Chop
Year: 2011
Director: Trent Haaga
Stars: Billy Bakshi, Timothy Muskatell, Elina Madison
Studio: Bloody Disgusting Selects
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 84 Mins

Plot Synopsis:

Bloody Disgusting Selects  has been one of the bright spots for horror in 2011. They wrap up a very good first year with the horror/comedy “Chop, which is directed by cult film actor Trent Haaga.

The film follows Lance Reed, an innocent man who’s car brakes down in the middle of nowhere. He meets a stranger that gives him a ride, but the stranger has plans for him. The stranger is seeking vengeance for something that happened in the past, by making Lance confront his past and making him suffer in the process. As Lance begins to lose various body parts, his past begins to haunt him. The only way out for Lance is to remember what he did to the stranger before losing all of his body parts.  

Film Review:

“Chop” is another really good horror film from Bloody Disgusting Selects. One of the things that makes this film entertaining was Trent Haaga’s direction. What makes his direction very good, the fact that he allows the film to move at a fast pace. He does that, by taking a stylish approach with the material. It allows the film to move at a good pace, while not being bogged down with boring and uninteresting scenes. The scenes were not repetitive and it allows you focus on the two main characters.  It also helped that Haaga comes from an acting background, because he does a great job getting the performances that he needs to make the back and forth between Lance and the stranger interesting and grabs your attention. That was important, as the two are on screen together for most of the film. Haaga also does a very good job getting each of the main character’s quirks down. By doing that, it makes the main characters interesting and pays off especially towards the end of the film.

The film’s screenplay was ironically not written by Haaga. It was written by Adam Minarovich, who played the abusive husband Ed on the first season of “The Walking Dead” and also has a small role in this film as one of the detectives. This was a very good screenplay, as it keeps you guessing on the extent of the relationship between Lance and the stranger. One of the things that I liked about it, he slowly develops the back-story of Lance during the course of the film. It allows you to keep guessing to the relationship between the two main characters. The other thing that I liked about this, the fact that the dark humor works well. It provides a few laughs, but importantly sets up the main character, as an oddball of a character. That helps especially that most of the action takes place in one room. Overall, a very good story to go along with good direction.

DVD Extras:

Sadly there isn’t much in the way of extras. First, you have four minutes of outtakes, then a couple of deleted and extended scenes. That’s it, as this disc is lacking an audio commentary track and/or a behind the scenes featurette.

Final Summary:

Fans of Trent Haaga will definitely enjoy this film. “Chop” is a very entertaining film that has shocking moments, while keeping your interest with a very good story throughout. My only complaint with this disc, it lacked behind the scenes extras.

Film Review: Five Stars
DVD Extras: One Star

Anchor Bay Film has send us information for their upcoming DVD and Blu-Ray release "The Son of No One". The film starring Channing Tatum, Juliette Binoche, Al Pacino, Tracy Morgan and Ray Liotta will be hitting stores on February 21st. DVD and Blu-Ray Extras include deleted scenes and audio commentary with Writer/Producer/Director Dito Montiel and Editor/Executive Producer Jake Pushinsky.

Press Release:

Anchor Bay Films is proud to announce the release of The Son of No One on Blu-ray™ and DVD, February 21, 2012.  A 2-disc Blu-ray™+DVD combo pack will also be available.  Hailed  as   “A riveting piece of filmmaking [featuring] one of the best casts of the year” by Joel Amos, MovieFanatic.com,The Son of No One is a gripping thriller about how far one police officer will go to keep his dark past hidden and protect his family.  The release also contains deleted scenes and audio commentary with Writer/Producer/Director Dito Montiel and Editor/Executive Producer Jake Pushinsky.

Jonathan (Channing Tatum 21 Jump Street, The Vow) is a second-generation cop who gets in over his head when he’s assigned to re-open a double homicide cold case in his Queens neighborhood. An anonymous source feeding new information on the long-unsolved murders to a local reporter (Juliette BinocheCosmopolis, Dan In Real Life, ) leads to evidence suggesting a possible cover-up by the former lead detective (Al Pacino The Godfather, Scarface) who was on the investigation. As Jonathan digs deeper into the assignment, a dark secret about the case emerges, which threatens to destroy his life and his family.

Channing Tatum delivers a gritty and memorable performance, while New York mainstay writer and director Dito Montiel (Guide to Recognizing Your Saints) is at the top of his game. Also starring Tracy Morgan (NBC’s “30 Rock”), Katie Holmes (Batman Begins), Ray Liotta (Goodfellas) and Jake Cherry (Night at the Museum), The Son of No One is a tense and powerful thriller filled with suspense, secrets and lies.

"The Son of No One": Official Trailer

Anchor Bay Films recently acquired "Seeking Justice", which the latest film from Roger Donaldson (The Bank Job, Dante’s Peak). The film stars Nicolas Cage, January Jones and Guy Pearce and is co-produced by Tobey Maguire. "Seeking Justice" will be hitting theaters on March 16th.

Press Release:

Anchor Bay Films has picked up the U.S. rights to the Nicolas Cage thriller, Seeking Justice. Slated for a March 16th theatrical release, the film co-stars January Jones (X-Men: First Class, Anger Management) and Guy Pearce (The Hurt Locker, The King’s Speech) . Directed by Roger Donaldson (The Bank Job, Dante’s Peak), Seeking Justice was produced by Endgame Entertainment’s James D. Stern, along with Ram Bergman and Material Entertainment’s Tobey Maguire and Jenno Topping. Bill Clark, President of Anchor Bay Entertainment, made today’s announcement.

“Seeking Justice is a fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat action thriller and Cage is outstanding in it,” commented Kevin Kasha, Executive Vice President, Acquisitions and Co-Productions. “This crowd pleaser is a great addition to the Anchor Bay Films line-up.”

 “We are thrilled that Seeking Justice has found a home with Anchor Bay,” stated Endgame CEO James D. Stern. “We look forward to working with them on delivering Roger Donaldson’s stellar work and outstanding performances from Nicolas Cage and January Jones.”

In Seeking Justice, Cage stars as Will Gerard, a happily married and dedicated inner-city high school teacher. His wife, Laura (Jones) is an accomplished musician and they enjoy a comfortable life until one fateful evening shatters everything. Laura is brutally assaulted and while awaiting an update on her condition, Will is approached by a well-dressed man (Pearce) who quietly offers to dispense immediate justice. Required to make a spontaneous decision in a distraught frame of mind, he accepts the proposal and is pulled into an underground vigilante organization that leads to increasingly frightening and dangerous consequences. The film was previously entitled The Hungry Rabbit Jumps

One of the interesting things about Hong Kong crime films is that occasionally an action film can turn into a drama and it’s perfectly ok. That’s what Triple Tap winds up becoming: a drama masquerading as an action film.

Ken (Louis Koo) has just won a competitive shooting competition over highly talented police officer Jerry(Daniel Wu) when he stumbles upon an armed robbery about to go wrong. Using his shooting skills to kill all the robbers but one, Ken winds up behind bars as he fights for his freedom. All the while he’s being investigated by Jerry as Ken’s personal life as a high profile investment banker isn’t all it’s cracked up to be either. It leads to a drastic and violent showdown between the two as Ken’s world falls apart in front of him as Jerry’s investigation leads to some secrets being revealed that he wishes shouldn’t.

And while Triple Tap looks like it ought to be a violent shoot ‘em up, Derek Yee opts to make this more of a character drama than a violent shoot out like many other Hong Kong crime films. This is a film with a slow build and Yee is more intent on crafting characters than he is about violence. It’s refreshing but there’s one main problem to it: he doesn’t know quite the pace to strike. It leads to problems with finding the right tone, which is sporadic throughout the film.

