Halloween II (2009)

Halloween II (2009)

Directed by: Rob Zombie
Screenplay by: Rob Zombie

Genre: Horror | Thriller
Running Time: 119 Minutes (Director's Cut)
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Viewed: Owned DVD

Family is forever.

[IMDb]

Comments: I am somewhat perplexed at the negative response to Halloween II. I will admit to being a Rob Zombie fan; I've enjoyed every movie he's made (they're not all great films, but I did like each one). Also, I will concede that Halloween II is much more a Zombie film than a Halloween film. That being said, I believe Rob Zombie's Halloween films are the best ones of the entire series, with the exception of John Carpenter's original from 1978. I was also a fan of the original Halloween II and Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers, but Zombie brings both an originality and a freshness to the series that those sequels can't compete with. Halloween II is an interesting, gritty, and bleak look at Michael Myers and the lives he's affected. While horror aficionados may scoff at the Rob Zombie take, I found it well worth my time. I'm pretty sure Halloween III is coming out next year, but it will be with a new director (and I think in 3D). While I'll go see it, I'm sure it won't measure up to its predecessors. And then people will be bitching that Zombie wasn't brought in to make the third film. It's all a vicious cycle.

Curb Your Enthusiasm - Season One (2000)

Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000-????)

Created by: Larry David

Season: One (2000)
Genre: Comedy
Number of Episodes: 10
Episode Running Time: 30 Minutes
Viewed: Owned DVD

Deep inside you know you're him.

[IMDb]

Comments: I cannot tell you how many times I would have punched people in the face if I were Larry David. Sure, most people don't act like this in real life, but still, I was ready to go ballistic on a few people. The first season of Curb Your Enthusiasm is a solid effort, with several hysterical moments ("devoted sister, beloved cunt"). My only real complaint is that certain plot devices were easy to spot and you knew they were going to pop up later to fuck up Larry. I didn't notice this as much in Season 7, but then again that was the first time I ever watched the show. I'm very excited about moving on to the next two seasons, which have been described to me as the best in the show. But the first season was definitely a great start, and I'm looking forward to more of great lines like "hello, I had sex with my uncle when I was 12."

New York Ripper (1982)

New York Ripper (1982)

Directed by: Lucio Fulci
Screenplay by: Gianfranco Clericim, Lucio Fulci, Vincenzo Mannino,
  and Dardano Sacchetti

Genre: Crime | Thriller | Horror | Mystery
Running Time: 93 Minutes
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Viewed: Owned DVD

It's a nice place to visit, but you wouldn't want to die there!

[IMDb]

Comments: I finally got around to watching Fulci's most "controversial" film, The New York Ripper. As I have stated many times before, I have seen just about everything when it comes to exploitation-style films, so Ripper didn't offer many "controversial" moments for me. Some of the death scenes were intense, graphic, and generally well done. However, others are very poorly done, especially when the last person in the film is killed (I trying to be as un-spoilerish as possible there). Said person is shot in the face, and one of the most fake looking heads is used (and then partially exploded). The dialogue is another point of contention, but what do you expect when everything is translated? The script is very much a standard giallo plot, with about as many red herrings and twists inserted in as possible. Sadly, I found The New York Ripper to be very mediocre, but it's still enjoyable and a fun watch. Most genre fans have probably seen the film, but it's worth a watch if you haven't.

Also Known As: Lo Squartatore di New York

Day of the Dead (1985)

Day of the Dead (1985)

Directed by: George A. Romero
Screenplay by: George A. Romero

Genre: Horror | Sci-Fi
Running Time: 102 Minutes
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Viewed: Owned DVD

The darkest day of horror the world has ever known.

[IMDb]

Comments: First we had zombies fighting sharks, and now in Day of the Dead zombies are shooting guns. What is the world coming to? George A. Romero's third (and at the time, last) zombie film is much more of an excellent character study then zombie film throughout much of the flick. And while I was disappointed with the lack of action in the first half of the film, I was more than impressed with the time spent on the characters. The second half is much more of a traditional zombie film, with some excellent effects provided by the great Tom Savini (who would go on to remake Night of the Living Dead five years later). I loved the domesticated zombie, Bub, and the fact that he was on a mission at the end of the film (isn't it great to cheer for the zombies for once!) I still haven't seen Diary of the Dead, but otherwise I've loved every one of Romero's zombie films. A sixth one is due this year, entitled Survival of the Dead. Should be interesting, at the least.

