Recent viewings

[Trevor]

A martial arts master eats the meal based on the diet of his next opponent so he can understand and defeat them.

I misread that: I thought I read "A martial arts master eats his next opponent" 

[Rev. Powell]

A martial arts master eats the meal based on the diet of his next opponent so he can understand and defeat them.

I misread that: I thought I read "A martial arts master eats his next opponent" 

Would have made a better movie.

[Rev. Powell]

SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD (2010): Slacker bassist Scott Pilgrim must defeat seven evil exes in order to win the girl of his dreams. An alternate reality comedy that feels like something Monty Python would have come up with if they'd been raised on video games and graphic novels instead of "The Goon Show" and Oscar Wilde. Liked this even better on a re-watch than I did the first time around. 4.5/5.

[JaseSF]

L.A.P.D.: To Serve and Protect (2001): Two cops new to the L.A. scene try and fit in but soon discover that their would-be new buddies are involved in shady, illegal, and highly questionable dealings. One of the cops named Sam Steele (Marc Singer), nicknamed "Cowboy" finds himself eventually roped into their organization while his partner Wade (Steve Bacic) tries to stay out of it but finds himself involved simply by keeping quiet, maintaining a code of silence. Eventually they learn that these dirty cops have connections in higher places than they ever even imagined and soon find their lives in danger from their very own colleagues.

This action film was pretty poorly done. There are some high impact shoot 'em up scenes but these prove rather unconvincing in terms of guys missing one another way too often and rarely does anyone aim to take out a villain with a head shot. These though do provide some excitement. Also the way Singer's character gets roped into corruption so easily and unexpectedly gave this a surprising noir element at times. I did like Singer and his character in this (but this may be simply because I'm a fan of the guy). This film overall is very dark in its subject matter and certainly doesn't paint the L.A.P.D. in a positive light. It hints at corruption at the highest levels and suggests some of those employed to capture great evil are themselves practicing it. The worst thing about this film though is at times it looks and feels like some bizarre softcore porno or cop frat party, particularly when Singer hooks up with Kimberly (Kiara Hunter) and almost all the women who aren't cops in this look like hookers, strippers, and porn stars. Also the surprise dark twist just comes across as particularly nasty and pretty much kills any truly sympathetic character in the film although it does prove the basis for the eventual revenge Western style showdown between Singer and the corrupt cops played by Michael Madsen, Wayne Crawford, and David Palffy. Dennis Hopper also appears as Captain Elsworth but he's pretty much wasted here used just to give corny unconvincing speeches. Had potential but never really lives up to it. Just kind of leaves one feeling a bit icky after watching it. ** out of ***** stars.

[dean]

I caught The Babadook the other day. Really good horror flick with a touching story. I like that the child is like an actual child: sometimes adorable, sometimes annoying, but still more of a human character than kids in most horror movies. My only complaint is that it becomes a little too apparent towards the end that the Babadook is an allegory for something (what I shall not say, for those who haven't seen the movie).  The director doesn't exactly beat you over the head with symbolism, but it still felt like it could have been veiled a little better.  All in all, wonderful movie! 

I liked this one too: I didn't expect much, and didn't really get much [in a good, subtle-ish way], but what was there was a surprise.  I enjoyed how the constant screaming of the kid made me feel strung out so it was a pretty good way to build up the tension with simple tools.  But by god did I want to do terrible things to him.  Nails on a chalkboard that kid.

[Trevor]

A martial arts master eats the meal based on the diet of his next opponent so he can understand and defeat them.

I misread that: I thought I read "A martial arts master eats his next opponent" 

Would have made a better movie.

*Hurriedly types up a treatment for The Asylum* 

[FatFreddysCat]

"Dark Angel" aka "I Come In Peace" (1990)
I come in Peace (1990) - Domestic trailer
A lone wolf cop (Dolph Lundgren) and a dorky FBI agent (Brian Benben) take on an alien drug dealer who's sucking out human brain juices to sell as a narcotic on his home planet. Mayhem naturally ensues.
This fast, funny "B" action flick has got to be one of the explodiest movies ever made. I swear they blow something up every two minutes!

