Dark Recess

Friday, April 22, 2011

LEGEND OF THE FIST: The Return of Chen Zhen

Synopsis:

In 1920's China, the nation is divided by infighting,Japan has become the most powerful force in Asia,taking over Northern Shanghai. With the city torn in half ,the popular nightclub "Casablanca"becomes a hotbed for spies,mobsters,English officials and the Japanese military-all looking to gain control of the country,with little regard for its citizens.

Legendary Chinese folk hero Chen Zhen(Donnie Yen) returns to China pretending to be wealthy playboy "KU" during the day and masked avenger at night ,determined to stop the Japanese invasion.Zhen becomes entangled with sultry show girl Kiki(Shu Qi) who has a secret all her own.Zhen's secret past catches up to him and he is forced to face impossible odds .

The opening action sequence that takes place in Europe ,where Chen Zhen and the allied forces fight against the Nazis ,is one of the best kinetic martial arts fights I've seen in a while....definitely well worth the price of admission.

Though director Andrew Lau(INFERNAL AFFAIRS) tries his best to mix martial arts and drama a la Ang Lee.

The attempt at a FISTS OF FURY / LUST/CAUTION mash-up,unfortunately falls short.

Now being a child of the 70's...1970's not 1870's,silly...

I was brought up on a healthy first run diet of classic martial arts cinema from the likes of Bruce Lee, Sonny Chiba, and Gordon Liu.

I was and am a fan of those legends as well as Jackie Chan ,Sammo Hung, and Jet Li.

Donnie Yen ,even though legend in his own right still hasn't been able to make it big here in the U.S.

Maybe with this film and the current release of "Ip Man",Yen just might crossover.

Yen is definitely the saving grace here..his charisma and martial arts prowess save this film every time he jumps into action.

Even though this film is far from perfect,the one/two punch of the fight sequences and Yen's Martial artistry well make up for it!

LEGEND OF THE FIST : The Return of Chen Zhen

opens in limted release April 22nd

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

"Sucker Punch" Drunk

SUCKER PUNCH is a visual and audible KNOCKOUT!!!

....unfortunately, its plot and acting is merely a baby tap

Here's a quick synopsis:

Set in the 1950's,locked away in an asylum run by Madame Gorski(Carla Gugino) and orderly,Blue Jones(Oscar Issac) a young woman named Babydoll (Emily Browning) retreats to a fantasy world where she is free to go wherever her imagination takes her.Determined to fight for her real freedom ,she enlists four women--Rocket (Jena Malone),Blondie (Vanessa Hudgens),Amber (Jamie Chung),and Sweet Pea(Abbie Cornish)--to join her and escape the terrible fate that awaits them.With a virtual arsenal at their disposal,the allies battle everything from samurai to serpents,while trying to decide what price they will pay for survival.

I fell in love with this film last year at The San Diego Comic Con without seeing a single frame of footage.With the promo pics of the cast and the stunning maquettes produced by Gentle Giant Ltd., I. WAS. HOOKED. I knew back then that this movie would not disappoint.

And I was right.(kinda)

"Sucker Punch"'s director and co-writer Zack Snyder( "Dawn of The Dead","300","Watchmen", and the forthcoming Superman reboot"Man of Steel") describes the movie as "Alice in Wonderland with machine guns.

This movie is more scary tale than fairy tale.

There are two reasons that make this film entertaining.

Visually ,Snyder can frame shots like each one was a painting.

The color palette in the dream sequences are rich and delicious.

The computer generated images(and there are PLENTY) are breathtaking.

Each quest that our heroines embark upon looks more beautiful than the last.

Parts of the film were like a video game come to life.

Snyder's trademark slo-mo action sequences( seen as a one trick pony) are well utilized here.

I wished that it went even slower so that I could gaze at all the awesome images in the frame.

To steal a term from director Guillermo del Toro...the images are not merely "eye candy "they are "eye protein"...visually ,I wanted more of the fantasy sequences.Unfortunately, there were only four set pieces.

Another aspect that make this film entertaining was its soundtrack

At certain points during the movie ,I felt like it can almost be described as a two hour music video.

Supervised by composer, Tyler Bates ..the music that accompanies the film is as much a major player as the effects and the dialogue.Actually several songs are performed by Babydoll herself,Emily Browning.You get the obligatory heavy guitar riffs that were prominent in Snyder's "300" but the soundtrack on top of the great sound design and effects are well orchestrated here.

Bad Ass chicks ,with knives and guns fighting samurai,steam-punk Nazi zombies,orcs,dragons,and robots.All these elements equal to "Geek-Porn".

What more can a Fanboy ask for,right?

Well there's a little thing called plot and interesting dialogue(ouch).

