The Grey

The Grey

Action

2012

Rated: R

Running Time: 117 minutes

Starring: Liam Neeson, Dermot Mulrooney

Directed By: Joe Carnahan

Rating 7 out of 10

Outline

A group of oil workers are stranded in the Alaskan wilderness after their plane suffers technical difficulties. They must work together to survive the harsh elements and a pack of wolves that roam the tundra.

Review

So I had to grow a pretty decent beard to finally feel comfortable enough to write this review. Even now I don’t feel man enough but here we go. Neeson seems to be relegated to some January/February release dates for his movies because he is guaranteed bank even in the slow months. It is strange to see a movie like this being made for ultimately it is a guy’s guy type of movie. It is not trying to cater to all audiences with a PG-13 rating and unnecessary romantic love interests. I am not saying women won’t like this movie it just isn’t its target audience. It is the one of the oldest stories in man versus nature. It is a game of survival of the fittest in a harsh terrain that eats the weak. The film centers on a group of oil workers stranded in the remote Alaskan wilderness after their plane suffers some mechanical difficulties. They are stuck there with little supplies, no radio, and little hope for rescue. At this point I want to say and then the CHUDs came but it is actually giant wolves. The character Ottway played by Neeson is the leader by default as he is the resident expert on wolves. The reason I got into this movie was basically my lack of knowledge about wolves. I know two things about them when they howl and you are in the wilderness it raises ones hackles. Two they can tear you a new one and in this film it proves both points quite well. Everything else you need to know about wolves Ottway tells you and I was okay with that fact. The film showed you how quickly things can go bad when stranded and the weather drops. I liked the fact that quite quickly they all must come together and set aside any differences to try and survive. The little known cast led by Neesom served a better and more believable purpose then putting more accomplished actors in there. I found the dialogue to be pretty believable in most points and the scenery a great backdrop for the struggle. I also liked the fact it was not just a film where the wolves kill at will. It was a struggle with nature and supplies as well making it wholly believable. This is a film where when characters drop off you actually care they are no longer in the film. There are obvious weak points to this film or it would have scored higher on the rating scale. I found the movie to be slow pretty much from start to finish. I also found that the scenes involving the wolves tended to be too frantic to be enjoyed properly. Looking for crisp scenes of violence were never achieved which probably would have made this film great. Director Joe Carnahan gets full marks from me for making a movie going for realism and not just a monetary payoff. Ultimately I liked this film for its raw and gritty nature and I am going to give it a recommendation. Plus any movie where Neeson has to make modified brass knuckles out of airplane liquor bottles can’t be half bad.

T Factor + If you enjoy dramatic action then this could score higher on the rating scale.

T factor – If you are looking for a fast paced action packed movie this could score lower on the rating scale.

If you liked this film reel recommendations: The Edge, Alive

Insidious

Insidious

Horror

2011

Rated: PG-13

Running Time: 103 minutes

Directed By: James Wan

Starring:  Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Barbara Hershey

Rating: 5 out of 10

Outline

Shortly after moving into a new home a family discovers that they may not be the only one inhabiting their new abode.

Review

Insidious was a hot topic for 2011 coming in at number nine on Facebook’s top trends in the States. People love their horror movies and Insidious looked like a sure bet to work. Alas it was not to be as the film seemed to buckle midway through. Director James Wan has been hit or miss in the past with films like Saw and Dead Silence on his resume but he is definitely a pro of the horror genre. He takes the haunted house storyline, one that has been done a hundred times before and made it fresh and exciting. Well for at least half of the film that is. It sort of reminded me of The Amityville Horror blended with the Grudge. The start of the film shows the Lambert family move into a new house and are in the stages of opening all their boxes and setting up. Mr. and Mrs. Lambert played by Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne seem quite believable settling into the new house with their three children. The film takes the natural progression of things being misplaced around the house and strange sounds. I must commend the director for the first half of this film. He terrifies the audience with an arrangement of random visions and unearthly voices. In a genre now perpetuated by gore and violence Wan scares the viewer with intelligent scenarios and great musical score accompaniment without the need of gore or blood. Another thing I liked about this film was the characters actually acknowledge something strange is going on in the house and take action. Too many movies nowadays there are disbelieving protagonists that add stupid added conflict for storyline. It is in this action to battle the unknown in the house where the movie breaks apart. The end half of the movie can best be described as a warped Kabuki theatre mixed with the music video Black Hole sun by Blind Melon. I know they needed a conclusion I just didn’t appreciate the story nor the imagery as its wild ride was just awful. I liken this film to skydiving. The start is exhilarating and scary. The middle or freefall is a great time and worth the ride. When you go to pull your shoot however it doesn’t deploy and you are left for the second half of the jump just waiting for the terrible impact. Where after hitting the ground the parachute of course then deploys. Truly this film was great for a while but unfortunately it does not hold up. It is entertaining but I cannot give it my recommendation.

T Factor + If you are a big fan of Japanese horror styled films this could score higher on the rating scale.

T Factor – If you like blood and gore in your horror this could score lower on the rating scale.

If you liked this film reel recommendation: The Amityville Horror, The Others.

