Thursday, December 31, 2009

Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow

 
Giant flying robots are attacking key points the world over for reasons unknown and when New York is targeted they call Sky Captain for help. Meanwhile reporter Polly is following a story of disappearing scientists the world over. Before long the two are teamed up to try and solve the mystery and save the world.

Gwyneth Paltrow (Polly), Jude Law (Sky Captain), Giovanni Ribisi (Dex), Michael Gambon (Editor), Ling Bai (Mysterious Woman), Omid Djalili (Kaji), Laurence Olivier (Totenkopf), Angelina Jolie (Franky).

This one starts off strangely enough with unusual graphics I've heard called Art Deco giving the movie an almost 50's cartoon feel. Rather than character development or plot setting, this one gets moving by jumping straight into the plot. Once that is done the sci-fi element of the film kicks off as the flying robots attack. From then the film is largely from the perspective of Sky Captain or Polly as it morphs into an action adventure flick.

Acting was interesting but not necessarily good. Many of the characters felt plastic and fake but given the type of film that was probably by design, not accident or failure. Paltrow, Law, and Jolie all did nicely however Ribisi was most enjoyable in my opinion and could have had more of a role in the film.

Camera work, sets and backgrounds were much like acting. Due to the type of film it was difficult to tell what sets were real and what was CGI. Guessing I'd say most of the film was CGI that was done consistently with the genre. Dialogue, sound and soundtrack were nicely done and the film appears to have had a good budget.

Overall, an interesting and unusual sci-fi with a distinctly industrial feel. Sci-fi violence and brief mild language but really there is nothing here to limit audience age.

Released: 2004
Reviewed: 12.24.09
Star rating: 3 out of 5
Genre: Action & Adventure, Action Thriller, Sci-Fi Action, Sci-Fi Thriller, Adventures

copyright ©2017 Dave Riedel

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Desperado


Released: 1995

Reviewed: 12.24.09
Star rating: 5 out of 5

Antonio Banderas (El Mariachi), Salma Hayek (Carolina), Joaquim de Almeida (Bucho), Cheech Marin (Bartender), Steve Buscemi (Buscemi), Carlos Gomez (Right Hand), Quentin Tarantino (Pick-up Guy), Danny Trejo (Navajas), Carlos Gallardo (Campa).

Picking up where El Mariachi left off, Bucho has killed El Mariachi's girlfriend and wounded him so guitar playing is almost impossible now. Out for revenge El Mariachi goes in search of Bucho and his gang, finding the lovely Carolina in the process.

This one really does pick up where El Mariachi left off going so far as to superimpose Banderas over Gallardo in the last scene from El Mariachi. This is the film El Mariachi wanted to be but didn't have the budget to be. Here we get to see the now grown up El Mariachi back for revenge. He is smarter, smoother, and not going to give up this time. Just to keep it interesting Director Robert Rodriguez throws in a couple of twists to refine the story a bit and make it a little bit different. More serious than Once Upon a Time in Mexico, this one focuses more on the story and character development making for a very entertaining film.

Acting was good here from just about everyone. Banderas fits this role very well and delivers throughout. Though Hayek doesn't fit her role as well, she still delivers a good performance. Supporting work is also nicely done from Marin, Buscemi, Trejo and even Gallardo. You can see in this version where Buscemi's character develops from the original film and sets groundwork for Once Upon a Time in Mexico.

Camera work, sets and backgrounds were all nicely done and consistent with the storyline. Special effects were mostly action and gore scenes and were also well done. Dialogue and sound were good with soundtrack taking a bigger role in this film.

Overall this is a refinement of the El Mariachi story that is a pleasure to watch on many levels. You can even see this one without seeing the original and still enjoy the film. With some mild nudity, a sex scene, foul language, and plenty of violence save this for older teens and above.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

El Mariachi

Released: 1992

Reviewed: 12.24.09
Star rating: 4 out of 5

Carlos Gallardo (El Mariachi), Consuelo Gomez (Domino), Jaime de Hoyos (Bigoton), Peter Marquardt (Mauricio/Moco), Reinol Martinez (Azul), Oscar Fabila (The Boy), Virgen Delgado (Female Bodyguard).

El Mariachi is a guitar player looking for work in a small Mexican town. But when an assassin, Azul, carrying a guitar case full of guns comes to town to kill the local drug lord, Moco, he is mistaken for the assassin. As he tries to avoid being killed, he finds love and learns a new way of life.

This one starts off a bit slow with a bit of back-story that provides some character development and plot setup, then gets right into the main story. Made with no real budget by first time Director Robert Rodriguez the film leaves a bit to be desired but is wonderful at the same time. The version I saw was dubbed and the dubbing was horrible to say the least. There were quite a few mistakes as well, like a scene where El Mariachi is plucking at the guitar and the music continues after he puts down the guitar. But the story of how El Mariachi comes to be, and the setup for Desperado and Once Upon a Time in Mexico is excellent.

Acting was mixed with Gallardo doing a pretty good job along with supporting work from Gomez and Marquardt. Martinez and most others were a bit stiff which actually lent to the authentic feel of the film. Camera work and film quality was decent considering the budget while sets and backgrounds appeared to be all authentic. Sound and dialogue were both okay but again, this is a low budget entry so don't expect high quality.

Overall if you can get past the low quality of the film and realize it was made without any real budget you will find a wonderful story that is nicely done. With some adult content, foul language, and graphic violence save this for older teens and above.

Monday, December 28, 2009

Tropic Thunder

Released: 2008

Reviewed: 12.24.09
Star rating: 4 out of 5

Robert Downey Jr (Kirk), Jack Black (Jeff), Jay Baruchel (Kevin), Brandon Jackson (Alpha Chino), Ben Stiller (Tugg), Steve Coogan (Damien), Nick Nolte (Tayback), Brandon Soo Hoo (Tran), Matthew McConaughey (Peck), Tom Cruise (Grossman).

