The Chuck is back......but do we really need him to be?
I am a pretty big fan of the lovable psychotic killer Good Guy doll we all know as Chucky. He had a good run for 4 films, but then Seed of Chucky came along. Suddenly, it seemed as if the Chucky franchise had run its course. Of course, somebody couldn't let that happen and Curse of Chucky was made, as if in an attempt to prove that there is still life left in this franchise. Naturally, this film does otherwise.
In Curse of Chucky, Chucky winds up with a new family that he actually has a personal history with and old debts he wants to settle. This is actually a personal film for the Chuck, but that doesn't mean it's any better than it's previous outing.
Fiona Douriff, Brad Douriff's real life daughter, stars as wheelchair bound Nica who acts as the more-or-less heroine of this film. She does an admirable job, but doesn't really leave much of an impression. The film does have some fun with the fact that she can't feel her legs, but besides this there ain't nothing that great about her character.
Of course, Brad Douriff returns as Chucky and is easily the best part of this film. He's just as great as we remember him being, and is really the only reason to see this film. He is given tons of really great one-liners and is the only character we really care about. I was surprised to find myself actually rooting for Chuck to win this battle, and the way this film ends actually pleased me a bit (there are a few parts of the ending I didn't care for but as a whole, it could have been A LOT worse).
One thing that really bothered me about this film was all the retarded drama the film makers injected into it. The whole film is filled with stupid family drama we don't care about, characters that aren't given any depth and that we also don't care about, and the history Chuck shares with this family feels crow-bared in and forced. It actually takes 44 minutes of build-up till the big reveal that OH-MY-GOSH Chucky can actually talk and is killing people! You'd think by the 6th outing we wouldn't need build-up, false jump scares, and people dying off-screen by Chucky's hands (to build suspense). By now, we should be able to jump right into the action, but apparently this film thinks otherwise.
There is one scene of lame CGI for Chucky, but the rest of Chucky's scenes are handled by good old fashioned animatronics. The animatronics for Chucky are actually pretty damned good and believable, being at least on par with the animatronics used in the other films. Chucky's effects are handled in an interesting way as the film sometimes cuts to above tracking shots of him where an actor wearing a red wig is subbed in for the doll. While it's not the most impressive effect, it's nice to see this film try to be a little clever and switch things up a bit. another disappointing thing about this film are the kills sampled in it. They are not all that impressive or creative, and the blood and gore effects are just kind of meh. I was hoping for better, but no such luck (also, don't expect any nudity...even though the Chuck films haven't been known for their nudity really).
Curse of Chucky is a film that is trying to revitalize the character of Chucky, mainly by adding the horror aspect of the original three films back into this one....except it's just not scary. This outing tries to blend the old Chuck with the new Chuck, and it's not a completely successful mixture to be honest. Chuck is still ever the comedian, but this film is from the perspective of Nica and Chuck is back to being the villain again (whereas with the previous two films he was more of an anti-hero. The ironic thing is with Bride and Seed, I still didn't want to see him succeed in his efforts, and now when he's back to being a villain I find myself rooting for him for the first time).
It can not be denied any longer, Curse of Chucky is a stupid film. In trying to make a film that proved that the Chucky films still had steam, the film makers instead proved exactly the opposite. The Chucky films are a tired set, and I think they may need to go to sleep for a very long time, or at least until someone has an idea about how to properly use this character. A direct-to-dvd sequel would never have been able to revitalize these dying films. If anything, at least this film proves that Chucky is still a great character, it reminded me how much I really do love the Chuck, so it's not all bad I guess. I know that there is a way to renew the public interest in this character, I know that there is someone out there who has some great, original ideas for how to handle the Chucky character....unfortunately this is not that film and these filmmakers are not those people. It's not hard to see why this film got a direct-to-dvd release. I look forward to the day when Chucky can be back where he belongs, on the big screen in a good film.....we may just have to wait a while until this happens. I guess Curse of Chucky is worth a watch for the character of Chucky alone, but don't expect anything good to be surrounding him in this one. I'd say maybe it's worth a rental from Redbox if you're curious....just don't expect much.
2 STARS
Sidenote: While, once again, this film is far from being a good film, it is a notch or half-notch above Seed of Chucky. Also, be sure to stay after the credits for a scene with Andy. While it does directly contradict what we saw in the actual ending for Curse of Chucky (the 2nd ending does take place 6 months after Curse of Chucky, so I guess anything could have happened in that time), it's still good to see Andy back, and portrayed by the very same actor who was Andy in the first 2 Child Play films. Excuse me while I have a nerd-gasm! Why can't we get another film with Andy and Chucky dueling it out?
