Legion -- Review

Over the years I have watched more horror films than I can keep track of.  Within my circle of friends I have acquired a reputation for watching just about anything, no matter how good or bad the film may be.  I would even admit to owning some films that have shocked quite a number of people.  I thoroughly enjoy the sexploitation films the feature Pam Grier, I seek out b-rated horror films and sometimes find a charm like The Trilogy of Terror, and I even brave those films that have been hidden behind other DVDs long enough to collect dust.  Yes, I watch just about anything.  However, over the past few years I have come to expect certain things out of specific films or directors of said films.  Sometimes those expectations are met and others leave me sitting at a buffet table spattered in human remains feeling starved because what I though out be the beginning appetizer ended up being the entire feast.

I went out tonight expecting to be given an all you can eat horror feast from the new release Legion.  What I was given was a few decent appetizers, an entree that looked delicious but had not flavor, and a desert that included freezer burnt ice cream.  The film's marketing/PR team did one hell of a job getting the word out, but for the articles that I read regarding the film I did not get what I was being sold.  I was pumped up and ready to go on the wild ride in the tiny dinner in the hopes to save mankind, but as I sat in the dark theater I had a hard time focusing on the action.

With this film being Scott Stewart's directorial debut, I felt slightly overwhelmed by some of his shooting choices.  I looked forward to seeing what he would have in store for us, but the final product left me with a slightly empty feeling.  It reminded me of what it felt like to watch Tarantino's Inglorious Basterds where I expected the film to be similar to his previous projects but was not given the blood and violence I have come to associate with Tarantino films.  I expected to see certain things as they were described in detail in horror magazines, but the images they painted for me were none existant.  Granted they may have just ended up on the cutting room floor, but for whatever reason I was not given what appeared to be a promising film.  The only other thing I can think is that maybe it was his choice in shooting style and cast that limited things.  Not only will you not think of angels in quite the same way, but you will never be able to hear an ice cream truck and feel that warm, joyous feeling knowing that the ice cream man is coming.  Then again the ice cream man has never really been one of the friendliest people in my personal experience. 

With a surprise in cast, you are left wondering why some of the actors were cast in their respective roles.  Some should never be let into the horror genre again, as they were just not believable outside of their track record in ABC drama series.  And even though I did love the 'darkness' of the film, I hoped for a little bit of light so that I could at least see some of the blood and violence that was taking place.  With a large portion of the film taking place during the night or in a boarded up diner, the shadows hide the aspects of the film that made it so appealing.  I wanted to be able to see what was going on, and not just witness a split second because it was mixed with the shadows and curtains.  I know film is all about the power of illusion and the magic that happens behind the wizard's curtain, but this film's curtain was larger than was necessary.  We were also teased with the promise of mass carnage, and then left hanging as the film quickly moved right from one thought to another. 

Paul Bettany was by far the best part of the film.  Michael was not only the most interesting character in the entire film, the most believable, but even as a "mortal" he kicked more ass than could have been expected.  His introduction is where i felt a bit of a lack-luster.  I wanted to witness his change from angel to mortal that Fangoria had promised us but it was nothing but shadows and dark clouds in the form of silhouettes.  If only Bettany's influence had empowered the rest of the film.  It wasn't until the battle between angles did we get another surge of hope for the film to turn around.  The fight was fun, like any good fight should be.  But the dialog was so painful the there was little that could be done for the film before it ended. 

Legion showed a young director on his way of beginning his career.  The writing was lacking, but the idea and concept was a nice take on a story that has been played in several different notes.  The film is not horrible, but do not go in expecting more than what it is.  If you take the film as just that you may get enough to enjoy it, otherwise it can just be written off as first film and we can look forward to hoping for a slightly better take during round two in Scott Stewart's next film Priest which is due to hit theaters later this year.  I give this film a 2.5 out 5. 

