Movie Info:
Writers: Jean-Jacques Annaud, Alain Godard
Director: Jean-Jacques Annaud
Cast: Jude Law, Ed Harris, Rachel Weisz, Joseph Fiennes, Bob Hoskins, Ron Perlman
Rating: R
Studio: Paramount

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: March 16, 2001
DVD Release Date: May 19, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $17.99

I was not aware of this, but I had the chance to view bits and pieces of Enemy at the Gates before this review. I knew I had to see it due to my fascination with war movies, but I wasn’t sure I had seen it before. In all honesty, there is only one scene that I have watched in the whole movie. Ah, but what a scene it was. I often say that love scenes (now, more easily categorized as sex scenes) are not done the way that they used to be.

Enemy at the Gates may just be the exception. There is only one sex scene in this film and it is quiet, passionate, and hotter than you would expect sex between two fully clothed people to be. Maybe it’s the environment. I don’t know what it is, but that one scene makes the entire movie worth watching.

I shouldn’t say that too loudly though because this really is a pretty good movie from start to finish. The acting is superb. Sporting names such as Jude Law, Ed Harris, and Joseph Fiennes (among others), Enemy is packed with the star power necessary to make this semi-true story an emotional rollercoaster that offers one hell of a ride. Of course, without good direction these actors would not have had the vision of the project to offer such performances, so praise deserves to land with the director, as well.

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Movie Info:
Writers: Christopher McQuarrie, Nathan Alexander
Director: Bryan Singer
Cast: Tom Cruise, Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Carice van Houten, Thomas Kretschmann, Terence Stamp, Eddie Izzard, Kevin McNally
Rating: PG-13
Studio: 20th Century Fox

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: December 25, 2008
DVD Release Date: May 19, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $24.99

I had heard quite a bit about Valkyrie while it was being made. Most of the information had to do with filming locations and Tom Cruise. Apparently, the Germans are not a big fan of Scientology, and as such, they are not a big fan of the poster boy for this pseudo-religion. While I thought that denying camp locations for filming just because of Cruise was amusing, his personal religious beliefs (and the thoughts of the Germans) had no bearing on whether or not I would see this film.

In all honesty, I had to think long and hard about seeing Valkyrie. I have problems seeing movies with actors that fail to captivate me. When I watch a Tom Cruise film, I often have to struggle to see the character. He always remains Cruise to me, and with his more erratic behavior in the past, it’s hard to watch him and not think of those moments. The actual movie gets lost because it is all about Cruise.

The one thing that convinced me to watch Valkyrie was the subject matter revolving around WWII. In my opinion, this is one of the most interesting periods in history. Even though there have been hundreds of movies filmed on the subject, when the next one is released I will probably be in line to see it. So, for me, Valkyrie was a given, even if it meant having to sit through Tom Cruise to see it.

As with most movies there are some good and bad elements to consider. The most impressive aspect is that Valkyrie is based on a true story that hasn’t been talked about much, especially in film. For people that grew up with the misconception that Germans (during this period in history) are all evil, this gives you a chance to see that some knew what the Nazis and Hitler were doing was wrong. Not all of them believed in the Final Solution, and some of those that didn’t were willing to fight for what was right.

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Written by Ashtyn - Visit Website
Ashtyn Evans is a writer, advocate, free thinker, and all around cynical person. Always quick to find the negative in anything pop culture, she loves being a part of that which she despises. Ashtyn and Dominick own numerous blogs together, as well as a full-time writing business. In her spare time she is a full-time college student studying History and Psychology. She plans to one day give up her freelance career and be a full-time blogger, novelist, and domestic goddess. She can be contacted for writing projects, fan mail, or just to say hi. She really is friendlier than we make her look.

Movie Info:
Writers: Various
Director: Various
Cast: JoBeth Williams, Julie Benz, Lauren Velez, Jennifer Carpenter, Keith Carradine, James Remar, Michael C Hall, David Zayas, Erik King
Rating: NR
Studio:CBS/Paramount

Release Info:
Theatrical Release:
DVD Release Date: May 5, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $38.99

I have been watching Dexter from the beginning. Showtime has some of the best shows on television these days and I watch the majority of them. Of all the shows they have that I watch, I have to admit that I have a soft spot for Dexter. He’s always been my favorite and probably always will be. There are a few things I don’t like about Dexter, but for the most part this show is one of the most innovative and entertaining shows that has hit the airwaves.

