[7.25/10] The Sapphires (2012)

The Sapphires (2012)

QuickRating: It's no "Dreamgirls", but "The Sapphires" is an engaging and uplifting based-on-a-true-story Aussie musical, mashed-up with a touch of romance, drama and even action bits, that has a cutting-edge wittiness, strong characterization, and even stronger performances, and stylish retro vibe about it, that makes it as visually appealing, as it's entertaining. Not to mention the singing is beyond impressive, and the musical numbers are a joy to watch, and, of course, listen.

[7.00/10] Mental (2012)

Mental (2012)

QuickRating: With its peculiar story, colorful characters, sharp script, vivid cinematography and vibrant visuals, this unique Aussie dramedy, "Mental", lives up to its title, and proves to be mental, indeed, but in the best possible sense of the world. Every single one of the youngsters involved do an absolutely brilliant job in their difficult roles, but it's Toni Collette that makes it as special as it is, and takes the delightful quirkiness of the film to a whole new level.

[6.25/10] Wish You Were Here (2012)

Wish You Were Here (2012)

QuickRating: Although hardly memorable or particularly original, this Aussie mystery thriller has an authentic sense of realism, that makes the whole story a lot more believable, plus, its intriguing plot full of twists and turns will keep you wondering throughout the entire running time, as well as entertain you, thanks to the truly wonderful performances by Australian stars Felicity Price and Joel Edgerton.

[6.00/10] The Campaign (2012)

The Campaign (2012)

QuickRating: It has a pretty weak start, it's silly, crude, clumsy and raunchy to the point of being vulgar, and both Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis' characters are total douches, but "The Campaign" is actually s funny, at times so funny, it's absolutely hysterical, plus, it has an emotional side nobody's actually expecting, which side turns it from an over-the-top political comedy to a feel-good story that will melt your hearts as well as make you laugh out loud. Real hard.

[6.00/10] For a Good Time, Call (2012)

For a Good Time, Call (2012)

QuickRating: Sure, the constant indoor environment hardly works in the movie's favor, and makes it look  a bit too cheap, and honestly said, Jamie Travis' direction is nothing to write home about, but that doesn't change the fact that "For a Good Time, Call" is sexy, seductive and shamelessly lascivious and dirty comedy, filled with many hilarious moments, as lots of joyous ones, that is further elevated by Graynor's sweet, lively performance.

[4.50/10] Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (2012)

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (2012)

QuickRating: The oddball romance between the two protagonists has its charm, and the whole idea of finding someone to share the last ours of the world is intriguing enough in itself, but its the complete lack of genuine chemistry between the two leads, monotonous, at times moody narrative, and unappealing settings that bring the film down, and make the overall experience rather dull, and the movie instantly forgettable and deeply unsatisfying.

[5.50/10] Would You Rather (2013)

Would You Rather (2013)

Brief review: Debuted at last Fall's 'ScreamFest', but actually released this February, "Would You Rather" is a torture-esque horror thriller in the same vein as "Saw" films, but not as gruesome, and definitely not as pointless. "Would You Rather" actually wears the title of the nasty game the characters in the film are forced to complete in. It's a 'nasty' game, because in order to win it, they need to either hurt themselves, or one of the other strangers they've been trapped with. The fact that this tough dilemma affects not just the characters, but the viewers as well, makes the whole experience somewhat effective. On the other hand, you may find it hard to feel sympathy for most of the characters, since those are unlikable, and downright obnoxious. Thankfully, that can't be said for the protagonist, Iris, played wonderfully by Brittany Snow, whose character's charm, expressiveness and fragility will win you over. She basically saves the film from being poor. While far from terrifying, "Would You Rather" is certainly disturbing, and makes you wonder if rich people are actually capable of doing horrible things like this just for fun. "Hostel", anyone? Some of the torture scenes are difficult to watch and hard to sit through really, but at the same time not in-your-face graphic or gory. Since most of the movie takes place in a posh dining room, this pretty limited setting becomes a bit tiresome at some point, but the director compensates that with a grim, and shocking twist ending, that works perfectly fine.

