Blades of Glory

Will Ferrell and Jon Heder hit a home run with this comedy based in the world of competitive figure skating. The cameo appearances of well-know legends and stars from the figure skating world elevates this film by the stars ability to laugh at themselves and their profession. Jenna Fischer is a pleasant surprise in a role that is revealing and a break from her Office roots. Rounding out the cast are comedy sure bets Amy Poehler and Will Arnett who eat up their scenes as the couples skating sister-brother team trying to sabotage Ferrell and Heder. This comedy clicked with me where Talladega Nights left me standing in the cold.

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TMNT

This movie rocks. The previous live action movies were fun to watch but this animated movie puts them all to shame. It assumes you know who the turtles are and does not regress into a long rehash of their origin that is not needed. My favorite is still Raphael with his anger issues and deep loyalties to his brothers. This film has more than enough story and character to keep the adults interested while the young ones fawn over the action. A must see for turtle fans of all ages.

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Grindhouse

This double-feature movie was made for fans of low budget drive-in fair with all their flaws and inconsistencies gloriously reproduced. Rodriguez and Tarantino hit this one out of the park for the rabid fans who love their work. The imagery is gruesome and beautiful, the violence extensive and comic, and the sexuality of the femme fatales hits you like a swift kick to the balls. This is grindhouse done right. See this movie.

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September Dawn

You can ask any of my friends and be told that I am not a religious fellow in actions or deeds. But this movie is a must see for history buffs, conspiracy theorists, and jaded Sunday Church goers. I have always believed, and have yet to see any evidence to the contrary, that the world’s worst evils have always been perpetrated in the name of God or someone who believes himself to be God. The beauty of this film is the cinematography that makes you feel like you are watching a home movie of an event you can not stop from happening. This is a small, powerful film that rates a broader audience then it will end up getting before leaving the theater.

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Shooter

Thanks to my friend Jill I got last minute free passes to get in to an advanced screening of this movie that included a Q & A with the film critic and novelist, Stephen Hunter. I can sum this move up in one quote from Josey Wells - “Don’t piss down my back and tell me it’s raining.” Mark Wahlberg does a good job of being the pissed of American soldier getting revenge on the government evil doers that screw him over. This movie does go the extra mile and serves up its own justice and revenge delivered at the end of a smoking sniper rifle. Grab some popcorn and enjoy the show but leave the political correctness in the lobby where it belongs

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Dead Silence

A new movie from the duo behind the horror powerhouse franchise Saw - James Wan and Leigh Whannell. I met this duo at an advanced screening of Saw and the director waxed poetic on his fear of dolls. Now he has a movie dedicated to nothing but dolls and how evil they can be. This movie is worth a Saturday matinee viewing or at least a night on the couch as a dvd rental. It is an ok sophomore film reminiscent of 2003’s Darkness Falls but a franchise it is not.

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Behind The Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon

I had not heard about this movie until I was trolling MovieTickets.com to see what was on tap at my local theater. This movie is a treasure for the horror fan - especially fans of Michael, Jason, and Freddy. This indie festival favorite is one of the best horror films I have seen yet this year. The film features cameos by genre favorites that are subtle and delivers an interesting take on the making of a slasher serial killer. All documentaries should be this fun.

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The Host (Gwoemul)

A friend of mine sent me a link to check out the trailer for a new monster picture coming out of South Korea that was going to get a wide release in the States. The trailer held great promise featuring Asians running for their lives, a cool looking monster straight out of Lovecraft, evil scientists and a government sponsored hysteria. Image my surprise when I saw the movie that was going to be in theaters the next week on sale at the foreign film DVD stand in a local mall. I picked it up and popped it in my trusty code-free DVD player. This movie delivers all the fun scares, cool effects and comedy you would want from a giant creature run amuck film.

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300

This movie is a video tribute to the core elements of any Frank Miller work - violence, stunning imagery, and sexuality. Unfortunately, the over the top effects and non-stop use of slow motion keep this movie at the level of a digital version of Heavy Metal magazine or a CGI cartoon. The plot is straight forward but the emotional connection between the core characters is lacking. This is a beautifully shot gothic epic but I wanted more from the acting than I am Sparta hear me roar. Let’s hope the director’s next outing does not fore go the acting in lieu of visual effects.

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Curtains

Curtains is a musical comedy set in the Boston Globe theater involving the murder of the female lead while performing her latest production of a westernized version of Robin Hood. David Hyde Pierce is the detective who sequesters the cast in the theatre while he solves the murder(s) and makes suggestions to improving the production as he is stage struck. This production is a perfect example of a Broadway show that delivers with a great ensemble cast who has great chemistry and obviously is having as much fun on stage performing as the audience is watching. David Hyde Pierce has came a long way from playing Myles Fraiser and is a true triple threat on the stage. Tony Awards are definitely in his future