Destruction - "V.icious Circle - The 7 Deadly Sins"

German act Destruction just released a new album called D.E.V.O.L.T.I.O.N. Each song on the album begins with a letter from the title, hence all the periods. The first video is called "V.icious - The 7 Deadly Sins," and it sounds pretty darn good. Heavy, thrashy, and it just gets under your skin. The video is compiled from a lot of studio footage and is better for the song than the imagery.

Destruction - Vicious Circle - The 7 Deadly Sins

DVD Review: CJ7

I was first introduced to writer/director Stephen Chow with his 2001 hit, Shaolin Soccer. The film was built upon the standard conventions of the sports drama, but rather than play within a rigidly defined set of rules, he took those rules and threw them out the window, leaving only the framework behind. He proceeded to create a zany film that was familiar and completely fresh at the same time. He followed that with the even crazier Kung Fu Hustle in 2004, which took a similar approach as the earlier film, only targeting the kung fu genre (duh) and playing faster and looser with the conventions. Where does he go next? Why, the family film, of course! Seemingly using E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial as his frame, he has crafted a movie that is funny, sad, and wildly imaginative at the same time. Unfortunately, it feels like a lesser film when taken in conjunction with prior efforts.

As the movie opens, we are introduced to Dicky (Jiao Xu4), the son of a poor construction worker named Ti (Stephen Chow). While his widowed father works hard for every penny he earns, he often goes hungry, putting his money towards an exclusive, and expensive, school for Dicky. He wants to give his son as much opportunity for success as he can, the opportunities he never had himself. Along the way he has ingrained in his son a strong moral code that includes not lying, cheating, stealing, or taking anything that does not belong to them. Good lessons that we all should include in our own lives.

While Ti is doing the best he can for his son, Dicky must deal with the kids and teachers at school. He is picked on and made fun of for being dirty and poor. It is not an easy life for youngster. One day, he spies one of the bullies playing with a new toy, a robotic dog called CJ1. Dicky is taken with it and begs his dad for one. Of course, the money isn't in the budget, and Dicky is left pouting.

This is where the story begins to move forward, after all the setup is in place it is time to begin the secret of CJ7. Ti often stops by the dump on his way home, looking for any items that could be useful, shoes, clothes, a fan, anything. As he is looking at an old television an alien spacecraft lift up from beneath the trash and takes off before Ti can see it. The ship leaves behind what looks like a green beach ball. He picks it up and takes it home to give to Dicky.

After playing with it a bit, the ball morphs into a little alien dog toy. Dicky sleeps with dreams of what this could mean for him. What follows are a series of adventures with his new toy, they are gleefully over the top and at times cartoonishly violent. However, everything points to the lessons that have been taught to Dicky by his father.

As you watch CJ7 you will be able to follow it with ease. It is true that Stephen Chow loves to play with genre conventions, but there is always that familiar path over which the narrative follows. This being the case, you will never have any doubt of where Chow is heading with the movie. Where the surprise and, dare I say, magic lies is in the ways the alien sequences are delivered. There is a sweet sense of magic to a lot of them, and Jiao Xu has an adorable presence.

My biggest problems with the film lie with the violence. Now, it is cartoonish and no one is in any danger of being hurt, but what happens to poor CJ7 just seems a bit too cruel. They batter and abuse the poor creature. Of course, they are assuming that it is a toy. I have to wonder why they never thought that it may be a sentient alien life form? I know, that may not be a big deal in the larger scheme once everything plays out, but I cannot help but be a little put off by it.

When it comes right down to it, the movie is fun. The writing leaves a little to be desired, but it does the job. It is an over-the-top film, which grants it a little more latitude in my eyes. Stephen Chow has a lot of talent, I just think I would rather see him stay away from the straight up family movies, such as this.

Audio/Video. The technical specs are just fine. The image is nice and crisp and audio is always clear. The video is 2.40:1 anamorphic widescreen and the audio is presented in both an English 5.1 dub and the original Mandarin soundtrack, also in 5.1.

Extras.

• Commentary. There is a cast and crew commentary track that features Stephen Chow. The track is conducted in Mandarin and has subtitles.
• CJ7: Mission Control. This is a simple little flash animation style game where you need to help get CJ7 home.
• The Story of CJ7. This is an EPK style piece that talks about Chow's intentions with the film as well as the trouble in finding the children. It is a decent featurette. (13.5 minutes)
• CJ7 TV Special. This special took a look inside the film. It has some good detail without getting too terribly in depth. (23 minutes)
• Anatomy of a Scene. Remember the scene in the bathroom with the number 2? This takes a look at the making of that sequence. (6.5 minutes)
• How to Bully a Bully. This is a goofy little featurette with some random guy disguised with computer animation as he tells about ways to beat a bully. I have no idea why this is here. (4 minutes)
• How to Make a Lollipop. Again, a segment that just seems out of place. This tells you how to make a fake lollipop out of clay. (1.5 minutes)
• CJ7 Profiles. Exactly what it says, a series of profiles in video form telling you what the characters like and don't like. (7 minutes)
• CJ7 Trailer. The original US trailer. (2 minutes)
• Previews. Trailers for a bunch of Sony releases, including a promo for Blu ray.

Bottomline. Not as gleefully fun as I was hoping it would be, but still solid family entertainment. It stands out for just being a little weird, which is always a good thing. This is worth spending some time with.

Recommended.

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip - "Pilot"

Why, oh why could this show not have gone on longer? I really liked this series. Was it perfect? No, but it was entertaining, if not exactly realistic. This is the show that Aaron Sorkin started after The West Wing ended its run. That was a show I did not watch, never cared for the political stuff. Unfortunately, this only went one season. Fortunately, that leaves us wth 22 episodes that won't go away.

The Haunting of Molly Hartley - Poster

This October will see the release of The Haunting of Molly Hartley. It tells the story of a girl in a private school on the eve of her 18th birthday as an evil revelas itself to her. The trailer actually looks kind of creepy. The final poster has been released, you can see it below. I actually prefer the teaser poster.

Bigelf - "Money, It's Pure Evil"

I have been really digging on the latest Bigelf album lately, keep an eye out for a review in the near future. Here is the lead video for the release, for the song "Money, It's Pure Evil." It has a great old school rock and roll sound as the video tells the story of a pair of women who sucked in by the dark side of the big city.

