The Evil Dead Experience

When we hear the word "remake" in films, there's a strong chance we flinch because we usually think remaking an original movie kills the spirit of the original film. But from the looks of Evil Dead which is a remake/reboot/loose sequel in the Evil Dead franchise, you won't think that way. Or at least I did not. 

Evil Dead is about five friends at a cabin in the woods when evil is unleashed and forces them to fight for their lives. Mia (Suburgatory's Jane Levy) is a drug addict who decides to go cold turkey and her brother David (Red Riding Hood's Shiloh Fernandez), his girlfriend Natalie (newcomer Elizabeth Blackmore), their friends David (Thumbsucker's Lou Taylor Pucci) and Olivia (Cloverfield's Jessica Lucas) are with her for support and reinforcements. Then the Book of the Dead is discovered and shit starts coming down and the evil forces around the cabin begin possessing them one by one. 

When people first learned about an Evil Dead remake, the fans of the original cried for no remake because they want this one untainted but producers Sam Raimi (director of the Evil Dead trilogy), Rob Tapert, and Bruce Campbell (Ash Williams of the original trilogy) made sure that fans of the original films and incoming new fans will love this remake and they carefully picked a director for their baby. It looks like they nailed it because Fede Alvarez took this film to a whole new level of carnage and gore. By the way, Evil Dead is Alvarez's feature film debut. 

Fede Alvarez wanted the film to be ultra bloody and brutal and you got it. But he didn't do it haphazardly. The new Evil Dead doesn't look like a bloody B-movie. NO. It's actually well made. It's also relentless when the horror begins and even though this new version removes the absurd and dark humor of the trilogy, Alvarez managed to keep the bizarre feel which is one of the essences of the original trilogy (I think I'll stop here for the comparisons between this and the original). 

The calm before the storm

Additionally, he wanted the film to be CG-free. It was revealed in interviews and set reports that all of the effects in the film are practical effects and the crew researched on magic tricks and illusions to perhaps cover them up and they did an awesome job at keeping the effects as practical and cringe-worthy as possible. The film was also shot beautifully and I think that the cinematography looks glossy and yet, there's still this feel of grittiness which is enhanced by the set design.

Worst hangover ever?

I have to commend the actors for doing a great job and for taking on this film because they are all willing to get dirty and bloody which is an indicator that as an actor, you care for the film you're working on. I learned from one of Jane Levy's interview that she really has to be buried alive in once scene and she did it even though of course, being buried alive is not a comfortable feeling while working.

Feast on this, motherfucker! - Mia

Speaking of Jane Levy, I think she is the standout among the five leads. Her portrayal of the junkie Mia brings a whole new level of depth and edge to the character and her moments of terror and redemption.

And the characters here are not just for body count. When they die, you won't feel empty. There's a possibility that you'll feel bad for the characters because they don't actually fill the stereotypical slut, jock, and virgin roles. They're not there to have a good time. They're there to support Mia as she tries to recover from her addiction. I actually felt bad for them especially this one character which I won't give out obviously to avoid spoiling the film.

For the fans of the original trilogy, the film has a lot of references for them to discover. If you're a fan of the films, prepare to hunt for easter eggs in stor for you as the film pays a lot of homage and tributes to the trilogy. And for those whose attentions were caught by the trailers, trust me, the trailers did not spoil anything at all. There are still surprises you have yet to see in Evil Dead and they are really, really worth the wait especially AFTER THE CREDITS.

My only concerns for the new film are one: there are some inconsistencies in the plot and two: it's not really the most terrifying film like they said it would be.

In the end, the new Evil Dead will win hearts of genre fans, gore hounds, and fans of the franchise because they'll get what they came for: gore, shocks, and a well-made horror remake/reboot that works and it can be an exhausting experience for the faint-hearted.

RATING: 4/5

TRAILER: 

(Trailer courtesy of YouTube and images courtesy of the red band trailer)

A Ride to Infinity

When was the last time you fell in love with a film the first time you saw it? If you'll ask me, I fell in love with a film called Super 8 last December and its spell captivated me for a long time and looks like this new film I just saw a few days ago found a place close to my film-loving heart.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a teen drama film written and directed by Stephen Chbosky based on his critically-acclaimed and beloved 1999 epistolary novel of the same name. It stars Logan Lerman (Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief), Emma Watson (the Harry Potter series), Ezra Miller (We Need to Talk About Kevin), Mae Whitman (Scott Pilgrim vs. the World), Nina Dobrev (Chloe), with Joan Cusack (School of Rock), and Paul Rudd (Forgetting Sarah Marshall).

