Saturday, October 31, 2009

Carlito's Way: Rise to Power


Released: 2005

Reviewed: 10.27.09
Star rating: 3 out of 5

Jay Hernandez (Carlito), Mario Van Peebles (Earl), Luis Guzman (Nacho), Sean Combs (Nicky), Michael Kelly (Rocco), Jaclyn DeSantis (Leticia), Burt Young (Artie), Giancarlo Esposito (Jeff), Mtume Gant (Reggie).

In this prequel to Carlito's Way we see how Carlito embraces the world of organized crime and makes a name for himself. As his power grows, so do the threats to that power. Although he is on his way to lead the New York underworld it may takes less than he thinks to threaten his plans.



I mistakenly watched Carlito's Way before I knew this film had existed so I saw them out of order. Although I hate comparing films I just can't help it here. Billed as a prequel to Carlito's Way this one did explain to some extent how Carlito gained his power. It also ended in such a way that Carlito couldn't have continued and did the things found in Carlito's Way. It was as if they started off on the right path and then forgot about the second film and just made up the rest of the story. I just can't see how this is a prequel. Rating the film by itself it is a decent mobster flick that was somewhat enjoyable.

Hernandez did a decent job but I was more impressed by Van Peebles and Combs who both have much more depth than I had given them credit for having. Guzman delivered as usual and the rest of the supporting cast did a nice job. There wasn't a lot of energy here, but there was some.

Camera work, sets, and background were all nicely done and the film apparently had a reasonable budget. Dialogue and sound were also good, as were effects and action sequences.

Overall a decent mob flick but a failure as a prequel. Plenty of violence, foul language, drugs, and some sexual content but older teens and above should be fine with this one.

Friday, October 30, 2009

Karla

Released: 2006
Reviewed: 10.27.09
Star rating: 3 out of 5

Laura Prepon (Karla), Misha Collins (Paul), Patrick Bauchau (Dr. Arnold), Emilie Jacobs (Debbie), Alex Boyd (Nick), Cherilyn Hayres (Tammy), Fiona Manners, Tanya Lemelle.

Based on a true story, the husband-and-wife team of Karla and Paul abduct, sexually abuse, and kill three young women. The story is told from Karla's perspective as she recounts events to psychologist Dr. Arnold in an attempt to gain early parole.



This film kicks off in a disturbing manner and continues to gain momentum in that direction right up to the end. I'm surprised at the number of poor reviews I've seen as I found the film to be a delightfully disturbing look at a rare serial-killer team. I haven't read the book so can't compare it to that. Nor have I seen any of the actual video or news reports, so I can't compare to those. Standing by itself, the film delivers a disturbing plot and makes rape and killing look almost too easy. There are a few slow parts but the psychological development was as interesting as the action scenes to me.

Acting was okay but not outstanding by anyone. It was nice to see Prepon in something beside That 70's show and realize she does have talent. Collins and Bauchau delivered their usual performances, mild energy and audience connection. The rest of the supporting cast did well but lack of experience was obvious at times.

Camera work, background and sets were all mediocre and the film looked to be lower budget though that could have been intentional as I believe the setting was more than a few years ago. Sound and dialogue were okay, nothing special. Gore shots and action scenes were well done.

Overall I enjoyed this one, despite the dark and disturbing storyline. It was dark, moody, and threw the story at you head-on without plot conventions or diversions. With plenty of violence including murder, rape, and abuse along with plenty of foul language and disturbing sexual content save this one for adults and above.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

The Darkroom


Released: 2006

Reviewed: 10.26.09
Star rating: 3 out of 5

Shawn Pyfrom (Stanley), Reed Diamond (Man), Ellie Cornell (Dr. Allen), Greg Grunberg (Bob), Lucy Lawless (Cheryl), Erin Foster (Kimberly), Julian Berlin (Loretta).


Waking up in a mental hospital with no memory of your life, including your name, is disturbing enough without suspecting you may have done something evil. So when an experimental drug that can possibly restore memory is offered to a man in just such a situation he agrees. Seeing opportunity, he escapes the hospital and as his memory starts to return he meets a young boy. The only remaining question is whether his returning memory will be a blessing or a curse.

This one briefly starts off well then stalls for a bit and looks like it will be a dud. Thankfully the plot then starts moving and the film gets much better. As the plot develops we are led down a path that doesn't take us close to where we expected with the twists thrown in at the end. The only real disappointments are poorly done plot contrivances such as a cop running a speed-trap on a deserted country dirt road so bumpy it would be impossible to speed anyway.

Acting was pretty good from Pyfrom and Grunberg. Diamond was a bit dry and emotionless while Lawless, Foster and Berlin all did very well. There just didn't seem to be a lot of spark between most of the actors.

Camera work, sets and backgrounds were okay but this was obviously a lower budget film. This was obvious with some of the special effects as well, particularly the mud monster and with vehicle stunts. The chain effects were nicely creepy though. Sound was poor with extreme variations between highs and lows. Dialogue was decent but could have been better.

Overall this was a decent thriller, not really a horror flick as billed. With average acting, decent plot, and lower budget this one lands dead in the middle of the ratings and category in my opinion. With gratuitous nude scenes, mild foul language, violence, and monsters this should probably be saved for the oldest teens and above.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Taken


Released: 2008

Review Date: 10.25.09
Star rating: 5 out of 5

Liam Neeson (Bryan), Maggie Grace (Kim), Leland Orser (Sam), Katie Cassidy (Amanda), Holly Valance (Sheerah), Xander Berkeley (Stuart), Gerard Watkins (St-Clair), Famke Janssen (Lenore).

When Kim and Amanda go to Paris on vacation together the last thing they expect is to be kidnapped by human traffickers and sold into forced prostitution. And the last thing the kidnappers expected was Kim's tenacious father Bryan dedicating his special forces and spy skills to finding Kim and ending their lives.

