Reviews (280)

A surprisingly fresh and superb adventure film
In this time of fire and explosion oriented blockbuster movies it is indeed refreshing to find a remake of a classic novel of the quality of The Count of Monte Cristo currently available. I happened to nonchalantly choose this film at the DVD outlet as a source of viewing background for an evening of desk work. WRONG! This superbly made film of the Dumas' novel is excellent and gripping on every level. The quality of the film, shot in Ireland and Malta, is visually stunning, the story remains true to the original, and the cast is outstanding. James Caviezel makes a star turn in the title role, aided by the always excellent Guy Pearce, the veteran Richard Harris, the here venomous James Frain, a fine and very different role for Luis Guzman, and the elegantly beautiful Dagmara Domincyzk. The movie is beautifully paced, the long prison scenes allow Caviezel and Harris to create tremendous rapport, and the age old theme of REVENGE has rarely been played out so well. This is a beautiful period piece, finely photographed and scored and edited and directed. For a taste of just how exciting the old tales can be visually, treat yourself to an evening with The Count!

Petered out toward the end.....
The Count of Monte Cristo is the tale of naive but likeable commoner Edmund Dantes, his best friend Fernand Mondego and his betrayal at the hands of Mondego, to the government and subsequent imprisonment in Chateau D'If. Upon escape from the Chateau D'If, Dantes assumes the identity of the wealthy Count of Monte Cristo in order to take revenge upon the men who put him there.

I want to preface this review, by saying I have never read the Dumas' classic, and so this is my first experience with the count's story.

James Caviezel plays a very good Edmond. His romance with Mercedes (Dagmara Dominczyk) was convincing, his interaction with the other characters well portrayed....But I admit, I grew tired of the endless sword-fighting scenes near the end (I found my finger straying to the 'fast-forward' button), and I grew tired of Edmond's endless and obsessive need for revenge. (About three-quarters of the way through the movie, I kept thinking it might be a good idea to put Edmond back in Chateau D'If).

While the sceneary and setting were both quite spectacular, I can only give this movie an 'average' rating, because of the sheer unlikable qualities of most of the main characters. By the end of this movie, I asked myself "Who Cares about Edmond, Mercedes of Fernand?" Not this viewer.

Well Crafted
Well crafted story telling and fine performances make this an enjoyable film adaptation of a classic work.

An outstanding production and well worth a viewing.

Good Adaption of a Classic Story
I read Dumas' book, though an abridged version, and really enjoyed the pace of his story. So when I had to stay over at my uncle's house for the weekend, I got a chance to view this movie adaption from his movie library. After first choosing a Guy Pearce movie called "Memento", which had something to do with memory loss, I turned that movie off after 20 minutes, when I got too confused with it. To my surprise, Pearce is also in the The Count of Monte Cristo. I first saw Pearce in the superb L.A Confidential. Pearce is an impressive actor, even after the "what's the plot" story of Memento. Pearce plays the chief villain in the movie, Fernand, jealous of Edmond Dantes played by Jim Caviezel.

Dumas' classic story of wealth and revenge is unforgettable. Caviezel is very good as Edmond Dantes, the wrongly accused scapegoat of the Assistant Prosecutor, Villefort. The scene in which he is imprisoned and whipped with full beard, long hair made me wonder if Mel Gibson chose Caviezel to play Christ after viewing this scene. It reminded me of the crucifix scene of Gibson's "Passion" film. Dantes (Caviezel) is aided by an imprisoned priest played by an unrecognizable Richard Harris. The priest helps Dantes by helping him learn to read and improve his dexterity in dueling. The priest's death however helps Dantes the most, for Dantes uses the body bag meant for the priest to make his escape and find the treasure that will make him the Count of Monte Cristo. Once he becomes the Count, he exacts revenge (the fun part of the movie) on those who wronged him.

I suggest reading the book first, because you'll be imagining the actions taking place as you read Dumas' words. For the most part the movie stays the course of Dumas' plot, with some additional scenes and dialogue for drama's sake. This costume piece is also helped by nice scenery and good acting all around. Don't know how well it did at the box office, because most moviegoers stay away form literary adaptations, but it's well worth the rental, or buy it on VHS/DV like my uncle did.

Somewhat entertaining, but...
My objection to this movie was not that it had utterly nothing in common with Dumas' novel but for its name and that of its main character. As I'm sure anyone who's ever heard of this movie knows...Hollywood has once agian taken liberties and distorted a classic story into something else. I've gotten used to that by now. In any case, I still did not like the movie.

