Category Archives: Other Movies

Magnificent Seven, The (1960) Review

Director: John Sturges Writer: William Roberts, Walter Newman, Walter Bernstein Producer: John Sturges Cast: Yul Brynner, Eli Wallach, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, Robert Vaughn, James Coburn, Brad Dexter, Horst Buchholz Running Time: 128 min. By HKFanatic Even now, 50 years later, the debate rages on: “Seven Samurai” or “The Magnificent Seven”? Of course, there’s no reason that film fans can’t enjoy both. But I say if you’re a red-blooded American … Continue reading

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Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown (2011) Review

"Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown" DVD Cover

Director: Michael Jai White Cast: Michael Jai White, Evan Peters, Alex Meraz, Dean Geyer, Todd Duffee, Scott Epstein, Jillian Murray, Lyoto Machida, Eddie Bravo,  John McCarthy Running Time: 99 min. By HKFanatic Michael Jai White’s been paying his dues in the movie industry for awhile now – he donned the billowy red cape of the titular hero in 1997’s “Spawn” and spin-kicked Jean Claude Van Damme’s ass through several sheets … Continue reading

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Blitz (2011) Review

Director: Elliott Lester Writer: Ken Bruen, Nathan Parker Cast: Jason Statham, Paddy Considine, Aidan Gillen, David Morrissey, Zawe Ashton, Luke Evans, Mark Rylance Running Time: 97 min. By HKFanatic “Blitz” is a 2011 police thriller starring Jason Statham and represents the first production effort from Lionsgate UK. While the film secured a theatrical release in the United Kingdom, it went straight to DVD and blu-ray in North America. After watching … Continue reading

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Source Code (2011) Review

Director: Duncan Jones Writer: Ben Ripley Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan, Vera Farmiga, Jeffrey Wright, Cas Anvar, Russell Peters, Michael Arden, Scott Bakula, Craig Thomas Running Time: 93 min. By HKFanatic Director Duncan Jones made a sizable impact in 2009 with his film “Moon” – an intelligent science-fiction thriller for an era that hasn’t seen very many of them, featuring practical production design that harkened back to the work of Stanley … Continue reading

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Live Like a Cop, Die Like a Man (1976) Review

"Live Like a Cop, Die Like a Man" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Ruggero Deodato Cast: Marc Porel, Ray Lovelock, Adolfo Celi, Franco Citti, Silvia Dionisio , Marino Masé , Renato Salvatori, Sergio Ammirata , Bruno Corazzari, Daniele Dublino Running Time: 100 min. By HKFanatic “Live Like a Cop, Die Like a Man” – let’s just take a moment to reflect on how awesome that title is. During its opening minutes, the film seems like it’s actually going to live up its … Continue reading

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Black Water (2007) Review

Director: Andrew Traucki, David Nerlich Writer: Andrew Traucki, David Nerlich Producer: Michael Robertson Cast: Diana Glenn, Maeve Dermody, Andy Rodoreda, Ben Oxenbould, Fiona Press Running Time: 88 min. By HKFanatic “Black Water” opens with an ominous message. To paraphrase: “The Saltwater Crocodile population of Northern Australia is increasing.” Pause. “So is the human population.” Even with the knowledge that the film received funding from the Australian Film Commission, you probably … Continue reading

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Tron (1982) Review

Director: Steven Lisberger Writer: Steven Lisberger, Bonnie MacBird Producer: Donald Kushner, Ron Miller Cast: Jeff Bridges, Bruce Boxleitner, David Warner, Cindy Morgan, Barnard Hughes, Dan Shor Running Time: 96 min. By HKFanatic In the months leading up to “Tron: Legacy’s” December 2010 release, consumers started reporting that the original “Tron” DVD was becoming increasingly difficult to find in stores. All of a sudden it wasn’t available to rent from Netflix. … Continue reading

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REC 2 | aka [REC] 2 (2009) Review

Director: Jaume Balagueró, Paco Plaza Writer: Jaume Balagueró, Manu Díez, Paco Plaza Producer: Julio Fernández Cast: Jonathan Mellor, Óscar Sánchez Zafra, Ariel Casas, Alejandro Casaseca, Pablo Rosso, Pep Molina, Andrea Ros, Ális Batllori, Pau Poch, Juli Fábregas, Nico Baixas, Javier Botet, Carlos Olalla, Manuela Velasco Running Time: 85 min. By HKFanatic I love the original [REC]. When I first saw the Spanish-language horror film about zombies in a quarantined apartment … Continue reading