[Jack]

The Town That Dreaded Sundown (1976) - I thought this was a slasher movie but actually it's a docu-drama about a series of murders in Texarcana Texas back in 1946. A masked serial killer murders a couple of kids parked at lover's lane, the cops investigate; killer strikes again, cops investigate, etc. They never find a single clue so the investigation has no forward momentum whatsoever. The lead investigator has a personality, but it's all documentary style so there's no character development. And the ending is disappointing. Being set in 1946 I did enjoy seeing all the cool old cars and the innocent, relaxed lifestyle. 2.5/5.

[indianasmith]

When I was a kid the trailer for that movie scared the pee out of me!

[lester1/2jr]

Ides of March (2011) - The Cloonmeister produced, directed and starred in this political drama type thing. Ryan Goose is the other main guy and Evan Rachael Wood is pretty mediocre as the hotty intern. She's kind of a more respectable, less sexy Kate Hudson. This whole thing is pretty low budget and tv ish. I didn't understand what it was at first I thought it was just a straightforward account of the writer guys' time on the campaign trail w/ Howard Dean in I think 04. It's actually just a regular political story albeit with lots of I guess accurate details.

If you've ever randomly read any of Booker prize winner Ismail Kadares work the dynamics here will be very familiar: chess / power plays among the political elites in the vast and ultimately oppressive world of politics. Millions (now billions actually ) are thrown around so one person can win a job that pays 400 thousand a year. Principles are sacrificed so that people can promote candidates who they feel have good principles. You want Ron Paul to burst onto the scene and do a fourth wall break saying "isn't this crazy? Why are we doing this?"

The biggest struggle I had was that the while I'm sure the whole thing is accurate and is very cynical about the political process, it's hard to actually look at people in these campaign offices because it's just so annoying and depressing. The whole thing seems like such a revolting criminal enterprise.  As a film, it has major acting talent  including Paul Giamatti, the late Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Marisa Tomie (note perfect as scummy reporter) but it's not all that colorful, nothing where you'd be like "remember that scene in Ides of March where..." or "remember that shot of the Potomac in ides of march". It's decent as a quickie , quirky drama that is at least ambitious in showing subtle power plays and not having prolonged sex scenes and car chases and so forth.

3.75 /5

[Rev. Powell]

Ides of March (2011) -  it's not all that colorful, nothing where you'd be like "remember that scene in Ides of March where..." or "remember that shot of the Potomac in ides of march". It's decent as a quickie , quirky drama that is at least ambitious in showing subtle power plays and not having prolonged sex scenes and car chases and so forth.

3.75 /5

Funny you should say that, when I saw the title I thought "that sounds familiar," then when I read your description I thought "I remember seeing that and kind of liking it when it came out." But 4 years later I remember nothing about the plot.

[FatFreddysCat]

"Class of 1999" (1990)
Class of 1999 - Trailer

In this cyberpunk sequel to Mark Lester's cult classic "Class of 1984,"  two rival street gangs at an inner city high school must put aside their differences to battle three new "teachers" --  who are actually high tech military androids whose lesson plans include healthy doses of corporal punishment. This combo of "The Blackboard Jungle," "A Clockwork Orange" and "The Terminator" is tons of shoot'em up, blow'em up fun!

[lester1/2jr]

rev- it makes sense being what is, a labor of love of sorts. No one is gonna pay 30 dollars at one of those mega theaters to see it and art cinema fans probably not that impressed either. It's  similar to a tv series people would stream from netflix.

this was the kadare book I was thinking of in particular http://www.amazon.com/The-Successor-Novel-Ismail-Kadare/dp/1611452783

[FatFreddysCat]

"Grumpy Cat's Worst Christmas Ever" (2014)
Grumpy Cat’s Worst Christmas Ever
The sarcastic internet sensation gets her own TV movie (voiced by Aubrey Plaza of "Parks and Recreation") where she befriends a lonely 12 year old girl, foils a pair of Christmas Eve dognappers and saves her pet-shop home from financial ruin...while making snarky comments the entire time, of course. My kids loved it and I even got a few chuckles out of it.

[VenomX73]

"Grumpy Cat's Worst Christmas Ever" (2014)
Grumpy Cat’s Worst Christmas Ever
The sarcastic internet sensation gets her own TV movie (voiced by Aubrey Plaza of "Parks and Recreation") where she befriends a lonely 12 year old girl, foils a pair of Christmas Eve dognappers and saves her pet-shop home from financial ruin...while making snarky comments the entire time, of course. My kids loved it and I even got a few chuckles out of it.