Dead Space: Downfall: An Enjoyable Convergence of Sci-fi, Anime, and Video Games

Rating:

***1/2

By: Da'Mon Guy



     In recent years, video games have become a main stay in modern society. They have also become an extremely useful resource for the creation of films just as much as books and other resources. Since many games already have a devout, pre-existing fan base, it only makes sense to attempt to build on some of these modern-day superstars. The games have developed such a great following that they expand their tales to other forms of media such as film and anime. Dead Space: Downfall is an example of just that. This feature is a chilling, unique combination of sci-fi, horror and anime. The film features the voice talents of Bruce Boxleightner (Tron: Legacy), Nika Futterman (Open Season 3), Kelly Hu (Green Latern: Emerald Knights), and Phil Morris (Justice League: Doom).

     Dead Space: Downfall is an adult-themed, futuristic tale that intermingles an eerie, suspenseful mystery with an action-oriented sci-fi adventure to bring to life the crucial back story to the Electronic Arts video game of the same name. The animated feature premiered in 2008. The film is filled with vulgarity and obscenities and it does not pull any punches. Despite of using anime as a vehicle to tell this story, there is nothing kid-like about this horrific tale of terror.


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Halo Legends: An Enjoyable Intersection of Anime & Video Games

Rating:

****

By: Da'Mon Guy

      Halo:Legends is a dynamic, innovative animated feature that is comprised of a collection of insightful, creative segments which grants an eye-opening introspection into the universe of one of the most popular video games ever, Halo. The film is highlighted by a multitude of different styles of animation that enhances theenjoyment of each of the stories. It features the voices of James Falkner(X-Men: First Class), Greg Ayers (Dragon Ball Z Kai: TV series), Luci Christian(Dragon Ball Z Kai: TV series), Deke Anderson (Green Lantern), ShellyCalene-Black (Ester‘s Diary), and Chris Ayers (Summer Wars).

     Halo:Legends is an action-packed, adult-themed collection of animated short storiesthat are based on the popular video game series by Microsoft. The game debuted in 2001. “Legends” gives a detailed, insightful observationinto the back story that comprises the series of games in the mega successful video game franchise

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The Help: One of the Best Movies of 2011....A MUST SEE

Rating:

****1/2

By: Da'Mon Guy

There are those movies that debut and become more than just a film. The Help is one of those movies. It’s not just a movie; it’s an event. The nature of the subject matter is extremely sensitive but once it’s coupled with great acting, the film becomes a phenomena. It’s a captivating, enlightening testament of friendship and perseverance. The film is a wonderfully, entertaining story of a trio of women who form an unlikely bond that transcends race, hate, and discrimination in the process of bringing to light the stories of the domestic help. The film stars Emma Stone (Crazy Stupid Love), Bryce Dallas Howard (Hereafter), Cicely Tyson (Why Did I Get Married Too), Mary Steambergen (The Proposal), Viola Davis (Knight and Day), Octavia Spenser (Dinner for Schumks), and Sissy Spacek (Four Christmases).

     The Help is a multifaceted extravaganza that delivers an riveting perspective on racial injustice and discrimination. It’s a movie lover’s movie; one that reminds you why you love film. It’s a gripping narrative that is based on the events that brought together the creation of a book that was based on the real life accounts of some negro women who aspired beyond racial discrimination and intolerance to voice their struggles during the civil rights movement of the 1960’s. The film is based on the events that were brought to life in the best-selling book by Kathryn Stockett that was released in 2009. The book told the true life stories of maids in the south during the civil rights in the 1960’s south Jackson, Mississippi. One woman’s efforts to bring to light the daily trials and tribulations of the maids of the rural south. The book serves as a lightening rod to spark a unifying sentiment that shines above the evil racial injustices of a community. The story of the domestic help is an enlightening journey into the past.

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Fright Night: Another Hapless Pillaging of a Cult Classic

Rating:

**1/2

By: Da'Mon Guy

There are some movies that should come with a warning label attached to them. This film is an example that there isn’t anything that is considered sacred or revered in movie making anymore. As Hollywood continues to remake every film that has any remnant of a following, the 80’s cult classic Fright Night, is the next on the slate. The latest Hollywood butchering recently debuted on video. The 2011 version of Fright Night is an underwhelming, opportunistic pillaging of a cult classic. This debacle is just another example of Hollywood trying to make a couple dollars off of someone else idea. It’s yet another unfortunate exploitation of movie makers capitalizing on the naiveté of a younger generation. The film stars Anton Yelchin (The Beaver), Colin Farrell (Horrible Bosses), Christopher Mintz (Kick Ass), David Tenant (How To Train Your Dragon), and Imogen Poots (Centurion).

