The Second Five Of Ten Horror Movies To Enjoy This Halloween

An awesome holiday! One worth spending doing a movie marathon!

So we did the first five movies over at AwesomeBMovies.com, I hope that you will find something from that era that will work for you this Halloween... I mean there are a lot of great horror movies to have come out between the 1920s - 1960s!

Well now that we have done that run, it is time to show you some great horror films from the 1970s on up that could be great choices for this Halloween as well!

At number 1: Halloween (1978).  

Now this one is a little obvious, but the truth is, is John Carpenter's, 'Halloween' has in a lot of respects been one of the defining movies when it comes to horror movies to enjoy during Halloween, and is one that if you are looking for something to scare the hell out of you this Halloween, will do a great job!  

Number 2: Cannibal Holocaust (1980).

Cannibal Holocaust... This horror film from the 1980s is truly gruesomely fun, and could be said to be one of the more famous Cannibal movies of all time... If you do decide on this one though... Watch it with some one there... You won't regret it! 

Next up at number 3: Tales From The Crypt Presents: Demon Knight (1995).

Now this movie, (which was based on the classic horror anthology TV series/Comics, 'Tales From The Crypt Presents',) does have some fun thrills and chills, but what it looses in over the top chills, they make up in just having an absolutely bad-ass movie! 

And at number 4: 28 Days Later (2002).

This one is an awesome British Zombie movie, that is as much fun now as it was then... And I will say this, I suspect that the way this movie was filmed had some influence on at least how some of the earlier seasons of, 'The Walking Dead were filmed!' 

And finally at number 5 we have: Scream 4 (2011).

With this one, you might be asking yourself why I am doing a sequel movie instead of an original movie... Well the truth is, is the original for this movie would make for a great addition to this list, but I thought that I would mention, 'Scream 4', because let's be honest, this movie series was fantastic, and as long as the studio is smart and lets the movie series die, then it will have gone out with a bang! 

Please note that this list is not from best to worst, these are just some great horror films from the 1970s on up to the 2010s that we thought that you would enjoy! For the first five, check out the list I did over at AwesomeBMovies.com!

And if you like this list and would like to see some more of the great movies and other awesomeness, check out our sister site at: HellsDepot.com! 
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Buffy The Vampire Slayer (2002) - Video Game Review

[caption id="attachment_557" align="alignright" width="307"] Official Score = 3 1/2 Devils[/caption]

You know what? I have to be honest... I am a little disappointed in the way that the buffyverse has been handled since the end of both, 'Buffy The Vampire Slayer' and, ' Angel'... The reason being is that, although I imagine Joss Whedon (The Avengers) has managed to do some pretty cool stuff with the 2 comics based on their signature series, but the truth is, is there is a wealth of fun and entertaining activities that you could just spend hours upon hours of enjoyment with, that is based on both of those series... And frankly a comic book series is just not enough!

Now you might be wondering why I mention this, and simply put, there was a video game that was made based on, 'Buffy' that when I firs got in to Microsoft's, 'XBox' video game system, I found I really enjoyed, 'and in my opinion is still one of the better games that has ever been produced for any of Microsoft's XBox line... That video game being, 'Buffy The Vampire Slayer' (2002)!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="256"] A truly fantastic video game![/caption]

Developed By: The Collective, Inc. & Published by: Fox Interactive, for Distribution by: Electronic Arts on Microsoft's, 'XBox'

Set roughly around the 3rd season of the TV series, this video game pits Buffy and the Scooby Gang in a quest to stop, 'Lybach' who taken possession of, 'Drusilla' and who has resurrected, 'The Master' (who now also inhabits, 'Angel' and who has forced Spike in to doing his bidding in an attempt to build a bridge between Hell and Earth... As if the Hellmouth wasn't enough right!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480"] Buffy killing a Vampire at Sunnydale High![/caption]

The truth is, is this video game is a total blast, the only real problem that I found with this game is  the fact that this game suffers from certain difficulties with figuring out some of the controls with the characters... Also there is some points in the game that are so difficult to figure out, that it makes the game suffer... (I like hard games, but this made me put the game away a few times!)

