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Oz the Great and Powerful (2013)

Oz the Great and Powerful Movie Review

[9/10 · 8 March 2013]

Was Sam Raimi able to pave the road to Oz in gold or were there one too many pitfalls along the road for this prequel. Oz The Great and Powerful tells the story of Oscar Diggs, better known by his stage name Oz, a small time circus magician whose quick hands and quicker tongue often get him into trouble. When Oz's lies and womanizing ways finally catch up to him, Oz makes his grand escape on a hot air balloon. Oz's grand escape plan takes a turn for the worse when his hot air balloon gets sucked into a tornado and finds himself in the magical Land of Oz.

The film is both a prequel and Raimi's homage to the classic film The Wizard of Oz. From the very beginning Raimi captures the feeling of the classic by opening the movie in black and white with black bars on the side to replicate an old square television set. This nice homage give way for one of the most visual striking scenes in the file, when Oz first looks onto the Land of Oz and the film slowly and gradually widening the screen and adding color to the world. The effect managed to add a nice touch to the Land of Oz that gives it that special magical feeling the world needed.

The special effects in the movie are a two way street that are both amazing and damning. The world of Oz is colorful and magical. The backdrops and landscapes of Oz are amazing and manage to give life to the world. The CG animation in the movie is smooth and detailed that one would expect from a summer blockbuster film. The one problem I had with the CG, which is found in many movies that rely on CG too much to create entire backgrounds, is that there are often times when the actors and the CG just don't blend right and it really stands out in some scenes. While this isn't a major problem, it does at times take you out of the film.

For those moments it takes a good cast to bring the view back around, and luckily for this film the cast couldn't have been better. James Franco pulls in another great performance as the lovable yet womanizing, lying, and selfish Oz. Yet even with the stunning Franco who easily carries this film has the entire movie stolen from him by the three witches Michelle Williams as Gilda, Rachel Weisz as Evanora, and Mila Kunis as Theodora. The three ladies do a fantastic job and you can tell they are absolutely enjoying their roles. I especially enjoyed Kunis for her commanding and chilling performance as Theodora. If it wasn't for her performance, Theodora would have been such a terrible and wasted character. Theodora comes off throughout the film as such utterly stupid that its almost ridiculous how blind and naive the character is suppose to be. Kunis, however, manages to make something memorable here that will make any Wizard of Oz fan proud.

While the movie isn't perfect my any means, Oz is entertaining and fun for the whole family. Raimi brings you back to the Land of Oz with the same old heart and soul that made you believe long ago.

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (2011)

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close Movie Review

[3/10 · 20 January 2012]

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close Movie Review

Directed by Steven Daldry Written by Eric Roth (screenplay), Jonathan Safran Foer (novel)

Haley Joel Osment. Dakota Fanning. Macaulay Culkin. I'm not a big fan of child actors. They tend to overact. Their big doting eyes emoting what the directors have told them to do. It's hard to relate with them, or empathize with their conflict. I wish I could tell you Thomas Horn in "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" was any different. The kid has talent, that's for sure. But for a movie that means to milk emotional responses from the audience, it is hard to find any connection from an eleven year old in pjs.

Horn plays Oskar Schell, a snappy, quirky, and inquisitive pre-puberty preteen who's oddities verges on elements of Aspergers. Oskar's father Thomas is a fun loving, inquisitive, jewelry maker, played deftly by Tom Hanks, who dies in the World Trade Center attacks.

About one year after 9/11, Oskar accidentally finds a key in his father's closet that he becomes convinced will unlock answers that only he was intended to find. Oskar's life becomes a race against time to try and hold on to the good memories of his father, and the reality of life moving on with his humdrum mother (Sandra Bullock). Through a detective process that's part Sherlock Holmes, part Pippi Longstocking, Oskar goes on an adventure around the five boroughs questioning New York's inhabitants for clues.

Despite his choir boy voice, and over-enunciating voice overs, Oskar becomes the annoying character in the piece. Instead of feeling sorry for the kid, we end up empathizing with his mom, who has to try to find a way to connect to her estranged child. The best character comes from Max von Sydow's tenant, who plays a mute renter of his grandmother's apartment. The renter's silent frustration of Oskar's mission, and agreeing to accompany him on his quest, mimics the viewer's own plight as we are forced to chaperone this kid on what we already know is a false errand. The movie is not about what the key unlocks, nor about September 11th. Rather, its about how we grieve with a loss, and despite failures and flaws, ultimately learn how we learn to forgive and keep going. At least, that's what it intends to be. What "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" becomes is a tightly crafted, beautifully filmed, but searingly hollow tearjerker. It makes you feel sorry for the people that are around the kid that we're supposed to feel sorry for, which is the saddest thing about the film.

