Its terrible quality (from New York Comic Con) but you get some idea of what's going on there, I'm still very iffy about this movie since the original movie is one of my favorite horror movies of all time.
Watch while you can.....
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Sunday, October 10, 2010
MOVIE REVIEWS: LET ME IN
IN THEATERS
LET ME IN
John Ajvide Lindqvist's celebrated vampire novel makes the leap to the big screen once again with the second feature adaptation in so many years (Tomas Alfredson's critically acclaimed 2008 hit Let the Right One In, being the first). The sensitive target of vicious bullying at school, 12-year-old Owen (Kodi Smit-McPhee) is a social misfit from a broken home. By day Owen dreams about laying waste to his classroom tormentors; by night his attentions turn to his reclusive neighbors in their austere apartment complex. One evening, as Owen takes out his pent-up aggressions on a tree, his new neighbor Abby (Chloë Grace Moretz) appears over his shoulder. A young girl wise beyond her years, Abby just moved in next door to Owen with her stoic caretaker (Richard Jenkins), who seems to harbor a sinister secret. Compelled by Abby's apparent imperviousness to the harsh winter elements, her frail disposition, and the fact that she's nowhere to be found before the sun falls, Owen senses a kindred soul, and strikes up a friendship with the girl, despite her repeated attempts to maintain an emotional distance. Simultaneously, their community grows vigilant following a series of vicious murders, and Abby's caretaker vanishes without a trace. Later, as Abby begins to grow vulnerable, her bond with Owen strengthens. By the time Owen begins to suspect that his evasive new friend is something other than human, it starts to seem as if Abby could use a good friend after all. Given that his bullies are growing more emboldened by the day, so too, could Owen. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Director: Matt Reeves
Cast: Chloe Moretz, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Richard Jenkins, Elias Koteas, Cara Buono.
Release Date: Oct 01, 2010
Rated: Strong bloody horror violence, language and a brief sexual situation
Runtime: 1 hr. 55 min.
Genres: Drama
Review:
Remaking an excellent foreign film that came out just a few years ago seems like a recipe for disaster. Let the Right One In is an artistic masterpiece, the type that would make Stanley Kubrick proud. Its direction and acting were all perfectly done, it was chilling beautiful and timeless. Matt Reeves is given the unenviable task of remaking this and he somehow manages to make his version equally beautiful but with more clearly defined themes. Reeves follows the original film very closely changing a few things here and there, changing the setting to New Mexico in the 80’s seem kind of pointless, but mostly stays true to the heart of the story. Reeves uses more CGI than the original and excises the neighbors subplot only to replace them with a detective. His cast is just as impressive as their Swedish counterparts. Chloe Moretz continues to shine here in a measure performance adding a bit more ferocity to the character. Kodi Smith McPhee is perfectly suited for the role and is appropriately awkward, frail and naive. Richard Jenkins has limited screen time but does make the caretaker role more sympathetic and Abby’s relationship with Owen more sinister. It’s a common theme in this version of this story, Reeves avoids ambiguity in general and spells out things that were left for interpretation in the Swedish film. It’s a matter of taste as to whether that a good thing or not. Still, Reeves does succeed in making a wonderful tome whose greatest achievement might be making new fans discover the Swedish film and original book.
B
LET ME IN
John Ajvide Lindqvist's celebrated vampire novel makes the leap to the big screen once again with the second feature adaptation in so many years (Tomas Alfredson's critically acclaimed 2008 hit Let the Right One In, being the first). The sensitive target of vicious bullying at school, 12-year-old Owen (Kodi Smit-McPhee) is a social misfit from a broken home. By day Owen dreams about laying waste to his classroom tormentors; by night his attentions turn to his reclusive neighbors in their austere apartment complex. One evening, as Owen takes out his pent-up aggressions on a tree, his new neighbor Abby (Chloë Grace Moretz) appears over his shoulder. A young girl wise beyond her years, Abby just moved in next door to Owen with her stoic caretaker (Richard Jenkins), who seems to harbor a sinister secret. Compelled by Abby's apparent imperviousness to the harsh winter elements, her frail disposition, and the fact that she's nowhere to be found before the sun falls, Owen senses a kindred soul, and strikes up a friendship with the girl, despite her repeated attempts to maintain an emotional distance. Simultaneously, their community grows vigilant following a series of vicious murders, and Abby's caretaker vanishes without a trace. Later, as Abby begins to grow vulnerable, her bond with Owen strengthens. By the time Owen begins to suspect that his evasive new friend is something other than human, it starts to seem as if Abby could use a good friend after all. Given that his bullies are growing more emboldened by the day, so too, could Owen. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Director: Matt Reeves
Cast: Chloe Moretz, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Richard Jenkins, Elias Koteas, Cara Buono.