In the end though, this game I have found is well worth the effort, and if you give it a try, you might find the same thing as well!

http://youtu.be/fUkT-quc8E8

 

5 Great Crews Of 5 Great Starships On The Small Screen

[caption id="attachment_2885" align="aligncenter" width="450"] The bridge crew for the U.S.S. Enterprise (the rebooted version.)[/caption]

I have noticed to some extent a trend in the sci-fi world of TV shows being brought to the big screen... Most of the time after the show has gone off the aire and their fans have complained about it so much that it was brought to the big screen after awhile.

A great example of this is the show 'Firefly' (2002)... Now Firefly was a show that had been created by Joss Whedon (The Avengers) and told the story of the crew of a small vessel and the adventures that they would have...

Well this show, which aired in 2002, was taken off the air way to early, and with enough pressure from fans ended up getting it's own movie, in the form of, Serenity (2005)!

[caption id="attachment_2886" align="aligncenter" width="450"] Nathan Fillion (Buffy The Vampire Slayer), Gina Torres (Angel) & Alan Tudyk (I, Robot) in a scene from, 'Serenity' (2005)[/caption]

With the crew of the Firefly getting their chances on the big screen, I thought that I would mention 5 other bridge crews that went on to greatness.
At number 5: The crew of the original, 'Battlestar Galactica':

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="360"] 'Boxey' (Noah Hathaway) as he comes to talk to 'Adama' (Lorne Greene) who is hard at work on the bridge of the, 'Battlestar Galactica'![/caption]

At number 4: The crew of the, 'Prometheus' from Stargate SG1:

[caption id="attachment_2887" align="aligncenter" width="320"] The bridge crew of the, 'Prometheus' the earth ship from, 'Stargate SG1'![/caption]

At number 3: The crew of the, 'Tardis' from, 'Doctor Who':

[caption id="attachment_2888" align="aligncenter" width="450"] Not quite a bridge... Or a crew... but the same concepts apply![/caption]

At number 2: The crew from the remake, 'Battlestar Galactica':

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="330"] The bridge of the, 'Battlestar Galactica' hard at work in the 2004 Syfy channel remake![/caption]

At number 1: The crew from the first, 'U.S.S. Enterprise; from Star Trek:

[caption id="attachment_2889" align="aligncenter" width="450"] The bridge crew for the original U.S.S. Enterprise from the original series![/caption]

5 Final Girls Of The 1980s That Kick Ass

Say what you will about Horror movies, one of the things that they do really well, is empowering women and girls, by showing the fact that 99% of the time it is not the, 'man' (or the hero), that is the final survivor against the, 'big bad' monster, but the girl/women that are the one's that are going up against the big bad monster in an effort to finally destroy these big bad monsters once and for all!

Now these women who end up going up against the big bad monster and finally take him or her out once and for all... Well they are called, 'Final Girls'... I think the name is pretty self explanatory... I mean they are either the last surviving member of the group that the big bad monster has been killing off one by one, or is the girl who ends up winning the final battle against the big bad monster!

And so I thought that I would mention here, '5 Final Girls Of The 1980s That Kick Ass!'

At number 5: Adrienne King (What's Eating Gilbert Grape) in, Friday The 13th (1980):

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="450"] Alice Hardy (Adrienne King) as she is beginning to realize that there is one more person at, 'Camp Crystal Lake' and that person is not particularly happy![/caption]

For more information, please enjoy this trailer for, Friday The 13th (1980):

http://youtu.be/bcoi-Zgg8BU

At number 4: 'Kirsty Cotton' - Played by: Ashley Laurence (Deuce Coupe) in, Hellraiser (1987), Hellbound: Hellraiser 2 (1988) & Hellraiser: Hellseeker (2002):

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="320"] Kirsty Cotton (Ashley Laurence).[/caption]

For more information, please enjoy this trailer for, Hellraiser (1987):

http://youtu.be/P7TWm3Akw-s

At number 3: 'Jamie Lloyd' - for the 1980s, she was played by: Danielle Harris (Hatchet 3) in, Halloween 4: The Return Of Michael Myers (1988) & Halloween 5: The Revenge Of Michael Myers (1989):

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Jamie Lloyd (Danielle Harris) as, 'Uncle Mike' is about to wake up and attempt to put her down for a little more then a nap![/caption]