New Movies and Box Office Predictions: Traitor, Hamlet 2, Babylon AD, College, Disaster Movie

Happy Labor Day weekend! I hope that many of you get to have a nice long weekend, I know we all could use a bit of a break. Perfect time to see the movie, don't you think? This weekend has five new films entering theaters around the nation. Of course, two of them arrived this past Wednesday, looking to get something of a head start. Now, none of them have any great pedigree behind them and none are likely to win any awards, but I am sure at least a couple of them have some redeeming values.

Traitor. (2008, 110 minutes, PG-13, thriller, trailer) This film brings together quite the impressive cast, including Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, and Jeff Daniels. It centers on a former Special Ops agent (Cheadle) who know works aiding terrorists and an FBI agent (Pearce) in charge of a new task force whose investigations point towards Cheadle. I know, not much to go on. I really have not seen that much on it, other than I want to see Cheadle and Pearce.

Hamlet 2. (2008, 92 minutes, R, comedy, trailer) This looks very funny. Steve Coogan stars as a failed actor turned high school drama teacher, turns out he isn't good at that either. To save the department and his job he must put on a play. That play is a politically incorrect musical Hamlet 2. Sounds good to me!

Babylon AD. (2008, 90 minutes, PG-13, sci-fi/action, trailer) It cannot be good when the director bad mouths his own film on the eve of its release, but that is what is happening here. The production has been fraught with problems all the way through. Budget problems, location problems, studio problems, you name it. The last news I heard was that Fox cut 15 minutes out just so that it would be 90 minutes long, nothing else. This science fiction actioner starring Vin Diesel should be interesting to say the least.

College. (2008, 94 minutes, R, comedy, trailer) Wow, this looks bad. I may actually skip this one. It is the story of three high school friends who go on a weekend high school visit where they get hooked up a rowdy fraternity. Okay.

Disaster Movie. (2008, 94 minutes, PG-13, comedy, trailer) From the makers of Meet the Spartans comes another movie I am planning on skipping. This low brow spoof takes on all manner of big budget productions, including Hancock and Iron Man. No thanks. I like bad movies but you have to draw the line somewhere.

Also opening this week, but not near me:

• Sukiyaki Western Django
• Young People F**king

Box Office Predictions
This weekend will see the grosses continue to dip, despite getting a holiday bump on Monday. This will lead directly into next weekend as one of the weakest box office performers of the year. Will Vin Diesel rise to the top of the box office? Does he have a better chance than Jason Statham last week? I am sure I could be in for a surprise and I am completely wrong once again. Nothing new for me.

Here is how I think the top ten field will play out:

Rank	Title	Box Office
1	Babylon AD	$17.5 million
2	Disaster Movie	$14 million
3	Tropic Thunder	$10 million
4	The Dark Knight	$7 million
5	The House Bunny	$7 million
6	College	$6 million
7	Death Race	$6 million
8	Traitor	$5 million
9	Hamlet 2	$3.5 million
10	Mamma Mia!	$3 million

Voltron has a Director!

/Film is reporting that a live action version of Voltron has a director. His name is Max Makoswki and he will be helming the project for Relativity, which acquired the project from 20th Century Fox.

This is pretty intriguing news as the film, a potential blockbuster beginning to a franchise, is being handed over to an unknown quantity in Makowski. Frankly, I've never heard of the guy. Taking a quick look at his IMDB entry and I find he is currently working on a big screen update of the David Carradine series Kung Fu and is writing a movie of Hawaii Five-O. Still unsure, but willing to give him a chance, I mean Zack Snyder came out of nowhere and look what he acheived with 300.

It is being said that the film will have a moderate budget and be shot using technology similar to what was used for 300, which should help it stand apart from tha other big robot series, you know, the one with transforming cars. As for the story, it is set on Earth and focuses on five survivors of an alien invasion who come to pilot the lion shaped robots in a battle to protect the Earth.

I had hoped it would be on an alien world as the series is, but I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little excited for this.

The Dark Knight - Live Score Performance

Prior to the world premiere of The Dark Knight, there was a live performance of pieces of the score. Warner Brothers Records has posted a brief video of the performance. I have to say that this is pretty cool, and the score is excellent.

Mower - "American Psycho"

Suburban Noize act Mower has just released a video for "American Psycho" from their self-titled debut album. The song does have an adrenaline induced catchy quality, and the video captures what looks like a wild live show, but I cannot say I am completely taken with them. Still, would probably be fun to see them live.

Music DVD Review: Hatebreed - Live Dominance

Hatebreed has risen to the top of the hardcore heap through incessant touring, a strong work ethic, and above all some brutally heavy and downright catchy music. When I listen to a Hatebreed album I have no choice but to bang my head and feel the adrenaline flow. This is a typical reaction from a Hatebreed fan, there is something about their music that gets the blood flowing. Fortunately, there is more to it than that. I would never go so far as to call their lyrics deep, but they do serve a purpose, they speak to the alienated and disenfranchised, makes them feel like a part of a family, something bigger. It is where front man Jamey Jasta came from, and he is doing his part to give back, make sure no one is left behind. Well, maybe that is a bit lofty of an ideal, but I am sure it is not far from the truth, and when you see how much energy they leave on the stage at their shows, it is not hard to believe the genuine affection Jamey and Hatebreed have for their fans and love they have for the music. Live Dominance is a testament to that live show.

My experience with Hatebreed dates back to the early days, shortly after the release of Satisfaction is the Death of Desire. It was back in 1998, they were opening for Soulfly, and I did not care for them. If I remember correctly my thoughts were along the lines of: "They remind me of a low-rent Pantera with no stage presence." Obviously my thoughts have changed over the years. The turnaround began when I ran into my childhood best friend, Matt Byrne. I asked if he was still playing drums and he told me he was in Hatebreed. Of course I had to go out and check them out again. I picked up Perseverance and immediately became a fan. No, not because I know Matt, but because the music was good, and has gotten consistently better over their two subsequent releases. Not there is a DVD that is worthy of their increasing stature.

Live Dominance was filmed at Harpo's in Detroit, MI, during the Supremacy tour in front of a sold out crowd. Believe me when I tell you that the crowd was into every moment of the 75-minute set. From the moment the band first appeared onstage to the final notes and goodbye, they pit was moving, swirling, churning, a veritable sea of people in motion from all angles.

