Atrocious (film)

I had been getting Atrocious as a recommendation for some time.  I read the reviews and wanted to watch something on the shorter side of things.  Finding out this was a found footage horror film that wasn't terribly long, I had every reason to spend an evening watching this film.

Eldest Son Christian

Atrocious follows Christien and July (pronounced Julie), brother and sister, while their family is away at their mother's childhood home.  Avid amateur ghost hunters, they had been tipped off about legends concerning the woods nearby.  A young girl, Miranda, was lost in the woods and never found.  Some stories say she will lead those who are lost in the woods.  Others say how she is seeking revenge for her own lost life.  During their search for the paranormal, a much harsher reality rears it's ugly head.
Likes - I liked what was done with this film.  It's not for everyone though.  To begin with, I really enjoy the found footage approach and Atrocious approached this tactic better then most.  The filming felt much more natural to what a person would film while in a panic or were distracted.  There are moments of long pauses and when they are running, with only trees and brush in sight.  Not being able to see the cause of the commotion adds a greater depth of benson and terror.  Atrocious made you scared for what you couldn't see.  They also incorporated news reels near the end, adding to the idea of how real and well known the event was.

July

Another aspect of the film I enjoyed was the pacing.  This was a slow burn type of film.  It takes it's time to build up the scares.  I appreciated that.  I don't like slow moving films, but I think the molasses run with this film is to it's advantage. Once the shit hits the fan, things happen so fast you can't process what's going on.  Hell, the film itself revisits parts so you can see what actually happened.  This is definitely a film you have to pay attention to while watching it.

Young Josè

Dislikes - There isn't nothing I didn't like about this film.  It's not new in anything of it's method or story.  Things were just executed well.  It does it's main job well - scaring you.

Overall - I think this is a great film.  A part of me wants to say this is what Paranormal Activity wanted to be.  It's thought out and believable on many levels, making it much scarier.  You are there in the rooms, lost in the dark with Christain, unsure what's happening.  You are with July as she tries to navigate the woods her mother told her to stay out of.  You are there, in the middle of it all, scared of what will happen to you.  That is how it should be done! 4 out of 5 stars.

Review: Pontypool (film)

Pontypool was recommended to me while out drinking with friends, new and old.  After watching the mess that was In Dreams,  I wanted to watch something that was worth my time.  I went with Pontypool and I was quite impressed.

Stephan McHattie as Grant Mazzy

Lisa Houle as Sydney Briar

Pontypool follows Grant Mazzy, a shock jock out of his element.  For reasons not fully explained, his over-the-top nature has forced him to the rural and remote town of Pontypool.  On his way into the studio, a stranger comes to his car stammering "blood", and seemingly evaporates into the winter darkness.  Disturbed but not undeterred, he heads into the radio station.  There, he begins his normal cast, trying to wake up the sleepy town smothering him.  As the broadcast moves on, he slowly comes to realize that the townsfolk are being consumed by some unknown force.  As he and his crew try to piece things together, they realize they can't keep up.  Too much is happening and not enough clues are coming in.  Before long, they realize the most important thing to hold onto is not information, but their lives.

Likes - Pontypool was a surprisingly intelligent movie.  It didn't rush into it's subject like a sprinter.  It took it's time, allowing you to get used to the Canadian world you were a citizen of for an hour and a half.  We get to know Mazzy, his need to push the limits and the cost he paid for it.  We meet Sydney, has she is just trying to do her job and keep her tiny town moving forward.  We meet Laurel-Ann, a recently returned war vet and hero.  The plot takes it's time, going from a sleeping pup to raging beast.  It's a smart way to get you into the story without rushing too fast and turning you off.
Another great aspect I enjoyed about Pontypool was the blood, guts, and gore.  There was some in key parts in the later half of the film. Overall though, it wasn't much on that.  Hell, you don't see anyone get eaten even! Yet Pontypool manages to get under your skin, and it takes it's time to slither around.  You become concerned, then worried, then confused.  All without seeing a thing in the outside world.  As the radio crew is trying to piece together what's happening, so are you.  This is a masterful way of creating a tension that leads to terror, with nary a drop of blood spilled.

Georgina Reilly as Laurel-Ann Drummond

Dislikes - There isn't anything I can take away from this and say I didn't like it.  It was well acted and filmed well.  Plot is paramount in this film genre but the director, Bruce McDonald, still made the film visually interesting to watch.

Overall - I highly recommend this film, especially to horror and zombie film fans.  This was a great example of how far you can take a film using very little.  This is a memorable film and I dare say, this could even be influential, in both its subject matter and execution.  Personally, this is one I'll be talking about for months.  5 out of 5 stars.

Review: In Dreams (movie)

In my never ending quest to see every movie ever made, Netflix recommended I watch this film released in 1999.  I should have said no and saved it for a later time. Being the intrepid sloth that I am, I decided to give this crazy, unfocused film a chance before bed.  It didn't pay off.

