Drive

Advantages: fight scenes, bit of comedy
Disadvantages: not a strong plot really

Drive was lent to me as a tester for my new DVD player on my laptop, and knowing that I love to watch martial arts like those from the Matrix, my mate was not going to disappoint me! The film is based upon the actor Mark Dacascos, whose character, right from the start, seems to be in very big trouble with a lot of people! The plot continues and we discover that he has a prototype of an implant in him which allows him to be super strong and have ...
...to drive to LA to meet somebody who is willing to pay five million dollars to him for the implant. Of course, being a film, there are going to be a lot of obstacles in the way, but this is a good thing! The fight and action scenes can only be described as ‘bloody terrific’! The choreography that goes into these scenes is amazing, and the various characters (mainly Dacascos) who are involved in these scenes are obviously highly trained, ... Read review

Advantages: Mark Dacascos, great action scenes
Disadvantages: Virtually unheard of

I am a great fan of martial arts films and this is a wonderful offering from Hollywood. A great director (Steve Wang) helps the action move along swiftly and there is actually a pretty decent plot. Toby Wang (Mark Dacascos) heads for the states to escape the evil Red Chinese and sell the bionic implant he has in his chest to an American technology company. Along the way he kidnaps Malik (Kadeem Hardison) and the two of them head for LA. Their journey ...
...and the "improved model" takes place. There are some big explosions (they sound great if you have Dolby Pro Logic surround sound) and the fight scenes are breathtaking. Mark Dacascos is one of the best martial arts actors around and is actually a very good all round actor. The special edition DVD has the film (obviously), the cinema trailer, interviews with Mark Dacascos, Steve Wang, Kadeem Hardison, the special effects guy and the stunt team leader. ... Read review

Advantages: Funny, action packed
Disadvantages: Bit long

I bought this film as part of a special offer in a shop, and I had no idea what it was about. But hey, the box looked good :-) This film was made the same time as Rush Hour, but was never released due to Rush Hour's marketing blitz. Shame really, because this is a better action film (sorry Mr Chan!). There's some really funny lines in this, and some GREAT martial arts action. The extras on the DVD are good too, with many trailers for other titles ... Read review

Advantages:
Disadvantages:

...film except maybe ONE: Drive with Mark Dacascos and Kadeem Hardison is one of those rare films which isn't widely known (much like Mistery Men), but is a gem of a film). Mark Dacascos is martial arts expert Toby Wong who has a device in his body that some criminals want. Kadeem Hardison is the poor sap who gets involved just by being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Nothing original! Just great fight scenes that would give Jet Li a run for ...
...Chan envious. Kadeems' ad-libs are excellent and he is basically the comic element. Kadeem seems to attract trailer trash as well as trouble whereever he goes :-) The chemistry between Mark and Kadeem works real well. Mark kicks mucho butt, Kadeem kicks some butt, and this other girl who looks like sherylyn fenn from Twin Peaks (very dippy and very funny) kills people with a machine gun attached to a sawn off arm. The main criminal has no kung-fu, ... Read review

Advantages: Brilliant Action Sequences
Disadvantages: Not brilliant script

If you’ve never heard of this film, that’s ok, not many people have. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth watching – in fact exactly the opposite. I don’t want to build this film up too much because the most important thing about it is that you expect nothing. It is pure cheesy, martial arts magic, featuring the funniest pair of shoes in film history. STARS: MARK DACASCOS! HE IS SO GREAT! Ok, sorry. I really do think he’s good. Very good. This ...
...but it’s a good early film, especially entertainment-wise. He’s in Brotherhood of the Wolf as well (EXCELLENT) and was the Crow in the TV series “Stairway to Heaven” which I have never seen. He is also brilliant in Crying Freeman, the real life version of manga cartoon. I can also recommend www.dacascos.com if you want to know more. KADEEM HARDISON: Is very funny in this. You might remember him as Dwayne Wayne in “A Different World” depending on ... Read review

Advantages: One of David Lynches best films.
Disadvantages: Confusing.

...- MULHOLLAND DRIVE.- Mulholland Drive was released in the UK in 2002. Directed and written by David Lynch. Starring Naomi Watts, Laura Elena Harring, Justin Theroux and Ann Miller. - Genre: Drama/ Mystery/Thriller. - Running Time: 146 Minutes. - BBFC Rating: 15. - As the credits roll we are treated to a display of 50's dancing. There are many couples doing the jitterbug, bunnyhop, and the Jive. This is a lively sequence and all concerned are having a lot of fun. Suddenly a face surges to the fore cloaked in a white mist and she is featured alone and disjointed from all the others. She wavers, and then disappears back through the crowd again. The whole scene is shot very basically and the colours are subdued. This is an strange opening sequence with very little impact and I began to wonder... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Good acting, Excellent mystery
Disadvantages: No chapter selection

...What was that all about! Yes this is a typical reaction after watching a typical David Lynch film and Mulholland Drive is no exception, but how does it stand up to his other great films like Blue Velvet or his even better excursion into TV land 'Twin Peaks'? THE PLOT Those of you who are familiar with my film review will know that I don't give away much when it comes to the story but in this case even if I did I don't think you'd be any clearer as to what is going on. The film about two women one Betty a newcomer to Hollywood with hopes of making it as an actress and the more mysterious Rita who after being involved in a car crash while driving on the circuitous Mulholland Drive of the title, is suffering from amnesia. Through a bizarre sequence of events Rita and Betty meets and Betty decides to help Rita rediscover her past... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: For 1h it is a good detective movie...
Disadvantages: confusing, no ending, 2 stories ?

...Mulholland Drive is widely known as being the achievement for David Lynch after the training ground of his blockbuster Twin Peaks. It stars Justine Theroux and Naomi Watts as the main character Rita and Betty. (THE STORY) Well, it all starts with a young woman clad in her best party outfit in the back of a limo. She is just about to be shot at by a guy sitting on the passenger seat when the limo has a head-on collision with another car. Both driver and would-be killer die though Rita escape but suffers from amnesia. In parallel, Betty has just arrived in LA on the same day, she is full of the joy of Spring as she has travelled from her home town to LA to fulfill her dream and become an actress. Betty has a auntie living in LA who is housing her whilst she is working in Canada. Whilst meandering aimlessly Rita ends up breaking... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful