Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones (2014)

Posted on April 28, 2014 by Felix Vasquez

The dilemma that the writers for the “Paranormal Activity” series now find themselves in is that “Paranormal Activity 3” was a prequel that told us everything we needed to know about this mythos. We began with Katie, continued with her sister, and then found out why they were so special. The third film ended the saga. Now, the continuing sequels are really just running on fumes and scrambling to find ways to continue a story that doesn’t really need continuing. “The Marked Ones” is a great effort, but a sub-par horror film.

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Girls Against Boys (2012)

Posted on April 28, 2014 by Felix Vasquez

Director Austin Chick’s “Girls Against Boys” is not just a polemic about the crime of rape and gender inequality, but is never afraid to depict men as anything but horny monsters that prey on women, when they’re not degrading them. Never has a movie been so hell bent on making men feel bad about their danglers. “Girls Against Boys” is a typical rape revenge movie, that’s also a mopey, whiny, and very homophobic thriller that can never seem to decide if it’s exploitation or melodrama. Sometimes it’s “Thelma and Louise,” sometimes it’s “I Spit on Your Grave,” and sometimes it’s “Ms. 45.” And never remotely as good as the aforementioned titles.

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Blue Ruin (2014)

Posted on April 28, 2014 by Felix Vasquez

“An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.”

When we meet Dwight, he’s already defeated. He has a beard and long hair, he’s homeless, he digs through trash behind a carnival for dinner, he sneaks in to people’s houses for baths when they’re out for the day, and he sleeps in his old shelled out car on the side of the beach. One night Dwight is picked up by the police, and informed that the man that ruined his life is being released from jail after a court acquitted him. And now Dwight has made a decision that will decide the rest of his life. Director Jeremy Saulnier’s “Blue Ruin” is one of the least glamorous revenge films ever made. It’s an ingenious and brilliant look at the actual repercussions of vengeance and how it can create a ripple of unintentional consequences and violence that eventually spirals out of control.

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Jodorowsky’s Dune (2013)

Posted on April 24, 2014 by Felix Vasquez

The highlight of “Jodorowsky’s Dune” is the sheer enthusiasm of Alejandro Jodorowsky who viewed his acquisition of Frank Herbert’s Dune as less of a film project and more as a life changing event. He is very excited and joyous whenever he discusses how he wanted to change the world, and even insisted on changing the cast he recruited for his adaptation. He refers to his cast and crew as “spiritual warriors,” and is never afraid to admit that he was intent on giving audiences something to take away beyond a mere science fiction space opera. He wanted to build a world, and he was willing to do whatever he could to achieve what he considered a master mold of cinema. He’s a very likable and charming personality who more or less became a burden on his “spiritual warriors,” managing to travel the world in search of the perfect crew to bring his vision to life.

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Attack of the 50 Foot Cheerleader (2012)

Posted on April 24, 2014 by Felix Vasquez

It’s amazing that in a movie that features a fifty foot cheerleader, the most far fetched and failed effect is the attempt to make Jena Sims look homely and ugly. That’s by no means a criticism, just an observation of a sorts. Sims is gorgeous, even with the wide spectacles they make her wear, and pasted on zits. She also often resembles Alicia Silverstone in certain lights. Roger Corman and director Kevin O’Neill assemble a pretty respectable cast for another iteration of “Attack of the 50 ft. Woman.” This time it’s a giant cheerleader who is gorgeous and mad as all hell.

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The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)

Posted on April 22, 2014 by Felix Vasquez

Sony seems to be following the plan of Christopher Nolan’s “Batman” movie series, with “Amazing Spider-Man 2” being “The Dark Knight” of the series. Except Sony doesn’t seem to have a clear end in sight for their own flagship franchise. Which may or may not be a good thing. If they keep up the momentum that “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” does, we might be in store for a very complete reboot with a clear cut satisfying evolution of its titular hero. The writers and producers focus very heavily on correcting former director Sam Raimi’s mistakes, and they have pulled it off well. Granted this follow up to the 2012 reboot isn’t perfect, but it’s better than its Raimi predecessor.

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Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

Posted on April 22, 2014 by Felix Vasquez

“They who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.”

Ed Brubaker’s acclaimed source material is the basis for “The Winter Soldier,” a remarkable and incredible follow-up to 2011’s “Captain America.” I’m very secure in declaring that “The Winter Soldier” is the “Empire Strikes Back” of the Captain America trilogy thus far, as the sequel manages to not only give Captain America the much needed conflict with his American ideals, and age old views on the concept of freedom and liberty, but turns him in to a hero who is no longer fighting for America, but for the idea of America. “The Winter Soldier” picks up right after “The Avengers” where Captain America has essentially taken to SHIELD headquarters as a home base, and doesn’t really keep in touch with his old teammates.

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