The Academy Award for BEST PICTURE Went To...

Mini Review - ONCE

Some have labeled this the "little film that could" for 2007, and I am so glad to finally understand why. ONCE is on every level a pure delight! ONCE is a fusion of simplistic storytelling, wonderful characters, and music so genuine you will believe it is one of the characters. The plot is simple, a street guitarists meets a keyboardist and they decide to collaborate on some recordings. However, the journey they go on, and story that each song tells reaches beyond the surface to something much more deeper, richer, and beautiful than you ever expected. This movie doesn't wow you with computer effects or fancy camera moves, instead the greatest effect this little film can produce is to capture your heart with its music, its truthfulness, and its sincerity.

RECOMMENDATION: The film does boast some pretty harsh language so it is definately not for children.

GRADE: A-

INDY 4

LOOK AND BEHOLD!!!

It is finally HAPPENING!

Get ready for the next film from M. Night Shayamalan!

Prince Caspian - Official Trailer

With SPEED RACER, INDIANA JONES 4, IRON MAN, and PRINCE CASPIAN, May is already declaring itself the month of movies!

THE GOLDEN COMPASS - Review

NARNIA gave us a look into childlike wonder, the LORD OF THE RINGS took us into a world all to familiar where even the smallest person can change the course of the future, PANS LABYRINTH showed us how horror and cruelty can exist in a world of reality and fantasy, but THE GOLDEN COMPASS possesses none of these qualities. THE GOLDEN COMPASS is so focused on burying the truths of Philip Pullman's controversial novel that the story becomes nothing more than extravagant set design, fighting CGI polar bears, and characters that are so bone dry that you care nothing about their goals or their journey.

THE DARK KNIGHT - Poster Revealed!

THE MIST - Review

If you are looking for another light Stephen King and Frank Darabont collaboration (SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, GREEN MILE), think again. THE MIST is a dark and intense nightmare of a film that left me both emotionally drained, and utterly depressed. I should be the first to applaud Darabont for creating a film that asks such tough questions about human nature, and how fear drives us to do both unthinkable and unimaginable things to each other in times of immense intensity. Also, like other great film thrillers the film shows us that evil exists in both the threat, in this case a mysterious mist that threatens a town on the eastern seaboard, and those that are being threatened, in this case a group of townspeople trapped in a grocery story by the mist.
One of the films major faults comes in its inability to sustain the terror it presents. At first the mist is this ominous natural occurrence which people walk into, and either don't come back, or come back in pieces. It is the thought of what could be in the mist that is both horrific and terrifying. But it is when you start seeing the things lurking in the mist that you begin to lose interest. The film forgets that the human imagination can be the greatest terror of all. By revealing the thing, the terror is unfortunately reduced to cheapened CGI tricks, along with monsters and a plot that becomes more absurd then nightmarish, and main characters that become riddled with cliches and stereotypes.
In the end the films take on humanity becomes one of such cynicism that what could have been a fascinating morality tale turns into complete and utter hopelessness.

GRADE: B-

RECOMMENDATION: This film contains some horrific scenes of violence and some language. Also, if you are looking for a nightmare with a pleasant ending, I would recommend JAWS.

BEOWULF - Mini Review

Like his previous film the Polar Express, Robert Zemeckis has created a wonderland of eye popping visuals that rests more on its visual style, than in its story telling. That's not to say the story isn't good, its based on a 2000 year old epic poem about power, lust, and the continuous cycle of sin in our lives, it also presents a fascinating look into the life of a hero who is a deeply flawed man, and who knows it. However, in the end this modern telling does exist primarily to showcase the strenghs of 3D technology. The film also has its awkward moments such as Beowulf fighting in the nude in which his private parts are perfectly covered by other objects on screen, a nude Angelina Jolie who floats about as a sensual and seductive demon with a long tail, and a Grendel that is more disgusting and reviling than frightening and menacing. Go in not expecting much, and you might just be pleasantly surprised.
GRADE: B

RECOMMENDATION: This film is not for young children due to the presence of nudity, sexual innendo, blood, and gore.