I do want to see this. Sadly I probably wont get to see it in theaters. well if it's the dollar theater at least it's something, but it will be a while before it gets there.

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Just got sent a copy of Jennifer Lynch's "CHAINED" for review. I had a few doubts about this one going in, had heard that it very closely mimicked Steven Mena's "Bereavement", though I have to say (for me at least) "Chained" was a vast improvement.

Sure they shared a similar central premise, though not as close as some might suggest, and it did follow many of the age-old tropes associated with the serial killer genre - but, I thought it was a stylish and interesting attempt. Vincent D'Onofrio again uses his hulking physicality to great effect, and works well as the brick wall of evil beneath which newcomer Eamon Farren finds himself trapped.

Again, this is no break away reinvention and there will be many that question the validity of the films somewhat uneven and awkward denouement, but there are elements here that do deserve a look see. “I shall call you… Rabbit".

A night of perfect western action:

"Fistful Of Dollars"
"For A Few Dollars More"
"The Good, The Bad and The Ugly"
-Clint Eastwood (well. duh)

Sergio Leones classic trilogy about a mysterious "Man With No Name" and the adventures he gets in to.

Phantom"s Review: Well there's really nothing that I can say, that hasn't already been said about these films. There great. There classics. There the best of the "Spaghetti Western" genre. 'nuff said.

Moonrise Kingdom (2012)


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FINALLY saw Moonrise Kingdom over the weekend. Wes Anderson is one of my all-time favorite directors. However, I think that his brilliance can work against him at times; ever since Royal Tenenbaums, I have had ridiculously high hopes for everything that he has put out, which unfortunately means that sometimes I'm disappointed (Life Aquatic) but sometimes I'm absolutely blown away when those high hopes are exceeded (Darjeeling Limited).

With the anticipation of Moonrise Kingdom, my hopes were just as high as usual. And, don't get me wrong, it was an incredibly beautiful movie, the new players to his cast were superb (both the young lovers Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward were incredible, and Norton and Willis were absolutely perfect), the tone was his usual removed tenderness, and this movie felt as though it was almost an homage to himself.

But while I did enjoy the movie, there's something about it that was a miss with me that I just can't put my finger on - It was good, yes, very very good - But the great and mind-blowing epic that people painted it to be? I'm not sure. I felt as though I was watching a piece being performed that I'd seen many, many times before, waiting for its cast to hit the high and low moments on schedule - Mayhaps this is the "trap" of following your own stilted formula; what you do is expected, and so, in the end, the finale isn't necessarily fulfilling; it's just expected.

What I DID like about the film (outside of the actors, and the more I think about it the more I absolutely adored Norton) - (CONTAINS SPOILERS):

• The allusions to Peter Pan, Wendy, and the Lost Boys, even culminating in them wearing animal garb (the scene of her reading to them was simply beautiful).
• I feel we came full-circle on the "lost father" theme that appears in all of Anderson's films. Seeking or mourning a father figure is a huge theme in his movies and the fact that our main character finally "finds" a father in the end - Simply wonderful and touching. I feel as though this was a moment Anderson was leading us to for 14 years and 5 movies. I did know that it was coming, however, and I thought it would be Norton who would step up.

All in all, I think this movie was very, very good. I might have a better appreciation for it after a second viewing (I am currently working on rewatching Anderson's repetoir right from the very beginning), BUT I wasn't blown away.

I still maintain that:

• The Royal Tenenbaums was his opus, his absolute masterpiece.

and

• Darjeeling Limited is my personal favorite.

3.5/5.


...


Bottle Rocket (1996)


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After being a bit confused at my disappointment in Moonrise Kingdom, I figured it made sense to start at the beginning and rewatch Anderson's works to see if they still resonated in me as they had in the past.

And it's been a long, long time since I've seen Bottle Rocket.

All in all, I thought the movie was just ok; I think my favorite part was the romance between Luke Wilson and Ines, though watching the Wilson brothers together with Owen slightly unhinged was fun.

Definitely a bit slower than I remember, but interesting to see how Anderson got his start. Not a bad one, but not one of my favorites.


3/5. (I think it gets a nostalgia mark-up - I don't think I could ever give Anderson less than a 3 :o)

Wes Anderson is one of my favourite directors... The Hotel Chevalier short before Darjeeling Limited is quality along with the film. Ouside of the crime caper plot of Bottle Rocket, the story is beautifully crafted with some quality acting . Anjelica Huston is amazing in Steve Zissou and I thought Jeff Goldblum was an inspired bit of casting. Jason Schwartzman & Bill Murray are a great duo in Rushmore... Everything Wes Anderson does looks stunning. Can't wait to see Moonrise Kingdom. :cool:

Been a very, very long time since I've seen Rushmore and Life Aquatic. Looking forward to re-watching them once they come in from the library (I'm determined to rewatch them all in order now).

When you think of Wes Anderson, do you count The Fantastic Mr. Fox? For some reason I don't; it wasn't really one of my favorites though it got raving reviews.

Looking forward to what you think of Moonrise Kingdom.

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Gotta love Nazis in sci-fi.

* * *

^^ hahaha - SO curious about that one. I should add it to the Netflix queue immediately.

You should dig it. It's a low-brow, cheesy, mindless blast and goes well with popcorn and beer.

Apollo 18.

Kind of good reality space horror. Not offensive but not outstanding either. It's short but also goes on probably longer than it should.