For more information, please enjoy the trailer for the movie, Halloween 4: The Return Of Michael Myers (1988):

http://youtu.be/tozboaohpbk

At number 2: 'Stephanie' - Played by: Jill Schoelen (Cutting Class) in, Stepfather (1987):

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Stephanie, (Jill Schoelen) is about to learn the disturbing truth about her new, 'Step Dad'![/caption]

For more information, please enjoy this trailer for, Stepfather (1987):

http://youtu.be/C6dg84FhA9k

At number 1: 'Nancy Thompson' - Played by: Heather Langenkamp (Shocker) in, A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984) and, A Nightmare On Elm Street 3: The Dream Warriors (1987) as well as, Wes Craven's New Nightmare (1994)... (Although as a side note, she is not a final girl in, A Nightmare On Elm Street 3: The Dream Warrior.):

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="470"] Nancy Thompson (Heather Langenkamp), as she is about to face her greatest nightmare![/caption]

For more information, please enjoy this trailer for: A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984):

http://youtu.be/jdb_HSvf2Zk

A Couple Of Reasons Why, 'The Book Is Always Better Than The Movie'

[caption id="attachment_1803" align="aligncenter" width="407"] Game Of Thrones... This may be a TV Show based on a novel... but trust me when I say that the rule still applies![/caption]

I was talking with a buddy of mine recently about, 'Game Of Thrones' in both the book and TV series... And I got to telling him basically about the fact that, 'The book is almost always better than the movie...' (Before I go on, I should say that this metaphor is applicable to TV as well,) either way I really got to thinking... Well why is that? And this is what I could come up with:

1. In movies oft times filmmakers tend to take creative liberties with the the casting for a specific role, (an example is that in the original novel, 'Psycho' which was written by, 'Robert Bloch', Norman Bates is a bald pudgy guy... In the movie he was played by Anthony Perkins (Edge Of Sanity) who as it turns out was a tall skinny guy with a full head of hair... Another example of this is that in the original novel, 'The Stand' by: Stephen King, one of the prominent characters by the name of, 'Harold Lauder' is a fat pimply faced kid that is infatuated with, 'Franne Goldsmith', in the movie, 'Harold Lauder' is played by: Corin Nemic (Sand Sharks), who is thin... (although in the movie he is still pimply faced...)

2. Another thing is the time frame that most filmmakers have to work with in regards to the story... What I mean by this is  that most novels tend to take place over days, months, or even years (although in, 'Gerald's Game' the story is a detailed example of a women who is held after a particularly rough sexual event kills her husband, while she is handcuffed to the bed...) And so I got to imagine that, that has to be at least one of the reasons why they take certain creative liberties with the story line... A great example of this is the movie, Queen Of The Damned (2002)....

[caption id="attachment_1804" align="aligncenter" width="450"] Queen Of The Damned... A great movie, but an even better book![/caption]

Now Queen Of The Damned, took other creative liberties between the movie and the book (considering the fact that this movie is based on the book, 'Queen Of the Damned' and, 'The Vampire Lestat'), but the book itself takes place over centuries, and so while they heavily accented certain elements of the present day as seen from the original novels, they seemed to primarily focus on, 'Lestat' and how he became introduced to, 'Enkil' and, 'Akasha'...

All of that is good, the problem is, is if they had done it right, that particular movie would never have had to gloss over a lot of the rich tapestry that Anne Rice painted in the books for what would have been considered to be the present... And I think that because of the timeline for trying to fit 2 particularly meaty books in to an 1:40 minute movie was just plainly impossible!

And then last but certainly not least, there is another reason that I think that the book is better then the movie... And that is when certain movies try to take artistic liberties with the big screen adaption that they are trying to do... I mean Hollywood was a little bit more like that in the 90s and beyond but it is still happening all of the time! Now I don't mean taking artistic liberties with a novel to make the story fit in to a 2 hour movie...

No I am talking about when they just start cutting out, or adding in elements to the movie that had never been part of the original novel!

I found that when this is done, not only does it change the vision of what the author had originally intended, but I also have found that when I have later started reading the novel, that the way the author had written the novel the way it had originally been intended was actually better!

