Review: Texas Killing Fields (2011)

Synopsis: Two Detectives, dead teenage girls, pimps, harlots, Texas and a brutal killer. Who's he and will they find him? At what cost?

I am crime / revenge story writer and obviously a big follower of such movies. So when I heard of this it was all fun and enthusiasm. I've liked whatever I've seen of Sam Worthington And Jessica Chastain. Also heard great things about Jeffrey Dean. Plus getting produced by Michael Mann and directed by her daughter A.C.Mann it was surely gonna be a great ride, right? Let's see.

It starts off pretty well setting the tone and introducing the characters including a very young Chloe Grace Moretz. But sadly after that it loses pace and bonding. We stop caring about the characters and also some scenes appear haphazardly. It creates mood but you also need some good action at the right times to keep people interested. Sadly it fails to deliver consistently on that front. There a couple of great setpieces in the second half. Though at that time you aren't caring that much.

As a crime suspense movie its foolhardy to give away anything about the story(though its based on real life Texas killings). But safe to say the identity of the killer would leave you shortchanged. All the dark atmosphere and mood created before it goes to waste. Even the most hardcore crime movie fan would be flabbergasted. It could have been great but it stops just short of good.

Female directors are making a mark on the indie scene and this one comes with pedigree. Ani Canaan Mann. Daughter of Michael Mann. Just her second directorial venture she definitely gets the mood right. Some good cinematographry helps. But she struggles with the pacing part and maybe some tight editing could have redeemed it to some extent. Anyways i hope she continues making such movies and goes on to be known as one of the few great female directors on this planet.

The real life victims!

Acting didn't let me down thankfully. Always a pleasure to see Sam Worthington [Mike] and Jessica Chastain[Pam]. Playing a pair of estranged husband and wife both detectives. While Jessica doesn't have a major role she does show a kind of no nonsense attitude that is required to pull this off. I was seeing her Zero Dark Thirty character all over again. This came a couple of years earlier. Extraordinary actress. Sam though is not as wooden as Avatar. He gets the accent as well the action right. Totally nice.

Honestly I've never seen Jeffrey [Brian ] in a movie but he's pretty good in this. He's playing a ex NY detective who gets into the mystery straight away with his partner Mike. Though we start losing him in all the muddle that follows after a nice start. The same can be said of Chloe Grace Moretz[Anne]. She is sensational. Even as a 13 year old she gives a performance so matured that you could only love her. Around her are some great actors who pitch in just enough to make it bearable.

HighTension Verdict: I've said enough already. Just wanna say. If only the pacing and flow of scenes was much better and ending more meatier then we could have had a masterclass on our hand. She had a great cast to boot but sadly it wasn't to be. A.C. Mann good luck for your next crime movie.

HighTension Meter: 6/10.

Story behind the story.

Review: The Tunnel (2011)

As scary as it sounds!!

Its 2007. New South Wales government stops its water recycling project and homeless are reported missing from the underground tunnels. A journalist in need of a story, Natasha  feels something amiss and goes down and under to find out the reason behind the missing homeless and the government cover up and soon it amply becomes clear that the reason is far too scary and dangerous to be disclosed and they may never make it.............


Damn its scary. Australian horror is an underrated beast and this shows how that beast has grown over the years. Couple of nice flicks like Wolf Creek and Primal made me aware of the situation and this makes me confident that Aussies would be a frontier in Horror soon. Their beautiful natural resources could become the perfect murder haunt. And the filmmakers exploit it and make us dread the lush greenery and in this the underground Catacombs which houses a World War air raid shelter and also the water project which has been stopped suddenly. Endless rows of claustrophobia inducing tunnels which I last witnessed in the mindblowing Grave Encounters just f*ck with your head. You'll be as agonized as the leads and will be praying that they find the exit soon. Cos the longer they stay there the longer you are tense and have a high heartbeat rate. Its crazy and scary as hell. Found footage has been criticized but what that genre can do when done right is just amazing. It takes you in and tears you apart. As apart as the leads. Wow. You may be a horror king/queen and seen many such movies before but this will creep you up. Turn off the lights and turn on The Tunnel. You are in for a very scary ride.........


Directed by Carlo Ledesma who has helmed three shorts before this. Its been done pretty well. The lights and dark. The monster silhouette. The shit scary location and brilliant use of found footage sub genre and its tropes like mysterious voices recorded on the audio equipments and the disappearance of their equipments. Its been done eerily well. Though Blair Witch and Rec have shown us the best sides of the genre this too has a couple of novel moments which you'll appreciate if you aren't busy being scared by it. And the monster too though isnt seen clearly and there's not much i got about what it is and why, is creepy. The writing is also damn nice with enough backstory to keep us engaged till they enter the tunnel. And when after facing a lot of difficulty they DO enter the ride starts. And it is a breathless ride which you will want to end soon. The survivor interviews interspersed with the action in the tunnel may take away a little thrill from the movie for some. Though it didn't affect the scare quotient for me. So all in all a damn nice effort from the aussies that gives us a spine tingling chiller.

I am telling you, your galfriend would get us killed!!

