Cole-Hauser Movie Reviews

That is one of many classic lines from this movie that makes it a classic. However, this movie could have been set in the 70's, 80's, 90's or 2003 and people would have seen themselves or their friends in this outstanding cast of characters. We all lived through high school, and we can all identify with the characters depicted in Dazed and Confused.

For example, there's the kid who's 27 and still hanging out with all the high schoolers, still trying to date high school freshmen 13 years his junior (Matthew McConaghey). For some kids, you can tell that high school will be the pinnacle of their sad, pathetic lives, and Ben Affleck plays this character to a tee. There are also the ludicrously bitchy and snobby girls (Parker Posey), the perpetually nice and perky girls (Michelle Burke), and the kid who comes to parties "to drink some beer and kick some ass." (Nicky Katt)

This movie is funny because it is so true. High school is pretty much the same regardless of decade or location. You have your jocks and your intellectuals, your snobs and the kids who are nice to everybody. In that way it's like real life, but in real life you're not bound together with 800 other kids you grew up with and who know your entire embarassing life story.

This movie depicting only one day in the life of a high school student is hilarious and touching. Though it will make you laugh out loud, it will also bring back memories of feeling inadequate or ugly that were magnified by the clausterphobic setting of high school. This movie features some stellar performances by actors who went on to become very famous. Though the characters in this movie could have gone to school at any time period in the 20th century, the 70's setting adds to the hilarity. Dive into this world of bell bottoms, bongs and Black Sabbath and try not to cringe when you recognize yourself or your friends in the wonderful cast of characters.

Ok, being born in 1974 I never got to experience the weirdness of the '70's. I've longed to live in the days of bell bottoms, platforms and the beautiful women with the straight ironed hair. This is one of those movies that captures exactally how I perceive the mid 70's to be. This film is about, well, graduation night and future freshmen and seniors. They basically go around smoking weed and trying to terrorize the up coming freshman. The line up is an all star cast of who's who in movies. Ben Afleck, Mathew Mcconaughey, Jason London and Milla Jovovich.

This is a film that takes a comedic, yet precise look at life in 1976. The music is absolutely awesome and the dialogue will keep you laughing from beginning to end. You get the guy that's always doped up, the jock, the preppy little bi**h and the freshman who wants to fit in. It's hard to describe just what this movie is about because it is really about nothing. One night in 1976 would have been just as good a title as "Dazed and Confused". I love this film. If you enjoy great humor pick this one up.

Dazed and Confused was the best movie I have ever saw. I first saw it when i was 12 years old. I have watched it ever since, i am now 17. Not only is it a great movie, it has the hottest cars you will ever see. After so many years of watching dazed and confused, i could probably recite the entire movie off the top of my head. This movie has never once became boring to me, i dont think it ever will.

That is one of many classic lines from this movie that makes it a classic. However, this movie could have been set in the 70's, 80's, 90's or 2003 and people would have seen themselves or their friends in this outstanding cast of characters. We all lived through high school, and we can all identify with the characters depicted in Dazed and Confused.

For example, there's the kid who's 27 and still hanging out with all the high schoolers, still trying to date high school freshmen 13 years his junior (Matthew McConaghey). For some kids, you can tell that high school will be the pinnacle of their sad, pathetic lives, and Ben Affleck plays this character to a tee. There are also the ludicrously bitchy and snobby girls (Parker Posey), the perpetually nice and perky girls (Michelle Burke), and the kid who comes to parties "to drink some beer and kick some ass." (Nicky Katt)

This movie is funny because it is so true. High school is pretty much the same regardless of decade or location. You have your jocks and your intellectuals, your snobs and the kids who are nice to everybody. In that way it's like real life, but in real life you're not bound together with 800 other kids you grew up with and who know your entire embarassing life story.

