TV Review: One foot in the grave

Release date: January 4th 1990 - November 20th 2000 (6 series. 42 episodes and 2 shorts).

Story: The comedic life, mishaps, and exploits of recently retired Victor Meldrew and his long suffering wife Margret.

My thoughts: This is a classic comedy series. The jokes are great and the characters are amazing. The only downside is that this show can get dark at times (but not always). This show came at the time when the classic sitcoms were changing into what they are today. But this show is great and I would recommend it for everyone.

My score: Four stars.

Film Review: Alien

Release date: May 25th 1979 (US release). September 6 1979 (UK release).

Story: After traveling through deep space on its way back to Earth, the spaceship Nostromo comes across a strange planet and awakens it's crew from stasis. They then land on the planet and start exploring a derelict alien space craft. As they do, they come across a large chamber full of egg like objects. And as one of them takes a closer look, something jumps out, smashes it's way through his visor, and attaches itself onto his face. What was the thing that came out of the egg? Is it dangerous? And what will be the consequences? Watch the movie and find out.

My thoughts: This is a great movie. From the suspense and atmosphere to the scenery and actors. The alien creature itself looks like something out of your nightmares. This movie took elements from classic horror movies and mixed them with elements from science fiction. If you haven't seen it then I would say check it out.

My score: Five stars.

Film Review: Halloween.

Release date: October 25th 1978.

Story: Years after killing his sister, a silent psychopath Michael Myers escapes from the Sanitarium and returns to his home town. Where he begins to stalk and kill those who are unfortunate to cross his path. Will he be recaptured before the whole town falls prey to him?

My thoughts: This movie is a horror classic. It may not be the first on of it's genre but it started the whole 'Slasher killer on the loose' genre which were popular between 1978 to 1984. Also both Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee were offered the role for the psychiatrist Doctor Loomis but they turned down the offer (Peter had just played a role in Star Wars the year before). Anyway the characters are good (Donald Pleasence and Jamie Lee Curtis especially) and this movie has a lot of sequels (Halloween 3: Season of the witch is something else completely) and a remake by Rob Zombie. This movie is a must have for any horror film fans and I would recommend it.

My score: Four stars.

Film Review: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Release date: October 1st 1974.

Story: A group of friends travel across Texas to visit the grave and the old housestead of one of the group's grandparents who used to be cattle farmers. But while they were visiting (and especially after coming across a creepy hitchhiker), they run out of gas and they go searching for anyone who has some spare. But one by one they come across a run down house in the middle of nowhere. And soon fall prey to the house's psychopathic residences.

My thoughts: This horror movie sets out to be both shocking and disturbing. And it doesn't disapproves. There is a lot of horrific scenes in this movie. Especially from the character Leatherface. But it is a great film for the horror genre and has spawned three sequels, a remake and it's prequel, and another prequel. Leatherface has become a horror icon and was the first to appear during the bronze age of horror movies.

My score: Four stars. 

Anime Review: Dragonball Z

Release date: April 26 1989 - January 31 1996 (Japanese release) September 13th 1996 - April 7th 2003 (English dub release). 9 seasons, 291 episodes. The series was re-mastered years later and renamed Dragonball Z Kai.

Story: After the events or Dragonball, Goku is happily married to Chi Chi and has a son named Gohan. But things turn when a new threat arrives on Earth in the form of Goku's brother Raditz. Who reveals Goku's origins. This then leads to a series of adventures which will take him to numerous places, fighting new enemies, meeting new friends, and gaining new powers.

My thoughts: This show is amazing. From the characters to the story archs. Many of the stories follow the same pattern. The characters learn of a new enemy that has appeared, Goku is absent for most of it, the others fight the enemy until it looks like they are close to being defeated, then Goku arrives at the last minuet and finishes off the enemy. The battles (despite been long and take up most of many episodes) are epic and suspenseful. And the opening songs "Fly Away", "We've gotta power!", and the english opening song "Rock the dragon!" are all amazing. So if you haven't seen this yet, then I would highly recommend it.

My score: Five stars.

Film Review: The Fly

Release date: August 15 1986.

Story: Jeff Goldblum plays a scientist named Seth Brundle who is busy trying to perfect his teleporting machines. But with the help from a journalist (played by Geena Davis), he manages to perfect it to the point where living beings can use it. But while testing it using himself as a test subject, he fails to notice that a house fly has entered the device as well. And the two of them merge with terrifying consequences.

My thoughts: This was a remake of a 1958 movie of the same name and story. But it is considered to be better than the original. In the original, the scientist only swapped heads and left arms with the fly and is trying to find a way of reversing it. While in the remake, the transformation from human to hideous human/insect hybrid (named Brundle-fly) takes its time through out the film. And the results are both impressive and shocking. Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis are great to watch and the other characters have their great moments as well. This is a great film for those who are both horror fans and science fiction fans.

My score: Four stars.

Film Review: Freddy vs Jason

Release date: August 15th 2003.

Story: After being powerless for many years due to people having forgotten him, Freddy Kruger comes up with a plan to try and return to his old ways of killing people in their dreams. But in order to do this, he decides to resurrect another undead killer named Jason Voorhees and (in disguised as Jason's mother) sends him off to Springwood to start killing people and in doing so make people remember Freddy and make him powerful again. But then Freddy realises that Jason isn't going to stop and soon the two start fighting. Who will win in this legendary battle? Watch the movie and find out.

My thoughts: This is the movie that introduce me to both Freddy Kruger and Jason Voorhees and their movie franchises. This movie takes it's time to get to the battle between them but it is worth it. Also fans may question the fact that Jason is scared of water when in the other films he is seen entering water without hesitation. But otherwise it is still a good movie and I would recommend it for any horror film fan.

My score: Four stars.