The Burrowers

The Burrowers
2008
Action (Horror)
Rated: R
Running Time: 96 minutes
Starring: Clancy Brown, Sean Patrick Thomas, William Mapother
Directed By: J.T. Petty
Rating: 4 out of 10
                                                           Outline
In the late eighteen hundreds on the Dakota plains an unexplained kidnapping has a group of men crossing the plains to recover the stolen settlers. The problem is the plains are not as uninhabited as they think. 

                                                           Review
Taking place in the remote territories in the Dakotas the Burrowers blends two genres that normally are not mixed. Director and writer J.T. Petty puts his creative foot forward and combines the rugged terrain and story of a western but combines it with the blood and gore of a futuristic science fiction flick. The western portion of the film is great with the remote landscape and old time feel. It leads the viewer to imagine that horror could easily happen in such a remote a location. As the film wears on though the buildup seems too long in the making. An opening scene of terror on a frontier settlement offers little in the way of fright but does set up the movie nicely. It makes the viewer wonder at what sort of monsters are we dealing with. A group ultimately must deal with this unknown menace and head out into the bleak countryside. The stories dialogue and character interaction isn’t the worst and if the film carried on as just a western I could actually see this film working but the addition of the Burrowers was ill conceived and even worse lacking realism and terror. Like most horror films of this ilk the director leaves the viewer to imagine what sort of creature could carry off grown men in the middle of the night. Eerie guttural sounds and glimpses of discolored flesh has the viewer imagining the worst. When the creatures are actually presented in this film the lack of budget and creativity are decidedly poor. I will not go into detail but the creatures kill in a peculiar way to try and increase the frights but it is just a weak excuse to try and save this film. This film desperately needed monsters causing terror by snatching body parts off and mauling people outright in the middle of the night. The slow process of how these monsters kill just added to the already slow storyline. The ending comes and shows the directors lack of vision with just a terrible thought up end sequence. The Burrowers conjures up feelings of dread but mostly it has to do with the writer’s lack of style nothing to do with the horror. I cannot recommend this film as although the genre blend was a nice thought the clear lack of budget and creature design is enough to leave the viewer disinterested. Disinterested or making the viewer want to burrow ones head into the ground instead of having to watch this film.

T Factor + Like small budget horror this could score higher.

T Factor - If you do not like western plots this could score lower.

If you liked this film reel recommendations: Pitch Black, Lost in Space.

The Mechanic

The Mechanic

2011

Action

Rated: R

Running Time: 100 minutes

Starring: Jason Statham, Ben Foster, Donald Sutherland

Directed By: Simon West

Rating: 7 out of 10

Outline

An elite hitman sets out to find the killers of his mentor. Along with his mentor’s son they set their sights on finding the truth of the murder and who was behind it.

Review

It is a pleasure in this industry to have to review a Jason Statham movie every two weeks it seems. There is not a movie action role this guy will turn down. While most of his films in recent years tend to blend together and be very generic The Mechanic actually sets itself apart from his other cookie cutter films. The Mechanic is as simple a story as one gets nowadays and I actually enjoyed the limited depth of this plot. Arthur Bishop (Statham) is an elite hitman who wants to track down the men responsible for murdering his mentor. He pairs himself with his rough and tumble mentor’s son Steve Mckenna (Foster) who has similar goals in mind. No one is going to say Statham is not a viable action star so playing an elite hitman in this movie was no stretch for him and he was great in this role. Couple him with the solid Ben Foster and this movie had a winning recipe from the start. Master and apprentice take to each other in the ways of killing targets and that is as deep as this movie really gets. The two of them have chemistry on film and while they both get to do their own individual action sequences the film seems better when it is the two of them on screen killing people. Director Simon West with an action past history of Con Air and Tomb Raider shows his credentials are not wasted by treating the viewer with the perfect amount of action to dialogue. The story does lag in places and suffers from weak plot turns as one would expect but the bloody action sequences more than make up for the lack of cohesive story. Also it is a rare treat when these types of movies have no love interest involved. It is all about the action without any save the girl scenario muddying up the story. This movie seemed like a giant montage just gearing up for the ending. It goes like this. Here is how I kill someone. Here is how you kill someone. Here is how we both kill someone. I am going to have to give this movie a surprising recommendation. I was not expecting much but came away enjoying this film more than I thought I was going to. If Statham was more discerning in his roles he would be the cream of the crop in the action world instead of the hardest working.

T Factor + If you love Jason Statham as an action star then this could score higher on the rating scale.

T Factor – If you like intriguing story lines in your movies then this could score lower on the rating scale.

If you liked this film reel recommendations: Bourne Identity, The Way of the Gun.

Four Brothers

Four Brothers

2005

Action

Rated: R

Running Time: 109 minutes

Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Andre Benjamin, Garrett Hedlund, Tyrese Gibson, Terrence Howard

Directed By: John Singleton

Rating: 6.5 out of 10

Outline

After the sudden murder of their adoptive mother four unlikely delinquent brothers come back to town to find out what really happened.

