Primeval (2007: R)

Primeval (R, 2007)
Directed by Michael Katleman; starring: Dominic Purcell …. Tim Manfrey; Brooke Langton …. Aviva Masters; Orlando Jones… Steven Johnson; Jürgen Prochnow …. Jacob Krieg; Gideon Emery …. Mathew Collins; Gabriel Malema …. Jojo; and many more. Investigating mass graves in Africa, a world-renown forensic anthropologist is severely dismembered and killed; a world press seeks to find out the truth and to catch her killer – an expedition is sent off to the wilds of Africa – only to find themselves in the turmoil of civil war, witnesses to an assassination, and prey to the area’s most notable predator. Some moments through the movie will make you jump out of your seat in a similar fashion to the first theater viewings of Jaws and the Blair Witch. If you like horror films of nature vs. man, this one will satisfy your palate… 4.5 stars out of 5.

The Hitcher (R: 2007)

The Hitcher
(2007 – R)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0455960/

Directed by Dave Meyers; Starring: Sean Bean …. John Ryder; Sophia Bush …. Grace Andrews; Zachary Knighton …. Jim Halsey; Neal McDonough …. Lieutenant Esteridge; Kyle Davis …. Buford’s Store Clerk; Skip O’Brien …. Harlan Bremmer, Sr.; Travis Schuldt …. Harlan Bremmer, Jr., and many more.

The remake of the 1986 cult thriller – but the tables have turned, instead of the boy being the target, this time it’s the girl. Many of the same re-made terrifying scenes that made the first film such an impact were brought to life with the newest cinematography. This time, a young couple heads cross-country for Spring Break only to somehow get coerced into giving a stranger a lift to the next town. What appears to be a good samaritan move, turns to bloody hell as the hitcher is a military ranger-like serial killer who is out to frame them for the mass deaths and to terrorize them in as many ways he could count possible. It doesn’t compare to the first movie in my opinion, but definitely a good see. Rating: 3.75 stars out of 5.

300 (R: 2007)

300 (R: 2007)
Directed by Zack Snyder. Based on Frank Miller’s graphic novel about the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 B.C.
Starring: Gerard Butler … King Leonidas, Lena Headey … Queen Gorgo, Dominic West … Theron, David Wenham … Dilios, Vincent Regan … Captain, Michael Fassbender … Stelios, Tom Wisdom … Astinos, Andrew Pleavin … Daxos, Andrew Tiernan … Ephialtes, Rodrigo Santoro … Xerxes, and many more.
Rated R for graphic battle sequences throughout, some sexuality and nudity.
An Amazing epic tale of the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 B.C. when Persia and its Immortal army tried to take Sparta. Based on Frank Miller’s graphic novel telling of a magical historical battle of 300 Spartans up against tens of thousands of ogre-like Immortals and beast slaves of the Persian God-King Xerxes. From defiance to adultery, from deceipt to ignorance, from pride to humility, the mythic race of Spartans, trained from birth as warriors, followed by their progeny, disregard Persia’s request to submit to the Persian world empire. With magic and sorcery, spears, and shields, a tremendous battle takes place between the Spartans and the Persians to prevent their entry into Greece. This is a must-see movie. Rating: 5 stars out of 5.

Opening week: While I was amongst the first to see it’s opening datelines were not too bad even for the opening matinee, but the crowds are filling the theaters. Spine-tingling, exciting, edge of your seat stuff. Reviewed by Leaf McGowan, 9th Marz 2007. More Reviews: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0416449/.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (R:2007)

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (R: 2007)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0408236/
Johnny Depp .. Sweeney Todd, Helena Bonham Carter … Mrs. Lovett, Alan Rickman … Judge Turpin, Timothy Spall … Beadle Bamford, Sacha Baron Cohen … Signor Adolfo Pirelli, Jamie Campbell Bower … Anthony Hope, Laura Michelle Kelly … Lucy / Beggar Woman, Jayne Wisener … Johanna, Ed Sanders … Toby, and many more.

