Movie Review: Dead Snow

by Ryan

2.5/4 banana peels

Imagine being hunted down by a pack of snarling, grunting, bloody, disgusting, Nazi zombies straight from WWII. This is Dead Snow. The Norwegians (and most foreign filmmakers) are notorious for bringing a fresh view on the horror and zombie genre's, and Tommy Wirkola's film is no different. The movie follows a group of medical students into the mountains of Norway on vacation, but they soon find out they aren't alone on this trip. As night falls, the aforementioned Nazi Zombies begin their attack.

The movie opens with a woman being chased through the night woods by a pack of zombies, the pounding chords of "In the Hall of the Mountain King" driving in the background. Eventually she's cornered and torn apart. Needless to say, by this time I was pretty much hooked. I knew this had to be a good movie, but I thought wrong. The movie spends the next 45 minutes driveling through the stereotypical horror plot line. Including, terrible acting, snow mobile montage, and a hysterical woman slap. Much of the initial "terror" is sub par and yawn inspiring, but things do turn around.

The last 30 minutes of the film take on a bizarre Shaun of the Dead type feel. After the first few students meet a bloody and disfiguring end, the remaining students arm themselves with sledgehammers, scythes, chainsaws, and a snowmobile mounted heavy machine gun. In the final battle with the Nazi Zombies we get all kinds of gratuitous violence. One shot was especially stunning, it was a point-of-view shot of a woman, fading in and out of consciousness, witnessing her own disembowelment. There were at least 3 characters that saw their own intestine.

This movie is not short on beheading, disembowelment, exploding heads, amputation, fire, explosions, big guns, bad acting, paper thin plot, and medical students trained in hand to hand combat. Like many of the exploitation films we like to review here, this movie is saved by the massive amounts of spontaneous and utterly needless violence. I mean, Nazi Zombies? Cinema Gold! I like that the movie doesn't take itself too seriously and does what zombie flicks do best. Take it with a grain of salt and know what your getting yourself into; this isn't an Oscar film, not by a long shot, but it's still a lot of fun.



And beware of the subtitles!

Enjoy the movie, let us know what you think! Comment below!

OSCARS 2010

You miss the Oscars last night? Here's a rundown of the winners:

Best Motion Picture the Year:
     The Hurt Locker

Best Performance by an Actor, Leading Role:
     Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart

Best Performance by an Actress, Leading Role:
     Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side

Best Performance by an Actor, Supporting Role:
     Christoph Waltz, Inglorious Basterds

Best Performance by an Actress, Supporting Role:
     Mo'Nique, Precious

Best Achievement in Directing:
     Katheryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
       (The first time a woman has won)



For more information on these movies and other awards, head on over to imdb.com. Also, be on the lookout for our Special Oscar Edition of Kosher Sessions!

Movie Review: Dolemite

Ryan: 2/4 rotten peels
Matt: 2/4 rotten peels

by Ryan


"Dolemite is his name and fuckin' up motha fuckas is his game!"

Dolemite is a 1975 blaxploitation film that follows a pimp (Dolemite, played by Rudy Ray Moore) who was framed by Willie Greene (played by D'Urville Martin) and the crooked white cops, who planted stolen furs and drugs in his trunk. BUT HE'S BACK! Queen Bee and the Warden have sprung him out of jail and Dolemite is on the hunt to make Willie Greene pay for what he did! He has a whole army of call-girl ninja's to back him up in his quest to kick ass!

This movie try's really hard, but when the cast and crew consist of jive comedians, you can't expect much. I'll give them an A for effort. This film is so bad that its awesome, in one scene you can see the sound man lying on the ground with the boom mic. The charm of this film comes from the innate flaws around every corner. Bad acting, bad directing, bad editing, awesome dialogue, awesome music. What else is there?

This film does get too bad for its own good, though. After awhile, the charm wears off and you are left with just a bad movie. What was once hilarious fades into a monotonous string of failure to deliver a line beyond the second grade reading level. I must add, in retrospect, that watching Black Dynamite (read our review here) before Dolemite might have ruined the experience. Black Dynamite is a spoof film of the 1970's blaxploitation genre, of which Dolemite is a cornerstone.

Dolemite, in the very least, is worth a watch to experience the blaxploitation genre, but don't expect much.





Like the review? Seen the movie? Have a witty comment? Write your thoughts in the box below!

Big Momma's House 3?

by Matthew Frazier

News outlets are reporting that Martin Lawrence will, once again, grace the screen as morbidly obese Big Momma. The horror that ran across my face at seeing these headlines is unparalleled.

Undercover police movies have the potential to bring in hilarious costumes that can make a movie hysterical or, in rare cases, actually make a contribution to the film (think Isabella in Rush Hour 2). However, the effect of Martin Lawrence’s “disguise” can be seen for free by watching sumo wrestling.

In the third film, Lawrence’s character Malcolm Turner / Big Momma will be joined by his 17-year-old nephew Trent (played by Brandon T. Jackson seen in Tropic Thunder and Percy Jackson) as they go undercover at an all-girls performance institute.

Presumably, his location will lead to awkward encounters with barely clothed females.

The first and second movies of the series have made considerable profit, but the question remaining is: who actually finds these films funny? Personally, the only thing I see viewers walking away from the film with is a better understanding of an overweight woman’s anatomy. Some things that are seen just cannot be unseen.

Filming begins in April, let me know people: Will you be watching Big Momma’s House 3?

The Crazies

 Ryan: 1/4 banana peels
Matt: .5/4 banana peels

by Ryan


The Crazies is a remake of George A. Romero's 1973 grindhouse classic of the same name. The movie follows a small town in Iowa as it descends into madness after a toxin is introduced into the water supply. The town Sheriff, played by Timothy Olyphant, and his wife and town doctor, played by Radha Mitchell, are the lone survivors trying to make it out alive amidst the zombie madness and government cover up.

Given that this film is of the zombie genre, one should take a slightly lower standard going into the theater. However, this movie joins the likes of The Happening at the bottom of a barrel of rotten human zombie flesh. I'm not sure I should even go any further with this review, I feel I should just leave you with knowing how terrible it is. If you would like to read on go ahead, otherwise, know this film is bad and leave it at that.

