07/28/06 Grandma's Boy

Grandma's Boy (2006), directed by Nicholaus Goossen

watched w/ Leslie (partially); DVD rental (Netflix) @ home & car ride (Raleigh, NC)

What would happen if you took all the components of a typical Adam Sandler movie (usually critically panned, publicly lauded with blockbuster earnings)...plugged them into yet another goofy comedy, minus one starring role of Mr. Sandler? Well, surprisingly...you still get a quality low-brow movie. Here are all the usual band of idiots that Sandler (who produced) collaborates with to find comedic success; with actors/friends Allen Covert (who plays lead Alex), Peter Dante (stoner Dante), Jonathan Loughran, Frank Coraci (who also directed Sandler hits "Wedding Singer" and "The Waterboy"), and SNL-alum buddies David Spade, Rob Schneider (you can do it), and Kevin Nealon. Go ahead and throw in new funnymen Nick Swardson (Jeff) & Joel Moore (J.P.), one hottie love interest Linda Cardellini (Samantha), and three geriatric grannies with attitude including Doris Roberts ("Everybody Loves Raymond") and Shirley Jones (mom from "Partridge Family"). Now that I'm done name-dropping...the plot is simple, stupid and effective. Alex is a 35-year old video game tester who likes to get stoned with his buddies and make fun of the pimply-faced virgins he works with. Once he gets kicked out of his apartment, he's forced to move in with his grandma & her friends...putting a cramp on his partying lifestyle. He meets a girl at work (also his supervisor), has to deal with nerdy-Matrix-loving wunderkind J.P. (who thinks he's a robot), and listen to the advice of his best bud Jeff (who still lives at home & sleeps in a race-car bed). Yes, lots of inappropriate humor, giants jabs at the video-gaming industry as a geeky whole, stoner laughs & gags, and unlikely romantic pairings (yes, mama's boy Jeff hooks up with Partridge Family mom). It's all silly stuff, but if you drink grandma's special "tea" with the Mary Jane left in the vase...you will be laughing your ass off too. Check out the hilarious outtakes to, where everybody basically tries to one-up each other with the dialogue.

3 out of 5 stars

07/27/06 Mondo Cane 2

Mondo Cane 2 (1963), directed by Gualtiero Jacopetti & Franco Prosperi

watched solo; VHS (borrowed from John S.); suggested by Jason & John S.

Picking up where the first "Mondo Cane" film left off...which was somewhere in the nether-regions of sanity and decency...comes this pasted together "sequel" if you will. Maybe it was the fact that the creepy offerings in this one were less informational and more conversational...maybe it was that I watched both films back-to-back for continuity purposes...or maybe it was just that this second feature seemed to be a scraping of the bottom of the barrel for leftovers of the first film. Whatever the case, it began to turn me off from being interested, and wanting more to go to bed (it was late by this time). The ideas of shocking me with visual absurdity wore off (perhaps that's our shoot-em-up-video-game culture of today), and they became staged Sunday news-programming "oddball slices of life" stories. From the parts I can remember, there were segments of mortician schooling, sex clubs, old western hangings, alligator hunting, running across hot coals, toilet paper wearing strippers, fighting fish, and probably the most well-known/disturbing scene of one monk dousing himself in gasoline and lighting himself on fire in protest (see Rage Against The Machine's first album cover). Whether items were faked or real, it was enough cause to ban it & its predecessor in many areas...only solidifying its status as a cult phenomenon on video store shelves today. It's strange, it's out there, and I've seen enough for today.

2 out of 5 stars

07/27/06 Mondo Cane

Mondo Cane (1962), directed by Paolo Cavara & Gualtiero Jacopetti, Franco Prosperi

watched w/ Leslie (partially); VHS (borrowed from John S.); suggested by Jason & John S.

Touted as the original "shockumentary," this bizarre collection of worldwide oddities comes to me courtesy of two friends...Jason and John. Jason has been mentioning (and collecting) these kind of strange European/Asian/American cult phenomenons for quite some time now, always encouraging me to see them. Also, John at work has a lot of these older versions on VHS that he's told me he will let me borrow. Therefore, I finally succumbed to my curiosity about these abnormal hits. This film is probably what all of today's shock treatment filmmaking is all about (see "Faces Of Death" or "Jackass"), but it seemed that it was more of an honest attempt at capturing mankind at its most perverse on film and stringing the thought process together across cultures to see how much alike we can be in our weird behavior. What is put on display here is a voyeuristic collection of documented sequences (both real and seemingly staged) of tribal dances, bizarre rituals, pet cemeteries, animal violence, eating habits, religious self-flagellation, hula dancing, drunken German tavern-goers, and lifeguarding mouth-to-mouth techniques. All the scenes have been compiled by the filmmakers with silly narrative hyperbole and a score that actually received an Academy Award nomination...all to the imagery that is at times both compelling and grotesque to look at. The film remains a landmark, and spawned the pseudo-documentary style known as "Mondo films." It's title in Italian means literally "a dog's world," and is often used as a mild curse, which is appropriate for the utterly aberrant storytelling that takes place here. It's out there, but you know you want to see it too.

3 out of 5 stars

07/26/06 X-Men: The Last Stand

X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), directed by Brett Ratner

watched w/ Leslie, Janine & Z; theater (Blue Ridge Cinema, Raleigh, NC)

As soon as we learned that this third installment in the X-Men franchise had made it to the dollar theater, we rushed to see it. One problem, in order for me to catch the "opening weekend" show tonight, I had to hurry over to meet everyone after a early evening work meeting at the office. Yes, even with packed parking lots I made it into the theater to witness the opening scenes looking back at Jean Grey's childhood where Professor Xavier has come to help her and co-creator Stan Lee has a cameo as a neighbor. Soon after that flash to the past, we are introduced to the modern day where once again, peace and tranquility amongst normal humans and mutants is threatened by a scientific serum for genetic mutation. The serum is introduced as a "cure" to treat the affliction of mutants, while most do not wish to be cured and feel it as a threat to their very existence and acceptance in society. Of course, the bad guys love the idea of getting their hands on the potion, as well as the top secret source of its "healing" powers in the young lab rat boy Jimmy (who happens to possess the ability to blanket any other mutants special powers and render them useless). Battle lines are drawn over the purpose for this science, and society is thrown into upheaveal over the inclusion of the mutant race into their own. All the regular band of characters are here, with all the awesome X-Men you remember from the comic books...Professor X, Wolverine, Storm, Magneto, Jean Grey/Phoenix, Cyclops, Rogue, Mystique, Pyro, Iceman, and Colossus...while introducing even more with Beast, Angel, Juggernaut, Quill, Jubilee, and Multiple Man. It may seem like a comic book convention overload, but it's fun to see so many imagined creations to jump off the pages and onto the big screen with all the special effects bonanza to boot. Who will win the race war? Will good prevail over evil? Will the X-Men realize their control over their own powers before it's too late? And what's more...which character will spin off the first sequel after this "last" chapter in the X-Men trilogy?

3 out of 5 stars

07/25/06 An Inconvenient Truth

An Inconvenient Truth (2006), directed by Davis Guggenheim

watched w/ Leslie; theater (Galaxy Cinema, Cary, NC); Triangle Emerging Green Builders special screening

Now to return to a serious topic, without trying to make any grandiose political statement. This is a global topic that in someway affects all of us, and whether or not you believe the hype, you would have to admit that the discussions about it are fascinating (or maybe I'm just a dork). The looming subject is that of global warming, which inevitably has played havoc on our ecosystem, temperature, climates, and world water/energy supplies. The medium is that of a well-done documentary by TV-show vet Guggenheim, hosted by one former Vice President/short-lived President of the United States Al Gore. The place of viewing was an art-house theater where the event was being sponsored by a local group of young professionals which I have become associated with (given my penchant for building/design and environmental issues...yeah, hippie) known as the Emerging Green Builders. It was sort of unreal to be watching a film with such an important message and backdrop of computer PowerPoint presentation visual aids, and not feel like you were in a real-life lecture hall. I mean, c'mon, Al Gore is up on a stage talking to us about the hazards of our modern-day technologies, giving facts and figures to show the Earth's unnatural tendencies of late...and it doesn't put you to sleep! That in itself is quite a feat of holding our collective ADD brains. The film documents Gore in one of his live lectures on the topic, but shows his approach to teaching the subject to people in a way that's not overly political or cramming biased opinions down your throat (like most major political issues can be). He takes a scientific approach to the data, something that he seems very sincere about...having always been a proponent for environmental issues and enacting legislation to regulate/maintain such things. What he attempts to do through the data and compelling visual presentation is lay out facts that have been studied by people way more intelligent than you or I or Al Gore...and give you some realistic terms in which our future may look like if we proceed as we are. He's really trying to win over our own motivation to make things better for prosperity. It's also telling in the film to have the director intersplice fragments of Gore's personal/political life; including the sickness of his child, death of his sister to cancer, and infamous loss to George W. Bush in the 2000 presidential election. It's all the key factors in his own life that have lead him to the position he is in today, trying to convey a message for the good of others and the world. Pretty bold & grandiose maybe, but not a bad basis for a smear campaign against something that needs to be addressed somehow. Now go rush out and buy a hybrid you hippie.

