Return of Swamp Thing (1989) Review:

The 1980s was a decade of much change and innovation for several industries. While the first Superman (1978) was not a part of that era, it did lead to the other three sequels to come after it. It also lead to the spin off Supergirl (1984) film, and even the first Swamp Thing (1982) feature. While many of those outings were moderate to unsuccessful, Swamp Thing (1982) managed to remain a mildly entertaining hit. But like other sequels to come after their predecessors, they were met with much dissatisfaction. Yet, while this sequel has its faults, it also has a bunch good signs as well. Considering it was directed by Jim Wynorski, a man who has supervised many schlock fest features like Chopping Mall (1986), Sorority House Massacre II (1990) and Busty Cops (2004), it's surprising that it was made as well it is.

"Not sure I should be seeing you since,....I'm a plant"

Written by Neil Cuthbert and Grant Morris, the story sees the return of not only Alec Holland, Swamp Thing (Dick Durock), but also his nemesis, Dr. Arcane (Louis Jourdan) in human form. Dr. Arcane is back and looking for a way to remain youthful through a special serum. The serum is a mix between human and animal genes, but Arcane feels the best DNA would be from Swamp Thing and his step daughter Abby (Heather Locklear). When it comes to the narrative, it really is a disappointment. Several plot points feel similar to that of the original film. Instead of Dr. Arcane seeking unlimited power from Swamp Thing, he now wants unlimited youth. It just feels like a weak motivation for a villain who was able to get a second chance at exacting revenge on the person who defeated him initially. Dr. Arcane is fixated on Swamp Thing.

There's also similar supporting characters that mirror the first film. An example is a henchman named Gunn (Joey Sagal) who reports to Dr. Arcane. He is in a way a copy of Ferret (David Hess) from the original movie. Heather Locklear ends up being just another romance figure for Swamp Thing, which he already had from the first film. There's no need to repeat these tropes. What hurts the movie most though, is the level of camp that it's cranked up to. It's not super over the top, but all the characters except Swamp Thing seem to act as though they know they're in a movie. Where in the original, the story felt grounded in a way that was believable. Not even Louis Jourdan bothers to keep it restrained. Here he just blatantly comes out and proclaims how evil he is. I guess that's what you get when one of the writers would later pen The Adventures of Pluto Nash (2002).

However, there is one positive. Cuthbert and Morris did manage to sneak in a reason for Dr. Arcane's return to normal. If that was left out, that would have also been to the film's discredit. And although the camp level is turned up, the actors still do a good job. Dick Durock as Swamp Thing gives the character more charm than before and smiles more too. Although it is weird that apparently the vocal dub isn't Durock's voice but some unknown actor. While Jourdan is much more openly evil, he too remains the same character. Locklear as Arcane's step daughter is okay, yet her falling for Swamp Thing because she loves plants is a bit silly. There's also appearances from Sarah Douglas as one of Dr. Arcane's scientists. Funny how she also played Ursa from Superman II (1980).  And there's also Ace Mask who plays another scientist of Dr. Arcane.

Sarah Douglas & Louis Jourdan

For visuals, the practical effects look like they improved. Unlike the original film, the creature effects here are not as rubbery looking. This time they have moving parts and wet areas. The most impressive creature was the leech man. But that doesn't exclude Swamp Thing's design, which has gone from a few pieces of foliage to a literal walking mossy, heavily overgrown root bound mash. It looks way better than the first suit used and Dick Durock comes across more muscular as well. The cinematography shot by Zoran Hochstätter looked good. The swamp marsh is just believable as it was before. As for music, the underrated Chuck Cirino did a great job composing the score. Not only did he create a memorable theme for Swamp Thing, but his synths actually help create an authentic atmosphere for the film. Kudos!

The writing has one upside and that is, it explains Arcane's return. Everything else though is a missed opportunity with the level of camp raised, weak villain motives, similar plot and characters. Yet, even with this, the actors are okay, the practical effects look upgraded, the cinematography is nice and the music is even better than before.

