From a Whisper to a Scream (1987)

From a Whisper to a Scream (1987)

Directed by: Jeff Burr
Screenplay by: C. Courtney Joyner, Darin Scott, and Jeff Burr

Genre: Action | Drama | Horror | Thriller
Running Time: 99 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Netflix Watch Instantly

Fear... times four.

[IMDb]

Comments: I got nothin'.

Coupling - Season Three (2002)

Coupling (2000-2004)

Created by: Steven Moffat

Season: Three (2001)
Genre: Comedy
Number of Episodes: 7
Episode Running Time: 30 Minutes
Viewed: Owned DVD

Up for a threesome?

[IMDb]

Comments: More of the same goodness with the third season of Coupling. I did find that the episodes tended to be a bit more serious at times, but overall the quality of the show was just as good. One more to go!

Coupling - Season Two (2001)

Coupling (2000-2004)

Created by: Steven Moffat

Season: Two (2001)
Genre: Comedy
Number of Episodes: 9
Episode Running Time: 30 Minutes
Viewed: Owned DVD

More than just a one night stand!

[IMDb]

Comments: I quite like Coupling. It's a fun show that has great writing (the season finale was phenomenal) and a strong cast. There's certainly some issues here and there - like why anyone would want to hang out with Jane, who's ungodly annoying and never has any humanizing moments. Plus, the total lack of realism hurts at times (I'm mainly speaking of how characters act in the most bizarre way possible), but overall I've enjoyed my time with these six individuals. Despite those issues, it's completely hysterical and well worth a watch. Also, I'm totally phoning this review in if you couldn't tell.

Oh, and the teeth! I know it's sort of a stereotype about the British and their teeth, but some of the guest stars they had on the show were awful. Try to find someone on American TV with bad/dirty teeth. It doesn't happen! Even in the post-apocalyptic future when we're being attacked by zombies, those babies are pearly white.

Sorry for going off on a tangent. Teeth are just something I notice... and I noticed it a lot in Coupling.

Lincoln (2012)

Lincoln (2012)

Directed by: Steven Spielberg
Screenplay by: Tony Kushner

Genre: Biography | Drama | History | War
Running Time: 150 Minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Viewed: Theater

[IMDb]

Comments: To be honest, just from watching the trailer and previews, Lincoln didn't do much for me. I knew it would likely be a good film and that I would really appreciate the performances, but nothing about the movie screamed "get to the theater now, you don't want to miss this!" However, my friend wanted to go see Lincoln on Thanksgiving Eve, so I wasn't going to turn the opportunity down. In the end, I'm glad I went. Lincoln, if a bit long, delivers on just about all fronts. It paints the man as human and likeable, and also interjects some surprisingly well-done humor into the mix. I imagine that this film will be nominated for a number of awards, but I don't think anyone is as deserving as Daniel Day-Lewis - he completely steals the show (as expected). It's also Steven Spielberg's best film in years, though I haven't seen either The Adventures of Tintin (which I actually have on order) or War Horse (no desire to see that at all), but I don't think either would top this film. If you're interested in history and don't mind a two-and-a-half hour film with a lot of talking, then I strongly recommend Lincoln. At least then you'll have a understanding of what everyone's talking about come awards season.

Your Sister's Sister (2011)

Your Sister's Sister (2011)

Directed by: Lynn Shelton
Screenplay by: Lynn Shelton

Genre: Comedy | Drama
Running Time: 90 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Owned Blu-ray

A comedy about doing the right thing with the wrong person.

[IMDb]

Comments: I'm not the biggest fan of the "mumblecore" genre, but in general what I've seen I've enjoyed (ranging from mediocre films like Cyrus and Baghead to ones I've really appreciated, like Jeff, Who Lives at Home). Your Sister's Sister falls a few notches above the middle, as it's a film I enjoyed despite a couple minor issues. One issue I don't have is Emily Blunt, who I completely adore. Opposite her is Mark Duplass, an actor (and co-director of all three mumblecore films I mentioned above) I generally like, but he comes off as whiny and annoying throughout the first half of the film (his character improves, however). In general, Your Sister's Sister is a nice little rom-com-dram, and one I approve of if you're interested.

Aim High - Season One (2011)

Aim High (2011-????)

Created by: Heath Corson and Richie Keen

Season: One (2011)
Genre: Thriller
Number of Episodes: 6
Episode Running Time: 10 Minutes
Viewed: Owned DVD

After school jobs are a killer.

