yodaccm Reviews

Drive Thru (2007)

The Hamburglar Has Nothing On Horny the Clown

[5/10 · 1 March 2009]

I'm rather confused by this movie's premise and I think the director was also. How does one go about making a slasher movie where the killer is dressed up in a fast food clown mascot costume? Given that premise, you would think such a movie would make light of it's plot and not take itself too seriously.

With "Drive Thru" it begins with a light, albeit horror inspired, tone with a group of idiot wannabe gangsters getting hacked up by a killer whose name screams satire: Horny the Clown. OK, fine enough. Considering the title of the picture and the nature of slasher you figure this will be a hoot.

But as the movie progresses, you realize that there is a real plot here with serious undertones. The plot is familiar enough and we have some doltish characters populating the ridiculously named city of "Blanca Carne", Spanish for "white meat", get it? But the main characters take this movie rather seriously, searching for clues to the identity of the killer and unraveling a decades old mystery.

That's all fine, but how are we to perceive this movie? For one, this movie is not scary at all. The director doesn't even go for any real scares, he shows his hand way too often. There is no suspense as you can figure out who the killer is about halfway through the movie. The comedy is rather sparse and is relegated to a ridiculous fat cop named Crockers (or Crackers as people tend to call him) and some lame renditions of pot heads and the afore mentioned wannabe gangsters.

Horny the Clown is like a cross between Jason, Freddy Krueger, and the clown from It. However, as a menacing killer, he hardly fits the bill. He spouts off stupid one liners and dispatches his prey with a huge meat clever. Most of the action occurs outside of the fast food restaurants so the connection with the whole fast food killer is loose at best. Although you may be able to figure out the killer early on, after all is revealed and your guess is validated there are many questions still unanswered about the killer and his, lets say, existence. It's an old horror movie cliché and it is used quite unabashedly here.

Anyway, despite my criticism it was an o.k. viewing. I commend the film makers for attempting something a little different, but in the end it doesn't really mesh well. Maybe in the sequel, which wouldn't surprise me if there is one in the making, Horny the Clown and Ronald McDonald can duke it out ala Aliens vs. Predator. That would probably make a better movie than "Drive Thru".

Friday the 13th (2009)

A Wasted Opportunity

[4/10 · 18 February 2009]

For a movie being touted as a re-imagining of a classic there isn't much new going on with this newest installment of the Friday the 13th series. And I say this with much conflict because the star of these movies, Jason Vorhees, definitely deserves a fresh start. And this movie certainly does not do him justice.

Once again teenagers, who look to be in their late twenties/early thirties, are being stalked and slaughtered by the seemingly unstoppable hockey-masked killer Jason. This time, though, Jason has two groups of horny and high kids to whittle away at with his ridiculous large and impeccably sharp machete.

Yeah, you know what you are getting into when you go to see this movie. We aren't looking for high brow stuff. And with all the killings, T&A (which there is a decent amount of), and pot smoking kids, it's all pretty standard stuff. Even the kills are kind of uninteresting. And that's the problem with this movie. It's all standard stuff. Boorish characters making stupid decision about going into creepy cabins at night or going off to look for friends while a raving maniac is killing people. Hello, haven't there been like 12 other movies with the exact same stuff?

For a movie trying to introduce a new generation to a horror icon, it seems like a half-assed effort. This movie is basically interchangeable with any of the other entries in the series. Nothing here sets is apart from the others or advances the Jason mythos. Yeah, the guy playing Jason does a good job, but c'mon. How much variation can you really get out of a character that is basically a mute, hulking killer. You basically have two variations of Jason from the series: the fast moving, human version from numbers 2-4, and then the teleporting, zombie version of 6 and on. This one fits the bill of the first few movies. Fast, but powerful and actually cunning.

That's the thing with this version. It had so much potential to break the mold and take Jason in another direction. There is an idea in this one that Jason not only stalks his prey, but sets traps for them. A good idea, but it is never fully realized. Also, they show Jason's "lair," a set of underground tunnels beneath the decrepit ruins of camp Crystal Lake. What does Jason do there? Who knows? All he is shown doing there is stashing dead bodies. Riveting.

