Friday, May 30, 2008
Diary of the Dead
This latest George Romero zombie flick is another of the many fictional documentary style films that dot the horror genre. The style is becoming a genre unto itself which is fine by me. I love the gritty simplicity of this style. It's nice to see them getting back to basics.
I was initially suspicious about this film when I first heard about it before I knew Romero was behind it. I'd just seen the Zombie Diaries which is also a combination of the two genres as well but still the two are quite different. Where the Zombie Diaries is primaries focused on scaring the crap out of the viewer, Romero's Diary seeks to make a statement about violence, greed, racism, and humanity in general. Don't worry, it's still pretty frightening and a welcome recovery from Land of the Dead which I felt was a little too over the top for me.
I don't know if it was just me but I was getting this vibe from watching Diary that Romero had read the Robert Kirkman's "The Walking Dead" which is a comic book series that I can't say enough good things about. The RV is Diary was very similar to the RV in the Walking Dead. Both stories share the idea that loved ones of the deceased (now zombie) may try to keep the zombie close in a kind of denial of what their loved one has become or in hopes that there might be a cure. Either way I thought it was just awesome.
In short, I loved this movie.
I was initially suspicious about this film when I first heard about it before I knew Romero was behind it. I'd just seen the Zombie Diaries which is also a combination of the two genres as well but still the two are quite different. Where the Zombie Diaries is primaries focused on scaring the crap out of the viewer, Romero's Diary seeks to make a statement about violence, greed, racism, and humanity in general. Don't worry, it's still pretty frightening and a welcome recovery from Land of the Dead which I felt was a little too over the top for me.
I don't know if it was just me but I was getting this vibe from watching Diary that Romero had read the Robert Kirkman's "The Walking Dead" which is a comic book series that I can't say enough good things about. The RV is Diary was very similar to the RV in the Walking Dead. Both stories share the idea that loved ones of the deceased (now zombie) may try to keep the zombie close in a kind of denial of what their loved one has become or in hopes that there might be a cure. Either way I thought it was just awesome.
In short, I loved this movie.
Labels: Movie Review
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Rambo 4
I don't think it's called Rambo 4. I thought it was called John Rambo but the DVD just says Rambo on the cover. Either way, this movie is really good for what it is.
Looking back on the series, First Blood was an amazing movie. It was one of those rare action movies where you really cared about the main character. At least I did. He's a deadly combination of military conditioning, intense torture, and a whole lot of post traumatic stress. The result is one hell of a killing machine whether he wants to be or not. What makes Rambo interesting is that he'd rather just be left alone.
Rambo 2 and 3 were pretty exploitative but at the same time the writers made that perfectly clear in the storyline. I always found Rambo 3 to be interesting in light of the current war in Afghanistan. Was Rambo teamed up with the Taliban to fight off those Russians?
Rambo 4 is by far the most violent. It's 2008 though. Movies in the action and horror genre are exponentially more violent than they ever used to be. There's no hiding anything anymore when it comes to violence other than sexual violence of course.
Without giving the story away which is again what I loath about movie reviews, Rambo 4 is better than 2 and 3 but still doesn't top the original First Blood. I enjoy watching all of them from time to time which is unusual for me since I generally skip over action movies. I think I'm going to go watch Rambo 4 again right now.
Cheers
Looking back on the series, First Blood was an amazing movie. It was one of those rare action movies where you really cared about the main character. At least I did. He's a deadly combination of military conditioning, intense torture, and a whole lot of post traumatic stress. The result is one hell of a killing machine whether he wants to be or not. What makes Rambo interesting is that he'd rather just be left alone.
Rambo 2 and 3 were pretty exploitative but at the same time the writers made that perfectly clear in the storyline. I always found Rambo 3 to be interesting in light of the current war in Afghanistan. Was Rambo teamed up with the Taliban to fight off those Russians?
Rambo 4 is by far the most violent. It's 2008 though. Movies in the action and horror genre are exponentially more violent than they ever used to be. There's no hiding anything anymore when it comes to violence other than sexual violence of course.
Without giving the story away which is again what I loath about movie reviews, Rambo 4 is better than 2 and 3 but still doesn't top the original First Blood. I enjoy watching all of them from time to time which is unusual for me since I generally skip over action movies. I think I'm going to go watch Rambo 4 again right now.
Cheers
Labels: Movie Review
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Battlestar Galactica
Season 4 has come out to a pretty slow start but that's good because I know that this is the last season and I want it to last forever. Most of what's making it feel so slow is the anticipation of what's coming next.
I can't say enough good things about this show but there is one bad thing...
I hate how they give away the whole show in a subliminal blipvert montage right after the opening credits. I sometimes manage to look away but the odd time it sneaks up on me.
I can't say enough good things about this show but there is one bad thing...
I hate how they give away the whole show in a subliminal blipvert montage right after the opening credits. I sometimes manage to look away but the odd time it sneaks up on me.
Labels: Movie Review
An American Crime
This is another difficult to watch Ellen Page film (the other being Hard Candy). I haven't even seen Juno yet and I know that this girl is going to be around for awhile.
The story is based on a true story about a girl in the 60s who is locked up in the basement by her caregiver and is brutally torchured by the woman and her children and others in the neighborhood. I knew the story ahead of time and thus knew the movie would be pretty unsettling and it really was. It has a very haunting perspective without pulling any cheap shots.
An American Crime is definitely worth watching and if I ever find the DVD I'll snap it up.
The story is based on a true story about a girl in the 60s who is locked up in the basement by her caregiver and is brutally torchured by the woman and her children and others in the neighborhood. I knew the story ahead of time and thus knew the movie would be pretty unsettling and it really was. It has a very haunting perspective without pulling any cheap shots.
An American Crime is definitely worth watching and if I ever find the DVD I'll snap it up.
Labels: Movie Review
Friday, May 09, 2008
Grand Theft Mario Kart Wii
While the rest of the console kids are butchering their morals on GTA IV, my wife and I have been playing Mario Kart Wii. None the less, I don't think it matters whether cut each other down with a Mac-10 or knock each other off the road with a Winged Koopa-Shell. We still yell and swear just as much. Good times.
Labels: Art, day to day, pop culture
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