I Pity The Blog

Dead Poet's Society (Blu-Ray)

2012-02-20T08:27:00.000-05:00

Dead Poets Society [Blu-ray]

I had never seen this film before. It had come out when I was a child and honestly I’ve never had the attention span for it when it was popular. I know that this is considered a classic but come on. I know that I’m a pretty cold guy but honestly this flick really is dishonest.

Painfully shy Todd Anderson has been sent to the school where his popular older brother was valedictorian. His roommate, Neil, although exceedingly bright and popular, is very much under the thumb of his overbearing father. The two, along with their other friends, meet Professor Keating, their new English teacher, who tells them of the Dead Poets Society, and encourages them to go against the status quo. Each, in their own way, does this, and is changed for life.

Hypocrisy is the order of the day in DEAD POETS SOCIETY. It gives a rousing, inspirational sermon ("Seize the day!" is the teacher's motto.), yet the story itself mocks the film's supposed intentions. DEAD POETS SOCIETY is about failure, but it won't admit it; worse, it seems to believe it's own inspirational PR. The film serves up a tacked on and utterly false moment of triumph at the end, but everything that proceeds that is a lesson in failure. Williams fails to teach the students to show moral courage. One student commits suicide rather than fight for his beliefs. When Williams is wrongly accused of something, his supposedly adoring students turn on him like a pack of weasels. The one student who stands up for his ideals is expelled from the school and forgotten by the film. A father fails his son. The school fails its students. And the film fails its audience.

Yet, for some inexplicable reason, people remember the film for its inspirational message: Seize the day! Carpe Diem! Fine words, but at no time are they supported by the empty pessimism that the film displays. The characters that do take chances are immediately and soundly punished. Those who knuckle under -- showy, petty acts of deviance aside -- plod along.

However the film looks and sounds great on blu-ray. The special features are also amazing.

Audio Commentary: I always welcome a chance to listen to Peter Weir
Dead Poets: A Look Back: An engrossing feature that's well-worth watching.
Raw Takes: A deleted scene that really failed. Great omission.
Master of Sound: Alan Splet: Weir and filmmaker David Lynch discuss the life, career and cinematic contributions of the late Academy Award-winning sound designer, Alan Splet. This is amazing.
Cinematography Master Class (SD, 15 minutes): Seale talks about the impossibility of perfection before a narrator takes over and nearly spoils the entire thing.

Ok I understand why people like this movie. But the whole thing just does not sit with me properly. Sorry it’s just not a movie for me.

Dead Poets Society [Blu-ray] just hit the stores this week!

We received product for our review. All opinions are our own

The Whistleblower (Blu-Ray)

2012-02-18T08:25:00.000-05:00

Whistleblower [Blu-ray]

Gotta love movies about corporate corruption.There is a huge genre of films but they mainly focus on a dramatic court case. However, The Whistleblower does not. It’s become a rarity to find a political thriller that is intelligent, intense and intriguing. So when one like The Whistleblower comes along, I find no trouble in treasuring every moment of it.

Synopsis time!!!

Inspired by true events, Kathy is an American police officer who takes a job working as a peacekeeper in post-war Bosnia. Her expectations of helping to rebuild a devastated country are dashed when she uncovers a dangerous reality of sex trafficking, political corruption, cover-ups and intrigue amid a world of private contractors and multinational diplomatic doubletalk.

The story here is strong and every moment, especially in the final act, breathes with a wicked intensity that keeps you on your toes, but the real driving force of the film is Weisz. For some reason it seems like it's pretty hard for films to present female characters who are strong and firm in their beliefs without turning them into unbearable stereotypes. This is not a contrived, or "generic" "CSI" story.

Frequently, the subject matter and scenes of girls undergoing sexual abuse and torture are stomach churning. The film can be relentless at times showing various punishments and cruelty. Human trafficking, especially if it involves a trusted world organization and its sleazy contractors, is an extremely important subject to cover and make films about; therefore, be ready to adjust uncomfortably in your seats as you watch downright disgusting and brutal activities perpetrated against teenage girls.

On the flip side some scenes go over the top. It kind of cheapens the whole thing.

The movie is dark and gritty but the definition is clean. The film just looks great no matter how dark and disturbing the images are. The lone bonus feature on the disc is Kathy Bolkovac: The Real Whistleblower, a short featurette that includes interviews with Bolkovac, Weisz, and the film's writers and director.

This was the real deal. The Whistleblower is an amazingly engaging feature that while hard to watch is a must see. However, this is better rented rather than owned because I can guarantee that you will only want to see it once.

Whistleblower [Blu-ray] is available for purchase at Amazon.com

We received a copy of this blu-ray for review, all opinions are our own.

Good Morning Vietnam (Blu-Ray)

2012-02-16T08:23:00.000-05:00

Good Morning, Vietnam (25th Anniversary Edition) [Blu-ray]

Made at a time when films on the Vietnam War were being produced by America at a healthy rate, Good Morning, Vietnam comes across as the sort that falls into both 'types' that were being produced at the time. Platoon got under the skin of Vietnam, telling the events from an individual's perspective through voice overs without relying on a lot of causality, rather the everyday tasks and events that occur. Full Metal Jacket was an interesting beast in the sense most of its more intense scenes didn't actually happen in Vietnam but rather at home on the training ground. But both were in a sensible tradition and took attention away from the Reaganism inspired 'action' films that were Rambo: First Blood Part II and the like.

Good Morning, Vietnam falls into both these sorts of Vietnam war films. On one hand it is a serious film about the war and deals with serious issues such as morale and how dangerous conflict with the enemy actually is without doing what Rambo did by turning the war genre into a sub-division of the action genre. At one point in the film, DJ and lead character of the film Adrian Cronauer (Williams) finds himself in a hostile area out in the jungle and you do feel the shift in atmosphere the film briefly moves into in the sense this guy is not a soldier but he is in a dangerous position and he isn't equipped with how to get through it.

The best parts of Good Morning, Vietnam actually raises issues to do with oppositional reading. As a character, Adrian is one of those charismatic individuals who is perhaps more focused on entertaining his audience first but when repercussions to do with that want to entertain arise, it is an oppositional reading to something that seems innocent enough. There are a couple of scenes and incidences that deal with this theme of oppositional reading.

Good Morning, Vietnam isn't a perfect film, nor does it ever break free of its own star's gravitational pull. But when it's funny, it's really funny. When it throws an emotional punch, it really throws a punch. If it were only a more consistent, less indulgent comedy, drama or dramedy, it might resonate with me more. As it stands, though, it's a bit all over the map.

The Blu-Ray transfer is all over the map too. The noise reduction is all over the place and there is some edge enhancement too. The special features here are realty lacking too not in quality but quantity. We have a production diary that is very good and was begging for more. There is also a raw monologue of Robin Williams doing what he does best - improv.

Overall it’s a good movie not great but really good.