The movie has a sleek, finished gloss. It is a well made picture. But these days, what movie doesn't? The actors are garbage. The plot is non-existent, but there was never a plot in a Friday picture. The killings offer nothing new. The ending rips itself off.

Jason deserves better. There is something to the character, people know this. That is why this movie reached number one at the box office its opening weekend. But this movie does nothing to elevate him above the countless other killers and monsters of recent horror fare. A simple, dirty hockey mask does not a memorable killer make.

Do yourself a favor and rent this one along with the original and maybe number 4, one of the only sequels that are not too bad. Then you will see how bland and ultimately forgettable this new rendition truly is.

Hulk Vs. (2009 Video)

Hulk Vs. is Truly "Smashing"!

[7/10 · 9 February 2009]

Marvel has been churning out some rather decent movie tie-ins for their comic books for the past few years. Obviously, the live-action theatrical releases have been well received by the viewing public, with a few exceptions. But the animated feature length movies that have been released straight to DVD are no exception. The two Ultimate Avengers movies were above average viewing, as was the animated Iron Man film released about two years ago.

The Hulk Vs. feature continues the high quality that has been established by Marvel. While not a feature length movie, Hulk Vs. is actually two mini-movies in one, giving you twice the Hulk smashing pleasure.

I watched the Hulk Vs. Wolverine feature first as I am more partial to the Canadian super- hero than the Nordic god Thor, which Hulk dukes it out with in the second part. The Wolverine segment is the shorter of the two, coming in around half and hour. The Thor segment is around 45 mins. Despite its rather short run time, Hulk Vs. Wolverine really amps up the action. We find our surly and scruffy hero in the employ of the Canadian government, hired to track down and stop or kill the raging Hulk. After a brutal first encounter, Wolverine and Hulk fall into the hands of the agents of Weapon X, Wolverine's old wrecking crew.

We get to see decent renditions of other Marvel baddies, like Sabretooth, Lady Deathstrike, Omega Red, and the wise-cracking Deadpool, who manages to steal every scene he is in. Weapon X wants the Hulk as a new weapon, but they soon discover in many painful ways that no one can control the Hulk.

Overall, it's an enjoyable romp through the Marvel universe with flashbacks of Logan being indoctrinated and transformed into the killing machine he is today. It's a good representation of Wolverine, a kind of bare-bones composite of the many incarnations he has been seen in.

The action is pretty brutal, the most brutal I've seen in a Marvel cartoon. There is plenty of blood, dismemberments, explosions and the Hulk doles out some serious butt-whippings. It's a good thing most of the characters have super healing powers, the amount of punishment the Hulk delivers is pretty raw. I would have enjoyed more of some actual Hulk Vs. Wolverine, but the fight they do have pretty much sums up everything the two would be able to do to each other in a long drawn out brawl.

In Hulk Vs. Thor, we find Asgard in the middle of the Odin Sleep, a time where the kingdom of the Gods is vulnerable to the forces of evil. Or something like that. It's just a plot element to have the Hulk show up and tear stuff up. I found this installment a bit less interesting as it was a more or less by the numbers kind of story. Loki, the god of mischief, brings Hulk to Asgard to defeat Thor and take over the kingdom. Hulk smashes Thor pretty good, within moments of his death. Loki loses control of the monster and the Hulk starts heading towards the citadel where King Odin slumbers.

While I found this one a little less enjoyable, it does have some fun parts. I found that the title of Hulk Vs. Thor was more fitting here than in the Hulk Vs. Wolverine, because the fight here is pretty substantial. However, I found Thor to be pretty boring as a hero. There is nothing interesting about him, he's like a Nordic Superman and always does the right thing. Very little character development here; though with only 45 mins, I can't blame the writers.

Also, what I didn't really understand is that if this is the land of the Gods, shouldn't the entire population be as powerful as Thor? Granted, the warriors who do fight Hulk do take a beating a normal man wouldn't be able to withstand, but perhaps I'm giving that more thought than necessary. There are some interesting characters here, but without the time to delve into their stories, you almost feel like you should go pick up the comic to find out all the relationships that are going on here. Also, at the end, there is a nice nod to the original Hulk television series.

