Trick ‘r Treat

“Trick ‘r Treat”
a review by Darby O’Gill

It’s Halloween night, a night full of tricks and treats. Well, mostly tricks. But, the real treat is finally getting Michael Dougherty’s Trick ‘r Treat released. I know it’s not the theatrical release we were all hoping for, but it is finally out on DVD. In the spirit of Creepshow, Trick ‘r Treat takes four tales from one Halloween night and intertwines them into one fantastic story. It’s like Robert Altman and Wes Craven had a baby, and named it Trick ‘r Treat. Take a high school principal moonlighting as serial killer, a young woman searching for the perfect date, a childish prank that ends with disastrous consequences, and an old man that learns the true meaning of trick-or –treat, and what you have is one hell of a ride. Trick ‘r Treat was made in 2007, and spent two years just trying to get into theatres. It was receiving rave reviews at all the horror festivals, but for some reason Warner Brothers just didn’t believe in it enough to put it in theatres. It’s sad really. Great movies like this have to fight to see the light of day, but pieces of shit like Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, have no problem finding their way into theatres. You know, there was another little horror film that was made in 2007 that couldn’t seem to find distribution. It was a little movie called Paranormal Activity. Ever hear of it? Maybe this will finally make Hollywood wake up. Most likely not, but it would be nice if other little movies like these would finally be given the chance they deserve, and not have to fight for two years just to see the light of day. I know. I know. It’s never going to happen. But, let’s get back to subject at hand. Trick ‘r Treat is a must see. With an amazing story, some brilliant cinematography, and fantastic performances, Trick ‘r Treat is a guaranteed Halloween classic. Oh, I haven’t even mentioned little Sam, the trick-or-treater demon that oversees the night’s events. He is a greatly welcomed addition to the Freddy and Jason’s of the horror community. I really hope they make more of these. I can’t wait to see Trick ‘r Treat 2! I just hope next time it’ll be in theatres on Halloween night, and not just a straight to DVD blow-off. Warner Brothers is sitting on a goldmine. They could make a new Trick ‘r Treat movie every year like the Saw franchise, but I guess we’ll just have to wait for them to realize that on their own. Until then, we’ll just have to keep fighting the good fight.

Rating:

DVD Special Features:

• Original Animated Short: “Season’s Greetings” with Optional Commentary by Michael Dougherty

Sadly, that’s it. One bonus feature, if you can call it that. Don’t get me wrong, it’s cool to see the animation short that became this movie, but come on! This movie had an incredible journey for two years, and you’re not going to do a commentary track for the feature film?! How about some behind the scenes footage, or maybe some deleted scenes? Hell, I’d be happy with even a trailer at this point! My only guess is that Warner Brothers was really on the fence about putting it in theatres, but at the last minute pushed it to DVD, and wanted to get it out before Halloween. If that is the case, we’ll hopefully get a Special Edition DVD at some point, but until then it’ just sad.

DVD Feature Rating:

Saw VI

“Saw VI”
a review by Darby O’Gill

Well, it’s that time of year again. No, not Halloween, it’s time for another installment of the Saw series. Now, I know what you’re thinking. Darby, do we really need six of these movies? And the answer… These are not really movies. Okay, I know I can’t see you reading this, but I’m willing to bet most of you have a puzzled look on your face right now. Let me explain. The Saw movies are more like a TV show. Instead of getting twenty – four one hour episodes over the course of a year, you get one two hour movie every year around Halloween. Believe me, I wish that were the case for a few TV series out there. Now, the first Saw movie was fantastic! And, Saw II… Well, that one was a train wreck. But luckily Saw III was able to save the series, and it also started the ongoing storyline that is now the Saw franchise. The only problem with that is, if you haven’t seen the previous installments, you may be a little lost on who’s who. In the interest of full disclosure, I must tell you that I personally know the writers that took over the series from Saw IV to Saw VI. So, with that being said, I will not be pulling any punches; but this was my favorite of their three installments. I think the most impressive thing about their writing, is their ability to write movies for a main character that died three movies ago. Sorry if I ruined it for you, but come on it’s the sixth movie! It’s been six years, why haven’t you watched these movies yet? Getting back to comparing Saw to a TV series, I think the best comparison would be LOST. Much like LOST, the storyline is always being moved forward by telling you about things from the past you didn’t know before. That style of story telling definitely sets the Saw series apart from the other slasher flicks out there. Also, they  have stepped up the gore over the years. A friend of mine was saying last weekend, that the thing he liked most about the first Saw movie, was that they didn’t really show the gore. You thought they were going to, but it was the thought of it that seemed to bother you the most. In the later installments they just seem to show you more and more, leaving less to the imagination. With all of this said, I think the Saw series still works. I’m not sure how much longer they’re going to be able stretch this series out. If I didn’t know that Saw VII was already written, I might have thought this could have been the last one, but I guess we’re just going to have to wait and see what’s next.

