buffychik Reviews

Outlaw (2007)

Underrated

[8/10 · 13 March 2008]

This film flew under the radar, and did not get the credit it deserved, both for its originality, and for its unique style. Not perfect by any means, Nick Love directed a movie that not only touches on current issues, but adds a post-apocalyptic "V For Vendetta" flair to the London setting.

The story centers on a handful of characters as they deal with being victims of various crimes: Danny comes home from Iraq to find his wife in the arms of another man, Gene is brutally attacked after an accidental fender-bender, and Cedric finds himself on the receiving end of some very real and vicious threats from a court case he's dealing with. These just name the main points. Danny, in his search for normalcy, finds himself at a seedy motel managed by a security guard named Simon who himself has a seedy past. Together, these characters find common ground and decide to act against the criminals that seem to be owning London (or one in particular).

This film really investigates who exactly is the criminal and who is the victim.

So yes, there are downsides to this film...it's not big on the budget. Primarily, the film does appear to be done with hand-held cameras, although the special features show otherwise, giving it a more "student" feel. Due to its low budget, action scenes are subtle and not all that overdone, which gives it a bit of a slowed plot. Aside from that, the script is solid, and the story is quite possibly the most original I've seen in a while.

If you're a fan of those films that may not always make it to the big screen, that may not have the multi-million dollar budget; a film that, instead, focuses on developing a decent story, then give "Outlaw" a watch. It will be worth it.

Gabriel (2007)

Stylized and Sexy

[9/10 · 19 February 2008]

Brought to you from the Aussie indie underground, we have Gabriel, a seemingly typical battle between good and evil for the souls of humanity still trapped in purgatory. What you actually get is a highly stylized film filled with well scripted lines and extremely well done action sequences.

Filled with a cast of virtual unknowns to us Americans, Andy Whitfield leads as the noble and somewhat stubborn Gabriel. He has been sent to the seedy purgatory to finish the job that the six "Arcs" (archangels) before him were not able to succeed at: to finally shift the balance between good and evil back to the "light". Whitfield brings an amazing sex appeal to the role, along with extreme untapped talent and heart. Starring as his love interest and fallen angel Amitiel is Samantha Noble. She has a lot of natural beauty and skill in her role that makes her extremely believable as the soulful-eyed hooker, Jade. But, the best role lies with the leader of the "dark", Sammael, played by Dwaine Stevenson. His subtlety and damaged past, along with his brutally evil looking eyes make him truly a formidable "bad guy". For a cast of unknowns, they all had talent.

Filmed on an extremely low budget, Gabriel incorporated skilled gunfights, with a lot more subdued special effects and stunt work. What resulted was a much more solid script. As the director, Shane Abbess talked about in the DVD special features, the low budget only meant that the script had to be solid. Low budget doesn't necessarily mean a bad movie, it just means that the story doesn't have glamorous special effects to hide any excessive plot holes. The film had all the style of "Underworld" without all of the excessive over-the-top action.

This film will be overlooked by many, since there's probably all of one copy at your local video store. Pick it up, and you might be surprised.

Gone Baby Gone (2007)

It Blew Me Away

[10/10 · 12 February 2008]

Wow. Ben Affleck has really outdone himself in this directorial debut. His skills as a screenwriter and as a director make him a true Hollywood talent. To make a movie on such touchy subjects as drugs, kidnapping, child endangerment, and pedophilia as his debut was needless to say, a huge risk for him. He came out of it with what ended up to be an extremely beautiful and touching film.

Casey Affleck deserves every award coming to him. His skills as an actor are only getting better. (He's personally my preferred Affleck brother to watch on the screen...) He was fantastic as Patrick Kenzie the private investigator investigating the kidnapping of little Amanda McCready. He showed amazing heart and passion. Ed Harris and Morgan Freeman, along with the ever-amazing Michelle Monaghan headed a huge supporting cast that helped further portray the issues and controversy behind the law when children are involved.

Based on a book written by Dennis Lehane (of Mystic River fame), this film will bring out a lot of emotions, from anger at every person who didn't pay attention to these disappearing kids, to sadness and empathy for Patrick as he uncovers what happens to these unfortunate children and why.

Watch it.

Trade (I) (2007)

Not for the Feint of Heart

[10/10 · 30 January 2008]

This movie...is not a feel good movie. It doesn't give you the warm-fuzzy's. As a matter of fact, this movie made me realize just how sick and demented humanity can really and truly be.

