3D Blu-ray Review “G.I. Joe: Retaliation 3D”

Actors: Channing Tatum, Dwayne Johnson, Bruce Willis, Ray Stevenson, Adrianne Palicki, Ray Park
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Paramount
Release Date: July 30, 2013
Run Time: 110 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
3D: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of 5 stars

I am an 80′s kid and I have and always will be a fan of “G.I. Joe”. The first film “G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra” was fun but a bit of a mess. “G.I. Joe: Retaliation” is a nice improvement, yet far from perfect. It is jam-packed with non-stop action and some great visuals. One problem that I had with the first film was how cartoony it looked. This film is must more realistic and the way they should have done “G.I. Joe” from the beginning. If you’ve seen the trailers then you will know that action stars Dwayne Johnson and Bruce Willis have joined the team and help to rescue this franchise. They both deliver in terms of amping up this film to a higher profile. Most importantly, they ditched Marlon Waynes from the first one, which was the worst casting ever. If you are looking for a fun and action-packed time, then check this sequel out. I am sure that we have not seen the end of this franchise. GO JOE!

“G.I. Joe: Retaliation” focuses around the team not only fighting their mortal enemy COBRA, but they are forced to contend with threats from within the government that jeopardize their very existence. The G.I. Joes get framed by Zartan, who disguises as the Commander in Chief (Jonathan Pryce), of stealing nuclear warheads. Due to this the elimination of the Joe’s are put in place by the fake president and it is up to Roadblock (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson), Lady Jaye (Adrianne Palicki), Flint (D.J. Cotrona), Snake Eyes (Ray Park) and Jinx (Elodie Yung) to fight the Cobra Commander and put a holt on his plans for world domination.

Paramount is releasing this film as a Blu-ray 3D/Blu-ray/DVD combo pack with an UltraViolet. In addition, this release will include a limited time offer to receive a FREE set of high-quality, collectible personalized dog tags. This film was delayed so it can be post-converted to 3D in order to follow the trend of recent releases. I would like to say that it works for the film but it is really doesn’t. There isn’t really much depth or wow factor added to film with this aspect. The 3D isn’t the worst that I have ever seen but it is not the best either. As much as it pains me to the say, the 2D version is actually much more clearer and is the preferred way to enjoy this film fully. Despite the 3D, the 1080p transfer is super clear and works well with non-stop action. When it comes to audio tracks, “G.I. Joe: Retaliation” will literally knock you on your ass with its Dolby TrueHD 7.1 track. It sounds amazing, period.

All of the special features appear on the 2D Blu-ray, there are no 3D extras here. First up we have an audio commentary track with director John M. Chu and producer Lorenzo Di Bonaventura, which delivers tons of great information about the production. Next up we have “G.I. Joe: Declassified”, which is an eight part series of featurettes. “Mission Briefing” looks into the production and design with director Jon M. Chu. “Deployment” takes us through the military aspect of the film with Military Advisor and ex Navy SEAL Harry Humphries. “Two Ninjas” looks into the Storm Shadow and Snake Eyes role in the film. “The Desert Attack” looks into filming the film’s critical sequence. ”Cobra Strikes” looks into the Cobra’s look and sets for his evilness. “The Lone Soldiers” looks into the history behind the series”. “The Monastery” looks into the creating the huge Storm Shadow-Snake Eyes fight. “Fort Sumter” talks about shooting at Fort Pike. Lastly there are three short deleted scenes.

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Film Review “Only God Forgives”

Starring: Ryan Gosling, Kristin Scott Thomas, Vithaya Pansringarm
Directed By: Nicolas Winding Refn
Rated: R
Running Time: 1 hr 30 mins
Radius-TWC

Our Score: 1.5 out of 5 stars

I’ve enjoyed my fair share of hyper violent movies and art house flicks. I enjoyed Nicolas Winding Refn’s last effort “Drive,” which you could say is a combination of both. So I should have enjoyed this movie. I’m sure everyone else in the sold out theater I was at had some reason as to why they thought they would enjoy this movie as well. Every eye was glued to the screen as the lights dimmed and the film started up. Thirty minutes in, they were rubbing those tired eyes in frustration.

The film has three main characters. Julian (Ryan Gosling) is a conflicted American who’s respected by a ring of Hong Kong thugs. Beneath his quiet demeanor is something perverse. He likes to watch, and fantasizes about, women pleasuring themselves. When he needs to climax, he brutalizes a nearby bystander or visualizes something violent. It’s not really comforting to know that part of him realizes he’s a monster. Lt. Chang (Vithaya Pansringarm) is not conflicted. He’s set in his ways and believes in an “eye for an eye” style of justice. He allows citizens to take vengeance. He also manages to squeeze in life lessons through dismemberment. The final piece to this trinity is Julian’s mom, Crystal (Kristin Scott Thomas). Her words are like poison and repugnant to the ears. They are a blunt weapon used to sway and control Julian. Everyone’s moral compass is wrapped around Billy, Julian’s hated brother and Crystal’s favorite. Billy has been beaten to death because he savagely raped and killed a teenage prostitute. Crystal blames Billy’s death on Chang and does her best to encourage Julian to carry out her bloodlust.

