Trick 'r Treat

Here is a film that has had a long strange trip from conception and execution to arriving in your hands in the form of this Blu-ray (or DVD). It was on and off the Warner Brothers release schedule a number of times between October of 2007 and early 2009 before settling on this home video release. For the horror fan this has been a troubling time. Consider the steady stream of PG-13 and Saw-inspired fare from The Unborn to The Collector that we have gotten and the frustration becomes abundantly clear. Yes, we have had the occasional winner like Drag Me to Hell and The Last House on the Left, but those are the exceptions and not the rule. Add to that the fact that wherever Trick 'r Treat has played it has gotten rave reviews. Certainly looks like Warner had a hit on their hands. So what happened? I do not know and now that I have a copy, I do not care.

The movie is fun. Flat out entertaining. Yes, it is a horror movie, but it is also something much more. Writer/director Michael Dougherty takes us on a trip into Halloween by way of an 80's approach where the goal was to entertain and thrill. There is not an ounce of torture to be found here. Think of it as the anti-Saw. This movie is not so much a horror film as it is a Halloween film. That being true, it is probably the best Halloween-centric film I have ever seen. At least that I can remember, that is. No, I do not really consider Halloween or its sequels to be Halloween films, despite all taking place on the holiday, they are still more slasher horror than holiday horror.



Trick 'r Treat tells four interlocking tales that span one fateful Halloween night. Dylan Baker displays his plans for tricking Halloween revelers. Anna Paquin and her friends looking for dates to take to a party in woods. A group of younger trick or treaters collecting an offering to take to the site of a tragic accident. Finally, Brian Cox is visited by someone intent on teaching him the importance of the holiday's tradition.

Sounds like a lot of story. The film masterfully moves between each of the tales, allowing them to flow together as one. Not only that, we jump around in time as the stories move along their tracks. It is amazing how much this works to the films advantage and adds to the replayability. If you pay attention you will find characters overlapping in other stories, passing through in the background or with brief interaction with the main characters of the focus story. Then there is Sam, the one character who witnesses all of our stories. The little fellow in the sack mask who you should be wary of should you cross his path.



This film is so much fun. It really captures the feeling of Halloween. It is set in a nameless town where everyone in the town goes all out for the holiday. Everyone is in costume, jack-o-lanterns are everywhere, and there is one giant party going on. However, throughout all of the partying, you have these stories of death. It fits perfectly.

Trick 'r Treat marks Michael Dougherty's directorial debut. His prior credits include work on X2 and Superman Returns. This feels like his most personal film yet. It is not that I believe this to be autobiographical, so much as it has the distinct flavor of a singular voice. It is original and it is fun. He sets up the universe and plays by the rules. Everything successfully weaving together in what is sure to become a holiday classic.

The performances are all quite good. Dylan Baker is always fun to watch, this turn is no different. He walks the line between believability and over the top camp without going over. Brian Cox is suitably cranky as the grumpy old man in need of a lesson. Anna Paquin is absolutely adorable as Little Red Riding Hood in search of a date. This is just the tip of the iceberg as the ensemble cast really melds together.



Audio/Video. The film is presented in its original aspect ratio of 2.35:1 and looks gorgeous. There is a lot of color filling nearly every sequence and they are all perfectly rendered. Just watch as our characters walk past pumpkins with candles flickering inside, or as we follow people through streets crowded with folks in colorful costumes. It is simply gorgeous, warm and vibrant. The look is another reason this can be seen as the anti-Saw, no gritty drained imaged to be found here.

The audio is also very good. The track is 5.1 Dolby TrueHD and it is nice and loud, perfect dialogue clarity and really packs a punch for the jump scares and musical stings. The rears nicely bring you in with the rustling of leaves and wind. Very nice track.

Extras. This Warner Premiere release has some nice extras along with it.

