CD Review: Filter - The Very Best Things (1995-2008)

In 1993, when Trent Reznor was recording the Nine Inch Nails' classic Downward Spiral, guitarist Richard Patrick, who joined the band as a touring musician in 1989, chose to leave the band. On the surface this would seem to be a foolhardy decision, as the band was just about to blow up. NIN was gaining popularity behind the strength of Pretty Hate Machine and they were going nowhere but up for the foreseeable future. Still, Richard Patrick had a plan, he had his own artistic avenues that he wanted to travel that he would not be able to had he stayed within Rezonr's confines. That same year he formed Filter with Brian Liesegang, who would play guitar and handle much of the programming.

It would be a couple of years, but 1995 saw the band's first release, Shortbus, which was carried by the wild success of "Hey Man, Nice Shot." It was a song that had me instantly hooked from the mellow opening drum and bass groove. The song made great use of the "slow, fast, slow" song structure that became prevalent all across the rock and metal spectrum of the 1990's. It was a song that became so omnipresent that I could not listen to it for a long time. It seemed that it was in about every movie trailer for years (I will always associate it with Tales from the Crypt Presents: Demon Knight) and it became played out. It also happens to be the opening track for this "best of" collection. What would be better?

Listening to the song now, for the first time in a long time, reminds me of just how cool it was and continues to be. The song really is quite magnificent. No, it is not one of the best of all time, but there is something to be said of its ability, and many of Filters hits, to exist almost outside of time where it is always accessible, yet still a little bit edgy.

That is a trend I see play out across the band's catalog. The songs seem equally at home as part of a mainstream rock radio play list as they would on an edgier underground rock set. Sure, not all of the songs are "heavy" but they all have a distinct style, strong technical and emotional quotients, and are downright infectious.

Including their 1995 debut, Filter has only released four albums, including 2008's Anthems for the Damned. Still, they have more than enough material to fill a collection such as this. If you are looking for an entry point for the group, I would be hard pressed to find a better overview of the group than this. It covers the heavy and the soft sides of Richard Patrick and helps bring the talent involved into clear focus. You will always know if you are listening to a Filter track.

If there is one thing I do not like about The Very Best Things, it is that the songs are not presented in chronological order. I have always preferred it that way, as it is easier to listen to a band's progression to listen to them in order. In any case, all four of the band's studio albums are represented here, along with an EPs worth of soundtrack offerings.

Two songs from 1995's Shortbus are here. There is the previously mentioned "Hey Man, Nice Shot" as well is the aggressive track "Dose." If you were going to pick only two from the debut, these would be the ones to get. The former is arguably their most recognizable song, while the later was a strong second single for the album.

The years between their debut and sophomore releases saw their prolific soundtrack collaborations gain steam, a number are represented here. 1996 saw the release of "Jurassitol," which originally appeared on the Crow: City of Angels soundtrack, as well as "Thanks Bro" from the X-Files tribute album Songs in the Key of X. 1997 had the band the band collaborating with The Crystal Method on "(Can't You) Trip Like I Do," which hails from the Spawn soundtrack. Finally, in 1998 we got a cover of Harry Nilsson's "One" on the soundtrack to X-Files: Fight the Future. All of these songs have the distinct Filter sound and are worthy of being counted among their canon.

1999's Title of Record is the best represented album with five of the fourteen tracks coming from it. Among them is what is probably their biggest radio hit "Take a Picture," the acoustic tinged mellow rocker. The others included are the albums first single "Welcome to the Fold," as well as "I'm Not the Only One," "Skinny," and "The Best Things." This album s deceptively good. The first listen may reveal an album considerably mellower than its debut, but listen a little more and let the emotional lyrical content wash over you, or just recognize the strong songwriting exhibited throughout.

The Amalgamut was released in 2002 and has two tracks here, including the hit single "Where Do We Go from Here," which stand on its own, but reminds one of the high points of Title of Record. The other offering from this album is "The Only Way (Is the Wrong Way)."

Their most recent release, Anthems for the Damned is represented by that releases lead single "Soldiers of Misfortune." This song has that signature Filter sound, but it sounds a but less processed than songs of the past, and also strikes a political chord with its content. Still, it is actually a pretty good song and I may have to check out the rest of the album.

Filter may not be the band on the lips of the movers and shakers, but those in the know, know just how good this band is. Richard Patrick and whoever he surrounds himself with should not be underestimated, although I feel I may have done just that over the years (I wasn't even aware of the new album until well after its release). This collection helps remind me of what helped them rise to fame more than a decade ago and just why their music stands the test of time.

There are no new or exclusive tracks to entice the longtime fan to pick this up, but it is filled to the brim for the curious. New to Filter? Start here.

Recommended.

Saturday Morning Watchmen

This is some funny stuff!

New Movies and Box Office Predictions: Watchmen

February may have closed with a whimper, but it was still a record setting month in what has been an explosive year at the box office. The economy may be terrible, but we are still going to the movies in record numbers. March looks to get the blockbuster season off to an early start with the much hyped Watchmen. To say expectations are high would be an understatement. I am really looking forward to this and truly hope not to be let down.

