Movie/DVD Review: Pieces by ME

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There are a few different types of bad horror films and the 80's was the perfect decade to make all of them and have them be successful, for the most part. There were flicks that were so bad they're good, some that are just plain bad and a few other categories in between. Pieces, a slasher flick trying to capitalize on the success of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and the Friday the 13th franchise, falls a little closer to the just plain bad end of the spectrum. But, a few decent effects and some horribly bad dialogue as well as a kung fu attack that literally comes out of nowhere and leaves just as quickly raises Pieces to a mark just above plain bad.

A little boy kills his mother with an axe after she finds him putting together a jigsaw puzzle of a nude woman. Cut to 40 years later, someone is killing beautiful college coeds and taking their body parts to create the perfect woman. It's up to two detectives, and few unlikely allies, to stop the maniac that's on the loose.

After that promising opening, the film quickly goes down hill. The plot gets ludicrous when the police recruit one of the college students to help. Then, if that wasn't insane enough, they bring in a famous tennis star to help as well. Again, the effects are what raise the bar a tad with decapitation in broad daylight, and a halving complete with pants wetting, which is a nice realistic touch to me. I mean, if someone's coming at me with a chainsaw, you can bet your ass that I'm gonna piss my pants.

On to the acting. Even with the bad dialogue, most of the actors deliver it with a straight face, which is surprising given some of the situations they are in. Oh wait, nevermind, that's just bad dubbing. By far the best character is the groundskeeper Willard, played by Paul Smith. Many readers may remember him as Bluto from the live action Popeye movie, or possibly as Rabban in Dune. Anyways, he is absolutely hilarious every time he comes on screen. He seems to be the only one who gets how ridiculous this movie truly is.

How ridiculous you ask? The best example is when our undercover tennis star runs into some guy who busts out with all kinds of kung fu, then when she knocks him down, says he doesn't remember what happened, just that he was jogging and the next thing he knows he's on the ground. "Must be bad Chop Suey." And that is a direct quote. Followed closely by a scene in which our villain hides a chainsaw behind his back while in an elevator with his victim, and she doesn't notice!

Pieces tried very hard to capitalize on the success of such genre classics as The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Friday the 13^th, yet would have worked better as a parody instead of a serious film. But if you love 80's horror, it may be worth your while. For all others, grab a few friends and a lot of beer and sit back and take potshots at this horrible yet funny film.

One final note. For those in the Detroit area, be sure to keep a lookout for future screenings by 42nd St Drive-In at the Novi Emagine theater. Kind of sporadic in their scheduling but these guys love there horror and have provided a semi-regular opportunity to showcase some of the best (and worst) horror movies from the 70's and 80's. Many thanks to Jason Buchanan, Bob Felts and Brad Torreano for helping to broaden Detroit's horror fanbase.

4/10

Keep reading,
Mitch Emerson
mitchemerson@hotmail.com

New Feature: What I Watched This Week by ME

Now I don't review everything I watch. If I did, I would never stop writing. I have, however, started a list of movies that I have watched for the entire year. I won't bore you with the entire list so far, but I will start posting each weeks additions with a thought or two on the film. And actually, this first post will cover the last two weeks as I had some minor surgery last Thurs. and wasn't up to posting.

Also, I am not including TV shows here either, that's why the list is a little lean as I have been catching up on season 1 of Burn Notice, series 2 of Spaced and seasons 2 and 3 of Weeds. Feel free to post comments or ask me to expound on any of the movies.

Mitch Emerson
127. 08/01/08 - POTC: At World's End – 8/10 - Less confusing than the first time I saw it, but the effects more than make up for minor bitches about the convoluted plot. Some of the humor takes you away from the darker tone of the third film.

128. 08/02/08 - Charlie Bartlett – 8/10 - Entertaining and fun film that lets Anton Yelchin finally lead, instead of being upstaged by Justin Timberlake. See full review

129. 08/05/08 - 28 Weeks Later - A decent sequel. Minor issues with zombie dad which were sort of explained as he holds on to some logic. See full review.

130. 08/06/08 - Batman (1966) – 3/10 - Way too campy for even a big Batman fan like myself.

131. 08/06/06 - Stand By Me – 10/10 - One of the best adaptations of a Stephen King story.

132. 08/07/08 - Jumper - 6/10 - Not as bad as most have said. Seriously missing character development as well as being badly edited. See full review

133. 08/07/08 - Bicentennial Man - 8/10 - It feels a little long, but nothing really feels extemporaneous. The love story seems a tad weird, but helps set up a wonderful ending.

134. 08/08/08 - The Bank Job – 7/10 - Rented it for Jason Statham, sadly he doesn't kick any ass. Not a bad heist film, a little convoluted for my taste.

135. 08/10/08 – 1408 – 8/10 - Decent adaptation of a Stephen King story. Dragged a little in the middle.

136. 08/14/08 – Oldboy – 9/10 – Great foreign movie about revenge. Confusing at times but a super dark ending and a great story.

DVD Review: Jumper by ME

In Jumper, David Rice (Hayden Christensen) is a guy who can teleport. Does he use this skill to help the world? No, he uses it to rob banks and get the girl (Rachel Bilson). But does this make him a bad guy? Not really, although it seems to me that he does have some moral issues which make him a questionable “hero” for the film. Anyways, enter Roland (Samuel L Jackson), leader of a group of fanatics called Paladins, who just want to kill all jumpers since they believe no one should wield such power. Jamie Bell pops in as a mentor who is also a lone wolf type.

Now it's established early on that David has had a rough childhood, which explains why he isn't a nice guy, but there could have been more. Also shown is him watching people trapped in a flood on tv and he does nothing to help. Even though Christensen's acting has improved over his stint in the Star Wars prequels, as a character, I still have more sympathy for Anakin. I mean, David is technically a criminal even though the Paladins that are after him seem to be zealots themselves.

