Movie Review: Stay Alive

Stay Alive? More like Stay Awake. Yet another sub-par, PG-13 horror movie targeted at the teen market. The movie is rather predictable, and about as much fun as watching someone play a video game. For those of you who have never done that, it isn't all that much fun, video games are interactive for a reason, you are mean to interact with them. When you get relegated to video game viewer, the reason to care about it decreases dramatically, unlike the much more passive experience of a film. Yes, a video game and a film can equally engage the viewer, the difference being, when you watch a movie, you do not have to be an active participant.

What does all that have to do with the movie? Well, Stay Alive is the equivalent to watching a video game being played. Sure, there are a couple of cool things to look at, but nothing that actively engages the passive mind. The big question is, why would I subject myself to this? The answer to which, I do not have. Perhaps I was hoping that it would actually be good, or maybe I like to punish myself with bad movies. Whatever the case may be, I went and I saw and I stayed awake.

We open with, what else, the video game. We watch as a young guy plays said game, which shares its name with the movie. After playing for a few minutes, he gets killed in the game. Shortly after that he starts to see things, and is quickly dispatched in the same way that his character died. If you couldn't guess by that, or just the commercials, you have a plot that centers on the video game world and the real world crossing over. Just like what is said about dreams, if you die in the game, you die for real.

The focus switches to the dead guy's best pal and his gaggle of friendly rejects. They gather to mourn the loss of their friend, and what better way to celebrate his memory? By playing the game. Of course, one of the gaggle knows the real world story behind the premise of the game. It concerns some old child killer who vowed to come back, blah, blah, blah. Then some more people start to die, in incredibly bloodless ways (need to preserve the PG-13). This spurs on our intrepid heroes to try and track down the real world inspiration. The plot goes through hoops to get our band from point A to point B in as few steps as possible.

The plot, such as it is, does not tread any new water, nor is it all that interesting. I didn't find any of the characters to be all that likable, or have any reason to care whether they lived or died. The rules change as they go along, some die hours after playing, while some die immediately after. The game escalates on its own with no real rhyme or reason. We never learn why these people were targeted, or any real explanation as to how this happens. Now, I don't need the writers to explain every last detail, but I do expect there to be enough clues to reasonably explain it. This fails on all counts.

I am reminded of J-horror films. It is almost like this is a remake of a Japanese film that I have not seen. The structure is survival horror, where the characters are being pursues by these evil forces, and no matter what happens, they are not going to get out alive. Japanese horror has a certain sense of dread, unlike American horror, where the dread is there, but not quite as palpable. Granted, this is not nearly as good, or effective, but the impression is there. I am also reminded of a fun movie from the 90's with a similar concept, Brainscan, which involves a hypnotic video game which produces all too real results.

The acting is decent, if unspectacular. Adam Goldberg seems uncharacteristically restrained as one of the side characters, and Frankie Muniz stays within his range in a character that seems a logical extension of his Malcolm character (Malcolm in the Middle). The main characters are relative newcomers, with Jimmi Simpson as the goofy Phineus.

Bottomline. Not a good movie. There are a couple of good looking scenes, but nothing that would save it. Far from the worst I have seen, but again, it is not all that much fun to watch. There is an over-reliance on the jump scare, and not much blood. I smell Unrated DVD. Watch at your own risk.

Not Recommended.


Categories: MovieReview, Movies, Reviews, Horror

CD Review: Dog Fashion Disco - Adultery

What's in a name? Seriously? I mean, Dog Fashion Disco? I would have to say that is a slightly odd band name. Of course, there are plenty of strange band names out there these days. If you have never heard their music, like me, you have to have some sort of idea going in just what you may be stepping into. In the case of Dog Fashion Disco, the only thing I was sure of was that it would be strange. Outside of that, I had no idea. I had heard of them some time ago, but had never actually listened to them.

After listening to the album a few times, and enjoying it immensely, the closest comparison I can think of is Mr. Bungle. Haven't heard of them either, huh? Well that was a project put together by Mike Patton, former singer with the defunct Faith No More. Surely you've heard of them, right? They had a hit back in the early 1990's with an early experiment in the rap/rock crossover called "Epic." Well, Mr. Bungle was a band that put out weird rock/metal/ambient music that could only be described as weird. Dog Fashion Disco's blend of metal, hardcore, ambient, jazz, and lounge would best be described as weird.

Adultery is the band's third release, following 2001's Anarchists of Good Taste and 2003's Committed to a Bright Future. This album marks the first time that they have tried to cohesively put it together. It is a concept album that chronicles the downward spiral a man goes into as he submits to his darker desires. Sounds like the perfect for a jazz/metal combo act. To be honest, I didn't really listen to it for the story, although I did pick up a few threads here and there.

