Director: Nicholas Meyer
Year: 1979
This was a random Netflix stream, and I am glad I took a chance on this one.
The film picks up as H. G. Wells invents a time machine. One of his colleagues, who happens to be Jack the Ripper, steals his time machine and travels to the year 1979. However, due to a safety device on the time machine the machine returns to Wells in 1893 without his colleague. Wells travels through time to chase down the Ripper where he meets a women who turns out to be one of Jack's targets. Wells must stop Jack the Ripper from killing more women and save the life of his new-found love.
The story is a little strange, but it is pulled off very well by a great cast. Malcolm McDowell (Clockwork Orange) as Wells, David Warner (Tron) as Jack, and Mary Steenburgen (Back to the Future 3) as Amy all come together to make this off-the-wall SciFi shine. Check it out.
Nicholas Meyer's TIME AFTER TIME (1979)
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Sunday, September 5, 2010
026 - Canadian Bacon
Director: Michael Moore
Year: 1995
A 5.7 on IMDB?!?! They really don't know what they're talking aboot, eh? Michael Moore and John Candy team up in this one so you know it is going to be good.
Ok, so the President's ratings are dipping and to jump start the economy and his ratings he decides going to war with Canada is the best chance the USA has. However, this sort of back fires when Niagra Fall Sheriff Bud B. Boomer takes things a little too far. He and his crew of misfits sneak across the border and take it to those Canucks.
Aside from the goofy story this film is full of social commentary. The economy is in the tank. The president is visiting the Niagra Falls area and the only crowd there is there to purchase useless weaponry left over from the cold war. Ground to Air missiles, automatic rifles, chemical weapons, and much more going for mere dollars to the trigger happy Niagra Fall folk. Incentive programs paying officers who talk people out of jumping off the Falls 25 dollars and 50 if they have to retrieve the body. The citizens of Niagra Falls taking arms against the Canucks now all of sudden standing behind their president in a time of war. The film certainly was the start of Moore's commentary works.
The film is full of a great cast and great one-liners. Check it out.
Michael Moore's CANADIAN BACON (1995)
Year: 1995
A 5.7 on IMDB?!?! They really don't know what they're talking aboot, eh? Michael Moore and John Candy team up in this one so you know it is going to be good.
Ok, so the President's ratings are dipping and to jump start the economy and his ratings he decides going to war with Canada is the best chance the USA has. However, this sort of back fires when Niagra Fall Sheriff Bud B. Boomer takes things a little too far. He and his crew of misfits sneak across the border and take it to those Canucks.
Aside from the goofy story this film is full of social commentary. The economy is in the tank. The president is visiting the Niagra Falls area and the only crowd there is there to purchase useless weaponry left over from the cold war. Ground to Air missiles, automatic rifles, chemical weapons, and much more going for mere dollars to the trigger happy Niagra Fall folk. Incentive programs paying officers who talk people out of jumping off the Falls 25 dollars and 50 if they have to retrieve the body. The citizens of Niagra Falls taking arms against the Canucks now all of sudden standing behind their president in a time of war. The film certainly was the start of Moore's commentary works.
The film is full of a great cast and great one-liners. Check it out.
Michael Moore's CANADIAN BACON (1995)
025 - GI Joe: The Movie
Director: Don Jurwich
Year: 1987
Everyone knows the story of the all-American heroes fighting the ruthless terrorist organization called Cobra. But not everyone knows of the full length animated film of 1987.
In the film the Cobra organization teams up with the people of the Cobra-La led by Golobulus. The people of Cobra-La are a sort of underground snake(ish) people who want to mutate mankind so they are no longer outsiders. To mutate the human race Cobra-La release deadly spores into space and have the spores rain down on the Earth mutating every man, women, and child. In order to ripen in space, however, the spores need energy and it just so happens that the Joes have been developing the Broadcast Energy Transmitter (BET, lol) which will do the job. Cobra steals the BET, the Joes fight back and have to save the planet.
It is a similar story but who cares. It is a full length GI Joe movie from the 80s and it has Sgt. Slaughter from the WWF play Sgt Slaughter! It can't get any better. And for a nice change of pace there are actual injuries in the film. As with the cartoon show, you normally only see the vehicles blow up and the drivers just make it away, but in this film there is at least one major injury and a few deaths! GI Joe stepped it up on this one! So forget the abortion GI Joe: Rise of Cobra that came out recently and check out the 1987 cartoon version in all its glory.
YO JOE!!!!
Don Jurwich's G.I. JOE: THE MOVIE (1987)
Year: 1987
Everyone knows the story of the all-American heroes fighting the ruthless terrorist organization called Cobra. But not everyone knows of the full length animated film of 1987.
In the film the Cobra organization teams up with the people of the Cobra-La led by Golobulus. The people of Cobra-La are a sort of underground snake(ish) people who want to mutate mankind so they are no longer outsiders. To mutate the human race Cobra-La release deadly spores into space and have the spores rain down on the Earth mutating every man, women, and child. In order to ripen in space, however, the spores need energy and it just so happens that the Joes have been developing the Broadcast Energy Transmitter (BET, lol) which will do the job. Cobra steals the BET, the Joes fight back and have to save the planet.
It is a similar story but who cares. It is a full length GI Joe movie from the 80s and it has Sgt. Slaughter from the WWF play Sgt Slaughter! It can't get any better. And for a nice change of pace there are actual injuries in the film. As with the cartoon show, you normally only see the vehicles blow up and the drivers just make it away, but in this film there is at least one major injury and a few deaths! GI Joe stepped it up on this one! So forget the abortion GI Joe: Rise of Cobra that came out recently and check out the 1987 cartoon version in all its glory.
