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hroeder
 
 
 
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  • Review count
    41
  • Helpfulness votes
    13
  • First review
    June 19, 2008
  • Last review
    August 9, 2008
  • Featured reviews
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  • Average rating
    3.5
 
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hroeder's Reviews
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In this satirically witty look at the entertainment industry, Cole (Sean Patrick Flanery) is a record company executive who makes a wager with one of his colleagues that he can take anyone off the street and turn him or her into a star. Enter Maggie Moreno (Camille Guaty), an attractive woman with no outwardly visible talent who becomes the subject of Cole's experiment. In less than a month, he subjects her to music lessons, dance lessons, and a makeover so she'll seem "more Latin" while setting the hype machine in action to make the world aware of the emergence of a new star. But Maggie becomes increasingly unsure if she wants to be a star, especially at the expense of her own identity, while Cole has misgivings of his own when he begins to fall for Maggie. 30 Days Until I'm Famous also features Udo Kier and Alanna Ubach; Scott Stapp and Carmen Electra have cameo roles as themselves.
 
Customer Rating
3 out of 5
3
A long TV show
on August 9, 2008
Posted by: hroeder
from Fort Thomas, KY
Well, just about any Latina can be turned into a star. That's what this movie says. And if they try to be themselves, then they won't be much. They need to be saucy and Madonna-esqu. Whatever that means.
This wouldn't even have been aired as a pilot. But I guess every cable channel now wants to have its own productions. Guaty is cute. Flanery is Flanery. Carmen Electra isn't horrible. She's Carmen Electra.
What's great about it: Las Vegas Meets Music Videos
What's not so great: I guess it's a VH1 Movie
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
A small-time con man from the streets teams up with an aging grifter and legendary scam artist to pull off the scam of a lifetime in this thriller starring Federico Luppi and following in the tradition of David Mamet. Ernesto (Ernesto Alterio) may be slick, but his career in crime simply hasn't progressed past working three-card monte on gullible Madrid marks who think they can't lose. When Ernesto makes the acquaintance of middle-aged confidence man El Manco (Manuel Alexandre) he is shocked to learn that the veteran criminal has close ties to notorious con king Federico (Luppi). As the street-smart trio combine their skills and the greenbacks start rolling in, Federico hatches a lucrative real estate plan that could make them all millionaires. There's just one catch though -- in order to carry out the plan, the crew will need the help of Federico's ex-lover Pilar (Victoria Abril), and the introduction of this volatile new element sends trust among the former trio to an all-time low.
 
Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
A Spanish Caper
on August 8, 2008
Posted by: hroeder
from Fort Thomas, KY
If anyone out there is looking for a foreign film to remake this one would provide a great script. Victoria Abril is a major Spanish Actress and she pulls off her role here, well.
This is one of those O'Henry style thrillers. Everyone twists around on everyone else. And the twists are nicely pulled off. I'm sure it's better for those who understand Spanish, but even with the rather copious subtitles it is an intriguing little film.
What's great about it: Well plotted and executed
What's not so great: Subtitled
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
A good-old-boy small-town sheriff in a New Orleans parish happens upon a murder case that threatens to end his career in Behind the Badge, the embattled second feature of writer/director Robby Henson (Pharaoh's Army). Billy Bob Thornton stars as Darl, a divorced lawman first spotted sleeping in his truck outside his favorite bar. Darl gets a call about a truck accident, and happily hands out shoes from the ditched tractor-trailer to win over the locals for his re-election. But then the body of a beautiful woman is found in the mud near the wrecked truck. The "woman" turns out to be a transsexual with a .22 slug in her back. Prejudice reigns in the small community, and no one seems to be taking the murder too seriously. Local politicians, including a powerful judge (William Devane), are focused on the upcoming election, and are also angling to build a casino in town, and so they want to keep the sordid murder quiet. The victim's wife, Scarlet (Patricia Arquette), a New Orleans stripper, shows up. Despite Darl's own prejudices, he finds himself attracted to Scarlet, and starts to look into the case. Soon he learns that his investigation and his big mouth have cost him his slot on the ticket. When he presses on, he finds himself jailed on a trumped-up statutory rape charge. Struggling with his own family history of disgrace, Darl considers making a deal with the local bigwigs in order to keep his job. But when he learns that Scarlet is in danger, he's forced into action. Sela Ward and Jena Malone also star. Behind the Badge was heading for theatrical distribution before production company Propaganda Films went bankrupt. The film was unable to find a new distributor and premiered on Starz cable on September 7, 2002.
 
