Oct 22 2015

Movie Reviews 101 Halloween Midnight Horror – Debug (2014)

Director: David Hewlett

Writer: David Hewlett (Screenplay)

Starring: Tenika Davis, Adrian Holmes, Kerr Hewitt, Kyle Mac, Sidney Leeder, Jadyn Wong, Adam Butcher, Jason Momoa, Jeananne Goossen

Plot: Six young computer hackers sent to work on a derelict spaceship, are forced to match wits with a vengeful artificial intelligence that would kill to be human.

There may be spoilers the rest of the review

Verdict: Hidden Sci-Fi Gem

Story: Debug starts in a futuristic sci-fi base where a woman tries to break out of a futuristic A.I. controlled prison cell which she achieves until the psychopathic A.I. system I am (Momoa) manifests itself into human form showing its true power.

Orcus Freighter Amphitrite is uninhabited, Department of Corrections Dispatch Shuttle 5263 has 6 computer crime criminals and 1 supervisor and the mission is to rendezvous with abandoned freighter and shut down all programs, Debug, Reboot.

Capra (Holmes) is the supervisor on the space prison as the six prisoners along with Capra enter the ship. This mission will be Kaida’s (Goossen) last mission before she gets released with James (Butcher) on his first mission, we see the team is united through the situation as they all know that this work will cut their prison time. Seeing as there is no threat the group splits up to a different level of the freighter so they can work alone.

When I am traps the seven on the freighter as they hackers uncover the true identity of I am and that he is bio-ware with a bit of human inside him. When each of the members of the team starts having to face their fears they realize just how powerful I am has become as his programming has the desire to never let them escape.

Debug brings us something very simple on the story side of things, we get the idea of 6 criminals working to get their freedom which all works nicely, we learn the characters skills set all hackers and the job they need to. The computer system going rogue works because we have had a couple of films with ideas before recently one that worked (The Machine) the other that didn’t (Transcendence). Everything comes off very routine as you can tell who will be the last characters standing but how things unfold could come to us looking thinking we have seen before because the characters end up falling for their desires. I do think for what the film offers it gives you everything you needed from a film like this but doesn’t always end up pushing us to the next levels. (7/10)

Actor Review

Jason Momoa: I am is the bio-ware program system that has complete control of the freighter, it believe it is in charge of a prison ship and sees our group as itself next set of prisoners. I am has a psychopathic side where it likes to torture and kill anyone who tries to out smart him with the crew trapped he is ready to play his own games now. Jason has always been cast in roles where his size because a symbol but with this film he gets to show us acting skills that he possess. (8/10)

Jeananne Goossen: Kaida is the most skilled hacker on the team, but her leadership got a fellow member killed on a former team mate. This is her last mission before she is granted freedom but she ends up going toe to toe with Iam to see if she can out smart the programming system. Jeananne makes for a strong female leading character that kick ass when she needs too but plays in cool when she needs to. (8/10)

Adam Butcher: James is the rookie on the mission with this being his first mission after his recent incarceration, he clashes instantly with Capra but in the end he is just there to cover for his little brother who is the real hacker. Adam does a solid job but could easily be the weak link of the mission. (6/10)

Adrian Holmes: Capra is the supervisor of the prisoners who has to leave them to the work while he ends up focusing on his own addictions which lead to him being taken over by I am turning him into a killing machine. Adrian does a good job as the authority figure with a personal problem that gets easily manipulated by the A.I. (7/10)

Support Cast: Debug has a small supporting cast that includes the rest of the disposable characters that I Am gets to play his games with, they are all very generic and easily identifiable as the characters that won’t make it to the end.

Director Review: David Hewlett – David brings us a good sci-fi film that keeps you attention from start to finish wondering how our characters will make it out of the situation. (7/10)

Horror: Debug puts our character into a horror situation where they are left wondering how to escape the isolation I Am has put them in. (8/10)

Sci-Fi: Debug brings us into the world where space travel and technology has reached this level we never know the year but in the future where the A.I. can take over. (10/10)

Settings: Debug puts our characters in a position where there is no escape from the situation they find themselves in. (9/10)
Special Effects: Debug has solid special effects, you know the inside the system is CGI but that can always look however we want it too, but certain space scenes do come off easily identified as CGI. (5/10)

Suggestion: Debug is one for the sci-fi to try, I do think they will enjoy this one but will have skipped past it. (Sci-Fi Fans Try)

Best Part: Capra kill.