4 out of 5 stars

07/24/06 Imagine Me & You

Imagine Me & You (2005), directed by Ol Parker

watched w/ Leslie; DVD rental (Blockbuster) @ home

Losing in a battle of "put-the-DVD's-behind-your-back-and-choose-at-random-while-standing-in-the-aisles-of-the-video-store" was the basis for this gem to be our film of the day. I can fault nobody but myself on this one, seeing as Leslie had "The Importance Of Being Earnest" picked out...which would have been better I'm sure. I thought, heck, let's stick with an offbeat romantic comedy trip and see what ensues when couples make strange bedfellows. This is the reason why you shouldn't marry silly capricious British girls (or American actresses who impersonate them either...Piper Perabo) who fancy dabbling in sexual ambiguity or marrying for the sake of having a drinking buddy. I'm not trying to knock the fact that some people may just be uncertain (or unwilling) to face facts in their sexual lives, by refusing to come out of the closet or explore more...whatever. That's a conversation that could go on for hours...somewhat like having to watch this silly little film. It's just annoying to watch these life uncertainties unfold with detrimental effects to all parties involved...with the whimsical flair the British have for romantic comedies. Yuck. OK, fancy this...Rachel marries longtime pal Heck (yeah, the guy's name is a mild profanity), but befriends and eventually falls for florist Luce (yeah, she's a chick) who is being courted rather crudely by Heck's womanizing buddy Cooper. Got all that? Rachel tortures Heck with marital apathy, while pining over the fantasies of being with Luce. The sexual tensions boil over one day in the back of Luce's floral shop, when the arrival of her hubby flusters the encounter...leaving Rachel with a deep sense of guilt. She wants to tell the truth, but she's a bloody liar...Heck is a pushover, and wants her to be happy. Luce & Cooper really show no feelings for others when it comes down to it. Feelings get hurt, people feel sad, nobody gets laid...it's trite. I did find it interesting that this film venture was helmed by newcomer Ol Parker, who is the husband of one nubile British actress Thandie Newton (of "Crash" and MI:2" fame). Parker better watch his sweet hetero back, or Thandie may be stepping out on him with Piper Perabo. Life imitating art much? I guess this rant is what I get for having picked the wrong "DVD-behind-the-back." Better luck next time.

2 out of 5 stars

07/23/06 Titus

Titus (1999), directed by Julie Taymor

watched solo; DVD rental (Netflix) @ home; suggested by Christina M.

Here we go. Let's take a bloody Shakespearean classic (aren't all of his classics?), give the directing duties to a famed female stage director/costumer, assemble a credible & sleek batch of actors lead by iconic Sir Anthony Hopkins, fill it with tons of colors/costumes/scenery, a pinch of industrial/jazz music, toss in modernized warfare of tanks/machine guns/business suits, and set the creativity blender on phantasmagoric puree. That's basically the concoction you are left with in this updated version of a brutal period tragedy. Hopkins plays the title role of Titus Andronicus, a Roman war general who returns to Roman with royal hostages of Queen Tamora (Jessica Lange) of the Goths and her sons, the oldest of which he orders slain for Roman retribution. Upon declining the newly vacant throne, Titus leaves open the chance for the corrupt Saturninus (Alan Cumming) to claim rule and lay seige to the city. Saturninus further complicates matters by betraying his brother by wanting his betrothed wife Lavinia (Titus' daughter), banishing Titus' sons and taking bed with the captured Queen Tamora. In retaliation to Titus' actions, Tamora's two evil sons (prevoked by conspirator Aaron), torture and abuse Lavinia to merciless ends...causing revenge to be wanted by Titus and his sons. The ensuing maelstrom explodes a bitter war over honor, betrayal, politics, love, and vengeance. Basically, everyone portrayed in that ancient era was in some way debaucherous, violent, evil, conniving, or proud to a fault. A very big fault. I loved the inclusion of so many modern pieces against the antiquated backdrops and language. You would here dialogue that you only read in Shakespearean plays, doused with a surrealism including automobiles, advanced weaponry and people wearing suit & ties, all infused with a hard-hitting industrial music score (sprinkled in with the classical pieces). I liked that very much, although at times it was a bit too haphazard for me...but definitely more successful an attempt at this re-working than say Baz Luhrmann's horrible adaptation of "Romeo + Juliet" a few years prior to "Titus." Perhaps it's the much more talented acting and cinematography that take place here. Whatever the cause, the vibrant colors and flowery language hooked me here.

3 out of 5 stars

07/22/06 Shaft's Big Scrore!

Shaft's Big Score! (1972), directed by Gordon Parks

watched w/ Leslie & Tim (partially); DVD (personal copy) @ home & car ride (Raleigh, NC)

Today was a very busy day. I have to first acknowledge just how much is going to fit into this full day, and work the movie viewing into somewhere. Today is my brother Tim's birthday, so let's hear it for that...he will be coming up to visit me & spend some quality time (partying) with me. Second, it is the last official day of my on-site construction AmeriCorps crew which I am an alumni of so we will have to give props to them at our Habitat dedication, which I will be presenter/speaker for. Third, today is a workday for me, on top of all the preparation for the affiliate event scheduled for the afternoon. And fourth and finally, I will be partaking in a downtown wedding reception party for a work buddy at the prestigious Top Of The Tower hotel bar in Raleigh. So, with that full plate about to kick my weary butt...I figured on a short but sweet butt-kicking in the action/blaxploitation genre to tide me over. The covert operation to infiltrate my daily hours with DVD viewing opportunities started in the wee hours past midnight. I stayed up "late" to watch the first hour before falling asleep. I then had 45 minutes to squeeze in during the day, after work and getting ready to head out to the evening party. I brought my portable DVD player into the bathroom, the bedroom and finally into the passenger seat of the car on the way to the hotel. Yes, I timed it perfectly to have maximum good times all around. To celebrate both my bro's birthday and the wedding, I figured who cooler than Shaft to represent the day?! Since I've already reviewed the original "Shaft" film earlier in this Challenge, suffice it to say that he's still one bad-ass mofo, kicking butt & taking names, getting all the ladies, serving justice for African-Americans everywhere, and cashing in at the bank for the franchise that director Parks and star Richard Roundtree have created. The film plays out simply enough for shady numbers racketeering, rival gangs, tough-nosed undercover police work, murders, sex, violence, jive-talkin', and some missing $200 grand. It's tough enough to be silly, and silly enough to be tough...if that makes any sense. At this point, just the larger-than-life character of Shaft could have done almost anything in a film, and he would have reigned supreme in the vengeance/anti-hero category. Lay down a funky beat over this here end sequence...fade out, right on. Now to lay the smack down on a party.

3 out of 5 stars

07/21/06 The Break-Up

The Break-Up (2006), directed by Peyton Reed

watched w/ Leslie, Janine, Eric, Nick & Louis; theater (Blue Ridge Cinema, Raleigh, NC)

While the title may seem depressing and completely foreshadowing of the plot, it's the uncomfortable ride down dysfunctional relationship lane that keeps this off-beat comedy going. Where most romantic comedies tend to focus on the hunt, the game, the dance that is courting in this modernized dating scene...this one quickly brings us up to speed on the settling in & crumbling apart of the sugar-coated niceties that can soon depart when couples begin to take each other for granted. Let's just say, you should be solidly grounded in a strong relationship before coming to see this potentially light-hearted fare, only to have your wonderful date night idea crushed into a thousand little pieces when the ubiquitous questions start firing from all angles after leaving the theater, addressing what happened on screen as a catalyst for what is about to happen in your real life, and leading to smudged eyeliner and bruised egos (and balls). I'm not in any way suggesting that this happened to me, for I have a good strong relationship with my girl...but this "comedy" can lead down a slippery questionnaire slope for anyone. The point is obviously to have fun with the movie's intent, and leave it as the fiction on the movie screen. Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston are good as the loving couple (Gary and Brooke) who have moved in together, only to have Brooke feel neglected as a partner in the relationship. She calls Gary out on this fact, declares a break-up in hopes of him coming to his senses. However, what ensues is a bitter and hi-jink-filled turf war over the relationship, emotions, and the material possessions accumulated by both...namely their shared condo. Taking all sorts of good & bad advice from their mutual friends, both engage in a mental warfare to best each others' healing process by both simultaneously acting single...all the while continuing to live together. Everything from blind dates, strippers, board game nights, bowling parties, couples' therapy, fraternity feng shui of the furniture..you name it, they do it to each other. With a great supporting cast of friends & families including Jason Bateman, Vincent D'Onofrio, Jon Favreau, Cole Hauser, Joey Lauren Adams, John Michael Higgins, and one Peter Billingsley (yup, Ralphie from "A Christmas Story")...the laughs keep coming in subtle and over-the-top ways. Director Reed (Raleigh, NC native) does a good job of melding the cast together, while allowing what seems like skillful improv on comedic parts (as Vince Vaughn is so talented at doing). The movie is good, nothing too fancy...but what is most intriguing and awkward about it all is the ending. Not to ruin it for anyone, but what takes place is a very realistic, albeit utterly uncomfortable, chance meeting of the two after the break-up. Everyone at some point in life has had that awkward encouter...not knowing what to say, or where to look, or trying to avoid the situation altogether. While most of the movie was funny, this bittersweet finale left everyone with a shuddering tenseness...which had to be intended...but alas, can lead to post-date-night drama. Just think, in reality this film coincided with not only Anniston & Brad Pitt's split, but her being linked to Vaughn. This would be the time on the reality show where someone would give a confessional/testimonial of the date & how they couldn't stand the other person...and how they were still available, looking, and willing to do anything that moves.