Early on, during the film’s opening action sequence, Yee and Triple Tap are moving at a fast and relentless pace. And he tries to maintain this sort of pace throughout the film and give it a sense of urgency; as Ken and Jerry move through their lives there’s a fast pace to it that belies the film’s two hour run time. Yee seems to be going for a 90 minute run time and as such at two hours the film feels bloated; there’s plenty of excess fat to cut to make the film fit more effectively.

The film’s excess length also affects its tone as well. Yee is going for a film that is about the walls closing in around Ken that Jerry is erecting. It’s about a detective trying to find out the remnants of a story that
just doesn’t make as much sense as it ought to; there’s a sense of urgency to both men’s story. But the problem is that trying to sustain this with 30 minutes plus of filler leaves for some awkward pacing issues as well as an inability to maintain that tone for consistent periods of time.

Triple Tap ends in a strong way, as well, which really leaves it bloated it the middle. This is a film with a strong beginning and a strong ending; unfortunately there’s too much blubber in the middle to make the finale as effective as it could’ve been.

Bloody Disgusting Selects has send us over a copy of their latest release "Chop" The film marks the directorial debut of cult actor and writer of "Deadgirl" Trent Haaga. "Chop" is available in stores, but you can win a copy from us.

To enter: send us an email to facontest@gmail.com with your name and address.

Please put "Chop" in the subject line of the email.

Contest Ends: January 4, 2012

Plot Synopsis:

Lance Reed, a seemingly innocent man, is forced by a psychotic stranger to confront his duplicitous past. The mysterious stranger, seeking retribution for a past crime, forces Lance to reveal his inner most secrets by systematically removing his limbs! As time runs out and Lance’s limb count dwindles, he must recall what he’s done to the stranger before he doesn’t have a head to remember with. Jam-packed with laughs, gore and some insane twists, CHOP is the directorial debut of DEADGIRL screenwriter Trent Haaga.

"Chop": Official Trailer

Our Brother Idiot
Director: Jessie Peretz
Stars: Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks, Zooey Deschanel
Studio: The Weinstein Company / Anchor Bay Entertainment
MPAA Ratting: R
Running Time 90 Mins

Plot Synopsis:

"Our Idiot Brother" reteams director Jessie Peretz and star Paul Rudd, who worked together in 2002 Indie comedy "The Chateau. The film follows Ned, a trustworthy person that gets send to jail after selling drugs to a uniformed police officer. A couple of years later, he gets out of jail to find out that he's dumped by his girlfriend. Ned goes home to his mother and his three sisters. His sisters take turns in housing Ned. Things don’t exactly well for them, as his own messes that he gets himself into turns his sisters comfortable routine into a mess of problems in their own lives. But maybe Ned’s view on life will make them realize that Ned not that stupid.

Film Review:

For the first half of the first act, I thought that "Our Idiot Brother" was going to turn out to be one of those comedies that has no laughs. To my surprise, this film was very funny and has an entertaining story. Director Jesse Peretz does a very good job making some the film scenes funny through the way that he directs the film's comedic action. It was nice to see a comedy that rely mostly on dialogue instead of trying to gross you out with scenes filled gross out humor or scenes that would make you gag. Peretz could have asked for that before shooting, but he doesn't. The other thing that I liked about his direction he balances the dramatic and comedic elements. He does that very well, by not making the action become either dark enough that it drowns out the comedic aspects or too funny that you don't care about the main character’s relationship with his sisters.

One of the biggest reservations that I had going into this film was that Paul Rudd's character looked stupid enough that it would ruin the film. Thankfully, this was definitely not the case. Paul Rudd does a very good making the main character very likable and not annoying. He does that, by nailing both the funny and dramatic dialogue. Both of those aspects were needed, because the character is thrusted into some funny situations and troubling stuff with his family. It made the performance work and your entertained.

The screenplay written by David Schisgall and Evgenia Peretz does a very good job creating a comedic screenplay that has funny moments and dramatic elements that make the character's human. One of things that makes this story so well, the humor was funny. With films like this, the humor sometimes feels either dry or so gross out that you don't care about the characters. You care about the main character and the characters around him. The other thing that I liked about their screenplay, the fact that the film had a story. One of the things that comedy films have lacked is a story that goes on, during all the humorous moments. The screenwriters do a very good job having a centralized story that goes along with the humor. I like it, when films likes this have that. You need a story with the humor, because if you don't have that then the quality of the film suffers.

Blu-Ray Extras:

First on the disc is the audio commentary track from the film's director Jessie Peretz. This was one of those tracks that lost my interest. The reasons for that, there were too many dead spots and not enough information on the film's production. In a commentary track, you need the track to be informative and slow down. In this track, there wasn't enough information to keep you interested and too many spots where you hear only the film's dialogue to the point that the track felt like it was done in chapters. It would have been nice, if someone was also on this commentary track. It would've provided more balance to the track. After that, there is deleted and extended scenes and a standard behind the scenes featurette that gets brief interviews from the cast and crew of this film.

Final Summary:

"Our Idiot Brother" is a surprisingly funny film that has characters that keeps your interest and provides some good laughs. Sadly, the extras don't deliver on giving you the information on the production of the film.

Review Rating: Four Stars
DVD Extras: One and a Half Stars

Synapse Films has send us over information regarding their upcoming Blu-Ray/DVD combo pack "Thou Shall Not Kill... Except". The film starring Sam Raimi (director of "The Evil Dead and "Spiderman" and co-written by Bruce Campbell and writer/producer Scott Spiegel (INTRUDER) will be making it Blu-Ray debut on March 13th.

Special Features includes: All-New High-Definition 2K Digital Restoration from the Original Negative, The Original Super 8mm Short film, STRYKER’S WAR, starring Bruce Campbell, Made in Michigan: The Making of THOU SHALT NOT KILL… EXCEPT – Featurette,Two Audio Commentaries featuring Director Josh Becker, Bruce Campbell, and Star Brian Schulz, All-New Video Interview with Actor/Writer Bruce Campbell, Deleted Scene with Optional Director's Commentary, Alternate Title Sequence, Original Theatrical Trailer and Reversible Alternate Cover Artwork

Press Release:

WHEN VIOLENCE DEMANDS REVENGE…

THE EXPLOITATION ACTION CLASSIC FROM THE PEOPLE WHO BROUGHT YOU THE EVIL DEAD AND EVIL DEAD 2!

Vietnam, 1969. War is Hell. For Marine Sergeant Jack Stryker (Brian Schulz), however, Hell is just the beginning. Trapped outside a Viet Cong village, Stryker takes two bullets to the leg. Sent home from the war, he discovers his ex-girlfriend (Cheryl Hausen) has been kidnapped by a religious cult with a vicious Manson-like leader (played by THE EVIL DEAD and SPIDER-MAN trilogy director, Sam Raimi). Stryker teams up with his marine buddies to form an assassination squad to annihilate the gang of crazed killers.

Synapse Films proudly presents THOU SHALT NOT KILL… EXCEPT in an all-new 2K high-definition transfer from the original negative. Directed by Josh Becker, this “must see” (Detroit Free Press) cult classic features many of the creative personnel responsible for THE EVIL DEAD, including co-writer Bruce Campbell, writer/producer Scott Spiegel (INTRUDER), composer Joseph LoDuca, and actor Ted Raimi.

Special Features:

• All-New High-Definition 2K Digital Restoration from the Original Negative
• The Original Super 8mm Short film, STRYKER’S WAR, starring Bruce Campbell!
• Made in Michigan: The Making of THOU SHALT NOT KILL… EXCEPT – Featurette
• Two Audio Commentaries featuring Director Josh Becker, Bruce Campbell, and Star Brian Schulz
• All-New Video Interview with Actor/Writer Bruce Campbell
• Deleted Scene with Optional Director's Commentary
• Alternate Title Sequence
• Original Theatrical Trailer
• Reversible Alternate Cover Artwork

Oscilloscope Laboratories announced recently that they've pushed up the release date for their upcoming film "We Need to Talk About Kevin" . The film has gaining buzz because of the performance Tilda Swinton delivers in the film. "We Need to Talk About Kevin" will now open in New York on Friday, January 13th, 2012 and at the Arclight Hollywood Theater in Los Angeles on Friday, January 20th, 2012.