Monday, October 7, 2013
SMALLS' FRIGHT FEST: THE PEOPLE UNDER THE STAIRS
For this edition of my Fright Fest, we re-visit one of the more well known and popular horror directors, Wes Craven. Now, Craven is popular for his Scream films, the first Nightmare on Elm Street, and New Nightmare....however, I really don't consider him to be that great of a director. I've sampled a lot of his films, and for the most part they tend to range from mediocre to just plain terrible with a few exceptions here or there. The People Under The Stairs is one of those happy exceptions. It's a film that should have been terrible, but somehow Craven stumbled into yet another successful, fun and memorable film.
People Under The Stairs follows young Fool (Brandon Quinten Adams), who is coerced into robbing a house when he finds that his mother is ailing and doesn't have enough money to get better or pay the rent. The house he is told to rob houses a mother (Wendie Robie), a father (Everett McGill), their daughter Alice (A.J. Langer), and a dirty secret that lies in the basement. Fool stumbles upon the surprising truth, and realizes that everything isn't always as it seems. The job falls upon him to set things right....but can he?
The characters of Mommy and Daddy (as they are called in the film), are pretty disturbing and absolutely nuts. Both Wendie Robie and Everett McGill put on superb performances that make you laugh but also succeed in making you a bit uncomfortable. A.J. Langer as Wendy is also pretty great and beautiful. Brandon Quinten Adams holds his own surprisingly well as Fool. By far, my own personal favorite character is Roach, as portrayed by Sean Whalen. He is one of the people under the stairs, but is a complete bad-ass. He kind of resembles a slightly older version of the boy who never grew up and while he isn't in the film for very long he certainly makes a lasting impression.
People Under The Stairs is not a scary movie, it's not even really horror when you stop to think about it. It's more so suspense than anything else, however it is tons of insane fun. The film is pure B movie magic. The lines are hilarious and memorable, the characters are crazy, and I really dig how they twist things up a bit. In this film, it's the people that at first glance appear normal that are actually deranged lunatics, and it's the people that at first glance appear crazy that end up being victims, innocents and the heroes. It's a welcome twist that I absolutely love.
I'm going to keep this review short so that I don't ruin the film for all of you who haven't seen it yet and let's face it...I've already said too much as it is so I'll end this review like so: The People Under The Stairs has lots of little treats for you to munch on. It's a bat-shit insane film that continually ups the insanity until the explosive finale where shit gets real in a good way. This is one of Craven's better films, and while it certainly isn't great it sure is lots of fun and very memorable. I'm gonna say give it a watch.
3.5 STARS
People Under The Stairs follows young Fool (Brandon Quinten Adams), who is coerced into robbing a house when he finds that his mother is ailing and doesn't have enough money to get better or pay the rent. The house he is told to rob houses a mother (Wendie Robie), a father (Everett McGill), their daughter Alice (A.J. Langer), and a dirty secret that lies in the basement. Fool stumbles upon the surprising truth, and realizes that everything isn't always as it seems. The job falls upon him to set things right....but can he?
The characters of Mommy and Daddy (as they are called in the film), are pretty disturbing and absolutely nuts. Both Wendie Robie and Everett McGill put on superb performances that make you laugh but also succeed in making you a bit uncomfortable. A.J. Langer as Wendy is also pretty great and beautiful. Brandon Quinten Adams holds his own surprisingly well as Fool. By far, my own personal favorite character is Roach, as portrayed by Sean Whalen. He is one of the people under the stairs, but is a complete bad-ass. He kind of resembles a slightly older version of the boy who never grew up and while he isn't in the film for very long he certainly makes a lasting impression.
People Under The Stairs is not a scary movie, it's not even really horror when you stop to think about it. It's more so suspense than anything else, however it is tons of insane fun. The film is pure B movie magic. The lines are hilarious and memorable, the characters are crazy, and I really dig how they twist things up a bit. In this film, it's the people that at first glance appear normal that are actually deranged lunatics, and it's the people that at first glance appear crazy that end up being victims, innocents and the heroes. It's a welcome twist that I absolutely love.
I'm going to keep this review short so that I don't ruin the film for all of you who haven't seen it yet and let's face it...I've already said too much as it is so I'll end this review like so: The People Under The Stairs has lots of little treats for you to munch on. It's a bat-shit insane film that continually ups the insanity until the explosive finale where shit gets real in a good way. This is one of Craven's better films, and while it certainly isn't great it sure is lots of fun and very memorable. I'm gonna say give it a watch.
3.5 STARS
Friday, October 4, 2013
SMALLS' FRIGHT FEST: GHOSTBUSTERS
WHO YA GONNA CALL?!
Ghostbusters and I have a rich history. It was one of my favorite films when I was a young child (and I do mean young, like elementary school young), and it's still one of my favorite films today. I literally grew up with this film, and have fond memories of it. So, naturally it felt good to re-visit it for the Halloween season and it only seems fitting that Ghostbusters be the first Fright Fest film review for this year.
In Ghostbusters, amateur paranormal investigators Dr. Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), Dr. Ray Stantz (Dan Aykroyd), and Dr. Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis) lose their cozy gig at a university and so decide to go into business for themselves, creating a ghost catchers group for hire named Ghostbusters. Together with new partner Winston Zeddmore (Ernie Hudson) they set out to rid NYC of all ghostly activity, while trying to stay ahead of nosy EPA agent Walter Peck (William Atherton). Soon enough, the Ghostbusters realize that NYC and the Earth is on a collision course with Gozer, an ancient Sumerian God that has some big nasty plans for humanity, and the Ghostbusters may be the only ones who can stop him. Along for the chaos is Venkman's crush Dana Barrett (Sigourney Weaver) and her next door neighbor Louis Tully (Rick Moranis).
Naturally the standout of the cast is the phenomenal Bill Murray as the always cool under pressure Peter Venkman. It's always fun to watch his reactions to events and interactions with other characters, and he's got most of the best lines in the film ("Back off man, I'm a scientist"). That isn't to say though, that all the other actors don't do a good job. Each actor is perfectly cast, from Sigourney Weaver who is gifted with one of her best roles, to Dan Aykroyd who is perfect as the geeky kid at heart, to Harold Ramis who is goofy fun as the devoted nerd of the group, even to William Atherton who is unforgettable as the human villain here. All do superb jobs as classic characters that are instantly unforgettable.
There are no real deeper themes here, Ghostbusters is nothing more than pure, supernatural, ass-kicking fun. I do love the mythology created for the Gozer role, and the atmosphere created in the film is pretty damned cool. While the film is extremely funny, it is also surprisingly creepy at times as well (I remember this film freaked me out a good deal when I first saw it, and at times it still does today). Ghostbusters manages to balance both humor and scares, with not one element outweighing the other. This gives the film a unique tone that I can't say I've ever seen anywhere else before. Many other films have tried to capitalize on and replicate Ghostbusters (even the failed attempt at a sequel), and none have succeeded.
The ghosts found within the film are also quite memorable (Slimer anyone?), and most of the effects still hold up fairly well (all except for the demon dog that chases Tully thru the streets, only real terrible effect in the film.) The Proton Packs and Ghostbusters outfits are just as cool as I remember them being. By far though, the one thing that most people think of first when they hear Ghostbusters is most likely that most jolly of sailors, The Sta-Puft Marshmallow Man. While it's clear that it's really just a man in a costume, it's surprisingly easy to suspend your disbelief and just go with it. His grand reveal is still every bit as amazing as it used to be, and it never ceases to amuse me as he goes about causing untold amounts of destruction all while wearing that ridiculous grin on his face. The final rooftop battle featuring Gozer and Sta-Puft is still one of the best climaxes in film history, and for good reason.
Ghostbusters has easily earned it's classic status, and it's one it definitely deserves. It's freaky, funny, and also insanely fun. I must have seen this film well over a dozen times, and it still never gets old. Ghostbusters is a real treat that is fun to watch and re-watch anytime, and not just during the Halloween season.
5 STARS
Also: And who doesn't LOVE that theme song?
Ghostbusters and I have a rich history. It was one of my favorite films when I was a young child (and I do mean young, like elementary school young), and it's still one of my favorite films today. I literally grew up with this film, and have fond memories of it. So, naturally it felt good to re-visit it for the Halloween season and it only seems fitting that Ghostbusters be the first Fright Fest film review for this year.
