A Short List Of Movies Or Films Without Full Reviews: part 11

As a lover of cinema, I watch a lot of stuff. Sadly, I don't have the time, energy or even desire to write reviews for everything I see. Rather than to just continue to let these movies sit on a list, I've decided to post them here with a rating and maybe a little word or two. If you trust my judgement or agree with me on my decisions, then maybe this will be helpful to you in finding some keen new stuff to watch. I think it will also free up my mind a bit to see a much shorter list of things to review in the future. That being said, here we go!

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Easter Bunny, Kill! Kill!

This movie, if you can call it that, is TERRIBLE. I kept wondering why I wasn't turning it off, but I stuck it out to the end. I was so happy when the credits rolled. This is pointless, worthless and god awful. 1 out of 5 stars

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Hatchet II

I was really lukewarm on the original 'Hatchet'. I think the major hype around it, kind of killed it for me. Because of that, I stayed away from this for a long time.... which was a shame. I think I finally got all the hype once I saw this one. Perhaps it was Danielle Harris stepping in? I don't know. The end result was that I became a fan of Adam Green and the 'Hatchet' films. I can't wait for another one! 4 out of 5 stars.

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Cyrus: Mind of a Serial Killer

You're going to notice a theme here: Danielle Harris. I have to admit, that being a lover of Rob Zombie's 'Halloween' remakes, has made me a Danielle Harris fan. She was the star of this movie and it was a worthwhile watch, with or without her in it. The material may not be 100% fresh and original, in some parts it even feels a bit stale. It's still a well put together movie that I'm glad I saw.... once. 3 out of 5 stars.

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The Book Of Eli

The Hughes Brothers are some talented guys. Their first couple of movies are damn good. This one got mixed reviews. My feelings were positive overall. I like the world created, I like the characters and I like the story. Some of it felt a little forced or preachy, but it was still a pretty good post-apocalyptic romp.... with a twist. 3 out of 5 stars.

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Stake Land

After the all out disaster that was 'Mulberry St', I had little hope for anything good from this movie. (Made by the same folks) I have to say that it was a step in the right direction and perhaps their next movie will be even better. This one just felt disjointed and slow. The actors were all pretty good, the plot was interesting and the design was cool. It just never grabbed a hold and once it ended, I had already forgotten about it. You may feel otherwise, so check it out.... just keep your expectations low. 3 out of 5 stars. BRAINS!

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Wild Zero

Finding unique zombie movies, is like finding hay in a needle stack. The market is flooded with one after another and that makes it saturated with more bad than good ones. 'Wild Zero' stands out as a better than average zombie flick and an original one, for sure. It came out in 2000, so before the big zombie rush of the past few years. I don't know if I can put into words exactly what's going on in it, but it is one that you have to add to your 'Bucket List' for movies. 4 out of 5 stars.

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Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

After 3 pretty solid films, it's a given that they'll be a misstep. This is that misstep. It had all the elements that made the first ones good.... all but one very important one. Virtually NONE of the original actors were in this. Not even the minor characters that didn't have much screen time, but were fan favorites. It's basically Barbosa, Jack Sparrow and the guy with the mutton chops. Other than that, it's a little bit of Keith Richards and a lot of kind of boring storytelling. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either.... not by a long shot. I hope that if they do decide on another one, that they get everybody back. Because, if they don't, the 'Pirates' are going to sink. 3 out of 5 stars.

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Creepshow 2

Horror anthologies have never been my thing. I always liked the original 'Creepshow' though. This one holds a fond place in my heart, due to nostalgia, but it's not the best sequel ever. It has its good moments and bad ones. It feels very dated and the stories are kind of so-so. All in all, better than the 3rd installment, but mostly just for the die hard fans. 3 out of 5 stars.

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Bucky Larson: Born To Be A Star

Don't listen to the hype, I really enjoyed this one and thought it was pretty damn fun. It's not 'Orgazmo', but I still think it's worth your time to check it out. Happy Madison Productions doesn't make stuff I don't dig. That is all. 3 out of 5 stars.

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Push

A superhero movie for people who don't need capes and costumes. Well done, interesting characters, good action, good actors and a nice change of pace from all the upbeat hero flicks. I would recommend this one to anybody who likes decent action movies with a bit of "super" added for fun. 3 out of 5 stars.