In the end, I am not saying that all big screen adaptions suck, as a matter of fact, I have that I have really liked a lot of them... But in the end, what I mentioned above is: 'A Couple Of Reasons Why, 'The Book Is Always Better Than The Movie'!

http://youtu.be/y9klJA1JMbM

http://youtu.be/qsMp2pZK-Cw

http://youtu.be/2Gu9HtN05sc

Nine Inch Nails: Starfuckers, Inc. (2002) - Song Review

[caption id="attachment_325" align="alignright" width="263"] Official Score = 3 Devils[/caption]

Believe it not, one of things that I really think that heavy metal did really well with, was just how the way they used profanity in a way that is very tastefully done... (I have seen some songs from this genre and as well as other genres that were ridiculously graphic, or over the top disgustingly profane...)

But one group in specific that took it to the limit but was still very well done was just how Nine Inch Nails did it... I mean I know I am almost making it sound like Nine Inch Nails was some sort of classic band, but the truth is, is part of the way they did it, was they did take it to the extreme but used that sort of elegant Gothic sound and some times look that was just starting to move in that direction in the late 80s and early 90s, and really became a thing in the later 90s!

So it was amusing to listen to a slightly different song then I was used to hearing when I picked up a single that they did in the early part of the new millennium and listened to the song, 'Starfuckers, Inc.'!

[caption id="attachment_1783" align="aligncenter" width="361"] At Starfuckers, Inc. Shit gets fucked up![/caption]

Now this song I say was different, because where as most of Nine Inch Nails songs that I heard up to this point were that sort of extreme elegant surrealistic Gothic sound... This one was intense... You could almost say almost, 'tribal'... But not that ridiculously sounding...

I guess what I mean by this, is that change is not always something easy to accomplish for the entertainment industry... And this song seemed to be different from the mostly norm of their type of music up to this point... But at least with this song they pulled it off real nicely!

So if you haven't listened to NIN yet, or haven't heard this song... Even to this point, this song is still pretty awesome!

http://youtu.be/guTq00EKvXY

The Vampire Lestat (1985) - Anne Rice - Book Review

[caption id="attachment_385" align="alignright" width="353"] Official Score = 2 Devils[/caption]

You ever hear the old term, 'The Book is always better then the movie?' well for the most part I have always found that to be true, I mean I have found a few exceptions to this, but for the most part I have found this to be quite true....

I mean I don't particularly blame Hollywood for that... In all honesty, for Hollywood to truly recapture the brilliance that an author puts in to a 500 or even thousand page novel, you would need a movie that is several hours long (which I think maybe part of the reason why, 'The Stand' is such an awesome movie... But even that movie barely scratches the surface of what made Stephen King's original novel so awesome...)

You might be wondering why I mention this, well before Aaliyah (Romeo Must Die) passed away she did the movie, Queen Of The Damned (2002), a movie which is loosely based on the book of the same name by, 'Anne Rice'... Well the truth is, is that I think at least part of the reason why this movie did not do as well as it should have is because rather the writers of the movie know it or not, I suspect that they took certain liberties with the movie and used at least some of this book as an inspiration for the movie!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="600"] In the movie, 'Queen Of The Damned' (which takes elements from the book, 'The Vampire Lestat'), Lestat is played by, 'Stewart Townsend', and, 'Akasha' is played by: 'Aaliyah'![/caption]

You see, in, 'Interview With The Vampire' the story was told from the point of view of, 'Louis' as he relates to a writer about his history and the history of those he loved the most... Well this novel essentially relates Lestat's past (Lestat being the maker of, 'Louis') and how Lestat starts off as the son of an impoverished aristocrat in 17th Century France, all the way to his own attempt to let the rest of the world know about Vampire's, and the Vampire he would become in modern day New Orleans!

Now in all truth I am a huge fan of this series, and am sorry to have to give this book 2 Devils, because in all truth, this novel is a lot of fun, but in  the end it just lacked that way that, 'Interview With The Vampire' as well as the rest of the novels had of sucking you in and keeping you motivated!

But it is most assuredly worth a read, and if you get a chance you might find the same thing as well!

 

Monsters Of Metal: Rob Zombie

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="498"] Rob Zombie... A true, 'Monster Of Metal'![/caption]

Most people these days I am sure probably recognize Rob Zombie for his amazing contribution to the horror movie, genre but for me you are going to have to go back to the late 90s, when Rob Zombie (Halloween) was still a member of the classic heavy metal band, 'White Zombie'...

