EXCLUSIVE INDEPENDENT FILM REVIEW: Home Movie

Home Movie

Rated R

Running time: 1 hr 17 mins

Cast:

Adrian Pasdar
Cady McClain
Amber Joy Williams
Austin Williams

Mikey @ The Movies Official Rating:

***1/2 out of *****

The Premise:

Documents one family's descent into darkness, using a compilation of found home-made footage. In the remote woods of upstate New York, the Poe Family lives a Norman Rockwell life. Perfect house. Perfect marriage. If only the children stopped stapling frogs to trees. Something is very wrong with ten-year old twins, Jack and Emily Poe. And, to stop them, their parents must enter the nightmare of their minds. The only question is: who will survive the night?

MY REVIEW

To view this film's trailer, click this link: Home Movie

Home Movie is an all hand held camera film. The whole film is shot like...a home movie. Yes we have seen a slew of these types of movies in the recent year, but this film actually uses the camera effect in a very cool way. We see snippets of events in this families life over the course of a few months, mainly major holidays. The pastor father played by "Heroes" star Adrian Pasdar and the child therapist mother played by Cady McClain documents as much of the families life as possible. Now for the first half of the film, this family seems very happy and quite normal. Despite the children (Amber Joy Williams and Austin Williams)being very quiet and standoffish. We see the mother shooting video for patient purposes and the father filming himself practice sermons. All is well.

The second half things take a turn for the worse. The children start acting a little sinister. They kill their fish and put it in a sandwich. They crucify the family cat. They throw their plates of food on the ground on Thanksgiving while the father tries to pray. The mother begins to suspect they may have some mental illness and tries to treat them. The father things there is evil in the house and tries to perform and exorcism. Nothing works.

Home Movie is a very well made psychological horror film. I hate to even use the word horror to describe the film's genre. Because there is no blood or gore. There are no jump scenes. There are no moments of evil torture. This film is purely a trick on the mind. It glorifies the phrase "what you don't see is what scares you the most". Not literally per say, although those creepy little kids do some sneaky and unsettling things behind the camera that we don't see. What I mean is we don't see evil in these kids, and neither do the parents at first. We all see two shy, quiet kids who may be a bit socially awkward. Then it all flips.

This movie isn't amazing, but I thought it was very well executed and it was the perfect length and just under an hour and twenty minutes. Just enough time to show the rapid growth in fear and evil in that house. We never know what triggers these kids. We never find out if they are possessed or just insane. That's not the point. A lot of the times kids do crazy things in real life and we never know why. Heck recently in Phoenix an 8 year old shot and killed his father and his roommate. Kids that age don't have the mentality to plan these things like an adult would. They just...go crazy sometimes. And sometimes it's because of their home life. In this case, these kids had a very good home life, with very loving parents. Which makes this story even creepier.

The movie is currently playing on Cox On Demand under "New Releases" and then I think the "In Theaters" option. Or something close to that. I believe it is on other cable on demand networks as well. The movie is qualifying as a normal released film for my review purposes because it is playing in some independent theaters in the country. If you are into unsettling creep fests, I would check out Home Movie if you can. It works very well in my opinion. Very creepy "horror" flick.

*This is the 151st new film I've seen and reviewed this year.

*This film was featured in select independent theaters across the country and is available on Cox On Demand and Direct TV until December 31st 2008.

Space Chimps

Space Chimps

Rated G

Running time: 1 hr 21 mins

Voice Cast:

Andy Samberg

Cheryl Hines

Jeff Daniels

Patrick Warburton

Critical Consensus:

**1/2 out of *****
(35% Fresh Rating!)

Mikey @ The Movies Official Rating:

*1/2 out of *****

The Premise:

Playful circus chimp Ham III -- grandson of the first simian astronaut -- finds himself knee deep in an intergalactic revolution when NASA drafts him to recover a missing probe in this comic animated adventure. Can Ham and his shipmates, the intrepid Lt. Luna and testy skipper Titan, save a planet under the thumb of a nefarious tyrant? Celebrity voices include Andy Samberg, Cheryl Hines, Patrick Warburton, Jeff Daniels and Stanley Tucci.

MY REVIEW

I really hate to give animated films low marks, because I am not the target audience. But Space Chimps is just a sucky movie, I'm sorry. I honestly think that this film wouldn't even appeal to many young audiences. I think if you are between the ages of 5-8 you might find it slightly entertaining but otherwise, this movie is just bland.