A movie can't be scary if the actors don't gel and do well. And if i was scared by it there's no denying the fact that the actors have punched above their weight and pulled off an amazing act which makes it so believable and in turn turns this into a much more dread induced ride. They have a great chemistry and it feels as if real journalists have been imported from the BBC. Found footage needs such acting prowess to pull off "its real" trope. And these fine actors nail it. Bel Delia(Natasha) plays the desperate journalist in need of a story. Andy Rodoreda(Peter) is the producer, Steve Davis(Steve) is the cameraman and Luke Arnold(Tangles) is the sound department. All four gel really well and its hard not to believe they are a TV crew not actors. So with the increase in the believability factor the creep and dread factor hits hard and we see how good acting can take a movie to heights which it didn't imagine it could reach. A small found footage horror from a relatively low key Australia film industry with not known actors making waves internationally. That's a great team work. There are a couple of creepy cameos too that may shake you as the movie slows down a bit during the hour mark. So the cast is unimaginably good.

Blood blood everywhere.....

  

 Now on to the technical department which has the writers Enzo Tedeschi and Julian Harvey turn editors. True mark of a gritty indie movie. They work pretty well and give the movie a good pace. Though as i said it slows down a bit in the middle. Horror needs to be as long as its meant to be. Cos if the story doesn't support it no need hitting the 90+ mark. The effects and the little gore that it has, has been done well. The monster is scary and the cinematographer lights up and darkens out all the right time to create horror which may make you breathless with a high chance of a heart attack. Another example of good team work.


HighTension Verdict: Found footage has more bad specimens than good. But considering the positive reviews to VHS2, Grave Encounters, Rec and the Paranormal Activity series it remains a genre which can shock you if done well. And this one may not be the best but it remains a masterclass. Watch out for the opening scene. It creeps you out and sets the mood. Though a couple of novel ideas may backfire, it still is a damn scary chiller. Beneath the scenic city of Sydney horror will rise. A must for your horror collection...... Though its free to download from BitTorrent and also is on Youtube.


HighTension Meter: 8.5/10

BEST Quote: 

"The light runs out"

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Review : Taken 2 (2012)

Bad sequel?

Some time after the incidents in the first movie, Bryan has been posted in Istanbul for some work. His ex-wife Lenore is now separating from her second husband and going through a tough phase. So Bryan invites her and Kim to Istanbul for a holiday unaware of the fact that the Albanians have arrived to avenge the death of their brothers and sons at the hands of Bryan .......


Critically panned. Utterly destroyed by the critics. People just didn't buy into the story anymore. Many glaring loopholes were pointed out everywhere. And that compounded the matter. The first movie with its simplicity and great action scenes won many hearts but sadly this story was simple and a little dumb and so couldn't replicate the first movie's success. Although I didn't hate it as some of my good friends do, but I didn't expect such a downturn. The first now resembles a classic, i must say. But to be fair if you just let all the logicality balckholes go, you can enjoy this too. Not as much but trust me you won't hate it. It takes some harsh political stands maybe unintentionally and that's never good for any commercial movie. Multiple helicopter shot of a mosque from which the call for prayers emanated and then somebody is getting shot at. You can join the dots and cry foul or just let it be and say that it wasn't meant to hurt the sentiments. But Islamic countries arent good but it isn't what Hollywood says them to be. Such baseless depictions plus some over sight in the script means that there are message boards and more message boards dedicated to the "Loopholes". But forget it ever exists and enjoy it just as a time pass popcorn action entertainer. Guaranteed your opinion of it will improve. I never take such movies seriously and thank god i had a nice time watching it. Drop the baggage and go have a watch.......


Luc Besson had written the first one perfectly. Just the right amount of action and exposition and length. So even if there were errors we chose to ignore it cos it was such a fast ride. But this has a lot more setup and very less action. And as I already said, errors abound. Besson and co=writer Robert Kamen do a nice job but it isn't good enough. Yes a simple popcorn entertainer need not be too deep. But it doesn't mean it can get away with too much. And it does have too much. Plus not so good director Olivier Megatron(Transporter 3) doesnt get the same level of enthusiasm in it as Pierre Morel. Some nice helicopter shots of the magnificient city of Istanbul but sadly the fight and action are less and not as good. Plus the setup is so good and the payback just so sad that it feels like a wasted premise. Hell it could been a all guns blazing action thriller but sadly it peters down to some stray moments of goodness from Liam. Just not good enough a sequel. Expectations of many people truly hurt and shattered. I didnt expect much and I enjoyed it a little bit more than most. Thats the way you watch such movies. Don't read between the lines and just let the hell go of everything...... and ENJOY!!

What bad luck??

Acting was pretty decent in the first. And it was an all Liam thing. But not here. Maggie Grace joins the fun as she throws grenade, drives like a pro and helps her Dad escape from the rogue Albanians. But her acting left many things to be desired. As a damsel in distress she did fine but in an extended role she doesnt do the same magic. Also she struggles a play a girl when she's a beautiful women of around 26. And it makes matter worse when Liam too doesnt do it right. He says the lines not as menanacingly but more mechanically. But he's a fine actor and sails through it decently. Famke Jenson is a stuck up as the wife who leaves a good but busy husband for someone wealthy and then is seen coming back to square one. Not much to do except cry out for help. The villains are more scary in this one and atleast the first 20-30 minutes go very well. Alas all that set up gets destroyed as the climax is not something they can be proud of. A sermon , a cliche and The End. Not  a great ending considering the first ended with a great shootout. Rade Serbedzija as the father of one of the slain kidnappers in the first movie excels and maybe outdoes Liam. And with a hero who is not gonna be scratched we sadly have no tension to look forward too. Just decent work from everybody which means this remains mediocre even on the acting front......

