Director: Edgar Wright

Writers: Michael Bacall, Edgar Wright

Cast: Michael Cera, Alison Pill, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Mark Webber, Johnny Simmons, Ellen Wong, Kieran Culkin, Anna Kendrick, Aubrey Plaza, Satya Bhabha, Chris Evans, Brie Larson, Mae Whitman, Brandon Routh, Jason Schwartzman, Keita Saitou, Shota Saito

MPAA rating: PG-13 (for stylized violence, sexual content, language and drug references.)

Summary: Meet charming and jobless Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera). A bass guitarist for garage band Sex Bob-omb, the 22-year-old has just met the girl of his dreams…literally. The only catch to winning Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead)? Her seven evil exes are coming to kill him. Genre-smashing filmmaker Edgar Wright (Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead) tells the amazing story of one romantic slacker’s quest to power up with love in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.

Scott Pilgrim has never had a problem getting a girlfriend. It’s getting rid of them that proves difficult. From the girl who kicked his heart’s ass—and now is back in town—to the teenage distraction he’s trying to shake when Ramona rollerblades into his world, love hasn’t been easy. He soon discovers, however, his new crush has the most unusual baggage of all: a nefarious league of exes controls her love life and will do whatever it takes to eliminate him as a suitor.

As Scott gets closer to Ramona, he must face an increasingly vicious rogues’ gallery from her past—from infamous skateboarders to vegan rock stars and fearsomely identical twins. And if he hopes to win his true love, he must vanquish them all before it really is game over.

Run time: 112 min.

View the Trailer Here

“We are Sex Bob-omb and we’re here to make you think about death and get sad and stuff!”

Before the film even starts, the Universal Pictures logo spins into view in a new, thoroughly appropriate 8-bit form which is accompanied by an 8-bit ‘chip tuned’ version of the Universal Pictures music, and with that you’re introduced to the first (of many) smiles that Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World will give you throughout the film.

Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera) is a 22-year old, socially awkward slacker that lives in a Toronto apartment with his gay friend Wallace Wells (Kieran Culkin). Pilgrim plays bass in a band called Sex Bob-omb alongside Stephen Stills (Mark Webber) and Kim Pine (Alison Pill), and in one of my favorite, subtly funny performances in the film by Johnny Simmons as Young Neil. When we’re first introduced to Pilgrim, he is dating a 17-year old high school girl named Knives Chau (Ellen Wong), while he doesn’t see anything wrong with the relationship since all he and Knives have done is play video games and hold hands but his friends constantly give him grief over it because of the age difference.

One night, Scott runs into Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), the girl of his literal dreams at a party and wants to date her… but it’s not that simple. Scott will have to defeat her Seven Evil Ex-Boyfriends Exes in order to earn Ramona’s heart. Throughout the course of the battles, Scott also has to figure out how to break up with Knives and win a battle of the bands so that Sex Bob-omb can land a record contract with a legendary producer called G Man.

I want to dispel some rumors or fears that some people have about the film. People who blindly dismiss Pilgrim as a “hipster” movie are doing themselves a great disservice, it’s quite the contrary as the movie takes some hilarious jabs at hipster culture. I will admit that even I was concerned that the comic book elements (R-RRRR-I-N-G!) on the screen would become irritating or take you out of the story, I can happily say that they do neither. Though that effect isn’t constant,  it was interspersed throughout the entire film but never felt out of place.

I also wondered if I could stomach Michael Cera playing the socially awkward-slacker-geek yet again. I was pleasantly surprised that while Cera’s portrayal of Pilgrim does have similarities to his other roles, it also has some stark differences that take him out of that box. Cera’s Pilgrim has a certain charm and fascination that none of his other characters have brought to the screen, and he is also a totally believable (yes believable) as a bad ass in his fight scenes.

The fast paced editing was also a concern, as I wondered if it would end up being too spastic and frenetic. Luckily, the combination of artfully fantastic cinematography, great editing and the direction of Edgar Wright make the movie feel like you are completely immersed in a living comic book and it never feels overly rushed or spastic at all.

The battles in the film are indeed epic and like Pilgrim’s opponents themselves, each one is completely unique. Matthew Patel (Satya Bhabha), The Katayanagi Brothers (Keita Saitou and Shota Saito), Roxy Richter (Mae Whitman), Todd Ingram (Brandon Routh), Lucas Lee (Chris Evans) and Gideon Graves (Jason Schwartzman) were each given ample screen time and were fabulous in their villainous roles. I’m sure everyone has taken, or will take away at least one favorite member of “The League of Evil Exes” after watching the film.

The score by Nigel Godrich is perfect for the film and the bands that contributed to the soundtrack, namely Beck who provides the music for Pilrgim’s Sex Bob-omb did such a great job at capturing what a 20 something slacker-garage band would sound like (if they were listenable).

The only real problem that I had with the film was that Scott & Ramona’s relationship lacked some weight and didn’t feel as high stakes as it should have. That being said, the tender/love filled moments in the film are incredibly endearing and don’t come off as roll your eyes moments that are simply sappy. One of my many favorite lines in the movie is Scott’s response when he’s asked if he see’s a future with Ramona, and Pilgrim replies… “Like — with jetpacks.”

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World truly defies categorization, at its core it’s a love story but it also has some of the best action sequences I’ve seen in recent memory, along with the most genuine laughs and cool nods to pop culture that you can pack into a film that clocks in at almost two hours. The film is easily the most original creation to hit theaters in recent memory, and it’s destined to become a cult classic.

