Thursday, June 27, 2013

Document - In Her Castle Made Of Sand

By Travis James Callaway

Review - Warm Bodies


On DVD and Blu Ray - "Warm Bodies" - If potential viewers will understand going in that this is a PG-13 rated Rom-Com... with Zombies, then they shouldn't find themselves dismayed in the overall lack of blood and gore. In the story, a boy meets a girl and refuses to eat her... I'm not so sure that relationship would last very long in the real world. It's a strangely light-hearted and good-natured zombie re-fashioning of Romeo & Juliet that somehow works- it's a little undercooked and could have benefited from a snazzier visual style, but worth a look for those interested. 

Rising star Nicholas Hoult (X-Men: First Class) portrays "R", a member of the undead stuck in the everyday grind of wandering the landscape searching for brains.  His work here is amiable enough, though confined by breezy material.  With that, Hoult is a talent to keep tabs on- sooner or later, the young man is going to snag an iconic role which will make him a household name (his "Hank McCoy/Beast" in the the revamped X-Men franchise isn't quite what I have in mind in regards to "iconic"...). 

"R's" joyless world is turned downside-up when he rescues an attractive member of the living in "Julia", played by Teresa PalmerFalling for the young lady reignites some kind of inner ember in the young Zombie's soul and he slowly, but surely, shows signs of life.  In a perfect world, the easy on the eyes Palmer (Take Me Home Tonight) would be getting all the roles that Kristen Stewart is landing (I bring up the Twilight actress because of their striking resemblance to one another).  She's good, but not great- that's leagues better than I've seen from Stewart.

The comedic talents of Rob Corddry (Hot Tub Time Machine) are wasted as he has less than 10 lines (with multiple words) throughout, as "R's" friend, "M"- I'm not so sure why he would have even been considered for such a role, given his natural talent for quick-witted zingers. John Malkovich (In The Line Of Fire) fans may be disappointed to find that the eccentric actor has been reduced to little more than a (well-armed) father-figure as the leading member of a fortified human enclave.      

Analeigh Tipton (Crazy Stupid Love) and Dave Franco (21 Jump Street) have brief roles as Julia's confidant and ex-boyfriend, respectively.

Jonathan Levine (50/50) is an efficient Director, yet I can't really pinpoint anything, for better or worse, that stylistically sets him apart.  With a little bit of added flair, Warm Bodies could have been a very good companion piece to 2009's Zombieland.  There is a somewhat fresh take on the reasoning behind why Zombies crave the brains of the living, with the victim's grey matter temporarily infusing the Zombie with the memories locked therein- sorta like the effects of your favorite upper.

The Zombies and Humans in this tale share a common threat; CGI-rendered, skeletal creatures referred to as "Bonies" (C'Mon, Man, couldn't you guys have come up with a better name for 'em?).  It's never really established why either group should fear the damned things other than they look rather wicked.

Expect a solid soundtrack and a happy ending that might have the more cynical viewers rolling their eyes.  This movie will undoubtedly be remembered more for it's premise than for it's execution- it's a rainy-day rental that will probably find more of an accepting audience in younger females.

7.0 out of 10

Review - A Good Day To Die Hard


On DVD and Blu Ray - "A Good Day To Die Hard" - By far the worst in the Die Hard Franchise, John McClane has been reduced to a lame, wise-cracking tag-along. The villains are generic and the action sequences are so outlandish and ridiculous that they ultimately bear little weight. It's from the Director of "Max Payne", which is why I skipped it in theaters. I should have skipped it entirely.

My how the mighty have fallen.  1988's Die Hard was an outstanding Action film that ignited it's own sub-genre (the location-oriented/reliant action movie) and a slew of imitators (Speed, Speed 2, Under Siege, Under Siege 2, Sudden Death, Executive Decision, Passenger 57, Daylight, Con-Air, Air Force One, The Rock, Cliffhanger, Olympus Has Fallen, etc.,)- it was a brilliantly written, acted and Directed masterpiece that's comfortably in my all-time top 10.  Strip away every ounce of intelligence and excitement from that franchise starter and you've got A Good Day To Die Hard, one of 2013's worst releases.

