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11/07 Rocky Balboa (2006) :star: :star: (of 5) Finally got around to seeing this, and even with lowered expectations it was a disappointment. I love the first three movies almost equally, but bailed out after the sad spectacle of Rocky IV, never even bothering with V. There is potentially...

Old Joy (2006) :star: :star: :star: 1/2 (of 5) This widely praised, glacially paced portrait of 2 thirtysomething friends' decayed relationship seems to be a love-it-or-hate-it proposition, but I actually found myself somewhere in the middle. Ultimately I just didn't buy that these two guys...

Grindhouse (2007) :star: :star: :star:1/2 (of 5) Figured I'd better see this before it completely evaporates from theaters. Planet Terror and the trailers absolutely delivered on the exploitation thrills, but after the first act Death Proof became Tarantino's first big misfire for me. A real...

Mr. Majestyk (1974) :star: :star:1/2 (of 5) Sluggish Charles Bronson vehicle is standard-issue 70's action fare, which means it's watchable all the way through, but it never really awakens from its low-wattage midsection. I have to say it's a rare film indeed that features a watermelon massacre...

Beer League (2006) :star: :star: 1/2 (of 5) I wavered between 2 and 2 1/2 stars on this one. To be sure, Artie Lange's attempt to translate his Stern show persona to the big screen just has a few too many lines/scenes that land with a thud to really recommend it. But after hearing him on the...

a few recent views...5 star scale as always A Reason To Live, A Reason To Die (1972) :star: :star: :star: Pretty fun euro-western starts slow but culminates in a satisfying showdown. Still adds up to less than the sum of its parts thanks to a dubbed James Coburn, a glorified cameo from Telly...

01/10 Jackass Number Two (2006) :star: :star: :star: (of 5) A more vile and cruel concoction than its predecessor, with some truly excruciating scenes, obliterating whatever lines they opted not to cross in the first one. As always, some of the disgusting and scatological stuff is too much for...

01/08 The Descent (2005) (Unrated Version) :star: :star:1/2 (of 5) Widely acclaimed horror film has some strong scenes and well-done claustrophobic atmosphere, but ultimately comes up short for me. The attempted scares come in obvious places, most of the action is too dark and quick-cut to be...

01/03 White Wilderness (1958) :star: :star: :star: :star: (of 5) Aside from the controversial lemming sequence, this is an enormously entertaining film in the Disney True Life Adventures series. Rarely a dull moment, and though some might say the narration and music date the film (I find it all...

01/01 If You Meet Sartana, Pray For Your Death (1968) :star: :star:1/2 (of 5) Middling spaghetti western has some decent action and enough of the usual genre trappings to make it worth a look. Hampered by a weak score, fairly rote story, and an underused Klaus Kinski.

First-time viewings in bold Everything is on a 5 Star scale (except commentaries and dvd extras which are thumbs up or down) Feature Films & Shorts 01/01 If You Meet Sartana, Pray For Your Death (1968) :star: :star:1/2 01/03 White Wilderness (1958) :star: :star: :star: :star: 01/08 The...