DVD Review: Where the Dead Go to Die

Where the Dead Go to Die is a trio of loosely connected stories of demons, dismemberment, blood, monsters, gore, violence, and weird sex. On top of that, it is animated, which was probably the better way to go. When you consider (much less, see) some of the things are depicted here, it would be virtually unreleasable had it actually been made as a live action film. As it stands, this is going to have a hard enough time finding an audience. I like weird and crazy stuff, but there is something about this that goes to the edge of the weird and crazy and then gleefully jumps into the abyss.

Sights and Sounds of Monster Mania XXI

If you weren't at Monster Mania, you missed out...

CritCast #14: The Monster Mania XXI Preview Edition

Monster Mania XXI is next week and I wanted to give you a quick preview:

Blu-ray Review: Martha Marcy May Marlene

I can honestly say that I had no idea what to expect from this movie when I sat down in that theater. The trailer made the story look rather intriguing, a troubled girl with a mysterious past and an uncertain future seeking to find her way again. The trailer gives no hints as to how she got to be that way, but it did make me want to see more (the sign of a good trailer, right?). On top of that, there is the presence of John Hawkes who always seems to elevate the material, plus he delivers a rather haunting song. The experience I had in the theater was pretty amazing. The film is haunting, well executed and will sit with you once the credits have stopped rolling. It was so good, in fact, that it landed a spot on my top 10 for 2011 list. It is now here on Blu-ray.

Blu-ray Review: Blade of Kings

A bunch of years ago I learned of a movie called The Twins Effect. It was a big budget summer action vehicle that pitted pop stars The Twins (Charlene Choi and Gillian Chung) against vampires. It's star power was padded with Edison Chen, Eking Cheng, and a special appearance by Jackie Chan. The movie was fun but shallow. It proved popular enough upon its release in 2003 that a sequel was quickly put into production. The result was The Twins Effect II, again starring The Twins and banking on their popularity. Joining them again are Edison Chen and Jackie Chan, they are joined by the likes of Tony Leung Ka-Fai and Donnie Yen. Quite the star studded affair. The story has nothing to do with the first one but they are both rather fun in a simple way.

Blu-ray Review: Ocean Heaven

Generally speaking, I cannot say I have ever watched a Jet Li movie for the acting. I never looked at him as much of an actor, I mean my earliest exposures to him did not exactly reveal a charismatic leading man. What he could do was kick enormous amounts of ass with his impressive martial arts skills. My first time seeing him was his Hollywood debut, Lethal Weapon 4. He did not say much but he certainly made an impression. Many of his Hong Kong films rank among the top martial arts movies ever made. Now we have him in a purely dramatic role in Ocean Heaven.

Blu-ray Review: The Deadly Spawn

Like have said about so many other films in the past, why did it take me so long to see The Deadly Spawn? Considering my enjoyment of low horror and gore, of any budget level, it would seem logical to assume that I had seen this movie a long time ago. Well, I hadn't and I regret that. It isn't that I had never heard of The Deadly Spawn, it is just that the opportunity never availed itself to me. In any case, Elite Entertainment has graced us with its Blu-ray debut in nothing less than a Millennium Edition. This is my first exposure to this slice of indie-horror and I have to say it is quite a positive one. This is a cross between a 50's era creature feature and an 80's era gore fest made on a shoestring budget. It is the sort of thing that could have been terrible, and some probably think it is, but it you are anything like me you will see it differently.

Movie Review: Act of Valor

Act of Valor is an interesting release. It is one that really only has one thing going for it and the studio latched onto that and used it as pretty much the sole selling point. It is a movie that I was really only interested in seeing for one reason, that being the sole selling point. If you did not already know, and if you have seen any of the advertisements for it how could you not, the bog selling point of this is the involvement of active duty Navy SEALs. It is certainly am intriguing selling point to say the least. Their involvement would lead one to believe there to be a higher degree of authenticity to the action. Indeed there is.

Movie Review: Wanderlust

This is a movie I knew I was interested in seeing, but I cannot say that I had all that much hope for it. With this second tier Hollywood comedies it is generally a goo bet to keep your expectations in check. It doesn't help that the trailers, and advertising campaign in general, seemed a little lackluster. It just did not look all that interesting, but it does have Paul Rudd and writer/director David Wain going for it. Funny thing is that I felt pretty much the same way about Wain's last movie, Role Models, and that one exceeded my expectations. This new film from the former Stella and The State cast member is entertaining and expectation exceeding in pretty much the same way.

Oscar 2012 Predictions

I know I recorded a video yesterday about Oscar predictions, but I felt the need to. Get a quick and dirty rundown of my picks for tonights festivities. Below you will find my pick to win, my want to win, and perhaps one or two overlooked for nomination. No commentary, jut a check list to keep track of how I do tonight.

CritCast : Boring Oscar talk.

I recorded some Oscar predictions. They are boring.

Blu-ray Review: Three Outlaw Samurai

It's kind of funny, as I sat watching Three Outlaw Samurai, I cold not help but feel like I as watching a spaghetti western. In particular, this film has a feel similar to Sergio Leone's The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. One might even suggest that this was influenced by the classic western, that is until you realize that this came out before Leone's film (1964 versus 1966). Makes you wonder just who was influencing whom, it feels a lot like directors such as Leone, Akira Kurosawa, and with this film Hideo Gosho, that they were almost working together and finding similar paths through their influences.

Blu-ray Review: Doctor Who - The Doctor, the Widow, and the Wardrobe

When it comes to Doctor Who, I must admit to large amounts of ignorance. I have been aware of the show for a long time, I can probably track it all the way back to my early childhood. I recall stumbling across episodes on PBS or some such network and I would watch; however, I never really absorbed it. I liked it but it never attracted me in the way that, say, Star Trek did. I never felt compelled to seek it out, I would watch but I never went out of my way. Then the series was revived in a rather substantial fashion in 2005 with Christopher Eccleston and it was good and I loved it. Then David Tennant stepped into the TARDIS in 2006 and I enjoyed the first few seasons but then lost track. Now, with this release I am officially introduced to the Matt Smith version of the Doctor.

Blu-ray Review: War of the Arrows

Coming from South Korea, War of the Arrows delivers a fast paced action yarn with the look and setting of a historical epic. This film, from writer/director Han-min Kim, was a box office smash in its home country, taking the top spot for year's gross. It was also a critical success garnering numerous acting accolades. It has been brought to American shores courtesy of Well Go USA Entertainment. It is sure to not reach the box office and critical heights it enjoyed in South Korea, but it is one that really shouldn't be ignored. It may not be the most authentic in terms of its history nor as visceral as it could be in its action, but what it does do is provide a pulse pounding action yarn that is somewhat reminiscent of Apocalypto.