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Alice, Sweet Alice, a review by Jimmy

Title: Alice, Sweet Alice (1976)

Genre: Horror
Director: Alfred Sole
Rating: R
Length: 1h47
Video: Widescreen
Audio: English
Subtitles: None

Stars:
Linda Miller   
Mildred Clinton
Paula Sheppard
Niles McMaster
Rudolph Willrich

Plot:
When ten-year-old Karen (Brooke Shields) is killed in church on the occasion of her first communion, her seemingly innocent older sister Alice (Paula Sheppard) becomes the prime suspect. Matters become complicated as more of Alice's family members are attacked, along with residents of her apartment building. Can a twelve-year-old girl be capable of such mayhem, or is someone else with a vicious plan destroying her family?

This film is the nearest that an american movie can be to an italian giallo. It had all the characteristics : a completicated story, weird characters, good effects and an artistic feeling. So you can easilly guess that it's a movie that I like. The story is really good, it looks evident at first glance but you get a couple of surprise turn. The murders without being too gory are really effective and look real (prepare yourself you will shivering). The acting is particullary good for this genre of film : Paula Sheppard is particullary great (after I've listen the commentary I was shocked, she was 19 years old and she looks so young).

This is really an horror film that deserves to be discover... Pete or any horror fans this is really one movie for you.

Rating :

(From The little known movie review depot on April 22nd, 2009)

Wonderland, a review by Jimmy

Title: Wonderland (2003)

Genre: Real Crime Story
Director: James Cox
Rating: R
Length: 1h44
Video: Widescreen
Audio: English
Subtitles: English & Spanish

Stars:
Val Kilmer
Kate Bosworth
Lisa Kudrow   
Josh Lucas
Dylan McDermott

Plot:
On the afternoon of July 1, 1981, Los Angeles police responded to a distress call at 8763 Wonderland Avenue and discovered a grisly quadruple homicide. The police investigation that followed uncovered two versions of the events leading up to the brutal murders - both involving legendary porn actor John Holmes. You're about to experience both versions.

This film is a perfect exemple of a movie that didn't get the success it deserve. Because what we have here is for me the best American movie made in the last 10 years. Sure the shaky cam and the mtv editing is present but that was used for a reason (pass a lot of information fast and get the confusing mood of the persons involved in the events), so I can tolerate them. The director and the script writer had done their work to get the story straight something that we aren't used too anymore (for an exemple of lazy works full of errors just watch Boogie Nights, a real piece of crap). Val Kilmer is perfect in his interpretation of John Holmes (who can honestly say that he was sure that Nick Rivers would had a career that big), in fact nobody is a weak link in the cast. The soundtrack is awesome, full of seventies rock hits and all the songs are well used when they are (the opening credit using Shooting Star from Bad Company is a perfect exemple of a song well used). Contrary to many recent movies this one isn't sanitized for the teenagers. It's violent, it's bloody, it's dirty and it's perfectly how a crime story must be done.

If you have never seen this one it's time to give it the chance it didn't had when it was originally released.    

Rating :

(From The little known movie review depot on July 27th, 2009)

My PILOT Marathon, a review by Rich

MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE - SERIES ONE - PILOT



First aired: 1/9/2000   
Perhaps the most original sitcom pilot in recent years, this first episode combines sharp writing with a hyperbolic camera style reminiscent of Parker Lewis Can't Lose. Malcolm introduces us to his world, dominated by omnipresent schoolyard bully Spath and made worse by his enforced friendship with Stevie, an asthmatic wheelchair genius. When a battery of tests reveals that Malcolm has an IQ of 165, he is moved into Stevie's special accelerated class, despite his protests that "around here being intelligent is exactly the same as being radioactive." On the bright side, Malcolm discovers a practical application for intelligence when he and Stevie spontaneously hit on a solution to Spath's persistent tyranny.

I have watched a few episodes on tv of this series, but never thought a great deal of it whilst watching ad-hoc. The pilot however I really enjoyed, similarities to the Wonder Years but having it's own identity, very entertaining with great jokes from all the characters, introducing Malcolm and his genius status. The subtle jokes like all the houses for sale around his, the in your face gags like the Dad having his back (and other bits) shaved at the breakfast table - very good stuff indeed.
Overall, this is a good start to the series and I will probably watch it over time in parts.



(From My PILOT Marathon on May 18th, 2008)