'....Patrick....Swayze.' has nothing to do with this episode.... The Sunshine Happy Kpants Hour has everything to do with '....Patrick....Swayze.'

The 30th episode of 'The Sunshine Happy Kpants Hour' is uploaded and now available through iTunes, Talkshoe and streaming LIVE right here!

I'm back to form this week, as the dust has settled from the music world's loss last week. I've also started recording differently, so hopefully you notice a difference. My topics this week are getting older, penis facts, garage sales and who's got the right to tell us how to raise our kids and stuff. It's a big one folks, ENJOY!

Songs played this week:

1) It's The Stare by Goodnight Sunrise

2) Dead On Arrival by Fall Out Boy

3) The Double Life by Rainer Maria

4) Routine And Dollar Signs by Goodnight Sunrise

5) Grand Theft Autumn/Where Is Your Boy by Fall Out Boy

6) Breakfast Of Champions by Rainer Maria

my thoughts on.... 'The Woman' (2011)

It's been really hard for me to write reviews lately and I'm not quite sure why. I have had so many movies and films that I've seen recently, that I just can't keep up with them all. Every time I add a new movie to the list, I just get frustrated.... because I know I won't get around to reviewing it right away. But even though I see all these movies, there is a part of me that feels like I don't see enough movies. Odd, right? I currently have a rental queue on Netflix of about 500 movies and an Instant queue of about 500 movies. That's about 1000 individual and unique movies to watch, if you're keeping count. I don't double up on any of them. If they're on Instant, then the come out of the rental queue. What I've always known, is that I'll never, in my lifetime, see them all. In the meantime, while I try, I'll write about as many as I can. And hopefully, you'll check back every once in a while and not just give up on me because I don't update as often as I should or could. That being said, let me tell you about something I just saw two times in one week....

'The Woman'. What can I say about this film? It took me on a roller coaster ride and it has been plaguing me day and night to write something about it. I even watched it a second time, to try and get it out of my system. So often, a movie never pays off. Especially when it's built up beyond belief by good or bad press. There is such a thing as 'too much hype' and I very often will avoid a film until that hype has died down or gone away completely. I hate to be influenced by someone else's judgement. Sadly, 'The Woman' has been the victim of excessive negative press. Unjustly so, in my opinion. However, there is some nuggets of truth to what they have written about this film, but a lot of it is taken out of context or is only based on a partial viewing. At its initial screening, people walked out because they were so horrified. Why, you ask? The most common complaint about this film is that it's misogynistic. This is true. There are some pretty horrific things that happen to 'The Woman' and the other women in the film. What is often left out of that commentary is what happens at the end of 'The Woman'. *SPOILER?* All of the terrible atrocities are responded too.... with swift and final justice. Let's back up for a minute, shall we?

'The Woman' was written by Jack Ketchum and Lucky McKee. It is a sequel to two other books written by Ketchum titled 'Off Season' and 'Offspring'. All three books tell the ongoing story of a clan of cannibals that roam modern day. A tribe out of time, so to speak. There was already one movie made in the series, 'Offspring'. I've seen it and was not impressed. I think it was the biggest reason I avoided 'The Woman' when it was released. Negative press has never stopped me from seeing something, nor has the threat of excessive violence or disturbing images. I take art at face value. Anyway, 'Offspring' was bland at best and didn't do much to expand the horror genre. The book may be something different entirely, but I haven't read it. Therefore, I can't make a comment on it. I don't recommend seeing 'Offspring', other than to see Pollyanna McIntosh's original performance as 'The Woman'. It will also make this sequel make more sense and give her more depth. I've included the trailer here, so you can get an idea about it. Watch it below:

As you can see, it just doesn't do much. It feels like another re-telling of 'The Hills Have Eyes', but in suburbia. I honestly found it quite forgettable.

