UNKNOWN REALMS

True Grit (2010)

2012-02-29T05:16:00.000-08:00

True Grit is definitely a Coen Brothers film. It has moments of extreme gore, clever dialog, and humor, a plot that definitely doesn't go where you expect, and, last but not least, an ending that fails to be completely satisfying. But there is little that could go wrong with the tale of a child hiring a marshal to arrest the man who killed her father. Yet it is the acting which really shines here. Both Bridges and Steinfeld give amazing performances that will glue you to the screen. Damon and the rest of the cast too give it their all and together with the Coen quirks build a worthy film experience.

Human Nature (2001)

2012-02-28T05:08:00.000-08:00

All of Charlie Kaufman's scripts are brilliantly crazy, filled with quirks, insight, humor, and entertainment. Human Nature displays Kaufman's intelligence as it sharply pokes fun at society, and as the title states, human nature. A story of a scientist taking a man raised by apes and teaching him 'manners' sounds pretty crazy. And it is. In a good way. Robbins, Arquette and Ifans bring this wacky script to life with some brilliant performances. A lot of fun, HN will also make you think, which is rare for a comedy. I highly recommend this brilliant satire.

The Kids Are All Right (2010)

2012-02-27T04:39:00.000-08:00

TKAAR is an entertaining, feel-good movie for the alternative crowd. It is also an entertaining relationship drama that makes any complicated relationships I've heard of seem like childs play. The acting too is top notch, making the story all the more enjoyable. Things are not perfect, however, because after the movie is finished, I'm unsure what the movie really is about. In fact, I don't think the film even knows. It starts off about the new relationship created by a lesbian couples' children finding their sperm donor, but ends on a completely different note, focusing on the two mothers' own relationship. Because of this I think the film is unable to delve very deeply into any of the characters and find any striking moments of insight. But as is, it's still an enjoyable story about interesting people

Choke (2008)

2012-02-26T04:46:00.000-08:00

Trying too hard to be a Kevin Smith film, Choke doesn't really pull off enough insight (or raunchiness). It does have enough crazy turns to keep things interesting, but just feels like a 1st draft that could have been tightened up a lot. The constant "fade to" flashbacks say it all -- they slow down the story (bad construction) and don't match the edgy content (bland direction) diluting what could have been a very biting commentary/satire. It's still watchable, but don't expect Fight Club.

Tron Legacy (2010)

2012-02-25T04:55:00.000-08:00

I had my expectations set very low going into this one. Man, was I totally blown away. While the story is nothing stellar (maybe 2.5 stars), trying too hard to hit all the emotional moments in the right order, the effects, camera work, design, action and music were brilliant (5 stars). The action sequences were amazing, done to perfection in timing, visuals and editing. Although Hollywood's current crazy of "younging" people is a cool concept (they've been "aging" people for years. Now with CG we can do the opposite), it isn't yet perfect. The young Bridges, while cool, still is not yet out of that Uncanny Valley, with stilted expressions and skin that doesn't texture/reflect quite right. The highlight of the film however that I felt brought things together was the brilliant soundtrack by Daft Punk (reminiscent of the tones of Mass Effect). Tron Legacy is a very cool ride, albeit nothing deep or original. I still recommend taking it.

Hereafter (2010)

2012-02-24T04:53:00.000-08:00

Eastwood brings his usual skills to Hereafter but is unable to help this meandering tale go anywhere. The problem here is the script. This is one of the roughest scripts I can recall seeing as a Hollywood movie. Things are so messy I'm baffled how it got made, with uncountable contrived, awkward scenes, characters irrelevant to the story (Melanie, though she was cute), hokey dialog, and actually taking 90 minutes to even begin to connect the completely unrelated stories. You know things aren't right when the story starts 90 minutes in (it should happen in the first 30 minutes!) This film is completely exposition! Whats-more, it's confused at even what kind of movie it is. It starts off with some Shyamalan-inspired supernatural/suspense hokum, gets lost on the way trying to tell too many peoples stories, and when you actually get to the heart (the last 30 minutes), it says nothing, has no insight to the hereafter and ends on a note completely unrelated to the topic (romance?). It should have just focused on one of the characters (probably Damon's because his story was the strongest). Though I'm a big fan of Eastwood, I have to say pass on this one.

Red (2010)

2012-02-23T04:34:00.000-08:00

With a star-studded cast and uber-cool action sequences, what could go wrong? Or at least that's what the producers of Red thought. The result somehow is only a mediocre action flick trying really hard to be quirky. The problem here is, the story, the characters, everything, is not quirky enough to actually be very funny. On top of that, absolutely nothing new is brought to the table. Every scene is the exact same cliched action sequence seemingly required of spy/CIA movies now days (large ballroom sequence, running through kitchen sequence, fighting around large house in the snow, ect.) If you're looking to fill 2 hours, then this is still an enjoyable way to spend it (compared to watching paint dry or teaching English), just don't expect to be blown away.

Secretariat (2010)

2012-02-22T04:25:00.000-08:00

Secretariat is a formulaic affair that never-the-less gets you cheering. I think they milked the "impossibility" factor too much here in order to make an underdog story out of this true story about a race horce champion (but hey what other kind of movie would Disney make?). But it's well made and enjoyable, and that's what we really want from a movie, isn't it?

Twelve Monkeys (1995)

2012-02-21T04:23:00.000-08:00

One of the best written time travel sci-fi's ever. Unlike most sci-fi adventures, usually a paradox occurs (EX: if John went back and killed his father before John was born, how could John exist in the future to go back and kill his father). What sets 12 Monkeys apart is the tense, yet skillfully constructed story works. Nothing actually changes in the time line. On top of this, Pitt's over-the-top (yet very watchable) performance and Gilliam's wide angles, and zany direction, bringing a sense of insanity to the tale, making the characters (and audience) wonder where everything is truly happening (in reality, or Cole's head). A must see!

The Warriors Way (2010)

2012-02-20T06:08:00.000-08:00

Mixing genres is really big right now, mostly because everything else has been done before. Sometimes this mix can prove to be quite successful. And mixing two highly fantasized genres like ninja flicks and westerns sounds like a fun choice. The Warriors Way attempts to do just that, and for the most part is entertaining. Yet at the same time it is a reminder of one problem with mixing the cliches of genres -- we've seen all these cliches before (hence the word cliche and even the word genre). Everything in this film, you've seen already -- the ninjas, the poses, the drunken cliches, even the action (one sequence is directly ripped off from 300). Film makers seem to forget sometimes that something will be cool when it breaks the mold. However, despite a lackluster opening, bad CG, the entire film shot in front of blue screen (making the reality seem fake), and some of the cliches being so overly stylized they are laughable (a few times quite literally); TWW was actually entertaining. All these things started the film off as merely nothing more than a vehicle to make Jang Dong-gun an international star, yet Rush's and Huston's performances were very watchable (and drew me into the story). I wished only Rush would have had more screen time as he and his character were much more interesting than the lead. This is a movie geared for teens, comic-geeks, and video game fans. If you are one of those, you might be entertained by this, if not, I would suggest passing.

Two Escobars (2010)

2012-02-19T11:04:00.000-08:00

Although not related, the two men documented in Two Escobars were at opposite ends of the spectrum of Columbia's fame -- one the world's largest drug dealer, the other a talented soccer player. Together they tried to bring their country to a better place, but both unfortunately met the same fate. Two Escobars is an excellent documentary following these two men's intertwining stories in a tragedy that even Shakespeare couldn't have written. Even if you aren't a fan of soccer or drugs (like me), this is still worth seeing.

Air Guitar Nation (2006)

2012-02-18T22:52:00.000-08:00

Humans are such a strange creatures. They kill each other, invent imaginary ideologies that run their lives, and can't get over simple things like appearance. But at times the weirdness of the human psyche is just too wonderfully absurd and Air Guitar Nation is evidence of this pleasant side of man. Following America's first entry into the World Air Guitar Competition, AGN shows the (scarily) serious to the (funnily) insane contestants of this new phenomenon. You can't help but smile at the film's zaniness and it fails only when it starts to take itself too serious when it tries to be a real documentary. Just like some of those who actually take air guitar too seriously, that's when it stops being fun. But like most of those who compete, the film is made with a tongue and cheek attitude completely aware of what they are really doing. Sometimes all we need is to be a little goofy. This is the most fun I've ever had watching a documentary. Give it a strum.

