The Demolisher (2015) [Fantasia Film Festival]

Posted on July 27, 2015 by Felix Vasquez

FANTASIA FILM FESTIVAL

I really do want to see more from Canadian director Gabriel Carrer, mainly because “The Demolisher” brought back waves of Nicholas Winding Refn and Michael Mann with it. “The Demolisher” is a slow burn and really stellar revenge thriller that picks up after an admittedly sluggish first half hour. “The Demolisher” picks up steam and collides in to an all out assault of blood shed, gore, and violence that help to explore the crumbling of a man’s sanity. Evocative of films like “Ms. 45” and “Death Wish,” Carrer channels the idea of trauma and its lasting effects and how it can toy with one man’s idea of justice for his beloved wife. Continue reading →

Monty Python: The Meaning of Live (2014) [Fantasia Film Festival]

Posted on July 26, 2015 by Felix Vasquez

FANTASIA FILM FESTIVAL

You really have to appreciate the blunt honesty of the Python crew at their age and why they decided to team together after three decades to tour once again. They needed the money. After a brutal court battle over the creative rights of “The Holy Grail,” they were all left generally low on cash, so they decided to launch a stage show tour of their best bits to garner some quick cash and help seal their debts. There’s no fluff on a documentary that loves the Python crew. They love their fans, they love their work, but they need the money, and I respect the hell out of that.

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Assassination Classroom (2015) [Fantasia Film Festival]

Posted on July 23, 2015 by Felix Vasquez

FANTASIA FILM FESTIVAL

It’s not often such a weird movie manages to win me over, but lo and behold “Assassination Classroom” really did. I doubt I will be back for the sequels unless I have to, but for almost two hours I was thoroughly entertained by such a richly developed and fun action movie. It avoids almost all of he clichés of an action movie, while also diving head first in to them, and sets up a bunch of storylines within its one hundred and ten minute duration. Based on the hit manga of the same name, “Assasssination Classroom” tries to fit in a bunch of threads in its run time and succeeds for the most part. The premise is so daffy and off the wall I could only gaze in sheer disbelief as two screenwriters approached this with sincerity.

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The Walking Dead Season 2 Episode 7: Pretty Much Dead Already

Posted on July 23, 2015 by Felix Vasquez

Although fans of the series peg the finale as the best episode of the series, I much prefer “Pretty Much Dead Already.” It’s when the survivors really go for each other’s throats, and the cast’s performances are top notch. Particularly Jon Bernthal who is just a bull dog ready to do whatever it takes to keep himself safe. Hershel’s big secret was a gruesome one in the comics, and here it works to the same effect.

Hershel is convinced the dead are just sick people, and he’s convinced his family of the same idea. And this has pretty much halted their survival, for better and for worse. They’re lucky they’ve been generally untouched by the apocalypse, but living in such denial eventually leads to catastrophe.

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Batman: Season 2 Part Two (DVD)

Posted on July 22, 2015 by Felix Vasquez

Part two of the Adam West Batman series is probably my favorite installment so far, as it includes the famed crossover between The Green Hornet and Kato with the Caped Crusader. I always considered Green Hornet to be the superior series, so it’s a blast watching the pair of superheroes team up to stop what is a considerably lame villain. Granted, I would have loved to see them tackle the Joker, but beggars can’t be choosy.

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Batman: Season 2 Part One (DVD)

Posted on July 22, 2015 by Felix Vasquez

The alternative to buying the two hundred buck Blu-Ray set is back once again, as Warner releases Batman Season two, Part One on DVD. Same bat time, same bat channel, just with lesser definition. I can definitely tolerate it not being blu-ray quality, and for folks looking for a less expensive alternative to owning the series, Warner is ensuring that they get their money’s worth by releasing every season in two separate parts. The series is about as good as ever, and depends on two factors: Either your nostalgia for the show, or your threshold for camp.

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