Scream Bloody Entertainment

Not much has happened during this past week. I’m desperately trying to catch up with some 2010 films that I haven’t had the chance to see yet in order to finish up my top movie list.

Saturday

The Housemaid (2010) - 5/10
I wasn’t sure what to expect from The Housemaid going in, but I decided to give it a go because I’m really in love with Korean cinema right now. Sadly, this film didn’t turn out to be of much good, though it did have some redeemable qualities to it. The opening scene felt very out of place in comparison to the rest of the film and I felt that it was an unnecessary addition to the picture since it didn’t have any connection with the rest of the story (other than some implied stuff). The acting was decent, though none of the cast members managed to actually impress. The plot seemed to be relatively weak and executed in a very uninspiring manner, but what really didn’t work for me was the so-called climax and the ridiculous way in which it played out. However, the film does manage to make an interesting and thought-provoking comparison between the upper and lower class of people which is not only valid in South Korea, but has a universal reach. Despite its shortcomings, The Housemaid deserves some props for its beautiful cinematography. Other than that, though, I’m afraid I have to call this one a disappointing Korean thriller.

“Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune.” - Jim Rohn

After the 2007 crime drama Gone Baby Gone, Ben Affleck returns to the director’s chair with another Boston-based crime film entitled The Town, which is an adaptation (of sorts) of Chuck Hogan’s novel Prince of Thieves. Taking place in the Boston neighborhood Charlestown, this movie follows the lives of a group of Boston bank robbers as they go through several robberies, with each more dangerous than the last one. Its focus lies on Doug MacRay (played by none other than Ben Affleck himself) and his relationship with Claire Keesey (Rebecca Hall), a bank manager who was previously taken hostage by his group while on a bank job.

First and foremost, The Town works well because it remains highly entertaining from start to finish and it never loses pace or feels like a drag. It is a movie that is very well executed and will be sure to keep the audience on the edge of their seat, especially during its more intense scenes. Its structure is quite simple: the crew goes on a job, followed by a good amount of time developing the characters and the story. However, the way this plan of action is put into practice in the movie is truly amazing. While it could have easily fallen prey to dullness, the film always makes the most out of each scene and every single frame is used in order to help progress the story instead of misusing its time trying to impress the viewer.


Right from the beginning, The Town does not waste any time and dives right into the action. The film starts off with a bank robbery which turns out to be mostly successful for the group of robbers, but due to unforeseen circumstances they decide to take a hostage (bank manager Claire Keesey) in order to ensure a safe escape. After making sure the coast was clear, the robbers release Claire and go about their own way. However, James “Jem” Coughlin (played by Jeremy Renner), one of the four men involved in the robbery, begins to wonder whether Claire could prove to be a danger if she goes to the FBI, so he asks his lifelong friend and fellow partner in crime Doug MacRay to keep an eye on her.

Once Doug and Claire meet and start a seeing each other, things become more and more complicated as Doug finds himself having to hide his newfound relationship from his friends, especially James, who intended to kill Claire in order to ensure her silence but was convinced otherwise by Doug. The film manages to convey a fine balance between the growing connection of two people and the adrenaline-filled life of a group of criminals jumping from one robbery to the next.


Even though The Town mainly focuses on delivering action and moving the story forward, its characters have a genuine feel to them, even though not much time is spent on their development except for Doug MacRay’s and Claire Keesey’s. With just a couple of dialogues and the help of the actors’ facial expressions, the film manages to create a believable image of friendship and brotherhood between Doug and James Coughlin. There’s an interesting contrast between them: Doug is a lot more considerate when moving forward with his actions while James has little emotion to spare for those that do not count themselves amongst his friends.

The cast of The Town deserves major props for delivering some really impeccable performances. Starting off with Ben Affleck, who in addition to directing this movie also starred in the main role, it’s safe to say that despite his rocky career over the past decade, he has returned to top form and does a great job at portraying Doug MacRay. Even though Doug is a criminal, Affleck manages to provide him with enough emotion and human qualities so as to make him a character worth rooting for. Female lead Rebecca Hall also shows off her acting chops as the tormented Claire Keesey who is victim to an unfortunate event and must learn to live with it. However, the standout performance of the movie belongs to supporting actor Jeremy Renner, who plays the ruthless bank robber James Coughlin to perfection. Not only does he manage to create an intimidating image of a dangerous criminal, but he also proves that he is able to communicate the most difficult of emotions whenever the need arises.


In addition to the main cast there are also a couple of really excellent actors which embody the secondary characters in the film. Among them are Mad Men actor Jon Hamm who plays FBI agent Adam Frawley and Blake Lively who takes on the role of James’ drug-addicted sister and Doug’s ex-girlfriend Krista Coughlin. The Town gently combines the gritty realism of Boston life with a series of action scenes which are put together impressively and truly deliver in terms of thrills and entertainment. The film also benefits from first-class writing and a great sense for storytelling, which is decisive in securing its uninterrupted flow and well-balanced progression.

While The Town may not revolutionize or reinvent heist films, it is undoubtedly a fine addition to the genre as it not only delivers a fast-paced experience filled with very well-done action sequences, but it also impresses in terms of acting and narrative structure. Whatever you may have thought of Ben Affleck up to this point, I suggest you put it aside and give The Town a fair chance, because it definitely deserves one. There’s no guarantee that Affleck will impress everyone with his acting, but he will most certainly strike a chord when it comes to his directing skills.

As some of you may have guessed from reading my blog, I’m quite an avid anime viewer and I also write anime reviews from time to time. Sadly, I simply don’t have the time to cover a wide range of anime and therefore I usually end up focusing on only a few series. Fortunately, I’ve met a good deal of fellow anime enthusiasts over at MyAnimeList and one of them decided to take up my offer of writing a guest post for Scream Bloody Entertainment.