Rating:

Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space

“Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space”
a review by Darby O’Gill

Just when you thought everything from our childhood was dead. Last night I got to see something I’d never thought I’d see again, a Holiday Special! You remember those don’t you? I’m not talking about Rudolph or Frosty. No, I’m talking about when stars of the Saturday Morning lineup hit primetime with a special holiday tale. Only this time it’s not Saturday Morning answering the call, but rather Hollywood, more specifically DreamWorks Animation. Last night the cast of Monsters vs. Aliens, re-teamed for a half-hour Halloween special, the first of many hopefully. The best part of this is that the original cast of voice talent got back together; so this is not one of those let’s just throw something together projects. DreamWorks Animation is doing it right.
In the special, we find the Monsters getting ready for Halloween, when an alien spaceship makes a quick pit-stop in Modesto, to dump their waste in a pumpkin patch. When the Monsters arrive to investigate, they quickly discover that the pumpkins are starting to come to life. It’s short and sweet, but one thing is for sure. Thanks to DreamWorks Animation, the Holiday Special is now back for a whole new generation. Also look for their Christmas special featuring the cast of Madagascar, in Merry Madagascar this winter.

Rating:

Paranormal Activity

“Paranormal Activity”
a review by Darby O’Gill

NOTE: There are NO SPOILERS in this review. I won’t even talk about the movie’s storyline, so please read freely if you have yet to see Paranormal Activity.

“The scariest movie ever made!” Well, maybe not. Look, I know I don’t get very scared at scary movies, but I really don’t understand how Paranormal Activity is getting people to hype it after they’ve seen it. My wife and I went to a test screening for Paranormal Activity, like a year and a half ago. We raced to the theatre after work; she had a slight headache, but still wanted to go. We had no idea what the movie was going to be about before hand, but we both like scary movies so we were hoping it would be good. Thirty – five minutes or so into the movie, the shaky handheld camera work had my wife ready to blow chunks, and even though I was kind of digging the movie, it wasn’t the end of the world to leave. On the walk back to the car, I told her I thought the movie gave a lot of promise, but it also felt like they were never going to pay it off. I kind of liked the simplicity of it, but she said, “It’ll never see the light of day.” After a few months, I figured she was right. Now, fast forward a year later, and we start to hear people talking about this indie movie that is going to come out, and be the scariest movie ever made. Just imagine how shocked we were when we heard the title of the film. I figured, at first, it was just your basic studio hype trying to get the movie a big opening weekend. But, then I found out it was only playing in thirteen college cities, and it wasn’t even playing in Los Angeles yet! I started to think they must have changed the whole movie, because the one we saw was okay, but would never have people talking like this after they’d seen it. After two weeks of nothing but hearing people talk about this movie, I knew I would have to go see it again. My wife said, “Have fun, a half hour of a screening of that snooze-fest was more than enough for me.” So, I went… And amazingly… It was the exact same movie we saw a year and a half ago. However, I did get to see the end this time. Now, I’m not saying the movie is bad. I’m just saying it’s not by any means “the scariest movie ever made.” Much like The Blair Witch Project, Paranormal Activity is a unique kind of horror movie. It doesn’t use a ton of blood and gore to scare its audience; instead it plays on your nerves in hopes of tapping in to one of your natural fears. Here’s the part I don’t get. How does this movie get so much word of mouth hype, when nothing really ever happens? Don’t worry I’m not going to give anything away, but the “activity” in this movie is only 15% at best. I enjoyed this movie. I thought the acting was really good for the first half; but it started to get a little shoddy by the end. I also loved the uniqueness of this film. It’s always nice to see a movie that no one believed in making it big. I take that back, Steven Spielberg believed in it. Paranormal Activity may not be the scariest movie ever made, but it is a fun night out.

