Greenberg
Cast: Ben Stiller, Greta Gerwig, Rhys Ifans, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Chris Messina, Brie Larson, Juno Temple Greenberg is not your typical Ben Stiller film, it features him in a role that strips him of the comedic stylings that have made him famous. The result is a thoughtful movie that provides Stiller with an opportunity to show us a depth we haven’t seen from him in quite some time as well as provide the framework for co-star Greta Gerwig to steal the show.The story follows Roger Greenberg (Stiller) who returns to L.A. following a psychiatric breakdown in order to dog-sit for his brother. Greenberg is forty years old and extremely neurotic. He no longer possesses a driver’s license, has more fingers on one hand than actual friends, and is content with doing absolutely nothing. Not only is he content, he’s actively trying to do nothing. Greenberg appears comfortable with the idea of continuing with a lackluster existence until he meets his brother’s assistant, Florence Marr (Gerwig). Friends, this isn't Zoolander, this is Ben Stiller at work, a great performance from Greta Gerwig and a great movie!
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44 Inch Chest
Cast: Ian McShane, John Hurt, Ray Winstone, Tom Wilkinson, Stephen Dillane, Dave Legeno, Joanne Whalley, Steven Berkoff, Melvil Poupaud Take some of the UK's best actors and throw them into what could be a stage play and let them get on with it! Colin (Ray Winstone) is in agony, his wife has told him she is having an affair; however, he has friends who do more than stand by -- they kidnap the wife's French lover and hold him prisoner so that Colin can restore his manhood with revenge. A kangaroo court takes place and as the situation escalates Loverboy's life hangs in the balance as Colin wrestles with revenge, remorse, grief and self pity, all the while egged on by his motley crew of friends who just want him to get on with it so they can get down the pub. In the brilliant opening scene Winstone is sprawled on his back, weeping silently and listening to the maudlin melodrama of Harry Nilsson’s Without You (“I can’t liiiiiiive, if living is without you . . .”) on repeat. And, over the course of the film, he never quite manages to pull himself together. All the cast are superb as you can imagine but it’s the gay gangster about town Meredith, played wonderfully by Ian McShane, who casually controls the room just as he did in Sexy Beast ( by the same writers, Louis Mellis and David Scinto). Imagine Guy Ritchie directing a stage play and you have it; a film for admirers of some of the best character actors Britain has to offer.
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Saveland and Alliance Films have a contest going, I'm sure you know, well here's some reviews of movies up for grabs and all are highly reccomended!
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Cast: Peter Haber, Noomi Rapace, Michael Nyqvist, David Dencik, Georgi Staykov, Tomas Köhler, Lena Endre, Per Oscarsson, Ingvar Hirdwall, Gunnel Lindblom This is a Swedish film with subtitles, but don’t let that put you off; this film is terrific. Journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist) is hired by aged tycoon Henrik Vanger (Sven-Bertil Taube) to look into the 40 year-old disappearance of a favorite niece. Computer hacker Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace) checks out Mikael as a preliminary to his hiring, and is intrigued by the old mystery. The two investigators team up and find themselves pursuing several serial killers. This epic-length Swedish thriller, based on the first of a trilogy of international bestsellers by the late journalist Stieg Larsson, is a satisfying mix of mystery, psychosis, and weird romance. Lisbeth Salander; the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo; is already a major literary heroine, and the unusual-looking, intense Rapace is liable to become an international star with this role (which she’s reprised in the two already-made follow-ups). The best Euro action heroine since Nikita and the most influential female thriller lead since Jodie Foster’s Clarice Starling, Lisbeth is an interesting mix of credibly screwed-up victim and resourceful superheroine ; making good use of a stun-gun, a dildo, a tattoo needle and a golf club. Don’t miss this one, this is a keeper and no doubt it will be remade by an American studio and won’t be nearly as good, this is the original, I can’t wait for the next installment. The Single Man Cast: Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, Matthew Goode, Ginnifer Goodwin, Nicholas Hoult Colin Firth became a household name back in Britain when he starred as Darcy in the BBC production of Pride and Prejudice. Since then he has become a major star mainly as a lead in a romantic comedy. With this role, he has set a new career best performance. The film is set in Los Angeles, 1962. College professor George Falconer (Firth) is haunted by the death of Jim (Goode), his soulmate of 16 years, in a car crash. Over the course of one day, he listens to his colleagues’ banter about the Cuban Missile Crisis, gets drunk with old friend Charley (Moore), and receives advances from student Kenny (Hoult); all the while planning his death. This is a remarkable debut feature from fashion designer Tom Ford and based on the novel by Christopher Isherwood. It sounds like a downer but A Single Man is exciting, emotional filmmaking, a winning mix of style and substance. And Firth thoroughly deserved the Oscar nomination. Rush Beyond the Lighted Stage Cast: Geddy Lee, Neil Peart, Alex Lifeson A portrait of the legendary Canadian rock band Rush from their early days in Toronto, through each of their landmark albums, to the present day. I have a personal relationship with this movie as I was there at the beginning when I first came to Toronto and tried to secure a record deal for Rush and then produce them. At that time no record label would sign the boys and so there manager started his own label and released the first album independently. So I never produced the boys and of course they went on to become the stars I always knew they would be. Shame I’m not in this movie, I would have loved to see myself back in the 70’s! Tell-Tale Cast: Josh Lucas, Lena Headey, Brian Cox, Beatrice Miller, Dallas Roberts, Ulrich Thomsen, Pablo Schreiber, Jamie Harrold Josh Lucas stars as a man whose heart transplant leads him on a frenzied journey to find the killer of his heart's previous owner before its past catches up to him in this retelling of Edgar Allen Poe's classic tale. Seems like the heart has a life of its own and is out looking for revenge using its new keeper as a tool. Nice to see Lena Headey in a role where she’s not kicking ass! (Terminator the Sarah Connor Chronicle) Directors Tony and Ridley Scott produce and these guys know their stuff, a nice little horror movie. The Crazies Cast: Timothy Olyphant, Radha Mitchell, Danielle Panabaker, Joe Anderson, Preston Bailey, Justin Welborn, Lisa K. Wyatt Remake of the 1973 George Romero shocker where a toxic spill turns a small town's locals into murderous lunatics. Ogden Marsh (which sounds like a firm of accountants) is the small town where a crashed military plane spills its cargo of toxic stuff into the local water supply; in an effort to keep the madness contained, the government uses deadly force to close off all access and won't let anyone in or out even those uninfected. Hooray, this is one remake that is actually better than the original and that one wasn’t half bad!
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I have been very tardy with new release reviews, I have been preparing my house for sale and haven’t had the time; however there are a couple of movies I want to mention, the first being my so far movie of the year and the second is my take on the most successful movie of all time.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> The Lovely Bones Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz, Susan Sarandon, <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Stanley Tucci, Saoirse Ronan, Michael Imperioli The Lovely Bones, Peter Jackson’s adaptation of Alice Sebold’s surprising best seller, is at least five films in one. Over its 135 minute running time Jackson manages to squeeze in a touching teen romance, a gripping portrait of a serial killer, a family falling apart drama, an expressionistic after-life fantasy, a police procedural flick and, in one gripping set-piece, a fantastic retread of Hitchcock’s Rear Window. Jackson if you don’t remember is the director who gave us the Rings trilogy and King Kong. This is my favorite film of the year so far; the acting is wonderful, Stanley Tucci especially as the murderer is outstanding as well as being hardly recognizable. There are more special graphic effects in this movie than in most of the high budget fantasy flicks; Peter Jackson’s vision of the after life is somewhat familiar but it is so well done that it doesn’t matter if we have seen this idea before. Steven Spielberg is the executive producer and I am sure he is playing behind the scenes; I have been told the book is so much better and the film misses some of the most poignant parts, but I haven’t read the book so it doesn’t matter, this is a wonderful film and I will definitely watch it again, hopefully this time in Blu-Ray! Avatar Cast: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez, Sigourney Weaver James Cameron’s epic is the most successful film of all time it has generated more income than most small countries plus everyone has seen it! I saw it in 3D at Imax and in my opinion it is one of the most brilliant and certainly innovative films I have ever seen. But therein lies the problem; when the DVD came out it faced a natural dilemma. This film is meant to be seen in 3D, 2D doesn’t do it justice and a lot of the footage doesn’t need to be there as it really doesn’t work. If the disc had tons of special extras it would be worth it, but for that we have to wait until the fall for the super de-luxe version! Surely Mr. Cameron you don’t need the money so why release this ordinary version of a masterpiece? In my opinion my friends, skip it; if you’ve seen it this DVD wont do but if you live under a rock and this is a new film for you, rent it but try to see it as it was meant in a theatre with a large 3D screen!
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So that’s it for winter for another year, time for a good movie and here’s a nice selection.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> The Blind Side Cast: Sandra Bullock, Kathy Bates, Tim McGraw, Ray McKinnon Based on the real-life rags-to-riches tale of football player Michael Oher and the woman whose fierce love and determination to help him allowed him to see the Promised Land. The kindness of strangers is the catalyst that transforms Michael from the silent, brooding young man to the intelligent student and football star. Because of his acceptance, the teenager is able to rise above his roots as an abandoned and homeless boy to become a star tackle at Ole Miss, freshman All American and first round draft pick in the NFL. Sandra Bullock won the academy award for her role as Mrs. Touhy she deserved it. Princess and the Frog Cast: Anika Noni Rose, Bruno Campos, Keith David, John Goodman Walt Disney Animation Studios has a winner here with a musical and an animated comedy set in the great city of <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />New Orleans. From the creators of "The Little Mermaid" and "Aladdin" this is a modern twist on a classic tale, featuring a beautiful girl named Tiana, a frog prince who desperately wants to be human again, and a fateful kiss that leads them both on a hilarious adventure through the mystical bayous of Louisiana. Tiana (Rose) works two waitressing jobs in order to earn enough to buy her own restaurant. Naveen (Campos) is a lazy prince who is turned into a frog by a voodoo man (David). This is the return of hand-drawn animation; the first African-American Disney princess and a thoroughly old-fashioned fairy tale. In fact, this is the anti-Shrek, a sincere fairy tale with a good heart, but one that is never naive or boring. Brothers Cast: Natalie Portman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Tobey Maguire, Mare Winningham Sam Cahill (Maguire) begins his latest tour in Afghanistan and his chopper is shot down. He is presumed dead. As his family, including his wife (Portman), brother (Gyllenhaal) and father (Shepard) mourn his loss; they try to move on with their lives. Then Sam unexpectedly returns home. Irish helmer Jim Sheridan (My Left Foot, In The Name Of The Father, In America) now works mainly in America, and his latest offering, a taut reworking of the 2004 Danish movie Brothers, boasts a much more calculated and slicker set-up, with a superstar cast. Terrific performances from Tobey Maguire, Natalie Portman and Jake Gyllenhaal. So often overshadowed by his co-stars, Gyllenhaal here holds his own against a deliberately stiff and twitchy Maguire, who stars as Sam, the older brother, a captain in the Marines and the apple of his family’s eye, and Portman, who’s fractured character, Grace, is Sam’s childhood sweetheart and the mother of his two daughters. Twilight Saga New Moon Cast: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Ashley Greene, Jackson Rathbone, Nikki Reed, Kellan Lutz Let’s assume that you’re going into the second episode of Stephenie Meyers’ vampire saga with an open mind, having been pleasantly surprised that the first film didn’t turn out to be Vampire High School Musical. If that’s the case, you’ll probably enjoy this slice of high melodrama. If not, stay away. Or in other words, if you are of the female persuasion you’ve probably seen it anyway and can’t wait to see it again what with the regular de-shirting, (OK that’s sexist, I know!) But it’s amazing the cast of this series have become the idols of millions, not bad for an English boy (Pattinson) who made soppy romantic movies before! Fantastic Mr. Fox Cast: George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray Mr. Fox (Clooney), a fox with a high opinion of himself, is struggling to set aside his chicken-stealing habits and settle down to family life. When a trio of wicked farmers relocate to his woods, the temptation to show how fantastic he is proves too great. Based on Roald Dahl’s morality tale, this is genuinely original: a silly, hilarious and a profound adaptation for adult-sized children Clooney’s Mr. Fox is smarmy both in the actor’s unhurried delivery of his mid-life crisis, while Meryl Streep’s Mrs. Fox has a softness both in her sighing over a luckless marriage and in her orangeade-colored fur that stands on end when her husband leads this menagerie of Wind In The Willows drop-outs into a succession of jams. This is a film so outwardly silly, it works like a dream. The Men Who Stare at Goats Cast: George Clooney, Ewan McGregor, Jeff Bridges, Kevin Spacey The plot focuses on a hapless reporter who falls in with a Special Forces Agent. The agent leads said journalist into a secret operations unit, tasked with ending war by utilizing the supernatural. The Men Who Stare At Goats, like Inglorious Basterds before it, marks a return to the long-lost idea that there ought to be some fun in movies, and it’s a testament to George Clooney’s willingness to experiment that, at a time when he really ought to be prepping for his next Oscar, he’s up for a laugh and happy to share the fantastic time he’s having. He dazzles and Jeff Bridges, Ewan McGregor and Kevin Spacey all shine in this scattershot but often hilarious military farce. Did You Hear About the Morgans Cast: Sarah Jessica Parker, Hugh Grant, Sam Elliott, Mary Steenburgen Paul and Meryl Morgan (Grant and Parker) have separated. On the night when he takes her out in an attempt to reunite, the pair witnesses a murder. With the killer on their trail, they’re sent into witness protection in a sleepy Wyoming town, where they’re forced to play the happily marrieds... Whatever you imagine you’re going to get from a romantic comedy in which Hugh Grant plays a British lawyer forced to go into witness protection in Hicksville with his estranged New Yorker wife, that’s exactly what you’re going to get. He tries to be polite to rednecks. He always carries instructions on evading bear attack and then resorts to blustery chitchat when actually confronted by one. This is a nice comedy, the sort of movie to see if it’s raining outside. The Fourth Kind Cast: Milla Jovovich, Elias Koteas, Will Patton, Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Corey Johnson In 1972, a scale of measurement was established for alien encounters. When a UFO is sighted, it is called an encounter of the first kind. When evidence is collected, it is known as an encounter of the second kind. When contact is made with extraterrestrials, it is the third kind. (Spielberg owns this one). The next level, abduction, is the fourth kind. This is a quazi documentary with Milla playing a psychologist Abbey Tyler and Tyler herself appearing in a split screen interviewing real life “abductees”. Sort of like the X Files without the Hollywood effects. Scary? Totally in parts, personally I love these kinds of paranormal movies, bring them on; turn out the lights and have some fun. Armored Cast: Columbus Short, Matt Dillon, Laurence Fishburne, Jean Reno, Skeet Ulrich Trying to pull his life together after the death of his parents and a military tour in Iraq, Ty (Columbus Short) has taken a job as an armored car guard, standing alongside his friend, Mike (Matt Dillon). On the eve of a colossal cash collection, Mike propositions Ty with a risky offer, asking the enthusiastic young man to help steal the money, with the assistance of some shifty maneuvers and a few needy co-workers (including Laurence Fishburne and Jean Reno). What does distinguish this robbery-gone-wrong flick is the authentically blue-collar vibe, as well as its stellar ensemble cast and terrific direction from Nimród Antal. A great “B” movie, lovely fun.
