I'm still trying to pinpoint why vampires and their ilk are all the
new hotness. My best theory so far is we all secretly yearn to get
drained like a bottle of pop, but I'm working on that one.
I'm sure this is strictly coincidental to our national interest in
them, but there's no such thing as an ugly vampire. Apparently they do
all their recruiting in sororities and at underwear commercial casting
calls. (In fairness, so do I.) It wasn't until viewing 2004's Night
Watch that I witnessed a vampire who, when rated on the
supernatural looks scale, came down more on the dwarf side than the
elf.
Hundreds of years ago, the paranormal forces of light and dark battled
to a standstill. Since then, an uneasy truce has held both sides in
check. As a vampire in service of the light, Konstantin Khabenskiy is
assigned to keep tabs on the ne'er-do-wells on the other side, but as
he delves into his latest case, he discovers signs the world may be
headed for the Final Battle between light and dark.
The Russian Night Watch, along with its companion piece Day
Watch, are the movies that put director Timur Bekmambetov on the
map. This might have been a mixed blessing, as his first American
project was Wanted, the poignant story of a loom that orders a
secret assassin society who to kill, but that movie had style, and
screw anyone who says otherwise.
In Night Watch, even the subtitles have flash, rippling across
and wiping from the screen in response to the action. It's a small
touch, but a fun one, and better yet, it doesn't distract from the big
picture.
Which is good, because its plot is a little trickier than, say, The
Cat in the Hat. I don't have a problem with the vampires,
shapeshifters, and witches--I have lots of inhuman friends, and I wish
them good luck in Hell--and though the translation is strong, it takes
a while to figure out what they're capable of and just what they're up
to.
But its high concept and intricate story pays off. In the meantime,
Bekmambetov entertains with lively violence and clever camera work,
and while these days vampire stories are so common it's hard to find a
book or movie that isn't jammed with sexy immortals sexily killing us
lame humans, his grungy, low-class take on the paranormal feels
revolutionary. Fresh and energetic, Night Watch is that rare
movie that makes you happy we've got sequels.
Similar stories:
Mr. Movie's list of Halloween favorites
Mr. Movie's list of Halloween favorites
I’m going to ramble a bit. Normally when picking a best list you do five or 10. I’m doing six. It just worked out that way.
When you look at my picks you will note I deliberately left The Exorcist off my list. While some think it’s the best horror film of them all, I read the book and it pales in comparison. Other than Linda Blair’s spinning head, lots profanity and vomit, and Mercedes McCambridge’s brilliant work as the dubbed-in demon voice, there isn’t much substance.
I guess at this point you’ve guessed the topic of this post is horror movies for Halloween. You’ll want to get started early. These days they get gobbled up at the few video stores that are left. I know next to nothing about Netflix so I’m not sure what kind of a supply it has for those still doing the mail thing.
'Fright Night' sucks (blood)
'Fright Night' sucks (blood)
Younger audiences, those unfamiliar with the original or that hate the twaddle of Twilight will likely like Fright Night . Hey, no Twilight vegan, goody-two-shoes crap here. At least this vampire sucks.
Unfortunately, so does much of his movie, and in more ways than one.
Before we get to the bad news, the good news. This vampire and his spawn are the real deal. Colin Farrell's Jerry never took a course in sulking 101. He doesn't sigh or pout over unfulfilled love. This guy is a bloodsucking, babe hunting, cold-hearted, pitiless villain like vampires of old.
'Real Steel' rocky sock 'em robots
'Real Steel' rocky sock 'em robots
Here’s the premise. Set in the near future, Hugh Jackman is a loser robot boxer working fairs and rodeos with a robot destined for the scrap heap.
More con than kind, Jackman’s Charlie ends up signing the parental rights of his son, Max, over to the boy’s mother’s rich sister to finance his endeavors. He’s estranged from the boy anyway and doesn’t know him at all.
-- Local show times, theaters, trailer.
'Breaking Dawn' continues saga of crazy people, bad movies
'Breaking Dawn' continues saga of crazy people, bad movies
I thought I was done with the Twilight series. As usual, I was wrong, because it was either that or those damn dancing penguins.
So now I'm faced with the dilemma of just what to say about it. I could go the easy route and just make fun of Twilight fans for 800 words, but that wouldn't exactly bring anything new to the table, and I fear I would wind up battered to death under a hailstorm of glittery spiral notebooks and dubstep albums.
-- Local show times, theaters, trailer.
Oscar nominees take a look back with 'New Nostalgia'
Oscar nominees take a look back with 'New Nostalgia'
CHICAGO - A couple of years ago, Bruce Sheridan, chair of the film program at Columbia College, noticed a curious thing happening. A few of the film majors who interned on the Chicago production of "The Dark Knight" had started making their student films and, as expected, Christopher Nolan's brooding, zeitgeisty, state-of-the-union-address of a superhero epic was a big influence. Less expected was the sort of movies it inspired. Film students have always gravitated to the shadows and stark lighting of classic noir; and Batman is the most noir-y of superheroes. Sheridan planned to see lots of noir. What he got were wide open urban spaces.
Print
Email Story