YO JOE!!!!
Don Jurwich's G.I. JOE: THE MOVIE (1987)
024 - The Wrestler
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Year: 2008
Most of my previous reviews have been about films that don't get the credit they deserve or get torn apart by reviews unfairly. The Wrestler does not fall into either of those groups. The film is well-received and has made plenty of profit. But I have to wonder why then has nobody seen this film?
The wrestler follow Randy 'The Ram' Robinson who in present day is a washed up professional wrestler. He lives alone in a trailer and works part time at supermarket. Things take a turn for the worse, however, when Randy suffers a major heart attack in the wrestler dressing room. From here on out Randy is forbidden to wrestler for fear it may kill him. Randy decides to retire and tries to get back in touch with his daughter and wishes to move in with a stripper that he falls in love with. All this time however Randy is looking for one more chance to get back in the ring.
Mickey Rourke could not have played this role any better. He portrays the beat-to-hell old father as well as the roid-raged wrestler perfectly. You want to see him succeed and you want things to work out for him. With every watching of the film I find myself thinking about just how lucky I am to have what I have. Randy is a man who had everything in his early life and yet as an old man is poor, sick, and alone.
Certainly an emotional film but worth it.
Darren Aronofsky's THE WRESTLER (2008)
Year: 2008
Most of my previous reviews have been about films that don't get the credit they deserve or get torn apart by reviews unfairly. The Wrestler does not fall into either of those groups. The film is well-received and has made plenty of profit. But I have to wonder why then has nobody seen this film?
The wrestler follow Randy 'The Ram' Robinson who in present day is a washed up professional wrestler. He lives alone in a trailer and works part time at supermarket. Things take a turn for the worse, however, when Randy suffers a major heart attack in the wrestler dressing room. From here on out Randy is forbidden to wrestler for fear it may kill him. Randy decides to retire and tries to get back in touch with his daughter and wishes to move in with a stripper that he falls in love with. All this time however Randy is looking for one more chance to get back in the ring.
Mickey Rourke could not have played this role any better. He portrays the beat-to-hell old father as well as the roid-raged wrestler perfectly. You want to see him succeed and you want things to work out for him. With every watching of the film I find myself thinking about just how lucky I am to have what I have. Randy is a man who had everything in his early life and yet as an old man is poor, sick, and alone.
Certainly an emotional film but worth it.
Darren Aronofsky's THE WRESTLER (2008)
Saturday, June 26, 2010
023 - Cube
Director: Vincenzo Natali
Year: 1997
Six people awake to find themselves in a giant puzzle made up of thousands of rooms each exactly like the other; a perfect cube. On every face of a cube room there is a crawl space that leads to another room. Sounds simple enough but the people quickly find out that a bulk of the the rooms are booby-trapped. Each person has a unique skill (cop, math whiz, doctor, etc..) and the group must work together to find a way through the maze of rooms. They don't know where they are or why, don't know where to go, don't have any food or supplies.
There are several Cube films to date and really I only enjoy the first one. The others are ok and have similar stories, but Cube was the first. It is one of the most unique SciFi films that I can watch over and over. Usually mystery type films lose their touch after you know the punch lines but not Cube. Give it a try.
Vincenzo Natali's CUBE (1997)
Year: 1997
Six people awake to find themselves in a giant puzzle made up of thousands of rooms each exactly like the other; a perfect cube. On every face of a cube room there is a crawl space that leads to another room. Sounds simple enough but the people quickly find out that a bulk of the the rooms are booby-trapped. Each person has a unique skill (cop, math whiz, doctor, etc..) and the group must work together to find a way through the maze of rooms. They don't know where they are or why, don't know where to go, don't have any food or supplies.
There are several Cube films to date and really I only enjoy the first one. The others are ok and have similar stories, but Cube was the first. It is one of the most unique SciFi films that I can watch over and over. Usually mystery type films lose their touch after you know the punch lines but not Cube. Give it a try.
Vincenzo Natali's CUBE (1997)
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
022 - Masters of the Universe
Director: Gary Goddard
Year: 1987
Live action He-Man.... that's all you need to know.
Following Skeletor's war with the world of Eternia, Castle Grayskull is now under evil control. Skeletor and his forces hold the Sorceress captive while day by day she is drained of her power. Skeletor is now waiting for the moon of Eternia to align with a great Eye of the Universe that will make him god-like and grant him the power of the Universe. It is up to He-Man and his freedom fighters to stop Skeletor.
The story is a little goofy, but what can you expect from an 80s sci-fi film? Laser guns, strange beats, keys unlocking gateways to other worlds, a goofy midget, the best one-liner in any film, and He-Man!!! Awesome cartoon turned live action. You also have to love Dolph Lundgren (Russian in Rocky 4) as He-Man. Luckily for us Dolph studied up on his English in the two years since Rocky. It is still strange to hear He-Man with an accent but oh well.
And last - I don't know why but every time Lubic tells Charlies to "Ahh shut up" I but up laughing. Three words... that's all it is and it has to be one of the best lines ever. So go out and find this classic.
Good Journey.
Gary Goddard's MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE (1987)
Year: 1987
Live action He-Man.... that's all you need to know.
Following Skeletor's war with the world of Eternia, Castle Grayskull is now under evil control. Skeletor and his forces hold the Sorceress captive while day by day she is drained of her power. Skeletor is now waiting for the moon of Eternia to align with a great Eye of the Universe that will make him god-like and grant him the power of the Universe. It is up to He-Man and his freedom fighters to stop Skeletor.
