Boot Camp (2007) Movie Review

In “Boot Camp”, director Christian Duguay has given us a strange mishmash of a film. At first glance, the movie seems to be a well-intentioned exposé of the abuses in juvenile detention camps, so-called “tough love” boot camps where at-risk teens are sent in lieu of rehab or prison. But at some...

August 25th, 2009 | Read More

Boy Director (2007) Movie Review

The Korean independent cinema scene continues to thrive with “Boy Director”, written and directed by documentary filmmaker Lee Woo Yeol. Here, he tries his hand at narrative form, whilst still keeping to his realist sensibilities, with a film about film making as seen through the eyes of a child....

August 23rd, 2009 | Read More

Love Connected (2009) Movie Review

“Love Connected” is the latest outing from Hong Kong director Patrick Kong, who previously enjoyed commercial success with the likes of “Nobody’s Perfect”, “Marriage with a Fool” and “Love is Not All Around”. Although 2008 did see him dabble in the horror genre with “Forgive and Forget”,...

August 23rd, 2009 | Read More

DVD Review: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: 25th Anniversary Collector’s Edition (Blu-ray)

Even if I were the world’s greatest clairvoyant and had envisioned the coming of Blu-ray only a few years back, I still would not have believed this could have happened: “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: 25th Anniversary Collector’s Edition.” The mere title sends shivers down my spine — not...

August 18th, 2009 | Read More

Sexy Killer: You’ll Die for Her (2008) Movie Review

Spanish horror has been prominent on the international scream scene of late, with the likes of “REC” and “The Orphanage” offering another alternative to the increasingly bland tide of remakes flowing sluggishly from Hollywood. “Sexy Killer”, from director Miguel Martí (previously responsible...

August 16th, 2009 | Read More

Kung Fu Girl (1973) Movie Review

“Kung Fu Girl”, also known as “None but the Brave”, was originally released back in 1973 as a vehicle for Cheng Pei Pei, the former Shaw Brothers martial arts queen, who had been lured back to Hong Kong by Golden Harvest after apparently giving up her career and moving to the US. Having starred...

August 13th, 2009 | Read More

From Within (2008) Movie Review

“From Within” is the first film from Phedon Papamichael as a director for nearly 15 years, following his forgettable early 1990s thrillers “Dark Side of Genius” and “Sketch Artist”. The time since has certainly been well spent, with Papamichael honing his craft as one of the top cinematographers...

August 13th, 2009 | Read More

Scarlet Letter (2004) Review

Originally released in 2004 and now being re-issued on DVD, “The Scarlet Letter” is sadly best known for having been the last film to feature actress Lee Eun Joo, who took her own life shortly after production had been completed. Bearing no relation to the famous novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne with...

August 10th, 2009 | Read More

Banlieue 13: Ultimatum (2009) Movie Review

It’s been three years since the events of “Banlieue 13”, and the more things change, the more they stay the same. Or gotten worst, actually. The wall that separates the slums of District 13 and the more civilized (i.e. less tattooed) populace of Paris has not been torn down as promised, and the...

August 8th, 2009 | Read More

Green Lantern: First Flight (2009) Movie Review

(Guest Movie Review by Dedpool) So it’s finally here. DC Animated’s and Warner Premiere’s newest direct to video release, “Green Lantern: First Flight” has finally touched down and oh what a ride it was. Timed almost perfectly with DC Comic’s summer long Green Lantern centric,...

August 8th, 2009 | Read More

Dororo (2007) Movie Review

Manga adaptations have been hitting Japanese screens en masse in recent years, though fantasy sword epic “Dororo” does at least have an impeccable pedigree to set it out from the crowd, being based upon a long running series from the 1960s by the masterful Osamu Tezuka (who also created the much...

August 8th, 2009 | Read More

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009) Movie Review

When Sienna Miller is the best actor in your movie, you’ve got issues, and Stephen Sommers’ “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra” has issues. Based on the Hasbro toy line of the same name, the live-action “Joe” is about an international military commando unit led by General hawk (Dennis Quaid), whose...

August 7th, 2009 | Read More

Tokyo Gore Police (2008) Movie Review

In many ways, “Tokyo Gore Police” represents a culmination of the recent trend of Japanese ultra violent splatter sci-fi cinema. The film was directed by Nishimura Yoshihiro, whose pedigree in the field is impeccable, having worked on the special effects for other recent genre cult hits such as “The...

August 5th, 2009 | Read More

The Hypnotized (2004) Movie Review

Originally released back in 2004, “The Hypnotized” was the second outing from writer director Kim In Sik, who made his debut with the much praised “Road Movie”. Sadly, it also marks his last film to date, a real shame since it clearly showed him to be one of the more interesting and creative...

August 5th, 2009 | Read More

S. Darko (2009) Movie Review

“S. Darko“ is the direct-to-DVD cash-in sequel to “Donnie Darko“, writer-director Richard Kelly’s mystifying 2001 tale of teenage angst and existentialism with a time travel twist. When news originally broke that a sequel was being made without the involvement of Kelly, “Donnie Darko“ fans...

August 1st, 2009 | Read More

Grotesque (2009) Movie Review

In these post-’”Hostel” days, with the so called torture porn genre having largely taken over the horror field, viewers have consistently been let down by cheap rip-offs and anaemic pretenders which fail to deliver the gore goods. As such, it is no small relief to report that “Grotesque” not...

July 27th, 2009 | Read More

Ichi (2008) Movie Review

“Ichi” has an interesting premise, being a reimagining of the enduringly popular Japanese tale of Zatoichi, the blind masseur and master swordsman, who was previously the subject of a long-running film and television series from the 1960s to 80s, and the 2003 blockbuster from Kitano Takeshi. Here,...

July 27th, 2009 | Read More

Meatball Machine (2005) Movie Review

Originally released back in 2005, “Meatball Machine” was one of the films to kick-start the current trend of Japanese ultra violence and sci-fi gore which has resulted in the likes of “Machine Girl” and “Tokyo Gore Police”. The film was co-directed by Yudai Yamaguchi (also responsible for...

July 26th, 2009 | Read More

Goth: Love of Death (2008) Movie Review

“Goth: Love of Death” is director Takahashi Gen’s live-action adaptation of the award-winning novel by Japanese author Otsuichi, which had previously been adapted into a popular manga by artist Kendi Oiwa, and which has apparently been optioned for a Hollywood version. Thankfully, despite its title,...

July 26th, 2009 | Read More

God Man Dog (2007) Movie Review

Originally released back in 2007, “God Man Dog” was the second feature from Taiwanese writer director Singing Chen, following some years after his 2000 award winning debut “Bundled”. His sophomore effort was also a critical success, playing at festivals around the world, and claiming the Tagesspiegel...

July 26th, 2009 | Read More