Go (action): Within the first 5 minutes of the movie, I realized that I had seen it before and was on the verge of shutting it off. It was surprisingly good the second time. I suppose it’s difficult to describe the plot, but like Pulp Fiction, or Mystery Train, we follow a series of simultaneously occurring events in a thrill a minute ride. I’d never have guessed from the DVD cover or from any plot summary that I could find, but this one made me laugh out loud, made me say “oh shit!” a couple of times, and tied up every last loose end by the end of the movie, leaving me free to hit stop without feeling like I had wasted another 2 hours of my life. A-

Donnie Darko (sci-fi): I really don’t think this movie was marketed properly in the states, because I always thought it was a teenager slasher movie that somehow involved a demonic rabbit. What it turned out to be was a really, really well-written and directed time travel movie. Kevin Smith (of Clerks, Jay & Silent Bob) was featured on the commentary and put it pretty well when he said something like, “After the movie, you just sit there like ‘What the fuck did I just watch?’ Not like it’s a horrible movie, but you think you’re just too stupid to get it.” And that’s exactly what happened to me, forcing me to watch it twice. I really could’ve used another viewing to absorb more of the subtleties that I might have missed on the first two passes, but I think I’m being a bit obsessive. (On a side note, Smith was saying that it has been nearly impossible to track down the copyright holder of the movie, C.H.U.D., making me want to make my VHS copy more accessible.) A.

Iron Monkey (kung fu): I always watch movies in their native language, but this one was so fucking asinine that I couldn’t imagine that watching it in English could possibly make it worse. I don’t think that I can waste another word on this. Ooh, how about a letter? D-

Out of Time (drama): Oh look, some cop is getting double crossed and he needs to fix everything before time runs out, bla, bla, yadda, yadda. I think I’ve seen this movie 50 times under 49 different titles, and I seem to be a step ahead of the plot a majority of the time. C-

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