Collection ID 1306
Director: Kristian Fraga
Starring: Doug Friedline, Steve Lonegan, Dave Musikant, Mrs. Musikant, Fred Pesce
Genre: Documentary
Studio: XMark Monkey   Release date: 2005   Rated: NR   
Language (Country): English (USA)
Summary: Three Candidates, Two blind Politicians, One Race. Anytown USA follows a tightly run race in the small town of Bogota, New Jersey and resonates as an all-too-familiar look at partisan politics in our increasingly polarized nation.
My Rating:
My Review: My fifth movie from Filmmovement.com. This one is a documentary about local politics. I didn't care for it. It was well directed, but there wasn't much to it. O.k. a three way race for Mayor in a tiny po-dunk town. I expected there to be some low-leve self-serving back-stabbing and there was. Nothing really surprising about this movie. Two of the characters were partially blind, and one had a yellow tint under his eyes, which led me to believe that he might have some type of liver ailment. He did, and his opponents used it to advance their campaigns. I had to stop half way through the movie. It was literally boring me to death. I picked it up again later, and watched it through to the end. The director managed to make a foregone conclussion into a tense ten minutes as we await the verdict. The incumbent was reelected by a landslide. Surprised? Neither was I. The direction and pacing were well done, but the subject matter just wasn't all that interesting.

Collection ID 1545
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Starring: Marlon Brando, Martin Sheen, Robert Duvall, Frederic Forrest, Sam Bottoms
Genre: Action
Studio: Zoetrope Studios   Release date: 1979   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English, French (USA)
Summary: Based on Joseph Conrad's Heart Of Darkness, this is a controversial addition to the multitude of Vietnam war movies in existence. We follow Captain Willard on his mission into Cambodia to assassinate a renegade Green Beret who has set himself up as a God among a local tribe. Notes taken by Coppola's wife have recently been used to create "Hearts Of Darkness" - a fascinating and revealing account of the making of this movie.
My Rating:
My Review: Francis Ford Coppola's masterpiece. Here is the uncompromising vision of war at it's worst. The chaos, the violence, the terribly bright tragic depiction of a war gone over the edge. The story: At the height of the Vietnam war Capt. Willard (played by Martin Sheen) is a 'special' forces officer recruited on a mission that officially 'does not exist - nor will it ever exist'; to enter Cambodia, seek out Col. Kurtz (played by Marlon Brando) and 'terminate' the Col. 'with extreme prejudice'. The Col. has gone off the reservation. He's crossed into Cambodia where he's set himself up as a god among the locals. His army is conducting hit and run missions against the NVA and Viet Cong. The powers that be believe that he's gone completely insane. They've designated him as a liability and want him eliminated. The acting, editing, locations, pacing, direction. Everything was done just right. Combine the perfect production with an outstanding script and dreamy dialog - 'Smells like victory'. I give it a 5 out of 5.

Collection ID 30
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Starring: Marlon Brando, Martin Sheen, Robert Duvall, Frederic Forrest, Sam Bottoms
Genre: Action
Studio: Zoetrope Studios   Release date: 1979   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English, French (USA)
Summary: Based on Joseph Conrad's Heart Of Darkness, this is a controversial addition to the multitude of Vietnam war movies in existence. We follow Captain Willard on his mission into Cambodia to assassinate a renegade Green Beret who has set himself up as a God among a local tribe. Notes taken by Coppola's wife have recently been used to create "Hearts Of Darkness" - a fascinating and revealing account of the making of this movie.
My Rating:
My Review: Francis Ford Coppola's masterpiece. Here is the uncompromising vision of war at it's worst. The chaos, the violence, the terribly bright tragic depiction of a war gone over the edge. The story: At the height of the Vietnam war Capt. Willard (played by Martin Sheen) is a 'special' forces officer recruited on a mission that officially 'does not exist - nor will it ever exist'; to enter Cambodia, seek out Col. Kurtz (played by Marlon Brando) and 'terminate' the Col. 'with extreme prejudice'. The Col. has gone off the reservation. He's crossed into Cambodia where he's set himself up as a god among the locals. His army is conducting hit and run missions against the NVA and Viet Cong. The powers that be believe that he's gone completely insane. They've designated him as a liability and want him eliminated. The acting, editing, locations, pacing, direction. Everything was done just right. Combine the perfect production with an outstanding script and dreamy dialog - 'Smells like victory'. I give it a 5 out of 5.

