Some news, Mirrors review...

Hey guys! I've got some stuff to get into, so lets start with some headlines...

- Darren Lynn Bousman...yes, Repo! The Genetic Opera and Saw 2-4 helmer is working on a new Leprechaun film, and wants it to be set in the Wild Wild West...
- Game, the alleged second film from Crank duo Brian Neveldine and Mark Taylor, has been pushed back to summer of next year...
- Spy Hunter has been canned until further notice...
- Voltron is set to get a film adaptation, and on a moderate budget, by using the type of technology seen in films like 300 and the upcoming Watchmen film...thoughts???

Finally, I would just like to get into a little bit about Mirrors. It's the newest film from director Alexandre Aja, best known for the Hills Have Eyes remake (which, along with the first Saw, are probably the best films from the tourture porn genre), but also did a little indie French horror film called High Tension which is solid, and stars Jack Bower, I mean, Kiefer "my parents couldn't think of a better name, really?" Sutherland. It's basically about a former cop whose family is now the target of a being who is using mirrors to take the souls of it's victims. That is a really interesting premise, that works a little bit.

The best thing about this film is the amazingly creepy set decoration and the cinematography. The sets, especially in the burned department store, are really creepy and almost Silent Hill like. It's very dark, rusted, and the contrast between the concrete, brick and the dried out blood made any shot inside the department store, automatically creepy. The music, while a little cliche near the end, worked. Sure, you could tell what would happen based on music ques, but the way the music works with the characters interacting with the mirrors worked really well. Also, I know it may just be because I'm dumb, but I did not see the ending coming, based on the fact that the film had been so sort of cliche the entire time. Along with the solid ending, is one of the most insane bath tub scenes that rivals Cabin Fever for sheer turn-your-head-and-vomit-in-your-hand moments. All of these great things said, the film is heavily flawed.

The main problem is the lead performances. Kiefer Sutherland is not good, and neither is his wife, played by Paula Patton. Amy Smart is fine as Keiffer's little sister, and the two children in the film are really good. Also, while the ending is interesting, it isn't really well done, as I had no idea how or why this happened. Well, there's one reason why it happened, so there could be a sequel. The way this film ends is so blattantly hoping a sequel is made, that it left a sour taste in my mouth. The script is really straightforward and basic, and the characters are cookie cutter horror cliche's. That may be the biggest sin of this film. The premise is so interesting and inventive (outside of the fact that it's based on a Korean film, Into The Mirrors, and is basically a Twilight Zone episode), that the fact that it lives so close to the realm of cliche really bothered me. However, there were some scares, it looks GORGEOUS (for a thriller) and it's an interesting premise, so it's not a total loss.

Mirrors - 6/10


Alright, that's all I have for now, so come back later for more news and notes...

Go see something good!

Weekend Wrap Up...

You guys know what this is about, so lets get down to it, I've got packing to do...

Box Office top 10...

1.The Dark Knight
2.Pineapple Express
3.The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
4.The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2
5.Step Brothers
6.Mamma Mia!
7.Journey to the Center of the Earth
8.Hancock
9.Swing Vote
10.WALL-E

The Dark Knight WINS AGAIN. The thing about that is, The Dark Knight beating these films, means that people are going out to see TDK MULTIPLE TIMES before even thinking about seeing these other films, including a sure fire, or thought to be surefire hit with Pineapple Express. HOWEVER, I believe Tropic Thunder this week will beat it, and gross over 60 million bucks, even though it may blow it's load a little early, as it, like PE, is opening on Wednesday...

There are the only three real noteable DVD releases..

- CJ7...Comes to us from Stephen Chow, the mastermind behind Kung Fu Hustle, and Shaolin Soccer...kind of like E.T., just much more crazy and cartoony...I haven't seen it, so this is definitley something I will be renting...
- Smart People...I think one of my first reviews over on my blog, and I really enjoyed this film. It's funny and includes one of my favorite male performances from the brilliant Thomas Hayden Church. HOWEVER, if you want to see an Ellen Page film, go to Hard Candy or The Tracey Fragments first. SM is a bit better than Juno, Citizen Kane compared to the first 20 minutes of Juno, but not as good as either of those films...so give it a shot...

PICK OF THE WEEK
- Brand Upon the Brain...
Two reasons why you should be excited for this film...
1) Guy Madden is behind it...
2) It's a Criterion release, for it's FIRST RUN...
It's a small film with Madden narrating over footage, so it may be a little out there, as most of his films are, but it's at the top of my queue, as it should be for you...

So this week sees 4 major releases that I am pretty interested in...However, I am not sure which ones I should review...I am positive that I will be seeing the Robert Downey Jr., Ben Stiller, Jack Black war comedy, Tropic Thunder, yet I don't know what else to check out. We have Vicky Christina Barcelona, Woody Allen's new film about two women who meet a seductive Spanish painter and stars Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardem, and Scarlett Johannson, and features a threesome between those actors, so bonus points there...We also have the horror film Mirrors starring Keifer Sutherland which is directed by Hills Have Eyes remake helmer Alexandre Aja, in which people are tortured by their images in mirrors...and finally we have Star Wars: the Clone Wars, the animated Star Wars film...so what should I see?? What looks the most interesting to you, and what are you interested in checking out? I'm leaning towards all but the Star Wars film, but if enough people want to hear what I have to say about, I may give it a shot. Expect a TT review on Friday though...

Alright, that's all for now, come back later for the usual...

Go see something good!!