The X-Men series has been one of a handful of comic book-to-silver screen adaptations that I have truly been able to get into. Perhaps it’s because of the human traits inherent in each “mutant” character, or maybe it’s that the franchise uses the word “mutant” with such seriousness. Regardless, the… Continue reading
There is a scene in DreamWorks Animation’s Over the Hedge when Hammy (voiced by Steve Carell), an already-hyperactive squirrel, chugs a can of the most caffeinated cola on the market. Time literally stands still, everyone else moves in slow motion, and Hammy accomplishes his mission. This scene alone is worth… Continue reading
Let’s get it out of the way right here at the outset: I am one of four living human beings who has never read The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown’s novel which has sold so many copies that I think they’ve just stopped counting. Only a book that contains controversy… Continue reading
Whether intentional or not, the original “Poseidon” (1972’s The Poseidon Adventure) was a cheesy good time. Star-studded and over-the-top, the film virtually invented the “who’s going to die next?” way of thinking that dominates so many of today’s films. I’m surprised that a remake has taken this long to surface… Continue reading
Horrors of War may be fiction, but in dealing with Hitler’s human experiments during WWII, nothing seems too far-fetched. The film is a pleasantly ambitious smörgåsbord of genres. Filmed entirely in the state of Ohio (a fact I note because this is a very rare occurrence), the film dishes up… Continue reading
It’s now official: The Mission: Impossible movie franchise has to be comprised of three of the most mediocre big budget films I’ve ever seen. Brian De Palma stayed true to the TV show’s form in 1996’s original, but the labyrinthine plot frustrated many moviegoers. So Honk Kong explosion master John… Continue reading
RV is a film so bad in so many different ways that I can’t even really decide where to begin. The premise, which has been done hundreds of times before, borrows so liberally and directly from National Lampoon’s Vacation and 1988’s The Great Outdoors (the raccoon scene is acted out… Continue reading
The return of the ballsy political satire to the cineplex is a good sign, I think. Thank You for Smoking took on the government spin that we are fed on a daily basis, and American Dreamz takes on life as we know it. The film gleefully roasts everything from wannabe… Continue reading
21 Eyes is an independent film experiment of the do-or-die nature. Had the film gone awry, it would just be classified as a gimmick-gone-wrong. Since it succeeds for the most part, it is an innovative take on the sparsely populated mystery genre. When you sit back and think about all… Continue reading
I’d be a bold-faced liar if I didn’t admit from the outset that I had no expectations whatsoever for The Benchwarmers. After looking over the cast, premise, and trailers, all I could was shrug my shoulders, head for the theater, and smuggle in my flask. Okay, maybe two for three.… Continue reading