     Fright Night is crude, pilfering aberration that does very little to improve on the existing film that was used as a basis for this dismal embezzlement. This tasteless pillaging does very little to impress true movie fans as it becomes just the latest, mediocre raping of a cult classic. The movie is based on the film of the same name that debuted in 1985. This version is significantly less enjoyable as it mangles any and everything that endeared the first film to fans in the 80’s.

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Abduction: This Movie Needs to Turn Up Missing

Rating:

*1/2

By: Da'Mon Guy



     The incredible success of Twilight has been one of the worse things that happened to film recently. Because of the wide-spread, devout following that the franchise has created, it has sparked Hollywood to produce a number of bad films that try to steal some of its thunder. These films have either been modeled after Twilight or try to use some of the stars of the film to lure the fans to other films. Abduction falls prey to the latter. Abduction is a nauseating, sappy absurdity that uses some teenage eye candy as subterfuge to lure young movie lovers to this mind-numbing teenage drama. Its a chance to squeeze a few more dollars out of young movie goers with this bad attempt at an action film. The film stars Taylor Lautner (Twilight: Breaking Dawn), Lily Collins (Priest), Alfred Molina (The Sorcerer's Apprentice), Maria Bello (Grown Ups), and Sigourney Weaver (Paul). It’s directed by John Singleton.

     Abduction is an underachieving, coming of age teen-focused depravity that is more melodrama than it is an action film. The film preys on the desires of the fans of the Twilight saga as this film is strictly a chance to get a quick buck by using teen eye candy, Taylor Lautner.


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Apollo 18: An Insipid Waste of a Good Concept

Rating:

*1/2

By: Da'Mon Guy



Science fiction movies, a once thriving, revered commodity in Hollywood, are now just a little more than an afterthought. There were great film franchises like Star Wars and Star Trek which made sci-fi household and reshaped the way that movie lovers perceived the genre. It was cool to be a geek and even those who weren’t would allow their inner geek to come out once in a while. However, those days are long gone. Now, sci-fi lovers are stuck reaching for excrement like Apollo 18. It is a film that speaks volumes about the sad state of science fiction in Hollywood. The film’s release in the theaters was delayed two times for undisclosed reasons. However, it would have been better served to never be released at all.

Apollo 18 is a mishandled, slow moving snooze fest. The film is a dreary, tedious fiasco that offers a very minimal amount of satisfaction as it seduces lovers of science fiction with the promise of something special. The film is a lackluster effort to infuse a reality based concept with a sci-fi/ horror story in a mildly successful attempt to grant a new perspective on

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The Resident: A Fresh Perspective to the Often Told Story of Obsession

Rating:

***

By: Da'Mon Guy

     There have been a countless number of films devoted to the theme of obsession. However, there are very few that takes the approach that The Resident does to the delivery of the tale. The Resident gives a mind-blowing, unconventional approach to the frequently-told story of obsession. The story is very reminiscent of the style of the great films of stalking/fixation such as Fatal Attraction.The movie stars Hilary Swank (Amelia), Jeffrey Dean Morgan (The Losers), Christopher Lee, Lee Pace (When In Rome), and Aunjanue Ellis (The Help).

     The Resident is a unique, revitalizing perspective on the often told story of stalking, mistrust, and lust. It’s a direct to video film that premiered in early 2011. It’s good story that offers a revitalizing perspective on the story of stalking and obsession. What separates this take from the other obsession stories that this is one of the few stories to grant an equal amount of the tale to both the stalker and the victim who becomes the fixation of the obsession.


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The Janky Promoters: A Lackluster Mockery of the Music Industrt

Rating:

**

By: Da'Mon Guy



The Janky Promoters is a modestly entertaining, jocular perspective on the shady world of music promoters. The film is a fairly amusing perspective on another urban story that highlights certain aspects of the over glamorized life in the hood. This film showcases one of the fastest growing genres in music, rap. The film stars Ice Cube (Lottery Ticket), Mike Epps (Jumping The Broom), Young Jezzy, Tamala Jones (35 & Ticking) and Juanita Jennings (Vacancy 2: the First Cut).

     The Janky Promoters is a putrid cesspool for the overused, redundant stereotypes that plague Afro-American films. It’s a reasonably humorous farce which embellishes on the pathetic state of the modern movie making involving Hollywood’s obsession of glamorizing the hood life. It’s an under-publicized but still inspires a good level of humor. It’s the latest hood-centric project that reunites the tandem of Ice Cube and Mike Epps for more comedic hi jinks. The film premiered in 2009.


