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Under discussion:

Prom Night  (1980)

With Halloween in the late 70's the slasher genre was born, and since then there have been few really good slasher film's well this is one of them. The production is obviously low budget but that doesn't take away from the enjoyment of the final film in fact for me it actually added to the cult feel the film really needs. Technically there is nothing really interesting going on the camera pretty much just takes the same angles over and over again but the mood and tone is very creepy and has a definite 70's feel to it (the theme of the prom is disco). Jamie Lee Curtis comes on the coat tails of Halloween and was obviously type cast which is maybe one reason she gave such a solid performance, all of the other cast did a great job for the purpose of the film. Overall a worthy addition to the indie world and a great harmless scare!!

Under discussion:

American Pie 2  (2001)

I found American Pie to be a sweet and nostalgic look at adolescence and relationships that develop throughout those years. American Pie 2 is pretty much the same recipe add some new characters and a cabin by the lake. Jim and his friends have all finished their first year of college and are experiencing their first summer at home. The Summer starts off slow and then Kevin (Thomas Ian NIcholas) gets an idea from his brother to rent a cabin by lake Michigan. At the end of the summer they plan to throw a huge party that everyone will remember. The jokes are as funny as they where in the first one, the characters are just as likable and in the case of Stifler unlikable as they where in the first one so if you where a fan of the first one you will most likely like the sequel but it doesn't really give any thing new to the formula worked in the first film. Oh well I guess the important thing is that I enjoyed it!!

Under discussion:

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull  (2008)

This film has been very controversial since it's memorial day release. I like a lot of other people had high expectations and fortunatley mine where met!! This is exactly what Indiana Jones is supposed to be and Steven, George, and Harrison are back in fine form. I saw this in a packed theatre and the crowd was reacting well to what was going on on screen. After waiting nineteen years for indy to come back to the big screen there couldn't have been better. So i know that viewers are going to have different opinions about the fourth installment of the series but I thought that it was faithful to the spirit of the other three films and for die hard Indy fans will be just what they are looking for.

Under discussion:

Heat  (1995)

One thing that Michael Mann is great at doing is leaving the viewer feeling overwhelmed. He does it again with this epic action/thriller. The scope of this film is enormous and the performances are phenomenal especially from De Niro and Pacino. Other than that is there a reason to see this film the answer to that question is a most definite yes!! I was enthralled by every frame and shot of this picture as I was watching it I couldn't help but love all of the characters (even the villains) there is so much story and character development that the action almost gets in the way. All in all I think that this is one of the most beautiful and compelling thrillers I have ever seen and if you love film at all you should most certainly see it!!

Under discussion:

Exorcist: The Beginning  (2004)

This is a very worthy addition to the horror franchise that is The Exorcist. Now as a prequel the story focuses on the origin of Father Merrin ( one of the priests that exorcised Regan in the original) who is played brilliantly by Stellan Skarsgard. It takes place in Africa and the cinematography and direction are very good. The only qualm I have about this film is that I think there is way to much CGI. The original Exorcist was made in 1973 way before computer graphics where invented so the film makers had to do in camera effects which I find to be a lot more effective in the way of horror films. So I recommend seeing it but the CGI is way overdone.

Under discussion:

Forgetting Sarah Marshall  (2008)

I had a really good time with this film. Comedies usually just annoy and bore me but I found myself laughing out loud to some of the jokes and really identifying with the characters. Technically there wasn't anything that blew me, but the cast and humor more than made up for the lack of direction. The script was well written as well and overall I really enjoyed this film. 

Under discussion:

Atonement  (2007)

Joe Wright is the acclaimed director of the 2005 masterpiece Pride and Prejudice when I saw that I knew his next film would be just as vast and just as emotional. All I can say is that Atonement is all of those things and more, it is beautiful to look at and has a heart wrenching love story. James McAvoy and Keira Knightley are great as the two lovers and all of the other performances are very note worthy as well. One thing I feel I must comment on is the way this film was shot, every frame and every angle was perfectly crafted and executed I could watch it again just to see the beauty of the picture. I was pleasantly surprised by the story and how sweeping it turned out to be, the first time I saw the trailer I thought it looked simple and predictable I was wrong on both counts. Just see this wonderful film and you will be reminded of the power of love, and the power of film.

Under discussion:

In the Valley of Elah  (2007)

Tommy Lee Jones has been in some cracking good films lately, and this is one of them. Paul Haggis is a truly gifted writer/director and he really knows how to emotionally grip an audience. With Crash in 2005 he took the notion that racism is still alive and rampant in America and turned it into a poignant morality tale, he does the same with In the Valley Of Elah only replacing racism with crime in the military. This is a controversial theme especially within the last few years as the war on terror keeps escalating. The performances are perfect and I was especially surprised by some of the cameos included ( James Franco, Josh Brolin, and Jason Patrick) are just a few I noticed. Any way I can't really talk about the film if I don't want to spoil it and I don't all I can say is this is a must see that will leave a powerful impact on the viewer.

Under discussion:

End of Days  (1999)

Okay first things first this is an Arnold Schwarzennegger film so I was expecting a lot of explosions and ammunition discharge and there is plenty of that. However one thing I was not expecting was that the story would actually make me think and interact with the film. I got so invested in the characters that it made what was happening to them all the more terrifying. The film is filmed in the ever beautiful New York city and the archetiecture really helps with the gothic tone of the piece. Well now lets talk about the acting and direction, the performances where actually quite good especially for Arnie's character and Byrne was fantastic as always (I don't think the man is capable of a bad performance). As for direction Peter Hymas gives us a lot of aireal shots and most of the other angles are pretty generic no one shot really jumped out and said wow thats how to direct. The special effects where nothing short of spectacular and overall this is a very entertaining and thought provoking film. If you like horror, or films of the gothic persuasion I would recommend it to you, or even if you just like a good ol Arnie explosion movie either way you can't loose!!