Great!! I am gonna shoot the Director...

Camerawork is decent. Some nice swooping shots of Istanbul and the Bazaar. Plus the great background in some scenes. Its a beautiful city captured with some great lights. Editing isn't as good. The background music is decent. All in all the crew tries their best but the writing and direction let this movie down.


HighTension Verdict: If xenophobic nations make a movie on a Muslim nation this is what they will come up with. And for those not looking for too much meaning but more Masala then this is for you. 

 HighTension Meter: 6.5/10

BEST Quote:

Murad: I have come to take you to Tropoje to face you to the people whose lives you have ruined. To give them justice.
Bryan Mills: You mean to give them revenge.
Murad: If it gives us peace call it anything you wish.

Review : Taken (2008)

Just a little short of mindblowing!!

A father, who is a retired CIA agent, reluctantly gives permission to his daughter to go to Paris with her friend. There she gets kidnapped by human trafficking dealers and now he has to fight it out like the good ol' days to get back his daughter.......


The first thing I noticed is the simple storyline. Kudos to the writers to bring out such a simple story in times of Inception and stuff. And then even the investigation is not so deep and almost is there only to let Liam kick some ass and blow up things. Just the things a true blockbuster is made of. When you don't have too deep a storyline then you can let yourselves go and enjoy it. But with the topic of human trafficking involved, you tend to be a little more sympathetic to all the victims and survivors. And from the start you know who gonna get behind. Not much complexity on that front too. Just Liam on drugs who wants his daughter back before the Sheikh takes her virginity. She is "Certified Pure'" and goes for a hefty price in the auction. Amazing to know such things happen in the most developed places even today. So I think with the enjoyment a lesson too should be learned. Maybe that's why this film was made. A commercial Hollywood movie is seen by many people all around the globe. And if you can send a message through it. Absolutely great. I got it. May everyone take the responsibility to end this menace forever. Bravo!!


Directed well by  the Frenchman Pierre Morel, who went on to direct Paris With Love. Which I liked. But unfortunately not many backed me up. But he has a knack of directing fast action movies. He's an ex cinematographer who has worked in action thrillers like The Transporter & Unleashed. So no wonder he gets most of the things in this right and gives an enjoyable ride till the end. He knows France and gets some fine location for the scenes. It looks utterly gorgeous and so makes the harsh ongoings look even more dreadful. The action scenes and the fight scenes are just adrenaline pumping and the quick pace makes this one of the best action thrillers of the last five years. And being written by another enormously talented Frenchman Luc Besson(The Fifth Element, Transporter) makes this a great piece. You get a quick glimpse at the family and bang before you know it we are right in the middle of a prostitution ring. Heavy issue handled well. And not much deep so action fans can sit back and enjoy as our hero fights hard and fights well to get back his daughter. And serve death sentence on the ones who deserve it. I hope such things happen with such bastards in real life too. Nice!!

 

Distressed and "Lost" again!!

Maggie Grace(Kim) is the catalyst in this one. I have been a fan since her "Lost" days. And again in this she acts well. Though the movie totally belongs to Liam Neeson(Bryan). She's the next with most screen time. And she does well. Others are there but not much to anyone except Bryan's ex wife and Kim's mother played by Famke Jenson(Lenore) and a corrupt French officer Jean Claude played by Olivier Rabourdin. So in short this movie totally in whole belongs to Liam who justs blazes his way perfectly. Kind of Bourne thing. He is not young anymore but you can't tell when you see him fighting like that. Driving cars through tankers, blowing up things, killing the scums. And the hand to hand combat. Fuck!! Those are brilliant. Pacy and action packed this sure does take Liam to new heights. But the villains aren't as convincing so maybe it loses its sheen a little. They are so many but not one looks or acts dangerously. But a bullet train of a movie that it is, we enjoy it anyhow. Although it would have been mindblowing with more scary villains. But they do scary things anyway, so cheers!!


Great camerawork by Michel Abramovicz. He captures the underbelly of France quite beautifully. As also the sights and sounds with great lighting which makes us feel more troubled. A land so beautiful and horrible things which one can't comprehend. Plus a decent musical score with quick edit makes this a sumptuous ride to hell and back. Go for it!!

Great multi tasking dude !!

HighTension Verdict: Action thrillers like Die Hard and Bond are hard to come by. The Bourne series too is teetering on the edge. So this comes at the right time. Fast and furious this brings enjoyment and loads of French talent to look out for in Hollywood. You have to see this if you like the idea of Liam blowing the French capital and single handedly taking on the whole mafia...... Plus if you are an action fan and haven't seen this, cheers you aren't one anymore!!