Zombi 2 (1979)

Zombi 2 (1979)

Directed by: Lucio Fulci
Screenplay by: Elisa Briganti

Genre: Horror | Mystery
Running Time: 91 Minutes
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Viewed: Owned DVD

We are going to eat you!

[IMDb]

Comments: Let me describe to you perhaps the greatest scene in the history of film. Our main characters are on a boat, where the one lady decides to go scuba diving. In only a thong. So she's doing her thing when suddenly a shark starts swimming toward her. Oh noes! She swims deeper to avoid said shark, when from out of nowhere she's attacked by an underwater zombie! Double oh noes! She wrangles herself free and starts swimming toward the surface. But the zombie is pissed, and he's still hungry. SO THE ZOMBIE ATTACKS THE SHARK. And this is no stunt shark. There is some dumb ass in zombie get-up wrestling with a real fucking shark underwater. Yeah.

All joking aside, Fulci's Zombi 2 is a solid film. The name's a cash in on George Romero's Dawn of the Dead film, which was released as Zombi in Italy. However, while most Italian horror films that have their name changed to capitalize on more popular films really suck, Zombi 2 is rather good. Sure it's slow in some parts, but there's some really quality gore (a piece of wood jammed through an eye in explicit detail), a half-decent story, and a solid score (the theme playing when the dead start rising from the graves is awesome). And there's a zombie wrestling a fucking shark. What more do you want?

Also Known As: Zombie, Zombie Flesh Eaters, Island of the Flesh-Eaters, Zombie 2: The Dead Are Among Us

EDIT: Yes! I found the zombie vs. shark video on YouTube. It also includes some of the death scenes. The music playing when the zombie and shark fight is the awesome theme I was talking about above. But keep in mind, this video ruins the best parts of Zombi 2 if you've never seen it.

To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)

To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)

Directed by: William Friedkin
Screenplay by: William Friedkin and Gerald Petievich

Genre: Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller
Running Time: 116 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Owned DVD

A federal agent is dead. A killer is loose. And the City of Angels is
  about to explode.

[IMDb]

Comments: I had a bit of a mixed reaction to To Live and Die in L.A. I've wanted to watch the film for quite some time, as it's generally praised as one of William Friedkin's better films (behind The Exorcist and The French Connection, of course). The first half was alright, but not as good as I had hoped. It's overly "'80s" in certain scenes, and I just wasn't all that impressed. However, the second half of the film is completely bad ass. It's much more engrossing and has both excellent action and twists. But my biggest issue was Gil Grissom (aka William Peterson). I don't like C.S.I. at all, and I don't particularly care for Grissom. In To Live and Die in L.A., he annoyed the shit out of me most of the time. It felt as though Grissom was "posing" moreso than acting in the film (granted, this was his first starring role and second film). Still, I found watching him to be distracting, and I thought it was completely unnecessary that Friedkin felt the need to show his junk. Still, there's a lot to like in the film, including the awesome car chase and the final showdown. There's just some annoyances along the way.

Random Thoughts: The TV I'm Currently Watching

So I just popped in the first disc of Season 1 of 24, as watching the four hour, two night premiere has gotten me in the mood for the show. The premieres of a few shows this month has reminded me that I wanted to post some random ramblings for awhile now and make The Musical Whorehouse more "bloggish."

So anyway, 24 premiered on Sunday and Monday. It was an alright start for such a long-running show. Season 7 was the best for the show in four years (since Season 3); perhaps it was the fact that the show had an extra year off due to the writer's strike. So far, Season 8 has showed glimpses of promise; everything that has to do with Jack is energizing and interesting. As always, there's numerous side stories to fill time. It will take a few episodes to see if any of these pan out. The biggest story seems to be that of Battlestar Galactica vet Katee Sackhoff and her "mysterious" past. It's a very old and formulaic plot device, so we'll have to see where (if anywhere) it leads.

There were only two main issues I had (and surprisingly neither one was the casting of Freddie Prinze Jr.). One was how ungodly annoying Chloe was. She's generally a hit or miss character but always pulls through for Jack so the audience tends to love her. But she's acting like a petulant child this season and it's annoying as hell (but at least fucking Janeane Garofalo isn't on the show anymore). The second is Renee's character this season. I don't mind her being a vengeful bad ass, but the story used to bring her in was beyond weak. I haven't seen Season 7 since last year, but she was supposed to be as "by-the-book" as they come (well, at least until the end of the season). Now she's brought in because she was undercover with the Russians many years ago. I'm sorry, you aren't clean as a whistle when you go undercover with the Russians. And she tried to kill herself after leaving the FBI? Come on.