A movie about men making a movie about a book isn't going very well. In an effort to inject realism the Director drops his hard to manage prima donna actors into an Asian jungle where he has hidden cameras. What they don't realize is that rebels operate in the area and making a war movie could result in a real war.

I liked how this one starts out with hysterical fake movie trailers and advertisements which serve also as character background. With the laughs already started they just keep coming as character and plot development start to take place. After that the plot takes a back seat to the comedy which is what this one is all about.

Although this was a campy flick, the acting was great. Downey was hysterical and had I not known it was him up front I probably wouldn't have recognized him. Black is a nutball as always while Stiller was his usual over the top silly. Cruise was awesome in his cameo as an obnoxious entertainment executive delivering great laughs.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds were all well done and the film apparently had a decent budget. Special effects were a bit campy but complimentary to the film. Dialogue was campy of course, sound was nicely done, and the soundtrack was suitable.

Overall a nice, funny no-brainer you can just sit back and laugh with. The best part is that it looked like everyone had fun making the movie which makes for some interesting performances. Some foul language, sexual innuendo, silly guts and gore but this should be fine for teens and above.

Sunday, December 27, 2009

The 8th Plague


Released: 2006

Reviewed: 12.23.09
Star rating: 2 out of 5

DJ Perry (Mason), Leslie Valenza (Launa), Terry Jernigan (Buck), Charles Powell (Curtis), Nitin Adsul (Kadulva), Hollis McLachlan (Crystal), Jonathan Rockett (Gavin), Laura Chaves (Nikki), Paul Bugelski (Stiver).

Launa and a couple of friends looking for her missing sister Nikki end up at an abandoned prison. With the help of a local cop and ex-prison guard they start to look for Nikki and instead find the undead and plenty of evil.

This one kicked off looking like a total loser and I actually turned it off once. After about the first 30 minutes or so though the film picked up the pace a bit and the gore started flowing. The next 40 minutes or so was a total gore fest. The plot was a bit thin and really served only to create a setting for the gore and violence but it didn't matter once the blood started flowing.

Acting from Valenza was pretty good and she brought good energy to her part. Perry was a bit flat but better than many others. Most of the supporting work was weak and without spark.

Camera work was pretty good and supported the special effects well. Sets and background were minimal, as was the soundtrack. Dialogue was okay but it was the gore that made the film. Plenty of nice juicy bloody shots along with gory violence scenes, entrail scenes, and even eyeball removal.

The ending was a complete setup for a sequel but I don't see it happening. The film was decent but just not good enough to deserve a sequel. If you enjoy horror or gore, put this on your Must See list. If not, skip this due to the thin plot and acting. With plenty of blood, guts, gore, and mild nudity save this for older teens and above.

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Hot Shots!


Released: 1991

Review Date: 12.22.09
Star rating: 4 out of 5

Charlie Sheen (Topper), Cary Elwes (Kent), Valeria Golino (Ramada), Lloyd Bridges (Tug), Kevin Dunn (Block), Jon Cryer (Wash Out), William O'Leary (Dead Meat), Krisy Swanson (Kowalski), Efrem Zimbalist Jr (Wilson).
Topper is a top fighter pilot obsessed with living down his father's disastrous reputation and romancing beautiful psychiatrist Ramada away from rival Kent. At the same time he is trying to carry out a vital military mission. Wrap all of that in spoofs of legendary Hollywood films like Top Gun and 9 1/2 Weeks and you have Hot Shots!


This one kicks off with parody and humor and the laughs just never stop. From slapstick to word-play, sexual innuendo to political puns, spoofs to satire, this one has a laugh for just about everyone. Sure it is campy, silly, and without much of a plot but who cares. This is about the dings, digs, one-liners and punch lines.

Acting was, well, were they really acting? It was great seeing Sheen when he was younger and still honing his skills. And seeing him paired up with Cryer long before Two and a Half Men was enjoyable as well. Bridges delivered the comedy as usual while Elwes and Golino both did a good job supporting.

Camera work, sets and backgrounds were nice and campy with the jokes even extending to background items. Dialogue was silly and campy and exactly what you expect from a film of this type. Sound was decent and effects were fitting.

Overall this is a nice enjoyable comedy that requires absolutely no brain cells to enjoy. If you haven't seen this yet and want a good laugh, check it out! Some adult content so save this for teens and above.

Friday, December 25, 2009

Ink


Released: 2009

Reviewed: 12.22.09
Star rating: 4 out of 5

Soren Kelly (John), Quinn Hunchar (Emma), Jessica Duffy (Live), Jennifer Batter (Allel), Jeremy Make (Jacob), Shelby Malone (Sarah). Marty Lindsey (Key Master Incubus), Jeffrey Richardson (The Prince), Troy Garner (John's Incubus), Maiz Lucero (Brave Incubus).

Ink lives in the world of the undead and longs to be accepted by someone. Seeing opportunity to be accepted by the evil Incubi he snatches 8-yr old Emma as an offering. But when the Storytellers, the Incubi's benevolent enemy, find out a war erupts. All the while Emma lay in a coma with her father by her side.

I wasn't expecting much going into this one but what it delivered was an intricate plot, nicely done acting, good overall quality, and well done special effects. That said, this can be a hard film to watch. For about the first 40 minutes none of us watching was sure exactly what was happening. After that things started coming together for a wonderful finish. One of us left in tears, one almost in tears, and the other totally loving the film.

Acting was amazingly well done by most everyone in the film. There were a couple of rough spots and the energy level was low at times but overall, nicely done. I particularly enjoyed Kelly, Lindsey, and Hunchar.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds looked to be mid-budget and supported the film well. Sound and dialogue were good, as was the soundtrack. Special effects were very enjoyable being unusual but at the same time fairly simple.

Overall this is a great entry in the sci-fi fantasy genre. If you are a fan don't miss checking this one out. For others attracted by the thriller aspect, this really is much more a dark fantasy fable or drama than a thriller.

