Apollo 18 - 2011

Dimension Films, Bekmambetov Projects Ltd. (BPL), Apollo 18 Productions

Directed by Gonzalo Lopez-Gallego

Cast:

• Ben Anderson – Warren Christie
• Nate Walker – Lloyd Owen
• John Grey – Ryan Robbins
• Deputy Secretary of Defense – Michael Kopsa
• Mission Control – Andrew Arlie
• Laura Anderson – Kim Wylie
• Ryan Anderson – Noah Wylie
• Nate's Girlfriend – Ali Liebert
• John's Fiancee – Erica Carroll

Story: Unknown to the world, the US did launch another Apollo mission, a secret military mission with only one agenda: place listening devices and motion activated cameras on the moon. The three astronauts chosen were not briefed on any other details, and they are confused when their equipment begins to have problems. Because of communications problems, they miss one take off, and begin to realize there is more here than meets the eyes. They stumble upon a Russian lander, and realize the bodies of the two Cosmonauts did not die of natural causes. Their worst fears are realized when they are told they cannot return to Earth.

Review: Conspiracy theories and “recovered” footage, hmm...Blair Witch project, take three? While not quite ready to put this in the total waste of time category, I have to admit this could have used a lot of work. The acting is so-so, the dialog is “too” real, almost forced, and the story wanders around in search of a decent climax. Like “Cloverfield”, the project was a low-budget, ambitious film with that more than tripled its cost, which has to have made the investors happy. But the premise of the US sending three men into space to die, knowing the outcome of the mission, is sparse at best, and the worst kind of obscure and meaningless conspiracy theory. Hostile creatures on the moon, spider-like beings disguised as rocks then sent by the government to other nations to what, assassinate other leaders in mysterious, untraceable deaths? Sorry, but I just can't wrap my head around this one. Probably a “once see” for the scifi crowd, rated PG-13 for violence and language, I don't see this one as a collectible, or really as that entertaining.

Cloverfield - 2008

Paramount Pictures, Bad Robot

Directed by Matt Reeves

Cast:

• Marlena Diamond – Lizzy Caplan
• Lily Ford – Jessica Lucas
• Hudson 'Hud” Platt – T. J. Miller
• Rob Hawkins – Michael Stahl-David
• Jason Hawkins – Mike Vogel
• Beth McIntyre – Odette Annabele

Story: Shot from the perspective of a personal video camera, we follow five young adults through a night of sheer horror. Rob Hawkins, the older brother of Jason, is leaving tomorrow for Japan for his job, and his friends decide to throw him a going away party. We see moments leading up to the party, as well as some personal footage (they borrowed Rob's camera to shoot the memento video and forgot to change the tape) between Beth and Rob. While the party is in full swing, Beth shows up with another guy, and Rob and her argue, some of it on tape. Beth and her friend leave the party, and Rob is off sulking when an explosion rocks the building and the power flickers on and off. The guests quickly leave the party and go out into the street to see what is happening, when the head of the Statue of Liberty comes sailing through the air and lands in the street. They quickly learn the Army is battling a creature of unknown origin in the streets of Manhattan, and trying to evacuate civilians. Rob, Hud, and Lily head out to find Beth, who is injured and in her apartment. Along the way they discover Marlena, and together the four try to rescue Beth and make it to the evacuation area before the Army obliterates Manhattan.

Review: An interesting take on the horror genre, Cloverfield was not my first “recovered footage” film. I have to admit, once I got through the first 20 minutes of the film, it moved pretty well. The dialogue was interesting and the actors played their parts well. Since the entire film is comprised of “recovered classified footage”, the film is not of the quality you would expect from a big budget production. But the story is both plausible (except for the creature, which is never fully identified) and real. How would you react to that level of chaos and panic? This is an interesting character study which looks for the best in the participants, who are willing to sacrifice their lives to save another. While certainly not a huge collectible for the mainstream, I think this will be a favorite of lovers of the Blair Witch Project and Apollo 18. Rated PG-13 for terror, violence and disturbing images, I think this is one time you should heed the warning and watch this one after the little ones are asleep.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - 2011

Columbia Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Scott Rudin Productions

Directed by David Fincher

Cast:

• Mikael Blomkvist – Daniel Craig
• Lisbeth Salander – Rooney Mara
• Henrik Vanger – Christopher Plummer
• Martin Vanger – Stellan Skarsgard
• Dirch Frode – Steven Birkoff
• Erika Burger – Robin Wright
• Anita Vanger – Joely Richardson
• Cecilia Vanger – Geraldine James
• Dragan Armansky – Goran Visnjic

Story: A renown Swedish investigative reporter, Mikael Blomkvist, who has exposed the illicit dealings of a major financial player is taken to court and successfully sued. He resigns from his position at his newspaper and is approached by a retired industrialist to investigate the forty year old mystery of his granddaughter's disappearance. As he investigates, he finds there are many skeletons hidden in this family's closet, including the family Nazi's, but most of his leads are ending in dead ends. Mikael decides he requires assistance. The industrialist had Mikael's background checked prior to hiring him, so Mikael demands to see the report. Having read things that could only be discovered by an adept hacker, he insists on hiring this individual as his assistant. Lisbeth is a very different individual, a thin, goth appearing girl with multiple piercings and tattoos, including a large dragon across her left shoulder. We see enough of her life to know she is a hard individual who cares little for the conventions of society, and has a very mean temper. But she is an adept researcher who knows how to analyze information, and together, Mikael and Lisbeth must piece together the mystery of the disappearance of Vanger's granddaughter.

