Movie | Screamers (all) | Pass

It should come as no surprise that I would get a little excited about news of a sequel to the scifi cult classic movie, Screamers. Certainly not the best movie ever, it's still a fun mix of Tremors, Pitch Black and Alien with a dash of Terminator. The 80s-style stop animation and cheesy effects were fun, there were enough plot twists to keep a casual observer interested and Peter Weller's gruff and grumpy performance really took it to another level.

But I had reservations when I found out the sequel was direct to video. Eh, I watched it anyway. It's a continuation of the story and does a nice job tying the previous elements together, with some new twists. There's more blood and gore, which was unnecessary and it's bit more towards the horror genre (think Pandorum). Still, if you liked the first for all the reasons I listed above, then you should check it out. Weller's out, but they tried to compensate by having the super cool Lance Henrickson in it for about 20 minutes. They should have had him in it from the start, but the rest of the cast is not half bad. And they don't seem to be embarrassed in the slightest by the ridiculous props (their space-age backpacks are clearly vacuum parts).

In the end, though, these two are for genre fans only. One thumb up and a Pass for both (the original being superior, of course).

Movie | The Blind Side | Pass

This is an excellent heartwarmer about a young man that is taken in by a family and encouraged to find and follow his path in life. Based on a true story, Sandra Bullock deservedly won multiple awards for her role in this. The rest of the cast is absolutely spot on (including the non-actors). As this is a new-ish, widely released movie, I don't need to talk about it much. But, needless to say, this is a Pass with two thumbs up!

Movie | Cinemania | PASS

Do you think you see a lot of movies? Uhhhh....

This is a marvelous documentary about 5 New Yorkers with severe OCD. The way their disease manifests is an absolutely maniacal need to see as many movies as possible, usually three to seven or more...a day! Their entire lives are consumed by seeing movies.

I don't want too talk to much about this movie, because it would ruin the experience. But, this is most definitely a must see, two thumbs and a PASS! Would make an interesting pairing with Dark Days, for comparison.

TV | Food Revolution | PASS

Addressing one of the biggest (literally) problems we face as the human race, superstar chef Jamie Oliver visits a small town in West Virginia to try to alter how they look at food. Specifically, what is going on with all of the crapola we're feed kids? It's not even food anymore...it's all chemicals and filler!

The usual drama predictably happens, most likely manufactured for the small screen. Doesn't matter. If you think it's not happening in your home, you're wrong. If you think the issue won't affect you, you're wrong.

That's far the problem has spread. As a nation we are literally killing our children.

This is an issue I see every day. I ask my young students what they've eaten that day and it never ceases to make me sick to my stomach. No human body could operate long on what they're being fed.

So, the show is preaching to the choir and I'm a fan of Oliver's from way back. Regardless, this is an issue that must be addressed...before it's too late!

Don't miss this show. Two thumbs up and an enthusiastic PASS!

TV | Ugly Americans | Pass

I've enjoyed this new addition to the "adult cartoon" genre.

The basic premise is a normal 20/30something dude is living his life in a world populated by monsters. He's dating his boss, who is literally a demon. His roomate is a zombie...

You get the point. It's fun and pretty interesting. The writing seems fairly strong, but I've got to wonder if there's enough to give it legs.

I love the animation. It's got real flair, a dirty and rough quality that I so loved back in the day in underground comics from masters like Robert Crumb, Art Spiegelman, Mariscal and Francoise Mouly, to name a few. I hope they don't "clean it up". I find other recent similar genre shows, from King of the Hill to Archer to The Simpsons to Family Guy a bit too sterile.

Which reminds me of another thing I like about this show. Why would I want a cartoon that never wanders from the constraints of reality (like King and Family Guy)? I find that a bit ridiculous and tiresome. Why not just make a reality show then?

A Pass!

Movie | Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story | Pass

A surprisingly clever comedy lampooning various icons and genres of popular music. From Jim Morrison to Brian Wilson to the Beatles to Johnny Cash to Buddy Holly and everything in between, the writing hits a lot of points and the humor is not terribly heavy on cheap visual gags. Sure, there are a few, but mostly the smart lines revolving on real character development are the focus.