The story lacked focus at points.Though the story jumped back from reality to fantasy to hyper-fantasy...it wasn't cohesive.It felt jumbled and jarring.Hot chicks in a hot mess,indeed.

The performances were adequate at best ,Cornish and Malone are stand outs here.Malone seems to be the only actually trying "act" here.One might think that Browning would be the acting anchor.On the contrary,her performance is apropos of her namesake...artificial ,wooden, plastic,not unlike a... babydoll. Hudgens and Chung are merely background scenery.Casting Snookie from" Jersey Shore" and The Geico Geeko would have been more entertaining,but maybe not as sexy.

As much as I knew this film was gonna be a feast for the eyes...I also knew that the storyline and performances were going to leave a lot to be desired.

This movie is much like a sexy ,stunning,supermodel who can sing her a$$ off...but when you sit down and want to talk to her,everything that comes out of her mouth is utter nonsense and laughable.

If you can overlook the less than stellar plot and performances...this is popcorn escapism at its best.

Catch this flick on the big screen..you'll lose a lot if you wait to see it in the comfort of you own living room.

'til next time,Cabrones!!!

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

BATTLE:LAme

...Aliens invade earth and through insurmountable odds the humans triumph over the invaders...

Stop me if you've heard this one before.

Well I wish someone would've stopped me form seeing "BATTLE:LA"

Normally at this juncture,I give you a brief synopsis....but I think I've spoiled it enough for y'all already.

Well my mother always said ,if you have nothing good to say ,don't say anything at all...............................................................

Actually ,the film isn't THAT bad .

Our hero in this two hour commercial for the USMC is Aaron Eckhart.

Eckhart plays Staff Sgt.Michael Nantz, a career soldier with demons that taint his reputation and haunt his soul.

Eckhart is actually the saving grace of this film.

His performance was a highlight for me.

A modern day John Wayne.

As Captain America ,as Captain America can be.

(in fact he would've made a great Cap)

Eckhart saved humanity from the aliens..but his performance could not save this movie.

Unfortunately the rest of the cast is a waste too.

It was great to see Latinos dominate the cast..but ALL of them wasted their talent here.

Ramon Rodriguiez does a decent job here as Lt. Martinez.

(fun fact:IMDB has Rodriguez tapped to play Bosley in the TV reboot of Charlie's Angels...interesting)

Michelle Rodriguez as Tech Sgt.Santos was waaaaaay better in AVATAR.

and shamefully ,Michael Pena as Joe Rincon has moments..I just wish there was more.

The draw here is the "realism" of how the film feels.

Director ,Jonathan Liebsman(Texas Chainsaw Massacre:The Beginning)

was inspired by real world battle footage.

I wish Liebsman would have used a chainsaw to shave about 30 minutes off this movie.

The way it was shot along with the special effects make this a film that will work only on the big screen...the viewer will lose a lot on their TV when this is released next week on DVD(just kidding).

Bottom line...I would have rather sat at home and watched a double feature of "Independence Day" and "War of The Worlds" than have sat through this movies.

Columbia /Sony greenlit this approx. $100 Million movie and

Universal said "NO" to Guillermo del Toro's "At The Mountain of Madness" ?

...really Hollywood?

maybe del Toro should shop ATMOM over at Columbia.

'til next time Cabrones!!!

Saturday, January 29, 2011

"Biutiful"-ly Honest

Shocking.

Tough.

Raw.

yet...Biutiful.

These are only a few words that describe Alejandro Gonzalez Inarraitu's latest cinematic masterpiece,"Biutiful"

"Biutiful" is a love story between a father and his children.This is a journey of Uxbal(Javier Bardem), a conflicted man who struggles to reconcile fatherhood ,spirituality,crime,guilt and mortality admidst the dangerous underworld of modern Barcelona.

"Biutiful" is a film filled with raw emotion.

Not only was I invested in this film ...I was immersed into this world.

The underbelly of Barcelona is not only the setting, it is itself a major character in the film.

One feels the electricity,the grit,the almost stifling atomosphere that surrounds this world.It is so real ,by the third act I was emotionally spent.

Bardem's recent Oscar nomination is so well deserved.

His performance is one filled with truth and realism.

Inarraitu has a way of taking the movergoer on a a emotional bumper car ride.

A true testement to his masterful filmmaking.

I had the pleasure of attending a very special screening and Q&A with Inarraitu,where he discussed the various aspects of making this very personal film.

Personal in the sense that there is a outpouring love that went into weaving this tale.

Before filming commenced on his last film ,"Babel" he suffered the loss of one of his children.

He channels that grief in to "Biutiful" that adds to this cathartic journey.

