“Ugh, not another 3D horror film,” said the person who didn’t even watch My Bloody Valentine. “That’s such a waste of money.” Often true, but what isn’t true is the stigma against the cheesy b-rated films of this genre in concern to what is not expected of them. At least when it comes to Fright Night; other movies are often fair game to mock. Instead of a laughably scripted, poorly acted film to be seen solely to make fun of, we actually get a remake that is pretty great. [Read more...]
Film Review: Fright Night
08/19/2011 by Leave a Comment
Film Review: Fright Night
08/19/2011 by Leave a Comment
Fright Night is a fun time at the movies with some solid creature effects, good 3D, a couple of great turns by Colin Farrell and David Tennant, and a cast as a whole that is ‘in on the joke.’ [Read more...]
For Your Renting Pleasure
09/03/2010 by Leave a Comment
That’s right, my write-up for rentals has changed yet again. This time around (and hopefully I will stick to it this time) I will write up little blurbs about the movies I have seen in the past week on Fridays, giving you suggestions for what to pick up and what to avoid when considering what to rent that weekend. On this weeks list we’ve got: The Back-up Plan, The Last Song, Operation: Endgame, Repo Men, The Runaways, A Single Man, and The United States of Tara.
Fight for the Last Copy:
United States of Tara: Season One
This Diablo Cody created, Showtime TV show is about a woman who has recently gone off the medications that have helped to suppress the other faces of her multiple personality disorder (or dissociative identity disorder). Toni Collette plays Tara, and the way in which she moves in and out of these other personalities is pure artistry. Though this is a serious topic, it does not shy away from the humor of it all, thanks in large part to the people she becomes. In the beginning she is aware of three: Alice is a 1950s housewife, Buck is the redneck hick with a heart of gold, and T is basically the teenage slut, but eventually another emerges (but I will not spoil in for those who want to watch) in response to the overriding story arc of Tara digging into her past to discover what caused this disorder to take form during her teen years.
The show does not just stop with how this disorder effects Tara, but shows the strain it puts on her family. John Corbett plays her supportive husband who i leading the search to discover her past and must constantly coral the other personalities (though he is far from ashamed of his wife). [Read more...]
Review: Mary and Max
02/19/2010 by Leave a Comment
Mary and Max is another quality animated entry from 09 which has proven to be one the strongest animation years in the history of cinema.
This stop motion animated tale is inspired by the director Adam Elliot’s experience with a pen pal and focuses on a long lasting writing relationship between a young girl in Australia, Mary, and a randomly selected man out of the phone book, Max, who lives in New York City that begins in 1976. Mary is a bit of an odd duck loner who makes her own toys and sends most of her time to herself. Max is a twenty something loner himself who shares a love for the same television program as Mary but also has aspergers and works a smattering of odd jobs and has a variety of awkward experiences. The two’s correspondence starts as a simple cute correspondence, but soon grows into a true friendship, sending each other sweets and presents, before taking an unexpected turn as Mary ages into a woman.
Review: 'Towelhead'
09/26/2008 by Leave a Comment
Alan Ball’s feature directing debut is an edgy and biting look at suburbia and the coming of age story of a young girl in this awkward and interesting environment.
Jasira is a Lebanese/White girl who lives with her mom in Syracuse, and after a shaving incident with her Mom’s boyfriend; she decides to ship her off to Texas to be with her father for awhile. Jasira’s father Rifat (Peter Macdissi) and her stand out a bit in suburban Texas and the hurdles they must overcome because of race are a plenty. To throw another curveball into the mix, Jasira is an extremely sexually interested thirteen years old and the conservative roots of her lineage that come out through her father are bound to create issue. Throw into the mix a sleazy neighbor with racist undertones that might be into Jasira and a watchdog neighbor couple that will do anything to keep Jasira away from him and any sort of trouble and you have a recipe for intrigue, comedy, and plenty of awkward experiences. [Read more...]
