Movie Review: This is the End

I can honestly say that I did not see this coming. I expected a fun but potentially dodgy time in the theaters. What I got was an incredibly funny comedy that is great whether you look at it as a whole or in parts. There is just something about this movie that is very appealing. It is crass, over the top, vulgar, funny, violent, and just utterly ridiculous, but it as this underlying thread of friendship and even something of a reflection on celebrity.

Reviews in Retrograde: The Big Hit

Critical Outcast isn't my first attempt at a website, I had a few stutter steps in the late 1990's and early 2000's. These attempts generated a whole bunch of poorly written, often very short and spoilerific reviews. I recently stumbled upon them in my archives and thought you may be interested in seeing some of these early attempts at writing. They are as they were then, I make no apologies for how bad or how short they are. Feel free to have at them with reckless abandon! I present to you: Reviews in Retrograde.

Blu-ray Review: 12 Rounds 2 - Reloaded

Four years ago the theaters around the country played host to a WWE Studios film called 12 Rounds. It was not a success, but apparently did well enough to garner a sequel, albeit of the direct to video variety, evidenced by the movie I am covering here. The movie starred wrestling star John Cena, making his second big screen appearance after 2006's The Marine. It was a decent time waster, an action flick reminiscent of 80's style fare. This sequel serves up the same formula but attempts to make it darker and just sucks the fun right out.

Movie Review: The Purge (2013)

When I first saw the trailer for The Purge, I thought it looked pretty darn good. Then I sat back and started to think about it and the results were not all that pretty. Just think about the real world logistics of the concept of legalized crime for one night out of the year. It is patently ridiculous. There is no way such a thing would work, it just makes no sense. So, I began to wonder how the would tell the tale. Then came word it only runs 85 minutes. Needless to say, my hopes dwindled.

Reviews in Retrograde: The Black Hole

Critical Outcast isn't my first attempt at a website, I had a few stutter steps in the late 1990's and early 2000's. These attempts generated a whole bunch of poorly written, often very short and spoilerific reviews. I recently stumbled upon them in my archives and thought you may be interested in seeing some of these early attempts at writing. They are as they were then, I make no apologies for how bad or how short they are. Feel free to have at them with reckless abandon! I present to you: Reviews in Retrograde.

Hudson Horror Show 7: The Experience

So. Hudson Horror Show 7 is now in the rearview mirror. Parting such sweet sorrow. As the show enters its fourth year, I have come to realize that their two shows a year are among my most anticipated of the year. My interest was initially about the movies, but it as changed as the sow has grown. It is now as much about the movies as it is about the experience.

Movie Review: After Earth

So, let me get this straight. Will Smith turned down Django Unchained, a role that was written with him in mind, in order to embark on this project dripping with nepotism, personally hiring M. Night Shyamalan along the way? Sounds like when he turned down the role of Neo in The Matrix in favor of Wild, Wild West. It seems to me that whenever his instincts guide him in one direction, he should go in the other. Much like Wild Wild West, After Earth is not a good movie.

Movie Review: The Alien Factor

I like to think that I am open to low budget, no budget, old, local, independent movies. I think I am generally fair when watching these movies, but man, I am being tested. Perhaps I am not as open as I thought I was. This Sci-Fi Invasion bosses challenge is truly testing me. There are a boatload of incredibly boring and bad movies here that I am struggling to get through. The latest movie is no exception. It is called The Alien Factor and is just really bad.

Movie Review: Invaders from Space

I will not quit on you, Sci-Fi Invasion box set. No matter what kind of lame, bizarre, and boring junk you throw at me, I will keep coming back until the last movie is done. It may take some time, but I will get through. I just have to look at each movie as an opportunity, a new experience, and hopefully I will walk away with something. Good or bad, every movie adds to your experience. This latest experience is pretty unique. I cannot truthfully say I completely disliked it, but I cannot exactly recommend it either.

Reviews in Retrograde: Bang

Critical Outcast isn't my first attempt at a website, I had a few stutter steps in the late 1990's and early 2000's. These attempts generated a whole bunch of poorly written, often very short and spoilerific reviews. I recently stumbled upon them in my archives and thought you may be interested in seeing some of these early attempts at writing. They are as they were then, I make no apologies for how bad or how short they are. Feel free to have at them with reckless abandon! I present to you: Reviews in Retrograde.

Movie Review: I Drink Your Blood

So, I was scanning my DVD shelves looking for something to watch. I was looking for something I had not watched before, of which I have a number. I was hoping for something a little older, a little lower budget, perhaps a little grimy and sleazy. My gaze landed on a little movie called I Drink Your Blood. That would certainly seem to fit the bill. That 1970 film found its way into my collection a ear or two back when I picked it up at a Hudson Horror Show event. I am not sure why it's taken me this long to check it out.

Movie Review: Fast & Furious 6

Whenever I learn that another Fast and Furious movie is being made, I cannot help but shake my head. It is a franchise that just refuses to die, and in some ways is actually improving itself. I have never been the biggest fan of the series and can scarcely remember any specifics from earlier films. Still, here we are, six movies in and a franchise that is experiencing more life now that when it first appeared. So confident are they in the continued relevancy that they leave this movie off with a pretty substantial tease for a seventh film. When was the last time a seventh movie in a franchise (not based on a books series) ad this much anticipation?

Movie Review: The Hazing

Cruising Netflix for something to watch and I stumbled across The Hazing, also known as Dead Scared. At first glance, it looks like just another low budget horror movie. You'd be right, that is exactly what it is. It is a good thing that doesn't necessarily mean bad, however, you actually need to watch the thing to find that out. It's a good thing I am here to take the bullet for you, and let you know if any of these are worth watching.

Movie Review: The Hangover Part III

So, it's been four years since the first Hangover movie was released to theaters. I remember it quite well. The movie was hilarious and offered an alternative to the Judd Apatow productions that were dominating at the time. We were witness to the formation of the Wolfpack and the early stages of Bradley Cooper and Zach Galifianakis' rise to prominence. The movie was great one and one I will likely always enjoy. The runaway hit assured us of one thing, sequels were to follow. 2011 saw Part II arrive and it was DOA. Now the third outing is upon us, did they learn their lesson from the second film?