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Reviews
Total Recall (1990)
Ohhh, it's such bad P.C.!
Man, I can't believe the wimps that retch up their paisley comments on this movie. "Again, good story, lighten up on the violence a bit and focus on plot, please" or "It is a movie that suffers from being excessively violent, not only in quantity but also in gore. When things start to get too bloody it takes away from having fun." I swear I must live in a dream world like the character in this movie, Arnold was most famous for violent action movies in the 80's this film was made in the early 90's what movie did these people think they were seeing? Do they recognize the name Arnold Schwarzenegger? It was made before the miserable Kindergarten Cop, Junior or any other "life-affirming" junk he did later so what is there reference? Did I miss Arnold Schwarzenegger's Hamlet?
Did these people go to see the latest Julia Roberts/Richard Gere Disney project, walk into the wrong cinema and sit down? Verhoeven and Schwarzenegger, what a combination, I've never seen such fun in one film. Violence, sleaze, action! Next time you go to an action film with tagline like "They stole his mind, now he wants it back" think twice! I don't think the plot is inadequate either or that there are "holes" in it either, maybe these commentors can only handle one perspective at a time or there wasn't enough spoon feeding of the story? At the end of the movie it is uncertain whether the events that transpired were real or part of his mind/virtual/memory holiday, similar to the ambiguity in Verhoeven's Third man. But then I'm probably wasting my time, maybe the "holes" aren't in the movies plot!
Exit Wounds (2001)
Apology to Steve Seagal (with spoilers)
I am a major fan of the martial arts movie genre, be it Jeff Speakman's dragonfist kempo,Bruce & Brandon Lee's jeet kune do, Van Damme's kickboxing/muay thai, Seagal's akido, Wes Snipes karate and whatever made up kick ass styles of action B-dudes like Lorenzo Lamas, Michael Dudikoff and the rest (including H.K. stars Chan and Li with whatever freestyle stuff they do). I have always enjoyed Seagal's earlier violent movies over his recent environment-loving preachy stuff (leave that to the National Geographic documentaries Steve). Mostly I loved it when he was either sending some colorfully dressed pimp through a windshield or completely breaking the whole elbow of a Jamaican drug dealer. It was the kind of disdain for procedure or unnecessary heroics/etiquette performed by most other generic action heroes that first interested me in his films. I was however a little dubious about his martial art noticing that his long frame and arms always seemed to assist him in twisting arms and slapping around only the standard bad guys but had never once seen it used against a larger opponent. Usually I find the action movies to be like arcade games where the lead badass is fought at the end (after defeating the minions and spending all my change), and more often than not is gigantic or has combat skills of his own the hero has to adapt to and best. So obviously my mouth was watering during Under Siege while anticipating the fight scene between Seagal and the massive leiutenant of Tommy Lee Jones character who ate his meat semi-raw, so imagine my disappointment when Seagal instead shoots him and uses his physical skills on only the usual thugs and bandsaw fodder. I have often remarked on this fact to a friend of mine who is a more devout Seagal fan than I, and I feel his worship is now validated by this recent movie Exit Wounds. The nightclub scene with the 2 giant bouncers who first resist his usual akido arm twist (due to enormous size and strength) and force Seagal adopt a different variety of actions (while still using their weight and strength against them) to defeat them was a much needed masterstroke (but a long time in coming). So I apologize for suggesting that Steven Seagal would never fight some massive weightlifter type guy in any of his movies to avoid my perceived shortcomings of akido with that kind of opponent. I can only hope Exit Wounds will mark a phoenix like return of Seagal to violent action movies, but hopefully with less ridiculous comedy relief, product placement and that retarded unrealistic music-video fashion clothing sense more at home in Jennifer Lopez video clips than real life street wear that is constantly insinuating itself into more and more movies. While Romeo Must Die had too much of that style over substance and tried too hard to cover all the bases with humour, love story, organised crime and action but coming short in all of them (not to mention mocking Jet Li's martial arts abilities with that foul CGI stuff), Exit Wounds sticks more to the action and is honest about what the film is meant to be.
Curacao (1993)
Spoilers ***
Seen this video on the shelves often enough so decided to give it a watch. Peterson who I don't mind from Michael Mann's Manhunter does a good job with the stereotypical hero character he's given. He's a disgraced American intelligence agent who has been exiled to a small embassy on just as small an island for killing a fellow (supposedly corrupt) agent.
His only comrade is bar owner Scott, who seems to be the only other laid back dude on the island and content with exile. But of course Scott has a secret past, that has South Africa's intelligence agency and the powerful Hsung brothers looking to scorch his ass over his secret past involving a sunken boat with 20 + dead sailors and a hidden log book.
Peterson is unwillingly sucked into the dilemma by all parties and even his own agency who promise a welcome back into the fold (by an ex-partner and sexy love interest from his past of course). Won't give away the outcome, or any twists but I will say it is a fair example of it's genre (in my opinion only). The gunplay is a little poor (but hey it was 1993), Peterson's character is also a little self righteous when criticising the South Africans and their policies, especially considering he's an American agent who don't always have a history of being all that upright or incorruptable (morally speaking). The visuals would have been greater with a wider view of the island settings and its karnival scenes however some places in the movie, (hostage and bar scenes) looked like sets regardless of how well the actors tried to, well... act. But I still enjoyed the movie since it's hero was less of a James Bond and more of a Len Deighton or John Le Carre character.
Mad Dog Time (1996)
Never met the rat pack but...
I could really get to like this surreal, rat pack, gangster controlled parallel world. Struggles for power are handled in comfortable chairs and desks by placing a bullet in the head of the person sitting opposite you. Success is achieved through a healthy mix of balls, cunning and quickdraws, if problems in real life were solved as simply, you would have no more concerns, "whatever the outcome". Goldblum is very smooth as Mickey Holiday, never being overly concerned with his encroaching demise at the hands of all powerful but insane Vic (Dreyfuss) through his new mysterious nihilistic quickdraw Nick Falco (Bishop) despite constant goading by Ben London (Byrne), plotting by Jake (MacLauchlan), jealousy of either Everly sister (Keaton and Barkin)and the ambitions of WackyJack Jackson (Reynolds). Our guy glides through the ordeals and the threats of dangerous characters without once being shaken and he makes you wonder if he is at all unsure of the outcome during this ever-increasing chaotic, gun crazy, mad dog time (sorry had to use that term specifically for my own amusement).