None of these characters are likeable. None of them have motives behind their unforgiving nature. It’s obvious that Chang and Crystal are allegories because they’re so simplistic in their actions and motions. The only one that has some potential depth is the near mute Julian. Apparently Gosling’s motivation throughout this movie was to nod and occasionally get angry. If there is a story line it seems that it’s expected to be told through the film’s visual style and occasional character facial movements. Almost every scene is drenched in neon red and ocean blue lights. Some scenes are beautiful enough to speak for themselves while others feel incredibly forced. There are long moments of silence, occasionally broken by a fantastic soundtrack. Of course if you’ve seen “Drive”, you know this is one of Refn’s strengths. You will also know he has a taste for blood that, surprisingly, this movie seems short on. In its place Refn tries to make up for it by making us squirm and feel uncomfortable in our seats. You could say that might be one the film’s anti-charms. An elegantly polished movie that’s doing everything in its power to make us hate it.

This film will have an audience, albeit a very small, niche crowd. They will certainly hail it as brilliant and visually stunning. They may even stick their nose up to those who walk out or say it’s terrible. They’ll say those people didn’t understand its true meaning. Even if you peel away the layers and find the meaning, you’ll know that, though the cinematography was right, someone other than Refn needed to pen the story. This is the kind of movie that doesn’t want to be loved or adored. It spits at your kindness and is unapologetic. At least that’s how the man in the seat next to me must have felt. As the credits rolled he said aloud, “Well that was a piece of ****.” He then looked towards his friend next to him and said, “I’m sorry I brought you to this.” Like an untrained puppy, the movie does not expect forgiveness, it’s happy with the mess it made.

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Event Review “The Rain Room” at The Museum of Modern Art

Rain Room
The Museum of Modern Art
May 12–July 28, 2013

The line stretches through the lot and down the sidewalk, and it’s moving at a snail’s pace. As the hours go by and tempers rise, people begin to question if this is all worth it.

And then you walk inside.

And directly into a dream.

The first thing you sense when you finally enter the darkened space, is the sound. It’s the sound of falling water, and as you turn the corner, you are met with an arresting sight: a darkened room, lit with only a spotlight, and a large block of rain falling from the ceiling. The guard nods at you, and you slowly approach it, your nose now picking up on the smell of water. You tentatively reach a hand into the falling droplets, expecting to be drenched in seconds, and instead feel…nothing. There’s a dry area surrounding your outstretched hand- a type of force field that is keeping it dry. As you make a slow wave, the dry area follows you. You take a deep breath and step fully into the room. Miraculously, no water touches you, and you start to feel a sense of joy and of play. You can control the rain!

Rain Room (2012) is rAndom International’s installation art piece currently on exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art as part of the MoMA PS1 Exhibition (EXPO 1: New York). It is, in the simplest of terms, a literal room of rain. Hundreds of gallons of water are cycled through the room per minute, and 3D tracking cameras line the space, sensing its occupants and their movements, and repel the water from releasing up above them. It is best to move at a moderate pace- too fast, and the sensors are unable to keep up, and you will get wet. rAndom International’s founders, Stuart Wood, Florian Ortkrass, and Hannes Koch, have been reticent in revealing the specifics of how it all works, allowing it to continue to be a fantasy and mystery to those who experience it.

Perhaps the best thing about Rain Room is the audience interaction component. Every person will experience the room in their own way and will become part of an unexpected show of immersive meteorology, so the room is always changing. It challenges participants to go against their ingrained responses while experientially engaging four senses at the same time. There’s a feeling of romance, delight, and contemplation at being able to literally control the water falling around you.

Rain Room is located in the lot space directly next to the MoMA and is included in the regular ticket price. It is open daily during normal museum hours. Entry is limited to only ten people at a time. The exhibit runs until July 28th.

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Film Review “R.I.P.D”

Starring: Jeff Bridges, Ryan Reynolds and Kevin Bacon
Directed By: Robert Schwentke
Rated: PG-13
Running Time: 1 hour 36 mins
Universal Pictures

Our Score: 2 out of 5 stars

As you watch this movie (and I recommend you don’t) you’re going to make a lot of connections between “R.I.P.D.” and the sci-fi action/comedy and summer hit of 1997, “Men in Black”. “R.I.P.D.” is not a comedy. You will most likely not be leaving your seat with a smile on your face and discussing how much you enjoyed the movie with your friends. You may instead want a neuralyzer to erase your memory.

Nick Walker (Reynolds) is a hardworking man for the Boston Police Department with a loving, adorable wife and cute home nestled in suburbia. Recently he’s felt guilty about some gold he and his partner Bobby (Bacon) have recently acquired during a raid. Nick tells Bobby his worries, which leads to Bobby shooting Nick to death amidst the chaos of a meth bust. This is where we meet the world of the R.I.P.D.: the Rest In Peace Department. Because Nick had some questionable ethics on Earth, he’s told he can face judgment now and risk damnation or put in some time with the R.I.P.D. and redeem himself. At least that’s how his new boss, Mildred (Mary-Louise Parker) describes it. His job is to find people who’ve escaped the afterlife (called a dead-o) and now wander the streets of Earth as normal looking people but are grotesque, dead creatures underneath. Some of them are really disgusting to look at. She pairs him with Roy (Jeff Bridges), who speaks like he’s in the Wild West and has been doing this for well over 100 years.

I haven’t read the comic this movie is based off of, so I can’t really shame whoever ruined the script. It feels like a bunch of stolen ideas were jammed together. Kind of like the person who’s putting together a jigsaw puzzle and instead of finding the right pieces, constantly pounds wrong pieces together in frustration. That’s not to say the actors don’t try really, really hard. The script has some bad dialogue, but a huge dose of credit goes to Bridges and Reynolds. They aren’t given much, but they make it work, even when it’s painfully unfunny. Since Nick and Roy can’t be seen as themselves, when they walk on Earth they have avatars which provide some great visual gags. Roy’s avatar is a stunning, golden curvy goddess (Marisa Miller) while Nick’s avatar is a frail looking Asian man (James Hong). It’s quite humorous when people whistle and flirt with Roy’s avatar or when they see the elderly avatar of Nick dust himself off after being hit by a car. I also got a really good giggle out of seeing the delightful James Hong holding a banana (it’s actually a gun). Besides that, the humor depends on Roy saying a swear word or one of the walking dead farting and burping. Yes, you read that right. The script thinks bad CGI looking creatures can be funny as long as they fart or burp.

This movie is directed by Robert Schwentke, who also worked on “RED” and definitely has a knack for slapping together some over the top and fun action scenes. The best parts of the movie come when they’re trying to capture a dead-o, but those scenes don’t last long enough and we’re back to seeing a couple more poorly done cues from “Men in Black”. The one thing this movie can be proud of is trumping “The Lone Ranger” as the biggest waste of potential this summer.

I could nitpick the finer details of this movie, like why the dead hate cumin or how a soul could even escape judgment once it’s dead, but you have to suspend some logic in a movie like this. If you’re willing to do that for every minute, you might find yourself enjoying the movie like some people at the screening were. By the time the credits started rolling, I’ll admit I found myself laughing a couple of times and enjoying Roy trying to lasso a dead-o. I just wish they could have let the comic’s short lived time from 1999-2000 rest in peace. But instead they slapped it awake and handed it a check for $130 million. Instead of breathing some life into it and letting it stand on its own feet without the crutch of other people’s ideas, they suited it up and sent off to the theaters for its own funeral.

 

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Film Review “The Way, Way Back”

Starring: Steve Carell, Toni Collette and Liam James
Directed by: Nat Faxon and Jim Rash
Rated: PG 13
Running time: 1 hr 43 mins
Fox Searchlight

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

On a scale of 1-10 how do you see yourself? This is the question that starts off the summer for fourteen year old Duncan (James). It is posed by his mom’s new boyfriend, Trent (Carell) in what he considers a chance for the boy to loosen up. After much thinking Duncan offers up a 6. “No,” he’s told. “You’re a 3.”

Beautifully written and featuring a side of Steve Carell that is rarely seen on screen, “The Way, Way Back” is the directorial debut of screenwriters Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, who shared an Oscar with Alexander Payne for their script of “The Descendants” a couple years ago. Like that film, “The Way, Way Back” is filled with characters so real you could swear you’ve known them all your life. The story follows Duncan, his mother Pam (Collette), Trent and his teenage daughter Steph (Zoe Levin) as they spend their summer on Cape Cod in Trent’s beach house. Of course they are surrounded by some crazy neighbors, including Kip and Joan (Rob Corrdry and Amanda Peete) and next door neighbor Betty (Allison Janney). Betty is divorced with two kids: Susanna (AnnaSophia Robb) and Peter (River Alexander). Susanna is a year older then Duncan and misses her dad. Peter is dealing with a lazy eye and his mother’s wrath for constantly playing with his “Star Wars” dolls…sorry, action figures. Having nothing in common with anyone Duncan finds an old bicycle and rides it into town, where he is taken under the wing of Owen (Sam Rockwell), the manager of Water Wizz, the local water park. Not only does Owen give Duncan a job, he also gives him the confidence to know that he is much more than a 3.

Kudos all around to the cast. Carell is in full “prick” mode here. The kind of guy that calls you “buddy” constantly and quibbles about the rules when playing Candyland. Collette is vulnerable as a woman hoping to find love again, sometimes ignoring her son for the sake of her new boyfriend. James, probably best known for his role on the television series “Psych,” is outstanding here. He’s in almost every scene in the film and he carries it easily. The supporting cast, which also includes Faxon and Rash, is equally good. But I must reserve special praise here for Janney and Rockwell. Both of them have always been under appreciated (in my opinion) and their work here is among some of their best. Faxon and Rash are more than competent behind the camera and the film flows smoothly, easily mixing laughter with tears without being heavy handed. I wouldn’t be surprised to see it on Oscar’s short list next year.

