The Tropical Republics

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)

2011-06-30T22:35:00.000-07:00

★★★★☆

Set in New York, a group of heavily armed men decide to hijack a subway car and hold everybody inside for ransom. They demand $1 million otherwise they’ll begin killing passengers. Lt. Zach Garber responds to the threat and tries to reason with the hijackers but time is running short and the mayor is isn’t sure about giving in. This wonderfully menacing film is what the remake could never amount to. Striking performances by Walter Matthau and Robert Shaw highlight this edge of your seat thriller that is somehow both calming and tense. It’s dark, gritty and reflects the realism of inner city commute. It’s not flashy and it gets down to business within the first 10 minutes of the film.

Green Lantern (2011)

2011-06-30T22:33:00.000-07:00

★★★☆☆

Based off of the Marvel comic book hero; a test pilot named Hal Jordan nearly saves a dying alien who gives him a mysterious green ring with supernatural powers. Unwillingly, Hal becomes the successor of the alien who is part of an intergalactic peacekeeping squad. At the same time, an interstellar being known as Parallax is accidentally inserted inside Dr. Hector Hammond and soon Hammond as well as Parallax threatens to destroy humanity. Hal must find the courage to be Earth’s Green Lantern. This film could have been great but instead, it became a step up from Fantastic 4 but a step down from X-Men but Reynolds still keeps his sarcastic charm. The CGI was okay but what really bothered me was that it didn’t utilize its villains and heroes properly. I wanted to see Hector Hammond pose more of a threat, but instead I saw Hal beat up band guys in an alley. The film can be easily passed off as a great corny superhero movie but I wanted more.

Full Metal Jacket (1987)

2011-06-30T22:31:00.000-07:00

★★★★1/2

This riveting, brutal, honest and bloody story follows a group of newly recruited marines as they deal with the abusive and dehumanizing effects of basic training before they are shipped off to Vietnam. The second half of the story follows Pvt. Joker as an army journalist as he witnesses the bloody effects of the Vietnam war. Set in the 60’s in Hue, Vietnam. This was a particularly hard film to endure, especially the first half at basic training where you begin to feel how the recruits feel as their drill instructor harasses and abuses them. It’s a dark look into the eyes of war and is only strengthened by powerful performances, wonderful direction and apocalyptic atmosphere. This film is compelling and sticks with you the rest of your life and like any great film that shows the horrors of Vietnam, it’s a tough bite to chew.

The Rocketeer (1991)

2011-06-30T22:29:00.000-07:00

★★★☆☆

Set in the 30’s, when a young airplane pilot discovers a secrete prototype jetpack, he dawns a uniform and metal mask and becomes a local hero. However, the jetpack belongs to famed aviator Howard Hughes and his high-flying stunts have captured the eyes of a Hollywood actor that moonlights as a Nazi spy. Now the young man must find a way to stop the Nazi spy from stealing the jetpack as well as killing his friends. Great action, great art direction and a particularly menacing villain played by Timothy Dalton make this flick fun for kids but for me, I wanted a little more action and I felt like there was no real danger but rather a plot that revolves around an easily able to fix mistake. For kids it works but for adults, it might be a little iffy.

Mimic 2 (2001)

2011-06-30T22:28:00.000-07:00

★★1/2

Sequel to Mimic. Years after all remnants of the Judas breed insect have been destroyed, a mysterious creature begins lurking around the slums of New York. Soon one of the teachers of a local school who once worked on the Judas breed recognizes that it’s a mutated cockroach but this time it’s different, this time they have evolved to look human. Now, after being trapped in the school, which has become the nest, she must find away to save herself as well as the two kids she saved. This was one of my childhood favorites and I don’t understand why. I was somewhat bored by it because it seems like the film went entirely for mood and not direction. It felt like it was trying to be Guillermo’s work but it was an imposter with bad CGI.

Jonah Hex (2010)

2011-06-30T22:24:00.000-07:00

★★★☆☆

The government in exchange for his freedom recruits a lone, mysterious bounty hunter with supernatural powers (named Jonah Hex) to find and stop a terrorist who wants to use state of the art technology to blow up the capitol. Making matters more interesting is that Jonah Hex has dealt with this madmen before; he was the one who slayed his family and rendered him with a serious facial deformity. Good action and decent performances save this film from becoming a bland action-packed western. I liked the plot involving new technology as the catalyst for the terrorist but Megan Fox felt completely unneeded. Overall, it wasn’t bad but certainly not the best comic book adaption.

Super 8 (2011)

2011-06-30T22:23:00.000-07:00

★★★★1/2

Review: Click here

Super 8 (2011)

2011-06-30T22:20:00.000-07:00

★★★★1/2

Review: Click here

Mimic (1997)

2011-06-24T16:07:00.000-07:00

★★★1/2

3 years following the elimination of disease carrying cockroaches by a genetically modified breed of insect, a new breed of insect has risen up from New York’s depths. Growing to human size, concealing itself in a protective mask that resembles a human head and feeding on humans; this new insect has kidnapped a young boy, killed several people and is out to colonize the world. Now, Dr. Tyler and her husband must find away to stop the insect menace before it spreads… or has it already? Great atmosphere, gorgeous set pieces, wonderful slimy makeup and slasher instincts highlight this movie as being a great sci-fi horror. It definitely can get under you skin sometimes.

Nightwish (1990)

2011-06-24T16:02:00.000-07:00

★★★☆☆

Genres are mixed in this sci-fi/horror tale. A college professor invites his four graduate students to accompany him at his personal farm to investigate paranormal activity but when the students channel an evil spirit that unleashes their deepest fears, they must find a way to conquer themselves. Making matters worse is that there is the possibility that aliens are using the demonic forces to take over the world and the professor is in the middle of it all. As a small, indie made sci-fi horror film with appeasing special effects and one hell of a plot, it’s certainly not bad. The intentions are right and the cheesiness is there but the direction of the actors and actresses makes the film fumble. Still, it was fun watching it to see just how deep they tap into the human psyche when it comes to sleep and mentality.

The Manchurian Candidate (1962)

2011-06-24T16:00:00.000-07:00

★★★★★

During the Korean War a group of POWs are brainwashed to carry out Korean terrorists plot but when one, who happens to be a Medal of Honor recipient, begins having nightmares of killing people it’s up to Bennett Marco (who was also brainwashed) to stop him from assassinating the vice-President. Marked by amazing performances by Sinatra, Harvey and Lansbury, this compelling thriller really holds you down as it spins you through loops of unexpected twists and double-crossing. Mixed with romanticism and beautiful cinematography, this film was a breath of nostalgic fresh air.

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1967)

2011-06-24T15:58:00.000-07:00

★★★★1/2

Joey and John are your typical American couple who love each other deeply, but when Joey brings her fiancé to meet her parent, their morals are put to the test when they find out that their daughter’s fiancé is black. Now, tasked with having to give them their blessing in a short time, they must find a way to put their prejudices aside for the wellbeing for their daughter. However, it seems like the families of both of the lovers have prejudices to work out. I doesn’t help that they have unwillingly agreed to have dinner together. A perfect film that plays out like a stage play with all around great performances by the cast and the supporting cast. As the film progresses you feel empathetic towards John as he is tasked with an even tougher decision. Awkwardness, laughs and nervousness is what hits you as you’re eyes are glued to the screen wondering what happens and how things will be solved.

Shock Waves (1977)

2011-06-24T15:56:00.000-07:00

★★1/2

When their ship hits a strange “reef” while on their vacation, a group of tourists wind up on a seemingly abandoned remote island. But they soon discover that the island is inhabited by a Nazi scientist who went into exile at the end of World War II, taking with him his army of Nazi zombie supersoldiers. Now the group must find a way to fix their boat and evacuate the island before the ocean becomes their grave. I give a definite A for atmosphere and mood and general creativity for the zombies but the rest of the movie falls flat. It’s long, drawn out and not too much interesting stuff happens. If the mood were able to salvage this film, it would have been worth seeing. Otherwise, it’s forgettable.