The disk opens with the atmospheric "The Uninvited Guest." It is a brief intro which only has whispered questions to enter your head, will you let this guest in? It is an eerie piano based welcome to the bizarre that is to follow. It leads directly into a the hardcare influenced "The Sacrifice of Miss Rose Covington." The song splits its time between the hardcore and a jazzy sections. I particularly liked the buildup to the close, with the pace gradually increasing to a frenetic pace.

The next couple of tracks continue the hardcore/jazz frame, and then we come to “Desert Grave.” A song which seems like the demented creation of Johnny Cash and Glenn Danzig’s love child, a morose country flavored ditty. A little later there is the laid back interlude/plot point called “Private Eye.” It tells of our star being tracked by a private eye, and jus what happens in that seedy hotel room.

I am having trouble finding just the right words to describe this album. It is disturbingly brilliant and anything but accessible. Each song is self contained within the story, meaning you can pick up on the thematic elements throughtout the album, but you can take each song as an individual construct and it will survive on its own merits. The music is not the sort of thing you would find on the local radio station, but for those adventurous souls, this is an album to take a journey into.

Bottomline. For those of you who have a penchant for Mike Patton's oddities, and don't know about Dog Fashion Disco, this is for you. For those who just like a little originality in their music, this is for you. I can just imagine the craziness that this has to be live. Very good album from a band that will not be pegged down.

Highly Recommended.


Categories: CD_Review, Music, Reviews, Metal, Hardcore, Jazz

New Movies and Box Office Predictions: Featuring Inside Man

I can't say that this weekend looks all that promising. We get a new horror movie for the teen crowd, a comedy for the rednecks, and a heist thriller. The thriller looks to be the best of the bunch, boasting star power on the screen and off. Let's take a little closer look at what this week has to offer.

Inside Man. (2006, 129 minutes, R, trailer) Spike Lee returns to the big screen with this heist film. I have to be honest, when I first saw the trailer, I did not think that it would have Spike Lee as the director. It's not that I don't think he can do it, it just didn't look like what I would associate with Spike. It does look like a thrilling picture, and hopefully one that will keep me guessing. It has a good cast featuring Clive Owen, Denzel Washington, Jodie Foster, and Willem Dafoe.

Larry the Cable Guy, Health Inspector. (2006, 89 minutes, PG-13, trailer) This looks bad, albeit with moments of hilarity. This is a vehicle to presumably to gage Larry's potential on the big screen. I predict that this will be moderately funny, but won't go very far with the one note Cable Guy. See at your own risk.

Stay Alive. (2006, 85 minutes, PG-13, trailer) Here we go again, another PG-13 horror movie. Although, I have to admit, the trailer looks equal parts interesting and bland. I feel as if I've seen it already. Some guys get ahold of a new video game. They all start playing, and then, 1 by 1 they start dying in the same fashion that their characters died in the game. It is populated with newcomers, save for Adam Goldberg. It was directed by William Brent Bell, directing for the first time since 1997's Sparkle and Charm.

The Best of Youth Parts I and II. (2003, Part I 182 minutes, Part II 176 minutes, R, trailer) This is getting an engagement at arthouse, and they are even offering a discount if you see both parts. This was originally conceived as a mini-series for Italian television. The film follows 2 brothers over a period of 37 years. Watch them grow up, take jobs, have families, and relationships. Watch Italy grow with their lives as the framework.

Arna's Children. (2004, 83 minutes, NR, trailer) This making a brief one show stop at the local arthouse. It is a film from Israel that was shot over the course of ten years and tracks the development of a group of Palestinian children who turn to violence as a response to the Israeli occupation.

Also opening this week, but not near me:

• American Gun
• The Child
• The Godfather of Green Bay
• Lonesome Jim
• Stoned

Box Office Predictions. How do you think this weekend will play out?

1. Inside Man. I think this has the star power to lift it to the top.
2. V for Vendetta. I think this will have the legs to have a good outing this weekend.
3. Stay Alive. This will do OK, although I think I am optimistic as to the finish.
4. Failure to Launch. Still proving to be a draw in week 3.
5. The Shaggy Dog. Going against predictions, the Tim Allen vehicle is still strong.
6. Larry the Cable Guy, Health Inspector. Mediocre take for what I am guessing will be a mediocre movie.
7. Eight Below. I'm really happy to see this doing so well.
8. She's the Man. This will begin a quick descent.
9. 16 Blocks. Hanging on for one more week.
10. The Hills Have Eyes. The last hurrah for the maneaters of the hills.

