Directed by: Josh Khoury and Myles Kane
Producer: Trisa Barkman
Featuring: Troy Brenier, Eric Swain
Tribeca Film Featival
Running time: 78 minutes

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

Josh Koury & Myles Kane’s documentary on two friends making DIY sci-fi films in Florida has the great fortune to be debuting at Tribeca at the same time as Chris Keneally’s Side by Side (read my review here.) The latter bringing home the point that the digital revolution in filmmaking is democratizing who can get movies made while the former is a case study in exactly that.

Eric and Troy are the two men behind these films, ones that could not have existed without the advent of the consumer level video cameras as seen in Keneally’s doc. Armed with a blue screen-painted space and local talent, they churn out films under the impossibly titled Ginnungagap Filmwerks banner. Eric sees it as a fun hobby while Troy in this upcoming project’s case, is striving for something more.

The film’s central tension between the two men is Troy’s pushing on Eric to take their weekend moviemaking as seriously as he does. Such improvements include their blue screen being painted green (easier to work with on video) and Eric replacing his seven year old PC with a new iMac.

It’s an interesting documentary insofar as Troy’s ambitions for his movies to be taken more seriously does not, for better or worse, go to the extremes of say, the delusions of the men in 1999’s American Movie. Nor does the pair’s film budget pose as much of a problem. There’s one mention of Eric footing a lot of the Home Depot bills, but it’s not a make or break point of the process. The fun in watching this documentary is in Koury and Kane’s unironic, nonjudgemental approach to documenting people enjoying making something together. Despite the friends and family screening of Planet X garnering unexpected–to Troy at least–laughter, the filmmakers are pleased to bring enjoyment to any audience. At 78 minutes, it’s a nice, lightweight look into amateur movie making.

Upcoming TFF Screenings of Journey to Planet X:
Mon. 4/23 – 8:00pm, Clearview Cinemas Chelsea 4
Sat. 4/28 – 1:00pm, AMC Loews Village 7-2

Directed by: Sarah Polley
Producers: Susan Cavan, Sarah Polley
Starring: Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen, Luke Kirby
Tribeca Film Festival
Running Time: 116 minutes

Our Score: 2.5 out of 5 stars

In Sarah Polley’s Take This Waltz, Michelle Williams is Margot, a young married woman who is terrified to discover the hot guy she shared a seat row, and flirtatious conversation with on a homebound flight is in fact her new across-the-street neighbor David (Luke Kirby). He’s stirred something within her and she starts to question her comfortable five year marriage to cookbook author, Lou (Seth Rogen).

What follows is a very, very long string of will-they, won’t-they encounters between David and Margot. The more scenes they share, the clearer it becomes that they have more serious chemistry than Margot does with husband Lou. Married at 23, it appears that Margot and Lou have not matured past baby-talking each other. When the married couple speak in hypotheticals, it’s to play who can gross the other out more (threats include “I’m going to skin you with a potato peeler!”). When Margot and David speak in hypotheticals, it involves David describing what he would do to her body given the chance. Strong scenes like these between the illicit couple make the audience restless for Margot to either run away from Lou or completely stop David’s everything-short-of-physical advances. Her indecision is seemingly endless and the more encounters she herself arranges with David only to eventually shut him down, border on making Margot unlikeable and David weak. When Margot does make her decision, the film goes into an unexpected overtime exploring all the implications of it when the audience was really just waiting for her to make a choice.

There also are many leaps of faith one has to take when watching this film. Obviously, the odds of neighbors David and Margot’s meeting on the plane seem very slight but it’s necessary for the whole setup. However, there’s many other elements about these characters’ lives that come off as unrealistic and they pile up. Everyone seems to live impossibly outside of their means given their occupations (Margot, a wannabe writer. David, secret artist/rickshaw driver. Both, occupying large, quirky, suburban homes). For such young characters it is also odd that outside their immediate families, we don’t see them with any friends. Are Lou and Margot so repellant they can’t hang out with other couples? David especially seems to exist purely to interact with Margot and if he weren’t so perfect really, you’d call him a stalker.

If their lives seem improbable, fortunately the actors bring authentic emotion to their characters. As proven in last year’s 50/50, Seth Rogen can be amazing in more dramatic roles. Lou really has no reason to suspect anything is wrong in his marriage, so when Margot combusts in front of him while he’s cooking, his plea of “I was just trying to make chicken” is strong and heartbreaking. Michelle Williams continues to do amazing work especially so when she’s left to her own devices as on a carnival scrambler ride with David where we see her go from joyous to terrified and back. And set to The Buggles “Video Killed the Radio Star” of all songs. As David, Luke Kirby is suitably sexy and so appealing it’s hard not to root for him. If only there was more to David than an object of Margot, and this film’s, fantasy life.

Upcoming TFF Screenings of Take this Waltz
Mon. 4/23 – 7:00pm, AMC Loews Village 7-2
Thu. 4/26 – 1:00pm, AMC Loews Village 7-2

Ralph Bakshi is now best for his animated films like “Fritz the Cat”, “Wizards”, 1978’s “The Lord of the Rings” and “American Pop”.  Ralph is a legend in the animated world and has such a unique vision.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Ralph about his films and he even leaked a very cool top secret news about a possible sequel to one of his films.

Mike Gencarelli: Let’s talk about the recent Blu-ray release of “Wizards”, tell us about your involvement?
Ralph Bakshi: Fox did it all by themselves.  They can be a good company when they want to be [laughs].  They did the book by themselves, designed and remastered it.  Then they called me and told me that they were going to release it.  I nearly had a heart attack.  But I loved the picture and I think they did such a great job.

MG: “Wizards” only cost $1 million dollars and looks great, how do you feel about these polished $150 million dollar animated films today?
RB: The artists who are making these films today are so talented.  The kids today are coming out of school with this computer knowledge and its just great. I think it is all too much of the same.  I think that they focus more on the merchandising.  I think they should do something with more of a social bite or dabble in the R-rated area, if not only to do one and try and push the boundaries.   When I was doing my films like “Heavy Traffic” and “Fritz the Cat”, I was yelling at Disney for those same reasons.

MG: There aren’t too many people that are able to pull off adult animated films, why do you think that people steer clear of doing these?
RB: That is a great question Mike, let me tell you what it’s like.  Guys get the wrong impression about my R-rated films.  They think it is about sex, tits ‘n ass and cursing.  Basically what is underlining all of my films are political ideas.  In “Heavy Traffic”, Michael’s father was a racist and he had a black girlfriend.  Those are issues that far transcend the dirty words, the sex and the violence that people think that R-rated violence is all about.  I never start my animated films with trying to shock somebody.  I try to have a reason to make the film personable.

MG: A few years ago there was talk of a sequel to “Wizards”, any chance it will still happen?
RB: Well Mike, you are the first person to hear this.  I don’t know why they never made a sequel but right now, the head of Dark Horse Comics, Mike Richardson, is writing a script for “Wizards 2″. He and his partner are writing the script and he is very interested in making the movie.  I feel that Dark Horse is really the right team in order to get this project done. I will definitely read it once it is completed but I doubt I will direct, probably executive produce. I would also contribute storyboards and sketches for the film if needed. In order for it to work though, I feel that it has to also be political important with what is going on today.

MG: What would you say was your most difficult production?
RB: Well look, they were all hard.  I left the business burnt out and crazy.  Every picture I had was a massive fight.  Like with “Fritz The Cat”, Robert Crumb hated my guts and was screaming at me.  They gave me an X-rating and my mother was mad at me.  Everyone of them was hard.  Everyone of them I worked seven days a week with no money.  I am shocked but happy that people still love these films.  I am grateful to the internet and guys like you who have saved my ass.

Directed by: Delmer Daves
Starring: Edward G. Robinson, Lon McCallister, Judith Anderson, Rory Calhoun
Distributed by: Film Chest Media Group
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Release Date: April 24, 2012
Running time: 100 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2 out of 5 stars

I would like to thank Film Chest Media Group for releasing this classic 1943 film restored on Blu-ray. Before receiving this film, I was not aware of this gem. It is a slow release thriller that packs a fantastic conclusion. It not only looks and sounds great on Blu-ray, it still holds up as a film itself almost 70 years later. I also really enjoyed Miklós Rózsa (“Ben-Hur”) haunting score as well, which rally drove the film. The film itself has been digitally restored in high definition and transferred from original 35mm elements.

This 1947 thriller stars Edward G. Robinson (“Double Indemnity”) as a farmer with a wooden leg trying to keep his family from uncovering a mysterious red house. After need help around the farm his hire’s his adopted daughter Meg’s friend Nath to come help with chores.  When Nath decides to take a short cut home through the woods, Pete warns him to stay out and clear of the red house.   Of course this only makes Meg and Nath more curious and decide to ignore his warnings and begin exploring.  As they get closer to the truth about what the deal with the red house is, it might be too late.

The high definition 1080p B&W transfer looks really sharp and clear. The special features even include a before-and-after restoration demo, which is short but shows how much better the film looks. The film is also presented in full screen with an aspect ratio of 4×3. The sound on the film is also notable packing a great DTS-HD Master Audio Mono track. There is a commentary track included from author William Hare, who talks about film noir aspects of “The Red Room”. Also within this combo pack is a DVD of the film, the original 35mm trailer and an original movie art postcard.

Directors: Alan Rafkin, Jerry Paris, John Rich, Robert Butler, Sheldon Leonard
Starring: Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, Rose Marie, Morey Amsterdam, Carl Reiner
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Distributed by: Image Entertainment
Release Date: May 1, 2012
Running Time: 500 minutes

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

Who doesn’t love Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore.  They both have such natural comedy timing.  This volume of 20 episodes are personal favorites of series creator Carl Reiner.  This seems to be a tradition with Image Entertainment, who released “The Dick Van Dyke Show: 50th Anniversary Edition: Fan Favorites” last year.  Overall great travel back to a special time in our TV history. If you are a fan of the series, and who isn’t, pick this up, sit back and enjoy.  It is also a good start for new fans because what is a better way to watch the series than with the favorites from the creator himself.

Since Image did “Fan Favorites” last year and Carl Reiner’s picks this year, I am curious what will be next.  I just hope that they try a different box cover since they only changed the color from blue to red on these releases.  There are also no special features included like the last release. The episodes though are said to be in pristine quality and they definitely looks great.  For a show that aired over 50 years ago they look especially well.  If we are traveling back to 60’s comedies on TV though, I would most likely prefer 1962’s short-lived “I’m Dickens…He’s Fenster” with Marty Ingels and John Astin.

Episodes: Never Name a Duck, The Attempted Marriage, Hustling the Hustler, A Bird in the Head Hurts, Gesundheit, Darling, Will You Two Be My Wife?, Ray Murdock’s X-Ray, Don’t Trip Over That Mountain, The Sam Pomerantz Scandals, Divorce, Laura’s Little Lie, Very Old Shoes Very Old Rice, The Life and Love of Joe Coogan, The Plots Thicken, The Return of Edwin Carp, Pink Pills for Purple Patients, Baby Fat, No Rice at My Wedding, A Day in the Life of Alan Brady, Obnoxious Offensive Egomaniac Etc.

Directed by: David Redmon and Ashley Sabin
Tribeca Film Festival
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running time: 76 minutes

Our Score: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Downeast tells the story of the aftermath of the closing of the United States’ last sardine canning factory in Gouldsboro, Maine. With the factory’s workforce unemployed–and because of many of their advanced ages, unemployable– an Italian immigrant arrives with the goal of turning the old facility into a lobster processing plant and putting them back to work.

