Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation (2004) Review:

After watching the first Starship Troopers film, I didn't have an ambition to view a sequel but for the sake of preventing fans from seeing it and being disappointed, I'm writing this review anyway. Just like the original, the introduction starts with the barrage of infomercials that are just ludicrous to listen to in the first place. Then, after that, the story starts to begin where a group of stranded troopers find themselves fighting off hoards of bug aliens with no back up. Hmmm how cliche.

No clue who these actors are & nor
do I really care....

And wait, it's not over, the situation becomes even more dangerous. Turns out the bugs are learning how to be sneaky. Soon a trooper is infected by some parasite (from a bug) and ends up going rogue and infecting all the other troopers. Once this occurs, the plot turns into a normal overdone horror film where one by one, a character is picked off. While I was watching, it reminded me of a mix of Night of the Creeps (1986), and The Thing (1982) way too much. There's absolutely no originality here.

Left guy is the hero

Not even the action, music, bug creatures or bloodshed helped this time. Sure it's all there but for what? By the end of the film, the audience is thrown some more infomercials anyway. Almost like the film crew is saying that you, the audience, just wasted your time! The only credit I give is to the film crew for attempting to make a decent sequel even though they abysmally failed. This kind of film is for true hardcore fans.

There's nothing great about this sequel at all. Only the real "troopers" will enjoy this and that's a very small amount.

Points Earned --> 2:10

Starship Troopers (1997) Review:

Director Paul Verhoeven is known for making some real dark satirical films that not only are new and different, but also leave a memorable impression. But like all human beings, there’s always the possibility of messing up. This film in particular is not one of his greatest films. Somehow I just couldn't latch on to the characters that were involved with the plot. There was no charm with these actors.

Van Dien & Richards confront their commanding officer

Johnny Rico (Casper Van Dien) wants to join the Starship Troopers so he can become a citizen for his planet. And in this world, it is the only way one can become a citizen. The same goes for the characters of Dina Meyer, Denise Richards, Jake Busey, and Neil Patrick Harris. That's fine and all that they have a main goal but the way they're persuaded to do it is another story. The new Earth is much weirder than you would expect.

Each time the audience is placed in front of a screen, they are blasted with infomercials that deal with becoming a citizen by joining the Starship Troopers. Not to mention, even when the screen is speaking of death and showing the deaths to the public, the narrator still sounds happy. What is this? Are the authorities seriously trying to pull the wool over their eyes? Why does this seem like a dictatorship? Plus, these actors' characters follow these instructions like drones. Like it's no big deal that they're sacrificing their lives for the sake of the federation.

Good description? It's what comes to mind.

The point of joining the military is to defend Earth of a "Bug" invasion. These bug creatures are really not what you would think of as a bug on earth but they are cool looking. They look like giant camouflage colored toothpick creatures that hunt in giant packs. There are a few other different bug aliens but the majority of them look all the same. And like any Verhoeven movie, the film displays the most atrocious gory death scenes. The ground was almost as wet as the floor in Dead Alive (1992); I couldn't believe the scenes I saw.

Besides this though I could not find anything else to enjoy about it. The characters had no personalities and the acting was bland. It’s not to say it wasn't good acting because they were obviously following the script but it wasn't fun; everyone acted the same. Basil Poledouris who made several scores to Verhoeven's movies didn't seem to really put anything into this one either. Nothing was fun with it either. That disappointed me too. Just the creature effects and bloodshed were the only standouts.

For science fiction film, it definitely gives the audience the creatures they want. However the acting, music and storyboard are so weird and bland that the "bugs" will be the only thing worth watching.

Points Earned --> 6:10

Starman (1984) Review:

Everyone loses a loved one in his or her life. But would they accept that person back into their life again as a totally different person? This is not an easy question to answer and that's if you had the OPTION. The character of the Starman was just arbitrary. Random. No one told the alien who to be. He just picked what was nearest to him. And although it felt like a curse at first, a miracle occurs and things get much more interesting.

Starman points the way....

The Starman came to Earth for the reason of retrieving a message of greetings in all the languages of the world. So all he was doing was returning the favor and showing the people of Earth that they were not the only ones who were in space. So in order to look like everyone else he takes the form of a human. But which human? Karen Allen plays Jenny Hayden, a widow who lost her husband some time ago and is still grieving over the incident. And who can blame her? Losing a marital partner can be painful; some can't handle it. But she will soon realize that her husband won't be gone for long. For it is the Starman who becomes her new husband.

However, problems arise when Hayden finds out that Starman cannot stay on Earth for if he does, he dies. Adding to this is a government agency on their tale looking to find and interrogate Starman; to probe him like a lab rat. Fortunately, not all the members of the agency are out to snag him. Mark Shermin, acted by Charles Martin Smith is man who tries to stick up for Starman and tries to have others realize that they brought him to Earth under peaceful terms; not for scientific experiments. So it is because of these two issues, Jenny and Starman are on the run to get him home before he dies.

Fifty / Fifty (1992) director - Charles Martin Smith

Playing Starman is Jeff Bridges, basically the same as Jenny's husband but with not with the same personality. At first, Starman is slow to react because he doesn't know he resembles to body of a dead man. The great thing is once Starman is on screen, amazing things start happening immediately! Director John Carpenter is known for having movies with deviant special effects and this is just another one to add to that list. A lot of Starman's personality is almost child-like; innocent. It's what makes him so likable as a character. There are so many examples throughout this film where Starman studies Jenny and watches what she does and then replicates it. It's funny because then Jenny is confused to why he does it!

What really makes this a touching story is how well the character development is placed throughout the film. Originally, Jenny Hayden was uninterested and beyond shocked to see that her husband was alive again, only to realize that it wasn't him at all. But by the end of the film, not only will she have a greater understanding about Starman, but Starman will have a true understanding of the people on Earth as well. The music is great too, composed by Jack Nitzsche. The tone of the soundtrack has a nice sci-fi touch with an ambient feel to it.

This is a sci-fi drama that not only has great looking special effects but a strong story with well-acted characters. All put together, the cast really pulls in its audience for an experience that's not see often enough.

Points Earned --> 10:10

Stargate (1994) Review:

It is amazing how similar films can be when it comes to plot, predictability, and story line. I liked the direction Roland Emmerich put into the film and screenplay but it felt like there were some areas that were not carefully scanned over thoroughly. There were several things I enjoyed during the running time of Stargate, but there were some drawbacks that should have been addressed at the same time.

Kurt Russell as the troubled
Jack O'Neil

Stargate is the story of linguist Dr. Daniel Jackson (James Spader) who is on the verge of finding the truth behind the great pyramids of Egypt. Of course, no one believes him, until he is given a special offer that will allow him to prove his theory. Hmmmm....already, from there it sounds like the story of Milo James Thatch from Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001). Accompanying Dr. Jackson is Colonel Jack O'Neil played by veteran actor Kurt Russell. At first O'Neil is one of those silent characters who is difficult to communicate with but he opens up later on. Thankfully, Russell doesn't play stone-faced the whole time like Todd from Soldier (1998).

