This is definitely not your kids cartoons, this version of the characters that Todd McFarlane created in the early 90s are the most true to form. The adult orientation of the story, with the themes, sexuality along with the nudity, kept this tale rooted in the world that was created in the comic books. This series is a spit in your face, punch in the gut kind of story, and with the graphic violence along with the hardcore language this chronicle is not for the faint of heart.
Al Simmons is brought back from the dead as a Hellspawn, a leading soldier in Hell's army, but he does not want to be in the middle of this battle between Heaven and Hell, all he wants is to see and love his wife. The voice over work for this series is very well cast, and the choice of Keith David as the voice of Spawn is as creepy and commanding as it needs to be in this demonic series. Where this series was originally on HBO, there was no qualms about keeping the violence and bloodshed that was a main part of the comic book story in this animation series.
Unfortunately HBO ended this series just as it was reaching it peak, the story leaves off on a note that leads the viewer to believe that the next season was going to be the beginning of the ultimate battle. But like all good things that show a glimmer of hope, and receives accolades from its audiences, the network that helped create it decides to kill it off before the story comes to its conclusion. Even though this story is left with cliffhanger that could choke a horse, its well worth seeing, the true nature of McFarlane's characters are realized here in this form, and with some hope, some where down the line some will pick up the mantle and continue this saga.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
The Long Kiss Goodnight
When it comes to female action stars, there are few and far between when it comes to successful characters that the audience enjoys watching. The teaming of Geena Davis and Samuel L. Jackson in this thriller works so well that you could have put them together in another film and still would have had a hit. The director of this roller coaster ride is Renny Harlin, who gave us the action films Cliffhanger, Die Hard 2, and most recently The Covenant. With all his films he shows the audience his expertise for complex action sequences that seem to come off as natural as breathing.
After eight years of living under the haze of amnesia, Samantha Caine's former life as Charley Baltimore, a lethal government assassin, starts to take over. Jackson as the tough guy PI just builds more on to his persona but the real surprise is Davis as the government assassin with amnesia, she comes across wonderfully in one of her strongest roles. Once the story gets going it never stops and it seems that each action sequence out does the one that came before and they just get better and better. Some of the sequences that are in the film are a little hard to swallow, but that is what action films are suppose to do, suspend belief in reality for an hour or two.
I was completely surprised by how good this movie was, seeing Jackson as the tough guy was one those things you'd expect, but Davis as the hard as nails killer was far beyond what I had come to expect from her. Davis' character is so strong that she could have gone on from here to do other action films like this one but needless to say what few she did do weren't of the same caliber. This is definitely a movie that shouldn't be missed; it has everything for the action fan, expositions, gunplay and some great one liners, so if you haven't seen it check it out.
After eight years of living under the haze of amnesia, Samantha Caine's former life as Charley Baltimore, a lethal government assassin, starts to take over. Jackson as the tough guy PI just builds more on to his persona but the real surprise is Davis as the government assassin with amnesia, she comes across wonderfully in one of her strongest roles. Once the story gets going it never stops and it seems that each action sequence out does the one that came before and they just get better and better. Some of the sequences that are in the film are a little hard to swallow, but that is what action films are suppose to do, suspend belief in reality for an hour or two.
I was completely surprised by how good this movie was, seeing Jackson as the tough guy was one those things you'd expect, but Davis as the hard as nails killer was far beyond what I had come to expect from her. Davis' character is so strong that she could have gone on from here to do other action films like this one but needless to say what few she did do weren't of the same caliber. This is definitely a movie that shouldn't be missed; it has everything for the action fan, expositions, gunplay and some great one liners, so if you haven't seen it check it out.
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Reviving a long gone art form like stop motion photography on the big screen was a risky chance, but when Tim Burton teamed up with Henry Selick and Denise Di Novi they created one of the most talked about and loved Christmas movies in decades. The blending of Halloween and Christmas was in itself a unique direction for a story but when you add in the lovable characters that seem as familiar as family, your left with an instant classic that audiences of all ages want to watch.
When Jack Skellington from Halloween Town decides to brighten his day by taking over Christmas for Santa so that his version of the holiday spirit. Where this is a musical its not surprising that the songs are upbeat and playful but they also fit so well into the tale itself that you couldn't have this story without them. The stop motion photography is almost flawless, there are a few spots where a wire or some other object can be seen but it's not a distraction and doesn't draw your attention in the least. The one thing that drove this film was Burton's imagination, and from beginning to end there is no shortage of that.
To call the accomplishments of this movie groundbreaking is not enough to describe the phenomenon that this tale has created over the years. Even though this film originally came out in 1993, its popularity has never really diminished. From the moment it first saw life on the screen to this very day this imaginative story has warmed the hearts of children of all ages with characters that are unforgettable and a story the just doesn't seem to age.
