2.JPG)
Like “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre”, “The Fog”, and even “Friday the 13th” (in theaters next month), “My Bloody Valentine 3D” is a remake of a horror classic. I will admit that I am a horror film fan; I have looked forward to all these remakes, even if I didn’t think a remake was in order. Honestly, most of them were disappointing. They may have looked and sounded better, but nothing really made them stand out. This movie is different.
“Valentine” takes place in Harmony, a quiet mining town haunted by a dark past. Tom Hanniger accidentally causes a cave-in at the mine, leaving several miners dead and one survivor, Harry Warden, in a coma. One Valentine’s Day, Harry Warden awakens and goes on a brutal killing spree; his rampage ends with his supposed death. Now, ten years later, Hanniger returns to town looking for closure; he also hopes to make amends with his ex-girlfriend, Sarah; she is now married to his best friend, Axel. And there’s just one more thing; the murders have stated again. The film stars Jamie King, Jensen Ackles, and Kerr Smith.
Now, you have to realize that a film like this doesn’t look to redefine cinema or reinvent a genre that's been around for quite some time. If you aren't a horror film fan or a movie-goer that enjoys a little scare, I wouldn’t recommend this film. For those that enjoy this particular flavor, you won’t be disappointed. “Valentine” pays homage to the original by recreating some of the very memorable scenes, but the film also takes the original story, about a love triangle and a murderer on the loose, to new levels. It expands those storylines, fleshes them out and even beefs up some character’s back stories. These new details make the story fuller. They add a little something extra. And even better, ‘Valentine” still has the feel of an 80’s classic: nudity, gore and good suspense all make the film fun.
Who is killing the people in this peaceful community? Harry Warden? Is it someone else? “Valentine” isn’t just a slasher film, it’s a whodunit. Guessing who is behind the murders makes this movie even more enjoyable. And by the way, as the title reveals, this films is in 3D which adds a nice layer to the experience. It gives mine shafts a little more depth. It gets you more involved in the action. According to star, Jamie King, it’s not “like your old school 3D with your red and blue glasses where it’s just random things flying at you. Literally, the whole film is bigger than. Larger than life so you’re really in the film and with the characters”. Sound like fun? Now, throw in a little camp and a cliché or two and you’ve got a really good time.
Hotel for Dogs
“Hotel for Dogs” is the new family film from Paramount Studios and Nickelodeon films. Emma Roberts and Jake T. Austin star as Andi and Bruce, two foster children, a brother and sister, trying to find a real family. Currently, they live with Lois and Carl Scudder (Lisa Kudrow and Kevin Dillion); two goofy, not so loving wannabe musicians. The only true companionship the children share is with each other and their trusty dog, Friday. In their quest to find a real family, they start building one of their own, by turning an abandoned hotel into a home for all the city's stray dogs.
I’ll admit I wasn’t necessarily excited to see the film, I thought it would be entertaining, but probably predictable, cheesy and sappy. And it was predictable, cheesy, and sappy. And you know what? That’s not a bad thing. In fact, I was very surprised at how much I enjoyed it. The cast is solid: Roberts and Austin and co-stars like Kevin Dillon, Lisa Kudrow and Don Cheadle are fun to watch. They all seem to be having a good time which translates into a good time for the audience. Cheadle is great as always; he grounds the film. But I can‘t forget to mention all the canine co-stars. The producers cast such lively dogs; all of them have unique and charming personalities. Sure, the film is fun, but it also has a heart. The story is about family and staying together no matter what. If you’re looking for a movie that is utterly fresh and innovative, this isn’t it. But if you want to enjoy an afternoon with the entire family, this is the
perfect movie.
“Hotel for Dogs” is the new family film from Paramount Studios and Nickelodeon films. Emma Roberts and Jake T. Austin star as Andi and Bruce, two foster children, a brother and sister, trying to find a real family. Currently, they live with Lois and Carl Scudder (Lisa Kudrow and Kevin Dillion); two goofy, not so loving wannabe musicians. The only true companionship the children share is with each other and their trusty dog, Friday. In their quest to find a real family, they start building one of their own, by turning an abandoned hotel into a home for all the city's stray dogs.