Rating:

Where the Wild Things Are

“Where the Wild Things Are”
a review by Darby O’Gill

Hands down one of my favorite books as a kid, right up there with The Digging-Est Dog, Where the Wild Things Are, was most likely an iconic children’s book for most of our childhoods. I remember just staring at Maurice Sendak’s illustrations of Max and his monster friends for hours on end. So, imagine my excitement when I heard that visionary director Spike Jonze and Jim Henson’s Creature Shop were going to bring that beloved book to life on the big screen.
In Where the Wild Things Are, we follow the journey of Max, an 8 year old boy, trying to find his place in the world. His teenage sister is starting to hangout with friends of her own, and his single Mom is starting to date again, leaving little time for them to play with Max. Until one night, when Max puts on his beloved wolf costume to cause a little mischief and ends up running away from home. When he stumbles upon a small boat, he sets sail, and soon finds himself on an island of monsters. On the island the monsters make him king, and they play and howl at the moon together; but Max quickly learns that one can never truly run away from one’s problems.
Spike Jonze does an amazing job of fleshing out Maurice Sendak’s classic children’s book. In this film, he also captures the raw feeling and imagination of being a child. The other thing I realized he managed to do was give the film the feel of a children’s movie from our generation. You know, it didn’t feel like a modern movie for kids. It had me thinking of the kid movies I grew up with, like The Red Balloon and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. With that being said, I don’t think that this movie with its lack of narrative will hold the attention of kids today. I think this movie is only going to truly appeal to our generation. Jim Henson’s Creature Shop has once again out done themselves. The use of mixing real life puppets with CGI effects, has clearly laid a new path for the future of special effects. I would like to think that his company, being the driving force behind bringing these classic illustrations to life, would have made Jim Henson very proud. The bottom line is, if you’re thirty years old or older, you are going to love this movie. But, if this is the first time you have ever heard of Where the Wild Things Are, you might find yourselves a little bit lost on what makes it so great.

Rating:

Couples Retreat

“Couples Retreat”
a review by Darby O’Gill

When is a vacation not a vacation? Two words… couples counseling. When the very together Jason and Cynthia, played by Jason Bateman and Kristen Bell, feel their marriage may possibly be coming to an end, they decide to enlist in a very special couples program on a remote tropical island. The only problem, is they need to convince three other couples to join them in order to get the cheaper group rate. There’s the couple that seems to have it all together, Dave and Ronnie, played by Vince Vaughn and Malin Akerman, a nice happy family. Then there’s Joey and Lucy, played by Jon Favreau and Kristin Davis, who are counting down the days to their divorce, once there daughter heads off to college. Finally there’s Shane, played by Faizon Love, who is recently divorced and finds himself dating Trudy, played by Kali Hawk, a girl young enough to be his daughter. At Eden Resort West, the couples can find all sorts of activities, like couples skill building, open sea swimming with sharks, full contact yoga, and even a little “Guitar Hero.” Which brings us to Sctanley, played by the brilliant Peter Serafinowicz, who watches the couples like a hawk. He makes sure the couples don’t venture over to the resort on the other side of the island, Eden Resort East, which is a singles resort that promises all the fun that seems to be missing from their side of the island.
I know a lot of people are knocking Couples Retreat for not taking the story somewhere new, but I kind of like that this movie feels like an old school comedy. Sure you know where they’re taking it, but it’s funny, and fun to watch. Isn’t that the point of an entertaining movie? These days, it seems like movies have to be totally amazing, or so bad you want to leave the theater. Can’t we have an Uncle Buck these days? You know, a movie that isn’t the best, but makes you say, “That was fun!” I would like to think it’s that kind of movie Favreau and Vaughn had in mind when they wrote this. I also think director Peter Billingsley, did a great job of capturing that feeling visually. Speaking of the visuals, I think it’s safe to say that Bora Bora makes every shot look amazing! Why couldn’t I have been invited to that press junket!? A free trip to Bora Bora! No thanks, it’s nice and cool here in Los Angeles. Hey Jon, I’m available for the Iron Man 2 junket by the way. I also love the fact that the characters Jon Favreau is playing these days, has gone from the guy in the PG-13 movie everyone’s really hoping makes it happen, to the guy in the rated R movie that cheats on his wife; although Couples Retreat is rated PG-13. But you know what I mean. He’s played some really great assholes lately, and some of those movies were rated R. Look, the bottom line is, if you want to see something deep, go see A Serious Man. But, for a fun date movie that makes you laugh and feel good, Couples Retreat is a nice getaway.