After careful consideration, I have come to the conclusion that James Caviezal is really not a particularly good actor. He plays every role the same...with a sort of bewildered determination that gets very old...after about thirty seconds. There are some difficult lines in that movie, and James Caviezal makes them sound forced. Not good for a movie that has already been forced enough. Caviezal is certainly something to look at, so for a while his bad acting slips past one's guard, but in the end, nothing can hide badly delivered lines. It's a pity really, because had that role been better casted it would have greatly improved the movie. The secondary characters were wonderful. Guy Peirce, as always, did a spectacularly oily job as Ferdenand, the chief villain and Mercedes' son looked so much like James Caviezal that it made her revelation to her husband at the end of the movie a touch redundant. Richard Harris was wonderful as the priest and Michal Wincott had a humoursly sadistic little part as the prison warden. Too bad Caviezal couldn't hold up to the rest of the cast.

Oh yes, and one other thing...if you're going to chande every thing but the names of the characters...the least you could to is pronounce the names right. It's FRENCH people!! The name Dantes is pronounced Dante!! Please...I was wincing every time they said his name. If they insist on butchering the book...can they not at least get the names rightf?

On the upside, it was beautifully filmed and the costumes were lovelly. As I have said, the supporting cast was excellant (although Mercedes looked a bit to much like Dantes for my taste)and it was because of them that I enjoyed the movie. It is traditional cookie-cutter Hollywood with very bad bad-guys and very good good-guys, revenge, love...oh yeah and they had to toss in a bit of religion, annoying, but not overbearing...if you want to be entertained, the movie will do so...if you want a good movie...look elsewhere. ... Read more

Description

Nab the star-studded comedy-adventure that dazzled moviegoers everywhere! It's the action-packed tale of three loyal swordsmen (Charlie Sheen, Kiefer Sutherland, Oliver Platt) who are joined by an eager recruit (Chris O'Donnell) to protect the King of France. Together, the foursome battle enormous odds in their attempt to defeat an evil royal advisor (Tim Curry) and a seductive envoy (Rebecca De Mornay) plotting to overthrow France's crown -- fighting against both time and scores of enemies! You'll cheer out loud when these exciting muskeeteers face danger, fun, and adventure at every turn -- proving they are the greatest swashbucklers who ever lived! ... Read more

Reviews (95)

My favorite musketeers movie
All right, let it be said. This movie has NOTHING to do with Dumas's novel. It isn't even close. There, now that that's out of the way, let me just say that this is a great film. It's done in typical Disney style, with an incredible cast that brings to life this classic tale with a lot of flare and some good, old-fashioned fun.

The entire cast is great: the three Musketeers (Kiefer Sutherland, Oliver Platt, and Charlie Sheen) are hilarious, and the impetuous young D'Artagnan (Chris O'Donnell) proves the perfect complement to this already comic trio. Add Tim Curry and Michael Wincott as the bad guys and you've got yourself a comic, action-packed adventure that is sure to please the whole family.

Loved it
I found this movie very entertaining... Oliver Platt (Porthos) provided some great laughs. Charlie Sheen (Aramis) was one of the nice looking ones. Kiefer Sutherland (Athos) could have acted a bit more bitter... but he did an over good job. Chris O'Donnel (D'Artgnan) no. I don't think he took to this part well at all. I agree with several other reviewers. He turned it into mush. Tim Curry (Car. Richeliu) LOVED HIM! He played that part two ways to the director... funny or scary/serious. The director wanted to go for the funny way, mainly because everyone else in the cast would be as well. I would have loved to have seen him play it serious. Rebecca DeMornay( ?) was quite good as a seductress. The man w/the patch (can't remember name) did fairly well. Wasn't the best performance, but wasn't mush either. I give this film only four stars, mainly because of Chris O'Donnel's performance. No,it didn't stay true to the book, but I liked it anyways.

F.U.N
is this film corny? silly? fun? YES! its a FUN romp! The acting is great the story is great its a very well done version of the classic story. the sword fighting isnt bad either. If you have seen this you must get it quick, most disney films don't last long. If you like swashbuckling movies that are fun and pay homeage to the films of days long gone this is for you!