Points Earned --> 5:10

Sniper: Ultimate Kill (2017) Review:

Sometimes it takes long periods of development to perfect a story. Sniper (1993) starring Tom Berenger, was a mildly successful film. Enough success propelled the story of the main character for a couple more stories. Only to be picked up and rested on the shoulders of a younger generation by introducing Chad Michael Collins. That was when Sniper: Reloaded (2011) came to the scene, and with some minor help from Billy Zane, the franchise got a fresh kick start. Since then, the sequels to come after have remained decent but missed chances to really further develop its characters more. But at last, fans have seem to have gotten what they wanted. With much emphasized desire, the franchise has been able to once again rise up and show that there's still life in this aging series of films.

Chad Michael Collins & Danay Garcia

Starting off with a funeral for one of Brandon Beckett's friends who committed suicide, Beckett Jr. begins to have second thoughts. Shortly after, Richard Miller returns with orders for him to take down a drug lord by the name of Morales (Juan Sebastián Calero) in Bogota Colombia. Heading the operation down there is Thomas Beckett, along with newcomer Kate Estrada (Danay Garcia) who has been on Morales' tail for the last few years. After an unsuccessful strike on Morales' home, Estrada and Beckett Jr. discover there's a sniper after them played by Felipe Calero who's got a trick up his sleeve. For this entry, director Claudio Fäh returns to head this entry. Being that he helped in initiating the revival of the series once before, it suites that he circles back around. As for writing, things have gotten better too.

Chris Hauty also comes back from the previous film to pen the story here and it has improved. Aside revisiting old characters, Hauty's script was able to tackle several things this time. Right from the beginning, Brandon Beckett begins to rethink his career with the thought of developing post traumatic stress disorder. This is an issue that was addressed in the original Sniper (1993) with Richard Miller understanding how to cope with it. Then there's the focus on technology and how it has advanced, which is what Beckett Jr. and his crew are tasked with. No more are the times when a bullet was just a bullet like the first movie, things have gotten more complicated. However, the best supporting parts of the movie are the quips Beckett Sr. and Miller have with each other. Whether it be a split screen or in the same location.

While Hauty's script continues to miss the opportunity to explain past characters absences, this feels less of an importance now. The Colonel (Dennis Haysbert) and Bidwell (Dominic Mafham) are nowhere to be found or mentioned. Yet this is made up for by the chemistry between the actors. Seeing Chad Michael Collins, Tom Berenger and Billy Zane all on the same screen, FINALLY, is practically a dream come true for any devoted follower of the franchise. Especially since the last time the two veterans shared the screen was way back in the first movie. The latin cast are a great addition too. Danay Garcia gives her character a lot of fortitude and energy, while Felipe Calero as the hired sniper and Juan Sebastián Calero as the drug lord come across quite dangerous to say the least. All well done, even for the supporting characters played by Joe Lando, Jaime Correa, and Lucho Velasco.

"On my honor, I will follow Master GUNS"

The finishing touches to the film mostly worked well too. Ross W. Clarkson was the credited cinematographer to this feature it is shot wonderfully. With majority of the scenery coming from Bogota Colombia, the scenes are even more cinematic looking than that of any other prior sequel. Although only a short period of time will the plot have sniper action happening in the rural terrain, the rest is still entertaining. Clarkson also worked on other projects like Undisputed 2: Last Man Standing (2006), Undisputed 3: Redemption (2010) and Ninja: Shadow of a Tear (2013). As for music, Frederik Wiedmann composed the music once more although somehow he wasn't credit on IMDb. His work may be a tad weak compared to everything else since he doesn't try to create a theme for any character, even though he's been on board now for a while. Oh well.

The music for the film doesn't have a signature and the script still loses its grasp on past characters, but this is almost nothing worth being disappointed over. The script in this feature handles much more material as opposed to past sequels. The camerawork is great to look at, along with having Tom Berenger and Billy Zane finally reunite once again is the greatest feat of them all.