The story is a little goofy, but what can you expect from an 80s sci-fi film? Laser guns, strange beats, keys unlocking gateways to other worlds, a goofy midget, the best one-liner in any film, and He-Man!!! Awesome cartoon turned live action. You also have to love Dolph Lundgren (Russian in Rocky 4) as He-Man. Luckily for us Dolph studied up on his English in the two years since Rocky. It is still strange to hear He-Man with an accent but oh well.
And last - I don't know why but every time Lubic tells Charlies to "Ahh shut up" I but up laughing. Three words... that's all it is and it has to be one of the best lines ever. So go out and find this classic.
Good Journey.
Gary Goddard's MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE (1987)
Sunday, June 13, 2010
021 - Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever
Director: Wych Kaosayananda
Year: 2002
With this post I am trying to not only give some credit to a film that is not too popular but also defend it from all of the haters out there. Ballistic is the number one worst movie of all time on Rotten Tomatoes "Worst of the Worst" list and on IMDB the film has a 3.4 rating. I agree this film is not a Citizen Kane or a Star Wars but the worst movie of all time!?
Ballistic is about a retired FBI agent named Jonathan Ecks who must join forces with his enemy, rogue Agent Sever, to fight Robert Gant. Gant has developed a micro-device that can be injected into victims in order to kill them. This device is injected into Gant's son who is kidnapped by Sever. Sever and Ecks, who at first fight each other, use Gant's son against him and join force to take down Gant.
Ok yeah the story isn't the best thing in the world. Two enemies join forces to fight a bigger enemeny. It's been done before but who cares. It is rare if you can find a turly original plot these days. But lets at least examine some of the positive aspects about this film.
- Antonio Banderas and Lucy Liu make for cheesy but at least a respectable performance
- Special agents against the worlds always means huge gun battles
- A small love story. Gant's wife is/was Ecks's wife. Ecks believe she was killed in an explosion.
- Solid performances from secondary cast members
- A $70 million budget at least can turn out an okay cast, nice special effects, and a believable story
So yeah.. not the best film ever but there is no way this is the worst movie ever! Nothing can be worse then all of the recent spoof films out there.
Wych Kaosayananda's BALLISTIC: ECKS VS. SEVER (2002)
Year: 2002
With this post I am trying to not only give some credit to a film that is not too popular but also defend it from all of the haters out there. Ballistic is the number one worst movie of all time on Rotten Tomatoes "Worst of the Worst" list and on IMDB the film has a 3.4 rating. I agree this film is not a Citizen Kane or a Star Wars but the worst movie of all time!?
Ballistic is about a retired FBI agent named Jonathan Ecks who must join forces with his enemy, rogue Agent Sever, to fight Robert Gant. Gant has developed a micro-device that can be injected into victims in order to kill them. This device is injected into Gant's son who is kidnapped by Sever. Sever and Ecks, who at first fight each other, use Gant's son against him and join force to take down Gant.
Ok yeah the story isn't the best thing in the world. Two enemies join forces to fight a bigger enemeny. It's been done before but who cares. It is rare if you can find a turly original plot these days. But lets at least examine some of the positive aspects about this film.
- Antonio Banderas and Lucy Liu make for cheesy but at least a respectable performance
- Special agents against the worlds always means huge gun battles
- A small love story. Gant's wife is/was Ecks's wife. Ecks believe she was killed in an explosion.
- Solid performances from secondary cast members
- A $70 million budget at least can turn out an okay cast, nice special effects, and a believable story
So yeah.. not the best film ever but there is no way this is the worst movie ever! Nothing can be worse then all of the recent spoof films out there.
Wych Kaosayananda's BALLISTIC: ECKS VS. SEVER (2002)
Saturday, June 12, 2010
020 - Surf Ninjas
Director: Neal Israel
Year: 1993
It seems most of the world does not care for this movie as it gets a 4.3 on IMDB. I can agree that the film needs a bad rating but I have to argue that it is still a good film. How could a film with Rob Schneider, Leslie Nielsen, Kelly Hu, and the pizza guy from Turtles II: Secret of the Ooze be bad? It simply can't!!
Surf Ninjas is about two brothers from LA who ultimately find out they are crown princes of an Asian kingdom named Patusan. The brothers are reluctant to follow their destinies; to dethrone the evil colonel ruling over Patusan.
That's enough about the story... the film has so much more than the story of Asian-American brothers fighting ninjas. On top of the already mentioned amazing cast it not only references the Sega Game Gear but makes the hand-held part of the story. Yes, a portable game console is a plot device in a movie. The younger brother Adam finds out his Game Gear can control the evil soldiers they face along the way as well as dictate the outcomes of their battles.
So we have the best cast ever, a magical Game Gear, sweet ninja fighting action, and oh yeah, a fight where a man uses chop-sticks as a weapon. Awesome!
Neal Israel's SURF NINJAS (1993)
Year: 1993
It seems most of the world does not care for this movie as it gets a 4.3 on IMDB. I can agree that the film needs a bad rating but I have to argue that it is still a good film. How could a film with Rob Schneider, Leslie Nielsen, Kelly Hu, and the pizza guy from Turtles II: Secret of the Ooze be bad? It simply can't!!
Surf Ninjas is about two brothers from LA who ultimately find out they are crown princes of an Asian kingdom named Patusan. The brothers are reluctant to follow their destinies; to dethrone the evil colonel ruling over Patusan.
That's enough about the story... the film has so much more than the story of Asian-American brothers fighting ninjas. On top of the already mentioned amazing cast it not only references the Sega Game Gear but makes the hand-held part of the story. Yes, a portable game console is a plot device in a movie. The younger brother Adam finds out his Game Gear can control the evil soldiers they face along the way as well as dictate the outcomes of their battles.
So we have the best cast ever, a magical Game Gear, sweet ninja fighting action, and oh yeah, a fight where a man uses chop-sticks as a weapon. Awesome!
Neal Israel's SURF NINJAS (1993)
019 - Good Dick
Director: Marianna Palka
Year: 2008
It is unfortunate independent films such as this do not receive more publicity. I had never heard of the film until it was suggested to me as a film I needed to see.
FYI - I honestly do not remember names being thrown around for the main characters so I decided to look up the film online to see if I could find names to use in this post. It seems that every site just calls the characters "Woman" and "Man" so from here on out I will refer to the actor's name when describing a character: Marianna and Jason.
Marianna (Woman) is a troubled young woman who keeps herself isolated and lives a very unsocial reclusive life. Jason (Man) is a random guy who works at a video store with his buddies. Jason encounters Marianna when she enters the video store to rent several adult films and immediately falls for her. Jason is persistent in his attempts to befriend Marianna and draw her out of her isolated world. Jason moves into Marianna's apartment and the two become closer as the film goes on but Marianna's defenses put up quite a fight.
When you stop and look at the film at the surface there certainly is not a lot there. It's about a man who falls in love with a woman who doesn't love him back. Only after thinking about the film for a bit did I realize how much more there was to the story. Good Dick, to me, is an original love story that depicts the powers love can have on a person. In most films today, love and especially sex are depicted as something that simply occurs but in this film it is love that breaks down Marianna's barriers put in place because of her sexually abused childhood. Jason's love for Marianna slowly chips away at her reclusive lifestyle. In the beginning of the film their relationship, if you can call it that, always ends with Marianna yelling at Jason to stop bothering her and to go away, but throughout the film we see Marianna become more trusting of Jason and ultimately go back to him after confronting her father. It is amazing to watch Marianna's transformation throughout the film.
Marianna Palka's GOOD DICK (2008)
Year: 2008
It is unfortunate independent films such as this do not receive more publicity. I had never heard of the film until it was suggested to me as a film I needed to see.
FYI - I honestly do not remember names being thrown around for the main characters so I decided to look up the film online to see if I could find names to use in this post. It seems that every site just calls the characters "Woman" and "Man" so from here on out I will refer to the actor's name when describing a character: Marianna and Jason.
Marianna (Woman) is a troubled young woman who keeps herself isolated and lives a very unsocial reclusive life. Jason (Man) is a random guy who works at a video store with his buddies. Jason encounters Marianna when she enters the video store to rent several adult films and immediately falls for her. Jason is persistent in his attempts to befriend Marianna and draw her out of her isolated world. Jason moves into Marianna's apartment and the two become closer as the film goes on but Marianna's defenses put up quite a fight.
When you stop and look at the film at the surface there certainly is not a lot there. It's about a man who falls in love with a woman who doesn't love him back. Only after thinking about the film for a bit did I realize how much more there was to the story. Good Dick, to me, is an original love story that depicts the powers love can have on a person. In most films today, love and especially sex are depicted as something that simply occurs but in this film it is love that breaks down Marianna's barriers put in place because of her sexually abused childhood. Jason's love for Marianna slowly chips away at her reclusive lifestyle. In the beginning of the film their relationship, if you can call it that, always ends with Marianna yelling at Jason to stop bothering her and to go away, but throughout the film we see Marianna become more trusting of Jason and ultimately go back to him after confronting her father. It is amazing to watch Marianna's transformation throughout the film.
Marianna Palka's GOOD DICK (2008)
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
018 - Murderball
Director: Henry Alex Rubin
Year: 2005
Murderball is the name given to quadriplegic rugby. In the sport, quadriplegics of varying degrees of severity play a form of full-contact rugby from their wheelchairs.
The film follows the US rugby team from the 2002 games in Sweden to the 2004 games in Athens. While following the team, the documentary takes time to focus on some of the players, their families and of course the story behind the wheelchair. We get to meet a good few of the players as well as learn about the sport itself. On top of that we meet a former team member who quits the team to coach the Canadian team against the US.
Yes, the film is a heartwarming documentary depicting men who don't let their wheelchairs bring them down, but the best part of this film is how serious the sport is to the players. This is not a Special Olympics as one player states and in the words of another player; the team is not going for a hug. We're going for a fucking gold medal. Parts of you want to feel sympathy for the men playing in wheelchairs but then you realize that some of these guys would just as easily kick your ass. The film gives viewers a look into the gritty world of quad rugby and is a great sport documentary. Rent it, Netflix it, just go find it.
Henry Alex Rubin's MURDERBALL (2005)
Year: 2005
Murderball is the name given to quadriplegic rugby. In the sport, quadriplegics of varying degrees of severity play a form of full-contact rugby from their wheelchairs.
The film follows the US rugby team from the 2002 games in Sweden to the 2004 games in Athens. While following the team, the documentary takes time to focus on some of the players, their families and of course the story behind the wheelchair. We get to meet a good few of the players as well as learn about the sport itself. On top of that we meet a former team member who quits the team to coach the Canadian team against the US.
Yes, the film is a heartwarming documentary depicting men who don't let their wheelchairs bring them down, but the best part of this film is how serious the sport is to the players. This is not a Special Olympics as one player states and in the words of another player; the team is not going for a hug. We're going for a fucking gold medal. Parts of you want to feel sympathy for the men playing in wheelchairs but then you realize that some of these guys would just as easily kick your ass. The film gives viewers a look into the gritty world of quad rugby and is a great sport documentary. Rent it, Netflix it, just go find it.
Henry Alex Rubin's MURDERBALL (2005)
Sunday, June 6, 2010
017 - Equilibrium
Director: Kurt Wimmer
Year: 2002
At some point in future a third World War destroys much of the world and mankind realizes that is may not survive another. To prevent any further self destruction, the world falls under control of one man called the Father. Under his rule all forms of art and emotions are outlawed. Books, paintings, music, and luxury are all outlawed and destroyed, and to eliminate emotions citizens are force to take a called Prozium on a daily basis.
Things seemingly are going fine until a John Preston, a Cleric, or a solider who's job it is to hunt and down both outlawed media and arrest "Sense Offenders", stops taking his Prozium. John, immediately ruled as a Sense Offender, tries to continue his line of work while hiding the fact that he is "feeling". He begins to sympathize with those captured and killed by the government and decides to join the resistance. This ever-building resistance's only goal is to take out the Father and bring down the totalitarian government. The question is, can John help the resistance before he is discovered by his fellow Clerics.
This was another random Netflix find. Christian Bale plays John Preston so I at least had hope that the movie would be relatively well done and have decent acting and Equilibrium did not disappoint. It is intriguing to watch John as he changes from the cold hearted highest ranking Cleric who watched his own wife be killed for being a sense offender to a man trying to find his humanity by aiding the resistance. Definitely worth a viewing.
Kurt Wimmer's EQUILIBRIUM (2002)
Year: 2002
At some point in future a third World War destroys much of the world and mankind realizes that is may not survive another. To prevent any further self destruction, the world falls under control of one man called the Father. Under his rule all forms of art and emotions are outlawed. Books, paintings, music, and luxury are all outlawed and destroyed, and to eliminate emotions citizens are force to take a called Prozium on a daily basis.
Things seemingly are going fine until a John Preston, a Cleric, or a solider who's job it is to hunt and down both outlawed media and arrest "Sense Offenders", stops taking his Prozium. John, immediately ruled as a Sense Offender, tries to continue his line of work while hiding the fact that he is "feeling". He begins to sympathize with those captured and killed by the government and decides to join the resistance. This ever-building resistance's only goal is to take out the Father and bring down the totalitarian government. The question is, can John help the resistance before he is discovered by his fellow Clerics.
This was another random Netflix find. Christian Bale plays John Preston so I at least had hope that the movie would be relatively well done and have decent acting and Equilibrium did not disappoint. It is intriguing to watch John as he changes from the cold hearted highest ranking Cleric who watched his own wife be killed for being a sense offender to a man trying to find his humanity by aiding the resistance. Definitely worth a viewing.
Kurt Wimmer's EQUILIBRIUM (2002)
Friday, June 4, 2010
016 - Whip It
Director: Drew Barrymore
Year: 2009
Barrymore's first movie... could be terrible could actually be good. Personally, I was really surprised by this film.
Whip It follows a girl named Bliss who is stuck between her dead-end job and her mom who pushes her into beauty pageants. Bliss hates the beauty pageants and basically takes life day by day until she finds a poster advertising a Roller Derby league. Bliss, or Babe Ruthless, joins a team and loves every minute of it. Throughout the journey Bliss has issues with her best friend, falls in love with a musician, and pisses off her parents. Everything is going well until her parents find out about the league and try to put a stop to Bliss's fun.
The ups and downs of her life give viewers an entertaining story all while enjoying chicks on roller skates kicking each others asses. Luckily for viewers this isn't another crappy "Rollerball" movie. The film is well done and although I am not a huge Ellen Page fan, she does a good job. She sells the character. It is easy to side with Bliss against her parents and in the end you want her to beat her parents and continue in the derby league.
I Netflixed this film randomly a few months ago and have watched it a couple times since then. It is one of those perfect movies you can put on and not 100% concentrate but rather have it on in the background.
Drew Barrymore's WHIP IT (2009)
Year: 2009
Barrymore's first movie... could be terrible could actually be good. Personally, I was really surprised by this film.
Whip It follows a girl named Bliss who is stuck between her dead-end job and her mom who pushes her into beauty pageants. Bliss hates the beauty pageants and basically takes life day by day until she finds a poster advertising a Roller Derby league. Bliss, or Babe Ruthless, joins a team and loves every minute of it. Throughout the journey Bliss has issues with her best friend, falls in love with a musician, and pisses off her parents. Everything is going well until her parents find out about the league and try to put a stop to Bliss's fun.
The ups and downs of her life give viewers an entertaining story all while enjoying chicks on roller skates kicking each others asses. Luckily for viewers this isn't another crappy "Rollerball" movie. The film is well done and although I am not a huge Ellen Page fan, she does a good job. She sells the character. It is easy to side with Bliss against her parents and in the end you want her to beat her parents and continue in the derby league.
I Netflixed this film randomly a few months ago and have watched it a couple times since then. It is one of those perfect movies you can put on and not 100% concentrate but rather have it on in the background.
Drew Barrymore's WHIP IT (2009)
Thursday, June 3, 2010
015 - Sunshine
Director: Danny Boyle
Year: 2007
This is same Danny Boyle that made 28 Days Later and Slumdog Millionaire so you have to at least give this film a chance.
50 years into the future mankind's extinction is threatened because the Sun starts to die. Its warming strength is fading and Earth is beginning to freeze. In order to kick start the Sun a team of astronauts is sent on a mission to, in a nutshell, set off a bomb inside the Sun but the team fails and communication is lost. Seven years later another team is sent on the same mission.
As with every Armageddon-type film, the missions has some issues and oversights that lead to team members dying. I wont go into the details but eventually the second team meets up with the lost first team only to find something still aboard the ship.
This film was a random Netflix find. I was surprised to find out that Boyle directed this and yet I had never heard of it. But nonetheless the story is entertaining and the film has a good cast. Now, of course since it's an Armageddon film there is a laundry list of cliches that you have to put up with:
- One guy's goof puts the entire mission in danger
- "Advanced" computer AI that disobeys humans and ultimately is worthless
- Poor ship design. Example: Overrides to things in areas that get you killed
- One person has to stay behind and push a button or hit a switch
- Everyone makes illogical decisions or jump to conclusions
BUT with all of that said, the film is still entertaining and worth a watch.
Danny Boyle's SUNSHINE (2007)
Year: 2007
This is same Danny Boyle that made 28 Days Later and Slumdog Millionaire so you have to at least give this film a chance.
50 years into the future mankind's extinction is threatened because the Sun starts to die. Its warming strength is fading and Earth is beginning to freeze. In order to kick start the Sun a team of astronauts is sent on a mission to, in a nutshell, set off a bomb inside the Sun but the team fails and communication is lost. Seven years later another team is sent on the same mission.
As with every Armageddon-type film, the missions has some issues and oversights that lead to team members dying. I wont go into the details but eventually the second team meets up with the lost first team only to find something still aboard the ship.
This film was a random Netflix find. I was surprised to find out that Boyle directed this and yet I had never heard of it. But nonetheless the story is entertaining and the film has a good cast. Now, of course since it's an Armageddon film there is a laundry list of cliches that you have to put up with:
- One guy's goof puts the entire mission in danger
- "Advanced" computer AI that disobeys humans and ultimately is worthless
- Poor ship design. Example: Overrides to things in areas that get you killed
- One person has to stay behind and push a button or hit a switch
- Everyone makes illogical decisions or jump to conclusions
BUT with all of that said, the film is still entertaining and worth a watch.
Danny Boyle's SUNSHINE (2007)
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
014 - Heavy Metal 2000
Director: Michael Coldewey
Year: 2000
First things first, this is not a film about music. The movie has some kick ass music in it, but it's not the main topic.
Heavy Metal 2000, a sequel to Heavy Metal, is about a magical crystal shard that grants whoever touches it immortality. This crystal also causes whoever touches it to be come crazy and power hungry.
The film starts out with a space miner named Tyler who finds the shard, becomes crazy, and starts killing everyone. He wipes out a colony and kidnaps a young women as he journeys through space. The film then follows the woman's sister as she tracks Tyler done.
Neither Heavy Metal film is the best movie ever but both have such a unique animation style. Oh yeah, this movie is an anime. The animation is really crisp and clean all which make the violence in the film that much more enjoyable. Yes, both Heavy Metal films are known for their graphic violence, nudity, language, and cheesy stories but both are worth a watch.
Michael Coldewey's HEAVY METAL 2000 (2000)
Year: 2000
First things first, this is not a film about music. The movie has some kick ass music in it, but it's not the main topic.
Heavy Metal 2000, a sequel to Heavy Metal, is about a magical crystal shard that grants whoever touches it immortality. This crystal also causes whoever touches it to be come crazy and power hungry.
The film starts out with a space miner named Tyler who finds the shard, becomes crazy, and starts killing everyone. He wipes out a colony and kidnaps a young women as he journeys through space. The film then follows the woman's sister as she tracks Tyler done.
Neither Heavy Metal film is the best movie ever but both have such a unique animation style. Oh yeah, this movie is an anime. The animation is really crisp and clean all which make the violence in the film that much more enjoyable. Yes, both Heavy Metal films are known for their graphic violence, nudity, language, and cheesy stories but both are worth a watch.
Michael Coldewey's HEAVY METAL 2000 (2000)
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
013 - Doomsday
Director: Neil Marshall
Year: 2008
I forget if there is a year thrown around, but lets just says in the not too distant future a virus spreads throughout the British isles. This virus kills thousands and thousands of people and to contain the threat vast areas of England are quarantined and sealed off from the world.
Years later the virus resurfaces and a team is sent into the quarantine to find a cure that is to believed to reside in the blood of a few survivors found in the hot zone. Once over the walls the team has to find the cure and get out while fighting off a crowd of crazies that inhabit the quarantined area.
Being shut off from the world for so long has turned the survivors into a primitive society that brings back memories of the Mad Max films. Think 28 Days later meets Mad Max... thats Doomsday. Limited supplies, no food, no contact with the outside world, and a madman controlling the crowds all boils down into an interesting film that has something for everyone. Cars, explosions, romance, a sprinkle of knights and swords, and zombies. Check it out.
Neil Marshall's DOOMSDAY (2008)
Year: 2008
I forget if there is a year thrown around, but lets just says in the not too distant future a virus spreads throughout the British isles. This virus kills thousands and thousands of people and to contain the threat vast areas of England are quarantined and sealed off from the world.
Years later the virus resurfaces and a team is sent into the quarantine to find a cure that is to believed to reside in the blood of a few survivors found in the hot zone. Once over the walls the team has to find the cure and get out while fighting off a crowd of crazies that inhabit the quarantined area.
Being shut off from the world for so long has turned the survivors into a primitive society that brings back memories of the Mad Max films. Think 28 Days later meets Mad Max... thats Doomsday. Limited supplies, no food, no contact with the outside world, and a madman controlling the crowds all boils down into an interesting film that has something for everyone. Cars, explosions, romance, a sprinkle of knights and swords, and zombies. Check it out.
Neil Marshall's DOOMSDAY (2008)
Sunday, May 2, 2010
012 - Fight Night
Director: Jonathan Dillon
Year: 2008
As an FYI - Fight Night is commonly called Rigged in some countries.
Michael Dublin is a full-time con man working the underground boxing circuit. A lonely drifter on the run from a past best forgotten, he moves from one scam to another, leaving a trail of enemies in his wake. Dublin invents his best scam yet when he meets Katherine Paker, a female fighter with the skills to take down a man twice her size. In a scheme Dublin calls "fight-rigging, in reverse", the two hit the road working fights in seedy basement bars, abandoned warehouses, and backwoods county fairs. But Dublin's shady past catches up with them and suddenly the stakes are higher - and more dangerous - than they'd ever imagined.
The film follows the story of a con man named Michael Dublin. Michael, who drifts between scam after scam, is involved with the underground boxing circuit where things quickly turn south on a deal gone bad. However, just before Michael is about to his ass beat by an angry street crowd he is rescued by a female fighter named Katerine Parker.
Weighing just over 100 some pounds, Michael realizes his new fighter is the best scam he has thought of yet. She can take down men twice her size and make him loads of money. In search of fights and money, both hit the road only to win fight after fight. Everything is seemingly going perfect for them up until Michael is pressured by a previous and powerful boss to make Katerine take a dive.
Katerine refuses to take a dive and therefore Michael is forced to drug her for the match, and this is where their relationship falls apart. The film then follows the two as they drift apart and yet ultimately come back together to have Katerine fight the boss who pressured Michael to force her to take a dive.
IMDB only gives the film 5.8 but personally I think that is too low. The film isnt the best thing ever but it is really nice to see films with unknown actors for once. Everything, especially underground boxing just seems so much more realistic. The film is entertaining and although it may not beat Rocky, I at least enjoyed it more than Fight Club. So... check it out.
Jonathan Dillon's FIGHT NIGHT (2008)
Year: 2008
As an FYI - Fight Night is commonly called Rigged in some countries.
Michael Dublin is a full-time con man working the underground boxing circuit. A lonely drifter on the run from a past best forgotten, he moves from one scam to another, leaving a trail of enemies in his wake. Dublin invents his best scam yet when he meets Katherine Paker, a female fighter with the skills to take down a man twice her size. In a scheme Dublin calls "fight-rigging, in reverse", the two hit the road working fights in seedy basement bars, abandoned warehouses, and backwoods county fairs. But Dublin's shady past catches up with them and suddenly the stakes are higher - and more dangerous - than they'd ever imagined.
The film follows the story of a con man named Michael Dublin. Michael, who drifts between scam after scam, is involved with the underground boxing circuit where things quickly turn south on a deal gone bad. However, just before Michael is about to his ass beat by an angry street crowd he is rescued by a female fighter named Katerine Parker.
Weighing just over 100 some pounds, Michael realizes his new fighter is the best scam he has thought of yet. She can take down men twice her size and make him loads of money. In search of fights and money, both hit the road only to win fight after fight. Everything is seemingly going perfect for them up until Michael is pressured by a previous and powerful boss to make Katerine take a dive.
Katerine refuses to take a dive and therefore Michael is forced to drug her for the match, and this is where their relationship falls apart. The film then follows the two as they drift apart and yet ultimately come back together to have Katerine fight the boss who pressured Michael to force her to take a dive.
IMDB only gives the film 5.8 but personally I think that is too low. The film isnt the best thing ever but it is really nice to see films with unknown actors for once. Everything, especially underground boxing just seems so much more realistic. The film is entertaining and although it may not beat Rocky, I at least enjoyed it more than Fight Club. So... check it out.
Jonathan Dillon's FIGHT NIGHT (2008)
Saturday, January 9, 2010
011 - The Devil Came on Horseback
Director: Annie Sunberg
Year: 2007
With the Iraq war today sometimes it is easy to forget about other tragedies around the world. After watching this film it will be a little harder to forget about the crisis in Darfur. The film follows former Marine Capt Brian Steidle as he travels to the region to monitor a cease fire. What he finds forever transforms his life.
Steidle is in a unique position as an observer to the African Union where he can talk to Africans affects by the atrocities as well as members of the Janjaweed who reign terror to the Africans in the region. Although a former marine, Brian is not allowed a weapon; only a camera. Throughout the film he takes pictures of the events unfolding around him. Every day he is surrounded by death and can do nothing about it.
Brian constantly complains that the world is not doing enough, and you see this when he comes back home only to be turned away by officials in power. I myself barely even knew where Darfur was located on a map before watching this film so I can agree with him that nothing is being done. We said never again with Rwanda and yet we are saying it again. The film is not the feel good story of the year, but it is worth a watch.
Annie Sunberg's THE DEVIL CAME ON HORSEBACK (2007)
Year: 2007
With the Iraq war today sometimes it is easy to forget about other tragedies around the world. After watching this film it will be a little harder to forget about the crisis in Darfur. The film follows former Marine Capt Brian Steidle as he travels to the region to monitor a cease fire. What he finds forever transforms his life.
Steidle is in a unique position as an observer to the African Union where he can talk to Africans affects by the atrocities as well as members of the Janjaweed who reign terror to the Africans in the region. Although a former marine, Brian is not allowed a weapon; only a camera. Throughout the film he takes pictures of the events unfolding around him. Every day he is surrounded by death and can do nothing about it.
Brian constantly complains that the world is not doing enough, and you see this when he comes back home only to be turned away by officials in power. I myself barely even knew where Darfur was located on a map before watching this film so I can agree with him that nothing is being done. We said never again with Rwanda and yet we are saying it again. The film is not the feel good story of the year, but it is worth a watch.
Annie Sunberg's THE DEVIL CAME ON HORSEBACK (2007)
Thursday, January 7, 2010
010 - The Postman
Director: Kevin Costner
Year: 1997
Ok so maybe the film drags on a little bit being 3 hours long, and maybe the film is not the best ever made. But even with a stretch of a story and some average acting the film is not that bad.
In a post-apocalyptic America a man pretends to deliver mail so he can stay alive while he travels town to town. He builds a following and ultimately creates a group of wanna-be carriers. Most of these wanna-be carriers are younger kids adding to the shitting acting, but the film still is ok.
After realizing the harm he is bringing towns he visits, the postman disbands the carriers and eventually makes a stand against a group by the name of the Holnists. These Holnists, who have men on horses and automatic rifles, are taken down by a few kids and mail carrier.
The film is a little unbelievable but overall it is entertaining. It might be tough for viewers to see a guy wearing a mailman jacket give birth to a revolution, but whatever. If you haven't seen it... take a look. Not the best, but it DEFINITELY does not deserve the shit it gets when people talk about it.
Kevin Costner's THE POSTMAN (1997)
Year: 1997
Ok so maybe the film drags on a little bit being 3 hours long, and maybe the film is not the best ever made. But even with a stretch of a story and some average acting the film is not that bad.
In a post-apocalyptic America a man pretends to deliver mail so he can stay alive while he travels town to town. He builds a following and ultimately creates a group of wanna-be carriers. Most of these wanna-be carriers are younger kids adding to the shitting acting, but the film still is ok.
After realizing the harm he is bringing towns he visits, the postman disbands the carriers and eventually makes a stand against a group by the name of the Holnists. These Holnists, who have men on horses and automatic rifles, are taken down by a few kids and mail carrier.
The film is a little unbelievable but overall it is entertaining. It might be tough for viewers to see a guy wearing a mailman jacket give birth to a revolution, but whatever. If you haven't seen it... take a look. Not the best, but it DEFINITELY does not deserve the shit it gets when people talk about it.
Kevin Costner's THE POSTMAN (1997)
Monday, November 23, 2009
009 - Religulous
Director: Larry Charles
Year: 2008
I do not watch Bill Maher's show usually, but I do support his views on most topics. In the film, Maher takes on global religion. He travels all around interviewing members of several faiths both followers and those preaching the particular faiths. The film is obviously liberal slanted, but you have to at least see where he is coming from with some of his questions and interviews. Maher asks some of the simplest questions and can never find the answers.
He takes on religion and basically rips it apart. He does not come out and say religions are bogus, but rather uses his interviewees to do the talking. It is the interviewees that truly show you his beliefs on religion. Question after question is answered differently by each religion or no answer is found.
Although this film may not be for anyone overly religious, I still recommend it. Not as a film that my offend or insult your faith, but as an eye opener. You may or may not like the film, but it is worth seeing the overview of the religions of the world and how none of them jive with one another.
Larry Charles's RELIGULOUS (2008)
Year: 2008
I do not watch Bill Maher's show usually, but I do support his views on most topics. In the film, Maher takes on global religion. He travels all around interviewing members of several faiths both followers and those preaching the particular faiths. The film is obviously liberal slanted, but you have to at least see where he is coming from with some of his questions and interviews. Maher asks some of the simplest questions and can never find the answers.
He takes on religion and basically rips it apart. He does not come out and say religions are bogus, but rather uses his interviewees to do the talking. It is the interviewees that truly show you his beliefs on religion. Question after question is answered differently by each religion or no answer is found.
Although this film may not be for anyone overly religious, I still recommend it. Not as a film that my offend or insult your faith, but as an eye opener. You may or may not like the film, but it is worth seeing the overview of the religions of the world and how none of them jive with one another.
Larry Charles's RELIGULOUS (2008)
008 - Metal: A Headbanger's Journey
Director: Sam Dunn
Year: 2005
As the title suggests this film follows Sam Dunn around the world as he explores the world of metal. Sam sets out on a global journey to find out why metal is consistently stereotyped, dismissed and condemned. Dunn also explores the roots of metal including sexuality, religion, violence and death.
This film is made by metaheads for metalheads. No matter your metal of choice, Dunn's rockumentary is worth a watch. Some of the most famous names in the metal world make appearance and some are interviewed. This film is not for everyone, as Dunn, a metalhead, states it perectly in the line, "you either feel it or you don't. If metal doesn't give that overwhelming surge of power that makes the hair stand up at the back of your neck, you might never get it, and you know what? That's okay, because judging by the 40,000 metalheads around me we're doing just fine without you."
Sam Dunn's METAL: A HEADBANGER'S JOURNEY (2005)
Year: 2005
As the title suggests this film follows Sam Dunn around the world as he explores the world of metal. Sam sets out on a global journey to find out why metal is consistently stereotyped, dismissed and condemned. Dunn also explores the roots of metal including sexuality, religion, violence and death.
This film is made by metaheads for metalheads. No matter your metal of choice, Dunn's rockumentary is worth a watch. Some of the most famous names in the metal world make appearance and some are interviewed. This film is not for everyone, as Dunn, a metalhead, states it perectly in the line, "you either feel it or you don't. If metal doesn't give that overwhelming surge of power that makes the hair stand up at the back of your neck, you might never get it, and you know what? That's okay, because judging by the 40,000 metalheads around me we're doing just fine without you."
Sam Dunn's METAL: A HEADBANGER'S JOURNEY (2005)
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