I loved that they used the same actors to play the same roles at different ages. It was just hilarious! "Blah blah blah something something line goes here...but I'm only 12 years old!" and "How can you do this to me on my 25th birthday!" and "Be careful, I'm fragile at 73 years of age!"...all delivered by the same actor - no makeup, no switching actors! Brilliant.

John C. Reilly is fantastic, as always. This is really his vehicle, but you'll also recognize several actors from The Office and other shows. The movie actually creates roles that they can sink their teeth in and nobody hits a wrong note throughout.

One and a half thumbs up, recommended and a Pass!

Movie | Terminator Salvation | Pass

Frankly, the first half and hour or so of this movie is uninvolved and not worthy of the franchise. There is some poor acting going on and the story is not interesting in the slightest. But, wait! It does get better, going after the full-bore action that it should have from the start. The acting gets a little better and the movie becomes much more watchable.

There are some very odd casting choices going, Bale's gravely voice needs to be left back in the Batcave and Worthington can't really add much to the goings on (something he proved he could do in Avatar).

On top of it all, the direction is by McG, who does such a great job with the TV shows Chuck and Human Target. He needs to stick to TV, at least for the time being.

Don't go into this expecting a satisfying addition to the franchise. No, the mystery and suspense involving the Terminators has been washed out of this movie. Instead, expect a combo of the second Terminator and Transformers (from every angle you can think of, including the sound effects - they sound recycled!). If you forget about adding to the saga, you'll find this a fun action flick with a few plot twists thrown in to keep things mildly interesting.

One thumb up and a pass!

Movie | The Simpsons Movie | Pass

I used to watch The Simpsons religiously, especially when Fox created a Sunday night lineup of shows that catered to folks like me (young at heart). Eventually, I lost interest, mainly because there weren't too many new story lines that they could create that were interesting. I'm glad I stopped, because the time gap only made this movie that much more enjoyable. And, by having the longer/"bigger" format allowed and encouraged them to really focus on the writing. The movie does a great job of capturing the creativity that may have waned in the past couple of years.

If you loved The Simpsons in the past or currently love the show, you're going to love this movie. One and a half thumbs up and a Pass!

TV | Justified | Pass

The hype was huge for this new FX modern western drama about a small town (Kentucky) police officer with a dark past. I can't remember seeing so many advertisements for a new show. And the preview was stylish, dark and looked really interesting. Early critic reviews were extremely positive and the show is being compared to a cross of Deadwood (which I found less than interesting) and Sons Of Anarchy (one of my all-time favorite shows).

So, what did I think of the pilot? The excellent cast and stylish filming didn't make up for the fact that the plot is boring, unoriginal, predictable and (uh oh, shades of Deadwood...) uninteresting. I liked the characters, but just didn't see any reason why I should care about what happens to them next.

I also liked how the commercials used music in a really superb way, but that was lost on the actual show.

This is not a great show so far. But, it's worth watching to see if it gets better. One thumb up and a Pass.

Movie | Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey | Pass

The KGB...interracial marriage during a time that such a thing could get you killed...a genius creating fantastic inventions in a NY basement...young love...Einstein...classical music, Moog and The Beach Boys...

Sounds like the ingredients for a fantastic fictitious story, doesn't it? You betcha! What if one story had all of that and it was all true?!? That would be a cool movie, I tell you!

And, it is. The true story of Leon Theremin, the inventor of the Theremin - the eerie electronic instrument heard in (seemingly) every classic scifi and horror movie from the 50s and 60s.

Who said that you can't make up great fact? I don't know. Maybe I'm paraphrasing wrong, but this documentary about Theremin's life knocked my socks off. It really does have everything in it...love, sex, fear, murder, sadness, happiness...and everything in between.

The copy I saw of this had Spanish subtitles, which I couldn't read. Occasionally, Russian is spoken and often the people interviewed are speaking thickly accented English, which is very hard to hear and understand. Try to find an copy with English subtitles. It will make all the difference in the world, I think.