Red Tails (2012)

Red Tails Movie Review

[9/10 · 20 January 2012]

Red Tails Movie Review - Set against the backdrop of the skies above 1944 Italy at the height of WWII, Red Tails opens up on four squad fighters in pursuit of a low-profile target. Nicknamed 'Easy' (Nate Parker), 'Lightning' (David Oyelowo), 'Joker' (Elijah Kelley) and 'Junior' (Tristan Wilds), these four fly outdated P-40 fighter planes for the first African American aerial combat unit known as the Tuskegee Airmen. However, these dedicated flyers are only assigned to eliminate ground-based targets because it is widely assumed within the military that men of color lack the intelligence or skill to handle situations such as dog fighting. Based on actual events, this film tells the story of these highly-accomplished heroes who had to fight fascism in the air... and prejudice on the ground.

The sharp-tongued squad fighters take on every mission assigned to them, no matter how seemingly unimportant. Eventually, they're assigned to defend a beach landing, throwing them into their first dog fight... the results of which catch the attention of the higher military ranks. When it becomes clear to military leaders at the Pentagon that protecting American bombers en route to German targets requires a rather unorthodox approach, Colonel Bullard (Terrence Howard) demands that the Tuskegee Airmen, under the watchful eye of Major Stance (Cuba Gooding Jr) are given the chance to prove themselves... with the help of some new P-51 fighter planes, of course. To make the squad more distinctive and recognizable, the tails of these planes are painted red - hence the nickname 'Red Tails'.

In the midst of the war around them, these men deal with their own challenges. Drowning his pain with liquor, 'Easy' bares the mental wounds of the expectations placed onto him by his father; always the tough guy who's ready to strike at anything in his way, 'Lightning' must explore a more patient side when pursuing a relationship with Sofia (Daniela Ruah); 'Junior' simply wants to be considered something more than just a kid; and Colonel Bullard must continually stand up against those who don't respect him for the opportunity his men deserve. These ventures on the ground see the men through various struggles which are always overcome through a true sense of camaraderie and bravery.

***

Understanding that Red Tails based on actual events, it's to be expected that some dramatization will exist for the sake of artistic expression - though the general look and feel of the of the film was authentic. With most battles taking place in the air, there isn't much exposure to the horrors that one experiences on the ground during a war... which leads to an apparent lack of that 'gritty' feel in most action movies.

As there's a wide range of talent in the cast, the film is carried largely on the backs of the more seasoned actors; but well enough that everything flows nicely. With most dialogue being short and to the point, there are no lengthy conversations or speeches drawn out by the occasional 'pause for reflection' - this allows for the story to play out at a consistent pace. However, with a runtime of about two hours, the film may have benefited from another twenty minutes of dialogue and interaction with the sub-plots occurring on the ground, allowing for a deeper exploration into character development, backstory, range of emotion and explanation of plot details. There were simply too many stories to be told and locations to be shown within two hours, leaving the viewer desiring just a little more.

The photography, costuming and art direction of Red Tails is quite beautiful, and perhaps somewhat stylized and exaggerated. Every shot was composed and choreographed so delicately that it progresses visually like something from a comic book. This look is in stark contrast to the color-bleached and hand-held photography of Saving Private Ryan; but more like the perfectly-lit and wide-angle photography of Michael Bay's Pearl Harbor. George Lucas has always been a fan of dog fighting (present in a number of his StarWars films) but he also leans toward ensuring that every shot of his more recent films are as clean as possible, leading to an often 'airbrushed' look - something made possible with computer technology in post-production.

The aerial combat and dog fighting scenes are fast, action-packed and just fun to watch. One can't help but hate the rather two-dimensional German fighter pilot our heroes nickname 'Pretty Boy' as he appears time and time again in these combat scenes. Thankfully, the use of explosions is kept to a minimal as planes are instead ripped to shreds by the hailstorm of bullets coming at them. Though the CG fighter plane effects were very well done, some artistic license was taken in their formations and tight flight patterns for the sake of cinematographic drama. But hey, it's an action movie.