The Young Victoria -- Review

I have always struggled with history, feeling the majority of events I had read about drag like a text book, no matter how well written they may have been. That was until I came across one particular story in history that had so much juice to it that it became the one period in time that I found I could read and not get bored. That time period was the Elizabethan period, when Queen Elizabeth I ruled. I do not know for sure if it is just the ruthlessness of those that lived in that time or just the overly juicy affairs and murders that took place among the royals. Unfortunately I slowly lost interest in following up with English history after that period. That is of course, until I saw this historical documentary drama film, The Young Victoria. I still do not know too much about Queen Victoria and her rule, but this film has truly piqued my interest so much that the next book I am looking into reading will be about the queen responsible for the Victorian age.

The Young Victoria tells the story of the young princess, just before she is crowned, and into the early years of her reign. I found the story to be beautifully told. Maybe it is just because it tells of the strength of one woman who had so much stacked against her due to the period and her birth rights, but just like Elizabeth I, I found young Victoria to be awe inspiring. She stood up against the men that surrounded her, and proved that women have strength. It was with the help of her husband, Prince Albert, whose love and ideas inspired them to change the ways in which things had been run before she had claimed the thrown. I found the journey of their love had a strength of its own that inspired the young queen in ways that I can not even begin to imagine. Her personal strength, with the love and admiration of a man that truly loved her for her and not just because of what it would offer or even the ability to rule over the young woman in the way that some other women of the time period may have been, it is because of all of those variables that allowed her to be who she was.

Again I am only going by the information of her early years, and because of that I actually ended in an argument with my father, but I found the film to be brilliant. Prior to this film the only reference I had for the Victorian age was text books of gorgeous clothes, the introduction of hypnosis and other new and/or improved forms of entertainment within the arts, theater and music. Technology and engineering also greatly improved, as well as the revival of Gothic architecture. It is those things that form my reference point for the Victorian Era, and from that basis I find The Young Victoria a great representation for a time that consisted of so many great things. However, I also know that somewhere during her reign, Jack the Ripper was born, and that there are many other dark and dirty things that lurk in cobble stone alley ways far away from Buckingham Palace.

Directed by Canadian Jean-Marc Vallee, this film tells an amazing historical story. With Emily Blunt cast to play Victoria, who in interviews shared that she was able to read the actual diaries of Queen Victoria, she portrayed the young queen beautifully. With class and elegance that I was delightfully surprised to see after watching her play more comedic roles in films like The Devil Wears Prada, Sunshine Cleaning, Dan in Real Life, and others. Co-staring with Rupert Friend as Prince Albert, the wonderful Paul Bettany as Lord Melbourne, Miranda Richardson (Rita Skeeter in Harry Potter) as the Duchess of Kent and Victoria's mother, Jim Broadbent (Professor Slughorn in Harry Potter) as King William and so many other talented actors. On top of a great cast, amazing sets and locations to work with as well as brilliant costume design this film is a must see for any film and/or history lover. So take a trip back in time with this period piece and enjoy the vision Jean-Marc has laid out in order to tell this interesting story.  The Young Victoria is a story that tells of strength in self and in love, as well as power to reign the country she was destined to rule. I give this film a 4.5 out of 5 and highly recommend this film to anyone interested in a little dirty history.

Interviews:

Chance Pe Dance -- Review

Over the past few years trends have changed and some of the "old ways" have begun to make a come back.  Beginning in the 1930s with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers with RKO and the 1940s where Gene Kelly graced the Silver Screen through MGM films, dance and musicals were an escape from what was day to day life.  Today the musicals and dance are making a huge comeback with shows like 'So You Think You Can Dance?', 'Dancing with the Stars', and even 'Dance Your Ass Off'.  As a former dancer I always enjoy watching anything that involves dancing of all kinds.  During the past decade I have increased the number Bollywood films, be it of the American Chai and The Guru style, Bride and Prejudice style, Monsoon Wedding style, or in the more traditional sense of Bollywood in Lagaan. This weekend a new Bollywood filme Chance Pe Dance opened with a limited release around the US, and this Hindi film is a spectacle all of its own. 

