Movie Reviews / Previews
Damage – DVD Review
'Pain has a new name' says the tagline, although, perhaps the film shouldn't be so self-deprecating on the cover art. Damage, after all, does what you expect. Steve Austin stars as John Brickner - a man released from prison and on a trail for redemption. Unfortunately, redemption for his past act of violence comes at a price - kicking the crap out of everyone. It's not the most ingenious set-up, and appears to be a surprisingly lowbrow effort from the writer of The Cooler, but this film is all about walls with teeth, so who cares?
'Pain has a new name' says the tagline, although, perhaps the film shouldn't be so self-deprecating on the cover art. Damage, after all, does what you expect. Steve Austin stars as John Brickner - a man released from prison and on a trail for redemption. Unfortunately, redemption for his past act of violence comes at a price - kicking the crap out of everyone. It's not the most ingenious set-up, and appears to be a surprisingly lowbrow effort from the writer of The Cooler, but this film is all about walls with teeth, so who cares?
The Invention of Lying – Movie Review
It’s hard not to feel jealous of Ricky Gervais, since he seems to have Hollywood in the palm of his hand. Not content with appearing in any old cinematic guff swimming out our shores, one cheeky snaggletooth smile and he is whisked away to star in… well, any old guff swimming out of the US. Alas, the man from sunny Reading has managed to attract a whole host of star-wattage toward his latest project - The Invention of Lying. Taking on co-writing and co-directing duties, not to mention starring in the film, you may think that this film is just a rehash of 90’s Jim Carrey vehicle Liar Liar.
It’s hard not to feel jealous of Ricky Gervais, since he seems to have Hollywood in the palm of his hand. Not content with appearing in any old cinematic guff swimming out our shores, one cheeky snaggletooth smile and he is whisked away to star in… well, any old guff swimming out of the US. Alas, the man from sunny Reading has managed to attract a whole host of star-wattage toward his latest project - The Invention of Lying. Taking on co-writing and co-directing duties, not to mention starring in the film, you may think that this film is just a rehash of 90’s Jim Carrey vehicle Liar Liar.
Word On The Street: Fame Remake Sucks
For anyone who hasn't seen the original 1980 version of Fame, it's not exactly what you'd expect. Because you were expecting a grinning mob of leotard whores prancing around, squealing "feel the music!" to one another, whilst occasionally breaking rank to march silently towards a mirror, caressing their bodies, growling like tigers, weren't you? Weren't you? Go on, admit it. You were. And, for the most part, you'd be right. But, the original film was so much more than that. It was bleak. It was brilliant. And the new one, apparently, is a big sack of turds. So says the Boston Herald and LA Times anyway, and they've SEEN it. In the first outing, a cross section of New York "talent" is thrown together in a strict school for special people, who like singing, dancing and acting. The kids sometimes take time to play a cello in the canteen, or dash into the streets because a man in a taxi left his stereo on, and it's playing loud music.
For anyone who hasn't seen the original 1980 version of Fame, it's not exactly what you'd expect. Because you were expecting a grinning mob of leotard whores prancing around, squealing "feel the music!" to one another, whilst occasionally breaking rank to march silently towards a mirror, caressing their bodies, growling like tigers, weren't you? Weren't you? Go on, admit it. You were. And, for the most part, you'd be right. But, the original film was so much more than that. It was bleak. It was brilliant. And the new one, apparently, is a big sack of turds. So says the Boston Herald and LA Times anyway, and they've SEEN it. In the first outing, a cross section of New York "talent" is thrown together in a strict school for special people, who like singing, dancing and acting. The kids sometimes take time to play a cello in the canteen, or dash into the streets because a man in a taxi left his stereo on, and it's playing loud music.
Fast And Furious: A DVD Review
Here at Hecklerspray, we love Vin Diesel, we really do. Maybe it's because he looks like the love child of a polar bear and Chuch Norris, it could be because his voice can cut through a can of baked beans or perhaps it's because he has to kiss Michelle Rodriguez so we don't have to. One thing it definately isn't, though, is his choice of films! Returning to the Fast and Furious franchise, all the cast seem keen and eager to get back to where they began (i.e. obscurity) and get in on the action(i.e. pay cheque). Going into the fourth installment (which, sadly, didn't opt for the title 4 Fast 4 Furious), this is actually a prequel to the previous installment, Tokyo Drift (not that it matters). The main draw here is all the original actors return: Diesel, Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez and Jordana Brewster.
