Movies #209-212

07/27/2008

212. Step Brothers (2008)
In Theaters
If you have seen the red band trailer for this you pretty seen how the majority of the movie is laid out, it doesn't really deviate from that pattern and the movie unfolds as you would expect, the last third of the movie though wrap up extremely nicely and are worth watching the movie for, but you don't really need to rush out to the theater to catch this one, but I did enjoy this one.

07/24/2008

211. The X Files: I Want to Believe (2008)
In Theaters
So to put it mildly this should have just been put on TV as a special and called it a night. This definitely isn't worth spending money on to see in the theater. I've been an X-Files fan since episode one aired (I watched it when it originally aired) and unlike some fans I really enjoyed the other X-Files movie. The scale of this movie is smaller than the majority of the episodes of the series but it's written so poorly that it calls attention to all of it's problems, of which there are many. But I'm not going to waste time and state them because I'm trying to forget that I got duped into seeing this by Chris Carter. Easily the worst film that I've seen in theaters all year (yes, it's a lot worse than Hancock).

Note on that X-Files Poster above: That poster really sucks, so I guess it's saying X marks the spot? STTTTTTTUUUUUUUUUPPPPPPPPIIIIIIIIDDDDDDD!!!!!!

07/23/2008

210. Roger Dodger (2002)
Off DVR, Shown on IFC (widescreen, uncut)
This movie puts people that I try to avoid at the forefront, also know as, douche bags. This is a nice study of douche bags and how they operate, and the ending tries to give us a ray of hope that inside all the douche bags there is a ray of a real person in there, but that's not how real life works. Lots of pretentious dialogue contained inside.

07/21/2008

209. Samurai Spy (1965)
Off DVR, Shown on IFC (widescreen, uncut)
This is a really well done black and white movie that combines two of my favorite things, samurai's and spy's as the title suggests. This drags a little in the middle and the story gets bogged down some what in explaining the loyalties of all the different masters that all have four syllable names that all mix together at a certain point, but I had fun with this.

Movies #203-208

07/20/2008

207. The Film Crew: Killers from Space (2007)
Other Means
Wooden Peter Graves stars in this one, which doesn't really get to the subject of the title till the last half hour of the movie, this one is so bad that I had to watch it with the Film Crew. As a reminder, the Film Crew is the guys from MST3K reconstituted in a new form, but it plays just like an old episode of MST3K. I can't wait to get my hands on more of these.


208. The Film Crew: Hollywood After Dark (2007)
Other Means
One of the grannies from The Golden Girls stars in her earlier years in this awful trash basket of a film, this one is only palatable with the guys from MST3K there to comfort on the horror that is watching this movie. Watching these is a must for any MST3K fans.

07/19/2008

205. Grey Gardens (1975)
Off DVR, Shown on Sundance (uncut)
So i had watched parts of this movie before but I hadn't ever sat through the entire thing in one sitting, and it's an experience that I'm confident cannot and will not ever be duplicated elsewhere, the sheer amount of weird chemistry that these two ladies generate while we watch them go back and forth almost defies explanation. I know they are releasing a movie based on this later this year, but really there's nothing that can match what's going on here.


206. Doomsday (2008) Unrated
Other Means
I wasn't expecting much from this movie, and that's what I got. This is basically a B-movie retread of Escape From New York and with the ending straight out of Mad Max. There was some nice blood explosions but they were to far apart for this to be considered on the level of farce that I would wanted it to go for. The leader of cyber punk rebels or whatever they call themselves implies the acting by volume technique, the louder you are, the better with no regard for what is being said. I like my share of over the top action movies but this one doesn't go far enough and in the end is just boring.

07/18/2008

204. The Dark Knight (2008)
In Theaters
I had some high expectations going into this film because I a total media blackout on this movie, I had avoided all the trailers and TV ads and even some of the posters for fear or ruining the movie, and it definetly paid off, as you probably already know this movie rocks so hard because you've seen it. Highly Recommended Viewing, if you haven't gone out the theater yet go, don't wait for video.

07/16/2008

203. Session 9 (2001)
Off DVR, Shown on Sundance (widescreen, uncut)
I had been a fan of The Machinist for awhile and I had wanted to see an another Brad Anderson movie, this is his first film and it's amazingly well done for the low-budget roots that he had to work with, the acting is really good, which is surprising for an atmospheric horror film like this. Also David Caruso is in this and he doesn't play a cop, surprise!, but an even bigger surprise is that he doesn't suck in this role also. Worth seeing if you haven't seen any good indie astmospheric horror movies lately, and there aren't any cheap thriller jumps here.