The Player (1992)

2012-02-17T22:49:00.000-08:00

After seeing the latest wizz-bang, hypnotic fair now labeled film (Sucker Punch), The Player was a breath of fresh air. It is an old fashioned mystery slapped with a heavy dose of Hollywood satire. Sprinkled with a large amount of cameos, the slowly building story has some watchable performances and a completely wicked ending, the likes of which you've probably never seen before. And while the camera work is actually not very good (albeit the film opens with an amazing long single-take shot), it proves that story and acting are infinitely more engaging than all the empty gloss of the pristine pictures of any of the feature length music videos nowadays. While this film may not appeal to the youth of today, when they grow up up just a tad, they'll wake up from the hypnosis and want something more. Thank goodness they'll have things like The Player to fill the oncoming void.

Mamma Mia (2008)

2012-02-16T22:49:00.000-08:00

I haven't seen a movie this unenjoyable in a long time. Even Abba's entire catalog of catchy tunes can't save it. The problem here is, some musicals just don't translate to film. Especially this one. The concept of Mamma Mia is that it is a story created around Abba's catchiest songs. As such the story is secondary. In a stage musical, this doesn't matter. People go to see the performance. Story, staging, etc are secondary because of the limitations inherent to the stage. In a film, much more is expected. MM is a great example why you can't just port over any old musical to film. Because here, if you don't turn off your brain completely, it will be impossible to accept what happens story-wise. Plain and simple things don't work. The bubblieness feels more empty than fun, the story tries to have conflict but inserts obstacles that are fake and incomprehensible, and a great deal of the time the lyrics of the songs don't really match the situation. In the end, it feels like nothing more than a bunch of situations contrived to cram in all of Abba's greats (which hey, it is! But it shouldn't feel like that). And to top things off, the direction/acting/style is just trying too hard. Everyone knows that anyone who tries too hard at something (humor, coolness, etc) usually turns out looking pathetic. And that is what happens here. MM is just trying so hard to be 'fun' that it isn't, ending up feeling like a very bad high school musical. All of that said, I think I'd actually like to see the stage musical of this. But this film version is for die hard Abba fans only. All others stay away. Very far away.

Manic (2001)

2012-02-15T20:15:00.000-08:00

Raw, painful and powerful. Manic is a look underneath the scab of those most would like to ignore -- the depressed and troubled. While the aesthetic is very distracting, shot on a consumer hand-held video camera (with all the flatness, and shakiness that comes along with that), the performances are breathtaking. It's amazing to see such big names (now) in such a small film-school-like film (Levitt, Cheadle and even one of Deschanel's earlier performances). But it is a testament to their skills, because they are all as good in this (maybe better) as any 150 million picture they star in now. While this might not be a film that appeals to all, I highly recommend it.

Clarion 2012

2012-02-14T04:08:00.000-08:00

Double the chances, double the fun. Today I sent out my application to the Clarion Workshop. This year I'm trying my hardest to make it happen, so doubling the chances will hopefully do just that! I'd be thrilled if I could make it in to even one of them, but oh, what a wonderful problem it would be to have to decide which one to attend. Here's to dreaming!

Ronal the Barbarian (2011)

2012-02-13T16:37:00.000-08:00

Sweet! With a 1980's headbanger's mentality, this whimsical barbarian adventure is a throwback to the olden days of Heavy Metal (both the magazine and the music). And the thing is, it works! While it's not quite up the the standards of many Hollywood CG animated films (no textures, some of the designs are fairly bland), the cartoony animation, the story structure, and the characters are a lot of fun. But while this is an animated film, it's definitely not for kids (the hilarious 'dangling balls scene' is a good example). That said, it is made in the familiar universal humor we have all grown to like from Pixar's library of films. That was a smart choice on the filmmaker's part, because that is what makes the film work. The only thing really 'wrong' with this film is the flippant use of the word fuck. While I have no problem with adult language, and this film is geared for a teen+ audience, it just felt out of place. I think it is because the word has made its way into the Danish language (because you can hear it in the Danish dialog), and the world was just translated directly back. The thing is, like when most people from other countries use the word, it's used incorrectly or without knowledge of its true meaning. And when a bad word is used out of context, everyone knows how awkward/misplaced it can feel. That's what happens here (with its many, many uses) feeling especially out of place since the tone of the film is a very whimsical, PG-13 kind of teenage, horny glee. But that could probably be ironed out if they ever make a dubbed version. But finally I can't miss the highlight of the film: the credits! Usually, when the ending credits are the funniest thing in the movie it's a bad sign. Here, this tongue and (boney) cheek ode to metalheads is just icing on the cake. If you liked How to Train Your Dragon (and you're not a kid), then you'll have a blast with this film. Rawk on!

The Battle for Chernobyle (2006)

2012-02-12T22:57:00.000-08:00

Somewhat dated in presentation, the details, interviews and and insight in The Battle for Chernobyle make up for any lack in glitz or glam. Seeing how the catastrophe went down, learning how it could have been much worse, and seeing the reality behind covered up details makes one wonder why nuclear power is being used today. Providing evidence of the horrible possibility to nuclear power gone wrong, watching this film could change your mind on the use of nuclear reactors as a source of power. A very educational experience.

Psycho (1960)

2012-02-11T22:54:00.000-08:00

Despite its age, this creepy thriller still holds up over time because of Hitchcock's directing. While Perkin makes a brilliantly creepy Norman Bates, it is the script that truly makes this film so terrifying. Based on the infamous Ed Geins (even having references to his murders), the story of a seemingly harmless mouse-of-a-man and the unthinkable acts he commits somehow strikes a deeply disturbing chord. Part of this is the result of the unforgettable character Stefano creates, and part is the dark reality he paints in which almost every character has a secret to hide. There is one problem with the film though -- it has influenced so many films and the thriller genre so thoroughly that it is not as effective as it was when it first was released (since we've all seen the films it has influenced). That aside, if you love film, it is a requirement that you see this one.

Clarion West 2012

2012-02-10T13:10:00.000-08:00

Today I sent off my application to Clarion West. The stories I sent with my application this year are Culture Crash and Citizen 5: Missing the Mark. For the past few months I've been polishing them up and last night I finished them (just in time to meet the early application fee). Last year I applied to CW too, but didn't get accepted. A good friend of mine got in though and it sounded like he had a great time. I've been looking for a place to get to know other writers and fine tune my story telling, and this workshop looks like one of the best places to do it. And this year's instructors sounds like an awesome group. I'm a fan of some of their work already, and I have to say that it would be so cool to meet them and actually learn the craft from them. This would be such an awesome experience to be a part of, I really hope I get in. I'm crossing my fingers!

Drive (2011)

2012-02-09T10:45:00.000-08:00

It's hard not to be drawn to Refn's audio/visual masterpiece. Subtly crafted shots, a soft, introverted performance by Gosling, and music that sets a mesmerizing mood -- all combine into the hypnotic experience that is Drive. With a heavy 80's vibe (musical beats and the iconic-feeling outfit), things are definitely odd, but somehow work. And while the story focusing on a heist driver sounds like an interesting take on the stereo-typical crime story, it doesn't quite live up to its possibility. Half of the time, it's hard to tell where the story is actually going, and in the end, things don't quite feel 100% satisfying. Yet it doesn't really matter. This ethereal art-house trip is one that is beautifully crafted and will have your eyes glued to the screen until the end.

Yokohama Mary (2006)

2012-02-08T04:52:00.001-08:00

In Japan, there are many odd and interesting characters that roam the streets. Some are men dressed as women, some are cosplay enthusiasts, and some are just plain weirdos. But there are also those like Yokohama Mary, a 'unique' looking individual who everyone has seen and an individual that has almost become a landmark of the community after decades on the street. Nakamura does a wonderful job constructing parts of this woman's life by interviewing those that she knew and interacted with. But having never heard of the woman in focus, I wanted to know more about her story and why people cared about her so much. The problem is, however, like with all such street characters, no one really knows them or the facts to their true story. It's like how the film begins, with interviews of people saying: "oh, yeah I heard that..." or "This is all 2nd hand, but..." People only know the rumors. As a result, not much of Mary's own story is told other than she was a prostitute who hustled American GI's after World War 2. So I had to wonder, "Why is Mary more special than the others who did this during that era and how is she significant decades later?" But to those who have lived around her, and know of her legends, this film would be a welcome treat, giving facts and a face to the myths.

Badlands (1973)

2012-02-07T22:38:00.000-08:00

Mallick is a name every filmmaker is familiar with. And while his films might not be everyone's cup of tea, one can't deny that he is a gifted filmmaker. Badlands is a great example of this paradox -- it is done extremely well, but might not appeal to the masses (which is AOK in my book). While the plot of Badlands doesn't have a strong driving force pushing it forward, it is the interesting situations and convincing dialog that makes this film work. Often conversations feel odd and anti-climactic yet work extremely well, the lines delivered in such a matter-of-fact way that a scene that would normally be escalated to dramatic heights of insanity (ie: shooting scenes) comes off as calm. But it works better that way. Sheen also puts together a wonderful performance and along with Mallick's writing, they deliver a memorable character. Yet this is definitely an art house film (probably with satiric elements of the time) so it carries all that implies. That said, it is a gifted director's first film which is more interesting than half of the stuff coming out of Hollywood these days.

