coyote13 Reviews

Lupin III: Return of Pycal (2002 Video)

Not the greatest Lupin III film...

[5/10 · 9 December 2004]

Ikiteita majutsushi (aka The Return of Pycal, The Return of the Magician) isn't terrible, by any means. It's a good-looking production, with handsome artwork and is very nicely animated (other than some 3-D animation that sticks out like a sore thumb). The character writing is excellent, as is the voice acting (after having been doing Lupin and his gang for so long, I'd expect nothing less from the actors!). Its problem is in the writing and pacing...

At less than 50 minutes it feels very much like a 90+ minute movie that you're missing half of. It sets up just fine, only to end about the point you expect everything to really get going. It's really a pity, because Pycal/Piker is a great villain from both the first Lupin series, and the manga, but here he's basically wasted; in fact, everyone is. It's interesting to see once or twice, but it's not a Lupin feature that you're going to want to pull off the shelf time and time again.

Frost: Portrait of a Vampire (2003 Video)

If you believe 99% of the other reviews here,

[8/10 · 28 November 2003]

you'll probably pass on seeing this movie, as I nearly did. That may be a mistake. This is not a bad movie. It's not perfect (what is?), and it's definitely low budget with some so-so acting. But it does what it sets out to do, and my be the only movie to draw parallels between vampirism and post traumatic stress syndrome. Charles Lister as Nat, who goes from human to vamp in the course of this does an excellent job. The direction, staging, and composition of many of the shots are also above par, with careful thought given to them. It does have too many locations, but the jumps are easily followed by anyone who's half awake. Not a standard "vampire horror movie" (what exactly is that, any way?) by any means, but an interesting juxtaposition of vampires and war--a worthwhile addition to that small category (see also Lost Platoon, Deathdream, and Ghost Brigade for an instant vampire/war movie fest). If you're looking for something different, give Frost a try.

The Breed (2001)

One of the better vampire movies...

[8/10 · 30 October 2003]

After reading through the reviews here, and noting that the positive ones referenced other works I liked (and being full aware that some of the negative ones seemed upset because "it wasn't like Blade", to which we can all be grateful), I decided to take a chance on this, and bought a cheap copy. And I'm very glad I did. In my opinion this is one of the better vampire movies out there (that is, if you like vampires, and aren't hanging around looking for your usual undead massacre); stylishly directed, great visuals and moody cinematography, interesting plot and characters, and well-thought-out alternate future world. It's biggest drawbacks are he somewhat choppy editing in places (not bad enough that you can't follow the story if you're paying attention), and there could have been a lot more character development along the way. Those small quibbles aside, I thought this was a superior effort, and I'd love to see more set in this world.

8 out of 10

The Vampire's Ghost (1945)

Different, effective little film

[9/10 · 22 September 2003]

I've wanted to see this movie for many years, ever since I read that Leigh Brackett had written the script for it. And, now that I have, I'm pleased to find out that it was worth the wait. Produced cheaply, by a second (or even third) rate studio, it replaces budget with story and characterization. John Abbott's Web Fallon (possibly the first sympathetic and world-weary vampire portrayal in the movies), harks back to John Polidori's Lord Ruthven (and Rymer's Sir Francis Varney) as his antecedents, and not the classic Stoker/Lugosi Dracula--one of the very few times the big screen has acknowledged there were literary vampires before Stroker.

It's too bad this one has basically slipped between the cracks and has become almost impossible to find.

Below (2002)

Subtle, understated, and effective

[9/10 · 25 October 2002]

Periodically I go through fits where I'm convinced that the American public is losing the capacity for thought in entertainment; that 99% of the movie-going public has reached the point where every smallest nuance must be telegraphed as loudly and as blatantly as possible, and any intelligent content must be simplified so it's comprehensible to the lowest common denominator.

Below is not like that.

This is a movie that simultaneously gives one hope (that something this stylish and subtle could be made in 2002), and despair (that the studio has shown so little faith in it that they've cast it adrift without any advertising or backing). Why this hasn't received even one quarter of the attention of Ghost Ship I can't fathom--if you have a choice, go see Below instead.

If you like beautifully photographed, well-thought-out eerie psychological horror films that don't tie everything up in a nice pretty package of explanations in the final shots, and are willing to give the relatively unknown but excellent cast a shot, then by all means hunt this one down.

9 out of 10

Blade II (2002)

Better than the original...

