My Movie Review: Enter the Void

My Movie Review: Enter the Void
4/5

Opening Statement: Oscar is a young drug dealer living in Tokyo. He recently started selling drugs to get his sister's ticket to move here with him, now he gets caught up in a deal gone wrong where he is shot and killed. From there he enters his after-life, or a better word for it, THE VOID.


What's Good: I entered the void, and I liked what I saw. Director Gaspar Noe has a way to make the supernatural afterlife look pure, trippy and a nice scenic, yet dark view of Tokyo. We watch many things after Oscar's death that help us reflect on his character and the characters in his life. This movie is truly bizarre with an odd third act that starts out slow but ends with a borderline- pornographic surprise. Simply put, Noe is an artist who has a deep dark bizarre view on what happens after you die, and at times it can be oh so beautiful. A religious experience we might not morally agree with, but makes up for being theatrical dynamite.


What's Bad: At times Enter the Void seems slow, maybe unevenly paced as well. Unfortunately I couldn't tell you if this was a good directorial decision or a bad one. Since all the excellent camera angles seem continuous throughout the whole story. 


The Rant: No rant today. You would think people would freak out about this film religiously so I could rant about it just being a movie. But no one seems too pissed.


Oscar Possibilities: None, unfortunately.


Consensus: Enter the Void an amazing experience, an artistic, pornographic, supernatural view on the after life, that achieves great amazement from it's highly original use of lighting and cinematography.

My Classics: The General (1926)

My Classics: The General (1926)
5/5

Opening Statement: Starring one of the bigger comic actors of the time Buster Keaton. The General focuses on a young man who shares a love of his train and a woman. He may be small, be once both are messed with he has to take a stand. In this epic comical silent action flick.


Why it's Classic: Buster Keaton never was as big as the amazingly talented Charlie Chaplin, but Keaton is still amazing talented. His reflects an unusual dead pan emotion regularly but is often dragged into heroic action. It's a contradiction, but it worked. There is no dialogue in The General, it came out at the end of the silent era. The dialogue that is said is shown to us on screen, and rarely did they have it, or even need it. We are entertained the whole time throughout The General, we sympathize with our comical character and we want to see him achieve his goal.
                              After creating such a lovable character, who is funny and sweet, the writers put him into a more extreme position, as an action hero. The majority of the film follows him on the train, and he is either chasing or being chased. In a way it works as cat and mouse antics. There is a great deal of fun slapstick and the story simply has no problem with flow. The music incorporates sounds at times, which is genius, there is also a greatly gets is involved emotionally. This is an orchestra playing the perfect notes, at the perfect time.
                               All in all, The General blends action, adventure, comedy, and romance so damned well. This movie is so fantastic it is hard to find the words. It is fun for the whole family, with war violence kept to a minimum, and it surprises me how creative the whole crew behind this film is. The stunts are very risky for the actor, they are put endanger of injury, they love their job. There is also one of the most expensive stunts performed in the silent movie era in this film. Even around 90 years later I find these stunts to be eye candy. I don't like the modern CGI stuff like Transformers and The A-Team as much simply because it's not real. In The General we have real trains with actors in real danger, it looks beautiful almost like a stage play.
                            In the end, with shakespearian talent on the screen, and an impressive imagination, one of the greatest films in history was created. I loved this movie, even the modern audience would awe at it if they give it the chance. My only problem is that I get sad that there aren't many recent movies like this. Then again I doubt something like this would work for this time era.


Consensus: Perfect genre blend, fantastic, artistic performance,  beautifully enacted stunts all are shown on screen created by some of the greatest imagination in the history of film.

My Holidays: HALLOWEEN

In honor of Halloween I posted some pretty scary flicks you should look into. These films not only scared me but are excellent achievements in cinema.  Scare, Gore, Disturbing ratings are from Mild to Moderate to Extreme

20- Halloween
RATING: 3/5
SCARE: Moderate
GORE: Moderate
DISTURB: Moderate
COMIC: Moderate

19- Jack Frost
RATING: 2.5/5
SCARE: Mild
GORE: Moderate
DISTURB: Extreme
COMIC: Extreme

18- Drag Me To Hell
RATING: 3.5/5
SCARE: Mild
GORE: Moderate
DISTURB: Moderate
COMIC: Extreme

17- Zombieland
RATING: 4/5
SCARE: Mild
GORE: Moderate
DISTURB: Mild
COMIC: Extreme

16- Carrie
RATING: 3.5/5
SCARE: Moderate
GORE: Mild
DISTURB: Extreme
COMIC: Mild

15- Paranormal Activity
RATING: 4/5
SCARE: Extreme
GORE: Mild
DISTURB: Moderate
COMIC: Mild