It seems to me that Sam Jackson was just collecting a paycheck on this one if we hadn't already known about his big interest in comic books and sci-fi. I mean Unbreakable and the Star Wars prequels should be hint enough. And as much as Hayden's skills as an actor have improved and Sam Jackson is, well, Sam Jackson, the most believable is Rachel Bilson, who is confused for most of the film. But with the story as confusing as it is, she may not actually be acting. Then she decides she doesn't want any part of David's predicament, which hopefully mirrors her feelings for her involvement in the film or any sequels that may or may not happen.

I know the movie is called Jumper, but does it have to jump from scene to scene? At times, Jumper seems hastily put together and edited. And all the jumping to and from public places, not exactly a smart thing to do when the “badder” guys are after you. I say “badder” as we have already established that David isn't a saint himself, even though he is trying to save the girl. He treats her like crap, but hey, it's the thought that counts right? Some missed opportunities include the dynamic between David and his mother, which would help any sequel that gets made. Hell any kind of character development would help.

While the effects are nothing super special, their use is. The choreography of the fight scenes incorporating the jumping technique adds a little oomph to an otherwise lackluster film. After watching the special features, I learned that the effects were toned down on purpose, which makes sense. As well as the fact that it was planned from the get go that there was going to be three movies, if the first did well enough. Most interesting though is a section called Previz: Future Concepts, which were animatics that seems to be from future movies since they didn't look familiar at all. The action in those sequences is gonna be pretty interesting and should bring the action to the next level if future movies are made. Also a few trailers and commentaries, but since this was a rental I didn't get the chance to listen to.

Jumper is, at best, a way to waste some free time, if you don't have anything better to do.

5/10

Keep reading,
Mitch Emerson
mitchemerson@hotmail.com

DVD Review: Charlie Bartlett by ME

Charlie just wants to fit in, that's all. But having been raised in a wealthy family and having gone to private schools his whole life, it's no surprise that he has problems when he has to go to public school. When the family doctor prescribes Ritalin needlessly, Charlie sells them and instantly becomes the man to know. This somehow leads to him becoming the school "shrink". Now in real life I think he would just become a straight up dealer, but Yelchin's Bartlett is a nice enough kid that it might happen. And then the inevitable fall comes and Charlie must redeem himself, but it seems to get harder at every turn.

The main reason I wanted to see Charlie Bartlett was because of Anton Yelchin's performance in Alpha Dog. The boy was phenomenal (except for his singing), and he was only upstaged by a surprisingly good performance by Justin Timberlake, and is instantly likable in this as well. As we all know, Robert Downey Jr. may not be the best person to portray a person of authority, especially a principal, but he is pretty much believable, if unconventional. Kat Dennings is interesting here. I really like her and she does admirably in Charlie Bartlett, but I can't really see her as a leading lady. Great as a love interest, but I don't think she could carry a film all by herself. After those individual observations, I must say that the chemistry between all of the cast works remarkably well.

Special Features include two commentaries, one with the director and writer, and one with the director and Anton Yelchin and Kat Dennings. There isn't much besides those, just a music video and a strange little thing called "Restroom Confessional", which seems to be the cast and crew ad libbing confessions like in the movie. Not much here, but it's not a big budget, effects laden film that deserves a ton of features, but a making of would have been nice.

In the end, Charlie Bartlett is the story of a reluctant hero who must take responsibility for his action and become the real hero that everyone thinks he is. Do I recommend it? Yes I do. Why? Because it's an entertaining movie with a cast that really works together and has just enough of a serious undercurrent to keep it slightly grounded in semi-reality.

If they ever decide to remake Ferris Bueller's Day Off (Please don't!), they could do worse than casting Anton Yelchin as Ferris.

Keep reading,
Mitch Emerson
mitchemerson@hotmail.com

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Motor City Nightmares Convention Report by ME

By Mitch Emerson

The Motor City Nightmares convention was held this past weekend and yours truly was able to attend this fledgling event on Saturday. Even though George Romero had to cancel his appearance to do a film project, there was no shortage of famous guests. We had Jason himself (Kane Hodder), Michael Myers (Tony Moran) and even the Candyman (Tony Todd)! Surprise last minute addition was Tobe Hooper, director of the classic Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Poltergeist. For the classic horror fans who could resist a 40 year reunion for the cast of the original Night of the Living Dead? In attendance was Kyra Schon, Bill Hinzman, Judith O"Dea, Marilyn Eastman, John Russo, George Kosana and Russell Streiner. Other attendees included James Russo, Caroline Williams and Monique Dupree.

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Movie Review: The Dark Knight by ME

Wow, just holy jeez wow. The Dark Knight has exceeded any and all expectations that I had, which actually weren't that high because I avoided as much hype and spoilers as possible. My intrigue was only piqued by the trailers and some of the ingenious, if not overdone viral marketing. The best Batman film, if not the best comic book movie of all time. Scratch that, I'm sticking to my guns, The Dark Knight IS the best comic book movie ever, and this is coming from a guy with comic book character tattoo's and a closet filled with longboxes.

How can I convince you of that? Sadly, I don't think I can. This is one that you will just have to trust me on and see for yourself. The story has plenty of twists and turns that spin a web of a story that weaves tightly together and comes to a seat gripping climax. Everything builds up nicely, but not slowly. We start with a bang of a bank robbery that introduces us to the Joker and shows just how ruthless he is. And it only gets better. Even things from the trailer that didn't work for me redeem themselves. Take the Bat-Pod for instance. Stupid name, and with those huge tires it looks almost unbelievable, but when this thing bursts onto the screen and you really get to see it in action, it's pretty slick. We also get to see more of the evolution of the Batsuit itself. I won't say anything as I don't want to spoil anything, but it is an interesting thing to see that Batman doesn't know everything about everything even after doing this for a year or so.