Now that you have that back story, we can move forward. 'The Woman takes place shortly after the end of 'Offspring'. Her tribe has been pretty much wiped out and she is all that's left. She is injured (see the first film for the reason why), she's in unfamiliar territory and she's being hunted. A man named Chris Cleek is hot on her trail and has "redemption" on his mind. He builds a contraption at his home to contain 'The Woman' and brings his family in to help. At first, they have no idea what he has in mind.... but once he brings 'The Woman' home, they're all in it together. Chris attempts to 'civilize' her, by his own methods. She in turn, bites off one of his fingers and eats it. After this, he basically treats her like a rabid animal who just needs some time, care and discipline to re-enter into the world. That's what he tells his wife and kids. However, from the first time we meet Chris, we realize that he has darker intentions, for himself and his family. At this point, we start think that maybe the film isn't so much about 'The Woman':

But that it's really more about the Cleek family themselves:

That is where the real genius of this film lies. It uses this wild and untamed 'Woman' as a metaphor for this truly dysfunctional family unit. We're lead to believe that she is a monster for her cannibalistic ways, but it's quite the opposite. Don't get me wrong, she's a very bad lady.... but some of the other things going on are far worse. I think that's why this movie hit so many people in the stomach. They didn't know what to expect and perhaps, they saw themselves in the mirror for the first time. No one in this movie is totally innocent, it's all just varying degrees of guilt. But can you really fault the kids and 'The Woman' for being they way they are? They were just raised to be that way. It's almost a form of satire in the way it's presented to the viewer. Who are we supposed to root for? Is there a hero? I think that may be another reason people disliked this film so much. You are given blow after blow to the head and just when it can't get any worse.... it does. Even the teacher, who tries to help, is presented as not being a "good guy". Jack Ketchum is known for his dark and twisted tales and this film was no exception. It's a morality tale of some sort or at least that's how I saw it.

I have a feeling that there are a lot of you that are going to see this film and think I'm insane for my overly analytical take on 'The Woman'. I have a feeling that I'll get some pretty harsh reactions to my feelings on it. That doesn't change the way that I feel about it or what it means to me. Any film that I see twice in the first week I've ever seen it, means that it left an impression. 'The Woman' is one of those films.

Back to the story line.... As Chris and his family continue their mission to save 'The Woman' from herself, things get messier and messier. I don't want to give away everything that happens, but it feels like a ball of yarn that begins to unravel. It keeps going and going, until the center can no longer hold and everything just collapses. That's where the film really goes for the jugular. The final scene starts out simple enough, but builds like a majestic symphony. You know things are going to go from bad to worse, but it's not just going to all explode at once.... the directory, Lucky McKee, wants you to feel every moment of it. I literally was on the edge of my seat for the entire third act of this film. I had no clue exactly what was going to happen, but I didn't want to know. I wanted to take the ride that I'd paid for and relish every minute of it.

When it was over and the dust had cleared, I wondered if anyone else would get it. Would anyone else walk away from that experience feeling as satisfied as I did? I know I'm not the only one that enjoyed this film. But I never know if anyone else I know will feel the same way I do. Honestly, I have the feeling that a lot of you are going to be split on the last 10 minutes of the film. The way that it all ends up is up for debate. Why do the characters do what they do and what happens next? To me, it ended exactly as it should have. But reading others thoughts online, tell a different story. That's something that remains to be seen and only you can make up your mind on that.

Everyone in this film was committed to it, that was obvious. Lucky McKee is best known for his film 'May', but he has done several other things that are noteworthy and I highly recommend you check out his other works. Of course, fans of his, will know that his favorite "muse" to work with is Angela Bettis. She plays Belle Cleek, the wife who does what she's told.... but is just as responsible for the terrible things going on as anyone else. She never speaks up and for that, she's just as guilty as Chris. Pollyanna McIntosh reprises her role as 'The Woman' from 'Offspring' and takes it to new and grittier heights. She seems to have been intent on creating something that would leave an impression on the viewer and would make them want to see more of her. She achieves that goal 100% and gives the performance of a lifetime. It's honestly scary to watch her on screen, which is a far cry from her first attempt at the role. Zach Rand plays Brian Cleek, the protegee of Chris and his middle child. He, perhaps, has the darkest character arc in the film. You always can tell that Chris is not a good guy, but Brian is a bit more vague. Speaking of Chris, he's played excellently by Sean Bridgers. A man you've seen before, but you just can't quite place where. I don't know who did the casting in this film, but he was born to play this role and embodies the character so much that you physically hate him every time he is on the screen. Lauren Ashley Carter plays Peggy Cleek and she is quite possibly the closest thing we have to a heroine. She is not without fault, however. Finally, Shyla Molhusen plays Darlin' Cleek. The youngest of the family, but you can already tell she has a dark side looming. You really have to see them all together as a unit to understand everything I've just typed. They work as a family and are so believable that it makes the story that much more dark and twisted.