HighTension Verdict: 8.5/10


BEST Quote:

Jean Claude: Just like the old days.
Bryan: Would you have it any other way?
Jean Claude: Between you and me, no. But now that I sit behind a desk, the world looks different.
Bryan: You mean it looks boring.
Jean Claude: I mean different. Okay, a little boring. But is being retired any more interesting?
Bryan: It wasn't until my daughter disappeared in Paris yesterday. She and her friend were marked by a spotter at the airport. Albanians took her.
Jean Claude: How do you know this?
Bryan: I'm retired, not dead.
Jean Claude: And I assume you don't want to go to the police.
Bryan: I was told I have 96 hours. That was sixteen hours ago.
Jean Claude: Okay, first we should find the spotter.
Bryan: I found him. He's dead.
Jean Claude: You found him that way?
[Bryan stays silent]
Jean Claude: Bryan, you cannot just run around, tearing down Paris.
Bryan: Jean Claude, I will tear down the Eiffel Tower if I have to.

Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows (2011)

More bloody and intense than the first!!

In the year 1891, a madman genius Professor Moriarty concocts a deadly plan to start a World War. Sherlock Holmes must now convince his partner in crime Dr Watson to join him in one last adventure which may change everyone's lives forever......



Phew!! What an adventure. What an absolute mindbending adventure. I realized it may be an improvement on the first movie, but who thought it would turn out to be such a mind blasting experience. The first one lacked intensity and had less action and blood to show for all the viciousness.  But not this. This raises the stake and makes us more and more breathless with multiple unnerving chase sequences throughout Brighton and France. Action, fight sequences, bomb blasts and much more as you get on the ride of your lives with two characters you can never tire of. Holmes and Watson. Its intense. And yes this time the villain does makes you feel the chill. Though he is not as capable analyst he is a boxing champion. So you know what you gonna get. But be ready to be surprised here and there. Its just AMAZING. Go have a watch.......


Guy Ritchie is back with a bang. Those who enjoyed the first one will be blown by his latest offering. Some beautiful use of the camera and nice shots with more and more ECU shots of all the inanimate objects around. And some stylized action sequences that can make some Bond movies feel insecure. Its pretty damn awesome. As in the first, the recreation of 1891 England is complete. The houses, carriages, the industrialization and the new weapons. And the government's conflict prone attitude. It captures the political scene of that era and gives us some great lesson in History. Plus the writing by Michele and the actor Kieran Mulroney(Paperman) is just wonderfully paced. Some things do happen in the middle which may feel like just for laughs but its essential in a fast paced intense action movie like this to have buffers. And not till the end does it take the foot of the pedestal as we almost die of exhaustion as our heroes criss cross from one country to another fighting and saving their ass just in nick of time. What an absolute delight Ritchie. You rock!!

He sure does scare you!!

When I talked about the first part, I mentioned great acting. And when it comes to the sequel its even better. More meat for Watson(Jude Law) to chew on. And less for Irene(Rachel Mcadams). Infact she gets bumped off in the 1st five minutes. She deserved that I suppose. And the introduction of a new character who's French former revolutionary now gypsy Simza(Noomi Rapace). She acts damn well. And as someone who hasn't watched more of her I suppose they tell the truth about her acting talent. She kicks ass and looks good. And also introduced is the more politically inclined and the darling of the British Bureaucracy, deduction master brother of Holmes, Mycroft(Stephen Fry). He has not much to do but his one sequence where he's walking nude infront of Mrs Mary Watson(Kelly Reilly)is just hilarious. But he gets something to do in the end and its not such a bad Mycroft afterall. And now we come to the two gentlemen who matter the most. Holmes(Robert Downey Jr) and his adversary Professor Moriarty(Jared Harris). Robert's Holmes is a fighter. With the mind as well as the body. More transformed for the modern audiences. He is brilliant. No question. It comes down to finding a perfect adversary. And it is found in Moriarty. He is cool as a cucumber playing chess and cracking jokes and singing stuff. Then suddenly this sneer which can frighten. He is just the right adversary for our lovable disguise master Holmes whose intuitiveness increases in this movie by leaps and bounds almost bordering on the ridiculous. Moriarty also is a Cambridge boxing champion so we know Holmes is not gonna have it easy. But what he goes through in this is just absolutely destructive. Sir Arthur's Holmes would never have survrived this fantastically bleak adventure. Kudos for making the villain more worthy of Holmes and giving us Sherlock fans great faces for our fav characters. Bravo everyone!!

Well done Guy Ritchie and team!!

     
The stylized camerawork and the beautiful lighting as in the first part makes this more beautiful to look at. With great production values and amzing set design we are looking on of the most authentic period suspense thriller to come out since some time. With peppy music ad some classic German which sets yout mood right for the umpteen chase sequences and action scenes. Editing is nice and gives us some fine slow mo shots that look incredible. Although it wasn't required at all the places where they used it i feel. So everything blends beautifully in this action thriller adventure. Great work!!


HighTension Verdict: The first movie was breathless but the villainy wasnt the best part about it. And greater the bad man more the fun watching Holmes fight it out. This has one hell of a madman plus more action and blood. It takes Holmes where not many would think he could go. He was all mental but this new age Holmes is ready for all the physicality. And it bodes well. Have a watch asap. Not many better action suspense thrillers out there..... 


HighTension Meter: 9/10.


BEST Quote:

Moriarty: You see...hidden within the unconscious is an insatiable desire for conflict. So you're not fighting me...so much as you are the human condition. All I want is to own the bullets and the bandages. War, on an industrial scale, is inevitable. They'll do it themselves, within a few years. All I have to do...is wait.

