Eden Lake (2008)

Eden Lake (2008)

Directed by: James Watkins
Screenplay by: James Watkins

Genre: Horror | Thriller
Running Time: 91 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Owned DVD

A weekend by the lake, with views to die for.

[IMDb]

Comments: Two things come to mind now, as I've finished watching Eden Lake for the first time: 1) I hate kids, and 2) hot damn, this movie was really fucking good. The only thing that soured me on it was the ending. The last 10 minutes of Eden Lake really took me out of what had been a generally realistic film up to that point. Beyond that, the film was downright awesome. Kelly Reilly and Michael Fassbender (in a performance before he climbed the ranks of international superstardom) were great, and the film felt so much more intense because the antagonists are just a bunch of kids that we see throughout; there's nothing particularly "horror villain-esque" about them (outside of a few that are just straight fucked up). So yeah, despite the ending, I can't recommend this one enough to horror fans. It's great.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

Directed by: Alfonso Cuarón
Screenplay by: Steve Kloves

Genre: Adventure | Family | Fantasy | Mystery
Running Time: 141 Minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Viewed: Owned Blu-ray

Something wicked this way comes.

[IMDb]

Comments: Alfonso Cuarón certainly brought a lot more to the table in the third Harry Potter installment, at least in terms of the look and feel of the film. Sure, for most of the of the first hour, much of the mediocrity of the first two films carries over (sans Cuarón's artistic touch). But then, at last, we break from the mold and get to see an interesting and well-crafted finale. I'm still not sold on the series as a whole, but it's certainly a shift in the right direction.

I was saddened to see that Richard Harris did not return as Dumbledore due to his death in 2002. I knew that he had died years ago, but never really thought about it pertaining to this series until I saw Michael Gambon onscreen. I like Gambon and think he's a great actor; however, he just doesn't bring the warmth and wisdom to the role that Harris did.

I may start on the fourth Harry Potter film tonight after the Penguins' game, but who knows. I planned to watch this film last night, but ended up falling asleep at 7pm. On a Saturday night. Yep. I lead one hell of an exciting life.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)

Directed by: Rupert Wyatt
Screenplay by: Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver

Genre: Action | Drama | Sci-Fi | Thriller
Running Time: 105 Minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Viewed: Owned Blu-ray

Evolution becomes revolution.

[IMDb]

Comments: I'm sure a lot of people had the same reaction when they heard a Planet of the Apes prequel was in the works: a slight chuckle followed by a complete lack of interest. That was my attitude right up to the film's theatrical run, when I started hearing whispers that not only was the movie well-made, it was pretty fucking awesome. That wasn't enough to get me to see it in theaters, but I did end up grabbing the film when it was on sale a few weeks ago. And to my surprise, I really enjoyed it. Granted, most of the human characters outside of James Franco and Freida Pinto are horrible people, so naturally the audience cheers for the end of their race without even knowing it. But still, the movie is incredibly well done and worth at least a look, even if you're only casually interested. I've never seen any of the original Planet of the Apes films, but I'm a lot more interested now - all because of Rise of the Planet of the Apes.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)

Directed by: Chris Columbus
Screenplay by: Steve Kloves

Genre: Adventure | Family | Fantasy | Mystery
Running Time: 161 Minutes (Theatrical Cut)
MPAA Rating: PG
Viewed: Owned Blu-ray

Hogwarts is back in session.

[IMDb]

Comments: More of the same. That's pretty much the most concise way I can sum up my feelings on Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. While the main story is different, everything that occurs throughout feels reminiscent of the first film.

Sidebar: Fuck the people that live below me. I've had a somewhat long week at work, and I was really looking forward to sleeping in today (while this review was posted Friday night, I'm writing it on Saturday morning). But they decided to build something/hang curtains/who the fuck knows at 8am. Anyone who's read my bitchfests on this apartment before knows how incredibly thin the walls are here. Needless to say, it's like they're hammering shit in my room. My floor is vibrating. Fuck you, asshole neighbors. #firstworldproblems

Anyway, I can't say I'm really into the Harry Potter series so far, but then again, a) I'm 26 years old and b) I'd resigned to myself originally that I was watching the original films to get to the later films. Plus, next up is Alfonso Cuarón's installment, so at least I have something new to look forward to. But I think it's time to take a Potter-related break.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)

Directed by: Chris Columbus
Screenplay by: Steve Kloves

Genre: Adventure | Family | Fantasy
Running Time: 152 Minutes (Theatrical Cut)
MPAA Rating: PG
Viewed: Owned Blu-ray

Let the magic begin.

