Movies I Watched in March 2022

Date: 3/1/2022
Viewed: Youtube
Re-watch

Note: I only remember seeing this anime once on VHS when I was a kid, and I barely remember what happens. I went into this anime expecting it to be an underappreciated gem. To be honest, it's a decent film. Although the animation in Darkside Blues is excellent, the story is disappointing in my opinion. The animation is incredible, and I adore the film's dark tone. Despite his lack of involvement, it has the feel of a Yoshiaki Kawajiri film. It has lovely dark shading, and I like how dark colors are used. The backgrounds are extremely well-detailed, and the character movement is incredibly fluid. The soundtrack for the film is composed by Kazuhiko Toyama (Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII), and it is very well done in my opinion. The film's melancholy tone is perfectly captured by the music.

Darkside Blues has a great premise, but the characters ruined the movie for me. None of them piqued my interest, and I had trouble caring about what was going on. The DVD quality of the film has aged terribly, and an HD remaster is urgently required. When an HD remaster is released, I can see myself enjoying it even more with a better mindset. Also, the English dub for this film sucks. I was unable to find the Japanese version, so I was stuck watching the English dub instead. I recommend staying away from the English dub.

Overall, Darkside Blues is an average film that I only recommend if you're interested in seeing it.

Date: 3/2/2022
Viewed: Blu-ray
Re-watch

Note: I'd been looking forward to rewatching this film because I remember seeing it once on TV as a kid back in 1996. I recently got a good deal on the Scream Factory Blu-ray and decided to watch it tonight. The Ambulance isn't Larry Cohen's best film, but it's still enjoyable. The premise of the film is terrifying with a group of insane people that uses an ambulance truck to kidnap people by convincing them that they will rescue and care for them after they have been injured.

The film is well aware of its ridiculous premise, but it also manages to be serious at the same time. There's a nice balance of comedy and serious horror moments that, in my opinion, works very well. I like Jacques Haitkin's (Nightmare on Elm Street 1-2) cinematography because he is able to capture the gritty feel of New York City. Jay Chattaway's (Star Trek) music is also worth listening to. I like how creepy the music is, and it goes well with the tone of the film. Eric Roberts (Runaway Train), James Earl Jones (Star Wars), Megan Gallagher (TV's Millennium), Nick Chinlund (Con Air), Red Buttons (They Shoot Horses, Don't They?), Janine Turner (Cliffhanger), Eric Braeden (Titanic), and Richard Bright (The Godfather 1-3) all give solid performances. Even Stan Lee has a small role in the film that is entertaining to watch.

In my opinion, the characters are the worst thing about the film. I never felt a strong connection with them, to be honest. You also have some terrible dialogue lines that are painful to listen to. In my opinion, it also lacks the oomph that makes the other Larry Cohen films so memorable. With that said, I'm glad I went back and watched it again. It has a special place in my Blu-ray collection.

Overall, The Ambulance is a fun and entertaining film. If you have some spare time, check it out.

Date: 3/5/2022
Viewed: Blu-ray
First viewing

Note: This is one of Lucio Fulci's films that I've always wanted to see because he's one of my favorite Italian filmmakers. I finally decided to watch the Blu-ray, which had been sitting on my shelf for two years. To be honest, it was alright. The Devil's Honey isn't Lucio Fulci's best film, but it's also not his worst. I found the majority of the film to be quite dull. Outside of sex scenes, the first half of the film was filled with scenes of nothing happening. The Devil's Honey has a pornographic feel to it, but it isn't a pornographic film. What is the point of turning a film that isn't pornographic into a pornographic film? I enjoy sleazy entertainment as much as the next person, but some sex material feels unnecessary to the plot. The characters aren't particularly memorable, either.

Despite the fact that The Devil's Honey is a mixed bag, I enjoyed watching it. There were several unintentionally funny moments that made me laugh. You can tell that this film was written by five different writers because none of them knew what they wanted to do with the story. The dubbing and dialogue in English are hilarious. Whoever dubbed this film most likely had no idea how English speakers communicate with each other. In my opinion, the dub is almost as bad and amusing as an English dub for a Hentai. There are a lot of great catchy music moments that I like to listen too.

Overall, The Devil's Honey is a fun hot mess of a film. This film is only for Lucio Fulci fans or people who enjoy sleazy movies. If you don't like nudity on screen, I won't recommend it.

Date: 3/5/2022
Viewed: Youtube
Re-watch

Note: This is one of those anime films that I remember renting on VHS when I was a kid, over 20 years ago. Tokyo Vice aka The Tokyo Project was first released in Japan in 1988, but it was not released in the United States until 13 years later by Media Blasters. I decided to revisit it because I wanted to see if my opinion on it has changed or not. When I was 10, I thought Tokyo Vice was a decent anime, not the worst thing ever, as some people claim. I can see why so many people disliked it now that I've seen it again as an adult. Tokyo Vice is a dull and uninspiring anime. The characters are uninteresting, and the plot is incredibly boring. The writing is filled with bad action movie clichés and clumsy plot devices. I wanted to turn off this anime so badly because I had no interest in what was going on.

