THE FIRST PURGE :: HORROR :: 084

The First Purge (2018)

Let me start by saying that the concept of The Purge as a horror film is brilliant! However, this fourth version to franchise lacked believability on numerous occasions! Even if you are a fan of The Purge: Election Year (2016) or any of the ones before this one, I think you’ll find a plethora of faults in this particular film.

PLOT
The New Founding Fathers decide to enact an experiment on New York’s Staten Island; no laws for 12 hours. Even though no one has to stay, money is given to those that do stay on the island during the purge and even more so to those that participate.

THE CAST

The film’s cast only has a handful of recognizable faces: Y’lan Noel (Insecure), Luna Lauren Velez (Dexter) and Marisa Tomei (My Cousin Vinny).

Marisa plays the scientist that came up with the idea of a purge and was able to turn the whole Staten Island into her grande experiment.

Y’lan plays drug mogul Dmitri, who when things go bad, decides to protect his ex-girlfriend (who he continues to have feelings for) and her troubled, younger brother Isaiah (played by Jovian Wade).

THE REVIEW
The story is set as a prequel and is compelling in concept. Though it lends itself to great potential, especially when watching previews, The First Purge instantly falls apart when you start to question the reality created.

With 75% of Staten Island’s population being white, the film portrays the borough as an island filled with a majority of poverty-stricken minorities (which isn’t remotely accurate to the total population living on the island). Though I recognize the intent was to show how minorities are targeted for political gain (especially since the only Caucasians in the film played the antagonist and the hero was an African American drug dealer), I do think there could have been a better way to portray this without taking away facts.

Obviously many things will cause people to opt for a life of crime. Poverty does create a dire need to make one’s life better. In this case, a sink overflowing in Isaiah’s home was the “final straw” that motivates him turn to streets only to encounter a psychopath named Skeletor (played by Rotimi Paul).

The wife and I do not understand the purpose of Skeletor other than to antagonize Isaiah to leave his home during the purge. In the beginning of the film, when interviewed by scientists, he seemed like a demented individual that belonged in the psych ward. However, on the streets, the neighborhood referred to him as a crackhead. I have never seen a drug-induced individual act in the manner that he does with such purpose and clarity. Thus, making his character an excessive and unneeded addition to the story.

One major sour spot for us was when Dmitri fights (alone) against a group of people, using kung fu-ish movements and shooting a gun better than any special forces soldier. When I saw this “super soldier” choreography in a sweaty, white tank top, my mind immediately jumped to Die Hard (1988). Die Hard on steroids. The likelihood that a drug dealer would be a master at martial arts and have those kind of skills with an automatic weapon is not believable without an authentic backstory – which the story lacked.

It’s hard to say who was most at fault with this picture – director Gerard McMurray, writer James DeMonaco, or any number of people that molded this film into the disappointment it was. But once you dismiss all of these glaring abnormalities, the film can, but only at times, be entertaining.

What did you guys think? We’d love to know.

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HOCUS POCUS :: FANTASY:: 083

HOCUS POCUS (1993)

The year 1993 was the time for making terrific movies and according to IMDB, the Halloween classic Hocus Pocus was the most popular of them all! Listed among other classics like Schindler’s List and Mrs. Doubtfire… Hocus Pocus (directed by Kenny Ortega) rose to the top – which surprised me.

PLOT
A trio of 17th century witches are brought back to life in 1993 when a teenage virgin lights the magical, black-flame candle. To save the lives of the community, the protagonists must find a way to reverse the spell and send these evil spell-doers back to the abyss.

CHARACTERS

The Sanderson sisters (played by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy) were absolute magic together (pun intended). You had Winifred the leader and master sorceress (Midler), Sarah the ditsy and boy-crazy (Parker), and Mary (Najimy) the witch with a bloodhound ability to sniff out children.

One trivia that stood out was that the lead kid role of Max Dennison – the Salem transplant from sunny California- (played by Omri Katz) was originally cast for Leonardo DiCaprio. However, Leo turned it down to star alongside Johnny Depp in the film What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993). But had Leonardo DeCaprio played the role of in Hocus Pocus, I am fairly certain he wouldn’t have gotten his Academy Award nomination, so…. well-played Leo!

The performance from the rest of the main cast was subpar. To my surprise, Max’s younger, eight-year-old sister Dani (Thora Birch) was the most natural actor of the bunch (excluding the witches) – though her sobbing could have been worked on.

Sean Murrey, who plays Thackery, was horribly bad. However, similarly to The Room, his overacting was forgivable as it gave the movie a comedic touch for the wife and me. Additionally, the performances may have been overlooked because of the intended target audience – children.

THE REVIEW
Since the first day of October, social media was flooded with people of all ages recounting their evenings watching Hocus Pocus. As the Disney film leads on the popular scale (ahead of movies like Jurassic Park), it is obvious nostalgia is the reason for its success. Nonetheless, after watching this holiday-themed classic, it’s pretty easy to see how Hocus Pocus is a great choice for family-friendly entertainment.

My wife did gripe about the length of the movie as the storyline was stretched thin. Once the group of kids rally together, after what they think is the end of their horrors, the witches find a way back into their lives. It was quite unnecessary to us, but let us know below if you disagree in the comments below!

In conclusion, Hocus Pocus garnered more of a cult following than any fortune-teller could foretell. Though you can clearly identify the age of the film from its special effects, theatrical acting, and adventurous storyline, who can fault a children’s movie in the 90s; especially when it takes you back to those trick-or-treat nights as a child. I certainly can’t! But alas, I must critique this film objectively as possible, so I tried to analyze it with my little boy hat on. I hope I did it justice.

Do you agree with my review?

Yes or no… please let us know in the comments.

• As a little Easter Egg… spot Doug Jones (from The Shape of Water) as Billy Butherson, the man brought back from the dead.

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GHOST PROTOCOL :: ACTION :: 078

Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol (2011)
Brad Bird (better known for his writing, especially in animation) produces a near-perfect action movie – of which I enjoyed so much I deem it a clear representation what a 10 bear claw movie should be.

THE PLOT
After the IMF is blamed for the bombing of the Kremlin, the President of the United States invokes Ghost Protocol and shits down the organization. Ethan and his team must go rogue in order to both clear their name and to stop the real terrorists from starting nuclear war.

THE REVIEW
In my opinion Ghost Protocol hits all the marks of a great, nay, SUPERB action thriller. I am very particular when it comes to judging movies – especially action movies. I enjoy the fantasy of it all, but I like things to be grounded in at least some realism, unless it involves superheroes.

In the beginning, we meet an IMF agent Hanaway (played by actor Josh Holloway from Lost) in a smoothly executed opening to the film. Then we find that Ethan Hunt has been spending his time in a Russian prison and when it’s time to bust out we get a prison break that excels on many levels – realistic fighting, pace, tension…and of course, humor (Benji is involved).

Mission Impossible is not without it’s exotic locations – this one being Dubai, Mumbai, Prague, and Moscow (to name the main ones). The most memorable scene, by far, is the climbing of the skyscraper Burj Khalifa (Armani Hotel) in Dubai, UAE, a tower that was inaugurated only a year before the movie was shot. As it stands, the Khalifa tower stands 2,722 feet, and is tallest standing structure in the world (since 2008). For a movie, and the way it was shot, makes anyone remotely scared of heights question Ethan Hunt’s sanity.

As in the previous movies, Tom Cruise did the majority of his own stunts, including the skyscraper scenes. This was to help ensure that director Brad Bird had more options with camera angles.

I would say that there are two breakout performances amongst the lower-billed stars; actors Miraj Grbic (who plays Bogdan) and Lea Seydoux (who plays Sabine Moreau). Bogdan is a Russian prisoner that was a friend to Ethan.  His look is rather strange and he offers a bit of comedic relief at times. And then there’s the stone-cold, beautiful French assassin playing Sabine Moreau (seen below). She is certainly a sight to behold and has a great fight scene with actress Paula Patton’s character, Jane.

Were there any downsides to the movie? Well, there were only one or two weak scenes that I would scoff about… BUT they are not so big as to lose a bear claw!

Is Ghost Protocol your favorite of the series?

Rogue Nation… coming next!

Photo courtesy of CineMaterial.com

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UNSANE Review :: HORROR :: 073

Unsane (2018)
Steven Soderbergh’s first horror/thriller film covered some new territory, but it could have been much better. Filmed entirely on an iPhone 7 Plus and shot in only 10 days, it gave plenty room for error. Though conceptually interesting, the movie occasionally crossed from interesting to unbelievable. And though it was done quickly, with a low budget of $1.2 million (according to The Times, UK), and done using an iPhone app called FiLMic Pro… a question arises of “was that really necessary?”

THE PLOT
This is the story of a woman named Sawyer Valentini (played by The Crown’s Claire Foy) who is involuntarily admitted to a psychiatric ward following a seamlessly standard and uneventful counseling session. While detained, something else emerges, but is it real or just on her head?

As you may agree, the story is quite unique and interesting. Problems with the film arise quickly however as the the psychiatric protocol, setting, living space, behavior penalties, security, et cetera are elements that are just not based in reality.

The rush that the cast must have been under played a role in its mediocrity, however the story by Jonathan Bernstein and James Greer (and an extremely poor ending in my opinion) was the major downfall. Claire Foy, an English actress performed great at times, but her American accent was weak and her character’s actions were questionable at times. Claire shared the screen with: Joshua Leonard, Jay Pharaoh, Juno Temple and Amy Irving – all of which did a decent job.

Again, I feel like the story could have been much better and because of this, it’s a far cry from winning any awards. This does not stop me from wanting to see Claire Foy! As accent/dialect coach Erik Singer has said, most of the time when actors or actresses aren’t able to quite “pull it off”, it’s due to not enough rehearsal/preparation time. I don’t know the specifics but I can surely guess this is the reason.

What did you think of this one?

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A note from Dialect Coach:

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THE LION IN WINTER :: DRAMA :: 072

THE LION IN WINTER (1968)

“What family doesn’t have its ups and downs?”

-Eleanor of Aquitaine

Make no mistake, this film is one of the finest pieces of writing in film history, full of snappy remarks that can only be delivered by the legendary Peter O’Toole (who has played Henry II twice) and the always amazing, Katherine Hepburn. So enjoyable are these riffs that I’ll post several of their quotes in this review.  The first thing that you need to know is that this film features a full cast of seasoned and award-winning actors; six of which were alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London.

 “Well, what shall we hang… the holly, or each other?”

-Henry II

THE PLOT

It’s Christmas of 1183 and Henry II must declare a successor to the Plantagenet throne. He invites his surviving sons Richard, Geoffrey and John (played by Anthony Hopkins, John Castle and Nigel Terry), his exiled wife (Katherine Hepburn) and the King of France Phillip II (Timothy Dalton) to the party. He refuses to make a choice (knowing that each of his sons have glaring “kingly” flaws). They force him to choice in a series of arguments, plots and mental chess that will cause any of today’s Game of Thrones fans to cast a wide smile.

My favorite aspect of this movie was the banter between King Henry and his bride Eleanor.  The writing is so superb that if you flipped to any page of the script you’d find a remarkable and witty line. Equally enjoyable is the knowledge that this back-and-forth continued when the cameras were not rolling between O’Toole and Hepburn. An interesting note is that, despite the mutual respect for one another, Hepburn’s name for O’Toole was “pig” – quite on par with her character. In their own words:

O’Toole: “She is terrifying. It is sheer masochism working with her. She has been sent by some dark fate to nag and torment me.” Her reply: “Don’t be so silly. We are going to get on very well. You are Irish, and you make me laugh. In any case, I am on to you, and you to me.”

But in fact, O’Toole and Hepburn had known each other for years before this production and O’Toole actually named his daughter Kate O’Toole after her.

Another aspect that must be applauded is the wonderful direction by Anthony Harvey. This was only the second film he directed by it won him an Academy Award nomination and a Director’s Guild Award. In addition, the art department, costumes, and music (composer John Barry) truly placed you in the time that was 1183 A.D. Britain. Besides a second consecutive win by Katherine Hepburn, James Goldman (Screenwriter) and John Barry (Composer) won Oscars.

This amazing film, adapted from Goldman’s witty 1966 Broadway play is nothing short of magnificent. It truly is a cinematic masterpiece in this writer’s opinion and is most certainly a film for any avid play or history lover.

If you have a different thought… or just a comment on the film itself, we’d love to hear it! Please comment below and let us know what you thought.