My advice – Get out there and see it twice, support the epicness and originality of this flick before we’re saddled with even more remakes and reboots! Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World was the most entertaining film I’ve seen all year.

[GAME OVER]

I give Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World Five Out Of Five Stars

Author: Pittacus Lore

Synopsis:

Nine of us came here. We look like you. We talk like you. We live among you. But we are not you. We can do things you dream of doing. We have powers you dream of having. We are stronger and faster than anything you have ever seen. We are the superheroes you worship in movies and comic books—but we are real.

Our plan was to grow, and train, and become strong, and become one, and fight them. But they found us and started hunting us first. Now all of us are running. Spending our lives in shadows, in places where no one would look, blending in. we have lived among you without you knowing.

But they know.

They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
They killed them all.

I am Number Four.

I am next.

[Review Contains Spoilers]

In a desperate bid to save their race from extinction at the hands of an invading alien race the inhabitants of the planet Lorien send nine children and their guardians to Earth. On Earth the children must grow and develop their powers while avoiding the Modagorian aliens responsible for the destruction of their home planet.

A Lorien elder put a charm on the children before they left that only allows them to be killed in a certain order. The charm was meant to make the children harder to kill and give them more time to grow and become powerful. However it is a horrible deal for the first three children and numbers eight and nine have it made. The book never explains how the children were assigned their numbers or what, if anything makes the higher numbered children more valuable that the lower numbered children.

The first three of the nine children have already been killed. John Smith is the titular “Number Four” who, accompanied by his guardian Henri moves to Paradise, Ohio in an attempt to hide from the Modagorians. In Paradise, John must discover his powers while navigating the wild world of adolescence. His trials mirror those of many human teens: noticing girls, seeking independence, wanting to make his own decisions. His tumultuous relationship with Henri is not unlike the relationships many teens have with their parents, at times compatible, and at others hostile. They struggle to redefine their relationship throughout the book, as John grows and develops more powers.

The supporting characters are less believable and lack any real character development. Sarah is the popular blond ex-cheerleader. Sam is the outcast/conspiracy theorist, and Mark is the popular football player and Sarah’s ex-boyfriend. All three of the characters are written as shallow, stereotypical caricatures of teenage cliques as seen through adult eyes. At first Mark is hostile to John and inexplicably turns into a friend. Oddly, none of the characters display any skepticism, or question his sanity when John admits he is an alien.

The book’s website reveals that the author of the book, Pittacus Lore, is one of the Lorien elders who escaped the planet’s destruction and is now living on Earth hoping to unite the remaining children to defeat the Modagorians before they can attack Earth. He writes the books as a warning to Earthlings of the dangers facing our planet.

The series will continue in future books with the adventures of the other five Lorien children, and this book is already being adapted for the big-screen by director D.J. Caruso, producers Michael Bay and Steven Spielberg, and starring Alex Pettyfer, Timothy Olyphant, Kevin Durand, Dianna Agron, Jake Abel, Callan McAuliffe and Teresa Palmer. The film is slated to hit theaters on February 18th, 2011.

While the material in I Am Number Four may be a little too violent or intense for very young readers, young adults and older adults alike will find the story to be a fast-paced and enjoyable sci-fi adventure. Overall, I Am Number Four is a good, fun read that was hard to put down.

I give I Am Number Four, four out of five stars

Director: Colin Teague, Toby Haynes, and Alex Pillai

Creator & Writer: Toby Whithouse

Cast: Russell Tovey, Lenora Crichlow, Aidan Turner, Sinead Keenan, Jason Watkins, Annabel Scholey, Dean Lennox Kelly

MPAA Rating: Not Rated

Summary: Being Human is an extraordinary look into the lives of hospital porters George (Russell Tovey) and Mitchell (Aidan Turner). Toiling anonymously in Bristol, England, they lead lives of quiet desperation under the burden of a terrible secret – Mitchell’s a vampire and George is a werewolf. Deciding to start life afresh and leave behind the dark side, they move into a house, only to find that Annie (Lenora Crichlow), the ghost of a woman killed in mysterious circumstances, haunts it. As the three deal with the challenges of their new lives together, they’re united in their desire to blend in with their human neighbors. However, with unwelcome intruders into their world, a threatened revolution from the vampire underworld, constant threats of exposure, and the day-to-day issues faced by young people – the only thing they may be able to rely on is each other.

Run Time: Two disc set contains (6) six one-hour episodes and nearly two hours of special features

View the Trailer here.

The premise for the BBC’s Being Human sounds like a joke, but it is a serious drama about a vampire, a ghost, and a werewolf living together, struggling to live amongst humanity. The show stars Aidan Turner as Mitchell the handsome, ever-cool vampire, Russell Tovey as George the hopelessly awkward, neurotic werewolf, and Lenora Crichlow as Annie the lovely but lost ghost. Being Human can make you gasp, cry, laugh, and scream at the television all in the same episode. It is an incredibly well-written and well-performed show that is a perfect concoction of the drama, gravity, and silliness of a realistic situation.

Being Human looks at how each of the characters fights to retain their humanity over their individual supernatural conditions concurrently with attempting to find their place within humanity. I think that the show’s message can be read an additional depth in that the characters’ supernatural conditions can parallel real human conditions (addiction, social dysfunction, and lack of identity.)

The show has won the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain Award for Best Television Drama Series and RTS Television Awards for Best Special Effects and Best Film and Tape Editing in 2009.