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What did you think about this weeks Academy Award show? Interestingly most of the nominees for best picture are available on DVD now, here’s the latest to hit the Spot. Up In The Air Cast: George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick, Jason Bateman, Amy Morton, Melanie Lynskey, J.K. Simmons, Sam Elliott As the story goes, George Clooney took just one brisk read of the script, sat in one of the many bedrooms of his palatial villa on the tranquil shores of Lake Como, to say yes to home grown director Jason Reitman’s follow-up to hip, teen-pregnancy favorite Juno. He could see it straightaway, the role of a lifetime. Or at least a role in his gifted hands that could be transformed into the role of his lifetime: this suave yet haunted jet-setter with a touch of 40’s idol Cary Grant about him, intent on reaching a miraculous ten million air miles as he skips from city to city laying off the workforce on behalf of cowardly bosses. This was nominated for best picture, director and Clooney for best actor and the two lead actresses for best in their categories. Didn’t win but this is smart, silky, sensitive, and funny old-school movie magic; definitely a renter for the weekend. Precious Director: Lee Daniels Writer: Damien Paul, Sapphire Cast: Mo'Nique, Paula Patton, Mariah Carey, Sherri Shepherd, Lenny Kravitz, Gabourey Sidibe Set in Harlem in 1987, Claireece "Precious" Jones is a 16-year-old African-American girl born into a life no one would want. She's pregnant for the second time by her absent father; at home, she must wait hand and foot on her mother, a poisonously angry woman who abuses her emotionally and physically. School is a place of chaos, and Precious has reached the ninth grade with good marks and an awful secret: she can neither read nor write. "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" (a horrible title if ever there was one) won the Oscar for best supporting actress; Mo’Nique. She is wonderful in this movie; she is physically abusive in ways that are difficult to behold and, on at least one occasion, she tries to murder her daughter. It's also eerie to watch the mask of false sincerity she wears when a social worker visits. Well done, we will see a lot more of this wonderful actor. A Serious Man Cast: Michael Stuhlbarg, Sari Lennick, Richard Kind, Fred Melamed, Aaron Wolff, Jessica McManus, Adam Arkin The suburban Midwest, 1967. Larry Gopnik’s (Stuhlbarg) wife wants a divorce. Larry Gopnik’s son owes the school bully $20 for a bag of marijuana. Larry Gopnik’s brother, Albert (Kind), is sleeping on the sofa. And Larry Gopnik? He just wants to know how it all went wrong, and what he can do about it. A Serious Man is a dysfunctional family drama cum metaphysical mystery. About the clash between truth and superstition (or faith). And Bar Mitzvahs. And death. And teeth. And the inescapability of fate. And Jefferson Airplane. This is the latest movie by the Coen brothers (Blood Simple, Burn After Reading, Miller’s Crossing, Fargo) This is a superb movie, very highly recommended and no you don’t have to be Jewish, please rent it. Didn’t win anything, but then the Coen’s didn’t expect to go up to the podium on this one. It feels this was a personal endeavor, something you can do when you’re successful. Other Releases This Week The Informant Cast: Matt Damon, Scott Bakula, Joel McHale, Melanie Lynskey, Tony Hale, Paul F. Tompkins Mark Whitacre (Damon), a biochemist at an agrichemical firm, liaises with the FBI to root out a possible industrial spy then reveals that his employers are involved in a price-fixing cartel. While gathering evidence, Mark gradually reveals he’s not as honest as honest as he seems. With Steven Soderbergh (Oceans 11 et al) at the helm this movie is a whimsical, semi-comedic romp, complete with a score by Marvin Hamlisch that recalls kitschy '70s TV shows. Matt Damon is virtually unrecognizable as the mustachioed Mark, wearing spectacles and a toupee. He's about as far from the lean-and-mean Jason Bourne as can be imagined. Great stuff, I wonder why there was no Oscar nomination? Law Abiding Citizen Cast: Jamie Foxx, Gerard Butler, Bruce McGill, Colm Meaney, Leslie Bibb, Michael Irby, Regina Hall, Viola Davis The buff Scotsman is back! Gerard Butler plays Clyde Shelton an upstanding family man whose wife and daughter are brutally murdered during a home invasion. When the killers are caught, a hotshot young Philadelphia prosecutor, (Jamie Foxx) is assigned to the case. Over his objections, he is forced by his boss to offer one of the suspects a light sentence in exchange for testifying against his accomplice. Fast forward 10 years. The man who got away with murder is found dead and Clyde Shelton coolly admits his guilt. Then he issues a warning: Either fix the flawed justice system that failed his family, or key players in the trial will die. This is a revenge thriller miles away from Charles Bronson’s era, extremely violent; you’ll love it! Old Dogs Cast: John Travolta, Robin Williams, Kelly Preston, Seth Green, Ella Bleu Travolta, Lori Loughlin, Matt Dillon Old Dogs is a family affair for actor John Travolta, his wife Kelly Preston and their daughter Ella Bleu Travolta. The three of them star together (along with a couple of Travolta’s siblings) in this painfully, heartwarming family film about the challenges and joys of fatherhood. Two best friends, one unlucky-in-love divorcee and the other a fun-loving bachelor have their lives turned upside down when they’re unexpectedly charged with the care of seven-year-old twins while on the verge of the biggest business deal of their lives. The not-so-kid-savvy bachelors stumble in their efforts to take care of the twins, leading to one debacle after another, and perhaps to a new-found understanding of what's really important in life. Planet 51 Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Jessica Biel, Justin Long, Gary Oldman, Seann William Scott, John Cleese Astronaut Chuck Baker (Dwayne Johnson) lands on a planet populated by little green people whose culture parallels Earth circa 1959. They’ve seen so many films about human invaders they want to blast Chuck before he eats their brains. This Anglo-Spanish CG cartoon isn’t quite as slick as the likes of Monsters Vs Aliens, but has an awful lot of charm. Oscar’s big winner was Hurt Locker, I agree it is a wonderful film a story that is topical and current and waves the flag. The loser? Avatar? How can you diss a movie that has made more money than most banks? But really it’s a marvel of modern technology some of which was invented just for this movie and the Academy doesn’t go for special effects. Best part of the show? The twilight girl sneezing on her arm; very cool.
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Valentines day means Chick Flicks; and we have some nice new ones to sit down and cuddle with; your significant other not the DVD player! Amelia Cast: Hilary Swank, Richard Gere, Ewan McGregor, Mia Wasikowska, Christopher Eccleston, Virginia Madsen This is an ambitious biopic of one of the greatest icons of the 20th century, Amelia Earhart. The result is a big, handsome, old-fashioned affair revolving around a heartfelt performance by Hilary Swank in another stunning transformation; this time into the freckled and toothy tomboy whose spirit, style, exploits and mysterious disappearance still fascinates us more than 70 years since her plane vanished over the Pacific. This is a romantic flick telling of Amelia’s full love-life, her affections and passions divided between the older Putnam (silver fox Richard Gere, finally showing his age and dashing aviator Gene Vidal (a dandy Ewan McGregor). Oh yeah, and she flies a bit, becoming the first woman to cross the Atlantic solo, and notching up several other headline-grabbing firsts for woman or man. Time Travelers Wife Cast: Rachel McAdams, Eric Bana, Ron Livingston, Jane McLean A Chicago librarian (Eric Bana) suffers from a genetic disorder that causes him to involuntarily travel through time when stressed. Rachel McAdams, who earned her romantic movie credibility in The Notebook, is perfect as the love interest. Her spirit and energy form the perfect counterpart to low key Bana. A nice adaptation of a very long novel and is well worth the price of a rental (only $1.99!) for those who appreciate romantic fantasy. Can you say Valentine’s Day? Love Happens Cast: Jennifer Aniston, Aaron Eckhart, Anne Marie DeLuise, Martin Sheen Aaron Eckhart is Burke, a widowed self help guru who’s fine on the outside, crumbling on the inside. Jennifer Anniston is florist Eloise, who does strange things like write random words on the walls behind paintings. This romance did little at the box office, so now’s your chance to watch while cuddling. A Serious Man Cast: Michael Stuhlbarg, Sari Lennick, Richard Kind, Fred Melamed, Aaron Wolff, Jessica McManus, Adam Arkin The suburban Midwest, 1967. Larry Gopnik’s (Stuhlbarg) wife wants a divorce. Larry Gopnik’s son owes the school bully $20 for a bag of marijuana. Larry Gopnik’s brother, Albert (Kind), is sleeping on the sofa. And Larry Gopnik? He just wants to know how it all went wrong, and what he can do about it. A Serious Man is a dysfunctional family drama cum metaphysical mystery. About the clash between truth and superstition (or faith). And Bar Mitzvahs. And death. And teeth. And the inescapability of fate. And Jefferson Airplane. This is the latest movie by the Coen brothers (Blood Simple, Burn After Reading, Miller’s Crossing, Fargo) This is a superb movie, very highly recommended and no you don’t have to be Jewish, please rent it. Zombieland Cast: Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin, Amber Heard, Bill Murray This is not a romantic comedy, but it is definitely a comedy, a funny zombie movie (ok most zombie movies are slightly humorous) After a virus has swept the world and turned 99% of the population into ravenous zombies, four survivors hook up on a perilous journey to LA: nervous Columbus (Eisenberg), badass Tallahassee (Harrelson) and con-team sisters Wichita (Stone) and Little Rock (Breslin). The genre-leader, Shaun Of The Dead; (go rent it!) stylish as it is, is based in a time of reality, but Zombieland takes place in a fantasy world where little old ladies can crush zombies with grand pianos, Looney Tunes-style, and where the zombie apocalypse is merely an excuse for four characters to have the run of America. A very funny movie! Welcome back Woody, we missed you! Some romantic movies you probably missed and a few worth seeing again. Nights in Rodanthe, Message in a Bottle, The Notebook, Kate and Leopold, Brokeback Mountain, Tristan and Isolde, The Proposal, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, 27 Dresses, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. All worth renting.
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The most highly anticipated music video of all time is released this week. Michaels Jackson’s This Is It, the concert that never happened is available in both DVD and stunning Blu-Ray Michael Jackson – This Is It I have been a fan of Michael Jackson since his days with the Jackson 5; I can still see Michael as a very young boy taking lead vocals on all the group’s big Motown hits. I remember Michael’s features changing as often as his plastic surgeon purchasing a new Bentley; but one fact that everyone agreed with was his talent! He was as the Brits titled him, the Prince of Pop! He still I believe holds the record for most sales of any male artist for “Thriller” and his live performances have been the object of desire of many an artist. This movie chronicles the rehearsal and set up to the come back concert that was slated for London this year. Of course with the untimely passing of Michael Jackson all that will ever be seen from that show is here in this DVD. All of Michael’s genius is shown here, the hits that made him a superstar and some new material. But the must see footage is the dancing; what a show this would have been, if only. Surrogates Cast: Bruce Willis, Radha Mitchell, Rosamund Pike, Ving Rhames, Boris Kodjoe, Michael Cudlitz, James Cromwell, James Francis Ginty Before Avatar there was Surrogates, in the near future, the human race will experience a risk-free, pleasure-filled life through their avatars, or surrogates, which roam the streets. But when someone starts murdering surrogates and their owners, it falls upon FBI agent Bruce Willis to unhook himself and solve the conspiracy. As an avatar Bruce is chiselled, airbrushed and sports a blond wig; as Willis The Human he is bald, and sports a stubbly grey goatee. This is one movie that didn’t do business at the box office and falls into the category of a movie that you want to see and will wait till it comes out on video; here it is! Saw 6 Cast: Costas Mandylor, Mark Rolston, Betsy Russell, Tobin Bell, Shawnee Smith, Peter Outerbridge The smartest of all the sequel filled Horror franchises has in this sixth version Detective Hoffman emerging as the unchallenged successor to Jigsaw's legacy. However, when the FBI draws closer to Hoffman, he is forced to set a game into motion, and Jigsaw's grand scheme is finally understood (or is it?) If you don’t know who the characters are, start at #1 and keep on renting. Whip It Cast: Ellen Page, Marcia Gay Harden, Kristen Wiig, Drew Barrymore, Juliette Lewis, Jimmy Fallon, Daniel Stern Whip It, is the directorial debut of actress Drew Barrymore based on Shauna Cross' novel, Derby Girl, a fictional tale that uses incidents from her time spent in professional roller derby. Most of the action takes place in and around Austin, Texas, where the Texas Roller Derby team "Hurl Scouts" is based and teamed by players such as Maggie Mayhem, Smashley Simpson (Drew Barrymore) and Bloody Holly.Whip Itis both a wonderful romp and a poignant coming-of-age story and stars one of the best of the new breed of actresses, Ellen Page. Pandorum Cast: Dennis Quaid, Ben Foster, Cam Gigandet, Cung Le, Eddie Rouse, André Hennicke, Norman Reedus Where would we be without “Alien”? Pandorum follows Ridley Scott's Alien blueprint to a T but turns things up to 11. We have the dark corridors, we have the empty hangers, but here they crawl with an army of pale-skinned creatures. Rather than charting the course of space "truckers" and their humdrum day-to-day existence, Pandorum assumes that we already know how dreary it would be on a giant spaceship drifting through eternity. Instead, the emphasis is on the horror of being trapped with no way out. A twist ending and great special effects this a Sci-Fi you never heard of but must see.
