Scream Bloody Entertainment

Ladies and gentlemen, I am proud to present to you Scream Bloody Entertainment's very first guest post! That's the site you're on right now, in case you didn't know... just sayin'! Anyways, I have been offered to have someone write a guest post for Scream Bloody Entertainment (again, that's where you are right now) and being the fine lad that I am, I took up the proposition right away. So without further ado, I give unto you a review of The Town, Ben Affleck's newest film to hit the big screen. Enjoy!

Review: The Town

Beginning with a gripping opening scene featuring a heist conducted by robbers disguised as nuns, Ben Affleck's The Town is an exhilirating, uncoventional thrill ride. Like his directorial debut, Gone Baby Gone, Boston is a central character in the new drama. Specifically the blue-collar neighborhood of Charlestown, the armed robbery capitol of the United States.

Like his debut, The Town again deals with the issues of home, how it builds and defines a person, and whether anyone can (or should) overcome it. Affleck plays Doug, a gravel worker by trade but an expert armed robber. He is the son of an incarcerated criminal, following in daddy's footsteps and succumbing to the pressures of his environment.

All that changes when during the opening bank heist Doug takes bank teller Claire (a sweet Rebecca Hall) hostage. After they get away, leaving Claire a vulnerable emotional wreck, Affleck checks up on her at the behest of his partner Jem (Jeremy Renner) to make sure she is not talking to the police. She falls for him, and he falls for her, seeing a shot at redemption. She is a good person, one who works at a community garden, and is a 180 degree turn away from former flame Krista, an OxyContin-addicted single mom obsessed with Doug.

From there, things get sticky, as Doug seeks to further his relationship with Claire, hide his secret life and protect her from it, and pull off a couple more heists. The film's climax follows a robbery at the most holiest of Boston sites: Fenway Park. And it is breathtaking, to say the least.

After seeing the preview trailers for The Town, it seemed at first glance to be a cliched, uninspired heist movie with an unlikely and unrelated love story, tacked on to grab a female audience. My impression could not have been more off base. Affleck's script defies convention and adds true depth to an idea that could easily have veered into typical action movie fare. His hand at directing is steady as well, and he obviously has a knack for directing thrilling, intricate action sequences.

The acting is great throughout, with exceptional performances from Chris Cooper as Doug's jailed father and Mad Men's Jon Hamm as the FBI agent hot on Doug's trail. Most surprising is Gossip Girl Blake Lively's role as the most un-glam Krista, which she plays with poignant, pained trashiness. Affleck holds down his role as the central character, and his chemistry with Hall is palpable and a large reason why the film's premise works.

The Town defies convention and expectation, a thoughtful and urgent edge-of-the-seat romantic thriller. To put things in context, just a few short years ago Affleck made Gigli. It has to have an filmgoer excited for his directorial potential.



- written by J. Gustav

So who is George?!

Year: 2010
Number of episodes: 13 (aprox. 20 min per episode)
Genre: Comedy

What comes to mind when you think about high school girls? No, I’m not talking about perverted stuff, but rather how they act. Most of us think that high school girls are shy, oversensitive and keep to themselves and that’s pretty much how they’re depicted in a lot of media these days, especially in anime. Seitokai Yakuindomo shows us a different side of modern teenagers and brings lots of humour and parody with it.

Basically, Seitokai Yakuindomo is about a teenager named Tsuda Takatoshi who decides to attend Ousai Academy due to the fact that it’s close to his home, even though this particular high school used to be a former all-girls’ academy up until recently. During his very first day at school, Tsuda meets a couple of girls who turn out to be members of the student council. Some of them are actually quite perverted and often spurt out the dirtiest jokes, but what’s worse is that they recruit Tsuda into the student council and even go as far as to make him vice-president. This all happens in a matter of minutes and our unfortunate hero has little say in any of it.


During the thirteen episodes of Seitokai Yakuindomo you’ll be constantly bombarded with dirty sex jokes, perverted talk and unwanted information about the female body and their period cycle. There are little to no serious scenes in the entire anime and most of it comprises of convenient situations to score another sex joke or a dirty conversation, with Tsuda often used as a serious retort or an enraged response.

There aren’t too many characters in the anime, though most of them are put to good use and no of them feel forced or useless. You’ve got the protagonist, Tsuda Takatoshi who just wants to lead a normal life and high school but is constantly attacked by his fellow female students with dirty jokes and unwarranted accusations. Then there are the three other members of the student council, all female, obviously. Shino Amakusa is the president of the council and maybe the most perverted of all characters, always available when you need a quick dirty joke. Aria Shichijou is the mature rich girl, though her mind is just about as perverted as that of Shino’s. Last but not least, yet definitely the shortest, is Suzu Hagimura, the intelligent and silent girl. She is about the same age as Tsuda, but has the body of an elementary school student. You won’t get any dirty comments from her, but her short height will often be used as comic relief and target of several jokes.


Seitokai Yakuindomo certainly works well as a comedy and its non-stop approach at humour and constant verbal gags keeps every episode fun and entertaining. What the anime lacks in proficiency it makes up for with its engaging plot and easy-going nature. It’s definitely not a great series and apart from an episode that takes place on the beach or another one where our heroes celebrate Christmas, Seitokai Yakuindomo lacks diversity. Most of the anime takes place at the academy, namely inside a couple of rooms and on a corridor. Whenever our characters are taken in a different location, it’s often only so as to set up a joke or make a funny remark at something in that particular environment. Another weak point is that every episode seems to be cut down in short scenes, each about one minute, that feature some random dialogue between a couple of our characters followed by one or two dirty jokes. Every scene starts with a build-up to the future joke or gag and usually ends directly after its purpose has been complete and the laughs and giggles have taken place.

It’s rather hard to predict if you’ll like Seitokai Yakuindomo or not. Some will be drawn to it by its simple premise and fast pacing while others are going to be turned off by the overwhelming amount of sex jokes and weird character interactions. I really didn’t know what to make this series during the first few episodes and I simply couldn’t connect with certain scenes, which in the ended left an awkward impression on me. I got used to it eventually and after a while each episode turned out to be even funnier than the last one. It’s not an anime that I’ll remember for too long, though. It all comes down to what you’re looking for: there are enough laughs to be had in Seitokai Yakuindomo and it’s rarely boring or changing pace, so you can hardly go wrong with it. If you’re looking for a little more substance, on the other hand, then I advise you to keep on searching.

I’m slowly getting ready for Halloween, when I’m planning to have as much fun as possible. I’ll be shooting some classic oldies and a couple of new favourites as well, so be sure to expect some reviews.

Monday

Splice (2010) - 6/10
I’ve been really looking forward to Splice, but I only got to see it just now since it didn’t get much of a release around these parts. I was very curious to see what Vincenzo Natali could do with this movie since I’m a fan of his erlier work. In the end, Splice turned out to be very different from what it was marketed as – it’s certainly not a monster movie per se, but more a character study and a deep look into human evolution rather than anything else. Adrien Brody and Sarah Polley did an excellent job in the leading roles and their solid acting helped the film a lot at keeping things together and moving the story forward. Splice didn’t exactly turn out to be a great movie as it lacks a lot of important elements, but it’s interesting enough and contains some really memorable scenes which make it worth a watch. Give it a go and decide for yourself.

Wednesday

Piranha (2010) - 7/10
I gotta be honest; I wasn’t too excited about Piranha when I first heard about it. It looked like an average horror flick at most and it seemed as though there was just no way for it to turn out great. Fortunately, I was wrong and Piranha actually turned out to be one of the most fun and entertaining movies of the year, even if it was a brainless experience all the way. The pacing was quite fitting and there was just the right amount of gore and nudity without becoming too excessive. Plus, there are tons of hilarious moments when the film simply pokes fun at its genre – it does the right thing and doesn’t take itself too seriously. If you’re not too sensible about seeing blood, guts and boobs, definitely check out Piranha.

Friday

In Bruges (2008) - 9/10
In Bruges is one of those films that I didn’t know much about before watching it and thus wasn’t exactly sure what to expect. Sometimes that works in the movie’s favour while other times it can relentlessly backfire, but In Bruges turned out to be one of the happier cases. Right from the beginning I was overwhelmed by its unconventional style and smart dialogue, which didn’t stop being impressive for its entire running time. I’m not a big fan of Colin Farrell, though it’s pretty obvious from his performance in this film that he’s got the chops of a top-notch actor. He and Brendan Gleeson made an excellent team, and coupled with Ralph Fiennes’ fearless performance really make In Bruges something very special. There’s laughter, suspense, action and lots of memorable lines to be had in this film and it’s definitely one of the most underrated movies of 2008. I enjoyed every second of this movie and you should too.

Saturday

Altitude (2010) - 5/10
After reading a short synopsis of this film I was kinda reminded of Frozen, which seemed to be very similar in style and story, so I decided to give it a go seeing as how I quite enjoyed Frozen. While Altitude didn’t exactly turn out to be as good as Frozen, it was certainly more interesting and engaging to watch. It’s quite a unique film and the story eventually goes to places which haven’t been explored too much in movies. Unfortunately, the movie suffers from annoying characters and some ridiculous dialogue, but it’s really enjoyable once you get past that. The ending felt very out-of-the-blue and didn’t fit at all with the rest of the film, though it concluded things in a somewhat satisfying way. One thing that I noticed more than anything else was Jessica Lowndes, whose acting was actually pretty impressive. Overall, Altitude hits some marks while it misses others. Give it a watch if you’re looking for something a little different from your usual horror/thriller fare.

I wasn't planning on doing another one of these thingies, but seems like I got enough material for one more, so why the hell not? Even though the year is slowly coming to an end, there are still lots of promising horror flicks awaiting release and since Halloween is coming up soon, there's definitely a lot of fun to be had. That being said, let's get right down to it, shall we?

I Spit on Your Grave (already released)

Plot: A woman who has been raped and left for dead seeks revenge on the group of men who are guilty.

Thoughts: A remake of the controversial and brutal 1978 film of the same name (also known as Day of the Woman), I Spit on Your Grave wants to do things the right way by delivering the unrated version right from the start, but I'm afraid things aren't as easy these days with studio involvement and stuff. Nevertheless, let's hope for the best and see what this film brings us!

What could turn out great: If the unrated gimmick turns out well, we may have quite a brutal experience on our hands.

What could go wrong: Studio involvement may turn yet another promising film into a piece of crap by cutting material and limiting violence. Bleh!

Some interesting links:

• official website
• Roger Ebert's zero star review
• more reviews: @NewYorkTimes, @eFilmCritic, @Toronto Film Scene

Paranormal Activity 2 (already released in some countries including USA and the UK, awaiting release in several other countries)

Plot: After experiencing a series of strange happenings, a family decides to set up security cameras around the house, but things are even creepier than they seem.

Thoughts: Last year's Paranormal Activity cashed in big time and completely destroyed Saw VI, a movie in a franchise which usually dominated sales that time of the year. It's no surprise that every studio was going crazy to acquire rights for a sequel, considering that it turned out to be one of the most profitable films since 1999's The Blair Witch Project. As long as Paranormal Activity 2 does things the way the original did and doesn't try and offer us more than what we want, I'm totally in for this one.

