Tom Jolliffe looks at Hollywood’s preoccupation with reboots, remakes and sequels… I sit here in the year 2018. Suddenly I find myself compelled to moan about the unimaginative approach to greenlighting Hollywood studio pictures. This is not a new phenomenon, it’s old hat. As of now the vast majority of greenlit, large studio films are […]
A Beginner’s Guide To Paul Verhoeven
Tom Jolliffe continues our series of beginner’s guides to iconic directors with controversial Dutch director, Paul Verhoeven… A man who never does anything by halves, Paul Verhoeven is a director who has courted controversy throughout his career. With a long and varied resume, spanning beginnings in Dutch TV and film, then in and out of […]
Has Showgirls actually become kind of good?
Tom Jolliffe takes a look back at Showgirls, once universally derided and considered one of the worst films ever… but is it actually misunderstood? Upon its release in 1995, Paul Verhoeven’s trashy spectacular, Showgirls was obliterated by critics. It was a lavish, Vegas set tale with plenty of excess dismissed as vacuous, grimy and seedy. […]
Paul Verhoeven wanted a four-breasted mutant sex worker in Total Recall
With the Arnold Schwarzenegger sci-fi actioner Total Recall celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, director Paul Verhoeven has been reminiscing about the 1990 cult classic in an interview with The Ringer. During the discussion, Verhoeven revealed that he originally intended to make Benny wish he had four hands during the bar scene on Mars featuring […]
Paul Verhoeven isn’t a fan of the RoboCop and Total Recall remakes
Paul Verhoeven has seen the remakes of Total Recall and RoboCop that came out in the 2010s, and he’s not happy about them. In a recent interview with Metrograph (reported by World of Reel), the director spoke about the remakes and gave his candid takes on what they got wrong about his original work. Verhoeven […]
Blu-ray Review – In Search of Tomorrow (2022)
In Search of Tomorrow, 2022. Directed by David A. Weiner. Starring Lance Guest, Clancy Brown, Sean Young, Wil Wheaton, Catherine Mary Stewart, John Carpenter, Adrienne Barbeau, Paul Verhoeven, Peter Weller, Nancy Allen, Kurtwood Smith, Jenette Goldstein, Joe Dante, Carrie Henn, Bruce Boxleitner, Shane Black, Dee Wallace, Mark Rolston, Barry Bostwick, Ivan Reitman, Billy Dee Williams, […]
4K Ultra HD Review – RoboCop (1987)
RoboCop, 1987, Directed by Paul Verhoeven. Starring Peter Weller, Nancy Allen, Daniel O’Herlihy, Ronny Cox, Kurtwood Smith, and Miguel Ferrer. SYNOPSIS: Arrow has reissued their excellent two-disc RoboCop set on 4K, even going so far as to source new 4K scans of the trims that were added back in for the Director’s Cut (and originally […]
4K Ultra HD Review – Total Recall (1990)
Total Recall, 1990. Directed by Paul Verhoeven. Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rachel Ticotin, Sharon Stone, Michael Ironside, Ronny Cox. SYNOPSIS: Total Recall was remastered in 4K for this new edition that also includes a digital code, as well as a copy of the movie on Blu-ray. Three new bonus features, including a comprehensive look at the […]
Wry, Prophetic, Smart and Brutal: RoboCop at 35
Tom Jolliffe looks back at RoboCop, Paul Verhoeven’s ahead-of-the-curve masterpiece, as it turns 35… Okay creeps. Dead or alive, you’re coming with me… to look back at RoboCop. The dead part might be a bit much, but I’m sure you’re game. The iconic sci-fi actioner is 35 years old. There is a huge weight behind […]
Movie Review – Benedetta (2021)
Benedetta, 2021. Directed by Paul Verhoeven. Starring Virginie Efira, Daphne Patakia, Charlotte Rampling and Lambert Wilson. SYNOPSIS: A nun at an Italian convent believes she experiences visions of Jesus Christ himself, and pursues a romantic relationship with another woman. When you watch a movie by Paul Verhoeven, you know you’re not in for an easy […]