I just realized that Gustavo Santaolalla, who composed the amazing score for the film Babel, uses part of that score for the pilot episode of 24. Cool.

Two shows that are premiering in the coming weeks that I am looking forward too are Spartacus: Blood and Sand and the final season of Lost. I've never been a die-hard Lost fanatic, but I've watched it since day one and have always come back for more. It's a solid show and hopefully the final season is worth the wait. I'm not expecting much from Spartacus other than gratuitous nudity and violence, but what else do you need? It seems as though Starz is trying to out-True Blood HBO, so we'll see how this goes.

The only other shows currently recording on my DVR are House, which has been solid but nothing special this season, and Archer, which is the new cartoon from the guys who made Sealab 2021 and Frisky Dingo. Frisky Dingo is probably my all-time favorite cartoon, and one of the funniest shows I've ever watched. Only episodes of South Park and Family Guy have made me laugh so hard, but both shows are very inconsistent (it didn't hurt that Dingo has only 25 episodes in total). I only watched one episode of Archer of the two that aired the night it premiered so far; it was funny but can most certainly improve. Oh, and I watch The Real World. Yeah.

So as I shut off the first season of 24 to watch my beloved Penguins take on the fucking Capitals, I must say I enjoyed writing some random shit. Maybe I'll continue, maybe I won't. If I keep watching Season 1 of 24, I'll throw it up for a review, but I'm not sure if I'll watch the rest of the season. I just needed a fix now. Go Pens.

Pandorum (2009)

Pandorum (2009)

Directed by: Christian Alvart
Screenplay by: Travis Milloy

Genre: Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller
Running Time: 108 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Owned DVD

Fear what happens next.

[IMDb]

Comments: Pandorum is a solid sci-fi/horror film with both an interesting plot and some quality horror. The film revolves around Ben Foster and Dennis Quaid waking up in a giant spaceship with no idea what's going on. The power's not functioning and there's a bunch of creatures running around murdering bitches like no tomorrow. Most of the film is reminiscent of The Descent (in space, of course). And that's not a bad thing. Everything's dark, people are tense and freaked out, and there's those damn mutants. There's a few other twists and turns thrown in for good measure, which altogether make a fun and enjoyable film. Definitely worth a watch for anyone that enjoys these types of films. And apparently those people do not include critics, who bashed the film. I'm not quite sure why, as I found it both intriguing and entertaining. Oh well, fuck 'em.

The Class (2008)

The Class (2008)

Directed by: Laurent Cantet
Screenplay by: Laurent Cantet, Robin Campillo, and François
  Bégaudeau

Genre: Drama
Running Time: 128 Minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Viewed: Starz

[IMDb]

Comments: The Class is an interesting look at the inner-workings of a contemporary classroom. Going into the film, one expects something along the lines of Mr. Holland's Opus, but that's hardly the case. The Class is a much more realistic and almost documentary-like film following François Bégaudeau, who is a teacher and wrote the book the film is based on. All of the students are also real students. There's no sweeping realizations by the students, and no grand gestures by the teacher - it's simply a year in the life of a instructor and his pupils. The screenplay is excellent, and the acting exceeded all of my expectations considering these are just normal people. I definitely see why The Class won the Palme d'Or at Cannes.

Also Known As: Entre les Murs

Deep End (1971)

Deep End (1971)

Directed by: Jerzy Skolimowski
Screenplay by: Jerzy Skolimowski, Boleslaw Sulik, and Jerzy Gruza

Genre: Drama | Romance
Running Time: 88 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Turner Classic Movies

If you can't have the real thing-- you do all kinds of unreal things.

[IMDb]

Comments: TCM usually runs a myriad of PG films from the golden days of cinema. However, a few weeks ago I noticed they aired the unedited version (nudity and all) of Robin Hardy's The Wicker Man after midnight one weekend. So now I regularly check to see if TCM is going to air anything interesting on the weekends, and Deep End certainly lived up to those specifications. The film's never been released on DVD but certainly would have some kind of cult following if it was. Deep End follows Mike, a 15-year-old boy who falls in love with Susan, a girl he works with. It starts innocently enough but soon turns into a very bizarre film, where Mike becomes dangerously obsessed with Susan, often following her around constantly (Susan also exhibits off-the-wall behavior, often leading Mike on and contributing to his lunacy). Deep End is an unusual yet oddly addicting film. It's awesome that TCM occasionally airs some, well, different films completely unedited. I'm not sure why they're allowed to do this, but I'm not complaining. Censorship sucks.