His name is Jeloy and he will be reviewing Toradora!, a comedy-oriented romantic anime series which aired from 2008 to 2009.

Toradora!

16-01-2011/24-01-2011/25-01-2011/15-02-2011

Introduction
Toradora! is the first anime I’ve watched when my friend introduced me to Japanese media. Whenever I recall it brings back so many memories; so many hilarious and sad moments which made me laugh and cry. It really got me hooked to the whole Japanese anime and manga series. Here’s why:

Story
Toradora! starts out with two of the protagonists, Ryuuji and Taiga finding out each other’s crushes and agreeing to help themselves in order to get closer to their crushes. As the story goes on, both of them get more and more involved in situations which put the pair closer together, even though Ryuuji and Taiga are still called by their classmates ‘rivals’ at school. They slowly begin to realize their feelings for each other and start to share a close bond. As the story progresses, Ryuuji and Taiga discover more about their friends and relationships that will ultimately lead up to crucial life-changing decisions which will affect their future. A pretty simple storyline for a high school com-rom series, but there’s much more to it than it meets the eye.

Character
Each of the lead protagonists have some story of their own in Toradora!, as more and more episodes reveal about the characters’ past and progress in the plot. Ryuuji has (really) narrow eyes which make his friends think he’s a deranged insane killer, while Taiga is the short-statured girl nicknamed the ‘Palmtop Tiger’ for her aggressive behavior to her classmates. From Minorin to Taiga’s Father, there’s always a special catch about each person that keeps the comedy factor running smoothly. The producers were- able to point out the interesting traits the protagonists have, keeping the audience guessing what role will they play in the whole plot.

Animation
J.C. Staff has been known to draw better than most of the anime production teams out there, and it has really produced a polished anime series. Toradora! brings out the quirky and serious emotions of the characters and manages to set the mood of the situations. The anime directors made the drama moments more intense while at the same time kept the freshness of everyday, high-school life. The environment is pleasing to the eyes and the drawing is well-detailed enough to make Toradora! seem more lively and colorful.

Sound
The Toradora! soundtrack has been one of the best and most beautiful music I’ve ever heard in anime. While some of the tracks don’t stand out as they are supposed to be, some of the BGM come out strong in certain scenes (especially the drama parts) as it plays a big role in setting the mood and ambience. For those of you who have watched the whole series, remember the music playing when Taiga runs out of her apartment to chase down Ryuuji downstairs? The track playing really made the emotion of the scene more touching to the audience.

Enjoyment
Probably some of you might not agree with me, but Toradora has been the most enjoyable comedy-romance anime I’ve ever watched. The laughs, the tears, the tension, the awkwardness, and the feeling of wanting to watch more – Toradora! brings it all. I laughed so hard when Inko tries to say something but fails miserably in front of Ryuuji. It’s a big pleasure to watch this anime as it never disappoints you in drama or comedy.

Overall
Toradora! is a masterpiece on its own, and it gets a perfect score 10 from me. If you like comedy, drama, romance, then this is definitely the anime for you. I would highly recommend this to anyone who hasn’t watched it yet. And trust me, Toradora! is truly something not to be missed.

You can find out more about Jeloy and his work over at his MyAnimeList profile and on Tumblr.

"The most anticipated horror event of the year. Steady your nerves, your sleepless nights are about to return." - DreadCentral

the plot
After moving into a new house, a family begins experiencing strange events at night, which leads them to setting up a series of security cameras around their home. Soon enough, though, they start realising the true nature of these events.

the good
- decent acting
- some really good thrills
- ties in well with the first movie
- unexpected climax
- genuine and believable characters
- sets up some interesting plot points for future sequels
- more badass Katie moments

the bad
- yet another skeptical male character
- not as inventive as the original
- lacks memorable thrills
- could have used a more satisfying conclusion

the ugly
- thrashed house
- animal violence
- dragged into the basement
- weird scratches on doors
- bite marks
- possessed chick gone crazy
- poltergeist objects
- fun in the basement
- exorcism
- death by neck breaking
- thrown violently across the room

things I learned from watching this movie
- it's official: demons want P-U-S-S-Y
- pool cleaners can climb out of the swimming pool by themselves
- the wind can shut the door behind you and lock you out of your home
- owning Burger King restaurants won't save you from vicious demons

summary
While Paranormal Activity 2 may not have lived up to the original film's power to frighten, it still makes for a very chilling experience. Unlike the first one, thrills are rather sparse here and they ultimately didn't prove to be as memorable. However, Paranormal Activity 2 is a step up in terms of storytelling and it ties things together nicely with the original movie and sets some things up for future releases. It's definitely worth a watch if you're looking for more scares in the same vein with 2009's low-budget sleeper hit.

horror meter: 3 infant stars (out of 5)

I’ve been planning to post my list with the top movies of the year around the time the Oscar ceremony will take, but there are still so many films I need to see, so I doubt I’ll manage to finish it all up in time. We’ll see…

Monday

V for Vendetta (2006) - 9/10
I first saw V for Vendetta a couple of years ago, but I decided to give it another watch since I couldn’t really remember anything from it, aside from the fact that it left quite an impression on me back then. Upon rewatching it, I quickly started recalling all the scenes and was highly impressed by how well-done the entire movie was. Hugo Weaving delivered a truly memorable performance as V and his incredible charisma really paid off in this movie. Then there’s Natalie Portman, who also did quite a fabulous job and I was surprised to see how good her English accent was. The action scenes in the film are executed in a smart manner and never feel excessive or unnecessary, instead adding up to the smooth pacing of the story. The Wachowski Brothers definitely deserve a lot of credit for writing a truly magnificent script and it’s simply incredible how well-done this film is on a narrative level. The main storyline is never neglected and it doesn’t feel rushed either—it’s very well executed. I think I actually enjoyed V for Vendetta even more this time around and it definitely left a mark on me, in addition to instantly becoming one of my favourite movies. A must-see for sure.