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Cowboys Vs. Aliens: An Enjoyable, Action-Packed Convergence of Genres

Rating:

****

By: Da'Mon Guy



Cowboys and Aliens is a fascinating, action-orientated tale that successfully merges two genres to create an enjoyable movie-going experience. The film is a terrific mixture of suspense, mystery, action, and other elements that woo movie lovers. The movie stars Daniel Craig (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), Harrison Ford (Morning Glory), Olivia Wilde (Tron: Legacy), and Sam Rockwell (Iron Man 2). It’s directed by Jon Farveau (Iron Man 1&2).

     Cowboys and Aliens reacquaints modern movie lovers with the old west. The movie is based on the 2006 graphic novel of the same name. Cowboy & Aliens quickly whisks the audience into yesteryear as it is set in 1873. The film is a classic western at its core but it implements a creative concept of intertwining a sci-fi aspect into the story to entrance viewers back to the once great film genre. It’s a non-stop wild west experience that embeds a number of elements within the film that vastly enhance the enjoyment of the movie.


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Conan The Barbarian (2011): A Mildly Enjoyable Return of One of The Great Cult Heroes

Rating:

***

By: Da'Mon Guy

     Conan the Barbarian returns to the screen after a 17 year absence. This newest iteration is a violent, bloody exhibition that is an interesting blend of savagery and sorcery. It’s an entertaining tale of vengeance and redemption that returns the character to its roots. The film stars Jason Momoma (Game of Thrones: HBO series), Ron Pearlman (Season of the Witch), Stephen Lang (Avatar), Rachael Nichols (G. I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra), Rose McGowan (Planet Terror), and Leo Howard (G. I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra).

     Conan the Barbarian is an action-oriented, rousing tale that features a high level of brutality and is stockpiled with blood, guts, and gore. This the first big screen usage of the character since the duo of films to star Arnold Schwarzenegger in the early 1980’s. This is the third film to be based on the character created by Robert E. Howard.

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The Hit List: A Great, Dark Performance in a Direct to DVD Treat

Rating:

***

By: Da'Mon Guy





     The Hit List is an entertaining, tension-filled action flick that revolves around a cat-and-mouse game of life and death between a pair of unlikely adversaries. It ’s a direct to video treat that is carried by a gritty, dark performance by Cuba Gooding, Jr. (Lies and Illusions). It also stars Cole Hauser (The Family That Preys), Jonathan Lapaglia (A Beautiful Life), and Genny Wierick (Dark Moon Rising).

     The Hit List is an action oriented undertaking that surrounds the dubious thoughts of regret and self-doubt. The film premiered in early 2011. The story is built around a chance encounter between two men and then a subtle, twisted connection arises out of turmoil. This warped perception of friendship then motivates a series of heinous events as “The Hit List” begins to take shape.

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Drive Angry: Heavy on Action But Light on Story

Rating:

**1/2

By: Da'Mon Guy



     There are films that make you question why and how they ever came to production, let alone make it to the theater. Drive Angry is a great example of that. If you ever wanted to experience an outrageous perspective on the never-ending battle between good and evil, then this is your movie. Drive Angry is a mildly successful commingling of action and ridiculousness that is fused together to create a fairly enjoyable take on the oldest confrontation known to mankind. It questions the concepts of good and evil, life and death and is chocked full of obscenities, vulgarities, and nudity. The film is a great exhibition for the argument that love is an unbreakable bond and the most powerful force in the universe as it extends beyond life and death. The movie stars Nicholas Cage (Season of the Witch), Amber Heard (The Ward), William Finchner (Date Night), Billy Burke (Red Riding Hood), and David Morse (The Hurt Locker).

     Drive Angry has a solid plot but the delivery of it is just bad. The story rambles about and barely makes sense most of the time. Despite the gravity of the themes that are embedded within it, its delivery completely hampers the enjoyment of the film. The film tries to mask its shortcomings by the film’s senseless implementation of violence but for anyone above the age of 15 will see right through its maddening story. Conversely, despite the ridiculous nature of the movie it’s very theme heavy. The movie has a number of themes submerged in between it’s multiple bouts of lunacy. At its core, Drive Angry is about family and undying love. This zany story of redemption and atonement shows how love can conquer all.