All in all, this is a film that deserves a bigger audience and I'm glad that Netflix has taken it upon themselves to make it available OnDemand for all to see. I highly recommend that you add it to your queue and watch it tonight. The only thing I ask is that you check your preconceived notions at the door. Come into this with a fresh mind and with the desire to see something slightly askew. I, obviously, can't say enough good things about it and am quickly becoming the very reviewer that I mentioned at the beginning. The kind that sways you in either a positive or negative way and ends up altering your perception on the film. I don't mean to affect your judgement one way or the other and if I have.... wait to see the film until that has all gone away. This is a 4 out of 5 star film that is already being prepped to be added to my collection of films. I really want to see any special features on the DVD release. I want to find out more about it and why it was made. What inspired Lucky and Jack to collaborate and to bring back 'The Woman'? Why they cast the film the way they did? And why was the music presented the way it was? That is actually something I haven't touched on yet, the soundtrack.

All of the music is done by the indie musician, Sean Spillane. It feels out of place and strange at first, but once you get used to it.... it all makes perfect sense. The tone, the style and the lyrics. I've read several reviews that specifically point out the music as one of the reasons they hated this film. It feels odd at first, like some kind of indie romantic comedy. That just adds another layer to the film that makes it unique and gives it a voice unlike other films. I suppose it's just one more thing you have to see and hear to understand.

I've said enough. I'm done. If you like this film, check out some other Ketchum based films: 'The Girl Next Door', 'The Lost' and 'Offspring'

One final thing, remember "Anophthalmia". You'll understand once you've seen this film.

Here's the trailer, so you can make up your own mind on if you want to see this or not:

One more poster for your viewing pleasure:

Adam Yauch, R.I.P. (8/5/64 - 5/4/12) ....my tribute on 'The Sunshine _____ Kpants Hour'

The 29th episode of 'The Sunshine _____ Kpants Hour' is uploaded and now available through iTunes, Talkshoe and streaming LIVE here on my blog.

This is a bit of a different show. I recorded it differently, the music is different and there's no music bed. The Beastie Boys have been a huge part of my life and I felt it was only right to pay tribute to the passing of Adam Yauch. Let's celebrate his life. Thank you Adam and rest in peace.

Is it raining where you are? It will soon feel like it is.... episode 28 of 'The Sunshine Happy Kpants Hour' is why.

The 28th episode of 'The Sunshine Happy Kpants Hour' is uploaded and now available through iTunes, Talkshoe and streaming LIVE right here!

There was no direction for this episode, but by some miracle, it turned into something kind of interesting. All this episode contains is me reading some older poems of mine. That's it. I think you may find the results satisfying and the music will make you sigh. ENJOY!

Songs played this week:

1) Blinding Me by Merry Ellen Kirk

2) Go Ahead And Make My Day by Black Vendetta

3) Kingdom Coma by Rori Damson

4) Alone Again, The Living Room Sessions by Marie Hines

5) In A Long Time by 46bliss

6) 20 Years by North American Royalty

Cody returns to finish what he started.... 'A Hobo Story' on 'The Sunshine Happy Kpants Hour' ep 27....

The 27th episode of 'The Sunshine Happy Kpants Hour' is uploaded and now available through iTunes, Talkshoe and streaming LIVE right here!

Cody is back with his zombie themed 'A Hobo Story'. It comes to its conclusion in this episode and I hope you all dig it as much as I did. Please pardon my delivery of it. ENJOY!

Songs played this week:

1) Skeletons by The Upset Victory

2) Taste The Barrel by Big John Bates

3) The World Is Our ______ by This Will Destroy You

4) Shotgun Army by Youth Of The Beast

5) Carry On by dZ

6) I'm Taking It Back, I'm Taking Them All Back by Chasing Claymores

"They're coming to get you Barbara!" the fine folks at 'The Sunshine Happy Kpants Hour'!

The 26th episode of 'The Sunshine Happy Kpants Hour' is uploaded and now available through iTunes, Talkshoe and streaming LIVE right here!

This is another large episode for you all! A special double whammy of music by Parlour Steps and a George A. Romero themed game by Matt! I also talk about the joy of the chicken, the "Canadian Online Pharmacy" and 'G.I. Joe' nostalgia. It's one for the books. ENJOY!