Thursday

Love and Other Drugs (2010) - 5/10
I’m not a big fan of modern comedies, let alone romantic ones, but it seemed as though Love and Other Drugs would prove to be an interesting experience. Even though the film did not turn out to be better than your usual fare, it did try to do things differently and I enjoyed the humour and its plot. Jake Gyllenhaal did a really good job in the leading role and so did Anne Hathaway—the chemistry between them was fairly impressive. While the film was not constantly plagued by jokes, I did laugh out loud a couple of times. However, what really brought the film down for me were its generic third act and the typical rom-com conclusion which it decided to take. Unfortunately, not even Gyllenhaal’s and Hathaway’s charismatic portrayal of their characters did not help prevent the movie from taking the path that it did and ultimately descending into familiar territory. Love and Other Drugs may be worth a shot for those that enjoy even more average films of the genre, but for everyone else it’s simply not a road worth taking.

Friday

Rabbit Hole (2010) - 5/10
Rabbit Hole was highly praised for its lead actors’ performances and therefore I was really looking forward to it, even though its premise did not strike me as potentially engaging. In the end, it turned out to be quite a disappointment and it never went beyond being just a decent drama. Themes such as loss and letting go were the film’s main struggle, but the movie never struck me as too tragic or out of the ordinary. It made for a somewhat entertaining experience, but neither its story nor the acting left an impression on me. That’s right, I didn’t consider Nicole Kidman’s performance to be as good as everyone else did—her acting may have been good, as expected from an actress of her caliber, but nothing really special or deserving of the praise that it received. On the other hand, I found Aaron Eckhart’s performance pretty impressive and he definitely stood out more than Nicole Kidman. To be quite honest, I don’t think Rabbit Hole would have done so well critically if it weren’t for the lead actors. Without them, this would have just gone to be a forgettable, if slightly enjoyable ride in most viewers’ eyes. Perhaps worth a watch for those who first and foremost look for good acting in a movie, but otherwise it’s just not worth it.

Flipped (2010) - 7/10
For the entire past year and present one, I don’t think I’ve actually stumbled upon anyone who has heard of Flipped. I didn’t know too many things about it myself when I went into it, but it seemed like it would be an interesting, even if a more casually styled film. I actually ended up really enjoying it and I found its plot to be really well-done overall. I found the idea of telling the story from both lead characters’ perspective very interesting and it was definitely very well executed, aside from some minor problems with the film’s pacing. Lead actors Callan McAuliffe and Madeline Carroll were both thoroughly impressive in their roles and the movie would not have worked without their solid performances considering that its effectiveness relied heavily on how well they did. I highly recommend Flipped for its sweet romantic story about two teenagers falling in love, especially nowadays when such films rarely turn out to be more than mediocre.

And now to see your love set free
You’ll need the witch's cabin key
Find the lady of the light gone mad with the night
That's how you reshape destiny…

Alan Wake

Released 2010
Genre: Action, Psychological Thriller
Developed by Remedy Entertainment
Published by Microsoft Game Studios
Designed by Mikael Kasurinen
Written by Sam Lake, Mikko Rautalahti
Available for Xbox 360

I recently got the chance to play Alan Wake, last year’s Xbox 360 summer hit. Developed by Remedy Entertainment, the studio responsible for Max Payne and its sequel, this story-driven psychological thriller (with hints of horror) video game makes for one hell of an intense ride and a very interesting story. As a lover of everything that is horror, I was immediately immersed in this game once I started playing it. But before we get into any of that, let me first give you a little information about Alan Wake and its plot.

What it’s all about

The video game’s title stems from the protagonist of the story, Alan Wake. Wake is a bestselling thriller writer who goes on a vacation with his wife Alice in the small rural town of Bright Falls, Washington. On their way there, Alan experiences nightmares about creepy axe-wielding fellas chasing him around in the dead of the night. Once arrived in Bright Falls, the couple make themselves comfortable in their rented cabin which sits on an island in Cauldron Lake, but things take a bad turn when Alice disappears while Alan is out for a walk. Trapped in a world where dream and reality seem to constantly clash into each other, Alan Wake sets out to find his wife and look for answers regarding the strange things that are happening around Bright Falls.


The game is divided into episodes (six episodes in total with more to come as downloadable content), each following a chapter in Alan Wake’s pursuit and his nightly adventures. In some respects, one could say that Alan Wake plays out like a TV show—each episode starts with a ‘Previously on Alan Wake,’ giving you a small recap of the previous events, and usually ends with a cliffhanger of sorts. Contributing to this are the cinematic cutscenes which look simply amazing and are a thrill to watch (well, some of the lip syncing is terrible, but apart from that, great stuff). Most of the action takes place during the night and the usual location are the creepy woods surrounding Bright Falls. That’s not to say that there aren’t any parts that take place during the day, because there are—you’ll get to explore parts of Bright Falls and get to know some of the locals.