BRAVO!!!
Definitely a great epic movie and one of my personal favorites, The Three Musketeers, brings to the screen the tale of who else, but Athos, Porthos, Aramis and D'Artagnan. Kiefer Sutherland, Chris O'Donnell, Charlie Sheen, Oliver Platt, Tim Curry, and the gorgeous Rebecca De Mornay whose performances are simply amazing, make this movie one of the best of its kind. (Tim Curry's character, in particular, as Cardinal Richelieu, steals the show!)
The actors' great talent and chemistry clearly shows, thus providing an entertaining film that can be watched over and over again. The castles, the battles and the costumes are all wonderful! The Three Musketeers is a movie about love, honor, bravery, loyalty, and heroes from a time long gone. It is a great movie indeed!

Wish I could give it O stars
The cast seems ludicrously out of place in this movie--only Anwar is partially believable and her part is slight.

If you wish to see an interesting an authentic three musketeers, look for AISN B00006LPC5 , a 1972 version that is incredible. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Judge Dredd is one of those movies that doesn't have a brain of its own, so it can only rip off a lot of ingredients from other, better movies. It's a mishmash of Blade Runner, Total Recall, and The Road Warrior, with a dash of Star Wars tossed in for good measure. As if that weren't enough, it's got Sylvester Stallone, who seems to be the only one in the movie who's in on the game and knows it's all a sci-fi scam. Like The Fifth Element a few years later, Judge Dredd depicts a futuristic megalopolis packed with crowded vertical overgrowth and rampant commerce, where anarchy reigns supreme. Violent "block wars" are fought by lawless citizens with machine guns, and Judge Dredd (Stallone) is one of the city's heavily armed policemen, given free rein to judge and execute the perpetrators of violence. But Dredd himself is subjected to judgment and swift justice when his own gun is identified in the murder of a prominent TV reporter, forcing him to do whatever he can to clear his name. Diane Lane plays his partner in crime-fighting and romance, and Rob Schneider provides juvenile comic relief as Dredd's streetwise sidekick. Impressive special effects are on vivid display, and the movie's fun for what it's worth. Lower your expectations and you just might enjoy it. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (59)

Judge Dredd Comes Through In Exciting Sci-Fi Yarn
Judge Dredd began life as a comic book character in 1977. Since then his world has expanded as a satiric metaphor for law enforcement and related issues.

It became natural that a movie would be made. The result is this exciting and gloriously garish looking spectacle reminiscent of the overrated Batman films, but featuring a better cast and script.

Sylvester Stallone is perfect at Joseph Dredd. In the world of law, he IS the law. Perps don't stand a chance in Mega-City with Dredd, let alone when he receives most potent help from Judge Hershey (Diane Lane). The film explores Dredd's super-hard persona and is quite effective is explaining why Dredd comes off as little more than a machine.

The villain in the film is Rico (Armand Assante), Dredd's biological brother. Along with a renegade member of Mega-City's ruling council, Judge Griffin (a very effective Jurgen Prochnow), and a Nazi-esque scientist named Ilsa (Joan Chen with great cleavage and a horrible haircut), Rico plans to populate Mega-City with a race of obedient clones. But first they must frame Dredd, the Judge who sent Rico to prison. The battle to clear Dredd's name and stop Rico and Griffin takes up the action in the form of several very eye-catching action set-pieces, notably an aerial bike chase reminiscent of the Star Wars films, the lightcycle chase in Tron, and the famed car chases of Bullitt, The French Connection, and The Seven-Ups.

The film's major flaw lies in the lame comedy of Rob Schneider. Given the film's otherwise excellent casting - Max Von Sydow and Mitchell Ryan in particular give superb performances - the presence of Schneider is especially injurious to the film.

Danny Cannon's direction is good - nowhere better than in the scene when Griffin learns to his horror that Rico has doublecrossed him with the clones. The scene includes a great bit of suggestive comedy; Rico bellows to Griffin that "I'm about to become a Daddy," then cuts to a smiling Ilsa, as though Rico's boast is literal.

Despite Rob Schneider, Judge Dredd is an entertaining sci-fi action yarn.

Bring on the Sequel!!!
I have to say that I was not familiar with any Judge Dredd comics, games or had had any other contact with the character apart from this movie so I cannot compare the character to other sources. Therefore, coming from someone that did not "know" the Judge prior to the film I have to say that the movie was FANTASTIC!
There are slight hints of Mad Max and Total Recall, so the movie falls into the action/adventure/science fiction type of category, and what a major hit this action-packed movie is!
Sylvester Stallone, Armand Assante, Diane Lane, and Rob Schneider, have truly outdone themselves with their performances, which are outstanding, making this movie one of the best of its kind. The actors' great talent and chemistry clearly shows, thus providing a film that can be watched over and over again. The plot, the setting, the special effects, the battles and the costumes are all wonderful!
In short, I would definitely line up to watch a sequel!

