Review by Mike Smith
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Ed Skrein and Morena Baccarin
Directed by: Tim Miller
Rated: R
Running time: 1 hr 48 mins
20th Century Fox
Our Score: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Sometimes you know a few minutes into a film what the tone is going to be. Deadpool sets it almost immediately when, during the opening credits, the Producer is identified as: SOME ASSHAT! Thank you, Mr. AssHat, for making one hell of a film.

One of the lesser known (to me anyway) of the Marvel Comic characters (think Spider-man in red without the webs), Deadpool (Reynolds) is a foul-mouthed fool who enjoys his work a little too much. And when I say “foul-mouthed,” I’m talking filthy. He makes Hit Girl in Kick Ass look like Little Miss Sunshine. Known to his friends as Wade Wilson, he earns his money by taking down local bullies. Things are going well for Wade. He’s just found the perfect woman of his dreams (Baccarin) when he learns he has cancer. He is offered a chance for the cure if he becomes part of a mercenary team. Instead he is greatly disfigured by the treatments he receives and decides to just disappear from those that love him (“please don’t make the suit green or animated,” he tells his handlers, pointing fun at Reynold’s last attempt as a hero, “Green Lantern”). If smart-assed sarcasm is your cup of tea, then Deadpool will quench your thirst.

As a character, Deadpool is unlike any “hero” you’ve ever seen. He has no qualms with blowing a bad guys head off with his pair of nine-millimeter pistols or cutting them off with his twin katanas, he’s mixing it up with both the on-screen baddies and the audience. Between breaking the fourth wall and dropping little “inside” quips – when told he needs to go see Professor Charles Xavier he asks, “Stewart or McAvoy?” If I have to explain that comment to you, stop reading now. You don’t want to see this movie.

A superhero film is only as good as the actor playing him and, if ever an actor was meant to play Deadpool, it is Ryan Reynolds. Ever since “Van Wilder” he has spent his career trying to re-capture that “smart-ass” charm. He fits the bill here perfectly. He is surrounded by some strong co-stars, including Skrein as a fellow mercenary and Baccarin who is as tough as she is loving. And I’m sure Stan Lee will agree with me when I say this is his “best cameo EVER!” Throw in a couple of X-men and you’ve got a damn good escape for the weekend.

Starring: Tom Hiddleston, Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Chastain, Charlie Hunnam and Jim Beaver
Directed By: Guillermo Del Toro
Distributed by: Universal
MPAA Rating: R
Running Time: 119 Minutes
Release Date: February 9th 2016

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 5 out of 5 stars

Universal did a disservice this past fall in marketing Guillermo Del Toro’s gorgeous gothic romance Crimson Peak as straight up ‘horror film’. It has its share of ghosts and oozes atmosphere but it’s far from the slasher genre. Hopefully this Gothic romance will find a larger audience as it makes way onto Blu-ray and DVD today.

Synopsis: Mia Wasikowska stars as Edith Cushing an aspiring ghost story author in 1901 Buffalo, New York. She’s won over by mysterious English baronet Thomas Sharpe (Tom Hiddleston) who, along with sister Lucille (Jessica Chastain), is seeking to do business with her father (Jim Beaver). Upon the brutal death of her father, Edith is off to England to become the Lady of the Sharpe’s ancestral home, the ominous Allerdale Hall. There, Edith contends with the decaying architecture, ghostly warnings and the Sharpes’ own secrets coming to light.

Blu-Ray Review: Crimson Peak was one of my favorite films of 2015 (you can read my full theatrical review here). Hiddleston and Chastain make for a formidable brother-sister duo opposite Wasikowska’s tenacious Edith whose character only grows stronger as the film progresses. The real achievement of the film however is Del Toro’s impressive production design team. From Tom Sanders’s meticulously detailed sets, especially the built-from-scratch rooms of Allerdale Hall–to Kate Hawley’s fairytale-ready costume designs, the film is visually jaw dropping. All the better then to see it again on blu-ray now where I was excited to pore over more details than I could catch quickly on the big screen.

In this regard the special features on this disc definitely deliver. Several featurettes cover every aspect of Peak‘s world particularly “A Living Thing” which sees the sets of Allerdale Hall worked and reworked from scale models to the final product over a five month period. Tom Hiddleston then offers a walking tour of “the biggest and most extraordinary set [he has] ever seen” in “Beware of Crimson Peak” as we see how functional the set was in action. His commentary adds somewhat wistfully that this was the last day the set was up, but what a relief this release sees them so fully documented.

