DVD Collectors Online

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, a review by Jon

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
4 out of 5

Robert Downey Jr. is Harry, a petty thief who winds up in L.A. as an accidental actor with a chance of a detective role. He teams up with Val Kilmer, a P.I. called "Gay" Perry, for experience, but ends up in a very real murder case involving his childhood sweetheart (a gorgeous Michelle Monaghan) and the hard-boiled pulp novels she used to love. The story is narrated by Harry, which is great fun as he forgets things and has to rewind, or berates the audience for missing the key plot points.

Written by Shane Black, this has much of the throwaway Jazz cool style of the Lethal Weapon films, if a little exagerrated. The plot works pretty well as pulp noir, but can take some keeping up with (definitely the point!). It is never less than thoroughly entertaining. Downey is just about the coolest actor around, while Kilmer is brilliant as Perry. The fact he is gay is frequently played for laughs, but never cheaply or at his expense; more the opposite as he is always the intelligent confident half always clearing up after Harry's mess.

What with actors playing against type as characters who just seem to keep wandering into accidents (except Perry), silly narration, childish flippant twists (missing finger; tit grabbing; Russian roulette going very wrong), you might get the wrong idea. This really is a very cool film with a couple of serious moments and great stunts to keep it the right side of a thriller, just like Black's Lethal Weapons. It's also set at Christmas and has a jazzy soundtrack.

Well recommended. 



Now, can anyone tell me why the bloody hell this great film seems to be pretty unheard of? Everyone who sees it loves it, but must keep it as some great secret; Downey has long been seen as one of the best actors of his generation; and Kilmer should have blown away any and all of his critics with his confident, well judged performance. There should have been a sequel by now! Look, when Iron Man came out, it should have been getting a mention as a past hit. But nothing. It came, it conquered, it went. No-one ever talks about it... 

(From Kiss Kiss Bang Bang on July 29th, 2008)

Robin Hood: Men in Tight, a review by Dragonfire

Robin Hood: Men in Tights My Thoughts I fully admit that this one is silly, but I think the silliness works.  This may not be the best thing Mel Brooks has done, but it is still entertaining and it works well as a spoof.  It does seem like the movie is mostly poking fun at Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.  There is even a joke about how this Robin can speak with an English accent that seems directed directly at Kevin Costner.  The plot is mostly predictable, which I think tends to happen with spoof type movies, but it is still fun and entertaining.  Some of the humor is a bit gross or crude and a lot of the humor is silly.  This isn't a movie that is going to appeal to a lot of people.  It is a good choice for people in the mood for something silly.

I did post a review on Epinions.

Robin Hood: Men in Tights

(From Robin Hood: Men in Tights on May 27th, 2010)

Angel Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

21. Power Play
Original Air Date: 5/12/2004
Angel's strange behavior convinces the gang that he's joined an elite group of evildoers called the Circle of the Black Thorn - a group he could have only joined by killing one of his own.

Guest Stars:
Christian Kane
Dennis Christopher
Alec Newman
Jenny Mollen
Adam Baldwin

My Thoughts:
Starting to get really good again. This is basically the first part of the series finale. The team thinks Angel went bad... but that is what he needed them to think.

My Rating:

(From Angel Marathon on March 25th, 2010)