3 out of 5 stars

07/20/06 The Watcher In The Woods

The Watcher In The Woods (1980), directed by John Hough

watched w/ Leslie; DVD rental (Blockbuster) @ home

You would think by the title of this film that I was continuing a dark streak of potential family travel hazards, with edge-of-your-seat scares and gruesome tales of murder. Well, this one is sooooooo tame in comparison to "The Hills Have Eyes" it's not even funny...well, actually it is quite funny if you look at under an MST3K microscope. I think upon renting this Disney feature in the store, I was getting it confused with another that I recall from my childhood to be a potentially good scary/mysterious film called "Escape To Witch Mountain." As loveable and harmless as most Disney fare can be, they can also dive off the deep end into a hazy abyss of attempted occult chills...sometimes providing a scare for the little ones, but even here I would think the kids would not be impressed. What we have is another idyllic American family who decide to move to a baronial English manor (bad idea for a fun time) in order to escape the trappings of hub-bub city life. Upon arriving to the estate, they encounter the matronly Mrs. Aylwood (Bette Davis) who years ago lost her daughter in a bizarre and mysterious way. If the little old lady in the shed wasn't scary enough, the two young girls of the family (Jan and Ellie) begin to hear voices and see images coming from the dense wooded area surrounding the haunted house. With some youthful curiosities, the two girls explore the reasons for these ghostly messages to be appearing to them. What is found out is that Mrs. Aylwood's daughter had disappeared as a teenager when performing a strange ritual with friends in the woods during a solar eclipse decades before, and she is now supernaturally trying to communicate to the young girls. What is first dismissed by the parents as adolescent imaginations (they never believe the kids man!), soon is realized to be a psychic force so powerful it threatens the safety of the family and the home they have moved into. The effects, acting and storyline are so unbelievably cheesy, that it draws you in out of sheer youthful curiosity (much like the stupid girls who don't know when to back away). I won't ruin the dramatic ending of reenacting the bizarre ritual, but the only saving grace to the scenes are the DVD's choices of alternate endings. If you ever do stumble across this one in the woods, you have to check out the alternate sci-fi ending with the director's commentary. Hough (who also directed "Escape To Witch Mountain") begins to explain his ideas of the ritual teleporting one of the young girls into this extra-terrestrial spacecraft to save the missing daughter, who's been preserved in time, and battle evil aliens to bring her back to reality...uh, that seemed to be a bit too dark for Disney's tastes...but what a hilarious alternate ending! Especially if you sit through the whole film, this other ending is completely out-of-context, but so worth it. Ah, Disney and the paranormal.

2 out of 5 stars

07/19/06 The Hills Have Eyes

The Hills Have Eyes (2006), directed by Alexandre Aja

watched solo; DVD rental (Blockbuster) @ home

Considering that this is a remake of one of the creepiest movies of all-time, and in the 30 some odd years since the original films have only become more violent, gory, and graphically polluted...of course this intense horror film was going to be a solo viewing venture (Leslie wouldn't have the stomach, and I can't blame her). Furthermore, having never seen Wes Craven's classic original, I can only make commentary on this grotesque contemporary version brought to us by new Grim Reaper auteur Alexandre Aja ("High Tension"). First off, let me start by saying that this is quite possibly the most disturbing thing you could ever imagine for a family vacation...and I'm not talking just Chevy Chase & National Lampoon mishaps. This is a road trip mistake of epic proportions by a seemingly sedentary suburban red-blooded American family. What they decide to do is gather up three generations of family, throw in a quarrelling father/son-in-law relationship, towing a camper, through the desert towards California in the dead of summer. Upon first gas stop, trying to make good time is brilliant dad Big Bob (who also is the guy that plays a police captain in TV show "Monk," so you would think that he'd know better), who takes the advice of a shady gas station attendant to take an unmarked detour through the desert hills. Bloody brilliant. Guess what happens...yup, car breaks down and with family stranded they decide to break up to look for help while leaving the stereotypical vulnerable females and youngsters at the desolate campsite. Even more genius. What the unsuspecting family doesn't realize is that there is a clan of mutated sub-humans (descended from the aftermath of U.S. Government testing of nuclear weapons in the 1950's) dwelling in the hills and looking for fresh meat to prey upon. Oh yeah, it's not just coyotes and vultures you need be wary of in the hills of New Mexico. Not only are theses mutated people ravenous killers, but they take sadistic pleasure in the torture of their victims as their brand of retribution for what society has done to them. Now caught in the freaks' trap, the family must band together with their fears and fight a hopeless battle against this impending evil. Let's just say it gets pretty gruesome...not so much sudden shocks of fear, as long drawn-out acts of disturbing violence. That's where my problem comes with films like this. I understand that it is almost a study of will for humanity in the face of complete evil, as well as a horror genre styling to bombard with gruesome massacre...which are both addressed vividly in the movie. However, you cannot say that you enjoy watching such things being played out (at least not I, you freak), so there lies this conundrum of to what level you can appreciate the film for entertainment value. Again, having not seen the 70's original, I feel like that one must be a bit more understated and low-budget...which may have accomplished the same foreboding mood, with less of the gory details. Whatever, I still believe this film to be successful at scaring the crap out of people (both inside and out of your head), and making me never ever want to take any unmarked backroads in the desert with my family vulnerable to the psyhopaths of the world. I would hope that I'd never be stupid enough to do that anyway...never trust the shady gas station attendants.

3 out of 5 stars

07/18/06 Where The Buffalo Roam

Where The Buffalo Roam (1980), directed by Art Linson

watched w/ Leslie (partially); DVD rental (Netflix) @ home

This one has been on my "must see" list for quite some time, being heightened by my love for the more contemporary rendition of the man in "Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas," and finalized by the mere fact that today would have been the man's 69th birthday. An odd celebration of his maniacal life, the gonzo journalism he is so famed for, fishing hats, gold tipped cigarette holders, my friend Jack's arm tattoo, heavy drug use by artists, and shooting his cremated remains out of a cannon. Yes, the man so explained is Hunter S. Thompson. Only having known of his frenzied lifestyle in print and on film, the man seemed larger than life in character and caricature. This earlier representation of him came from the early 80's, but followed his late 60's/early 70's exploits as a journalist who was supposed to report on events like the 1972 Super Bowl and Presidential election. Along the way, Thompson (here played by comedian Bill Murray in what was one of his early attempts at serious/oddball roles, where as Johnny Depp's later portrayal was not far from most of his film roles anyway) meets up with his buddy/alter ego/attorney Carl Lazlo as they try to commit as much crimes of indecency as they do to protect the civil rights of the subcultures they represent. While only a semi-autobiographical account of the madman's legacy, it was still cool to see Murray play the tempered insanity down a bit more than what I had seen Depp do in "Fear And Loathing." I know it's hard to have watched one and not compare it to the other, as they both stand on their own merits, hilarity, and segments of drug-induced escapades of an obviously interesting man's life. I'm sure that neither fictionalized version of it can come close to matching the utterly schizophrenic mentality that lived in reality. It clearly shows how Thompson's innovative (yet off-kilter) approach to journalism let forth a stream-of-consciousness not often attained in a medium that requires so much factual data to be delivered in unbiased format. This version was a bit more playful than violent (see the faux-football game Murray plays in his hotel room with the maid/bellboy), and had some charming songs like Neil Young's version of "Home On The Range" in the soundtrack. Put on your favorite fishing hat, smoke 'em if you got 'em, and try not to get arrested if you plan to celebrate in full force this day of mayhem. Gonzo out.

4 out of 5 stars

07/17/06 Brigadoon

Brigadoon (1954), directed by Vincente Minnelli

watched w/ Leslie; DVD rental (Netflix) @ home; suggested by Leslie

In the grand tradition of hidden fantasy lands such as the wonderful world of Oz, or the lost city of Atlantis, or even the engaging trappings of Monkey's Eyebrow, Kentucky (there's a book out there you can purchase on this wacky town name, I own it...comes the town of Brigadoon. And speaking of far away places, the film was directed by Vincente Minnelli...husband of Oz's Judy Garland, and father of space-cadet Liza. This enchanting tale of daydreams and foreign places comes to us from two hapless American buddies (Gene Kelly as Tommy and Van Johnson as Jeff) who go across the ocean for a hunting trip to Scotland. Strange things are afoot in the woods, as the two men stumble upon two very strange entities. One being the mysterious land of Brigadoon that appears not on a map, but rather as an apparition out of the highland mists one day each century. The other is a loveable, huggable appearance of a musical number out of thin air. Yes, the hills are alive with the Scottish sound of music (drunken pub music at that). Tommy and Jeff at first do not realize why the local townsfolk are so odd and secretive, seemingly stuck somewhere in the past. However, it is soon revealed to them that they are in fact stuck in the past through fanciful choreographed dance numbers were Gene Kelly is allowed to show off his fancy footwork (why else would he be in movies?). Throughout the movie there are beautiful songs of merriment and love, as Tommy falls for the local beauty Fiona and is forced to choose between his home and this new one. Among the catchy tunes is one that holds a special meaning to someone special to me...Leslie. You see, the number called "I'll Go Home With Bonnie Jean" was the origin of Leslie's aunt Bonnie's name...given to her by her sister (Leslie's mum, Diana). And if you were to look up the name, it's a pretty sweet connotation to have for a moniker...meaning physically attracrive, pretty or excellent. Not bad for a song sung by drunkard Scots in a land that doesn't really exist in a time forgotten. A movie that will surely be enjoyed by all who let themselves get lost, and go home to their own bonnie whomever.