14- The Human Centipede (First Sequence)
RATING: 3.5/5
SCARE: Moderate
GORE: Moderate
DISTURB: Extreme
COMIC: Moderate

13- Saw
RATING: 3.5/5
SCARE: Moderate
GORE: Extreme
DISTURB: Moderate
COMIC: Mild

12- Frailty
RATING: 4/5
SCARE: Moderate
GORE: Moderate
DISTURB: Extreme
COMIC: Mild

11- Dawn of the Dead
RATING: 4/5
SCARE: Moderate
GORE: Extreme
DISTURB: Mild
COMIC: Moderate

10- The Birds
RATING: 4.5/5
SCARE: Moderate
GORE: Mild
DISTURB: Moderate
COMIC: Mild

9- The Mist
RATING: 4/5
SCARE: Moderate
GORE: Extreme
DISTURB: Extreme
COMIC: Moderate

8- The Good Son
RATING: 4.5/5
SCARE: Mild
GORE: Mild
DISTURB: Extreme
COMIC: Mild

7- The Evil Dead
RATING: 3.5/5
SCARE: Moderate
GORE: Extreme
DISTURB: Extreme
COMIC: Extreme

6- The Exorcist
RATING: 4.5/5
SCARE: Extreme
GORE: Moderate
DISTURB: Extreme
COMIC: Mild

5- Jaws
RATING: 5/5
SCARE: Extreme
GORE: Moderate
DISTURB: Extreme
COMIC: Moderate

4- Signs
RATING: 4.5/5
SCARE: Extreme
GORE: Mild
DISTURB: Moderate
COMIC: Mild

3- Night of the Living Dead
RATING: 5/5
SCARE: Extreme
GORE: Moderate
DISTURB: Extreme
COMIC: Moderate

2- 28 Days Later..
RATING: 5/5
SCARE: Extreme
GORE: Extreme
DISTURB: Moderate
COMIC: Mild

1- The Thing
RATING: 5/5
SCARE: Extreme
GORE: Extreme
DISTURB: Moderate
COMIC: Moderate

My Articles: The World of Film, Fiction and Fiction.

The World of Film, Fiction and Fiction.


                    It's a very contradictory feeling that I enjoy criticizing film. For those who don't know I am first and foremost a screenplay writer, and I am currently enrolled at Full Sail University film school. The fact that I review movies also is very pleasantly ironic. The other day my History of Motion Picture Arts professor showed me the timeless classic Trip to the Moon. Pretty much timeless because it was one of the first movies ever made. 
                   In this class we occasionally get off topic by discussing what we just saw. Which included that and The Great Train Robbery at the time. I brought up the fact of how it must've been interesting in hindsight of the future what was being seen. We haven't been on the moon at this time, no one knew if we could go just yet.  From there the topic split into various tangents which brings me to the point of this article. When Birth of the Nation got brought up many people wondered how people at the time separated fact from fiction. The fact that it was a very racist film, could effect the way people saw things. From our professors personal perspective, you aren't supposed to ever take a movie seriously, not even documentary's.
                   It was only then I realized that I had the exact same belief as this man.  No movie can properly represent real life, this right here is real life, right now. Throughout my life I always thought the news was boring, I now realize that I was only partially right. I never get involved in politics because I feel the only way we can hear about what the hell is going on in Washington is through the media, which can be swayed in several ways. 
                   Let me see if I can explain this a little better. I loved Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 where he brought up many very negative actions performed by our president of the time, George Bush. Did I hate George Bush after I saw it? Nope, still didn't care about politics. Then why did I love this movie? Primarily because I loved the ambition of Michael Moore. I saw this world as a fictional America they discussed. The film was a character study on a fictional George Bush. Now that sounds very conservative of me, but if someone made a film bashing Obama, as well-made as this one, I would believe it to be about a fictional Obama as well.
                   Let me branch away from politics and discuss a more recent hit, The Social Network. Fantastic film that I rated 4.5/5  had Zuckerberg completely pissed, trying to hide it of course, I didn't even see how it showed him in much of a negative light, but that's a different story. I do believe, however, people are walking in to see this film and saying to themselves, this is the whole truth about the creation of facebook. They shouldn't have that mindset, it should be more along the lines of I am about to be entertained by a great movie.  Truth can be relevant passed down by word of mouth, no matter who is saying which words. 
                 I hope you all didn't have too much trouble understanding my angle in this blog. Basically my consensus for the whole thing is, Never take a movie seriously, watch it for it's main purpose which is entertainment. Maybe learn a couple things that can help you through your life. Which as far as you know is reality....or is it?