This movie depicting only one day in the life of a high school student is hilarious and touching. Though it will make you laugh out loud, it will also bring back memories of feeling inadequate or ugly that were magnified by the clausterphobic setting of high school. This movie features some stellar performances by actors who went on to become very famous. Though the characters in this movie could have gone to school at any time period in the 20th century, the 70's setting adds to the hilarity. Dive into this world of bell bottoms, bongs and Black Sabbath and try not to cringe when you recognize yourself or your friends in the wonderful cast of characters.

Ok, being born in 1974 I never got to experience the weirdness of the '70's. I've longed to live in the days of bell bottoms, platforms and the beautiful women with the straight ironed hair. This is one of those movies that captures exactally how I perceive the mid 70's to be. This film is about, well, graduation night and future freshmen and seniors. They basically go around smoking weed and trying to terrorize the up coming freshman. The line up is an all star cast of who's who in movies. Ben Afleck, Mathew Mcconaughey, Jason London and Milla Jovovich.

This is a film that takes a comedic, yet precise look at life in 1976. The music is absolutely awesome and the dialogue will keep you laughing from beginning to end. You get the guy that's always doped up, the jock, the preppy little bi**h and the freshman who wants to fit in. It's hard to describe just what this movie is about because it is really about nothing. One night in 1976 would have been just as good a title as "Dazed and Confused". I love this film. If you enjoy great humor pick this one up.

Dazed and Confused was the best movie I have ever saw. I first saw it when i was 12 years old. I have watched it ever since, i am now 17. Not only is it a great movie, it has the hottest cars you will ever see. After so many years of watching dazed and confused, i could probably recite the entire movie off the top of my head. This movie has never once became boring to me, i dont think it ever will.

Brendan Fraser stars as David Green, a 1950s working-class boy from Pittsburgh who has the chance to attend one of the best prep schools in the country on a scholarship, thus giving him a shot at attending Harvard. When he arrives, he is surrounded by a bunch of great guys whom he deems his friends ... as long as he hides the fact that he is Jewish.

David Green becomes the nemesis of Charlie Dillon (Matt Damon) early in the movie by being a better dancer and capturing the interest of Charlie's blonde thoroughbred date, Sally, played by Amy Locane in one of her only big roles. Charlie, who has attended the school for years, feels put out by this popular newcomer and when he finds a chance to bring him down, he goes for it full-force.

When racial slurs and hate crimes abound, the boys are divided between their personal friendships and loyalties and doing the right thing. This is made more interesting by the fact that they are only teenaged boys, who have all lived a privileged life amongst those exactly like themselves, so their struggle to empathize and feel from someone else's perspective is more difficult, and their varied responses are interesting, especially when David's personal and social future at the school hangs in the balance.

School Ties is a touching movie that is often compared to Dead Poets Society. While there are similarities (ie: teenage boys in a 1950s prep school setting), there are more differences. This is less of a movie about looking up to someone only to see them cut down before your eyes and the bonds and respect associated with that, and more of a story of the bonding and betrayal of friends.

A young Brendan Fraser is stunning as David Green, a working class Jewish kid accepted to one of the most prestigious preparatory schools in the country. It would only be for one year, but what a year. With dreams of going to Harvard, this was his way in. He keeps his religion a secret from the new friends he makes, but when it all comes out in the end, slurs are thrown and the people he thought he could trust leave David high and dry.

It speaks of an era when there were 100 different slurs for each religion and race, and the people who actually believed that somehow they were better. No character is portrayed in this negative light better than Charlie Dillon, brought to life by none other than Matt Damon. The seeds of his jealousy are planted within the first fifteen minutes and as the movie progresses you see Dillon become more desperate for his former status after David Green takes his position on the football team and in the life of a girl he thinks to be his.

Other standouts include Chris O'Donnell, playing Fraser's fictional roommate, who is forced to deal with the situation a bit more close up than some of their classmates. Randall Batinkoff, though not well known, gives a fabulous performance as Damon's fictional roommate, having to decide which is more important: his best friend and roommate of 4 years, or his morals and conscience urging him to speak up in defense of David Green. Surprisingly, Cole Hauser, who generally is cast as a not-so-nice guy comes off completely different in this picture. His character, Jack Connors seems rude and hard-nosed throughout, but when it's all on the line, he really delivers, making it known that Connors is not the bigot he has been made out as.