• Commentary. The track features Michael Dougherty and a few others involved with the production. It is a great track where they talk about the visual gags and the history of the production, casting process, effects, and plenty more. This is a fantastic track that you really should listen to.
• Season's Greetings. This is the original animated short that introduced the Sam character. Delightful. There is also a commentary track for the short.
• Additional Scenes. Extended and alternate takes of what appears in the film, also with optional commentary.
• How Did Many of Our Scary Season Traditions Start? This is pretty cool. It is not so much about the film directly, but you can see elements that help the movie work so well.
• School Bus FX Comparison. This is neat, it looks at the bus crash and the different FX pieces used to make it look the way it does in the film.

Bottomline. This is a great film with fun char actors, entertaining stories, and an infectious energy that welcomes you back over and over again. The movie also teaches you to respect the holiday, lest Sam pay you a visit. If you like horror movies, Halloween, or fun, this is the movie for you.

Highly Recommended.

New Movies and Box Office Predictions: 11/6

This week's wide releases -
The Box
A Christmas Carol 3D
The Fourth Kind
The Men Who Stare at Goats

As you probably already know, I took last week off. I apologize to those of you who came looking for my predictions and did not find them. I hope you found something else good to read. I also hope that you all had a great Halloween! It is now time to get back into a rhythm as we start steaming towards Thanksgiving. To that end, this weekend brings us our first holiday film of the season. It will be weird seeing a Christmas film this early, but it is not the first time and it will surely not be the last.

The Box. (2009, 115 minutes, PG-13, thriller) This should be interesting. Richard Kelly is a talented filmmaker who has the skill to be an A-list type guy, but his last film was a glorious mess (Southland Tales). This movie will be a big test for him as a new voice. It looks like it could be a winner. Based on a story by Richard Matheson (I Am Legend), it tells of an offer made by a mysterious man (Frank Langella). He arrives with a box that has one button on it. Press the button and someone will die, but you will also receive one million dollars. Would you do it? The cast also includes Cameron Diaz and James Marsden.



A Christmas Carol 3D. (2009, 96 minutes, PG, animated) One of the trailers I saw said this as one of the greatest ghost stories ever told. I never thought of it like that, but it may be true. It is a very familiar story that has had a number of tellings over the years. Will this add anything? I am not sure, but I am curious to see it. Director Robert Zemeckis has been doing interesting work with the motion capture technology. It is also curious to see how there are not nearly as many remake complaints about it. Plus it is in 3D!



The Fourth Kind. (2009, 98 minutes, PG-13, fantasy) When I first saw the trailer for this movie, I thought it was going to be some sort of Syfy Channel movie. Come to find out it is going to be on the big screen and seems to want to replicate the success of Paranormal Activity. I do not think it will, but it still looks like an intriguing film. It recreates stories from Nome, Alaska, where there are reports of alien abductions. Not only that, everything in the film is supposedly backed by archive footage. I do not necessarily believe this, but if used creatively could aid in a compelling film. It does not hurt that I am a skeptic to begin with, although I am not so arrogant to believe we are alone in the universe. In any case, I am hoping for a decent movie.



The Men Who Stare at Goats. (2009, 90 minutes, PG-13, drama/comedy) Now this looks like fun! It centers on a reporter who is working on a story by a soldier who claims to be a psychic warrior. When he is reactivated, the reporter tags along on his mission across Iraq. That does not sound like much, but the idea of the US military training people to walk through walls and kill goats by staring at them is pretty funny. The cast includes Ewan McGregor, George Clooney, Kevin Spacey, and Jeff Bridges.



Also opening this week, but not near me:

• La Danse: Le Ballet de L'Opera de Paris
• Precious
• Splinterheads
• That Evening Sun

Box Office Predictions
Considering the fact I took Halloween off, I have to wonder if I will be off my game. Who am I kidding? My guesses are never that good to begin with! Remember, kids, my predictions are for entertainment purposes only. With that said, I am guessing that the bulk of this week's gross is going to come from one movie, the new animated A Christmas Carol. It is a classic tale that comes with the weight of Disney's might, plus Jim Carrey and Robert Zemeckis. The next nine slots will be a dog fight.

Here is how I think it could play out.