[IMDb]

Comments: For a web series that consists of only six episodes and runs for less than one hour total, Aim High was a pretty decent little idea. It's certainly something I'd watch if it was an actual television series (especially given my predisposition to storylines of this type), and I think it would work on a grander scale. I hadn't even heard of this series until earlier in the week when I saw the DVD released online. I did a little research, made a mental note that I might have to check it out later, and then immediately bought it when I saw it for sale at Walmart this afternoon. I don't know if it was worth the $10, especially when you take into account the short runtime, but I enjoyed enough that it won't bother me. I'm sure you can find this online somewhere, so give Aim High a look if it interests you.

Coupling - Season One (2000)

Coupling (2000-2004)

Created by: Steven Moffat

Season: One (2000)
Genre: Comedy
Number of Episodes: 6
Episode Running Time: 30 Minutes
Viewed: Owned DVD

The naughty new comedy about nothing... but sex!

[IMDb]

Comments: Fuck me. Sarah Alexander, where have you been all my life? You are just about the goddamn cutest thing I've ever seen. And those "Nude Practice" skits you used to do on that Armstrong and Miller sketch show? Jesus fucking Christ. Why don't they release those on DVD? You are just so... oh, right. We're here to talk about Coupling.

Coupling has often been described as the British version of Friends, and that's certainly true to an extent (though it's also not giving Coupling enough credit). The show also has some definite Seinfeld influences as well, given the nonsensical relationship rules and phrases that come up over the first season. But the biggest reason why this show exceeds Friends is the writing of Steven Moffat - he of Doctor Who and Sherlock fame. As dumb as the comedy is in Coupling, it's also always smart and the episodes are well-conceived. It's a fun show, and I'm looking forward to watching the following seasons.

Also, have I mentioned Sarah Alexander?

Flight (2012)

Flight (2012)

Directed by: Robert Zemeckis
Screenplay by: John Gatins

Genre: Drama
Running Time: 138 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Theater

[IMDb]

Comments: I wasn't planning on doing much today, given that I'm off for Veteran's Day, but at the last moment I decided to go catch Flight - the third film I've seen in theaters in the last five days - as it's one that really had me intrigued.

- Despite being somewhat long during the second act, I found Flight to be a compelling character study, mainly due to the compelling acting of Denzel Washington. He's great at portraying the anti-hero, and comes through again here. The film itself hits familiar notes throughout (except for one nice John Goodman appearance toward the end), as pretty much everything I expected to happen did in fact happen. But Washington throws Flight on his back and once again carries it to the finish.

- I can't short-change the fantastic plane crash sequence, though. Even though you knew mostly everyone was going to survive, the tension Robert Zemeckis created was amazing. It's almost worth seeing the movie for that aspect alone. Oh, and Nadine Velazquez in the opening scene, all nekkid and stuff. Ay, Mami.

- It's also nice to see Zemeckis back directing live action films, with Flight being his first since 2000's Cast Away (a personal favorite). He's directed a number of movies I've adored over the years, so here's to some more in the future.

- Despite a couple of issues with the relatively by-the-numbers script, I really enjoyed Flight. It's one that won't be an award winner, but it will surely grip and enthrall its audience. After worrying about the noise level in my theater during the trailers, not much was heard once Flight began. That's almost always the sign of a solid movie, and fortunately, this one's a good one.

Parks and Recreation - Season Four (2011-2012)

Parks and Recreation (2009-????)

Created by: Greg Daniels and Michael Schur

Season: Four (2012)
Genre: Comedy
Number of Episodes: 22
Episode Running Time: 30 Minutes
Viewed: Owned DVD

Because parks don't grow on trees.

[IMDb]

Comments: As I mentioned before, I really dig Parks and Rec. The show has to be one of the most kind-hearted shows on television (in addition to being one of the funniest). And I'm not saying that as a bad thing - I love that all of these characters are inherently good and always try to do the right thing to each other. That just tends to resonate with me, and as a result I genuinely care about them as if they were my friends.

I wish my job was like this.

Prometheus (2012)

Prometheus (2012)

Directed by: Ridley Scott
Screenplay by: Jon Spaihts and Damon Lindelof

Genre: Adventure | Sci-Fi | Thriller
Running Time: 124 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Owned Blu-ray

The search for our beginning could lead to our end.

