People | Dennis Hopper | RIP

Short | The Making of Uncle Jack | Pass

Here's a "making of" for the superb short, Uncle Jack.

Movie | 2 Days in the Valley | Pass

A slightly dated thriller (but takes place in modern times) that stars another huge cast. But this time it works because the actors weren't big at the time. It's fun to see them young, obviously hungry and they mostly deliver. The story is entertaining enough, though a bit herky-jerky at times (mainly due to some poor editing). Worth a see, if mildly forgettable (but don't let that stop you!). A fun one for adults along the lines of Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.

One and a half thumbs up and a Pass!

Movie | The Kingdom | Fail

This movie just didn't work for me at all. The plot is purposefully muddy and murky and they chose to film it that way, too. Most of the movie, I was just confused and it wasn't a fun confusion...it just made me not care.

And the cast was HUGE. Lots of cool actors...but that ruined it even more. Instead of the characters, all I could see were actors playing characters. None of them sold it whatsoever.

I'm not that interested in the story of a group of hotshot investigators sent to the Middle East to look into a horrific bombing. Maybe it's a bit too close to what I see every day on the news. I'm not looking for my entertainment to remind me of the atrocities that are happening in our world right now and this movie didn't do a good job of exploring what was really happening. It all just felt exploitative.

What a mess and a miss. Sadly, a Fail.

Movie | City Island | Pass

A super cast includes Andy Garcia, Julianna Margulies and Alan Arkin. Set on a tiny island just off the coast of NY(?...I forget, was it the Bronx?). This yet another story of a lovable, completely dysfunctional family that's trying to figure out how to get along, all the while compounding their problems with horrific communication skills. It all feels rather familiar.

Therein lies the problem with this movie...and the result is that it's pretty much forgettable. You'll probably enjoy the experience of watching it, but you won't remember it this time next year.

The picture says it all - they don't look thrilled, do they? Still, I think this movie resonates with some people. Just not us. Bummer.

One thumb up and a Pass.

TV | Burn Notice | Pass

Excellent writing overcomes some B-grade acting in this fun series about a spy that has received a "burn notice". In other words, he's been fired. But, there's a plot afoot that he wants, no, needs to get to the bottom of. Why was there a burn notice put out on him. Who did it? And why are there people trying to manipulate him?

He shacks up with some old pals, an ex-Spook played by Bruce "The Man" Campbell and his gun happy ex-girlfriend, played by Gabrielle Anwar.

Is the genre worn out? Yes, but this series breathes new life into it. Not nearly as slick as, say, White Collar, this is a fun, action-packed TV viewing experience. Is it art? Uh, no. And there was never intention for it to be. Still, it doesn't pander to the lowest common denominator and we vote one and half thumbs up! Pass!

Movie | Alpha Dog | Fail

Ben Foster is the only good thing about this completely miscast tale of drugs, dealers and losers. I mean, come on, Justin Timberlake as a tough guy?!? Ouch. No disrespect, but that was a really bad move by Nick Cassavetes (son of the the incomparable John Cassavetes and Gena Rowlands). Fortunately, we don't have to see much of him. Instead, we get a bunch of white boys acting gangsta...ridiculous.

I don't get why this movie was made at all. I know that drugs equals a lovely fried egg cooking in a pan. What else do I need to know?

Fail.

TV Movie | Jesse Stone: No Remorse | Pass

We were a big disappointed by the latest addition to the great Jesse Stone series, based on the Robert Parker books. This one was a tad messy and there wasn't any character development other than we get to care more for Jesse's dog, Reggie. That really does not a movie (TV or otherwise) make. Yeah, yeah, Jesse is starting to get a handle on his relationship with his ex-wife and he's still on suspension from being a Sherrif (which makes absolutely NO sense whatsoever), but it's hard to really care about all of that.

So, a weak installment to the franchise. Still, worth watching because Selleck (and the rest of the cast) is so good and surely an important piece of the puzzle for the next one (already in the works, of course).

One thumb up and a Pass.

Movie | Kick-Ass | Pass

I thoroughly enjoyed this teen-angst/action superhero rompfest.