The Season One DVD set holds two discs with the season’s six episodes split evenly along with a slew of special features that offer a satisfying look behind the scenes of Being Human. There are nearly two hours of additional content, including alternate, deleted, and extended scenes, character profiles, behind the scenes featurettes on the storyline, supernatural mythos, location selection, makeup and costume, and stuntwork. Here are highlights of the extras:

Featurettes:

Character Profiles: Here we have an in-depth look at the foundations of the characters by the actors themselves. I was particularly impressed by how the actors delved deep into every dimension of each character in the show. In the character profiles they go into the context and connections between the characters, exploring each other’s character’s vulnerability and their struggles to define themselves as human.

Vamping It Up: This featurette looks at how the show created their vampires and why they broke from traditional vampire mythos.

Toby Whithouse On The Journey: The show creator talks about how the show and how it began with strong fan momentum in its beginning stages before it was picked up by the BBC and credits the success of the show to fans and their ground-swell support. Whithouse also talks about the key dynamics and the symbiotic relationships between the characters of Mitchell, George, and Annie.

Locations: Why is the show set in Bristol? This featurette looks at how the location was selected and how Andrew Purcell, the production designer, created the look for the fourth character in the show, flat that Mitchell, George, and Annie share, and also the design for the funeral parlor aka vampire headquarters.

Make-up and Costume: Marcus Whitney (make-up artist) and Stuart Meachum (costume designer) give you a quick look behind the scenes at composing each character’s look.

Becoming A Werewolf: Being Human prefers to use practical effects rather than CGI effects for the werewolf transformation. American audiences might find the effects lacking, but even though the special effects of this show are limited by budget, they do the job for the story. This is a character and story driven drama, unburdened by splashy CGI effects.

Video Diaries: Tovey, Turner, and Crichlow had all been given a camera to document their behind the scenes experiences. I must say that these vid diaries are delightful to see, are funny, and give a charming and real look behind the scenes.

Journey’s End: This featurette concludes the set with exit interviews from the cast and series creator Toby Whithouse.

Now, I might be spoiled by the umpteen billion hours of special features from Peter Jackson and Guillermo Del Toro, but I was hoping for more on the costuming and practical special effects on this DVD set. Still, what is offered in this set hits all the high points, focusing on the strength of the show, the story and the characters, and the extended scenes are a wonderful addition. I do wish there were audio commentaries by cast and crew, but perhaps there may be some on future DVD sets.

In my humble opinion, this is a supernatural show for grown-ups. Twihards need not apply. This series is so meaty with complex characters and actual storylines that it might make a Twihard’s head explode. Being Human does not pull punches. It addresses the hard questions that each of these characters face and does not back down.

For individual episode reviews, check out SciFi Mafia’s In Case You Missed It coverage on the first season.

I give Being Human: Season One Four out of Five Stars.

Director: Jon Turteltaub

Writers: Lawrence Konner, Mark Rosenthal, Matt Lopez, Doug Miro, Carlo Bernard

Cast: Nicolas Cage, Jay Baruchel, Alfred Molina, Teresa Palmer, Toby Kebbell, Alice Krige, Jake Cherry.

MPAA rating: PG (for fantasy action violence, some mild rude humor and brief language.)

Summary: Balthazar Blake (Nicolas Cage) is a master sorcerer in modern-day Manhattan trying to defend the city from his arch-nemesis, Maxim Horvath (Alfred Molina). Balthazar can’t do it alone, so he recruits Dave Stutler (Jay Baruchel), a seemingly average guy who demonstrates hidden potential, as his reluctant protégé. The sorcerer gives his unwilling accomplice a crash course in the art and science of magic, and together, these unlikely partners work to stop the forces of darkness. It’ll take all the courage Dave can muster to survive his training, save the city and get the girl as he becomes The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.

Run time: 111 min

View the Trailer Here

[Review Contains Spoilers]

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice is very loosely based on Walt Disney’s Fantasia short from 1940. In the beginning of the film, we travel back to 770 A.D., where Merlin (James A. Stephens) had three protégées – Balthazar (Nicolas Cage), Veronica (Monica Belluci), and Horvath (Alfred Molina). The three had remained best friends, until Balthazar and Veronica fell in love and Horvath, feeling spurned by Veronica and betrayed by Balthazar, chose to join the evil Morgana le Fay (Alice Krige) in a plot to betray and kill Merlin in order to take over the world.

Morgana does succeed in murdering the great wizard, but Veronica sacrifices herself by absorbing Morgana into her body and, in an effort to save Veronica from being destroyed from the inside by Morgana, Balthazar is then forced to seal his lady-love Veronica, along with Horvath inside The Grimhold (an antique nesting doll). As the great wizard lay dying, he tasks Balthazar with scouring the globe for his next apprentice, “the Prime Merlinean” which is descendant of Merlin and the only Wizard who would possess the ability to destroy Morgana le Fay.

Fast-forward to the year 2000, 10 year-old Dave Stutler (Jake Cherry) is on a third-grade field trip and tries to make an impression on a cute little girl named Becky (Peyton List) by drawing on a school bus window in such a way that when the bus passes by a certain building on the New York skyline, it creates a famous scene from a classic film from 1933 (1976 or 2005, depending on which ones you’ve seen). That very same day, young Dave passes a “do you like me? yes or no?” style love note to Becky, but after she answers, the note gets carried away by the wind which transports it, and Dave chasing after it into an antique shop called Arcana Cabana.