3 out of 5 stars

07/16/06 Searching For The Wrong-Eyed Jesus

Searching For The Wrong-Eyed Jesus (2005), directed by Andrew Douglas

watched solo; DVD rental (Blockbuster) @ home & car ride (Raleigh, NC)

It is the weekend of parties for Leslie & I. This statement has almost nothing to do with my movie review here, other than the fact that it affected my Movie Challenge viewing habits. We have been in & out of town and picking up party supplies all weekend, so that a lot of my watching has happened in the passenger seat of a car, or squeezed in between parties. What my none-too-intentional segue is about is that there was a journey taking place here. A journey that was interlaced with one from an interesting alt-country singer/songwriter Jim White...a southern raconteur of sorts. The documentary of the journey to the Deep South was a collaboration between White and new filmmaker Douglas (who oddly enough also directed the newest "Amityville Horror" remake in '05) after Douglas had heard White's album of the same name. Hoping to get a reading on what is considered "backwoods" areas of such deeply southern locales in Florida & Louisiana, White borrows an old Chevy from a friend to cruise along the countryside meeting folks from forgotten towns, all the while waxing poetic to the audience with a helping hand of countrified soundtrack by his musical buddies. What unfolds is an unorthodox culture of impoverished peoples filling local restaurants, barbershops, churches, coal mines, bars, truck stops and prisons...with their own brand of philosophy in life. Along the way, White (who claims to have an affinity for junkyards and trash pile treasure troves) picks up from the trunk of one car an iconic Jesus statue and places into his own car trunk for the ride. This seemingly good luck charm provides more of the religious premise for his off-kilter reflections on life and hope in the eyes of much of the boggy marshes he visits. It's a strage journey, with a self-proclaimed oddball tour guide...but intriguing at least. It's not that White necessarily exposes the innermost workings of southern culture (on the skids, ha ha), but attempts to enlighten with his own personal touches (like his metaphorical ramblings on society as an ice cream cone for example). With the raspy and jangly instrumentation in the background of his narration, White proceeds to find "the gold tooth in God's crooked smile."

4 out of 5 stars

07/15/06 Tristram Shandy:A Cock And Bull Story

Tristram Shandy:A Cock And Bull Story (2005), directed by Michael Winterbottom

watched w/ Leslie (partially); DVD rental (Netflix) @ car ride (Greensboro, NC to Hickory, NC); suggested by Brad B.

In what is regarded as a novel that was virtually unfilmable (which looks a lot like inflammable on paper), Winterbottom here tries to do the unthinkable. Granted, I was not privy to knowing that this was even a novel...apparently it is somewhat of a cult classic dating back to the 1760's, and re-defining what exactly a novel could be with its free-form stylings. The novel I speak of, if you could not infer from the movie title, is "The Life And Opinions Of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman" by preacher and author Laurence Sterne. What comes to life in the book, is what the filmmakers were trying to accomplish in ridiculous hilarity in the movie. What that is, is the story of Tristram told through the eyes and actions of his own father Walter (both played by Steve Coogan, who also plays himself) and his many ruminations on life, civility, science, comedy, love, war, and the like. What is brilliant about this movie (as I'm sure is the case with the novel) is the constant ebb & flow of characters within their jumbled contexts...meaning that they move about as if they are one character portraying another historical figure, all the while being precisely the actor/actress who they are in our own modern reality in the filmmaking process. What remains is a wild send-up of what inclusive societies manifest in the filmmaking world of large groups of people living and working together, always teetering on the brink of reality and ficiton. As is evident with Sterne's writings on society and social figures, where he chooses to insert moments of character sketches, blank pages, and various digressions with his own flair for imposing the creator's thoughts. In the film, Coogan is accompanied by an ensemble cast of mayhem including Rob Brydon, Kelly Macdonald, Gillian Anderson, Jeremy Northam, Naomie Harris, Shirley Henderson (creepy Moaning Myrtle), and I believe at one point Winterbottom himself. The film tries itself to break all boundaries, as you get lost within the many sub-stories abound...which lead you to lengths of absurdity like Shandy (err, Coogan) being dropped upside down from a mechanical harness while in period garb (another time naked) into a gigantic fake womb, simulating the act (both scientifically and symbolically) of birth through the canal and into your living rooms. That scene alone was probably one of my favorites, and abstract reasoning enough to earn this film 4 stars. While the experimental novel was at first controversial for its obscenity of satire, it is that fact that keeps the modern-day cinematic version afloat. Beneath the chaos there seems to be some structure, and it forever changed the way people though of stories...which is an influence never forgotten by most experimental films today. A whimsical period parody, and that's no bull.

4 out of 5 stars

07/14/06 Caché

Caché (2005), directed by Michael Haneke

watched solo; DVD rental (Netflix) @ home

With becoming the winner of the Best Director Award at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival (and not just because he's French), Haneke has done so with a very provocative and unsettling thriller. What is presented to the audience is an aggressive psychological mind-warp that disrupts a usually casual family lifestyle of a wealthy French couple. Georges (Daniel Auteuil) and Anne (Juliette Binoche) start to become terrorized by a series of unmarked packages that arrive at their home, which include surveillance videotapes of themselves and their house from some unknown source, along with disturbing childlike drawings of nightmarish quality. At first, since Georges has a wildly popular literary TV talk show, the couple believe it to be a prank by some strange fan. However, as the deliveries become more frequent and personal, they begin to fear for their safety. Recognizing some of the obscure footage in the tapes, Georges takes it upon himself (without entrusting his wife with the knowledge) to seek out who he thinks the culprit is...to startling effect. Georges' secrecy about his past, and the apparent emergence of someone from it, causes a rift between him and Anne, as she is most concerned about their security and well-being of their son. Georges believes the perpetrator to be a childhood enemy that feels malice towards his family for past wrong-doings, which causes recurring dark memories to surface...which leads him to track the person down and confront him. What is slowly revealed (yet, in diversionary tactics) is that the resentment toward Georges has been carried out, but maybe not by who he thinks. The film eases you from stages of general apathy, towards uneasiness, heightened awareness, and finally hits you with a violent denouement (drop a little French on you) of sorts. It is hard to determine what is more disturbing of the elements utilized here; whether it be the voyeurism, the marital strains of lies, the vulnerability that we all fear, the perversions of society, childhood demons, bloody confrontations, or just the overall twisted simplicity in telling the chain of events in this story combined with the utter lack of resolution left at the story's end. I read an interesing review on one website for this film that stated this thriller to be "only as complicated as you make it, because a huge portion of its meaning comes from what you are willing to find" within it. Maybe that's just a sneaky French way of being artisitc...but it is nonetheless interesting. While I may not be smart enough to have understood the end shots that run through the credits, it adds to your own uneasiness in watching the constant filming within the film to find meaning. Good luck, I think it's hidden (see "Caché").

4 out of 5 stars

07/13/06 Casablanca

Casablanca (1942), directed by Michael Curtiz

watched w/ Leslie; theater (Koka Booth Amphitheatre, Cary, NC)

Obviously touted as one of the all-time greatest movies, if not the greatest, by many a cinematic scholar...that is not up for debate here. The one problem I have with this film, is that it has taken me so long to have watched it for my own enjoyment. We decided to go to an outdoor viewing in the park of this film, which was supported as a romantic evening by the sponsor of the event being a dating service that match people up by having a battle of the sexes trivia quiz on stage prior to the screening. That set the tone for a classic evening to remember with Leslie, with both of us seeing the film for the first time. While itself a masterwork, it is incredible to think that director Curtiz had his hand in two (destined) classics the same calendar year with this and "Yankee Doodle Dandy." "Casablanca" is not so much a place that most can find on a map, but more on their local video store shelves in the "classics" section. The titular region was a French-Moroccan backdrop during World War II as a stop on the complicated escape route for Europeans from the threat of advancing Nazi German troops. Used as an embarkation point for fleeing citizens who were fortunate enough to procure exit visas, Casablanca also provided the hide-out for an exiled American freedom-fighter in Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart). Rick is the owner of the hottest nightclub in town, as it becomes an entertainment escape from the horrors of war all around the people. Rick is friendly with the local French police Captain Renault (Claude Rains), but constantly wary of interfering Gestapo forces. Rick is content with his role in the region, that is until someone from his past re-enters his life and brings back with them all kinds of political drama. The person in question is former flame Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) who has come to Casablanca to find refuge and a way out of Europe with her husband Victor (Paul Henreid). Stoic Rick is shaken as old romantic wounds open again; as Ilsa abandoned him in Paris after a summer tryst without any explanation and returns now to ask for his help and forgiveness. It just so happens that Ilsa's husband is a rabble-rousing European Resistance leader to the war, which brings the heat down from the Gestapo forces. Rick and Ilsa begin to re-examine their own relationship, with all the hurt and love culmintating in one fantastic plan to get out of the region together for safety. Not to ruin one of the most memorable movie endings of all time (if you, like me, were never fortunate enough to see it), but things don't go as you (or even Ilsa) expect it. In what has become one of the most quoted, influential and copied films of all-time...I reiterate the fact that this is truly a classic. A classic with such famed lines as "of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine," "I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship," "play it, sam" (which is often the most mis-quoted as "play it again, sam,"..."here's looking at you kid," and finally..."what is you nationality?...I'm a drunkard." A classic that centers around a very realistic situation during a very tense time in the world. A classic that should always leave an indelible mark on your imagery, pop culture, and life...as it did with me, as the rains began to lightly shower us towards the end of the film, adding to the bittersweet crescendo of the film.

5 out of 5 stars

07/12/06 Laura

Laura (1944), directed by Otto Preminger & Rouben Mamoulian

watched w/ Leslie; DVD rental (Netflix) @ home

A decent old-school film noir supplied by famed director Preminger. This one becomes the classic "whodunit?!" perplexity by gaining insight into the characters retrospecting. We happen upon a murder scene of one young and beautiful Laura (hmmmm, maybe she will be important to the film) dead on her apartment floor. Soon a sly detective McPherson is on the case, armed with a photograph of the girl, a bunch of suspects and little else. McPherson (Dana Andrews) begins to unravel the mystery by questioning the many people in Laura's (Gene Tierney) life who may have had something to do with it...most of which include two men who captivated by her beauty have been opposingly in love with her at the same time. The men are her wealthy mentor Waldo (Clifton Webb) and pretty-boy fiance Shelby (Vincent Price...who both Leslie & I felt like was in reality a man who looked an awful lot like Vincent Price, but at such a young age was not easily identified as such, what with the late-blooming horror-film creepiness that he would possess). While taking in all coming evidence to make his case & calm his nerves, it is McPherson who also becomes a victim of Laura's bewitching spell. Thus ensues a muddled picture of truth and games, love and lust, identity, and plot-twisting motives. Things are definitely not what they seem around here, and with all these unusual characters about, who will come forth as the true killer...or the true corpse for that matter?! It's a haunting understanding of human lust and obsession, and told in a very brooding fashion. Creepy and classy simultaneously...and did I mention that Vincent Price is in it?!

