Fantastic Mr. Fox QUICKSHOT REVIEW!

Wow! Wes Anderson can direct a animated film and he comes off like a pro his first time through! Definitely a fantastic and well made film and everything works so well, but you can smell Wes Anderson from a far. Some of the jokes are sorta out of place, but doesn't detract from the heart of the picture. The animation is weird, but that fades away quickly and you end up losing yourself in the story! FULL-PRICE!!!

The Twilight Saga: New Moon REVIEW!

Just so bad to the point that it's hysterical.

The plot makes no sense. There is no structure to this "story." It is hallow in every way possible. But is it unwatchable? Not really. The story is just a despicable and just negative story line that ultimately tells girls that if your guy leaves you, all you need to do is threaten suicide and he'll be back running with open arms. The acting is atrocious. This is the type of movie that these actors will never be able to live down. Michael Sheen is maybe the best actor in the whole flick. The director must have been in on what a crock this story is because it seems that he made a lot of choices with the fact that he knows the tweens and cougars are going to be going nuts for this and he just gave them literally what they wanted! While it is bad, I would say the tweens and cougars will laugh later on when we look at the box office success of this film as we do for the Phantom Menace and even that film was so much more better! While there are aspects that should make this film better, I wasn't surprised by what I saw. I can't really recommend this film on it's quality past the fact that it is a movie that is bad to the point where it needs to be seen to be believed. The fact that this movie has gone on to break records in the box office is an embarrassment. I did enjoy the first one and didn't hate it cause it seemed like it was made with more "heart" and this one just feels like SAW for women. Ladies you can have this movie. I am not crapping on it because I did have more fun talking about how bad it was than actually seeing it. Based on it's quality...it's SOME OL' BULLSHIT!

But a MATINEE with a few drinks in cuz you'll laugh your ass off!

Boondock Saints II REVIEW!

Troy Duffy is one of those directors with a really bad rap in the filmmaking community. With all of the negative word of mouth behind him, he is back. He is back with the first film since his cult hit Boondock Saints. Now it leads us to now.

This film is beat for beat the same film as the first. While the film's scale has certainly expanded since the last film, the storypoints are almost all the same. Clifton Colins Jr. is a wasted talent in this film and he plays one of the biggest hispanic cliches in a movie in a long while. He serves no real purpose than to try and fill in the shoes of a character that died at the end of the last film, without the audience liking him. The actors from the last film are all fine. The brothers still kick ass and they are as strong as ever. Julie Benz is miscast and Judd Nelson is wasted a bit too. Every new actor is either playing a tired or offensive cliche.

With all of this said, I wasn't bored by the film. I had fun with it in a lot of parts. I thought it was more or less the same film as the last one. It didn't expand on any of the thematics brought upon in the first film. The weakest point of this film is in the script. It is the same film, but it was still fun. The brothers are back, but I can't help but feel as if the novelty of the first film has kind of rubbed off. There are some great set pieces to the film, but the story feels very lackluster at points and a retelling of part 1. This is a movie made for the hardcore Boondock fans. It was't as bad as it could have been. So, I'd give it a RENTAL. It was fun seeing the brothers back for another go!

Christmas Carol in 3-D REVIEW!

Robert Zemeckis is at it again with the all CGI film again, but only in this case: it works really well with the story and it is the only way this story could have been done to do it justice. Charles Dicken's eerie classic story is faithfully told with the right tone, the right look, and the right angle. This film is very dark as Dickens' original novel was parable for righting wrongs and it for the most part doesn't talk down to it's ideas.

First off, the performances were spot on. Of course this is a CGI movie, but the director's intention is to keep some of the actors in the film as much as possible, but the film can't help itself from feeling as if these performances were being compromised or changed as the animators saw fit. Gary Oldman is great in his role as Bob Cratchit and you really feel for his situation. One of my favorite aspects is that they really sell the idea that the Cratchit household is just a depressing place with no ray of hope in sight, but these people hang onto that hope because it is all they have left. Jim Carrey did a fantastic job as Scrooge. Jim Carrey plays Scrooge as the mean and the downright despicable old man that you just can't help, but hate in the opening of the picture. His Scrooge is just a oddly shaped human being that is just as much thrilling as it is disturbingly scary to watch him throughout the film. He does a great job as the ghosts as well. I thought Jim Carrey was the highlight of the film.

The other great thing about this film is that Zemeckis gets the soul of the story down! He gets the griminess of the story and that works well in playing the fact that this isn't a happy setting for Scrooge and it gives him more reason for his change later on in the picture. There is no real presence of Tiny Tim as he was just a side character, and I didn't miss Tiny Tim much. This film does away with the campy and family elements that the previous pictures had, but it does keep all of the depressing aspects intact. The creepy and depressing aspects is what is really going to sell this movie to mature and young audiences. I think that this is definitely a really dark film, but you can take your kids to see this. The 3D definitely worked and I thought it was great!

With all of my praise of the film, I didn't think the film was entirely perfect. The only aspect that I think the film lost me was in the last scene in which Scrooge is being chased by the ghost of christmas future. it is a common criticism. That scene seemed more played for laughs and it downplayed the more depressing aspect about the film, but thankfully it doesn't last long and Zemeckis gets right back on track with getting rid of Scrooge's squeaky voice and his size change and getting serious once again before any real harm is done the integrity of the picture.

Overall, a very faithful rendition of Charles Dickens' classic story. I thought that Jim Carrey, Robert Zemeckis, and crew have done a fantastic job retelling this classic story to a new audience. While I thought the only flaw was a choice with the last act, Zemeckis nails everything else. This is easyily above what Polar Express and Beowulf did both technically and storytelling wise. I'd give this one a FULL-PRICE! Check this out!