Del Toro’s commentary track finishes off the extras and, as expected, is filled with the director speaking about influences and inspirations for the film whether from art or film history. The whole thing is worth a listen, but if you’re not so into commentary viewing I gleaned my five favorite trivia bits (spoilers, of course):

• The ghostly appearance of Edith’s mother in the opening of the film was based on Del Toro’s own mother’s experience in seeing his grandmother’s ghost on the very day of her funeral. Del Toro also speaks about having stayed in his own haunted hotel room in New Zealand when scouting locations for The Hobbit (when he was still attached to direct).
• In the New York party scene, Del Toro had to restructure the waltz performed by Thomas and Edith to be only performed by Hiddleston and Wasikowska, lest the production have to shell out over a million more dollars in upgrading his acting extras to ‘dancers’.
• The hallway of Edith’s childhood home is patterned in the same way as Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion, a favorite of Del Toro’s.
• Del Toro decided he wanted to flop the gender norms of the Gothic Romance in Crimson Peak. In this spirit, he cast Charlie Hunnam’s Dr. Allan as ‘the damsel in distress’ in the latter sequences of the film (to which Hunnam eagerly agreed) and flipped what GDT dubbed ‘the nudity quotient’ in the intimate scene between Hiddleston and Wasikowska.
• As Edith gets further into danger at Allerdale Hall, the actual props around her were scaled up in proportion to Edith. Things like a wingback chair and the ominous teacup were made roughly 30% larger than they originally appeared. (No doubt inflicting some Wonderland deja vü for Wasikowska!)

Crimson Peak is available on Bluray and digitally now. Meanwhile, you can check out a look at some of the set featurettes from Universal Home Video below:

Starring: Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay
Directed by: Andrew Haigh
Rated: R
Running time: 1 hr 35 mins
IFC Films

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

I love actors. When placed in the right mouths, words that may seem meaningless become poetry when those mouths open. Two of the best ever, at least in my generation, are Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay. You may remember Rampling as the dishonest love interest of Paul Newman in ‘The Verdict” and Courtenay holding his own against Albert Finney (both men earning Oscar nominations) in “”The Dresser.” Three decades later these two are still at the top of their game in the new film “45 Years.”

Meet Kate (Rampling) and Geoff (Courtenay) Mercer. They are full of excitement as they prepare to celebrate 45 years of marriage. As Geoff was ill when year 40 rolled around, Kate has decided to make this event one for the ages, and the majority of their small town will be at the celebration But as the day approaches Geoff receives a mysterious letter from Switzerland. He learns that the body of Katia, his first love, has been discovered. She disappeared over 50 years ago. Due to the circumstances she is literally frozen in ice, as beautiful as she was the day she disappeared. Even though Geoff feigns a slight interest, it is evident to Kate that the news is effecting him. Investigating on her own, Kate discovers secrets that make her question not only Geoff’s love, but their marriage.

A film this small scale – there are very few cast members – is only as good as its cast and the two veterans deliver in spades. Rampling, still beautiful at 70 — I’m sorry….is that a sexist statement…like I shouldn’t expect her to be beautiful at this age — says as much with her expressions and mannerisms as she does her words. Courtenay is her acting match here, observing small things and affecting small changes in his life. It’s obvious to both that the mystery of Katia is something that will linger for a long time.

The film is slight as far as subject matter is concerned but the two stars keep the pace moving, with Rampling shining in an Academy Award nominated performance. A fine alternative if you’re tired of bears, both grizzlies and pandas.

Starring: Benjamin Walker, Teresa Palmer and Tom Welling
Directed by: Ross Katz
Rated: PG 13
Running time: 1 hr 51 mins
Lionsgate Films

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

Lonely man making his way through life meets woman with a past. They fall in love. Something bad happens. If you’re thinking to yourself, “this sounds like something Nicolas Sparks would write,” give yourself a prize. And welcome to “The Choice.”

Travis (Walker) is apparently the world’s greatest veterinarian. Even though he lives in Wilmington, North Carolina his practice, which he shares with his father, provides enough money for him to live in a beautiful house on the water, where he barbecues on weekends when he’s not out in his cool boat. One night, during one of his barbecues, he is asked to turn the music down by Gabby (Palmer), a nurse studying for some medical exams. One thing leads to another and soon Travis and Gabby are fishing and boating and spending way too much time out in softly lit rainstorms. Things go well in the friend zone until Gabby’s wealthy M.D. fiancé’ (seriously, is there NOBODY in North Carolina that ISN’T wealthy?) has to go out of town for a month. The fact that he is played by Tom Welling means nothing to the pair and soon they have kindled a hot and heavy romance. Cue the music.

