I remember playing Treasure of the Rudras when I was 15 years old. It was my first Japanese import game I've played. I say that it's a shame that Rudra did not get released outside of Asia.

Graphics (4/5): The graphics, while not as stunning as Bahamut Lagoon's graphics, are still beautifully crafted. Keita Amemiya is a wonderful artist. He can create beautiful (and so ugly they're beautiful) characters. I want to see Amemiya do more games with Square-Enix. And the sprites are animated this time, not stationary like they are in Final Fantasy IV, V and VI. But the weird thing is that the enemies look all tough and terrifying, while your heroes are all chibi and cute looking. It comes off kind of odd to me.

Sound (5/5):Rudra has a wonderful soundtrack. Some tunes sound upbeat while others sound just terrifying. The music really suits the game. I can't picture it being done with another soundtrack. Maybe a revamped soundtrack, but keep the songs and composer.

Gameplay (3/5): This is the only low point of Rudra. Though the magic system is unique (you can create your own spells), it also has a few flaws in it. One: You can easily overpower your enemies with the "mantras" you learn, making some of the boss battles a little too easy at times. And Two: The heroes don't have their own unique abilities or magic pool. The enemies do, and I think that's just unfair. At least with a possible remake, they could probably fix the game play and give you the option of how challenging the game should be (eg. Easy, Normal, Hard, Expert mode).

Story and Characters (5/5): This is where Rudra shines, the story and the characters. Yes, I know it's an ecological plot similar to Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (which was said to be an inspiration for this game, according to Amemiya), but just because there is an anti-pollution theme in a story does not always make it a bad story. Picture Nausicaa with people being possessed by devils, dead coming back to life, god like beings called "Rudras" battling for supremacy and the heroes path to godhood by defeat the four majestic Rudras. If you call that boring, then you might as well be dead.

My personal favorite character is Riza, the main heroine of the game. She sets quite a good example for girl gamers, much better than Bratz or Disney Princesses. Riza stands up for what she believes is the right thing, is protective of her friends, is not submissive at all, nor does she pout and act all ditsy and prissy. Yeah, I know Riza is quite busty (look at her official artwork. She has a bust), but there is more to Riza than good looks or big boobs (unlike other game heroines *cough*TifaLockhart*cough*

My second favorite would be Surlent, the young blue haired sorcerer. He's very mysterious and enigmatic, plus he's good looking and has a sweet personality. It's just too bad he keeps on getting possessed by evil spirits, so possessed that he needs to get a new body (yes, it's true!).

The only characters I dislike are Sion (the one-dimensional Cloud Strife wannabe) and Pipin (a spoiled brat claiming to be a reptilian prince). Other than that, the character development is excellent and both the plot and characters are very memorable.

Replay (4/5): Despite it's linear nature, Rudra does have some side quests. There is a lot you can do in this game as well.

Overall (4 1/2 out of 5): I recommend Treasure of the Rudras. Despite it's flaws, it is a likable game with a unique plot and intriguing characters. It's up there with Bahamut Lagoon, Seiken Densetsu 3, Final Fantasy IV and Illusion of Gaia as the best Super Famicom RPGs ever made.


This is my game."Rudra's Treasure" is one of THE best R.P.Gs out there that never made it to the west!

This game has everything an RPG fan wants.Great chara development outside the battle planner (Especially me and Garlyle and all the heroes.),Excellent storyline (Amemiya-sama!You ROCK!),wonderful Soundtrack and not to mention....the KOTODAMA word essence magic system.Yes,the system that lets you litteraly spell out your own magic spells.The flaw was that we did not get our own limit break-like moves.Oh Well,I've talked too much.

If you don't import or download,you are missing out on a great game!


Long ago,the deities were sent to the heavens and hells.The major deity,Rudra must refresh and cleanse the world per every 4,000 years.Four races appeared,the wise Danan espers,the moist habitat-dwelling Mizushu people,the boastful reptillian Hahchu-Rui people and the tough-as-nails Kyojins.But now that humanity became the major race of the bunch,they must save others,discover the secrets,interact with each other and most importantly,encounter Rudra and it's/his creatures.The most interesting thing of this is that the characters can litteraly spell out magic spells,which are for hereby called "word essences".

A very beautiful game by Squaresoft,whom brought us the Seiken Densetsu/Secret of Mana,The SaGa series,Chrono Trigger and the lesser-known Treasure Hunter G and by CROWD (Amemiya's company),whom made such hits as Zeiram,Hakaida and Tao no Tsuki. Wonderful,yet brooding storytelling,likeable characters (especially Surlent and Pipin),great soundtrack and wonderful scenario scenes.

I wish Square would team up with more companies,so they can make more wonderful RPGs like this one!


In this innovative doozy,you get to control the parties of Shion,a highly ambitious knight;Riza,a young psychic priestess and Surlent,a scholarly wizard.The three must form a party of diffrent warriors of different species (the species of each 4,000) to confront Rudra of the heavens and try to purify the world and it's life.Afterwards,Dune,a legendary plunderer makes his appearance.

It's a really cool game.It has everything an RPG fan is asking for,likeable characters,interesting plot twists,wonderful soundtrack and a spell system where it consists of word essences(note:there is mostly Kanji,or chinese styled symbols).Keita Amemiya's designs breathe life into the characters,monsters and mechanisms.If it wern't for him,the game would not be the same.

I'm not saying this game is flawless.There are a few flaws.The graphics are very gorgeous,but looks too much like "Final Fantasy VI" or "Romancing Saga 3".And the game can be hard at first for beginners of these type of games.But other than that,the game is beautifully crafted.I wished Square would have just gone ahead and released it,if it weren't for the censors.


......Eh, well at least at my household anyways. I have always preferred Square's other games than just the obnoxiously repetitive FF series.

I would rather deal with a plot that has to do with deep spiritualism, the nature of human and human-like beings, creative magical system (the spell out your mantra system), and plenty of strange and diverse cast of characters with distinct and deep personalities of his or her own; rather than deal with the Teeny-Bopping angst of fitting in, endless cinema and very little gameplay. The only gripe is that even though the create-a-spell system was interesting concept, but the characters had no special abillities of their own. Oh well, at least outside of the gameplay, the characters are likable.

I like how Rudra no Hihou balances out different formats as well. As serious as the game was, at least they balance out with humor, GOOD HUMOR!

It was also good for it's morals as well. Rudra no Hihou like many classic RPGs of its time did not talk down to gamers nor underestimate their intelligence for that matter. I my honest opinion, this game should be re-relased legally.

Now Rudra is dubbed in English online and is ready to play.

P.S. I think Riza and Foxy are far cuter and more tolerable than Tifa or Lulu.


Now here we see the other end of the extreme when it comes to movies with or without charisma. Earlier tonight I subjected myself to 1988's TEEN VAMP, an anemic attempt to blend comedy antics, American Graffiti nostalgia and vampire hyjinx that had all the charisma of a small soap dish from the dollar store. Now, we watch DEATH BY DIALOGUE, also from 1988 and a vehicle for the then red-hot Ken Sagoes, which by comparison is *ALL* charisma. It is entertaining, risqué, inappropriately amusing, riddled with nudity & graphic gore, filled with loud, cheesy 80's rock, has a muddled, incomprehensible plot line with maybe six brain cells in it's at times pretty head, and I've watched it twice now. No idea what happens during the story, but it's fun, sleazy, colorful and at times pretty inventive.

The movie is supposedly about a group of teen agers who are all pushing 26 or so that find themselves trapped in a web of terror & murder patterned after a movie script found in the basement of a house next to a studio. What it *REALLY* is about, however, is blond girls with nice butts + bewbs, 1980s fashions & hair styles, low budget direct to home video horror movie production, and people getting their heads chopped off, exploded by horrific 80's arena metal rock, skewered with large chopping/cutting instruments, and seeing the blond girls with the nice bodies without their clothes on. By concentrating it's sights directly on the gutter and shooting straight about it's nature the movie succeeds brilliantly: This is the best party movie I have seen since NIGHT TRAIN TO TERROR.

Anyone looking for serious acting, artful cinematography, meaningful dialog and socially aware thematic relevance would be well advised to rent ERIN BROKOVICH and give their brains a rest. But if you need a movie to drink beer to here you go. A typical scene has a guy dressed up like Clancy Brown from HIGHLANDER swinging his sword around like a fool while pyrotechnic explosions highlight his two evil minions jumping their motorcycles while the Scorpion-esquire arena rock chugs out the beat. It looks waaay cool, but whatever ideas there are behind the imagery are not manifest. Here is a movie that is all surface image, devoid of sub-textural agendas and meanings that go beyond the obvious. My favorite part starts with a couple fornicating up in a barn loft: We are treated to ample shots of the amply chested blond riding her amply-bellied lover while weird, dry ice fog and blue lit events disturb the structure. At the height of their sexual coupling the female is literally blown through the wall of the barn to her (unseen) doom, and the understandably perplexed porker whom she had been riding stumbles out with his fashionable yellow trousers around his ankles, wondering aloud wazzup. He then has a nightmarish run through a patch of woods before coming upon an 80's Arena Rock Metal band playing "When The Ax Does Fall" or whatever it's called. They look like Def Leppard's unlucky younger brother. And again, at the climax of their performance the guitarist swings his guitar around in the air like Steve Jones from that Sex Pistols movie and smashes it down on the head of the bewildered porker, which naturally causes it to explode into a ball of spewing mush.

What does it all mean? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. And if you look for meaning or depth in this film you will be wasting your time. But if you want to laugh, check out hawt babez in various states of undress, see people get their heads chopped off and stuff get blowed up real good, bingo. I admire the movie's honesty in not trying to be anything but complete crap, and having a sense of humor about itself that is quite refreshing. So here you go: Two movies, same year, same kind of productions (though DEATH BY DIALOGUE does look like it had a healthier budget than TEEN VAMP), same kind of target audience, same medium of home video oriented productions and they could not have turned out more differently if they had been aware of each other & made a point to be different. DEATH BY DIALOGUE is easily the stupider of the two, but at least has the distinction of being entertaining.

7/10: The expression "Garbage In, Garbage Out" comes to mind.


It turned out to be a mess.

