b-man-1 Reviews

When Trumpets Fade (1998 TV Movie)

Decent war drama

[4 June 2003]

When Trumpets Fade (1998) tells the story of the battle of Hurtgen Forest in 1944. The films also tells about a private, who is promoted to sergeant, and then promoted to captain about 3 days later, forced to lead men into war and behind enemy lines. Directed by John Irvin (Hamburger Hill, The Dogs Of War, and Raw Deal) and starring Ron Eldard as the private turned captain, Zak Orth as an inexperienced recruit, Frank Whaley as a medic and Martin Donovan and Dwight Yokam as captains. This is a better film than director John Irvin's 1987 film, Hamburger Hill, but nowhere as good as other war dramas such as Platoon and Full Metal Jacket.

Two Evil Eyes (1990)

Not as bad as they say

[4 June 2003]

Two Evil Eyes (1990) is an anthology type horror film based upon two short stories written by Edgar Allan Poe. The first film "The Facts of the Case of M. Valdemir" was directed by George A. Romero and tells the story of a woman who is trying to kill her old husband and get all his money...a story that has been done to death. The film isn't anywhere as bad as they say. What's so bad about a zombie getting shot over and over again? The next film is "The Black Cat" directed by Dario Argento and starring Harvey Kietel, and the film is kinda close to the old Edgar Allan Poe short story about a black cat that drives a man mad, and makes him do things he probably never thought about before. Overall, this is a decent movie. Be sure to check out the new special collector's edition dvd from Blue Underground.

Total Recall (1990)

One of the greatest action/sci fi movies out there

[4 June 2003]

Total Recall (1990) is one of the greatest action/sci fi films out there. I'm not even going to try to write a review to this film, because it would be long and complicated. But, why is the overall imdb rating so low? At this time it is 7.1. It should be a 10! And to the people who are writing on the message boards for this film- I do think this film is all just a dream, and no, I don't think there will be a director's cut dvd, since Artisan Entertainment released a great special collector's edition. This is one of Arnold's greatest films, full of action and gore! Go out and buy this film!

Pledge Night (1988)

Fairly gory slasher film from the 80's

[4 June 2003]

Pledge Night (1988) is a really good cult horror movie.The film is about Larry Bonner, a young college kid trying to get into this fraternity. He becomes friends with the other pledges as they all go through "hell week", but once Larry's mother finds out that her son is being hazed, she tries to tell him to leave the fraternity. Larry's mother tells us her boyfriend, Sid, died in a hazing over 20 years earlier. Larry does not listen to his mother, until the ghost of Sid returns to wreck havoc on the fraternity. See, you should always listen to your mother! The first 45 minutes are very funny as the pledges have to do very "entertaining" games and rituals, such as the "cherry race". As I said, the first 45 minutes of the film are amusing, it's like watching Animal House or Revenge Of The Nerds. But, after the 45 minute mark, the film turns into your typical 1980's slasher film (which is just fine!)complete with fairly gory special effects. This movie is hard to track down on vhs, but you can find a so called "uncut" copy on pal dvd through Dragon Entertainment.

Exterminator 2 (1984)

violent vigilante sleaze...

[4 June 2003]

Exterminator 2 (1984) tells the story of Vietnam vet John Eastland, the famous New York flame-thrower wielding vigilante from the first film (The Exterminator (1980)) In this sequel, John meets up with a new friend,Bee-Gee, a garbage man, and then gets a job as a garbage man, and starts to go out with a dancer from a night club. (John's life must be really good!) But, when his dancer-girlfriend is attacked by a ruthless street gang led by X, John decides he must take revenge. This is overall a remake of the first film, directed by Mark Buntzman (who produced the first Exterminator) As a whole, this is not a bad sequel. Original,no. Action packed,no. But it is a fun movie with actor Robert Ginty returning as John Eastland, and one of the first (if not the first) film role by Mario Van Peebles. Also look out for Arye Gross-star of House II:The Second Story. The movie appeared that it could have been very violent and fairly gory like the first one, but this seems unfortunately cut and toned down for the R-rating. They should have made another exterminator movie...

An Eye for an Eye (1981)

Not Very Good

[28 February 2003]

An Eye For An Eye (1981) was the beginng of Chuck Norris's big action movie career. From reviews I read of this film, I was expecting a fast and furious, kung-fu action fest. But it's not. I think it has to be one of Norris's worst. And he doesn't look right without a moustache. Plus Christopher Lee has starring credit, but only has about 4 short scenes throughout the whole film. The film is about Caine (Chuck Norris) who's partner is killed (and his partner's girlfriend)by drug kingpin Christopher Lee. So, of course, for about an hour Norris is trying to find who is responsible for his friends deaths. The film is boring, and Mako's acting in the film isn't very good. This is not worth watching. I give it * (1 star)

A Force of One (1979)

One Of Chuck's best

[28 February 2003]

A force Of One (1979) is one of Chuck Norris's best. It had action and some big name actors like Clu Gullager (from The Hidden and Return Of The Living Dead)Chuck Norris plays a karate instructor (and a boxer on the side) who helps the police train because there is a "killer ninja" on the loose. Norris doesn't do a good job showing enough emotion though,(*possible spoiler*) as in the scene about the death of his son. As I said, there are some good action scenes, espicially the boxing scenes. Go see it, because it is one one of the best action films of the 1970's!

Good Guys Wear Black (1978)

Not Bad...

[26 February 2003]

Good Guys Wear Black (1978) was one of Chuck Norris's first starring roles. Norris plays John T. Booker, a C.I.A. who is sent on a mission to rescue American P.O.W.s in Vietnam, but during the mission, he and his men are attacked and find that no Americans were at the Vietnamese camp. After Booker and the remaining soldiers just barely escape, they find out that their team, The Black Tigers, were set up. After a long walk home, the C.I.A.s are turning up dead and John T. Booker is the last one alive, and no one can help him but a lawyer named Margret. This film was made in 1977, but wasn't released until a year or two later. The action is decent, espiecially two scenes, one that takes place at a ski resort, and another at an airport where Chuck Norris fights this Japanese assassin. Overall, a decent 1970's action movie with bad acting and a really bad 70's sounding soundtrack.