Review

Gangster movies along with hip hop music have evolved to a whole new level in the last 20 or so years. Gone are the days of raw and gritty struggles of street youth that you used to find in films like Boyz n the Hood and Menace to Society. They have been replaced with more glamorized films of this sort where star power and entertainment win out over the actual substance of street survival and hustle. Director John Singleton is no stranger to gangster type movies having done films like Boyz n the Hood and Higher Learning in the past and has transitioned quite well into Four Brothers. This film hovers somewhere along the mediocre border with a few forced and unbelievable scenes but does more right than wrong in keeping the viewer pleased. When Mark Wahlberg isn’t dribbling a basketball in this movie saying “who has got the rock now” he is actually a great lead in this film. Wahlberg coupled with his 3 brothers played by Gibson, Benjamin, and Hedlund form this dysfunctional group that you could follow with ease. Revenge is a usually a sweet thing to witness on the big screen and this film was no different. The Brothers muscle their way through the streets of Detroit with impunity. They want to get to the bottom of their mothers murder and will not take no for an answer. This movie has a little bit of everything for the street action lover. Plenty of gun play, car chases, and blood make for an unbelievable but very entertaining film. Terrence Howard playing cop Lt. Green does a good job of introducing a little bit of reality in a film that takes so many liberties with inane storyline. So it goes to show you that evolution of a genre in the wrong direction can still be viable when left to the right people to do it. I do give this movie my recommendation as its entertainment value outweighed the ridiculousness of most of the storyline and Wahlberg showed when he is not linked with M Night he can be a great lead.

T Factor + If you do not need strong believable storylines this could score higher on the rating scale.

T Factor – If you need more substance than style in your movies then this could score lower on the rating scale.

If you liked this film reel recommendations: The Town, Gone Baby Gone

Slither

Slither
2006
Action (Sci Fi/Horror/Comedy)
Rated: R
Running Time: 95 minutes
Starring: Nathan Fillion, Elizabeth Banks
Directed By: James Gunn
Rating: 3 Out of 10
                                                                 Outline
A small American town is threatened by invasion from outer space in the form of slugs. 

                                                                 Review
Horror should have the ability to make your skin crawl. Slither has that ability but unfortunately it starts to crawl once you realize how awful this film is not due to anything scary. Director James Gunn has put together a miserable campy film of space slugs and humorless dialogue. Taking place in a small American town the inhabitants live a peaceful existence until an object crashes from outer space nearby and unleashes its terror. What I mean by terror is a jumble of random scenes culminating in a film barely worth writing this review on. The film starts slowly with a glimpse of small town life and an introduction to the town’s inhabitants. The only person really worth mentioning in this film is the male lead policeman Bill Pardy played by Nathan Fillion of televisions Firefly fame. Fillion is average in this film making him better than the rest and offers one or two lines that are funny but forgettable. It is too bad he doesn’t receive more quality roles as he is quite a funny guy with his sarcastic comments and action scene capability. He is accompanied by the beautiful and usually reliable Elizabeth Banks playing his love interest Starla Grant. She shows that when the script is as bad as this one is she stands out on screen in the most negative of ways. It is unclear what genre or path this script was supposed to take the viewer but nothing seemed to work. A blend of three genres the horror was not scary or gory. The humor for the most part was infrequent and lacked wit. Then lastly comes the action which can barely be described as such. The film progresses with animal mutilation and humans transforming into mutants but nothing seems to attract the viewer’s attention. About half way through this film when the slugs are released it will take some strong will power not to reach for the remote to change it to something that doesn’t totally suck. Sorry I meant slither. The ending cannot come quick enough in this film as the shockingly fake mutant deer and incoherent storyline will grate on most viewer’s nerves. I am shocked movies like this get backing as its fan base must be very limited. Stories with blended genre are very hard to do well especially when the alien intruders have such little creativity. This film was doomed from the moment James Gunn penned the first lines of this script as clearly he has no idea how to make a proper space movie. I cannot recommend this film for a number of reasons. Primarily though it has to do with the aliens that have the oddest way of trying to take over the earth.

 
T Factor + If you like campy Sci Fi this could score higher on the rating scale.

T Factor – If you need things to be really scary and gory this film could score lower on the rating scale.

If you liked this film reel recommendations: Snakes on a Plane, Feast.

Dawn of the Dead

Dawn of the Dead
2004
Action (Horror)
Running Time: 109 minutes
Rated: R
Starring: Sarah Polley, Mehki Phifer, Ving Rhames, Jake Weber, Ty Burrell
Directed by: Zack Snyder
Rating: 7 out of 10
                                                                           Outline
In this movie the dead come to life as zombies take over the world. A group of survivors hole up in a shopping mall until help can arrive with hundreds of thousands of these monsters surrounding the mall. 