I'll try to keep this short. The dialogue was beyond campy and cheesy, it was crap. The story was worn and used, lacking any innovation or thrills. The characters walked epically down the highway with awkward spacing. The acting was, in the immortal words of Charles Barkley, turuble. The pacing was unbelievably disjoint and hard to keep with. The whole film wreaked of a bad M. Night Shyamalan flick. Honestly, it seemed as though first time director Breck Eisner watched a marathon of Shyamalan (not including the Sixth Sense) before he set out to make this film. Should I go any further?

The only positive I could really offer here is that one day, 30 years from now, movie connoisseurs will seek out films like this, much like the ones who now seek out the Grindhouse movies of the 70's. Although, there is something oddly charming about those films and they get better with age. The Crazies is just bad and I'm not sure there's any amount of time that could cure this film.

I'll leave you with the final words of the film:
Sheriff:  "Ouch"
Wife:  "Sorry honey"

Looking for a good film to see this weekend? Don't go see The Crazies, hopefully we wasted $10 so you don't have to. If you're one of the unfortunate souls who lost 10 of their hard earned dollars, drop us a comment and let us know what you thought.

Ong-Bak 2: The Beginning

by Travis

3/4 peels

As I said before, I'll say again...Tony Jaa scares the living shit out of me. Watch this clip below and try to disagree with me:

ONGBAK 2 fight clip


Okay so this movie looks pretty good though some of the camera angles seemed a bit amateur. Many of the scenes reminded me of a Japanese video game like Final Fantasy as in if I had a controller in my hands, it would feel like I'd be able to control Tony Jaa in his quest to kick ass, jump around places, save the world, etc.

Like the other movies starring this AMAZING martial artist, this one could be called "Tony Jaa: Demo Reel 3". The story is lame and it's absolutely unbearable especially if you leave it on the English dubbed audio. (It's actually HILARIOUSLY terrible and cheesy, especially Chernang's voice). The scenes usually spend entirely too much time in setting up the location or event. The pacing is really terrible and the ending sucks....BUT...

The reason for giving this movie the points I did (in order) were:
1. The fight scenes. They are brutal and great fun to watch (like The Protector and Ong Bak: The Thai Warrior). You will never have felt like you were watching one of the greatest film martial artists of all time until you watch a few Bruce Lee movies or a Tony Jaa movie like this one.
2. Tony Jaa can cry! Tony has actually been working on his acting game for this one.
3. The color and contrast. The film looks pretty great... (pretty sure it had the biggest budget out of all the Tony Jaa movies).

Plot: So, it's about Master Tien (Tony Jaa) and how he ends up in some village as a kid where he learns how to kick ass. Basically, someone kills his pops and so when he grows up, he's gotta seek that revenge and bring back honor to his village and father and all that bullish. Nothing terribly new or exciting, with virtually no subplots.

So basically what you get is a good looking movie with Tony Jaa again doing what he does best: whoop some ass. He actually dialed back a bit on the Muay Thai, which was kinda nice. He doesn't do that bad in the acting department either... but while this is his best performance in a movie yet, this is also my least favorite film starring him, by far. Check out (if you have not already) "The Protector" and then "Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior".

Kosher Sessions: Episode 2

This episode features The Kosher Kid, Ryan Schmidt, and Neil Leff-Wilson. We offer our unique views on BLACK DYNAMITE, the remake of The Karate Kid and Zoolander 2. Also, Neil has a bit of knowledge to share with the world and our listeners. Check out the new episode below!

Black Dynamite

 by Ryan & the Kosher Kid

Ryan: 4/4 banana peels
Kosher Kid: 4/4 banana peels
Travis: 4/4 banana peels

When you sit down to watch this film you get the feeling it is something special. Starting with the first searing taps of a high hat the 70's funk soundtrack takes you back to the good old days of blaxploitation. Director Scott Sanders set out with Michael Jai White and Byron Minns to pay homage to the genre of Grindhouse flicks that gave the world Shaft, SuperFly, Dolemite, The Mack, and Truck Turner; and they did an incredible job!

CAN YA DIG IT?!

Hell yeah I can! Black Dynamite was the most fun I have had watching a movie since Borat! Michael Jai White plays Black Dynamite, an overly serious former CIA agent turned community activist, who is determined to find the men who not only killed his brother but sell drugs to the orphans, and he does a fantastic job. "Dynamite is gunna make it alright!" He takes on a community of pimps with names like Cream Corn, Kotex, Tasty Freeze, and Chocolate Giddy-up.

Given that this film is based on any number of blaxploitation films, it is a fun and original movie that will keep you laughing all the way through. The dialogue is filled with jive and the shooting is beautifully flawed. At one point there is even a microphone clearly in the shot. This movie gives you a bevy of different treats,gratuitous nudity, flying daggers, kung fu, meaningless sex, baby mama drama, and a shit load of explosions.These are things that would normally take away from a film, but in Black Dynamite this only adds to the fun. There's also a number of cameo's from actors like Arsenio Hall, Brian McKnight, and John Salley.

Alright Jive Turkey's, need a good laugh?! Grab your Anaconda Malt Liquor, a few of your friends, and pop Black Dynamite in your viewing device!

Kosher Sessions: Episode 1

Welcome to Kosher Sessions, the official podcast of Fresh Bananas!

This episode features The Kosher Kid, Ryan Schmidt, and Neil Leff-Wilson. We offer our unique views on Shutter Island, Martin Scorsese, Alamo Drafthouse, Sing-A-Longs, and the Oscars! We hope that you enjoy this first podcast and can forgive us for some of our mistakes, we're young!

As always, we are fueled by your comments. So, listen to the cast below and drop a comment to let us know what you think!

Shutter Island

Rating: 3.5 out of 4 bananas


by Ryan

This movie is a classic film noir, filled with mystery and suspense. Martin Scorsese has once again given the world an intelligent and memorable film. Shutter Island is based off the novel of the same name by Dennis Lehane, who also wrote Mystic River and Gone Baby Gone. The story follows U.S. Marshall Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his partner Chuck (Mark Ruffalo) who have been brought to Shutter Island to investigate the disappearence of a murderer. As time goes on, everything is not as it seems. The story is filled with lies, deceite and despair and many twists and turns. We are constantly left to wonder is this reality or is this a dream?

