CHOKE (2008)

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Directed By: Clark Gregg
Written By: Clark Gregg
Based On The Original Novel By: Chuck Palahniuk
Cinematography By: Tim Orr
Editor: Joe Klotz

Cast: Sam Rockwell, Bijou Phillips, Anjelica Huston, Kelly McDonald, Paz De La Huerta, Clark Gregg, Joel Grey, Heather Burns, Brad William Henke, Gillian Jacobs, Matt Malloy

Sex addict and colonial theme park worker, Victor Mancini, has devised a complicated scam to pay for his mom’s hospital bills while she suffers from an Alzheimer’s disease that hides the truth about his childhood. He pretends to choke on food in a restaurant and the person who “saves” him will feel responsible for Victor for the rest of their lives.

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NEVER DIE ALONE (2004)

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Directed By: Ernest R. Dickerson
Written By: James Gibson
Based On The Novel By Donald Goines
Cinematography By: Matthew Labitque
Editor: Stephen Lovejoy 


Cast: DMX, David Arquette, Michael Ealy, Reagan Gomez-Preston, Drew Sidora, Antwon Tanner, Luenell, Clifton Powell, Tommy “Tiny” Lister, Jennifer Sky, Aisha Tyler

A film noir centering around a hard-boiled, stylish kingpin drug dealer, called King David, who returns to his hometown seeking redemption but ends up only finding violent death. King David’s final moments are spent with Paul, an aspiring journalist who knew him for just a few minutes; yet King David would forever more have an impact on Paul’s life. Half preacher, half Satan, and all street smarts, King David had recorded the story of his exploits on audiotape, leaving behind an often-poetic sermon on villainy and its consequences. The tapes reveal that the cycle of violence and retribution, which his actions have spawned, has come back to him, full circle, as he suspected they might all along. Continue reading “NEVER DIE ALONE (2004)”

RAMBO: LAST BLOOD (2019)

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Directed By: Adrian Grunberg
Written By: Matthew Cirulnick & Sylvester Stallone
Story By: Dan Gordon & Sylvester Stallone
Based on Original Characters created by: David Morrell
Cinematography: Brendan Galvin
Editor: Carsten Kurpanek & Todd E. Miller 

Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Paz Vega, Adriana Barraza, Yvette Monreal, Sergio Peris-Mencheta, Oscar Jaenada 


Rambo must confront his past and unearth his ruthless combat skills to exact revenge in a final mission.

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FAST & FURIOUS PRESENTS: HOBBS & SHAW (2019)



Directed By: David Leitch
Written By: Chris Morgan & Drew Pearce
Story By: Chris Morgan
Based on original characters created by: Gary Scott Thompson
Cinematography: Jonathan Sela
Editor: Christopher Rouse 


Cast: Jason Statham, Dwayne Johnson, Vanessa Kirby, Idris Elba, Helen Mirren, Eiza Gonzalez, Eddie Marsan, Cliff Curtis, Eliana Su’a, Rob Delaney 


Lawman Luke Hobbs and outcast Deckard Shaw form an unlikely alliance when a cyber-genetically enhanced villain threatens the future of humanity. This film is a spinoff for the most popular characters from the series who started off as villains and then became fan favorite heroes.

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MAJOR LEAGUE 2 (1994)

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Directed By: David S. Ward
Written By: R. J. Stewart
Based on Characters originally created by: David S. Ward
Story By: R.J. Stewart, Tom S. Parker & Tom Jenniwein
Cinematography: Victor Hammer
Editor: Donn Cambern, Kimberly Ray, Paul Seydor & Frederick Wardell 

Cast: Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, Omar Epps, Corbin Bernsen, Dennis Haysbert, James Gammon, David Keith, Randy Quaid, Bob Eucker, Michelle Burke, Eric Bruskotter, Allison Doddy, Takaaki Ishibashi, Margaret Whitton, Jesse Ventura, Steve Yeager, Kevin Crowley, Jason Kravits, Richard Schiff, Jay Leno 


Those Cleveland Indians are at it again! After losing in the ALCS the year before, the Indians are determined to make it into the World Series this time! First, though, they have to contend with Rachel Phelps again when she buys back the team. Also, has Rick “Wild Thing” Vaughn lost his edge? Are Jake’s knees strong enough to make it as a catcher another year? These and other questions are answered.

