FILMS on DVD Reviewed Part 2 (CLOSED)

[|MYT|Torq]

THIS WEEK'S FILMS ON DVD REVIEWED



Oblivion
UK certificate 12
119 mins (DVD)





Genre : Action/Adventure/Mystery/Sci-Fi

Directed by : Joseph Kosinski

Starring : Tom Cruise/Morgan Freeman/Olga Kurylenko

<><><>

Jack Harper (Cruise) is one of the last few drone repairmen stationed on Earth. Part of a massive operation to extract vital resources after decades of war with a terrifying threat known as the Scavs, Jack’s mission is nearly complete.
Living and patrolling the breathtaking skies from thousands of feet above, his soaring existence is brought crashing down when he rescues a beautiful stranger from a downed spacecraft. Her arrival triggers a chain of events that forces him to question everything he knows and puts the fate of humanity in his hands.

<><><>

I agree with K m8y....I enjoyed this film.....
Superb storyline, visually stunning & some great perfomances particularly Tom Cruise as Jack.

Recommended...

8/10






Evil Dead
UK certificate 18
87 mins




Genre : Horror

Directed by : Fede Alverez

Starring : Jane Levy/Shiloh Fernandez/Lou Taylor Pucci

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David, his drug-using sister Mia and his friends Eric, Olivia and Natalie travel to an isolated cabin that belonged to his parents to spend a couple of days together. Mia promises to stop using drugs and Olivia, who is a nurse, promises to help Mia in her abstinence. They discover a hidden basement with witchcraft and the Book of the Dead, and Eric reads it and unintentionally summons an evil force. Mia, Olivia and Natalie are possessed by evil and Eric reads the book trying to learn how to destroy the demon.

<><><>

This is a remake of the 1981 Sam Raimi film...and is not bad.
Much blood, gore & shocks...but I have to say it had mixed reviews...
If you like horror then its worth a watch

6/10






Phantom
UK certificate 15
94 mins





Genre : Thriller

Directed by : Todd Robinson

Starring : Ed Harris/David Duchovny/William Fichtner

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Ed Harris plays the captain of a Cold War Soviet missile submarine who has secretly been suffering from seizures that alter his perception of reality. Forced to leave his wife and daughter, he is rushed into a classified mission, where he is haunted by his past and challenged by a rogue KGB group (led by David Duchovny) bent on seizing control of the ship's nuclear missile. With the fate of humanity in his hands, Harris discovers he's been chosen for this mission in the belief he would fail.

<><><>

This film reminds of "The Hunt for Red October"...a similar premise...
The storyline is good and keeps you entertained, the performances compliment...only one niggle is that this was surposed to be a Russian Crew..all without exception had American accents.
That said it is worth a watch.

6.5/10

[|MYT|Torq]

THIS WEEK'S FILMS ON DVD REVIEWED



Olympus has Fallen
UK certificate 15
114 mins



Genre : Action/Thriller

Directed by : Antoine Fuqua

Starring : Gerard Butler/Aaron Eckhart/Morgan Freeman

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A nation's hopes rest in the hands of a former White House guard after the president is held hostage by terrorists.
Trying to adapt to civilian life after a tragedy ended his Secret Service career, former special forces veteran Mike Banning (Gerard Butler) is thrust back onto the front line when a group of terrorists led by Kang (Rick Yune) attack the White House and seize the president (Aaron Eckhart). Now, finding himself the last Secret Service man left alive inside the building, Banning, overseen by acting President Allan Trumbull (Morgan Freeman), must bring all his special forces experience to bear as he embarks on a one-man mission to take out the terrorists and save the president.

<><><>

This is a movie to sit back and enjoy, but don't think to much about the storyline.....Butler puts in one of his good performances which compliments the action scenes & special effects.
oh Rick Yune as Kang excels as the nasty terrorist

Recommended

7/10





Sawney : Flesh of Man
UK certificate 18
116 mins



Genre : Horror

Directed by : Ricky Wood

Starring : David Hayman/Samuel Feeney/Gavin Mitchell

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Sawney, a religious psychopathic killer (played by David Hayman) drives a devilish Black Cab (taxi), stalking the towns and cities, abducting unholy souls for his communion of sacrifices. His insane family of inbred killers Judd and Jake, use their agility to wreak slaughter and havoc among their victims, who are then dragged to Sawney's lair in the hills, where they are raped, tortured and cannibalised. Sawney with his skillful surgical blade removes the appetizing pieces of human flesh for dinner before feeding the remains to a chained beast in the cellar. The Missing Persons list is beginning to rise! Investigative crime journalist Hamish MacDonald (Samuel Feeney) writes sensational and damming headlines against the police, due to their incompetence in handling the case. Frustrated police inspector Bill Munro (Gavin Mitchell) is under great pressure to catch the serial killers but is hindered by Hamish who is constantly giving him bad press. He decides to feed Hamish with privileged information rather than fight against him, just to get results for his superiors. But Hamish decides to investigate the heinous crimes on his own, with disastrous results.....

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Blood, Gore, & Gut wrenching moments interspersed with investigation of these crimes & marvellous scenes of the Scottish highlands...
If you like brutal horror then this is for you, but make no mistake it is not for the faint hearted.

