Review: "LOVE AND A .45" Score; B-

I am not sure how this 1994 sleeper indy film slipped by me but it did until now. It came out the same time as "PULP FICTION" did and has a similar vibe. This is back when Renee Zellweger was hot, and not so squinty eyed. Its a Bonnie and Clyde storyline with a touch of Natural Born killers-lite. Some quirky characters are strewn throughout and its more on the comical side than serious. Where PULP is a slick masterly crafted piece this is more home video. The story and acting are mostly well done but its overall tone is where the directing seems to point it in a comic direction that brings it down. Where True Romance succeeds this one fails, lovers on the run. Its a decent enough movie, definitely made for the small screen not the mega-plex. Quirky is best word to describe this film.

Review: "THE HANGOVER" Score: B+

Another movie from OLD SCHOOL director Phillips it is along those lines. A group of men being men in the most party of ways, this time in Vegas. I give this one a few extra points because I am in it for a second or two, well me driving my car in a couple shots, when the made it last year. Whats fun about this one is that the storyline of going back and trying to figure out what happened the night before as they were all blackout drugged the night before and lost the bachelor when they awoke. Its Vegas at its best in SIN City mode. These guys did everything in one night, it makes you wonder where there got the extra 100 hours to fit it all in. Lots of funny moments and this one cleaned up at the box office. I really enjoyed this one and its lots of fun. A sequel is already in the works. For some great laughs see this one.

Review: "HATCHET" Score: B

I am not a big one for horror slasher films but this one was funny and entertaining. Its hits the mark on what it was trying to be. Its a cast of bad actors with a slim storyline. A group of people are taking a night haunted tour of a Louisiana swamp, there boat sinks and they are trapped. There is one girl on the boat carrying a gun with her as she was only on it to find her missing dad and brother who didn't return from a fishing trip. She goes on to tell the group the legend of Victor Crowley (Basically an Shacked up Elephant boy who was burned alive in a shack as his father tried to save him he hit him in the head with a hatchet and killed him who know haunts the swamp killing everyone.) Let the fun begin. Almost immediately the group finds Victor's shack, and he comes out and the rampage begins. Its fun killings that are over the top and gross. The acting is horrible, the effects are hit and miss, but its all done in fun. Victor is a menacing 6'7" un-kill-able monster who chases and destroys them all. Worth a fun night rental with some popcorn in the dark, a couple jump out of your seat moments, with some laughs to boot. Check it out sometime.

Review: "PUSH" Score; C

A sci-fi action film that fails to live up to its trailer. What was billed as a futuristic action movie where people with esp and other abilities. Are either hunted down, have tabs checked on them, or work for an uber agency. The lackluster acting of the leads brings this one down immediately. And when we think that the title Push has to do with telekinesis abilities and the fights that take place we find that push is simply pushing a thought into someone else's head and making them believe that. The film is all over with the asian screamers who have a sonic scream that can knock you around, then there are the seers who draw pics of what will happen. Then there are the movers, the dampeners, and the whatevers (I probably got those description names wrong as they were better than what the movie called them). The lead also goes from barely being able to turn a die over at the start of the film to ripping buildings apart with apparently no training etc.... Lots in this one doesn't make sense and for a movie that was attempting to be some kind of cool sci-fi matrix-y film it flops. 'PUSH' this one down your to see list and skip it.

Review: "1408" Score: B+

A Stephen King written movie based on an actual haunted room in a hotel. John Cusack stars in the center of this as a writer who investigates haunted places. Sam Jackson as the head of the Hotel refuses to let him stay in the room, but after some brief negotiations he allows him too, saying no one has lasted more than an hour. What takes place in the next hour is a cross between, a psychotic acid trip and an actual haunted room. Most interesting at the end of the movie is our assessment of what just took place. Is the room really haunted? Did Sam Jackson drug Cusack with the liquor? Does the room just make you crazy? Was any of it real? Was it all just a bad trip? Lots of questions but that is what makes it good. This is much more or a psychological thriller than any kind of horror film. I don't really remember any scary moments for me, it was mostly on the edge of thrills than anything else. Good movie worth checking out.

Review" WHAT JUST HAPPENED" Score; B-

A film with DiNero as a movie producer, I was intrigued. Bruce Willis as a tyrannical version of himself as a movie star, interesting. Although this movie drags on a bit, and is mostly forgettable (do you even remember this thing being released in the theaters?) Its hard to watch a little film like this with big stars like this get little notice. Perhaps its because its almost too insider, as far as the industry goes. The storyline appeals more to the producers of films then the general movie going audiences. I liked it, but only perhaps due to my knowledge and experience on the other side of making film. Its interesting and the dynamic between characters is interesting. DiNero doesn't really fit this mold of a weaker character, and Willis is a bit intimidating as we wonder if he is a little bit like this for real. The ending is anti climatic and lacks a real conclusion. Ok not great.

Review: "NACHO LIBRE" Score: C-

I don't know why I keep giving Jack Black the benefit of the doubt when I watch his movies. He is essentially the same in everything he does. This is no exception other than he tries a weak Mexican accent out in this one. Same goofball that he is in every other movie he is in. Signature Black. Here he is a monk in an orphanage who longs to be a mexican masked wrestler. One day as he is getting food for the orphanage he is robbed by a 90lb homeless man. For some reason he thinks that guy would make a good wrestling partner. They train together in idiotic montages and wrestle at matches where they lose but still get paid. So he has money for orphanage food. His ultimate dream to be like the famous giant masked wrestler, who of course is actually a mean guy and serves as the villain for final match they must have. Since his matches are televised his identiy is revealed, he is tossed out of the orphanage, All the time he is of course flirting with a nun at the orphanage and is trying to impress her as well. The final match comes and he wins it! Blah, predictable. Not worth anything more than a rental, glad I didn't pay to see this in a theater.

Review: "1114" Score: B-

This quirky DVD movie sparks some interesting things. Its basically a film revolving around the perspective of various characters in what happens one night at 1114pm. From crimes to appendage chopping wrecks, to crazy characters. Its a film made on the indy tip in the spirit of a "Pulp Fiction". I like these kinds of films for what they are. Its a well crafted screenplay, with some interesting characters that are mostly acted well by the cast. There isn't any huge budget, nor special effects. Its just a simple contained, one night in a small town with some odd events thrown in. Most unique is how the stories intertwine and how we can piece it back together from one into the other, sort of putting the puzzle back together after someone throws the box of pieces up in the air. Its all there just out of order. If you like independent films check it out.

Review: "THE WATCHMEN" Score: B

First off, it has been a while since I have updated this blog so I have lots of movie reviews to post. Starting with the Watchmen, which I saw opening weekend so that tells you how long its been. This comic/graphic novel adaptation is not for everyone. Its definitely a specific genre. Now the opening credit visual sequences deserve an "A" as they are brilliantly done and start the movie off right, however the remainder of the film doesn't measure up. Although visually the movie is great, its long running time and some rather slow parts bring it down. As was the unnecessary on board love scene. The characters are all complex and not of your typical hero fare going along with the graphic novel. Action sequences are good when there are some but overall there is much too much talking dragging out the film. Visually the film is great, but the rest of the movie's elements knock it down. If this is your genre then its worth a view, if not you can skip it.