It tells about Charlie (Logan Lerman), a 15-year old intelligent wallflower who is anxious to start high school and is already counting down his remaining days as a high school student. Charlie's life seems sad and mundane with his best friend committing suicide before freshman year started but it changes when seniors and step-siblings Patrick (Ezra Miller) and Sam (Emma Watson) enters his life and introduces him to a lot of things from The Rocky Horror Picture Show to having fun, being with friends, and stepping outside of his comfort zone.

I have read the novel first before I watched the film and I must say that it is an all-time favorite book of mine. I have read it five times and I still get moved by the characters and Charlie's ordeals so I have a lot of respect to the source material. When I read that there will be a film adaptation of this, I was both excited and nervous. Why excited and nervous? Excited because it is nice to see an adaptation of Wallflower to the big screen and nervous because novel-to-film adaptations are a bit risky and I'm also a bit nervous for Stephen Chbosky as director because he hasn't directed any films yet besides this. But boy, when I finally laid my eyes on the film, Chbosky totally surprised me. I'll enumerate the good points first.

First things first. Wallflower has a nostalgic feel to it. One of the reasons is the cinematography's hazy touch to the film. It's like you're watching a film from the late '80s to early '90s. The other reason is its setting which is in 1991. There are obviously no cell phones or social networking sites in sight. People really connect with each other personally and when you see these friends together, you can really tell that time is well spent. CD burning is not yet possible so they have to do it in mixtapes which is cooler than CD burning for me.

Next, the actors are really good in Wallflower and when I say they're good, they're pretty darn good or better yet, great. They stand out on their own because they really fit into their characters' shoes. After her stint as Hermione Granger in all the Harry Potter films, Emma Watson proved to us that there is more to her than just being Hermione because Sam is really really different from Hermione and Watson pulled it off with grace and awe. She sports an American accent for this one and she does it well. A lot of people say that Ezra Miller steals the scenes in this film. He really does and he nails it. His character Patrick has some of the wittiest lines on the movie and he managed to balance the humor and sympathy to his character so we can laugh with him and at the same time, we can cry with him. Mae Whitman perfectly embodies Mary Elizabeth with her energy.

But for me, the stand out is Logan Lerman for his portrayal of Charlie. I first saw him as Percy Jackson and obviously, Percy is different from Charlie. Lerman really surprised me with his dramatic performance as the wallflower of the film and he's also the perfect Charlie. I can't imagine anyone else playing as Charlie besides Lerman.

I have no problems with the story actually even though there were changes made and certain plot events were removed to accommodate for the film adaptation. I understand that because of time constraints since they must maintain a certain running time. It's fine with me because both the novel and the film are great but in their own way. They both stand out in their own way and both have what it takes to be a timeless classic in its form.

Lastly, the soundtrack matches the feel of the film. The songs are in the '90s or older and they are quirky, upbeat, and memorable. And the Smiths' song "Asleep" has its own special place in the film as if it's one of the characters. I really love how the film incorporated the song in Charlie's life.

You may think at first that this will be another typical high school movie just like the others but it isn't. Just like growing up, Wallflower is a fun, emotional, and memorable roller coaster ride to high school. Its nostalgia takes viewers back to their time of growing up. Characters are well-written and actors are perfectly cast. It packs a lot of humor, emotion, and memorable lines. And as the film progresses, you may think that you don't want this moment to end because the film can make you feel that you are infinite with Charlie, Sam, and Patrick.

RATING: 5/5

TRAILER:

(Trailer courtesy of YouTube)

Retribution Almost Served

You've seen its genesis. You've witness the apocalypse that slowly leads to mankind's extinction. You've experienced the afterlife. And now, The Umbrella Corporation is back with their zombies in 3D but this time, they're bringing along new challenges and villains to stop Alice from saving the human race and from delivering her retribution in Resident Evil: Retribution.

Resident Evil: Retribution is the fifth installment to the live action Resident Evil franchise. It is written and directed by Paul W.S. Anderson (Resident Evil, Resident Evil: Afterlife) and is the second movie shot in 3D. The film picks up where Afterlife ends. Alice (Milla Jovovich) battles the ships, soldiers, and Jill Valentine (Sienna Guillory) summoned by Umbrella to kill her. After crashing one aircraft onto to Arcadia, Alice was thrown into the ocean unconscious. She wakes up and is now in one of Umbrella's testing facility where she tries to escape along with Ada Wong (Li Bingbing), Leon Kennedy (Johann Urb), and Barry Burton (Kevin Durand) but as she makes her way to escape Jill and Alice's former allies, Rain (Michelle Rodriguez), One (Colin Salmon), and Carlos (Oded Fehr) were sent by Umbrella for Alice's blood.

I've seen the film but only in 2D since money made 3D a bit impossible so I'll be removing the 3D aspect for this review.

The opening of Retribution has established that this movie is going to be more epic than the previous movies but that's just in the beginning. They were wrong because the rest of the film feels like a action thriller B-movie only sprinkled with well-choreographed fight scenes and heart-stopping action. But the film managed to put a little bit of emotion and that made the film stood out among the rest.

Retribution never disappoints with their promise of blood, intense violence, state-of-the-art visual effects, and fight scenes but don't expect for it to deliver a good story because just like the previous ones, this one is a bit of a flop when it comes to the story for its inconsistency (a thing I have notice after watching all the previous films before Retribution). Anderson tried to bring up the Aliens vibe here by bringing a kid who think she's Alice daughter, thus, trying to create a mother-daughter link between the two as they try to survive the horrors. Unfortunately, the character development is weak because all our attention is diverted to the action. The only strong point about the plot is the ending which promises a bigger set of events.

Like I said, the film has this B-movie feel and let me elaborate that one. The film may have all the good action and violence but the dialogue is like campy and cheesy. It's nothing memorable. And the acting part is a bit lacking. Milla Jovovich, as usual, looks good and prime in her Alice but the rest are just like cardboard characters.

One thing I'd like to point out is the series' direction. The first film, just like its source material, started off as a horror film. Apocalypse slightly detaches from the horror and sticking itself to the action genre. Extinction restores a bit of the horror in the franchise. Starting with Afterlife, all the horror is gone. The zombies can't be feared anymore. I'm starting to miss the fear in the franchise but unfortunately, looks like the filmmakers have decided to go on a different direction.

To sum up, Retribution still has the knack for all the good blood and violence it promises to deliver but with its inconsistent script, campy acting and dialogue, and generic plot, the film fails to deliver the ultimate movie-going experience. It may leave the fans of the film series with their fists in the air but for the video game fans and the rest of the audiences, they will leave with nothing.

RATING: 2/5

TRAILER:

(Trailer courtesy of YouTube and Sony Pictures)

Prepare To Be Amazed

Who never thought a reboot can be this amazing?

The Amazing Spider-Man is a reboot of the Spider-Man films that were directed by Sam Raimi (The Evil Dead, Drag Me to Hell). The latest film is directed by Marc Webb ((500) Days of Summer) and stars Andrew Garfield (The Social Network) and Emma Stone (Easy A, Zombieland). The film goes back to Peter Parker's (Garfield) high school where he acquires his power and adjusts to it while dealing with high school, his past, his crush Gwen Stacy (Stone), and the Lizard (Rhys Ifans).

First of all, I'd like to say that I love this reboot than the previous films. I also loved and enjoyed the previous three but this one really nails it. Director Marc Webb managed to balance comedy, drama, and action here and the drama here is not melodramatic but it's actually human drama. I'd also like to give credit to Webb for his first 3D action film. This is his second film right after his directorial debut in (500) Days of Summer starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel. Webb has no troubles shifting from romantic comedy-drama to superhero action and he did so well with the action sequences especially in the third act.

What makes The Amazing Spider-Man different from Raimi's Spider-man films is the realism. Like I said, there's human drama inside and the other is before Spidey can shoot web directly from his wrists, Peter created a device for shooting webs which is also closer to Spidey's comic incarnation. There's also the realism in Peter Parker's character. He's an outcast. He's also nice but there's this certain darkness in him that makes him a bit more realistic like when he finally gets his powers and adjusts to them pretty well, he used them to get even with a school bully. I mean, who wouldn't want to get even when you have powers like that, right?