With a running time of over 2 hours, this film includes a full soundtrack of completed songs and performances that would easily rival an MTV music video.  Directed by Ken Ghosh, this film follows an aspiring actor who moved from Delhi to Mumbi and is given one chance to finally achieve his dream.  Shahid Kapur stars as the hero, and I believe that it is of great thanks to his father (actor Pankaj Kapoor) and mother (actress/dancer Neelima Azim) for why his talents were such a great highlight for his film.  He is a talented dancer, and it was featured throughout the entire film and especially during the routines.  It did not hurt that he was extremely easy on the eyes, and that he was given a beautiful co-star to share the screen with.  Genelia D'Souza  plays the love interest for Shahid's character Sameer Behl, and is the choreographer who stands up for her beliefs in what the industry should be rather than it is when things begin to go downhill for Sameer.  It is through his journey and with Tina's (D'Souza) encouragement that that dream becomes a clear possibility.  The story has heart and soul that is so full that it spills over the edge. 

It was fun to watch the film, even though I had to take my eyes off the action to be able to read the subtitles, but it was all worth it.  The routines were brilliantly choreographed and the cinematography brought out the best in the actors as well as the visual side of film.  It felt like watching a marathon of music videos with the climax of the final routine being the biggest and brightest.  The only thing I missed with the bright and vibrant colored costumes that I am used to seeing in other Bollywood films.  I guess the concert style lighting made up for the shortage of colors as they were just as exciting as watching an actual concert on stage. 

If you enjoy a little culture, some singing and dancing, and an interesting storyline that brings out the soul of what a Bollywood film is, than this is a film for you.  Even if you are not used to this genre of film, it never hurts to try something new, so just go give it a shot.  After watching Chance Pe Dance in its entirety, I give this film a 3.5 out of 5.  It is a fun film, maybe a little long, but definitely fun film to go watch.

The Book of Eli -- Review

How would you picture the world in say 15-20 years?  Would we be surviving in a world that had turned a new leaf and was now flourishing? Would we be on the verge of war?   Would we be trying to survive a viral outbreak that has turned half the world into the walking dead?   Or would we be trying to do whatever was need to survive a post apocalyptic world?  More importantly what would be your path in that world?  

The Book of Eli is the story of one man's path as seen through the minds eye of directors the Hughes Brothers.  In what is said to be a post war world, after an apocalyptic event, we follow a "walker" as he stays on his path.  Eli takes a path less traveled that takes us on one insane journey.   I remember hearing that it only takes the decision of one man to change the world, well if that man if Eli watch out. Denzel Washington brings a whole new level to the term "badass" in his role as a walker on a mission. 

I was a little surprised with the casting choices of Mila Kunis as Solara, Jennifer Beal as Solara's blind mother Claudia, and even a surprise cameo appearance of another well known actor towards the end of the film.  Casting Gary Oldman as the evil Carnegie was fantastic, however I was not used to seeing his without his beard.  It did add to the overall roughness of his character, but I kept wanting to see the friendly Commissioner James Gordon to appear on screen.  The contrast between Oldman and Washington added to the contract between the characters.

It may take a little to get into the film, especially since it takes almost 10 minutes before the first line of the film, but once the film gets rolling you will be "oooo"ing and "aahhhhh"ing straight to the end.  With the fight sequences choreographed by Dan Inosanto and Jeff Imada its no wonder Eli has become such a badass.  The cinematic choices to use "long takes" during the fights made for an original and unusual twist of things.  It made it hard for me to take my eyes off the screen because I wanted to see what bandit would dare challenge this stranger.  The only problem I found with the film was that it felt like a cross between a post-apocalyptic film meets the wild west.  Shooting the film primarily in New Mexico is probably the cause for why it reminded me of some western film, and more specifically the set used during the scene shot in Carrizozo, NM looked as though they took the old Deadwood set and redressed it to fit this film's time period.  I half expected the old sherrif to come running out of the jail to greet the new comer, pistol in hand, just to make sure that he was passing through town and not looking to cause any trouble.  In a way that is almost exactly what happened, however I would rather leave any spoilers out and let you judge the film for yourself.

The cinematic choices made for this film will leave you with your mouth hanging open, and you will want to talk over the details with whomever you happened to go see the film with.  It is definitely one of those type of films.  It is almost an unbelievable tale of one man's strangth, will power, beliefs and faith that will push you to the edge of your seat.  The skills and talents of this mysterious man will make you fear coming face to face with him, and if you ever catch a glimpse of his modified machete you will want to turn and run in the opposite direction as quickly as your feet will carry you.  The violence in the film is shot with an eligance and smoothness that heightens the appearance of just how deadly Denzel's character truly is.