No nudity or pervasive foul language I can recall but there is a fair amount of violence and disturbing adult content so save this for older teens and above.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Hide and Creep


Released: 2004

Reviewed: 12.22.09
Star rating: 1 out of 5

Melissa Bush (Barbara), Katerina Cole (Natalie), Michelle Cole (Hanna), Bryan Crowsen (Doug) , Mia Frost (Gail), Chris Garrison (Ted), Chris Hartsell (Chris), Chuck Hartsell (Chuck), Kyle Holman (Keith).
 
Something happens and suddenly the small town of Thorsby, Ala. is full of bloodthirsty zombies. As federal agents arrive and flying saucers fill the air the good people of Thorsby struggle to understand what is happening and stay alive.


This one kicks off looking like a loser of a B-movie and never really does much to change your mind. Now, where did I leave that plot? Oh, right, there really isn't one other than zombies running around. The highlight of the movie was the naked woman falling into a pond from a flying saucer and a mildly humorous alien anal sex probe discussion that followed. Everything else was redneck paradoy and lame zombie sequences.

Acting was pretty sad here. There really wasn't anyone who put on a believeable performance other than a few extras playing dead zombies.

Rather than critique details of camera work and other components I'll just say this was a low budget zombie flick and it was very obvious. Even the zombie makeup was ridiculous. A friend who did our zombie makeup for Halloween this year did a better job than they did in this movie!

Overall this was a disappointing entry in the zombie genre with hardly a blood spatter to redeem itself. If you are a serious bad B-movie fan, or absolutely must see every zombie flick ever made go ahead with this one. For everyone else, randomly pick a different zombie flick and you will almost surely do better.

Nudity, mild foul language, violence, and gore but the nudity is what should keep this one for adults.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Evita


Released: 1996

Reviewed: 12.22.09
Star rating: 2 out of 5

Madonna (Eva), Antonio Banderas (Che), Jonathan Pryce (Juan), Jimmy Nail (Agustin Magaldi), Victoria Sus (Dona), Olga Merediz (Blanca), Maria Hidalgo (Young Eva), Julian Littman (Brother Juan).

Set in 1930’s Argentina, small-town girl Evita enters show business, becomes a B-movie star, and ends up married to President Juan Peron. Antonio Banderas narrates the story of her rise to fame and elevation to martyr in death.

As a disclaimer up front I have to say I’m not much of a musical fan and although I enjoy some of Madonna’s music, I’m not a big fan of hers either. I started trying to watch this film and just couldn’t do it. The film didn’t hold any interest for me at all with opera type music some of which was a bit difficult to understand.

What I did see of the film looked to be of decent quality with nice camera work, sets, and backgrounds. Acting consisted of singing and while Madonna can obviously sing, many of the others either couldn’t or shouldn’t. Banderas actually did better than I would have expected but I still think he should stick to acting.

In the end, I really can’t say much about the film since I didn’t watch much of it. Read some other reviews for better advice on this one and, good luck!

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Role Models


Released: 2008

Reviewed: 12.20.09
Star rating: 2

Seann Scott (Wheeler), Paul Rudd (Danny), Christopher Mintz-Plasse (Augie), Bobb'e Thompson (Ronnie), Elizabeth Banks (Beth), Jane Lynch (Gayle), Ken Jeong (King), Ken Marino (Jim), Kerri Kenney (Lynette).

Danny and Wheeler are a couple of obnoxious slackers working a simple PR job at an energy drink company. While screwing around one day they go too far and end up headed for jail but instead get community service with the Sturdy Wings child mentoring program run by nutty ex drug addict Gayle. As Danny's life falls apart the two prove they are unfit to care for children.

This one kicks off with some decent humor intended to provide some background, plot set-up, and character development. As things are looking good, the film goes into a full stall for about 40 minutes with Rudd on auto-sarcasm mode and Scott in hyper-energy-dork mode. Nothing we haven't seen before and not a whole lot of laughs. Then in the last 15 minutes of the film things get absolutely hysterical right up to the After School Special Happily Ever After Ending that anyone over 10 yrs old should have seen coming a mile away.

Acting was mildly interesting. Scott delivers the same performance that has made him popular over the years while Rudd refines his now commonly seen sarcasm. Banks delivered well but being in a serious role didn't really deliver any laughs. Lynch was absolutely psychotic and it genuinely felt like she was invading your personal space just watching the film.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds were appropriate for the film with nothing really outstanding. The truck they used was quite interesting. Sound and dialogue were fairly well done though the soundtrack was pretty much forgettable.

Overall this was a middle of the road comedy that was driving under the speed limit until the end when it decided to drag-race. The ending almost made up for the rest of the film but, not quite. If you are a big comedy fan check this out otherwise, pass. With some nudity, crude and sexual content, and pervasive foul language save this for the oldest teens and above.

Monday, December 21, 2009

The Death Factory: Bloodletting

Released: 2008

Reviewed: 12.19.09
Star rating: 2 out of 5

Claudia Vargas (Ana/Massive 9), Noah Todd (Denny), Joth Andrews (Hansel), Nadine (Gretel), Josh Bingenheimer (Cockmaster), Jeanna Coker (Baby), Shane Dean (White Manson), David Hayes (Rubber Love), Shareese Hegna (The Object), Kareem McRoy (Black Johnson), Michelle Mousel (Alexa).

The brutal murder of Ana's daughter is video taped and posted to the internet inciting Ana to devote the past year of her life to infiltrating the underground world of deviant video. When she is invited to witness the brutal torture and execution of an innocent victim she thinks the opportunity to meet and kill her daughters murderer has come. But she may just get more than she expected, and may become more than she dreamt.

The best category I can think of for this one is, an interesting disappointment. The concept and plot were interesting to be sure but execution left a lot to be desired. The plot started off slow with a hint of character development before moving into the plot. At that point the film nearly stalled as it appeared to be trying to build tension that just didn't have much of an impact. The story needed to convey desperation on the part of the victims but instead felt like they were just hanging around waiting to be killed. The ending had a nice ironic twist but otherwise the film lacked serious energy.