"I am the Law!"
The career of a Hollywood Star goes through various ups and downs. This excellent film came out at a point in Stallone's career when it was simply his turn to get reviewed harshly by the Hollywood community. He was getting older, his career had drifted considerably, and another Sly action picture was simply going to be a very hard sell. It took a much-underserved whipping when it was released.

As I say, that is a real shame, because Judge Dredd was one of the best comic book adaptations to ever make the cross into film. It perfectly captures the 70's/80's British comic book about a futuristic cop who reins supreme, given the power to arrest, judge, and execute wrongdoers in a world gone rampant with crime.

This was a big budget production, and the sets and special effects are magnificent. The story is extremely engaging, and it is packed with great action. The film really doesn't take a misstep throughout.

What makes the film a real treat are the supporting performances. Stallone himself delivers a perfect-pitch job as the Judge, nicely capturing all the stern dedication of the comic book, and as the film progresses, his character is beautifully and even touchingly rounded out. But I find myself remembering the lesser roles, such as Armand Assante as the arch villain, Rico, a man holding extreme power in his madness. When his temper flairs, everyone jumps back. The old veteran, Max Von Sydow, displays a pro's commitment in his portrayal of the aging Chief Justice Fargo, holding on to his power simply through a towering dignity. Diane Lane, Jurgen Prochnow, and Joan Chen are on hand to lend superior support, as well as Rob Schneider, who did a great job in giving the movie the touch of comedy needed to truly capture the original comic book. This film even has the great Scott Wilson on board as Pa Angel, a leader of a criminally mutated family that dwells in the "cursed earth."

Amazon reviews got it completely wrong. Their condescending review was typical of the kinder reviews given when the film was released. There is certainly no need to "lower your expectations" to enjoy this film.

You will do just fine if you come to this picture expecting great things.

--Mykal Banta

For in those days Judges walked the land....
The more I see this film after all the hype has died down, the more it grows on me. This is probably the best thing that Stallone ever did in my opinion. If you ever read the British comic book series you realize that he nailed the essence of the main character. I mean, Judge Dredd is a completely one-dimensional character, and Stallone still managed to bring him to life.

The entire movie, and the original comic book series, was based on the fact that the Judges were incorruptible. These are not just good lawmen; these are walking law books- THEY ARE THE LAW. They have to be, for they are not merely law enforcement officers, they are also judge, jury, and executioner. Only someone raised from birth to live the letter, essence, and spirit of the law could be trusted with this. Certainly, a mere human could not be trusted with such power. That is the fascination of a character like Dredd- he isn't human. Here is a man so completely identified with duty that there is no room for personal feelings. This is essential, for a Judge must be completely impartial and unswayed by personal opinion and feeling. A Judge judges the rich and powerful, and the poor and weak, by absolutely the same standard. That is why you can never write Dredd and the other Judges off as fascists- it is equal judgment for all in the name of the public good, of public survival, in an apocalyptic Cursed Earth. And God save the Judge that breaks his oath....

Max Von Sydow was also especially good as Dredd's mentor. I mean, if they could get an actor of his quality interested in this project then you know that he also saw something more to it. Playing off Stallone you actually see the one bit of humanity in the character. The scene where Sydow takes the last walk to bring judgment to the unjudged still chokes me up.

Sure, there is plenty of action and special effects here- good ones. They also managed stay fairly close to the details and characters of the original stories. But, I've slowly come to see that there really is more to it. Not bad for a project that originated from a comic book.

A sleek, juicy slice of Ultraviolence, served piping hot!
Who couldn't like this slick, sleek, happily depraved and utterly self-contented violent romp in the near future? It's got Sly Stallone in a fine, full-bodied role as the fascistic Judge Dredd---and hey, He's the Law! You got a problem with that? You got objections, Perp? He KNEW you'd say that! (sound of Perp being knocked unceremoniously in the head by Judge Dredd's side-arm).

Let me count the ways I love Judge Dredd:

1)It's all Action, all the time---and it Looks so Good! And best of all, it's action done by a competent, experienced crew: Adrian Biddle ("Aliens", "1492", "Thelma & Louise") for cinematography, and set design by Peter Young, who did the look for "Batman" and "Sleepy Hollow".