DiCaprio really does a great job in this film. Taking on a tough role, he executes it with great vigor and accuracy. The entire cast played their roles well, adding to the suspense and drama. You really never know who is genuine or who is playing mind games. The pictures Scorsese displays on the screen are beautiful, rich in color, yet unbelievably bleak. His shot sequencing and usage payed homage to the great noir directors like Alfred Hitchcock. One aspect that I really liked about this film was the score. The brooding and ominous chords and undertones set the table well for what the viewer is watching. The music enhanced the picture, it wasn't just something extra.

The one issue I take with this film is that the ending takes too long to develop. While it is a very intelligent and well thought out ending, it loses most of its impact in explanation. There had been so much build up and so much to sort out that the only way to do the story justice is to unravel it all.

This is yet another great film from one of the best directors to ever get behind the camera. There is no reason not to go see this film. Based on the marketing, some of you may think this film is scary, or a horror film, its not. Its a suspense and drama, go see it.

Review by Travis -

3.6 / 4 banana peels

While Shutter Island must labor to justify it's big twist at the end, it makes up for it in being one of the most engaging movies I've seen in a long while.

When I told Ryan and Matt that this movie made me uncomfortable as I was watching it, they didn't know what I was talking about. But it did. It's like walking around in a dark house with a metal screeching noise that's always right behind you, no matter how much you try to turn around and confront it. Like Ryan mentioned though, it's not some horror movie that tries to be scary. It's just a movie that gets into your head and stays there throughout. Some people would call it a mindf***...and that's a pretty accurate word I would use to describe it.

I think that was what Scorsese intended...to make the audience as uncomfortable as possible in order to reflect the feelings of the story's main character, played by Leonardo DiCaprio.

There's no doubt that Scorsese can direct a film well. He can change the audiences emotions with a single change of the frame. The pacing here is superb. Violence is nothing new with Scorsese movies and this movie certainly has some disturbing graphic scenes, ones that are there to keep the attention of the audience. They are amazing, not because I enjoy violence, but because in the context of what's going on... violence is perfectly natural for the characters to partake in and/or recall from their past. Reminds me of Lord of the Flies.

Some of the most captivating moments occur during DiCaprio's "dream" sequences. These sequences are pure cinema magic (these are the moments that made me uncomfortable as I watched them) and some people might not even identify them as sequences that Scorsese has directed...though it was pretty obvious sometimes with the absolutely perfectly lighted sets, which was fine with me.

Dicaprio lets out what I consider an awesome performance for a character so inherently complicated from the get-go. Ben Kingsley plays tricks with your head with his character's sinister yet caring demeanor. Jackie Earle Haley was awesome in his only scene. I love that guy and for the brief time he is there, he gives a hell of a performance.


You want to see this movie. For those of you who don't want to sit through a movie that makes you seriously guess at the ending twist, don't bother.


I'll have to be honest...I consider this movie a modern classic. I enjoyed the change of theme for Scorsese, which makes me like this better than The Departed. It's in my top 5 Scorsese films, for sure...but it's tough to narrow that list down any more.

If you have already seen this, or will be seeing it soon, drop us a comment and let us know what you think! We always want to hear what you have to say!


Review by: Kosha' Kid Kerwin


2.5/4

Scorcese's latest film Shutter Island is a mind engaging film of Hitchcockian like proportions. We are thrown into the film as Teddy Daniels and his partner Chuck Aule make their way toward a mysterious and remote  prison off the coast of Boston known as Ashcliff to investigate the disappearance of one of the prisoners. Leonardo DiCaprio does a respectable job as a flawed hero, US Marshal Teddy Daniels. Teddy suffers from sudden migraines and headaches and a vivid imagination. He  goes back and forth between dreamscape and reality that we the audience almost do the same. The movie itself was very well acted and directed and the pacing is great for the first 3/4th's of the movie. My only complaint would be the drawn out conclusion and anticlimactic twist. The film would have been captivating to me if it was more open ended and concise. I use the word concise loosely because I felt there were some redundant scenes that took away from the climax. This movie perhaps deserves a second viewing, I am sure I missed many nuances throughout this complex and deeply layered film.

I implore you to make your own judgments and opinions, go see this film and tell me what you think!

Lord of the Flies

by Ryan

4/4 banana peels

Lord of the Flies is a film adaption of William Golding's novel of the same name and directed by Peter Brook. The story follows a group of English school boys who are stranded on an island in the middle of no where. Kind of sounds like Lost? The boys time on the island begins civilized, but soon the constructs of society are stripped away to only leave the innate animal nature of humans. At least I think that's what William Golding was going for.

Anyways, the film has its hero and his antithesis, it has the lovable fat kid, and a bunch of wild kids. Whats amazing for this film is the sense of terror and pure savageness that is expressed through film. While not having anything materially offensive in the film, the original rating of this movie was X (in 1963 that is) just for the themes. The movie at times feels unrehearsed and in dissaray, which is probably due to the style of shooting. Much of the script was left open to interpretation and the director encouraged the kids to improvise and act out on their carnal natures. However, I feel this adds to the overall message of the film rather than detracting.

While this film is almost a literal interpretation of the novel it is based on, it does something that most films can't really do anymore. It makes care, its makes you feel, and it makes you connect. It's truly a gem and it's no surprise that the Criterion Collection has remastered and released this film.

If you venture to see Lord of the Flies, drop us a comment and let us know what you think.

Big Fan

Review by: Matt Kerwin "Kosher Kid"

3.2/4 Banana Peels

It’s a dark, cold and desolate Friday night in Staten Island this is where we first encounter the short, tubby 35 year old man, Paul Aufiero. He sits in a small enclosed corridor, his place of sanctuary, also known as a toll booth in a parking garage. Paul works the night shifts as a parking garage attendant and he seems to be at ease while on the clock. He mindlessly ignores the cars that pass through, like they are taking him away from something that’s really important inside his booth. Around him in his microscopic work space is a radio and a doodling pad with a pen. He makes good use of these items while softly mumbling to himself and writing his thoughts down on the pad while listening to a local sport’s talk radio station. He seems perturbed by what the current caller, known as Philadelphia Phil is telling the DJ. Phil is mocking the local sports team, the New York Giants and predicting that his team the Philadelphia Eagles will be victorious over the Giants come Sunday night. It is in this moment where we discover that Paul Aufiero is not your ordinary parking garage attendant. In fact Paul lives a double life. By day, he is your average parking garage attendant and by night he is a super fan of the New York Giants football team.