This one kicks off with character development and background in the form of a soft and sweet drama centered around Amanda's divorced parents Bryan and Lenore. Suddenly, the film kicks into overdrive with suspensful drama and action that has you on the edge of your seat in moments. Get comfy, because it doesn't slow down until the very end and even then I was expecting some incredible event that would set the movie up for a sequel. And I do hope they make a sequel! The action, suspense, and drama in this film were delicious. The plot was really pretty simple but the delivery was very well done. Nice action mixed with very few slow moments kept the plot moving and the tension level very high throughout the movie.

Acting was very nicely done by Neeson. This role fit him well and he played the part almost perfectly. Never being a huge Neeson fan, I was impressed with him in this movie. Supporting work by everyone else in the film was also nicely done.

Camera work, sets, background, and sound were all well done and added to the quality of the film. Dialogue was a bit of a challenge at times with a couple of other languages beside English and a variety of heavy accents.

Overall this was a very well done crime thriller or action film that I'm sure to watch again. If you like the genre, put this one at the top of your Must See list. No nudity, sexuality, or serious foul language so the biggest concern here with younger viewers would be the plentiful violence and explaining the world of human slavery. Mid-teens and above should be fine with this one.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Fast & Furious (4)

Released: 2009
Reviewed: 10.25.09
Star rating: 5 out of 5

Vin Diesel (Dominic Toretto), Paul Walker (Brian), Jordana Brewster (Mia), Michelle Rodriguez (Letty), John Ortiz (Campos), Laz Alonso (Fenix), Gal Gadot (Gisele), Shea Whigham (Stasiak).

Dom has walked away from the messy life of racing after his brush with both the law and death in the first installment of this franchise. But in this episode Dom finds himself back in the middle of both racing and crime. Partnered once again with Brian, Dom is in Take No Prisoners mode as he tries to right some wrongs while performing convoy heists and racing through tunnels.

If you read my reviews you know I dislike comparing films but this was an excellent sequel to the original. With Diesel, Walker, Brewster and Rodriguez back to reprise their roles and a plot with elements of the original this movie was a true extension of the first film in every way. Picking up close to where the first film left off, this one immediately has the gang back to pulling heists and soon has Dom and Brian working together under-cover once again. There was one major disappointment to the plot when we lose a main character who I won't name so as to not spoil things but otherwise the film was wonderful. Brewster's role was much less sexy in this one which was also a mild disappointment.

Acting by everyone was on par with their roles in the original, with good delivery and chemistry. Oritz and Alonso were nice additions and also did well supporting. Camera work, sets, and backgrounds were nicely done indicating a well budgeted film. Special effects were very nicely done with only a few grossly over the top. Sound and dialogue were good and fit the film well.

Overall this was a very enjoyable sequel reminiscent of the original and well worth watching. If you are a fan of the franchise put this at the top of your Must See list, otherwise in the top half is good. Plenty of violence, some foul language and drug use, and mild sexual content but this should be fine for preens and above.

Monday, October 26, 2009

The Scorpion King 2: Rise of a Warrior

Released: 2008
Reviewed: 10.22.09
Star rating: 3 out of 5

Michael Copon (Mathayus), Karen David (Layla), Simon Quarterman (Ari), Tom Wu (Fong), Randy Couture (Sargon), Natalie Becker (Astarte), Andreas Wisniewski (Pollux).

Mathayus is out for vengence against the evil King Sargon who killed his father and now rules his world. This prequel to The Scorpion King follows his struggle from boy to manhood as he learns about the world and struggles to exact his revenge and eventually become king himself.

This was a prequel to a prequel I believe. Interestingly enough, the further back in time they attempt to take this story the worse it becomes. The plot in this one was decent enough but seems to get bogged down in the end by special effects and an attempt at a dramatic finish that ties in to the next part of the story. The result is a mediocre action sci-fi without much emotional energy.

Acting by Copon was pretty good and he was convincing in his role, as were David and Quarterman. And Wu was just plain hysterical in his part. Couture was the big disappointment and completely miscast. Physically he fit the role perfectly but as soon as he opens his mouth it is obvious he has little to no acting talent. A different person in that role would have made the film so much better.

Camera work, sets and background were all nicely done exhibiting quality filmmaking. Effects were well done but a bit over the top in some scenes. Sound and dialogue were mediocre lacking serious energy. For the budget I expect this film had it didn't come off nearly as well as it should have.

In the end this was a mediocre film worth watching if you want to understand the whole Scorpion King story or maybe for family film night. Advisories warn against sexual content but I really don't recall seeing anything that should limit the viewing audience much. A fair amount of violence as well but teens and above should be fine with this one.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Death Race

Released: 2008
Reviewed: 10.22.09
Star rating: 5 out of 5

Jason Statham (Jensen), Joan Allen (Warden Hennessey), Ian McShane (Coach), Tyrese Gibson (Joe), Natalie Martinez (Case), Max Ryan (Pachenko), Robert LaSardo (Grimm), Jacob Vargas (Gunner), Jason Clarke (Ulrich).

In this futuristic mix of thriller, action, and horror Jensen is an ex-racer who finds himself back in prison and forced to compete in an insane 3-day race for world enjoyment. Driving an armored car fitted with machine guns, bombs, and other nasty devices against several other drivers he will gain his freedom if he wins.



If you are looking for mental stimulation, forget it. You won't find it here. There is much more to the plot than mentioned in the summary and though it is solid, it is only part of the story. The deal here is action, violence, car crashes, and explosions. The futuristic slant to the film and the way the races are shown makes for a very interesting film and lets the viewer be both detached and involved at the same time. I was a little disappointed at the Disney ending but it nicely brought the film back to reality at the same time.

Acting was decent enough with Statham delivering in his usual manner. Allen rocked as the evil Warden while McShane reminded me of Pacino in a few scenes. Gibson was very good playing a scumball while Martinez, Ryan, LaSardo and the rest did a great job supporting. There was a good balance between character development and plot movement that kept the film flowing well.