Robin Hood (1973)

2011-06-24T15:54:00.000-07:00

★★★★1/2

Disney’s take on the legendary story of Robin Hood, an outlaw who stole from the greedy king to give back to the poor over-taxed citizens of his kingdom, told through anthropomorphic animals. Having stolen the throne of his brother who had to leave his kingdom for an emergency, the greedy king decides to tax the citizens of the kingdom to the point of poverty. A childhood staple; this wondrous, whimsical and occasionally dark retelling of the famous tale is still funny after all these years. I found myself smiling at the same jokes and action sequences. This film is the definition of timeless.

Bicentennial Man (1999)

2011-06-24T15:52:00.000-07:00

★★★1/2

After being purchased by a suburban family in the near future, android Andrew Martin yearns to become a human being after developing humanistic qualities such as sculpting, painting and a playful attitude. However, during his 200-year journey he is met with the deaths of his closest friends (his family) as well as the disapproval of being classified as “human” by popular vote. Though not as great as I remember, this is a still a very touching and imaginative tale of wanting to fit in with a brilliant performance by Robin Williams and beautiful direction by Columbus. It has heart, affection and warmth but seems a bit too fast-paced. It brings up the question, what defines being human?

The Hangover Part II (2011)

2011-06-04T11:39:00.000-07:00

★★★1/2

The wolf pack is back! Yes, but this time Stu is getting married in Thailand and his friends Phil and Doug pressure him to not only invite Alan but to have one last drink for his bachelor party and things go bad. After waking up in a dingy hotel they soon realize that Stu’s brother in-law (his father-in-law “prized possession”) is missing and might have been kidnapped by a drug cartel. They must now find a way to remember the night before so that they could save Stu’s brother-in-law. This time Alan didn’t do anything… that they know of. It was great to see Mr. Chow in a bigger role and although the film has an abundance of laughs and raunchiness, it literally felt like The Hangover set in Thailand. They didn’t try to do anything new so it felt a little rehashed but it was still great to see the guys fumble over each other a second time.

Schindler’s List (1993)

2011-06-04T11:37:00.000-07:00

★★★★★

Spielberg’s epic retelling of Nazi industrialist Oskar Schindler who, after witnessing the liquidation of the Poland ghetto, became concerned with how the Jewish were being persecuted by the Nazi Party. Afterwards he made it his mission to save as many Jews as possible from the Plaszow labor camp as he could, although at first he was reluctant to do anything but as time passed on he saw the evil that was the Nazi Party. Filmed in black and white, this movie was hauntingly compelling with scenes that would even the strongest person get teary. Spielberg doesn’t do justice to all the evils of the Holocaust but he really puts the viewer into the shoes of the Jews, which is something that is rarely achieved. Mixed with a fantastic score by John Williams and brilliant performances, this movie should be watched by everybody just so that they could get a taste of World War II. It really is just the tip of the iceberg.

Jurassic Park (1993)

2011-06-04T11:31:00.000-07:00

★★★★1/2

Review here.

Dark Tower (1989)

2011-06-04T11:28:00.000-07:00

★★☆☆☆

When a mysterious death occurs on the construction of a vast skyscraper, authorities believe that it was an accident. However, detective Dennis Randall believes otherwise, he believes that the tower is being haunted by a ghost and soon discovers that this ghost is attracted to the architect of the building, Carolyn Page. With the help of a psychic, Dennis must find a way to stop the ghost from killing Page and the rest of the people in the tower. Does it sound bland? It is. The characters are stale, the plot is mediocre and it tries to go for a Kubrickian style mood but ultimately fails. It comes off a being boring with less than a handful of intresting scenes.

Gangs of New York (2002)

2011-06-04T11:27:00.000-07:00

★★★★☆

Set in 1863, a young man named Amsterdam Vallon returns to the Five Points district of New York for one thing: to kill the man (Bill the Butcher) who brutally murdered his father years ago in a bloody gang fight. However, things have changed, the allies that his father had are now working for Bill and Bill has become untouchable. So Vallon decides to get on Bill’s good side and inevitably becomes his protégé, without Bill knowing who is really is. However, things slowly come to a boil and Vallon is beginning to resemble Bill himself. Sure it’s not Scorsese’s best film but I think it’s a movie that is overlooked by a lot of people. It has outstanding costuming and set design and the performances are great; Daniel Day-Lewis gives a chilling performance as the film’s main antagonist and I think DiCaprio exceeds in his as well. It’s a compelling story with rich characters and some brutal violence. Highly recommended.

eXistanZ (1999)

2011-06-04T11:23:00.000-07:00

★★★1/2

When a famous game designer is marked for death by an unknown group of assassins, a marketing trainee is tasked with making sure that she stays alive. However, they must now play the virtual reality game that she designed to figure out if the game has been corrupted and who and why these assassins are targeting her. The problem is… they can’t trust anybody, not even their closest friends. Though I don’t think it’s Cronenberg’s best movie it definitely has his mark but I felt like the film was lagging in performance, probably because I was trying to keep up with the plot. It wasn’t a bad thing and I still found the film entertaining, I just prefer Cronenberg’s earlier films.

Trinity & Beyond: The Atomic Bomb Movie (1995)

2011-06-04T11:20:00.000-07:00

★★★1/2

Narrated by William Shatner, this documentary dives into the history of the development of the atomic bomb from the Trinity test to the first Chinese atomic bomb in the 60’s. Using restored and declassified test footage from the government, the film really shows just how powerfully mesmerizing that atomic bomb was. It was frightening but at the same time it was beautiful. I felt like it was the Koyaanisqatsi of nuclear testing since the footage was cut so perfectly to the soundtrack. The story is interesting and Shatner does a great job but the scene-stealer here is the footage and the soundtrack of the near-apocalypse.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)

2011-05-21T13:27:00.000-07:00

★★★★☆

Loosely based off of a book of the same name, the story follows Captain Jack Sparrow (again) who somehow got swindled into becoming a crewmember aboard the Queen Anne’s Revenge, the ship of the notorious Blackbeard. Meanwhile, Barbossa has become an Admiral working for the King of England sent out to find and kill Blackbeard. What he doesn’t realize is that both Sparrow, Blackbeard, Blackbeard’s daughter and the Spanish, are all trying to locate the famed Fountain of Youth. Though this film doesn’t have the great cinematography and darkness that Verbinski gave the Pirates movie, it was still a great action film that explored greater realms of Pirate mythology. Headlined by McShane’s Blackbeard, this installment is probably better than the 3^rd installment but I would have loved to see what Verbinski would have added to the table.

Vertigo (1958)

2011-05-21T13:25:00.000-07:00

★★★★1/2

When a San Francisco detective, suffering from acrophobia, is asked my one of his friends to follow and investigate his wife’s activities, he soon becomes obsessively in love with her. The basis of his friend’s accusations is that he believes that she is becoming somebody that she isn’t but as things unfold, detective Ferguson realizes that there is a more sinister plot at hand. Cited as being one of Hitchcock’s best films, I don’t believe it’s his best but certainly one of his greatest achievements in suspense and brilliance. It’s a very complex and thoughtful story the blends mystery with forbidden passion. Wonderful special effects seem to be a byproduct of this film. For me, it’s Jimmy Stewart’s performance that won me over, especially his chilling turn of character at the end.

Eraser (1996)

2011-05-21T13:23:00.000-07:00

★★★☆☆

John Kruger is one of the best witness protection agents of his company but when a young woman breaks into his company’s labs, he soon realizes that they are developing a high-tech weapon. He soon realizes that she is telling the truth and they are both on list of people to be “erased.” As a simple plotted, gun-a-blazing, suspenseful action movie it works… and that’s all it really is. It may not be one of Schwarzenegger’s best movies but it’s pretty entertaining with some great stunts. It’s nice to see James Caan fight off Arnold any day of the week.