Yes it was a shame that Heath Ledger passed on shortly after completing filming, but we have heard all about that that we really need, or care to. I am only going to judge his performance based on his performance and he really does become the Joker. Not one single speck of Heath Ledger comes through here. He really is a psychotic mad dog that has been taken off his leash to wreak havoc. I can understand why he had issues sleeping during and after filming. Hell, I'm gonna have trouble sleeping after watching it! Christian Bale proves his worth once again both as Bruce Wayne and Batman. Both have grown in ways. We see Batman come to the realization and acceptance of just what his role as Gotham's “Dark Knight” truly needs to be. Watching Aaron Eckhart's Harvey Dent is just as awesome. His character's rise and fall really hits you because he truly is a hero in the true sense of the word, even Batman admits this at one point. And to see his fall from grace is just heartbreaking. Maggie Gyllenhaal is 100% stronger as Rachel Dawes than Katie Holmes was and that's all that really needs to be said about her, right? Gary Oldman gets a more interesting chunk of the story to work with this time as we see how he comes to be the Police Commissioner, team him with Harvey Dent and Gotham wouldn't need a Batman. Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman round out the cast but are little more than supporting characters this time around. It was also nice to see Scarecrow again, albeit only briefly, to help tie up one loose end from Batman Begins.

In a nutshell? The Dark Knight is the end all Batman movie, plain and simple. No real flaws to speak of. Great story, great pace, great acting, great action, just plain great.

10/10

Mitch Emerson
mitchemerson@hotmail.com

DVD Review Link: Otis by ME

Otis is a welcome addition to the horror-comedy genre without tipping over into the land of parody such as films like Black Sheep and Shaun of the Dead. Otis is at first, instilled with just enough humor to take the edge off while letting us inside the head of two types of people: The psychopath Otis (Bostin Christopher) himself, who just wants to have his perfect Prom night (at least 25 years too late) and the Lawsons, his latest victims family played wonderfully by Daniel Stern, Illeana Douglas, and Jared Kusnits. Kevin Pollak turns in a different performance as Otis's older, meaner brother whose life Otis is trying to emulate, something that isn't directly addressed but you pick up along the way. What makes this film different than other psychopath/serial killer flicks is that the Lawsons get their revenge, which is where the fun really begins. Taking a few unexpected turns is always a good thing in these types of movies, and Otis pulls darkness, humor, tension and a great soundtrack into a tight and different type of film.

For the rest, please visit Pop Stars Plus

Mitch Emerson

mitchemerson@hotmail.com

Movie Review: The Incredible Hulk by ME

I may be one of the few who actually liked Ang Lee's version of the Hulk. Sure, we didn't see the Hulk until an hour in. Sure I was lost by the end, just as everyone else was. I liked the comic book transitions between scenes, even if it was over used a bit. And the Hulk himself was pretty awesome. Too bad the best fight was against a pack of ridiculous looking giant radioactive dogs, including a poodle. In a nutshell Ang added a little too much Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon to a film that should have been “HULK SMASH!” for an hour and a half or so.

Well, Louis Leterrier has fixed just about everything that needed fixing. For those not in the know, Marvel chose to “reboot” the Hulk franchise instead of doing an out and out sequel. This movie is a tale of a Bruce Banner on the run, trying to stay one step ahead of General T. “Thunderbolt” Ross, while trying to find a cure, while also trying to avoid situations that would cause him to turn into the Hulk. I swear, it's not easy being green. And to add to it, Ross has brought in Emil Blonsky and given him a “Super Soldier Serum” (Yes, it's the same stuff that creates Captain America) which makes him stronger and faster so he can get a rematch with the Hulk. Things go wrong (of course!) and Blonsky becomes The Abomination, a monster that only the Hulk has the power to deal with.

Edward Norton may be seen in the press as a prima donna with his insistence on having creative control as well as shunning all publicity for The Incredible Hulk, but I'll forgive him for that since he has helped to deliver a great Hulk film. Performance wise, he is just about perfect. All of the cast is. Liv Tyler, William Hurt, and Tim Roth all deserve a pat on the back.

I have to say that The Incredible Hulk has the best cgi since The Lord of the Rings. Ok, well, the hair on the Hulk does need a little work but watching the Hulk's muscles ripple and his hands shake as he screams his rage is something you have to see on the big screen. Gone is the pretty, artistic Hulk that Ang Lee brought us. This is a down and dirty Hulk who just wants to be left alone. And that is what really got me in The Incredible Hulk, we get to see two giant creatures beating the living crap out of each other until only one is left standing. THAT is what comic fans in general, and Hulk fans in particular, have been waiting for.

With little nods to the comics and the TV show, Hulk is an action packed slugfest peppered with feeling and comedic bits that don't go over the top. A must see for any comic or action movie fan. If Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk is what Marvel comes back with after let downs like X3, Ghost Rider, Daredevil and Electra, and with the promise of Captain America, Thor, and The Avengers on the distant horizon, then make mine Marvel!

Mitch Emerson
mitchemerson@hotmail.com

Movie Review: Hitman by ME

Title: Hitman
Starring: Timothy Olyphant, Dougray Scott, Olga Kurylenko, Robert
Knepper, Ulrich Thomsen
Directed By: Xavier Gens
Produced By: Charles Gordon, Adrian Askarieh (II)
Genre: Action/Adventure and Adaptation
Release Date: November 21st, 2007 (wide)
MPAA Rating: R for strong bloody violence, language, and some
sexuality/nudity.
Distributors: 20th Century Fox Distribution

There is nothing wrong with making a movie from a video game. Most ofthe time the stories are longer and more intricate to keep people interested. Sometimes, when a property crosses to a new medium, things are lost or the creators try throwing too many in-jokes for fans of the game. Hitman doesn't do that. It makes for an above average action flick that balances story with intense fighting while not catering to the fans or dumbing it down for a new audience.

Hitman doesn't waste any time creating a backstory for our hero Agent 47 (Timothy Olyphant). Genetically engineered and raised by The Orginization as an assassin for hire, Agent 47 finds that he is setup and is now on the run from The Organization, a determined INTERPOL agent (Dougray Scott), a crooked Russian Politician (Ulrich Thomsen) and his pocketed policeman Yuri (Robert Knepper). All while trying to keep Nika (Olga Kurylenko) alive as she is the only other one who knows what is going on.