[IMDb]

Comments: Well, here we go...

- I've never really had much of an interest in the Harry Potter series until recently. I don't know anything about the "Potterverse," I haven't read any of the books, and all of the early films seemed way too childish to really hold my interest (though I admit I was curious about the third installment, which was directed by Children of Men's Alfonso Cuarón). However, the last two or three films seemed much more entertaining (and were generally well-received by critics) - to the point where I wanted to see them. Unfortunately, I can't stand starting a series mid-way through, so I had to start at the beginning.

- When the last film was released on Blu-ray, I looked into picking up the complete series set. I really wasn't down with dropping $80 on it though. However, a few weeks ago I sold a few random out-of-print DVDs that I had no interest in (Anchor Bay's first and second season set of Titus and a few Something Weird DVDs) and an older iPod Nano, so I had over $150 to spend on Amazon. Thus, Harry Potter became mine (along with the second season of Archer, The Ultimate Matrix Collection, The Woman, and pre-orders for The Human Centipede II and The Dead - all on Blu-ray, of course).

- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone was a decent film. It certainly serves as a good starting point, as the film introduces a number of characters and themes that I assume will carry on throughout the series. The problem with this is that it makes the film feel overstuffed and bogged down by everything that's going on. The two-and-a-half hour runtime feels extremely unnecessary, especially around the middle of the film.

- I was also less than impressed with the special effects. I'm entirely too lazy to go find the budget for the film, but knowing how successful the franchise was, I'd think they would have had a decent amount of cash. This is probably completely unfair, but The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring came out the same year, and it looks way better. (Completely unrelated: I also considered picking up The Lord of the Rings and Star Wars sets on Amazon instead of the Harry Potter series, but I already have those films on DVD and wanted to get something different with my Something Weird money. They will be mine though... eventually.)

- Despite a few flaws here and there, I still enjoyed Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Most of my enjoyment comes out of how well many of the characters are set up for future installments; I'm sure if this was the only film ever made, I'd have a lot more bad things to say about it.

- I guess it's time for Round 2... and goddammit, it's longer than the first film.

Out of Sight (1998)

Out of Sight (1998)

Directed by: Steven Soderbergh
Screenplay by: Scott Frank

Genre: Action | Comedy | Crime | Romance | Thriller
Running Time: 123 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Owned Blu-ray

Opposites attract.

[IMDb]

Comments: Man, this movie takes me back. I hadn't though of Jennifer Lopez circa 1998 in awhile, but I used to love her back in the day. Not in a musical or film manner, mind you, but a strictly physical manner ('dat ass...). It's funny, because I can't fucking stand the woman now, and I hate when she (and her terrible acting) ruins movies that I'd otherwise enjoyed (An Unfinished Life might be the only film I'm referencing here, but you get the picture).

Anyway, I watched Out of Sight when it first came out on VHS back in the day, and I really wasn't a fan. Granted, I was 13 or 14 at the time, so my opinions in no way were valid back then. I'd heard various outlets praise the film in recent years, so I had hoped to pick up the Blu-ray when it was first released in March of last year. That never happened, but last night I found it at Best Buy and decided to give 'er a spin.

...And I still am not a huge fan of the film. I find myself to be rather hit-or-miss with Soderbergh's offerings, though I generally find something I like about each film. There are parts of Out of Sight I really enjoy, but as a whole, the movie didn't work for me. If the script was tweaked a bit, and maybe 20 minutes or so were cut out, I think we'd have had a better film overall. Still, there's plenty to enjoy here, so it's not all complaints from me.

The Woman in Black (2012)

The Woman in Black (2012)

Directed by: James Watkins
Screenplay by: Jane Goldman

Genre: Drama | Horror | Thriller
Running Time: 95 Minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Viewed: Theater

What did they see?