Review : Below Utopia (1997)

Below Utopia is much better!!

A man is taking his girlfriend to his family at his ancestral house,for the weekend. Also he missed his brothers funeral. All this happenings are already disturbing the utopian existence of his family when a gang of three thieves break into the house and all hell breaks loose.......



EXPECTATIONS. Yes this not so small word has the uncanny ability to enliven or destroy any experience. And i have been given lesson after lesson in this hard fact of life. But foolishness refuses to recede and i have yet still  to lighten my burden. Meanwhile another movie falls prey to my skyscraper-ic expectations. Body Count Or Below Utopia, the summary read the same and my mind conjured up images from the numerous house break in  movies i have seen. One of my fav sub genres is Home Invasion. And i gladly watch anything showing that without much googling or wiki-ing. But sadly The Conjuring of my mind went well, not the movie though. I feel yawning during movies is disrespecting it, but alas the natural instinct takes over and sometimes i tend to break my rules. So yawn and a nap. And around it was the Hot Alyssa Milano and Mr Aniston Justin starrer Below Utopia. Glad i didnt went to sleep.....

Below My Expectations for sure!!

  

Director Kurt Voss(Poison Ivy: The New Seduction, Sugar Town) directs this decently. But somehow fails to get the same tension out of the scenes which caused fluttering in my heart in some other movie. You do know many people are gonna be killed, there's gonna be a game of cat and mouse and there will be a twist in the tail. But somehow in the middle it loses steam and "who the killer is" just doesn't have that shock value anymore. Writers Richard Shepherd(The Matador) and David Diamond(Evolution) do try to inject it with twist and turns and some violence, but something in the middle gives way. There isn't a lot of story and when the killers storm the castle in the early moments you realize somewhere its gonna sag, and it sure does. But its not all bad though. It can be enjoyed once on a lazy afternoon. Just make sure you aren't feeling sleepy!!


 Most of the house invasion movies I've seen and enjoyed is cos they had some great acting by both the lead and the bad people. The bad people were terrifying and and so badass that it was interesting to see who wins the game. But sadly in this the professionals looked hardly anywhere near the fuck face they should be. Maybe it isn't a horror and didn't need that much animosity,but it isn't easy for me to be scared for the lead when the men are as easygoing and indulging in stupid bantering. Just shooting everybody in cold blood doesn't make them hardcore,right? Anyway the leads were good. Alyssa Milano(Susanne) is the star of this movie. She just races your blood with early skin show and all her obsessed fans out there can heave a sigh of relief. And she gets to show her acting prowess too. Plus she's the executive producer. So many "Milano" reason to watch this!! Justin Theroux(Daniel) turns in a great performance. More in the news now for being Aniston's guy, he has some great acting talent and he does show it by looking happy even when referred to as Mr Aniston!! Ice T(Jim) and Tommy Lister(Tiny) do a good job but are nowhere as menancing. But all the performances are decent enough to enjoy it once anytime of the day. Night, if you really really like Alyssa. 

Plz turn me into Justin for one movie!!

Cinematography is excellent as is the music. The utopian existence with the house turned into  Louvre is shown beautifully. The production values and the set designing are pretty well done. But editing leaves a lot to be desired. Many continuity problems mar some fine scenes. Even the one where Alyssa is being undressed. So a decent effort to supplement a weak story. But it takes hardwork, even if its a mediocre work. Lets not forget that.....



HighTension Verdict: I maybe am too harsh on this movie. And maybe i am comparing it with the wrong breed of films,but even as a thriller it leaves a lot to be desired. Minimal characterization and storyline just keeps it from being a fun movie. Although Alyssa fans like me can enjoy, i need a story to supplement her lovemaking. And there isn't much with a great ending marred by a dull middle. One time watch i say.....


HighTension Meter: 5/10


Best QUOTE:

Daniel: "You killed my family,now you are gonna pay for it"

Review : The Midnight Meat Train (2008)

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A struggling photographer has been given the task of finding the perfect shot, to get a shot at the big league. And for that he is intent to go as far as he could. But what he didn't realize was that the city harbored a terrifying secret from which there's no escaping......



Pretty amazing this. Not as a horror movie, but as a suspense thriller this rocks. From the start we are thrust into a world which only looks good. And as Leslie Bibb says- "The city was never safe. It was always a hellhole". We know that its going to be downhill with the dark atmosphere being created, but it isn't scary for me. Its thrilling and suspenseful though. We want to know who the killer is. And after that why is he butchering the people? And also will our protagonist ever win the battle against this cold hearted murderer? Shades of some cannibal movies but this isnt as scary even though the antagonist looks creepy and scares you with his silence and coldness. Instead of the deformed faces which the cannibal movies revel in. So this train ride does thrill you and shock you but scary its not. I don't know why but I didnt feel anything akin to dread. Except maybe when Vinnie Jones looks coldly and slaughters people left,right and centre. And the ending which did make a little uncomfortable. And also delighted that it was my kind of a ending. Nihilistic.



