Friday, December 30, 2011

AKMAREUL BOATDA


AKMAREUL BOATDA (I SAW THE DEVIL) (2010)
KR
Directed by Jee-woon Kim

CAST:
Byung-hun Lee - Kim Soo-hyeon
Min-sik Choi - Kyung-chul
Gook-hwan Jeon - Squad Chief Jang

PLOT:
     When his pregnant fiancee becomes the latest victim of a serial killer, a secret agent blurs the line between good and evil in his pursuit of revenge.


REVIEW:
     I love getting a chance to go back and catch up on movies I should have watched already. Right now I have a back catalog of at least 20 movies. So yes, that means I won't be able to get through all of them anytime soon but that doesn't mean I won't try to get through as many as possible. I will say that the ones that interest me the most will probably get watched first as usual. For those that send my links though, I will get to your films, I promise. With the holidays almost over I'm gearing for the reviews next year I'll be doing and wondering if I should do another Lovecraft month in August. What do you reader's think?


     There is no mistaking that this film is all Min-sik Choi through and through. Some of you may remember him from the movie Oldeuboi (Oldboy) where he plays the title character. Even though he takes a beating in that movie, to me it's nowhere near as brutal as what happens to him in this film. Yet what what sets him apart in this is what his character Kyung-chul endures and how he's always thinking of the next move to try and get ahead while systematically being taken apart. It's at the end of the film that shows how twisted his character is and what lengths he will go to to get even. But it's Choi's acting when he does realize he created the monster chasing him and his amusement and thrill he gets from it that shows the depths of the characters thanks to him.


     On the other side is Byung-hun Lee who plays Kim Soo-hyeon. Most know him as the one shining spot that was the shit pile of G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra as Stormshadow. In this film he has the chance to truly show what he is capable of as an actor and he comes through amazingly. At first when we see his character he seems like he has no emotions what so ever, yet it's only halfway through when he's listening in on a conversation between his prey and his acquaintance about how Soo-hyeon is more like them than he realizes that he decides to become what they're talking about. It's only after Soo-hyeon understands what he's become does he truly realize that he's no better than Kyung-chul and decides to enjoy it which is where it all comes apart for him. But it is at the end of the movie after he truly loses everything that Lee shines as an actor. It's when his character has to apologize to Kyung-chul for not taken him seriously enough and him understanding that Kyung-chul has truly won does the story amazingly sets in and the price everyone has paid is shown.


     The story for the film is interesting as after a while, the lines between the "good guy" and the "bad guy" becomes so blurred that you start to wonder what is really going on. While Lee's character is supposed to be the moral center of the story he slips into the roll of psychopath so easily at times you start to wonder if the Devil mentioned in the title of the movie is Kim Soo-hyeon instead of Kyung-chul due to Soo-hyeon takes more pleasure on the torture and mental abuse he inflicts on Kyung-chul after their first encounter in the green house. Then you realize that Kyung-chul is the true "Devil" at the end as he feels no remorse in his actions unlike Soo-hyeon who realizes to late that instead of attaining the justice he wants, instead he turned himself into a monster that equals Kyung-chul and hates himself for it. Only after he gets his revenge, after he lost everything, does he let himself become human again and the weight of what he's done destroys him as he walks away. You understand this fact earlier in the film when we're treated to a conversation between a cannibal and Kyung-chul's character that the cannibal is laughing that Soo-hyeon is one of them, a monster, and maybe worse, as they at least kill their prey after finding them and the fact that Kyung-chul created this monster.


      This movie was just what I needed to end the year on. It was brutal and tense through most of it and never apologized for it. The one thing I do wish they did more with was go more into Kyung-chul's background with his cannibal friend as it's mentioned that they tried to start a militant group that failed. It makes you wonder that if these two came from there who alse was in that group and just how more messed up they were. The cinematography was beautiful even when the violence on screen picked up, even during the whole Achilles tendon scene which was just outrageous. One of the stand out scenes is a knife fight that takes place in a moving cab between Kyung-chul's character and a pair of killers that stole a cab for fun. It gets bloody, as quick flashes of silver streaked in red fly through the air as the close quarters of the environment compacts the action and makes it more brutal. The sound design was on the spot throughout as well. From the quiet driving scenes when the film first started to the end conversation I mentioned earlier to the sounds of pain everything was bright but without being overly loud or blasting the eardrums out. If you haven't seen this film yet, you must as it's one of the best that came out this year. 

