It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown!

"You've heard of the fury of a woman scorned, haven't you?"
"Yeah, I guess I have."
"Well, that's nothing compared to the fury of a woman who has been cheated out of trick-or-treats."

It's fall and everyone is excited.  Charlie Brown (Robbins) and his dog Snoopy rake leaves, which Linus (Shea) proceeds to jump into.  And Lucy (Dryer) is ready with to "help" Charlie Brown kick the football (pictured below).

They are even more excited about going trick-or-treating that evening and going to a Halloween Party afterward.  Linus is going to skip trick-or-treating to fulfill his annual tradition of sitting in the pumpkin patch and waiting for "The Great Pumpkin."

"He'll come here because I have the most sincere pumpkin patch and he respects sincerity."
"Do you really think he will come?"

"Tonight the Great Pumpkin will rise out of the pumpkin patch. He flies through the air and brings toys to all the children of the world."
"That's a good story."

Everyone else mocks him, except Sally (Steinberg), who wants to spend the evening with Linus.  Meanwhile, Snoopy battles the Red Baron for control of the skies.

It's not a holiday if there you don't watch a Peanuts holiday special.

I love the Peanuts characters and the various specials they make.  My grandma had all of the specials when we were growing up... I've seen all the classics (soooo many times), and I still love them!  I don't have anything specific to say about the quality or anything.  I love it and can't separate my memories from serious film criticism.

It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown (1966) 25 minutes
Director: Bill Melendez
Peter Robbins as Charlie Brown
Chris Shea as Linus Van Pelt
Sally Dryer as Lucy Van Pelt
Kathy Steinberg as Sally Brown

Last of the Living

When a zombie epidemic sweeps New Zealand, only a handful of people remain unaffected.  Three friends, Morgan (Williams), Johnny (Faith), and Ash (Southam), chose to enjoy their circumstances, spending their days playing video games in deserted mansions.  Whenever they need to go out, they band together and carry blunt objects to survive.  Self-proclaimed ladies man Morgan favors a bat and a baseball cap.  Semi-crazed drummer Johnny wield a pair of drum sticks and is perfecting his ultimate fighting technique: going berserk.  And nerdy Ash (Southam) wears arm and knee pads and a hockey mask and swings a golf club.

Believing they are the only people left, they are shocked to find and rescue a woman, Stef (Paddon-Brown) during a routine grocery trip.  Stef is a researcher trying to collect blood from zombies to create a cure.  She lost the only sample when zombies attacked and killed her father (Mark Hadlow).  The guys agree to help her get a sample and take it to the lab, while secretly fighting over her.  With the zombies congregating near the lab, will they survive the trip?


Think Shaun of the Dead... if it was set in New Zealand, with a smaller budget, and less main characters.  The film focuses mainly on the characters: they are well formed... you know these people.  The characters are the main focus, the blood and zombies are secondary.

Funny film, much better than expected.  Check it out on Netflix!

Last of the Living (2008) 88 minutes
Director: Logan McMillan
Starring: Morgan Williams as Morgan
Robert Faith as Johnny
Ashleigh Southam as Ash
Emily Paddon-Brown as Stef

The Town (2010)

"I need your help. I can't tell you what it is, you can never ask me about it later, and we're gonna hurt some people."
"...Whose car we takin'?"

A group of masked men: the brains of the operation Doug MacRay (Affleck), the ex-con who loves weapons James "Jem" Coughlin (Renner), master car theif Albert "Gloansy" Magloan (Slaine), and computer expert Desmond Elden (Owen Burke); rob a bank in Boston.  When the silent alarm is tripped, they take the bank manager, Claire (Hall), hostage and then drop her by the side of the road.  With the FBI asking Claire questions and investigating the robberies, Doug starts tailing her.  They have a connection and begin a relationship.

Meanwhile, the FBI, led by Agent Adam Frawley (Hamm) and local Agent Dino Ciampa (Welliver), start looking into shady characters in the town of Charlestown, MA, the robbery capital of the United States.  They setup surveillance and narrow the list of suspects... while the team continue to rob banks while wearing masks and destroying evidence.  Will Doug find a way to get the girl and get out... or will old loyalties pull him back into the fray?


Ben Affleck in front of the camera... um, maybe.  Ben Affleck behind the the camera... heck yes.  In his sophomore directing, after 2007's Gone Baby Gone, Affleck proves adept behind the camera.  Creating a gritty crime film that keeps the audience on its toes with all eyes glued on the screen.