Bruce Willis shows up in various parts of Russia (Moscow, Chernobyl) and Hungary for a paycheck and should be ashamed, while I can't blame Jai Courtney (Jack Reacher, Starz's Spartacus), the the 28-year-old Actor portraying McClane's son here- he's just starting out and can't afford to be too picky... 

Aw, Fuck it- I'll spend no more time or effort on this dreary, soulless mess.

Skip it and save your money towards an eventual root canal... it will probably be more enjoyable.

4.5 out of 10 

FWIW- 

Die Hard - 10
Die Hard 2 -7.5
Die Hard With A Vengeance - 6.0
Live Free Or Die Hard - 5.0

^ - Notice a trend? ...

Review - Snitch


On DVD and Blu Ray - "Snitch" - Snitch is a passable diversion that suffers from a bit of an identity crisis over what exactly it wants to be- a Dramatic condemnation concerning the U.S. legal system and the ridiculousness of mandatory minimum sentencing laws (regarding first-time drug traffickers) or an action vehicle for it's star, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.  It's the tonal shifts between the two that aren't handled well by Co-Writer, Director and former Stuntman, Ric Roman Waugh (Felon). The film is entertaining enough, though it never could quite break out of "middling" territory.  Although the ending was a bit too "pat" for my tastes, there's nothing in Snitch that I could call outright dumb- it's biggest crime is that it's ultimately forgettable.

After his teenaged son is nabbed by DEA agents for receiving a  package of narcotics and sentenced to prison for 10 years, Dwayne Johnson's "John Matthews" finds himself desperate and decides to work as an informant in an effort to reduce the boy's sentence.  Johnson shows surprising flashes of acting abilities here and there, though it's ultimately his hulking stature (listed as 6'5" and 260lbs) and Action-Star/Wrestler notoriety that hampers the believability of certain scenes- a sequence where a handful of adolescent drug-dealers (all literally half his size) successfully beat down "The Rock" will have most of his fans shaking their heads. This would have been a perfect vehicle for a rugged everyman Actor (those that could naturally pull off being a trucker) such as Nicholas Cage, Russell Crowe, Thomas Jane, Idris Elba, Matthew McConaughey or an Aaron Eckhart "type"- Johnson, though obviously growing by leaps and bounds as an Actor, is simply miscast in this particular story and at this juncture of his career. 

The ever-lovely Melina Kanakaredes (CSI: New York) plays Matthew's distraught ex-wife and mother of his son- she's very good here and I never could quite understand why we don't see more of her in feature films.

Jon Bernthal (AMC's The Walking Dead) essentially co-stars as a former convict trying to stay on the straight-and-narrow who reluctantly aides our Hero, while Michael Kenneth Williams (HBO's Boardwalk Empire) pops up a few times as a menacing, hardcore hood.  Both are excellent in support. 

Barry Pepper (Saving Private Ryan) is fine as an undercover vice squad operative, while Benjamin Bratt (Law & Order) puts in solid work as the Kingpin of a drug Cartel.  Meatier roles for both Actors may have worked wonders towards a substantially better film.

Susan Sarandon (Bull Durham) is OK, though ultimately rather stereo-typical, as a shrewd District Attorney. Rafi Gavron (Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist) plays Johnson's incarcerated son, while Nadine Velazquez (Flight) portrays our protagonist's current wife. Lela Loren (Reign Over Me) has a few, brief scenes as the wife of Bernthal's character.  Rounding out the notable faces, David Harbour (End Of Watch) and Harold Perrineau (The Edge) have disposable roles as Lawyers.

Expect a couple of shootouts and a climactic Big Rig versus autos chase scene, though the film's PG-13 rating leaves the action scenes rather muzzled and bloodless.  Overall, I thought this release was O.K., though I don't know if I'll ever want to revisit it...