Release Date: Oct 01, 2010
Rated: Strong bloody horror violence, language and a brief sexual situation
Runtime: 1 hr. 55 min.
Genres: Drama
Review:
Remaking an excellent foreign film that came out just a few years ago seems like a recipe for disaster. Let the Right One In is an artistic masterpiece, the type that would make Stanley Kubrick proud. Its direction and acting were all perfectly done, it was chilling beautiful and timeless. Matt Reeves is given the unenviable task of remaking this and he somehow manages to make his version equally beautiful but with more clearly defined themes. Reeves follows the original film very closely changing a few things here and there, changing the setting to New Mexico in the 80’s seem kind of pointless, but mostly stays true to the heart of the story. Reeves uses more CGI than the original and excises the neighbors subplot only to replace them with a detective. His cast is just as impressive as their Swedish counterparts. Chloe Moretz continues to shine here in a measure performance adding a bit more ferocity to the character. Kodi Smith McPhee is perfectly suited for the role and is appropriately awkward, frail and naive. Richard Jenkins has limited screen time but does make the caretaker role more sympathetic and Abby’s relationship with Owen more sinister. It’s a common theme in this version of this story, Reeves avoids ambiguity in general and spells out things that were left for interpretation in the Swedish film. It’s a matter of taste as to whether that a good thing or not. Still, Reeves does succeed in making a wonderful tome whose greatest achievement might be making new fans discover the Swedish film and original book.
B
Saturday, October 9, 2010
MOVIE REVIEWS: I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE
IN THEATERS
I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE
The survivor of a vicious gang rape turns the tables on her attackers in this remake of director Meir Zarchi's notorious 1978 horror classic. In order to seek inspiration for her next book, urbanite author Jennifer Hills (Sarah Butler) retreats to a secluded cabin in the woods. Little does Jennifer realize that she's just caught the attention of some particularly depraved locals, and her peaceful retreat is about to become a living hell. At first the sadistic intruders attempt to frighten Jennifer by breaking into her cabin, but then the attack gets out of hand. Desperate to escape after being badly brutalized, Jennifer throws herself into the river and allows her body to be carried away by the rapids. When her attackers fail to locate her corpse, they assume she is dead and return to their normal lives. But Jennifer isn't dead, and she doesn't forgive. Her attackers will pay for what they did, and nothing they say or do can prevent her from savaging them in the worst way imaginable before she sends them to hell screaming. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Director: Steven R. Monroe
Cast: Sarah Butler, Daniel Franzese, Jeff Branson, Chad Lindberg, Andrew Howard, Rodney Eastman
Release Date: Oct 08, 2010
Rated R for pervasive strong sadistic brutal violence, rape and torture, nudity and language
Runtime: 1 hr. 47 min.
Genres: Drama
Review:
The original I Spit on Your Grave is the type of movie that generally reviled by the most and while I can’t say I ever enjoyed it, I did get its significance in exploitation movie history. When word came down that it was being remade, the next left me kind of perplexed mainly because it’s not anything people had been clamoring for and because the original is such a product of it’s time. At this point in time most of the exploitative aspects of the film that made it shocking aren’t as shocking nowadays. The remake doesn’t shy away from the more repugnant aspect of the film, it’s is a rape revenge film after all but it doesn’t push the boundaries either. Hence when the film is over, you’re left wondering if the whole enterprise was a misguided attempt to capture something that can’t be captured anymore, the limits of excess have been routinely pushed over the last 30 years. As a film, the remake is an admirable attempt at beefing up a film which was never a perfect creation. Monroe succeeds in making the film more dense and a more rounded out experience. The cast is fairly consistent throughout with Butler doing most of the heavy lifting. Butler has an impressive ability to display strength and determination especially after the assault. The cast of redneck miscreants are solid if fairly clichéd, Andrew Howard has the most interesting role one which wasn’t in the original. The film though has a lot of flaws and the most glaring being serious gaps in logic and a nonsensical timeline. It’s a solid attempt to improve on the original but not by such a large degree that it validates its existence or necessity.