Overall summary: The majority of the performances are questionable, and the sub-par execution leaves a lot to be desired, but "Would You Rather" is still a fairly original take on 'torture porn', with some truly nasty tricks up its sleeve, that will keep you entertained for 93 min.

[8.25/10] Zero Dark Thirty (2012)

Zero Dark Thirty (2012)

Brief review: Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow succeeds yet again with another bold and daring project for the manhunt of enemy No. 1, Osama bin Laden, based on actual events. Bigelow lets us witness the near decade operation, revealing interesting details and hidden facts, making the experience not only gripping, but informative as well. The films also benefits from Kathryn Bigelow's incredible ability to keep things as realistic, and plausible as possible. There's nothing exaggerated, or Hollywood-ish about this movie, even when the action kicks in. The whole thing is stripped down to the bone, but that only helps to Bigelow for maintaining the intensity level, even when the film is slow and talky. The last 30 minutes are so thrilling, you may find yourself on the edge of your seat, but unfortunately the climax, namely the killing of Osama is nothing special really, hence, it may leave you slightly unsatisfied. Featuring lots of hand-held, camera work, intentionally simplistic cinematography, and washed-out colors, "Zero Dark Thirty" has a slightly documentary-ish feel about it that works to its advantage, plus, there's a certain grittiness to Kathryn Bigelow's shooting style, that adds further realism to the story. The film wouldn't be as great without Jessica Chastain's award-worthy performance as the workaholic CIA officer, Maya, whose angelesque femininity contrasts beautifully with her self-confidence and often intense personality, and the rest of the cast all do a brilliant job as well.

Overall summary: It drags a bit in the first half, and the slaying of bin Laden could have been  way more dramatic, but nonetheless "Zero Dark Thirty" is a smartly-scripted, superbly-made, and truly engrossing piece of cinema, jam-packed with sheer, nearly obsessive intensity.

[5.25/10] The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia (2013)

The Haunting in Connecticut 2:

Ghosts of Georgia (2013)

Brief review: Claiming it's based on a true story, which somewhat hard to believe, "The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia" is some sort of sequel to "The Haunting in Connecticut" from 2009, or more like a sister film, to be exact, as it has nothing to do with the original story-wise or otherwise. Let's face it, the first movie was cheesy, yet entertaining, and the case with this one is pretty much the same. Unlike the original though, this one doesn't spend any time in building suspense properly, as it starts off straight away with the cheap scares, and the stupid ghost visions. The whole "I see things" premise is so familiar, it hurts, and the plot is basically 'been there, done that', at least the first half of it - there's nothing particularly exciting about it, let alone scary. Thankfully though, this sequel proves to have some tricks up its sleeve, as the second half is stronger, much more thrilling, and at times even frightening, mainly due to the appearance of The Station Master, who looks pretty creepy, indeed. Visually, "Ghosts of Georgia" looks much more polished than your average straight-to-DVD/VOD affair. The cinematography is rich in color and tone, and the camera work is decently diverse. The movie also delivers acting-wise, thanks to some very credible performances. Abigail Spencer and Morgana Shaw both do a solid job as the two sisters, the adorable Emily Alyn Lind is mostly fantastic as the little ghost whisperer, Heidi, and the hunky Chad Michael Murray is the only weak link.

Overall summary: It doesn't look bad at all, and the performances are adequate to say the least, but "The Haunting in Connecticut 2:Ghosts of Georgia" is every bit as generic and unoriginal as its silly title suggests, plus, in spite of a thrilling final act, it fails to avoid the cliches.

[5.00/10] The ABCs of Death (2013)

The ABCs of Death (2013)

