Tag: 1993

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Movie Review

Nowhere to Run (1993) Movie Review

Nowhere to Run – Movie Review

Experience the excitement of 'Nowhere to Run'. Join Jean-Claude Van Damme on a thrilling adventure as he fights for justice on a farmland.

ABC Film Challenge – Action – Van Damme

Director: Robert Harmon

Writer: Joe Eszterhas, Leslie Bohem, Randy Feldman (Screenplay)

Writer: Joe Eszterhas, Richard Marquand (Story)

Cast

Plot: Sam, an escaped convict, lands up on a farmland owned by a widow. When he learns that a ruthless contractor is trying to take over her land, he helps her to fight against the injustice.

Runtime: 1 Hour 34 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Nowhere to Run starts when Sam Gillen (Van Damme) gets broken out of a prison transport. He takes shelter on Clydie’s (Arquette) farm as he plans to search for his lost loot. However, he discovers Clydie and her kids Mike (Culkin) and Bree (Taubman) have been getting pressured by local businessmen.

Sam decides to step in and support the family against the ruthless men, led by Mr Dunston (Levine). He fights off the threats and protects the neighbouring area. However, it only leads to more problems for the quiet farmers.

Verdict on Nowhere to Run

Nowhere to Run is an action thriller following an escaped convict decides to help a small family dealing with a ruthless businessman. He must use his skills to protect the family as the threats increase with each visit. It leaves him believe he could start a new quiet life away from the life of crime.

This movie falls into the category of a reluctant hero stepping up to do the right thing. They use the time to go on a redemption story to learn what is most important to what they want in life. This is a tried and tested formula and does everything you expect, fitting into the late-night action movies perfectly.

Where to Watch

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Final Thoughts – Nowhere to Run is a by-the-book late-night action movie.

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Movie Review

The Dark Half (1993) Movie Review

The Dark Half – Movie Review

Read our review of The Dark Half, a gripping movie based on Stephen King's novel. A writer's alter ego threatens to take over his life in this thrilling tale.

ABC Film Challenge – Favourites – D

Director: George A Romero

Writer: George A Romero (Screenplay)

Writer: Stephen King (Novel)

Cast

Plot: A writer’s fictional alter ego wants to take over his life…at any price.

Runtime: 2 Hours 2 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: The Dark Half starts when author and family man Thad Beaumont (Hutton) is trying to get his latest novel published. However, a stranger appears claiming Thad is already a successful author George Stark. When Thad tries to kill the story, everyone involved starts getting killed.

Thad becomes the prime suspect, but he believes the character from the books has come to life and is taking revenge for trying to kill him. However, Thad’s past starts coming back to light and he faces a decision to save his family.

Verdict on The Dark Half

The Dark Half is a horror mystery following an author whose life gets turned upside down when a character from his books starts killing people. However, the closer he gets to answers, the more questions are left open. He must decide to whether to do what the character wants to face losing everything he has in life.

This is a twisted dark tale from Stephen King and brought to life by a master of horror George A Romeo. It uses King’s imagination to blend how the authors’ and their characters’ lives can interweave to create devastating consequences. This is a great movie that uses the twin characters to show the different lifestyles and leaves us wondering how far things will go. It has twisted kills and keeps you wondering what the truth is.

Final Thoughts – The Dark Half is a grizzly battle for control.

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Movie Review

Body Melt (1993) Movie Review

Body Melt – Movie Review

Body Melt is a chaotic horror film showcasing a community unknowingly used in a drug experiment, leading to gruesome deaths and chaos.

First Reaction – Body Melt is a chaotic bloodbath.

Watch Body Melt Here.

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Director: Philip Brophy

Writer: Philip Brophy, Rod Bishop (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: Residents of peaceful Pebbles Court, Homesville, are being used unknowingly as test experiments for a new ‘Body Drug’ that causes rapid body decomposition (melting skin etc.) and painful death.

Runtime: 1 Hour 21 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Body Melt starts when a new drug offers people a better life. However, the community given the drug are unaware they are being used as part of an experiment. When a gruesome death shocks the neighbourhood, Detective Sam Phillips (Kennedy) must figure out what is happening. Meanwhile, the residents find themselves going on wild adventures to learn about the truth.

As the doctors continue their experiment, the residents start going through a gruesome death. It becomes a race to stop the resident suffering the long painful death of their bodies melting.

Verdict on Body Melt

Recap

The movie follows a small community who have been part of an experiment suffering a series of gruesome deaths. Meanwhile, detectives try to learn what is causing the problems in a race to stop the deaths from taking over.

Best Parts

The movie shows how dangerous untested drugs can leave people with gruesome consequences. Elsewhere, the special effects are great as we see how graphic the melting process is and how helpless people are to stop it. It is chaotic in every sense.

Worst Parts

This does have a series of stories that don’t feel as connected as they suggest. It focuses more on trying to shock us, that connect the dots to give us a much more sinister story. When it comes to the final act, it does test the weak stomached audience member too.

