Author: Puppy

Semper Puppy

Dead Within (2014)

Extremely minimalist: almost the entire movie takes place between a couple in a small cottage.

The story involves some sort of plague that turns people into infected/zombie monsters. We don’t see the cause or very much of the effect, outside of the two featured characters.

As time goes on and on, supplies become scarce, tempers become short and both undergo a gradual descent into semi-insanity; he from his constant journeys out to get food and other supplies, she from her constant and unbroken complete isolation.

Things become a bit unclear near the end, when the story and visuals could be shown through either’s eyes, one or both of whom may be seeing incorrectly.

Overall it’s somewhat interesting, especially given the limitations of the setting. But as part of me cheers the lack of generic descent into zombie action, part of me grows bored at what is basically a very long story of a failing relationship.

Grade: C-

Galaxy Quest (1999)

The Star Trek parallels are cool.

Basically a washed-up group of actors, beloved for a series in times past, cruises on that mutual love but finally begins to feel…well, washed-up.

Then it turns out that a REAL group of aliens wants to recruit the crew, who they believe to be real as well.

The female alien is kinda hot, and Tony Shalhoub is quite lucky.

I found it both amusing and actually somewhat moving.

Recommended to both Trek fans and Trek haters.

ON Netflix Streaming as of 10/1/14.

Grade: B

Eight Men Out (1988)

About the 1919 Chicago “Black Sox”, some of whom got paid to lose the World Series, and the immediate fallout of that.

Last time I re-watched this I was disappointed. This time I was
somewhat pleasantly surprised. So I figure it’s somewhere in the middle.

A little too hokey, but fairly enjoyable.

On Netflix Streaming until 10/1/14.

Grade: C

Heavy Metal (1981)

Poorly animated sex and violence, with a mediocre rock score.

The story itself is about a green orb that spreads evil throughout the universe. Some of the stories are bad while others are somewhat interesting.

If you must watch, I recommend starting an hour in.

GASP…did ‘Legend of Huma’ rip off this ending?

If not, a pleasant coincidence, with a bit of Torm thrown in.

On Netflix Streaming until 10/1/14.

Grade: D+

Antisocial (2013)

It was going along ok until the laughable “social media” intros.

Made me think it was REALLY gonna suck, but since the plot sounded ‘Crazies’-ish, I figured I’d give it a bit longer…

So basically a small group of college students have to fend off badly fx’d infected – so they attempt to pull a NotLD boardup job almost immediately.

Luckily it’s unanimous…no Joe named Cooper.

But it’s second-rate all the way: acting, script, and FX.

Slow and painful, actually.

Grade: F

Crocodile Dundee (1986)

I remember really liking this movie when it came out. I also SEEM to remember that it wasn’t a like-because-I’m-12 movie. So it was very cool to see it on NF’s streaming list.

It’s a sincere, charming bit of fluff; sort of like the film version of Men At Work’s “Down Under”.

Made with care, for your enjoyment.

I still like it…nothing special, but it’s cute and fun.

Grade: B-

Good Morning, Vietnam (1987)

This is not a sympathy watch.

I never really much cared for Robin Williams as a comedian or an actor, but I remember his performance in this movie as being surprisingly good; not for the humor but for the dramatic acting.

Also, I remembered it had a good supporting cast including the great Forest Whitaker.

So, I watched it again when I saw it on “Newly Added”…

And it’s pretty good, at times. But like I remembered, the “funny” Williams bits were boring except for a couple, and there was a LOT of focus on them. Which made it impossible for Whitaker, serious Williams, Bruno Kirby, et al. to make it a good movie. So it’s…decent. A movie that demands a (short) highlight reel.

Grade: C

The Death Of Era Nocturna

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0X1ynq1x8M

I can almost imagine D. Noctem thinking along the lines of D. Velvet, who also didn’t get a beautiful death:

“This is…wrong…I’m supposed to have something, more cinematic…”

11/5/16: FAIR USE: CRITICISM – Really good song by a dead band. It actually gets better the more you listen to it; at first it’s secondary to “If Only I Could”, then it’s about as good, then it’s clearly superior. Also, update: signature removed.

Scream 2 (1997)

The intro has great potential but blows it, lacking in imagination and going for a cheap thrill. I mean, come on…even the OBVIOUS obligatory “audience cheers thinking it’s fake” angle escaped the screenwriter.

The theory discussion that follows is more interesting…but serves only to make me not lose interest, not salvage.

Then it goes mediocre…tries to establish lots of “intrigue”, fails –
all the “emotion” seems quite fake. And the action scenes are dumb. Not parody-dumb, just dumb.

The best parts are the ruminations of geeky-guy survivor from part one. But they’re scarce and not nearly enough.

As for other good things…ummm…well, it’s professional. But when the killer(s) is/are revealed I really couldn’t care less.

Huge disappointment.

Grade: D