MOVIE REVIEW: THE GREY

ON DVD

THE GREY



Liam Neeson stars in producer/director Joe Carnahan's tense adventure thriller about a group of tough-as-nails oil rig workers who must fight for their lives in the Alaskan wilderness after their airplane crashes miles from civilization. With supplies running short and hungry wolves closing in, the shaken survivors face a fate worse than death if they don't act fast. Dermot Mulroney, Dallas Roberts, and Frank Grillo co-star. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Director: Joe Carnahan

Cast: Liam Neeson, Frank Grillo, Dermot Mulroney, Dallas Roberts, Joe Anderson

Release Date: Jan 27, 2012

Rated R for bloody images, violence/disturbing content including bloody images and for pervasive language

Runtime: 1 hr. 57 min.

Genres: Action/Adventure, Suspense/Thriller

Review:

The Grey is and isn’t a complicated film. On its surfaces it’s a stripped down survival story. Looking a little deep you’ll find that Joe Carnahan is working with some Hemmingway-lite themes and subject. The allegory is symbolism is fairly obvious but never overbearing. It’s got an almost metaphysical feel to it while its plot plays out like a nature version of The Warriors or Neil Marshall’s recent Centurion. Carnahan delivers a piece of filmmaking that’s brutal and pensive at the same time. At its center is Liam Neeson at his weatherworn gravelly best. Making the character Irish lets the Neeson focus on his character which is the most realized of the group of survivors. The supporting cast, including a nearly unrecognizable Dermot Mulroney in a quiet yet effective role, does the best they can with limited characterization. It’s one of the film’s most obvious failing, if they’d given the supporting players more life the life and death situations would have achieved a far more potent effect. Carnahan shoots a lovely film, using the winter landscapes to establish a strong sense of isolation, matched with some incredibly effective creature effects for the wolves who feel truly menacing throughout. The Grey is the kind of film that feels like could be easily forgettable after you’ve finished watching it but after it settles it does leave an impression.

B-

MOVIE REVIEW: DARK SHAWDOWS

IN THEATERS

DARK SHAWDOWS



Entombed for 200 years after betraying vengeful witch Angelique Bouchard (Eva Green), 18th century vampire Barnabas Collins (Johnny Depp) returns to Collinwood Manor in 1972, only to find his estate in ruins and his family plagued by macabre secrets in Tim Burton's reboot of the popular supernatural soap opera. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Director: Tim Burton

Cast: Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter, Eva Green, Jackie Earle Haley, Jonny Lee Miller, Chloe Moretz

Release Date: May 11, 2012

Rated PG-13 for Language, Comic Horror Violence, Sexual Content, Smoking and Some Drug Use

Runtime: 1 hr. 52 min.

Genres: Comedy, Horror

Review:

Tim Burton’s Dark Shadows is an endearing film which shows his obvious affection for the source material. The script written by Seth Grahame-Smith, whose humor is most subtle than the trailer suggest, peppers the film with plenty of melodrama to fulfill several soap operas. He hits on the major points of the original series and provides a workable narrative, it’s not perfect but not the slap stick mess it could have been. While it’s more lighthearted than the original series it’s not the parody some expected. Johnny Depp, in his Burton required mime make up, chews up the screen creating an endearing take on Barnabas Collins. I can’t say it’s different enough to make it memorable but still it’s well done if not singular. Eva Green is equally vampified, showcasing an obvious on screen glee playing her character throughout. The best sequences involve interchanges between Deep and Green as they riff and joust with each other during various points in the films. Sadly, the remaining cast has to deal with thinly written caricatures. A radiant Michelle Pfeiffer and Helena Bonham Carter get the most screen time but are given nothing to do. The rest aren’t required to do more than show up here and there and get out way. A fun finale caps off the film in fine fashion even if it leads to a totally unnecessary sequel set up. As a fan of the original series, I found Burton’s take an adequate homage to a cult classic.