The movie Big Fan directed by Robert D. Siegel starring Patton Oswalt is more than just a sports movie, its disturbing tale of one man’s so called life. As I was watching this film I kept thinking, “There are people in this world just like Paul". Paul lives with his mother who feeds, clothes, and shelters him everyday. Like a 10 year old kid, Paul has a poster above his bed; the poster is of his favorite football player Quantrell Bishop. However Paul is more than just a “fan” he is obsessed with Bishop and the Giants. He identifies so strongly with Bishop, his idol that it’s kind of alarming. Paul thinks he is the city of New York, his team, and his hero. When the Giants lose, you see a piece of Paul lose with them. He bleeds that bright blue and red, until the next game rolls around the following week. Supporters of opposing teams like Philadelphia Phil are enemies. Watching every Giants game come Sunday is not just a hobby for Paul and his buddy Sal, it’s a job. Unfortunately Paul thinks he has a life, a wonderful life as a super fan.  I recommend this film to anyone that likes a good character study with very dark undertones.

upcoming reviews- A Serious Man, The Believer, A Prophet, Shutter Island, Gomorrah

Oscar Rundown!

 

by Ryan

The Oscars will be on before you know it (March 7th) and the nominations have been out for about two weeks now. So, it seems it might be time for me to give you my view on what will happen, should happen, and is just plain wrong.


Best Picture:
Who will win: Avatar
Who should win: The Hurt Locker

Each film has 9 nominations, each in many of the key categories that are historically needed to win best picture. I get this overwhelming feeling that the Academy wont be able to see past Avatar's eye candy and its all-time high gross. It's really unfortunate because Cameron's ex-wife, Katheryn Bigelow, has really put together a superb movie that explore's the construct of the modern soldier's mind. While Avatar might have pushed the envelope as far as tech goes, The Hurt Locker really advanced the art of the entire film.


Actor in a Leading Role:
Who will win: Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart
Dark Horse: Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker

Although I haven't seen the film, critics cannot stop raving about Jeff Bridges' performance in Crazy Heart. At least when they stop oogling about George Clooney in his mediocre performance in Up in the Air. Jeff Bridges has already won 4 pre-oscar awards. You might ask then, why not George Clooney if critics can't stop oogling? If you take a look at ew.com, Jeremy Renner has been nominated for as many awards as George Clooney AND has won more pre-oscar awards. While it seems the critics say they can't get over George Clooney, they actually prefer Renner.


Actress in a Leading Role:
Who will win: Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia
Dark Horse: Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side

Meryl Streep is the one to beat this year, she has been nominated and won many of the critical awards. Although, I'm still curious about this film. It didn't really seem to be one that would launch an Oscar winner. That's really where I see Bullock stealing this award. The Blind Side is a film that will continue to generate buzz and elevate Bullock to an Oscar. Has anyone seen Julie & Julia? Drop your comment.


Actor in a Supporting Role:
Who will win: Christoph Waltz, Inglorious Basterds

No question. Have you seen Inglorious Basterds? Christoph Waltz will win, I guarantee. If he doesn't, I want you to drop me a comment to remind me how wrong I was.


Actress in a Supporting Role:
Who will win: Mo'Nique, Precious

In much the same way the Actor in a Supporting Role is on lock, so it seems this one is. Mo'Nique has won all but one pre-oscar award, the same as Christoph Waltz. As you go down the list of her counterparts, there really aren't any names that stick out. What do you think?



Do you agree with me? Do you have something to say about this post? Drop us a comment!

Koroshi No Rakuin (Branded to Kill)

 

by Ryan 

3/4 banana peels

Do the Japanese know how to make movies, or do the Japanese know how to make films? Before I get into the actual film, I just want to let everyone know they should check out a Japanese film SOON. They know how to make horror films better than Hollywood. I can't tell you how many times Hollywood takes a Japanese film, tries to "Americanize" the film, and the film flops. A few to name include "The Grudge", "The Ring", "Pulse" and "One Missed Call". They are also surprisingly good at making western and mob films as well. So head down to Blockbuster or hit up your Netflix queue and watch a Japanese film.

With that said, Branded to Kill is an insane Japanese mob, or more appropriately, yakuza film. Seijun Suzuki's film follows the life of the yakuza's #3 killer, Hanada. He falls in love with a beautiful vixen who forces him to take a near impossible mission. When he botch's the kill, the yakuza deems Hanada expendable and sends the #2 killer after him. The rest of the movie follows Hanada and his assention and eventual final battle with the #1 killer.

This film is roughly equivalent to the American "Grindhouse" films. The movie is very interesting in the way the story is woven. It begins very similar to a James Bond movie, but as Hanada falls in love and madness, so does the movie. We are lost in a sea of metaphors and confusion through most of the middle of the film. As we come out of the hole, the movie plays out like a common revenge flick through the end. This sounds like a pretty bad movie, but it comes out pretty brilliant.

The feel that Suzuki creates with the use of black and white and Jazz music is incredible. This is a one of a kind film that should be taken in as a glimpse into another culture. A film that takes a different view on the common mob flick. 

Check it out! If you actually take the time to watch this 1.5 hour long film, drop us a comment and let us know what you think!

A Town Called Panic

Review by: The Kosher Kid

 Kosher Kid: 3.8/4 Banana Peels
Ryan: 4/4 Banana Peels


"OHHHHHH, NO!!!!!!"


Who needs logic when you can have panic? I just watched the craziest, pointless,dumbest movie to date, and loved every minute of it. This film was brilliant!

A Town Called Panic is a French stop animation film from directors Stephane Aubier and Vincent Patar a Belgian duo that bring this charming story to life. The film has no real plot structure or sense of direction. The town itself is always in a sense of, forgive me if you will,  "panic". The three main characters are Cowboy,Indian and Horse. Everyone in the town acts like incompetent children except Horse, who seems to be the sensible adult . Imagine as if a child decided to play with some action figures and created an imaginary world for their playground. That's what  A Town Called Panic would be like. All of the characters, except Horse move around on little platforms much like the plastic army men are positioned on. This doesn't prove to be a problem though, because they all seem to get around fine sans any difficulties.

