Destined To Doom Movies Of 2013, Which Were Surprisingly Good Or Maybe Just About Average!
Every year we predict certain turkeys of films, because they simply stink in all departments right from the day they are conceived on the drawing board. But there's no more an exhilarating felling, than when these type of films shockingly end up being really good. While some just about make the cut, few others, and very few others might ultimately achieve cult-classic status too. So I hope this list will be informative to you'll, and yes, adulation & criticism are both appreciated, but please make your comments coherent and.....well.....just plain logical!!
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- DirectorSubhash KapoorStarsArshad WarsiAmrita RaoBoman IraniWanting to earn fame and fortune, a small time lawyer files a PIL for an infamous hit-and-run, and thus learns what it really is like to be a lawyer.Best courtroom drama from Bollywood after the classic 'Damini' - period! The entire cast is fabulous, but Boman Irani steals the show with his sublimely sinister act. Arshad Warsi, though not leading man material, does manage to shoulder the protagonist's act and delivers a competent portrayal of his character. The film will last with you long after you've left the theater.
- DirectorAtul SabharwalStarsArjun KapoorZahrah S KhanPrithviraj SukumaranKingship knows no Kinship and there can be only one Emperor in Aurangzeb's world. In Gurgaon, to bring down a criminal the law has to think like one.Great crime saga. Two great crime films have come out of Bollywood in the first half of this year, a complete rarity (Bollywood seldom dishes out a decent crime film even once in three years). If "Special 26" reveled in a light crackling heist, "Aurangzeb" succinctly explores the murkiness, dirtiness, harsh realities, and grime of the underbelly of crime. Moreover, it effectively coagulates the diabolical nexus between white collared and black collared criminals, and how one needs to desperately dig deep in order to uphold your ethics and maintain your sanity. The watertight script is backed by crisp direction and some hard-hitting, resonant one-liners. As far as the performances are concerned, Arjun Kapoor expectantly just manages to stay afloat and Sasha Aagha is on screen solely for eye-candy, even though her role is a bit meaty. Tanvi Azmi, Jackie Shroff, and Amrita Singh are all delightful to watch; Prithviraj packs a strong, competent punch, but ultimately, its the old warhorse Rishi Kapoor who inadvertently and effortlessly completely overshadows everybody else. His show-stealing performance should merit him another supporting actor nominee come awards season.
- DirectorSohail TatariStarsKay Kay MenonVisshesh TiwariTisca ChopraA highly reputed doctor makes a small mistake, which costs the life of a kid Ankur Arora. Will he succeed in hiding his mistake or will the mother of the kid get Justice.This came out of nowhere and almost vanished without a trace. But those who caught it, would realize how lucky they were not to miss this unheralded gem of movie. Based on a true story, its a gripping and hard-hitting dram that takes control of your senses from the word go and refuse to let up till the very end. If the medical procedure build up the anticipation and adequately pays fine attention to detail and authenticity, then the engrossing courtroom machinations in the second half are sure to invigorate your pulses and keep you hooked in anticipation of what shall transpire. The entire cast does a fabulous job, with special mention needing to be bestowed on Tisca Chopra and Paoli Dam. But predictably, its Kay Kay Menon who elevates this already riveting drama to stupendous heights, with his callous, smug, obnoxious, and and delectably mean act. Ultimately, you leave the film with a resonating message, that no amount of success and achievement gives one the right to do and escape with whatever they feel fit.
- DirectorEric StylesStarsScott AdkinsDolph LundgrenYi HuangA team travels to China to capture a primeval creature that is not supposed to exist.Exciting, adrenaline-pumping action adventure flick that can be enjoyed by all age groups. The production values, CGI, and VFX are quite spectacular for a low-budget, independent, B-movie like this. It's also a detour of sorts from Scott and Dolph's regular, hardcore, combat styled action films, but boy, what a welcome surprise it is! Both the action stars bring their dynamic personalities to the fore even without their staple fight scenes and the rest of the cast is also pleasing to the eye. Director Eric Styles does a great job in crafting a thoroughly engaging action adventure film that not only keeps you glued to your seat in excitement, but also has great repeat value for lazy afternoons or cozy evening dates.