Japanese director Ryuhei Kitamura (No One Lives) has directed this beautifully. We are from the very start introduced to a tense atmosphere which is never let go till the very last. The claustrophobic setting of an underground train has been used well to intensify the creep which can overtake you sometimes during the course of the movie. And also the train and the abandoned station looks creepy as hell. Plus the antagonist being a butcher means he has given us a large amount of gore which keeps the Gorrors happy. He with screenwriter Jeff Buhler, who adapts the Clive Barker short story by the same name, give us a pretty entertaining and gory ride into deep depths of hell from which its literally no coming back. And with it a parable of how to keep the worlds separate we have to kill. And thats not a comfortable truth. Nice work!!

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 Acting departments is full of pretty nice names. Bradley Cooper(Leon), Leslie Bibb(Maya), Vinnie Jones(Mahogany), Brooke Shields(Susan) and Roger Bart(Jurgis) are the five main characters around which this movie revolves. And I was especially thunderstruck on seeing Bradley in a movie as dark and bloody as this. Who would have imagined he would come out trumps in such a gory horror movie role? He is marvellous as the struggling photographer ready to go to any length to make his career. As he does the dirty work, he serenades his girlfriend as passionately which will make all his female fans go awww. And the forthright girlfriend played by Leslie is mindblowing. She is the anchor which has the power to save her boyfriend from the madness but in the end she also falls prey to it. Also in great supporting roles Roger and Brooke sparkle never letting this movie lose steam,even as you feel a couple of the scenes weren't necessary. But what is the strongest point of this movie? Definitely Vinnie who just rampages onscreen as a negative version of Thor destroying and butchering everything that he sets his eyes on with his trusted hammer. He looks just too terrifying with his cold piercing eyes and huge build. I am afraid whenever I meet him I definitely won't ask for a autograph. He steals the show from Bradley, but to be fair the latter has looks which makes it harder to portray such a bloody character. So Bradley does really well. Also all the others who act well and give the amazing Clive Barker story a nice cinematic adaptation. Well done!!

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 To accompany this, is some amazing camera work which captures the dark underbelly of the city beautifully. The subways and stations look damn amazing but creepy as hell too. And the dark atmosphere is alleviated by some nice music and especially its used well in a fight scene in the climax. Editing is decent as are the gory effects. 



HighTension Verdict: If you are a fan of gory slasher cannibal movies ,you can't miss this. If you are a fan of Bradley Cooper than also you can't miss this. But some illogicality and a couple of unneccssary scenes may mar the experience for some. But otherwise its an enjoyable ride to hell. Not as scary but thrilling nonetheless with a great ending. 



HighTension Meter: 7/10.


Best QUOTE:

Driver: [pointing a gun at Sac] Step away from the meat.

Review : Machete (2010)

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An ex federale agent gets hired by some people to kill the senator who is killing Mexicans trying to enter America illegally. But pretty soon he realizes that it was a setup. Now he is out to find the perpetrators and slaughter them.


Expectations shattered. Thats what comes to mind first when I think about this movie. It was supposed to be a Die hard kinda movie with lotsa actions and cool one liners and gore. And while it mostly delivers on those promises but it hasnt been paced properly. Some characters plop in and out randomly. Acting leaves a lot to be desired. And it doesnt end with a bang as action movies ought to. And repetitive scenes confirming Danny Trejo as the ultimate action hero just makes it longer not enjoyable. But there are some cool action scenes and innovative use of intestines,but not enough to make me scream in joy- Yippe ki yay motherf%$&.


Robert Rodriguez(Desperado, Sin City, Grindhouse). A name associated with good independent cinema. Who made low budget movies look incredibly delightful. He showed us that less money shouldn't deter you from making a nice looking movie. And he introduced us to gritty and dark action heroes. And this, he makes with Ethan Maniquis. This is Ethan's first movie as a director. He worked with Rodriguez in all his movies as an editor before this. So this movie is mostly his vision and I can see that the end product isnt as refined as it could have been. Writing was also below par. Not many good dialogues and random scenes and too many characters just make this seem much longer than it is. And the ending is not the boom boom bang bang stuff. But a rather tepid version of that. The only thing good about that it features Michelle Rodriguez wearing just a bra and showing off her cleavage and badassness to the people around. As does a couple of hot girls in nurse dresses showering everyone with bullets. And Robert doesn't disappoint when it comes to the amount of hotness onscreen. But with the main crux a little weak it falls below in the great valley of my ever increasing expectations. Too bad.

Image source

      

The acting department is filled with great names. And none greater than Robert De Niro(Senator). This movie has kind of a comic feel to it. And its deliberate. But its not a comedy so to overdo the spoof bit could have landed this in trouble. So each of the actor and actresses try to bring the right amount of charisma and seriousness to lend it a feel of a nice enjoyable "not too serious and not too funny" action movie. But it left a lot to be desired. Jessica Alba(Sartana) was maybe overdoing it. Steven Seagal(Torrez) was unconvincing as the villian. And Robert had simply not much to do. But what I enjoyed immensely is Danny Trejo(Machete) and Michelle Rodriguez(Luz). These two fine actors really show off their romantic and action skills and kick a lot of ass. And Danny doing it at 66. Although not the fittest but wow!! He gets to bed girls and mouth some deadpan lines and kill a lot of people. While Rodriguez supports him and even takes a bullet to the eye. Nice job. Other than these there's Jeff Fahey(Booth) and even FX artist Tom Savini(Osiris) in important roles. So a pretty vast and talented cast which tries but falls a little short of the target. And yes there's also Lindsay Lohan(April) playing herself. Well almost!!



