Movie Review: Mad Max - Fury Road

Sometimes movies can be difficult to review. No matter how much you like or dislike it, or how many thoughts you have about it, it can be difficult to form them into a coherent piece. I also feel like, in this case, I am caught between a rock and a hard place. If I come out singing its praises, I do not want to be looked at as another voice in the echo chamber or someone feeding the hype machine. Conversely, if I come out and speak negatively, I do not want to be seen as someone being contrary for the sake of being a contrarian. The problem is that in the case of Mad Max: Fury Road, I do love it and it may be a little difficult to keep the exuberance out of it.

Movie Review: The Colony (2013)

If you like post-apocalyptic movies, you have probably noticed the shift in the cause of the apocalypse. We have had nuclear war and disease for a long time, lately, though, it seems like the vehicle of our impending demise is weather. Climate Change (or Global Warming, if you prefer) is sending us towards the next Ice Age and there is nothing you can do to stop it. At best, all you can hope for is to survive long enough to see society disintegrate only to be reborn in a form that more resembles some medieval past. An example of this done well is the excellent recent Snowpiercer. Another recent example is the direct to video entry The Colony.

Movie Review: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

I tell you, when I go to talk about the Apes movies, I have to take some time to pause and make sure I am using the right title. When I went to the ticket booth I asked for a ticket to see The Rise of the Dawn of the Battle For the Conquest Beneath the Planet of the Apes. It was quite the mouthful. Fortunately, I was given the ticket for the right movie. All jokes aside, this movie easily stands as one of the best of the summer. It really is that good. It seems the rare occurrence that we get the summer blockbuster type of movie that hasn't been dumbed down, like the Transformers franchise.

Movie Review: Snowpiercer

It was perhaps a month or two ago that a co-worker messaged me to suggest I see Snowpiercer. At that point I had never heard of it before. To be honest, I didn't really give it any mind at all, almost forgetting the message. In the time since I had been asked about a movie where everyone was stuck on a train, and The Host director's first English language film, as well as a new science fiction movie starring Chris Evans. At some point you would think I would have put all the pieces together, but oh no, not me. None of it would click until I saw Snowpiercer pop up on the movie theater's schedule. Then I couldn't wait for it.

Movie Review: The Rover (2014)

The Rover? What the hell is The Rover? It is one of those movies that pops up on the schedule for the local theater that you were not expecting. I suppose now, in retrospect, it is a movie I should have been aware of. In short, it is pretty spectacular. It is a movie that is fantastic in its complex simplicity. A movie that is not so much about the plot as it is about what happens in between the plot. A story that could have been completely avoided turns into an excursion that has a lasting effect on everyone involved. It is a movie that everyone should see, but is not really meant for everyone. If that makes sense.

Movie Review: Def-Con 4

Here is a movie that probably isn't remembered by all that many people, at least outside the hardcore B movie fan. It just isn't one of those movies that has enough going for it to make it all that memorable. Still, it is one of those movies that has stuck with me over the years. I am really not sure why. There was just something about Def-Con 4 that made me really like it. It is not a movie I have watched over over, I guess that one time many moons ago was enough.

Movie Review: Mindwarp (1992)

Mindwarp was released way back in 1992 and was the first film released by the short lived Fangoria Films label. Yes, that name has been used a few times since, but this was back when the intention was to actively finance one film a year (it lasted through three films before folding). In the years since it has been used as a distribution company and as a marketing label. Anyway, this movie debuted on home video and does not seem to have gone much of anywhere. It is not a movie that comes up in everyday conversation, even among genre fans. I guess the question could be asked about whether you should care or not? The answer is a resounding maybe.

Movie Review: Badlanders

There are bad movies and there are bad movies. Badlanders is a bad movie. It is not a so bad it's fun movie, it is a movie that just boggles the mind with its inherent ineptitude. Have I watched worse movies? Sure, I would not go so far as to call it the worst movie ever, that sort of hyperbole never seems to fit. It is a movie that is so bad that I kept watching, not because I was in any way entertained, I was just wondering if it would get worse or if anything worthwhile would crop up. Nothing did and it stayed on pretty much the same bad line across the board from start to finish.

Movie Review:Slipstream (1989)

All right, now we're talking. Well, kinda sorta I guess. So many movies in this set have been utter snoopers that when you come across one of ever so slightly more questionable quality, it feels like you are watching Citizen Kane. Still, there has to be something to it other than just a better by comparison aspect. I don't know. I guess it really doesn't matter, if you are entertained, it is a worthy movie of watching. The movie in this case turns out to be Slipstream. I can tell by the looks on some of your faces that you are familiar with this little public domain gem.

Movie Review: Warrior of the Lost World (1983)

Warrior of the Lost World is one of those movies that will frustrate you to the point of turning it off within five minutes, or those five minutes will have you hooked right through to the finish. I am glad to say I am in the latter category. This is one of those ridiculous 1980-era post apocalyptic movies that is so ridiculous and incomprehensible that you cannot help but be dragged along. I will not defend it as a good movie, but I will defend it as an entertaining one.