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The Golden Globes were presented this Sunday, not a very memorable show, some highlights, Martin Scorsese winning the Cecil B DeMille award, amongst his films; Aviator, Goodfellers, Casino, Taxi Driver, Raging Bull and The Departed can all be rented at the Spot. Best line at the show? Host Ricky Gervais swigging a beer and saying he enjoyed a drink as well as the next man unless that man was Mel Gibson! James Cameron won best director for Avatar yet he thought the award should have gone to his ex wife Kathryn Bigelow for Hurt Locker, speaking of which… The Hurt Locker Director: Kathryn Bigelow Cast: Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Brian Geraghty, Evangeline Lilly, Ralph Fiennes, Guy Pearce, Christian Camargo, Suhail Aldabbach, Sam Spruell Kathryn Bigelow’s superb film about the war in Iraq is possibly one of the best war movies ever made. The story revolves around three members of the Army's elite Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) squad as they battle insurgents and each other as they search for and disarm a wave of roadside bombs on the streets of Baghdad; in order to try and make the city a safer place for Iraqis and Americans alike. A cast of somewhat unknown actors with cameos of international stars makes this movie feel like a documentary not a typical Hollywood movie. Absolutely recommended! A must see! Gamer Cast: Gerard Butler, Michael C. Hall, Amber Valletta, Alison Lohman, Logan Lerman, Terry Crews, John Leguizamo, Zoë Bell "Gamer" is a high-concept action thriller set in the near future, a time when mind-control technology has taken over. Humans control other humans in a multiplayer online game. Reclusive billionaire Ken Castle has created the controversial form of entertainment, "Slayers," a hugely popular game that allows millions to act out their innermost desires and fantasies. Kable (Gerard Butler) is a convict who is mentally linked with a player who controls him. Dexter star Michael C. Hall finally gets a worthy movie role as an eccentric puppet-master villain. Staten Island Cast: Ethan Hawke, Vincent D'Onofrio, Seymour Cassel, Julianne Nicholson, Dennis Albanese The story of three men who have two things in common they are all searching for better lives and they all live in Staten Island. One is a septic tank cleaner who is desperate to give his unborn son the chance he never had. Another is a deaf-mute deli worker who wants to escape the mobsters that have infiltrated his life and business, and Vincent D’Onofrio on hiatus from Law and Order is Parmie Tarzo, a local mob boss, who dreams of crushing the competition and becoming infamous any way he can. From the same guy who gave us “Taken” this is a dark sometimes funny thriller. I Can Do Bad All By Myself Cast: Tyler Perry, Taraji P. Henson, Adam Rodriguez, Brian White, Hope Olaide Wilson, Kwesi Nii-Lante Boakye, Frederick Siglar, Gladys Knight, Mary J. Blige, Marvin Winans The latest from Tyler Perry and his alter self Madea. America's favorite pistol-packing grandma, catches sixteen-year-old Jennifer and her two younger brothers looting her home, she decides to take matters into her own hands and delivers the young delinquents to the only relative they have: their aunt April, Taraji P. Henson (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) a lounge singer who resists assuming guardianship of her late sister's children. The film is a variety show that successfully prompts laughs, tears, and song, The Invention Of Lying Cast: Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner, Jonah Hill, Louis C.K., Jeffrey Tambor, Fionnula Flanagan, Rob Lowe, Tina Fey This movie represents Gervais' feature directorial debut, true he directed many episodes of his original “The Office” but this is his first kick at the big time. The film takes place in an alternate universe much like our own one, but where human beings are incapable of lying. Unfortunately, not only must they tell the truth but they are afflicted with TMI (too much information) syndrome. In this world, Gervais is a loser's loser. He's about to be fired from his job and evicted from his apartment. Unexpectedly, however, he develops the power to lie, and this leads to his becoming one of the most influential and powerful men in the world. When he approaches a woman on the street and informs her that if they don't have sex, the world will end, her response is to ask if they have time to make it to a hotel. If you enjoyed “Ghost Town” you’ll love this one. Fame Cast: Asher Book, Kristy Flores, Kherington Payne, Anna Maria Perez de Tagle,Kelsey Grammer, Bebe Neuwirth, Megan Mullaly A reinvention of the original Oscar winning hit film, "Fame" follows a talented group of dancers, singers, actors, and artists over four years at the New York City High School of Performing Arts. Ballerina Kherington Payne appeared on So You Think You Can Dance before scoring the role of Alice, an Upper East Side debutante with a blazing knack for modern choreography. Co-star Anna Maria Perez de Tagle also appeared on one episode of Dance, veteran actors like Kelsey Grammer, Bebe Neuwirth, Megan Mullally, and Charles S. Dutton bring needed experience to the roles of faculty members, but they're support structures for their talented, younger co-stars and don't demand too much of the spotlight. Lots of everything the original had, dancing singing et al, maybe not as good as the original, but who remembers anyway?
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A very Happy New Year to all our cherished Movie Spotters! This has been our first full year of operation and we are overjoyed that so many of you have found our kiosks to be convenient and filled with the movies you wanted to see. This year will see a lot more locations and a lot more product. Stay tuned for more news! To wrap up last year, here are reviews on some new releases and recent additions. District 9 Cast: Sharlto Copley, Jason Cope, David James, Mandla Gaduka, William Allen Young, Vanessa Haywood, Kenneth Nkosi, Devlin Brown An alien movie set in South Africa shot partly in a faux-documentary style. District 9 really works, it’s an explosive and exciting sci-fi that heralds the arrival of a major new talent, director Neill Blomkamp. Produced by Lord of the Rings man Peter Jackson this is a fun thriller, peopled by some of the best (and strangest) extra-terrestrials this side of E. T. A must see. 9 Cast: Elijah Wood, Jennifer Connelly, Martin Landau, Christopher Plummer, John C. Reilly, Crispin Glover In a post-apocalyptic future, sackcloth doll 9 (Elijah Wood) wakes up to find more of his kind struggling for survival against terrifying machines. When 2 is abducted, 9 rallies his cohorts for one last chance to save humanity... This is writer/director Shane Acker’s full-length debut. His skills with CG animation were rewarded with an Oscar in 2005 for an 11-minute wordless short from which this 79-minute talkie has sprung. Executive producer Tim Burton has brought his genius to this movie, only fault? Maybe too violent for kids and too shallow for many adults; but if you’re a fan of “Corpse Bride” you’ll love it. Beyond a Reasonable Doubt Cast: Michael Douglas, Jesse Metcalfe, Amber Tamblyn, , Joel David Moore, Orlando Jones Desperate Housewives’ pool-boy Jesse Metcalfe stars as C. J., a cheesy TV host trying to be taken seriously as a reporter in this remake of a 1956 Fritz Lang film noir. C. J. frames himself for murder in an attempt to expose the evidence-tampering of the DA (an under-used but welcome Michael Douglas), with one eye on justice and another on a Pulitzer prize. In this reviewers opinion, if it wasn’t for Douglas it would never have come out. I’ve seen the original, shame. 500 Days of Summer Cast: Zooey Deschanel, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Clark Gregg, Minka Kelly, Matthew Gray Gubler, Rachel Boston, Geoffrey Arend, Chloe Moritz Tom (Gordon Levitt) falls in love with Summer (Deschanel) but things don't go quite according to the romantic dream he has in mind. A Golden Globe nominated movie, perfectly played, simultaneously serious and light, endlessly inventive, this is a strong contender for the most original date movie of the year. (Terrific) stuff, go rent! All About Steve Cast: Sandra Bullock, Thomas Haden Church, Bradley Cooper, Ken Jeong, DJ Qualls, Katy Mixon, Howard Hesseman It had been a very good year for Bradley Cooper and Sandra Bullock. He starred in one of 2009's certified smashes, the Vegas-themed laugh riot The Hangover; while she reestablished her credibility by turning The Proposal into an honest-to-goodness hit. Mary Horowitz (Bullock) creates crossword puzzles for a living and wishes she could get a man. Help in that department comes in the form of network cameraman Steve (Cooper). Forced on a blind date with Mary, Steve thinks she's interesting; that is, until she throws herself at him. Suddenly, he gets the heebie-jeebies and makes a break for it. She, on the other hand, gets the mistaken feeling that they are destined for each other. Not as good as Hangover or Proposal; this is still a nice lighthearted romp that’s well worth the rental. A Perfect Getaway Cast: Milla Jovovich, Timothy Olyphant, Marley Shelton, Steve Zahn Honeymooners Cliff (steve Zahn) and Cydney (Milla Jovovich) and experienced outdoor folk Nick (Timothy Olyphant) and Gina (Kiele Sanchez) try to enjoy the scenery on a Hawaiian hike to an isolated beach, but are worried by rumors that a pair of serial killers are on the loose. Of course they are! Wouldn’t be much of a movie otherwise would it. Another holiday-from-hell thriller, this one boasts fine writing and a nice twist. We’ve hiked this trail often recently, but the company is good and there’s both suspense and cheer along survivalist action for the finale. Jennifer’s Body Cast: Megan Fox, Amanda Seyfried, Johnny Simmons, Adam Brody, J.K. Simmons Megan Fox stars as a cheerleader who's taken over by a demon and starts eating the local boys. Splicing horror with comedy is not an easy thing to get right. For every Shaun Of The Dead, there’s a Lesbian Vampire Killers. (don’t see that one, rush out to rent Shaun) The director is Diablo Cody; thanks to indie hit Juno, the stripper-turned-Oscar-winning screenwriter is now considered hipper than Mad Men.
The hottest actress around (just ask ant teenage boy) is Megan Fox; she’s trodden this turf before, but since becoming an A-lister she’s been stuck in bland, pretty-girl roles. If the frank, fresh-talking actress, has been pining to be bad, here she gets her wish. As the owner of Jennifer’s bodacious body and the flirty, dirty villain of the piece, Fox pukes up torrents of blue gunk and becomes a literal man-eater, sinking her teeth into unfortunate jocks. Optimus Prime would be appalled. Paranormal Activity Cast: Micah Sloat, Katie Featherston, Mark Fredrichs, Amber Armstrong, Tim Piper, Randy McDowell Leaving the best until last, this is reputedly one of the scariest horror movies ever made. Shot over seven days with a budget of only $15,000, Paranormal Activity is a movie so brutally committed to simplicity, it doesn’t even have a plot; just a situation, repeated over and over again, with the regularity of a bad recurring dream. A couple are terrorized by an unseen force. First, they try to film it, then they fight to stay alive. And that’s it. Split between day (where Katie and Micah survey the aftermath) and night, it conditions you into a state of anticipation and dread. Each time the film goes nocturnal, the footage switches to the same static bedroom shot. Because the camera never moves, you’re there with them watching every single shadow. This is very scary stuff, rumor has it even Steven Spielberg was turned into a wreck; watch it if you dare!
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Continuing with the release of every important film of the year, comes the number 1 box office animated film. A very funny family film that will become a classic and is one that will never date. Speaking of dates, a perfect date movie in the Ugly Truth is a sure fire winner. New Releases this Week: The Ugly Truth Cast: Gerard Butler, Katherine Heigl, Cheryl Hines, Bonnie Somerville, Bree Turner, Eric Winter, Vicki Lewis, Holly Weber, Nick Searcy, Yvette Nicole Brown Hot Scotsman Gerard Butler and the lovely “doctor” Katherine Heigl star in this delightful yet raunchy romantic comedy. TV producer Abby (Heigl) is forced to work with relationship ‘expert’ Mike (Butler), who advises women to use sex to get men. They make a bet: unless his methods snag her dream man (Winter) for her, he’ll leave the show. Can’t miss, co-star two of the most popular and eye pleasing new actors in the business and you have a sure renter. Up Cast: Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer, John Ratzenberger. From Disney-Pixar here is the highest grossing animation this year. A comedy adventure about 78-year-old balloon salesman (voiced by Ed Asner) who finally fulfills his lifelong dream of a great adventure when he ties thousands of balloons to his house and flies away to the wilds of South America. But, he discovers all too late that his biggest nightmare has stowed away on the trip: an overly optimistic eight-year-old Wilderness Explorer named Russell. This was shown in 3D in the theatres and thankfully Disney didn’t try to release the DVD this way. In Blu-Ray it’s spectacular, yet a must see DVD in any format. The first animated movie to open the Cannes film festival and sure to garner loads of awards come Oscar time, leads to a question though, how is Disney going to top this one? Classics Now Playing at the Spot The Naked Gun Series: One of the funniest series ever starring Leslie Nielsen is now at the Spot, rarely shown on TV because of one co-star namely O.J. Simpson! The Naked Gun : From the files of Police Squad Cast: Leslie Nielsen, Priscilla Presley, Ricardo Montalban, George Kennedy, O.J. Simpson, The Naked Gun: From The Files Of Police Squad! Came about in 1988 and grossed almost $100 million, spawned two sequels and countless imitators. Also continuing to prove the best acting OJ ever did was trying to put on a pair of gloves in a California courtroom. As Lieutenant Frank Drebin, the star is Leslie Nielsen; he is as dapper as he is deadpan, and somehow this makes the fact that he's actually a bumbling idiot endlessly funny. The plot of the film is somewhat superfluous, and finds Frank attempting to thwart the assassination of Queen Elizabeth (at a baseball game of all places), avenge the attempted murder of his colleague Nordberg (played by O.J. Simpson, that’s irony for you!), and find love with the beautiful Jane Spencer (Priscilla Presley). Naked Gun 2 ½ Smell of Fear In the first sequel Frank Drebin is walking out of the men's room, causing First Lady Barbara Bush to slam face-first into the door. That's the Drebin we know and love: a walking disaster who is utterly and completely unaware of the destruction he constantly causes. Naked Gun 33 1/3 the Final Insult This last of the series is just as funny as the other two. Having retired from Police Squad, Frank Drebin is having difficulty adjusting to domestic life and the prospect of starting a family. When a vicious terrorist (Fred Ward) is linked to a previous suspect (Anna Nicole Smith), Ed (George Kennedy) and Nordberg recruit Frank to come back and go undercover… Dave Chappelle’s Block Party In September 2004, wildly popular comedian Dave Chappelle took his time and money to put together a block party for Brooklyn, New York. To entertain the crowds, he invited hip-hop luminaries such as Kanye West, The Roots, Mos Def, Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Dead Prez, Common, and, after pleasing some higher power, he also managed to get The Fugees to reunite for this special day. "Block Party" is the documentary covering the invites, the reasoning, and the spectacle. It cuts back and forth between concert footage with his standup and the often-funny events that precipitated it. Unforgiven Cast: Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman, Richard Harris, Jaimz Woolvett, Saul Rubinek, Frances Fisher, Anna Levine, David Mucci, Rob Campbell Clint Eastwood won the best director Oscar for this superb Western. In all it won 4 academy awards including best picture and has become somewhat of a classic. Morgan Freeman, Gene Hackman (who won for best supporting actor) and Richard Harris are terrific, and even though Hackman plays the brutal bad guy sheriff, I couldn’t help feel sorry for him in the end. A must see... Tomorrow Never Dies Cast: Pierce Brosnan, Jonathan Pryce, Michelle Yeoh, Teri Hatcher, Ricky Jay One of the best Pierce Bronson James Bond movies and for the first time since Sean Connery left the franchise; it feels like a real James Bond adventure. Jonathan Pryce plays a villain cut from the same cloth as Blofeld and Goldfinger, and it’s a treat to see the lovely Teri Hatcher years before she moved to desperate housewife land! If you are a newcomer to the Bond movies and just think of 007 as Daniel Craig, this is a good one to start your viewing off with.
