Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

Just wow! Action, humor, ominous Marvel villains scowling, and Rocket.  The only thing this movie doesn't come with is popcorn and a ride home.  Basically you have a lovable unpolished rouge with a sense of honor who bands together a group of anti social misfits to save a planet and maybe the galaxy.  Great soundtrack, warm fuzzies, laughs, and pulse pounding action come in great two handed servings that will leave you sweaty and satisfied.  Highly recommended.

The World's End (2013)

With middle age weighing heavy the party legend of yesteryear returns to his hometown to complete an unfinished challenge. The latest offering from Simon Pegg, English humor with a healthy shot of offworldly weird.  If you are a fan of previous Pegg offerings you should find this one well within your range of enjoyment.  Wait for the DVD release so you can enjoy this one in the manner intended, over a pint!

The Wolverine (2013)

Logan's story continues after The Last Stand.  Fans of Wolverine all know of Logan's ties to Japan so here comes Hollyweird to provide their version of it.  If you can accept the changes made its a pretty good movie with some of the more memorable events relatively intact.  FX and production value are very good.  For the rest of us the movie is a fast paced comic style movie, lots of action and choreography.  Hugh is fairly ripped these days so having him run around sans shirt for most of the movie will have some tongues hanging out.  I'm wondering if this may be the last hurrah for the Jackman Wolverine however because for an ageless character he is looking old. Still a fun ride and if you are a fan of the genre its head and shoulders better than Origins. Recommended.

The Conjuring (2013)

'A 'based on true events' story about a demonic possession.  This is kind of a modernized version of Amityville Horror or Poltergeist with some Paranormal Activity style FX.  Using a 'less is more' mentality along with a semi documentary style presentation works well to produce atmosphere and some overall creepiness.  There are a couple good 'gotcha' scenes and I have no doubt casual movie goers will get a nice chill during some of the other scenes (one such is pictured). So does it live up to the hype? For me sadly it did not, I may have to just accept I have become far too jaded to be scared by anything likely to be shown in US theaters. Was it entertaining? Yes I would say it is, and I don't imagine many fans of the genre will come away thinking they got cheated.  If you want actual scares this may be your best bet this summer.

Maniac (2012)

A small shop owner leads a double life as an obsessive serial killer. I think the thing that stands out most about this one, aside from Frodo Baggins as a wide eyed knife wielding murderer, is the clever camera work.  Shifting from pov to conventional shots during the murders creates an effective 'you were there' feel during those sequences.  FX and production value are both good and creates an effective overall 'creepiness' to this offering. The killer is both torn and driven and his psychosis is effectively portrayed.  Clever work overall and fans of the thriller genre may find much to like with this one.

Pacific Rim (2013)

Giant monsters invade the Earth and giant robots are built to combat them. Transformers, Battleship, and Japanese monster movies from the 70's meet in this visually epic last man standing style fight for the existence of the human race.  This movie reminded me a lot of Battleship, the hero and the pacing are almost interchangeable.  While not as mindless as you may think its going to be its every bit as action packed.  Great FX and overall good production value help to make it easier to overlook some of the sillier aspects while enjoying the mayhem. Not for everyone but if you enjoyed Battleship its a good bet you will like this one as well. Recommended.

Oblivion (2013)

After an alien invasion a handful of humans are tasked with claiming the remaining resources of Earth for a move to Titan.  Easily the best Tom Cruise movie since Minority Report.  Production value and FX are both top shelf.  Story wise you will see elements of Moon, The Matrix, The Island and 2001, creating a clever but simple plot that serves the pacing well by creating tension and enough depth to move things forward without bogging things down with too much detail and complex character development.  Roles like these make you forget that Tom Cruise is crazy in real life.  Anyway, I was thoroughly entertained throughout and for sci-fi fans its hard to imagine missing with this pick.  Recommended.

Silk (2006) "Gui si" (original title)

A crippled scientist discovers a way to trap ghosts to power anti-gravity technology.   Hard to classify this one, horror/thriller/sci-fi perhaps?  Whatever camp you are in the story is well developed and multifaceted despite its minimalist aspects.  FX are respectable if not stellar and fans of Asian horror will recognize some fairly standard 'ghostly' behavior.  Being the nerd that I am it was the scientific angle they use to propel the story forward, tying physics to the supernatural, that really made this one work for me.  Very entertaining with a bit of a twist on the end that may be a little surprising. Enjoy.  Recommended.