Acting was dismal in this one. Dean was ridiculous as a Vin Diesel wannabe though he did redeem himself toward the end. Todd as some weird Manson clone was about as scary as a preschooler. Vargas did okay but without support couldn't save the film. Hayes played a pedophile nicely, Hegna was a decent victim, and Mousel did okay as a mutated freak.McRoy, Coker and Nadine were all well over the top.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds all felt like High School film class. Special effects consisted mostly of splattering blood, cut-shots, and contact lenses though Mousel's monster teeth were awesome. Sound and dialogue were horrible with extreme highs and lows.

This is an obviously no-budget slasher film that considering it had no budget did a decent job. But budget aside, this was a huge disappointment and not worth the time unless you are a seriously devoted slasher fan.

With mild nudity, sexual references, blood, guts, violence and adult content save this for adults.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

The Fan

Released: 1996

Reviewed: 12.19.09
Star rating: 3 out of 5

Robert De Niro (Gil), Wesley Snipes (Bobby), Ellen Barkin (Jewel), John Leguizamo (Manny), Benicio Del Toro (Primo), Patti D'Arbanville (Ellen), Chris Mulkey (Tim), Andrew Ferchland (Richie), Brandon Hammond (Sean).

Gil is a knife salesman and obsessive baseball fan. After losing his job all Gil has left is baseball and will do anything to make sure his team wins. So when high-priced star Bobby goes into a slump Gil steps up to the plate to help him out. But after Gil and Bobby start to become friends it isn't long before Bobby realizes there is more than obsession with his new friend.

This one kicks off a bit slow with background work and character development before sneaking into plot movement. After the first 30 minutes I thought I was looking at an After School Special that was going to result in some fluffy moral lesson and some tears. Some baseball star doesn't care about the fans anymore, some fan tries to change his mind, they hug, they cry, happy ending for all. About that time little bells started going off around Gil's behavior and the next thing I knew, we had a complete nutball imploding on-screen. Delightfull!!

De Niro with his inherent intimidation did very well in his role as a psychotic fan genuinely giving the impression that anything could come next. Snips also performed well appearing like an arrogant star who isn't as arrogant as he appears. Barkin, Leguizamo and Del Toro all supported nicely delivering believeable performances.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds were all nicely done and the film had nice quality. Special effects were minimal but well done. Dialogue, sound and soundtrack all contributed well to the film with good lines and enjoyable soundtrack.

Overall this was a very nicely done if somewhat simple psychological thriller. The film did a good job of misleading you at the beginning and gently easing you into the ensuing insanity. While enjoyable though, the film didn't feel very exciting until about the last 40 minutes. Put this about the middle of your Must See list if you enjoy the genre or actors. With plenty of foul language and some violence save this for the oldest teens and above.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Appaloosa


Released: 2008

Reviewed: 12.15.09
Star rating: 3 out of 5

Jeremy Irons (Bragg), Ed Harris (Virgil), Viggo Mortensen (Hitch), Renee Zellweger (Allison), Robert Jauregui (Marshall Bell), Timothy Murphy (Vince), Luce Rains (Dean), Cerris Morgan-Moyer (Tilda).

Bragg and his cowboys are the local bad bunch and they are plundering the town of Appaloosa on a regular basis. Tired of being used, the town hires gunfighters Virgil and Hitch to fill the role of local lawmen and rid them of Bragg and his gang. Virgil and Hitch have things under control but when the beautiful Allison shows up things become a bit more complicated.

This one starts off with a bit of action that sets down a basis for the film plot then moves right into character development. Directed by Ed Harris, this really isn't the typical western. There aren't as many action scenes as you usually see in westerns and although everyone had a gun, they weren't relied upon in this film the way the often are. This was more about the subtle aspects of the story and how western life could be complicated and dangerous in other ways. Despite the lack of action the plot moves along pretty well, felt fairly solid, and kept audience interest to the end.

Acting was pretty good from Irons and Harris as you would expect. It isn't often you see Harris playing down but he did it well in this film. Mortensen however was my favorite in this one, playing the shadowy yet more than capable partner wonderfully. I've never been a Zellweger fan and though she did nicely here, I find it hard to see her as a love interest.

Camera work, sets, and background were all nicely done and gave the film an authentic feel despite it appearing to have been a lower budget production. Sound and dialogue were okay, while the soundtrack was a bit flat.

Overall this was a nicely done western that had a bit more to it than just guns and attitude. With violence and foul language save this one for older teens and above.

Friday, December 18, 2009

Funny Farm

Released: 1988
Reviewed: 2009
Star Rating: 4 out of 5

Chevy Chase (Andy Farmer), Madolyn Osborne (Elizabeth Farmer), Kevin O’Morrison (Sheriff), Joseph Maher (Sinclair), Jack Gilpin (Bud), Caris Corfman (Betsy).

When the Farmer’s decide to move from the big-city to the country so Andy can write a novel in seclusion they are completely unprepared for their new life. With quirky locals and their strange habits, including wildlife, their life quickly becomes unglued and turns into one silly thing after another.

This film doesn’t so much start as to evolve into a never ending series of ridiculous events that just get bigger and bigger as the film progresses. This is classic Chevy Chase with tons of silly humor and a paper thin plot. There were some pretty funny bits like the mailman and local Sheriff who rides around in a taxi, and of course Yellow Dog. Of course, the ending isn’t a complete surprise but it does close the film nicely while providing some more good laughs.

Chase was in typical form whileOsborne did a great job of supporting him. The rest of the cast was a mix of good and okay supporting work. Sets, background, effects, camera work and sound were all nicely done indicating a film with a decent budget.

Overall this is a classic 80’s comedy and if you enjoyed Fletch, Modern Problems, or Nothing But Trouble you will probably enjoy this one a lot. A bit campy, silly, goofy and definitely Chase focused but good happy fun and an excellent family movie choice. Mild adult content and mild foul language but this one should be okay for preens and above.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Extreme Measures


Released: 1996
Reviewed: 2009
Star rating: 3 out of 5

Hugh Grant (Guy), Gene Hackman (Myrick), Sarah Jessica Parker (Jodie), David Morse (Frank), Bill Nunn (Burke), John Toles-Bey (Bobby), Peter Appel (Stone).