Watchmen. (2009, 163 minutes, R, science fiction, trailer) I have been looking forward to this from the very first moment I heard it was entering production. When it was announced that Zack Snyder was signed to direct, I was even more intrigued. The director has proven to have a good eye and I had been impressed with his prior outings, 300 and the Dawn of the Dead remake. As the film neared completion and some snips began to appear, I became even more excited over its impending release. Then the lawsuit came around and the ugliness between Fox and Warner Bros. threatened to blindside the project and put it on the shelf. Fortunately, an agreement was reached before the release date had to be changed. Now it is hear and I eagerly look forward to seeing it on the IMAX screen.

The movie is an adaptation of a graphic novel said to be the greatest ever created. It was originally released in 1986 and was created by writer Alan Moore (who hates Hollywood and refuses to be associated with any of his adapted works, of course, I would not want to be associated with The League of Extraordinary Gentleman either) and Dave Gibbons. It has long been said to be unfilmable, now that notion can be put to the test. Early word seems to be split.

I admit that I do not know a lot about the novel, but plan on reading it following seeing the film. The story is set in an alternate 1985 with the world on the brink of nuclear war and where superheroes have been forced out of their spandex. However, the murder of a hero brings another hero around with some questions. I am sure that is overly simplistic, but I did not want to read too much about what happens.

The screenplay was written by David Hayter (X2, X-Men, Scorpion King) and Alex Tse. The cast includes Jackie Earle Haley, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Malin Ackerman, Patrick Wilson, Billy Crudup, Matthew Goode, and Carla Gugino.

Trailer:


Story Introducton with Zack Snyder and Dave Gibbons


Character Clip: Ozymandias


Character Clip: Rorshach


Character Clip: Dr. Manhattan


Interview: Jackie Earle Haley


Also opening this week, but not near me:

• 12
• 13B
• The Blue Toothed Virgin
• Dhoondte Reh Jaoge
• Everlasting Moments
• Explicit Ills
• The Horesman
• Phoebe in Wonderland
• Shuttle

Box Office Predictions
The last weekend of February went out on a whimper. I predict March is going to get out of the gate with a bang. Watchmen is all but guaranteed of making a killing. The big question is just how high will it fly? I want to say it will fly really high, but I am not sure. It is an R rated film and those do not generally get giant openings. Still, I have some faith as the hype machine has been in full swing and there have been some highly positive reviews coming out, such as a four star offering from Roger Ebert. That should help push it up a little bit.

Here is how I think it could play out.

Rank	Title	Box Office
	Watchmen	$68 million
2	Slumdog Millionaire	$10million
3	Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail	$12 million
4	Taken	$9 million
5	Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience	$6.5 million
6	He's Just Not That Into You	$6 million
7	Coraline	$4.75 million
8	Paul Blart: Mall Cop	$4.5 million
9	Confessions of a Shopaholic	$3 million
10	Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li	$2.5 million

The Joy of Unsalted Popcorn

Popcorn is a glorious thing. It is the one snack that goes hand in hand with my love for the movies. The funny thing is, there is no one point in time that I can point to and definitively say, "This is the moment when I knew I loved this hot popped vegetable." Actually, I am not sure anyone would ever say that; still, there is no diminishing my love for the snack.

I was walking through the lobby of the local Regal Cinemas (the best theater in the area, hands down) when I noticed a new sign. The sign was touting a new addition to their concessions menu: salt-free popcorn. I was actually a little shocked, but in a good way. I never thought I would see this particular item up for sale.

Theaters tend to take at least a little bit of pride in their popcorn. I am sure you all have been to a couple of different theater chains, but have you noticed the difference in the flavor of the different popcorns? I do. There was actually a time when popcorn quality was a factor I considered when I decided where to go see the latest releases. Yes, I do realize that sounds a little bit weird.

Each theater/chain has their own additive of salt and seasonings that is added to the popper with each new batch. It is this powdery substance that gives the popcorn that uneven yellowing and gets salt into every nook and cranny. The next time you are on line waiting for your favorite bagged snack, watch when they add the popcorn. There will be a scoop of kernels followed by a small scoop of the additive. I have no problem with this, despite the obvious health risks that comes with eating just about any kind of snack. I actually like the Regal chain's flavor. AMC's popcorn is also pretty good. Both of those are better than a couple of other locals.

I have also been to theaters that offered other flavor enhancers. There was a theater I went to once, a few years back, in White Plains, New York, that offered cheese, Parmesan garlic, and caramel flavoring. There were "flavor stations" with the additives in a saltshaker-like container. Believe me, the caramel was quite tasty.

All of these different flavorings bring me back to this unsalted option. It made me think about how much we attempt to cover the flavor of any given item. You have a baked potato, but you load it up with sour cream and chives. You have a steak and you slather it with barbecue sauce or ketchup (blasphemy!), and you have popcorn and you cover it in salt and golden flavoring (it isn't really butter at all). All this does is distract you from the pure flavor of the base item.

Whatever happened to enjoying food for what it is without covering it up with something else? I actually love the taste of pure, untainted popcorn. I used to have a stovetop popcorn popper. It looked like a big aluminum pot with a lid and a crank handle. I would use half the needed oil (it is a little healthier and still does the job) and pop up some unadulterated corn and eat it as is, sans salt or butter.

Many scoff at me and my "bland" popcorn, but I loved it. The taste of popcorn does not need any covering up. Sure, it is not the most flavorful of snacks in this form, but it has a clean taste that really hits the spot. I recommend you try it.