The Lone Ranger (2013)

Re-imagining of the venerable masked lawman.  I went into this expecting a total train wreck like Wild Wild West.  Alas no it wasn't as bad as it could have been.  That doesn't mean it was good either.  They could have called it the Tonto refuses to shave his girly 'stache and a white horse named Silver show.  Typical Disney framework but a lackluster build up.  It has its moments however, one of them being the rather small role of Hellena Bonham Carter and her amazing ivory prosthetic. Younger audiences may find things more entertaining but I don't know how many young people are interested in cowboys and Indians these days so it makes one wonder who their target audience was. Not as bad as a TSA cavity search but less fun than a voucher to the buffet.  If you must see it my advice is make it a rental.

Olympus Has Fallen (2013)

North Korea stages an assault on the white house.  A lot of name juice in this Gerard Butler dick measuring fest.  Action is pretty intense but the level of belief suspension is high as well as we are treated to a series of blunders, ignoring of protocol, and some pretty serious WTF?!s.  But if you can get past all that you have a pretty intense adrenaline filled 1 super dick against the world style movie that is pretty damn fun to watch.  Won't win any awards but I doubt you will come away too disappointed.  Take out brain, put on bib and let the ass kicking commence.

World War Z (2013)

Brad Pitt does a zombie movie.  The best one word description is big.  The budget on this had to be more than the last 20 years of zombie movies put together.  What they come up with is a War of the Worlds mass panic mashed into 28 Weeks Later and finishing off with Legion.  Overall its fairly entertaining although I was miffed at some of the gimmicks they pulled to increase tension (you build a wall then don't man it or send one of the 2 dozen helicopters buzzing around to keep eyes on the enemy, really?)  Formulaic and doubtful to recoup at box office.

Devil's Pass (2013) "The Dyatlov Pass Incident" (original title)

A group of people set off to discover/document the infamous secret of the Dyatlov Pass incident.  Okay as you may already know I'm not a big fan of 'found footage' style movies however this one has as its basis an actual unsolved mystery, and I just luv that kind of shit.  About 2/3rds of the movie is about what I have come to expect of these kind of projects, a lot of 'drama' and not much story.  But then something interesting happens and the story takes a sharp left turn into weirdville.  They throw some pretty good misdirection out there then totally run the other direction (and props for where they go with it).  One of the more memorable endings although not entirely unpredictable once you reach a certain point.  Nice sort of thriller/sci-fi package is what you have here.  I have to say I enjoyed this one and not looking up a dripping nostril helped more than you think.

Evil Dead (2013)

Five people go to a remote cabin in the woods on an intervention for their drug addicted friend.  As a huge fan of the Rami/Campbell original I was chomping at the bit to see this one.  I have to say I came away conflicted.  While the story in this version has more meat on the bone and the dialogue in places seems more natural they toss in these random props that kind of take away from the atmosphere they should be creating instead of have some guy holding up an 'applause' placard (the red writing in the Necronomicon). In some places the idiot factor goes completely off the chart and while I know its the norm for slasher bloodbath style horror movies they lay it on pretty thick.  The level of violence is extreme however, along with good, if not great, FX. There are definitely some memorable scenes which I think will work better with people who haven't seen the original (for me the demons of the classic are MUCH better than the demons in this one).  I think fans of the genre should give this a look, if nothing else so you can say you saw it.  There are some places where those with aversions can find a nice chill. A gimmick Twinkie for those who sit through the credits.

Safe Haven (2013)

Chick flick romance with a supernatural twist.  I will admit I wasn't looking forward to seeing this but now I'm glad I did.  Another nothing really new but well presented with a good production value.  Dialogue is natural for the most part, a couple of things bugged me (they could have pulled back on the melodrama in a couple places and these rude disrespectful movie kids are really bugging me).  Nice sweet love story with a hitch (took me by surprise) and a warm fuzzy on the end. Well worth your time and as far as chick flicks go shouldn't make your man freak out (cause there is some man style stuff too..lol).  Recommended.

Odd Thomas (2013)

A guy who can see the dead takes it upon himself to be the unsung hero of town.  This was a fun if not entirely unpredictable ride.  Done in the popular and effective narration style our hero, working with the police chief, have to stop a massive calamity about to demolish their close knit community.  I really enjoyed this one, it was fun, unpretentious, and though not really fresh was very well presented.  The bitter sweet ending will bring a tear to the eye of salty old softies. Recommended.