Pleasantville (1998)

2011-05-21T13:22:00.000-07:00

★★★★1/2

When a brother and sister from the 90’s are zapped into a 1950’s sitcom by a mysterious remote, they soon find themselves struggling to adapt to the 50’s ideology and morals. It doesn’t take long before the sister, Jennifer, disobeys her brother, David, and brings 90’s culture to this complacent black and white world. Before long, the citizens of Pleasantville begin seeing things in a while new color and this angers those who want to keep their strict morals and later leads to Pleasantville becoming not so pleasant. At its heart, this is a truly magical film that explores people’s fear and how we’ll do anything to preserve our innocents. Great special effects and wonderful art direction highlight this film as being something other than a “fish out of the water” story. It has heart, humor and morals.

L.A. Confidential (1997)

2011-05-21T13:20:00.001-07:00

★★★★★

Set in the 50’s, when a ruthless and violent shooting at the Nite Owl Diner is investigated, by the book police officer Edmund Exley seeks out the vigilantes responsible for all the murders. Meanwhile, brute thug Detective Wendell White believes that the shootings trail back to a wealthy brothel owner who makes prostitutes look like movie stars. However, Jack Vincennes, who became the chief advisor for an L.A. cop TV Show, believes that the shootings originated at the L.A. County Governor’s office. What these three don’t realize is that the shootings go much deeper than any of them suspected. Brilliant performances, a tight and suspenseful script and gorgeous cinematography highlight this film as one of the best modern day noir pieces I’ve seen.

Airplane II: The Sequel (1982)

2011-05-21T13:17:00.000-07:00

★★★☆☆

When an A.I. computer guidance system aboard a space shuttle becomes self-aware and reroutes the course towards the sun, Ted Striker is called back once again to save the shuttle and all the passengers aboard it. With very little time and the ground units puzzled, Ted must find a way to destroy the A.I. system, remap a new course to the moon and win the love of his life Elaine Dickinson. As a sequel, this installment isn’t bad and has some fresh gags but ultimately it references the first one way too many times. Jokes are reused and “remade” and ends up being a parody of itself. It’s nice to see a new cast of characters but I just wish that it didn’t ride Airplane’s coattails.

Rear Window (1954)

2011-05-21T13:15:00.000-07:00

★★★★★

After an accident has left him in a wheelchair, Photographer Jeff Jeffries finds entertainment by spying on his neighbors from his apartment window. However, after harmlessly peeping into a mild case of spousal abuse, Jeffries soon becomes convinced that the husband has murdered his wife. Unable to leave his apartment and without any evidence, Jeffries must now prove that the murder happened… or is he developing a case of cabin fever? While the film, at its core, is quite boring, Hitchcock uses voyeurism to create sharp suspense. The audience, like Jeffries, is confined to that one apartment and we aren’t able to see what truly is happening. With great performances by Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly, this is a fine case of pure suspense.

A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)

2011-05-19T15:14:00.000-07:00

★★★★1/2

In the future, a family, grieving after their son’s near-fatal illness, decides to “adopt” a young robotic boy who has been programmed to feel love by means of artificial intelligence. However, when the family’s son is cured, the robotic boy is abandoned in a forest by the mom and begins a journey to find the “blue fairy” (from which he heard from the Pinocchio story) that can grant him the wish of becoming a real boy so that his mother could love him. This haunting, beautifully directed film is sad, heartbreaking and compelling. It raises several questions about what love is and if it’s possible for machines to love and vise versa. It’s a heart-wrenching story of trying to become ‘real’ and it’s told through the eyes of a child. It’s creepy because we begin to believe that this boy is real. Haley Joel Osment is phenomenal but I hated the ending because it didn’t bring the closure I wanted.

Chinatown (1974)

2011-05-19T15:12:00.000-07:00

★★★★★

Set in 1930’s Los Angeles, a private detective begins investigating an adultery case he soon realizes that the man who may be having an affair is a key member in the water company. Upon his sudden and suspicious death, the investigator is drawn into a series of lies, hidden agendas, murder and framing that lead him to believe that somebody had him killed so that he doesn’t tell the police about where the water of Los Angeles is really going. Brilliantly directed by Roman Polanski, beautifully shot and carefully tuned; this film was a great tribute to the old crime noir flicks of the 30’s and 40’s. Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway and John Huston give outstanding performances, which only add to the film’s charm and glory. Don’t even get me stared about the score.

Cliffhanger (1993)

2011-05-19T15:10:00.000-07:00

★★★★☆

After a fatal rescue mission high above the Rocky Mountains, Gabe Walker is called back to the mountain rescue force when he is sent to rescue survivors of a downed airplane. Little do he and his bitter friend realize that the survivors are a group of violent thieves that crash-landed there after a mid-air height went wrong. Now, with three suitcases full of money spread out over the mountainous region, Gabe and his partner are forcefully tasked with finding the money despite the dangerous terrain. This is another great example of a fine action movie that not only leaves me with a sense of anticipation but also preserves and showcases the natural beauty of that region. Great action, a less-indestructible Stallone and a chilling performance by John Lithgow make this a must-see for any action fanatic.

The Terror Within (1989)

2011-05-19T15:07:00.000-07:00

★★1/2

Set in a post-apocalyptic world destroyed by an unknown chemical accident, a group of underground military survivors take in a woman who appears to be alive despite living above the ground. Things turn from bright to dark when her mutant baby kills her and escapes to somewhere in the compound. With the mutant growing at a fast rate, the crew must find a way to stop it before it gets hungry with its eyes set on the crewmembers. Produced by Mr. Schlock Roger Corman, this flick is bad but not in all cases. The creature design is great and it has that distinct midnight movie feel as you watch it. It may be bad but it’s the good type of bad and by the end of it you can’t help but say, “they really don’t make them like they use to.”

True Lies (1994)

2011-05-19T15:05:00.000-07:00

★★★1/2

Harry Tasker has been living a secret life as a government agent and assassin for years hidden from his wife Helen. However, when Harry discovers that she might be having an affair he calls on his intelligence resources to find out who this other man is but when he assigns her a phony mission things spin out of control. A militant terrorist kidnaps his wife and a couple of nuclear warheads and threatens to bomb Miami if his demands aren’t met. Harry must find a way to break the news to his wife and save the city of Miami before it becomes a smoking crater. This is the definition of an action flick: great action, a protagonist that’s funny and indestructible, a compelling side story and plenty of humor. Jamie Lee Curtis reprises her role as the ‘scream queen’ many times and the film becomes a true relic of action cinema.

The Slumber Party Massacre (1982)

2011-05-19T15:03:00.000-07:00

★★1/2

When her parents leave her home alone, an high school girl invites her friends over to her home to have a “girl’s night” slumber party. However, an uninvited guest arrives fresh from the insane asylum and equipped with a huge power drill to maim and kill the girls. With the night getting darker and darker, the girls must find a way to stop the killer before the slumber party turns into a bloodbath. Apparently this was supposed to be a spoof on slashers but it ends up being this cheesy yet bland slasher flick. Shockingly, I found its blandness and cold-hearted nature to be enjoyable and ends up being a self-parody straight from the 80’s slasher genre.

Quantum of Solace (2008)

2011-05-19T15:00:00.000-07:00

★★★☆☆

Picking up directly after Casino Royal, James Bond seeks revenge for the death of his love, which leads him to investigate a environmental corporation. However, upon confronting the corporation’s CEO Bond and M realize that it’s only a front for an even bigger network of high-profile terrorists. Now Bond must find a way to stop the CEO from taking control of a third world country’s water supply. Though this isn’t as suspenseful as Casino Royal, it’s still a great action flick with some amazing chase and fight sequences. Bond seems darker and more determined and Craig does a great job as always. The only gripe is that I wish we got to see more of Quantum since it’s in the movie’s title. Otherwise, it’s great eye candy action.

Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)

2011-05-14T20:28:00.000-07:00

★★★★☆

Austin Powers, 60’s swinger and secret agent who was cryogenically frozen in the 60’s, is awakened in the 90’s to fight his sworn enemy Dr. Evil. However, in addition to trying to stop Dr. Evil, Austin must realize that it’s no longer the 60’s and times/attitudes have changed from what he knew. Now, like a fish out of water, he must learn to fit in if he wants to stop Dr. Evil. This brilliant and hysterical parody of the James Blond flicks is a winner. Austin is absolutely clueless about his new surroundings (as well as Dr. Evil who was also frozen in the 60’s) and that’s why it’s so funny. Meyers created a lovable goofball who we can point and laugh wit.

Song of the South (1946)

2011-05-14T20:26:00.000-07:00

★★★1/2

After his family moves in with his grandmother down south and the leaving of his father, a young boy named Johnny finds happiness from an old but kind storyteller named Uncle Remus. Uncle Remus, knowing that the boy loves stories, regales him of the stories of Br’er Rabbit and Br’er Fox. These stories teach the boy moral lessons and the true essence of happiness. Although it’s very politically incorrect and shows the ideal perfect relationship between slaves and slaveowners, it’s still a very warm and lighthearted story for children. I enjoyed it, I laughed at it and I loved the animation. As the old saying goes, ignorance is bliss especially whenit comes to kids.

African Cats (2011)

2011-05-14T20:24:00.000-07:00

★★★★1/2

This Disney nature documentary follows two different cat families. On one side of the river is a single mother Cheetah trying to raise her cubs alone and protecting them from vicious hyenas. On the other side of the river is a small, but closely-knit lion pride who have to fend themselves off from a another lion (and his three sons) who wants to take over their group. This is one of the best nature documentaries I’ve ever seen because it has a story that was written and performed by nature and shows the brutal reality that is nature. It’s painfully sad, beautifully happy and very compelling. Mixed with great narration by Samuel L. Jackson and stunning camera work, this is a film that should be seen. It really puts “the Circle of Life” in perspective.

Pandorum (2009)

2011-05-14T20:22:00.000-07:00

★★★1/2

A pair of spaceship crewmembers wake up from hyper sleep with no memories of their mission or identities, they soon realize that the entire ship is nearly desolate. After running into one survivor, it’s clear that an indigent race of aliens have taken over the ship and that the previous captain had a psychological breakdown that ended in total slaughter. Now, with no plan of action, a killer race of aliens on the loose and Pandorum seeping into their minds… they must find a way to save themselves from destruction. Although I initially hated this movie, it is slowly growing on me and it’s really a breath of fresh air. It’s rare to find a good space horror flick with decent acting and this film does a great job of both. Great practical effects and amazing action sequences make this a fun thrill ride to watch.

Hoodwinked Too! (2011)

2011-05-14T20:20:00.001-07:00

★★☆☆☆

While at a secret training facility Red Riding Hood is called back in action and paired with her ex-partner Wolf when Hansel and Gretel are mysteriously taken by a wtich for some diabolical purpose. Red and Wolf aren’t the best of friends anymore but they must set their differences aside if they want to rescue the children. However, the witch has an even sinister plan that includes Red’s Granny. But things aren’t what they appear and there’s a greater conspiracy at work. Unlike the first movie, this film lost it’s charm and originality and became a silly yet barely enjoyable ode to James Bond. The first film was a different spin on the Red Riding Hood tale that blended humor with crime noir. This movie felt too cheesy.

The People Under the Stairs (1991)

2011-05-14T20:19:00.000-07:00

★★★☆☆

When his mom is in need of medical attention, a young boy agrees to help his father and his father’s friend to break into their landlord’s home to steal some gold. However, upon breaking into their house he soon realizes that the ‘mother’ and ‘father’ of the house are crazed psychopaths who kidnapped children and forced them to live in their basement. Now, he must team up with the parent’s daughter in order to escape from the landlords who want to brutally kill each of them. As ridiculous and over-the-top the film is, it’s pretty entertaining with some pretty fun and humorous moments. I personally love these types of horror flicks that deal with urban decay.

The Lost Boys (1987)

2011-05-14T20:17:00.000-07:00

★★★★☆

After moving to a new beachfront town, Michael quickly begins to fall for a young girl named Lucy. However, after meeting her “gang” and drinking a mysterious drink he begins to cringe at the light, have incredible strength and craves blood. Soon he realizes that he’s been initiated into a gang of vampires. Now, he and a two vampire-hunting brothers must find a way to turn him back before they have and Lucy for their next meal. With a stunning, synth-Goth score and a memorable performance by Kiefer Sutherland, this tale of bloodsucking vamps really exemplifies what the 80’s where about. The makeup is amazing and the humor is great. It’s what Return of the Living Dead was to the zombie genre.

Mulholland Falls (1996)

2011-05-07T12:27:00.000-07:00

★★★1/2

Set in 1950’s Los Angeles, this neo noir crime drama follows Max Hoover and his special squad of LADP investigators that use “special” interrogational strategies. The team is sent to investigate the murder of a young woman who Max had an affair with on the side. As bad memories resurface, the investigation leads Max and his right hand man Elleroy to a world renowned General and scientist who helped with the A-bomb project. Max soon finds himself right in the middle of a conspiracy and secret cover-up of possible mistreatment of U.S. soldiers. This was a great film with a great yet raspy performance by Nick Nolte and Chazz Palminteri does a great job as well. Ultimately, it’s great but I wished they really expanded more on the rest of Nolte’s group since they all seem to show charisma that isn’t fully developed.

Life of Brian (1979)

2011-05-07T12:23:00.000-07:00

★★★★☆

Brian was born on Christmas in the stable next door to the Almighty Christ and lives his entire life as an average momma’s boy. However, after joining a group that plots to rebel against the Romans and bizarre series of events, he is ultimately mistaken for the messiah. With a disappointing mother, hoards of one-track minded followers and the entire Roman army after him, what can Brian do to convince people that he isn’t the messiah let alone the fact that there is no true messiah? This film caters to a specific type of person that can understand Monty Python’s humor and I, fortunately, am one of them so this was a riot to watch. However, if you are new to The Python, some of the jokes may seem awkward or fall flat but this piece’s strength comes from its satirical jab at religion and how people blindly follow it. It’s raunchy, it’s over-the-top and it’s funny as Hell!

Carnival of Souls (1998)

2011-05-07T12:21:00.000-07:00

★★1/2

Half experimental and half linear; this movie follows a young bartender who is still struggling with inner demons after seeing the brutal rape and murder of her mother by a circus performer. When the nightmares of the fateful night that she met him begin to resurface, so does the carnival and when the carnival comes back to town… so does her mother’s murderer. Now, caught in a web of dreams and hallucinations, the young girl must struggle to find peace and decipher what’s real and what isn’t. The story sounds great on paper but it is in fact a remake of a better film of the same name. This film has great production design and 1 or 2 creepy moments but it falls flat and becomes stale. I think it’s main problem is the lack of solid direction and a clear story.

The Jackal (1997)

2011-05-07T12:19:00.000-07:00

★★★1/2

The FBI gets word that a notorious assassin named The Jackal, who is known for literally changing his appearance, has been hired by a terrorist group to assassinate somebody from the U.S. government. In a last minute effort to find him, they agree to release an IRA sniper from imprisonment to track him down. However, once The Jackal realizes that he has a tail, the situation spirals into a deadly game of cat and mouse. For an action movie it has its charms and it’s great to see Willis in disguises ranging from a fat Jewish accountant to a gay businessman. Richard Gere puts on a wonderful Irish accent but what I think this film lacks is solid suspense, but even without it there are great gunfights.