3 out of 5 stars

07/11/06 Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006), directed by Gore Verbinski

watched w/ Leslie; theater (Starlite Drive-In, Durham, NC)

What better way to take in a lazy summer evening than driving on down to the drive-in movie theater and taking in one of the summer's biggest & most anticipated blockbusters? Well, aside from the annoying brats climbing over the cars & throwing frisbees, the slackness of the projectionist from starting it on time, and the lack of intimacy that automobile bucket seats have...there is no better thing! How can you not have loved the first big-budget extravaganza that was "Pirates," based on the famed Disney attraction? I admit, I don't usually buy into that typical endeavor, but like its predecessor...this one rocked! Pirates are back in vogue once again (were rotten teeth and syphilis ever in style?) thanks to this franchise, helmed by accomplished director Verbinski and my all-time favorite leading male thespian...Mr. Depp. Yes, you all should know about my man-crush on him (and if you look into Jason's side bet for me in this Challenge, I could win a T-shirt that says so), because I feel that he consistently delivers a strange and unique performance...always choosing challenging roles. That right there earns the film 5 stars, based on his anti-heroic Keith Richards-esque ramblings as Captain Jack Sparrow. Jump aboard this swashbuckling adventure as Jack tries to settle a blood debt with the ghostly Davey Jones (Bill Nighy) and his haunted ship, while trying to constantly save his own hide and locate the infamous buried chest. Along for the ride again are the starstruck couple of Will (Orlando Bloom) and Elizabeth (Keira Knightley) who are in peril at every turn towards salvaging a magical compass, the lost chest, and their own marriage in the process. All the special effects galore bring wonder to the cast of side characters, sea creatures and ship battles. This kind of film has it all, for the whole family to enjoy. So bring the station wagon on down and get set for swashbuckling sword fights...and to the chucklehead in the front row who doesn't get the fact that headlights & movie screens don't mix...neither does inbreeding. By the way land-lubbers...this be me 200th flick me witnessed with me own eyes this here Challenge.

5 out of 5 stars

07/10/06 5 Lady Venoms

5 Lady Venoms (19??), directed by Cheng Chi Chiu

watched w/ Leslie (partially); VHS (personal copy) @ home

This hard-to-follow martial arts action film is a very hard-to-find rarity floating out in the cult classic internet world...as my searches for extra facts about the movie were thwarted. There is very little out there to describe this film, which was again part of a rather large store-display martial arts video collection given to me by my good friend Jason some years back. Speaking of some years back, I'm not even sure when this film was made, but my VHS version was distributed by Xenon Pictures (www.xenonpictures.com) and has the late-90's imprint on it (yeah, this was made somewhere in the very grainy 70's at least). Anyway, the tag line tells of how these "lady venoms" are much more venomous than the male...basically a reptilian counterpoint to the old adage of "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned." With all the fire & brimstone & snake-bites aside, this action flick packs quite a punch, and kick, and stabbing, and shooting, and so on. The cautionary tale centers on one drug lord Fung who eliminates another rival boss Lau for his valuable waterfront property. However, in all of Lau's stable of thugs...it is his little ol' daughter Angel who teams up with four other kung-fu beauties to start laying the smack down. Although, there doesn't seem to be just five ladies, but rather to gangs of girls who at first clash then come together for the common enemy that is man. They take care of all the dregs of society in the pimps, pushers, abusers, and fashion victims. These bad-ass bombshells are a unique (not to mention tattooed and bathing-suit clad) special forces squad of divers, fighters, and lovers. They kick some serious ass. Speaking of getting your manhood handed to you, prior to the film, Leslie & I partook in a few rounds of the mental martial art of chess. I lost, therefore I'm man. The ladies keep on winning this evening...but maybe next time. It's all worth it (the beatings I mean) to see the scantily-clad vixens (I mean venoms) battle in various stages of bathing suit attire, with clothing being torn left & right. Now, if I can only convince Leslie to play chess that way.

3 out of 5 stars

07/09/06 Three O'Clock High

Three O'Clock High (1987), directed by Phil Joanou

watched w/ Leslie (partially); DVD rental (Netflix) @ home; suggested by James U.

Alright, the moment has finally come James. This, for those of you who may be regular subscribers to the Challenge site or are just scoring at home, is the film that won the outright Father's Day poll & a chance at landing one autographed photo of Steve Guttenberg (he's not in the movie, don't worry). James suggested this one, he won...but through many attempts on my part before leaving on a road trip, I couldn't find a copy of it. Netflix sent me a cracked disc, and no one is fortunate enough to carry it locally on video rental store shelves. They should start to based on my following review...I'll go ahead and call it a "diamond in the rough." This is a prime example of why 80's comedies work on so many levels...they cater to a demographic that is looking for quick (yet slightly, and only slightly intelligent) humor, the fashions are always so laughable, they usually take place in or around a high school, and they stick to a successful mantra of everyday tangible themes that play out in a ridiculously complicated scenario. I love it! All we have here is something that probably happens on schoolyards even to this day, the bully vs. the nerd. The nerd is lead man Jerry Mitchell (Casey Siemaszko, who also played the goon 3-D in the "Back To The Future" series), and the bully Buddy Revell (Richard Tyson, who also played the sleaze-ball criminal father in "Kindergarten Cop"). Jerry is having an average day of running the school supply store, making good grades & no friends, pining over the cute girl in school, and getting giddy over what new brand ballpoint pen is coming out. All it takes is for his friend to tap him for writing a piece in the school paper on juvenile delinquent Buddy, who's thug behavior has had him kicked out of schools & put on probation...oh, and he's got a thing about people touching him. Needless to say, bumbling Jerry taps him on the shoulder...prompting Buddy to lose it, slam him into a bathroom stall, and challenge him to a fight in the parking lot after class. Jerry's day has suddenly become very darkly complex...and it begins a hilarious downward spiral into his imminent demise on the blacktop. Soon the whole school finds out, is placing bets, and rushing to the scene for the fight (brings back memories when people would throw down in the halls in high school, huh?). I won't tell you who wins, but there is brass knuckles involved and lots of self-reflection. Enjoy.

3 out of 5 stars

07/08/06 I Love You, Don't Touch Me!

I Love You, Don't Touch Me! (1997), directed by Julie Davis

watched w/ Leslie; DVD rental (Netflix) @ home; suggested by Kelly

My friend Kelly has been recommending this movie to me since college, with me never getting around to watching it...until the Challenge that is. I don't know if Kelly still checks up on this website, but hopefully she won't be too disappointed with me on this review. I understand that this quirky little independent feature dealt with romantic entanglement, cutesy dialogue, and the modern (if you can count the mid-90's as still modern) dating scene from a frustrated female perspective. In it's own way, it was a precursor to such fare as "Sex And The City" in the way it took a female point-of-view to the sexual world of a fast-paced scatterbrained society. I respect that...however, I didn't like the film. I wanted to embrace the independent nature of this film & its unknown cast...but their attempts fell somewhat flat. We're all human, and all make mistakes in our lives...but with every step here you wanted to shake the ever-living crap out of the people to make them realize how silly they acted and how glaring some of their moral judgement oversight was. It's easy for me to say on the other side of the t.v. screen, I get that. What plays out is a typical love conundrum where Katie (our resident virgin) endures a plethora (do you even know what a plethora is?!) of bad dates in her failed attempts at meeting the right guy. She confides hesitantly in her more sexually active friend Janet and her best friend in platonic Ben. It's really Ben who Katie is meant for, as he pines away while her virtuous oblivion carries on. However, after many blatant tries at wooing her, Ben begins to date her loosey-goosey friend Janet (c'mon, he's going for the path of least resistance)...which Katie doesn't take to kindly to. To prove to herself more (see: ignore her true feelings), she takes a slimy suave suitor in Richard. Now completely lost in her own fantasy land, she loses her friends, let's the creep deflower her, gets cheated on, then patches things up with both friends by basically hooking up with Ben in the end. Surprise surprise. Maybe it's the mixed messages such a movie title implies...perhaps if they all were more attractive people who didn't have the stiff fashion sense that was the early 90's...it could have been the fact that Shabba Ranks was her lustful next door neighbor...or maybe it's the fact that the quips weren't quite consistent enough for me to fully enjoy it. I don't know exactly, but as the title prompts..."I tried it, so don't hate me."