Songs played this week are all songs by Parlour Steps:

1) Hot Romance

2) HeroVillian

3) The Garden

4) Libertine Takes A Lover

5) Only Mystery

6) The Modern Today

It's been 2 weeks, but here's a new episode.... FINALLY! 'The Sunshine Happy Kpants Hour' episode 25....

The 25th episode of 'The Sunshine Happy Kpants Hour' is uploaded and now available through iTunes, Talkshoe and streaming LIVE right here!

After taking a week off because of illness, I'm back with a larger than normal sized episode. This one is a throwback to my Awful Snack episode 'The Box'. Instead of a box, this time it's two briefcases. Each one was carried by me when I was a kid and haven't been opened since then. I also discuss 'Dungeons and Dragons' and play two listeners voicemails. It's a big un' kids! ENJOY!

(Side note: I tried hard to clean out the audio issues this week. I also worked to keep things level. Hopefully you notice a difference. Thanks for listening!)

Songs played this week are all "best of" songs, hand picked by me:

1) Jamie All Over by Mayday Parade

2) Cut The Mullet by Wesley Willis

3) Hold On by Tom Waits

4) Humility (Ian's Angry Remix) by Jefry's Appendix

5) When You're Around by Motion City Soundtrack

6) Really Really Happy by The Muffs

Here are the photo's of the briefcases I talked about this week....:

#1 (closed):

#1 (open):

#2 (closed):

#2 (open):

A Short List Of Movies Or Films Without Full Reviews: part 10

As a lover of cinema, I watch a lot of stuff. Sadly, I don't have the time, energy or even desire to write reviews for everything I see. Rather than to just continue to let these movies sit on a list, I've decided to post them here with a rating and maybe a little word or two. If you trust my judgement or agree with me on my decisions, then maybe this will be helpful to you in finding some keen new stuff to watch. I think it will also free up my mind a bit to see a much shorter list of things to review in the future. That being said, here we go!

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Special When Lit: A Pinball Documentary

Well, it's a documentary about pinball and the people who play it.... religiously. I found this pretty interesting and fun, kind of similar to 'Chasing Ghosts' and 'The King of Pong', but it helps if you're a pinball player. 3 out of 5 stars and no TILT!

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Precious: Based On The Novel 'Push' by Sapphire

I put this film off for a long time and I'm not 100% sure why. I think it was due to the overwhelming hype around it. My goal in watching a film, is to watch it with open eyes and unencumbered by outside influences. (This isn't always the case, but I try.) Overall, this was a depression and still uplifting story. Too bad the title is incredibly egomaniacial.... they could have just included that tidbit of information about the author in the opening credits. 4 out of 5 stars.

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The Sci-Fi Boys

A love letter to all of the originators of special effects in Hollywood. This is a very enjoyable documentary with a lot of great names. Highly recommended. 4 out of 5 stars.

(no trailer available for this movie.)

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Paul (2011)

Simon Pegg, Edgar Wright and Nick Frost are quite possibly the best comedy trio to come out in the last couple of decades. I put 'Shaun of the Dead' and 'Hot Fuzz' in the top of the film satire list. Excellent stuff. 'Paul' is written by 2 out of the 3 boys, but not directed by Edgar Wright. I don't know if that's why this movie suffered or not, but it just didn't have the same charm. It may also be that Kristen Wiig was invloved.... I don't get her appeal. All in all, 3 out of 5 stars. Mostly because of Simon and Nick's previous track record.

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More Brains! A Return to the Living Dead

A documentary that is longer than the actual film it's about?!?! Unheard of! The reality is, this couldn't have been done any other way. If there was ever a film made for the fans, this is it. I loved every single second of this film. I'm a huge fan of the original film and have seen it more times then I can count. If you dig the dead, you need to see this. 5 out of 5 stars. BRAINS!

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Megan Is Missing

Wow. I am still reeling from this one. This movie is a big ol' gut punch, but at the same time, it's not great. It was hard to watch, because of it's extreme low-budgetness and the subject matter is difficult too. There is one particularly hard scene to watch involving a girl being buried alive. Ugh. This one will leave an impression on you for days after it's over.... but that doesn't make it good. I leave this movie up to you. Do you want to see it? 3 out of 5 stars.

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The Reinactors

Very similar to 'Confessions of a Superhero'.... but not quite as good. If you haven't seen that one, then watch this one first. A documentary about celebrity impersonatiors in Hollywood. 3 out of 5 stars.

