my thoughts on.... 'Law Abiding Citizen'

i think Jamie Foxx is overrated.... i didn't care for 'Ray' and i love biopics.... i'm just tired of seeing him in serious roles.... he needs to branch out a little.... however, i like Gerard Butler.... i've enjoyed everything he's done to date.... and my wife, Amy, loves him as most women seem to do as well.... so i was 50/50 on this movie.... the storyline intrigued me.... it was written by Kurt Wimmer who wrote 'Equilibrium' an amazing film that not many people have seen.... it was also directed by F. Gary Gray, who directed 'Be Cool' which i find hilarious.... so all of that overuled my hesitations about Jamie Foxx.... and to be honest i'm glad they did.... i really enjoyed this movie.... it had an original concept, the plot was carried out extremely well.... and it was a fun ride....

it starts with Gerard living the perfect life.... a happy family with a wife and a daughter when a sudden home invasion takes all of that away from him.... he's left completely alone and bitter.... when Jamie Foxx, his lawyer, plea bargins down despite Gerard's desire to take it to trial.... it creates a hatred in the criminals and the legal system that cannot be quenched.... fast forward 10 years later.... one of the criminals is put to death by lethal injection.... the other is free and has slipped back into his old ways.... soon Gerard is on the warpath.... with not only the criminals, but everyone involved in his travesty of a trial.... without providing more information than is necessary as i don't want to spoil the ending.... but it's well worth the time and energy to invest in this story....
my only real issue with this film is that by the time the explaination is given as to why Gerard is the way he is and how he accomplishes all of the things he's done.... it's kind of far fetched and you really have to suspend your disbelief to continue to enjoy what's going on in film.... and i wanted it to be something more than it was.... and perhaps that's my personal hang up.... however, i guess it all comes down to each individual viewer.... and for me it lost a bit of steam.... never the less.... this movie has a lot to offer and pays off in spades....

i gave it 4 out of 5 stars, despite my hang ups.... and i would watch it again, just to relive everything this movie has to offer.... it still doesn't change my opinion of Jamie Foxx.... and nothing probably ever will.... but it continues the winning streak for Gerard Butler, who seems to have just stormed the Hollywood scene not that long ago and just keeps getting better.... and in reality it's probably been more than a decade.... but a slow burn.... do i recommend it....? yes. as a thriller i highly recommend you check it out.... it's original and worth the effort.... just check your brain at the door....

if you like this, check out: 'The Brave One', 'Death Sentence' and 'Death Wish'

my thoughts on.... 'The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus'

yes, this is Heath Ledgers final performance, but don't let that be the only reason you watch it.... this movie has so much more to offer.... and anytime Terry Gilliam is involved, i'm in. he created one of my all time favorite films 'The Fisher King' and this is right on par with that and has a very similar feel to that film.... what Gilliam has created is a world that is well known, but is still totally unique and foreign.... it's strange how he walks the fine line between reality and fantasy so deftly.... he is the master of this technique and i think a lot of that goes back to his days with Monty Python.... either way, he's created a masterpiece of filmaking and something that will stand the test of time as a film full of amazing visuals, an incredible story, superb performances from his actors and solid direction.... i can't say enough good things about it.... after watching it, i couldn't stop thinking about it.... and to me that's a good sign of a worthwhile film.... if it sticks with you or teaches you something about yourself or life.... and this film does that.... or i guess, did that.... with me anyway.... i walked away with a lot and most films are made to entertain, Terry Gilliam's films are made to be an experience.... but i digress....

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus is a travelling sideshow.... with Doctor Parnassus and his daughter Valentina.... his dwarf sidekick, Percy and Anton, the show's barker.... they travel around putting on performances to earn money and to change peoples lives, but over the years the public has lost interest.... as they want new and exciting things.... not traditional stage shows.... little do they know what Doctor Parnassus truly has to offer them, if they submitted themselves to him.... along the way, they come across a man hanging under a bridge by the neck.... (Heath Ledger).... he's suffered amnesia, but soon learns his name is Tony and he joins the travelling sideshow.... things just digress into wonderful madness from there....
heaping praise on a movie is always a wonderful feeling.... because if i can pass on the joy that i had while watching it.... or the wisdom it gave me.... it makes all of this worthwhile and tempers the horrible movies that i have to endure inbetween.... this is a rare example of a movie that has it all.... granted there are cracks in the armour.... it's not the perfect movie.... some of the CGI bothered me.... and some of the scenes inside the Imaginarium were difficult to watch.... however, overall it's pure genius..... and one of the best movies i've seen this year.... that's a bold statement.... but it's true.... from start to finish i fell in love with this film and will make it part of my library and proudly display it....

5 out of 5 stars.... something that is rare for me.... just the storyline deserves the 5 star review.... the theory that the world will stop if the storytelling stop.... however, the storytelling in the world never truly stops.... especially with the invention of television.... but just the idea that it could, is a fascinating concept.... but when you add the actors, the cinematography, the costumes, the script and everything inbetween this makes this another amazing addition to the Terry Gilliam catalog of films.... the man never ceases to amaze me.... like him or not, you can't deny the power of this film.... not to mention, Tom Waits is a main character.... and he's worth the price of admission alone.... so go out and watch it as soon as you can.... and keep the world turning, by participating in some storytelling of your own....

if you like this, see: '12 Monkeys', 'The Fisher King' and 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas'

my thoughts on.... 'The Collector'

what do you get when you have the writers of the last few 'Saw' movies write and direct their own movie....? you get 'The Collector'.... a dark and moody horror movie all about killer who likes to torment his victims, but he always keeps one in the end.... thus making him The Collector.... visually this movie has a lot going for it.... soundtrack wise, the same thing.... the characters are interesting and the plot is fairly original.... the killer is creepy as heck.... there's plenty of blood and gooey stuff for those who like that kind of stuff.... all in all a very nice first outing.... and considering the pedigree of the director, it makes sense.... i came into this with little to no expectations and was pleasently suprised by how enjoyable it was.... in the moviegoing sense.... it kept my interest and i cared about the people involved.....

