Daily Archives: September 9, 2015

Sep 9 2015

Movie Reviews 101 Midnight Horror – Clinger (2015)

logo 2Director: Michael Steves

Writer: Michael Steves, Gabi Chennisi Duncombe, Bubba Fish (Screenplay)

Starring: Vincent Martella, Jennifer Laporte, Julia Aks, Shonna Major, Alicia Monet Caldwell, Taylor Clift, Leah Henley

Plot: Fern Petersen, a driven high school senior, has her life turned upside down when her overly affectionate boyfriend, Robert Klingher, dies in an embarrassing accident. When Robert returns from the dead as a love-sick ghost, he tries to reunite with Fern – only to have his heart broken. As Robert plots to kill Fern so they can be together forever, Fern will have to fight to stay in the world of the living. Clinger is a blood-soaked coming of age story about the horrors of first love.

There may be spoilers the rest of the review

Verdict: Perfect Horror Comedy Gem

Story: Clinger starts with Fern (Laporte) and Robert (Martella) two high school students who bump into each other from their different worlds at school and just instantly hit it off. While things start off smoothly Robert starts clinging on too much Fern starts to think about ending things along with the advice of her old sister Kelsey (Aks) and her friend Moe (Major).

In the process of breaking up with Robert his latest love angle results in his death. Things take another turn when Fern ends up getting haunted by Robert a love ghost, it is now up to Fern to help Robert pass on or keep him as her own ghost boyfriend or move on with her own life. Which ever she choices Robert will end up disappearing or becoming a vengeful spirit.

Clinger is a horror comedy that brings us the idea of first love and how we all learn how to deal with first love and handle to learn about love. The horror element of the story works well with the idea of being haunted by former love, which reflex just how when you do end a relationship you can be haunted by the decision in different ways. I liked how each different fight with the ghosts works and comes off original as well as dealing with the ghosts types brings back the ideas of something original. I should go into negatives but I can honestly say I found it hard to find any. (8/10)

Actor Review

Vincent Martella: Robert Klingher is the over clinging boyfriend of Fern, she was his first love but when he dies announcing his love for her he doesn’t stay dead, in fact he comes back as a ghost to haunt Fern. Vincent is great in this role as the jilted lover. (8/10)robert

Jennifer Laporte: Fern Petersen is the star athlete at the high school who starts her first romance with Robert but when he starts becoming too much for her to handle she plans to break up with him before he dies. She continues to get haunted by Robert who she tries to help pass on but only ends up going through the same motions. Jennifer gives a great early role performance showing she could be a star for the future. (8/10)fern

Julia Aks: Kelsey Petersen is the older sister of Fern who keeps trying to come up with new ideas for businesses without much success along with her idiotic boyfriend. Julia steals most of the laughs in all her scenes. (7/10)

Shonna Major: Moe Watkins is Fern’s best friend who is filled with awkward innuendos that make everyone double take what she is saying. Shonna made me laugh the most in the whole film, everything she says is hilarious. (8/10)

Support Cast: Clinger has a supporting cast that includes the typical high school film characters as well as very creative selection of ghosts.

Director Review: Michael Steves – Michael gives us a horror comedy that should stand up as the best this year and for many years to come. (8/10)

Comedy: Clinger has brilliant laugh out loud moments throughout. (9/10)

Horror: Clinger plays the blood soaked horror, but I don’t think it has a scare factor. (7/10)

Settings: Clinger uses high school settings well, the track and field for Fern’s track work and the house being used for Petersen family. (7/10)
Special Effects: Clinger has great effects to create the ghosts both coming and going. (8/10)

Suggestion: Clinger is one for all the horror comedy fans to go and see simple as that. (Horror Comedy Fans Watch)

Best Part: The whole style of the film.

Worst Part: being picky, slightly short.

Funniest Scene: Moe saying anything.

Kill Of The Film: Dean, as well as afterwards.

Favourite Quote: Fern to ghost Robert ‘It’s not that your dead, it’s that I’m living’.

Believability: No (0/10)

Chances of Tears: No (0/10)

Chances of Sequel: No

Post Credits Scene: No

Similar Too: Life After Beth

Oscar Chances: No

Runtime: 1 Hour 21 Minutes

Tagline: Nothing is Scarier Than Your First Love

Overall: One of the funniest films of the year

Rating 85

 

Sep 9 2015

Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)

logoDirector: Robert Zemeckis

Writer: Jeffrey Price, Peter S Seaman (Screenplay) Gary K Wolf (Novel)

Starring: Bob Hoskins, Christopher Lloyd, Joanna Cassidy, Charles Fleischer

Plot: A toon hating detective is a cartoon rabbit’s only hope to prove his innocence when he is accused of murder.