Sunset Boulevard (1950)

2011-05-07T12:17:00.000-07:00

★★★★★

When hi scar breaks down in an unknown area of Sunset Blvd., a screenwriter stumbles upon the home of a former silent movie star and agrees to stay with her and help her develop a screenplay for her big comeback. Unfortunately, he soon becomes a prisoner and the actress’s severely depressed personality begins to surface as the screenwriter tries desperately to help her realize the reality of things. This disturbing, neurotic piece shimmers with the brilliant performances of William Holden and Gloria Swanson, who fully becomes the deranged and psychotic film star Norma Desmond. It’s a dark tale of what Hollywood can do to somebody and just how far somebody will go for that glitz and glamour. It’s a true masterpiece.

Planet 51 (2009)

2011-05-07T12:13:00.000-07:00

★★★☆☆

Set on the fictional Planet 51 in 1950’s style suburbia, an American astronaut named Captain Chuck Baker lands his shuttle on the world thinking that he is the first one to discover and set foot on it. To his surprise, he realizes that there is an entire civilization living there. Now, wanted by their government, Chuck befriends a socially awkward alien and his energetic brother as they find a way to send him back home before the military decides to dissect him. I liked this movie and for a film that isn’t made my Disney/Pixar, it’s whimsical, funny and somewhat exciting. I love the mockery towards 50’s pop culture and the nods to great sci-fi flicks of the 50’s and 60’s. For a kids movie it’s pretty great but it lacks heart and warmth.

UHF (1989)

2011-04-24T16:25:00.000-07:00

★★★★☆

George Newman becomes the owner of a local public TV station when his uncle wins it in a card game. Seeing that the station is limping along he decides to spice it up by creating all sorts of wacky shows and becomes an unintentional hit. The problem comes when R.J. Fletcher, a big corporate media tycoon, tries to prevent UHF from becoming a hit so that he could monopolize the television stations. With its brilliant pop culture parodies, slapstick humor and over the top performances, this film is a treat to watch and really makes you laugh in unexpected ways. There is also a sort of charm and warm-hearted feeling that comes with it. Weird Al is great as always but considering the type of humor that is used, I wonder why and how the film would have turned out had the Zucker brothers co-developed the movie with Weird Al.

American Graffiti (1973)

2011-04-24T16:23:00.000-07:00

★★★★1/2

Set in 1962, this coming-of-age film centers on a couple of high school graduates who spend their last night cruising around in their cars, drinking and drag racing. One teenage couple tries to patch things up before they part ways, a young man searches the entire town for a mysterious fem fatale, another young man tries desperately to impress his female passenger and another tries to have fun while babysitting a high school freshman. The music, the clothing, the lingo, the cars and the amazing performance by one hell of a cast highlight this period piece and it’s a must for any film fan. It’s surprisingly very engaging and funny for one of the first ‘coming of age movies,’ and even still… it’s a rather sad and reminiscent tale.

I, Robot (2004)

2011-04-24T16:21:00.000-07:00

★★★1/2

In the near future, a technophobic police officer investigates the apparent suicide of a key designer for a company that specializes in robotic servants for people. His investigation leads him to believe that a robot that displays emotional characteristics killed the designer but there is a bigger threat at large. Unfortunately, the officer’s extreme prejudice towards robots has blinded him from seeing the greater threat. For personal reasons, I found this movie to be very thrilling and an interesting critique on how we use and take machines for granted. Will Smith is great and the action sequences are pleasing but the real star of the show is Sonny, the robot that has a conscience. However, the CGI has aged pretty badly.

Scream 4 (2011)

2011-04-24T16:19:00.000-07:00

★★★☆☆

Sidney Prescott has returned to Woodsboro after 10 years to try and regain her life back from the series of murders only this time she decides to reconnect with her family. The only problem is, the Ghostface Killer has also come back and this time he saved the most sadistic murders for her family but who’s affected more: Sidney or her young nephew Jill? Full review.

Inside Deep Throat (2005)

2011-04-24T16:17:00.000-07:00

★★★★☆

This documentary not only explains the controversial debut of Deep Throat but it also dives into the production, how the cast and crew took the controversy, the plead for and against pornography as well as the legacy that Deep Throat left behind. However, Deep Throat wasn’t just any porno… it was the top grossing film in the U.S. when it came out. This was a wonderful documentary that doesn’t just become the typical “how they made a porno” film but dives into the pasts, the lives and the thoughts of all the people who were involved with the film and becomes a personal recount of the whole situation. It’s funny, it’s sad and it’s guaranteed to open you eyes to the wondrous world of censorship.

Eye for an Eye (1996)

2011-04-24T16:16:00.000-07:00

★★★1/2

When her daughter is brutally raped and murdered, Karen McCann and the police suspect it was Robert Doob but when something went wrong with the courts he is set free despite the evidence against him. Enraged with the lack of professionalism by the LAPD, Karen decides to take the law into her own hands and avenge her daughter. Surprisingly there isn’t a lot of action and it’s substituted with Sally Field stalking Sutherland as she tries to map out her revenge. It does a great job holding you in suspense and Kiefer Sutherland does an amazing job playing the creepy, perverted, sadistic pedophile. I actually got chills in one scene.

Blast from the Past (1999)

2011-04-24T16:13:00.000-07:00

★★★1/2

Adam had a pretty good childhood with loving parents but the only problem is that he has been raised in an underground fallout shelter for 35 years when his parents mistaken a plan crash for the a nuclear bomb. Now, after almost 4 decades he has been assigned to go up on the surface world to get medicine for his ill dad and a lot has changed since the 60’s. Especially since his whole world has been the artificial 1960’s. As I already explained a while ago I love movies that have characters taken out of their elements and this is no exception. It’s a well-made, funny, whimsical film that really puts the 60’s ideologies with the 90’s culture. Brendon Frasier is fantastic and really nails his portrayal as a shy, naïve young man.

Midnight Cowboy (1969)

2011-04-17T19:37:00.000-07:00

★★★★1/2

After leaving his quiet, small Texas town, a young male prostitute travels to New York in order to make a living off of his newly found career in female pleasure. During his stay in the Big Apple, he partners up with a slightly handicapped con artist in order to survive. However, his friend begins showing signs of a very severe sickness and dreams of Florida more than anything. This was a very powerful, disturbing and heart-wrenching tale taken from the gutters of life. It’s part experimental and part narrative yet it still manages to make you feel for the characters as they try and survive on the streets. Though Voight’s performance is solid, it’s Hoffman that steals the show as Ratso the con man.

After Midnight (1989)

2011-04-17T19:35:00.000-07:00

★★1/2

This horror anthology centers on a professor who, after firing a bullet in school and getting a warning, holds an extra curricular study session at his home where students share scary stories to each other. The stories include a young couple that investigates a creepy mansion in hopes to find some gas for their car. A group of young woman who are chased through a city’s underground by a back of wild dogs, and a phone operator that’s being stalked by a stranger. Full review.

Scary Movie 3 (2003)

2011-04-17T19:33:00.000-07:00

★★★☆☆

Quarantine (2008)

2011-04-17T19:30:00.000-07:00

★★★1/2

While tagging along with a local fire department during their nightshift, a reporter and her cameraman follow them during a seemingly routine 9/11 call. However, upon their investigation of a severely sick woman, all the people inside the building become quarantined and trapped inside by the CDC. They soon discover that this virus is contagious and that it turns people into brutal, bloodthirsty psychopaths. Even though it’s based off of [REC], I really enjoyed this movie. It has its scary moments and it’s a great adaptation but I don’t think the characters are there yet. There’re things that the original have that the remake doesn’t and vise versa.

Gone in 60 Seconds (2000)

2011-04-17T19:28:00.000-07:00

★★★☆☆

Retired car thief Memphis Raines is called back to the fine art of car stealing when his brother gets into deep trouble with a mobster and has his life on the line. Now, Memphis must recruit his old crew back, with the assistance of his brother’s crew, and seal 50 cars within the span of 24 hours or his brother gets killed. I really enjoyed this movie; it had flair, action, some pretty great car chases and I loved the concept of old-school car stealing versus modern-day car stealing. The only problem is, since Memphis’ brother was never kidnapped, I don’t know why they couldn’t just leave the city.