Review: Rooney Mara and Daniel Craig form an interesting and unusual pair in this thriller based on the book by Swedish author Stieg Larsson. There is a lot of exposition at first, since the characters are new and their lives complicated, to say the least. And frankly, at just under two and one half hours, I would not be a proponent, but this film is an exception. The background of the characters, especially Lisbeth's, is required to understand the darkness of not only the family being investigated, but the investigators themselves. The depth of Lisbeth's darkness can be seen in the way she deals with a purse snatcher in the subway, and with the abusive state appointed clerk who administers her funds after her guardian is hospitalized. Christopher Plummer is superb as the retired industrialist who only wants closure to the disappearance of his granddaughter, an event he might have put out of his mind except that every year on his birthday he receives the same gift she gave him before she disappeared. Stellan Skarsgard gives a wonderful performance as the incompetent grandson who is ruining the company, and Joely Richardson is magnificently understated in her role. Perhaps the most impressive player is Daniel Craig, who continues to astound us with his range and depth of ability. To transition from the hard, emotionless Bond to this role is a total reversal of character, but one we have seen before in Defiance and Lara Croft. Craig, I believe, is the next actor to be added to the list of phenomenal performers like DeNiro, Hopkins, Pacino, and a scattered few more. Lastly, Rooney Mara impresses me with her ability to remain detached yet empathic in this role. Overall, this film is a wonderful peek into the dark underbelly of the human condition, and a must see for fans of Hitchcock, Craven, and the other masters of horror who have gone before. Rated R for graphic violence, rape, torture, language, and sexuality, I would hazard to say this film belongs in your collection if you are a fan of the detective genre.

Resident Evil: Afterlife - 2010

Constantin Film Produktion, Davis-Films, Impact Pictures

Written and Directed by Paul W. S. Anderson

Cast:

• Alice – Milla Jovovich
• Claire Redfield – Ali Larter
• K-Mart – Spencer Locke
• Luther West – Boris Kodjoe
• Chris Redfield – Wentworth Miller
• Albert Wesker – Shawn Roberts
• Bennett – Kim Coates
• Jill Valentine – Sienna Guillory

Story: The clone Alice army has destroyed the Tokyo facility of the Umbrella Corporation in a daring move that kills everyone but Alice and Albert Wesker, one of the main leaders of the corporation. Wesker is also infected with the T-Virus, and like Alice, has incredible speed, agility, and healing powers. But as he is escaping from Tokyo, he is about to kill Alice on his escape plane when the plane crashes. Alice survives, even though she has been returned to human status thanks to an injection delivered by Wesker. Sic months later, Alice has located a plane and is flying to Alaska to find Claire and the others from the caravan. When she arrives, she finds only a deserted field with lots of abandoned planes and helicopters, and is almost ready to give up when she is attacked....by Claire Redfield. Claire and the others were captured by the Umbrella Corporation to be used as subjects for further development of the T-Virus. Together, Claire and Alice fly to Los Angeles, where they locate another group of survivors who are also looking for an escape to Arcadia. But Arcadia is not a city in Alaska, it is a ship off the coast broadcasting a signal to offer shelter and food with no fear of infection.

Review: Paul W.S. Anderson returns to direct this fourth installment of the incredibly popular franchise. Milla Jovovich and Ali Larter reprise their roles as Alice and Claire. Kim Coates is offered up as our resident “jerk”, a part he has played so well in so many films. And hats off to Shawn Roberts, who is the best villain of the series so far. While this film is far more expository that the first three, the level of zombie terror is maintained with the addition of mutated zombies who have grown mandibles similar to the Reaper strain in Blade 2. Overall, this film is less satisfying than the previous three, but does resolve some plot issues and returns Alice to humanity. Boris Kodjoe is excellent as the even tempered former basketball star who is trying to keep the small group alive in their fortress, and while Spencer Locke is in the film, her role is so small it barely merits credits. For the adrenaline junkies among us, the opening scenes of the film make the best use of the Alice clones, and the action there is excellent, although brief. The mutated baddie known only as the Axeman is an interesting contrivance, yet too easily done in by Larter and Jovovich. Consider this film a bridge between Extinction and Retribution, which is accented by the brief but ominous appearance of Sienna Guillory (hint: Don't skip the end credits). Rated R for violence and language, like Extinction, if you have them, you have to have this one for the collection.

Resident Evil: Extinction - 2007

Resident Evil Productions, Constantin Film Produktion, Davis-Films

directed by Russell Mulcahy

Cast:

• Alice – Milla Jovovich
• Carlos Olivera – Oded Fehr
• Claire Redfield – Ali Larter
• Betty - Ashanti
• K-Mart – Spencer Locke
• L. J. - Michael Epps
• Dr. Isaacs – Iain Glen

Story: The T-Virus has run amok, spreading faster than anyone would have imagined, and the earth is dying. Alice is staying on the run, trying to hide out from the satellites of the Umbrella Corporation, but there are other evils about. She encounters a small group of people who have gone savage, using a radio distress call to lure victims in to rape and torture for their entertainment. When they are done, they feed them to the mutated dogs in their cellar, but Alice has other ideas. Her powers are growing stronger as well, psychic powers that she has not learned to control yet, but they are growing. After an incident where she loses her motorcycle, she stumbles on a caravan of survivors out in the Nevada desert led by Claire Redfield, and runs into her old friends Carlos and L. J.. She has found there may be hope in Alaska, on a tiny island that is free of the disease, but in order to get there, the caravan must resupply, and that means they have to go to a big city, where the zombies are likely to be. The Umbrella Corporation has also regained their signal on Alice, and are tracking her along wit the caravan. Alice must defeat the corporation once again while trying not to endanger the lives of the survivors.

Review:

Alternative Title:
Hot women with guns taking on zombies and the bad guys responsible for making them.

Milla Jovovich kicks butt and takes names in this third installment of the popular series. This time the virus has spread and has encompassed the world, so Alice is out and about, trying to avoid the undead. Now toss in Ali Larter, the tough, smokin' hot gal from Final Destination and Heroes, add in some Ashanti, and spice it up with the return of Oded Fehr and Michael Epps, and you have an action film that is sure to please. The Umbrella Corporation is well represented, with Iain Glen returning as the infamous Dr. Isaacs, the Frankenstein of all Frankensteins. When he learns Alice is still around, he tries every trick in the book to get her back. Be careful what you wish for, Doc. Great stunts, great action, and every bit as exciting as the first two films, Resident Evil: Extinction is sure to please the fans of the video game and the movies. And for us old guys, there is an "homage" to the King of Horror himself, Alfred Hitchcock, that is sure to please. Rated R for brief nudity, violence, and language, if you have the others, you have to have this one in your collection.