Rank	Title	Box Office
1	A Christmas Carol 3D	$43 million
2	The Fourth Kind	$13 million
3	The Box	$12.5 million
4	Michael Jackson's This Is It	$10.5 million
5	The Men Who Stare at Goats	$9.5 million
6	Paranormal Activity	$9 million
7	Law Abiding Citizen	$4 million
8	Couples Retreat	$3.5 million
9	Where the Wild Things Are	$3 million
10	Saw VI	$2.5 million

The Boondock Saints II - All Saints Day

What a long, strange trip The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day has had on its way to the big screen. The story begins way back in 1999 when writer/director Troy Duffy made the original film. It was barely in theaters long enough to have a cup of coffee. What it did do was begin a stir on the underground cult scene, such that when the DVD arrived back in 2001 it saw an explosion in popularity. I am pretty sure anyone and everyone in college during that time either saw the movie or was aware of it. It had a reputation as a wild action film. It also had the promise of a sequel.

If you do a quick search, I am sure you can find a plethora of information regarding Troy Duffy and the drama surrounding The Boondock Saints. I will not recount that here, suffice to say things happened causing the ten-year delay between the first and second films. There are reasons why Duffy has no known credits between then and now. Fortunately, none of these delays have to do with his talent. There is no question that Troy Duffy has talent, what he needs is someone to help him hone those skills to improve the onscreen product.



I remember first seeing The Boondock Saints and loving the over the top style, chopped up story telling, and the performances of all involved (including the ill-fated cat). I have recently revisited the movie and have found that it has not aged all that well. I still like it, there is still wild stuff to found within its frames. The problem is that it has the feel of warmed over Tarantino with a side of John Woo. Not to mention the way it keeps flashing back over all the action sequences is rather annoying. On the other hand, Sean Patrick Flanery and Norman Reedus have good chemistry as the brothers and Willem Dafoe is borderline brilliant as the bizarre FBI agent Smecker.

That brings us to the new film, sub-titled All Saints Day. We pick up the brothers living with their father (Billy Connolly) on a farm in Ireland, far from their days as street cleaners in Boston. However, when a priest is murdered back in Boston in the brothers signature fashion it is only a matter of time before Connor (Flanery) and Murphy (Reedus) learn this news, retrieve their weapons from storage and head back to the States.

All Saints Day follows a similar development arc as the first. The brothers come back to take care of business, enlist the aid of a local, and proceed to tear through the criminal underworld until they reach the man behind everything for a final explosive showdown. Along the way they run into a couple of familiar faces in the form of the comedic detective trio from the first film.



Among the new faces is Special Agent Eunice Bloom (Julie Benz). She is the new agent looking for the brothers since Smecker is no longer in the picture. Julie Benz takes hold of the character and chews nearly as much scenery as Willem Dafoe did in the first. While I found her to be quite entertaining, she was merely a copy of Dafoe in the first film. The way she is a little bit odd, the way she recreated what happened, all of it was Dafoe's Smecker.

The other principal new face is Romeo (Clifton Collins Jr.). He steps in to play the same role as David Della Rocco did in the first. You know the sort, the goofy side kick who will throw down but is essentially there for comedic value. Much like Benz, Collins really takes to the role and is quite funny in it. If only he had better material to work with.

When it comes right down to it, this is a fun action movie. It is nothing great and I fear the cult-hype machine will give this movie more credit than it deserves. I could hear it in the voices of others at the screening. They were walking out saying how great it was and how long they had been waiting for it. Considering it is a decent movie and how much fans have been looking forward to it, I would not doubt that perceptions will be clouded in light of the new movie at hand.



The movie is certainly fun, but it is essentially the same film with less story. The movie flows in essentially the same arc with similar characters filling similar roles with frequent stops for some over the top gun play.

Troy Duffy certainly knows how to make an entertaining movie. This just does not show any growth. It is almost like he has been in a holding pattern for the past ten years. Could Duffy have been in suspended animation waiting for the perfect time to make a comeback? That would explain the been there done that feel of All Saints Day.

Bottomline. When it comes right down to it, this is a fun movie. The performances are fine, the action is fun, and it should do well. Just do not expect any life changing experience. It still feels like warmed over Tarantino and Woo.

Mildly Recommended.

