The Bank Job

The Bank Job is a thrilling British heist film directed by Roger Donaldson and stars Jason Statham. It is based loosely on the true story of the 1971 Baker Street robbery in downtown London, from which the money and valuables stolen were never recovered. The producers of the film say the movie intends to reveal the truth for the first time, but it includes significant elements of fiction and the extent to which it represents historical fact is difficult to determine.

While the first act starts slow during the rather dull set up of the heist and meeting all the players who will have a part in it, the pace does pick up and doesn’t slow down. Not a lot of characterization for most of them aside from Jason Statham’s character Terry Leather which is still only weak. The only thing it seems they have in common is a shady past of petty crimes they pulled earlier on in life. Side plots with dirty cops, gangsters, civil rights activists and kinky politicians takes us away from the heist itself, eventually all the dots get connected. The director could toss out two or more of the unnecessary side plots and side characters, having had more focus on the main characters without missing a beat. Also the director uses Jason Statham for what he does best; a fist fight during the climax, but it is out of place. The only reason it is somewhat believable is because it was Jason Statham throwing his fists around. We have no reason to believe Terry Leather, who may be tough nosed could fight like that.

The twists and turns were many in this film, laying groundwork from the first twist and building on it. But the twists were very slight and are hurting from not really having any big reveals at the end. You will have to get past the lack of unmemorable characters that limits what the actors can do. The exception would be Jason Statham whose acting is really just his charisma. If you are interested in watching a slightly humours but fun gangster flick with a heist pulled in the middle then this movie is probably for you.

3 out of 5
Colin Enquist

MARVEL Commits to Jackson

The Hollywood Reporter and Variety are both confirming that Samuel L. Jackson will reprise his role of Nick Fury in upcoming Marvel projects. Weeks after we heard the falling out between the actor and studio, the conflict seems to be resolved. It seems Jackson has signed a 9 film deal, having roles in "Iron Man 2", "Captain America", "The Avengers", "Thor" and whatever sequels may be spawned from those films. A rumour is that a S.H.I.E.L.D. film is also in the works and will star Jackson as Nick Fury.

Below is the scene from Iron Man with Jackson and Robert Downey Jr.

2009 Razzie Awards

Myers & Hilton "clean-up" at this year's Razzie's!

Since 1981 the Golden Raspberry Awards--better known simply as the "Razzies"--have been "crowning" the worst in film each year, traditionally presented the day before the Academy Awards honour the best. Here are this year's "winners":

Worst Picture: The Love Guru
Worst Director: Uwe Boll (1968: Tunnel Rats, In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale, and Uwe Boll's Postal)
Worst Actor: Mike Myers (The Love Guru)
Worst Actress: Paris Hilton (The Hottie & the Nottie)
Worst Supporting Actor: Pierce Brosnan (Mamma Mia!)
Worst Supporting Actress: Paris Hilton (Repo! The Genetic Opera)
Worst Screenplay: The Love Guru
Worst Screen Couple: Paris Hilton and either Christine Lakin or Joel David Moore (The Hottie & the Nottie)
Worst Prequel, Remake, Rip-Off, or Sequel: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of Crystal Skull
Worst Career Achievement: Uwe Boll

Dollhouse First Episode Review

Dollhouse is the newest creation by Joss Whedon that premiered on Feb 13, 2009. He is the creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel and Firefly. Eliza Dushku plays a young woman named Echo, who is a member of an agency of people known as “Dolls”. The Dolls have had their personalities wiped clean so they can be imprinted with any number of new personas, including memory, muscle memory, skills, and language. This new persona is not an original creation but an amalgam of existing personalities spliced together. The Dolls can be hired for crimes, fantasies or the occasional good deed. They become “Actives” once they are imprinted with the persona to do the job which is referred to as engagements. During the engagements the Actives are monitored by Handlers, sometimes remotely and internally. Handlers are working for the mysterious “Dollhouse” which their entire operation if highly illegal.