                                                                          Review
When hell is full the dead shall walk the earth. This is not your parent’s zombie movie where the dead shuffle along at a snail’s pace searching for brains. These zombies are primed and ready for sprinting to rend the flesh from your bones. Zombies get little fan fare to their angst filled romantic cousins the vampire but tend to have way better movie results. Zombie movies have a real tendency to be cheesy and just mindless gore. I am not saying this one isn’t but it worked on many levels for me. This movie is based on the godfather of the zombie genre George .A Romero’s movie of the same name. While the locale is virtually identical in both movies the struggle to survive is more realistic in director Zack Snyder’s version. Being holed up in a shopping mall shows the viewer all the trials one must face when a zombie apocalypse occurs. That is anything from where to find food to dealing with infected love ones. The fact these zombies can run actually adds an element of plot for the people trapped in the mall now need to come up with a plan of escape which used to be just run faster than the zombies can walk. The makeup and blood and gore were well done and led to some great scenes. The acting although obviously not Oscar quality was passable and let you enjoy the blood bath occurring on screen. The movie did suffer from some stupid script points and ridiculous characters.  Characters like Steve (Burrell) with snide comments and lack of commitment would never survive in the new zombie world. The film came off very believable though and added little bits of humor when the pace slowed to keep the viewer engaged. I found I was just entertained from start to finish in this movie and must commend everyone involved in this project. It is arguably the best straight zombie movie to date and hopefully Zack Snyder chooses to do a follow up.  Just another plot weakness in there was a guy trapped in an ammunition store across the street from the mall who was a sharpshooter. Why wouldn’t he spend the time shooting zombies as he had thousands and thousands of bullets? Little things bother me in movies I guess. If you like gore or zombie movies than this one is solid watch and very entertaining with enough blood and gunfights to keep you interested right through till the end.

T Factor + Enjoy mindless gore than this movie could score higher on the rating scale

T Factor – If you do not like zombies than this could score lower on the rating scale.
 
If you liked this film reel recommendations are: Land of the Dead, or Resident Evil

Skyline

 

Skyline

Action (Sci Fi)

2010

Rated: PG-13

Running  Time: 94 minutes

Directed By: The Strause Brothers

Starring: Eric Balfour, Brittaney Daniel, David Zayas, Donald Faison

Rating 3 out of 10

Outline

Los Angeles is beset with unknown crafts that are intent on kidnapping the populace without warning.

Review

Aliens and cinema have a long storied history together. It seems the viewing public cannot get enough of the unknown from outer space. Aliens come in many forms, shapes, and sizes but just like vampires are rarely interesting or entertaining on the big screen. Unfortunately Skyline falls into that category and is your pretty weak run of the mill type alien film with little to offer the viewer. Hollywood loves to release similar movies at the same time. So this would be a mirror image to the movie Battle LA in more ways than one. When I think of the word skyline I picture the majestic skyscrapers of New York or the calm beauty of cottage country at dusk. This movie has now invaded my mind in the sense that skylines are not always awe inspiring. A simple lead in introduces the viewer to the players that you will be following through the uncertainty of first contact. I liked this because alien movies do not need deep characters. They just need people to be believable as they run from the alien menace. Unfortunately for us there was not a single actor’s performance worth mentioning. Pretty much following the movie Independence Day a giant ship settles in the middle of LA and terrorizes the population with menacing blue lights. This is the simplest of stories and that is survive the invasion. The script is a terrible mess with the lead Jarrod (Balfour) not being able to hold the viewers attention at all. The directors the Strauss brothers seem to pull the audience every which way but the right way which is frustrating. There are many forms of aliens in this movie so at least there is some diversity in that department. The quality of these designed aliens is suspect though and the fighting you do get to witness tends to be sloppy and disjointed. Aliens are always here for a certain reason usually focusing on natural resources but what they were after in this film is a joke. The film will lose you quite early and you will find yourself playing who will still be alive at the end of this film guessing game. I found with the crappiness of this film I was cheering for the aliens to finish off the humans so I could do anything else. When you finally think the film is done the script calls for a very predictable and stupid ending that somehow makes the movie worse. Just to point out I always find it funny these aliens come millions of light years to reach earth but never attack us from outerspace with weapons they always have to invade for some reason. I cannot recommend this film as its story might be out of this world but its execution is painfully ordinary.

T Factor + If you like campy alien movies this could score higher on the rating scale.

T Factor – If you like films with deep character development then this could score lower on the rating scale.

If you liked this film reel recommendations: Battle LA, Independence Day

No Reservations

No Reservations

Drama (Romance)

2007

Rated: PG

Running Time: 104 minutes

Starring: Catherine Zeta-Jones, Aaron Eckhart, Abigail Breslin

Directed By: Scott Hicks

Rating: 5 out of 10

Outline

A woman obsessed about cooking has a new chef to worry about and has the added responsibility of looking after her niece.

Review

This movie although cute might be inappropriately titled as I would have called it some reservations as it was unoriginal and uninspired. The movie has good flow and does have a positive message making it very easy to watch. The main problem with this film is the two lead characters themselves. Catherine Zeta-Jones playing top chef Kate is a strong independent woman who carries the story quite well. Aaron Eckhart playing top chef Nick is also a pretty personable character himself and provides some upbeat rebellion to Kate’s strict and rule abiding kitchen. The problem is when you get the two of them together. The first time you see Nick you know he and Kate will eventually start to have a romance but besides the obvious the actual relationship seems forced. Yes the two of them are good looking people but that doesn’t always mean great chemistry and I found their relationship a little out of place. Abigail Breslin playing Zoe does a great job of playing the sad little girl. It is a shame there are not more Abigail’s out there as she is quite a good child actor and doesn’t come off as annoying or fake on screen. The story goes on the usual sequence of events as the same tired plot twists and turns happen in this one. The cooking seems to dominate the story as expected but they do a great job of combining that with the romantic story line while it is a little cheesy it still works none the less. The sadness of the story never seems to hit home as this movie will inspire little emotional range. I found this movie was just a time filler instead of tweaking my emotions. I didn’t find this movie particularly funny, sad, or happy just cute and that wasn’t enough to save the film for me. The ending was nice and well thought up and if Kate was more like this for the rest of the film it might have worked better. I can’t recommend this film as although the food and cooking seemed exotic and flavorful the movie itself was rather bland and uninspired.

