Genre: Horror, Sci-fi Actors: Dennis Quaid, Ben Foster, Cam Gigandet, Antje Traue, Cung Le Director: Christian Alvart Well… I like it. I’ve read other reviews of the film and you get the perennial cry of “overused-plot”, (my favourite) “not schlocky enough” (Digital Spy) and “unoriginal”. There is truth to what is being said, of course. [...]
The September Issue
Genre: Documentary Director: R. J. Cutler Warning: You are advised not to watch this film if you are an animal rights activist. You might be compelled to stab the cinema screen (or your excited neighbour) because Anna Wintour wears lots of fur coats (and she looks fabulous in it). And if you’re a big fan [...]
Alien versus Predator: Requiem
Originally published in Rip-In-Magazine Issue 049, 2008. Genre: Sci-Fi Actors: Steven Pasquale, Reiko Ayesworth, John Ortiz, Johnny Lewis, Ariel Gade, Kristen Hager Directors: Colin and Greg Strause Alien versus Predator: Requiem is like a box of chocolates sitting out in a patio under the Australian summer heat. You know it’s going to look real bad, [...]
Halloween
Originally published in Rip-in Magazine Issue 046, 2007. Genre: Horror Actors: Malcolm McDowell, Brad Dourif, Tyler Mane, Daeg Faerch, Sherie Moon Zombie, William Forsythe Director: Rob Zombie Children are a delicatessen of horror films. Big, hulking and gargantuan blokes with a cleaver are still in the menu but it is an old recipe that is [...]
Gabriel
Originally published in Rip-In Magazine, Issue 046, 2007 Genre: Action Actors: Andy Whitfield, Dwaine Stevenson, Samantha Noble, Erika Heynatz, Michael Piccirilli, Harry Pavlidis. Director: Shane Abbess The clouds finally parted and the light from heaven cascaded onto a chrome-grey and dilapidated city. Gabriel (Whitfield) stood on the precipice of a cracked and empty roof as [...]
A Mighty Heart
Originally published in Rip-In Magazine 045, 2007. Genre: Drama/History Starring: Angelina Jolie, Dan Futterman, Archie Panjabi, Mohammed Afzal, Irfan Khan Director: Michael Winterbottom There is a sense of awkwardness when mainstream cinema excavates the complexity of history through the artistry of documentary stylistics. A Mighty Heart, directed by Michael Winterbottom, uncomfortably produces a cramped biography [...]
Saw IV
Originally published in Rip-In Magazine, Issue 044, 2007. Genre: Thriller, Crime Actors: Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor, Scott Patterson, Betsy Russell, Athena Karkanis Director: Darren Lynn Bousman Distinguishing moments in horror/thriller films often cause long-term psychological traumas and are (in my opinion) the primary causes of paranoia, psychosis, and the occasional turret syndrome. For example, puking [...]
Resident Evil: Extinction
Originally published in Rip-in Magazine, Issue 040, 2007 Genre: Action, Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller Starring: Milla Jovovich, Oded Fehr, Ali Larter, Ian Glen, Ashanti, Mike Epps, Director: Russell Mulcahy There are few horror films that can make you exercise in your seat. Take for example Blade: Trinity (2004). Occasionally your lips twitch to employ the guise [...]
Stardust
Originally published in Rip-In Magazine, Issue 039, 2007 Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Romance Starring: Charlie Cox, Sienna Miller, Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert De Niro, Nathaniel Parker, Ian McKellen (Voice over), Dustan Thorn, Peter O’Toole, and Rupert Everett. Director: Matthew Vaughn Writer: Jane Goldman and Matthew Vaughn Fantasy is always about the crossing of worlds. There is one [...]
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
Originally published in Rip-In Magazine, Issue 035, 2007 Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy Starring: Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis, Julian McMahon Kerry Washington, Andre Braugher, and Doug Jones. Director/Writer: Tim Story/ Don Payne and Mark Frost According to MARVEL Five Fabulous Decades of the World’s Greatest Comics, the Silver Surfer represents Marvel’s most sincere [...]
