Starring – Jared Padalecki, Amanda Righetti, Danielle Panabaker
Director – Marcus Nispel
Domestic Gross – Just released.
Running Time – 97 minutes
When I heard that they were trying to reboot the Friday the 13th franchise I was a little worried. When I heard Michael Bay was involved I was a little more than curious. So, when I got a call to go see it last night (on Friday the 13th) I had to do it. True 80’s horror movies have 3 elements. First, there must be gratuitous nudity (check). Second, there must be a lack of plot or flushed out / believable back story (check). Finally, you need roughly a 50/50 mix between comedy and suspense-type jump scares (check, check, check). I had a great time watching this movie. Is it a cinematic masterpiece. No. But what the hell are you going in expecting Citizen Kane for?!? This is a Michael Bay produced Friday the 13th movie. Go in expecting to laugh out loud, see some needless nudity and jump in to your neighbor’s seat a couple times. If you do that you’ll have a good time. I really recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys the 80s Horror genre.
I’m Mike D and I approve this message.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
Movie Review – Babylon A.D. (2008)
Starring – Vin Diesel,
Director – Mathieu Kassovitz
Domestic Gross – $22,532,572
Running Time – 90 minutes
I feel like I haven’t seen a good movie in a while. Luckily the Oscar Showcase is only a week away. This movie SUCKED! It’s no wonder that it lost $50 Million domestically and scored a whopping 7% on Rotten Tomatoes. After some research I found out that the director was also unhappy with the movie because the studio more or less killed it. Bottom line is that unless you’re a big fan of snowmobile chases or furutustic sets (ie Children of Men) there’s very little reason to waste the 90 minutes. It’s too bad too because I think there was a decent movie buried somewhere deep in this steaming pile of crap.
I’m Mike D and I approve this message.
Director – Mathieu Kassovitz
Domestic Gross – $22,532,572
Running Time – 90 minutes
I feel like I haven’t seen a good movie in a while. Luckily the Oscar Showcase is only a week away. This movie SUCKED! It’s no wonder that it lost $50 Million domestically and scored a whopping 7% on Rotten Tomatoes. After some research I found out that the director was also unhappy with the movie because the studio more or less killed it. Bottom line is that unless you’re a big fan of snowmobile chases or furutustic sets (ie Children of Men) there’s very little reason to waste the 90 minutes. It’s too bad too because I think there was a decent movie buried somewhere deep in this steaming pile of crap.
I’m Mike D and I approve this message.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Movie Review - Neo Ned (2005)
Starring – Jeremy Renner, Gabrielle Union, Cary Elwes, Ethan Suplee, Eddie Kaye Thomas
Director – Van Fischer
Domestic Gross – Direct to DVD
Running Time - 95 minutes
A neo-Nazi (Renner) is sent to a mental hospital where he falls in love with a black woman who believes she is Hitler. Now, that’s a tag line. Seriously. That’s a pretty fantastic concept. Whatever you’re picturing in your head for this movie is probably better than the actual film. That’s not to say it’s bad, but it’s a pretty genius concept that’s hard to live up to. I’ve always had a thing for Gabrielle Union, but in this movie the make-up team worked pretty hard to make her look unattractive. Good work team. Renner seems to underachieve in everything he’s ever been in… I’m just not a fan. Suplee and Eddie Kaye Thomas are really very entertaining though. I wouldn’t take the time to rent it, but if you happen to be watching Starz in Black and it comes on give it a few minutes. You may enjoy it.
I’m Mike D and I approve this message.
