Frankenweenie (2012)

*** S  P  O  I  L  E  R  S***

"The electrifying dog is back from beyond the grave."

RATED- PG

RUN TIME- 87 MINS

WRITER(S)- LEONARD RIPPS, TIM BURTON AND JOHN AUGUST

STARRING- WINONA RYDER, CATHERINE O'HARA AND MARTIN SHORT

DIRECTOR- TIM BURTON

Synopsis taken from IMDb

Young Victor conducts a science experiment to bring his beloved dog Sparky back to life, only to face unintended, sometimes monstrous, consequences. 

STORY: I first saw the original 1984 Frankenweenie short film about 7 or 8 years ago when I bought The Nightmare Before Christmas on DVD. I liked it a lot. It was dark and demented, but also sort of cute. However, that was at a time when I still was a fan of Tim Burton's work. One of the cool things about Frankenweenie was the teacher being a Vincent Price look-alike and they kept that true in this full feature film. I'm a big Price fan.

Victor Frankenstein is a filmmaker and a scientist. He is known around school as being extremely intelligent, but he has no friends and no life. So his father insists he gets out of the house and Victor follows suit. He gets involved in a baseball game and hits his first ever home run, but his victory is instantly turned to gloom. When his dog Sparky chases the ball Victor hit it leads to his demise when he's hit by a car and killed. Victor remembers a recent science demonstration he saw of electricity making dead frogs move. Victor digs up Sparky and makes a laboratory.

Once the experiment goes right Sparky escapes into the neighborhood and is spotted by Igor, a kid Victor sees and interacts with now and again. Igor blackmails Victor into giving him his secret. Igor shows off his invisible goldfish to some "cool kids" at school and they make Victor give up his formula. The bullies ensue the Victor's whole class to make their own experiments and his secrecy of Sparky to even his parents is over. Soon after, the town is in fear of their lives as the monsters their sons and daughters created and it's up to Victor and Sparky to stop it. 

I had heard this movie has a sad ending and it did. However, it is short lived. This is just another story about how playing God only makes things go a billion times worse than possible. It's about letting go and moving on. It's about not compromising the laws of physics and moral for the sake of ones benefit. And ultimately, it's about how attempting to create life is a bigger burden than anyone can handle and too much power.

Victor greets Sparky upon his arrival back to life.

ANIMATION/FX: The animation in this film was great but also typical. It's a cool idea but it's nothing we haven't seen before. It's very generic and was better understood as a short film. Instead, you have a full length movie with black and white claymation. It's just unimpressive.

OVERALL: This story hits a spot with me that will always be a fan of Burton, but it's not enough. This, like all his other recent movies show how tired his material is. It's the same package wrapped in a different paper. Frankenweenie is probably the only last decent film Burton has left and it's not even original. To the Burton that brought us Sleepy Hollow, Beetlejuice, Big Fish, Batman and Edward Scissorhands, I ask you to please move on and do something new or hang up the goofy hat.

THIS FILM GETS 3 REAPER SKULLS OUT OF 5

The Ungodly (2007)

"a.k.a "The Perfect Witness"

*** S  P  O  I  L  E  R  S ***

"Do You Fit His Profile?"

RATED-R

RUN TIME- 100 MINS

WRITER(S)- MARK BORKOWSKI AND THOMAS DUNN

STARRING- WES BENTLEY, MARK BORKOWSKI AND JOANNE BARON

DIRECTOR- THOMAS DUNN

Synopsis taken from IMDb

Mickey is about to get his big break as an amateur film maker, from a serial killer who turns him and his camera into 'the perfect witness'.

STORY:  "The Perfect Witness" had me intrigued instantly by it's description. However, I wasn't sure how well it would hold up. There's a lot of movies out there that sound intriguing and when I put them on I shut them off 10 minutes later. So I was pleased that this film brought the good stuff. This isn't just a slasher movie. It takes you inside the mind of a killer, it's as psychological as they get.

 Mick (Wes Bentley) has been tracking down a local serial killer James Lemac (Mark Borkowski) and the movie picks up with him finding James in an alley talking to a woman. While Mick hides behind a dumpster with his camera he records James sweet talking the broad before stabbing her to death. This scene was shot very gritty and raw, so I knew this movie had some potential and wanted to see where this was going. James sees Mick behind the dumpster and is shocked. Mick has James meet him on a public bench in a park the following day to make a deal; Mick won't turn James in or show anyone the tape, in return James has to allow himself to be filmed and interviewed by Mick on camera.

James is is hesitant and doesn't open up immediately. He even tries to snake in some conversation to get Mick to say somethings about himself, like where he goes to school and where he lives. Luckily, Mick isn't stupid and sees right through it and keeps it professional. He just wants James to open his mind to the camera and show people how he functions. Most importantly, Mick wants to get to the root of why James murders women so savagely. Mick starts to get closer than he wants as James opens up with him completely and introduces Mick to his sister, Megan (Joanne Baron).

Mick interviews Megan and learns that James and Megan's mother was a wretched woman and extremely abusive. This is proven to him when James takes him into the basement where his mother used to keep him chained up to pipes. There's even old drawings and notes that James made stuck between the pipes from when he was chained up. Mick comes to the conclusion that James kills women because in his mind he's killing his mother for all the abuse and torture he endured. Only his mother's already dead and in an ern in the house.

When Mick gets home he finds out his mother gave a strange man their address. She said he was nice and charming. Mick knows it was James and that despite playing along with Mick's deal, James has been doing some digging on his own. Soon after, Mick's mother goes missing and James won't let her go until Mick plays along with his new game. To tag along with James during his kills and assist him as well as record them. The stress and insanity of the whole situation drives Mick to heavy drinking and pill popping. Mick re-evaluates the stories told by Mick and Megan about their mother and puzzles together that their mother isn't dead, Emma Lemac (Beth Grant) is alive.

After disclosing this information with James things go from bad to worse when James gets violent with his sister for lying to him all these years about their mother. Mick does some work and discovers where Emma Lemac is so James can finish his work and cut out the root of his evil. Once face to face with his mother, James is faced with the toughest choice of his life. And Mick is too far gone to save.

James (left) and Mick (right) pay Emma Lemac a visit

ACTING: The acting in this movie is good. Mark Borkowski does a great job at playing a twisted maniac. Wes Bentley did some overacting, but kept it on point. These characters really make you feel something psychological and emotional and that's what's so convincing.



KILLS/GORE: The kills are done in a gruesome way that not only makes it realistic but makes you uneasy as the viewer. James Lemac is a twisted, sick man and getting in his head isn't good for anyone. I love how they showed you his methods and how he gets the ladies to open up to him. It was well done and made it rough to watch him when he go going.



OVERALL: This movie takes you into a psychopaths head but what it really shows you is the extent some people are willing to go to make a name for themselves. Regardless of how egotistical and low he has to be, Mick gives up everything. Risks his life and the lives of those around him for the sake of his own potential fame. Ultimately it's all Mick's fault. James says something like, "if it wasn't for you we wouldn't be here. If you'd turned in the tape and done the right thing we wouldn't be here right now." and that pretty much sums it up.

THIS FILM GETS 3 1/2 REAPER SKULLS OUT OF 5

February Shmebuary...Eat Your Heart Out

There's isn't a whole lot going on on the horror front this month, aside from Girls Against Boys. So since this month is somewhat boring I'm going to be reviewing older movies I've been watching. I figure this is a good time to review some movies that I wouldn't be able to get around to if there were new horror movies coming out.

I've seen some pretty decent films lately like The Theater Bizarre and Faces In The Crowd. I also really enjoyed The Killing Gene, that had a good twist. Black Out and Wrecked are also some I could possibly review. This month is basically pure fun because I can review whatever I want with no pressure. I may review another animated comic movie as well and Frankenweenie is one I'll definitely be reviewing.

 Recently I've been on a Tom Hardy kick. I'm not trying to lie to or fool anyone, I jumped on Hardy's bandwagon after seeing him in Bronson and then Bane in The Dark Knight Rises. Since then I've come to think of him as a really good actor and underrated. So I'm systematically going through all the movies Tom Hardy has been in. Recently I've watch Wuthering Heights, This Means War, Lawless, Dot The i, Layer Cake and some others. So don't be surprised if you see a few Tom Hardy movies pop-up on here this month.

There isn't too much going on at the theaters either. Nothing worth the ticket cost, anyway. I was going to go see The Last Stand just for the hell of it, to have some laughs with the guys on guy night. It's not playing any longer so that's out of the question, and Bullet To The Head just doesn't seem worth it. Both are $1.25 Redbox rentals for sure.

 So, I'll be chipping away at my Netflix instant queue everyday or as often as possible. Any goodies I find I'll definitely be reviewing. If I had enough time to review every horror movie I watch I swear my site would be an A-Z horror library. Unfortunately, I don't have that amount of free time so I must pick and choose what I review.

Also, since February is the the month of love I'll be doing a big review on one of my favorite slasher films of all-time: My Bloody Valentine. I always get excited when I get to review a favorite and classic.

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 & 2 (2012-2013)

*** S  P  O  I  L  E  R  S ***

"The last fight begins."

RATED- PG-13

RUN TIME- 76 MINS

WRITER(S)- BOB GOODMAN, BOB KANE AND FRANK MILLER

STARRING- PETER WELLER, ARIEL WINTER AND DAVID SHELBY

DIRECTOR- JAY OLIVIA

Synopsis taken from IMDb

Batman has not been seen for ten years. A new breed of criminal ravages Gotham City, forcing 55-year-old Bruce Wayne back into the cape and cowl. But, does he still have what it takes to fight crime in a new era?

STORY: Frank Miller's The Dark Knight returns was the first serious Batman book I read. Up until that point I read the comics as a kid growing up, but nothing captivated me like this one. From the go I knew that I was in for a serious, no BS Batman story and that's perfectly alright with me. This isn't a "Green Lantern friendly batman" or a kiddie cartoon Batman. This is Dark Batman. The good stuff.

Excerpt from Batman: The Dark Knight Returns:

And all the other old farts, they grunt and nod and grumble at each other.Swapping old jokes they've swapped a thousand times. Even fat beet-red "Penguin" chirps out a curse or two before bursting into tears.

Then they get talking. And if you got half a brain, you listen. 

They talk about amazing adventures, sounding like a bunch of retired car mechanics the whole time.

They talk about a Man of Steel. An Amazon Princess.

But they never talk about the mean one. The cruel one. The one who couldn't fly or bend steel in his bare hands. The one who scared the crap out of everybody and laughed at all of the rest of us for being the envious cowards we were.

No, they never talked about him. Say his name and watch Dibny's face sag so bad his jaw hits the bar. 

Not a man among them wants to hear about Batman.

Was he quietly assassinated? Or did he just decide we weren't worth the grief?

The question hangs in the air for a moment or two, then Jones springs for a round for everybody and himself.

Commissioner James Gordon is retiring and 70-years-old. Harvey Dent undergoes surgery to fix his disfigured face and is declared sane, but mysteriously goes into hiding after being released. With Dent missing and "The Mutants" taking over the city, Bruce is forced to be Batman again. The reaction to his comeback is mixed.

Batman has to take Dent down after finding out that Dent is still insane and a psychotic criminal. He faces "The Mutants" and their leader as well. After nearly dying he takes on a new protege. 13-year-old Carrie Kelley. Batman faces the Mutant leader a 2nd time and evens the odds, defeating him in front of all the other "Mutants".

Bruce Wayne once again becomes the Batman

ACTION: The action in this movie is intense and even brutal at points. Bruce Wayne is angry and out to hurt the corrupt. I remember a part of the book where he breaks a criminals leg with a nasty kick. That part is in the movie but not as violent.



ANIMATION: The animation in this movie is well done. It compliments Frank Miller's work but is done in a much smoother fashion. The recent animated movies to come from DC and Marvel have actually been spot-on with the artists and animation.



OVERALL: This movie isn't exact to the book but it's damn close. This is a good animated film to watch for every Batman fan. It's got all the good stuff in it and is rich with a good story about overcoming the odds and standing up for what's right, and never giving up.

THIS FILM GETS 3 REAPER SKULLS OUT OF 5

"Justice returns...Vengeance returns...Redemption comes to Gotham"

RATED- PG-13

RUN TIME- 76 MINS

WRITER(S)- BOB GOODMAN, FRANK MILLER

STARRING- PETER WELLER, ARIEL WINTER AND MICHAEL EMERSON

Synopsis taken from IMDb

The Batman has returned after a 10-year absence. The Gotham authorities want to arrest him. An old foe wants to put a stop to him.

STORY: After being in a catatonic state in Arkham Asylum since Batman's retirement, the Joker is brought back by Batman's comeback. He goes on a talk show to tell his story, to show the sympathetic side of himself. Only it's never that easy with the Joker. He always has a sick and twisted plan up his sleeve.

The Joker gases everyone in the studio to death and makes an escape. The Joker has a mind control substance in the lipstick he wears and uses it brainwash a congressman into making a nuclear strike on the soviets. Batman then chases the Joker through a fair as Joker shoots and murders at least a dozen people. Batman and Joker have a showdown which ends in Batman being shot and stabbed a few times. Batman snaps Joker's neck and ends the madness once and for all before barely escaping the authorities.

Batman, Gordon and Carrie gather the Sons of Batman; all of "The Mutants" that jumped ship and follow Batman. Together they re-establish peace and yet the greatest challenges awaits. Yindel, the new police commissioner orders Superman to take Batman out. Yindel believes Batman has become too powerful and must be stopped. Superman and Batman fight in a brutal and bone crushing brawl that ultimately leaves Batman victorious, but dead from a heart attack. Alfred dies from a stroke and Wayne Manor self-destructs.

In the end Batman faked his death and is now residing underground with Carrie and with the Sons of Batman, who he has sworn to teach all of his tricks and abilities to. So his work will live on even if it isn't him doing it.

Batman and Superman face off in a superfight.

ACTION: The action in this movie is crazy good. The fight between Batman and Superman is epic, even if it is an animated movie. The violence in this one is also stepped up a notch with the Joker being in it.

ANIMATION: Same as the first film. Done well and smooth and clean.

OVERALL: This story is just as good as a 2 part animated movie as it is a graphic novel. They're almost verbatim with slight differences. This is the story of a man who gives it all to lose it all. And in the end, continue his legacy.

THIS FILM GETS 3 REAPER SKULLS OUT OF 5