Along with these two actors, the rest of the acting is presentable. The special effects are average. Nothings amazing nor does it seem really cheap looking so there's nothing to critique there. Looking back on them, they were standard for their time. As the plot continues, Jackson’s' group of followers run into distant humans in a far away galaxy. It is there that Spader's character falls in love with the leader's daughter, Sha'uri (Mili Avital), who I will say, looks great. I did like the love story but it left me wanting to see more that it showed.

James Spader & MiliAvital

Again this specific plot device runs practically parallel to that of Disney's Atlantis. The difference is that Disney's was more entertaining and with characters that had more personality to them. Sure, Spader played a great nerd and Russell was good as depressed individual (at first), but having a boatload of characters with different accents is much more fun to listen and watch on screen. I also liked the themes that were played in David Arnold's soundtrack. It may not have had sci-fi feel to it, but it did have a memorable tune. In some ways, it bordered on the edge of John Williams but obviously not as epic sounding.

Stargate is the film that pushed director Roland Emmerich to the pinnacle of success but the characters within the story lack heart. However, it is supported by a good music and acting.

Points Earned --> 7:10

Spawn (1997) Review:

Through comic book history, there has been a group of anti-heroes that belong to hell. My favorite was Ghost Rider, but after watching Spawn, I couldn't decide over who was better overall. Spawn is an anti-hero comic book character created from the mind of Todd McFarlane. As for the movie, I was hoping for it to be a little more than just satisfactory. And the only thing I can really say that doesn't negatively criticize it, are its visuals.

John Leguizamo as the clown (aka the Violator)....yeah....

Spawn is the story of an ex-assassin, Al Simmons, who was left for dead after his evil boss, Jason Wynn, burned him in an explosion. Its not until he is brought to hell and made a deal with Lucifer to become the leader of Hell's army. Simmons is portrayed by Michael Jai White, and Wynn by Martin Sheen. White was a good choice for Spawn but there were some times where he sounded like he was growling more than talking and it just became tiresome after a while. Sheen was an interesting choice as the villain because of his acting style. Sheen is very smooth and it never seems like he's out of step with his character.

One character that is less tolerable than the others, is The Violator, played by John Leguizamo. It's understandable that Leguizamo was only acting out the personality of The Violator, but it felt like every time he was on screen, it was just another drawback. Almost like Leguizamo's character was supposed to be stealing the spotlight. Not to mention that The Violator wasn't even that funny to begin with; just a nuisance. The action was good in this film. Of course, that's when Spawn was busy trying to get vengeance, which wasn't all too often. Half the time, Simmons was trying to get in touch with his past, which wasn't ever successful.

Spawn's costume.....pure awesome

The other issue was that Spawn didn't learn know how to really control his powers until the very end of the film. And as all origin comic book adaptations go, the superhero figures out how to control their superpowers quickly, but for Spawn, it takes an awful long time. But despite all these flaws, the visuals and special effects are the greatest things about this movie. The costume of Spawn is spectacular. Bright lime green colored eyes, a black suite of armor and a cloak that can be used as camouflage or to enhance anything he wields makes Spawn an awesome superhero. Another plus is how Spawn can form metal objects from his body. Even his costume has a mind of its own! It's a neat trick.

The sounds are cool listening to as well. Hearing how Spawn morphs his skin can get the skin crawling. Also the Violator in his true form was cool to see in the real world as well. What I couldn't understand was the transition between the real world and hell. Whenever the screen is focused on hell, I felt like a video game simulation and not a movie. Another thing I would've like to see was Spawn being a rated "R" film; PG-13 just didn't seem like the right tone for this kind of story. The musical score was produced by Graeme Revell and sadly I didn't feel much from it either. There was music but no emotional connection.

Todd McFarlane's comic book adaptation has ensnaring visuals and some decent action sequences but is weighed down by an unsupported soundtrack and a slow moving script. Viewers may also be turned off by Leguizamo's obnoxious character role.

Points Earned --> 7:10

Space Jam (1996) Review:

It's hard to get sport celebrities in with big name franchises. The main reason why it's difficult is because of how well the celebrity can act. Michael Jordan is no Oscar nominee but his acting isn't bad and he fits in well with his surroundings. Even if they are a bunch of post-production drawings.

Swackhammer voiced by
Danny DeVito

Space Jam is the story of a once really good basketball player, Michael Jordan, who ends up off his game. But it's not until he's brought back to life and into the world of playing basketball when he runs into some very looney characters. These individuals are none other than the Looney Tunes characters. The Tunes' problem is that they've been challenged by a group of aliens who call themselves "The Monstars" to a game of basketball and if they lose, they surrender their freedom to becoming main attractions to a lousy theme park known as "Moron Mountain".

The owner of Moron Mountain is Swackhammer played by Danny DeVito, who oddly enough sounds a lot like Phil from Disney's Hercules (1997). Unfortunately, the rest of the voice actors who play the Looney Tunes characters are not performed by Mel Blanc or by his son. That's just one of two problems I have with this film. I’m not saying they’re not good but Blanc is the best.

Daffy Duck's voice just isn't the same. It is close, but it's not the right fit. At least the casting department could have had Joe Alaskey from Looney Tunes: Back In Action (LTBIA)(2003) to do Daffy's voice. His imitation was much better. And as a personal favorite I would've preferred to see Marvin the Martian have more screen time than just being a ref for the game. LTBIA had more screen time for him even if he was an antagonist.

Bugs & Lola Bunny

Besides this, everything else was done really well. The animation is good as are the sequences where live-action takes over which were also very well executed. The jokes are great too. Even adding in a love interest for Bugs was an interesting take. Too bad Lola was cut from LTBIA. The music, composed by James Newton Howard was also great to listen to. It had all the characteristics one would expect to hear in a live-action animation feature film.

Space Jam combines live-action animation and sports to create a kid/adult friendly film for everyone to enjoy. The music, jokes and characters (including Michael Jordan) are all respectable.

Points Earned --> 9:10

Son of the Pink Panther (1993) Review:

Director Blake Edwards has produced a lot of funny films during his time. His most famous film that comes to mind is The Pink Panther (1963). Ironically enough, Edwards ended his theatrical film career with one of his most disappointing sequels to the pink panther franchise financially and commercially. Thankfully, there are still a few fans that believe Son of the Pink Panther is not a total waste of time.

Benigni as the Inspector's silly son

The story continues of the last Pink Panther film where the audience follows the actions of Jacques Gambrelli, a clumsy and light hearted inspector played by the brilliant Roberto Benigni. Unknown to him, Gambrelli has no idea that he is the son of the great detective Jacques Clouseau but he's still just as klutzy like his father. Benigni was an interesting choice for the offspring of Peter Sellers' character. Like most think, Benigni wouldn't make a great follow up. But to put it in perspective, he's actually not as bad as one thinks.

Herbert Lom (left of Benigni) &
Robert Davi (right of Benigni)

Benigni is not a professional at speaking the English language but he at least knows how to do it. His voice is a little choppy and his goofy antics are slightly over the top but doesn't that go well with his gaunt figure and puffy hair? I liked him here. Also starring in his last theatrical film is Herbert Lom as Commissioner Dreyfus. He has some good moments, mostly when he's around Gambrelli. I can't say that any of the comical elements in this film are original but I had some good laughs a lot of the time.

