Movie Info:
Writers: Neill Blomkamp, Terri Tatchell
Directors: Neill Blomkamp
Cast: Sharlto Copley, Jason Cope, Nathalie Boltt, Sylvaine Strike, John Sumner, Vanessa Haywood, Marian Hooman
Rating: R
Studio: Sony

Release Info:
Original Theatrical Release Date: August 14, 2009
DVD Release Date: December 22, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $19.99

While I had heard about District 9, I really did not know anything about the movie. What I did know was it was a Sci Fi movie and might involve aliens. That is about as far as my knowledge of this movie got. Despite any clue as to what this movie was about, I also heard it was good. Therefore, I wanted to check it out. I entered this film with a pretty much clean slate of knowledge.

After watching District 9 I must say it was money well spent for Peter Jackson. I am not a huge Jackson fan, but I can appreciate the efforts of a good producer who gives a chance to a budding creator/filmmaker. The story goes that Jackson was going to have Neill Blomkamp direct one of his projects. The project fell through, and Jackson decided to hand over his cash to let Blomkamp create his own movie. What he came up with is District 9.

Blomkamp had originally made his story for District 9 as a short film. This was an idea he’d filmed early in his career, and now, there was a chance to expand upon the idea. The millions of dollars that have been put into District 9 made the film a high tech, visually stimulating production. Of course, the story is what drives this movie and it is both well written and engaging.

Shadowing a world that South Africans knew well, District 9 explores the same kind of themes that were present during the 1980s in the apartheid era. Instead of racial discrimination, the discrimination is inter-species discrimination. Set in a modern world, we as audience members get a glimpse into what the world might be like if aliens showed up here on Earth, and sadly what happens isn’t pretty, though it does make for good storytelling.

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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:
Writer: Mathieu Kassovitz, Eric Besnard
Director: Mathieu Kassovitz
Cast: Gerard Depardieu, Michelle Yeoh, Vin Diesel, Mark Strong, Lambert Wilson
Rating: R
Studio: 20th Century Fox

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: August 29, 2008
DVD Release Date: January 6, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $27.99

I’m probably one of the few reviewers on the planet who still likes Vin Diesel. I think the guy has a bum rap as an actor. He studied theatre, so he has to know a little bit about acting. Many times, he’s typecast in the action roles that don’t really show off his versatility. Everyone knows if it’s a Vin Diesel movie, he’s going to be kicking ass in it. If not, it’s a lame movie (The Pacifier anyone?!) he only took to try and get out of that typecasting box. He’s had no true blue drama opportunities, save for, Find Me Guilty, that have come his way.

That being said, I like a good action flick. I enjoy the movies with Bruce Willis when he’s all actionfied. Bruce can also act, but then he had that Moonlighting gig in the 80s, which I believe helped save him from being typecast too much. I’m a fan of Sylvester Stallone, especially in Rambo, even if you can’t understand a friggin’ word he says. I can appreciate the action genre and Vin has had some pretty awesome, high tech action flicks, like Pitch Black and The Fast and the Furious.

What makes Babylon A.D unique from other Diesel films is the inclusion of someone as stunning as Michelle Yeoh. I didn’t know that she was going to be in this movie, but her talent is just unspeakable. It’s kind of sad that director/writer Mathieu Kassovitz had so much trouble with 20th Century Fox, to get the story he wanted to tell told, because Yeoh’s talent is wasted. This movie truly could have been magnificent, but it’s not and I believe we have the studio to blame.

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Written by Dominick - Visit Website
Dominick Evans is in his late 20's. He spends his days working as a full time writer/editor and a part time musician/composer. His passions in life include music, directing films, watching movies, reading books, watching sports, wheelchair football, politics, his religion (Hellenic Reconstructionism) and spending time with his family (fiancée Ashtyn, son Robert, and shih-tzu Oliver). Other interests include being an advocate for the disability and GLBT communities.

Movie Info:
Writer: Frank Spotnitz, Chris Carter
Director: Rob Bowman
Cast: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Martin Landau, Blythe Danner
Rating: PG 13
Studio: 20th Century Fox

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: June 19, 1998
DVD Release Date: December 2, 2008
Online Availability: Amazon for $18.99

I know The X-Files had, and still has, somewhat of a cult following. I wasn’t a member of the cult, but I did occasionally enjoy the show when it aired on Fox. I thought the show was well written and interesting, but I often forgot to watch it. I’m a bigger Sci Fi fan than I give myself credit for being. I’m not exactly sure why I never clicked with this show, but whenever I did catch it on television, I was glad to watch it.

The X-Files movie, also called Fight the Future, which is the movie tagline, was originally released in 1998. I didn’t see this film until now. I have to wonder what I was missing because this is great. The chemistry between Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson) is a good enough reason to be enthralled with both the show and the movie, but it goes further than that. Both the movie and show really have a plot and it’s a good one!

The X-Files movie is supposed to take place between the 5th and 6th seasons of the show. This release in Blu Ray corresponds to what is being called the sequel to this film, The X-Files: I Want to Believe. This isn’t a sequel per se, as it is more of a sequel to the entire The X-Files television series. Either way, it’s good to have Mulder and Scully back at it, because they are pretty good at their jobs.

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Written by Dominick - Visit Website
Dominick Evans is in his late 20's. He spends his days working as a full time writer/editor and a part time musician/composer. His passions in life include music, directing films, watching movies, reading books, watching sports, wheelchair football, politics, his religion (Hellenic Reconstructionism) and spending time with his family (fiancée Ashtyn, son Robert, and shih-tzu Oliver). Other interests include being an advocate for the disability and GLBT communities.