Favorite Forgotten Films by Peter Jackson

Peter Jackson is a unique filmmaker who is primarily known for his later films, but it is his earlier films that I find to be some of his better flicks.

#3: 1992 brought about the release of Dead Alive, a campie horror comedy film that I have always considered one of my favorite films.

#2: In 1989 a very disturbing film was released call Meet the Feebles.  This flick was the second feature length film Jackson directed.  Although it is not a widely known film it is one that you will never forget once you see it.

#1: The Frighteners hit theaters in 1996 and terrified me.  15 years later and I can still remember the movie poster of the of the monster pushing its way through a white canvas.  It was not just the poster that scared me as a 10 yr old horror fan, but the idea that when it was our time to die that we might have a number etched into our forehead.  Personally I find this to be the best picture he made.

I feel that these early films are far too often forgotten and they shouldn't be.  If you haven't seen these films I recommend checking them out. 

Thor -- REVIEW

Most people would recognize Kenneth Branagh as one of top Shakespearean actors or more recently for his role as Professor Lockhart.  His is a brilliant actor in just about everything he does (even though sometimes over acted), and although this is not his first stab at directing it is his first take at a film of such "epic" proportions. I will however be completely honest with you, if you attempt to watch see Thor in 3D you are wasting your time.  There is NOTHING 3D about this film.  It was NOT shot in 3D -- in fact it was shot in 2D and then converted.  Although the "3D" does not appear as painful as that of Clash of the Titans (only meaning I didn't have a splitting headache by the end of the film) I was thoroughly irritated that I wasted my money when there was no 3D involved.

Aside from that massive fail, Thor was entertaining.  Just like all of Branagh's Shakes films, Thor is very pretty to look at.  The CGI is well done and Asgard is very much a world fit for the comics.  It almost felt like Lord of the Rings had stepped into the world of Heros and traveled back in time only to travel back to present day etc, while also bringing along a few of the monsters from the Buffy/Angel series.  (Sadly I feel like I'm now waiting for the punch line of a "walks into the bar" joke)  There is however one slight downside to this film...

If you have seen any of the Shakes films Branagh directed/acted in, I'm sure that you will start to notice little things about Thor... Say that is sort of feels like Branagh wanted to relive his "glory days" and take the Henry V play and throw it into the comic universe via Thor.  Well there you have it, Thor (who sounds sort of english) goes off to war and just in the midst of a "bloody battle" (fight with Destroyer) the king (Thor) makes a LONG speech to his men (Sif and the Warriors Three) and only to go back into battle to victory. There was even a moment during the film where I half expected Branagh to make a cameo appearance.  There was, of course, the Stan Lee appearance which was hilarious and even the Jeremy Renner appearance (although brief) brought out a few chuckles.  It was almost like Branagh was so caught up in the Hamlet/Henry V aspects of the story that everything else was just glossed over.

Don't get me wrong.  I did not hate Thor.  I found it passable.  It kept me entertained for the full 130 minutes, even though it was a bit of a stretch at times.  I thought Chris Hemsworth was as good a Thor as was needed and his chemistry with Natalie Portman was believable, even though she came across like a bit of a giggly-girl meeting her very first crush.  I found that Kat Dennings as Darcy to actually be the best character, even though she was really only there as the comic relief (which wasn't really needed since Portman was doing well enough with that on her own).  Even Stellan Skarsgard was a fine addition to the cast as Erik Selvig.  I will say that I sort of had a hard time with Tom Hiddleston as Loki though.  He was the only character I felt wasn't really all there and I kept picturing Joseph Gordon-Levitt in his place since it was just as bad a role as Cobra Commander.  They also kinda look alike.   And unfortunately I keep almost forgetting that Anthony Hopkins is even in the film.  I love the man to pieces but Odin is the second least memorable character and his role in the film is so small that I find it hard to believe that Hopkins even accepted the role.  I guess he just wanted to play a few more gods and monsters before retiring.

Over all I give Thor a 2 out of 5.  It's not a film that will blow your mind, but it is at the very least entertaining.  I'm sure that it will do fine in theaters, maybe even well enough for Marvel Studios to attempt a round 2 with the franchise (however I wouldn't hold your breathe since it can't touch the Iron Man franchise with a ten foot pole).  It will be interesting to see what happens to Thor in the Avengers which is due out next week. 

Lollipop Chainsaw -- PAX 2012 game play

This weekend I attended PAX East in Boston and have to say for it being my first time at the con it was one hell of an experience.  I'm not much of a PC gamer but the crowd I went with are some serious games.  It was 2 days of PC games and board games, and when I needed a break from it all I managed to sneak away for a little xbox game play of my own.