Darkness Falls (2003)

2011-04-17T19:26:00.000-07:00

★★☆☆☆

After encountering an unforgiving spirit who takes the form of the Tooth Fairy when he was a kid, Kyle Walsh has all grown up and thinks that he’s avoided. However, when a young boy begins having night terrors of the spirit, Kyle is suddenly reminded of how relentless the spirit is and now he must find a way to destroy the spirit before she could harm him and the people he cares about. I really didn’t like this movie because it had the potential of being something great and downright scary. I loved the idea of the Tooth Fairy being the enemy but it was watered down with poor acting, glossy effects and bad scriptwriting.

Rat Race (2001)

2011-04-17T19:24:00.000-07:00

★★★1/2

A group of unrelated people are summoned by a casino hotel manager and given the opportunity to win 1 million dollars. The bag of money lies at a train station in Silver City, New Mexico and there are no rules of the game. The catch is, only one person will win the bag and that’s whoever gets there first. In the same vain of It’s A Mad Mad Mad Mad World, this slapstick joy ride is filled with laughs and suspense. The whole movie felt like one giant farce and strangely, all the characters are very likeable. You could tell they were all having fun, as was I.

Brokedown Palace (1999)

2011-04-09T18:27:00.000-07:00

★★★☆☆

While vacationing in Thailand, two girls meet a young Australian man who promises them an even better time in Hong Kong. One girl wants to go but the other has a bad feeling about it, however they decide to leave anyway but they arrested before they have the chance to get on the plane for smuggling drugs. Now, trapped in a dingy abusive prison, the two girl’s fate lies within the hands of an American lawyer looking to redeem himself. Though I enjoyed the movie, I felt like it lacked in places and was filled up in exposition. The story was very compelling and is one of those cases where it could happen to anybody. The ending was very bitter and made me hate the Thailand justice system, even if the movie exaggerated it a bit.

High Noon (1952)

2011-04-09T18:26:00.000-07:00

★★★★★

Taking place in real-time, when his wedding is interrupted by the arrival of three outlaws, Marshall Will Kane is urged to leave his town. Knowing that the gang of outlaws belongs to the notorious murderer Frank Miller, Kane returns to the town to defend it but he soon realizes that the entire town refuses to help him and backs down. Now, personally compelled and frightened, Will Kane must find a way to stop Miller who is the very man he sent to prison and who swore revenge upon. This is one of my favorite Westerns of all time not only for it’s revolutionary style of real-time filming but for the performance of Gary Cooper. The entire movie is based on anticipation and you begin to feel the fear that Kane has. This time, the hero isn’t going in guns ‘a blazing but rather is scared but has to do what’s good.

AVP: Alien vs. Predator (2004)

2011-04-09T18:24:00.001-07:00

★★1/2

After a satellite locates a huge heat blum under an Antarctic ice shelf, the head of Weland Industries dispatches a team of scientists and engineers to find out what is under the ice. Unfortunately, while exploring a hidden ancient temple the team activates a mechanism that triggers the pyramid into turning into a giant maze. Now they must fight for their lives while being caught up in a million-year battle between the Xenomorphs (Alien) and the Predators (Predator). Though I love the imagination of combining the two movies I didn’t really care for any of the action. It felt very stale and over stylized when it should have been set on establishing a mood. With that said, it was nice to see some practical effects used instead of all CGI.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

2011-04-09T18:21:00.000-07:00

★★★★1/2

When a series of UFO’s appear all over America, the government begins receiving transmissions and strange evidence from the UFO’s. Meanwhile, a line worker who encountered a UFO starts having strange visions of a mysterious mountain. While the government quickly tries to find out who and what the UFO’s are, the worker teams up with a young mother to find this mysterious mountain so that she can get her son back from the aliens. This certainly isn’t Spielberg’s masterpiece but with its warm-hearted nature, beautiful storyline and amazing cinematography, it’s very hard to not like this film. It certainly is one of the best and rare non-threatening alien invasion movies. The only problems I had were concerning some story ideas but otherwise, it’s an absolute must.

Species (1995)

2011-04-09T18:18:00.000-07:00

★★★1/2

After a message from outer space containing instructions on how to modify DNA, a team of scientists creates a half human, half alien hybrid. Unfortunately their creation breaks out and is loose. Resembling a young woman and luring men to procreate with her, the project supervisor assembles a small team to track down their creation and bring it back to him dead or alive. I really enjoyed this movie purely because of the suspense and action, it’s a great twist on the alien invasion genre but it has one minor flaw. The CGI didn’t age well rending all the scenes with CGI in them look like bad video game graphics. It tends to distract from the story.

Rumpelstiltskin (1995)

2011-04-09T18:16:00.000-07:00

★1/2

Just like the fairy tale, Rumpelstiltskin kidnaps a young woman’s child in the 1400’s, however an old woman places a curse on him and turns him into a small jade figurine only to be awakened in present day Los Angeles. He is unintentionally awakened by a grieving widowed mother but when Uncle Rumpel steals her baby, she stops at nothing to get him back. The concept of the story was great but it suffered from major problems: the humor is off and very tacky, the acting is poor and the entire thing seemed very lackluster. Then again, it is supposed to be funny and b-movie-ish… I think.

Aliens (1986)

2011-04-09T18:14:00.000-07:00

★★★★1/2

When a colony on the remote alien world from the first movie falls off the radar and looses contact with everybody, Weyland Industries assembles a team to find out what happened to the colonists. Unfortunately, Ripley has no choice but to accompany them and fight off the alien she thought she destroyed. However, this time around there are more of them and Ripley is beginning to loose faith in the cocky crew. This is one of the few sequels that could be better than the original; it uses a great sense of mood and action to build tension and it’s a treat to see Ripley even more as a motherly figure but also as an action hero. The special effects are outstanding and really show what the 80’s accomplished in film.

Event Horizon (1997)

2011-04-01T13:41:00.000-07:00

★★★1/2

A rescue team is sent to investigate the mysterious reappearance of a massive spaceship, called the Event Horizon, after it disappeared into a black hole years before. But when the team begins to search for any survivors, they quickly realize that the ship brought back something evil and psychotic from another dimension. Visually beautiful and surprisingly very brutal, this film is the embodiment of a space-horror movie. It’s literally a haunted house story set in space and has some amazing scare tactics, however the plot could have been made better and more psychological had they not sacrifice it to explosions and stylized cinematography.

The Blob (1988)

2011-04-01T13:40:00.000-07:00

★★★★1/2

After a meteor carrying an alien substance crashes near a small town, it’s up to a high school cheerleader the town ‘bad boy’ to try to stop the blobby substance from consuming the entire town. However, things take an unfortunate turn when the military gets involved and the alien substance is looking less and less alien. Based off the 1950’s movie of the same name, this version is vastly entertaining and pretty graphic. It utilizes some of the best practical effects the 80s has to offer and offers no remorse to its characters. It’s what a horror film should be but at the same time it’s smart and very edgy.

Rubber (2010)

2011-04-01T13:38:00.000-07:00

★★1/2

A car tire rises from a scrap-yard and discovers that he has the telepathic ability to blow up things, so he decides to roll around a small desert town blowing up people’s heads. He takes on an obsession with a young woman and kills anybody in his pathway. Meanwhile, a local police sheriff is hot on his trail to figure out who is killing all these people. The bizarre thing is, all of this is being witness by an audience that watches from atop a hill. They are given nightly means, binoculars and food that is poisoned. The whole film is based on randomness and it took me a while to figure this out and where it was going. It was okay but a lot of the humor was hit or miss, eventually it just felt a little boring after a while.