basically, you quickly learn that our killer likes to leave a little trap for his victims to get their attention.... from there he sets traps all over the entire house so that his vicitms can't escape and so he can also see them suffer while trying to avoid the traps.... granted, it sounds a bit like the 'Saw' movies, but it's not.... the traps are much more simple and more realistic.... the movie starts with our hero working on a house with a whole lot of other people for a family who's just moved in.... our hero has decided that he is going to rob the home, like he's done in the past for a partner he has that moves the product for him.... once the family has supposedly gone out of town, he shows up at the house and breaks in.... soon he realizes that he's not alone.... our killer is also in the house and has taken the family hostage.... and he must decide whether to help them out or make his getaway, if he can....
my biggest drawback to this movie is the fact that the traps would just take way too long to set to be practical.... unless this guy plans on being there for hours on end.... not too mention, once he's caught the husband and wife, they only have the two children that are left to catch.... so the traps remain kind of pointless, unless a third party breaks in and messes things up.... but perhaps that's his game.... in case the cops show up, they'll be disabled....? who knows.... but it makes for an interesting story.... and makes it much more difficult for our hero to do what he has to do.... it's obvious the 'Saw' influence is here, but not overwhelming.... this guy is a bad guy and has no method to his madness.... he just likes to kill....

i gave it 3 out of 5 stars for style and substance.... but it has some pretty big flaws.... i'll be curious where our director goes next.... he has a lot of talent.... and if it's a sequel that's next on his plate, so be it.... but i'd love to see him branch out and show of what he's really capable of.... the movie itself seperated from the storyline and characters is very well done.... all in all a solid effort and worthwhile to watch.... i would recommend it as a diversion or a late night time waster.... check it out....

if you like this see: 'Saw', 'High Tension' and 'P2'

my action figure being chased by other action figures....

my new Rob Zombie stuff and one older item....

thanks to the fine folks at Halloween Town: http://store.halloweentownstore.com/page/HS/CTGY/010RobZombieMerchandise
i just received some kick ass Rob Zombie merchandise in the mail today....! 1 Captain Spaulding Museum of Monsters and Madmen t-shirt.... 1 Halloween t-shirt.... 1 Captain Spaulding action figure.... and the one older item i own, a Michael Myers original Halloween action figure....
i can't wait to wear my t-shirts, starting tomorrow....
and the figures are already on display....
i just had to share....
i'm in heaven.

my blog.... part IV

hello faithful followers....!
more reviews to be posted here in the next week....
i just had a question for any of you....
how did you hear about my blog....?
and do you have any suggestions to improve it....?
i'm always looking for critique and feedback....

thank you for your continued support....
i really appreciate it....!

your ghost host with the most,
joel.

my thoughts on.... 'The Rage'

when's the last time you had just flat out fun with a movie....? think about it.... and i don't mean i comedy..... i mean a b-grade horror flick....? last night i had the most fun i've had in a while.... granted i was disgusted for 90% of the film.... but that was part of the enjoyment.... the acting was way below normal standards, but i loved it.... the special effects were a mixed bag of awesomeness and awfulness, but it just made it all that much better.... and besides, how many movies have you seen with plague infested vultures who seem to have minds of their own....? not too many i would bet.... a cross dressing midget creature who needs subtitles....? people repeating the same lines over and over....? have i peaked your interest yet....? is your mouth watering and are you just chomping at the bit to put this in your instant queue on Netflix to watch it now or later tonight....? if not, maybe the rest of the review will convince you....

our story opens with a mad scientist trying to create a disease to overtake the world so that he can be the only one to offer the cure.... but not for any other reason than to get back his cure for cancer that was stolen from him by the drug companies.... who found it was more profitable to treat the disease than to offer a cure.... (seems like a good enough motive....) that leads us to a rave-ish party featuring the band Mushroomhead.... where we meat our group of hero's.... all of whom are enjoying themselves.... the next morning on their way back home, something happens that causes an accident that leads them right into the middle of the forest where diseased vultures begin to attack them.... in which they have to fight to survive.... (all because the mad scientist let one of his creations escape who was eaten by vultures after he died.... the rest is just an over the top romp of gore filled festivities....
starring in this movie is Erin Brown (aka Misty Mundae) and Reggie Bannister ('Phantasm').... a great due to say the least.... the script is silly, there are certain lines that are delivered that are hilarious.... and some that are just so bad that you groan.... let it not be said that this movie is a gore fest.... the blood, guts and icky stuff is way over the top.... everything is oozing and dripping.... blood drenched everything.... decapitations abound.... exploding heads.... it's all in good fun though.... it's a movie that would make Brian Yuzna proud.... the point of all of that was that if you have a weak stomach, this may not be the movie for you....

i gave this 3 out of 5 stars.... and that was with hesitation.... i almost wanted to give it 4, just because i felt so good after it was over.... like someone had just given me a giant glass of cold water after wandering the desert for weeks.... it was just such a nice change of pace.... and i'm not a huge gore hound.... but this movie just wouldn't have been the same without it.... it was almost like another character in the movie.... like the vultures.... i highly recommend that if any of this review made you interested and you have an hour and a half open in your schedule.... that you sit down with a bowl of popcorn and a soda and just have fun.... you really can't go wrong....

if you like this movie, check out: 'Re-Animator', 'Dead Alive' and 'Bad Taste'

my thoughts on.... 'District B13'

i know the French are good at a lot of things.... one of them being the gift of ticking off Americans.... but i can see past all that with their filim industry.... and with the recent crop of amazing French horror films, i figured it was about time to give them another shot at their action films as well.... and this one came recommended.... yes, it's subtitled and yes, that makes it just a hair harder to follow the action if you're a slow reader.... but don't let that sway you from seeing this kick ass piece of cinema.... you've got likable characters, amazing stunts, a great storyline.... and that's just scratching the surface.... i saw in awe during the entire movie at what i was seeing unfold.... and most, if not all of it, was due to it's writer and producer Luc Besson ('The Fifth Element', 'The Professional').... he put a lot into this movie and it did so well that it's even spawned a sequel now.... (which is in my queue....)

it's the near future in France.... and the government has decided to wall up the ghetto's in an effort to control the crime and keep everyone seperate.... the worst of these being District B13.... and that's where our story begins.... with one of our hero's getting rid of an amazing amount of drugs and soon being chased by a huge gang of thugs, which leads to one of the most incredible foot chase scenes i think i've ever seen.... they do things that just don't seem humanly possible.... after we see the outcome of the chase which switch to outside the walls where we meet our other hero.... who is a police officer who's notorious for going deep undercover and his amazing skills in combat.... after both introductions are complete we learn of an overall plot that brings the two together.... it would seem that the government has a test weapon that is capable of a clean sweep of an area through a surgical explosion of a bomb.... and somehow it's been stolen by some thugs in B13 who plan on selling it to the highest bidder or destroying a big chunk of France.... this is the point where the action goes from kick ass to m-f'ing jaw dropping....
i was amazed at the two leading men's performances.... both acting and action wise.... it's a wonder they're not popular in the states.... perhaps they're France's best kept secret.... and i'm so glad i was let in on the secret too.... granted if i never had seen this movie then i never would have been the wiser.... but after seeing it, i don't know what i ever did without it.... this is a movie made for adrenaline junkies.... and fans of gunfights, car chases, martial arts moves and lots of ass kicking.... the plot is enough to carry the movie.... it may not be breaking too much new ground but it still feels fresh.... and it makes me want to take the time to rent the sequel.... the original is available OnDemand right not.... and i hope some of you check it out tonight.... and let me know what you think.... if you're an action fan at all, there is no way you won't like this movie....