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It’s trick or treats time again! Halloween is nearly here so read on for my list of the top ten horror films of all time! Plus this week’s releases including the latest Ice Age, the latest Woody Allen, a creepy Halloween horror film and a very violent ridiculous actioner the type of which we all love Ice Age –Dawn of the Dinosaurs Cast: Cast: Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Queen Latifah, Denis Leary, Chris Wedge, Simon Pegg Manny, Diego and pals find themselves tangling with T-rexes for this, a third outing, after Sid the Sloth discovers a forgotten dino paradise buried deep beneath the ice. It’s yet another excuse for the woolly troupe to set out on an epic journey, following in the well-trodden tracks of its predecessors. Simon Pegg’s (Hot Fuzz, Run Fat Boy Run) swashbuckling Buck, a plucky, one-eyed weasel brings a welcome note of derring-do to the proceedings. Don’t worry about the characters interacting with dinosaurs that’s sure to make paleontologists bleed out of their ears, it’s a fun for the whole family cartoon and kudos to the studio for not bothering to release in 3D, we all know it doesn’t work. Whatever Works Cast: Larry David, Ed Begley Jr., Patricia Clarkson, Conleth Hill, Michael McKean, Evan Rachel Wood, Woody Allen is back in his beloved New York and has brought Larry David along for the ride. What could be better than this dream team?Woody Allen's latest, is the filmmaker's best feature since Match Point and his most effective pure comedy in a dozen years. A collaboration with Larry David the man who brought us Seinfeld should have come years ago. The Curb Your Enthusiasm star plays a cranky pessimist who becomes the initially unwilling husband to a much younger Southern girl with a father fixation. But when her conservative mother arrives, all hell breaks loose as Mom tries to drive her daughter away from the old guy and toward a much younger model. Orphan Cast: Vera Farmiga, Peter Sarsgaard, Isabelle Fuhrman, CCH Pounder, Jimmy Bennett Just in time for Halloween comes this creepy tale. It's the story of a couple - played by Vera Farmiga and Peter Sarsgaard - who lose their baby and decide to adopt a 9 year-old girl, only to get more than they bargained for. Esther (Isabelle Fuhrman, the Goth Dakota Fanning) is a precocious orphan with a sinister Russian accent and a penchant for vintage dresses. Her adoptive parents ignore all the warning signs, like knowing glances from nuns and the mysterious death of Esther’s former adopted parents, and decide that this little loner is the perfect Band-Aid for their family. Esther is an entertaining and solid addition to the Evil Child story. There may be something wrong with Esther, but there’s nothing wrong with “Orphan.” Very highly recommended. The Tournament Cast: Ving Rhames, Robert Carlisle, Kelly Hu. Every 7 years, in a small, clueless town somewhere in the world, 30 of the world’s best assassins are brought together to compete in a kill-or-be-killed tournament, whereby the last one standing wins a cool $10 million. Meanwhile, gamblers bet on the game from the comforts of the tournament holder’s operation center. An excuse for a film that consists of a whole lot of wanton bloodshed? Maybe, enjoyable? You bet; 30 contestants, with the more notable ones being Chinese hitwoman Lai Lai Zhen (Kelly Hu), the crazy Texan Miles Slade (Ian Somerhalder), and the reigning champ Joshua Harlow (Ving Rhames). Of course there are more, but since most of them get shot, blown up, or decapitated early on, they aren’t worth mentioning. The final contestant is Father Macavoy (Robert Carlyle), the alcoholic non violent priest who finds himself pulled unknowingly into the tournament. Only thing missing is Jean-Claude Van Damme, still you can’t have everything. Thanks to Alliance films I had a screening copy and boy did I enjoy this movie, a perfect way to relax!! The Spotter’s Top 10 Horror Titles Ever! (not in any particular order, that’s too difficult) The Exorcist – Definitely the scariest movie ever made, trust me I was there in the cinema when it first came out and witnessed real screaming and an ambulance parked outside! Halloween – John Carpenter’s classic that introduced us to Michael Myers the original slasher and Jamie Lee Curtis; this was the one that started it all. Alien – OK not really a horror film, this is Ridley Scott’s sci- fimasterpiece with a really great alien monster, brilliant movie score and superb direction. The Pit and the Pendulum – Vincent Price in a very campy movie using the same sets and background used in many other Roger Corman productions, but this was the first horror film I ever saw in a cinema. I sneaked in through the back door when I was a boy and I couldn’t sleep for a week thinking of that pendulum swinging downwards and Vincent Price hamming it up as a demented inquisitor; wonderful! Trick R Treat – A new release that you have to see (go rent it now!) a first class Halloween tale broken up into episodes neatly joined together. Saw; Saw 2; Saw et al – Very original with complex flashbacks-within-flashbacks explaining how the characters have come to these frightening predicaments and a satisfying mystery to go with its ghastly claustrophobia. Also a great serial killer to boot! All the sequels worked, which in itself is very rare. Night of the Living Dead – This isGeorge Romero’s masterpiece from 1968. Romero’s black and white “home movie” with its occasional bad lighting and amateurish acting made it seem like a real event was unfolding. Adding to this is the radio broadcast that gradually updates us on the latest news, a not so subtle way of narrating over the script. The last broadcast confirming that dead people are literally coming back and seeking the living; Romero created a surreal Hell on Earth that haunted for days after first seeing this terrific zombie movie. very campy movie using the same sets and background used in many other Roger Corman productions, but this was the first horror film I ever saw in a cinema. I sneaked in through the back door when I was a boy and I couldn’t sleep for a week thinking of that pendulum swinging downwards and Vincent Price hamming it up as a demented inquisitor; wonderful! Trick R Treat – A new release that you have to see (go rent it now!) a first class Halloween tale broken up into episodes neatly joined together. Saw; Saw 2; Saw et al – Very original with complex flashbacks-within-flashbacks explaining how the characters have come to these frightening predicaments and a satisfying mystery to go with its ghastly claustrophobia. Also a great serial killer to boot! All the sequels worked, which in itself is very rare. Night of the Living Dead – This isGeorge Romero’s masterpiece from 1968. Romero’s black and white “home movie” with its occasional bad lighting and amateurish acting made it seem like a real event was unfolding. Adding to this is the radio broadcast that gradually updates us on the latest news, a not so subtle way of narrating over the script. The last broadcast confirming that dead people are literally coming back and seeking the living; Romero created a surreal Hell on Earth that haunted for days after first seeing this terrific zombie movie. Psycho – Alfred Hitchcock’s really scary movie about Norman Bates and his “mother”. The shower scene is cinematic history; Bernard Hermann’s score around this 2 minute wonder is now legendary. Psycho not only set off a raging controversy around censorship, but it also ruined the morning shower for a generation of Americans. The Ring - This remake of the J-horror hit 'Ringu,' about a mysterious video tape that kills anyone who watches it. It's drenched in taut suspense, and boasts a finale that'll have you sprinting away from your TV set featuring a young lady with the worst haircut in movie history! This one is really scary; you have been warned. Nosferatu – Horror films have been around since the invention of the movies; there has and will always be a market for scaring viewers especially those of the weaker sex, presumably so their dates can hold them close to keep them safe from those evil people on the screen. This 1922 movie despite being an unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker's 'Dracula' novel, director F.W. Murnau's seminal vampire flick is lauded as one of the best silent films ever. And Max Schreck is so chillingly creepy as bloodthirsty antagonist Count Orlok (aka Count Dracula) that the actor himself was believed to be a vampire. Some notable movies I did not include but still warrant a mention. “Scream”; Wes Craven’s homage to classic horror films. “Friday the 13th” Admit it, just the mention of "summer camp" or "Crystal Lake" has you glancing over your shoulder, listening for a noise in the woods and swearing off hockey masks. “Evil Dead” Sam Raimi’s cult classic, and don’t forget his latest “Drag Me to Hell” “A Nightmare on Elm Street” The ratty red-and-green sweater, the grotesquely burned visage, the glove made of knives, the ability to turn Johnny Depp into a puree of blood and guts: If ever a man was made to haunt dreams; and murder people in them; it was Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund). “28 Days Later” The zombie genre goes even darker in Danny Boyle's malevolent take, in which flesh-eating is a viral affliction and the stricken are possessed with rabid ferocity and superhuman speed. “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” No, it's not based on real events as advertised in the opening credits (that tricky Tobe Hooper!), but that doesn't make it less terrifying. This shocking low-budget scare about limb loss in the Lone Star State set the stage for Michael Myers, Freddy and Jason, awful sequels and all. Well that’s it for this year. I know I missed some of your favorites, why not email me and let me know?
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Movie Spot is now carrying Blu Ray, with copies of all the major titles we add to the kiosks. They can be found for now in selected locations and soon available everywhere. This week sees the release of the biggest movie of the year “Transformers – Revenge of the Fallen” as well as a really good comedy, a return of the horror master and a remake of a classic TV show. The Proposal Cast: Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, Mary Steenburgen, Craig T. Nelson, Betty White, Denis O'Hare, Malin Akerman, Oscar Nuñez, Aasif Mandvi, Niecy Nash When high-powered book editor Margaret faces deportation to her native Canada, (nice of them to mention us eh?); the quick-thinking exec declares that she's actually engaged to her unsuspecting assistant Andrew, who she's tormented for years. He agrees to participate in the charade, but with a few conditions of his own. The unlikely couple heads to Alaska to meet his quirky family, and the always-in-control city girl finds herself in one comedic fish-out-of-water situation after another. With an impromptu wedding in the works and an immigration official on their tails, Margaret and Andrew reluctantly vow to stick to the plan despite the precarious consequences. Sandra Bullock has never been more appealing in the kind of “tough boss” role normally associated with male actors. The Proposalturns the usual romantic comedy tables around, painting a hilarious picture of an attractive and bossy business exec caught in a situation spiralling out of control . Ryan Reynolds’ comedic expertise is put to good use in the role of her willingly unwilling assistant who must join her charade or risk losing his job. This is Reynolds’ best outing yet, and he shows he could own the genre if provided the right material. Stealing the movie from both of them, however, is the irrepressible Betty White, who plays Reynolds’ saucy Grammy. Once again, the Golden Girls, Boston Legal, alum proves she has comic timing second to none. Can you believe she’s 87 years old?? Wholly recommended, could be the best comedy yet this year! Drag Me to Hell Director: Sam Raimi Cast: Alison Lohman, Justin Long, Lorna Raver, Dileep Rao, David Paymer, Adriana Barraza Desperate for a promotion, kind-hearted loans manager Christine (Lohman) refuses an elderly customer, Mrs. Ganush (Raver), only to become the subject of a terrifying gypsy curse that will see her dragged to hell by a vengeful demon called the Lamia...
Director Sam Raimi made his name in the horror genre with the Evil Dead trilogy. Since then, his career’s led him away from scares towards web-covered franchises. (That’s Spiderman natch!) Drag Me to Hell is a return to a genre he once ruled in fact, this is easily the purest Raimi movie since Evil Dead II.
This movie is pure horror fun, lurching from wild laughs to beautifully choreographed scares like a locomotive threatening to leave the tracks. As with a ghost train, the objective is simple. Build tension. Scream. Reveal scary thing. Scream. Relieve tension. Laugh. And start all over again...
Although there is no ‘message’ here, the film can be seen as a cautionary tale about the perils of greed, Christine’s one slip, her one concession to ambition, is enough to damn her to a horrific ordeal in which Lohman is humiliated and abused .
And boy, does Christine suffer. If she’s not being slammed into a ceiling by an invisible demonic force, then she’s hose-spraying a nosebleed around her office or vomiting up flies at the dinner table. There are other characters in the movie; Justin Long, (I’m a Mac) as her earnest boyfriend, and Dileep Lao, as a shaman saviour, but this is undoubtedly Lohman’s show, turning in an impressive performance.
Drag Me To Hell is Raimi’s most satisfying movie in ages; a low-down, cheap, nasty return to the vibe of the films on which he was granted most creative freedom. Drag Me To Hell? Try How Sam Got His Groove Back...
Land of the Lost Cast: Will Ferrell, Danny R. McBride, Anna Friel, Raymond Ochoa, Pollyanna McIntosh, Logan Manus Space-time vortexes suck. Dr. Rick Marshall is sucked into one and spat back through time. Now, Marshall has no weapons, few skills and questionable smarts to survive in an alternate universe full of marauding dinosaurs and fantastic creatures from beyond our world; this is a place known as the "Land of the Lost." Sucked alongside him for the adventure is his research assistant Holly and a redneck survivalist named Will. Chased by a T. Rex and stalked by painfully slow reptiles known as Sleestaks, Marshall, Will and Holly must rely on their only ally, a primate called Chaka. Get stuck, and they'll be permanent refugees in the "Land of the Lost." This is yet another remake of an old Saturday-morning staple from the early ’70s. And, on paper, the show, in which a father and two kids are whisked into a parallel dimension populated by stop-motion dinosaurs, creepy lizard-men and gibberish-spouting primates, has plenty to recommend it. Dinosaurs are always good value, of course, and LOTL boasts a bunch of them, including a super-intelligent T-rex with a grudge named Grumpy. But that was then and now, well; there’s nothing wrong with the cast; Ferrell, as disgraced palaeontologist Dr. Rick Marshall, adds another puffed-up buffoon to his collection; Danny McBride is as reliable as ever in wiseass redneck mode; and Anna Friel adds both sex appeal and Brit grit as a plucky Cambridge grad ostracised for her faith in Marshall’s crackpot theories. Trouble is who does this film cater to? Can’t seem to make up its mind, and that’s the problem. It has great bits, some good gross out laughs, great special effects, but somehow lacks in totality. Could have been much better, still for $1.99. It’s a great rental. Transformers Revenge of the Fallen Cast: Megan Fox, Shia LaBeouf, Rainn Wilson, Hugo Weaving, John Turturro, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, Frank Welker, Isabel Lucas, Reno Wilson Two years have passed since Sam Witwicky and the Autobots saved the human race from the invading Decepticons. Now he's preparing for the biggest challenge of his life: leaving home for college. Meanwhile, the Decepticons (the bad guys) learn what Sam doesn't know: he alone holds the key to the outcome of the struggle between evil and the ultimate power of good. With the help of the Autobots, the soldiers of NEST, and an old adversary-turned-ally, former Sector 7 Agent Simmons, Sam and his girlfriend Mikaela (the very lovely Megan Fox) must uncover the secret history of the Transformers presence on earth, and an ancient Decepticon named The Fallen; sworn on returning here for revenge. This is a movie of wild excess and a string of bad-taste jokes. Dogs hump each other, robots hump human legs and the camera spends so much time ogling Megan Fox’s torso you start to wonder if it’s being operated by a 13 year-old boy. There are now 42 robots, including one that looks like a jaguar, one that can turn into ball bearings to access high-security areas and one in the form of a Dyson vacuum cleaner. Director Michael Bay had a wonderful time and a truckload of money making this 150 minute sequel, and I must say that this is the loudest film I have ever heard! There are so many explosions, crashes and stressed machinery noises to turn an old metal-head deaf! The other problem I had was trying to differentiate between the good guys and bad guys (that’s robots) when they were slugging it out with each other. They all look the same when they’re in bits so who knows? Well actually any one under the age of thirteen for starters, which reminds me of the old Groucho Marx joke when asked if he understood a contract and said “this is so simple a child can understand it, someone get me a child I can’t make any sense of it”