The movie was well scripted and brilliantly cast, from the guy who no one thought would come out on top (Fraser) to the guy who would be expected to rule the world (Damon). Set in a time when life was a little rougher and people were judged more harshly, School Ties really speaks of the fear and degradation one might face for being "different", and tells of the strength and courage that comes with being "different". Some might say that the movie is too harsh with its message of bigotry, but that was a time when it was very real and it must embraced in order to learn from it and not have it happen again.

"Just when you think you know something, you have to look at it from a different perspective"- John Keating, 'Dead Poet's Society'. School Ties is not your typical story of Anti-Semitism. It gives you both sides; the Jew and those who can't get beyond it.
David Greene is accepted by his peers at Prep School, but he is never truly at ease because he can't let his guard down. This movie is excellent at showing how fast people can turn on you, and how true it is that people put up facades. This movie really tests true friendship. It tests loyalty as well. Once his secret is out, most of his friends turn on him... he is almost expelled from school because of the injustice of having no one believe him. Finally, one person is able to see how wrong it is... but the movie is just a series of powerful moments about betrayal, love, honesty, and differences. Everyone should watch the movie once to see how ugly hate can be.

This character study, set in New Mexico in the early '40s, begins with an enigmatic narrative that infuses "The Hi-Lo Country," directed by Stephen Frears, with a tension that ultimately runs high throughout the entire film. The story focuses on the friendship between a couple of cowboys, Pete Calder (Billy Crudup) and Big Boy Matson (Woody Harrelson), who upon returning from the war are trying to make a go of the cattle business, while bucking some stiff competition from the local cattle baron, Jim Ed Love (Sam Elliott). At the same time, Pete becomes aware that he is not alone in his obsession with a married woman, Mona (Patricia Arquette); Big Boy has it bad for her, too, and she just happens to be the wife of Jim Ed's foreman, Les Birk (John Diehl). And, as usually happens with a situation involving obsession, things quickly begin to get sticky for all concerned. Big Boy, it seems, is the one headed for trouble; he's hot-tempered, stubborn, and fearless to a point bordering on stupidity. Pete, on the other hand, has a good head on his shoulders and has a couple of things going for him: One is a woman named Josepha (Penelope Cruz), who cares deeply for him, and the other is his unwavering loyalty to Big Boy. The tension continues to mount, and the situation is complicated further by the fact that Big Boy isn't exactly discreet about his feelings for Mona, nor of his disdain for Jim Ed Love, for whom his younger brother, Little Boy (Cole Hauser) now works. Inevitably, things come to a head; but when it happens, the arena in which it transpires is something of a surprise, though not entirely unexpected.

Frears does a good job of capturing the essence of another time and place that seems so near and yet so far away. The world was changing around them, but in the Hi-Lo country there were still cowboys who punched cattle and drove the herd to market on horseback. Theirs is a fairly self-contained world, far removed from anything that is happening elsewhere; if a butterfly flaps it's wings in New York, it isn't going to affect Pete or Big Boy. Frears takes a look at the difference between the two men, Big Boy, who lives primarily for the moment (or so it would seem), and Pete, who is more apt to consider the consequences of his decisions, except, that is, when it comes to Mona. But even in that respect, it's Pete who ultimately shows some restraint. And Frears maintains the tension by keeping the situation between the men and Mona precariously balanced on the fence. You know that someone is bound to fall, but you don't know who it will be, where or when.

Crudup is convincing as Pete, bringing him to life with a reserved, understated performance. He brings an intelligent and introspective quality to the character that leads you to believe that Pete is always cognizant of what is going on around him, and where it's all heading. With Big boy, on the other hand, you never know if he's ever really aware of his situation, or if he just doesn't care. As Big Boy, Harrelson gives what may be his best performance ever. His portrayal is that of a true, rugged individual who keeps his deepest feelings to himself, but just may be a bit more savvy than he lets on. Initially, it appears that Big Boy and Pete are opposite sides of the same coin, but in the end you realize that they are not so different from one another after all.