This is one of those 'well-wrapped' films that utilizes something of a formulaic approach to telling the story because it's safe. It's a war film without much of the blood one might expect; a story about racial prejudice without much of the true ugliness that entails. Somewhat predictable, there's a level of comfort with the lack of extremely emotional 'cliffhanger' moments. As a whole, the film moves at a great pace and has just right amount of well-times surprises and light-hearted humor juxtaposed against military politics and violence to make it a truly enjoyable experience. Red Tails is a great film for anyone - there's a little something for everyone here.

The Devil Inside (2012)

The Devil Inside Movie Review

[2/10 · 7 January 2012]

The whole story about "exorcisms" have been told time and time again. No one has nailed it since the original "The Exorcist" back in 1973. The majority of them are pretty bleak and bring nothing new to the story. The Devil Inside, unfortunately, suffers from that same fate.

This time around, a young mother commits a triple murder while possessed by various demonic spirits. A few years later, the daughter goes looking for an answer and finds more than she bargain for.

As the film begins to develop, the tension quickly builds up as we are taken to a walk through of the crime scene. After one cheap scare, the false sense of hope disappear faster than you can say 666. As I mention before, The Devil Inside offers nothing new to the story for the exception of a couple of scenes that will make you jump out of your seats. Unfortunately, this is not enough to mend the damaged inflicted by this fictitious tale. The inconsistencies within the film are far too many to ignore. The movie is supposed to play as a documentary but you will notice that this is not always the case. At times it feels as if you were watching a really low budget horror movie with very bad acting. Yes, as if the bad story wasn't bad enough, the acting in this film was pretty bad but it was the best thing this movie had to offer.

Now, put all this mishaps together and add one of the worst ending in film history, what you'll get is The Devil Inside. The overall execution was mediocre at best. This might be scary for a 10 year old kid but not to your general moviegoer and especially not to a avid horror fan. If you want to see (essentially) the same movie with better acting, watch "The Rite" with Anthony Hopkins. It's already on DVD and it wont cost you an arm and a leg. If you are in the mood for some devilish movies, stick to the originals: The Exorcist, The Exorcism of Emily Rose, The Amityville Horror, etc...

By Raymond Melendez www.MovieFloss.com

Colombiana (2011)

Colombiana Movie Review

[26 August 2011]

Zoe Saldana has been a rising star for the better part of a decade. After a scene-stealing turn in the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie she followed with a string of hits including The Terminal, Star Trek and Avatar. In each of those films she was either supporting a major star like Johnny Depp and Tom Hanks or working on big-budget effects-driven features. In her newest film, Colombiana, the New Jersey native must carry the film without a marquee costar or abundant green screen work.

In the film Saldana plays Cataleya Restrepo, a Columbian girl who witnesses her parents' murder at the hands of a cartel leader's thugs. After escaping to the United States she grows into an adept assassin for her Uncle. She also targets members of the cartel that killed her family in the hopes of one day getting to those involved in her family's demise. All the while she is being chased by law enforcement and trying to maintain a relationship with her boyfriend.

Written by Luc Besson, mostly known in the US as the man behind The Fifth Element, the screenplay tends to be melodramatic. This works well for the fast-paced action. However, there are flaws such as unexplained parkour skills, weak character development and a few scenes where Saldana's sex appeal is displayed for no apparent reason. These are minor quibbles though. Colombiana is a strong action movie that doesn't rely on CGI to excite audiences. It works because the action is physical; choreographed fight scenes and taut directing are the foundation for the film.

Saldana proves she is fully capable of driving a film on her own. She is both sexy and gritty. She has a cool confidence that translates well to the big-screen. She is rarely in over her head and really has you believing she can do the things you see in the film. Colombiana is an entertaining action vehicle that could catapult Saldana to greater heights.

