Articles Posted December 2008
Valkyrie
If you must pick just one to see this Christmas day, Valkyrie may be the better choice since it’s a more conventional, accessible thriller. However, don’t expect Tom Cruise to redeem any industry clout in this one. Considering the star power of the man and his lead role, it’s eye-opening that the supporting cast outdoes him to such a [...]
The Spirit
It can’t be said enough that The Spirit is not on the same level as Sin City or 300. There are vast and deep differences beneath the surface that result in an altogether difference experience. The action and violence in first-time solo director Frank Miller’s film has more camp than a boy scout retreat, while the storyline is as frenetic, fanciful [...]
The Wrestler
As part of the generation of raucous young WWE fans suplexing siblings in the living room, I grew to know professional wrestling pretty well. Later in life, I learned it was even crazier than I originally thought, because so much of it was for show. I won’t say that it’s fake, because that would be too flippant. [...]
The Day the Earth Stood Still
Let’s be honest - Keanu Reeves headlining a remake of the 1951 sci-fi classic The Day the Earth Stood Stillcertainly doesn’t sound like the rebirth of a genre archetype. In fact, the mere idea of retreading this territory finds many a fan up in arms. Nevertheless, with its smart casting, savvy CGI and efficient pacing, Scott Derrickson’s Day finds a [...]
Doubt
Clearly defined lines between good and evil are the floorplans for most dramas. Even if we don’t discover these boundaries by the end of a film, ultimately knowing these delineations help us process a story much easier. It gives us clarity and closure. But total uncertainty can also prove a cinematic comfort – that is [...]
Punisher: War Zone
The Punisher may be a tortured purveyor of justice and a one-man SWAT team, able to spin upside down from a chandelier while firing automatic rifles and taking out dozens of bad guys, but the man-in-black, Frank Castle, is no match for director Lexi Alexander, who has done the improbable – put a bullet right between [...]