Right off the bat, we're introduced to Jorge and his younger sister Adriana, it's her 13th birthday. Jorge gets her a new bike, much to his mother's chagrin. She decides to take it for a spin one day, and unfortunately finds herself in captivity.

Adriana is thrown into this downward spiraling world of sick sick sick people. The only solace she finds is in a much older fellow captive named Veronica, a Polish girl. Their only common ground is that they both speak a small bit of English. Veronica treats Adriana with a sister-like love, and defends her honor and sticks up for her if, and when at all possible.

Jorge, meanwhile, is left alone, distraught, and at a loss. He finds aide in a detective from Texas named Ray(played brilliantly by Kline), whom he finds curiously investigating one of the holding areas that Adriana was being detained. Together, they use what resources Ray has to save Adriana from inevitable slavery and hopefully put an end to whatever system was being run out of the United States.

This is not a movie for young children or even older ones at that. Rape and child molestation is rampant. If you are queasy from watching that kind of human waste, then consider yourself normal, and you may not want to watch this. I, felt the need to watch it, it truly opened my eyes in a way that earlier releases on Juarez, Mexico and other Mexican border towns just didn't. Think of it as similar to Schindler's List.

Kevin Kline said it best. (paraphrased in so many words from the bonus features in the DVD) If you're reading the newspaper, and the world's events, god willing that's what they still are, and you read it from cover to cover, and you think "hmmm....I should do something about that." Then perhaps this movie will inspire you.

This film was emotionally jarring to the very core. That being said, this film was fantastic beyond any assumption I had; and I had high expectations going into this. It's moving, it stirs the mind, it makes you THINK. Personally, I think that's important in this day and age.

The Nines (2007)

Beautifully Surreal

[10/10 · 26 January 2008]

John August really outdid himself in his directorial debut. We all knew he could write, and now we know that he is one hell of a director. He took risks, and accepted major challenges, including filming out of his own house to save budget. With a cast lead by Ryan Reynolds, who really exceptionally out-did himself, this movie was the best movie nobody has ever heard of.

Filmed in three parts, "The Nines" connects the three worlds using a simple, common term...the number 9. Now, this isn't like The Number 23. There are reasons, and there are valid points to why 9 was chosen, and you'll just have to watch the film to figure it out. The result is something very existential and outside the box when it comes to typical cinematic works. The relationships between Ryan Reynolds, Hope Davis, and Melissa McCarthy are so perfectly intertwined, and little Elle Fanning deserves major credit for playing what role she did. (a mute child who has a curious omniscience about her) She's really following in her sister's footsteps to becoming a fantastic actress.

This film did not get the credit it deserved in the theaters. Let's make sure it does on DVD.

Family Guy: Blue Harvest (2007) Season 6, Episode 1

For Full Experience, Watch the DVD.

[10/10 · 21 January 2008]

I saw the episode, thought it was funny, and being such a fan of Family Guy, knew how much Seth McFarlane loved the Star Wars references. I knew it was only a matter of time before a full-on remake of the film was created.

Then, I saw that a full-length DVD was coming out with extended and added scenes. Yeah. You thought it was good on Cartoon Network. Nothing compares to Stewie's diaper going over to the Dark Side. There is so much more adult humor. Everything is uncensored, and uncut.

The DVD extras include excellent commentary with Seth McFarlane, David A. Goodman, and Dominic Polcino (the episode director). My suggestion is to watch it once without the commentary, and once with. There's a fantastic interview with George Lucas, and a look into how (and why) Blue Harvest was made. I had no idea just how much of the original film was actually used. Direct quotes from Star Wars, scenes taken directly from the film, even 95% of the score is the original score with short edits and the Family Guy adaptation from Walter Murphy. The detail of the animation, right down to the explosions that look like effects taken directly from Star Wars (but aren't), was all done so well. George Lucas should be proud.

Seth McFarlane and his team put a great deal of effort into making this a quality and hysterical revamp of a Lucas classic. You can't get the full experience until you see it on DVD, though. Seth, you're a freaking genius.

Love Lies Bleeding (2008 Video)

Not Without Flaws

[8/10 · 15 January 2008]

Christian Slater released two films at approximately the same time, "He Was a Quiet Man", and this particular piece. "Love Lies Bleeding" is a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde, but imagine Clyde as a miserably ignorant, somewhat philosophical "nice guy".

A young couple, Duke and Amber are living together on the wrong side of the tracks, dealing with poverty, crime, and general economic misfortune until coming upon a bag of money belonging to their drug-dealing neighbors. Also sought after by dirty cop Pollen, they go on the run to escape their depressing lives and find their dream life of a house with a yard and 2.5 children...etc...