I found the opening sequence; while informative it was more confusing then helpful. It was also very forgetful and may have been more effective as a flashback later in the episode. The process of getting to the point where we understand what is going on took a little long and was making my interest wane. Once we started understanding the concept it started to grab my attention. Whedon is known for his dialogue and while realistic it didn’t have his wit and humour we are used to in this episode. Many seeds were planted in for the future but it was almost too much and may have worked better spreading them out over future episodes.

While a great concept I am not entirely sure how it could work. You are basically being shown a different antagonist for each episode just played by the same actress (Eliza Dushku). Not getting emotionally attached with the character because of the changing personalities could make you feel absolutely no empathy for her from episode to episode. On the flip side of this, each episode could be thematically different from the previous and entirely different concepts. I will give Whedon the benefit of the doubt and stick around for a few more episodes. The pilot holds your attention and is interesting but when it's all finished it seems like it was missing something.

2 out of 5
Colin enquist

Remakes, Sequels and Prequels?

Below is a few trailers that have showed up online over the past week.

The Sequel: Transformers Revenge of the Fallen (teaser trailer)



The Prequel: X-Men Origins: Wolverine (tv spot #1)



The Remake: The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (trailer)

Odd Thomas Review

Written by Dean Koontz and was released in 2003 I am clearly behind on this series. With 3 sequels and a graphic novel prequel released over the next few years. The author has stated “god willing, there will be 6 Odd Thomas novels”. I am not new to Koontz and his work. I find most of his books to read extremely fast and most are usually based around a single character. Other times like the novel Strangers, Koontz uses a plethora of characters which leads to a slow read with a slightly different writing style that doesn’t grab my attention and I have to force myself to finish them. Odd Thomas however is written from the first person perspective for most of the story only straying on occasion. We follow our protagonist Odd Thomas, a short order cook with other worldly powers to see the spirits of the dead walking among us. Odd can interact with them to an extent that they cannot speak but mouth words and make signs to get his attention. Odd uses these powers to help the Chief of police solve crimes if possible as learned in the first few chapters. This also includes a brief introduction of most of the main characters. Odd then senses something quite big is going to happen very soon that will culminate in the deaths of many.

We get a lot of detail about the city Odd lives in, Pico Mundo. Like most of Koontz’s novels it takes place in or around southern California. The supernatural used in the book feels like it is commonplace the way that Koontz incorporates it into this world. Koontz uses a lot of strange description through most of his works and it continues in this book. As well as his many references to poetry and literature from Shakespeare to Mark Twain. With deep themes of unconditional love and the unknown of the nature of evil, this character driven story takes you through all the emotions. The macabre is offset by Koontz’s talent to make dark humour out of these horrible situations he thrusts upon his protagonist. This is a thrilling story with lots of tension and frequent plot twists.

4 out of 5
Colin Enquist

The 12th "13th"...Enough Already?!

Yet another horror remake comes up short

An all-star cast lends credibility to the year's most intelligent and original thrasher movie, the resurrection of the Friday the 13th series. The only truth to that last sentence is the rebirth of the 29-year-old Jason Voorhees character, a tired and worn-out story that has been told 11 times prior to this latest reincarnation (including 2003's Freddy vs. Jason).

There isn't much to this remake of the 1980 original, so former music video director Marcus Nispel--who also brought back The Texas Chainsaw Massacre in 2003--supplemented plenty of titty shots, a host of young stars who looked like they just stepped out of an Abercrombie & Fitch catalogue, and an appropriate Friday February the 13th release date, in order to help sell tickets to an outdated film that has almost nothing else to offer.

The reboot begins with a short recap of what happened to Voorhees' mother in the first series, and then has five typical-horror-movie-teens return to the Camp Crystal Lake area for sex, weed, and more sex. All but one of the "teens" are killed off one-by-one, as a young lady named Whitney (played by The OC's Amanda Righetti) is taken hostage by Voorhees, who has apparently confused her for his decapitated mother. Whitney's brother--portrayed by Supernatural's Jared Padalecki--leads a second group of typical-horror-movie-teens to their doom, again knocked off one-by-one in witty fashion...Voorhees has the aim of a master archer and the timing of a seasoned Samurai. Not surprisingly, brother-and-sister are left to fend off Jason on their own, killing him, but not really.

The characters can't help but remind us that this is a modern take on the hockey mask-wearing psychopath, with a steady flow of references to Ipods, cell phones, and GPS units. Thanks to technological advances, Friday the 13th looks much better on the big screen than its original counterpart, and there are periods of sustained suspence, but it lacks eccentricity and originality. Despite this, the movie is expected to produce major box office numbers over the coming weeks, and probably will, mostly for the novelty of a horror franchise oddity that many of us have grown up with. And with an open-ended ending to cap-off the Voorhees return, be sure to expect a 13th installment of the 13th to hit local theatres by next year's Friday the 13th.

1.5/5 stars

Emil Tiedemann

'Push' Is a Cut Above

'Superhero' clan brings new concepts to a genre in its prime

BY EMIL TIEDEMANN

Chris Evans trades in his Fantastic Four outfit for a different kind of superhero movie, one that tends to its own quality rather than to a marketing campaign like most other films featuring these types of characters. Paul McGuigan's Push is set and filmed in Hong Kong, which immediately allows it to set itself apart from the Marvel and DC comic flicks that have become all the rage during the last decade.

Evans' character is slowly polishing his God-given ability to move objects with his mind, when he is suddenly thrust into an underground world of others with powers similar to his own. Some can heal wounds with their bare hands ("stitchers"), some can control your thoughts and readjust memories ("pushers"), and others can see the near future ("watchers"). Dakota Fanning's character is the latter and uses her gift to locate Evans and then recruits him to help her change the imminent visions she has of each of their fates.

Fanning, who is still just 14-years-old, is growing up on film, and shows us that her acting is along for the ride, as she pulls off an impressive performance in Push, including a convincing drunk scene! The unlikely pair, with the imperative help of their paranormal friends--including the beautiful Camilla Belle as one of the world's strongest "pushers"--upset the balance of their destiny, and unravel the "Division," a government-run organization that soughts after these unique individuals in order to benefit from their unusual powers.

The characters' abilities are intriguing, the locations are eye-catching, and the visuals are simple yet worthy of its peers. The flashy action film ends with the potential of a follow-up, which I--like many others I hope--welcome.

3/5 stars

Inglourious Basterds

The teaser has been dropped. Writer and director Quentin Tarantino finally is getting the movie made he has talked about since 2001. Check it out below.

Push{ed}

Push starts Chris Evans as a "pusher", a person with the ability to move objects and people with no more than just a thought and slight movement of hand.  We never get to know how he got his power, only shown his brief background,10 years prior, while on the run from the government with his father.  His father seems to have this power too,so, we are to assume that he got it passed down, but, that's just a guess.  As an adult, his character Nick Gant hasn't fully developed this power.  He runs into Dakota Fanning's character Cassie, who can see the future and then draws it,  and are stuck together in their quest to find a briefcase.  They run into Nick's ex girlfriend Kira,  played by Camilla Belle. The three of them,along with some help from a few others, work together to find this briefcase that contains some drug that could change the future greatly.  Along the way they are followed by an Asian gang which includes a seer, and a couple of screamers, who pretty much, scream and destroy things with their voices.  Also looking for this drug is Henry Carver,played by Djimon Hounsou, and his bodyguard/sidekick.  Henry is part of the government agency that is chasing the heroes in the quest for this drug.  It makes for a good chase, and the action is very good as all participants are fighting for the drug. All in all I found the film quite entertaining, but one thing kind of disturbed me a bit.  The need to have Cassie in a short skirt and having her kind of a sex object was really unnecessary, as she is all of 14 years old, but, her body and  young face make her seem much younger than that.  I found it a bit wrong.  They left an open ending, speculating that if the movie did well it would definitely scream for a sequel, and most of the time I do not like when they do that, as was the case this time.

3.5 out of 5

Pushing At Greatness?