Worst Part: Certain iffy CGI moments.

Kill Of The Film: Capra even if you don’t see it you know what is happening to him.

Believability: No (0/10)

Chances of Tears: No (0/10)

Chances of Sequel: No

Post Credits Scene: No

Oscar Chances: No

Runtime: 1 Hour 26 Minutes

Overall: Event Horizon meets Cube and 2001 A Space Odyssey.

Rating

Oct 22 2015

Deep Dark (2015)

Director: Michael Medaglia

Writer: Michael Medaglia (Screenplay)

Starring: Sean McGrath

Plot: A failed sculptor discovers a strange, talking hole in the wall. It has the power to fulfill his wildest dreams…and become his worst nightmare.

There may be spoilers the rest of the review

Verdict: Unique is the Word

Story: Deep Dark starts with Hermann Haiig (McGrath) a failing artist who is just waiting for his big break with not everything working about to be kicked out of his room. He contacts his Uncle Felix (Nielsen) a successful artist to get advice on how to improve his luck. Hermann’s latest attempt goes horrifically wrong leading to the owner of the gallery Devora (Sorce) getting himself into a position of asking for one final shot or he will quit.

Hermann ends up discovering a mysterious hole in the wall that helps him with his art work leading to him getting signed by Devora for her next expedition. When Hermann begins to become a bigger name in the art world he starts to neglect the hole in the wall making her jealous until thing reach a new dangerous level.

Deep Dark is what you would have to call unique in its own way, it does fill the ideas of one certain thing making things happen in someone’s life can change suddenly. I do think this could have reached a new level of horror but it doesn’t like to get to carried away with where things go. The concept it very brave but effective in the end.

Actor Review

Sean McGrath: Hermann Haiig is our artistic sculptor who is looking to make a name for himself when he uses his family connection to make things happen. What he ends up finding himself stuck into the middle of a mysterious hole giving him the art but as his fame rises his time for the hole goes, he must now make the decision before it is too late. Sean does a good job in this role showing he can work with no one on the screen with him.

John Nielsen: Uncle Felix is the artist who gives Hermann the room for the time he needs to make himself a famous artist, but he knows the truth. John does all he needs to in this supporting role that works for the film.

Anne Sorce: Devora Klein is he famous art curator looking for the next big thing and when Hermann comes along. She is very self-centred only trying to make the money for herself. Anne does a solid job in this role and all that is needed in the supporting role.

Tabor Helton: Joel Windle is the rival artist for Hermann who becomes increasingly jealous of the new fame which was meant to be his. He wants to uncover the truth which will put his life in danger. Tabor does a solid job in this role but doesn’t come off as evil as he could.

Support Cast: Deep Dark has small parts filled to help us understand Hermann’s struggle this all works for the film to help us understand the art world.

Director Review: Michael Medaglia – Michael does a good job bring us a film that will stand out as unique for plenty of years to come.

Fantasy: Deep Dark really puts us into a fantasy world where we are wondering what is going on and how much weirder is could get.

Horror: Deep Dark does have solid horror effects without being too over the top.

Settings: Deep Dark keeps the settings simple but effective for the final story as we follow the artist stuck in his apartment.
Special Effects: Deep Dark has good effects throughout but only when needed.

Suggestion: Deep Dark is one to try, it will look odd but try and see what you think. (Try It)

Best Part: Unique idea.

Worst Part: Little bit more gore.

Believability: No

Chances of Tears: No

Chances of Sequel: No

Post Credits Scene: No

Oscar Chances: No

Budget: $20,000

Runtime: 1 Hour 19 Minutes

Overall: Great little low budget film that thinks outside the box

Rating

Oct 22 2015

Halloween Kingathon – The Lawnmower Man (1992)

Director: Brett Leonard

Writer: Brett Leonard, Gimel Everett (Screenplay)

Starring: Jeff Fahey, Pierce Brosnan, Jenny Wright, Mark Bringelson, Geoffrey Leiws

Plot: A simple man is turned into a genius through the application of computer science.

There may be spoilers the rest of the review

Verdict: Dated Sci-fi Film.

Story: The Lawnmower Man starts with Dr Lawrence Angelo (Brosnan) trying to use science to increase intelligence, for now he is working for government research centre with chimps but they want him to push his subject too fast leading to him escaping. With Angelo trying to keep the chimp alive simple gardener Jobe (Fahey) offer the chimp shelter as the government closes in on it location.

