dragons2607
Joined Aug 2007
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Reviews7
dragons2607's rating
I typically stay away from shorts from unknown directors, but being a long time TMNT fan I decided to give this one a shot.
Let me first start off by saying that it's obviously low budget, but this doesn't mean it's low in quality. The acting (sans Michelangelo) is forced and bad, though the lead tends to do a much better job when he puts the mask on. The script was dry and didn't have much substance to it. However, the director was able to convey a bit of a darker side to Casey Jones.
The fight scenes weren't bad, though Casey is most certainly violent. There are a couple of scenes I found myself no longer rooting for him and instead seeing a vigilante that was really no better than the people he was protecting society from.
I'd check it out if you have 30 minutes, I think with a bigger budget and better actors, this director could go far with this idea.
Let me first start off by saying that it's obviously low budget, but this doesn't mean it's low in quality. The acting (sans Michelangelo) is forced and bad, though the lead tends to do a much better job when he puts the mask on. The script was dry and didn't have much substance to it. However, the director was able to convey a bit of a darker side to Casey Jones.
The fight scenes weren't bad, though Casey is most certainly violent. There are a couple of scenes I found myself no longer rooting for him and instead seeing a vigilante that was really no better than the people he was protecting society from.
I'd check it out if you have 30 minutes, I think with a bigger budget and better actors, this director could go far with this idea.
I'm not particularly a wrestling fan. However, there seems to be a growing trend introducing wrestlers to cinema. It's worked in the past for both Steve Austin and Dewayne Johnson, but it's not a set in stone formula.
This was not a flick that followed the formula of a successful action film. The plot moves quickly at the beginning, but then stops, takes a few sharp (and typical for this genre) turns. Stops, and then takes a few more wide turns before finally coming to a stop. For this being billed as an action/drama movie, it really doesn't have the characteristics of those.
The action and choreography is dull. Right down to it's core. I'd have rather them be too far out there than simply not enough, especially from a man like Bautista who has such a large physique, and a reputation in wrestling for being especially action-packed.
There were some cheesy moments with the action, as well. CGI rendered bullet holes, for instance - which I normally don't have a problem with if they're difficult to detect. However, these are laughably noticeable.
The acting was pretty atrocious for the most part. There were two saving graces: Amy Smart and Dominic Purcell (Danny Trejo's character doesn't have enough scenes to justify his role). Both Smart and Purcell played their parts very well. Their interaction with the main character is what you would expect for two seasoned actors talking to a dull brute.
Bautista cannot act. I'm sure he's excellent at tossing people around the ring and being overly intimidating (I have to admit, he is an incredibly large fellow). However - he should stick to the over dramatization of wrestling and leave acting to people who are actually good at it.
The plot was extremely cliché'. Nothing that I haven't seen before, this was just done much more poorly than previous renditions of the same story.
I'd suggest staying away from House of the Rising Sun.
This was not a flick that followed the formula of a successful action film. The plot moves quickly at the beginning, but then stops, takes a few sharp (and typical for this genre) turns. Stops, and then takes a few more wide turns before finally coming to a stop. For this being billed as an action/drama movie, it really doesn't have the characteristics of those.
The action and choreography is dull. Right down to it's core. I'd have rather them be too far out there than simply not enough, especially from a man like Bautista who has such a large physique, and a reputation in wrestling for being especially action-packed.
There were some cheesy moments with the action, as well. CGI rendered bullet holes, for instance - which I normally don't have a problem with if they're difficult to detect. However, these are laughably noticeable.
The acting was pretty atrocious for the most part. There were two saving graces: Amy Smart and Dominic Purcell (Danny Trejo's character doesn't have enough scenes to justify his role). Both Smart and Purcell played their parts very well. Their interaction with the main character is what you would expect for two seasoned actors talking to a dull brute.
Bautista cannot act. I'm sure he's excellent at tossing people around the ring and being overly intimidating (I have to admit, he is an incredibly large fellow). However - he should stick to the over dramatization of wrestling and leave acting to people who are actually good at it.
The plot was extremely cliché'. Nothing that I haven't seen before, this was just done much more poorly than previous renditions of the same story.
I'd suggest staying away from House of the Rising Sun.
It's been a while that a movie has moved me to the point of writing a review about it.
Most horror movies tend to be long-winded and boring. What I mean by that is - a majority could be made into 30-60 minute short stories and still maintain their level of creativity and intensity. Most directors tend to drop the ball in the final act of the movie. It's simply a part of the genre - you can only see so many grotesque situations before they become redundant, and most of the story lines have been done before.
"Grace", however, is in a class all on its own. The symbolism and message of the movie is subtle, though there are times of glaring irony that force the viewer to do a double-take. I felt like the director was spot-on in not only creating the atmosphere, but even utilizing the sometimes over-exaggerated sounds to get a message across to the viewers.
The story itself is fantastic. Though the idea has been played around with here and there in other movies, the depth and execution in this particular flick was astonishing and well pulled off. The main characters are spot on. There is enough "gore" to perpetuate the idea that this is still a horror movie, but nowhere near the amount for an overkill. The topic itself is serious but disturbing, and though a large part of the movie lacks any overall logical explanation - the mere thought that it was a possibility is enough for any of us that are parents to squirm in our seats.
I'd highly recommend this movie to horror enthusiasts. Though I'm quite certain it's message and it's delivery will be lost amongst masses of hack-and-slash horror lovers, there is no doubt that "Grace" will go down as a cult classic.
Most horror movies tend to be long-winded and boring. What I mean by that is - a majority could be made into 30-60 minute short stories and still maintain their level of creativity and intensity. Most directors tend to drop the ball in the final act of the movie. It's simply a part of the genre - you can only see so many grotesque situations before they become redundant, and most of the story lines have been done before.
"Grace", however, is in a class all on its own. The symbolism and message of the movie is subtle, though there are times of glaring irony that force the viewer to do a double-take. I felt like the director was spot-on in not only creating the atmosphere, but even utilizing the sometimes over-exaggerated sounds to get a message across to the viewers.
The story itself is fantastic. Though the idea has been played around with here and there in other movies, the depth and execution in this particular flick was astonishing and well pulled off. The main characters are spot on. There is enough "gore" to perpetuate the idea that this is still a horror movie, but nowhere near the amount for an overkill. The topic itself is serious but disturbing, and though a large part of the movie lacks any overall logical explanation - the mere thought that it was a possibility is enough for any of us that are parents to squirm in our seats.
I'd highly recommend this movie to horror enthusiasts. Though I'm quite certain it's message and it's delivery will be lost amongst masses of hack-and-slash horror lovers, there is no doubt that "Grace" will go down as a cult classic.