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CADDYSHACK 2 (1988)

Directed By: Allan Arkush 

Written By: Harold Ramis & Peter Torkovei 

Based On Characters Originally Created By: Brian Doyle Murray, Harold Ramis & Douglas Kenny 

Cinematography: Harry Stradling 

Editor: Bernard Gribble 

Cast: Jackie Mason, Dyan Cannon, Chevy Chase, Robert Stack, Dan Aykroyd, Randy Quaid, Jonathan Silverman, Jessica Lundy, Paul Bartel, Marsha Warfield, Dina Merrill, Brian McNamera, Chynna Phillips, Pepe Serna Jack Hartounian


A self made man is trying to get into Bushwood County Club because his daughter’s being asked by her snooty friends. Jack applies but a few things ruins his application, one that he’s extremely boorish and because he is building low cost housing in an affluent neighborhood. Jack then turns to Ty Webb who owns the majority share of the club, Jack buys Ty’s shares and then takes over the club and makes some changes which the members don’t like. That’s when the club members attack Jack by stopping his housing project. Eventually they decide to settle it on the golf course but the club president decides to take contingencies.


It’s Already hard to follow up as a sequel to a comedy classic.

The film tries to throw everything against the wall to work and it still ends up a mostly unfunny mess. one usually tries to see the good in most films and while at times it tries to be amusing this is obviously more of an obvious cash grab with little to no heart. If not a cash grab (as most films are either way) This seems more of a situation where the film began one way and this is what the powers that be consider salvaging it.

The movie still has the same basic theme of Snobs Vs. Slobs. Though it doesn’t include the rivalry so much amongst the staff as much. Taking out the wacky side characters and also making it more mature. As there are teenagers but they are college students and other then a kind of romance. They aren’t used that much. So it basically eliminates the teenage element and seems to be more centered around anti-semitism though it proves to be the only subtle thing in the movie.

The film manages to get original cast member Chevy chase to cameo as the film tries to retain the flavor of the original. In the absence of the rest of the cast of the original they have Dan Aykroyd in a small role similar to Bill Murray’s but you end up not caring even with a very inspired off the wall comedic performance from Randy Quaid. That was originally intended for late comedian Sam Kinison. Still it feels like when anyone famous shows up in the movie it feels more like they are guest starring more than acting or playing a character.

Randy Quaid appearing in this film is kind of prophetic considering he ended up starring in DEAD SOLID PERFECT an acclaimed cable original movie where he played a golfer and was nominated for an Emmy for the role.

The film was originally written to star Rodney Dangerfield. Basing the movie around his character from the first film. He was willing to until he read the script then dropped out. You can see the signs during this film for it to be more built around his character. Just as the film tries to copy the character types from the first film but not be as rebelious or daring in it’s comedy.

Jackie Mason as the lead can’t really act and is hard to be likeable. Though with Mason’s casting the movie has a kind of Wasp against Jewish and all outsiders making it more a film that is not only anti-semitism but also against prejudice. Though it doesn’t help that his character is vert hard to like, but the film tries to convince us is charming to others. Even as most of his friends seem to be only people who work for him.

The film tries to skew as much to the original as far as familiar roles. Though here they lose the teenage coming of age angle. It’s here in the form of college students who get a lot less screen time. As the film prefers to stay on the adults and even when staying on the more adult characters the film is so family friendly that all the raunch that was a staple of the first film is washed out and stays pretty bland. Like this film is more aimed at kids.

It also takes away from the more working class elements of the original to be more of a generational wealth versus a newly rich theme.

There is a romance thrown in for the younger characters and even Mason’s but it’s useless as they all come off as types instead of characters. As the daughter of Jackie Mason’s character played by Jessica Lundy dates the WASP son of the golf course owner and discovers she has more chemistry with the caddy Played By Jonathan Silverman who we actually learn little about.

What is also missing is that the original was hard core rude and anti-establishment. This film is More corporate safe almost family friendly.

When I watched this as a kid I remember Robert Stack from UNSOLVED MYSTERIES in an acting role was big for me. Not knowing he was already an accomplished actor. Him playing the villain here to perfection.

One aspect that has stayed with me over the years when it comes to the film is the main theme song played at the beginning. Though listening to it now is more a cheesy nostalgic pleasure.