Robert Davi plays Hans Zarba, the main villain of a terrorist group. I didn't really care for Davi's character. He doesn't make Zarba anything worth noticing for. Oh well, you can't have everything. Henry Mancini did the final soundtrack for this franchise as well. Nothing sounds out of the ordinary and that's a good thing. Too bad he's not around anymore though. Mancini's a good composer.

Even though many people think so, Benigni doesn't disappoint in this movie. Son of the Pink Panther is still goofy and it has a lot of the components from the beginning films that made this franchise a success.

Points Earned --> 8:10

Soldier (1998) Review:

It is very rare that Kurt Russell makes a mediocre film. He is a very talented actor. Many of his character roles have been very convincing when they're need to be and is good at making laughs too. But what made him sign onto this project was beyond my comprehension. It's hard enough to accept that the story itself could be passed off as a cinema production, let alone this be a good movie. There was so much more director Paul W.S. Anderson could have done with this.

Todd with the rest of his bio-engineered buddies

Kurt Russell is Todd, a genetically altered human being, created to serve in the military. Todd is a muscular, silent, and deadly warrior. His skills are top notch and his killing is callous. He has no fear of anything. He is simply a human version of the T-800 endoskeleton from The Terminator (1984). That's cool stuff. However the character of Todd is another story. Todd is basically the equivalence of having a conversation with a rock. He has no social skills and his ability to communicate is through violence. That's not a fun character to watch when one is trying to understand them.

But nothing lasts forever. Soon the people who bio-engineered Todd are able to create even more powerful human soldiers. It is to Todd's discretion that he is discharged and eliminated. What the higher command doesn't know is that Todd's not dead. And the planet that he was dumped on is now going to receive some unexpected help. Now it is up to Todd to protect a group of people from being annihilated and break them free from their universal prison. This is where he begins to gain the ability to be more human. But by the time this happens, the movie is dismally over. The reason the terminator is more amiable than Todd is how fast it is able to process information and become more human. Todd is not a computer and it takes him a long time to start being a likable character.

It's good when it comes to this....but
it takes forever to get there!

The planet that these refugees hide in is dull. From background to front screen, everything is the same color; beige. Even the sky is beige. The ground is made up of a granular dirt and it's always windy. All this does is prevent the audience from having a clear image of what is going on in every scene, not to mention, everything is covered in sand. The plot lagged as well. This is supposed to be a sci-fi action film, not a drama. And that's all that kept getting pushed on me while I was watching this for more than half the time.

It wasn't until the last few acts did I really enjoy this film. Why - because finally there was some action. The army that Todd once belonged to returns to the planet he was dropped into to exterminate the outcasts that he lived with. It's at this point that Russell finally puts those muscles to work, especially when it comes to that Gatling gun! It reminded me of Arnold Schwarzenegger too much but it was fun to remember. It's really cool how Todd was able to defy all odds and take on an entire army and come out with only a few scratches. However, this is all I can give it. The ending is nice too but in no way could I see Todd being anything but what he was "brought up" to be.

Kurt Russell probably had fun but as for audiences go, the feeling may be the complete opposite. Nothing is new, fascinating or funny about this in general. The few action scenes are the only entertainment here.

Points Earned --> 5:10

Sniper: Reloaded (2011) Review:

For the most part, any film that relates itself to a franchise by having the words "Son of" end up doing horrible with fans and audiences. Son of the Mask (2005) is a perfect example of this type of fail. And then there are the few that actually respect their elders instead of jumping all over them. Sniper: Reloaded is exactly what it implies in the title; Berenger's out, time to bring in his "son" to fill in the shoes. And it's done almost perfectly to that of the first Sniper (1993).

This "fourquel", as some would call it, is about the story of Sgt. Brandon Beckett (Chad Michael Collins) who decides to fill in for his legendary father, Master Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Beckett, played by Tom Berenger in the past three films. Collins looks astonishingly similar to that of Berenger and it was stroke of luck that he acts just like him too. Thank you Christa Schamberger for casting Collins, you're great! And that's just one actor to be thankful for.

Richard Miller is back....with less hair!

Then there's the character of Richard Miller (Billy Zane) who is now overgrown looking and has receding hair. So much for what he used to be! Now he's back to help Beckett's son become a sniper. And it's an honor to see Zane's character as the father figure in this film. This is the duo that made this franchise a hit and it's gratifying to see Richard Miller reciprocating what he learned to Tom Beckett's son. Not mention the fact that Zane makes his character so nonchalant yet charismatic. I laughed at a lot of the lines Miller had to say. It was fun to see him again.

The way John Fasano configured the script was cleverly written. There are some many juicy hints and references that will fans cringing with joy. Right at the beginning fans will even see a military record of Tom Beckett with an authenticated picture. Sweet. The audience will even learn why Brandon Beckett joined the marines. A specific character mentions even the line “One shot, two kills”. Ahhh the memories! One thing that disappointed me was that even with all these clues, the truth to what happened to Thomas Beckett is left unmarked. Why? I guess the only thing we can assume is that since Berenger did not reprise the role, the character of Beckett Sr. is dead too. Oh well.

Like the past two sequels, the sniper franchise has moved to an action genre and has abandoned the thriller part of it. That still annoyed me but for what it's worth, this particular action was more entertaining than Sniper 2 (2002) or Sniper 3 (2004) put together. The carnage was turned up too which was a nice touch. It made the warfare more fun to watch. Credit to director Claudio Fäh, also director of far less entertaining Hollow Man 2 (2006) for the action sequences. His direction was much better than the Hollow Man sequel.

Wright & Collins pair up to assault

The scenery is great too. Sniper 2 (2002) was in the midst of a city and it didn't seem as real for a sniper to be taking out enemies there than in a Panamanian jungle. Sniper 3 (2004) had some of that but still failed to elevate it much higher. But Sniper: Reloaded is all filmed in the African Sahara. The audience will even get to see live animals; simply beautiful. Both Mark Sayfritz and Marcus Trumpp had an enjoyable musical soundtrack. Of course since this is a direct-to-video sequel it won't be released, but it does feel authentic and not just random notes put together.

Finally, as love interests go, I'd say it didn’t have to be penned in but it did help make a good subplot. Annabel Wright plays Beckett's secret lover, Lt. Ellen Abramowitz, who helps him find the bad guys and take them out. I'm not sure why a sex scene was obligatory to have in the running time though. I guess it was that the story revolved around Collins, and because he's hunk, he's suppose to have sex with a fairly attractive military chick? I don't know. But overall I was very pleased with the outcome and it even leaves itself open for another sequel, which hopefully will happen with the same cast from this movie.

Aside the few nit-picks, Sniper: Reloaded is hard not to enjoy. The story, action, music, script and atmosphere by far surpass the last two sequels.

Points Earned --> 8:10

Sniper 3 (2004) Review:

Usually by the third installment of any franchise, the stories become bland, and the characters: carbon copies and the charm is lost. Sniper 2 (2002) was a mediocre sequel but it did have some things about it that made it enjoyable. I did not favor how the first Sniper (1993), which was a thriller, turned into an action film for the sequel. I did think it was an interesting take, but it wasn't executed properly. I also didn't appreciate the character that Bokeem Woodbine played. His role was more obnoxious than involving.

