Collection ID 190
Director: Steve Sekely
Starring: Howard Keel, Nicole Maurey, Janette Scott, Kieron Moore, Mervyn Johns
Genre: Horror
Studio: Allied Artists Pictures   Release date: 1962   Rated: Approved   
Language (Country): English (UK)
Summary: A shower of meteorites produces a glow that blinds anyone that looks at it. As it was such a beautiful sight, most people were watching, and as a consequence, 99% of the population go blind. In the original novel, this chaos results in the escape of some Triffids: experimental plants that are capable of moving themselves around and attacking people. In the film version, however, the Triffids are not experimental plants. Instead they are space aliens whose spores have arrived in an earlier meteor shower.
My Rating:
My Review: Here's a movie that's ripe for a remake; by M. Night Shyamalan or Steven Spielberg. It had a lot of great sci-fi/horror elements in it. An alien invasion, Zombie like behavior, Global destruction; very post-apocalyptic. The story is fairly complex and I believe parts of it have showed up in many later day sci-fi horror movies. The opening sequence features a man in a hospital, who wakes up one day to find London? in Chaos (28 Days Later). World wide destruction is caused by blindness in 90% of the worlds population. Blind victims wander the streets with arms outstretched; looking very much like zombies. Then there's the alien plants. Eight to ten feet tall, flesh eating, poison spraying abominations that have an uncanny ability to home in on their victims. Lashing out with their prehensile tendrils, they threaten to eat the entire cast. It's a great B-movie which I enjoyed quite a bit. Unfortunately the quality of the movie transfer was terrible. Some parts are so washed out and damaged that you can barely follow the dialogue through the hazy images on the screen.

Collection ID 358
Director: Robert Wise
Starring: Michael Rennie, Patricia Neal, Hugh Marlowe, Sam Jaffe, Billy Gray
Genre: Drama
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox   Release date: 1951   Rated: G   
Language (Country): English, Spanish, French (USA)
Summary: An alien lands and tells the people of Earth that we must live peacefully or be destroyed as a danger to other planets.
My Rating:
My Review:

Collection ID 1026
Director: Robert Wise
Starring: Michael Rennie, Patricia Neal, Hugh Marlowe, Sam Jaffe, Billy Gray
Genre: Drama
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox   Release date: 1951   Rated: G   
Language (Country): English, Spanish, French (USA)
Summary: An alien lands and tells the people of Earth that we must live peacefully or be destroyed as a danger to other planets.
My Rating:
My Review: Based on a story by Harry Bates, the screenplay was written by Edmund H. North. Directed by Robert Wise (Run Silent Run Deep (1958), West Side Story, The Haunting (1963), The Sound of Music, The Sand Pebbles, The Andromeda Strain). Starring Michael Rennie, Patricia Neal, Hugh Marlowe and others. With a relatively small budget, the producers managed to make a sci-fi classic that still stands the test of time. A saucer lands in Washington DC. The army surrounds the saucer, an alien (Ambassador Kaatu and his robot) emerges and tells the earthlings that they must live peacefully, or else. It's a great drama. Tense and nuanced, this post war message was meant as a warning to ourselves. Politically relevant, the story is still valid today. The alien language was fantastic, the special effects top-notch (for it's time), and the writing stellar. I really liked this movie. Watching the movie is a trip into the past, but the message is still valid today. If only we could evolve socially. I give this classic a 5 out of 5.

Collection ID 96
Director: David Cronenberg
Starring: Christopher Walken, Brooke Adams, Tom Skerritt, Herbert Lom, Anthony Zerbe
Genre: Drama
Studio: Dino De Laurentiis Company   Release date: 1983   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English, French (USA)
Summary: A man awakens from a coma to discover he has a psychic detective ability.
My Rating:
My Review: An adaptation of a Stephen King novel (with same name). Directed by David Cronenberg (Scanners, Videodrome, The Fly (remake), Naked Lunch, eXistenZ, A History of Violence, Eastern Promises), starring Christopher Walken (as Johnny Smith), Sarah Bracknell (as the love interest), Herbert Lom (Johnny's Doctor), Tom Skerritt (as the Sheriff) and others. As an adaptation it's one of the better at portraying Stephen King's novels. The screenplay/writing was quite good. The characters are well developed and the drama well handled. The performance by Christopher Walken was outstanding. The music is excellent and the direction terrific. Although it's billed as a horror movie, there are no monsters, buckets of blood or cheap slasher tactics employed in this paranormal thriller. The Story: Johnny Smith wakes up from a five-year coma. The car accident changed many things in Johnny's life. All his personal relationships, his physical condition, and his outlook on life. One thing he didn't anticipate was the 'gift' - An ability to 'see' into the past, present and future. Can Johnny use this gift to make things right, or is the future set in stone? Excellent all around. I give this movie a 5 out of 5.