Regal's offering, whether it be this location or the entire chain, is a fantastic addition to their menu and I hope it lasts. I will have to be sure to commend management for the decision. I have noticed that when I do eat it, I do not feel as weird after polishing off the bag, and I do not have a shirt covered in salt!

There is another aspect to this offering that goes beyond my liking the unencumbered taste; it has to do with health reasons. You see, if you did not already know, salt is bad for you. It is a key ingredient in high blood pressure, which is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease. Perhaps this is a reason for the offering?

The last thing we need is for movie lovers keeling over in the theater face-first into a jumbo bucket. In this day and age of obesity in every age group, we need to start at least trying to eat a little healthier.

I am as guilty as the next guy when it comes to poor eating habits. I am far from what you would call svelte, and am among the obese of the nation. I admit this as freely as I admit to trying to make a difference. It is a slow battle and my willpower is often very weak. This may be a small step, but it is a step nonetheless. Unsalted popcorn, in addition to being free from sodium, also has a lower fat and calorie count, making it a little easier on the conscience to eat.

So, in the end, if you love popcorn as much as I do, try it unsalted. It may not have the same flavor pop as those kernels with the salt and the butter, but it is a great snack and healthier, too!

DVD Review: The Haunting of Molly Hartley

"When is a haunting not a haunting? Give up? When it's The Haunting of Molly Hartley!"

That's how I began my review of this movie when I saw it on the big screen back in November of 2008. If you could not tell from that opening line, I cannot say I particularly cared for the teen-centric horror film. It is a film that tries to build up a creepy atmosphere and tell a suspenseful tale that feels all too real. Unfortunately, they forgot to deliver characters of a screenplay that makes sense. With that said, you are probably wondering why I chose to revisit it on DVD if I though that low of it.

Every once in a while I will come across a movie that fails to deliver on the big screen, but when watched at home on the smalls screen. Granted, it doesn't happen all that often, and can often have the reverse effect. Unfortunately, The Haunting of Molly Hartley has pretty much stayed at the level of lameness that it was at after our first encounter.

The target audience is clearly not the horror fan, new or old. The best I can gather is that it is aimed at teenage girls who don't watch many horror movies, and their boyfriends looking to give them a little jump. I guess it could be deemed a success on this level, but even then it is a rather dull affair that is not scary or suspenseful, has an ending that makes little sense, and does not even contain the haunting tat the title boasts.

Considering how lame the movie is, it actually has a great opening scene (I'll leave that to you to discover). It is too bad that every scene that comes after just gets a little worse than the one before it. Yes, this is a terrible movie and not one I can really recommend to anyone, but if you should choose to endure, let it be known that it is not nearly the worst film ever made, although you may want to say so when the credits run.

As the story begins, we are introduced to Molly and her father. They have just moved to a new town to start over after Molly's mother is institutionalized following an attempted murder with the business end of a pair of scissors. Molly is now faced with fitting in at a new school while dealing with some hallucinations. The film wants to be about Molly being haunted, what with her hearing and seeing things, nosebleeds, and the usual teen angsty "woe is me" stuff. However, it seems to be more about religious fanaticism and mental illness.

I guess the titular haunting could reference her being haunted by her past, but that only helps it make a little more sense without making the film any better. There is no haunting in the supernatural sense to be found and that is a shame. Instead of a ghost story, watch Molly make friends with the outsider, the evangelical Christian, and the school hunk. We never get to learn much about any of these characters and have little reason to care about any of them.

I know I have not given you much of the plot, but it is such a terrible story set in a world populated with bad actors. The character motivations are fluid to the point of non-existence. They seem to act as expected until the plot requires a complete turn. It is bad to the point of not caring one way or the other.

Audio/Video. The disk I have is a pre-release copy and not finalized product, so I cannot comment on how they are, as this may not be completely reflect finalized product. To that end, the audio sounded fine, but the widescreen video seemed a bit noisier than I am used to. I hope the final disk looks better than this.

Extras. The release has a series of interviews among the extras. None of them are all that in depth, more along the lines of fluffy EPK-style interviews.

Bottomline. I hoped that my reaction would be different, but it was not to be. This is not a good movie no matter which way you slice it. The acting, direction, and writing are all poor and if I ever have to watch this again, it will be too soon.

Not Recommended.

A Plea For Purging - Malevolence

This Christian metal/hardcore act, hailing from Tennessee, is readying the release of their sophomore album, Depravity. The first cut is called "Malevolence" and they have just unveiled the video for it. I like the tune, but the video is terrible.

Papa Roach - Lifeline (live)

This live cut was recorded at a Crue Fest stop an features a new Papa Roach tune from their forthcoming album. It sounds incredibly.... lame. I really liked Infest, it was nothing terribly original, but it had a poppy/nu-metal style that was rather infectious. They have been going downhill ever since.

The Informers - Trailer, Stills, Poster

I have never heard of this book before. The trailer makes it look rather interesting, although I am not quite sure what it is about. It is adapted from the novel of the same name by the author, Bret Easton Ellis, who I know from American Psycho. It is once again set in the 1980's and has a pretty good cast. In the film, you will see Billy Bob Thornton, Kim Basinger, Winona Ryder, Mickey Rourke, Jon Foster, Amber Heard, Rhys Ifans, Chris Isaak, Austin Nichols, Lou Taylor Pucci, Mel Raido, Brad Renfro(RIP).