What are you seeing?

Categories: News, Movies, Previews, Weekly

CD Review: The Best of Taste of Chaos

The Taste of Chaos tour sucked down its first breath of air last year when the first incarnation hit the road with the likes of A Static Lullaby, Opiate for the Masses, Underoath, The Used, and Killswitch Engage. It was a tour that brought together the worlds of metal, screamo, and hardcore under one roof. The second tour is currently underway with As I Lay Dying, Story of the Year, Atreyu, Thrice, and Deftones. This disk collects some of the best tracks from 36 bands that have graced the stage from both tours. It doesn't cover all of them, but there is a lot of music here!

Like I said in my reviews of the 2006 concert incarnation, the live DVD of the initial tour, and the live CD of the same tour, much of this music isn't quite to my taste. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule, and there is a lot to like spread across these two disks. If you don't mind, I am going to hit my highlights from the disks.

Disk one starts off strong, trying to win me over to their side with The Used's "Sound Effects and Overdramatics." It is a strong screamo entry which is effective in it's switches between screaming and more gentle singing. It is followed by a song that really didn't do much for me, but has one of the best titles I have ever heard, "I've Got Ten Friends and a Crowbar that Says You Won't Do Jack" by Underoath.

Matchbook Romance slows things down with their acoustic "In Transit for You." It's a nice switch from the more in your face manner that the prior songs were presented, it provides another face to this end of the music. Besides, I'm a sucker for acoustic rock. Also bringing another flavor to the table is Billy Talent with "Red Flag," a previously unreleased track. The song reminds me a like a quirky Green Day track. There is something about it that I found to be catchy, something akin to a virus. The next track to grab me doesn't really stand out, but it reminded me of some of Offspring's older material and it is a fun bouncy track, that is "Give it All" by Rise Against.

Leaning towards the hardcore/metal edge is Fear Before the March of Flames with "Should Have Stayed in the Shallows." They were the first band of this set to really veer to the more metallic flavorings. Guttural vocals and a galloping riff draw me in, kind of like Slayer crossed with some of these younger hardcore/screamo acts. They are paired perfectly with Dark New Day and their cut, "Pieces." They aren't quite as primal as Fear, but the guitars have a clear metal sound, while the singing is more emo, and it works quite well for this metal guy.

The first disk closes with what is probably the most abstract of the bands represented on this set and this tour, and it is an interesting performance piece. The band is Street Drum Corps and their song is "Flaco 81." The best way I can describe them is the Blue Man Group after exchanging their PVC piping for drums, the blue paint for day-glo and eschewing their smooth music flows to a more raw drum groove. Interesting to say the least, this makes me mad that I missed them live.

Disk two starts off strong, very strong. I daresay that this disk has the best tracks of the set, and they all seem to be clumped together at the beginning of this disk.

The first track is "Burn it Down" by Avenged Sevenfold, which have quickly gained a new fan in me. I recently started listening to them, and they have this great 80's metal sound updated to modern relevancy. This track is a great example of their sound, and a great way to kick off this disk. It is followed by the band that put out one of my favorite albums of 2005 with The End of Heartache, they are Killswitch Engage and their song here is "Rose of Sharyn." They are relentlessly heavy and a great addition of the upcoming young metal scene.

Continuing the string of metallic hits is Deftones with "Bloody Cape." I am not as big a fan of theirs as I used to be, but this is a surprisingly heavy song. I guess I would have to say that Chino's ambient vocals loose me at times and seem to draw away some of the bands energy. Still, this is a good song. We move from ambient metal to hardcore with Every Time I Die's "Kill the Music." Not one of my favorites, but it blends in well with these other heavy hitters of which I am a fan. They do have some nice rhythm work here.

We're still going straight through the track listing of disk 2. We have reached Shadows Fall, who I didn't even know played this tour, with "Enlightened by the Cold." They are another fine example of the up and coming heavy, along with Killswitch Engage. Following them is a band that did not impress me much when I saw them on Gigantour last year, but hearing this track makes me almost want to revisit them, the band is Dillinger Escape Plan and the song is "Unretrofied." The song seems surprisingly heartfelt and dragged me, kicking and screaming, into its groove. So far we have opened with 6 straight tracks to like, how long can it keep up?

Yes, we can keep it going, this disk is much more directed towards metal, and that is always a good thing for me. Bleeding Through offers up "On Wings of Lead" which is from the guttural growl school of metal. OK, the streak is up at seven as the next song, from Funeral for a Friend, really didn't do anything for me.