Everything works... the story, the accents, the cast, etc.  Jeremy Renner steals the show with his slightly off-balance, violence and weapon obsessed Jem.  You never know what the character will do next or how he will react, and you are captivated.  Jon Hamm, best known for his role on AMC's Mad Men, is also a highlight as Agent Frawley: going for broke as an unconventional FBI agent.  And Blake Lively of the CW's Gossip Girl, fully inhabits Krista... making her seem very real.  It is quite the transformation.  The rest of the cast also works well, although the women don't get to do much.


Excellent action flick.  See it....NOW!


The Town (2010) 125 minutes
Rating: R for strong violence, pervasive language, some sexuality and drug use.
Director: Ben Affleck
Starring: Ben Affleck as Doug MacRay
Rebecca Hall as Claire Keesey
Jon Hamm as Agent Adam Frawley
Jeremy Renner as James Coughlin
Blake Lively as Krista Coughlin
Titus Welliver as Dino Ciampa

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (300th post)

Happy 300th Post

 My how time flies when you're having fun!

To celebrate, let's keep with the tradition of reviewing a "classic" musical... (100 & 200).  Originally I wanted to review Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera, BUT with Halloween approaching, and the upcoming Glee tribute, I decided to change tunes...

"Do you think I made a mistake splitting his brain between the two of them?"

After a friend's wedding, straight-laced Brad Majors (Bostwick) and Janet Weiss (Sarandon) get engaged.  They decide to immediately to visit their old teacher, Dr. Scott (Adams), who taught they class where they met.  Along the way they get a flat tire and walk in the rain to a nearby castle.

But the inhabitants of the castle are not what they expect.  The owner, Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Curry), is a transvestite mad scientist.  They have arrived in time to witness the unveiling of his latest creation: a muscle man he deems Rocky (Hinwood).  The castle staff, Riff Raff (O'Brien) and Magenta (Quinn), are eccentric and don't fulfill traditional staff roles.  Also in the castle is Frank's tap dancing groupie Columbia (Campbell)... and frozen bad boy she loves, Eddie (Meat Loaf).  No one wants to help the stranded motorists... will Janet & Brad leave the castle with their morals intact?


A controversial musical, The Rocky Horror Picture Show (adapted from the stage show The Rocky Horror Show) is a film that inspires strong emotion: you either love it or hate it.

Check any message boards on film sites (imdb, Netflix, etc) and you will find people passionately arguing the merits and downfalls of the film; it is a slippery slope.  It's revolutionary subject matter and ability to speak to the outcasts (or people who feel like outcasts) stirs up strong emotions in many.  With the numerous well-known stage versions and the interactive midnight showings, this film has a cult following and is considered a cult classic by many.

I would fall more into the love category... to clarify I like the film, I love the stage shows.  The songs sound better and the cast seems to be having more fun on stage.  I have several Rocky Horror songs on my iPod, but none are from the film soundtrack.  The best choice is the The Rocky Horror Show Roxy Cast.  It seems like the kind of show that is better when you can interact... sing along with the rest of the audience, dance in the aisles, etc.

The film is great in that it immortalizes the iconic performances of the stellar cast.  Tim Curry became a star when he appeared on this show, and this film was his breakout film role.  Richard O'Brien (who also wrote the film), Patricia Quinn, and Little Nell originated their roles in the Original London production... and Meat Loaf stole the Roxy and the Original Broadway show as Eddie.  Jonathan Adams was the Narrator in the Original London production.  And director Jim Sharman directed the Roxy production.  The only newbies were cast because they were big names: Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick, and Charles Gray.

A fun film, but not as much fun as seeing the show live!

Be sure to check out the upcoming Rocky Horror tribute episode of Fox's Glee (10/26/10).  The soundtrack goes on sale 10/19/10.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) 100 minutes

Director: Jim Sharman

Starring: Tim Curry as Dr. Frank-N-Furter

Susan Sarandon as Janet Weiss

Barry Bostwick as Brad Majors

Richard O'Brien as Riff Raff

Patricia Quinn as Magenta

"Little Nell" Campbell as Columbia

Jonathan Adams as Dr. Everett Scott

Peter Hinwood as Rocky Horror

Meat Loaf as Eddie

Charles Gray as The Criminologist

Killers

"How weird is this going to get? Because some things you cannot unsee."

While on vacation in France with her parents, the recently single Jen (Heigl) meets the perfect man, Spencer Aimes (Kutcher).  Spencer is charming, attractive, and nice... and a hit-man on assignment.  In between fulfilling his mission, he dates Jen.  And then quits his job.  After a whirlwind romance, he meets her parents, overprotective dad (Tom Selleck) and alcoholic mom (O'Hara)... and they get married.