My Movie Review: Jackass 3-D

My Movie Review: Jackass 3-D
3.5/5

Opening Statement: The middle aged degenerates are back, this time in THREE DIMENSIONS! Knoxville, Wee-Man, Steve-O, Pontious, Lacy, Bam Margera, Dave England, Danger Ehren, and the rest of the crew document there social interacting through homoerotic activity, painful stunts, insensitive pranks, and overall hilarity.


What's Good: I'll get straight to the point for the Jackass fans, such as myself. I gagged in three skits, borderline vomiting. I laughed at nearly every skit, one particular skit caused tears to roll down my face from laughter. Wether or not you agree with what this crew is doing, it is IMPOSSIBLE not to laugh. When we really dive into what humor is and what it is about, Jackass contains all the elements. Calling it simply Shock Value as an insult will not cut it for a proper critique. This is one of the kind comedy you cannot find anywhere else, with some very odd male behavior and bonding. If you are somehow to uptight or pompous for Jackass, you can at least admire it as a documentary of this bizarre friendship between this group of men.


What's Bad: Jackass does a good job usually of balancing hilarious with gross with painful. It seemed they tilted a little further toward the gross aspect, the hilarity is what I enjoy, the pranks, and I always love a good stunt gone wrong. Gross is fine, but it kind of hurt after awhile. That's more of a personal opinion thing, that I don't believe many other people to agree with. In the end I found it better than the first Jackass, but not as good as the second. It is also sad to see that they are starting to get too old for the more hardcore stuff.


The Rant: I was too young to see the first Jackass when it was released, and I had to sneak in to see the second. I'm glad I finally got to see this one legally. On a side note, I brought up the debate of how there aren't any females in jackass, and how if you put them in the positions of these men, it would be porn. No doubt in my mind NC17 rated porn. Also probably a lot less funny. Being a complete idiot is a very manly thing to do, so I guess it's not a sexist thing that there are no women. It's more against men, which I am not offended whatsoever. Not really a rant just something to think about I guess.


Oscar Possibilities: I want to live in a world that one day will accept Jackass as a Documentary possibility, much better than half the documentaries that do get nominated.


Consensus: Knoxville and friends prove people wrong by not being too old. They are still being trampled, getting hit in the nuts, and having a damned good time going through all these bizarre adventures. A very hilarious documentary about friendship.

My Movie Review: Frozen

My Movie Review: Frozen
3/5

Opening Statement: Three young friends on a ski trip end up stuck on the ski lift during its final run. With the park not opening for another week, they have to brainstorm how to get off before they freeze to death. As frost bite comes in, packs of wolves await their death, the friends are running out of time.


What's Good: I was skeptical going in to say the least. The producers handle the budgeting for the film well, and the overall premise is ever so intriguing. You definitely do not want these characters to die, you pity them. There are some very intense scenes in this film. For a movie that had such a low budget they handled the action sequences well, cinematography with grace, and a nice tone of music. It's enjoyable to say the least.


What's Bad: A movie is a movie, Frozen leaves us with not just the claustrophobic scenario of being stuck on a ski lift but throws a new scenario at us, being the wolves. It was reasonable that the wolves would stick around briefly but not for as long as they did, it felt the writers couldn't find enough intensity just on the ski lift. I could write a story about a guy stuck under a table, but i'd have to add some other frightening element to increase drama too. Maybe this scenario just wasn't thick enough in depth? Other problems with the script included the dialogue and characterization. I pitied these characters and I rooted for them, however I didn't feel what I felt for Paul Conroy in Buried. Ultimately Frozen fails in ever aspect that Buried succeeded. Straying away from the comparison though, overall I just wanted more character drama. The first 30 minutes of the 1.5 hour film isn't even on the lift, it is just the teenage opening.


The Rant: None.


Oscar Possibilities: None.


Consensus: Stale performances inspired by a script that lacks characterization is the big fault for Frozen, a campy thrill ride in the claustrophobic genre. It's entirely watchable though, and does have disturbing elements that stay with you after it is over.

My Movie Review: Buried

My Movie Review: Buried
4/5

Opening Statement: Rodrigo Cortes directs usually comedic actor Ryan Reynolds into a very intense dramatic situation. Paul Conroy is our only seen character in this picture as we stay with his experience in being buried alive with nothing but a couple glow sticks, lighter, pocket knife, and most importantly a cell phone that unfortunately is dying.