One of the things that set Dexter apart is the acting of Michael C. Hall. The character of Dexter Morgan is dynamic and spellbinding because Hall has been able to create a character that despite his flaws you want to like. Not only that, he’s a character you want to root for. Even though you know he is doing something that he shouldn’t be doing, a part of you (or at least me) wants him to succeed. If bad writing on the part of Morgan or bad acting were involved these things would not be issues. People would see him as a scumbag and they would move on. Luckily that is not the case. Instead, for many like myself, Dexter is an addiction and the audience cannot wait to see what he is going to do next.

The ensemble cast is really interesting, too. Even the characters that I don’t care for, like Deb, are multi-layered and dynamic. That being said, I will admit that my problem with Deb has nothing to do with Jennifer Carpenter, the actor behind the role. You see, Deb has this thing that is done with her mouth. I don’t know if it’s a nervous twitch or even how to describe it, but every time I watch the show and Deb is on she does the mouth thing (as I call it). It drives me crazy to the point where I can barely watch her while on screen anymore. I know, it’s neurotic and I try to ignore it, but it’s a small issue. Still, the character of Deb doesn’t annoy me as much as her mouth does.

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Written by Ashtyn - Visit Website
Ashtyn Evans is a writer, advocate, free thinker, and all around cynical person. Always quick to find the negative in anything pop culture, she loves being a part of that which she despises. Ashtyn and Dominick own numerous blogs together, as well as a full-time writing business. In her spare time she is a full-time college student studying History and Psychology. She plans to one day give up her freelance career and be a full-time blogger, novelist, and domestic goddess. She can be contacted for writing projects, fan mail, or just to say hi. She really is friendlier than we make her look.

Movie Info:
Writers: Scott Kosar
Director: Brad Anderson
Cast: Christian Bale, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, John Sharian, Michael Ironside, Larry Gilliard Jr.
Rating: R
Studio: Paramount

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: January 18, 2004
DVD Release Date: May 19, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $19.99

Method actors intrigue me. I love a person that is so willing to be consumed by their craft that they do not want to pretend to be someone else. They want to become them. Method actors are entirely few and far between in Hollywood. Perhaps that is one of the problems with Hollywood. At times it seems to be more about the paycheck and less about the craft. Some of the best and most notable actors in Hollywood subscribe to method acting techniques. They don’t play the character, it becomes who they are whether it involves living with a family that your character lived with, confining yourself to a prison, or hiding in the wilderness and learning to survive on next to nothing. Method actors are the best because they give everything up for that realism.

Among names like Robert De Niro, Sean Penn, Edward Norton, James Dean, and Marlon Brando there is another method actor rising in the ranks. Christian Bale has proven that the character is the most important thing to him. He uses his body in extreme ways to make sure that the character is believable and authentic. For The Machinist, Bale dropped over 60 pounds, surviving on under 300 calories a day (the equivalent of an apple or some tuna fish and a cup of coffee). He wanted to drop more weight, until he was down to 100 pounds, but producers made him stop losing at 120 pounds. When you hear the tagline, “If you were any thinner you wouldn’t exist,” you won’t believe it’s true until you actually see it.

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Written by Ashtyn - Visit Website
Ashtyn Evans is a writer, advocate, free thinker, and all around cynical person. Always quick to find the negative in anything pop culture, she loves being a part of that which she despises. Ashtyn and Dominick own numerous blogs together, as well as a full-time writing business. In her spare time she is a full-time college student studying History and Psychology. She plans to one day give up her freelance career and be a full-time blogger, novelist, and domestic goddess. She can be contacted for writing projects, fan mail, or just to say hi. She really is friendlier than we make her look.