The next song to drag me in is track 12, "Heaven" by Opiate for the Masses. They have some interesting drumming, and some quick guitars. They sort of remind me of Tool and Nine Inch Nails, not at their level, but the influence is there. A couple of tracks later is The Smashup with "Effigy." I have heard these guys full CD, and they are pretty good, they have a sound which tries to stand out, and this is a good example of their music.

Closing in on the end of the disk, we have Most Precious Blood with "Shark Ethic." They are a hardcore act out of Brooklyn, NY, and regularly played the clubs in my area. Unfortunately, I never went to see them, but now I wish I did. This is a good song, I love the riffing at work. The disk draws to a close with Japan's Dir en Grey with "The Final." They have an interesting atmospheric, gothic sound that seems to be at odds with the other bands here. I liked it a lot, and plan on checking them out when I can.

That brings us to the end of this massive collection. There is a lot of music to absorb here. Although it sounds like one band at times, I am sure you will be surprised by the actual variety here, there is more than I would have expected. Disk two clearly wins me over and will be the first I reach for. The predominance of metal draws me like a moth to a flame.

Recommended. *** / *****

Categories: CD_Review, Music, Reviews, Metal, Hardcore, Screamo

CD Review: Wicked Wisdom - Wicked Wisdom

So, Jada Pinkett-Smith thinks she's metal, huh? Honestly, when I first read that Jada was fronting a music act, and that act was a metal band, I honestly thought it was a joke. How could I not? The actress wife of nice guy rapper/bad boy actor sang metal? Sounded like April Fool's day came early. Then I read that she played a few dates with Ozz-fest. The plot thickens. I can say I did not believe this was real until the CD arrived on my doorstep.

The first thing to strike you about the disk is the simplistic cover. The band name is printed in a scratchy font in the bottom third of the image. The most dominant portion is the arched snake, which casts an abstract shadow that looks like a "W," the remainder of the image is just a layer of sand. It is initial eye-catching in its simplicity, but in the end it is a rather dull cover.

The next step is to actually open the uninspiring case and listen to the music, and that's what I did. My initial reaction was one of shock. The opening track, "Yesterday Don't Mean," opens with a raw guitar riff, which is quickly joined by a jackhammer doublebass, before Jada's voice comes in barking the lyrics. The song was borderline hardcore. We were off to a promising start, this could prove to be a bit of a sleeper, you know, nothing earth shattering, but surprisingly good. The big question was, could they keep it up? Granted, the lyrical content didn't smack of anything terribly original, but not awful.

The second track, "Something Inside of Me," continues the promise of the first track. A speedy chugga-chugga gallop opens up while Jada's sings in this clipped monotone. The sound of her voice is equally haunting and mesmerizing, singing about the evils and effects of child abuse. I hate to admit it, but I am sort of liking this, I know I probably shouldn't, but everyone has their faults. That is followed up by "One," another song featuring Jada singing in a clipped monotonous pattern over another heavy riff. The lyrical repetition and delivery pattern really sucked me, I found my head rocking to the combined guitar and vocal cues.

The fourth song, "Bleed All Over Me," breaks from the absolutely relentless form of the opening trio, allowing the guitars and drums open up a bit more while Jada's voice sores a little higher. This has some nice music progression, but begins to expose the limited range of her voice. That is followed by "Cruel Intentions," which is a structural combination of the prior song and the earlier clipped style. It works well, but is ultimately a mediocre track.

Let me be clear about something regarding this album, it is not terribly good. It is an interesting novelty, but I am sure it will get no more than the occasional play. I am more apt to pick a song or two for a playlist than I am to desire to submit to the album in its entirety. You may not come to that conclusion based on what I have said already, and I mean it all. This disk is surprising in how infectious it can be for no reason whatsoever.

There are flashes of excellence strewn throughout, particularly in the opening trio. It is refreshing to see a celebrity attempt to crossover to another art form and try to do something with it. It is obvious that Jada is an amateur at writing lyrics, not that I could do any better (I have enough trouble getting critical words from my head to the screen). Generally the words are obvious and lack much in the way of subtlety. Despite the lackof true originality in her words, it was refreshing to glean the positive bent they had, amidst the requisite sound of anger and foul lanuage lies a generally positive message in the music. I admire her for being willing to put herself out there in a world which she had to know would most likely be resistant to her, be it her husband, herself, her music. Metal, especially in the current fickle atmosphere, is hard to break into, and harder to get a real fan base.