We received product for our review. All opinions are our own

The Double (Blu-Ray

2012-02-14T08:22:00.000-05:00

The Double [Blu-ray]

Spy movies are a dime a dozen. Sometimes they work and sometimes they don’t. Hitchcock really pioneered the genre. Viewers today are so accustomed to "twists", "reveals" and "spoilers" that everyone assumes it's supposed to be a Big Secret that the retired CIA man played by Richard Gere in The Double is really . . . a Soviet assassin. (Oops!) But the trailer discloses it, hints are dropped early in the film, and Gere's character confesses his identity less than half an hour in. And did I mention that the title of the film is TheDouble?

What is the film about? Story kicks off with the mysterious murder of a senator bearing the marks of a Soviet assassin, who was long thought to be dead. To hunt down the killer, a retired CIA operative, who spent his career going toe-to-toe with his Soviet nemesis, is teamed with a young FBI agent.

Everything about the film is a bit blah…nothing really hits the mark. I really wish I enjoyed this film a bit more but I did not. This film is far from horrible. This isn't your thinking man spy movie. Here it relies more on action and some surprises. And some nice surprises I might add. It has a nice pace and it will entertain more than enough. But it could have been so much better. The most essential thing that "The Double" lacks is proper build up. One of the surprises is revealed much too quickly which for me spoiled lot of the fun too early on. It is fair to say that I did lose a little interest.

Gere and Grace are both fine if not memorable and they get some assistance form actors such as Martin Sheen, Steven Boyer, Tamer Hassan, and Odette Annable (a refreshing find!). The dialogue is pretty much drowned out by the noisy musical score and the ambient noise of the action. Not a bad movie, just not a memorable one. It could use a bit of tidying up on the editing and the scoring and it might make sense.  

Commentary with Writer-Director Michael Brandt and Writer-Producer Derek Haas: Brandt and Haas provide a wealth of information about the background of the script and especially the changes it underwent during production and editing.

Producer Interviews: A general featurette containing interviews with Gere, Grace, Moyer, Brandt and Haas. Watch after you see the movie.

The Double looks and sounds amazing on Blu-Ray however the film does not hold up as well. This is a good rental but definitely not a purchase!

The Double [Blu-ray] is available at Amazon.com and your local stores now.

We received product for our review. All opinions are our own

Real Steel (Blu-Ray)

2012-02-12T08:22:00.000-05:00

Real Steel

Growing up I was a huge fan of Stallone. I taped all his movies off HBO.I’ve seen Cobra, Rocky, Cliffhanger, Demolition Man and Over the Top hundreds of times. My expensive film school education tells me that these films are terrible, but I can’t help but love them because they are so much fun. My review of Tree of Life reminded me that film is an art form, this week Real Steel reminded me that film is fun.

Real Steel was the film that Stallone failed to make in the 1980s. I’m sorry that’s not true, this film is a combination of Over the Top, Rocky and Transformers. In fact Stallone made this film twice and it rocked both times. Here Hugh Jackman takes over the Stallone role. It’s kind of great. I’m not going to get into the plot because a 2nd grader could probably guess the entire plot from the trailer.

Hugh Jackman’s films never really played to me, for a brief time in 2006 he had a string of good movies (Scoop, The Prestige, The Fountain) but before and after he never really showed any talents. Jackman has now shown us that he can play a character that is not Wolverine (a character and film series that I HATE). Real Steel showed me that Jackman is powerful and compassionate as he believably transforms into the hero. He played all of the clichés that I grew up on perfectly. Most will think this is a bad thing, but his character really felt like I was watching a hero from an Amblin film (Zach Galligan in Gremlins or Sam Neil in Jurassic Park). He owned this role.

Honestly there is not much to this film, but who cares, I clapped at robots punching each other for two hours. I felt like an 8-year-old again, wearing out my VHS of Over the Top. The filmmaking is pretty decent. Well-shot scenes. The CGI robots look great. The performances were good. Dakota Goyo is a bit charming. Chemistry with he and Jackman shines through the film. This film looks and sounds great on blu-ray.

This is the kind of movie you catch on HBO and get caught up watching the whole thing. This movie proved to me that Hugh Jackman could carry a film alone. The film is enjoyable from the first frame to the last. With a special mention to the first few scenes, which were great.

Countdown to the Fight -- The Charlie Kenton Story: A brief "Mockumentary" that was pretty cool.
Making of Metal Valley: A good short featturette.
Building the Bots (1080p, 5:38): An all-too-short looks at the practice and purpose of designing original robots, both in the real and digital worlds.
Sugar Ray Leonard: Cornerman's Champ: A look at boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard's contributions to the film.
Deleted & Extended Scenes: Extended Meet Ambush and Deleted Butterfly Storyline.

Real Steel is on DVD shelves everywhere.

We received product for our review. All opinions are our own

Shark Night (Blu-Ray)

2012-01-18T10:00:00.002-05:00

I rarely make the whole family sit down and watch a movie but for Shark Night I made an exception. I know you must be thinking "B" why would you unleash that kind of torture upon your family? Because my family appreciates a good B-Horror flick and that’s why I love them. We try to watch serious films together but it really does not work (one of us always begins talking over the movie because we get impatient or hate the movie). A film like Shark Night breeds family discussion about jumping sharks, severed arms, and B-Horror film theory.

When 7 college friends pack their swim suits for a weekend of fun-in-the-sun activities at there friend Sara's lake house, they think it will be the perfect vacation. But the tables immediately turn when the lead football star, Malik, gets his arm ripped off during a water skiing accident. While the friends are to believe his wound was a freak accident, they soon come to discover that there was a primal attack involving a shark. Now while they think that one shark is no problem, they soon come to the realization that 15 species of sharks are lurking in the water, and with no form of boat or transportation, and no signals for phone's, the group of seven now face a fate they would never imagine. Being fed to these sharks by crooks for real life footage on an Internet website.

Is Shark Night a bad movie? It depends how you look at it. If you pick up a movie called Shark Night and expect an Oscar worthy picture, you must be slow. If you take Shark Night as it is (a hard pg-13, side boob loving, light on gore, midnight movie), you just may fall in love. I cheered for the one armed Malik as he punched a shark in the head. Yes the film is a bad combination of Jaws and teen slasher but that is also what it has going for it too. Also, Shark Night isn't just a man-versus nature monster movie; it's also a rednecksploitation horror tale. This film is pure film geek guilty pleasure from start to finish.

The video and audio quality of the Blu-Ray are kind of meh. The mix is all over the place and the clarity is all over the place. The special features are weak here as well:

• Shark Attack! Kill Machine! - All the kills from the movie strung together.
• Shark Night's Survival Guide - Trivia about shark attacks.
• Fake Sharks, Real Scares - A featurette about the film's sharks.
• Ellis' Island - A short making-of piece
• Theatrical Trailer
• Sneak Peeks

Genre fans will wet their swim trunks during this one. I laughed and yelled at the screen a few times, I cheered for the sharks, and clapped during explosions. This was definitely a fun little genre film. But if you are not into that (if you know what a mega sharktopus is you will like Shark Night) skip this.

Sid & Nancy (Collector's Edition) (Blu-Ray)

2012-01-17T09:57:00.000-05:00

It's almost impossible now to watch Oldman's Sid Vicious without some awareness of his resume, because all these characters have something in common: They're all extreme in some way, even if whatever's extreme about them is kept tightly coiled up inside. You don't cast Gary Oldman to play someone ordinary. You cast him when you want an actor who can reach places (or at least suggest them) where normal people don't go.