2)It's got Armand Assante and Jurgen Prochnow as crazed, Machiavellian evil villains (Assante crazed, Prochnow Machiavellian)!

3) It's got veteran uber-actor Max von Sydow as Chief Justice Fargo, and boy the guy looks hip and happening in a trenchcoat with a big super-duper hand cannon!

4) It's got a violent Mega-City where the angry inhabitants don't have backyard barbecues, they have block wars!

5) It's got an angry War Robot designed to control crowds---with extreme prejudice! Oh, it likes to pull peoples' heads off, too.

6) It's got angry unfinished Clones, all of whom are imperfect copies of Assante!

7) Aspen, Colorado is a penal colony! What a great world!

8) It's got starlet action! A villainous Joan Chen in tight leather hotpants! It's got the genetically perfect Diane Lane as the unfortunately named Judge Hershey (I don't know. Don't ask.)!

9) It's got a periodically amusing Rob Schneider and gratuitous Balthazar Getty! It's got a family of inbred religious cannibals who make the family in "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" look like pikers---and the razor-toothed Number 1 Son has what appears to be a minute-timer embedded in his skull!

10) Finally, it's just all around fun: the chase on Lawmasters through the neon heights and aeries of Mega City One has to be seen to be believed, and it is far more enjoyable than anything in the Star Wars prequels. And in addition, it's a pretty fine adaptation of the Judge Dredd graphic novel series.

So get past your need to see 'serious' cinema, sit back, and pop "Judge Dredd" on the hopper. Besides, He's the Law----and failure to appreciate the subtle glories of this film is a Violation, Citizen---Punishment? You don't want to know. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

An American in London
There is a strange ambiance in this movie, as if we were dealing with spies in an Cold War era..You would expect Keitel's character to walk in the next Cafe Rouge to meet a Russian couple for dinner and ...well, conversation...Dave Arnold's music is just great, adding the necessary eerie side to the foggy London streets on which our DEA man chases his prey. Great work altogether, and a must see for Americans in Europe...

This Is A Great Film Starring A Great Actor
I caught this movie on TV one Saturday afternoon while flipping through the Channels. Seeing Harvey Keitel got my attention but the movie itself kept it. It's a really good movie. I was suprised that I hadn't heard of it before. Check it out. Its a great deal especially at the price Amazon offers it for.

Super British Film Noir
I thought that I had seen all of Harvey Keitel's films but, due to the inexplicable failure of this film to attain a theatrical distributor in the U.S., I had never even heard of this one. Then I caught it on Bravo a few weeks ago and it knocked me out! It's a gritty, tough British crime film in the tradition of THE LONG GOOD FRIDAY. The cast is very good - of course, Keitel is excellent as a weary American liaison to the English police, but Craig Kelly (currently in the Brit TV series QUEER AS FOLK) is also impressive as Chris, a young man struggling to survive the mean streets of London. This film is truly a pleasant surprise. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

3 stars for beautiful Elizabeth Hurley
Originally entitled "Mad Dogs and Englishmen", this movie is a typical British second grade thriller. Its tagline says all: "Murder, Vice, Corruption -- All good English values". Well, if you're looking for a movie that delves into the complexity of London's drug cartel and aristocratic world, you may be disappointed. But any fan of Liz Hurley can't afford to miss this one, because she wouldn't pose nude again, not even in "Dangerous Grounds". The cinematography deserved a star too.

Stunning cinematography!
Some of the best lighting I have ever seen on face of that hunk C. Tommy. John Peters is a genius! ... Read more

Description

Antonia begins a slow descent into heroin addiction, when she meets Mike in a chance encounter. At first, she merely uses Mike to run errands to get the drugs she desperately needs. But after a night of passion, she begins to fall in love. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

3 stars for beautiful Elizabeth Hurley
Originally entitled "Mad Dogs and Englishmen", this movie is a typical British second grade thriller. Its tagline says all: "Murder, Vice, Corruption -- All good English values". Well, if you're looking for a movie that delves into the complexity of London's drug cartel and aristocratic world, you may be disappointed. But any fan of Liz Hurley can't afford to miss this one, because she wouldn't pose nude again, not even in "Dangerous Grounds". The cinematography deserved a star too.

