The original 9 1/2 weeks was a fun and sexy film that was full of life. Another 9 1/2 Weeks is almost the exact opposite of the first film and that's why so many fans of the first film were so unhappy with this one. This ain't 9 1/2 Weeks. In this one the character of John is so devastated by the loss of Elizabeth (his lover from the first film) that in the opening moments he places a gun to his head. It doesn't get any happier from there. A few scenes later he looks out his window and sees a once beautiful horse being turned into a dead one. That pretty much describes the state of John and of this sequel. It's a dark dirge of a movie with none of the joy of the first film and that's the whole point. We see John with sexual partners, including a prostitute he tries to pretend is Elizabeth, but there's zero chemistry even with the film's lead actress Angie Everhart. Elizabeth departure has left a void in John's soul and few know the dark places of a man's soul like Mickey Rourke. Just take a look at his performance in Angel Heart if you have any doubts. This time Rourke's face has become so battered from boxing that his appearance fits his character's emotional devastation perfectly and this is underscored by the film's black and blue cinematography. Rourke's John truly seems to be a man who has lost everything as he wanders from the art galleries to the dark alleys of Paris like a ghost searching for some glimpse of redemption. It's not a pretty picture and it's not supposed to be. This is film about pain, loss, and regret. It's a joyless purgatory of a film which works best as a canvas for Rourke's haunting performance as the devastated John. This is not 9 1/2 Weeks. This sequel is bleak, dark, and tragic. That's what I like about it.
Reviews
8 Reviews
Black Cobra 3!
15 December 2004
Believe it or not: Fred "The Hammer" Williamson has made three Black Cobra movies. Three of 'em! Somebody else must like watching these thing if there's three of 'em (at least that's what I tell myself). Each Black Cobra flick is a little better than the one before it. These things deliver fun B movie entertainment, if you like that sort of thing, and I've had a blast watching these. There's just nothing like "The Hammer" kicking butt in Italy and the Philippines to make the world seem a like a whole lot better place on a rainy afternoon. Right from the start I knew that Black Cobra 3 was going to be fun stuff since the first scene with "The Hammer" is a real hoot. Pop some corn and take this flick for what it is: fun escapism.
The Black Cobra 2
(1989)
Black Cobra meets Spider-Man!
15 December 2004
Remember when you were watching the original Black Cobra and you thought to yourself "This is an okay flick but it would have really rocked if the guy who played Spider-Man on TV in the 70's was in it"? Well this happens to be your lucky day! Just give a gander to Black Cobra 2 and prepare to be knocked on your butt! Fred "The Hammer" Williamson is back and this time he's sent to another country to hang with the guy who played Spider-Man and together they battle bad guys when not hanging out with Spider-Man's creepy little slot car racing son who TALKS LIKE A GROWN WOMAN! Black Cobra and Spider-Man kick butt! What more could anybody ask for? And it's even better than the first Black Cobra (hard to believe I know)! What more can I say about Black Cobra 2? There's a Black Cobra 3 too!
Cobra nero
(1987)
B Movie fun with the Hammer!
15 December 2004
I love B movies and I enjoyed Black Cobra. I wanted something to watch one rainy afternoon (I noticed that another reviewer watched it like that too) and so I gave this a look and I'm glad I did. Black Cobra is low low budget flick that provided enjoyable escapism for 90 minutes and kept me entertained. This is the type of film that you really have to accept on it's own terms or just leave alone. Ripping it apart would be easy but all the things that one could criticize are the exact same things that make Black Cobra the entertaining low budget flick that it is. One last thing: I agree with the other reviews that say the music in this flick sounds like it should be from a zombie movie. The Hammer should fight zombies in Black Cobra 4. I HOPE SOMEBODY READS THIS AND MAKES IT HAPPEN.
The Return of Superfly
(1990)
not quite the same old same old - but entertaining
15 December 2004
All of the Superfly films have entertained me in various ways. The original Superfly starred Ron O'Neil as slick street hustler Priest who "sticks it to the man" and leaves New York and heads to Europe. O'Neil gave his best performance as Priest in the second movie Superfly T.N.T., but many Superfly fans disliked that sequel. Superfly T.N.T. was panned and I wasn't surprised when O'Neil didn't return for a third Superfly. Return of Superfly put Nathan Purdee in a tough situation with some fans because "he's not Ron O'Neil", but I doubt that O'Neil's inclusion would have improved matters since many of these same fans weren't happy with O'Neil's reprise of the role either.