Some films tend to glorify rock and roll by showing off its glamorous side full of adventure and wonder. Sid and Nancy does no such thing. Instead it exposes the dirty, grimy, seedy underbelly of punk rock, which is full of violence and drugs. The film chronicles Sid Vicious’s life from when he meets his junky girlfriend, Nancy Spungen, to the tragic demise of that relationship. It is a loud, mean, ugly, and crass film that perfectly captures all that the Sex Pistols stood for... anarchy. Filled with all sorts of sex, drugs, and rock and roll, Sid and Nancy is a seriously wild ride.

Although Oldman and Webb are very good in their roles, ultimately the film suffers from the fact that neither Sid Vicious nor Nancy Spungen was especially sympathetic figures. Frankly, they were a pair of idiot junkies whom even their own entourage couldn't stand. There was nothing tragic about what happened to them; they simply self-destructed.

The real treat here is the director’s several brilliant sequences that any movie fan should appreciate. The first occurs halfway through the film and is based on Sid's video of the Sinatra classic "My Way". The audio and video quality really shines in places like this. Unfortunately this release lacks in the special feature department –

For the Love of Punk: Meh, a weak little feature.
Junk Love: A little feature about the real Sid & Nancy’s relationship. It was actually quite interesting.
Theatrical Trailer

The movie is entertaining, but in portraying the waste that was Sid and Nancy, but it can get boring in spots. Otherwise, for those of you that weren't there when the whole punk thing first hit, this movie gives some idea of what it was like, at least from a spectator viewpoint. The performances are great the movie kind of suffers from time to time in the pacing department.

Archer Season 2 (Blu-Ray)

2012-01-16T09:55:00.000-05:00

If you've ever wondered what would happen if Sir Ian Flemming, Larry Flynt and Mad Magazine decided to GET SMART and see if audiences would be shaken, and stirred after a half hour of laughing over entirely inappropriately placed mommy fetishes, violence, vapid vixens, a past love you can't forget, doggie-phobia, drinking, using people for your own narcissistic means, sex, torture, Tax dollars wasted on whore island. It's not a MISSION IMPOSSIBLE. If you're looking for intelligent, intellectual viewing try the history channel. This show is not for you. But I have to say it's been a long time since I've actually laughed out loud viewing a television show. In fact I don't watch television because of the lack of ethnic representation and the misrepresentation. But this show is obviously not meant to be sophisticated viewing. Even the off color racial and interracial jokes are not racist or disrespectful but in fact funny. This show kills me. I literally spend the entire run time belly laughing. That does not happen very often.

Archer's first season took some time to find its stride, but season two starts strong and rarely lets up. In the premiere episode, "Swiss Miss," the ISIS crew is tasked with protecting a buxom, sixteen-going-on-seventeen German heiress and would-be Lolita. In rare form, the sex-obsessed Archer resists temptation, but his fellow field agents keep discovering him in compromising positions with the endangered underage maiden, who tantalizingly reminds him that in Germany, the age of consent is fourteen. "What is it," Archer replies, "the Alabama of Europe?" Just two episodes later, in "Blood Test," Archer's past sexual indiscretions come back to haunt him when his "favorite hooker" gives birth to a child--Wee Baby Seamus-- that she claims is his.

Like the best office satires, Archer thrives on zingy workplace banter, ridiculous situations, and well-written characters, and it has all three in spades. The show is amazing including the visuals and the voice acting. Everything here is spot on. Unfortunately here the special features leave something to be desired.

Archersaurus - Self Extinction
Ask Archer
Semper Fi
L'espion Mal Fait
SIS Infiltrates Comic-Con

Honestly, this may be my favorite comedy show currently running. If you have a sense of humor that is sick and twisted pick up a copy of the Blu- Ray now you will not be disappointed.

Warrior - Review (Blu-Ray)

2012-01-11T12:30:00.000-05:00

Every year or two we have a Rocky clone with a different sport. I’m cool with that formula, as it usually makes for a fun movie. I try not to read reviews before going into a movie but since this is a strict formula film I decided it was OK because I knew the beats already. I heard great things about Warrior... hearing the acting was amazing. Warrior is one that I almost caught on a theatrical run but decided in favor of The Debt that day. Now I am glad that I did.

Two brothers face the fight of a lifetime - and the wreckage of their broken family - within the brutal, high-stakes world of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighting. An ex-Marine haunted by a tragic past, Tommy Riordan returns to his hometown of Pittsburgh and enlists his father, a recovered alcoholic and his former coach, to train him for an MMA tournament awarding the biggest purse in the history of the sport. As Tommy blazes a violent path towards the title prize, his brother, Brendan, a former MMA fighter unable to make ends meet as a public school teacher, returns to the amateur ring to provide for his family. Even though years have passed, recriminations and past betrayals keep Brendan bitterly estranged from both Tommy and his father. But when Brendan's unlikely rise as an underdog sets him on a collision course with Tommy, the two brothers must finally confront the forces that tore them apart, all the while waging the most intense, winner-takes-all battle of their lives.

There was absolutely nothing new here. That’s OK; I don’t mind, I was in the mood for a good formula flick. Unfortunately I could not attach myself to the movie. All of the clichés just went too far. The acting was good enough - Nolte’s off the wagon scene made me laugh out loud. This film is what happens when a screenwriter writes with an "Intro to Screen Writing" book by their side. All of the characters are cardboard cutouts with “personal demons.”

The direction was cheap and so was the audio quality. I found that I had to put the subtitles on because the characters were obviously nowhere near any microphones. The video quality is intentionally grainy because of the gritty story (cliché #175 in this movie). This film keeps getting compared to The Fighter from last year. The Fighter is a vastly superior film.

Ok this movie is not all bad Joel Edgerton is good with a very balanced performance. The fight sequences here are among the most viscerally exciting in recent memory. If the film opts for a bit of a feel good ending, that is part and parcel of the hackneyed structure of this genre to begin with. And the special features are great too.

• Full Contact: Feature Length Enhanced Viewing Mode - Really dug this.

• Feature Audio Commentary with Filmmakers and Actor Joel Edgerton - meh

• Redemption: Bringing Warrior To – Another generic making of feature.

• Cheap Shots: Gag Reel - Did not watch

• Brother vs. Brother: Anatomy of the Fight - featurette that deconstructs the climactic fight sequence.

Over all this film was just wrong for me. This film is for people who enjoy the film Taken. The melodrama just seems too artificial for me but the saving grace is wonderfully shot fight sequences. It’s just not for me but maybe for you.

Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes - Review (Blu-Ray)

2012-01-10T22:37:00.000-05:00

I’m not going to lie; I really have no interest in the original Planet of the Apes films. I saw them as a child and I never really took to them. I remember going to a friend’s house for a sleepover and watching the original as an adolescent none of us were taken with the film. We turned it off after an hour and popped in Aliens a film that to this day still terrifies me. I came into Rise with very low expectations and fortunately they were blown away.