When Jack Skellington from Halloween Town decides to brighten his day by taking over Christmas for Santa so that his version of the holiday spirit. Where this is a musical its not surprising that the songs are upbeat and playful but they also fit so well into the tale itself that you couldn't have this story without them. The stop motion photography is almost flawless, there are a few spots where a wire or some other object can be seen but it's not a distraction and doesn't draw your attention in the least. The one thing that drove this film was Burton's imagination, and from beginning to end there is no shortage of that.
To call the accomplishments of this movie groundbreaking is not enough to describe the phenomenon that this tale has created over the years. Even though this film originally came out in 1993, its popularity has never really diminished. From the moment it first saw life on the screen to this very day this imaginative story has warmed the hearts of children of all ages with characters that are unforgettable and a story the just doesn't seem to age.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Incognito
There are some times that when you see a trailer for a movie that you get the impression that the film is going to be well worth your time to watch it. Okay I lied, most of the time the trailer, as we all know, is the best parts of the film put together in order to con us as a viewing public. I can say that is exactly what has happened to me with this film. I had never heard of this film, saw the trailer on another DVD, became very interested, and popped it on to my rental list. Boy was that a mistake.
An expert art forger is hired to create a fake Rembrandt for private sale, but when he is double crossed by his associates and blamed for murder he runs for his life with the painting in tow. The acting is a little stale and at times the actors look like they just stepped onto the set after reading their part. This movie stars Jason Patric which isn't saying much for his ability as an actor since he just flounders through the film. The only highlight out of this group of actors is that of Rod Steiger, who plays the dying father, and he can thank his lucky stars his character dies for before it gets to bad. The technical side of the film is very good and very involved, showing how much effort and skill the character puts into creating the forgery alone is monumental, but it takes forever to get through it and by that time the film has slowed down to almost a crawl.
If you are not the kind of person who is interested in paintings that hang in some of the finest art galleries and museums around the world this movie is not for you. Unfortunately, even if you enjoy looking at those paintings this movie may not interest you enough to sit down and watch it. The story is slow and what little action there is in it is just as slow. The pain staking details that were put into making the film keeps it from moving beyond its steady and leisurely pace. It was interesting to see the process that a forger would go through in order to create one of these paintings, but it takes so long to get there that the audience just loses interest in the rest of the story.
An expert art forger is hired to create a fake Rembrandt for private sale, but when he is double crossed by his associates and blamed for murder he runs for his life with the painting in tow. The acting is a little stale and at times the actors look like they just stepped onto the set after reading their part. This movie stars Jason Patric which isn't saying much for his ability as an actor since he just flounders through the film. The only highlight out of this group of actors is that of Rod Steiger, who plays the dying father, and he can thank his lucky stars his character dies for before it gets to bad. The technical side of the film is very good and very involved, showing how much effort and skill the character puts into creating the forgery alone is monumental, but it takes forever to get through it and by that time the film has slowed down to almost a crawl.
If you are not the kind of person who is interested in paintings that hang in some of the finest art galleries and museums around the world this movie is not for you. Unfortunately, even if you enjoy looking at those paintings this movie may not interest you enough to sit down and watch it. The story is slow and what little action there is in it is just as slow. The pain staking details that were put into making the film keeps it from moving beyond its steady and leisurely pace. It was interesting to see the process that a forger would go through in order to create one of these paintings, but it takes so long to get there that the audience just loses interest in the rest of the story.
Monsters, Inc.
Over the years Pixar has set the standard for CGI movies, and their level of expertise has brought to the screen some of the best known animated films and characters. Taking the idea that the monsters that we all had in our closets actually were just doing a job, and that they were more afraid of human children then we were of them, gave us all a story that almost every one of us could relate to. With the kinds of characters that Pixar and Disney are known for, enhanced with the voice talents of Billy Crystal and John Goodman, you can't do anything else but fall in love with the story.
Scaring children for their screams has become a big business in the monster world, but when a little girl stumbles into the Monsters, Inc. factory our heroes, Mike and Sully, must save her and get her home. The animation that is used here raises the bar for the next generation of films, with the chameleon like effects that the character Randle has, just shows how much can be done with this CGI technology. With Crystal and Goodman leading the way, the voice acting here is top notch and even the smaller roles become characters that are lovable. The story is fast paced and before you know it the end is at hand and your left wanting more, but isn't that what true classics are suppose to do.
I fell in love with this movie the first moment I watched it, the story is enjoyable and the characters that were created for this film were very diverse and lovable to watch. If you've never seen this movie then you have truly been missing out on a film that the whole family can enjoy, young and old alike. The issue of monsters in our closets are something that we've dealt with, or are dealing with if you have children, but with this story those monsters can become friends to our children and maybe help them see that not all things are as scary as they appear.
Scaring children for their screams has become a big business in the monster world, but when a little girl stumbles into the Monsters, Inc. factory our heroes, Mike and Sully, must save her and get her home. The animation that is used here raises the bar for the next generation of films, with the chameleon like effects that the character Randle has, just shows how much can be done with this CGI technology. With Crystal and Goodman leading the way, the voice acting here is top notch and even the smaller roles become characters that are lovable. The story is fast paced and before you know it the end is at hand and your left wanting more, but isn't that what true classics are suppose to do.
