Genre: Drama, War

Year: 2011

Country: Poland, Germany, Canada

Rating:

Starring: Robert Wieckiewicz, Benno Fürmann, Agnieszka Grochowska, Maria Schrader, Herbert Knaup

Director: Agnieszka Holland

My Review: An important movie about WWII and the inhumanity possible when anti-immigrant fascists are allowed to point their fingers at a people and say "They are our problem!" One man's quest to protect a group of humans in sub-human conditions. The drama was well written and well acted, but the production and direction were slightly below par. Many stories have been told of the tragic happenings in Warsaw during WWII. Very little is known about the pogroms that swept other Polish cities. Here is one such tale. As the Nazis and Polish police rounded up Jews for death camps, forced labor and extradition, one group hid in the nearest safe haven - The sewers of Lvov (Then part of Poland, now part of Ukraine). For 14 months these people hid out in the fetid tunnels beneath the city. They were helped by Socha, the city's 'sanitation engineer', a coworker and Socha's wife. Risking everything for what he knows is right, Socha manages to keep these political refugees safe from the Nazis, despite the constant threat of exposure and certain death for him, his family and the group of subterranean refugees seeking nothing more than the right to live! At times the movie moved a bit slowly, and the production wasn't the best. Uneven direction and pacing plagued parts of the movie. I give it a 3 out of 5.

Summary: IN DARKNESS tells the true story of Leopold Soha who risks his own life to save a dozen people from certain death. Initially only interested in his own good, the thief and burglar hides Jewish refugees for 14 months in the sewers of the Nazi-occupied town of Lvov (former Poland).

Genre: Horror

Year: 1988

Country: USA

Rating:

Starring: Bill Pullman, Cathy Tyson, Zakes Mokae, Paul Winfield, Brent Jennings

Director: Wes Craven

My Review: I completely forgot/missed the fact that this movie was directed by that master of Horror; Wes Craven (one of his less known works). Starring a fantastic cast of Bill Pullman, Cathy Tyson, Zakes Mokae, Paul Winfield, Brent Jennings, Conrad Roberts, and others. Here is a movie that starts out as scientific exploration and ends as a voodoo tinged horror story. The story: Dennis Allen (played by Bull Pullman) is an ethnobiologist/antrhopologist sent to Haiti by a pharmaceutical company. He's there looking for plants, animals and medicines associated with Haitian folklore. He comes across a rumored drug that leaves recipients totally paralyzed but conscious. Believing he's found a powerful narcotic and pain reliever he pursues the secrets of the drug with scientific indifference to its larger role in the creation of Zombies. Set during the terror inducing reign of Baby Doc Duvalier, the danger of man's inhumanity is just as much a threat as the voodoo steeped horror of zombies in this movie. As Dr. Allen is played as a pawn by politics and rival religious sects, he must decide whether this drug is worth his life or his soul. Filmed in Haiti, the attention to detail exhibited throughout the meticulously produced film are well worth it. The acting by Bill Pullman was surprisingly good and the direction quite good. As the tension and suspense build, this movie moves inexorably towards an excellent climax. 4 out of 5.

Summary: Dennis Allan is a scientist who visits Haiti on the strength of a rumour of a drug which renders the recipient totally paralyzed but conscious. The drug's effects often fool doctors, who declare the victims dead. Could this be the origin of the "zombie" legend? Alan embarks on a surprising and often surreal investigation of the turbulent social chaos that is Haiti during the revolution which ousted hated dictator "Baby Doc" Duvalier. Often a pawn in a greater game, Alan must decide what is science, what is superstition, and what is the unknown in a anarchistic society where police corruption and witch-doctory are commonplace.

Genre: Comedy

Year: 2011

Country: USA

Rating:

Starring: Jason Segel, Ed Helms, Susan Sarandon, Judy Greer, Rae Dawn Chong

Director: Jay Duplass, Mark Duplass

My Review: Jeff (played by Jason Segel) isn't the first 30 year old man-child to live in his parent's basement, and this isn't the first movie to explore that theme, but it does a pretty good job. The writing and editing is the best part of this movie. Starring Jason Segel (as Jeff), Ed Helms (as Pat), and Susan Sarandon as Mom. The movie is directed by Jay and Mark Duplass. The screenplay was excellent, but the direction was a bit off the mark. Pacing was a bit too slow and the character interaction seemed a bit stiff. The story: Jeff lives at home, in his mom's basement. He's a slacker, pot smoking, too easy going for his own good. His brother Ed, is an over inflated ego. Barely getting by, he imagines that his world revolves around him. Mom is a hard working woman, recently divorced, overly concerned about her immature man-children. The movie is basically Jeff's day out - Supposedly out to complete a chore for mom, he's really on a quest of self discovery; looking for 'Kevin'. Fate has plenty in store for Jeff, Pat and Sharon on this fateful day. More drama than comedy, the acting was adequate and I liked the 'normal' person casting, but some chemistry was missing. I didn't quite buy into Segel and Helms as brothers. Better than your mindless, crude humor comedy. I give this movie a 4 out of 5.