Collection ID 1659
Director: Mel Gibson
Starring: Rudy Youngblood, Dalia Hernández, Jonathan Brewer, Morris Birdyellowhead, Carlos Emilio Báez
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, Thriller
Studio: Icon Entertainment International   Release date: 2006   Rated: R   
Language (Country): Maya (USA)
Summary: In the Maya civilization, a peaceful tribe is brutally attacked by warriors seeking slaves and human beings for sacrifice for their gods. Jaguar Paw hides his pregnant wife and his son in a deep hole nearby their tribe and is captured while fighting with his people. An eclipse spares his life from the sacrifice and later he has to fight to survive and save his beloved family.
My Rating:
My Review: Mel Gibson's outstanding period piece. Here is a movie (in subtitles) unlike any of the Hollywood block-busters we typically see. A small scale tale with larger ramifications. The screenplay doesn't attempt to create an epic tale, but the story has scale all the same. When the simple lives of these natives are upset by a ravaging empire, they do all that they can to stay together. Here's the story of an individual, who does his best to keep his family together. Critics may have seen modern-day allegory or parallels to America as the Aztec empire, but I saw a fantastic adventure, with break-neck pacing and excellent action scenes. The acting by complete unknowns was outstanding. The production and direction were outstanding, as was the music. The amazing attention to detail in set and costume design was truly spectacular. While there was a lot of violent imagery in this movie, I found it matched to the themes of the movie, and in keeping with historical records of the day. An outstanding effort by Mel Gibson. 5 out of 5.

Collection ID 1660
Director: Mel Gibson
Starring: Rudy Youngblood, Dalia Hernández, Jonathan Brewer, Morris Birdyellowhead, Carlos Emilio Báez
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, Thriller
Studio: Icon Entertainment International   Release date: 2006   Rated: R   
Language (Country): Maya (USA)
Summary: In the Maya civilization, a peaceful tribe is brutally attacked by warriors seeking slaves and human beings for sacrifice for their gods. Jaguar Paw hides his pregnant wife and his son in a deep hole nearby their tribe and is captured while fighting with his people. An eclipse spares his life from the sacrifice and later he has to fight to survive and save his beloved family.
My Rating:
My Review: Mel Gibson's outstanding period piece. Here is a movie (in subtitles) unlike any of the Hollywood block-busters we typically see. A small scale tale with larger ramifications. The screenplay doesn't attempt to create an epic tale, but the story has scale all the same. When the simple lives of these natives are upset by a ravaging empire, they do all that they can to stay together. Here's the story of an individual, who does his best to keep his family together. Critics may have seen modern-day allegory or parallels to America as the Aztec empire, but I saw a fantastic adventure, with break-neck pacing and excellent action scenes. The acting by complete unknowns was outstanding. The production and direction were outstanding, as was the music. The amazing attention to detail in set and costume design was truly spectacular. While there was a lot of violent imagery in this movie, I found it matched to the themes of the movie, and in keeping with historical records of the day. Nonetheless, this viewer abhors the excessive level of violence in today's cinema and finds that the unnecessary depiction of ultra-realistic violence is a distracting and disturbing influence upon the viewer. The story could have been told just as accurately and acutely without exposing the audience to spurting head-wounds and other gory aspects (Which so disturbed me and my wife that it was the most commented on aspects of the movie. Despite the fact that the writers might have wanted us to focus on other aspects of the movie)- At the same time, the prudence of American audiences (now spread to many European cultures as well) is on display in the avoidance of nudity in any form, and the obvious lack of breasts. For some reason, these primitive peoples (not the elite, high-society members) were so concerned about staying warm in a tropical jungle, that they set to work at a loom to construct cloth smocks that they then used to cover up the bare breasts of their women, as opposed to making clothing that would be worn only on highly important ceremonial occasions... Actors who might normally be depicted topless (in an ethnographically accurate depiction of the primitive peoples of the Yucatan) are covered up so as not to shock sensibilities of some who are more offended by a nipple than they are by a beheading or a pit full of headless corpses! (didn't even earn a rating for nudity) An outstanding effort by Mel Gibson. 4 out of 5 (1 point deducted for the over).