If you are a fan of Denzel Washington, or just a fan of action films, than I would say this would be a film for you.  The subtext of the story and the depth in which it goes rides a fine line between believable and good, and a little on the boring side just because of the style of story.  The full cast may surprise you, but in the end I bet you will walk out with a conversation starter.  I give The Book of Eli a 3.5 out of 5 for story, but if you are a looking for a beautifully shot film, than this almost makes it a 5.  At least in my books.  The Hughes Brothers have once again impressed me with their directing skills and given yet another amazing picture to look at.  I only wish they would be involved with a few more projects, however having From Hell being their most recent project prior to The Book of Eli, I say it is all about quality and not quantity, so two great films in the past decade is not bad for the two young directors in what could very well be a highly successful career.

Trailer


SPOILER -- The Book of Eli Featurette

One eskimO

For the past two months I have been stuck in the thick of a maddening process. If any of you have ever written or attempted to write a novel, screenplay, etc you will know exactly what I mean. It's one of those things that you get so wrapped up in that it takes over your life, and not just your waking life but also your dreaming life as well. For me, midway through this years NaNoWriMo competition I just lost it. I sat staring at a blank word document unable to find any words. I was stuck between two points and had no idea which direction I needed or even wanted to go. I had hit a wall.

Two weeks into NaNoWriMo I quickly fell behind in my word count and tried desperately to find something that would get the creative juices flowing again, but nothing helped. I tried my usual movie marathons. I tried watching television series that would pull me so far away from where I needed to be, hoping that sooner or later something would push me back. I dived back into research. I looked at artists for concept art and sketch pieces that might inspire me. And then when I had run out my own music to listen to I turned to a search for something online. A new artist, or music video. I needed something. I did random searches on myspace/music, aol radio, etc. But one night at about 3am I stumbled across a song that just stuck with me. I heard it in my dreams that night, playing over and over again and when I woke up the next morning I was able to work again. Now that I have a completed manuscript, thanks partially to a band from London, I now have time to look into finding their albums here in the states. So my first stop was youtube.

Being a lover of film, and if any of my friends are reading this... penguins... they would know why my heart goes out to One eskimO. Not only does their music touch me, and inspire me to come up with a rather insane literary tale, but their music videos as a collection is unbelievable. So, in true form... I feel the need to share with the cyberworld. Keep in mind, the order in which these videos have been put together to tell a story do not follow their order on their album. Instead let the originality and creativity of this indie band from the UK take you on an adventure with a little eskimo that you will never forget.

The Adventures of One eskimO --
Chapter 1: Lost Love (Astronaut)

Chapter 2: A Dream Revealed (Kandi)

Chapter 3: Heartbroken (Slip)

Chapter 4: A Little Help (Balloons)

Chapter 5: Army of Darkness (Chocolate)

Chapter 6: Star Journey (Hometime)

Chapter 7: Paradise Lost (Sample Day)

Chapter 8: An Ocean Tale (Chosen One)

Chapter 9: The Dead Island (UFO)

Chapter 10: Leap of Faith (Amazing)

She's Out of My League -- Review

We've all have that conversation. You know the one. It's usually over dinner or drinks with your good friend. More likely than not, it's a conversation you'd have at a bar while the person that you're talking about is just on the other side of the room. The one that usually sounds a little something like this...:

"You know that guy/girl... you know, that one that was just so OMG. Yeah that one... He/She's so hot, but he/she'd never go for someone like me. He/She's just so out of my league."

Yeah... that one. Well, now we get a wild romantic comedy that takes things to the extreme. And it's with "that guy". The new up and coming Canadian hottie, well if you like the sort of geeky type, Jay Baruchel. You will remember him from Tropic Thunder when he played the young guy that could read maps. Yes, Kevin Sandusky is making his rounds and quickly becoming one of the faces to watch. This year alone Jay Baruchel will have 3 films hit theaters, beginning with the off the wall romantic comedy She's Out of My League on March 12, quickly followed by How to Train Your Dragon when he offers his voice talents to character Hiccup on March 26, and then we have to wait until July 16 to see his apprenticing skills in The Sorcerer's Apprentice. Even sitting here watching the short 2 minute trailers I feel like a little kid on Halloween being offered my favorite sweets, and each one getting a little better and a little sweeter.