5.5/10





Time Warrior
UK certificate 12
89 mins



Genre : Sci-Fi

Directed by : Joaquin Rodriguez

Starring : Thomas Graninger/Brandon Dold/Kai Denton

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When a pirate version of the most popular - first person shooter video game lands in the hands of Matt and Jimmy, they immediately think it's the coolest video game they have ever played. Little do they know that what seems to be their favourite video game is actually an evil recruiting device to turn selected kids into real Time Warriors, at the service of "The Lord of War": an evil character behind every war since the beginning of time.

<><><>

Silly nonsense...diabolical B-Movie stuff...this could effect your mental processes.....
Some of the effects are passable and thats about it.

3/10

[|MYT|Torq]

THIS WEEK'S FILMS ON DVD REVIEWED



Star Trek : Into Darkness
UK certificate 12
127 mins





Genre : Action/Adventure/Sci-Fi

Directed by : J.J. Abrams

Starring : Chris Pine/Zachary Quinto/Zoe Saldana

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When the crew of the Enterprise is called back home, they find an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organisation has detonated the fleet and everything it stands for, leaving our world in a state of crisis. With a personal score to settle, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one man weapon of mass destruction. As our heroes are propelled into an epic chess game of life and death, love will be challenged, friendships will be torn apart, and sacrifices must be made for the only family Kirk has left: his crew..

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This outing has attracted mixed reviews from critics particularly long time Trekkies....
My personal view is that it is good entertainment & that's what it is all about.
Yes a fresh look at the characters helps with some awsome special effects, Cumberbatch as Khan excels.

Highly Recommended

8/10





Extraction
UK certificate 15
85 mins




Genre : Drame/Sci-Fi

Directed by : Nir Paniry

Starring : Sasha Roiz/Dominic Bogart/Jenny Mollen

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Thomas Jacobs is a brilliant engineer who invents a device that enables him to enter the mind of a patient and observe them in their memories. Having run out of funds to complete the project, he reluctantly partners with the Justice Department who plans to use it to see criminals enact their crimes, BUT, during the first test on a convict, Tom gets trapped, leaving behind a pregnant wife and his unconscious baby.For four years Tom is stuck in the criminal s mind until he discovers a glitch in the system. It soon becomes a race for survival as Tom is forced to work with the reluctant criminal to find a way out.

<><><>

An interesting concept which is well acted & written....I think the convict should have had a darker character & perhaps the special effects a tad sharper.
That said, Sci-Fi fans who like something off beat will like this...

6.5/10





Wrath
UK certificate 18
94 mins




Genre : Thriller

Directed by : Jonathan Neil Dixon

Starring : Stef Dawson/Xavier Fernandez/Corey Page

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Traveling south to the coast through the remote Boanyoo Ranges, a group of friends encounter a stranger. Stopping to help they endure a shocking and unrelenting game of cat-and-mouse. They discover that nothing will ever be the same again.

<><><>

This could have been much better....A rather brutal Australian movie which at times becomes bogged down with a rather disappointing ending. That said the
main Characters were played well, Photography & special effects complimented..

5.5/10

[|MYT|Torq]

THIS WEEK'S FILMS ON DVD REVIEWED



Iron Man 3
UK certificate 12
125 mins




Genre : Action/Adventure/Sci-Fi

Directed by : Shane Black

Starring : Robert Downey jr./Gwyneth Paltrow/Don Cheadle

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The events of Loki's attack on New York City has left Tony Stark a completely changed man. Now saddled with a severe case of insomnia and post traumatic stress disorder, Tony spends his sleepless nights the only way he knows how - coming up with new prototypes for the Iron Man suit. But now new events require that Tony suit up again. A villainous mad man known only as the Mandarin has staged a horrible attack on the Chinese Theater in Los Angeles, and is coming for Tony. An angry Tony wants to confront the Mandarin face to face, who proceeds to stage an attack on Tony's Malibu mansion and leaves him with absolutely nothing - no Pepper, no toys except for a defunct Iron Man prototype called the MK42, and he's stranded in the middle of Tennessee. Tony believes the attack on the Chinese Theater and an attack on a small town in Tennessee are related. As he puts the pieces together and tries to get the MK42 working, he discovers far more sinister forces at work greater than the Mandarin himself. But how does an event from Tony's past fit in with the events of the present?

<><><>

The third in the franchise and I guess Iron Man fans may like this..The usual awsome special effects & action sequences..
But the script was average at best & to my mind the film as a whole did not sit well with the Iron Man universe or link well with the previous outings..
That said the performances were good.

6.5/10





Maniac
UK certificate 18
85 mins



Genre : Horror/Thriller

Directed by : Franck Khalfoun

Starring : Elijah Wood/Nora Arnezeder/Genevieve Alexandra

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To say that Frank (Wood) is a troubled young man would be an understatement - as the ever-growing number of young women he has murdered since the death of his mother (America Olivo), with whom he enjoyed an unhealthily close relationship, demonstrates only too well. Frank runs a mannequin store and likes to apply the scalps of his victims to the models in his spare time. However, when beautiful young artist Anna (Nora Arnezeder) wanders into the store and talks about making use of its resources for an exhibition she is planning, she presents Frank with a troubling quandary. Anna appears to offer the possibility of a human relationship that will fill the void created by his mother's death, but she also excites his desire to kill and possess. Will Frank be able to overcome his homicidal urges?