Pirate Radio REVIEW!

To start off, the film is very much a coming of age tale with a different gimmick. Is that to say that this is a bad film? Nope. This film is very much about getting to know these people and what the cultural feeling was to have to listen to rock and pop in the UK at that point in history. While it does have some findings of it being a bit generic with it's music selection, I found that just following these characters was very interesting enough. The film has you fall in love with each of these characters and it gives most of them dimension and further complicates their lives as the film progresses. This film is an ensemble piece and it's more about the lives between the characters rather than the typical story about how these characters changed the world of rock. They did, but in a sense they didn't. They were only interested in providing the music for people and spreading the world. This film has a very ALMOST FAMOUS vibe, but with a bit less going for it. While I did like the film, it seemed to be trying a bit too hard at points with the soundtrack and with each of the characters not nesscaryly having an arc, but watching the film, I was able to forgive all of that.

The performances are all pretty spot on funny! The characters and actors all have a great chemistry that shines on-screen and you just fall in love with each of these characters from the get go. If you are to be stuck at sea with a group of people, namely Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, and Nick Frost, then you're going to have a blast with this film!

Overall, fun film to watch and it definitely was an enjoyable experience. I am right on the edge because I know the film is a great watch, but I wouldn't say go out and see it right away. This film is very funny and I did enjoy it a lot for it was trying to do, so I'd have to give this flick a MATINEE! I had a lot of fun watching these characters, but didn't get much from the story. It was a coming of age tale of a different sort.

Antichrist REVIEW!

There comes a film that once in a while completely baffles me in terms of where to place it. In the whole time I reviewed films, I've rarely come across those films. Lars Von Trier's ANTICHRIST is definitely one of those rare and exceptional films. Without giving out too many spoilers this film was clearly written in a state of depression or in a time of pure grief. Von Trier has transported me to a world where you just feel the pain, blood, sweat, and tears present in every single frame of this beautifully shot film. However, I while I did enjoy the film to an extent, I can't quite defend it. It is a divisive film. There are a number of conflicting opinions on the film. Some call it an artistic achievement. Some call it just an offensive and terrible film and that the director is just "masturbating" on-screen. I called it a visceral experience and definitely not for the faint of heart.

On the positive side, this film has two great performances. Willem Dafoe is great in the role as "HE." His character is very sympathetic and you feel as if he is a character that is conflicted between choices of the intellect and choices of the heart. He is a well rounded character and I thought Defoe did a great job portraying that. The main thing that stood out for me was Charlotte Gainsbourg. She was fantastic in her role. She communicated that grief aspect to her character. I thought that she had a lot to say with simply her eyes and you do feel she has changed by the end of the picture. Both Her and Defoe did a great and believable performance, but Gainsbourg pulled a career defining performance. It takes a lot of bravery for Gainsbourg to pull off the emotions that she portrayed in the film. This is not a easy performance to watch or portray and she did a great job. You can see she is an actress with a lot of potential. The cinematography is just excellent. The film looks amazing and it has all of these nightmarish imagery that will shock you and stay with you for a long time to come.

On to the negatives.

While the visuals and the performances are definitely there, there doesn't really seem to be a rhyme or a reason as to why the extreme things are happening onscreen. There really isn't much to be said or much to connect by the end. Although this film has a lot of thematic material that is reaching out to a higher concept, the film just seems as if it is made more to shock than anything else. The film is just a visceral experience. It is stunningly shot, but it is very much an art house film of a different sort. The symbolism of the picture gives it a conflicting tone. It is called Anti-Christ, but the last act of the film doesn't really connect well to the promise from the first two acts. The last act is an all out endurance test. The two climatic set pieces that guarantee this will get an NC-17 rating, will have you cringe in your seat. It is pretty outlandish. The nudity in the film also becomes very distracting at points. The film after a while just had me question what is the purpose of trying to gross out or offend the audience. It is just buying into it's own ideals a bit too much and you get the sense that the director has completely alienated his audience for the sake of shock value.

Ultimately, I feel that the film was a strong experience in cinema, but not one I'd go back and rewatch again anytime soon. I'd say it's a beautiful looking film and it makes you dive into the nightmarish dreams of the director. It's definitely not a film for everyone. People will be split on the integrity of the film. While I did think it was worthwhile and not boring, I wouldn't recommend all to see it. I would say this film is a MATINEE, only because you owe it to yourself to see it in a cinema and get the full experience of the picture the way it was intended to be seen. This film is unapologetic as is Lars Von Trier's vision of a couple's descent into madness.

8 of 10

Gentlemen Broncos REVIEW!

In walking into this screening, I wasn't particularly too excited to see this. I tried to distance myself for my personal hatred towards Jared Hess. I don't think Napoleon Dynamite was one of the funniest films of this generation, I thought it was painfully boring at times. I thought Nacho Libre was a bit funnier, but still pretty bland and boring. Now comes to this. I heard about what kind of film this was, and noticed the talent attached behind it. Jermaine Clement and Michael Angarano was attached to this! I am a fan of Jermaine's work on Flight of the Conchords and I have been a fan of Michael's work in the underrated Snow Angels, so I actually was willing to give this movie a shot! Walking into the theatre, I experienced something I didn't think was going to happen. For the first 30 mins, I was really digging this movie! I was laughing! I thought this movie was going to a place that was going to have me really dig the shit outta it, but then again...it's a Jared Hess film...

HE FUCKS UP ROYALY IN THE LAST HALF OF THE FILM and HE LOSES ME!!!

