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!

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?

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!

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.

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!

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.