If you’re familiar with Nicolas Spark’s novels then you pretty much know what to expect going in to “The Choice.” What makes this film a notch above other cookie-cutter Sparks adaptations is a strong cast, particularly from the supporting actors. Of the three leads, Walker does the best. I enjoyed him as our 16th President in “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter,” and he credits himself here. Palmer tries to be the spunky girl but she can’t convince us that she has no interest in Travis. As for Welling…he has gotten HUGE. Too bad they’ve got Henry Cavil to play Superman because Welling looks like he could easily fill out the super-suit now. Supporting work by Tom Wilkinson, as Travis’ father, and Sharon McCormick, as their loyal receptionist, do make the film go by easier than expected. So if you “choose’ to see it with someone, let them know that it could be much worse!

Starring: Josh Brolin, George Clooney and Alden Ehrenreich
Directed By: Joel and Ethan Coen
Rated: PG-13
Running Time: 106 minutes
Universal Pictures

Our Score: 4 out of 5 Stars

The Coen brothers seemingly find a way, movie after movie, to blend genres and create something completely unique, pushing the envelope about what theater goers expect in terms of storytelling, plot, and character development. “Hail, Caesar!” is no different. There’s no denying the Coen brothers talent when it comes to their dramatic works, but when they focus solely on their comedic efforts, it yields a unique array of ideas. They’ve crafted cult classics, toe tapping musicals, and dull remakes. “Hail, Caesar!” falls on the high end of that their comedic works.

There’s a pretentious nature to what the Coen brothers do. There’s an inside joke to a lot of their movies, and if you don’t get, they won’t tell you. The inside joke to “Hail, Caesar!” is the film industry, celebrities, the 1950’s, and I’m sure something else. Someone my age may not understand the mocking nature of the inner workings of the movie studios, the nuances of an era before my time, or the parody nature of the movies shown during the fabulous fifties, but I still enjoyed the oddball nature of “Hail, Caesar!”. It’s a blown kiss and slap in the face to the Hollywood industry.

Eddie Mannix (Brolin) is a “fixer” for Capitol Pictures. His job is to run around all day, making sure the press doesn’t get wind of the latest shocking scandal (a starlet having a child out of wedlock), making sure productions are up to snuff, and that the men financing everything are happy. Of course for “Hail, Caesar!”, he’s also trying to find out where studio star, Baird Whitlock (Clooney) has run off to. Well, he hasn’t gone on one of his alcoholic benders or, as his wife puts it, at some floozies place. But Baird has been kidnapped.

Most other movies would make this plotline essential to the storytelling aspect of this movie, but the Coen brothers find entertainment in the array of movie products, random actors and actresses, and Eddie’s personal home life. There are so many cameos in this movie, it’s impossible to talk about every single one, as well as their subtleties that they add to the plot, the various themes, or their potential jab at real-life events and celebrities. Of course, as I stated earlier, the character may be a part of an inside joke that you may or may not get.

So in essence, it’s a Coen brother’s movie. “Hail, Caesar!” is rich with witty dialogue involving thick-headed actors and sophisticated directors. Channing Tatum, Scarlett Johansson, Tilda Swinton, Jonah Hill, Wayne Knight, Frances McDormand, and others are scattered about, adding their own flavor to the movie. At times it can be overwhelming, but equally underwhelming at times, especially when we find out who has kidnapped Baird and why.

Just take a step back and accept that this is a screwball, ensemble comedy. With that in mind, you should be able to enjoy it’s, at times, confusing narrative. like a fine wine, I expect “Hail, Caesar!” to age gracefully and be a delight to watch occasionally, much like “Raising Arizona” or “The Big Lebowski”. It’s not a masterpiece by “Fargo” and “No Country for Old Men” standards, but it’s certainly a fine addition to the Coen’s collection.

Starring: Fernando Alves Pinto and Alessandra Negrini
Directed by: Afonso Poyart
Rated: Not Rated
Running time: 1 hr 41 mins
XLrator Media

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

“Nobody is bad. People just go the wrong way sometimes.”

Wisdom and reason, all in ten words. And the driving force behind the new film “Two Rabbits,” a film with so many twists and turns you’ll need to wear a seatbelt while watching it.

The basic story is redemption. The film begins with a horrible car accident which kills a woman and her son while they are walking across the screen. Through flashbacks we meet the people involved: the driver of the car, the woman’s husband, the local crime boss, his attorney and the attorney’s police officer wife. We soon learn that things are not as they seem. The wife, Julia (Negrini), finds mistakes in the police files or removes evidence, allowing her husband Henrique (Neco Villa Lobos) to get his high profile clients off in court. His current client is the evil Maicon (Marat Descartes), who will need all the help he can get if he wishes to be found not guilty. All of these people interact with Edgar (Pinto), a man with a past and, hopefully, a future. As the story progresses, things that seemed clear become blurred and people reveal themselves to be exactly what you DIDN’T think they were.

