Who Punishes The Punisher !?

Punisher: War Zone

(2008/USA)

''Let me put you out of my misery !''

The Punisher returns with an incredibly visceral personal agenda against the criminal underworld responsible for the murders of his wife and kids. Primed to eradicate New York City of its gang land infestation. Serving death warrants upon the human vermin like the pied piper of pain. A soldier of no mercy etching his own brand of retribution against those evading the law and beyond reproach. But when he comes calling the badge of justice he displays is etched upon his bullet retardant chest protection. An emblazoned white skull, intimidatingly representative of a messenger of death !. This then is The Punisher, and he's unapologetically amped up on the shiny format in an Unrated form to die for.
Officer Frank Castle may have left the police force, but as The Punisher he is a force all of his own !. Torn up in side over the death of his family but relentlessly poised to rage a rampaging war against the scum of New York City. Here he unleashes a frenzied full scale assault against a psychotic gangland boss called Jigsaw. A surviving target of Frank Castle's one man militia The Punisher, who left him for dead in an operational mass bottle recycling machine. Billy Russoti is pummelled and pulped amongst the shards of glass, left unrecognisable in a bloody cocoon of sliced skin severed ligaments. Pulled from the device by the arriving police to be patched up by hack surgeons, due to a lapsed health plan (oh the irony of crime doesn't pay), Billy, with a patchwork face, names himself Jigsaw.
During this opening sequence of events The Punisher unknowingly kills an innocent. A wire wearing undercover police officer, infiltrating Billy Russoti's syndicate, gets caught in the cross fire. To Frank Castle's dismay this law enforcer leaves a widowed wife and young daughter. Is it time for Frank Castle to lay The Punisher to final rest !?. When Jigsaw springs his psychopathic brother Loony Bin Jim !, from the psycho ward, and goes after the wife and daughter, it becomes apparent that The Punishers work is far from done. Time to hook up with munitions pimp Microchip, and arm him self for the War Zone, as The Punisher injects an anger enema into Jigsaw's newly formed allegiance of street gangs.

Punisher: War Zone is an outrageously rewarding slice of trash cinema. Politically incorrect to the hilt and delivering violence like stormtroopers using real ammo at a paintball free for all. This is no picnic for societies pernicious low life as The Punisher dispenses with plastic knives and forks, cutting instead through his hamper of baddies with steel and lead. For desert he decapitates douche bags via double barrelled shot gun, and removes any remaining aftertaste with a chaser of ballistic bullet brûlée. This is a connoisseur of carnage, a perfectionist in his preparation and remorseless in his delivery. If you've caused someone pain, he'll do unto you the same ... with interest !. The climax to the movie is an audience rousing all Action roundhouse of the finest order. The Punisher unloads a world of whoop ass on the bad guys. There are more limbs shot off, and bodies blasted into oblivion than can be calculated on a super charged abacus. This is vivid comic book licence taken to the max. Marvel studios Marvel Knights production company have taken a dark character from their resume and thankfully stayed completely away from the Hollywood happy sparkles dust, to blow us away here with a fallout that even fledgling forensic scientists would throat barf at.

Ray Stevenson is perfectly cast as the stoically charged judge jury and executioner, The Punisher and the emotively tortured Frank Castle. He is believable in a role, that should there be a further sequel, he has now made his own !. This is then a powder keg of unyielding gratuitous violence. An unflinching furnace of Action catered for comic book fans who have long outgrown the requirement of parental guidance. A guilty pleasure that bleeds for its patronage and rewards with relish.

Review: Paul Cooke / Source: USA DVD (NTSC)

Jungle Incursion Robowars

What If ...

Reb Brown Met Nick Nicholson

They once met and shared a drink in real life, but what if in an alternaverse Reb Brown's character Major Murphy Black went up against a meglomaniacal character played by Nick Nicholson, in a sequel to Robowar . Who would win !?.

Picture this then, Nick Nicholson as a narcoleptic 'Nam super soldier, spaced out on government enhanced weed, developed to addict the enemy before killing them when integrated with simple drinking water. A whole new meaning to River Deep, Mountain High !. Only this super soldier has a rare inherent gene that can consume weed unlike any other, and once that Molotov fajita is flushed through the system with an H20 chaser Nick's character becomes an unstoppable man mechanoid. Let loose in the jungle of the Philippines he is a killing machine, a 'Nam super soldier who soon becomes fearfully named 'Nam SS !.