To describe it any more would be to give it away, so I'll just leave it at two thumbs up and a definite Pass!

Movie | Wassup Rockers | Pass

Shot like a documentary, this fictional tale follows the (mis)adventures of a group of skate punks from South Central Los Angeles. They get into a lot of the typical trouble. Alcohol, girls, gang violence, absent parents, truancy, etc.

One day they decide to go look for some good skate spots in Hollywood and Beverly Hills...and the real fun begins.

I didn't really like the first third of this film. It focuses on creating the characters and teenage boys have got to be some of the most unappealing creatures on earth. Having been one, it brought up some not-so-pleasant memories.

The acting was painful to watch until I realized that they'd completely nailed a true teenage boy. Gawky, unsure, fearless, stuttering, painful, fearful, gross, sweet, lost and likable underdogs that they are.

The soundtrack is a mixture of down and dirty punk rock songs mixed with some moody (and spot on) pop rock songs. It reminded me of the soundtrack to Suburbia, which I love. The hand-held documentary cinematography works well here, even though I dislike that style intensely.

What is really fascinating is the fact that the boys are a mix of Guatemalan and Salvadorian heritage, not Spanish or Mexican. But they are, to most of the whites they run into, considered Mexican. But, these boys are punk rockers, through and through (they even have their own punk band). I will admit I was a bit shocked at first...my picture of punkers are (and has always been) of white, Caucasian boys. That, of course, should not be further from the truth of Punk - as it should be colorless. Debatable, that, but an interesting thing to note about this film and an aspect that I ended up really enjoying.

The film is slow and the director is a very odd dude in real life (he's a bit too fascinated with young boys), but there are some really funny scenes. Especially with Janice Dickinson and the Clint Eastwood-alike.

In the end, this movie reminded me a bit of The Warriors, but more realistic and set on the West Coast. One and a half thumb up and a definite Pass.

Movie | Max Payne | Pass

Uh oh - another movie made from a video game. That's usually a bad thing, in my book. Let video games be video games and movies be movies, I say! Comic books are different story, though, in case you were wondering (you weren't, I know).

And, while this is certainly not great cinema, it is a decent action flick. Think Dirty Harry, Death Wish, The Punisher, etc., with supernatural overtones (explained in the movie, but not for me to spoil here). None of which quiiiiiiiiiite has the impact of an exceptional movie such as Taxi Driver.

Marky Mark Markster Marko Markinsky Wahlberg is a cop who is devistated when his wife and baby are murdered. He's got nothing left to live for...he's a loose cannon! I just love saying that - he's a loose cannon! So much that I wrote it twice.

It's been 3 years and he's still looking for the murder (he shot and killed a couple, but one got away). Let's ignore the fact that he's a COP. It's possible and believable that he can't track down the killer. And let's ignore the fact that no police department in the world would allow him to keep working if he displayed the obvious psychological break that he's suffered.

People are starting to see devils everywhere. Literally. Black angels that swoop down and tear you to shreds. Meanwhile, there's a drug on the street that is somehow tied to it all. There's more plot than that, but that's all you really need to know. There are some cool slo-mo shots and lots of explosions. The acting is decent (which is not always the case with Wahlberg) and the cinematography stylish.

Boring soundtrack and a missed opportunity, there.

A couple of criticisms and thoughts. One, the exterior shots keep fluctuating back and forth between pouring rains and falling snow. Well? Which one is it?!? Is it snowing or is it raining? If it's cold enough for snow, why is it raining? Two, if you start really analyzing the plot, well, you'll want to look past that and try to just put your "This is a movie and it's make believe" cap (especially the end and the other ending - see the movie to figure out what I'm talking about). Three, I saw the unrated version. It's interesting that they made the theatrical release conform to a PG-13. While I would never want a 13 year old to see this movie (too violent and the themes too dark), that was an fascinating choice. I enjoyed the lack of real gore and truly nasty violence. While the unrated version is not significantly different, from the detailed comparison that I read, it's worth seeing in that format, I think.