Press Release:

New York-based distributor Oscilloscope Laboratories announced today that the company has pushed up the New York theatrical release for the Tilda Swinton starrer WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN. Set to play at the Lincoln Plaza Cinemas and Angelika Film Center, the picture will now open in New York on Friday, January 13th, 2012 and at the Arclight Hollywood Theater in Los Angeles on Friday, January 20th, 2012.

A suspenseful and gripping psychological thriller, Lynne Ramsay's WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN explores the factious relationship between a mother and her son. Swinton, in a bracing, tour-de-force performance, plays the mother, Eva, as she contends for 15 years with the increasing malevolence of her first-born child, Kevin (Ezra Miller). Based on the best-selling novel of the same name, the film explores nature vs. nurture on a whole new level as Eva's own culpability is measured against Kevin's innate evilness.

"We had an amazing one-week qualifying run in December where the film's attendance exceeded even our highest expectations. The reviews were stellar and the word of mouth is only growing. It's an intense psychological thriller that audiences feel the need to talk about afterwards. By definition this is an ideal 'Word of Mouth' film," said David Fenkel, President of Oscilloscope Laboratories. "Theaters are excited to have a quality arthouse genre film to bring in younger audiences"


WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN has already garnered several accolades and nominations this awards season, including numerous BEST ACTRESS recognitions for its lead star Tilda Swinton:
National Board of Review (WINNER - BEST ACTRESS)
Golden Globes (NOMINEE - BEST ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE - DRAMA)
Screen Actors Guild (BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE)
European Film Awards (WINNER - BEST ACTRESS)
British Independent Film Awards (WINNER - BEST DIRECTOR)
San Francisco Film Critics (WINNER - BEST ACTRESS)
Women Film Critics Circle (WINNER - BEST FILM BY A WOMAN)
Houston Film Critics (WINNER - BEST ACTRESS)
Broadcast Film Critics Awards (NOMINEE - BEST ACTRESS)
British Independent Film Awards (NOMINEE - BEST ACTRESS)
British Independent Film Awards (NOMINEE - BEST FILM)
British Independent Film Awards (NOMINEE - BEST SCREENPLAY)
London Film Critics Circle (NOMINEE - BRITISH FILM OF THE YEAR)
London Film Critics Circle (NOMINEE - ACTRESS OF THE YEAR)
London Film Critics CIRCLE (NOMINEE - DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR)
Washington DC Film Critics (NOMINEE - BEST ACTRESS)
San Diego Film Critics (NOMINEE - BEST ACTRESS)
Indiana Film Critics (NOMINEE - BEST ACTRESS)

Welcome to the 319th Edition of my series. This may very well be the first edition I have released on Christmas Day and I just got back from work. I have had a good month though and have been a part of many Christmas celebrations so while I do not like that I had to work but I'm glad to put this out and it's been a good year. Some of my selections are holiday oriented but some are not so just read on.

A Single Man (2009): Colin Firth stars as the title character who is a college professor in Los Angeles in the 60s. He is having a hard time dealing with the death of his partner Jim of many years. He then decides to get his affairs in order before he commits suicide and prepare for the suicide and the post-suicide. He then spends the day with various people in his life on which he begins to reconsider his fate. Julianne Moore co-stars as his long-time friend Charley who desires him despite his sexual orientation. Nicolas Hoult co-stars as Kenny who is a student that has a little more interest than being a student. This was a very moving film and Firth was very good in his starring role like he has shown many times.

Libeled Lady (1936): This is my screwball comedy for the week. Spencer Tracy plays Newpaper editor who continues to put off a marriage to Gladys, played by Jean Harlow. Myrna Loy co-stars as Connie who sues the paper for libel that she is a marriage-breaker. George then brings in his attorney Bill, played by William Powell, and arranges an unconsummated marriage between Gladys and Bill hoping to get Connie caught with a married man. This is the plot and then the results add much laughter with this star-studded cast that focuses on two couples instead of one.

A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965): This is one I never get tired of and I know it's a tv special but it's my blog and I can call it a movie all I want. This is one of the many great specials of the characters created by Charles Schultz. In this one Charlie Brown is his usual depressed self and looking for the true meaning of Christmas behind all the commercialism. He is then appointed the director of the nativity pageant where he also has a hard time getting his actors to cooperate. Last year, I bought the tree that Charlie Brown got and I made sure to use it again as my tree. We are also joined by all our other friends like Linus, Lucy, Schroeder, Sally, Snoopy, and the rest of the gang. We get to hear a great speech from Linus. This is actually the first Peanuts animated special.

Saturday Night Live: The Best of Tom Hanks (2004): This is part three of my three-part Tom Hanks series. The first two were the Pixar short SMALL FRY and YOU'VE GOT MAIL. This is a group of clips put together from SNL towards the many shows that Tom Hanks has hosted. He never really had any impersonations of anyone but had some very funny sketches. One of them was him being a roadie for Aerosmith in a segment for Wayne's World. There were also some funny parodies of his movies BIG and CASTAWAY. I also liked his involvement in the Cheerleader segment where Will Ferrell and Cheri Oteri were the cheerleaders who never made the team. There is also a great one on the "five-timers" club which brought in some special guests. For all the SNL fans, I feel you will get some pretty good laughs out of this one and I will be using these on occasion for movie recommendations.

Ma and Pa Kettle (1949): This is a DVD of this series of film of the title couple that my Dad bought and we watched many of these movies off and on when we had Christmas at his house. I finally found some quiet time to focus on the first one though they are characters from the THE EGG AND I. Ma and Pa Kettle are the parents of 15 children. They are about to be evicted from their run-down home in the country but Pa Kettle manages to win a really nice home by coming up with a new Tobacco slogan. In this new home, they experienced a very advanced home but overwhelms Pa Kettle's simple lifestyle. Everyone else must also experience a new life. There were many other very funny films in this series consisting of the hillbilly family trying to live in a very nice home. Marjorie Main and Percy Kilbride play the title characters in all eight of the films and are great in their parts. I'll likely start watching others of these when I am at my Dad's house.

The Brothers Bloom (2008): Rian Johnson wrote and directed this film which stars Mark Ruffalo and Adrien Brody as the title characters Stephen and Bloom. They are thrown around throughout their childhood to different orphanages and learn to be some of the best con artists in the world. Bloom decides he wants to leave that business and lead a more normal life. Stephen is able to talk him into one last job. They soon bring in Penelope, played by Rachel Weisz, who Bloom forms a liking which is against the rules in their game. They also see that Penelope is quite unpredictable and is pretty open to just about anything. Rinko Kikuchi is very amusing as Stephen's consistent sidekick who loves blowing things up and is usually silent. This was a pretty fun con artist film where the leads were pretty good.

It's a Wonderful Life (1946): This movie has been featured many times on this blog and is a timeless classic that gets better all the time. Frank Capra directed this wonderful tale. James Stewart stars as George Bailey who intends to leave his town of Bedford Falls but circumstances keep him from moving. His father runs a small bank in a town run by the mean Mr. Potter, played very well by Lionel Barrymore. When his father dies, the business is in danger of being overrun by Potter prompting George to stick around. In the process, he gets reacquainted with his childhood friend Mary, played by Donna Reed, and ends up marrying her. The movie focuses on significant moments of George's life from childhood into his adult life where George becomes very overwhelmed and has thoughts of worthlessness. Henry Travers plays the angel Clarence sent from above to show George a world where he was never born to show him that he has made a difference. Barrymore is also very good as Potter who usually was very likable in his films but not here. Look for a cameo from Carl Switzer who was most known as Alfalfa on THE LITTLE RASCALS. Ward Bond and Frank Faylen plays characters called Bert and Ernie who are best friends and I will always maintain that is where SESEME STREET got those names but the writers of the show deny this. This is a movie that I never tire of and always look forward to seeing each year especially after a long day at work that I had. This movie shows that when helping someone there is a domino effect on people that person helps where little things become very big. Remember that title everyone and think of those you have helped and remember there is nothing wrong with helping others. In the year it came out it was a big flop but the public domain has made this one of the most revered films of all time.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966): This is another tv animated classic and this one is from Dr. Seuss. The Grinch was an Ebenezer Scrooge type and despised Christmas. He did everything possible to ruin Christmas in Whoville but soon learns that presents, Christmas trees, and all the other material things are not everything. Boris Karloff narrates the story and voices the Grinch. This is also quite the classic that beats that feature film any day. Thurl Ravenscroft sings that great iconic song and he is most known for being Tony the Tiger for Frosted Flakes commercials.