Points Earned --> 8:10

The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996) Review:

Using big name actors to sell a movie isn't a bad concept. However, using them just because it supposed to sell a bad movie is another thing. It's even worse though when it goes beyond even those intentions. For director Richard Stanley, he was at a point where he was making his way up, and was getting close to the place he wanted to be. His hopes were to create a film based on H.G. Wells Island of Dr. Moreau novel and make it into something that would be totally his, while giving the story a new twist. Unfortunately for him and everyone else on board the movie, nothing worked out the way it supposed to. Stanley was fired not long after filming began, mainly because of the lead stars Marlon Brando and Val Kilmer. However that was just one of the disruptive moments in the process.

Fairuza Balk & David Thewlis

Amazingly, as bad as things were, the film crew managed to put together a film that isn't too discombobulated. Yet this doesn't mean it's a good movie either. Instead, much of the story comes off lazy, unfocused and board. With Stanley fired, John Frankenheimer was brought in to take over. This didn't help though. While partially working with Stanley's script, Ron Hutchinson (Blue Ice (1992)) was also brought in for rewrites. This furthered the confusion and it shows. While becoming stranded out in the ocean, Edward Douglas (David Thewlis) is picked up by Montgomery (Val Kilmer) and brought to the island of Dr. Moreau (Marlon Brando). What Douglas doesn't know is that Dr. Moreau has been doing twisted experiments, mixing human and animal genes to create new monstrosities.

Premise wise, it sounds uniquely horrifying, but that's where it ends. The execution of the plot is very similar to that of something like Planet of the Apes (1968). Dr. Moreau is the one who keeps the order on the island and has a device that remotely controls his creations. Though hiding behind something to control everyone else can prove to be ill advised. What really doesn't help the plot is the whole purpose behind it. Dr. Moreau explains the testing that he's doing, but he doesn't go into detail on how it'll benefit anyone outside his reach. He was outcast to that island because his actions were so controversial. As for characters, there's really very little to get behind. David Thewlis as Edward Douglas is a sympathetic character but there's not a lot of focus on him. Instead much of the attention is given to Marlon Brando and Val Kilmer.

Being that Dr. Moreau is played by Brando, it could be understood as to why he would have more screen time, but Kilmer's character is just bizarre. He explains how he got in contact with Dr. Moreau but that's it. The rest of Kilmer's performance is all over the place. It's difficult to tell whether he was acting or being lazy. Brando, although a credible actor, does seem disengaged at times. He does give a sense of mystery to the doctor, but it's only for a short while. This is the unfortunate bit, being that the marketing went on about having Val Kilmer and Marlon Brando being the faces of the movie, when there was more to it. Plus, David Thewlis' role had more significance. There are other actors viewers may recognize like Fairuza Balk, Temuera Morrison, Ron Perlman and Nelson de la Rosa.

"Hmmmm what do you think Mini-me?"

The real positive things that can be said for this creature feature were the visual aspects. The makeup effects crafted by master Stan Winston was spot on. Making the combination between human and land animal type features can be tricky, but Winston made it look easy. Sort of like a 180 degree turn from his work on Leviathan (1989), which involved human and marine life mixing. The cinematography shot by William A. Fraker was decent. With filming locations coming from Queensland Australia, the jungle terrain looks legitimate. Fraker also worked on 1941 (1979), Tombstone (1993) and Waking Up in Reno (2002). Lastly, the music composed by Gary Chang was an intriguing element. The tracks heard are reminiscent to that of his score from Sniper (1993), but thankfully, he gives this film its own theme. Not to mention, it got its own release which is rare for him.

Sadly, the premise, makeup effects, cinematography and music cannot save the wildly unfocused performances by the cast. It may feature heavy hitter names, but they don't save the feature after all the trouble it went through. The plot execution isn't even that unique.

Points Earned --> 4:10