Looking at "The Rock's" filmography, I realized that I've seen close to 20 films that featured the star, though I've only truly enjoyed one of them: 2003's "The Rundown".  That film was released a decade ago.  Johnson will Star or Co-Star in five films in 2013 (Snitch, G.I. Joe: Retaliation, Pain & Gain, Fast & Furious 6 and Empire State), and although I'm a big fan of the individual, I wish he'd slow down a bit and be a little more selective. He has the talent, ability, presence and charisma to dominate Hollywood- I just hope he cooks up a quality run...

6.5 out of 10

Monday, June 24, 2013

Review - World War Z


At The Theater - "World War Z"- I cannot comment on this film's merit as an adaptation of the best-selling novel, but this flick isn't so bad, overall. The most important thing to know going in is that it's glaringly evident that the numerous, much-publicized production issues, including a subsequent swelling budget (from $125 Million to $200 Million), made it worrisome to the powers-that-be at Paramount that a mega-budgeted, R-rated picture wouldn't recoup it's cost at the Box-Office. That concern resulted in a (noticeably) heavily-edited final product for theatrical release, with virtually all of the blood and gore (from what was originally conceived and produced as an R-rated film) having been digitally erased to achieve a coveted PG-13 (obviously, to grab added $ from a younger audience)... hell, I think they could have easily pushed the envelope substantially before they would have even come close to an R. A sequence in which Pitt's protagonist quickly severs a soldier's bitten hand to save her life is laughably devoid of any blood- there's not a drop to speak of and I can't even recall the obligatory (and necessary) cauterization. 

What remains of Director Marc Forster's (Quantum of Solace) film is a globe-hopping outbreak story that moves fairly briskly and is otherwise logistically sound. There's dabs of humor here and there and a passable amount of tension- a few firefights are well-staged and the disaster effects are solid (plane and chopper crashes), though there's precious little closeup footage to appreciate any practical makeup effects regarding the "Zombies". I didn't care too much for the thriving, CGI swarms of the infected- the FX work in this regard could have been better.  Funny in that I can't actually recall seeing any of the "Zombies" in WWZ actually eating on any of their victims- they just bite you to pass along the infection and move on looking to bite someone else...

I believe a slower-paced, stripped-down third act, in which Drew Goddard (Cabin In The Woods) was brought in to re-write, works the best.  The first two acts are marred by that annoyingly pesky shaky-cam, while the third-act abandons the gimmick and features the best usages of practical effects regarding the Undead. 


Brad Pitt's (Inglourious Basterds) solid as the former UN investigator turned family man, "Gerry Lane" - the narrative follows his character as he's separated from his wife and two daughters and sent off to investigate the origins of the outbreak.  I couldn't help but repeatedly wish that he would wash his greasy fuckin' hair, a stringy mop that really doesn't fit the character.  That aside, he does a convincing job displaying the necessary emotions and reactions in each given situation. 

Mireille Enos (Gangster Squad) portrays his wife and mother of his two children- the Actress is very good in an underwritten role.

James Badge Dale (who also has roles in 2013's Iron Man 3 and The Lone Ranger) is nearly unrecognizable under a scruffy beard and a ballcap as a US Army Ranger, while the great David Morse (The Rock) has a memorable, but fleeting scene as a toothless former spook held captive at a US base in a segment set in South Korea. 

Israeli Actress Daniella Kertesz is a talent new to me, though the "unconventional" cutie is very good in a rather quiet part as an Israeli soldier.  She's a believably tough little shit and will undoubtedly land more American roles.

South African Actor Fana Mokoena (Hotel Rwanda) makes a few appearances as the UN Deputy Secretary General.  Blink and you'll miss Matthew Fox (FOX's Party Of Five) as a para-jumper- I'm guessing he had the majority of his scenes cut.

Outside of Pitt's protagonist, there's precious little character development to speak of- perhaps yet another victim of run-time concerns.  The film clocks in at 116 minutes and that seems rather anemic considering it's massive scope and status as a Summer Blockbuster.  (Man Of Steel is listed as 143 minutes long, Star Trek Into Darkness was 132 minutes, while Iron Man 3 and Fast And Furious 6 both clock in at 130 minutes.)