Resident Evil: Apocalypse - 2004

Constantin Film Produktion, Screen Gems, Davis-Films

Directed by Alexander Witt

Cast:

• Alice – Milla Jovovich
• Jill Valentine – Sienna Guillory
• Carlos Olivera – Oded Fehr
• Major Cain – Thomas Kretschmann
• Angela Ashford – Sophie Vavasseur
• Dr. Ashford – Jared Harris
• L.J. - Mike Epps
• Terri Morales – Sandrine Holt
• Nemesis – Matthew G. Taylor

Story: We pick up where we left off in Resident Evil. The city is in a panic as the Umbrella Corporation evacuates key personnel and erects a wall around the city. Alice has managed to find an surplus store and is armed to the teeth. Meanwhile the police are trying to contain the panic, and a team of special officers known as S.T.A.R.S. are working in conjunction with Umbrella Corp. Special Forces to attempt to limit the spread of the disease. The zombies are winning, of course, and Alice is doing what she does best, kicking ass and taking names. When she rescues two STARS officers and a reporter from a mutant demon in a church, they all work together to find a way out of the city. Alice knows the Umbrella Corporation will sanitize the city with a 5 kiloton nuclear weapon at dawn, so they have that long to escape. Meanwhile, one of the scientists who created the T-virus is desperately seeking help to rescue his daughter from the city. He contacts Alice and her team and offers them a way out in exchange for the rescue of his daughter. When they have her, Alice must battle her counterpart, Nemesis, to survive.

Review: Milla Jovovich once again plays Alice, the genetically altered warrior whose powers are growing more and more powerful every minute she is alive. She is literally a one woman army, and her skills are impressive. Milla's character is bent on accomplishing one goal: Destroy the Umbrella Corporation. She exits the Raccoon City hospital and seizes a police shotgun out of an abandoned squad car, and begins to walk down the street littered with cars and other vehicles wrecked and destroyed. Meanwhile, Jill Valentine, a sexy and deadly STARS cop played by Sienna Guillory, is on alert as well, taking the initiative and shooting the zombies in the head. She and her partner are at the only exit from the city when a man becomes one of the walking dead and the gates are closed, sealing the city from the outside world. Oded Fehr and his team of commandos are pinned down by zombies and soon realize no help is coming. Jared Harris as Dr. Ashford has only one priority, to get his daughter out of the city. This film is as good as the first and perhaps a little better. Tina Gerussi and Robyn Ray deserve exceptional mention for their casting. Rated R for brief nudity, language, and violence, this is a must see if you liked the first movie, are a fan of the video game, or just like a good old fashioned high tech bloodbath with plenty of action.

Resident Evil - 2002

Constantin Film Produktion, Davis-Films, Impact Pictures

Directed by Paul W. S. Anderson

Cast:

• James 'One' Shade – Colin Salmon
• Alice – Milla Jovovich
• Rain Ocampo – Michelle Rodriguez
• Matt Addison – Eric Mabius
• Spence Parks – James Purefoy
• Chad Kaplin – Martin Crewes
• Red Queen – Micheala Dicker

Story: We enter on a scene of someone operating Waldos in a laboratory, placing double helix shaped tubes carefully into a metal suitcase. As the individual retrieves the case from the sealed area, he heads toward the door and tosses a lone tube in the air. As he closes that door, the tube shatters on the floor. Within moments, alarms are going off, people are panicking, and the scientists and workers at “The Hive” are sealed off from the world and beginning to die. Cut to a young woman lying on a shower floor, the curtain draped in front of her. She wakes up, wanders through the rooms, and suddenly there is a policeman, dressed in civilian clothes. Moments later, a team of commandos enters by rappelling and smashing through the windows. They take the police officer into custody, and the leader is holding the young woman by the shoulders saying “I want your report, soldier. I want it now!”. Alice soon discovers she has been hit with a special nerve gas by the Red Queen, a computer system that controls The Hive. Two hours ago the Red Queen went homicidal, and the team is there to find out why. Since Alice is one of the two security agents assigned to protect the secret entrance to The Hive, she must accompany them on a journey into death, destruction, and corruption far deeper than anyone suspects.

Review: A movie based on a Video Game? Really? Let's face it, Doom sucked (No offense intended, Dwayne), Tron was so-so (Oh wait, that's right, the movie was the basis for the game.) and Lara Croft, well...Hmmm, maybe I better shut up at that. After all, Angelina is one of the hottest women on the planet. Speaking of really hot women, Milla Jovovich and Michelle Rodriguez are certainly in the top twenty or so. This film is a no excuses romp through all the zombies and evil creations any modern Frankenstein could dream up, and the players are all well versed in the action adventure genre. This is one of those films that brings together all the phobias of evil corporations, illegal experiments, and scientists backed by the military to produce horrific weapons of mass destruction that, as always, backfire. James Purefoy is the greedy bastard that starts everything in motion, but the Red Queen, a computer with the holographic persona of the designers daughter, is HAL and Skynet rolled into one times ten. One by one the rescuers succumb to either the Red Queen or the Zombies, and we are sitting on the edge of our seat waiting to see if anyone survives. Rated R for violence, language, and some brief nudity/sexuality, this film has spawned four sequels and who knows if more are coming. Powerfully entertaining and thrilling, I highly recommend this film to anyone who enjoys a good scifi flick with all the elements to keep it interesting. Definitely collectible.

The Prophecy: Uprising

Dimension Films, Neo Art & Logic

Directed by Joel Soisson

Cast:

• John Reigert / Satan – John Light
• Dani Simionescu – Sean Pertwee
• Allison – Kari Wuhrer
• Simon – Jason London

Story: In Eastern Europe, a priest has hidden an angelic bible deep in the mysterious room where only he can find it. This bible is not finished, but as the priest leafs open the pages, new words begin to form on the final pages. This is the completion of the book of Revelations, the book that will reveal the name of the Antichrist, the man who brings the earth to Armageddon. The priest dies a horrible death, and the book is given to Allison, who is the long lost half sister of Dani Simionescu, a policeman who steals from drug dealers to give the money to the church. John Reigert leads Dani on a quest to find Allison and reveal to her the truth of her nature. As always, the forces of heaven and hell are at odds with man over the outcome.