As Mona, Arquette gives a somewhat subdued performance. Though attractive, she doesn't exactly exude the kind of sensuality that would seemingly elicit the obsessiveness of the men that is called for by the story, especially in Pete's case. Knowing what you know about the characters involved, it is hard to believe that Pete would look past the lovely and more alluring Josepha for even a second glance at Mona.

The supporting cast includes James Gammon (Hoover), Darren E. Burrows (Billy), Lane Smith (Steve) and Jacob Vargas (Delfino). A good, solid drama, "The Hi-Lo Country" may not be entirely original, but Frears has a nice touch and gives it a sense of realism that will get you emotionally involved with the characters and their story. And, upon reflection, it's a glimpse of a world that not that long ago was so much bigger than it is today.

The plot may creak a bit, but the film itself remains a superbly done period piece. It is Northeastern New Mexico, circa 1945, and the prairie vistas are wide open with an unbounded sense of freedom, but one that stretches out to monotonously barren horizons. Homesteading cows is no easy task in the hard-bitten Hi-Lo country, and certainly no place for the Hollywood glamor factory. Except for a few questionable touches (Sam Elliott's leering villian, for one), the viewer gets a real sense of time and place, and of what goes on with the hardpan folks living there. The movie's core, however, remains Woody Harrelson's Big Boy whose boisterously callous behavior develops so slyly, you may not notice your own shifting responses. The jut-jawed Harrelson is near perfect, as are the cow town atmospherics with their smoky Saturday night honky-tonk. Seldom has anyone gotten a cowboy so right, and seldom has any film blended landscape of place with landscape of character more successfully than this one. Both demonstrate how sheer surface expanse can overwhelm frail emotional depth. Martin Scorese ( a most unlikely source for a Western theme) was a background producer, and I suspect it is he we have to thank for getting this very non-commercial story onto the video screen. Stephen Frears directs at a leisurely but revealing pace, allowing the occasional quiet but necessary moment to creep in. This minor gem should satisfy anyone curious about those obscure backwaters of the American West that appear mysteriously as blank spots on the road map. Despite undeniable concessions, Hi-Lo Country remains truer to its prosaic sources than the mock heroics and contrived mayhem of the traditional western, and is thus well worth a look see. Give it a try.

Returning to the Hi-Lo country of New Mexico after World War II, two cowboys (played by Woody Harrelson and Billy Crudup) resume their friendship. That friendship is compromised when both fall hard for the lusty young wife (Patricia Arquette) of a competing ranch's foreman. Crudup is forced to suck it in as Arquette appears to prefer Harrelson; and it poisons the possibility of a relationship with the lovely Penelope Cruz, who detects that his love for her is divided.

This is the New West, where small ranches are being gobbled up by larger ones such as that run by Sam Elliott, whom the other cowboys hate and fear. The work is hard and dangerous and the rewards few. But the Old West lurks not far beneath the surface, and bullets still fly.

Director Stephen Frears did a magnificent job with this film. It made we wish that more Westerns were made, even if by "furriners" like Frears. Billy Crudup is a young actor whose career I will follow with interest: His restrained role of a man who cannot do what he most wants sticks in the memory. It was good also to see Katy Jurado of HIGH NOON fame in a small scene-stealing walk-on as a Mexican witch, or bruja, who tells fortunes.

I had never heard of this movie until a close friend suggested that I watch it. I had little expectations going into this film but I was soon blown away by the solid plot and the exceptional acting of all the characters. All Over Me follows the friendship of Claude and Ellen, two teenage girls living in Hell's Kitchen New York. The two are exceptionally close and spend most of their time in Claude's room, practicing to become a band. Tensions rise when the friendship crosses the line and Ellen starts seeing Mark, a hostile young man who thrives on confrontation. The viewer watches as Claude deals with the new facets of her friendship with Ellen and her own sexuality. Claude soon meets up with Lucy, a sweet pink haired rocker who is completely at ease with who and what she is. The story climaxes with the death of a central figure that will rock Claude and Ellen's relationship forever. All Over Me is a powerful movie, with a solid plot and excellent acting by Allison Folland, Leisha Hailey, Pat Briggs and Wilson Cruz. Anyone who survived adolescence would appreciate this film and it's characters.