Without giving much of the plot away(as if there really is any) it's Horse's birthday so Indian, Cowboy and the rest of the town throw him a surprise birthday party. After the party, one absurd thing happens after another and the movie keeps you guessing until the final frame. If your looking to be entertained and want to watch a unique and delightful  film a la Toy Story on speed, check out A Town Called Panic.

Dead Man

Rating: 2.5/4 Banana Peels
Kosher Kid: 1/4 Banana Peels

Review by Ryan

Dead Man is Jim Jarmusch's quirky take on the western genre. Johnny Depp plays an accountant, William Blake, from Cleveland who is on the run after an accidental murder. He befriends an indian named "Nobody" who mistakes him for the famous writer, William Blake, and prepares him for his journey to the spirit worlds. The cast also includes many starrs like Crispin Glover, John Hurt, and Billy Bob Thornton.

The Western genre is one that conjures up images of outlaws, horses, saloons, and epic gun battles at the OK Corral. One can virtually smell the gunpowder during a western. Jim Jarmousch, however, decides to take the genre a different direction. While no shortage of outlaws, horses, and saloons, Jarmousch's tale lacked any gun fight of substance (and really action for that matter). The film was extremely slow and at times hard to watch. The "cut-to-black" transition was used way too much and got to the point where it was annoying.

Oddly enough, there was something charming about this movie that I can't really put a finger on. The film is entirly shot in black and white, and Neil Young's score of searing guitar chords worked well with the film. The dialogue was quirky but worked for the film. The intro to the film was very nice, a philosophical metaphore for the journey west. Johnny Depp did extremely well in a somewhat challenging role.

This film was filled with eerily quirky metaphors for life and journey to the end. It was a nice change from today's fast paced, no holds barred, in your face movies a-la Transformers. However, I'm not sure I would recommend it to many people.

Looking for a challenge? Rent Dead Man!

The Film That Dethrones AVATAR is . . . Dear John?

by Ryan

Yea, the Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried chick flick turned in a record breaking Super Bowl weekend opening, and did something that Sherlock Holmes, The Book of Eli, and It's Complicated couldn't do. Avatar was dethroned for the first time in seven weeks, making a still respectable $23 million dollars; Dear John made over $32 million dollars according to boxofficemojo. The total box office take for Avatar sits at over $2 billion dollars, larger than the GDP of many third world countries.

When you first hear that Dear John(29% on RottenTomatoes) dethroned Avatar, you might be surprised. A flimsy chick flick takes down the highest grossing film of all time. Even though Avatar has been out for seven weeks now it still seems far fetched. Looking under the hood could show why this was such a success. According to E! online, around 80% of the tickets bought for Dear John were by females and 60% of tickets sales were under 21. Sooo, the twinies floated another film!

It'll be interesting to see what happens next weekend when the normal movie go-ing crowd returns to theaters. Avatar could return to the top, considering most of Dear John's fan base has already seen the film. However, it could stay up top when wives and girlfriends bring their boyfriends back to the theaters for Valentines Day.

I put my stake in Avatar, what do you think? Drop us a comment!

The Dangerous Lives of Alter Boys

by Travis

2.7 / 4 banana peels

"Travis, what did you think of the movie?"
"That's a verrry thoughtful question..."

Finally saw this over this past weekend and really enjoyed it. Just like "Adventureland" (which I wrote about below, therefore it's relevant in my mind), it's a movie about teenagers learning big life lessons while growing up and involves a very troubled girl as the main character's love interest.

The movie's about a group of friends who collectively write an obscene and violent comic book during their early teen years while they attend an incredibly strict catholic school where Jodi Foster plays the "villain", the head nun there. The boys generally try to create as much rebellious anarchy as they can in their lives outside of home. When they decide to try and steal a cougar out of a zoo, things gradually fall apart, particularly between the best friends, played by Emilie Hirsch and Kieran Culkin.

I don't really want to spoil anything about the relationship between the main character and the girl at school that he likes, so all I'll say is that the girl is very troubled and it brings him to question his ability to forgive her of certain acts that she did in her past, of which she feels the upmost guilt. But the main character can't seem to grasp the concept of forgiving her, even despite her obvious guilt. I can't spoil the ending either, but the main character has to then face guilt about something terrible which he did little to prevent from happening. At the end, he comes to understand the concept of forgiveness and that life is too short to keep grudges and remain stubborn. The comic book, a reflection of the friends relationships with each other over this period of time (and which plays out throughout the movie) comes to a satisfying close and opens the door for a brand new comic, a tribute, a "new start".

Overall, it's a pretty decent movie with some pretty funny scenes, especially one involving a pothead zookeeper. But I'll let you discover that for yourself.

It's Official No One Can Beat AVATAR

by Ryan

It's pretty much official. Avatar has surpassed Titanic as the highest grossing film of all time. Boxofficemojo.com has Avatar standing at $1.842 billion dollars, for the record, Titanic still sits at $1.843 billion. These figures are as of Sunday, and if you take into account Monday sales(Avatar tends to make over $2 million on Mondays) then it has ascended to the throne of top grossing. Something interesting though, is that it still trails Titanic in the domestic box office by about $45 million. That's a gap that Avatar could take care of by the end of this weekend.

Whats insane is that Avatar still makes nearly $40 million in a two day weekend. In case anyone is counting, that's 6 weekends its been out, which is the fastest anyone has gone to the top. Titanic took 41 weekends and Star Wars 29 weeks, the past two grossing leaders. Whats more is that people are still going out to see the film in mass numbers. By this time The Dark Knight was only making around $10 million a weekend and Titanic $25 million. Avatar just raked in $35 million.

Looking to the releases this weekend, I don't see Avatar being removed from the top of the box office. The two major films coming out this weekend are Edge of Darkness and When in Rome. Neither one stands a chance, I see Avatar gaining a second wind this weekend after the news breaks wide that it has broken the record. Those last few people who have held out will finally feel the need to shell out the bucks to go see Avatar and witness history.

I try to keep my posts short and this one is starting to run long, so I'll wrap it up. Whats the most intriguing to me is that there is no guarantee that Avatar is the best film of the year, its not guaranteed that it will in the Oscar. Critics still hold the The Hurt Locker is still a better over all film, some will say that Inglorious Basterds still poses a dark horse chance to take the prize. So I want to know what the attraction to the film is, what drew you in? Does Avatar secure it's Academy Award by being king of the hill? Drop us a comment and let us know!

Movie Review: Adventureland

by Ryan


rating: 2/4 banana peels


Don't let this films marketing fool you, its more of a drama than a comedy. It was really confusing for the first quarter of the movie, not knowing whether to laugh or feel sorry for the characters. Adventureland is Greg Mottola's follow-up from the ultra-funny and ultra-successful film, Superbad. It follows a college grad coming home for the summer after graduation, finding his life falling apart he's forced to get a job at the only place he could, a theme park.

With a cast including Jesse Eisenberg, Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig, Kristen Stewart, and the director from Superbad, I was expecting a pretty funny movie with adult, coming of age, overtones. However, what you get is more like a dark comedy, something that is very serious with a little comedy sprinkled throughout. Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig were relegated to an almost cameo-esque performance, which offered most of the comedy in the film as well. A waste of good comedic talent if you ask me. It has a fun indie feel and the drama in the film is actually shot and portayed very well. Something you wouldn't expect from a comedic director like Mottola.

Has any one else seen Adventureland? What were your thoughts?





by Travis
3/4 banana peels

I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with Ryan's review.

Everytime I ask someone what they thought of Adventureland, they say the same old thing: "Oh I thought it was going to be like Superbad but it wasn't...it was more of a dark comedy." Well whoop-de-doo. Firstly, it wasn't "dark". Secondly, of course it's not Superbad and it wasn't written as that kind of a comedy. It was the same director, but that doesn't mean you can blame him because it wasn't "Superbad 2". Go ahead and say the marketing lead you astray but don't put the blame on the movie itself. Film industry is a business in case anyone forgot, so if a movie like Superbad did great and moviegoers want to see more like it, then of course the producers are going to market movies like it, even if they're not at all the same. And then you're going to walk out dissapointed and tell everyone how much you disliked it.

I think director Greg Mottola did a good job and I wouldn't classify him as a purely "comedic" director. So he did Superbad and a few episodes of Arrested Development, fine, but that doesn't mean he can't make something dramatic too.

I liked Adventureland a lot. It felt very real and thankfully didn't involve the likes of the overrated and overplayed Michael Cera, Jonah Hill, or Seth Rogan... which, ironically, was "fresh" to me, considering that's how they're marketed as. I don't think Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig were just cameos, I think they had plenty of screen time and they were great in their scenes. They were supporting characters for comedic relief...it's nothing new. The real story was about the kid. If you watch it for his story, then it's a great coming-of-age movie about his angst, confusion, and love in the best summer of his teenage years.

A Trio of Trailers

Today was a day for trailers apparently! Three trailers were released today and they all look pretty good. We brought you a story earlier this week about the Duplass Brother's and their new film Cyrus, showing at Sundance this week. Today, they released a trailer for the film and it looks pretty good. I'm sure this will be their  break out film:



The next trailer is a redband trailer for a movie called Hot Tub Time Machine. The jury is still out on this one, it looks like it could be pretty good but I'm skeptical:



This final trailer is awesome! Its supper trippy and really weird. It's for Spike Jonze new short film called Im Here. Check it out, its pretty cool:



What do ya'll think of these trailers?

Toy Story 3!

by Matthew Samuel Frazier

Apparently, the word for 2010 is "installment," and yet this one may be one of the most anticipated. Open up your toy chest and dust off your favorite one because "Toy Story" is back for film #3 and its in 3D! Seemingly growing up with us, the once starry eyed Andy has grown into a college bound teenager who no longer has a need for cowboy Woody, Space Ranger Buzz, and the assortment of other toys that took him through his glory years (Andy will probably need to re-evaluate his choices when he encounters freshman year finals week).

Tossed away from Andy's life, the toys are now faced with the dilemma of an army of slobbery, unmedicated toddlers in day-care. Perhaps this film will be more of a horror...

In all reality, this movie has the potential to make audience members laugh, cry, and remember the glory days of youth. The return to simplicity this movie has leads it to being a classic.

...My Pizza Planet alien and I will be waiting eagerly.

American Splendor

by Travis

1/4 peels

Well, to be fair, I didn't even finish this movie because I disliked it so much. Maybe I missed a great ending, but I very seriously doubt it. In fact, I don't even care. The movie had no impact on me, at all. It had good reviews and maybe with a huge STREEETCH I can see why, with Paul Giammati in it doing a decent job and a fairly original screenplay. It's setup so that the real Harvey Pecker narrates the movie and talks occasionally in an interview-style, sometimes poking fun at this-and-that in the actual movie. I find him really annoying and the cuts between the movie and his blabbing quite distracting, taking you out of the movie literally and emotionally. It's almost disrespectful to the actors, not allowing them to fully connect to the audience through the people they are portraying. I would have very much appreciated the movie being completely separate from the interview cut-away scenes... and Paul Giammati narrating it. Then, it might have been pretty good.

There's not much more I can say. Probably a good movie for the fans of the comic. It's just not my thing.


(Moving on. Next movies I'll be reviewing, sometime in the near future: The Proposition, Down by Law, The 400 Blows, Amreeka, Dancer in the Dark)

POTTER FANS UNITE!

 by Matthew Frazier

We have been graced with a trailer for the newest Harry Potter installment.



Midnight screenings and book releases of anything "Harry Potter" related were the foundations of my youth. So, naturally, when the HP7 trailer hit the Internet I sat at my computer watching it about 10 more times.

For those of you who haven't read the book, this film chronicles the adventures of the trio as they leave their Hogwarts training behind and romp around the forest in their final attempts at defeating Lord Voldemort. I could go into excruciating detail, but I wouldn't want to unleash my inner Potter nerd.

Ever since "Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone," visual effects have allowed audiences to experience a world unlike ours where reaching for something is just as easy as flicking a wand. With this book (which will be split into two movies) essentially having the most action, I most look forward to the magic floating around the screen.

Take my excitement with a grain of salt, however. I will be scrutinizing as I watch the movie to see how accurately they stick with the book. The first mistake and I will be conjuring up some torture spells.

Duplass Brothers Team Up with Jason Reitman

by Ryan

Whose heard of the Duplass Brothers, Jay and Mark?! I'm not surprised if you haven't, but if you live in Austin and/or love indie films you need to check out their work. Most notably, they have made The Puffy Chair and Baghead. They operate in a genre of indie films called mumblecore, which is highlighted by the frequent use of digital video cameras. Anyways, in their next film they team up with Jason Reitman, who has brought you most recently Up In The Air, as the producer of this project.