Boogie Nights (1997)

Boogie Nights (1997)

Directed by: Paul Thomas Anderson
Screenplay by: Paul Thomas Anderson

Genre: Crime | Drama
Running Time: 155 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Owned DVD

Everyone has one special thing.

[IMDb]

Comments: I'd never seen Boogie Nights before tonight (well, except the Rollergirl scenes), although I've owned the film for many years. My interest was drummed up recently when I was reading a post over at DVDTalk about people's favorite scenes in movies. The drug deal that goes awry at then end of the film was mentioned a few times, so I decided that it was time to watch Boogie Nights. The film is excellent, and Paul Thomas Anderson's directing is phenomenal. There's numerous long scenes that involve multiple actors moving around - and it's all executed well. There's also several top-notch actors, including Mark Wahlberg's breakout performance. I'm a big fan of Wahlberg when he's not making shitty movies (although many of them are), but his inexperience shows in places throughout the film. Still, Boogie Nights is a wonderful film and a simple pleasure. "I like simple pleasures, like butter in my ass, lollipops in my mouth. That's just me. That's just something that I enjoy." And Boogie Nights is too.

Reaper - Season Two (2009)

Reaper (2007-2009)

Created by: Michele Fazekas and Tara Butters

Season: Two (2009)
Genre: Adventure | Comedy | Drama | Fantasy | Thriller
Number of Episodes: 13
Episode Running Time: 60 Minutes
Viewed: Owned DVD

Meet Satan's biggest tools.

[IMDb]

Comments: Reaper's second (and last) season is another fun batch of episodes. The arcs for the season are much more planned and thought-out, thus we don't have any characters randomly disappearing or subplots suddenly being dropped. Sock (Tyler Labine) continues to be hilarious in every scene he's in, and I hope he shines in his new film (Tucker & Dale vs Evil) and new TV show (Sons of Tucson). Sadly, Reaper lacks the same spark that it had when it first debuted. The show is still rather hilarious, but it's just not the same as it was originally. I'm not sure whether they filmed the finale knowing whether or not they were going to be renewed, but I think it's a solid and fitting finale (yet it left it open enough if the show did in fact get picked up again). But, Reaper is now over, and it is time for me to move on. Goodbye, good friend.

Brüno (2009)

Brüno (2009)

Directed by: Larry Charles
Screenplay by: Sacha Baron Cohen, Anthony Hines, Dan Mazer, and
  Jeff Schaffer

Genre: Comedy
Running Time: 83 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Owned DVD

Borat was so 2006.

[IMDb]

Comments: Original review again, because I'm lazy: I think it's pretty difficult to offend me. That's because I really don't give a shit about most things. Thus, when purchasing my ticket for Brüno this afternoon and the theater manager was discussing this film with another friend and they both agreed it was one of the worst movies they've ever seen, I got excited. I loved Borat, and it was one of my favorite movies of 2006. Unfortunately, Brüno doesn't quite live up to the hilariousness that was Borat, but it is pretty damn funny. My only real complaints with Brüno was the fact that many more scenes felt staged, which decreases the effect of some of the scenes. The story is also much less cohesive, and there's really no point or end-goal to the script (technically, Brüno wants to become a big star in America, but we never see that goal achieved except for a music video at the end). The first half of the film is a bit weak, with only some funny parts. The film really takes off in the second half, when Brüno decides to become straight to become a celebrity. This includes going hunting and camping (the bear ate all my clothes, except for these condoms!), taking self defense lessons (about protecting yourself from a nude man with two dildos), as well as a swingers' party (look into my eyes!). Sacha Baron Cohen is a pretty funny guy, so I hope to see him make some more films like this. I appreciate comedians who aren't afraid to offend people. I'd love to see a Borat sequel, but I believe Cohen said it would be too difficult since everyone knows who he is. Even though Brüno doesn't live up to Borat's standards, it's still a damn funny movie, and worth your while.