Annette Bening as Claire Cooper

In Dreams follows Claire Cooper, played by Annette Bening, a doting mother.  She and her husband have hit a rough patch when she finds some evidence showing he, Paul Cooper played by Aiden Quinn, being unfaithful.  Before they can resolve anything, their young daughter, Rebecca, becomes lost after a very strange but cute outdoor play of Snow White.  The girl who played the evil queen, by the way, was oddly appropriate with her crazy fit of childish rage.  It's worth watching the film for that alone!  While waiting to find her daughter, we find out Claire has visions in her dreams.  Visions that come true! Spooky!!!! These visions come directly from the man who has taken her daughter.  She learns that her daughter is not the first nor last victim of this disturbed killer.

Likes -  The only thing I really liked were the special effects.  There were not many displays of it but the transitions between being awake and being in a dream for Claire were good. The final scene were the killer, Vivian Thompson played by Robert Downer Jr., is haunted is also excellent.  Thats really about it.

Dislikes - This movie was a crazy mess of insanity.  The first half was focused on how bat shit crazy Bening could be.  She pulled off an amazing job in being absolutely ridiculous and lacking credibility.  The later half, we see RDJ mixing his confidence and calm demeanor with the musings of a maniac.  Between the two, I felt more scared of RDJ, rightfully.  Bening made me feel bad for women in general.  Her performance totally discredited her gender by acting so irrational and over the top.  Look, I get crazy and being driven beyond what you can handle, but from the very beginning Bening portrays her character as some delicate house wife who never learned to deal with anything more strenuous then not being able to go to the grocery store on time.  I felt such a portrayal of women was inappropriate for 1999. It makes no sense to me how Bening goes from zero to psychotic idiot in 10 minutes.

Also, the major plot point of why the killer can invade Claire's dreams is never really explained, except for they have the same power.  This is just lazy to me.  I can totally see there being a connection between them but there is no attempt to even try to create a psychic link. The overall plot just seemed rushed and made little sense how they got from point A to point B.  It's like they were borrowing sets from other films that were never broken down and tried to make something cohesive out of it.

Robert Downey Jr as Vivian Thompson

Overall - This was an interesting film.  I watched it because I felt the cast was really strong.  For this film though, it seems the big players simply phoned it in.  No one really delved into their character.  The audience is bludgeoned immediately with the neuroses of these poorly developed characters.  This was good to watch only for the fact it shows so many things that can go wrong.  For the purpose of entertaining, In Dreams does so by simply showing you the worst case scenario of an actor/actress not giving a shit.  In terms of a decent plot or character development, I would look elsewhere.  1.5 out of 5 stars.

Review: El Cazador de la Bruja (anime)

I've gotten to a point I've almost exhausted all the anime series Netflix has to offer.  I was getting desperate, not sure what to watch. El Cazador de la Bruja's description offered something I was interested but I wasn't sure if it would deliver.  I decided to give it a shot.  It took some times, and a few attempts to get through the first episode.  I managed to watch this whole series in the end and it was a fun trip.

Streetwise bounty hunter Nadie.

El Cazador de la Bruja follows Nadie, a bounty hunter, as she captures Ellis and brings her to her client.  As the series progresses, Nadie and Ellis develop a relationship beyond the expected.  They go from ward and watcher to sisters.  Nadie goes from simply protecting her cash cow into looking out of Ellis' best interest.  As the 26 episode series progress, strangers turn to enemies, who in turn become trusted friends.  Truths are revealed.  Hearts are broken and mended.

Likes -  It took some time but in the end, I came to really enjoy this anime. El Cazador de la Bruja has all the makings to be a repetitive anime series, like Hell Girl, but I never felt like the I was treading ground I had already covered. There was a natural evolution to the story and settings, akin to Gurren Langann, There were times I was a bit lost as to what was going on but I've had that with any good series, anime or otherwise.   I respect a show that goes full force forward and expects the audience to keep up.

Naive bounty Ellis

The big home run with this series were the characters.  Nadie immediately comes off as a caring individual with enough experience to not trust everyone she meets.  Which is in great contrast to Ellis, a young amnesiac devoid of recognizing any social cues.  From the beginning, we know that Nadie looks after Ellis.  A simple observation but has many implications through out the show.  The other characters like Blue Eyes and Ricado are developed naturally and thoughtfully.  Nothing feels forced.  All the characters seem to fall into the place we expect hem too in time.  Seeing each person get there is the real fun of the whole series.

Click here to watch the 1st episode on YouTube!

Dislikes - There isn't anything specific I disliked about this series.  I enjoyed it fully.

Overall - I recommend this series.  It was a lot of fun and definitely an enjoyable ride.  It offers settings and stories unique to anime, offering something fresh to longtime anime fans.  The are plenty of actions and gun battles.  The real enjoyment in this series comes from seeing the characters grow into something you can't help but love.  4.5 out of 5 stars!

Review: Clubhouse BFD (food)

So I'm trying something new.  I do a lot of reviews for entertainment and I think I should try something outside of that.  This is my first restaurant review.  I've been wanting to do this since the beginning of the year but haven't had much chance to go out anywhere new.  That changed this week when my friend Lee invited myself and another friend out to this new place.

