The Vatican Exorcisms can be added to the very long line of found footage movies and this one is not even done particularly very well with bad acting and a really dumb story that offers absolutely no scares whatsoever. The DVD release is pretty basic with minimal bonus material and average transfers.
From the Dark is an effective Irish horror-thriller that, in spite of two main characters who aren’t the most likeable couple, has some scary scenes. Plot-wise, it’s more or less the same as many other independent flicks but if you enjoy the genre, this might be worth at least a rental.
Spare Parts is an inspiring and all around well made drama and features some fine performances from George Lopez to Jamie Lee Curtis and the four young men in the primary roles. The DVD released by Lionsgate is basic but the video and audio transfers are both well done while the bonus material is limited.
Much like its predecessor, The Marine 4 is a passable but ultimately forgettable action film. The bullets fly all over the place and are overused to the point of being annoying and downright repetitive and boring. For fans of this franchise, this will probably do just enough for you otherwise just outright skip this release.
Dinosaur Island isn’t a very good movie but for the younger audience (probably 10 and under), it might be worth viewing, anyone older will find the acting to be pretty poor, some bad/cheap visual effects and a story that really isn’t all that interesting. The DVD released by Millennium is basic with no bonus material but the video/audio transfers are both well done.
Bedlam isn’t a terrible movie but it hardly stands out from any of the other horror direct-to-video flicks especially since it’s yet another found footage-like film. The acting is OK, though and I guess if this is your sort of thing, then perhaps it’s worth a rental, otherwise just wait for this to air on SyFy.
Taken 3 is a weak sequel and really the epitome of a money grab with a template screenplay by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kasen and frenetic direction by Olivier Megaton of some truly generic action scenes. It is disappointing that the series has devolved to this level but I suppose if you like Neeson and can set aside some of the absurd plot points, Taken 3 might make for throwaway entertainment.
Firewalker is by no means a great action-adventure and being released in the mid-80s tried to tap into the same crowd as Indiana Jones but with a weaker script and less charismatic main character (no offense to Norris, but he doesn’t hold a candle to Ford), that said, it’s a harmless flick that the family can enjoy and might be worth a one-off viewing.
Richard III has a rich production design to go along with amazing performances headlined by Ian McKellen who is fantastic in the title role. Sure, the Laurence Olivier version is better but this is a well done and new take on the classic tale.
The Fantasticks is a well done musical with good production designs and (in a good way) is a fun throwback to the musicals of the 60s and 70s especially in its style. Outside of that, it’s a nice movie but nothing I feel will revisit anytime soon, though for those who haven’t seen it, might be worth a look.
Odd Man Out is a very well made and tense film noir thriller featuring incredible performances by, most notably, James Mason and Robert Newton. The Blu-ray itself released by Criterion Collection offers good video/audio transfers while the features are well done, headlined by an archive documentary about Mason.
Wild Card is one unusual film if only that it comes across as a mish-mash of a feature film mixed with some kind of TV pilot with the variety of colorful side characters and a patch-work of a plot. Statham for his part though was fine albeit no different than any of his other run-of-the-mill crime-thrillers and the supporting cast was good but often underutilized to the point of being useless (Jason Alexander for instance has one scene and is not seen again… at all).
Digging Up the Marrow had an interesting idea being a mixture of fantasy and horror and putting a mockumentary twist on both and while Adam Green proves yet again to be an affable guy (as demonstrated in his numerous commentary tracks), the plot never quite gels though I can’t say it’s not at least worth a rental.
Roadside began with plenty of promise but even with a short 70-minute running time (sans opening and end credits), lingers far too long with a thin plot and honestly two characters who are not the most likeable couple to grace the small screen.
The Rewrite is a film that ironically enough, doesn’t have the best screenplay but heavily relies on the charm and appeal of Hugh Grant and Marisa Tomei and also helping making this at least a rental is Grant re-teaming with Marc Lawrence (Two Weeks Notice, Music and Lyrics) and very well may be semi-autobiographical.