They Live (1988)

They Live (1988)

Directed by: John Carpenter
Screenplay by: John Carpenter

Genre: Action | Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller
Running Time: 93 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Owned DVD

Who are they? And what do they want?

[IMDb]

Comments: They Live is one of those great '80s gems that will always hold a special place in my movie-loving heart. From the cool story to the amazing one-liners, this film delivers on all fronts. "You, you're okay. This one? Real fuckin' ugly." Or the be-all and end-all of movie quotes: "I'm here to chew bubblegum and kick ass. And I'm all out of bubblegum." They Live is one of those movies I loved to watch growing up, and it's such a fun movie that it's still awesome now that I'm 24. If you've never seen They Live, do yourself a favor and watch it. OBEY.

The Hangover (2009)

The Hangover (2009)

Directed by: Todd Phillips
Screenplay by: Jon Lucas and Scott Moore

Genre: Comedy
Running Time: 108 Minutes (Unrated Cut)
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Owned DVD

Some guys just can't handle Vegas.

[IMDb]

Comments: Original review, because I'm lazy: Since I've been watching mainly TV on DVD recently, it's nice to go see a movie in the theater, as it's been awhile. The Hangover was a funny and entertaining film, à la director Todd Phillips' Old School. There's really nothing to emotionally involve the viewer (as we've seen recently in Judd Apatow and company's films), but that really doesn't matter as the film is enjoyable and hilarious. Zach Galifianakis is easily the funniest of the group, but the cast is well-rounded and each plays their part just fine. The Mike Tyson bit went on a tad too long, as the man is a wretched actor and giving him more than one line is a mistake, but it's easy to overlook given the rest of the film. The Hangover has done so well that a sequel has already been given the green light, so we will see more hijinks in a few years (and I also found out they're making Old School Dos and Road Trip II: Beer Pong... ugh). Anyway, The Hangover is solid entertainment and a fun way to spend an afternoon.

Poker Run (2009)

Poker Run (2009)

Directed by: Julian Higgins
Screenplay by: Bertie Higgins and Julian Higgins

Genre: Thriller
Running Time: 97 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Owned DVD

Live to ride. Ride to die.

[IMDb]

Comments: First of all, the co-writer and one of the main actors is this guy. His son was also a writer and the director of the film. Yeah. Anyway, Poker Run is an exploitative thriller full of questionable acting, dialogue, and a very questionable plot. I was mildly entertained, however, but the film didn't live up to the reason I bought the film. I was perusing Walmart (of all places) and found Poker Run; it appeared to be something I would enjoy. The deal was cemented when I read it was rated R for "strong brutal sadistic violence including a rape, some drug use, nudity, and pervasive language." While the violence is decent for an extremely low-budget film, the nudity is lacking and not worth mentioning. Overall, Poker Run is nothing new. The three people that have heard of this film will soon forget about it. Just like the people that made Bertie Higgins' "Key Largo" a number one song in 1982.

Moon (2009)

Moon (2009)

Directed by: Duncan Jones
Screenplay by: Nathan Parker

Genre: Drama | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller
Running Time: 97 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Owned DVD

The last place you'd ever expect to find yourself.

[IMDb]

Comments: I love dramatic science fiction films set in space. It's the perfect setting for loneliness, detachment, and other depression-inducing themes. Moon fits right into this genre and is a wonderful film. It's the debut from the son of David Bowie, Duncan Jones, but the real star is Sam Rockwell, who gives an amazing performance basically by himself. We have the voice of Kevin Spacey, but Moon is all Rockwell. He plays Sam Bell, an astronaut at the end of his three-year contract on the moon, which is now being harvested for energy on Earth. Then Sam starts having problems, and to say any more will give away too much. The trailer for the film is exceptional, and you can watch it below. And I can't finish without mentioning the haunting, brilliant score by Clint Mansell. Mansell is one of, if not the best in cinema today. Films like Requiem for a Dream, The Fountain, and countless others would not be the same if Mansell was not involved. Just listen to the music in the trailer. It's awesome.