All Space Chimps really is, is an extended version of a Saturday morning cartoon. I feel like there was virtually no effort put into this film to appeal to much of anyone. It wasn't even funny. It had no charming likability. I think for adults and most kids, this movie would be a bore. It certainly was for me. It tries to hard to be funny for kids, and I don't think most kids would get it. I know kids, I have 7 nieces and nephews, I've grown up with children for the past 13 years. I have a fairly good gauge for how the average mind of a child works. And this film is not something that would be fun for most youngsters.

The animation was outdated, it's as if it went back to the stone ages of 3D animation, and then some. That's not something I typically want to complain about, but this movie had nothing in it's favor. The voice actors were dull and unfunny, just like the story.

Listen parents, this film may be totally clean for children s minds, and there aren't any grown up jokes kids won't get; but really there are so many other good family films out there you can show you kids instead of this one. Wall-E, Kit Kittredge, Kung Fu Panda, etc. Don't waste your time showing the family this one. There isn't even a good message in it like the other films have. The film's I just listed have very sweet morals to teach kids and families, Space Chimps is just a mess of a film that leaves you feeling empty.

To view this film's theatrical trailer, click this link: Space Chimps

*This is the 150th new film I've seen and reviewed this year.

*This film is now on DVD.

MADE FOR TV SPOTLIGHT: 24:Redemption

24: Redemption

Rated NR
Running Time: 2 hrs (on TV)
TV Premiere Date: November 22nd

Cast:

Kiefer Sutherland
Jon Voight
Cherry Jones
Colm Feore
Powers Boothe

The Premise:

While helping his old friend Carl Benton (Robert Carlyle) build houses for the poor in Africa, Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) gets caught in the middle of a military coup. Back in the United States, Allison Taylor (Cherry Jones) prepares to be sworn in as president. Filmed on location in South Africa, this stand-alone movie serves as a bridge between the sixth and seventh seasons of the popular show "24" and co-stars Gil Bellows and Jon Voight.

MY REVIEW

Oh gosh, SO glad this show is back! This is technically a Made for TV movie and that qualifies for a review from me. You don't like that I count made for TV movies in my movie tally...that's just way to bad. This isn't an official site, I'm not a paid reviewer, I do this for fun. Get over it! So with that in mind...I LOVED this movie!!

This film covers for us what happened after the season six finale of the hit action-drama "24" aobout a year and half ago. The show's seventh season was given the boot last January due to the dismal writers strike, so we haven't had any 24 since May of 2007! WAY to long! I will be the first to admit, season 6 was probably the weakest of the shows running. Season 5 wasn't all that better. The first 3 seasons were simply unbelievably great, and the 4th was pretty awesome itself. What "24: Redemption" has done...has redeemed the show. It made up for the cruddy past couple years. And it did it in just 2 measly real-time hours.

To those who don't know, the first few seasons of 24 is an action-drama that follows Agent Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) who works for CTU (Counter Terrorism Unit) as he tries to foil terrorist attacks on US soil, mainly in Los Angelas. Each season takes place over the course of just one single day. Each episode takes place in an hour of real time for that day. So we have 24 episodes, hench the name...24. We have a ticking clock that pops up periodically through each episode letting us know what time it is. At the beginning of each episode it tells us what current hour the following episode will show us.

Jack Bauer is this generations Chuck Norris, but a whole hell of a lot cooler! He does whatever he can to save the day, even if that means shooting innocent women in the kneecaps. Yes, he has done this. Or excecuting his own boss to delay an awful attack on the city. The man has been through a lot, and has received nothing in return for the government he works for. Last we saw Jack he was fed up with the people that used and abused him over the years (or days??). They let jack get taken prisoner for a 18 months by the Chinese government. They used Jack as bait several times, and were prepared to have him killed. Because of these people he works for, he lost his wife (who who shockingly killed at the end of season one) and has become estranged from his daughter (Elisha Cuthbert) Now Jack isn't all that innocent. He's brutally tortured some mean people to get information. He shoots people on a constant basis, I think he's killed over 75 people over 6 seasons (days). The guy is a mad man, he's freakin' nuts...but simply put he is a true American hero.

To watch the 24 movie you actually need no real background to the previous seasons. I mean you will need a slight tutorial on the life of Jack Bauer (which I just explained above) and a bit about the governmental characters. Speaking of which, 24 breaks ground when it comes to Presidents. They just don't care. The now assasinated President Palmer (Dennis Haysbert) from seasons 1-4 was the real first black president! And now we are introduced to a new president...a woman (Cherry Jones). Meanwhile we learn Jack is in Africa helping his good friend with a school while the Sengala (a fictional city in Africa) army threat is growing as they start to recruit child soldiers. Blah blah blah...and Jack is forced to help save the day. And boy does he! This comes with a price though. He's also forced to return to the US to stand trial for the acts of torture he commited many years ago.