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Film Review “Springsteen and I”

Starring: Bruce Springsteen
Directed by: Baillie Walsh
Rated: Not Rated
Running time: 2 hrs 4 mins
Black Dog Films

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

“”I saw my rock and roll past flash before my eyes. I saw something else: I saw rock and roll’s future and its name is Bruce Springsteen.” Jon Landau, May 9, 1974

“This guy seems to be pretty popular.” Floyd Smith (my dad), October 31, 1975, handing me the only album he ever bought me, “Born to Run.” It was his attempt to connect with his fifteen-year old son. He had seen Springsteen on the covers of TIME and NEWSWEEK magazine earlier that week.

Since the early 1970s Bruce Springsteen, both solo and with the E Street Band, has given his musical soul to his fans. I first saw him live on February 5, 1981 while he was promoting his album “The River.” All total I’ve seen him live five times. What’s amazing is that he played just as hard (and just as long) in 2008 (I missed the 2012 “Wrecking Ball” tour) as he did nearly three decades earlier. He loves his fans and his fans love him. “Springsteen and I” is a documentary about that love.

The film opens with the Boss and the band on stage. He’s working the crowd into a fever pitch, thanking them for the energy they provide. “We need you,” he tells them. And they need him. The next two hours is a collection of homemade videos submitted by fans describing their relationship with Springsteen. One woman tells about how she holds a photo of Springsteen up in front of her infant child and repeats, over and over, “Daddy.” Others tell of how his music has affected their lives. Some of the stories are incredibly personal. A young man whose girlfriend broke up with him the day of the concert bravely attends the show alone with a sign reading “Just got dumped. Can I get a hug?” Springsteen happily obliges. Another man recalls the time he went to a show dressed as Elvis and bearing a sign that asked “Can the King sing with the Boss?” A young woman tells the story of how she got Springsteen’s attention with an “I’ll be your Courtney Cox” sign and soon found herself dancing on stage to “Dancing in the Dark.” What makes these stories even more amazing is that director Baillie Walsh has been able to go into the Springsteen archives and find the footage of these events and many more.

Walsh, who helmed the fantastic Oasis documentary “Lord Don’t Slow Me Down” as well as the feature film “Flashbacks of a Fool,” has dug out some gems. From raw and grainy early 1970s video tape to the multi-camera in house feeds of today, he presents an outstanding look into the man and his music. The musical numbers are complimented by the fans that share their memories, both funny (“I lost my virginity to ‘Thunder Road,’” says one woman) and poignant (“He taught me to be a better man”). Many are asked to sum up Springsteen in three words. Among the ones given: Poet, passion, comfort, hope, desire. One fan defines him as a Working Class Hero. But the words most fans, myself included, want to pass on to Springsteen come straight from the heart: Thank you!

“Springsteen and I” will debut in theatres around the world on July 22, with an encore presentation on July 30. For the location of a theatre near you visit www.springsteenandi.com.

 

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Product Review: Genius Gaming Arcade Stick for PC & PS3 (Arcade F-1000)

I grew up when arcades used to be very popular and there was nothing like coming home from school and spending the afternoon at the arcade. Unfortunately those days are passed use with today’s high-def video game systems and vanishing arcades. Well, Genius has an answer to your prayers for all us hardcore gamers by bringing the arcade-quality control home for use with your PC or PS3. The new gaming arcade stick, Arcade F-1000 is a great way for us hardcore gamers to get that arcade feel while being in the comfort of our own homes.

This great item can be used on today’s games like “Street Fighter”, “Tekken” and even the “Call of Duty” series. Like I said it works with both PS3 and PC systems, even with Windows 8 operating system (Sorry XBOX you miss out here). I have to admit playing with this brought me back to the old days. It delivers the classic arcade feel yet it is so integrated with today’s games that it works so well.

Now let’s get to the details of the actual device. This comes with a standard 4-axis 13-button joypad and supports turbo function, so you have more precise control that an arcade layout provides and helps you get to the next level while playing action and shooting games. I have to admit, I have always been playing games on the PC but this really gives a great transition to crossing over to the PS3 with this arcade stick. What I like most is that it is not a cheap piece of plastic, it has a quite durable and sturdy metal base. It is not too heavy though weighing in at 1.866 kilograms.

The Arcade F-1000 lastly comes with 3 meter cable and 1 meter extension cable if you need the extra room and this really benefited my setup quite well. I remember my old NES controller with its 12 inch wire and we used to have to sit right in front of the screen before the days of wireless. This great item is now available in the US and Canada for the suggested retail price of US$59.99. I think it is worth every penny and will deliver a new or retro video game experience for sure.

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Blu-ray Review “Would You Rather”

Actors: Brittany Snow, Jeffrey Combs, Sasha Grey
Rated: Unrated
Studio: MPI HOME VIDEO
Release Date: July 9, 2013
Run Time: 93 minutes

Film: 2 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1.5 out of 5 stars

Horror films recently have become more about grossing you out than actually scaring you. “Would You Rather” fits a into that mold but where the gore would be the film cuts away, which blows by mind. What this film does have is a good cast (with the exception of porn star Sasha Grey, who thinks that she is an actress now but reality check…she is not!). Jeffrey Combs is always brillant in anything he does and he was the main draw for me. John Heard , aka the dad from “Home Alone” pops in but does not stick along very long. Eddie Steeples from “My Name Is Earl” does a good job of crossing over from comedy. I found myself very bored with the rest of the film.  The idea starts off right but then gets repetitive, especially with 95% of the film takes place at a table. Definitely do not recommend for any horror fan.