BEST DEATH:
     A family reunion to lose your head over.


BEST LINE:
     Who broke your balls?

FUN FACTS:
     The Korea Media Rating Board forced Kim to recut the film for its theatrical release, objecting to its violent content. Otherwise, the film would have gotten a "Restricted" rating, preventing any sort of release in theaters or on home video.

     The film marks Choi's first major role since his self-imposed exile over his protest of the Korean screen quota system. It also reunites Lee with Kim who have worked together in the past on films such as Dalkomhan insaeng.

Saturday, December 24, 2011

GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO


GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO (2011)
US/UK/SE/DE
Directed by David Fincher

CAST:
Daniel Craig - Mikael Blomkvist
Rooney Mara - Lisbeth Salander
Christopher Plummer - Henrik Vanger

PLOT:
     Journalist Mikael Blomkvist is aided in his search for a woman who has been missing for forty years by Lisbeth Salander, a young computer hacker. As their investigation goes on they uncover an intense corruption they weren't expecting.


REVIEW:
     It's pretty, I've actually have had the Swedish version of the film for over a year and still have never watched it. I've heard great thing about it, yet I still didn't watch it. Then around the same time I got the original version I found out that there was going to be a American version of the film. That's when my dilemma came up. I'm a big supporter of not remaking films, specially if the original is supposed to be well done. Yet with this movie I found out that David Fincher was going to be directing, and my hopes for it went up by a considerable amount. So I held off watching the Swedish version of the movie until after I saw the American version so where I can go into the movie fresh and not knowing what to expect and not have any baggage going into watching it or reviewing the movie.


     There will be minor spoilers ahead so do beware!

     Before I go into the review, I just have to talk about one thing first. If you are so immature that you laugh at someone being raped or being forced to give someone sexual pleasure against their will, whether it be in real life or on the screen, you don't need to be going to movies like this with your friends, who also laugh at situations like that. I enjoy going to movies at theaters due to that you get a much fuller experience of enjoying a giant screen and have superior audio to listen to. Both these things bring a richer experience, yet it only takes a couple of idiot fucking kids to ruin what could be a fun night out, and completely take you out of a movie that you were just settling into. Yes, those of us that love the horror/ dark fantasy genre are more open to laughing at what is going on in front of you during movies. Yet I like to think that those of us that do, know when the feel of a movie is different. We know when something is played for fun and when it is played for seriousness.   I have never laughed at rape, and never will. It's not funny and NEVER will be. Thanks you  idiot fucking teenagers.


     Okay now that the bitch session is done, I have to talk about the acting. Even though the film is filled with amazing actors and actresses, yet they are all over shadowed by  Rooney Mara's portrayal of Lisbeth Salander. Mara is just amazing to watch as she tries to glide through the first half of the film completely anti-social and afraid of everyone. It is during this time you find out much about Salander and the lengths she will go to if someone hurts her. But it is during the final couple of minutes that shine the best for Mara and her character Salander, as it shows just how close she has become to someone only to be heartbroken at the end for what is probably the first person she truly ever loved.  It was kinda odd watching Daniel Graig as Mikael Blomkvist. The reason why I say this is because I got used to seeing Craig as a tough guy that rarely shows fear and always has a backup plan in mind. Yet as Blomkvist, Craig is vulnerable and unsure of what to do and is lost for half the film. Unlike other characters Craig has played Blomkvist is human, and has all the human flaws which puts Craig on a different acting level than he was ever on.


     I just have to say that this was one rough movie in spots. Not that the story was bad or the acting, just scenes in general and what was going on during the movie. The film doesn't pull any punches during these scenes and it gets hard to watch at two points. One of those scenes being  the rape of Lisbeth Salander, could have done with some trimming as it was just hard to watch considering what all was going on. Other than that every scene had something going on, even the slower parts with no talking in them, they were used to show how the characters functioned. The way they think. It's been a while since I've seen a really good thriller and mystery film and this one does the job very well. It's not  a perfect film, I called the killer halfway through the film, but it is one of the best movies I've seen this year.

