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AVPGuyver21 added 1 item to Movies I watched in September 2020 list
Date: 9/18/2020
Viewed: Amazon Prime
First Viewing
Note: This is another great classic movie that I missed out on. I always wanted to see it for years, but I never had the chance too. Seeing that this movie is now on Amazon Prime (As of 9/18/2020), I finally sat down and watched this movie, After watching it for the first time, I really enjoy it. In the Heat of the Night is an absolutely fantastic movie from start to finish. The movie has smart writing, great acting, and fantastic pacing. Not a single moment in this movie was boring. I also like that nothing in this movie feels dated because the themes in the story are still relevant in today's world. I can totally understand why this movie won the best picture at the Oscars.
I still wish Sidney Poitier won the award for best actor instead of Rod Steiger, but that's just me. Overall, In the Heat of the Night is a fantastic movie and I highly recommend checking this movie out. 4 years, 7 months ago
AVPGuyver21 added 1 item to Movies I watched in September 2020 list
Date: 9/16/2020
Viewed: Shudder
First Viewing
Note: I do remember seeing this movie on TV as a little kid, but I only remember one or two scenes of this movie. So I'm counting this movie as a first viewing. After watching this movie for the first time on Shudder, I thought it was pretty good. Fade to Black is a cool and creative horror movie that deals with a crazy movie buff that becomes a serial killer. This is the movie that The Fanatic (2019) wants to be, but fails. I do love the makeup work in this movie because it still looks good for a movie that came out over 40 years ago.
The movie is super entertaining because the movie glues you to your seat on what will happen next. I really enjoy Dennis Christopher as Eric Binford because he does a great job of playing a socially awkward and unlikable movie buff that looks harmless. His character sums up my mental image of your typical nice guy/incel in today's world. You also have solid performances from Norman Burton (Planet of the Apes 1968), Tim Thomerson (Trancers), Mickey Rourke, and Morgan Paull (Blade Runner) as well.
I do like the general message of this movie is to warn people when someone's hobbies go way too far. Clearly Eric Binford is someone who has mental health issues and never got the proper mental help treatment. While I do really like this movie, I still think the movie could have been better. I wish they polish the script more to add some more depth to the story. It would have been cool if they made a darker movie that shows more of the human psyche of a crazy fanboy. I also feel like the supporting cast feels lackluster too.
Overall, Fade to Black is a good movie that is worth checking out. I won't mind seeing someone remaking this movie in today's world. 4 years, 7 months ago
AVPGuyver21 added 1 item to Movies I watched in September 2020 list
Date: 9/16/2020
Viewed: Blu-Ray
First Viewing
Note: I do remember hearing about this movie growing up, but I don't remember watching it. After watching this movie for the first time on Blu-Ray, I end up liking it. Blue Monkey aka Insect is a fun creature feature that does not take itself too seriously. The acting in this movie is surprisingly decent and Steve Railsback (In the Line of Fire) is easily the best actor in the movie. None of the characters are great, but I still find them to be pretty likable. The story in the movie is pretty stupid, but that's the charm of this movie. It's a 1980s horror movie that almost feels like a tribute to 1950s horror movies. I do think the worst thing about this movie are the kids because I found them to be so annoying.
The best thing about this movie is the production values because the movie has great lighting, solid camera work, and awesome special effects in my opinion. I dig the atmosphere and the general vibe that this movie has because the movie feels suspenseful and creepy. The killer bugs in this movie look great, and they don't look cheap at all. They look so authentic that this movie can easily be mistaken for a big-budget mainstream studio film. Even the blood and gore in this movie is very well done. Dark Force Entertainment did a wonderful job of restoring it because the picture looks so clean and crisp looking. I do recommend picking up the Blu-Ray release.
Overall, Blue Monkey aka Insect is a fun B movie and I do recommend checking it out if you enjoy trashy horror movies. 4 years, 7 months ago
AVPGuyver21 added 1 item to Movies I watched in September 2020 list
Date: 9/17/2020
Viewed: DVD Import
First Viewing
Note: This is a movie that I honestly never heard of until it was picked for this week's movie for Film Club (A movie discord server that I'm in). It took me a while to find a way to watch this movie because the movie has no official release in the United States at the moment. After watching this movie for the first time, I really enjoy it. The acting in this movie is excellent and I also enjoy the pretty cinematography as well. The movie looks great because you get plenty of pretty shots of Japan in this movie.
The best thing about this movie is the story because the main character is a novelist that makes everyone's lives so difficult for everyone around him. The main character goes through a major loss, and yet he feels no sadness. He has trouble moving on with his life and it takes him a while to recognize that most people in his life dislike him. This is a movie that you are supposed to hate the main character and you want to see him change his ways. The movie also covers themes of loneliness and the lack of human connection in our lives. Miwa Nishikawa did a wonderful job of tackling these themes without coming off as pretentious in my opinion.