4 out of 5 stars for this.... and yet again another possible addition to the library of films that i own.... if for nothing else than just the fight scenes alone.... but it's so much more than that.... i highly recommend this movie and will be renting the sequel here in the next week or two.... and i'm sure i'll post a review of that too.... why not....? it's what i do....

if you like this, check out: 'Chocolate', 'The Professional' and 'The Transporter'

my thoughts on.... 'Babysitter Wanted'

i've been hearing about this movie for a while now.... and i was awaiting it's arrival on DVD.... finally it showed up.... and last night i was able to sit down and soak it all in.... now you may think this is just another 'When A Stranger Calls', but it's so much more.... i enjoyed this movie from the credits to the credits and everything inbetween.... it had just the right amount of creepiness, suspense, blood, gore and good actors that it all belnded almost perfectly.... it feels like i'm constantly heaping praise on so many movies.... but i've gotten so lucky lately and seen some really amazing films.... so once again, here i go.... but before you think this is another 'The House of the Devil'.... let me tell you that it's not.... although there are similarities, they are 100% different films....

an 18 year old devout catholic girl named Angie, heads off to community college to study art histroy.... once she gets there she realizes she needs to earn some extra money in order to survive.... so she takes a number for a babysitting job out at a farmhouse far away from the college out in the boonies.... the couple are extremely nice and their son is a little shy, but takes a liking to Angie and she gets the job.... in the meantime, Angie meets a good upstanding Christian boy and they soon start to date.... she also begins to notice that someone seems to be stalking her and that there has been a rash of dissapearances around the area of young girls.... afraid that she might be next on the list, she goes to the local sheriff, played by Bill Moseley, and tells him her fears.... he gives her his card and off she goes.... the first night of babysitting arrives and during her time at the house she begins to notice strange things and soon the supposed stalked breaks down the door to the house and that's where the movie really gets started....
this film has a few well placed twists and turns.... some excellent timing and everything is just so well done.... that you don't see what's coming right away.... unless you read a lot of reviews for the movie ahead of time.... (which i don't recommend).... it's so much nicer to just let this movie unfold before your eyes.... to see what Angie sees and to learn what she learns in real time.... it makes this so much better of a movie.... and to experience this the way that the director intended, i would ask you to rent this on blind faith and just trust your Uncle Joel.... knowing too much ahead of time is not always a good thing.... oh one little detail i'll let slip.... Bill Moseley plays a good guy....!

once again, this was a no brainer and 4 out of 5 stars was well deserved.... this is the reason i love horror films.... it has all the elements that prove why this genre is so popular, but still a bit taboo.... it's not available OnDemand just yet, so you'll have to rent it.... but Netflix has it and i'm sure most popular video stores will carry it too, if they have any brains at all.... Blockbuster, i'm looking at you.... i know i usually inform you if i'll be including a film in my DVD collection and that kind of serves as my ultimate seal of approval.... and yes, this one will be included someday.... i can't wait to watch it again.... to see Angie's character arc.... it's more than worth the price of admission just to see that change.... i'm off to my babysitting job now.

if you like this, check out: 'When a Stranger Calls' (either one), 'The House of the Devil' and 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre'

my thoughts on.... 'House' (2008)

waste of time. do not watch. 1 out of 5 stars.... it's just that simple.

if you even bother trying to watch this movie.... turn it off and watch anything else.

my thoughts on.... 'Hard Revenge Milly' and 'Hard Revenge Milly: Bloody Battle'

i stumbled across this set of movies while searching out recent Asian action movies.... they're very much in the vein of the 'Gun Crazy' movie series, where they target a VERY specific audience.... in the case of 'Gun Crazy': good looking women with two guns blowing away all of the bad guys.... in extreme ways.... and 'Gun Crazy' spawned 3 sequels after the first one and each one only runs about an hour or so.... and so it goes with 'Hard Revenge Milly'.... the first one clocks in at only 43 minutes.... not much longer than your average sitcome episode, but with a lot more blood, guts and gore.... along with some kick ass sword fights, gun battles and kung fu action.... they jam a lot into the short period of time they're given.... granted the story is simple and the plot of the movie is just as simple.... that's not why they made these movies.... they seem to be part of almost a b-grade action sub-genre.... where they slap together a fairly good action movie and target specific audiences and then throw it out there and see what sticks.... it's not that different than porn.... and not something that you see much of in America.... a fascinating trend to say the least....

the basic plot is that a gang called the Jack Brothers murder Milly's husband and baby in horrific ways and stab her to the point where she should have died.... i mean she was nothing but a big hunk of meat by the time they were through with her.... she takes two years to train in weapons, martial arts and a little suprise you don't see until the end.... then she sets out to exact her revenge.... and as you can guess.... since there is a sequel, she doesn't die and the end of the movie show that someone has survived and wants her dead now.... thus part 2....

i wouldn't go any higher than 3 out of 5 stars on this one.... it's a fun little time waster but no real substance to it.... and i don't think they ever planned on it having any.... i think it was just to spawn sequels and break even.... and they did just that.... so if you have a little time and Netflix OnDemand and don't mind a tad silly ending.... check this out.... see what i mean.... now onto part 2.....

okay.... so they took a slightly different angle on this one.... they slowed the pace down a bit and took more time with building up the storyline.... this one clocked in at an hour and 14 mins.... so you can tell they wanted to step up their game a bit.... i think that between the two movies, this was a step in the right direction and i would watch a 3rd in the series, if they make it.... (which they set it up for another one.).... the action was just as good.... the weapons were new.... they took out a tad bit of the silliness at the end of the first one.... they introduced a lot more bad guys to kill.... and overall just increased the stakes for this movie.... you learn a lot more about the future that Milly is living in.... the Japan of the future.... and it expands the world into a much more interesting place, a place you want to know more about.... a dark future....

cohorts of Jack are after Milly, who has built herself a bunker to hide out from all those who want to kill her.... a woman wanders into the warehouse where it's located looking for her help.... it seems that the womans lover was killed and now she wants revenge and was pointed in Milly's direction.... soon the bad guys come a calling and all hell breaks loose.... it just builds the tension from there as Milly and the woman become entangled in the final battle with those who want to kill Milly for her rampage on Jack and his gang....