Check it out only if you're desperate for a "zombie fix", though I'd recommend watching/re-watching 28 Days Later, instead. All things considered, WWZ is an OK but unessential entry in the Zombie genre that lacks the necessary shock value to propel it anywhere near the greats. I'm positive there will be an Unrated/Extended cut on DVD and Blu-Ray at some point within the next several months, I say skip this in theaters and wait for that eventual concession.

6.5 out of 10

 ***Of Note***

Audiences missed out on a more visceral film because of that aforementioned censoring, though World War Z's first weekend's Box Office take ($111 Worldwide) seems to indicate a strategic victory for Paramount.  Sadly, I've got a feeling that more production companies will be following this model as a result...

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Review - Stoker


On DVD and Blu Ray - "Stoker" -Those looking for something a little different for their viewing pleasure might want to give this quiet, brooding and downright creepy little coming-of-age Drama/Mystery from Korean Director Chan-wook Park (Oldboy) a spin- it's a beautifully filmed, highly atmospheric Hitchcockian affair that's heavily influenced by the  iconic auteur's Shadow Of A Doubt (1943).

Australian Actress Mia Wasikowska (Alice In Wonderland 2010) portrays "India Stoker", a free-spirited outcast whose life is thrown into flux when her Father (Dermot Mulroney) dies in an automobile accident on her 18th birthday.  Nicole Kidman (Dead Calm) plays India's emotionally unstable mom- If I had one major complaint to log here, it would be that the highly talented veteran Actress is decidedly underused.  Enter a charming and mysterious estranged Uncle, played by an effectively chilling Matthew Goode (Watchmen), who decides to spend an indefinite period supporting the two- much to the displeasure of a suspicious India.  Let's just say that the phrase "It runs in the family" is applicable here.

Jacki Weaver (Silver Linings Playbook) makes a brief appearance as a concerned aunt while Dermot Mulroney (Zodiac) is only featured in a few flashbacks.  Performances are fine across the board with Wasikowska impressing me the most.  Look for greater things from the 23 year old actress in the future.

Expect a couple of third-act twists and a handful of murders along the way- a couple of graphic kills might stay with you for a while.  It's weird, it works to hold your attention (even if it moves a little slow) and it's a pretty damned good alternative to the Summer Movie Blockbusters being dumped off the assembly line right now.  Recommended.

8.0 out of 10

Friday, June 21, 2013

Review - Man Of Steel


At The Theater - "Man Of Steel" -

Overkill - (Definition) - 
o·ver·kill
/ˈōvərˌkil/ 
Noun

1. : a destructive capacity greatly exceeding that required for a given target

2. : an excess of something (as a quantity or an action) beyond what is required or suitable for a particular purpose <publicity overkill> <an overkill in weaponry>

3. : killing in excess of what is intended or required
Director Zack Snyder's (300) "Man of Steel" needs about 15 minutes of action/mayhem trimmed and about 20 more minutes of exposition and character building- the film is cold to the touch, overly complicated and often wallows in blatant excess. There's a host of contradictions, plot holes and moments of mind-boggling contrivance that literally had me wincing with disappointment (I'm a longtime fan of the character and had high hopes for this film).  The visuals and action scenes in this admittedly darker and edgier take on the Superman film franchise range from outstanding to generic; Snyder is given free reign to tear shit up (complete with his signature desaturated look), with little or no thought given to the consequences.  There are flashes of kick ass cool here and there but most of the big action scenes go on way too long with precious few "humanistic" moments to balance out matters and supply the necessary weight and/or tension- I couldn't help but think; this is Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen mixed with The Star Wars PrequelsMichael Bay and the current version of George Lucas would be proud.