There’s a lot at stake in David Redmon and Ashley Sabin’s documentary for these Maine townspeople and yet unfortunately they are oddly lost in the shuffle. Instead the focus is on Italian businessman, Antonio Bussone’s fight against the town elders (would-be lobster competitors) and the red tape preventing him from access to federal funding to keep his factory afloat. This often times translates to many scenes of him doing deals over the phone in his office or scrolling through bank accounts on his computer. This is not very interesting to watch and even confusing as he laments negative balances while the factory is still up and operating. One wonders if he ever clued his rehired employees into how badly off he was.

Where the film shines is when it focuses on the lifelong employees of the Stinson sardine cannery. You sense a real camaraderie between, for example, three ladies sitting together comparing how many years each worked there (all thirty years or more). There’s a wonderful scene where three elderly ladies, adjusting from the shift of canning already-dead sardines to starting with live lobsters, debate whether or not the lobsters feel much pain in the process. It’s charming, if slightly macabre. We also get to meet a salty old lobster fisherman named Sherman who doesn’t care for town politics and only cares who will pay him the most for his catch. These are all great personalities I wish the film would have stayed with longer instead of the businessman.

It is also often in these scenes where the film is most interesting visually. The seemingly endless supply of shiny red lobster shells is shuffled through the plant hypnotically while the workers go at an amazing pace. It’s a great contrast from Bussone’s sterile office dealings. Unfortunately that office is really where the success of this factory project lives or dies and in the end the fate of the workers is left sadly unresolved.

Upcoming TFF Screenings of “Downeast”:
Sat. 4/21 – 1pm, AMC Loews Village 7-2
Tues. 4/24 – 7:30pm, Clearview Cinemas Chelsea 9
Sat. 4/28 – 9:45pm, Clearview Cinemas Chelsea 8

Directed by: Alex de la Iglesia
Producers: Andrés Vicente Gomez, Ximo Perez
Starring: José Mota, Salma Hayek, Blanca Portillo, Juan Luis Galiardo, Fernando Tejero
Tribeca Film Festival
Running time: 93 minutes

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Alex de la Iglesia’s As Luck Would Have It follows Roberto (José Mota), a struggling former ad executive, as his day goes from bad to much worse. Or it would seem to everyone else but Roberto. Having failed at a job interview where he literally begged for a position from an old friend, a despondent Roberto feels nostalgic for the hotel where he and his wife (Salma Hayek) honeymooned and decides it’s time for a visit. Unfortunately the hotel is gone in lieu of a restricted excavation site and Roberto soon has a freak accident that traps him in an ancient coliseum. Savvy businessman that he is, Roberto recruits an agent to his cause in order to milk the most media money out of his predicament.

As far as the satire goes, it’s a little bit two dimensional. The agent Roberto hires, Johnny (Fernando Tejero), is perfectly weaselly and the people he deals with are also stereotypical money grubbing slimeballs who would profit from Roberto’s demise. The point that the media is predatory and disposable is reached quickly and not really expanded upon. Having Roberto trapped in the center of a coliseum too for this media frenzy does seem a bit too on the nose, but it’s undeniably a beautiful set to look at. If two thirds of the film must take place in the same setting, they could do worse.

Really then the strength of the film lies in the central performances of Roberto and his family. Mota infuses Roberto with a kind of infectious optimism regarding his financial prospects despite his terrible position and is especially impressive given the restrictions on his physical performance after his accident. Salma Hayek is wonderful as Roberto’s more grounded wife Luisa who understandably is more concerned with getting her husband back than making a profit. When Roberto slips into unsympathetic territory, it’s their relationship, and the performances of Eduardo Casanova and Nerea Camacho as their children, that keeps us invested in his fate. De la Iglesia’s well drawn protagonists are bound to keep audiences rooting for Roberto.