I’ll admit I wasn’t necessarily excited to see the film, I thought it would be entertaining, but probably predictable, cheesy and sappy. And it was predictable, cheesy, and sappy. And you know what? That’s not a bad thing. In fact, I was very surprised at how much I enjoyed it. The cast is solid: Roberts and Austin and co-stars like Kevin Dillon, Lisa Kudrow and Don Cheadle are fun to watch. They all seem to be having a good time which translates into a good time for the audience. Cheadle is great as always; he grounds the film. But I can‘t forget to mention all the canine co-stars. The producers cast such lively dogs; all of them have unique and charming personalities. Sure, the film is fun, but it also has a heart. The story is about family and staying together no matter what. If you’re looking for a movie that is utterly fresh and innovative, this isn’t it. But if you want to enjoy an afternoon with the entire family, this is the
perfect movie.
Definace
“Defiance” is the new drama from acclaimed director, Edward Zwick; you may remember some of his other films like “Glory”, “Last Samurai”, and “Blood Diamond”. Defiance is based on the true WWII story of the Bielskis, three Jewish brothers, who organize a refuge in a remote Russian forest; they plan to project Jews trying to escape persecution. They build a community and form a resistance, but most importantly, they strive to live the best life possible in their situation. The film follows the brothers and how they grow apart and come together dealing with personal decisions they must face.
The film stars Liev Schreiber and Daniel Craig.
This story actually didn’t come to light until the late 80’s, when two of the brothers started sharing their past experiences. Before the story was presented to Zwick, he never thought he’d explore such a topic. Zwick says, “initially, my own reluctance had you told me that I was going to do something on the Holocaust would have been: what more could one add on this subject that these great historians and philosophers had contributed everything. And yet, here there was something to talk about because it flew in the face of that conventional wisdom and added complexity to the portrait”. This true story is fascinating. Zwick lets it unfold in a straight forward way, but he keeps the audience always engaged. He does a great job of painting a vivid portrait of the conditions that had to be endured: cold, harsh winters, the struggle to find food. He really draws the audience is. The film is well acted, well directed. It’s definitely worth
seeing.
“Defiance” is the new drama from acclaimed director, Edward Zwick; you may remember some of his other films like “Glory”, “Last Samurai”, and “Blood Diamond”. Defiance is based on the true WWII story of the Bielskis, three Jewish brothers, who organize a refuge in a remote Russian forest; they plan to project Jews trying to escape persecution. They build a community and form a resistance, but most importantly, they strive to live the best life possible in their situation. The film follows the brothers and how they grow apart and come together dealing with personal decisions they must face.
The film stars Liev Schreiber and Daniel Craig.
This story actually didn’t come to light until the late 80’s, when two of the brothers started sharing their past experiences. Before the story was presented to Zwick, he never thought he’d explore such a topic. Zwick says, “initially, my own reluctance had you told me that I was going to do something on the Holocaust would have been: what more could one add on this subject that these great historians and philosophers had contributed everything. And yet, here there was something to talk about because it flew in the face of that conventional wisdom and added complexity to the portrait”. This true story is fascinating. Zwick lets it unfold in a straight forward way, but he keeps the audience always engaged. He does a great job of painting a vivid portrait of the conditions that had to be endured: cold, harsh winters, the struggle to find food. He really draws the audience is. The film is well acted, well directed. It’s definitely worth
seeing.
Notorius
“Notorious” chronicles the life of Christopher “Biggie” Wallace, better known as "Notorious B.I.G.", the popular rap artist whose music still resonates with fans, even after his untimely death over a decade ago. The story starts with Wallace as a boy and follows him as he grows into man whose determination and talent make him one of the greatest rappers of all time. Along the way, he fosters relationships with other music personalities like Sean “Puffy” Combs, Tupac Shakur , Faith Evans, and Lil Kim. The film has strong performances from Angela Bassett, Derek Luke, Naturi Naughton, Jamal Woolard, and Antonique Smith.
The film is straightforward, but the story itself is very interesting. For some people, what they learned about the life of this rapper came only from headlines and news reports. As Jamal Woolard, the actor who plays Wallace, says, “there’s a lot I didn’t know…a lot I didn’t know about Christopher. You know what I’m saying. As far as "Biggie" and "Notorious", I mean, the media gave us a whole story about him so…but knowing the man. Wow. I didn’t know that. I didn’t know that. You know, just looking at it, you relate to him. You relate to him. He's just like me. We’re all trying to get there to the top. We’ve all got dreams.”
You don’t have to be a fan of rap to enjoy this move, because it’s not about just music, it about one man’s journey.
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