"Death By Dialogue" is your typical low budget direct to video crap that is produced after someone's fame. The movie's tag line shown in the cover is "Staring Ken Sagoes, the survivor from "A Nightmare On Elm Street Part III". Sagoes character, Roland Kincaid became an instant favorite on the Elm Stree series and it's very lame to cast him only because of that and worse, make publicity on him.

Anyways, "Death By Dialogue" is a joke. There's involuntary humor, cheesy (I mean CHEESY) f/x and boring situations that could desperate the most patient Horror fan. This isn't a must see even to criticize or laugh about. Please, stay away from this trash and don't get fooled by the cover art or the premise, which is as dumb as you can get.

Ugh.


Death By Dialogue. What a title. What an amazingly rubbish title. I am stunned that there are no alternative names that this film went out under. But, then again, this film is something else.

Synopsis: This film is about an evil film script. Its horrific contents come to life and terrorise a group of teenagers.

I have seen some rubbish in my time but this movie possesses moments of such stunningly memorable idiocy that I was somewhat taken aback. The very idea of a film script that is possessed by an evil spirit is hilariously silly. The script was for a film called 'Victims' and it was clearly written by a thirteen year old boy. The horrors that are unleashed by the script include a killer poodle-permed rock band, a seven-foot tall sword-wielding madman and two motor-cycle morons. I don't know about 'Victims', I would have thought that a better name would've been 'Eighties Cheese'.

This is one of those bad movies that contains moments of laugh-out-loud hilarity but also is hindered by atrocious pacing. Some scenes just go on and on and we do have to wait for the funny bits. But when those funny bits appear they are pretty much top-drawer, i.e. I challenge anyone not to laugh when the hair metal band pitches up in the woods. Too funny. At another time the protagonists decide that the best way to defeat the evil in the script would be to simply re-write it with happy stuff. Seems reasonable? Incredibly they mess up this very straightforward task by rewriting the script with one of the daftest non-escape plans ever conceived. In yet another random event  this film is a series of random events  we have a dream sequence involving a woman in a gown kneeling by a pool who meets an idiot in a racing car by a tree. Go figure.

It's all senseless and very haphazardly put together. But it's worth one viewing, if only to be stunned by it's monumental daftness. It does have moments of anti-genius. It's like a cross between The Evil Dead, The Edge of Hell and an episode of Scooby Doo. Although, much worse than all of those. Venture at your peril.


This spirited little low-budget horror film deserves more than it's reputation. I had the fortune of picking this film up (believe it or not) on DVD and needless to say I wasn't expecting much from a film called Death by Dialogue, with a possessed script and an 80's alt-rock band starring Ken Sagoes, who was one of my favorite characters from NOES.

The film does have some ultra cheesy moments but it's decently crazy and gory at times. Plus...nudity. I'd say if you find it on television or in the old releases at your local videostore, be a good-little slasherhound and pick it up and give it a view. As stupid as it is it's worth at least that much.


DEVIL FACE, ANGEL HEART (Bin Lim Mai Ching)

Aspect ratio: 1.85:1

Sound format: Mono

Betrayed and left for dead by a gangster's duplicitous moll (Gigi Lai), a hired assassin (Daniel Wu) undergoes plastic surgery to remove the facial deformity which has marginalized him throughout his life, then returns to Hong Kong to take revenge against Lai and her associates.

Amateurish exploitation thriller, plotted to labyrinthine excess by an uncredited scriptwriter, and directed with a breathtaking lack of conviction by sleaze specialist Billy Chung (notorious for a string of gruesome shockers, most notably the Anthony Wong vehicle LOVE TO KILL, made in 1993). Sex and violence appear to be the principal focus of Chung's attentions in DEVIL FACE, ANGEL HEART, but while the sex angle is exploited for all it's worth - Lai lounges around in revealing designer outfits whilst never quite managing to get completely naked - the film's violence appears to have been curtailed in post-production for a less restrictive censor rating. Wu struggles gamely under Chung's ham-fisted direction, playing the role of vengeful loner with his usual quiet dignity (cameraman Ally Wong spends as much time leering over Wu's beauty as Lai, which evens things up a little), while co-star Stephen Fung lurks around the periphery as an obsessed cop determined to uncover Wu's true identity and establish his connection (if any) to the murder of Fung's partner (Sam Lee, in a cameo appearance). Experienced character actor Lam Suet (ONE NITE IN MONGKOK) is Wu's loyal brother, David Lee plays Lai's lowlife gangster rival, and Convoy Chan is the boyfriend whom Lai throws to the wolves with sadistic glee.

There's a juicy melodrama struggling to emerge from this artless enterprise, but the film plays like a cheap imitation of a HK crime thriller, lacking the sincerity and craftsmanship which has distinguished the former colony's cinematic output for decades. Clearly intended for a quick theatrical play-off before heading straight to video, DEVIL FACE, ANGEL HEART wastes a terrific premise and top-notch cast. Still watchable, if only for the pairing of Wu and Fung, but they deserve miles better than this throwaway effort. Dreadful, interminable music score by Tommy Wai.

(Cantonese and Mandarin dialogue)


I didn't know that this kind of movie was still made in HK. Leave it to an old Category III veteran like Billy Chung to make a movie like this in 2003. Although rated IIB, Devil Face, Angel Heart is Cat 3 sleaze all the way, complete with seedy sex and obviously censored violence (more than once I could hear the music score skip because of cuts).

Luckily, I kind of like this kind of trashy thriller and this one manages to be a little above average. Daniel Wu's rather blase acting style fits his tortured character. Really, It works. I liked him in this movie. The movie is well directed, too, giving it a polished look and feel that a lot of HK moves don't have (for the past several years it seems they've been doing better, though).

Now this isn't a great movie. The plot is a little thin. When the movie was done I didn't feel I had seen an entire story play out. What story there is isn't awful for this kind of movie. There's some twists and turns, but nothing surprising. If you're the kind of person who puts up with this garbage, then it's a decent diversion. It's probably pretty forgettable, but I enjoyed it while it lasted. This is fairly well-done genre filmmaking.


Billy Chung proves that he has the makings of a good director, even if he can't quite get rid of all the sleaze that tends to appear in his films. DEVIL FACE's plot is a rehash of familiar Hong Kong films in the hitman genre, with nothing of note added.

The leads are awkward, the story itself is rather blase, and the only saving grace is Chung's stylish direction. Unfortunately the movie doesn't leave enough room in its storyline for the audience to be involved, and the sleazy elements of the film really overwhelms what could have been a half decent story.

Even a minor appearance by personal favorite Suet Lam doesn't help matters. Maybe he knows something we don't, which is why his character doesn't last long.

4 out of 10.


This is one of the movies I'd recommend to anyone in want of a good movie. It was very enjoyable and although there weren't unpredictable twists, it didn't fail to keep me attentive.

Story-line: Lon (Daniel Wu) was born with an injured face. Him an his brother are hired killers until something happened, which prompts a turn in the story.

Stephen Fung and Daniel Wu both gave awesome performances. Although, I haven't seen many HK films, it seems that they are taking a turn and for the better. Very enjoyable.


When thinking about German resistance against Hitler, most people can think only of one name: Stauffenberg. Klaus-Maria Brandauer reminds the world that a humble carpenter tried to save the world from the horror of WW2, all by himself.

A great movie, full of suspense, with great actors - especially Brandauer himself.

Especially impressive is the way Brandauer as director managed to show the atmosphere of Nazi-Germany immediately before the war, and atmosphere of fear and mistrust that forced Elser to go to extremes in hiding his plans.


This film is brilliantly made, and should be seen by more people.

It is very powerful in the way it shows one brave man's lone attempt to stop the Nazis in their tracks and Brandauer perfectly conveys the sense of silent outrage against the atrocities he sees rising around him.

It is heartbreaking to discover that he was executed weeks before the liberation by the Allies, and that no memorial exists to commemorates him to this day.

Everyone should see this film.

Also, the fact it is filmed on location in Germany makes it very atmospheric and you can feel the climate of fear and suppression very plausibly more so than in many other films set in this era.

Dennehy and LeVaillant are convincing as the Nazis.


The film Seven Minutes partially dubbed in English and partially IN English (either that or great dubbing by actors Brandauer and American; Dennehy) is a great film. I may be inappropriately sticking my neck out here, but I believe this film, directed and stared by Brandauer has a very personal edge to it for him, relating to the actions of Hitler. Throughout the film it shows, in the late 1930s, Jewish citizens being taken away by the army or secret police (with rather stirring music). At this moment Klaus Maria watches on and seems to be a little shaken and quietly incensed by these actions. This film gives an insight into, how some Germans were clearly against what Hitler was starting to do to their country (those who, in reflection, weren't sucked into the propaganda of a powerful Germany). The love interest with Rebecca Miller and Klaus is nice and subtle with good humour in places. During all this, though, he is building a bomb using his skills as a clock maker, and awaiting Hitler's arrival to the Beer Hall (Munich), -where the story is set. During the building of the bomb and the placing of it, it is full of tension with Klaus appearing extremely determined and nervous with sweat. The acting of Brandauer is suitably magnificent. From what I've said, don't get the wrong impression it's a boring historical film (actually based on a true story of Georg Elser's attempt). It is full of suspense and can be watched as any other film of a suspense genre.


This movie is a commendable attempt at telling the story of a simple, yet brave man and thus well-deservedly (50 years later!) commemorating his (albeit futile, by an absurd delay of seven minutes)attempt at assassinating Hitler. For this reason alone, this movie must be praised. One should, however, never confuse the contents (in this case: the political statements of a movie), with the form (viz. the style and craftsmanship with which a movie is made).

Keeping this in mind, "Georg Elser" is _not_ a good movie. It suffers from a very unsophisticated screenplay which very often most gruffly connects scenes without any elegance, which includes many characters that aren't fully developed at all (e.g. the Brian Dennehy character is quite unfinished which is all too bad considering the enormous abilities of this actor, the same goes with the Vadim Glowna character). Worst of all, the movie is very poorly directed. Brandauer as an actor is flawless as usual, he gives a good performance as "Elser", but his directing is pretty bad. Given the fact that Brandauer had such remarkable men at hand as cinematographer Lajos Koltai (the images in this movie are very beautiful - the autumnal tints convey a certain feeling of doom) or composer Georges Delerue (a beautiful title theme), the overall result is most disappointing. There are many sequences lacking proper editing (shots that are way too long and thus very tiresome), there are other sequences which do not seem to make too much sense at all (e.g. several haphazardly combined shots in the Bürgerbräukeller), the storyline is never sufficiently tense.