At the story's heart is Caesar, a chimpanzee who gains human-like intelligence and emotions from an experimental drug. Raised like a child by the drug's creator, Will Rodman and a primatologist Caroline Aranha, Caesar ultimately finds himself taken from the humans he loves and imprisoned in an ape sanctuary in San Bruno. Seeking justice for his fellow inmates, Caesar gives the fellow apes the same drug that he inherited. He then assembles a simian army and escapes the sanctuary - putting man and ape on a collision course that could change the planet forever.

We should stop here and point out that Andy Serkis—who, though motion capture technology, gives real movement and expression to the otherwise computer-generated creation of Caesar—is brilliant and absolutely the soul of the film. He becomes a chimp, loping around on all fours, baring his teeth, and moving with that loose gait that's so particular to primates. The uncanny valley hasn't quite been crossed, but there's something about Caesar that makes him this close to being totally believable. I think it's his eyes; they convey the genuine depth of thought that's so necessary to making Caesar a character we identify with and support.

This film gets a lot right—the special effects, the more realistic tone, Andy Serkis' performance—but it's hobbled by two things. First, the human characters (Franco and Pinto) are barely developed and almost completely trivial to the plot. This is partially intentional, I'm sure, as our sympathies are supposed to lie primarily with Caesar. And I haven't even mentioned his primatologist girlfriend, Caroline, simply because she doesn't really do anything worth noting.

The whole movie looks and sounds great and the special features are fantastic too.

• Audio Commentaries: The disc features two audio commentaries.

• Deleted Scenes: See Andy Serkis running around in his badass motion-capture suit.

• Mythology of the Apes: The filmmakers and stars talk about their respect for the original films.

• The Genius of Andy Serkis: A celebration of Andy Serkis, who has almost single-handedly changed motion-capture technology.

• A New Generation of Apes: The film's creators discuss the technical innovations to make the film possible.

• Breaking Motion Capture Boundaries: A good featurette about the golden gate sequence.

• The Great Apes: A three-part documentary about apes.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes was a good flick. I really am looking forward to watching it again. There are rather minor quibbles in what is a thoroughly enjoyable film, which equals its CG-fuelled visuals with brains and genuine heart. A great start to what is hopefully an interesting franchise.

Why I Am Excited For This Year’s Disney Lineup

2011-12-27T22:38:00.002-05:00

Many of you know my roller coaster love / hate relationship with Disney animation. I feel that Little Mermaid and anything after that are all carbon copies that steadily declined in quality until Pixar came around. That is when the spark came back to my heart. My least favorite Disney film is getting the 3d treatment this year as well as one of my favorite.

January 13: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST 3D – No….I know that this is one of the most beloved Disney films of all time but I just cant get down with it. It feels like a carbon copy of Little Mermaid and the only redeeming quality for me is Angela Lansbury.

February 17: THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY – I dig Ghibli films. Although their last feature, Ponyo, just did not hook me. Here the trailer and source material is fantastic. This looks a little more coherent.

March 9: JOHN CARTER – Day 1. No ifs ands or buts. I am at this movie on day one. I was a bit scared about this adaptation but with Andrew Stanton behind the camera there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that this will be amazing.

May 4: MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS – I have a renewed interest in this one. After Iron Man 2 and Thor I had my doubts about an Avengers feature, but after Captain America I’m in. Joss Weadon does not hurt either; he will bring the right mix of humor and drama while not being afraid to kill off a character or two.

June 22: BRAVE – Please Pixar never make another Cars movie. This looks far better than Cars 2 but I really need to see more for more confidence in this feature. Although, every thing I have seen about Brave to date has been excellent.

August 15: THE ODD LIFE OF TIMOTHY GREEN – I saw the trailer for this when it leaked last year at one point. This is definitely looking like a fantastic date movie. You will laugh, cry and be heartwarmed.

September 14: FINDING NEMO 3D – Heck yeah!!! This is one of my favorite animated features of all time. I’ve been waiting for the Blu-Ray forever, I really want this in my collection and I can’t wait to see it on the big screen again.

October 5: FRANKENWEENIE – Just not that interested in this one. I still have my original Frankenweenie VHS tape. I am really excited to hear Martin Short’s voice on film again, so I may catch this just for that.

November 12: WRECK-IT RALPH – I’m a sucker for a good 8-bit reference so I think this one is tailored for me. I can’t wait to hear more about it.

Overall Disney is going to have a great 2012 far better than its 2011 which kind of lacked for me. This lineup really seems to amp up the action, which definitely a risk that will be worth it with films, like John Carter and Avengers and Brave.

Tora! Tora! Tora! - Review (Blu-Ray)

2011-12-27T11:40:00.000-05:00

On Sunday 7 December 1941, the Imperial Japanese Navy launched a surprise attack on the US Pacific fleet in its moorings at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. At the time, no state of war existed between the two nations. An ingenious pre-emptive strike, as the Japanese 'hawks' saw it, was condemned by the world as one of the greatest acts of treachery in modern history.   

"Tora! Tora! Tora!" meticulously traces the build-up to Pearl Harbor by examining the diplomatic, military and intelligence events and developments on both sides. The film is unimpeachably even-handed, telling both sides' stories simultaneously, and interleaving the Japanese and American versions with intelligence and an almost total absence of favoritism.

Tora! Tora! Tora! Has always had a mixed reputation. Film critics—at the time of its release and since—have typically viewed it as a large- scale snooze-inducer, a dramatically stilted bore that favors historical authenticity over a compelling story. There's definitely some truth to this. The film lacks what you might call an emotional core, preferring to present the events in a detached, matter-of-fact, almost documentary-like way.

I really dig the films documentary feel. Unfortunately this alienates most viewers giving them nothing, character wise, to hang on to. This is a film that should be viewed in history classes. Tora! Tora! Tora!’s real treat is its view on the bureaucratic red tape and diplomatic double-speak, the planning and guesswork and covert maneuvering. Much of the film takes place indoors, where various mid-level officials hash out the details and second-guess the poor decisions of their superiors.

20th Century Fox has finally given Tora! Tora! Tora! the comprehensive frame-by-frame restoration that it deserves. The moment you lay eyes on the film's 1080p/AVC-encoded Blu-ray transfer, you'll notice an immediate difference from the DVD, which was chock-full of dirt, debris, and compression artifacts. Those are completely gone now. The remastered print is absolutely pristine—no hairs stuck in the gate, no white specks, no scratches, and no stains.

There are plenty of special features here including an informative commentary track and the "Day of Infamy" documentary, which looks at the historical impact of the Pearl Harbor attack. History vs. Hollywood, an hour-and-a-half special—narrated by Burt Reynolds.. But the best special feature is ten vintage Fox Movietone newsreels, showing front-line footage from Pearl Harbor and the war in the Pacific.

This is a classic film that should be viewed in any history lesson concern the attack on Pearl Harbor. It is highly recommended viewing and the blu-ray looks fantastic. Although the narrative does get a bit tedious if you are expecting Michael Bay’s Pearl Harbor.

Overall: 4 newsreels out of 5

I Pity The Blog’s Top 10 Albums of the Year

2011-12-26T19:12:00.000-05:00

This was just an odd year of music for me. I listened to a lot of pop that will not make to this but dance pop definitely had a serious effect on me. It also had a tremendous effect on the music that I was listening too. The electronic sound definitely took hold and I really learned to appreciate it.