Berenger is making Beckett look pretty worn & old

Here, Tom Berenger once again reprises his role as the callous marine scout sniper, Thomas Beckett. Berenger still has the character down like he did for the last two films but this time the writers address an issue with his health. J.S. Cardone and Ross Helford make it clear in this film that Beckett is no longer the soldier he once was. Because of the trauma that he suffered in the first film, he now suffers from mild muscle spasms in his hand.

This small subplot may upset some viewers because in a way, it's speaking to the audience saying, "this the last time Thomas Beckett will be on screen". It's visible too. Several times it seems like Berenger is making his character look worn and drained of energy to show that Thomas Beckett is getting too old for the career he tries to hold on to. But Beckett's drawn in one more time to execute his new "hit" that was a man he once called a friend. Too bad flashbacks and dream sequences had to be used when Beckett ever focused on these issues. It's not needed.

Byron Mann as Quan,...Beckett's assistant

Co-starring Berenger is Byron Mann playing Quan, a police operative sent to assist Beckett in his assassination. Mann plays his character rather cool and intelligently. The writers even allowed Quan to make a personal connection with Beckett, being that his father was a scout sniper as well. This at least leads to a comparatively easy-going relationship between these two individuals. Its nothing like the stupid quibbles between Beckett and Cole from the previous film.

As for the rest of the film nothing has really changed. I've accepted the fact that no one’s going to bother to try and make this a thriller again. There's still lots of things being blown up, several gunshots and the anticipation of the thriller aspect is unfortunately abandoned. However, the fight scene between Quan and one of the main villain’s thugs entertained me. Hand-to-hand combat is always cool to watch no matter what.

Also, the location to where Beckett travels is at least a little more lively and it even allowed Tim Jones, the composer, to make his score slightly more engaging than Gary Chang's half-hearted version of the previous sequel. It's not as good as the first, but it seems to me that there was more effort put into the making of this sequel than that of Sniper 2 (2002). So although it didn't satisfy me much more than the last one, it definitely shows improvement.

The second sequel to Sniper (1993) still has the qualities of a bad action film and relies too much on Beckett's rising personal issues. But what makes this one different is its character development and better music.

Points Earned --> 7:10

Sniper 2 (2002) Review:

The first Sniper film starring Tom Berenger and Billy Zane was one heck of movie. And I wasn't surprised when I discovered that Sniper had its own set of sequels. Thankfully, for this franchise, just because they are Direct-to-Video sequels doesn't mean the writers left out what happened from the first film. Sniper 2 does retain some good qualities but it lacks a lot of what made Sniper (1993) the best.

Thomas Beckett is still on the job

Tom Berenger is back as the intelligent and deadly marksmen, Thomas Beckett. After having a frustrating retired life, he's persuaded to take on another mission by the U.S. government. This time, it's to take out a leader named Valstoria in Europe. It's great to see Berenger playing Beckett again because who else could? Berenger has a way of making his character cool and smart at the same time. Accompanying Beckett is Cole played by Bokeem Woodbine. Woodbine's character is arrogant and by listening to him talk rudely to Beckett just didn't seem like a good match. Zane's character, Richard Miller. was arrogant too but in a different manner; he had no experience being a sniper.

Something that really throws this film off track is the location. The first Sniper film took place in Panama. Dense heavy jungle, where every bit of the soldier had to be covered in camouflage. The location here is the middle of a city. There's no room for this now. Making things even more off beat is how this sequel turned itself into an actioneer film. There's absolutely no hint of thriller genre in the running time.  As Beckett said originally from the first film:

"We'll wait days, for one shot one kill."

Bokeem Woodbine as the annoying cocky Cole

There's no extended waiting time here. It's "On your mark, get set, go". Several cars blow up, multiple gunfights, and lots of explosions. Sure it's a different angle but there's nothing to be thrilled about anymore. The explosions do the job. All the audience has to do now is leave their brains at the door. Why make such a successful first film and then turn it into a brain-dead action franchise? Thriller films engage their audiences, but not like this. I did enjoy it to a certain extent but I wasn't enthralled by it.

Then there's the whole issue of Beckett not understanding what the Europeans are speaking. How come he doesn't know? Beckett's the smart one! Why does he have to play Zane's role in this film and be the one who's always behind the eight ball? It's almost like he took a back seat for this film. One thing that made me a bit happy was knowing that Gary Chang was back again to make the score to this sequel. It wasn't totally the same as before but it at least tried to recall the elements of the first movie to show its resemblance.

Sniper 2 is not the best sequel even with Tom Berenger and Gary Chang reprising their roles. The story is at least faithful to the first film but nothing else is truly memorable about it.

Points Earned --> 6:10

Sniper (1993) Review:

If one wants to really know what it's like to be a trained killer, this is the movie to see. This film has something going for it and it's quite noticeable once the opening credits start rolling. It is the tone that the music makes and the pace at which the movie runs. Everything else in the film is very much appreciated but these other two elements previously mentioned are the ones that make this thriller spectacular.

Sniper is the story of Thomas Beckett (Tom Berenger), a marksmen who is at the top of his class for taking out enemies from afar. However, it is not until he is forced to pair up with new guy Richard Miller (Billy Zane) to take out a couple of drug lords. Interestingly enough, Miller's background is intriguing because he was only assigned under Beckett's care for falsely taking credit for killing an enemy soldier with a sniper rifle from a helicopter.

Tom Berenger as the famous Thomas Beckett

The dialog between these two characters is also entertaining. Berenger gives his character a lot of good lines. Much of which deals with the understanding of being a soldier; how to know terrain, how to evade enemies, how to blend in with surroundings, how to coordinate firing, how to know which directions are safe, how to wait for the right moment to shoot and so on. It's awesome to learn the ways of the sniper under Berenger's wing.

Zane on the other hand has some funny lines due to his lack of being an unexperienced sniper. And of course, when these two characters butt heads, it's just like watching a child and their parents argue. The child thinks they know better than their parents do. What's gratifying to know is that the longer they stick together, the closer the become and soon they develop a small relationship that prevents them from arguing as often. Miller learns from Beckett how to be a better sniper and Beckett learns from Miller that he doesn't need to be a sniper for the rest of his life.

Billy Zane as rookie, Richard Miller

Another thing that makes Sniper very effective is the set itself. There's no place to get a better feel for wearing camouflage than in the jungles of a central-American country. Adding to this is the pace that the film runs at. If it makes sense, Sniper creeps at a fast speed. It is an oxymoron to say but it does. The way the characters move on screen is slow so to show the style that snipers use to maneuver across landscapes but the transitions between scenes are rather fast to keep the audience locked in its crosshairs. This is a good technique.

As for music goes, the score was composed by Gary Chang, whom I think outdid himself on this film. Although he did have the assistance of Hans Zimmer and Mark Mancina, the credits really belong to Chang. Chang makes the feel of the whole movie super eerie and it's quite chilling to listen to. I've never sat through a movie before and felt so many weird emotions flowing in and out of me just because of listening to the score. And for any of you soundtrack collectors, note that this particular score is not easy to find, so keep your eyes peeled. Altogether, there's nothing you can't like about this film.

The whole idea of watching the actions of trained snipers doing their dirty work is exciting all on its own. Berenger and Zane are great at their characters and Gary Chang's score is a rare gem compared to today's movie soundtracks.