Upcoming TFF Screenings of As Luck Would Have It:
Tue. 4/24 – 6:30pm, SVA Theater 1 Silas
Wed. 4/25 – 3:00pm, AMC Loews Village 7-1
Thu. 4/26 – 8:30pm, AMC Loews Village 7-3
Fri. 4/27 – 3:45pm, Clearview Cinemas Chelsea 8

Directed by: Chris Keneally
Producers: Chris Keneally, Keanu Reeves
Featuring: Keanu Reeves, Martin Scorsese, Christopher Nolan, David Fincher, James Cameron, George Lucas
Tribeca Film Festival
Running time: 99 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

Film lovers may or may not know that as of October 2011 the major manufacturers of cameras for motion pictures–Arri, Panavision, Aaton– stopped making new film cameras. In January of this year Eastman Kodak filed for bankruptcy in the face of insurmountable digital competitors. So is celluloid film dead?

This is the central question up for debate in Side by Side, an in depth documentary produced by Keanu Reeves and directed by Chris Keneally, which takes a look at the digital revolution which has been picking up steam in Hollywood since the turn of the millennium. The doc is making its stateside debut at this week’s Tribeca Film Fest with a planned release in August.

Reeves and Keneally have rounded up an impressive roster of interviewees who fall on all sides of the digital-versus-film argument and come from every step in the production and post-production process. In this corner we have director Christopher Nolan and his cinematographer Wally Pfister maintaining they’ll be the last people shooting on film, and in this corner we have digital proponents such as George Lucas and Robert Rodriguez swearing off celluloid for good. Occupying the middle ground are heavy hitters like David Fincher, David Lynch, Steven Soderbergh and Martin Scorsese (fresh off the digitally-shot “Hugo”).

The documentary itself never takes a side which makes the debate that much more engaging and I found myself shifting allegiance throughout. Additionally, on-screen interviewer Reeves is great at getting honest, candid reactions from his insider interviewees. Furthermore Keneally takes the time to explain the mechanics behind much of the debate’s technical aspects, a step which may cause digital-saavy folk to become a little bored, but it certainly makes the doc more accessible to the average movie goer.

In the end the most startling thing about Side by Side is how rapidly this technological change is occurring. In 1999, for the debut of The Phantom Menace, only four theatres in the country had digital projectors, four years later–in time for Attack of the Clones–there were 150. Statistics like this made me grateful that these filmmakers have been there to record, in whatever form they choose, this massive shift in cinema.

Upcoming TFF Screenings of Side by Side:
Tues. 4/24 – 8:30pm, SVA Theater 2 Beatrice
Thu. 4/26 – 7:00pm, AMC Loews Village 7-2
Fri. 4/27 – 2:30pm, AMC Loews Village 7-3
Sat. 4/28 – 4:00pm, AMC Loews Village 7-2
Sun. 4/29 – 2:30pm, SVA Theater 2 Beatrice

Directed by: Guillermo del Toro, Jean de Segonzac, JT Petty
Starring: Mira Sorvino, Jeremy Northam, Charles S. Dutton, Bruno Campos, Alix Koromzay, Lance Henriksen, Amanda Plummer
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Lions Gate
Release Date: May 1, 2012
Running Time: 270 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

The “Mimic” franchise was started by one of the greatest and visionary directors of our time Guillermo del Toro. It all started from him. Though he wasn’t happy with the film, so luckily this film set includes the director’s cut of the film and a whole lot of extras. This set is rounded out by its direct-to-video sequels “Mimic 2” and “Mimic 3: Sentinel”. There is something about direct-to-video sequels that I loved from Miramax like “Children of the Corn” and “Hellraiser”. They are not the best movies but they are true to this series and just fun to enjoy for fans of the series. All three films come backed with great visual effects, even the sequels. If you don’t own “Mimic” on Blu-ray already, I would highly recommend picking up this great collection.