T Factor + Fan of the romantic comedy genre you might rate this higher on the rating scale.

T Factor + Found the movie not as cute as I did then this could score lower on the rating scale.

If you liked this film reel recommendations: Intolerable Cruelty, or Waitress

Hearts in Atlantis

Hearts in Atlantis
Drama
2001
Rated: PG-13
Running Time: 101 minutes
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Hope Davis
Directed By: Scott Hicks
Rating: 8 out of 10

Outline

A child’s story of a man that lived in the upstairs apartment and how it affected his life. This movie is based on Stephen King’s book of the same title.

Review

A very original and thought provoking movie there is something about this film that I fell in love with. Stephen King stories translated to the big screen are sometimes awful but it is a success in this case. The story is a very generic kids story growing up in the rather carefree sixties. The kids however were very believable in their acting and interactions which is great to see. The character that makes the film is no surprise in Anthony Hopkins playing Ted Brautigan. The older gentleman who is prone to fits is a true mystery and his knowledge seems endless. His calm demeanor and profound kindness radiate in his interactions with the children. He and child actor Anton Yelchin playing Bobby Garfield have this grandfather/grandchild connection and that relationship builds throughout the film. The story is what will captivate you though as you will soon find out that Ted is not just an ordinary man. He is on the run and it is not clear from what exactly. He seems at times to be just an old man and other times a man of mystery and power. Hope Davis playing Mrs. Garfield does a great job in delivering the strict mother figure that doesn’t believe in all that Ted is. Her disbelief is what makes the story that much more interesting. The clever dialogue and hidden and not so hidden moments is what makes this movie so neat. The movie is complimented well by a great musical score that brings you back to 1960’s and allows you to fall into the story a little bit more. The ending is fantastic and will probably bring a tear to your eye. The movie itself has times of blandness and is not just a straight dramatic story. Be wary as it takes an open mind to appreciate the nuances of this story. The start and very end when Bobby Garfield is grown up tends to be a little slow and pointless but brings you to a place from where the story can be told so be patient with it. I highly recommend this movie for just a powerful character and a story of feel goodness, intrigue, and mystery.


T Factor + If you think the child’s story is more interesting than I did then this could score higher on the rating scale.


T Factor – If you don’t like the unnatural side to the story then this could score lower on the rating scale.


If you liked this film reel recommendations: The Green Mile, or The Shawshank Redemption

Tsotsi

Tsotsi

Drama

2005

Rated: R

Running Time: 94 minutes

Starring: Presley Chweneyagae

Directed By: Gavin Hood

Rating: 8 out of 10

Outline

A common street thug faces his own humanity as he is forced to take care of a baby he never wanted.

Review

If this story doesn’t move you I don’t know what will. The story is based on Tsotsi an impoverished youth living in South Africa. He is the leader of a small gang looking for money from the rich society that lives nearby. He will do anything to complete a robbery and has little remorse doing it. Tsotsi is what the whole story focuses on and Presley Chweneyagae playing Tsotsi is what makes the movie such a success. He has the look of a street hood that is capable of murder and then at other times looks like an everyday kid looking for a break. Never does the character of Tsotsi stray from a common hood and never does he sway from these two polar opposite alter egos. His transformation from common thug to a struggle for acceptance and reasoning never compromises the integrity of the story. His inadvertent acquisition of a small child leads Tsotsi down many roads of emotions and you are there for the whole emotional ride. He never asks for forgiveness for his past sins nor does he let them haunt his new found social trials. He lives his life in constant pain and although he is as destructive as the country around him you somehow still feel for this youth and his obvious pain. His upbringing shows you why he does the things he does and the humanity that there is comes to the forefront with the baby storyline. The movie has slow points but trust me if you hang in there the heart wrenching scenes are well worth the wait. The setting and backdrop are great and really drive the poor upbringing and your understanding of Tsotsi’s trials. The ending is where everything you waited for happens and was a fantastic finish to a raw and gritty story. This movie captured my heart and mind and will bring a tear to your eye. I give this movie a huge recommendation for anyone who loves dramas that are as real world as they come.

T Factor + Like small budget foreign films this could score higher on the rating scale.

T Factor - Dislike slow moving dramas or subtitles this could score lower on the rating scale.

If you liked this film reel recommendations: City of God, or Monster’s Ball

Sin City

Sin City

2005

Action

Rated: R

Running Time: 124 minutes

Starring: Bruce Willis, Jessica Alba, Clive Owen, Rosario Dawson, Josh Hartnett, Michael Clarke Duncan, Carla Gugino, Brittany Murphy, Nick Stahl, Benicio Del Toro, Devon Aoki, Alexis Bledel, Rutger Hauer, Michael Madsen, Mickey Rourke, Elijah Wood

Directed By: Robert Rodriguez, Frank Miller, Quentin Tarantino

Rating: 8 out of 10

Outline

Three stories taking place in the miserable underbelly of Basin City. This movie is based on the graphic novels by Frank Miller.