Henry Cavill (Immortals) brings a completely ripped titular hero to the big screen- he's by far the most physically impressive live-action incarnation of Superman / Kal-El, though there's not nearly enough of those little moments of character detail to endear an audience to him.  A spattering of humor throughout might have worked wonders- I can't remember laughing, or even smiling, one time.  I was never much of a fan of Christopher Reeve's goofy, bumbling Clark Kent (his Superman was perfect) and there's thankfully none of that here- this particular Clark is haunted and brooding, anxious to find his place and meaning in an alien world.  A handful of flashbacks covering various incidents in Clark's childhood/youth work to varying degrees, though I wish the filmmakers had taken a more linear approach to the storytelling- the off-kilter placement of the poignant memories often work to derail any momentum.  I'm positive Director Zack Snyder has an extended Director's Cut of this movie in the works, but I can only comment on what I paid to see in a theater.

Superman's parents, both biological and adoptive, come across as more obligatory than necessary- I wish there had been far more of Kevin Costner (Open Range) and Diane Lane (The Perfect Storm) as the KentsRussell Crowe (Gladiator) supplies a durable Jor-El, Superman's biological father -after the opening sequence on Krypton, he pops up here and there throughout the film as some kind of ghostly "program" aiding his son in various ways.  Israeli Actress Ayelet Zurer (Munich) portrays Kal-El's mother- she's barely in the film but is solid in her limited screen-time.

Michael Shannon (Premium Rush) is serviceable as the villainous General Zod, though he desperately needed some kind of vocal adjustment in post production- something done digitally to deepen his voice as he just doesn't have a commanding delivery (you know, kinda like the one Terence Stamp did possess as Zod in 1980's Superman II).  I had no problem with how Superman ultimately deals with Zod- some will call sacrilege, but I found it refreshing.  It's a case of too little, too late, though.

A very sexy Antje Traue (Pandorum) is Zod's "right hand girl", Faora-Ul- the German actress (who possesses beautiful eyes, I might add) is quite impressive and should have had a more bulked up role to take advantage of that.  Sadly, her "comeuppance" is rather lame.

Amy Adams (Enchanted) does a solid job portraying Lois Lane- I'm indifferent concerning the actress and always have been (it should have been Jessica Biel or Rachel McAdams in the part). 

Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix) makes a few, brief appearances as Perry White while Christopher Meloni (Law And Order: Special Victims Unit) portrays a U.S. Colonel heading up forces to stop Zod's onslaught.  Harry Lennix (Ray) and Richard Schiff (NBC's The West Wing) round out the notable faces as the obligatory General and Scientist, respectively.

The cast of undeniably gifted actors all have their inherent talent to rest upon, as Snyder is clearly not an Actor's Director- he shows little understanding and very little interest in the subtleties involved with nurturing a great performance. Ultimately, I believe a pre-Avatar James Cameron would have been THE ideal choice to tackle a Superman reboot in a high quality manner- he's an obsessive sort that has proven time and time again (Aliens, True Lies, The Terminator, T2, The Abyss, Titanic) that he can balance out rousing, large-scale action with the finer details of consequential drama.  Alas, it was obviously not to be.  

The Good-

I like the new costume design and the textured, chain-mail look- I'm glad the red Fruit Of The Looms are gone.  The armor worn by General Zod and his warriors is also pretty cool- some may feel that their duds too closely resemble the battle dress of Sauron from Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring, though.

It's always neat to see A-10 Warthogs involved in an action film- the damned things are just old-school cool.

An initial confrontation between our hero and the bad guys takes place smack dab in the middle of Smallville- it's the best of the action sequences, thought it too could have benefited from a small trim.

General Zod's account of how his people escaped "The Phantom Zone" and his subsequent plans for Earth are conveyed telepathically to the Man of Steel while he's unconscious- the dream-like visuals involved with this chronicle, including a segment where Superman is engulfed by sea of skulls, are undeniably nifty.