But even before this, this power house Musician/Filmmaker/Writer of essentially the, 'horror genre' and it's equivalents became the man he would become, in some respects almost as a young man we would see the hell hound he would become... You see Rob Zombie (who was born, 'Robert Bartleh Cummings') was born to parents who worked in the Circus when Rob Zombie and his brother, 'Michael'... (Also known as, 'lead singer of Powerman 5000', 'Spider One',) were young Rob Zombie seemed to have developed an interest in the macabre with his favorite movie genre being, 'Horror'... (I would say that with his parent's work in the Circus and his being a fan of Horror movies, I suspect this was the inspiration for, 'Captain Spaulding (Sid Haig) from, House Of 1,000 Corpses (2003)!)

After his parents left the Circus and after Zombie graduated from High School, Zombie met ex-girl friend and former bassist/co-founder of, 'White Zombie', 'Sean Yseault' and would eventually move in with her.

During this time in the 1980s, Yseault and Zombie would go on to co-found the band that would later be known as, 'White Zombie'... Well believe it or not success didn't initially come easy to this soon to be legendary, 'Monster Of Metal'... You see during the early days of Zombie's and Yseault's collaboration together, the band would release 3 EP albums which really kind of failed to gain the notoriety during that time...

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Sean Yseault (Center) and Rob Zombie (Right) with the rest of their band mates that would eventually comprise, 'White Zombie'.[/caption]

It wasn't until their 4th studio album, 'Gods Of Thunder' when things started to get interesting for the fledgling group... You see Michael Alago (A rep for, 'Geffen Records', the label that would eventually be the label that Zombie and his crew would sign up with,) listened to this album and ended up showing enough interest in the band to ask that they make a demo, (which they did with the help of J.G. Thirlwell, who produced the demo for the group), and would eventually be signed on to Geffen!

And White Zombie would be born!

During their time together, White Zombie would go on to release 4 studio albums, including: Soul-Crusher (in 1987), Make Them Die Slowly (In 1989), La Sexocristo: Devil Music, Vol 1 (In 1992) & Astro-Creep 2000: Songs Of Love, Destruction And Other Synthetic Delusions Of The Electric Head (In 1995). They would also produce 1 remix album 6 EPs, 3 compilation albums, several singles and work that the group did on such classic movies as, The Crow (1994) & even, Escape From L.A. (1996) to name a few!

But like all good things, Rob Zombie and Sean Yseaut broke up, and in 1998 the band would disband as well... But that wouldn't stop this true Monster Of Metal!

No you see, Rob Zombie would go on to almost catapult himself further then he could have ever gone working with, 'White Zombie'...

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Rob Zombie, live in concert during his solo career![/caption]

What I mean is that Rob Zombie picked up his career not long after the band disbanded and on August 25th, 1998 Rob Zombie would release his first solo album called, 'Hellbilly Deluxe: 13 Tales OF Cadaverous Cavorting Inside The Spookshow International', which ended up being so successful that it had actually outshined previous sales of older, 'White Zombie' work!

During this first decade of his solo career, he would go on to release what some could say are his most famous (or at the very least, 'most recognized') songs of all time! Including such hits as: 'Living Dead Girl', 'Dragula', and, 'Superbeast' to name a few!

Well folks besides the monumental success as a solo artist, he would also make his first attempts in to the movie industry... You see, if you remember, near the beginning of this article, I had mention that as a child Rob Zombie was a huge fan of horror films... Well he would first try to put his love of of films in to use when he was to direct the movie, The Crow 2037...

Well unfortunately despite the fact that he had even written that script, the movie was never released... But this wouldn't stop Rob, who after the failure of his first attempt, would start working on the script that would eventually be for the movie, House Of 1,000 Corpses (2003)... And well after all was said and done, the movie would not see the light of day for about 3 years, until it was release in 2003!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Rob Zombie with Dr. Satan himself, 'Walter Phelan' on the set of, 'House Of 1,000 Corpses' (2003)![/caption]

And thus another chapter in the amazing career of this man would be born!

In 2002 Rob Zombie would go on to marry B Movie Scream Queen, and one of the cast from, House Of 1,000 Corpses (2003), Sheri Moon (Halloween)... Later Sheri Moon Zombie!