The Haunting in Connecticut - Motion Poster

I rally hope that this movie delivers. The trailer is actually creepy, and this new online motion poster is rather disturbing. (it never stops playing, so after you check it out, refresh the page, that will get it to stop)

Based on a chilling true story, Lionsgate's THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT charts one family's terrifying, real-life encounter with the dark forces of the supernatural. When the Campbell family moves to upstate Connecticut, they soon learn that their charming Victorian home has a disturbing history: not only was the house a transformed funeral parlor where inconceivable acts occurred, but the owner's clairvoyant son Jonah served as a demonic messenger, providing a gateway for spiritual entities to crossover.

Now unspeakable terror awaits, when Jonah, the boy who communicated with the dead, returns to unleash a new kind of horror on the innocent and unsuspecting family.

Green Lantern: First in Flight - Cover Art, Press Release

It is not coming until July, but GL is getting his own film in DC's follow up to their recent Wonder Woman release. See the cover art and press release below.



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

world renowned DC SUPER HERO EMBARKS
ON HIS INITIAL MISSION IN
GREEN LANTERN: FIRST FLIGHT
FROM warner home video on JULY 28, 2009!

Emmy Nominees Christopher Meloni & Victor Garber Top Stellar Voice Cast for
Fifth DC Universe Animated Original Movie


BURBANK, CA, (February 27, 2008) – The fabric of intergalactic justice is threatened – until Hal Jordan arrives for his initial mission – in the animated Green Lantern: First Flight, the fifth entry in the popular DVD series of DC Universe Animated Original PG-13 Movies. A co-production of Warner Premiere, DC Comics and Warner Bros. Animation, the illuminated hero’s first-ever full-length animated film is set for release by Warner Home Video on July 28, 2009. Green Lantern: First Flight will be available as a special edition 2-disc version on DVD and Blu-Ray™ Hi-Def .

Acclaimed actor Christopher Meloni (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit) fills the lead voice of Hal Jordan aka Green Lantern. Meloni is joined by fellow Emmy Award nominee Victor Garber (Milk, Titanic) as the villainous Sinestro, Tricia Helfer (Battlestar Galactica) as the voice of Boodikka, and Michael Madsen (Reservoir Dogs) as Kilowog.

Produced by animation legend Bruce Timm, Green Lantern: First Flight is helmed by heralded director Lauren Montgomery (Wonder Woman, Superman Doomsday) and scripted by four-time Emmy Award-winning writer Alan Burnett (The Batman).

Green Lantern: First Flight finds Hal Jordan recruited to join the Green Lantern Corps and placed under the supervision of respected senior Lantern Sinestro. The earthling soon discovers his mentor is actually the central figure in a secret conspiracy that threatens the philosophies, traditions and hierarchy of the entire Green Lantern Corps. Hal must quickly hone his newfound powers and combat the treasonous Lanterns within the ranks to maintain order in the universe.

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Green Lantern: First Flight - 2 Disc Special Edition versions will include incredible bonus features such as:

Over three hours of extra content

 Two Featurettes

Digital Copy Download

Widescreen (1.78:1)

Two Episodes of Justice League hand-picked by animation legend Brice Timm

Green Lantern: First Flight Blu-Ray versions will include all the great extras as the 2-disc
Special Edition as well as an additional two episodes of Justice League picked by Bruce Timm.

“Warner Premiere along with our partners at DC and Warner Home Video has enjoyed great success with the DC Universe titles, and we’re proud to present this first feature-length animated Green Lantern film,” said Diane Nelson, President, Warner Premiere.  “‘First Flight’ is a compelling story and a great vehicle to tell this iconic character’s story to both new and longtime fans.”

“In all of his incarnations, Green Lantern has stood as a fan favorite, and Warner Home Video is excited to provide fans with the character’s first full-length animated adventure,” said Amit Desai, WHV Vice President of Family, Animation & Sports Marketing. “Green Lantern was the perfect hero to follow movies featuring Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the entire Justice League.”

“Warner Bros. Animation is known for creating outstanding animated properties and has a legacy built upon some of the greatest characters ever imagined,” said Warner Bros. Television President Peter Roth, who also oversees television animation for the Studio. “Producer Bruce Timm and his creative team continue that rich tradition with this terrific DVD feature.”


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“As one of the true core DC Super Heroes, Green Lantern has captured the imagination of pop culture enthusiasts with his illuminatingly human approach to justice throughout the universe,” said Gregory Noveck, Senior VP ­ Creative Affairs, DC Comics. “Alan Burnett’s script captures the essence of DC’s canon of Green Lantern tales, and provides a fine launching point for future stories with this character.”

Apart from this animated release, Warner Bros. Pictures is currently in pre-production on a new “Green Lantern” theatrical motion picture, to be directed by Martin Campbell, bringing the popular DC Comics super hero to the big screen for the first time.

About Warner Premiere:
Warner Premiere is Warner Bros. Entertainment’s new direct-to-consumer production company focused on the development, production and marketing of feature-length content, as well as short form digital content for the growing home entertainment market. Warner Premiere is committed to being at the creative forefront in the evolution of quality product in the direct-to-DVD business and the digital space, creating material that exemplifies the commitment to story, production and brand equity for which Warner Bros. is known.