Dale Earnheardt Jr. Jr. – It’s A Corporate World

This record is better than everything that TV on the Radio has done. It is just a staple record in my collection. I satisfies my indie rock and electro pop sides. This record just did it for me although it is very hard to define. “Morning Thought” feels at home on a Radiohead record and “Simple Girl” would work on a Dr. Dog one. It goes a lot of places and really pays off.

James Blake – James Blake

This may be the ultimate mood record. When I first heard this record I was chilled by the lyrics of “I Never Learnt To Share” and frightened by the synths on “Unluck.” Before this record I had never heard anything like this. It is classified as “Dubstep” but it feels vastly different than the rest. “Fall Creek Boys Choir” is without question one of my favorite tracks this year. If you like this see: Little Dragon ‘Ritual Union’ and Sbtrkt ‘Sbtrkt’

Bon Iver – Bon Iver

There really is not any more that already has not been said about this record.

Fucked Up – David Comes to Life

This is an absolutely brilliant punk rock concept album that is completely brutal. The album takes place in the fictional town of Byrdesdale Spa UK, David has a humdrum life working at a light bulb factory, and finds an escape by falling in love with a communist rebel rouser, only to find out later that she has died in a terrorist bombing and that he has a lot of emotional turmoil to face. The album is angry and emotional and great punk rock.

Wavves – Life Sux EP

Great little raw punk rock EP but it is the polar opposite of Fucked Up. This EP is so much fun. It disorganized and chill not all that punk rock but its surfer punk so that’s ok. Its head bopping punk at its best!

Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues

These guys are really something. Every time I pop this record in I forget that it’s new. I always feel like I’m listening to Neil Young or Bob Dylan instead of the Fleet Foxes. This album feels so classic.

Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks – Minor Traffic

Man I miss Pavement. This album had my favorite lyric of the year on it “Smoking weed in our truck, the cops pull up, and how could they not know, we were so invisible.” Its matter of fact lyrics like that that really made this record work for me. It doesn’t hurt that this sounds like a Pavement record.

Deer Tick – Divine Providence

Man this album just starts off on the right foot and does not let up. Down and Dirty rock and roll at its best. Heavily influenced by Mike Watt and Pavement this record reminded me that rock music is alive and well. “The Bump” feels like it was pulled for Iggy and the Stooges playbook and is an instant classic track.

Gary Clark Jr. – Bright Lights EP

Move over Black Keys but you have been put to shame!!! Shame!!! This is the best blues album I have heard in years. This guy absolutely rips. The songs are amazing, he is Jimi like on the guitar, and his voice has the tenderness of Anthony Hamilton but can also bring it loud and funky like Black Joe Lewis. This kid can do anything.

The Weeknd – House of Balloons EP/ Thursday EP/ Echoes of Silence EP

I was not going to add any pop to this but damn, this guy can sing. Look out The Weeknd is the real deal. Great mood music just some really chilled out stuff. This kid has what it takes to be the artistic voice that Michael Jackson (see The Weeknd’s cover of D.D.) never got to have because of his label. While I am not saying that The Weeknd is nearly as good as MJ, but The Weeknd has the potential to get there.

Honorable Mentions:

Tyler, the Creator – Goblin

Wilco – The Whole Love

Drive (Soundtrack)

The Vaccines – What Did You Expect From The Vaccines?

Childish Gambino – Camp

Beyoncé – 4

M83 – Hurry Up We’re Dreaming

City Of God - Review (Blu-Ray)

2011-12-26T11:30:00.001-05:00

I remember seeing this film opening day in Providence at the Avon cinema. It was my freshman or sophomore year of college on a brutally cold Friday night. I had no date I was smoking cigarettes in front of Antonio’s Pizza. I was completely unaware of what I was about to watch. I ran into some friends that asked if I wanted to go to the bar but I declined (I think due to low cash flow). After buying my ticked they gave me a two-dollar bill back, which was awesome. Without popcorn in hand or a drink I sat in what may have been the most uncomfortable seat in the house…and enjoyed ever second of it.

Synopsis time!

Brazil, 1960's, City of God. The Tender Trio robs motels and gas trucks. Younger kids watch and learn well...too well. 1970's: Li'l Zé has prospered very well and owns the city. He causes violence and fear as he wipes out rival gangs without mercy. His best friend Bené is the only one to keep him on the good side of sanity. Rocket has watched these two gain power for years, and he wants no part of it. Yet he keeps getting swept up in the madness. All he wants to do is take pictures. 1980's: Things are out of control between the last two remaining gangs...will it ever end? Welcome to the City of God.

City of God is much more than a directorial assault on the senses. As Raul Walsh said if you don't have a story you have nothing, and many flashy Hollywood films have fallen short in using 'ultra-modern' direction to disguise the fact that no substantial story exists underneath. City of God is most brilliant in that it combines directorial and editorial brilliance with a story that is almost second to none in recent times. Only the true greats manage to cater to these two needs of cinema, and this is one that does. The direction is amazing, but not to disguise the story flaws, and the story is brilliant, but does not overwhelm directorial originality. But simply, City of God is a perfect film for avid fans of cinematography, and those just in search of two hours of a bloody good story.

The blu-ray transfer does not let us down. This film looks great. I had to pick my jaw off the floor a few times. The colors of wash on scene are great and preserved well on this transfer.

Unfortunately, the only supplemental feature here is a documentary about the current situation in Rio de Janeiro that was included with the DVD release.

After watching the film that night at the Avon I hid in the bathroom and caught the midnight show. It was that powerful to me, I must have seen the film a half a dozen times until it was no longer playing. This is one of my all time favorite films. Highly Recommended.

5 Steak and Fries out of 5

Heavenly Creatures - Review

2011-12-24T16:36:00.000-05:00

I really got into film towards the end of high school. One of the first directors I attached to was Peter Jackson (he was currently making the Lord of the Rings films). After a late night cable viewing of Dead Alive I went to the video store and marathoned his films. I was about 18 and I really remember being creped out by Heavenly Creatures. It had a great slow burn to it. Heavenly Creatures, while it's not perfect, it is often perfectly filmed, framed and tonally much more assured than any of Jackson's prior pieces.

The synopsis goes like this. Pauline Parker and Juliet Hulme met in school during the 1950s. Instant best friends, they proceeded to spend every minute possible together, often writing about a fantasyland of their own invention. More and more estranged from their respective families, the two girls realize that they are extremely different from most other people, and agree to take any steps necessary to ensure that they are not separated. The two families are increasingly concerned about the girls' friendship in a strictly moralistic era.

I was wicked excited for this watch; as I had not seen this film in years! Unfortunately, when I originally saw it I was stoned (sorry mom) because this viewing really did not hold up for me. It’s a clunky film, forcing sensational issues on us, and rather too many of them, really, because it feels as though button-pushing is the goal. As much as some scenes are really gripping and commanding, the whole movie, taken scene after scene, is sloppy and indulgent. It might push you out of the movie, the way it did me, so that you feel outside the experience looking in. Maybe even a bit impatiently.