What could turn out great: Paranormal Activity was a major scarefest, so this sequel only has to follow in the same footsteps and things will be alright. Plus, now you've got an entire family including a dog and a newborn child, so it's time to get creative!
What could go wrong: Remember Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2?

Linky time equals fun time:

• official website
• check out my review of 2009's Paranormal Activity here
• Roger Ebert's review
• Facebook UK fan page

Saw 3D (29th of October in USA and the UK)

Plot: Previous survivors of Jigsaw traps gather together and seek the support of a self-help guru. In other news, the traps become alive in mind-blowing 3D!

Thoughts: Basically just another movie in the money-milking Saw franchise, but seeing as last year's Saw VI was a step up from previous films and this one is also shot in "state of the art" 3D, things may look up for us. As usual, the last film ended with a twist so we'll also get to find out what happens next (unless they decide to throw that all away, which wouldn't be too surprising to be honest). Either way, Saw 3D is definitely gonna be freakin' fun!

What could turn out great: Even though it sounds cheesy and gimmicky, I can't freakin' wait to experience a Saw film in 3D. The traps will definitely be on a new level and by the looks of the trailer, some of it will also take place in a public place. Plus, we've got Kevin Greutert back in the director's chair and let's not forget that he's the reason why Saw VI was a step up from previous films in the series.

What could go wrong: The Saw films have been a hit-and-miss up to this point, whereas the first few were actually great while others were just terrible. As much as I'd like for this one to be on the good side of things, you can't ignore the fact that the whole 3D gimmick just brings the money-milking factor to a whole new level.

Hello audience, I'd like to give you some links:

• official website (UK site here)
• check out my thoughts on last year's Saw VI in my Weekly Updates #11
• Facebook page

And Soon the Darkness (limited release on 17 December, on Blu-ray and DVD available December 28th)

Plot: Two American girls on a trip in Argentina split up and when one of them goes missing, the other one must find her before something terrible happens.

Thoughts: You've got Amber Heard and Odette Yustman playing the leading roles (more Heard from the looks of the trailer) and Karl Urban (possibly) starring as the bad guy. Sounds like a pretty good start to me. Apparently, the film is supposed to be somewhat of a remake of a 1970 British thriller with the same name, so there goes the possibility of being original! Definitely worth keeping an eye on since it looks like it has some potential.

What could turn out great: Amber Heard plus Odette Yustman equals instant success, I say. Seriously though, Karl Urban is a pretty good actor so he'll definitely boost things up. Plus, there will definitely be a lot of thrills to be had and I'm sure it'll turn out to be fun, if not anything else.

What could go wrong: It's not like we haven't seen tons of similar horror/thriller flicks already with the people who get lost in a foreign country and must save each other from the evil natives if they want to survive. Also has a lot of potential to contain every single cliche typical for this type of film as well.

And soon the links:

• official website
• check out The Informers if you wanna see Amber Heard naked, which I'm sure you do

Fear is in the air.

the plot
A group of friends flying in a small plane find themselves stuck in the air after the plane goes out of control. What's worse is that there seems to be a supernatural force who wants them dead.

the good
- excellent cinematography
- solid special effects
- Lovecraftian themes
- keeps you guessing

the bad
- annoying characters
- Landon Liboiron's lifeless performance
- the film doesn't know what it wants and ends up being all over the place
- ridiculous out-of-the-blue ending

the ugly
- a little blood
- O.D. on pills
- planes hitting each other
- tentacle porn!

things I learned from watching this movie
- every jock is a douche
- every jock has a hot and nice girlfriend
- throwing your guitar off the plane will definitely reduce the overall weight
- comic books are dangerous
- getting stuck in a plane with your friends will seriously affect your relationship

summary
While not a good film per se, Altitude is quite a fresh experience that lives in a world of its own. You've got your stereotypical characters and typical premise, but then the film goes to a place where you least expect it to go. Its dark look and impressive cinematography has a big impact on how the movie is perceived and the mysterious vibe will keep its viewers interested. Altitude suffers from some major flaws, but it is unique and innovative enough to make it worth a watch.

horror meter: 3 aerophobic stars (out of 5)

Another year is slowly coming to an end and I’m sure that these last couple of months will deliver some really amazing movies. Up to now, 2010 has been a pretty decent year for movies, though it could have been better. Let’s hope that what’s left of this year will make up for that.

Monday

Trainspotting (1996) - 9/10
I’ve been looking through some of Danny Boyle’s previous works recently and was surprised to see that he directed Trainspotting, a movie I had heard quite a lot about but never got around to see it. When I finally cleared up some space and watched it last week, I was really surprised at how well done it was. Sure, I knew it was a good film, but it was even better than I expected. Danny Boyle’s direction was certainly a big plus towards the end result and the entire cast did a remarkable job at acting. Ewan McGregor especially was terrific in the leading role and his performance was top-notch all the way through. Trainspotting is indeed one of the best films revolving around the drug scene and it’s extremely accurate and grim in its depiction of drugs, unlike other films. Definitely a must-see.

Wednesday

Salt (2010) - 7/10
I actually didn’t expect too much from Salt when I decided to see it and I was only looking for some mindless entertainment for a couple of hours. Fortunately, the film turned out to be much better than expected and I was engaged to the plot from start to finish. Angelina Jolie was really impressive in the leading role, though supporting actors Liev Schreiber and Chiwetel Ejiofor didn’t disappoint either. As for the story, it was surprisingly interesting and there were lots of twists and turns which in the end made the movie quite an unpredictable experience. The car chases, shootouts and other action scenes weren’t absent either, but they integrated well into the plot and it never felt too superficial or over-the-top. Salt is definitely worth a watch and I’m sure that it will please most of its viewers.