Camera work was good though scenes often switched frequently during action sequences making it challenging to watch. I was impressed with action scenes as there seemed to be very little CGI. Either it was done exceptionally well or there just wasn't much CGI used. Sets and background were awesome as were the vehicles. Sound and dialogue were also well done and lent to the feel of a quality film with a good budget.

Overall I enjoyed this one a lot. Granted the film will appeal to a specific type of viewer who enjoys car racing, futuristic themes, and testosterone fueled action without being mired in mental stimulation. This is total boy eye-candy from start to finish. If that's what you like plant this one firmly at the top of your Must See list. With plenty of foul language, violence, and gore save this one for teens and above.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Big Rig


Released: 2007

Reviewed: 10.21.09
Star rating: 2 out of 5

In this truck driver documentary, filmmaker Doug Pray travels cross-country with several different drivers having conversations about a variety of topics. Personal issues, government, other drivers, nothing is off topic here.

I wanted to be a truck driver when I was little and almost drooled when I saw the cover of this DVD. The concept is great but as the film switched frequently between drivers topics were never full explored. I did like how they profiled regular folks instead of searching out just stereotypical drivers. It really showed how many of them are just plain, ordinary, hard-working folks like everyone else. I was disappointed though at the lack of technical information in the film. The film really focused more on driver opinions than anything else.

Camera work was pretty good with nice shots of some trucks but some really great shots of scenery in the U.S. that went a long way to trying to romanticize truck driving.

Overall I would say this is a good primer if you have no clue what truck-driving is at all. If however, you do have a clue, this really isn't going to tell you much other than to give you the political and social views of some average folks. No nudity, foul language, special effects, aliens, or ufo's so this one is pretty much safe for viewers of any age.

Friday, October 23, 2009

Wild at Heart

Released: 1990
Reviewed: 1.5.08
Star rating: 4 out of 5

Nicolas Cage (Sailor), Laura Dern (Lulu), Willem Dafoe (Bobby), Diane Ladd (Marietta and real mom of Laura Dern), Isabella Rossellini (Perdita), Grace Zabriskie (Juana).


Sailor and Lulu are on the run for their lives and in the process run across some of the strangest strangers ever seen. As Sailor is busy channeling Elvis the couple somehow manages to stay alive as many others don't. I have a lot of mixed emotions around this one. Although this wasn't my type of movie I'll try to be fair. This was earlier in Cage's career and it is obvious with the energy, quirkiness, and charisma he brought to the character he played, Sailor. I've never been a Laura Dern (Lulu) fan but she was pretty darn good in this one. Sailor and Lulu are in love and on the run. Lulu's Mom (Ladd in real life and the movie) sends a couple of hit-men after Sailor and from there we are off an running. Some of the most warped characters show up in this one. Isabella Rossellini and Grace Z. both freaked me out and were great. The scene where Dafoe's head gets blown off and his brain with stem still attached goes bouncing around was cool. Cage and Dern do one other thing consistently in this one, have hot sex constantly. Throughout the film Cage is acting as Sailor who is acting/imitating Elvis and singing Elvis tunes to Lulu regularly. The whole Wizard of Oz theme was interesting as well. Definitely not a mainstream film but, the cult appeal is enormous.
The oldest teens and above should be fine with this one.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Used Cars

Released: 1980
Reviewed: 10.20.09
Star rating: 3 out of 5

Kurt Russell (Rudy), Jack Warden (Roy/Luke), Gerrit Graham (Jeff), Frank McRae (Jim), Deborah Harmon (Barbara), Michael McKean (Eddie), David Lander (Freddie).


Rudy is a used-car salesman who wants to run for State Senate so he borrows some money from his boss Luke. But when Luke is killed by his brother Roy, who runs the car lot across the street and wants Luke's lot as well, Rudy realizes he needs to hide Luke's death while continuing to run the car lot. But when Luke's long lost daughter shows up the battle to keep the car lot out of Roy's hands becomes a war.



This is a complete 80's, over the top, slapstick comedy combined with mild nudity, sex jokes, stupid stunts, and plenty of overacting, flick. That is also what made it such an enjoyable movie. The plot is decent enough if you can forgive reality for a while but that isn't the point. This is about the comedy. The men are womanizing dorks, the cops are dumb, and the women are even dumber. Used Cars has all the elements needed to make it a success and yet most people have never heard of it, even in 1980.

Acting in this was ridiculous at best. Overacting, missing que's, bad body language, muttered speech, you name it and it probably happened in this one. But, who cares, it is about the comedy which most all of the actors pulled off nicely.

Camera work, sets, and sound were all mediocre at best. Effects based mainly around car crashes were pretty good while dialogue was completely ridiculous, as it should have been. Seriously, how can you make a bad movie that has Lenny and Squiggy and plenty of International's hauling butt across the desert? That alone is worth a few laughs. If nothing else the car crashes alone make the film worth watching.

Overall this is a decent though dated, long forgotten comedy that is worth being dusted off and watched again. If you want to see how Russell got into more mainstream movies watch this one.

A fair amount of nudity, violence, sexual content, graphic foul language, and other adult concepts so save this one for adults.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

The Alphabet Killer

Released: 2008
Reviewed: 10.20.09
Star rating: 3 out of 5

Eliza Dushku (Lt Megan), Cary Elwes (Capt Shine), Timothy Hutton (Richard), Tom Malloy (Det Harper), Michael Ironside (Capt Norcross), Bill Moseley (Tanner), Carl Lumbly (Dr Parks), Larry Hankin (Perry).


Loosely based on true events, Megan is a police investigator working the murder investigation of a young girl when she becomes obsessed and begins having hallucinations. Relieved of her duties, she continues to investigate the murder even as her mental state deteriorates, convinced there is a serial killer on the loose committing murders where the first and last initials match then dumping the body in a town with a matching initial.

The movie started off looking like a fairly bland murder mystery that turned into a psuedo horror flick with the addition of a few ghosts. The plot didn't know that though and decided to morph into a psychological thriller. With plenty of supporting roles and mild misdirection the audience can spend a lot of time trying to identify the killer. At the same time, the brooding mood of the film was nicely punctuated with some mild BOO moments here and there. With a couple of nice twists the film was doing well but completely leaves the audience hanging at the end.