Summary: Jeff, at 30, lives in his mom's basement, unemployed, looking for signs about what to do with his life. He answers a wrong-number call for "Kevin". Later, on a bus, he sees someone wearing a jersey with "Kevin" on the back. Jeff follows him. Meanwhile, Jeff's brother, Pat, a tone-deaf salesman, upsets his wife by buying a Porsche they cannot afford; Pat runs into Jeff soon after and they see Pat's wife with another man. At her job, Jeff and Pat's mom receives e-mails from a secret admirer; she tries to figure out who it is. Misunderstandings, errors, and confrontations abound. A backup on the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway brings things to a head.

Genre: Sci-Fi

Year: 1986

Country: USA

Rating:

Starring: Christopher Norcross, Jonathan Norcross

Director: James Cameron

My Review: This sequel is a wild ride of a movie. Directed by James Cameron (The Terminator (1 & 2), Titanic, True Lies, The Abyss) and starring Sigourney Weaver, Michael Biehn, Paul Reiser, Lance Henriksen, Carrie Henn, Bill Paxton and others. I own and watched the Special Edition version (with 17+ minutes of restored footage). Here is a sequel that equals the original yet manages to do something very difficult for a sequel - something new. By switching genres - from horror to thriller, James Cameron and the other writers manage to bring us a thoroughly enjoyable sequel. The story picks up after Ripley has survived the ordeal of the first movie - If you haven't seen that movie, stop now, go watch it. It's fantastic. Moving on - So she's found drifting through space in her escape pod. After she's revived from cryostasis (57 years after her encounter with the Alien), she's persecuted by the company and stripped of her pilots license. Soon afterwards a company man shows up at her door. They've lost contact with the colonists on planet LV-426. They need her help to 'destroy' the things that she encountered. With a platoon of Colonial Marines in tow, the crew sets out on a thrilling 'bug hunt' amongst the maze-like corridors of this devastated colony. It's a journey straight into hell, with the survival of a species hinging on the outcome. Fantastic action, sound effects, perfect pacing, and spectacular effects. James Cameron does an outstanding job directing this movie, mixing in just enough humor at exactly the right times to keep this from being a sarcastically dark horror movie. The acting was excellent and I was glued to the set waiting on the outcome of this terrific action flick. I give it a 5 out of 5.

Summary: The planet from

Genre: Comedy

Year: 1980

Country: USA

Rating:

Starring: Rory Calhoun, Paul Linke, Nancy Parsons, Nina Axelrod, Wolfman Jack

Director: Kevin Connor

My Review: A cult classic with horrible acting, but great writing. The pacing is a bit off and the editing lacking, but the story is great. The story: Farmer Vincent (played by Rory Calhoun) and his sister (Nancy Parson) are the demented brother and sister duo who concoct Farmer Vincent's meats. Farmer Vincent abducts unsuspecting travelers and uses them to 'spice up' his signature smoked meats line. Everyone in the county loves that smoked meat. When Farmer vincent spares one of his 'victims' he falls in love and looks forward to a married life. His sister knows better. This girl (Nina Axelrod) spells trouble. Once she finds out what the 'secret ingredient' is she'll feel differently about Farmer Vincent's intentions. The movie is a horror movie, a comedy and a parody on slasher flicks. With plenty of gory gaffs, gratuitous nudity, and over the top shenanigans, this movie certainly qualifies as a cult classic horror flick. The chainsaw fight scene is epic! I give it a 4 out of 5.

Summary: Farmer Vincent kidnaps unsuspecting travellers and is burying them in his garden. Unfortunately for his victims, they are not dead. He feeds his victims to prepare them for his roadside stand. His motto is: It takes all kinds of critters...to make Farmer Vincents fritters. The movie is gory, but is also a parody of slasher movies like Last House on the Left.

Genre: Action

Year: 1992

Country: USA

Rating:

Starring: Sigourney Weaver, Charles Dutton, Charles Dance, Paul McGann, Brian Glover

Director: David Fincher

My Review: The third film in the Alien franchise. This time the movie is directed by David Fincher (Seven, Fight Club, The Game, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (American version)). Staring Sigourney Weaver (as Ellen Ripley), Charles Dance (as Clemens), Brian Glover (as Andrews), Ralph Brown (as Aaron), Lance Henriksen (as the actual Bishop?), Pete Postlethwaite (as David). In this iteration of the theme, Ripley's escape module crash lands on a prison planet with an inhospitable environment. She's alive, rescued from hyper sleep by the residents of this rock; a motley crew of convicts and caretakers who've decided to insulate themselves from the rest of humanity for one reason or another. Unfortunately, Newt, Cpl. Hicks and Bishop are all dead from various reasons. As you can imagine, an Alien has hitched a ride in the escape capsule, and Ripley must help the convicts defeat the beast before a queen is born. With the company on it's way, it's a race against two deadly enemies the ravenous killing machine that is the Alien and the soulless corporation that will stop at nothing to acquire the creature for its weapons research program. The movie is a bug hunt escape race. The plot doesn't leave much room for surprise. The visuals and camera work are excellent. The special effects quite good (except the eerily glowing cgi Alien as it races along the walls and ceilings of this 10 square mile prison complex.The acting was quite good, but the story was a bit too predictable. The ending was quite good. I give this movie a 4 out of 5.

Summary: Ripley continues to be stalked by a savage alien, after her escape pod crashes on a prison planet.

Genre: Documentary

Year: 1990

Country: USA

Rating:

Starring: Peter Jennings, Pierre Salinger, John McWethy, John Lawrence

Director: George Paul

My Review: There are basically two versions of this movie - The first (this one) was released in 1990 under the name/title of 'A Line in the Sand'. The second was named/titled 'A Line in the Sand - War or Peace?' Both movies were 50 minutes long, but the content is quite different. The first movie spent much more time on background of Iraq, while speculating whether their might be a war and if so what would American forces face?. Produced by ABC News, it's an in-depth look at the events (by Peter Jennings joined by Pierre Salinger, John McWethy and others) leading up to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. I give this documentary a 3 out of 5.

Summary: ABC News takes a step back for an in-depth look at the events leading up to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Peter Jennings reports on the long-standing relationship of Saddam Hussein's Iraq with the United States and other Western nations, and the impact of their support of Iraq's military build-up during the past decade.

Peter Jennings is joined by Chief Foreign Correspondent Pierre Salinger, Chief National Security Correspondent John McWethy, and London based correspondent John Laurence to discuss the volatile situation.

Documenting the beginning of the Gulf War, this program details what American military forces encountered in battle and what many people view as the underlying cause of the six-week-long war: oil.

Genre: Documentary

Year: 1991

Country: USA

Rating:

Starring: Peter Jennings, Bill Redeker, Jack Smith

Director: George Paul

My Review: There are basically two versions of this movie - The first was released in 1990 under the name/title of 'A Line in the Sand'. The second (this one) was named/titled 'A Line in the Sand - War or Peace?' Both movies were 50 minutes long, but the content is quite different. The second movie takes place just before U.S. forces join a growing coalition in order to force Iraqi forces to withdraw from Iraq. The second movie focused on the background of the Kuwaiti conflict, and basically assumed that there would be a war to liberate Kuwait from the Iraqi military. Produced by ABC News, it's narrated by a group of senior correspondents and specialists (by Peter Jennings joined by Bill Redeker, Jack Smith and others). They also spend some time exploring the root causes of the conflict and the power of oil in the gulf. I give this documentary a 4 out of 5.

Summary: On the night before the United Nations deadline for Saddam Hussein to withdraw from Kuwait, Peter Jennings anchors this in-depth ABC News Special.

Mr. Jennings is joined by a team of ABC News Correspondents: Bill Redeker reports from Saudi Arabia on what American forces will face in a military battle with Saddam Hussein; Correspondent Jack Smith examines the two men who have brought us to this brink - George Bush and Saddam Hussein; and National Correspondent John Martin explores what many see as the root of the crisis - Oil.

Genre: Comedy

Year: 1988

Country: USA

Rating:

Starring: Leslie Nielsen, Priscilla Presley, Ricardo Montalban, George Kennedy, O.J. Simpson

Director: David Zucker

My Review: The full title of this movie: The Naked Gun - From the files of Police Squad! It contains a large number of gags from the short lived television series "Police Squad". Starring Leslie Nielsen, Priscilla Presley, Ricardo Montalban, George Kennedy, O.J. Simpson, 'Weird Al' Yankovic, Susan Beaubian, John Houseman, Reggie Jackson! and many others. Leslie Nielsen stars as Frank Drebin, and incompetent but hard working police detective on the trail of his partner's (O.J. Simpson) killer. while investigating that slaying, he stumbles upon a plot to kill the Queen of England. Now it's up to him to thwart the plan and save the day. Produced by the people who brought us Airplane! here's another slapstick comedy filled with tons of visual gags and stupid humor that actually spawned two sequels. I have to admit that it was funny. Especially the opening scene where O.J. buys it. Lesley Nielsen is awesome. Straight faced and sincere, he delivers his ridiculous dialog without blinking in this ridiculous police comedy. I give it a 3 out of 5.

Summary: Incompetent cop Frank Drebbin has to foil an attempt to assasinate Queen Elizabeth II.