Really Surprised!

Far from Perfect, Far from Terrible

it is the rare 'crazy' movie that actually has something to say.

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

Larry Bishop's Hell Ride is unabashedly silly fun, a flashy, flippant, bloody and at times very weird pseudo biker flick. It's not.. The greatest flick and it's not even that good, but it's worth a gander just for the rogues gallery of exuberant tough guys on parade through a pulpy, chauvinistic tale of betrayal, revenge, sex and befuddled Shakespearean hell's Angels antics. Director and star Bishop is buddies with Quentin Tarantino (who can forget his grouchy cameo in Kill Bill 2?), who gives this flick in the form of executive producer. Not to make fun of the flick, but it's almost like Mel Brooks made a biker movie; it's relentlessly silly and lingers around forever with macho posing and mindless banter, until it straightens up its act in the eleventh hour for a surprisingly poignant bit of vengeance. Bishop plays Pistolero, leader of a gang called the Victors, at odds with their evil rivals, the Six-Six-Six's. Michael Madsen is a hoot as his lieutenant, The Gent, sweet talking his way through the flick in an oddly ruffly wardrobe choice that works because, well, it's Madsen. Rookie member Commanche (Eric Balfour) is an eager beaver with mysterious ties to the 666's elusive, villainess chieftain, The Deuce (salty dog David Carradine in one of his last roles). Also involved is volatile ex member Eddie 'Scratch' Zero (Dennis Hopper), and incredibly vile 666'er Billy Wings (Vinnie Jones). Seeing Jones describe what each of his multicolour wing tattoos mean to an uncomfortable hooker is equal parts gross, hilarious and unsettling. Both gangs messily work their way up to eventual confrontation and settling of differences via the gun, the bike and the profane spoken word. It's ludicrous, off the wall, and hit and miss, but if you're into the cast and genre, you'll have fun.

The screenplay is rather mediocre - confusing and with too many repetition and clichés. Male muscles and tattoos, and female boobs and waists can be complementary, but not prevailing, and flashbacks / covered faces should not disorientate the viewers to the end. It seems that Larry Bishop took too heavy burden on his shoulders, being 4-in-1: director, the main star, screenwriter and co-producer.Apparently thanks to the banner "Quentin Tarantino Presents" the movie includes several magnificent actors in small(er) roles: Dennis Hopper, Michael Madsen, Vinnie Jones, David Carradine. Eric Balfour is also okay, but female actors are not special - the sames applies for Larry Bishop. Thus, the movie is OK for killing time, but Bishop is far away from Tarantino or Rodriguez.

I thought it was perfect. I thought anyone would agree until I saw these silly reviews. You're all a bunch of mindless plastic idiots copying each other, I see. Rather, you're mindless consumers of high budget Hollywood blockbusters. Whatever. You'll be seeing each other at the movies, where I won't be. Have fun with that.This movie nailed what a good movie is all about. I love it and I watch it often. I like spaghetti westerns and this is an American western in that same spirit. When Dennis Hopper showed up I wasn't surprised at all. I had no idea who Larry Bishop was before this, now I do. I might sound like an idiot but I'm making no attempt to keep up with you elitists. If more movies were made in this style it would get old. This is a gem that stands in the ranks of Big Trouble In Little China. My movie collection now has 21 titles and Hell Ride is one of them.

'Hell Ride' absolutely doesn't do any effort in trying to hide that it's a wannabe Tarantino piece of nonsense (both the DVD cover and opening credits proudly scream "Quentin Tarantino presents..."). So, at least the film's pretty honest about this. In more than one way, this movie delivers what it promises (violence, female nudity, revenge, drug use, big bikes and then some). But it's not a great film or anything. The plot just hums around in circles and I didn't even mind it. Michael Madsen has a leading role. Dennis Hopper is not wasted on this one. David Carradine only has a cameo. And Vinnie Jones has no idea what he's doing in this film, except for looking mean. And there's an enormous amount of beautiful women in it. Considered that this is a biker movie, that's not realistic at all. Oh well.