- DirectorGary FlederStarsJason StathamJames FrancoWinona RyderA former DEA agent moves his family to a quiet town, where he soon tangles with a local meth druglord.Old-school 80's & 90's style action that never really gets old when done right. Sit back, relax, and revel in a fist-pumping action assemble that seems straight out of a bygone era. James Franco is reliable as ever and Jason Statham rocks as usual.
- DirectorMike MendezStarsGreg GrunbergLin ShayeRuben PlaA giant alien spider escapes from a military lab and rampages the city of Los Angeles. When a massive military strike fails, it is up to a team of scientists and one clever exterminator to kill the creature before the city is destroyed.One of the coolest, funniest, wackiest, zaniest, and most exciting giant monster/sci-fi mash-ups I've come across.
- DirectorAdam WingardStarsSharni VinsonJoe SwanbergAJ BowenWhen the Davison family comes under attack during their wedding anniversary getaway, the gang of mysterious killers soon learns that one of the victims harbors a secret talent for fighting back.Profoundly visceral and supremely tense with edge-of-the-seat suspense, heart-pounding moments, and unexpected startling twists that are guaranteed to blow your mind apart.
- DirectorLuc BessonStarsRobert De NiroMichelle PfeifferDianna AgronThe Manzoni family, a notorious Mafia clan, is relocated to Normandy, France, under the Witness Protection Program, where fitting in soon becomes challenging as their old habits die hard.A terrific crime comedy in the league of such classics as "Fargo", "The Big Lebowski", "True Romance", and "Delhi Belly", among others. Director Luc Besson, maintains a steady equilibrium between the gritty, gory, violence and the caustic, black-humored dialogues. Robert De Niro is in familiar territory and brings out his A-game as a leading man after ages. Michelle Pfeiffer and Tommy Lee Jones are reliable as ever, and even Dianna Agron and John D'Leo, who essay the roles of De Niro's kids, do a fine job. This R-rated gangster mayhem is ridiculous fun and provides an extremely entertaining ride.
- DirectorIndra KumarStarsRiteish DeshmukhVivek OberoiAftab ShivdasaniMeet, Prem, and Amar look to have a blast at their college reunion, though they soon find themselves in another predicament.Great news! India now officially has two excellent adult comedy franchises (the first being the "Kya Kool Hai Hum" series). Hilarious like its predecessor from start to finish. A few plot holes and continuity errors can easily be overlooked when you're having such a good time. The prudes and other so-called moral guardians can keep sneering, those who feel the need to please these prudes and appear pseudo-matured can kid themselves and miss out on some real fun, while the rest of us can care a damn and have a blast with some dirty, naughty, romping, rib-tickling, "masti".
- DirectorAdam McKayStarsWill FerrellChristina ApplegatePaul RuddWith the 1970s behind him, Ron Burgundy, San Diego's former top-rated newsreader, returns to take New York City's first twenty-four-hour news channel by storm.Silly fun at its mercurial best. An instant classic comedy that is sure to tickle your funny bone even with repeated viewings. Loads better than the overrated and at best, average first installment.
- DirectorKeanu ReevesStarsTiger Hu ChenKeanu ReevesKaren MokA young martial artist's unparalleled Tai Chi skills land him in a highly lucrative underworld fight club.Awesome martial-arts action film with an interesting plot and narrative to boot. The plot and certain character arcs could have been developed even further, but overall, its a very good directorial debut from star Keanu Reeves. Performance wise, the actors don't portray much depth, but both Keanu (as usual) and the main protagonist have a strong screen presence. The only bone of contention which I have with this movie is that it goes overboard in its endeavor to propagate Tai Chi as the supreme martial-arts skill of all, when in reality there are far better combat and even disciplinary martial-arts skills out there like Wing Chun, Muay Thai (Kick-Boxing), Kung Fu, Jujutsu (the Samurai way), and Ninjutsu (the Ninja style). Still, "Man Of Tai Chi" is a treat for fans of martial-arts action movies all over.
