A rare horror-sequel that reframes and pushes the boundaries of the original by hand of D.L. Bousman, Saw II remixes the low-budget indie thrills and nightmare puzzles/contraptions of its predecessor for a passable gorefest follow-up. 6.5/10.
[category:horror/psychological/survival,date:2005-04-13,rate:6.5,type:movies]
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Category: Survival
Saw III (2006)
A new apprentice that looks more akin to a fashion-show model than grisly psychological torture-master is just one of the problems in a far-lazier chessboard of cruel games passing the threshold of gore & even preaching w/o tension. 3/10.
[category:horror/psychological/survival,date:2006-04-13,rate:3,type:movies]
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The Martian (2015)
A survival-epic in the stratosphere, The Martian is [though ~miscast in Damon] a panegyric to the indomitability of human spirit that fosters empathy and geek-out reciprocity to the realistic science-fiction by back-in-form genre patriarch. 7.5/10.
[category:science-fiction/survival,date:2014-10-18,rate:7.5,type:movies]
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Saw (2004)
Knavish, thought-provoking, imaginative, & highly-original engine of psychological torment, Saw is a bold new take on horror – a grisly [not for the feint-of-heart and ~overly-nihilistic] reality TV exercise in excruciation that twists & ensnares. 7.9/10.
[category:horror/psychological/survival,date:2004-04-13,rate:7.9,type:movies]
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Castaway (2000)
A parable on the power of nature, futility of plans, and mankind’s primal-need for social interaction, Castaway juxtaposes time and routine with its survival-antithesis for a beautifully-acted, elemental case-study on God & the mystery of life. 8.8/10.
[category:drama/survival/religion/psychological,date:2000-09-15,rate:8.8,type:movies]
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Jurassic Park (1993)
A behemoth of a motion picture from the larger-than-life imagination of Spielberg, J.P. is a magnificently-scored, viscerally-pulsating thrillride as impressive in nature vs. science/mankind themes as it was groundbreaking in animatronics & VFX. 9/10.
[category:actionadventure/science-fiction/fantasy/classics/horror/survival,date:1993-03-02,rate:9,type:movies]
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Arrow (2012)
Dark, cinematic, psychologically-complex in survival/humanity-exposition, epically orchestrated, & richly-characterized – w. beautiful island dual-plot redemption arc, career protagonist, savage vigilantism, legacy revolutionizing TV post-2000. 9.5/10.
[category:drama/actionadventure/comic-book-movies-tv/survival/psychological,date:2012-07-01,rate:9.5,type:tvshows]
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Predator (1987)
A testosterone and machismo guerrilla warfare ’80’s reversal of mankind’s crown on the predator food-chain – with machine guns, hunt jungle aesthetics, & Arnold-led sci/horror/action, but directionless plot & bizarre soundtrack mismatching. 6.2/10.
[category:science-fiction/classics/survival/actionadventure,date:1987-04-06,rate:6.2,type:movies]
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Anacondas: The Hunt Of The Blood Orchid
A bigger, bolder, pluralized island fountain-of-youth reimagination of the original with better CGI, blockbuster self-awareness, cast, setting, and biological accuracy correcting its biggest flaw, THFTBO is an exhilarating jungle snake feature. 7.5/10.
[category:science-fiction/actionadventure/survival,date:2004-09-20,rate:7.5,type:movies]
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Aliens (1986)
One of the greatest sequels ever made, Aliens pluralizes its original’s terror with a military testosterone-injection, epic sci-fi aggrandization by Cameron imagination, & uber-raised stakes/ambition elevating the lore to new blockbuster levels. 9.7/10.
[category:actionadventurescience-fiction/horror/survival/kaiju/classics,date:1986-06-05,rate:9.7,type:movies]
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