3 out of 5 stars again.... it does what it sets out to do.... to entertain and get you pumped up with all of the action.... it also introduces cool new gadgets to get excited about.... all around it's evolution in the series and helps to create the possability of a franchise.... i don't know how far this series is going to go.... 'Gun Crazy' only seemed to make it through 4 movies total, but none of them got a rating as high as Milly did.... so i think she has a better chance at a longer possible run.... but what happens after everyone tied to Jack and his gang are dead....? Milly's only pupose for living is to get her revenge.... after that, there's nothing left.... will that leave anything left for us the viewer....? only time will tell.

if you like this movie, check out: 'Gun Crazy', 'Tokyo Gore Police' and 'Machine Girl'

my thoughts on.... 'Chocolate'

"The feel good Thai-fu movie of the year!" - Joel.... or that's how it would read if i had to sum it up in one sentence.... granted it's not 100% true.... but it has a good heart at the center of all of the action.... and the action is something to write home about.... it's some of the best i've seen in a long time.... and from what i hear about 'Ong-Bak', it seems the Thai have cornered the martial arts movies.... i wasn't even aware....?!?! anyway.... the movie had endless action, a unique storyline and decent acting.... all in all, i left feeling good and was impressed by the martial arts.... and from what i hear there were no stunt doubles.... supposedly the actress was trained specifically for the role as it was written just for her.... that's dedication....

a man and a woman fall in love.... but there in the middle of a Yakuza turf war.... and they're told by the boss to stay away from each other or there would be severe consequences.... but in true Romeo and Juliet fashion, love conquers all.... for a while.... soon the woman finds out she's pregnant and tells the man to go back to Japan where he's from, not telling him about her baby.... she ends up having and raising the baby on her own, but the baby has one thing different than most babies.... she's autistic.... and it would seem she has the uncanny knack to copy anything she sees perfectly.... and her favorite thing to do is watch kung fu movies.... obviously you see where that's going.... soon her mother becomes ill with cancer and her and friend start to try anything to raise money to help with her medication and hospital bills.... after a while they discover a ledger showing a large group of people who owe money to her mom.... so they try to start collecting.... and that leads to the girl resorting to her martial arts to get it back.... and the rest goes on from there....
there's a lot of wonderful things about this movie.... granted it feels the same as a lot of other movies.... but it doesn't matter.... it's so enjoyable, you can't help but love it.... the fight scenes are well chorographed.... the acting is the usual over the top kung fu movie style.... there's a great bit in the first fight scene where our heroine pays tribute to one Mr. Bruce Lee.... it's awesome.... this movie is rated R, but i'm unsure why.... there's no real blood or gore.... the fighting is almost in the style of Jackie Chan.... i guess the rating system is held to a different standard in Thailand....

anyway.... i gave it 4 out of 5 stars.... and i wouldn't mind watching it again.... it was a fun little hour and a half romp.... i don't know if it would be included in my collection, but i don't own too many chop sockey movies.... unless Jackie Chan, Jet Li or Chow Yun Fat is involved.... i like em' though.... and i plan to see a few more of the recent classics i've missed.... and my queue is at the ready with at least 4 more.... i'm starting to feel like this review is just getting redundant.... so i'll end it here.... but i recommend if you like good martial arts flicks and want something a little off the beaten path, then this one is for you....

my thoughts on.... 'Sick Girl'

filmakers fascinate me.... as i've been on both sides of the lens, i find the whole process intriguing.... i've been director, cinematographer, screenwriter and actor.... finding a creative story and one that has the certain 'it' factor is rare.... this movie was one of those movies that got under my skin and despite it's shortfalls, it was still something unique.... maybe the story wasn't original in all aspects, but it just didn't matter.... i fell in love right away.... now you may find that disturbing once you see the film.... however, there's just something about it.... before i get on the review.... this movie is not available OnDemand on Netflix, but it's available to download and was one of those strange movies i just stumbled across while messing around on the Netflix site.... (a daily thing i do.).... needless to say, the title is not just a way to get your attention.... it really describes the film and it's star.... Leslie Andrews.... who is hypnotizing to watch....

Izzy and her little brother basically live on their own after their older brother goes off to Iraq.... their friend Benny watches over them as much as he can, but he has a life of his own and isn't always there.... neither of them know what Izzy is really up to.... she has a violent streak a mile wide and has very little pity for anyone and i mean anyone.... the movie opens with Izzy doing something nasty to a nun, doing something nasty to a schoolbus full of kids and then does something nasty to two random boys on the road.... that's just in the first 10 minutes.... it just gets worse from there.... as she continues on her silent rampage across her small town totally unknown to anyone except her victims.... that's all i'm going to say.... the rest just needs to be seen.
this is not a gentle film.... it's not heartwarming or at least not for long.... it's wrong on many different levels but there's some kind of poetry to it.... something i can't quite explain.... i'm sure you'll all think i'm nuts once you see it.... i just couldn't get enough of the film.... and i sent it right back this morning, as i wanted to remember it fondly and watch it again after it has time to settle.... i'd like to even own it, if i can ever find it anywhere.... perhaps on Amazon.... it blends a lot of different genres.... and some people may equate it with torture porn, but that's a genre definition that i don't agree with.... i think it's bogus and in this film it doesn't hold any more true than any other "torture porn" movie.... granted there are horrific things done to all ages of people.... but it has a point.... it just shows how truly disturbed our anti-hero Izzy is.... and she's pretty damn messed up....

after it ended i automatically gave it 4 out of 5 stars.... the only real drawbacks are some of the low production values.... but it's a low budget film.... so i can forgive the drawbacks of a lack of money.... the story is so strong and the characters so interesting that i couldn't take my eyes off of it the whole time.... and i wanted the experience to never end.... from the hard hitting beginning all the way to the gut punching ending.... it grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go.... plain and simple, i loved it.... so if anything i've said catches your interest at all.... go out and rent it asap and let me know what you think.... but you have been warned, it's not for the faint of heart.... 'Sick Girl' is film going experience, not a movie to casually just watch.