About Warner Home Video:
With operations in 90 international territories Warner Home Video, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, commands the largest distribution infrastructure in the global video marketplace.  Warner Home Video's film library is the largest of any studio, offering top quality new and vintage titles from the repertoires of Warner Bros. Pictures, Turner Entertainment, Castle Rock Entertainment, HBO Home Video and New Line Home Entertainment.

About DC Comics:
DC Comics, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world and home to such iconic characters as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the Sandman. These DC Super Heroes and others have starred in comic books, movies, television series (both animated and live-action) and cyberspace, thrilling audiences of all ages for generations. DC Comics’ Web site is located at www.dccomics.com.

GREEN LANTERN and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © DC Comics.
(s09)






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About Warner Bros. Animation:
Warner Bros. Animation has been producing award-winning original animation since 1930, when it released its first cartoon, “Sinkin' in the Bathtub.” Since then, Warner Bros. Animation’s characters have set the standard for innovative, quality animation. Producing for network and cable television, online, home entertainment and feature films both domestically and internationally, Warner Bros. Animation is highly respected for its creative and technical excellence, as well as maintaining the studio’s rich cartoon heritage. Warner Bros. Animation also oversees the creative use of, and production of animated programming based on classic animated characters from the Hanna-Barbera and DC Comics libraries. Warner Bros. Animation is one of the most honored animation studios in history, garnering a grand total of six Academy Awards®, 35 Emmy® Awards, the George Foster Peabody Award, an Environmental Media Award, a Parents’ Choice Award, a Humanitas Award, two Prism Awards and 20 Annie Awards (honoring excellence in animation).

The Last House on the Left - Poster, Stills

The remake of Wes Craven's gritty debut feature is just around the corner. I am actually looking forward to this. If it can capture half of the discomfort generated by the original, it will be a success. Heck, better dialogue could make this a success. I like what I have seen so far. Here are some stills and the poster:

Movie Review: Street Fighter - The Legend of Chun-Li

Way back in 1987 a game arrived in arcades that would go on to spawn a series that influence a generation of gamers and leave an indelible mark on virtually every fighting game that has come since. It is a game I have never played in any form. In 1991 the sequel was released, advancing on what the original began and expanding what is possible in a fighting game. This was the one I played, the only one of the series. I wasn't terribly good at it, but I was always game to give it a go. The games proved so popular as to spawn a live action film in 1994, starring Jean Claude Van Damme and featuring the last big screen appearance by Raul Julia. The film was not well received. Since then, the game series has been going strong and has now spawned a new film, not connected to the original game.

Among online communities the new movie has sparked much debate not only about its quality, or lack there of, but about its adherence to canon. There are people who argue both ways, with no one able to produce rock solid evidence that they are right. I never played the game for the story, aside from who the "good guys" were and who the "bad guys" were, plus one M. Bison being the main bad guy. Seriously, sometimes discussion of canon within a series can get a little out of hand. If a film or show is part of a running series, it sure better follow the canon; however, there is another alternative. Different creators can have different interpretations of the source material leading to content that is not canon. There is nothing wrong with this, so long as the story told bears a passing familiarity to the source and that it stands up on its own. This movie, unfortunately, does not stand up.

This new film centers on, you guessed it, Chun-Li (Kristen Kreuk). We begin with Chun-Li as a little girl, her father standing dutifully by, wishing the best for his daughter. Things are going well for the family as they move to Hong Kong. Father and daughter are near inseparable, especially when he begins to teach her the art of Wushu.

The family dream does not last long as crime boss Bison (Neil McDonough) arrives with his henchman Balrog (Michael Clarke Duncan) to collect daddy for their own nefarious deeds. Young Chun-Li witnesses this, and is Revere scarred. Well, one would think that.

Skip forward a few years, Chun-Li is all grown and seems to be doing fine without her daddy cheering her on. Following one of her piano performances, she receives a scroll. It is an ancient scroll that instructs her to leave her life behind and go to Thailand, Bangkok to be exact. This is all the beginning of the end for the film.

Chun-Li sets out to find her father and uncover the secrets behind her disappearance. Before she is able to do that, she undergoes training from the mysterious Gen (Robin Shou) who shows her how to create glowing energy ball using, what looks like, Tai Chi movements.

Meanwhile, Charlie Nash (Chris Klein) shows up. He is a hardened Interpol agent tasked with aiding Det. Maya Sunee (Moon Bloodgood) in tracking down the secretive Shadaloo crime syndicate, which happens to be headed by Bison.

Before long, Chun-Li and Nash cross paths with Bison just trying to kill them all as he goes about his real estate scheme, buying up the slums of Bangkok to build luxury estates. Gee, that sort of sounds like something Lex Luthor would.

There are a couple of fights along the way, including one between Chun-Li and Vega (Taboo). However, they are rather choppy and wire assisted. It was almost like they wanted to cover up the fact that none of the were real fighters. I smell a conspiracy.

Anyway, the film heads in the expected direction with the expected outcome, and a conclusion that is a tease ripped right from Batman Begins. Something tells me we won't be seeing that payoff anytime soon as I have a hard time seeing the box office potential of this film warranting the further expense.