GODDAMN IT!!!

Ok I am going to list some of the positives. On the positives, the thematic ideas behind the film easily push this film into the realm where it is Jared Hess' best work to date! The opening act of the film is a really interesting set-up. Jermaine Clement is hilarious in the film! Michael Angarano is good in the role. I actually liked his character for the most part. I thought that the 2 leads were great! We can't ignore Sam Rockwell! Sam Rockwell's scenes are all ridiculous, but are hilarious! Overall, the cast and the opening act is what this film has going for it.

What this film doesn't have going for it? Well in Essence...it's JARED HESS and the script. Goddamn was I betrayed by this film. I thought that the opening acts of the film were leading up to a really thoughtful story about what it means to be a writer and to get all of these bad stories out of your system. I connected to the film because I myself am a struggling writer! I bought all of the insecurities and the lame ideas that come from writing really bad stories. I thought this film was going to go places...but it fucking didn't. The opening acts really have some meat on the bones, but then the later half of the film turns into a total Jared Hess film and he has to throw all of the cheap cop-out/gross-out jokes and it becomes a tremendous mis-fire. The midpoint of the film had nothing else to say. The film reached a point where I was questioning "why is the director making THIS the main idea for the last acts?" I was saying to myself at the screening "No!....No!!! I WANT TO LIKE THIS!!! PLEASE!!!" The last acts tembling of the film seems abrupt and not becoming of the interesting ideas that this film had presented to me in the beginning! The feeling I felt coming out was just pure betrayal. The leads are all well cast and are built up enough to an ending that fuckin goes nowhere! The last act is where it all fuckin gets ridiculous. The jokes are all lame, boring, and in low taste and then out of her ass, one of the side characters pulls out a plot device that just comes out of nowhere and you can't believe for a single second that this character has the remote mental capacity to even contemplate doing what she does in the very last few minutes of the film. The film fucks up badly.

This is a film with a lot of potential. I was surprised by Jared Hess, but he went back to his old ways and screwed the film into the dirt despite having the wonderful talent behind him on this. I'd say that this film is a SOME OL' BULLSHIT!!! Skip out on this. If you really need to see this, watch the trailer as all of the best moments and pretty much the whole film is in it. Otherwise, It's not worth the time.

My Top 15 Horror Film Picks for Halloween!

In the tradition for Halloween films, I decided to compile a list of my all-time favorite horror films. This is just in no particular order. I think these would be great choices for a halloween night! So be prepared to kick back with a friend or loved one and check these flicks out this halloween!

Let the right one in (2008)

Perhaps the best vampire film in the past decade or so. Unlike any vampire film that has come before. A definite reccomend!

Evil Dead 2

Can't go wrong with this one! Sam Riami at his prime! The best combination of horror and humor! You can't help but love this film! Check it out!!

Saw

The one flick that changed the horror scene in this generation. For better or worse. I enjoyed the hell out of the first one.

Near Dark

A great Vampire flick from the director of The Hurt Locker. The ALIENS cast in this and Bill Paxton and Lance Hendrickson are freakin awesome in this flick! Definitely one of the better vampire films of the past 25 years!

Halloween

A Horror film from the 70's that stands up really well and is actually scary. Forget the remake, the original was made with a real intention and is scary! John Carpenter is the man!

Friday the 13th remake

A remake that is better than the original. Just a great remake that took the best elements from the original films and brought them to a new generation.

Nightmare on Elm Street

Freddy Krueger is an amazing villain and horror icon! This is definitely the best of the series and I whole heartedly recommend this horror fest!

Texas Chainsaw Massacre (Original or Remake)

Both films have a cannibal who wears a mask made of human fresh and wields a chainsaw! Nuff said! A horror classic!

28 days Later

A great reinterpretation of the zombie genre! Such a a fast and frenetic pace that is pulse-pounding!

Dawn of the Dead

A great zombie satire and a fuckin gorefest! Gots to love this flick!

The Thing

John Carpenter is a tension building genius and delivers a great movie monster! Awesome film!

Alien

Ridley's Scott's amazing film! This introduced the notion of horror aliens and is a fantastic film!

The Lost Boys

A fun and campy vampire film that is a lot of fun to watch!

Child's Play

A classic killer doll movie! Awesome flick!

The Shining

Stanley Kubrick's fantastic horror film! A trip into madness and Jack Nicolson is there to welcome you in. CHECK IT OUT!

Ok So you are sick of the classics and want something that came out more recently? Alright go out and check these out!

Trick or Treat

Word around the campfire is that this is destined to be a cult-classic! Gots to check this out and soon!

or

Orphan

A surprising good killer kid movie! Great twist at the end and not a bad film by far! Check it out!

or

Drag me to Hell

This is one of the more awesome horror films and it's funny as shit! It's a return to form for Sam Riami! If ya loved Evil Dead, then by all means check this out!!!

Alright guys! Enjoy your Halloween weekend!!! Check these flicks out and have fun!

Till Next times folks! Take Care!!!

Saw Movies (From least to greatest)

Here is my list for the all-time best Saw films from least to greatest!

#6. SAW V

While this saw was definitely the worst of the bunch, I felt that this one was just filler. It lead up to nothing really and didn't present anything interesting that we hadn't seen before. although not terrible, it just was a bit of a letdown. Not as interesting as the previous films.

RENTAL

6 of 10

#5. SAW IV

This one was good in the fact that it kept up the energy and it was for all intents and purposes a Saw film! This one was surprising that it did keep Jigsaw a critical part in the film, but in flashbacks. While this one was more surprising in the fact that it showed the series did have some legs to last a few more pictures. I am willing to believe that this one was a great start off point for the 2nd trilogy!