Set in London, in dark Victorian England, the story of Sweeney Todd is brought to the screen by none other, but the fabulous artist Tim Burton. With his favorite actor of choice, Johnny Depp plays the wrongly imprisoned barber who sets out for revenge on the judge who imprisoned him. A tragic love story where lovers are separated, by greed and lust, and unspeakable evil. Returning he teams up with a cannibal, and off they are set to give mankind what they feel they deserve. A clean shave and a meat pie. Based on the story and the Broadway musical, this film is stunning with panoramic talent, excellent cinematography, and stunning visuals. The acting was excellent as well. I’m not the largest fan of musicals, but this one was enchanting. Rated 5 stars out of 5.

Doomed (R: 2007)

Doomed (R: 2007)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0956335/ * Director: Michael Su * Starring: Mary Christina Brown … Sybil (as M. C. Brown); Steve Cryen … Reese; Sara Diaz … Leigh (as Sarah Diaz); Desmond Faison … Craven; Aaron Gaffey … Wes; Michael Kehoe … Holagram Host; and many more. *
This has got to be one of the worst movies ever produced. Those who know me, know I’m a zombie fan. A big zombie fan. Zombie movies usually equate to B-rate Horror. In fact, I’ve seen some really bad zombie movies. But have to say this one takes the prize. I found it in the bargain bin for $3 a few months ago – now I see why, and why I hadn’t bothered watching it until now. I doubt I’ll get 25 cents for it at the used video store. It’s about a time in the near future when death row criminals are given a chance to pardon themselves via a game show/reality tv show that tries to mimic “Survivor” with “House of the Dead”. They are dropped on an island to make it across the island to find 50 million dollars awaiting them as well as a full pardon and their freedom. Little do they know the island is filled with fast-running rage-filled zombies. It even lacks the usual blood of a zombie film. Bad plot, bad acting, bad lines. Sheer crap. Rating: 1 star out of 5.

Across the Universe (2007: PG-13)

Across the Universe
(2007: PG-13)
Director: Julie Taymor. Starring: Evan Rachel Wood, Jim Sturgess, and many more.
One of the most visually stunning and musically mesmerizing movies I’ve ever seen … It’s one of the best musicals of our time! A masterpiece by director Julie Taymor as a revolutionary rock musical that re-images American during the turbulent late-1960’s era when the battle lines were drawn overseas and at home. It’s the story about a young dockworker named Jude (played by Jim Sturgess) who leaves Liverpool to find his estranged father in America during this crazy period of history. Jude falls in love with Evan Rachel Wood’s character “Lucy” for a true meaning of “Lucy in the stars like diamonds” who is a rich but sheltered American girl who is merging her life into the anti-war movement within New York City’s Greenwich Village. A stimulating visual trip through the Vietnam crisis, the draft, political tensions, and a psychedelic world has gone made blended together with a fantastical love story. It’s an amazing perspective of the time and crisis. Cameo by Bono in the film as well. One of the best films of this genre I’ve ever seen. Simply mind-blowing. Rated: 5 stars out of 5.

Dexter: Seasons 1-3 (NR: Showtime, 2006-2010)


Dexter: Seasons 1-3

* NR/Showtime: 2006-2010 * http://www.sho.com/site/dexter/ * Starring/Cast/Staff: Michael C. Hall … Dexter Morgan (48 episodes, 2006-2009); Julie Benz … Rita Bennett / … (48 episodes, 2006-2009); Jennifer Carpenter … Debra Morgan (48 episodes, 2006-2009); Lauren Vélez … Lt. Maria Laguerta (48 episodes, 2006-2009); David Zayas … Angel Batista / … (48 episodes, 2006-2009); James Remar … Harry Morgan / … (48 episodes, 2006-2009); C.S. Lee … Vince Masuka (47 episodes, 2006-2009); Christina Robinson … Astor Bennett / … (43 episodes, 2006-2009); Preston Bailey … Cody Bennett / … (32 episodes, 2007-2009); Erik King … Sergeant James Doakes (24 episodes, 2006-2007); Desmond Harrington … Joey Quinn / … (24 episodes, 2008-2009); Geoff Pierson … Captain Tom Matthews (20 episodes, 2006-2009); and many more.