Movies #192-202

07/13/2008

200. Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay Unrated (2008)
Other Means
This movie takes the high road of low brow humor if that's possible, because it has low brow humor but it doesn't insult your intelligence getting there. This is basically a plot point for plot point recreation of the first movie but with new stuff added in, to make it more hilarious than the first film. I just felt weird about the ending that was on this, it’s all soft and is a dramatic tonal shift from the rest of the movie.


201. The Mutant Chronicles (2008)
Other Means
So the cut I watched has labeled by some people as a rough cut, but I've watch quite a few rough cuts and none of the trademark scene missing cards or missing computer effects were here, this seemed like a final cut. With that in mind, I would bet you money this will never see a theatrical release, at least not this current edit. The entire movie looks cheaply done, in line with other direct to video movies that I've seen, but it would stand above some of the sci-fi channel original features that I flip by from time, but that isn't saying much. This movie's script is aweful, with this cast they could have put a little more effort in, alot of wasted talent on this film. I'd don't see anyway this movie can be saved with any amount of editing and special effects.


202. The Love Guru (2008)
Other Means
So when a movie is universally hated as this movie was when it came out I kind of had to check it out to see what all the fuss was about. And for a movie that was labeled as a comedy this movie doesn’t have any laughs in it, it’s painful to sit through because so many of the jokes Mike Myers turns to the screen and smiles as if the movie needed a laughter break, but there aren’t enough laughs to need a break from them. Jessica Alba’s lighting in every scene looks like a photo shoot for a model, I don’t even think she believed the dialogue she was reading.

07/11/2008

199. Penelope (1966)
Off DVR, Shown on Turner Classic Movies (widescreen, uncut)
This is a vanity vehicle for Natalie Wood because the script is so bland and uninspiring the only thing worth watching this for is Wood's many costume changes and Peter Faulk's bewilderment as to why he signed on to such a dumbly scripted project.

07/10/2008

198. Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008)
In Theaters
With this movie it's clear that the success of Pan's Labyrinth has given Del Toro more clout to do what he wants with Hellboy. The first movie is really just a sketch piece compared to how fully fleshed out this movie is. Lots of comic relief is also included in the film provided mostly by Hellboy. The practical and computer creature effects in this movie are seamless, never was there a moment where I was taken out of the movie by fake looking effects. This is the smart action movie that blockbusters wish they could be, I just hope this does well at the box office so that studios will be convinced to go out on a limb again. Highly Recommended Viewing

- Hellboy 2 sidenote:
So both The Mummy 3 and Hellboy 2 feature plots that involve gaining control of giant armies for mass destruction, I'm going to go out on a limb and crown Hellboy 2 the official "gain control of massive armies for destruction" champion of the summer

07/09/2008

196. Anamorph (2007)
Other Means
Now the one aspects of this movie that set it apart from every other serial killer movie every made was the aspect of anamorphism, which was not utilized enough in the movie. Willem Dafoe plays the typical neat freak OCD case detective in here, Scott Speedman sucks as usual. Fortunately Dafoe is the main character and we spend almost the entire film just with him, still this movie didn't shed bring any new material to the serial killer movie.


197. The Savages (2007)
Other Means
For some reason I skipped this during the push for awards season, but Phil Hoffman and Laura Linney work extremely well together as expected, this is about a reality that all of us will have to deal with as we get older and caring for our parents, but it's not something I really want to be thinking about for years. A must see if you enjoy watching these actors if other projects they were in.

07/08/2008

194. The Wackness (2008)
In Theaters
If ever there was a movie made for an audience of one (me)it was this, the main character is name Luke and he deals pot and listens to almost exclusively hip-hop and lives in NYC. The film takes place in 1994, so all the hip-hop that is on the soundtrack I grew up listening to on rotation. I can't really speak for who this movie will effect other people but this movie was made for me and I was pleasantly surprised that this movie was exactly the film that the trailer was selling and that is definitely a good thing. Highly Recommended Viewing


195. Tropa de Elite (2007)
Other Means
So City of God was Rio from the point of view of the people and drug dealers who live in the favellas but here the main characters are the squad of police who help out other police units when they are in trouble which is really often. We get really in depth into the recruitment and training process for the BOPE, which includes typical frat boy type hazing to be indoctrinated into BOPE. This movie shows the inner turmoil that the police force go through while trying to keep people safe, this is for the cops that are corrupt, but the movie shows that if they aren't corrupt and try to catch everyone, then innocent people die in the gun fire of trying to apprehend them so it's a catch 22 for the police that are honest. Highly Recommended Viewing.