- DirectorMohit SuriStarsAditya Roy KapoorShraddha KapoorShaad RandhawaRahul loses his fans and fame due to alcoholism. But he then decides to turn a small time singer into a rising star.A romantic film done right after eons. In fact, along with "Silver Linings Playbook", this is the best romantic film in a long, long time. Beautiful music, a great script, well directed and produced, plus good performances from the ensemble cast. Aditya Roy Kapoor is decent, but its Sharaddha Kapoor who really steals the show here. This is one actress to keep a look out for in the future. "Aashiqi 2" boldly does what few other films have seldom attempted to do. It explores the pain, angst, and sacrifice of love - the not so rosy part of a romance. The first half does tender to meander in certain places, but the narrative really becomes fluid and coherent in the second half and packs a punch right till the gut-wrenching climax. For anyone who's ever been in love, who's in love, who's gone through a shattering heartbreak, or who just believes in love - do your selves a favor and don't miss 'Aashiqui 2".
- DirectorSyed Ali Raza UsamaStarsNoman HabibHumayun SaeedMahnoor BalochYoung boy's dream to become Shahid AfridiLittle known Pakistani gem that I was fortunate to just chance upon. Drama, emotions, comedy, romance, cliches, inspiration, heartbreak, and triumph all rolled into one against the backdrop of cricket. A true underdog story and full-blown masala entertainment. The best Pakistani film I've seen until now; even better that "Khuda Ke Liye"
- DirectorJoe LynchStarsRyan KwantenSteve ZahnPeter DinklageLive-action role players conjure up a demon from Hell by mistake and they must deal with the consequences.An absolute treat for anybody who's loved playing video games or still enjoy playing video games (avid gamer geeks and casual gamers alike). It combines all the geeky elements and timeless lingo of classic video games along with an enthralling fantasy plot (derived from a an immensely popular RPG), to deliver an instantaneous cult film that's high on excitement, thrills, action, humor, and pure adrenaline. The multitalented cast boasting of a couple of well-known names is another advantage to boot. In the standard of traditional gaming echelons, there's just one word to describe "Knights of Badassdom" - "Legendary"!
- DirectorRob MeltzerStarsJean-Claude Van DammeAdam BrodyRob HuebelA company retreat on a tropical island goes terribly awry.Rib-tickling comedy. The plot is wacky, the narration is spot-on, and all the actors do a fine job. And, we finally get to see that legendary action star Van Damme has a delightfully funny side too.
- DirectorMitchell AltieriStarsEmma GreenwellJoe EgenderBrendan McCarthyOn the trail of her missing sister, Charlotte enlists the help of Wayne, an ex-Marine and alcoholic, to infiltrate the Church of One Accord - a community of snake-handlers who risk their lives seeking salvation in the Holy Ghost.Oohhh.....don't you just love when you chance upon that rare indie that neatly comes together and simply blows your socks away. "Holy Ghost People" is the quintessential example of such an indie. The script grips your attention from the word go and never lets up, the direction unobtrusively mounts the tension, and the performances are just top-notch (especially Joe Egender). We are treated to a terrific thriller that intensely scrutinizes the dark and disturbing world of religious cults.
- DirectorKlay HallStarsCarlos AlazraquiDane CookStacy KeachA cropdusting plane with a fear of heights lives his dream of competing in a famous around-the-world aerial race.Yes it's unabashedly derivative and cliched, but who's complaining when the movie is so inspiring and wholly entertaining. Everybody loves a true underdog story in which the protagonist rises above all odds, and who better than Disney to portray it once again. "Planes" is a really joyous and triumphant ride that manages to soar above the cliches in its short run time.