This movie kicked butt! Such a great story, perfectly fit for 24. I feel like this movie brought the show back to it's roots, maybe even better. I'll tell ya, when Jack blew up a car for the first real action scene, I was pumped! THen he took out six or seven soldiers all by himself with his little gun. Oh gosh then he snapped a guys neck with his legs while he was tied up by the arms. I'm not kidding guys, this show and this movie is intense and action packed! Kiefer Sutherland rocked it as Bauer once again! This character has gone through so much and Sutherland is excellent at playing this role. I cannot picture anyone else doing it.

This movie is now on DVD actually, and I think you guys should check it out even if you have never seen the show! You may very well become a fan, and start watching when the show itself premiers in January! I for one and freakin' excited!

Mikey @ The Movies Official Rating: ***** out of *****

*This is the 149th new film I've seen and reviewed this year.

*This film is now on DVD.

Rachel Getting Married

Rachel Getting Married

Rated R

Running time: 1 hr 54 mins

Cast:

Anne Hathaway
Rosemarie DeWitt
Bill Irwin
Debra Winger

Critical Consensus:

***1/2 out of *****
(87% Fresh Rating!)

Mikey @ The Movies Official Rating:

****1/2 out of *****

The Premise:

A young woman who has been in and out from rehab for the past 10 years returns home for the weekend for her sister's wedding.

MY REVIEW

A pleasant surprise is always the best kind of surprise. That is exactly what this film was. I have to say, Rachel Getting Married is one of the best and most real movies of 2008 chock full of incredible performances. You know you see the preview, and you kind of think: this might be a softer chick flick. I mean it has the word "Married" in the title, that mean total girl sobfest right? Wrong! This movie isn't really about a wedding, even though it's about a wedding. This movie is about a very dysfunctional family full of individuals who desperately seek attention from everyone else in the family. You know I'm convinced entire families can suffer from bi-polar disorder.

What this movie does is gives an very true insight into the world of family dysfunction. You know we've seen plenty of films with families who are crazy, but usually it's shown in a lighter tone. This cuts right to true to life core. I've never seen a film display this kind of family behavior so accurately. You have the drug addict in recovery sister played by Anne Hathaway (The Devil Wears Prada, Princess Diaries); the sister getting married who just wants everything to go smoothly played by Rosemarie DeWitt (Cinderella Man, TV's Mad Men); the loving father who just wants everyone to get along played by Bill Irwin (Lady in the Water, TV's Sesame Street); and the distant mother played by Debra Winger (Terms of Endearment, Shadowlands). It really isn't to far fetched from a typical American family these days.

The story of this family is quite moving actually. This family all claims to be so loving and loves one another, but really they are deeply scarred. They all still mourn the death of their baby son and brother that happened in a tragic accident. They all try to cope with their wild daughter and sibling who just got out of rehab. All the while trying to maintain some smiles and happiness for the wedding that's right around the corner. You know I just loved the tension this family displayed. Not in a good way of course, but I loved it because it shows how any seemingly normal family can have serious issues too. Is there such thing as an absolutely perfect family? I don't really think so. If there is, they are possibly the ones who are dysfunctional. Rached Getting Married takes a happy time in someones life and turns it into a crazy battle of emotions ranging from sadness to pure hatred all in one weekend. That to me is brilliant. This movie had a very great story to tell, a very realistic story to tell.

Some I think complained about the style of fimaking, claiming that it tends to be a bit awkward. In some sense I agree with that, but for the most part the filmaking was genius. What I agree with, is that some scenes played out a little to long. Namely the reception scene that just kept going and going with no dialogue but just clips of the festivities. It seriously dragged on for maybe ten minutes. About seven minutes to long. A couple other scenes also could have been cut just a smidgeon. Some people may not like the shaky camera effect, and may not expect it in a film like this. I found it to be a perfect tool for this movie. The camera effect almost looked like a home video, which really added on to the realism of the movie and these characters. It kind of had the same look as "The Office" does, but just a little grainier, which I just loved.

What I loved the most was the performances. They certainly don't overshadow eachother or the story, they fit in so snuggly. Topping it off was the shockingly brave and brilliant performance of Anne Hathaway. She 100% leads Best Actress category for my awards at this point. Her performance was never flashy or colorful. It was sad, funny, and incredibly moving. I actually see a lot of myself in this character, which was a plus becuase I got to relate to her. She just wants people to love her and forgive her and she's doing such a hard job to accomplish that. But it just comes out that she's starving for attention and it's all about her. A solid job on her behalf, easily her greatest performance by a million miles.