A Serious Man

Joel and Ethan Coen have been very prolific film makers over the past two decades. Over that span they have delivered a number of great films (Fargo, O Brother, Where Art Thou?). During the same period they have also been behind some not so great films (The Ladykillers, Intolerable Cruelty). The best thing about the brothers is that even at their worst, they still turn in films that exist outside of the Hollywood machine. Their ability to remain independent should be applauded. This allows them to create films like A Serious Man, a film that lands decidedly in the middle of good and bad.

A Serious Man is an interesting film that I am positive I do not completely get. I walked in unsure of what it was going to be. My sole source of knowledge was the trailer, which is pretty fantastic if you ask me. Well, there I went, into that darkened theater looking forward to this latest Coen creation.

For the better part of two hours, I sat there mystified by what transpired. What was I watching. It all began with an opening sequence that I could not reconcile with the rest of the film. It is set in Poland at some time in the past. A man comes home and tells his wife of an amazingly fortuitous happening while out on the road. He is beaming, but his wife lays a bomb on him. Yes, it is an odd opening that I am sure means something to the rest of the movie, but I could not tell you what.

I could be accused of watching movies merely on the surface. I often find it difficult to pierce the veil between what the movie is and what the movie is about. I think I have gotten better at it over the years, but there are still moments where that veil is more like a brick wall around a panic room. That is what A Serious Man was like for me. I got some of it, I liked some of it, but I am not quite able to ultimately get what the big picture is really about.



At the center of the story is Larry Gopnik (Michael Stuhlbarg), a physics professor at a community college in a primarily Jewish community in Minnesota. He has tried to live his life as a serious man, doing his best to live up to a high moral code. That code is about to be tested, to be pushed to its breaking point by a series of events that will forever change the way he lives his life.

Larry believes in order, that there is a purpose for everything and everything can be explained. Much like the complicated mathematical proofs that he teaches. So, when life begins to spiral out of his grasp he is left lost at sea. He does not no where to turn and those he does seek help from seem to know less than he does.

He must deal with his wife, who has asked for a divorce and is cheating with a family friend, a son who listens to rock music at Hebrew school and is constantly chased by a pot-dealing classmate, a daughter who is stealing money for a nose job, a disgruntled student who is trying to bribe and sue him at the same time, and a tenure committee that is receiving anonymous libelous letters about him. Phew. That is a lot for one man to deal with, not to mention other speed bumps that he encounters along the way.



Worse than all of these things happening to him is the fact that they all come up at the same time. Larry is battered and bruised from everything that is going on. He does all that he can do to keep his head above water. The question is, is it enough?

I understand the idea that it can be a futile exercise to keep life fully ordered. You cannot predict everything and need to be able to adapt. This would seem to be Larry's biggest issue. He stands so long on logic and proof that he is unable to adapt.

I feel fairly certain that the Coens are saying something more than we cannot plan for everything. There is definitely more to it. Unfortunately I cannot pierce that veil of understanding. Perhaps with multiple viewings the murky depths will become clear.

Even without "getting it" this is a pretty good movie and one well worth seeing. It is the Coens, so you can be sure there will be interesting scenes to watch. However, the best part of the movie has to be Michael Stuhlbarg. His expressions, reactions, and all around demeanor are pitch perfect. He kind of reminds me of David Paymer, who I could have seen in this role ten years ago.

Bottomline. This is worth seeking out by those who like movies that have more beneath the surface than would appear at first glance. It is a movie that is decidedly different from the mainstream. A Serious Man offers laughs, drama, and more. It may not be a great film, but it is an interesting one. My inability to completely understand is more my fault than the film makers, but it still lessens the overal impact on me and my ability to fully enjoy the feature.

Mildly Recommended.

The Stepfather (2009)

In 1987 Terry O'Quinn (Lost) took to the screen as a character that became something of a cult-icon. A killer that has thoughts of the perfect family on his mind. If they don't measure up to his high standards or get to close to learning the truth of his murderous past, he simply kills them, adjusts his look and moves on to a new town and another potential winning family.

It was not a big hit upon its original release, but it has gathered a following to itself over the years. Unfortunately, this is another one of those films that I have not seen, although I think I probably should. If for nothing else than to see O'Quinn before his career exploded.