Specific issues/problems/complaints I had with the storyline itself-

***SPOILERS***

As far as saving lives is concerned, this particular Superman is by far the least successful.  The vast majority of Metropolis's skyscrapers are reduced to ashes during a climactic showdown between Superman and General Zod's forces, with little or no thought given to the hundreds of thousands, if not millions of lives lost in the process. As each building collapsed, I couldn't help but wonder how many people were dying therein, all souls the greatest superhero the world has ever known failed to save- hell, there's barely an attempt to convey the notion that he even cares.  Superman punches Zod through a skyscraper, it crumbles to the ground in fantastic fashion, Zod punches Supes through another skyscraper, same result. Wash, rinse, repeat, over and over and over again.  Remember how Christopher Reeves's Superman showed so much concern for people's safety and was constantly trying to lure threats away from the populace?  It was written, directed and acted that way- with care and empathy.  Here, Snyder just wants to stick your face into all the neato special effects and massive budget he's been given, as if he's some impish, emotionless child stomping sand castles and squashing pill bugs. In a post 9/11 world, this particularly ham-fisted execution and outright mishandling of the material comes across as calloused and in poor taste.  Yes, this is obviously only a movie- it's also one with very little thought involved past the topical visuals.  In better, more seasoned/professional hands, this could have been one of the most heartbreaking, thrilling and important pieces of cinema ever produced- as is, it's just a middling "comic-book movie".

It is revealed via the Kryptonian senate that the people of the planet will not be able to escape from it's impending implosion via starships because they simply don't have any- yet that announcement is clearly contradicted when that same senate banishes Zod and his followers into "The Phantom Zone" via a, get this, MASSIVE starship.  C'mon, Man!  

In a subsequent segment featuring a dying, chaotic Krypton, with the planet's skyline bustling with a myriad of interesting flying machines of all shapes and sizes, a time-strapped Jor-El hops atop a bovine/dragonfly creature to reach his destination.  Where the hell did it come from and why the hell didn't he want to hitch a ride on something faster?  It's almost as if Snyder just wanted to throw/work something "Dragon-ish" into the picture for no other reason than because... well, it's cool, dammit!

Our Hero discovers and activates a rather large spaceship of his own (supposedly buried in the Earth's arctic ice for thousands of years) midway through the picture, but apparently forgets that he has the damned thing at his disposal when the climactic confrontation with Zod and his minions rolls around.  It could have worked wonders towards evening up the odds...

I could only shake my head at a late, brain-dead segment in which Lois spies the faraway contrail of Supes and Zod, locked in battle, as they reenter Earth's atmosphere from space and crash somewhere many miles away, only to have Lois comes dashing in to watch the duo resume their grappling mere moments after they've crashed though the establishment's (Grand Central Station) ceiling... what the HELL!?  How did she traverse so quickly over so many miles of a devastated Metropolis landscape and how did she know exactly where their meteoric fall would land them?

Lastly, in a closing, tacked-on segment apparently inserted as an attempt to reach out to traditionalist Superman fans, audiences are treated to Clark Kent (wearing a pair of black-rimmed eyeglasses as his only means of disguise) entering the Daily Planet and reporting for his first day of work.  He introduces himself to a few new co-workers, including a knowing Lois Lane.  I felt this particular sendoff came across as campy in that the ridiculously simplistic charade couldn't possibly work in the day and age of smart phones, security cameras, paparazzi, facial recognition software and the DHS.  The concept of Clark Kent, mild mannered reporter, has never worked for me- how could he possibly juggle saving the world and maintain a full time job, all-the-while keeping his identity a secret while working at the world's most powerful newspaper? 

***END SPOILERS***

Composer Hans Zimmer's score, desperate to infuse a little life into the onscreen proceedings, only manages to be loud and obnoxious- it often drowns out dialogue and garbles the sound mix of a few action scenes. I will admit to liking a rather ominous, techno-riff that briefly comes and goes whenever General Zod or his warships are onscreen.  Ultimately, there's no comparison with this particular effort and John Williams's highly effective and iconic score introduced to the world in 1978's Superman: The Movie. Zimmer's score is the disposable kind and will be forgotten in relatively little time.  John Williams's theme will live forever as one of the absolute greatest, and most recognizable pieces of music of all time.  That's inarguable.