In Ghostbusters, amateur paranormal investigators Dr. Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), Dr. Ray Stantz (Dan Aykroyd), and Dr. Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis) lose their cozy gig at a university and so decide to go into business for themselves, creating a ghost catchers group for hire named Ghostbusters. Together with new partner Winston Zeddmore (Ernie Hudson) they set out to rid NYC of all ghostly activity, while trying to stay ahead of nosy EPA agent Walter Peck (William Atherton). Soon enough, the Ghostbusters realize that NYC and the Earth is on a collision course with Gozer, an ancient Sumerian God that has some big nasty plans for humanity, and the Ghostbusters may be the only ones who can stop him. Along for the chaos is Venkman's crush Dana Barrett (Sigourney Weaver) and her next door neighbor Louis Tully (Rick Moranis).
Naturally the standout of the cast is the phenomenal Bill Murray as the always cool under pressure Peter Venkman. It's always fun to watch his reactions to events and interactions with other characters, and he's got most of the best lines in the film ("Back off man, I'm a scientist"). That isn't to say though, that all the other actors don't do a good job. Each actor is perfectly cast, from Sigourney Weaver who is gifted with one of her best roles, to Dan Aykroyd who is perfect as the geeky kid at heart, to Harold Ramis who is goofy fun as the devoted nerd of the group, even to William Atherton who is unforgettable as the human villain here. All do superb jobs as classic characters that are instantly unforgettable.
There are no real deeper themes here, Ghostbusters is nothing more than pure, supernatural, ass-kicking fun. I do love the mythology created for the Gozer role, and the atmosphere created in the film is pretty damned cool. While the film is extremely funny, it is also surprisingly creepy at times as well (I remember this film freaked me out a good deal when I first saw it, and at times it still does today). Ghostbusters manages to balance both humor and scares, with not one element outweighing the other. This gives the film a unique tone that I can't say I've ever seen anywhere else before. Many other films have tried to capitalize on and replicate Ghostbusters (even the failed attempt at a sequel), and none have succeeded.
The ghosts found within the film are also quite memorable (Slimer anyone?), and most of the effects still hold up fairly well (all except for the demon dog that chases Tully thru the streets, only real terrible effect in the film.) The Proton Packs and Ghostbusters outfits are just as cool as I remember them being. By far though, the one thing that most people think of first when they hear Ghostbusters is most likely that most jolly of sailors, The Sta-Puft Marshmallow Man. While it's clear that it's really just a man in a costume, it's surprisingly easy to suspend your disbelief and just go with it. His grand reveal is still every bit as amazing as it used to be, and it never ceases to amuse me as he goes about causing untold amounts of destruction all while wearing that ridiculous grin on his face. The final rooftop battle featuring Gozer and Sta-Puft is still one of the best climaxes in film history, and for good reason.
Ghostbusters has easily earned it's classic status, and it's one it definitely deserves. It's freaky, funny, and also insanely fun. I must have seen this film well over a dozen times, and it still never gets old. Ghostbusters is a real treat that is fun to watch and re-watch anytime, and not just during the Halloween season.
5 STARS
Also: And who doesn't LOVE that theme song?
SMALLS' FRIGHT FEST: THE WALKING DEAD SEASON 3
I would suggest you watch Season 3 FIRST (if you haven't already), before reading this article.
I've never been a huge fan of AMC's The Walking Dead, a tv show about zombies, survivors, and what it takes to hold onto your humanity as the world falls apart. The first two seasons were interesting, and the show became known for it's surprise kills of popular characters. I'll admit I did enjoy the first 2 seasons, but it's in the show's third season where The Walking Dead finally gets significantly better.
I've never been a huge fan of AMC's The Walking Dead, a tv show about zombies, survivors, and what it takes to hold onto your humanity as the world falls apart. The first two seasons were interesting, and the show became known for it's surprise kills of popular characters. I'll admit I did enjoy the first 2 seasons, but it's in the show's third season where The Walking Dead finally gets significantly better.
Like the seasons before it, Season 3 still focuses mainly on character drama with zombies occasionally interrupting the proceedings. The characterizations are still strong (Steven Yuen as Glenn, Norman Reedus as Daryl, and Andrew Lincoln as Rick are still my favs), and characters that used to be annoying really step it up, like Carl (Chandler Riggs), who becomes quite the bad-ass this season. However, the main reason this season rocked my couch so hard is because the main storyline this time around is that of a small, protected town named Woodbury and the mysterious man known as The Governor (David Morrissey) who runs the place.
The Governor is, in my opinion, the show's strongest character to date. He starts out likeable enough, but as the season treks onwards more of his true character is revealed until we are left with vastly different feelings towards him. The Governor starts out as a nice guy, is slowly revealed to be bad but with understandable intentions, then he goes nuts and becomes a complete monster. David Morrissey does a top notch performance as the unhinged Governor, giving him more than enough layers so he's not your typical bad guy. His arc is pretty thrilling, and it would seem that we may get more of his story in the 4th season.
