Movie Review: Dead-Alive (1992)

Movie Review: Dead-Alive (1992) directed by Peter Jackson Times have been tough on Skull Island since the colonialist exploiters stole the island’s biggest attraction, King Kong, back in the 1930s. And now another colonialist has come for a specimen of the Sumatran Rat Monkey, which despite the name is found only on Skull Island. Explorer Stewart… Continue reading Movie Review: Dead-Alive (1992)

Movie Review: Legend of Eight Samurai

The baddies gloat over a captive maiden.

Movie Review: Legend of Eight Samurai (1983) directed by Kinji Fukasaku After a hundred years, the Hikita Clan is back from the dead to get their revenge on those who overthrew them. They’ve recaptured the family castle/shrine and wiped out all but one of the clan leaders descended from their enemies. Only Princess Shizu remains, but… Continue reading Movie Review: Legend of Eight Samurai

Movie Review: House on Haunted Hill (1959)

Our heroine meets the friendly housekeeper.

Movie Review: House on Haunted Hill (1959) directed by William Castle In its hundred years of history, the house has been host to seven brutal murders. It is said that their ghosts still haunt the place, ready to add more victims to their number. Tonight, five strangers have been invited to the house on Haunted Hill… Continue reading Movie Review: House on Haunted Hill (1959)

Movie Review: The Fly (1958)

Our title character!

Movie Review: The Fly (1958) directed by Kurt Neumann Helene Delambre (Patricia Owens) has killed her husband Andre (David Hedison), crushing his head and arm in a hydraulic press at the electronics plant he co-owns with his brother Francois (Vincent Price). This comes as a great shock to everyone who knows the couple, as they seemed… Continue reading Movie Review: The Fly (1958)

Movie Review: Big Trouble in Little China

Lo Pan's pet beholder.

Movie Review: Big Trouble in Little China (1986) directed by John Carpenter. Wang Chi (Dennis Dun), owner of a small restaurant in San Francisco, probably shouldn’t have stayed up all night gambling with his recently arrived trucker friend Jack Burton (Kurt Russell). After all, he’s supposed to pick up his fiancee Miao Lin from the airport… Continue reading Movie Review: Big Trouble in Little China

Movie Review: Electric Dragon 80,000 V

This has been a public service announcement.

Movie Review: Electric Dragon 80,000 V (2001) dir. Gakuryu Ishii Dragons exist, at least in the hearts of men. The man called Dragon Eye Morrison was struck by lightning while climbing a power tower as a child. This caused damage to his “reptile brain”, which controls violent impulses. The doctors tried electroshock therapy, but this just… Continue reading Movie Review: Electric Dragon 80,000 V

Movie Review: Excalibur

Movie Review: Excalibur (1981) directed by John Boorman It is the Dimly-Lit Ages, and nearly indistinguishable armored warriors clash in the night. A man stands apart and calls quietly, yet is heard clearly. It is Merlin, and the warlord to whom he speaks is Uther Pendragon. Merlin is guiding Uther’s rise to power over the land,… Continue reading Movie Review: Excalibur

Movie Review: Twice-Told Tales

Time for your neck massage!

Movie Review: Twice-Told Tales (1963) dir. Sidney Salkow  The book version of Twice-Told Tales by Nathaniel Hawthorne was full of ghosts and supernatural occurrences, so it’s not surprising that a star vehicle for noted horror actor Vincent Price would dip into that well. It’s not a very deep dip, though, with only one story from that anthology, one… Continue reading Movie Review: Twice-Told Tales

Movie Review: Star Trek (2009)

She's a grand ship.

Movie Review: Star Trek (2009) directed by J.J. Abrams The U.S.S. Kelvin is cruising through space when a spacial anomaly opens, disgorging an unknown, highly advanced technology ship that promptly attacks. It turns out to be captained by a Romulan named Nero, who has a grudge against someone named “Ambassador Spock.” In the absence of that… Continue reading Movie Review: Star Trek (2009)

Movie Review: Tales from Earthsea

Sparrowhawk arrives!

Movie Review: Tales from Earthsea (2006) dir. Goro Miyazaki There is something rotten in the Two Lands. Wizards are losing their powers, dragons are fighting each other, animals and children are dying of disease, storms are getting worse, slavery and drug addiction are on the rise. And also, Prince Arren has just committed an unspeakable crime.… Continue reading Movie Review: Tales from Earthsea