While director Poyart has written a strong script, one which could stand alongside “The Usual Suspect” as far as twists go, he double downs on the story with some amazing camera work. Portions of the film play like a straight-up thriller, others like a scene taken directly from the video game “Grand Theft Auto.” It’s a curious choice but one that works in Poyart’s hands. Poyart also served as the film’s editor, ensuring that the final vision is his. The cast is equally strong and as the plot slowly unwinds they roll well with the punches.

This is Poyart’s feature film debut as both a writer and director and it should be noted that his work here earned him the director’s gig on this fall’s upcoming mystery “Solace,” which will star Anthony Hopkins and Colin Farrell. I’m predicting no sophomore jinx for this filmmaker.

Writer/director Justin D. Chambers has released an advance trailer for his upcoming film, “American Bred,” which will debut in March at the D.C. International Film Festival. MovieMike got an early peek at the film and loves it. Look for his complete review soon.

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In order to celebrate this week’s release of “Kung Fu Panda 3” (which is amazing BTW), Dreamworks Animation is re-releasing the first two “Kung Fu Panda” films with over 80 minutes of new bonus content including an all-new 22 minute animated adventure, “Secret of the Scroll,” and an exclusive sneak peek of DreamWorks Animation Kung Fu Panda 3 as well as Digital HD copies of each film.

Official Premises: In DreamWorks’ Kung Fu Panda, Jack Black is perfect as the voice of Po, a noodle-slurping dreamer who must embrace his true self – fuzzy flaws and all – in order to become the Dragon Warrior. Black reprises his role as Po in Kung Fu Panda 2, the fiercely funny Academy Award-nominated sequel. In his biggest challenge since becoming the Dragon Warrior, Po must lead his friends and fellow kung fu masters, The Furious Five, on a mission of epic proportions to defeat his most threatening rival yet!

This franchise features an all-star voice cast including Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Gary Oldman, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, David Cross, Michelle Yeoh, Danny McBride and Jean-Claude Van Damme. There is ZERO shortage of amazing talent in these films!

The special features included are a Martial Arts Awesomeness Music Video which features the best fight sequences in the beat of “Kung Fu Fighting”. “Mash-Up of Awesomeness: Slo-Mo” focuses the franchises more intense action scenes in slow-motion. There is a “Mash-Up of Blunders” which is basically a gag reel of Po’s most embarrassing moments. Lastly there is an all-new Kung Fu Panda 3 sneak peek with introduction by Jack Black rounding out the extras. If you have never purchased these films, might be a good time to pick them up!

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Starring: Chris Pine, Casey Affleck and Holliday Grainger
Directed by: Craig Gillespie
Rated: PG 13
Running time: 1 hr 57 mins
Walt Disney Pictures

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…somewhere on the Walt Disney lot is a small office in which sits a little man not unlike Burgess Meredith in the “Time Enough At Last” episode of “The Twilight Zone” who does nothing but reads all day, looking for stories, new and old, about amazing events that leave the reader feeling good. It took him six decades but he finally found the story behind “The Finest Hours.”

It’s a cold day in February 1952 as the residents of the small town of Chatham, Massachusetts prepare for a storm. Among the locals is phone operator Vivian (Grainger) and her boyfriend Bernie Webber (Pine), who is stationed at the local US Coast Guard station. The townspeople are a little moody as they recently observed the one year anniversary of a horrible boating accident which killed many. Due to the weather conditions, the Coast Guard was not able to perform a rescue, and some in town still hold a grudge. It is when a similar incident arises, and Webber and his men are sent out into the storm, that old memories prove they do not die easily.

Based on a true story, “The Finest Hours” tells the tale of the four enlisted men who risked their lives in an attempt to bring back thirty-two survivors from a horrible accident in which their actual vessel broke in half. Led by Pine and Ben Foster, the brave military men are a strong and determined lot. Self-reminded of their failure the year before, the men go above and beyond to help. On the ship itself, the men are a motley crew of seasoned vets and young rookies. Let by Affleck’s chief mechanic, some are willing to listen while others distrust him. Then there is the ship’s cook who keeps things light by repeatedly singing “Sit Down, You’re Rocking the Boat” from “Guys and Dolls!”

Technically the film is top notch. The special effects are well done and the various period pieces take you back to a time in life when you couldn’t just pick up your cell phone and check in with others. Do save your money and don’t see “The Finest Hours” in 3D. This may very well be the “least” 3D movie of any 3D movie I’ve ever seen. You’d be better served with an umbrella.

LOS ANGELES, CA (January 12, 2016) – Fans of all ages will rejoice as Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment’s THE PEANUTS MOVIE arrives on Digital HD Feb. 12 and Collector’s Edition Blu-ray™ & DVD March 8, 2016. Every underdog has his day in this fun, family film hailed by critics as “clever and charming” (USA Today), “the year’s best family film” and “funny and heart-warming” (CBS Radio News).