On duty one night in the emergency room Guy, a doctor, loses a patient with strange symptoms. Even stranger is that the body and records disappear shortly thereafter. When he tries to find them Guy then finds his life being wrecked by unknown sources. When he follows a trail to Dr. Myrick he finds a brilliant man using humans for experimentation.

This was a drama that went to great pains to ask a moral question. If you had to kill a few to save millions, would you do it? A bit slow in places, this one actually had a pretty good pace with decent action for a medical drama. A well thought out script made for a somewhat thought provoking story with some nice, if not unexpected, twists along the way.

Acting was surprisingly good from Grant who actually held his own in a serious role in this film. Hackman was very good as usual while Parker did a decent job herself. Morse was his usual cranky, brooding self which fit his role well while Nunn did a good job as his not so cranky partner.

Camera work, sets, background, sound and dialogue were all nicely done though the film is showing it’s age at this point. Soundtrack was nothing exciting but fit the film.

Overall this was a nicely done drama. Nothing extremely exciting but a good solid entry in the medical drama genre worth a look if you enjoy that type of story.

Violence, foul language, mild nudity, and adult concepts so save this for older teens and above.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

The Code


Released: 2009

Reviewed: 2009
Star rating: 4 out of 5

Morgan Freeman (Ripley), Antonio Banderas (Gabriel), Radha Mitchell (Alexandra), Robert Forster (Weber), Rade Serbedzija (Nicky/Victor).

Master thief Ripley needs to pull one more big heist to pay off his Russian mob debtors and recruits Gabriel, a younger and very talented thief himself. With Weber, a cop who has been trying to catch Ripley for years, hot on their trail and the Russian’s holding Ripley’s goddaughter Alexandra hostage they will try to steal two almost priceless Faberge eggs.

This one kicked off with a bang right from the start when Ripley observes Gabriel robbing a courier on a transit train. From there things slow down for a while as the necessary character development takes place. Then things start moving again with some decent action along with several twists thrown in just to keep things off-balance. Things finally end nicely with a double twist ending that was very enjoyable.

I thought Freeman did a great job in his role as Ripley, bringing energy and emotion throughout. Banderas did a good job as well and seemed to have decent chemistry with both Freeman and Mitchell. Forster did nicely as usual as did Serbedzija. Mitchell was okay but just didn’t come across as genuine or emotionally invested in a lot of scenes.

Camera work was nice while sets and backgrounds were very well done indicating a flick with a decent budget. Sound, dialogue and effects/stunts were all well done as was the soundtrack.

Overall this felt like a quality film with quality actors and a nicely done plot. Nothing super exciting or even that original but, it was well done. Foul language, some nudity, and a sex scene or two so save this for older teens and above. Put this about the middle of your Must See queue if you enjoy a good thriller or heist flick.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Breathing Room

Released: 2008
Reviwed: 12.13.09
Star rating: 2 out of 5

Ailsa Marshall (14/Tonya), Michael McLafferty (8/Lee/12 corpse), David Higlen (5/Harry), Brad Culver (6), Kim Estes (10/Henry), Keith Foster (Host), Stevens Gaston (13), Austin Highsmith (11), Steve Cembrinski (0/Robert).

Tonya wakes suddenly to find herself in a room with 13 strangers, all of whom are wearing electronic collars. Soon it is explained this is a game in which they are all players and winning is determined by the last person alive. As each person in the group struggles to find a solution without killing others it becomes apparent not everyone in the room is who they appear to be.

This one kicks off a bit slow with what appears to be character development before shifting into what little plot development exists. I hate to compare films but this one really is a cheaply done Cube or Saw type film that doesn't do as well as either. The plot is somewhat thin and disjointed which makes some sense later in the film. The problem is that with the lack of energy or depth in the film it is hard to stay interested to the end. The few high points were guessing who would die next and an ending with an interesting twist.

Acting in this one was, well, missing. McLafferty did the best but with a total lack of support from the rest of the cast he almost appeared to be overacting. Marshall was competent with her physical assets being the only thing keeping her interesting. Higlen wasn't bad but felt unpolished as did the rest of the cast.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds were all minimalistic and the film felt somewhat low budget. The hose clamp collars didn't help any either. Sound and dialogue were okay if unexciting. Special effects were okay and helped the film somewhat.

Overall this is a forgettable psychological thriller that needed a bit more psychological and a lot more thriller. Unless you are a diehard fan of the genre, pass on this one. With some foul language, mild sexual references and nudity, save this for the oldest teens and above.

Monday, December 14, 2009

Rosewood


Released: 1997

Reviewed: 12.12.09
Star rating: 4 out of 5

Jon Voight (John), Ving Rhames (Mann), Don Cheadle (Sylvester), Bruce McGill (Duke), Esther Rolle (Aunt Sarah), Elise Neal (Scrappie), Robert Patrick (Lover), Michael Rooker (Sheriff Walker).

In 1923 a white mob destroyed a predominately black town due to the false rape allegations of a white woman. Based on that story this film is a fictionalized retelling of the events that took place in Rosewood, primarily from the perspective of the black community, and how a handfull of blacks survived with help from a white store owner.

The film starts off by developing the setting of the community and the attitude of whites and blacks toward each other. The story then unfolds with the continually rising aggression of whites toward blacks until the false rape allegations by a white woman provides the catalyst and excuse for whites to eradicate the blacks. The story is an emotional roller-coaster that does a very good job of showing racism and mob mentality in a very direct way. It was easy to get caught up in the fictionalized parts, particularly the character of Mann, but the basis of the film has the most impact.

Acting was very good in this one. Voight and Rooker were excellent choices for their roles and performed well. Rhames was enjoyable though his character was a bit much, seeming almost superhuman at times. McGill played an awesome racist pig, and while Cheadle did well he didn't have much of a role.

