Ultimate Avengers The Movie

Okay, this is stretching to fit in my Horror Movies blog, but since it has fantastical elements, aliens and even carnage, I thought I should make a short post.

I used to read and collect Captain America comics in the 70s. I loved revisiting the earlier works as well, particularly King Kirby's masterpieces.

Anyway, feeling nostalgic I decided to rent this feature. Though I wasn't blown away by it, I did enjoy it. I was happy to see that they didn't fluff it up; people die in war and they die in this movie.

The animation and acting was fair and think they could've used a more intense soundtrack. However, if you like Marvel's Avengers, give it a shot.

Horror Movies Rule with Netflix

I've said before on my personal web site, but subscribing to Netflix rules. I am watching so many movies of my choice than ever before. In fact, thanks to Netflix I recently saw the director's cut of Land of the Dead and just last night watched Godzilla Final Wars. Before that some of my choices included Dawn of the Dead (remake), Underworld and The Ring.

Cable TV pretty much sucks. I cancelled all my premium channels. When I thought about it, I only watched so many movies in a given month which certainly didn't warrant having HBO, Cinemax, and Showtime.

Now for a fraction of that price I'm watching old movies and new movies. There are 55,000+ movies and they have a great selection of horror including Dawn of the Dead, Halloween, The Omen, Saw, Hellraiser, Horror Hotel, Suspiria and so much more.

If you've never used Netflix. It's incredibly easy. You manage a queue where you list your movies. I'm using the 3 movies out at a time plan, with unlimited movies per month. I end up getting on average about 15 movies a month for under $20. As soon as they receive a movie back from me, I get another movie the next day. I guess I live close to one of their main locations, but before I moved, I wasn't that close and I still got it within 2 days.

There are no late fees. You send it back in prepaid envelopes. It's so easy and you are in total control. No more of the same old saying "there's crap on tv." Nothing worse than paying for all those channels and never getting the movies you really want. Netflix is the answer.

Godzilla Final Wars

Well here I am watching another monster movie, but don't monsters have a home in the horror movies realm?

Okay, Godzilla Final Wars (2004) available on DVD, is an all-out, action packed monsterfest that holds true to the vintage `zilla flicks that have graced the celluloid world over the decades.

First off, if you don't like cheesy movies where the monsters are guys in rubber suits then stay away and don't even bother reading anymore of this.

This movie was a blast. It had all the traditional elements but also included a much hipper musical score, many monsters, martial arts, mutants, and a menacing alien race.

If you were a kid who grew up in the 60s, you'll enjoy the throwback feel. If you were a kid who grew up on The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, you'll love the similarities. If you have a household of both generations, then this is a great family fun movie to watch.

This had more monsters than "Destroy All Monsters" and is literally a who's who from the Toho library. Thumbs up for green menace we love, Godzilla.

Hellraiser: Hellworld - Mediocre Macabre Movie

While Clive Barker's visionary opus, Hellraiser is a macabre masterpiece, the inevitable evil afterbirth known as the "franchise" has spewed out a series of mediocre movies with the 8th installment, Hellraiser Hellworld following suite.

Even though the wonderful presence of legendary actor, Lance Henriksen kept my interest, the overall weak story and minimal usage of Pinhead, once again played by Doug Bradley, will make anyone want to run back to the original and wish they had stopped a long time ago.

I didn't hate this movie. I mean it did have Henriksen, Pinhead, the box and an attractive leading lady, Katheryn Winnick, but those elements just made the movie mediocre at best and this series deserves better than that.

The dialogue was cliche and there was nothing new to the scares. Pinhead is such a tremendous character, that out of respect for one of the greatest horror figures of all-time, I am glad that I watched it. However, it's not one that could ever be considered a staple in my movie collection. Better luck next time.