Official Premise: What would you do if a millionaire offered you a chance to solve all your life’s problems? After the tragic death of her parents, Iris (Brittany Snow, Pitch Perfect, John Tucker Must Die) is desperate to make ends meet while caring for her terminally ill younger brother. When seemingly philanthropic aristocrat Shepard Lambrick (Jeffrey Combs, Re-Animator, Masters of Horror) expresses an interest in helping her by inviting her to an exclusive dinner party that offers the chance at untold riches, Iris finds herself in a group of similarly desperate individuals all looking to make some easy money. But the guests soon find themselves trapped in Lambrick’s mansion and forced to play a sadistic parlor game of Would You Rather, where one is faced with two grim, violent choices and where only the winner will get out alive. As the game progresses, Iris must decide how far she will go to save her brother – and herself.

“Would You Rather” looks good enough on Blu-ray.  It’s 1080p transfer goes break any new ground but delivers the film clear and sharp. This would work either way on DVD or Blu-ray. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track works with the dialogue and the screaming, which there is a bit of. There is not much in the way of special features included.  There is a commentary track with the director David Guy Levy and writer Stefften Schlachtenhaufen (what a name). Lastly there is a poster gallery and trailer included.

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DVD Review “Anything Goes”

Starring: Bing Crosby, Donald O’Connor, Jeanmaire, Mitzi Gaynor
Directed: Robert Lewis
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Paramount (Pmt)
DVD Release Date: June 25, 2013
Running Time: 106 minutes

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

How can you saw now to Bing Crosby and Donald O’Connor teaming up on a picture. Well, if you are looking for a great musical, this might not be the one. I didn’t know this at the time but this is a remake of a Broadway play, which was turned into a movie in 1936 and also go starred Bing Crosby. Bing and Donald we on par for sure but the wife and I really weren’t digging the combo with Jeanmaire and Mitzi Gaynor. On the positive side, the music is great and there is some fun dance choreographed. May not be my favorite of Bing’s films but it could be yours so I will leave it up to you.

Official Premise: Crosby plays a Broadway star teamed up with young TV hotshot Donald O’Connor. Vacationing separately in Europe and needing a leading lady for their upcoming show, each signs a prospect–Crosby snaps up Mitzi Gaynor (at her perkiest) and O’Connor finds Jeanmaire, a French dancer. The show can only have one female star, so when the quartet crosses paths on the ocean liner back to the U.S., sparks will fly. Or not–this Paramount musical lacks any definable zip, from the sleepy dialogue to the listless camera. The capable Nick Castle staged the musical sequences, although Jeanmaire’s numbers were choreographed by Roland Petit (also her husband). The Porter songs are half-heartedly rendered, although O’Connor and Gaynor get some oomph into “It’s De-Lovely.” Der Bingle was born to burble “Blow, Gabriel, Blow,” but it’s too little, too late.

Whether or not I like the film, Warner Archive again delivers these classics on DVD. For a film made in 1956, it looks pretty great. I do not see listed if Warner Archive restored this film for the release but I was impressed. It comes with it’s original aspect ratio of 1.66:1.  It also comes with a Dolby Digital 2.0 track, which is also a bit of a step up from previous Warner Archive made-to-order DVD releases.  Since this film is a musical, the upgraded audio track definitely benefits this release. There is no special features included on this DVD.

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Film Review “The Conjuring”

Starring: Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga and Lili Taylor
Directed by: James Wan
Rated: R
Running time: 1 hr 52 mins
Warner Brothers

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

I don’t know what happened to horror films. Somewhere between “The Exorcist” and the “Saw” series the genre’ seemed to think that substituting buckets of blood for suspense was a good trade. But suspense is what makes a film great. You didn’t see the shark in “Jaws” for almost 40 minutes but you’re heart beat like crazy every time you heard John William’s music. “Paranormal Activity” kept you glued to the screen without so much as a drop of blood. Now comes “The Conjuring,” a film sure to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Based on real events, the film tells the story of two families. One is the Perron family. Dad Roger (Ron Livingston), mom Carolyn (Taylor) and their five daughters. They’ve just moved into an old “fixer-upper” of a house in Rhode Island. The other family is the Warrens, Ed (Wilson) and Lorraine (Farmiga). The Warrens are paranormal investigators. They go where needed and answer when called. When things begin happening at the Perron home the couple is contacted and asked to investigate. What they find will challenge the faiths of both families.

