Nothing pisses me off more than discovering a movie I find to be one of the most unique and original creation in years to discover that it’s actually pretty old and quite well known. Not only do I feel more out of the loop than ever, at that moment, but I also kick myself for not looking into independent short flicks better. Life dictates my internet usage, I’ve accepted it. Thanks to a happy accident, I discovered “Robot Bastard!” for the first time and couldn’t believe my eyes. Here was a movie that was so weird, and so unusual, and yet so funny, and so damn cool.
Tag Archives: Comedy
Tom and Jerry: A Nutcracker Tale (2007)
If you go into “A Nutcracker Tale” expecting full blown Tom and Jerry mayhem involving burning hands, cut tails, and knives to the butt, then you’re going to be disappointed. We’re now at a time of sheer confusion where a cat cutting a mouse’s tail is crossing the line yet we’ll willingly allow our children to watch MTV. Censors and the FCC can never seem to make up their damn minds, anymore.
Hatchet: Unrated Director's Cut (2006) (DVD)
Upon a second glance, “Hatchet” really doesn’t play too well. It’s a bit shrill, it’s pretty average slasher fare, and like it or not, the incredibly ridiculous hype really did hurt what was a pretty fun slasher film in spite of it all. David Green has a knack for direction and makes “Hatchet” an utterly hilarious slasher flick that’s helped by the above par production qualities and great performances. Deon Richmond almost steals the show with Parry Shen, and Mercedes McNab continues her dumb blond shtick with surprising competence. The gore effects are simply astounding and I really enjoyed the gruesome splatter and overall creative methods of dispensing of the poor saps that come across the deformed hacker that is Victor Crowley.
Shoot 'Em Up (2007) (DVD)
A man sits on a bench drinking coffee and eating a carrot, a pregnant screaming woman runs by. As does a man wielding a gun prepared to shoot her. Mr. Smith is now involved. Thus begins a sudden mission to protect a newly born child from a massive conglomerate and a surprisingly interesting reason why this child is wanted. I theorized all throughout Davis’s raucous action comedy and really wasn’t prepared to find a devious plot as complicated and absurd as the one explored here. “Shoot ‘Em Up is yet another variation on “Lone Wolf and Cub” with a mysterious warrior leaving a body count in the triple digits to protect a child, and though Davis derives from the concept, “Shoot ‘Em Up” is its own twisted animal. There’s really no point in hating “Shoot ‘Em Up”; it’s a ridiculous, idiotic and fantastical cartoon mixed with a formula video game, and it makes no presumption to pretend otherwise.
The Asian Superman Myth (2007)
Hi, I’m Felix, a movie critic who, you may know, has been a hardcore Superman fan since before I could read. Superman is a character that’s meant a lot to me over the years, and I take great humor in folks who pay homage or poke fun at the character because Superman is a versatile creation that’s ripe for any context. “The Asian Superman Myth” is a mock documentary that begs the question: Is Superman really Asian? It’s possible, is it not? Claveria makes a great case for the notion. In Claveria’s film, the world shown is a world where Superman exists, and Superman is not only just a popular comic book character, but an anomaly that may or may not exist among us.
Juno (2007)
I admit that I was worried about this film for the first twenty minutes. I was bored, I was thinking “Who are they kidding?”, and I noticed the shocking similarity to “Immediate Family.” But then my mind was changed once Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner were introduced. Don’t get me wrong, Ellen Page does wonders with this film as she provides yet another great performance as the title character who pretty much experiences something sadly not out of the ordinary in today’s society. She’s a sixteen year old who after a night of drinking and heavy kissing, finds herself pregnant.
Hairspray (2007): 2 Disc Shake & Shimmy Edition (DVD)
Alright, I’ll just come out and say it. The remake of “Hairspray” is great. There. Maybe it’s because my expectations were high, maybe it’s because I’m such a fan of the original “Hairspray,” or perhaps it’s my utter obsession with everything Brittany Snow, but “Hairspray” is damn good. The music is energetic, the pacing is competent, and shit will you find yourself tapping your feet from minute one. I was hoping it would be good, but in a way I also wanted it to fail. The original “Hairspray” is my favorite John Waters film after all, and I just didn’t think anyone could live up to it. You have great references to the original, Michelle Pfeiffer returning to the musical genre, and John Travolta in drag once again doing what he does best. I don’t think there’s much to hate in this. Sure, in the end it pretty much attempts to take away the surreal atmosphere Waters inserted, but hell the acting, the choreography and pretty much everything is top notch.