Dramedies are the perfect film genre to convey realism. Life is both, at times funny and sad. The dramedy portrays this fact perfectly and Supporting Characters is a fine example of this genre. Films like this are heavy on both dialogue and sincere performances. It’s a story about relationships in New York City. The characters are neurotic and their lines flow naturally with ease and authenticity. Woody Allen would be proud.
Django Unchained
Quentin Tarantino is one of today’s most intriguing filmmakers. His films contain some of the most disturbing and most hilarious things moviegoers will see. This has been the case since his first filmReservoir Dogs twenty years ago. Violence, mayhem, sexy women and a quirky sense of humor are what usually comprise a Tarantino film. His latest feature Django Unchained features more of the same but this time, presented in a crazy western package. The film is an insane mix of wild western action and dark, tongue-in-cheek humor.
Wonder Woman (1974)
In 1974, Warner Brothers released a Wonder Woman TV movie. It was a failed attempt at bringing the famous Amazonian superheroine to TV audiences. It was released before the much more successful Wonder Woman series which came just one year after it. Cathy Lee Crosby took on the role and the results were less than stellar. The very cheesy and psychedelic production seemed overpriced and uninteresting. It is now out on DVD, so view it at your own risk.
Superboy: The Complete Second Season
Look, up in the sky! It’s a bird, it’s a plane… No, it’s a cheesy TV show from the 1980s. In 1988, Superboywas brought to television audiences. It was a logical move made by executive producers Ilya and Alexander Salkind (producers of the first threeSuperman films and the dismal Supergirl. Superboyis pretty dismal in its own right but it’s still a curious thing. It’s basically a goofy version of Smallville and season two is now available on DVD. Diehard fans of the Superman mythos will either be very pleased… or very disappointed.
The Day
The future can be pretty bleak in certain movies. Sci-fi thrillers tend to make life on Earth kind of miserable due to either nuclear war or other devastating apocalyptic events. The Day is yet another look at a depressing way of life for people struggling to survive in a world ravaged by war. Released by WWE Studios but not featuring any wrestlers, The Day is a dark and violent film which doesn’t really offer anything new in terms of story or characters.
Dragons: Riders of Berk
When it comes to computer-animated entertainment, Dreamworks is one of the film industry’s leaders. The studio struck gold in the late 90s and early 2000s with modern classics like Antz,Shrek and Madagascar. Their success continued with the 2010 Academy Award-nominated epic How to Train Your Dragon and a spinoff series calledDragons: Riders of Berk aired on Cartoon Network and is now available to own on DVD.
Dragon
A lot of Chinese cinema is a pretty limited in terms of plot and originality. Martial arts and fight sequences tend to dominate the screen. It’s not necessarily bad but then again, it’s not necessarily good. Dragon is one of China’s latest cinematic exports and the results are sadly, kind of dull and unoriginal. Action seems to be on many a Chinese filmmaker’s brain and if done properly, would produce fun and interesting storytelling. Unfortunately, Dragon feels formulaic and downright lame.
A Burning Hot Summer
Love is a tricky thing. Everyday, people fall in and out of love. Films document this emotion quite effectively, French films in particular. One such piece of cinema is A Burning Hot Summer, a movie about relationships that thrive and others that suffer. It is a film with heart, harsh realism and layered performances. Premiered at the 68th Venice International Film Festival and now out on DVD, this is the perfect movie to watch when you’re in the mood for a cinematic experience which mirrors reality.
California Solo
Film is one of the most effective ways to address human issues. California Solo is an engaging drama which follows a character by name of Lachlan who has just a few problems. Like all people in the world, Lachlan is flawed. He is trying to survive and faces roadblocks along the way. California Solo is a genuine film. The characters and the plot are as real as it gets. Few films these days match the emotional intensity of this one and that’s really unfortunate.
The Watch
In recent years, The Frat Pack has sort of run out of steam. The raw energy and true comic originality of members such as Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn has basically been on the decline since about 2005. Films like Anchorman and Wedding Crashershighlighted these two actors’ comedic talents and it was a golden age for The Frat Pack. Unfortunately, Stiller and Vaughn have not been able to recreate the greatness that existed in recent times. Their latest team up is in the violent and profane The Watch, a film which combines male bonding (bromance) and the threat of an impending alien invasion.
Unger the Radar 