Bottom line: Colombiana is a good action movie with plenty of elements that will appeal to men and women alike. Well worth the cost of admission

Written by Sam Yakou for MovieFloss.com

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (2010)

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark Movie Review

[26 August 2011]

Every so often a movie comes along that changes an entire genre and becomes something more than just movie, but this is not that movie. Don't Be Afraid of the Dark is a remake of a 1970's film of the same name. Guillermo Del Toro, famous for Pan's Labyrinth, brings us this modern update along with new director Troy Nixey. The movie tells the story of a young girl named Sally that moves in with her architect father and girlfriend Kim who are remodeling an old mansion. Soon after arriving the girl opens a doorway that unleashes a group of small monsters that attempt to kidnap her and eat her teeth!

First thing I should tell you is that the movie isn't that scary. What the movie focuses on instead is telling a good story that relies heavily on atmosphere. One of the best parts of the film is the mansion that they life in. What's interesting is how the mansion is treated almost like a character in that with all the construction that the mansion is undertaking, it changes throughout the movie. Starting from as an old building that holds secrets to a completely renovated mansion that is more than what it seems. From a comfy lit room to a dim lit nightmare, the mansion becomes the perfect set piece. I must give credit to the director for the attention to detail in every set and the eerie coldness that the movie makes you feel.

The acting is good but nothing to write home about. Katie Holmes does a fine job playing Kim, the interior decorator and love interest. Guy Pearce does an amazing job playing a father you really want to strangle at the end of the movie and Bailee Madison does a good job playing Sally. The little creatures, which are all CG done look fantastic in the film, which is something expected when I see the name Guillermo Del Toro attached to the film.

While everything sounds good and great and the movie does a great job at being a good classic horror movie with the usual or unusual twist ending, I still have a problem with the movie that is more an issue with the genre. That problem I have stems from the utter stupidity from the characters in the film. If some little monsters try and attack you or someone you know why wouldn't you do everything in your power to stay away from the house or at the very least be with someone at all times? Why is it that once everything is going to hell that all the characters decide to split up instead of forming a party? I mean seriously, it just pains me to believe that all these characters could be so very stupid. You know the little monsters are there but you still decide it would be a great idea to take a shower at night? Seriously?

OK, I think my little rant is done. Overall I enjoyed the film even though I am not a big fan of horror movies and I think that if you want to see a horror film is that more creepy than scary than Don't Be Afraid of the Dark will satisfy your needs.

Written by Steve Cienfuegos for MovieFloss.com

Sucker Punch (2011)

Review: Sucker Punch

[4/10 · 25 March 2011]

Sucker Punch is Zack Snyder's (300, Watchmen) interpretation of an Alice in Wonderland situation. Upon the death of her mother, Babydoll is locked away in an insane asylum by her vengeful, greedy stepfather. He has arranged for her to receive a lobotomy in five days. Seeing as how such a place can put a price on creating vegetables, it isn't the most comforting of facilities as Babydoll and four other young girls are constantly threatened with beatings, rape and death.

Babydoll resorts to finding comfort within her own mind as she drifts into a fantasy world filled with giant samurai, zombie Nazis, and even dragons as she battles through the demons she faces in the real world. Blurring the line between reality and imagination, the 5 girls hatch a plan to escape from their prison by any means and slow-motion battle necessary.

The most brilliant decision Snyder made in this movie is truly the opening. I'm not referring to the opening scene (which may have been the best storytelling sequence of the film), but rather the cold start involving the WB logo. As the theatre darkens and the silver screen brightens, a gritty stage is shown with the WB logo printed on a curtain. The camera slowly moves towards the stage as the curtain pulls away to reveal the opening set; Babydoll sitting in her room staring into her mirror. Finally, the camera makes its way onto the stage and we are now brought into the story. This makes a very great and obvious argument that what follows is not meant to be grounded. Even the fantastical vignettes of battle royale are still ridiculous in their own world from physics to even visuals, but that's OK: this is the theatre.

Still, these vignettes are nothing without plot. The series of 4 or 5 visually exciting dream battles are tied together with a weak story that these girls must find 5 items (map, fire, knife, key, secret) in order to escape from the Great Deku Tree – oh, sorry. I was confused with The Legend of Zelda. And each time they try to take one of these items or are threatened, Babydoll drifts into a dream world of sexualized violence

Which is where another issue arises. Its no secret that these girls are all thigh, stockings, and boots. As a man, I can appreciate that. But there really is a depressing message that seeps forth in between every action sequence and that is "Girls, if you're about to be raped/traumatized, just go to your happy place." It's… uncomfortable to say the least. The reason this review keeps coming back to it is because the movie does too.