Review

Sin City is a visual splendor of action, guns, drugs, women, and bad guys and watching it is a joy from the opening scene. The movie follows a bunch of different stories all taking place in Basin City a miserable place filled with corruption, drugs, and murder. This movie is a telling from the graphic novels inked by Frank Miller and trust me the movie doesn’t disappoint. This movie is like watching a moving comic and it takes you into a world not really captured before on film. The cast is a star studded affair but they all take back seats to the special effects and attention to detail on the cinematography. Three stories are being told but many sub stories also combine to make one cohesive story that will take you on a fantastic ride. Of all the stories this film thrusts at you the one involving Mickey Rourke playing Marv is definitely the best and most exciting. Marv is a muscle head delinquent on a quest for revenge after being framed for the murder of his lover. He has no remorse and endless rage and kills everyone involved in his quest to avenge his woman. It is this type of story that is the essence of Sin City. Blood, nudity, and violence are the name of the game and at every turn Sin City seems to get better and better. The other two main stories involving Bruce Willis and Clive Owen are no less brilliant then Rourkes and they are every bit as addictive in their execution. The flow of the story changes pace quite quickly from high tempo to slow and plodding but never does this film lose your intrigue. This movie won’t be for everyone for it is brutally violent and also has touches of craziness as it has that comic book feel to it. It asks you to take monsters and hallucinations as easily as it asks you to take passion and caring. The film is a blood bath of artistic proportions and if you take it as is Sin City is a movie marvel and will capture your imagination with its fluid movements and interesting characters. Even the hokey dialogue seems to fit perfect in this one and adds instead of subtracts from the films allure. I give this movie a big recommendation as it is one action lovers or people looking for something new and exciting will not want to miss.

T Factor + Like intense sequences of mindless gore and violence then this could score higher on the rating scale.

T Factor - Need a sense of realism to your storylines then this could score lower on the rating scale.

If you liked this film reel recommendations: 300, or Robocop

Silent Hill

Silent Hill

Action (Horror)

2006

Rated: R

Running Time: 127 minutes

Starring: Sean Bean, Radha Mitchell, Deborah Kara Unger

Directed By: Christophe Gans

Rating: 1 out of 10

Outline

A mother searches for her daughter in the town of Silent Hill whose inhabitants are evil mutations. Based on the video game of the same name.

Review

Look out House of the Dead you have a new running mate for worst video game movie of all time. Silent Hill should be renamed Silent Hell as it really felt like I was in purgatory watching this film. Video game stories are notoriously hard to bring to the big screen and this one was no different. The film centers around a family but specifically a young girl Sharon who has night terrors and constantly talks about the town Silent Hill. In a desperate attempt to help her daughter the mother Rose played by Radha Mitchell takes Sharon to the town of Silent Hill to solve these terrors. The start is uneventful and the kid is terribly annoying. Silent Hill never catches the viewer’s interest and then somehow gets worse as the film goes on. The arrival of the mother daughter combo at Silent Hill accompanied by a creepy but attractive cop officer Bennett is the last time this movie makes sense in terms of story and the last time you will probably care what is happening on screen. A good hour and a half of this film is Rose running around Silent Hill searching for her lost daughter and encountering evil you would never expect say I don’t know…outside a video game maybe. The evilness she has to face is the only redeemable feature to this movie. Although the twisted humanoid monsters that pop up throughout this film do not fit into the movie well they are decently thought up and add a tiny element of horror to this unexplainable film. Silent Hill is a living nightmare that is kept at bay to the outside world by a chain link fence that a six year old could climb. One would think with coal fires that are constantly burning under the city maybe a chain link fence might not be the best deterrent from keeping people out? Silent Hill is infested by evil mutations and religious zealots whose explanation to why they are inhabiting the town is laughable. The film is a jumble of nonsense back dropped by an incessantly annoying soundtrack and lacks any real fright or directive style. The film plods on at snail’s pace with Roses husband played by Sean Bean searches for Rose as Rose searches for Sharon but if they find each other or not will not keep you interested. The film ends in a style that can only be described as a Hail Mary type fashion. Trying to make the movie work with an amazing last ditch effort ending (which it wasn’t) is not going to save the rest of the film. As the credits roll it concludes one of the worst films of 2006. I cannot recommend this film as the story is a disaster and the frights never happen. I do not know if this film would have been better if I played the game but I highly doubt it.

T Factor + If you like video game movies this could score higher on the rating scale.

T Factor - If you like Sean Bean as an actor he is not utilized well in this film and it could score lower on the rating scale.

If you liked this film reel recommendation: House of the Dead, Doom

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

2003

(Horror)

Rated: R

Running Time: 98 minutes

Starring: Jessica Biel, R. Lee Ermey, Mike Vogel, Jonathon Tucker, Eric Balfour

Directed By: Marcus Nispel,

Rating: 6.5 out of 10

Outline

A group of kids in the heart of Texas fight for their lives from a chainsaw wielding maniac.