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Baseball seasons over, Hockey starts, another year as the world turns, Blue Jays were rubbish and the Leafs will probably go the same way again. Who knows, maybe the Raptors will make the playoffs. Oh how we live in hope in Toronto! Still, this all means there is plenty of time to watch some good movies, lots of blockbusters (not the store!) coming out (Oh I don’t know!) the first real Halloween title is reviewed, some comedies and a glorious Adrien Brody movie! Coming soon: 2 new Movie Spot locations; Sobeys in Welland and Dunnville; and more to come. This week's reviews Year One Cast: Jack Black, Michael Cera, Olivia Wilde, David Cross, Hank Azaria, Juno Temple, Oliver Platt, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Gabriel Sunday In a Paleolithic kind of-Eden live brash hunter Zed (Black) and sensitive gatherer Oh (Cera). But, after Zed eats forbidden fruit and accidentally burns down their village, he and Oh are exiled, leading them on a journey towards Sodom; via a few biblical incidents. Director Harold Ramis has tried this before with Bill Murray and John Belushi at the Second City improve lounge; there it worked but here it sort of reminds me of the Toronto Blue Jays, shoulda, coulda, didn’ta. Personally I laughed a lot, but then I like gross humour and I’m a huge Michael Cera fan; but this movie yearns for some Mel Brooks type script or even some Monty Python outtakes. I suppose if you really want to laugh at the Old Testament, watch some of the work by the aforementioned experts. My Life In Ruins Cast: Nia Vardalos, Richard Dreyfuss, María Ádanez, Sheila Bernette, María Botto, Rachel Dratch, Alexis Georgoulis, Ralph Nossek, Bernice Stegers, Harland Williams Georgia has lost her kefi (Greek for "mojo"). Discouraged by her lack of direction in life, she works as a travel guide, leading a rag-tag group of tourists as she tries to show them the beauty of her native Greece while waiting to land her dream job. Opening their eyes to an exotic foreign land, she too begins to see things in new ways finding love in the process. Once upon a time ago (actually 2002), Tom Hanks, and Nia Vardalos teamed for what proved to be the surprise hit of the year, My Big Fat Greek Wedding.(still the most profitable romantic comedy of all time) The delightfully appealing film had enough to keep it from turning to mush and enough chemistry between the leads to get us rooting for the happy ending. Now Nia Vardalos tries it again as Greek-American Georgia who returns to her roots as a down-on-her-luck Athens tour guide, lurching from one disaster to the next as she shepherds a motley crew of Australians, kleptomaniac octogenarians and brash Yanks from one Athenian antiquity to the next. A nice travelogue of Greece and not a bad little movie mainly thanks to Vardalos’ warm performance, and it’s a pleasure to see Richard Dreyfuss back on the screen as kindly if irritating widower Irv. The DVD has an alternative ending which I haven’t seen yet, someone fill me in on that. Trick R Treat Cast: Quinn Lord, Brian Cox, Dylan Baker, Leslie Bibb, Moneca Delain, Anna Paquin, Rochelle Aytes, Tahmoh Penikett, Lauren Lee Smith, Britt McKillip It is said that Halloween is the night when the dead rise to walk among us and other unspeakable things roam free. The rituals of All Hallows Eve were devised to protect us from their evil mischief, and one small town is about to be taught a terrifying lesson that some traditions are best not forgotten. Nothing is what it seems when a suburban couple learns the dangers of blowing out a Jack-o-Lantern before midnight; four women cross paths with a costumed stalker at a local festival; a group of pranksters goes too far and discovers the horrifying truth buried in a local legend; and a cantankerous old hermit is visited by a strange trick-or-treater with a few bones to pick. Costumes and candy, ghouls and goblins, monsters and mayhem; the tricks and treats of Halloween turn deadly as strange creatures of every variety; human and otherwise; try to survive the scariest night of the year. Michael Doughterty’s movie has been waiting in the wings for a release for two years, and finally its here. It is A delicious, twisted, gleeful anthology, with each story complimenting and, in some cases, completing the one before it. Connecting them all is the instantly iconic figure of Sam. About the height of a child, wearing tattered pajamas, a sack over his head, and wielding a large bag full of candy, this little guy is the stuff nightmares are made of. At 87 minutes, there is not a dull moment. The tone is morbidly charming, effortlessly switching between laughs and screams. The ensemble cast works marvelously and other than perhaps 1978's Halloween, Trick 'r Treat sets out to be the definitive movie of the holiday, and it succeeds. This is a very good movie, why did we have to wait 2 years for this to come out? Imagine That Cast: Eddie Murphy, Thomas Haden Church, Yara Shahidi, Nicole Ari Parker, Ronny Cox, Martin Sheen Eddie Murphyis terrific as Evan Danielson, an overworked financial advisor who is so immersed in his job he’s forgotten about Olivia, his daughter from an estranged marriage. When he is given custody for a week and he gets too busy with work, she retreats into her fantasy world, imagining a group of princesses who, as it turns out, really know their way around big business. When Dad figures out his daughter’s special blanket and otherworldly friends have the magic touch for investment advice, he becomes an instant superstar in his firm. But his newfound success soon sets up a confrontation with his chief rival, Johnny Whitefeather. Eddie Murphy has carved out a solid alternate career as a star of family-friendly movies. But none of those previous works play to his overall talents as a comedian better than this movie. The purely delightful premise, in which Murphy faces off with skeptical business partners, is perfectly toned to his talents and allows him to be widely appealing for both kids and their parents. As daughter Olivia, newcomer Yara Shahidiwon out over 3000 girls and is wonderful, a real charmer who goes toe to toe with Eddie. Thomas Haden Churchprovides the perfect foil for Murphy as Whitefeather, a guy who plays off a phony Native American heritage and spouts nonsensical advice like he’s E.F. Hutton. Ronny Cox and Martin Sheen play it straight allowing Eddie to shine; this is a great movie, the best thing Eddie Murphy has done for a while and probably missed at the theatre, so if you need a laugh, go rent this one. So sayeth the Spotter! The Brothers Bloom Cast: Adrien Brody, Rachel Weisz , Rinko Kikuchi, Nora Zehetner, Mark Ruffalo, Robbie Coltrane, Andy Nyman, Maximilian Schell, Noah Segan, Zachary Gordon My pick of the week! From their childhood in a long series of gloomy foster homes to their high-flying lives as international con artists, Stephen and Bloom have shared everything. Stephen brilliantly concocts intricate stories that the brothers live out, but he's still searching for the perfect con, the one where "everyone gets what they want." Eager to retire, Bloom agrees to take part in one last grand scam. He insinuates himself into the life of Penelope, a bored, single New Jersey heiress. When a genuine romance begins to blossom between them, she impulsively joins Bloom, Stephen and their "associate," a sexy Japanese explosives expert named Bang Bang on an ocean liner to Greece. Penelope is convinced she's happened upon the adventure of a lifetime and offers to bankroll a million dollar deal. But as Stephen's elaborate web of deceit pulls tighter, Bloom begins to wonder if his brother has devised the most dangerous con of his life. Adrien Brody plays the role of Bloom with a suitable helping of melancholy and loneliness, and works surprisingly well as a romantic lead. Mark Ruffalo is a likeable rogue a change of pace for a guy who usually plays darker and heavier parts. Rachel Weisz positively sparkles, lending her blend of sexiness to this film; Rinko Kikuchi steals scenes with her nearly-mute portrayal of Bang Bang. This is my pick to rent, spend 2 hours with these loveable rogues, you’ll thank me! Newly added Movies You have to watch again (or maybe for the first time!) Friday the 13th Cast: Betsy Palmer, Adrienne King, Harry Crosby, Laurie Bartram, Jeannine Taylor, Kevin Bacon, Mark Nelson As we’re getting ready for Halloween I thought we might want to add to the kiosks the first of the series that introduced us to the hockey mask wearing nut case Jason. On Friday, June 13th 1958, two Camp Crystal Lake counselors, Claudette and Barry, slip away from the campfire for an illicit rendezvous. They are discovered and murdered by an unseen assailant (hello Jason!) Two decades later, the camp is preparing to reopen. "Camp Blood" has a death curse, the murders in '58, a boy drowning in '57, the fires and bad water that thwarted attempts to reopen the camp etc, etc. This highly successful franchise consists of twelve slasher films, a television show, games and comic books. This is the first and probably the best of the lot, it’s campy, scary and funny like the one idiot girl who chases down a faint cry for help through the woods in the middle of the night in the rain in her nightgown, just what every girl should do isn’t it. Admittedly the film lacks John Carpenter’s skill in making Halloween, it isn’t nearly as suspenseful but Jason Voorhees has sold a lot of masks, models and posters just like Michael Myers, so stuff that into your body bags! Face Off Cast: John Travolta, Nicolas Cage, Joan Allen, Gina Gershon, Harve Presnell Directed by John Woo Woo, who is known and appreciated for his unique stylistic approach to violence and bloodshed, creates a ballet of bullets and explosions that drives the adrenaline level through the roof. This is my favorite all time John Travolta and Nicholas Cage movie; now let’s see if you can get the plot. Sean Archer (John Travolta) is a dedicated federal officer whose obsession with bringing down one particular master criminal, Castor Troy (Nicolas Cage), has blinded him to all other concerns; you see six years prior, Troy's attempt to kill Archer went wrong, and Archer's young son was killed. Since then, a thirst for revenge has driven the FBI agent to pursue Troy with such vigor that it has alienated both his wife (Joan Allen) and his teenage daughter (Dominique Swain). When the latest confrontation between the two leaves the criminal in a coma, Archer is forced to undergo a face transplant with Troy's features so that he can go undercover in a prison, and interact with Troy's paranoid brother, Pollux (Alessandro Nivola), because very bad guy Nicholas Cage has a bomb that is ticking away somewhere in downtown L.A. But, while Archer is masquerading as his arch- enemy, the real Troy regains consciousness and hijacks Archer's face. Got it so far? So now Nick Cage is John Travolta and vice versa. So good John is now bad Nick and we are now rooting for Nick and booing John. Sci-Fi predicament? You bet, action galore and really good acting, this is one of the best action movies ever in my opinion so go out and rent this it really is good. Transformers Cast: Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox ,Tyrese Gibson, Josh Duhamel, Anthony Anderson, Rachael Taylor, , John Turturro, Jon Voight Our world will be transformed when two races of robots; the heroic Autobots and the evil Decepticons (which are able to change into a variety of objects, including cars, trucks, planes and other technological creations); make Earth their final battleground. As the forces of evil seek the key to ultimate power, our last chance for survival rests in the hands of young Shia LaBeouf. Michael Bay’s live-action rendition of the cult Japanese toy-line, is a film about big toys attacking a lot of small toys, and some equally as big, and some much bigger (Transformers are equal-opportunity), and a lot of humans (if you’re a Decepticon) and buildings (mostly downtown LA). This film is miles better than the sequel, I found that one to be a little difficult to figure out who’s who (Decepticon or Autobots), not hard for my 10 year old however! Both John Turturro and Jon Voight are wonderfully political and unlike the sequel, LaBeouf’s parents play parents and not silly straight men! This film also introduced us to the latest femme fatale, cover girl Megan Fox, so that alone probably recommends it. This is a perfect 5.1 surround sound DVD, crank it up it’ll blow the doors down! Black Rain Cast: Michael Douglas, Andy Garcia, Yusaku Matsuda. Directed by Ridley Scott Michael Douglas plays again the hard-boiled cop in the form of Nick Cunkley who’s out of favor due to his wife and has a chance to redeem himself by escorting with his partner Charlie Vincent (Andy Garcia) a notorious mob boss predictably called Sato (Yusaku Matsuda) back to Japan, only to lose him when they turn him over to the mobsters disguised as policemen. So Douglas and Garcia have to reluctantly team up with Japanese cop Mashahiro Matsumoto (Ken Takakura) to track him and his Yakuza buddies. Black Rain explodes with action it’s really a much layered film that offers content between the raindrops of a soaky Osaka.
Michael Douglas plays rough well his diction is edged with a harshness that effectively captures the pragmatic cop Nick Conklin. Andy Garcia is given a wonderful opportunity to shine in the role of Nick’s partner. Ken Takakura lends perfect balance to Douglas and Garcia, and the thick delivery of Tomisaburo Wakayama as Sugai, one of the Oyabuns or family heads of the Japanese Mafia is reminiscent of Brando in The Godfather. Sugai is one dangerous dude.
Ridley Scott made this film after “Blade Runner” and the magnificent scenery and rainy ambience that defined said film is alive and well in Black Rain. The grit versus the glitz of New York City and Osaka is replicated admirably. The score by Hans Zimmer sounds terrific on this Dolby Digital 5:1 DVD. Well recommended for anyone who enjoys a good cop movie. Care to write a review? EMail me at thespotter@moviespot.ca and if I like it, we'll publish it and you get a free rental at any Movie spot.