A great series on Showtime about a serial killer named “Dexter Morgan” played by Michael C. hall who works for the Miami Metro Police Department as a blood splatter analyst, utilizing his job to hid his uncontrollable addiction to gruesomely kill his victims he believes need to die. The series is based on Jeff Lindsay’s novel series “Darkly Dreaming Dexter”. The Fourth and Fifth season are in the works. The show follows the life of Dexter, day to day, as he goes from work, struggles with his internal demons, carries on relationships, and seeks to lash out his addiction to find the heartbeat of life in killing his victims. Dexter was a young boy who was adopted by a Miami cop named Harry Morgan from a blood bath murder scene of his mom. Harry, knowing Dexter would be changed from the incident for life, nurtured the murderous thirst in his son harnessing it to kill only those who deserve it – other killers who have escaped the legal system or were never suspects in the first place. He was taught by his father how to hide the evidence and to get away with the crimes while holding up a facade of normalcy. Slowly Dexter unravels the mystery of his family, his mother’s murder, and his psychotic father. Dexter learns to fake normal emotions which leads him into a torrid love affair with Rita. Fine to Dexter, his relationship with Rita goes slow, as she is slowly healing from past rape and abuse damages from her former husband, who is later released, and becomes ravelled up in Dexter’s madness. Through Dexter’s crazy life, working as a police scientist, he helps unravel the case of notorious murderers, the first of which is the “Ice Truck Killer” who turns out to be of his blood relations that his adoptive sister Debra gets involved with. Dexter continues to play normal, but police Sargeant James Doakes suspects something is wrong with Dexter which spirals him down to become a victim of Dexter’s insanity. As Dexter unravels his past he has to come to terms with his future. He kills his brother and pursues a deeper relationship with Rita. The Madness continues in Season 2 when Rita gives Dexter the ultimatum of joining Narcotics Anomynous thinking Dexter’s addictions is drugs rather than killing. Through the sessions, Dexter finds confidence in another addict, a con artist named Lila who becomes Dexter’s sponsor and mistress. Dexter’s murderous remains become found and he strives to frame someone else for his murders as Dexter becomes known as the “Bay Harbour Butcher” a name Dexter abhorrs. Now that Dexter has Rita’s ex-husband permanently out of his way, his love affair with Lila is discovered, and Rita dumps Dexter. As Dexter and Rita patch things up, Lila is outcasted, which drives her madly insane – out to get Rita and her children until she starts to discover Dexter’s real addiction is not recovery from drugs. Lila saves the day from getting Dexter discovered as the murderer, and joins Dexter’s list of people to “off”. In Season 3, Rita discovers she is pregnant with Dexter’s child. They decide to get married and have the baby. Dexter becomes allied with a district attorney who also has a thirst for blood, murder, and vengeance. Teaching Miguel Prado how to kill, Dexter quickly resents having told his darkly secret and struggles to erase his mistake. While struggling to hide his urges from Rita, trying desperately to be normal, Dexter is whirlwinded into a world a cloak and dagger as him and Miguel go on a killing spree until Miguel doesn’t listen to Dexter and runs astray risking everything. Dexter cleans up his “mistake”. This leads Dexter to become a victim of the infamous “Skinner” killer who he barely escapes from before walking down the aisle with Rita. Interesting enough, this series has become quite controversial through the conservative world because it has become blamed for making murder attractive, killing people o.k. and for influencing the youth. There has been a few missing person cases that have been linked to the series as having influenced murders in real life. In December of 2008, filmmaker Mark Twitchell in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada was charged with murder of 38 year old John Altinger whose body is still missing. He filmed footage of the “House of Cards” a horror-romance that is similar to Dexter’s clandestine murders, where he allegedly snuffed Altinger. The Detective on the case was quoted to have said “We have alot of information to suggest he definitely idolizes Dexter”. Twitchell also had apparently created a series of facebook statuses where he suggest that he had alot in common with Dexter Morgan. He has been released even though still suspect for the murder. In November of 2009, Seventeen year old Andrew Conley was arrested in Rising Sun, Indiana after killing his 10 year old brother Conner. Andrew told investigators that he identified with the character “Dexter”. The series is addicting and compelling, hard to walk away from, and quite captivating. Very enjoyable and thought provoking. Rating : 4.5 stars out of 5.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UJz0O2NjOo