There are only three real players in Hitman. Olyphant is a good actor who gives Agent 47 just enough personality for you to not think of him as a mindless killing machine. He shows his adeptness with weapons and then turns around and easily shows how little experience he has with women. Namely, Olga Kurylenko, who really doesn't have much to do except show of her body and cry a bit. Dougray Scott as Mike was the best performance only because I think Olyphant had to hold a lot of emotion back. I can't really back it up with examples because most of these characters are your basic cookie cutter characters, but are fleshed out enough for my taste.

The action sequences are more believable than the Matrix and not shot using todays favorite, the shakey cam. You can actually see what's going on on the screen, imagine that! What is lacking is a bit of backstory for Agent 47, but I understand that there isn't a lot of story given to him in the game either, so I'll let that one slide. Also missing are the blatant nods to the fans of the game... well mostly. There was one scene where 47 crashes into a hotel room where two kids are playing... yep,
you guessed it – Hitman. But, that was the only cheesy game reference I noticed.

Hitman is definitely worth a rental on DVD. None of the action is grandiose enough to really warrant seeing on the big screen and parents can't even dump the kids in the theater while Christmas shopping as the film is rated R for violence and a little more nudity than I expected, even if only from Olga Kurylenko. All in all a solid effort by writer Skip Woods and director Xavier Gens. I really wanted to make a joke about how decent of a movie it is for being written by a “Skip” and
directed by an “Xavier”, but the film is better than that low of a blow.

7 out of 10

Visit the official site at http://www.hitmanmovie.com/

Keep reading,

Mitch Emerson
mitchemerson@hotmail.com

Movie Review: August Rush by ME

Title: August Rush
Starring: Freddie Highmore, Robin Williams, Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Terrence Howard
Directed By: Kirsten Sheridan
Produced By: Ralph Kamp, Louise Goodsill, Robert Greenhut
Genre: Comedy and Musical/Performing Arts
Release Date: November 21st, 2007 (wide)
MPAA Rating: PG for some thematic elements, mild violence and language.
Distributors: Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution

Convinced that music is the key to finding his parents (Keri Russell and Jonathan Rhys Meyers), 11 year old Evan (Freddie Highmore) leaves the orphanage and ventures out into the world. He discovers an awe inspiring talent for music within himself that he uses to help his parents find him. Along the way he meets people who wish to help him find his way, those who wish to exploit his musical talent for their own gains, and some who just want to help him realize his full musical potential.

August Rush could almost be considered a fairy tale. You have the little boy searching for his lost parents using an almost magical talent, the mother, all in white searching for her lost son, the father looking for his long lost love, the helpful fairy (Terrence Howard's character), and the bad guy trying to keep August and his talent all to himself.

Being a musician myself, I seem to have an affinity for movies about musicians. Especially films that portray music in a new and interesting way. August Rush is one of those films. Taking environmental noise and creating music from city sounds like traffic, footsteps and cars to show how a prodigy can find music in everyday sounds is expressed very well. Relatively new Director Kirsten Sheridan knows how to pull the heartstrings, only falling into the sappy section once or twice.

Freddie Highmore, Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers , Terence Howard and Robin Williams are all on the ball here. Highmore exudes such joy at making music that every time he played, I couldn't help but smile. Russell and Rhys Meyers seem to be a big part of the story without really being a big part of the story. It's all about Highmore, not even Robin Williams, who by the way looks like he raided Bono's garbage for his wardrobe, can't even outshine him. Williams himself continues his streak of playing roles that are a little different for him. His turn as Wizard is a blend of all of his talent, humor and drama with a little craziness thrown in for good measure. Terrence Howard's part, although small, gives him another opportunity to prove that he will be a big name in the future. The first time he meets Evan/August, you can see in his eyes how much he cares.

The look and feel of the film are appropriate for each part of the story. You have a slightly gritty feel for rock and roller, a lighter feel when telling Lyla's side of the story and the best example is Wizards condemned theater, home to a group of children that he trains musically to panhandle. That set looks remarkably like the Lost Boys village in Hook, coincidently starring Robin Williams as well. Speaking of coincidences, there are way too many in the film, everybody crosses paths in there journeys or just misses them, which gets overused and seems a little hokey at times.

August Rush may be predictable, but the music, cast and emotion make up for the predictability and the sometimes ridiculous coincidences that pepper the film. This movie will appeal to a wide audience, from music aficionados to kids, romantics to couples and anybody who just wants to feel good. I highly recommend August Rush to the masses.

8 out of 10

Official Site - www.augustrushmovie.warnerbros.com

Until Robin wins a Bono look alike contest,
keep reading

Mitch Emerson
mitchemerson@hotmail.com

Movie Review: Blade Runner: The Final Cut by ME

Title: Blade Runner: The Final Cut
Starring: Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Edward James Olmos, M. Emmet Walsh
Directed By: Ridley Scott
Produced By: Brian Kelly, Hampton Fancher, Michael Deeley
Genre: Action/Adventure, Drama, Science Fiction/Fantasy and Thriller
Release Date: Various Dates
MPAA Rating: R for violence and brief nudity.
Distributors: Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution

The lights go down, the projector hums. Up on the big screen is Blade Runner, a movie that has gained an immense following over the last 25 years, myself included. With multiple versions of the film out there, hopefully Blade Runner: The Final Cut will be the (groan) final cut. I own the special edition Director's Cut that was released in 1999 and there are only a few noticeable differences. Gone is the stuntman in a wig for Zhora's death scene, re-shot and edited in with new footage that removes what some say is the worst stunt in history. They even got Joanna Cassidy to play Zhora again. Otherwise it's pretty much the same as the Director's Cut. So why spend your money to see it on the big screen? Because it's all about seeing Blade Runner on the big screen. If you are lucky enough to have a screening near you I would recommend attending. I love when my favorite films come back to the big screen. See, I was too young to catch Blade Runner at the theaters when it was originally released and to see the final version up there, how could I pass that up?