I must give credit to director Wan. As the creator of the “Saw” series he could have rode that blood-soaked horse for years until it was dead. Instead he has crafted a film that relies solely on its actors to convey the horrors portrayed. The cast puts their all into the film, turning what could have been a cliché’d filled blood-fest into a modern horror gem. Tops among the actors are Farmiga and Taylor. Both are mothers and both do their best to keep their children safe. The Warrens have a habit of keeping a souvenir from each of their investigations which makes having a curious daughter sometimes exasperating. Both women also endure a barrage of physical abuse as the spirits that they are fighting do all they can to win the battle. The chills are genuine and I dare you not to jump.

The Warren’s would eventually go on to fame as the investigators of what is now known as the Amityville Horror. But this case surely had to prepare them for what they later found.

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Film Review “Red 2”

Starring: Bruce Willis, John Malkovich and Mary-Louise Parker
Directed by: Dean Parisot
Rated: PG-13
Running Time: 1 hr 56 mins
Summit Entertainment

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

The loveable sociopaths of the CIA retirement home are back with some fresh new villains and killing machines accompanying them for the ride. This sequel to 2010’s “RED” once again showcases the elderly handing out some ass kickings, though with less charm and wit than the original.

Frank Moses (Bruce Willis) is trying out the normal life. Shopping at CostCo and trying to find the latest gadget to put in his home. His girlfriend Sarah Ross (Mary-Louise Parker), who is still coming down from the adrenaline rush of the events in “RED”, is not as enthusiastic about settling down and making dinner. As the film starts, the paranoid Marvin Boggs (John Malkovich) springs up, trying to sway Frank back into the spy game. As much as Frank says no, he really doesn’t have much of a choice because, as in the first film, he’s a marked man. The cold war era has come back to haunt him. A recently released document shows a portable nuclear device is missing and everyone’s pointing their fingers at Frank and Marvin.

As in “RED,” the film is peppered with both well known and B-list actors to supply the excitement. Jack Horton (Neal MacDonough) is tasked with capturing Frank, but realizes even a squad of machine gun wielding men can’t stop an unarmed Bruce Willis. Also hot on the trail of Frank is Han Jo-Bae (Lee Byung-hun), who has a personal vendetta against him. During Frank and Marvin’s journey to find out more about this lost WMD, they track down a diabolical wine connoisseur who is known simply as The Frog (David Thewlis). The trio also accidentally bump into one of Frank’s former flames, Miranda (Catherine Zeta-Jones). We’re also treated to the best character in the movie, Edward Bradley (Anthony Hopkins). He’s a delusional former scientist who might just hold the whereabouts to the weapon.

During “RED” the characters traversed the United States. This sequel takes us first class on a wild trip around the world that touches down multiple times in three continents. It’s a visual step up, but our time in each city is short lived. Before we’re given enough time to chew on some of the scenery or digest any fresh details to the story, we’re back on the plane to another exotic location to have more exposition crammed in our gullets. When the flames die down and the guns run out of ammo, the movie hits the brakes hard.

The returning cast lack that spark of excitement and that innate taste of chaos they seemed to bathe in with “RED”. The first was obviously an introductory piece to this fantastic world of geriatric spies and assassins. Without any graphic novel to really fall back on, the writers (the Hoeber brothers) pretty much had free range to do whatever they want. So, they opted for a bland imitation of the first script. They had a chance to scratch away at the surface and find some nuggets of fun, smiling insanity. Instead the characters act out hollow versions of their previous selves when their guns are in their holsters. You’ll find yourself re-adjusting in your seat when Frank wonders aloud if he can keep Sarah safe from this horrible predicament. Yes you can. Now give her a gun.

Even though this isn’t a step-up from the original, it’s still great to see the trio of Frank, Martin and Sarah bicker and quip at each during a gun battle. It’s also still fun that every character introduction or entrance into a scene comes with screaming, bullet hole ridden furniture and shattered glass. It was a blast at the theater, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that these characters deserved better. So, if you’re looking for the same chuckles, violent eye candy and seeing some of your favorite aging actors embody James Bond or Rambo, give “RED 2” a look.

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Filed Under: Film Reviews Tagged With: 2, film, red, review

Blu-ray Review “The Host”

Actors: Saoirse Ronan, Jake Abel, Max Irons, Boyd Holbrook, Frances Fisher
Directors: Andrew Niccol
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Universal Studios
DVD Release Date: July 9, 2013
Run Time: 125 minutes

Film: 1 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1.5 out of 5 stars

As a guy, I should hate Stephenie Meyer for giving the world “Twilight” and ruining vampires. But I honestly do not have a problem with those films, in fact I quite enjoy them (except “Breaking Dawn: Part 1”). I was intriguer by “The Host” since it has that sci-fi futuristic angle but I had no idea what I got myself into. This film is a saggy, bloated two hour mess. The film looked ok in the beginning talking about aliens etc and then it just fell into this terribly boring love triangle story.  I thank God for “Angry Birds” since it saved me from turning this film off after the first 30 minutes.  Do not recommend for any men to watch this film and women maybe if they have had a proper nap and looking for trash to watch.