[IMDb]

Comments: I made a fatal oversight when I decided to gather my friends to go see The Woman in Black this evening: the legions of teen Harry Potter fans that would flock to see Daniel Radcliffe's turn in this PG-13 horror flick. Not only was the theater packed when we arrived five minutes before showtime (we luckily were able to sit in the second row, which gave me only half of the neck cramps that the first row would have), but we got stuck behind this annoying fat ugly cunt that refused to be quiet throughout the entire film (I myself am a fat asshole, so I feel qualified to make judgements about others). Normally, I would've unleashed untold amounts of wrath and fury toward said cunt and her dopey boyfriend, but my friend despises confrontations (as do I, to an extent) so he kept me somewhat composed. I hate watching movies with large crowds (of stupid people).

Anyway, director James Watkins' only other feature was 2008's Eden Lake, a film I bought when it came out but still have yet to watch (which is pretty much the story of my life/where all of my money goes). I actually had a renewed interest in the film a few weeks ago when I found out Michael Fassbender starred in it. It's one I'll definitely get to soon.

As for the film itself, The Woman in Black was alright, I guess. The best thing it had going for it was the overall look and cinematography. The bleak nature of the locations were downright awesome to look at. Unfortunately, I was never able to fully invest myself in the proceedings onscreen, mainly due to my surroundings at the time. I definitely will check out the film again once it's released on Blu-ray.

In closing, I hate people.

The Descendants (2011)

The Descendants (2011)

Directed by: Alexander Payne
Screenplay by: Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, and Jim Rash

Genre: Comedy | Drama
Running Time: 115 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Theater

[IMDb]

Comments: Wow, The Descendants was fantastic. It's touching, sad, heartwarming, funny, and best of all - real. George Clooney is great as always, giving an Oscar-caliber performance (he already won the Golden Globe award for Best Actor in a Drama), but I really loved Shailene Woodley's performance as Clooney's oldest daughter. She delivers the goods with being intimidated working next to the Clooney. And it also didn't hurt that I wanted to do various unspeakable things to her.

Anyway, I can't recommend The Descendants enough. I've loved Alexander Payne's films in the past (Sideways is a personal favorite), but this might be his best piece of work. Just outstanding.

Drive (2011)

Drive (2011)

Directed by: Nicolas Winding Refn
Screenplay by: Hossein Amini

Genre: Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller
Running Time: 100 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Owned Blu-ray

Some heroes are real.

[IMDb]

Comments: The first time I watched Drive in theaters, I think I was overwhelmed by all of the awesomeness onscreen and I was unable to process it all. Don't mistake me, I loved the film originally. However, now that I knew what I was getting into (with all the gratuitous '80s stylings and Nicolas Winding Refn's penchant for graphic violence), my love for Drive expanded exponentially. This is my favorite film of 2011.

But just for the sake of completeness, here's my original review:

Drive was a very fuckin' cool movie. I'll be honest by saying that it didn't completely live up to my ungodly enormous expectations, but it came pretty damn close. The first half was amazingly well done, as I was giddy with anticipation of what was about to unfold over final half of the film. I can't remember having that feeling during a movie in a long, long time (The Dark Knight comes to mind, and similarly I felt that film didn't quite finish as strongly as it started). Drive is also very brutal, as the violence is turned up to 11 when it's killing time (no complaints from me there; the messier, the better). There's also this odd '80s vibe throughout (as evidenced by the stylized text during the opening credits and the odd music selections throughout the film - that were really great, don't get me wrong). I really enjoyed Drive and highly recommend it. It may not have finished as strong as it started, but it's still a fucking fine piece of cinema.

Laura (1944)

Laura (1944)

Directed by: Otto Preminger
Screenplay by: Jay Dratler, Samuel Hoffenstein, and Elizabeth
  Reinhardt

Genre: Crime | Film-Noir | Mystery | Romance | Thriller
Running Time: 88 Minutes
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Viewed: Owned DVD

[IMDb]

Comments: To the displeasure of many film aficionados, I much prefer newer movies to classic cinema. I know that's not the way a true film fan should sound, but hey - I do what I want. However, from time to time I like to dive into something that would feel right at home on TCM. Tonight, Laura was my selection. I've wanted to watch the film for a number of years after hearing many great things about it. I decided to catch up with it this evening, and I'm glad I did. Laura's a well-written and suspenseful film that really feels ahead of its time with all of the twists and turns throughout the last act. So while I'm not going to win any film geeks over with my opinions (or this awful review), Laura is a great flick to check out if you need to catch up on some classic noir.