Why the talk of this twenty-two year old film? Well, it has become the latest casualty of the remake/brand recognition mentality that has completely infected the studio system. It often seems that if a property is to be developed for a feature film everybody must already be familiar with what it is about, otherwise no one will go see it. I know this is not true. You know this is not true. The suits, however, do not seem to know.



So, we have this remake of the The Stepfather. Without ever seeing a frame you can tell it is not going to be any good. There are a number of signs pointing towards this fact. First, it is a remake of a film that doesn't really need it, although this can be said of the majority of remakes. Second, it is a PG-13 film, meaning they are looking to get a wider audience than an R-rating would permit. Finally the most telling hint is the choice of director. Nelson McCormick was selected to sit in the director's chair.

Why is this such a big indicator? The man chosen is not a director of vision, nor is it an up and coming film maker with something to prove. McCormick is no Rob Zombie (Halloween), Gore Verbinski (The Ring), or Zack Snyder (Dawn of the Dead). No, indeed. McCormick has spent most of his career on the small screen where he seems to be best suited. His biggest big screen credit? The horror remake Prom Night. You would have thought someone would have checked before signing him. Then again, proof positive that there was no interest in making this anything more than a play for cash.

I am sure you are wondering why I saw it. I am not sure I can answer it. It was something I felt compelled to see. Perhaps I wanted to take the bullet for the rest of you. Well, that cannot be right, if that were true I would have seen it opening weekend. In any case, I have seen it and I can confirm that it is an extraordinarily dull affair during which little happens and people insist on doing the opposite of what logic would appear to dictate.



The film opens with our resident killer, played by Dylan Walsh, It is Christmas time and we watch as he cuts off his beard, dyes his hair, and puts in colored contacts. He calmly walks downstairs and makes some toast before picking up a couple of bags and leaving. During his exit, we see the bodies of a woman and children around the house. It is pretty clear what happened here.

We jump ahead to find out killer, formerly known as Grady Edwards, using the name David Harris and flirting with recent divorcee Susan Harding (Sela Ward). All seems fine and dandy until son Michael (Penn Badgely) returns from military school. He senses something is not right. Soon enough there are enough pieces in place for an explosive finale where "David's" murderous tendencies are revealed.

This is a movie I would like to just push completely from my memory. Yes, I have seen worse movies so you will no hear me say this is the worst ever made. I think it commits an even bigger sin than a good number of so-called bad movies, it is boring. The film looks boring, all of the characters (save for Dylan Walsh) have zero personality, the story is not interesting, and it offers up nothing new.

The Stepfather does offer a number of lessons. Take the title, for example, the character is not even close to actually being a stepfather. For one, the characters are not married and for two, he must go through the adoption process, otherwise he is just some dude that mom married. You also do not need any identification to acquire a marriage license or to work in real estate. I also learned it is all right to keep locked cabinets with unknown contents in the home of a woman you have only known for six months. Another good lesson is if you suspect someone may be a murderer and you have evidence, be sure to not call the police.



The best thing I learned from The Stepfather is that it is absolutely imperative that Amber Heard remain in a bikini, or some attire that requires very little material. I mean, she does not have much to do, so why not? I am sure it will help keep some of the audience awake.

The brightest spot of the movie is Dylan Walsh. It appears that he recognized the fact the movie was not going to be good and adjusted his performance accordingly. He chews the scenery like there is no tomorrow. He is either the over-friendly family guy or the twisted faced psycho. He makes it work when nothing else does. Unfortunately, it is not enough to make this worth watching.

Bottomline. This is an utter bore. There is no reason to see this film. Yes, I new going in, but what can I say? I am not sure I could defend seeing this movie. the best recommendation is to avoid it, but if you must see it, pay attention to Amber Heard and Dylan Walsh, the films best assets.

Not Recommended.