The first film “Mimic” started it all with the ‘Judas’ breed of a new insect in order to prevent an epidemic. The film is directed by the fantastic Guillermo del Toro and it packs such a great cast. The second film “Mimic 2” picks up four years after, where the mutated cockroaches have now undergo another metamorphosis and plan on taking over again. To sum up this franchise, “Mimic 3: Sentinel” gives this series a new twist. Directed by JT Petty, the mutant breed of these giant insects comes back again and the world finds out that the ‘Judas’ breed is far from extinct.

The Blu-ray presentation are all absolutely stunning. The first “Mimic” not only looks great in its high def 1080p transfer, it sounds beyond fantastic with its DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track. The rain and special effects are showcased perfectly with this audio track. The other films also pack a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, which also shines very well. All three of the films are very dark but yet they look fantastic, overall very impressive transfers.

“Mimic: The Director’s Cut” comes packed with some very impressive special features. There is a “Video Prologue with Director Guillermo del Toro” and “Audio Commentary with Director/Co-writer Guillermo del Toro”. The audio commentary is very informative, as they always are with him. “Reclaiming Mimic” is a featurette that focuses on how the original vision for the film was brought in for this new cut. “A Leap in Evolution – The Creatures of Mimic” is featurette on creating these amazing creatures. “Back into the Tunnels – Shooting Mimic” is a featurette on the film’s dreadfully wet and dark shooting locations. There are three deleted scenes, including an alternate ending. There are six “Storyboard Animatics”, which I enjoyed but which they were longer. Lastly there is a gag reel included.

For direct-to-video sequels, “Mimic 2” and “Mimic 3: Sentinel” also come with some decent special features. They are in SD like most of the “Mimic” extras but still decent. The second film has “5 Days of Mimic 2”, focusing on the production. “Behind the Sound of Mimic 2” focuses on creating the score for the film. Lastly included also are a few deleted scenes. The third film comes with an decent behind-the-scenes featurette, which I enjoyed. An audio commentary with Writer/Director J.T. Petty, which was also informative. Lastly there was cast auditions included as well.

Directed by: Joe Smalley, Tess Smalley
Starring: Josh Folan, Chris Perry, Natalie Wetta
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Distributed by: Image Entertainment
Release Date: April 17, 2012
Running Time: 81 minutes

Film: 3 out of stars
Extras: 1.5 out of 5 stars

Alright since “Ghost Hunters” made ghosts a hot topic and “Paranormal Activity” made found footage cool again, we have gotten a constant wave of these films.  This one can should probably be shuffled in with the others, but it does pack a few good spooks.  This even made me a little creeped out and scored a few decent jumps.  Overall though the acting is so terrible that it makes it hard to enjoy.  Luckily though,  I am real sucker for cool “creepy” aberration shots and this one definitely contained a few shots.

This film follows two television crews of paranormal experts who are taking on a major task of shooting their TV show at a haunted psych hospital.  One team of skeptics looking to debunk ghosts and another believers looking to prove their existence. The two team up but find that they got a lot more than they bargained for when a lot of strange phenomenons keep happening.  Although due to the events of the night, episode 50 of their show was never aired…until now.

Having personally staked out a paranormal activity investigation at famously haunted Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia, PA, I have trouble sometimes watching this faux films that try to really scare you.  I have been there and I have been scared.  This is entertaining for the most part but like I said most likely will get shuffled with the others.  Lastly the special features on the disc are lacking only including an audio commentary from writer Ian Holt and the films directors and also a trailer.

Courtney B. Vance is known best for his role of Assistant District Attorney Ron Carver on “Law & Order: Criminal Intent”.  Last year Courtney co-star in a the horror film, “Final Destination 5” and recently appeared in the new post apocalyptic thriller “The Divide”.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Courtney about his role in the new film “The Divide”.