Compulsion (2013)

A wannabe and a hasbeen collide in this weird meandering drama with some thriller sprinkled on top.  This is a strange little movie made by someone whose 3 favorite movies are Fried Green Tomatoes, Mulholland Drive, and The War of the Roses; doesn't seem to really go anywhere, just sorts of meanders around and only hints at the big reveal (in FGT they left no doubt).  Production value is good and Heather Graham does a respectable crazy mannequin bit.  Maybe make it a Redbox night if nothing else is standing out.  A couple memorable moments but thats about all you get with this one.

The Purge (2013)

In the 'new' United States all problems are solved by a single annual night of lawlessness. Cliche's, dysfunctional characters, and lack of imagination abound in this less than thrilling 'thriller'.  I had no plans to see this one thinking (rightly) it would be too much like Panic Room (which I didn't care for).  But the opportunity came up so I had a look. So as the movie starts I'm thinking that I had it pegged all wrong and it was going to be a thoughtful and interesting movie.  Sadly I was incorrect with that as well.  Personally I'm getting tired of this portrayal of families as a bunch of strangers who just dwell under the same roof.  NOTHING in this movie would have happened (except perhaps the rather weak mob scene at the end) had it not been for the 2 kids that represent what exactly? A generation who can't manage to stay focused for a single night if their lives are on the line?  Too much of this movie made no sense and none of the characters represented anything more than placeholders for the next gimmick.  Movies like this make me feel cheated out of the price of admission.

Fast & Furious 6 (2013)

6th offering in the Fast and Furious franchise.  More of the same that made the first 5 but with a shot of NOS to the crazy meter.  Saying this movie is off the hook doesn't even come close to expressing the amount of insanity in this one.  I don't know if they are doing live stunts these days but wow! and damn!  If you are a fan of the other 5 you NEED to see this one.  For those of you who haven't seen any of the previous offerings this is guy dream T sickle concentrate in a bottle... skin, fast cars, guns and lots of destruction.  Hard to imagine how they will top this one.  My one complaint is they crash the Superbird (I almost cried). Highly recommended.

Man of Steel (2013)

The latest incarnation of Superman.  After a rather slow and tedious start with the end of Krypton and the launching of baby Kal El in his pod, things shift into high gear and we jump straight to adulthood. Thankfully his childhood is kept to flashbacks and rememberings. Lots to like with this one.. the Super is super hunky for starters, plenty of action, and some soft fill for his background on Earth.  There are considerable changes made to the 'standard' origins and such but for casual and younger viewers it won't make any difference.  I do like how Zod was imagined (after the scenes on Krypton) and the tec stuff was cool.  The door is left wide open for a sequel and given the numbers at box-office I can't imagine there won't be.  Overall I will have to say I was pleased but its best that you don't take your whole brain with you and start asking questions. Spicy sauce. Recommended.

Phantom (2013)

A based on 'true' events accounting of a soviet submarine during the cold war and a plot to change the world.  Pretty much like every sub movie to date with a 6th Sense ending. Nothing really special about this one, all players and FX are respectable, reasonably entertaining. I wouldn't spend the coin to see this on the big screen but red box might be a good pick.

No One Lives (2012)

A group of small time thugs pick the wrong mark and get far more than they bargained for.  From the director of Midnight Meat Train comes this tasty little number.  Think along the lines of Rambo as a serial killer.  Typical slasher fare aside from the twist with some deliciously disgusting scenes and deaths.  Don't go into this expecting award winning drama, or complex anything, its straight up meat and potatoes fun and mayhem.  Personally I enjoyed the hell of of this one. FX are very respectable with a rather unique ending.  Very entertaining if you are a fan of the genre.  

Bullet to the Head (2012)

Stallone rides out in the role of a hitman with honor.  Not stellar but entertaining.. lots of man style action.  I continue to be impressed with Jason Mamoa's weapon handling skills along with a grace that is hard to fake, especially for big men.  The axe fight is glorious to behold if a little hokey (sorry I don't care how tough you are, a butt stroke to the face will leave a mark).  But if you take it as served its a nice neat entertaining movie with plenty of bad ass.  Not a bad selection if you want something quick and easy.

Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)

Second installment in the re-imagined adventures of Kirk and crew.  They pulled out Khan.  I come away from this one with an overall positive impression.  There were a couple instances of 'aw come on!' but mostly it was seat gripping action driven by the continuing stellar character portrayals.  They really hit the Khan character out of the park and the fight scene with Spock is worth the price of admission on its own.  If this is your first run with the Star Trek franchise then none of the stuff that bothered me is likely to bother you (saved by a tribble? Oo), and I think 'bother' may be too strong a word but there was definitely a tick; I don't know how the purists will deal with the sacrilege.  FX are outstanding but I think that goes without saying.  The first look at the Klingons was very interesting. I have to say I'm excited to see where they take the franchise next. Recommended.

Jack the Giant Slayer (2013)

A high octane retelling of the classic fable Jack and the Beanstalk.  I have to say I found this movie very entertaining.  While it does have various shortcomings (mostly the CGI), the whimsical nature of the movie cast things more like a live action cartoon than a movie with cartoonish characters.  The villain is dastardly and delightfully wicked.  The princess brave and fair.  The king surprisingly human while putting the realm before his own daughter.  Then you have Jack, the every-man's hero who can seem to get nothing right if there isn't some cataclysmic event he needs to foil.  A very pleasant family friendly viewing experience with a well deserved warm fuzzy tacked on the end.  Intelligent retelling with a solid delivery.  Cheerfully Recommended.

Iron Man 3 (2013)

Has Iron Man finally met his match? No of course not but they try to pitch it that way. Overall this is a visual movie with lots of action and flash and paint. Story wise it doesn't hold up as well. Purists will be pulling their hair out at the less than stellar Mandarin and the rest of us are left a little puzzled by the seeming lack of intelligence shown by supposedly intelligent characters.  But enough of that, few people go see a movie like this for character intricacies, they want eye candy and they get it in spades with this film.  For me the first one is still the best and they descend in the order they came out. It will be interesting if they close the door on the franchise here, after another Avengers movie, or if a 4 is in the works. Recommended.

Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013)

So what becomes of Hansel and Gretel after they stuffed the child eating, gingerbread house living, witch into her own over? Probably not this movie but thats no reason not to see it.  This is kind of a mash up of Van Helsing (2004) and The Brothers Grimm (2005) with a serious weapons upgrade.  Action is what this movie is about, and you get plenty of it.  The witches are these super powered ninja like critters led by a super super powered witch (see picture).  So if you thought the only thing that could have made the Underworld saga better was an injection of The Terminator then this may be the movie you have been waiting for.  Not much thinking is required (just enough to turn off your phone and go pee BEFORE the movie starts), so strap in and prepare to have your hair blown back by the mayhem.  And for the record mini-guns are just plain cool.

Dark Skies (2013)

A family finds themselves the target of a terrifying and overwhelming force. This is one that had a lot of potential and you can almost see where the bean counters stuck their fingers in the pie. The potential for brilliance is right there, but they go with the gimmicks instead.  Think Paranormal Activities meets Poltergeist but with Aliens. They do a lot of sleight of hand in the first half of the movie trying to make things scary, but the meat is found in the second half (still riddled with gimmicks) with an ending reminiscent of Mama.  For a half a minute I thought they were going to throw a power twist on the end and leave it open for a potentially cool sequel (I guess they could still but it wouldn't be near as cool starting out). Still it manages to serve up a pretty good creepy in parts with Keri Russel and J.K. Simmons both turning in very respectable performances. Overall I was disappointed, but more as a result of high expectations than film lameness.  If you are a fan of Paranormal Activities you may enjoy this one as well.

The Power of Few (2013)

One urban neighborhood is about to experience a moment of weird.  This is one of those colliding story line movies where a bunch of separate events and players converge in one event or series of events... (like in Snatch). Christopher Walken revises his fallen angel look from Prophecy 3 as a local TV celeb on the skids, privy to the next big event in human history.  Okay production wise this is more like an indie film, some of the acting is a little stiff and the dialogue in places is overtly vague when its unnecessary (a trick used to pull a viewer in when the plot won't do it).  Other places the players are absolutely brilliant (the shootout in the store).  It also gets to claim the dubious honor of hosting one of the most disturbing laughable scenes I have ever encountered outside of a Troma production. They wrap it up with a 'what if' foreboding potential doom but it comes with a warm fuzzy.  It really is the last 10 minutes that set this movie apart from others of its ilk. Maybe not something to go looking for but if opportunity presents itself I say you should take advantage, who knows... it just might make your day.