Three years later, they are living an idyllic life.  They have successful careers and lots of friends, with her parents just a phone call away.  But something is not right.  Their relationship is stuck in a rutt.  Spencer's old boss, (Martin Mull), made contact... and now there is a $20 million bounty on his head.  Can Jen accept the truth about her husband before it is too late?


The combination of Katherin Heigl and Ashton Kutcher could be great.  Both are big names, consistently in the press, well-known personas... there is potential.  Both have the ability to play charming, comic personas.  And director, Robert Luketic, made Legally Blonde, which is a great comedy.  The supporting cast is populated with talented comedic actors.  So why isn't this film better?

It was ok... not as bad as expected, but not great.  The story was predictable, with a few little curves.  Funny moments here and there but nothing overly memorable.  Kutcher is charming, but not completely believable as a hit man... he plays Spencer with a wink, and it works.  Heigl meshes well with Jen, creating a character that is completely believable and a tad quirky.  Tom Selleck and Catherine O'Hara are great as the odd couple parents.  The problem is the story... which has decent moments, but can't maintain a consistent tone.  Good to watch at night when you're already tired.

Killers (2010) 93 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for violent action, sexual material and language.
Director: Robert Luketic
Starring: Ashton Kutcher as Spencer Aimes
Katherine Heigl as Jen Kornfeldt
Tom Selleck as Mr. Kornfeldt
Catherine O'Hara as Mrs. Kornfeldt

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

"Can you put a price on your dreams?"

Ancient Doctor Parnassus (Plummer) has the ability to give a person the desires of their heart through his Imaginarium.  With the help of his daughter Valentina (Cole), Anton (Garfield) who is an expert at slight of hand, and his lifelong friend, Percy (Troyer), Parnassus tries to get people to enter the Imaginarium.  But business is slow and spirits are bleak... especially Parnassus who dreads Valentina's upcoming birthday and the secret that threatens to ruin his life.

On her 16th birthday, Valentina's soul will belong to Mr. Nick (Waits), as payment for a bet made between Nick and Parnassus many years before.  But Mr. Nick is in a gaming mood and makes a new bet with Parnassus: the first person to get 5 souls in the Imaginarium will get Valentina.

Meanwhile, Valentina, Anton and Percy rescue a man who is hanging beneath the bridge.  He is still alive, but has no memory... so they take him along.  His name is Tony (Ledger) and he offers to help Parnassus: they upgrade the show and try to get paying customers.  They drag Tony into the Imaginarium where a new side emerges (Depp, Law, and Farrell)...  Will Mr. Nick play fair, or will Valentina be lost forever?

I have been excited about this film for a long time.  Terry Gilliam, the writer / director, is amazing.  His films always have a fantasy element and get better with each viewing.  I was excited to see an original story (the last few have been adaptations), and I loved that he was reteaming with Heath Ledger (The Brothers Grimm)...  After Ledger's death and the announcement that the film with continue, I was intrigued with the idea of 3 more actors stepping in to play his part.

And this film was worth the wait...  The world of the Imaginarium is stunning.  The effects and costumes are fantastic (the art direction and costumes were nominated for Academy Awards in 2009) and full of whimsy.

The story is interesting and probably improves with multiple viewings (I only saw it once)... and while I know it was not part of the original script, I love the way the filmmakers made Tony change inside the Imaginarium.  These performances enhance the character of Tony and give the audience clues about his character / personality.  Johnny Depp has the shortest screen time, which is a shame.  He is a good choice as the first Tony: with the mask on, at first you think he is Ledger.  A short but memorable part.  Jude Law appears next, on the run from the mob...  Colin Farrell is the third appearance, with the most screen time, and gets to chase the girl.  While these Tony's are a highlight... the film belongs to Tom Waits who steals every scene.  Verne Troyer gets the best lines and has a fun chemsitry with Christopher Plummer's Parnassus.  Andrew Garfield and Lily Cole are also well cast.

Not what I expected, but still excellent.  I look forward to viewing this film again!



The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009) 123 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for violent images, some sensuality, language and smoking.
Director: Terry Gilliam
Starring: Heath Ledger as Tony
Christopher Plummer as Doctor Parnassus
Verne Troyer as Percy
Lily Cole as Valentina
Andrew Garfield as Anton
Tom Waits as Mr. Nick
Johnny Depp as Imaginarium Tony #1
Jude Law as Imaginarium Tony #2
Colin Farrell as Imaginarium Tony #3