The Notorious Bettie Page (2005)

2012-02-06T03:22:00.000-08:00

NBP is a bio-pic that fails to connect with its subect. Its nice to see the familiar HBO actors making appearances here, but a sloppy story structure (and not enough digging by the writer on the subject) brings a lackluster story to a director unable to establish a proper mood to the piece. Too bad. Pass on this one.

Crazy Heart (2009)

2012-02-05T20:18:00.000-08:00

A brilliant performance by Bridges makes this rusty drunk cowboy shine. The story, however, never really reaches the dramatic peak it has so much potential for, despite the abundant problems that follow Bad Blake (first he's poor - but its never a problem, then he's drunk all the time - but it doesn't cause too much difficulty, a doc says he's gonna die if he keeps up the smoking and lifestyle - but he never develops anything, he wants to contact his long lost son - but that never is resolved, and he falls in love with a woman he shouldn't - but that ends as expected). That's not to say the story is bad, but it stays in that "friendly" territory throughout, ending happily for all.

My Third Comic - The Wishing Tree (2010)

2012-02-04T15:15:00.000-08:00

After getting back into drawing withSquid-Sensei, and gaining a little confidence with The Many Deaths ofZ, I decided to give studying anatomy and drawing a serious try. Sofor about 6 months I studied whatever I could get my hands on withthe end goal (kind of final exam) of drawing one of my film scriptsinto a comic. That story was The Wishing Tree.

Before we get to the comic, it's best to start in the beginning. 2009 was a bit of a low point in my life. I foundmyself at square one with film making, having almost the same amountof connections and crew I did when I first came to the country. Andone film that I had been trying to make was The Wishing Tree. It wasa script that I had written back in 2007 and thought could besomething really amazing visually. But finding the single, and verydifficult, location was turning out to be nearly impossible – asingle tree in a rice field. For obvious reasons people don't wanttrees growing in their fields. But we actually found one. Withassistance from the Kobe Film Commission we approached the small townin which it was located. But in traditional Japanese fashion, wecouldn't get permission to film there. Casting also began during thattime, but the pool of which I had to work with had also dried up. So despite my passion and efforts to make theprojected, it died.

But I still had the drive to createvisual stories. Comics seemed to be the way to go. They only took oneperson to make, unlike a film, where it took dozens, and I was onlylimited by my own skill. So I began to consider abandoning filmmaking all-together ifI actually could make a comic. And since comics are basicallystill-frame movies, I thought I could possibly put my film makingskills to use that way instead. So The Wishing Tree seemed like a perfect choice totest out and see if I could realistically do comics at the deadlinesrequired for publication.

So I gave myself a deadline. With thegoal to send the finished book to the 2010 Shogakukan Manga Contest, Ibegan work on the book in July. I layed out the comic to 50 pages,and figured I would have to pencil, ink and tone a page a day to beable to realisitcally make a comic on a professional level. So thatwas the pace I set myself at. Two months later, I was able tocomplete the comic book version of The Wishing Tree. It was quite asatisfying experience actually. For roughly 6 hours a day, I wasdoing work that I enjoyed and found extremely gratifying (I'm verygoal orientated). Unfortunately I also had to work 6 hours a dayteaching English, but that felt more like break time to let my eyesand hand rest. It was the first time in a long time that work wasn'ttediously boring and mind numbing.

I had high hopes for the book, but likeall my projects at the time, it received an underwhelming response.Only a few of the friends I gave it to actually read it (andcommented on it). It passed the first round in the ShogakukanContest, but I was expecting it to get farther. I hoped to redo someof the tone, redo some faces, and tweek the comic to resubmit it to another contest elsewhere, but this was thetime of many many rejections in writing and drawing, and soon thecomic got shelved.

Now, after studying writing for a few years,I've come to the conclusion that the story could use some work. So I still hope to getthis comic out there. Possibly re-draw a few pages, change somedynamics to the story and send it out again. I also would still liketo make it as a film. If you are interested in seeing either ofthese, please let me know (and I will get on the comic/film faster). But for now, here are a few pages from TheWishing Tree comic.

Shanghai Noon (2000)

2012-02-03T03:12:00.000-08:00

While not one of Jackie's best pictures, SN is still an enjoyable (faux) kung-fu flick. Most of the best moments are the physical comical gags done by Jackie, beckoning back to the days of Keaton and Chaplin. While the kung-fu choreography isn't bad, it suffers from "Hollywood Action Syndrome" (shooting close and cutting fast), which doesn't always serve kung-fu well. But if you like Jackie Chan or something that is family friendly, you could do much worse.

Jumper (2008)

2012-02-02T20:10:00.000-08:00

This little sci-fi flick is a lot of fun. With a decent comic-book/sci-fi story, there are a lot of creative action sequences and some nifty effects to keep you occupied. Nothing completely original here, but it was much better than I expected.

I Heart Huckabees (2004)

2012-02-01T20:08:00.000-08:00

Brilliant! Madly brilliant! (emphasis on the mad). I wish there were more films this entertaining and wild. This wacky comedy is a riot to watch with an all star cast that'll keep you entertained and bamboozled. While it may take a few times to actually understand everything, this crash course in existential philosophy is a great satire on everything from beauty, to corporatism, all the way to the meaning of life. But that's only if you are into that kind of thing (it's not a film for everyone), and, well, I am. (side note: look for "I don't heart huckabees" and "I hate huckabees" on youtube to see the nightmare the actors had to go through to make the film)

Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father (2008)

2012-01-31T20:04:00.000-08:00

Wow...This one will leave you breathless once the credits begin to roll. There are so many things here that prove the old axiom "sometimes truth is stranger than fiction", or in this case 'more amazing.' What's even harder is choosing which is most amazing. Is it the unbelievable tale of Andrew Bagby's murderer, her escape to Canada, and how the justice system set her free to walk the streets? Perhaps. Or the pure heartfelt tribute to Bagsby by his dearest friends? Possibly. Or the amazing journey that Bagby's parents took to protect his son Zachary from the very person who killed him? In the end, it doesn't really matter, DZ will lift you from awe to anger to tears in this collage of one man's life seen through his family and friends. You have to see this film.

I'm Thirty-F#@$ing-Two Today

2012-01-30T10:08:00.000-08:00

For better or for worse, I'm 32 today. I came to Japan when those numbers were switched. In many ways, like career and connections, I feel I haven't gotten much farther than where I was 9 years ago (despite much effort). In other ways, like love, I couldn't be happier. Yet in my time here, trying to be the person I want to be, and do the things I want to do, I've spent much of my time in frustration. But this year, I'm trying for an attitude adjustment. I've thought about all the massive obstacles that lie before me over and over for years. Now it's time to forget the negativity surrounding those obstacles and focus on making this the year I make things happen. And so begins this 32nd year of life on this planet. This will be a good year. I'm positive of it :)

Skyline (2010)

2012-01-29T02:06:00.000-08:00

This film is proof that you don't need a budget like Independence Day's to make an effects-laden film. That does not mean that you can make a good film without talent. While the effects are on par with everything else out there, everything else is substandard -- the acting (lack of stars or stellar performances), cinematography (very "made for TV" work with bad lighting and very flat photography), direction (nothing really "cool" is done here), and above all: story. The biggest problem is the perspective the story is told from (a group of friends as the event unfolds). This limited perspective doesn't allow the audience any knowledge into what is happening, allowing for a story to develop. So that leaves only the story of the friends, which needless to say, is nonexistent and really shallow (not getting to know these people and having them die off left and right). On top of that, what does happen is badly put together -- ex: the group flees their room (first half of movie), only to fail and come back to it (second half). Storytelling-wise that means that "escape" was completely unnecessary and only used as a way to show a cool action scene (cuz the room is so boring). As soon as you jump into the film you can see signs of story troubles, as the film opens with the now overly used start-with-a-cool-action-scene-then-at-its-tensest-point-cut-to-black-and-say-"10-hours-earlier." The film would have played out better if they didn't try that gimmick here (because we get back to that point within 20 minutes). It's a shame Hollywood is wasting all its time on sequels and half-baked ideas. If they would only spend a little time looking at the sea of original ideas out there and stop banking on "safe returns" we might be looking at films where the talent actually matches the level of FX.