The Governor's arc, also becomes Woodbury's. The town of Woodbury on the outside seems like a utopia in the middle of a zombie wasteland. It's well protected by a bunch of military wanna-be's (who are also run by The Governor. With military types involved this time around you would expect a lot of gun play and action scenes, and luckily we get more then our fair share of this, thank God!), it seems peaceful and happy, and people generally tend to live longer in the town. However, there is a mystery surrounding the town and it's citizens and the town continually morphs and degrades throughout the season until it is a pretty scary place. In a way, Woodbury is an extension of The Governor and his psyche: On the outside it seems well-meaning and peaceful, but underneath it's dark, violent, and mysterious.
The 2nd arc of the story is that of Rick and his group, who have taken over a prison which at first glance seems to be a safe reprieve, but holds more than it's fair share of dangers and challenges inside. This arc is fairly interesting, but The Woodbury/Governor arc is so much stronger and engaging that every time the show switched back to the prison I was left anxiously waiting for Woodbury or The Governor to come back. In a way, the strength of the Woodbury/Governor arc can be counted as a weakness because it outshines most everything else this season.
The show also introduced a few new, notable characters including Michonne (Dania Gurira), Milton (Dallas Roberts), and Tyreese (Chad L. Coleman) and his small group. Michonne is a katana weilding woman who seems to be fairly intense and is a tough person to read, Milton is the scientific adviser and friend to the Governor (Milton gets a small but fun and satisfying arc here, really loved his character), and Tyreese is the well-meaning and friendly leader of a tiny group that stumbles into the prison for a brief encounter with Rick and friends before journeying onward to Woodbury. It's clear that the show is nowhere near done with Michonne and Tyeese and his small group, and I'm looking forward to see what arcs they will be dealt in later seasons. We are also introduced once again to Merle (Michael Rooker), brother to Darryl. He has also holed up in Woodbury, and has become the unofficial leader of the wanna-be military that protects the town. Merle is an asshole, just like we remember him being, but is given a really good arc that has a great ending (could Merle be given a shot at redemption, you'll have to watch and see). There's also the re-introduction of Morgan from Season 1, and the way the show deals with his character is beautiful and so so so perfect.
While, there are still a few minor problems with this season (still a lot of drama, but you won't notice it as much since a good deal has to do with Woodbury and The Governor. Not a whole lot of zombie action, though what's there is satisfying enough I suppose. Not a lot of good surprise deaths here, so that's kind of disappointing), Season 3 of The Walking Dead is still the best season of this show so far, and with Season 4 seeming to tease the continuation of The Governor/Woodbury arc, let's hope that it's only going to get better from here on out.
4.5 STARS
Sunday, September 29, 2013
SMALLS THINKS DON JON IS PRETTY GOOD, BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN A CONTENDER
Don Jon marks the debut of Joseph Gordon Levitt, the screenwriter/director. As someone who has followed most of this guys career, seeing this film was a no brainer. JGL has already proven he can act like it's nobodies business, but does he have what it takes to be a truly formidable writer/director?
In Don Jon JGL plays Johnny, a ladies man who is addicted to porn. He meets and falls for Barbara (Scarlett Johansson), a straight up 10 who challenges John in several ways, including forcing him to take a night class where he meets Esther (Julianne Moore), who will end up changing the way John thinks about himself, others, sex, and his lifestyle.
Don Jon was a film that I so badly wanted to love, to praise. Unfortunately, it falls flat in many areas. JGL has shown that he is a fairly smart man that enjoys taking on challenging characters with intricate arcs and deep stories. You would think that he would have a lot to say....and while what he does have to say is fairly entertaining and truthful, it's not as deep as you would hope for it to be.