Review

Director Marcus Nispel knows his audience and for that I must give credit. More often than not directors lose their core audience by incorporating sub plots that the audience just does not relate to. Not that I am expecting any viewer to relate to this film, but the message this movie is bringing is gore and creepiness, and this movie did its job. Taking place in the seventies, a group of 5 kids/young adults are traveling cross country to see a concert when they pick up the oddest of hitch hikers. The hitchhiker warns the group to turn around, but of course the group plods on into the depth of Texas where these sorts of atrocities do not seem so far fetched. From the get go, the town they enter will give you the willies with its derelict buildings, and odd hillbilly inhabitants that do not seem all there. The group is beset with problems and needs the help of the locals to get them out of it. The film gets really good towards the middle as the group is split up (literally) and must fend for their lives from a group of maniacs. Not only that, but they have to avoid being killed by one of the most notorious bad guys in cinema history, Leatherface. The director has done his work in terms of setting up his introduction for a riveting blood bath. The infamous Hewitt residence is the perfect example of where mass murders could take place, and the interior is a jumble of weird items and unusual animals for the viewers delight. The acting is not the worst and you can feel the group’s plight which is all you can really ask for in a horror. The film, while overtly gory, still leaves a lot of the gore to the imagination further saving it from completely lacking any artistic style. The director did a really good job with Leatherface during the chase sequences for whenever you hear the chainsaw start up, instantly you are at the edge of your seat. The smoke coming off the chainsaw and Leatherface’s ambling shuffle, coupled with some great camera work lead to some tense moments and great scenes. The films bloody sequences can be shocking and in some cases down right over the top, but I felt this film never lost its focus in scaring the audience. Unfortunately In the latter half of the film, the story drags on and the film loses a lot of its steam. The tense shocking middle is kind of like drinking a red bull, and after that initial kick you feel kind of down for what comes after. This film could not sustain the sheer horror of meeting these villains and the first bloody scenes. After a while the blood and gore seems to lose its effect. The incorporation of too many incest looking characters in this town was a little too much to take as well. The ending, while trying to be powerful and bring closure to this nightmare seems to lack what a film of this perversion needed. I do recommend this film, and if you are a fan of horror and like being scared than this movie does a decent job of that. Be warned though as this gore will not be for the timid. Also for the guys, if you do not like horror, Jessica Biel running around in a ridiculous outfit is not half bad either.

T Factor + If you do not get tired of seeing people running for their lives then this could score higher on the rating scale.

T Factor - If you do not like gore that includes dissection and mutilation then this could score lower on the rating scale.

If you liked this film reel recommendations: House of a 1000 Corpses, or the Devils Rejects.

Death Race

Death Race

2008

Action

Rated: R

Running Time: 105 minutes

Starring: Jason Statham, Tyrese Gibson, Joan Allen

Directed By: Paul W.S. Anderson

Rating: 4 out of 10

Outline

A group of prison inmates are in a race for their freedom but have to stay alive long enough to enjoy it.

Review

As mindless as a movie can get, Death Race has a story resembling a cheesy video game. The film reminded me of the old video game Spy Hunter mixed with the video game Twisted Metal and voila, you have Death Race. Led by the most over exposed actor in Hollywood, (Jason Statham) the film tries to have some semblance of lead in that is just laughable. Director Paul W.S. Anderson known for his video game movies such as Resident Evil or DOA, seems to have taken the video game filming style to heart, and for the most part it did not work. The setting is in the future where the world’s economy is in shambles, and the populace’s favorite sport is death racing. It involves prison inmates racing fortified vehicles. They have to travel around a track, gathering weapons and trying to kill one another. Pretty intense plot if you ask me and I was surprised the Coen brothers were not asked to direct this film. Statham is a newly arrived inmate, and he is forced to race for his freedom against a group of men known for their racing and killing prowess. The dialogue is atrocious and the plot is non-existent. The film just carries on from scene to scene with no real build up. Statham is playing Jensen Ames in this, and he has to survive in the prison as well on the track. You will not care if he dies five minutes into this film. His main rival is Machine Gun Joe Mason played by one dimensional actor Tyrese Gibson. Gibson shows that he should never have left the Britney Spears music video scene as he is awful. The film centers around three main races for a fight for your life. Each race is extraordinarily long, and after each one you cannot believe the film can possibly keep going. To be fair, the races are quite entertaining in a mindless shoot em up kind of way. Things explode, people get killed, and cars end up as twisted wrecks all for the viewers pleasure. I forgot to mention that the inmate racers have navigators that sit beside them. Of course the navigators are women, and apparently are from the prison for the ridiculously good looking and scantily clad. Not that I am complaining, but at least try for an iota of credibility in your film. The prison warden played by Joan Allen, shows that roles must be drying up for older women in Hollywood. She plays a stern and unbending prison warden, and it was a complete stretch. The ending in this is also expected and will shock no one in its outcome. Bottom line is that I could complain all day about this film, but I do not want to keep going in circles like this film did. It is mindless action with things blowing up, and if that is what you want from a film then you should check this movie out. I cannot recommend this film as the ultra thin plot and lack of character development was as deadly as the races.