RENTAL

6 of 10

#4. SAW VI

Easyly the best of the 2nd trilogy! I dug this one more for the questions it asked and it was more satisfying than the last 2 films. This is what this 2nd trilogy was building up to. While this one is still a good movie, the ending seems a bit shoe-horned in with a character's conclusion that I felt the producers may have decided to keep it around for another sequel to be made. Overall, a satisfying Saw film!

MATINEE

7 of 10

#3. SAW II

I thought a sequel was warranted and as soon as I heard James Wan wasn't going to direct it, I had little hope in this sequel. I think that this film surpassed my expectations. This one decided to crank up what the last film had to offer in terms of the traps. This one was just a fun time to watch and just was gorey as hell. I dug this sequel!

FULL-PRICE!

8 of 10

#2 SAW III

This film was actually better than the last. I thought it had improved when they decided to revert back to an introspective story and fewer characters, it was mote satisfying to watch and get the emotional connection to each of the characters. I thought that the gore was definitely cranked up a few notches and it was trurly hard to watch in some scenes. The actors were also signifcantly more better than the last few films as there was some talent behind this one for the leads. The traps were elegant and satifyingly gruesome. I easily the best sequel of them all.

FULL PRICE!

8 of 10

1. SAW

Nothing could top the original for me. I felt that this one was made with at least an actual intent on making a good movie. Bad acting aside, this one was directed decently enough. I thought that the film had a great hook, and it did deliver for me. The thing about this film was that it wasn't about the gore, it was more about the connection of the dots. The traps play a small part in the film and the aftermath is what sells the scene. This one was more subtle in nature and didn't try to become a gore fest. Overall, I thought the film was tightly constructed and it had a great plot and the storyline was good. This movie was an intense experience and it was a mix of old and new styles. This redefined the horror genre for this generation.

FULL-PRICE!

9 of 10

Here ya go guys! Check this films out because unlike Friday the 13th or those other horror franchises, Jigsaw is maybe the most fascinating of all the characters out today. These are a decent series of films and I do enjoy it for they are.

Saw VI + Paranormal Activity REVIEWS!

Hi guys! I decided to catch a double feature before the halloween weekend! I thought I'd give ya a double review!

First off

Saw VI

While this has a all of the elements of a Saw film, this was actually quite a surprise for me. While I think that this film won't garner new fans to the series, but this one holds up as a solid horror film. I've always liked the character of Jigsaw and this film actually has you sympathize with him for who he has gone after. Also the main story-line is actually interesting to the point where these traps are all well-conceived to where they people an emotional test for the audience as they are for the characters. Granted this is not great material, but it is one of the better written of the Saw sequels since the first 3 films. The traps do not disappoint and neither does this sequel. The positives have more to do with the story and it's a great close to Jigsaw's storyline and all of the major questions are solved, but it still leaves it open for a new film. The negatives of the film is that the acting apart from Tobin Bell (who is still great after 6 flicks) but the cast are all bad. Costas Mandylor is still terrible and I hate his character.

Overall, not a bad sequel to Saw. I dug it and thought that the film was good enough to redeem the series. You can take it as a satire that points out the flaws in the healthcare system, the traps are all elegantly constructed and great, and the story-lines are starting to wrap up. Saw VI is what the fans wanted from a Saw movie since Saw III. Easily one of the better films in the series. It is a MATINEE! Check it out!

7 of 10

Next Up

Paranormal Activity

I thought this film was quite Effective! It used no gore effects and it had enough legitimate scares that will pull you in and leave you in your seat just creeped out. While not as scary and amazing as people lead you to believe, it's a solid thriller. The film is a typical couple moves in story and all of this crazy stuff starts to happen. It's not particularly a great storyline, but the execution of the film is what drew me in. The lack of answers and the way these events unfolded were paced just fine. There are a number of scenes here that are just uncomfortable to watch and there is no monster in the picture. Just a force of nature and it's about how these kids make all the wrong choices and how their story concludes. The postives of the film have to be the set-pieces and the pacing of them. Each of the set pieces build up in tone and just leave you on the edge of your seat. The negatives is that the acting can become quite bad. Some of the moments just didn't play out real to me despite how realistic the filmmakers tried to make it. The situations take major leaps of faith in terms of what these characters would do.

Overall, with these minor complaints I found the film to be a breath of fresh air. While it maybe comprared to blair witch, I found this a much better film. It employed real scares with legitimately scary and creepy sequences. These sequences made me feel uncomfortable to where the film connected with me on that fear of being messed with in that vulnerable state of sleeping. Overall, I'd say this a a MATINEE! Not the masterpiece and becoming one of those overhyped films, it is a strong recommend to see this with a crowd or on a date and just have fun. I enjoyed it quite a bit.

(7 of 10)

Here ya go guys!!! Hope ya enjoyed and check these out soon during the weekend. Definitely a great time with a midnight screening crowd, friends, or with a date!

TAKE CARE GUYS!!

My Top 5 Children's Films

With the recent release of Spike Jonze's Where the Wild Things Are; I decided to complie a list of my top 5 favorite kid's movies. (In no particular order)

Here ya go!

The Incredibles

A fantastic story about a mid-life crisis set in the background of a superhero movie. There are so many parallels to the Watchmen that this film has and rips off a bit. But still a great kid's movie!

Up

Just easily of the best kid's films that is about finding the adventures in your life when you can't see them yourself. It is also a profound and deep story about how being in love or feeling love is the greatest adventure of them all. Great film!