Grade: F

THE SAMARITAN (2012)

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Directed By: David Weaver
Written By: David Weaver & Elan Mastai
Cinematography By: Francois Dagenais
Editor: Geoff Ashenhurst 


Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, Ruth Negga, Gil Bellows, Luke Kirby, Tom Wilkinson, Deborah Kara Unger

After twenty years in prison, Foley is finished with the grifter’s life. When he meets an elusive young woman named Iris, the possibility of a new start looks real. But his past is proving to be a stubborn companion.

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BURYING THE EX (2015)

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Directed By: Joe Dante
Written By: Alan Trezza
Cinematography By: Jonathan Hall
Editor: Marshall Harvey 


Cast: Anton Yelchin, Alexandra Daddario, Ashley Greene, Oliver Cooper, Dick Miller

When Max learns that his new live-in girlfriend, Evelyn (Greene) is controlling and manipulative, he is afraid to end the relationship. However, fate occurs and Evelyn is killed in a freak accident. A couple months have passed and Max meets his dream girl, Olivia. The new romance gets tricky when Evelyn comes back from the grave and insists on continuing their once relationship by all means.

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6 UNDERGROUND (2019)

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Directed By: Michael Bay
Written By: Paul Wernick & Rhett Reese
Cinematography: Bojan Bazelli
Editor: Roger Barton, William Goldenberg & Calvin Wimmer 


Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Melanie Laurent, Corey Hawkins, Manuel Garcia-Ruflo, Ben Hardy, Adria Arjona, Dave Franco, Lior Raz, Payman Maadi, Ron Funches 



What’s the best part of being dead? It’s the freedom. The freedom to fight the evil which lurks in our world. 6 Underground’s group of unnamed individuals have chosen to change the future. The team’s brought together by enigmatic leader code-named ‘One’, whose sole mission is to ensure that, he and his fellow teammates will have their actions remembered.


This is a film that is so huge and ridiculously over the top and overblown that it feels like a film that would have been an action classic in the 1980’s or 90’s. As you can see all of the $150 million dollar budget on the screen with an international mostly european flavor.

The problem is that the film is much more interested in the action sequences more than anything else. As it is a michael bay film they are photographed beautifully and come off as amazing to look at. Though overwhelmingly violent and gory. Which the director seems to take great joy in and trying to make some of it funny. Which doesn’t exactly work, Especially when your film is so hamfisted making everything feel intense when it doesn’t need to be that at many times you find yourself worn outnumber.

Even the sex scenes which don’t exactly feel necessary one is more romantic and the other whole setting up a romantic side story involves characters who want sexy more than romance so nothing romantic in the scene at all more ogling of bodies.

While this film has a genuine star in Ryan Reynolds who is there for the action but only participated in half of it. Since the film is more about a team they share their moments to shine some more than others and in the case of Adria Ajola barely any action. As the other actors shine.

It is through Mr. Reynolds and the rest of the cast that the movie More shines and you care more then you probably should. As Reynolds plays his usual cocky and sarcastic hero type here more of a leader.

The film seems to take certain joys upping the danger and adventure. As each new action sequence involves an even more dangerous amount of dizzying stunts. So much so that this film feels like XXX where as it is more of a stunt man’s movie that makes the actors look badass. As well as making the gratuitous violence almost pornographic. Though luckily the film doesn’t feel that technical. Though it certainly want to take the audience on a wild ride.

There is so much action no one could ever accuse the film of stopping or even being boring as the 20 minute opening car chase alone involves everything but the kitchen sink. Yet feels like the type of scene that would end most films and is one of the more impressive action sequences of the film even more exciting then the finale.

This film feels like a throwback to the men on a mission film. Where they form A platonic love for one another even if they don’t necessarily like one another. Also with the constantly shifting foreign locale and majorly foreign cast also makes it feel like this film could have been written by Luc Besson for one of his cross cultural action films. Though even those films have a clear lead and are basically star vehicles for whoever that is. Here it is much more of a team effort no matter who is top billed.

So by the end we get more of the same with a plot that seems stitched together just so Director Michael bay can show off his designer action shots and attempts of humor by adding a funny self satisfied leading man. Though after awhile no matter how it is dressed up it becomes monotonous. As if you already started with a spectacular action sequence throughout the film tried to top itself. So that it soon becomes the norm and nothing is as exciting. Especially if we know you can do it as we Just Watched you do it before, Making this film more a dumb, fun guilty pleasure under the guise of a more action oriented espionage caper film.

Grade: C+