This could then have been Director Bruno Mattei's sequel to one of the Eighties most brilliantly bizarre Sci Fi jungle Actioners Robowar (1988) .

The US government send in their best military ops man Major Murphy Black to bring down the insidious operators in the Philippines, and with specific orders to end by any means the out of control killing spree of 'Nam SS. Explosive Action entails and all hell breaks loose in the jungle as Reb Brown unleashes a barrage of bullet power, and a slew of dialogue to bombard Nick Nicholson's 'Nam SS as this explosive encounter plays out with crowd pleasing rapture. ROBOWARS .. if only it were Coming Soon to a theatre near us !!!.

Nick Nicholson

A Big Shout Out For Mr. Nick Nicholson

A legend and Trojan work horse of the Filipino film industry, Nick Nicholson has become a true compadre to many of us 'B' movie Action fans. Kicking back with the guys and myself over at AV Maniacs forums: http://www.avmaniacs.com/forums/ it has been a real pleasure getting to know more about the man and his life along with the multitude of big fun flicks he has made. Actor, assistant director, casting, stunt co-ordination, and pretty much anything that most mere mortals would turn and run from, beyond being pampered back in their safe little environments of personal assistants and custom Winnebago's !. This is a man who fought for a nation in the Vietnam war and then got to perform in front of the camera for Directors Francis Ford Coppola and Oliver Stone in Apocalypse Now (1979) & Platoon (1986).

Nick's amazing credentials include appearances and credits along side some of the greats of Filipino lensed cinema. Names such as Cirio H. Santiago, Bruno Mattei, Joe D'Amato, Mike Monty, Romano Kristoff, Ron Marchini, Robert Patrick, Stacy Keach, Chris Mitchum, Gordon Mitchell ... the list goes on. Check Nick's details over at the IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0629897/

This really is a short heads up for Nick to show support for an all round great guy. Nick's out of sorts at present and needs time to address life in the real world. This hopefully goes some small way to show how much we appreciate you Mr. Nicholson, and how in the fullness of time we can continue discussions about your incredible life. Be well, and the very best to you good sir.

Now in anticipation of Nick's return a couple of questions to ponder on. Alongside Ian Gordon did Nick really sit down over spaghetti and draft out the story for Invasion USA that became the starring vehicle for Chuck Norris !?. And what the frickin' heck is going on with that poster for Laser Force (see below) !?. Surely Reb Brown will have something to shout about as the one and only true Strike Commando !.

It's Snow Time Folks

Let The Right One In

(2008 / Sweden)

The European forecast for horror looks exceedingly good as Thomas Alfredson rubs his Directorial hands together to create a spark of genre genius. His modern take on Vampirism is creative and emotively chilling, as he shows us the human side to perceived evil. Set amidst the winter backdrop of a snow enshrouded Stockholm in Sweden, this is a thriller with its thermostat set to chill.

Oskar is a twelve year old Swedish boy, living in a prefabricated tenant block with his mother, separated from his father and an outcast to fellow school mates. He is bullied and often physically assaulted by his peers, yet he refrains from emotion, escaping from his uncomfortable world through his imagination self gratifying solace. Into his life comes a young girl who shares his affinity with solitude, but her life style is curfewed primarily for the safety of others !. This turns out to be no ordinary young girl, but a far greater lived existence of a vampire exemplifying the appearance of a twelve year old child. She is named Eli.

Together Oskar and Eli form a friendship that develops into a mutually fulfilling reliance upon each other. As if just meeting his new found companion and seeing her only at night were not a clue to Oskar that something is unusual about Eli, experiencing her pangs at the sight of blood alert him to her true identity. Eli is no vicarious life form feeding off the innocent however, her existence relies upon the sustenance of blood, but unlike regular folk her chosen meal is not readily available at the local supermarket.

The brilliance of the movie lies within the performances of its two lead young stars, Kåre Hedebrant as Oskar and Lina Leandersson as Eli. Leandersson's portrayal of a creature with a surely vested soul is remarkable.

As Eli entrusts herself to Oskar, he in turn develops a relationship with her in his own accepting way, beyond that of tentative young affection and into a defined true love. But Eli cannot stay for long in one place for fear of discovery and all the bigotry that casts its shadow upon her existence.

Eli bestows a greater belief in himself upon Oskar, and this leads to him standing up for himself against those that would bully him. This ultimately brings about a greater threat upon his status in the community, and retribution brings about a terrifying scenario where Oskar is alone once more !.