The film is called Jeff Who Lives At Home, a stoner quest-comedy. According to an interview the brothers did with movieweb.com, the movie features "a stoner who is looking for wood glue." They go on to say, "This was the movie we were made to make." Sounds awesome. These guys are like midas, whatever they touch turns to indieGOLD.

If your looking for a little Duplass action before Jeff Who Lives At Home comes out in early 2011, be on the look out for Cyrus which should be hitting theaters sometime late this year. The movie's cast includes Marisa Tomei, Jonah Hill, John C. Riley, and Catherine Keener, it's centered around a recently divorced man who meet's the woman of his dreams, then meets her son. Sounds pretty interesting, but if you don't want to wait add The Puffy Chair and Baghead to your Netflix queue or head down to your local movie-renting place and pick up these classics. 

MacGruber Redband Trailer!

More great updates come in today! Universal released the first trailer (via Iamrogue.com) for their upcoming SNL film MacGruber. We introduced the film, which stars Will Forte, Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig, Ryan Phillipe and Val Kilmer, to ya'll a few weeks back. It is being written by Forte, Jorma Taccone (of Lonely Island fame), and another SNL writer. We are really excited about this film and it looks awesome! Check out the trailer here:



Does this look AWESOME to anyone else?

No One Can Beat Avatar . . .

by Ryan

Last week we posted an article asking the question, 'Can Anyone Beat Avatar?' The first two wide release films of 2010 were unable to match Avatar numbers and this past weekend saw two more wide releases. I placed my bets on The Book of Eli as the possible film to dethrone the big blue men and I would have gone into shock if The Spy Next Door came anywhere close to the top of the chart. However, with the long weekend, I didn't think anyone would be able to topple Avatar.

Now that we can look back on the weekend numbers, it looks like my prediction was correct. Avatar stands atop the box office with over $54 million in revenue, beating The Book of Eli by nearly $16 million! With this weekend, the worldwide revenue for Avatar is $1,637,262,209  and the total domestic revenue has hit $504,868,451. Thats just about $29 million less than The Dark Knight's total gross and about $97 million short of the all time grossing film, Titanic.

You might be saying, "So what? There's no way its going to reach $600 million." The beauty about Avatar is not just the money, its how long it has been in theaters. Believe it or not, Avatar has only been in theaters for about 4.5 weeks. It took 33 weeks for The Dark Knight to reach #2 all time and 41 weeks for Titanic to reach #1. At the pace Avatar is moving, it should only take 2 to 3 weeks to reach #1 of all time.

I would consider posing my question again for this weekend, but the prospects don't look good. Films being released this weekend include: Tooth Fairy, Legion, and Extraordinary Measures. Maybe movie goers will turnout this weekend to see The Book of Eli again, the only film that stands a chance, again.

How do you feel about Avatar possibly reaching #1 within the next month?

Man On Wire

reviewed by Travis

3.5 /4 banana peels

It was dubbed "The Artistic Crime of the Century" by Time Magazine. On August 7th, 1974, French high-wire artist Phillipe Petit, walked between the two Wold Trade Center towers on a 450-pound cable for roughly an hour before he was taken into custody. During his adventure, citizens gathered around on the streets of New York City, squinting, to see this small black figure of Petit seemingly floating in the space between the two towers. But what's really awe-inspiring is that what Petit saw from there...was his and his alone. And that's what makes it "artistic" to me, to combat any (probably jealous) critics who think of it as just some daredevil stunt. Later, when repeatedly being asked "Why?" by reporters and journalists, he was dumbfounded and just answered, "I see three oranges and I juggle. I see a wire and I walk." There was no answer to "why?". It was just something the man loved to do, something he had aspired to, and had accomplished.

Through his own words and those of his loyal co-conspirators, this documentary takes a glance at Petit's background, his passion and obsession with the high-wire, and his dream of walking between the WTC towers. The documentary also looks into the months of planning that went into the WTC act and spends some time focusing on the night before, as Petit and his team setup...along with all the troubles that they faced there. 

What really grabs your attention in this documentary, other than the score by Michael Nyman, is Petit's own eccentric nature and freethinking spirit. 

The pacing of the documentary is near perfect, switching back and forth between reenactments, interviews, and old home footage of Petit and his team. It's suspenseful, funny, beautiful, and uplifting...all in a good balance.

The music made it even better. In fact, I bought the soundtrack almost immediately after watching it. I'd recommend listening to Fish Beach, Time Lapse, An Eye for Optical Theory, and Memorial from the album (if you enjoy movie soundtracks, maybe I'm the only one). See if you like it. Obviously, it might sound more interesting if you can relate it to the scenes in 'Man On Wire' like I do.

The film won the Oscar for best documentary last year. I figured I'd give it a try...and I'm really glad I did. It's one of those documentaries pretty much anybody would enjoy and/or be inspired by.

Miss the Golden Globes?

If you missed the Golden Globes, here is a run-down of some of the major winners:

Best Motion Picture- Drama
Avatar

Best Motion Picture- Comedy or Musical
The Hangover

Best Performance by an Actor- Drama
Jeff Bridges- Crazy Heart

Best Performance by an Actress- Drama
Sandra Bullock- The Blind Side

Best Performance by an Actor- Comedy or Musical
Robert Downey Jr.- Sherlock Holmes

Best Performance by an Actress- Comedy or Musical
Meryl Streep- Julie & Julia

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Christoph Waltz- Inglorious Basterds

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Mo'Nique- Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire

Best Director- Motion Picture
James Cameron- Avatar

Best Screenplay- Motion Picture
Up In The Air

Best Animated Film
UP

by Ryan


Overall, I would have to agree with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. The Hangover was the best comedy of the year, will anyone dispute that? Robert Downey Jr. and Christoph Waltz are both deserving of their awards as well, considering they both made the films they played in. UP is easily top 10 film of the year, arguably the best film, and should receive a nod from the Oscars in a few months.