While searching for his note in the shop, Dave is startled by Balthazar who asks him to try on Merlin’s dragon ring, once the ring wraps itself around Dave’s finger, Bathazar tells him that he is “going to be a very important sorcerer someday.” Dave then accidentally releases Horvath (Alfred Molina) from the Grimhold and after battling in the store, Balthazar tells young Dave to run while proceeding to seal himself and Horvath in an enchanted urn for a decade.

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice then fast-forwards to 2010. Dave is now an awkward NYU physics major physics whose hobby is building Tesla coils in an abandoned New York subway turnaround that he has converted into a lab. Balthazar and Horvath are released from the urn. Balthazar seeks out Dave in order to train him to defeat Morgana and save Veronica while Horvath tries to kill Dave and Balthazar and find the Grimhold, so that he can release Morgana and rule the world. Throughout all of this, Dave is attempting to get Becky (Teresa Palmer), the girl that his 10 year-old self couldn’t manage to hook up with.

Nicolas Cage delivers a very quirky but also calm, cool and collected performance as Balthazar Blake and you can tell that he had fun with this role. Guess what? Jay Baruchel plays an awkward geek, imagine that! Seriously though, Baruchel does a fine job and his chemistry with Cage is fantastic in the film.

Alfred Molina usually plays a great villain, and his role as Horvath is no exception. Molina has a brilliant way of balancing the intellectual-humorous-classy-guy-who-just happens to want to kill you, very well – and you have to respect that. The beautiful Monica Belluci sadly didn’t have much screen-time, but she did well with what she was given.

Between the Tesla Coils, the plasma bolts, the homage to the mop scene in Fantasia and the magical mirrors, the special effects in the film were all top-notch.

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice isn’t likely to win any awards, and yes it is a simplistic story but it’s also one hell of a fun movie. I think everyone should go see this simply because it is Summer movie escapism at it’s best. So, grab some popcorn, shut off your hard working mind, regress to your ten-year-old self and just have fun. You remember what you were like before you got all snarky and jaded don’t you? Yeah, that’s the part of you that will have a blast watching The Sorcerer’s Apprentice… oh, and stay for the after-the-credits scene.

I give The Sorcerer’s Apprentice Three Out of Five Stars

Director: Nimród Antal

Writer: Alex Litvak, Michael Finch

Cast: Adrien Brody, Topher Grace, Alice Braga, Walton Goggins, Oleg Taktarov, Laurence Fishburne, Danny Trejo, Louis Ozawa Changchien, Mahershalalhashbaz Ali

MPAA Rating: R (for strong creature violence and gore, and pervasive language.)

Summary: Chosen for their ability to kill without conscience, a group of killers, some trained and some who are not, must endeavour the alien race of predators that have set out to target them as prey. Dropped into the vast jungle of a distant world, these human predators must learn just who, or what, they are up against, and that their ability, knowledge and wits are tested to the limits in the battle of survival of kill or be killed.

Run Time: 107 min

View the Trailer Here

Predators directed by Nimrod Antal jumps, or should I say falls right into the action. We see Royce (Adrien Brody) in free fall, heading towards the canopy of trees. After opening his chute at the last second and having a less than pleasant landing, we are quickly introduced to the rest of our anti-heroes: Cuchillo (Danny Trejo), Nikolai (Oleg Taktarov) Isabelle (Alice Braga), Hanzo (Louis Ozawa Changchien), Mombasa (Mahershalalhashbaz Ali), Stans (Walton Goggins), and Edwin (Topher Grace).

None of the characters have any idea what they are doing in the jungle, or why they are there. While happening upon evidence that they weren’t the only thing air dropped into this jungle, they see a horizon with multiple planets/moons and deduce that they are definitely not on earth. Royce and company then spend the film trying to outwit the Predators and stay alive. The most original thing that the film shows us the new Super Predator and the existence of a Predator hierarchy. The Super Predators are totally bad ass and are the upper echelon of the aforementioned hierarchy, as they hunt and torture not only humans but also the original Predators that we have come to know throughout the past films.

Adrien Brody may seem like an unlikely choice to play the ‘action hero’, but I have to admit that he pulled off the survivalist/mercenary role quite well and I was pretty impressed by his performance. I don’t expect this to be Brody’s last action role, I think he carved himself another path with this film.

Alice Braga is the beautiful, gritty and bad ass sniper named Isabelle. She was great and it was nice to see someone with a little more range play the “tough chick” role with a bit more dimension and personality. The only problem I had with her character (and this is a writing problem, not her fault) is that she was born in Brazil, is obviously Latin and they made her character a Sniper from the Israeli Defense Force. Though the IDF does recruit Jewish non-Israeli’s, it just didn’t fit right for me.

Laurence Fishburne appears as a lone survivor who has spent 10 hunting seasons living on the Predators’ hunting world and has completely lost his mind, his character is completely over-the-top and not a role you would expect to see Fishburne take. Did he do a good job with it? Yes, he played bat-shit crazy very well but, I was slightly disappointed because I was really hoping to see him kick some major ass in the movie, rather than just playing a total nut. Also, the fact that Fishburne is less than svelte these days didn’t lend any believability to him having been stranded there for 10 seasons, scavenging what he could to survive.

Trejo, Taktarov, Changchien and Ali’s characters were of the one dimensional, anyone could have played them type. I was really hoping for more development of every character but I was especially disappointed that Trejo’s character was left so empty. Walton Goggins and Topher Grace both lend to the comic relief, and take part in some creepy twists in the film. Fans of Goggins’ work will not be surprised how well he portrays a sociopathic prison inmate but, fans of Grace may very well be surprised by his role as a doctor in the film.