A very well written story is diligently developed onto film with tireless attention to detail, and a meticulous metaphor for love against all the odds shines through in the finished article. Bravo to all concerned in creating a mini masterwork on such a modest budget.

It isn't just an unusual tale of love, however, as the moments of shocks are startling, and one scene involving a mass reaction of cats against a recently turned vampire is bizarrely brutal. The closure too is a memorable one that is both apt and satisfying in its deftly dealt bloody finality !.

When it comes to selecting your next movie be sure to Let The Right One In.

Dead Snow

Død snø

(2009 / Norway)

Spike your drink with extra ice cubes & be prepared to snuggle up in your favourite arm chair, as this one will have you rootin' & tootin' like The Three Stooges with free passes to The Worlds Fair. Nazi Zombies resurrected in the snowy peaks of Norway, miles from the beaten track & readied to snack down upon a group of vacationing winter thrill seeking young adults.

This is entertainment in the vein of The Evil Dead, played straight but with a deliciously wry delivery of dark humour. The back drop of far reaching, deep, crisp snow is perfect for this cult classic in the making. A very professional piece of movie making that looks & feels ten times its budget.

After a fearfully frenetic scene setting opening, as a taster for what will befall those that follow, the film introduces the main characters. A band of college graduates all seeking future careers in the medical profession. Saving lives is in their future, but who will save theirs in the present !?.

Nestled snugly in a homely log cabin, with a traditional outside toilet, where better for a Zombie attack than when being scared shit less !?. The movie kicks into high gear when night falls & the young girls & guys are attacked by fully Nazi regalia soldiers of the living dead variety. They were evil in life but are dead evil here !. A superb job on the Zombie makeup effects & costume design people here as the Zombies look excellent.

With a few of their number injured or torn apart from the evening assault its up to a remaining number of just five to pull a plan together to flee for help, fight for survival & serve up a solo Rambo turn straight out of Peter Jackson's Dead Alive !.

The second act is a real crowd pleaser & delivers more Nazi Zombie dismemberment than an offal eating competition at a summer cannibal camp. All done in true tongue in cheek splatter vision that will leave the viewer cheering for more. It truly has been too long a time since such a zestful campy horror has come along, and on this showing Tommy Wirkola is just the man to keep it coming. Brilliant stuff right through till its outlandish finale, that even closes on a great gotcha moment to revel in. Catch this as soon as you can and you'll surely be walking in a winter wonder Zombie land.
 

No Matter Where We Go ... Here We Are

An apt slight play on Buckaroobanzai's prophetic saying ''No matter where you go, there you are !'', but perfectly appropriate for a new dawning.

Welcome fellow Film fans, one & most definitely all, to the Fantastical, bizarre & most definitely Action packed world of Ballistic movie entertainment. This then is the Blog that I should have started a long time ago, but Finally have undertaken. Along for the ride is my ever effusive & enthusiasic padre of Ballistic bliss & Euro cinema, Mr. Devin Kelly.

Many of you will likely be familiar with Cinema Nocturna http://www.cinema-nocturna.com/ & perhaps the writings of both myself & Devin at the underbelly of fringe cinema. A long established webzine that trailblazed the internet since the noughties left the nineties behind.

With Ballistic Blood Bullets we aim to continue to deliver upon what was built at the house of Cinema Nocturna, but also more than ever let loose with great regularity the passion for these wonderfully insane movies that the big studios would do well to pay heed to. What may be lacking in budget is more often than not made up for in gutsy entertainment value. This then is the dawn of an extended partnership. Ballistic Blood Bullets is the realisation of a lifetime of love passionately laboured over thousands & thousands of movies. Many great, many bad, but most of all every one with something to talk about & that then is what this Blog is to be all about ... MOVIES !!!. Nuff said, so let's bring it on.



Thank you to Horror HQ http://thedigitalterrorforum.yuku.com/ for my early days of freedom of speach & the greatest community of fans you could ever wish for. Great days & great memories. Most of all Thank you to Mr. David Zuzelo. Be sure to stop on over at the Zedster's Awesome Blog Tomb It May Concern http://david-z.blogspot.com/ & be certain to tell him Buckaroobanzai sent ya :) . Look out for contributions from my very good friend DZ right here at Ballistic Blood Bullets as our community grows. Stay tuned folks ... thar be nuggets of gold in these here pages ... let the Action begin.