Category Archives: Movie Reviews

RoboCop (2014)

Posted on by

RoboCop-Remake-Logo

Truthfully, how much further can Hollywood damage Robocop? I think the hoopla surrounding the Robocop remake was very over the top, if only because Hollywood neutered Robocop years ago. “Robocop” was about a man brutally shot to death whose corpse was resurrected in a metallic casing that allowed him to shoot rapists in the nuts. By the time “Robocop 3” ended, he was a mascot with a cartoon, appearing on lunch boxes, and a PG-13 television series. So truth be told, José Padilha‘s remake doesn’t damage the character any further. The best thing I can say about it is that it’s better than “Robocop 3.”

Continue reading →

Sorority Party Massacre (2014) (DVD)

Posted on by

You have to give it to “Sorority Party Massacre.” Not many slashers these days have the balls to rip off the entire prologue to “Scream” wholesale. There’s even a long drawn out scene where the young victim is taunted by the caller. Except rather than the audience groaning “Aw, they killed Firestarter,” this time they’ll be saying, “Oh someone killed the girl with the dog. Some dude with a mask. Okay, then.” If that’s not bad enough, “Sorority…” is one of the most tonally inconsistent horror movies I’ve ever seen. It’s never sure if it wants to be a horror comedy, or a horror movie. And even the most distracted viewer will notice immediately.

Continue reading →

Reel Zombies (2008): Special Edition (DVD)

Posted on by

Many zombie fans will be quick to compare David J. Francis and Mike Masters’ mock documentary set amidst the zombie apocalypse to “Diary of the Dead.” Truth be told, I was prepared to consider it a knock off during the first twenty minutes, but that would be a disservice to “Reel Zombies.” Directors Francis and Masters don’t offer any pretension about their film and are pretty straight forward in its premise and how they’re not even remotely trying to offer social commentary. There’s no message about racism, or sexuality, or the government, it’s just a straight forward horror comedy. “Reel Zombies” won’t be accused of re-inventing the wheel, but even with its flaws, it’s a damn good horror comedy.

Continue reading →

Barefoot in the Park (1967)

Posted on by

jane-fonda-and-robert-redfo

The big screen adaptation of Neil Simon’s play is not only one of the best romance comedies I’ve ever seen, but is also one of the very few romance comedies to make me laugh hysterically. The pairing of Jane Fonda with Robert Redford is a master stroke, and the pair as lovelorn newlyweds reveal a hidden often underrated comedic timing that makes the movie as much of a slapstick comedy as it is a sweet tale of reality dawning on two just married lovers that find life rearing its head toward them slowly.

Continue reading →

Say Anything… (1989)

Posted on by

Say-Anything

Truly, “Say Anything” is one of the most iconic romance movies of all time. It’s a last gasp of the eighties and in many ways a very touching tale of two people finding one another. But one of the best things about it is the final scene. Much in the way “The Graduate” ended, “Say Anything” puts our characters through the ringer, and then throws everything up in the air leaving it there for the audience to figure out what will happen next. Like Benjamin and Elaine in “The Graduate,” our young couple sits on a plane awaiting their fate and look at one another pondering on what the future holds.

Continue reading →

High Bid (2014)

Posted on by

There’s a joke in this movie somewhere. I’m just not sure where. It’s not a bad movie by any means, but for a short film that identifies itself as a comedy, I kept wondering when the punch line would come. It’s a pretty good and well directed short film, but I’m still not sure what the joke for “High Bid” is, in the end. Is it the final scene? The preparation for the date? The mom’s oblivious tendency to help her daughter? Does the mom know about the daughter’s auction?

Continue reading →