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‘Why Don’t You Play in Hell?’ is an instant cult classic

While audiences and critics are still debating the unbridled ambition of Nolan’s Interstellar, an equally-madcap film (finally) makes its way into North American theaters this weekend. Japanese auteur, Shion Sono, unleashes his demented ode to cinema, Why Don’t You Play in Hell?, which might be the most uncanny take on filmmaking since The Player. Armed with inspired gags, impassioned characters and enough blood squibs to drown Tarantino, Sono delivers a visual feast that’s destined to be a cult classic.

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‘Big Hero 6’ delivers big action in a cuddly package

Big Hero 6 Written by Robert L. Baird, Daniel Gerson & Jordan Roberts Directed by Don Hall & Chris Williams USA, 2014 If kids needed their own version of the Guardians of the Galaxy, they now have it in Big Hero 6.  Hopelessly irreverent with an emphasis on brain over brawn, this gang of self-appointed …

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‘Chaos Legion’ yields surprisingly addictive squad-based action

Chaos Legion Capcom Studio 6 Capcom PS2, PC When Chaos Legion first appeared on the scene during Capcom’s glory days, it was an easy game to ignore. With flashy sequels like Resident Evil 4 and Devil May Cry 2 about, and wildly inventive new titles like Viewtiful Joe, Okami, and Killer 7 (all developed by Capcom) debuting during the same time …

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‘John Wick’ kicks butt

John Wick is a beautiful ballet of death and destruction. It combines the brutal hand-to-hand combat of Jason Bourne with Ridley Scott’s visual sensibilities to create the perfect vehicle for Keanu Reeves. Here, Reeves struts his physicality and underrated comic timing to ratchet up the fun while he amasses a huge body count. It’s an ultra-slick, violence-worshipping extravaganza that will have you eating from the palm of its bloodstained hand.

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‘Fury’ takes us into the belly of the beast

Fury Written & Directed by David Ayer USA, 2014   Brad Pitt’s new tank drama, Fury, is an unrelentingly grim affair that strives for greatness and occasionally reaches it.  What could have been reduced to ‘300 in a tank’ has been expanded to a gripping human drama that values the soul just as much as …

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‘The Expendables 3’ lands more punches than it misses

The Expendables 3 Directed by Patrick Hughes Written by Sylvester Stallone, Creighton Rothenberger & Katrin Benedikt   Family themes are getting a good workout in action movies lately.  From the ragtag team of outlaws in Guardians of the Galaxy to the Pizza Hut dream-team in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, filmmakers need us to know that …

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‘Uncharted 2: Among Thieves’ reaches the highest peak of adventure

There’s a moment in the first Uncharted that signposts exactly where the series is heading. It involves a fast-flowing river, a large gap, and a truck parked next to a red barrel. With a well-placed shot, Nathan Drake – the Indiana Jones-inspired hero of the franchise – blows the powder keg, sending the vehicle high into the air and tumbling down to the river below, where it (conveniently) forms a bridge across the gap. “Bingo,” Nate quips, hopping onto the upside-down truck and crossing to the other side. “Excuse me. Pardon me.”

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The ‘Transformers’ Franchise: Games vs. Films

Films and video games are different platforms with the same underlying purpose of trying to entertain their respective audiences. While their raison d’etre might be similar, the two mediums differ in such a way that some films simply cannot be translated into good games and vice versa. However since most major comic-inspired films seem to …

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Script Matters: ‘Snowpiercer’ builds a new kind of prison

South Korean filmmaker, Joon-ho Bong, has never been afraid of mixing genres.  In his latest and most challenging film to date, Snowpiercer, Bong mixes action, sci-fi and satire to create a delightfully twisted prison break story.  Snowpiercer owes much of its effectiveness to an ingenious script that uses 3 discrete acts to effortlessly shift its …

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‘Jaws’: How a Shark Changed Hollywood

  Steven Spielberg’s Jaws (1975) was a commercial hit. Upon its release in theatres during the summer of 1975, it broke box-office records. The film was put together by studios and agencies; essentially it was a product specifically made to make money- a lot of it. It is regarded as being the first ever “blockbuster” …

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‘White Heat’ does not delve deep into psychology

‘White Heat’   Directed by Raoul Walsh   Written by Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts   Starring James Cagney, Virginia, Edmond O’Brien   USA, 114 min – 1949.   “Made it, Ma! Top of the world! Raoul Walsh’s White Heat stars James Cagney as yet another gangster (Cagney being known for other films such as …

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Unsung Gems – ‘Road to Perdition’

Unsung Gems is a look back and reflection on great motion pictures that often slip under the radar of public consciousness , whether as ignored relics of a previous era, standout efforts overshadowed by competition or circumstance, or simply unseen classics damned by a lack of time in the spotlight. – Road to Perdition Directed …

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Transformers 3 Update

The Transformers franchise will continue on with a third installment, according to Tyrese Gibson who plays Sergeant Epps. On his twitter page, @Tyrese4Real,  he informed the world, ” Transformers 3: Is full throttle full steam ahead…Michael Bay gave me the start date…and I can’t share.” The untitled Transformers movie is due to be released July …

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Surrogates

Surrogates 2009, USA Directed by Jonathan Mostow Written by Michael Ferris, John D. Brancato, Robert Venditti (graphic novel), Brett Weldele (graphic novel) Starring Bruce Willis, Radha Mitchell, Rosamund Pike, Ving Rhames The idea of creating an imaginary persona as a replacement for reality is nothing new, at least for those of us who try to …

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The Muscles from Brussels

Although he was born in Berchem-Sainte Agathe, Belgium, with the name of Jean-Claude Van Varenbeerg, Van Damme once called himself “Frank Cujo” when he first moved to Hollywood in 1981. When he couldn’t find work as an actor the former European Professional Karate Association’s middleweight champion decided to take English classes while working as a …

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16 Blocks

16 Blocks 2006, USA Directed by Richard Donner Written by Richard Wenk Starring Bruce Willis, Mos Def, David Morse, Jenna Stern I broke a promise today. Long ago, I swore that should I ever again stumble upon a film that uses a hand-held tape recorded as a deus ex machina plot device, I would douse …

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Watchmen

One of the most audacious studio blockbusters in modern Hollywood history, Watchmen succeeds in spite, not because of, its widely recognized pedigree. Alan Moore’s sharp, detailed writing and Dave Gibbons’ iconic illustrations helped to make it the most celebrated superhero comic of all time. Fans, many of them diehard purists to whom alterations to the …

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