Anyway, rather this true master of horror is putting together the latest kick ass album in his truly epic career  as a musician, or the next horror classic, this guy's career is truly legendary and one that would definitely cement him as a true, Monster Of Metal!

http://youtu.be/E0E0ynyIUsg

http://youtu.be/EqQuihD0hoI

http://youtu.be/fTabuTNAZMQ

Equilibrium (2002) - Movie Review

[caption id="attachment_330" align="alignright" width="220"] Official Score = 2 1/2 Devils[/caption]

I have never read this book before, but from what I understand of it, 1984, a novel that had been written by George Orwell had something to do with a future society that seemed to be directly controlled by a totalitarian regime, and that the way the populace seemed to accept it is the fact that the public of this future city are kept in somewhat of a drugged state…. A fascinating concept for a movie, no?

Well as it turns out, this type of Orwellian based nightmare has had various incarnations with in the movie world…

One such example, is the movie THX 1138 (1971). THX 1138 told the story of a society that had gone underground to survive, and the only way they are able to survive is to remain in a drugged stupor, and those that do not take their drugs are usually carted away… Horrible, eh?

Well I am pretty certain that at least to some extent that Equilibrium (2002) got at least some of their inspiration from this movie…

You see, this movie which was written and directed by Kurt Wimmer (Total Recall) and which starred, Christian Bale (American Psycho), Taye Diggs (Chicago), Angus McFayden (Saw 3), William Fichtner (Contact), Dominic Purcell (Prison Break), Emily Watson (Corpse Bride) and Sean Pertwee (Event Horizon), told the story of a world where all emotion has been removed by force…

What I mean by this, is that after the complete overthrow of what it looks like, to be the world, a society that is controlled by a person calling himself, ‘Father’ (Pertwee) is put in to place.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="558"] Father... The, 'Adolf Hitler' of the Equilibrium World![/caption]

In this society any form of emotional sensation is not only eliminated by drugs, but those few who wind up getting off of their meds somehow are doomed to be destroyed… And so, as a way to rectify this, and to help people stay on the right track, all forms of emotions are being taught out of the children of this new government., and all forms of enjoyment are being destroyed!

Well of course this is no easy task, and a member of the force that is responsible for the task of destroying all of this undesirable content by the name of, ‘Cleric John Preston’ (Bale) will find just how hard when during the last night of being cold and emotionless, the Cleric ends up killing someone that in a cold and emotionless way could be said to be his, ‘friend’ but is definitely is his former partner.

The next day Preston is in the bathroom, Preston accidentally spills the dose of his meds that he is supposed to take in the morning and ends up deciding to skip it, in turn though, this act will send him on an emotional odyssey that will not only change his life, but the lives of everyone around him!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="650"] After spilling his meds, Cleric John Preston (Christian Bale) will change the world and give it back its soul![/caption]

In the end, this movie is definitely one of those oddities , as it really was quite the well done film and all, with a great cast collected from a pool of major talent, and some fun action moments as well as some brilliant special effects… The only problem was the story!

What I mean by this, is that the story just didn't get to me in the same way that others of its type did (like Æon Flux). In the end, I thought just about the only thing pulling this movie together story wise happened to be Christian Bale’s character, as his character was really the only one of the batch that I was fascinated with, and hoped would come out of his emotional odyssey as a better man for it!

In the end folks, the movie was not bad, but not great… If you do watch this movie, then try it with an open mind…

http://youtu.be/ZVDiaYQXBVs

Good & Evil: Criminals In Hell

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="600"] This guy really wants to know what you did to his boy![/caption]

In movies, (and you see this a lot in heist films), but in most movies criminals are just that… criminals! Good, bad they are what they are what they are and they oft time do what they do very well!

What I mean by this, is that rather or not the guy in the movie who is robbing the bank, or robbing the house or are committing some other form of crime but are generally a good guy at heart, or is a total asshole at heart, these criminals in these movie generally speaking tend to at least initially like what they do, and are pretty good at it!

You might be saying to yourself at this point, ‘well duh, thanks for that Captain Obvious…’ Well the reason that I mentioned this, is that I got to thinking, ‘what is a great way that criminals in movies have been known to redeem themselves or to at the very least face up to their crimes? And well I thought about it… And a great way to do so, is when they are with a group and are facing a threat that threatens to destroy them all… Such as the undead!