I have seen Hatebreed live one more time since that fateful day back in 1998. It came in 2006 when they took a slot vacated by Shadow's Fall, opening for Killswitch Engage. They took the stage and absolutely tore it up. They played a mix of new and old cuts, and the old cuts never sounded so good. As I watched this DVD I was taken back to that show, only in an expanded form. The energy from the stage, the reciprocating reaction of the crowd, it is easy to see why so many people love them.

When you watch this DVD, you are not going to watch it for technique. This is not the same experience as watching a, say, Dream Theater or G3 DVD where you want close up shots of picks flying across strings, or fingers working their magic. Watching a Hatebreed show is a different beast, this is about brutality, this is about watching 5 guys tearing it up on stage, watching the crowd move and surge in time to the music. On this level, this recording delivers on the promise of brutality.

Among the highlights of the concert are "To the Threshold," "Destroy Everything," "As Diehard as They Come" (dedicated to our armed forces stationed over seas, "Doomsayer," "Beholder of Justice," and the rousing closer "I Will Be Heard."

The concert was shot well, although at times it seemed to be a bit overly dark. Of course, shooting concert footage is no easy task, and this is by no means bad, I just think it could have looked a little bit better.

Now, while the concert is the centerpiece of Live Dominance, it is not the only content offered.

First up are a series of featurettes centering on the Detroit show:

• Drive to the show. This clip shows their time lapsed drive to Detroit, concluding with a look at the fans lined up outside the sold out show. (2 minutes)
• Building the stage. Another time lapsed video, this time showing the stage being put together, right through to the lighting tests and sound check. (3 minutes)
• Behind the Hate (part 1). Interviews with all of the band members on their influences and what they went through to get where they are and their personal experiences in the band. We even get to see fans with all manner of Hatebreed tattoos. (13 minutes)
• Behind the Hate (part 2). Continued interviews about how thankful they are to the bands that have helped them out along the way by taking them on tour and such. Also they get into their crossover appeal. (6 minutes)
• Tattoo Gallery. You have to appreciate just how diehard many of Hatebreed's fans are. I cannot imagine tattooing a band name or logo on myself, but that's me. Some of the work shown here is actually pretty impressive. (>3 minutes)
• R.I.P. This brief section pays tribute to friends and band members who have passed away, including Dimebag Darrell and Lou "Boulder" Richards. (1.5 minutes)

Next up are a bunch of bonus live performances. Believe me when I tell you that these guys leave nothing in the dressing room. They go out there and put everything they have down. Like them or not, you have to respect there effort. These performances are just icing on the cake that is Live Dominance.

• NYC: "Destroy Everything"
• NYC: "Doomsayer"
• NYC: "Proven"
• CT: "Last Breath"
• CT: "Tear it Down"
• CT: "Under the Knife"
• PA: "As Diehard as Philly Gets" - This video is a love letter to the fans at the Philly show. If you were one of the lucky ones to be there, you will want to pay close attention to this. They turned the cameras on the fans. This video is all about the fans tearing it up during the show. Were you there?

Bottomline. This disk is a must have if you are a Hatebreed fan. Seriously, they put it all on the line and deliver an intense show. If you've never seen them live, this will give you a taste until you can rectify the situation. Definitely a strong performance. Wish I was there.

Recommended.

Set List:
1. This Is Now
2. Perseverance
3. A Call For Blood
4. To The Threshold
5. Empty Promises
6. Destroy Everything
7. Voice of Contention
8. As Diehard As They Come
9. Hallow Ground
10. Doomsayer
11. Betrayed By Life
12. Straight To Your Face
13. Facing What Consumes You
14. Before Dishonor
15. Never Let It Die
16. Last Breath
17. Beholder Of Justice
18. Smash Your Enemies
19. Proven
20. Defeatist
21. Live For This
22. I Will Be Heard

All That Remains - "Chiron"

All That Remains has a new album coming in September called Overcome. In advance of its release they have have made a video for lead track "Chiron." It is a pretty cool song, with a nice blend of heaviness and technical skill. The vdeo is a simple one, with its black and white palette and focus on performance. It is a strong, clean video that allows the song to speak for them.

Cynic - Traced in Air Promo

I have heard the name Cynic before, but until now I have been unfamiliar with their music. I have to admit, I like what I hear. They have have a new album on the horizon, and to help get the word out, they have released a promo video with some music samples and sound bites from band members. I am intrigued.

Australia - Posters, Trailer

I am looking forward to this movie. Director Baz Luhrman makes some really great looking films that make great use of the big screen. His biggest hit was Moulin Rouge, which I really enjoyed, hopefully Australia will deliver. I is a big epic western-style film starring Aussie natives Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman. Take a look below for a trio of teaser posters and the international trailer.

DVD Review: Baby Blues

"The following is based on actual events."

With those fateful words we are launched into a harrowing tale of a mother's love for her children twisted upon itself in an ugly, disturbing way. That's right, this movie is the story of a mother whose unbalanced mental state tips too far the wrong way and she begins to exact her version of love upon her children.

No, this is not a cheery film. The title Baby Blues is no reference to the blues of the busy work surrounding children, it is nothing like Parenthood or Cheaper by the Dozen, and it is decidedly not based on the moderately humorous comic strip, Baby Blues, by Rick Kirkman and Jerry Scott. This is a mean film that is, at times, a little difficult to watch. Now, it may lean a bit towards the exploitative side of the coin, but it still packs a wallop, mostly due to the surprisingly strong performances.

Whether or not this nasty little number is actually based on real events or not, I don't know. If it did happen, I cannot express how bad I feel for those affected. That said, Baby Blues writer Lars E. Jacobsen likely did get his inspiration from an actual event, using it as a launching point to dive into the demons within to expunge the tragic events that unfold.

All right, enough of this beating around the bush, just what is Baby Blues?

Baby Blues is the tale of a mother of four, known simply as Mom (Colleen Porch), who is suffering from severe postpartum depression whose lack of support from her absentee husband allows her mood swings push her over the edge and into the abyss. Unable (unwilling? it is not explored here) to get the treatment she deserves, she is a quivering mess, prone to uncontrollable sobs and violent outbursts.