The violence is a tad disturbing when considering the age of some of the kids, the cast is mediocre (Cage is over the top campy), the story adequate and the music superb.

A slow beginning is a bit of a drag, too. But, if you like Matrix-style slo-mo gun battles, you're gonna love this. I liked Defendor a bit more. While it was simpler, there was more character development.

One and a half gloved thumbs up and a Pass!

Movie | 30 Days of Night | Pass

I really liked this (very) gory survivor/vampire movie set in an isolated Alaskan village. A good cast, excellent production and very skillful use of the atmospheric soundtrack.

Not being a horror fan, I really saw this because Mark Boone Junior (from one of my favorite shows ever, Sons of Anarchy) was in it, but Danny Huston and Ben Foster were absolutely superb in this, too.

There are some unexplained elements. For example, the vampires have interestingly distorted faces (a la Joan Rivers), but not Huston....but this all just adds to the mystery and I chose to think it was done on purpose to allow the imagination to come to its' own conclusions.

Loved pretty much everything about this gorefest. Except all of the gore, of course! Reminded me of several other good, similar movies. Two vampire thumbs up and a Pass.

Movie | Space Master X-7 | Pass

In contrast to The Creation of the Humaniods, the plot for this one is a stinkeroo. A virus/fungus from space threatens the human race and there's only one woman who holds the key to stopping it...

Hokey it is. But, that's not the real reason to see this 1958 black and white scifi drama. No, it's the appearance of actors Paul Frees and Moe Howard. You know Frees as the voice of the Haunted House in Disneyland (among other notable appearances) and Howard is one of the the 3 Stooges, of course. Both play dead straight roles here (Howard's character does not appear often and is rather lightweight). But, they're both great in this movie. It's fun to watch both of them.

For period and genre (or period-genre, if you prefer) fans only. One thumb up and a Pass.

Movie | The Creation of the Humanoids | Pass

This early 60s scifi flick about robots plotting to take over the human race has a surprising interesting (if a tad slow) plot that integrates Asimov's 3 Laws of Robotics.

The acting is relatively period (read: poor) and the sets are cheap, but it all somehow works.

Of special note is the utterly gorgeous texture and color of the film. Nostalgic while being compellingly creepy, it's worth watching this just for the filming alone. I'd love to see a remastered copy of this. From what I've gathered, it doesn't exist (yet).

This is one for seriously hardcore genre fanatics, but I give it one and half thumbs up and a Pass.

Movie | Ninja Assassin | Pass

Fun, bloody and possibly the best Ninja movie ever made. There, I said it!

A good plot, good acting, good dialogue and a good soundtrack that includes a Spiderbait song over the credits. Was there anything I didn't like? Yes, a minor comment. Some of the editing is rather abrupt, for purposes of the plot but also it seemed like it was to cut down on overall running time for better marketability.

So, hopefully, there will be a director's cut. If you're looking for great action, don't mind a lot of decapitations and want to be treated like a viewer with a mind, you'll love this one. Two thumbs up and a Pass!

Movie | Eastern Promises | Pass

Cronenberg makes a Russian Godfather and it's superb, surprisingly.

Unlike the unlikeable A History of Violence, there's real style and substance here. The violence is disturbing as usual (for Cronenberg), but it all makes sense and gives us a peek into a completely alien and unappealing world in a utterly engrossing way.

Watts is only present as a plot device, which is a bit disappointing. Mortensen is perfection and Cassel adds a surprising amount to the film. But the real gem is Armin Mueller-Stahl, who is simultaneously warm and fuzzy while being evil incarnate.

The knife fight is one of the best I've seen on film, although the choice of linoleum knives is bizarre.

Two thumbs up and a Pass.

Movie | The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus | Pass

This movie is for absolutely rabid Gilliam fans only. I loved, loved, loved it, but it will surely turn off more people than not.

The excellent cast and visual candy won't be enough to overcome the simplistic, yet confusing plot and slow pace. It's your basic good versus evil, but the constant character confusion will frustrate those that aren't open minded to it.

It's too weird for most and not weird enough for others.

