Reviews by J Luoma

It has the definitive unrated version. The best release of the action classic. The only flaw being the lossy, although clear, audio, Dolby Digital 2.0 (Dolby Pro Logic).

OK, I surrender! At first, this reheating seemed like a bad joke, but - although it is all done in a row in the Namibian desert, four different flavors, they just keep on driving the same old sandy roads... the cars themselves are highly creative. The movement is captured like never before. The cast is wonderful: Tom Hardy in an iron mask, Charlize "Hot" Theron in a Sigourney-like role, not to mention the Five Wives! The score is outstanding. There is really little to complain about in this movie.

Wonderful atmosphere, but there is too much walking around and the dude supposedly mr E.A. Poe is a poor imitation; however, the narrative is quite modern. For hardcore gothic cinema fans.

An absolutely predictable sequel with all the usual mumblings of names proper and arguing elements. Somehow I can't think of this as anything other than a pastiche - not at all scary except for the actual lake house, which is as scary in the daylight as at dusk. Despite its obvious and quite central flaws, we do get to see Meg Ryan in her second cinematic role - what a babyface! I think the first Amityville was quite a drag, although it really seemed all the pieces of a puzzle were in place & 2 is in all its pervyness my sleazy favourite... 3-d has its place: it is good entertainment, especially the hell's well!

Excellent picture and audio quality, a good set of extras. A valuable release despite the sad treatment from the Warner Bros not letting them release the complete version.

The eventual release of a long-anticipated movie leaves a taste of confusion. For a title a lot of fans have been urging for, for years, the release leaves a sort of weird feeling. I think frustration was not a one-way deal. The giving label Code Red did receive quite a lot of unnecessary shit during the years-in-waiting. I think this overall atmosphere did have an impact on how they saw the project; instead of overwhelming expectation, I sense a slight dose of frustration; for instance, why have the impressive Romano Scavolini interview without subtitles? One could write a 1000-page book on the developments of the project. At times, it even seemed an unprobability. Therefore, I am so happy that the release actually took place! It happened.

In fact, a lot of the confusion is due to the fact, that the viewer is not sure which is the beef. I mean, on the two discs we get three different versions of the film. Perhaps it would have been a good idea to explain these versions a little. For me, at least, it is not that clear. We get a director approved telecine-version, a ”Hi-Def” 1.78:1 ”created from the two best 35mm prints”, and finally on the 2nd disc, which in fact is a DVD-R – another source for confusion, a pirate-looking official disc?? - we get to see a ”brand new 2011 telecine 1.78:1 from a recently discovered slightly better 35mm print”...

I think what we need here is some sort of an explanation of the whole process. As I said, it must have been a distressing experience. Then, why not give the fans what they want – at least a history of that very frustration. It even seems, the label just had enough and threw up this brew of versions and incomplete extras – do what you want, we are fed up!! I hope I am wrong.

At least, the text on the cover is optimistic and positive: ”Many fans claim this will be the biggest selling horror film in the history of DVD!” That is great, and I must be among those optimistic souls, who predict the 100 thousand items will be sold out pretty shortly. So, Code Red, thank you for this absolute favour for the human race, and do not feel frustrated! It is just that those who have waited for so long will demand perfection. No-one demands perfection if you do not promise it many years prior to the actual release.

All in all, although a confused lot, this is a release to have. Although extra-wise it could have been much better, there is nothing better. The film itself is entirely a different story. In brief, I think the Halloween inspiration is just a background. The film has its own atmosphere, and although the gore f/x do look dated and clumsy, the boy actor axing away his father and his ”service” at the end is a classic I think never to be outdone! It is just not possible anymore to use child actors in creative – or in violent or sexual – roles.

Wow! Just when I thought I had seen everything, along comes ... SLEDGEHAMMER! Behold! Warning! This is not for the meek of heart! The film, a horrendous cornucopia of shot-on-video embarrassment, technically inept, nevertheless does leave a good feeling to it after you have survived the experience. The score is dreadful, there is no acting, most of the VHS gimmicks (like endless slo-mo - c'mon how difficult can it be to lock that bloody door!) do not work, none of the crew would get passed any goddamn film studies course. As its best the "film" sucks, but HEY! You cannot underestimate SLEDGEHAMMER's merits, given its no-budget and limited VHS techs, some of the stuff is actually pretty good. And anyone who has seen let's say Andreas Schnaas' VIOLENT SHIT knows that there are ALWAYS worse "movies" around... Yes, the director is ashamed of SLEDGEHAMMER, but then again he IS David Prior, who gave the world some of the BEST trash films, such as DEADLY PREY, also starring his brother Ted... SLEDGEHAMMER is recommended to any true gore fan, at least you can appreciate the bloody murders, which are pretty gruesome in detail and the overall enthusiasm of the project. I think the dvd released by Intervision is pretty okay, although from an obvious VHS source. The extras are very OK, including a superb appraisal from the DESTROY ALL MOVIES!!! author Zack Carlson and an interview with the director himself, who thought it peculiar someone was still watching SLEDGEHAMMER...

This is among the better Jess Franco pics. The storyline is in fact coherent and fastpaced, the acting of Mona Proust tremendous and the photography is atmospheric. The usual Franco-clichées are almost missing (don't take me wrong, I am a huge Francophile!). This is a different Franco film. Certainly among his best. The score is somewhat ludicrous though, it seems the tape is random, or at least picked by a feebleminded dj. It becomes most obvious in the end, when we get to hear the "happy note". All in all, a film worth seeing, even for people not that fond of "The Jesus Style".

The reasoning behind the 3 stars is this: Although the first hour of this movie is slightly sordid and talkative, the rest makes it even! Some of the violent scenes are among the best of mr SS. Also the ambiguous role (a guy who will kill the police and the scum as well) is not worn out! In fact, TODAY YOU DIE is among the pioneering films on this topic, at least to my knowing and remembrance! Hay Ho! Also, I must say I was delighted to see the "bird" (always a mulatto) staying alive - in fact, the show turned into Bonnie & Clyde soon enough! Recommended to all who appreciate Steven Seagal - others might find it healthy to avoid.....

Quite slow-paced action-wise as well as plot-wise. However, the chemistry between the three outstanding main characters works pretty well, but the film seems to slow down little by little like the train our fellows travel in... And I cannot believe someone utilising a machine gun riding a water scooter can actually miss!!!! And where did he put that gun in the first place: "lemme see, my wet suit, my machine gun..."