The Dark Presence and the Taken

Despite Alan Wake being a story-driven game, it does also contain a series of enemies that you’ll be facing off against on your journey for the truth (and your wife, of course). Remember that crazy axe-wielding dudes I mentioned earlier? Well, they may not always wield and axe, but they’re sure as hell crazy—and they make for the central enemies in the game. Surrounded by shadows and out to kill you in any way possible, these people are so-called manifestations of a greater evil and they’re called the Taken. As for the evil controlling them, Alan refers to it as the Dark Presence (those who watched the TV series Lost will know what they’re in for), but any further information would certainly spoil your fun of finding out the mystery for yourself, so I’ll just stop here. In addition to all the trouble from the Taken and the Dark Presence, you’ll also have to deal with vicious crows and possessed objects striking at you from all directions. Fun times.

You may ask yourself: how can I defeat the Darkness? Obviously, your enemies’ greatest weakness is light, and you’ll have to use that to your advantage in every way possible. In order to battle the Taken, you’ll have to use a combination of light (usually this will be your flashlight, which also serves as your way of aiming) and various weapons, including your standard shotgun and revolver and, more efficiently, flares and the flare gun. Lamp posts will become your best friends, since they act as both checkpoints (upon reaching a lamp post, your progress will be saved) and as safe havens where you’ll be able to retreat and escape from the grasp of the Taken.


Where did I put that Stephen King reference?

Horror buffs and fans of Stephen King, rejoice! You’re definitely going to get your fill of Stephen King throughout Alan Wake. The more obvious influences are Bright Falls, a place which seems to be making allusions to King’s trademark idyllic small towns appearing in his works (let’s not forget David Lynch’s Twin Peaks as well) and various in-game references such as Alan Wake comparing events that are happening around him to moments out of a Stephen King novel. As a matter of fact, the game itself starts with a quote from Stephen King as Alan Wake brings up the subject of dreams and nightmares.

Where would we be without the coffee thermoses?

In order to spice things up, there are various collectable items to be found during your adventures in Alan Wake. First and foremost, there are tons of pages from Alan’s latest manuscript scattered throughout the game (about twenty for each episode, give or take). Not only does our tormented writer not remember writing any of it, but each page also gives us some insight about what is going on (and what has yet to happen, in some cases). In order to collect all of the pages and complete the manuscript, you’ll have to complete the game on Nightmare mode (the highest difficulty) since some pages cannot be found in any of the other modes. Then there are the coffee thermoses, which aren’t nearly as fun or rewarding to go after—seriously, why the hell would coffee thermoses be found in creepy forests and dark, abandoned places? Makes no sense and ruins the mood, if you ask me. Last but not least, there are radio shows which keep you updated on what is going on in Bright Falls while you’re off hunting Taken and searching for aforementioned coffee thermoses that would make valuable acquisitions to your collection (and your wife… but mainly coffee thermoses, amirite?) and TVs that broadcast a series entitled Night Springs complete with a good amount weird episodes similar to the ones in the popular The Twilight Zone, to which it is an obvious homage.


Hail to the Old Gods of Asgard!

Around now, you’re probably asking yourself what’s so great about Alan Wake? An obvious answer would be its story, which is incredibly well written (plotholes or not, we’ll probably have to wait for extra episodes or an actual sequel to find an answer to that question) and executed in a brilliant manner, delivering thrills and some noteworthy twists and reveals along the way. Thanks to the impressive writing, Alan Wake is also filled with a bunch of interesting characters which make the story all the more fun to watch as it uncovers. Unlike many protagonists, Alan Wake actually possesses a really strong and well-shaped personality that is not without flaws—he’s much like you’d imagine a writer of his caliber and style to be. Hell, even secondary characters leave a really strong impression. Worth mentioning are Barry Wheeler, Alan’s friend and literary agent (often used for comedic effect, but very efficiently so), the mysterious and seemingly crazy old lady known as Cynthia Weaver (Twin Peaks’ Log Lady, anyone?) and FBI Agent Robert Nightingale, who for some reason is determined to capture and arrest Alan by any means necessary.

Some of Alan Wake’s other strong points include its beautiful visuals (watching the landscapes and mountains in the background during the night make for some really memorable moments), including the appropriate palette of dark colours which make the video game look so original and unique, and the music heard throughout the game. Now I’m not talking about the score or the ambient sounds, both of which are great (except for the car sounds—what the hell?), but rather the series of songs which are heard at the end of each episode. These evoke a really interesting and often varying image of the episode you’ve just completed and I urge you to listen to each and every song, as they are sure to remain stuck in your mind for a good amount of time after.

The graveyard shift can give you cancer!

While Alan Wake may sport some uncommon gameplay mechanics, it isn't by any means revolutionary in that aspect, so that’s definitely not a reason why you should pick this game up. Why you should play Alan Wake, however, is due to its interesting and well-written story that boasts a satisfying amount of mystery and weirdness. The lack of variety in combat may lead to some uninspired moments towards the end, but the engaging storyline will most certainly keep you hooked until the very end. On top of that you’ve got eye-popping visuals, a memorable soundtrack and a good deal of intriguing characters to get to know along the way. If you enjoy the work of Stephen King or if you’re into TV shows such as The X-Files, Twin Peaks or Lost, then I highly recommend you check out Alan Wake. Remember to bring your flashlight, though!

As the 83rd Academy Awards ceremony draws closer (just as a reminder, it's taking place on the 27th of February), all the movies nominated are getting more and more buzz, and rightfully so. An illustrator known as Mr. Shabba has created a line of posters for five of the films nominated for Best Picture. Check them out below, they're pretty god damn awesome.


Here's a bigger version of each of them:

• Black Swan
• The Fighter
• The King's Speech
• The Social Network
• True Grit

If you're interested in buying a print, go to Mr. Shabba! Shop.

