Fido

The story of a boy, and his Zombie?

Welcome to Willard, a small town lost in the idyllic world of the 50's, where the sun shines every day, everybody knows their neighbour, and rotting zombies carry the mail. Years ago, the earth passed through a cloud of space dust, causing the dead to rise with an insatiable hunger for human flesh. Terror spread across the land, until a collar was invented that made the zombies docile, even useful. A company was born: ZomCon. Thanks to their patented domestication collar™, zombies became gardeners, milkmen, butlers, and even pets. ZomCon would like everyone to believe that they have the world under control - but do they?

What is there to say about Fido? This movie is the funniest Zombie movie I have seen yet. Mostly because of the campy twisted style and situation comedy that was saturated in this film. Timmy Robinson’s best friend in the whole wide world is a six-foot tall rotting zombie named Fido. But when FIDO eats the next-door neighbor, Mom and Dad hit the roof, and Timmy has to go to the ends of the earth to keep Fido a part of the family.

Since this movie is set in the heart of the 1950's there is no nudity, sex, or bad profanity. One Character has a Zombie, that they make obvious with some campy overtones, that she is his ... girlfriend. Other than that and a few uses of the word "damn" this movie is not too bad morally, the reason for the R rating was the Zombie gore and head shots.

The movie being set in the 50's, the look of the film was purposely made to look like Technicolor, so all of the colors are very vibrant.

The Cars.... wow. The cars in this film make me drool.

I have watched this movie 2 times now in a row.. funny both times.. I laughed ... very hard.

The Wolfman

I finally had the opportunity to see the remake of my favorite horror movie of all time, The Wolfman. I, like most, am a purist when it comes to some one having the audacity to remake a movie that I would consider perfect in it's own right. However. Upon watching this remake, I was more than pleased.

I would consider myself a werewolf fan. I love movie monsters but the werewolf I always related to. The curse of the Beast vs the Human inside of all of us. Such is true with the nature of sin in us that we struggle with on a daily basis.

This movie, was brilliant. The changes that were made from the original to this masterpiece were actually good. I will not give anything away as to say some of the changes created a great plot twist in the story. Biggest change was the setting, the original came out in 1941 and was set in that time. The remake, was set in the late 1800, set the mood and gave a creepy feel through out the movie.

Let us talk about some of the things I did and didn't like.

Negative first:
The blood was expected, but I feel like some of it took away from the feel of the movie almost crossing in to the slasher genera. The main religion seemed to be Roman Catholic, I am not a fan of people taking the Lord's name in vain, so any RC sayings bother me sometimes, the phrase "Mary Mother of God" was used.. I feel like this degrades the authority of God and Christ.

Positive:
The feel of the film,
The costumes
The acting,
The major plot twist that was introduced,
And the new character they added.
Who was the new Character? Francis Aberline portrayed by Hugo Weaving. (the inspector for the Jack the Ripper case) he was, in one word, ... cool.

I am also pleased with the Wolfman himself, they kept to the original look of the creature, but made him a little more menacing.

I also like the actor Benicio del Toro (a fan of the original film and collector of Wolf Man memorabilia) playing Larry Talbot. He even looks a lot like Lon Chaney Jr. who played him in the original. He kept the spirit of the character alive in this movie.

My opinion, best werewolf movie I have seen.

2010 the year of Blu

First post of 2010:

This year I plan to finally delve in to the Blu-Ray Disc market. Here are the first BD movies I am planning on owning this year and I will review them as I get them. 

Terminator Salvation

Iron Man

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Batman Begins/Dark Knight

Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra

All of the Disney Pixar Movies

National Treasure 1&2

Napoleon Dynamite

Spider Man Trilogy

Star Trek movies (all of them)

Hulk Vs.

Punisher: War Zone

Casablanca

 ... and of course the slew of BD movies I will be renting to review as well. 

Happy new year!

--
James Evans
(Ephesians 2:8-9)

District 9

I went in to this movie blind. I had only seen the teaser. I really do not want to give away too many spoilers, so I will just give some highlights, make it short.

What I liked:

The action when it finally kicked off, was worth the anticipation. The Alien weapons were very cool. I also loved the documentary style the first half of the film was shot and how it blended in to an actual movie. I also liked the character arcs. The main guys I didn't like until toward the end of the film. I loved the real feel of the aliens, the ship and everything.

What I didn't like:

The F-bomb. Over and over.

Fun movie. Great on Blu-Ray!!!!

Luther review by Holly McClure

Reformation Day is coming up soon. (October 31) and what better way to celebrate than getting every one together and watching Luther. I am posting this review by Holly McClure about this movie as that I agree with it and couldn't have put it better...

"Luther" - Movie Review

Genre: Drama

Rating: PG-13 (for disturbing images of violence)

Release Date: September 26, 2003

Actors: Joseph Fiennes, Alfred Molina, Jonathan Firth, Claire Cox, Peter Ustinov, Bruno Ganz, Uwe Ochsenknecht, Mathieu Carrière, Marco Hofschneider, Torben Liebrecht, Herb Andress, James Babson, Jeff Caster, Cesare Cremonini, Jens Winter

Director: Eric Till

Special Notes: Ironically, prior to accepting the film, Fiennes reluctantly turned down the role of Luther in the London National Theater's Production of John Osborne's play because of a schedule conflict. So, he already had a passion for the character and was prepared to play this role.

Plot: The story begins in the year 1505 showing a young Martin Luther in a rain storm when a bolt of lightening lands close to him and prompts him to hang up his study of law and apply for acceptance the following day in an Augustinian monastery. The film then narrates Luther's pilgrimage to Rome in 1510 and shows people all over the steps of the church buying indulgences for relatives – a practice that makes the church wealthy and fools the poor. Luther rebels against the church and writes an essay of 95 theses which he nails on the church door. He is then hunted by the church which forces him to defend himself. Luther's life as an outlaw – excommunicated and banned by the Pope as well as the emperor – is depicted in the film, as well as his "exile" in the tower of the Wartburg castle, where he translated the entire New Testament into German within 11 weeks. The story shows how Luther's deep faith and convictions made this German reformer both a rebel and a leader of his day.

Good: This is an impressive production filmed with a big budget on over 100 sets and in 20 locations throughout Germany, Italy and the Czech Republic. Fiennes does an incredible job at taking a difficult role and making the man of history come to life in a real and deeply moving story. His portrayal of Luther showed him to be a charismatic man as well as a bit shy, defiant, playful and intense. And you can definitely see where Fiennes' Shakespearean training helped him portray this character. I always enjoy Ustinov on screen, and this time out he provides the comic relief and a few chuckles in this otherwise very serious movie. I liked this movie because for the first time I clearly understand what Luther did for the Christian church and how liberating it must have been to get out from under the tyranny of the Catholic church of that day. Realize that I am saying "of that day" because what the church was doing to the common people and the control it had on society back then was much different from the Catholic church of today. The movie doesn't bash the Catholic church, rather it highlights how the Pope and Emperor Charles V exiled Luther because they didn't understand his radical thinking and were afraid of the power he had over the people who were repressed and wanted a leader. Sound familiar? (<---[Jym]- I disagree with this view (P.C.) but left this in the review) His teachings were considered radical because he told people to read the Bible – something common people didn't do in those days, so no one knew the Word. Luther's whole message pointed back to reading the Word of God to tell them how to live and free them from paying for dead relatives to be freed from purgatory – a racket Luther clearly saw through. Luther didn't enter the Church to change it, but obviously God wanted people to read His Word.

Bad: There are several scenes of poor people dying, numerous people killed in a bloody battle and lots of discussions about the Church, relics and selling one's soul for money. The movie tends to feel a little long because it's such a detailed story and there are so many aspects to it. I think some of it could have been edited or more about his wife and children could have been added to bring some levity to the story. But if you're interested in history, especially church history, you'll be enthralled with this movie.

Superman/Batman: Public Enimies

I honestly can not express how I feel about this film. I mean on one hand the geek in me and Superman/Batman comic fan in me say that this is a great adaptation of the comic to cartoon. The Parent in me is outraged at DC Entertainment. My son LOVES the Superman/Batman comic. I thought it was the one safe Comic I could rely on for a 10 year old boy. I know that comics codes are getting more slack as the time goes on and the culture we live in gets further away from any kind of Biblical morals. And it makes it hard for me to accept that. But DC and especially this Superman/Batman series seems to be some what Kid friendly. More than lets say the actual Batman series or Even Green Lantern and such. I am out right leaving Marvel out of it because they have gone off the deep end a long time ago.

My son has been so excited (as have I) for this DVD to come out. I had just bought the green Lantern:First Flight DVD and was also disappointed with the language in it as well so I knew that if Superman/Batman was PG-13 I needed to watch it first.

With in the first 2 min of the movie .. I turned it off. I didn't even get to the main Title. There was a Daily Show-like host providing political commentary and he says "also like getting (beep)ed in the (beep) with a red hot poker" ... I was speechless.. I mean the beeps were there.. but come on.. Why? Why did they have to put that?

It is already getting hard for me to enjoy movies that have foul vulgar language in them as it is, but when you start tainting the movies my kids love.. that vexes me. I mean, why not add more violence and keep the sex and language out?

Okay, from what I have read (because I am not watching the rest of the movie on principle) there is a reference to Powergirl's large chest and Lex calls his female assistant a bitch as well as at least one "what the hell" that I heard. These are not the things I want my kids repeating. (not even if he was over 13) That is not the kind of people we are. But guess what, this stupid culture we are in will say that I am too strict and that you can not avoid stuff like that. Well I am angry that I HAVE to make that kind of a choice.. I HAVE to tell my kid that he can not have this movie that he has been wanting ever since he has heard of it, I HAVE to tell him that it is a bad movie and he is not allowed to see it. because I am a responsible moral parent and I actually love and care about my kid and do not want him to be like the garbage that uses this kind of language.. I am forced to make this decision by the modern media and culture because I answer to some one greater than them or me, ...Christ.

My rating: I give it no rating

Green Lantern: First Flight

Green Lantern: First Flight is a direct-to-video animated film adaptation of the DC Comics Green Lantern mythology. Centering on the first mission of Hal Jordan (Christopher Meloni), the first human inducted into the Green Lantern Corps, the film is written by veteran DC Comics animation collaborator Alan Burnett, produced by Bruce Timm, and directed by Lauren Montgomery.It is the fifth in the line of DC Universe Original Animated Movies released by Warner Premiere and Warner Bros. Animation, the most recent releases being Batman: Gotham Knight and Wonder Woman.

This was a great adaptation of the main story of Green Lantern Corp.

What I liked: It was well done. The animation was brilliant. The voice acting was great as well. This was a Green Lantern Corp movie and not a Hal Jordon movie. I loved Kilowag. He was exactly how I pictured him acting in the comic. Also the Extras are good on this DVD, with a first look at the next DVD coming out: An animated adaptation of the Comic arc Superman/Batman: Public Enemies. 

What I didn't like: First off was the language. This movie was PG-13 for action violence, but there was use of foul language I do not want my kids repeating. Like "ass", "bastard", "damn", and "what the hell". I also wish in a small way there was more of the Hal Jordon story here.. even though I like the GLC story better, I feel like Hal was a background character. This was a huge story arc they fit into a very short cartoon. It felt very very rushed.