Toy Story 1 and 2

Fantastic films that capture the playfullyness of toys, but incorperates a deep parable for rejection and coming to terms with that. Great films!

The Lion King

Despite my gripes with this film about how capitalism is ever present in the film, but I dug the film for what it was. It's a deep story and I thought it delivered an emotional punch. I dug it a lot!

Nightmare Before Christmas

I dug it alot despite my gripes with Tim Burton. This film doesn't talk down to kids and it's just a great time watching it for the first time! Great film and a technical achievement!

HONORABLE MENTION

Labyrinth

Awesome puppet filled movie and a great introduction to David Bowie...and little Bowie. Great film!

There ya go! For all you young parents out there, you can safely show the kids these films and just watch their eyes as they are blown away!

Black Dynamite REVIEW!

If I was to describe this movie in one word?...DYNAMITE! God! I enjoyed the hell out of this film! This is a perfect send-off of old classic blaxploitation films. This film captured that vibe of a very low budget film that just had one thing going for it: a cool ass character and the biggest leading man for the role. I don't even think I can go as far as to call the film a parody, because while it is hysterically funny, it doesn't hit you with the jokes as blatantly as it some other spoofs do. This film has a heart to it and it takes it's subject matter seriously to a certain extent. This is more of a film inspired by that nostalgic era in the 1970's where you just had these rushed shoe-string-budget films come out on the market. These movies were the equivalent of what a direct to video movie is these days. These films were made for a certain crowd and it was made to be just a fun time. This film nails that vibe and I ended up loving the living hell out of this film.

The script...is utter crap. Like the films that this was inspired by There is no reason for this film to exist apart from the fact that they want to make a film that had a black cop busting crime, doing kung-fu, kicking a lot of ass, sticking it to the man, and having his way with the ladies. Black Dynamite is that film that escaped from the 70's and brought into today's world. The story is just overly cheesy. The script is full of plot twists that undercut the previous plot twists. Flashbacks are used to tell stories about how characters came to be when it is not needed. It also has a ridiculous conspiracy involving malt liquor. All of this leads up to a last act that just becomes truly unbelievable. Does this mean the film's story is bad? Yes! But is it boring to watch? NOT BY A LONG SHOT! All of these flaws serve to help the film reach that level of entertainment where you can just sit back and enjoy the film's flaws for once. The script maybe mediocore, but it's just a lot of fun to watch! The film is freaking hysterical. The writers definitely knew what it wanted to be and they did a great job in making a retro-feeling blaxploitation film! There are tons of great one-liners, action sequences, fight scenes, deaths, and gags that you are just going to really dig the hell out of. It's just a treat to walk into this movie and just laugh all throughout!

The acting overall is bad. But it's purposefully bad. It's not painful to watch, but quite the contrary, it makes the fun just so damn enjoyable and fun to watch. The main actor that sticks out here is Michael Jai White's performance as Black Dynamite. He has a presence that is reminiscent of a Shaft-like character, but you don't watch this film for one second and think about Shaft or any of the classic characters of this genre. Black Dynamite sticks out among the crowd and he is fucking awesome! You can't help but cheer when this character is just kicking ass and blowing shit up or laugh hysterically when he tries to deliver a line that holds a semblance that resembles serious emotionality. Michael's performance is spot on. When the performance is off, he knows. That is the whole point! This is classic blaxploitation character that is just badass and is everything a man wishes he could be and do! Just a hysterical performance!

The one thing I walked out of this film really enjoying was the cinematography. The film was shot on a super 16mm camera and what that does is just give the film just a high contrast feel that it was made for dirt cheap. But it works to the film's advantage and the cinematography almost becomes a character in the film. There's not much to say about how the film looks. It looks like crap. The lighting is horrible, but that is the intention. The editing techniques employ a lot of the fads that was present such as split-screening during the action. Or having long periods of green-screen work that clearly couldn't be ok in any other film apart from this genre. Or even having stock footage of a car blowing up or a big budget effect. They all stand out, but it's just a hysterical thing to watch onscreen!

THIS FILM IS THOUGHLY ENTERTAINING! There are so many gags for the film buffs and the movie loving crowd that you just forgive the film and you take these "flaws" as the tone of the film! Not in a while was I more happier to just watch a "bad" film and just walk out of it really loving it. All I can say is that Tarrantino and Rodriquez are going to be pissed off. This is how you really pull off exploitation films! Unlike Tarrantino's and Rodriquez's Grindhouse (2007), this film nails that look, tone, and feeling of a exploitation film. From the script, to the acting, and the editing; this is a hilarious film inspired by the blaxploitation era. When you see all of the flaws in this film, you don't think it's a letdown or a betrayal of the filmmakers. You come to love it as it's own thing and it's not a flaw after the first few minutes. These flaws are the films biggest strengths because it is these flaws that make it so damn hysterical. This film took the best parts of blaxploitation and just made them so fuckin' fun to watch! This film is even better than the trailer and it lives up to the promise of just being a fun film to watch! This is one of the funniest films to come out all year. I certainly had a blast watchin this film! It's undeniably a high FULL-PRICE!!! Go check this out with some friends and have a blast! CAN YOU DIG IT?!

Where the Wild Things Are REVIEW!

If I was to describe this film in a word, I would have to say its "childhood." The film is Spike Jonze's way of telling kids that childhood is a great time, but sooner or later; we all have to grow up. The main point of this film is set behind the idea of what it means to grow up and what it means to take your own temperature as a child. Spike Jonze nails so many sentimental and emotional beats that it just becomes such an inspiring a great ride into the imagination of this little boy.