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Enter the Void (2009) Review

AKA: Soudain le Vide Director: Gaspar Noé Writer: Gaspar Noé Cast: Nathaniel Brown, Paz de la Huerta, Cyril Roy, Olly Alexander, Masato Tanno, Ed Spear, Emily Alyn Lind, Jesse Kuhn, Nobu Imai, Sakiko Fukuhara, Janice Béliveau-Sicotte, Sara Stockbridge, Stuart Miller, Emi Takeuchi, Federico Aletta, Simon Chamberland, Edward L. Papazian Running Time: 161 min. By HKFanatic Lately it seems like certain controversial films are premiered at Cannes, creating outrage among French … Continue reading

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Hobo with a Shotgun (2011) Review

"Hobo with a Shotgun" International Theatrical Poster

Director: Jason Eisener Writer: John Davies Cast: Rutger Hauer, Gregory Smith, Molly Dunsworth, Brian Downey, Robb Wells, Nick Bateman, Peter Simas, Jeremy Akerman Running Time: 86 min. By HKFanatic One thing you can’t accuse “Hobo With a Shotgun” of is false advertising. No matter what happens during its unrated, 86-minute runtime, you will witness a shotgun-wielding hobo. The film’s content may shock and appall the religious right or anyone with … Continue reading

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Brother’s Justice | aka Jung Guns (2010) Review

Director: David Palmer, Dax Shepard Writer: Dax Shepard Producer: Nate Tuck Cast: Dax Shepard, Nate Tuck, Tom Arnold, Bradley Cooper, Jon Favreau, Ashton Kutcher, James Feldman, David Koechner, David Palmer, Michael Rosenbaum, Jess Rowland, Rome Shadanloo, Josh Temple Running Time: 85 min. By Laser Beahm Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t get the Mockumentary genre. Am I supposed to take it seriously, is it supposed to be funny, if … Continue reading

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Mandingo (1975) Review

Director: Richard Fleischer Writer: Kyle Onstott, Norman Wexler Producer: Dino De Laurentiis Cast: James Mason, Susan George, Perry King, Lillian Hayman, Richard Ward, Brenda Sykes, Ken Norton Running Time: 127 min. By JJ Hatfield “Mandingo” is one of the most misunderstood movies in U.S. cinema. The first thing the viewer needs to know is that this is not an xploitation flick, at least not in the common usage. It is … Continue reading

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Name of the Rose, The (1986) Review

"The Name of the Rose" American Theatrical Poster

AKA: Der Name der Rose Director: Jean-Jacques Annaud Cast: Sean Connery, Christian Slater, Michael Lonsdale, Ron Perlman, F. Murray Abraham Running Time: 126 min. By JJ Hatfield In 1327 The Franciscan Order representatives are gathering with Pope John to determine if the Church should take vows of poverty or profit. This is a most important meeting hosted by the Franciscan Benedictine Abbey in the north of Italy. The Franciscan Monks … Continue reading

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Bigger Than Life (1956) Review

Director: Nicholas Ray Writer: Berton Roueche, Cyril Hume, Richard Maibaum, James Mason, Nicholas Ray, Clifford Odets, Gavin Lambert Producer: James Mason Cast: James Mason, Barbara Rush, Walter Matthau, Robert F. Simon, Christopher Olsen, Roland Winter, Rusty Lane, Rachel Stephens, Kipp Hamilton Running Time: 95 min. By JJ Hatfield This film is a genuine masterpiece! It was created in 1956 and was turned into reality by Nicholas Ray, the director and … Continue reading

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King Kong (1933) Review

"King Kong" American Theatrical Poster

Director: Merian C. Cooper Co-director: Ernest B. Schoedsack Cast: Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong, Bruce Cabot, Frank Reicher, Sam Hardy, Noble Johnson Running Time: 105 min. Review by JJ Hatfield The one thing that makes the original version fantastic is the special effects. That may sound a bit absurd considering the state of the art and ever evolving fx we have today however that just adds relevance to my comment. Willis … Continue reading

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