And for a limited time, get a Snoopy Flying Ace plush toy with THE PEANUTS MOVIE DVD,
Blu-ray™ and Digital HD combo pack on March 8 making it the perfect gift for Easter baskets.

In THE PEANUTS MOVIE, good ol’ Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus and the rest of the beloved Peanuts gang appear as you’ve never seen them before in a brand-new feature film from the imagination of Charles M. Schulz and the creators of Ice Age. Join everyone’s favorite eternal optimist, Charlie Brown, as he embarks on a heroic quest, while his beagle pal Snoopy takes to the skies to pursue his arch nemesis, the Red Baron. It’s a hilarious and heart-warming adventure!

THE PEANUTS MOVIE is directed by Steve Martino (Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who!) and produced and written by Bryan Schulz, Craig Schulz and Cornelius Uliano. Paul Feig (Spy, The Heat) and Michael Travers are also film producers.

With the Collector’s Edition Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital HD fans can go deeper into the world of THE PEANUTS MOVIE with these fun-filled special features! Watch all-new Snoopy Snippets, check out the delightful documentary about the film’s extraordinary journey from the comics to the big screen, learn to draw Peanuts characters, sing along to music videos, choose your favorite songs from Snoopy’s Playlist and more!

THE PEANUTS MOVIE Blu-ray 3D™, Blu-ray™ & Digital HD includes:

Feature film in high definition
Special Features:

• Snoopy Snippets – Can’t get enough of your favorite Peanuts characters? These six all-new Snoopy Snippets will brighten your day!
• You Never Grow Up Charlie Brown – In this fascinating documentary, you’ll learn about Charles Schulz, the history of the Peanuts gang, and their journey to the big screen!
• Snoopy’s Sibling Salute – It’s a Snoopy family reunion as The Peanuts Movie filmmakers introduce viewers to Snoopy’s siblings: Andy, Olaf, Spike, Belle and Marbles.
• Learn To Draw Snoopy, Woodstock and Charlie Brown – Director Steve Martino provides fun, step-by-step tutorials on how to draw Snoopy, Woodstock and Charlie Brown.
• Get Down With Snoopy and Woodstock Music Video – Clap, dance and sing along with Snoopy, Woodstock and Charlie Brown to an all-new version of everyone’s favorite Peanuts song!
• “Better When I’m Dancin’” Meghan Trainor Lyric Video – The Peanuts gang is dancing up a storm with moves like you’ve never seen before—and on-screen lyrics so you can sing along.
• “Better When I’m Dancin’” Meghan Trainor Music Video – Escape to a wonderful, whimsical world with Meghan Trainor’s music video for her hit song “Better When I’m Dancin’.”
• Behind The Scenes of “Better When I’m Dancin’” – Meghan Trainor takes you on an exclusive tour behind the scenes and on the set of her “Better When I’m Dancin’” music video!
• Snoopy’s Playlist – Now the music from the movie is at your fingertips—use Snoopy’s Playlist to jump directly to your favorite songs.

THE PEANUTS MOVIE DVD includes:

Feature film in standard definition
Special Features:

• Snoopy Snippets – Can’t get enough of your favorite Peanuts characters? These six all-new Snoopy Snippets will brighten your day!
• Learn To Draw Snoopy, Woodstock and Charlie Brown – Director Steve Martino provides fun, step-by-step tutorials on how to draw Snoopy, Woodstock and Charlie Brown.
• Get Down With Snoopy and Woodstock Music Video – Clap, dance and sing along with Snoopy, Woodstock and Charlie Brown to an all-new version of everyone’s favorite Peanuts song!
• “Better When I’m Dancin’” Meghan Trainor Lyric Video – The Peanuts gang is dancing up a storm with moves like you’ve never seen before—and on-screen lyrics so you can sing along.
• “Better When I’m Dancin’” Meghan Trainor Music Video – Escape to a wonderful, whimsical world with Meghan Trainor’s music video for her hit song “Better When I’m Dancin’.”
• Behind The Scenes of “Better When I’m Dancin’” – Meghan Trainor takes you on an exclusive tour behind the scenes and on the set of her “Better When I’m Dancin’” music video!
• Snoopy’s Playlist – Now the music from the movie is at your fingertips—use Snoopy’s Playlist to jump directly to your favorite songs.

Tommy Wiseau is the director, producer, writer and star of the cult classic film “The Room”. Since the film was released back in 2003 it has achieved “Rocky Horror” like fame playing to midnight screenings non-stop to a huge fan base. Some called the film one of the worst ever made but true fans see “The Room” for what it really it, which is fun! The film was parodied live by the Rifftrax gang last year and is heading back to theaters again on January 28th, 2016. Media Mikes had a chance to catch up with Tommy again to discuss “The Room”, James Franco playing him in “The Disaster Artist” film adaptation and what else he is currently working on.

