No matter how popular a genre is, there always comes a point in which someone takes it too far. Take zombies – a romance between the living and the undead would definitely be that thing to push the genre over the edge. Yet surprisingly, the relationship works well. [Read more...]
Film Review: Warm Bodies
01/31/2013 by Leave a Comment
For Your Renting Pleasure
10/17/2011 by Leave a Comment
Week after week I apparently find ways to theme my rentals without realizing it beforehand. Scratch that, I totally did it on purpose, and you know it’s true cuz I said totally. A couple of weeks ago I went with creature features, and this week’s selection of The Nines and Being John Malkovich has me going for films in which reality is not really all it seems to be, creating odd words that raise questions, both for the betterment, and detrimental to, the film. [Read more...]
Now Playing Review – Transformers: Dark of the Moon
06/29/2011 by 1 Comment
Whether you’re a fan of Transformers or Michael Bay, there is a strong likelihood that Transformers: A Tribute to Michael Bay will not disappoint you. However, if you are a fan of quality film making, then maybe it’s time to finally skip out on the Transformers series.
Okay, so most of you probably know that the title I gave in the intro isn’t really the name of the movie, but more on that later. Transformers: Dark of the Moon takes us back to the Apollo 11 moon landing, and as films sometimes do it tells a story that doesn’t quite stick to the history book version. Don’t worry, the Transformers don’t go kill Hitler or anything (yes I do realize Apollo 11 happened after WWII, but I am more than willing to go out of my way to reference Inglourious Basterds). Anyway, during the war on the alien planet Cybertron, home of the transformers, an escaping Autobot ship crashes into the Earth’s moon, spurring the space race on. Long story short decades pass, digging up the secrets buried surrounding the US trip to the moon. [Read more...]
Review: Red
10/15/2010 by Leave a Comment
Red makes DC Comics two for three this year at making fun action pictures come alive from their pages and neither of them included a character anywhere near being their A, or even B, tent pole characters.
R.E.D.’s, Retired Extremely Dangerous, are ex-CIA operatives that are no longer operating in the field but are still dealt with extreme caution as they were the best of the best in their time. Frank Moses is definitely a R.E.D. and as he wrestles with retirement the only connection he has to anyone seems to be his pension agent, Sarah. Frank has developed a thing for her though and he is tearing up his checks and reporting them lost for the opportunity of talking to her over and over again. It’s when an attempt to take out Frank puts himself and his hopeful lady friend into danger that our story really kicks in.
Review: Jonah Hex
06/18/2010 by Leave a Comment
The latest, and possibly most under the radar, comic book film this summer is the adaptation of Jonah Hex and the results are a mixed bag as the films focus seems to be in a lot of wrong places.
Hex is a Confederate soldier of some rank but when he turns on his regiment and shoots his best friend dead the Confederate General Turnbull, and father to Hex’s best friend, hunts Hex down, murders his family, and leaves him for dead with a brand on the face to remind him of who did this to him. We are then given a quick rundown of the next few beats in Hex’s life, Turnbull apparently dies, and Hex is left as a supernatural bounty hunter who can briefly resurrect the dead with his touch. As he reeks havoc on the outlaws he hunts, a bounty is in turn put on Hex and the hunter is also the hunted. As Hex tries to earn his keep and stay alive Turnbull turns up alive and constructing a secret military weapon and the president recruits Hex to hunt down his nemesis and save the country.
Review: Changeling
10/31/2008 by Leave a Comment
Clint Eastwood’s latest is a child abduction mystery that is a horse of many colors, and all are done very well, with a great turn by the lead Angelina Jolie, but something keeps the film back from being truly as great and powerful as some of his recent work.
In 1928 Christine Collins is a floor manager at the Pacific Bell switch board, rolling around on her skates taking care of unruly customers and making sure the lines stay up and open. She lives as a single mother with her son and they have an amazing relationship, taking Walter to school every morning on her way to work. One Saturday she is called into work to fill in for a missing worker, and she leaves Walter at home with a word to the neighbor to check on him in a coupe hours. When she gets home, Walter is gone, and a quick search of the surrounding area yields no results, which leads her to calling in a missing person report. [Read more...]
Review: 'Burn After Reading'
09/12/2008 by Leave a Comment
The Coen Bros. latest is an exercise in pitch black humor and absurdity that, after a bit of adjustment, is a solid comedy with some great work by the actors involved.
Osborne Cox (John Malkovich) is a recently demoted CIA agent who decides quit and writes his memoirs instead. His wife, Katie (Tilda Swinton), is cheating on him with Harry (George Clooney), who is a Treasury agent that trolls the internet dating world for quick sex between, “getting a run in.” In Katie’s preparation to file for divorce, she makes a copy of Osborne’s files on his computer that in one way or another ends up in the hands of Hardbodies employees Linda (Frances McDormand) and Chad (Brad Pitt). Linda is looking for love, and hopes to increase her chances with some desired plastic surgery, while Chad is a dimwitted trainer who sees a potential for some money from this, “secret CIA shit,” that the two have stumbled upon. A large tangled web of intrigue (?) begins and a whole lot of people get themselves into a mess of trouble over the loss of this CD of Osborne’s. [Read more...]
Review: Beowulf
11/19/2007 by Leave a Comment
Let’s get one thing out of the way, if you see this, see it in IMAX 3-D. The 3-D is phenomenal and a must see for anyone that enjoys film or wants to see the future of the medium. The 3-D gives the movie a bit more life than it might normally have had, but you accept the look and it is a part of the film after the first Grendel attack.
Now the movie. Beowulf is a pretty good, with a classic story, a beautiful look and some amazing action scenes. The movie opens with a celebration of King Hrothgar and his people when Grendel, a beast of terrifying looks and brutality, [Read more...]