Stunning cinematography!
Some of the best lighting I have ever seen on face of that hunk C. Tommy. John Peters is a genius! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A 'Classy' Naked Nun Fest
If you've ever reveled in guilt over your desire to explore the sex lives of nuns, 'Sacred Flesh' should definitely be on your list. I saw this film for the first time in its limited theatrical run in London some years ago with my ex-catholic girlfriend. Due to her years in strict English catholic schools, she was attracted to anything having to do with nuns and sexuality. I wasn't expecting much out of this film other than some softcore nun sex scenes, but as it turned out the writer/director really took the theological debate about earthly vs heavenly satisfaction very seriously. Ultimately, the film doesn't really take sides, but presents repression and lust with both their torments and rewards. Either way, I had a great night at the movies, and I recommend this film for anyone who wants a little bit of philosophy with their kink!

Naughty Nuns Beautifully Photographed
Wow! This movie rivals Behind Convent Walls and Sinful Nuns of St. Valentine as one of the best 'nunsploitation' films around. If you went to Catholic school you should definitely see this film!

The title sequence with blood and crosses starts the film off in an absolutely stunning way. From there it's naughty nuns and some horror thrown in for good measure. The color is really well done, the production value is high. If you like nuns, or even better lesbian nuns, with a bit of horror and a dab of religion thrown in you should check this out. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The real truth about their mysterious adversary--a vampire--would "ripyour mind's fragile hinges," the death's-head CEO of a secret society (Christopher Adamson) warns a human henchman. Your mind's fragile hinges have little to fear from this vampire-action-sexploitation hybrid. Director-writer-editor Jake West desperately tricks up his one-man opus in tech glam: sexpot Lilith Silver evolves from 19th-century vampire victim to modern-day hitwoman in black-and-white, color, freeze-frame, fast and slow motion, cartoon FX, overblown Freudian dreams.

There are moments: in the James Bond-style credit sequence, Lilith's fanged mouth yawns wide, disgorging a veritable blizzard of razor blades. And in the black-and-white prelude, West's camera looks down on his voluptuousvampire, sprawled on a bed, the only color the scarlet drenching her dress, bloodying her mouth. But "artsy" razzle-dazzle can't distract from Razor Blade Smile's overall failure to arouse horror, lust, humor, or any other redeeming response. First-timer Eileen Daley makes Lilith sosoignee and hip it hurts; her femme fatale's couture runs to multizippered, skintight black leather, shades, fur hats; the picture's completed by ebony mane, cheekbones to die for, and an extraordinarily mobile mouth with alarming overbite. Lilith kills time at a vampire/goth bar, shagging lesbian or stud, but what she really lives for are century-long power games played with the love of her life--er, death. This cynical horror flick punctures the very conventions that are the genre's lifeblood: encouraging egregious mugging and milking portentousness from every remark, Smile reduces the primal sex-death themes of authentic vampire fiction to kiss kiss/bang bang/bite bite. --Kathleen Murphy ... Read more

Reviews (32)

This movie is just terrible.
I blindly ordered this DVD after reading a cool review of it that highly recommended this movie. I want my money and my life back. This movie is low, low budget. The acting is way over-dramatic, to point of being plain cheezy. The costumes are all leather and zippers to the extreme. The script itself is pretty bad. The characters have no depth and you never have reason to care about them. The photography tries to get artistic or something hip at points but it just doesn't help.

I mean, I wanted to like this movie but there is not much good to say about it! How did this film get enough support to be released as a Special Edition? I'd have a hard time recommending this movie to even the hardest of vampire fans. Stick with Anne Rice.

Razor Blade Frown
I love vampire movies. I even love bad cheesy ones. This is one of the rare exceptions. It's hard to say where Razor goes so wrong. It just does. Decent cast and look for a low budget film but the story fails to live up to its potential. This could have been so much better.

Not bad for a no budget Vamp Assassin movie
If you're looking for another "Interview with the vampire" then you will be badly disappointed, this is low budget film making and has no expensive locations or known actors. It is however an odd movie that grows on you and does have a nice twist in the tail. If it was more consistent I`d give it four, but the quality of production and acting at the start isn't too hot, being reminiscent of a bad pop promo. Don't give up however persist, it improves in leaps and bounds and ends on a high. It has a hard edge too it and is a nice counterpoint to the sanitised vampire tales of Buffy or Angel.

Sex, Blood, and Rock 'n' Roll
About a week ago I was sitting in the Washington, DC bar Asylum in the checkered Adams Morgan neighborhood. Sitting there with a glass of water, watching my friends get drunk, I noticed an unusual movie playing on one of the televisions. The sound wasn't on, but the imagery presented, backed with the bar's heavy metal and gothic music pounding in the background captivated me.