Review: While based on the original “Prophecy” movies, this fourth installment features new characters and an interesting plot twist. Unfortunately, the film opens slowly and does not give us the same introductions as the first three. You have to stay with the film through some pretty uninteresting footage for about 20 minutes before the story takes hold. Missing is the comic element of the original, as well as the appeal of Christopher Walken, who has personally saved more than 20 films simply by being in them. I offer as evidence Suicide Kings and The Rundown, to name just two. John Light does a very passable job as Satan, although that isn't revealed until late in the film, and Sean Pertwee presents well as the man attempting to atone for his sin of informing on his parents to the communists when he was a child. Kari Wuhrer is the character who will join us in the fifth film, and she does a fine job of preparing us for the character to come. Jason London as Simon is interesting, but lacks passion in his performance. Overall, this film is less than adequate to follow in the footsteps of the original trilogy, which is why it lacks the numeral sequence to identify it. Rated R for violence, disturbing images, and language, I don't see this as becoming collectible, even to fans of the original series. But if you liked the first three, you'll probably enjoy this new venture into the battles between angels.

The Prophecy 3: The Ascent - 2000

Dimension Films

Directed by Patrick Lussier

Cast:

• Gabriel – Christopher Walken
• Zophael – Vincent Spano
• Danyael – Dave Buzzota
• Maggie – Kayren Butler
• Joseph – Steve Hytner
• Zealot – Brad Dourif
• Pyriel – Scott Cleverdon
• Mary – Moriah Shining Dove Snyder
• Madge – Sandra Ellis Lafferty

Story: The Nephalim is fully grown and preaching. Young Danyael, who was orphaned when Molotov cocktails were thrown through the window of his home, is preaching against God to the homeless and disenfranchised when a zealot in the crowd opens fire and shoots him. Gabriel, who is mortal, defends the young prophet, and takes steps to clear his path as he comes back from the dead. Maggie, his companion and mate, is disbelieving, but soon realizes Danyael is not merely a “talking monkey” like the rest of us. The rebellious angels, now led by Zophael, must prevent Danyael from defeating Pyriel, the angel who has been chosen to lead the human race into genocide. When Danyael travels to meet Pyriel, he meets Mary, the native American girl, who prophecies to him. As Gabriel travels to observe the battle, he stops in to the same roadside cafe as the first movie, and has a meeting with Madge, the waitress. In the end, Nephalim and Angel must battle for the future of mankind.

Review: This final chapter of the trilogy brings together all the unanswered questions of the first two films. Walken, Hytner, and, delightfully, Sandra Ellis Lafferty reprise their roles with amazing clarity. Walken is the mortal Gabriel who was cast to earth after the final scene in Prophecy 2, and he makes it apparent whose side he is on. By becoming one of the “talking monkeys”, he now understands the value of their existence and realizes he can no longer oppose God's plan. Dave Buzzota, in his premier performance, is intense and powerful as the Nephalim who soon discovers he has been “kicking against the pricks”. When his destiny is revealed, he throws himself into the role with such vehemence that you get caught up in his mission. The characters are consistent with the first two films, and the overall feel of the movie is enticing and thrilling. Rated R for violence, language, and some brief nudity, this is a good film for followers of modern horror and a must see for anyone who enjoyed the first two film. Collectible with the set, meaningless without the others.

The Prophecy II - 1998

Dimension Films, NEO Motion Pictures, Overseas FilmGroup

Directed by Greg Spence

Cast:

• Gabriel – Christopher Walken
• Valerie Rosales – Jennifer Beals
• Danyael – Russell Wong
• Izzy – Brittany Murphy
• Samayel – Glenn Danzig
• Joseph – Steve Hytner
• Michael - Eric Roberts

Story: Four years have passed and Lucifer is tired of Gabriel's presence in Hell and releases him to walk the earth again. Meanwhile, the angel Danyael has come to earth with a very specific mission, to create a Nephalim, a being born of a human female and an angel. Valerie Rosales, a nurse in a hospital, is driving her car when Danyael falls out of the sky in front of her. As he recovers in her hospital, they become close, and after several weeks he walks her home, and they make love. Within a week, she discovers she is pregnant. Nearly 4 months pregnant. Gabriel is on the move, wanting to eliminate the Nephalim as an abomination who might change the balance of heaven and earth and end the second war. He kills Samayel, and angel sent to watch over Valerie, and when the corpse is brought to the coroner's office, Joseph, the coroner who was a close friend of Thomas Dagget, recognizes who the body is and tries to warn Valerie about the angels and what is happening. Danyael must take Valerie to Michael, who guards the now polluted Eden with his angels, and Valerie must trust the voice of God to save her child.

Review: I'm not usually a big fan of sequels, but the continuity of story line and the introduction of some new characters keep this one fresh and intriguing. I was a little disappointed they could not get Elias Koteas back to reprise his role as Dagget, brief as that part is, but was pleasantly surprised to see Steve Hytner back in the role of Joseph, the coroner. Walken, of course, is consistent as the stars as Gabriel, and brings back a near corpse in the form of Brittany Murphy, who does a much better job in this film that others I have seen her in (In my opinion, the epitome of her career was in Uptown Girls, where she was totally upstaged by Dakota Fanning). Russell Wong is strong in his portrayal of Danyael, with the perfect balance of passion and aloofness. He cares for the human female, but realizes she is mortal, while the Nepahlim they create will not be. Jennifer Beals could have been a bit more passionate in the role, but her performance is passable and doesn't detract from the film's overall theme. Finally Eric Roberts does what he does best, let's his personality shine through, which is to say dispassionate, cold, and ambiguous. But that works here, and since the role is brief, does not detract from the plot or the action. Rated R for sexual situations, language, and graphic violence, this film is a worthy companion to the first, and if you own The Prophecy, this will make a nice addition. But as with all sequels, its a toss up. Definitely worth a viewing, but I suggest you rent it first before you buy a copy.

Pitch Black - 2000

Polygram Filmed Entertainment, Interscope Communications

Directed by David Twohy

Cast:

• Richard B. Riddick – Vin Diesel
• Carolyn Fry – Radha Mitchell
• William J. Johns – Cole Hauser
• Abu “Imam” al-Walid – Keith David
• Paris P. Ogilvie – Lewis Fitz-Gerald
• Sharon “Shazza” Montgomery – Claudia Black
• Jack / Jackie – Rhiana Griffith

Story: A space freighter is making a long haul, the crew and passengers in suspended animation, when disaster strikes. A meteor shower sends bullet sized fragments through the hull, waking the crew, or what's left of them. The captain is dead before he even leaves his chamber, and the second officer and docking pilot have to think fast to save their lives and the lives of the passengers. When it is over, only the docking pilot and a handful of passengers remain alive, and they are on a hostile planet with no apparent foliage or water, and three suns. One of the passengers is a murder on his way back to prison, the enigmatic Richard B. Riddick, another the bounty hunter bringing him back to prison. Riddick escapes his bonds and flees the company, but the others are more concerned with finding water and trying to find shelter. Zeke has taken upon himself the duty of burying the corpses they can find, but when he does he is attacked and killed by something. The blame immediately falls on Riddick, but when he is captured he denies killing Zeke. Soon the castaways discover a deserted mining camp with a shuttle they might be able to use for escape, but they also discover a horrifying secret. The planet is inhabited by creatures who can only hunt in darkness...and the planet is about to go into total eclipse.