Overall, it's a good view. The acting is pretty good, the animation is decent and the stories will keep you involved.

My Bloody Valentine (2009)

Not a kids movie, though you wouldn't have known that from all the children at my theater

[5/10 · 18 January 2009]

"My Bloody Valentine 3D" is a decent slasher movie with decent visual effects. The 3D images are used successfully, but most of the time you can figure what weapon, object or body part is going to suddenly fly off the screen and into your face. The story is pretty standard for horror movie fair. It has a "who-dunnit" kind of plot, and decent acting at best. Better than most of the dreck that is in the slasher category, but that isn't saying much.

But what I found most interesting about this film isn't the movie itself, but the audience that attended the showing this afternoon at my local theater. I was amazed at how many young children, and I'm not talking about teenagers, but around 10 or younger were brought to this obviously violent and bloody movie.

I haven't seen that many horror movies in theaters, I went to this one mainly to check out the 3D effects, but I don't understand why any parent or guardian would bring their children to a movie where, for example, one of the female victim runs around completely nude (ahem...full frontal) as a pick-ax wielding killer stalks her. Or another girl getting her head bisected by a shovel. Or a man getting a pick-ax through his chin and then having his jaw ripped off. I can go on. Not that one would be able to tell that these graphic scenes exist from the trailers and commercials playing on TV, but still it's pretty obvious that this is not intended for children.

I wonder if these parents thought it would be OK with the whole 3D thing, making it more of a novel experience than a horror movie, or they just didn't want to get a babysitter for their little runts. Either way, I don't get it. Certainly parents should raise their own kids how they see fit, but it just shows that despite the rating system, movie studios and movie theaters don't care if kids see these films. I don't have kids myself, but I certainly would think twice about bringing my young child to a movie called "My Bloody Valentine."

Oh well, whatever. At least I don't have to deal with any kids waking me up in the middle of the night screaming about nightmares with gas-mask wearing, pick-ax throwing psychos.

Rocky IV (1985)

Pinnacle of 80's Cheese

[6/10 · 21 December 2008]

Don't get me wrong, this is an entirely entertaining movie, but by the time this one came out, the Rocky series was definitely running out of steam. Once again we find our lovable protagonist in the "fight of his life" going up against a villain of super-human proportions. And once again he must overcome insurmountable odds to reclaim victory. This time Rocky isn't just battling for personal glory, but for freedom and democracy through-out the globe. The Cold War is an obvious inspiration for this derivation of the Rocky formula.

In this outing, Rocky must face his greatest foe yet: a seven-foot tall Russian of unimaginable strength, Ivan Drago. You see, Drago visits the United States to begin his career in professional boxing and desires to begin with the reigning champ, Rocky Balboa. However, Apollo Creed, thirsting for another bout in the ring, jumps at this chance to rekindle his warrior's fire. So, after reluctantly agreeing to help his friend prepare for this seemingly easy exhibition match, Rocky watches in horror as Apollo is brutally cut down by the Russian. So now the rather thin plot of the movie unfolds. Rocky must face his inner demons and journey to Russia and defeat his friend's killer.

It's pretty much by the numbers, not really straying from the Rocky formula. Nonetheless, Stallone is still able to produce a film that is watchable. He has basically taken the same concept of the original three movies and stripped it down to the bare bones, replacing cheesy montages for characterization and broad themes for introspection. One example of gloss over substance is a montage of Rocky dealing with his feelings after Apollo's death. It's like five minutes of clips from previous Rocky movies, even interspersing footage from earlier in Rocky IV! Did they really think that a overly long montage could replace some seriously needed emotional depth? I guess they saved a few bucks not having to film any original material. But somehow it all still works. There are two training montages, both with Rocky in the unforgiving Russian wilderness, paralleled with Drago's training sessions in laboratories with high tech machinery. They are both pretty effective.

Yes, the symbolism in this film are like broad paint brush strokes of two contrasting colors. Rocky is pretty straight ahead with little growth going on here. Yeah, he has to deal with his friend's death, but it's not like we hadn't seen this somber, sobering side of Rocky in the other three movies. Rocky and Creed's friendship was basically reduced to watching old reels of their fights together and calling each other by their nicknames. I couldn't count how many times Apollo referred to Rocky simply as "Stallion." Adrian's role in this movie was basically reduced to the disapproving then supportive spouse who gives Rocky that final push of inspiration to overcome. Gone is the affable wall flower of the earlier movies. She is basically a cardboard version of her earlier incarnations. Paulie is there to basically complain about everything.