Rosemarie DeWitt is an actress I've never seen or heard of. But man was she great in this movie as the sister getting married. Her character has the most conflict with Hathaway, and their chemistry was excellent. You would actually think they were sisters. She comes off as sweet and loveable but also this person who just isn't giving her sister a fair chance. She isn't listening to her sister like she should. DeWitt plays off this tension so wonderfully. She too has some very moving scenes and is absolutely one of the best supporting female performances of this year. And I just want to touch on Bill Irwin for a second. This guy apparently plays Mr. Noodle on Sesame Street. I got a kick out of that. He really is one of the most loveable movie dads I've seen in a while. He delivers such a sincere and touching performance. He just wants his girls to be happy, and he plays that role so well. I think he may be in my supporting actor list at years end.

Rachel Getting Married has taught me a very valuable lesson. It is important to be who you are, not who other people want you and expect you to be. Don't mold yourself off other people because they want you to. Live your life they way your life is meant to be lived. The love and acceptance of your family and friends is very important, but it also important to be yourself. Don't cater to people's needs and don't expect to be catered. It's amazing that a movie has taught me this. But that just shows how good this movie really is, bravo!

To view this film's theatrical trailer, click this link: Rachel Getting Married

*This is the 148th new film I've seen and reviewed this year.

Twilight

Twilight

Rated PG-13

Running time: 2 hours 2 mins

Cast:

Kristen Stewart
Robert Pattinson
Cam Gigandet
Taylor Lautner
Ashley Green

Critical Consensus:

**1/2 out of *****
(43% Fresh Rating!)

Mikey @ The Movies Official Rating:

* out *****


The Premise:

A teenage girl risks everything when she falls in love with a vampire. Based off the best selling novels of the same name.

MY REVIEW

Since I've never read any of the books in the series, I have to review this film from an unbiased perspective and review like it's just a random movie. With that in mind, I was not a fan of the movie. In reality the small budget of the movie ruined it, but that's just my personal opinion. If I had read the books, had invested time in these characters, my opinion would probably be more positive. Sadly, this is not the case. I apologize to the Twilight book fans, please do not think I am attacking you if you did like the film adaption. If fans of the book enjoy this movie, I am very happy for that, it's been a long time coming for them! And I also very much understand why you would enjoy the movie in that case.

The movie kind of starts off awkwardly and never really lets that go. What I mean by that is that nothing really fits snugly into place due to it's very weak production value. The scenery isn't as pretty as it should have been, it actually looks kind of fake. Not an unrealistic fake, just...I don't know. The scoring and random music they threw in every once in a while always seemed out of place. I've always been a very firm believer that music can make or break a movie. It truly sets the tone for most films. This music...just was so awkwardly placed.

You would think in a movie like this special effects would be something to ogle at...not so much however. Again because of the low budget they couldn't dare waste too much on the the visuals. When Edward steps into sunlight he's supposed to look beautiful with some diamond like textured skin. Yet when we see this, we can barely see a difference and it just looks cheesy. But that fits the pattern for the whole look of the film: cheesy. Nothing about it's visuals ever stands out. That sort of irritated me. I don't like low budget films that have stories meant for big budgets.

Speaking of the story, it wasn't bad. It had a very sweet love story that I believe is the main focus of this first book. I could be wrong though. So if it is, the movie stayed very true to that, and in terms of love stories it was pretty good. The film really stretched it out the whole length of the film and I liked that it did so. Other aspects of the story were kind of weak, such as the villain. He kind of comes in about half way through the movie, then dissapears then comes back a little bit later. When he does come back, he immediately wants to kill the main girl. I get it, he's a vampire who thirsts for blood, so I understand his motive. But I didn't get why he was so adamant about ruining Edwards life. But it didn't really matter, he was dead for to quickly. Not much of a good villain. The story kind of jumped from one point to another to quickly. It seemed badly edited but again, maybe the books were like that too so I can't call it out for that.

What I can say though is that the story ultimately lacked any true excitement. There was almost no tension, even in the love story. Love stories can have tension in film too, not just action and suspense. I never once really cared about any of these characters or their safety. Speaking of the characters, the low budget really scarred the film's performances too. Better actors could have been chosen. Kristen Stewart (Panic Room, Zathura) didn't seem like she knew what she was doing. I feel she stuttered through her lines quite frequently. But again, that could be the character and I just don't know. She was pretty bad though, if I'm being honest. Robert Pattinson (Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire) was just way to dry. Oh and his facial expressions, especially the close up shots, were just creepy and uncomfortable. I understand he's supposed to be some super hot vampire dude, and I don't think he fit that role either. I think he may need a few more acting lessons. Who am I do judge right? I don't act right? Well guess what, these people DO act. This is their freaking job! Just like they expect us to be good at our jobs, we expect the same from them. They get paid a buttload of money to act and all these actors are on the verge of a strike...so you know what, I can judge. The acting in this movie was just bad. I'm sorry.