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Our Idiot Brother: Warning! Humor Not Included

Rating:

*1/2

By: Da'Mon Guy

Our Idiot Brother is a dim-witted, mind numbing charade that barely delivers any level of comedic satisfaction. It’s a tedious, humorless farce that gives the false impression that it’s a slapstick outing, however it is easily one of the worse films of the year. This catastrophe tries to tell the story of a quirky, dim-witted stoner’s ineptitude who manages to bring his family together in the process of finding his place in the world. The film stars Paul Rudd (How Do You Know), Zooey Deschanel (Your Highness), Elizabeth Banks (The Next Three Days), Emily Mortimer (Cars 2), T. J. Miller (She’s Out of My League), Kathryn Haun (Step-Brothers), and Steve Coogan (The Other Guys).


     Our Idiot Brother is a mind-boggling, slow moving stupor of a comedy that attempts to embellish on the misfortune of a dullard. The film has a number of shortcomings; the biggest is that too much of the film relies on poking fun at the ineptitude of Ned (Paul Rudd). Ned’s candor and naiveté give way to multiple problematic situations as the film is really just a number of incoherent scenarios that showcase Ned incompetence and try to force a jocular response out of it. The humor is nearly non-existent as this depressing happenstance is jam-packed with a inexcusable number of cricket spurring moments that too often miss the mark. 



Paul: A Moderately Enjoyable Take on Alien Arrival

Rating:

**1/2

By: Da'Mon Guy

     Paul is a raunchy, fairly mundane outing that implements a high level of crude humor to mock the often-told tale of an alien arrival on earth. It’s a warm story wrapped in a tale of crudity and zaniness. The film features an all-star cast that utilizes the talents of Simon Pegg (Star Trek 2009), Nick Frost (Attack the Block), Kristen Wiig (Bridesmaids), Jason Bateman (Horrible Bosses), Seth Rogan (The Green Hornet), Sigourney Weaver (You Again), Dan Foggler (Take Me Home Tonight), and Bill Hader (Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs).

     Paul is a moderately entertaining, madcap venture that is every sci-fi geeks dream come true. This screwball tale is the story of two life-long friends who love comic books, sci-fi, and kinds of nerddom. The two seek to materialize one of their lifelong dreams by coming to America to visit comic-con and other famous UFO sites. In the course of their trek to see some of the fabled UFO landing sites in America the two encounter an alien.

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Escape From New York (1981): A Cult Classic that Still Packs a Punch

Rating:

****

By: Da'Mon Guy

John Carpenter’s Escape From New York is a visionary, action-oriented 1981 film that is most renown for the utilization of an anti-hero persona that laid the foundation for a number of action heroes to follow. It’s a innovative thriller that envisioned an incredibly dismal of state of affairs as in extraordinary increase in crime has forced the world to convert one of the capital cities has become a maximum security prison. The film stars Kurt Russell (Death Proof), Ernest Borgnine (Red), Lee Van Cleef (The Octagon 1980), Isaac Hayes (Hustle & Flow), Season Hubley (Kiss the Sky 1998), Tom Atkins (), Adrianne Barbeau (Back To School 1986), Donald Pleasence (Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers), and Harry Dean Stanton (Rango).

     John Carpenter’s Escape From New York was an unconventional action flick that was originally debuted in 1981. The film went on to become one of the true cult classics from the decade. It was a foresighted creation that was far paved the way for a number of roles for action stars. The movie tells the a tale that envisioned a world where crime has run rampant and the entire state of NY was converted into a maximum security prison.

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35 & Ticking: A midly enjoyable take on modern relationships

Rating:

***

By: Da'Mon Guy

     35 & Ticking is a fairly mundane, lackluster narrative that attempts to address the positive and negative dynamics of love and friendship. The film tries to use the lives of four childhood friends to showcase the different situations that people face in the pursuit of happiness. The film stars Tamala Jones (Tamala Jones), Nicole Ari Parker (Black Dynamite), Keith Robinson (Dear John), Wendy Raquel Robinson (Something New), Kevin Hart (Little Fockers), Darius McCray (Next Day Air), Mike Epps (Jumping The Broom), and Megan Good (Jumping The Broom).

     35 & Ticking is a humdrum, disjointed story which offers a mildly enjoyable combination of drama and comedy. The film premiered in limited release in 2011. It’s a movie that covers a multitude of relationship issues that are prevalent in modern society. One of the overriding themes of the film addresses is the self induced biological clock that society tends to place on women to have the desire to have a child by a certain age. In addition, the film attempts to provide a modern outlook on multiple aspects of heterosexual interactions, from relationships to dating to marriage.

