June 5, 2016 “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: Out Of The Shadows” (** out of four) was an unimaginative sequel about the four sewer-dwelling, pizza-loving ninja warriors who attempt to rescue NYC when it is threatened by the return of Shredder and the villainous Krang. Jammed with visual effects and features some good action scenes but never generates any real wonder or excitement. About on par with the 2014 version. The 1990 original remains the best to this critic. Megan is a fox as always as April O’Neill and Tyler Perry is on hand as a captured mad scientist. Continue reading →
June 5, 2016 “The Sighting” (*1/2 out of four) was a dreadful time-waster about two friends (Adam Pitman and Nathaniel Peterson) on a road trip who are suddenly attacked and preyed upon by a mysterious sasquatch. Or so it seems. Low budget independent horror thriller is also unfortunately low on brains and thrills as well. Final twist ending is interesting for those who make it that far. Co-star Pitman was also the co-writer and co-director. Continue reading →
June 5, 2016 “Before I Wake” (*1/2 out of four) was a deadly dull horror thriller about a young couple (Kate Bosworth and Thomas Jane) who adopt an orphan child who (what else?) turns out to be possessed and wreaks havoc on their peaceful homelife. Strictly for those who’ve never seen “Orphan”, “Sinister”, “The Conjuring”, “The Possession”, or too many others to name here with virtually identical plots. Watch this one only before you need sleep. What the hell are Jane and Bosworth doing in this junk? Continue reading →
June 5, 2016 “Gridlocked” (** out of four) was a mindless, derivative action thriller about a grizzled former SWAT leader (Dominic Purcell) who is forced to babysit a hard-partying movie star (Cody Hackman) when their police training facility is suddenly ambushed by terrorists (led by Stephen Lang). What begins as a mismatched buddy comedy similar to “The Hard Way” soon evolves into a bloody shoot ’em up similar to “Assault On Precinct 13”. Purcell is his usual one-note inexpressive self and Lang is unusually hammy but it’s worth half-a-star to see Purcell and main henchman Vinnie Jones in a hand-to-hand fight at the end. Not to be confused with 1997’s “Gridlock’d” with Tupac Shakur and Tim Roth. Continue reading →
June 5, 2016 “Green Room” (*1/2 out of four) was a pretty lame horror thriller about a punk rock band who witness a murder at a tour stop in a remote club and are then menaced by a group of maniacal skinheads and the club’s owner (Patrick Stewart). But it’s much more of a slowdown than a showdown. Many horror fans praised this movie but I’m not one of them. One scene of a band member getting his head blown off provides the only jolt in the film. Despite the lurid premise, it’s dreary and forgettable. Continue reading →
June 2, 2016 “Dark Signal” (** out of four) was a visually moody but empty, pretentious horror thriller set in Wales about the spirit of a murdered girl who returns from the dead with a cryptic message and a stranded girl in the countryside (Joanna Ignaczewska) must team up with the staff of a local radio station to solve her death before it is too late. Director Edward Evers-Swindell displays a flair for atmosphere and shows some promise but his own absurd story sinks it all. Film has some scares in its opening but becomes slower and more unpleasant as it goes along and eventually breaks down. Continue reading →
June 2, 2016 “Hidden In The Woods” (*1/2 out of four) was an ugly, unpleasant drama about two sisters raised in isolation by their backwoods abusive father (Michael Biehn). When he murders two investigating cops who arrive at his house, they escape but are mired in further problems with their drug-dealing and equally evil uncle (William Forsythe). Biehn is solid as always in unusual villain role and supporting performances are good but you’ll be numbed by all the sleaze. Not exactly a candidate for family-friendly filmmaking. Continue reading →
June 1, 2016 “Abandoned” (*1/2 out of four) was a boring melodrama based on actual events about four sailors (led by Dominic Purcell) who set sail in New Zealand but are capsized by a tidal wave and drifted for 119 days lost at sea. You’ll feel adrift and lost at sea by the end of this misfire. Extremely similar to 2013’s “All Is Lost” but to put it mildly, none of these blokes have Robert Redford’s charisma or star power. Director John Laing even dares to have the crew singing “Farewell and Adieu” at the end as a reminder of “Jaws” and the right way to make this movie. Abandon all thoughts of watching this and watch those two films instead. Continue reading →
June 1, 2016 “Life On The Line” (** out of four) was a trite melodrama about a crew of electrical grid workers (led by John Travolta) who brave the day-to-day dangers of their job with ease but are soon fighting for their lives in the midst of a deadly storm. Well-intentioned movie dedicated to the many electricians who have both risked and lost their lives is bland and heavy handed. A Southern accent is simply not to John Travolta’s best advantage. Continue reading →
May 31, 2016 “The Antwerp Dolls” (** out of four) was a dour crime melodrama about a ruthless and cold-blooded businessman (Bruce Payne) whose attempted double-dealings with the Belgian mafia are intercepted by his former protégées who are out for blood-thirsty revenge. Not the worst of its kind but could have used more of a sense of humor and not to mention characters you actually care about and root for. Yet another Scorcese/Guy Ritchie/Paul Greengrass wannabe that comes up empty. Continue reading →
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