For better or worse, this is a Superman film for the video game age- it's perfect for the teenaged mindset and a guilty pleasure at best.  So many problems, both large and small, glaring and needling, led me to once again wonder if any of the involved writers/filmmakers paid any attention whatsoever to what the hell each other was doing.  I felt similarly about The Dark Knight Rises and have no qualms about admitting that I disliked that movie, as well.  If this is what passes for intelligence in grand style film-making, you can count me out.  When all is said and done, I'll undoubtedly be in the minority on this flick- I'm fine with that.  I missed the nostalgic, homage vibe of Bryan Singer's "Superman Returns" and the inherent likeability that Christopher Reeves so naturally conveyed in Superman: The Movie (1978) and in Superman II (1980).  I missed the elemental sense of honor, integrity, fun and wonderment associated with those films, as well- they were far from perfect, but they were perfect for their time.  Given the considerable resources at it's disposal, this Superman film just isn't what it should have been; the quintessential take on the world's greatest superhero...

6.0 out of 10


FWIW-

Superman: The Movie (1978) - 8.0
Superman II -8.0
Superman III - 4.5
Superman IV: The Quest For Peace - 3.5
Superman Returns - 8.0

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Review - This Is The End

 
 At The Theater- "This Is The End" - What we have here is an extreme rarity: a legitimately and consistently funny R-Rated Horror/Comedy that fires on all cylinders for it's entire run-time- I cannot recall a flat moment or a bit that didn't work. There's a myriad of laugh out loud situations and hilariously sharp, pitch-perfect dialogue throughout this tale of Hollywood friends (and lovable idiots) experiencing the Apocalypse- Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel, James Franco, Craig Robinson, Jonah Hill and Danny McBride (each playing themselves) all have plenty of solid material befitting their inherent, distinct comedic talents. There's a number of surprises here, including a multitude of worthwhile cameos, but the less a potential viewer knows, the better.  I left the theater with a smile on my face and feeling a helluva lot better than when I entered. Think "Shaun of The Dead" mixed with "Pineapple Express"...
This Is The End is co-written and co-Directed by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg- I believe this particular film works so well because of the familiarity with each other and the natural camaraderie of the leads.  It's as if several true friends got together with a slightly larger than modest budget, pooled their comedic resources and cashed in every last favor they could scrounge up.  What's most impressive here is how the flick succeeds as a Disaster/Horror entry- it's deftly Directed and edited by apparent fans of these types of films, featuring some appropriately wonky, but entirely serviceable digitally-rendered mayhem and creature effects.  It's lightning in a bottle.
Later this year, audiences will be subjected to another End Of Days comedy in the form of Edgar Wright's (Shaun of The Dead, Hot Fuzz, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World) "The World's End", starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost- I have high hopes for the film but find that the bar has been raised significantly on this "new" Horror/Comedy/Disaster multi-genre.  
Be forewarned, this is NOT for children so leave 'em at home.  Expect a wealth of crude humor, with foul language galore, constant drug and sexual references, several gruesome deaths/dismemberments and a handful of highly effective jump scares. 
Needless to say, Highly Recommended- see it at the Theater and see it with as many friends as possible. 
 9.0 out of 10

Sunday, June 9, 2013

Photo List - A Little Horror- (Revised)