Tokyo Vice is a 53-minute film that felt like it took an eternity to finish. The English dub is, in my opinion, one of the worst I've ever seen for an anime. It's not one of those amusing bad dubs found in hentai titles like Bible Black or older OVA titles like Angel Cop. I felt like splinters were coming out of my hands because the English voice acting was so wooden. When it came to dubbing for this anime, it felt like none of the voice actors gave a damn. The only redeeming feature of Tokyo Vice is the animation. They spent more time creating cool mecha designs than they did writing a good script.

Overall, Tokyo Vice is a terrible anime, and there is plenty of better 80s sci-fi anime to watch instead. Don't even watch it for free because it's not worth it.

Date: 3/6/2022
Viewed: HBO Max
Re-watch

Note: Safety Last is still a great classic almost a century later. There isn't much I can say about this film that hasn't already been said, as it is a well-known classic that many people have seen and discussed. As a result, I'll keep my review brief. The film is full of hilarious moments that are still amusing today. The characters are well-developed, and the acting is excellent. It's also impossible to overlook the famous moment when Harold Lloyd's character is hanging down from the clock. A scene so iconic that it has been referenced in pop culture numerous times over the years, including in Back to the Future (1985). The film is only 75 minutes long and does not feel too long or too short. In my opinion, it is perfectly paced.

Unfortunately, the film does have a minor character dressed in blackface. No matter how old the film is, blackface will always be bad and cringe-worthy. Overall, Safety Last is still a great classic, and I still recommend it.

Date: 3/7/2022
Viewed: Tubi
First Viewing

Note: I've been curious about this film for years because I'm a sucker for 90s cyberpunk films, and I remember seeing VHS copies of it at Blockbuster when I was a kid. Spoiler isn't a particularly good film, but it's a lot of fun. The film's writing is a bit of a mess, with the story not always making sense. The characters don't have much depth, and I didn't feel particularly attached to the main character (played by Gary Daniels). The film tries hard to make you feel sorry for the main character for not being able to see his daughter, but there is very little interaction between them. The rest of the characters are lackluster as well.

While the story and characters are underwhelming, I still enjoy the film for what it is. The film isn't boring, and it kept me entertained until the end. I thought the premise was amusing, and the production values for a low-budget film are impressive. By today's standards, the CGI is very dated, but it was quite impressive back then. At times, the film resembles a big-budget production. I also enjoy the overall tone of the film. With their visuals and atmosphere, cyberpunk films from the 1990s had a distinct look. The acting isn't Oscar-worthy, but Gary Daniels (The Expendables), Meg Foster (They Live), Jeffrey Combs (Re-Animator 1-3), Willard E. Pugh (The Color Purple), Nicholas Sadler (True Grit 2010), Duane Whitaker (Pulp Fiction), and Joe Unger (Total Recall) deliver entertaining performances.

Overall, Spoiler is a fun guilty pleasure that I recommend to anyone who is interested.

Date: 3/8/2022
Viewed: Youtube
First Viewing

Note I've been a fan of Futurama since 1999, so this fan film piqued my interest. In my opinion, it was pretty decent for a fan film. I was impressed by the special effects and make-up work in the film. I admire how they were able to faithfully recreate the characters' appearances on a shoestring budget. The set designs also look like they are ripped straight from the TV show as well. You can tell the film was made with a lot of love and effort. The acting isn't good, but it's clear that the actors did the best that they can. However, Zoidberg's voice is spot on and sounds exactly like the character from the TV show. The humor in this fan film was the worst part. They try too hard to be funny by recreating the original TV show's humor. There are also a lot of cringe-worthy and irritating beer jokes.

The rest of the movie ends abruptly, and you're stuck with Vic Mignogna's cringeworthy performance for the rest of it. There's also a ten-minute Hypno-Toad segment that seems pointless. Hypno-Toad was hilarious in the show because it was super short. When a joke is stretched out for far too long, it becomes tiresome. I recommend watching this fan film if you're a big fan of Futurama. It's well worth a look at least once.

Date: 3/8/2022
Viewed: Hulu
First Viewing

Note I've heard very positive things about Titane, but I was still hesitant to see it because it was directed by the same person who directed Raw (2016), which I didn't enjoy. I finally decided to watch it on Hulu because it's International Women's Day today. I have to say, this film lives up to the hype. Titane, in my opinion, is a fantastic film.

I was completely engrossed in the plot and characters. Throughout the film, there was not a single dull moment. I do enjoy the gory kills because the film almost felt like a slasher film at times. I also liked how some of the more gruesome and violent scenes had a grounded feel to them. There were a few scenes that made me think, "Wow, that was really nasty." I really enjoy how surreal this film is. Titane is what you'd get if Gaspar Noé combined Rosemary's Baby (1968) and David Cronenberg's Crash (1996). The film is also a remarkable character study of a female serial killer and her childhood trauma. The characters are well-written, and the great acting helps them to feel believable.