Official Premise: From Stephenie Meyer, the creator of the worldwide phenomenon The Twilight Saga, comes this daring and romantic thriller based on The New York Times #1 bestselling novel. When an unseen enemy threatens mankind by taking over humans’ bodies and erasing their minds, Melanie Stryder (Saoirse Ronan) risks everything to protect the people she cares about most, proving that love can conquer all in a dangerous new world. The Host is a passionate and powerful epic love story co-starring Diane Kruger, Jake Abel, Frances Fisher, Max Irons and William Hurt.

Despite being a terrible film, “The Host” does have a nice 1080p transfer. Besides the film shot in the city, the rest of the film is just in the desert so there is nothing spectacular about the scenery.  The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 works for the dialogue and the one or two boring action scenes. Universal delivered this release as a combo pack with a Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy + UltraViolet. The special features are limp just like the film.  There is an audio commentary track with Author/producer Stephenie Meyer, screenwriter/director Andrew Niccol and producer Nick Wechsler, which is more boring than the film. There are four short meaningless deleted scenes.  There is a very short behind-the-scenes look with “Bringing The Host to Life”. Lastly there is a “Seeker PSA”

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Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: bluray, host, review

Film Review “Turbo”

Starring the voices of: Ryan Reynolds, Paul Giamatti and Michael Pena
Directed By: David Soren
Rated: PG
Running Time: 1 hour 36 minutes
20th Century Fox

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

Dreamworks Animation has been nipping at the heels of Pixar for a while now. With 26 animated releases under their belt, they’ve come really close and even exceeded when pitted against the Willy Wonka’s of computer animation. Flicks like “Shrek”, “Kung Fu Panda” and “How to Train Your Dragon” have shown the creative pool at Dreamworks can hit a homerun in terms of both critical acclaim and box office numbers. “Turbo” will not be one of those.

Theo (Reynolds), who also goes by Turbo, is a garden snail who pounds energy drinks (as much as a snail can) and watches his hero, Indy 500 Champion Guy Gagne (Bill Hader) on TV at nights. Turbo is inspired by Gagne and wants to race just like his hero. The only thing stopping him is his mundane life spent sorting bad and good tomatoes in the garden. Also holding him back is his brother Chet (Giamatti) who aggressively tells him his dream of racing are ludicrous. And, of course, the obvious fact that he’s a snail. After a freak accident that melds his body with nitrous oxide, he goes from moving an inch a minute to well over 200 mph. Amidst the chaos of figuring out his newfound powers, Turbo and his brother are discovered by Tito (Pena). Tito runs a taco stand in a decaying strip mall with his brother. In his spare time he races snails with surrounding business owners. Just like Turbo, Tito has big dreams as well as ideas to promote the taco stand.

If this movie sounds a tad uneven, that’s because it is. I’m not saying that “Turbo” isn’t an entertaining kid’s flick. It is. The animation is quite gorgeous with some precise background detail. The first half of the movie is surprisingly creative as we see the daily life of snails, including their assembly line style of harvesting tomatoes. Ryan Reynolds is one of those actors that I believe does not get enough credit for the roles he does. He really brings a fun and youthful energy to Turbo and you can sense he’s giving his all every time he voices one of Turbo’s reactions. It took me almost forty-five minutes to realize Bill Hader was putting on his best suave French voice as the prideful Gagne. As for Paul Giamatti, you just can’t go wrong with him as the misguided voice of reason during times of chaos. The three leads deliver but there’s still one little problem. They’re buried beneath a slew of characters.

By the end of the movie, I wasn’t quite sure who the story was about anymore. Turbo meets five other snails, voiced by Snoop Dogg, Samuel L. Jackson, Maya Rudolph, Ben Schwartz and Michael Bell. They all seem to be fighting for attention when they’re on-screen. The same problem occurs when the business owners of the decrepit shopping area, voiced by Luis Guzman, Richard Jenkins, Ken Jeong and Michelle Rodriguez, make an appearance. By the time the Indy 500 rolls around, all that charm Reynolds channeled into Turbo is lost among too many obnoxious snail one-liners and monotonous store owners.

For kids, the whole “Never give up on your dreams” theme will be fresh, but their parents will see that theme coming within the first five minutes. This isn’t a memorable children’s movie, but that doesn’t mean it’s still not a decent film to take your kids to. Luckily there’s enough humor for adults and their wee ones to appreciate. Also, Jackson gleefully pays homage to an earlier movie role of his. That being said, if your child gets the joke, I might have to question your parenting skills. The writers do their best to show respect to the sport of racing, but they also manage to be in on the joke that, yes…you’re making one giant left turn 800 times. “Turbo” won’t take the checkered flag when put against some of the other kid-friendly films this summer but, even on a bad day, Dreamworks can still stay in the race.

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Filed Under: Film Reviews Tagged With: film, review, turbo

Blu-ray Review “A Boy and His Dog”

Starring: Don Johnson, Susanne Benton, Jason Robards, Tim McIntire (I), Helene Winston, Charles McGraw
Director: L.Q. Jones
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Shout! Factory
Release Date: August 6, 2013
Run Time: 91 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2.5 out of 5 stars

“A Boy and His Dog” (aka Apocalypse 2024) is one crazy movie, based on a 1969 short science fiction story by author Harlan Ellison. My wife, in fact, was was taken back by the tagline on the cover “an R rated, rather kinky tale of survival”. From right there, I am immediately interested in watching this.  In fact the film has developed quite the cult following over the years, but I have to admit I have never seen it prior to this release. Did I mention it stars Don Johnson? That’s right Sonny from “Miami Vice”! This film is very unique (to put it nicely) and is definitely not for everyone but it will certainly keep you entertained for it’s 90 minutes, that’s for sure. What a trip!