Movie Info:
Writers:Luc Besson, Robert Mark Kamen
Director: Pierre Morel
Cast: Liam Neeson, Famke Janssen, Leland Orser, Radivoje Bukvic, Mathieu Busson, Holly Valance, Katie Cassidy, Xander Berkeley, Nicolas Giraud, Maggie Grace, Jon Gries
Rating: PG-13
Studio: 20th Century Fox

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: January 30, 2009
DVD Release Date: May 12, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $24.99

I never start a movie review out this way, but…I just have to say, I loved this movie. Since watching it, I have said that to just about everyone I know. Highly recommended doesn’t cut it. Taken is a must watch film. Action buffs will enjoy it, as will thriller lovers. It has all the elements of a kickass movie and I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed watching it. In fact, I might watch it again when I am done with this review.

From the first viewing of the first trailer I knew I was in this for the long haul. All it took was a small bit of dialogue courtesy of Liam Neeson and I was hooked.

“I don’t know who you are. I don’t know what you want. If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don’t have money. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills; skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you let my daughter go now, that’ll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don’t, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you.”

Watching Taken gives you a cross between James Bond and Jason Bourne. While I don’t really think of Neeson as an action star, he made this performance look effortless and the movie was simply amazing. Not to sell the rest of the cast short, they also did a good job. I never felt like there was any person in this that couldn’t hold their weight. Everyone got the job done well and provided this new director with an excellent movie to put under his belt. Despite being new, if this is representative of Pierre Morel’s work, he will have a name that everyone knows soon enough.

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Written by Ashtyn - Visit Website
Ashtyn Evans is a writer, advocate, free thinker, and all around cynical person. Always quick to find the negative in anything pop culture, she loves being a part of that which she despises. Ashtyn and Dominick own numerous blogs together, as well as a full-time writing business. In her spare time she is a full-time college student studying History and Psychology. She plans to one day give up her freelance career and be a full-time blogger, novelist, and domestic goddess. She can be contacted for writing projects, fan mail, or just to say hi. She really is friendlier than we make her look.

Movie Info:
Writers: Various
Director: Various
Cast: Christopher Lloyd, Frank Welker, George Takei , James Doohan, Leonard Nimoy, Nichelle Nichols, Ricardo Montalban, Walter Koenig, William Shatner, John Vargas, Kirstie Alley, John Larroquette, Catherine Hicks, DeForest Kelley
Rating:
Studio: Paramount

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: 1982/1984/1986
DVD Release Date: May 12, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $29.99

Since I am not a big Star Trek fan I have not seen any of the movies. As a new viewer to the franchise, I felt that would give me a unique review angle. You see, I know the basic premise of the franchise and have seen some episodes, but I am pretty much a newbie to all of this. So many people will review Star Trek related items and know every last fact and figure associated with them, to the point where it will be shocking. That’s not the case with me. I did a little bit of research, but on the whole, I came into this review with virtually no Star Trek knowledge.

One of the things I was stumped by was the fact that this trilogy starts with the second movie in the Star Trek series. The movies included here are actually two, three, and four. I decided to look this up to find out the possible reason why one would not be added. At first I thought it had to do with the new Star Trek movie coming out, but I checked into it anyway. I think the reason has to do with Trekkie philosophy. Apparently, many rabid fans feel that the odd numbered movies are horrendous and the even numbered films are spectacular. Well, 1-3 would have meant two bad films in the bunch for them, but this way it’s only one. There could have been other reasons why, but I consider this to be the most interesting of all possible explanations.

It was incredibly interesting watching these movies because of the cast that is included in the films. You have your standards that everyone knows, but there were quite a few bonus cast members that I wasn’t expecting to see. Among those names were Catherine Hicks and Kirstie Alley. While the series, especially in the beginning (from what I can tell), seemed incredibly campy, it actually has a lot to offer. It’s safe to say that from a Science Fiction standpoint, the genre would not be where it is today without a franchises like this one.

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Written by Ashtyn - Visit Website
Ashtyn Evans is a writer, advocate, free thinker, and all around cynical person. Always quick to find the negative in anything pop culture, she loves being a part of that which she despises. Ashtyn and Dominick own numerous blogs together, as well as a full-time writing business. In her spare time she is a full-time college student studying History and Psychology. She plans to one day give up her freelance career and be a full-time blogger, novelist, and domestic goddess. She can be contacted for writing projects, fan mail, or just to say hi. She really is friendlier than we make her look.