<><><>

Oh boy..a damn good remake of the 1980's slasher...
Takes you into the mind of a psychopath creating a very disturbing outing..Yes there are brutal bloody murders and some....sprinkled with sex.
Be warned this film is hard nosed and upfront.

6.5/10





The Dyatlov Pass Incident aka Devil's Pass
UK certificate 15
96 mins



Genre : Thriller

Directed by : Renny Harlin

Starring : Holly Goss/Matt Stokoe/Luke Albright

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The Dyatlov Pass Incident follows a group of students on a trek to investigate the true life mystery of nine Russian skiers who befell an unexplained death while skiing in the Russian mountains in 1959. To this day, their deaths have been one of the most bizarre unsolved mysteries of the 20th century.

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Another Hollywood dramatization which strays from the truth..and on top of that my least favorite median "Found Footage"...Even so the camera work was steady most of the time...and the photograpy in the middle part of the film pictured the awsome Russian Mountains..
However the storyline tends to leave loose ends, but is not bad if you take the film for what it is...Just a story.

5/10

[|MYT|Torq]

THIS WEEK'S FILMS ON DVD REVIEWED



Fast & Furious 6
UK certificate 12
125 mins





Genre : Action/Crime/Thriller

Directed by : Justin Lin

Starring : Vin Diesel/Paul Walker/Dwayne Johnson

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Since Dom (Diesel) and Brian’s (Walker) Rio heist toppled a kingpin’s empire and left their crew with $100 million, our heroes have scattered across the globe. But their inability to return home and living forever on the lam have left their lives incomplete.
Meanwhile, Hobbs (Johnson) has been tracking an organization of lethally skilled mercenary drivers across 12 countries, whose mastermind (Evans) is aided by a ruthless second-in-command revealed to be the love Dom thought was dead, Letty (Rodriguez). The only way to stop the criminal outfit is to outmatch them at street level, so Hobbs asks Dom to assemble his elite team in London. Payment? Full pardons for all of them so they can return home and make their families whole again.

<><><>

This had mixed reviews, but I enjoyed it...Superb action & Special Effects...The Performances were good to...
I wish some critics would take for what it is...Just good fun entertainment.

Recommended

7/10





Fire with Fire
UK certificate 15
93 mins





Genre : Action/Crime/Drama/Thriller

Directed by : David Barrett

Starring : Josh Duhamel/Bruce Willis/Rosario Dawson

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After witnessing the brutal murders of a convenience store owner and his son; firefighter, Jeremy Coleman barely escapes with his life. As he is forced to testify against the crime lord, Hagan, he is placed in the witness protection program under the watch of the U.S. Marshals. As his new identity becomes compromised Jeremy is forced to take an unexpected course of action in order to get his life back and save the lives of those he loves.

<><><>

A good action vigilante type movie with some brutal moments to keep crime fans happy.
Fast paced & entertaining.

6.5/10





Rites of Spring
UK certificate 18
81 mins





Genre : Horror/Thriller

Directed by : Padraig Reynolds

Starring : AJ Bowen/Anessa Ramsey/Sonny Marinelli

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Rachel and her friend who are taken by someone while in a car park while changing a tire. They wake up in a strange barn tied up and frightened. They know that things are going to get worse. The reason why they are abducted becomes clear as there is a horrible secret in the town where girls have gone missing each Spring for many years, and this year is no different. Meanwhile a group of kidnappers are plotting to take the child of a prominent business man and his wife. They take the child and go to a farm where they wait to get their ransom. The two groups collide when Rachel escapes but is chased by a stranger wearing a mask of some sort. She runs to the farm where the kidnappers are and all hell breaks loose.

<><><>

A reasonable creature/slasher horror, but not as gory as the hype would have us believe....
The storyline was ummm average...that said there were tense moments.
For horror fans only I think..

5.5/10

[|MYT|Torq]

THIS WEEK'S FILMS ON DVD REVIEWED



Byzantium
UK certificate 15
113 mins




Genre : Drama/Fantasy/Horror/THriller

Directed by : Neill Jordan

Starring : Gemma Arterton/Saoirse Ronan/Sam Riley

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Two mysterious women seek refuge in a run-down coastal resort. Clara meets lonely Noel, who provides shelter in his deserted guesthouse, Byzantium. Schoolgirl Eleanor befriends Frank and tells him their lethal secret. They were born 200 years ago and survive on human blood. As knowledge of their secret spreads, their past catches up on them with deathly consequence.

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A haunting slow burning tale well scripted with superb performances...This is not your usual vampire story of much blood & gore..to the contrary it is one which explores the characters and there fears in depth.
Masterful direction compliments.