Jenna Dewan is really developing quality acting skills, especially opposing Christian Slater's frightening "dirty cop" routine. Christian Slater once again shows his talents and versatility (very obvious if going between this film and "He Was a Quiet Man). This was a fantastic role for him. Brian Geraghty was slightly over-done, but it suited the role (Iraq war-vet that didn't come home quite right).

Overall, this film was chock-full of stereotypes and stayed rather cookie-cutter and predictable throughout. However, it was entertaining, and kept you going right until the end. Hence my rating of 8/10. It's not perfect by any means, but if you're not looking for substance, it's just a good entertaining film.

He Was a Quiet Man (2007)

Touching...with a Memento-esquire Flair

[10/10 · 14 January 2008]

I came into this title knowing absolutely nothing about it, besides the fact that Christian Slater was the lead. What I watched was nothing short of fantastic.

We are first introduced to Bob (Slater), a man on the verge (or possibly in the thrall of) of a total breakdown. Sort of reminds you of Milton from Office Space, but taken so far over the edge, there's just no looking back. He's mistreated at work, he hates his job, and he wants it all to end.

The thing that really got me attached to this film was the observations of the inner workings of Bob. He talks to his goldfish, and for crying out loud, the thing talks back. This is obviously an unstable man. His stabilizer though, found in the "victim", Vanessa (played amazingly well by Elisha Cuthbert), reminded me so much of Carrie-Ann Moss from Memento. She carries him, but teaches him to be a stronger man through essential "ball-busting".

The script was perfect for each of the lead roles. Both Cuthbert and especially Slater shocked me to no end with their talent. This was Slater's ideal role. Director Frank A. Cappello regained some status with this. It was quite the achievement. It's unfortunate that it had such a small release (I would've never heard of it if it wasn't for the fact that I got an advance DVD). It's going to go overlooked for many. Look it up at your local video store, folks, this will be worth it!!!

Dragon Wars: D-War (2007)

A Korean Movie...with Jason Behr.

[5/10 · 5 January 2008]

Call me crazy, but shouldn't a Korean movie, oh I don't know...star Korean actors?!?!?!?! I had the pleasure of an advanced viewing of the Dragon Wars DVD. Most of the time, I spent the viewing thinking, "Wow, this is a hybrid of Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and Godzilla". The acting was awful by Jason Behr, and the rest of the cast that shall remain nameless...and mainly forgettable. However, one thing cannot be denied in this film, and that was the special effects. The dragons, the weird creatures that were never fully explained, were all very well done, and had that same muted naturalistic look like the autobots and decepticons in Transformers. Come to think of it, it was done very much in the styles of Michael Bay, and the score was actually done by Hans Zimmer's troupe that actually worked on Transformers. I watched the special features and learned that Director Hyung-rae Shim was making his first attempt at breaking the international scene. He mentioned that rather than using a design company for his special effects, he created his own. This, I have great respect for. He said, in so many words, something that I agree wholeheartedly with: There are two "T"'s in movies, Talent, and Technology. Perhaps he needed to work a bit on Talent part of those "T"'s.

Memories (1995)

An Amazing Vision

[10/10 · 18 September 2006]

Katsuhiro Otomo's "Memories" combines the vision of Otomo's usual "God's revenge for the human race believing too much in science" with two first-time, although far from inexperienced directors. The first of the three films, "Magnetic Rose" is by far the least Otomo-esquire of the three pieces, although based on one of his short mangas. The film centering mainly on the sci-fi side of anime. Space freighters respond to a distress call in a bad sector of space, and become lost in the haunting memories of an intergalactic opera singer. The second piece, "Stink Bomb" shows, if possible, a humorous side to biological warfare, as an unsuspecting pharmaceutical tech accidentally ingests a biological weapon and becomes a walking disaster. The final film, actually directed by Otomo, called "Cannon Fodder" was by far my favorite, and the most disturbing of the three films. The basic story centers around a family living in a town whose citizens devote their entire lives to bombing an unseen enemy in the sky. This story is very politically motivated, very dark, and not at all a "happy little story". The animation is unlike anything I've ever seen from Otomo, and full of sweeping single-cut shots that give you chills. Overall, I highly recommend this movie collection for any anime fan. It most definitely incorporates the vision of three brilliant directors.

Oldboy (2003)

absolutely unforgettable

[10/10 · 2 July 2006]

I came into this film knowing absolutely nothing about it. My manager said "buy it, it's AMAZING". First of all, the plot. After a man has a terribly drunk night, he ends up imprisoned for 15 years without knowing who imprisoned him and why. When he is released, he is given a new suit, a cell phone, and ends up at a sushi restaurant, where he meets Mi-do. Along with Mi-do, to save those he cares about most, Oh-Daesu is given 5 days to figure out who imprisoned him and why. This film definitely focuses on the fact that even the smallest things can blow up out of proportion, and the results can be catastrophic. The acting is by far the best I've seen in Asian cinema, and the writing is fantastic. I highly recommend. 10 stars all the way.

Steamboy (2004)

brilliance

[10/10 · 5 May 2005]

I had the pleasure of seeing this movie at the Athens International Film Festival. To see this movie for just the stunning visuals is one thing, but to combine it with an amazing story and characters that you can absolutely fall in love with, has made this movie one of a kind. The film shows the power that science can have over humanity. The brilliance of invention in combination with the strive to succeed can lead to the realization of a vision with the threat of unwanted results. Otomo never ceases to surprise me with his way of making these very real idealizations into a brilliant, almost science fiction style anime. It just goes to show why Otomo is considered one of the founding fathers of anime, he's a genius with ink and a good script. Definitely 10/10, if it's playing in your area, go see it, it's well worth it.

Aragami (2003)

Brilliance in 7 Days

[10/10 · 18 January 2005]

Being a Kitamura fan already, I came into this film with somewhat high expectations. After seeing it twice, I can say they fulfilled every one. The dialogue between Takao Osawa (the Samurai) and Masaya Kato (Musashi Miyamoto) carried this film as did the brilliantly choreographed sword play. In comparison to Kitamura's previous films: Versus and Alive, the female role played by Kanae Uotani speaks volumes in her lack of dialogue. Her mystery only adds to the plot, leaving much to the imagination. For only one set, the temple is quite possibly the most unique characteristic of the entire film. Its almost Gothic flair helps touch on the western and/or European influences that play a huge role in this film. I highly recommend Aragami, it's unlike any samurai film I've ever seen! 10/10!

Battle Royale II (2003)

amazing film

[9/10 · 3 February 2004]

I just finished this film, being a huge fan of the first, and could not believe how amazing the sequel was. First and foremost, the storylines are very different from the first. Where the first almost had a dark comedy feel to it, the second is almost apocalyptic. Getting past the rather obvious verbal abuse on the US, you see that The Wild Seven (Nanahara's terrorist group) were just a bunch of scared and lonely kids who just wanted to belong somewhere. Nanahara Shuya really had a metamorphosis from the naive idealistic teen in BRI to a stoic leader in BRII. My only advise to future watchers, watch the first one, keep an open mind, and enjoy. *oh, and give the crazy pill-popping sensei a break, he comes through :-D

Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (1968–2001)

Rest In Peace, Mister Rogers

[28 February 2003]

Being 19 years old, I grew up watching Mister Rogers. I'm not ashamed to say that the only television I was allowed to watch when I was a little kid was Sesame Street and Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. He was a major inspiration to me, as he will be for my kids in the future. His death brings the end of an era in children's programming. The fact that his show was on for 33 years has to say something. Not only did he teach kids to learn and have fun doing it, but he taught them how to cope with the world around them. He spoke out against war, and helped kids understand why 9/11 even happened. I only hope people realize the effect he's had on our world and our children. PBS had just better keep him in syndication long enough.

The Dead Zone (2002–2007)

being a king fan

[11 January 2003]

If you are a true king fan, you realize that this story is only loosely based on the book. Basically, all they use it for is the character names and basic plot line. Anything above that is purely fabricated. The television company has even said "with characters based on the Stephen King novel". Now, doesn't that sound a bit broad? Something to think about... I like this show, and I am a King fan. But I realize these things, and I take it for what it is, a television show. Great films like The Green Mile and The Shawshank Redemption are better examples of "by the book".

Merlin's Shop of Mystical Wonders (1996 Video)

What an insanely stupid show!

[8 May 2002]

I saw this movie on MST3K a long time ago, and all I can say, is, what a stupid film. The Stephen King references with the monkey was a stretch, and the acting was awful. It seemed only fitting that MST3K made fun of it. Merlin looked like some scary homeless guy. There was a classic line at the end though from Tom. "Believe in Magic, or I'll Kill you!" Totally summed it all up.