Camera work, sets and background were nice and seemed fairly consistent with the time-frame. Dialogue and sound were also well done, while the soundtrack was kept simple.

Overall this was a very enjoyable film with many aspects of drama, action, and violence that is almost guaranteed to evoke strong emotions from most any viewer. Well worth the watch so put this in the top half of your Must See list. With some strong foul language and violence save this one for older teens and above.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Ghost in the Machine


Released: 1993

Reviewed: 12.7.09
Star Rating: 2 out of 4

Karen Allen (Terry), Chris Mulkey (Bram), Ted Marcoux (Karl), Wil Horneff (Josh), Jessica Walter (Elaine).

Karl is the Address Book Killer, a serial killer who steals address books then kills those listed within, when he comes across Terry's address book at his computer technician job. But when Karl ends up in an MRI machine after a car accident, a power surge causes his soul to be uploaded into a mainframe computer. Now he can go virtually anywhere.

Starting off with a bit of character development and plot set-up, this one looks like it isn't going anywhere exciting at first. But once Karl is uploaded to a computer things get interesting quickly. As Karl starts hunting down people listed in Terry's address book, his powers grow and he becomes more and more brazen as he focuses finally on killing Terry.

Acting was mediocre at best from everyone in this film so I won't waste time on that. Camera work, sets and backgrounds were okay but what made this film were the effects. The different ways Karl, trapped in a computer, tries to kill people are quite inventive and full of effects. But toward the end of the movie the CGI really kicks in with some interesting digital effects. Dialogue and sound were okay but not exciting.

Overall a decent sci-fi horror with some good effects and an interesting storyline though there isn't much originality in this one. Some sci-fi horror but otherwise okay for any age audience, I'd say preens and above should be fine watching this one.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Eraser

Released: 1996

Reviewed: 12.7.09
Star Rating: 4 out of 5

Arnold Schwarzenegger (John), James Caan (Robert), Vanessa Williams (Lee), James Coburn (Beller), Robert Pastorelli (Johnny), James Cromwell (Donohue), Danny Nuci (Monroe), Andy Romano (Harper).

John is an Eraser, someone who erases the identity of people under Witness Protection. When Lee turns evidence against a government weapons contractor, John is brought in to give her a new life. But they will both be fighting for their lives when they find the shady weapons deals extend far into the government and everyone seems to want them dead.

This one starts off with a nice back-story, a little character development, then right into the plot. Although hard to swallow at times, the story moves along well and surprisingly has fewer holes than you might expect. With explosions, big guns, and beautiful women this is definitely an Arnie flick. I loved the Rail gun in the film, particularly how it could see through things.

Acting was good with Arnold definitely on top of his game in this one. He pulled off the tough scenes as well as the soft ones. Caan was okay but seemed to have bit off more than he could chew with trying to blend tough-guy with politician. Williams was good but a bit dry while Pastorelli absolutely rocked.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds were all nicely done. CGI was also very nice and overall the film appears to have had a good budget. Sound and dialogue were okay though the film might have been more fun with a bit of a soundtrack.

Overall this is a fun action flick that I've watched several times and though it has nice action and effects which kids will enjoy, there is enough of a plot for adults to enjoy the film as well. Plenty of violence and some foul language but otherwise nothing to limit audience age.

Friday, December 11, 2009

The Bank Job


Released: 2008

Reviewed: 12.6.09
Star rating: 3 out of 5

Jason Statham (Terry), Saffron Burrows (Martine), Stephen Moore (Kevin), Daniel Mays (Dave), James Faulkner (Guy), Alki David (Bambas), Michael Jibson (Eddie), Georgia Taylor (Ingrid), Richard Lintern (Tim).

Terry is a car salesman with a somewhat mysterious past who is drawn into a bank heist proposed by Martine. What he doesn't know is that Martine has her own reasons for the heist and when she finds what she wants in the bank vault Terry finds it will pull him into a world of corruption at the highest levels.

Apparently based upon true events from 1971 London bank heist that resulted in criminal implications for the police and royal family this is told from the perspective of Terry. The plot is nicely developed and the story well told though the film felt like it was holding back and the energy level possible was never achieved. Maybe I expected more action from a flick with Statham involved though the plot did move along at a good pace.

Acting was decent with Statham putting forth his usual patented performance. Burrows was interesting with good energy at times. Supporting work was fairly well done from most everyone with no over the top performances.

Camera work, sets and backgrounds were well done and the film had a very 1970's feel. Effects were minimal but nicely done. Dialogue and sound were also well done while the soundtrack was somewhat forgettable.

Overall a nicely done heist film with an interesting plot and characters that moved along well but felt average in delivery. Put this in the bottom half of your Must See list if you are a genre fan. Mild nudity, sexual content, violence and some foul language so save this for teens and above.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Fred Claus


Released: 2007

Reviewed: 12.6.09
Star rating: 3 out of 5

Vince Vaughn (Fred), Paul Giamatti (Nick/Santa), John Higgins (Willie), Miranda Richardson (Annette), Rachel Weisz (Wanda), Kathy Bates (Mother Claus), Trevor Peacock (Papa Claus), Ludacris (DJ), Elizabeth Banks (Charlene), Kevin Spacey (Clyde).

This is the story of Santa Claus told from the perspective of his brother, Fred. Growing up with Nick, Fred comes to resent him but when his life is going down the drain turns to him for help. Nick agrees but requires Fred to come to the North Pole where the sibling rivalry rises to a new level.

I didn't have many expectations considering Vaughn was the main character and this film met every one of them. Realizing it is a film for kids I'll try to temper my comments a bit. The story is interesting though the plot is about as well developed as a 5 yr olds idea of sharing toys. Although a kids movie, I'd question what it shows kids since Santa is portrayed as a normal guy with corporate restraints. Some of the mystery may dissolve depending on what you have made your kids believe so far. The comedy is fairly simplistic due to intended audience though there are some good laughs.