7/10





Hard Rush aka Ambushed
UK certificate 15
94 mins




Genre : Action/Crime/Drama

Directed by : Giorgio Serafini

Starring : Dolph Lundgren/Vinnie Jones/Randy Couture

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In the frenetic underbelly of Los Angeles, Agent Maxwell closes in on an international cocaine smuggling operation run by criminal mastermind Vincent Camastra. When Agent Beverly Royce goes undercover with the drug dealers and finds herself deeper then she can handle - the case becomes personal for Maxwell who has to combat ruthless killers and dirty cops in an all-out action filled finale to bring the criminals to justice.

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A neat action movie, one of Lundgren's better outings...Violent & nasty to the core..
Action/Crime fans will like it...

5.5/10





No One Lives
UK certificate 18
83 mins




Genre : Horror/Thriller

Directed by : Ryuhei Kitamura

Starring : Luke Evans/Adelaide Clemens/Lee Tergesen

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A gang of ruthless highway killers kidnap a wealthy couple traveling cross country only to shockingly discover that things are not what they seem.

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I think Luke Evans likes this kind of film...It's very brutal with lots of blood & gore...much more so than "Maniac" which i reviewed early.
Good performances add to the tension.
Make no mistake if u have a weak stomach, miss it...
For Horror fans a must.

6.5/10

[|MYT|Torq]

THIS WEEK'S FILMS ON DVD REVIEWED




The Iceman
UK certificate 15
101 mins




Genre : Biography/Crime/Drama

Directed by : Ariel Vromen

Starring : Michael Shannon/Winona Ryder/James Franco

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In the 1960s, Richard Kuklinski is working as a porn film lab tech until his mob bosses persuade him to change his career into that of a contract killer. For years, Kuklinski gains a reputation for cold blooded professionalism even as he raises a family who are kept in the dark about his true career. Unfortunately, mob politics ultimately forces him to secretly work independently with the psychopathic Robert 'Mr. Freezy' Pronge. As much as Kuklinski tries to keep his lives separate, circumstances and his own weaknesses threaten a terrible collision as the consequences of his choices finally catch up to him.

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This is a dramatization of the life & times of Richard Kuklinski...The performances were good particularly from Michael Shannon as The Iceman.
I did feel that there should have been greater development of the storyline than there was.....Nontheless recommended to all who like Crime Dramas.


7/10





The Bleeding House
UK certificate 18
83 mins





Genre: Drama/Horror/Mystery/Thriller

Directed by : Philip Gelatt

Starring : Alexandra Chando/Nina Lisandrello/Patrick Breen

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An isolated family home is invaded by a sweet-talking Texan psychopath who is intent on draining the family's blood. What he doesn't expect to encounter is an occupant even crazier than he is.

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oh hum what gory fun ....OK a predictable plot in places but this does not distract from the atmosphere created by some neat performances.
One for horror fans I think...


5.5/10





Sweet Vengeance aka Sweetwater
UK certificate 15
92 mins





Genre : Thriller/Western

Directed by : Logan Miller

Starring : Ed Harris/January Jones/Jason Isaacs

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In the late 1800's, a beautiful former prostitute (January Jones) is trying to build an honest life with her husband in the rugged plains of New Mexico. When she catches the eye of a sadistic and powerful religious leader (Jason Isaacs), her life is violently turned upside down. She embarks on a bloody course of vengeance with the assistance of a renegade sheriff (Ed Harris) who has pretty violent tendencies of his own.

<><><>

An unusual Western with bite & good performances complimented by great photography.....The Storyline went over the top in places, but hell it added to the enjoyment.
Recommended

6.5/10

[|MYT|Torq]

THIS WEEK'S FILMS ON DVD REVIEWED



I Spit On Your Grave 2
UK certificate 18
100 mins




Genre : Crime/Horror/Thriller

Directed by : Steven R. Monroe

Starring : Jemma Dallender/Joe Absolom/Yavor Baharov

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Katie is trying to make it in the cutthroat world of modeling. When she innocently accepts an offer to have new photos taken for her portfolio, the experience quickly turns into an unthinkable nightmare of rape, torture, and kidnapping. When a twist of fate finally frees her from her captors - beaten, battered, bruised, and broken, she will have to tap into the darkest places of the human psyche to not only survive her ordeal, but to ultimately find the strength to exact her brutal revenge.

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Very nasty, brutal & gory film...sadistic indeed with some stomach churning scenes...
So much so that the British censors cut 6 mins from it, but the uncut version is available from Amazon as well.

Recommended to Horror fans with cast iron stomachs

6.5/10






Outpost 11
UK certificate 15
92 mins





Genre : Sci-Fi

Directed by : Anthony Woodley

Starring : Billy Clarke/Luke Healy/Joshua Mayes-Cooper

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Set in an alternative past where steam power still rules the world, Outpost 11 is the story of three soldiers manning a remote listening post in the Arctic Circle. One day the warning light goes off unexpectedly and their world is plunged in to chaos. Albert, Mason and Graham must fight the isolation, madness and arctic spiders to survive.

<><><>

Oh dear I had high hopes for a decent Sci-Fi story, but this was dashed after 15 mins...A tedious mish mash of a Storyline going nowhere.....
Avoid ......