Mike Gencarelli: Can you tell us how you got involved with “The Divide”?
Courtney B. Vance: I read the script and initially thought it was a little darker than I tend to like. I wanted the chance to work with Xavier Gens as I loved his film “Hitman”. I wanted to see what he was going to do with this. We were in one room for about 28 days. We got to know each other really well.

MG: What did you like most about playing the Delvin character?
CV: What I liked most was that this was a true ensemble. If something didn’t quite work we could take the time to make it work a little better. Xavier (Gens)’ English is not always the best so we sometimes had to slow it down a little bit to get a better understanding of what he was saying. A lot of times after we got into things it turned out better than even he thought it would.

MG: Where was the film shot? It seemed pretty intense.
CV: We shot on a set in Winnipeg. Everything was on one little sound stage. Things were very contained.

MG: What do you like most about working in the horror genre after last year’s “Final Destination 5”?
CV: It’s new to me. I have never really worked in it before. The directors are new to me. The two I have worked with thus far are top drawer. It was great getting to know them.

MG: What do you generally look for in role when approaching a project?
CV: I like when there is an arc. I also like when there is something a character does that affects an outcome. I like when a character is more than just window dressing. I like a role to be involved.

MG: What do you like about working in both television and film?
CV: It’s the people. Most of the films I am a part of I am just glad to be a part of it. If the people are great then you have the potential for doing something wonderful. If the people are good which most of them are and the script is tight its fun for us.

Directed by: Kevin Carraway
Starring: Val Kilmer, Ving Rhames, Luke Goss, Bonnie Somerville
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed: Arc Entertainment
Release Date: April 17, 2012
Running Time: 93 minutes

Film: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1/2 out of 5 stars

When a film is deemed “A supernatural thriller in the vein of The Ring meets The Grudge”. I get myself set with some high expectations. Unfortunately, after watching the first 30 minutes with nothing happening you start to doubt its potential. The film does pack a notable cast though including Val Kilmer, Ving Rhames and Luke Goss. It does pick up towards the end and gets off a few good spooks but not enough for me to highly recommend this.

The film follows a group of strangers who become stranded by a storm in a strange house by a complete stranger. Of course this isn’t your regular house they find when they start encountering an evil presence. It turns out that back in 1910, a 10 year-old boy brutally murdered whole family in the same house. The group realized that they are in the same house and as the storm happens outside, inside strange and horrifying things start happening that will lead to the shocking conclusion!

It is sad that actors like Val Kilmer, Ving Rhames and Luke Goss have been deemed to these kinds of films.  Val Kilmer recently rocked the house in a promo for the new “Tenacious D” album.  Ving Rhames looks to entertain in “Piranha 3DD”.  Let’s just say if it wasn’t for them in this movie, I most likely would have taken a pass.  On the special features side, the film disappoints again with only a trailer being included. Overall it is a low-grade thriller though barely is able to entertain enough to fill the 90 minutes.

Directed by: Christopher Hatton
Starring: Zoe Naylor, Graham Sibley, Edward Foy, Lani Tupu
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Distributed by: image Entertainment
Release Date: April 17, 2012
Running Time: 84 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1 out of 5 stars

Alright with a title like “Robotropolis”, you need to keep those expectations low and just look at it as a fun robot action film. It is definitely that and doesn’t attempt to really go beyond.  The special effects are decent…for a cheesy sci-fi movie.  The film stars Zoe Naylor, who was great in the shark thriller “The Reef”, and definitely leads this film well.  Plus who can argue with Ain’t It Cool News calling it “A hell of a a fun time”. I completely agree.

The film showcases the development of a new state-of-the-art city called New Town, which is completely run by robots working and living among humans. Reporter Christiane Nouveau (Zoe Naylor) are covering this news break, but of course things don’t go well.  A robot shoots down an innocent football player during filming and it starts a chain-reaction. Christiane and her crew use their camera to update the world live on this shocking robot development but are the robots able to be stopped before it is too late?