Push is a science fiction thriller directed by Paul McGiugan who directed Lucky Number Slevin. The film stars Chris Evans, Dakota Fanning, Camille Belle and Djimon Hounsou. The plot is your basic government agency trying to use something it probably shouldn’t for bad things. Throw in a few “super powers” and voila you have a bunch of action sequences all ready to play around with. While the movie briefly touches on all the different types of powers one can have it doesn’t give us much of an explanation of the movers', pushers', watchers', bleeders', sniffs', shifters', wipers', shadows' or stitches' actual powers. We are just given a brief narration over the opening credits where we learn the basic “rules” that apply to the world in the movie.

After that we are thrust into the story with very little attention paid to setting up the characters. The basic premise all set and the characters now in place we do end up seeing a masterfully directed plot. The weakness of the back story to Dakota Fanning and Chris Evans characters early in the film is filled in while they are learning about each other and start gaining chemistry. Fanning also has the anime look to her, which could be a nod to the pop culture of their world. She seems like she will be sticking around in Hollywood for a long while with her terrific acting. Chris Evans gets a little help from his Sunshine co-star Cliff Curtis, who is always demanding more attention on screen over him. Djimon Hounsou also portrays a very menacing villain although not your typical villain as he is very quite and seems more in the background than he really is. The director weaves complete doubt not only for the characters in the movie but for the viewer as well. This plot twist is one you know is coming and the director establishes it so you know it is coming. But it still works as he eventually gives you enough doubt that you can’t ignore it, only to be suckered in at the ending that you knew was coming. Aside from a few plot holes that are very minor and could be brushed off by the screenwriter or director with a few quick words about powers this movie is a very fun film.

Unless you watch a lot of foreign films the visuals will also be a treat. With many shots of the Hong Kong skyline, city streets and the marketplace we get to view a part of the Chinese culture not normally seen in the film industry. As much as the New York skyline is fantastic, Hong Kong is exotic and captured wonderfully with all the lights brightly shining that looks beautiful on the big screen. The film score is also very subtle and is always kicking around in the background and picking up the tempo for the action sequences. But a few scenes I felt the music was trying to take itself in another direction briefly by switching to some kind of electronic disco for a seconds only to right itself back on track, not sure the reason for this but it took me out of the movie for a moment.

A high concept idea with good acting and directing make this are very fun action flick that will probably hold up for multiple viewings. I really hope that this film makes enough for a sequel. It has lots of potential for future instalments and as long as they are done like this one I will gladly pay for another movie ticket.

4 out of 5 stars
Colin Enquist

Rob Zombies: H2

Dimension Films has released the new teaser poster for writer/director Rob Zombie's Halloween sequel, H2, hitting theaters on August 28. The film, which will pick up at the exact moment the first movie stopped, stars Scout Taylor-Compton, Danielle Harris, Daniel Roebuck, Ezra Buzzington, Jeffrey Daniel Phillips, Richard Brake, Matt Bush and Howard Hesseman. With Tyler Mane reprising the lead role. I believe they could have come up with a more original title for the film, but I will be paying for tickets opening weekend to see this sequel!

(click on picture to enlarge)

Slumdog Millionaire

The opening of Slumdog Millionaire shows the main character,Jamal,played by Dev Patel on the Indian version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. From there it moves back and forth roughout the film. Next we see him at the police station being tortured and continuously being asked of how he did it. Accusations that he must have lied to have gotten that far on that show, because of his upbringing. As Jamal tries to explain himself to the police, every question that he answers right brings about another story of how he knew the answer. It starts off during his childhood, and thinking back how it all came about, his mother being killed and him and his brother Salim having to raise themselves from a very young age. Along the way they pick up another orphan, Latika. The three of them spend a considerable time together, all being brought to an orphanage, which they believe will make their lives that much better. It turns to be more of a child slave operation with the owner picking these kids to go out and beg and make him tons of money. The two brothers manage to escape, leaving Latika behind. Jamal however never forgets her, and continues to pine for her, and her love. The brothers go through more ups and downs, trying to survive in their own way. Jamal ends up being the good brother, who continues to search for his love Latika, while the older brother Salim has turned into a bad ass who has love for the money, and his brother to a point. They continue to go back and forth from the police station, to Jamal's childhood, until the Police Chief is satisfied enough to release Jamal to go back to the show for the final question and to get his millions. This movie has it all, a bad childhood, lost love, quest for riches, gangsters, all because of a gameshow. While Salim comes across as a person who is only in it for himself, whenever times are really bad he does his best to help his younger brother. It also raises the question of whether or not money is the root of all happiness, or would the love of another be more important than all the riches in the world.

5 out of 5

The Keene Act

A public service announcement about the Watchmen and what the government would like YOU to do about it.

February short story:Love Eternal

He had less than an hour to decide. Live forever,,alone, or to be 1oo with the love of his life?  This question had been on his mind for over a month since being given the choice.

Peter had been a loner for most of his life, never having a relationship last longer than a few months, which he contributed to the instability of his childhood.  Always moving, changing schools, having to make new friends.  This got to him, giving him an unstable feeling.

Now 35 years of age, for the most part, he had been content with meeting women and having sex with them, then moving on, that's all he had ever known in his life.  He figured why should he change, he'd just be moving on again. That was, until that one New Year's Eve.  He had another attractive woman in his sights, and she seemed very much single.

She turned to him, "Peter Sullivan!"  This was startling to Peter as he had never met this woman before in his life.  "Do I know you?"  "No, but I know you, from bar to bar,from woman to woman, I kind of know all about your life."   "Listen lady, go fuck yourself, you know nothing about me or my life."  "You've moved constantly in your life, and with these women. I'm here to make you an offer."  Unless it involves you getting naked and having sex with me, I'm not really interested."   Yes, I am going to let you have sex with me, and then after, we are going to talk business." "Whatever works for you, as long as I'm getting sex, the rest is whatever."

So, Peter and this woman went back to his place, where she proceeded to undress him, quickly removed all of her clothing, and then let him have his way with her in every possible way. Satisfied with the outcome, he lay on his back for a few minutes,then said, "So. What is this deal you would like to discuss?"  "Have you ever thought of living forever?" "The thought may have come to mind every once in a while. Why?"  "The offer i have for you is this. You can live forever, all alone, or,I find you the love of your life and you get to live to the ripe age of 100. Interested?"

Peter was a bit puzzled, but went along with it anyways. "There must be a catch. And who are you to offer eternal life? God or the devil?"  "Pretty close.  One of Satan's many children. An experiment if you will, to see if love is worth it, to pass on living forever. If you agree to either of the deals, you have 30 days to make up your mind.  At the end of the 30 days, I will return to grant either of your decisions."

Peter thought about it, mulled it over,shook her hand and said, "See you in 30 days. By the way, what is your name devil child?"  "I go by Serafina."  "Thank you Serafina for the best sex I have ever had in my life."  "You are quite welcome. I don't get many opportunities down there," she smirked.

Peter started to think about this,day after day, week after week.  It wasn't as easy as he thought it would be. Sure, live forever, have sex with whoever, no commitments, just like now.  Or, finally have that stability he had craved his whole life.

30 days had passed, and Serafina had returned.  "Hello Peter, have you made your choice?" "Do I get to see this so-called love of my life before making up my mind?"  "No,Peter, you're going to be going into this decision blindly."  "Ok then.  I may regret this, but I will choose to live to 100 with one woman, who will be the love of my life.  I do not  need to live forever."

Serafina turned to him with a big smile. "I hope you won't be disappointed, but I am going to be your wife.  I am not Satan's child, but an angel from heaven.  This was my decision as well. I already had eternal life alone, but I wanted to be in love.

Joker Review

I just recently purchased and read the original graphic novel titled Joker, written by Brian Azzarello and art by Lee Bermejo. Brian Azzarello writes the grizzled crime series 100 Bullets and has collaborated with Bermejo in the past with Lex Luthor: Man of Steel. This is arguably the best take on the Joker since Alan Moore’s The Killing Joke. The Joker in this sways a little from the in-continuity Joker and merging it with Heath Ledger’s version of the character. Although the book was more than likely written before Azzarello saw The Dark Knight but he may have used some influence from the trailers.