Jada helped herself by surrounding herself with a good group of musicians. Pocket Honore, on guitars, lays down some nicely heavy riffs to carry the bulk of the load, not much of a solo guy, but his riffs are generally good. More importantly, is their drummer, Fishbone founding member Phillip "Fish" Fisher is back there driving the rhythmic groove. Then there is Jada, herself. She doesn't have the most impressive of voices, but she seems to know her limits and work within them. I particularly like the clipped monotone employed early on.

Bottomline. Who knew Jada had it in her? Not a bad debut. I can honestly say that I was surprised at how much I was entertained. As a metal fan I feel I have to say that with reservations, as, despite my enjoyment, there is nothing terribly special here and I doubt I would go out of my way to follow her music career. I am glad, nonetheless, to have gotten to check this out.

Mildly Recommended. **.5 / *****

Categories: CD_Review, Music, Reviews, Metal

DVD Review: Demon Hunter

I had no idea that it would wind up being this hard to write about this forgettable little film. I have been trying to put thought to screen for the past couple of hours, and for some reason the words are just not finding a way to escape my brain. It seems like I have already forgotten about this little exercise of a film. I guess I can try to squeeze something out.

The plot reads like a low rent retread of Constantine. A half human/half demon, struggling with his own demons, goes around hunting, uh, demons. He does his work in the service of the Church, and is inevitably paired with a young nun on a hunt for a particularly powerful and nasty demon who is bent on spreading his seed through the seedy side of town, with the aid of a succubus.

Not really sure I was expecting much, and I'm glad I kept the expectations low. The story never takes off. There are plenty of speeches on both sides that hint at something greater, yet that something greater never comes. The speeches and poses are interrupted on a few occasions for a fight scene or a softcore romp in a dirty hotel. I guess I should not have expected any high art from a direct to video title with the story revealing title of Demon Hunter.

There are a couple of good things in the movie, namely Sean Patrick Flanery and Billy Drago. Granted, this is the second rate, B-movie versions, but they are effective nonetheless. The rest of the acting is well below these two.

Sean Patrick Flanery stars as Jake Greyman, our hybrid hero. He has a rather detached approach to the character, now if that is by design or if he just really didn't want to be there is not known. If truly was bored by the goings on, he certainly made it work to his advantage. On the opposite side of the coin is Billy Drago as the demon Asmodeus. Drago is quite a character, who clearly relishes this kind of role, slipping into this seedy, creepy, sexually charged lech of a man.

The movie really felt like a TV movie, more than that, perhaps this was meant as a pilot for a cable show. Just cut out the gratuitous nudity and you have the makings of series tailor made for the syndicated circuit, or, perhaps, the Sci Fi Channel. Its plot borrows liberally from sources like the previously mentioned Constantine, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Charmed, The Prophecy, among others. All of these recognizable points do nothing but hurt the movie, as there is no real ingenuity or creativity layered on top.

Video. The disk is presented in an anamorphically enhanced widescreen in a ratio of 1.77:1. It looks good for a low budget effort, if a touch to the dark side.

Audio. There are two tracks here, Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0. I sampled both tracks and they both sounded pretty good. Nothing terribly extraordinary.

Extras. This is where they do a good job with a nice selection of extras for a budget title.
-Commentary, featuring writer Mitch Gould and actress Nancy Yoon. I listened to a little bit of the track, it was OK. The pair too often fell into watching the movie rather than talking about it, leading to some dry spells, and not all of what they had to say was terribly interesting.
-Featurette: "Demons Among Us." This is a relatively entertaining 43 minute program, gives a nice look into low budget filmmaking. The highlight has to be Billy Drago and the art of the filmed sex scene, what a guy.
-Fight Sequence Rehearsal. This is a brief 4 minute clip of some fight footage and wire work as they geared up towards the filming.
-Trailers. The original trailer for the movie is included.

Bottomline. Perhaps this would be decent rental on a dull night with nothing else to do. If nothing else, you get some T&A mixed with your glue on horns and quasi-martial arts fights, not to mention the speeches which espouse to something bigger. This kind of story has potential, it's too bad that it is not fully realized here.

Not Recommended. ** / *****

Categories: DVD_Review, DVD, Reviews, Horror

Box Office Update 3/17-3/19: Vendetta with a Vengeance

V for Vendetta successfully held off all competition to take V's lofty goals right to the top of the box office charts. It's $25 million plus take makes it the 4th biggest opener of the year. Its opening take includes nearly $1.5 million from IMAX locations around the country. This is the first major release to get an IMAX version this year, and the first since last year's Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. It did meet the studio expectations despite competition from the NCAA tournament and St. Patrick's Day.