(no trailer available for this movie.)

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I Love you Phillip Morris

After watching Jim Carrey on 'Inside The Actors Studio', I decided it was about time to finally watch this movie. A true story about love among men, in and out of prison. Quite an enjoyabe film. 4 out of 5 stars.

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The Rock-afire Explosion

Being born and raised in Kansas City, Mo, I was raised on Showbiz Pizza Places. I went many, many times as a kid for many, many birthday parties. There was no Chuck E. Cheese's yet. This is a documentary about the mechinical band that played inside, The Rock-a-Fire Explosion. Everybody who was a fan of them as a kid, should see this documentary as an adult. 3 out of 5 stars.

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The Dark Hours

Not a big time release, but that doesn't make it any less of a worthwhile movie. Another take on the home invasion/survival genre and a successful one at that. Basically, a woman, her sister and her husband are all be held captive by two bad men. Some things happen, some people die and then it's over. I dug it. End of story. 3 out of 5 stars.

my thoughts on.... 'Chop' (2011)

With a simple title like 'Chop', this movie can easily sneak under the average film goers radar. It's unassuming and not your average big budget blockbuster. It's the dictonary definition of an indie film. Now, this little comedy nasty is directed by the writer of 'Deadgirl', Trent Haaga. Why he didn't write this? I'm not sure. You may have heard of 'Deadgirl' (if you read my review), but this one never got the same recognition, as it's not as controversial. Where as 'Deadgirl' was a very dark and twisted tale of the "undead" and other ugly things, this is more of a light hearted look at revenge. I actually had really high hopes after watching the trailer and I really enjoyed the first 3/4 of the movie. Towards then end though, it kind of started to fall apart just a bit. Not too mention that the ending was either the most satisfying ending ever written or the least satisfying ending ever written. I still am not sure exactly how I feel about the movie as a whole, since the ending was so.... um, odd. If you want to see it, before you finish this review, it's available on Netflix OnDemand as of this past week. Also, you may recognize the lead actor and are asking yourself, "Who the hell is that guy and where do I know him from?" His name is Will Keenan. He's the star of Troma's classic Shakespeare adaptaion, 'Tromeo and Juliet'. He really stands out in this movie and I kind of hope it finally gives him a bit more stardom than he's had before. Honestly, everyone in this movie seems to really be enjoying the whole experience. I think it has a lot to do with the somewhat original storyline. Let's get to that part, before going any further.

The plot is actualy quite simple. (taken from IMDB.com) "Lance Reed is forced by a psychotic stranger to confront his duplicitous past. Seeking retribution for a crime, the man forces Lance to reveal his inner most secrets by systematically removing his limbs." or there's this version: (taken from Netflix.com) "After accepting a ride when his car breaks down, Lance finds himself tortured by a man from his past he can't remember who holds a grudge for events Lance has forgotten. Now Lance must choose between saving the life of his brother or his wife." Both of these plot breakdowns are accurate. The simplest way of looking at this is, Lance has to remember what the heck he did to piss off his captor, before he has all his limbs chopped off.... literally. He's tortured for almost the entire movie, but not in the 'Hostel' way. It's much more psychological and comical. It gets to a point where you're not entirely sure what's going on anymore than Lance does. Not too mention that the cops aren't much of a help either. It's kind of brilliant.

You now have all of the pieces of the puzzle, but what you don't have is the ending. I'm not entirely sure that the writer did either. Like I said earlier, I can't determine how I feel about it. I don't want any spoilers here, just in case you decide to see it. And I don't know that I have a better ending in mind. It just felt too much like a student film. Perhaps that's my issue with it. The fact that it seemed like the typical student film finale. One that is supposed to be ironic or cool, but as the film maker gets more seasoned, they realize that they can do so much more to create a good ending. It doesn't make it bad, it just makes it feel a bit lazy. As the same time, it's so rare to see someone take a leap of faith and go for the gut punch ending. I can honestly say that I did NOT see the ending playing out the way it did. I really had no idea how it could end well. You're also given lots of possible solutions along the way, but they never really reveal much. It's refreshing.