- DirectorHenry SaineStarsMatthew MarsdenKristanna LokenChristian PitreBounty killers compete for body count, fame and a fat stack of cash. They're ending the plague of corporate greed and providing the survivors of the apocalypse with retribution. This is the age of the BOUNTY KILLER.Gritty, gory, sexy, exhilarating, cool action flick. In fact, if certain scenes weren't so rushed and greater care was shown in narrating a few other back-stories, this could have been today's generation's herald into a modern "Mad Max" franchise.
- DirectorRohit ShettyStarsDeepika PadukoneShah Rukh KhanSathyarajA man travelling to Rameswaram via Chennai express for his late grandfather's ashes immersion finds himself in trouble after helping a don's daughter and her cousins board the train.Say what you want about Rohit Shetty, but the man sure does know to mindlessly entertain you, unlike many of his clones spawned over the past few years, who just numb your senses with their weak endeavors in trying to ape his brand of easygoing, risk-free cinema. "Chennai Express" is actually his best work since "All The Best" (though nothing compared to "All The Best"), and does have a semblance of plot and even some heart, which is usually not the case with most of his projects. The film exceeds expectations for the mere fact that it entertains you for most its duration. For his part, SRK necessarily hams it up delightfully to the hilt and renders a slightly tweaked and caricatured version of his now famous "Rahul" persona. And Deepika's acting is finally showing signs of real improvement. She literally shines in some scenes of the movie. "Chennai Express" is melodramatic and over-the-top, but it certainly isn't tedious and long-drawn like most other wannabe masala films. Most of the dialogues and gags are actually humorous and the action at the end at least makes the hero feel human (something that can't be said for the other staple masala heroes like Salman and Ajay). At the end of the day, if you don't analyze "Chennai Express" too much, you'll actually end up having quite an entertaining 140-minute ride.
- DirectorWayne KramerStarsPaul WalkerNorman ReedusElijah WoodAn anthology of stories involving meth addicted white supremacists, a man looking for his kidnapped wife and an Elvis impersonator.Extremely entertaining action-comedy. To boot, this little known independent film has an eclectic mix of some popular stars including, Brendan Fraser, Matt Dillon, Paul Walker, and Elijah Wood, who all put in pitch-perfect performances.
- DirectorDilip GhoshStarsVidyut JammwalHsieh Chang HaiNelson Liao Sheng HuaKaran, a disavowed Indian commando, helps protect a woman from a local thug who is hellbent on forcing her to marry him.Even though the movie is riddled with flaws, when you get a hero with such a macho on-screen persona, a manly base voice, and real fighting abilities, along with a decent plot-line, all is forgiven. Intense, fluid, and more importantly believable fight scenes, daring, edge-of-the-seat stunts, hard-hitting and memorable one-liners, Pooja Chopra's refreshing effervescence, Jaideep Ahlawat's convincing malice laced with mean humor (unlike Prakash Raj's umpteen failed endeavors to successfully portray these two traits in cringe-worthy villainous avatars), a convincing narrative arc, and above all, Vidyut Jamwal's awe-inspiring rendition of a tough-as-nails action hero make this movie a complete blast. If only this film had done away with some of its narrative blunders, it could have been an instant action classic. Nevertheless, its still a thrilling ride that no action fan should miss. Indian Cinema has finally got its next big action hero after Dharmendra, Amitabh Bachchan, and Akshay Kumar.
- DirectorJames DeMonacoStarsEthan HawkeLena HeadeyMax BurkholderA wealthy family is held hostage for harboring the target of a murderous syndicate during the Purge, a 12-hour period in which any and all crime is legal.Decent horror effort. The concept is highly innovative and extremely plausible in our own future. The performances, suspense, and plenty of tense moments; keep your gripped and on the edge of your seat. A slightly better effort towards the climax and a tad better direction to tie up certain loose ends, would have made this scare feature even more savory. Nevertheless, it shouldn't be missed as we seldom get such intensely pleasurable horror films nowadays.