There are a few awards I take a different stance on. Best Motion Picture- Drama went to Avatar, beating out The Hurt Locker, Inglorious Basterds, and Precious. The previous two easily beat Avatar in every sense of a film, except technological advancement and I attribute this award to critics still having a hard on about the visuals Cameron gave us. I hate to continue bashing Avatar because it is a good movie and the visuals are amazing, but its not better than the unique and exceptional Inglorious and Hurt Locker. So, when James Cameron won Best Director- Motion Picture beating out Katheryn Bigelow, Quentin Tarantino, Clint Eastwood, and Jason Reitman, I couldn't help and wonder if the HFPA felt obligated to give Cameron the award because it took him 10 years to direct his film.

The last award I question is Best Screenplay- Motion Picture going to Up in the Air. I know most of ya'll will disagree with me, and I want to hear your argument, but I again think that either The Hurt Locker or Inglorious Basterds had a better script. I'd even try and argue Avatar had a better script.

The Golden Globes are a major precursor and often signal what is to come at The Oscars. There is no doubt that Avatar winning Best Picture Drama has drivin' it stock up and over the early front runner, The Hurt Locker. No doubt the Oscar's will be interesting.

How do you think The Golden Globes went?

Review: The Book of Eli

Reviewed by Matt & Ryan


Ryan: 2/4 banana peels
Matt: 2/4 banana peels


We really wanted to give this film 3/4 peels, it was really good, but there were a few flaws that could not be over looked. So, lets begin with the good stuff. The pacing of the first 80 minutes was brilliant, it began slow and built up to what was sure to be a huge climax. The Hughes Brothers conducted the direction of the film with great ease and a cocky nature. Epic visuals of the post-apocalyptic world were stunning and filled out the film nicely. For those who play video games, the world depicted in the film is eerily similar to that of Fall Out 3. Denzel Washington does well as a stoic, Bible-carrying sword-wielding ass kicker, and Mila Kunis has really come a long way as an actress. Gary Oldman plays the villain vying for the mysterious book, and steals the show. He is everything a villain should be, ruthless, arrogant, and fearful, the type of performance that really makes you connect to his adversary. We both actually feared him and agreed that that was the performance the Sherlock Holmes could have really used from Mark Strong.

Now for the bad stuff. The movie runs 118 minutes which is around the average time movies run and doesn't approach the run times of Avatar (162 minutes), There Will Be Blood (158 minutes), or Pulp Fiction (148 minutes). With that, it seemed as though the Hughes Bros. didn't want to eclipse the 120 minute mark, as if that would be the lynch pin in whether or not the film would be a success. The last 30 minutes were rushed and many questions were left wide open or not even acknowledged. The film really could have used an extra 30 minutes to take the same time and patience the rest of the movie received. Those 30 minutes could have sealed the deal and fill out many of the plot lines in what up until the last 40 minutes was an impeccable and meaningful movie. The film tried to discuss many deep and thoughtful issues but wouldn't take the time to actually discuss the issues. This made it seem shallow rather than a vessel for discussion. Really, it was the ending that ruined the movie. Everything about it was bad.

Now, you might be saying "Really, the ending is why your rating it so bad?" Yes, that is! If you had seen the film you would know what we are saying. It draws you in, keeps you on the edge, and then kicks you in the balls. It will engage you, then kill everything. There is a distinct point at which you will know when the movie is about to go downhill. The end is really disappointing, really, really, disappointing. Malcolm McDowell (A Clockwork Orange, Bolt, Caligula), an incredible actor, showed up at the end and never really did anything. I want to call it a cameo and not worry about it, but he's in it too long. It's actually really confusing as to why they would bring in an actor like McDowell and waste his talent. This shows that the Hughes Bros. really had a plan for the ending but realized they were at a point where they HAD to end the film and threw that plan out the window. Why else would they bring in an actor of the caliber of McDowell? The end is really disappointing, really, really, disappointing.

Has anyone else seen The Book of Eli? What were your thoughts about the film overall and, more specifically, the ending?

More ghosts, more busting, less disappointment!

By: Matthew Samuel Frazier


My experiences with movies that go on beyond a sequel have not been pleasant. Hopefully I don’t stand alone as I wince in pain when the Scary Movie and Saw franchises announce their “latest and greatest” movies will soon be hitting theatres. Sometimes, the industry just does not know when to let go of a franchise.
That being said, however, 2010 brings around the revival of a movie that has been considered a hit for decades. The film that had 80’s moviegoers asking, “Who ya gonna call?” is back for a third installment and looking promising! ABC News is reporting that Canadian director Ivan Reitman, who has been involved in the previous two Ghostbuster films, has come aboard for the third movie and “hopes to start shooting it this next year” (some of Reitman’s notable credits include Ghostbusters, Dave, Twins, Kindergarten Cop and Junior.)
In addition to directing the preceding Ghostbusters, Reitman also is bringing back members of the original cast to reprise their roles; most notably Bill Murray and Sigourney Weaver.
As a child of the 90’s, I was a bit late getting on the bandwagon of this movie, but the story featured is one that, though somewhat cheesy, can be appreciated to this day. With the technology of film today, I look forward to seeing the special effects aspect the most.
Is there anyone else out there willing to place their faith back into filmmakers working on movies that exceed their sequel? Hopefully the film itself won’t be the thing that is busted.

Kathryn Bigelow Goes Back to the Middle East

by Ryan

Anyone heard of Kathryn Bigelow? No? Have you heard about The Hurt Locker? If not, your about to hear a lot more about out with the awards season about to heat up. It's poised to win Best Picture at the Golden Globes and nominated for an Oscar. Kathryn Bigelow is the director who brought the world The Hurt Locker and K19: The Widow Maker.

Anyways, the reason we're talking about Kathryn Bigelow is because she's just been attached to a movie called "Held by the Taliban". Which is based on a NY Times article titled "7 Months, 10 Days in Captivity" about a reporter who was captured by the Taliban in Afghanistan. To me, that already sounds awesome without Bigelow. Given her expertise in nitty-gritty war films, though, this movie is already on my top watch list.

I loved The Hurt Locker, I would be A-Ok if were to win best pic at the Oscars. You can even read my review of the film here. This movie will take Bigelow back to the region she became fond of in her last film.

JUST KIDDING! New reports from MTV Movies state that Kathryn Bigelow really isn't attached to the film. Damn, cause I was really excited. So, now we can hope and wish for this post to come to fruition!


Anyone else think this sounds awesome?