Acting was okay. Vaughn just seems to be the same in every role, though he is somewhat funny at times. Giamatti was decent and seemed to have good chemistry with Vaughn. Spacey was interesting in his role and brought a totally different element to the film.

Camera work, sets and background were all nicely done as was the CGI and effects. Dialogue was silly for the most part while sound was well done with a decent supporting soundtrack.

Overall a film that teens and younger kids will probably enjoy while being hit or miss with adults. Some mild language and rude humor but otherwise nothing to restrict audience age. If you are searching for a Christmas story you haven't seen before give it a shot otherwise there are better laughs out there so move on.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

300


Released: 2006

Reviewed: 12.6.09
Star rating: 4 out of 5

Gerard Butler (Leonidas), Lena Headey (Gorgo), Dominic West (Theron), David Wenham (Dilios), Vincent Regan (Captain), Michael Fassbender (Stelios), Rodrigo Santoro (Xerxes), Giovana Cimmino (Pleistarchos).

Based on the apparently true Battle of Thermopylae in which the Greeks and Persians fought for about 4 days in 480 B.C. This adaptation takes an intimate look at the Spartan side of the battle and the 300 men who fought against the enormous Persian army.

I've seen this one several times now in varied venues; The full version on a big screen and TV sized and an edited for TV version and enjoy it every time. If you enjoy special effects, see this on the big screen for sure. If you like the drama, see the full version. And if you just want the action, see the edited version. The film, despite a fair amount of dramatic theme, moves along pretty well and does a wonderful job connecting the audience emotionally with the plot and characters. The plot is solid, nicely developed, and very direct without pulling punches or hesitating.

Camera work, sets and backgrounds were very well done with a good blend of CGI use for backgrounds, stills, and physical enhancement. Some people are turned off by the stop-motion blood spatters but after seeing this a few times they really do add to the emotional impact of the film. CGI was obvious in many scenes but still, nicely done. Costuming was wonderful, while dialogue and sound were also well done. The soundtrack was excellent.

Overall this is a very good film whether you are a gladiator film fan, action flick buff, or history fan. Put this toward the top of your Must See list. Graphic violence, battles, and plenty of blood. Some sexuality and nudity but this should be enjoyed by teens and above without issue.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Candyman

Released: 1992
Reviewed: 12.6.09
Star rating: 3 out of 5

Virginia Madsen (Helen), Tony Todd (Candyman/Daniel), Xander Berkeley (Trevor), Kasi Lemmons (Bernie), Vanessa Williams (Anne-Marie), DeJuan Guy (Jake), Ted Raimi (Billy).

The Candyman stories are myth and folklore. Or are they? Look in the mirror and say his name 3 times and he will appear so find out for yourself. When grad student Helen is drawn to the housing project where the Candyman dwells in search of research material, she found out. As the bodies pile up and the cops hold her responsible reality dissolves.

I've seen this one a few times over the years. The story starts a bit slow spending a fair amount of time on plot development before things get moving. Character development is focused mainly around the Candyman with little done for the supporting roles. As the action gets going there are a few good BOO moments and some blood but not much of the violence is actually shown indicating a somewhat lower budgeted film. Not a really scary film but a solid horror entry.

Acting felt bland in this one. Madsen put out a bit of emotion but not much, and it didn't feel real. Todd was stoic but it actually fit the role well. Berkeley is a waste in a dramatic role, he plays a much better criminal. Everyone else was somewhat uninteresting as a whole.

Camera work, sets and backgrounds were minimalistic and rough which supported the movie while leaving it feeling undone or amateurish. Dialogue and sound were nicely done. Special effects were minimal but well done centering mostly around dripping blood.

Overall, a good entry level horror with nice psychological effects for younger viewers. With some gore, violence, and brief nudity save this for older teens and above.

Monday, December 7, 2009

Ronin


Released: 1998

Review Date: 12.2.09
Star rating: 4 out of 5

Robert De Niro (Sam), Jean Reno (Vincent), Natascha McElhone (Deirdre), Stellan Skarsgard (Gregor), Sean Bean (Spence), Skipp Sudduth (Larry), Michael Lonsdale (Jean-Pierre).

Irish terrorists want a briefcase with unknown contents and hire a squad of mercenaries, Ronin, headed by ex-CIA agent Sam to steal it. But after the heist goes wrong, the mercenaries are distrustful of each other, and their boss appears to be shafting them, will they be able to finish the job?

This one jumps into the intrigue and plot pretty quickly then uses the story for character development throughout the rest of the film. The plot feels good and fairly solid. With political perspective and every character having an unknown past it is just complicated enough to be interesting without being difficult to follow. And once the action kicks in, things get really good. The story also does a good job of walking the line between reality and fantasy, making you wonder if there are really people like this in the world and if this how they get things done.

Acting was very nice. De Niro was perfect for his role being both believeable and chrismatic at the same time. Reno, McElhone, and Skarsgard also did wonderfully and fit their roles very nicely. Bean also put forth a nice, if brief, performance.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds were all well done and I enjoyed a lot of the sets and scenery. Sound was good and the soundtrack fit the film well. Dialogue was good and everyone was understandable easily, even with strong accents.

Overall this was a well done action crime thriller with a good quality feel. Despite being made in 1998 the film feels much newer. If you are a fan of the genre this is well worth watching so put it in the top half of your Must See list. With violence and some foul language this one should be fine for older teens and above.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Some Folks Call It a Sling Blade

Released: 1994

Reviewed: 11.28.09
Star rating: 3 out of 5

Billy Bob Thornton (Karl), Molly Ringwald (Teresa), J.T. Walsh (Charles), Jefferson Mays (Gerry), Suzanne Cryer (Frances).

This is the short film by Thornton created to get backing for the full length movie, SlingBlade. Shot in black-and-white, it is a quick glimpse at the extremity of Karl Childers. Teresa comes to prison on the day Karl is to be released to do an interview with him. Conditions of the interview quickly raise the question whether Karl is truly ready to be released back into the public.