One thumb up for this dark, mostly slow paced action romp and a Pass.

Movie | Dark Days | PASS

Imagine a story so compelling that it inspired you to go make a movie, even though you'd never made a movie before in your life.

That's what happened to the producer and director of the documentary, Dark Days. When Englishman Marc Singer befriended a group of New York homeless people and followed them down into the underground mass transit tunnels, the lightning bolt struck home. So, he marched into a local camera shop, got a 16mm and asked, "So, how do I use this thing?"

Is the story brutal? Yes. Are these people discards of our society? Yes. Are they discard-able? Absolutely not. Singer has given them a voice here, an important voice and one that should not be ignored or avoided.  This is a story of our times, for better and worse (or vice versa).

Gorgeously filmed in black and white. There is no digital camera in the world that can mimic it. Singer was offered several big name production house contracts after this film made the rounds (and won a bunch of awards), all of which he turned down. He hasn't made a movie since (rumor has it that he was working on a documentary about the conflict in the middle East that was crushed by the government).

Fantastic soundtrack by one of my favorites, DJ Shadow.

An absolute must see and a huge PASS!

Movie | 25th Hour | Pass

I really enjoyed this character study of a convicted drug dealer's last few hours before he goes to prison for the next 7 years.

Spike Lee directs an all-star cast including Edward Norton,  Barry Pepper, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Brian Cox, Rosario Dawson and Anna Paquin. The movie, which barely has a plot, is superbly woven by the excellent acting, though I found Paquin's character a bit odd (she plays an underage student trying to seduce Hoffman's professor character). Several scenes involving the dog bothered me, too.

The soundtrack is practically another actor, it's so strong.

I think some people won't like this movie. There isn't much action, very little violence (although, there is a foreboding overtone throughout and when there is violence, it's a bit shocking) and there's no "big bang", "tad-ah!" ending. In fact, this is one of those movies that doesn't wrap everything up in a neat package. None of that bothered me in the slightest.

Very well done, a thumb and half up and a Pass.

People | Corey Haim | RIP

Jeez, what is going on? There must be something happening with the wind, the sun, the tides or something.

We've lost another one.

Icon of the 80s Corey Haim has left this plane.

Rest in peace, Mr. Haim.

Movie | Fido | PASS

I loved this movie and I loved describing the plot to NK. Here it is:

It's the 50s and space dust has reanimated corpses everywhere, causing "The Great Zombie Wars".

A company emerged, named Zomcon, that has come up with a device that is a collar that goes around the zombie's necks and turns them into domestic servants and slaves. Our towns have been gated in and outside is "The Wild Zone".

One day, Timmy comes home and finds that mom and dad have gotten their first zombie, to help with the chores and around the house....

Sounds ominous, doesn't it? You know bad things are going to happen and there's gonna be some flesh eatin' tonight! But, surprisingly, the entire movie is incredibly lighthearted and cheerful. Sure, there's some chomp chomp going on, but it's not too bad, barely even gory!

The cast is just superb, including a very pregnant (in real life) Carrie-Anne Moss. You'll recognize many of the cast and they are just picture perfect, although I would have loved to see even more of Tim Blake Nelson.

Of special note is Billy Connolly. I am really becoming a huge fan of his. He is amazing! He can play good guys and he can play bad guys. He can do drama, action, romance, comedy. He is incredible! In this movie, he plays Fido the zombie. He grunts and groans his way through the entire movie, never actually saying a line and he is so much fun to watch. His eyes are so expressive, it's...impressive!

Two thumbs up for this movie and most definitely a PASS! If you like zombie comedies, you must see this one (Shaun of the Dead comes to mind).

Movie | American Dreamz | Pass

This movie is a lampoon of American Idol, pure and simple. Other than making fun of George Bush, that's about it for the plot. A Simon Cowell-type character, played by Hugh Grant, finds a wanna-be starlet who will do anything (including walk all over everyone else) to get what she wants, played by Mandy Moore.

