I’ll be the first to admit I haven’t seen a Hollywood movie in the theatres since Quantum of Solace. I’ll also be the first to admit I felt like I was seeing another “Bourne” movie that held as much flavor of Bond as watered down Kool-Aid. I’ve become disappointed with the ‘Wood crowd as they seem unable to put anything of value on to the screens that really interests me. I’ve been a bit put off from the political thrillers that wished to thrust turgid torrents through my throat. I’ve been sitting to the sidelines waiting for something original, something interesting. Anything that has a bright spot within the scripted scenes.

I first saw the trailer for “Coraline” and was immediately interested. I’ve long been a fan of the Tim Burton-esque film making. Hellboy II was a visual and action packed buffet that I couldn’t stop feasting from. That idea of a cracked mirror that bends and spins new worlds out from within the frame captures my interested from the get go.

I feared that “Coraline” would be this dark tale of despair that sent you careening on a rollercoaster ride of rancid rapture. I was pleasantly surprised when it turned into a fantastical journey into the mind of a girl caught between her mundane existence that threatens to bore her to near death and a new shiny world of supposed perfection that calls to her in the midst of moving from Michigan to the Somewhere beyond the Nowhere.

Read the full article »

Let me first start off with this statement. My Christian Sensibilities (if they’re still even there after this) screamed bloody murder when they found my brain contemplating seeing this movie. Somehow I put them down (pushing them down some stairs…more or less) and got to the movie about twenty movies late with my brother.

There, got the exposition out of the way. Onto the real good stuff.

Hamlet 2 is a hilarious movie. It is also a drama filled story of a guy trying to find his meaning. And there’s the whole Latino vs. White Girl thing going on. Yea and there’s some Rent-esque satire. Oh and Jesus Christ Superstar gets lampooned. Of course this movie is as course as a rough black bear on the charge. It’s pretty bleepin’ touchy at times.

First, there’s some seriously hilarity in this film. “Rock me Sexy Jesus” was hands down the best part of this entire film. As a Christian (conservative even!) I followed and enjoyed the entire number. It was a great satire and/or send-up of “Jesus Christ Superstar” and had some hilarious moments lampooning us Christians. It was a cheeky left jib, which had no real menace. That’s good poking of fun at a group.

Read the full article »

The Dark Knight returns us to Batman and the City of Gotham along with the regular cast o’ characters we know and love. It begins ala “Heat” with a terrifyingly intelligent twist and proceeds to run wild through the streets of the Gothic town never stopping, never slowing and forever reminding us that yes indeed, Hollywood can do good.

The headliner that you cannot ignore (the interwebs are literally on fire and in full blaze) is the late Heath Ledger as the classic (and original Batman Rouge) Joker. A maniacal creation drawn from several sources it is this villain that has long tortured the Caped Crusader throughout the movies, television shows and comics. And it is here that one actor manages to perfect each and every moment on screen so deliberately and intensely you know Ledger went to his grave with some dark memories.

The Joker is an iconic villain. He’s killed Robin in the comics. He’s been the foil of Batman and others throughout the DC Comics universe. He is The One. Bigger than anyone on the block. And his mannerisms, his speech, his cracked mind and the wild eyed lunacy is spot on. More than anything I squirmed for the first time in a long time as The Joker played out as a spinning spinster of spastic insanity. I actually feared him. I loathed him. And I wanted him to get his from Batman.

That is perfect casting, directing and acting at the peak. Each look, glance, word or even shrug from Ledger conveys something deeper. His mind is a sprawling madhouse on a carnival ride intent on killing, destroying and pushing anyone and everyone to near ends of sanity.

Read the full article »