I thought the acting in this film was well done by everyone. Dushku's character was hard to believe at times but I think it was the character and not her abilities. Hutton delivered as usual as did Ironside.

Camera work involved washed out colors but was otherwise good. Sets, background, dialogue and sound were all okay and what special effects seen were nicely done though simple.

Overall this was an enjoyable if somewhat mediocre thriller with no huge surprises, effects, or inspirational dialogue. Some violence, foul language, and some brief nudity so save this for the oldest teens and above.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Push

Released: 2009
Reviewed: 10.18.09
Star rating: 4 out of 5

Chris Evans (Nick), Djimon Hounsou (Henry), Dakota Fanning (Cassie), Camilla Belle (Kira), Neil Jackson (Victor), Xiaolu Li (Pop Girl), Cliff Curtis (Hook).

A government agency called the Division is hunting down and using people with psychic abilities to help them build an army. But when Kira escapes with the means to bring down Division an all out war between them and the psychic's is the result. With Division killer Henry on their trail a small band of psychic's rushes to find the ultimate solution to the Division once and for all.

This one started off with some good background and character development necessary to the story. Once out of the way the plot starts off a bit slow with more character and plot development before the action gets going. The story is a bit confusing at time with terminology apparently only known by the filmmakers so paying attention helps. The variety of action with the different types of psychic's keeps your attention well and gets you to thinking about the possibilities. The film is good right up until the end which is a bit of a disappointment when it becomes obvious this was a setup for a sequel with no real ending.

Acting was good, particularly from Evans, Hounsou and surprisingly Fanning who all seemed to have good energy. Belle seemed largely disconnected and aloof while Li did a very good job. Curtis was also quite enjoyable in his role.

Sets, background, and camera work were all nicely done though CGI in a few shots was very obvious. Dialogue was pretty good but difficult at times as it came fast and in subtitles. It also seemed like the volume wasn't steady at times with extreme highs and lows.

Overall this was a nice sci-fi thriller or action film with a decent if not completely original or unique plot. It really felt like Stephen King's Firestarter that went in a different direction. If you read the book you will even find similarities with the title of this film. Put this one in about the middle of your Must See list.

With plenty of violence, some foul language, smoking and teen drinking this one surprisingly should be fine for teens and above.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Drop Zone

Released: 1994
Reviewed: 10.18.09
Star rating: 3 out of 5

Wesley Snipes (Pete), Gary Busey (Ty), Yancy Butler (Jessie), Michael Jeter (Earl), Corin Nemec (Selkirk), Kyle Secor (Swoop), Luca Bercovici (Jagger), Malcolm-Jamal Warner (Terry), Mickey Jones (Deuce).


Pete and his brother are U.S. Marshal's transporting a criminal, Earl, when hijackers take over the plane to spring him, killing Pete's brother in the process. Since the hijackers parachuted out of the airliner Pete focuses on the skydiving crowd to try and catch them, finding in the process that they plan on selling the DEA’s undercover agents information on the black market.

This one kicks off nicely with some good action up front before settling into a film about skydiving with some fighting thrown in to keep the plot moving. Pete teams up with Jessie and her group of misfits to get accepted into the skydiving crowd which is pretty tight and not so friendly to outsiders. It doesn’t take long before he is jumping out of planes regularly and finding there is more to the story than a simple jailbreak. Toward the end the story comes back to life as the plot gets wrapped up nice and tidy.

There is a lot of skydiving in this film, with some really nice camera work but, if that doesn’t thrill you then you probably aren’t going to enjoy this film much since it is integral to the plot.

Acting was decent with Snipes only overacting a few times. Busey delivered in his usual style while Butler was an interesting choice for supporting. Jeter was cast well as the mousey, strange little computer nerd and Nemec was delightful as the loveable dork. All a bit unpolished at times it actually made the film feel a bit more authentic in nature.

Camera work was well done, particularly with respect to the skydiving shots. Sets, backgrounds, sound and dialogue were also nice indicating a film with a decent budget.

Overall a nice action adventure thriller with a decent plot that was muted only by the focus on skydiving. Put this toward the bottom of your Must See list unless you are a huge Snipes or Busey fan. Some foul language and violence but this one should be fine for teens and above.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Lost Souls


Released: 2000
Reviewed: 2009
Star rating: 3 out of 5

Winona Ryder (Maya), Ben Chaplin (Peter), Sarah Wynter (Claire), Philip Baker Hall (Father James), John Hurt (Father Lareaux), Elias Koteas (John).

Maya is a spiritual advisor and having been exorcised herself, participates in exorcisms with the church. During an exorcism she uncovers an upcoming plan by Satan to posess Peter, a best-selling author who doesn’t believe in Evil. As she tries to convince Peter of what is about to happen he starts seeing other signs himself.

This one starts off interesting enough but then falls into a lull as character development take over and the film tries to build suspense with the plot. The suspense works well for a while before the plot becomes more active and things start to happen. After that the film is pretty good up until the end which was about as anti-climatic as you can get. The plot is good but it is also one that has been done numerous times before and is really just a variation of The Exorcist.

Ryder actually did a decent job here playing a much darker role than usual. Chaplin did very good being believeable as both innocent and complacent, and then later as being afraid. Wynter, Hall, Hurt and Koteas all did a nice job supporting.

Camera work, sound, dialogue, sets and background were all nicely done throughout the film. What effects the film had were nicely done and added well to the suspense and supernatural side of things.

This is a mid-level entry in the Thriller or Satanic Stories genre with overall generally good quality on every level but nothing to set it above other films of the same type. It just never developed the bite it had the potential to deliver. Some foul language and violence but this one should be fine for teens and above.

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Shuttle

Released: 2008
Reviewed: 10.14.09
Star rating: 4 out of 5

Tony Curran (Driver), Peyton List (Mel), Cameron Goodman (Jules), Cullen Douglas (Andy), Dave Power (Matt), James Snyder (Seth).