HighTension Verdict: A talented cast performing a little below par. Long length. Too many characters. A heavy handed topic of illegal immigration which is too serious for such a movie. And a not so great ending. But you could give it a watch if you like Danny who kicks ass and makes love all in a moment. And there are some seriously hot bodies with guns out there. For a late night watch I wouldn't mind going through this again. And it also announces two sequels in the end credits,one of which comes out this year. So better see the first part.


HighTension Meter: 6/10.


 Best QUOTE: 

Senator McLaughlin: [after shooting a Mexican trying to cross the border] Welcome to America.

                                          

Review : Hostel (2005)

Three backpackers go to Slovakia for some days of fun and pleasure only to realize that everything is much more sinister than it seems.....


Sinister it sure is. And brutal. Absolute f** brutal. EverytimE I watched it I have felt a dread. A chill in my spine. Goosebumps at how men can stay cool doing things as mean and bloody. And to realize that everything the movie shows was not entirely fictional should send you scurrying away from anywhere near that goddamned place. What rage and unfulfilled ambition can make humans do, no other force on Earth can replicate. And this is the main theory the movie revolves around as many people get tortured to death. Very painfully and brutally. As blood covers the screen and the haunting screams split up your ears. And for this exact same thing that this movie has gained notoriety. And also the fact that Ukraine registered less tourists in 2006. I am amazed it got any. If you have been living under a rock and missed this so sorry. Go watch this asap.

Via outnow.ch

 
Director Eli Roth isn't as good as in Hostel 2. But that's a non issue considering this was the first movie in the series. The idea of torture chambers though not entirely new has never been explored like this before. People paying money to torture and kill some people to take out their frustrations is scary enough. And to show it like how Eli shows us, stark and bloody as you twitch around uncomfortably, is just pure torture on your senses. And thats why not many claim to like this movie. He actually came across a 'pay for torture' website makes watching and absorbing this incredibly difficult. But I am a big fan of sick horror movies and have seen too much to feel anything but inspired. Inspired to write something which may become Hostel 4. But hard to guess if that will be half as brutal and scary and spine tingling as these two. And this certainly proves why Eli Roth considers himself a 'psychopath'. Nice!!

Via starpulse.com

Acting is led amazingly by Jay Hernandez(Paxton). Somebody who I thought could only do rom coms. But this is a long way away from his favorite role of mine in Crazy Beautiful. But he does this with elan as we feel his shock, pain and bewilderment as men throw away their humanness outside the torture chamber and become wild animals. And also his sense of loss when his friends Derek Richardson(Josh) and Ethyor Gudjonnson(Oli) fall prey to the dubious charms of the city and the hot girls. The two girls played by Barbara(Natalya) and Jana(Svetlana) are no nonsense and cold hearted ready to do anything for drugs. And watch out for Barbara as she loses her veil of hotness and turns into something ugly as you shudder. Amazing act by her and Jay. Plus a childhood backstory of him is fantastically used in a scene where I felt loss of logic. But with all the loss of limbs happening around me, logic seemed a small price to pay........


Amazing cinematography and editing makes this an amazing watch. Plus a decent and haunting soundtrack means you won't travel to new places without hearing that dreadful whistle.


HighTension: Blood and gore enthusiasts with sick tastes line up. Others can watch at their own risk. Polarizing and dark. And absolutely gut smashing this remains my favorite horror movie. Go for it....


HighTension Meter: 9/10.



Best QUOTE:

[while in the torture chambers, Natalya laughs]
Paxton: You fucking whore. You fucking bitch, YOU FUCKING BITCH!
Natalya: I get a lot of money for you, and that makes you MY bitch.

Review : Blood In Blood Out (1993)

Via withfriendship.com

Three brothers get involved in gang wars and drugs in East LA 1972 and have their life turned upside down and have to part. As they try to piece their life back together they realize their true calling in life. But will their destiny take them further away or back towards each other?



 EPIC. Thats right. It really is epic at least when you consider the length. 190 minutes of drama which encompasses 13 years and many twists and turns. It was like seeing a movie twice over. And its pretty hard for me to sit and do the same thing that long. But thank god it was nice or i would have been lying on the bed all day with a headache. And it amazes me that I sat through a movie that long without much fuss. It was pretty nice. The LA which many outsiders never see or hear about. The east LA, the gang wars, the drugs, inmates running the prisons and rape attempt on a white prisoner. And thirteen years of twist and turns in the fortune of the three brothers and their familias as tragedy and happiness went hand in hand of a community which just wanted to live and work with dignity as some of their own went the wrong way and destroyed their careers and lives. And with much of the second half happening in the prison it needed a good genuine drama which thankfully is delivered. The prison and the stories feel real. And you feel destroyed as you see criminals getting criminalized in an institution made to reform them. Gay cooks and prisoners and racially segregated groups which ran their business from the inside in lieu of money. Attacks being planned and committed on fellow prisoners. Its all there as it takes a lot out of you to watch and absorb all this and more for more three hours. But all said and done it engrosses you for most the time and its only in the middle when not much is happening when you look at the time remaining. But as the plotting and action starts you again get absorbed. I got out with a real good knowledge of the people and a side of one of my favourite cities I never knew about. For that I am happy that I watched this. 