Love Sick Love (2012)

A weekend get a way with a booty call turns into an ordeal in the psycho fun house.  I'm not really sure where they were planning to go with this one... after they pulled out daughter psycho and M. Emmet Walsh I was expecting things to go in a more traditional horror direction (like Misery), but as they developed things with the kids roles I was thinking maybe it will be a comedy (like The Ref).  Alas neither of these turn out to be the case.  What you get is sort of a luke warm 'I'm crazy and you better love me or I will kill you' story that actually ends in murder.  A couple moments aside I say this was a waste of time.

Resolution (2012)

A mission to save a drug addicted friend becomes a surrealistic struggle for survival.  Indie film! Indie film!  Despite some (short) moments of brilliance they are unable to escape the 'feel' that this is one of those shoestring budget films that does a lot of meandering around relatively small events as a way to fill time. I was intrigued though not particularly interested in where the movie was going and finally resigned myself to mostly waiting to see if they would pull the cord on the big reveal.  On the plus side the characters were less cliched than some and smarter than most (after a certain point) in their dealings with the growing sense of impending doom. I would love to see what was hanging on the lift for the final scene because you just know they had a picture there...

Broken City (2013)

A corrupt ex cop finds himself in the middle of a very tangled web of deceit, corruption, and murder.  This reminded me of a lower profile movie called Silver City but with a noreaster flavor.  Well produced crime drama with a very capable cast and enough action and tension to push along the well rounded story line at a steady pace.  There are a few cheats, nothing too notable, and lip service is paid to the moral superiority of liberalism (which is almost by rote in any movie where the topic can possibly come up), but overall these issues are minor and don't detract too much from the experience.  Couple nice twists give the villain extra bad guy credit. Wahlberg has developed nicely as a player and this role will certainly add to his portfolio.  Fans of the genre should enjoy this one well enough to make the watch worth the trip.

Standing Up (2013)

A couple kids are the victims of a summer camp prank when they are stripped and marooned on 'Goat Island'.  This is a coming of age movie that is both enjoyable to watch, carries a powerful message, and will strike a cord with everyone who didn't 'fit in' at some point in their childhood.  Family friendly and heart warming. Recommended.

The Host (2013)

Alien parasites invade and capture the earth controlling nearly the entire human population.  This one is getting panned pretty hard by the professional sniffers and I guess its taking a beating at box office as well. I think the last time I had seen anything on this movie before seeing it was a trailer awhile back, possibly quite a while, so I really had nothing in the way of expectation going in except the tie in to the Twilight franchise (I'm not exactly sure what that tie in is) so I was thinking along the lines of a romance aimed at 13 yr old girls. So lets look at it. This isn't hard core sci-fi, more like a movie pizza with the sci-fi as the crust and the romance the toppings. And its the kind of a pizza you order for 13 year old girls having a sleep over.  If you are looking for some sort of intellectual or spiritual experience you won't find it here. However if you are looking for the warm fuzzy that comes with discovery and young love I have seen far, far worse offerings than this one. I can very easily see this being reworked into a TV series.  Think V meets Twilight, but with cooler aliens and no sparkling. Personally I think they could have done with an extra 30 minutes to explore the aliens a bit more, but thats the sci-fi in me yearning for a pot sticker at a pizza party.

Shotgun Wedding (2013)

A long planned high dollar wedding is suddenly thrown into a tailspin after a drunken accident.  B movie hybrid.  This is a movie where the subject matter is secondary, and stereotypical humor and characters drive the action. Definitely helps to have a twisty dark and juvenile funny bone.  FX are surprisingly good and once 'the event' (okay the maid of honor gets shot in the face with a shotgun) happens the pace of the movie picks up and suddenly a million and one things are being thrown at you.  I have to say I found it quite entertaining, even laughing out loud in more than a few places.  My only real bitch is that sometimes its hard to determine if there is supposed to be a 3rd party present or not (the camera) as I stated previously, this is a hybrid (traditional plus in movie cameras- why this is an issue will become apparent).  But don't plex too long, its not that big a deal if you are enjoying the ride.  Great ending.  If you can groove to an off kilter beat then I would say absolutely give this one a watch. Recommended.