Critters 2 (1988)

2011-04-01T13:35:00.000-07:00

★★★1/2

The Crites are back and this time their eggs have been mistaken for Easter eggs and before long they hatch the ferocious critters are rampaging all over Grover’s Bend. It’s now, yet again, up to the alien bounty hunters to stop the Crites from destroying the town with the help of their new Earth companion… Charlie. This sequel to the 1986 hit Critters is a lot wilder and feels like a cartoon. The Crites are such a fascinating monster and they really make you want to root for them. It’s a great movie with a ton of Loony Tunes-like action and don’t forget the infamous Critter ball.

Krull (1983)

2011-04-01T13:33:00.000-07:00

★★★1/2

After a mobile kingdom of alien invaders kill his father, father-in-law and steal his princess, a young prince must befriend an old wizard to help him stop the alien invaders and rescue his princess. Along the way he makes allies with a bumbling shape shifter, a group of thieves, an old psychic and his young companion and a Cyclops. The story seems very familiar, as it should and the acting is very mediocre. However, the real spectacle of this film is the special effects, set design and creature effects. All of this makes for a beautiful looking film that really makes you feel like your watching a good old fashion fantasy action movie.

Day the World Ended (1955)

2011-04-01T13:32:00.000-07:00

★★☆☆☆

After nuclear war, seven people find refuse in a house located in the middle of the desert. With mental and emotional grips tightening, the group begins to learn that the danger may not be outside but rather themselves. It doesn’t help that some horrible mutant is lurking outside… waiting to eat them. This cheese-tastic film came from schlock-meister Roger Corman and it certainly isn’t hiding it. The dialogue is horrendous, the mutant looked awful and the performances were delivered without any emotion or sense of acting. Though, strangely enough it was funny. I think it could really benefit from a serious remake.

The Thing From Another World (1951)

2011-04-01T13:28:00.000-07:00

★★★★☆

Isolated from the world and on the tip of Antarctica, a group of American scientists and Air Force officials find a frozen spaceship and it’s pilot buried under solid ice. Upon recovering the alien body, they accidentally defrost it rendering it loose and confused. Now they must fend off their outpost as the alien hides and lurks, and they must stop it before it has the chance to take over the world. Based off of the novella Who Goes There by John W. Campbell, this film was pretty good. It has its genuinely freaky moments and builds a thick creepy atmosphere. Though it is heightened American propaganda at it’s finest; building its characters on Patriotic standpoints and Christian morals. It’s a must for any sci-fi fan.

Morning Glory (2010)

2011-03-21T00:46:00.000-07:00

★★★★1/2

Becky Fuller, a very strong and determined young TV producer takes up the struggling task of producing a failing morning news program. With the ratings in the dumps she has no choice but to enlist the help of veteran news reporter Mike Pomeroy, who isn’t thrilled or willing to be on morning news. Now Becky needs to find a way to make Mike cope with the show to not only save her job the jobs of all her co-workers whom she’s come to love and respect. I love this movie; it’s very reminiscent of the 80s and 90s rom-com movies. It has a great cast and wonderful yet very busy story that often makes me stressed out. Harrison Ford is wonderful as Mike Pomeroy and shows a great deal of character development throughout the entire movie.

Proteus (1995)

2011-03-21T00:43:00.000-07:00

★★1/2

After their Yacht explodes from an engineering problem, a group of heroine smugglers find shelter aboard an abandoned oilrig. However, after investigating the rig for foot and medical supplies, they come to realize that the entire rig is just a cover up for secret government project involving biological experimentation. Unfortunately, the experimentation was a success and there’s a monstrous creature on the loose. Full review here.

Waiting (2005)

2011-03-21T00:41:00.000-07:00

★★★★☆

Taking place between the opening and closing of Shenaniganz, a Bennigan’s style restaurant, the story follows the employees during a typical two-shift day as they deal with adulthood, relationships, work problems and personal hardships. This is one of those raunchy, coming of age movies that slipped beneath the radar but has a very serious and sad subplot that works well with the overall story. The cast is great and the characters are all believable but the story isn’t just focused in on one character but rather several, making the audience literally feel like they are observing everybody. What’s so great about this is that all the situations and characters are very believable.

Red (2010)

2011-03-21T00:38:00.000-07:00

★★★★☆

Based off of the comic book of the same name, the story follows Frank Moses… a retired yet extremely dangerous black-ops agent who unwillingly becomes the target of a government assassin. With his life and life of his other black-op agents on the line, Frank assembles his former team back from retirement to uncover the conspiracy. Making matters worse, he accidentally involves a female telephone operator who he’s had a crush on. This is what a good action movie is all about: great witty dialogue, a cast that seems to work great with each other, explosions and some type of secret government operation. This was a fun ride from beginning to end but I think Malkovich shines through the entire film and upstages, in some scenes, veteran action hero Bruce Willis.

Slither (2006)

2011-03-21T00:36:00.000-07:00

★★★★1/2

Arguably a remake of the 80s cult classic Night of the Creeps, this horror tale is about an alien slug that takes over the body of Grant Grant. Unfortunately Grant becomes a hideous, gelatinous alien that lets loose a hoard of alien slugs on the town. Now, as people are dying and resurrecting from the slugs it’s up to the town sheriff and Grant’s young wife to save what is left from the town before the alien species takes over. The film accomplishes what it set out to do; it’s gritty, it’s witty, it’s funny but it comes at the cost of gore, blood and disgusting body horror scenes. It effectively captures the heart of 80s horror using practical effects and successfully homages the Troma films of the 80s.

Independence Day (1996)

2011-03-21T00:34:00.000-07:00

★★★★☆

In this big budget action-packed movie aliens invade Earth and decimate all the major cities by synching up a countdown. With the world on the brink of destruction, the president must enlist the help of a rough-and-tumble Air Force pilot, a computer expert who is an ex-lover of his Press Secretary and an alcoholic airplane pilot who claims to have been abducted. I love this movie mainly because of its action and quick dialogue. Sure it’s cheesy and some may argue there is no plot, but that’s what these movies are all about. I even love how over-Patriotic the film is, especially since a Canadian directs it.

Die Hard (1988)

2011-03-21T00:27:00.000-07:00

★★★★★

When a group of terrorists seize control of an L.A. office building, NY cop John McClane decides to take matters into his own hands and tries to save the hostages even if it means taking out every terrorist one by one. Unfortunately the LAPD insists that McClane should leave the terrorists to the FBI but they don’t understand that these aren’t just your typical terrorists. This is the definition of an action movie and words cannot describe how much ass this movie kicks.

Battle: Los Angeles (2011)

2011-03-12T23:46:00.000-08:00

★★★1/2

Minutes after meteors crash land off the coast of Los Angeles, a Marine platoon is sent to downtown to keep people from panicking. But when an army of alien cyborgs begins decimating everything in sight, the platoon is asked to infiltrate enemy territory to rescue stranded civilians and bring them back to the safe zones. During their journey back to the safe zone, the platoon bonds with their Staff Sergeant who was rumored to have let his company die overseas. This wasn’t just eye-candy and action, which there is a lot of, but it’s something else. It had emotion, character and a great sense of Patriotism. The special effects were excellent and the aliens felt advanced but at the same time they felt primitive, as if their technology wasn’t perfected. It was a great new look at alien invasion movies and I’d say it was the Independence Day of the new millennium.

Insidious (2011)

2011-03-12T23:43:00.000-08:00

★★★★☆

Full review here.

Network (1976)

2011-03-12T23:41:00.000-08:00

★★★★★

Howard Beale is being fired from his job as the news anchor for a major TV studio and this makes him mad as hell, so he decides to vent out his anger and his opinions inappropriately during the evening news. However, Diana, head of entertainment programming, sees this as an opportunity to shamelessly exploit Howard’s twisted ramblings and work them into a show where he becomes the ‘mad prophet’ of television. This quick, witty satire of both news and business is wonderfully approached by Lumet and peppered with an outstanding cast. It’s funny, it’s nail biting, it’s grim and it’s a spectacle to see a film that was made 35 years ago still be relevant today.