Friday

Accepted (2006) - 5/10
I had heard lots of good things about Accepted and was really looking forward to seeing it, especially since it’s been quite a long time since I got to watch a good comedy. In the end, though, the film turned out to be quite underwhelming and even though I had some good laughs here and there, it ultimately failed to deliver what I was hoping it would. The plot was ridiculously absurd, but I was ready to let that go had it not been for its formulaic feel-good ending. Justin Long was pretty decent in the leading role, but it was Jonah Hill who stood out and delivered the most laughs and gags. Like in many other comedies, Accepted suffers from the fact that it has way too many characters and pretty much all of them feel superficial and underdeveloped. In conclusion, it’s a good movie to pass the time with, but it’s nothing really special.

Saturday

Jonah Hex (2010) - 4/10
Sometimes it just doesn’t matter how badly a movie was received, you still gotta see it with your own eyes. In the case of Jonah Hex, it turns out that the movie isn’t really as bad as everyone makes it out to be, but it’s pretty close. The film is actually quite entertaining and at times has a cheesy feel to it, which really boosts its overall quality and gives it a slight cult feel. As for the plot, it’s really awful, but constant action scenes and interesting characters make it decent enough. There’s also a surprisingly good performance by Michael Fassbender, who continues to impress me from film to film (even in this one). I wish Jonah Hex had turned out the way everyone hoped it would, but it’s still quite a decent film and a watch certainly won’t hurt anybody.

There's Something in the Water

the plot
Spring break takes a turn for the worst after an underwater tremor sets a prehistoric type of piranhas free which immediately begin feeding on the unsuspecting people who party near the lake.

the good
- boobs
- boobs
- more boobs
- entertaining from start to finish
- good use of 3D as a gimmick
- creative death scenes and more than decent amounts of gore
- doesn't take itself too seriously
- lots of hilarious moments
- fitting ending
- Eli Roth's random cameo
- great camp value
- did I happen to mention boobs?

the bad
- stock characters
- no real good shots of the piranha
- piranha killing people usually consists of close-up shots of fish biting on flesh
- the two annoying kids
- some weak acting here and there

the ugly
- piranha eating people
- lots of graphic shots of wounds
- people getting ripped in half
- decapitation by two boats colliding
- pornstars cut in half

things I learned from watching this movie
- the police doesn't have much authority during spring break
- hot chicks can breathe underwater
- surfing on porn websites with the door unlocked is never a good idea
- piranhas are not fans of human penises
- pole dancing isn't really that helpful after all

summary
Piranha is the perfect example of how a movie can be so right when everything in it is so wrong. If you would have asked anyone how this film would fare before it got released, chances are no one would have given you a positive answer, yet here we are with one of the most entertaining and hilarious films of the year. Piranha is another great success for director Alexandre Aja, but it is an even bigger success for modern horror movies and 3D films as well. If you're looking for fun, lots of laughs and insane amounts of gore and nudity, look no further than Piranha. This film had all the right ingredients for it to turn into a disaster, yet it went in the whole other direction and managed to exceed all expectations.

horror meter: 4 wild wild stars (out of 5)

She's Not Human ... Not Entirely.

the plot
Two young scientists go against their employer's wishes and begin splicing human DNA with animal genes, but the results backfire on them.

the good
- not the monster movie that everyone was expecting
- original premise
- solid acting from the leads
- some genuinely dsiturbing scenes
- great use of CGI
- good and well-paced story development

the bad
- again, not the monster movie that everyone was expecting
- the script feels weak at times
- the balls-to-the-wall climax doesn't fit in too well with the rest of the film
- could have ended on a better, more satisfying note
- the minimal cast of actors damage the end result

the ugly
- spliced creatures killing each other
- maiming of limbs
- one bestiality sex scene gone terribly wrong
- death of a cat
- impalement by tree branch
- death by toxic sting
- death by rock to the face

things I learned from watching this movie
- it has been oficially confirmed that men will bang anything that moves
- having sex in the same room with your half-animal half-human child is not a good idea
- being a scientist working for some company specialized in splicing DNA and creating new life forms will get you the shittiest car ever
- getting raped by a new life form will make you rich

summary
With Splice, Vincenzo Natali manages to deliver a truly interesting film that, even though not original by itself, does present quite a fresh approach to certain themes. It is not a perfect movie—not by the least—but the good amount of memorable and at times unsettling scenes paired with Adrien Brody and Sarah Polley's leading performances make it a ride worth taking. Splice is, more than anything, an experiment itself and, as expected, it sometimes goes wrong, it sometimes goes right.

horror meter: 3 zoophilic stars (out of 5)

I’ve started reading quite an interesting book about film and the art of cinema as part of a school assignment and it’s really helping me see films in a better light right now. I’m also planning on doing another article on some upcoming horror films this year, so expect to see that on my blog soon.

Wednesday

Lost in Translation (2003) - 7/10
I watched Lost in Translation during one of my classes and knew little to nothing about it at the time. I kept confusing it with another movie, but it immediately caught my attention once I saw Sofia Coppola credited as the director. It was a pleasant surprise to see Bill Murray starring in it as well and he most definitely did not disappoint. I’m usually not a big fan of Scarlett Johansson’s acting, but she was surprisingly good in this one. Her character gave me a similar vibe to Sofia Coppola’s character in The Godfather: Part III, which isn’t much of a surprise considering that she directed this film. I found Lost in Translation to be very interesting and its style and setting was incredibly intriguing, even if it came off as somewhat pretentious. Paired with Murray and Johansson’s performances, Lost in Translation is a stunning success both as a film and as a directorial showcase.

