Black Death

What did you think? Rue Morgue gave it a positive review and I've been itching to see it every since... Any good? Worth the good press?

Murder on the Oriental Express (1974). Sidney Lumet takes his all-star cast and creates a murder mystery of cyclopean proportions. How he fit all of these monument egos into such tight quarters is probably the greatest mystery. Albert Finney leads the fray as the wonderfully eccentric, world-class detective that just happens to be present on the Orient Express as it is becomes one of the most notorious forensic scenes ever. The rest of the cast deliver monumental performances, all of which culminates into that splendid ending. The flick mysteriously finds expansive balance in its claustrophobic setting, and director Lumet uses his talents with aplomb in the unraveling Christie's murder mystery. Only a few slight years from being a classic proper, MOTOE will forever find its home in said realm.
Genruk'

The Man from Earth (2007)

Mind-blowing. Can't believe I'd never heard of this one before - easily one of the smartest, craziest movies I've seen in a long time.

What if it was possible for one man to survive 14,000 years? This is the question at play here, when a group of professors discover that a departing colleague may actually be a survivor from the dawn of humanity.

Not a film for everyone...there is little plot, no action, everything takes place essentially in a single room. I'll admit the cast isn't perfect either, but the script and the ideas that it presents were more than enough to keep me watching.

Huge mind-fuck of a movie...highly recommended.

It wasn't Bad - I expected something alot different and I was kinda pleasantly suprised..

Batman is supposed to be their mentor and give them assignments, so I assume he'll have parts in quite a few episodes. Red Tornado is also a major supporting character.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young_J...28TV_series%29

Oooooooooo - Sounds good AND is available on Netflix Instant. Adding now. Our movie tastes generally coincide.



Cool - good to know. I'll still look forward to it.


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Cop Out (2010)


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Not bad. Certainly not as God-awful as it looked in its trailers... Cop Out is definitely entertaining. Tracy Morgan is his usual crazy Tracy Morgan self and Bruce Willis is a fantastic foil. Also, I love Sean Williams Scott. I truly do. I find him utterly hilarious and the three of them together was great...

But...

I feel with the star power (plus Kevin Smith at the pen), I think that it could have been funnier... Or feel more whole... Or... Something. I dunno - Something was missing.

Regardless, I laughed out loud a few times, which is sometimes the most you can ask for in a comedy.

It's not perfect, but definitely entertaining if you're looking for a fun, dumb watch.

2.75/5.


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The Other Guys (2010)


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What a blast. Will Ferrell is absolutely hilarious as the stiff partner to the unhinged Mark Walberg (who, for the record, I really wish would do more comedy - I think that he has AMAZING comic timing).

Great mindless action/cop/buddy flick with solid supporting actors to accompany our talented and hilarious duo (Michael Keaton was great and Samuel L. and The Rock were superb).

Well-written and hilarious. Recommended if you're looking for a good comedy to see in the theater (which I was).

3.75/5.

As long as you're prepared for a movie that's essentially just a long intellectual debate...you should really like it. Make sure you post your thoughts if you check it out.

Black Water (2007). There is something mysteriously magical about certain film projects where the ingredients of a page-turning script, stress, and a low budget creates an alchemy of brilliance. Black Water is such a project. Again making a stand for the philosophy that less is more, Black Water's nail-biting fear factor is created by that which remains unseen, forever hidden under the surface of that damned murky water. The acting was more than solid for the genre, creating characters that we actually care for. The survival-driven story made for a believable circumstance of being in the middle of nowhere at the worst of times, its bleakness only circumvented by the determination of our heroic victims. The direction utilized suspense and imagination with aplomb to keep one's nerves on edge. The camera work helped to bolster the paradox of claustrophobia amidst the wide expanses of the N. Australia's mangrove swamps and estuaries. The effects, wisely shying away from CGI and instead combining compositing with the suspense of that which lurks beneath, worked to created a perfectly paced sense of dread. The overall effort resulted from the cyclopean efforts to create a movie with severe budget limitations in a rather inhospitable environment. Merci beaucoup.
Genruk'

The Legend of Hell House (1973)

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After Robert Wise directed 1963 horror masterpiece The Haunting, undoubtedly this is the 2nd best ultimate haunted house film ever made IMO. Both the films have everything a haunted house tale should have -- an eerie Gothic mansion with a dark and brooding atmosphere all over and full of different interesting characters. Like The Haunting (1963), John Hough's Hell House has those brilliant set ups to gets the engine of the story going on a perfect pace. The credits specially goes to John Hough's excellent direction, the up to the mark performance by the small cast and the odd and unsettling background scores they maintained throughout the movie. And what makes The Legend of Hell House work so remarkably is what makes most good ghost/haunted house stories work on film -- the restraint it uses in what it shows.

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Imagine a group of people lost at sea. All of their personality differences, skills and talents all come to play to determine if the group will survive. A haunted house flick is no different. The haunted house is that sea. Cause the setting is a great canvass for human drama. In many ways, haunted houses are like any tale where it is "man versus nature". Only in this case, nature surrounds you in supernatural proportions. An old & prime sub genre of horror. Based on a novel (as well as the screenplay) of horror/sci-fi maestro Richard Matheson, this one hell House of horror can easily be regard as the holy guide book (like The Haunting) for today's filmmakers in the genre. But the sad fact is it seems they don't like/dare to make this kind of films anymore. Really...can anyone tell me when they last made or last time you saw an original haunted house film in the theater?

I wish I could see it on a theater at the midnight screening.

>>: A


MacGruber (2010)

>>: D+


The Haunting aka No-Do (2009)

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>>: D+