Gomorrah (2008): This is my Italian film for the week which takes a look at five different people who have some kind of involvement in the local mafia. Each story is very intriguing but something that must be followed very closely and is very violent. Roberto Saviano wrote the novel to this film and was under death threats for exposing the many things the Neapolitan mafia do and is now under police protection. This movie is available on Instant Netflix and with the cover I had no idea what to expect but a good foreign film and authentic look on a local mafia. This is available on Instant Netflix.

Assassination of a High School President (2008): This is actually my third 2008 film of this edition which is quite rare. Reece Thompson plays school reporter Bobby Funke who must investigate the case of stolen exams. Mischa Barton plays Francesca who is the most popular girl in school and teams up to investigate. Through further investigation there is a bigger conspiracy going on in the school. Bruce Willis is amusing as the principal. This is a pretty funny high school comedy that is available on Instant Netflix.

Well, that is it for this week. My next edition will be on New Year's Day and will be an all-music edition which can consist of Live concert films, live musical theater films, movie musicals both animated and live-action so stay tuned for that one.

FUN AND USELESS FACTS

Lionel Barrymore (It's a Wonderful Life) was originally cast as Mr. Allenbury in this week's feature LIBELED LADY but ultimately went to Walter Connolly.

My Facebook friend Corey played Linus in an Anderson Mainstage Theater version of YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN while Christopher Shea voiced the part in this week's feature A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS.

Sheldon Leonard (It's a Wonderful Life) played Harry the Horse in the 1955 film GUYS AND DOLLS. I played the part in the part in a 2010 production at the Belfry which is so far my only show there but a very good one.

Boris Karloff voices the Grinch in this week's feature HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS. My Facebook friends Eric and Joe have played the parts in various version of the the musical SEUSSICAL.

Boris Karloff (How the Grinch Stole Christmas) plays the Creature of Frankenstein in first three versions of Universal in the 30s. My Facebook friend Russ played the part in a 2007 version of FRANKENSTEIN at the Muncie Civic Theater of which I played a psychotic gravedigger.

Tom Hanks (SNL: Best of Tom Hanks) plays Joe Fox in the 1998 film YOU'VE GOT MAIL. James Stewart (It's a Wonderful Life) plays Alfred Kralik in the 1940 film THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER which is the original to YOU'VE GOT MAIL.

The “Mission: Impossible” movie franchise keeps getting better and better which each successive sequel, something few other franchises can ever lay claim to. The first one directed by Brian De Palma had a confusing storyline but spectacular action set pieces. The second one had a plot which was easier to follow and the signature action ballet of director John Woo. Part three gave us the directorial debut of J.J. Abrams and had a stronger plot, a very effective villain in Phillip Seymour Hoffman, and seemed to remember what made the original television series work so well. Each movie has its own unique identity which allows for a longevity which, after the third one, seemed to be growing thin.

But “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol” turns out to be the best of the bunch as it features some of the most ingenious action scenes I’ve seen in a long time. It also has the added benefit of being filmed in part with IMAX cameras which given scenes a real life feel which they wouldn’t get with your average 35mm camera. Just when you think Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt had run out of steam along with the franchise, he and director Brad Bird (making his live action debut) thrill us in a highly unexpected way.

It appears that Hunt’s retirement from the IMF after “Mission: Impossible 3” didn’t last long, and we find him at this movie’s beginning in a Moscow prison throwing a rock at the wall like he’s Steve McQueen in “The Great Escape.” But he is soon sprung from his cell with the help of Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg, reprising his role from part 3) and agent Jane Carter (“Precious’” Paula Patton). We find out that Hunt was imprisoned for a mission gone wrong, and that he has since become estranged from his wife Julia (Michelle Monaghan) for mysterious reasons. Just like Jack Bauer from “24,” Hunt can’t stay away from what he does best when danger rears its ugly head.

Hunt and Dunn end up infiltrating the Kremlin in order to locate files of a nemesis with the code name of Cobalt. But this however goes horribly wrong when the Kremlin is blown to smithereens and the entire IMF is disavowed. Hunt and his team are to take blame for the attack but are allowed to escape in order to locate Cobalt and stop a nuclear war. This time, Hunt and company have no support to rely on as they forced to work on their own.

As with the previous entry, Cruise has come to realize he needs to let other actors shine in this series and to not do all the hard work himself. Seeing Pegg’s character get upgraded from techno nerd to field agent is a treat as he becomes more than just comic relief. Paula Patton embodies her agent character of Jane Carter convincingly and gets to kick some serious ass in scenes, one of which has her taking on a female assassin in something more than just your average catfight.

The best addition however to this “Mission: Impossible” movie is Jeremy Renner who plays William Brandt, a chief analyst for the IMF. Renner, whose career has been on a serious upswing since “The Hurt Locker” and “The Town”, is great here. Whether or not he is going to replace Cruise in this series is another story. Even he gets a big action set piece as his character proves to know more than he lets on. His secrets threaten to be devastating to others if they are revealed, and Renner does excellent work showing the turmoil Brandt endures as he is faced with a whole other kind of impossible mission.

The main antagonist of this sequel is Kurt Hendricks (Michael Nyqvist of the original “Girl With The Dragon Tattoo”) who is bent on starting a nuclear war in order to bring about the next evolution of the human race. Nyqvist brings a strong villainy to this role which makes you sneer at his presence whenever he’s onscreen. However, he’s almost upstaged by Léa Seydoux who portrays French assassin Sabine Moreau. Her cold glare penetrates your inner defenses with little difficulty, and you have to put on your best poker face in her presence to stay alive (and even that might not be enough).

But the real star of “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol” is director Brad Bird himself. You’d think that stepping outside of the world of animation in which he made “The Incredibles,” “Ratatouille,” and “The Iron Giant” would leave him at a spectacular disadvantage; what you can get away in that realm of filmmaking does not necessarily translate as well to real life situations. But when watching what’s on display here, it’s clear that Bird allows nothing to stand in his way in terms of what can be accomplished, and he scores one amazing action sequence after another.

The one sequence which needs to be acknowledged above others is when Cruise is scaling the Burj Khalifa tower, the tallest building in the world. The IMAX cameras give this moment a reality like no other, and that feeling of intense vertigo is hard to ignore. Seriously, I felt like I was outside of that building with Cruise as he climbed up with nothing but suction gloves. If there was a more unnervingly intense scene in any action movie this past year, then I’ve missed it. I had trouble getting to sleep that night because that crazy stunt was still on my mind.

While this action sequel will still thrill on the regular silver screen, it’s imperative that you check this out in IMAX if you can. There’s about a half hour or so of footage shot in this format, and Bird makes it all count. Aside from Cruise scaling the world’s tallest building, there’s the scene where the Kremlin explodes which literally takes your breath away. While many still complain of IMAX feeling like a rip off with its high ticket prices, it’s worth the extra money in a way 3D could only dream of being at this point.

“Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol” is a big surprise in that this franchise looked like it had been used up for all it was worth. But Cruise and company successfully revive it by giving us characters to care about and root for, and they outdo themselves with amazingly insane stunts. Regardless of what you may think of Cruise as a person these days (many of my friends can’t stand him), he still puts on a good show even as he grows visibly older. Just when you thought he was out, he pulls himself back in!

* * * ½ out of * * * *

Quick Shop
Year: 2011
Director: Martin Binder
Stars: Chris Stevens, Rob Hercik, Tow Dwyer
Studio: Movies by Martin Productions
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 13 Mins

“Quick Shop” is a short film about Hunter and Trevor, who’ve recently became roommates in college. The two head to the countryside for a fun weekend, after Trevor has a falling out with his girlfriend. Along the way, they pull over a quick stop store that’s located in the middle of nowhere. Their road trip takes a turn for the worst, when one of them has to use the restroom. Once inside, Hunter and Trevor are locked inside the store with no way out. They soon learn that the store’s storekeeper is stalking them and looking to murder them, The two have to work together to find a way out, before the storekeeper hunts them down.

This is one of those films that doesn’t click with you until the very end. Writer/director Martin Binder’s direction was good. One of things that makes the direction work, the fact that he was able to make everything in the convenient store work well. Binder was able to make this work, by getting a location that didn’t feel cheesy with the limited resources at his disposal. The location really does a good job getting the atmosphere that is needed to his story work. Sometimes, a location can make you forget that your watching a camcorder film. The other that makes his direction and this film ultimately work for me, the way that Binder handles the performances. I thought, the performances here were very good. He does a very good job getting the performances out of the actors. This was one film that it took a while for me to be interested, but the performances aspects were handled in a way that everything worked it’s self out. Once the characters became interesting on the page, it instantly connected to the performances. It quite frankly saved this film, from becoming a mediocre film.

The screenplay written by Binder and co-writer John Leary looked like one that I was ready to rip on, until the last five minutes of the film changed my feeling about it. The ending was handled very well, as I thought it wasn’t predictable. The writers do a very good job catching you off guard. I was truly fooled into what was going to happen next, as this looked like this was going to be one of those by the books thriller. The other thing that they did well, they hid the killer’s identity. My thought was after the first scene was “oh no, I’m going to be in for a boring and unentertaining story“. Thankfully, that was not the case. Even though, the first scene felt like a throwaway scene. I can forgive it, because played more into the twist than in the actual story.

If there one criticism that I have with Binder and Leary’s screenplay, the lead characters should have been more interesting from the first time that appeared on the screen. They were interesting in the last half of the film, but the characters didn’t work for me in the introduction. For a short film of this nature to instantly grab my interest, the characters have to be interesting for the entire time. If this was a full length feature, then I would give it a little more leeway. That’s what holding it back from being a very good screenplay.

“Quick Shop” is a film that was for the most part entertaining, but there is a couple of things that holds it back from being very good.

For more information on this film, you can visit the film’s official website at: http://www.quickshopmovie.com.

Review Rating: Three Stars

Lionsgate has send us over the official teaser trailer and teaser poster for one of the most anticipated films of the summer of 2012, "The Expendables 2" The film returns Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Terry Crews, Randy Couture, with Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger from the first film. This time joining them are Liam Hemsworth, martial arts legends Chuck Norris and Jean Claude Van Damme, and Chinese actress Yu Nan as the first female EXPENDABLE. "Con Air" and "Tomb Raider" director Simon West will handling the direction for this installment. "The Expendables 2" blasts its way into theaters on August 17.

Plot Synopsis:

The Expendables are back and this time it's personal...

Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone), Lee Christmas (Jason Statham), Yin Yang (Jet Li), Gunnar Jensen (Dolph Lundgren),Toll Road (Randy Couture) and Hale Caesar (Terry Crews) -- with newest members Billy the Kid (Liam Hemsworth) and Maggie (Yu Nan) aboard -- are reunited when Mr. Church (Bruce Willis) enlists the Expendables to take on a seemingly simple job. The task looks like an easy paycheck for Barney and his band of old-school mercenaries. But when things go wrong and one of their own is viciously killed, the Expendables are compelled to seek revenge in hostile territory where the odds are stacked against them. Hell-bent on payback, the crew cuts a swath of destruction through opposing forces, wreaking havoc and shutting down an unexpected threat in the nick of time - six pounds of weapons-grade plutonium; enough to change the balance of power in the world. But that's nothing compared to the justice they serve against the villainous adversary who savagely murdered their brother.

That is done the Expendables way....



"The Expendables 2": Teaser Trailer

We're got more news regarding Will Ferrell's upcoming comedy "Casa De Mi Padre". Pantelion Films has send us over the another teaser poster and a teaser trailer for the film. This film is already gathering my interest for the first teaser trailer alone. The spanish language film, which also co-stars Diego Luna and Gael Garcia Bernal hits theaters on March 16th 2012

Plot Synopsis:

Armando Alvarez (Will Ferrell) has lived and worked on his father's ranch in Mexico his entire life. As the ranch encounters financial difficulties, Armando's younger brother Raul (Diego Luna) shows up with his new fiancée, Sonia (Genesis Rodriguez). It seems that Raul's success as an international businessman means the ranch's troubles are over as he pledges to settle all debts his father has incurred. But when Armando falls for Sonia, and Raul's business dealings turn out to be less than legit, all hell breaks loose as they find themselves in a war with Mexico's most feared drug lord, the mighty Onza (Gael Garcia Bernal).



"Casa De Mi Padre" Teaser Trailer

Chillerama
Directors: Adam Green, Joe Lynch, Adam Riffin, and Tim Sullivan
Stars: Richard Riehle, Joel David Moore, Ray Wise
Studio: Image Entertainment
MPAA Ratting: Unrated
Running Time 120 Mins

Plot Synopsis:
“Chillerama" is a film that I've been looking forward personally, since it news broke about the film. As a fan of Adam Green's "Hatchet" films and Tim Sullivan’s remake of "2001 Maniacs", I was so excited. The premise had the potential to be something fun and enjoyable.

The film takes place on the closing night at the last drive-in theater in America. The owner, Cecil B. Kaufman is showing some of the patrons lost prints of films that may have never been exhibited to the American public with titles like "Wadzilla", "I Was a Teenage Werebear", "The Diary of Anne Frankenstein" and "Deathication". Everything is going good, until something mysterious is turning the drive- in patrons into sex crazed zombies. Will anybody survive the drive-in’s final night?

Film Review:

"Chillerama" is one of those horror films that lives up to the hype. It was the most fun that I had watching an over the top horror film, since the release of "Grindhouse" back when it was released in 2007.
One of the things that makes this a very fun film, the way that Adam Green, Joe Lynch, Adam Riffin, and Tim Sullivan doesn't take themselves seriously. Each of the films had a different B-movie feel to them. From their use of green screens and making the frames grainy, it provides for some fun moment. The other thing that I liked about, the fact that each of the directors get everyone involved interested with the material. Some of the material is far out there, but I liked how the acting fit the tone the film. It makes some of the stories work and your having a great time with the film.

But the one thing that I liked the most about this, each of the stories are so weird that it works within the film's context. There is a lot of crazy stuff in each of the stories. In "Wadzilla", the short film deals with a giant sperm attacking New York". In I Was a Teenage Werebear". It’s a musical horror short about a teenager who falls in love with a man and getting bit in the process and turning into a werebear. In "The Diary of Anne Frankenstein", the film deals with World War II and the Nazis attempt to a Frankenstein with dialogue that clearly doesn't fit the film's subtitles. Finally,"Zom-B-Movie" deals with sex crazed zombies attacking drive-in movie patrons. Sound like a bad film, but each of the directors make their screenplays so outlandish and filled with tongue and cheek humor that it makes all of these films work and makes you have a good time in the process.