Rating:

The Invention of Lying

“The Invention of Lying”
a review by Darby O’Gill

What would you do if any lie you told was instantly taken as truth? In The Invention of Lying, Mark Bellison, played by Ricky Gervais, finds himself being the first person in a parallel reality that learns the art of lying. I think the trailers are a little misleading because they make it seem like everyone tells the truth. But, it’s more like they speak their mind no matter what, because they don’t know how to lie, and they simply just don’t know what else to say. Also, in this reality there is no fiction, and because of that the film industry only makes films about historic events. There also aren’t any actors in this world because acting like someone you’re not would be lying. So, how do they make the movies you ask? Why readers of course. That’s right, movies are just a person, in this case the brilliant Christopher Guest, sitting in a comfy chair reading a history book to the audience. If you think the movies would be bad, just take a minute to think about how great your dating life would be without lying. Would anyone honestly be dating? No pun intended.
When we first meet Mark Bellison, he’s loosing his job as the screenwriter of the Black Plague, and his blind date with Anna McDoogles, played by Jennifer Garner, is anything but smooth. But, when he asks a bank teller for more money than he has in his account, she chalks it up to a computer mistake, and gives him the amount he asked for. Voila, the world’s first lie! A lie can be a powerful thing when no one questions it, the world quickly becomes Mark’s oyster. However, Mark doesn’t realize just how powerful until he tells his dying mother something to comfort her. It’s overheard and repeated, and things quickly get just a little bit out of control.
I really enjoyed this movie, but sadly it might upset some. See, there is this religious undertone in this movie that could upset some Christians; but I honestly don’t think that was the intent of Ricky Gervais. I don’t think they’re saying that there is no God. In Christianity the word of God is told through parables in the Bible, which never would have been written in this world. As our friend Joe Rogan would point out, I’m pretty sure that no one thinks that Noah’s Ark is a 100% true story. Please don’t tell me you really believe a giant boat was built to carry two of every animal in the entire world, for forty days and forty nights! Look, those stories, much like The Invention of Lying, are told in hopes of making people want to be better to each other. You know… Peace on Earth, goodwill towards men… Ah, and women. Hey, I didn’t write it. Honestly, it doesn’t matter what religion you believe, whether it’s Christianity, Judaism, Islam, or hell even Scientology. At the core of it all, those religions are meant to do one thing… make people want to be a better person and hopefully make the world a better place. Funny, it’s the same thing that people kill each other over and start wars because of. The point is, Mark Bellison wanted people to be nicer to each other, and if telling a few lies would make the world a better place, maybe it’s not so bad. Now, I understand that religion is a touchy topic. And the last thing I want to do is upset any of you, but let’s just believe what makes us feel good, and not force those beliefs on other people. When did this turn into a rally? Go see The Invention of Lying, it’s honestly a good movie… No, really. Seriously, it’s really good. Would I lie to you?! Okay, I would. But, it really is worth seeing.

Rating:

A Serious Man

“A Serious Man”
a review by Darby O’Gill

Have you ever had a bad day? How about a bad week? Larry Gopnik is about to find out the answer to those questions and more, in the new Coen brothers movie A Serious Man. Joel and Ethan Coen are at it again, and this time they’re taking us to a small Midwestern Jewish community in 1967. Okay, right out of the gate I have to say that this is one of those subjective Coen brother movies. And with that said I’m trying to figure out the best way to review this film, without putting my take of the movie on you. So, here we go.