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The best animated film of the summer is released this week, not in 3D, but you can’t have it all. Plus a Jennifer Aniston movie I bet you never heard of which is a shame but now you can rent it and enjoy! Monsters Vs Aliens Cast: Will Arnett, Paul Rudd, Seth Rogen, Hugh Laurie, Reese Witherspoon, Rainn Wilson, Kiefer Sutherland, Stephen Colbert When Susan Murphy is unwittingly clobbered by a meteor full of outer space gunk on her wedding day, she mysteriously grows to 49-feet-11-inches tall. The military jumps into action and Susan is captured and secreted away to a covert government compound. There, she is renamed Ginormica and placed in confinement with a ragtag group of Monsters: the brilliant but insect-headed Dr. Cockroach, Ph.D.; the macho half-ape, half-fish The Missing Link; the gelatinous and indestructible B.O.B.; and the 350-foot grub called Insectosaurus. Their confinement is cut short, however, when a mysterious alien robot lands on Earth and begins storming the country. In a moment of desperation, the President is persuaded to enlist the motley crew of Monsters to combat the Alien Robot and save the world from imminent destruction. Like most animated movies nowadays, this was originally shot in 3D, not the case for the DVD which is not bad as 3D DVD’s don’t really work. If you are old enough to remember those 1950’s great B films you can really appreciate this movie, I mean It even dares hang its entire emotional content on one of the shoddiest B pictures of all time, Attack Of The 50 Ft. Woman and does more for her than any remake or parody ever could. Susan Murphy (voiced by Reese Witherspoon) is a model of female empowerment. The neglected fiancée of a self-absorbed weatherman, she bursts through the church roof to thwart her own wedding; but blossoms when called to defend the planet alongside other classic movie monsters. The gang runs to Hugh Laurie’s bug-headed mad scientist, Dr. Cockroach (The Fly), Will Arnett’s muscular fish man The Missing Link (The Creature From The Black Lagoon), Seth Rogen’s blue jelly B.O.B. (The Blob), and Insectosaurus (the Japanese Mothra). I loved it and didn’t miss the 3D too much. Deadgirl Cast: Shiloh Fernandez, Noah Segan, Michael Bowen, Candice Accola, Andrew DiPalma, Eric Podnar, Nolan Gerard Funk, Christina Blevins, Kelle Cantwell, A deserted classroom. A desolate library. A silent gymnasium. A cafeteria where the only sign of life is an overturned milk carton slowly dripping its contents onto the floor.This isslacker grunge meets Gothic romance in this genuinely unnerving undead flick. When two disaffected college teens discover a dead but desirable female zombie chained to a bed in an abandoned hospital, their darkest desires spark a tragic chain reaction that engulfs the entire campus community. One day two boys play truant from school on the grounds that "nobody'll notice", and head off, to a long-abandoned asylum for some beer-drinking, vandalistic kicks. In the shadowy tunnels below, past an infernal guard dog and beyond a 'dead-end' corridor, they find a rust-sealed boiler-room and inside, naked, gagged and chained to a stretcher bed, a beautiful girl (Jenny Spain) who appears, impossibly, still to be alive, or at least not entirely dead, despite the number of years that she must have spent down there. Rickie (Shiloh Fernandez) just wants to free her and be done with it, but amid the heady stench of the girl's tomb-like prison, JT (Noah Segan) smells sexual opportunity. "Sure she is some kind of monster or something," he reasons, "but she's our monster”; and so begins these boys' disturbing journey into the depths of human depravity. Management Cast: Jennifer Aniston, Steve Zahn, Woody Harrelson, Collin Crowley, Dominic Fumusa, Katie O'Grady, Don Burns Very little exposure for this one so a welcome addition to the rental market. A traveling saleswoman, Sue Claussen, who sells cheap art to small companies and motels, has a fling with an aimless, underachieving motel manager who then pursues her all over the United States. What's amazing about playwright Stephen Belber's debut as a film director is how out of the ordinary a film it truly is? Modern movie stars like Jennifer Aniston rarely allow themselves to play... well, let's face it, a loser; as she find salvation in; another loser; no matter how much the odds were stacked against them ever finding each other in the first place. It helps that Aniston's co-star here is Steve Zahn, one of the best sad sack actors working today. But it is Ms. Aniston (who is also one of the producers) who owns the film. More Justine from "The Good Girl" than Rachel Green or any of the Green like clones during the late 1990s Sue is a real person, one unsure of what the future is and doing everything to make sure whatever comes down the pike doesn't upset her balance. Let's just hope filmmakers continue to find compelling work for her, now that she's finally becoming less of a celebrity and more of a good actress. Lymelife Cast: Alec Baldwin, Cynthia Nixon, Timothy Hutton, Jill Hennessy, Kieran Culkin, Rory Culkin, Emma Roberts, Adam Scarimbolo, Phillip Pennestri, Logan Huffman "Lymelife" is a story about the dark side of suburban paradise and the loss of innocence. It’s 1979, the world is changing economically and culturally, and an outbreak of Lyme disease turns 15-year-old Scott Bartlett’s life inside out just as his parents — including a workaholic father Mickey and doting mom Brenda — are about to get divorced, and his brother Jimmy is shipping off to fight in the Falklands War. Making life even more complicated during this time of turmoil, he has fallen for his next-door neighbor Adrianna whose mother Melissa is carrying on a not-so-secretive affair with Scott’s dad as her husband Charlie is feeling the devastating effects of a bout with Lyme's. Executive producer Martin Scorsese brings this film his experience and touch, beautifully photographed and well acted especially Alec Baldwin who took time off from 30 rock to make this one. There are some oddities in the script however; why would Jimmy be sent to fight in the Falklands War when that conflict didn't start until 1982 and was mostly between England and Argentina? Looks like someone wasn't listening in history class. Newly added Movies You have to watch again (or maybe for the first time!) Religulous Director: Larry Charles Cast: Bill Maher This documentary follows political humorist and author Bill Maher (I miss his show, I don’t get HBO) as he travels around the globe interviewing people about God and religion. Known for his analytical skills, wit and commitment to never pulling a punch, Maher brings his characteristic honesty to an unusual spiritual journey. Maher and director Larry Charles pick the right things to argue against, creationism, anti-gay movements, and the zealous belief in some of the sillier Biblical parables. It’s mean spirited, and it’s not all inclusive, but it’s satisfying in an amusing sense. My favorite thing in the entire film (even if it’s short) is the trip to the (at the time) unfinished Creationism museum, which has got to be one of the daftest collections of stuff claiming to be an educational establishment in America. Other highlights include Maher interviewing Israelis that invent machinery that gets them around the rules of the Sabbath, Charles intercutting a pimp interview with a priest’s interview, a cannabis priest catching his own hair on fire while high, and a Muslim Cleric whose cell phone interrupts the interview. His ring tone of choice? Led Zeppelin’s ‘Kashmir’. Now that’s funny! Who’s next Bill? Wonderland Cast: Val Kilmer, Lisa Kudrow, Kate Bosworth, Dylan McDermot, Josh Lucas, Christina Applegate, Eric Bogosian T here's no nudity whatsoever in Wonderland, which is ironic, since it's about events from the life of the first big-time porn star, John Holmes (Val Kilmer). Unlike Boogie Nights, which was loosely based on the rise and fall of Holmes during his time in front of the camera, Wonderland takes a look at things "once the legend was over." By 1981, Holmes was no longer doing X-rated movies. His drug habit had forced him out of the industry, and, with no money to spend, he was scrounging and borrowing, trying to scrape together enough to buy the next hit. He had moved out of the house he shared with his wife, Sharon (Lisa Kudrow), and was on the road with a teenage junkie named Dawn (Kate Bosworth). That's when events spun out of Holmes' control. On July 1, four of the six members of a gang of drug dealers were brutally murdered in a house on Wonderland Ave. in Los Angeles. Holmes was tied into the crime, as was gangster Eddie Nash (Eric Bogosian). The police brought in the only uninjured survivor of the massacre, David Lind (Dylan McDermott), for questioning, and his version of events was damning to Holmes. Unsurprisingly, the ex-porn star's account was radically different, leaving the police stuck. Unfortunately, since neither Holmes nor Lind could be considered a reliable witness, it was virtually impossible to reconstruct the truth. Wonderland shows two different interpretations of the same basic events. One represents the story Holmes tells; the other is Lind's tale. Val Kilmer is superb as the sleazy degenerate Holmes, and Josh Lucas is ferocious as the drug gang’s leader. Believe me, after watching Wonderland, you may feel like you need a shower, but, while you're in the moment, it's a compelling journey into the depths of hell on earth. Brave One Cast: Jodie Foster, Terrence Howard, Naveen Andrews, Mary Steenburgen Having been brutally attacked and left for dead in Central Park, radio host Erica (Foster) is crippled by fear. Buying a gun, she takes to the streets searching for her attackers, tackling random criminals along the way, driven by vengeance and losing control. There is no mistaking A Jodie Foster Movie; gripping, edgy, mostly humourless, and acted with the kind of intensity that could sink ships. You can see what drew (in my opinion) America’s premier actress to this piece: it’s a 30-years-on refraction of Taxi Driver, set in a post-9/11 New York (as opposed to post-Vietnam). The vigilante is a partly sympathetic woman (as opposed to De Niro’s highly disturbed cabbie), even if the post mayor Giuliani streets of the Big Apple are proudly low on pimps and psychos. Still, you can’t imagine the NY tourist board being over-enamoured with the film’s packs of deranged crack-heads hunting in lovely Central Park. Still Jodie Foster takes this film into her grasp, turning her character not as a female Charles Bronson a la Death Wish, but more like a re-imagining of Batman. Live Free or Die Hard Cast: Bruce Willis, Justin Long, Maggie Q, Yancey Arias, Yorgo Constantine, Timothy Olyphant, Chris Palermo, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jeffrey Wright On the Fourth of July weekend, an attack on the vulnerable United States infrastructure begins to shut down the entire nation. The mysterious figure behind the scheme has figured out every modern angle but he never figured on John McClane the old-school "analog" fly in the "digital" ointment. It's the beginning of the holiday, but New York City Detective McClane isn't celebrating. He's had yet another argument with his college-age daughter Lucy, and received a crushingly routine assignment to bring in a young hacker, Matt Farrell, (Justin, I’m a Mac, Long) for questioning by the FBI. But for McClane, the ordinary has a habit of exploding into the extraordinary--abruptly hurtling him into the wrong place at the wrong time. With Farrell's help, McClane slowly begins to understand the increasing chaos surrounding him. An attack is underway on the vulnerable United States infrastructure, shutting down the entire nation. The mysterious figure behind the scheme, Thomas Gabriel, stays several moves ahead of McClane as he implements his incredible plans, known to uber-geeks like Farrell as a "fire sale" (as in, everything must go!) This is the 4th Die Hard movie and as good as the first. Willis is older, balder, and badder! This movie rocks! The great thing about this movie is the lines between Willis and Long as they verbally snipe at each other throughout the movie. Maggie Q is stunningly dangerous as the “skinny Oriental chick” Action is top notch like McClane driving an SUV down that elevator shaft or doggedly wheeling a big rig under missile attack. Coo-uhl. Needless to say McClane, however bashed up and bloodied, remains as unflappably indestructible as the Roadrunner, which nicely describes this franchise; pure cartoon like fun! Yippee-ki-yay! Motherf*****s!
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The Emmys celebrated the best of TV this week, well their version of the best anyway, still I agree with Mad Men winning, a super expose of the advertising world in the 60’s. Created by one of the guys who invented the Sopranos, so you know it had to be good! If you still haven’t seen Mad Men, take yourself down to the Movie Spot nearest you and hopefully you’ll find a copy of the 1st season to rent. If you can’t find it, email your friendly movie spotter and I’ll add it to your local kiosk. This week not much to write about, a good black comedy with Seth Rogen and a remake of Christmas Carol only with ex girlfriends and for you girls a hunky Matthew McConaughey. If you have the stomach for it and you’re a horror movie fan, check out the Clive Barker flick, now that’s over the top!! Ghosts Of Girlfriends Past Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, Lacey Chabert, Michael Douglas, Emma Stone, Anne Archer, Robert Forster Connor Mead is an absolute cad who doesn’t just two-time ladies; he four-times them. But when he goes to a weekend retreat for a family wedding, he runs into Jenny – the one that got away, and now the one who wants to cut off his unmentionables. A sleazy dead Uncle tells him that three ghosts will visit him, in an attempt to change the error of his ways. Cue the Ghost of Girlfriends Past, who shows him what life was like in a simpler, happier time when he and Jenny were in love. Matthew McConaughey does Dickens — kind of — in this Christmas Carol rehash. He’s photographer Connor, who’s eyeing up the bridesmaids and slugging Scotch at his brother’s wedding. The party’s interrupted by Connor’s playboy uncle Wayne (Michael Douglas), back from the dead to warn his protégé about his lonely lifestyle, with help from flashbacks to Connor’s misspent youth. Can Connor repent and win over his childhood sweetheart (Jennifer Garner)? This movie has some nice moments, good looking cast but maybe Matthew McConaughey wasn’t right for the role. I would love to see Ricky Gervaise doing this! Observe and Report Cast: Seth Rogen, Anna Faris, Michael Peña, Ray Liotta, Collette Wolfe, Jesse Plemons, Aziz Ansari, Dan Bakkedahl, Z. Ray Wakeman, David House Shopping mall guard Ronnie Barnhardt (Rogen) is a jobsworth extraordinaire, and dangerously so. Not only does he have mental issues, he’s also a gun nut who wants to cop off with Anna Faris’ make-up-counter girl. Now, if only he can catch that pesky flasher stalking the car-lot... Seth Rogen is a one-man comedy army. Since 2007’s Knocked Up, barely a month has slipped by without either his goofy voice or features being seen (or heard) in some corner of the multiplex. Superbad, Pineapple Express, Zack And Miri Make A Porno, Kung Fu Panda, Monsters Vs Aliens... And now Observe And Report, this year’s second mall-security-guard comedy. But Paul Blart this ain’t; Observe And Report is no heartwarming tale of a lovable blue-collar slob, and neither does it see Rogen once again reprise his chubby, witty slacker persona he is an angry, confused man who you never feel entirely comfortable laughing at; but you do. Book Of Blood Cast: Jonas Armstrong, Sophie Ward, Paul Blair, Doug Bradley, Simon Bamford, James Watson, James McAnerney, Romana Abercromby The opening scene of the Clive Barker film packs a punch as a young woman is assaulted by unseen forces, climaxing with a rather gruesome effect in which her face is torn away. We are then introduced to Simon McNeal (Jonas Armstrong), a young college student and medium whose body has been ravaged and become a literal book of blood.
The story is thus set in motion as Simon recalls the events that led him to his current predicament. As the flashback begins, the focus shifts to paranormal investigator and college professor Mary Florescu (Sophie Ward), who’s haunted by an incident that occurred during her childhood. Mary’s path crosses with that of Simon, who suffers from his own childhood demons. She enlists his aide and, with the help of paranormal technician Reg Fuller (Paul Blair), they investigate the house where the young woman was murdered—and soon find them being menaced by the spirit world. Book of Blood adapts and combines two of these Clive Barker stories, "The Book of Blood" and "On Jerusalem Street", with one serving as a framing sequence for the other"Book of Blood" features some genuinely unnerving moments, and can certainly be recommended to fans of pure horror and Barker's particular flavor of it. This DVD is presented on both disc formats in 1.78:1 widescreen with Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround sound on the former and DTS-HD 5.1 Surround on the latter. The audio is exceptional, and sets the mood perfectly; especially when the spirits banged away at the doors and floor. Newly added Movies You have to watch again (or maybe for the first time!) Bad Lieutenant Cast: Harvey Keitel, Zoe Lund Directed by Abel Ferrara A man in a dark suit drives his two little boys to school. On the way, the kids complain that their aunt hogged the bathroom. "Next time, you come tell me," says this upstanding father, "and I'll throw her the **** out." He drops the kids off, waits for them to get out of range, and then puts a couple of lines of coke up his nose. He drives on, stopping at the scene of a crime. What business does he have here? He steps out of the car and ... pins a badge to his chest. Jesus, this guy's a cop? That's the joke, but in Abel Ferrara territory, it's also reality. Harvey Keitel plays an unnamed New York City lieutenant who's a lot worse than the criminals who infest his streets. A womanizer, drug abuser, alcoholic, and gambler, the bad (and unnamed) lieutenant epitomizes corruption and decadence. When his chance at redemption comes as the result of the brutal rape of a nun, is there anything left within him to redeem? If a movie could survive on the force of a single performance, Bad Lieutenant would be it. Keitel throws himself into his role with undisputed gusto. He is never upstaged; in fact, most of the time when he's on-screen, whoever happens to be sharing the scene is virtually invisible. Keitel holds nothing back. There is a remake coming with Nicholas Cage; forget it; this is the real deal! Windtalkers Cast: Nicolas Cage, Adam Beach, Christian Slater, Peter Stormare, Noah Emmerich, Mark Ruffalo, Brian Van Holt, Martin Henderson, Roger Willie, Frances O'Connor
Director: John Woo Windtalkers chronicles the June 1944 Allied invasion of the Japanese island of Saipan. During this offensive, the Americans were using the so-called "Navajo Code" - a code developed from words in the Navajo language and translated by Navajos. Marine Sergeant Joe Enders (Nicolas Cage), a decorated fighting man, is partnered with Private Ben Yahzee (Adam Beach), one of the Najavo "codetalkers". His orders are simple: "Protect the Code". That means protecting Yahzee, unless he falls into enemy hands - then it means killing him. In a similar position are Sergeant Ox Anderson (Christian Slater) and his partner, Private Charles Whitehorse (Roger Willie). Meanwhile, Enders remains closed off from his fellows, including Yahzee, as he tries to come to grips with events in his past that have created physical and psychological scars. Action is director John Woo’s middle name. After directing frenetic flicks such as Mission: Impossible II, Face/Off, and Broken Arrow, you know you will get enough bombs, blood and broken body parts to give his WWII drama Windtalkers an accurate feel. In this special directors cut, Woo turns in a 2 1/2 hour version, adding about 15 minutes of material into the original. Movie News The studio’s releasing a deluxe version of Snatch, the Guy Ritchie gangster movie with Brad Pitt as a gypsy (his best role?) Critics may still not be able to decide if Guy Ritchie's films offer too much style and too little substance, whether he's the flavor of the month or a legitimate successor to Quentin Tarantino as a new interpreter of crime-related genres. Ritchie's full-length audio commentary for the smartly packaged, two-disc DVD edition of Snatch makes a good case for his value as a filmmaker, and convincingly explains why he chose to make a film so similar to his breakthrough effort Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels but this time with the box-office appeal of Brad Pitt. While doing that, he bickers with producer Matthew Vaughn, largely ignores a list of talking points handed to him in frustration by the "men in suits" outside the studio and forgoes the industry standard's time-killing blather in favor of cheeky asides and assorted gritty tales from the set. If that weren't enough to already make this a stand-out entry, Snatch's highly stylized art direction is lovingly expanded, starting with snazzy animated menus and including a top-notch 25-minute on-the-set featurette, animated storyboard comparisons, a photo gallery that for once isn't throwaway filler and a handful of deleted scenes that can either be viewed separately or within their context during the film. More accomplished and entertaining than Smoking Barrels, Snatch sports a flawless first reel and deserves a look, if not only to give Ritchie the chance to prove that he didn't make the same film twice
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Crank 2 – High Voltage Cast: Jason Statham, Amy Smart, Efren Ramirez, Bai Ling, David Carradine, Reno Wilson, Joseph Julian Soria, Dwight Yoakam Picking up immediately where the first movie left off, where hitman Chev Chelios (Jason Statham) fell from a helicopter and died – except he didn’t because of his indestructible heart. "Crank High Voltage" finds Chev Chelios surviving the climactic plunge only to be kidnapped by a mysterious Chinese mobster. Three months later, Chev wakes up to discover his nearly indestructible heart has been surgically removed and replaced with a battery-operated ticker that requires regular jolts of electricity in order to work. “Morally bankrupt” doesn’t come close. This is a film that replaces plot with gratuitous violence, sex / nudity, and theme with a stripper getting her implants punctured in a gunfight. Thank god it’s also endlessly entertaining and one of the funniest films of the year. No doubt the next one will be in 3D! Can’t wait.. The Informers Cast: Billy Bob Thornton, Kim Basinger, Winona Ryder, Mickey Rourke, Jon Foster, Amber Heard, Rhys Ifans, Chris Isaak, Lou Taylor Pucci, Mel Raido Focusing on the Los Angeles of the early 1980s, "The Informers" balances a vast array of characters. The script was written by Nicholas Jarecki and Bret Easton Ellis, who wrote the original series of short stories back in 1994. The film contains 7 of the 13 linked, short-stories found in the original book. The stories make up a broader slice-of-life snapshot of an entire week in the lives of social circle of people who represent everything from the cream of the crop; a Hollywood dreammerchant, a dissolute rock star, and an aging newscaster; to the scum of society;a voyeuristic doorman, and an amoral ex-con.(Mickey Rourke) Loosely constructed, the film covers many characters, though Graham (Jon Foster) interacts with most of them. As a drug dealer, his social circle is wide, and as a bisexual, his romantic possibilities are infinite. His father (Billy Bob Thornton) is a film executive having an affair with a frazzled newscaster (Winona Ryder), and his mother (Kim Basinger) is an emotionally shattered rich lady with nothing to live for.