Primeval : Seasons 1-3 (2007-2009)


Primeval: Seasons 1-3

* NR/BBC: 2007-2009 * http://www.bbcamerica.com/shows/primeval/ * Starring/Cast/Staff: Andrew Lee Potts … Connor Temple (23 episodes, 2007-2009); Hannah Spearritt … Abby Maitland (23 episodes, 2007-2009); Ben Miller … Sir James Lester / … (23 episodes, 2007-2009); Juliet Aubrey … Helen Cutter (23 episodes, 2007-2009); Lucy Brown … Jenny Lewis / … (18 episodes, 2007-2009); Douglas Henshall … Nick Cutter (16 episodes, 2007-2009); James Murray … Stephen Hart (13 episodes, 2007-2008); Ben Mansfield … Captain Becker (10 episodes, 2009); Laila Rouass … Sarah Page (10 episodes, 2009); and many more.

An excellent science fiction television series that is produced for ITV by Impossible Pictures in Britain. Created by Tim Haines and Adrian Hodges is a story about a team of five scientists who investigate time portal anomalies that keep popping up across Great Britain allowing dinosaurs and other creatures to enter this world from the past and future. The series started in 2007 and finished airing in 2009 with the ending of Season 3. They cut the Seasons short at 3 while they originally intended to go further. The penultimate episode of the second season was written by Dr. Who’s Paul Cornell. The show begins with evolutionary zoologist Professor Nick Cutter who is lost with the disappearance of his wife Helen eight years ago. He investigates a strange creature in the Forest of Dean with his friend Stephen Hart and a new student Connor Temple who is an archaeology student and a conspiracy theorist. They discover the anomalies and dinosaur creatures that are entering from the past into this world. Abby, a zookeeper joins the team to investigate the oddness as she stumbles upon the team, the anomalie, and a dinosaur hunting a local boy. The British Government gets involved and hires the motley crew to get a grasp around the new anomalie problem and the primeval monsters that are now plaguing Britain. They discover that Nick’s lost wife Helen had entered an anomolie and is time hopping while causing trouble. As the episodes continue forward within the seasons, we watch the team progress technologically in studying and predicting the anomalies while turning to fight Helen who is out to destroy the human race. One by one the team gets killed off, and they replace the old with new team members who are out to save the world from prehistoric and futuristic creatures. Season three ends with hopping back and forth to a future where humankind is destroyed, and discovering a device that can create anomalies. Its a fight to Helen’s death as she attempts to destroy the first primate ancestors of humankind. Rating : 4.5 stars out of 5.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NVw2EQUCrQ

Black Swarm (R: 2007)


Black Swarm

(R: 2007)

Director: David Winning. Starring: Sebastien Roberts … Devin Hall / Dan Hall; Sarah Allen … Jane Kozik; Jayne Heitmeyer … Katherine Randell; Rebecca Windheim … Kelsey Kozik; Robert Englund … Eli Giles; Michel Perron … Mayor Blatz; and others.
The only thing this film has going for it is Robert Englund (Nightmare on Elm Street) who plays the mad scientist hired by the U.S. Government to create an insect swarm weapon of mass destruction. As the weaponizing wasps are unleashed upon a small town in New York, the mad scientist Eli is trying to figure out how to stop or control them. The single mom sheriff moves back in town with her daughter only to find the love of her life fixing to leave town and only lured to stay because of the wasp trouble given he’s the only exterminator in town. The wasps somehow take over the townspeople turning them into brainless zombies only to serve the hive. The sheriff’s daughter becomes the Queen. See where this is going? Batty … nutty … and a really stupid flick. Not worth its weight. Even if you’re a fan of nature against humans kind of films like me. Rating: 2 stars out of 5.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVVQ6NNivpA