The movie was Razor Blade Smile (1998), independent fare from England. OK, it looked bad, but I had to see this thing in full. The DVD arrived today.

Having just watched the closing credits (and a little surprise when they're done) I realize this is a mish mosh of atrocious acting, bad editing, horrible effects and abundant slickness that comes together and works much better than it should.

The tale is of a 150 year old vampire "Lilith Silver" who is bored to tears and fills her time by knocking off people for money. Yes, she is a hit-vamp. Her current boy-toy employer has her knocking off people who wear rings with eyeballs in them. When she finally gets curious and asks a contact of hers about them, she learns they belong to a group called The Illuminati, a mysterious cabal that has inundated itself into the world's power structures.

It turns out that Sethane Blake, the ancient vamp who turned our murderous vixen into a blood sucking (and other sucking) fiend heads this group and has also contracted out Lilith's boss to rub out the lower members of his frat house. If this sounds at all interesting, see it. It's quite entertaining if you don't take it too seriously.

The stars are basically no one. Eileen Daly (Lillith) did a few minor roles and is known as the "Redemption Girl". Christopher Adamson (Sethane) is trying to be the next Christopher Lee. He doesn't have suave good looks, incredibly sexy voice, and his skin is bad. David Warbeck (The Horror Movie Man) appears to have had something of a career, but died before the film was released. He doesn't have to worry about appearing in a sequel.

There are lots of effects. None of them are memorable. Someone on some said it looked as if director Jake West got his hands on some video editing software and went nuts. There's black and white, kooky color with lots of blue and red contrasting, grainy picutre, bad focus, slow motion, fast motion, jerky fast motion, lots of fire, blood, a few stakes, computers, guns, rubber, mylar, sunglasses, a lesbian scene in catsuits (OK, that's not an effect, but it was pretty damn hot and coming from me, that's saying something), a few decapitations and a guy blowing his brains out.

And in the end, all is not what it seems. In fact nothing is as it seems. It's like a bad car wreck. You just can't look away. Oh, and don't leave before the credits end.

Awful, but I love it
What more can I say?
A bad film that doesn't take itself too seriously. If you're a fan of the Hammer Horrors, or B-Movies, this is just a modern spin on those genres. More graphic brutality, more nudity, less distinguised actors making fools of themselves....
The plot is secondary to the joy to be had from watching a film that's so bad it's good.
Expect great things, leave disappointed;
expect nothing, and you're sure to find something you like. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Not For The Feint Of Heart or Weak Of Bladder
Dead Of Night(Also known as Lighthouse) is one of the best thrillers I've ever seen. The story and cinematography are top notch. Leo Rook (Christopher Adamson) is one mean killing machine with a face that would stop a clock. The climax is as hard hitting as any I've seen and very original. Don't pass this one up! You won't be disappointed.

5+ stars for epic horror movie 2 stars for dvd treatment
When purchasing this movie I was not expecting more than your typical stalk and slash movie with 80's cliches in it. Boy was I totally wrong!!!! This movie is up there with all the other classic serial killer movies like Phsycho, Silence of the Lambs, and Maniac, but I thought was the real winner with this movie was the two edge of your seat scenes (the bathroom and ending that you will have to watch to find out).
Leo Rook totally up there in the top ten serial killers IMO.
You must get this sleeper of a classic horror before it is no longer available and is OOP.

Shabby treatment for grade-A horror classic
Simon Hunter's remarkable British horror-thriller "Lighthouse" (1999) is one of the best kept secrets of the 1990's. Barely released anywhere outside of the festival circuit, even in the UK where (at the time of writing) it hasn't even been submitted for a censor's certificate, it was eventually picked up for US distribution by A-Pix, where the title was quickly changed to "Dead of Night" against Hunter's express wishes. "We know our market!" A-Pix offered by way of explanation, before proceeding to disprove their own assertion by dumping the film briefly into a handful of theaters with a poor ad campaign and then consigning it directly to the video graveyard. What's so galling about A-Pix' shabby treatment is that the film is one of the most brilliantly-realized horror movies in recent memory.