Despicable Me (2010)

2012-01-28T19:02:00.000-08:00

I don't understand why DM is getting such high ratings. It's definitely aimed at a kiddie audience, relying heavily on unsophisticated humor (lots of bonks on the head, chard faces, kicks to the groin) and a minimalistic plot "written by a two year old" (to quote the movie). The main plot (stealing the moon) is established, then set aside for another plot (Gru adopting 3 girls), which doesn't relate or push the story along. This is an obvious attempt at trying to cash in on Pixar's comedy/heartfelt stories. Unfortunately this ain't no Pixar film. (what the makers here didn't seem to realize is Pixar doesn't mix two non-related stories) It isn't completely a waste however. The minions are cute (a ripoff of Rabbids), and the animation and character designs are good. It's just a shame that all the cleverness going into this interesting premise has been reduced to formulaic construction.

Escape from New York (1981)

2012-01-27T18:58:00.000-08:00

Sci-fi movies age the worst of all films. It's impossible to know what things will really turn out like. EFNY unfortunately surfers from this. Under the fun comic/sci-fi premise of New York being turned into a prison, the fun of the 80's simplicity makes ERNY a dated beast. From the clunky "future tech," a key set piece not existing any more (twin towers), and the murkiness of the film stock and lenses used, EFNY come off even cheesier than it did 30 years ago, when the film was made. It's still a fun watch.

A Clockwork Orange (1971)

2012-01-26T18:57:00.000-08:00

It's hard, even today, to watch a movie as strange as A Clockwork Orange. It's not hard to understand why though, with things like: the beating of a woman with a ceramic penis, the torture of a couple to Singing in the Rain, and a colorful gibberish that makes more/less sense than real words. But whether you understand it or not, this is an experience you won't forget. A biting satire on everything from youth, to the prison system, to society at large, this quintessential Kubrick classic is a must see. One thing is for sure though: You'll never think of Singing in the Rain the same way again.

The Night of the Hunter (1955)

2012-01-25T18:45:00.000-08:00

One can see why this film was overlooked in its time -- a satire about religion consisting of sexual repression, a manipulative preacher, abandoned children and obsession with money. While the style of acting and editing may feel dated by today's standard, the cinematography and pacing of (one time) director Laughton is truly haunting. However, it is Robert Mitchum's iconic preacher, his tattooed knuckles and dark pilgrim-like attire which steal the show. It's too bad that this was badly received way back when, otherwise we might have more classics from Laughton. But, it looks like he was ahead of his time.

Bunny and the Bull (2009)

2012-01-24T18:43:00.000-08:00

What a trip! The visual creativity here is off the charts. Unfortunately, it's hard to know where the first half of the film is going (due to scenes that don't push along the story, and the "bunny and bull" story not being established until the end). The second half of the story, however, is much better. But whatever may be lacking in story is washed away in the charmingly-quirky visuals of the world of Stephen Turnbull.

Super Troopers (2001)

2012-01-23T01:40:00.000-08:00

ST is an unsophisticated, college-humor flick lacking comedic timing. It could have made up for that with some awkward raunchiness (like say American Pie does), but for a crude 'n rude kinda 'comedy,' its lacking even that. The only thing it really delivers on is unfunny, drunken stupidity, which isn't my cup of (vodka-spiked) tea.

Kick-Ass (2010)

2012-01-22T01:23:00.000-08:00

What a nice surprise, a Hollywood film that is appropriately named. This "what-if-superheros-existed-in-the-real-world" comic-book flick is whole lot of fun. And it comes down to that it is really well made (music, editing, cinematography, you name it, it's good). And while I'm not a Cage fan, I think he gives one of his best performances in a long. Things definitely dip into the cliche/impossible-fantasy side towards the end, but is nevertheless fun all along the way. Kick ass!

Shrek Forever After (Shrek 4) (2010)

2012-01-21T18:20:00.000-08:00

Four Shreks? Is that necessary? I mean, really?? The newest one really is a rehash of the first film (quite literally). It also adds nothing to the franchise, not expanding upon any of the characters or even adding any new ones. There really is no purpose for it. That said, the story has its moments and is entertaining enough. They cleverly "reuse" the plot from the original in a Twilight-Zone inspired script, and if you like Shrek, it is an entertaining way to spend an hour and a half. But it does really feel like an anomaly in the series (each of the last expanding upon the Shrek world), but kinda in a good way.

The Secret of Kells (2009)

2012-01-20T01:17:00.000-08:00

You know those heavily stylized animated sequences in films used for flashbacks and condensed histories? Imagine an entire animated feature done in that fashion. That is what Secret of Kells is like. The style is amazing and unlike anything out there (the only reason I gave it 3 stars). However a great deal of that animation is flat (due to the stylization), containing almost no perspective (I don't think there is one shot with a character coming towards camera). And since things are so stylized it may not appeal to a large audience. Unfortunately I'm one who doesn't like that overly simplistic style looking if done with flash and after effects (reminiscent of Cartoon Network animations like Powerpuff girls and Samurai Jack, which I also don't like). Also, underneath all the pretty paint, is a pretty lackluster story which is not entirely focused. This is very much an instance of style over substance. If you are animation fan, take a look. If not, maybe try something else.

La Vie en Rose (La Mome) (2007)

2012-01-19T01:14:00.000-08:00

Cotillard deserves every award that she has received for her portrayal of singing legend Edith Piaf. Her performance is simply amazing and tops off the rich, beautiful look of the film perfectly. I found the story structure to be a bit confusing at times, jumping back and forth to points in her life, simply because I know nothing of the singer (showing my own ignorance) and her landmarks (however this structure was done more than likely as a reflection of her deteriorating memory and mind). Still the true story of this singer is an amazing journey and can easily be recommended to anyone (whether you know her or not).

Food Inc (2008)

2012-01-18T01:12:00.000-08:00

The western world has become fat. Fat with knowledge. Fat with money. And of course, fat with calories. But people don't seem to realize how. Food Inc is a shocking revelation of the way we get our food and how it will be too late to get out of that system if we don't do something about it. The shocking part is, despite that knowledge, and money, the average Joe (me included) knows very little about how our food gets to our plate. After watching Food Inc, it's hard not to think that system we've developed in the last 50 years is extremely dangerous for our health. Food Inc peeks into that system through the shocking treatment of animals, through the mis-treatment of the workers, and through the treatment of the customers, finding that the way we've become the way we are (fat, with dangerous diseases) is because of this system that know one knows about. Beautifully crafted by Kenner, with nifty 'supermarket' shots to help narrate the film, this is an entertaining and informative watch that everyone should see.

Something wicked this way comes...

2012-01-17T19:42:00.000-08:00

Since October I've been working on a top secret project (both film and story). I've kept it under wraps because I wasn't sure that I could pull it off. But to my happy surprise, things are turning out really well. So I've decided to leak a little taste (without giving too much away). Here is a concept drawing for one aspect of the film. Can you guess what it is?

Johnny Mnemonic (1995)

2012-01-16T19:11:00.000-08:00

JN is a great example of how NOT to make a sci-fi flick -- a flat cookie-cutter story, horrible direction, acting that is all around bad (another sign of bad direction), and visuals that look like they were imagined while being drunk in a 1980's Japanese disco. But how did that happen? JM had all the ingredients of a potentially great film -- an intriguing concept for the plot written by a sci-fi legend, and one of the most interesting collection of actors for a cast ever (Keanu Reeves, Beat Takeshi, Udo Kier, Dolph Lundgren, Henry Rollins and Ice-T). But I guess like poor Johnny, they forgot to upgrade the director/producer before downloading all that potential into the production. A shame.

Brick (2005)

2012-01-15T19:08:00.000-08:00

High schoolers talking like grizzled, fast-talking 1940 well-experienced detectives? Sounds like a great comedy to me. But this is the latest (impossible to take serious) drama, titled Brick. This film has the worst choice in direction that I've ever seen. High schoolers are already melodramatic enough as it is without turning them into pulpy noir caricatures. On top of that the screenplay feels like a rough draft, with no exposition, clunky dialog, and a convoluted story. It's too bad cuz I like Joseph Gordon-Levitt. But you know when a formula doesn't work when you're not supposed to laugh, but you just can't help grinning at -- the teenage "drug lord" wearing a high collar cape and carrying a cane looking like some Victorian-mastermind wanna-be; or when a high school student is talking to their principal like a grizzled detective talking to the city commissioner; or...the list is endless. Well, at least the titled is apt, since they definitely threw a brick with this one.

The Last Airbender (2010)

2012-01-14T12:00:00.000-08:00

I don't see why there is so much negative hype around this film. I guess its all the Shyamalan bashers out there (which are also unfounded, although his films have been getting worse). This was a fun-of-the-mill fantasy flick. It's got lots of pretty visuals, an interesting world, and nice action. The thing that brings it down is very clumsy story structure and writing, and bad acting to top it off. That is more than likely caused by the producers trying to fit too much into a short amount of time, bound by source material (which I'm not familiar with) trying to hit all its "sweet spots," with a children-filled cast (acting disaster waiting to happen) -- so in the end the story feels manufactured and fails to truly bring you into it. Why do you think Jackson's Lord of the Rings are over 3 hours long (each) -- it takes time to develop an entirely made up world. The Last Airbender is the result of too much compression and rush. But despite this, you could choose much worse ways of feeding your fantasy fix (if you don't have Shyamalan bias).