my thoughts on.... 'Surveillance'

anyone who knows me and my love of film knows that i love the work of David Lynch.... he's one of my all time favorite directors.... he's one of the most creative people in the Hollywood system in more ways than one.... now David has a daughter named Jennifer and the movie 'Surveillance' is her directorial debut.... so it was a no brainer that i'd want to see this film.... and last night, OnDemand, i had the pleasure of viewing it.... it's almost exactly what i expected it to be.... perhaps a little more mainstream then the typical David Lynch movie, but you can't expect father and daughter to be the same style of director and it proved to be a good thing for this movie....

there are a series of horrific murders in a small town and after a police officer is killed along with a man and woman, the FBI is finally called in.... the two agents, played by Bill Pullman and Julia Ormond, show up at the small town police station to interview three witnesses.... a little girl, the partner of the police officer who was killed and a drugged out woman.... we don't initially find out the conection between all of them.... but throughout the questions asked, the picture becomes clearer and clearer....
both Bill and Julia are at the peak of their game thanks to the direction of Jennifer Chambers Lynch.... she brings out the best in everyone in the film.... and creates a fascinating story that's hard to take your eyes off of.... i was literally glued to the TV for the length of the entire movie.... now i refuse to even hint at the ending.... but it is something that just has to be seen.... it wasn't 100% expected, however in hindsight i could kind of see it coming.... but don't that sway you from seeing the film.... it's well worth a watch.... and if it's any indication of what's to come from Jennifer Lynch then i can't wait to see what the future holds....

4 out of 5 stars hands down.... it's a no brainer on that one.... i really enjoyed this film and wouldn't mind seeing it again.... it's got a strong and unusual cast that all work well together to move along the unique storyline.... as to whether this will be a part of the DVD collection remains to be seen.... thank you David Lynch for your contribution to the film world on your own and through your offspring....

my thoughts on.... 'Iron Man 2'

this movie is an excercise in excess.... plain and simple.... after the success of the first one, they had to step it up to making it bigger and badder in every way possible.... more big name actors, more bad guys, bigger explosions and lots more Iron Man.... now in some cases that may be a bad thing.... but in the case of 'Iron Man 2' i think it was almost needed.... i mean, the first one was done so well that it would be hard to top without going over the top.... granted the storyline isn't quite as good.... but who cares....? i loved watching War Machine come to life.... i loved to see Mickey Rourke do his thing.... i could have done without the Scarlett Johansson, but i think anything she's done after 'Ghost World' has been mediocre and i don't quite get the whole fascination.... (sorry guys.)....

the plot involves Mickey Rourke's character coming from Russia to get revenge on Tony Stark for his fathers sins.... meanwhile the government wants Iron Man turned over to them for use in the military.... and another weapons manufactorer, played by Sam Rockwell, is out to get the Iron Man suit to mass produce for themselves.... meanwhile Tony Stark is slowly dying.... S.H.I.E.L.D. is trying to recruit people for the Avengers project.... and that's just the broad overview.... there's a lot more of a lot more going on amongst the big bangs and pows....
i personally found this to be a fun romp at the cinema.... something to be seen on the big screen and something for the summertime.... it's not going to win any awards other than for it's special effects.... but you don't go into a super hero movie expecting Shakesspeare.... or at least i don't.... there are rare exceptions, but very rare.... i really enjoyed all aspects of the movie and will be adding it to my DVD shelf right next to the first one.... and will do a double feature at some point.... it's a well put together film with a lot going for it.... i've read negative things about it.... however, i wonder if the critics are just expecting too much from a comic book action movie.... i was impressed and felt like a little kid again enjoying the cool stuff that was going on right before my eyes and i suspended disbelief so i could become that much more involved....

i give this 4 out of 5 stars for the fun factor and kick ass effects.... not too mention i loved almost every actor involved.... Jon Favreau went out of his way to check my list of favorite actors and pick out some of the top ten.... this is the perfect example of what a blockbuster should be.... and i hope that they consider a third film with Favreau at the helm.... he's proven himself yet again as a good director and with the characters and world he's established, i want to go back there again and again.... to hear the mechanics whir in Iron Man's suit to the clang of his fist hitting the metal of other robots.... it's all just a blast and a good way to cleanse your brain every once in awhile from the bad movies, cerebral movies and the movies that you just need to escape from.... i highly recommend this to people who loved the first one and who like a good popcorn action flick.... not too metion it's fairly safe for the kids too.... a little bit of language here and there.... but it's over run by the action going on that you hardly notice it unless you're listening....

i'm looking forward to seeing it again.... if for no other reason than to see War Machine kick some ass.... oh and one final thing.... stay until the end of the credits again.... there's a suprise waiting for you.... and if you're a comic book fan, you'll dig it....

my thoughts on.... 'Postal'

before i start this review, i have to point out something odd.... both Brendan Fletcher (from Uwe Boll's 'Rampge') and Zack Ward (from Uwe Boll's 'Postal') were also both in 'Freddy vs. Jason' as brothers.... not that it's that strange, but i had to point it out.... because i'm a film nerd.

anyway.... i said i was done with my Uwe Boll fest.... but i guess i lied.... for some reason i had a vague interest in seeing this.... and after reading quite a few good reviews, i decided to give it a shot.... besides, i needed a good laugh.... and this delivered some decent humor and sight gags.... the characters were fun and the acting was okay.... for a farce, it was passable.... i never found myself bored with this story.... and since i'm not familiar with the video game, i wasn't ever comparing it with anything else.... i was just basing my opinion on the movie i was watching only....

Zack Ward plays a guy who lives in a trailer park and is at the end of his rope.... he can't find a job.... everybody is getting on his last nerve.... his wife is a monster of a woman who he finds out is cheating on him.... with everyone in town.... basically his life is a joke and he's just realizing it.... so he goes to visit his Uncle Dave, the leader of a cult.... and is asked to go in on a scam to get money for Uncle Dave to pay off the IRS.... at first he's hesitant, but eventually realizes he has nothing to lose.... so the rest is basically the heist and ensuing violence....
this movie has a good cast of people including Uwe Boll himself and the creator of the Postal video game.... and neither is taking themselves too seriously.... there's lots of sexy women, violence and comedy.... there's also full frontal nudity from Dave Foley from 'Kids in the Hall'.... the comedy pushes a lot of buttons and some of it is in really poor taste and other parts are in extremely poor taste.... needless to say it's not for the weak of comedy.... granted, some of it may have been a bit to soon to joke about, but it just shows that they didn't care about who they offended, as long as it moved the plot forward....

