Although viewed as one step away from being pornography by its own studio, Orion Pictures, the low-budget spin-off from George A. Romero’s “Night of the Living Dead” proved to be an instant hit with audiences and critics, even overshadowing Romero’s own “Night” sequel that summer, “Day of the Dead.” Today, “Return” continues to enjoy a […]
DVD reviews
Posted inArts & Culture
Maniac Cop
He knows, judging from “the size of those hematomas” on one victim’s neck. He’s right: It is the work of a cop … a “Maniac Cop.” Astounding coincidence: That’s the title of a 1988 cult gem from director William Lustig (“Relentless”) and writer Larry Cohen (“Cellular”) that plays like exploitation gangbusters with each viewing, and […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Maniac Cop
He knows, judging from “the size of those hematomas” on one victim’s neck. He’s right: It is the work of a cop … a “Maniac Cop.” Astounding coincidence: That’s the title of a 1988 cult gem from director William Lustig (“Relentless”) and writer Larry Cohen (“Cellular”) that plays like exploitation gangbusters with each viewing, and […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Maniac Cop
He knows, judging from “the size of those hematomas” on one victim’s neck. He’s right: It is the work of a cop … a “Maniac Cop.” Astounding coincidence: That’s the title of a 1988 cult gem from director William Lustig (“Relentless”) and writer Larry Cohen (“Cellular”) that plays like exploitation gangbusters with each viewing, and […]
Posted inArts & Culture
The Sylvian Experiments
The U.S. moniker refers to the film’s plot point of the “Sylvian fissure” of the human brain: Apply electricity to it, and the subject hallucinates astral projections and out-of-body experiences. This, posits mad-scientist female Dr. Hattori (Nagisa Katahira), opens up a whole realm of spiritual evolution. To study her theories, she has a team member […]
Posted inArts & Culture
The Stool Pigeon
In other words, whether you’re into HK cinema or not, temper your expectations. The storyline bears all the roots of a great Michael Mann script, rife with ethically compromised cops and their questionable informants, and the danger that awaits both sides of these shaky pig-and-snitch relationships as they go undercover. Here, director Dante Lam (“Vampire […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Bunraku
With an unfortunate Burt Reynolds mustache, Josh Hartnett (“30 Days of Night”) plays a drifter — that’s literally his character’s name — who rolls into town, which looks like the Old West has been given a face-lift courtesy of “Moulin Rouge”’s Baz Luhrmann. His fists are supposedly as mean as his game of cards. Sporting more […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Dark Angel
Oh, well. At least it’s finally available on DVD, so I can ditch my VHS. (Google it, kids.) Any Dolph Lundgren fan worth his weight in protein powder knows how welcome the MGM Limited Edition Collection release is. In a fun, sci-fi-tinged take on the buddy-cop formula, Lundgren (“The Expendables”) is the tough but easygoing […]
Posted inArts & Culture
The Cannonball Run
Now, decades later, the huge, huge box-office hit has hit Blu-ray — Blu-ray! — and although I hadn’t seen the action-comedy since junior high, it’s remarkable how much I remembered about it:• every line and note of Ray Stevens’ cornball theme song;• Burt Reynolds’ mugging at the fourth wall;• DeLuise’s Captain Chaos superhero garb; • […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Night School
Remembered all these years for introducing us to Aussie actress Rachel Ward (“Against All Odds”), the horror film is finally available on DVD, courtesy of Warner Archive. She’s one of many pretty people in danger of losing her head at the titular institution — not figuratively due to a punishing course load, but literally due […]