C
I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE
The survivor of a vicious gang rape turns the tables on her attackers in this remake of director Meir Zarchi's notorious 1978 horror classic. In order to seek inspiration for her next book, urbanite author Jennifer Hills (Sarah Butler) retreats to a secluded cabin in the woods. Little does Jennifer realize that she's just caught the attention of some particularly depraved locals, and her peaceful retreat is about to become a living hell. At first the sadistic intruders attempt to frighten Jennifer by breaking into her cabin, but then the attack gets out of hand. Desperate to escape after being badly brutalized, Jennifer throws herself into the river and allows her body to be carried away by the rapids. When her attackers fail to locate her corpse, they assume she is dead and return to their normal lives. But Jennifer isn't dead, and she doesn't forgive. Her attackers will pay for what they did, and nothing they say or do can prevent her from savaging them in the worst way imaginable before she sends them to hell screaming. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Director: Steven R. Monroe
Cast: Sarah Butler, Daniel Franzese, Jeff Branson, Chad Lindberg, Andrew Howard, Rodney Eastman
Release Date: Oct 08, 2010
Rated R for pervasive strong sadistic brutal violence, rape and torture, nudity and language
Runtime: 1 hr. 47 min.
Genres: Drama
Review:
The original I Spit on Your Grave is the type of movie that generally reviled by the most and while I can’t say I ever enjoyed it, I did get its significance in exploitation movie history. When word came down that it was being remade, the next left me kind of perplexed mainly because it’s not anything people had been clamoring for and because the original is such a product of it’s time. At this point in time most of the exploitative aspects of the film that made it shocking aren’t as shocking nowadays. The remake doesn’t shy away from the more repugnant aspect of the film, it’s is a rape revenge film after all but it doesn’t push the boundaries either. Hence when the film is over, you’re left wondering if the whole enterprise was a misguided attempt to capture something that can’t be captured anymore, the limits of excess have been routinely pushed over the last 30 years. As a film, the remake is an admirable attempt at beefing up a film which was never a perfect creation. Monroe succeeds in making the film more dense and a more rounded out experience. The cast is fairly consistent throughout with Butler doing most of the heavy lifting. Butler has an impressive ability to display strength and determination especially after the assault. The cast of redneck miscreants are solid if fairly clichéd, Andrew Howard has the most interesting role one which wasn’t in the original. The film though has a lot of flaws and the most glaring being serious gaps in logic and a nonsensical timeline. It’s a solid attempt to improve on the original but not by such a large degree that it validates its existence or necessity.
C
Saturday, October 2, 2010
MOVIE REVIEW: THE SOCIAL NETWORK
IN THEATERS
THE SOCIAL NETWORK
The remarkable story behind Facebook comes to the big screen with this Columbia Pictures production scripted by The West Wing's Aaron Sorkin and directed by David Fincher (Fight Club, Zodiac). The year was 2003. Computer programming wizard Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) was a Harvard undergrad when he laid the foundation for a social networking website that would revolutionize the way we communicate. Six years later the ambitious entrepreneur made his first million -- but that was just the beginning. Despite all of Zuckerberg's wealth and success, his personal life began to suffer as he became marred in legal disputes, and discovered that many of the 500 million people he had friended during his rise to the top were eager to see him fall. Justin Timberlake co-stars as Napster co-creator Sean Parker, with Andrew Garfield filling the role of ousted Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin. The Social Network is based on the book The Accidental Billionaires by Ben Mezrich. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Director: David Fincher
Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Justin Timberlake, Andrew Garfield, Rashida Jones.
Release Date: Oct 01, 2010
Rated: Language, drug and alcohol use and sexual content
Runtime: 2 hr. 1 min.