Final Thoughts – Body Melt is a disturbing, disgusting body horror movie.

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Movie Review

Red Rock West (1993) Movie Review

Red Rock West – Movie Review

Check out this movie review of Red Rock West. Nicolas Cage stars in this gripping thriller filled with mistaken identities and dangerous complications.

Director: John Dahl

Writer: John Dahl, Rick Dahl (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: Upon arriving to a small town, a drifter is mistaken for a hitman, but when the real hitman arrives, complications ensue.

Runtime: 1 Hour 33 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Red Rock West starts when a drifter Michael (Cage) travels through a small town. However, he finds himself in trouble, when he is involved in an accident, that looks like an attempted murder. He was mistaken as a hitman hired to kill Suzanne (Boyle) and takes the money. However, when the real hitman Lyle (Hopper) arrives, he must make a bigger decision.

Michael returns for Suzanne, trying to expose the evil plan from her sheriff husband Wayne (Walsh). However, Lyle doesn’t want to leave the job unfinished and sets out to get his cash and kill before Michael escapes. Although, not everything is as it seems.

Verdict on Red Rock West

Red Rock West is a crime thriller following a drifter mistaken for a hitman. He is asked to complete a job, which sees him needing to save the potential victim. However, the real hitman arrives and wants to finish the job.

This movie takes us into a world where a person ends up in the wrong place at the wrong time but does the right thing. It shows how things can spiral out of control, leading to dire consequences. This does have some fun moments and plays the more typical 90s style out very well. It gives us an early Nicolas Cage role, where he makes himself a true star of the movie.

Where to Watch

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Final Thoughts – Red Rock West is an entertaining crime thriller.

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Movie Review

Boiling Point (1993) Movie Review

Boiling Point – Movie Review

Read an in-depth review of the movie 'Boiling Point' directed by James B Harris. Wesley Snipes and Dennis Hopper lead an intense thriller.

Director: James B Harris

Writer: Gerald Petievich, James B Harris (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: A pair of sociopath killers take on the police and the mob in order to make one last big score.

Runtime: 1 Hour 32 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Boiling Point starts when Detective Jimmy (Snipes) is conducting an undercover operation to capture a threat. He leads a team tracking down a series of deals, but the latest one sees one of the team killed. Meanwhile, Red (Hopper) and Ronnie (Mortensen) are trying to clean up their debts. The pair have just been released from prison and the crime boss expects the debts cleaned within the week.

Red leads his plan to make money, while Jimmy is pulling out everything in hopes of locating him. However, his leads keep disappearing and the race stop the bodies piling up.

Verdict on Boiling Point

Boiling Point is an action thriller following a determined detective trying to track down a pair of sociopathic killers. He has lost friends and the killers are showing no emotion as they are looking to clear their debts.

This movie brings a calmer approach to a crime movie. While it sounds like it is going to be a random set of killers, it turns into a more calculated idea of criminals trying to clear their debts. The cops don’t seem to get enough to work on and this ends up feeling more like a more traditional trying to escape the criminal world movie. The lack of focus on the typical makes this feel strange and we end up getting caught in a world where we seem to cheer for the killers escaping their criminal life. It never feels as intense as it could be either and ends up becoming a largely forgettable thriller.

Where to Watch

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Final Thoughts –Boiling Point lacks the levels of intensity it suggests.

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Movie Review

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993) Movie Review

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey – ABC Film Challenge – H – Homeward Bound The Incredible Journey – Movie Review

Homeward Bound

Director: Duwayne Dunham

Writer: Sheila Burnford (Novel), Caroline Thompson, Linda Woolverton (Screenplay)

Cast (Voice Talents)

Plot: A fun-loving American bulldog pup, a hilarious Himalayan cat, and a wise old golden retriever embark on a long trek through the rugged wilderness of the Sierra Nevada mountains in a quest to reach home and their beloved owners.

Runtime: 1 Hour 24 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey starts when American Bulldog pup Chance, Himalayan Cat Sassy and an old Golden Retriever Shadow get dropped off at a farm by their family. They aren’t ready to leave their family behind and end up going on an adventure across the country to find their owners.

This sees the unlikely threesome going on an adventure of a lifetime. They learn how to adapt to the surrounding area and battle nature to make it to their destination.

Verdict on Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey is an adventure family movie. It follows the three domesticated pets that must travel across America in search of their owners. Along the way, they meet plenty of different threats in the wild as they must put their difference aside to survive.

This gets to give us laughs along the way, making it an enjoyable family movie. It shows how the animals want to be with their family and will do anything to get back to them. This gets to show the dangers in the wild for domestic animals. The journey is amazing and the loyalty shown by the pets is brilliant. This ends up being a fun enjoyable movie for everyone to enjoy.

Final Thoughts –Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey is a fun enjoyable family movie.