I recommend going into this film with no prior knowledge of the plot, as I did, as you will enjoy it more. It's one of those films where having no prior knowledge is preferable. While I do love Titane, it won't be everyone's cup of tea. This is not a film for the faint of heart. Overall, Titane is a must-see for anyone who enjoys horror films or French cinema.

Date: 3/10/2022
Viewed: HBO Max
Re-watch

Note: I hadn't seen this film in a long time and decided to watch it tonight because I didn't have anything else planned for the night. As a guilty pleasure, I still enjoy this film. Little Nicky isn't a particularly good movie, but I can't help but enjoy it. I'm not going to argue that Little Nicky is a great film, but I will admit that nostalgia plays a part in my enjoyment of it. Since its release, I've been a fan of this film and watched it many times on VHS during the early 2000s. There are numerous flaws in this film, including dumb crude humor and a flawed script. There's a lot of cringe-worthy dated humor in this film as well.

Nonetheless, this dumb film makes me laugh and smile. It's the kind of movie I can watch after a stressful day by turning off my brain. I also love the production values from KNB EFX Group (TV's The Walking Dead). The set designs and make-up work in the film are incredible. The film's depiction of Hell looks fantastic, with its dark, fiery imagery. The CGI, on the other hand, has aged horribly. Rodney Dangerfield (Caddyshack) is undoubtedly the film's most amusing actor. When he's on-screen, he's hilarious. Rhys Ifans (The Amazing Spider-Man) also does a good job as the film's main villain, and you can tell he enjoys himself in the role.

In my opinion, the scene at the church is one of the film's funniest moments. In today's world, the scene with Todd (played by Allen Covert) trashing Kevin Spacey in a line of dialogue holds up so well. In my opinion, Quentin Tarantino's cameo as a blind religious nut job is one of the film's funniest cameos. I also like the soundtrack, which features a good mix of nu-metal, hip hop, alternative rock, and classic heavy metal. There's also a sweet nod to Chris Farley in the epilogue. I can't think of anything else to say about Little Nicky that hasn't already been said. It's worth checking out if you're curious and want to watch something mindlessly stupid for 90 minutes.

Date: 3/11/2022
Viewed: Blu-Ray
Re-watch

Note: Project A-Ko holds a special place in my heart because I used to watch it on the Sci-Fi channel's anime block back in the day during the mid-late 90s. When I first saw Project A-Ko, it was during Apollo Smile's anime week in 1998, along with Galaxy Express 999 (1979) and a few other titles. The film was recently released on Blu-ray by Discotek, and I received my copy yesterday from Right Stuf. In my opinion, Project A-Ko is still a fantastic anime. The movie is jam-packed with action and hilarious comedic moments. Some may argue that the plot is illogical, but that is precisely what makes the film entertaining to watch. The film also has a great cast of memorable, funny, and likable characters.

Project A-ko is also a parody of all the classic anime from the 1960s-1980s, but you don't have to watch them enjoy it. The animation is incredible and holds up well. The animation in the film is very colorful and detailed. The film's remastering by Discotek has made it look even better by making it look so clean and fresh. Project A Ko's music is also very enjoyable and catchy to listen to. The English dub isn't bad, especially since the hammy voice acting, in my opinion, adds to the humor and story.

Overall, Project A-ko is a hilarious film from beginning to end. I recommend this film to anyone who enjoys wacky comedy and anime from the 1980s.

Date: 3/12/2022
Viewed: Blu-ray
Re-watch

Note: I received the Arrow Shaw Brothers Blu-ray box set as a gift for Christmas and have yet to watch it. Given that it was Saturday and I had nothing else planned, I decided to select a film from the collection. I chose Heroes of the East because I hadn't seen it in over a decade and wanted to see how well it had aged. In my opinion, the film still holds up well. Heroes of the East, also known as Shaolin vs. Ninja is a great action film. The film has a good cast of fun and memorable characters. None of them were ever dull or uninteresting to me. You also have humor that works well with the story and is actually funny at times.

The fight scenes are one of my favorite parts of the movie. Every single fight scene in the movie was awesome. The various martial-arts styles and weapons used by Heroes of the East are also creative. One of my favorite scenes in the movie was the fight between the Japanese Ninja Short Sword and the Chinese Broadsword. Arthur Wong's (Armour of God) cinematography is also stunning. Everything about this movie is beautifully shot. I also like how the film does a good job of showing how the characters from Hong Kong and Japan respect each other's fighting abilities. It demonstrates that both sides can get along. The aspect of Heroes of the East that I dislike the least is that it drags a little in the final act. I have nothing else to say about this film other than it's awesome.

