nuotio
Criticker Zealot
Member Since: 18 May 2006
Location: Finland
Recent Ratings
Check out nuotio's...
The Cycle Savages (1969) - Rated 17 Jun 2025
"A sleazy biker flick, although there's actually very little biker action in it. The film takes place in a city and it's set mostly in a couple of apartments, bar and the bikers HQ. The premise is quite ridiculous; the biker gang is afraid that Robinson's character's paintings could lead police to them and they set out to break his hands. The film has a misogynist and downbeat vibe, but it kept my attention; mainly thanks to Bruce Dern's performance as the leader of the gang."
How to Train Your Dragon (2025) - Rated 16 Jun 2025
"I'm baffled by the positive reception this is receiving. I haven't seen the animated original, but I've enjoyed films like Dragonslayer, Dragonheart, etc. This just rubbed me the wrong way from the start. The acting and the general look felt cheap and reminded me of Disney+ originals. The tone was overly comedic which hurt the film's more serious moments. It was fun to see Nick Frost on the big screen again and the film did improve as it progressed. Maybe I'll rewatch with adjusted expectations."
The Glory Stompers (1968) - Rated 12 Jun 2025
"Released between Wild Angels and Easy Rider, this is biker film is clearly below those highpoints, but still above average in the sub-genre. The cinematography is pretty good with some good locations. The plot is minimal, and the film drags occasionally. The biggest reason to watch this is Dennis Hopper, who is memorable as the leader of the "Black souls". Rest of the cast is rather forgettable. This movie serves as a nice time capsule and is worth watching for those interested in biker flicks."
Love and Death in the Garden of the Gods (1972) - Rated 11 Jun 2025
"This gets labeled as a giallo, but viewers expecting black gloved killers and high body count will be disappointed. It's clearly more ambitious and artistic than the usual Bava/Argento ripoffs, and more of a psychological drama/thriller told largely via flashbacks. The setting is a decaying mansion and its surroundings which give the film an interesting feel. Erica Blanc and Peter Lee Lawrence are good in their roles and the score and cinematography are solid. Could appeal to arthouse audiences."
Third Eye (1966) - Rated 11 Jun 2025
"A rather twisted Italian gothic horror which starts off like a generic genre entry, but turns pretty perverse during mid-point and shares similar themes with Freda's Horrible Dr. Hichcock. It's daring stuff for its era. No wonder notorious Joe D'amato made his own version (Buio Omega) years later. The ending is more conventional, but the film still remains interesting as a whole. It was also fun to see Franco Nero in an early role, although his acting occasionally goes over-the-top."
Lilo & Stitch (2025) - Rated 10 Jun 2025
"I feel that this trend of doing live-action remakes of animated films is utterly unnecessary, and the resources should be put into creating something new, but if they must be done, Lilo & Stitch '2025 is a prime example of how to do them right. It maintains the spirit of the original with well-chosen actors for the main roles. It's surprisingly emotional experience, although the ending goes a bit overboard. The CGI characters are not that special and the comedy is somewhat hit or miss."
Pit Stop (1969) - Rated 10 Jun 2025
"This is like a gritty, artistic version of the AIP racecar flicks. It grabs your attention from the start and keeps you engaged until the nihilistic ending. It's a clear showcase of Jack Hill's directing skills. Davalos is super cool as the rookie and Haig plays his rival in perhaps his best role. Burstyn and Washburn are also memorable. There are plenty of effective scenes and the whole film is interestingly shot and edited. The use of music feels also very modern. A gem."
Dirty Ho (1979) - Rated 20 May 2025
"This has a good reputation, and while I appreciated the choreography and inventive ways of how the characters were concealing their martial arts mastery, it also made me accept the fact that I just prefer my Shaw Brothers films more serious and bloodier."
Executioners from Shaolin (1977) - Rated 20 May 2025
Survival Quest (1989) - Rated 19 May 2025
"I think this deserves more love given the popularity of Coscarelli's other films. It doesn't quite reach its full potential, but there's still plenty to like. The locations are great, and the cast is intriguing, especially Henriksen in a central role during his prime. The film remains family friendly for most of its duration, but eventually crosses it, which feels unnecessary as the conclusion is the most generic part of the film. It might have worked better as a proper coming-of-age story."