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Movie Review

Addams Family Values (1993) Movie Review

Addams Family Values – ABC Film Challenge – Oscar Nominations – V – (Values) – Movie Review

Addams Family Values – ABC Film Challenge – Oscar Nominations – V - (Values) - Movie Review

Director: Barry Sonnefeld

Writer: Charles Addams, Paul Rudnick (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: The Addams Family try to rescue their beloved Uncle Fester from his gold-digging new love, a black widow named Debbie.

Runtime: 1 Hour 34 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Addams Family Values starts when Morticia (Huston) and Gomez (Julia) welcome a new baby to the family. Wednesday (Ricci) and Pugsley (Workman) look to get rid of the new family member. However, their plans are ruined by the new nanny Debbie (Cusack).

Debbie sends the two to summer camp, while she works her own con on the family. She is a black widow and has targeted uncle Fester (Lloyd) to be her latest victim. However, Wednesday is the only who can see her darker side and must save her family from her evil plan.

Verdict on Addams Family Values

Addams Family Values is the sequel to the highly popular original. It follows Uncle Fester falling in love with a woman who plans to kill her rich husband. Meanwhile, Wednesday adapts to life at a summer camp and must figure out how to save her family.

This keeps the incredibly dark tone that delivers the deadpan nature of the movie. It continues the idea that people want to take money from the family and Wednesday leads the army to stop it. Wednesday steals the whole movie with her dark lines, where Christina Ricci becomes an icon. The main story is dark but gets completely overshadowed by the camp side of everything. It is still entertaining throughout, and you could easily have seen many more movies from the era.

Where to Watch

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Final Thoughts – Addams Family Values builds on the original with excellent comedy.

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Movie Review

The Remains of the Day (1993) Movie Review

The Remains of the Day – ABC Film Challenge – Oscar Nominations – R – Remains of the Day – Movie Review

Remains of the Day

Director: James Ivory

Writer: Kazuo Ishiguro, Ruth Prawer Jhabvala (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: A butler who sacrificed body and soul to service in the years leading up to World War II realizes too late how misguided his loyalty was to his lordly employer.

Runtime: 2 Hours 14 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: The Remains of the Day starts as we meet Stevens (Hopkins) a butler for Lord Darlington (Fox). He has spent his whole life working for Lord Darlington but upon his death, he finds himself with a new owner Lewis (Reeve). As Stevens looks back at his life, he remembers Miss Kenton (Thompson) a young lady who also worked at the mansion. She has helped him realize things about his life but moved on with her own life.

Stevens goes in search of Miss Kenton to bring her back to the mansion under the new management. Along the way, he starts to realize that he has spent his whole life serving and not enough of it living. As Stevens looks at life outside the home, he learns about the outside world’s opinion of Lord Darlington and his involvement in World War II.

Verdict on The Remains of the Day

Remains of the Day is a drama following a butler who dedicated his life to one household, only to start to realize he missed too much. He sees his former boss die and the new one starts to give him more freedom. However, this leads to him questioning why he dedicated so much of his life.

This is a movie that shows that people must learn to remember to live life before time runs out. It shows that some people can put everything into a career and before it is too late, they will end up with nothing to be remembered by. Yes, the era made it more difficult as work was important to survive. However, now we can see the effect it had on this man. Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson are both amazing in their performances throughout the film.

Final Thoughts – Remains of the Day is a powerful drama about understanding life.

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Movie Review

Sister Act 2: back in the Habit (1993) Movie Review

Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit – Movie Review

Sister Act 2

Director: Bill Duke

Writer: James Orr, Jim Cruickshank, Judi Ann Mason (Screenplay)

Cast

  • Whoopi Goldberg (Ghost)
  • Kathy Najimy (Rat Race)
  • Maggie Smith (A Boy Called Christmas)
  • Barnard Hughes (The Lost Boys)
  • James Coburn (The Great Escape)

Plot: Showgirl Deloris Van Cartier returns as Sister Mary Clarence to teach music to a group of Catholic students whose run-down school is slated for closure.

Runtime: 1 Hour 47 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit starts as Deloris (Goldberg) has returned to the big stage, on the verge of greatness. Mother Superior (Smith) and the other nuns turn to Deloris for help, they need her style to help a music class at the school.

Deloris must use her skills to help get through to the street-smart students who see the class as an easy pass. Despite, knowing the school is closing soon, Deloris looks to help the students, who have their own problems in life.

Verdict on Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit

Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit is a comedy sequel. That sees Deloris needing to come back to the convent to motivate a new group of people. This time, she helps a group of students find their voices to show them, they could have a future if they put their minds to it.

The movie brings the magic of Whoopi Goldberg’s performance back again. Showing us how her character can motivate people to change and find the best part of themselves. While the movie does lose the crime side of everything, it makes up for it in with the continuing feel-good feeling about what we experience.

Final Thoughts – Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit is an enjoyable sequel continuing the feel-good feeling throughout.