Hunter's own script tells the tale of a prison ship which strikes the rocks and sinks off the coast of a remote lighthouse-island 300 miles from the mainland. A small number of guards and prisoners escape the disaster and take refuge in the lighthouse where they're stalked by another survivor of the wreck, the monstrous psychopath Leo Rook (Chris Adamson). The basic premise is fairly familiar and prompts fond memories (perhaps deliberately) of Jim O'Connolly's equally outrageous "Tower of Evil" (1972), but Hunter's tightly-constructed script and dynamic visual style propels the narrative forward like a guided missile, pausing every so often for some truly gripping set-pieces, beginning with an early sequence in which the ship's captain (accomplished character actor Paul Brooke) becomes trapped in a stall in the lighthouse-washroom with Rook on the other side of the door, oblivious to the captain's presence. Then Brooke accidentally knocks a can of air-freshener from a shelf, precipitating a nail-biting cat-and-mouse confrontation which ends on a shrill note of genuine horror. But the real fireworks are reserved for the climax, a knock-down drag-out rollercoaster ride combining high-octane stuntwork and spectacular visual effects as the remaining survivors confront Rook at the top of the lighthouse. This incredible sequence contains more cliff-hanging thrills than a dozen serials and will leave most viewers completely drained, exhausted and thoroughly entertained.

Populated with a cast of familiar British faces (including Don Warrington, heroine Rachel Shelley and James Purefoy as the regulation handsome hero), all of whom invest their roles with character traits which prevent them from sliding into routine stereotype, the film maintains an impressive degree of logic, isolating potential victims through careful calculation rather than narrative contrivance. And while there's plenty of R-rated brutality on display, Hunter emphasizes the thrill of pursuit and the THREAT of violence rather than an excess of splattery gore, and Simon Bowles' impressive low-budget production design transforms the storm-lashed island and lighthouse into a shadowy, antiquated killing ground. Veteran cinematographer Tony Imi (whose career stretches back to the 1960's) gives the whole thing an expensive-looking gloss, and Debbie Wiseman's moody score is impressively grandiose. All in all, this is a tremendously exciting feature debut from a director who's clearly in love with his own material and completely in command of the filmmaking process. Together with a superb cast and crew, he's produced a minor masterpiece.

Image's region-free DVD runs 94m 55s, and while it's still a worthwhile purchase, the transfer leaves a lot to be desired. The full-screen presentation is OK, but there's some evidence the picture has been cropped from the original 1.85:1 ratio. Sadly, the 2.0 surround track is a downmix of the theatrical Dolby Digital format, and while the music and effects have a sumptuous dimensionality, large portions of the center-channel dialogue are so faint as to be virtually inaudible at normal listening levels. There are no captions and no extras except an extremely poor video trailer which sells the movie as just another routine potboiler. Four stars for the movie, two for the DVD.

Inventive and Gripping Horror Debut
British director Simon Hunter's feature directorial debut is a frequently very suspenseful, gory, and involving tale of a desperate group of prisoners washed up on an offshore island, only to discover that a serial killer has escaped undetected from their stricken ship. He decapitates half of the lighthouse staff and then starts in on the panic stricken group including a plucky female psychologist and wrongly convicted murderer. This is a brilliant setting for a horror film. Dark, stormy, menacing and with claustrophobic scenes in the old lighthouse. In some ways a throwback to the slasher films of the early eighties but done with heaps of style, nail biting tension and sympathetic, memorable characters. Hunter has just earned the gig on the upcoming 20 million dollar The Mutant Chronicles for Hollywood producer Howard Pressman on the strength of this movie. Well deserved, every fan of modern horror should see this movie. ... Read more

Description

THE YOUNG AMERICANS: They're hip.They're tough.And they're methodically annihilating thecity's most powerful crime bosses.They're THE YOUNG AMERICANS, a newand deadly order of gangsters.HARVEY KEITEL (Reservoir Dogs, ThePiano) is John Harris, a Drug Enforcement Agent on the trail of CarlFrazer (VIGGO MORTENSEN, Boiling Point, The Indian Runner).Frazer willstop at nothing to seize the mob's drug trade, recruiting violent streetpunks to do his killing.Harris' only hope is to enlist Chris, aconfused dead-end kid whose only allegiance is to his friends. But when Frazer's murderous ways hit too close to home, Chris crossesthe line between honor and deceit to infiltrate the gang.Ultimately,both he and Harris must face Frazer's wrath in a deadly confrontation atpoint-blank range...

BAD LIEUTENANT: He has survived on the streets for twenty years.He's a gambler... athief... a junkie... a killer and a cop.Now he's investigating themost shocking case of his life, and as he moves closer to the truth hisself-destructive past is closing in.Harvey Keitel gives a searingperformance as an out-of-control police detective on a collision coursewith disaster in director Abel Ferrara's brilliant and deeply disturbingmelodrama. ... Read more