As a writer, JGL proves constantly that he's got the shine. His script for Don Jon is pretty great. This is how real people talk, what real people talk about, and how men and women really act. As a director, he seems to be fine as well (he doesn't do anything really stand out here though), managing to evoke fairly great performances from Scar Jo (she is super hawt here, just wait till you see the hallway dry humping scene) and Julianne Moore (Moore is the most memorable thing about this film, surprisingly). However, after the first hour or so I couldn't help but notice that the film didn't seem to be going anywhere. The character of John did remind me a bit of myself, but ultimately he's not a super deep character and there's not much that Levitt can really do to make him memorable. He's definitely like what a real guy is, but he's just not super memorable. John does end up changing a bit, but it happens a bit too quickly and a little bit late (in the last 20 mins or so is where this happens). The message here seems to be: There's more to love than sex. It's a good message for young people, but I imagine that most adults that are past their 20s already know this. The film does seem to be aimed squarely at the 20-something crowd, and it's certainly tons of fun....however, the film feels like it's going to have this huge message and that this guy is really going to end up making a drastic change and it's all going to be uplifting.....but the film doesn't really do any of this. Not to mention, it feels like the film would have benefited from an extra hour where things could be fleshed out a bit more and where a more concrete and solid ending could have been formed (the way the film ends is just bad, really bad).
Don Jon, from opening credits to final shot is all about sex. It's clear that JGL is trying to say meaningful things about society's obsession with sex, about the falsity and meaningless repetition of religion and religious rituals, about the surface culture we live in, etc. The film has room for several message, but as it is most of these end up being half-messages and half-formed ideas with the big message being contained solely to that of relationships. JGL has so many ideas, that it's almost like he was unable to reel himself in. I can see how this film could have been great, and it hurts to watch it get so much right and so much wrong at the same time.
Don Jon is surely an entertaining, fun film....but if you're hoping for more than just that, you might as well look somewhere else. To his credit, JGL does try to create a strong message here. Don Jon shows that JGL can make believable, REAL dialogue and knows how to just about perfectly mimic real life conversation...however, he still has to work on his story creating skills and on how to end a film the right way. I hate saying bad things about JGL, I really do love the guy. He's got an insane level of talent, and it's clear that he's got some good writing skills. He's still a beginner, but if he keeps working at honing his craft he may just become one of the bigs eventually. I'd say that if you are a JGL completionist like me, the film's a must-see and it's interesting to be able to watch the beginnings of what may turn into something great later on down the road, but for right now JGL still has some work to do. I enjoyed myself, I just wish there had been more substance and more of a payoff. Don Jon is a good college effort, and it's tons of surface fun but there's not as much going on underneath the surface as Joseph Gordon Levitt seems to think there is.
3.5 STARS
In Don Jon JGL plays Johnny, a ladies man who is addicted to porn. He meets and falls for Barbara (Scarlett Johansson), a straight up 10 who challenges John in several ways, including forcing him to take a night class where he meets Esther (Julianne Moore), who will end up changing the way John thinks about himself, others, sex, and his lifestyle.
Don Jon was a film that I so badly wanted to love, to praise. Unfortunately, it falls flat in many areas. JGL has shown that he is a fairly smart man that enjoys taking on challenging characters with intricate arcs and deep stories. You would think that he would have a lot to say....and while what he does have to say is fairly entertaining and truthful, it's not as deep as you would hope for it to be.
As a writer, JGL proves constantly that he's got the shine. His script for Don Jon is pretty great. This is how real people talk, what real people talk about, and how men and women really act. As a director, he seems to be fine as well (he doesn't do anything really stand out here though), managing to evoke fairly great performances from Scar Jo (she is super hawt here, just wait till you see the hallway dry humping scene) and Julianne Moore (Moore is the most memorable thing about this film, surprisingly). However, after the first hour or so I couldn't help but notice that the film didn't seem to be going anywhere. The character of John did remind me a bit of myself, but ultimately he's not a super deep character and there's not much that Levitt can really do to make him memorable. He's definitely like what a real guy is, but he's just not super memorable. John does end up changing a bit, but it happens a bit too quickly and a little bit late (in the last 20 mins or so is where this happens). The message here seems to be: There's more to love than sex. It's a good message for young people, but I imagine that most adults that are past their 20s already know this. The film does seem to be aimed squarely at the 20-something crowd, and it's certainly tons of fun....however, the film feels like it's going to have this huge message and that this guy is really going to end up making a drastic change and it's all going to be uplifting.....but the film doesn't really do any of this. Not to mention, it feels like the film would have benefited from an extra hour where things could be fleshed out a bit more and where a more concrete and solid ending could have been formed (the way the film ends is just bad, really bad).
Don Jon, from opening credits to final shot is all about sex. It's clear that JGL is trying to say meaningful things about society's obsession with sex, about the falsity and meaningless repetition of religion and religious rituals, about the surface culture we live in, etc. The film has room for several message, but as it is most of these end up being half-messages and half-formed ideas with the big message being contained solely to that of relationships. JGL has so many ideas, that it's almost like he was unable to reel himself in. I can see how this film could have been great, and it hurts to watch it get so much right and so much wrong at the same time.