Tired from a long night flight from Mexico, taking the airport shuttle looks like the only way home for friends Mel and Jules. With another passenger and two other new friends, the group of passengers find themselves held captive by the shuttle driver who may have a hidden agenda.

This one pretty much jumps right into the story with very little character development. At that point it doesn't take long before we realize something is seriously wrong. Things get even more interesting as the passengers try to extract themselves from what is looking more and more like a situation that can only end with their deaths. As interesting as the plot is, it does require some suspension of reality to believe that with everything that happens the passengers couldn't get free. Fortunately we don't have much time to think about that since the story moves along pretty well. I would love to say more about this one but it would give away the plot which has a few really nice twists.

Acting was pretty good considering the young age of the main characters and lack of experience by the cast as a whole. List did a great job as did Curran and Douglas while Goodman wasn't quite so believeable.

Camera work, sets, sound, and dialogue were all nicely done. Effects and makeup were also well done adding to the overall film quality.

Overall this was a very good thriller with a somewhat original plot, quality details, and decent acting. Well worth a spot toward the top of your Must See list if you enjoy the genre at all. Plenty of violence, terrifying situations, brief nudity, and foul language so save this for the oldest teens and above.

Friday, October 16, 2009

Very Bad Things


Released: 1998
Reviewed: 10.13.09
Star rating: 4 out of 5

Jon Favreau (Kyle), Leland Orser (Charles), Cameron Diaz (Laura), Christian Slater (Robert), Jeremy Piven (Michael), Daniel Stern (Adam), Jeanne Tripplehorn (Lois).

Things go seriously wrong when Kyle and his friends go to Vegas for his bachelor party. With fiance Laura hounding Kyle to help plan the perfect wedding even while in Vegas, that is the least of his problems when one of his friends accidentally kills a prostitute. And when the cover-up and guilt start to fester it can't get much worse.

This one launches with some decent humor and background before the plot gets moving. Once that happens the comedy of errors is on a roll that can't be stopped. With moments of dark humor punctuated by action there aren't a lot of slow scenes through the rest of the film as the plot twists and turns as things seem to just get worse and worse. That's saying a lot after seeing a body cut up with a sawzall! Top it all off with a deliciously ironic ending and you can't help but enjoy this film on some level.

Acting was pretty good by everyone involved. Slater does a great job as a nutball while Diaz is wonderful as the dominant, insistent, mildly fixated bride to be. Piven, Stern, Orser and Tripplehorn all give good performances as well.

Camera work, sets, background, sound and dialogue were all nicely done indicating a film with a good budget.

Overall this was a very entertaining dark comedy with solid, if not unique, plot supported by good actors putting forth nicely done performances. If you like a bit of dark humor this is an excellent choice. If you aren't a genre fan a lot of the film will most likely be lost on you or even offensive.

Plenty of violence, blood and gore, drug use, foul language, and fairly explicit sexuality so save this one for adults and above.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Underworld 3: Rise of the Lycans

Underworld 3: Rise of the Lycans

Released: 2009
Reviewed: 10.13.09
Star Rating: 3 of 5

Michael Sheen (Lucian), Bill Nighy (Viktor), Rhona Mitra (Sonja), Steven Mackintosh (Tannis), Kevin Grevioux (Raze), David Aston (Coloman).

Third in the series, this is actually a prequel to the first two films which explains the origins of the Vampire vs. Lycan war. When Viktor's daughter Sonja is found to be in love with Lucian, a Lycan, Viktor has him thrown in prison where Lucian promptly organizes a revolution and goes to war with the Death Dealer army.

This one does a good job of jumping right into the story without a whole lot of character development. The plot is pretty simple, a convoluted Romeo and Juliet type tale, but the story is complicated by the film itself as characters aren't explained well but rather just thrown in along the way. We are left with an interesting story but not much connection to the characters.

Acting was superb by Nighy in his role as the vampire ruler. Not only did he make you hate him but he made you fear him at the same time. Sheen was good in his role but didn't seem to have the energy with Mitra to support the story. Meanwhile Mitra just didn't work in her part at all, coming across as dry, somewhat lethargic, and perpetually angry.

Filming was done with a blue hue that did well to set the mood and make the film feel cold but it also felt a bit overdone. Many scenes in the film were so dark that they were difficult to see without being in a dark room. Special effects were nicely done though they did get a bit overused by the end of the film. Sets, background, and dialogue were all nicely done while sound was split between highs and lows requiring some remote use to maintain levels.

Overall this was a good story and decent film which moved along pretty well though it felt a bit repetitive by the end. Vampire, werewolf, or franchise fans will likely enjoy this one while everyone else will find it dark and brooding. Plenty of violence, supernatural creatures, and some sexuality so save this for older teens and above.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Dakota Skye


Dakota Skye

Released 2008
Reviewed 2009
Star rating: 3 out of 5

Eileen Boylan (Dakota), Ian Nelson (Jonah), JB Ghuman Jr (Kevin), Dominique Generaux (Beth), Destiny Hyden (Denise), Lori Decker (Sarah).



17 yr old Dakota has a superpower, she can tell the truth every time someone lies. Even little white lies. She is with her boyfriend but knows he doesn’t love her. She knows her friends are worried about her, and doesn’t care. But when Jonah comes along, and seemingly never lies to her, they start to fall in love.

This is a drama that starts off with a whimper as character and plot development are the first order of business. The story is interesting and shows promise at the beginning but by the time the film was done it felt like an excuse for a movie. This really is a teen drama flick with the whole ‘superpower of truth’ thing thrown in to give it an original flavor. The result was a well done, fairly interesting, teen drama that really wasn’t all that original.

Acting by Boylan was quite good. She really sold the depressed teen angle as well as the lovesick kid, and finally as an adult moving into the world. Nelson did a very good job supporting and I would like to see him in a more challenging role. Ghuman, Generaux, Hyden and Decker all did well supporting but nothing to write home about.