It is a pity: This movie could have been far better in the hands of a qualified director.


"Why do the English want to live by the sea?"

"Last resort...? (silence) It's never as good as they think it will be..."

Saw this last evening at the local arts cinema in Newcastle. And what a magnificent British art film this is; ex-Time Out film critic Christopher Petit, spurred by the twin influences of the road movies of Wim Wenders (co-producer) and the incipient post-punk scene. There are scenes, glimmers and furrows which sometimes only later come through to haunt the mind; the whole stands as a brilliantly paced and sustained aesthetic reflection of decay and despondency. The Britain of 1979 is often simultaneously beguiling and deadening; great symbolic tower-blocks on the way out of London, desolate countryside heading west... so much that you feel could give root to extensive, restlessly ruminative Iain Sinclair or Paul Morley annotation.

This film is indeed about more than 'plot', though it hangs on the path of a man who is shown going about his typical, elliptical life in London, where he seems to be a holed-up DJ for some obscure station. His 'show' is jarringly shown playing in an industrial work setting; presumably to those who cannot hear - is this use of music perhaps not so far from the choric Alan Price in "O Lucky Man!"? After a time, he begins a car journey to Bristol in search of 'answers' regarding the unexplained death of his brother; which is possibly, though never definitively, linked with a pornographic movie racket - reported in radio news bulletins - in the West Country. I could make few spoilers that would seem significant, though points do jab out at you; particularly in the sense that expected explanation or fruition occasionally seem on the cards. But, hauntingly, we are left to puzzle things out ourselves; which may well be a pointless task if one is to think in usual, lateral patterns...

The main actor does a wonderfully minimal job, as is best with this sort of project; a face that moves only a certain amount, and when needed; above all, a face that reveals itself as the blank canvas mask that we alone can choose or otherwise to feel the emotions through. He is a guide, but rightfully not one we are encouraged to easily identify with; though at times, I certainly can. The landscape, the lyrically still, gently moving camera, the haunting, 'dehumanized' pop strains of Bowie, Lovich, Kraftwerk; these phenomena bring out our responses... Or rather the cumulative effect does. It is only perhaps broken by the unnecessary interlude with Sting, which shows the man with a good deal of smugness, even back then and within this film. This is unfortunate considering it follows relatively soon after the slow jukebox tableau, the camera tapering around the pub for the whole duration of a Wreckless Eric song on the jukebox. So little happens that the mere act of one figure hitherto seated getting up and leaving the establishment takes on implausibly moving dimensions.

Surely it was not just me who was moved impossibly by the sudden move to a hauntingly wistful bucolic scene? This fairly brief shot is lit and framed magisterially, contrasting with the previous Beckettian Suicide-comedy on the cliff-top, with Kraftwerk's "Ohm Sweet Ohm" spiralling on to heights of tinpot-music box melancholia. This film marks out an approach that sadly was not taken up in British film-making more widely; it takes its time to get precisely nowhere, and yet everywhere, in comparison with so many things we call 'films'.


came across this database entry by accident. saw the movie 25 years ago and still can find its traces in my memory - amongst these the strongest when Robert and a hitchhiker drive along a forest of power line pylons and find them awful. Robert says something like "years from now when only a few of them are left we might say they're beautiful" (sorry, a 25 year old memory is not the best base for correct quoting) Christopher Petits influences of the early Wim Wenders road movies can be traced down best in " I'm Laufe der Zeit (Kings of the Road) " from 1976 - its in b/ w as well. But to me there is as well a link to Jarmush's " Stranger than Paradise " from 1984 (more acting and dialogs but the same slow glide thru scenic black& white landscapes)


I thought previously I had seen the worst comedy of all time when I endured Going Overboard. Now I'm not so sure.

This movie has a storyline and script so inane it may cause you mental anguish. If you suffer from depression I urge you to avoid this like the plague as it's just possible it could send you over the edge. It's a comedy with no funny bits. In fact the writers come up with the woeful idea of a resort comedian whose act is completely unfunny. If there's one thing a comedy this bad doesn't need, it's an intentionally unfunny character. The unfunny comedian is portrayed by Jim Varney in a toe-curlingly horrible performance; although it's just possible that Varney is outdone by John Ross, who plays an uptight scheming skier in a performance that is so atrocious it's an instrument of evil. You know a movie is in trouble when the best acting comes courtesy of Brigitte Neilson and Corey Haim.

If you are a snowboarder or a skier I implore you to avoid the temptation of watching this atrocity. It is not a good advert for winter sports.

Me and my friends have a bad movie night and this is why I have seen this dreck. So as a public service I feel duty bound to warn other people to avoid this rubbish. I've watched it so you don't have to. If you absolutely have to watch this be warned that you will have more fun setting fire to your genitals.


This is essentially a slapstick farce in the vein of POLICE ACADEMY (they were all popular around then weren't they?) only it was made in 1996 and seems like a film from the '80s (that's how cheap the quality of the film is). It stars Corey Haim and Jim "Ernest" Varney (R.I.P.) but isn't funny at all, with revoltingly bad performances and "jokes." It's stupid, crude, unfunny and downright hard to watch at times. Saw it years ago on HBO, and don't plan to ever again.

This is the sort of movie that you wish could be burned. The plot (if there is one) is basically just a lot of chaos at a snowboard academy in the middle of nowhere - sort of like OUT COLD meets POLICE ACADEMY meets something else that's really dumb.

Don't bother. Please.


As caveat, I have to admit at the onset that I went to school with James Salisko, who got the job of adding the jokes to the script and appears as the surly bartender. Salisko is a great guy, and he needed to pay the rent, so don't blame the writers --this is a producers' project from the get-go. This is the only snowboarding movie I've ever sat through, and it will likely be my last. It suffers from bad acting and bad writing, but the cast seem to be having fun just the same. Probably one of those sets where it was a lot of fun to hang out, but everyone knew the movie was a turkey from the get-go. The plot is a long-lost cousin of King Lear, but it doesn't rise above the cliche very often. With some veteran comic actors to keep things moving, a few token movie "stars" to put bums in seats, and great footage of the Laurentians, it's certainly pretty too look at. Maybe next time I watch, I'll keep the volume off and scan through the dialog scenes.


Have you ever watched one of those movies where, after about 30 minutes, you realize that you really, really wish that the capable actors in it were in something a bit better written? This is one of those movies. Now, actors like Varney, Haim, and Nielsen are usually not given much in the way of regard but each is capable of a decent performance in a decent movie. We're not talking DeNiro or Kidman here, just actors capable of doing a decent job. Sadly, they get cast in utter crap like this. If you're a die-hard fan of these actors, it might be worth watching. If not, carefully put the video box down and back away slowly.

Matt


Jim Varney, Brigitte Nielsen and Corey Haim star in this film...need I say more?! The only person in this film who could act was poor Joe Flaherty (his work in "SCTV" and "Freaks & Geeks" would testify to this)--and how he got stuck in this film is anyone's guess, though if you check his career, he has made some interesting decisions as far as the projects he took. I assume he desperately needed the money...period. In SNOWBOARD ACADEMY, he really isn't given anything to do.

As far as the film goes, it's purported to be a comedy. With such 'hilarious' jokes as a guy with a giant frozen booger stuck on his face, a boss named "the head cheese" and phrases like "d!@$weed" and "buzz off d!@$head". This is very clever writing...if you are a 3rd grader.

Flaherty plays the owner of a failing ski resort. In order to try to attract more people, his youngest son convinces him to open the runs up to snowboarders and teach snowboarding classes--and snowboarders had been previously banned from the hills. Up until this decision, the audience was treated to the hilarious antics(?) of the snowboarders who were breaking the rules by using the trails. The other son hates snowboarders and will do anything to get rid of them--even though this makes zero economic sense.

Jim Varney is hired to be a combination comic for the lounge, safety engineer and god knows what else. No one knows that he can't ski (a prerequisite for the job) and his antics are very broad and very, very slapstick--with lots of pratfalls. It's not good, but frankly he's probably the best thing in the film because at least his character seems likable--something NOT shared with the other 'stars'. Plus at least kids will think this Varney is funny.

As for the other characters, they are really caricatures--stereotypes with no dimension to their personalities. The snowboarders are mostly obnoxious idiots. The older son is sullen and grumpy. The younger one is...well...younger. The evil wife is evil--like every money-grubbing estranged wife you could imagine rolled up into one. The ex-security chief is...well..the most untalented, obnoxious and horrible person in the film. I'd rather have a migraine than watch the 'antics' of this amazingly unfunny guy---who is supposed to be there for comic relief!! None of them are worth putting in the film--yet they make up 80% of the movie!! Overall, this is an incredibly stupid and poorly written film. It's painfully unfunny and a waste of time. HOWEVER, I can't give it a 1 because the production values are not 100% bad and, believe it or not, I've seen a few shoddier and more awful films--but not many. I can see how it made the IMDb Bottom 100 list, but I would only place it in the Bottom 500 if such a list existed. Not a glowing endorsement, I know, but the film was only 97% horrible.

For a good ski comedy, try the cult classic BETTER OFF DEAD. Unlike the sludge that is SNOWBOARD ACADEMY, the writing is great and the film fun for all ages.


If you love cheesy lines and slapstick you'll agree this movie rocks. An undemanding movie that is easy to watch and does not get boring. If you liked this movie you'll love 'Kull the conquerer' starring Kevin Sorbo from 'The adventures Hercules', and any/all of the Mortal Kombat movies.


Even my kids thought it was trash. This movie stinks. I rented it from Blockbuster as it was the only snowboarder movie (fiction) I could find. But my snowboarding son is watching and I can tell he is not impressed. The acting is bad (I mean Jim Varney is the Draw?) and the storyline weak. Stay away from this movie unless you like to smirk and groan and sleep. You could maybe get the snowboarding extreme sports videos otherwise. Don't waster your time with this movie. Stay Away! Stay Away! I need to have 10 lines of text. ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ. Is that enough? No - I need to add more. Blah! Blah? Blah. Blah!! Blah?? Blah....