2.5/10





What Doesn't Kill You
UK certificate 15
100 mins




Genre : Crime/Drama

Directed by : Brian Goodman

Starring : Mark Ruffalo/Ethan Hawke/Amanda Peet

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An armored car is robbed by three men. A passing police officer and one of the robbers exchange fire. The robber is Paulie. In a flashback we follow him and his closest friend, Brian, as they grow up together in South Boston. They're tough guys, thugs, doing jobs for the local boss and chaffing to do more. Paulie's the leader. Brian drinks too much and free bases, ignoring his wife and two young boys. Life-changing events lead him to try to go straight, look for work, take what comes his way, and go to A.A. meetings. He struggles. Paulie shows him the plans for the armored car job. Will they do it? "I am who I am," Brian tells his wife. Is crime his only skill?

<><><>

A nicely acted crime drama with a good storyline...Sensitively played by the lead actors....If you like joined up drama with bite then you will like this.
Recommended

7/10

[|MYT|Torq]

THIS WEEK'S FILMS ON DVD REVIEWED



After Earth
UK certificate 12
96 mins




Genre : Action/Adventure/Sci-Fi

Directed by : M. Night Shyamalan

Starring : Will Smith/Jaden Smith

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One thousand years after cataclysmic events forced humanity's escape from Earth, Nova Prime has become mankind's new home. Legendary General Cypher Raige returns from an extended tour of duty to his estranged family, ready to be a father to his 13-year-old son, Kitai. When an asteroid storm damages Cypher and Kitai's craft, they crash-land on a now unfamiliar and dangerous Earth. As his father lies dying in the cockpit, Kitai must trek across the hostile terrain to recover their rescue beacon. His whole life, Kitai has wanted nothing more than to be a soldier like his father. Today, he gets his chance.

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First up I dont think this is as bad as some critics would have us believe...The Storyline is good & Special Effects up to the usual standard from Hollywood.
Perhaps Jaden's performance was a tad of the top, but then if you are teenager stranded on a Planet full of death then most would be.
An OK movie then, not great but nevertheless enjoyable & certainly recommended to Sci-Fi fans.

6.5/10





Siberian Education
UK certificate 15
99 mins




Genre : Biography/Crime/Drama

Directed by : Gabriele Salvatores

Starring : John Malkovich/Arnas Fedaravicius/Vilius Tumalavicius/Eleanor Tomlinson

<><><>

The story of a gang of children growing up in a community of banished criminals, in a forgotten corner of the former Soviet Union. This community rejects the world outside. The only law it obeys… is its own. Against this backdrop two best friends, Kolyma and Gagarin, gradually become fierce enemies as they find themselves on opposite sides of the strict code of honour of the ‘honest criminal’ brotherhood.

<><><>

A hard hitting Drama well acted by all, Eleanor Tomlinson in particular stands out as Xenya.
At last a different kind of Crime film from the usual mafia type drummed out by Hollywood...
And yes a good adaption of the Book by Nicolai Lilin ...
As usual Direction by Salvatores compliments.

Not to everyone's taste but I still Recommend

7/10





Spiders
UK certificate 15
89 mins




Genre : Sci-Fi/Thriller

Directed by : Tibor Takács

Starring : Patrick Muldoon/Christa Campbell

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After a Soviet space station crashes into a New York City subway tunnel, a species of venomous spiders is discovered, and soon they mutate to gigantic proportions and wreak havoc on the city.

<><><>

I can hear saying why did he watch this...Well I like to see a spectrum of movie types...this one is in the tradition of "B" movie, cheesy creature feature.
It's not bad, the special effects are reasonable & so is the action...
One for late night dead heads lol

5/10

[|MYT|Torq]

THIS WEEK'S FILMS ON DVD REVIEWED



World War Z
UK certificate 15
111 mins




Genre : Action/Adventure/Horror/Sci-Fi/Thriller

Directed by : Marc Forster

Starring : Brad Pitt/Mireille Enos/James Badge Dale

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Life for former United Nations investigator Gerry Lane and his family seems content. Suddenly, the world is plagued by a mysterious infection turning whole human populations into rampaging mindless zombies. After barely escaping the chaos, Lane is persuaded to go on a mission to investigate this disease. What follows is a perilous trek around the world where Lane must brave horrific dangers and long odds to find answers before human civilization falls.

<><><>

A fun ride with good action sequences and a reasonable storyline....Yep a bit uneven but the performances take care of that.
Recommended

7/10





Hummingbird aka Redemption
UK certificate 15
96 mins



Genre : Action/Crime/Drama/Thriller

Directed by : Steven Knight

Starring : Jason Statham/Agata Buzek

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Homeless and on the run from a military court martial, a damaged ex-special forces soldier navigating London's criminal underworld seizes an opportunity to assume another man's identity -- transforming into an avenging angel in the process.

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Statham as a serious actor & he is good..Yep there are the usual action sequences & tough guy punch lines, but for all that this is a neat drama well acted.
Agata Buzek complements as the Nun.
Recommended

7/10





Curse of Chucky
UK certificate 18
93 mins




Genre : Horror/Thriller

Directed by : Don Mancini

Starring : Chantel Quesnelle/Fiona Dourif/Danielle Busutti

<><><>

After the events of Seed of Chucky, Nica, a young woman forced to a wheelchair since birth, has to regroup her sister, Barb and her brother-in-law, Ian for a funeral after the death of her mother. While dealing with Barb, Ian, along with their 5-year-old daughter, Alice; Nica receives an odd package - a creepy doll. After people start showing up dead, the fearless Nica soon suspects that the creepy doll is much more than just a doll.