Stallone also missed a chance with his villain, in my opinion. Drago, portrayed well by Dolph Lundgren, is a physically impressive heavy, but that is about it. He has a few lines, though they are some pretty good one liners, but other than that Rocky could have just been fighting a Kodiak bear for all that it mattered. There are hints that this character is more than just a brutish fighting machine. Perhaps Stallone left this up for the viewer to decide if Ivan Drago is really evil, unlike Mr. T's Clubber Lange from the earlier movie who was overtly so, but in the end he seems as flat and uninspired as the rest of the film.

The final fight is rather anticlimactic. The actual choreography is pretty shoddy as you can tell some of the hits aren't even close to connecting. No one ever blocks a punch, except maybe with their face, and there is no emotion here. Yeah, their corners are screaming at their respective fighters, and Rocky and Drago exchange some intense looks from across the ring, but it really adds up to not much as we know that Rocky isn't going to lose. In fact, after taking a beating from a fighter who registers 2000 psi per punch, and killed Creed in less than two rounds, Rocky seems less beat up than he did from his first fight with Apollo. Whatever.

As I was watching this movie again recently, I was wondering what exactly the final message was. It starts off like a pretty straight forward revenge flick of sorts, but near the end, Rocky is giving a speech to the entire USSR about change and brotherhood or something. I guess on further exploration, it could be trying to say that in the end, our emotions shouldn't rule our decision making and that we all have room to change, e.g. Apollo trying to regain his glory and impulsively entering a fight he couldn't win, Rocky pursuing revenge even though it wouldn't bring his friend back, and I guess even to a lesser extent Drago desiring to demolish his enemies in a sport that doesn't necessarily warrant it.

But who am I kidding. This film doesn't require or even request its' viewers to think that deep, unlike the original. It thrives on pure adrenaline, with a pumping sound track and fast paced montages. All in all, there is about half of a real movie here. Stallone should have stopped right here, but I guess if people still love watching the underdog movies, even at the most superficial level, why end a sure thing?

One last thought: Wouldn't it have been cool if Rocky went into the fight sporting that sweet beard he was growing there while training? Would have shown how raw he got out there in Siberia or wherever the hell he was. Now that would have been change we all could agree on!

Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007)

Get to the Chopper! And Fly Far Away From This Movie!

[2/10 · 10 January 2008]

OK, this movie sucked. I don't even know where to begin with this film. This sequel makes the original look like Citizen Kane in comparison. I had lowered expectations going into see the film, but was hopeful in hearing that this AVP run was going to be darker and gorier than the first movie. It doesn't disappoint in that factor: plenty of slime, blood and guts to go around. But the movie has a slight mean streak, considering young children are fair game to the Aliens, as are expecting mothers. It's one thing to imply such violence, but another to show it.

There are so many plot holes here that it boggles the mind how the script even got the go ahead. If this is the kind of dreck the WGA is striking over, well, let's say I don't have much sympathy. The Predator had some nice new additions to his artillery, including a razor whip and some magical blue goo that melts anything it comes in contact with. But the problem with the Predator here is that he comes onto the scene as a kind of "cleaner" intending to wipe out the Alien scourge and wipe out any evidence of their existence. Yet, despite his careful intention to cover his and the Aliens' tracks, he blows through town like John Rambo in First Blood. Not to mention none of the unnecessary human characters aren't remotely interesting or worth investing any kind of audience sympathy, everything is so dark, you can rarely tell what is going on most of the time anyway.

I say take this franchise to an animated medium, take away the human characters, and let these iconic aliens really duke it out once and for. All of us nerds deserve that, after two lackluster outings on the big screen.

Halloween (1978)

Do Not Watch Alone!