Only One Has The Power To Save Their Souls.

the plot
Sixteen years after a series of murders terrorized a small town, seven teenagers who share their birthday with the alleged death of the supposed serial killer begin to be hunted down one by one.

the good
- awesome opening sequence
- the killer's great look and his memorable signature weapon
- it's not as obvious as it first appears to be
- some really spine-tingling scenes

the bad
- too formulaic
- horrible dialogue
- uninspiring acting
- weak ending
- plotholes, plotholes, plotholes
- one-dimensional, shallow characters
- several inconsistencies throughout the film
- the 3D gimmick
- lack of creativity in the kills
- the teenage characters sometimes act too childish, other times too mature

the ugly
- lots of kills with a pocket knife
- dead wife in bed
- stabbing oneself
- shot down
- death by headshot
- slashed throats
- stabbed in the stomach and thrown in the river
- stabbed in the back
- dead body by the memorial
- gutted to death
- death in the dining room
- stab wounds
- stabbed in the chest

things I learned from watching this movie
- being born on the same day as the presumed death of a serial killer is not very healthy
- maybe you shouldn't go around telling people that you have to cross a creepy bridge at night
- spitting in the water definitely doesn't work
- fear your local high school mafia girl group
- not even God's faithful servants are safe from the Riverton Ripper
- if the girl says no when you ask for sex, proceed to chase her through the woods while calling her all kinds of names
- your sister can beat the crap out of you
- no one's gonna believe that the black kid is the killer
- the kitchen knife is where it should be

summary
My Soul to Take marks Wes Craven's return to horror, but it does so in an underwhelming and disappointing manner due to the film turning out to be a complete mess. Its premise is relatively original and the opening sequence is actually really well done, but it all goes downhill from there. Filled with unimaginative thrills, a lack of a properly developed story and one-dimensional teenage characters that blurt out the weirdest and most inappropriate dialogue lines (thanks to the horrible script, of course), My Soul to Take turns out to be a weak slasher flick that has little redeeming qualities to it.

horror meter: 2 soul-destroying stars (out of 5)

This past week proved to be quite an interesting one. I got to check out a couple of new releases, as well as Wes Craven’s newest film. Plus, I revisited a Coen brothers movie that I felt like it needed a second watch just so I could make up my mind about it. More info below.

Thursday

Unthinkable (2010) - 7/10
Unthinkable is a movie starring big names such as Carrie-Anne Moss, Samuel Jackson and Michael Sheen, but it unfortunately did not receive much of a release and remained rather unheard of most of the year. I say ‘unfortunately’ because Unthinkable is a very well-done drama thriller that takes the issue of modern terrorism under the loop. With solid acting from both Moss and Jackson and a truly exceptional performance by Michael Sheen, this movie manages to deliver an intense experience filled with little twists and turns, each making taking the story to new extremes. Additionally, the main characters are put in several situations where they have to make the hardest of decisions. The result is a thought-provoking and thoroughly interesting film that leaves little spared when it comes to how far its story will go. I certainly did not expect Unthinkable to turn out to be such a good flick, but I’m glad I finally gave it a shot, despite its discouraging lack of popularity. What I love so much about this one is that it could have easily fallen into cliché-filled territory, but it instead maintained a steadfast attitude and delivered a unique and intriguing picture. Unthinkable is certainly worth giving a shot and even though some may not end up feeling as strongly about the film as I did, it’ll definitely offer everyone a couple of moral topics to reflect upon.

My Soul to Take (2010) - 4/10
Anyone who loves horror should automatically love Wes Craven's work as well, for he has delivered some of the most important American horror flicks over the past couple of decades. However, one must admit that not all of Wes Craven’s films have been as potent as his most well-known ones. When I first heard of My Soul to Take, I became instantly excited and have awaited its release ever since. Once it hit theatres, though, all the negative reviews came flooding in and without even giving the film a chance, I ended up being very disappointed. Recently I got the chance to finally see it for myself and for a second I dismissed all the negative feedback and decided to go into the movie with an open mind. Surprisingly, the film started off pretty good and I thought the opening sequence was very well-done and truly spine-tingling. Unfortunately, the movie only went downhill from that point, and once the teenage characters were introduced, I started realizing why everyone thought it was so bad. The dialogue is incredibly weird, but not in the good way. Often, the characters would blurt out the most ridiculous of lines and the way they acted wasn’t much better either (talk about one-dimensional characters). I’m glad the film didn’t take the more predictable route when it came to the big reveal, but the final twist was executed rather poorly anyway. I’m not going to say that My Soul to Take was a complete waste of time, especially because its premise had lots of potential and the idea of the film was actually quite original, but it certainly missed most of its opportunities at delivering a good horror experience.

Friday

The Dilemma (2011) - 4/10
Even though I feel that comedies should make for the most fun films out of all the genres, few actually end up being enjoyable whatsoever, especially nowadays with most of them being filled with clichés, uninteresting stories and whatnot. The Dilemma is not different, unfortunately, but it does ease the pain a little since the trailer didn’t make it look to have much potential anyway. I’m a fan of both Vince Vaughn and Kevin James (man, King of Queens was an awesome sitcom), but it’s obvious that they haven’t been doing very well for the past couple of years. I’ve been looking forward to a pairing of the two for a long time now, but after seeing The Dilemma I just wish it would have happened in a different film. That’s not to say that they don’t share a sense of chemistry in this film, because they sure do, but that’s about the only thing that works in the entire movie. The humour is mediocre, at most, and there’s really not enough comedy in the film to really get into some of the potential laughs. Furthermore, there’s a surprising amount of drama throughout the story, which ends up getting in the way of the more comedic parts. The lack of balance between comedy and drama is probably what caused this film’s downfall, because the acting was fairly decent (especially Winona Ryder, who did a great job and her character ended up being the most interesting one out of the whole lot) and the premise did leave room for a lot of potential. The Dilemma is definitely not the best way to start this fresh new year, so I suggest you skip it, for there’s little to be had with this one.