Friday

Blue Velvet (1986) - 7/10
Blue Velvet was one of David Lynch’s movies that I was looking most forward to seeing and I’m really glad I finally did. First off, this film was surprisingly coherent for a Lynch movie, though there were still some odd parts here and there. Again, Lynch’s influence is as obvious as in every other one of his films and its dark atmosphere coupled with the liveliness of an idyllic town is certainly something to be impressed by. Kyle MacLachlan and Laura Dern worked great in the leading roles (especially Lachlan whose performance really left me amazed), but it was Dennis Hopper who dominated this film with his phenomenal acting and fearless performance. I wasn’t slightly underwhelmed by the overall story, but I liked the little undertones that Lynch added during certain parts. All in all, Blue Velvet is another excellent film from David Lynch and it would be a real shame to miss it. Plus, it’s a good way to start getting into more of Lynch’s work, as this film is noticeably more comprehensible and consistent than other films of his.

Oh how holy, how serene.

Year: 2004
Number of episodes: 13 + one OVA (aprox. 25 min per episode)
Genre: Drama, Ecchi, Horror

Last week I was fortunate enough to watch one of the most highly regarded and critically praised anime series, called Elfen Lied. Why this series has garnered so much popularity over the years is surely no surprise to anyone: ask anybody who watches anime on a regular basis about the bloodiest, most disturbing series and you’ll often get Elfen Lied as the answer. This series is far from a simple no-brainer gorefest, though, and those who dare give it a shot (it’s certainly not for those who can’t stomach this type of thing) may find themselves completely overwhelmed by its beautifully unique story and memorable characters. I should know, as I am one of them.

First thing’s first: let me give you a little insight on the plot of the series. Elfen Lied primarily focuses on the relationship between humans and the so-called Diclonius (humans with horns attached to their heads and equipped with invisible telekinetic arms). One of our main characters, Lucy, is a Diclonius girl who escapes from a research facility where those of her kind are held captive and experimented upon in violent ways. Make no mistake, these strange, yet intriguing beings are far from innocent – most of them do not back away from violence and getting on their bad side can often result in a bloodbath. After forcing her way out (and by that I mean violently dismembering and ripping the heads off of everyone that stands in the way), Lucy is shot in the very last moment by a sniper. The shot doesn’t entirely hit, but it does damage her head enough to cause a deep amnesia and split her personality in two parts. Not much time passes and Lucy is found on a nearby beach by Kohta and his cousin Yuka, but Lucy’s second personality, Nyu, has taken over and this results in her acting like a child and unable to remember anything that happened up to that point.


Most of the show focuses on Lucy’s stay with Kohta and Yuka and the hunt by those whom she evaded to recapture her. Calling Elfen Lied the bloodiest and goriest anime series ever made is more an opinion rather than a fact, but it is certainly up there. You can tell from the first ten minutes that it definitely lives up to its reputation: Lucy’s escape from the research facility is one of the most powerful and downright disturbing scenes I have ever since in any anime series and it contained more blood and violence than I was prepared for – and believe me, I was pretty prepared.

One of the first things which caught my attention when I started watching the series was its opening song, called Lilium, which is sung in Latin. I was immediately fascinated by its truly wonderful tone and the atmosphere which it evoked. The opening couldn’t have been more fitting, if you ask me. It really captures the essence of what this anime is about.


Elfen Lied may sport a brutal attitude and at times it seems as though there is little to stop it from going way over the edge with its graphic depictions of violence and gore, but beyond its hardened exterior lies a soft and sensible core. The relationships between characters are surprisingly genuine and feel really natural. Over the course of its running time we come to care for each and every character in a special way. No one is innocent here, but it’s the imperfections and the little things that each character says or the does that shapes them into perfectly developed characters. I wish I could say that Elfen Lied does all these things to perfection, but there are some noticeable flaws among these beautifully executed aspects. Some characters react in an odd way to a few things, which sometimes leads to confusion among the audience and incapability to connect with the particular scene when it happens. For example, a young girl discovers a brutally dismembered man on the beach and her reaction suggests that she thinks little of it. Such things really lead to confusion and sometimes ruin the moment. I don’t wanna spoil anything, so I’ll just say that Kohta goes through some extremely emotional situations during the last episodes and his reactions are underwhelming, to say the least.


With only thirteen episodes and one special original video animation, Elfen Lied is a relatively short anime series. The manga it is based on is said to continue beyond the series’ ending and offer a lot more backstory and information about some characters, though I have not read it and am therefore unable to comment on the matter. I will say this, though: as far as the anime is concerned, it does a great job at developing the characters and advancing the story in a satisfying manner for the audience.

Elfen Lied is most definitely not for the faint of heart. There are lots of scenes which depict violence against animals, incest and even sexual abuse. Even though the series is filled with controversy and gore, it does manage to deliver a really beautiful and emotional story filled with interesting, well-developed characters. I was a little bit disappointed with the open ending and the final episode overall, but it did little to make me forget about the rest of this spectacular anime series. If you feel like you’ve got the stomach for it, be sure to check it out as it will definitely leave a lasting mark on you. It certainly did so in my case.

“It is lamentable, that to be a good patriot one must become the enemy of the rest of mankind.” - Voltaire

Summer is the season in cinema when theatre attendance is at its highest and ticket sales grow bigger and bigger. People are excited – most of us are on a break from working and/or studying and what better way to spend our free time than visit the movie theatre with our mates and lots and lots of popcorn. It is only natural that blockbusters are most efficient during this time of the year and it has truly become a tradition that numerous big-budget flicks mark their debut as soon as summer starts. Not all of us are as excited about this, though, as we have come to learn that not even a virtually unlimited budget and several big names can turn a film into an instant success. Not quality-wise, anyway.