Overall, Heroes of the East is a solid action film that is well worth seeing.

Date: 3/13/2022
Viewed: Paramount+
First viewing

Note: I was hesitant about a new Scream film because Wes Craven is no longer alive, and it would be pointless without him. Not to mention, the Scream sequels are, in my opinion, a mixed bag. When the fifth film was finally released, I had heard good things about it and was eager to see it when it hit theaters. I missed out on seeing it in theaters back in January due to a lack of time and money. Two months later, at my brother-in-law's house, I finally got to watch it on Paramount+. I'm glad I saw it because it lived up to the hype. In my opinion, Scream 5 is a solid film. I like how this film acknowledges that it's another sequel to the franchise and criticizes the flaws in today's movie industry. It also does an excellent job of satirizing toxic fans and their inability to be satisfied with anything. It wouldn't surprise me if Star Wars Episode 8: The Last Jedi's (2017) negative fandom impact served as inspiration for the film's story.

I liked how Scream 5 chose to return to the original film's roots by being mostly serious while also including some comedic elements. It felt like there were fewer dumb comedy moments in this film compared to the other films in the franchise. Thanks to Brett Jutkiewicz's (Netflix's Stranger Things) excellent cinematography, the film features some stunning shots. Brian Tyler's (Rambo 4-5) music is also fantastic. The film has some great gory kills that are a lot of fun to watch. I enjoy some cool surprises in the story. There were a few story moments that I didn't expect.

Scream 5 is far from perfect, and it has its share of flaws. The characters make some terrible decisions that lead to their deaths. Dewey Riley (played by David Arquette) had the opportunity to shoot Ghostface in the head but instead chose to leave him hanging on the ground in the hospital. He didn't have to run back just to make sure he killed him the second time when he could have done it the first time. The film does rehash some scenes from the first film. They wanted to make sure everything in the first film tied together, but I didn't think they needed to. With that said, I'm glad I finally got to see it. I think this film did a good job of wrapping up the series, but they've already announced a sequel (which isn't out yet as I write this review). At the very least, fans will not have to wait until 2033 (11 years from now) for the next installment.

Overall, Scream 5 is a good sequel that is worth checking out if you're interested.

Date: 3/16/2022
Viewed: Blu-ray (Red Box Rental)
First viewing

Note: Spoiler review!!!


Since the late 1990s, I've been a huge fan of the Resident Evil games, and I've been waiting for a proper adaptation of the video games for years. I've never been a fan of Paul W.S Anderson's Resident Evil films because they're Resident Evil in name only in my opinion. I was excited when this film was finally announced. I wanted to see this movie in the theaters, but it didn't stay in my local movie theater for long. Finally, you can buy or rent the movie, so I decided to rent it at my local Red Box. I thought the movie was much better than I had anticipated. I had low expectations for this film, but I was pleasantly surprised. In my opinion, Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City is a pretty good film.

This is the Resident Evil film that I was hoping for before 2002. Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City isn't perfect, but you can tell they tried their hardest to stay true to the video games. I like that they chose to set the film in the 1990s rather than the 2020s. I love the easter eggs and references from the video games. When certain scenes in the movie appeared on-screen, I felt like a total fangirl. Although there is some poor acting and dialogue in the film, it didn't bother me that much. Resident Evil games have never been known for having high-quality dialogue and acting.

I really enjoyed how atmospheric the film was, thanks to the eerie set designs and the use of fog. There are no Michael Bay-style action sequences that the Paul W.S Anderson films had. Some people criticize the film for being too cheesy or being a B movie despite the source material being inspired by B horror movies. It was fine with me if the film felt like a Cannon Films production from the 1980s. While the CGI can be poor at times, the film features excellent make-up and practical effects. Neal McDonough (Star Trek: First Contact) also does a solid job with his performance as William Birkin.

Unfortunately, the rest of the movie is flawed. The character development is lackluster, and I feel like we never formed a strong bond with them. I don't really care if someone is hurt or killed in the story. When Albert Wesker (played by Tom Hopper) is killed in the movie, for example, I don't feel like I care about what happens to him. The film ends up establishing him as the main antagonist for a potential sequel, but the audience is unlikely to care that he is now a bad guy. I dislike the cast because they never seemed to be portraying the characters from the games. I admire them for trying their best, but Avan Jogia's (Shaft 2019) portrayal of Leon Kennedy was terrible. He didn't appear to be playing Leon at all. The character could have been any Raccoon City cop, but they chose to give him Leon's name.

Another aspect of this film that I disliked was the attempt to cram too much into under two hours. They attempt to combine the first two Resident Evil games into one film, which is a bad idea. The first game has a good story that could be turned into a film. Even a Resident Evil 0 live-action adaption would have been fine with me. The editing in the film sucks. Sometimes it jumps between flashbacks, and it makes you confused about what is going on. This film shares the same flaws as Mortal Kombat (2021) in that it feels like it was made solely for the enjoyment of fans. Some references and characters will be lost on you if you aren't a big fan of the video game franchise. Some things in the film are not explained, or they are barely talked about. The information on the T-Virus and G-Virus appears to be so careless that those outsides of the fandom will be puzzled as to what they are. Also, some characters appear out of nowhere and exist solely to be killed.

