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.

Review: Sweets: A New Orleans Crime Story (Graphic Novel)

Way back when this series first came out, I heard good things about it, based on the 2 comics news sources I follow.  Flash forward a few months.  Amazon recommends me this title based on previous purchases.  Remembering all the high praise and enjoying the low price, I went ahead and bought this book.

Sweets follows Curt, a man facing hard times.  His teenage daughter, Katie, was killed in a hit and run and his marriage is falling apart.  Katie was the only thing holding Curt and his wife together.  Without her, divorce is eminent.  To add to his burden, Curt, being a police detective, is on the verge of losing his job if he doesn't shape up.  In order to keep his mind occupied and distracted, he finally joins back the force in the middle of a series of murders.  At first, they all seem random and unconnected.  But the consistent discovery of pecan pralines leads the cops to see these deaths as being related.  Trying to beat the clock, Curt needs to uncover the truth behind and murders.  More so, he needs to findthe man instigating so much viciousness on his town.

Likes - I'll begin with the art.  I think  for a noir gritty crime story the art is great.  The first chapter starts off with a slew of different styles.  It was confusing.  As i read one though it started to make more sense.  Each color scheme/style depicts a state of mind or period.  The art was easy to figure out and overall helped tell the story better.
The story was another solid aspect I liked about this.  It was totally original, signs point to Seven and other entries in the genre.  For what it as though it was nice.  The story really was about Curt, trying to figure out not only how to catch the killing but dealing the fact his daughter was gone.  Honestly we barely see the killer, the focus being on Curt.

Dislikes - Just one thing that I found annoying.  My actually TPB fell about.  About half the pages just fell out in the middle of my reading annoying.

Overall - I enjoyed this book.  But it was amazing as I was expecting.  There was one twist but even that really felt expected.  The art was great but not to the point I could frame it on a wall.  It did help make this good story better. Read this if you are a fan of crime, like Law and Order. Otherwise, feel free to skip this one. 3.5 stars out of 5.

Review: Str.A.In (anime)

For me, I have an anime addiction.  At any given point, I need to be involved in an anime some way.  If I am not in the middle of one, I feel weird, like I'm not doing a good job of being myself.  With all that said, you can understand why I choose to watch this anime.  Not so much because it looked good or interesting, but because I had a need to watch something were the characters have huge eyes. Still, Str.A.In surprised me by being a pretty thoughtful, emotional run.

(SPOILER ALERT! Read this paragraph last! MAYBE!)

Str.A.In is set in a world were aliens are a constant threat to the earth and to humanity.  Enter Sara Werec.  She is the sister of Ralph Werec, a war hero, and Strain Pilot prodigy.  On an unfortunate night, her school and attack ed destroyed by an invading fleet.  This ambush was led by the one time hero, Ralph.  No one knows why he has switched sides.  After the attack, all the admiration he had garnered quickly becomes hate and fear now.  Sara must now take on a new identity in order to have a chance to confront her brother and understand why he has turned into such a monster.  

Likes - The first thing I liked about this show is how it started.  Similar to Gai-Rai: Zero, the first episode is this insane sucker punch.  If you've read the above paragraph, I've ruined it for you.  If not, you're set to have your head spinning. You really don't get a feel of things until the second episode where you come to see where the current struggle is heading.  

Another aspect of Str.A.In I liked were the lighter moments.  There were many comedic, cartoony moments and stories.  I'm glad for it though because if not for those, Str.A.In would feel so heavy and depressing,  It would be a struggle to watch the 13 episodes.  As the good times are a distraction for Sara, they also serve to distract the audience from the real story - People are dying, by the hand of one man, and no one knows why.

Related to the story are the characters.  At first they seem like stock characters, flat and no thought put into their creation.  Over time, the people and their stories, opinions, and experiences all begin to tie together creating unexpected complexity. Str.A.In started off seeming like another mecha driven anime but became a series about the meaning of family, friends, and the importance of letting go.  

Dislikes - Mainly, I could not stand Sara.  I think that was the point of her.  Watching her constantly pushing people away and instead finding comfort and conversation from an inanimate doll was creepy and sad.  I understand this is important to the story but it took her way too long to get out of this depression.  You can look at it as how much damage she really suffered by being betrayed, but still, it was SOO annoying.  Once you get past Sara though, the other characters can be charming and fun, especially compared to Sara's black light. 

Overall - I enjoyed this anime.  I don't know if I would brag that I watched this or that it was ground breaking. It did serve as a good way to pass the time and fulfill my anime addiction.  So if you watch a lot of anime, you might enjoy this one while looking for the next big thing.  For other people, there is a lot more out there to watch.  Overall 4 stars, though I don't know if I'd highly recommend this. 

Review: Exit Through the Gift Shop (film)

In an attempt to kill time and avoid some real work that needed to to be done, I decided to watch yet another film.  I had already seen Our Idiot Brother earlier today.  It was good but not worth writing.  After avoiding Exit Through the Gift Shop for awhile, feeling I was never in the mood, I decided to stop being a wuss and jump into this story.  Man, was I putting off a nice payoff.

Exit Through the Gift Shop is a strange and interesting tale, encompassing Theirry Guetta and his obsession with street art.  Things begin with how Thierry needed to film his whole life.  Soon, he become exposed to the world of street art. Two obsessions, now crashed together, created an experience for Theirry no one else had.  Documenting art that wouldn't last for a day, Thierry was the historian for a modern movement.  Events progress into a strange twist as Thierry soon becomes the artist he had been obsessed with for so long. 

Likes - The first thing I really enjoyed about this film is the initial documenting of the street art movement.  You are exposed to an amazing underground world, focused on pure expression and avoiding capture to paint another day.  You see some amazing pieces and the efforts made to put them up.  

Another great aspect of the film are the people in it.  Theirry, Banksy, and Fairey all are interesting, honest people with interesting takes on art.  Banksy and Fairey are at it from the beginning, before money was ever in the picture and fame was a consideration.  Eventually Thierry comes in and does the art and is loved for it.  Yet, he earns no respect from the street art community.  Much like most celebrities, he gives people what they want and expects people to make up for his shortcomings and poor planning.  Exit Through the Gift Shop is as much about credibly and fame as it is about art.

The last major facet I enjoyed is the dry humor in the film.  Though touted as a documentary, it is anything but.  The moments you wanna laugh, feel free too.  That was the point!

Dislikes -  I didn't dislike anything with this film.  It was subtle, informative, and overall entertaining.  I wouldn't sit in a theater or watch this with a group. For my desire to kill time and have a laugh though, this was perfect.

Overall - This was a very good, fun film thought nothing outstanding or ground breaking.  Still, it was a perfect introduction to street art and an overall movement that needs to be under the radar to exist.  Look up Mr Brainwash in Wikipedia too.  It'll make you really think about what Exit Through the Gift Shop was really about.