Mike Gencarelli: Tell us how you feel about “The Room” being parodied by Rifftrax Live?
Tommy Wiseau: Yeah they reached out to me about a year ago about doing it. I liked what they did, I mean, I don’t support parts of it 100%, but it does show how fun “The Room” is. People take things too serious and the film isn’t made to be serious, it is made to be fun. If you haven’t seen the Rifftrax Live version of “The Room” in theaters, I would recommend it highly when it comes around again January 28th, 2016. And bring a big group of friends with you as well.

Mike Gencarelli: The film has been out for 13 years now, are you ever taken back by the continued interested in it year after year?
Tommy Wiseau: Yes, I am still surprised. I am happy that people are still talking about it and still seeing it in theaters. I also have been working a few new projects as well that I am excited for fans of “The Room” to see as well. I love touring with the film across the country. I usually show “The Room” and an episode of “The Neighbors” as a double header. It is a lot of fun to do and also getting to interact with the fans.

Mike Gencarelli: Last time we spoke back in 2011, you mentioned you were planning a 3D release for “The Room”; can we expect that soon?
Tommy Wiseau: Yeah that is something that I have wanted to do for a while. Making a film into 3D is definitely not an easy process. So yes, I still want to release “The Room” in 3D, but right now I am not sure if I want to reshoot the entire film in 3D or just convert it. But I am definitely still planning and exploring my options. Right now James Franco is making his film of “The Disaster Artist”, so I will let him have that and then I will focus more on the 3D after it is released.

Mike Gencarelli: Speaking of that, tell us about your feelings on James Franco playing you in the film adaption of Greg Sestero and Tom Bissell’s book “The Disaster Artist”?
Tommy Wiseau: I think James is one best actors in the business. I feel good that someone like him is playing me. Of course, I also feel a little like they are taking something away from me since it is based around my life and my movie. I hope that this is a big success for James since then in return I think it will also then bring more people to “The Room” and that’s good.

Mike Gencarelli: Exactly, I think that this will put your film back in the spotlight and also introduce it to a new audience…
Tommy Wiseau: Yes, exactly. I am hoping about that. James and his brothers are doing a very good job so far and I am excited to see it when it comes out later this year.

Mike Gencarelli: Do you have any involvement or input on the upcoming film?
Yeah James did speak with me about the role and I gave him some tips. My life is very complex but I believe he will do a good job. I also have a small part in the film as well, which is cool.

Mike Gencarelli: Did you enjoy playing the villain Linton Kitano in newly released “Samurai Cop 2: Deadly Vengeance”?
Tommy Wiseau: It is always great to play a villain, I loved it. This film was a very fun experience for me I can tell you that.

Mike Gencarelli: Your TV series “The Neighbors” has aired 6 episodes on Hulu; any plans for more episodes on that format?
Tommy Wiseau: Yes! Currently 6 episodes have aired on Hulu and the fans really have been excited about what we have so far. I am currently working on another 6 episodes for Hulu. We have been also exploring releasing the episodes in animated format as well. So that is something that we were trying and it also getting a good response. I hope to have the next 6 episodes on Hulu by the end of 2016.

Mike Gencarelli: You did a Reddit AMA last year where you mentioned a new project called “The Foreclosure”, what can you tell us?
Tommy Wiseau: Yeah that is a project that I am currently working on as well as “The Neighbors”. “The Foreclosure” focuses on the housing market right now and looks into the current situation that we are facing today with people not being able to pay for their houses and being forced to foreclose. It is a current topic. There is also another project that I have that is currently untitled but that I cannot talk about right now…maybe in about 3-4 months, I can. But a lot of very excited stuff coming up for my fans!

“I Am Thor”

Starring: Jon Mikl Thor
Directed by: Ryan Wise
Rated: Not Rated
Running time: 1 hr 24 mins

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Jon Mikl Thor was a bodybuilding, steel bending, brick-smashing rock star in the 70’s and 80’s whose theatrical band THOR hit the scene alongside Metallica and Kiss, but never achieved the gold record status of its contemporaries. After a brief but memorable film career saw him starring in cult classics like “Rock n Roll Nightmare” and “Zombie Nightmare” Thor all but disappeared. Tracing the rise, fall, and rebirth of a determined performer “I Am Thor” paints a fascinating and sometimes unbelievable portrait of this larger-than-life icon.

Anybody who grew up in the 70’s and 80’s had to have caught a glimpse or at the very least heard of Thor at some point during their adolescence. Whether it was tales of his abilities to bend steel or break cinder blocks with a single blow being told around the school yard to possibly catching a late night showing of “Rock n Roll Nightmare” or maybe you were fortunate enough to purchase a copy of Thor’s 1978 release “Keep the Dogs Away”. Whichever it may have been Thor was there. “I Am Thor” is more than just your basic rise, fall and rise again type of documentary. Instead you get an unprecedented look at Thor’s career told directly from the man himself Jon Mikel Thor. From his early beginnings as a body building champion in Canada and the subsequent evolution of the Thor character over 30 years the viewer experiences it all. Packed with both new and vintage footage the film had everything I like in a documentary of this style.