Despite its numerous flaws, I still enjoy watching Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City. If you're curious or a fan of the series, I recommend checking it out.

Date: 3/17/2022
Viewed: Blu-ray
Re-watch

Note: Given that I rewatched the first Leprechaun film last year, I decided to celebrate Saint Patrick's Day by watching the second film in the series. I still prefer the first Leprechaun film, but I think the second film is entertaining as well. The production values in this film are better than in the previous one in my opinion. I like the city atmosphere of Los Angeles in the film, and the special effects for the gore look good. As the Leprechaun, Warwick Davis (Harry Pother) continues to be fantastic. I like the main cast of characters, and Sandy Baron (Sid & Nancy) gives a good performance. You also have a cool small role from both Clint Howard (Apollo 13) and Kimmy Robertson (Twin Peaks).

The reason I preferred the first film to the second film is that I felt like the writing was better. I know these movies aren't known for their writing, but I believe the first film's story was told better in my opinion. The film has a major plot hole in that it begins 1,000 years ago in Ireland and somehow the Leprechaun ends up in the same location in the United States a thousand years later with no explanation. This film is not even a direct sequel to the first film, and it disregards the rules established by the first film. They toss the concept that the only way to kill the leprechaun is to throw a four-leaf clover out the window. At times, the characters are incredibly stupid, leaving you wondering, "Why didn't they do that in the first place?". You also have a dumb plot twist that came out of nowhere. Despite the fact that this film isn't particularly good, I still find it entertaining. I didn't regret rewatching it.

Overall, Leprechaun 2 is a fun sequel. It's worth a look if you enjoyed the first one. If you didn't enjoy the first film, I doubt you will enjoy this one.

Date: 3/18/2022
Viewed: Digital Download
Re-watch

Note: With the upcoming release of the new Dragon Ball Super film, I decided to rewatch one of my favorite DBZ films. Dragon Ball Z: Wrath of the Dragon or Dragon Ball Z: Explosion of Dragon Punch (depending on which title you prefer) is a solid installment in the series. I like how this film has a cinematic feel to it. It doesn't feel like a particularly long episode of the show, unlike most of the other DBZ films.

The animation is fantastic, and this is one of the best-looking animated DBZ movies of the 1990s in my opinion. The R2J release makes the animation stand out even more. They have much more accurate colors than the Funimation Blu-rays do. Tapion is introduced in the film, and he goes on to become a fan favorite in the series. His backstory is fascinating, and I love how he interacts with Trunks. Hirudegarn is an interesting villain because he is a Kajiu There aren't many giant villains in the Dragon Ball franchise, so it was refreshing to see something new. The worst thing about the film is that Goku saves the day by the end of the film. Given Trunks' importance in the story, it would have been nice if he defeated the main villain.

Overall, Dragon Ball Z: Explosion of Dragon Punch is a good film that I recommend.

Date: 3/19/2022
Viewed: Criterion Channel
First viewing

Note: I'd heard about this film for years but had never seen it until now. Maybe I wasn't in the right frame of mind when watching this film, but I didn't enjoy it as much as the majority of people did. Don't get me wrong: The Vanishing is a good movie. However, I was not engrossed in the plot or characters. I found the film to be very slow at times, and I didn't care for the protagonist early on in the film. I enjoyed the eerie atmosphere, and the film did a fantastic job of disturbing me. It demonstrates that even non-horror films can be as dark and frightening as traditional horror films. Bernard-Pierre Donnadieu (The Tenant) was fantastic, and they did a good job of demonstrating how insane his character was by believing he is capable of "the ultimate evil."

I'd like to revisit this film in the near future when I'm in the right frame of mind. I'm still glad I watched it, and I would recommend it to anyone who is interested.

Date: 3/22/2022
Viewed: Blu-ray
Re-watch

Note: I've been meaning to watch Angel Cop again for a while, and I recently purchased the Discotek blu-ray steel book with features a brand-new transfer. For years, this anime has been one of my personal favorites. In my opinion, Angel Cop is still an awesome anime. Angel Cop is basically a cyberpunk poliziotteschi anime. It combines the cyberpunk setting that was popular with anime during the 1980s with gory action sequences similar to those found in Italian exploitation films. This anime has awesome characters, great action sequences, and a kick-ass soundtrack.