07/07/2008

192. Kansas City (1996)
Off DVR, Shown on IFC (widescreen, uncut)
For years I had wanted to see this movie because I wanted to find out what Robert Altman had done with this, but it turns out all he did was make a terrible movie. I'm pretty sure this is the worst Altman movie that I've seen, and it's not for the usual Altman reasons, there's isn't any improve and the script is stilted and the plot poorly written. The only saving grace of the movie is Harry Belafonte's part, but his scenes are often edited poorly taking away from his performance.


193. The Girl in the Park (2007)
Other Means
So any movie starring Sigourney Weaver is automatically going to get my interest because she doesn't act that often, he she shares the story with Kate Bosworth and while this movie isn't bad it just has unrealistic characters reactions to situations. While that hampers the movie but overall I did like this movie.

Movies #179-191

07/06/2008

190. Scream Blacula Scream (1973)
Off DVR, Shown on Turner Classic Movies (widescreen, uncut)
This movie illustrates when there was a big down turn in quality in blaxsploitation movies, the movie never lives up to the title. Why Pam Grier is in this movie is anybody's guess, steer clear even if just for the vampire parts.


191. The Ballad of Jack and Rose (2005)
Off DVR, Shown on The Movie Channel (widescreen, uncut)
For a movie that stars the most unanimously critically appraised actor of the modern era, Daniel Day-Lewis, this movie is one that everybody forgot about but really shouldn't be, there is a lot going in this movie and surprise it's really well acted, worth viewing if you enjoy watching Daniel Day-Lewis act (check your pulse if your answer is no).

07/05/2008

187. Control (2007)
Other Means
This biopic is one of the rare times when someone who was around for a lot of the events got to make the film about it, the director collaborated with Joy Division back when they were together. This movie is really well done I just wasn't surprised at all, but it was still good.


188. Brass Target (1978)
Off DVR, Shown on Turner Classic Movies (widescreen, uncut)
This movie is about a plot to assassinate General Patton, when he goes after the soldiers who stole some Nazi gold, the investigation continues, blah, blah, at least Max von Sydow is there to keep things from going completely stale but I didn't see anything really memorable going on here.


189. Seduced and Abandoned (1964)
Off DVR, Shown on Ovation (widescreen, uncut)
This movie is about an Italian family and the lengths that the father will go to protect his honor with his hurricane force presence, he threatens to kill one or multiple of his daughter many times throughout the film. While this movie does work pretty well, this family sometimes seems built on stereotypes because it's so over the top at times, even though this is an Italian film, but overall this was a good family tale with redemption and all the good stuff, mixed with plenty of domestic violence.

07/04/2008

186. Legend of the Lost (1957)
Off DVR, Shown on Turner Classic Movies (widescreen, uncut)
The poster for this is more exciting than the movie, lots of slow moving desert scenes unroll with little pay off at the end which makes this one of the blandest supposed adventure movies that I've ever scene.

07/03/2008

184. Sudden Impact (1983)
Other Means
This is a Hitchcock thriller that for some reason has Dirty Harry placed in it, the scenes without Harry seem like they are from a completely different movie. Eastwood directed this Dirty Harry installment, I think he was trying to prove too hard that he range was beyond Dirty Harry, I just think he overshot for this movie.


185. The Dead Pool (1988)
Other Means
This is easily the worst looking of the Dirty Harry films, the whole movie is so flat looking. This film is notable because there is an early appearance by Jim Carrey as a addiction addled actor, and also Guns N' Roses make an appearance at the funeral scene, This is typical 80's sequel crap.

07/02/2008


182. Magnum Force (1973)
Other Means
This is the sequel to Dirty Harry, and I like that it's an extension of the plot line of the first film in that Harry seemed to be advocating vigilante justice and then they take that to the extreme in this film.



183. The Enforcer (1976)
Other Means
This is where the franchise get's a little wacky, Harry nemesis here is a crazed Vietnam vet who doesn't really use a full deck. While this one is shot really well the series is obviously starting to decline.

07/01/2008

180. WALL-E (2008)
In Theaters (DLP Screening)
This movie is really good but do yourself a favor and if you catch this in the theater go to a late screening where hopefully there will be less kids, because they ruin everything.


181. Hancock (2008)
In Theaters
The script for was going around Hollywood for years because it was almost seen as unfilmable, now I don't know that this end product is really the best fate for the script. I feel like a lot got left out of this movie, either it wasn't in the script originally or it was cut from the movie the story of origin just isn't there, and that is a bad thing when the plot shifts later in the movie kind depend on that. I hope there is a director's cut of this released later on.

06/30/2008

179. Batman: Gotham Knight (2008)
Other Means
I really enjoyed the Animatrix when it came out so I had kind of high expectations for this because animated Batman is my favorite kind of animation. But thankfully this is even better than the Animatrix and all the segments go together well, highly recommended if you ever liked animated Batman