The prez is played by Dennis Quaid and his puppetmasters are his wife, played by Marcia Gay Harden and his Chief of Staff, played by the amazing Willem Dafoe.

It's presented as a comedy and there are a few laughs. Despite a rather lighthearted feel to the movie, it made us uncomfortable on several levels. One, NK is a huge fan of American Idol and while this movie is on target and sharp witted in the criticisms, nobody wants a show that they like to be knocked down. Secondly, while we certainly aren't Bush supporters, we are Americans and it's not a lot of fun when the leader of our country is made out as a complete buffoon (even if he was).

I don't know, it may be a pride thing or maybe it's something else.

Regardless, all of the characters are pretty much unlikeable with the exception of the suicidal terrorist. How's that for an odd twist?!? He's the only one you end up caring about, in the end.

Still, the movie is worth seeing, believe it or not, if for no other reason than the cast is still fun to watch in action. I give it half a thumb up and a Pass.

Movie | Boondock Saints | Pass

Recently, I was discussing the movie Boondock Saints with someone and thought that I would go back and review it and see the sequel again while I was at it. While the sequel was released not too long ago, I was glad I watched them back to back.

The original is the story of two Irish brothers (played by Sean Patrick Flanery and Norman Reedus) who turn vigilante and kill all the bad guys. Basically, it's as simple as that, with a few twists that include their muse, an Italian guy (played by David Della Rocco) and wrapped in slow-mo gunfights and thumping music.

The violence feels gratuitous at times. It rarely gets really, really nasty and thankfully there is some restraint. But, make no mistake, these movies are all about retribution via violence.

The cinematography is not nearly as stylish as some of the movies that it has most likely influenced, like Smokin' Aces, but there is definitely a swagger there.

The plot is pretty predictable with one exception. And that leads me to real reason to watch this movie...Willem Dafoe. I had forgotten what an absolute powerhouse he is in this movie. He's like a supernova amongst some pretty bright stars. He's just amazing to watch, so entertaining and you never know what he's going to do or how he's going to do it. Dafoe is so strong that there's Boondock Saints and then there's The Dafoe Show.

And that's all pretty much the description of the sequel. There are some new twists and Dafoe has been replaced by a woman FBI agent. At first, I didn't like the seemingly cheap way of avoiding paying Dafoe another salary. But, Julie Benz really does an amazing job. Same with Clifton Collins Jr. They both add to the franchise and bring new angles to the goings-on.

Additionally, there are some very interesting cameos by some interesting actors. One performance is notable, the other not so much. I'll leave it to you to decide with one I thought was and which one I thought wasn't. There, a little mystery for you today!

Watching them back to back also shows contrasts between the performances of Sean Patrick Flanery and Norman Reedus. In the first, Flanery is clearly the stand-out. In the second, Reedus is. I don't know if that was on purpose or just the way it worked out, but in the second film, Flanery's doesn't seem completely fleshed out and he isn't able to add much that hasn't already been added by Reedus. Also, his face is different enough that I thought he was someone else at first. But, hey, that's what time does to a person! I should talk.

Billy Connolly is great in both. Thankfully, they gave him a bit more to do in the second film and we get to learn a lot more about his back-story.

I like the humor in these two films (the second being a bit more campy), but I still feel that the violence is just a tad excessive. But, I doubt folks feel the same way as me. If you go to a shoot-em-up....uh, that's what you get! And these two movies certainly do deliver. And, with enough style and interesting elements to make they stand out in the genre.

If you liked the first, you will not be disappointed in the second. It's like visiting old friends that you haven't seen in a couple of years.

One and a half thumbs up and a Pass (both the original and the sequel).

Movie | Enlighten Up! | Pass

This documentary was just downright enjoyable to watch. It's not too heavy, but there are plenty of notable moments that range from humor to drama.

A young guy from New York explores the world of yoga with the eyes of a skeptic. He hops from teacher to teacher, traveling locally and internationally. His journey is fascinating to watch and think about, whether or not you are a fan of yoga. The movie might, in fact, sway you one way or the other.