Brief review: Shown at a numerous festivals last year, but officially set to be released in 2013, "The ABCs of Death" is a horror anthology, that consists of 26 shorts, each helmed by a different director, each of whom assigned a letter of the alphabet. "Apocalypse" is over-the-top gory fun. "Bigfoot" ain't about Bigfoot, and doesn't work. "Cycle" is confusing, but cool and well-conceived. Stylishly-shot in slow-mo, "Dogfight" is a man vs. dog fight, you have never seen before. "Exterminate" is badly-acted, and plain dumb. "Fart" stinks... literally. "Gravity" is overly short, and way too simple. "Hyrdo-Electric Diffusion" is Nazi torture fun, it's as simple as that. "Ingrown" is well-shot, intense, and one of the best segments, along with "Dogfight". "Jidai-geki" is a joke. "Klutz" is animation about crap, but it ain't crap at all. "Libido" is nasty and sick, yet genius. "Miscarriage" is uninteresting and simply unnecessary. "Nuptials" is hilarious, while the following "Orgasm" is artistically-shot, yet ultimately boring. "Pressure" is well-made and lives up to its title. "Quack" tries hard to be original, but falls short instead. "Removed" is gore-fueled, and nicely-executed. The best thing about "Speed" is that it ends quickly. The animated "Toilet" is superbly-crafted, gory, and somewhat shocking. "Unearthed" is pointless piece of sh*t. "Vagitus" is refreshing, but looks cheap. "WTF" is WTF, indeed. "XXL" is sheer brilliance. "Youngbuck" is sick, bloody, and stupid, and the closing "Zetsumetsu" is just a crazy Asian softcore porn.

Overall summary: Conceptually-genius, yet overambitious, "The ABCs of Death" has some strong and memorable segments, as well as some terrible ones, hence the end result is a mixed bag of utter lunacy, twisted imagination, ludicrousness, lots of gore and very few scares.

Best Animated Flicks of 2012

It's time for my first top list of the past year, so click on the picture above, or THIS LINK, and check out my article "Best Animated Flicks of 2012", featured on my monthly column in White Cat Magazine. See if you agree, leave a comment, and tell us what was your favorite 2012 animated film.

[7.50/10] American Mary (2012)

American Mary (2012)

Brief review: The Canadian twin sisters, Jen Soska and Sylvia Soska, take indie horror cinema to another level with their latest blood-soaked gem, "American Mary" - an unexpectedly brilliant feminist horror story of revenge, that also explores human's twisted mentality and the perverse desires of people obsessed with the idea of being unique, by turning themselves into monsters, literally. Soska sister's original script cleverly mixes visceral and psychological horror with unsettling sense of realism, outrageous gore and dark humor, and that well-balanced combination of elements leads to an impressive end result. Due to its sick, demented nature, "American Mary" may be a bit too bizarre and revolting for mass tastes, but those willing to see something different, will appreciate the film's bleak uniqueness. Soskas' latest isn't scary, and it's not meant to be, because the story is already shocking and grim enough, so the film doesn't need any additional gimmicks to give you the chills. Sure, being a surgeon horror, there's lots of blood, guts and cut-off body parts, but none of it is over-the-top or too in-your-face. "American Mary" does not look like a low-budget indie film. Soskas' stylish direction complements the film's gloomy tone, which is captured through the use of low lighting and gritty cinematography. It wouldn't be as effective, without Katharine Isabelle's disturbing, yet captivating portrayal of Mary - a gifted surgeon, who's also a sick-minded freak you don't wanna mess with at all.

Overall summary: More nasty than scary, cold, yet sleek in atmosphere and look, and definitely disturbing, "American Mary" is a superbly-crafted and highly original horror movie with feminist undertones, grim sense of humor and grotesque gore, that every genre fan should see.

[6.75/10] Mama (2013)

Mama (2013)

Brief review: Produced by the visionary director Guillermo del Toro, "Mama" is Andrés Muschietti's debut full-length feature, based on his own '08 short of the same name. The good news is, "Mama" is arguably the best January horror release since 2010's "Daybreakers", but the not so good news is, it doesn't break any new ground in terms of originality. Even though the plot can't really escape the ghost story cliches, the movie still succeeds in capturing the viewer's attention, due to the finely-written script, and the intriguing story that not only makes you constantly wonder who is Mama, and why is she so overprotective and evil, but also provides you with all the answers towards the end, leaving you satisfied and without any question marks in your head. Also, the half happy, half sad ending of the film is pretty emotional, and the perfect bittersweet conclusion to the story. "Mama" is frightening as well, and not in a cheap way. The solid scares are only a couple, but the suspense is consistent, the movie's eerie atmosphere is utterly effective, and Mama herself is creepy as hell. Sure, the editing is questionable, and that affects the overall pacing of the film, but Muschietti's accomplished direction, slick cinematography, and stylish color palette make up for that. Jessica "The Chameleon" Chastain does a phenomenal job in an untypical role that proves her versatility, but it's Megan Charpentier and Isabelle Nélisse that steal the show, with the latter being absolutely sensational.

Overall summary: Sinister, atmospheric, solidly-acted and technically-polished, yet slightly incoherent and not particularly original, "Mama" is an above average ghost story, that manages to deliver thrills, chills, high entertainment value as well as touching and effective climax.

Casino Movie Mistakes

Casino movies have inspired generations to try the beauty and excitement of real and online casino’s for decades. From the first Oceans 11 film to the more recent James bond Casino Royale they all use casinos as the perfect backdrop when filming multi-million dollar blockbusters. This being said, they do occasionally make a few mistakes, but which Casino movie mistakes are the best?

Security is always important to casinos whether it’s your online password or safety on the premises. So when James bond is given a simple 6 digit code the least he can do is remember it. The international man of mystery has been a super spy for years now! So remembering the simple code should be easy, except when he enters his password for the casino he presses ****47 but when he is giving someone his password he tells them it ends in 3 and 7. Caught you out there, James. During the same movie James and villain Dimitrios are have a game of poker, Dimitrios carries a lucky token around with him, but during this scene the token moves from shot to shot with terrible continuity. If all this talk about casinos have gotten you in the mood to play yourself then download here to experience the variety of slot games and other casino related games like blackjack, roulette and poker offered by online casinos.

The brilliant 2001 remake of Ocean's Eleven describes the journey of 11 men trying to rob a casino; the beautiful casino houses a nearly unbreakable volt. In order to break into the shiny volt they hide a small gentleman in a trolley and wheel him in. Unfortunately for the film crew the volt was a little too shiny and you can see all of the camera equipment in the reflections. The flawless cast are all handsome and beautiful and the Hollywood heartthrob that is George Clooney is perfect throughout, or is he? Next time you watch the movie be sure to watch how his hairstyle constantly changes throughout.

My Favorite Martian Bloghop

My dear blog buddy Maurice at The Geek Twins, along with L.K. Hill, Jay and Just A Dash of Geek are hosting this super-cool bloghop, called "My Favorite Martian", where we have to to share our favorite movie alien, whether Martian or not. I found the idea to be quite original and creative, so I jumped in with no second thoughts.

Now to the point... There are hundreds if not thousands of aliens in history of cinema, so it was kinda hard to narrow it down to just one. No, actually it wasn't. There's one particular alien that I adored from the first minute I saw it, and that all-time favorite alien of mine is...

Call me crazy, but I honestly think that The Engineers from Ridley Scott's 2012 sci-fi gem "Prometheus" are truly genius creations, and not just in terms of design. They excite me, they scare me, they make me feel small and insignificant, they make me respect them, they might be the fathers of our species... who knows?! I'll try to further explain why The Engineers left such a big impact on me, using very little words and some images, that speak for themselves. At least I hope they do.

Impressive human-like physicality, pale, almost luminous skin, creepy face... if that's not intimidating, I don't know what is.

They created us, and then they realized they made a mistake. I don't blame them. The world that is today kinda proves they did.

Just look at him! Doesn't he scare the crap out of you?

This guy gives me the chills. I'm not joking.

The Engineers exude might and power, and they can easily 

take control over us. I freakin' love that!

© 2012 20th Century Fox. All rights reserved. Prometheus

[7.25/10] Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

Brief review: Adapted from Matthew Quick's novel of the same name, "Silver Linings Playbook" is yet another winner from gifted director David O. Russel, who brought us the near flawless boxing drama "The Fighter" back in 2010. Although a bit overrated in general, we can't deny that Russel, who also wrote the script, has adapted the story in an excellent way, balancing the bipolar nature of it with ease and true sophistication, without sucking the delightful quirkiness out of it. Sure, it's intentionally moody, but the story which brings together two flawed, and mentally disturbed characters, with very similar struggles, has an edge that most rom-coms are lacking these days, successfully avoiding the cliches. The film's witty verbal fights, awkwardly amusing situations and 'full throttle' anxiousness contrast beautifully with the Russel's gentle direction, as well as the vulnerability of the two protagonists. Speaking of characters, those are definitely the driving force of "Silver Linings Playbook", as well as the cast that plays them. Bradley Cooper does a stellar job in a rather unusual and unexpected role for him. He embraces the lunacy of his sympathetic character to the fullest, and the end result is great. Most talked-about actress of 2012, Jennifer Lawrence, is every bit as good, if not better as the tough cookie, Tiffany, and they both share a genuine on-screen chemistry. Robert De Niro and Jacki Weaver both give superb performances, without which this film would never be the same.

Overall summary: As honest and outspoken as its lead characters, if overlong, and slightly overrated, "Silver Linings Playbook" very cleverly balances comedic and dramatic elements, delivering laughter, sincere emotions, sharp dialogues and quirky romance to its viewers.

[4.00/10] Texas Chainsaw 3D (2013)

Texas Chainsaw 3D (2013)

Brief review: Almost 40 years after the release of the original "Texas Chainsaw Massacre", and half a dozen remakes, sequels and prequels, director John Luessenhop brings yet another entry in the already tired franchise, that is more of a late sequel, rather than a proper reboot. Do we really need one? Not really. Since this film is not a reimagining of the original, and it tries to add new elements to the story in order to stand out from the other installments, thankfully "Texas Chainsaw 3D" does not necessarily feel like a 'cinematic deja vu', but on the other hand, that doesn't mean it succeeds in its attempts. The story still feels forced and often nonsensical, and the unsurprisingly hackneyed script is filled with overused slasher cliches. Also, the little twist in the end is ridiculously impausible, and doesn't help the movie either. In this one, one of the biggest horror icons, Leatherface, is not the grimly intimidating masked killer we remember, but a big, clumsy and dull guy, running around with his chainsaw turned on. "Texas Chainsaw" fails to keep you on your toes as well, for the fact that it is lacking in any sort of tension and suspense. Sure, the gore is there and very in-your-face, but the death scenes are crafted with zero imagination, or creativity. Alexandra Daddario saves it from being an utter disaster, by playing a likable protagonist, that exudes decency. However, the other characters are very stereotypical,  and act illogically most of the time, and that makes you want them dead.

Overall summary: Neither as scary as the original, nor as entertaining as the 2003 remake, "Texas Chainsaw 3D" attempts to freshen up the franchise with very little effort, hence, it ends up being a generic sequel, relying mostly on the gore, that has no actual reason to exist.

[3.25/10] Sadako 3D (2012)

Sadako 3D (2012)

Brief review: Do you remember Gore Verbinski's horror masterpiece "The Ring", and the equally as sinister original Japanese version it was based on, called "Ringu"? Well, Tsutomu Hanabusa's "Sadako 3D" is sort of a sequel to the latter, but sadly, an unnecessary and terrible one. Although it wears the title of "Ringu"'s central character, this film reveals absolutely nothing about the origin of Sadako - there's no back story, no proper explanation, nothing... just a dumb, heavily contrived plot that makes no sense at all, and tons of cheesy CGIs. It plays more like an "updated" version of "Ringu" rather than trying to be creative, and bring something new to the table. And no more TVs and VHSs, guys! Sadako is more contemporary now, and she comes out of LCD monitors, plasma screens and iPhones. Sure, over the last ten years, technology has developed tremendously, so this "update" is understandable, but the whole 'cursed video' story got lamer and way less effective. Having said that, the worst thing about "Sadako 3D" is not the flat storyline, or that the film is lacking in scares big time, but the fact that the creators dared to destroy arguable the creepiest character in history of horror, by taking away all of the skin-crawling creepiness out of Sadako, and presenting her as your average ghost seeking for revenge. Hanabusa's direction is amateurish at best, the cinematography is bland, and that combined with the lame, made-for-3D special effects gives the film a dull look.

Overall summary: Daft, contrived, sensationally un-scary, but above all completely unnecessary, "Sadako 3D" is J-horror at its worst, not only because of its ridiculously cheap execution, but mainly because it ruins one of the creepiest characters ever, and makes it look lame.