With this experiment going sour Dr Angelo quits and decides to perform the experiment on human subject and the perfect subject is Jobe, as Jobe starts to learn from his enhancement he starts to becoming a deadly enemy of the entire nation.

The Lawnmower Man is the film that Stephen King sued for being made mainly for using his name because the film itself is nothing like the source material. Now going into looking at the story I have to say that the idea behind this story does come off nicely, we do get the usual cliché military who are trying to develop a weapon to use in battle and this time the weapon is increased intelligence. I do think that it not being a machine gaining power also works because in the end we have seen that too many times. I would also like to say this could easily have been way before its time and you can say that just by looking at the effects. I think this is isn’t actually that bad but just dated. (7/10)

Actor Review

Jeff Fahey: Jobe is the simple gardener who lives in the churchyard shed but becomes the latest subject in Dr Angelo’s experiment to increase intelligence in human subjects. With this new intelligence Jobe gets to improve the world around him before slowly taking over it all. Jeff gives a god performance starting off simple before becoming the god like state. (7/10)

Pierce Brosnan: Dr Lawrence Angelo is a brilliant scientist that is trying to crack the idea of imprving human intelligence, when he chimp experiment goes wrong he decides to take on human subject using the simple minded gardener, but soon things get out of hand. Pierce does a good job in this early role. (7/10)

Support Cast: The Lawnmower Man has a supporting cast that includes the generic styles when it comes to military people along with an early role for Breaking Bad’s Dean Norris.

Director Review: Brett Leonard – Brett does a good job directing this film which really is slightly before its time. (7/10)

Horror: The Lawnmower Man doesn’t really end up using the horror side of the story until Job goes on his rampage. (7/10)

Sci-Fi: The Lawnmower Man takes us into a virtual reality world for all the action to take place. (9/10)

Settings: The Lawnmower Man uses the basic settings but it is in the virtual world where everything really stands out. (8/10)
Special Effects: The Lawnmower Man has good effects for the time but now they have dated badly. (8/10)

Suggestion: The Lawnmower Man is one to try, the sci-fi fans will enjoy where the film has come from but it could end up being one that lets you down with the effects now. (Sci-fi Fans Try)

Best Part: Jobe’s rampage.

Worst Part: The effects look bad now.

Believability: No (0/10)

Chances of Tears: No (0/10)

Chances of Sequel: Has one sequel

Post Credits Scene: No

Oscar Chances: No

Box Office: $32 Million

Budget: $10 Million

Runtime: 1 Hour 48 Minutes

Tagline: God made him simple. Science made him a god.

Trivia: The scene where the cop says that the missing piece of the dead man is in the bird bath is the only thing in the entire movie that was in Stephen King‘s short story.

Overall: Sci-fi film that really doesn’t stand up like others

Rating

Oct 22 2015

5 Big Name From Nightmare on Elm Street Franchise

Nightmare on Elm Street is one of my favourite film franchise out there, and thanks to the late great Wes Craven we will be hiding from Freddy Krueger in every dream we have. What I have noticed while watching through the series is the amount of debut or very early chance bigger names in Hollywood got in the franchise, we all know about Johnny Depp so I will look at five more big names from the franchise who got their first chances in Hollywood.

5. Patricia Arquette – Nightmare on Elm Street 3 Dream Warriors

Patricia got the leading role in the third instalment of the franchise where she plays one of the latest victims of Freddy, nearly 20 years later she would go on to win an Oscar.

4. Renny Harlin – Nightmare on Elm Street 4 Dream Master

Renny is the one director who has gone onto make some of the biggest action movies of all time, Die Hard 2, Cliffhanger and Deep Blue Sea, sure these are not the most popular but they are all ones people talk about.

3. Ken & Jim Wheat – Nightmare on Elm Street 4 Dream Master

This brother pairing are known for the screenplays and this was one of their first, the pair would go onto create the character of Riddick in the Pitch Black, Chronicles of Riddick and Riddick films.

2. Stephen Hopkins – Nightmare on Elm Street 5 Dream Child

Not the best of the series at all but Stephen did such a good job in limited time his next project was Predator 2 he would later go onto win a Prime Time Emmy for The Life and Death of Peter Sellers

1. Frank Darabont – Nightmare on Elm Street 3 Dream Warriors

Frank has his first screen writing credit for this film, he is a three time Oscar nominated writer/director who went on to bring us The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, The Majestic and The Mist.