The Green Hornet (2011) - 6/10
I had mixed feelings about The Green Hornet ever since I first heard of it. For one, the idea of the film seemed interesting enough and you really can’t have enough superhero flicks, now can you? On the other hand, I had my doubts about whether Seth Rogen can pull a role like this one off. Nevertheless, once the film hit theatres I went and checked it out just to see if it was any good or not. Ultimately, it proved to be a very entertaining and fun experience, but it was also one filled with flaws and shortcomings. First, let me say a few words about the cast in this film. Seth Rogen did play his part rather well, but his character was completely out-of-place and certainly not protagonist material—I can’t really put it into words without spoiling a couple of things regarding the plot, so you’ll just have to go out and see the movie for yourself. As for Jay Chou, the other lead of the film, his English language skills may not be the best, but he made up for that with a really great screen presence and a fitting performance. Surprisingly enough, I also enjoyed Cameron Diaz’s performance and it was nice to see her in a role where she doesn’t play a clueless or otherwise stupid character. Last but not least, there’s Christoph Waltz, who even though it was nice to see him on-screen, I felt that most of his potential was wasted on an underdeveloped and dull villain. The film’s strongest points would have to be the well-done action scenes and (usually) clever touches of comedy that spice up certain scenes. Overall, I had a lot of fun watching The Green Hornet, but it lacks the power and resolution to make it a complete winner.

Tangled (2010) - 9/10
I’m not a big fan of Disney and their fairy tale classics and children’s stories, but I do admit that they’ve delivered some really amazing stuff, unfortunately more so in the past than in recent years. I’m aware of the Rapunzel story and I’ve read and it’s been read to me tons of times when I was young, but I can’t say that I have been too excited about Tangled at first. Once the positive reviews came flooding in, however, I changed my mind and immediately decided to check it out as soon as possible. Soon enough, it arrived in theatres around my parts as well and I didn’t have to be told twice to go out and give it a watch. I’m really glad I finally got to see it, because it turned out to be one heck of an animated flick and it instantly became one of my favourite films of the year. The animation is superb and even the 3D is eye-popping, but those are not the only things that make Tangled stand out from the crowd. It tells its story in the most well done manner possible, often adding some really brilliant comedy in the mixed. Needless to say, the entire audience that I saw this movie with was laughing out loud during most of the more comedic parts and I wasn’t any different myself. I thoroughly enjoyed this extraordinary picture and I suggest you check it out if you’ve got the chance, whether you’re just a 10-year-old or belong to one of the more mature viewers. It’s as fun for everybody, that’s for sure.

Sunday

No Country for Old Men (2007) - 8/10
No Country for Old Men was among the first Coen brothers films that I got to see and back then I don’t think I fully appreciated this movie for what it was--I believe I gave it a quick review here, in one of the earlier Weekly Updates, though if you wanna check it out, you’re gonna have to search for it yourself, seeing as I’m too lazy right now to do it myself. Anyway, I recently got to revisit it and I have to say that I enjoyed it a lot more this time around than I did back when I first saw it. What I found most impressive was the cinematography—No Country for Old Men looks simply extraordinary. The plot may seem a little constrained, but it’s executed in the best way possible. Josh Brolin did a great job in the leading role, but it was Javier Bardem and his amazing portrayal of a cold-blooded killer that really shined in this film. Of course, you’ve also got phenomenal actors such as Tommy Lee Jones, Woody Harrelson and Kelly Macdonald that round out this film’s incredible cast. In the end, I realized that No Country for Old Men is one of those rare movies that deliver a lot more than at first glance and provided you give it more than just a single watch, I’m sure you’ll come to love it, just like I did.

...in the mood for some dumplings.

Year: 2010
Number of episodes: 24 (aprox. 25 min per episode)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy

Titles are essential in most forms of entertainment in order to draw attention. Titles, however, can also be misleading. Such was the case for me and the anime series entitled The Legend of the Legendary Heroes. It may be have been just me, but for some reason I did not find the title to be particularly appealing and it certainly did not paint an image that seemed interesting to me—it felt too simple, too exaggerated. Then again, titles can be misleading.

The Legend of the Legendary Heroes is a fantasy piece—a tale of magic and war in land inspired by Europe during the Middle Ages. It deals with Feudal Warfare, more or less. Its focus lies in a number of characters, each taking up a particular role in shaping the world that they reside in. The Roland Empire is the country brought into our attention. At its throne lies the striving Sion Astal, a king of quite a young age, but one that has decided to do everything within his power to change his kingdom for the good. Things are looking better than they have been for a while in Roland, but the greatest battle has yet to take place, for behind the shadows lie assassination attempts to overthrow the king and various conflicts between the neighboring countries.


Sion Astal knows that in order to prevail and fulfill his dream of changing the world for good he must find alternative ways of going about the problem. Therefore, he sends his good friend Ryner Lute, whom he made a promise to make the world a better place, and Ferris Eris, a female swordsman stemming to a clan in charge of guarding the king, beyond the borders of Roland and upon a journey to search for ancient relics that are said to have once belonged to a great warrior. These relics may hold the power to single-handedly turn the tides of battle in the bearer’s favour.

Apart from the three aforementioned characters, which could be called the most important ones in the series, there are still lots of other ones that receive a notable amount of screen time and are quite vital to the progress of the story, such as Sion Astal’s right-hand man Miran Froaude (a highly interesting character that remains as puzzling in the end as he ever was) or Milk Callaud, the captain of Roland’s taboo-breaker squad who has her own personal reverse harem.


Too many anime series like to paint their characters in black or white, but The Legend of the Legendary Heroes always remains in the gray area with most of its characters. Sure, Ryner Lute is a typical protagonist, yet even he has some pretty dubious past experiences. What’s fascinating is the way we gain a different perspective on certain characters, since some tend to change their alignment (or so it appears, at least) or something about them is revealed that puts them in a completely different light. Flashbacks are no stranger in this anime and they are often used in clever ways, usually giving us more insight about the characters and their principles (or their lack of them), but they also tend to become dull or overused at times (so everyone had a bad childhood—how convenient).

Magic plays an important part in The Legend of the Legendary Heroes. The person most in contact with it is Ryner Lute, who is actually one of Roland’s greatest magicians (not many know this since he prefers afternoon naps over battles) and an Alpha Stigma bearer, meaning his eyes can detect forms of magic, but he is cursed as much as he is blessed, for those possessing the Alpha Stigma tend to go out of control and destroy everything in their path if things get too intense. There’s certainly some sword fighting to be had throughout the series (especially from Ferris’ part), but most battles are fought using magic. Thankfully, the fight scenes are very well-done and they’re always highly entertaining and easy to decipher (no weird camera angles or hurried editing here, don’t worry).


One of this anime’s most impressive aspects is the story. It may not be innovative or original, but it’s executed in a spectacular manner, often exploring different themes or following several plot paths all at once. The main storyline never feels neglected, but somehow the series always finds time to develop other things at the same time and offer each of its characters satisfactory screen time. The episodes work great because their filled with a lot of variety, often featuring fashbacks and focusing on several plot points. The Legend of the Legendary Heroes gets a lot done in twenty minutes’ time, always remaining entertaining yet never feeling rushed or overloaded.

The art and animation is truly excellent, often eye-popping, but it does exhibit some problems. For one, some of the characters’ facial expressions could have been drawn better, especially when it came to scenes depicting comedy. My other gripe is with an episode about halfway through the series which uses a different art style from the rest of the episodes. The reason why the anime changed styles was because the episode was more action-packed than the usual ones, but that still doesn’t excuse the fact that that certain episode felt too unfamiliar to work in balance with the rest of the series.


Perhaps the most important drawback of this anime is its conclusion, or rather the lack thereof. While the series does not end with a cliff-hanger, it does leave most things open for a supposed sequel. However, a sequel coming out or not completely depends on how well this anime does on a financial level (it hasn’t been doing very well up to this point from what I’ve heard). So before deciding whether to give The Legend of the Legendary Heroes a watch or not, you might want to take into consideration the fact that things may never be resolved if no sequel is produced (of course, we’ll always have the light novels to ease that pain).

Despite such flaws, The Legend of the Legendary Heroes remains an excellent fantasy anime series. The story is very well done, the characters are thoroughly interesting and adopt shades of gray instead of black and white and every episode is as enjoyable as the previous one. Don’t let its corny title be the deciding factor when it comes to considering whether The Legend of the Legendary Heroes is worth your time.

A film by Srdjan Spasojevic

the plot
A former porn star agrees to star in a mysterious art film in order to support his family financially, but little does he know that he's about to take part in a violent production featuring rape, incest and necrophilia.

the good
- high production value
- brilliant cinematography
- interesting plot
- well-acted
- smooth introduction, terrific conclusion
- disturbing ending
- relentless in execution

the bad
- some ridiculous plot elements
- not as graphic as one would expect
- cheap gore
- feels too gratuitous in places

the ugly
- nudity, nudity and more nudity
- too much violence to recount
- sex with physically abused women
- bitten penis
- newborn porn
- rape, followed by a brutal decapitation
- anally raped
- removal of the teeth
- suffocation by deep throat
- masturbating in public
- sodomy
- incest rape
- crushed head
- bludgeoned to death
- death by gunshot
- penetration through the eye socket
- punched in the face
- triple kill
- implied necrophilia

things I learned from watching this movie
- if you catch your son watching porn, offer to make him some toast
- never sign a suspicious contract
- mixing art with porn never ends well
- the wheels turn better at night
- Newborn porn! NEWBORN PORN!
- nothing beats getting head while watching some family videos
- if it doesn't fit in, maybe it's best you check what you're doing first
- porn is a tough industry

summary
A Serbian Film is definitely one of the most extreme horror films in recent years, but unlike many other of its type, it has excellent production quality and a coherent plot going for it. The film may seem awfully gratuitous at times and it often feels like it's doing certain things just to see how far it can go, but that doesn't diminish its shock value. Most certainly not for the faint of heart, A Serbian Film is a disturbing tale of violence, pornography, death and pretty much every disgusting thing you can think of. It's gruesome, it's horrific, it's shocking.

horror meter: 4 traumatizing stars (out of 5)

I realize that I’m a little behind with these Weekly Updates, but I’ve been a little busy during the past week. I’ll have my top anime of the year list coming up soon, so that should make for some fun times, huh?

Monday

Zodiac (2007) - 8/10
I first saw Zodiac a couple of years ago and it definitely left a mark on me back then. I’ve been meaning to give it another go ever since, and after David Fincher’s recent success with The Social Network, it seemed like a good time to explore some of his previous work. My opinion of Zodiac hasn’t changed much after a second watch—it was still as excellent and impressive as it was when I first saw it, but this time I also got the chance to admire some of its subtler elements, such as the outstanding 60s and 70s atmosphere the film evoked, as well as its unique look, as expected from a David Fincher movie. The acting was highly impressive, with Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo and Robert Downey, Jr. being only a few of the excellent cast put together for this film. The plot was put together quite well, even though its fast pace lead to some confusion in a couple of places, but that only makes for a greater replay value. Even though the film is more than two hours and a half long, it never drags or feels boring, instead always building up tension and revealing more clues that keep things interesting and entertaining. If you enjoy David Fincher’s work, you should definitely give Zodiac a watch if you haven’t done so already.