There may be spoilers the rest of the review

Verdict: Paving the Way for Cartoon Crossovers

Story: Who Framed Roger Rabbit starts with the cartoon of Roger Rabbit who is meant to be babysitting in what is a very Tom & Jerry like cartoon before a real world director calls cut because Roger does the scene wrong. The studio bosses want private detective Eddie Valiant (Hoskins) to watch over Roger’s wife Jessica who might be cheating on him.

Eddie quickly finds out that Jessica playing games pushing Roger over the edge. When the man Jessica was playing games was murdered Roger becomes the prime suspect. Eddie decides to investigate as he meets Judge Doom (Lloyd) who wants to rabbit found. Eddie must find the real murderer even if it means working with Roger. As the case continues to unfold Eddie finds himself inside a bigger issue and conspiracy going on in toon town.

Who Framed Roger Rabbit is a film that ends up mixing cartoon and real world making everything seem normal having the two mix with each other. The trying to solve the case is very simple stuff and really manage to push the limits of the odd couple on screen with Roger and Eddie. Another big plus has to be the villain who comes off truly terrifying and could easily be scarier than most horror icons. This has also stood the test of time but deciding to set the action in the 1940’s which doesn’t ruin the idea of an 80’s release. This will always be remembered as a classic that will be remembered by everyone who has seen it. (8/10)

Actor Review

Bob Hoskins: Eddie Valiant is a private detective who get hired to spy on Roger Rabbit’s wife only to end up having to defend Roger who get framed for murder. He hates cartoons because one killed his brother but he wants to see the truth released. Bob shows how good of an actor he was with this role having to work without a co-star on screen and nailing everything single spot. (9/10)eddie

Christopher Lloyd: Judge Doom is the new law in toon town and he is trying to get rid of Roger, he is one of the most psychotic characters I have seen because he will burn any cartoon in acid. Christopher creates one of the most evil villains I have ever seen. (9/10)doom

Charles Fleischer (Voice): Roger Rabbit is the leading rabbit who is framed for murder who has to work with Eddie to find out the truth while avoiding the evil Judge Doom. Roger comes off as a good original cartoon character mixed with real ones. (8/10)

Jessica Rabbit: Jessica is Roger’ wife who gets set up playing games but is loyal till the end to Roger, she will stand by him and give us the sexist character entrance in film history. Jessica does make everyone stop and look at the screen when she is on. (8/10)jessica

Support Cast: Who Framed Roger Rabbit has a mixture of cartoon characters we all know and love mixed with the real world people who are in the real world.

Director Review: Robert Zemeckis – Robert brings us one of the most unique movies that really works because it pushed the boundaries. (9/10)

Animation: Who Framed Roger Rabbit has almost flawless animation between the real world that works perfectly. (10/10)

Comedy: Who Framed Roger Rabbit has laughs a plenty through the film. (9/10)

Family: Who Framed Roger Rabbit is one for the whole family even if it has one of the darkest scenes in animated film. (9/10)

Fantasy: Who Framed Roger Rabbit brings cartoons into the real world which works to fill the fantasy side of the story. (8/10)

Settings: Who Framed Roger Rabbit uses the idea of Hollywood being the main setting. (9/10)
Special Effects: Who Framed Roger Rabbit uses the brilliant mix of real world and cartoon being put together effortlessly. (9/10)

Suggestion: Who Framed Roger Rabbit is one that really has to be watch at least one in everyone’s life time. (Watch)

Best Part: Mix of Cartoon and Real world.

Worst Part: The first melting scene if horrific.

Action Scene Of The Film: Final fight.

Funniest Scene: Handcuff scene.

Favourite Quote: Jessica ‘I’m not bad, I’m just drawn that way’.

Believability: No (0/10)

Chances of Tears: No (0/10)

Chances of Sequel: No

Post Credits Scene: No

Oscar Chances: Won 3 Oscars and nominated for another 3 More.

Box Office: $154 Million

Budget: $70 Million

Runtime: 1 Hour 44 Minutes

Tagline: It’s the story of a man, a woman, and a rabbit in a triangle of trouble.

Trivia: Bob Hoskins said that, for two weeks after seeing the movie, his young son wouldn’t talk to him. When finally asked why, his son said he couldn’t believe his father would work with cartoon characters such as Bugs Bunny and not let him meet them.