Points Earned --> 10:10

Small Soldiers (1998) Review:

I don't quite follow director Joe Dante sometimes. Dante has been known for making parody films or versions of other films before. Piranha (1978) and Looney Tunes: Back In Action (2003) are a couple but what convinced Dante to make a version of Pixar's Toy Story (1995) into something not meant for children confuses me. Dante has a very creative mind yet it's weird that he would create a movie that pertains to children but isn't for them.

Small Soldiers is the story of two toy designers' dreams brought to reality; a deadly reality. The two designers, Irwin Wayfair (David Cross) and Larry Benson (Jay Mohr), have created their own action figures. One group is called the Commando Elite, a squad of military tactful individuals who pack quite a punch. The other group is the Gorgonites, a humble race of demonic looking creatures that have no intention of creating war. All they seek is to find their long lost home world, Gorgon.

Alan Abernathy (Smith) & his protective parents

The problem (in the plot) arises when one of the designers decides to implant an advanced military chip into the toys’ hardware. But how did he get the rights to obtain that chip? Isn't it top secret or something? Guess the screenwriters missed that loophole. Turns out, this was not the smartest move. Not to mention that their boss, Gil Mars (Denis Leary), wanted to have the Commando Elite programmed to destroy the Gorgonite creatures! It is from there that these toys were shipped to the Abernathy toy store where things start to get out of hand when the toys are activated. What a mess (in a good way)!

There's a small love story among the chaos that occurs through the story. The son of the Abernathy family, Alan (Gregory Smith), falls for his next door neighbor Christy Fimple (Kirsten Dunst). It's cute and makes the story slightly more amiable. The main attraction here though are the voice actors and action sequences.

Gorgonite leader, Archer (Frank Langella) &
Commando Elite leader, Major Chip Hazard  (Tommy Lee Jones)

The majority of the voice cast for the Commando Elite was taken from The Dirty Dozen (1967), with Ernest Borgnine as Kip Kiligan. The leader is Chip Hazard voiced by the recognizable Tommy Lee Jones who sounds perfect for the role. Frank Langella voices the character of Archer, the leader of the Gorgonites. Langella is good because he makes Archer sound noble and trustworthy. My favorite Gorgonite was Insaniac, a purple crazed-eye huge grinning fast-talking blabbermouth who spins around like Taz from Looney Tunes. This guy has too many funny lines. And who voiced him? None other than Michael McKean from Short Circuit 2 (1988).

Jerry Goldsmith composed the soundtrack for the movie and it sounds great as usual. It's hard to find a movie that Goldsmith doesn't produce good music to. What can be considered a turn-off is the action. I loved the action but for others it may be too violent or demented. Some people may associate it as being a dark toned Toy Story (1995) film and in this case, they're right. Some of the contents here are not for children because it really is...well violent.

Small Soldiers lives up to its name for having the action it says it has. However, it may be too violent for younger audiences. Besides this though, the music is good and so is the acting.

Points Earned --> 8:10

Slugs: The Movie (1988) Review:

Juan Piquer Simon is a director who doesn't have much to brag about. The majority of his films have been relatively bad and show no true sense of authenticity. Yet for a movie like this, even though it still isn't a great movie, it seems like a little more time and care went into producing it.

Mike Brady (Michael Garfield) who kind of looks like a
cheap Mel Gibson knock-off actor/stunt double

Based on a novel with the same name by Shaun Hutson, Slugs is about a breed of killer gastropods that acquire an appetite for human flesh. Those are the main characters here. The actors that play their parts are ok but they are nothing to be remembered by. This movie has almost the same characteristic as Fright Night but nowhere as entertaining. The lead role belongs to a town man who suspects that there is a specific reason to why people are being killed in such horrific manners, and nobody believes him.

The acting isn't that good either. Yes they act, but there are times where it's weird and doesn't sound normal to say. There are two parts to the death scenes. One part is good, and the other, improbable. The improbable part is that many times during death scenes victims will struggle and won't be able to resist the power of the slug. People get dragged away, while others get pulled down; are the slugs really that strong? I doubt it. These slugs are supposed to be supernatural so they have to have some other mutation besides teeth.

This is about as animated as the movie gets....the rest are
all REAL slugs!

The good part to the death scenes is that there is plenty of blood. No doubt will gore hounds get their fill. And although the scenes are predictable, it’s still good to watch. What surprised me the most was the volume of slugs that were used for the movie. And it's not like they were prop slugs either. This was live footage of hoards of slugs! Some of these scenes were inside houses too; could you image the mess that had to be cleaned up afterward? I'm sure people are fine with cleaning up fake blood, but real slug ooze? Not sure.

The sound that was added to the slugs was a nice addition too. Much of it sounds thick and gooey, just how slugs should sound! The sound and special effects department must've worked hard for this because this was the strong element of the film. And that's good too because after all, this is a horror flick! Tim Souster, the composer of the music, had a good feel for what he was doing too. It actually retained some pitch from what used to be 1950's horror movies with its constant base line of brass and screaming string instruments. Not really effective in creating fear, but nostalgic to say the least.

This is one of the very few films that director Simon did with a little more effort. The dialog is weird but the sheer magnitude of live slugs that were used should grab the viewer's attention quite nicely.

Points Earned --> 7:10

Short Circuit 2 (1988) Review:

For the most part, family friendly films are enjoyed by its audiences, no matter how many critics dislike it. The funny thing is that even sequels to these kinds of films, are welcomed with open arms by their previous viewers. Turned out I had the exact opposite feeling for this originally. Like most moviegoers, we like to see sequels with the same characters. Short Circuit 2 only provided two original characters from the first: No. 5 and Ben. Before seeing the rest I didn't know what to expect and I wasn’t sure if I would have liked it.

Without reading any reviews, I noticed the approval rating for this film had decreased from that of its original. However, I also noticed that Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert thought it was better the first so it had to be given a shot. Surprisingly, I was satisfied more with this installment that I was with the first. The sequel to the first not only improves itself but also involves its characters more within the plot.

Ben (Stevens) & his Johnny 5 knock-off toys

Besides No.5, who now calls himself Johnny 5, being the main character, Newton Crosby's co-worker, Ben (Fisher Stevens) moves to the "The Big City" to try and make a living selling No.5 knock-off toys. Also trying to make a living is cheapskate speed talker, Fred Ritter (Michael McKean), who cops a deal with Ben to sell out his inventory so he can gain part of his profit. Fortunately, Johnny 5 is sent to them, from Crosby in Montana to help them get the job done.

Stevens still plays a goofy Ben who still doesn't quite know how to speak correctly. McKean also has some comical moments due to his street smarts. I was amazed to find out he was the voice of Insaniac from Small Soldiers (1998). Johnny 5 is still the same; still speed-reads, still loves dancing, and is still constantly looking for input. Just like the first film, there is a love interest here. This time it is for Ben, her name is Sandy Banatoni played by Cynthia Gibb. I can't say Gibb gives anything for the movie character wise, but she is a nice addition to the cast. What impressed me even more was how the character of Ritter was given so much attention in character development. It was great to see him have a change of heart.

Ritter (McKean) & Johnny 5

The effects still look good even though they are obviously dated. The music, scored by Charles Fox, made me feel more during important scenes than Shire's in the first film and this made me appreciate it more. The comedy seems to be ramped out a little too. I got more laughs from the exchanges between McKean and Stevens than I did from the first with Stevens and Guttenburg. I can't compare Johnny 5 because he's the top character no matter what.

However, what I really grabbed my attention here was how involved the characters became with being apart of something close to them. Johnny 5 wants to be accepted by everybody, Ben wants to be accepted by society and have a girlfriend, and Ritter wants to be successful (which I don't blame him for). And to see all these wants attained made me feel so warm inside that I was absolutely content to see such a well done sequel be released to the public.

The next chapter of Johnny 5 not only has more laughs but the characters have much more attraction to them. The music and special effects are just the chrome and spit-shine.

Points Earned --> 10:10

Short Circuit (1986) Review:

Movie history has shown us that audiences have been handed knock-off items before. Of course, most of them are either made so badly that they gain a cult following or they just sink altogether with no one behind them at all. And then there are the few that stand the test of time for being executed well and received few to little recognition. Just like the film Leviathan (1989), which was a combination of several previous films, still had a lot of appeal to it. The same goes for Short Circuit.

Steve Guttenberg as the wiz-tech who designed #5

It obviously does not have the same story line but the looks and the feel of it are almost parallel to the movie of E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982). Short Circuit is literally about a "Short Circuit" in the robotic war machine. The "Short Circuit" occurs when a bolt of lightning strikes the robot and gives it its own brain. Like any character's origin, they are always new to their surroundings. The robot analyzes and senses its perimeter to make an assessment of what it should do next. And as time goes on, the character begins to learn how to react quicker in different situations.

However, none of this were to have happened if it wasn't for the help of Ally Sheedy's character, Stephanie Speck. The voice of the machine is by Tim Blaney. Steven Guttenberg plays the creator of the machine (Newton Crosby) in this story. Guttenberg makes a good nerd, especially for what he looks like and his inability to communicate like a normal human being. Along side Crosby is his close friend Ben, played by Fisher Stevens, who I'll admit besides the robot, had some funny lines.

Ally Sheedy & #5 taking in input

I thought the robot character was well done too. The personality is very childlike and innocent which makes it a cute character to watch and listen too. It's not to say it has the greatest story or the funniest lines, but it does have character. In a sense it appears to look like a premature WALL·E (2008). The puppetry is well done too. All the movements are smooth and coordinated, making it look very lifelike. The soundtrack by David Shire is good too. The re-occurring them is welcomed as is the emotional tones there inserted inside them. If only this film could be looked back on as not a cheese film but of something with more value than that, then it really would stand the test of time.

Short Circuit is well made for its time with realistic puppetry, comical scenes and good music. Yet it still can't detach itself from the era that it came from.

Points Earned --> 8:10

Sherlock Holmes (2009) Review:

Although Sherlock Holmes is undeniably the best detective to be universally known, I should have known the updated film version would not have been as entertaining. I wanted it to be, the casting seemed to have picked the right actors, but instead the result was disheartening.

This particular scene didn't even fit into the film....

Robert Downey Jr. stars as the observant detective in a race to discover the plan of the evil Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong). No doubt does Downey Jr. give a convincing performance as Holmes but his execution is frustrating if not unconventional. Holmes' powers of deduction are quite impressive just like Ace Ventura, how he can ramble out various illustrations to how certain acts were performed but his means of communication are not what you would call crystal clear. Instead of hearing what Holmes had to say, I heard deep raspy monotone whispering with no change in pitch or annunciations. What did he say? Seriously.

The same goes for Downey's co-star Jude Law who plays Dr. John Watson. I did enjoy some of their exchanges but much of them were just based upon their facial expressions. Half the time I couldn't even tell what they were mumbling about. Another person that didn't really fit into place was Rachel McAdam's character of Irene Adler. The audience is told that she was once a love interest of Holmes. Okay,...so what happened? Why is she acting currently as a mole? What made her become the thing she is in this movie? No explanations were given.


Jude Law as Dr. Watson

The set designs were not that much of an eye-grabber either. I couldn't believe how colorless every scene looked. Grey, black, brown, some dark yellow, blue and red shades were the only things I caught a glimpse of. For the adventures Sherlock Holmes is known for, this adventure was not very colorful at all. And although this is an adventure film of some sort, I did not really appreciate for the action scenes. How could Sherlock Holmes, a man of the 1800s, receive martial arts training and no one else seem to know of it?

One of the few scenes I actually got a kick out of was when Holmes, Adler, and Watson were in the slaughterhouse. That was an intense moment but for the element of danger, not action. Lastly, the movie soundtrack is the most foreign I have ever heard of. Hans Zimmer, a well-known composer, I thought would have created music with little more panache but all I got instead was a bunch of weird guitar playing. Not cool Zimmer. Pretty lame if you ask me.

There's nothing wrong with the plot here, Robert Downey Jr. does have some good lines but it's hard to understand him half the time. It doesn't help that both the action and music are weird too.

Points Earned --> 4:10

Screamers: The Hunting (2009) Review:

When I came across this direct-to-video sequel I was surprised to find that it was to the 1995 cult film, Screamers. After reading so many reviews on how bleak and dingy it looked and sounded, I wasn't expecting to come across any film related to it. I was a fan of the original however and I was really excited to see what the sequel had to offer. Sadly I was disappointed with the outcome of this film.

Gina Holden as the daughter Joseph A. Hendricksson

A group of soldiers come across a distress call sent out from the planet, Sirius 6B. Ahh yes, we know what that planet holds on it! Commanding this group is Lt. Victoria Bronte, the daughter of Col. Joseph A. Hendrickson from the first film portrayed brilliantly by Peter Weller. I do like how screenwriter Miguel Flores tries to tie in the story of the last film with this one. Some sequels abandon the original story line completely and that can be frustrating for fans. The screenplay even allows veteran actor Lance Henrikson's character, Orsow, to give Bronte some info on what her father (Joseph A.) was like. However, besides Henrikson, none of the other actors really make themselves any different from another.

The part that did make a difference in the movie were the special effects. Yes, Screamers (1995) was a knock-off of other popular films but it utilized its materials efficiently; even if the creature effects were super dated for its time. But in here, the bloodshed is cranked up, as are the creature effects. It looked so good that it almost seemed like putting it into the category of the cheap movies that the sci-fi channel airs is an insult. The fact that there was more blood on the screen made me happy alone. I mean, these are killer robots, so let's see some carnage!

Lance Henrikson as Orsow....the creator of the screamers

Also the screamers in this film would've been cool to see in the original. The way their mechanical bodies sound is high-tech and state of the art. I also liked how the human screamers didn't look meager either. For those who hadn't seen the first, the human screamers had several sharp blades in its mouth and hands. The way the screamers reveal themselves here is much more interesting; their face actually splits open! Yikes.

All of this is great but what wrecks this movie altogether is the plot. To make a long story short, the story runs almost identical to that of the first film from 1995. In some ways, the so-called "sequel" could be considered a reboot as well because it doesn't do anything new with its characters or story. Once I realized where the story was going after the first couple acts, I became disgruntled at the fact that I would be watching the same movie but with different actors, more blood and a fresh coat of chrome put over the old screamers.