Unforgiven (1992)

Unforgiven (1992)

Directed by: Clint Eastwood
Screenplay by: David Webb Peoples

Genre: Drama | Western
Running Time: 131 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Owned DVD

[IMDb]

Comments: It's a hell of a thing, killin' a man.

Beginners (2010)

Beginners (2010)

Directed by: Mike Mills
Screenplay by: Mike Mills

Genre: Comedy | Drama | Romance
Running Time: 105 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Owned Blu-ray

This is what love feels like.

[IMDb]

Comments: So after watching the first ten minutes of Beginners last Sunday and then falling asleep (I suck at life sometimes), I finally sat down to watch the film the following Saturday. And I'm glad I did, as Mike Mills has made a wonderful little film.

Beginners is a somber little movie, for the most part. It tells the story of Ewan McGregor, who meets Mélanie Laurent and the two begin a relationship together. There are flashbacks strewn throughout of McGregor's recently deceased father, who after 45 years of marriage, came out of the closet when his wife passed away (Christopher Plummer just won a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor for the performance). Beginners deals with McGregor's struggles with relationships due to what occurred between his parents.

There's a real sweetness to this film, which help balances out the more sad aspects. The scenes McGregor shares with both Laurent and Plummer are really touching at times, and are the main reason why I really enjoyed the film. This one definitely comes recommended.

Haywire (2011)

Haywire (2011)

Directed by: Steven Soderbergh
Screenplay by: Lem Dobbs

Genre: Action | Thriller
Running Time: 93 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Theater

They left her no choice.

[IMDb]

Comments: Haywire is a pretty solid flick. It's most definitely a Soderbergh film through-and-through: the score, the editing, the colors - it all harkens back to his earlier films (not that it's a bad thing). Haywire certainly isn't in the upper echelon of the man's catalog, but that shouldn't dissuade you from seeing a solid thriller.

I can't say I was completely sold on Gina Carano. The MMA fighter-turned actress is totally capable during the film's entertaining fight scenes, but her acting left me a little cold. It didn't help that I knew beforehand that her voice was altered (or dubbed) in post-production. Though I'd definitely let her kick my ass whenever she wanted...

Haywire is a fun little excursion. I'm sure I won't remember much about it by the end of the year, but it served its for purpose today. There's a lot of recognizable actors spread throughout (Fassbender FTW!), and the story is recognizable enough that you won't need to process much of what's going on. It's fun.

Bellflower (2011)

Bellflower (2011)

Directed by: Evan Glodell
Screenplay by: Evan Glodell

Genre: Action | Drama | Romance
Running Time: 106 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Owned Blu-ray

A love story with apocalyptic stakes.

[IMDb]

Comments: What a fuckin' weird little film.

As I've mentioned a few times before, I tend to really look into the movies that I want to see. I watch trailers, I look at the casting, I look at the director and compare the current film to his previous projects; you know, that sort of thing. However, in the case of Bellflower, I did none of that. I had heard from a few places that this was a cool film, but I never knew what it was about. Then I saw a few of the posters and that's all I needed, apparently. In my head I formed this vision of a post-apocalyptic love story with explosions and flames and bad ass muscle cars. Bellflower really isn't like that. (Sadly?)

The film centers on two hipster dudes that don't work (actually, no one seems to have a job in this movie) but instead prepare for the apocalypse (in case it occurs one day) by building flamethrowers and the aforementioned bad ass muscle car (which, along with the flamethrower, is fully functional in real life). Our main hipster, writer/director Evan Glodell, strikes up a relationship with the lovely Milly and the two engage in the beginning of a not-so-beautiful relationship. Yeah, things get a little crazy...

Bellflower is a cool little film. A lot of people hate the film, and I can totally understand why. While I liked the two main hipster dudes, they do get a tad annoying at times and I can see that turning off some viewers (along with the escalating violence in the last act of the film). But despite finding the movie and subject matter a bit odd, I really enjoyed Bellflower. It's worth at least a rental for those that are curious. Or you could just drop $20 on it like I did, without even having a clear working knowledge of what the film is about.

Oh, and it does have a solid soundtrack, too.

13 Assassins (2010)

13 Assassins (2010)

Directed by: Takashi Miike
Screenplay by: Daisuke Tengan

Genre: Action | Adventure | Drama
Running Time: 125 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Owned Blu-ray

Take up your sword.