In the previous Superfly film we saw a Priest still fresh off the New York streets and trying to adjust to life in Europe. Return of Superfly takes place much later when he's a successful legal business owner who has lived in Europe for many years. Purdee is far more in control than the often confused drug using Priest of the past, but that makes sense. Superfly T.N.T. had pointed Priest in a more controlled direction and Return of Superfly shows that. Purdee's cool head strikes a definite contrast to his drug crazed opponents. Most importantly, Purdee maintains the main character's standing as a strategist and that's what I've always liked about Priest.
Priest's lady in Return of Superfly is played by the very sexy Margaret Avery and that's a plus. Also the soundtrack features the return of the great Curtis Mayfield whose "Superfly 1990" track does a great job of revealing the mindset of the main character since the 70's. I get chills just hearing the man's lyrics for this one! Return of Superfly isn't as inferior as some say IMHO. I had a great time with it. The police car scene had me jumping off the sofa and cheering! Anyone who disrespects the lovely Ms. Avery deserves that sort of treatment in my book. Go get 'em Priest.
In the previous Superfly film we saw a Priest still fresh off the New York streets and trying to adjust to life in Europe. Return of Superfly takes place much later when he's a successful legal business owner who has lived in Europe for many years. Purdee is far more in control than the often confused drug using Priest of the past, but that makes sense. Superfly T.N.T. had pointed Priest in a more controlled direction and Return of Superfly shows that. Purdee's cool head strikes a definite contrast to his drug crazed opponents. Most importantly, Purdee maintains the main character's standing as a strategist and that's what I've always liked about Priest.
Priest's lady in Return of Superfly is played by the very sexy Margaret Avery and that's a plus. Also the soundtrack features the return of the great Curtis Mayfield whose "Superfly 1990" track does a great job of revealing the mindset of the main character since the 70's. I get chills just hearing the man's lyrics for this one! Return of Superfly isn't as inferior as some say IMHO. I had a great time with it. The police car scene had me jumping off the sofa and cheering! Anyone who disrespects the lovely Ms. Avery deserves that sort of treatment in my book. Go get 'em Priest.
Super Fly T.N.T.
(1973)
entertaining sequel that I enjoyed more than the original
15 December 2004
Superfly T.N.T is a highly entertaining sequel which deserves more credit than it very often gets. I loved everything about this one with the exception of the soundtrack (I liked this soundtrack but missed Curtis Mayfield) and the film's finale (which doesn't end on as high a note as the original film since this time Priest's new line of hustling has just started). Alex Haley and Ron O'Neal did excellent work on this film. Haley's script is both powerful and fun. O'Neal makes a good directorial debut. He's even better in the role of Priest this time than in the original Superfly. Superfly T.N.T. has a fine cast too. It's one of my favorite films of the era and my favorite of the three Superfly movies (although they are all worth seeing). This is a great film if you can accept the soundtrack (very appropriate but not as cool as Mayfield) and the finale (Priest's work has just begun so there's no easy ending). God Bless Ron O'Neal and Alex Haley.
Enjoyable!
21 August 2004
I was very pleased with this movie. There are some who have claimed that those who enjoy this film have a low IQ. I see no reason why a person can't have a high IQ and enjoy an imaginative and fun film. For years I have enjoyed the works of Doyle, Wilde, Stevenson, Stoker, Twain, Haggard, Wells, Poe, and Verne. I went into this film hoping it would do their characters justice. It did. Some prefer the "original" versions of these characters by Alan Moore. I prefer the way they were written by their creators. The characters are closer to their literary selves in the film version than in the comic book. I was very happy about that. I grew up with these characters and they played a huge part in my childhood fantasy life. Other girls may have pretended to be Wonder Woman, but I was Captain Nemo! I was hoping that LXG captured the imaginative world that flourished in my young mind when I read all those old beloved books. LXG delivered! This is a fun escapist fantasy and all of my favorite literary characters are in great form. I had a truly wonderful time watching LXG. It's a fun adventure that requires that you bring your inner child along for the ride. My inner child loved it. I loved it too!
Black Scorpion
(2001)
a guilty pleasure
26 July 2004
Black Scorpion was always a guilty pleasure that I enjoyed. This was fun comic book escapism and that's why I loved it. Lots of action, silly jokes, and people in wacky costumes. It wasn't Emmy worthy stuff by any means, but I always loved watching this show. I also enjoyed looking at Scott Valentine! I miss this show. Black Scorpion provided lots of "cheese cake" for the guys, but it also did a good job of giving us a strong heroine. I liked cheering for the Black Scorpion and watching her kick butt. This show was never meant to be taken as seriously as some reviewers on here have. It was often "corny" but that was the beauty of it. They just don't make TV as FUN as this anymore.
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