The story line was told well. I think Spike Jonze and Dave Eggers did a fantastic job adapting the very short book into a feature length kid's story. While there are some flaws, the positives of the screenplay supersede any of the inherent flaws the film has overall. The storyline is about childhood and the pain that comes with growing up and just realizing that it's time to move on and face yourself. It's a kid's movie, but it's a kid's movie of a different sort. This is the type of kid's movie that parents take their kids to if they want to find out the harsh realities in life and how we all have to grow up sooner or later. The great part about the film is how they channel Max's childhood feelings and thoughts into the creatures. You feel that these creatures are strong and dangerous, but gullible, naive, and with the thought process of a child. You know what, that's exactly what they are! Why would they believe that Max is a king? Because it is his imagination. These creatures want that person to look up to take care of them and nurture them...just like Max. The film delivers some of it's mature thematics in an eloquent and beautiful way that you feel this film is transcendent of the genre.

The acting of the film is quite strong. While in the opening act of the film you see exactly how out of control Max is and why he is feeling as he is, but you don't really fall entirely in love with him at the start. You're not supposed to. He is a normal kid that is not trying to impress anybody and he is doing his own thing, while others have moved on and grown up or just need to better their own lives. That comes in direct conflict with Max as he is comfortable being a young kid, not growing up, and causing trouble. This is directly communicated fantastically by newcomer Max Records. He delivers such a great performance as this out of control kid that you sense there is a change in him by the film's end. You start off not liking his character, but his character really does grow on you and you feel a connection to his character in this magical world. All of the other voice actors all do a great job with their roles. The casting of James Gandolfini as Carol is a brillant move on Spike Jonze's part. His voice puts you on an uneasy path because James' voice is menacing and it is everything it needs to be to convey the feeling that these creatures are fun, but he is unpredictable and dangerous. The parrallels between Max and Carol are just so brillantly told that you sense that Max is needing to change his own ways or else he'll stay being that wild and unpredictable in his home life. It's only until he gets a taste of what it feels like to deal with him that it starts to make Max do something he'd thought he'd do: Grow up. The acting was just great. Catherine Keener was great in this film in the small part she plays, but Mark Ruafflo is a bit wasted in this film. Overall, great acting in the film by both the humans and the creatures.

You can't talk about this film without mentioning the spectacular work of the creature effects. The creature facial work is done so well that the blend of CGI and practical effects become seamless. It works as a storytelling device and you don't feel these creatures are being held back by any means. These creatures look fantastic! The cinematography of the film also is amazing as well. The movie is so well composed that you sense that magic that is evident in each frame. It's just a stunning visual treat!

While I did like the film a lot, there are some flaws. The film tried a bit to hard to not talk down to kids to the point of it having a real crisis of identity. It doesn't want hold back mature themes, but the film carries a feeling of melancholy that you don't know what to make of it when the film's magical moments are over. The material covered seemed a bit too depressing and shoe horned in. Another flaw I found was that the middle of the film dragged for a bit too long and seemed as if it had nothing to do for a while. They are building this city...for what really? it seemed a bit like they ran out of ideas for Max and the wild things to do that the middle section of the film didn't live up to what the film had to offer with the first couple of acts, thankfully the last acts of the film pick it up. The film just seemed to be a bit hallow despite of what it tried to convey to the audience. It also seemed to be a children's movie, aimed at adults. It has a high nostalgic factor for adults that most don't know what to make of it. It's just a bit all over the map, but it didn't detract the film for myself.

Spike Jonze has captured what it means to have to come to that age where you know you are getting older and need to mature. He captures the spirit of the book effectively. His film is a beautifully told sentiment about growing up in a rough time. Most important of all, it's about how when we are in our most vulnerable, we turn to our own imagination to find solace. Overall, While not the movie we expected, it's still very enjoyable. it wasn't trying to conform to the formula of it being a kid's film, but it's transcendent of it's own genre. This is a dark and deeply emotional, but a bit hallow at the same time. This is a FULL-PRICE movie to me. This is a special film and I enjoyed it quite a bit!

A Serious Man REVIEW!

The Cohen brothers time and time again have managed to both make high caliber films as the classic Fargo (1996), The Big Lebowski (1999), and my personal Favorite: No Country For Old Men (2007). They have also managed to make films that are less than impressive with films like The Ladykillers (2004) and the "intolerable" Intolerable Cruelty (2003). But with this film, by the finale of the picture; I didn't know how to feel about it. I knew that I liked it, but I couldn't tell how much I liked it.

Before I go any further: This Film is VERY JEWISH! The basic premise of the film is about a Jewish father and husband, who is watching as his life goes down the drain. His marriage is falling apart, his relationship with his kids is questionable, and his brother won't stop loafing around the house. While the premise of the film is not something that is different, the structure of the film is very unique. The questions about what kind of film this is going to be is set up with a great opening sequence. This opening sequence establishes the vibe that film is going to be; which is a black comedy. While doing that is fine, I am guessing that some people aren't going to get that at first. The black comedy in this film is taken to a realm of little color. The story is so dark and deep to an extent that you can't help, but feel so very bad for the lead character. You just sit there for the runtime and watch how this man's life is truly going down the toilet. That is the whole point to this film. Without giving off too many spoilers, the whole arc of watching this man's life fall apart is paid off with a deep, heartwarming, and mature concept that you forgive the pain you underwent watching this film. That isn't to say the film is bad by any stretch. The story reaches a point that is heartbreaking and painful to watch, then it provides that little ray of hope for these characters that makes the experience payoff. The script in this film is excellent! The Cohens harken to the dry humor that they are well known for. It's dry humor, but you almost have to work hard to see past the grimness and the heartbreak of what the Larry character is going through, but there are some laughs to be had this film. It is structured well, but this is definitely another film in which the Cohens have definitely broken the rules of cinema 101.