Joker reads pretty much like I expected a point of view from his side of things would read. A messed up, psychotic, twisted and sadistic way of life that the Joker lives. To say this is a Joker only story though would be a misstep as new character, Johnny Frost, is created to be the narrator. This is the problem with the book, as Frost isn’t a character that matters but just a subplot that is intersecting with the Joker’s. Frost is a way for us to view the Joker during this story but Azzarello doesn’t just use him as a narrative tool but incorporates his story as well. As we follow the Joker from his unexplained release from Arkham Asylum to his rise back to reacquire “his city”. Joker shows us the Gotham underground and its dirty, grim nature as he shoots and slices his way back to the top. Not knowing if the Joker is insane all the time or just when he feels like it is part of the allure he brings to the pages.

With the book not being in-continuity we are treated to new takes on existing characters. Killer Croc is now just a big strong thug living in a meat locker. The Penguin is illegitimate business man “running the city” while the Joker is away. Harley Quinn is shown briefly throughout the book as the Joker’s girlfriend. The Riddler is the very different in this story. His cane serves a purpose as his right leg is limp, while clothing is a completely different style. You don’t know what his purpose is but he steals things, whether it is for himself and sells them or is commissioned by others to steal certain items we do not know. He is shown selling something to the Joker that was “impossible” to get, but we are never privy to find out what it was. Two Face is living or at least looks like he is trying to live a somewhat normal life. We don’t know if he is evil or good but has cops on his payroll who are working for him to try to keep the Joker out of power.

The art in this book is fantastic and at first I didn’t think that was the case when I was just a few pages in. Bermejo changes his style throughout the book from his main pencil and inks to a combination of semi-painted panels and then to dark tones with lots of black. At first I was turned off by this shift in art styles but then I realized the reason for this was to show the nature of the Joker and how he sees everything differently. Not just different but a constant change from one minute to the next. Bermejo also uses the differing art styles and storytelling perfectly to focus on certain moments in the story

Not a perfect look, but a gaze into the Joker’s mind and character. This book is gorgeous in an ugly sort of way and should sit on your shelf next to The Killing Joke and Arkham Asylum. Any fan of the Batman mythos, crime stories or psychological thrillers would enjoy this book.

4 out of 5 stars
Colin Enquist

DVD Pick: The Last Winter

Unusual circumstances make for an unusual thriller

BY EMIL TIEDEMANN

Similar to an evergrowing number of today's films, Larry Fessenden's The Last Winter borrowed a page out of the everyday headlines, tackling the topical subject of global warming as the backbone of its unconventional plot. Set in the isolated Alaskan tundra, The Last Winter is a different kind of horror-thriller, using the seeming spirits of caribou-like creatures as the foe (its not as bad as you might think), rather than psychos in masks or ghosts with grudges.

Ron Perlman trades in his Hellboy get-up for winter boots and a parka, as the leader of a group of oil scouts who are each brought to the edge of sanity, one by one. A mysterious force infects the group--mostly made up of Hollywood nobodies--before it allegedly spreads to neighbouring towns, and possibly the rest of the planet, much like the repercussions of a global warming.

A "horror" movie in which the Earth is the bad guy doesn't exactly send shivers up your spine, but Fessenden (Hellboy, Pan's Labyrinth) somehow finds the terror of this very real possibililty and conveys it well onscreen, and with almost no special effects to speak of. He uses the bitter surroundings of Alaska's most unforgiving regions and the shortfallings of the relatable characters to provide us with one of the most original "horror" movies in recent years.

3.5/5 stars

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

On June 26, 2009 last years blockbuster returns to theatres. With Micheal Bay, Steven Spielberg and Shia LaBeuof all returing I think we can assume we will get another fun popcorn flick. Not much is known about the plot, but here is the first teaser trailer that will be featured during the Super Bowl.