A quick note here: shouldn't a movie that has a big vampire cast, showcase the vampires a little more? I feel like we didn't see many of those fangs, or really any neck biting. The family of vampires all seemed like a nice, cozy little family with a few stuck up kids...but none of them really showed us their true vampire-esque abilities. Maybe a nice little tree climbing, or a really speedy run...but is that what we all really know and love about vampires? Even the bad guys didn't do much on screen vampire bad guy things. That just seemed a bit weird to me.

Again, I don't want to critisize the fans of the books. To them, this movie was a lot better than it was for me. They have invested their time with these stories and characters, so it's easier for them to float right into the movie. But now that I think of it, these movies shouldn't just be meant for fans of the books. A movie should try to be good to all people who like the particular genre. I feel the movie sort of catered to the fans of the books and in a way leaves us non fans in the dust. Like we feel cheated in some weird way. I'm very glad the book fans got what they wanted, but I would at least expect the courtesy of a film maker to also make their film appeal to other audiences.

Twilight is by no means an awful movie. I think this movie will be a great success to the die-hard fans of the series, but to people like me, I think it will brush on by as just another forgettable movie. I also think it will have great numbers in it's opening box office totals. Thanks to those teeny boppers out there!

To view this film's theatrical trailer, click this link: Twilight

*This is the 147th new film I've seen and reviewed this year.

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

Rated PG

Running Time: 1 hr 29 mins

Voice Cast:

Ben Stiller
Chris Rock
David Schwimmer
Jada Pinkett Smith
Sacha Baron Cohen
Bernie Mac
Alec Baldwin

Critical Consensus:

Coming Soon
(Coming Soon)

Mikey @ The Movies Official Rating:

***** out of *****


The Premise:

A botched rescue attempt strands Alex the lion (voiced by Ben Stiller) and his companions smack dab in the African wild. Sadly, as in Madagascar, Alex discovers he has little in common with the locals, having lived for so long in the city. His friends, meanwhile, begin to doubt they'll ever make it back to the zoo. David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith, Chris Rock and Sacha Baron Cohen reprise their voice roles in this hysterical animated sequel.

MY REVIEW

Not many sequels are as good or even better than the first film. I personally think Madagascar 2 was an improvement over the original. Now I liked the first movie, I thought it was adorable and perfect for kids. The animation was a bit weird though, and it seemed like a TV show and not a major film. However, kids don't care about that and that's who the target audience is, so ultimately I didn't care. The sequel however does improve in this area greatly.

But really, this film is very cute, very funny and very lovable. It may not stand up against films like Toy Story or this years Wall*E but it's still a really entertaining and fun movie. The kids will love it! I was in a theater full of kids, and I can tell they just had a blast with this film! Movies like this weren't intended to wow adult audiences and garner tons of Oscar nominations. The animated film category at the Oscars didn't come around until fairly recently. These movies are MEANT for children and families. How can an adult review this movie with an adult mindset. That's just silly!!

I have NOTHING to complain about in this movie. Because for what it was supposed to be, it was perfect! All the characters are so fun! I was laughing right along with the kids in the audience. Those freaking penguins are absolutely hysterical! They were a highlight in the first film, and they were even funnier here! Each character just had their own individual quirks that just added to the humor. The film has the added benefit of being well written too. They story was very simple, and played out very well. There were jokes thrown in that were obviously meant for adults too, which is always a cool touch. And in the end, the story delivers a good message: friends are important, especially the good ones. We will always have disagreements with friends, but with the good friends you see right past the arguments.

Yes, I gave this films five stars. Is it as good as Wall*E or Kung Fu Panda? Not in my adult mindset no, but kids don't really care what I think! I review these movies indivually, and try very hard not to actually compare them while watching them. Madagascar 2 is a very good film that the entire family can enjoy! Even you can enjoy it! It's fun!

To view this film's theatrical trailer, click this link: Madagascar 2

*This is the 146th new film I've seen and reviewed this year.

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE: Super High Me

Super High Me

Rated R

Running time: 1 hr 34 mins

Mikey @ The Movies Official Rating:

* out of *****

Subject Matter:

Determined to find out the true effects of marijuana on the human body, stand-up comedian and former Stoner of the Year Doug Benson documents his experience avoiding pot for 30 days and then consuming massive amounts of the drug for 30 days. More than just an amusing story of one man's quest to get superhigh, this documentary also examines the hotly contested debate over medical marijuana use.