Does Sucker Punch entertain? Parts of it do. As a series of stylistic, slow-motion oozing, action filled shorts, yes. Very much so. As a film with interlacing plot-like elements? Expect less there than you already do.

2.5 Creepy Thin Mustaches out of 5

-MovieFloss.com

Limitless (I) (2011)

Review: Limitless

[7/10 · 18 March 2011]

What if one little pill could change your life by bringing about wealth, power, and all else you've ever wanted? What would you give up for this miracle? Money? Family? Control? An idea has been around for ages that we only use 10% of our brains while the other 90% stores old reruns of That 70s Show. Much has been fantasized about what one could achieve if they could only tap into this unknown potential from incontestable intelligence to psychic abilities to Heroes-esque super powers. While this myth has been widely debunked, Limitless (based off of the novel The Dark Fields) embraces this fantasy in a very grounded way. Supposing that a street drug can light up one's remaining synapses, a user can access all they've ever read, heard, and experienced for a few hours like an overpowered Adderall Eddie (Bradley Cooper of The Hangover, Alias) is a grungy writer who can't write, pay the rent, or get his life in order. Then the night before he is due to turn in his first draft of his still mere idea of a novel, he runs into his sketchy ex-brother-in-law-drug-dealer-other-dashes who offers him a taste of a brain enhancing designer drug. Suddenly, Eddie finishes his draft, gets a haircut, and turns life around with such fluidity that even he still can't comprehend what just happened in the past 8 hours. Needless to say, he needs more. More leads to wealth as he plays the stock market and leads to fame as his book is unbelievably brilliant and confidence as this corner dweller now has the intellect and brawn to own the room. But there are consequences from taking and withdrawing from this drug leaving him addled with blackouts, headaches, and maybe an STD. Throw in some baddies and a corporate monolith run by Robert De Niro seeking Eddie's financial "scheme", well, then, things suddenly take a turn for the worst.

Director Neil Burger (The Illusionist) takes us through this stream of consciousness in a style similar to David Fincher crossed with Tony Scott; capturing Eddie's fluid perception of handling complex situations with unnatural ease. A hit or miss for most audiences will be the narration throughout the film, though. While apropos with the protagonist being a writer suffering from clairvoyance, the omniscient first person is hard to accept.

It would also be interesting to see the alternate endings supposedly filmed as the one chosen has "test screening audience vote" written all over it.

Limitless is an interesting take on an old idea that feeds on "what ifs". This thriller may have not possessed the substance it aimed for, but it's still an entertaining 100 mins of substance-abuse.

3 Handsome Smirks out of 5

www.MovieFloss.com

The Lincoln Lawyer (2011)

Review: Lincoln Lawyer

[8/10 · 18 March 2011]

I know what you're thinking and I can agree with you that the name, Matthew McConaughey, does not instill great confidence that you're going to get a great movie experience. Now that is not to say that McConaughey hasn't done some great movies. For every Ghosts of Girlfriend's Past, Sahara, and Failure to Launch there are We Are Marshall and How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. Lincoln Lawyer is luckily part of the later group and reminds us that McConaughey can carry movie without having to take off his shirt in every scene.

Lincoln Lawyer is a thrilling drama about a cocky and smooth defense attorney Mick Haller, played by McConaughey, who represents a high-profile client on charges of attempted murder. But as new evidence continues to pile on, Mick starts to grow suspicious that perhaps his client isn't telling him everything. With twists and turns at every corner, Lincoln Lawyer keeps you guessing till the very end.

With the help of that distinct country voice and southern charm, McConaughey takes the movie to another level with this portrayal of the fast-talking lawyer. With the role of Mick, McConaughey is actually given a chance to show off a range of emotions that will truly surprise viewers. Mcconaughey doesn't carry this alone, Lincoln Lawyer gets some great acting from the likes of William H. Macy, Michael Pena, John Leguizamo, Josh Lucas, and Marisa Tomei. The only black sheep of his movie comes from the alleged murderer Louis Roulet, played by the ever wooden Ryan Phillippe. The only thing I find amazing from Phillippe's attempt at acting is his unique talent to deliver every line of dialogue without moving a single muscle on his face.