Movie Info:
Writers:David S. Ward
Director: David S. Ward
Cast: Tom Berenger, Charlie Sheen, Corbin Bernsen, Margaret Whitton, James Gammon, Rene Russo, Wesley Snipes, Charles Cyphers, Chelcie Ross, Dennis Haysbert, Andy Romano, Bob Uecker, Steve Yeager, Peter Vuckovich
Rating: R
Studio: Paramount

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: April 7, 1989
DVD Release Date: May 12, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $20.49

David S. Ward is a name with which I was not all that familiar. As a director he’s only handled a handful of movies. As a writer, he has more experience, but tends to be a little hit or miss. One of his first projects will always remain one of his best though and that is Major League. The first time I saw this was around the time that it first came on television. It’s likely that I caught it on HBO or some other pay network. At the time, I was not a fan of baseball (now I love the Tigers) and comedy was not my favorite genre of movies, but I instantly loved Major League.

It’s been about twenty years since this movie was first released and watching it again, after not seeing it in years, I’ve found that it’s still as funny as it ever was. I still love this movie as much as I did when I watched it back in the 80s. The same parts still make me laugh out loud and I still want the same couples to get together and the same to break up. Nothing has changed about this movie or my feelings for it. That alone, makes it pretty special. It’s so easy to watch something and like it and then revisit it only to wonder what the hell you were thinking. That wasn’t the case here at all.

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Written by Ashtyn - Visit Website
Ashtyn Evans is a writer, advocate, free thinker, and all around cynical person. Always quick to find the negative in anything pop culture, she loves being a part of that which she despises. Ashtyn and Dominick own numerous blogs together, as well as a full-time writing business. In her spare time she is a full-time college student studying History and Psychology. She plans to one day give up her freelance career and be a full-time blogger, novelist, and domestic goddess. She can be contacted for writing projects, fan mail, or just to say hi. She really is friendlier than we make her look.

Movie Info:
Writers:Mike Myers
Director: Stephen Surjik
Cast: Mike Myers, Dana Carvey, Christopher Walken, Tia Carrere, Chris Farley, Ralph Brown, James Hong, Rip Taylor, Steven Tyler, Joe Perry
Rating: PG-13
Studio: Paramount

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: December 10, 1993
DVD Release Date: May 12, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $17.99

At some point you just have to say no to sequels. This is one of those times. It doesn’t say a whole lot for a movie or a re-release when a reviewer stares at the box and knows damn well that they have seen the movie, but cannot tell you one thing about what happened. This is what happened to me. I don’t have a bad memory, but I couldn’t for the life of me remember anything about this movie. In fact, for a few minutes I questioned whether or not I had even seen it. I was absolutely lost.

Let’s face it, when it comes to sequels there are three categories. Category one is what were they thinking, and these are where most sequels fall. Category two is well, it wasn’t as good as the first, but it was still okay. There are some of those, but there aren’t as many as the first category. Finally, category three is where the sequel is on par or better than the first. This is where your Godfather II’s come in. Wayne’s World 2 on the other hand falls in the first category of sequels.

You see, it’s not that Wayne’s World 2 is bad. It’s just unnecessary. You’re dealing with two stoners that lack purpose, so giving them more time to lack purpose ends up getting old real quick. By the end of the first movie we know all there is to know about Wayne and Garth. We don’t need a refresher course. The same laughs are present, but they aren’t as funny because we already heard them. When the best you can offer is more of the same your sequel is doomed before it even begins.

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Written by Ashtyn - Visit Website
Ashtyn Evans is a writer, advocate, free thinker, and all around cynical person. Always quick to find the negative in anything pop culture, she loves being a part of that which she despises. Ashtyn and Dominick own numerous blogs together, as well as a full-time writing business. In her spare time she is a full-time college student studying History and Psychology. She plans to one day give up her freelance career and be a full-time blogger, novelist, and domestic goddess. She can be contacted for writing projects, fan mail, or just to say hi. She really is friendlier than we make her look.