MY REVIEW

Super High Me is almost a spoof movie in itself. It essentially spoofs the critical hit, "Super Size Me" from a few years ago. However instead of a man going around getting fat and nearly killing himself off of McDonald's food, we have a man (comic Doug Benson) smoking pot non-stop. Well first he goes 30 full days without smoking any marijuana then goes 30 full days smoking pot all day. To those who chuckle from this premise, you may be a pot head, or once were one.

This movie is not interesting in the least. It really provides no actual insight into the world of drugs. Nothing we as a country didn't already know. Really this movie is an excuse for a man to smoke weed constantly on camera. Doug Benson is known as one of the top pot comics in the country. I'm sad there is such a list. I don't judge pot smokers for smoking pot, I just think when you are in your 30's and 40's and smoking weed is the best thing you can do for fun, you may not lead an amazing life.

To be an actual legit documentary, the movie brings us glimpses of insight into the medical marijuana life. We see clinics being shut down by the DEA even though it's technically legal in some states like California. However even these moments take a back seat to Doug Benson rattling off pot jokes and talking nonsense in front of the camera due to being high. He even goes to a doctor before and after and really learns that there is not much of a change from not smoking pot to smoking pot all the time. Almost as if it's an actual advertisement for pot.

Super High Me is really kind of a childish documentary in my eyes. I mean many people may actually enjoy a movie like this, especially the pot smokers of the world. To me smoking pot in this regard is not cool in my personal book. I've never smoked pot. I've never done a drug in my life. I've barely consumed alcohol. I personally have never been a fan of any of it. I don't like what it does to people. I don't like the fact that people have to drink or do drugs to actually feel emotions like happiness. That stuff should come naturally. But this is just MY opinion. I'm not saying I hate potheads and alcoholics. And I'm not saying other people won't like this movie. I just didn't, that's all.

To view this films trailer, click this link: Super High Me

*This is the 145th new film I've seen and reviewed this year.

*This film is now on DVD.

Transsiberian

Transsiberian

Rated R

Running Time: 1 hr 51 mins

Cast:

Woody Harrelson

Emily Mortimer

Ben Kingsley

Kate Mara

Eduardo Noriega

Critical Consensus:

***1/2 out of *****
(92% Fresh Rating!)

Mikey @ The Movies Official Rating:

***** out of *****


The Premise:

A Trans-Siberian train journey from China to Moscow becomes a thrilling chase of deception and murder when an American couple encounters a mysterious pair of fellow travelers.

MY REVIEW

Transsiberian is how a thriller should be done. This movie is near perfect in almost every way and is easily one of the best film's of 2008. Sadly it's just another one of those movies that no one really saw in theaters and that will carry on in it's DVD time. Sometimes I feel it's movies like this that should be the big summer blockbusters. Because these really are the highest class of film, but they don't have huge stars and big explosions to get an audience. Movies like this have real quality to them.

The movies first half is nothing but pure build up to something big and not so good. While watching it, you know something is going to happen, but you just can't predict what that will be. For me that made this film incredibly tense. I was expecting something awful to happen, but then it didn't. Then at the right moment, the movie completely unfolds. It's at this point where the story flips and goes in another direction and new characters are introduced. Characters that you as an audience don't really trust but the heroes of the story seem to. We have a murder, a drug ring and characters you really can't figure out. To me that's a brilliant formula for a tense thriller.

A lot of the times for a movie like this to work, it has to look amazing. This movie looks incredible. More than half of the film takes place aboard a train. The cinematography as the camera weaves through the halls and sleeping quarters, is really something great. The camera work adds on to the tense feelings you get while watching the story unfold. It's also full of dull colors just to add to the dark feeling of the film. Even when the characters are in the bright snow, the film making just has a way of creating that darkness. The director did an excellent job creating this world of thrills and suspense.

I was glad to see Woody Harrelson (Semi-Pro) here. He's just one of those guys you see in movies and TV that you always know is good but isn't all that recognized still. I thought he did such a great job in this film. You really love his character in the first half, and then in the second half he does such an amazing job at showcasing the fear and confusion that sets in with the story. I've never been a big fan of Emily Mortimer (Redbelt), she's never really proven herself as a dependable actress. But she temporarily changed my mind after this film. It was her that really carried this film performance wise. She was essentially the main character who has to go through so many feeling and emotions and I was honestly shocked at how well she did. Just based off what I've seen of her before. Really outstanding job. Of course Oscar winner Ben Kingsley (Ghandi, House of Sand and Fog) was awesome yet again. This time playing a mysterious Russian cop. When he's on his game, he's good. No difference here.