Orphan

When Orphan arrived in theaters earlier this year, I was sure it was going to be another generic "creepy kid" movie. How could I have known that it was going to be as god as it was? The movie turned out to be completely effective and rather insane in what it did. I cannot say that it broke new ground, but it took the conventions and made them work. This is a very good film that features strong writing, excellent performances, and a twist that really works. The big question going into watching the disk is whether or not the thrills and twists would stand up to multiple viewings.

Well, I watched it and I have to say that it does indeed stand up to multiple viewings. If anything, I just may have liked it more this time around. The second time around allows you to focus on different things. In this case, it was the performances that really stood out to me and how they took hold of the story and took it to the next level.

We begin with John (Peter Sarsgaard) and Kate Coleman (Vera Farmiga) arriving at a hospital just as Kate is about to give birth. However, something is definitely going wrong as they wheel Kate down to the delivery room. Kate realizes it was only a nightmare when she wakes to find she is at home in bed. The couple has lost a child, and have been struggling to recover from the loss. This healing process has found them with excess love that had been reserved for the child they lost and they want to share their abundance. In order to satiate their need to give, the couple has chosen to adopt a child to join their son Danny and daughter Max, who is also almost entirely deaf.



John and Kate visit an orphanage where they immediately connect with a 9 year-old Russian girl named Esther (Isabelle Fuhrman). She is sort of an odd youngster, opting to stay away from the other kids and painting by herself in a corner. She also wears frilly dresses and ribbons around her neck and wrists. Kate tells her, "There's nothing wrong with being different." We believe her, we all know this to be true, although that is usually tougher to deal with as a child. In any case, the papers are drawn up and Esther becomes a part of the Coleman family. They have no idea what they are in for.

No sooner has Esther entered their home that strange things begin to happen. Esther is not quite the little angel that Kate thought she was. The trappings of a domestic thriller begin to take shape as Esther seemingly plays them against each other while also protecting a secret about herself. It is interesting how Esther's craziness stirs up lingering issues between John and Kate that had been laying dormant. Of course, it is also interesting how none of their problems are caused by the other yet come together in an explosive mix of violence-laden insanity.

It is the sort of movie that shouldn't really work for multiple viewings, let alone one. Alex Mace (story) and David Johnson (screenplay) really hit on something special with this one. They breathed life into a sub-genre I did not have much faith in. They have written a story that, while not perfect, is gripping, thrilling, and completely believable. It is a story that is as surprising the second time as it was the first.



That screenplay was put in the hands of Jaume Collet-Serra (House of Wax). These hands proved themselves to be more than capable. Has taken these words and crafted them into a stylish thriller that has kept me hooked for multiple viewings. He builds tension, shows you what you need to see and lets your mind fill in the rest.

Now, back to those performances I mentioned earlier. When I first saw the film, there is a lot to absorb. Like with any movie, you watch the story and the images and the performances, splitting your attention between everything. Watching the film a second (or more) time allows other elements to pop out a bit more than they were able to the first time around. My second viewing allowed the work of the principle cast members to really stand out.

Vera Farmiga and Peter Sarsgaard are perfectly cast as the troubled couple. In particular, Vera Farmiga gives a compelling portrait of a woman struggling to keep everything together. She is cracking from the strain of losing a child and having been responsible for her daughter's deafness. Combine that with the fact that no one wants to believe anything she says and she has to fight an uphill battle throughout the film. Then you have Peter Sarsgaard, his character is not exactly squeaky clean, but his attempts to keep a level head throughout the growing ordeal cause him to discount much of his wife's suspicions. Everything quite believable.

As good as those two are, the real winner here is Isabelle Fuhrman. She plays Esther to absolute perfection. Alternately sweet, creepy, evil, and downright menacing. I believed her. When she made threats against Max (Aryanna Engineer) I believed her. She really is remarkable in how she makes Esther into this monster. It will be interesting to see how her career progresses.



Audio/Video. The video is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1 and looks really good. The blacks are solid and the under saturated colors have plenty of detail. It is a dark film and the transfer accurately reflects what I remember from the theater. It may actually look better here. There is no evidence of any digital noise or artifacts. Very good looking disk.

The audio is also quite strong. The Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track does the film justice. The surrounds are not all that active, but the score shines through and the dialogue is always crisp and clear. Listen as the sound occasionally gives way to silence as you build up to a musical sting, all adding to the tension that comes with the story.