Angel Cop is a six-episode OVA miniseries that clocks in at nearly three hours. I would recommend watching it in parts than one sit down in my opinion. Angel Cop is jam-packed with nonstop action sequences that keep you entertained throughout. Gorehounds will enjoy the abundance of blood and gore. You also have a cool cast of fun characters and Angel is a badass female action hero. The story is nonsensical and hasn't aged very well, but I still enjoy it for what it is. I prefer the dub over the subversion because the English dub removes the anti-Semitic content that was present in the Japanese version. The dub also has a lot of cheesy onliners, which makes it a lot more fun to watch.

The new HD remaster by Discotek looks incredible, as if you're watching a moving cel animation come to life. Angel Cop, of course, has flaws because it isn't a perfect anime by any means. While I enjoyed the supporting cast, I think they could have been fleshed out a little more for the audience. Angel Cop's music score by Hiroshi Ogasawara (Basilisk: Koga Nimpo Cho) is often overlooked in my opinion. It's catchy, and it fits in nicely with the story's cyberpunk setting.

Overall, Angel Cop is an entertaining and outrageous action anime. You will be disappointed if you watch this anime expecting deep writing. I recommend this anime to people who enjoy gory action films or violent anime.

Date: 3/25/2022
Viewed: Tubi
First viewing

Note: I had heard about this film since I was a kid, but I had never seen it until now. I thought it was a pretty cool movie after seeing it for the first time. Despite the fact that Neon Maniacs is a bad film, I still enjoy watching it. Both the acting and dialogue are hilarious for being so bad. Nothing in the story makes sense, and there is no real explanation of what is happening. The plot of the film reminds me of Spookies (1986), which features evil monsters killing people, but at least that film tries to explain what's going on. They never tell who the Neon Maniacs are or where they came from? The Neon Maniacs can die from water, but no one ever explains why water kills them in the first place. The ending of this film tries to set up a sequel, but that never happened.

To be honest, none of the characters appealed to me. They were mostly boring and forgettable. While the rest of the film isn't particularly good, it does contain some enjoyable moments. The Neon Maniacs' suits, in my opinion, are really cool looking. The samurai monster was my favorite Neon Maniac because he had the best design and the most exciting kills. There are a lot of cool gory kills and good practical effects in this film. Kendall Schmidt's (Scorchy) music is also noteworthy for being very catchy to listen to. Neon Maniacs also contains a number of bizarre moments that leave you wondering, "What the hell was that?". The cinematography was well-done by Joseph Mangine (Alligator) and Oliver Wood (Face/Off), who made it look bright and gritty. Several shots in the Los Angeles scene in the movie are particularly pretty to me. You also have an early role of Andrew Divoff (Wishmaster 1-2) that is worth mentioning.

Overall, Neon Maniacs is a bad movie, but I still recommend it for a bad movie night with friends.

Date: 3/26/2022
Viewed: In theaters
First viewing

Note: I wasn't sure what to think of this film at first because I had no prior knowledge of it. At first, I thought A24 was making a film based on Clamp's manga of the same name. That was obviously not the case when watching the trailers for the film. After hearing good things about it, I decided to watch it in theaters. I'm glad that I saw it because it was awesome. X is, in my opinion, the best slasher film I've seen in a while. I'm not going to give any spoilers in this review because I think it's best to go into this movie blind. I recommend watching it without knowing anything about the film.

The film is a wonderful homage to horror films of the grindhouse era during the 1970s-1980s. There were gory scenes inspired by the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974), The Prowler (1981) as well as Lucio Fulci's Zombie (1979). I'll admit that it took me a while to warm up to the protagonists, but they did a pretty good job of allowing the audience to care about them. The cinematography is stunning, and the entire film is beautifully shot. I love how the film feels like it was made in the 1970s. You don't have to deal with fake digital film grain filters or people forcing nostalgia on you. The gruesome violence is achieved through practical effects rather than CGI. That alone makes me very happy.

Surprisingly, the acting and dialogue are also very good. Mia Goth (High Life) is excellent in the lead role. It also felt refreshing to have old people be the main villains instead of having creepy kids or young adults. The plot is simple, but there's a nice subtext about the old vs. young generation, as well as trying to let go of nostalgia. It's not often that a slasher film contains some level of depth. X is also frightening because it is suspenseful without relying on jump scares excessively.

I don't have much to add that hasn't already been said. I strongly advise you to check it out if you have the opportunity.

Date: 3/26/2022
Viewed: IMDB TV
First viewing

Note: This is a film that a few people have recommended to me because they believe it will appeal to my taste in movies. Boogie's premise sounds interesting, and I'm always up for more serious adult animated films. I really wanted to enjoy this movie, but I couldn't. In my opinion, Boogie is a mixed bag. I did enjoy the gory violence in this film. The courtroom shootout scene was absolutely fantastic, in my opinion. The rest of the movie tries too hard to be funny and shocking at the same time. As much as I enjoy gratuitous violence and nudity, this film tries a little too hard at times. The film feels compelled to remind its audience that it is not a children's film by including as much offensive material as possible every 5 minutes or so.

