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Plan 9 from Outer Space, a review by Dragonfire

Plan 9 from Outer Space



Starring Gregory Walcott, Lyle Talbot, Mona McKinnon, Dudley Manlove, Conrad Brooks, Paul Marco, Vampira, Tor Johnson, Norma McCarty Wood, Criswell, John "Bunny" Brekenridge and special ghost star Bela Lugosi. Executive Producer: J. Edward Reynolds. Written, produced and directed by Edward D. Wood, Jr.

This is it! The most popular Atomic Age cult film of the 20th century. Winner of two Golden Turkey Awards for Worst Picture and Worst Director of All Time, the immortal Edward D. Wood, Jr.!

It's all here, the not-so-special efects, aliens in skating skirts zooming around in string-powered flying saucers to implement the ninth plan of Earth's conquest (the first eight failed) with an army of zombies (well, three actually): Vampira, Tor Johnson and Bela Lugosi in his legendary "postmortem" performance (with Ed's chiropractor standing in for Bela after his death).

This truly original movie, Ed Wood's Citizen Kane, is a hymn to all those who have ever tried to create something intelligent and meaningful and failed miserably every step of the way.

My Thoughts

I did post a review on Epinoins if anyone is interested in checking it out.

Plan 9 From Outer Space

(From DCO third annual November Alphabet Marathon - discussion/review/banter thread on November 12th, 2009)

Underworld, a review by Hal

Title: Underworld: Unrated
Year: 2003
Director: Len Wiseman
Rating: Unrated
Length: 134 Min.
Video: Widescreen 2.35:1
Audio: English: PCM: 5.1, English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, French: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Italian: PCM: 5.1, Italian: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Commentary: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo
Subtitles: English, French, Italian, Commentary

Stars:
Kate Beckinsale
Scott Speedman
Michael Sheen
Shane Brolly
Bill Nighy

Plot:
In the Underworld, Vampires are a secret clan of modern aristocratic sophisticates whose mortal enemies are the Lycans (werewolves), a shrewd gang of street thugs who prowl the city's underbelly. No one knows the origin of their bitter blood feud, but the balance of power between them turns even bloodier when a beautiful young Vampire warrior and a newly-turned Lycan with a mysterious past fall in love. Kate Beckinsale and Scott Speedman star in this modern-day, action-packed tale of ruthless intrigue and forbidden passion all set against the dazzling backdrop of a timeless, Gothic metropolis.

Extras:
Scene Access
Audio Commentary
Featurettes
Music Videos
Storyboard Comparisons
Outtakes/Bloopers

This movie was pretty action-packed right from the start.  While I felt that Beckinsale's performance was good, the strongest character was Michael Sheen as Lucian.  Brolly's portrayal of Kraven left a whole lot to be desired.  I love the way this movie was filmed, giving it a true "Transylvania" feel, it almost felt like it was in black-in-white at times.  I also enjoyed the score.
Not the strongest of stories, but not bad either.

Rating:

(From Hal's 2010 Horror Marathon Reviews on October 9th, 2010)

Smallville Marathon #2, a review by DJ Doena

Synopsis: The widow of a former Green Beret doesn't believe that she's a widow at all. She believes that LuthorCorp - Lex - has taken her husband and she wants him back. If not, then Lex will die in the sewer system where he's kept. Clark tries to rescue him but a bomb goes off and they get trapped. Now they have to find a way out - within 20 minutes, before all the other bombs go off, too. And that's not the only problem: The sewer system is swarmed with Kryptonite.

My Opinion: I don't believe that Clark did anything wrong in his relationship to Lex. He tried to help him where he could and he only protected the secret of his origins. But Lex has always been obsessed. First with his father, then with Clark and since the second meteor show with aliens. There wasn't much Clark could have done about it. But it was an interesting conversation they've had.

Synopsis: Lana gets shot in the "Daily Planet" and is brought to the hospital. Then Jimmy gets attacked and when he wakes up, he's a reporter in the year 1940 with Chloe and Clark being colleagues. There he meets Mrs. Lana Luthor who thinks that her husband is going to kill her. And Clark seems to have a secret second identity.

My Opinion: I was never into these old Hollywood movies nor am I much interested in crime stories. Thus this wasn't my kind of story.

Synopsis: When Senator Burke tries to shut down Lex's project, Lex orders an assassination. One of his 33.1 soldier prototypes does the job but leaves a witness: Lois. Lois and the prototype - who was a Green Beret in an earlier life - know each other since he has been the first boy Lois has ever kissed. Confronted with memories of that former life his programming goes haywire.

My Opinion: Too bad that Clark had to kill him, but maybe it's for the best. Now he can rest in peace.
Another thing that I have found interesting was the way Martha got the seat on the U.S. Senate. First she inherited the Senator's seat from her husband and now she practically inherited it from Senator Burke. Is that actually possible under U.S. law or is this Smallville fiction?

Synopsis: Lex has gotten his hands on a phantom and he hopes that he can use it to build his army. Lana is leaving Lex. Lois gets herself stabbed and bleeds to death. Clark tells Lana everything and loses her again. Martha leaves for Washington. The phantom is mimicking Clark and is at least as strong as he is. Lex is arrested for murder.

My Opinion: Wow. What an end. And they've created a very intersting constellation: Lana is dead. Chloe and Lionel looked quite dead. Martha is leaving for Washington. Who remains? Jimmy, Lois, Lex and Clark. And none of the survivors knows about Clarks secret (Martha excluded).
But I never believed for a second that Lana is dead. That explosion looked too fishy. And I didn't want to believe that Chloe simply died - even if it was in such a sacrificing way.

The Season - My Opinion: This was a great season. This one and the fifth are my favourites. The Green Arrow was a great addition to the show and the Zoners were way more interesting than the average FotW. I also liked the more darker tone of this season. The stakes have been raised and Clark's tasks have grown beyond the rescue of the damsel-in-distress.

(From Smallville Marathon #2 on June 21st, 2008)