The Box (Review)

What I knew going in:
Cameron Diaz, James Marsden, and Robert Langella in a thriller about a woman who is given a choice:  Do nothing, or push a button.  When the button is pushed, someone you don't know dies and you receive 1 million dollars.

Hype:
Meh.  This looked like a 2009 version of Indecent Proposal.  One in which you don't know what the person is going to choose until the end, and you have no idea what the consequences of the choice are.  I though the movie would be all about the moral implications of the choice.

Opening Thoughts:
Holy Crap.  She pushed the button in like the first 20 minutes.  Up till that point it was exactly what I was expecting.  Then...  What was that?  Hunh?  CIA, NSA, NASA, FBI....  Okay, this film just took a major left turn...

Bottom Line:
Not at all what you think it is.  Not at all what the previews portray the plot to be about.  This is a Sci-Fi Thriller which should remind you of some of the old classics of the genre such as Collussus: The Forbin Project, and The Quiet Earth.  Without going into too much detail this film is wierd, creepy, and different.  It's not all perfect, and it is a little slow to get started, but in my book its something that any futurist and intellectual should watch.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0362478/

Ink (Review)

What I knew going in:
An indie Sci-Fi Action flick in which people going to sleep have their dreams affected by the forces of good or the forces of darkness for nefarious purposes.  No mainstream actors or directors in this one.  Just pure B movie fun.

Hype:
Hobo Ass - Lets face it, B movie's aren't exactly known for their quality.

Opening Thoughts:
Wow that is a very original effect.  The bad guys look genuinely creepy with this wierd window like special effect.  And the action is pretty good too. 

Bottom Line:
While you can see the thrust of the plot coming from a mile away, this is a pretty good film with enough originality to it that I can recommend it.  Its wierd, esoteric, and needed a better music director desperately, but shows a lot of promise.  Good job Double Edge.  I'll be watching out for your next film.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1071804/

Igor (Review)

What I knew going in:
John Cusack highlights an ensemble cast kids movie about the assistant to all of the Evil Scientists the world has known.

Hype:
Meh.  Its a kids movie and I am pre-screening it for my niece. 

Opening Thoughts:
Totally digging Scamper and Brian.  Its pretty funny so far. 

Bottom Line:
Kids.  Fun.  Enjoyed it.  Not much else to say.  Its nothing you haven't seen before but its good while it lasts.  Not so sure my niece will like it as there are some monstery scares in it and she's 7.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0465502/

Harry Brown (Review)

What I knew going in:
Michael Caine kicks ass and takes names revenge killing a bunch of British Hooligans and Drug Dealers who have killed his best friend.

Hype:
Meh.  I only found out about this movie via the internets and since I like a good revenge film and I know Michael Caine from all of his spy works I thought what the hey.

Opening Thoughts:
Introduction to the characters is boring as hell.  It has good character development though as Caine is getting darker and darker moving towards his old Marine persona. 

Bottom Line:
Its not half bad.  Harry's a badass, kicks some tail, and takes names.  What you want out of a revenge film is to see a normal mature calm male that turns into a savage killing machine as his emotional psyche is shattered by traumatic events.  The best recent films in this genre are Death Sentence, Punisher War Zone, and Man On Fire, but this one certainly isn't any worse than Taken or Law Abiding Citizen. 

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1289406/

The Rebound (Review)

What I knew going in:
Catherine Zeta-Jones and Justin Bartha in another Romedy.  Why do I do this to myself?  Maybe its because Romedies are the only things being released these days, especially around the holidays.

Hype:
Hobo Ass.  I don't think much more needs to be said.

Opening Thoughts:
There is a scene near the beginning of this film that is priceless.  When an Angry Zeta-Jones beats up on Bartha in a women's self defense class its money. 

Bottom Line:
Shockingly realistic.  Its got its laughs here and there, but mostly it hits the way life really is.... until we hit the overly sappy ending.   What has me going however, is something I'm not going to go into here.  If you know me you might ask me about it sometime.  The revelation is ... staggering.  In the meantime, if romedies are your thing you'll probably enjoy this one.  It won't rock your world or anything, but if I started listing the things I have done to pass 90 minutes of time...  well lets just say this wouldn't be a blog - it would be a shopping list of stupidity.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1205535/