Review: The plot in this film is pretty straight forward, and certainly not original in the scheme of science fiction. The characters are somewhat predictable, with the Imam leading and caring for his three teenaged followers on a great Hadj to New Mecca, the docking pilot having her first “command” thrust upon her, the bounty hunter a junkie hooked on pain killers, the entrepreneur who cares more about his cargo that the situation, a kid traveling alone, a provocatively beautiful woman who is apparently traveling for work, and a hard core killer with eyes that glow and the ability to see in the dark. Okay, so that last character isn't so predictable. As a matter of fact, Vin Diesel portrays a thinking killer who displays none of the classic psychotic behaviors we are used to in a “villain”. Instead, Riddick is a cold, calculating man who carefully reads the people around him. Radha Mitchell is excellent in her role, letting the inexperience of command shake her confidence while she attempts to lead the group into the right decisions. Keith David is the man of God, the man who always finds the hope in the situation and tries to encourage others to do the same. Cole Hauser is a perfect sociopath, coldly deciding who should be sacrificed as long as he survives. The film moves at a good pace, makes one or two logical flaws in the plot, but overall entertains and apparently creates a memorable character in the form of Riddick, who we see next in The Chronicles of Riddick, our next review. Rated R for violence and gore, and language, this film is collectible for Vin Diesel fans and anyone who likes good science fiction.

The Shining - 1980

Warner Bros. Pictures, Hawk Films, Peregrine

Directed by Stanley Kubrick

MY 100TH POST! Cast:

• Jack Torrance – Jack Nicholson
• Wendy Torrance – Shelly Duvall
• Danny Torrance – Danny Lloyd
• Dick Halloran – Scatman Crothers
• Stuart Ullman – Barry Newman
• Delbert Grady – Phillip Stone
• Lloyd the Bartender – Joe Turkel

Story: Jack Torrance is a writer looking for a place where he can be alone to work on his novel. The Overlook hotel seems like the ideal location. The Overlook is located high in the mountains in Colorado, and when the winter snows set in, the roads become impassable. The hotel ownership hires one man to stay for the winter, doing odd repairs and rotating the heat to prevent mother nature from taking a hold while the place is unoccupied. But when Jack, his wife Wendy, and their son Danny move in, strange things begin to happen. Danny Torrance has some psychic powers, and the spirits at the Overlook are determined to contact him and his folks to make them permanent guests of the Overlook.

Review: Combine director Stanley Kubrick with writer Stephen King and the acting talents of Jack Nicholson and Joe Turkel, and you have one of the all time classic horror films of the modern age. This thriller is subtle and nearly misleading as we open. Long shots of open highways winding through incredibly beautiful scenery, incredibly appointed rooms with lush beauty, and some small background moments to give you a little insight into the characters. But once the preliminaries are over, the film begins to step up the pace. Little Danny is having visions, as is Jack, and the characters are portrayed like all the characters in King's books...unremarkable until affected by the evil that is the Overlook. Nicholson is incredibly powerful as Torrance, a man with little moral background, a recovering alcoholic and child abuser who has already injured his son. Slowly but surely he is drawn into the Overlooks plans through the manipulations of Lloyd the Bartender, exceptionally portrayed by Joe Turkel. While Shelly Duvall's character is two dimensional and somewhat weak, she nonetheless manages to pick up the gauntlet of the challenge and we witness a transformation from the weak-willed, battered wife to a mother intent on saving her child. While the MPAA did not have the rating system in place at the time, this film would be an should be rated R for language, brief nudity, and scenes of horror and violence. Definitely collectible, they will be talking about this film for years to come as one of Nicholson and Kubrick's greatest achievements.

The Wolfman - 2010

Universal Pictures, Relativity Media, Stuber Productions

Directed by Joe Johnston

Cast:

• Sir John Talbot – Anthony Hopkins
• Lawrence Talbot – Benecio Del Toro
• Gwen Conliffe – Emily Blunt
• Singh – Art Malik
• Inspector Abberline – Hugo Weaving
• Maleva – Geraldine Chaplin
• Passenger on the Train – Max Von Sydow

Story: The year is 1891, and a celebrated actor receives a visit from his brother's fiancee to inform him his brother is missing. Lawrence Talbot travels by train to his family's estate, and as he does he is met by a stranger who offers him a gift, a cane with a silver headed wolf for the handle that conceals a dagger within. He refuses and returns to sleep, but when he awakens, the stranger is gone and the cane remains. When he arrives at his father's estate in Blackmoor, he learns his brother's body has been found the day before in a ravine. He views the body, and it is obvious his brother has been mauled by an animal, an animal no one can identify. At first a band of gypsy's are considered the suspects, but when a group of men go to the camp, a vicious attack of the beast leaves several men dead, and Lawrence is seriously wounded. As his wounds miraculously heal, the people of the village are convinced he will become another beast.

Review: Finally! A return to the elements that make up a good old gothic horror film. This homage to the original wolfman films wastes no time in getting to the heart of the story, a werewolf has appeared and is killing men. The pompous men of the town are spouting theories, the brother of the man returns to find the killer of his brother, and the resolution of the film leaves us with both a conclusion and another mystery. The cast is superb. Anthony Hopkins creates an intriguing character in Sir John, with the proper amount of tension played between him and Benecio Del Toro, who plays Lawrence. Emily Blunt is striking in her portrayal of the fiance, Ms. Conliffe, showing the correct Victorian demeanor and just the right levels of emotion. Both Hugo Weaving and Geraldine Chaplin lend an air of mystery and drama in their roles , and the all too brief appearance of Max Von Sydow in the Director's Cut of the film provides the correct level of dynamic mystery to start us off. Collectible of lovers of horror films, and certainly a must see for the older folks who appreciate a well put together film. Rated R appropriately for violence and gore.