Most of the doctrine espoused in the movie is presented as drivel (which it might actually be!). But, he does find some very interesting and wise things that are floated at him. Will you find them interesting? I think so! And that's why I give this a thumb and a half up and a Pass! Recommended.

Movie | The Flight of the Phoenix | Pass

K2's Review of The Flight of the Phoenix:
It has been years since I've seen this classic action-drama about a group of stranded men in the desert when their plane crashes in the middle of the Arabian Desert. They must use the resources left to them to repair their plane and attempt to fly out.

The cast, led by a massively cantankerous Jimmy Stewart, is great, including Richard Attenborough, Ernest Borgnine, George Kennedy and others. Everybody is just a freak-o in this movie, caricatures of real people. For example, the Irish guy is a drunk who does the jig at every opportunity. Really? That's what they wrote into the script? It's all a bit silly and comes across as a bit disingenuous.

Yet, like a really great thriller, the tension just builds and builds and builds. And there are some good plot twists. That's impressive, as the set basically never changes.

So, I give it one thumb up and a Pass.

NK's Review of The Flight of the Phoenix:
What a borefest! I just wanted the whole thing to be over! And what was with the acting? It was weird and annoying. I liked the remake better. It had better acting and pacing. This thing was two and half hours long, which makes it about two hours too long.

I give it two thumbs down and a Fail!

Movie | Shopgirl | Pass

This creation of the amazing Steve Martin is similar in feel to a downbeat Roxanne. There is definitely more darkness and the emphasis is on truly sad people who are severely damaged.

The story revolves around a young girl who is being courted by an older man who has money, but is emotionally distant, and a younger man who is immature in his social interactions, unable to provide her with financial stability, but able to meet her on an intellectual and spiritual level.

The acting is what drives this story along and all three are excellent. Claire Danes really carries the movie on her very capable shoulders, with Martin and Jason Schwartzman just filling in the gaps (she can't carry every scene, sheesh!).

Schwartzman is his usual annoying self. I don't find him terribly appealing as an actor. Nevertheless, he's obviously talented and in the very least, interesting. Some of his acting choices didn't really make any sense to me in this film, but it was a bit different, which will be refreshing for some.

Martin is great, but this isn't really much of a role for him. He sure has a duality to his career. He makes disposable films and he makes notable ones. You can always tell from the DVD cover. Is he wearing bling and a backwards baseball cap or a beret and a silly mustache? Yeah..... you know what you're going to get. But, if the cover shows him in a slightly different, quieter pose...well, then, you've got something worth watching there!

There are some mildly humorous moments and you'll chuckle quietly every now and then.

Again, this is a movie about dysfunctional people being...dysfunctional. But, it's interesting enough and they aren't so screwed up that they become inhumane in any way. Instead, the movie lovingly takes them in a direction that will hopefully make them better, happier and more whole people than they were at the start.

One thumb up and a Pass.

Movie | Religulous | Pass

This interesting, yet unsettling documentary is Bill Maher's view of the ridiculousness of religion in general and in detail.

Deeply religious people will not be swayed by the concepts and arguments presented and Maher never comes across as anything other than inflammatory, rolling his eyes and snorting when he didn't like what people said. Yet, the movie is engrossing and in the very least, incites conversation - something that he most definitely advocates.

I've had the pleasure of being exposed to a few of the worlds' religions and the thing that I most enjoyed was the common thread of community that ran through them. I've never met a person that used their religion to excuse violence, but I know they exist. It's hard not to hear and see the stories on the news. So, I have only positive feelings and memories towards past experiences with religion and religious people. Maher would probably argue that those people were just nice! Nothing to do with what religion they were. He'd be accurate there, I think.

But, at the end of the day, I don't consider myself a particularly religious person. But, I do find spirituality and morality high on my "to do" list and I consider them not necessarily one and the same as religion. And that's, ultimately, what I took from the movie. That we need to use spirituality and morality to make sure that we don't annihilate ourselves as religion seems to be indicating we do (and will cause).

Despite Maher's annoying presentation, I give this a Pass. Definitely food for thought....