once again Uwe Boll gets a passing grade of 3 out of 5 stars.... the movie was entertaining, but not great.... it's probably nothing i would ever add to my collection or that i would really need to see again.... and i don't know that i would brag to my friends that i'd seen this.... however, it was worth the hour and a half in my opinion.... word to the wise, this movie isn't for everyone and if you're a fan of the game it may not be for you.... i can't say for sure, but most of the complaints i read were in regards to the game vs. the movie.... well, that's about it.... and this really does conclude my Uwe Boll fest.... i promise.

my thoughts on.... 'Stoic'

so my Uwe Boll fest has finally come to a close.... 'Stoic' being the last movie in the collection.... so far the count is 2 crappy movies and 1 great film.... what about 'Stoic' you might be asking....? well, i have to say i didn't hate it.... it's not a better movie than 'Rampage', but it's far above and beyond 'House of the Dead' and 'Seed'.... i honestly sat entranced by the actors performances.... each one of them were well cast and played their roles up to a "T".... the script was well written and supposedly this is based on true events.... which if that's the case, it makes it all that much more disturbing of a movie....

you have 4 prisoners in one cell.... they start out harmlessly enough playing a friendly game of poker for cigarettes.... soon a bet is placed for the winner of the next hand to have to eat an entire tube of toothpaste.... when the player who made the bet loses the hand and won't keep up his end of the bet, things start to spin out of control.... first they force him to eat the toothpaste.... but it just gets progressively worse from there.... as they continue to up the ante to the point where they carry out some of the most horrific acts on the poor man which eventually has some pretty tragic results.... however, i won't say ultimately what happens.... as Netflix OnDemand didn't have the entire movie available to watch.... it just suddenly cuts off right at the climax.... i mean, most of the important stuff has happened and you know the ending, but some closure would have been nice....
Mr. Boll has proven himself to be a 50/50 player in the directing, writing and producing game.... i think the key is for him to stay away from video game movies and stick to other stuff.... because it's where he shines.... i won't say that i'm a fan of his now.... but i have gained a little more respect for him and would watch another one of his movies if the plot intrigued me enough.... i can't believe i'm saying that.... but i will give credit where credit is due and i'm glad i took the time to give him another chance.... and you should too....

this movie gets 3 out of 5 stars.... and may not be something i'll own or need to watch again, but it was worth the time and energy i invested into watching it.... it was above par and Edward Furlong is always good to watch.... that being said.... my Uwe Boll fest has ended and now i can go back to real life.... i hope you've enjoyed this review.... (what an odd way to end this....?!?!)

my thoughts on.... 'Home Sick'

the tagline for this movie reads, "Who do you hate?".... well, i hate the director of this movie.... and because of that, i'm going to keep this brief.... this movie is a mess.... the script is fairly lame.... the killer is some reject from an S&M club.... the acting is piss poor.... the direction is confusing.... it has little, if anything, to offer your average horror movie lover.... just plain stay away....

the only redeeming quality of this sloppy, slap shot movie is Bill Moseley's one and only scene.... he steals the entire movie from the rest of the cast.... he's resembles a less creepy Chop Top from 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2'.... and his star quality overshines every other aspect of the movie.... so if you're going to rent this or watch it on Netflix OnDemand.... fast forward to Bill's scene and then shut if off....
1 out of 5 stars for the crappy movie itself.... and 3 1/2 stars out of 5 for Bill Moseley's inspired performance.... the only saving grace in this turd.

Merry Christmas.

my thoughts on.... 'Seed'

so my Uwe Boll fest continues.... as i feel it's only fair to judge the man on several of his films rather than to just judge him on just one.... and based on 'House of the Dead', i would hate him if that was the case.... my next movie was this little indie serial killer fest called 'Seed'.... i had low expectations.... but not as low as before i saw 'Rampage'.... the only name in this movie is Michael Pare.... who isn't really much of a name anymore.... but he does a good job as the policeman hot on the heels of Max Seed, the most prolific serial killer in history.... or that's what Uwe leads you to believe.... there's blood a plentry and lots of gore.... the only real problem i had from the get go was that they used animal cruelty videos in the beginning and middle to show the inhumanity of man.... and the videos were provided by PETA, so you can imagine how horrible they are.... i can handle all of the gross stuff in the movie, but the real horrors made this hard to watch.... especially those involving dogs.... i felt this wasn't necessary.... but i guess Mr. Boll did.

as i mentioned before, Max Seed is an extremely busy serial killer.... over the years he's murdered too many people to count.... and the stories of his exploits are legendary.... Michael Pare is the cop out to catch him.... and based on a tip they get, they go out to an old farmhouse on a road that has no name and isn't even on the map.... one by one, Seed kills off the policemen until Michael finally subdues him.... he's thrown in jail and sentenced to die.... for some reason they let him continue to wear his mask in jail.... but whatever.... eventually they submit him to the electric chair.... however the chair is subpar and the law states that if you electrocute a man three times for 45 secs a piece and he doesn't die, he goes free.... after 2 attempts, Seed doesn't die.... they pretend he's dead rather than take the chance on a third failed attempt.... and instead they bury him alive.... within hours, he's free from his underground prison and returns to kill everyone was involved with his execution....
i wouldn't call this a classic slasher.... and i wouldn't rate it as high as 'Rampage'.... it just fell short in so many areas.... and the PETA footage brought it down to an extremely low level.... it has it's high points.... some of the scenes are above average.... however the bad outweighs the good.... therefore i don't know that i would recommend it to fans of the genre.... it's depression, disgusting and not to well written.... i don't feel sorry that i watched it.... there are just some things that can't be unwatched.... and this almost ranks up there with something i wish i didn't watch....

all in all.... 2 out of 5 stars.... so far the count for Uwe is 2 bad movies and 1 good one.... i have one more movie on the hit parade called 'Stoic'.... and it's gotten pretty good reviews.... so i have my hopes up for a decent prison flick.... not too mention it has Edward Furlong in it.... so it can't be all bad.... but until then, i need something directed by Rob Zombie to wash the taste of this movie out of my mouth.... no seal of approval for 'Seed'.... none at all.

my thoughts on.... 'Rampage'

i'm not a fan of Uwe Boll.... but i'm not alone.... there are a lot of folks out there that feel the same way or worse.... people violently hate this director.... but this movie had an interesting premise and i read many reviews which had positive things to say.... so i took a chance.... and last night on Netflix OnDemand i watched it.... and let me just say............ i didn't hate it.... as a matter of fact it was quite the opposite.... this movie hit me on many different levels and reminded me a lot of the Gus Van Zant film 'Elephant', only not based on a true story.... but it did contain a lot of hand held camerawork and mostly improvisational dialogue.... which made it a bit more believable and more interesting for some reason.... i really hate to even admit what i just did.... but i'll give credit where credit is due.

