Michael Ironside

Michael Ironside

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Extraterrestrial Review


Very Good

A riotous hybrid of alien mayhem and cabin-in-the-woods horror, this movie has a playful tone that makes it thoroughly entertaining. So even if the big emotional beats don't quite work and the plot seems to shift gears a few to many times, the film is still scary and gleefully yucky. The Vicious Brothers (aka Stuart Ortiz and Colin Minihan) clearly know their way around the various genres, and have a great time mashing them up into something inventive and involving.

It starts with plans for a romantic weekend in an isolated family cabin that's about to be sold off. April (Brittany Allen) is looking forward to time with her boyfriend Kyle (Freddie Stroma), and is more than a little annoyed that he invites his chucklehead pal Seth (Jesse Moss) and his friends Melanie and Lex (Melanie Papalia and Anja Savcic) along. Even before they connect with pot-growing neighbour Travis (Michael Ironside), their high-spirited antics have attracted the attention of Sheriff Murphy (Gil Bellows). But he's a bit preoccupied by reports of strange attacks and disappearances that are being blamed on invading aliens. Clearly there's something bigger going on here, and while Travis is sure it's a government conspiracy, Murphy's deputy Mitchell (Sean Rogerson) thinks it has more to do with a cabin full of drug-tripping teens.

The film looks terrific, with above-average effects that never take over the action. Designs reference most of the classic alien movies, but with a horror twist that makes everything a bit more menacing. And as the filmmakers deploy every cliche in the book, they also manage to keep us on our toes by constantly undermining expectations. This includes the introductory section in which April and Kyle get to develop a bit of emotional momentum in their relationship, which carries right through to the final moments of the film. Although once the craziness breaks loose, Allen and Stroma are rather a lot more limited in the subtext they can add to the characters. It's hard to add texture when you're running and screaming, although Bellows makes his skeptical, stoic cop intriguingly haunted.

Continue reading: Extraterrestrial Review

Extraterrestrial Trailer


April (Brittany Allen) and her boyfriend Kyle (Freddie Stroma) have organised a romantic weekend away in April's parent's cabin in the woods. To April's dismay, Kyle has invited their friends Melanie (Melanie Papalia), Seth (Jesse Moss) and Lex (Anja Savcic) and arranged for them to have a party weekend. With the party in full swing, the teenagers seen what looks like a plane crashing into the woods. Upon investigation, they discover that it was in fact a UFO with an extra-terrestrial life form inside. When the ensuing terror and surprise causes them to kill it in self-defence, they find the aliens retaliating in the worst way possible. 

Continue: Extraterrestrial Trailer

Top Gun Trailer


Maverick is a reckless but extremely skilled fighter pilot whose father died after his plane was shot down in the Vietnam War. Because of his talent, he is asked to attend the Top Gun school with co-pilot Goose. It is there he competes to be the top student on the program while simultaneously attempting to woo his chief instructor Charlie Blackwood who, although appearing critical at first, secretly admires his flying methods. His journey to become the greatest pilot in the world is tarnished with tragedy and the frustration that rumours of his father dying due to his own errors could be true. 

This classic romantic drama flick will soon be available to own on Blu-Ray from February 19th 2013. The movie was based on the California magazine article 'Top Guns' by Ehud Yonay and directed by Tony Scott ('Beverly Hills Cop II', 'Enemy of the State', 'Domino') in 1986 with writing credits to Jim Cash and Jack Epps Jr. ('Dick Tracy', 'Anaconda'). It won an Oscar and a Golden Globe on its release as well as a Brit award for Best Soundtrack. 'Top Gun' will appear in 3D cinemas for six days only between February 8th and 13th 2013.

Starring: Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis, Val Kilmer, Anthony Edwards, Tom Skerritt, Michael Ironside, John Stockwell, Barry Tubb, Rick Rossovich, Tim Robbins, Clarence Gilyard Jr., Whip Hubley, James Tolkan, Meg Ryan, Adrian Pasdar, Randall Brady, Duke Stroud & Frank Pesce

Continue: Top Gun Trailer

X-Men First Class Trailer


It's 1962 and the world is on the brink of starting a new world war. As far as the general public are aware, mutants do not exist. Two of those very mutants still discovering their abilities are Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr (Professor X and Magneto), two equally intelligent men who share a secret; they both hold incredible powers.

Continue: X-Men First Class Trailer

Top Gun Review


Very Good
Anyone fondly remembering Top Gun as a prototypical action-packed Jerry Bruckheimer 'nad-fest probably hasn't seen it in awhile. Newly released as a mega-deluxe DVD, it's time to remember what Top Gun really is: From "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" to "Take My Breath Away," it's mushy love story first, fighter-pilots-in-training movie second.

Ironically, the early 1990s would bring to light the fact that carousing was what naval pilots seemed to do best: The 1986 Tailhook scandal occured during the same year Top Gun was released.

Continue reading: Top Gun Review

Heavy Metal 2000 Review


OK
Also inexplicably known as Fakk 2, this update on the cult classic original carries all of the loud music of its predecessor but little of its style. All-updated animation robs Heavy Metal 2000 of its charm, and casting a porn star (Strain) as its lead -- in animated form as well as her voice -- should give you some idea where this movie is aimed. (Hint, it's in the pelvic region.) Not that the original was sophisticated, but at least it was funny. Heavy Metal 2000 doesn't offer much more than an excuse to see animated boobs and lots and lots of violence, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I just wish there was more to the goings on.

Highlander II: The Quickening Review


Terrible
I make no secret of the fact that I think The Highlander is the greatest action film ever made. Awesome swordfights might awesome score (by Queen, people!), and a time-bending plotline that only a philistine could dislike.

Today, 18 years, four sequels, two TV shows, and one video game later, Highlander has become a bit of a joke. And here's where the joke started: Highlander II: The Quickening -- retitled simply Highlander 2 for what is the most inexplicable double-DVD release ever to hit video stores.

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The Perfect Storm Review


Weak

Somewhere inside "The Perfect Storm" there's a near-perfect movie drowning under gale-force swells of romanticized sea-faring melodrama.

Here's a stomach-in-knots true story about the rugged crew a swordfishing boat caught in the biggest sea storm in modern history -- a terrifying human saga with unsurpassed, seat-gripping special effects, strong performances from a stellar cast and level of realism so potent you can almost smell the 200-lb. fish and the sweat of the men who scrape together a living endangering their lives to net them at sea.

Yet the movie's potential got gutted in post-production, where director Wolfgang Petersen ("Outbreak," "Air Force One") slathered it in sentimentality weepy voice-overs, choppy editing and an incessant, intrusive score (by "Titanic's" James Horner) that saturates every single frame of the film with pounding tympani and crashing cymbals.

Continue reading: The Perfect Storm Review

Michael Ironside

Michael Ironside Quick Links

Video Film RSS

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Actor


Michael Ironside Movies

Extraterrestrial Movie Review

Extraterrestrial Movie Review

A riotous hybrid of alien mayhem and cabin-in-the-woods horror, this movie has a playful tone...

Extraterrestrial Trailer

Extraterrestrial Trailer

April (Brittany Allen) and her boyfriend Kyle (Freddie Stroma) have organised a romantic weekend away...

Top Gun Trailer

Top Gun Trailer

Maverick is a reckless but extremely skilled fighter pilot whose father died after his plane...

X-Men First Class Trailer

X-Men First Class Trailer

It's 1962 and the world is on the brink of starting a new world war....

The Perfect Storm Movie Review

The Perfect Storm Movie Review

Somewhere inside "The Perfect Storm" there's a near-perfect movie drowning under gale-force swells of romanticized...

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