The only thing that I didn't like about this movie is the pacing because it took me a while to get invested in the story. The movie is over 2 hours long, and I was starting to feel burned out by the last act of the movie. I'm still glad that I watched this movie nevertheless and I hope someone like Criterion will pick it up in the near future. Overall, The Long Excuse is a great movie and I do recommend checking it out. 4 years, 7 months ago
AVPGuyver21 added 1 item to Movies I watched in September 2020 list
Date: 9/13/2020
Viewed: TubiTV
First Viewing
Note: I honestly like this movie way better than Reigo: The Deep-Sea Monster vs. the Battleship Yamato to be honest. This movie is far from perfect, but I had a lot of fun watching it. Unlike Reigo, this movie didn't move at a snail pace and I didn't want to turn it off when watching it. The movie was entertaining because it felt like a traditional kaiju movie for once. You have plenty of giant monster destruction in this movie that will please fans of the Kaiju genre. Unlike Reigo, I actually like the main characters and the humor made me laugh.
The CGI in this movie is terrible and it is cringy to sit through. I almost felt like that I was watching a PS1 FMV (full motion video) cut scene when watching this movie. I'm still glad that I watched Deep Sea Monster Ragia and I do recommend it to giant monster movie fans. 4 years, 7 months ago
Movies I Saw In September 2020.AVPGuyver21 added 1 item to Movies I watched in September 2020 list
Date: 9/12/2020
Viewed: Blu-Ray
Re-Watch
Note: I haven't seen this movie since 2012 and I felt like revisiting this movie lately. Hard to believe that this movie is almost 10 years old because it does not feel like it at all. The Raid still holds up very well and there is not a single boring moment in the movie. The movie has nice pacing because it does not overstay its welcome. I do love the dark and gritty tone of this movie because the movie does feel like a classic grindhouse movie at times with the over the top violence and the single place setting. When watching this movie, I do get an Assault on Precinct 13 (1976) vibe but that's just me.
The best thing about this movie is the action and fight choreography because it is awesome. The fight scenes are well done and the violence in the movie is very satisfying. While the movie is not a hardcore gorefest, but you get plenty of ultra-violence that will please fans of violent movies. The acting in the movie is surprisingly good and I feel like everyone did a good job with their roles. Iko Uwais as Rama is a nice action hero that is a rookie in the police force that wants to make it out alive to see his wife and his unborn child. His character is likable and you want to see him get alive. The story in this movie is nothing deep, but it's not supposed to be. It knows what it is trying to be and knows what the movie's main target audience wants. It actually succeeds in being a brutal action movie without coming off as a dumb edgy movie that panders to the edgelords/angsty teenagers. I still wish the movie had a stronger supporting cast of characters because some of them didn't feel very well-developed in my opinion.
Overall, The Raid is a solid movie and I do recommend it if you enjoy violent action movies. 4 years, 7 months ago
AVPGuyver21 added 1 item to Movies I watched in September 2020 list
Date: 9/9/2020
Viewed: Shudder
First Viewing
Note: I never heard of this movie until recently when I saw it at my local Red Box. I thought I might as well check it out because the movie got some good word of mouth on the web. After watching it on Shudder, I thought it was pretty good. Z is a pretty interesting horror movie with the idea of an imaginary friend that haunts people. I do like the creepy atmosphere that this movie has and the acting is pretty solid. I honestly can't help to compare this movie to Daniel Isn't Real (2019) because both movies do share similarities with each other. They are both horror movies with an evil imaginary friend, and they both deal with people going through mental health issues. Daniel Isn't Real is a better-made movie that handles this concept way better in my opinion.
I still don't think Z is a bad movie because I still had a lot of fun watching it. The movie has some scary scenes that took me by surprise and the creature design for Z is pretty cool. However, I wish the movie had a stronger script because I feel like the characterization could have been better. The characters in this movie feel lackluster and I didn't really care for them that much. You also have stuff in the story that I felt like that was never explained at all. Not to mention, the CGI in this movie looks pretty bad. Z in this movie looks super fake and it feels like it was ripped out of a cut scene from an Xbox 360 video game in my opinion. I still respect the effort and creativity that was put into this movie.
Overall, Z (2019) is not a bad movie and I do think it is worth a rental if you are curious.4 years, 7 months ago
4 years, 7 months ago
AVPGuyver21 added 1 item to Movies I watched in September 2020 list
Date: 9/9/2020
Viewed: TubiTV
Re-Watch
Note: It's been a while since I have seen this movie and it holds up well. Dial M for Murder has a creepy story that deals with someone trying to threaten someone into murdering another person. The classic scene of Grace Kelly's character getting strangle is pretty scary and was disturbing at the time back in 1954. You can see how Hitchcock's style has influenced many people to make the Giallo genre a decade later with movies such as Blood and Black Lace (1964).
I still love the story in this movie because the movie keeps the audience at the edge of their seat on what will happen next. Alfred Hitchock knows how to keep the audience entertained by adding mystery and suspense to have people be invested with the story. When watching this movie, you can always pick up clues before the main characters find the clues themselves. I also love the colorful cinematography from Robert Burks and it would have been cool to see what the movie would have been like in 3D. You also have a great creepy score from Dimitri Tiomkin that helps creates a haunting and atmospheric tone for the story.
Overall, Dial M for Murder is a solid movie and I highly recommend watching it. 4 years, 7 months ago
AVPGuyver21 added 1 item to Movies I watched in September 2020 list
Date: 9/8/2020
Viewed: Amazon Prime
First Viewing
Note: I always wanted to check out the original The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo for years, but I never had the chance too. I only have seen the English adaption of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo once when it came out in theaters back in 2011. Also, I never read the books, and I can't compare the two. After watching this movie for the first time on Amazon Prime, I really enjoy it. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is an excellent mystery thriller from start to finish.
One of my favorite things in this movie was the dark atmosphere because I love the dark and gritty feeling of this movie. You get a sense of rawness seeing how this movie feels like it could happen in our reality. Everything is down to Earth with the story and characters. They handle the violence in this movie very well because it does not feel like it is shoved in the audiences' faces. You have a very disturbing rape scene that is important to the story. The rape scene is not added for mindless shock value and it fits with the general theme of the story. The general theme of the movie is how dangerous men can be towards women with the violent abuse of women in Sweden.
The acting in this movie is fantastic because everyone did a wonderful job with their roles. The movie is over 2 hours and it does have a slow start, but it is totally worth sitting through. The movie's long run time is needed for the story because you have great character build-up and plenty of interesting twists & turns that happens. I can't think of a single scene in this movie was boring, to be honest. Every moment had me on the edge of my seat waiting for more.
Overall, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009) is a great movie and I'm glad that I watched it. I do want to revisit the 2011 English adaption soon and watch the other two movies in the series as well. I do recommend watching this movie when you get the chance. This is not a film for the faint-off-heart, so I don't recommend it if you can't handle graphic violence. 4 years, 7 months ago
AVPGuyver21 added 1 item to Movies I watched in September 2020 list
Date: 9/7/2020
Viewed: Amazon Prime Rental
First Viewing
Note: I avoid watching this movie for years because I normally don't watch remakes of movies that I like. Not to mention, the idea of Elijah Wood playing Frank Zito was so random. However, people have told me that this remake is pretty good for the last several years now. I decided to finally watch this movie for the first time and I end up liking it a lot. Maniac 2012 is a solid remake that respects the original 1980 movie. I still love the original 1980 Manic movie more, but I still consider this movie to be noteworthy.
I like that this movie does something new with the story while staying faithful to the original at the same time. You still have the dark atmosphere and the creative camera angles from the original in this movie. It was also cool that they had Frank Zito being schizophrenic, and they show more of his backstory. Elijah Wood in this movie was also surprisingly good because he does a good job of playing someone who looks harmless, but yet deadly. Elijah Wood did his own spin on Frank Zito instead of trying to copy Joe Spinell's performance. I also like that this movie was an indie film and not some big-budget mainstream Hollywood remake. If this movie was remade by Platinum Dunes, it probably would have been hot garbage in my opinion. They hire someone who understands the original Maniac movie and is trying to make a good movie instead of some nostalgic cash grab.
I love the chilling music and the beautiful cinematography that this movie has. Maxime Alexandre did a wonderful job of making modern LA look and feel dark and scary. Watching this movie makes you not want to be alone late at night on the streets of LA. The blood and gore in this movie are excellent too. The special effects are nowhere as good as Tom Savini's work, but they still did a great job nevertheless. Both this movie and the original movie are excessively gory but that's not a bad thing. This movie is meant to be very violent because it is important to the story's theme.
Overall, the 2012 Maniac remake is a good movie and I do recommend checking it out.4 years, 7 months ago
AVPGuyver21 added 1 item to Movies I watched in September 2020 list
Date: 9/7/2020
Viewed: Tubi
First Viewing
Note: I always wanted to check out this movie for the last 15 years now when I first heard about it on the Monster Zero forums back in 2005. I finally got the chance to watch it because the movie is now on TubiTV and Amazon Prime (As of 9/7/020). I really wanted to like this movie, but I didn't. Deep-Sea Monster Reigo is a boring kaiju movie in my opinion.
I thought the movie was very slow and I didn't care about any of the characters. Reigo has a cool design, but the awful CGI ruined the movie for me. The CGI is worse than the CGI in Godzilla 2000 (1999) and that movie came out six years earlier than this movie did. At least, the idea behind the movie was cool because I don't think they made a Kaiju movie that was set during WW2 before. I also thought the humor in the movie was very stupid and not funny at all.
Overall, Deep-Sea Monster Reigo is a forgettable movie and I recommend watching something else instead. 4 years, 7 months ago