T Factor + If you like mindless action then this could score higher on the rating scale.

T Factor - If you expect to see Jason Statham at his best then this could score lower on the rating scale.

If you liked this film reel recommendations: Torque, Or The Fast and the Furious.

300

300
2006
Action
Rated: R
Running Time: 117 minutes
Starring: Gerard Butler, David Wenham
Directed By: Zack Snyder
Rating: 9 out of 10
                                                                           Outline
300 men led by their King Leonidas (Butler) try and hold off the vast hordes of the Persian army led by Xerxes. They fight to save Sparta and fight they do. This movie is based on the graphic novel written by Frank Miller.

Review

Sin City meets Braveheart in this classic telling by Frank Miller. This is as complete an action movie as you will ever get. King Leonidas portrayed by Butler was an amazing character, and you are instantly drawn to his charismatic side. These jacked Spartan's will make you want to do sit ups as you watch the movie, and they also prove with their outfits that boxers are better than briefs. The battle scenes are awesome with great attention to detail, and are breathtaking to behold. The story itself is strong and relieves the many fighting scenes. It allows you to partake in the struggles of the Queen and lets you glimpse into what the 300 Spartans are trying so valiantly to protect. The movie with not much dialogue is narrated perfectly and allows for more action then useless words bandied on screen. The warped Persian characters (which have a comic book theme) are somehow not out of place on screen, and seem to add to the Spartans struggle. The scene of the movie is when a seven foot monster in chains, takes on King Leonidas and they battle on while the war rages around them. The cinematography, costume and make up are Oscar worthy, and do add to how terrifying the Persian army really is. This isn't for the squeamish as blood and flying body parts are definitely not in short supply. But if you are looking for one of the best action movies to come out in recent memory then this is the one for you. From start to finish, you will be truly captivated. The only real drawback to this movie is that it could have been longer for you are left with wanting more.

T Factor + If you don't need detailed story lines then this could score higher on the rating scale

T Factor - If you don't like comic book themed movies, then this could score lower on the rating scale.

If you liked this film reel recommendations: Braveheart, or Sin City.

Taken

Taken

2009

Action

Rated PG-13

Starring: Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen

Directed By: Pierre Morel

Running Time: 93 Minutes

Rating 8.5 out of 10

Outline

Ex government agent Bryan Mills (Neeson) has retired to spend more time with his estranged daughter (Grace). He is forced back into action when his daughter is kidnapped in Paris, and he only has a short window of opportunity to find her.

Review

With a towering stature and deep commanding voice, Neeson literally dominates the screen in this movie. At his age, I thought this role would leave the viewer laughing but the thought never crossed my mind once in this film. He delivers an action movie that pretty much starts on high octane, and ends on the same high note. The movies weak starting sequence can be forgiven, as this films hurrying pace and quick action sequences seem to alleviate the obvious plot flaws and story weaknesses. With one of the greatest speeches in film history. Sorry let me correct that. Coolest speeches in film history, Neeson lets the viewer know what's coming. It is sort of like Babe Ruth calling his storied home run. He tells the bad guy I am coming to kill you, and boy does his path lead through a high body count and multiple fight sequences. This film has it all, from hand to hand combat, to car chase sequences, to knife and gun play. There is a little bit of something for any type of action lover out there. There is something really honest in the quiet brooding role that Neeson brings to this Bryan Mills character. Clearly he is a man distraught over the kidnapping of his daughter, but his focus and skills never waver. His calming presence seems believable even in situations where most people would be trembling. I seem to be focusing on Neeson a lot in this review, but really he is the movie. His ex wife played by Famke Jansen, is a run of the mill performance and adds little to the film. Bryan's daughter, played by Maggie Grace, is a sad example of overacting. She is clearly an older actress trying to play a younger character. There is a scene at her 17th birthday party where she gets a horse, and it is hard to sit through. Her overall personality is forced and awkward, leading me to wonder why an actual 17 year old couldn't have played that role? The story really has no hidden agendas or twists and turns. Nor does it need one, as Neeson directs it like an arrow to its high intensity bullseye conclusion. This was Directed by Pierre Morel, whose filmography makes him no stranger to successful action flicks. He collaborated on the Transporter, and directed the fantastic and virtually unknown foreign film, District 13. He does a good job with this but he should have known better as there are some glaring plot and editing flaws. Examples of errors are: Neeson does what he needs to do around Paris with a British accent, and yet no one seems to question this, even when he is pretending to be a french policeman. Secondly, he seems to avoid getting hit at an alarming rate. With so many bullets flying around in this movie, you would think he would have been a little more marked up. Lastly, there are some unexplained scenes, like the collection of hair off a mirror that never gets resolved. It seems strange for a veteran action director to make mistakes like this. None of those factors can really deter from this film though. Watching Neeson kicking ass and mowing down bad guys is an hour and a half well spent. I highly recommend this movie, and if you are in the mood for some high energy action and watching a man with a very particular set of skills, then this is the movie for you. The unrated version is much better then the theatrical.

T Factor + If you don't need strong a strong story line then this could score higher on the rating scale.

T Factor - If you need strong acting performances then this could score lower on the rating scale.

If you liked this film reel recommendations: Edge of Darkness, Spartan