Movie Info:
Writers: Seth MacFarlane
Director: Various
Cast: Seth MacFarlane, Danny Smith, John Viener, and numerous others
Rating: Uncensored
Studio: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: September 9, 2008
DVD Release Date: May 12, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $14.99

Seth MacFarlane is a funny guy. I like Family Guy a whole lot. I’m not too big on American Dad, but his other stuff is funny enough to make me watch what he does and look out for what he is doing in the future. That’s one of the reasons that I thought Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy would be funny. I thought it would be interesting and somewhere along the same vein as Family Guy. It’s actually a lot different.

First off, there are no set characters. There are celebrity caricatures ranging all the way from Dick Cheney to Bugs Bunny and the Road Runner, but steady characters aren’t happening here. Second, these are shorts. When I say short, I mean like generally 30 seconds or less short. One sentence short. Not enough to make anyone laugh short. Then there is the small issue of the humor itself. This feels like it was written by a prepubescent boy that is locked in his closet with a boner and his mom’s Sears catalogue.

There is no real nice way to say this. Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy is awful. I feel like I lost an hour of my life. Well, being fair I should say 54 minutes of my life. I can’t get those minutes back, but I wish I could. As I sat here watching, having learned what to expect after about one minute, I began counting the minutes in my head. Occasionally I would pause to laugh. It wasn’t often enough to mention really. It wasn’t often enough at all.

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Written by Ashtyn - Visit Website
Ashtyn Evans is a writer, advocate, free thinker, and all around cynical person. Always quick to find the negative in anything pop culture, she loves being a part of that which she despises. Ashtyn and Dominick own numerous blogs together, as well as a full-time writing business. In her spare time she is a full-time college student studying History and Psychology. She plans to one day give up her freelance career and be a full-time blogger, novelist, and domestic goddess. She can be contacted for writing projects, fan mail, or just to say hi. She really is friendlier than we make her look.

Movie Info:
Writers:John Hughes
Director: John Hughes
Cast: Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, Mia Sara, Jeffrey Jones, Jennifer Grey, Cindy Pickett, Lyman Ward, Edie McClurg, Charlie Sheen, Ben Stein, Del Close, Virginia Capers, Richard Edson, Larry Flash Jenkins, Kristy Swanson
Rating: PG-13
Studio: Paramount

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: June 11, 1986
DVD Release Date: May 5, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $20.99

“Sooner or later, everyone goes to the zoo.”

In the 80s, Matthew Broderick had one hell of a career. He had a way of choosing parts that people would not forget. Some of my favorite 80s movies include Broderick. Don’t get me wrong. He’s done plenty of amazing things throughout the years, but the 80s was his decade. Movies like Wargames, Biloxi Blues, Glory, and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off will be movies that people are watching 50 years from now. Like most people my age, I have seen Bueller at least 100 times.

It’s always fun to watch Bueller because it not only has so many great lines, but it’s got so many actors that at the time were either unknown or relatively new to the game. This movie offers a very angry Jennifer Grey (before Dirty Dancing), a very young Alan Ruck (way before he started playing everyone’s dad), and an incredibly hilarious Edie McClurg (Back to School).

Everyone loves this movie because almost everyone remembers that kid in high school that didn’t like making class, so they would skip. The kid was insanely popular in most cases, too. In my old high school that was my brother. He didn’t like doing Mondays or Fridays. Personally, I always found Tuesdays to be the most drab. To kids like us, and to those like Ferris it wasn’t about attendance as long as you can make the grade. Of course, the teachers never did quite agree with that theory and the principal certainly wasn’t having any of it either.

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Written by Ashtyn - Visit Website
Ashtyn Evans is a writer, advocate, free thinker, and all around cynical person. Always quick to find the negative in anything pop culture, she loves being a part of that which she despises. Ashtyn and Dominick own numerous blogs together, as well as a full-time writing business. In her spare time she is a full-time college student studying History and Psychology. She plans to one day give up her freelance career and be a full-time blogger, novelist, and domestic goddess. She can be contacted for writing projects, fan mail, or just to say hi. She really is friendlier than we make her look.