Boogie is described as a dark comedy that satirizes toxic masculinity and western culture. The film, however, falls short because the humor isn't particularly funny. Boogie, our main character, is a cross between an 80s action hero and a classic film noir detective. The main character is boring and lacks self-awareness, in my opinion. Other pop culture characters, such as Duke Nukem, do a better job of satirizing toxic masculinity because he is self-aware of how macho and over-the-top he is. Sexism, racism, and homophobia abound in the film, which tries far too hard to be satirical about it. If you know how to do it correctly, you can make offensive humor work very well. Instead, Boogie's offensive humor comes across as cringy and irritating. In the 1970s, Ralph Bakshi knew how to make offensive humor work in animation. Even South Park, on occasion, does a better job than Boogie.

In my opinion, the animation is a mixed bag. I don't expect this film to have Pixar-quality animation, but I do believe it could have been better at times. The 2D animation is not too shabby. The animation reminds me of the animated shows that used to air on MTV in the 1990s. The CGI, on the other hand, is awful (even back in 2009). The CGI looks like it was directly from a fifth-generation video game console (PS1/N64/Sega Saturn). I still admire the effort that went into making this film. They did make an effort to create something unique. We still don't make many action animated films for adults today.

Overall, Boogie isn't a bad movie, but it could have been way better. If you're curious, I recommend checking it out on a rainy day if you don't have anything else to do.

Date: 3/27/2022
Viewed: Youtube
First viewing

Note: I like Makoto Shinkai's films a lot, but I haven't seen them all yet. I'd heard about this film for a long time and finally had the opportunity to watch it on YouTube. The Garden of Words isn't Shinkai's best film, but it's still a good movie in my opinion. The animation is spectacular, as it is in all of Makoto Shinkai's films. The incredible amount of detail in the animation is truly astounding. The rain and the background are almost realistic in appearance.

The Garden of Words is one of Makoto Shinkai's shortest films, clocking in at only 45 minutes. It isn't too short, and it doesn't linger too long. From beginning to end, the film tells a compelling story. The film has a strong cast of likable characters who feel like real people. The film has well-developed themes of love and isolation. The film, on the other hand, can be a little melodramatic at times. Without coming across as a soap opera, the film's ending could have been better. Having said that, The Garden of Words is still an enjoyable film. You have nothing to lose because it has a short runtime. It's definitely worth a look.

Date: 3/28/2022
Viewed: Shudder
First viewing

Note: SPOILER REVIEW!!!!


I didn't have high expectations for this film after the third V/H/S film turned out to be a hot mess. However, V/H/S/94 appears to have received positive reviews and is regarded as a step forward from the previous film. So I gave in and watched it on Shudder. V/H/S 94 is a good movie in my opinion, even though I still prefer the first two V/H/S films. It's an improvement over V/H/S: Viral (2014), but that's not a difficult task to accomplish.

The story is told in different parts, as it is in the other V/H/S films. I'll discuss them all, and there will be spoilers in this review. As a result, read at your own risk.

Holy Hell (Prologue) - The film opens up with a SWAT team going inside an abandoned warehouse after hearing reports of a ritualistic cult mass suicide. I really like how this abandoned warehouse is so spooky and disturbing. They did a wonderful job of making the atmosphere feel so eerie. You have dead bodies, blood on the walls, and religious symbolism everywhere. It gives you the vibe of a doomsday cult-like The Order of the Solar Temple or Heaven's Gate. The acting and dialogue are inconsistent at times, which makes it difficult to maintain the suspension of disbelief. On-screen, it doesn't always feel like I'm watching a real SWAT team.

Storm Drain - I like this story for having a cool underground cryptid. I really like how they captured the atmosphere of the story being set in the 1990s. With the way the characters appear and act on screen, it almost feels believable at times. The people they interview on the news do feel like real people that actually exist back in the 1990s. When they start going deeper into the tunnel, the story really starts to get interesting. I really like how eerie the underground tunnel looks, especially with everything being so atmospheric Even though it isn't on-screen for very long, the rat creature looks cool. The scene where the news lady vomited acid in the guys' faces was fantastic. I adored how gruesome and disgusting that scene was. For once, they use practical gore and not CGI.

The Empty Wake - This is my personal favorite segment in the film. It was very atmospheric because it was set on a rainy night at the Funeral Home in the middle of the night. It felt scary at times because the main character was hearing strange noises from inside the casket. The director (Simon Barrett) did a good job of making the audience guessing on what was going on. The suspenseful build to the faceless zombie was worth it. The zombie in this segment does remind me of something that I would see in a classic Lucio Fulci film like The Beyond (1981). You also get some really cool gore and practical make-up as well. In my opinion, the segment's ending was also perfect.