Director – Van Fischer
Domestic Gross – Direct to DVD
Running Time - 95 minutes
A neo-Nazi (Renner) is sent to a mental hospital where he falls in love with a black woman who believes she is Hitler. Now, that’s a tag line. Seriously. That’s a pretty fantastic concept. Whatever you’re picturing in your head for this movie is probably better than the actual film. That’s not to say it’s bad, but it’s a pretty genius concept that’s hard to live up to. I’ve always had a thing for Gabrielle Union, but in this movie the make-up team worked pretty hard to make her look unattractive. Good work team. Renner seems to underachieve in everything he’s ever been in… I’m just not a fan. Suplee and Eddie Kaye Thomas are really very entertaining though. I wouldn’t take the time to rent it, but if you happen to be watching Starz in Black and it comes on give it a few minutes. You may enjoy it.
I’m Mike D and I approve this message.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Movie Review – Yes Man (2008)
Starring – Jim Carrey, Zooey Deschanel
Director – Peyton Reed
Domestic Gross – $95,840,000
Running Time – 104 minutes
About two years ago a read a book by a Brit named Danny Wallace called “Yes Man”. Danny was single, late 20s, employed and completely stuck in a rut. He would make up excuses not to hang out with his friends. Not because he didn’t like them, but because it was too much trouble to go out and he didn’t see the point in all of it. Then one day he was sitting on a bus stuck in traffic and started rambling to an old man about his current situation. The old man looked at him and replied “You should say yes more.” That was it. Somehow Danny turned this in to a covenant with himself to say yes to everything. What ensued was funny and endearing. I can tell you all of this because none of this is in the movie “Yes Man”. Instead they took the most basic skeleton from the movie and created a Jim Carrey vehicle. Having said all that I liked it. I enjoy Jim Carrey and really adore Zooey Deschanel. I was just hoping it would be more based on the book then a skewed homage to it. There were some particularly funny parts mostly involving Carrey’s boss, neighbor and imprompt roommate (played by Danny Masterson). It’s worth a rental, but I’m glad I skipped it in theaters. Instead use the time to start reading the book.
I’m Mike D and I approve this message.
Director – Peyton Reed
Domestic Gross – $95,840,000
Running Time – 104 minutes
About two years ago a read a book by a Brit named Danny Wallace called “Yes Man”. Danny was single, late 20s, employed and completely stuck in a rut. He would make up excuses not to hang out with his friends. Not because he didn’t like them, but because it was too much trouble to go out and he didn’t see the point in all of it. Then one day he was sitting on a bus stuck in traffic and started rambling to an old man about his current situation. The old man looked at him and replied “You should say yes more.” That was it. Somehow Danny turned this in to a covenant with himself to say yes to everything. What ensued was funny and endearing. I can tell you all of this because none of this is in the movie “Yes Man”. Instead they took the most basic skeleton from the movie and created a Jim Carrey vehicle. Having said all that I liked it. I enjoy Jim Carrey and really adore Zooey Deschanel. I was just hoping it would be more based on the book then a skewed homage to it. There were some particularly funny parts mostly involving Carrey’s boss, neighbor and imprompt roommate (played by Danny Masterson). It’s worth a rental, but I’m glad I skipped it in theaters. Instead use the time to start reading the book.
I’m Mike D and I approve this message.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Book Review – Too Fat to Fish by Artie Lange (2008)
Quite simply after reading this book I have one question… Why would a just God give Artie Lange chance after chance to get clean/sober and let him live while taking greater talents like Farley and Belushi? Before I read this I expected something funny. Not a long letter from Step 8 of Alcoholics Anonymous. More or less Lange is writing a memoir of every shitty thing he’s ever done. Most of them not funny. Tucker Max’s shenanigans = funny. Artie Lange’s = sad and tragic. I spent the majority of this book shaking my head angrily at his stupidity (much like I did while reading Into the Wild) and feeling bad for his family (much like I did while reading Into the Wild). Artie Lange was great in Dirty Work. Aside from that he’s been wasted talent. And this book… a waste of my time.
I’m Mike D and I approve this message.