Under discussion:

12 Monkeys  (1995)

Hollywood has been failing miserably in coming up with unique and entertaining films in the last couple of years. With 12 Monkeys Terry Gilliam pushes the envelope of the sci-fi genre and I have yet to see a more unique or twisted sci-fi film since this one came out. All of the performances are brilliant and the story is unforgettable and the images will stay with you long after the end credits are rolling. This is an American masterpiece and it is films like this that keep me coming back for more. Definitley worth seeing. 

Under discussion:

Donnie Brasco  (1997)

This film does one thing that a lot of other mob movies don't, it focuses on the investigations that go on within law enforcement . Johnny Depp plays FBI Special Agent Joe Pistone. His character goes undercover as Donnie Brasco and infiltrates the mob. His performance is really well done and facing legend Al Pacino he actually holds is own. Mike Newell's direction fits the piece and allows the viewer to truly get sucked into the world that he his creating. This film is definitley worth a watch and I think is one of Johnny, and Al's greatest works. It made me want to see more of Mike's films.

Under discussion:

The Departed  (2006)

Everything I love about Marty's films is depicted in his latest crime caper. All of the characters are great, even the bad guys and the plot is thick with story. From frame one I was sucked into this world and even though the film is almost three hours long I never got bored and I never stopped caring about the characters. Leo is developing into a fine performer and I was surprised by his acting in this film. I think Scorsese may have found the the new De Niro as he has already worked with Leo twice and every time they work together his performance improves. Matt Damon is also in fine form playing the all around golden boy that doesn't seem capable of the things he does on screen. As always Jack Nicholson shines as the questionalbly sane villain. The film isn't as simple as labels though as one quote from Nicholson proves "We could play cops or criminals, what I am saying to you is this when your facing a loaded gun what's the difference?" The film is fierce violent and beautiful and in my opinion one of Marty's best. I can't wait for his next one!!

Under discussion:

El Cantante  (2007)

I don't know anything about Salsa music, and before I saw this I didn't know that Hector Lavore even existed. That being said I enjoyed the film it wasn't great by any means but I was at least entertained. Jennifer Lopez gives a really good performance as his wife and Marc Anthony is fine as Hector. Other than the good performances I can't really say anything good or bad about the film. I guess if you like Salsa music its worth a watch other wise I would just skip it.

Under discussion:

Universal Soldier  (1992)

This is a violent, gritty, and compelling action film. It deals with the subject of genetically engineered beings and the traumas of war. All of the fight\s are exceptionally choreographed and the action is awesome. This film is very violent, more so than most other action movies but the violence is so over the top that it never feels gratuitous. Overall this is a classic Van Damme film and is a must see for all action, and science fiction fans. Lundegren is truly terrifying as the villain and it is just an entertaining ride!!

Under discussion:

Creepshow  (1982)

From Stephen King and George Romero comes a collection of four out of this world horror stories. As a big fan of horror just having those two names attached to it was enough to get me to see it and I was pleasantly surprised by what I got. The stories are very well put together and very well acted by performers like Ed Harris, Ted Danson, Leslie Neilson and even King himself. I have to say that I really enjoyed the campiness of these tales and thought that nothing was too overdone everything was subtle enough to be tongue in cheek but it was never over the top. Any way a defenite must see for the scare season.

Under discussion:

Daredevil  (2003)

I am a really big fan of the Daredevil books, that being said I think that the film makers did an excellent job with the adaptation. Ben Affleck is the perfect person to put on the costume and play the duel identity Matt Murdock, he has the build to be believable as Daredevil and he has the emotion and depth for the blind lawyer. Jennifer Garner is a nice fit for Elektra and her and Affleck have great chemistry together. I must say this about Colin Farrel though I like him as a performer and think that he has made some great films but I think his bullseye is just a little to over the top and forgive the pun but just a little to comic bookish. All of the action is beautifully chereographed and the cinematography is the best of the genre since The Crow. Overall as far as comic book films go I think this is one of the best and well worth a rent. There are also some great special features on disc two as well so that is definitley worth checking out.

Under discussion:

Saw  (2004)

When I first started watching this film I was expecting just a splatter fest full of blood and guts. What I got was a well written well acted and extremely intense and powerful thriller. There was plenty of blood and gore but the violence in my opinion was never gratuitous. From the beginning I felt for the two characters that where trapped by the jigsaw killer and was truly invested in their stories. This movie isn't going to be for everyone, like I have stated in other reviews I am an avid horror fan and can handle the blood and gore but for viewers that have a weak stomach or that get disturbed easy you should probably stay away for everyone else I would definiltey recommend that you see this great addition to the horror genre. I haven't seen the sequels yet so I can't say anything about them but I was very entertained by this.

Under discussion:

Cold Mountain  (2003)

When I saw this in the theatre I was a little underwhelmed by it. I mean this is by the guy that did The English Patient which is one of my favorite films so I was really psyched about it. Maybe I had to high of an expectation because in the theatre this film fell flat. Fast forward to now and I realize how wrong my first impression was this is truly a haunting piece of visual narrative. The cast with the exception of Rene Zellweger was take it or leave it but the direction the visuals and the score where enough to make me change my tune. I haven't read the book and now I want to. I would say definiley put this on your Netflix cue and watch it as soon as you can.