The anti-fascist thriller has gotten generally good reviews, and if word of mouth kicks in, this could have a good run in theaters. This was originally slated to bow on the big screen last Fall, to coincide with the 5th of November theme. I have read a couple of reasons for the delay, one being post production delays, and the other being due to the subway bombing in England last year. Whatever the case may be, this is an excellent movie that has a way of stirring up thoughts about the world at large, while being wrapped up in a satisfying film.

The other major wide release, She's the Man, came in 4th. It is a teen comedy that takes its cues from Shakespeare's The Twelfth Night. The relationship is purely cosmetic, but it is there. The movie turned out to be more entertaining than it should have been, nothing revolutionary, but fun nonetheless.

There was one other national release but it failed to make much of a splash. Find Me Guilty came in 18th place, just crossing the $600K mark on 439 screens. The film is actually quite good, it stars Vin Diesel as "Jacky D" Dinoscio. It is the story of his trial, where the FBI wanted him to flip on the Luchese crime family.

Disney had a good weekend as The Shaggy Dog suffered a very small drop from last week. On top of that, Eight Below is still going strong in its 5th week of release. It has had rather minor drops each week, and is looking at a final tally north of $80 million.

Last week's number 1, Failure to Launch, came it at number 2. It suffered a respectable 36.1% drop. The biggest drop this week among the top ten was shared by 2. Both The Hills Have Eyes and Madea's Family Reunion dropped 49%. And still hanging on to 9th place is The Pink Panther, which just seems to refuse to go away.

Two films dropped out of the top ten this week, Date Movie (12) and Ultraviolet (13).

This Week	Last Week	Title	Wknd Gross	Overall	Week in release
1	N	V for Vendetta	$25,642,340	$25,642,340	1
2	1	Failure to Launch	$15,604,892	$48,273,823	2
3	2	The Shaggy Dog	$13,377,363	$35,635,419	2
4	N	She's the Man	$10,730,372	$10,730,372	1
5	3	The Hills Have Eyes	$8,008,822	$28,741,291	2
6	4	16 Blocks	$4,755,012	$30,190,041	3
7	6	Eight Below	$4,084,276	$73,040,379	5
8	5	Tyler Perry's Madea's Family Reunion	$2,933,815	$60,029,631	4
9	9	The Pink Panther	$2,464,468	$78,575,414	6
10	7	Aquamarine	$2,114,445	$15,778,293	3

Now this is where we take a look at the films, in the order that I predicted in my New Movies and Box Office Prediction column from this past Friday. The first number is my predicted placement, and the second is the actual finish.

Generally, I will write a few notes about each title, but I am going to forego that this week. The reason being, I actually got all of them right! As unbelieveable as that may sound, I somehow had a stoke of luck and successfully projected what the American audience would see.

1. (1) V for Vendetta.
2. (2) Failure to Launch.
3. (3) The Shaggy Dog.
4. (4) She's The Man.
5. (5) The Hills Have Eyes.
6. (6) 16 Blocks.
7. (7) Eight Below.
8. (8) Madea's Family Reunion.
9. (9) The Pink Panther.
10. (10) Aquamarine.

I knew at some point I would luck out and get all 10 right. Enjoy it while you can, it probably won't happen again for a long, long time. Remember to check in next week when we will be back to the usual 1 or 2 correct.

Categories: BoxOffice, Movies, Weekly, News

DVD Pick of the Week: Capote

This week features a nice variety of releases, from Oscar winners to Oscar losers, to those that will never even be near an Oscar. In addition to the films, there are also some good music and television related releases.

This week's Pick of the Week is none other than the "proof that not all gay men are virile cowboys, some are effete New York intellectuals" (Jon Stewart). That movie is the Oscar winning biopic, Capote. The film netted Phillip Seymour Hoffman a Best Actor Oscar for his phenomenal portrayal of the author.

The movie follows Truman Capote during the period where he wrote In Cold Blood. The book is based on the murder of a family in Kansas. During the research, he developed a relationship with one of the accused, Perry Smith.

Prior to this film, I knew nothing about Truman Capote. Of course, I had heard of him, and his books, but outside of that, nothing. This movie has proven to be a fantastic introduction to this strange man. I may even try to read his work. But more than that, it is an absolutely wonderful film that deserves to be seen, if for nothing else, Hoffman's performance.

Also coming out this week:

• Arsenal of Megadeth. A 2 disk collection of videos, live footage, vintage interviews, and a variety of other clips. It is a must have for fans of Megadeth.
• Batman Beyond: The Complete First Season. A surprisingly good future take on the Dark Knight. Bruce Wayne has a new herald to bear his mantle. He comes the first season, replacing the earlier single disk themed releases.
• The Black Crowes: Freak n Roll Into the Fog. A concert disk from the blues rockers, shot during their reunion tour last year. Should be a good show, I had seen them during their "undercover" warm up shows and they sounded great.
• David Bowie: Serious Moonlight. I have seen mixed reviews on this concert video from the early 1980's. In the end, it's Bowie, how bad can it be?
• Derailed. This thriller with Clive Owen and Jennifer Aniston is a decent, if minor, work. I remember liking it, but the details are escaping me.
• Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story. I didn't get to see this in the theaters, but it looked like a quality film. Dakota Fanning is a wonderful young actress, and Kurt Russell is always dependable.
• Everything is Illuminated. Another one missed in the theater. This film looked good, in a quirky sort of way. It marks Liev Schreiber's directorial debut.
• House of the Dead 2. Better than the original, although derivative, this was a fun zombie killing romp. This originally aired as a Sci Fi Channel original.
• Justice League: Season One. After ther Batman and Superman animated era ended, the next logical step was to introduce the full fledged League, and it is done in great fashion.
• Mind of Mencia: Uncensored Season 1. I watch the show sporadically, but each time always ends in fits of laughter.
• Over There: Season 1. It began its run amid controversy, but has proven itself to be a compelling war show. The characters have developed well over the course of the season. Looking forward to season 2.
• Paradise Now. This has been met with its own critics. The film is about a pair of friends who are recruited for a suicide bombing in Tel Aviv.
• The Squid and the Whale. The ending was a bit abrupt, but there is no denying how good this film is. It takes a humous, yet serious look, at the disintegration of the nuclear family.

What are you getting this week?

Categories: Pick_of_the_Week, DVD, Movies, Previews, Weekly, News

Movie Review: V for Vendetta

The more I saw, the more I heard, the more I wanted. I was creating my own internal hype machine as the release of V for Vendetta neared. Then, as the date arrived, doubts started to creep in. As great as the trailers looked, could it really be that good? I had doubts regarding the Wachowski Brothers ability, I was entertained, but really let down but the two Matrix sequels, not terribly reassuring. Were they a flash in the pan? Had they peaked with the original Matrix? Enough to make one think twice about any potential greatness.

I put my reservations out of my head and went out to the theater. Am I glad I did. The film was filled with epic images, wonderfully verbose dialog, concepts to make you think about the world around you, not to mention some fantastic performances. It did not live up to the initial hype I had built up in my head, but that did not keep it from being a wonderfully ingenious film that will most likely grow in esteem.

V for Vendetta is set in the near future, a dystopian world where England is a totalitarian state, the US in the throes of a massive civil war, a world where one man has set about taking up the reigns from a revolutionary of the past, a man focused on taking the power back for the people. We follow the enigma wrapped in a riddle, known simply as V, over the span of a year as he plans to blow up the Parliament building to incite a revolution.

The movie is sure to spark many a debate as to what the message is, as there are many different ways to interpret what happens. Is our hero simply a terrorist? Is he a madman bent on revenge, using politics as a way of justifying his actions? His actions do not offer any easy explanations, and if taken in parallel with events of our real world offer even more angles from which to attack. But, despite all of the political and societal implications that are brought up, I am more interested in the film as a singular, insulated work that lives and dies by its own ability to succeed as a film. For the most part it succeeds.

The character of V is brought to complicated life by Hugo Weaving (The Matrix Trilogy, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy). Acting behind a mask for the entire film is not something that is easy to do, well, if you want to inject any emotion into the role. An actor's work has so much to do with their facial reactions, the movements and expressions tell so much about the character, but with a mask you lose all of that. Hugo does a brilliant job at creating V as this well spoken, maniacally brilliant man. A creature of the night who strives towards his goal, a mishmash of revenge and revolution.

Playing counterpoint to V is a character of a much more human bent, Evey Hammond, played by Natalie Portman. She is a victim of her world, who comes into contact with V one evening during an altercation with the security forces. Evey goes through a rebirth, as V offers her a freedom that she has never dreamed of, while she offers V an insight into humanity. Together they go through a transformation, he learns to love, and she learns who she really is with her first taste of freedom.

Giving a face to the other side are John Hurt and Stephen Rea. Hurt plays Sutler, the fascist dictator who will not condone any insubordination, who keeps his people "safe" by keeping them subservient. It is a one note performance, but completely effective. Stephen Rea provides the human face of the government as Finch, a detective who is willing to question all that is going on around him.

Director James McTeigue has crafted a film that has a nice blend of high concept and action. An epic fantasy that also works as social commentary, a film that always has something to watch, yet is not wall to wall action. He worked from a script by the Wachowski's which has a lot more dialog than films of this type have. The dialog is incredible, not terribly realistic, but has this big and grandiose flow that is not seen too often. They all worked off a graphic novel by Alan Moore and David Lloyd. Alan Moore refused to be associated with the project due to his growing dislike of Hollywood, so his name is not in the credits.

The end result is not perfect. There are some occurrences which cannot be explained, such as simple things as the obtaining and distribution of all the masks, and more complicated things such as V's actual motivations. Some can be explained simply, while others are left open for the interpretation. I think my biggest problem is the time frame, there are sequences which don't seem to have a definite time frame within the film. There are a few scenes which transition to others, and while they happen, nothing else is going on. I felt it to be rather jarring.

Bottomline. I found the film to be fascinating and wonderfully acted. My my major questioning lies in whether this is meant to have a straightforward narrative, or if there are liberties taken within that narrative to express the ideas and concepts at the expense of the plot. Whatever the case is, V for Vendetta is a rare thriller of the modern age to have the concepts and Ideas overshadow the action. This is a movie to be seen on the big screen.

Recommended. ***.5 / *****

Categories: MovieReview, Movies, ScienceFiction, Action, Thriller, Political, Adaptation

Movie Review: She's the Man

It is an interesting thing that I went to see this movie. I am still unsure why I went. I am clearly not a part of the target audience, nor did I have any particular reason to see Amanda Bynes on the big screen, I don't even think I've ever seen her in anything outside of the entertainment news programs that I see bits and pieces of. Well, whatever the case is, I did, I went and saw it, and surprisingly, I was entertained. This is no cinematic classic, but it is successful at being a fun movie.

She's the Man is loosely based on Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. Let me emphasize that it is a loose adaptation, in a way similar to how 10 Things I Hate About You was based on Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew.

Amanda Bynes is Viola, a high school soccer star whose team has just been cut at her prep school. Wanting to prove her worth, she asks to tryout for the boys team. When that falls through, her brother conveniently leaves town for a few weeks. This allows her to take her brother's, her twin, place at a rival school.

So, does Amanda Bynes play a convincing boy? The short answer is no. I could go on to say that anyone who believes her as a boy is foolish. The idea that she could pull it off is absurd, what with having to take showers and dealing with typical male pranks, I doubt that the charade would last long. The good thing, is that the breezy pace of the movie and the lightness of the material glosses over that in exchange for a fun tale of teen love and mistaken identity.

The film sets up an intricate series of love interests. Duke likes Olivia, who likes Sebastian/Viola, then there are Viola and Sebastian's respective ex's who also come into play. There are some fun interactions as Viola tries to keep up the charade and play soccer while fending off Olivia and trying to find a way to tell Duke the truth. Then there is Viola's mother who dreams of her daughter being a débutante, and never discovering the truth until the appropriate unveiling when all is, uh, revealed.

I must say that two of the most entertaining characters only get a little bit of screen time. First is Vinnie Jones as the soccer coach, an in your face scary kind of guy. Jones made his name playing British gangster types in films like Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch, and will be seen in the upcoming X3. His limited screen time was very entertaining. Then there is David Cross as the principal of the prep school. This guy is great at playing these weird and quirky characters, here he plays what seems like an extension of his Tobias Funke character from Arrested Development.

As light diversion, She's the Man delivers. There is nothing objectionable, which is strange considering the PG-13 rating. The teens in the crowd seemed to be really liking the film, and to an extent I did like it. It did, however, feel like an overgrown made-for-TV movie. There is a little too much mugging for my tastes. Bynes expressions are a bit to the big side, more suited to a TV screen.

It is the kind of movie that, if you try to apply any level of real world logic, it quickly falls apart. This is the kind of movie that, with the right energy, you need to just go with it, believe in the internal logic. On that level it is fun.

This is primarily a vehicle for Amanda Bynes, and it works. I may not care for the excessive mugging and overdone expressions, but I cannot deny the energy she brings to the screen. Given a good script and director, her infectious enthusiasm could be focused into something special. Her acting may not be ready for primetime, but she has the tools that can be honed and made into something. She definitely displays a great deal of adorable charisma in this one.

Bottomline. Not great, not perfect, not even necessarily good, but it is fun and infectious. Bynes has great energy on the screen. The film has a flawed real world logic, but it sets its rules and plays by them. Overall, this is a fun movie for teens and their parents.

Mildly Recommended. **.5 / *****

Categories: MovieReview, Reviews, Movies, Comedy, Adaptation, Teen