Overall: Brilliant film that changed how films could be made

Rating 85

Sep 9 2015

Trailer Alert – The Backseat

Burbank, CA – Writer/director Ryan O’Leary’s “amazing*” award winning ode to teen love, The Backseat premieres on DVD and Digital October 6 from Osiris Entertainment.

High school social outcasts Roy Offerman and Larry DiMarco struggle to find a drummer for their new punk rock band, Witness My Jehovah. As Roy will learn, sometimes finding the answer to one problem only brings about a host of others. Immediately after finding a drummer, Roy is plagued by a raging case of hemorrhoids. This causes his parents to be confused about his sexuality, and starts up all sorts of new rumors at school. In the most unexpected place, Roy meets his dream girl Samantha. As Roy and Sam’s relationship develops, Witness My Jehovah lands their first big gig at a local music venue. When things don’t go as planned, Roy is faced with some of the biggest decisions he’ll ever have to make.

Chris Bellant, Allyson Reilly, Craig Kelly, Costa Nicholas, Lori Hamilton, John Cramer, Matt Van Orden, André De Shields, Jenna Michno, Vanessa Cuccia, and Shana Fitzpatrick star in a feature length coming of age story about high school love, punk rock, and hemorrhoids.

Sep 9 2015

2015 Watched List Part One

Over the past year I have seen an incredible amount of films and I have decided to share with you all which ones I have seen in what order. I am going to be doing these in groups of ten, where I will pick my favourite of the bunch and the worst of the bunch. I am also offering just for fun a chance for you all to guess which actor/actress I have seen the most films off.

So without further ramblings here we go:

1. Bullet to the Head logo After watching their respective partners die, a New Orleans hitman and a Washington D.C. detective form an alliance in order to bring down their common enemy. While this is rather a bog standard action film I really don’t know how this was the first film I saw this year.

2. Dying of the Light logo When a devastating illness threatens to end Evan Lake’s career in the C.I.A., he goes rogue to hunt down a terrorist who tortured him during a mission gone awry years ago. I really didn’t start with the best films did I? I did like the way Nicolas Cage’s character went in this film though.

3. Deliver Us From Evil logo New York police officer Ralph Sarchie investigates a series of crimes. He joins forces with an unconventional priest, schooled in the rites of exorcism, to combat the possessions that are terrorizing their city. I was a fan of this one because we get to see how the supernatural can be proven wrong but it also accepts that it could be real.

4. The Book Thief logo While subjected to the horrors of World War II Germany, young Liesel finds solace by stealing books and sharing them with others. In the basement of her home, a Jewish refugee is being sheltered by her adoptive parents. A very touching and tragic story of the war time experiences for a young girl.

5. Before I Go To Sleep logo A woman wakes up every day, remembering nothing as a result of a traumatic accident in her past. One day, new terrifying truths emerge that force her to question everyone around her. This thriller tries it’s hardest to keep you guessing but never really gives you enough options and fails with its attempted twist.

6. Right At Your Door logo A dirty bomb goes off in Los Angeles, jamming freeways and spreading a toxic cloud. This is easily one of the best films of this selection, a thriller that keeps you guessing and on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

7. Dead Snow 2 logo Still on the run from a group of Nazi zombies, a man seeks the aid of a group of American zombie enthusiasts, and discovers new techniques for fighting the zombies. This fun filled zombie comedy really ups the level of the genre to give us one of the best zombie comedies of the year.

8. 300 logo King Leonidas and a force of 300 men fight the Persians at Thermopylae in 480 B.C. This was a masterpiece in the new technology being used in film, this is one that will be remembered for the six packs and non stop over the top action sequences.

9. Executive Decision logo When terrorists seize control of an airliner, an intelligence analyst accompanies a commando unit for a midair boarding operation. This is the famous film where Steven Seagal finally dies and he hated, the action thriller works really well and could easily be a cult classic.

10. Whiplashlogo A promising young drummer enrolls at a cut-throat music conservatory where his dreams of greatness are mentored by an instructor who will stop at nothing to realize a student’s potential. Simply Brilliant is all I can say.

The Best – Whiplash – This was my film of 2014 how can it not be my favourite on the small list I have created, it tackles a subject that on paper sounds so boring but is one of the most engaging films you will ever see, with two heavyweight performances from Miles Teller and Oscar winner J.K. Simmons.

The Worst – Dying of the Light