<><><>

A good return of the franchise...creepy & gory, one nasty doll.
Nuff said

6/10

[|MYT|Torq]

THIS WEEK'S FILMS ON DVD REVIEWED



Snitch
UK certificate 15
107 mins




Genre : Crime/Drama/Thriller

Directed by : Ric Roman Waugh

Starring : Dwayne Johnson/Barry Pepper/Jon Bernthal

<><><>

Construction company owner John Matthews(Johnson) learns that his estranged son, Jason, has been arrested for drug trafficking. Facing an unjust prison sentence for a first time offender courtesy of mandatory minimum sentence laws, Jason has nothing to offer for leniency in good conscience. Desperately, John convinces the DEA and the opportunistic DA Joanne Keeghan to let him go undercover to help make arrests big enough to free his son in return. With the unwitting help of an ex-con employee, John enters the narcotics underworld where every move could be his last in an operation that will demand all his resources, wits and courage to survive.

<><><>

Dwayne Johnson as a serious actor ? Well it's sort of believable in this movie which is more drama than action. The action sequences are excellent however and well planned...I have to say Johnson is outstanding, no doubt about that...The storyline compliments, as does the direction.
Worth a watch

6.5/10





Silent Night, Bloody Night : The Homecoming
UK certificate 18
78 mins



Genre : Horror

Directed by : James Plumb

Starring : Alan Humphreys/Melanie Stevens/Victor Ptak

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The abandoned home of Wilfred Butler, a wealthy but troubled man who committed suicide in 1987, has been willed to his grandson, Jeffrey. The house has sat in disarray since Wilfred's death, standing in the way of developers who want to turn the property into residential homes. Just before Christmas 2012, many years after Wilfred's death, Jeffrey and his lawyer appear in town to negotiate the sale of the property. But an Axe wielding maniac has set up residence in the house, and he doesn't take kindly to strangers.

<><><>

Dire ....Dire..a very weak remake of the 1974 film..
There is nothing much to recommend this film..there is gore but you end up saying "So what".
Avoid unless you have insomnia

2.5/10





Stolen
UK certificate 12
92 mins




Genre : Action/Crime/Drama/Thriller

Directed by : Simon West

Starring : Nicolas Cage/Danny Huston/Malin Akerman

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Will Montgomery (Nicolas Cage), a master thief has been released from prison after 8 years. Upon his release, Montgomery’s former criminal cohorts and FBI agent Tim Harlend (Danny Huston), are all convinced that the $10 Million loot, was hidden away by Montgomery before he was sentenced. In order to get his hands on it, former partner in crime, Vincent (Josh Lucas), kidnaps his daughter Alison (Sami Gayle). Montgomery has only one day to deliver the $10 Million ransom, and he’s left with only one choice: to join forces with another old partner in crime, the beautiful Riley (Malin Akerman). Together they must pull off one more heist so he can get his daughter back… before it’s too late.

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A fairly average action movie, which does have some good moments....Cage is better than usual which is something.
Worth a watch.

5.5/10

[|MYT|Torq]

THIS WEEK'S FILMS ON DVD REVIEWED



Deadfall
UK certificate 15
91 mins



Genre : Crime/Drama/Thriller

Directed by : Stefan Ruzowitzky

Starring : Eric Bana/Olivia Wilde/Charlie Hunnam

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After robbing a casino in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, Addison (Bana) and his younger sister Liza (Wilde) are speeding towards the Canadian border when their car crashes in the icy weather. As they attempt to escape from the scene, a passing policeman approaches them and Addison shoots him. Dividing the loot between them, the siblings split up and plan to meet again later. While standing alone on the roadside, Liza encounters ex-boxer Jay (Charlie Hunnam), who has also had a run-in with the law, and he takes her to his mother June (Sissy Spacek) and father Chet (Kris Kristofferson)'s house. Meanwhile, having been contacted by Liza, Addison has already arrived at their house and has taken Jay's parents hostage. With Liza falling for Jay and the police closing in on her and brother, tensions rise and Addison's behaviour becomes increasingly dangerous...

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A neat Drama thriller which will hold your attention...Good Performances compliment.
In addition the photography was good, I even felt cold watching the snow...
The only down side was the predictability of the storyline
That said worth a watch.

6.5/10





Mine Games
UK certificate 15
88 mins



Genre : Horror/Thriller

Directed by : Richard Gray

Starring : Briana Evigan/Julianna Guill/Rafi Gavron

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A group of young friends make an incomprehensible discovery in an abandoned mine, but the more they try to change the future, the more they seal their fate...

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mmm...A loop in time maybe..Anyway something different ....Well acted, but the ending could have been better.