G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013)

G.I. Joe returns with a second installment on the franchise.  This time Cobra has the upper hand while the Joe's find their backs to oblivion as the clock ticks down to global destruction.  Okay, there is plenty to like with this one, cool FX, plenty of action, more of those sci-fi gadgets that go bang! Pace is fairly rapid throughout so not much time to let your attention wander.  On the down side they lost some of what made the first Joe movie so cool turning this one into a Dwayne Johnson strokefest with Bruce Willis coming to the party late to help with the finale'.  But be that as it may, the Rock seldom disappoints and he is in fine form in this one.  Still a lot of fun so leave your brain somewhere safe and plug in for the ride. Recommended.

The Baytown Outlaws (2012)

A local hit squad is hired by an outsider to do her dirty work.  Think Smoking Aces meets The Boondock Saints.  A supercharged vision of violence, gunfire, redneck badass, T&A, corruption, and crime. Not much to think about with this one just strap in and enjoy the mayhem.  Situational humor and old school honor sets this one above the average. Recommended.

The Devil's Rejects (2005)

*TOP TEN ALERT* 
A band of killers on the run determined not to let it ruin their day.  The second half of Rob Zombies House of 1000 Corpses (a far more traditional style slasher/horror movie), this was the movie that made me a Sid Haig fan. Definitely a one of a kind ride combining depravity, humor, horror, a great story line, superb dialogue, excellent camera work (one of the murder sequences has an almost dreamlike quality) and an unmistakable stamp of someone who enjoys creating movies. The characters are colorful and delightfully twisted. The whole movie is like one giant carnival ride, an absolute joy to watch. Mind the R rating.  Highly Recommended.

13 Eerie (2013)

A group of forensic students go to a remote location for a supervised field test. Because every field trip should be to an old prison where the army did secret experiments on the death row inmates. Despite some cliches, this was actually a pretty good zombie movie. The hybrid Romero\O'Bannon zombies seem to be whats popular now, fast moving but still 'die' by splattering their juicy maggot ridden brain. FX are very good for the most part with the flesh tearing positively gruesome, but a little thin in others.  Some observations, apparently small gay men can't drive for shit and never step in front of an armed woman. The characters run the gamut from 'damn that was smart' to 'hurry up and kill this dumb-ass'.  Totally delicious ending. If you have been craving meatier zombies this is a double stack.

The Dead Girl (2006)

This is a series of stories tied to the discovery of a dead woman. It may not sound like much when you read the blurb but this is a pretty entertaining and thought provoking bit of film making. Not much in this film is upbeat and the emotional impact is pretty extreme in some places. Good production value and excellent delivery by all the players make this a top notch viewing experience. Recommended.

Gangster Squad (2013)

A post WWII Los Angeles gangster is challenged by a couple determined policemen. This is sort of a west coast version of 'Untouchables' with Sean Penn as 'the gangster' looking like he was an extra in Dick Tracy. A pretty decent watch, it has its flaws but nothing really horrible (well there is a scene in particular, but I digress). Vintage Hollyweird with a Philip Marlow flavor. Not a bad offering, but nothing that stands out.

Entity (2012)

A small team of ghost hunters head into the Russian outback to investigate an unsolved mass grave.  Another 'found footage' hybrid with more traditional filming methods. In addition to all my usual gripes about this kind of movie they add the ever annoying crappy sound mixing so some of the dialogue is near impossible to hear so you turn it up then they throw a pan at the mic as a cheap method of 'gotcha-ism'.  Seriously people if you are supposed to be 'ghost hunters' and a ghost you can apparently see is kicking your ass, show the audience the damn ghost instead of someone's leaky nostril (or anything else for that matter).  On the positive side the back story is above average (still cliched but not much isn't these days), some scenes do create good tension and atmosphere, and the score is hauntingly beautiful. If you are a big fan of 'reality' ghost hunter shows this may tickle your fancy.  Luke warm oatmeal with 3 raisins and no brown sugar.