Her husband, the similarly anonymous Dad (Joel Bryant), is a truck driver. He is not a bad guy, he is not a drunk, he doesn't beat his wife, no, none of that. His biggest sin is that he is not home. Dad just is not around to see the state that has befallen his wife. Thus, he spends much of this film away from the action.

The person to first notice the changes? Little Jimmy the eldest of the four children. He approaches Dad, telling him that Mom has been really sad lately; news that he does not take the time to hear. What follows is Mom's descent into madness as she turns her growing malevolent thoughts on her children. Jimmy has to stand up and defend his siblings, protect them from the monster that their mother has become.

There is nothing particularly original here. At its core it is essentially a slasher film, with Mom standing in for the usual masked menace and children in the place of teens and twenty-somethings. It is this change that adds to the unsettling atmosphere of the film. There is something about children in peril that really digs into one's soul.

What helps set Baby Blues apart from the other low-budget indies on the shelf are the performances. In particular Colleen Porch, as Mom, delivers a chilling portrayal of pure evil. Sure, she is saddled with some bad dialogue, but with those lines out of the way, her look is just terrifying. She is not the only standout, there is also Ridge Canipe as Jimmy. He really steps up to the plate and just sucks you in as he flees his mother and tries to protect his siblings.

Lars E. Jacobsen and Amardeep Kaleka co-direct this feature, proving that you do not need a big budget to create a tense thriller. This is the first credit for both, and they do a fine job of keeping the film tight and focused. Sure, we could have gotten a bit more background, but in the end, this is about the aftermath of that fateful fall into the abyss. It will be interesting to see future projects that they work on.

Audio/Video. The DVD I have is a screener copy and is not necessarily representative of the final production version. That said, the disk looks and sounds good. You can clearly see its low budget roots, but it is sharp, crisp. and sounds good. Nothing to complain about, and I suspect the production release will look at least as good.

Extras. This is the area where this release is lacking. The only extra on the disk is the original trailer. A featurette or commentary would have been nice.

Bottomline. This is definitely worth spending some time with. It has good atmosphere, strong performances, and is tightly focused into a mere 76 minutes. I was not sure what to expect when I pressed play, but I am glad that I did.

Recommended.

Appaloosa - Poster, Trailer

This Fall has a new western coming to the big screen, and it lookspretty darn good. No, I'm not talking about Sukiyaki Western Django, although that does look pretty good. The film in question here is called Appaloose, based on the Robert Parker novel. The screenplay was co-written by Robert Knott and Ed Harris, who also directs and stars. Harris co-stars with Viggo Mortensen, Renee Zellweger, and Jeremy Irons. It is the story of two friends hired to police a town under the rule of a ruthless rancher. Looks good to me.

Autumn Black - "Beneath the Shadows"

Autumn Black released their debut album back in 2006 and have just announced that their follow up release will be out this Fall. Here is a video from their first album, Beneath the Shadows, it is the title track and it actually sounds pretty cool. The band blends metal, hardcore, and pop all into one easy to listen to mixture.

Beneath the Shadows

Hounddog - Poster, Trailer

Before I saw this poster, I had forgotten about this movie. My immediate second thought was that of wonder if/when this was going to get a release. Now, it appears it will have a limited release in September. Hounddog garnered some notoriety over the fact that star Dakota Fanning had a rape scene in the film. There is something not many people really want to see, and I have to wonder if that scene makes it intact, something tells me it won't.

Box Office Update 8/22-8/24: Tropic Thunder Keeps The House Bunny At Bay

One of the funniest films of the summer battled this weekend, successfully clinging on to its position at the top of the charts. It took in more than $16 million, representing a drop of just 37% from last week. the movie performed considerably better than I thought it was going to in its second weekend out. I am happy for it, as it is a very funny comedy that skewers action films and the industry alike, and is actually pretty smart too. The star studded affair should be able to make it to $100 million if it has a few more weekends like this.

This weekend was expected to be topped by Death Race, but that obviously did not happen. The remake (or reimagining, or "we liked the title and bribed the original producer") came in third, not terribly far off the pace, but enough to be labeled at least a little disappointing. It does not help that the film is nothing more than a live action video game with only the barest resemblance to the original (not that it was a great piece of art, but I would have loved to have seen the scoring system remain intact). Still, it was entertaining in a superficial way.

The biggest surprise, that shouldn't have been a surprise, is how well The House Bunny performed, easily above expectations, finishing in second. In retrospect, this should not have been too hard to see. The past few weeks have been dominated from male-centric films like The Dark Knight, Pineapple Express, and Tropic Thunder. This week brought something for the female audience, and they went out, perhaps not in droves, but they were there. All things equal, the film was not terrible either. Anna Faris is like the female equivalent to Leslie Nielsen.

One other film cracked the top ten this week, although just barely. Coming in tenth place is the sports drama The Longshots. This is actually a pretty good film that does things a little differently than your typical entry in this genre. Now, I can understand its low take, how many of these do we really need? Although it is notable for being the big screen directorial debut for Limp Bizkit front man Fred Durst. Yes, you read that right.

Among the remaining films, The Dark Knight continues its amazing run as it closes in on $500 million with another sub-40% drop. Also, Mamma Mia! continues to roll suffering a drop of less than 30%.

Next week will see holiday weekend competition from Traitor, Babylon AD, College, Disaster Movie, and Hamlet 2. Could be an interesting weekend.

Three movies dropped off the top ten this week: Vicky Cristina Barcelona (11), The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 (13), and Step Brothers (14).

This Week	Last Week	Title	Wknd Gross	Overall	Week in release
1	1	Tropic Thunder	$16,272,195	$65,839,915	2
2	N	The House Bunny	$14,533,702	$14,533,702	1
3	N	Death Race	$12,621,090	$12,621,090	1
4	2	The Dark Knight	$10,542,424	$489,416,885	6
5	3	Star Wars: The Clone Wars	$5,661,456	$24,999,054	2
6	5	Pineapple Express	$5,452,163	$73,780,191	3
7	4	Mirrors	$5,010,663	$20,211,066	2
8	7	Mamma Mia!	$4,314,840	$124,469,900	6
9	6	The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor	$4,177,950	$93,921,245	4
10	N	The Longshots	$4,080,687	$4,080,687	1

Box Office Predictions Recap
When you're off, you're off, and this week I was off. Who would have guessed that Death Race was going to falter? Bigger than that, who would have guessed The House Bunny would be the new release to challenge for the top spot? Not I. I also wouldn't have pegged Tropic Thunder to repeat at the top, no matter how much I thought of it. My biggest goof of all had to be The Rocker. That movie tanked right out of the gate, not even the early Wednesday open was able to nurse it to a top ten finish. For that matter, its first five day take wouldn't have gotten it onto the three day top ten list.

