MOVIE REVIEW: GRAVE ENCOUNTERS

ON DVD / STREAMING ON NETFLIX

GRAVE ENCOUNTERS



A team of phony paranormal investigators has their skepticism put to the test in this mockumentary-style horror opus. Collingwood is a mental institution in Maryland that has been closed for more than half a century. Local legend had it that the hospital is haunted, and the former caretaker (Bob Rathie) and a number of folks who live nearby claim that they've seen and heard signs of paranormal disturbances in the night. Jerry Hartfeld (Ben Wilkinson) is a television producer specializing in reality shows who arranges for a team of basic cable ghost hunters, led by host Lance Preston (Sean Rogerson), to shoot an episode of their show Grave Encounters at Collingwood. It doesn't take long for Preston and his crew to tip their hands as fakes who are happy to stage phony interviews and set up special effects "disturbances" for the cameras. But they discover Collingwood really is home to forces beyond their understanding, and they're in very real danger as the night wears on. The first feature film from the writing and directing team of Colin Minihan and Stuart Ortiz (aka The Vicious Brothers), Grave Encounters was an official selection at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Director: Colin Minihan and Stuart Ortiz aka The Vicious Brothers

Cast: Sean Rogerson, Juan Riedinger, Mackenzie Gray, Arthur Corber, Luis Javier

Release Date: Sep 09, 2011

Rated: Not Rated

Runtime: 1 hr. 32 min.

Genres: Horror, Suspense/Thriller

Review:

Grave Encounters is one of those low rent horror films that “borrows” from tons of sources even lifting some inspiration from a certain Travel Channel ghost hunting show. It’s a hodgepodge of assorted ideas think Blair Witch, Paranormal Activity, [REC] and Sci-Fi cult film Cube thrown into a blender. It starts off almost as a satire on the whole ghost hunting as a show idea with characters that generally unlikable. There is a certain level of enjoyment and good laughs to be had watching these guys get beat around by the ghostly apparitions. In fact, for a certain amount of time it’s kind of a fun ride before it redirects in an odd but interesting tangent. The center portion of the film throws out some fun idea which it never full explores or explains as it degrades into a series of funhouse style antics which become more outlandish and ridiculous. By the film’s final act, any fun has been sapped by the director’s turning actors who were originally annoying into something more grating. The film beats the same drum so many times that it makes it feels incredibly longer that it is and has you hoping they’d just kill off the remaining cast as quickly as possible as it stumbles towards an increasingly nonsensical finale.

D+

MOVIE REVIEW: UNDERWORLD AWAKENING

IN THEATERS

UNDERWORLD AWAKENING 3D



The Underworld franchise continues with this fourth film, bringing the action horror hybrid franchise into 3D for the first time. Kate Beckinsale returns to the series after taking the third outing off. Filmmaking duo Mans Marlind and Bjorn Stein (2010's Shelter) direct from a script by John Hlavin and J. Michael Straczynski. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi

Director: Bjorn Stein, Mans Marlind

Cast: Kate Beckinsale, Stephen Rea, Michael Ealy, India Eisley, Sandrine Holt

Release Date: Jan 20, 2012

Rated R for strong violence and gore, and for some language

Genres: Action/Adventure, Horror

Review:

Somewhere along the long it might strike you how strange the entire Underworld franchise is. Kate Beckinsale somehow became an action star after seemingly being set on a career in forgettable rom-coms. The first Underworld was the brain child of a soon to be director (Len Wiseman), former stuntman (Kevin Grevioux) and Danny McBride. It’s became a certified hit for a variety of reasons including the fact that Beckinsale looks quite fetching in latex and blue contacts. I’ve been a fan since the first film and I’ll never claim it’s anything more than derivative flotsam, albeit enjoyable. This far into the series you know what these films are about, a loose mythology with more slow-mo action than you can shake a stick at. Whether you enjoy any of it will depend on whether you enjoy the previous ones, as mindless fun its quick loud and bloody. Character development in this new one never bothers with things like motivations or explanations, supporting characters simply help Selene because the script says so. In all honesty all that story malarkey tends to slows down the proceedings but luckily the directors keep the film moving at a steady pace throwing up some fun action sequences, the 3D rotates from unnoticeable to impressive to frenzied, which keeps the eyes and ears fairly entertained. Before you know it you’ve reached the end, personally I was surprised at it’s good sense of fun. Like decent candy, it’s not good for you all the time but occasionally a taste can really hit the spot.

C+

[Trailer] Re5ident Evil: Retribution

Resident Evil is one of those franchises that has been a guilty pleasure of mine even though it occasionally makes me wonder why I paid to watch it at the same time, especially during the last one.

A huge cash cow especially overseas means that sequels will keep coming until the horse has been beaten into a bloody pulp.

Paul W.S. Anderson returns to direct this 5th entry along with star/wife Milla Jovovich.

Like the Underworld series, I’m a sucker each time and this teaser looks like it could be a lot of fun especially since it shows some of our first looks at characters from the video game series and the return of some “dead” characters from the series.