The Time Machine - 2002

Warner Bros. Pictures, DreamWorks SKG, Parkes/MacDonald Productions

Directed by Simon Wells

Cast:

• Alexander Hartdegen – Guy Pearce
• David Philby – Mark Addy
• Emma – Sienna Guillory
• Moorlock Leader – Jeremy Irons
• Flower Shop Worker – Alan Young
• Vox – Orlando Jones
• Mara – Samantha Mumba
• Kalen – Omero Mumba

Story: In January of 1899, a young physics and applied engineering professor at Columbia University is about to propose to Emma. Professor Hartdegen meets Emma at the skating rink at Central Park, and they take a stroll into a secluded area of the park where he proposes. Unfortunately, a thief is lying in wait for them and in the ensuing robbery, Emma is shot and killed. Professor Hartdegen is devastated and retreats into his home laboratory. His goal: to build a time machine that will allow him to return in time to prevent Emma's death. Yet even when his machine is complete, Emma dies in a different scenario. He finds he cannot change the past, so he goes forward instead to find the answer to the riddle. In the year 2030, he encounters Vox, the compendium of all human knowledge at the New York City library, who informs him that time travel is no more than science fiction, so he determines to go farther into the future. In 2037, he finds the world is in shambles because they have thrown the moon out of orbit, and when he climbs aboard his machine to escape the carnage, he is knocked unconscious and unwittingly travels to the year 802,701. Here he is discovered by Mara, an Eloi who has learned “the stone language” and can communicate with him. He soon learns their agrarian community is threatened by the Moorlocks, creatures who live beneath the earth and hunt the Eloi for Food.

Review: Four generations later, we have a revision of this classic science fiction film by none other that the great grandson of H. G. Wells. While entertaining and well presented, this film bears only a superficial resemblence to the original of 1960. Underlying the plot is the question of Fate. Why can't you change the past? The concept of Eloi and Moorlock are somewhat consistent with the original film and the novel, but their roles have significantly changed. The Eloi are fishers and farmers, and they live in cliff dwellings made of bamboo and other natural materials. The Moorlocks are still subterranean creatures, but now they are divided into castes, some bred for hunting, others bred to control. Where the hunters are physically superior, the controllers have telephatic powers which allow them to keep the hunters at bay. Our protagonist is Alexander Hartdegen, not H. George Wells, and his motivation for creating the time machine is love, not commerce or scientific knowledge. The addition of Orlando Jones as Vox allows for the failure of Hartdegen to return to the past, since he contains all human knowledge from the 21st century and some beyond. Guy Pearce presents a believable character, and Samantha and Omero Mumba are excellent in their roles as the brother and sister Eloi who discover and befriend him. Mark Addy is Philby, and an excellent addition to the cast as Hartdegen's mentor and friend. Jeremy Irons portrays the Moorlock Leader with a rare and insightful talent that only he can generate. While his character is not evil in the sense we normally believe, he is still a thoughtful being who offers Hartdegen the opportunity to return to his own time. Rated PG-13 for violence, this film is highly entertaining but certainly not destined to be a classic. It is, however, an interesting revision of the original plot with some well thought out twists and turns, and the romantic angle of the film is sure to keep the ladies interested.

Hannibal Rising - 2007

Young Hannibal Productions, Carthago Films S.a.r.l., Dino De Laurentiis Company

Directed by Peter Webber

Cast:

• Hannibal Lecter – Gaspard Ulliel
• Lady Murasaki – Li Gong
• Mischa Lecter – Helena-Tia Tachovska
• Inspector Popil – Dominic West
• Vladis Grutas – Rhys Ifans
• Enrikas Dortlich – Richard Brake

Story: How do you make a monster? In this last film and earliest prequel to the character originally introduced in Manhunter, we begin in 1944, in Lithuania at Castle Lecter. The Nazis and the Soviets are approaching one another, and Hannibal's father moves the family from the castle to their hunting lodge a few miles into the woods, hoping to avoid the fighting. That hope is shattered when a Soviet tank bursts into their clearing to pump water from their well, only to be spotted by Nazi aircraft. The planes begin a strafing run, the tank machine gunner manages to shoot down a plane before he is killed, and the only survivors are Hannibal and his sister, Mischa. They are in the lodge only a few days when a group of looters who have been working for the Nazis break in and hold the children hostage, thinking at first they will use them as leverage if they are discovered by the Soviets. They have no food, and soon they decide to eat one of the children for survival. Next we cut to Castle Lecter, which has been transformed into a “People Orphanage” where Lecter is one of the orphans. Singled out by a bully for refusing to speak, Hannibal is locked in a storage room below the Castle where he escapes, and discovers some letters and photographs of his mother's that reveal he has an uncle and aunt in Paris. He travels to Paris, and Lady Murasaki, his aunt, takes him in. Hannibal decides to attend medical school and shows a great aptitude for the profession, but within him is his growing desire to avenge the murder of Mischa.

Review: Here is the foundation of madness. The tale of Hannibal Lecter is a grisly and dark tale, but here we actually sympathize with him. He is a boy who loves his sister very much, so much he attempts to defend her against the invading looters. He is only about 10 years old, much too young to fight off five armed men, and their violation of the boy and his sister is nothing short of monstrous. Even in time of war, there is no excuse for the horror these men perpetrate on the children, and these are the seeds planted in Hannibal's mind that create the character we are so familiar with. The cast is primarily European, which gives us another perspective into the creation of our sociopath, and the introduction of Lady Murasaki and ancestor worship creates the dimension needed for Hannibal to avenge the death of Mischa. The film begins in horror and ends in horror, and is perhaps the most chilling of the five films about our character. Gaspard Ulliel gives a haunting performance as the young Hannibal, Li Gong is impressive as Lady Murasaki, and Dominic West is equally intriguing as the investigator of war crimes who knows but cannot prove Hannibal is killing the criminals. And perhaps this is the reason we sympathize with Lecter. This monster preys upon monsters. If you think about it, most of the people Hannibal kills, with the notable exception of the two police officers, two ambulance personnel, and the tourist at the airport in SOTL, are criminals, murders, child molesters, and worse. While we are not privy to the full list of Hannibal's victims, we see a purpose in his killings. Overall, this is a chilling tale that completes the Lecter series, and one that is a must see for fans of the films and Harris' novels. Rated R for the same reasons as the previous films, and definitely not the fare for the younger members of the family. Collectible for the lovers of the series.