Jingi naki tatakai (Battles Without Honor and Humanity) (1973)

2012-01-13T18:54:00.000-08:00

BWHaH is an amazing Yakuza flick, both effective and memorable, even 30 years after it was made. While it speeds along at breakneck pace (making it hard for the foreign viewer to read all the subtitles so quickly) it tells the true stories of the yakuza wars in Hiroshima following World War 2. The style and music are enthralling (and more than likely influenced American mafia films like The Godfather Trilogy). A must see.

The Sorcerer's Apprentice (2010)

2012-01-12T18:50:00.000-08:00

It's amazing how slick they can make s*@t look these days. Despite truckloads of special effects there isn't an ounce of creativity here. You've seen it all a trillion times before (and done a trillion times better). This is made for the masses manufactured crap that couldn't hold my interest so I didn't bother watching to the end. I suggest you do the same.

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

2012-01-11T11:45:00.000-08:00

If there is such a thing as a perfect movie, this is probably the one closest to it. And if I had to say I had a favorite movie this would also probably be it. It has a wonderful balance of harsh reality (Brooke's story, the "sisters") and fantasy (a happy ending, and everyone getting their just rewards). The craftsmanship by all (director, actors, composer and crew) come together to make an incredibly moving story with poignant sequence after sequence. A must see!

Velvet Goldmine (1998)

2012-01-10T07:37:00.000-08:00

Velvet Goldmine is a massive glittering glam-rock epic that gets a little too whirly along the way. It's got everything needed to be a classic period-piece epic -- amazing costumes, cool music, an interesting style evoking the period, and a great cast with great performances. But the story gets a little muddled along the way, trying to do too much, being a semi-bio pic in addition to one man's journey of self-exploration. And somewhere while hopping back and forth in time (confusing as Bale looks pretty much the same throughout) and trying too hard to sound like it has something profound to say, I got totally confused. But who cares there are lots of shiny things to bedazzle us!

Virtuosity (1995)

2012-01-09T07:32:00.000-08:00

Johnny Mnemonic...er...Virtuosity is another b-grade sci-fi flick with bad direction and a futuristic visual design that looks as if barfed up by a rainbow. I don't know how Washington got attached to this, because he is so much better than the material. While the opening and closing "virtual reality" scenes are neat, the entire film feels like a contrived work of a producer who wanted to fit a bunch of "cool" elements together, resulting in a comic book-like reality, a story that doesn't really go anywhere, and characters without motivation.

How to Train Your Dragon (2010)

2012-01-08T08:29:00.000-08:00

How to make a great animation: 1.) Use dragons. Everybody loves dragons. 2.) Don't just use one dragon, but design a slew of creative beasts each with unique abilities (to appeal to the gamers and geeks) 3.) Add a story of an underdog who connects only to his best friend, his dog...er...dragon, designed in a lovable-fashion, like the anime black cat from Kiki's Delivery Service (to get the girl crowd) 4.) Mix in a little coming of age satire (to please the cynics) 5.) Top it all off with a thrilling tale of adventure (to get everybody else). RESULT: How to Train your Dragon -- a great ride which will satisfy everything you could want from a movie.

Avatar (2009)

2012-01-07T07:22:00.000-08:00

Everyone has to sell out sometime. Avatar is a sign James Cameron has (or is loosing his touch). While it is an amazing achievement in technology, and is very well made, the very root of the film is flawed -- a wish-washy, clunkily-constructed story. In the past, Cameron's sci-fi films were, all-out, creative, violent visions. This one is definitely manufactured to reach the largest audience possible. There are almost too many signs to count: 1.) The pseudo-science -- the Na'vi race has all the features of humans [despite every other alien having 6 appendages] AND they've got boobies!!!!! Why??? 2.) The design -- the aliens look like fashion models [elongated, pencil-thin bodies], and they are blue! come on! blue? 3.) The story structure -- the 3rd act is not connected to the rest of the story and serves only to add an exciting ending, Grace's death scene is an obvious setup for how the film will be resolved 4.) The story itself -- been there, done that in better, identical films, in particular Dances with Wolves; 5.) The flawed morality -- the forceful "nature=good/machine=bad" themes hammered over our heads, and the dated "great white man"-is-needed-to-lead-the-incapable-natives-to-freedom ideology. But all that said, there is some great creativity to the plants and animals, the action is cool and it is a fun ride. It might even be a decent film to watch with your kids (which I think what Cameron was thinking).

The Town (2010)

2012-01-06T00:18:00.000-08:00

"Wow!" That really is the feeling you have after seeing this movie. It's got it all -- thrills, human drama, and insight into the soul. With a smartly written story, nice direction and excellent performances by Affleck and Renner it's hard to go wrong. One of the best crime films in a long time.

The Girl Next Door (2004)

2012-01-05T16:15:00.000-08:00

TGND is an OK American Pie-like teen flick that has its moments but over all is forgettable. The only thing that really stands out is Timothy Olyphant's performance. The film is interesting, however, as a reflection of current society, showing how mainstream some things have become (porn). And it's a sad state of affairs when the ideal teenage girl is... a porn star. What happened to the real girl next door?

Hunger (2008)

2012-01-04T15:16:00.000-08:00

This is a film made for people who know the event in question. However, the purpose of movies/books/etc are usually to spread a story to those that don't know of it. As such, Hunger is deeply flawed structurally. To those (like myself) who know next to nothing of the events involved, for much of the movie you will be wondering, "what exactly is going on here?" The first half focuses on figures not part of the main character's story, and doesn't even establish who the main character is until 30 minutes in. While the imagery is very watchable, being beautifully executed, with great performances and amazing visual flare; the series of events (waiting to see how they are linked), while having an interesting rhythm, don't come together until punctuated by an amazing, single-shot 17 minute piece of dialog. This deluge of exposition is usually a sign of new writers unfamiliar with story structure and Hunger is no different. Only at this point do previous scenes become clear, and the stakes become apparent (which should have come at the beginning). Those things aside, this is still an interesting piece for "art house" fans and paints a vivid picture of the times it is trying to portray.

The Fighter (2010)

2012-01-03T15:12:00.000-08:00

While not an original boxing movie (an underdog that wins), the performances of Bale and Leo are riveting, breathing life into some already lively characters. Wahlberg also is the perfect straight-man to bounce off their craziness in this tale of family, downfall, hope, and human frailty. We might have a contender here!

Warrior (2011)

2012-01-02T00:43:00.000-08:00

Holy s%*t... I don't believe I have ever reacted to a movie like this before. It was like being punched in the chest. This one will definitely have all those grizzled Mixed Martial Arts hard-asses crying like babies by the end. Skillfully made, and expertly written, each element of this complex story of two estranged brothers going for the same championship plays out so believably it feels almost like a documentary at times. Smartly crafted, using the best elements of Rocky, The Wrestler and dozens of other "fighter" movies, Warrior has all the elements to please everyone (action, drama, relationships, etc) and turns up the drama at just the right moments, in the end creating a dilemma that I can't remember ever seeing -- a standoff where there is no bad guy. But in spite of the nail biting dilemma, Warrior finishes with not only an appropriate ending, but one that is extremely powerful. And on top of all that, the acting by Nolte and Edgerton is mesmerizing. But I think Hardy steals the show, bring depth to his 'fallen son,' making him not only sympathetic but the most engaging character of the film. With his performance here and in Bronson, I believe he is becoming one of the best actors out there today. Warrior truly is a knockout. I don't think I've ever thought so highly of a film after only a single viewing. You gotta see this.

It's gonna be a good good year

2012-01-01T00:04:00.000-08:00

Happy 2012 everyone! I've got a good feeling about this year. For one, after a 4 year hiatus, I've decided to give film a second shot. I've already got a secret project underway to start off the new year (more details here soon). Also, after a year of toiling and re-writing a dozen stories (and hopefully finally grasping the inner workings of fiction), I'm GOING to get those stories published this year (one way or another). This is the year I'm gonna make it happen!

Don't Look Now (1973)

2011-10-30T06:30:00.000-07:00

Made with visual prowess, Don't Look Now is an atmospheric mystery following the death of the child of a restoration artist. While the story meanders a great while, it is the visual techniques and the slowly unfolding mystery that make this an interesting watch. The juxtaposition of images and editing raise this above standard fair, but also away from being something watched for entertainment and more into the art house crowd. This is a good one for film buffs, or those looking for something other than Hollywood factory films.

Zombieland (2009)

2011-10-29T05:51:00.000-07:00

It's funny how mainstream zombies have become. Starting only about 40 years ago, zombies were X-rated, underground, subversive commentary on society. Now they are so mainstream there are comedies making fun of the abundant cliches surrounding them (Zombieland) and even TV shows starring them (The Walking Dead). I guess that grotesque appeal is a result of some kind of universal subconscious fear everyone has of their fellow man mixed with the obvious disgust people have of dead things. Zombieland tries to make light off this modern trend of Zombie-craziness and at times succeeds. With some interesting characters and a chuckle-worthy cameo by Bill Murray, for the most part Zombieland entertains. But by the end, when things turn to head-shaking stupidity, one realizes how much more this could have been if Zombieland would have tried not to appeal so hard to the mainstream Zombie-lovers, but had gone back to those roots which it is all based on. Still, it's a fun ride to take.

Let Me In (2010)

2011-10-28T21:25:00.000-07:00

I didn't expect much going in to this one. Let that be a lesson to not always judge a remake by its cover. Staying truthful to the tone and texture of the original, but adding more of a rounded plot, history and reason for each of the characters, Let Me In is a poetic journey of innocence lost and found. However, it is not entirely perfect with problems inherit in the idea (even if someone stays 12 on the outside, their spirit would age from their experiences, asking the question- why is she interested in a child); some of the CG looks unrealistic; and the material is dumbed down for an American audience (using the V word; and using the once original, but now annoying: start-with-an-action-scene-then-cut-back-"two-weeks-before"). But it can easily be overlooked as this remake is actually better than the original.

Piranha 3-D (2010)

2011-10-27T06:00:00.000-07:00

B and B a plenty! (That's Blood and Boobies btw) Despite those being the point of the film, that doesn't make Piranha a good film. While Aja has displayed sharp horror-directing talent in his past films, this time it is wasted (although he does bring it out of the water of complete camp-fest). And while the idea is kinda cool (an animal that supposedly went extinct that survived in an isolated pocket, getting loose in modern day), it is completely wasted on the college boozer crowd as the target audience. But hey, any movie that decapitates Eli Roth can't be that bad, right? (the reason for that half a star)

Cronos (1993)

2011-10-26T03:30:00.000-07:00

While not perfect, Cronos is a sign of Del Toro's unique creative talents developing (coming to fruition in his later films). Despite storytelling that is not yet "picture perfect," this is a very interesting "touching" horror story, not something you see very often. The ideas here are intriguing and the story is a classic arch-type. For those interested in horror, Del Toro, or just creative cinema, this is a good one.

Re-Animator (1985)

2011-10-25T05:15:00.000-07:00

Re-Animator takes the cliched return-of-the-dead story, adds buckets of gore, a not-totally-bad story, a dollop of 80's cheese, and stirs in its re-animating potion to resurrect a dead formula, resulting in something pretty entertaining (for those that can stomach the gross-factor). Combs balances the fine line of creep and camp making a great mad scientist. This throw-back to 50's/60's B horror is a perfect Halloween treat, with a few scares, lots of schlock, and some fun Halloweeny moments.

The Crazies (2010)

2011-10-24T02:30:00.000-07:00

Hollywood is in a bit of a remake rut nowadays. The Crazies is one where you've probably never heard of the original film, AND, one that proves that is still possible to make something of quality with old material. With a splash of gore here and there, TC uses craftsmanship to build a harrowing and highly believable environment that manages to stay out of the cliche/trash/gore bins to get its scares. Following an outbreak of a horrific disease in a small rural town, the story is what really shines here. Starting in a peaceful rural town, truly frightening situations start to compile, slowly building to explosive proportions. This one is crazily tense. You gotta see it.

The Return of the Living Dead (1985)

2011-10-23T03:00:00.000-07:00

It's got it all -- nauseating dialog, explosive overacting, rank cheese factor, unnecessary amounts of nudity, no visible story and not a drop of horror. Yet those are the things that make it work. Return of the Living Dead is like a bootleg reboot of the Night of the Living Dead, laying on the cheese and cutting out the horror. It knows exactly what it is (and it isn't something foreveryone). But if you like horror, you gotta give this one a look. You'll never see something so bad be this good.

The Devil's Triangle (1974)

2011-10-22T07:58:00.000-07:00

The Bermuda Triangle (aka The Devil's Triangle) is a staple of those who believe in the paranormal. I am not one of those, but I still find it to be a lot of fun. This old documentary, narrated by legend Vincent Price, definitely scores high on the cheese factor with a lot of dated, bad sound effects. But underneath it all are many of the cases of planes, boats and people that have vanished in that mysterious bit of sea. An interesting little bit of documentary from the past.

A Nightmare on Elmstreet (2010)

2011-10-21T03:30:00.000-07:00

The original is a classic (plus you can see an overly young Johnny Depp). But like almost all horror films of yore, they don't date well (heck, they weren't really made that well to begin with). This 'reboot' isn't half bad. It stays close to the original but this time around focuses more on plot, making more of a mystery out of the entire experience. And that is a good thing. If you liked the original, I don't know if you'll think this will be a blasphemous interpretation, but heck, give it a shot.

28 Days Later... (2002)

2011-10-20T07:49:00.000-07:00

Boyle seems to reinvent himself with each film, using different techniques, styles and feelings for each. He's done sci-fi, drama, bio-pics and now horror. And each one looks different. He truly is one of the most innovative directors today. 28 Days Later is probably my favorite zombie flick. Even though I don't know if it was intentional, the use of the X1 camera (causing the low res and over saturated/video look) make the tone and feel of 28DL like that of a 1970's zombie flick (which were definitely inspiration for this take on the genre). But the artistic angles and shots used, along with some sharp editing, really install horror to the 'infected' scenes. And what really raised 28DL above the standard horror fair is its story. The story of a group trying to survive a zombie holocaust only to face an even more dangerous animal -- captivity by the non-infected -- rings of almost literary overtones and comments about man(kind) and its darker side. Even if you aren't a horror fan, you should see this movie.

My 4th Film - The Visiting (2007)

2011-10-19T07:29:00.000-07:00

Back in the day I had a studio for my little film company (DK PRO). It was a shared space between me and two other artists (a painter and the musician DRT). In theory, it was to be a place to do production on films and even make sets. It turned out to be too far out of the way to be useful and became nothing more than a place to store my equipment. One film was made there however. That film was The Visiting.

The Visiting was an atmosphere piece. A mixture of Ring and Seven, and whether I liked it or not, David Lynch abstractness, the horror-like vibe was laid on thick over a pretty thin story -- one night, a mysterious visitor haunts a man filled with regret. Originally this was a remake of a Movie Day film I made a year or two earlier. Those short films were ways I trained people who were interested in becoming crew, as well as let them have some creativity and fun. The concept MD films was to sit down at the beginning of a day, think of an idea and shoot a short in a single day. The MD film THe Visiting was based on was called The Visitor and turned out so well we added a few plot thickening elements and re-made it with the brand new camera rig I had put together for Rodosha.

While it isn't much, The Visiting turned out half-decent and screened at a handful of festivals and was screened on TV in the US and in Canada. And since it is almost Halloween this seems like a good time to put it up here. Enjoy!

The Visiting (Original) (2007) - a frightening short horror film like The Ring from Darryl Knickrehm on Vimeo.

IMDB
Japan     10 March 2007
Canada     29 March 2007     (Okanagan Film Festival)
USA     July 2007     (Triggerstreet.com Online Film Festival)
Japan     24 August 2007     (Kansai International Film Festival)
USA     28 September 2007     (Independents Film Festival)
USA     8 February 2008     (Dam Short Film Festival)
Brazil     14 November 2008     (Mostra Curta Fantastico-Festival of Fantasy Short Films)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I (2010)

2011-10-18T01:21:00.000-07:00

The Harry Potter series proves that Hollywood is capable of producing mass market pop films that are well made, exciting, have a good story, and heart. Each film in the series (with one exception) has gotten better than the last, a little more adult, and a little darker. Deathly Hallows 1 is no exception. It has all the elements that makes Harry Potter interesting (the magical world, funny situations, clever mystery, strange people) but also keeps you on the edge of your seat. The only bad thing about it is that you have to watch another film to see the end of the story!