Big Fan (2009)

Big Fan (2009)

Directed by: Robert D. Siegel
Screenplay by: Robert D. Siegel

Genre: Comedy | Drama
Running Time: 86 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Owned DVD

[IMDb]

Comments: I've been rather excited to watch Big Fan for awhile now; writer/director Robert Siegel also wrote the script for my favorite film of 2008, The Wrestler, and I've always been a fan of Patton Oswalt. My interest was piqued when I learned that the film was more of a dramatic comedy, and Oswalt certainly didn't let me down in his first serious role. Actually, his performace was the best thing about Big Fan. I had a few issues with the script, but nothing that ruined my viewing experience. First, Siegel couldn't seem to decide whether he wanted to make a dark comedy or a serious dramatic film. The last act of the film had a very serious tone, and then it suddenly shifted back to something very darkly comedic. It was a bit odd and it definitely took me out of the moment. Secondly, there are several small yet obvious errors throughout the film. I have no idea how these were not caught originally, and I would be mildly embarrassed if I was Robert Siegel. Patton's favorite player in the film (and the one that beats his ass) is very obviously described as a linebacker during the film. Yet, at least twice when Patton's reading about him in the paper he's referred to as the quarterback. Also, Michael Rappaport calls Patton's character the wrong name at the end of the film. Patton goes "undercover" at an Eagles bar and uses a fake name when speaking with Rappaport, but Rappaport calls Patton "Paul," which is his regular name that he never stated. The errors are small, but annoy the piss out of me. Still, Big Fan is a solid film and Patton Oswalt gives a wonderful performance. Definitely worth a watch.

Heat (1995)

Heat (1995)

Directed by: Michael Mann
Screenplay by: Michael Mann

Genre: Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller
Running Time: 170 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Owned DVD

A Los Angeles crime saga.

[IMDb]

Comments: Ah, yes. The awesomeness that is Michael Mann's Heat. I could ramble on about how great this movie is, but I am both tired and lazy, so I'll leave you with this:


And this:

Daybreakers (2009)

Daybreakers (2009)

Directed by: Michael Spierig and Peter Spierig
Screenplay by: Michael Spierig and Peter Spierig

Genre: Action | Drama | Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller
Running Time: 98 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Theater

[IMDb]

Comments: The Spierig Brothers, seven years after releasing their enjoyable debut Undead, have finally released their follow-up, Daybreakers. Undead was a wonderful low-budget zombie film that I feel is criminally underrated and a fine film (with the exception of the horribly tacked-on second ending). Daybreakers, while being just as inventive as the brothers' first film, doesn't quite measure up. I did enjoy the film, but even though it's an original screenplay, there's quite a few clichéd moments. However, there's some solid gore (always a plus!) and any vampire movie that isn't about teenagers is a good thing (although Ethan Hawke's character is named Edward - go Team Edward!). The acting is passable, although Willem Dafoe's southern accent is a tad annoying and unrealistic. Still, Daybreakers is an entertaing movie, and if you're a (true) fan of vampire films, you'll probably enjoy this. Or you won't, and you'll think I'm an asshole.

Reaper - Season One (2007-2008)

Reaper (2007-2009)

Created by: Michele Fazekas and Tara Butters

Season: One (2007-2008)
Genre: Adventure | Comedy | Drama | Fantasy | Thriller
Number of Episodes: 18
Episode Running Time: 60 Minutes
Viewed: Owned DVD

Meet Satan's biggest tools.

[IMDb]

Comments: Despite all of its faults, I freaking love Reaper. The now-canceled show is about Sam, whose parents sold his soul to the devil before he was born. Now that he turned 21, he must capture escaped souls and return them to Hell along with his two buddies, Sock and Ben. And, of course, during his "day job" he works along the love of his life, Andi, but is afraid to make a move. That's about as much synopsis as you're going to get from me.

I watched the show when it first premiered in 2007, but due to working and the lack of a DVR at the time, I only saw part of the first season. Nonetheless, I was very excited to finally pick up the only two seasons of the show recently and watch what I missed. The first half of Season 1 tends to be a bit formulaic, as each episode is more of a "monster of the week"-type deal. But the interaction of Sam, Sock, and Ben is the highlight of the entire show. The writing makes it feel as if you were hanging with your friends each time you watch an episode. The character of Sock (Tyler Labine) is extremely funny and he always steals any scene he's in.

The second half of Reaper becomes more complicated as new plot lines are introduced. Certain episodes don't have any "monsters" at all, as they deal with Sam's romance, his dealings with the Devil (played superbly by Ray Wise), and a plot to overthrow the Devil. While I certainly appreciate the more intricate story, the show loses a bit of its innocence that it had initially. While I normally would wholeheartedly approve of getting rid of the one-monster-a-week scenario, there are several plot holes along the way, which annoy me to no end.

