Into the Blu

Dog Day Afternoon is just another memorable title on the lengthy resume of Al Pacino. Here we are over thirty years after it?s original release and it still has people talking. The film itself was inspired by true events based on the article ?The Boys in the Bank.? Dog Day Afternoon is really about much more than just a regular bank robbery, but I?m sure most of you know that already. Being nominated for several awards in 1975, Dog Day Afternoon only managed to pull away with one, so this movie must be good, but is it great? Continue Reading

I remember eight years back when Payback was first released. I eagerly anticipated the opportunity to watch it, and when I got the chance to check it out, I instantly enjoyed it. Upon finding out about the release of the new director?s cut, I found myself eagerly anticipating it once again, as it promised to be a completely different film. Continue Reading

At the time of its release in 2005, about a year after the original Saw, I was eagerly anticipating a follow up, as I wanted many questions answered. Sequels rarely live up to their predecessors, though, and as much as I liked Saw II it didn’t quite have the same formula as the original. Saw II is more sadistic, violent, and all out more gruesome. Still, the goriness is never as over the top or random as in pictures like Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning or Hostel.  Sure the blood flows, but it never feels too forced. Continue Reading

Night at the Museum is based on the 1993 children’s book by Milan Trenc. This film follows Larry (Ben Stiller), a divorced New Yorker who is frantically trying to find a job that will allow him to keep his current apartment and create some stability so his son Nick – a place for his son Nick (Jake Cherry) can visit and not be subjected to anymore failures by his father. Larry lands a job as the night watchman at the local Natural History museum. Larry reluctantly accepts the job after Cecil (Dick Van Dyke) exp… Continue Reading

Another Phillip K. Dick novel making it onto the big screen, not a big surprise as in the past his work has made for exemplary motion pictures. For those of you who don?t know who Phillip K. Dick is, I?ll briefly enlighten you by mentioning several pictures based on his work – Blade Runner, Total Recall, Paycheck, Minority Report and Next. Seeing as this is a review on the film and not Phillip K. Dick I will stop boasting about his literary accolades and focus on the film adaptation… Continue Reading

Lately horror movies have been pretty dismal, either too simplistic or just overly gory without pesky details like an actual plot. When Saw hit theaters back in 2004, I was happily surprised with this low-budget horror film, and to this day I still appreciate its uniqueness and cleverness.

Along with a sadistic and twisted theme, Saw has plenty of gore, but it?s never too unrealistic. What really sets Saw apart is it actually has a plot, character development, twists, and a murder fest … Continue Reading

Dragon’s Lair made its original debut shortly before my time, so this may come as a shock to some of you from the arcade generation, but I’ve never previously heard of this game. Originally released in 1983 as one of the first ever laserdisc video games Dragon’s Lair was a ground breaking release that for the first time ever actually let you control a fully functioning character rather than controlling a movable object block. So why I haven’t heard of this comes as a bit of a surprise, but then again I grew up with Nintendo which already seems like a much better alternative to Dragon’s Lair. Continue Reading

Ridley Scott?s work speaks in volumes, an impressive resume that spans over forty years including such memorable films as Alien, Blade Runner, Thelma & Louise, Gladiator, Black Hawk Down, and Kingdom of Heaven. I could go on boasting his past accomplishments for quite some time, but the matter at hand is G.I. Jane. Before I say anything else, I?ll let it be known that G.I. is by far Ridley Scott?s worst picture I have seen, not to say it was immensely horrible, … Continue Reading

Destiny’s Child Live in Atlanta wasn’t exactly at the top of my list for most anticipated movies of this year, but I?ll take it with a grain of salt. This Blu-ray release features Destiny’s Child performing live in Atlanta on July 15, 2005 during their Destiny Fulfilled – and Lovin’ It Tour, which was also the groups final tour. Continue Reading

I think it?s a safe assumption to make that everyone on the face of the earth has seen Terminator 2: Judgment Day, more affectionately known as T2. You?ve probably also uttered the words, ?Hasta la vista, baby? or ?I?ll be back.? If you?ve been living under a rock, or simply aren?t dazzled by Arnold?s screaming pecs or his mysteriously hypnotizing accent, you truly amaze me. For those of us who did happen to live on planet Earth in the early 90?s, we simply know Governor Schwarzenegger by one name: The … Continue Reading

This past year has truly been the year of the penguins. March of the Penguins won the Academy Award for best documentary and Happy Feet winning best-animated feature. Society?s interest has been sparked on the hard life of these amazing little creatures much in large due to the release of March of the Penguins. Politically this picture has made an impact as well, sparking debates between such political commentators as Andrew Sullivan and Rich Lowry. I think it goes without saying that a documenta… Continue Reading

I instantly wrote this picture off as another standard chick flick. A movie where Jude Law will be an arrogant yet suave jerk, Jack Black will be the loveable comedic relief, Cameron Diaz the spoiled and prissy heartbreaker, and Kate Winslet the star crossed lover, timid but hopeful. After watching it I realize I was wrong to assume it would be another poorly written overly simplified chick flick. My character analysis couldn?t be more wrong in some instances, and pretty bang on in others. The Holiday turned o… Continue Reading