Larry Gopnik, played by Michael Stuhlbarg, is a physics professor that is trying to find clarity in his life as it slowly slips into chaos. He wants desperately to be a mensch, a person with a good strength of character, or a serious man if you will; but life seems to have other plans for poor Larry. What do physics, blackmail, a portable radio, twenty bucks, divorce, defamation of character, F-Troop, a nose job, anonymous letters, a bar mitzvah, Jefferson Airplane, the wisdom of three rabbis, tenure, Columbia House Record Club, dental phenomena, gambling, Sy Ableman, weed, antenna reception, bribes, a sebaceous cyst, nude sunbathing, and a simultaneous car crash all have in common? Well, Larry of course. Now, I can’t tell you what it all means, mostly because the answer is going to be different for everyone that sees it, but what I can tell you is that this is one of those movies that you like the more you think about it. Like a fine wine, it just takes a little time. I’m a big fan of the Coen brothers, and even I had to take a few days to totally let this whole movie sink in. At first the movie might seem to be about nothing, but I think it’s more about what the movie means to you in the end. I don’t want to get too philosophical here, but it’s true! The movie doesn’t make you think while you’re watching it, you just find yourself following the unfortunate turns of Larry Gopnik’s life. But, when the movie does end, and you find yourself saying, “What?!” And you will. Just try and not rush to judgment right away on your feelings of the movie on a whole. Let the message and the meaning set in on its own terms. I’m afraid this is going to be one of those Coen brothers movies that isn’t truly appreciated until a few years down the road, which is sad, because it really is a nice little movie.

Be sure to check back here in two weeks for my interview with the serious man himself, Michael Stuhlbarg.

Rating:

Surrogates

“Surrogates”
a review Darby O’Gill

In the near future people no longer leave there homes, instead they jack-in to a surrogate robot that they operate like a car. The really trippy thing is that surrogates also drive cars, so a person can operate a surrogate and a car at the same time. Did I just blow your minds? The movie is based on the 2005 comic book series The Surrogate and takes place in a world of robots, where crime is almost nonexistent, almost. When an unknown device seems to kill not only Surrogates, but also their operators, Detective Greer, played by Bruce Willis, finds himself investigating the first homicide in over a decade. Surrogates, being machines, are stronger and faster than a normal person. They can also be or look like anything. It’s the internet in everyday life. What looks like a hot twenty-eight year old girl, is really a fat fifty-four year old man. It kind of makes you wonder why there isn’t more crime. If anyone could look like anything, why wouldn’t they be robbing banks or something? I’m getting off subject, but it’s a good point. Back to the story at hand; while investigating the murders, Greer’s Surrogate gets destroyed, and Greer is forced to go out into the world without a Surrogate to continue his investigation, and uncovers a much deeper plot against the Surrogates. It’s really cool the way they deal with this part of the story. Willis’ character is just overwhelmed by his senses the first time out on his own. You really realize these people have been locked up in their houses with no real contact with the outside world, and it’s almost like quitting an addiction. At times you really can’t help but notice just how close we could be to that. Every day something else comes out that keeps us in touch with people, but without ever having to see them. It’s kind of scary. Even as I’m writing this, I’m thinking wow this sounds like a great movie, and I would like nothing more than to tell you that this is the case, but sadly it’s not. The problem with Surrogates is that they had a chance to do something new, but instead just seemed to play it safe, and go through the motions. This truly could have been the next Blade Runner, well okay, maybe not. But, it could have been something great. The ideas are there, but everything you see is something you’ve pretty much seen before. It’s a fun movie and well worth seeing, but I just wish they would have taken it to that next level. Would somebody, please give Hollywood their balls back! We’re so close to getting something good here. The one thing I really did like wasn’t in the movie. Elizabeth Banks! I’ve always enjoyed her performances in movies, but I think I’m an even bigger fan of hers now. She was an executive producer on this film, and yet she doesn’t appear in it. As a producer, she could have easily given herself a role in the movie, but she didn’t. The only time most actors produce a project is to guarantee they can be in it, but not Ms. Banks. It says a lot about her character, and I am now a bigger fan because of it.