A few things I noticed (some moderate spoilers along the way): Sam has a brother that disappears after the first few episodes. That I don't have a problem with, but it is a loose end. Another issue I have is that Sam begins a romance with Cady, who may or may not be the daughter of the Devil. Her and Sam hit a rough spot (mainly because Sam loves the shit out of Andi) so she says she needs to take a break and will be back in a few days. She never comes back. No real mention is made of her again, and the whole "spawn of Satan" storyline is transferred to Sam. Oh. Things like this annoy me as it shows a massive lack of focus for the show. I hate when storylines aren't planned out and things are written in on the fly.

Still, despite its flaws, I love Reaper. It's never religious (which would make me vomit when watching this show) and is a ton of fun. The interaction of the main characters is top-notch and it feels like you are hanging out with your friends when watching the show. Sadly, there's only one season after this, so it was fun while it lasted. But for now, at least I have 13 more episodes to watch.

Up in the Air (2009)

Up in the Air (2009)

Directed by: Jason Reitman
Screenplay by: Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner

Genre: Comedy | Drama | Romance
Running Time: 109 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Theater

The story of a man ready to make a connection.

[IMDb]

Comments: Up in the Air is most likely going to be nominated for best film of the year at the Oscars, and now having seen the film it's certainly justified. George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, and especially Anna Kendrick turn in excellent performances, while the story is excellent while never being too "standard." There's also a number of quality actors in smaller roles, including J.K. Simmons, Zach Galifianakis, and Sam Elliott, which is always a pleasantry (as long as it's not a distraction). And the script, as I mentioned, is top-notch and filled with both excellent dialogue and comedic moments. Up in the Air is definitely one of the best of 2009 and will be honored by being nominated at the Oscars. Will it win? I guess we'll just have to watch to find out.

Carriers (2009)

Carriers (2009)

Directed by: Àlex Pastor and David Pastor
Screenplay by: Àlex Pastor and David Pastor

Genre: Drama | Thriller | Horror
Running Time: 84 Minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Viewed: Owned DVD

The rules are simple. You break them, you die.

[IMDb]

Comments: Considering I hadn't even heard of the film before last week, I was pleasantly surprised with Carriers. I was mildly interested when I learned that Chris Pine was in it. I will admit to having a man-crush on Captain Kirk, and I thought it was rather awesome that he was in a post-apocalyptic thriller (which turned out to have decent reviews). I really enjoyed the film, and it reminded me a lot of Danny Boyle's 28 Days Later (sans zombies). Sure, there's not a big budget, but the acting's good and the story is solid. The plot revolves around two brothers and their women on the road after a deadly virus wipes out most of humanity. We never learn the origins of the virus or see much of the destruction, but the script is well-written and never leaves the viewer needing to have more explained. I would have liked to see an R rated film with some more blood and guts, but beyond that I don't have too many complaints. Carriers is a surprisingly decent film that would be a solid watch for those looking for entertainment on these cold winter nights. Recommended.

Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989)

Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989)

Directed by: Rob Hedden
Screenplay by: Rob Hedden

Genre: Horror
Running Time: 100 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Owned DVD

The Big Apple's in BIG trouble!

[IMDb]

Comments: What can I say, I'm a glutton for punishment.

Jason X (2001)

Jason X (2001)

Directed by: James Isaac
Screenplay by: Todd Farmer

Genre: Horror | Sci-Fi
Running Time: 93 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Owned DVD

Evil gets an upgrade.

[IMDb]

Comments: Jesus fucking Christ. I was watching Mythbusters the other day, and they were testing a myth from Jason X, where Jason dips this chick's head into liquid nitrogen and the smashes her face. That gave me the urge to watch the film, which is one of the last few Friday the 13th films that I haven't seen. And what a horrible mess it is. Everything about Jason X feels like a horrible SciFi (er, I mean SyFy) film. The acting, the sets, the incredibly horrid score - it's as though Kane Hodder stepped onto the wrong set and they just decided to go with it. While the concept of Jason in space is awful, the creators could have at least made a fun film (the only funny part was the simulation where Jason was beating one chick in a sleeping bag with another chick in a sleeping bag - "we love premarital sex!"). Unfortunately, we're treated to complete cinematic drivel (has Sean Cunnigham seen Leprechaun 4: In Space too many times?). At least they brought in Freddy Krueger for the next film. But anyway, your time is better spent elsewhere. But you knew that already.