[IMDb]

Comments: I'm not feeling good again (it seems to come and go), so here's another shitty short review: 13 Assassins takes awhile to get where it's going, but once it does - wow. Nothing like a gratuitous forty minute battle scene pitting thirteen men against two hundred. Hells yeah.

Contraband (2012)

Contraband (2012)

Directed by: Baltasar Kormákur
Screenplay by: Aaron Guzikowski

Genre: Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller
Running Time: 110 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Theater

What would you hide to protect your family?

[IMDb]

Comments: Luckily, I was feeling better today so I headed out to see Contraband. The film looked like a surefire rental for the most part; the so-so reviews this week only added to that. However, I've seen pretty much everything else I've wanted to see in theaters, so Contraband it was.

And I'll tell you what - despite the messy plot, inconceivable trickery during the heists, and silly plot twists, I enjoyed the hell out of this movie. It's not going to win much praise with the critic crowd, but I always seem to enjoy those "you hurt my family, now I'm going to destroy everything" type of movies, which Contraband certainly is. The movie is a bit different than the trailers lead on; it's much more of a heist movie than a revenge flick (Marky Mark must make money to save his brother-in-law's ass; this means doing a "run" to sell fake money brought in from Panama). And then there's a heist within the heist that somewhat derails the proceedings (which also has this ridiculous impact on the very end of the film which everyone should've seen coming from 100 miles away). But through all of this, I found an enjoyable film.

Contraband won't be for everyone, but it's a rather entertaining excursion. It's something I'll probably pick up on Blu-ray when the price is right.

Wake Wood (2011)

Wake Wood (2011)

Directed by: David Keating
Screenplay by: David Keating and Brendan McCarthy

Genre: Drama | Horror | Thriller
Running Time: 90 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Rental DVD - Family Video

Beware those you love the most.

[IMDb]

Comments: If you can buy into the plot of the film, you'll find that Wake Wood is a competently made horror film. I had a little trouble getting behind the story, mainly due to all the arbitrary restrictions involved in bringing someone back from the dead, but the movie is really well made - enough that I was generally able to look past these issues and become involved in the proceedings onscreen.

It was also pretty cool to see Hammer involved with the film. Wake Wood did have a '70s feel to it - The Wicker Man has come to mind as I reflect on it. They're also involved in The Woman in Black, which comes out next month. I'm really looking forward to that film, and learning that it's from the Hammer studio makes me even more excited.

So yeah, check out Wake Wood if you get a chance. It's not bad.

Attack the Block (2011)

Attack the Block (2011)

Directed by: Joe Cornish
Screenplay by: Joe Cornish

Genre: Comedy | Horror | Sci-Fi
Running Time: 88 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Rental DVD - Family Video

Inner City vs. Outer Space.

[IMDb]

Comments: Holy shit, Attack the Block was wicked awesome, blood.

The Beaver (2011)

The Beaver (2011)

Directed by: Jodie Foster
Screenplay by: Kyle Killen

Genre: Drama
Running Time: 91 Minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Viewed: Rental DVD - Family Video

He's here to save Walter's life.

[IMDb]

Comments: Anyone else think it's funny that Jodie Foster directed a film called The Beaver? No? Just me?

Anyway, this was really good. It's a shame Mel Gibson has gone all psycho the last few years, because I think the man's a terrific actor. Everyone gets their second chance in Hollywood, so hopefully we'll see Mel making more films again in the future.

Megan Is Missing (2011)

Megan Is Missing (2011)

Directed by: Michael Goi
Screenplay by: Michael Goi

Genre: Drama | Horror
Running Time: 85 Minutes
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Viewed: Rental DVD - Family Video

Megan and Amy are best friends. They share secrets. They chat
  with guys online. And in a few days, they will never be seen again.

[IMDb]

Comments: I rented Megan Is Missing based on a recommendation of a horror blog that I read, where they called it one of the best movies of 2011. While I don't think that highly of the film, it's a really interesting and unique look at child abduction, and one that has an actual point to make. I really liked the two leads, specifically Amy. She's able to be sweet and innocent throughout - so much so that during the last act you feel completely devastated that you can't help her.

Any type of found footage movie (which this is, for the most part) has its flaws, but it's rather easy to overlook those in this film. While Megan Is Missing may not be the best film of the year, it's definitely worth a look.