A great example of this is the movie, From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)… Believe it or not this movie could be said to be a lot of things… A total gore fest (which it is), an awesome sort of supernatural heist movie (It is that to)… As a matter of fact it is that but so much more!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480"] Seth Gecko (Played by: George Clooney) and Richard Gecko (Played by: Quentin Tarantino) as the fun is about to begin![/caption]

This movie tells the story of the Gecko Brothers who whiling being low life criminals are trying to get out of the country so that they can live off the money they stole in a country that has no extradition… And as a way they believe that they can do so is to kidnap this fallen Priest and his family while they make their way down to Mexico…

What no one expects is that the Bar that the Gecko’s wish to meet their contact at happens to be a bar that is populated with the undead! So in the end, Seth Gecko (Played by: George Clooney) and the fallen Priest by the name of Jacob Fuller (played by: Harvey Kietel) as well as Fuller’s family will have to band together to get out of this undead nightmare before they are served up like food on a hot plate!

Now besides the fact that this truly is an awesome gore fest and a fun super natural heist movie that was created by Robert Rodriguez (El Mariachi), I also thought that this was a great redemption movie, because (although he does in the end, end up keeping the money) Seth goes to war alongside the Fuller family against the undead (and seems like he is generally trying to do more than just save his own ass), and in the process of this epic struggle Jacob will ultimately end up finding hi faith again!

This next example may not be supernatural, and it may not even be a heist movie, (and unfortunately it may not really be a good movie), but this movie is called, Nine Dead (2010), about a group of people from all walks of life (including a Cop and a low level mob lieutenant), can come together in mutual protection of each other when they are kidnapped and forced to discover what crime they each committed together (without realizing it) and to answer for their crimes!

Now this next example is kind of a cool super natural story of a heist on a ship and the justice that the victims are looking for from beyond the grave! This movie being: Ghost Ship (2002)…

You see this movie tells the story of a Passenger liner from the 60s that is sitting lifeless in the early part of the new millennium and the salvage crew that finds the ship, and claims it and starts towing it back to shore… Of course as they do so they start experiencing strange phenomena occurring on board the ship… And the only way to survive this salvage trip is to find out what happened to the ship, it’s passengers and crew, and to ultimately get justice for one of the bloodiest heists in history!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="565"] The Ship of the damned...[/caption]

There are some other such truly awesome examples of criminals getting their justice in other films of the horror genre as well as other genres, but if you’re a horror fan like me you will enjoy the fact that criminals in hell means justice served!



http://youtu.be/-bBay_1dKK8

http://youtu.be/B0D9yqV3Aas

http://youtu.be/PGHW3hBP7Mk

Bubba Ho-Tep (2002) - Movie Review

[caption id="attachment_557" align="alignright" width="300"] Official Score = 3 1/2 Devils[/caption]

Bruce Campbell... What can I say about this guy? I mean he is my favorite actor! Most of what I have seen him in is horror movies, but I have also seen him in such comedies such as, McHale's Navy (1997) as well and thought that movie was great as well!

Why is Bruce Campbell a great actor...

Well besides the fact that rather he is doing a comedy, a Science fiction movie, or even a horror movie, he makes the role his own, he can make and does frequently make it funny, but besides the humor of it all, he can also make the role very serious, to the point where in most of the more serious roles I have seen him in, I tend to root for him!

And in Bubba Ho-Tep (2002) you get both!

Now speaking of Bubba Ho-Tep, besides Mr. Campbell, there are two other people that I wanted to make specific mention of are Ossie Davis and Don Coscarelli!

The first of those two that I thought that I would mention is Ossie Davis...

Now this guy has been old for as long as I have seen him in movies! (Unfortunately I haven't had a chance to see him in to many movies, as a matter of fact, besides Bubba Ho-Tep, the only other movie that I have seen Ossie Davis in is, The Stand (1994)!)

In all of the movies that I have seen Ossie in, he has always played a man who at his core, is a brave man old man, that is not one of those old men to always let the younger go first when facing danger!

And as for Don Coscarelli... Believe it or not, I also haven't seen many movies that have the stamp of this epic movie director... But what I have seen, I do like! So far I like his work because he seems like he stretches out the suspense enough to really keep you on the edge of your seat!