2 out of 5 stars

07/07/06 They Live

They Live (1988), directed by John Carpenter

watched w/ Leslie; DVD rental (Netflix) @ home

You can't make up something better than this. Well, I guess somebody could, that's why we continue to have great cult classic movies produced all the time...but alas...this one is hilarious. I have heard so much about this one from Leslie, especially in reference to the homage paid to a certain never-ending fight scene within it by the "South Park" creators in one of their fine episodes where Jimmy & Timmy fight in the very un-P.C. "Cripple Fight". Well, besides the years of B-movie classic followers as proof, let's look at a couple of things to promote this as an intelligent, if not a bit cheesy, consumer culture parody. John Carpenter (who primarily only directs cult classics I would venture to say...what with the list including "Escape From NY," "Halloween," "The Thing," and "Big Trouble In Little China.") directs this blatantly satirical horror flick with the subtlety of say, I don't know...his main actor Rowdy Roddy Piper (yes, I mean the wrestler). How can you not fall in love with a script that will include an Orwellian commentary on society that over-consumes and under-recognizes the forces behind their state, Rowdy Roddy Piper as an action hero, and big honkin' 80's sunglasses?! This was destined to go down in the annals of cult notoriety. Piper plays Nada, a down-on-his-luck wanderer who picks up a job at a construction site in the city and befriends a grizzled worker Frank (Keith David) who brings him to a sort of homeless community shelter near a church. Nada's curiosity gets the best of him outside the church as he witnesses some odd goings-on and weird television broadcasts speaking of aliens on Earth, and he decides to investigate. What he stumbles across may shock you, but it is magic sunglasses that allow him to not only see the aliens who have taken human form, but also expose the world around him to be filled with subliminal messages from them to keep most humans sedate. Billboards and magazine covers secretly read phrases like "Stay Asleep," and "Submit To Authority" and yuppies have been revealed to be grotesque faceless aliens! Awesome! Nada tries to convince his buddy Frank, who decides to fight him rather than listen to his rant (see fight scene homage above)...yet, finally succumbs to joining Nada and the underground movement that is trying to eradicate these creatures. Nada doesn't waste any time wasting the bad guys, delivering such utterly classic lines as "Life's a bitch, and she's back in heat"; and my favorite "I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass. And I'm all out of bubblegum." With that kind of dialogue, and the clever way the action goes down...oh, it's priceless. Who knows, maybe this movie really isn't that good and there is some subliminal message keeping me fixated on the screen, laughing, and going on with my daily business like a good little robot. Either way, the movie is a lot of fun. And I'm all out of bubblegum.

4 out of 5 stars

07/06/06 Superman Returns

Superman Returns (2006), directed by Bryan Singer

watched w/ Leslie, Mike A., Janine & Eric; theater (Exploris: IMAX, Raleigh, NC); 3-D

Wow. It's that simple. All it takes for me to revert back to my childhood and wondrous amazement of superhero figures on screen...is well, a superhero figure returning after a long hiatus and splashed across a panoramic IMAX screen and donning some goofy 3-D glasses for the full effect of his lofty powers. Yeah, maybe I'm a big kid at heart (I know I am), but this one was great and deserving of a new generation being swept up by the Man of Steel's heroics. I know that this film has been quite a studio project in the making for years now with things like budget, lining up a good & willing director, casting perfectly without just duplicating the older versions in the 80's. I still think this version 2.0 nailed it. With admiration and acknowledgement to Christopher Reeve's portrayal in those early classics (don't even count #3 or 4), Brandon Routh did a solid job as both the low-key dork Clark Kent and the smirky super-ego Superman. They also had a nice honor to both Reeve & his late wife in the end credits. The story picks up after Superman's mysterious absence from Metropolis for several years, when old arch-nemesis Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey) hatches a plan for his own return to the evil genius ranks. Luthor has traveled to Superman's secret hideout and stolen powerful Krypton crystals that generate energy so powerful it can destroy large land masses (the U.S.) while creating its own new continents. Oh yeah, and in his absence, Superman's love interest Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth) has also moved on in life...denouncing the need for a hero, and starting a new family with husband and son. How's that for shattering some childhood dreamworlds for us cinema lovers huh? Clark gets his old job back at the paper covering events like Superman's return to glory, all the while trying to keep his identity secret and save the woman he loves (and her family). The more things change, the more they stay the same. Spacey does a great job as the evil-doer Luthor, with all his "Seven"-esque psychopathy...and the supporting cast is good with notables Parker Posey (my mad indie crush), Frank Langella, and archival footage of even Mr. Marlon Brando. The film goes to such dark and realistic depths of human emotion too (which I can only imagine is pulled more from the comic books over the years) in showing Lois' romantic struggles, Clark's loss of his father, and eventually the Man of Steel himself facing death at the hands of Luthor & kryptonite. The community rally around him in vigil, and Superman once again is able to vanquish evil from the world. C'mon...I didn't ruin it, you knew he'd win! Oh, and the special effects and 3-D montages were so worth the ridiculous price of admission. We're all kids again. Thanks Superman.

5 out of 5 stars

07/05/06 Ice Age 2: The Meltdown

Ice Age 2: The Meltdown (2006), directed by Carlos Saldanha

watched w/ Leslie, Mike A., Janine & Eric; theater (Blue Ridge Cinema, Raleigh, NC)

While our original plans to take in an IMAX film were put on hold, Leslie & I went and toured (I being the less-than-accurate tour guide) downtown Raleigh with some of her grad school friends. As the group tried to soak up some local history, while making funny remarks about street names sounding like cool 70's cop show handles, we decided on taking in another film worthy of history lessons. This brings us to "Ice Age 2." Not the actual epoch in time, although isn't the world due for some sort of cataclysmic event of geographic upheaval?...but rather the arrival of a family movie sequel brought to you by the folks at Blue Sky ("Ice Age" and "Robots") in computer animation. What better way to teach the youngsters about global warming and glaciation (yes, it's a word) than through some lovable digitally-created-furry creatures who zing one-liners and participate in slapstick hi-jinks a la 3 Stooges or Tom & Jerry? This follow-up to a well documented period in history (and animated movie prior), tells the story of an end to the polar ice caps and a sort of global meltdown (which they must of thought to be a more clever title than something like Eemian Interglacial Era...look it up). This global warming and consequent flooding of their natural habitat must be confronted by the lead characters of Manny the Mammoth (Ray Romano), Sid the Sloth (John Leguizamo), and Diego the Sabretooth Tiger (Denis Leary). The unorthodox trio must help their animal friends escape the soon-to-be flooded valley for higher ground and a chance to survive this weather shift. Along the way, Manny finds what is believed to be the only other of his species, a female companion in Ellie (Queen Latifah). Only problem, Ellie was raised by opossums and thinks she is one. All the while there are new and scary sea creatures who threaten to eat the land creatures, and poor old Scrat the Sabretooth Squirrel fights furiously to get his elusive acorn. This also brings us back to the Raleigh tour beforehand, which is the Acorn City because of its towering oaks (it all comes full circle you see?). Anyway, the film is charming in its own way...all historical inaccuracies aside. These animated features aim for both the child & adult markets, and have jokes included for all. Enjoy the adventure, don't take it too seriously, and watch out for giant falling acorns and global warming.

3 out of 5 stars

07/04/06 Yankee Doodle Dandy

Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942), directed by Michael Curtiz

watched w/ Leslie (partially); VHS rental (North American Video) @ home

Today is our nation's birthday. Say whatever you will about what state it may be in these days, where we are headed, what past troubles we've had...I still think it's the greatest damn one on the planet. Yes, I'm biased and limited in my selection of such statements (having only ever really seen this one first hand), but I feel confident in it. For all its faults, and it could be worse, it's fun to celebrate the patriotic day that is our Independence Day. OK, I've been picked on enough about having a corny affinity to this holiday (coming from a rich military history in my family), but who doesn't love spending time with the family at a cookout, drinking beers with friends, and trying not to shoot your digits off with firecrackers?! Load me up another sparkler Miss America! Alright, it's not like I did any of those things today anyway...but we did have the day off from work & got to watch (er, rather listen to) fireworks off our back balcony in the warm night. So, not only did I enjoy this day, but I enjoyed my (that's right, I wanted this one to win the holiday poll) movie selection of a throwback patriotic film in "Yankee Doodle Dandy." Well, we must all remember the song from our childhood, and some may recall the dirty version sung on the playgrounds after class. However, I did not know much of the history of the composer George M. Cohan, who is famed for having created not only that classic ditty, but others like "You're A Grand Old Flag," and "Over There." The man (played deftly by icon James Cagney) was the patriotic poster-boy for America throughout the First World War, as it was his virtuoso performances on stage, composing, dancing, and singing that lead him to create such a patriotic and iconic figure of a war-riddled nation. the film follows his life, from his much-debated birth date of July 4th, to his family's famed Four Cohans stage troupe, and finally into his own as a big time promoter for inspiring routines to help soothe a country who had so much to be sad about. Cagney does a terrific job in what itself was a vaudevillian performance caught on film, keeping the nature of the movie light-hearted enough without losing the powerful messages Cohan's songs stirred. The story even comes full circle in a very touching way, when it's Cohan's song "Over There" that helped many through World War I, only to see him later in life as a forgotten old man who's president calls upon him to come out of retirement to inspire another generation of men serving in World War II...where the film trails off to the same overwhelming rendition of the song, as Cohan marches down D.C. with a platoon of soldiers about to embark to the warfront. I think it's important to recognize the time that this film was made, in the shadow of World War II, at what it's social impact was trying to have on the people, just as Cohan's true-life work had on those during World War I. I know it may sound a bit sappy, but it stirs up the emotions in me a lot...and it's a damn musical for crying out loud! I always think it is important to remember what others have sacrificed for us (and I'm not trying to make any stupid political statement here, forget that), and what this country can mean to all of us. I have a father who served for over 22 years in the U.S. Army, and a brother who is currently, having seen war in both Iraq & Afghanistan. Obviously that makes me a bit more sappy about the whole 4th of July, but it's sometimes nice to have the date remembered with fun & enjoyment for the simple things in life, and not to ever forget it.