If you are a fan of his previous films "Amores Perros","21 grams" and the aforementioned "Babel"..."Biutiful" continues in the vein of masterful storytelling.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

The Criterion Collection: CRONOS

To double dip...or not to double dip?

That is the question!

When George Lucas decides to release STAR WARS on Blu ray,you know and I know, that you are going buy it...yet,AGAIN!!!!

For me,it'll be my gazillionth copy of that film.Beta, VHS,Laser Disc,DVD..Arrrgh!!! :)

You know I've gotta see Slave Leia in all her glory and Jar Jar in all his....no ,waitaminute...hesa still needsa to die!

Well boys and girls..I've got a film for you that is well worth the double dip.

It is Guillermo del Toro's CRONOS.

This time around ,it is given The Criterion Collection treatment and well deserved.

Out of print and harder to find than the male genitalia in Disney's Little Mermaid one sheet poster. Del Toro's first film ,CRONOS remastered and transferred for the first time in HD,Criterion does not disappoint here.The disc is lush,the colors and sound POP!It is truly the way del Toro intended it to be viewed.

For those of you few who haven't seen it(and shame on YOU)

here is a quick synopsis:

CRONOS, a highly unorthodox tale about seductiveness of the idea of immortality.Kindly antiques dealer Jesus Gris(Fererico Luppi) happens upon an ancient golden device in the shape of a scarab,and soon finds himself the possessor and victim of its sinister,addictive powers,as well as the target of a mysterious American named Angel(Rod Perlman).

If the beautiful remaster and transfer were not enough...

It is the supplemental material that make this disc ,KING!

First off you get the rarely seen ,unreleased 1987 del Toro film ,GEOMETRIA remastered for this exquisite edition with new music provided by Warner Brother's Animation composer ,Christopher Drake.*Fun Facts* not only is del Toro's mother ,Guadalupe one of the stars in the short,but del Toro himself provides ALL the voices in Italian.

And the extras keep coming .There are all new interviews with del Toro, star Ron Perlman, Academy Award winning cinematographer,Guillermo Navarro, and star Ferderico Luppi.

But for me the diamond amongst all these gems is a walking tour of The Man Cave or Bleak House by the man himself ,Guillermo del Toro!!! If The Smithsonian had a Geek wing ,it would be similar ,but not as awesome as this glimpse into del Toro's mind brought to life.

One could spend hours going frame by frame and still not truly appreciate all the wonders collected .*Fun Fact* There is a bronze statue in the backyard of Ray Harryhausen,one of only three in existence ,one owned by Peter Jackson, one by Harryhausen and the last owned by del Toro himself.

The peek into the man cave is worth the price itself...True Geek Porn!

Convinced yet?...you better be.

So go recycle all of your Diet Dr. Pepper cans and double dip,triple dip...heck, quadruple dip!!!

buy this edition...BUY. IT. NOW! :)

Show Criterion that all of del Toro's masterpieces need...no,deserve The Criterion treatment.

'til next time Cabrones!!!

Monday, October 4, 2010

"...The tastes of the many ,outweigh the tastes of the EWWWWWW!"

And so I paraphrase the almighty Spock....Well,this pretty much summarizes my opinion of Tom Six's "The Human Centipede" out on DVD October 5th.

Ever since the film's made its infamous horror film fest circuit run,"The Human Centipede" has been the much talked about horror film to see.After seeing the trailer,one pretty much gets the gist of what the film is about.

Here's a short synopsis... two female tourists get stranded in the backwoods of Germany,only to find refuge in the company of a former plastic surgeon who specialized in separating Siamese twins.Now the fun begins...After drugging the two tourists and tranquilizing a third "patient"...Herr Doctor,reveals his plan to create the first Siamese triplets by connecting his three unwilling participants via their gastric systems(let the hilarity ensue...NOT!).

This movies running or in this case crawling"joke",runs/crawls an hour too long.My gag reflexes got quite the work out.No real scares here, just a "horror" film that is quite horrific. Now ,I'm not being a horror snob..it's just that this film is equivalent to a horror snuff film.I get the whole fascination with the current rash of "gore-porn"...but The Human Centipede makes Eli Roth's "Hostel" look like "My Little Pony :The Movie".

Six has found his niche..the first film generated enough buzz to spawn a forthcoming sequel.

Six likes to shock..so I don't see him branching out to do mainstream films...We'll never see "Tom Six Presents :Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles"...cuz that would give the term turtles are "bottom feeders" a whole new meaning(rim shot). Now even after ALL that ,if you feel that your curiosity is still piqued...then go for it and experience it for yourself. Don't say I didn't warn ya! This film will leave a bad taste in your mouth...literally!