And the worst was the ending to film, which I obviously won't reveal but for any science-fiction/horror genre film, there will always be a twist ending. And for this one, I don't really know how this leaves anything open to make another sequel. They practically killed the franchise by giving such slap-in-the-face ending. That was not needed. I came to watch this movie so I could enjoy and I ended being frustrated and only slightly satisfied.

The only thing Screamers: The Hunting has are special effects. Everything else is practically the same. The story was barely given any changes at all.

Points Earned --> 6:10

Screamers (1995) Review:

It's hard for filmmakers to adapt stories to the screen, especially when they resemble stories that have been previously told. Turns out though director Christian Duguay evens out the story and though it still recalls other movies before its time, it still has elements in it that make it have a quality worth watching.

The story of Screamers is loosely based off of Second Variety, a short story written by Philip K. Dick, the novelist of Blade Runner (1982) and Total Recall (1990). Dick is a very prestigious science fiction writer. His work has multiple twists and it always was a pleasant read. I also read Second Variety and much of it was fairly close to this movie. I actually enjoyed the film adaptation more than the story itself.

Andrew Lauer (Jefferson) & Weller (Hendricksson) start
their latest mission

Peter Weller is Joseph A. Hendricksson, an eccentric commander of an alliance bunker located on a planet known as Sirius 6B. Years before on Earth, there was nuclear fallout between two major groups; the N.E.B. (New Economic Block) and alliance workers over a special mineral that could change energy usage for transportation. So the fighting was moved to Sirius 6B where there has been a "Cold War" ever since. For the alliance to defend themselves, they created the Autonomous Mobile Sword or better known as, the screamer.

The screamer is a mechanical life form that was equipped with a razor sharp blade so it could kill its enemy. But like all man made robots, they become self-aware and are now deciding for themselves who they should kill. Strangely enough, they are always updating their software, even making screamers that look like humans. So from there, audiences might make the connection of these traits between Skynet from The Terminator (1984), and characters not knowing who's real and who isn't from the novel Who Goes There, by John W. Campbell Jr.

But for those few relations, Screamers can hold it's own as an entertaining sci-fi horror movie. It does not contain a lot of blood but it can be very suspenseful. Weller's performances are always a welcome to the screen. His ability to make his character sarcastic as is serious is a great touch. Andrew Lauer plays a innocent rookie named Ace Jefferson who tags along Hendricksson to meet with the N.E.B. command. The N.E.B. group these two visit is lead by the lovely Jennifer Ruben as Jessica Hanson. And with her is Roy Dupuis, who looks like Matthew McConaughey's distant cousin, who likes bugging another soldier who has some serious patience issues.

One of the screamers seen above ground.....sure it resembles
a few other creature ideas but it's still cool

The special effects are definitely dated. And it's really obvious when the camera is focused on the screamer itself but hey, the creature looks cool enough to look at. I think the most baffling part is how the machine keep upgrading their models. It makes you wonder, “What’s going on down there”. The set design is also something to see. A lot of does have the same color like from the movie Soldier (1998) but it at least looks real. The backgrounds actually resemble Chernobyl; which is eerie. Normand Corbeil composed the soundtrack and it also another strong point. When Hedricksson runs into a homeless child, the music makes the scene so heartbreaking. It's emotional and soft on the ears.

The film variation of Second Variety does borough ideas from previous movies, but it's put together in such a way that it won't matter to the audience. The music is good and so is Weller's performance as a tired out war veteran.

Points Earned --> 9:10

Rush Hour 2 (2001) Review:

"Buddy Cop" genre films require a lot of attention no matter if it's the first or third installment. The first Rush Hour (1998) I found fairly entertaining because of its relationship between Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker's opposite like personalities. Of course, this is the defining element of these kinds of movies. But it worked so well for this franchise not just because Chan is Chinese and Tucker's American, but because how extremely opposite their version of negotiations are denoted as. Carter (Tucker) is more upfront, while Lee (Chan) is more diplomatic, that is until he's forced to be upfront when Carter drags him into trouble.

Ricky Tan (center) played by John Lone

The sequel to Rush Hour (1998) is just as entertaining if not slightly more because some of the bad things I mentioned in my review for the first film have been omitted for this one. Right after the first film, Carter and Lee are now in China, for vacation, and end up trailing on another bad guy's tail. The villain this time is Ricky Tan played by John Lone. Lone plays his character just as sinister as from The Shadow (1994) and that's good. It shows that he hasn't lost touch with playing evil characters.

The famous duo is still funny no worries

The stereotypical jokes are still in this film just like the last one but they seem to be funnier than before. Maybe that's because Jackie Chan's the one saying them? I'm not sure. Also the lack of communication between Lee and Carter are funny too. Too see both characters bewildered at the same time and have no clue what's going on is a total knee-slapper. I got more laughs than I did for the first and that's saying something. The action was great and music by Schifrin was still entertaining.

The first installment to Rush Hour (1998) is actually more fun than the first but it still could be funnier without the constant crude jokes.

Points Earned --> 9:10

Rush Hour (1998) Review:

Buddy cop films are major attention grabbers for audiences who love odd pairings of individuals. For every movie that relies on this type of comedy, the two that star in this film require a trait that's totally different from the other. The other trait that these characters have is that they are both extremely good at their career. Once they recognize that they have that in common, character development occurs. Director Brett Ratner has this in the film, but it makes a point of being different from the usual.

Chris Tucker & Jackie Chan

Rush Hour is the story of when two cops, from two different areas of the world, come together to solve a big case. Chinese officer, Lee (Jackie Chan), has been chasing down a crime lord until the man he works for has his child kidnapped by the villain and taken to America. American officer, Carter (Chris Tucker), has been nothing but trouble to L.A. police department. His last case almost got him suspended until he gets a call from the F.B.I. to do a special job for them. The job is the same as Lee's job, and that's how these two characters end up working together.

Tucker is great as a self-centered, obnoxious, loud-mouthed jerk. Amazing enough is that his character is quite alluring for the amount of trash talk that he uses. So much of the talk is stereotypical statements:

"Don't ever touch a black man's radio!".

Sure that's funny. But replacing the word "a black man's" with the word "my", or "Carter's" is just as comical. There should be no reason to generalize statements. And Carter says more than just that. How is someone like that even hired into a police department? Police departments have moral codes for their officers. It even questions the standards of the L.A.P.D.

The kidnapper of the little girl

Chan is always fun to watch. His fighting techniques are well developed and they're even funnier when he has to improvise on the spot. To come up with such ways of getting his way around, it's impressive. And although Chan is known for being the master of action, Tucker has his moments too. He may not have a fighting style but it's gratifying to see that screenwriter, Jim Kouf, allowed the characters of Lee and Carter to evolve in a mutual relationship. Carter even learned some new moves and he reciprocates them and even impresses his partner.

Much of these exchanges are funny. Carter's mouth couldn't be any louder and Lee's hands couldn't be any faster. But audiences may still be lost in that their exchanges are not as hysterical as they should be. I had my chuckles and small laughs, but I never burst out laughing. I wanted to but the power of these two actors just couldn't bring enough laughs to the screen and it was disappointing. Lalo Schifrin composed the film score and it slightly reminisces the theme from The Mean Season (1985) with its trumpet in the background.