I'm not going to spend much time on this one as it is only 25 minutes in length. If you have never seen SlingBlade and aren't sure if you want to, this would be a good taste to help you decide. If you have seen SlingBlade already, pass on this as you have already seen it all.

Ringwald was an interesting choice for the reporter and I think I'm glad she wasn't in the full length film. Although she does well, she just doesn't seem to play opposite Thornton very well. Walsh is still a great choice and plays a nutball very well.

Surprisingly, I enjoyed the gritty feel of this short-film shot in low quality black-and-white with minimal sets, backgrounds, effects, makeup, or costuming.

No foul language I recall, no nudity or sexuality, and no violence. The only concern here might be the verbal descriptions Karl gives of a murder he committed so no real age restrictions on this one.

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Solo

Released: 1996
Reviewed: 11.28.09
Star rating: 2 out of 5

Mario Van Peebles (Solo), William Sadler (Frank/New Solo), Jaime Gomez (Tracker), Abraham Verduzco (Miguel), Adrien Brody (Bill), Farnesio de Bernal (Father Cerna), Barry Corbin (Haynes).

Solo is a robot soldier designed to do what mortal men can't in combat. But he was also designed to think using a set of protocols that prevent him from completing his most recent mission. Now considered a rogue, and on the run from the government who wants to destroy him, Solo happens upon a terrorized village and decides to help the peasants.

If this sounds familiar that's because it has been done before. Think "Universal Soldier". And I'm sorry to say, it was done much better. The film provides a few minutes of plot and character development before jumping right into things and leaving us a bit confused about the relationships that exist between characters. That's also the point where the film stops developing any of the characters other than Solo. That would be fine except that Solo is a rather uninteresting robot that doesn't speak much or appear to enjoy interacting with others. So the film plods along to the rather inevitable storybook ending that can be seen coming a mile away.

Acting was sad in this one. Peebles can act a bit, and the guy has a nice body, I'll give him that much. But he is way too pretty to pull off being a rough and tumble military action hero. Sadler and Corbin were so over the top it was ridiculous. And supporting work was obviously inexperienced.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds were pretty good. I enjoyed the Christian church built on top of apparent Mayan or Aztec ruins that were then destroyed without concern. Wow. Sound was decent while dialogue was a bit campy in parts.

Overall, not the worst action film I've ever seen but I'll probably not bother ever watching it again. And I'm glad I didn't pay good money in a theatre. With some violence and foul language this one should be okay for teens and above.

Friday, December 4, 2009

Assassins


Released: 1995

Reviewed: 11.27.09
Star rating: 4 out of 5

Sylvester Stallone (Robert), Antonio Banderas (Miguel), Julianne Moore (Electra), Anatoli Davydov (Nicolai).

Miguel is an up and coming hitman who is very interested in becoming number 1. His only obstacle is Robert, who is currently number 1. But when Robert starts to have feelings for his mark and protects her instead of killing her, Miguel sees the opportunity to kill them both and collect the reward as well as the title.

This one kicks off pretty well jumping right into plot and character development. The story is pretty basic and most folks will see things coming a mile away but with good action scenes, not to many slow dramatic moments, and consistent development the film still holds interest well. It did feel though as if direction was based on the set-up then action then repeat method of storytelling.

Acting was interesting in this one. Stallone was okay and mostly believeable but I kept waiting for him to crack a corny joke that never came. Banderas was good, a bit over the top a couple of times, but did seem to have good chemistry with Stallone. What was with his sweating though? It seemed like the guy was constantly wet in this film which was not very attractive. Moore was intriguing switching from tough girl, to brainy girl, to sexy girl, to helpless girl. It didn't help that her character was seriously underdeveloped. She also seemed to have good chemistry with Stallone though, which helped the film a lot.

Action scenes were pretty good with minimal CGI from what I could tell. Sets, background, and camera work were all nicely done. The film felt like it was a good quality production all around.

Overall I enjoy this one quite a bit. Not a great film but good, solid, middle of the road work on most every level. With plenty of violence, some blood, and foul language save this for the oldest teens and above. Plop this one in the bottom half of your Must See list.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Burn After Reading


Released: 2008

Reviewed: 11.27.09
Star rating: 2 out of 5

George Clooney (Harry), Frances McDormand (Linda), Brad Pitt (Chad), John Malkovich (Osbourne), Tilda Swinton (Katie), David Rasche (Palmer), J.K. Simmons (Supervisor), Olek Krupa (Krapotkin), Richard Jenkins (Ted).

When CIA analyst Osbourne loses his job he decides to reinvent himself and write his memoirs not expecting an idiotic pair of health-nuts, Linda and Chad, to get their hands on the raw writings and try to sell them to the Russians as spy secrets. When that fails the pair turn to extortion but with everyone sleeping with and spying on everyone else things get more than a little complicated.

If I had to guess at how this came to life it would be as such; someone came up with a somewhat interesting spy story that had been done before in one form or another. When it was pitched someone looked at the story, realized it had no spark and came up with a bright idea, have everyone sleeping with everyone else! It will add complexity; we can have gratuitous sex scenes, and a bunch of sub-plots that distract from the overdone main plot! Interestingly enough, it actually works and the film is entertaining. They just forgot one thing, an ending. Instead this one just sorta fizzles without a lot of closure.

I do have to give credit to the actors. Clooney, Pitt and Malkovich were impressive to say the least. Even McDormand, Jenkins and other supporting actors did very well.

Production quality was very nice with an obviously decent budget. Camera work, sets, background, sound, and dialogue were all well done.

This was a very interesting film that I both enjoyed and disliked at the same time. The acting and plot convolution were interesting and I just kept waiting for the big revelation. The problem; there never was a revelation. The film left an empty feeling at the end, as if nothing was resolved or completed, and felt like a waste of time. This is going to be one of those folks either like or hate but probably not many in between.

With plenty of foul language, sexual content including sex toys, and violence including a delicious shot of Pitt getting his brains splattered, save this for the oldest teens and above.

Mine mine mine!!!!

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