Now speaking of, Bubba Ho-Tep (2002)...

Written and Directed by: Don Coscarelli (Phantasm), Starring: Bruce Campbell (The Evil Dead), Ossie Davis (The Stand), Ella Joyce (Stranger Inside), and Bob Ivy (Near Dark).

Something is rotten at a relatively obscure long term care retirement home in East Texas that seems to be housing some famous people in it!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Bruce Campbell as, 'Elvis Presley' in, 'Bubba Ho-Tep' (2002)[/caption]

Included in the roster is, 'Elvis Presley' (Campbell), who supposedly had changed identities with an Elvis impersonator before his old life destroyed him... (The only problem is that when Elvis wanted to switch back, his contract was blown up!).

The other one is, JFK... Who supposedly didn't die in the 60s, and is now an aging Black Man in the retirement home!

And now there is another famous person that is setting up residence in the retirement home as well.... That is an old mummy that has started speeding these old people's march toward death!

Now it will be up to Elvis and JFK to saddle up and go to war with this Ancient Egyptian evil, before the residents of this retirement facility has their slow march to the end of their lives become a quick run!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Elvis Presley and JFK are going to war in, 'Bubba Ho-Tep' (2002)![/caption]

What I like about this movie myself ultimately, is that besides the acting and directing. I just found this story (which was based on the short story by Joe R. Lansdale), to have been really well crafted... What with some great hilarious moments, fun character development, appropriate moments to root for Elvis and JFK, etc...

All in all, definitely a fun time at the movies!

http://youtu.be/X7Qo74_L3vo

Men In Black 2 (2002) - Movie Review

[caption id="attachment_385" align="alignright" width="353"] Official Score = 2 Devils[/caption]

When I was a kid, one of the things that I really liked to do was to go to the movie theaters on the weekends. As a matter of fact, a lot of the movies that were released from the mid to late 90s that I saw, I saw them at the theaters!

And one of these movies that I happen to watch at the theater during one of these weekend excursions was the movie, Men In Black (1997)! Now I happen to really enjoy this movie and was glad when I discovered, Men in Black 2 (2002):

Written by Robert Gordon (Galaxy Quest), Barry Fanaro (Kingpin) and Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld (RV). Starring: Will Smith (Independence Day), Tommy Lee Jones (The Sunset Limited), Rip Torn (Eulogy), Lara Flynn Boyle (Wayne's World), Rosario Dawson (Sin City), and Tony Shalhoub (Monk).

Men In Black 2, is the continuing story of Agent Jay (Smith), and Agent Kay (Jones), and the, Men In Black Organization! During this time, Agent Kay is working for a small town postal department and is living his old life as Kevin Brown! And Agent Jay is going through new partners as fast as humanly possible!

[caption id="attachment_465" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Agent J. (Will Smith) as he re-introduces Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones) to the wide world of, 'Men In Black!'[/caption]

Now during this time a Kylothian Space Craft is carrying an Alien by the name of, Serleena (Boyle), who lands on earth to search for the, 'Light Of Zartha'. As Agent Jay begins his investigation in to the Kylothian ship and Serleena, Agent Jay comes to realize that the only way that Jay is going to solve this case is that he is going to have to bring Kay back in to the fold (despite the fact that Kay's memories of the men in black have been zapped!)

So as Jay figures out how to give Kay his memories back (so that the two can find the, 'Light Of Zartha'), and with Serleena having crippled MIB headquarters, it will be up to Jay... (and hopefully Kay) to save the world from the menace that is Serleena!

[caption id="attachment_467" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Agents J, and K are back to kick some major ass![/caption]

In my opinion this movie is not as good as the first one, it was definitely missing that love interest between Jay and Laurel (Played by: Linda Fiorentino) from the first Men In Black movie, and the some times comic nature of the communication between the Aliens and Men In Black was little over the top.

That was on the negative side, on the plus side, all the actors did do a fun job with what they had to work with, the special effects and camera work were a lot of fun, and Barry Sonnenfeld continued to bring a fun Men In Black movie to the big screen that will make it so that when you come out of that movie, you will not be disappointed but kind of pleased for having seen it!

http://youtu.be/pCRFJFLfBVc