The kills were good, the goriest moments were definitely cool and while Predators is much closer in spirit to the original Predator film from 1987 than the AvP films ever were, it lacks the character development and the more often than not, cloaked Predator standing right beside you kind of “tension” that the first film excelled at. At times the film seems like a lazy homage to the original that just doesn’t reach it’s level. There’s so little character development that you really don’t care when someone gets killed.

The practical effects in the movie were outstanding and the Predators themselves did look fantastic .

In the end, Predators is a decent sci-fi/action flick on it’s own but it just doesn’t hold a candle to the original, nor does it bring anything amazingly new to the table.

I Give Predators Two Out of Five Stars

Director: Mark Edlitz

Cast: Olivia Munn, Ray Park, Peter Mayhew, D.M. Atlas, Jeremy Bulloch, Vince Collura

MPAA Rating: Not Rated

Summary: Star Wars has its hundreds of millions of “Star Wars Fans,” but there’s another kind of fan, one whose appreciation goes well beyond mere admiration for the films and becomes a part of their everyday life. This film is a fun, affectionate look at the men and women who have dedicated their personal and
professional lives to all things Star Wars -­ we call them the “Jedi Junkies”.

Run Time:  75 minutes

View the Trailer Here

Jedi Junkies, directed by Mark Edlitz is a grand tour through the fandom of the Star Wars galaxy. While the film does include a few celebrities, including Attack of the Show’s Olivia Munn, and Star Wars alumni, including Ray Park (Darth Maul), Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett), Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca), and more, offering their comments on the fans of Star Wars, the real stars of this documentary are the fans themselves.

The film touches on a plethora of different Star Wars fans. Collectors and their most impressive collections make an appearance, including the director of The Blair Witch Project, Eduardo Sánchez who shows off his own enormous collection, along with some compulsive collectors who have enough Star Wars toys to open their own museums. We also get a look at the tribute band AeroSith, The New York Jedi – a lightsaber dueling/choreography group, a metal craftsman who creates custom lightsabers, a pair of fan films, the comedy web series Chad Vader, and no look at Star Wars fandom would be complete without a glimpse of the female fans who embrace the look of Slave Leia. While many of the people profiled in Jedi Junkies may seem extreme to some…if you’re a fan, they are easy to relate to.

The only real criticism I could point to in the entire film would be the inclusion of “The Belly Dancing Princess“, Amira Sa’id. I’m sure she’s a nice girl and she obviously has belly dancing skills, but her (thankfully short) segment was just awful. It was painfully obvious that she was reading cue cards and her dialogue makes her sound completely full of herself.

Jedi Junkies does and outstanding job of showing the uniqueness of different Star Wars fans. While we all have the same foundation for our passionate fandom, some choose to create custom lightsaber hilts by sculpting metal, some create fan films, some collect all things Star Wars, and some create music based on Star Wars. Something that I found intriguing about Jedi Junkies is how creative and imaginative the fans of Lucas’ Universe are. Keeping the uniqueness of those fans in mind, Jedi Junkies does a great job of capturing the common thread of community and friendship between Star Wars fans as well. In my article celebrating the 30th Anniversary of Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, I made the statement that “Star Wars has been a catalyst for fandom, the likes of which the world had never seen before!” and this film does a fantastic job of proving my point.

Jedi Junkies is a nearly flawless look at the fans who bind the Star Wars galaxy together. If you’re a Star Wars fan or just a sci-fi fan, you’ll definitely dig this documentary.

I give Jedi Junkies Four Out of Five Stars

You can check out Jedi Junkies for yourself at iTunes or Amazon VOD

Genre

Director: Clay Liford

Writer: Clay Liford

Cast: Rebecca Spence, Peter Greene, Amelia Turner, Matt Socia, William Katt

MPAA Rating: Not Rated

Summary: After a mysterious atmospheric event, a small group of people wake up to realize that their entire lives have been a lie. They are in fact aliens disguised as humans. Now they have to make a choice. Live amongst men, or try to find a way back home

Run Time:  114 minutes

View the Trailer Here

The independent sci-fi film Earthling opens an alien connection between an unlikely group of characters and reflexively changes the trajectory of their lives. I had the opportunity to see Earthling in competition at the Dallas International Film Festival and was delighted to be able to support an independent sci-fi film made locally in Texas.

Earthling’s artfully woven premise lays out an intriguing situation that tests the humanity of this band of characters. According to filmmaker, Clay Liford, the film is “about life and the absence of life. Birth. Rebirth. What it means to be human.”

The talent that this indie film showcases is utterly brilliant. I was remarkably impressed by the performances of the two female leads – Rebecca Spence (The Break-Up, Grace Is Gone, Public Enemies) playing the main character, Judith, and Amelia Turner, playing the mysteriously influential Abby coming into Judith’s life. The dynamic these two actresses bring is the most striking and unforgettable element of this film.

Spence’s performance as Judith, a schoolteacher who learns that her infertility is due to an unearthly condition, is layered across many dimensions as you see her internal struggle play upon her face, posture, emotions, and voice. Liford wanted you to see this woman’s life not in the context of a damsel in distress, but as a being conflicted in what defines her existence. Spence was one of the few actors imported in for this Texan production. She brings nuances to this character with every movement and every breath that she takes on screen.