I initially rented this video because of the soundtrack. I was browsing through my local used cd shop and found and awesome group of musicians on one soundtrack. Then later that day, I was watching a video and there was a preview for it. It took a month for me to find it in my little town, but when I actually got the chance to sit down and view it, I was astonished. It is one of the most amazing films I've seen in so long. I didn't want it to end. I wanted to be a part of that movie, and someday do a film with as much emotional impact. I was however disappointed in the loosing of the gay character so early in the film. I liked him too much to have him go away. I was also kind of disenchanted with Wilson Cruz playing yet another struggling gay male. I think this guy needs to explore his acting options. It's called typecasting. But over all, this movie left me speechless and desperately desiring pink hair. I highly recommend it.

This just happens to be the movie that hooked me onto the music of the Murmurs, Leisha Hailey, one of the main 'Murmurs' has a role. It is a great coming of age tale about a girl coming to terms with a friend's bad judgements, the death of another close friend, and the meeting of an understanding punk rocker. Alison Folland does a great job portraying the main character Claude in her awkward, but necessary, journey to knowing herself. I love the fact that she stays who she is no matter what people say to her. It is a tough feat to eat candy and ice cream when your best friend calls you a pig and your mother calls you fat. It's a charming movie with characters I swear I have met before.

... the result could very well be Vin Diesel. A hunk of a man with a sweet face and the ability to smirk in the camera while acting at the same time. He's the low-life you like in spite of his past or his rude behavior.

He is one of a handful of passengers on a space-faring transport vessel. Passengers range from a group of Muslims en route to "New Mecca" on another planet, to a bounty hunter and his prisoner, Riddick (Diesel).

When a meteor shower damages the ship, the crew is forced to crash-land on a nearby planet, that fortunately for them has an oxygen atmosphere. The crash landing kills a number of crew and passengers and the crafty Riddick takes advantage of the situation and escapes briefly. To aid in his criminal life, Riddick has had his eyes surgically altered so that he can see at night in near pitch-black conditions without the aid of a flashlight. This makes him vulnerable to normal lighting conditions that force him to wear sun glasses most of the time.

It soon becomes apparent that while he is a deadly criminal (although you never really find out what it is he's really done... it's all rumors, mostly), the rest of the crew need his abilities and strength to survive.

The planet is totally barren. Remnants of a human campsite are there... trailers, water condensers, a small laboratory and no signs of life. A small kid who was a passenger on their ship is heard screaming and vanishes. Blood and sinew are left behind. Another man is pulled into a hole in the ground and when others go in after him, they discover the awful truth.

A swarm of aliens, each about the size of 2 gorillas, is living on the planet and they eat blood (lots of it) for breakfast. A few of the aliens' skeletons are spotted and the hundreds of razor-sharp teeth are about as chilling as their size and their numbers. In addition to a couple of alien skulls, the crash survivors find the skeletal remains of a number of humans and of some very large animals (dinosaur size) that all apparently were wiped out by their alien co-habitants.

Fortunately, they are light-sensitive and having a flash-light beam them is enough to raise blisters on their sensitive skin. The planet's relentless 3 suns make daylight a 24-hour-a-day event and the heat very oppressive.

They learn that as long as they don't go into any dark caverns, they are safe from these deadly creatures... until one of the crew stumbles upon a planetary model that shows the 3 suns... turning the model shows the revolutions of the planet around the 3 suns and then there is a rude awakening... there is an eclipse on this planet every 22 years and this unlucky crew just happened to crash-land a few days before darkness hits for days. It soon appears that those who died in the crash were the lucky ones.

Are there holes in the plot? You bet! I mean... what have these creatures been eating during the past 22 years? Are there some cheesy, over-acted scenes? Yes! But this is a film that keeps you on your toes.