Here is how the field matched up:

Actual	Prediction	Title	Wknd Gross	Prediction
3	1	Death Race	$12,621,090	$15.5 million
1	2	Tropic Thunder	$16,272,195	$15 million
4	3	The Dark Knight	$10,542,424	$11 million
2	4	The House Bunny	$14,533,702	$10 million
12	5	The Rocker	$2,636,048	$8 million
5	6	Star Wars: The Clone Wars	$5,661,456	$7 million
10	7	The Longshots	$4,080,687	$6.5 million
6	8	Pineapple Express	$5,452,163	$4.5 million
7	9	Mirrors	$5,010,663	$4 million
9	10	The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor	$4,177,950	$3.5 million

DVD Pick of the Week: The Nightmare Before Christmas

Welcome back! Well, to some of you, anyway. To the rest of you, glad you decided to stop by and I hope that this humble column helps you navigate the stacks of new releases each week. My goal is to point you toward titles of interest and warn you away from those films that seek to do nothing but leech away your time and give you nothing in return.

This week brings a decent selection of titles — so decent that I had a hard time selecting my pick for this week. At first it was obvious, and it was that first pick that eventually one out, but there were a few that challenged for the top spot. Hopefully you will also see a number of worthwhile films in here.

The Nightmare Before Christmas: 2 Disc Collector's Edition. Here is a movie that missed the first (and second) time around on the big screen. I was one of the many who discovered it and fell in love on VHS (that's right, VHS). This is a beautiful example of the magic contained within Tim Burton's mind, not to mention his stop-motion skills combined with those of director Henry Selick (who would also direct James and the Giant Peach). This dark fairy tale is funny, magical, and slightly creepy. The songs, the imagery, everything just works so beautifully. This is, I believe, the third DVD incarnation, but it will assuredly be better than its predecessors. Why? First off this will be the first time it has been released anamorphically, plus it will have a host of new extras and a digital copy for your iPod. It is also being released on Blu ray. (BUY, RENT, SKIP)

Heroes: Season 2. The second season was nowhere near as good as the first, but it still made for good television, getting better the deeper in that it got. Unfortunately, the season was cut short by the strike necessitating a change in the season finale to close it out with the ability to begin the third season fresh. This DVD set will include the original planned finale climax. Hopefully, season three will be a step up. (BUY, RENT, SKIP)

The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning. I could have sworn Disney was going to stop doing these direct to video sequels. I guess I was either wrong or just wasn't paying attention. Not being in the target age group, I can only say that I wish they left these classics alone, if you are going to do direct to video stuff, at least do it with new characters. However, that does not make good business sense. In any case, I doubt I will watch this. (BUY, RENT, SKIP)

The Three Stooges Collection 3: 1940-1942. Sony Pictures continues their Stooges release with volume three, another two disk set of classic comedy. They have been releasing these old school shorts completely remastered and in the order of their original release. I applaud them for this and hope they continue to put these out, these shorts are great and no one should be without them. (BUY, RENT, SKIP)

What Happens in Vegas. This movie is just a bit too loud and obnoxious to truly enjoy. Yes, there were a couple of chuckles to be had, but not nearly enough to recommend. It stars Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz as a couple who marry after a night of drunken excess and wake up to realize the mistake they made, but a slot machine bounty stands between them and bachelor bliss. (BUY, RENT, SKIP)

Salo, or the 120 Days of Sodom. Much has been said about this Pasolini film over the years. Until now, it had been out of print for years, leading to steep prices for the prior Criterion pressings on eBay. (BUY, RENT, SKIP)

Redbelt. This movie is about honor and being true to oneself above all else. It is about living by a code that is larger than yourself. More than an action film, it is a character study. This may not be David Mamet's best work, and it may have some big plot issues in retrospect, but it is still an interesting film and one that is definitely worth spending a couple of hours with. If nothing else, you will find a strong performance from Chiwetel Ejiofor. (BUY, RENT, SKIP)

Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden? I missed this on the big screen. I also heard that it was not terribly good. Whatever the case, I am interested in checking it out having enjoyed Super Size Me. Does he actually find him? (I would hazard the guess that he doesn't) (BUY, RENT, SKIP)

Brotherhood of the Wolf: Director's Cut. I thought this movie was great when I saw it on the big screen, with its odd mix of period drama, horror, and martial arts. What makes this director's cut all that different from what I saw on the big screen, I do not know but would like to find out. (BUY, RENT, SKIP)

Everybody Hates Chris: The Third Season. This show is an under appreciated gem. A series that is safe for the whole family yet still has something of an edge to it. It stands out from other sitcoms for its strong writing, good characters, and imaginative execution. This is definitely worth spending time with. (BUY, RENT, SKIP)

Postal. Uwe Boll strikes again. This movie was supposed to open wide across the nation as the strongest competition for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. That didn't happen, and Boll blamed a Hollywood conspiracy as he claimed he is the greatest filmmaker working today. Well, anyone foolish enough to believe that deserves what they get. Still, I am attracted to his train wrecks, not because I think they are good, but because everyone likes a good train wreck, makes us glad we weren't involved. (BUY, RENT, SKIP)

Phantasm: OblIVion. Never did see this one, the original is a classic and the first couple of sequels were halfway decent. If nothing else, it will be good to see the Tall Man and his driller balls again. I know this has been out before, but somehow I managed to miss it. Hopefully, it doesn't go the way of the latter Hellraiser films. (BUY, RENT, SKIP)

Delicatessan. This movie is absolutely fantastic, and I believe this its first region 1 DVD release. I bought my copy as an import from England. It is from the man behind City of Lost Children and Amelie. It is a post apocalyptic dark comedy about people who live above a deli when meat is scarce, and they get their meat by hiring a handy man, then when the work is done, butcher him. It is simply brilliant. (BUY, RENT, SKIP)