MOVIE REVIEW: A DANGEROUS METHOD

IN THEATERS

A DANGEROUS METHOD



Viggo Mortensen and Michael Fassbender star in director David Cronenberg's adaptation of Christopher Hampton's play detailing the deteriorating relationship between Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung. The year is 1904. Carl Jung (Fassbender), a disciple of Sigmund Freud (Mortensen), is using Freudian techniques to treat Russian-Jewish psychiatric patient Sabina Spielrein (Keira Knightley) at Burghölzli Mental Hospital. But the deeper Jung's relationship with Spielrein grows, the further the burgeoning psychiatrist and his highly respected mentor drift apart. As Jung struggles to help his patient overcome some pressing paternal issues, disturbed patient Otto Gross (Vincent Cassel) sets out to test the boundaries of the doctor's professional resolve. A Dangerous Method screened at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Director: David Cronenberg

Cast: Keira Knightley, Viggo Mortensen, Michael Fassbender, Vincent Cassel, Sarah Gadon

Release Date: Nov 23, 2011

Rated R for Sexual content and brief language

Runtime: 1 hr. 39 min.

Genres: Drama

Review:

David Cronenberg’s A Dangerous Method is a possibly his most elegant film in his illustrious career. A true life tale that covers so much territory about human nature that it can take a while to have it all settle in. The film’s restrained façade is a perfect setting for the film’s subject matter. He’s interested in showing us how people can’t discuss and dissect any topic without actually getting your feet wet and looking in the mirror. His cast delivers the kind of impressive turns you’d expect with each commanding the screen in turn. Michael Fassbender career year continues here as he plays Jung in a steely straight laced manner but exemplifying his simmering conflicted nature. Fassbender’s turn isn’t as showy as the other 2 primary roles but it’s just as effective. Keira Knightley, showing she’s master the art of teeth and neck acting, displays some real talent in her role which starts off as overblown but settles into a more effective turn as the film proceeds. Her character is fascinating even if Knightley’s idea of a Russian accent is a combination of her usual British tenor with the occasional deep voiced inflections. Viggo Mortensen’s role could have been larger but his performance as a cigar chomping Sigmund Freud is incredibly impressive. Mortensen and Fassbener’s woefully limited screen time together is one of the film’s many highlights. If there is a complaint it’s the fact that the focus seems misplaced on Jung and Spielrein’s relationship as opposed to Jung and Freud’s. It’s hardly enough to make it a failed endeavor though and while it might leave you wanting for more what we get is fairly impressive.

A-

MOVIE REVIEW: SENNA

ON DVD / NETFLIX STREAMING

SENNA



The most exciting driver to ever race Formula One, the handsome, charismatic Ayrton Senna became a Brazilian national hero and an icon to racing fans worldwide. But you don't need to know the first thing about racing to be thrilled and moved by Asif Kapadia's high-octane documentary, composed entirely from archival footage. It's an edge-of your-seat documentary that explores the backroom politics, bitter rivalries and the glamour of a sport that leaves no room for error. At the same time, it's a character study of a near-mythic genius who was a man of uncompromising humanity and grace.

Director: Asif Kapadia

Cast: Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost and Frank Williams

Release Date: Aug 12, 2011

Rated PG-13 for some language

Runtime: 1 hr. 44 min.

Genres: Documentary

Review:

The best documentaries can take subjects that you are mostly unfamiliar with and still make them thoroughly engaging. Outside of passing mentions in the sports world, I can honestly say I know very little about F1 (Formula 1) racing even less about the actual drivers who compete. Asif Kapadia thoroughly engrossing documentary makes the sports easily accessible and digestible to non fans like me. At its core Senna is story familiar to anyone who follows sports, exemplifying the traits found in a multitude of great champions across the world. We see the endless drive to succeed, the toll losses takes on the individual especially when it’s a result of outside influences and rivalries. Kapadia does an excellent job of showcasing all this via Senna’s life, shown almost entirely through archival footage. Additionally, Kapadia explores his effects on his country and his place as national hero. There’s something inevitable and poignant about the final act. Whether you know how the story ends or not it packs an emotional punch.

A

MOVIE REVIEW: THE DEVIL INSIDE

IN THEATERS

THE DEVIL INSIDE



A young woman learns that her mother committed multiple murders while undergoing an exorcism, and she travels to Rome with a film crew on a mission to uncover the truth about that horrific incident in this found-footage-style possession shocker from director William Brent Bell. As a young girl, Isabella Rossi (Fernanda Andrade) had been led to believe that the killings were committed after her mother flew into a psychotic rage. But when Isabella finds evidence indicating that an exorcism was being conducted on her mother at the time, she enlists a film crew to follow her to Italy in search of the truth. In order to gain a better understanding of the spiritual plight that her mother endured, Isabella and her crew attend a series of unsanctioned exorcisms that become increasingly terrifying. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Director: William Brent Bell

Cast: Fernanda Andrade, Simon Quarterman, Evan Helmuth

Release Date: Jan 06, 2012

Rated R for language, Grisly Images, Disturbing Violent Content and Some Sexual
References

Runtime: 1 hr. 27 min.

Genres: Horror, Suspense/Thriller

Review:

“The Vatican does no endorse this film.” So in the Catholic Church does care about your soul because even they know that subjecting yourself to this kind of derivative garbage would be bad for your spiritual wellbeing. The Devil Inside borrows from liberally from so many sources that it’d be nearly impossible to sue the film for plagiarism due to the length of the time it’d take to name them all. Still its biggest sin is not doing any of these “borrowed” elements well in any matter of speaking. There are a few mildly inspired sequences of exorcism craziness which keep things lively but it’s never consistent or sustained. The cast is uninspired with barely competent work that tends to ruin films that purports itself to be “real footage.” The plot itself is a mess of illogical stupidity filled with head scratching situation and actions. The ending hurdles towards silliness with a capper that’s a proper send off for a truly terrible film, even by January standards.

D-