Blu-Ray Extras:

Lot of Extras on this Blu-ray. First up is the video comentary track featuring the film's four directors Adam Green, Joe Lynch, Adam Riffin, and Tim Sullvan. This is a very good comentary track. Each of the directors goes to detail about the production each of their segement of the film. It provides some very interesting information on each of the films, while being entertained with the track.

Next on the disc is “The Making of Anne Frankenstein”. The documentary goes into the making of Adam Green segment for “Chillerama” This feature does a very good job going to how Green approach the film consider the sensitive nature of the time period that this film take place and not making it offensive. The other thing that I liked about it, the featurette covers the special effects make-up effects and the way the actors delivered the dialogue considering that the German accents doesn’t match the subtitles. It gives you an very good insight about the production of the film.

After that we have “The Making of I Was a Teenage Werebear”. This one covers Tim Sullivan’s segment of “Chillerama”. This one does a very job going into the production. From the casting to the location, every one that was interviewed for this documentary provides details and interesting stories about their time on the set of the film.

There is even more extras after that. There are two interviews from comic-con from FamousMonsters.com and paulsalfen.com. Deleted scenes for Zom-B-Movie, Wadzilla, and “I Was a Teenage Werebear”. Trailers for “I was a Teenage Werebear” “Wadzilla” and “Chillerama” wrap up the special features for this disc.

Final Summary:

Overall, I has a fun time with “Chillerama”. Each of the segments were different and fun to watch. This is a definitely a must for horror fans, who love to watch fun films like this.

Review Rating: Five Stars

DVD Extras: Four Stars

"The Hunger Games" maybe four months away, but Liongate has send us the new poster for the film. This is sure to be one of the big films of the winter season. The film boasts an excellent cast that includes Jennifer Lawrence, Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Stanley Tucci,and Toby Jones. "The Hunger Games will be hitting theaters on March 23rd.

Plot Synopsis:

Every year in the ruins of what was once North America, the evil Capitol of the nation of Panem forces each of its twelve districts to send a teenage boy and girl to compete in the Hunger Games. A twisted punishment for a past uprising and an ongoing government intimidation tactic, The Hunger Games are a nationally televised event in which Tributes? must fight with one another until one survivor remains.

Pitted against highly-trained Tributes who have prepared for these Games their entire lives, Katniss is forced to rely upon her sharp instincts as well as the mentorship of drunken former victor Haymitch Abernathy. If she's ever to return home to District 12, Katniss must make impossible choices in the arena that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

THE HUNGER GAMES is directed by Gary Ross, and produced by Nina Jacobsons Color Force in tandem with producer Jon Kilik. Suzanne Collins best-selling novel, the first in a trilogy published by Scholastic that has over 16 million copies in print in the United States alone, has developed a massive global following.



"The Hunger Games": Official Trailer

Millennium Entertainment has send us over the official poster and trailer for "Rampart" The film reteams director Oren Moverman and star Woody Harrelson, who worked on the critically acclaimed independent film "The Messenger" a couple of years ago. This time they are joined with Robin Wright, Sigourney Weaver, Ice Cube, Ned Beatty, Cynthia Nixon, Anne Heche and Brie Larson. "Rampart" hits theaters on January 27th.

Plot Synopsis:

Los Angeles, 1999 - Officer Dave Brown (Harrelson) is a Vietnam vet and a Rampart Precinct cop, dedicated to doing "the people's dirty work" and asserting his own code of justice, often blurring the lines between right and wrong to maintain his action-hero state of mind. When he gets caught on tape beating a suspect, he finds himself in a personal and emotional downward spiral as the consequences of his past sins and his refusal to change his ways in light of a department-wide corruption scandal seal his fate. Brown internalizes his fear, anguish and paranoia as his world, complete with two ex-wives who are sisters, two daughters, an aging mentor dispensing bad advice, investigators galore, and a series of seemingly random women, starts making less and less sense. In the end, what is left is a human being stripped of all his pretense, machismo, chauvinism, arrogance, sexism, homophobia, racism, aggression, misanthropy; but is it enough to redeem him as a man?

"Rampart": Official Trailer

IF YOU DON’T WANT TO KNOW ANY OF WHAT HAPPENS IN “THE DARK KNIGHT RISES” PROLOGUE, THEN READ NO FURTHER UNTIL YOU HAVE.

“We’re going to be starting a few minutes late as there are still a number of people trying to get in. There are no trailers before the movie… Except of course for that one thing…”

So said the voice over the speaker at Rave Cinemas in West Los Angeles a few minutes before “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol” began. But what really got some of us up at 10 am on Friday, December 16, 2011 was the chance to see “that one thing” which was the opening prologue to next summer’s “The Dark Knight Rises.” Our adrenaline rose quickly as Han Zimmer’s powerful music score came over us, and we got our long awaited introduction to Bane as played by Tom Hardy.

The prologue makes full use of the IMAX screen (aside from the opening bit with Gary Oldman) as a number of prisoners whose heads are covered with black sheets are led onto a plane which quickly takes them up into the air. I can’t say much more than that, but you will be able to tell which one is Bane before his sheet is removed. Also, it gives the opening plane sequence from Renny Harlin’s “Cliffhanger” a run for its money.

Hardy looks perfectly imposing as Bane and it goes without saying that he has spent hours upon hours in the gym gaining lord only knows how many pounds of muscle. While his face is covered by a truly frightening looking mask, his eyes and body exude the “don’t f*** with me” attitude that needs no words to express it. If there is a downside, it’s that a lot of what Bane says is hard to make out. You certainly get the gist of what he has to say, but other than that he sounds frustratingly muffled. Still, this is not the Bane from “Batman & Robin” which should quickly relieve die hard fans of the DC Comic Book series.

Watching this prologue in IMAX made me realize how this format truly elevates the movie going experience in a way 3D could only dream of doing. Looking back at when I saw “The Dark Knight” in IMAX, I remember how it felt like we were moving along with the camera over Gotham City. That same feeling returned as we watch Bane make a mid air escape which blew away the audience I was with early in the morning.

Director Christopher Nolan has said that “The Dark Knight Rises” will feature more footage shot in this format than what we saw in the previous film. Of course, with IMAX cameras being as loud as they are, the majority of dialogue scenes will be shot in 35mm and 70mm cameras. Still, technology is catching up quickly with filmmakers as always.

Following the prologue are snippets from the upcoming movie which show Bale still strutting his stuff as the Caped Crusader along with shots which have crowds of people rushing to attack one another. There’s also looks to be a Batwing in this one, but that it looks like a spaceship threatens is a little weird. The final image is the most frightening of all: Bane holding a piece of Batman’s shattered mask.

We also get to see Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle/Catwoman. Seeing her in the full Catwoman suit was strange at first, but then came another moment where she is sitting in the back of a car with a deeply emotional look on her face that spoke words without her saying a thing. I know a lot of people were worried about her playing this role, but the footage here convinced me Nolan made the right choice in casting her.

But even more thankfully, Hathaway is not descending into the camp Halle Berry got submerged in with “Catwoman.” What the heck was Warner Brothers thinking when they made that one anyway?!

Suffice to say, the prologue gets me all the more excited to check out the final chapter in Nolan’s “Batman” trilogy. As much as I try to control my anticipation and expectations with these big summer event movies, “The Dark Knight Rises” has me waiting impatiently for its release. Everybody cheered when the Warner Brothers logo came up, and they cheered just as loudly when this little taste of what will come came to a close.

Everyone is singing Nolan’s praises like he is the second coming and I just hope he doesn’t get met with the derision which greeted George Lucas with those “Star Wars” prequels.

In the meantime, we’d better start learning that chant which you can hear just underneath the prologue:

“Deshay, deshay, bahsahrah, bahsahrah. Deshay, deshay, bahsahrah, bahsahrah. DESHAY!!! DESHAY!!! BAHSAHRAH!!! BAHSAHRAH!!! DESHAY!!! DESHAY!!! BAHSAHRAH!!! BAHSAHRAH!!! DESHAY!!! DESHAY!!! BAHSAHRAH!!! BAHSAHRAH!!! DESHAY!!! DESHAY!!! BAHSAHRAH!!! BAHSAHRAH!!!”