There are redeeming qualities to this film. The acting is superb - Kate Winslet and Melanie Lynskey is absolutely amazing here. The camera work at times is brilliant other times it is not. The digital transfer is very sharp and well defined.

* Unfortunately, there is only one special feature, a trailer.

Overall, this is Peter Jackson’s most mature film to date and his second best (I have a soft spot for The Frightners). The performances make this film a must see but the story and pacing will drag you down. I recommend watching in two parts.

Another Earth - Review (Blu-Ray)

2011-12-13T10:18:00.000-05:00

I think just about everyone looks up at the sky every so often and wonders what else is out there. Outer space is filled with so many unexplored territories that logically speaking there has to be intelligent life out there somewhere. Otherwise it'd just be a waste of space. Undiscovered planets and unimaginable life forms are only the half of it. What if there's another planet somewhere in the cosmos similar to earth? Raising the stakes a bit, what if you and everyone you knew was also on that planet in addition to earth like an alternate universe that was right within our grasps? That is essentially what makes Another Earth the least bit interesting.

Unfortunately this very relatable idea is squandered with a painfully weak melodrama. Driving home drunk after a party, she hears about the new planet on the radio and cranes her head skyward, hoping to catch a view. Instead, she plows head-on into a family sedan waiting at a red light, instantly killing a wife and child. The husband and father, composer John Burroughs, is put into a coma, and Rhoda goes to jail for four years—the four years she would've spent at university. (Logic jump: Since Rhoda is a minor, John never learns who actually killed his family, even after he wakes up. This is the crucial fact upon which the entire story hinges.) This plot line feels like an indie film cliché at this point (Alfonso Gonzales Innaritu has used it twice.)

What saves the drama from being a complete overkill is the science-fiction plot line that runs parallel to dramatic struggle of the couple of protagonists. Although none of the acting is very convincing and the cinematography is “Shaky.” The budget did not call for a tripod. Unfortunately the frenetic camera did not add to the movie it was used with no reason and made a 90minute feature feel like a 3 hour one. The silence in the film (and there's a LOT of it) doesn't tell us anything about Rhoda. Instead, it acts as a precursor to a lot of overly artsy shots that make you think about how much color correction they did in post. In fact, this entire film could run as a series of photographic stills— after all, it seems to care more about how pretty Earth 2 looks into the sky than the emotional struggles of the girl standing beneath it.

Special features did not help this one either. We have a music video and some self-indulgent studio stuff that was not very helpful. Unfortunately, Another Earth was not shot in true high def to create a grain and film noise. What was accomplished with the camera was obviously ruined in post production color correction.

This film lacks the depth it so desperately attempts to flaunt. It comes off cheesy, pretentious, shallow, and self-obsessed. The characters pinball through the movie’s events and come out as empty as they started. The ones that do change do so without any real good reason. There's no pleasure to be had in watching this film unless you absolutely love staring at empty, motiveless images (and characters) for long periods of time.

No Rating - 'eff this movie

The Art of Getting By - Review (Blu-Ray)

2011-12-12T10:16:00.000-05:00

I love coming of age stories about high school. Rebel Without a Cause, Breakfast Club and more recently The Wackness are all kind of the same movie. That is what I like about them; all “teen films” are the same. "The Art of Getting By" isn’t anything great, yet it's story brings back memories of the times when most remember that being their high school days just like the rest. When we struggled for social acceptance, worried about making good grades and getting into college, and “true love.”

Believing the quote that you are born alone, die alone and everything else is an illusion, George doesn't see the point of life, school, or homework. Then he meets Sally and he now has a reason to go to school and make friends, even if he's not ready to admit to himself or to her that he likes her. The school's principal and art teacher introduce him to an alumni, and successful artist, Dustin, who can help guide George along life's path, but other distractions start surfacing, and George might not even be able to graduate from high school.

Honestly there is nothing new in “The Art of Getting By” and because of that the move kind of sucks. Is it about getting the girl, finding your path in life, or just graduating high school? Of course it's about all of that, but at times it seemed to be about none of that. Its aimlessness in telling me what the point of it all was, seemed a little juvenile. It's a teen coming-of-age film, probably meant for the twenty-something crowd, but missing any greater meaning to fulfill its audience. The ending felt cheap, very cheap. I felt like the characters learned nothing but to do what they were told by older and other characters. This film lacked what all of my pervious and excellent teen film’s had, edge. Excuse my language but this film had absolutely no balls.

This film looked like New York and about half way through the movie I began hoping this would turn into a New York story but as the third act rolled around I was hoping for the cloverfield monster to eat these Upper East Side assholes. The acting was not half bad either. I think Emma Roberts could become a good actress one day, I really liked her in Scream 4 and in this she does good with what she has although she has played this roll before. Highmore is good no great I wonder how he will mature as an actor.

On the up side there weren’t too many special features and the cinematography was great. Unfortunately the special features were all very similar including the same interviews and such all of which are underdeveloped. I’m sorry but I could not sit through this movie again for the commentary.

Overall if your 16 and have a hot date this may be the movie for you, classic make out fodder because no one could be that interested in this film. For everyone else this feels like a Hollywood film that is parading around as a Sundance Indy. A wolf in sheep’s clothing,

1.5 paintings out of 5

Chillerama - Review (Blu-Ray)

2011-12-11T13:15:00.001-05:00

This movie just makes me happy. I absolutely love midnight movies and this feels like the mother of all midnight movies. While watching I felt that I was watching a Troma feature. A Jewish Frankenstein creation of Hitler’s? A Burlesque Strip dancing Statue of Liberty shaking its tits at a giant Godzilla sized fanged sperm…. Zombies… all manner of ridiculous absurdities. If you're looking for a high budget Hollywood horror film, this film is definitely not for you. However, if you're a fan of old school b-movie horror films from the 70s/80s or Troma you are so going to love this one.

The plot kind of goes like this: It's the closing night at the last drive-in theater in America and Cecil B. Kaufman has planned the ultimate marathon of lost film prints to unleash upon his faithful cinephile patrons. Four films so rare that they have never been exhibited publicly on American soil until this very night! With titles like Wadzilla, I Was A Teenage Werebear, The Diary of Anne Frankenstein, and Zom-B-Movie, Chillerama not only celebrates the golden age of drive-in B horror shlock but also spans over four decades of cinema with something for every bad taste.

First up is "Wadzilla", a homage to Fifties films about giant monsters created by atomic mutation that destroy a major city, "Wadzilla's" most obvious reference is The Blob if the “blob” was a giant hungry sperm. "Wearbear" draws liberally from Sixties beach movies. In Wearbear a young man torn between the charms of Peggy Lou, a beach bunny who would happily surrender herself body and soul, and the darker allure of Talon, the leather-clad biker who sings like Elvis and has a Big Secret. It might seem impossible to top Mel Brooks in making fun of Hitler, but the Chillerama guys pulls it off in "The Diary of Anne Frankenstein". In Green's 1930s black-and-white parody, the name "Frank" has been shortened to conceal the family's true origin, and the famous diary was forged to prevent the world from learning what the Third Reich really wanted from them: the secret to creating super-soldiers by reanimating dead tissue. The final interweaving section is “Zom-B-Movie” is absolutely amazing. This is filled with nuggets of fun for every movie fan. I am almost sure that there was not one line of dialogue written for Zom-B-Movie because it is all vocal references to ever film ever created.