5/10





The Purge
UK certificate 15
82 mins



Genre : Horror/Sci-Fi/Thriller

Directed by : James DeMonaco

Starring : Ethan Hawke/Lena Headley/Adelaide Kane

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In an America wracked by crime and overcrowded prisons, the government has sanctioned an annual 12-hour period in which any and all criminal activity-including murder-becomes legal. The police can't be called. Hospitals suspend help. It's one night when the citizenry regulates itself without thought of punishment. On this night plagued by violence and an epidemic of crime, one family wrestles with the decision of who they will become when a stranger comes knocking. When an intruder breaks into James Sandin's (Ethan Hawke) gated community during the yearly lockdown, he begins a sequence of events that threatens to tear a family apart. Now, it is up to James, his wife, Mary (Lena Headey), and their kids to make it through the night without turning into the monsters from whom they hide.

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Interesting concept, but the Director spoilt the theme somewhat with a rather tame view of Human base instincts.
That said the acting and special effects were good.
Worth a watch.

6.5/10

Please note that YouTube have introduced advertising on some trailers...A Bad move in my view.

[|MYT|Torq]

THIS WEEK'S FILMS ON DVD REVIEWED



Pacific Rim
UK certificate 12
126 mins



Genre : Action/Adventure/Sci-Fi

Directed by : Guillermo del Toro

Starring : Charlie Hunnam/Idris Elba/Rinko Kikuchi

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When monstrous creatures, known as Kaiju, started rising from the sea, a war began that would take millions of lives and consume humanity's resources for years on end. To combat the giant Kaiju, a special type of weapon was devised: massive robots, called Jaegers, which are controlled simultaneously by two pilots whose minds are locked in a neural bridge. But even the Jaegers are proving nearly defenseless in the face of the relentless Kaiju. On the verge of defeat, the forces defending mankind have no choice but to turn to two unlikely heroes - a washed up former pilot (Charlie Hunnam) and an untested trainee (Rinko Kikuchi) - who are teamed to drive a legendary but seemingly obsolete Jaeger from the past. Together, they stand as mankind's last hope against the mounting apocalypse.

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Wow....Special Effects are awsome....in fact it seems that the whole film is one giant special effect...
Good performances & direction compliment.
If I were to criticize... the storyline was somewhat predictable & Hunnam's character lacked charisma...But that's just knit picking lol

Recommended

7/10





Blood of Redemption
UK certificate 15
82 mins



Genre : Action/Crime/Thriller

Directed by : Giorgio Serafini

Starring : Dolph Lundgren/Billy Zain/Vinnie Jones

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Quinn Forte had it all: power, money, a brother who idolized him, and a woman who loved him. He also had enemies. In the course of one night, he loses everything. Betrayed by someone in his inner circle, Quinn is set up and arrested. His father, the patriarch of the criminal empire is killed and his brother suspects that Quinn is behind it all. When he's released from jail he tries to escape the demons from his past, but that becomes an impossible task. Campbell, the ruthless new leader of "The Company" won't let him leave in peace. So instead of escaping them, Quinn fights back. He joins forces with his former henchman and friend, The Swede, and takes on his enemies head on.

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An average movie not help by a somewhat convoluted plot...
However is enjoyable..One for Lundgren fans I think.

5/10





Little Deaths
UK Certificate 18
91 mins



Genre : Horror

Directed by : Sean Hogan/Andrew Parkinson/Simon Rumley

Starring : Luke de Lacey/Holly Lucas/Daniel Brocklebank/Brendan Gregory/Tom Sawyer/Brendan Gregory

Special Note : The British Censors cut the UK version by 6 mins( when will these nannies stick to just certifying).
However Amazon sell the Uncut version as well...The only difference is the sleeve language, the DVD is in english as usual.

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"Little Deaths" is composed by three segments with short stories of sex, violence, death and revenge.

1st segment: "House & Home"
Richard Gull and his wife Victoria Gull claim that are good Samaritans and invite the starving homeless Sorrow to have a bath and dinner with them at home. However they spike the wine and when Sorrow wakes up, she is tied naked on a bed in the basement. Richard abuses of her and Victoria stays with Sorrow humiliating her while he has a shower. He hears a scream and when he arrives in the basement, he has a gruesome surprise.

2nd segment: "Mutant Tool"
The former addicted prostitute Jen lives with her former pimp and drug dealer Frank, who also abducts persons to steal their kidneys to deliver to Dr. Reese. Jen gives her best efforts to stay clean and refuses to meet clients from the former "agency" where she worked. When Frank asks her to go to Dr. Reese, he gives some tablets for her. Jen has headaches and nightmares and she returns to Dr. Reese, but soon she discovers the truth about the tablets that Dr. Reese gave to her& his depraved experiment.

3rd segment: "Bitch"
The receptionist Claire is addicted in kinky sex with her mate Pete. She has a phobia with dogs and can only satisfy herself with twisted sex. Pete asks her to have normal sex but she invites him to have a threesome with their friend Al. Pete does not accept and she has sex with Al anyway. Pete plots revenge against his beloved woman

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Oh dear ..where do I start...Well the first segment is really quite good a neat horror & well performed..
The second segment is a story about a Drugs, a Doctor and a mutant tool...A giant penis lol..nuff said.
The third segment is where most of the cuts come...I guess they did not like the way Pete ended Clair's life.
Bloody hell & Dogs

One for those that like leading edge movies, what ever that means....Get the Uncut version though.

