Movie Review #16 Machine Gun Preacher (2011)

- When God has had enough he sends a preacher to do his work

Machine Gun Preacher is based on true story of Sam Childers and whether it's completely true, or true with a flair for the artistic, or even perhaps just true in name only is certainly up for debate. The movie doesn't give any indication that it isn't true (no flying dragons or anything hyper unrealistic) and it adds a clear warning that Kony started in a similar fashion so as it isn't completely one sided towards the hero Sam. Now I admit I don't really care for the entire Kony thing. I never watched the video though I know there is one, I know there is a sequel and it didn't do as well because nobody really wants to be preached about the same thing twice. I live once and where do I draw the line at who I care for? The answer is friends and family. But I figured it has the action tag on it it's probably more action-oriented than gospel so I'll give it a viewing.

Movie Review #15 Super 8 (2011)

- Abrams joins with Spielberg for some on-screen magic

Super 8 was one of those movies that just didn't really grab me and demand my immediate attention mostly due to the fact I'm not really the target audience any longer. But I watched it anyway because really I'm a kid at heart and I don't really know when to say no to a movie. I went in knowing there were a bunch of kids and they were going to have an adventure and there was going to be an unseen thing that might send chills down our backs if we had a weak fortitude.

I'm going to say right away that J.J. Abrams is totally a hit or miss when he delivers something to me. I thought Cloverfield was a waste of time mostly because I was promised an American Godzilla-like franchise and nothing in that movie was remotely enjoyable like any of the original Godzilla movies of old. I also wanted to punch most of the cast and not to mention the shaky cam, but I digress. For me, the point was whether or not Spielberg could help sway Abrams back into the black.

Movie Review #14 Prometheus (2012)

- We dive into the world of Alien and NOT the world of Alien Resurrection!

Ridley Scott is back to the helm with a mostly connected prequel to the famed movie Alien (1979). Originally the movie was conceived as a proper prequel but now it's more of a retooling of the same universe kind of movie. They wanted it to draw in fans of Alien, but I guess they wanted to have an out when people screamed this isn't Alien at all! The movie certainly isn't as horror/thriller as the first one.

The movie has some tense sequences and maybe it's just that I'm so much older watching this than when I watched the original Alien but I certainly see Alien as a far scarier movie than Prometheus. I thought the entire horror/thriller aspect of the film was a little subdued and I appreciate that this movie was a mix of Science-fiction and horror. I felt both genres were mixed rather well then any one taking centre stage. Fans of both genres have something to see here without ostracizing the other.

Movie Review #13 Iron Sky (2012)

 - When you know you're bad, you're good.

Today I've decided to review something a little different.  Iron Sky is not your regular theatre going movie unless you frequent movies that contain Nazis AND they've lived on the moon for the past 60 years.  If you do, could you send me the titles of the movies because honestly I believed this to be the first Moon Nazi film.  Going on that belief, this is the best Moon Nazi movie in existence and  here's the reason why.


The movie is full of racist and crude jokes, many of which could offend you or just fall flat in general. I believe the director/writers aren't really going for attacks against any one group but are genuinely doing it just for the joke of it all.  It is about Nazis who have lived on the moon for 60 years with no interaction with Earth.  They shouldn't have any resources; but here they are, existing on the moon and we are to believe they got to where they are because we are seeing them now.  The movie explains nothing.  Your suspension of disbelief is going to have to be high for this one as it will be tested throughout the movie quite a bit.  This isn't a movie to take seriously, it doesn't so why should you? With all the moments of ridiculous action and other sequences you just have to let go and enjoy the ride because Moon Nazis just won't stop.  I know I've lost a few of you already but for those still with us, keep reading if you're still on the fence.

Movie Review #12 Chronicle (2012)

- A found footage film where we see it live... not found.

I should explain the subheading first. The entire movie is seen through multiple cameras all of which are cameras being held by people within the movie or security cameras or the like. Almost every camera is fully explained within the confines of the movie so it's like the viewer is in the movie. I vomit in the general direction of that idea. Blair Witch did it fine insomuch as it was the first time that kind of thing was done and was financially successful. Since then all attempts at the genre of “found footage” has basically killed my will to live. I didn't know this would be a shaky camera experience prior to movie start, had I, I might not have sat down to watch it. I lie, I was always going to give it a whirl. I give things too many chances to impress me and this was no different. I mean, Max Landis of the YouTube hit “The Death and Return of Superman” wrote it. While I didn't really get a kick out of that video because I knew most of the information, it was probably the most concise and humorous video explaining what in the world happened during that Superman arc. For that I must give him more writing credit than most of the writers of big comic publishers.

Movie Review #11 Shame (2011)

- diving into sexual deviancy head first.

Shame is rated 'NC-17' in the United States and 'R' in Canada, but I'll be trying to make this review PG to fit in with my prior reviews (due to my desire to eventually put terrible ads in here and they tend not to like adult content). Shame, just like Young Adult, is a movie that I heard mumblings about prior to the Oscars and then even more so when it got snubbed at the nominations. Unlike Young Adult, however, after watching Shame, I know for sure that it should have received at least one nomination (best male lead), especially since that category was really lacking in quality dark performances.

Shame quickly lays down the dark and offensive (although not to this reviewer) lifestyle of the character Brandon Sullivan (as played by Michael Fassbender). Within the first five minutes you see two sexual encounters (different women each time), multiple sights of full-frontal male nudity and a back-on scene of Fassbender urinating. If the first five minutes don't bother you, the movie itself will likely not offend you, although maybe the insinuated sexual act between two males might, but then if this actually bothers you, stop reading this review, stop reading my blog and go about your business. The point of the movie isn't to offend, it's to show the struggling life of Brandon, who the viewer is to assume, has a sexual deviancy problem. I am saying it is a problem, based solely on the fact that it is getting in the way of his work while ultimately causing harm to others and himself through emotional and physical means.

Movie Review #10 Mother's Day (2010)

- remake of a Troma movie, what could go wrong?

I don't usually check out a lot of horror flicks that dive deep into torture or gore for the sake of it but given that it was just Mother's Day, I figured the title was fitting and I'd give it a whirl. The original movie “Mother's Day” is a Troma Entertainment movie made some 30 years ago by the main driving power, Lloyd Kaufman. Troma films are known for roughly only two things, the worst acting you've ever seen and far beyond the tolerable in amounts of disgusting imagery. They are single -handedly the reason movies like the Saw franchise were made, the only difference being that the Saw franchise has financial backing into its creation, promotion and distribution. This review is not going to do a comparison of the old and new version. I haven't seen the original (though I've heard they are really quite different) and as I'm sure you have gathered I have no real desire to do so. I'll be sticking strictly to the new one.