All of the shorts look and sound great for the budget and there are plenty of special features:

• Directors' Video Commentary: In addition to talking through the feature, Rifkin, Green, Sullivan and Lynch can be watched recording their commentary in the upper left hand quadrant of the screen. A good commentary not great

• The Making of "The Diary of Anne Frankenstein": Primarily an extended interview with writer-director.

• "Wadzilla" Deleted Scenes: There are seven scenes, most are just extended scenes.

• "Zom-B-Movie" Deleted Scenes: I wish these were added into the movie

• Famous Monsters: the four directors discuss their influences and the origin of the project.

Overall this was a great way to spend a Friday night. John Waters would be proud so would Tarantino and the Troma crew. The film really deserves 4 NC-17 ratings because of the content but it is so fun that it’s impossible to take it seriously. I love it.

4 zombie’s having sex out of 5

Blue Velvet - Review

2011-11-19T16:26:00.003-05:00

I am absolutely crazy for David Lynch’s material. I really like his sense of humor and his pictures of the American status quo. All of his films revolve at least in part around the conflict of what is perceived to be a rational and the more animalistic raging Id that underlies restrained personas. I first was introduced to this film as a senior in high school after seeing Mulholland Drive. Mulholland Drive at the time that I saw it was one of the most impressionable films I had ever seen. I feel in love with Lynch’s surreal style and Blue Velvet is his masterpiece.

Returning home to visit his father who is in intensive care at the hospital, Jeffrey Beaumont stumbles upon a human ear he finds in a field. With local police detective Williams and the local police department unable to investigate, Jeffrey and Sandy, Detective Williams's daughter decides to do their own investigation. But what Jeffrey and Sandy's investigation leads them to discover that a dark underworld exists in their hometown. Jeffrey becomes suspicious of nightclub singer Dorothy Vallens, who is involved with Frank Booth, a violent and evil man.

It's true that Blue Velvet’s dark mysteries have the power to repulse. Voyeurism, rape, torture, and murder are all key to the plot. Yet the film is also spellbinding in its beauty. Vibrant colors and ominous shadows offer gorgeous contrast - call it Technicolor noir - and the film is rife with unforgettable imagery. Moments big and small, from MacLachlan playing with a child's birthday hat to Dean Stockwell's show-stopping lip-synch of Roy Orbison's "In Dreams", are as haunting as anything you will see at the movies anywhere.

Blue Velvet may in fact not be an easy film to watch, and there are probably close to as many who abhor the film as those who are devoted fans, but there's no denying that for better or worse it's a film springing from the singular vision of someone who knows exactly what's he's aiming for and whose aim is frighteningly on target.

Through film school there was always a debate about the four-hour cut of this film. It is one of the major extended cuts that film school kids geek out about (along with Apocalypse Now and The Keep). This blu-ray reveals one of those missing hours of footage. The special features here are amazing!!!!

Mysteries of Love – A nice long doc about the formulation of the project. Love watching anything that has an interview of Lynch.

Newly Discovered Lost Footage – Holy crap…there are some very hard to watch moments here. This is one of the most interesting collections of deleted scenes I have ever seen.

Outtakes – Wow some silly moments.

Siskel and Ebert “At the Movies” – hahahahahaha!!!!

Vignettes – A couple of great interviews here too.

Lynch's off kilter sense of humor and often wickedly scabrous deconstruction of the suburban lifestyle fit in fairly well with my own somewhat cynical take on the very lifestyle in which I was being raised, and I've been a lifelong fan of Lynch ever since, even with films of his that have met with less than stellar response. A lot of people can't stand Blue Velvet, and frankly I understand that sentiment. But it's my firm opinion that Lynch is going for more than mere shock value here. This is a finely crafted film that, yes, is unsettling and troubling, but which in its own unique way pries back the Leave it to Beaver perfection of perception and reveals something almost atavistic about the human condition.

5 severed ears out of 5

Finding Joe - Review & Giveaway - Closed

2011-11-09T12:42:00.004-05:00

I was introduced to Joseph Campbell’s writing in a screen writing class while in college. I understood his work to be a formula to create engaging work. Campbell’s “Hero’s Journey” is a formula to generate a sellable story. I was unaware of this concept as a philosophy…until now. That being said, I was very excited to screen the documentary (“Finding Joe”) about Campbell’s work so I could understand more about the man behind the “myths.”

This “documentary” begins by explaining Joseph Campbell as well as his place in history as a mythologist. The film becomes an inspirational seminar on how the viewer’s life can be better with this philosophy. From that point on, it becomes a philosophical manifesto. Large groups of notable celebrities are interviewed and sound very preachy about how they used Campbell’s philosophy to better their lives.

Truth be told, I like Campbell’s philosophy. I’ve made changes in my life recently, with the intent to follow my bliss, and it has paid off in dividends. I am enjoying a much happier life than I was before. However does this make “Finding Joe” a great movie?

No, unfortunately Finding Joe was not the great movie that I wanted it to be - but it was good enough. The film fails to take it’s own advice. This movie never engages the viewer direction with something to latch on to. The interviews are thoughtful and intelligent, but they all are saying the same basic thing and it begins to sound redundant after the first one or two. There is no adventure for the viewer.

In one scene, some of Campbell’s concepts are acted out by a group of children. These sequences were excellent (even if they were completely literal adaptations). The children are engaging and it breaks up the monotony of the interviewees (Tony Hawk, Rashida Jones, Adiva Goldsman and many more). There are also periodic shots of random people smiling. While I know that it is a visual to get the viewer to smile as well (it’s used in commercials all the time), it is cute and disarming, at points it felt like they were watching the kids perform.. however I am not sure that was their intention.

The movie has a solid message and if you want to see Joe's work spread you should support this effort. I can’t really knock a film with a message about embracing positivity and courage. How can you hate on that?

“Finding Joe” reeks of the filmmaker’s journey to follow his bliss. If this was embedded in the film (showing some of his struggles to get this film made) it would have been much more engaging.

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Congrats to Diana G on the Win!!!

Cars 2 - Review

2011-11-04T18:53:00.000-04:00

Was this bound to happen? Nothing could have topped Toy Story 3. Does Pixar’s first feature after Toy Story 3 have to be so bad? Unfortunately yes. Pixar could not have made modern animated classics for almost 20 years just to produce this film. This has to be someone’s fault. OK maybe I’m being too harsh. It was not that bad, but with Pixar the viewer expects a lot. It's amusing, it's comic, it's ostentatious, it's filled with fast, spy mischiefs, but it's also flat, and one-dimensional. I also hate Larry the Cable Guy, whose voice is the primary speaking character in this feature.

Star racecar Lightning McQueen and his pal Mater head overseas to compete in the World Grand Prix race. But the road to the championship becomes rocky as Mater gets caught up in an intriguing adventure of his own: international espionage. Usually I have more synopses but there was not that much to write. That simple of a story was completely over plotted in the film. I don’t know why the cars from the first film were there. This film would have flourished as an exceptional Bond parody without any mention of the first feature. Michael Caine was channeling his inner Bond here and that was excellent, I would have happily sat through an hour and a half of that.