Red Dragon - 2002

Universal Pictures, Dino De Laurentiis Company, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Directed by Brett Ratner

Cast:

• Will Graham – Edward Norton
• Dr. Hannibal Lecter – Anthony Hopkins
• Francis Dolarhyde – Ralph Fiennes
• Jack Crawford – Harvey Keitel
• Reba McClane - Emily Watson
• Molly Graham - Mary-Louise Parker
• Freddy Lounds – Philip Seymour Hoffman
• Nurse Barney Matthews – Frankie Faison
• Dr. Frederick Chilton - Anthony Heald

Story: Will Graham is a retitred FBI agent who is called back to the BAU to help Jack Crawford catch “The Tooth Fairy”. Graham is a 'profiler' of criminal behavior, and tries to think like the killers he profiles in order to capture them. While searching for clues to the Tooth Fairy's identity, Will meets with Dr. Hannibal Lector, an incarcerated serial killer who Will captured years earlier. His early dealings with Lector nearly drove him insane, and almost cost him his life. He discovers secret communciations are being routed in newspaper personal ads between Lector and the Tooth Fairy, and Lector may be behind a plot to kill his family for revenge.

Review: This remake of Manhunter is the first of two prequels to the Hannibal Lector saga, and there are some marked differences in the visions of Ratner and Mann. Hopkins reprises his role as Hannibal Lector, and his viscious and brutal nature are more pronounced here that in the previous two films. Perhaps it is his hatred of Will Graham, played brilliantly by Edward Norton, perhaps it is his blossoming hatred of Dr. Chilton, the second appearance of Anthony Heald in the role. Frankie Faison also reprises his role as Barney, the nurse. Harvey Keitel's vision of Jack Crawford is an interesting shift from Scott Glenn's portrayal, with Keitel being a more emotional agent, but that may be a sign of maturity from the days of this film to SOTL. While I am a big fan of Michael Mann, I have to say this film is a more complete picture of the events, and a much more in depth look at the characters, particularly of Lector. Ralph Fiennes gives a spectacular performance as the Tooth Fairy, and Emily Watson's portrayal of the blind Reba McClane is passionate and very human. We have a glimpse also of Lecter before he was incarcerated in the flashback scenes between Hopkins and Norton, as well as the interaction of the two in Lecter's exercise room. Rated R and they mean it. Much too grisly and bloody for the little ones, and some teens and adults will find the settings and the gore disturbing. Collectible for lovers of Hopkins, Hannibal Lector, and anyone who loves a good horror story.

Hannibal - 2001

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Universal Pictures, Dino De Laurentis Company

Directed by Ridley Scott

Cast:

• Dr. Hannibal Lecter – Anthony Hopkins
• Clarice Starling – Julianne Moore
• Barney – Frankie Faison
• Mason Verger – Gary Oldman
• Paul Krendler – Ray Liotta
• Inspector Reynaldo Pazzi – Giancarlo Giannini
• Allegra Pazzi – Francesca Neri
• Dr. Cordell Doemling – Zlejko Ivanek

Story:Ten years since the escape of the infamous Dr. Lecter, he remains free. He has chosen to live a benign existence, and is currently under review as a historian in Florence, Italy. Meanwhile, back in the US, Special Agent Starling's career is at a standstill. The FBI has her on field duty, and she is agent in charge of massive multi-task force to arrest one of the biggest drug smugglers on the west coast, when a local cop tries to play hero and the streets turn into the OK Corral. Starling is forced to shoot her suspect while she is carrying her baby. She is on suspension pending the outcome of the investigation, and the federal prosecutor wants her head on a platter. Mason Verger, a very wealthy former patient of Lecter's, is also looking for him...for revenge. Lecter was so repulsed by his crime, the rape and torture of children, that he convinced Mason to cut away parts of his anatomy while under the influence of drugs, leaving Verger a disfigured invalid. Inspector Pazzi, an Italian detective, has located Lecter and is ready to sell him to Verger, but at what cost?

Review: I've already talked about Hopkins in my review of Silence of the Lambs, so suffice it to say he is just as evil and monstrous in this film as in the last, if not more so. I was disappointed, as I think everyone was, that Ms. Foster did not agree to reprise her role as Clarice Starling, but Julianne Moore does an excellent job. Frankie Faison is consistent in his role as Barney, the kindly nurse who placed the chair opposite Lecter's cell in the first film, and in this one he is caught by Clarice auctioning off the remainders of Lecter's belongings. Most of the action is around Lecter and his intricate game of chess with Verger, played exceptionally by Gary Oldman, but the three subplots are brought together in the end, and an unexpected end at that. Ridley Scott, the director of such Sci Fi classics as Blade Runner and Alien, does not disappoint, and this film retains all the darkness and foreboding of the former. A must have for the collectors of Hopkins, crime dramas, and horror films. Rated R for gore, violence, language, and horrific scenes that are sure to give any sane man or woman nightmares.

The Silence of the Lambs - 1991

Orion Pictures Corporation, Strong Heart/Demme Production

Directed by Jonathan Demme

Cast:

• Agent Clarice Starling – Jodie Foster
• Hannibal Lecter – Anthony Hopkins
• Jack Crawford – Scott Glenn
• Dr. Frederick Chilton – Anthony Heald
• Barney Matthews – Frankie Faison
• Jame “Buffalo Bill” Gumb – Ted Levine
• Senator Ruth Martin – Diane Baker
• Catherine Martin – Brooke Smith
• Lt. Bill Boyle – Charles Napier
• SWAT Commander – Chris Issak

Story: A young FBI trainee with degrees in the law and psychoanalysis is sent on a mission by the head of the Behavioral Analysis Unit. She is to interview the notorious serial killer, Dr. Hannibal Lector, nicknamed Hannibal the Cannibal. It begins as a routine visit, she is polite and courteous, but when the inmate in the next cell assaults her, Lector offers her a clue to some of his past records and perhaps even a clue to the identity of a serial killer they are looking for, a man called Buffalo Bill. Clarice follows his clue to a long term storage facility where she uncovers the disembodied head of a former patient of Lector's. Lector offers to help Clarice solve the crime and catch Buffalo Bill for a price, an exchange of information and insight into Clarice. Unbeknownst to all, Dr. Lector is using all of the people involved as pawns in an intricate game.