I’m Mike D and I approve this message.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Book Review – White Night by Jim Butcher (2008)
Book 9 of The Dresden Files
Like I said while reviewing the last Dresden novel it is fairly formulaic. Think of it as an episode of Monk only he’s a wizard. It starts with the conclusion of a previous case (kinda like a Bond movie where you come in just at the end of the last mission). Then he starts in on a new case. In this one it is that someone is killing all the magic practitioners in the Chicago area. As he investigates he fins that someone we’ve met before is behind it and all hell breaks loose. While some of the Dresden books can be read as one-offs this one isn’t it. A lot of the characters come from previous books and there isn’t a whole lot of recap to catch you up. As a result to the dedicated reader this book is the best one so far. I’m always annoyed when the author retells everything from the previous books dumbing it down for a new reader. It’s just a waste of my time since I alerady read it. Anyway, without ruining the plot the showdown is probably the best one so far. A lot of series start to lose their luster after time, but even nine books in I would recommend beginning the series to anyone who things they can get in to the crime/thriller/supernatural genre.
I’m Mike D and I approve this message.
Like I said while reviewing the last Dresden novel it is fairly formulaic. Think of it as an episode of Monk only he’s a wizard. It starts with the conclusion of a previous case (kinda like a Bond movie where you come in just at the end of the last mission). Then he starts in on a new case. In this one it is that someone is killing all the magic practitioners in the Chicago area. As he investigates he fins that someone we’ve met before is behind it and all hell breaks loose. While some of the Dresden books can be read as one-offs this one isn’t it. A lot of the characters come from previous books and there isn’t a whole lot of recap to catch you up. As a result to the dedicated reader this book is the best one so far. I’m always annoyed when the author retells everything from the previous books dumbing it down for a new reader. It’s just a waste of my time since I alerady read it. Anyway, without ruining the plot the showdown is probably the best one so far. A lot of series start to lose their luster after time, but even nine books in I would recommend beginning the series to anyone who things they can get in to the crime/thriller/supernatural genre.
I’m Mike D and I approve this message.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Movie Review – Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog (2008)
Starring – NPH, Nathon Fillion, Felicia Day & Simon Helberg
Director – Joss Whedon
Domestic Gross – Unreleased
Running Time - 42 minutes
I’m an unabashed lover of all things Whedon. I’m also a huge NPH fan. So, it’s not surprising that I loved Dr. Horrible. During the writer’s strike last year Joss Whedon put together this project and released it for free online in three acts. After watching the first one I heard that it would be released on DVD so I stopped watching the rest and decided to wait. The other day I picked this up from Amazon (where it is being sold exclusively) and watched it immediately. Dr. Horrible is a musical that follows NPH as Dr. Horrible’s efforts to become a world renowned supervillian and be accepted in to the Evil League of Evil all while trying to impress the girl at the laundromat. Everyone is cast perfectly. NPH is outstanding. So, is Helberg in his minor role as “Moist” the less intimidating supervillian. It’s about the length of an hour-long TV show so definitely take the time to check it out. I’m pretty sure you can still see it on YouTube.
I’m Mike D and I approve this message.
Director – Joss Whedon
Domestic Gross – Unreleased
Running Time - 42 minutes
I’m an unabashed lover of all things Whedon. I’m also a huge NPH fan. So, it’s not surprising that I loved Dr. Horrible. During the writer’s strike last year Joss Whedon put together this project and released it for free online in three acts. After watching the first one I heard that it would be released on DVD so I stopped watching the rest and decided to wait. The other day I picked this up from Amazon (where it is being sold exclusively) and watched it immediately. Dr. Horrible is a musical that follows NPH as Dr. Horrible’s efforts to become a world renowned supervillian and be accepted in to the Evil League of Evil all while trying to impress the girl at the laundromat. Everyone is cast perfectly. NPH is outstanding. So, is Helberg in his minor role as “Moist” the less intimidating supervillian. It’s about the length of an hour-long TV show so definitely take the time to check it out. I’m pretty sure you can still see it on YouTube.
I’m Mike D and I approve this message.
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