This time, it’s Salt that will grace us with its presence (hopefully grace us, that is). So what exactly do we know about this film? Well, for one, it does mark Angelina Jolie’s return to movies after a two-year break (more or less), which is probably one of the reasons why it’s being compared to fellow action flick Knight and Day, which stars Tom Cruise, who was absent from the big screen for around two years as well. By the looks of the trailer and its simple, yet elegant poster, Salt looks much like an action/thriller with a hint towards the Bourne series. Whether that’s a good or bad thing is up to each and every one of us to decide. Some may want to see more films done in a similar fashion while others would prefer something new and different. You can’t have them both, that’s for sure.


In the very first minutes of the film we are introduced to Evelyn Salt (Angelina Jolie), a CIA agent who is being tortured and interrogated by North Korean military agents. Even though it’s a rather short scene and only serves as an introductory to the real storyline, it still feels surprisingly emotional and real. The rest of the film takes place a couple of years later when Salt, who is now celebrating her first wedding anniversary, is accused by a Russian defector of being a double agent. Things don’t look too good for Salt, and she soon escapes custody in order to protect her husband from potential threats and prove her innocence. But who exactly is she? Who is Salt?

Salt is directed by Phillip Noyce, quite a veteran in the field who is perhaps best known for directing The Quiet American and Rabbit-Proof Fence. He is indeed a good choice for directing an action-packed thriller, especially because he has proven himself to be able to handle such things in his past projects and being active in the business for over 30 years truly speaks for itself. The end result really shows just how much it helps to have an experienced director in charge: Noyce does a terrific job with Salt and delivers everything the audience would expect from a film of this genre. Not only that, but the action scenes are done really well and the acting is also evidently stepped up a notch, especially Angelina Jolie’s performance. If there’s anything to learn from this movie, it’s that Noyce and Jolie make quite a fine team.


The question is: does Salt succeed as a thriller film or does it fall prey to the blockbuster genre? In the end, the movie doesn’t differ much from your standard action-packed summer blockbuster fare: adrenaline-filled car chases, balls to the wall shootouts and intense escape sequences are here all right, but the story doesn’t actually suffer from this. As a matter of fact, the plot is rather unconventional and although it doesn’t keep you guessing, it leads you down numerous paths that prove to be completely different from what you would expect. Salt is definitely a smart film. It feeds you with information that in the end proves to be completely wrong (or completely right, in some cases) and there are lots of twist and turns that keep the whole thing going at a good and steady pace.

The screenplay is far from perfect, though. Some interactions between characters are a bit ridiculous at certain points in the film and there are moments where the dialogue falls short due to the fact that it’s poorly written. The story itself—the big picture—is definitely impressive, but little things such as shortcomings in dialogue and scenes that make little sense or are just confusing (yes, there really are some) really hurt the overall quality of the film. Luckily enough, the flow of the movie is perfect for what it tries to deliver and there’s a fine balance between the aforementioned flawed moments and other scenes that are quite amazing.


Angelina Jolie is most definitely perfect for the role and she works great as the leading actress in this thriller. Her acting is always spot on and it never falls flat or feels too forced – it all comes natural. Jolie’s screen presence is truly impressive and even though her character could have been written better, she does manage to bring enough life and emotion to the role so as to turn Evelyn Salt into a character which the audience can easily connect to. Some other notable actors in the film include Liev Schreiber, who delivers quite a solid performance, Chiwetel Ejiofor, another fine actor who manages to impress, and August Diehl in a somewhat surprising role.

In the end, Salt turns out to be more than just another run-of-the-mill blockbuster fare. It most certainly doesn’t lack all the things that have come to plague blockbuster flicks, namely loud shootouts and wild car chases, but it uses them in an appropriate manner and they never take over the film’s original purpose. The story remains the driving force of the film throughout its course and manages to deliver some interesting little twists and turns here and there. Of course, the movie simply wouldn’t be as fun without Angelina Jolie and her grounded performance. Not all blockbusters turn out to be as good as we wish they were, but Salt is one of those pleasant surprises that is definitely worth the money.

I don’t know about you, but I’m really excited about most of the releases of the past month and the upcoming ones as well. The first half of 2010 wasn’t too exciting, but it’s really kicking off right now. My advice: head to the theater right now!

Tuesday

Batman: Under the Red Hood (2010) - 6/10
I don’t watch too many superhero animation flicks, but decided to give Batman: Under the Red Hood a watch since it got a lot of praise from fans and non-fans of the genre as well. It was definitely a good watch and it works well with those not too familiar with the franchise, but I did find it to be a bit overrated. The story was well-written and offered some interesting insight on the famous characters, but it wasn’t as exciting as I had hoped for it to be. The voice actors did a great job bringing the characters to life, though I did find Joker’s voice to be somewhat inappropriate. I did enjoy the animation and artwork of the film, though I did feel that certain scenes lacked some solid animation. All in all, Batman: Under the Red Hood was ultimately a good movie and featured an interesting story and a very thought-provoking finale, though it is not a film without flaws. Those who aren’t too familiar with Batman shouldn’t back away, as this movie does a great job of explaining things and keeping the story easy to understand.

Friday

Lost Highway (1997) - 8/10
I’ve been meaning to catch up with more of David Lynch’s work recently, so Lost Highway seemed like a good place to start. From the very first scene of the film I was immediately captured by that familiar feeling that was present in every other one of David Lynch’s works. Much like Mulholland Dr., Lost Highway deals mainly with dreams and people’s inner fantasies and it is appropriately dark and puzzling. Bill Pullman did a great job as leading actor and Patricia Arquette worked well in her role. It is also worth noting that Lost Highway makes for a much weirder experience than Mulholland Dr., so if you enjoyed that film’s atmosphere, you’ll definitely love this one as well. I’m guessing it’ll take a couple more viewings before I can even begin to understand what this movie is all about, but I expected nothing less from Lynch.

