Inside the Jackal's Den

By: Keith Haggerty

Posted: 11/6/03

KILL BILL: VOLUME ONE

"Blades of Wraith"

Ever since his first feature film "Reservoir Dogs," director Quentin Tarrantino has become the touchstone of coolness. His follow-up film, "Pulp Fiction," catapulted him into the limelight, earning him countless awards and recognition. Of course, his films have always been criticized for the excessive language and brutal violence. But what the hell? That's what makes them great. In his latest, "Kill Bill: Volume One," Tarrantino continues his whacked-out tradition with a fast-paced, entertaining ride.
Uma Thurman stars as a former assassin who, on her wedding, is shot and presumed dead by just about everyone, including her assailants (who just so happen to be the people she used to work for). Then, she comes out of her coma and is hell-bent on getting revenge on her former "co-workers." Her quest takes her across the globe as she pursues the man who initially put the hit out on her, her boss, the man called Bill.
In the end, you have to be willing to expect anything and everything when going to see this movie. It's kind of like nothing you've ever seen before. The fight scenes are awesome, although, I thought some of them border on copying "The Matrix," but who cares? Also, when the blood starts to fly, it really flies everywhere. You just have to see it.

FINAL GRADE: B

TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE

"The Chain Gang"

The year was 1974 when a very low-budget film was made about a group of stoned-out teenagers being hunted by a chainsaw-wielding freak down in the heart of Texas. The name of the movie? "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre." The film was cheesy, to say the very least, but the events did actually transpire. Now, in 2003, Hollywood has decided to go back into the archives and completely redo this piece. The result is an hour and a half of a couple of shocks but, for the most part, is just your stereotypical slasher fest. Of course, this being a remake, the plot hasn't changed at all.
A group of teenagers are still driving down through Texas on their way to a Lynrd Skynard concert. Along the road they pick up a mysterious hitchhiker who is completely freaked out about a creepy house. Foolishly, the group go to investigate the house and it's there where the meet the menacing Leatherface. You can guess what happens next.
"TCM" isn't a bad movie it's just that it's a perfect example of what Hollywood does to destroy the classics. The original was cheesy because it was made to be like that. The remake is much more action and takes itself way too seriously.

FINAL GRADE: C

ALIEN: THE DIRECTOR'S CUT

"...Believe it or Not"

Twenty-five years ago, it was said that in space no one can hear you scream. Does that still hold true today? Probably not to the same level as it once did, but it still gives people the goose bumps.
Much like "Star Wars," Fox has decided to re-release the first Alien film in hopes of building up publicity for its big budget "Alien Versus Predator" film, which opens next summer. Normally, I am opposed to old films being brought back into the theaters but this one was actually cool to see some of the new footage added back into the final cut.
Personally, I always preferred James Cameron's "Aliens" (1986) over the original. There's only about seventeen minutes of new scenes added but they only add to the atmospheric tension. The most notable scene is towards the end when Ripley finds the nest and the cocooned bodies of her crewmates.
Overall, all the scenes that were added were previously available on the DVD release but not incorporated into the movie itself until now. If you have never seen this movie before then I'd highly suggest that you go out and see it as it is one of the scariest movies of all time. By the way, watch for the trailer for "Alien Versus Predator" at the beginning!

FINAL GRADE: A