C+

MOVIE REVIEW: SAVING PRIVATE PEREZ

ON DVD / STREAMING ON NETFLIX

SAVING PRIVATE PEREZ



A Mexican crime lord sets out to locate his missing brother at the behest of their frantic mother, only to realize his mission will be far more difficult than he ever could have suspected in this adventure comedy from director Beto Gómez (El Agujero, El Sueno del Caiman). ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Director: Beto Gomez

Cast: Miguel Rodarte, Adal Ramones, Jaime Camil, Jésus Ochoa, Gerardo Taracena

Release Date: Sep 02, 2011

Rated PG-13 for Brief Strong Language and Violence

Runtime: 1 hr. 45 min.

Genres: Action/Adventure, Art House/Foreign

Review:

Saving Private Perez is an interesting mix of Mexican grindhouse with comedy. It’s never overly serious or terribly realistic but it’s does keep a smile on your face throughout. Director Beto Gomez delivers some interesting visuals that provide enough humor to keep the film afloat. He does achieve a few inspired sequences but finds a hard time sustaining the energy through his film. There are noticeable lags through out even though his cast is fully committed. Miguel Rodarte makes for a fine lead and he handles the subtle comedy with a steady hand while bring some heart to his character. Rodarte does benefit from having the most time dedicated, via flashbacks, to fleshing out his character and motivations. The supporting characters are introduced with well rounded back stories but they are mostly ignored after that, a real shame since they could have added a lot to film had they been involved more. Sadly, it feels like the filmmakers had their heart in the right place but the execution was off by a tad.

C+

[Trailer] The Campaign

The perfect film for the upcoming elections; could be a classic or a massive miss (Jay Roach is directing) either way I’ll be there opening weekend!

MOVIE REVIEW: THE AVENGERS

IN THEATERS

MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS 3D



Marvel Studios delivers the ultimate comic-book film, which ties together such characters as Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), and Thor (Chris Hemsworth) for a big-screen franchise team-up like no other. Taking center stage this time is Nick Fury (played once again by the note-perfect Samuel L. Jackson), leader of the peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D. Fury, along with former Russian spy Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), recruits a super team to combat Thor's ever-deceptive brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) after he brainwashes ace archer Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) while stealing a cosmic cube from an underground base. Thus the heroes must learn to work together alongside outlaw scientist Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), who can track down the artifact's gamma signals when he's not hulking out into a giant green monster. Show runner Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly) adapted and helmed the script by Zak Penn. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi

Director: Joss Whedon

Cast: Robert Downey, Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson.

Release Date: May 04, 2012

Rated PG-13 Intense Sci-Fi Action/Violence and A Mild Drug Reference

Runtime: 2 hr. 23 min.Genres: Action/Adventure

Review:

Marvel’s huge gambit started with Iron Man’s post credit scene and went on from there. It was a terribly risky and ambitious. Once all the stand alone films were done Joss Whedon was tasked with the incredibly difficult task of putting it all together and giving each character its due while creating a story that would justify these characters coming together. Whedon, to his massive credit, delivered a spectacle which will be remembered by children for years to come. Whedon’s love of the characters and genre is readily apparent in the ever single frame of the film. Whedon knows his audience and delivers the kind of film that fans want. Massive action set pieces that give each character a time to shine as the film goes along, leading up to a an insane climatic battle that gives us more destruction than Transformers Dark of the Moon. It would have been easy for Whedon to just deliver an endless battle royale but he gives his film time and allows each character to have simpler quieter moments that let you into their head and motivations. The cast is on target throughout and while it would have been easy for Robert Downey Jr. to have run the show, he’s kept in check and gives the other actors room to breathe and shine. Mark Ruffalo’s take of Bruce Banner is impressive, so much so that I’d say we finally have a definitive film version of the character. Scarlett Johansson and Jeremy Renner do as much as they can with less screen time than the other stalwarts. Tom Hiddleston provides a great villain for the super group to fight, sadly he only lacked a long twirly mustache. 2 post credit scenes provide more fun to ease you off your high. The first sets up a sequel and latter is a wonderful moment showcasing Whedon and the cast. A perfectly fitting end to a film that’s blockbuster filmmaking at it’s finest.

A

[Final Trailer] THE DARK KNIGHT RISES

An early gift has presented itself, maybe because Nolan doesn’t want fanboys to forget his little film with all The Avengers hype leading up to this Friday.

This final trailer is incredible, probably up there with the Prometheus trailer. It’s quiet, dark and full of foreboding mixed with plenty of new images to just make a fan like me go batty…..