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)

2011-10-17T01:16:00.000-07:00

While an enjoyable edition to the Potter series, with lots of great scenes and moments, and is brilliantly made and photographed, this is the only entry that left me "unsatisfied," leaving a great many questions, too many plot holes, and the only one that feels mechanically constructed with pointless turns in plot. (ex: "Wanna get to point E {goal} from point A, so gotta make up some interesting points in between [or we'll get there too quickly]") So starts the list (warning POSSIBLE SPOILERS) - 1.) there is no reason why Jenny and Harry develop a relationship nor is there a clear reason for the attraction (except for a more "fitting" person for the author of the story). 2.) There is no reason (given or feasible) for Harry to get rid of The Half-Blood Prince's textbook book since it is bringing only perks and nothing bad. 3.) And the biggest flaw - Dumbledore is already searching for the horcrux before learning about them from the memory he so needs to get from Slughorn (making that whole plot point [which is the entire movie] unnecessary). But getting past that...wait there's more! The movie is titled The Half-Blood Prince, but never explains what the significance of that is. So the Half-Blood Prince is #@$*$#* so what? (I won't reveal it for those who haven't seen it). It's never explained why that is important (plus in the Potter world, wouldn't Voldermort despise someone who is half-blood? How can he be a prince?) And as such this is the only Potter film that doesn't have it's own story and is only a continuation of the building Voldermort story (which has been, until this point, a backing story), making the film feel like it doesn't really deliver. And lastly, but certainly not least, the ending of $#*&#*%$'s death is not a proper way to end the film. It is completely set up as obvious secret plan Dumbledore and Snape are brewing, but then plays out in melodramatic glory (like it wasn't supposed to happen). The audience isn't stupid and can see this is a ruse (knowing Snape is a spy) making all the drama of it seem silly (and wonder why Potter can't see this). HOWEVER! Despite all this, HBP contains my favorite moment in the entire series - Harry Potter STONED!

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)

2011-10-16T01:14:00.000-07:00

Tied as my favorite Potter film (with Azkaban), OotP is arguably the darkest of the series, but excels because of it. This time Rowling takes a stab at satire, doing a brilliant job of portraying a world ruled by a government taking more control and giving less freedom. On top of being the most meaningful story of the series, it finishes with with an action-packed finale, featuring some amazing effects, surpassing even what a D&D crawler could imagined a wizard battle to be like.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)

2011-10-15T01:09:00.000-07:00

GoF is another great addition to the Potter franchise and shows growth and maturity in its characters and stories. However, while Rowling has got down pat the structure, the story this time is in need of editing as it is an overly complex, convoluted maze to a simple goal (aka - why would the Death Eaters create such an impossibly complex plan [with so many opportunities for failure] if their goal was to simply get Potter to touch a port-key?) But the ending makes up for this, finally introducing the character so talked about throughout the series - Voldermort - in an introduction worthy of its buildup.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

2011-10-14T01:07:00.000-07:00

My favorite of of the Harry Potter series (just by a nudge), PoA is a brilliant fantasy film in its own right (even without the Harry Potter elements). Rowling has finally hit that "sweet spot" for potter story telling, developing an intriguing mystery, with all the wonderful magic of the Potter world, and topping it off with some very clever storytelling. But the reason for PoA's success is, this time around producers brought in an innovative director allowing the series to grow more adult. Cuaron does an amazing job weaving in dark fantasy, beautiful photography, and brooding moments of darkness. The result is a film that will stand up to multiple viewings and can still be entertaining each time, a sign of a classic.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: Extened Edition (2002)

2011-10-13T01:03:00.000-07:00

Columbus does a better job this time around, as his signature "enchanting" techniques are missing and darker visual flare has taken their place, a smart decision. The maturing cast is also getting comfortable in their acting shoes and the story is more interesting and developed. Rowling is on the verge of finding the "sweet spot" of Potter storytelling, but unlike the first film, this film has too much plot (a lot of which is told and not shown). But the fantastic situations, enchanting characters and interesting world feel less "fresh out of the package" and more "worn in" and comfortable, bringing some great scenes and laughs. Branagh's performance is particularly great, stealing scene after scene. And this time around the extended edition actually makes the film much easier to understand and flows much better. It's understandable they wanted to cut the film down from 3 hours, but once you've seen the scenes back in, you can't imagine why they cut them out (it wouldn't have taken me three times to fully get who did what, when and why if the film originally screened this way). The Chamber of Secrets is a great fantasy film and shows promise for how the series will head (away from the simplistic "kids story" to a darker epic tale).

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Extended Edition (2001)

2011-10-12T00:59:00.000-07:00

The beginning of the most lucrative film-franchise in history makes for a great ride. And Columbus was probably the right director for the film. He brings his unique "enchanting" style found in all his films, which compliments the fantastic world Rowling introduces us to. But that is also its weakness. This is a "Christopher Columbus" film (with all the faults that brings as well). Plus Rowling hasn't found her "sweet spot" for telling Potter stories, as the actual plot of the film (about the stone) is secondary to development of the world we are being introduced to. As for the extended edition, it only adds back scenes that hardcore fans would care about, actually detracting from pacing and flow (the reason they were cut in the first place). But if you want to get into Potter, you got to watch from the beginning, and the Philosopher's Stone an enchanting experience.

Frailty (2001)

2011-10-11T08:58:00.000-07:00

Who knew Paxton was such a good director! With a chilling "Stephen King" like story, some decent performances and great directing and visuals, this B-rate thriller is able to overcome the downfalls of its genre and be a great film. The only weak part to the film I felt was Paxton himself, as an actor that is. His customary persona (present in most of his films) just didn't seem to lend insight into this character's thinking. With the twist ending, the film could have been ratcheted up a notch by seeing him (possibly) going mad instead of his unchanging calm misdemeanor. That aside, this is a great mystery/thriller.

The Brood (1979)

2011-10-10T00:54:00.000-07:00

What a pleasantly (twisted) surprise. This is quintessential Cronenberg - part human drama, part horror, part twisted sci-fi, and part distortion of the flesh. Cronenberg is at his finest here, building the characters and plot slowly to iconoclastic finishing scenes, giving tidbits of mystery to keep you hooked along the way. Since it was made in the 70's it may not be "snappy" enough to those used to modern day (hyper-fast) pacing and techniques, yet there is more original creativity here than possibly all that has come out of Hollywood in the last decade. Man, I hope they don't remake this!

Children of the Corn (1984)

2011-10-09T08:50:00.000-07:00

A surprisingly entertaining horror(ish) flick. This tale about a backwater town brainwashed by a religious evil is definitely hampered by the limited effects of the time. There is just enough to the eerie concept however to keep you watching. But maybe even more of a reason to see this film is one of the stupidest (and funniest) lines in a movie ever - "He was dead when he stumbled onto the road!"

Versus (2000)

2011-10-08T07:35:00.000-07:00

Flip-flopping from (silly) video-game-inspired action, to (bad) serious drama, to (brilliant) Braindead-inspired comedy, Kitamura's amazing visual flare is spoiled by the film not knowing what it wants to be. Although entertaining, in the end, its difficult differentiating which one of these three the movie is sometimes trying to be (if it would have held the Braindead wackiness, this would have been brilliant)

I'm Back, Baby!

2011-10-07T07:25:00.000-07:00

The last four years have been interesting ones. I guess the Tale of Two Cities sums it up best: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Things were good because I had found the love of my life. But things were bad because I was floundering artistically and becoming more frustrated with my life here in Japan on a daily basis. But last month, I was able to drop the bad and keep the good: I got married.

Back in 2006, I had some difficulties. Things were actually going well film-wise at the time. I had finished Rodosha, my biggest film, wrote an article about it and was getting some press. As a result I met a new filmmaker that wanted to team up with me. I was ecstatic to meet someone who had worked in the industry and was interested in my work, so I said sure. Quite soon after we decided to make a film company together.

At about that time I started feeling ill, (daily headaches, tiredness, vision problems, etc) but the doctors couldn't explain what was wrong. It was also at that time I realized that new partnership was causing me a lot of stress. I saw many telltale warnings that this wasn't such a good idea (this person was calling me friend after the second meeting; it became clear he wasn't really interested in my work, as more and more it sounded like he was more interested in what I could do for him; he often did not listen to what I said; we argued; he had only negative things to say about everyone he worked with before). So I realized, "Hey, this is something I've been working hard for 4 years to establish, has taken me time and money to gather all the people and equipment need. What is he bringing to the table exactly?" So I decided to do a test project to see how we worked together before we actually formed a company. That project was Out of Context.

The film shoot went reasonably well (but produced a lackluster film), I continued to get worse health-wise, and saw more issues with this individual that made me not want to form a company together. So after the film, I took a step back, for my health, but planned to help him when I could (as he had helped me). However, after an article was written about one of my films, what I felt he would do actually happened: he exploded on me. And that is where we parted ways.