Just like this movie, my review is disjointed and broken. It feels a slight bit unfinished, but I don't think it would have been so charming if it was done any other way. It's just a fun little movie. Plain and simple. Everybody in it seems to be having fun, therefore the viewer has fun and that makes you want to watch it again. That, to me, is the sign of a good film maker. I just hope that their next project is a bit more well polished. I'd love to see what they can do at full stregth. Even with all of the little negative bits, I still gave this movie 4 out of 5 stars. Mostly, for just being a good time and a bit of a 'no-brainer'. Just be open minded for the ending. If you don't over think it too much, you just might be plesantly surprised.

If you like this, check out: 'Deadgirl', 'Tromeo and Juliet' and 'Easter Bunny, Kill! Kill!'

A Short List Of Movies Or Films Without Full Reviews: part 9

As a lover of cinema, I watch a lot of stuff. Sadly, I don't have the time, energy or even desire to write reviews for everything I see. Rather than to just continue to let these movies sit on a list, I've decided to post them here with a rating and maybe a little word or two. If you trust my judgement or agree with me on my decisions, then maybe this will be helpful to you in finding some keen new stuff to watch. I think it will also free up my mind a bit to see a much shorter list of things to review in the future. That being said, here we go!

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The Captains

A documentary about the 'Star Trek' captains hosted by William Shatner? Yes, please. That was my feelings going into it, coming out of it I learned some things. 1) Patrick Stewart is just as cool off screen as he is on. William Shatner will always be the same. Scott Bakula is awesome. Avery Brooks is a weird-o. Chris Pine is kind of pretentious and Kate Mulgrew is pretty normal, for theater folk. This was entertaining and being a closet fan of 'Trek' for my whole life, it was a nice trip down memory lane. Also, I know that Jeffrey Hunter has been dead for quite a while, but they should have at least done a tribute or something. He WAS the original captain. All in all, 3 out of 5 stars and 4 out of 5 for hardcore 'Trekkies'.

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The Rocker

I've been a Rainn Wilson fan since I first saw him in 'House of 1000 Corpses'. Since then, I've followed his career and seen him appear on some of my favorite shows. So, when I heard about this movie, I figured it was a no brainer.... I was going to love it. In the end, it was just 'okay'. I learned to appreciate Emma Stone a lot more and Rainn had some funny moments, but it just never went above and beyond. If you dig music and some light comedy, this is for you. 3 out of 5 stars.

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The Hollywood Complex

This movie seemed like it was going to be a trainwreck of bad parenting, but overall the parents and kids were fairly normal. The overall feel of this documentary was positive. The only people portrayed negatively were some of the talent scout people. To me, this was more a realistic look at the kids who want to be stars and the fact that it's next to impossible. A pretty well done documentary, in my opinion. 3 out of 5 stars.

(no trailer available.)

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The Zombie Diaries

"The best zombie movie ever." Is what the poster claims. I beg to differ. This isn't even close to that title. Granted, it was better than quite a few of them, it just didn't hold up all the way through. As a matter of fact, I was severly let down by the ending. I have also put the sequel WAY back on the back burner after finishing this movie. I had such high hopes, only to have them dashed on the rocks. This movie does not come highly recommended. 2 out of 5 stars.

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Comic Book Confidential

I was a comic book collector for many years. I still have the majority of my comic books, at least the ones that haven't gone missing. Everything about them is cool. The art, the stories the characters.... it's the stuff of daydreams. Now, this documentary isn't a recent one. It's from 1988. Sometimes it gets a little weighted down by it's age, but it still is a pretty awesome collection of interviews and details about some of the more influential comics of my lifetime. Well worth the watch for comic book fans and non-fans alike. 4 out of 5 stars.

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Land of the Lost (2009)

Before I write anything, let me just say that this movie isNOT for kids. Unless you don't care about censoring bad language from your youngsters. Other then that, this movie is quite a bit of fun. I found myself giggling out loud at quite a few things that happened. This movie isn't going to change the face of comedy, but I don't think anyone thought it would. It's fun and that's it. T-rex steals the show. 3 out of 5 stars.

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Chasing Ghosts: Beyond The Arcade

If you've seen 'The King of Kong', then you really need to see this movie too. It's got a lot of the same people and themes, but it focuses a specific group of games.... not just a couple of them going head to head. It captures a place in time that will never happen again. If you've ever wondered what happened to the 'professional' games of the 80's, this is the documentary for you. Very well done and very engaging. 4 out of 5 stars.

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The Amityville Haunting

This is not good. That is all. 1 out of 5 stars.