“It's the movies that have really been running things in America ever since they were invented. They show you what to do, how to do it, when to do it, how to feel about it, and how to look how you feel about it.” - Andy Warhol

These are truly tough times for Hollywood cinema. Like it or not, modern cinema is slowly changing and evolving into something more fitting to what its audience demands. Sure, average flicks still come and go and Hollywood is still releasing movies which only follow the purpose to cash in some quick bucks, but I believe that things are slowly taking a turn for the better. The foundations have been set long ago now, and it’s getting harder and harder to come up with something new, or invent a new formula for your film to follow. Filmmakers are slowly realizing that rather to try and go down that path, they can alternatively follow a already familiar formula and try to improve it. There are plenty movies that, while not original by themselves, have managed to improve something we’ve seen before and deliver a product that, even if somewhat of a copycat, feels fresh and completely worth our time.

A good example of how Hollywood movies are evolving would be the recent action film Knight and Day. Starring Tom Cruise, who went through somewhat of a prolonged break from the big screen (his last films were Valkyrie, along with a fabulous cameo in Tropic Thunder – both from 2008), and Cameron Diaz, who’s had quite a solid streak of average films in the last couple of years, it’s no surprise why some would feel skeptical about seeing this flick at first. Given these actors’ history in the last couple of years and this film’s overall goal, it’s hard to imagine this project turning out into something more than average, but do not lose your hopes just yet.


Knight and Day begins with June Havens, an average blonde half-comedic girl (much like every other of Cameron Diaz’s roles), who runs into the charming and charismatic Roy Miller while rushing to catch her plane. Not long after that, June realizes that Roy is on the same plane as her, and so the events begin to unfold. After what could be called a ‘rough’ flight, Roy reveals to June that he is in fact a rogue spy who is trying to prevent the “bad guys” from laying their hands on a valuable battery with unlimited power. Things don’t look too good for our heroine, and she is forced to accompany Miller on his quest to save the world. But can she really trust him?

As a whole, Knight and Day doesn’t seem any different than your average action flick, but after taking a closer look it becomes obvious that the film is decorated with interesting little things such as smart dialogue, solid acting and lots of memorable moments. These little things take the film and turn it into a good, fun time that can be universally enjoyed by pretty much all types of audiences. The action scenes are quite impressive, ranging from gunfights inside an airplane to unconventional car chases. Such scenes are not exactly striking due to the way that they are done, but more because they feel fresh and smart. The cinematography is also worth mentioning as it is quite befitting of the approach that the movie takes on.


Probably the weirdest part of this film is its story, which seems to be all over the place at times. Sure, it follows a basic narrative and our heroes’ purpose is faithful to those in every other action flick, but certain parts just don’t make sense. A good example would be the whole deal with Roy Miller’s parents, which by itself seems like a noble road to take, but the way it’s done just doesn’t work and by the end of the film I was left rather confused at what its whole purpose was. It’s hard to explain, but it felt as if certain scenes just didn’t make it in the final cut and some things were therefore hard to comprehend. On a positive note, both Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz performed well as the leading force of the film. Tom Cruise especially was very impressive and once again demonstrated that he is a top-quality actor able to easily take on roles such as this one. Cameron Diaz played the confused damsel-in-distress yet again, but she was a lot less distracting here as she usually is.

In conclusion, Knight and Day turned out to be a lot different than what you would normally expect from a film like this, though it does have some noticeable flaws here and there. Its plot is maybe a bit too unconventional and odd to work with its overall goals and thus may leave certain viewers confused at what it’s trying to achieve. Certain elements work perfectly with the film while others fail miserably would be a good way to put it. Leading actors Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz are one of the better things in this film, though even they can’t save it from its weird and confusing approach towards the story. Knight and Day is not a great film by any means, though it does offer a good amount of fun and entertainment that will surely please most audiences.

Fear Comes in Waves

the plot
After a sudden electrical storm, a group of friends are forced to leave their yacht behind and board a mysterious ship which just so happens to pass by.

the good
- brilliant execution of a movie dealing with time manipulation
- looks great for a relatively small budget
- great acting from Melissa George
- remains interesting, well-paced and reasonably easy to understand
- has less plot holes than one might think at first
- keeps you guessing until the very end

the bad
- mediocre written dialogue
- stock characters
- somewhat dull until it gets into the action

the ugly
- nasty hole in the back of the head
- tons of shotgun wounds
- blood stains
- some throat slashing and knife action
- death by hammer time
- one car accident

things I learned from watching this movie
- sometimes you gotta kill your friends in order to be able to go home
- single mothers with autistic sons usually know how to handle a shotgun and swing an axe
- no one's gonna believe anything you say if you start talking about time loops

summary
Christopher Smith delivers a truly unique film that manages to deal with time travel and time manipulation in a way that few movies have before. Triangle takes you along for an intriguing experience that keeps you guessing and constantly throws new and exciting things at you. This beautifully crafted gem feels fresh and, more importantly, is totally unpredictable.

horror meter: 4 repetitive stars (out of 5)

Nothing interesting to report about last week. Things are going pretty smooth these days, though I wish I had more time to watch some movies. There are a couple of reviews I've been meaning to get done - it'll probably happen this week or the next one.