NOTE: There were a handful of people who left the theatre once the prologue ended, and I strongly advise you not to do that. My review of “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol” will be coming up soon, but I can tell you it is awesome and also makes superb use of the IMAX format as well

Welcome to the 318th Edition of my series. I just got back from having Christmas at my dad's house so I am a little later than usual. For my birthday I got a lot of DVDs that he bought at pretty cheap prices so I now have a lot to work with. My niece Shelby arrived into town today from the Army so I had not seen her since July so it was great to see her. I will now get on with my picks for this week.

Morning Light (2008): This is my documentary for the week and takes a look at 15 your sailors who are preparing for a sailing competition against a group of veterans. This film first shows the many people who are trying out for this big opportunity and the selection process to get the final selections for the team. It then shows them going through some intense training sessions to get prepared for this big event. It also shows this team forming a bond and learning to work together. This is a movie produced by Disney and even features an appearance from Roy Disney and the opening narration is by Patrick Warburton. This is a pretty inspirational documentary and may be aimed at younger crowds.

You've Got Mail (1998): This is part two of a three-part series on Tom Hanks. Last week I used the Pixar short SMALL FRY where he reprised his part as Woody. This is actually an updated version of the 1940 film THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER. This is the third teaming of Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan with the first two being JOE VERSUS THE VOLCANO and SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE. Meg Ryan stars as Kathleen Kelly who is part of a family business and owns a small children's bookstore that has been there for years. She is in a relationship with a newspaper columnist named Frank, played by Greg Kinnear, but is having an e-mail relationship with another man. Keep in mind that this is around the time where things like e-mail and the internet were on the rise. Tom Hanks plays Joe Fox who is the owner of a new Barnes and Noble-type bookstore which is opening pretty close to Kathleen's store. He is in a relationship with a girl named Patricia, played by Parker Posey, but also in an e-mail relationship with another woman so now I'm sure you can guess they are the ones communicating with each other through e-mail not knowing they are business rivals. This is a pretty decent romantic comedy if you are into that genre and a good one for the holiday. This movie also shows how the big businesses are putting the little ones out of business and is a real-life situation in many towns. Also though is that those types of stores have been closing. I admit I'm guilty of supporting the chains but I like to support the local people when I can. There are a lot of great references to THE GODFATHER.

Holiday Heart (2000): This is my tv movie for the week and a great one for the holidays. Ving Rhames stars as the title character who is a drag queen but is highly involved with his local church. He soon has a chance encounter where a young girl asks for his help when her mother is being beaten and he goes in and saves her. Alfre Woodard plays this mother named Wanda and Jesika Reynolds plays the pre-teen girl Niki. Holiday soon takes them in and tries to help Wanda with her addiction and forming a fatherly relationship with Niki. This movie really teaches about acceptance where Holiday is gay and a cross-dresser and is judged because of those things when we see that he treats the girl better than all the other guys her mother has been with. Mykelti Williamson also co-stars as Silas who has a lot of money but is very shady. This movie also shows that family can be in many forms and does not have to be blood related. Ving Rhames is great in his part as a good-hearted drag queen.

Curious Alice (1968): This is my short film for the week and is a very weird variation on the Lewis Carroll classic. This is an animated movie and is supposed to be an anti-drug video which was produced by the Department of Education. However, it looks pretty trippy and does not seem like it would really promote not using drugs. It is still very entertaining like many of these promotional videos from the era that are meant to be educational instead but is really just entertaining. This is available on youtube so check it out. It's about 15 minutes.

The Valiant (1929): I was looking on TCM for something from this era to record and as soon as I saw that name Paul Muni, I was on it right away. Muni plays a person who says he killed someone but does not give them any information so that he can protect his family name. He gives them the name James Dyke and as he is facing execution, a mother believes he is her long-lost son and sends her daughter to the prison to see if it is indeed him. She has a long confrontation with this man. This is actually Muni's feature film debut and was even nominated for an Oscar for this performance. It is unfortunate that the name Paul Muni is not as remembered today as such people as Bogart and Gable as I feel he was just as talented. This movie really moved well and was worth a view.

A Christmas Carol (1938): What's a December of recommendations if I don't bring out a version of the Dickens classic. We all know the story here. You have the old miser Ebenezer Scrooge who has shut everyone out and only knows money. We then have his late partner Jacob Marley who has been condemned to always wear chains for his evil misdeeds and lets him know he is on that path if nothing changes. He then lets Scrooge know that he will be visited by three ghosts who we know as the Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present, and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Be who show Scrooge shadows of what have been and what will be in the future if nothing changes. This is one of the most regarded film versions of this classic with Reginald Owen great in this part and replaced Lionel Barrymore who was known for the radio versions but injuries kept him from being able to do this film. He then recommended Owen and did the right thing. In this version I noticed Tiny Tim was a little older than usual and even more sociable than usual. I did feel this one was a little too short and there should have been a little more in his past but this one is still enjoyable and the first talkie version of the Dickens classic.

Christmas in Connecticut (1945): This is my screwball comedy for the holiday. Barbara Stanwyck is a highly regarded writer on food named Elizabeth Lane but has been deceptive about her cooking abilities and gets recipes from her friend. Soon for Christmas, her boss, played by Sydney Greenstreet, and a returning war hero named Jefferson, played by Dennis Morgan, have invited themselves over for Christmas and Elizabeth must do what she can to cover up her deception. Most of these actors have been used to playing very dramatic roles but were glad for the change of pace and do a good job. This is a pretty good comedy that is great for the holidays.

London (2005): Jessica Biel plays the title character who is having a going away party at a New York loft. Chris Evans plays her drug addicted ex-boyfriend Syd who gets word of this and hopes to make amends but is scared to talk to her. He then spends a lot of time in the bathroom and snorting coke with his dealer Bateman, played by Jason Statham in a different role. While doing these drugs he reflects on his time with London and mistakes that were made. We then learn a lot about these characters leading into the encounter with London. This was a pretty entertaining independent film while a bit flawed. This was still a pretty good portrayal on a relationship. Comedians Dane Cook and Louis CK have cameo appearances. I watched this around the same time that my friend Ashley had her going away party and went much better than the party in this film. Ashley is a long-time friend who moved to Philadelphia to be with her boyfriend Stephen. Since last April I have had the pleasure of being her photographer and assistant during her music gigs which brought us closer as friends becoming family. She is a very talented musician and even greater person. I wish her and Stephen well in their future and look forward to her visiting Muncie again.

The Sentinal (1977): So for all you Christmas haters, I bring you this cult classic. Cristina Raines plays fashion model Alison Parker who has a boyfriend but not really ready for marriage so gets herself an apartment. When in this apartment, strange occurrences begin to happen making everyone question her sanity. Chris Sarandon plays her boyfriend Michael who does everything he can to help his girlfriend. Ava Gardner, John Carradine, Jerry Orbach, Burgess Meredith also co-star in this horror film. Meredith was very amusing as her mysterious neighbor. This is available on Instant Netflix.

Mary and Max (2009): Adam Elliot wrote and directed this adult animation tale. Mary is an eight-year old girl living in the suburbs of Australia and having a difficult home life. Max is a severely obese man in his 40s who has had a very difficult life with his anxiety issues. They soon form a pen-pal relationship and exchange letters and do it for a 20 year period hoping to someday meet. This was some very clever animation and really a very moving story. This is not something to watch if looking for a movie to watch with your kids but a great movie for the adults. Toni Collette, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Eric Bana all have voices.

Well, that is it for this week. Tell me what you like and what you dislike. Next week's installment will be released on Christmas which there will be some holiday selections and non-holiday selections that include Julianne Moore, Spencer Tracy, more Tom Hanks, and many others.