The acting of the film is....well can you say apart from "It's the Cohen Brothers movie!" This acting on this film is great! Everyone has their moments! Fred Melamed as Sy Ableman definitely has a great and humorous part in this film. His scenes with the Larry character is just so uncomfortably hilarious to watch and Fred does a great job with that role. Richard Kind as Undle Arthur is funny in most of his scenes and you end up liking that character quite a bit. The one standout of this film has to be Michael Stuhlbarg as Larry Gopnik. He carries this film all-through and he delivers a subdued performance that allows you to read into his eyes. He is very introverted, but he delivers a lot to tell through his eyes. He delivers a pain and a likable quality at the same time in which you start off not liking this character and by the end of the picture, he wins you over. I definitely enjoyed watching Larry's arc of the picture the most and he delivers the standout performance! The cinematography of the film is very great as well. The Cohens are back with their regular cinematographer from No Country For Old Men: Roger Deakins. Deakins delivers a great visual and subdued style that works with the picture! The film is just really well shot and it works!

The negatives of the picture depends entirely on the audience. While I know that people love to be thrown curve balls in movies, the Cohens pull the rag from under you. The ending of the picture is definitely abrupt, but it's definitely going to be one thing the audience is going to be split on! While it works for the picture, many do argue that it should be clear as to what happens and it shouldn't be left to our imagination. I was split on it. I didn't want it to end like that, but I got exactly what the directors were trying to do with the film after I saw the film. If you take it, it can be good thing. A key theme in the film is that life sometimes has no answers and it pulls the rug from under you at the wrong time. The film's problem is that it's unclear if most audiences would go through with that again.

Overall, this film is a black comedy that is a surprise and a worthwhile check. I wasn't into the film when I started watching it, but the film won me over. I did get what the Cohens were trying to do and they definitely break the rules of Cinema, but I did like them all for it after the picture was done. The script is great, the cinematography is great, and the acting is good too. This is a FULL-PRICE movie! I dug it!

Till Next time take care guys!

Whip It REVIEW!!

In watching this film, It never occurred to me that this was Drew Barrymore's debut as a film director. She comes off as a pro with this film right from the start. The film is a great debut by Barrymore. I wasn't too interested in this film's subject matter, but the fact that Ellen Page was starring in this made me take a second look at it. I thought that the film could be good to ok, but I didn't expect to end up actually going for the ride and enjoying it.

The basic premise of the film is a girl coming of age tale. We have seen this story told a thousand times. Girl is an outcast, Girl finds passion, Parents don't like passion, and then you throw in alot of the cliche's of a coming of age story and you got this movie, but there are enough elements that are present in the picture that definitely make this one different. The subject matter of roller derbying is one that I thought was going to be a big leap of faith on the part of Drew Barrymore making this an interesting sport and she nails it. About 10 minutes into the movie, I saw that Roller Derbying really lent itself to being a very visual and an intense experience on film. It was awesome to see these sequences cut together. On the directing aspect of the film, Drew Barrymore comes out great and she proves she can direct.

The acting of the film is good. I thought that the team had their moments. It was great to see Zoe Bell again in a film. I thought that Kristen Wig was great in her role, and Juilette Lewis was great as the leader of the rival roller team, but definitely the stand-out of this film is Ellen Page. Ellen Page is what makes this film so watchable and she carries a lot of baggage on her shoulders throughout the picture. She delivers the wit and charming aspect from the Bliss character. You feel that throughout the film she is unsure of herself, until you see that strength emerge from her and she becomes even tougher and more vulnerable emotionally. Ellen Page is perfectly cast in this role. It isn't her playing a hippster on the par of Juno, but she is still a hippster, but more likable.

The technical aspects of this film from the editing and the pacing all work great. The film delivers that brutal and competitive nature of the skating arena and it works as a cinematic experience.

The one flaw to the film is that the script is very predictable. Of course there are some moments that are thrown in for good measure, but the film follows a lot of the cliche' moments from most coming of age stories about girls. By the time you get to the third act, you can predict most of the major beats and character choices. It's a complaint that drags the film and makes it lose a little bit of steam in the third act, but the last act of the film picks it up again and brings back some of the heart of the first two acts.

Overall, this film is a great coming of age tale and finding your passion. It's predictable: Yes. It is bad? Not by a stretch! I enjoyed this film quite a lot. Drew Barrymore definitely brings a heart to this film as the director as she shines both off camera and in front of the camera. Ellen Page gives a strong performance and her arc is fun to watch! I'd say this is a FULL-PRICE! Go check this out! A pleasant surprise and quite a touching film!

Jennifer's Body REVIEW!

While the film isn't that bad, it just doesn't have any sense of focus. While the positives have to be that Megan Fox was perfectly cast in the role as a ravenous and cold hearted high schooler, but some of the faults have a lot to do with the storyline and the script.

While this a Diablo Cody script, it is really just a coming of age tale with the theme of a horror monster film shoved in for measure. One of my biggest complaints is that there isn't a sense of tone or a sense that this film has an agenda. It just seems like a amateur's film script. It seems like Diablo Cody got a little full of herself with this film with all of the indie slang just shoe-horned in at point, and there seems to be a lot of self-applauding on her part. As for being a coming of age story, it is ok.