Cannibal Holocaust. I bought the previous limited edition release of this. Frankly, I am surprised there is enough demand for this to get a full release, but I guess there is. If you are a horror fan, you need to see this, if only to say you have. The film disturbed me for a long time with its realistic depiction of violence (including real violence against animals). Director Ruggero Deodato (who had a cameo recently in Hostel Part II) was even dragged before the courts to prove he did not kill any of the people who appear in it. See this, just be ready for it. (BUY, RENT, SKIP)

The Crow: Stairway to Heaven, Best of. The entire short-lived series was previously released by TV Guide. The show is based on the original Crow character of Eric Draven and was portrayed by Mark Dacascos, who was Brandon Lee's body double on the original film. The series is all right, so this is worth picking up for fans who did not get the full series release. (BUY, RENT, SKIP)

90210 - Posters

I never watched the original series, probably won't be watching the new one. Still, I would not be surprised if I watched the premiere, just to see if it wil be worth anything. Below are a number of posters put out by the CW to promote its new show.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer - "Harvest"

It took me fou seasons to start watching this series, and for the life of me, I have no idea why. The show is absulute brilliance, from one off episodes, to season long arcs, to great characters, the show had it all. This episode, the second of its first season, features the first appearance of Angel (David Boreanaz).

Fast & Furious - Teaser Trailer

Never did I think that this franchise would hit a fourth entry. They have been fun, no doubt, but hardly what I would call good. This third sequel features the two stars of the original reuniting, Vin Diesel and Paul Walker. The duo are back, working together to beat the bad guys. As for the teaser? I have to say that I really liked it, especially the lead in stunt.

Avenged Sevenfold - Live in the LBC & Diamonds in the Rough

September 18th will see the release of Avenged Sevenfold's first live concert DVD. I have seen these guys live and they pu on a rather energetic show. The band has a polarizing effect on music fans, and their self-titled album did not really help matters. I personally think it is their weakest effort yet, however I love both Waking the Fallen and City of Evil. I am interested in checking out this concert DVD, plus the CD of rarities that it will be coming with. Below is a trailer for the release:

Gojira - "Vacuity"

French metal act Gojira have posted a track from their upcoming new album. The album is called The Way of All Flesh and the song is called "Vacuity." I am amped for this new album, having fallen in love with From Mars to Sirius after seeing them live, opening for Behemoth and Job for a Cowboy (how they wrangled the headlining slot I'll never know). Anyway, this song is excellent, heavy, brutal, and just really gets under the skin. Head over to their MySpace page to check it out, and see some fan shot live footage of it below.

The A-Team - "Mexican Slayride Parts 1 and 2"

I loved this show when I was a kid, almost as much as Knight Rider. There really is nothing like 80's era action. There are plenty of bullets and car crashes, but no one ever seems to get hurt. Anyway, below are both parts of the series premiere from way back in the day. Watching them makes me wonder if the proposed movie adaptation will ever get off the ground.

CD Review: Scars on Broadway - Scars on Broadway

I remember when I first heard System of a Down. It was way back in 1998, right around the time their debut album was released. The song was "Sugar," it was catchy, it was weird, and it was different than the majority of what was out there. I bought the album and really liked it, although the second single, "Spiders," became my favorite on the record. I also remember telling friends that they wouldn't last, the music was just too weird. Obviously I was wrong, but in a good way, as they turned out some excellent and original music. Now, here we are, a decade removed from that debut and the band is on a long term hiatus. Fortunately this does not mean that we won't get any music from them.

Vocalist Serj Tankian has released a solo album, that I still need to get my hands on, and now guitarist Daron Malakian, with drummer John Dolmayan in tow, has released his Scars on Broadway project. The CD may bear what appears to be a band name, but don't be fooled, this is a distinctly Malakian project, writing, producing, and performing most of the instruments. Want to know something else? This is a really good album.

Scars on Broadway gets off to an energetic start with "Serious," which barely crosses the two minute threshold. While the song is not particularly great, it is terribly infectious and actually made me anxious for the rest of the album, not that I wasn't looking forward to it, but you know. It does contain the great line: "You're too serious, you're gonna make me delirious." I am probably misinterpreting it, but it is a great line, and just the first of many great isolated lines throughout.

Lyrically, Daron Malakian touches on topics such as drug abuse, violence, the deterioration of society, and hippie invasions, important topics all. With all of those important topics (especially the expansion of hippie territory. I kid, I kid), he does not dig into them terribly deeply, which is fine by me. What he lacks in lyrical depth, he makes up with some absolutely fantastic lines strewn throughout. It is almost like he structured his lyrics based around the sounds of they made. That is not to discount the conscious decision to say certain things, I am sure there was a lot of thought behind his writing. Let's just call it a happy coincidence.

As for the music? There is some very nice work throughout the album. Daron brings together metal, punk, classic rock, and psychedelic together under a banner of experimentation. I would hesitate to call him a great guitar player, but he is not afraid to try different things and this record shows him trying all sorts of different sounds and making them work. At times the riffs just make you want to get up and rock out while other times the melody is enough to make you swoon. It is an impressive display that crosses genres and makes it all work as the sound of one man. For example, "Stoner Hate" has a great riff that reminds one of his writing for System of a Down, while the very next song, "Insane" has this beautiful melodic line woven through.

Daron's singing has come a long way since his System of a Down work. To be honest, I could only take so much of his voice, what he did on the latter System albums was pretty much the extent of what I wanted. So, I was a bit worried about how I would react to him here. I was happy to discover that he actually sounds quite good. He has an interesting delivery and he just sounds much more accomplished here.

Overall, this is a strong collection of tunes that is definitely reminiscent of System, yet strikes out on its own to stand apart. This album is clearly an extension of what Daron started earlier and does exhibit a turning of the corner. What will be interesting is how this experience, combined with Serj's solo work experience, will come together when they eventually come back together.

Bottomline. If you like good music, you will not be disappointed here. It is infectious, covers a lot of musical territory and is just very solid. I have to say I was most impressed with the epic sounding melodies on the record. Yes, I like the quirky nature of some of the material, but much of that ground was covered with System. Here, Daron retains the quirkiness, but also moves beyond that and brings us something new and fresh.

Recommended.

Chuck - Season 2 Preview

Here is a show that I was really getting into that was a fortunate survivor of writer strike. There is a nice blend of comedy and action, plus the chemistry between the leads is quite good. It is also really good to see Adam Baldwin back on the screen, he was great on Firefly.