Segment 1 ..... 6.5/10
Segment 2 ..... 3.5/10
Segment 3 ..... 4.5/10

[|MYT|Torq]

THIS WEEK'S FILMS ON DVD REVIEWED



The Wolverine
UK certificate 12
120 mins



Genre : Action/Adventure/Fantasy/Sci-Fi

Directed by : James Mangold

Starring : Hugh Jackman/Tao Okamoto/Famke Janssen

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In modern day Japan, Wolverine is out of his depth in an unknown world as he faces his ultimate nemesis in a life-or-death battle that will leave him forever changed. Vulnerable for the first time and pushed to his physical and emotional limits, he confronts not only lethal samurai steel but also his inner struggle against his own immortality, emerging more powerful than we have ever seen him before.

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A surprise in someways as the storyline sets out to develop Wolverine's character a bit more than usual...Not a bad thing.
The action sequences & Special effects are up there as are the performances.
So Recommended

7/10





Deranged
UK certificate 15
81 mins



Genre: Horror

Directed by : Neil Jones

Starring : Marcia Do Vales/Craig Fairbrass

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Four young, attractive girls go on a bachelorette party weekend in a remote country house in Spain, owned by their friend (Craig Fairbrass - Rise of the Footsoldier, St Georges' Day) looking for sun, sex and sangria. The private party takes a sinister turn for the worst as one by one, the guests are brutally murdered. The race is on to uncover the killers identity and either fight back or die.

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Oh dear another party that is sinister...Dreadful acting but passable special effects.
The storyline what there was of it was barely logical...
Avoid

2.5/10





Repeaters
UK certificate 18
85 mins



Genre : Action/Crime/Sci-Fi/Thriller

Directed by : Carl Bessai

Starring : Dustin Milligan/Amanda Crew/Richard De Klerk

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In Mission City, Kyle Halsted, Sonia Logan and Michael "Mike" Weeks are interned in a rehabilitation facility run by Bob Simpson. One Wednesday, they have a pass to go outside the site and Kyle visits his sister Charlotte Halsted (Alexia Fast) at the Mission Secondary School but she does not talk to him. Sonia goes to the hospital where her father is terminal, but she does not visit him. Mike visits his father at the Maximum Security Correctional Facility where he is prisoner and the man does not talk to mike. During the night, there is a storm and Kyle, Sonia and Mike have electrical shocks and on the next morning, they awaken on the same day. When they realize that the Wednesday is repeating over and over again, their first reaction is to have fun with dangerous situations. Soon Kyle and Sonia disclose secrets and they decide to use the days to resolve personal issues mending their lives. But Mike decides to route through a criminal life believing that on the next morning, ..

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An interesting story of time & events repeating....A good storyline well acted and rather a neat ending.
Worth a watch.

6/10

[|MYT|Torq]

THIS WEEK'S FILMS ON DVD REVIEWED




Red 2
UK certificate 12
111 mins




Genre : Action/Comedy/Crime/Thriller

Directed by : Dean Parisot

Starring : Bruce Willis/John Malkovich/Mary-Louise Parker

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Frank (Bruce Willis) is brought out of retirement once again when he is asked to track down a nuclear device which has fallen into the wrong hands. In order to find out the device's location he must first speak to Edward Bailey (Anthony Hopkins), the scientist responsible for its creation, but to make matters worse his old partner Victoria (Helen Mirren) has been contracted to kill him with the help of a much renowned deadly assassin (Byung-hun Lee).

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A very enjoyable fun ride...Well acted with neat action scenes..a better than average sequel.
And yes Willis at his laconic best...

Recommended

7/10





Green Street 3 : Never Back Down
UK certificate 18
90 mins



Genre : Action/Drama

Directed by : James Nunn

Starring : Scott Adkins/Kacey Barnfield/Joey Ansah

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14 years after turning his back on the Green Street Elite and channelling his energies into mixed martial arts, Danny Harvey (Scott Adkins)'s world is shattered when his younger brother Joey (Billy Cook) is killed in what seems to be a pre-planned fight. With no leads to go on, and determined to seek justice, Danny is forced to re-enter the world of organised football hooliganism in order to find out the identity of his brother's killer and mete out revenge in the only way he knows how...

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Tough, Brutal & Bloody and some.
I enjoyed this film, the acting was very convincing portrayal of gang culture in football.

Recommended to all those that like tough no nonsense movies.

6.5/10





The Body
UK certificate 15
106 mins



Genre : Mystery/Thriller

Directed by : Oriol Paulo

Starring : Jose Coronado/Hugo Silva/Belen Rueda

Special Note : Spanish Language Film with English sub-titles

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Inspector Jaime is haunted by his own past which is dragged out of the shadows by the disappearance of a body from the morgue. On the case, Jaime must investigate how a corpse can vanish from its freezer and leave without a trace, the only witness being a guard left in a coma cause by indescribable fear. With his own nightmares driving him to despair, Jaime s only suspect is the dead body s widower, Alex, who maintains his innocence but struggles with inner demons that won t remain hidden.

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An excellent mystery thriller, just how they should be made...keeps you guessing till the end.
Good performances & Storyline compliment.

Recommended

The trailer is in Spanish, but the DVD has English sub-titles.

7/10