We all know that Jim Varney has constructed a career out of annoying, unexceptional, and almost slapstick comedy; a deadly combination. There is supposed to be some kind of hidden comedy (think Letterman) in Jim's seemingly desperate attempts to be funny and pseudo incompetence. He plays an incompetent safety engineer and entertainer...surprised? The focus of the movie is on many characters, not just one or two. The other characters are actually comedic. Slush is probably the funniest character in the entire movie. Overall, it's pretty good and the sound-track kicks ass. The plot is decent (for the time) and improbable yet not impossible. Refreshingly, there is no guy trying to get a girl.


I've seen a lot of horrible movies in my time but this one takes the cake. Usually when you watch an atrocious film, comedy is there because the film is so bad. As far as Snowboard Academy goes, I was unable to find anything funny. It is like a Scooby Doo episode gone horribly wrong. The jokes are flat, the acting is poor, and there seems to be little to no direction at all. The snowboarding and skiing footage is low quality, it looks like a bunch of bums were taught to snowboard and given a job in the film. If I wanted to see better tricks I could head off to the beginners slope at the local ski hill. The film goes on the same level as the talented Varney's not-so-classics, alongside Ernest Goes to Africa. All and all the biggest piece of garbage I have ever seen.


Awesome film. Haim kicks ass and takes names once again. It is considered a classic i the genre of ski and snowboarding movies. If you liked the movie "Out Cold" or "Ski School" you will love this movie as well. It is your basic "Animal House" meets the mountain of snow.


I had to sit through this movie because I paid over a 100 bucks for it. It's hard to believe that a movie can be made that has nothing going for it. Idiotic dialogues wrapped up in gaudy phoren locations. I believe this the first movie in which the audience actually audibly groaned at the jokes that it tried to 'imply'.

In addition to that, add two UGLY women who only got roles because they can "show off". I would never want to see anything that they had to show. BAD BAD acting, coupled with a story that is absolutely stupid, I feel stupid for having watched this movie. HELP! (sob) I can't even begin to count the flaws, there is just not anything interesting here. In a scene, two characters jump of a bridge into water, and later they are shown completely dry and the lady has her make-up intact. Plus, a character is not supposed to have a thumb, and in the final scenes, we plainly see the thumb front on. The FBI succumb to the trivial eccentricities of a village cop from India, ya right. And, what more...we have bird bombs blasting away an important building in New York, FBI plotting to kill the president of the USA, two bimbos, "religious sentiment", ah...the basic Bollywood mish-mash.

If you are going on a date and want to set the evening up nicely, go to this movie. She will be so bored out of her brains, she'll do anything to make life more interesting ;)! It's a no-brainer!


Jo bole so nihaal is a movie full of Punjabi (Indian) culture! Though I must admit, Punjabi's aren't as dumbed down as shown in this movie (I myself am one :-)

A cop looking out for a bad-guy who's framed him, Sunny Deol (Nihaal Singh) goes all guns to get 'Romeo' the villain. In fact, he goes across the globe to the US, and does things 'his way' there!

The plot contains too many loopholes to worry about it, and the humour - though funny at times - is not well executed.

To be fair, if you like irrational action, then this movie is for you. There's loads of beating people up, god-like heroism, and a little excess of patriotism & religious fervor.

I'd suggest going out for a nice dinner date, rather than spending on this flick -- unless you know you have the appetite for it!


I misjudged the movie from the hype created with the blasts in India... This movie was the 'Da BomB'..... a bigger bomb than the one that was dropped in Hiroshima...Worst movie ever watched ....will think ten times before watching any Sunny Deol Movie... Please dude ask him to talk on a cellphone and not an IPAQ. The chicks were cute ...which was the only decent aspect of the movie. No need for a screenplay for the movie.. the songs can start whenever needed, based on the level of boredom of the movie.

The music was bad too...This is what SantaBanta.com had to say ... "Sukhvinder Singh -"Rab jaane" (along with singer Kamaal Khan who plays a villain in the film) and Sunidhi Chauhan (trying to infuse life into a very mediocre 'Raat kuch aur tthi') to Jaspinder Nirula and Kamaal leave you thirsting for something beyond the immediate sensation. But alas, no salvation."

Overall..."FBE: a Fully Bewakoof Endeavour"---IndiaTimes


The movie was horrible! they had many intolerable items in the film that was disrespectful to Sikhism, for example in a song they changed a portion of a holy hymn to suit the needs of the movie! that is not allowed in the Sikhism religion. Sonny Deol should have known better than to make a film like this. You might say it was for the sake of comedy, but it was way overdone, and inappropriately shown. this movie is horrible, and not even that, the guy stabbed some girl on her stomach, and she died 2 seconds later! That is not possible, the person would bleed to death for way more than 3 minutes! This movie is not worth anyones time, i don't even know why i am reviewing this p.o.s., well later...

Ps.The Movie Sucks


Totally awful movie. The movie started with so much promise. The opening half hour which shows nihal-deol in Panjab was funny, well shot and well acted but after that it was just too much to bear. Where do the bollywood directors recruit their "americans". Totally blah movie. Nihal singh or Sikhs are shown in a totally insensitive light and the portrayal is stereotyping. If such a movie was made in US it would be give rise to protest about such a portrayal. The movie was technically and story wise so shabby that it was embarrassing. As usual Sunny deol is the superman incarnate, which is okay but make the story have a little more sense. To be fair it had some moments of laughter but these were so far and away and were filled with banal plot in between.

I love Sunny deol and prefer him to Arnold as the strong man in movies but this time the story writer, director and the editing team have totally let him down.

Please stay away from this one :P!!


Is there a worst comedy ever? oh yes in Bollywood we have many but this is one of the worst films ever made

The film has a decent plot but it's ruined with stupid scenes like Sunny going towards the heroine and his mom Sikri getting fits in India

Even the skin show is forced and then the game of Sunny to play Behaal Singh is worst and even Romeo comes across as a stupid idiot

The film makes no sense and is a example of mediocrity

There are several scenes which are so stupid and also the entire track of the FBI suddenly wanting to kill the president is awful and so is the finale

Direction by Rahul Rawail is terrible, it makes even YODHA look a classic Music is bad

Sunny Deol is himself, funny in some comic scenes and over the top in some and too loud in several portions but he manages to lend some credibility to his character- 6/10 The girls Shilpi Mudgal and Nupur Mehta are bad Kamaal Khan is a joke as the main villain

Arun Bakshi is okay,

Surekha Sikri is hilarious


it had been a long time since i had a headache watching a movie but i presume we should torture ourselves once in a while with such pathetic movies to appreciate the well-made ones.... the movie is about a simple constable of Punjab,nihaal singh(sunny deol) who is too sweet and innocent to be believed. the villain is played by kamaal khan by the name of romeo who is an international hit-man who kills a priest after doing an act of terrorism(i thought the character was supposed to be smart).romeo comes to apna Punjab on a mission and when nihaal singh tries to arrest him(for not having a revolver license) he fools him and escapes crossing the border effortlessly(wow!!!romeo should be given full points for fooling the security of both sides of the border).nihaal is suspended on account of helping the terrorist.as nihaal singh is the only one who has seen romeo , his services are asked for by none other than the FBI but apna nihaal wants to take romeo back to India and with the help of a female(Indian) FBI agent who is more interested in shedding her clothes than doing her duty, manages to do that. the movie is a drag and the scenes where nihaal's mom keeps on falling down every time nihaal bumps into the female FBI agent is plainly stupid and unexplainable. at the end of the day the movie does'not make sense and the humor is anything but funny.sunny deol should take a break and reconsider how he wants to take his career ahead. kamaal khan is promising in certain scenes. the woman in the movie provide the required glamor and flesh. simply a very avoidable movie.


Sunny Deol tries comedy for the first time ever in Jo Bole So Nihaal, and he is successful at this, as he gives witty remarks and street talks the FBI (which he calls 'Fully Bewakoof Insan')! As you watch the movie, you will come to realize that Sunny's character, Havaldar Nihaal Singh, is the only smart character in the movie, so if you ever want to watch this film, do it for Sunny. I also like the 'No If! No But! Sirf Jat!' Sunny continues to be amazing in action, and now he adds comedy to his list. Although it is understandable why the movie became controversial, there was no intention of hurting anyone. Sunny was just being funny. The film also has its thrills and fun scenes, although the climax could have been better, but the boat chase in the Everglades was brilliant. If you want laughs, then just sit back and relax and enjoy!


The movie is supposed to be a comedy, and does somewhat average.

Don't expect this to be a great movie or take things seriously then u'll be thoroughly disappointed.

The movie starts well. Nihal Singh a policeman of Punjab gets the chance to grab international terrorist "Romeo". But he is so innocent he believes in Romeo's story and romeo escapes. nihal singh has to catch romeo for this is the only way he can recover his and family's prestige.

so he comes to newyork to catch "romeo".

the comedy was good at the start but it dragged after that. The heroine and the vamp are dump and show a lot, as it is supposed to be.

See the movie with full timepass mode.


Director: Rahul Rawail

Starring: Sunny Deol, Kamaal Khan, Thomas Umer Tevana, Nupur Mehta and Shilpi Sharma Music: Anand Raj Anand

Very nice Movies, i have watched it in cinema over south west London, THE story was nice with the songs, but i am concerned about the ban in India.

'Jo Bole So Nihaal' is the story of a naive constable of Punjab police named Nihaal Singh, played by Sunny Deol. He has been bestowed with love from elders and youngsters alike. He is soft at heart but hard at work. But, his plain nature makes him fall a prey to easy tactics.

And, it is where Romeo (Kamaal Khan), the dreaded mercenary, takes advantage of him. He uses Nihaal Singh to escape from law. Once out of bars, he goes on a killing spree from country to country. Back home, all hell loses on Nihaal as every one believes that it was he who helped Romeo to escape

Excellent movie you should all watch it.

Saibhy


It is sweet funny movies, i don no why it is banned in Punjab? It hasn't got anything religious to offend someone. SUNNY DEOL is cool as always whether it is action or comedy, he should be the KING of Bollywood not that smoker Shah Rukh. Next project for sunny should be a role as a father. The second one i would like to see all three brothers, one sister and their mom and dad to do a movie together. I hope they will. Anyways, you should watch this movie to see other side of Sunny Deol which is comedy. He is as good in comedy as he is in his dialogues. Jo Bole So Nihal is not what i expected, i thought this will be a movie for grown ups. it still is worth to watch, a very good time pass. If you got funny sights in your life, you should not ignore this movie.


