» El Apando (1976, Mexico)

El Apando

Unfortunately it’s a bit hard to rate this film when you can’t understand Spanish and there are no English sub-titles, but it should rate very highly in the cult status stakes. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted on May 16th, 2009 at 7:12 pm. Updated on August 21st, 2009 at 6:44 pm.

» Life (1999, USA)

Life

When the best line in this comedy is from the last of a series of out-takes as the final credits are rolling over, you can be pretty sure that it’s been a waste of time.  Read the rest of this entry »

Posted on May 16th, 2009 at 7:04 pm. Updated on August 21st, 2009 at 6:44 pm.

» Bandini / Imprisoned (1963, India)

Bandini

A Hindi classic, apparently, but not quite a prison movie classic. Mind you, the Naini, Yeravada and Bhagalpur Central Jails all appear in the credits, so one would hope that the prison scenes have a degree of authenticity about them. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted on May 16th, 2009 at 7:02 pm. Updated on January 1st, 2010 at 5:21 pm.

» Prison on Fire 2 (1990, Hong Kong)

Prison on Fire 2

I’m afraid I don’t really get the Hong Kong film genre.  This sequel to the wholly dramatic Prison on Fire again stars Chow Yum Fat as Ching, although this is the engaging Ching, not ‘Mad Dog’ Ching of the last part of the first movie (even in the fight scenes), and is a curious blend of drama, farce, comedy, whimsy, fighting, unintentional humour and even a song or two thrown in for good measure.  Read the rest of this entry »

Posted on May 16th, 2009 at 6:58 pm. Updated on August 21st, 2009 at 6:44 pm.

» Stir Crazy (1980, USA)

Stir Crazy

A limp comedy directed by Sidney Poitier. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted on May 16th, 2009 at 6:55 pm. Updated on August 21st, 2009 at 6:44 pm.

» Lock Up (1989, USA)

Lock Up

When even some of the Stallone-friendly sites suggest that this isn’t one of Sylvester Stallone’s best movies, you are entitled to approach it with trepidation.  But it’s no worse than many other prison action flicks.  Read the rest of this entry »

Posted on May 16th, 2009 at 6:53 pm. Updated on August 21st, 2009 at 6:44 pm.

» Last Light (1993, USA)

Last Light

It sounds interesting: a white prisoner on death row and his African American guard learning about themselves through the bond they develop. But things start badly in this visually murky, made-for-TV drama, and don’t get much better.  Read the rest of this entry »

Posted on May 16th, 2009 at 6:51 pm. Updated on August 21st, 2009 at 6:44 pm.

» Half Past Dead 2 (2007, USA)

Half Past Dead 2 - Kurupt as Bernard 'Twitch' Washington and Bill Goldberg as William Burke

My kids tell me that I don’t know how to watch action movies. They’re right. My main problem with this movie is the guns. I know I should just go with the flow, but I wonder how the guns get into a super-max prison, how criminals can’t shoot straight from several metres, and why the desperate bad guy, when he has the heroes at gunpoint after already shooting one in the stomach, would (a) not shoot them dead when they are the only people standing in the way of a successful escape bid, and (b) put down the gun so he can have a fist fight with the injured man. I know, I know. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted on May 16th, 2009 at 6:48 pm. Updated on March 8th, 2016 at 3:02 pm.

» Con Air (1997, USA)

Con Air

Mildly entertaining action flick that starts with the hero Cameron Poe (Nicolas Cage) absurdly copping a 7 year whack for manslaughter while defending himself and his pregnant wife in a fight against three men, and gets more preposterous from then on.  He serves his time and is required to fly back home on a prison plane with a collection of caged psychopaths being transported to a new high security prison.  Oh oh.  Read the rest of this entry »

Posted on May 16th, 2009 at 6:46 pm. Updated on August 21st, 2009 at 6:44 pm.

» The Last Mile (1932, USA)

The Last Mile - KIller John Mears

‘What is society’s responsibility for ever increasing murders? What shall be done with the murderers? The Last Mile does not pretend to give an answer. Society must find its own solution. But murder on the heels of murder is not that solution.’ The Last Mile kicks off with this quote from Lewis E Lawes, Warden of New York’s Sing Sing Prison, and writer of another 1932 film, 20,000 Years in Sing Sing. If you’re looking for a film that extols the virtues of the death penalty, this ain’t that film. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted on May 16th, 2009 at 6:44 pm. Updated on May 22nd, 2010 at 8:37 pm.