Playing opposite Spence is Turner’s role as Abby, who is the catalyst for Judith’s pivotal revelation in the film. Turner is an Austin local and her casting was a moment of absolute brilliance for film creator Clay Liford. Turner’s part was originally written for a teenage boy, but her being cast in this role lit a fire under the relationship between these two central female characters. Turner’s bold and fearless portrayal of Abby is more than head-turning. This actress will be one to watch for sure.

This central point of connection and conflict of Earthling forces a choice in Judith between humanity and the truth about this alien calling. Peter Greene’s (Pulp Fiction, The Usual Suspects) presence in this film brings a staid yet imposing facet to this story. The other characters in the film round out an unusual ensemble cast that hits the tone of the film on the head.

The film’s plot twists are punctuated by moments of horror and in some points, humor, which is an accomplishment in itself to be able to pull off in the breadth of a hard sci-fi film. The latter half of Earthling can become a little confusing due to the high level of emotions prevailing in the scenes, but it is indeed an ambitious effort.

Texan filmmaker, Clay Liford wrote, shot, directed, and edited Earthling as his first heavy drama feature. This film was not made for the masses. Liford’s love of the sci-fi genre drove him to make this film as an intelligent film that will engage you as a viewer and respect the fact that you are an intelligent consumer of the sci-fi genre.  Keep an eye out for SciFi Mafia’s exclusive interview with Liford for more on this topic. Liford currently has a comedic short film, My Mom Smokes Weed, which screened at Sundance and is also making the festival circuit run concurrently with Earthling. Earthling premiered at SXSW this spring.

Support indie sci-fi films and go see Earthling! It is an official selection of SXSW, Sci-Fi London, DIFF, and Santa Cruz Film Festival just to name a few. Earthling screens at Outfest in Los Angeles on July 10^th. Check the film’s official site for future festival dates.

I give Earthling Three Out of Five Stars.

Genre

Director: Mike Newell

Writer: Boaz Yakin, Doug Miro, Carlo Bernard (screenplay); Jordan Mechner (video game series)

Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Gemma Arterton, Sir Ben Kingsley, Alfred Molina, Steve Toussaint, Toby Kebbell and Richard Coyle

MPAA Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action

Summary: Based on the video game, which follows an adventurous prince who teams up with a rival princess to stop an angry ruler from unleashing a sandstorm that could destroy the world.

Run Time:  116 minutes

View the Trailer Here

If you were holding your breath for this film because it is an adaptation of a video game, you can breathe a sigh of relief. I am happy to say that Prince of Persia beats the odds and the horrible track record that video game-to-film adaptations have. Here’s why:

It’s a really fun ride! Much like Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is a fantastically paced film with a story capable of flexing enough muscle to make you laugh, gasp, and tear up all in the same two hours. It is loosely based on the Prince of Persia video game series by Ubisoft, taking the most intriguing elements of the story and importing them into a fool-proof equation of a summer blockbuster with a balance of action, humor, a character’s personal revelation, and of course, love.

The story of the film tells how Dastan became a Prince of Persia, being adopted right off the street by the King, and how his destiny is entwined with Princess Tamina of the fictional holy city of Alamut, the Dagger of Time, and ultimately, the Sands of Time. He must save his father’s kingdom from treacherous forces seeking to take control.

Prince of Persia is strongly performed by all members of the cast. Prince Dastan, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, is charming, heroic, humble, and (if you don’t mind me saying) disarmingly hot! Gemma Arterton portrays Princess Tamina of Alamut whose character is a conglomeration of the various princesses in the games – she is beautiful, mysterious, headstrong, and slightly whiney. Arterton pulls off an admirably strong female presence in the film with a sense of destiny that helps Dastan in his own journey.

Gyllenhaal and Arterton have a believable on-screen chemistry, trading verbal barbs and secretive glances much like that of their video game counterparts. Dastan’s two brothers Tus and Garsiv are played by Brit actors Richard Coyle (original British series, Coupling) and Toby Kebbell (Control, Alexander) respectively. Coyle surprised me as I most think of him in the comedic context as Jeff in Coupling. He handles a dramatic role without batting an eye. Sir Ben Kingsley delivers a steady performance as Dastan’s uncle Nazim, and though this isn’t an award-winning role for Kingsley, it is a healthy paycheck nonetheless for the Oscar-winning actor.

The way Prince of Persia is shot and edited will trigger you to recall another game as well. The free-running sequences over rooftops and through the city are very much like watching a live-action Assassin’s Creed which is appropriate considering the recent Prince of Persia games were built upon the Assassin’s Creed Anvil engine. There is even a scene shot exactly like the view point map-unlocking achievement in Assassin’s Creed with Prince Dastan standing on a cantilevered piece of wood atop a tall defense structure. Not that I minded that scene-steal, but I just felt distinctively like I was watching a video game in action at that very moment! Mike Newell (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) truly captures the look and feel of the game series in this film.

The special effects of the film are masterfully done and fully take the viewer into a sandstorm of suspension of disbelief. Dastan’s look is akin to the look he takes on in the Prince of Persia: Warrior Within game. The action sequences of the game are more like Warrior Within and later games. Fun Fact: Penny Rose, the costume designer for this film, is the same designer for all of the Pirates films.

The film’s score by Harry Gregson-Williams was similar in gist to Pirates and successful in painting an appropriate auditory landscape, but it is not nearly as memorable.

