tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196474091232449207.comments2024-03-15T20:14:57.052-04:00Direct to Video ConnoisseurDirect to Video Connoisseurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02310858965138247572noreply@blogger.comBlogger4595125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196474091232449207.post-12954495103618368782024-02-05T14:45:09.469-05:002024-02-05T14:45:09.469-05:00I would say William Smith's best (that i have ...I would say William Smith's best (that i have seen) is as the villian Falconetti in Rich man, Poor Man Book two, or as my father called him, Falcon Eddy . irishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09712863715623195135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196474091232449207.post-31989889438694780852023-07-05T14:35:22.778-04:002023-07-05T14:35:22.778-04:00I found this pretty funny overall, although I coul...I found this pretty funny overall, although I could have lived without the crips gang- shagging the gnarly vampire lady. Matt, I strongly recommend Freeway and Freeway 2 by the same writer and the ridiculous Shrunken Heads.JPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13618141405049233258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196474091232449207.post-16128290826265330992023-04-10T00:12:59.923-04:002023-04-10T00:12:59.923-04:00Well done on completing the full Seagal. You are n...Well done on completing the full Seagal. You are now a true Seagalogist! Don't go out of your way for Clementine - I did - and it's one of the toughest slogs I've had to sit through.Explosive Actionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07443543631273036178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196474091232449207.post-88271482361479321442023-01-08T18:59:01.635-05:002023-01-08T18:59:01.635-05:00I loved EYE OF THE TIGER. I guess record producers...I loved EYE OF THE TIGER. I guess record producers the Scotti brothers basically took the Survivor song recorded for ROCKY 3 and made a film around it. And to increase the ROCKY-adjacent feel they even added a James Brown track, 'Gravity', that sounds very similar to 'Living in America '. I loved that at the end, after a tease early on, Gary Busey rides into action in a Dodge Ram tricked out with weapons like it's a James Bond car; you can't get more 80s than that. (Not unlike the TANGO AND CASH scene a few years later.) You can't get more American than a big truck! Great to see William Smith as the villain too. The scenes with Yaphet Kotto also really interested me as their dynamic reminded me a lot of Steven Seagal and Keith David in MARKED FOR DEATH. The speech to the townsfolk is another one that brought Seagal to mind. I'm sure it's been in other stuff of course, but it made me think of the scene in FIRE DOWN BELOW when Seagal tries to shame the locals for their complicity and cowardice. The sheriff in that movie was even quite similar to Seymour Cassel in this one. So I do wonder if there was some influence or it was purely coincidence.Richard Haweshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09297262072747370419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196474091232449207.post-35892021239922130172022-09-01T21:33:44.090-04:002022-09-01T21:33:44.090-04:00I just got this on dvd and on the back it says 199...I just got this on dvd and on the back it says 1992.thebadcausehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13566475254484724919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196474091232449207.post-60605768118603970302022-08-07T13:30:23.143-04:002022-08-07T13:30:23.143-04:00I spent money on this and regretted it. Curiousity...I spent money on this and regretted it. Curiousity killed the cat. I'd thought the other Lethal Ninja was awful and was convinced I couldn't dislike this one any more, but this... blew it right out of the water. I couldn't follow it, barely any plot, a dull tedious watch with no redeeming features.Will Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04784928942061842755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196474091232449207.post-40146178077842586872022-01-19T07:14:31.806-05:002022-01-19T07:14:31.806-05:00IMDb has this as a 1993 film. Are you going by fil...IMDb has this as a 1993 film. Are you going by filming date?Will Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04784928942061842755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196474091232449207.post-48812017093093788622021-12-28T01:03:04.854-05:002021-12-28T01:03:04.854-05:00Love u guys…. Wings hauserLove u guys…. Wings hauserWings hauserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07088374484442013212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196474091232449207.post-2512057113228312392021-12-28T01:01:56.435-05:002021-12-28T01:01:56.435-05:00Love u guys…. Wings hauserLove u guys…. Wings hauserWings hauserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07088374484442013212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196474091232449207.post-67901307116793721652021-11-23T23:08:43.842-05:002021-11-23T23:08:43.842-05:00Treach in his most dramatic role for the 2009 film...Treach in his most dramatic role for the 2009 film is the best thing we've loved about him.Mark Elijiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05624201708878078669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196474091232449207.post-8902206506034715312021-09-22T19:35:12.101-04:002021-09-22T19:35:12.101-04:00I just watched The Sweeper. It's Alright but I...I just watched The Sweeper. It's Alright but I'm sorry...nothing about it was better than 'Live Free or Die Hard'. Plot, action, and lead roles were better in Die Hard 4. To each their own. Now if you're talking Die Hard 5? Then I would understand. Also, I find it confusing that your critique of Die Hard 4 is "Ridiculous action, paint-by-numbers plot"...you just described The Sweeper, only it is low budget with a miscast C. Thomas Howell. As for Jeff Fahey, he is a solid actor...especially in films like Body Parts. ramboraphhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14982330250728197919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196474091232449207.post-33342205970406311662021-07-28T18:41:38.554-04:002021-07-28T18:41:38.554-04:00This is so surreal I can't believe it actually...This is so surreal I can't believe it actually exists.SOAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10375031809675344182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196474091232449207.post-50550974366338882372021-06-10T03:51:21.471-04:002021-06-10T03:51:21.471-04:00I love this one, and it was also one of the first ...I love this one, and it was also one of the first of this type of B-action that sent me on the path I'm on today and a huge inspiration for me to start the blog!Explosive Actionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07443543631273036178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196474091232449207.post-39549147181795006922021-04-15T06:31:28.427-04:002021-04-15T06:31:28.427-04:00Feldman surprises as a self assured womaniserFeldman surprises as a self assured womaniserNeilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12826121560588959196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196474091232449207.post-39494448041846976472021-04-03T06:35:12.431-04:002021-04-03T06:35:12.431-04:00I've revisited this as it's just getting a...I've revisited this as it's just getting a UK rerelease. I didn't like it then and I still don't. I agree the over editing is the main problem. There's also the downbeat, melancholic tone and a propensity for pretentiousness. The warning signs are all there in the pre-title and opening titles sequences. JCVD gets a good character to play here, but he's underdeveloped. To make up for times when he's not around, they throw in supporting characters but then do nothing with them. (There's a long torture scene not involving JCVD that's intense, but it's just padding.) This has more of a budget than what we usually get these days, so I enjoy the tanker truck sequence and particularly the motorcycle chase through a mall. That was the best part, but again some of the editing ruined it a bit. I loved seeing Arnold Chon turn up and especially Philip Tan. It was impressive that they got Simon Yam as the villain, but he didn't get much to do really. As a Brit, I loved seeing Burt Kwouk turn up - although it's just to get shot. He's a beloved icon here; sadly he passed away in 2016. Regarding the plotting involving the little girl, there seemed to be a lot of plot holes. She seemed to be easily getting away time and again. And why did JCVD even take her to the ship at the climax? JCVD's Ben Archer goes to rescue his son at the end, but his actions almost certainly would have got his son killed. Yam's villain has been shown to be callous, so his restraint made no sense.Richard Haweshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09297262072747370419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196474091232449207.post-24575204794925517402021-03-30T00:11:55.976-04:002021-03-30T00:11:55.976-04:00Can anyone tell me what is the name of the song pl...Can anyone tell me what is the name of the song playing during Michael Pare and Daphne Ashbrooks love scene Brandonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13699381203810433484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196474091232449207.post-63189717767729419002021-03-03T12:32:41.728-05:002021-03-03T12:32:41.728-05:00Nice! I will have to watch this at some point!Nice! I will have to watch this at some point!WeirdlingWolfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05727409722950218761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196474091232449207.post-38411159720318507512021-02-23T18:37:40.514-05:002021-02-23T18:37:40.514-05:00You can watch the full movie here: https://youtu.b...You can watch the full movie here: https://youtu.be/NY-DD4WqJd0Sam Firstenberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11368915238131320644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196474091232449207.post-2155515710673111572021-02-23T15:42:35.267-05:002021-02-23T15:42:35.267-05:00The full movie is posted in YouTube at: https://yo...The full movie is posted in YouTube at: https://youtu.be/NY-DD4WqJd0Sam Firstenberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11368915238131320644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196474091232449207.post-77961959152088333832021-02-23T15:42:33.977-05:002021-02-23T15:42:33.977-05:00The full movie is posted in YouTube at: https://yo...The full movie is posted in YouTube at: https://youtu.be/NY-DD4WqJd0Sam Firstenberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11368915238131320644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196474091232449207.post-54566127259419774742021-02-09T07:02:59.658-05:002021-02-09T07:02:59.658-05:00I remember not minding this but also not being blo...I remember not minding this but also not being blown away by it. A bit of a bait and switch, as you suggest.Explosive Actionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07443543631273036178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196474091232449207.post-32997756264448776452021-01-30T12:10:39.732-05:002021-01-30T12:10:39.732-05:00I'm a huge Seagal fan, but even I waited until...I'm a huge Seagal fan, but even I waited until this one was free to view. Didn't get a good vibe from its trailer and the film was, sadly, as bad (perhaps worse) than feared. It's basically a better looking version of those 'True Justice' episodes that were combined to form movies in much the same way. You're right, that there's not much action at all. The short fight Seagal had with Ron Smoorenburg was a highlight, but the rest of his role was frustrating. Ironically, he does appear to be trying in some of the scenes. Then there's those confusing interview scenes peppered throughout, where Seagal seems to be taking an opportunity to air some views he truly holds. Seagal's done a lot of these 'team leader' roles in the last 20 years and this is definitely one of the worst. Let's be honest, most of them are terrible as a) you want more Seagal than you get, and b) the proxy/support characters are not strong enough to compensate. One to which it's easiest to draw comparisons to is CONTRACT TO KILL [2016]. That was awful, but to an extent I think it was a better movie than this in terms of its execution. Here we have so many scenes that rely on us being interested in the supporting characters and it doesn't work. Then there's the title, which just makes no sense. I know it's picked as the name for the group's private agency, but why? It all concludes with a strange epilogue which is as pointless as it is badly executed. Seagal really should have used ATTRITION his leading role swansong. I don't think we'll see another film made to such a standard from him again.Richard Haweshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09297262072747370419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196474091232449207.post-22271800246267534752021-01-02T15:09:34.445-05:002021-01-02T15:09:34.445-05:00Great review as always. I grew up with He-Man also...Great review as always. I grew up with He-Man also and like you greatly enjoyed this documentary. Did you hear that Kevin Smith is doing a direct sequel to the original cartoon on Netflix? The designs of the characters are supposed to be like the original show but with better animation.Bob Kaelinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10149287234153757695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196474091232449207.post-88711811303620026632020-12-06T19:23:28.866-05:002020-12-06T19:23:28.866-05:00I liked the movie a lot. I would have liked a bett...I liked the movie a lot. I would have liked a better ending for Sheila and Eddie, but I did like that he was headed over to her place in the last scene. I also liked that the movie didn't have the girl on the subway get into a wreck, she did get what she bargained for. Rae Staboszhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05089439510877671134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196474091232449207.post-2661363749704141882020-08-22T18:43:20.191-04:002020-08-22T18:43:20.191-04:00Hey Matt, it's Richard from The DTV Digest her...Hey Matt, it's Richard from The DTV Digest here. Glad you enjoyed this one. It's a lot better than KILL 'EM ALL, which is a total mess. So things worked out well here. We only got the dubbed version in the UK, but Van Damme dubbed himself, so that's in its favour. But I'd always go for subtitles if I could. It was nice to see Van Damme breaking out of DTV with this (although it was still ultimately a DTV release in most countries) and I hope we see more films like this where he can speak his native language.Richard Haweshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09297262072747370419noreply@blogger.com