The special features on this film are disappointing, but what do you expect?  Included is a really hard to watch “video journal” from the co-star  Graham Sibley called “Robodyssey”.  It is very raw and not well produced.  Lastly there is a trailer include as well.  Overall it film is just plain stupid fun.  Leave your inhibitions at the door and sit back and get ready to be entertained.

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Starring:  Oscar and other assorted friends.
Directed by:  Alastair Fothergill and Mark Linfield
G
Running time:  1 hour 18 mins
DisneyNature

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

There’s a great part in “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back” where, during the filming of a parodied “Scream 3” the killer turns out to be a monkey.  Horrified, Shannen Doherty turns to director Wes Craven and exclaims, “A monkey, Wes?  Jesus, you’re not even trying anymore are you?”   Smiling, Craven replies, “The market research says that people love monkeys!”  And take it from me, they’re going to love little Oscar, the star of the new documentary, “Chimpanzee.”

Young chimp Oscar spends his days hanging out with his mom.  Life is pretty sweet for the little guy.  But when the food in their part of the jungle runs low, Oscar’s group must forage in areas that are not friendly, guarded by a rival group of chimps.  It’s like “West Side Story” with primates!

Cute as a button (the first five or six times he’s on screen the screening audience let out a collected “awww), Oscar makes for an engaging movie star.  The film itself is beautifully shot, with the filmmakers gaining unprecedented access to the secrets of the jungle.  The story is pretty straight forward.  Find food or fight trying.  The chimpanzees must have studied at the Disney school of movie plots.  During one of the skirmishes Oscar’s mother just disappears, apparently killed.  The rival gang is led by a scowling chimp named Scar.  The film is surprisingly “G” rated, which I found strange considering there is an intense sequence where the chimps surround a weaker group of monkeys, capture the slowest one and eat it.  I guess if it happens in nature it’s not PG worthy.

The world the chimpanzees make for themselves is pretty amazing.  Whether fashioning a bed for themselves by bending tree branches or choosing between a log or a rock to open nuts, it’s clear that these guys are pretty smart.  And close.  The best scenes are the simple ones…Oscar and his young friends wrestling or just Oscar cradled in his mother’s arms.  The magic of the jungle is caught in all its beauty, with special mention to the various time-lapse shots capturing everything from a blossoming flower to a spider making its web.  And while Wes Craven believes everyone loves monkeys, I noticed that the majority of the under-5 crowd fidgeted during the screening, usually being taken out of the theatre in tears.  But for the over-5 crowd, the film should be a crowd pleaser.

MPAA Rating: PG-13
Distributed by: Lions Gate
Release Date: April 24, 2012
Running Time: 259 minutes

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

I am a big fan of Marvel’s animated features but lets just say if these were being reviewed individually the score would be lower. All of them together equal some decent superhero fun. The three movies included are “Planet Hulk”, “The Invincible Iron Man” and “Doctor Strange”. In that order they actually go from best to least. Especially for such a low price, if you don’t own this and love Marvel, I recommend you picking them up.

“Planet Hulk” focuses on the big green man but takes place on another plnet. Since Hulk is so impossible to control and dangerous, Earth’s mightiest heroes exiled him into outer space. But once he lands on distant planet SAKAAR, things get ugly. “The Invincible Iron Man” reveals the origin of Iron Man. “Doctor Strange”, who is not a very well known hero, focuses on Dr. Stephen Strange’s journey to seeks healing at the feet of the mysterious Ancient One. He faces his own and actual monsters in the process of finding the magic.

To top off this impressive collection of movies, there is also a ton of bonus features included on this release. There are a few making-of featurettes, interactive games, concepts art gallery and more. The animation on this film are very colorful and sharp. The movies are just plain fun and if you are fan of Marvel’s work it is a no brainer. I would honestly prefer these on Blu-ray since, they would look even better and packed with 7.1 surround sound.  If you have the choice, I would recommend that route for this collection.