the storyline follows Brendan Fletcher, who plays a young man still living with his parents and has no real direction.... his parents ask him to move out.... and he is hesitant to do so as he has gotten very comfortable in his lifestlye.... we find that he works at a auto repair shop.... he has a conspiracy nut best friend.... and he's building a suit made entirely of kevlar so he can go on the largest killing spree in history.... he lives in a small town and no one sees it coming or expects it.... nor do his parents, friends or anyone else....
the plot is simple, but well done.... the dialogue is real.... the violence is intense and excessive.... the main character is played excellently by Brendan Fletcher.... he made him come to life.... i was shocked at the amount of death and destruction in this movie.... i figured it would be violent, but not nearly this much.... he literally goes on a mass killing spree.... not the kind you see normally in a Hollywood film, but something with more of an independant vibe.... i think that's what makes this so enjoyable.... it's not Hollywood.... and that's probably due in part to it being directed by Uwe Boll.... the most hated director in America.... perhaps it has something with the fact that he is trying to prove to his detractors that he can produce, write and direct something worthwhile....

i actually gave this 4 out of 5 stars and would probably add it to my DVD collection.... that's how much i enjoyed it.... it was interesting from the beginning to the end.... and granted the end might be a little far fetched, but not so much that you can't suspend disbelief to enjoy the triumphs of our anti-hero.... i would recommend this to people who are fans of ultra violent films and serial killer type movies.... basically, anything with an insane amount of killing for no real reason at all.... catch it while it's OnDemand, becuase it's one of the few movies you can't rent the real deal.... enjoy....!

my thoughts on.... 'The Masters of Horror' series part III

don't let the title and the premise of this little installment fool you.... this is so far beyond that, it's silly.... i don't mean the episode is silly, but the story is WAY beyond anything i read about it ahead of time.... it's starts with a young girl running down the road seemingly being pursued by someone.... she runs out into the roadway and is nearly killed by an oncoming car.... the people in the car take her to the clinic where they work.... which happens to be an abortion clinic and where she was headed all along.... before long, her father (played by Ron Perlman 'Hellboy') comes to call at the clinic and we find out that he has a long history with them.... and that he's got a restraining order against him by the clinic because of his behaivor.... they keep him at bay for as long as possible.... but soon he can't wait any longer to get his daughter.... so he takes the law into his own hands along with his 3 sons.... and everything goes to hell from there....

this is another John Carpenter directed episode.... the man behind 'The Thing' remake in the 80's.... i found myself deeply intrigued by the first half of this episode, but as it progressed it kind of lost me in a few places.... it's so over the top at times that it's a bit too much.... somehow it still holds up and is worth the hour of time to watch it.... i mean it kept my interest for the entire time.... and without spoiling anything, i have to admit it was one of the more original stories i've seen in a long time.... check it out.... you might just dig it.
i've been on the sea of Japan.... and at night it's quite frightening.... it's pitch black in all directions and you can't see your hand in front of your face.... without your own light source, you'd be screwed.... therefore with this episode taking place on the sea of Japan, it caught my interest for other reasons other than general interest in the storyline.... which involves an American lawyer living in Japan who's invited onto a clients yacht to travel out for a day on the sea.... the American is met by the client and his wife and they proceed to head out.... during the prelude to the story, we find out that the American lost his brother to drowning and he could have saved him, but couldn't for some reason.... this has haunted him ever since he was a child and made him hesitant to go on the cruise.... i hate to provide to many spoilers.... so i'll just say that the Japanese man didn't bring them out for a pleasure cruise.... and things just keep going from bad to worse for everyone involved....

it's not exactly what i had in mind when i watched it.... but it was still good.... i have to admit that despite it's shortcomings, it was still a solid effort from Norio Tsuruta, director of 'Premonition'.... he created a lot of suspense and tension in a very confined space and used every nook and cranny aboard the yacht to make the episode as exciting as he possibly could.... i would probably recommend this one more for fans of J-Horror than anyone else.... but it's a fairly interesting attempt at blending American horror and Japanese horror.... (you'll see what i mean when you watch it.).... so with all of that being said, check it out.... it's not what you think but it's still pretty darn good.
Henry Thomas (E.T.) and Matt Frewer (Max Headroom) star in this interesting take on a morality tale.... i wouldn't call this horror.... but it's still an intriguing concept.... Henry has recently lost a lot of weight and is very cautious with what he eats.... one night he wakes up smelling and tasting chocolate.... thinking this is just a dream, he kind of brushes off the whole thing.... but as the week goes by he starts to have vivid experiences through the eyes of someone else.... he can see, feel, smell, touch and taste everything this mystery person is experiencing.... thinking he might be crazy, he tells Matt about the situation and they try to find some logic in it.... soon enough he finds out the person is a woman.... as days go by he becomes more and more intrigued in her to the point of wanting to meet her.... eventually the visons stop and he takes matters into his own hands and tracks her down.... and as you can imagine this leads to some problems....

not my favorite entry in this series.... i barely gave this 2 out of 5 stars.... it was directed by Mick Garris, the creator of the Masters of Horror series.... and he did the best he could with what he had.... it was just such a weak script that it fell so far short of what it might have been.... and again, it just wasn't horror.... it was more some kind of thriller.... something that wouldn't do well at the box office or on the Sci-Fi channel.... it just wasn't anything i would ever recommend or anything i ever need to see again.... it's just kind of lame.
this episode was directed by William Malone, the man who brought us 'Feardotcom' and 'The House on Haunted Hill' remake.... needless to say i was a little hesitant to even spend the time to watch it.... but the premise and the picture on the poster caught my eye.... the story involves a couple who kidnaps a young girl and takes her back to their home and throw her into a basement.... she soon finds another young boy who is also stuck down there with her.... everywhere around the room are scrawlings about getting out as soon as possible and to beware of the fair haired child.... we learn that the couple have been doing this for years in an attempt to bring back their dead son.... they've made a deal with the devil that in trade for 12 souls, they would get him back.... as the day turns into night, the two teenagers are suddenly being hunted by a bizarre creature who creeped me the hell out.... (just look at the above picture to get the idea....) the rest just has to be seen to be understood....

