TDKR Blu Ray

The Dark Knight Returns full animated movie came out today on BluRay and DVD.  Originally split into two parts, this version is the full thing, and it is awesome!  An incredibly faithful and damn near spot on adaptation of Frank Miller’s most famous of works.  The social commentary, the violence, the art style of the actual comic are all in tact.  It has Robocop himself as the voice of Batman, which would seem ideal, but honestly his delivery is almost completely monotone.  Whether he is threatening somebody or chit chatting with Alfred it is all one tone, a gravely tone, but leaves much to be desired.  Should have stuck with Michael Ironside from the short they made back in the animated series days.  The rest of the cast is great and again just a quality animated film all around.  Check it!

Get it here

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DP9RYDY/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1MHP6VU55YXLD&coliid=I6V0I4QCI6RRH

Netflix Night Vol. 1

This little column will have some reviews of Netflix gems I’ve found, as well as some recommendations, and newly added flicks you may not know about.  

Side Effects (dir. Steven Soderbergh, 2013) 

Big Soderbergh fan, the guy has done everything from commercial giants such as the Ocean’s series, curious remakes like Solaris, super-indie Bubble, the ballsy (get it?) Haywire, and the all around great Out of Sight.  Always something different and while not always great, never boring.  Side Effects is one of the good ones, and his (supposedly) last theatrical film, as he has threatened to retire like 12 times, but maybe for good now.  The film is about a young woman dealing with depression and the fallout after her prescribed medications have shocking side effects. (Hey look!  The title)  Definitely a fun watch that is more entertaining and surprising than the description would lead on.

B

Other good Netflix finds

• Mary and Max - awesome stop motion film, funny, sad, and good weird.
• North Shore - 80’s surfing movie just like Thrashin’, Airborn, and like 20 other movies about an outsider dude with sports talent that falls for a local girl.  Somehow he must overcome the other locals who hate him for no reason, and whatever sports competition he must win in the end.  It’s great!
• Luther - cool BBC series starring Idris Elba as a clever detective dealing with his own shit while trying to solve cases.  Like sherlock but black and less fantastical.
• G-Men from Hell - not great but based off Michael Allred’s comic book just sans Madman (why!?!).  Worth a look if you are a fan.
• Justice League Unlimited - for the nerds.  Outside of the original Batman series this is the best of DC animated series.  Great stories, tons of characters, all while having a great overall season arch.  Great stuff if you dig cartoons and comics.

New stuff on Netflix

• The Central Park Five
• Room 237
• Fringe (the entire series now!)
• Derek
• DREDD (if you haven’t watched it, you should.  It’s great!)

Next up: (one I haven’t seen but will soon!) ANTIVIRAL (Cronenberg’s son made a movie)

P.S. Louie is such a good fucking show!  Watch Season 3!!!

REVIEW: GRAVITY

Patience is a virtue, but waiting fucking sucks.  

It has been seven years since Alfonso Cuaron's CHILDREN OF MEN punched us in the babymaker (<see what i did there?) with a reminder of what great filmmaking can be, both in terms of engaging and intelligent story, as well as incredible technical execution.  Since then there have been FOUR Fast and the Furious sequels!!!!  And now ONE new Alfonso Cuaron film; GRAVITY.  This isn't to rag on the new series giving Jason Voorhees a run for his money in the most sequels ever category.  I honestly have nothing wrong with a dumb fun action romp that blitzes my brain for 90 exciting minutes, and there in lies the humorous comparison.  That is exactly what GRAVITY is, 90 minutes of fun, exciting, dramatic, tense spectacle.  This is his version of an action movie, a film more about the journey and theatrical experience than overall story, the difference is we had to wait seven years for it. The question is was it worth it? 

It is the slow cooker verses the microwave.  One takes half the time and is enjoyably edible, but the other is worth all the waiting, because it tastes a million times better.  

In short......WORTH IT.

Fuck reviews just go see it!

A-

$16 Worth of Gravity

So, just saw Alfonso Cauron's Gravity and spent the extra bread (< a hip word for money...in like 1982) for the dollar store ray ban 3D glasses.   Worth it.  I honestly don't enjoy 3D movies, ever since the glasses stopped being fashion accessories for Back to the Future characters it just hasn't spun me.  Always feels like a waste of money afterwards.  However I had no regret dropping the SIXTEEN DOLLARS (that is insane) for that 3rd dimension, as this whole flick was more about experience than story.  There is a single tear drop that is worth the price in my opinion, but overall it was a great use of the gimmick and I'd encourage you (lone reader) to fork over the dough (they really liked to use food in reference to money back in the day huh?) if you plan to see this film.

Also, this is one to catch in a theatre, 3D or not, I just can't imagine it being the same on a smaller screen without the impressive sound and scale.

Review wise, let me just say it was great, however it is no Children of Men, if we are for some reason comparing it to the director's prior work.  I'll add further thoughts once I've had the chance to sleep on it, but if you had any apprehension about dropping the cash on it....don't.  $16!!!  + no regrets = great film.

Beta Version Up and Running!

The movie blog I don't know what to call or what to do with is up and running in the beta phase!  Expect much to change and often, but in the meantime here is something to give you an idea of the drivel to expect here lone reader...

2001 is playing at the Oriental Theater Saturday night at 10:30!  It is one of those films I have on a very short list of "MUST SEE IN A THEATER!" before I never die.  Saw JAWS earlier this year, and now this!  If you have never seen the film you should smoke a huge bowl and give it a shot, because it is a trip, and also one of the most visually bitching movies I've ever seen.  It's easy to forget this predates Star Wars by almost 10 years and looks ridiculously impressive, and one of the few movies ever filmed on 70mm.  Check it.  MONOLITH!!!

TESTING

Halloween Month!  Awesome Poster for one of the most fun/awful 3D films in existance.