I highly recommend Transsiberian to everyone! It's such a tightly wound thrill ride, that will please fans of the genre. Is it wildly exciting? No not really. Are there many chases? Again, no. Explosions? None that I can remember. But not every good suspense thriller has to have those things. In fact, usually the good ones like this don't have those things. This movie certainly did not need any of that to prove itself as a brilliant film!

To view this films theatrical trailer, click this link: Transsiberian

*This is the 144th new film I've seen and reviewed this year.

*This film is now on DVD.

S.R.M Presents!

Hey everyone! So I have a special little treat for you! About a month or so ago, my sister Kelly and I were visiting some family in California. My brother Shawn along with my sister Tricia and my sister-in-law Jenn and their friends Matt, Robert and Cathy have a myspace filmaker page called S.R.M. They film videos that range from 2 minutes to almost 7 minutes long. The videos are purely comedy, and a lot of the time pretty vulgar and/or a little extreme! And I love it! They have completed an entire first "season" of 15 videos, and will actually put them on a DVD for you if you ask, and may cost you a few bucks. They currently are working on their second "season" and already have three videos up as of this blog.

Well I mention this because I "starred" in two of these videos. One of them was a Ghost Hunters spoof which we called "Spook Searchers". Me along with my two sisters played members of PAPS and "investigated" a haunted apartment. When you watch the video you will notice we are a bit clueless, which was the fun of it! To those who don't like bad words or anything of the sort, you don't have to worry much about this video, theres only one bad word (D**khead) and that's it.

So the video is right down below for you viewing pleasure! Please let me know what you think of the video! I hope you enjoy it! Remember, it is only a spoof video, not to be taken seriously. And if you like what you see and you have a myspace page, please add S.R.M. to your friends list!

Click here to get to their page: SRM and again, please add them as a friend! Tell them Mike from Mikey @ The Movies sent ya!

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE: Heckler

Heckler

Rated R
Running Time: 1 hr 20 mins

Mikey @ The Movies Official Rating:

**** out of *****

Subject Matter:

This offbeat documentary starring comedian Jamie Kennedy explores the often contentious relationship between the people onstage and the vocal critics in the audience who are more than willing to make their opinions known. Interviews with such stars as comedian Bill Maher, director George Lucas and football legend Mike Ditka make it clear that heckling can happen at any venue -- and that not even the biggest luminaries are immune.

MY REVIEW

A lot of this movie has to do with the overall unacceptance of Jamie Kennedy (Scream trilogy, Son of the Mask) and his film choices. Honestly, I've never seen his so called crap films, so I have no opinion. I think he's finally made his first good movie! This time in documentary form. You actually feel kind of bad for the guy, he's taken a lot of heat for his film's and stand up routine. I really have no issue with the guy.

The movie focuses on people in audiences who heckle and ridicule stand up comics. It also shows how some comedians think fast and retort. Most of the time it's something pretty vulgar and mean spirited. By no means is this film lighthearted. It's hits a harsh truth...that some people are just jerks. Some people crave for attention by trying to be the funniest guy in the room other than the man or woman doing a routine on stage. Some people do it because they are drunk or on drugs. Some people do it for the sole purpose of impressing their friends. Have you ever been a group of friends where one friend is picked on a lot by one person? Like really mean things are said to that person. But outside the group this jokester is totally cool and never makes fun of you? Yeah most groups have that friend or maybe two of those friends. Most people do it soley to impress their group of friends. Sad, but it's life. I'm sure we are all guilty of it. I am, I'll admit it! These hecklers take that attitude and amplify it. And in this case, it's just crude and awful.

The movie also depicts critics in a bad way. Namely film critics. I have to say I absolutely agree with almost everything that was said about critics in this movie. I don't like to call myself a critic. Heck, I'm not even a proffessional, I do this from my own home. I consider myself a reviewer with my own opinion. I try very hard not to enforce my film opinions on others (however I do on occasion find myself guilty of this, and I am sorry) because everyone is different when it comes to their preference on movies. If a kids movie, like Kennedy's Son of the Mask then adults cannot possibly critique it with such horrible words. If kids liked it, then the film succeeds! The movie centers on that aspect a lot...that film critics come off as know it alls, and rub our faces with big fancy words and ridicule movies for absolutely retarded reasons. Man do I agree with that! I'll be the first to admit some of my reviews can be harsh and may come off as being a bit too analytical. I'm not perfect, but I try not to be that way.

You know these comedians work very, very hard on their acts. Screenwriters and directors work very hard on their films. Most critics have never had a part of actual filmaking, they just watch a lot of movies. They have no right in some sense to ridicule movies. But at the same time critics HAVE seen a lot of movies. They, along with me, do know a thing or two about the finished product and can tell if a movie is bad or good in it's own genre.

