been picking his movies. Fire Down Below was better than his prior films "On Deadly Grounds" and "The Glimmer Man" because of its slick directing and editing, and his cameo in "My Giant" was hilarious. The Patriot ranks with "Above the Law", "Marked for Death", "Under Siege", "Fire Down Below" and "Executive Decision" as one of his best films. I personally can't wait till his film version of Genghis Khan comes out. I give this one a solid 9/10

The Red Violin (1998)

One of the Best Films of 1998!

[10/10 · 22 June 1999]

The Red Violin is a masterpiece. It ranks with "Saving Private Ryan", "Shakespeare in Love", and "Primary Colors" as one of the best films of 1998. The story centers around the journey of one violin through three years of being handed down from person to person and finally ending up in the hands of famous art dealer Samuel L. Jackson. It is a true classic that will never be forgotten. I give it 10/10

The Love Letter (1999)

Try Again!

[21 June 1999]

The Love Letter was supposed to be a romantic comedy. Yet it is totally unfunny and has a terribly unhappy ending. I tried to like this movie. Really! But I still found myself walking out of this movie wishing that I had not bothered. The directing and editing both needed work. The movies only saving grace could have been Tom Selleck, one of my favorite performers and perfectly cast as the local fireman, but he is totally wasted in his role. I give it a 3, but thats pushing it.

Gone Fishin' (1997)

Big Laughs! Great Fun!

[21 June 1999]

I am a big fan of both Danny Glover and Joe Pesci and I think they make a great team. They were good together in the "Lethal Weapon" series and they're great here. Gone Fishin' is a hilarious movie that showcases both actors at their best. Danny Glover hasn't been so good since his last movie and won't be again until his next movie. Glover is truly one of Hollywood's greatest actors. Joe Pesci makes a big comeback after the terrible "8 Heads in a Duffelbag". This movie has non-stop laughs. I highly recommend this movie. I give it a 10! 10+! Boderline Living!

Highlander (1986)

One Of The Greatest Movies Ever!

[10/10 · 26 May 1999]

Highlander rules! It is without a doubt the best movie of the 1980's. The directing is superb. The scenery is beautiful. The action scenes are great. The acting, especially Sean Connery, is perfect, and the director's cut is even better. I highly recommend this movie. I give it 10/10