Collection ID 958
Director: Ron Howard
Starring: Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon, Gary Sinise, Ed Harris
Genre: Drama
Studio: Universal Pictures   Release date: 1995   Rated: PG   
Language (Country): English, Spanish, French (USA)
Summary: True story of the moon-bound mission that developed severe trouble and the men that rescued it with skill and dedication.
My Rating:
My Review:

Collection ID 245
Director: Ron Howard
Starring: Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon, Gary Sinise, Ed Harris
Genre: Drama
Studio: Universal Pictures   Release date: 1995   Rated: PG   
Language (Country): English, Spanish, French (USA)
Summary: True story of the moon-bound mission that developed severe trouble and the men that rescued it with skill and dedication.
My Rating:
My Review:

Collection ID 202
Director: Sam Raimi
Starring: Bruce Campbell, Embeth Davidtz, Marcus Gilbert, Ian Abercrombie, Richard Grove
Genre: Adventure
Studio: Dino De Laurentiis Company   Release date: 1993   Rated: R   
Language (Country): German (USA)
Summary: A man is accidentally transported to 1300 A.D., where he must battle an army of the dead and retrieve the Necronomicon so he can return home.
My Rating:
My Review: I've owned this movie since the early 90s, but didn't write a movie review until 2018. How could that have happened? I love this movie! It's a cult favorite, and one of my favorites. A favorite of many. The movie was Written by Sam and Ivan Raimi. Directed by Sam Raimi (The Evil Dead, Evil Dead II, Darkman, The Quick and the Dead, A Simple Plan, Spider Man 1-3, Oz the Great and Powerful). Starring Bruce Campbell, Embeth Davidtz, Marcus Gilbert and others. Here is the story of a simple man - Ash Williams, S-Mart department store clerk turned reluctant defender of humanity in the ongoing struggle of good versus the evil Deadites! This movie picks up where Evil Dead II leaves off; but one doesn't need to see any of the previous films (Evil Dead and Evil Dead II) to enjoy this movie - and it is by far the most enjoyable of the series. The movie begins as Ash is transported along with his 1973 Oldsmobile Delta 88, into the dark ages - 1,300 AD to be precise. There he is captured by Lord Arthur, becomes a slave, is thrown into a pit, defeats a series of monsters and goes on to become a Hero! The adventure has just begun. Although the movie is only 80 some minutes long, it's crammed full of adventure and horror. The pace is break-neck as Ash struggles to survive and find a way home while fighting the forces of evil arrayed against him. I love the way that the film incorporates elements of popular fiction into an original (if somewhat derivative) tale of pure fantasy. The acting is amateurish but sincere, and the direction is designed to give you a sense of otherworldly wonder. The music is excellent, including the March of the Dead soundtrack by Danny Elfman. The effects are primitive and laughable but altogether charming when paired with the 'Shatneresque' acting of Bruce Campbell. This movie is a laugh-out loud, quotable, flight of fantasy where Ash wins the day, defeats the Deadites and wins the girl, or does he? The original ending (restored in the Director's Cut) is the best. This movie earns an eternal 5 out of 5. I own numerous copies, and anyone who can quote from this movie is an instant friend.

Collection ID 414
Director: Sam Raimi
Starring: Bruce Campbell, Embeth Davidtz, Marcus Gilbert, Ian Abercrombie, Richard Grove
Genre: Adventure
Studio:   Release date: 1993   Rated: R   
Language (Country): German (USA)
Summary: A man is accidentally transported to 1300 A.D., where he must battle an army of the dead and retrieve the Necronomicon so he can return home.
My Rating:
My Review: I've owned this movie since the early 90s, but didn't write a movie review until 2018. How could that have happened? I love this movie! It's a cult favorite, and one of my favorites. A favorite of many. The movie was Written by Sam and Ivan Raimi. Directed by Sam Raimi (The Evil Dead, Evil Dead II, Darkman, The Quick and the Dead, A Simple Plan, Spider Man 1-3, Oz the Great and Powerful). Starring Bruce Campbell, Embeth Davidtz, Marcus Gilbert and others. Here is the story of a simple man - Ash Williams, S-Mart department store clerk turned reluctant defender of humanity in the ongoing struggle of good versus the evil Deadites! This movie picks up where Evil Dead II leaves off; but one doesn't need to see any of the previous films (Evil Dead and Evil Dead II) to enjoy this movie - and it is by far the most enjoyable of the series. The movie begins as Ash is transported along with his 1973 Oldsmobile Delta 88, into the dark ages - 1,300 AD to be precise. There he is captured by Lord Arthur, becomes a slave, is thrown into a pit, defeats a series of monsters and goes on to become a Hero! The adventure has just begun. Although the movie is only 80 some minutes long, it's crammed full of adventure and horror. The pace is break-neck as Ash struggles to survive and find a way home while fighting the forces of evil arrayed against him. I love the way that the film incorporates elements of popular fiction into an original (if somewhat derivative) tale of pure fantasy. The acting is amateurish but sincere, and the direction is designed to give you a sense of otherworldly wonder. The music is excellent, including the March of the Dead soundtrack by Danny Elfman. The effects are primitive and laughable but altogether charming when paired with the 'Shatneresque' acting of Bruce Campbell. This movie is a laugh-out loud, quotable, flight of fantasy where Ash wins the day, defeats the Deadites and wins the girl, or does he? The original ending (restored in the Director's Cut) is the best. This movie earns an eternal 5 out of 5. I own numerous copies, and anyone who can quote from this movie is an instant friend.

Collection ID 1134
Director: Sam Raimi
Starring: Bruce Campbell, Embeth Davidtz, Marcus Gilbert, Ian Abercrombie, Richard Grove
Genre: Adventure
Studio: Dino De Laurentiis Company   Release date: 1993   Rated: R   
Language (Country): German (USA)
Summary: A man is accidentally transported to 1300 A.D., where he must battle an army of the dead and retrieve the Necronomicon so he can return home.
My Rating:
My Review: I've owned this movie since the early 90s, but didn't write a movie review until 2018. How could that have happened? I love this movie! It's a cult favorite, and one of my favorites. A favorite of many. The movie was Written by Sam and Ivan Raimi. Directed by Sam Raimi (The Evil Dead, Evil Dead II, Darkman, The Quick and the Dead, A Simple Plan, Spider Man 1-3, Oz the Great and Powerful). Starring Bruce Campbell, Embeth Davidtz, Marcus Gilbert and others. Here is the story of a simple man - Ash Williams, S-Mart department store clerk turned reluctant defender of humanity in the ongoing struggle of good versus the evil Deadites! This movie picks up where Evil Dead II leaves off; but one doesn't need to see any of the previous films (Evil Dead and Evil Dead II) to enjoy this movie - and it is by far the most enjoyable of the series. The movie begins as Ash is transported along with his 1973 Oldsmobile Delta 88, into the dark ages - 1,300 AD to be precise. There he is captured by Lord Arthur, becomes a slave, is thrown into a pit, defeats a series of monsters and goes on to become a Hero! The adventure has just begun. Although the movie is only 80 some minutes long, it's crammed full of adventure and horror. The pace is break-neck as Ash struggles to survive and find a way home while fighting the forces of evil arrayed against him. I love the way that the film incorporates elements of popular fiction into an original (if somewhat derivative) tale of pure fantasy. The acting is amateurish but sincere, and the direction is designed to give you a sense of otherworldly wonder. The music is excellent, including the March of the Dead soundtrack by Danny Elfman. The effects are primitive and laughable but altogether charming when paired with the 'Shatneresque' acting of Bruce Campbell. This movie is a laugh-out loud, quotable, flight of fantasy where Ash wins the day, defeats the Deadites and wins the girl, or does he? The original ending (restored in the Director's Cut) is the best. This movie earns an eternal 5 out of 5. I own numerous copies, and anyone who can quote from this movie is an instant friend.