Monday

Knight and Day (2010) - 5/10
I was looking forward to seeing this one, especially because it seemed to be received quite positively by critics and audiences. I don’t really care too much for Cameron Diaz, but it really was time for Tom Cruise to get back in action. I was impressed by his small, but highly impressive role in Tropic Thunder, so seeing him a back at what he does best was quite exciting. The movie itself didn’t impress me as much as I had hoped, but it was indeed a really fun ride and had some interesting moments here and there. Tom Cruise wasn’t playing something out of the ordinary for him, but he plays these types of characters to perfection. I didn’t mind Cameron Diaz – she seemed to be doing a pretty good job herself and the chemistry between her and Cruise was worked quite well. Knight and Day isn’t exactly what you’d call a good movie, but it does get the job done and manages to remain entertaining for its entire running time. Check it out if you’re in the mood for quick, mindless fun.

Friday

Unbreakable (2000) - 8/10
I’ve been doing some catching up with a couple of M. Night Shyamalan’s movies, mainly because his name is picking up a lot of buzz these days. I hate his most recent films just as much as every other guy, but I’m actually quite a big fan of his earlier work. Mind you, this isn’t the first time I’ve seen Unbreakable, but it’s been so many years that I could barely remember anything from the movie. The thing I do remember is that I was very intrigued by the film’s premise and it felt like a really unique experience for me. Not much has changed since then – Unbreakable remains as interesting and unique as it ever was and I enjoyed every moment of it. This time I was able to pick up on the fascinating camera angles and subtle shots that Shyamalan incorporated in the film. Highly impressive stuff for me, at least. The story is very well written and the way Shyamalan mixes superhero elements and people living normal lives is truly beautiful. As for the ending, the twist seemed to fit in quite well, though I’m sure there are some who would disagree. Like I said: it’s been a long time since I’ve seen Unbreakable, but to me the experience remained pretty much the same and I was as intrigued this time as I was on my first viewing. Definitely one of Shyamalan’s best.

Sunday

Lost and Delirious (2001) - 4/10
I can’t really remember why I decided to give this movie a go, but I soon found myself regretting that decision. Normally, I would have no problem with high school dramas if done correctly, but this was just a waste of both time and talent. You’ve got Mischa Barton, Piper Perabo and Jessica Paré delivering quite impressive performances (especially Perabo, who really shined in this flick) and a relatively interesting story, but the execution is so dull and way too unconventional to even begin to convey a proper message. The first half played out quite well, but it all started falling apart in the second half after director Léa Pool deemed it necessary to bombard the audience with Shakespeare and relentless symbolism. It did feel quite poetic at first, but it simply went on and on until it all turned into a ridiculous fest of Shakespearean quotes mixed with average high school drama. It really could have been a special film for me, had it not gone the way that it did, but unfortunately I was not only left disappointed, but also jaded and bored. Don’t even get me started on the ending…

Now I am become Exposed Panties, the destroyer of worlds.

Year: 2010
Number of episodes: 12 (aprox. 20 min per episode)
Genre: Action, Ecchi, Horror

Zombies! Boobs! These things are pretty much the driving for in every respectable man’s life, if I do say so myself. So why not put them together? We all love the gore and some fan service never hurt anybody. Following these simple rules, Highschool of the Dead seems to have started on the right foot and with the right ingredients for success. Is it enough to draw the audience and attract a greater following, though?

The first few episodes of this fresh-from-the-oven anime are truly packed with action, thrills and lots and lots of fan service. I sure as hell got my zombie fix right then and there, coupled with maybe—dare I say—a little too much fan service. Sure, the occasional exposed panties and bouncing boobs are usually get a warm welcome from me, but sometimes you gotta know when to stop. Clearly, Highschool of the Dead doesn’t.

The storyline is pretty decent, though it’s obviously not this series’ strong suit. The anime follows a group of high school students after a zombie outbreak as they battle their way out of high school and into the apocalyptic world that lies beyond its borders. The first couple of episodes take place inside the high school and depict the terror and despair that the students and their teacher go through in a pretty realistic way. It’s all entertaining, of course. After our group of heroes manages to evade the bloody grips of their zombie-turned classmates and escape the high school once and for all, the story becomes much more serious and complex. That’s not necessarily a good thing, though, as the anime sometimes gets caught up with trying to deliver dramatic scenes while at the same time throw massive amounts of fan service at our faces. It does get awkward at times.




















Highschool of the Dead is a real visual treat. Everything from the animation to the actual artwork looks brilliant and filled with detail. The characters each have an interesting set of traits and the zombies never start to look the same or lose efficiency through their appearance. The fan service looks as good as possible by using a good range of angles and creative spots. If you care at the very least about how an anime series looks, you’ll surely be pleased with Highschool of the Dead’s style and visuals.

This series’ main focus is obviously in the entertainment department and to try and squeeze in as much content and action in one episode as possible. There are few times when Highschool of the Dead feels like it’s dragging along and most episodes will seem to simply fly by. Unfortunately, amidst the well-done action sequences and zombie fights lie a few moments that play out a little bit too slow. Nevertheless, the series manages to keep it all together and keep the audience happy.






Don’t expect your mind to be blown away (except if you’re a zombie, in which case blowing your brain away is highly recommended) by this series, but Highschool of the Dead does manage to deliver exactly what it promised. There’s blood and boobs everywhere and few times will you not feel the thrill of the adventure and the horrors our group of heroes must go through in order to survive. Don’t think too much about what this anime could have done and how much it can improve on certain aspects, but instead enjoy the ride and let yourself be taken along for the fun. Highschool of the Dead has been one of my main events this summer and I enjoyed the crap out of it, so there’s no reason why you shouldn’t too. Have fun and remember: the amount of blood is directly proportional to the shots of panties, of course.

P.S. That alternative title was a joke, obviously.


P.P.S. Would have made an awesome title though, wouldn't you agree?