The story is peppered with voice-over exposition through Chun-Li. The problem is that a lot of it does not make sense, does not jibe with what we see, and is downright silly at times. It is almost as if screenwriter Justin Marks (this is his feature debut) wrote the screenplay, realized their were a number of holes and then wrote the voice-over in an attempt to cover the holes.

A big problem is the scroll. It would seem to be an important point, but all we get initially is that it is pretty. Some time passes, would seem like months or more (the film does not seem to have a set rate for time advancement), and then she decides to dig it out. Initially the translation just says to go to Bangkok, but her voice-over indicates she must leave her comfortable lifestyle and live like a bum. It did not make a lot of sense and added nothing to the story.

That is just one example. Character motivations are fuzzy at best and they just seem to pop up whereever the story needs them to with no regards to actual development or connective tissue to link it all together.

What I was hoping for was a bad, but fun, movie. What I got was a bad, but stupid movie. I could not help but shake my head at some of the silly things that happen. I guess this world does not require any logic in its inhabitants.

The acting is downright poor. Kristen Kreuk is certainly a pretty face up there on the big screen, but when it comes to acting, she leaves much to be desired, it always looks like she is acting. Neil McDonough fails to bring his A game, and I generally like him. I kept trying to figure out why he was using a sporadic, and poor, Irish accent. The rest of the cast is just there, not offering much to the whole.

Still, there is one performance worth mentioning. Chris Klein as Nash is absolutely hilarious. It was like he was playing a combination of Don Johnson and Clint Eastwood while suffering from constipation. I get the impression that he realized just how bad the movie was going to be and decided to take his performance to the edge and just keep on going. His wild character is charismatic and you will not be able to tear your eyes away from his personal train wreck.

Bottomline. Whether you believe this is canon or not, it does not matter as the movie is just flat out bad. It is so utterly, laughably bad that you will not have a clue as to what is actually going on. Can anyone explain the reason for the scroll? This movie will just enter the ranks of bad video game adaptations.

Not Recommended.

Box Office Update 2/27-3/1: Madea Holds on Despite Steep Drop

Tyler Perry's latest release successfully held on to the top place, perched atop the box office for a second straight week. It is impressive, considering it was not expected to retain the position by pretty much anyone (including myself). It is all the more impressive when you consider it dropped more than 60% of its audience from its debut last week. I am not terribly surprised by the drop, although I figured it would be more in the range of 52%. I am surprised it was able to hold on in the face of what was supposed to be stiff competition.

Coming in a rather distant second is the Jonas Brothers concert film. This is the movie I expected to see open huge. I do not know why, but I figures the Jonas-mania, much like what surrounded the Hannah Montana concert movie last year. I guess the lack of a television series hurt the film in the long run. While I was surprised, I cannot say I am disappointed. I would like to see "movies" like this go away. I do not see any of these groups as having the skills to pull of another A Hard Day's Night.

Coming in third place is the surging Slumdog Millionaire, benefitting from its eight Oscar wins from last week. I could not be more happy, as the movie is awfully good and definitely worth the attention it has been receiving.

Fourth place is held by film having yet another impressive week. Taken became the second film of the year to cross the $100 million mark, and I have to believe it is a surprise to just about everyone. It is a down and dirty, gritty action/thriller staring Liam Neeson. I am looking forward to this on Blu-ray.

Following the action film is the ensemble romantic comedy He's Just Not That Into You. It is on its post-Valentine's Day slide, but it still doing respectable business. The film is not great, but it does fill the bill if you need to step into a romantic situation.

Sixth place is home to Kevin James' surprising hit Paul Blart: Mall Cop. What can I say? What needs be said? This film came out of nowhere and has just taken off. It really is quite good, funny, sweet, and fun for the family.

Coraline took a steep dive as it lost all of its 3D theaters to the Jonas Brothers. Still, I am sure it does fine when projected flat. It is a magical film that is still my favorite new film for 2009.

Eighth place plays host to the other new release for the weekend,which has to be seen as a disappointment. Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li took in $4.7 million, barely staying out of ninth place. I should not be too shocked, as the movie is really bad, and not so bad its good.

Confessions of a Shopaholic will be falling of the list shortly. It is a decent film that does a fine job of showcasing Isla Fisher's comedic talents. This is one worth spending some time with before it disappears.

Rounding out the top ten is Fired Up, the cheerleading movie for guys clings to its spot. Next week it will surely fall off. This is not a great movie by any stretch, but it does feature a great barrage of one liners and Eric Christian Olsen shows off some strong comic timing.

Next will likely be dominated by Watchmen, the only wide release film entering theaters. It is also one of my most anticipated films of this young year.

Two movies dropped off the top ten this week: Friday the 13th (11) and The International (14).

This Week	Last Week	Title	Wknd Gross	Overall	Week in release
1	1	Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail	$16,175,926	$64,525,548	2
2	N	Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience	$12,510,374	$12,510,374	1
3	5	Slumdog Millionaire	$12,026,343	$115,024,121	16
4	3	Taken (2009)	$9,864,197	$107,796,273	5
5	4	He's Just Not That Into You	$6,011,405	$78,661,321	4
6	7	Paul Blart: Mall Cop	$5,602,392	$128,107,912	7
7	2	Coraline	$5,261,129	$61,112,744	4
8	N	Steet Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li	$4,721,110	$4,721,110	1
9	8	Confessions of a Shopaholic	$4,634,534	$33,806,050	3
10	9	Fired Up	$3,701,562	$10,038,772	2

Box Office Predictions Recap
For once, box figures went south, matching my box office predictions. The first down week of 2009 just happened to coincide with some wild over estimations on my part. What was I thinking? I really should have known that the bottom was going to fall out sooner or later. Oh well, perhaps this is where I hit bottom and begin to rebound.