This particular adaptation is getting closer to its comic source because in this film, Spidey is a smart-ass crime fighter unlike in Raimi's films.

On with the actors, I love Garfield's portrayal of the superhero with his comic timing and he makes a likeable incarnation of one of Marvel Comics' most beloved superheroes. He also gives Peter Parker a certain edge for being a little darker that Tobey Maguire's incarnation. Sorry Tobey. You did good but Andrew's awesome. Emma Stone's Gwen Stacy, on the other hand, is contrasting to Garfield's Peter Parker because of her bubbly personality and expressive eyes. Stone makes a memorable portrayal of Spidey's first and original girlfriend and every time she's on screen, she radiates. I also love Gwen Stacy here because she's a good combination of wit and spunk. She's not the typical damsel-in-distress here. She's smart, she's tough, and she can take care of herself.

One flaw of the film is the character development between Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy which I find a little rushed but I just did not mind because of Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone's on-screen chemistry.

In the end, Spider-Man fans will raise their fists in the air and think that Spidey has reclaimed his glory and won the people's hearts with this reboot. It's a nice and fresh restart of the franchise and I hope the future sequels will maintain or outmatch this film's level of energy, action, comedy, and drama.

RATING: 4.5/5

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When Cloverfield Meets Heroes

What happens when you combine Cloverfield and Heroes? You'll get Chronicle, a jaw-dropping, exhilarating science-fiction and superhero film shot in found-footage style similar to Cloverfield.

Chronicle is about three teenagers who gained superhuman powers from their discovery. As days passes, their abilities develop and they slowly descend to the darkest place that not one of them has ever reached before.

The movie is a good, refreshing take on the superhero story, sci-fi, and found-footage films. It has a lot of surprises up its sleeve for the viewers. With the seemingly typical exposition in the beginning, it made me think that this will be a typical or not-so special movie. Characters are three male high school students. One of them is a shy and bullied loner named Andrew (Dane DeHaan). The other is his cousin, Matt (Alex Russell) who acts more like a family to Andrew than Andrew's father. The last one is the smart and athletic student named Steve (Michael B. Jordan, not the basketball player!) who recently made friends with the unpopular Andrew. It's almost like a formula for high school stories with laughs for the first act but as the film goes down to the third act, the tone gets more and more serious and dark.

One of the things I love in Chronicle is its characters especially Andrew. I actually felt sympathetic to him and even if he wreaks havoc in the streets of Seattle, I smile a little because he's finally rising to the occasion of being strong and defying the things that hinder him to get out of his shell. I find him a reflection of myself before and in the climax of the movie, he is some sort of my frustrated dream personified. Dane DeHaan gave Andrew some justice. He made the character equally sympathetic and also dark. The characters are written and acted so well that they are almost like real-life humans in the other side of the planet.

The visual effects here are also top-notched. Made with a budget of $ 15 million, the effects here made the film look like a blockbuster especially in the final act which is one of the most chaotic and thrilling sequences I've seen for 2012.

I also love its cinematography that it made me feel like I am actually experiencing the whole movie. I got absorbed in the flying sequence with clouds passing through the camera as the heroes spin around gleefully. Another awesome take for the found-footage style is its different points of view. The first is the view presented by Andrew's camera as he decided to film his life even before the discovery. Second is Casey's (Ashley Hinshaw) camera's point of view. She's a video blogger and a love interest for Matt by the way. In the third act, the film is presented by different cameras like the helicopter camera, police car cameras, CCTVs, and even the bystanders' cameras. This take defies the found-footage style of having only a single point of view.

And last is the story and script. Like I said, the concept is one unique and refreshing take on the superhero movies. It's smart and fast-paced yet it has human drama, comedy, and action. It's one of those entertaining film that I won't forget and I'm thinking of including it to my all-time favorite films list.

RATING: 5/5

TRAILER:

(Trailer courtesy of YouTube)

Action-packed Nostalgia

Who never thought summer can be this epic and nostalgic at the same time? Preadolescent protagonists plus an adventure of their lives in their little town result to an action-packed yet sentimental summer movie for all in J.J. Abrams' Super 8.