Official Premise: World War IV lasted only five days but has ravaged Earth, leaving its survivors to battle for food, shelter and companionship in a post-atomic wasteland. This celebrated sci-fi tale follows the exploits of a young man, Vic (Don Johnson), and his sardonic telepathic dog, Blood, as they struggle through the barren wilderness in search of food and women. In the midst of their meager existence, Vic and Blood encounter Quilla June (Susanne Benton), a dubious young woman who lures them into a surreal city deep beneath the earth’s surface. Initially elated to find a colony of survivors, Vic and Blood quickly learn this city is not what it seems.

Shout Factory has released this film with a fantastic brand new 1080p widescreen transfer with an aspect ratio of 2.35:1.  The DTS-HD Master Audio Mono though is not the greatest. The dialogue is a little muted but overall it does the job.  The Collector’s Edition comes with a combo pack with Blu-ray + DVD. It also features a reversible wrap with collectible key art.  The special features are good but nothing special. Hardcore fans will enjoy the brand new featurette “In Conversation: Harlan Ellison And L.Q. Jones”.  There is a commentary By Director L.Q. Jones, Director of Photography John Arthur Morrill and critic Charles Champlin and lastly there are some Vintage Radio Spots.

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Concert Review: The Doobie Brothers “2013 Tour” – Mohegan Sun Arena

The Doobie Brothers: 2013 Tour
Mohegan Sun Arena
Uncasville, CT
July 3, 2013

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

“We decided to play a little rock and roll this evening.  Are you up for that, Connecticut?”

And, with that, the Doobie Brothers delivered as promised: nearly two non-stop hours worth of straightforward rock classics with instantly recognizable riffs that have been the band’s calling card for over 40 years. The focus of the 18-song show consistently stayed on the band’s most prolific era of the 70’s when they churned out anthems such as “Long Train Runnin’”, “Rockin’ Down the Highway”, “China Grove”, “Jesus is Just Alright and “Take Me in Your Arms”, all of which feature the founding vocal/guitar duo of Tommy Johnston and Patrick Simmons – both of whom are still part of the group’s current eight-member line-up.

The mellower Michael McDonald era of the late 70’s and early 80’s was only represented by the inclusion of an extended version of “Takin’ It to the Streets” that featured an impressive keyboard intro from Guy Allison, vocals from Simmons and bassist John Cowan, and a rippin’ sax solo from Marc Russo. It was a wise choice for the set list not only because of the song’s popularity as a hit, but because its inherent funky groove matches the Johnston-era classics that dominate the current touring band’s repertoire. They pull off the tune flawlessly live – so well, in fact, that the concert version almost outshines the McDonald original.

As far as newer material is concerned…well…the Doobies don’t really have much of it. The group has only released one studio album over the past decade: 2010’s reunion with longtime producer Ted Templeman, “World Gone Crazy.” While that album is fairly tepid in comparison to the band’s multi-platinum mega-sellers from the 70’s, the two songs performed from it at this show – the title track and “A Brighter Day” – work quite well when played live and are a good addition to the band’s set list of classics.

With all of the driving guitar rhythm provided by the band’s four axemen and the percussive power of dual drummers Tony Pia and Ed Toth, it’s easy to forget that one of the key ingredients to Doobies music is intricate vocal harmonies that flesh out the songs and provide them with the richness that makes them worth savoring. To that end, the show’s overall sound was impeccably mixed, something that was especially evident when all four of the band’s frontsmen, Johnston, Simmons, Cowan, and endlessly-versatile instrumentalist John McFee, delivered the four-part a cappella harmony outro to “Black Water.” As much as it is truly amazing that these guys can still belt it out as clearly as they did when they recorded the song in 1974, it’s equally impressive that the 2013 tour’s audio crew was able to make every aural nuance sound as clear as possible within the context of a live show.

The music of the Doobie Brothers, when at its best, manages to effectively blend elements of rock and roll, country, bluegrass, soul, funk, and blues to produce songs that never pidgeon-hole themselves into an era and subsequently become dated. At their core is an element that is truly timeless: they’re fun. Given the band’s sheer exuberance while onstage, it’s clear that the Doobie Brothers themselves are still having a blast touring and energetically jamming out to these classics. As they proved to the Connecticut crowd, you don’t necessarily need fireworks to kick off a 4th of July holiday party. All you have to do is listen to the music. All the time.

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[NOTE: Big thanks go out to the guy who first introduced me to the Doobies – and music in general – my father, Tom Picton, for his invaluable assistance with this article. ]

 

 

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Filed Under: Concert Reviews Tagged With: 2013, arena, brothers, concert, Connecticut, doobie, ...
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