The Frankenstein Theory (2013)

The great great great grand nephew (or something) of Dr Frankenstein (Venkenheim) seeks to find the monster and validate a pile of family heirlooms he has that have convinced him the creature actually exists. This is another 'found footage' style movie that also employs traditional camera work to help viewers with motion sickness.  In many ways this movie reminded me of  Trollhunter (2010) but with no big creature FX, steadier characters and a clearer plotline. I found the story idea very compelling and the lead player very convincing in his portrayal of a driven and single minded scientist excommunicato. There is a scene that was lifted straight out of Jaws (for which I hold no animus, it was a great scene) and some mindless filler, but over all the movie moves along at the same relaxed pace throughout.  I was a little disappointed with some of the cheats, maybe its just me but one in particular, when I saw the prop I immediately caught the implication, something in my opinion the expert should have recognized as well.  It also brings back some of the worst of Blair Witch but its relatively short lived. I do want to give a nod to the resident meth-head, a small but very convincing role, well done! Overall I was fairly entertained (something I gauge by whether I'm willing to pause if I have to move from sight of the screen) but this isn't steak by any means, more like a mystery meat that doesn't taste bad but is a little chewier than it should be.

Scavengers (2013) [Space Soldiers]

A small group of freelancers seek to unlock the secrets of a powerful piece of alien tech while being pursued by an enemy bent on revenge. The influence of Serenity is hard to miss, even down to some character likenesses and a bar scene of ass kicking, as well as elements from Heavy Metal 2000 and one scene from Galaxy Quest. If you decide to give this one a look go into it expecting something you would see on SyFy (why the hell did they change their moniker? So Ghetto now), or a film project of a friends brother's cousin.  The CGI is crude, the dialogue stilted, and the screen FX marginal at best.  All that aside if you are a space nerd who faithfully never missed an episode of Space: 1999, there are things to like about this. Some of the space combat is cool (sort of looks like an old console game clip), the control areas are not graphics intensive (perhaps a necessary evil instead of a planned one, but space ships will look like submarines, not HD porn videos.. the Star Trek view screen is agonizing), and it has a great ending. Keys for enjoying this are low expectations and a willingness to let the story carry you. If this is the guy's first effort I would say he has a promising career ahead.

Safety Not Guaranteed (2012)

A trio of journalists pull from the crank file and decide to investigate a classified ad seeking a companion for time travel.  I read that the budget for this film was 750K, while it definitely has an indie 'feel' it never seems to be lacking production wise. The dialogue flows well and witty, delivery is good. Solid and compelling story, with a memorable if not entirely unpredictable finish. More comedy/drama-ish than sci-fi and despite the subject matter the pieces come together very well. Easy viewing but not entirely mindless.  Recommended.

The Call (2013)

I'm trying to come up with my typical one line intro and its just not working here... the premise is a 911 person winds up on a call with the same murderer that caused her to stop taking calls at some point in the past (but not that long ago).  Okay I am not a Halle Berry fan AT ALL, I have no idea why this woman is relevant at all... now combine her having face time for the majority of this movie along with the worst aspects of The Silence of the Lambs in what comes across as a hand me down rewash of Pelham 123 (I guess it was too soon for a 3rd remake), a 12 second nod to Blowout (remember that DePalma classic?) and a sobbing hysterical teenage girl blubbering into a cell phone and you have this movie. They throw in some filler (that goes nowhere) but it doesn't help much, this movie is thin thin thin. Now it does create some tension, production value is good, and they throw on a nice finale'(everybody clap), but for me it was too stale, too cliched and way too thin to have to endure that much Berry.  However if you are a fan of the Panic Room style face time movies you may want to see it. But don't say I didn't warn you.

Java Heat 2013

An American marine bent on avenging the death of his brother winds up in Indonesia (Java) hunting for an international bad ass.  This is a pretty run of the mill action adventure movie featuring the rash young hot blood and the wise old veteran being compelled to team up to put an end to a rather haggard looking Mickey Rourke with possibly the worst French accent on the planet.  Plenty of shit getting broken, some eye candy for the ladies, car chases with some of the lamest vehicles made, plenty of gunfire that never seems to hit anyone.. but like I said, about the norm for this kind of off the shelf offering.  Its not painful but its not memorable either.  I think the film crew got paid in travel vouchers.

John Dies at the End (2012)

An unlikely pair of dropouts get thrust into the world of the supernatural weird and find themselves in an inter-dimensional war.  This is a rather cool movie that watches like a combo of Dr Who, Spun, and Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer.  Our unlikely pair of heroes traverse time, space, dimension, and sanity to battle the forces of over sized insects, animated lunch meats  and maniacal aliens bent on world domination. Clever writing and identifiable characters help propel this one along as things get weirder and more twisted.  The semi narration style made popular in Zombieland is well used. If you enjoy the comedy/horror genre flavored with sci-fi, this one serves it up well.  Recommended.