this is something that with the right script changes could be a full length movie.... the creature is that messed up that i could have used more of it.... the acting is mediocre.... Lori Petty is the only name and she kind of annoys me.... the story is interesting, but nothing too special and the ending was predictable.... you could almost say it was a happy ending.... i was hoping for something a bit more dark i guess.... all in all 3 out of 5 stars.... and yes, William Malone suprised me with his direction.... he pulled this off with flying colors.... if you like creepy creature movies this may be the one for you.... check it out if you get a chance....
i love zombies.... i've enjoyed some of Clive Barker's movies.... but so far, his record with the Masters of Horror series is pitiful.... so i wasn't expecting much.... the story begins with a man coming to a necromancer to have her bring back his wife from the dead.... this movie takes place a long time ago when science was in it's infant stages.... and they didn't know just yet the reality of life and death and whether or not anyone could be saved from death.... or literally brought back.... the necromancer soon tells our main character a story about another man, Haeckel, who was obsessed with bringing people back from the dead.... the story is used as a cautionary tale to change the man's mind about his request to save his wife....

i was fascinated by the first 2/3rd's of this episode.... but by the end i was completely ruined and began to loathe it.... directed by John McNaughton, the director of the classic 'Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer'.... he does a great job until the end.... when i think the script just became so silly that no one could have saved it.... if i never would have seen this episode, i could have lived my life and never been any worse for the ware.... however, i have seen it and it was just too much to take.... i don't know if Clive Barker is losing his touch.... or what.... but this was just plain dumb.... and by the time the suprise ending happened i just plain didn't care.... and neither should you.... avoid this at all costs.... or at least turn it off after 2/3rd's of the story.... trust me.... 2 out of 5 stars.

my thoughts on.... 'Run! Bitch Run!'

you have to love your movies low budget before i would recommend this one to anyone.... that being said.... are you a fan of 70's exploitation movies....? have you ever seen the film 'Thriller: They Call Her One Eye' and enjoyed it....? did you enjoy the throwback films of 'Grindhouse'....? if you answered yes to any or all of these questions then you should probably throw this on into your Netfilx OnDemand queue right now and plan for a night of rampant nudity, blood, violence and guns.... not too mention a scene with a machete that has to be seen to be believed.... trust me, it's new.... the director's and producers went to great lengths to create the entire experience of the exploitation movies of old.... from the soundtrack to the cinematography to the cars used in the movie.... it's the whole package.... granted, it's VERY low budget and has it's share of flaws, but if you can overlook that one little thing, it's worth your time....

Rebecca and Catherine are two catholic girls selling religious items door to door as mission work.... they end up in the small town of Moseley where they end up knocking on the wrong door.... soon they find themselves being held captive by the local drug lord, pimp and all around bad dude.... along with his two partners, they torture the girls and their beliefs.... meanwhile covering their other misdeads.... soon they end up in the woods where Catherine is raped and left for dead.... after finding her way back to civilization, she trades her rosary for a pump action shotgun, some blades and a nurses outfit and she's out to get revenge on the people who ruined her life as well as her friend....
this movie has very little redeeming qualities.... and of course, why would it....? it's all about how much nudity, violence and revenge can you pack in an hour and a half movie....? and boy do they pack it in to the brim.... at first it took a bit to get involved in the storyline, but i always give any movie a chance.... and soon i found myself deeply engrossed in these girls lives.... and i cared about what happened i wanted to see them pay.... and i got that in spades....

i can't say that this is the best film i've seen in a long time.... but it's worth 3 out of 5 stars.... and it's OnDemand on Netflix right now.... this is something to watch with a group of friends or with a beer and some popcorn.... it's a throwback movie to a different time.... and it's fun to take that trip for a little while.... i felt a little dirty afterwords, but hey.... it's part of what you expect when you go into this kind of movie.... so if you can tolerate a little low budget filmaking and a 'Last House on the Left' vibe then this may be the movie for you.... if not.... you may want to find something a little less offensive....

Run! Bitch Run! Trailer from Freak Show Entertainment on Vimeo.

my thoughts on.... 'The Road'

from the first time i heard about this movie, i wanted to see it.... i love people against overwhelming odds type movies.... especially in a world that's basically ended.... and when i heard about the cast involved, i wanted to see it even more.... then i heard who it was written by.... and that clinched it.... so tonight i finally got the chance to sit down and absorb this film.... it's not a movie, it's a film.... there is a difference.... and from the opening credits i was hooked and on the edge of my seat.... for the entire film i felt uncomfortable and could feel the actual tension in the scene.... it was a long time since i've had that happen with a film.... it's a credit to the director, who created the reality that i was able to live in for nearly 2 hours.... already you can tell that i loved this film.... but i don't know that it's a film that i could watch on a regular basis.... it's just so raw.... and it touches on many nerves on many different levels....

as the storyline goes, the world has basically been destroyed by some unknown forces.... of which we never really find out what they were or are.... but the earth is destroyed and the only people that are left are all fighting for their lives.... many having resorted to cannibalism.... Viggo Mortensen plays the father of a boy, his son, that he's taking across country to go south.... in an effort to find a better life.... it was his wifes last wish before she commited suicide.... (maybe i shouldn't have said that.).... we the viewer, follow the two along in their cross country journey.... along the way they meet good and bad people alike and it's so well done that you begin to believe that this world actually exists.... it's an amazing story that's very well told.... the acting in this film is top notch and whever they shot the film is so realistic.... but i've already said that too many times as it is.... don't expect Guy Pearce, Robert Duvall or Charlize Theron to be in the film too much.... they have important rolls, but the movie is not about anything more than a father and sons journey.... it makes you wonder what you might do if you were in the same situation.... i know that i've thought about the doomsday scenarios and i think if i was by myself that would be one thing.... but if i had to protect not only myself but my family too, it's a frightening prospect and one i hope i never have to face.... whether it be 2012's end of the world or a zombie outbreak.... let's hope none of it ever comes to reality and that we all die a comfortable death, quietly in our sleep....

i have no hesitation giving this 4 out of 5 stars.... the ending was a bit too neat.... it felt like it ended too soon.... and it was all wrapped up to easily.... i could have used a bit more exposition.... however, the rest of the film is so strong that it doesn't effect the overall experience i would not turn people away from seeing it over that.... actually, quite the opposite.... i highly recommened this film to anyone and everyone.... it's a rare example of filmaking that we don't see much anymore these days.... so rent it or buy it asap and let me know what you think.... i personally intend on adding this to my collection.... so i can re-enter that world whenever the spirit moves me.... if for nothing else but to remind me to be thankful for what i have.