Movie Review: The House Bunny

Here is a movie that when you just see a trailer or commercial you cannot imagine is going to be any good. You're right, there really is no way to make it look good. The movie is as cliched and corny as you think it is. Sometimes you have to wonder how stuff like this ever gets the go ahead to be made. I am sure you go to movies sometimes and when it is over you walk out shaking your head wondering if anyone actually read the script, much less actually watched what they made. If they had, you have to wonder just how or why they thought it was good. On the flip side of that coin, you can take an alternate point of view. Every so often what we need is some light and goofy fun, and this actually delivers on that level. Sure, it is not perfect, and yes, it could have been better, but there is no denying that it offers a modestly enjoyable time.

Much like Death Race (also opening this weekend), The House Bunny is not about being a "good" movie, and it does not try to pass it off as such. The material is familiar and the past couple of years have seen a few films tell virtually the same story, most recently Sydney White (the Snow White retread with Amanda Bynes). You are not going to discover anything new here, the movie does not push boundaries and it is not edgy or deep and meaningful. What it is, believe it or not, is funny. The main reason that it is funny is Anna Faris.

The story is a simple one, Shelley is a young woman who has spent a good part of her life as a Playboy Bunny living in the Playboy Mansion. She is one of the most popular girls there, but she has yet to realize her dream of being a centerfold. Problems begin when she turns twenty-seven and receives a letter from Hugh Hefner (playing himself) asking her to leave. So off she goes, homeless and unsure of where to turn. Fortunately, she stumbles upon Greek row, where she falls into the position of house mother for a group of rejects that are about to lose their charter unless they can get a large influx of pledges. Oh, fortuitous time! Shelley is an expert at getting people's attention.

She works with the housemates, including nerdy Natalie (Emma Stone, also in The Rocker this weekend), brace wearing Joanne (Rumer Willis, yes, the daughter of Bruce and Demi), and the pregnant Harmony (American Idol contestant Katherine McPhee). Over the course of the movie both sides learn from each other. The geeks and losers learn how to be pretty and actually like themselves, while Shelley learns what it takes to be smart.

You know, I needn't say anything more about the plot, I am sure you can already predict what is going to happen. If you can't, you clearly have not seen enough movies. The bottom line is how well they execute.

Execution of The House Bunny is a mixed bag. The reason the movie works is Anna Faris, pure and simple. The girl is hilarious, no one can play ditzy and make it smart like she can. I don't know how she does it or why it works so well, but she has it mastered. She does it with heart. When I watched her in this movie, I was drawn in to her character. Yes, she is an attractive woman, but you can tell the actress has her head on straight and has the ability to dive into a goofy role such as this with complete confidence and truly sell the silliness. Among the supporting cast, Emma Stone is the major stand out. She plays the nerd role well and has good comic timing. Also, Colin Hanks (Tom's son) does a fine job in a small role as Shelley's love interest.

At the other end of the spectrum some of the people in the house are simply awful. I understand the need to exaggerate the characters, but what was with the farm girl with the deep voice? Seriously, that was just a terrible character. Then we have Rumer Willis. All right, she isn't terrible, but she isn't all that good either. Finally, well not really but as far as I am going down this path, Catherine McPhee, why was she pregnant? Okay, I'll let that one by, but she belongs here just for that awful movie ending song of hers.

Bottomline. For as bad, cliched, and predictable as this was, it still was an enjoyable movie. I am not going to fully recommend it, unless you truly know what you're getting into. There is a way to enjoy this and it involves, primarily, not expecting anything good. Well, that and liking Anna Faris.

Mildly Recommended.

Movie Review: Death Race

In 1975 low-budget producer extraordinaire Roger Corman brought in director Paul Bartel to direct a movie called Death Race 2000, a cheapie exploitation flick with some political undertones. The film starred virtual unknown Sylvester Stallone and David Carradine, fresh from his walking off the set of television series Kung Fu. The resulting film became a cult favorite over the years. Here we are, more than thirty years removed from the release of said film that we are faced with a remake. However, when you look at the plot of this film, it does not bare much resemblance to the original, leading me to wonder why they chose to term it as a remake since it will do little more than tarnish the original, but I'm getting ahead of myself.

The retitled Death Race is the sort of movie that can give a movie like me a massive headache, and no that is not due to the excessive volume of the film. On one hand, I am a movie critic who wants every movie to be good, worthy of recommending, and offering something (however small) to the advancement of cinematic goodness. On the other hand, I am a movie fan who can enjoy the dregs that the industry has to offer, I have enjoyed my share of films that the majority of people do not care for or outright ignore. Can you guess where Death Race falls?

When comparing this version to the earlier one, there is not much that made it through to this new film. The names of the two main drivers and Frankenstein wearing a mask is about it. It is almost like Paul W.S. Anderson had this script bouncing around for a while and decided to rewrite it slightly to tie it in with the Corman film in order to use it as a promotional tool (or to avoid being sued for taking anything from the original). They even have Roger Corman on board as a producer.

By now I am sure you want to know what I think of the movie, right?

As the film opens, we are informed that the economy has collapsed and that crime has been on an exponential rise, leading to prisons being run by private corporations for profit, leading to caged death matches between inmates sold to a pay-per-view audience. When people get bored with cage fights, Death Race is introduced. Doesn't this make you the slightest bit interested in what is going on behind the scenes? Well, don't go expecting anything in depth. Actually, don't expect anything, this movie is not about that.

We then meet Jensen Ames (Jason Statham), recently laid off steelworker and former race car driver. He goes home to his wife and infant daughter, a masked man breaks in, and knocks Jensen out. When Jensen comes to, his wife is dead and he is the only suspect. In short order, he is sentenced to the prison known as Terminal Island, home of Death Race and run by the icy warden Hennessey (Joan Allen).

It is not by accident that Ames is sent here. He is to take over the mantle of Frankenstein, Death Race's fan favorite driver who has suffered so many disfiguring injuries that he wears a mask. Can you guess why they need Ames to wear the mask? I knew you did. Soon enough, Ames is behind the mask and on the track racing against Frank's biggest competitor, Machine Gun Joe (Tyrese Gibson), along with a number of other colorful characters.

There really is not much plot to speak of. There are the ratings desires of Hennessey and the reason she needs Ames behind the mask, then who really killed Ames' wife, and, of course, the budding relationships behind the prison walls. None of this really matters, all that matters are the explosions, car chases, and more whiz-bang-boom than you can shake a stick at.