[10/10 · 6 September 2007]

This was a movie that I had heard about all my life growing up, but had never seen it until a few years ago. It's reputation truly proceeded it. I knew of Michael Myers, had seen the mask, saw commercials for all of the crummy sequels that followed. But I was growing up during the decade where Jason and Freddy had a deadly grip on the horror game, and never thought much of the Halloween franchise. Boy, how I was being cheated with cheap knock offs.

Halloween is a genuinely terrifying movie. Now, by today's standards, it isn't as graphic and visceral, but this film delivers on all the other levels most horror movies fail to achieve today. The atmosphere that John Carpenter creates is so creepy, and the fact that it is set in a quaint, mid-west town is a testament to his ability. The lighting effects are down right horrifying, with "The Shape" seemingly appearing and disappearing into the shadows at will. The simple yet brutally effective music score only adds to the suspense.

The performances by all the players are well done, with specific nods to Jamie Lee Curtis and Donald Pleasance. Ms. Curtis is such a good Laurie Strode because she is so likable and vulnerable. It is all the more frightening when she is being stalked by Michael Myers because the director and viewer have invested so much into her, we want her to survive and get away.

Donald Pleasance plays Dr. Loomis like a man on a mission, and it works well. He adds a sense of urgency to the predicament the town finds itself in because he knows what evil stalks their streets.

Overall, not only is Halloween a great horror movie, but also a great film. It works on many levels and draws the audience in and never lets up. This should be standard viewing for anyone wanting to experience a truly scary movie. And for an even more frightful time, try watching it alone with the lights off. Don't be surprised if you think you see "The Shape" lurking around in the shadows!

Grindhouse (2007)

What going to the movies should be like!

[8/10 · 16 April 2007]

Grindhouse seems like an experiment in film-making; although, as I understand it, back in the day, this is how movies used to be screened (or at least certain kinds of movies this film is trying to emulate). But, talk about a bargain, two movies for the price of one. You definitely need to find a free day to view this picture because they don't cop out; these are two full length feature films, and you will be in your seat (possibly on the edge of it at times) for a good 3 hours.

The first segment is called "Planet Terror" and is written and directed by Robert Rodriguez. It's basically a standard zombie flick, complete with sexy chicks, bad ass heroes, crazy doctors and sadistic military goons. Not to mention a gore level that will delight any fan of the genre. Certainly, this movie is to be taken purely at face value, but that is how one is to be able to enjoy it. With over the top action, characters and situations, this splatterfest will really entertain.

In Quentin Tarantino's segment "Death Proof" we find Kurt Russell as a psychotic ex-stuntman out to ruin some feisty females' fun. Aptly named, Stunt-man Mike is well fleshed out by Russell and steals every scene he is in. I like the idea of this movie: a crazy motorized maniac in a deathproof car, but Tarantino doesn't really do much with it. This movie is just another chance for Tarantino to introduce a bevy of over the top characters and have them converse for 80 percent of the movie with over the top dialogue. While I enjoyed it for it's new take on character development and frank nature from his first few flicks, it just was boring to me this time around. I mean, i had just sat through an hour and a half of blood and guts and explosions, and now I had to watch a total of about 8 women (who could have been interesting, but instead seemed to walk right out of Pulp Fiction), talk about pretty mundane stuff. I'm all for strong women figures and heroines in movies, but it just wasn't believable for me. Maybe it wasn't supposed to be, but when all the characters have this "I'm too cool for school" attitude the entire time, it's just boring. Not to say that "Death Proof" doesn't have it's moments, it can be quit suspenseful at times, but I'm just kind of tired of the whole "witty cursing every other word Tarantino talking about nothing" stuff. Can't he do something else?

Also worth mentioning is the "Coming Attraction" segments between features. These little trailers for crude and exploitive flicks are worth seeing the movie alone. Don't know if such movies can stand alone, perhaps in Grindhouse 2, but humorous and thoroughly repulsive. Eli Roth's "Thanksgiving" trailer really hit the mark on what a Grindhouse movie truly is. Stupid, cheap, offensive, and very entertaining. Check it out!