- DirectorMichael BayStarsMark WahlbergDwayne JohnsonAnthony MackieA trio of bodybuilders in Florida get caught up in an extortion ring and a kidnapping scheme that goes terribly wrong.Michael Bay's first decent movie since 1998's cult-classic sci-fi "Armageddon", elevated really by the wonderful performances from Mark Wahlberg and The Rock. "Pain & Gain" could have done with some pruning, but it's still a decent, enjoyable, thought-provoking, and most essentially, a relevant movie in today's times.
- DirectorJeff RenfroeStarsKevin ZegersLaurence FishburneBill PaxtonForced underground by the next ice age, a struggling outpost of survivors must fight to preserve humanity against a threat even more savage than nature.Gripping, taut, and neatly planned horror film. A well-planned layout, some tensely directed moments, and a pertinent plot-line with a foreseeable scenario, make "The Colony" more than worth your while.
- DirectorRemo D'SouzaStarsPrabhu DevaGanesh AcharyaKay Kay MenonWhen a capable dancer is provoked by the evil design of his employer, naturally he will be out to prove his mettle.I am not a dance fan by any stretch of the imagination & haven't liked a single dance film till now except "Dirty Dancing". But this film took me completely by surprise. Its emotional, inspirational, invigorating, and very, very entertaining. Seems like Remo D'Souza will be the first choreographer to make a successful transition onto the Director's podium (unlike the grossly overrated Farah Khan). "ABCD" is a true underdog story done really well. Highly recommended for everybody, including those not even remotely interested in dancing.
- DirectorRic Roman WaughStarsDwayne JohnsonSusan SarandonJon BernthalA father goes undercover for the DEA in order to free his son, who was imprisoned after being set up in a drug deal.Emotionally stirring film with a really good plot, effective narration, and a great chase sequence towards the end. Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson's acting capabilities have starkly accentuated by leaps and bounds.
- DirectorEric HeissererStarsPaul WalkerGenesis RodriguezNancy NaveA father struggles to keep his infant daughter alive in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.An intriguing concept that could have fallen flat on its face with the kind of premise and setting it's based in. On the surface the film does appear to be too one-dimensional, linear, and somber for a disaster film. Also, initially, it does tend to lag a bit and might permeate a false sense of tedious pacing, so it's important that you be patient and allow yourself the chance to be rewarded as the pace and tension kicks in with further proceedings. Kudos to the Director for keeping his viewers engrossed till the end and making us care enough for the only two relevant characters in the entire film, to the point that we simply need to find out their eventual fate. What you must understand before approaching "Hours" is that it isn't your staple disaster movie bonanza, infused with state-pf-the-art SFX and high octane action and suspense. Yes, the suspense and tension is there, but in a much more dramatic and character driven sort of way. Coming down to the performances, there is virtually just one actor in the entire film and nobody else. With just a newborn infant for company throughout the film and a St. Bernard canine towards the latter half for added measure, Paul Walker astoundingly shoulders the entire film and his performance gradually grows on you. Sadly we won't get to see any more of his newly harnessed acting skills, so revel in what is indubitably his best act ever. May his soul rest in peace.
- DirectorJohn LuessenhopStarsAlexandra DaddarioTania RaymondeScott EastwoodA young woman travels to Texas to collect an inheritance. Little does she know that an encounter with a chainsaw-wielding killer is part of the reward.It might not be as good as the original, but then again you shouldn't expect it to be, as the original 1974 version is one of the most visceral, smart, & loved horror films of all time. However, the film is a far cry from all the umpteen & insipid remakes preceding it, which in itself is reason enough to check this one out. Furthermore, it is treated as a proper sequel and succeeds in taking the plot forward along with providing deeper insight into the back story of some of the main characters, while effectively introducing some new ones along the way. Exciting, fast-paced, gory, & dare I say it even emotional at times, this entertaining sequel definitely merits a one time watch.
- DirectorMark Steven JohnsonStarsRobert De NiroJohn TravoltaMilo VentimigliaTwo veterans of the Bosnian War, one American, one Serbian, find their unlikely friendship tested when one of them reveals their true intentions.A taut, crisp, gritty and though-provoking action film that feeds off the intense interplay between its two veteran performers. Sadly, it loses a bit of steam towards the climax.
- DirectorJeff TremaineStarsJohnny KnoxvilleJackson NicollGregorio86-year-old Irving Zisman takes a trip from Nebraska to North Carolina to take his 8 year-old grandson, Billy, back to his real father.The first two Jackass films were somewhat likable, but I still didn't have much expectation for this one. However, this is exactly the kind of quirky, unconventional comedy that Jonny Knoxville excels at, and he proves his chops yet again. The script does have some truly hilarious moments, while the rest of the film moves along breezily and never lags or slumbers at any point. Watch it for Knoxville at his idiosyncratic zaniest and the adorale kid who play his grandson.
- DirectorAyush RainaStarsKaran KundrraNishant MalkaniHasan ZaidiSeven youngsters decide to spend a night in an abandoned haunted hotel. What they mistook as merely rumors, dawns on them to be the truth as they realize they are not alone inside.Unabashedly cliched, but in a thoroughly enjoyable way. The plot is derivative from myriad other horror films, past and current, but the scares, jump moments, and tension are chilling enough to hold your attention for its short span of just 90 minutes. Vikram Bhatt is fast emerging as U.K.'s Hammer's equivalent of the Indian horror scene.
- DirectorLowell DeanStarsKatharine IsabelleMichael ShanksBrendan FehrSix forensic undergrads embark on a scientific expedition to a remote island that was once used as illegal biological testing grounds for life-term prisoners.Decent zombie flick with some tense moments and good, scare scenes. The zombies are a tad deviant from conventional norms and the back-story is somewhat ambiguous and inadequate, but the film succeeds as an entertaining and gripping scary feature for its short run time.
- DirectorAshima ChibberStarsSaqib SaleemRhea ChakrabortyRam KapoorIn the midst of a loud Punjabi wedding, a boy sneaks his dad's fancy new car to impress the college hottie and all hell breaks loose when he loses it.Funny in parts, breezy in others, pleasant throughout. While the direction is more than respectable, its Ram Kapoor and the other actors who lend gravitas to the screenplay and make it look more decent than it actually is.
- DirectorBrad AndersonStarsHalle BerryEvie ThompsonAbigail BreslinWhen a veteran 911 operator takes a life-altering call from a teenage girl who has just been abducted, she realizes that she must confront a killer from her past in order to save the girl's life.Decently engrossing thriller with a surprisingly good performance by Halle Berry.
- DirectorVinnil MarkanStarsVivek OberoiNeha SharmaRahul SinghJayantabhai is a street-thug and small time gangster, who unexpectedly falls in love with his enemy, who is Simrin. A romantic caper about how people unknowingly fall in love with people they least expect to.Though predictable & ubiquitously cliched, it's still a sweet, innocent love story at heart, and God alone knows how badly we need tales like this in materialistic times like these. Vivek Oberoi & Neha Sharma share some great chemistry and the film has some truly memorable romantic moments. Ultimately, this film knows what it is, it aims for nothing more, it satisfactorily delivers what it promises, and at the end of the day it makes you believe that love can eventually triumph over all odds and actually make you a better human being.
- DirectorAnthony D'SouzaStarsAkshay KumarShiv PandittMithun ChakrabortyAfter his younger son falls prey to a corrupt police officer, an honest old man summons his estranged elder son to save the day.Harmless fun. Thankfully the fun is not numbed down by being all too brainless - just the sporadic instance here and there, mostly interspersed within the action scenes. Akshay Kumar enjoys himself in a role he can sleep through and he succeeds in involving the audience in his revelry. We even get to see him doing some real action and stunts after a long time. Shiv Pandit just passes muster, while Aditi Rao Hydari literally has nothing to do. Sadly Mithun forgot his acting chops at home, and Danny's acting chops are criminally underutilized. But above all, the real scene stealer from the very first frame he enters till the last is Ronit Roy, who essays his first complete negative role with sublime malevolence.