He is CUTE, He is ADORABLE, He is a MAN ON A MISSION, WHO IS HE? Nihaal Singh (Sunny Deol), an honest and immensely lovable constable, from Punjab.

A chance encounter with Romeo (KAMAAL KHAN), changes his life forever. Romeo is an ambitious mercenary who moves from country to country spreading a chain of terror. He uses Nihaal Singh's innocence to make his escape from the hands of the law.

Nihaal is branded a traitor who helped a terrorist escape, he is suspended from his job, he is ridiculed and his family faces the wrath of the entire village.

While our own PUNJAB DA PUTTAR is being castigated and humiliated in his village... WHERE IS ROMEO ??????? Romeo is spreading his tentacles of terror all over the world and has finally reached the land of opportunities the BIG APPLE.......... New York City in the US of A.

The US of A is now his lay ground wherein he is playing with the lives of hundreds of Innocent citizens.

The F.B.I. is desperately looking for Romeo, because of his activities, and also intelligence reports gathered by them, speak about a possibility of an organization hiring the services of Romeo to assassinate the President of the United States of America!!! However, there is one huge problem........ Romeo is a man without a face!!! No one in the world knows what he looks like.

No one except Nihaal Singh.

The FBI takes Nihaal Singh to New York to help them put an end to Romeo's nefarious activities. Nihaal Singh on reaching New York agrees to identify Romeo but on one condition - he will first bring Romeo to his hometown in Punjab to clear his name, bring back his lost glory, redeem his family Honor, and then hand him over to the American authorities.

The FBI refuses because they want Romeo.... Nihaal Singh refuses because........... the FBI refuses because............... Nihaal Singh refuses because................. the FBI refuses because.................

What happens when this Catch 22 situation arises? What happens when a Cute and Adorable villager from Punjab unleashes his "PUNJABI PUNCH" on the streets of New York ? An entertaining choppy and cheerful roller coaster ride! Fasten your seat belts, as you follow Nihaal Singh on a bumpy ride from the sleepy lanes of Moga to the fast and furious streets of New York.


Watch out for this movie. This movie is Da Bomb. You have to go see it to have a lot of fun. Sunny is funny. Kamaal khan as an actor has done a commendable job. Shilpi Sharma is cute.Gary Churchwell sucks big time.....how did he even get into the set?

Rahul Rawail has done an awesome job with th movie. The treatment is amazing. The movie has been beautifully shot in NYC and Florida.

Hats off to N.R.Pachisia for giving us another great movie. The action and comedy is worth waiting for. Action has been done by a Hollywood guy...The movie has been shot very well in the US. Go watch this movie at a theatre near you .It's worth every penny.


I saw this piece on local Animefest and I tell you what. I honestly thought my head will blow. Such seemingly never-ending torrent of originality and imagination is truly unprecedented. There are numerous animation techniques mixed together, loads of standard anime exaggeration (no manga though), psychedelic trips, serious issues and silly sarcastic humor. There's no way an intelligent non-shallow adult would not like this masterpiece. Consider yourself as unprepared for what you will see but be ready to be surprised when you do and mentally exhausted once you did.

By the way, describing the plot of Mind Game would be utterly stupid. It's a mind game alright, you will get the message one way or another.

Straight 10/10


Wow. What can I say? I was truly blown away by this movie. Winner of the Noburo Ofuji award (the most prestigious award in Japan for an animated film), this film has unfortunately only had a very limited release in Japan (although it is playing in theaters again since winning the award). The director, Masaaki Yuasa, has previously done critically acclaimed animation work on other series, and helped create the equally mind-blowing, and somewhat disturbing short animated movie "Cat Soup".

The first thing about the movie to note is the animation. The animators worked in a collaborative effort, and included a wide range of experimental and traditional animation techniques, a bit of CGI, and even a bit of live action. Viewed as individual pieces, it can be jarring, but seen together as a whole, each piece seems to fit with each other perfectly, with the different animation forms setting the mood perfectly.

The story begins in present-day Tokyo, and follows a loser who is letting his childhood girlfriend slip away. Things take a twist to the fantastical side, as the characters embark on a surreal journey that changes everything about them. The actual elements of the plot are not really the focus of the movie..it is about setting the mood, creating the atmosphere of the characters' emotions, and drawing the viewer in to same mental journey the characters are going on, without even realizing it. The pace of the movie picks up and slows in parts, before building up to its thunderous and (literally) exhausting climax.

See this movie , if only for the virtuoso animation that you will not see in any other film. And who knows? it just might change your whole outlook on life.


I am frankly appalled to see a total of 5 comments for a movie which, and I believe most people will agree, is deserving of much, much more attention and inspection. This film is like a light at the end of a long, boring tunnel that is the general doldrum of cookie cutter animated films released year round.

At once unique, inspired, beautiful, hilarious, weird, touching, unforgettable, innovative among other words that won't do it justice: Mind Game is the definition of a GEM.

The only other movie that I can think of in the same "category" is Waking Life, another animated excursion worthy of your time and attention. But even if you hated Waking Life, Mind Game is so different you might love it. Mind Game sort of takes Waking Life's "all over the place" style (cartoony one moment, then rotoscoped the next) then adds a story and characters and a LOT of humor.

Seriously, you owe it to yourself to seek this one out. My new agenda will be to show this to as many people as I possibly can. Help spread the word: Mind Game is cool.


And I thought the avant-garde style of animation and story telling was going to take its routinely long hiatus with the marvelous Triplets of Belleville, but I was fortunately wrong.

After reading countless reviews, certain people proclaimed their dislike for this film with little to no elaboration given, which somewhat intrigued me and pushed me further toward wanting to experience Mind Game. As an avid follower of experimental cinema and anime I rarely get rewarded with solidly evolving features, but once in a while I strike gold and get to travel through the medium of rich expressionism dealing with both real life and fictional events in the utmost fascinating fashion. Mind Game is the recent treasure and a great example of such artistry, fusing stories of love, self worth and other qualities of life, without forcing conclusions or values, but merely giving you a chance to reflect on your life or simply enjoy that of the characters.

The main conflict of this film deals with a young man named Nishi, who lacks courage to do what he really wants in life. After a rather fatal turn of events he gets a second chance at life and love. So he embarks on a journey to face things he otherwise wouldn't, but his personal rediscovery takes place in the weirdest of places.

Aside from feeling a genuinely exalting rush with its almost mosaic imagery and perfectly fitting music, I felt something else while viewing Mind Game and I attained a certain notion afterwards, which I don't see worth sharing, since I believe everyone who'll give this a watch will acquire on their own terms, levels and depth.


This film is beyond anything that has been made to date, both in Japan and the U.S. It is not a conventional narrative, yet the narrative clips along like a kayaker on speed. It seesaws from tight-tension drama to dreamy atmospheric visualscapes to video-game style song and dance routines! The overall plot is unimportant yet is completely engaging and satisfying. The characters come across as real people, and the shifts in perspective and personality heighten our understanding of each character as they face their ordeals. We get a sense of time both passing and standing still- which is the true mark of a genius of film: The ability to wrap us up in his concept of time and carry us along breathlessly.

If you like shiny robots, plots about strange bio-computer viruses that mutate people into shiny robots, and silly relationship dramas about high school kids with strange powers, please avoid this film. If, however, you appreciate innovative stream-of-consciousness film-making, fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants pacing, and so-sloppy-its-tight design, get yourself this DVD!!!! (Fans of FLCL take note!) Its hard to find in the U.S. right now (July 17th 2005) but it is poised to explode.

An additional note of interest is the fact that Matthew Minami is the voice of the old man- Jiisan. (You may remember him from the clips of him interviewing Bill Murray on Matthew's Best Hit TV that were featured in Lost in Translation...)


This movie is really what the title says it is. At first I thought the title was bad, since it didn't say anything about the film, but in the end I realized it does.

If you are looking for a normal story (you know, with a start, an end, a punchline) you are not going to find it in this anime. The animation is coarse, not like the classic Japanese animation, a bit like Tokyo Godfathers, but even more symbolic. So why is this film so great?

Because of the feeling. Plot and animation separately don't make this great, but together they do. The moral of it all is that you must live your life to the fullest and enjoy everything life throws at you, since it is all you have. No one else is going to live your life or enjoy what you have.

My thoughts are that this story is deeply personal to Robin Nishi and, even if a lot of the symbols in it can be singled out and understood, most of it you are left to guess. An argument for this is the torrent of animation sequences that don't make sense in the beginning of the movie, repeated at the end of the movie and suddenly making sense. I believe that is the greatest innovation of this anime.

Bottom line: this is an art film. This time I mean it in a good sense :). Perhaps because it has a positive view on live and it is more accessible. Anyway, if you are ready for its message and are in the mood for a fun carpe diem story, you gotta see this. If you've enjoyed Tokyo Godfathers, then you will also like this movie.


I just saw Mind Game on YouTube after AMID in Cartoon Brew recommended it and I've gotta tell you: You have not and most likely will never see anything like it again! Initially seeming to be a tale about Nishi and his unrequited crush on Myon since childhood, this anime goes in all kaleidoscopic directions that leaves you breathless all the while. If you're tired of all the mostly cookie-cutter CGI features that have bombarded features for the past few years, and want something more unique in Japanese animation, Mind Game fits the bill perfectly! All the animation techniques that have ever existed seem to come into play here and the music score will take you on the wildest trip possible! So on that note, seek Mind Game on YouTube or wherever you can find it.


The start of the film is a bit rough,character behavior, but as it moves it along it just gets more amazing. I have seen many Japanese anime movies, Miyazaki being my favorite. Mind Games raises the bar visually, not beyond Miyazaki, but for anime in general. I am amazed that this film has not toured the U.S, by now. Anyone who loves anime must see this film. The use of color is extraordinary and seems to build into ever more wondrous neon kaleidoscope. the story itself is also very well constructed, full of compelling characters, some suspense and a great ending. Life in the whale is such a creative element. I'm now trying to find a DVD copy of this film for my collection. If you have a chance, be sure to see this amazing film.