Review: There is something about this film that will continue to haunt me forever. Perhaps it is the idea that someone like Lector could actually exist. That thought exists due to the phenomenal acting of Anthony Hopkins. While there are many actors whom I would enjoy the privilege of sharing time with, I think to this day if I were to meet Anthony Hopkins, I would like it to be in an open room with plenty of people. That is how convincing his portrayal of Lector strikes me, and I know many people who feel the same way. Scott Glenn's portrayal of Jack Crawford is cool and calm, exactly what you might expect of a senior agent and department head in the FBI. Jodie Foster's portrayal of the ambitious Clarice Starling is as compelling and haunting as Hopkins', which would account for both of them winning their respective Academy Awards. Demme and the film itself also received Oscars, as did the screenwriters of this exceptional film. The film itself is superbly written, perfectly cast, and splendidly presented in every aspect. Details are important to Demme, obviously, so important that filming was done at Quantico for the academy shots, using actual FBI personnel in the training sequences. Perhaps the most riveting quality of the film is the portrayal of Buffalo Bill, and the ability of Ted Levine to carry off that twisted and complex role. Ted shows us how innocuous evil can be, and presents it with such flair and elegance we can imagine such a man being in a rural town like that, hiding his crimes beneath a veil of anonymity and isolation. Rated R for violence, language, gore, and some partial nudity, this is definitely not a film for the kids or even the young teens, if you ever want them to trust your neighbors and you live in a small town. Collectible? Without a doubt, one of the finest dramas ever brought to the screen.

Manhunter - 1986

De Laurentiis Entertainment Group (DEG), Red Dragon Productions S.A.

Screenplay and Directed by Michael Mann

Cast:

• Will Graham – William Petersen
• Molly Graham - Kim Griest
• Reba McClane – Joan Allen
• Dr. Hannibal Lecter – Brian Cox
• Jack Crawford – Dennis Farina
• Francis Dollarhyde – Tom Noonan
• Dr. Frederick Chilton – Benjamin Hendrickson
• Lt. Fisk – Frankie Faison
• Freddy Lounds – Stephen Lang

Story: Will Graham is a former FBI agent who recently retired to Florida with his wife and son. Graham is a 'profiler' of criminal behavior, and tries to think like the killers he profiles in order to capture them. He is called out of his retirement by his former boss, Jack Crawford, to help the FBI catch an elusive serial killer, known to the press as the 'Tooth Fairy', who randomly kills whole families in their houses during the full moon and leaves bite marks on his victims. While searching for clues to the Tooth Fairy's identity, Will meets with Dr. Hannibal Lector, an incarcerated serial killer who Will captured years earlier. His early dealings with Lector nearly drove him insane, and almost cost him his life. He discovers secret communciations are being routed in newspaper personal ads between Lector and the Tooth Fairy, and Lector may be behind a plot to kill his family for revenge.

Review: This is the first of four reviews I will do on the movies involving the character Hannibal Lector, the horrifying creation of Thomas Harris who even now ranks among the most terrifying villains imagined. A physician and psychiatrist who not only manipulates and murders his patients, but eats them as well. In this first screen appearance of Dr. Lector, he is little more than a footnote. Most of the film concentrates on the toll taken on Will Graham in his return to the FBI and his pursuit of the Tooth Fairy. The film contains the classic Michael Mann “darkness”, and the action is brisk and to the point. Petersen, Cox, Farina, and Noonan give splendid performances, and the overall feel is better (in my opinion) than “Red Dragon”, the remake of this film. Rated R for violence and language as well as disturbing content and images, this is definitely not a family film.

Ghost Rider - 2007

Columbia Pictures Corporation, Crystal Sky Pictures, Relativity Media, Marvel Studios

Written and directed by Mark Steven Johnson

Cast:

• Johnny Blaze – Nicolas Cage
• Barton Blaze – Brett Cullen
• Carter Slade – Sam Elliot
• Mephistopheles – Peter Fonda
• Blackheart – Wes Bentley
• Roxanne Simpson – Eva Mendes
• Mack - Donal Logue

Story: “The story goes that every generation has one, some damned soul cursed to ride the earth collecting on the devil's deals. Many years ago, a ghost rider was sent to the village of San Vonganza, to fetch a contract worth a thousand evil souls...” Thus the narrator sets the stage for the epic battle of good and evil. Johnny Blaze is a professional stunt rider who made a deal with the devil when he was just a boy, a deal that backfired in his face, and left him orphaned and isolated from his friends and his sweetheart. Since then, he has gained national fame as the most daring daredevil on the planet, doing impossible stunts on his motorcycle. But his deal has come due, and the devil has charged him with a seemingly impossible task: find the contract of San Vonganza, a contract worth a thousand evil souls. The son of the devil, Blackheart, is also looking for the contract to create a hell on earth. The Ghost Rider must battle the devil and his son to make certain neither one get's the contract.

Review: I remember watching this film the first time and thinking it was just a lot of special effects without a lot of plot. Then I watched it a second time, and started to realize you have to really pay attention to the details to get the story. While not the best adaptation of a comic book (graphic novel if you prefer) to the screen, the special effects are awesome and the photography is Oscar worthy. Cage is Cage, that stoic actor who seems somehow devoid of emotion in most of his films. Mendez is hot, goes without saying, and equals Cage's level of emotion. Sam Elliot and Peter Fonda are the saving graces of the film, both adding a dimension of emotion lacking in the main characters. The prelude scenes of young Johnny and Roxanne are somewhat necessary, but could have been trimmed down to include more footage of the Ghost Rider and his missions. I haven't seen the newest film, just released at this writing, but hopefully the characters have been “fleshed out” and the plot concentrates more on the present than the past. With Cage being the only holdover for the new movie, perhaps the new directors can up the game a bit. The original film is rated PG-13 for violence and language, but nothing the teens haven't seen in their video games. Collectible? If you are a Marvel fan like I am, probably. As as classic film? No way. But entertaining.