Yes the rise/fall/rise story line is becoming a bit tiring at this point as this film is certainly not the first to adopt this format nor will it probably be the last however, these type of films which showcase one person or a group of peoples undying dedication to themselves and their fans are what keep me coming back for more. “I Am Thor” is a diamond in the rough just waiting to be discovered.

Starring: Chloe Grace Moretz, Ron Livingston and Liev Schreiber
Directed by: J. Blakeson
Rated: PG 13
Running time: 1 hr 52 mins
SONY Pictures

Our Score: 1 out of 5 stars

The following plea is for Chloe Grace Moretz: “PLEASE FIND A NEW AGENT!”

After a promising career that began with great performances in such films as “Kick Ass,” “Let Me In” and “Hugo,” in the past couple of years she has starred in such stinkers as the remake of “Carrie” and the “I’m not dead, I’m in a coma” film “If I Stay,” which had the distinction of being, in my opinion, the worse film of 2014. Now, apparently, she’s decided to make my job easy by showing up in, what I’m sure will be, among the worse films of 2016.

Cassie Sullivan (Moretz) is your typical youthful high school girl. She likes to hang with her friends and holds a secret crush on the captain of the football team. But she’s also a good girl, coming home from parties before curfew and looking out for her little brother Sam (Zackary Arthur). Then the aliens come. The end! Sorry. Sadly, it isn’t that easy.

A film only in the sense that it’s being shown in theatres, “The 5th Wave” tells the story about what can happen when you reveal the BIG ending 20 minutes into the film and apparently forget what the words “continuity” and “believable” mean. As the title maintains, there are five waves. The first wave has alien craft hovering over various cities. The second takes out all sources of power. Then the Pharaoh declares that all first born male children are to be killed. Not really. Just seeing if you were paying attention.

How do I hate thee, “5th Wave?” Let me count the ways. Let’s begin with the jaw dropping idea that, when there is an imminent alien invasion, we will continue to send out children to school. When there is no more electrical power or running water we will continue to appear freshly shaved and newly bathed. And when the world does come to an end, the only thing worth salvaging will be Slim Jims. Actually, I like the Slim Jim idea. Director Blakeson (who only goes by his first initial, J – and can you blame him? If I was associated with this film I wouldn’t give my full name either) has cobbled together a hodgepodge of bad plot lines and stretched them out for almost two hours.

Sadly, the fault is not all his (or, for all I know, hers). I also blame the three screenwriters who created these horrible tropes. I can’t believe Akiva Goldsman helped write this thing. This is a man who won an Oscar for writing “A Beautiful Mind,” adapted two John Grisham novels for the screen and does great work for Ron Howard. Of course, he also wrote “Batman and Robin” and the upcoming FIFTH “Transformers” film. OK, maybe I can believe it. Speaking of Oscar, if they gave away an award for most continuity errors in one film, this baby would sweep the category. Just off the top of my head, here are three to look for:

1. While heading for a certain destination, Cassie remarks that she is 30 miles from her destination. After walking for a day or so she comes across a sign that tells her she is 43 miles away. At least the sign points her in the right direction. That being said, a couple days later, when she asks how far she is, the answer is now 60 miles.

2. Early in the film Cassie is given a gun, which she later fires until the slide locks, indicating the weapon is empty. Next time you see it, it’s fully loaded.

3. Remember when I said that all power (electrical, gas, etc) has been eradicated? Cassie comes across an abandoned Jeep on her travels and hops in to rest. Thankfully the dome light is working properly so she can see better.

If you’re still interested in the film, you’re a better person than I am. Pays your money and takes your chances. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

Starring the Voices of: David Thewlis, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Tom Noonan
Directed By: Charlie Kaufman
Rated: R
Running Time: 90 minutes
Paramount Pictures

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Charlie Kaufman is known for writing incredibly deep, poetic films, packed with well-thought out themes highlighting the human condition. It’s hard to whittle down all the ideas that are generally presented in his movies, like “Being John Malkovich”, “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” and “Adaptation”. His writing is crisp, refreshing, and sometimes highlights unknown mental problems and the emotional disconnection we sometimes face in this little thing called life. “Anomalisa” is another entry in Kaufman’s peculiar catalogue. It’s his most audacious movie, but it’s also his most overrated.