I saw this movie at the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival "www.bifff.org" in March 2006

This movie is a real kick in the face, a ballet of music, feelings and poetic vision of life. Something between David Lynch and The Yellow Submarine of the Beattles.

The hero is falling into desperation and will meet god for a little interview.

Please take that ride ! You will not regret it. This movie is full of pleasure and humor and you will probably cry or laugh ...

Thanks BB


Like most people here, I saw Mind Game on a festival - in my case, Melbourne International Film Festival in August 2006 and was simply blown away. I am no fan of anime (I wasn't before Mind Game), because the ones I have seen before seemed either too violent (Akira) or difficult to appreciate because of the Japanese cultural peculiarities (Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke).

Mind Game seems a blend of Japanese and Western cinematography with few cultural barriers for westerners. I believe there are influences by Coen brothers (the hilarious episode with milk vs. "Mr. Mussburger is such a nice man, I give him double stitch anyways"), Run Lola Run, even Amelie. Perhaps the plot is inspired by the book of Job? Add to this Japanese imagination and leaving space for interpretation.

While the plot is inventive and complex enough, it is not what makes the film, in my opinion. It is the ability to focus on tiniest details and create, well, a detailed consistent absurdist universe.

Hopefully, it will be easier to find future creations of the same authors.


"This is one surreal mess!" says one character in the film and, yessir, how right she is as weird doesn't even begin to describe the highly experimental anime "Mind Game," Maasaki Yuasa's adaptation of Robin Nishi's manga. It's simultaneously an assault to the senses (Oh, what bright colors! Oh what loud drum rolls!) and an assault to logic (What the hell did they just do?) though it's not to say it's not a hilariously entertaining trip.

The film's narrative -- if you can even call it that -- involves the struggling comic artist Nishi (voiced by Koji Imada) who has just met his childhood girlfriend Myon (Sayaka Maeda) and they catch things up in her father's yakitori pub where they come face to face with two Yakuza members. Nishi gets killed in the process but in a highly bizarre encounter with God in the afterlife, he is brought to life, manages to kill both gangsters, and makes a run for it with Myon and her sister Yan (Seiko Takuma) as they are pursued by other gang members. The three are then swallowed whole by a giant whale. Trapped inside with a man who has spent the last 30 years inside the whale's belly, Nishi, Myon and Yan finally get a chance what true happiness means for them.

A Dali painting by way of a French New Wave film, the wildly unpredictable head trip of the aptly titled "Mind Game" beguiles all logical conventions, presented in dumbfounding temporal edits, inebriating close-up transitions, and varying degrees of crude yet proficient artworks. Unsuspecting viewers are likely to be thrown off by Yuasa's helter-skelter bombast (an outlook substantiated by not a few walkouts from the film's screening) but with exactly the right frame of mind, notwithstanding a sometimes bloated feeling courtesy of the film clocking at a little over 100 minutes, this heckuva kaleidoscopic joyride should delight as it tramples all cinematic formalities and shows, should you decide to break the rules, how to do it with style.


I think 'Mind Game' is one of those movies that you either really like or really hate, but never in the middle. I spent first 20 minutes itching to turn it off since the animation style didn't seem all that pleasant, but then things just kept happening and before I knew it I was really immersed in it.

'Mind Game' has everything: irony, action, humour , even romance; and it touches practically every aspect of human life, going from relationships to domestic problems. All that covered in psychedelic imagery leaves a great impression.

You might experience various emotions watching this movie but one thing for sure, you won't feel like you've wasted your time when it's over.


My colleagues at work often question my taste in film: they cannot understand why I waste my time championing low budget horror when I could be watching the latest blockbuster to wow the masses at the local multiplex. After watching Aquanoids, I'm beginning to wonder why I bother myself.

Set on a small island off the Californian coast, Aquanoids stars Laura Nativo as Vanessa, a beautiful diver who, after being attacked by a hideous fish-man, attempts to warn the locals of the danger that lurks in the surrounding waters. This upsets the nasty officials of the island, who are afraid that Vanessa will scare away tourists and upset plans for the building of a shopping complex.

A shoddy mish-mash of themes and ideas stolen from the likes of Jaws, Humanoids From The Deep, and The Creature From The Black Lagoon, Aquanoids is absolutely awful in almost every way imaginable: the direction is clumsy and amateurish; the script is childish, poorly written, and highly unoriginal; the editing shows no hint of restraint, utilising every gimmicky fade, wipe and split-screen effect possible; the monster make-up and gore is cheap and laughable; the special effects are unconvincing; and the acting is uniformly awful. Even some welcome female nudity cannot stop this one from being a total waste of time.

Whilst watching this lamentable mess, I noticed that one character had the surname McClure, whilst another was named Brucepossible references to actor Doug McClure (from Humanoids From The Deep) and Bruce the Shark (from Jaws). There is also a scene where several characters discuss their favourite watery monster movies, mentioning Deep Star Six, Leviathan, Tentacles, Alligator 2 and Roger Corman in the process. This leads me to believe that the makers of Aquanoids are genuine fans of horror and B-movies. If this is the case, then those involved should hang their heads in shame for giving us this abysmal addition to the genre.


Very poor, ameraturish, and incompetent monster movie about a small community that gets attacked by killer humanoid-esque creatures living in aquatic caves. Some decent gore, but the film is so poorly made that it's hard to enjoy. Don't bother watching this film, it is boring, slow, and sports some really bad acting. What a shame. Could have been THE monster movie of 2003.


What another guilty pleasure this is! And a truly incredible one! COMBAT SHOCK is not what you'd expect from Troma, but it doesn't matter anyway. This is a strong and powerful account of Frankie, a former American P.O.W. in Saigon facing a harsh dilemma of society and family matters back home following the war. It's all based on true experiences with very disturbing levels of detail, and does become nerve-shattering. There possibly has never been a film that could deliver a high amount of intensifying power like this before, even outweighing its minimal plot and graphic violence. While some will find the infant looking like a stupid clone of E.T., others will worry about its povertic and dying state, but the character becomes a victim in its notorious shocking ending. This was the first "Tromatized" movie I've seen, and it sure ain't like the rest of 'em! A rock solid independent outing from Buddy G, whose brother plays the leading role as Frankie. Low budget, but delivers powerful meaning. Asks the all-important question of the hour: "Where will you be tomorrow?". Highly recommended!


One of the strongest post-Vietnam movies I have ever seen. Like an unofficial sequel to Coppola's Apocalypse Now, the movie starts off with a nightmarish dream sequence that eventually passes over into a real nightmare. This is a slow-paced journey into poverty, misery and the psychological scars that mark the survivors of the horrors of war. With every frame, the situation grows worse for the people in the movie. And up until the "grand finale", you find yourself wondering when hell will break loose.

It must be pointed out that this is a low budget production. But with every dollar missing, the crew have managed to add feeling. This is a strong movie, and you'll either love it or hate it.

I love it.


"I can never tell where one torture ends and the other begins."

Extremely depressing parable of human misery, poverty, and drug addiction on the rotted, deteriorating streets of Staten Island where we follow a day in the life of a deeply troubled Vietnam vet who may or may not have slaughtered an entire village during that conflict and how such horrifying memories torment him. The urban squalor and his own life's difficulties(..finding a job, being evicted, dealing with a pushy, constantly bitching wife, a hungry handicapped infant, owing money to drug- pushers) resemble the nightmarish terrors of his past in the war. His descent into madness will more than likely leave you truly unsettled and repulsed, it's not a pretty picture at all. Ricky Giovinazzo, as the vet who roams throughout the decaying filthy streets, is unforgettable in the lead. Director Buddy Giovinazzo paints a very distressing, uncompromising portrait of an urban hell where the undesirables wander in an aimless, squalid existence thanks to a country that has abandoned them. The final ten or so minutes, once Ricky G uses a stolen gun that had fallen from a woman's purse he had lifted(..she had stolen it from a dead junkie), will probably, unless you have an incredible tolerance for disturbing behavior, stun even the most hardened viewer into silence. The added Vietnam war footage(..proposed by Team Troma producers Kaufman and Herz)actually enhances the film, I think.

A definite word of warning, the film's final minutes contain brutal acts of truly destructive violence of an unpleasant nature. Besides the final scene, there's a very troubling sequence where a sick junkie, unable to find specific drug paraphernalia, opens a sore on his arm with an extended coat hanger so he can pour heroine into his system for a fix. The film features Ricky G meeting such people as a young girl being used by a pimp as a hooker(..this scumbag is the type who orders them around, often resorting to slapping among other acts of violence to keep his girls in line), and a drug-pusher with two thugs who abuse junkies for kicks(..what happens to these foul miscreants will probably be met with applause).The grit, grime, graffiti and garbage of the unflattering Staten Island locations chosen for the film leave a lasting impression of hopelessness and dispair. The diseased baby(..a victim of Ricky G's effects from Agent Orange)is truly a haunting creation(..it's whining especially grating) and the squibs used when the gun violence erupts(..not to mention the bloody carnage of torn apart corpses in the Vietnam scenes)are quite impressive considering the very miniscule budget.


This is further proof that the films Troma distributes are far better than the films they make themselves. Don't be fooled by the cover depicting a "Rambo"-style bloodbath. This is a grim and harrowing portrait of a Vietnam vet's hell. Sure, the production values aren't great, but they add to the raw feel of the film. This isn't a film that'll uplift you (with the exception of feeling happy this isn't your life depicted). However, it is a powerful if impoverished film that must be seen.

There isn't much explicit violence for the first hour or so (with the exception of some Vietnam flashbacks). It depicts a veteran roaming the streets trying to make money yet maintain a sense of morality. He finds it difficult to be a good human being when he looks at the scum around him. He's in debt to a local loan shark, his only friend is a junkie, his wife nags him, and his baby was deformed by agent orange. Between what he has to take and his memories of Saigon, he finally snaps at the end.