Don’t get me wrong; parts of this film are a blast. Everything that did not involve characters from the original was excellent. Am I being too harsh? Probably. I am the first to state that I expect a lot from Pixar. These expectations made it very hard to just site back and enjoy.

Visually, this film does not disappoint at all. It’s bright and colorful. I am going to use this film to show guests the wonders of Blu-ray. Everything in this film is so incredibly detailed and it shows on the Blu-ray, its beautiful.

However this edition of the film has very few special features.

Audio Commentary: Found myself warming up to the sequel after listening to such a passionate, enthusiastic overview of its production
Hawaiian Vacation : A great little Toy Story 3 animated short.
Air Mater : I don’t know what to say, I could not take any more Mater.

Over all this film was Pixar’s weakest. Do not expect to love this like you love Toy Story or Up, however there is still action and fun to be had with this movie. Cars 2’s fun is more appealing to children than adults.

NOTE: You can save $5.00 off of a purchase of Cars 2 with THIS COUPON through 11/6 - so HURRY.

Cars 2 is now on the DVD/blu-ray shelf at your favorite retailers.

We received product for our review. All opinions are our own.

Finding Joe - Trailer

2011-10-30T19:18:00.002-04:00

I enjoy Joseph Campbell's work, it's far better than the "What the Bleep" and "The Secret." Finding Joe looks like a fun watch that will also be inspirational. Rooted in deeply personal accounts and timeless stories, Finding Joe shows how Campbell’s work is relevant and essential in today’s world and how it provides a narrative for how to live a fully realized life—or as Campbell would simply state, how to “follow your bliss”.

Finding Joe - Trailer V.7 from pat solomon on Vimeo.

Alessi's Ark - Time Travel - Review & Giveaway

2011-10-27T22:42:00.004-04:00

I pride myself on knowing about the newest artists and albums. When the Mayor was a younger man he had tried to peruse a career in music. In my early twenties I jumped from band to band and gig to gig. I finally settled in as a sound engineer at a punk/metal club back in Rhode Island. While I do love Punk Rock I’ve never been much of a metal head. It just was not me. I also enjoyed more variety in my music.

Before hearing Alessi’s Ark album “Time Travel,” I had never heard of the artist. As the first track “Kind of Man” chimed up, I knew that I was in love. I had not expected such a hip album. It was the perfect music for that particular moment in time. She has a wonderful voice it’s very soothing. My second listen was during song shuffle at the gym, definitely the wrong time for this record. This album is perfect dinner music; it’s so pleasant and unobtrusive. Its also perfect to work to it’s not distracting at all.

“Time Travel” also made me dig through my virtual crates of music. I dusted all my Belle & Sebastian records off and broke out Feast’s releases. Alessi’s Ark’s “Time Travel” sounds like the album that Belle & Sebastian never made. I really enjoy when a new record comes along and reminds me of the variety of music I enjoyed in the past.

There is one standout track “Maybe I Know” is a fantastic ode jerk boyfriends. It’s definitely a wicked catchy track. This album is the one that I wish I had made when I was gigging. My only complaint is that the album kind of blends together. Other than that it is a solid hip indie pop record.

I received a copy of this CD in order to review it. Opinions are my own.

GIVEAWAY

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Giveaway Ends on 11/10/11

Meta P - Edison's Ink - Review

2011-10-26T20:34:00.002-04:00

Meta P "Edison's Ink" LP

I grew up in the silver age of hip-hop (I just came up with that one but its good, no?). I remember driving in my first car listening to tapes of Wu-Tang and KRS-One. When I was in 8th grade for Hanukah my mother bought me a new stereo (also my first cd player). There was a smaller gift stuck on top. I ripped it open. It was a copy of GZA’s Liquid Swords. That may not mean a lot to most people but the stereo lasted me through college and the CD is still in my car. One person I can tell this also meant a lot to is Meta P.

Meta P’s album sounds like a love letter to the silver age of hip-hop music. It plays like a series of classics from Helter Skelta, and Redman. It even has a great interlude that had me laughing as much as the Don Rodriguez sketch on Liquid Swords. I was surprised because this album plays for pop culture geeks too. Edison’s Ink is a series of complex references to classic horror films of the 70s and 80s. So if you dig horror flicks this record had lots of tricks and treats for you.

This album will be unfortunately interpreted as a horror core album. After about 2 plays I really connected it. In fact I was blasting it in my office the other day without realizing it my boss was over my shoulder, I was that into the album.

This record plays best for geeks like me but fans of classic hip-hop with give this record so much love too. The single will definitely be RI Red that track is insane. RI Red feels like a classic ensemble track off of Wu-Tang Forever. You can pick up the album on Amazon and iTunes today!!!

Real Steel - Review

2011-10-14T23:38:00.001-04:00

I go to the movies every week. I try to watch something interesting every week, usually something that I will like. I usually pick the film based on who directed, produced or wrote it. While I love the big action films I tend to wait until they are on Blu-Ray. Growing up I was a huge fan of Stallone. I taped all his movies off HBO. I’ve seen Cobra, Rocky, Cliffhanger, Demolition Man and Over the Top hundreds of times. My expensive film school education tells me that these films are terrible, but I can’t help but love them because they are so much fun. My review of Tree of Life last week reminded me that film is an art form, this week Real Steel reminded me that film is fun.

Real Steel was the film that Stallone failed to make in the 1980s. I’m sorry that’s not true, this film is a combination of Over the Top, Rocky and Transformers. In fact Stallone made this film twice and it rocked both times. Here Hugh Jackman takes over the Stallone role. It’s kind of great. I’m not going to get into the plot because a 2nd grader could probably guess the entire plot from the trailer.

Hugh Jackman’s films never really played to me, for a brief time in 2006 he had a string of good movies (Scoop, The Prestige, The Fountain) but before and after he never really showed any talents. Jackman has now shown us that he can play a character that is not Wolverine (a character and film series that I HATE). Real Steel showed me that Jackman is powerful and compassionate as he believably transforms into the hero. He played all of the clichés that I grew up on perfectly. Most will think this is a bad thing, but his character really felt like I was watching a hero from an Amblin film (Zach Galligan in Gremlins or Sam Neil in Jurassic Park). He owned this role.

Honestly there is not much to this film, but who gives a crap I clapped at robots punching each other for two hours. I felt like an 8-year-old again, wearing out my VHS of Over the Top. The filmmaking is pretty decent. Well shot scenes. The CGI robots look great. The performances were good. Dakota Goyo is a bit charming. Chemistry with him and Jackman shines through the film.

This is the kind of movie you catch on HBO and get caught up watching the whole thing. This will not be a purchase for me however I may rent it when the Blu-Ray drops. This movie proved to me that Hugh Jackman could carry a film alone. The film is enjoyable from the first frame to the last. With a special mention to the first few scenes which were great.

Three and a Half Robots Punching Robots out of Five.

All opinions are my own. I actually paid to see this one.