Sweet totato tots and dipping sauce.
(unwanted onions not included)

Atmosphere -  I really dug this place.  It had a hodge-podge feel to it, yet had a lot more focus then some other places.  The inner ceiling had various globes faded from years of existing.  Animal heads were hung near the bar like a hunting lodge.  My fav was a cabinet with the major Star Wars players all standing together in 3.5" plastic glory.  Unlike the absolute randomness of Applebee's, there was Americana all around on the walls but with an overall message - "This is who we really are." I dug it.
The bar staff was more then helpful and attentive.  The bar keep even asked some guys to move over so I could join my friends.  That was a first for me.  It really showed me how laid back and accepting they are.

Food -  I tried  garlic herb chicken dish, along with some sweet potato tots and a mead as the beverage.

The tots were great.  I am a big sucker for anything sweet potato.  Remember that if I ever come over for dinner!  There were just like regular tots but had a slight sweetness at the end.  It was subtle but still there.  And disappeared quickly.  Its a fresh take on such a staple.  It came with a spicy dipping sauce to boot.  I can see the contrast they were going for.  I don't think it was necessary though.  The tots can stand on their own.

So pretty you just wanna eat it up!

While waiting for my meal to come,  I decided to try the Zombie Killer, based solely on the name.  Come on, you can't blame a guy, right?  After taking a sip though, my silly gamble paid off in spades.  This mead was such a great discovery.  I've never tried mead before, so my only comparison I can make is to beers and liquor.  It was a bright vibrant taste and had a really clean finish.  I didn't write any notes on the tastes (my bad) but I know that I enjoyed it so much that I got a second.

After not too long a wait, my food came,  A roasted garlic herb chicken with grilled asparagus and potato wedges. Everything was cooked great, to perfection even.  The chicken was breaded, a welcomed surprise, and cooked in Au Jous.  I have to admit the Au Jous was a bit much for me.  If you are really into it, then this is for you.  If not, you may want to try another dish.  My only complaint overall is I felt all my items were a bit too salty.  I'm not much for salt, so if the cook is heavy on it, I notice.  It was to the point I couldn't enjoy the meal fully.

Price - I have to preface this topic before getting into it.  I grew up poor, living on fast food dollar menus for a while.  And for most of my life, I've been without money.  So I am inherently cheap, as a survival tactic.  So my view is a bit biased.

They gave me a chalice! Kinda...

Overall, the prices are a bit higher then I would have expected but still acceptable.  Almost all their beers on tap, over 30 I think, are all craft and local brews.  That stuff isn't cheap and it shows.  But still within reason.  For the food, they had items that fell within a good price range.  From a snack to a full course meal, they have something to offer to everyone.

Overall - I know you may not think it, but I highly recommend this place.  I wanna go back myself.  To try some different entrees they have, to try some different beers, and get a better feel for the place.  For my first time, I walked away with an experience that I wanna have again.  The place offers  a unique feeling of "This is a special place for you and your friends".  A big selection of beers, food, and overall good times.  I say give this place a shot, at least once.  I plan on going back myself.  And soon!

Review: Joe the Barbarian (graphic novel)

Joe the Barbarian is a Vertigo title from 2010.  In a list I read for best comics in 2010, this one was mentioned as being one of the top 10.   After getting some recommendations on Amazon, I decided to try this one out.

Joe the Barbarian is about Joe, a young boy with Type 1 Diabetes.  While at home during a storm, Joe's blood sugar gets dangerously low.  At this point ,Joe begins to hallucinate and falls into a fantasy world populated by familiar characters - his toys and his drawings.  As he arrives in this new world, he is believed to be "the Dying Boy", the one prophesied to save the world from Lord Death.  He blindly moves forward on a quest, whose consequences spill over into the real world.

Likes - At first, I wasn't really getting enticed reading this one.  I felt forced to get reading it.  By about half way though, on chapter 4, is when I felt compelled to move forward.  I'm not sure if I was getting to know the characters or the story but I wanted to know what was going to happen next.  The story was fun as well as tried and true.   The most fun was seeing how the hallucinations would match up with the real world, seeing Joe go back and forth constantly trying to figure out was happening.
There was a very big cast in this one.  I felt that there was just enough space and time to let each one develop in their own way  Not only did Joe eventually figure his way out, but so did the Dwarf Prince and Jack the Juggler.  I'm sure with extra issues, more time could have been spent on these guys. Still, the current length was enough to feel like a good pay off.
Lastly, I enjoyed the happy ending.  I wasn't too surprised but it tied things up nicely and left a big smile on my face
Also, my edition came in a nice neat hardcover.  Score!

Dislikes - There wasn't anything in particular that I didn't enjoy about this book.  I thought it was a fun quick read.  I am glad I did buy the collected edition and not the single issues.  I might not have thought the waiting between releases was worth it.

Overall - I think it is a very good comic.  I enjoyed it.  I am left rather blank on how to convey my thoughts though.  It was a good read for what it was, but I think there may be better books out there to spend your money.  For fans of The Lord of the Rings and the like, this is a great novel to snatch.  For others, you may not miss out on not reading this one.  Overall 3 out of 5 stars.