3 out of 5 stars

07/03/06 The Searchers

The Searchers (1956), directed by John Ford

watched solo; DVD (borrowed from parents) @ home

The more that I reflect on this film after having seen it, the more its deeply-nuanced themes get to me. Upon first viewing, I wasn't thoroughly impressed with what has long been hailed as a classic, but acknowledged the pressing social issues that are prevalent in the film...as well as soak in all the breath-taking scenery that moves about in the open frontier of this western. The latter was due in large part to a relatively new way of presenting a larger aspect ratio & more clarity to the film known as Vista Vision. The former however, is the aspect that grew on me once making my way through the entire film and mulling over the connotations. This classic film from director John Ford has often been noted for its thought-provoking character studies over Americans during the post-Civil War era landscape. John Wayne plays the lead role as ex-Confederate soldier Ethan Edwards, returning home from the war. Upon a joyful reunion with them, the family is soon massacred by what seems to be a Comanche tribe...which fuels a bitter contempt for the Native-Americans by his already prejudiced manner. The only family member to survive the ordeal is the youngest girl, Ethan's niece Debbie, who is taken by the Comanche and raised as one of their own children. This spurns a five-year long Homeric-style quest for both Ethan and his adoptive nephew Martin (and boy do the two not get along for five years) to search for a now teenage Debbie (a young Natalie Wood) and bring her home. Ethan's character is one of extreme prejudices, racisms, sexisms, and all the other isms you can think of...but throughout his journey of pride and revenge, he begins to slowly understand himself and people in general. This bigoted anti-hero (while rumored to be how he may have been in real life, Public Enemy anyone?) was a different approach for John Wayne, who had always been lifted up as this very red-blooded American citizen and hero. The story is one of pure epic proportions, set about a mosntrously raw landscape, and involving two clashing cultures that were forced to coexist (sometimes peacefully, and unfortunately very often violently). It is a touching tale, and one that is quite heavy in subject matter, forcing us all to look closer at ourselves, our past, and our heroes. Hey, but on a much lighter note...we can look to this film to be a source of the classic pop song "That'll Be The Day" (via Buddy Holly & The Beatles)...which was taken from Wayne's trademark line.

3 out of 5 stars

07/02/06 Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005), directed by Shane Black

watched w/ Leslie; DVD rental (Netflix) @ home

As with the characters in this sinister film-noir send-up, the pairing of its creators is a bit intriguing as well. The movie is written for the screen, and directed for the first time by successful action writer Shane Black (of the Lethal Weapon series' fame). It is also based in part on prolific mystery writer (from the 40's-70's) Brett Halliday (and his many pseudonyms). The plot is a nefarious one, and keeps you entertained all the way through its twisted twists. We begin with the narrator and lead character Harry Lockhart (Robert Downey, Jr.), who is a petty thief that stumbles into an acting gig...whereupon taking a role as a private eye, he tags along with real-life glitzy private dick Gay Perry (Val Kilmer in a classic role). Many allusions are made to Perry's first name and his sexual orientations, but he plays the bad-ass machismo guy that may break down some stereotypes (even if this is a very fictionalized role). A chance encounter has Harry bump into his childhood crush Harmony Lane (Michelle Monaghan), who is herself a struggling actress that escaped an abusive past to start anew. All three persons are thrown into a murder mystery, with all the possible suspects congregating at a Hollywood party in the Hills, and Harry trying desperately to learn from Gay and awkwardly win over Harmony. However, it may be Harmony's sister that turns up to be one of the many corpses the dynamic duo stumble across in their search for the truth...and some dark comedy. There's double-crossing, witty retorts, hilarious action scenes, somber subject matter, glaring instances of personal clarity, gay jokes, bumbling detective work, tough-nosed thugs, dry wit, fast cars, fast women, and bodies piling up all around these unlucky mystery solvers. All the while Harry is narrating in a tongue-in-cheek manner, exposing the nuances of all these clever film noir tactics, and how effective they still are. Great ensemble cast (I mean, c'mon Corbin Bernsen is in it), quirky jokes, and by watching the outtakes/commentary on the DVD we realize two things we already knew...Robert Downey Jr. is a freak, and Val Kilmer is a freak. Talented mind you, but freaks.

5 out of 5 stars

07/01/06 Kamikaze Girls

Kamikaze Girls (2004), directed by Tetsuya Nakashima

watched w/ Leslie; DVD rental (Netflix) @ home

Oh, the Japanese can create such imaginative and wondrous worlds of violence, decadence and cyber-space. They can also supply us with some of the most twisted and bizarre imagery ever filmed. This candy-coated joyride teeters on that fence of curiosity, taking parts of both and letting us enjoy the view from atop its pointed perch. Delve with me if you will, into a modern day comic book come to life in Tokyo, via the small town of Shimotsuma. Momoko (played by Japanese pop idol Kyoko Fukada) is a young dreamer who'd rather be supplanted into Rococo era (a reactionary elobartion on the grandeur of Baroque style) 18th century France than in her small Shimotsuma. Playing the period part to the hilt, Momoko dresses in frilly doll-like Lolita fashion; the exact opposite of the modern day Westernized-company-logo-emblazoned stylings of her teenage peers. Her father is a scheming salesman who hocks knock-off designs of Versace and Universal Studios gear (it's funny to hear the cover-up "bleeps" in the movie as people say these trademarked names). Momoko uses the popularity of these items in Tokyo to help fund her fancy tastes for buying her Lolita fashions from glamorous designer label Baby, The Stars Shine Bright (an actual trendy spot begun by Akinori Isobe in 1988...www.babyssb.co.jp/index.html). It's upon her scheme that she stumbles across a potential buyer, and eventual friend in Ichiko (played by Japanese model & rock icon Anna Tsuchiya). Ichiko just so happens to be the fearless leader of a revered (and stylish punk-rock "yanki") motorbike (yes, not motorcylce but motorbike) gang called the Ponytails. It's an odd pairing of the two, but they each balance one another in spirit and toughness. At first butting heads in their differing natures, they soon grow very close (in an almost romantic way) becoming a united front in their very surreal world, at any cost. Based on the famous graphic novel by Novala Takemoto, the movie comes to life in brilliant colors, characters and insane action. Even though the girls' worlds seem so abstract from reality, it slowly pulls you into them and doesn't let go. I've never been a big fan of Anime-style stories, which can go extremely off the deep end of rational thought...but I always tend to love absurdist fantasy/adventure stories like this one. Go figure. This is kind of like a cross between "Thelma & Lousie" and any mystical animation Miyazaki ("Spirited Away") has ever done. It's sugary sweet and bloody ruthless in the same bite.

5 out of 5 stars

06/30/06 Mission: Impossible 3

Mission: Impossible 3 (2006), directed by J.J. Abrams

watched w/ Leslie; theater (Blue Ridge Cinema, Raleigh, NC)

Coming in as the third installment of this franchise starring Tom Cruise as super-agent Ethan Hunt, this one is your typical formulaic action adventure/thriller with blockbuster effects for the summertime movie-going experience. Don't forget to buy a popcorn (for way too much money) before grabbing your seat, because you're going to need it...as this one is the poster-child for a "popcorn flick." I'll have to admit that even I, cinematic snob that I can allow myself to become, will enjoy a popcorn flick every now & again...as I did here. This is definitely better than the second film, and along the same lines as the first one in quality. They basically rent out action directors for these installments, but with fresh-faced TV-show vet Abrams on board here...it's like one long episode of "Alias" with Scientologist intgrigue. Speaking of the famed fruitcake, Cruise is an actor who I can't stand for the life of me...but he does a few quality films in his career, all of which include his over-acting empathetic (uh, pathetic) facial contortions and cackling smile. Aside from his creepy face, we get plenty of well-known character actors as well as up-and-comers (see hot young actresses) in the mix. Hunt's partner in crime Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames) is bluntly funny as ever; new teammates Declan and Zhen are decent side-notes; and the explosions, fight scenes and gadget weaponry is as ridiculous as it gets in this genre. There are however four glaringly obvious subjects I would like to point out. 1- Am I the only one who finds it a bit disturbing that Tom Cruise had to "act" with his on-screen love interest Michelle Monaghan, a veritable twin of real-life prisoner (er, I mean partner) Katie Holmes? Maybe he brought her into the Scientology fold too. 2- Kerri Russell (aka Noxema Girl) is in no way believable as a kick-ass secret agent. 3- Why does it seem that good actors who are coming off of Oscar success in a serious role, follow it up with some over-the-top action crap fest (whether that be clever marketing by the studios, or poor career decision-making...see Halle Berry in "Catwoman," Jamie Foxx in "Stealth," or now Philip Seymour Hoffman in this)? Hoffman is good here as a pompous villain, but does he have to pull his face off to reveal that he's actually Tom Cruise pulling the strings? 4- And finally...with all the technological gadgets we see infiltrating society, and in the film...do you expect me to believe that a Kodak disposable camera can have a retinal scan revealing a mini-movie presentation to secret agents that eventually self-destructs and is easily purchased on convenience store shelves? I think not. Oh yeah, there's a lot of murder, mystery and international espionage in the film. Bust out the popcorn.

3 out of 5 stars

06/29/06 Hoodwinked

Hoodwinked (2005), directed by Cory Edwards & Todd Edwards, Tony Leech

watched w/ Leslie; DVD rental (Netflix) @ home

Trying to keep pace with the animated juggernaut that is Pixar/Disney, this iconoclastic feature comes from a more independent market...where the animators even took their production level to Manila in the Philippines to complete the project. Yes, as with any good fairy tale rendition, this one both in fiction and reality took us on quite an adventure to get to its ending. I've read up some about the animation alone on the movie's website, where it seems they took to the grand ol' tradition in modern day America by out-sourcing a bulk of the digitally rendered images to quicken the pace of production...but to also bank on the fact that many outsiders are influenced by our Westernized or Americanized pop-culture, so as not to let any of the story's gags and dialogue be lost in translation. I mean, we all probably know about the classic story of "Little Red Riding Hood," but with the cutting-edge technology of the filmmakers, we also see a fresh take on the traditional tale. Here, Red (Anne Hathaway) serves as a delivery girl for her Granny's (Glenn Close) sweet goody shop; when there is a criminal Goody Bandit running loose in the woods of fairy-tale land. To go along with those two classic characters, we see the usual suspects of both the Woodsman (Jim Belushi) and the Wolf (Patrick Warburton), along with newcomers Boingo the Bunny (Andy Dick), Chief Grizzly (Xzibit), and Nicky Flippers (David Ogden Stiers). The story begins at the end, where their is a huge mix-up at the typical crime scene (Granny's house), but with no clear-cut evidence of foul play...we get to delve into all four main characters' versions of what happened leading up to the end. We get to see the updated players' traits, such as Red's black belt martial arts, Granny's extreme sports loving lifestyle, the Woodsman's blubberings about landing an acting gig, and the Wolf's private investigator's tact. Both Flippers and Grizzly serve as the law enforcement, trying to determine the truth out of all these made-up stories from made-up literary figures. There's plenty of action and slapstick animation for the kids to enjoy, but smartly inserted sight gags and over-their-head jokes for the adults. A priceless one is the look that Warburton's wolf goes with in homage to Chevy Chase's brilliantly goofy private dick, Fletch (see L.A. Lakers jersey under his hoodie). The animation may seem at times more basic, but it's very colorful and keeps great momentum with the intertwining four stories. Twisted characters, haphazard chronology, and pop culture references by cartoons...now if only they could tackle a family-friendly animated "Pulp Fiction."

4 out of 5 stars

06/28/06 That Darn Punk

That Darn Punk (2001), directed by Jeff Richardson

watched w/ Leslie (partially); DVD rental (Netflix) @ home

Having partaken in this year's version of the annual punk rock odyssey that is the Warped Tour yesterday with my friend Jason, I felt it endearing to watch something that may fall under the ethos of DIY culture that is punk. As much as I love punk rock music, and had a blast watching some of the greats live yesterday (NOFX, Buzzcocks, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Bouncing Souls, A.F.I. to name a few)...why do so many so-called punk rock movies fall so flat? It had so much potential here, with an insider's press pass, and a lot of punk rock talent (including The Vandals, Guttermouth and Kyle Gass from Tenacious D). But alas, as is the case with most of these DIY efforts...it's all about who's in it, the music, and how weird (or stupid) their friends can be. Aside from the solid music provided, and occasional (I mean, very seldomly) punchline gags...uh, it was moronic. If I can pain myself to try & recount the lasting images I had from the film, in no particular order, it would go something like this. Dirk (The Vandals' Joe Escalante) is a womanizing punk geek who has an artist girlfriend that goes out of town for the weekend. He slips into bed with some new-age crystal-reading hippie-chick, gets caught, then ends up on some sort of mind-bending journey across the desert to get back with her & prove he's sorry. He encounters homophobic gangsters, drug-addled gypsies, neurotic payphone watchers, zombie police officers, UFO's, aliens, other punk rockers, in-bred redneck stalkers and Hollywood execs. Yeah, it's random, and so is the movie...it doesn't make sense or try to. I won't ruin the brilliant (I think I threw up a bit in my mouth) ending for you, but suffice it to say, he learns something from all this. It's unconventional from Hollywood standards, and I think that's all they really care about. It lets you into some of the punk rock culture, but only into the feeble-minded parts. Just listen to the soundtrack to enjoy, or stick to catching their day/night jobs of rocking on stage with a better message.

2 out of 5 stars

06/27/06 Foxy Brown

Foxy Brown (1974), directed by Jack Hill

watched w/ Leslie (partially); DVD (personal copy) @ home

Here it is...or perhaps in the words of lanky supporting actor Antonio Fargas (Foxy's brother Link here, and of Huggy Bear fame on TV's "Starsky & Hutch")...What it is?! Mmmm Hmmm, that's right. I ain't jiving you bro, but this is one bad-ass blaxploitation film. The famous Pam Grier stars in the titular role (even though this word means one thing in the dictionary, you better believe she shows what your dirty little mind is thinking in the movie...and it is nice), as she seeks revenge on pretty much everybody she comes across. Forever dealing with her delinquent brother Link and her struggling inner-city neighborhood, Foxy tries to follow the straight-and-narrow path. With the help of her government agent boyfriend, she hopes that the law will serve justice and clean up the town. Unfortunately, her world is shattered when her brother's weakness leads to ratting her boyfriend out & getting him killed by local gangsters. She takes it upon herself to take action by taking down all that are corrupt and violent with sexual cunning, strong female pride and her own brand of vigilante justice. Her aim stretches all boundaries, as she takes on crooked judges, kinky brothel owners, rich bitches, drug dealers and pimps. This role, along with her previous estrogen warrior princess "Coffy" (which this film was originally slated to be a sequel to), solidified powerful female African-American roles in cinema the way films like "Shaft" did for African-American males. This is a gritty, violent, sensational and pervasive film...as it has become a cult-classic of blaxploitation cinema. I'm proud to be the owner of the great DVD box-set "Fox In A Box" (B-day present from my friend Jason), which highlights some of Pam Grier's powerful roles. Everyone should try to see this one, at least to understand the pop-culture awareness that it produces. Plus, Pam Grier is one sexy mama (and born in North Carolina).

4 out of 5 stars

06/26/06 Running Scared

Running Scared (2006), directed by Wayne Kramer

watched solo; DVD rental (Netflix) @ home

I'm really digging relative newcomer to the directing circuit, Wayne Kramer. No, this isn't legendary protpunk group MC5's famed guitarist and current kick-out-the-jams solo artist...although that would be cool too. However, this Wayne Kramer is establishing himself with a flare for the same in-your-face, raucous & raw stylings...here on film stock. His first flick, "The Cooler," was a lower-key casino/gangster drama with Alec Baldwin providing a bulk of the violent tendencies. Here in his second big-time effort, Paul Walker plays the lead (Joey Gazelle), a lower-tier mob flunkie who has one hell of a night...literally and very violently. Joey begins the evening on the side of his Mafioso boyhood buddies, in a heavy shootout with drug dealers and dirty cops. Told to dispose of a gun, the murder weapon of one of these dirty cops, he stupidly brings the snub-nose home to hide it in his basement...where who happens to see it there, but his young teenage son & his next door friend. The young boy next door (Oleg) steals the gun, and uses it against his abusive step-father, who just so happens to be the nephew of a psychotic Russian mob boss...who also does business with Joey's crew. With me so far? Oh, and the one surviving cop from the shootout (Chazz Palminteri) is hot on the case to find Joey and the murder weapon, as is Joey's mob boss & his cronies...who want nothing more than that gun to disappear from existence. The problem remains that Joey cannot find the gun or the kid who stole it, so he sets out on a wild ride through the night to find it & set things straight...including the attempts to keep his family safe and get out of the whole mobster scene altogether. The gun becomes another character in the story, as it changes hands left & right, latching onto bits of story lines as it goes. The gun leads into all the back alleys of the seedy underworld that is freaks, pimps and pushers...and thug Russian hockey players who shoot pucks at your face in the blacklight. With me still? Well, it's difficult at times to keep up with the pace, but it's a violent thrill ride. As I believe either Wayne Kramer might say, "kick out the jams m.f."

4 out of 5 stars

06/25/06 Night Watch

Night Watch (2004), directed by Timur Bekmambetov

watched w/ Leslie; DVD rental (Blockbuster) @ home

Today is my sister Sarah's birthday, a highly anticipated date on the calendar (for her at least), quickly following my birthday only two days earlier. Although our film choices may differ tremendously at times; I love Sarah very much, find her to be wickedly smart & hilariously funny (smart-ass if you will), and was glad to be able to see her on this day. Now, onto the cinematic anticipation. Highly anticipated on both my & Leslie's parts, as we missed this long-awaited Russian flick when it came through the Triangle area. Seeing that it was their highest grossing movie, and by the trailers seemed to carry some thematic elements of movies State-side that I love like "The Matrix," "Dark City," and "Underworld"...I felt like the Russians had to be on to something here. I thoroughly enjoyed this hyper-kinetic supernatural tale of blood, action, mortality and powerful divisions in the universe. The story is set in modern day Moscow, where the protagonist Anton has come hesitantly to grips with his status as an "Other" amongst the human race. "Others" are divided into both Light & Dark Others, continually serving to keep balance of an eternal truce between both forces in order to avoid an apocalyptic war. The Day Watch consist of soldiers of darkness who keep a watchful eye on their nemeses, as the Night Watch are soldiers of light keeping the mettlesome Dark Others out of trouble. It is furthermore determined by the truce that no one can be forced or persuaded into being either Dark or Light, but rather must choose on their own. Thus is the struggle that Anton must personally face, as his early sins include his going to a witch doctor to put an evil curse on his fiance & unborn child...which when prevented by the soldiers, becomes the catalytic event that sends him on his own individual quest to choose sides. Their is also an ancient prophecy that foretells of a Great One coming to put a final end to the threatening battles between Light & Dark, but time is running out on finding the One & figuring out how to go about ending it all. This is a very well-done & visually stunning tale, which will become the first of a hopefully intense trilogy, based on the sci-fi novels of Russian author Sergei Lukyanenko. The dubbing of the voices is a bit corny, but the extraordinarily surreal qualities of the film supersede those quirks. It's violent, it's brilliantly staged, and it's quality Russian filmmaking by Bekmambetov. I know the film has nothing to do with your birthday Sarah, and it may be a bit dark for your taste...but it's a film we'd been wanting to see for awhile, so I highly recommend it to you & everyone else.

5 out of 5 stars