Here is how the field matched up:

Actual	Prediction	Title	Wknd Gross	Prediction
2	1	Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience	$12,510,374	$48 million
1	2	Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail	$16,175,926	$19 million
3	3	Slumdog Millionaire	$12,026,343	$12 million
8	4	Steet Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li	$4,721,110	$9 million
4	5	Taken (2009)	$9,864,197	$6.5 million
7	6	Coraline	$5,261,129	$6 million
5	7	He's Just Not That Into You	$6,011,405	$4.75 million
6	8	Paul Blart: Mall Cop	$5,602,392	$4.5 million
9	9	Confessions of a Shopaholic	$4,634,534	$4 million
11	10	Friday the 13th (2009)	$3,689,156	$3.5 million

DVD Pick of the Week: Dead in 3 Days

Welcome back! Well, to some of you, anyway. To the rest of you, glad you decided to stop by and I hope that this humble column helps you navigate the stacks of new releases each week. My goal is to point you toward titles of interest and warn you away from those films that seek to do nothing but leech away your time and give you nothing in return.

Full disclosure: I have not seen many of these titles and what follows are not necessarily reviews. It is my opinion based upon what I know of the titles I pluck from the new release lists that I peruse. The opinions I give based on the new releases are my own, and my recommendations upon them are based on my personal interest. In any case, I hope you enjoy and perhaps find something you like or a title to point me towards.

Dead in 3 Days. I have not seen this movie, but it does look like fun. It is a slasher film from Austria that centers on a group of teens who get cell phone messages telling them they will die in three days. On the third day, that person does indeed die. A girl among their group finds a clue to who the killer is, but no one believes her. The trailer reveals it to be a gritty looking little film with its fair share of blood. The movie is being released as a part of Dimension's Dimension Extreme line. Hopefully it will live up to that tag.

Australia (also Blu-ray). Not great, not awful, Australia is a middling film that looks great on the big screen but left me tired after its long running time and disinterested in a story that lacks much of the needed heart. It is worth it for Brandon Walters and the cinematography — just do not become too invested in the story. This could be a worthy rental.

Beverly Hills Chihuahua (also Blu-ray). I bear no ill will towards this film, I am sure the youngsters love it, but I have no interest in putting myself through it on purpose.

Wonder Woman (single, 2-disk, and Blu-ray). DC has done a pretty good job with their DVD animated releases of late. Hopefully, this story of the Amazonian princess lives up the legacy set forth thus far. The trailer does look promising.

Watchmen: The Complete Motion Comic (also Blu-ray). I am not sure, exactly, what this is, but I am up for checking it out. Although, I have to say that I am waiting until after seeing the movie to really dive into the book and ancillary materials such as this.

Stargate: The Ark of Truth/Continuum (also Blu-ray). See? Sometimes waiting pays off. I have not seen either of these, but now that they are in a cheaper 2-pack, I could be persuaded to pick them up. Can anyone attest to their quality?

Ashes of Time Redux. Wong Kar Wai's film gets the revisit/re-edit ala Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now, right down to the "Redux" tag. I have not seen the film but it has a very good reputation. Could be worth my time.

In Search of Lovecaft. What if HP Lovecraft's tales were not just fictional works? While a crew is working on a documentary on the writer, it comes to light that the cults and creatures are real. Looks like a low budget work, to be sure, but still could provide some fun.

Wet Kiss. Another creepy dead girl story. Not sure if I have the stomach for another one of these, but I had to mention it because of the fact they do not hide the creepy black haired girl, they put her right on the cover. Plus, the girl is named Sunflower. How can this be good? I don't see it.

Concert Review: Audible Thought w/ Black Iron Prison, Martyrd, Purifier, Downfire (Poughkeepsie 2/28/09)

Live music is a great and glorious thing. One thing I have learned over the years is that I find it much easier to be forgiving of a band in the live setting. Not that I am apt to give a band a pass for a poor performance, but there is something tangible, intimate even, when you watch a band plying their trade in front of you. It brings the time and effort that goes into creating new music and putting together a live show into sharper focus. This applies not only to popular, nationally known acts, but also to smaller market, local, and unsigned bands who put it all out there on stage.

This particular night is all local, all the time. My friends in Audible Thought (trust me, no bias in reviewing them, if they are bad, you will know it) headlined a bill filled with unsigned talent from the Hudson river corridor, from New York City to Albany. Five bands in all, filling out an evening of hard rock and metal.

The venue is The Chance in Poughkeepsie, NY, a venue with a lot of history and a great place to see a show. It also holds the distinction of being the first place to play host to the Police in America back in the 1970's.