The only complaints I have about the film are small: for one, it could have ended about thirty seconds before it actually did. The closing scene is a Disney-sized helping of cheese and would have been better left off. Also, you’d think that the Sands of Time would have greater obstacles preventing its access, but other than that, I was entertained.

You’ve got to hand it to Walt Disney Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer (Pirates of the Caribbean, National Treasure). They are producing really entertaining summer blockbuster action movies and they have another solid hit with Prince of Persia.

Overall, Prince of Persia is a really fun ride with great pacing, but like the Sands of Time, it will easily pass through your mind. It’s a great popcorn flick for the season of blockbusters and a great way to escape the summer heat.

I Give Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Three Out of Five Stars.

Genre

Director: Jon Favreau

Writer: Justin Theroux

Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Sam Rockwell, Mickey Rourke, Samuel L. Jackson

MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sequences of sequences of intense sci-fi action, violence, and some language.

Summary: Billionaire Tony Stark must contend with deadly issues involving the government, his own friends, as well as new enemies due to his superhero alter ego Iron Man.

Run Time:  124 minutes

View the Trailer Here

[Warning: This review contains minor spoilers.]

Load up on the popcorn, Iron Man 2 is the perfect way to kick off the season of summer blockbusters! Jon Favreau’s sequel to Iron Man delivered exactly what you would expect and more. There are of course, the characters we know and love from the first film, heart-pounding action sequences, and spectacular special effects, but this sequel also possesses an engaging and moving storyline and a level of character depth not seen in the first installment of the franchise.

I enjoyed Iron Man 2 more than the first film primarily because in this sequel, you are allowed the opportunity to see significant character development in Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.). The palladium in the arc reactor that keeps Tony Stark alive is slowly killing him. He is once again, faced with his own mortality. How can he smart talk/buy/invent his way out of cheating death this time? As brilliant as he is, he can’t. This predicament is the catalyst for getting to know the real Tony Stark. Being able to see him deal with his impending death was the depth of character missing from the first film. Even though some might prefer his character to be pretty simple – a narcissistic playboy who is brilliant to the hilt and is the poster-child for those who don’t-care-what-other-people-think, I preferred getting to know Stark’s “inside face”. Icing on the character-development cake are Stark’s interactions with Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) which are tender and telling about their relationship. I felt privileged to get a better feel for Tony Stark with this film, which I think is natural considering the first film served as an introduction to this piece of the Marvel universe.

There were fantastic performances from the whole cast with the exception of the rich weasel character of Justin Hammer who was either written or performed with a way too heavy hand in the annoyance department. Robert Downey Jr.’s Stark hits another home run out of the park. He is, of course, the jewel of the film. Gwyneth Paltrow has more leeway with Pepper Potts this time around and we get to see more of her here. Mickey Rourke’s villain, Ivan Vanko aka Whiplash, not only has an imposing physical presence, but exuded a threatening and calculating demeanor much like a caged lion, poised to strike at any moment. Vanko is out for revenge for past wrongs and makes for a villain that frequently steals his scenes. Scarlett Johansson as Natalie Rushman/Natalia Romanoff aka Black Widow is as effective as she is beautiful. Jon Faveau as Happy Hogan was the perfect comedic foil between Tony and Pepper and further proves the great creative chemistry he has between himself and Robert Downey Jr. I don’t think anyone can find anything negative to say about Don Cheadle’s portrayal of Lt. Col. James ‘Rhodey’ Rhodes.

All of the characters are well balanced and represented with the marked exception of Justin Hammer, Stark’s rival in the defense contract biz, played by Sam Rockwell. Like I mentioned earlier, Justin Hammer is the most annoying part of this film, like nails screeching their way down a chalkboard. I felt like his character just ate up too much screen time. His scenes should have been shortened significantly for the sanity of the viewing audience. For all of you fanboys, Olivia Munn did indeed make a cameo in the film in a type of role that we are all familiar with.

The most striking element of the film for me is the delicious display of technology. It is a feast for the eyes and tantalizing to the mind of where modern tech can take us. These technological imaginations not only include advances in warfare, but takes conceptual tech like gesture tech (which is still in its infancy) to new levels of human interaction with the tool, incorporating three dimensional imaging into visual problem-solving. Even Stark’s PDA demonstrates impressive proactive dominance (did you like the way I didn’t say hacking?) and its integration of multi-media applications is an effin’ wet dream for us everyday folks. Then again, of course, Stark has the best toys around! The technology in this film is inspiring to say the very least. Aside from the Iron Man suits, freakin’ briefcase suit, and arc reactor tech, all that we see could be in our near future. This is a perfect example of the beauty of sci-fi and comics – to inspire the imagination! (Imagine that I said that last part with the cadence and conviction of Dr. Walter Bishop from “Fringe” for added emphasis.)

The special effects teams have outdone themselves. They made every single piece of tech, the Iron Man suits, and Whiplash’s rig seem perfectly realistic and believable. Giant donut-sized kudos go to all who worked on the effects for this film. The action sequences are seamlessly done and are top notch! Iron Man 2 does not even need 3D to pimp its effects out. The special effects in this film simply do not need that kind of gimmick to work, they are viciously realistic in the standard 2D format.

The only thing missing from the film, is the “you complete me” portion of the trailer in the actual film. It was a cute scene that I’d hoped to see the context of, but alas, it must have hit the cutting room floor for the theatrical version. Along those lines, the character depth of this film gives it weight with the female audience while entertaining the men with technology and things that go boom. Iron Man 2 is the perfect date film in that respect.

Fans of the Marvel universe will appreciate all the Easter eggs in the film, primarily in the scene where Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) has Tony Stark in the Avengers HQ. Pssssstt!! Pay attention to the surroundings in that scene. I also urge you to stay after the credits! Like the first Iron Man, there is a scene that comes up after the credits roll that people with at least some knowledge of the Marvel comics would appreciate.

All in all, Favreau has raised the bar for himself with this installment of Iron Man.

I give Iron Man 2 Three Out of Five Stars

Director: Matthew Vaughn

Writers: Jane Goldman & Matthew Vaughn

Cast: Aaron Johnson, Chloe Moretz, Nicolas Cage, Mark Strong, Christopher Mintz-Plasse

MPAA rating: R (for strong brutal violence throughout, pervasive language, sexual content, nudity and some drug use – some involving children. )

Summary: KICK-ASS tells the story of average teenager Dave Lizewski (Aaron Johnson), a comic-book fanboy who decides to take his obsession as inspiration to become a real-life superhero. As any good superhero would, he chooses a new name—Kick-Ass—assembles a suit and mask to wear, and gets to work fighting crime. There’s only one problem standing in his way: Kick-Ass has absolutely no superpowers whatsoever.

His life is forever changed as he inspires a subculture of copy cats, meets up with a pair of crazed vigilantes—including an 11-year-old sword-wielding dynamo, Hit Girl (Chloë Moretz) and her father, Big Daddy (Nicolas Cage)—and forges a friendship with another fledgling crime-fighter, Red Mist (Christopher Mintz-Plasse). But thanks to the scheming of a local mob boss Frank D’Amico (Mark Strong), that new alliance will be put to the test

Run time: 117 min

View the Trailer Here

Kick-Ass is the story of your every day comic book geek, Dave Lizewski (Aaron Johnson), who asks his friends the question that many comic book geeks (including myself) have asked “How come nobody’s every tried to be a Superhero?“. Dave gets the answer to his question in short order.

After purchasing a scuba suit online and turning it into his superhero disguise, Dave hits the streets and attempts to dissuade a couple of criminals from breaking into a car, and well… let’s just say that it doesn’t go so well. He does however prove more successful in his next attempt at heroism and inadvertently manages to thwart a violent, gang attack on one helpless man in a diner parking lot. The diner patrons all bust out the mobile phones and record the encounter, which ends up being posted to the internet and goes viral enough to hit the evening news.

Unbeknownst to Dave, there are two other – more capable, masked vigilantes on the streets that go by the names Big Daddy and Hit-Girl (Nicolas Cage and Chloe G. Moretz) who are already trying to take down the mob operations in the city, which are run by the villainous Frank D’Amico (Mark Strong).

Nicolas Cage was simply astounding as Big Daddy/Damon Macready. Cage’s portrayal was a return to the quirky, off-kilter acting that most people love him for. His ability to portray an emotionally crushed man who truly loves his Daughter but has an undeniable thirst for vengeance is brilliant. Cage’s ability to convey the emotion necessary for the audience to understand why and what pushed his character to not only become a vigilante, but also to justify raising his only Daughter to become an 11 year-old, sweet faced, foul mouth, relentless killing machine was impressive as well.

That 11 year-old, relentless killing machine is Hit-Girl/Mindy Macready who is played pitch perfectly by Chloe G. Moretz. As good as Nicolas Cage plays the part of Big Daddy, Moretz steals the show! Yes, her action scenes are fantastic and will likely bring you to your feet as you watch the path of destruction she leaves in her wake, but her ability to deliver adult dialogue (I’m not talking about the bad words) and her ability to convey emotion through the purple wig and mask was really amazing for a girl of just 11 years-old (when filming).

There is a scene near the end of the film where Moretz is tasked with some intense and violent action, which is sandwiched between an overwhelming sense of panic and grief for her character, and Moretz seemed to pull it off effortlessly. Hit-Girl is far and away the coolest female assassin ever to grace the screen, she is ‘girl power’ personified and Moretz definitely has a bright future ahead of her.

Mark Strong did a fantastic job playing Frank D’Amico and Christopher Mintz-Plasse as Chris D’Amico/Red Mist, who I was rooting for in his seeming quest to step out of the McLovin’ shadow, just barely managed to accomplish that. Don’t get me wrong, Mintz-Plasse was not bad, there were just a few moments in the film where that character seeped through and they were all when he was playing the alter-ego of Red Mist. Ironically with no costume on and playing the role of Chris D’Amico, he was actually less McLovin’esque.

Aaron Johnson as the titular character did a great job and I almost feel bad for him. While he played the role perfectly, it was easily overshadowed by the outstanding performances from Cage and Moretz.

Interspersed throughout the mayhem, Kick-Ass does also manage to deliver some insightful social commentary but, unlike some other films in the recent past who chose to go the heavy-handed route with their message, Vaughn thankfully manages to make them subtle and nuanced, rather than talking down to his audience.

Director Matthew Vaughn, did an impeccable job of pacing and balance in Kick-Ass and the cinematography in the film is quite impressive. Despite their frenetic pace, you never lose focus of what’s actually happening within the action shots.

I’ve read a lot of words thrown around to describe Kick-Ass. Some say that it’s “disturbing“, “hyper-violent“, “vulgar“, and even “morally reprehensible“. I’m going to go in a different direction and say that “Kick-Ass is original, relentless, action packed and brazenly funny.”

I give Kick-Ass Four Out of Five Stars