Visually, “Anomalisa” draws you in with its 3D puppets populating the world. The attention to detail is marvelous, but it allows the viewer to quickly recognize that the people (puppets) are all eerily similar. The men and women, that aren’t Michael Stone (Thewlis), blur together because of their lack of uniqueness. It doesn’t help that everyone in this movie is voiced by Tom Noonan, adding to one of the first ideas of the movie. Michael is alone and that sense of loneliness is more profound that he’s leading on.

Michael talks with a cabbie, a bellhop, his wife, and even his son, but all of them sound the same. Even though he can’t see some of them, they all share the same bright lifeless eyes. His seems to be the only ones with any kind of glimmer. The hopelessness would envelop Michael if it wasn’t for Lisa (Leigh). Unlike everyone else Michael comes across, is shy, slightly disfigured, and most importantly, not voiced by Noonan. Michael’s sadness temporarily fades as he seems to contemplate leaving his wife, his son, and everything else behind for this one person who has broken through his monotone life.

Michael’s experience is slightly more interesting than anyone else because he’s a self-help guru that people adore. It breaks the mold by showing that the ones who are supposed to have all the knowledge and should feel the most love, still act withdrawn and feel isolated from the rest of the happy people surrounding them. It raises an interesting question about how we sometimes wonder if the smiling faces we see around us are facades. At the same time, it asks an equally stranger question, as to whether or not the people we see are actually as deep and emotional as we are. Which is an inherently selfish thought, but Michael’s not perfect. He is selfish.

One of the first real problems with “Anomalisa” is that Michael is not a likeable enough person for us to feel too much sympathy for. But are we supposed to? That seems like the biggest question that goes unanswered in “Anomalisa”. He’s self-absorbed and neurotic, and a quick glance of his life may imply he’s suffering from a mid-life crisis, but this is a Charlie Kaufman film and nothing can be as simple as that. The multiple layers that we have to peel a way to find the answer, only reveals a truth that’s even deeper than we’ve already dug.

As much as I want to love “Anomalisa” for its unique style, its fearless manner in which it tackles its subject and his feelings, I can’t help but feel cheated. I can’t help but feel like Kaufman chose the wrong person to center all these existential feelings and questions around. By the end, Michael is not someone that we should root for or like, and if anything, his unlikeability cheapens the luxuriant message. A lot of dialogue in the beginning feels hackneyed, and as it progresses, it begins to feel threadbare. When your purpose is to show how repetitious life becomes, you run the risk of letting your dialogue become tedious.

I feel like “Anomalisa” would have been a fantastic short, but even within 90 minutes; I may have spent too much time being down in the dumps with Michael. If its goal is to make me feel less optimistic and unsure about our place in the world, it’s succeeded. I can’t recommend “Anomalisa” to the average viewer, but I can recommend it to the thousands of cinephiles and film art students that aspire to be intrepid, brave, and original with their content.

“The Garbage Pail Kids Movie” Collector’s Edition
Blu-Ray, DVD
Rated: PG
Studio: Shout! Factory
Film Run Time: 97 minutes

Media Mikes Score: 4.5 out of 5 stars

It Doesn’t Get Any Grosser Than This… Especially in High-Definition! Your favorite grime bandits come to life in this hilarious film full of “gross-out humor” (The New York Times). Based on the wildly trading cards, “The Garbage Pail Kids Movie” stars Mackenzie Astin (Iron Will, Wyatt Earp) as a perfectly nice teenager who discovers the Kids…to his great disgust! When the kids are accidentally released from their magical trash can prison, all smell breaks loose. Despite their offensive personal habits – and attitude problems – Dodger (Astin) soon becomes fond of the Kids. But when Messy Tessie, Foul Phil, Valerie Vomit and the whole crew join his fight against thuggish bullies, their efforts just might land them behind bars!

Upon hearing that “The Garbage Pail Kids Movie” was getting a Collector’s Edition release I couldn’t wait to check it out in person. I remember renting this movie from the local video store and watching it over and over until we had to return it sometimes just to re-rent it. The latest version of the film’s release which I picked up in Blu-Ray format didn’t really add to the films initial quality including added clarity or sound as portions of the film still remained a bit grainy and the sound a touch on the tinny side however I found those minuet short coming only added to the films appeal as it was a bit reminiscent of the worn out VHS rental cassettes of the mid/late 80’s. It was great to see classic characters such as Ali Gator, Messy Tessy and of course my personal favorite Windy Winston.

As an added bonus to the collector’s edition there are several really cool sections which includes new interviews with the films Special Makeup Effects Creator John Carl Buechler and Makeup Effects Artist Gino Crognale as well as with the films lead Mackenzie Astin, Arturo Gil (Windy Winston) And Kevin Thompson (Ali Gator) among some other great features. Once again the great people at Shout! Factory delivers with this 80’s classic which I couldn’t be happier with.