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The Ward: A lackluster attempt at horror

Rating:

**

By: Da'Mon Guy

John Carpenter’s The Ward is a dreadful, inexplicable catastrophe that blurs the lines of reality in a depressing effort to tell the story of a series of eerie murders that occur in a mental institution. The chills are far and few between as it lacks any suspense to be considered a tale of terror. The movie stars Amber Heard (Drive Angry), Mamie Gummer (Twelve Thirty), Danielle Panabaker (The Crazies), Laura Liegh (Numbers “TV series“), Lyndsy Fonseca (Kick-Ass), and Jared Harris (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button).

     John Carpenter’s The Ward is a boorish, disappointing chore of viewing that hobbles along as it fails to justify being labeled a horror/suspense film. This lame exhibition occurs in 1966. The story revolves around the unexplained disappearances of some of the patients in a mental institution. It tries to create a level of psychosis within a tale of the supernatural as a ghost appears to be responsible for the mysterious vanishing of the patients. The movie premiered in limited release in the late summer of 2011.

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Your Highness: A Poor Excuse for Comedy

Rating:

*1/2

By: Da'Mon Guy

     Your Highness is an insanely raunchy, uncouth take on medieval times that infuses an excessive use of vulgarity, obscenities, and crude humor in an attempt to poke fun at great tales of enchantment and swashbuckling. It’s 90 minutes of unmitigated offensive efforts that fail to be funny. The movie stars Danny McBride (30 Minutes or Less), James Franco (127 Hours), Natalie Portman (Thor), Zoey Deschanel (500 Days of Summer), Toby Jones (The Rite), and Justin Theoraux (Megamind).

     Your Highness is a scarcely amusing disaster that is an unsuccessful marring of the combination of ridiculousness and senselessness. This mind-numbing absurdity implements an unjustifiable use of vulgarity coupled with an incalculable amount of sexual references that tries to be funny. It attempts to add a jocular perspective on the great tales of high adventure and fantasy. The film pokes fun at many aspects of tales of fantasy such as wizards, dwarves, and fairies who all make their way into this debauchery.

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Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides: Nothing New just More of the Same

Rating:

***

By: Da'Mon Guy

     Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is the swash-buckling, thrill-seeking epic that continues the legacy and adventures of notorious but quirky pirate, Capt. Jack Sparrow. This latest film is about a quest for the legendary Fountain of Youth that implements the same entertaining fusion of fantasy, comedy and action that has made the series of films successful. The film returns Johnny Depp (The Tourist), Geoffrey Rush (The Warrior‘s Way), and Kevin McNally (Valkyrie). It also introduces new comers such as Penelope Cruz (Sex and the City 2), Ian McShane (Case 39) and to the franchise.

     Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is the daring, extravagant 4th installment in the incredibly successful series of films. This iteration attempts to implement the many of the elements of the same formula that made the prior trio of movies a success. It also returns many of the characters from the franchise that has now been going strong for nearly ten years. The first Pirates film debuted in 2003

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Bridesmaids: Funny but not as hirlarious as advertised

Rating:

**1/2

By: Da'Mon Guy

     Bridesmaids is an moderately entertaining, unorthodox commingling of rauchiness, senselessness and zaniness. The film uses an uncommon approach to comedy that is sparsely laced with moments of comedy however, it doesn’t quite measure up to the hype that surrounded it during its stint in the theaters over this past summer. The movie stars Kristen Wiig (Whip It), Mya Randolph (MacGrubber), Rose Byrne (Insidious), Melissa McCarthy (The Back-Up Plan), Chris O’Dowd (Gulliver’s Travels), John Hamm (The Town), and Terry Crews (The Expendables).

     Bridesmaids is a humorous, crude farce about the true test of friendship through time and change. The film uses a jocular approach to tell the story of two lifelong friends whose lives have taken two completely contrasting directions. As one has found a happy and healthy relationship, the other’s life has taken a turn in the opposite direction. This is a comedy that is truly a story of a woman that has lost her way in life. Annie (Wiig) is at a crossroads in her professional and personal life but it all boils to a head when her best friend’s life is set to undergo a drastic change. Annie begins to question the bond between the two as it is tested because of change. At the core of this misleading debacle is the warm story of two friends who‘s lives have taken different directions causing the nature of their childhood friendship to change. After Lillian (Randolph) announces her marriage, Annie discovers the relationship between Helen (Byrne) and Lillian. Soon after, a competition for the bride’s friendship develops. A lot of the humor is focused on the budding rivalry between the childhood friend vs. the now current friend. The film revolves around the jealousy that Annie feels towards Helen as she has become Lillian’s seemingly new best friend.

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