I remember sitting in an early screening back in November for She's Out of My League and laughing so hard my sides hurt. Maybe it's just me and my life, but Kirk and his friends are SOOO my friends. Their idiotic comments and reasons why you should or should not date someone and the insane way in which we "rate" someone we're interested in and then compare to how we "rate" our own standing in the dating world. Granted we all have a slightly different grading system, and some may be partial to things that others aren't which of course tips the scales a little in one direction or another. But it is what we do. This film is for the... dare I say... dating impaired and their friends. We have all been there at one point or another for some reason or other (and if you say you haven't... I call your bluff). But watching Jay Baruchel's performance in this film just adds to his adorableness and I would include it in the "great date movie" category.

In the mix we have the wonderfully talented Debra Jo Rupp from That 70's Show's who plays Kirk's mother Mrs. Kettner, Breaking Bad's Krysten Ritter as Molly's friend Patty (who causes a little trouble of her own), Alice Eve as Kirk's love interest Molly, Cloverfield's Mike Vogel as Kirk's best friend Jack, 7th Heaven's Geoff Stults as Molly's jealous ex-boyfriend Cam, Worst Week's Kyle Bornheimer as Kirk's older brother Dylan, and Get Smart's one and only Nate Torrence (Lloyd) as Kirk's married friend Devon. The comedic timing and chemistry between all of these characters adds to the hilarity of datings "best moments".

So take a chance with this film and see if you can catch a "hard 10".

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakuel -- Film Review

During the summer when I have access to my car I love driving around with my music blaring. It has been several months since I have been back home where my car has been sitting and waiting for me to come back and use. And driving is what I did over the Christmas weekend. But before I got too far, I made a quick stop at a music store and picked up a soundtrack. Now most people would think I was a little nuts, but I have to admit the more I listened to the Chipmunks 2 soundtrack the more excited I became for the film. I was a huge chipmunk fan when I was younger, always watching the cartoon and listening to their CDs when the urge hit me, and even dragging my mom to the theater a year ago to watch the new kids film. Unfortunately this year my mom was not around so instead I dragged along a friend of mine that works in the VFX field. It was one of those films and you cannot help but to smile because it takes you back to those "good ol' days" and childhood memories.

In the squeakquel Dave Seville cannot seem to catch a break. Jason Lee spends the majority of his time on screen hooked up to hospital beds with every bandage imaginable because of something that Alvin has done. In a way I wish he had a larger part in the film, but I know it was because of the ladies. Christina Applegate, Anna Ferris, and Amy Polher give their voice and comedic talents for the wonderfully cute Chippetts Brittany, Eleanor, and Jeanette. I never thought I'd say this, but those girls seriously have some sweet movies. In addition to the Chipettes, we also get the geekalicious Zachary Levi as Cousin Toby who cares for the chipmunks in this film. It doesn't get much better than having "Chuck" thrown into the mix with these boys and girls.

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel is a serious family film. With the requirements of including at least 1 fart joke, 1 burp and a hit to the groin, you are sure to hear any kid laugh their way through the film. The song selection for the soundtrack is fantastic bringing in covers to The Kinks, Beyonce, and many others. The addition of the Chipettes adds to the films ability to use a wider range of songs and even include 'We Are Family'. The minute I heard that particular song on the soundtrack I immediately became so excited that I decided on the spot to go see the film because I wanted to see what the routine the chips and chipettes would be performing. And by the end of the film when we finally get to see their full performance together, I was dancing in my chair and singing along with the munks.
We Are Family song -- NOT THE SCENE FROM MOVIE!





As an adult the film may drag a little in some places, but if you grew up with the cartoon and classic characters, then none of that will matter because the trouble the chips get themselves into meets your expectations. And just like the boys say, no one does it better then Dave... "ALVIN!!"

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel Trailer

Christina Teaches Conan O'Brian how to speak like a 'munk'



Classic Chipmunks and Chipettes cartoon clip: