“Elsewhere”

Anna Kendrick
Paul Wesley
Tania Raymonde
Chuck Carter
Olivia Dawn York
Jeff Daniel Phillips
Shannon Holt
Kinna McInroe
Jon Gries










R           106min           2009

A teen girl (Raymonde) goes missing after a night of partying and only her friend (Kendrick) is concerned enough to look for her.

“Elsewhere” is not that bad. The actors played all their stereotypical parts. If you watched enough “Scary” movie you know who’s the kill but its still worth it to watch.

“Elsewhere” takes the metaphorical teenage desolation and turns it literal. The two leads are two version of the modern latchkey kids. Sarah has the stable home but her single mother is always away for work. Jillian has a mother on disability that only wants her around to pick up the slack in the bills. The both are alone fending for themselves in this world and they can only count on each other.

Its a good plot but I don’t think most teenagers are savvy enough to be detectives like this girl is. Some of the things that Sarah figures out a little too convenient. Most teenagers don’t know how the technology in the world works as long as it works. But that’s not to say that it doesn’t work in the confines of this movie.

The final revelation is worth watching this movie but it still leaves you wondering. I have two theories but I think one is more probable than the other. But still the kill was transparent the moment they walked on the screen. It was only a matter of it if it was one or two.

I give “Elsewhere” 3 out 5 Gs.

The Lazarus Project

Paul Walker
Piper Perabo
Lambert Wilson
Linda Cardellini
Shawn Hatosy
Matthew Goodwin
Brooklyn Proulx
Tony Curran
Bob Gunton







PG13           100min           2008




With parole almost behind him, Ben (Paul walker) can’t believe how much he has to be thankful for: a beautiful wife, an adorable little girl and a steady paycheck. Life is good. But when he unexpectantly loses his job. Ben foolishly turns back to crime, joining his ex-con brother (Shawn Hatosy) in a robbery with deadly consequences. Suddenly facing a lethal injection, Ben must say goodbye to his family and prepare himself for the worst.

But his death sentence isn’t quite what it seems, as Ben regains consciousness near an eerie psychiatric ward, where he’s told he’s been hired as the groundskeeper, was his previous life only a dream or is he part of something far more sinister?

The Lazarus Project is a strange film that a savvy movie watcher can pick apart in the first fifteen minutes. But the reason we I watch films is to be entertained. This film accomplishes the task. I don’t remember seeing this released in theaters because it does have major weak moments.

Even with its weak moments its still an entertaining drama and trying to find the mystery of the drama is half the fun. The clues that are supposed to be subtle are fully apparent. Which gives away major plot points of the film really early. Leaving the film to loses its edge and fall flat. Only if you’re a fan of the actors could you entertain this film.

I give The Lazarus Project 2 out of 5.

“I Am Legend”

Will Smith
Alice Braga
Dash Mihok
Charlie Tahan
Salli Richardson
Willow Smith

PG13           100min           2007

Somehow immune to an unstoppable, incurable virus, military virologist Robert Neville (Smith) is now the last human survivor in New York City and maybe the world. But he is not alone. Mutant plague victims lurk in the shadows… watching Neville’s every move… waiting for him to make a fatal mistake. Perhaps mankind’s last, best hope, Neville is driven by only one remaining mission: to find a antidote using his own immune blood. But he knows he is outnumbered… and quickly running out of time.

Many people find this film a little off putting and do not like it. The quiet and stillness throws people. This is a film about the human condition that a straight up drama. It provides thoughts in our minds that we would rather not have.

It shows just how fragile the mind is. “I Am Legend” shows that for all the magnificence of the mind its still need contact and interaction to function. After three years of isolation, Robert Neville is still brilliant yet lost without the mundane connection that we take for granted.

There are moments in the film that are comical not because they are meant to be but because of the absurdity of the situation. Out of his mind grasping for a semblance of normalcy he has developed some serious coping issues. His coping is something that could make people not like the film; yet it was one of the things that made this film so much better.

I have watched both versions of “I Am Legend”. I say buy the two disc special edition. The alternate ending is so much better than the original theatrical and falls more in line with the movie instead of the name of the film and the plot line in the book. The theatrical cheats the fans out of many major plot points of the film.

There are four animated comics on the disc. They are ‘Death as a Gift’, ‘Isolation’, ‘Sacrificing the few for the Many’, and ‘Shelter’. There are movie previews for “Lost Boys: The Tribe”, “The Dark Knight”, “Speed Racer”, “Appleseed ExMachina”, and “JLA: The New Frontier”.

I give it 4/5.

“White Noise 2″

Nathan Fillion
Katee Sackhoff
Craig Fairbrass
Adrian Holmes
Kendall Cross
Teryl Rothery
William MacDdonald

PG13           99min           2007

What would you do if you could tell who was about to die? Would you try to save innocent lives? After barely escaping a near-death experience, Abe Dale (Nathan Fillion, Serenity) discovers that he has been granted a mysterious ability. But using this dark gift means interfering with the natural order of life and death, a choice that comes with a heavy price.

“White Noise 2″ the sequel to “White Noise”. I found that I like WN2 better. It was more about the consequences of ‘white noise’ instead of the phenomenon its self. The sequel is more about the story than the scare.

The first film never asked should he mess with the after life. The question is asked and given an answer. Nathan Fillion is a better fit for this film and is companioned better with Katee Sackhoff. It also leaves the film just as open as the first one. It also leaves on wondering where would they go to for another sequel.

“White Noise 2″ has the standard array of special features. There are deleted scenes. There is a featurette exploring near death experiences and a behind the scenes making of. The movie previews are “American Pie Presents Beta House”, “The Strangers”, “Battlestar Galactica: Razor”, “Bring It On: In It to Win It”.

I give it 3/5.

“Boogeyman 2″

Danielle Sauvre
Matt Cohen
David Gallagher
Mae Whitman
Renée O’Connor
Tobin Bell
Michael Grazidei
Lesi Margherita
Johnny Simmons

Unrated           98min           2007

Terror invades an isolated asylum when Laura, haunted by a paralyzing fear of the Boogeyman, becomes one of many patients who are prisoners to their phobias. But what appears to be a safe haven soon becomes an asylum of the damned when the Boogeyman returns, trapping them all inside and beginning his hunt for new victims. – from back cover

“Boogeyman 2″ has another “7th Heaven” connection: “Is this going to be a defining trend for the franchise?” This time around the Boogeyman is confided to one location. The filmmakers did a nice nod to the first film that intergraded the second movie to the first. This time the body count is higher and more elaborated.

The heroine of the story is successful in surviving this time around, but her future is more ominous that the first. You care for her character more. I would like to see where the surviving characters go from here.

“Boogeyman 2″ plays on your emotional and practical fears. I can say that I agree with the direction they took with the Boogeyman but I do like how they reveal the direction changing the whole feel of the film.

There are just the standard special features. There are two audio commentaries on with the writer and director and the other with Danielle Savre, Tobin Bell and producers. There is a makeup featurette and a trailer for “Boogeyman 2”. The movie previews are for “Resident Evil: Extinction”,“Dragon Wars: D-Wars”, “Zombie Strippers”, “Black Water”, “Gabriel”, “Southland Tales”, “Rise: Blood Hunter”, “Fearnet.com”.

I give it 2/5.

“The Killing Floor”

Marc Blucas
Shiri Appleby
Reiko Aylesworth
Jeffrey Carlson
Derek Cecil
John Bedford Lloyd

R           98min           2006

Horror novel agent David Lamont (Marc Blucas) moves into a lavish penthouse apartment to celebrate his new found success. But as he settles in, mysterious events begin to happen. Violent and bloody crime scene photos taken in his apartment show up at the front door, videotapes of him sleeping arrive in his mail and the strange sensation that he is being followed haunts his every step. He is no longer able to work or sleep; yet, he refuses to move out. Obsessed with tracking down his stalker, David unravels, falling prey to a deadly game. The only question that remains is: How far will he go to end this real life horror story! — from back cover

“The Killing Floor” is one of those film that you watch only if you’re a fan of one of the actors. You see the ending from the very beginning. It is truly one of the most transparent film.

The villain exploits the main character flaws from the very beginning and he could see because of his convenient flaws. The last five minutes of the film are the best. Everything that you know about the character is revealed to him. Showing to what the audience already knows that he desires what he got.

There are no special feature just movie previews. The movie previews for this film are “Into the Shadow of the Moon”, “Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead”, “Poor Boy’s Game”, “Bordertown”, and “Deceit”.

I give it 2/5.

“Eastern Promises”

Viggo Mortensen
Naomi Watts
Vincent Cassel
Armin Mueller-Stahl

R           101min           2007

Criminal mastermind Nikolai (Mortensen) finds his ties to a notorious crime family shaken when he crosses paths with Anna (Watts), a midwife who has accidentally uncovered evidence against them. Their unusual relationship sets off an unstoppable chain of murder, mystery and deception. — from the back cover

“Eastern Promises” is not what I expected. It is a blabbering drama that ends abruptly. It’s a film that just does not work as promised. Two great actors don’t work on screen together as well as apart.

“Eastern Promises” is a drama that does all the talking. Characters are babbling on and on about this problem or than problem. There is hardly any action in the film. For mobster they talk entirely too much.

I never got what the title meant to the film. The “surprising” reveal was not that surprising and seemed to be thrown in just to throw off the audience. It feels like an incomplete movie. That major parts of the “Eastern Promises” seem to be missing and that’s why I had trouble with this film.

Naomi Watts and Viggo Mortensen worked better when they were not on screen with each other. She worked well as a medical resident trying to find out this girl. Viggo worked as a mob driver rising in the ranks. Their chemistry is as cool as the Russian weather on screen.

I give it 2/5 Gs.

“Shattered (2007)”

Pierce Brosnan
Maria Bello
Claudette Mink
Callum Keith Rennie
Peter Kelghn
Nicholas Lea

R           95min           2007

Neil and Abby Warner have the perfect life and a perfect marriage. With their beautiful young daughter, Sophie, they are living the American dream… until today. When Sophie is suddenly kidnapped, they have no choice but to comply with the abductors demands. The kidnapper – Ryan (Pierce Brosnan), a cold and calculating sociopath takes over their lives with the brutal efficiency of someone who has nothing to lose. In the blink of an eye, Neil and Abby’s safe and secure existence is turned upside down. Over the next twenty-four hours, they are at the mercy of a man who wants only one thing: that they do his bidding. – from imdb

“Shattered (2007)” is an amazing film that keeps up on the edge of your seat. The actors are amazing in their respective parts. The writing is amazing in this film.

“Shattered (2007)” is a film that I do not remember being in the theaters but it should have been. This is an amazing character piece. The writing, the actors, and the way its filmed makes it a remember able film. The sum of this film is greater than its parts.

The actors are what make this film so convincing. I think Pierce Brosnan was a good Bond but he was also wasting away in the role of Bond. He really flexes his acting muscle in this film. Maria Bello plays victim as the convincingly as any actress and has that ability to change her acting on the dime. See Gerard Butler act like a victim after seeing play King Leonaides in 300 is a little throwing until about 10 minutes into the film.

“Shattered (2007)” is a film that shows why the writers strike. The film threads a thin creative line without betraying the outcome of the film. The ending is so shocking that it worth the price of admission. From this film fifty percent of the population should learn a valuable lesson.

“Shattered (2007)” contains nothing ‘special’ in features. There are two featurettes “Breaking Apart the Wheel” and “Hero to Villian”. It has an audio commentary by the writer/director. Then the standard deleted and extended scenes. “3:10 to Yuma”, “Good Luck Chuck”, “Saw IV”, “WAR” and “Crank” and “The Cooler” are the movie previews.

I give it 4/5 Gs.

“Carolina Moon”

Claire Forlani
Oliver Hudson
Josie Davis
Jonathan Scrafe
Chad Willett
Jacqueline Bisset

Unrated           95min           2007

Tory (Claire Forlani) knew coming home wouldn’t be easy, even if she didn’t have a gift for psychic visions. A trip down memory lane means reliving horrific images that flashed through her mind many years before, the night her childhood friend Hope was brutally killed. As though that were not twisted enough, Tory soon discovers that Hope’s death was only the first in a string and the worst part? This sociopath has been waiting patiently for Tory’s return. So now she has two choices: use her supernatural powers to catch this killer or end up his next victim! – from the backcover

Based on the novel of the same name by Nora Robert, Carolina Moon had the science fiction that I liked, it does capture the small town Carolina feel, and the characters could be people I know. However, I think the film went over the top in how the killer got away with the murder.

Claire Forlani plays a woman who embraces her paranormal powers but still has to adjust to using them in the real world. Being haunted by how her power can go aright, she does a good job of displaying the emotion of the character. The story shows how complicated its is to use your gift for good and how it can become a curse. Even with it being a big part of the story it doesn’t overpower the story.

Oliver Hudson captures the modern southern farming gentleman, as Josie Davis capture the southern wild child to a tee. The setting of the film could be anywhere in the south and southerners will know someone like most of these characters. Carolina Moon also displays so wonderful and open scenes showing off the location, capturing an aspect of small town life in the south.

Where the film has, a flaw is in the killer. The film bends and breaks the rule of Tory’s powers to fit the story. The flaws allow the killer to get away with too. The one thing hurts the film in my opinion taking me out of the film.

I give it 2/5 Gs.

“Cherry Crush”

Nikki Reed
Jonathan Tucker
Julie Gonzalo
Michael O’Keefe
Haviland Morris
Dennis Boutsikaris
Frank Whaley

R           99min           2007

Privileged teenager Jordan Wells finds himself expelled from prep school after taking provocative photos of his female classmates. Now enrolled in the local high school, he becomes helplessly blinded by the beauty of Shay Bettencourt, a stunning temptress from the other side of the tracks. She is everything he wanted, everything he needed, and nothing he expected. As the relationship heats up, Jordan finds himself wrapped up in the web of her fatal beauty… and an accessory to murder – twice. “Cherry Crush” stars Jonathan Tucker (“Texas Chainsaw Massacre”, “Hostage”) and Nikki Reed (“Thirteen”, TV’s “The O.C.”) – from the back cover

Another film that shows that film noir has morphed and found new life with a teen genre. The modern film noir works well with teens in the lead. Setting them in the teen world show the dark, complicated, and twisted world than teens face.

I found that “Cherry Crush” comes across as a little vague in nature. I don’t know if it was meant to set up a sequel but it certainly does. I would like to see how this second act would play out. I think the crossing and double cross possibilities could make an interesting sequel.

Jonathan Tucker holds the lead and he comes across as the victim caught in the web of a black widow. Nikki Reed plays a femme fatale to perfection I never really got her angle. When I final realized it I would have already stepped into the shit but would have never keep going as far as Jordan did. In the end, Jordan Wells ended up in a nightmare of his own design because he could detach from her web.

I think if you love film noir you will like “Cherry Crush”. It’s interesting and tells a good tale. Leaving the view wanting more but still satisfied with the tale told to them. Another good film noir is “Brick”, film that I saw a in 2006.

’s DVD is essentially bare to the bone. It contains on featurette of the behind the scenes making of “Cherry Crush”. The only other special features is movie previews for “The Contract”, “Earthstorm” and “Kovak Box”.

I give it 4/5 Gs.