BEST DEATH:
     Even though it's not a death, it is is Salander's revenge on her State appointed guardian Nils Bjurman.


BEST LINE:
     Soon you'll know us all too well, with my apologies.

FUN FACTS:
     The movie was shot in Sweden during one of the coldest winters in over 20 years.

     The piercings (including multiple ear, eyebrow, and nipple piercings) that Rooney Mara sports as Lisbeth Salander are real, not cosmetic simulations. Mara got the piercings in a series of sessions in Brooklyn and Sweden.

     Some actress that were rejected for the role of  Lisbeth Salander include Natalie Portman who declined due to exhaustion, Scarlett Johansson but was considered to sexy, and Jennifer Lawrence who was turned down due to being to tall. Other actresses include Emma Watson, Ellen Page, and Katie Jarvis.

     Daniel Craig originally turned down the role of Mikael Blomkvist due to possible conflicts with Skyfall, the next James Bond movie. After Skyfall's production was put on hold, Craig retook the role.

     The American version of the film is named one of the Top 10 movies of the year by the American Film Institute, and has been nominated for multiple awards including Best Actress and Best Director.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

TEASER!!!!

  
After seeing the teaser in two different forms on line (both crappy) I and everyone else can enjoy in the joy that is this clean and crisp teaser trailer for Prometheus finally!


     I think I've watched this at least 10 times already!


     I'll be back later on this week, with a review for Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. Till then.........

Saturday, December 17, 2011

MUTANT LAND


MUTANT LAND (2010)
US
Directed by Phil Tippett

CAST:
William Elder-Groebe - (Voice)

PLOT:
     As the sun goes down in the dark and terrifying Mutantland, hunters are lured into a forbidden zone in their quest for food only to find themselves candidates for the main course.


REVIEW:
      I know it's been a while since I last did a review, and for those that have sent me links for movies to review I apologize for not getting to them sooner. Well as you can tell I'm back and I'm getting back to it watching good, bad, and terrible movies. The good thing is is that I'm still not going to be nice if a movie sucks. But, if a movie is good I will sing it's praises. A great movie to me is one that makes me feel something, whether it be sadness, complete shock, or just makes me laugh till I cry (comidies for me are the hardest to watch sometimes due to me growing up in the 80's). So for my first foray back it's a animated short film.


     I always had a soft spot for animation in general. From classic Bugs Bunny to old Mickey Mouse (not the new crap Disney calls cartoons that have no soul or fun in it.) One of the best things about those old cartoons is that the setting is simple and you knew right away what it was or where it was without really knowing. Mutant Land has that going for it in spades as the story, while simple, speaks volumes. There is only two lines of dialogue in the whole four minutes of running time. What is spoken is simple and to the point.


     As for the animation itself is very fluid. While the what I can see as humans are hidden under protective gear the true treat of this short are the mutants in all sizes and shapes. From the cute hairless rabbit, to what I can only describe as the mother of all giant mutant rabbits with bad, no scratch that, the worst case of skin problems I've seen. While the short is dark (in tone) and nihilistic, there is something missing from it. While I applaud Mr. Tippett for putting this out, it just leaves you wanting more as you want to see what caused the world in the short to happen and how things got so messed up. And where all those wonderful creatures came from. Mutant Land is a quick and fast watch that sets you in a world that's dirty and scarred and just fun but leaves you kinda empty.

BEST DEATH:
     The main course of the last hunter.


BEST LINE:
     Welcome to dinner!

FUN FACTS:
     You can watch the short over at Aintitcool.com. Just click the link and you'll be taken there.

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

BEEN A WHILE

Hi,

It's been a while since I posted anything here I know. Sorry about that I truly am other things popped up that needed to be taken care of. The good news is new reviews will be coming shortly.

Yet today I'm going to be just mentioning a couple of news bits of interest.