I fell in love with this movie the first moment I watched it, the story is enjoyable and the characters that were created for this film were very diverse and lovable to watch. If you've never seen this movie then you have truly been missing out on a film that the whole family can enjoy, young and old alike. The issue of monsters in our closets are something that we've dealt with, or are dealing with if you have children, but with this story those monsters can become friends to our children and maybe help them see that not all things are as scary as they appear.
The Long Ships
When you talk about action movies that have high seas adventure, most of the time the action happens out on the water not on the land. But here the story is more of discovery than of adventure and with two strong actors in the leading roles, I'm surprised that this film is as obscure as it is. The two actors are Richard Widmark, the Viking sailor Rolf, and Sidney Poitier, the Moorish Prince El Mansuh, both play off of each other wonderfully and together they create two memorable characters.
The search for a mythical golden bell drives a crew of Viking sailors to the ends of the Earth where they must battle nature, a Moorish Prince and themselves in order to find their treasure. For 1964 this is a very good film, with a nice blend of drama, action and a little humor to help keep things light. At a time of film making when if you needed a ship you had one built, this movie has some very nice looking Viking and Moorish ships that, obvious from the title, play a major part in the story. When the end of the journey arrives you feel the mix of emotions that the characters are facing and you almost want to reach out and help them. Poitier is a shining star in this film and it's a true joy to see him in some thing other than those cop dramas.
I had never heard of this film, so when a friend of mine mentioned it I was curious to see what it was about and if it was as good as they said. I thought it was interesting to see a story that has Moorish characters and not tearing apart the western world. From a movie goers point of view, this film is a very good adaptation of the book by Frank Bengtsson, with all the adventure and sword play that goes on through out this is one of those movies that if you get the chance to see it, watch it and remember that here was voyage that started out by looking for a myth and came home with a legend.
The search for a mythical golden bell drives a crew of Viking sailors to the ends of the Earth where they must battle nature, a Moorish Prince and themselves in order to find their treasure. For 1964 this is a very good film, with a nice blend of drama, action and a little humor to help keep things light. At a time of film making when if you needed a ship you had one built, this movie has some very nice looking Viking and Moorish ships that, obvious from the title, play a major part in the story. When the end of the journey arrives you feel the mix of emotions that the characters are facing and you almost want to reach out and help them. Poitier is a shining star in this film and it's a true joy to see him in some thing other than those cop dramas.
I had never heard of this film, so when a friend of mine mentioned it I was curious to see what it was about and if it was as good as they said. I thought it was interesting to see a story that has Moorish characters and not tearing apart the western world. From a movie goers point of view, this film is a very good adaptation of the book by Frank Bengtsson, with all the adventure and sword play that goes on through out this is one of those movies that if you get the chance to see it, watch it and remember that here was voyage that started out by looking for a myth and came home with a legend.
Tokyo Godfathers
Most animated films have some magical or science fiction base to the storyline, but there are a few that wholly grounded in reality and make very good tales that the whole family can watch. This film falls into that second category and it's a wonderful story about how far someone will go for redemption. Each of the characters start out with their own problems but as the story progresses each one realizes that the issues that have kept them from going home aren't as monumental as they thought, but don't we all come to that realization at some point in our lives.
When three homeless people discover an abandoned baby on Christmas Eve, they band together to return the infant to its parents and during the journey they learn that the term family goes far beyond parents and siblings. The hardships that are placed on the three main characters are sometimes disturbing and hard to watch but as the story continues each of them grows and comes to terms with their past actions. The extreme situations that placed on the characters are completely within the realm of possibility and that just makes them more lovable to know that they could be just as human as any of us. Since the characters are very realistic you could almost believe that this was based on some real life story, with a little bit of Christmas magic to make things a little more interesting.
This is a nice film that can be watched by the whole family, unfortunately there is no English soundtrack so everyone would have to watch it with the subtitles. That being said, this is an enjoyable story that brings the Christmas spirit home and seeing how the different sub-characters treat the little band of do-gooders, you get the feeling that there maybe some good in the world after all.
When three homeless people discover an abandoned baby on Christmas Eve, they band together to return the infant to its parents and during the journey they learn that the term family goes far beyond parents and siblings. The hardships that are placed on the three main characters are sometimes disturbing and hard to watch but as the story continues each of them grows and comes to terms with their past actions. The extreme situations that placed on the characters are completely within the realm of possibility and that just makes them more lovable to know that they could be just as human as any of us. Since the characters are very realistic you could almost believe that this was based on some real life story, with a little bit of Christmas magic to make things a little more interesting.
This is a nice film that can be watched by the whole family, unfortunately there is no English soundtrack so everyone would have to watch it with the subtitles. That being said, this is an enjoyable story that brings the Christmas spirit home and seeing how the different sub-characters treat the little band of do-gooders, you get the feeling that there maybe some good in the world after all.
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