Dance Flick Cast: Damon Wayans, Jr., Craig Wayans, Shoshana Bush, Essence Atkins, Affion Crockett "Dance Flick" brings together the talents of two generations of the Wayans family, the explosively funny clan who brought us the "Scary Movie" franchise and "White Chicks," as well as the groundbreaking TV series "In Living Color." In "Dance Flick," a young street dancer, Thomas Uncles, from the wrong side of the tracks and a beautiful young woman, Megan White, are brought together by their passion for dancing and put to the test in the mother of all dance battles. "Dance Flick" sends up the dance movie genre, including such recent hits as "Step Up" and "You Got Served," as well as the classic "Flashdance." At its best, this is an energetic, slaphappy comedy with a cheerful attitude. I mean, come on: it’s a scant 75 minutes long, contains a well-deserved swipe at the goofiness that is the “Twilight” saga, and features a beatboxing vagina. If that doesn’t marginally entertain you, nothing will. Newly added Movies You have to watch again (or maybe for the first time!) The Punisher (John Travolta version) Cast: Thomas Jane, John Travolta, Will Patton, Roy Scheider, Laura Elena Harring This is the second version of the Marvel comic character, and my favorite of the 3 versions. The film opens with an arms deal going sour when undercover FBI Agent Frank Castle (Thomas Jane) foils an attempt to buy illegal arms. A very unhappy development is the death of a young man during the shooting. This young man turns out to be the son of Howard Saint (John Travolta), a very bad man, but also a very powerful and influential man. Upon discovering Castle’s part in his son’s death, Saint sends a team of gun-happy assassins to murder the entire Castle family at a family reunion. Frank survives the massacre and with memories of his wife and son lying dead in front of him, he takes up his guns and goes out to bring down Saint and his army. When the law won’t punish the guilty, he will. Castle dons the old skull costume and takes the fight to the bad guys as the Punisher. Not as violent as the latest version, but I love Travolta playing a bad guy, loved him as the good guy/bad guy with Nicholas Cage in the John Woo directed Face Off. Travolta plays a great baddie, and Thomas Jane is every bit The Punisher! A great 2 hours, go rent it! Rambo First Blood Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Brian Dennehy, Richard Crenna, David Caruso The first Rambo movie and the one that started the Stallone franchise. Before he single-handedly took on the Vietnamese army, John Rambo was a tormented Green Beret who only wanted a little something to eat.
First Blood, which introduced Rambo to an audience hungry for a "real American hero," is a time when Sylvester Stallone could be taken seriously as an actor. Remember, he'd taken home an Academy Award for Rocky a few years earlier (not for his acting, but it was a nice feather in his cap).
This lean, mean fighting machine strolled down the street, unassuming and weary in his army jacket, having just found out that another of his veteran friends who made it through the 'Nam died shortly after coming home. A few minutes into the movie, our unlucky hero gets hassled by a tough-talking small-town sheriff (the inimitable Brian Dennehy), After being arrested for doing nothing he is hosed down and berated by the police including a very young, fresh faced, thin actor David Caruso, way before C.S.I Miami, even before NYPD Blue! However, don't mess with Rambo; he beats the living hell out of an entire room of police officers in a gritty fistfight. Here's the rare action film that makes every punch, elbow, kick and broken bone count. Not only does the adrenaline get pumping, it also feels like brute physical action is happening. When an actor gets hit, the frisson is real. Anyway, Rambo escapes and Richard Crenna as his old colonel comes to rescue not Stallone but the police from him! This is brilliant stuff, if you haven’t seen it you must, if you have, go rent it again! Rolling Stones Shine A Light Martin Scorsese is almost as adept at putting rock 'n' roll on film as he is at blood-drenched tales of murderous mobsters. He served as an assistant director on 1970's Woodstock, the standard-bearer of concert flicks. Eight years later, he chronicled The Band's farewell performance in The Last Waltz. In more recent years, Scorsese has produced first-rate documentaries on Bob Dylan and the blues. So it is only fitting that arguably America's greatest living filmmaker would turn his attention to arguably the world's greatest surviving rock 'n' roll band, the Rolling Stones. While the resulting picture, Shine a Light, may not be the ultimate cinematic statement on the Stones, what it lacks is compensated for with a taut, powerhouse performance by these formidable geezers. The first smart decision Scorsese makes is opting for a more intimate concert venue. Far from indulging in an arena-rock spectacle, Shine a Light documents a pair of Stones shows in the fall of 2006 at New York's 2,700-seat Beacon Theatre. A sea of cameras posted around the Beacon ensures that no moment of musical alchemy goes unchecked. Mick Jagger’s craggy face and skeleton-thin frame give away his age (63 at the time), but he remains a dazzling showman, strutting and swaying as if he's made of rubber. His inimitable stage presence is contrasted by Keith Richards, pasty-faced and unkempt as ever and still very much a rock god. A concert picture necessitates knockout sound, and Shine a Light does not disappoint. The 5.1 Surround is terrific; sharp and precise, free of defect and even managing to make interesting use of rear speakers. A 2.0 Stereo track is fine, but pales in comparison. So, if you have a surround set up, crank up the volume and watch one of the best concert movies ever!
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Summer’s nearly over and it’s getting cooler out there! The fall blockbuster releases will be here soon; this week how about a Russell Crowe thriller based on a British BBC mini series; or a truly amazing debut from a soon to be important film maker; Steve McQueen. Just 2 of this week’s releases. More action movies you say? Well... Movie Spot is introducing the famous Dragon Dynasty catalogue in order to cater to the needs of our martial arts, kick ass fans of the Asian cinema. Dragon Dynasty brings home the world’s greatest martial arts and Asian action films, featuring the groundbreaking work of international superstars and legendary filmmakers, including Jet Li, Jackie Chan, Michelle Yeoh, John Woo, Yuen Woo-Ping, and many more. Here are the best of classic and contemporary smash hits from the world’s most exciting genre like never before, with cutting-edge digital video and audio remastering and exclusive, never-before-seen bonus features. This is action at its best, all dubbed, full of unbelievable stunts and often very violent, just like you asked for. The first three titles we are offering for your consideration are: Born To Fight, PTU Police Tactical Unit and Dragon Heat, read on for the scoop. State Of Play - Director: Kevin MacDonald
- Writer: Matthew Michael Carnahan, Paul Abbott
Cast: Rachel McAdams, Ben Affleck, Russell Crowe, Robin Wright Penn, Jason Bateman, Helen Mirren, Based on a 5 hour UK mini series, this is a brilliant adaptation to 2 hours of wonderful cinema. U.S. Congressman Stephen Collins (Ben Affleck) is the future of his political party--an honorable appointee who serves as the chairman of a committee overseeing defense spending. All eyes are upon the rising star to be his party's contender for the upcoming presidential race. Until his research assistant/mistress is brutally murdered and buried secrets come tumbling out. D.C. reporter Cal McCaffrey (Russell Crowe) has the dubious fortune of both an old friendship with Collins and a ruthless editor, Cameron, (Helen Mirren) who has assigned him to investigate the murder. As he and partner Della try to uncover the killer's identity, McCaffrey steps into a cover-up that threatens to shake the nation's power structures. And, in a town of spin-doctors and wealthy politicos, he will discover one truth: when billions are at stake, no one's integrity, love or life is ever safe. Last House On The left Cast: Tony Goldwyn, Monica Potter, Garret Dillahunt, Sara Paxton, Martha MacIsaac, Riki Lindhome, Spencer Treat Clark, Aaron Paul, Joshua Cox A remake of the 1972 Wes Craven classic continues the trend of remaking modern slasher movies. The plot of this one is very similar to the original only updated with less political themes and more violence. On the night she arrives at the remote Collingwood lakehouse, Mari and her friend are kidnapped by a prison escapee and his crew. Terrified and left for dead, Mari's only hope is to make it back to parents John and Emma. Unfortunately, her attackers unknowingly seek shelter at the one place she could be safe. And when her family learns the horrifying story, they will make three strangers curse the day they came to "The Last House on the Left." Labor Pains Cast: Lindsay Lohan, Cheryl Hines, Chris Parnell, Luke Kirby, Kevin Covais, Aaron Yoo, Janeane Garofalo, Bonnie Somerville, Creed Bratton, Christa Campbell Do you want to know what's really sad about Labor Pains? It's not half bad. And it's a shame that Lindsay Lohan has become so inextricably associated with the wrong kind of drama that we no longer appreciate the fact that the girl can act yes; Lindsay Lohan can’t be counted out just yet. In this movie she plays a woman who makes up that she is pregnant so she can’t be fired from her job and as expected the consequences lead up to romance and comedy. Not a bad little movie at all… Mutant Chronicles Cast: John Malkovich, Thomas Jane, Devon Aoki, Ron Perlman Hundreds of years into the future, the world is controlled by a handful of corporations. As they wage war on each other, a great seal is destroyed, opening up a vast hole in the Earth containing an alien machine capable of turning the living into vicious, body piercing mutants. Quickly taking over the planet, the mutants force the population to flee off-world, pushing Brother Samuel (Ron Perlman) to turn to an ancient book for answers on how to stop the infernal machine. Assembling a squad of soldiers armed to the teeth, including Major Mitch Hunter (Thomas Jane), Samuel leads the team into the bowels of the planet to stop the machine once and for all. Their only obstacle is the legion of mutants ready to tear them apart. Duplicity Cast: Julia Roberts, Clive Owen, Tom Wilkinson, Paul Giamatti, Rick Worthy CIA officer Claire Stenwick and MI6 agent Ray Koval have left the world of government intelligence to cash in on the highly profitable cold war raging between two rival multinational corporations. Their mission? Secure the formula for a product that will bring a fortune to the company that patents it first.. But, as the stakes rise, the mystery deepens and the tactics get dirtier, the trickiest secret for Claire and Ray is their growing attraction. Duplicity is an unpretentious pleasure, combining as it does the deft plotting of Gilroy, the unforced acting of charismatic stars Roberts and Owen (not to mention nice turns by supporting performers Tom Wilkinson and Paul Giamatti as the rival CEOs Not the greatest spy thriller ever made but a great waste of a couple of hours. Fighting Cast: Channing Tatum, Terrence Howard, Brian J. White, Luis Guzmán, Zulay Henao, Roger Guenveur Smith, Angelic Zambrana, Anthony DeSando, Aaron Behr, Cung Le Small-town boy Shawn MacArthur has come to New York City with nothing. Barely earning a living selling counterfeit goods on the streets, his luck changes when scam artist Harvey Boarden sees that he has a natural talent for street fighting. When Harvey offers Shawn help at making the real cash, the two form an uneasy partnership. As Shawn's manager, Harvey introduces him to the corrupt bare-knuckle circuit. Almost overnight, he becomes a star brawler, taking down professional boxers, mixed martial arts champs and ultimate fighters in a series of staggeringly intense bouts. But, if Shawn ever hopes to escape the dark world in which he's found himself, he must now face the toughest fight of his life. The final fight scene is worth the price of the rental, good box office makes this a sure renter. Obsessed Cast: Idris Elba, Ali Larter, Beyoncé Knowles, Bruce McGill, Jerry O'Connell, Christine Lahti Yet another version of “Fatal Attraction” in this one Idris Elba plays Derek Charles, a recently promoted business executive who has just purchased a posh new home with his doting wife, Sharon (Beyoncé Knowles), and their baby boy. Derek is the perfect hero; his life is soft-focus perfect. But no life is too perfect, to avoid the eventual disturbance of the psychotic stalker who works in the office as , you guessed it , a temp. Lisa (Ali Larter) strikes up an immediate rapport with Derek, and quickly begins her plot to become his one and only love... whether he likes it or not. Adventureland Cast: Kristen Stewart, Ryan Reynolds, Bill Hader, Martin Starr, Kristen Wiig, Margarita Levieva, Jesse Eisenberg, Josh Pais, Mary Birdsong, Kevin Breznahan It's the summer of 1987, and James Brennan, an uptight, recent college grad, can't wait to embark on his dream tour of Europe. But when his parents announce they can no longer subsidize his trip, James has little choice but to take a lowly job at a local amusement park. Forget about German beer, world-famous museums, and cute French girls-James's summer will now be populated by belligerent dads, stuffed pandas, and screaming kids high on cotton candy. Lucky for James, what should be his worst summer ever turns into quite an adventure when he discovers love in the most unlikely place. Introducing Action Packed; Kick A**, Stunt Driven Dragon Dynasty! The first 3 movies in a continuing series of the best martial arts action movies around! Born To Fight Directed by Panna Ritikrai Starring Dan Chupong I bet you've never seen a movie that could be described as Gymkata meets The Dirty Dozen mixed with Die Hard, only over-stuffed with that patented Thai trademark of hardcore "stunt fighting" -- with a whole lot of John Woo-style gunplay to keep things juicy. Born to Fight is an absolutely insane experience, and it's definitely something you'll want to see if you're a big fan of action movies. The story concerns a bunch of gifted young athletes (and one cop) who must prevent a platoon of village-attacking evildoers from launching a full-scale nuclear attack on Bangkok. Throw in some really harsh violence (these are some seriously vicious villains, believe me), a strangely appealing sense of humor, a whole lot of Thai culture and patriotism, a few exceedingly well-choreographed brawls, and just a little bit of melodrama to keep the blood boiling -- and you've got Born to Fight. (The last 30-some minutes consist of one long action scene. Honest.) PTU Police Tactical Unit Acclaimed director Johnnie To (Election) scores again with this action-packed thriller, nominated for 10 Hong Kong Film Awards. Following a run-in with a gang of thugs led by Ponytail, Sergeant “Fatty” Lo (Lam Suet) loses his gun and turns to the brutally efficient Sergeant Mike Ho (Simon Yam) of the PTU to help him retrieve it. It’s late and Lo agrees to search for the gun until dawn, after which he will follow procedure and report the missing weapon.What follows is “sheer over-the-top delirium” (Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter), as their mission intersects with a gangland assassination that threatens to ignite an all-out war. Gripping and unpredictable, PTU is a masterpiece of stylized cool and explosive action. Dragon Heat Dragon Heat is the product of writer-director Daniel Lee who was inspired by a hit Japanese TV series from the ’70s to create a story about a squad of supercops taking on an equally skilled gang of criminal mercenaries in the mean streets of Hong Kong. One of the year's most exciting action-thrillers, Dragon Heat features the star-studded cast of action icons Sammo Hung (Kill Zone), Michael Biehn, Maggie Q (Live Free or Die Hard; she was the “skinny oriental chick” remember?) and Shawn Yue (Infernal Affairs). When a notorious Triad crime lord disappears shortly before trial, a team of elite Interpol agents must wage an all-out war through the streets of Hong Kong against a mysterious and heavily-armed foe to recapture him. Dragon Heat sizzles with non-stop action, apocalyptic gunfights, and a no-holds barred climactic martial arts showdown.