[6/10 · 8 April 2002]

Though that's not saying much, as the first Blade movie is in my vampire flicks bottom 10. The sequel is better looking and better directed (it is, however, the least involving of Guillermo del Toro's directorial works--everyone looking for a more interesting take on vampirism by him should check out Chronos), and the idea behind the story is interesting enough, but very little plot shows up on screen. What we actually get is a very loud, very violent movie where plot, acting and characterization take a distant second place behind the carefully choreographed fight scenes every five minutes. This is far more video game than movie.

Blade (1998)

This thing was dire

[3/10 · 9 October 2001]

Not like I went in expecting a lot out of it, but I was at least hoping for a fun dumb big budget movie. This isn't even that. This item ranks in the bottom half of all the vampire movies I've ever seen (and believe me, I've seen a lot of them). Bad acting, zero characterization, little to no thought, almost non-existent plot (and that that's there you can drive semi-trucks through the holes in). Sure, it has action and is loud, and has more action, and more noise, and blood, and action... These things alone do not make a good (or even halfway decent) movie. Beats me how some people can say this is the best vampire movie ever made--all I can assume is they haven't seen many. I suggest seeing Near Dark instead.

Bedazzled (2000)

Not the greatest....

[4/10 · 20 October 2000]

It's an occasionally amusing comedy lite with attractive leads. No one here turns in a truly cringe-worthy performance, the direction is adequate, and some of the lines are pretty funny. So, what's the big problem? This movie simply has no reason to exist. It's derived from one of the most wickedly brilliant comedy/satires of the last half of the 20th century, but is totally missing the elements that made that Bedazzled so great. All that's left here is the boy wants girl window dressing, and some very smarmy messages about trust in God (totally perverting the original, btw). No thank you. I'll take the pokes and catcalls the original levelled at the whole idea of God and Christianity over this box of fluff.

Chicken Run (2000)

Funniest movie of 2000?

[10/10 · 17 June 2000]

One word should suffice: brilliant. I confess, I had some questions as to whether Nick Park and company could pull off a feature length film, but after Saturday's sneak preview I realize my doubts were in error, and Aardman Animations are the masters of whatever length they chose to take on. Even with the showing interrupted halfway through by a lightning storm that knocked out the power, set off the fire alarm, and caused a 30 minute evacuation of the building, this was the best movie going experience I've had in a long time. Hysterical, gags timed down to the split second, and so many movie in-jokes that you need a scorecard, this is one film that's worth repeated viewings. Sheer perfection in clay.

--judy renee--

Great (Isambard Kingdom Brunel) (1975)

A Neglected Masterpiece

[10/10 · 28 January 2000]

Exactly why an Academy Award winning film of this caliber should be so sorely neglected and unavailable all these years I can't say, but this is one of the few times animation (of varying techniques), music, archive photos, and history have come together into something truly Great. Reminiscent of some of Terry Gilliam's animation for Monty Python's Flying Circus, but yet uniquely it's own beast. I whole-heartedly recommend this to anyone, providing you can find a way to see it. If you're looking for a copy, write me =).

"Oh; it's a ship..."

Sole Survivor (1970 TV Movie)

The only made-for-TV movie that matters?

[10/10 · 15 January 2000]

Or nearly so, at least. This is the only TV movie that has stayed firmly in my mind since I saw it as a child back on its original broadcast date in 1969. Between then and now I've probably seen it another four or five times; most recently well over 20 years ago. I've raved about it to anyone who'd listen over the years, and encountered only a handful of people who've actually seen it; to a person they've all regarded it as something special. If you've read the other comments here you have a feel for the plot already; all I can add is that I consider it to be one of the best of the made-for-TV breed; better, in fact, than many theatrical releases (I once knew someone who insisted he'd seen it in a movie theatre in Europe in the early 1970s, and was astonished to learn it had been made for the small screen). If you get a chance, see it. This is one of those lost treasures begging for some sort of video re-release.

Jugular Wine: A Vampire Odyssey (1994)

It's an incoherent mess

[3/10 · 18 May 1999]

As has been said here, there's possibly a good movie under all this, but it's not what you get on the screen. Potentially interesting ideas are submerged by too many 'art film' delusions and cheap camera effects, not to mention editing that gives one the impression that at least one reel of out-takes was mistakenly substituted for footage that was essential to the plot. All in all, pass. It could have been intriguing and thoughtful, but it's just not.