Wednesday

Winter's Bone (2010) - 6/10
When I first heard of Winter’s Bone a while back, I didn’t find its subject or plot to be particularly interesting or appealing and therefore I decided to skip it, but it has garnered a great deal of positive feedback over the last couple of months and it started to feel wrong not giving the film a shot. Unfortunately, I didn’t end up liking it as much as everybody else seemed to, but it was indeed quite an interesting movie, if not anything else. The cinematography was probably the most impressive thing about Winter’s Bone, but its realistic look and atmosphere were also some of the strongest points of the film. Lead actress Jennifer Lawrence delivered quite a performance and I’m looking forward to seeing more of her in the future as she’s definitely a very talented actress. What brought the movie down for me was its simplistic plot, which felt rather dull and terribly uninteresting. Surprisingly enough, I barely cared for how it all played out and most of the time I found myself paying attention to the visual style of the movie more than anything else. The film’s strength definitely lies in its portrayal of the rural area where it takes place—its story is weak, on the other hand. Winter’s Bone is certainly not a film for everyone.

Thursday

Dinner for Schmucks (2010) - 4/10
Maybe this sounds a little biased, but I knew from the start that I wasn’t going to like Dinner for Schmucks. I’m not too fond of comedy flicks these days, especially those that use so-called ‘dumb humour,’ and judging from the mixed reviews this film got, there was little hope for me to actually find it any good. As expected, it turned out to be a pretty by-the-numbers comedy, and even though there were one or two scenes that had me burst out laughing, it ultimately failed to make use of either Paul Rudd’s or Steve Carell’s talent. As a matter of fact, it seemed like a total waste to have Paul Rudd play the straight man, considering his skill at delivering laughs (I usually enjoy most films starring him). Now I’m not saying that he’s not a good actor and that he doesn’t have any range, but his strength definitely lies in his ability to convey humour. As for Steve Carell, I usually enjoy his performances and the type of comedy that he does, but he just played a ridiculously dumb character in this film which did not fit him at all. I haven’t seen the original movie upon which Dinner for Schmucks is based, though I’m sure it makes for a more enjoyable experience compared to this one.

Saturday

Never Let Me Go (2010) - 7/10
After seeing Carey Mulligan in last year’s An Education and Andrew Garfield in The Social Network, I was thoroughly impressed by their acting skills and was looking forward to see more of them on the big screen. As such, Never Let Me Go was a movie that I was really excited about, even though I did not know anything about it other than the fact that it stars both Mulligan and Garfield, along with Keira Knightley. Only after I’ve seen the film have I found out that it’s actually based on a book, though that was hardly surprising since it did have that certain feeling to it that it’s adapted from something. Needless to say, I will not be comparing the movie to the book, but I have to say that Never Let Me Go is quite an interesting drama that is heartbreakingly emotional at times. I was not as impressed with either Andrew Garfield or Carey Mulligan, though they did do a great job in their respective roles nevertheless. As for Keira Knightley, I found her performance to be very fitting. Some of the previous films she has starred in have prevented me from becoming a fan, as her acting seems to be unbalanced at times, but she held her ground really well in this one. Never Let Me Go can be pretty slow-moving at times, but I enjoyed the film all the way. Do check it out if you’re into romantic dramas or if you enjoy any of the aforementioned actors’ performances.

Centurion (2010) - 7/10
Centurion did not play out at all like I expected it to, but I mean that in a good way. Considering its relatively underwhelming budget for an action film revolving around Ancient Rome, I was expecting little from it. Fortunately, it turned out to be a very good action-styled adventure flick and I have to say that I found it to be entertaining all the way. The story is not really big in scale, instead focusing on a group of Roman soldiers fighting for survival on foreign land, but I really enjoyed its minimalistic approach and the way it handled things in terms of storytelling and putting together the plot. Michael Fassbender’s solid performance only went on to strengthen his image for me, especially after last year’s Inglourious Basterds, where he did an excellent job as well. I also enjoyed the acting of the rest of the cast, especially Dominic West, Olga Kurylenko and Imogen Poots. I realize that it’s not very realistic to have women warriors being able to stand their ground against trained Roman soldiers, but it actually didn’t bother me too much. If you enjoy films themed around Ancient Rome, then I suggest you check Centurion out. Plus, it’s also a heck of a lot of fun, so there you go.

Sunday

I Spit on Your Grave (2010) - 6/10
I Spit on Your Grave has been one of the most awaited horror films of the past year for me and even though I did not see the original 70s film, I was surprisingly excited for this one’s release, mainly because it promised to come in the unrated form and leave little spared. After finally getting my hands on the film and giving it a watch, it’s safe to say that I Spit on Your Grave did indeed deliver in terms of violence, gore and nudity. The rape scene around which the entire movie revolves on is done in a very graphic and disturbing manner, but the torture and gore that follows is just as extreme. Leading actress Sarah Butler did a really good job in her role and despite her character being the typical female you find in every slasher movie, her acting never felt annoying or overdone. The plot is fairly average, though it never tries to act as the strongest point of the film—instead, it’s only used as a means of moving the film forward and making way for the more extreme scenes. Unfortunately, I Spit on Your Grave relies too much on torture porn in order to be shocking. Additionally, as with most other horror flicks nowadays, it’s also filled with one-dimensional characters and weak plot points. While I Spit on Your Grave did not turn out to be as good as I had hoped for, it’s still one of the better horror films of 2010.