This isn't an exploitation film as many may assume. Its obvious the director wanted to create something heartfelt and realistic about the trauma experienced by vets. He couldn't get anyone to finance it except Troma, who were known for schlock such as "Class of Nuke 'Em High". The baby is another notable aspect. Outside of "Eraserhead", there isn't a more disturbing deformed child caught on camera. The ending when he finally loses (reminding one of "Taxi Driver") is predictable but still powerful. There are scenes however that subtly show the main character to be a multi-dimensional person with feelings. He tries to talk to a child prostitute and help her only to be attacked by her pimp. Most distressing of all is the scene in which he calls his father (who thought he died in Saigon) to ask for money. Some have criticized the Vietnam flashbacks as being painfully low budget and obviously shot in New Jersey. They certainly don't look accurate but they do have a dreamlike feel that adds to the dementia of the character. Overall, this isn't a perfect film but is a memorable one. (7/10)


It makes me laugh to think of people who are used to watching normal Hollywood style movies renting this movie with popcorn at hand, ready to see a movie about a Vietnam vet! If you're not used to seeing gritty, no budget 16mm depraved amateur student film sickness disguised as a movie then you shouldn't watch it. If you're a fan of low budget horror films with a very sick ending then you should definitely watch it. Personally I like this rare and sick film...maybe I need to go see my doctor...


where "Requiem for a Dream" was the best movie in the category "drug movies", i think that this one certainly can competitor with other movies for best "post-war drama".

not that this is a perfect movie. it is still a low budget movie, a very low budget movie in fact, but that gives this movie just that specific feel and gritty look. really nothing is uplifting here. it's a story about a man who has experienced Vietnam, where he was tortured and went berserk. now, back home, where he lives with his wife and his deformed son, thanks to the fact that he has been in touch with Agent Orange, he just cannot get his life back on the rails and this movie portrays one day where everything seems to get as worse as it can be. we follow him from the morning, where he has again a terrible nightmare about Vietnam (he has hallucinations and flashbacks throughout the day) until the evening, where the film ends in a shocking way.

the acting is maybe not always top notch, but every character in this movie feels totally believable. the special effects and gore are low budget, but again believable and effective. maybe that's why the Troma people decided to pick this movie up and started to sell this movie as a Troma movie. or maybe they were looking for at least 1 movie so that they could say "hey, we are also producing serious flicks!!" you can say what you want, but i think it was great to give this movie a chance, it deserves it.

not a commercial movie, no, a very dark, convincing story about a man who lives a life we all want to avoid. this is not going to appeal to every person, but please, give it a shot. when you do so, you're in for a movie experience you will remember.


I love this movie!!! Not even though it is cheap and rough-made but BECAUSE of it. In a Big-Budget-Box-Office-Seller this story would not work.

Combat Shock's style is very aggressive and direct. The way of telling the story is very slow. There's no beautiful cinematography. The story is simple. The actors are not very pretty.

Nevertheless it worked. It is very disturbing!! A good-mood-killer!!! But why are we watching movies??? Not to see!! But to FEEL!!! I want to cry, to laugh, to get shocked or to disgust. I want to feel that, what the actors seem to feel. Even if they feel bad. Most movies with a "just-want-to-entertain"-intention are a waste of time. Last but not least they will bore you.

This movie doesn't!! If you're able to watch a movie without counting goofs or discussing the cheap F/X it will be a journey into the land of hopelessness.

In the latest movie directed by Buddy Giovinazzo ("No way home")he had more money, a better crew, an excellent cast and better technical conditions. And it became a good movie. But the strength and roughness of Combat Shock has gone away.

Sometimes it is better when a director has no money.


Right from the start it is apparent that the film is very cheaply made. The initial Vietnam scenes were filmed in New Jersey, but it doesn't look like Vietnam at all and looks very amateur, but it is strangled by it's minute budget. Having said that it is a worthy attempt. The film features the director's brother Ricky Giovinazzo as Frankie, a Vietnam veteran returning home to find a very bleak and depressing New Jersey, where he wanders around aimlessly almost throughout the entire film. He lives in a squalid flat with his wife and deformed baby (which looks like a cross between E.T and the baby from Eraserhead, though not nearly as believable). That is all there really is to describe, just a confused and desperate guy who is on the edge and eventually has to explode, which he does in the film's shocking ending.


The only thing I hate about this film is the idiotic cover which pretends to be a Rambo rip-off. The film itself shows the No Future life of a Vietnam-Vet in where he really gets pushed to the No Return stage so he has to rescue his family from their hopeless situation. If you watch this film based on the cover or the Troma-logo,don't bother, chances are that you feel rather drained after viewing.


Propably the best movie of Troma inc. Some guy gets nightmares and bad traumas from Vietnam. This movie tell us about that guy, as a matter of fact one (and last) day of his life. Contains lots of gore and nightmare-sessions, what are truly incredible. Truly classic!


Come on! This "shock" film is nothing but a series of rip-offs and stereotypes and is pure TRASH! The film tries to present a bleak look at "Viet-Nam Vets" who can't fit back into society following their combat experiences. Themes stolen from Midnight Cowboy (bleak New York City), The Taxi Driver (crazed vet shoots it out with three thugs at the end), Rolling Thunder (crazed and disturbed P.O.W. haunted by wartime nightmares), and Soldier Blue (hacked up bodies, severed heads, in a war setting) are chopped together to make this dull, and boring mess. Each character is too over-the-top and all come across as cartoonish. The acting is terrible and stiff. Honestly, the whole cast looks like heroin addicts. The mutant baby was borrowed from the horror film, It's Alive!. I'm sure the movie was made with good intentions to show the plight of Vets exposed to Agent Orange and Shell Shock, but it just doesn't get it's message across. Instead of wasting your money and time on this trash, you should rent The Best Years of Our Lives or Coming Home.


Combat Shock (1986) is a hard-hitting, disturbing film with some very strong scenes, it's about a young man called Frankie who fought in the war, and now hes living back in New York in a slum of an apartment, with his girlfriend and deformed baby!!! Frankie has no job or money to support his family and he also owes money to the local drug lords, Frankie is in a bad way for sure!! We follow Frankie around as he starts to go crazy with visions of the terrible sights he saw in Nam, he wanders aimlessly and thinks about turning to crime in a desperate bid to lead a normal life!!! Combat Shock is actually a Troma film, and it's definitely one of their best, but be warned there is various violence and gory images throughout the movie, and the climax is very disturbing and horrific, be warned!!! I give this movie 7/10, well worth a viewing.


The first 10 minutes (first war scenes) or so was so boring I stopped watching at the first time. Then I gave it a second try and fastforwarded it to 13 minutes from the beginning. There started a real surprise. The rest of the film was actually REALLY good. For most of the film I thought the war scenes/flashback felt a bit out of place, and I thought they had to be made just to get the financing. Most of the film they feel more like nightmares than memories from some actual events.But in the end every element get its own place in the entity of the film. Everything in this film is good, in many places even ingenious, or real art, true self expression, whatever you want to call it. Good acting, good casting, good sounds&music, good editing, and REALLY beautiful photography, really beautiful "on location"-imagery all through the film. Most of the film is more like poetry than linear storytelling. The voice-over was best and most justified that I remember seeing ever in any film. Also the non-actors were "used" really good in this film. This was also the first serious Troma-film I've ever seen (maybe the only one there is, I don't know?). From this movie you can see, that "eighties/seventies"-type of synthetisizer music and it's sounds can be something else than ridiculous ancient history, when used in the right places. The ending is somehow predictable, but it's still shocking. To me the ending was also a bit of a disappointment. I don't mean in an artistic or film-artistic way, but mentally and personally. Definitely recommended for the interested.


Not really fair to call this a Troma film because Troma bought the rights to distribute this low budget film but had nothing to do with it's creation. It was already complete when Troma bought the rights to it. Troma movies are gleefully bad, in fact, CLASS OF NUKEM HIGH is the worst movie that I have ever seen and I've seen many bad movies. COMBAT SHOCK is both a disturbing, boring, awful movie AND a gritty, ultra-realistic, shocking movie about the difficulty many Vietnam vets had getting jobs and fitting back into society. Though it is slow paced, I had difficulty taking my eyes off of it. It is rare to see cinema so stark and grim. The subject is dealt with in movies like FIRST BLOOD and THE DEAD PRESIDENTS but these, like many other movies are very sensationalistic unlike real life. COMBAT SHOCK is down to earth and shows the realistic effects of living in poverty and squallor in a drug-ridden neighborhood. I give it a 7/10. I found the lead character to be a sympathetic and likeable character trapped in a hell on earth that seems inescapable. If you think you have problems, it hard to imagine that they might be worse.


First of all here are some of the comments others have made about this movie: "gritty", "disturbing", "one of the best movies of all time", "don't watch this alone", "powerful".

Here are my comments on this movie: "ridiculous", "hilarious", "pile of feces", "made with a two dollar budget", "if any other human being is willing to watch this movie with you, murder them".

spoilers** I can't begin to say how many positive reviews I've read about this movie. If you haven't seen it and just read the reviews you'll think this is the most gripping and disturbing war movie ever made. If you have seen it you'll think some retarded apes got hold of a camera, an army-man Halloween costume, and the worst human actor in the world and made a movie in one day. This movie is so bad it's indescribable. So I'll describe it a little.

Right off the bat you'll be blown away by the horrible production value and the ridiculous acting in this movie. The first scene shows the main character having flashbacks of Vietnam. And by Vietnam I mean the woods behind the director's house. The set in no way looks like Vietnam, and this dude in no way looks like a soldier. I know the movie was shot in the 70's, but I can't stress enough how bad it looks. Movies like The Shining and Taxi Driver were also made in the 70's and they still look great. So this pile of garbage doesn't get a pass just because of when it was made. Also like I said the acting is bad and I'm way too lazy to break down why, but if you watch it you'll know that it's bad and you don't like it.

So anyway, this guy is in 'Nam and he runs into some Vietnamese and he unloads his machine gun rambo-style into some random 'Nam girl. This of course pisses off her family so when he sees this he throws his gun down and runs away like a true soldier. But they quickly catch up with him and begin beating him in some sort of real time slow motion. Meaning I don't think the director knew how to use slow motion effects so he told the actors to move at half speed, which is pretty obvious when they "bash" him in the face with the butt of a gun by gently tapping him on the head.