Collection ID 884
Director: David Cronenberg
Starring: Christopher Walken, Brooke Adams, Tom Skerritt, Herbert Lom, Anthony Zerbe
Genre: Drama
Studio: Dino De Laurentiis Company   Release date: 1983   Rated:   
Language (Country): English, French (USA)
Summary: A man awakens from a coma to discover he has a psychic detective ability.
My Rating:
My Review: An adaptation of a Stephen King novel (with same name). Directed by David Cronenberg (Scanners, Videodrome, The Fly (remake), Naked Lunch, eXistenZ, A History of Violence, Eastern Promises), starring Christopher Walken (as Johnny Smith), Sarah Bracknell (as the love interest), Herbert Lom (Johnny's Doctor), Tom Skerritt (as the Sheriff) and others. As an adaptation it's one of the better at portraying Stephen King's novels. The screenplay/writing was quite good. The characters are well developed and the drama well handled. The performance by Christopher Walken was outstanding. The music is excellent and the direction terrific. Although it's billed as a horror movie, there are no monsters, buckets of blood or cheap slasher tactics employed in this paranormal thriller. The Story: Johnny Smith wakes up from a five-year coma. The car accident changed many things in Johnny's life. All his personal relationships, his physical condition, and his outlook on life. One thing he didn't anticipate was the 'gift' - An ability to 'see' into the past, present and future. Can Johnny use this gift to make things right, or is the future set in stone? Excellent all around. I give this movie a 5 out of 5.

Collection ID 721
Director: Giulio Petroni
Starring: Lee Van Cleef, John Phillip Law, Mario Brega, Luigi Pistilli, Anthony Dawson
Genre: Action, Western
Studio: PEC   Release date: 1968   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono (Italy)
Summary: As a child, Bill witnesses the murder of his family by four robbers. Fifteen years later, he embarks on his revenge. During his quest, he crosses paths with Ryan, an ex-con who wants the money the robbers owe him.
My Rating:
My Review: A fine spaghetti western (Italian made, filmed in Spain, starring American actors), directed by a no name Italian director, featuring music by Ennio Morricone, starring Lee Van Cleef and John Phillip Law. The story is a cookie cutter cliche of all the revenge westerns out there. Young boy witnesses the rape and murder of his family. He commits the villains to memory, and vows vengeance. Following this initial sequence is a montage of the boy growing up, learning how to shoot, and basically preparing for his revenge. Following this is the introduction of Lee Van Cleef's character. An ex-con, out for revenge on his former buddies. Experience and unbridled passion saddle up together to take out the gang of thugs who ruined their lives. The only reasons to watch this movie? The music (despite the horrible condition of the soundtrack) by Enio Morricone, and Lee Van Cleef's acting. The pacing and editing were also well handled. The camera work wasn't all that good, and the acting of John Phillip Law was terrible. It kept my attention, despite it's entirely predictable plot, cliched characters, and the poor condition of the film and audio. 3 out of 5.

Collection ID 1410
Director: Giulio Petroni
Starring: Lee Van Cleef, John Phillip Law, Mario Brega, Luigi Pistilli, Anthony Dawson
Genre: Action, Western
Studio: PEC   Release date: 1968   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono (Italy)
Summary: As a child, Bill witnesses the murder of his family by four robbers. Fifteen years later, he embarks on his revenge. During his quest, he crosses paths with Ryan, an ex-con who wants the money the robbers owe him.
My Rating:
My Review: A fine spaghetti western (Italian made, filmed in Spain, starring American actors), directed by a no name Italian director, featuring music by Ennio Morricone, starring Lee Van Cleef and John Phillip Law. The story is a cookie cutter cliche of all the revenge westerns out there. Young boy witnesses the rape and murder of his family. He commits the villains to memory, and vows vengeance. Following this initial sequence is a montage of the boy growing up, learning how to shoot, and basically preparing for his revenge. Following this is the introduction of Lee Van Cleef's character. An ex-con, out for revenge on his former buddies. Experience and unbridled passion saddle up together to take out the gang of thugs who ruined their lives. The only reasons to watch this movie? The music (despite the horrible condition of the soundtrack) by Enio Morricone, and Lee Van Cleef's acting. The pacing and editing were also well handled. The camera work wasn't all that good, and the acting of John Phillip Law was terrible. It kept my attention, despite it's entirely predictable plot, cliched characters, and the poor condition of the film and audio. 3 out of 5.

Collection ID 702
Director: Byron Werner
Starring: Chelsea Jean, Jeremy Bouvet, Gregory Bastien, Denise Boutte, Matt Marraccini
Genre: Horror
Studio: Asylum, The   Release date: 2004   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English (USA)
Summary: While traveling in a van with their teacher for a contest, a group of college friends are abducted by the criminal Earl, who forces them to go to the ghost town of Sunset Valley to meet his friend that was transporting drugs and money of their own. Once in the town, they realize that the dwellers are zombies and their leader is Bloody Bill, a Confederate soldier seeking revenge the execution of his sister that was hanged by the locals and the population was cursed by Bloody Bill.
My Rating:
My Review: Written and directed by nobody I heard of before, and hopefully I won't hear from them again. The direction and writing were horrid. The actors were good looking, and they tried their best to act... Unfortunately, all their effort was wasted by the dire direction, editing and writing. The story - if you must. A drug dealer looking for revenge kidnaps a college debate team? Then they drive into the desert in search of the drug dealers missing mule. What they find is a ghost town full of zombies. Unfortunately, none of the characters can manage to get in the van and drive away, so most are eaten by the zombies. Apparently the zombies are led by some former confederate general. This zombie general hates 'black people' because... Oh yeah, he hates the town people too. They lynched his sister. Thankfully one of the debate team knew all this, because otherwise he'd have to recite it from memory, and that would sound like he was reading his lines off a cue card. Man this movie was bad, and the head-banging music made me nauseous. I'm certainly glad I only paid a dollar for it.

Collection ID 1392
Director: Byron Werner
Starring: Chelsea Jean, Jeremy Bouvet, Gregory Bastien, Denise Boutte, Matt Marraccini
Genre: Horror
Studio: Asylum, The   Release date: 2004   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English (USA)
Summary: While traveling in a van with their teacher for a contest, a group of college friends are abducted by the criminal Earl, who forces them to go to the ghost town of Sunset Valley to meet his friend that was transporting drugs and money of their own. Once in the town, they realize that the dwellers are zombies and their leader is Bloody Bill, a Confederate soldier seeking revenge the execution of his sister that was hanged by the locals and the population was cursed by Bloody Bill.
My Rating:
My Review: Written and directed by nobody I heard of before, and hopefully I won't hear from them again. The direction and writing were horrid. The actors were good looking, and they tried their best to act... Unfortunately, all their effort was wasted by the dire direction, editing and writing. The story - if you must. A drug dealer looking for revenge kidnaps a college debate team? Then they drive into the desert in search of the drug dealers missing mule. What they find is a ghost town full of zombies. Unfortunately, none of the characters can manage to get in the van and drive away, so most are eaten by the zombies. Apparently the zombies are led by some former confederate general. This zombie general hates 'black people' because... Oh yeah, he hates the town people too. They lynched his sister. Thankfully one of the debate team knew all this, because otherwise he'd have to recite it from memory, and that would sound like he was reading his lines off a cue card. Man this movie was bad, and the head-banging music made me nauseous. I'm certainly glad I only paid a dollar for it.

Collection ID 1524
Director: Michael Winner
Starring: Charles Bronson, Jill Ireland, Vincent Gardenia, J.D. Cannon, Anthony Franciosa
Genre: Action
Studio: Cannon Films   Release date: 1982   Rated: X   
Language (Country): English (USA)
Summary: Paul Kersey, the vigilante, now lives in LA with his daughter, who is still recovering from her attack. He also has a new woman in his life. One day while with them, Kersey is mugged by some punks, Kersey fights back, but they get away. The leader, wanting to get back at Kersey, goes to his house, but Kersey and his daughter Carol are not there. The muggers rape his housekeeper, and when Kersey and his daughter arrive, they knock him out and kidnap her. After they assault her, she leaps out of a window to her death. Kersey then grabs his gun and goes after them. When the LA authorities, deduce they have a vigilante, they decide to consult with New York, who had their vigilante problem. Now the New York officials, knowing that Kersey lives in LA, fears that he's back to his old habit. Fearing that Kersey, when caught will reveal that they let him go instead of prosecuting him send Inspector Ochoa to make sure that doesn't happen.
My Rating:
My Review: Charles Bronson may have rugged good looks (arguably), but he can't act. That didn't stop producer's from casting him in a series of marginally rated movies throughout the 70s. One of those movies was a series based on the vigilante character Paul Kersey. In this movie, Charles Bronson reprises his role as the urban vigilante. Here the plot is superficial and redundant. Criminals target Kersey and his family for some good old fashioned crime. Rape, murder, robbery - The usual fare for mid 70s thugs of Los Angeles. In reprisal fashion, Kersey hunts down and kills the guilty bastards. This movie/this series played upon societal fear of escalating crime, and may have led to more than one instance of violence patterned after the vigilante justice framed by the movies. Exceedingly violent and brutal in its depiction of inner city violence, this movie has very little to redeem it. The soundtrack features guitar work by Jimmy Page (former Led Zepplin lead guitarist). The direction, pacing and editing were all well done. I give this movie a 2 out of 5.