This was Ledger's last film and a trio of good to great actors stepped in to help when he died (all proceeds apparently going to Ledger's daughter). As much as I like Ledger, I once again didn't find him all that original. This time around, his performance was clearly influenced by Brad Pitts' performance in Twelve Monkeys, which was in turn influenced by Robin Williams' performance in The Fisher King (and arguably on back through the Gilliam catalog).

Still, I thought it was great, loved all of the interesting references (especially Don Quixote) and I give it a hearty Pass!

Movie | Defendor | PASS

This has got to be one of the best superhero movies I've seen in a long time. It's about a "normal" guy who lives to fight crime. A great cast just really makes this simple movie sing. I loved it. And, don't forget to stick around for the great song by the great band, Metric, and the end.

Think of this as sort of cross between Watchmen (minus all of the gross stuff and the overly complex plot), The Punisher (but with more humor) and Superman (without so much of the hokey malarkey). This not a happy-happy movie, though, and it will leave you thinking.

Definitely a Pass! Viva la Defendor!

Movie | Snakes On A Plane | Pass

Surprisingly straight-forward action flick about transporting a key witness on a commercial airplane filled with venomous snakes (put there to kill him). I thought this would be much more campy, but it wasn't. Julianna Margulies was great, as usual. Tiny role for Agam Darshi, from the TV show Sanctuary. The rest of the cast was pretty good, too.

Take a look at the photo above. Since when do snakes have teeth? Fangs, yeah, but full-on chompers?

Again, I wanted more camp. But I still enjoyed it - Pass!

Movie | Hot Rod | Pass

Huh? Wait a minute...I've seen this movie before! Super Dave Osborne, Napoleon Dynamite, etc. This is not an original movie, whatsoever. They even mention Super Dave in the dialogue!

Charming enough because of the cast and the humor never gets too gross. A pass-ish.

Movie | American Shopper | Pass

A rather forced but funny documentary about a guy in a small town who tries to create a new sport called Aisling. "Athletes" dance and prance down supermarket aisles trying to pick up specific items before the time limit expires.

Unfortunately, this was the first and last time "Aisling" existed.

If you liked Best in Show and similar movies, you'll find this enjoyable enough. The true story is about the characters and their personal struggles. Unfortunately, none of it comes across as real, which hurt the movie for me a bit.

Still worth seeing, though, for the kookiness and creativity. A Pass.

Movie | Birthday Girl | Pass

Chapman and Kidman power this mild thriller along about a lonely Englishman who sends for a Russian mail-order bride. Of course it's a setup and there's gonna be trouble, but the real movie is about strangers (who have some severe emotional issues) meeting and finding a bond when there is seemingly none.

While the movie never goes terribly dark, if you're nervous about such things (potential violence) this one isn't for you. I liked it. It kept me on my toes and it was original enough. They let the characters be less than decisive at all times, which is probably why US audiences never picked this one up.

Kidman's performance reminded me of a similar movie with her in it, Dead Calm, which I enjoyed thoroughly. While this movie isn't quite the same, it has a sinister quality to it, too. She's a superb actor, that's for sure. It's hard to remember that when her personal life has overshadowed her skill and talents these days. But, this movie reaffirms her as a major talent. I give it a better-than-average Pass.

Movie | The Hard Word | Pass

I'll see just about anything Guy Peirce is in. He picks interesting movies and he's a fun actor to watch. This Australian heist movie about 3 criminals who don't like anybody getting hurt is a fun one.

The cinematography and editing is a bit artless, but the actors make up for it. There is this constant hint of humor throughout, sometimes dark, sometimes not.

Yep, it has violence, harsh language and some mild sexual situations, but if you liked Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, this is a must-see and a Pass.

Movie | Sky High | Pass

This Disney live action movie is about a kid with no super powers. When he goes to high school his secret comes out, much to the disappointment of his parents, who are the two most famous superheroes around.

The plot is painfully predictable and there are no surprises. But, the cast really saves the movie and makes it worth watching.

Strangely, the soundtrack is all remakes of cool 80s songs. They don't add anything new to the music itself and I wonder why they chose to do that. Appeal to the parents of the target tweens?

Worth watching if you're looking for something light and a Pass-ish.

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!