I got inside the doors shortly past 8:00, grabbed a beer and got ready for the show to begin. While I waited, I caught up with Carlos Vega, guitarist for Downfire. We discussed the fact they are looking for a new bass player (if you know anyone...) and how the new material is coming along. They are working on a lot of new material and are experimenting in a new direction, changing things up following their debut album, Redemption. I also learned that due to the late arrival of one of the other bands, Downfire's slot was changed 5 times, causing them to set up and tear down their equipment a number of times. He also commented on me finally getting to see a full set from the band, my last two attempts were thwarted by long lines to get inside and unannounced door open changes.

I also got to catch up with Nick King, bass player for Audible Thought. He told me the recording process is going well. They are putting the finishing touches on a re-recording of the bands debut Measure Up LP with the current lineup. I am also told they have a lot of material all set to record the follow up, if only the singer would come to more practices. Don't worry, Lou, I am sure he was only kidding.

I also ran into Michael P, a former member of Audible Thought. He told me of his current project with up and coming act Freakswitch. They are currently working up material and will hopefully be getting on the stage for some live performances within a couple of months. They could be worth keeping an eye on.

The clock was approaching the 9:00 hour and Downfire was doing their last pre-performance set up. Then the lights dimmed and Downfire was introduced. They took the stage and proceeded to put on a strong show. It was great finally seeing these guys again, it had been too long. I like the new direction they are heading in. Their early work could easily be categorized as being a lot like Black Label Society; however, their new material is seeing them find their own voice, and it shows in the easy manner with which they present themselves on stage. There is a definite intensity, but you can tell they are having a lot of fun up there. Their music is highlighted by strong drumming from Ignacio Orellana, who brings a distinct heaviness to their sound with his high energy work, and from the twin guitars of Carlos Vega and singer/guitarist David Diaz, complete with impressive lead harmonies. Their set was highlighted by a pair of new songs, "The Way" and set-closer "Last Days." There was one song that I had a split reaction to, "Scream," which has great potential as a singalong, but it felt awfully repetitious and went on a touch to long. Still, this is a band you will want to make a point in seeing.

Downfire was followed by Purifier, hailing from Troy, NY. This band brought a distinctly different sound to the stage. It is less heavy hard rock, like Downfire, and more open and experimental, perhaps a little bit of Mastodon and Tool. The mix was heavily weighted towards the drums. I am not sure if it was intentional, but it was rather distracting early on, but I was able to get through the mix issue, and discover an interesting and layered sound. It was not great, but it was definitely not bad. The drummer was quite spectacular and proved to be the driving force of the performance.

Martyrd from New York City brought a more traditional metal sound to the stage with a mix of thrash and power metal. Their stage presence was high energy and consistently surging forward. Their focal point is their vocalist, Aaron (who reminds me a lot of Chuck's Vik Sahay), who is in a constant state of motion. Their songs are long, filled with speedy riffs and peppered with fast shredding solos. They do not really offer much in the way of advancement of the genre, but they do have the chops and could develop into something special. My biggest issue with the band is that despite being tight musically, it comes across as something of a technical exercise, lacking in genuine emotion. Still, they are a band to keep an eye on.

Next up, making the trip down from Albany, is Black Iron Prison. Watching this band proved to be an interesting experience. I had been talking to my friends about how if you plan on performing in a band you need to love the music, enjoy the stage, and want to do it. Black Iron Prison seems to go against a bit of that conventional wisdom by presenting the image of the tortured artist. They are another band that leans heavily towards the experimental side of things with an emphasis on driving drums, keeping everything surging forward in fits and spurts with vocals that range from whines and whispers, to screams and growls. It is an interesting blend of elements to create something that is original and stands out from the crowd. It did not seem to go over too well with the crowd, but so what. It is a group heading out in different directions, creating a hypnotic, disjointed experience.

Finally, as the midnight hour approached, it was time for Audible Thought to unleash their stepped up game. Just like Lou's wife Tracey, told me, they certainly did bring it. Unfortunately, an otherwise strong performance was marred by a series of technical issues that did not do them any favors. Then there is the fact that the crowd had dissipated and was not able to experience the band. They will just have to learn their lesson now, won't they?

The set list was peppered with old songs as well as some of their newer creations. Among the familiar are "Games," and a much heavier sounding "Measure Up" (compared to its previously recorded version). The new arrangements just keep getting heavier, I like the way they have been heading. As for the newer tunes, they included "Can't Break Me," which is fast becoming an old song. They also broke out a new take on "Crush," at least it sounded new to me, it is a fast and heavy charge, one of the fastest they have in their catalog. Then, making sure to point it out to me, they introduced a brand new song that no one had yet heard, the song is called "Ignorace" and it is another song demonstrating the band's growth.

Now as fine as the performance was, it was hard to get through the technical problems. I had a hard time hearing Ryan Cady's guitar. It was there, but was buried deep in the mix. Possibly even more problematic was the dominance of the bass in the mix, compounded by some sort of issue with the instrument causing it to buzz and cause all manner of unintentional sounds, completely unrelated to the performance.

Hopefully, when they play next month at Beacon's Barking Frog Bar they won't have these issues. Also, perhaps Ryan and vocalist Lou West can get together on their wardrobe and not both show up wearing Giants jerseys, giving them a delightful (not) look of a boy band.

Overall, from top to bottom, this was a very strong night for rock and metal. There was a variety of different bands, all of whom knew how to handle themselves on stage. They all stepped up with their own styles and presented a show the best they could. The crowd did not react to all of them favorably, but I can tell you it was a good night with good music from all involved.