Customer Rating
3 out of 5
3
All the Dirty Politics and a Thriller
on August 7, 2008
Posted by: hroeder
from Fort Thomas, KY
An early Billy Bob Thornton film. A police drama on the surface. The surface quickly gets torn away and we have any number of surprises waiting for us.
If you could imagine Carson McCullers or William Faulkner writing a crime drama, this might be what turns out. That's not saying that it is that complex. But that it has the turns and twists of the Southern Mind under a microscope.
There are some nice small performances here by people who have since vaulted into spotlights. The direction is good. The atmosphere isn't exactly tasteful, but keeps the film moving.
What's great about it: Who really runs the Parrish?
What's not so great: Imagine every back corner of New Orleans
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Customer Rating
3 out of 5
3
Parking Attendant Falls in Love
on August 6, 2008
Posted by: hroeder
from Fort Thomas, KY
Like many of these films, a debt is owed to The Collector, the great Fowles novel that was turned into a film decades ago. Smart young thing, Rachel Nichols, stays late at the office on Christmas Eve. Her car is the only one left in the underground garage. Only she doesn't know that the night attendant has had a secret crush on her.
Nichols gets to flex some of the muscles she learned on Alias. As she and her captor chase through the underground garage. He's more than mad because she wasn't appreciative of the microwaved dinner he'd prepared for her. Of course being chained doesn't help her mood.
Nothing really unpredictable. But better than some of these formula pieces.
What's great about it: A decent thriller
What's not so great: Despite the tension not much happens
I would recommend this to a friend!
+2points
2of 2voted this as helpful.
 
Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
A Great Sequel for the Family
on August 5, 2008
Posted by: hroeder
from Fort Thomas, KY
The kids pull out a new game. And are blasted into deep space. The twists and turns that were there in the original continue in this one. There's also a little time travel, of sorts.
There's a wonderful scene in the basement, early on, where the furnace looks exactly like a monster. The young kid doesn't react specifically to it, but we, as an audience, see the monster furnace. But no one points a finger at it. This is an example of how nicely done this is.
The morals taught here are also nicely done. The family comes closer together through experiencing the game. Kids should love this.
What's great about it: Takes Jumani a step further
What's not so great: nothing significant
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Customer Rating
2 out of 5
2
Kate Remakes Goldie
on August 4, 2008
Posted by: hroeder
from Fort Thomas, KY
If you've seen films like Captain Ron and Overboard, go back and rewatch them. This is a formula film that offers nothing new.
Find the Treasure. The bad guys are rappers. I guess that's new. But the reluctant damsel in distress. The inept guy. And a mountain of gold.
All you need is a dragon to guard the treasure. And they almost give you one of those. Blow Hole!
What's great about it: It's Pretty and Predictable
What's not so great: Everything Else
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Customer Rating
2 out of 5
2
Mayan Invasion of the Body Snatchers
on August 3, 2008
Posted by: hroeder
from Fort Thomas, KY
We have this thing in this culture. We take a young actress and we put her in a Horror Flick. The idea is to get the empathy of the young audience. The girls scream. The guys are sympathetic. And almost everyone on the screen dies.
This is a typical horror flick. A group of young people, always attractive, of course, goes off into the wilderness despite common sense. And, as is usual, they meet something much bigger than they are, something scary.
When these worked they were funny. When they don't work they are usually still funny. This one really isn't all that scary. All of the ideas come from other films, they're just transplanted to the Mayan peninsula because that's where a lot of young people now hang out due to the liberal drinking age.
In case this is your cup of deadly biological element I won't reveal the machinations that bring us to a quicker than usual conclusion.
What's great about it: Bright young cast
What's not so great: Everything Else
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
-1point
0of 1voted this as helpful.
 
The PlayStation Eye Camera works with your PlayStation Move motion controller to translate your every move into the game with absolute precision. It also functions as a complete video chatting solution. The PlayStation Eye Camera. Move into the Action.
 
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Great Cam
on August 1, 2008
Posted by: hroeder
from Fort Thomas, KY
If you're used to a web cam this will blow you away. It's a wide angle, multi mic cam. The low light ability is wonderful. You don't need to shine all of the lights in the room on yourself. And the quality of picture is good enough for a plasma HDTV.
The downloadable software allows you to record anything in MPG4 format. Plus it can be used in such games as RainBow Six Vegas 2 to customize the character to look just like you.
Some of the downloadable games from Sony basically rely on the camera to respond to motion. Intriguing but not really addictive. And the card game this is distributed free with isn't worth the double price. If you're into Magic the Gathering the game will be boring. And the camera set up for the game, while workable, makes the game playable only by those who are really into such Magic type card games.
What's great about it: Higher Definition, multi channel mic
What's not so great: Not a lot of applications
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Batman's Progeny
on July 30, 2008
Posted by: hroeder
from Fort Thomas, KY
This was in the era of women adventure stars. So we had children of the Bat roaming the city and carrying on the tradition. Some early performance by some pretty good actresses. Ashley Scott and Dina Meyer are most notable.
This is definitely a bit on the dark side. Not as Dark as the current hit film, but not comic Batman. And the unusual skills the young women have are interesting.
If you caught the original series you'll want to have it. If you didn't you'll enjoy this peek into the past.
What's great about it: Short lived series makes it to DVD
What's not so great: Some stories a bit poorly developed
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Finally on DVD
on July 29, 2008
Posted by: hroeder
from Fort Thomas, KY
Based on the graphic novel, Witchblade hit TV seven years ago. A bit of the supernatural, a bit of cops and some strange artifacts. This is one of those shows, similar to Firefly, that was a major cult favorite at the time.
The stories are well developed. There is a good story arc over the length of the series. And some really interesting mysteries to pay attention to.
If you haven't seen it, you're in for a treat. If you saw the show you've been waiting for it as well.
What's great about it: One of the Breakthrough Series
What's not so great: Does it hold up
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
 
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