Camera work, sets, and sound were well done with some really nice natural backgrounds in several scenes. Dialogue was well done and the movie soundtrack was quite enjoyable.

Overall this was a nicely done, if somewhat vanilla tasting, drama or teen drama. The film did make you think about the lies people tell however, I don’t think it had the impact they had hoped.

Some foul language, sexual scenes, and prevalent drug use but this one should be okay for older teens and above.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Paul Blart: Mall Cop


Paul Blart: Mall Cop

Released: 2009
Reviewed: 10.12.09
Star Rating: 3 out of 5

Kevin James (Paul), Keir O'Donnell (Veck), Jayma Mays (Amy), Raini Rodriguez (Maya), Peter Gerety (Chief Brooks), Bobby Cannavale (Commander Kent), Erick Avari (Vijay), Allen Covert (Guard).

Paul Blart is a mall cop with dreams of joining the New Jersey police though he has failed to be accepted many times. Living at home with his mom and daughter, he is resigned to forever being a mall cop but when criminals take over the entire mall he takes his job seriously and tries to save the hostages.

With some good character development up front and out of the way the film then slips into the plot which, though pretty simple, was also decently done with only a few plot holes. The comedy is non-stop with slapstick, one-liners, and silly situations. The only problem is that you can see them coming from so far away they just aren't that funny and the movie never develops the full-on belly laugh that you keep expecting.

James is a funny guy and for his size his physical abilities are amazing. Though he was good in this film, he just didn't seem to deliver his lines with the energy he has had with other projects. O'Donnell did nicely as did Gerety while Cannavale and Covert delivered as usual doing a great job supporting.

Sets and background were nicely done and the movie was filmed in an actual shopping mall in New Jersey. Action was decent with James giving a great physical performance. Effects were minimal and mainly used to support the humor. Soundtrack was great with plenty of nice 80's tunes while dialogue was silly as expected. Camera work and sound were also well done.

Overall this was a nice family comedy that, although entertaining, wasn't as funny as expected. Some violence, mild crude humor, and mild foul language so this should be fine for preens and above. For family movie night put this toward the top of your Must See list, otherwise leave it at the bottom.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Deadgirl

Deadgirl
Released: 2008
Reviewed: 10.9.09
Star Rating: 4 out of 5

Shiloh Fernandez (Rickie), Noah Segan (JT), Michael Bowen (Clint), Candice Accola (JoAnn), Andrew DiPalma (Johnny), Eric Podnar (Wheeler), Jenny Spain (Deadgirl), Nolan Funk (Dwyer).

Rickie and JT skip school and break into a deserted mental hospital for kicks and while exploring find a naked woman covered in plastic on a gurney. As they ponder how she came to be in a room with the door rusted shut they realize she is alive at which point JT suggests they take advantage of her rather than freeing her.



This movie starts off rather mild, looking like it might not amount to much but as the plot develops it isn't long before you realize you are watching some serious depravity. At the same time you are so involved in the story by then that you keep watching. As Rickie's conscience leads him to trying to free Deadgirl, JT seems almost hypnotized by the power he has over her and that she can't be killed. He even suggests at one point that they can use bullet holes in her body to satisfy themselves so they can each have their own. And as more and more people find out about her things get even more twisted. The film moves along nicely for the most part with only a few slow spots that actually contrast the high-emotion scenes well.

Acting in this one was mixed with Fernandez putting forth a mediocre performance. Segan however was awesome and slid into the creepy parts of his role very well. Spain was pretty good despite having no dialogue while Accola and DiPalma did well as antagonists.

Camera work, sets, backgrounds, and special effects were all nicely done and supported the quality and mood of the film well. Dialogue was okay for the most part and kept the plot moving along. Soundtrack was basically a non-event.

Overall this was an pretty good movie with an interesting plot concept. Be warned however, this is a graphic display of depravity. Fairly explicit rape or necrophilia scenes, your choice, are prevalent throughout the film. There is also plenty of violence, foul language, blood and gore, and adult concepts. If any of those offends you easily stay away from this one. Billed as a horror flick, this is more about physical and emotional depravity than actually scaring the audience or showing gore. Adults only on this one!!

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Mega Shark Versus Giant Octopus

Mega Shark Versus Giant Octopus
Released: 2009
Reviewed: 10.1.09
Start Rating: 1 out of 5

Lorenzo Lamas (Baxter), Deborah Gibson (Emma), Vic Chao (Shimada), Sean Lawlor (Sanders).

When a secret military mission breaks a huge prehistoric shark and a giant octopus free of the arctic ice they wreak havoc in the Pacific. A group of scientists is called in to investigate the disappearance of cargo ships and quickly determines the prehistoric duo is the cause. The solution, have the scientists figure out a way to destroy them both.

Thanks Asylum for another video assault of pig snot. This one starts off with ridiculous special effects and just keeps using them over and over. No, not ridiculous effects, the exact same ridiculous effects. Why create new ones when you can just show the same clips over and over. The plot is almost as ridiculous as the effects requiring the viewer to forget anything they have ever known about logic, common sense, or laws of physics to enjoy the film.

Acting was a part of this movie that they forgot. Lamas overacted incredibly while everyone else was almost laughable. The extras did better than the top billed actors in this film. Sadly, I think part of that was due to the script, not just the direction.

A lot of this movie was special effects and I actually think a High School film class could have done better. Add to that the shoddy camera work with dark shots and lame attempts at supporting special effects and viewing this was almost painful. To add to the pain we have a plot and script that were likely banged out on a cocktail napkin while the soundtrack was almost a complete afterthought. With Debbie Gibson there was at least hope of some hot girl scenes but alas, they couldn’t even get the romantic parts right.

Overall, I couldn’t find any redemption with this one at all. It is just lousy all around and in my opinion, not worth the time. I can’t even say diehard sci-fi fans, Lamas fans, or Gibson fans would enjoy this film.