What's Good: Ryan Reynolds gives without question the best performance of his career. Through these particular phone conversations we begin learning more about Conroy, what kind of protagonist is this? Spalding's screenplay keeps the character flawed but at the same time maintains the audiences sympathy toward him. You root for him every step of the way, you feel claustrophobic and you understand every single panic attack that comes his way. Cortes uses some eye candy cinematography that for the most part does the film great justice and helps the atmosphere of emotion. Not leaving the box was the most brilliant directorial decision. Cortes stayed true to Spalding's screenplay for the most part. Occasionally we question Conroy's actions but then we realize that we wouldn't act much different put in this scenario. Ultimately, Buried is a very VERY tragic story with very precise characterization for Conroy that ultimate pulls sympathy out from us. Brilliant originality in a film world filled with adaptations, remakes, reboots, and re-imaginings.


What's Bad: It's not a fun experience. It's a fantastic film that I will probably never see again. While it gives the audience an emotion that it wants to, and succeeds, those particular emotions are uncomfortable. Claustrophobia, fear, helplessness, and many more emotions swam through my body. Never a dull moment, but mostly you feel worried, you can't help this man because it is a movie he is about to meet a fate you can't prevent though you wish you could. These are the exact emotions the screenplay and movie called for and I wouldn't have it any other way. It's simply not fun, it is tragic, and it is an amazing experience I think you should have.


The Rant: Buried is a very original film. Originality doesn't come to often anymore. My rant today is mainly about criticism toward originality itself. For most critics a film can NOT be too normal or it is "cliche'" which is understandable, except that sometimes cliche could  be reprising a fairly positive response for example The Blind Side, I found this film to be a highly cliche sports flick, but I did like it mainly because the no matter how similar the heart was I still felt it. If it is too normal it is cliche, if a film is too original it is "pretentious." Pretentious and cliche are the most abused words from film critics. I do not believe anything can be pretentious in this day of age. I loved Richard Kelly's Southland Tales, critics didn't called it "pretentious" for me I liked it simply because there is nothing out there like it.  I do not believe in criticizing originality no matter how over the top the creator's imaginations are in a world where there are only a handful of original films a year.


Oscar Possibilities: Needs more recognition. However if it gets that it could get: Editing, Cinematography and the most likely would be Actor for Ryan Reynolds. (The Academy is strict though)


Consensus: Originally scripted and well-crafted Buried is a great experience and its nice to see Reynolds can really act. However, it is not a fun experience and I will probably never see it again.

My Movie Review: Catfish

My Movie Review: Catfish
3/5

Opening Statement: This either real or fake documentary is about a man ned Nev who has been associating with a family through facebook and phone calls. His brother and friend decide to make a documentary out of it, and when things start getting fishy (no pun intended) about this family they take a trip to see what, or who exactly they are.


What's Good: I am not going to spoil this film, don't let anyone spoil this film. If it is spoiled it is completely pointless to see. Plus the premise of the film is the suspense to finding out what exactly is going on with these people. Throughout Catfish I experienced a plethora of emotions. Mainly toward the end. The slick editing and filmmaking is  nicely done, I am convinced this a real story. If it turned out to be an "I'm Still Here" scenario I wouldn't actually be surprised, primarily cause whoever could write an ending like that deserves a handshake, a hug, yeah. ANYWAYS, this is what I like to call an experience film, because I knew that the ending was well talked about, and predicting several outcomes, I failed. This is a very emotional journey with a very emotional ending, in which your emotional response could vary, or be completely fucked up like mine was.


What's Bad: Unfortunately while there is a nice story here, and some nice edits, the substance lacks a bit. There is a lot of filler footage in this film, because if I wanted to I could tell you how this whole movie plays out in 2 or 3 sentences.  While the suspense is tight getting to the ending, and the ending overwhelms you, the rest feels unnecessary, and this movie does have a nice moral, a moral which I cannot tell you, but I think it would've been nicer if that moral was more reflected in this filler footage. 


The Rant: Real vs. Fake. I really don't see a reason to believe this film is fake, while the outcome is surprising and either over/underwhelming depending on your predictions. I will point out this it being fake would not impact my review in any manner, the morality tale has been told be it fable or not. With The Social Network same scenario, a lot had to be lost in translation from fact to film, thats how any adaptation of a historical event is. I'm sure Braveheart isn't how it exactly happened or Citizen Kane, however the audience isn't dumb, we know this. On the subject of Catfish you can either take the pro or con and it doesn't effect what the movie truly is, except I would give much more props to the writing. With The Social Network, that movie is fantastic, and the whole debate on whats fact and fiction needs to stop, it truly doesn't matter to how great the film was.


Oscar Possibilities: Best Documentary (if it gets enough publicity) 


Consensus: Catfish is less of a documentary, more of an experience, one that you can only thoroughly enjoy if the film is not spoiled to you. I am still thinking about the gut twisting emotional ending.