The tension and intensity that begins to engulf Mike as the case continues is stellar. Lincoln Lawyer really pushes Mike to edge as his whole world becomes begins to collapse due to his Attorney-Client relationship. This is where Lincoln Lawyer really comes alive and delivers a must see movie experience. The court room scenes are some of my favorite scenes in the movie and there are plenty. The approach they took to portraying the lawyer aspect of the film feels accurate and realistic. The plot is solid and keeps you invested right from the beginning and keeps the grip tight throughout the movie. The movie keeps a good pacing and the dialogue is smart and witty. The film's color and camera work gives a very raw feel although at times it can be a little too unstable. The story and characterization is done well but there are a few things that should have been given more focus, like Mike and Maggie's relationship and more insight as to why they got divorced. The movie touches on the idea with a scene or two but never really reveals too much. We also never really get too much on Mike's relationship with his daughter. My biggest problem with the film was the underwhelming ending that really had everything necessary to end the movie with, but still felt lackluster when it came. However, don't let these few problems sway you. I strongly recommend this film and promise you that you will leave satisfied.

-www.MovieFloss.com

Hall Pass (2011)

Review: Hall Pass

[2/10 · 25 February 2011]

Hall Pass is the latest "boys never grow up" comedy to come out of the Ferrelly Brothers. Being the creative minds behind Dumb and Dumber and There's Something About Mary, one can expect a riotous situational comedy with a dash of lewd exposure all while managing to keep a heartwarming undertone that makes it all worth it. Unfortunately, Hall Pass keeps the lewd with a dash of comical instances of brilliance while managing to keep the audience wondering when the movie will finally just... stop playing.

Rick (Owen Wilson, the blonde one who's not Luke Wilson) and Fred (Jason Sudeikis of SNL fame) are best buds happily married to wonderful women Maggie (Jenna Fischer of The Office) and Grace (Christina Applegate of Anchorman, Married with Children). But things have gotten a little stale in the bedroom and the guys are helpless but to gawk at all the young "talent" that surrounds them. Darn it, if only they weren't married! The wives take note of this behavior and after a lengthy dialogue with a minor character literally detailing the title of the film, they pave the way for a wild week of orgies and freedom by issuing their husbands a "hall pass" a.k.a. a week free from marriage in which they can sow their wild oats. The boys are instantly excited and embrace the idea without any concern for how bad things must be in their marriage to have brought their wives to this point, but never mind. Free sex! Except they find that it isn't as easy as they remember to meet women leading to failed attempt after attempt to not only fulfill their fantasies, but to even function without the guidance of their wives. Reminiscent of moving out of the house for the first time and instead of mom's meatloaf, you're eating Cup o' Noodles for 3 weeks straight. The ladies, on the other hand, go Maggie's father's summer home for the week and party with a visiting Minor League baseball team and play volley ball and shotgun beer and are flirted with constantly and... well, you get the point.

Ultimately, the film slumps along from one scene to the next, segmented together in a shrewd manner. The film's crippling weakness isn't that a majority of the jokes are asinine for even a Farrelly Brother film or that the plot is overly contrived but that the characters we're meant to invest in just aren't interesting or agreeable or worth a $10 admission. Being a fan of Wilson and especially of Sudeikis, the characters they played were severely underwritten for their talents. They didn't seem to capture the bumbling 40-year-old thinking he could still be a 20-year-old effect and just came across as bumbling 40-year- olds pretending to be 60-year-olds thinking they could be 20-year-olds. Fischer and Applegate were also underwritten and thus made it hard to really invest in their characters as well.

While there are a few memorable moments involving a hipster troll working at a coffee shop and Stephen Merchant being Stephen Merchant for 5 minutes, Hall Pass just does not deserve to be excused from its poor execution.

1.5 Hawaiian shirts out of 5

-MovieFloss.com

Drive Angry (2011)

Review: Drive Angry 3D

[7/10 · 25 February 2011]

Milton (Nicholas Cage), long hair bleached and greased back with vengeance, tosses his duffel bag into the back of newly-met stranger Piper's (Amber Heard) Dodge Charger. With her hands shoved into her daisy barely dukes, the uncertainty in her gaze is lost on, or possibly ignored by, Milton. As he opens the door to get in:

Piper: "I don't pick up hitchhikers, you know."

Milton: "I wasn't stickin' out my thumb."