It is another buddy cop movie, but its marginal use of stereotypical comments gives its audiences a different experience. However, it may not generate as many laughs as expected.

Points Earned --> 8:10

RoboCop 3 (1993) Review:

After watching the first RoboCop, I was really looking forward to the sequel. And once I saw the sequel, I could not believe how derivatively messy it had become. When it came to this film, I wasn't sure what to expect. Peter Weller had moved on and Robert Burke had taken over as the ironclad police officer. According to the majority of viewers, RoboCop 3 was garbage. Turns out though, I liked it. Maybe not as much as the first for various reasons but at least this movie carried forward with the story of Alex Murphy. Unlike the first sequel that drove us in circles.

Robert Burke replaces Peter Weller & his acting really
isn't that bad at all

RoboCop is back one more time to save the city of old Detroit. But this time, it is on a much bigger scale. It is not mentioned to how the "old man" of OCP disappeared, but it's assumed that he finally died. Now in charge of OCP is the CEO, played by actor Rip Torn, and it's up to him to make sure a place called Cadillac Heights is ready for deconstruction within a certain date. So to remove the people from this area requires a group of officers called "The Rehabs". But as the audience will discover early in the intro, that these officials aren't very helpful nor do they care.

The head of the rehabs is Paul McDaggett, played by John Castle. John Castle is good as a selfless official but that's all he is. He's not a Boddicker and not a Cain. Burke as RoboCop isn't a bad fit either. Yes, it would have been better to still have Weller in the suit but hey, you do with what you have. And yes, Burke makes Robo sound funny but it's really not that annoying. As long as the voice isn't high or super low pitched, it shouldn't be that big a deal. Even when Robo's helmet is off, the make-up department did a swell job having him look like he did in the last 2 films.

Co-starring Burke are some of the last remaining characters from the cast of the first film. Felton Perry is still playing Johnson, only this time, he seems like he's having a hard time picking sides. He's been apart of OCP for a long time but soon realizes how corrupt the company has become along with its massive dept. Of course I don't understand how he didn't see that with half his fellow co-workers biting bullets and attempting to fly out windows. Nancy Allen is still around as Anne Lewis, Murphy's first and only partner. Even sergeant Reed (Robert DoQui from the last 2 films) is still there. He too realizes the corruption of OCP and decides to take a stand. It's nice to see OCP finally lose its foundation.

Paul McDaggett (John Castle) wasn't a bad choice.....
just not a great one

One thing in particular I did not find enjoyable is the lack of bloodshed during this film. The director of this sequel is Fred Dekker and it surprised me that he allowed this film to be rated PG-13. Why Dekker? You made Night of the Creeps (1986) and that was rated R? I mean at least you still could have had the screenplay release some four-letter words to get it an R rating. And it's not productive to make a sequel and have its rating changed from all the others that came before it. I understand that the reason is to have a broader audience of ages but how does it help when the kids don't even know who RoboCop is or what his background was? It's a plan of failure and Dekker should have seen that.

Not to mention that RoboCop has a machine gun that he can now attach to his body. God that would have been cool to see if this film was rated R!  Plus, he can fly now too. Yeah big deal to some of you skeptics but it really is a nice addition. Basil Poledouris is back as well, to do the his noted music again for this franchise. So that's a plus. And the best part is by the end of this film, Alex Murphy at least finds a group of people who don't treat him like an investment but more like a human. Isn't that what we wanted from the past two films? I did.

Having the last installment being rated PG-13 was a wrong move but it can be seen that Dekker's team tried hard to bring back the other elements that made the first film a hit. And for most, it should please its fans for at least making that attempt.

Points Earned --> 8:10

RoboCop 2 (1990) Review:

Sequels always run the risk of falling short of their predecessors and it happens for various reasons. Most fail from the lack of originality in the  plot or the characters from the first film are left out. However, this sequel has both these factors and nothings wrong with it. The issue lies within the plot with these little things called "sub-plots". What's wrong with them? The fact that they deliberately take a step backwards and that was the wrong idea for this franchise in general. Not to mention, there were parts where some problems are never resolved. I explained this in my review of Raise the Titanic (1980) as well.


Peter Weller is back as the cyborg cop who helped take down a ruthless drug dealer, Clarence Boddicker. A year has past now and RoboCop, who now calls himself Murphy, his former self, has done a lot of good for the city of Detroit. And somehow, the only people that recognize this is everyone hired by the police department. Practically every scene depicted here is either an individual restricting RoboCop, cursing at him or vandalizing him. If he's done so much good, why does everyone disrespect him? There's nothing admirable about that.

The Cain cyborg (aka RoboCop 2)

A sub-plot that is minimally explored is the relationship between RoboCop and Alex Murphy's wife. Since the first film, RoboCop now understands who he was and by remembering his old memories, would like to gain back what he had before he became Detroit's finest. But again, we are given the issue of people restricting him. We are briefly introduced to this character called Holzgang who forces the idea onto RoboCop that he is property and that's all he is. That's right, it's society vs RoboCop! After the "meeting" (more like roast), RoboCop is confronted by his wife and forces the opinion on her that her husband is dead. What is this telephone? And that's how that situation is resolved. Not very productive if you ask me.

The director of RoboCop 2 is Irvin Kershner and that surprised me, since he was the sequel director for Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980). How he let this film become off base with the first is baffling. There's another part in the film where Murphy is being programmed with a bunch bogus directives that make him absolutely what he shouldn't be as a police officer, and the results are shown that all that programming was to of no use to him or society anyway. Just another sub-plot that doesn't have any value to it. Why bother with all this U-turn screenplay Frank Miller? And the worst is at the end! There's nothing more abrupt than the ending of this film and it's truly shocking.

They only points I can give this film are for a few things. This movie is still rated R and that pleased me. The universe that he lives in is no walk in the park. Violence is everywhere and it's his job to rid of it. The villain, Cain, acted by Tom Noonan is fairly sinister too. He's no Clarence Boddicker, but he's just as demented if not more. The special effects are principal here as well. By the 90s, stop motion animation was about over and this was probably the last film to use it, but it still looks cool, especially for the Cain cyborg. The other area that I thought added a little more to the story was how this film shows the gradual corruption of the company, OCP. At the end of the first film, one could think that order was restored,...well apparently not.

Hobs (left) a foul mouthed child that knows how use
machine guns.....he makes me uncomfortable

Besides these key things, nothing else was appealing. Even the musical soundtrack, produced by Leonard Rosenman, brings very little to the table. The tune is repetitive and it doesn't even hint a sci-fi tone nor replay Poledouris' theme from the first movie. Another thing that was disturbing was how the film involved children of different ages to swear like they were at a foul mouth convention. I understand that its supposed to show how bad things are in Detroit, but audiences get the point just by watching foul mouthed grown ups; not children! Besides, I wonder how those children feel now that they're all grown up? Do you feel proud of yourselves? I sure wouldn't.

It retains some parts from the first film but it utterly fails to finish anything that it throws out. RoboCop 2 is a jumbled mess of ideas that never sinks its teeth into a definite target.

Points Earned --> 6:10