The film did fall short in not enabling the viewer to emotionally bond with any of the characters. An emotional connection to Diesel comes close ... but it never comes to fruition... so in the end, you really don't care if anyone survives... you just want to see some sci-fi special effects.

If you only want to see aliens or cool special effects, you'll be more than a little disappointed... the alien is only seen in sparse glimpses. While it's true that the unseen is often more scary than what can be seen, there just is simply not enough to appreciate. The movie, "Alien," on the other hand, showed the alien just enough to where you really didn't want to see it ever again. In "Pitch Black," you're just hoping to pause the DVD in just the right spot so you can see what the heck it looks like.

In spite numerous flaws, the story had some really good sci-fi concepts. The film could have been much better, but such that it is, it's still an entertaining flick.

The R rating is for language and lots of bloody violence and death... not one for the kiddos.

Pitch Black starts out with a pretty standard SF plot - space ship is pulled off course by a meteor shower, crashes on a seemingly deserted planet and the survivors discover that they are not alone. Familar territory to many SF/horror movies.

However, Pitch Black is original enough it's telling of the story to stay interesting. First of all, the bleach process used to process the actual film gives the movie and interesting "look"; transforming the stale, lifeless desert and low budget sets into much more visually appealing scenes.

Secondly, because the film does not appear to be large budget, it capitalizes on the few effects it does have to build a sense of tension and expectation with the viewer. This is far more involving and entertaining than straight out computer generated gore.

Finally, the performance of Vin Diesel as the tough anti hero is fantastic. Credit should go to the producers for casting him in this role and to him for making it work so well.

The DVD extras are not particularly interesting. The commentaries are good, but generally more interesting if you are a film student. The "underground" videos of the rave/launch party for the video are poorly produced are not particularly exciting. And to be honest, I couldn't spot the three extra minutes in the unrated version.

Overall, the DVD makes a good rental. I am not sure that I would buy it to watch it more than once or for the DVD extras.

A great movie featuriing good acting, directing, and use of lighting to tell a story of creepy inhabitants of another planet.

Highly recommended.

... the result could very well be Vin Diesel. A hunk of a man with a sweet face and the ability to smirk in the camera while acting at the same time. He's the low-life you like in spite of his past or his rude behavior.

He is one of a handful of passengers on a space-faring transport vessel. Passengers range from a group of Muslims en route to "New Mecca" on another planet, to a bounty hunter and his prisoner, Riddick (Diesel).

When a meteor shower damages the ship, the crew is forced to crash-land on a nearby planet, that fortunately for them has an oxygen atmosphere. The crash landing kills a number of crew and passengers and the crafty Riddick takes advantage of the situation and escapes briefly. To aid in his criminal life, Riddick has had his eyes surgically altered so that he can see at night in near pitch-black conditions without the aid of a flashlight. This makes him vulnerable to normal lighting conditions that force him to wear sun glasses most of the time.

It soon becomes apparent that while he is a deadly criminal (although you never really find out what it is he's really done... it's all rumors, mostly), the rest of the crew need his abilities and strength to survive.

The planet is totally barren. Remnants of a human campsite are there... trailers, water condensers, a small laboratory and no signs of life. A small kid who was a passenger on their ship is heard screaming and vanishes. Blood and sinew are left behind. Another man is pulled into a hole in the ground and when others go in after him, they discover the awful truth.

A swarm of aliens, each about the size of 2 gorillas, is living on the planet and they eat blood (lots of it) for breakfast. A few of the aliens' skeletons are spotted and the hundreds of razor-sharp teeth are about as chilling as their size and their numbers. In addition to a couple of alien skulls, the crash survivors find the skeletal remains of a number of humans and of some very large animals (dinosaur size) that all apparently were wiped out by their alien co-habitants.

Fortunately, they are light-sensitive and having a flash-light beam them is enough to raise blisters on their sensitive skin. The planet's relentless 3 suns make daylight a 24-hour-a-day event and the heat very oppressive.