Extras. This release is a little light in this area.

• Bad Seeds and Evil Kids. This brief featurette takes a look at the films antagonist as well as evil kids throughout cinematic history. It does not get into this film terribly deeply, but it is an interesting watch.
• Deleted Scenes. A few minutes of cut bits and an alternate ending. The alternate ending is not all that special and I am really glad they chose not to use it. Although, I must say that I have an idea of an addition that would have made the used ending a bit better.

Bottomline. This is a very good movie that is very much worth your time. Sure, you could nit pick it to near death, but I was won over by what is there on the screen. It surprised me, it scared me, it convinced me it was real. This is a great surprise.

Highly Recommended.

Box Office Update 10/30-11/1: Michael Jackson Moonwalks to the Top

I skipped doing predictions this past weekend. There was only one movie opening nationally. Combine that with Halloween falling on a Saturday and the chaences for an exciting box office weekend drops dramatically. So, I hope you will forgive me, next week should get us all back on track with a number of new movies flooding local cinemas.

As for this weekend, it was a little on the slow side with a number of films suffering steep dips from last week. There were two bright spots in this weekend's numbers. There is the arrival of the Michael Jackson documentary and the continued success of Paranormal Activity. Beyond that, you have headlines about the step drops being suffered by the likes of Where the Wild Things Are and Saw VI.

Let's start at the top, shall we? There was much sadness in the wake of Michael Jackson's death, but with that sadness came those wondering how long it would take them to get a documentary or some such biopic up and running. The answer is not long at all. This documentary has some of the last Jackson footage ever filmed. It was taken during the rehearsals for his upcoming tour. Aside from that, I am not sure what else is in the film, but I do wonder if this footage was originally intended as some sort of bonus footage for a concert documentary for the tour? It will only be in theaters for two weeks, so if you want to see it, make sure you get out there!

Coming in second place with only a 22% dip from last week is that little movie that could, Paranormal Activity. The people behind the marketing for this movie have been brilliant. they knew exactly what they were doing. However, a big piece of the puzzle is that this movie is actually good. The movie will creep you out and you will not listen to the creeks and moans of a house the same way again. The movie has been an enormous success. Period.

At the other end of the scale you need look no further than Saw VI. Despite being a big step up from part five, it fell more than 62% from its debut, which was already below normal for the franchise. Could the series be showing signs of age and fatigue? Or maybe it was just swallowed up by the Paranormal juggernaut? I guess part seven will be real telling with regards to the series' future viability. Perhaps Jigsaw's reign of terror will be coming to an end. With that said, it should be noted that it has already doubled its budget, so it is not like the movie isn't still making money.

Next weekend will be a lot more interesting when four new films enter competition. The top film will likely be Disney's new take on A Christmas Carol. Other new competitors include Richard Kelly's The Box, the alien abduction film The Fourth Kind, and The Men Who Stare at Goats.

Two films dropped off the list this week: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (11) and Zombieland (12).

This Week	Last Week	Title	Wknd Gross	Overall	Week in release
1	N	Michael Jackson's This Is It	$23,234,394	$34,442,926	1
2	1	Paranormal Activity	$16,387,327	$84,627,372	6
3	4	Law Abiding Citizen	$7,403,630	$51,485,280	3
4	5	Couples Retreat	$6,460,525	$87,026,280	4
5	3	Where the Wild Things Are	$5,931,417	$62,650,379	3
6	2	Saw VI	$5,270,794	$22,534,749	2
7	6	Astro Boy	$3,460,651	$11,316,418	2
8	8	The Stepfather	$3,207,792	$24,555,801	3
9	7	The Vampire's Assistant	$3,098,185	$10,809,975	2
10	11	Amelia	$3,034,667	$8,340,499	2

DVD Pick of the Week: GI Joe - The Rise of Cobra

Welcome back! Well, to some of you, anyway. To the rest of you, glad you decided to stop by and I hope 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, but opinions based upon what I know of the titles I pluck from the new release lists I peruse. The opinions I give based on the new releases are my own, and my recommendations 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.