Super 8 is about six friends making a zombie movie with a super-8 mm camera when a train derails and unleashes a dangerous presence in the town of Lillian, Ohio. The mystery is not about what this presence is but what it wants.

The movie contains a lot of homage to Steven Spielberg's movies back in the '80s and as a result, it has this feel of movies adults and children born from the early 90s like me used to watch during the weekends. Super 8 is very very nostalgic indeed to me that it reminded me some good parts of my childhood especially the theme of friendship which the movie tackles among other themes like young love and adventure. The young actors truly gave life and distinctive personalities to their respective characters and all of the six friends have on-screen chemistry which also helped evoke the nostalgia.

Larry Fong's cinematography helped make the action sequences more epic especially in the biggest set piece of the movie which is the train derailment sequence. This sequence, I consider it as one of the best action sequences of the year after Final Destination 5's bridge collapsing sequence. A J.J. Abrams film will not be complete without its score by Michael Giacchino who did an excellent job with the film score especially in the ending.

Director-writer J.J. Abrams deserves praise for balancing action, mystery, humor and unexpectedly, heart in the movie. I never thought I would actually cry during the film's ending thanks to an emotional performance by Joel Courtney and to Michael Giacchino's score.

I just saw Super 8 so I know I'm a little late for the review but I can't help but write one because it really is a summer blockbuster that not only contains visual thrills and a good story, it also contains humor, drama, and most importantly, nostalgia. A few days have passed since I watched it and still, the nostalgia evoked by the movie is still taking effect on me as what you read in my post before this.

RATING: 5/5

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(Trailer and images courtesy of YouTube and Google)

Drama in the Apocalypse

Two sisters. Two planets. When they all collide, it's a unique, haunting, dramatic and powerful story.That's how it is in Lars Von Trier's Melancholia.

Melancholia is about two sisters named Justine and Claire (Kirsten Dunst and Charlotte Gainsbourg). Justine has just been wedded to Michael (Alexander Skarsgard) and Claire, together with her husband John (Kiefer Sutherland), prepares a party for the newlyweds. As the party goes, Justine slowly grows distant and depressed. Meanwhile, Melancholia, a rogue planet that has been hiding behind the sun, shows up and threatens to collide with Earth.

Von Trier has a knack for writing good and unique stories and is also gifted in bringing his ideas to screen and life. I have seen this and his recent film prior to this which is Antichrist that also stars Charlotte Gainsbourg in the lead role and so far, I can tell his works are very original indeed. He can bring out the best of his actors especially in Melancholia where Kirsten Dunst brings an exceptional performance as Justine who slowly descends into depression and accepts calmly her fate in the hands of Melancholia. I agree with what the critics has to say for Kirsten. This is truly a career breakthrough for her. Charlotte Gainsbourg, on the other hand, switches gears from being a woman manifesting a twisted behavior in Antichrist to a fragile and scared Claire in this film. She can get emotional without overacting so much.

Melancholia has become one of my all-time favorites instantly. I loved how the film has this realistic feel to me. I was somehow absorbed in this film as I watched it and the characters begin to brace for Melancholia, I can feel what they are going through without relating myself to them. The movie is dramatically epic and as the end unfolds, I can't help but to brace myself. Until now, the images of Melancholia left me a bit tormented and thinking.

RATING: 5/5


TRAILER:

(Trailer courtesy of YouTube)

Death Has Claimed Its Glory (For Now)

The ever present Death makes a return in Final Destination 5, the 5^th installment and the 2^nd movie to be shot in 3D in the Final Destination franchise. This time, it stalks the survivors of a bridge collapsing accident and it never rests until it claims the souls of those who were meant to die on the bridge.

On his way to a business retreat together with his co-workers, Sam Lawton (Nicholas D’Agosto, TV's Heroes) had a vision of a bridge collapse. When he snaps out of the premonition, he warns his co-workers about the impending disaster and they all flee to safety, sparing their lives from the accident. A few days later, the survivors started to die one by one and Sam realizes that death is coming for them. He teams up with Molly Harper (Emma Bell, Frozen, TV's The Walking Dead), his girlfriend to try to stop the gruesome deaths before their turns are up.