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Trailer:

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THE VOICES Review :: COMEDY :: 070

The Voices (2014)The Voices was movie that flew under the radar, and had me wondering “How the hell did I ever miss this!” It’s a comedy about a likable, yet socially awkward guy with a few psychological disorders – the funniest of which are his conversations with dog Boscoe, and foul-talking cat Mr. Whiskers.

Directed by Marjane Strapi and written by Michael R. Perry, The Voices is a must-have for any fan of dark comedies. It’s strange, hilarious and wonderfully acted. Ryan Reynolds, who everyone knows now as “Deadpool”, delivers an amazing performance as a Norman Bates type that just may go down in history as the most likable serial murderer ever.

Typical of a Canadian….
(As his character is putting his first victim “out of her misery”)
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry”

Ryan voices six different voices, with the main ones being his two house pets. The insulting cat is by far a fan favorite as Ryan uses a Scottish accent (based on a lifelong friend of his). The dog Boscoe, voiced in a deep southern accent, produces a couple of big laughs, one of my favorites being directed towards Mr. Whiskers:

“You heard that? I earned the right to be called a good boy.”

While dark comedies are not for everyone and though the darkness may at times be too dark for some, it was a home run for the wife and I. It’ll certainly be a movie I’ll be watching again soon.

What did you think of it?

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I AM ELIZABETH SMART :: DRAMA :: 068

I AM ELZABETH SMART (2017)

I wanted to offer this review because, as a self-defense teacher and as a film afficianado, I feel I am compelled to give my take on it. The importance of this movie is clear – to let people know how crazy the world can be, how fear overrides a lot of your decision-making, and to tell the unique story of Elizabeth Smart. 

 

This movie was done well in terms of acting with the two leads (Alana Boden and Skeet Ulrich) looking almost identically as the people they set out to play. Kudos on casting! Undoubtedly you’ll read reviews that viewers had problems with one thing – the clips of the actual Elizabeth Smart speaking about the experience during particular harrowing scenes. The problem is that it comes across as cheesy, stops the story cold, and seems like she is trying to convince the viewer that what she did was the ONLY thing that she could have done. I didn’t personally think harshly on this, however I didn’t care how it interrupted the story and flow of the film. If I were the one making this, I would have added her remarks (and even interviews with her family and past footage) at the end.

While the movie (which is good for a Lifetime movie) follows Elizabeth at every moment, it would have been nice to see to what extent the rest of the world was invested in finding her. It was certainly worth a watch, and didn’t disappoint – both me and my wife just thought there were elements that could have been done better. 

 

Movies like this about survival and perseverance should be made and certainly seen.

What did you think about the movie? Leave your comments below

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MORE INFO

For more information on Elizabeth Smart and the wonderful work that she is doing in regards to issues of violence, you can find her at ElizabethSmart.Com

She’s on Twitter @ElizSmart

Her Foundation: The Elizabeth Smart Foundation

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FAR NORTH Review :: DRAMA :: 067

Far North (2007)

Asif Kapadia’s film Far North (2007) was an interesting watch to say the least. The story is a unique one and (filmed in Norway) provided a setting and culture that many haven’t seen on the silver screen. When you pick up this title you’ll see that it’s a crime drama… therefore you know that something sinister happens on the ice, but what exactly, you’re not likely to guess.

PLOT
The plot of this story involves two women, Saiva (Michelle Yeoh) and Anja (Michelle Krusiec) living, presumably in the Arctic region of the Soviet Union (date unknown). Saiva finds a soldier named Loki (Sean Bean) frozen and near death. Their simple life is altered dramatically after this event.

THE REVIEW
One thing that you are able to recognize right away is that this isn’t your typical Hollywood film. And though this is something I typically enjoy, the pace was a bit slow and the information restrictive. While you learn that a shaman warned Saiva that harm will come to those around her, you learn little else – and nothing about Anja. You also learn next to nothing about Loki, which you think would have come up during long, cold nights.

While the movie was enjoyable, my main gripe is that there could have been more to the story and a lot more that you could have learned from the characters. Even the ending just drops off without a sense of closure. You might be wondering why I’d give this film a seven – relatively high mark for a film I have such a deep gripe about? The answer for this is that while there is a lot more that could have been added, deepening the story, there really isn’t anything else to see fault in.

Well…. one more… but that would be giving away a major spoiler. You’ll just have to see it for yourself!

Let us know what you thought of it in the comments.

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