Via thejrexperiment.com

 

Director Taylor Hackford(Parker,Ray,The Devil's Advocate) has made a very good movie. Based on poet Jimmy Baca's life, who has also written the script, it shows the life of people who do wrong and try to get out of it. Everyone needs a chance but not everyone gets it. The bad life sucks you in and maybe you realize it was what your destiny had in store for you. And it could be that crime is your true calling. And you go back never to return as your ties are all broken and everyone you called friend turns against you. And this has been shown brilliantly by Taylor. Quite a pacy start gives way to a long human emotional slow burn drama before it shifts back to prison. And again picks up pace to only end on a whimper. The writer and director had to have done something more unsafe than what they showed there. Its good don't dont get me wrong. But when compared with the dark happenings in the lives of the people, only another tragedy could have been a much more appropriate ending. And it feels so sudden that I was shocked that the film ended. To cut off the length maybe,but not a nice decision.

via monniegless.tumblr.com

 On the acting front its a marvellous starcast led by some unknown to me names like Damian Chapa(Miklo) and Jesse Borrego(Cruz). And some known names like Danny Trejo(Geronimo), Billy Bob Thorton(Lightning) and Delroy Lindo(Bonafide) also line up this fabulously acted movie. Not for second will you think that these men were just acting. They give so much life to these crooks they protray as also the fact they arent the baddest ones in that prison. And most of the movie is dedicated to Damian who acts really well first as the wannabe gang leader who is afraid and then as the leader amongst them in prison with charisma. The transformation is believable. But the best is Benjamin Bratt(Paco). Just superb as the gang member turned detective. He shows the dilemma of a man who has to against his own brother very well. In the end a mammoth cast which gels well and makes for an interesting and at some places, heart breaking view. 


Cinematography is pretty nice. Capturing the inside of the jail pretty starkly. As also LA without the pizazz generally associated with the place. With a decent editing and musical score to boot it surpasses my expectation. 


HighTension Verdict: If you need some knowledge about the drug business and suffering caused by it and violence and the real inside of a jail with their racial division and disunity. And have the patience to sit out for three hours. Then this movie is for you. I was totally engrossed for much of the running time. Maybe you you will too. Go for it. The only problem. The ending. And yes the long running time too.


HighTension Meter: 7/10.


Best QUOTES:

Prison Librarian: Cocaine is America's cup of coffee. 

Review : The Covenant (2006)

Via fanpop.com

A group of four cool dudes with powers known as Sons Of Ipswich, who are descendants of a witch coven, have to fight for their lives and the others who are related to them as a fifth descendant, long thought to be dead, comes to town......


It sucks you from the start with that enthralling metal music background and the images on screen. And some cool and haunting images at the opening credits makes the start even better. And for the first ten minutes you wont turn away. But it does lose out steam after that enthralling start but a short running time of around 80-85minutes makes this a decent watch. A kind of horror superhero movie which has nothing to scare you but lots to make you jump with joy and maybe wriggle out a dance. Some monotonous scenes of the boys with superpowers fighting and the expectations set after the heart racing first 5 minutes destroys it a little. But its okay if you are madly in love with superpower thingy. I prefer Batman....


Director Renny Harlin(Die Hard 2, Deep Blue Sea, Cliffhanger) sure knows the art of setting your pulse racing. The most successful Finnish director in Hollywood creates a pretty decent horror with more elements of heart stopping action and music rather than terror. So it falls a little below my expectations. But if anyone asked me how is it as a action thriller,I'd say its a pretty good. I've always liked movies with fill me with terror,makes me think and has some heart stopping moments but this only has the latter after being labelled a horror. So i think maybe its just me who hasn't liked as much cos it didnt scare me. The screenwriter J.S.Cardone(Prom Night, The Stepfather) has written this well. Considering his horror background he could have a better job of putting in some more scares. But anyway some good action and fight scenes keep you entertained. Good job!!

  


 On the acting front its led by Steven Strait(Caleb), the gorgeous Laura Ramsey(Sarah) and the baddie Sebastian Stan(Chase Collins). Three very good actors. They act with utmost sincerity and make this more watchable. Of course Laura parades semi naked and there's a shower scene. And for female fans you can see the handsome Steven in trunks. But the emoting could have been a tad better by the boys. While the girl scores a little better on the acting score. And ably supported by Taylor Kitsch(Pogue) and Jessica Lucas(Kate) this movie doesn't have much to complaint on the acting front.


Cinematography is very nice. And some quick editing work with an awesome headbanging background music makes for a decent ride. Nice special effects too....


HighTension Verdict: So horror people go see this movie with less expectations and you will enjoy it. And for those into superpowers and action this will be a pretty decent trip. As for me I don't like non gory horror and boys with superpowers thing. But a good mix of action, horror and fantasy and some romance makes it a nice late night watch...


HighTension Meter: 6.5/10.

Best QUOTE:

Reid Garwin: [seeing a girl in a short skirt, slapping a twenty on the table] Blue. Cotton.
Tyler Sims: [slapping down a twenty] Pink lace.
Pogue Parry: [slapping down a twenty] Boys, that girl hasn't worn panties since she was twelve.
Pogue Parry: [a gust of wind blows the girl's skirt up, revealing no panties. Pogue walks off with the money, smirking, and hands it to the bartender] Keep the change, man.