My biggest highlight from the weekend was Suda51's latest game, Lollipop Chainsaw.  I stood in line for almost 2 hours as I anxiously waited for my turn in the bus kicking some ass with Juliet.  Yes it's a basic hack and slash zombie game but with the twist of a high school cheerleader being the main character for gameplay and the periodic assistance from her boyfriend's head (when placed on a glowing blue zombie) is a hilarious and fun take on the genre.  With a chainsaw in hand and constant need to collect lollipops to regenerate health, Juliet is the most fun I've had recently.  I love the concept of the Sparkle Hunting making this pom-pom carrying killer a blast to play.  Even the comic elements that give the overall look and feel of the game something I'm totally looking forward to playing.

Lollipop Chainsaw is set to hit shelves on June 12, 2012.  Make sure to stop in at your local Game Stop and pre-order your copy today.

Peter and the Starcatcher -- Off-Broadway Review

If you are in the NYC area, or will be before April 24th I HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you take a trip out to a small off-broadway theater to check out this amazing show.  Having been an avid Peter Pan fan since a young child, and for some reason seem to be spending my 25th year on a madd hunt following the lost boys around the country, this is one adapted tale that is unlike any that has come before.

Peter and the Starcatcher is a fun, rather adult, telling of how Neverland and the infamous lost boys came to be.  With a cast of unforgettable characters, witty dialog and a light sprinkling of modern jokes writer Rick Elice has given the ultimate fan a play that I'm likely never going to forget.  Staged in a small theater, and having chosen a front row seat, I got an up-close and personal experience as the cast took me on an amazing journey from England to a small island when the H.M.S. Neverland is shipwrecked.

With a small stage the set design is quite simple, but the originality of items used to create the props, costumes and set itself is quite amazing.  Giving the production more of an improv feel as the actors are fully the ones propelling the story forward as they illustrate the battle between the Bristish sailors and pirates seeking to steal the Queen's chest.  This alone is like a treasure hunt game as it gives children in the audience a chance to try and find how many household items are used to create the set and costumes.  A perfect example is the opening act in the second half.  Being so close to the stage I actually had to avert my eyes from some of the actors because watching them in their mermaid costumes, and the faces they were making as they sang was so hilarious that if I dared look directly at them I knew I would not be able to keep a straight face.  You can tell that these talented actors truly enjoyed playing these characters as they surely got to be children once again playing make-believe.
Peter and the Starcatcher is an amazing play full of amazingly talented actors that really desereve immense recognition for this little play.  I wish I had been able to get this information out sooner so more could enjoy it, but there is a little over 1 week left, and if you are looking for something fun that you will surely never forget this is it.  It is an "all hands on deck" performance as the actors play multiple roles and the bring to life and whole new vibe to the classic Peter Pan story.  If the young kids in the audience are old enough to really appreciate the humor, it will kick off a whole new generation of Peter Pan fans.

So please check out the video below and then check out the link to the New York Theatre Workshop website to grab yourself a ticket before the curtain call.  You will not regret the decision.





Cast:
ADAM CHANLER-BERAT  A Boy/Peter
CARSON ELROD  Prentiss
KEVIN DEL AGUILA  Smee
CELIA KEENAN-BOLGER  Molly Aster 
KARL KENZLER  Lord Aster
GREG HILDRETH  Alf
BRANDON DIRDEN  Captain Scott
ARNIE BURTON  Mrs. Bumbrake/ Teacher
CHRISTIAN BORLE  Black Stache
TEDDY BERGMAN  Grempkin/ Mack/ Fighting Prawn

THERE BE DRAGONS -- Review

I have always found foreign films to be something of an acquired taste. There are stories that are so interesting that you cannot help but want to watch, there are images that are either so original or so stunning that you just have to watch play out, and then there are those that fit into a niche that you follow and watch out of fan-dom. There Be Dragons is a story, that truthfully I know nothing about. Granted it is not a "true story" and the fact that it is "inspired by true event" is something that so many story tellers and filmmakers use today that it's almost become a bit of a joke, however this is anything but a joke.

The story is told with such passion that you cannot help but feel for all those involved. I'm not just saying this because it's being told during a time of war, but because each and every character is brought to life and they literally jump off the screen at you. In addition to the beautiful story, the cinematography is something I've never seen before. I have gotten used to spanish cinematographers and their unique filming styles, but Gabriel Beristain takes it to a whole new level. With sweeping shots, original camera placement used to very distinctly tell you exactly who you would be focusing on, to transitions between time and place that move you through the film in such a way that it will literally take your breathe away if you truly understand and appreciate all of the work and effort that goes into making a film like this.

There Be Dragons transports you back to Spain during the 1930s in mind, body and soul. The sets are georgous, the wardrobe and costuming is stunning, the acting is exceptional, and every little detail that went into this historical epic, written and directed by Roland Joffe is something to be seen. Regardless if you know anything about the Spanish Civil War, or anything about Josemaría Escriva who the story is about, this is a film that should not be missed.

I give There Be Dragons a 5 out of 5.