First up is that there might just be a complete directors cut of the 1950's version of Invasion Of The Body Snatchers. With no hospital beginning and no voice over. I'll watch that with ease!


Those that read this blog know how much I was disappointed with Sucker Punch. Well it seems like there's a fight to get the true director's cut out. That means a hard, hard "R" rating if not unrated with all musical numbers put back in. It's basically a high school fight of someone doesn't want to be proven wrong about the theatrical cut. Good luck Snyder!


I got to see the PROMETHEUS trailer, and all I can say is WOW!! It can also now be said that this pseudo-prequel is now an official prequel from what I've seen and read of the some of the plot points. Let's just hope that the studio does NOT get final cut of this film.


It looks like the Road Warrior movie that's shooting is going to be a trilogy of movies with Tom Hardy in all of them. Sold just with George Miller writing all the scripts and with him directing, sold even more.


The third Riddick movie is supposed to start shooting next month finally and brings Riddick back to his more animalistic roots. Thank you Diesel and Twohy.


And the last bit of news. If you live near Ft Bliss, TX, make it a point to go and see the restored 130 minute directors cut of The Boondock Saints on the December 7th at the Grand Theater. Lucky bastards!


I'll be back with reviews soon so stick around!

Thursday, November 3, 2011

GWAR

R.I.P.
GWAR guitarist Cory Smoot (aka Flattus Maximus)

STILL HERE

     Hi to all,

     Just to let everyone know I'm still around, it's just that I've been working on a music project that has been in the works for a while now. I'll be back with new reviews soon though.

     If you want to hear or download a free copy of one of Caller Of Black's songs, Ghost, just follow the link below. It's free, no charge, so have fun with it!

     And the group's name, as some of you can tell, is based on a Brian Lumley short story from one of his Mythos works, The Caller Of The Black!

Caller Of Black

Sunday, October 23, 2011

GHOST


     Two of my friends and me have been working on a project called Caller Of Black. The project is a music project with one foot in the industrial music pool. Well long story short I finished the first song tonight (I engineered, mixed, programmed, played guitar, among other hats). My friend Sarah kind enough to sing and my friend Chris, who I've played music with off and on for the past almost 15 years ( I think it's been that long) played bass and keyboards.


     To listen to the song just follow the link below, and let me know what you think!

     That's right...FREE!

     That's one song with the name Ghost from Caller Of Black free!

Caller Of Black

Saturday, October 22, 2011

THE DEAD


THE DEAD (2010)
UK
Directed by Howard J. and Jonathan Ford

CAST:
Rob Freeman - Lt. Brian Murphy
Prince David Oseia - Sgt. Daniel Dembele
David Dontoh - The Chief

PLOT:
     When the last evacuation flight out of war-torn Africa crashes off the coast, American Air Force Engineer Lieutenant Brian Murphy emerges as the sole survivor in a land where the dead are returning to life and attacking the living.


REVIEW:
     I was watching AMC at the start of the week, as they're showing horror movies till the end of the month, and AMC starts out by showing Romero's Survival Of The Dead. As I was watching it I just couldn't let go of the feeling that Romero has completely lost his touch. The movie had no suspense or terror to it, or any part that makes you want to jump. Not to mention his sly commentary on society. So needless to say after watching it, yes, I watched the whole movie, I felt somewhat cheated. It was if Romero just stopped trying on this one. Though I will admit I watched it to get ready to watch The Dead.


     Now this is a zombie movie in vein of classic Romero. The zombies shuffle, and look lost when not close to their one food source. The one time they truly move quickly is when they are mere inches from live humans, and damn it if I didn't jump at least twice in this movie because I wasn't expecting a zombie attack. Yet it's due to not expecting an attack which makes you lower your guard, and you let yourself relax is when the zombies attack. In recent years zombies have became fast and can hang from ceiling piping, yet it's the slow moving ones that don't scream or yell, the type that sneaks up on you, that I will always like the best due to it brings to mind the classic boogey man almost.


