I was kind of off put by the opening of director Grayson Whitehurst’s experimental thriller entitled “Not in My Beans,” but sticking with it really did pay off well. At only a little near five minutes long, “Not in My Beans” has a unique and very entertaining premise that’s dark, creepy, and surreal.
Category Archives: Movie Reviews
The Walking Dead: Season Three [Limited Edition Aquarium Tank] [Blu-ray]
“There’s an economic concept known as a positional good in which an object is only valued by the possessor because it’s not possessed by others. The term was coined in 1976 by economist Fred Hirsch to replace the more colloquial, but less precise “neener-neener.””
One of the main aspects of the limited edition set, is that you really have to read the directions. I know, it’s just common sense, but when you’re opening the box to this and looking through the contents, you don’t really expect a directions slip. My first problem: Would it have hurt them to include batteries with the set? Hell, I would have shelled out a few more dollars for the sake of it.
You have to buy four AAA batteries, and if you can manage to crack open the lid on the bottom, it’s a great pay off. The tanks slide out from the set very easily, and the lids come off allowing you to adjust the zombie heads in whatever order you want. There are pegs behind the heads with springs on the back allowing them to hang there, but they’re invisible. Especially when you turn on the light.
Cockneys vs. Zombies [BluRay/Digital Copy] (2013)
One of the more refreshing aspects of “Cockneys vs. Zombies” is that there is no doubt what the monsters in this movie are. They’re zombies plain and simple. When our band of mismatched degenerates we call heroes exit their bank heist to find a band of cops slaughtered by the walking dead, they only wonder what the monsters lurking about are until character Katy proclaims “They’re zombies.” It’s so easy to figure out, and thankfully we don’t spend twenty minutes figuring out what they are, and the moral ramifications of ending the havoc of one of the undead.
The Great Gatsby (Blu-ray+DVD+UltraViolet Combo Pack) (2013)
While many may criticize Baz Luhrmann for his rapid fire and somewhat gonzo directorial style, his sense of glitz and glamour works wonders for the tale of the rich and wealthy, and the one man who had it all, but could never quite grab a hold of what he really wanted. Luhrmann’s film is gorgeous and often times dazzling to behold, and it suits the aesthetic of the story of a young country boy named Nick seeking to strike it rich through business who is wooed and romanced by the rich and ridiculously well off. At first what seems like a fun bit of escapism, soon becomes the realization that the characters Nick surrounds himself with do nothing but escape from life.
Monsters Wanted (2013)
Director Brian Cunningham’s haunted house documentary is simultaneously very engrossing and utterly surreal. Cunningham explores the haunted house industry and how one haunted house attraction isn’t just becoming the centerpiece for a town, but for a slew of aspiring actors and performers who rely on this job as a means of celebrating the holiday of Halloween, showcasing their talents, or just imploring the attraction as an outlet for their characters.
The Great Escape (1963)
“The Great Escape” is mostly known these days for the iconic imagery of Steve McQueen riding his motorbike trying to escape the clutches of German soldiers. As a hardcore McQueen fan, I am all for giving him his due, but “The Great Escape” offers so much more than McQueen on a motorbike telling Nazis to fuck off as he desperately attempts escaping their forces. “The Great Escape” is a classic man film about a group of soldiers bonding to escape their prison, and garners an immense cast of acting heavyweights.
The Cincinnati Kid (1965)
It’s well documented that Steve McQueen sported a hefty resentment toward Paul Newman and viewed him as a rival until the day he died. Though McQueen was known for being petty and resentful toward anyone who challenged his position as an actor, McQueen mostly aimed for Paul Newman. Naturally, since Newman was known for his iconic role as Fast Eddie Felson, a pool hustler battling against the one and only Jackie Gleason, a pool master named Minnesota Fats, McQueen followed up with his own version of the film, except with poker, and upped the ante by going up against Edward G. Robinson.