No nudity, no sex scenes, and no real foul language I can remember so this one should be okay for preens and above.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

I Know Who Killed Me


I Know Who Killed Me

Released: 2007
Reviewed: 9.22.09
Star Rating: 3 out of 5

Lindsay Lohan (Aubrey/Dakota), Julia Ormond (Susan), Neal McDonough (Daniel), Garcelle Beauvais (Agent Bascome), Spencer Garrett (Agent Lazarus), Gregory Itzin (Dr. Jameson), Brian Geraghty (Jerrod).

A serial killer is on the loose and Aubrey is his next victim. But unlike the others, she apparently escapes missing a hand and lower leg. While her family is elated she is alive, Aubrey now believes she is someone else, Dakota. Convinced she is still in danger and with nobody believing her, she races to save Aubrey’s life.

This one was a bit confusing in the beginning as it tried to create the mood of the film and give some character development but felt choppy instead. Once things started happening the film got more interesting but still had a choppy feel. Toward the end as things were coming together the previous choppy parts made sense and we are able to enjoy the somewhat anti-climactic ending which left a lot unexplained. Maybe I didn’t expect much from this one, after all it does star Lindsay Lohan, but I was pleasantly surprised. It wasn’t a wonderful film by any means but it was far better than the trash I expected.

Lohan actually did a decent job in her role. Obviously a bit green, and lacking emotion at times, she was able to pull off the “trashy girl” role nicely. Ormond did a good job while McDonough gave his usual performance which in my opinion is lifeless. Supporting actors did pretty well though Geraghty’s character was a bit hard to accept.

Camera work, sets, and sound were all pretty good but it was the gore effects that stole the show. Cutting off limbs with pieces of ornate stained glass was very interesting. Dialogue was poor in several scenes, not fitting either the moment or the film in general.

Overall I think this film got unfairly hammered as it is a decent teen scream/thriller. The suspense was decent, the gore shots were good, and acting could have been much worse. You can definitely do better but you could also do much, much worse. Plenty of foul language, sexuality, nudity, and yummy bloody grisly gore so save this for older teens and above.

Friday, October 9, 2009

Gran Torino

Gran Torino

Released: 2008
Reviewed: 10.8.09
Star Rating: 4 out of 5


Clint Eastwood (Walt), Christopher Carley (Father Janovich), Bee Vang (Thao), Ahney Her (Sue), John Carroll Lynch (Barber), William Hill (Tim).

Cranky Korean War vet Walt doesn't like his Hmong neighbors nor do they seem to like him much. But when their teenage son Thao tries to steal Walt's prize Gran Torino for a gang initiation they find themselves forced together and Walt's prejudices become quite obvious. While Thao tries to regain his honor and work off his debt, Walt becomes enamored of the family as he tries to protect Sue and Thao.

I would doubt anyone could watch the first ten minutes of this film and guess the ending. We start off with some brief character development giving us Walt's background and explaining his terminal scowl and grumpy demeanor. As the story starts to run with the inclusion of the neighbors the film starts to look a lot like an After School Special. Fortunately Eastwood turns it into a delightfully suspenseful drama that will have you cringing and maybe crying before everything is done.

Acting by Eastwood was excellent as usual and despite being 78 yrs old, he pulled off the tough-guy persona once again. That said, it is getting tougher and tougher to believe him in that type of role. Supporting work was decent enough from Carley, Vang, Her, and Lynch who all seemed to have good energy with Eastwood.

Thankfully special effects were minimal in this film and would have ruined it otherwise. Camera work was nicely done, sets and backgrounds were simple but appropriate, and sound was well done though the soundtrack was a bit flat. Dialogue was good but be warned, extremely racist and vulgar.

Overall this was a nice drama, relevant to modern times, with good acting and a nice action element to keep things moving. Put this toward the top of your Must See list. With some violence and prevalent foul language save this for older teens and above.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Carlito's Way

Carlito's Way
Released: 1993
Review Date: 10.7.09
Star Rating: 5 out of 5

Al Pacino (Carlito), Sean Penn (David), John Leguizamo (Benny), Luis Guzman (Pachanga), James Rebhorn (Norwalk), Joseph Siravo (Vinnie), Penelope Ann Miller (Gail).

When Carlito gets out of jail on a technicality, spending only 5 of 30 years behind bars, he vows to go straight. Struggling to follow his dream of moving to Mexico with Gail to lead a good life, every time he gets close it seems his old crime buddies suck him back in to the rackets.

This one kicks off a bit slow with substantial character development before slipping into the meat of the plot. Once this get moving the sense of frustration at watching Carlito's life slowly derail, and the suspense wondering how far it will go, is absolutely delicious. The sense of detail and inclusion built with the audience really makes you feel as if you are on the street, living the story.
Acting by Pacino was very good but also different from his style we have come to know, being much quieter in this film. Penn was mixed, having both good and bad scenes. Leguizamo and Guzman did well but felt a bit green as did Miller.
Camera work, sets, background, sound and dialogue were all nicely done and the soundtrack was quite enjoyable. Obviously this film had a good sized budget and it shows in the quality De Palma extracted.
Overall this is well worth watching so put it at the top of your Must See list if you haven't already. Plenty of violence, drug use, smoking, foul language, and sexuality so save this one for adults.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Zombie Wars

Release Date: 2006
Review Date: 10.6.09
Star Rating: 2 out of 5

Adam Stuart (David), Alissa Koenig (Star), Jim Hazelton (Brian), Kristi Pearce (General), Jonathan Badeen (Sliver), Billy Hayes (Zombie King), Loretta Norton (Josh).

Zombies and humans have been at war for years and now with the human population drastically reduced the zombies have started breeding humans on farms for food. When a small band of rebels finds out what is happening they set out to free those on the nearest farm and eventually rid the planet of zombies.

This one kicks off a bit campy and actually gets a bit better before long. The plot is interesting enough but it moves a bit slowly and with no background or character development you feel like you are coming into the film in the middle right from the start. By the time the plot is actually revealed things are getting a bit boring unless you seriously enjoy watching zombies get killed. As the film plods along a last dramatic event is created to try and save things but it just isn't enough. By that time we are ready for things to be over.