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It’s definitely a young week this time around! 17 Again, I Love You Man, St Trinians and Road Trip Beer Pong and for ahem, some of us whose taste maybe a little more adult, some great classic movies you haven’t seen for a while. New releases this week: 17 Again Cast: Zac Efron, Leslie Mann, Thomas Lennon, Michelle Trachtenberg, Matthew Perry, Melora Hardin, Jim Gaffigan, Sterling Knight What would you do if you got a second shot at life? Class of 1989, Mike O'Donnell is a star on his high school basketball court with a college scout in the stands and a bright future in his grasp. But instead, he decides to throw it all away to share his life with his girlfriend Scarlett and the baby he just learned they are expecting. Almost 20 years later, Mike's glory days are decidedly behind him. But Mike is given another chance when he is miraculously transformed back to the age of 17. Unfortunately, Mike may look 17 again, but his 30-something outlook is totally uncool in the class of 2009. High School Musical’s Zac Efron stars as a young Matthew Perry, Okay, so it’s pretty much a vehicle for Zack Efron, but so what? If you can manage to get yourself past the unnecessary High School Musical-type dance routine five minutes in, there's plenty charm and enough comedy to win you over. I Love You Man Cast: Paul Rudd, Jason Segel, Rashida Jones, Andy Samberg, J.K. Simmons, Jane Curtin, Jon Favreau, Jaime Pressly A successful real estate agent, who upon getting engaged to the woman of his dreams, discovers, to his dismay, that he has no male friend close enough to serve as his Best Man. He immediately sets out to rectify the situation, embarking on a series of bizarre and awkward "man-dates," he meets a charming, opinionated man with whom he instantly bonds. But, the closer the two men get, the more his relationship with his fiancée suffers, ultimately forcing him to choose between her and his new found "bro" . St. Trinians Cast: Rupert Everett, Colin Firth, Jodie Whittaker, Lena Headey, Mischa Barton, Stephen Fry, Amara Karan, Caterina Murino, Toby Jones, Lucy Punch The madcap adventures of a group of unruly girls at St. Trinian's boarding school. Rupert Everett (in full Camilla Parker-Bowles drag) stars as Camilla Frinton, headmistress of the infamous St Trinian's school for girls, which is facing two distinct problems: first, the bank is threatening St Trinian's with closure and second, the new Education Minister, Geoffrey Thwaite (Colin Firth) is determined to bring discipline and order to the anarchic school. Colin Firth steals the film, even sending himself up; a nice romp and a pleasant surprise to anyone who remembers the original series and for those who don’t, there’s a Bond girl and Girls Aloud to watch! Brilliant Movies You Have To See (or see again!) Magnum Force Clint Eastwood is Dirty Harry, and this is the second movie in the series. Eastwood changed the whole idea of the nice policeman and produced a magnum toting right wing constitutionally disgusted police officer. In this movie, Detective Harry Callahan (Eastwood) at odds with a gang of rookie motorcycle cops (amusingly most of whom would be known faces later, like David Soul from Starsky and Hutch, Tim Matheson and Robert Urich), who are dispensing their own brand of justice on San Francisco's criminals. When Callahan is put on the case, he quickly begins to see the conspiracy, and finds that it goes deep into the department, making Harry and everyone around him a target. We at the Movie Spot will be adding a different Dirty Harry movie until we have the entire series, if you have never seen these movies, you must, and see just how good Clint Eastwood is, and realize how he changed the way we see cop shows. Without this series, and without Dirty Harry Callahan, where would series like The Shield be? This is a ground breaking movie. The Wedding Crashers John Beckwith (Wilson) and Jeremy Grey (Vaughn) have discovered that the perfect way to score with women is by gate crashing romance-drenched weddings. Their perfect success rate is threatened, however, when they get too close to two bridesmaids (McAdams and Fisher) and break their long-established “Wedding Crashers code”. This summertime romp is a mouthwatering prospect indeed: the Frat Pack’s hippest stars — Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn teamed up as fast-talking rogues; an always-welcome comedy turn from Christopher Walken; and a flamboyant cameo from the daddy of Frat himself, Will Ferrell. To quote Vaughn from Dodgeball: “I’m laughing already…” Wedding Crashers is unapologetically R-rated, bawdy as hell and unafraid of naked carnality. South Park Bigger Longer and Uncut Writer: Trey Parker, Pam Brady, Matt Stone Cast: Isaac Hayes, Trey Parker, Matt Stone Trey Parker and Matt Stone bring the colorful citizens of South Park to the big screen in a film that is animatedly hilarious and irreverent. Based on the hugely successful Comedy Central series, South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut stars Kenny, Kyle, Stan, Cartman, Chef, Mr. Garrison, Ned, Uncle Jimbo, Officer Barbrady and others. Short of appearing on a pay station, there's no way even an edited version of this film could be shown on TV. It is consistently rude, crude, and profane, with more than 200 obscenities being uttered in less than 90 minutes. The "R" rating is well deserved. Parents concerned about their children being exposed to four-letter words would do well to keep them away from this movie. Now doesn’t that want to make you go rent this now? This is one very, very funny movie. Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events Cast: Jim Carrey, Meryl Streep, Jude Law, Liam Aiken, Emily Browning, Timothy Spall, Billy Connolly, Jennifer Coolidge, Luis Guzman, Craig Ferguson The story of intelligent, charming, but unlucky siblings Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire and their adventures in the big city after a house-fire leaves them orphaned. When the children are sent to live with distant relative, Count Olaf, (Jim Carrey) they realize that he has dastardly designs on the Baudelaire family fortune. The title character is played by Jude Law, but the real star is Jim Carrey, who, as the nefarious Count Olaf, plays his most sinister character since the Grinch. Carrey plays three characters; sort of. In addition to Olaf, he's also a scientist and a seafarer, both of whom are actually Olaf in disguise. The multiple roles give Carrey the opportunity to spread his wings a little, something this reviewer couldn’t wait for.
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From a new twist on an X-Men type story to a creepy New England house to an excellent story of revolutionary Cuba, this week has some fine viewing plus… Now ready for your viewing pleasure! The TV series we all want to watch uncut (without commercials silly!) are in the Spot. We’re talking Rome, Entourage, Californication, Breaking Bad, The Closer, The Shield, Dexter, True Blood, Terminator-The Sarah Connor Chronicles, and Mad Men, see below for details including the series number. New releases this week: Che Part 1 - Argentina Cast: Benicio Del Toro, Demián Bichir, Santiago Cabrera, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Julia Ormond, Lou Diamond Phillips, On Nov. 26, 1956, Fidel Castro sails to Cuba with 80 rebels. One of those rebels is Ernesto "Che" Guevara, a young Argentine idealist and doctor who shares a common goal with Fidel Castro--to overthrow the corrupt dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista. Che proves himself an indispensable fighter, and quickly grasps the art of guerrilla warfare. As he throws himself into the struggle, Che is embraced by his comrades and the Cuban people. "The Argentine" tracks Che's rise in the Cuban Revolution, from doctor to commander to revolutionary hero. The Haunting In Connecticut Cast: Virginia Madsen, Kyle Gallner, Martin Donovan, Elias Koteas, Amanda Crew, D.W. Brown, Sarah Constible, Matt Kippen, John B. Lowe Based on a chilling true story, Lionsgate's "The Haunting in Connecticut" charts one family's terrifying, real-life encounter with the dark forces of the supernatural. When the Campbell family moves to upstate Connecticut, they soon learn that their charming Victorian home has a disturbing history: not only was the house a transformed funeral parlor where inconceivable acts occurred, but the owner's clairvoyant son Jonah served as a demonic messenger, providing a gateway for spiritual entities to crossover. Now, unspeakable terror awaits, when Jonah, the boy who communicated with the powerful dark forces of the supernatural, returns to unleash a new kind of horror on the innocent and unsuspecting family. Push Cast: Chris Evans, Dakota Fanning, Camilla Belle, Djimon Hounsou, Joel Gretsch, Neil Jackson, This week’s biggest release, is a sci-fi thriller about the shadowy “Division” The Division, a shadowy government agency, is genetically transforming citizens into an army of psychic warriors and brutally disposing of those unwilling to participate. Nick Gant, a second-generation telekinetic or mover, has been in hiding since the Division murdered his father more than a decade earlier. He has found sanctuary in densely populated Hong Kong, the last safe place on earth for fugitive psychics like him, but only if he can keep his gift a secret. Nick is forced out of hiding when Cassie Holmes, a 13-year-old clairvoyant or watcher, seeks his help finding Kira, an escaped pusher who may hold the key to ending the Division's program. Pushers possess the most dangerous of all psychic powers: the ability to influence others actions by implanting thoughts in their minds. But Cassie's presence soon attracts the attention of the Division's human bloodhounds, forcing Nick and Cassie to flee for their lives. With the help of a team of rogue psychics, the unlikely duo traverses the seedy underbelly of the city, trying to stay one step ahead of the authorities as they search for Kira. But they find themselves square in the crosshairs of Division Agent Henry Carver, a pusher who will stop at nothing to keep them from achieving their goal. TV Series finally available True Blood Season 1 New cult HBO drama which details the co-existence of vampires and humans in Bon Temps, a fictional small northern Louisiana town. The Closer Season 4 Terminator The Sarah Connor Chronicles Season 1 Rome The most expensive US television series ever made and without an American actor in it! Some of the finest British actors made this the groundbreaking series and cult favourite of the passed few years. The show's first season originally aired on HBO in the United States between August 28 and November 20, 2005, and has never been surpassed (except perhaps by season 2) ever since. The story of Rome depicts the period of history surrounding the violent transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire, the decay of political institutions, and the actions of ambitious men and women. The series follows the two main characters Lucius and Titus from Caesars invasion of Gaul to the death of Mark Antony and the rise of the first Emperor Augustus. The series was a ratings success for HBO and the BBC. The show received much media attention from the start, and Rome was honored with numerous awards and award nominations in its two-season run. Stars Kevin McKidd who with an American accent later starred in Journeyman and Ray Stevenson who became the Punisher. Filled with the best of the UK stage talent this is perhaps the best TV so far this millennium, not for the kiddies as it displays an awful lot of sex and violence but shows that in early Rome this was the norm. This series is available in 12 episodes on 6 discs. Breaking bad Showtime TV series starring David Duchovny as Hank Moody: a troubled novelist whose move to California and his writer's block complicate the relationships with his ex-girlfriend Karen (Natascha McElhone) and daughter Becca (Madeleine Martin). Hank Moody is a charming writer and novelist but plagued with personal demons. He blames his years-long case of writer's block on a variety of reasons, ranging from the hedonism of Los Angeles, to his on-again, off-again relationship with his girlfriend Karen. Hank constantly deals with the fallout of his lack of will to say "no" to drugs, sex and alcohol, while trying to show his family that he can be a good, caring person. Dexter Season 2 Dexter is an American television drama series that airs on American premium channel Showtime. Set in Miami, the series centers on Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall), a serial killer governed by a strict moral code who works for the Miami Metro Police Department as a blood spatter analyst. Incredibly gory; if it wasn’t that Dexter is the “hero” this would be a different kind of series! Mad Men Season 1 Set in New York City, Mad Men begins in the early 1960s at the fictional Sterling Cooper advertising agency on New York City's Madison Avenue. The show centers on Don Draper (Jon Hamm), a high-level advertising creative director, and the people in his life in and out of the office. It also depicts the changing social morals of 1960s America. Mad Men has received widespread critical acclaim, particularly for its historical authenticity and visual style, and has won numerous awards, including three Golden Globes, a BAFTA and six Emmys. Rome Season 2 The gritty, decadent world that HBO built spills more blood in its second and final season, the post-Caesar chapter that pits Mark Antony (James Purefoy) against Octavian (Simon Woods). Sweeping battlefield showdowns offer high drama, but the soap-operatic subplots orchestrated by the cunning, stunning, emerald-eyed Atia (Polly Walker) are where the real action is. EXTRAS Five sharp commentaries and four featurettes are a must-watch. Television at its best! Breaking Bad Season 1 Shown on cable network AMC, cult hit Breaking Bad revolves around Walter White (Bryan Cranston), a struggling high school chemistry teacher with a teenage son who has cerebral palsy , and a pregnant wife. When the already tense White is diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, he breaks down and turns to a life of crime, and starts producing and selling methamphetamine with his former student in a desire to secure his family's financial future.Breaking Bad has received widespread critical acclaim, particularly for its writing and Cranston's performance on the show, and won two Emmy Awards for its first season in addition to numerous other awards and nominations. The Shield Season 7 – The Final Act The end of the saga, one of the best US police dramas ever made and an ending that will leave you talking about for some time. Absolutely brilliant! A Current Title You Didn’t Rent (And Why You Should) Death Race Cast: Jason Statham, Tyrese Gibson, Natalie Martinez, Ian McShane, Joan Allen, Robin Shou, Jacob Vargas, Robert LaSardo, Max Ryan, Frederick Koehler When her star driver is injured, Hennessey (Allen) - prison warden and creator of new viewing sensation Death Race - has NASCAR star Ames (Statham) framed for murder. She offers him a deal: win the race and he’ll gain his freedom. Or die trying… At first glance, Death Race is another one of those remake-cum-adolescent fantasy (originally made in 2000 with David Carradine and Sylvester Stallone) but unlike, say, Resident Evil and Alien Vs. Predator, director Paul Anderson delivers an unashamedly brutal actioner that pushes all the right guys’ flick buttons, combining hot chicks, hotter cars, enormous guns, and Joan Allen saying the word “cocksucker”. Includes the theatrical and the unrated version.
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