Watching Kermit the Frog sing “Rainbow Connection” in “The Muppets” brought back memories I cherish. “The Muppet Movie” was the first film I ever saw in a theater, and I consider myself fortunate that it was. I even brought along my own Kermit the Frog hand puppet which I still have, and I had him singing along with the real Kermit who was singing this same song onscreen back in his swamp all those years ago. These characters were a large part of my childhood, and I still find them endlessly entertaining as an adult.

“The Muppets” represents the kind of Muppet movie I have been yearning to see for years; one which appeals to the whole family and doesn’t just condescend to kids. Ever since Jim Henson passed away in 1990 everything Muppet has been geared towards children without much thought to us adults. The ironical humor vanished without a trace, and Disney took over the franchise without really knowing how to make an effective Muppet movie. This became abundantly clear when “Muppets From Space” collapsed both critically and commercially back in 1999 (perhaps because they weren’t partying like it was 1999).

But with “Forgetting Sarah Marshall’s” Jason Segel and “Flight of the Conchords’” co-creator James Bobbin directing and star Bret McKenzie supervising the music, “The Muppets” is a movie the whole family can enjoy together, and it will put a smile on even the most jaded fan’s face. Granted, a number of puppeteers from this infamous franchise (namely Frank Oz) refused to participate because they felt the script didn’t respect the characters. I beg to differ on that.

Segel stars as Gary whose brother Walter is a Muppet himself, and both are die hard fans of “The Muppet Show” in childhood and their love for it stays strong even through puberty. They finally get their chance to visit Muppet Studios when Gary invites Walter to come along with him and his girlfriend Mary (Amy Adams) to Los Angeles. But when they get there, they find that it is now in a dilapidated state as Kermit and company haven’t performed together or seen each other in years.

Even worse, Walter overhears the evil oil magnate Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) planning to buy the studios not to preserve it as a landmark, but to drill for oil underneath it. As a result, Walter, Gary and Mary join forces to reunite the Muppets in order to put on a telethon that will raise the money needed to save not just the studios but the Muppet theater where the magic all started.

My guess is that Oz and other puppeteers never saw the Muppets splitting up and going their separate ways, but having re-watched a lot of “Muppet Show” episodes recently, they didn’t always have the best time working together. Besides they did split up (if only temporarily) in “The Muppets Take Manhattan” when Kermit got all pissy about the gang constantly leaning on him to figure out what to do next. Heck, that Kermit didn’t ditch Miss Piggy sooner is amazing.

Starting off with the Muppets having gone their separate ways years ago gives “The Muppets” an interesting jumping off point. Like many, the Muppets wonder if they are still relevant in today’s popular culture. While they are a big favorite of my generation, whether they can translate to another is uncertain. Of course, there’s only one way to find that out.

Even though the voices of the original Muppet performers are not present, the characters have not changed nor have they gotten cynical (unlike Statler and Waldorf). Steve Whitmire performs Kermit the Frog and does great work in capturing his unforgettable mannerisms without ever simply going through the motions. The same goes with the rest of the puppeteers working here as they make each character from Miss Piggy to Animal their own.

It’s also interesting to see where everyone is at today. Kermit is living in a mansion that is not in the best condition, Miss Piggy is the editor in chief of Vogue Paris, Scooter works at Google, and Sam the Eagle is a Fox News-like personality which seems to be the perfect venue for his endless pomposity. But the one Muppet who practically steals this movie is Animal who we meet up with again at an anger management clinic where Jack Black is his sponsor.

As for the human actors, Segel is a hoot as Gary and his love for the Muppets shines through every contribution he has made to this film. Amy Adams remains infinitely adorable even after her ball busting turn in last year’s “The Fighter.” Her sweetness is no act, and she scores a huge musical highlight with “Party of One.” We even get to see Chris Cooper do a rap song, and it’s not as terrifying as it sounds. As for Jack Black, he becomes the most unwilling guest star “The Muppet Show” has ever seen.

The music is really good as well and never becomes cringe inducing thank goodness. “Life’s A Happy Song” starts off the proceedings with a happiness that feels genuine, and you can tell Segel is having the time of his life while singing it. The one song though which deserves a Best Original Song nomination is “Man or Muppet” where both Segel and Walter bring down the house in deciding who they really are (as if the answer wasn’t obvious).

It’s also great to see that ironic humor the Muppets were famous for back on display They push the bounds of their PG rating to where if the kids don’t get what’s being said, it’s probably just as well. I loved how they got away with the Muppet chickens singing Cee-Lo Green’s “Fuck You” without its explicit lyrics. Oh I’m sorry, I mean Cee-Lo Green’s “Forget You” (right, whatever).

But what makes “The Muppets” so good is that everyone, be it Muppets or human actors and those making cameos, comes into this project without any cynicism. Making a movie with the best of intentions or one with a happy ending is greeted with our eyes rolling in the back of our heads as we come out feeling utterly and shamelessly manipulated. The filmmakers even bring back “The Muppet Show’s” opening theme song as it was performed in season three, and it looks almost exactly like it did years ago. Even “Mahna Mahna” is brought back, and being that was the very first sketch on “The Muppet Show,” that should show you how much these filmmakers value their childhood entertainment.

Kermit, Fozzie, and Miss Piggy will never feel or sound exactly as they did from years ago, but “The Muppets” proves that they still have their charms and hilarity long after their glory days. From start to finish, “The Muppets” was made with a lot of love for the imagination Jim Henson gave us so many years ago, and deep down we all would hate to see it die away without a trace.

* * * ½ out of * * * *

Code Black Entertainment recently announced the their stand up comedy film "Kevin Hart: Laugh At My Pain" will be making it DVD debut on January 17th. The film became the most successful film opening under 300 theaters this year, as it made 7.7 million during its three month theatrical run.

DVD special features include: Hart's full, unedited interview with Larry King (Larry King Live); "The Plastic Cup Boyz" sketch directed by Tim Story (Think Like A Man, Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer) and cameo appearance by Academy Award® nominee Taraji P. Henson (Think Like A Man, CBS' Person of Interest); and a sneak peek of the upcoming film Think Like A Man, with an introduction from Kevin Hart.

Press Release:

LAUGH AT MY PAIN, the hilarious stand-up comedy film by actor/comedian Kevin Hart, is making its way home on DVD January 17, 2012, courtesy of Codeblack Entertainment (www.codeblack.com). On September 9, 2011, LAUGH AT MY PAIN released in theaters, and within 3 months, surpassed $7.7 million at the box office becoming the most successful film of the year opening in under 300 theaters.

LAUGH AT MY PAIN, independently distributed by Codeblack Entertainment, exceeded opening weekend expectations with an astonishing $1.9 million with limited release in only 97 AMC Theaters in 25 markets.
Millions of Kevin Hart fans, as well as collectors of great comedy stand-up films like Eddie Murphy's Delirious and Raw or Martin Lawrence Live: Runteldat, will want to own their very own copy of what Joshua Weaver of TheRoot.com calls "A non-stop thrill."

Bonus features on the LAUGH AT MY PAIN DVD include: Hart's full, unedited interview with Larry King (Larry King Live); "The Plastic Cup Boyz" sketch directed by Tim Story (Think Like A Man, Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer) and cameo appearance by Academy Award® nominee Taraji P. Henson (Think Like A Man, CBS' Person of Interest); and a sneak peek of the upcoming film Think Like A Man, with an introduction from Kevin Hart.

Synopsis:
LAUGH AT MY PAIN brings Kevin Hart BACK to the big screen starring in the theatrical version of his 2011 comedy tour. One of the most successful comedy concerts in history, the 90-city LAUGH AT MY PAIN tour swept the nation and earned more than $15,000,000 in ticket sales!

LAUGH AT MY PAIN will be available for order on December 13, 2011 to trade, and to consumers for iTunes and Amazon pre-order for all on December 20, 2011.