The Subject - While I like this segment, it seemed out of place in comparison to the other V/H/S segments. To be honest, it should have been a stand-alone film. I like how this segment is a science fiction horror film that reminds me of Shinya Tsukamoto's (Tetsuo: The Iron Man) and Shozin Fukui's (Rubber Lovers) work. Thanks to the fantastic practical effects, there's plenty of disturbing blood and gore. They have a sickly and disturbing appearance. The most significant flaw in this segment, in my opinion, is that it lacks the authenticity found in other V/H/S stories. It doesn't have the feel of a found footage film shot on a VHS recorder. When a cyborg that resembles the Cyberdemon from the Doom video games begins attacking and slicing people up, things start to get out of hand. The CGI blood is noticeable and unappealing. If they were trying to make things look as authentic as possible, I'm not sure why they used CGI blood in the first place?

Speaking of Doom, the segment later switches to first-person view, as if it were a first-person shooter video game. You even have gory kills that feel like glory kills from newer Doom games (Doom (2016) and Doom Eternal). Having said that, it did come to a satisfying conclusion.

Terror - To be honest, I found this segment to be dull. I liked how disturbing they were about making the violence look as real as possible as if it were a pseudo snuff film. I didn't like the characters, and nothing interesting happens until much later. However, the vampire in the segment was one of my favorites. It did have a cool design that reminded me of Blade 2's (2002) vampires. Everything else was meh.

Holy Hell (Epilogue) - We've arrived at the final segment, which includes a cool plot twist. It all reaches its climax at the end, with plenty of gory violence and brightly colored lighting. I thought it was well worth the wait.

Despite its flaws, V/H/S/94 is an enjoyable movie. I do recommend checking it out.

Date: 3/29/2022
Viewed: Blu-ray (Severin Films)
Re-watch

Note: When I was a kid in the 1990s, I used to watch this movie several times on TV because it was always on. Day of the Animals has been out of print for some time, but Severin Films has been able to re-release it on Blu-ray. I still enjoy it after watching it again after so many years. Days of the Animals, in my opinion, is a fun 1970s killer animal film. Despite the fact that the film is sometimes referred to as a sequel to Grizzly (1976), the two films are unrelated except for the fact that both were directed by William Girdler.

I've always admired how well-shot this film is. You have many great shots of Northern California's wilderness that makes you feel like you're watching a nature documentary. With the film being set in the wilderness, it has an atmospheric tone to it. It's almost silent, giving the impression that the main characters are not alone in the wilderness. For what it is, the story isn't half-bad in my opinion. Climate Change, man vs. nature, man as god, and humans releasing their inner animal when isolated from civilization are all themes that run through the film. Changes in the Earth's ozone layer cause some human characters to become insane as the film progresses. They start to become their inner wild animal the further they get away from civilization. Leslie Nielsen (Airplane) does an excellent job portraying a madman who gradually loses his mind. At the same time, he's entertaining and terrifying. Christopher George (City of the Living Dead aka Gates of Hell) also has a fun role as well.

One of the film's biggest flaws is that it can be quite slow at times. It takes a long time for a killer animal attack to occur. When killer animal attacks do occur, they are especially good. The death scenes do have a feeling of realism to them because they depict how dangerous these random attacks can be. Almost made the film feel actually scary for once. In my opinion, the film's ending is lackluster. I believe that not enough was said about what happened in the end. It just ends and that's it. On the plus side, the Blu-ray from Severin Films is worth getting. It has a good transfer and many bonus features.

Overall, Day of the Animals is a pretty good movie that is well worth seeing.

Date: 3/30/2022
Viewed: Tubi
First Viewing

Note: Medusa (2021) comes highly recommended when I'm looking for new movies to watch. I decided to watch it on Tubi, only to discover that I had chosen the wrong movie. Medusa: Queen of the Serpents is what I ended up watching instead. The fact that two films with the name Medusa were released around the same time adds to the confusion. This film had a tiny release in 2020 before getting a major release in 2021. Regardless, I decided to watch it to see if it was any good. Unfortunately, it isn't. At the very least, Medusa: Queen of the Serpents is a mediocre film in my opinion.

It's refreshing to see a film that tries something new with the Medusa lore. The story follows a similar plot to David Cronenberg's remake of The Fly, with the main character (played by Mega Purvis) gradually losing her humanity as she transforms into a monster. Unfortunately, the film suffers from boredom. None of the characters are memorable, and I was uninterested in the plot. When watching the movie, there isn't much that happens. I would have turned it off, but I believe in giving movies a chance.

The film contains some cool gory kills, and I enjoyed the neon lighting used in the film. A few of the homages to classic Hammer films in the movie are also entertaining. Although I understand that this is a low-budget film, the CGI for the snakes is atrocious. It really stands out like a sore thumb. The acting and dialogue are both mediocre at best. The actors did their best with the material they were given, but it was still weak.

The reason I'm not giving this film a lower rating is that I admire the effort that went into it. Medusa: Queen of the Serpents is only recommended if you're bored on a rainy day. Otherwise, don't bother with it.