Don Jon is surely an entertaining, fun film....but if you're hoping for more than just that, you might as well look somewhere else. To his credit, JGL does try to create a strong message here. Don Jon shows that JGL can make believable, REAL dialogue and knows how to just about perfectly mimic real life conversation...however, he still has to work on his story creating skills and on how to end a film the right way. I hate saying bad things about JGL, I really do love the guy. He's got an insane level of talent, and it's clear that he's got some good writing skills. He's still a beginner, but if he keeps working at honing his craft he may just become one of the bigs eventually. I'd say that if you are a JGL completionist like me, the film's a must-see and it's interesting to be able to watch the beginnings of what may turn into something great later on down the road, but for right now JGL still has some work to do. I enjoyed myself, I just wish there had been more substance and more of a payoff. Don Jon is a good college effort, and it's tons of surface fun but there's not as much going on underneath the surface as Joseph Gordon Levitt seems to think there is.
3.5 STARS
Saturday, September 28, 2013
SMALLS' FRIGHT FEST CONJURES UP MORE SCARES THIS HALLOWEEN SEASON
Welcome again, my children of the night.....TO SMALLS' FRIGHT FEST!!! Yes, it is that time of year again where ghosties and ghoulies are awakened once more to spread fear and chaos over the Earth for one special night: HALLOWEEN. It's the witching season, and this year I, your humble Ghost Host with the most most, will once again attempt to scare up only the best of the best Halloween films and, like always, will bring you my trip report from Scare Central: Halloween Horror Nights. So, ready or not, hang on for your afterlife, because Smalls' Fright Fest starts TODAY!!!
Monday, September 9, 2013
THE BLING RING HAS LOTS OF BLING, LITTLE BRAIN
Today is the day I finish what I call The American Dream Trilogy (Spring Breakers, Pain and Gain, The Bling Ring). All of these films are about people doing whatever it takes (usually by illegal means) to live their version of the American Dream. Spring Breakers followed a group of college girls that turn to a life of crime, drugs and murder to fuel that dream, Pain and Gain focused on three dim-witted meat heads that decided kidnapping, extortion and murder was the only way to live their dream, so....what does Bling Ring focus on?
In Bling Ring, we follow spoiled rich teens Rebecca (Katie Chang), Marc (Israel Broussard), Nicki (Emma Watson), and Chloe (Claire Julian). Although they are pretty well off, all four still yearn for more....in this case, fame and the celebrity lifestyle. Rebecca hits upon a way to live this lifestyle, mainly by following the news to find out when certain celebs are away and then using Google maps to find the celeb's house, drive there, break in, and then party and steal stuff. She invites her posse to join her and soon enough the four are living the high life and snorting cocaine like it's candy (lots of cocaine usage in this film). Naturally, the group isn't all that intelligent (Marc is the smartest one in the group, and is also the most likeable...although this isn't really saying much) so after a little while the four are indeed caught. This is also based on a true story.
Katie Change does a pretty good job as Rebecca, a real conniving and manipulative bitch who also acts as the ring leader. By far the best parts of this film are Israel Broussard as Marc and Emma Watson as Nicki.. Marc is a new student at school that is a bit socially awkward and a bit closeted. Rebecca picks up on this and quickly brings him under her wing, almost immeadietly bringing him into her life of naughtiness. Once again, Marc is the most likeable character here, and is easily the smartest one in the bunch. Emma Watson plays a real airhead and is not only super hot but also immensely watchable (dare I say, it's almost like she's in a different film). Whenever her character of Nicki is on, you can't take your eyes off her. Watson is pretty highly intelligent in real life, so to watch her play someone who has just about zero intelligence and just nail the role...it's really impressive. Watson isn't in the film a whole lot, we get just the right amount of her character.
Bling Ring is filmed with lots of bizarre segments of pics of celebs and celeb interviews that whiz by at a fast speed, and some segments featuring Facebook updates. It's an interesting touch that helps add a bit of personality to the film (the celeb pic and interview segments feel a bit misplaced, but the Facebook bits were a welcome addition and worked surprisingly well). The cinematography was fine and pretty, but never really stood out a whole lot minus a few scenes here and there (The opening scene was cool, and there was one club scene that was very pretty). The soundtrack is also a little too obvious most of the times, but the addition of Crown On The Ground for the opening scene was somewhat inspired.
