Outcast Comments: Aladdin (2019)

So, the other day I took some time to take in Disney’s new live action redux of their classic animated film, Aladdin. It just happened to fit into my schedule, as I had not really planned on seeing it. I thought the trailers looked awful, I was not sold on Will Smith playing the Genie, and I fail to see the point in Disney’s recent fascination with remaking all of their animated properties. So, I was fully expecting to not like it. Well, to my surprise, I actually enjoyed it. It is not perfect, and is little more than trifling entertainment, but I would have no problem recommending it. Now, I am not going to review it, but just wanted to throw out some quick thoughts.

Movie Review: Hellboy (2019)

So, Hellboy, a movie that caused a stir among the masses when it was announced, or rather, that subset of the masses that care about such things as genre and comic book movies, and even then, a further subset of the masses that cares about remakes and reboots. It is a stir that has lasted right up to and through the movies release this weekend. Fortunately, I am not a part of that subset. I am a part of the movie loving public that likes to see movies prove their worth on their own terms, and not have to fight off non-existent foes before their time. With that said, I quite enjoyed this new interpretation of the source, it felt true in spirit but does not find itself beholden to what came before, meaning it has a distinctly different flavor than Guillermo del Toro’s vision. This is a good one.

Movie Review: Pet Sematary (2019)

When it was announced that a remake of Pet Sematary was in the works, it was met with a mixture of interest and derision. For my tastes, I like the 1989 version, but cannot say I have any particular love for it, so I clearly fell on the interested side. On the other side of the coin, I know someone who loves the original, and while interested, was certainly approaching it with a good deal more skepticism than I. Now that it is here, it is open season for everyone to compare the two, as well as its value as another Stephen King adaptation. I cannot comment on the last bit as I have not read the book, which is amazing considering how much I love King and how much of his older output I’ve read.

Movie Review: The Mummy (2017)

When I heard that Universal was going to create a Dark Universe of movies for their stable of classic monsters, I was intrigued. The idea of a gothic shared universe where Dracula, the Wolfman, Frankenstein’s Monster, and more roamed the same darkened streets of the same foreboding cities is truly something to be happy about. Granted, there is the trepidation that goes with the idea that these beloved creatures of the night being rebooted, but it’s not like they haven’t been through it before. However, word around the block is that the universe may be dead before it even gets started, as evidenced by the supposedly troubled production and the actual box office disappointment of the flagship film, The Mummy.

Trailer Park: Inside (2017) - Trailer 1

There was a string of films to come out of France that sought to redefine brutality, intensity, and terror. These movies included High Tension, Frontier(s), Sheitan, and Martyrs. Each one was more intense than the one that preceded it. It was almost as if each successive filmmaker was attempting to outdo the one that came immediately before it. I am not sure if this trend continues but Martyrs was the epitome of the cycle that I saw, although there was one that I may have liked better. That movie was À l'intérieur (aka Inside). Of course, these movies would be targeted for an American remake. The trailer for Inside has arrived.

Movie Review: Kickboxer - Vengeance

Way back in 1989 Jean Claude Van Damme was a rising star. He had already shown audiences his considerable screen presence and charisma in Bloodsport and Cyborg. His followup was Kickboxer, an action revenge flick that saw Van Damme head to Bangkok to avenge the brutal death of his brother at the hands of underground fight champion, Tong Po. That film proved to be a hit a spawned a number of sequels. Now, we are faced with a reboot of the franchise. Why? I could not say. Even stranger is that it was sent the direct to video route and is a decidedly lackluster outing.

Movie Review: Sleepless (2017)

It’s January again. You know, that time of year when expanding Oscar-bait movies fight for theaters against a wave of cheap and/or low expectation titles at the local cinema. It is a feast or famine month, depending on your point of view. I decided to take a shot with an early 2017 release that has a little star power in its favor, with Jamie Foxx, Michelle Monaghan, and Dermot Mulroney on the cast listing. The movie is called Sleepless, and, to be honest, when I first saw the trailer, it felt like a lot of movies that have come before it. With that said, I was pretty sure what to expect going in, and I was not disappointed. Well, maybe I was.

Movie Review: Ghostbusters (2016)

Way back in 1984 a movie was released to theaters that has stood the test of time, entertaining millions over and over again for over thirty years. That movie was Ghostbusters, a movie that ranks among the greats and has inspired legions of dedicated fans. A few years later a sequel arrived, and while I do not love the movie, it still has a lot to like. Ever since then there have been ideas of adding a third movie to the franchise. Before now, the closest we had gotten was a video game featuring the voices of the original cast that was released back in 2009. In recent years there were talks of a third film with the original cast, a feature that transitioned the ‘busting to a new generation, and then, most recently, rival male and female team based films. The one that was made was the one featuring all female leads. This led to all manner of controversy before it ever hit theaters.

Movie Review: Point Break (2015)

Way back in 1991 an action film hit theaters that saw some success, featuring Keanu Reeves starring as an FBI agent who goes undercover with a group of bank robbing surfers who wore masks of presidents, led by Patrick Swayze. I recall liking it, but have not seen it enough to really have any attachment to it, so when it was announced that a remake was being made, I cannot say I had a strong reaction either way. Then the trailer came out and I knew it was going to be a disaster. Then I saw it and it was definitely a disaster. Seriously, this movie is just bad, not because it is a remake, but because it is, well, bad. Point Break is here.