- DirectorCarl RinschStarsKeanu ReevesHiroyuki SanadaKô ShibasakiA band of samurai sets out to avenge the death and dishonor of their master at the hands of a ruthless shogun.An exciting action film that's meant to entertain without being taken seriously and that's how it should be seen.
- DirectorAnil SharmaStarsSunny DeolUrvashi RautelaPrakash RajA tax collector willing to reform the society with the thought of change instead of revenge tries to control himself while attempting to teach a lesson to the man responsible behind his wife's death.Simple and entertaining without trying to rise above itself. The plot though melodramatic, is still ideological at heart and keeps the audience moderately engrossed. Sadly the songs do nothing to lift the tempo, which is a must in films like these. The action and humor as expected are over-the-top and quite inane, but thankfully we have the ever dependable Sunny Paaji saving the day by doing what he always does best.
- DirectorGiorgio SerafiniStarsDolph LundgrenVinnie JonesRandy CoutureAn FBI agent (D.Lundgren) and his team are dealing with corrupt police officers and violent drug dealers in LA willing to kill to increase income.Another decent action flick from Dolph Lundgren. I guess that at this stage of his career, fans of his have to make do with any half-decent stuff that comes by us (though "Hard Rush" a.k.a. "Ambushed" is a bit better than half-decent), even if Dolph is now relegated to playing strong supporting roles. An added incentive in this movie is the final fight scene between Dolph Lundgren and Randy Couture, again, decent enough to whet any action fan's appetite.
- DirectorSean OlsonStarsDanny TrejoChristina CoxBrad RoweElizabeth Chase is busy remodeling her new home with her husband and daughter. She hires a contractor, Javier, to help. But soon, Elizabeth starts to grow suspicious of Javier and learns that he'd targeted the family all along.Good, ol' Danny Trejo. He always manages to deliver at lest one obscure, independent film every year that's adequately entertaining even though it might be derivative. Last year he gave us "Bad Ass" and this year it's "The Contractor". If you don't read too much into this thriller, it does make for an enterprising 90 odd minutes. Certain amount of credit also needs to be shared by the rest of the cast, especially the sultry Christina Cox, and the treatment meted out by the Director, Sean Olson.
- DirectorDevin McGinnSteve BergStarsBritani BatemanTaylor BatemanSteve BergA scientific research team investigates and documents the supernatural phenomena surrounding the disappearance of a cattle ranchers 10 year old son. Inspired by true events that shocked the paranormal community around the world.One of the better or at least watchable found footage horror efforts out there.
- DirectorRichard RaaphorstStarsRobert GwilymHon Ping TangAlexander TerentyevIn the dying days of WWII, a battalion of Russian soldiers is lured into the secret lab of a deranged scientist and forced to face off against an army of horrific flesh-and-metal war machines.Decently paced horror film with some cool monsters and exciting scenes. The plot had more potential, but at least it wasn't a total waste of opportunity. All in all, an entertaining 80 minutes of blood, gore, and tension. The shaky cam isn't too distracting either.
- DirectorCal BrunkerStarsBrendan FraserSarah Jessica ParkerJessica AlbaAstronaut Scorch Supernova finds himself caught in a trap when he responds to an SOS from a notoriously dangerous alien planet, Earth.Fun when it starts, lags around the middle, and meanders towards the end. The characters and ably lent voice-overs are what make this animated alien ride bearable for its short, 85 minutes length of run time.
- DirectorUwe BollStarsDominic PurcellErin KarplukEdward FurlongJim, an average New Yorker, lives with a sick but loving wife. Suddenly, everything changes when the economy crashes and causes him to lose everything. Filled with anger and rage, Jim goes to seek revenge for the life taken from him.Good pertinent film with strong characters and a good story arc reflecting some serious problems plaguing today's economy, investment loopholes, greedy brokers, and the adverse effects they have on unsuspecting regular folks. Uwe Boll will no longer be saddled with the dubious tag of one the worst filmmakers currently operating. I personally believed that he always had the potential, guess he's finally living up to it. Keeping my fingers crossed for some even better efforts from him in the future.