[IMDb]

Comments: Here's my original thoughts, because it's late and I'm lazy:

I tempered my expectations of Ridley Scott's Prometheus after the film received a solid but not outstanding reception on its opening weekend (I previously mentioned that I was more excited to see it than The Dark Knight Rises; that perception was a little off). This was for the best as I think I would have been disappointed if my expectations were higher than they were. This pseudo-prequel to Alien is a solid if flawed film, but it definitely was worth the watch.

- The film's scope is so fucking grand that it's hard to latch onto one aspect. The reason Alien worked so well is because behind all of the space suits, evil corporations, and questionable-intentioned androids, the film was a horror story at heart. Man versus beast. And people were down with that. Prometheus has so many ideas and themes crammed into the two hour runtime that there's never one aspect to fully get involved in. (The fact that Prometheus was co-written by Lost showrunner Damon Lindelof feels natural, doesn't it?)

- The film looks GORGEOUS. Granted, I saw it in glorious 2D (as 3D is the worst thing to re-happen to movies in years), but this planet that the crew is on feels so alive. The cinematography and landscapes are awesome, and the ship's design is top notch.

- Michael Fassbender owns. That should come as no surprise, but he was above and beyond everyone else in Prometheus. The only character I enjoyed as much was Idris Elba's. I really didn't like Guy Pearce as the elderly Peter Weyland. I like Pearce, but any time a recognizable actor plays an older person by way of prosthetics and make-up I don't buy it. I didn't here.

- I know I make jokes often about actresses that qualify as #motherofgod material, but there are not many higher than Charlize Theron. Jesus fucking Christ. The woman is made of pure gorgeous. And she seems like an awesome person too if you've ever seen any interviews with her.

- Even though I have my share of complaints, I really liked Prometheus. I was hooked for the entire two hours, which surprised me because I'm usually passing out early Friday nights from the work week. It's worth seeing on the big screen as well, even if it's not as good as it should be. At least that didn't try to force Sigourney Weaver's iconic "bitch" line from Aliens (like the "get to the chopper" line in Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem), because nothing ruins a prequel/sequel more than shoving ideas from the other movie down the viewers' throats (see: The Hangover Part II). Wow, I really went off on a fucking tangent there. Anyway, go see Prometheus. It's solid.

Skyfall (2012)

Skyfall (2012)

Directed by: Sam Mendes
Screenplay by: Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, and John Logan

Genre: Action | Adventure | Crime | Thriller
Running Time: 143 Minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Viewed: Theater

The threat is not from above, but from within.

[IMDb]

Comments: As I've mentioned previously, I'm not incredibly well-versed in the Bond universe (though I know enough to pick up on some of the great throwbacks in Skyfall), but I've been a big fan of the "new" Bond films with Daniel Craig. OK, so Quantum of Solace wasn't the greatest, but Casino Royale was fantastic and Daniel Craig's take on the super spy is top notch. With all the great press Skyfall was receiving, I was incredibly eager to check it out.

One of the main things I noticed was how stylish and effective Sam Mendes' direction was. I know many worried how a director of mainly dramas would fare in an action driven thriller. I think it was a great success (said in my best Borat voice), and I really enjoyed the look of Skyfall (the lack of the shaky cam was a nice touch too).

Everything falls into place nicely for Skyfall. Despite being a tad long in the first two acts, the film flows nicely and has both a solid story and great action. Plus, everything is set up nicely for future installments, so hopefully that's a go (preferably with Mendes at the helm). If you've enjoyed the Daniel Craig-led Bond films, I can't recommend Skyfall enough. It's rather fun.

Cloud Atlas (2012)

Cloud Atlas (2012)

Directed by: Tom Tykwer, Andy Wachowski, and Lana Wachowski
Screenplay by: Tom Tykwer, Andy Wachowski, and Lana Wachowski

Genre: Drama | Mystery | Sci-Fi
Running Time: 172 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Theater

Everything is connected.

[IMDb]

Comments: One of the things I've come to enjoy is using subtitles while watching movies. I feel that I catch so much more by reading everything that's going on. To be honest, if I didn't live in an apartment, I probably would just crank the sucker up so I could hear everything. But since I'm a considerate neighbor, subtitles have become the way to go. And boy, I would have loved to have subtitles for Cloud Atlas.

Cloud Atlas is a pretty fascinating film. You'd think dividing six loosely connected stories over the course of three hours could become a colossal clusterfuck, but the film is constructed rather wonderfully. While this unfortunately doesn't make it a masterpiece, Cloud Atlas is a great piece of filmmaking that held my attention during its long runtime (I did get a tad restless at times). My main complaint was not being able to understand what characters were saying at times. Many characters during the various time periods speak in heavy accents (this is most noticeable during the final storyline where borderline gibberish is spoken), and I would have given anything to hit the subtitle button on my remote to fully understand the movie. As it stands, I guess I'll have to wait until the Blu-ray is released to watch in the comfort of my own apartment.

There's a nice assortment of actors in Cloud Atlas, most notably Tom Hanks and Halle Berry, but I'd be remiss not to mention Jim Broadbent. Broadbent owns this movie. Anytime he's onscreen, Cloud Atlas just springs to life.

Cloud Atlas is the type of the film that I feel will become more rewarding with multiple viewings (with the subtitles on). While I'm not super eager to jump back into this three-hour extravaganza, I can only imagine my appreciation for the film will grow. Definitely check it out if you're interested.

Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011)

Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011)

Directed by: Sean Durkin
Screenplay by: Sean Durkin

Genre: Drama | Thriller
Running Time: 102 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Owned Blu-ray

[IMDb]

Comments: This was really good.

Red Lights (2012)

Red Lights (2012)

Directed by: Rodrigo Cortés
Screenplay by: Rodrigo Cortés

Genre: Drama | Mystery | Thriller
Running Time: 113 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Owned Blu-ray

How much do you want to believe?

[IMDb]

Comments: Red Lights is certainly a flawed film, but I can't deny that I was captivated by the story. I hadn't even heard of the movie until I saw it for sale at Best Buy (which should tell you overall how a film starring Robert De Niro and Cillian Murphy was received), so I went home and did a little digging and figured out that yes, Red Lights probably wasn't very good. But then I saw it for sale again at Target... and it had a pretty slipcover... and I was doomed.

Listen, Red Lights isn't great. But if you dig the premise, as I did, and you like some of the awesome talent Rodrigo Cortés recruited (Sigourney Weaver, Elizabeth Olsen, and Toby Jones, in addition to the two above), then I advise you to at least check it out. You may see that it has tremendous room for improvement, as I did, but you may also find that it was a pretty damn decent film... as I also did.

Policewomen (1974)

Policewomen (1974)

Directed by: Lee Frost
Screenplay by: Lee Frost and Wes Bishop

Genre: Action | Crime | Drama
Running Time: 77 Minutes (Edited Cut)
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Netflix Watch Instantly

Cold steel on the outside... all woman on the inside!

[IMDb]

Comments: The Netflix version of Policewomen is FUCKING EDITED. I likely wouldn't have even finished the film had I realized, but I was halfway done before I noticed they were censoring the language. And how dare you expect me to watch a movie with the boobs cut out?

Anyway, Policewomen itself is a highly entertaining yet completely terrible film. The acting is hysterically awful, and the fight scenes where Sondra Currie destroys about five people at once has to be some of the goofiest choreography I've ever seen. It seems as though most of the violence was left in, which made watching this edited cut of Policewomen even stranger.

Seriously, in this day and age, how hard is it to get the full version of a movie, Netflix? The full cut of the film has been released on DVD, and in its original widescreen ratio. Why make available a vastly inferior product? It's annoying and dumbfounding. Fucking Netflix, taking away my titties.

On a sidenote, I'm on fucking vacation the rest of the week. Here's to catching up on some movie watching.

The Skeptic (2009)

The Skeptic (2009)

Directed by: Tennyson Bardwell
Screenplay by: Tennyson Bardwell

Genre: Horror | Thriller
Running Time: 89 Minutes
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Viewed: Netflix Watch Instantly

What do you believe?

[IMDb]

Comments: I feel as though if the Lifetime network made horror movies, it would look an awful lot like The Skeptic. C-list actors spewing C-list dialogue in a C-list film. (I do realize Zoe Saldana went on to better things, but she does nothing for this movie.)

I had seen previews for The Skeptic several years ago on a DVD I was watching; it looked interesting but I never really sought it out. When I re-signed up with Netflix, I threw it on my queue while scrolling through the horror section, but it has remained untouched to this day. I didn't plan on watching the film this evening, but when perusing my list for something to watch, The Skeptic popped out at me. I kind of wish it didn't.

There's nothing particularly horrible about the film, but there's absolutely zero things good in it. If it had a few better actors and a more cohesive script, well, it would probably be a completely different movie. And that movie would probably be better. Anyway, enough rambling. Pick something else.