After The Final Destination sucked the life out of the franchise, Final Destination 5 comes along and surprises the fans and critics. The bridge collapsing sequence features the excellent use of special effects and the movie itself is a genuine showcase of the innovative 3D technology in horror. The opening sequence is also one of the most terrifying, gruesome, and action-packed visions in the whole series besides the Highway 23 pile-up in Final Destination 2. One of the returning elements in this movie is the suspenseful atmosphere. In almost every death scenes, you never know which thing will kill a character. The death sequences give a false lead about how a character dies and right when you don’t expect the moment, the character gets it. So far, the deaths here are the most inventive, suspenseful, and gruesome in the series. There are also a few moments in the movie that you will NEVER see coming. The movie also tries to break the repetition of the series and does it successfully with its new rule.

Another is the character development. Though the development is weak, the characters have managed to be rooted for by the audience and as the audience witness their deaths, they can’t help but feel bad for some of those they know will die at any moment. Tony Todd, who plays the mysterious mortician William Bludworth, makes an anticipated return in the movie and still, he creeps out the characters and the audience with his sinister voice and cryptic advices. Lastly, Brian Tyler's musical score is also filled with the fear that the whole movie is all about. It is even better than his previous work in The Final Destination. 

Final Destination 5 will make you cringe and laugh. The opening premonition and the finale will make your jaw drop and the whole movie will make you literally hold on to your seat with its suspense and amazing use of 3D. It is, by far, the best movie in the series and I hope the 6^th and the 7^th installments will maintain the dread that this one reclaimed.

RATING: 4/5

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Just Got Sucker Punched

I'm not a big fan of Zack Snyder's works except for Dawn of the Dead since it's a horror movie but I'm attracted to his latest and first original and PG-13 film entitled Sucker Punch.

Sucker Punch deals with Baby Doll (Emily Browning), a 20 year old woman sent to an institution and is about to be lobotomized after accidentally killing her sister for defending them from her stepfather's evil motives. Now she befriended four fellow inmates: sisters Sweet Pea (Abbie Cornish) and Rocket (Jena Malone), Amber (Jamie Chung), and Blondie (Vanessa Hudgens) and they plan on escaping the asylum. As they acquire the essential items for their escape, they also undergo in these dreams where they also have to get the items for their journey to freedom while battling zombie Nazis, dragons, orcs, robots and giant samurai warriors.

It is designed as an action-fantasy in an epic scale in terms of special effects and action sequences. You will really be unprepared for the dazzling dream worlds, the breathtaking fight scenes, and the girls themselves as they kick ass. These five young women are sort of new to the fighting and violence so it's cool to see them punch, kick, and shoot. The gloomy color of the film helps sets the atmosphere and the mood for the 1950s and the story. The music and especially the soundtrack is also one of the film's advantages. I heard the whole soundtrack and I definitely love it. The film does not forget to have slow motion sequences and stylish shots which are Zack Snyder's trademarks in his films.

Here's what's disappointing with Sucker Punch. The film is bombarded with a lot of CGI flair and because of this, the movie seems to forget about the plot and the characters' growth. We have five girls to root on and sympathize but we don't have enough information why we should feel for them. We don't know enough about how they ended up in the institution. We don't even see that they grew close because of their goal. I think we can blame the film's fast pace. We can only root for them because of the celebrities who portray the girls. Rocket is actually my favorite among them because I've been a fan of Jena Malone since Saved! and lately, I just saw her in Donnie Darko and I know that she's new to the whole fighting scenes and she really looks good and bad ass.

Sucker Punch has become one of my guilty pleasures because I enjoyed it despite having little depth. It's a fun popcorn flick actually. I'll be waiting for its release on home video especially with the fact that Zack Snyder has a Director's Cut to be released on DVD. I hope the Director's Cut will be better than the theatrical version since the MPAA wants him to cut some scenes and maybe those scenes are essential in plot and character development.

If you want a fun, action-filled experience, Sucker Punch promises to give you a hell of a blow but you have to apply the suspension of disbelief to truly enjoy this movie.

RATING: 3/5

Trailer:


(Trailer courtesy of YouTube)