Dylan Dog -- REVIEW

Dylan Dog is one of those films that feels like it was made in the 90s, and had at some point probably aired on Sci-Fi (before it became Syfy) and had a large enough following to have a small indie production company offer it a limited theatrical release.  The actors are your typical sci-fi "studs" circa now... and could have just been an added episode to the Being Human series that is now airing on the network.  Granted Sam Huntington is playing a zombie named Marcus in Dylan Dog rather than a semi-pathetic werewolf, but even Brandon Routh (Superman Returns) has one of those "has-been" vibes going on in his portrayal of the lead character Dylan.  And of course lets not forget Taye Diggs who sadly offers nothing more than an impeccable smile throughout the entire film even though he is supposed to be the "big bad"... well technically.

I'm not exactly sure where to start with this film since it first started out like an old throw-back to PI films, where as the trailers lead us to believe that Dylan was supposed to be this "watcher" of sorts which I found quite interesting since it would be like a "b-film" version of the Night Watch series that came out of Russia.  I couldn't help thinking "Oh cool a campie watcher film... SWEET!"... but sadly the only thing that kept my interest was the overly cheesy dialog, Buffy/Star Trek style make-up from the early 90s, and the horrible continuity throughout the film that ultimately turned into a scavenger hunt as to how many mistakes were not caught (**if you go watch keep a close look at Digg's teeth... you'll be able to figure out which "monster" is him and which is his stunt double**).

Granted I will say that the film does have a few moments of glory in the campiness of the film when Dylan and Marcus are sharing the screen, and I will admit it was nice to see some of the "old" vampire make-up making a quick (and hopefully brief) come-back, but other than that this film is sadly nothing to write home about.  And please don't even get me started on the female love interest.  Anita Briem, who plays Elizabeth, might be a pretty face to look at for the 107 minute running time, but she is a worse actress than the ladies of the sexploitation era.  I myself found The Jezebels (aka The Switchblade Sisters from 1975) to be quite hilarious, but man can Anita Briem give these ladies a run for their money on lack of talent.

Over all I would recommend saving Dylan Dog for a rainy night if you have nothing else to do.  I give Dylan Dog a 2 out of 5.

The Change Up -- REVIEW

When it comes to body-switch comedies most people think of family films like Freaky Friday, Big, 17 Again, and even, The Hot Chick.  This weekend we get a new take on this old storyline, but the success or failure of The Change-Up is up for debate.  From the director of Wedding Crashers and the writing team that brought us The Hangover, one would think that a grown-up take on the otherwise family friendly genre, would have potential to be a success. The Change-Up, however, takes the risk of being so over the top and inappropriate that it borders on the side of an epic failure.  From poor pacing and characters, that are just plain irritating, I’m sorry to report that there is very little to give praise.  Having been a fan of the original Hangover and just about any project involving Jason Bateman, I was extremely excited to see this film, especially, having just having come off the amazingness that is Horrible Bosses.  Unfortunately, I feel that with this film, the writing team just shot themselves in the foot and put the final nail in the coffin when their latest round of TV spots were released.

Having added only one line to their new 30-second spots, it is almost a plea for people to avoid this film like the plague.  I mean, let’s be honest here, if you hear “The director of Wedding Crashers and the writers of The Hangover take the body-switch comedy where it's never gone before" would you really go running to the theater to check out the film?  Personally, every time I hear that line I get chills from the scheer memory of how horrible this film is and the pain that I suffered watching it. 

Don’t get me wrong, if you are a fan of bad jokes made in poor taste that are delivered back to back with no time to recover, than I’m sure you will enjoy this film but the overall shock value of the dialogue is caked on so heavily that there is no time to recover and truly appreciate the joke (if there is one).  Truth is, the entire time I sat in the theater I seriously wished I could just reach over and smacked the stupid out of Reynolds character because it was so beyond what I was willing accept.  All the while I was watching, I had only one hope and that was, that something might happen that would actually make me care for one of the characters, but sadly Bateman’s Dave Lockwood was so likeable, I wanted him to mess up somewhere and try to live a little, while Reynolds’ Mitch Planko was such an ass I just wanted someone, if not on screen, than off screen, to beat him up.  What makes all of this worse is that Bateman was on such a career high that he was overdue for a bad film, and poor Reynolds is still riding off one relatively bad box office film, Green Lantern, and I was hoping this might be a step in the right direction.  I can only hope that these good actors in bad films, will be short lived, because each  deserves better roles than those provided in The Change-Up. 

Overall I would recommend a pass on The Change-Up.  If you are looking for a good comedy and have not yet seen Horrible Bosses that would more than make up the gaping hole brought on by David Dobkin’s latest film.    I give The Change-Up a 1.5 out of 5 and highly recommend that the guys out there do not make your ladies watch this film.  If you want to go do a guys night and then compare notes on how your life compares to these guys that's fine, but if you have no interest in doing either avoid the film completely and you will be a much happier person.