They learn that as long as they don't go into any dark caverns, they are safe from these deadly creatures... until one of the crew stumbles upon a planetary model that shows the 3 suns... turning the model shows the revolutions of the planet around the 3 suns and then there is a rude awakening... there is an eclipse on this planet every 22 years and this unlucky crew just happened to crash-land a few days before darkness hits for days. It soon appears that those who died in the crash were the lucky ones.

Are there holes in the plot? You bet! I mean... what have these creatures been eating during the past 22 years? Are there some cheesy, over-acted scenes? Yes! But this is a film that keeps you on your toes.

The film did fall short in not enabling the viewer to emotionally bond with any of the characters. An emotional connection to Diesel comes close ... but it never comes to fruition... so in the end, you really don't care if anyone survives... you just want to see some sci-fi special effects.

If you only want to see aliens or cool special effects, you'll be more than a little disappointed... the alien is only seen in sparse glimpses. While it's true that the unseen is often more scary than what can be seen, there just is simply not enough to appreciate. The movie, "Alien," on the other hand, showed the alien just enough to where you really didn't want to see it ever again. In "Pitch Black," you're just hoping to pause the DVD in just the right spot so you can see what the heck it looks like.

In spite numerous flaws, the story had some really good sci-fi concepts. The film could have been much better, but such that it is, it's still an entertaining flick.

The R rating is for language and lots of bloody violence and death... not one for the kiddos.

Pitch Black starts out with a pretty standard SF plot - space ship is pulled off course by a meteor shower, crashes on a seemingly deserted planet and the survivors discover that they are not alone. Familar territory to many SF/horror movies.

However, Pitch Black is original enough it's telling of the story to stay interesting. First of all, the bleach process used to process the actual film gives the movie and interesting "look"; transforming the stale, lifeless desert and low budget sets into much more visually appealing scenes.

Secondly, because the film does not appear to be large budget, it capitalizes on the few effects it does have to build a sense of tension and expectation with the viewer. This is far more involving and entertaining than straight out computer generated gore.

Finally, the performance of Vin Diesel as the tough anti hero is fantastic. Credit should go to the producers for casting him in this role and to him for making it work so well.

The DVD extras are not particularly interesting. The commentaries are good, but generally more interesting if you are a film student. The "underground" videos of the rave/launch party for the video are poorly produced are not particularly exciting. And to be honest, I couldn't spot the three extra minutes in the unrated version.

Overall, the DVD makes a good rental. I am not sure that I would buy it to watch it more than once or for the DVD extras.

A great movie featuriing good acting, directing, and use of lighting to tell a story of creepy inhabitants of another planet.

Highly recommended.

I have one word for this movie: LAME. Only good part was the ship crashing down on the planet. THIS IS DEFINITELY NOT -ALIEN-

A great movie featuriing good acting, directing, and use of lighting to tell a story of creepy inhabitants of another planet.

Highly recommended.

gotta love the Diesel man, he sparks and shines in this role and Riddick. nice special effects make this one enjoyable and the supporting cast is great to. David Twohy the director is also a hollywood screenwriter

... the result could very well be Vin Diesel. A hunk of a man with a sweet face and the ability to smirk in the camera while acting at the same time. He's the low-life you like in spite of his past or his rude behavior.

He is one of a handful of passengers on a space-faring transport vessel. Passengers range from a group of Muslims en route to "New Mecca" on another planet, to a bounty hunter and his prisoner, Riddick (Diesel).

When a meteor shower damages the ship, the crew is forced to crash-land on a nearby planet, that fortunately for them has an oxygen atmosphere. The crash landing kills a number of crew and passengers and the crafty Riddick takes advantage of the situation and escapes briefly. To aid in his criminal life, Riddick has had his eyes surgically altered so that he can see at night in near pitch-black conditions without the aid of a flashlight. This makes him vulnerable to normal lighting conditions that force him to wear sun glasses most of the time.

It soon becomes apparent that while he is a deadly criminal (although you never really find out what it is he's really done... it's all rumors, mostly), the rest of the crew need his abilities and strength to survive.

The planet is totally barren. Remnants of a human campsite are there... trailers, water condensers, a small laboratory and no signs of life. A small kid who was a passenger on their ship is heard screaming and vanishes. Blood and sinew are left behind. Another man is pulled into a hole in the ground and when others go in after him, they discover the awful truth.

A swarm of aliens, each about the size of 2 gorillas, is living on the planet and they eat blood (lots of it) for breakfast. A few of the aliens' skeletons are spotted and the hundreds of razor-sharp teeth are about as chilling as their size and their numbers. In addition to a couple of alien skulls, the crash survivors find the skeletal remains of a number of humans and of some very large animals (dinosaur size) that all apparently were wiped out by their alien co-habitants.

Fortunately, they are light-sensitive and having a flash-light beam them is enough to raise blisters on their sensitive skin. The planet's relentless 3 suns make daylight a 24-hour-a-day event and the heat very oppressive.

They learn that as long as they don't go into any dark caverns, they are safe from these deadly creatures... until one of the crew stumbles upon a planetary model that shows the 3 suns... turning the model shows the revolutions of the planet around the 3 suns and then there is a rude awakening... there is an eclipse on this planet every 22 years and this unlucky crew just happened to crash-land a few days before darkness hits for days. It soon appears that those who died in the crash were the lucky ones.

Are there holes in the plot? You bet! I mean... what have these creatures been eating during the past 22 years? Are there some cheesy, over-acted scenes? Yes! But this is a film that keeps you on your toes.

The film did fall short in not enabling the viewer to emotionally bond with any of the characters. An emotional connection to Diesel comes close ... but it never comes to fruition... so in the end, you really don't care if anyone survives... you just want to see some sci-fi special effects.

If you only want to see aliens or cool special effects, you'll be more than a little disappointed... the alien is only seen in sparse glimpses. While it's true that the unseen is often more scary than what can be seen, there just is simply not enough to appreciate. The movie, "Alien," on the other hand, showed the alien just enough to where you really didn't want to see it ever again. In "Pitch Black," you're just hoping to pause the DVD in just the right spot so you can see what the heck it looks like.

In spite numerous flaws, the story had some really good sci-fi concepts. The film could have been much better, but such that it is, it's still an entertaining flick.

The R rating is for language and lots of bloody violence and death... not one for the kiddos.

Pitch Black starts out with a pretty standard SF plot - space ship is pulled off course by a meteor shower, crashes on a seemingly deserted planet and the survivors discover that they are not alone. Familar territory to many SF/horror movies.

However, Pitch Black is original enough it's telling of the story to stay interesting. First of all, the bleach process used to process the actual film gives the movie and interesting "look"; transforming the stale, lifeless desert and low budget sets into much more visually appealing scenes.

Secondly, because the film does not appear to be large budget, it capitalizes on the few effects it does have to build a sense of tension and expectation with the viewer. This is far more involving and entertaining than straight out computer generated gore.

Finally, the performance of Vin Diesel as the tough anti hero is fantastic. Credit should go to the producers for casting him in this role and to him for making it work so well.

The DVD extras are not particularly interesting. The commentaries are good, but generally more interesting if you are a film student. The "underground" videos of the rave/launch party for the video are poorly produced are not particularly exciting. And to be honest, I couldn't spot the three extra minutes in the unrated version.

Overall, the DVD makes a good rental. I am not sure that I would buy it to watch it more than once or for the DVD extras.

A great movie featuriing good acting, directing, and use of lighting to tell a story of creepy inhabitants of another planet.

Highly recommended.

I have one word for this movie: LAME. Only good part was the ship crashing down on the planet. THIS IS DEFINITELY NOT -ALIEN-

A great movie featuriing good acting, directing, and use of lighting to tell a story of creepy inhabitants of another planet.

Highly recommended.

gotta love the Diesel man, he sparks and shines in this role and Riddick. nice special effects make this one enjoyable and the supporting cast is great to. David Twohy the director is also a hollywood screenwriter