Soon after, the doctors determined that my symptoms were stress/anxiety related, after-which they prescribed all sorts of nonsense (which I feel has killed my drive these past 4 years). During that time, I shot 2 more films and produced a film festival. Once all that finished, my life started to balance out again. But when it did, I was left a bit hollow. I found myself in the same position I was in when I had first arrived in Japan (many of my crew went back to their home countries, plus I still had a bitter taste in my mouth from the experience with that filmmaker) and I was no closer to finding help making a feature-length film (my goal). While I did make efforts in the following years (wrote feature scripts, pitched a project to a director, etc) an evil thought had crept in to my brain, "What is the point?" And so for 4 years I didn't make another film.

But 2 weeks ago I got married in Hawaii. We also went on a honeymoon around the islands. It was great to have this time together, and also to see family again. It really reinvigorated me. Plus now, living in a new place with my wife, I'm finally living a normal life. I'm no longer stuck in a one-room shoebox, living a temporary lifestyle, but instead living an ordinary one, where I meet someone I love on a daily basis. So with all this power I've rediscovered, I just bought a new movie camera and have set the goal of making two short films in the next 6 months! I'm back, baby!

l'int rieur (Inside) (2007)

2011-10-06T19:29:00.000-07:00

The graphic violence becomes senseless by the end, there's really no story to speak of, some scenes feel manufactured and the twist can be seen from a mile away. However if you can get past this and stomach the psychotic level of grossness, there are a few poignant shots/elements to Inside.

Lemmy (2010)

2011-09-30T07:52:00.000-07:00

An interesting tribute to a metal legend. This well made documentary gives a glimpse of an interesting character, but doesn't dig too deep in finding out who the man beneath the legend truly is. But with one of the coolest catch phrases ever ("49% mother$@%ker, 51% son of a bitch.") it doesn't really matter now does it? Rock on!

Ip Man 2: Legend of the Grandmaster (2010)

2011-09-29T08:33:00.000-07:00

Ip Man 2 is exactly the same as the first film, in timing, structure, situations and events. The only thing different is that there is a "2" in the title. This time around the events are striving so hard to be patriotic and heroic it becomes comedic, and figures become nothing more than comic book caricatures. Pass on this one.

Overnight (2003)

2011-09-28T08:30:00.000-07:00

Even if you don't know Troy Duffy, this is a great portrait of a completely average joe, so obsessed with being special that he ruins a chance of a lifetime. But if you have seen Troy's movie (The Boondock Saints), many things will become clear. Like, it's obvious why Miramax, after snatching Troy up because of the buzz, put the film in to turn around (they probably actually read the script at that point), and why no one wanted to distribute the film (because IT REALLY ISN'T THAT GOOD). Yet through it all, in Troy's mind "he did it all himself" because he's the best in the world. Scary.

The Boondock Saints (1999)

2011-09-27T08:25:00.000-07:00

A great concept, that would appeal to most people, is spoiled by the comic book reality and handling of the subject matter. Also, while usually I think William Dafoe is a superb actor, his character was clownish and annoying. With really no story to speak of, the film fails at its only purpose -- explaining what the motivation for these "boondocks saints" to clean up the town is, and who they are. And when a film cannot even accomplish its only purpose, it boggles the mind how it got made in the first place.

The Great Happiness Space: Tale of an Osaka Love Thief

2011-09-26T07:30:00.000-07:00

Most people outside of Japan have probably never even heard of the subject matter of GHS and would laugh if you tried to describe it, (the host/hostessing industry) but if you have ever been in Japan you'll definitely have wondered about these fashionably flawed figures standing on street corners at night. While a bit on the low-budget side, Clennell does a great job in getting honest answers and diving into the world surrounding Hosts, Hostesses and even Soap Land workers. There is a brutal honesty here that is very intriguing and underneath the seedy surface, these figures are regular people like you and I, people searching for love and happiness. But that is the very problem in this production - it is too honest to be picked up by a Japanese distributor (a Japanese company would never try to make something showing fallacy in a Japanese cultural habit, just look at the reaction to the Cove) and the subject matter is too obscure for those not familiar with Japan. Still an interesting watch if you can get your hands on it.

The Jacket (2005)

2011-09-25T08:24:00.000-07:00

An intriguing premise and good acting raises this average thriller out of the crowded "suspense"-filled waters. But the illogical resolution just goes to show that too much time nowadays is spent thinking up a "suspenseful gimmick," instead making something that actually makes sense.

Rize (2005)

2011-09-24T23:43:00.000-07:00

A look at the dance that is saving many kids in the inner city of LA from becoming gang members is a moving story of the people forced to live in these circumstance. The focus of Rize is the dance from the streets - "Clowning" and "Krumping" - a mesmerizing mix of modern dance and tribal gyrations, that many youths now chose to chanel their angst instead of picking up a gun and joining a gang. What's even more moving is to hear the stories of the children forced to live in the "ghettos," trying to make a positive statement with this dance, to Rize above it. Even if you aren't into dance, or the urban scene, this is a film you should see.

Where the Wild Things Are (2009)

2011-09-23T08:21:00.000-07:00

I've never read the original, but I think Spike Jonze's version is brilliant. While the story is almost secondary, the brilliant lighting, colors and cinematography make this film feel like a 94 minute music video. And in this instance it's a good thing, because it'll take you to a world of imagination - the place were everyone's wild things are.

I'm Still Here (2010)

2011-09-22T05:00:00.000-07:00

It's Borat!!!...oh wait...no. This is supposed to be real. A lot like watching a train wreck, this is an interesting portrait of a man melting down. But like most things nowadays more than likely this is fake. If Phoenix is this far removed from reality he really needs to seek psychiatric treatment because the amateurity, naivety, and the disconnection from reality of Phoenix is hard to believe. In addition, some things are a little too perfect to have been "captured" on film (yet in a movie are needed to build character) - crying at Puff Daddy's reply, his concerts, the "s#$ting" scene, scenes with prostitutes, friend's etc) Whatever this film is (documentary or attempt at a new kind of fake-reality movie), its an interesting watch and proof the lines of reality and fiction are almost gone in entertainment.

SPOILER ALERT!!!

It
Turns out

It's not
Such a

Fantastically
Awesomely
Killer
Experience

Hausu (House) (1977)

2011-09-21T08:18:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered what an episode of Scooby Doo redone as an anime, then re-shot with live actors would be like while high on crack? Well, House is your answer. It is a unique movie and I was hoping for so much more due to all the hype. But the psychotic assault of film techniques used out of place is the perfect example of "less is more." Its starts off campy enough, but soon all the craziness just washes over you as story and sense go right out the window (along with any fun). The problem with this film is its made in a manner that would appeal to kids (like the psychotic kids TV shows of 1960's/70's) but the semblance of a story is made for adults. I guess that's why the industry isn't churning out Scooby Doo episodes redone as live action anime for the crack-addict audience, eh?

Black Snake Moan (2006)

2011-09-19T08:16:00.000-07:00

An excellent follow up by Craig Brewer doesn't quite live up to Hustle and Flow but is great nonetheless (hampered only by a story that can't quite bring all its strands together). Yet through his choices and direction Black Snake Moan is filled with the wonderful sounds and textures of the people and places BSM inhabits with brilliant performances by Ricci, Jackson and Timberlake bringing this unusual story some real heart

Ip Man (2008)

2011-09-17T08:12:00.000-07:00

An exciting, action-packed look at Kung Fu legend, Ip Man. While a wonderful throw back to cut and dry stories of "good vs evil" this film is also an attempt to make the central character into the (fictional) stuff of legend. Still a good romp, those into Kung-Fu should definitely take a look.

The White Diamond (2004)

2011-09-16T07:21:00.000-07:00

Somehow, Werner Herzog can capture the beauty of life in all its forms (wonder, purity, horror, etc). And in The White Diamond, he does it again. While exploring one man's journey to fly in a experimental balloon, Herzog shows the beauty and passion of the human spirit, and how it exists in all of us. A touching journey.

Monsters (2010)

2011-09-15T08:09:00.000-07:00

It is now official - ANYONE can truly become a filmmaker. The director wrote and shot this film himself (with a DSLR!?) and did all the FX on 3DS Max on his home PC. The results are evident of Edwards' talent - the acting, cinematography and FX are all very good - on par with bigger budget films. The only problem is inherent to the nature of this beast - minimal plot/resources (trying to make something out of nothing). While there are some great moments between the two characters the movie isn't entirely successful because of the lack of an engaging plot. This is a result of no interaction between the main characters and the "monsters" because much of the filming revolved around finding locations, etc and not planned plot (a result of such a small production and trying to find a story out of 100 hours of footage the director had shot). While it is a very interesting film, Monsters had the possibility of being so much more, but is a definite sign of the future of film making.

Bigger, Stonger, Faster (2008)

2011-09-14T05:30:00.000-07:00

This entertaining documentary about the ethics of steroid use digs much deeper than the average sports doc, raising many questions about the US's (and many people in the world's) obsession with being the best. Funny, sad and a great documentary. I highly recommend it!