The Mist (2007)

2011-03-12T23:38:00.000-08:00

★★★★1/2

When a mysterious mist rolls into town, David and his young son Billy get stranded in a supermarket with dozens of other people. However, they soon realize that there are things that lurk in the mist, things that have large tentacles, and things that could fly. Now David and the rest of the people must find a way to survive and get before they begin loosing their minds. Though it’s certainly not Darabont’s best King adaptation, this movie is great in all the right parts. It’s compelling and packed with character and emotion. It’s such a bleak look at humanity and it effectively makes you jump. Look for a whopper of an ending.

The Adjustment Bureau (2011)

2011-03-12T23:36:00.000-08:00

★★★★☆

After having a brief fling with a ballerina, Senator David Norris is on a quest to find who the mysterious girl was that he had fallen in love with. However, a secret society of people is determined to keep them apart from each other by supernatural means. These people can control time, alter the course of reality with a flick of their thumbs and travel by means of opening doors; they are the Adjustment Bureau and they believe that the bonding between Norris and Elise may destroy their lives. This riveting, compelling and beautiful story of love and science fiction is a breath of fresh air with all the sequels and remakes out there. It has great characters, great performances and a very sad mood, but in the end, it pays for itself.

Dolly Dearest (1992)

2011-03-12T23:33:00.000-08:00

★★1/2

The Wade family moves to Southern Mexico after the father, Elliot, decides to put more effort into the doll-making business. What they don’t realize is that the factory is next to an ancient satanic gravesite and an evil spirit, known as the Sanzia Devil Child, has been released into one of the dolls. Now, the spirit slowly possesses the family’s daughter through a doll that her father gave her. Right off the bat it sounds very similar to The Exorcist and it is but it seems like this version should be considered ‘the poor man’s Exorcist.’ It has it’s moments and it can be pretty freaky at times but it’s an overall cheesy but fun movie.

RoboCop (1987)

2011-03-12T23:31:00.000-08:00

★★★★☆

After being transferred to the crime-ridden dystopic city of Detroit, Officer Murphy is gun down in a hail of bullets to the point of near-death. However, a local businessman decides to use the wounded officer as a test subject for his new project; so he retrofits his body and makes into a powerful crime fighting cyborg. Unfortunately, RoboCop’s suppressed memories are surfacing and now he’s after the men who took everything away from him. This is a fantastic, gritty look at the near future with great performances and a lot of action. I think it has stood the test of time as being one of the best mordern sci-fi films and even now the special effects are very impressive.

It! Terror From Beyond Space (1958)

2011-03-04T22:19:00.001-08:00

★★★★☆

Alleged original version of Alien follows Col. Carruthers who is being escored from his base on Mars to be prosecuted on Earth for the murders of his fellow astronauts. However, Carruthers says that an alien killed them. It isn’t before long till the alien becomes loose on the rocket and begins killing the crewman. How do you stop something hat is obviously much bigger and stronger than you? Can they find a way to stop it? Even though the film was made and produced in the 50s, it’s peppered with beautiful haunting imagery that enhances its dark, gloomy disposition. It’s a fantastic movie to come out of the age of schlock sci-fi.

Walk The Line (2005)

2011-03-04T22:17:00.000-08:00

★★★★☆

This biopic chronicles the life and rise of country music singer Johnny Cash. It shows how he went from being a farm boy, to getting his first record made, to singing with Jerry Lee Lewis all the way down to his drug addiction and recuperation. This film had an outstanding cast with fine performances by Phoenix and Witherspoon. It started off as a story of hope to a story about addiction to love and drugs. It was a very inspiring film of a music legend.

The Ringer (2005)

2011-03-04T22:15:00.001-08:00

★★★☆☆

Steve Barker has a problem: his illegally employed servant is taken to the hospital after having his fingers cut off in a lawnmower accident. Now, to pay back the hospital debt, he and his uncle must rig the Special Olympics. Barker must act handicapped so that he could win the money to save his servant and his uncle. The problem is, he begins falling for his female aid. I enjoyed this film because it doesn’t really make fun of handicapped people, but rather shows them as intelligent and gifted people. It combined humor, character and a great supporting cast. Although it did seem a bit too fast paced. Otherwise, it was a fun movie.

Galaxy Quest (1999)

2011-03-04T22:12:00.000-08:00

★★★1/2

After a slight snap at a sci-fi convention, TV star of the hit show Galaxy Quest Jason Nesmith is asked by real life aliens to help them defeat a ferocious doctoral alien race. Soon, Nesmith recruits the rest of the cast to literally play their roles for real to help and save the dying alien race. Little do they know, they in way over their heads. This was a fantastic film that has wit, humor, some raunchy comedy but touching. It was a great nostalgia factor for me and it reminded me why I love movies. It has adventure and a great supporting cast. There were times I felt sad and times I was grossed out. All in all, Galaxy Quest is what it is… a wacky adventure that takes you to the edge of the universe.

Drive Angry (2011)

2011-03-04T22:10:00.000-08:00

★★★☆☆

After literally escaping from Hell, Milton is on the lamb as he brutally and relentlessly tracks down the man and his cult who were responsible for killing his daughter and kidnapping his granddaughter for a sacrifice. Unfortunately, he unwillingly draws a young ex-waitress along with him and his antics attract the attention of Satan’s right-hand man and bounty hunter known as The Accountant. The movie delivered what the trailer promised, but I wanted more. I wanted more action, more cheese and more Fitchner. Otherwise, it wasn’t bad. It could have been better.

The Public Enemy (1931)

2011-03-04T22:09:00.000-08:00

★★★★☆

This Depression era story follows Tom Powers from a young juvenile delinquent to becoming the right-hand man of a powerful Chicago bootlegger. However, after his boss turns on him he finds a new boss and kills his former employer. Soon, Powers becomes one of the most powerful criminals in Chicago even during a violent mob war. This was a fine pre-code film that doesn’t really glorify the gangster but rather has you feel hatred for him. Tom Powers isn’t a good person and Cagney really nails his character. It’s a fine film for anybody who loves crime dramas.

True Grit (2010)

2011-03-04T22:07:00.000-08:00

★★★1/2

Mattie Ross is a 14 year-old-girl who enlists the help of a ruthless, stern but drunken bounty hunter named Rooster Cogburn to capture the Tom Chaney, the man who killed Mattie’s father. The film is beautifully shot and wonderfully directed and though it’s not Bridges’ finest performance, Hailee Steinfeld steals the show as the stubborn young girl. It’s fascinating seeing her try to cope with the way the world is, considering she is a woman. The film is very overrated but it’s still worth a watch for Western fans. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Mr. Brooks (2007)

2011-02-26T10:37:00.000-08:00

★★★★☆

Earl Brooks is a loving father, a mild-mannered man and has a lucrative executive job at his company. His alter ego is an intelligent, psychopathic serial killer. On one of the nights of his ‘last’ killings, an amateur photographer witnesses him. He threatens to expose Brooks and his killings if he doesn’t take him along on his next killing. This psychological thriller is a great character study of a madman, with brilliant performances and a smooth pacing. The only problem is this: there are too many subplots and it’s easy to get confused on what’s going on with each one.

Scary Movie 3 (2003)

2011-02-26T10:35:00.000-08:00

★★★☆☆

The third installment in the Scary Movie franchise. This time we find Cindy (from the last two movies) investigating a series of bizarre crop circles. It leaders her to a videotape that happens to kill anybody who watches it, but it goes much deeper than that. With a possible alien invasion, killer tapes and a bumbling president… will Cindy be able to save the world? This sequel seems to be more slapstick and less wit, which is fine but I miss it from the first movie. Also, they seem to focus on non-horror movies such as 8 Mile and The Matrix, which I could have done without. Overall, this was the last good Scary Movie from the franchise.