The whole “cabin in the woods” scenario has been done to death in horror movies. Basically, take a handful of young idiots, put them in a secluded cabin in the middle of nowhere, add a hostile supernatural element and enjoy. This perfectly sums up Extraterrestrial, an independent horror flick which combines elements of both science fiction and slasher films. There is also a small amount of comedy to help lighten the mood in between deaths. All in all, it’s not a terrible film. It just isn’t a very good one either.
Category Archives: Review
Jack and the Cuckoo-Clock Heart (Blu-ray)
Every once in a while, an animated film comes along that isn’t just beautiful visually but contains a message and story that is truly mesmerizing and utterly out of this world. Jack and the Cuckoo-Clock Heart is one such film and it is a French export which will certainly touch your heart. Now out on Blu-ray and DVD, this film is yours to own and to marvel at in gorgeous high definition. Not only does it look great but it sounds great as well with an absolutely brilliant soundtrack by French rock band Dionysos. With all of these elements firmly in place, Jack is one animated film you won’t want to miss.
Horns
Daniel Radcliffe is a man of many talents. He made a name for himself playing the child wizard Harry Potter and since then, he has picked a number of roles that showcase his impressive range as an actor. Films like The Woman in Black, Kill Your Darlings and this year’s What If are all excellent examples of this. But audiences will certainly shed the last bit of Hogwarts from their memory with Radcliffe’s latest acting challenge, the quirky horror comedy Horns. It is a strong departure for the young actor and has been released just in time for Halloween.
The Best of Me
One’s first love is always memorable. To feel that intensity and longing for someone for the first time, that feeling is deeply ingrained in one’s memory. It can be beautiful, tender and special or it can be painful, dark and downright tragic. The new romantic drama The Best of Me explores “first love” and features syrupy performances from its actors. It isn’t a great film but it isn’t terrible either but what do you expect from romantic cheese. Romance novelist Nicholas Sparks (The Notebook, A Walk to Remember, Message in a Bottle) is no stranger to the genre and many of his works have been adapted for the silver screen. The Best of Me continues this trend and now, lovesick teenage girls can celebrate the film’s arrival.
Rudderless
Music can be a very powerful form of therapy. The extreme comfort and utter majesty that a certain tune evokes can serve as a much needed security blanket when the occasion calls for it. The main character in the new dramedy Rudderless knows this all too well and the film follows this man on his quest to battle his demons and make his cloudy view of life a little bit sunnier.
St. Vincent
Few actors these days can play themselves on screen and get away with it. To be comfortable in one’s skin while entertaining the masses is a rarity but when it happens, it’s really a beautiful thing. Bill Murray has been a strong example of this for a while now. In fact, much of his career and many of his most notable roles are Bill being Bill. He’s won awards just for playing himself. His latest dramedy St. Vincent continues this trend and the results are actually pretty outstanding. With a great supporting cast, a bittersweet script and an overall offbeat style, this is one of Murray’s best films yet.
Camp X-Ray
Kristen Stewart is something of an anomaly. She’s a beautiful young actress who started out in supernatural romantic drivel but is thankfully maturing as a talented thespian. She could have easily remained in Twilight-like fare but she has basically graduated to more grownup features. Her newest film Camp X-Ray is a powerful dramatic effort that places Stewart in a setting you’d never picture her in, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The film is a brave effort from Stewart and certainly one of the best films of the year. Here’s hoping it doesn’t fall through the cracks.
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
They say life imitates art. But in some cases, art imitates life and truer words have never been spoken in the new film Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance). This unique motion picture event will not only leave you scratching your head wondering what just happened but will leave an everlasting impression because of its artful and utterly mesmerizing impact. Birdman is already earning praise from critics and seems to be one of the frontrunners come award season. It is a cinematic phenomenon that simply needs to be experienced.
Continue reading Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Waiting For August
Many things in this world are universal. One of those things is family and the responsibility that goes along with it. The new documentary Waiting For August is a simple film, one which highlights the importance of family togetherness and unconditional love. It takes place in Romania, a land that is fairly unfamiliar to Americans but the film’s ultimate message and style are easy to understand and almost impossible to forget. It is a foreign film with a theme spoken all around the world and in volumes.
Awake: The Life of Yogananda
Paramahansa Yogananda is one of human history’s great spiritual gurus. He was a man of almost infinite wisdom and had a perception of life few have ever achieved. He was a Hindu Swami who brought methods of yoga, meditation as well as enlightenment to the Western world. His teachings are known the world over and are considered the most precious pieces of knowledge ever to grace mankind. A brilliant new documentary has just been released entitled Awake: The Life of Yogananda and it shines a light on the man and the miracle who has touched so many lives with a spiritual, almost magic touch.
Unger the Radar 