Epic Movie (2007)

Epic Failure

[1/10 · 9 April 2007]

OK, let me qualify my score with a small anecdote regarding this movie. For some reason, a friend of mine and I decided to "rent" this movie in the hotel room while in Vegas (we had to take a breather from the night before). Anyway, as the movie progressed, my friend eventually fell asleep and I vigilantly finished viewing this piece of crap. Afterward, I lamented to my friend how awful this movie really was and even he, having slept through around 2/3 of this movie knew, commenting "Yeah, you didn't wake me up from laughing." Do not see this movie. It is of the same line of films as the "Scary Movie" and other such dreck. At least the "Scary Movie" franchise scores a few laughs now and again. THIS MOVIE IS NOT FUNNY AT ALL! All those involved with this turd gallivanting as a film should hang their heads in shame, move to the Himalayas, join the Buddhist monks and try to atone for their sins!

Rocky Balboa (2006)

A Knockout!

[8/10 · 20 March 2007]

Rocky is back and better than ever! And although this is definitely his final outing, it is the best ending to a series one could ask for. I've always liked the character Rocky, not because he has a cast-iron jaw (although, that helps), because he is a big, lovable goof with a huge heart. And in this movie, it is no different. We find a lonely and retired Rocky still grieving for the loss of his wife and soul mate Adrian years after her death, a distant and conflicted son, and a city that loves the old champ, but has moved on. Rocky has always been about the human condition and the interaction of characters, where you could substitute anything for the boxing and you could still have the same story. It's been done numerous times, but something about Stallone's character makes it special. I highly recommend this movie to any fans of the series and anyone looking for a movie with a wonderful and inspiring message of hope and heart.

300 (2006)

Stupid, but fun

[7/10 · 12 March 2007]

OK, when I first saw the trailer/commercials for this movie, I had no idea what it was about. It just showed a bunch of muscled dudes fighting each other, some monsters, and a pretty cool visual look. When I found out it was about a comic book based on a historical event, and by the same guy who did "Sin City" I thought "Ok, looks pretty entertaining." Now I was one of the few people who didn't like Sin City. While the style was cool, something about the story and characters didn't do it for me. As the commercials kept coming on TV, I knew this was going to be an over-the-top action flick. I always chuckle inside when the main character would yell in the trailer "THIS IS SPARTA!" It was very silly to me. So, I guess what I'm saying is leave your brain on the doorstep when going to see this movie. It is not meant to educate you about the actual battle of Sparta vs. Persia. I doubt that any parallels between this movie and the current situation in Iraq was in mind when they made it. You've seen this movie before (Braveheart, The Alamo, anything where the protagonists are against unsurmountable odds), but enjoy it for its unique style and look.

Hobgoblins (1988)

Oh My God

[1/10 · 14 February 2007]

This movie is just plain awful. Even the MST3K treatment barely helped getting through it. After watching it, I felt like I had just stepped in a big pile of dog waste. I mean, how do these movies get made? Who, after the first day of shooting, thought this movie was a good idea? Who, after watching the dailies (if they ever did) said to the director "Hey, Rick. We've got a winner here." The movie is called Hobgoblins, but they barely appear, and when they do, they look like stiff, cheap plush toys. All the actors in this movie are horrible, none of the characters are interesting or engaging (they are all annoying, in fact) and the story makes no sense, doesn't go anywhere and has the worst ending ever! The old security guy blows up the vault which the Hobgoblins have been kept for thirty years (after the monsters return for no reason at all!) If he did that at the end, why the hell didn't he do that thirty years ago?!!!!! HORRIBLE HORRIBLE HORRIBLE. DO NOT WATCH THIS MOVIE AT ANY COST! If you have to, MST3K is the only way, but barely.

Undisputed 2: Last Man Standing (2006 Video)

Very Entertaining

[7/10 · 9 February 2007]

I thought this movie was pretty fun. It was certainly by the numbers, but it didn't really disappoint. The characters were all pretty good, some over the top, but still engaging. Michael Jai White was pretty good as the protagonist (certainly uses the expression "F you" a lot), the bad guy was pretty standard but fun, and the Russian inmates were more than just cardboard cutouts. I thought the fight scenes were great, nicely choreographed, exciting and inventive. As a sequel, well, it's kind of interesting the bad guy from the first movie is the hero in this one, but you don't really need to see the first one to enjoy this movie. One needs to certainly turn their brain off a bit, but as an action movie, I would definitely recommend it for fans of the genre.