Here at Hecklerspray, we love Vin Diesel, we really do. Maybe it's because he looks like the love child of a polar bear and Chuch Norris, it could be because his voice can cut through a can of baked beans or perhaps it's because he has to kiss Michelle Rodriguez so we don't have to. One thing it definately isn't, though, is his choice of films! Returning to the Fast and Furious franchise, all the cast seem keen and eager to get back to where they began (i.e. obscurity) and get in on the action(i.e. pay cheque). Going into the fourth installment (which, sadly, didn't opt for the title 4 Fast 4 Furious), this is actually a prequel to the previous installment, Tokyo Drift (not that it matters). The main draw here is all the original actors return: Diesel, Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez and Jordana Brewster.
Dead Snow – DVD Review
An idyllic wood cabin, surrounded by snow in the Norwegian mountains – sounds like the perfect postcard. Add to that a group of ravaging, recently resurrected Nazi zombies, tearing students’ limbs off, painting the vast landscape a gloriously unsettling red and you’ve got Dead Snow.
An idyllic wood cabin, surrounded by snow in the Norwegian mountains – sounds like the perfect postcard. Add to that a group of ravaging, recently resurrected Nazi zombies, tearing students’ limbs off, painting the vast landscape a gloriously unsettling red and you’ve got Dead Snow.
Paul Blart: Mall Cop – DVD Review
Kevin James' varied CV has thus far featured a wealth of memorable creations. Bumbling fat-guy in King of Queens, bumbling fat-guy in Hitch and bumbling fat-guy in I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry - there hasn't been such a startling auteur with this much range since John Candy. And like Candy (which James clearly does), Kevin manages to make what is an otherwise down on his luck cardboard cutout into a likeable chubby action hero - Paul Blart. This is silly fun, the kind that makes children laugh until they're rolling around dribbling, while leaving adults to exclaim 'meh'.
Kevin James' varied CV has thus far featured a wealth of memorable creations. Bumbling fat-guy in King of Queens, bumbling fat-guy in Hitch and bumbling fat-guy in I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry - there hasn't been such a startling auteur with this much range since John Candy. And like Candy (which James clearly does), Kevin manages to make what is an otherwise down on his luck cardboard cutout into a likeable chubby action hero - Paul Blart. This is silly fun, the kind that makes children laugh until they're rolling around dribbling, while leaving adults to exclaim 'meh'.
Cadillac Records – DVD Review
Adrian Brody has managed to dazzle many a woman with his modestly-sized schnoz, thereby blind-siding them so he can then attack their lips. It worked on Halle Berry and Naomi Watts - and now he is at it again with Beyonce Knowles! The independent woman is at the acting game again, this time alongside Brody who plays Leonard Chess, founder of Chess Records. The film tells the story of the rise of Chess Records and its owner along with its first artist Muddy Waters (Jeffrey Wright). Other notable artists join the two in the studios, including; Chuck Berry (Mos Def), The Rolling Stones and Etta James (Beyonce).
Adrian Brody has managed to dazzle many a woman with his modestly-sized schnoz, thereby blind-siding them so he can then attack their lips. It worked on Halle Berry and Naomi Watts - and now he is at it again with Beyonce Knowles! The independent woman is at the acting game again, this time alongside Brody who plays Leonard Chess, founder of Chess Records. The film tells the story of the rise of Chess Records and its owner along with its first artist Muddy Waters (Jeffrey Wright). Other notable artists join the two in the studios, including; Chuck Berry (Mos Def), The Rolling Stones and Etta James (Beyonce).
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon – Blu-Ray Review
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon marked a new era in cinema, paving the way for a string of foreign, martial-arts epics. With Crouching Tiger, Ang Lee ushered in a style in which Western audiences were not familiar and paved the way for other directors such as Zhang Yimou, whose Hero and House of Flying Daggers were among a stream of films that filled their screen time with as much lush cinematography as they did dazzling martial-arts.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon marked a new era in cinema, paving the way for a string of foreign, martial-arts epics. With Crouching Tiger, Ang Lee ushered in a style in which Western audiences were not familiar and paved the way for other directors such as Zhang Yimou, whose Hero and House of Flying Daggers were among a stream of films that filled their screen time with as much lush cinematography as they did dazzling martial-arts.