Next thing you know the guy is in New York with his wife and crying baby. His wife complains that he neglects her and the baby and you can't blame him when you see what his wife looks like or what the baby looks like for that matter. His wife isn't a mutant and his baby might be. For the first couple minutes the baby is hidden and you're supposed to assume it's a normal non-mutant baby, but then his wife holds the baby in the light and you see that their baby is in fact a rubber doll with a monster face. What it's supposed to be is a mutant created by this soldier's Agent Orange tainted seed, but what it really is is the worst special effects creature in the history of film. Seeing this infant is supposed to elicit a horrific gasp from the viewer, but the odds are much better that seeing it will make the viewer press pause so they can laugh at it for a while and maybe take a cell phone pic for their wallpaper. The funny thing is other reviewers commented on the sadness or disturbingness of this baby as if it could be taken halfway seriously. Words can't do justice to how hilarious and lame this baby is. The only thing sad about the baby is the fact that this movie isn't a comedy and it's not supposed to make you laugh when you see it.

The whole plot of the movie is this guy comes back from 'nam and wanders the streets of NY trying to find work to pay off the debts he owes to some street hoods. I'd have to say this is the most boring part of the movie and yes I realize I just said it's the entire plot. What I'm getting at is the entire movie is boring and terrible. I'd have to say the best part of the movie is the catchy tune they keep looping over and over as he walks the gritty streets. If there were a soundtrack to this debacle I would buy it just for that gritty elevator music.

While wandering around he encounters some old friend of his who's a drug addict and other people that you don't care about and can't take seriously.

Then as a gift to anyone watching, the movie comes to an end when the guy can't take it anymore and blows his brains out in his apt. Hopefully you didn't put one in the chamber yourself and end your life before this point in the movie. Once again this lame ending is in no way "gritty" or "shocking". Also it should be clear to anyone who's made it this far in my review that I fast forwarded through huge chunks of the movie.

So in summary this movie is indeed a nightmare for the viewer. However not in the way the director intended. Rather than shocking you or surprising you this movie will make you poop your pants in sheer amazement at how bad it is. I suppose if the whole point of this movie was to make the viewer relate to the horror and isolation that soldiers felt from being in Viet Nam then it did succeed at that. After sitting through this mess I definitely feel like I went through enough atrocities to be awarded a Purple Heart.


Originally titled "American Nightmare" and released by Troma in the States, this is a grim, depressing, heartfelt portrait of one Vietnam vet's rage. Unemployed, penniless, and father of a deformed infant (possibly the result of Agent Orange spraying), leading man Frankie (Rick Giovinazzo) walks the streets of New Jersey like a shambling corpse and encounters various miscreants as troubled as himself. Harassed by his fat, complaining wife (a great performance from Veronica Stork), chased by thugs he owes money to, and threatened with eviction from an apartment that looks like it should have been condemned a decade ago, Frankie finally snaps and begins a campaign to erase his problems forever.

Giovinazzo's triumph is his believable creation of a bleak, hopeless, fascinating world, a world that eats its weak, neglects its old, and turns its back on its history. New Jersey, as seen through the lens of cinematographer Stella Varveris, is a metaphor for the rot in America's soul, a wasteland of trodden-on ambitions, poison dreams found in needles, and lingering death and disease.

The film employs Vietnam war footage, brutal recreations of Frankie's tour of duty and a pulsing, disturbing, electronic score by lead actor Rick Giovinazzo. The film's low budget is totally appropriate for the grim subject matter and the stark interior lighting never allows the poverty to be romanticized.

The performances are all excellent and one sequence, where Frankie calls his broke father for a favor, is shattering on so many levels.

"Combat Shock" is a very powerful achievement.


Usually, I like to be 'troma'tized. From the "Toxic Avengers" to"Rabid Grannies", "Cannibal! The musical"... I really enjoy these movies and their fun atmospheres. And I also enjoy low-budget ones too. But this time, something is wrong.

It's the story of Frankie, a war vet, 'troma'tized -sorry, traumatized- by Saigon and the War. He's jobless, has a very 'troubled' mind and needs to take care of his wife and their abnormal baby (thanks to the chemical weapons daddy recieved). His only 'friends' are junkies and gangs he owes money.

Honestly, this movie is bad. It's unfair to call it THE worst movie, but it's true it's boring, classical (the ending is soooo obvious) and really glaucous. The same glaucousness as in "Henry, portrait of a serial killer" or "Cannibal Man", but this time instead of adding something to the movie and its tone, it doesn't work and you just want it to stop more quickly. The FX are pretty well made (the baby is surprising, as an ET cousin), the few gore is well made and the Vietnam's views could have been worst. But it can't save the whole movie. And the music is the most irritating I've ever heard. I know it's a low-budget, but still. If you want a good one, go for "Deadbeat at Dawn" by the excellent Jim Van Bebber instead.

4/10


I didn't think so, LOL!!! Are you kidding me? Combat Shock is hands down, the most depressing movie I have ever seen, yet laughing just kind of came natural, but I would imagine you would need a rather dark sense of humor to see any humor in this at all, but believe me, it is totally there, it's just that it's overshadowed by the morbid, nightmarish, grittiness of it all. Never has the portrayal of the effects of war and poverty come off so devastatingly hopeless. Not only dealing with memories of war and other atrocities, but having to live in filthy Staten Island, having to support a freakish infant who will apparently never get strong enough to grow or even age and a wife with a nagging voice and repulsive physical appearance, not to mention bills, along with debts to a guy who wants to kill you, no food, no work and zero money, never mind the fact that your'e "this close" to going insane. To me, Combat shock is funny in a Blood Sucking Freaks kind of way, just a little more subtle, or maybe it's the soundtrack that makes you feel like you're watching something humorous, almost like the cheap-sounding repetitive theme song is taunting the shell-shocked Vietnam vet as he walks up and down Staten Island looking for something... anything positive.

Just to break it down, Combat Shock makes Taxi Driver look like Mr. Deeds. Troma really struck gold with this one. Recommended to anyone looking for a depressing nightmare of a swell time. If you're looking for something more upbeat and redeeming, try out Eddie Murphy's next project. I'm sure it'll be cute. Even though I feel they could have taken the shock value just a tad further. I give Combat Shock 9 stars, for possibly being one of the top 5 most powerful films of all time.


You have read all about the plot, so here is something a little deeper. I just wanted to clear up a few things, I have read a lot of comments on this film and read it was filmed in New Jersey. This is incorrect. This movie was shot in my neighborhood of Port Richmond on Staten Island, New York. Google it, its not NJ, guys. I work a block away from the rail yard that is shown very often in the film, and actually hung out down there in my teens. Because of this, the movie really hit home and stayed with me for a while. I just watched Combat Shock for the first time in 2008 at 28yrs old. And Port Richmond sure did look bleak back in 86, apocalyptic is more the word. I recognized most of the streets and it was depressing, and nostalgic for me to see my neighborhood in such ruins. Port Richmond ave has now populated much more, 90% by illegal immigrants. Most of the businesses that are run down in the film are now active with furniture shops, Mexican food joints and 99 cent stores. But the rail yard remains the same, though non functional for the last 20 years. A total run down abandon hole in the ground ravished with graffiti, bums and littered with empty drug baggies. I thought the film was great, and was even better being a sort of time capsule for me. I can't get this movie out of my head. It was like a window into the darkest crevices of my town, the places I would think about and fear growing up.


COMBAT SHOCK is a gritty film about the disillusion and ultimate break down of Frankie, a Vietnam vet, living in New York with his wife and "child". Frankie is basically a complete loser with no money, job, or life in general, and the film pretty much just follows him around from one depressing experience to another, until the shocking finale. COMBAT SHOCK is far too bleak for the standard audience, and as a previous reviewer noted, most people either really like, or really loathe this film. Personally, I felt it was a realistic and somber portrayal of an individual who has absolutely nothing positive going on in his life, and no real hope of a better future. If you are clinically depressed or on any type of depression medication, you should probably leave this one alone. Those who prefer more thought-provoking cinema may want to give this one a shot...8/10


This movie has got to be the worst movie I've ever had the displeasure of seeing. The acting was horrible, the story was ludicrous and to insult the audience with gray E.T. was just ridiculous. I usually like Troma films but I have to say that if I never see this movie again it will be too soon.


A former POW ( Ricky Giovinazzo) has troubled memories of his past back in Vietnam as now he's a family guy with a nagging wife and a weird deformed son in New York City. He's also looking for a job to help his family as he begins to now work for a drug dealer with a gang if he can get them the money he owes them until one day he finally snaps and gets revenge even on his wife and kid.

A disturbing, bleak and interesting action drama that feels as a mix of both genres which is also a character study in it and it's one of the more serious "Troma" distributed flicks, it's also a interesting movie as well. There's plenty of drug use, gore and violence to propel the film especially on the troubled former hero of the picture with his nature of course and it's one of the most underrated war-related movies yet that has gained a cult following.

A must see movie!

Also recommended: "Men Behind The Sun", "Saving Private Ryan", "Rambo Trilogy", "Troma's War", "Red Dawn", "Day of the Dead", "The Toxic Avenger", "Hostel", "Cannibal Apocalypse", "The Exterminator", "Taxi Driver", "Eraserhead", "Dawn of the Dead (1978 and 2004)", "Cannibal Ferox", "Surf Nazis Must Die", "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer", "Eraserhead", "Cabin Fever", "Full Metal Jacket", "Apocalypse Now", "The Hills Have Eyes ( 1977 and 2006)", "Mother's Day", "Caligula", "Uncle Sam", "Cemetery Man", "Black Christmas", "Freddy vs. Jason", "Terror Firmer", "Jungle Holocaust" ( a.k.a. Last Cannibal World), "Mountain of the Cannibal God", "Black Hawk Down", "Born of the 4th of July", "Empire of the Sun", "Basket Case", "Reservoir Dogs", "Kill Bill", and "Battle Royale".


I have seen this movie and I don't think anyone else who has would disagree that it is the worst movie ever made. I swear that I could make a better movie with a couple of friends and a camcorder. It's supposed to be about how some Vietnam vet had problems after coming home from war and how he was using "the vicious combat techniques of raw power and heroic behaviour he learned in Vietnam to stand up to the street scum" of New York. That is quoted from the back of the movie case - in actuality, the heroics he learned in Vietnam included shooting a Vietnamese woman, and then dropping his gun and running from other Vietnamese with sticks. In New York, he has a wife and a child that is supposed to be a product of napalm I suppose. The thing looks like E.T. - it's ridiculous. Anyway, my friends and I watch this movie and we enjoy laughing our asses off at it. Maybe you will too.