The Devil's Rejects (2005)

Not the best I've seen...

[5/10 · 24 October 2006]

I'm not exactly sure what I was expecting when I rented this movie. I had seen the first movie on cable and thought it was interesting, and had a good sense of style, really gritty. And this one looked even grittier, with a focus more grounded in reality. But I found it predictable and unsatisfying. The killers weren't really that great, pretty standard in their approach (the girl was actually pretty annoying, the brother could have been creepy, but how many times do I have to hear a killer denounce god as reason for his insanity) Captain Spaulding could have been interesting, but he didn't DO anything. He shows up after all the bad stuff has occurred. And when the cop finally captures them and didn't kill them immediately, you knew he wasn't going to be able to finish his revenge. It would have been better, in my opinion, if he just, in cold blood, finished them off as soon as possible. That would have been pretty shocking, in my opinion. Instead, they get away until they are gunned down by a police roadblock; who didn't see that coming? I wasn't sure if we should be rooting for the bad guys or what? If we weren't, then why have "touching" scenes with the killers discussing whether to get ice cream, or the gung-ho way they decide to go out? I suppose the reality of such violence isn't always so cut and dry, but if I want that reality, I'll just pick up a newspaper. Give me the original Halloween, and maybe some of those Friday the 13th movies over this.

Fantastic Four (I) (2005)

This was a big disappointment

[2/10 · 25 September 2006]

I'll go see most superhero movies, and based on their content, I shouldn't have high expectations. But with movies like Spider-man, Batman Begins, and the X-men movies, it has been shown that superhero movies can be more than just entertaining movies, but great films. I suppose my expectations were too high, but this movie was crummy. I'm not too familiar with the Fantastic Four lore, but I know it's probably not supposed to be as dark as Batman or X-men, but neither is Spider-man. I thought there was no depth to the characters, didn't really believe they were superheroes and even the villain, Dr. Doom was reduced to something lame, though I thought that casting Julian McMahon was a good call. Everything about the Thing was a big joke and when they tried to go for something remotely sympathetic towards his character, Johnny Storm would be a complete a-hole and make some joke. Perhaps that is how the characters are in the comic, but if that's the case, then even the comic misses the mark when dealing with such a tragic figure as the Thing. The guy gets turned into a freakin orange rock, you'd figure his friend would have some kind of sympathy. And then the whole thing with them trying to undo their powers, it was like, what's the point. While I'm sure that is a plausible thing to occur, it doesn't really make a good superhero movie. We'll see how FF2 fairs, but I'm not keeping my hopes up.

King Kong (2005)

Homage to the Original

[9/10 · 16 December 2005]

Everyone is complaining about how this movie is three hours long. I can't even count the numerous times I came out of a movie, after paying 8 or 9 bucks, feeling ripped off because the movie was around an hour of basically crap. This movie delivers on every level and it moves along at a good pace. It is obvious that Peter Jackson loves King Kong and went out of his way to make sure he didn't ruin the source material. The original was a pure adventure movie, and a great one at that. It was a movie centered around special effects. If people are tired of movies with CGI in them, then why go see a movie about a giant ape that fights dinosaurs? How else are you supposed to do it these days? I've seen the original and the 1970's version, and this is the best of them all. Jackson expands upon what the original created and does a fantastic job. He shows what a great movie directors can make when they care about the movie first. Go see it!

Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)

Best of the Prequels

[8/10 · 31 May 2005]

I would probably put this right below Empire as the best Star Wars movie. It had great action, pretty good pacing and great effects. Everyone is always complaining about how bad the acting and dialogue is, but give me a break. I don't think that is what Lucas was going for anyway. If you expect Oscar-caliber performances in these movies, then you're watching the wrong movie. Ewan McGregor shines his brightest and really gets into his character and Hayden Christiansen is really able to portray such a conflicted and confused hero.

The ending seems like it tries to hard to wrap everything up and answer every question, not necessarily doing either, but certainly brings everything full circle. This is probably the movie everyone had been waiting for since the prequels came out. If you want to see a fun movie that keeps you involved the entire time, definitely check this out! The saga is complete!