If you have been in a coma for the past 25 years, Blade Runner is a Ridley Scott film based on the novel Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep by Phillip K. Dick. Harrison Ford stars as Deckard, a cop (or Blade Runner) who tracks down life-like androids called replicants. A group escapes and finds it's way back to Earth and Deckard is pulled out of retirement to dispose, or retire as it's called in the film, this group. Also starring Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Daryl Hannah, Edward James Olmos and M. Emmet Walsh, Blade Runner is considered a classic by most moviegoers.

I really don't think that full review of the film is really necessary but for those who want to know a little more I will say that this movie has garnered so much attention over the years for a reason. Extremely thought provoking as it raises questions dealing with racism, discrimination, the inability to change ones future as well as the question of what is humanity in the first place. Excellent acting and directing by Ridley Scott based on a novel by Phillip K. Dick is what keeps Blade Runner relevant even now. Just an all around great sci-fi movie that will be around (and still relevant) for at least another 25 years.

Now if you are lucky enough to live in or near one of the cities that is showing Blade Runner: The Final Cut, I recommend you take advantage of it as it may be the last time you get to see it in theaters. I've included a list of the cities, theaters and the type of print they have. If you are here in Detroit and know the Landmark Main Art Theater in Royal Oak, then you know that the older theater only adds to the time warp effect of seeing Blade Runner on the big screen, with the old school columns in the main theater as well as the lobby that even has couches for you to sit back and discuss the film with your friends. Don't let this opportunity pass you by! It's only going to be at the Main Art for ONE WEEK ONLY starting Nov. 16^th.

Until the final final cut of Blade Runner,
keep reading

Mitch Emerson
mitchemerson@hotmail.com

10/26 - Seattle (Cinerama, Seattle - 35mm)

10/26 - Washington D.C. (Uptown, D.C. - 35mm)

10/26 - Portland (Cinema 21, Portland - 35mm)

10/26 - Salt Lake (Gateway Megaplex, SLC - Digital)

11/2 - Chicago (Music Box, Chicago - 35mm)

11/2 - Santa Barbara (Arlington, Santa Barbara - Digital)

11/2 - Baltimore (Landmark Harbor East, Baltimore - Digital)

11/9 - Boston (Coolidge Corner, Brookline - 35mm)

11/16 - Detroit (Main Art, Detroit - 35mm)

11/18 - Austin (Paramount, Austin - 35mm)

11/30 - San Francisco (Embarcadero, San Francisco - 35mm)

11/30 - Dallas (The Inwood, Dallas - 35mm)

11/30 - San Diego (Ken, San Diego - 35mm)

11/30 - Minneapolis (Uptown, Minneapolis - 35mm)

12/7 - Denver (The Landmark @ Greenwood Village - Digital)

12/7 - Philadelphia (The Ritz 5, Philadelphia - 35mm)

12/25 - Boston (The Brattle, Cambridge - 35mm)

1/2/08 - Austin (The Paramount, Austin - 35mm)

1/4/08 - Nashville (The Belcourt, Nashville - 35mm)

1/18/08 - Durham (Carolina, Durham - 35mm)

2/1/08 - Columbus (Drexel Gateway, Columbus - 35mm)

2/15/08 - San Francisco (Castro, San Francisco - 35mm)

2/29/08 - Sacramento (Crest, Sacramento - 35mm)

Jerry Seinfeld was in Detroit!

Jerry Seinfeld was in Detroit on October first to promote his new animated film Bee Movie. Bee Movie is a promising film about Barry B. Benson (Jerry Seinfeld), a bee that is not happy with his career, who goes out into the world and discovers that humans are stealing honey without compensating the bees. So with the help of Vanessa (Renee Zellweger), Barry sues the Honey company and it's affiliates. Little do they know the ramifications of their victory.

Seinfeld is very passionate about this film. For him to come to Detroit and do a presentation like this with little to no fanfare is proof of that. He has spent the last four years writing, acting and just dipping his fingers into every aspect of the making of this film. Along with directors Spike Feresten and Barry Marder, they have created an interesting take on bee life in general and the production of honey. As ludicrous as the plot sounds, it does have a point. We steal the bee's honey, plain and simple. Most other natural resources are either the resource themselves or byproducts, while honey is actually made by bees. We just take it without a thought. Now I know that in real life bee's don't really have feelings but since we are talking about an animated film, we can stretch our sensibilities a little and ask, “How would you like it if it happened to you?” I'd sue too.

Seinfeld came out and entertained us with some stand up like banter before getting to the honey, such as where has Seinfeld been for almost nine years? Well, this movie explains four of those years, two on the script alone! The other five saw a return to stand up as well as spending time with his family. Can't blame a man for that can we? After his short presentation he introduced us to the directors, Spike Feresten and Barry Marter, who proceeded to walk us through the clips they had brought. A courtroom scene in which Ray Liotta, playing a caricature of himself, was hilarious. And, it looked just like him! Gotta give a guy credit for being able to make fun of himself, right? Another showed the first meeting between Barry and Vanessa which showcased Seinfelds specific brand of humor as well as some close up shots of everyday objects with amazing detail. Water drops, blades of grass, even the texture of Vanessa's was realistic. Yet another showed a group of bees flying around, swooping around things, it almost made me dizzy. Ok, not really but it was a fun ride.

So that is my take based on the clips that we saw. With an all-star cast including Jerry Seinfeld, Renee Zellweger, Matthew Broderick, John Goodman, Ray Liotta, Patrick Warburton, Oprah and more, Bee movie will be sure to entertain the whole family.

Bee Movie buzzes into theaters Nov. 6^th. In the meantime , visit the official site at http://www.beemovie.com/ and watch out for “Bee Movie TV Juniors” on NBC. TV Juniors are short little comical spots by Jerry about his experience making the film. We had the pleasure of viewing two of these and I must say they are just as entertaining as the film clips we saw.

I hope to see you at the theater!

Mitch Emerson
mitchemerson@hotmail.com

Movie Review: 30 Days Of Night by ME

Title: 30 Days of Night
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Melissa George, Danny Huston, Jon Bennett, Mark Boone Junior
Directed By: David Slade
Produced By: Nathan Kahane, Mike Richardson, Joe Drake
Genre: Action/Adventure, Suspense/Horror and Thriller
Release Date: October 19th
MPAA Rating: R for strong horror violence and language.
Distributors: Sony Pictures Releasing

I usually give horror movies some leeway when it comes to realism because these scenarios would never happen in real life. I give the same leeway for movies based on comic books. 30 Days of Night is a horror movie based on comic book so don't go in expecting the next great Vampire flick. No sexy or cool Vamps or suave dapper Christopher Lee types. Just evil monsters that have been hiding for centuries, always on the go. They discover Barrow Alaska, where the sun sets and does not rise for 30 days, giving vampires plenty of time to slaughter the townspeople and hunt down the survivors. Sheriff Eben (Josh Hartnett), his estranged wife Stella (Melissa George), Eben's younger brother Jake (Mark Rendall) and a handful of survivors try to make it to sunrise. Can they do it?

30 Days of Night is far from perfect. With plot gaps such as no reasons are ever given as to why Eben and Stella are separated as well as big gaps in continuity, the over use of the “Shaky Cam”, and vampires who annoyingly screech throughout, we are treated to a hit and miss addition to both comic book and horror genres by Hard Candy director David Slade. And you know what? That's fine with me. As long as there are good effects, good acting and a story that makes some sense, I consider it a decent horror movie. Cinematography wise, the color palette fits the mood of the film perfectly. Drab grays and shadows, even the snow is more gray than white. There is one shot that not only is a good example of the use of color, but the carnage that has been wrought by these monsters is and overhead shot that moves down the street, bodies lying in splattered puddles of blood, monsters darting here and there, grabbing victims. Great shot.

Besides seeming to always need a haircut no matter what role he is playing, Josh Hartnett is the strongest actor in the film, especially when it comes to protecting family. One scene in which his deputy has killed his family to spare them from the vampires has Hartnett shaking the man telling him, “You protect your family! Not kill them!” with emotion that you can feel. But then at other times he can be a little over the top. BUT remember, it is a vampire movie based on a comic book. Melissa George, who plays Stella, Eben's estranged wife is the standard strong woman character who wasn't even supposed to be in town (she missed her plane). I don't know the character name, so I can't look up the actor, but the lead vampire was extremely well acted. You don't want to mess with him because you can feel that he has centuries of experience at slaughtering humans. Which makes the final fight between him and Eben a little unbelievable. If you had centuries to practice, wouldn't you be the best warrior ever?

I can't quite put my finger on the reason why, but 30 Days of Night reminds me of Phantoms, a movie based on the novel of the same name starring Ben Affleck (Affleck was the bomb in Phantoms!- just a favorite quote from Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back for those in the know), Rose McGowan and Peter O'Toole. But I digress. 30 Days of Night isn't without it's fair share of problems, but if you can overlook those, what you have left is more or less an action flick with elements of horror that is worth a rental on DVD.

http://www.30daysofnight.com/

Until 30 Days of Night 2: The Lost Boys Connection
keep reading,

Mitch Emerson
mitchemerson@hotmail.com

Movie Review: The Heartbreak Kid by ME

Title: The Heartbreak Kid
Starring: Ben Stiller, Michelle Monaghan, Malin Akerman, Carlos Mencia, Robert Corddry
Directed By: Peter Farrelly, Bobby Farrelly
Produced By: John Davis, Joe Rosenberg, Marc S. Fischer
Genre: Comedy and Remake
Release Date: October 5th, 2007
MPAA Rating: R for strong sexual content, crude humor and language.
Distributors: DreamWorks SKG, Paramount Pictures

The Farrelly brothers, Bobby and Peter, remake a relatively obscure move titled The Heartbreak Kid in which Ben Stiller plays Eddie Cantrow, an everyman who meets Lila (Malin Akeman). Six weeks later they are married and on their honeymoon in Cabo where Lila gets a horrible sunburn which allows Eddie to wander around, meet, and fall for, Miranda (Michelle Monaghan). Eddie neglects to tell Miranda that he is on his honeymoon and the hilarity ensues.

While There's Something About Mary pushed the comedic boundaries and became a classic, The Heartbreak Kid fails to capture that same quality that made Mary so good. At times The Heartbreak Kid is a standard, yet enjoyable romantic comedy. But, every once in a while an over the top Farrelly gag is tossed in and feels really out of place. It's almost as if the Farrelly's couldn't decide if they were making a mainstream movie or a “Farrelly brother's comedy”, and it really shows. The clincher that ultimately tipped this from being an “ok” movie into the realm of a bad movie was the ending. Let's just say that Eddie didn't learn from his experience.

Although this is a Ben Stiller movie, the real stand out was Michelle Monaghan, who you may remember from kiss kiss bang bang or MI3. She plays a fun loving, sports oriented woman who captures Eddies heart and would be the perfect wife. She just gives a great and believable performance in a film that is full of stereotypical characters. Stiller's Eddie is still the same old Ben Stiller, just a little older and grayer. The Farrelly's must not have been able to get Cameron Diaz for this one so they hired her clone, Malin Akeman, who acts, looks, and moves just like Cameron. Carlos Mencia pops in and proves that he can't act as Uncle Tito, the hotel employee who is helping Eddie juggle the two women. Jerry Stiller has his almost obligatory part as, of course, Eddie's father and is the second most crass character in the film.

Not quite up to par with “Mary”, The Heartbreak Kid is pretty much just another mediocre comedy that will be easily forgotten. The best way to describe it tone wise would be if you took the heart of 50 First Dates and edited in all the raunchy bits from There's Something About Mary and hoped that you could satisfy fans of both films.

Visit the site at http://www.heartbreakkidmovie.com/

Until The Heartbreak Kid: The Honeymoon's Over,
keep reading,

Mitch Emerson
mitchemerson@hotmail.com

Movie Review: Seeker: The Dark is Rising by ME

Title: Seeker: The Dark is Rising
Starring: Alexander Ludwig, Ian McShane, Gregory Smith, Austin Vaccaro, Frances Conroy
Directed By: David L. Cunningham
Produced By: Marc Platt
Genre: Action/Adventure, Science Fiction/Fantasy and Adaptation
Release Date: October 5th, 2007
MPAA Rating: PG for fantasy action and some scary images.
Distributors: Unnamed Fox-Walden Joint Venture

A young man, Will Stanton, discovers he is the last of a group of immortals dedicated to fighting dark forces of evil. Traveling back and forth through time, Will uncovers a series of clues, some dating back to biblical times, that lead him to a showdown with forces of unimaginable power. -Yahoo! Movies

Seeker: The Dark is Rising tries to grab onto Harry Potters fanbase and fails miserably. Adapted without consultation from Susan Cooper, Seeker has way too much crammed into it and at the same time explains the bare minimum to keep the story moving. One example – Will is tasked to collect six signs in order to stop the Dark. Now unless I dozed off, it was never explained what these signs were or what they were to be used for. He just runs around looking for this swirly design and lo and behold, there is the sign. There are many other faults, too many to list here.

An ensemble cast ranging from nobodies to “haven't we seen that guy in something?” do what they can with the material, but aren't quite up to the task of carrying a film like this. Alexander Ludwig, as Will Stanton, carries most of the weight here and holds up well, reminding me a bit of Zachary Ty Bryan from Home Improvement. Heroes fans may recognize Christopher Eccleston, who played Claude, the recluse, who taught Peter Petrelli how to become invisible. He plays The Rider, the main villain in the story and if you ask me, he was scarier as Claude, a good guy, than as The Rider in Seeker. There is even a Professor McGonagall clone in Frances Conroy's Miss Greythorne. Sad to say most of the other cast members blandly blend into the background.

There seems to be a rush of fantasy movies this fall and Seeker: The Dark is Rising will just fall into the cracks as another mediocre attempt at adapting a large epic-type novel into an hour and a half movie. My advice, stay home and watch Harry Potter again.

For more info visit the site at http://www.seekthesigns.com/

Keep reading,

Mitch Emerson
mitchemerson@hotmail.com

Movie Review Link: The Evading by ME

I have recently been accepted as a reviewer for our very own Fatally Yours! Since she was kind enough to send me a screener, I figured I would let this one be an exclusive to Fatally Yours Horror Reviews.

After his wife dies, Josh Carter (Eric Stevens) suffers from depression. The condition gets so bad he begins having visions of a figure in a black cape. The figure pulls Josh into a secret society, and soon Josh recalls the accident that killed his wife in a completely new and disturbing way.

Combining visual elements from films like The Ring and The Grudge, Rick L. Winters has written, produced and directed a film that has outstanding effects, somewhat decent acting and a twist that actually changed my opinion of the film.

For the rest, click here.

Mitch E
mitcheemerson@hotmail.com

Movie Review: Feast Of Love by ME

Title: Feast of Love
Starring: Morgan Freeman, Greg Kinnear, Radha Mitchell, Jane Alexander, Alexa Davalos
Directed By: Robert Benton
Produced By: Lori McCreary, Eric Reid (II), Fisher Stevens
Genre: Drama, Romance and Adaptation
Release Date: September 28th, 2007
MPAA Rating: R for strong sexual content, nudity and language.
Distributors: MGM Distribution Company

Feast of Love is one of those movies that is almost great. It just needed a little something extra to push it over that line. Don't ask what it is, because I don't know. I left the theater with that satisfaction you get from Chinese food, you are full for the moment but you know you are going to want more in an hour. Phenomenal acting and a good story keep Feast Of Love on track. Interweaving through different couples and their situations and how they interconnect is explored fairly well here, one thing that would have made it better is a time line. You know the film takes place over an eighteen month period, but otherwise you are in the dark as to how much time was spent in exploring each relationship.

Morgan Freeman has got to be the King of the Narrative as well as the perfect grandfather/confidant figure. He is the only man that can play God (Bruce Almighty) in my book and make me believe it. No offense to George Burns of course. Freeman does a wonderful job of being the self appointed caretaker of all of our main characters. Greg Kinnear, at the beginning, comes off as a guy who doesn't really notice the things going on around him. I'm not saying that he is callous or that he is an airhead, he is actually a really nice guy that doesn't know much about how relationships work and has to learn the hard way. If Freeman is the best actor here, then Selma Blair must be in second place. Especially when she is only in the film for about ten minutes. There is one scene where she falls in love and you literally watch it happen, you can see it in her eyes. Alexa Develos and Toby Hemingway are believable in an almost fairy tale like whirlwind romance, great performances there.

Final thought – A good movie that doesn't disappoint and will make a good evening at home type of movie. The one thing that may bother some audiences is there is a little more sex and full frontal nudity in this than what is usually in this type of film. Just a small warning.

Keep reading,

Mitch Emerson
mitchemerson@hotmail.com

Movie Review: The Darjeeling Limited by ME

Title: The Darjeeling Limited
Starring: Jason Schwartzman, Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, Camilla Rutherford, Amara Karan
Directed By: Wes Anderson
Produced By: Steven M. Rales, Wes Anderson, Scott Rudin
Genre: Action/Adventure, Comedy and Drama
Release Date: September 29th, 2007
MPAA Rating: R for language
Distributors: Fox Searchlight Pictures

A slightly surrealistic look at three brothers taking a spiritual journey to bring them closer together gets derailed in this supposedly funny comedy/drama from director Wes Anderson.

There was a short film screened before this called The Hotel Chevalier that will prove to be more liked than the film itself. It is a prequel of sorts that is supposed to tie in loosely with the movie but in actuality is pretty pointless, but I was more interested in it than in the film. See, Natalie Portman has an almost nude scene in it. Unfortunately, she is barely in the movie itself. The short will not be screened with the film but is available for free at iTunes (I got mine already!), and will be available on the DVD. So if you see the short first, don't get your hopes up.

As far as the film itself, it falls a little short. Anderson really should have made this more comedic. With names like Owen Wilson and Jason Schwartzman, you expect comedy. Anderson has made a exploration of self picture that just moseys along, stopping here, pausing there, not really leading up to any big ending or anything. Trying to perk your interest, there are some cameos by Bill Murray and Anjelica Huston, who by the way, was the most likeable character in the film. She seemed to be the only one outside of the main cast that knew what the tone of the film was supposed to be. Owen Wilson, Jason Schwartzman and Adrien Brody could make for an interesting family dynamic, but unfortunately, their personalities seem a little watered down.

The visuals are beautiful, from the countryside to the train itself. The Darjeeling Limited would make a great painting, but as far as motion pictures go, it moves about as fast as the first steam powered train.

Until The Earl Grey Limited,
keep reading

Mitch Emerson
mitchemerson@hotmail.com

Movie Review: Resident Evil: Extinction by ME

Title: Resident Evil: Extinction
Starring: Milla Jovovich, Oded Fehr, Mike Epps, Iain Glen, Ali Larter
Directed By: Russell Mulcahy
Produced By: Martin Moszkowicz, Victor Hadida, Kelly Van Horn
Genre: Action/Adventure, Suspense/Horror, Adaptation and Sequel
Release Date: September 21st, 2007
MPAA Rating: R for non-stop violence, language and some nudity.
Distributors: Screen Gems, Sony Pictures Releasing

Resident Evil: Extinction is based on the wildly popular video game series and picks up where the last film left off. Alice (Milla Jovovich), now in hiding in the Nevada desert, once again joins forces with Carlos Olivera (Oded Fehr) and L.J. (Mike Epps), along with new survivors Claire Redfield (Ali Larter), K-Mart (Spencer Locke) and Nurse Betty (Ashanti) to try to eliminate the deadly virus that threatens to make every human being undead...and to seek justice. -Official Site

Resident Evil: Extinction is an apt title. With this installment, the entertainment value of the Resident Evil franchise is almost extinct. Veering even farther from the games on which it is based, as well as changing the nature of characters that have been established in previous films, not to mention the ridiculousness of the setup, all lead Resident Evil: Extinction on an unbelievable ride that hopes to squeeze by you with it's failings unnoticed. Example: The world has dried up, literally. No oceans, lakes or rain. Why? Because most of the population is dead. You buy it? If so, I have a bridge or some property on the moon for sale.

Where does it go right? Effects, makeup and some of the fight choreography and the actual acting. Milla Jovovich still kicks ass with much grace and beauty. I must mention the fact that her face looks completely airbrushed on though. Kind of like what they do to every single Playboy model ever. Ali Larter channels Linda Hamilton in Terminator 2 almost perfectly, all the way down to the costume. Baseball cap, sunglasses, etc. I am really disappointed in Mike Epps in this final chapter. His jokes and wisecracks were some of the best things in RE2, but he has been relegated to almost a background character here. Same goes for Oded Fehr, the commanding soldier from RE2 has been reduced to a shock trooper. The biggest problem is that there really isn't anything distinguishably different between any of the characters. They all seem to have the same attitude. Not through the actors fault though, I lay blame on the director. And yes, if you read the synopsis, there really is a character named K-Mart. Just another ridiculous nail in the coffin of the Resident Evil franchise. Even though they left it wide open for a sequel, almost demanding one, I hope they let this dead dog lie in pieces.

I have said enough about this one. I have seen worse, but I have seen much better.

Keep reading,

Mitch Emerson
mitchemerson@hotmail.com

Movie Review: The Hunting Party by ME

Title: The Hunting Party
Starring: Richard Gere, Terrence Howard, Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ivanir, Goran Kostic
Directed By: Richard Shepard
Produced By: Bill Block, Paul Hanson (III), Adam Merims
Genre: Action/Adventure, Comedy, Thriller and War
Release Date: September 21st, 2007 (wide)
MPAA Rating: R for strong language and some violent content.
Distributors: MGM Distribution Company

“Only the most ridiculous parts of this story are true”

The Hunting Party is inspired by the true story of a disgraced war journalist (Richard Gere) who enlisted the help of his former cameraman (Terence Howard) and an wager, wet-behind-the-ears journalism major (Jesse Eisenberg) to track down an infamous war criminal still on the loose somewhere in the backwoods of Eastern Europe. - Official site

In The Hunting Party, Richard Shepard addresses the subject of the hunt for Bosnian war criminals in his own way. Almost a satire, but not quite going over the line, The Hunting Party toes that line with wit, drama, and carefully placed images of a war torn country that in some ways was just beginning to heal. Taking small jabs at NATO, The Hague and the CIA, Shepard brings the fact that these war criminals are running free and none of these agencies are trying very hard to catch them to the attention of mainstream moviegoers.

It may sound like this is a documentary, or that Shepard is preaching to us Michael Moore style, but he isn't. Shepard has taken very real people and real events and real situations, fictionalized them and injected the perfect amount of humor into them to create an entertaining as well as informative view of our governments practices. This is not to say that there isn't a serious side, as you can never show the true horror of war on any size screen and the opening sequence shows us that in a way that is brutal and sadly beautiful at the same time.

Shepard has a talent for wringing great performances from his cast and proves it once again with Richard Gere, Terence Howard and Jesse Eisenberg. Using humor to offset the violence and horror of war is a real practice and pulling it off in a movie without sliding into the land of cheese, or looking callous, is a talent that all three main actors did very well. Gere plays Simon Hunt as a man on a mission with an intensity that shines through in a few key scenes as well as showing how humor is used as a defense against the horrors of war. Terence Howard's Duck is the semi-straight man, using the phrase, “Unbelievable” more times than I can count in reaction to Gere's antics. Jesse Eisenberg plays Benjamin, the new kid, still wet behind the ears. It is through his eyes that we see the events unfold. Through the trials of the adventure that these three journalists take we see him change from the nervous rookie, to being a part of the group through his realization that it isn't a game.

I must stress once again, that this film was made as an entertainment piece first and foremost, but if it makes you question our government, then the movie has done more than it's job.

www.thehuntingpartymovie.com

Until we catch Osama,
keep reading

Mitch E
mitchemerson@hotmail.com