Genres: Drama
Review:
My favorite filmmakers can make me watch films about subjects I’d never give another thought about. Most recently Paul Thomas Anderson had me thoroughly intrigued with turn of the century oil prospectors and now David Fincher has me terribly interested in the creation and founding of Facebook. I’ll be honest, when I heard that a movie about Facebook was in the works, I was terribly skeptical but when Fincher was tapped to direct and with Aaron Sorkin doing the script my interest was piqued. Within the first 10 minutes of the film, any concerns I may have had about the film were laid to rest with a rapid fire character establishing segment that covers more ground than some characters. Sorkin’s script sizzles throughout and Fincher’s direction is incredibly impressive, throw in a subtle but engaging musical score provided by Trent Reznor. Jesse Eisenberg is top notch in the lead role adding multiple layers to his character outside of his general nervous guy routine. Eisenberg makes Zuckerberg come across as terribly detached and cold but insanely intelligent and quick witted. Andrew Garfield is equally impressive as the overly compassionate and naïve Eduardo Saverin, he should probably receive a supporting Oscar nod for his work here, serving as a wonderful ying to Zuckerberg’s yang. Armie Hammer does double duty as the Winklevoss twin which is done with such technical precision that you’d never know it was 1 guy playing both roles. Justin Timberlake boarders on cartoonish as Napster founder Sean Parker showing up for a portion of the third act but disappears before the finale. Rooney Mara is the closest thing to a female character in the film and she has a total of 2 scenes. It’s a minor issue and doesn’t detract from Fincher’s work as he captures an energy and moment, even if the truth is somewhat fictionalized, of an era.
A
THE SOCIAL NETWORK
The remarkable story behind Facebook comes to the big screen with this Columbia Pictures production scripted by The West Wing's Aaron Sorkin and directed by David Fincher (Fight Club, Zodiac). The year was 2003. Computer programming wizard Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) was a Harvard undergrad when he laid the foundation for a social networking website that would revolutionize the way we communicate. Six years later the ambitious entrepreneur made his first million -- but that was just the beginning. Despite all of Zuckerberg's wealth and success, his personal life began to suffer as he became marred in legal disputes, and discovered that many of the 500 million people he had friended during his rise to the top were eager to see him fall. Justin Timberlake co-stars as Napster co-creator Sean Parker, with Andrew Garfield filling the role of ousted Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin. The Social Network is based on the book The Accidental Billionaires by Ben Mezrich. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Director: David Fincher
Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Justin Timberlake, Andrew Garfield, Rashida Jones.
Release Date: Oct 01, 2010
Rated: Language, drug and alcohol use and sexual content
Runtime: 2 hr. 1 min.
Genres: Drama
Review:
My favorite filmmakers can make me watch films about subjects I’d never give another thought about. Most recently Paul Thomas Anderson had me thoroughly intrigued with turn of the century oil prospectors and now David Fincher has me terribly interested in the creation and founding of Facebook. I’ll be honest, when I heard that a movie about Facebook was in the works, I was terribly skeptical but when Fincher was tapped to direct and with Aaron Sorkin doing the script my interest was piqued. Within the first 10 minutes of the film, any concerns I may have had about the film were laid to rest with a rapid fire character establishing segment that covers more ground than some characters. Sorkin’s script sizzles throughout and Fincher’s direction is incredibly impressive, throw in a subtle but engaging musical score provided by Trent Reznor. Jesse Eisenberg is top notch in the lead role adding multiple layers to his character outside of his general nervous guy routine. Eisenberg makes Zuckerberg come across as terribly detached and cold but insanely intelligent and quick witted. Andrew Garfield is equally impressive as the overly compassionate and naïve Eduardo Saverin, he should probably receive a supporting Oscar nod for his work here, serving as a wonderful ying to Zuckerberg’s yang. Armie Hammer does double duty as the Winklevoss twin which is done with such technical precision that you’d never know it was 1 guy playing both roles. Justin Timberlake boarders on cartoonish as Napster founder Sean Parker showing up for a portion of the third act but disappears before the finale. Rooney Mara is the closest thing to a female character in the film and she has a total of 2 scenes. It’s a minor issue and doesn’t detract from Fincher’s work as he captures an energy and moment, even if the truth is somewhat fictionalized, of an era.
A
Friday, October 1, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Coen Brothers True Grit Trailer
Coen Brothers' adaptation of the book, not a remake of the John Wayne movie, and amazing cast, this one looks like it'll be a winner.
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