I'm sort of rambling here. I thought Heckler was a great look into an unknown problem in the entertainment industry. The movie was a tad on the overly vulgar side, but you are dealing with stand up comics here, who am I to judge that?? This is their world, not mine. They are free to talk anyway they please. Other than that, the movie had a good subject to tell us about. Entertainers are people too, when it comes down to it. They are human beings with actual human feelings. There is nothing different about them from us. They read reviews. They deal with the hecklers. They read the gossip magazines. They have the internet. How would you feel if you typed your name in Google and saw hundred of pages about you blasting how awful you are? You wouldn't, I can assure you. And neither do they.

I don't recommend this movie to people who can't stomach a lot of vulargity, but if you can I think you may like this neat little documentary!

*This is the 143rd new film I've seen and reviewed this year.

*This film is now on DVD.

Changeling

Changeling

Rated R

Running time: 2 hr 21 mins

Cast:

Angelina Jolie
John Malkovich

Critical Consensus:

*** out of ****

(54% Fresh Rating!)

Mikey @ The Movies Official Rating:

***** out of *****






The Premise:

A mother's prayer for her kidnapped son to return home is answered, though it doesn't take long for her to suspect the boy who comes back is not hers.

MY REVIEW

Personally I have to say Changeling is in the top three, maybe two of the best films of 2008. You know I have said time in and time out that I love a good period piece film. If a movie takes place in the 20's or 30's, I'll almost surely be there to see it. Director Clint Eastwood uncovered a remarkable true story from the 20's of a woman who's son goes missing and five months later a boy is returned to her that she is convinced is not her son. The LAPD denies this woman her rights to question them and at a point, they throw her in a mental institution, all because they are unable to admit they made a grave mistake.

I have read up on the actual case, and according to the stories I read the film was almost one hundred percent accurate. The bigger, more publicized case was the Wineville Chicken Coop murders. Where Gordon Northcott tortured and killed up to 20 young boys on his chicken farm. Of the supposed boys was Walter Collins (the boy the movie portrays). There were a few details left out, some bigger than others, but the point is this story was brought to us just like it happened in the 20's.

Eastwood did a brilliant job at bringing this time era to life. A lot of movies like this will focus a lot on the fancy sets and costumes, delibertatley trying to wow us. What Eastwood did was wow us with the story and the characters. The 1920's setting literally just became a part of the story. I felt incredibly immersed in this story and time frame that I thought I was watching it unfold for real. Not a lot of movies can truly capture a moment in history like this one did. Undiscovered history at that. Not a lot of movies can captivate an audience like this film did for me.

I don't know if I went through this many emotions in a movie this year. This movie truly tugs away at your heart. It made me feel so sad at times. The story takes us to such a real life level, and when we see the story unfold about the chicken coop murders, it just makes your heart sink. I felt almost traumatized after watching certain events come out in the story. At the same time I felt incredible anger towards certain characters, namely from the police force. They were so frustrating to watch. You really just hate them. And the little boy who claims to be the real Walter Collins, sometimes you want to ring his neck, but than at times I felt really bad for the kid. What I'm saying basically, is that this movie captures real life emotions these characters felt and puts them on us very effectively. Mothers I'm sure feel this woman's pain and suffering when watching the movie.

Oscar winner Angelina Jolie (Girl, Interupted, Wanted) was absolutely brilliant and delivered a haunting performance as the distraught mother. She may make some mistakes in her movie choices, but when she picks the right story, she really picks it. This woman can act, and from time to time she really proves it. Her performance gave me chills. There were two scenes specifically that blew me away. Freaking fantastic performance and she at the very least deserves an Oscar nomination. No doubt! Oscar nominee John Malkovich (In the Line of Fire, Places in the Heart) was amazing as well as the preist who has a personal vendetta against the LAPD. These two worked well together. As much as I hated the characters played by Colm Feore and Jeffrey Donovan, the really did turn in some pretty solid work. And the kids! Oh man, they were great! This was a really awesome cast!

Changeling is a must see film of 2008 in this reviewers opinion. The movie is beautifully shot in every single aspect a film can be shot. I mean a perfectly crafted film. It is one of the only movies of the year to captivate me personally and make me go through a range of emotions like this. No doubt in my mind, this movie will stick in my little noggin for quite some time. That's how effective and brilliant it really is to me. Easily one of the finest and best films of this wonderful year!

**To discuss this film and my review, please go to my message board by clicking this link: Review Talk

To view this film's theatrical trailer, click this link: Changeling
*This is the 142nd new film I've seen and reviewed this year.