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CNBC: Game On! The Unauthorized History Of Video Games

For a special on CNBC, it was pretty good. It covers the origins of video gaming and takes you through the entire history up to about 2006. Very comprehensive and kind of fun. However, it is not the be all end all bible of video gaming. After all, it was just a TV special. 3 out of 5 stars.

(no trailer available, but you can watch the whole special on Netflix and YouTube.com)

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The Last Broadcast

I waited over a decade to see this movie. It came out the same time as 'The Blair Witch Project' and is said to be the predecessor of it. I don't care which one came first, because this one was not good. It started out okay, but the ending was so lame and pointless that I wish I had waited another decade to submit myself to it. This is, simply, a giant trainwreck of garbage. It can't even hold a candle to 'The Blair Witch Project'. Avoid this one. 1 out of 5 stars.

no movie post yet....?!?! soon. but until then, here's another episode of 'The Sunshine Happy Kpants Hour'....!

The 24th episode of 'The Sunshine Happy Kpants Hour' is uploaded and now available through iTunes, Talkshoe and streaming LIVE right here!

I'm getting closer to fixing my audio issues, closer. This still feels like a good show to me. Thanks to Cody for some GREAT questions! This weeks topics are my first year of high school, how to survive a friendship or relationship break and camping with and without zombies. It's a bit longer and hopefully that's a good thing. ENJOY!

Side note: If you have a minute and have any thoughts on 'Dungeons and Dragons'.... either the game, the cartoon or the crappy movies.... please leave a voicemail about it at: (206)350-0720 Thanks!

Songs played this week:

1) Whose Booty's That by Wack Ass Egyptians

2) Candle Burnin', Wax Drippin' by Kate Martin

3) I Like You More Than I'd Like To by Jim From The Moon

4) Dark End by Sentinel

5) 4.5 To 99 by The Ghosts Of Vegas

6) Simple by Dreamwalk

issues be damned, it's ANOTHER episode of 'The Sunshine Happy Kpants Hour'....! WOOT!

The 23rd episode of 'The Sunshine Happy Kpants Hour' is uploaded and now available through iTunes, Talkshoe and streaming LIVE right here!

The issues persist, but onward and upward we go! This week I talk about the higher art of 'South Park', the changing of the seasons and the film series known as 'Saw'. Things are getting better and the music is great.... how can you go wrong? Sit back and ENJOY!

Songs played this week are all from the label Jade Tree Records:

1) Queen Of Pain by Alkaline Trio

2) O Is The One That Is Real by My Morning Jacket

3) Discretion by Pedro The Lion

4) Judas And The Morning After Pill by Good Riddance

5) Anti Anti by Snowden

6) God Deciding by Hot Water Music

I know, it's not a movie post... but soon.... ep 22 of 'The Sunshine Happy Kpants Hour' is here....!

The 22nd episode of 'The Sunshine Happy Kpants Hour' is uploaded and now available through iTunes, Talkshoe and streaming LIVE right here!

Well, I promised a better show and this is it! A tribute to The Palace Flophouse and their side project, Coed Pageant. Also, I do some talking. This weeks topics are my worst nightmare/scary story, "first's" and Rob Zombie fun facts! It's an oversized show for your Friday ear holes. ENJOY!

Songs played:

1) If I'm Not There by The Palace Flophouse

2) Where I Fall by Coed Pageant

3) Irish Tune by The Palace Flophouse

4) Park N Ride by Coed Pageant

5) 10 Feet Tall by The Palace Flophouse

6) Be Here by Coed Pageant

wow.... this is NOT good.... ep 21 of 'The Sunshine Happy Kpants Hour'.... wow.

The 21st episode of 'The Sunshine Happy Kpants Hour' is uploaded and now available through iTunes, Talkshoe and streaming LIVE right here!

I hate to say this, but after the edit was done and I listened to some of the playback, I realized how bad this turned out. The music is awesome, but the content is messed up. A bit of feedback, skipping and the levels are wonky. I promise for something better next week. Try and ENJOY!

Songs played:

1) I'm All, So You're All by Automatic Static

2) Holding Out For Spring by Jonnie Murphy

3) Cute Yellow Pills by Little Plastic Stars

4) One More Morning by Heights Alliance

5) She Fell Asleep by Coed Pageant

6) Apples by Kate Martin