Movie Review: Turkish Star Wars - Video Vortex Screening

Every so often I see a movie that leaves me absolutely stunned, perhaps even flabbergasted. There are movies that leave me in a state of awe from their greatness, there are movies that leave me in a similar state by how bad they are (regardless of their entertainment value). Then there is Turkish Star Wars, or The Man Who Saves the World, which defies all explanation. I was alternating between hysterical laughter and sitting there with my mouth open and jaw resting on my chest. It is a movie that boggles the senses and melts the mind. It is one of the most amazing things I have ever seen.

Movie Review: Come Out and Play

In 1976 there was a movie released called Who Can Kill a Child?, it has had a few other names over the years, but this is the title that I saw it under. I saw it projected (digitally) about a year ago, it left me shaken and a little stirred. It was not a perfect movie, but it is an unsettling one that asks some tough questions and does not offer much in the way of answers. Now, this year I have come across a movie called Come Out and Play, which is as close as a shot for shot remake as you can get this side of Gus Van Sant's Psycho.

Movie Review: Poltergeist (2015)

As soon as it was learned that a remake of Poltergeist was in the works, the interwebs caught fire with the usual chorus of ruining our childhood, and no original ideas, and why can't they just leave things alone. On one hand, they aren't wrong on some counts, but wrong on others (I never got on the childhood ruining aspect). I generally just wait and see if the movie proves to be good or bad. The final judgment is in the product. I had some hope going in based on the cast and Raimi's Ghost House imprint. Sadly, hope faded fast as the movie began to play.

Movie Review: The Town that Dreaded Sundown (2014)

The Town that Dreaded Sundown, The Town that Dreaded Sundown. Has a ring to it, doesn't it? It is one of those titles that stuck in my head the first time I heard it. That is sat, every once in awhile floating to the surface to remind me that it was there. It was a long time before I got to see it, yes, it was released back in 1976, but it took awhile for a release to find its way into my possession and longer still until I got to watch. As it turns out, I did not like it as much as I thought I was going to, but it had some really good stuff. Now we are faced with a remake, which bypassed a big theatrical release. That cannot be good, can it?

Movie Review: The Loft (2015)

When a movie sits on a shelf for a few years before being released to theaters, it is not usually a good sign. Sometimes it is due to a movie caught up in politics, or is a difficult one to market, or sometimes it really just isn't a good movie. I suspect that this one crosses a few lines. The Loft finished shooting way back in 2011 and has sat around until now, picked up by Open Road (a distributor backed by Regal Entertainment Group) for distribution. To be sure, this is not a great film, but it is certainly entertaining. The Loft is a sorta erotic thriller that is light on the erotic and built on the twist of mistrust that builds between friends.

Movie Review: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014)

So, I went out to see the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles reboot. The movie was produced by Michael Bay through his Platinum Dunes company (the same company that has given use the remakes of Texas Chainsaw Massacre, A Nightmare on Elm Street, and Friday the 13th). If you look at their track record and think they may be taking the Iback to their dark and violent roots, let me just squash that thought. The movie is also being produced in conjunction with Nickelodeon films and the finished product is definitely geared towards the younger set. This is probably the best direction as most incarnations have had the younger generation in mind, this is decidedly not for the nostalgia seekers hoping the characters of their youth have matured with them.

Movie Review: Brick Mansions

It was maybe a month ago, maybe two, that I was sitting in a theater getting ready to watch some mover or other when I first saw the trailer for Brick Mansions. The first thing I noticed was Paul Walker, this is the last film he completed before his untimely death. The second thing that I noticed was just how familiar the whole thing seemed... Walled off ghetto, a ruthless crime boss, a pairing of cop and criminal, and a bomb. Oh yes, there was the whole parkour thing as well. Then the credit block came up at the end and everything clicked.

Movie Review: RoboCop (2014)

It has finally arrived. Despite what seems to have been a troubled production and vociferous protestations from the anti-remake brigade, the new take on RoboCop has arrived in theaters. Many have sworn not to see it, others were excited for it, others were cautiously optimistic. You can count me among the latter group. It seemed clear based on who was brought in to make it that it was not meant to be merely a cash grab, although there is a certain amount of that to be certain, but the got a generally interesting cast and some new blood behind the camera. Was the end result worth it? Ultimately, that is up for you to decide yourself.

Blu-ray Review:Carrie (2013)

I remember seeing the first teaser and being intrigued. It was a simple crane shot past the burning school and ending on the blood soaked Carrie (Chloe Grace Moretz). It was something I was not sure was necessary considering how well regarded original film is, but I was still interested. Then the full trailer came out and while movie's quality still appeared to be good; however, it was one of those trailers that shows the whole movie condensed into a few minutes. Sure, we already know the story, but still it would have been nice to at least make it look like it had some surprises, right?

Outcast Mini: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)

So, the long in development remake of the Danny Kaye starring 1947 film and also adapted from the James Thurber story has finally hit theaters. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, directed by and starring Ben Stiller, proves to be an overlong bore. Sure some of the effects are well executed and the core idea of courage and self discovery is a good one, but it never feels real and does not grab a hold of my imagination. It doesn't help that the McGuffin of the missing negative is obvious right from the start. This is a movie that is pretty to look at but is ultimately empty.

Movie Review: Friday the 13th (2009)

What began as merely a means to keep a company going, beyond all expectations Friday the 13th became a thing of legend. Who would have guessed this low budget rip off movie (targeting Halloween's success, and the less admitted to death stylings of Bay of Blood) would become such an unmitigated success. It has spawned 9 sequels, plus a crossover with another horror icon, before arriving here. You knew it was going to happen sooner or later, with Hollywood's ever expanding penchant for remakes and “product” with a built in fan base, it was inevitable. The big question was whether or not it was going to be any good.