Death Race has absolutely no depth, character motivations and actions defy logic, and when the end comes it just makes you shake your head, wondering what in the world they were thinking. This is not a movie that you can apply logic to, or expect anything worthwhile to come out of it. What it does do, and does well, is deliver a visceral experience. The car races, stunts, and explosions are all expertly delivered.

When it comes right down to it, I cannot and will not call this movie good. However, I will call it entertaining. Yes, the races play like some sort of video game, complete with icons needed to activate weapons, but it is explosive, filled with adrenaline, and even a little bit exciting. If you are looking for a big, loud, dumb action movie, this will certainly fill the bill, although it is no successor to Death Race 2000. When you aren't running over pedestrians for points, this is no Death Race.

Jason Statham ably handles himself in the lead role. I like this guy as an action star, he has a presence that I have not seen in an action star since the 80's, and that is a good thing. Ian McShane does a fine job as the wizened old mechanic, always ready with some advice. Tyrese Gibson is serviceable as the main opponent. Newcomer Natalie Martinez offers a high dose of sex appeal as navigator Case. Finally, Joan Allen is nicely over the top as Hennessey.

Bottomline. Not a good movie, never will be considered such, but it is enjoyable in a shallow way. It is fun in the way everything blows up, how it is unapologetic in its desire to offer cheap thrills. If you want cheap and fast, see this, if you want deep and meaningful, wait for something else.

Mildly Recommended.

Kath & Kim - Promos

NBC has a new series about a mother whose adult daughter moves back home. I have to say that this could be a brilliant piece of idiocy, or it could just be dumb. I am leaning towards just dumb, but the promos have moments that make say: "This may actually be funny." I Did I ever tell you that I am often wrong?

Sonic Syndicate - Karin Axelsson

Swedish metal act Sonic Syndicate has new album coming in October, Love and Other Disasters. To help promote the album, the band's bass player, Karin Axelsson, will be featured in German magazine Kinkats. They made a behind the scenes video of Karin at the photo shoot which can be viewed below. The music sounds pretty good, I may have to check it out.

Movie Review: The Longshots

What do you get when you cross a gangsta rapper with the front man of a fading nu-metal band? Would you believe a movie? Probably not, but it's true. Accepting that, would you believe that said film would be a family friendly one? Again, probably not, but again it is true. That is what you have with The Longshots. It is a film that stars rapper/actor Ice Cube and was directed by Fred Durst, better known for singing about "nookie" and "breaking stuff" with Limp Bizkit. Frankly, I could not believe that Durst was directing, I couldn't, and still can't, see it. Sure, Rob Zombie has made the transition, but at least he is sticking in a genre that is in line with his music. Fred Durst directing a family film comes completely out of left field, or rather the backfield. Even more unbelievable than that is the fact it is a good movie.

The biggest thing that The Longshots has going against it is that this is nothing that we haven't seen before. Yes, it is based off of a true story, but these stories all boil down to a recognizable pattern. This is not to belittle the story, as each of them are about people who have done extraordinary things. The problem is these stories likely have a lot more to them than what makes it to the screen, but when adapting from reality to a movie that will probably run less than two hours requires that a lot of it gets stripped away, leaving the same plot beats each time out. Frankly, it gets a little ho-hum after awhile. What is necessary to save the film is the performances and quality of writing, both of which The Longshots has.

This story is the one of Jasmine Plummer (Keke Palmer), an eleven-year old girl who played Pop Warner football, taking her team to the championship game in 2003. This is notable because she was the first girl to play Pop Warner. Now, how closely this mirrors reality, I do not know. I do know that some facts such as the town where she lived and the team she played for. I am also pretty sure that what facts remain have been enhanced for dramatic effect. Although, I do not want to say too much, as this movie is more understated than I am used to seeing from the genre, making the film all the more enjoyable.

Jasmine Plummer is a smart, shy girl who has no interest in playing football, and suffers from abandonment issues, her father having left years prior. Her mother runs the local diner and is doing the best she can for her daughter, meaning that when she has to work late hours she turns to Curtis (Ice Cube), Jasmine's uncle, to watch her. He is currently unemployed, after all. That is a distinguishing characteristic of the town, the local factory closed, leading to rampant unemployment, and an all around depressive demeanor to many townsfolk, reflected in the empty storefronts along Main Street.

Anyway, the relationship between Jasmine and Curtis is a little prickly at first. Jasmine wants to take care of herself, especially after getting picked on at school, while Curtis is content to focus on getting out of town without having to look after a young girl. However, a chance toss of a football makes Curtis think his niece has some potential. He urges her to try and he ends up teaching her, and she quickly takes to it coming to really enjoy it.

Curtis approaches the coach of the Pop Warner team that he used to play for and convinces him to put her on the team. Jasmine is quickly accepted by her teammates and they are off and running, making history and bringing back a modicum of hope to the town.

It is a familiar tale, but it works and feels a little more fresh here than in other genre outings. What makes it work is the restraint with which Fred Durst approaches the material and the care exhibited by writer Nick Santora (Prison Break). Yes, you read that right. The material is not pumped up with overly dramatic moments, no family crisis, no big speeches, or injuries, nothing particularly big. It is a change of pace that brings a touch of reality to the proceedings, something that these sorts of films really need.

Ice Cube is a likable screen presence who knows how to handle himself. He delivers a fine performance here, and when you combine his work with that of Keke Palmer you have a strong emotional core. The relationship develops organically and they really work well together. If not for them, the ability to enjoy this film would drop.

Bottomline. No, not a great movie, but a good example of the inspirational sports drama. With everyone's overwhelming familiarity with the genre, it all comes down to execution, and this one is executed with a sure hand resulting in a film that is easy to watch and is better than I had expected.

Mildly Recommended.

What Just Happened - Trailer

Barry Levinson's next film looks like it could be fun, if nothing else it certainly has an accomplished cast. It stars Robert DeNiro as a Hollywood agent going through a life crisis that involves his dissolving marriage and his skills at getting wok deals done. The trailer looks good, and the cast includes, in addition to DeNiro, Sean Penn, Bruce Willis, John Turturro, Catherine Keener, Stanley Tucci, and Robin Wright Penn.