Acting was about as dry as it gets with hardly any emotion throughout the film and apparently little chemistry between most of the actors. Koenig did seem to have potential however, and Badeen was just plain creepy though I couldn't tell if it was acting or natural. If it was acting then he did quite nicely.

Sets and background were low budget and mostly just a forest somewhere. Zombie effects and makeup were actually well done for what was apparently a low budget film. Dialogue was uninspired as was sound and camera work.

Overall this was actually better than expected given the low ratings. Sound was clear, picture quality was good, plot was decent, and zombie effects weren't bad at all. I've seen a lot worse when it comes to zombie flicks. My 15 yr old daughter also thought this was a decently done zombie flick, so give it a shot. No nudity, mild foul language, and plenty of violence so teens and above should be fine with this one.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Alien Trespass

Released: 2009
Reviewed 9.28.09
Star Rating: 2 out of 5

Eric McCormack (Ted/Urp), Jenni Baird (Tammy), Robert Patrick (Vernon), Jody Thompson (Lana), Dan Lauria (Chief Dawson), Aaron Brooks (Cody), Sarah Smyth (Penny), Andrew Dunbar (Dick).

Ted is an astronomer whose body is used by intergalactic bounty hunter, Urp, after his spacecraft crash lands. But his captive also survives the crash and escapes, only to begin feeding on humans and multiplying quickly. It is up to Urp to save mankind in this homage to 1950s-era alien creature feature films.

As mentioned, this is designed to look like a 1950s-era film, and it does so very well. The film starts off pretty good with some cheesy special effects before kicking into gear with plot and character development. From there the film is a flashback to the days of The Blob and similar flicks. The story isn’t totally unfamiliar, having been done many times before, but this current production of an older monster movie really makes the plot irrelevant. Watch this for the flat acting, backgrounds and sets, and cliché lines. The film has it all from simplistic effects to the requisite nerd, hottie, trouble making kid, straight laced kids, kid hating cop, and ridiculously not scary monster.

Acting by McCormack was pretty good though his talents were obviously not used for this film. He was meant to be flat and unemotional and did the job well. Baird was good as the lusty waitress while Thompson did a great job as Ted’s out of sync wife. The remainder of the supporting cast did well helping to keep the feel of the film authentic.

Sets, background, dialogue, sound, and soundtrack were all done nicely. Special effects were completely in keeping with a 1950s film and again, gave the movie a very authentic feel.

Overall, this was a very well done reproduction. If you watch this looking for something new, forget it. If you want to see a very well done 1950’s alien flick that you have never seen before, this is it. Despite what it is the film doesn’t come off as campy at all.

Other than lots of smoking there really isn’t much to limit viewer age so kids over 10 yrs should be fine.

Monday, October 5, 2009

Step Brothers

Released: 2008
Reviewed: 9.28.09
Star Rating: 1 out of 5

Will Ferrell (Brennan), John C. Reilly (Dale), Mary Steenburgen (Nancy), Richard Jenkins (Robert), Adam Scott (Derek), Kathryn Hahn (Alice).


Brennan and Dale are two grown men still living at home with their parents, and milking it for all they can. But when their parents marry and they all move in together the two get overly competitive and jealous all but destroying their family.

This one started off giving the promise of comedy before turning into an endless, profanity filled diatribe of immature sex jokes. After the regurgitation of the same lame, foul, ridiculous scenes several times I realized I was watching this only to see how bad the train wreck would actually become. What there was of a plot can be summarized as follows: Two grown men acting like children. There was no depth, content, or intelligence to this film at all.

Acting was ridiculous. So many reviews praising Ferrell and Reilly for their acting in this one but really, what acting did they do? Literally they are grown men acting like children and I fail to see the “skill” needed to do that. Steenburgen did an admirable job trying to make her role something with substance while Jenkins tried initially then seemed to cave in to the pressure and turn into a child himself. Scott did a great job playing the jerk in the film.

Camera work, sets, and sound were all nicely done so there was some skill involved in the making of the film. Dialogue is where it failed, with excessive ridiculous foul language that was completely unbelieveable given the situation. Soundtrack had some promise but was more than the film deserved.

Overall this was a brainless attempt at humor that succeeds only by mistake. Yes, there were funny parts but mostly, just foul language and lame sex skits. This was well beneath the skills of both Ferrell and Reilly, and it shows. Don’t waste your time unless you are an obsessive fan of one of them. As mentioned, excessive foul language and sexual content so save this for older teens and above.

Mine mine mine!!!!

Blog disclaimer and copyright information. . .

-I hope to make this blog revenue generating in the future and as such any posts found here may be paid posts. If you want to pay me to post for you, let me know!
-Content may change over time resulting in inaccuracies. I also make mistakes, some will be here.
-I have no control over what is at the other end of any links you may find here.
-Film pictures, dvd covers, film banners or whatever you like to call them are copied here from widely available public locations. I did not create them nor do I own them.
-Any files, programs or downloadables are provided only for convenience and fun. I in no way warrant, represent, or otherwise imply they won’t cause you problems. Use at your own risk! If your computer blows up I don’t want to even hear about it.
-Reviews posted here are my opinion and meant as informational for prospective viewers and are not meant to malign, defame, or otherwise harm anyone or anything. They also are not meant as advice or counsel , not necessarily factual or absolute, and the author will not be held responsible for the results of their use.
-Comments are NOT the opinion of this author, nor is he responsible or liable for the comments or their results. I will try to moderate them in a reasonable (to me) manner.
-Translation of any portion of this blog may result in other than desirable language for which the author is not responsible. Furthermore, I’m not an English major so there will be bad grammar and punctuation found here. There may also be language that is intentionally objectionable to support my opinions. Tough.
-Copyright: All reviews and opinions expressed here by the author are owned by the author. Please enjoy reposting and/or linking, I ask only that you give proper credit and inform me you have used my content for your own pleasure and devious purposes.
-Legal limit on damages: .02 cents, U.S. (Yes, I will give you my 2 cents worth if you abuse me in court).