*car door slam*

This early scene sums up exactly what you're getting yourself into with the Nicholas Cage driven movie, Drive Angry. You've seen the trailers. You've experienced Cage's knack to play unhinged, surrealistic characters. This 70's throwback to the pulp, metal on metal, grindhouse era of film doesn't ask you if you want a ride. You jump in without invitation and only know one thing: you'd better strap in. And it's with this that Drive Angry does not disappoint.

Milton, in his '64 Riviera, has just escaped from imprisonment and is searching for a baby snatched from her mother by a devil-worshipping cult hellbent on a full moon sacrifice led by Jonah King (Billy Burke of The Twilight Saga), a southernly sadistic soothsayer. It seems Milton's own daughter was once stolen from him by the same cult and, well, he's experiencing a little road rage as he shoots his way through one lead to the next. Along the way, he joins up with Piper and her '68 Charger who's pretty looks pack a pretty punch and isn't afraid to gun and run. All the while they are being chased across 6 state lines by trigger happy cops and The Accountant (William Fichtner of Prison Break), a seemingly supernatural hunter looking to return Milton to his warm, warm prison. Throw in a '71 Chevelle, unapologetic bloodshed, and absolutely necessary explosions, and you have one darkly comedic, action fueled vehicle.

Drive Angry embraces the fact that it is ridiculous by nature which makes it very enjoyable. The over the top dialogue, car chases, and 3D shootouts really add to making this a midnight moviegoer's film. Patrick Lussier and Todd Farmer (My Bloody Valentine 3D) aimed to keep the integral car sequences visceral and strayed away from CGI for a majority of the chases, though there is plenty of CGI elsewhere. Being an unabashed opponent to the influx of 3D in the cinema today, Drive Angry was filmed as a 3D film from the start and I actually liked it. Some shots were intentionally gimmicky which added to the humor, but the entire movie is a bit over the top and it flowed nicely.

Drive Angry makes no assumptions that it is anything but a popcorn-spilling, laugh-out- loud, violently raw roller coaster on its way no where near an Oscar. And it's better for it. If you don't mind having an arm shot and projected at your face while Nic Cage loses touch with reality, Drive Angry will provide an entertaining distraction from the repetitive daily commute.

3.5 seat belts out of 5

-MovieFloss.com

A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010)

The night terror continues in the new Nightmare on Elm St.

[8/10 · 30 April 2010]

The night terror continues in the new Nightmare on Elm St.

Freddy is back with more rage than ever. This time is not just about the killings... This time it's about Revenge.

Jackie Earle Haley takes on the character of Freddy Krueger , a man who the town has condemned as a child molester. With more disfigurement than the original Freddy, Jackie really does a very good job as the Killer of the film. So good in fact that I had to continue to remind myself that this is not Robert Englund. Keeping with the same mannerism as the original, gives the film a very creditable feel. Not to take anything away from Jackie who added his own twist to the character to make Freddy a new Villain for the new generation. So we ponder the question, Is there anything Jackie Earl Haley cannot do? Answer: I'm afraid not, the guys is as good as they come...

The movie seems to have a new direction, a different point of view if you will, perhaps to give the movie a more modern feel. Even thou they changed it enough to make it seem like a new film, I was very impressed with director Samuel Bayer, who decided to keep the killings very similar as the original Nightmare on Elm St. More to his credit, The Studio had said that the remake of A Nightmare on Elm Street was going to be converted to 3D during post production in which Bayer Refused to let Nightmare on Elm Street be 3D saying: "This was shot in 2-D and was meant to be shown in 2-D. Just like I don't want to see a lot of great movies remade - I don't want to see a lot of them in 3-D" Bravo!!! A very good decision in my opinion.

The story of the film is more sinister and disturbing this time around. Giving you a glimpse of what the real backstory was and why they didn't tell us back in 1984 when the film was first released. Far too more complicated to visualize back in those days.

With way crazier dreams and mind games, including collaboration of the characters within the same dream, Freddy still taunt his kids just as good, if not better than before. I found this movie to be far more superior than the sequels that followed the first installment of the franchise and I hope you do too. So, stay up late and go see this New Nightmare on Elm St.

One, Two Freddy's coming for you. Three, Four better lock your door. Five, Six Grab the crucifix. Seven, Eight Gonna stay up late. Nine, Ten Never sleep again.

Raymond Melendez

MovieFloss.com