REVIEW: The Number 23 [2007]

“I think you know” Director Joel Schumacher can go from great (Tigerland), to very good (Falling Down), to classic nostalgia (The Lost Boys), to utter garbage (Batman & Robin). When I hear that he has directed something new, I usually begin with a cringe before checking out the new trailer. The Number 23, however, started its advertisement with an interesting premise, great cast, and finally the Schumacher stamp of unknowingness. I didn’t care that much, thinking that this could definitely go in the great category and cement a change for…

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SEGA vs. NES in Video-Land

There is a new internet only show being developed in Astoria New York called The New Adventures of Captain S, produced by PBC Productions. This production company is made up of a few 20-somethings stationed in NYC trying to make a name for themselves in the acting/directing industry. One of the members is Tonawanda’s own Brett Vanderbrook, who plays the titular Captain S, aka Chad Williams, in the show. Brett has been making headway in the field, most recently doing stand-in work for Michael Haneke’s remake of his own spectacular…

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REVIEW: Unknown [2006]

“He must be tied up for a reason” Here is a little known film that never reached theatres in Buffalo, despite its all-star cast of talented actors. When you have guys like Jim Caviezel, Greg Kinnear, Barry Pepper, Peter Stormare, and Joe Pantoliano, with Jeremy Sisto and Bridget Moynahan thrown in, and an intriguing trailer about five men waking up with amnesia in an abandoned warehouse, not knowing which side of good they are on, (a couple people are hurt and/or tied up), how could this film not be raking…

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REVIEW: Shaun of the Dead [2004]

“Don’t forget to kill Philip” Anticipating the release of Hot Fuzz has made me want to see the Simon Pegg/Edgar Wright career works. Having heard how great the UK series “Spaced” was, I bought an import from Britain and just recently finished it. The show was great, pop culture abounds, hilarity from start to finish, and much like “The Office,” they knew when to stop and not let the show take a fall with filler and repetition…cough…US “The Office”…cough. What better segway from those two seasons then to go right…

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REVIEW: Running with Scissors [2006]

“Hug back” The trailers for this adaptation of Augusten Burroughs’ memoirs, Running with Scissors, looked like an offbeat, quirky comedy. I had heard good things about the novel and the cast looked amazing. However, I am very happy I didn’t spend the money to see it in theatres. This film ended up being a sprawling series of uncomfortable events with no real narrative thread to be building towards a satisfying conclusion. If Burroughs himself came up to me and said just half of this film actually happened to him, I…

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REVIEW: Ночной дозор [Night Watch] [2004]

“You have to choose for yourself” Here is the reason for which I got an All-Region DVD player. Ночной дозор [Night Watch] was released in Russia in 2004. It became so popular there that it was inevitable that the other two parts of the literary trilogy would be made into film. Fox saw this as a great opportunity to bring a Russian film to America that could have a huge following. They started advertising shortly after purchase, but the release stateside kept getting pushed back to the verge of maybe…

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REVIEW: Monster House [2006]

“It’s gonna be a bloodbath” I really wasn’t sure what I’d be getting with the new film from Robert Zemeckis, utilizing his technology from the enjoyable Polar Express. I have been intrigued by the buzz I heard saying that Monster House was a bit darker and scarier than parents initially thought when taking their children. Also, being nominated for the animation Oscar, along with the wonderful Cars and utter garbage Happy Feet, I put the dvd in with some nice anticipation. Thankfully the animation is leaps and bounds better than…

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