  1. 13 Ghosts (1960)
  2. 28 Days Later
  3. 30 Days Of Night
  4. Abbot & Costello Meet Frankenstein
  5. Abominable
  6. Alien
  7. Aliens
  8. Alligator (1980)
  9. Altered States
  10. An American Werewolf In London
  11. Army Of Darkness
  12. AVP
  13. The Awakening (2012)
  14. Below
  15. Big Trouble In Little China
  16. Blade
  17. Blade 2
  18. The Blob (1988)
  19. Bride Of Frankenstein
  20. Cabin In The Woods
  21. Cat People (1942)
  22. Cat's Eye
  23. The Changeling
  24. Child's Play
  25. Christine
  26. Constantine
  27. Creature From The Black Lagoon
  28. Creepshow
  29. Critters
  30. Cronos
  31. Curse Of Frankenstein
  32. Curse Of The Demon
  33. The Dark Half
  34. Dark Night Of The Scarecrow
  35. Dawn Of The Dead (1978)
  36. Day Of The Dead (1985)
  37. Day Of The Triffids
  38. Daybreakers
  39. Dead Calm
  40. Dead Man's Shoes
  41. Death Proof
  42. Deep Rising
  43. Deliverance
  44. The Descent
  45. The Devil's Backbone
  46. Disturbia
  47. Dog Soldiers
  48. Donnie Darko
  49. Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (1941)
  50. Dracula (1931)
  51. Dracula (1979)
  52. The Edge
  53. Evil Dead II
  54. Evolution
  55. The Exorcist
  56. The Fly (1986)
  57. The Fly II (1989)
  58. The Fly (1958)
  59. The Fog (1980)
  60. Frankenstein (1931)
  61. Friday The 13th Part 7
  62. Fright Night
  63. Fright Night 2
  64. Ghostbusters
  65. Ghostbusters 2
  66. Gojira
  67. Gremlins
  68. Gremlins 2
  69. Halloween (1978)
  70. Halloween II (1981)
  71. Halloween (2007)
  72. Hellboy
  73. Hellboy 2
  74. Horror Of Dracula (1958)
  75. The Host (2006)
  76. Hostel
  77. The Howling
  78. The Hunchback Of Notre Dame (1939)
  79. Identity
  80. The Innkeepers
  81. Innocent Blood
  82. The Innocents (1961)
  83. The Invisible Man (1933)
  84. Island Of Lost Souls (1932)
  85. Jaws
  86. King Kong (1933)
  87. Kiss The Girls
  88. Kolchak: The Night Stalker
  89. Land Of The Dead
  90. Let Me In
  91. Let The Right One In
  92. The Lost Boys
  93. The Machinist
  94. Manhunter
  95. Mimic
  96. Misery
  97. The Mist
  98. Mr. Brooks
  99. The Mummy (1959)
  100. The Mummy (1999)
  101. My Bloody Valentine (2009)
  102. Near Dark
  103. Night Of The Living Dead (1968)
  104. Orphan
  105. The Orphanage
  106. The Others (2001)
  107. Pan's Labyrinth
  108. Phantom Of The Opera (1943)
  109. Phantom Of The Opera (1962)
  110. The Picture Of Dorian Gray (1945)
  111. Piranha (1978)
  112. Poltergeist
  113. Predator
  114. Psycho (1960)
  115. P2
  116. Road Games
  117. Rogue (2007)
  118. The Ruins
  119. Salem's Lot (1979)
  120. Scream
  121. Session 9
  122. Se7en
  123. Shaun Of The Dead
  124. The Shining (1980)
  125. Silence Of The Lambs
  126. Silver Bullet
  127. The Sixth Sense
  128. Sleepy Hollow
  129. Slither
  130. Son Of Frankenstein
  131. Splinter
  132. Split Second
  133. Stake Land
  134. Stir Of Ehoes
  135. Tales From The Crypt: Demon Knight
  136. The Testament of Dr. Mabuse
  137. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)
  138. THEM! (1954)
  139. They Live
  140. John Carpenter's The Thing
  141. Tremors
  142. Trick R Treat
  143. The Twilight Zone: The Movie
  144. Underworld
  145. Underworld: Evolution
  146. Underworld: Rise of The Lycans
  147. Underworld: Awakening
  148. The Uninvited (1944)
  149. Village Of The Damned (1960)
  150. What Lies Beneath
  151. Willard (2003)
  152. Wolf Creek
  153. The Wolfman (2009)
  154. The Woman In Black (2012)
  155. Young Frankenstein
  156. Zombieland
Yes, I know, they're not all pure Horror films...

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Photo List - My Dream Team...



My All-Time NBA Starting 5- 

Magic Johnson 
Michael Jordan
Wilt Chamberlain
Karl Malone
Larry Bird.

2nd Team-

Oscar Robertson
Kobe Bryant
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Tim Duncan
James Worthy

Rounding out my 15 Man Roster-

Lebron James
Shaquille O'Neal
Hakeem Olajuwon
Elgin Baylor
Kevin McHale