     Now the acting does have to be talked about. It seems like most of the time I start the acting part of the reviews like that, I guess I have to find some other way to start from now on. Anyway, I have to mention that another difference in this movie than with other zombie movies is that during half the run time there isn't any talking what so ever. Most of the acting is shown by facial expressions and the fatigue shown in the actor's  eyes, as well as the body language of both the principle actors. Rob Freeman, who we spend most of the time with, plays Lt. Brian Murphy who is more of a classic hero. He doesn't say much and lets his actions speak for him. And this is shown very well when Murphy is faced with a fellow soldier that left him after Murphy gets a vehicle. So much is said about his character during this brief scene. As well as toward the end of the movie when he is asked to kill a mother after she hands him her baby for safe keeping. He doesn't want kill her, and even pleads to her not to go through with it. Prince David Oseia is does well as Sgt. Daniel Dembele, a African soldier who deserts his post to find his son. The sad part about this character is that he is his own worst enemy. Even though he tries to be stoic, his emotions get in his way and cause him to take to many chances that puts him and Murphy in more danger than they already are. Oseia, even though he's only been acting professionally for over a year does an amazing job.


      The look of the movie is just a thing of beauty. Part of this I think is due to the use of 35mm film instead of digital cameras, which adds a certain amount of grain to the film that gives it a almost dirty look in places. But yet in other places the film is just amazing, specially when it shows the main protagonist in silhouette. The pacing in the film is steady for the most part, though it does slow down and almost drags in parts, though it does pick back up after a short time. For a film genre that is filled with sub-par zombie movies that are more laughable and harder to watch than the latest attempts at mass released  horror in theaters, this is a treat of a movie that harkens back to the 80's ideal of film making that is a joy to watch. And as a plus there is no CG blood and all the effects are practical. Complete old school which is something that is needed badly at the moment.

BEST DEATH:
     Murphy's revenge on a soldier that left him for dead.


BEST LINE:
     Perhaps nature has put in motion the ultimate solution to it's problem.

FUN FACTS:
     The directors used actual amputees in the movie to add believability to scenes.

   

Monday, October 17, 2011

HELLSING OVA V


HELLSING OVA V (HELLSING: ULTIMATE OVA V) (2008)
JP
Directed by Hiroyuki Tanaka

CAST:
Jouji Nakata - Alucard
Yoshiko Sakakibara - Sir Integral Fairbroook Wingates Hellsing
Fumiko Orikasa - Seras Victoria

PLOT:
      The mission of Hellsing, that was founded by Abraham Van Helsing, is to protect Queen and Country from the undead and other supernatural forces of evil. Yet as the scale and frequency of incidents involving the undead escalate in England and all around the world, Sir Integra discovers that the remnants of a Nazi occult group called Millennium that wants to bring back into power the Third Reich by creating a battalion of vampires.


REVIEW:
      As those that have been reading this blog know by now, I've talked about having a backlog of movies and films to watch. It ranges from sci-fi to martial arts to horror to anime. So needless to say, I won't be hurting for movies to review here. But somethings get put on the backburner sometimes, such as when a director contacts me about reviewing their film. Or when a newer movie is opening up, I tend to review those first just to try to stay somewhat current. So Hellsing: Ultimate OVA V is one of the ones that I've been sitting on for about a year now and I decided to go ahead and watch it.


     As this is the fifth volume of the series, those that don't really know what is going on will be completely lost as there is no rehash of what has gone on before. Yet the best way to put this volume for the first half of it is the quiet before the storm. Sir Hellsing is talking to the British military leaders about the invasion that is about to happen, to their dismay at that, and not quite getting through to them that England is in the greatest danger it has ever been in. This is after her servant, Alucard, has found out that the Millennium group has already put their own members into power in the military. All the while having to deal with veiled threats by the Vatican secret special forces, Section XIII Iscariot, to take care business or they'll take care of it for them.


     Back when anime was first really starting to become a big deal in the U.S. there was a movie called Fist Of The North Star that came out and had the moniker of the worlds first "splatter toon". I am happy to say that Hellsing: Ultimate carries on this proud moniker with ease considering that half of London is either blown to hell or is being eaten. The animation is smooth and more detailed than most other anime. The story will be confusing to anyone that hasn't watched the previous OVAs (Original Video Animation) or hasn't read the manga. But for the ones that have will love it considering that nothing is censored or considered to over the edge. Even the weird dream sequences Alucard has is left in due to his boredom while aboard a carrion ship that used to be naval battleship that he's modified to more his liking. Hellsing: Ultimate can almost be considered art with the look and feel throughout its short runtime, yet there is plenty that is happening to keep everyone enthralled.


BEST DEATH:
     This one is hard to narrow down due to the last half is almost all bloodshed.


     Such as decapitation by wire,


     And by blade.


BEST LINE:
     You are all newborn, baby vampires, and I am in the business of destroying such vampires.

FUN FACTS:
     The first four Hellsing: Ultimate OVAs were released in the States by the now defunct Geneon Entertainment.

      Hellsing: Ultimate is based directly on the Hellsing Manga.

Friday, October 14, 2011

ATTACK THE BLOCK


ATTACK THE BLOCK (2011)
UK
Directed by Joe Cornish

CAST:
John Boyega - Moses
Jodie Whittaker - Sam
Nick Frost - Ron

PLOT:
     A teen gang in South London defend their block from an alien invasion.


REVIEW:
     This is another one of the festival films that I mentioned about in a earlier post. The cool thing about these films is that they don't play by anybodies rules and do what they want and make no apologies for it. Sure most of the films won't ever see wide national release, but that's fine by me if the directors make the movie they want to make and don't have to compromise on the finished product. I applaud their convictions and their will to make their vision their way whether it be for good or bad.


     Well here's something that I wasn't expecting. I was expecting the film to be good, just not as good as it was. The reason for this is that at the start of the film you come to loathe the central teenager characters through and through, though you do start to like their characters slowly toward the end of the film, especially the character of Moses. But make no mistake, the kids are not heroes. Now there is social commentary about how lower class youth is being treated and how gangs have formed up to help protect themselves from other gangs, though this usually leads to the oldest or the toughest of the gang leading and in turn getting them in trouble due to that the other members want to look cool or just want acceptance. So they'll follow and imitate the others with no regard for the consequences. Remember this as it will come into effect later. What's also funny is that all the gang members, excluding Moses, all come from stable homes though lower class, which just drives in the whole point of them following who they consider to be the cool kid and following his lead and just looking for acceptance.


     John Boyega, who portrays Moses, at first is completely unlikable in any form, yet it's when he starts to let his tough exterior down some you find out that he actually cares about his friends, but yet you still know that he's not a decent person, and he does things just for the thrill of it whether it be mugging someone or killing animals (or assumed animals). Now I talked about consequences earlier and this comes into effect with Moses toward the end of the film, as you find out that having killed the first alien he in turn brought down all the trouble that happens to everyone through odd run-ins or just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Yet Boyega does show that Moses is suffering for what he did as his friends are getting killed around him and he realizes that only he can really stop what is happening.  Jodie Whittaker, who plays Sam, in the movie is about the one sympathetic character out of the whole cast as she was always at the wrong place throughout most of the film from when she is first mugged by Moses and his friends to actually understanding why Moses is the way he is after seeing how he was raised. Sam though is always the voice of reason through most of the film, yet doesn't shy from having some revenge on her muggers when they come to her for help. Whittaker does a decent job as she doesn't play the role of the usual lady in distress, instead adds a aire of dignity to her character through all that she faces.


     This movie won't win any awards plain and simple. What it does do really well is give us a "B" movie that is fun even with a lack of true likable characters. The creature effects for the aliens is really quite genius in its simplicity. What even impressed me more was that most of the aliens are all practical effects with a man in a suit as the alien through most of the film which in turn gives the aliens true weight and space in the movie. I've always liked in camera effects more than digital effects and Attack The Block is a good example of why that is. As for the look of the film, Director Joe Cornish was more than up for the challenge to make a smaller movie and make it seem larger thanks to the different camera angles used and had a good grasp on what should be shown when fights occur after the first half of the movie was done. The one fault the movie does have to me is that the script seems just a tad uneven as the first part of the film just seems to go everywhere, yet when the film gets centered inside the apartment complex, everything just seems to click and starts moving quicker. So if you don't mind most of the characters being complete assholes and bangers the film is actually fun and really funny in parts which helps to lighten the mood that is being built up. And for those that were looking for Nick Frost being a major part of the story? Well he is in it, but he's basically used for comic relief and isn't in the film that much, thankfully he's funny in those scenes.


BEST DEATH:
     The four course meal that is Hi-Hatz's  face.


BEST LINE:
     Maybe there was a party at the zoo and a monkey fucked a fish.....

FUN FACTS:
     Members of the gang compare the film's aliens to various fantastical creatures, all British in origin, namely: Dobby the house-elf from J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter Novels, Gollum from the Lord Of The Rings by J.R.R. Tolken, and Gremlins, who were blamed for electronic malfunctions on fighter planes in WW II which two movies were based on in the 1980's.

     In the scene where the meteorite breaks open, a female alien cocoon is revealed director Joe Cornish expressed interest in having it for a back yard center piece.

     Joe Cornish also is a screenwriter for the movie The Adventures of Tintin and is working on the script for Antman.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

TWO QUICK BITS

     I just have to  mention two really cool things.

     First is the site for the A&E's adaptation for Stephen King's Bag Of Bones mini-series starring Pierce Brosnan. As a lot of my friends know I love Stephen King's fictional works, so much so that I'm trying to collect all of his books in first print hardcover edition. Don't think I'll actually get them all, but it's a nice goal. And if anyone wants to sell a copy of Stephen King's The Colorado Kid for somewhat cheap, just get in touch with me! But anyway the site site is kinda creepy and has the right amount of mystery to it to make you want to know what's going on. Let's just hope they keep the connection to the dark series in there! The link is below for the site!

Bag Of Bones

     And the last one is there's a new Sam short out that is just perfect for the outcast in all of us that wanted a friend when we were younger but no one could be bothered. Love it! The video is below!

Monday, October 10, 2011

DEUS IRAE


DEUS IRAE (2010)
AR
Directed by Pedro Christiani

CAST:
Gaston Ricaud - Father Marcos
Bernarda Pages - Carmen
Ana Pauls - Nina

PLOT:
     A fragile border separates our world from the realm of darkness, where nightmarish creatures await in the shadows. Only one thing is standing in their way: a secret order of priests, who devote their souls to protect this border. They are the 'Deus Irae'.


REVIEW:
      One of the only drawbacks of doing this blog is that I usually have a backlog of films to watch. Now this isn't really a bad thing, it's just that I have to pick and choose which films and movies to review. I try to do reviews of recent films or movies that are on the festival circuit first just to stay current whenever possible. Deus Irae is one that I've been siting on for a while and couldn't get to until now. So now, there's no more waiting. On to the review.


     I will admit the acting for the most part in this short film is was about average for the most part. No one really stood out as being better than the rest. Though Gaston Ricuad, who plays Father Marcos, seems to  not really want to be there in some parts of the story as the film plays out. As in most short films, not a lot of information is giving about the characters so their actions have to do most of the telling. And in Deus Irae their actions speak quite loud as innocents are killed and executed. What's even more interesting is that they act more like psychopaths than religious made people. Even though Deus Irea are priests, they have more in common with the medieval Knight Templars than modern priests.


     The one thing that really stuck out about the short is the atmosphere. It is literally dripping with it. If more pure horror movies had this type of atmosphere it would help them out tremendously. From porcelain dolls heads that follow the characters, to dripping splattered on ceilings half bodies, this short didn't jip on the effects one bit and that made it it's saving grace. For a short film it was well put together and shot very professionally which hides the fact Deus Irae is a independent production and well worth a watch, despite throwing the viewers in the center of a storm with no explanation. I would love to see a full length production made of the short as it has so much potential. Any fan of the horror films will find something to like in the short.


BEST DEATH:
     The poor possessed girls decapitation. 


BEST LINE:
     The child was a trap. But not for us.

FUN FACTS:
     Director  Pedro Christiani made Deus Irae hoping to be able to make it into a full length feature.

     The short was made on a budget of about $20,000.