CultFlicks.net

Rating:

Review

Groundbreaking and mind-bending, Reservoir Dogs historically introduces us to the dynamic and twisted mind of famed American director Quentin Tarantino. Though his career can almost entirely be dubbed “cult,” his mainstream appeal is still very much apparent. Though there is little doubt that this low-budget early 90’s gem brought the life of Tarantino’s aesthetic to the masses. Reservoir Dogs takes a group of psychotic men to the brink when a botched robbery brings them circling around who to trust and who is out to out the entire group. there are plenty of homages to crime films of many eras, and the film is almost seen as a homage to crime film making as a whole. The film is violent, twisted, and accounts for some of the most iconic scenarios in modern crime films. It can be said that Tarantino began a new trend of homaging old school films and bleeding turmoil for all with 1992’s Reservoir Dogs.

Reason to Watch

The film acts as an early introduction to some fantastic actors with a great cast. One scene in particular is simply astonishing effective at being both emotional and merciless. Yet it is the introduction to Tarantino’s style and the films overt influences that makes it a worthy watch.

Context

The film is undoubtedly violent, but the plot structure and characterization creates some crime staples seen throughout many films following it. The film is intense and merciless in its construct, and is a stand towards what a directorial debut can accomplish with a fantastic cast and a blender of influence and creativity.

Most Memorable Quote(s)

• Joe: He was the only one I wasn’t 100% on. I should have my fuckin’ head examined, going on a plan like this when I wasn’t 100%. 
  Mr. White: [shouting] That’s your proof? 
  Joe: You don’t need proof when you have instinct. 
• Mr. Blonde: Listen kid, I’m not gonna bullshit you, all right? I don’t give a good fuck what you know, or don’t know, but I’m gonna torture you anyway, regardless. Not to get information. It’s amusing, to me, to torture a cop. You can say anything you want cause I’ve heard it all before. All you can do is pray for a quick death, which you ain’t gonna get.  You ever listen to K-Billy’s “Super Sounds of the Seventies” weekend? It’s my personal favorite. 
• Mr. Blonde: Eddie, you keep talking like a bitch, I’m gonna slap you like a bitch. 

What You Need to Get Through This Movie

A lack of knowledge of Pulp Fiction would be a great addition to your viewing experience. The film spoils the Tarantino style and arguably executes it better. Also, a color chart is a necessity, as every core character is based on a color. If you skipped grade school or never seen a rainbow, you may be confused.

Trivia

The film uses the word “fuck” 272 times.

The film completed final editing and pressing just 3 days before its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival

The film budget was so low, many actors wore their own clothes

Reservoir Dogs is consistenly ranked as one of the best heist films- a heist that happens entirely off screen

The film was filmed in just over a month

Director Quentin Tarantino plays Mr. Brown. he is also quoted as probably being the most inexperienced person on set

Mr. Blonde is considered the most ruthless, yet he is one of the only characters to never kill in the film

Educational Content

• Pink is a good luck color
• robberies are probably a bad idea

Justification for Rating

There are 8 key characters in the film, 1 star for every character that is a total Rambo badass

Clip

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-qV9wVGb38

Rating:

Review

Battle Royale is quite a movie. Set in a dystopian future, 42 students are collected onto an island and forced to kill each other until one remains. that one “wins,” and survives. This is a televised event called Battle Royale, and happens yearly. Here is the premise, and the plot barely goes beyond that. Every teenage archetype is accounted for- nerd, jock, slut, main boring protagonist. The film is certainly Japanese and has that prototypical vibe, but it does a lot more than that through its use of messages and thematic elements. Battle Royale is violent and gruesome, and the characters are paper thin, but for those who want a message, it;s there. For those who want to see young Japanese girls killing kids with scythes, that’s here for you as well.

Reason to Watch

Young attractive Japanese schoolgirls stab, main, and murder each other, so, like, there’s that.

Context

for those who can look beyond the punishingly merciless premise, they will come to find a tragic and thought-provoking tale of the young put into a position that is, quite literally, life or death. It represents a wholly satisfying take on survivalism, and holds nothing back in its delivery and execution.

Most Memorable Quote(s)

• Kyouichi Motobuchi: If I survive, can I go home? 
  Teacher Kitano: Yes, but only if everyone else is dead. 
• Chigusa: Shouldn’t you be worried about your life, instead of that useless micropenis of yours?
• Mitsuko: This is my weapon. I thought it was so-so, but actually, it’s not so bad. Found Yoshimi and Kuramoto dead next door – strung up all cozy together. Not my scene! I’ll never die like THAT! 

What You Need to Get Through This Movie

The realization that this has subtitles, so you idiots out there who hate reading no matter the cost, go watch your crappy non-subtitled film. It’s probably worth noting that the dialogue is awfully silly, but then again, it is Japanese.

Trivia

• Battle Royale is based on a novel, which also has a different ending than the film
• Quentin Tarantino, famed director of Pulp Fiction and those overrated trite Kill Bill films states Battle Royale is one of his favorite films ever
•  The 15 volume manga, Battle Royale, began serialization in America in 2003, before the DVD release of the film in the States
• A film sequel released  independent to the film and novel. It was critically panned
• Battle Royale released almost a full decade before “The Hunger Games” so before you speak, know your stuff

Educational Content

if you kill yourself, you die. If you ask for help, you die. if you team up with friends, they will kill you. Pots and pans are weaker than guns, and woman become crazy after wielding a scythe. there is also a master computer hacker in every 9th grade class.

Justification for Rating

Below all the unadulterated blistering violence, cheesy dialogue, and controversial bannings, lies a film that says far more than one would ever expect. Battle Royale just WORKS. It works beyond the “so bad it’s good” and it works despite the contrived dialogue. The pure insanity and premise is so intriguing and original at its time, it instantly classifies as a classic horror/action film among the peak of quality.

Clip

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04bZIZDn0jo

Rating:

Review

Believe it or not kids, there was once a day when porn was not a mouse click away. Back in those days, we had to find other ways to see boobs, and horror films provided that opportunity. I remember the joys seeing “The Hunger” for the first time, that sexy section of video took some wear and tear I can tell you. So why this relevant? “Werewolf Woman” is basically a softcore porn film masquerading as a horror. The film starts off with a naked woman dancing around a fire before she turns into a werewolf and kills some people.

Flash forward to the “modern” day where distant relative Daniella Neseri (Annik Borel), having been recently raped, now makes an emotional connection to her family’s past before going on a killing spree which includes a lot of the biting out of men’s’ throats. She does not actually turn into a were-wolf; she just acts like one. She is, however, cured when she falls in love with a stuntman. They run along sandy beaches and they laugh and blah blah blah as he jumps through windows and crashes burning motorcycles. Fortunately, before it turns into the prequel to The Notebook, she is raped by three men and her boyfriend is killed. This sets her off again and she ends up in an asylum – typical. This is campy 70’s horror with bright red blood and loads of pointless nudity. Best of all, it’s based on a true story, but any similarities between anyone living or dead is apparently purely coincidental.

Read the rest of this entry »

Jane Fonda – Barbarella

Yeah, I know. It’s Jane Fonda. Jane Fonda’s Workout Jane Fonda. But in 1968, Jane Fonda was Barbarella, and Barbarella was hot, traipsing about in her skin-tight swimsuit costumes all about outer space. Grrr!

Read the rest of this entry »