The Bling Ring does have a tiny bit of brains, mainly by it's message: that even the rich want to be richer and famous, and how the public has a fascination with the whole Robin Hood thing. Most of the film consists of scenes of the group robbing houses and partying, and while the first few scenes of these are cool and naughty, it quickly grows stale and repetitive. It's clear that Sophia Coppola wanted to send a message out there through this film, but she never really has much fun with the proceedings or comes up with anything truly innovative (she even has one of the characters recite the message of the film, in case it was too hard to figure out on your own....which it's not).
Bling Ring starts out kind of fun, but quickly becomes kind of dull as the appeal wears off. While the main characters are bad people, they are still likable. We already know the outcome of their hijinx, so once the scenes of thievery become stale we are left waiting anxiously for the crew to get caught (takes around an hour for this to happen). While Bling Ring is an enjoyable film, it's not very engaging, creative, or even all that fun. If the story sounds interesting to you, go ahead and rent it on Redbox and see if you like it.......however, I wouldn't say it's worth a full purchase....just a tentative peek. The Bling Ring had potential, it could have been a great film....but it's not. As it is, it's just a little better than O.K.
2.5 STARS
It also ends on a super awkward note.
In Bling Ring, we follow spoiled rich teens Rebecca (Katie Chang), Marc (Israel Broussard), Nicki (Emma Watson), and Chloe (Claire Julian). Although they are pretty well off, all four still yearn for more....in this case, fame and the celebrity lifestyle. Rebecca hits upon a way to live this lifestyle, mainly by following the news to find out when certain celebs are away and then using Google maps to find the celeb's house, drive there, break in, and then party and steal stuff. She invites her posse to join her and soon enough the four are living the high life and snorting cocaine like it's candy (lots of cocaine usage in this film). Naturally, the group isn't all that intelligent (Marc is the smartest one in the group, and is also the most likeable...although this isn't really saying much) so after a little while the four are indeed caught. This is also based on a true story.
Katie Change does a pretty good job as Rebecca, a real conniving and manipulative bitch who also acts as the ring leader. By far the best parts of this film are Israel Broussard as Marc and Emma Watson as Nicki.. Marc is a new student at school that is a bit socially awkward and a bit closeted. Rebecca picks up on this and quickly brings him under her wing, almost immeadietly bringing him into her life of naughtiness. Once again, Marc is the most likeable character here, and is easily the smartest one in the bunch. Emma Watson plays a real airhead and is not only super hot but also immensely watchable (dare I say, it's almost like she's in a different film). Whenever her character of Nicki is on, you can't take your eyes off her. Watson is pretty highly intelligent in real life, so to watch her play someone who has just about zero intelligence and just nail the role...it's really impressive. Watson isn't in the film a whole lot, we get just the right amount of her character.
Bling Ring is filmed with lots of bizarre segments of pics of celebs and celeb interviews that whiz by at a fast speed, and some segments featuring Facebook updates. It's an interesting touch that helps add a bit of personality to the film (the celeb pic and interview segments feel a bit misplaced, but the Facebook bits were a welcome addition and worked surprisingly well). The cinematography was fine and pretty, but never really stood out a whole lot minus a few scenes here and there (The opening scene was cool, and there was one club scene that was very pretty). The soundtrack is also a little too obvious most of the times, but the addition of Crown On The Ground for the opening scene was somewhat inspired.
The Bling Ring does have a tiny bit of brains, mainly by it's message: that even the rich want to be richer and famous, and how the public has a fascination with the whole Robin Hood thing. Most of the film consists of scenes of the group robbing houses and partying, and while the first few scenes of these are cool and naughty, it quickly grows stale and repetitive. It's clear that Sophia Coppola wanted to send a message out there through this film, but she never really has much fun with the proceedings or comes up with anything truly innovative (she even has one of the characters recite the message of the film, in case it was too hard to figure out on your own....which it's not).
Bling Ring starts out kind of fun, but quickly becomes kind of dull as the appeal wears off. While the main characters are bad people, they are still likable. We already know the outcome of their hijinx, so once the scenes of thievery become stale we are left waiting anxiously for the crew to get caught (takes around an hour for this to happen). While Bling Ring is an enjoyable film, it's not very engaging, creative, or even all that fun. If the story sounds interesting to you, go ahead and rent it on Redbox and see if you like it.......however, I wouldn't say it's worth a full purchase....just a tentative peek. The Bling Ring had potential, it could have been a great film....but it's not. As it is, it's just a little better than O.K.
2.5 STARS
It also ends on a super awkward note.
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