As a horror comedy, it falls flat at points. There are points where you see the director and writer are clearly stealing from other films such as the classic Evil Dead series, but this movie just seems like a mix of all of these great scenes taken from other films. While the opening acts of the film are interesting, by the time the 3rd act kicks in, you just feel as if the film has lost what it is trying to become. The horror aspects fall flat a lot of the time. The gore scenes are really lackluster and it doesn't deliver.

I get what Diablo was trying to say with the script, but I just feel as if there was a better movie within her. There are numerous indie moments in this film with the soundtrack and the slang, but it doesn't really work for this film. Overall, I'd give this one a RENTAL. Not bad, but I can't quite recommend it to everybody. Just don't expect a gorey horror film.

(500) Days of Summer REVIEW!

Easily one of the best and the smartest of all the films to come out all summer. Joseph Gordon-Levit and Zooey Dechanel have a unique chemistry that works. The structure of how the film is told is unique and hilarious! One moment you want to give Joseph the high five when things are looking up and then you find yourself laughing and feeling sorry for his character when you find out the future of what happens later in the film. Great storytelling. You have not seen a film with this story structure and as engaging as this one. As far as romantic summer comedies go, this is one of the gems of the summer and sadly an overlooked one. You can't go wrong with this film! This is a high FULL-PRICE! It is one of the best films of the summer! GO SEE IT!!

Gamer Review!

Just ok. It is well made and it looks great, but the storyline just sucks. Gerard Butler is cool, and Michael C. Hall plays his role comically, but it's just not that rush of adrenaline that I was expecting. The role pretty much lived up to my expectations, but it didn't throw me any curve balls. I'd have to say this film is a solid RENTAL.

Extract Review!

Getting back from this screening, I still didn't know what to think about this film. This film is just optimizes the very idea of someone who is at a low and dead end point in their lives. He is his own boss, he has a wife, and he works at creating one of the things he loves: extract. The low point in all of this is that he hates being his own boss, his wife doesn't sleep with him and he questions her feelings for him, and nobody isn't really interested in extract. The film is just about how we can all come back from these intense low-points in our lives by all the unlikely places. This film just nails the aspect of having a light at the end of the tunnel, but you need to find closure in yourself first.

The plot of the film is interesting in the fact that it doesn't follow a real structure and there is really not a build-up towards the ending. The ending kinda comes and we don't really have an emotionally connection to any of the characters. Some of them just seem a little too bland except for the 3 mains leads of the picture: Jason Bateman, Kristen Wig, and Ben Affleck. With this said the film is still funny. The film is more tongue in cheek and subtle than something like The Goods. While it's still a good movie, you need to take your time and see what it is all about. It's not dull, just a more laid-back film and it takes it's time trying to get to it's points, but you are going to have some laughs along the way.

The acting of the film is comparable to most of Mike Judge's films. Jason Bateman I think did a great job with his character as there is alot he conveys with the character without beating me over the head with. The same goes for Kristen Wig's character. She conveys a lot with her eyes and you can tell that her and Jason Bateman's characters have a lot to say to each other and the audience, but they have no words for it. Ben Affleck's character is funny as hell in the film. It's him playing him if he was a massive laid back dude. His character is just funny throughout the film and feels very much like a Judge character. He is a slacker and everything that Jason bateman's character wishes he could be.

With all of this said. The film is still funny, but I wouldn't say rush out and go see this one in a theatre. This is funny, but not trying to be Office Space. This would be the boss's version of Office Space. This is a RENTAL. Don't pay to see it on the big screen, but I wouldn't discourage anybody from seeing the film at all. It's a good movie, but not a great one!

Top 5 Remakes!

Hey guys! With the sequel to the halloween remake already out, I thought I'd chime in on my list of all-time best remakes!

Here ya go!

#5. The Departed (2006)

(REMAKE OF: Infernal Affairs)

While this may not be better than the Japanese Classic crime film, this is pretty damn close and it's a remake that doesn't lose it's flair as it goes on. While the plots maybe simliar, the execution to each film is radically different. Marty definitely put his on spin on this story with the writers and made a great crime film! Great one!

Scarface (1983)

(Remake of the 1930's film of the same name)

Great remake that is radically different from the first film. They made the characters and contemporarized them for the 1980's, but it still told a great story about the rise and fall of an gangster. Great movie!

The Fly (1986)

(Remake of the 1958 film of the Same name)

David Cronenberg remade the classic film and just made the story so much more richer than it was ever before. They also used make-up effects to deliver creature effects that nobody thought possible. This is a case in which the technological leaps since the 50's film and they used the effects as a story telling device to further punctuate the transformation that this character is going through! Overall great remake!

Evil Dead 2 (1987)

(remake of the 1978 Cult classic THE EVIL DEAD)

A remake that does away with the horror elements of the first and decides to just let the audience have fun and just laugh consistently. This is just a great film. Sam Riami is one director that does know how to make a film that is for all intents and purposes should be a slap in the face to us geeks and Evil Dead fans, but this film nails the campy and humorous elements so damn well that its just a fun time at the movies!

John Carpenter's The Thing (1982)

(Remake of the 1951 The Thing from Another World)

Just a fantastic remake that resembles no way to the first film. The film is just creepy and so well paced that it just totally outdoes anything the original tried to do. Anything the original did, this one just kicks up to a-whole-other level! Just a fantastic and the best remake!!

NOTE: I didn't include films like Batman Begins and Casino Royale because these films are less remakes and are more reboots of a film series that were losing their edge. While i love these 2 films, they don't seem like remakes and stand alone as films to where I don't even remember these films are redos.

TILL NEXT TIME!!!!!