Enchanted

It seems Walt Disney has finally developed a sense of humor about itself. Enchanted is the story of a fairy tale princess who gets trapped in the real world by her evil stepmother (Susan Sarandon) and must find love. Amy Adams, as Princess Giselle, gives an incredible performance that keeps this hokey premise from falling flat on its face while setting herself up to be the first live action Disney princess that little girls will be adding to their doll collections. The musical numbers and action sequences are entertaining and genuinely funny. I will be adding this to my DVD collection for my neices to watch - and me too.

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No Country for Old Men

Joel and Ethan Cohen are back in fine form with their latest cinema masterpiece since O Brother, Where Art Thou. The film stars Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin and Tommy Lee Jones in a holy trinity of violence, revenge, greed and fate. Bardem's psychopathic killer is a sight to behold as he chews up the screen and steals all the scenes. Brolin and Jones hold their own but the movie elevates to a completely different level when Bardem unleashes his relentless and methodical evil. A must see rental if you cannot make it to the theater.

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Hitman

Timothy Olyphant, from such films as Dreamcatcher, The Girl Next Door, and Live Free or Die Hard, finally gets to take the lead in this latest video game turned movie. The action and special effects are top-notch and the plot is actually better than most of the recent crop of big budget movies from gaming franchises. Thank god Uwe Bole did not get his hands on this one. How he gets decent actors to star in his sub-par movies is beyond my comprehension. I am looking forward to the inevitable sequel.

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The Mist

Frank Darabont has gone back to the Stephen King well again for this cool refreshing drink of water. His previous King adaptations include The Green Mile and the TNT staple, The Shawshank Redemption. Thomas Jane and Marcia Gay Harden lead the great ensemble cast tasked with delivering King's vision of a community torn apart and polarized by fear of the unknown and the inescapable. Movies based on King novels and short-stories always work best when they focus on the characters and the crucible of their situation. Darabont delivers a great Lovecraftian inspired tale that is disturbing, engaging and accessible to even the most jaded movie watcher.

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Fred Claus

This holiday feel-good comedy should have everything going for it but falls flat in a mountain of plastic snow. Even with Vince Vaughn, Paul Giamatti, Rachel Weisz, Miranda Richardson and Kevin Spacey cast in the film it is lack-luster at best. The comedy is tired and slap-sticky and the story never goes anywhere. I love the Christmas holiday but rarely can find a new holiday film that is worth watching. Is it really surprising that the highest grossing films during the holiday season are now horror films - I don't think so.

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Beowulf

Robert Zemekis is back on the big screen with another animated feature thanks to an adaptation by Neil Gaiman and Roger Avary. The stellar voice casting includes Anthony Hopkins, Robin Wright Penn, John Malkovich, Crispin Glover, Angelina Jolie and Ray Winstone. The animation is amazing and the dragon is truly a site to behold. I love that Zemekis, Gaiman and Avary were able to take a much dreaded English class reading assignment and give it the epic imagining it deserves. This film is a must-see on the big screen in 3-D or at an IMAX theater.

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Edward II @ Sidney Harman Hall

Wallace Acton returns to the Shakespeare Theater Company to play the title role in this their latest production. I had not read or seen this play of the Bard's to date and was captivated by Acton's performace of this most bizarre of regal figures. The play was engaging and well produced but not one of my favorites this season. A fine production and worth seeing.

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After Dark Horrorfest 2007: Nightmare Man

A weekend getaway in a cabin home goes awry when the tenants have unexpected guests who are on the run from the Nightmare Man. Richard Moll and Tiffany Shepis, B-horror movie veterans, top out this cast of no-name actors. The plot is sketchy at best and the horror lacking. A rental if you are bored and there is nothing else to choose from on the Blockbuster shelf.

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After Dark Horrorfest 2007: Lake Dead

This movie is a throwback to the 80's Canadian horror classics that were down-right disturbing, badly done and gloriously fun to watch. The film has all the best elements - hot girls, inbred families and ridiculous dialogue. If you liked the films Blood Salvage, Invasion of the Space Preachers, or Humongous then you will love this one. I will be adding this one to my horror collectionwhen the DVD hits the streets.

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After Dark Horrorfest 2007: Tooth and Nail

Rachel Minor, who starred in the After Dark Horrorfest 2006 installment Penny Dreadful, returns with this post-apocalyptic film where the cannibals are on the prowl. The cast also includes the known talents of Rider Strong, Robert Caradine, Michael Madsen, and Vinnie Jones and does not suffer from any Uwe Boll like direction to screw it up. The film is pretty good and the terror sufficient to keep even a jaded fan interested to see who remains for desert.

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After Dark Horrorfest 2007: Mulberry Street

Nick Damici, writer and lead actor, delivers this year's standout film of the festival. A father's reunion with his daughter just home from the war is derailed when a deadly infection breaks out in Manhattan and wreaks havoc on its denizens. The film is gritty, horrific and the characters are believable in their fight and flight to survive the city falling apart around them. A must-see dark film that does not get derailed in to the realm of comedy farce.

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After Dark Horrorfest 2007: Borderland

This film delivers on the horror and realism that was severely lacking in last year's big screen release of Turistas. Rider Strong, who also appears in Tooth & Nail, gets separated from his friends and pays the price. Sean Astin cameos as a depraved caretaker for the murderous leader of the local Santeria cult our protagonists must escape from. With Help of local hottie Martha Higareda maybe they can survive to get back to American soil and safety. Beware of those native girls and make sure you don't lose you wingman!

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After Dark Horrorfest 2007: The Deaths of Ian Stone

The most interesting entry in this year's film festival and holder of the best special effects title. The story focuses on the recurring death of the lead in parallel and off-kilter lives. It is a combination of the Talisman, Faust, Romeo & Juliet and Death Takes a Holiday. Definitley check this one out if you want to see something new and visually engaging.

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After Dark Horrorfest 2007: Unearthed

Emmauelle Vaugier of Saw II and Painkiller Jane is joined by Luke Goss and Charlie Murphy for this creature run amok film. Archeological digs always seem to be rife with terror and age old beasts that need to be free. A fun film to watch that gets a solid boost with the ever popular Charlie Murphy on board. A good film to rent for a night in on the couch with a pizza and a beer.

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After Dark Horrorfest 2007: Crazy Eights

Six childhood friends return to the place where they grew up as orphans to relive a dark secret. The plot is transparent and telegraphed from word one. This is even compounded by the painful revelations that the audience got with in the first ten minutes of the film but the actors can not seem to get until the very end. Suspension of disbelief is almost impossible to achieve here. How did the producers get Dina Meyer, George Newbern, Traci Lords, Frank Whaley and Gabrielle Anwar to star in this?

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