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (also Blu-ray). I know, I know, you are probably shaking your head in disgust at this particular choice. I admit, it is not the best film coming out this week, not by a long shot. I will defend it as a fun piece of cheese. A candy bar that you can enjoy without giving a second thought to. Not every movie needs to be some sort of Oscar caliber masterpiece or genre bending game changer. Sometimes all a movie needs to be is fun. This fits the bill and is more effective at it than, say, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. This movie has plenty of action and explosions and stretches the ability to suspend disbelief to its breaking point and that its beauty. It is what it is and requires no effort whatsoever from the viewer. I enjoy it.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars - The Complete Season One. I have heard the series is pretty good. All I have seen was the episode mash up that passed for a film. I was not particularly fond of it. Being a Star Wars fan I suppose I should give this a look. Can anyone shed some light on the worthiness of the show?

North by Northwest: 50th Anniversary Edition (also Blu-ray). I cannot remember the last time I have seen this movie. I suspect I am going to have to revisit it soon. It is certainly hard to go wrong with Alfred Hitchcock and Jimmy Stewart. It centers on Stewart as an executive mistaken for a government agent who is pursued by foreign spies. Great movie.

The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (2009) (also Blu-ray) This remake proved to be a mediocre thriller that is carried by the work of Denzel Washington. It is let down by director Tony Scott, whose wild directing style comes across as annoying. Then there is John Travolta who seems more goofy than menacing most of the time, especially when he is called upon to drop the occasional f-bomb.

It's a Wonderful Life (Blu-ray). It took me an inordinately long time to get around to seeing this movie. It is a great feel good movie if there ever was one and I need to make a point to see it each holiday season. I look forward to seeing how much it benefits from the Blu-ray format.

Aliens in the Attic (also Blu-ray). This family film passed through theaters without much of a peep. It is one that I skipped on the big screen and will likely do again. It centers on aliens who attempt to stage an invasion from a family's attack. It ends up with he family taking on the small creatures. Could be fun, but I do not feel a strong need to see it.

Forrest Gump (Blu-ray). Multiple Oscar-winning film from the 90s arrives on Blu-ray. How will it look? Hopefully good. This is another film I have not seen in some time, but would not be against revisiting. Then again, it was not that long that I saw The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and that does have a similar feel.....

Love Actually (Blu-ray). Yet another movie that has not crossed my eyes recently. This is a multi-layered romantic comedy that really works. It follows a variety of couples as they navigate rocky relationships. Written and directed by Richard Curtis, the film features a strong ensemble cast.

Rocky: The Undisputed Collection (Blu-ray). From the Oscar winning original to the surprisingly excellent Rocky Balboa and everything in between, this box has them all. It is a nice package, although I have never been that big of a Rocky fan. The only ones I would want would be the first, the last, and part four (I have always had an affinity for that one).

I Love You, Beth Cooper (also Blu-ray). A nerd professes his love for the head cheerleader at their graduation. Later, the girl shows up and takes him on the ride of his life. It is a trifle of a movie, but still actually works. It is not something you should feel the need to run out right away and see, but if you are bored and cannot find anything else or come across it on cable, you could do worse.

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (Blu-ray). One of my favorite Christmas movies and easily one of the best things Chevy Chase has ever done. This Christmas classic is arriving on Blu-ray. Will it benefit? One would hope, but if not, it is still a hilarious film. This is what happens when you don't get a bonus and family shows up unexpectedly. Comedy ensues.

Will Ferrell: You're Welcome America. A Final Night with George W. Bush. This was a limited run show on Broadway that did very well. It is arriving on home video for the rest of us. I cannot imagine this not being funny. Can you?

DVD Review: Sheitan

Before I sat down to watch the 2006 French horror film Sheitan, I was told that it was really good. However, I was given a caveat. This horror film is not nearly as extreme as other recent French offerings like Inside or Martyrs. All right, that was a little disappointing as I have become accustomed to these intense French horror experiences. I was then told, by the same person, that despite it being less graphic, it does have a feel reminiscent of Frontier(s). All right, that's something I can work with.