Rating:

Dollhouse: Season 1

“Dollhouse” Season 1
a review by Darby O’Gill

What if you could do anything, be anyone, and nothing you did ever had any consequence? Take one part Quantum Leap, one part Charlie’s Angels, add a truck load of Joss Whedon’s imagination, and you’ve got one hell of a show. If you missed the first season of Dollhouse, you’re in luck because the DVD is out now, and it’s time for you to play catch up. A few of my friends tuned out after episode three, but as I told them, you really need to hang in there till episode six. Episodes one through five are basically stand-alone episodes, to please the network I would imagine, but episode six is a real game changer and is truly where the series shows it’s full potential.

In Dollhouse we follow Echo, played by Eliza Dushku, a seemingly unwilling Active in the Dollhouse, an underground organization that for the right price will program human beings to fit your every need or desire. Actives have had their brains wiped, and are imprinted with new personalities, and abilities, that allow them to become anyone or anything to achieve their objective. What illegal underground organization would be complete, with out an obsessed F.B.I. agent determined to bring them down? Agent Paul Ballard, played by Tahmoh Penikett, finds himself filling that role, and the deeper he digs the more entwined he seems to get. When we first get to the Dollhouse, an Active, codename Alpha, has gone rogue, and in the process has left a trail of bodies in his wake. For some unknown reason Echo was spared. But, that’s not the only unique thing about Echo. She also seems to be retaining, or recalling memories while in her wiped doll state, raising the question, can you ever truly clean a slate?

This show is a dream on so many different levels. For one, it’s an actor’s dream, because they can be a doctor, a lover, a spy, an assassin, or maybe just someone there to help someone that can’t help them self. In episode four, Eliza Dushku and Dichen Lachman play the same character, when Echo and Sierra get imprinted with the same imprint.  Two actors playing the same character, with the same traits and speech pattern at the same time! This is what truly makes this show unique. The cast is amazing! The amount of talent on this show, in front of and behind the camera, truly boggles the mind. The other thing about this show is that it raises smart and intelligent questions dealing with morality. Whether it be slavery, human trafficking, or just basic human rights, Dollhouse once again enforces the belief that mankind will always exploit and abuse any and all technologies they discover. I think the part I liked the most about re-watching season one, was knowing all the twists and turns, and being able to see things I might have missed the first time around. I’ll say it once again; Dollhouse is an amazing television series! Don’t believe me? Well, why don’t you get the DVD, and tune-in to Dollhouse season two this year, and see for yourself? Feel free to thank me later.

Rating:

DVD Special Features:

• 3 Audio Commentaries on Selected Episodes

Joss Whedon and Eliza Dushku do a commentary track for “Ghost,” where they talk about the show’s shoe budget, and while Eliza’s strawberries maybe loud, Joss’ tummy commentary is louder.

Joss Whedon does a commentary track for “Man on the Street,” and talks about the importance of the turning point in this episode.

Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen do a commentary track for the infamous unaired 13^th episode “Epitaph One.”

I would have liked a few more commentaries on some more key episodes, but three is better than none.

• “Epitaph One” Never-Before-Seen 13^th Episode

The infamous unaired 13^th episode stars Felecia Day and Zack Ward, and takes place in 2019. I would suggest not watching this episode if you want to be surprised by the upcoming relationships and events of the Dollhouse series. It doesn’t tell you the hows and whys, but it does show you things they hope to do with the series. Could be a spoiler for some; you’ve been warned.

• Original Unaired Pilot “Echo”

This is the pilot episode that Joss pulled the plug on and thus decided to take a three week hiatus to rethink the show opener. I for one am glad he did. The episode moves too fast and gives away way too much. But, it wasn’t a complete loss, because they ended up cutting it up and sprinkling bits and pieces here and there throughout the season.

• Deleted Scences

• Making Dollhouse Featurette

A behind the scenes look at the making of Dollhouse

• Coming Home Featurette

The Cast & Crew share their stories and memories of working on other Joss Whedon shows, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly, and Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog.

• Finding Echo Featurette

A look at Eliza Dushku’s important role as producer and star, and how she and Joss developed the idea for the show.

• Designing the Perfect Dollhouse Featurette

Joss Whedon takes us on a tour of the soundstage that houses the Dollhouse.

• A Private Engagement Featurette

The Cast & Crew talk about what their ideal doll would be.

DVD Special Features Rating: