How Do You Write A Joe Schermann Song Teaser Trailer

Here is the first teaser for Gary King's new indie film, it's a musical.  
It's called How Do You Write A Joe Schermann Song.




I'm not a great fan of musicals really, but this short tease has picked up my interest easily, it looks like a great piece of work.  Cannot wait to see this.  

Film Review with Robert Mann - Avatar: Special Edition

Avatar: Special Edition 3D (Re-release/Extended Version) *****

At the global box office, James Cameron’s Avatar has already earned a staggering $2,740,405,721 – that’s the highest amount ever earned by a single movie, the highest by a massive margin. Apparently, though, that amount just isn’t enough, as is evidenced by this week’s release of Avatar: Special Edition, a re-release that really seems no purpose other than to get even more money out of paying cinemagoers. Sure, it contains nine minutes of extra footage but the question has to be asked, why not just include those nine minutes in the original release of the film?

It is the year 2154 and Earth is a dying world. Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) is a paraplegic ex-marine who is dispatched to the distant jungle world of Pandora where a sinister corporation, run by corporate boss Parker Selfridge (Giovanni Ribisi), is mining a rare and extremely valuable mineral called Unobtanium. However, the native Na’Vi, a humanoid race who claim Pandora as their home, both physically and spiritually, are none too happy about the damage the humans are causing to their world. So, under the leadership of Dr. Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver), the Avatar Programme has been created to negotiate with the Na’Vi, the Avatars being genetically engineered beings made up of both human and Na’Vi DNA. However, while sharing similar appearance, the Avatars are not trusted by the tribe and the situation is rapidly deteriorating. Thus, Jake, the newest member of the Avatar Programme, is recruited by the gung-ho Colonel Quaritch (Stephen Lang) to get on the inside of the Na’Vi tribe and obtain intelligence that will be used against them. Initially, Jake is focused on his mission but everything changes when he encounters Neytiri (Zoe Saldana), a member of the Na’Vi tribe who believes there is something special about him. As he is brought into the tribe and begins to learn their ways, Jake finds himself falling in love not only with Neytiri but also the tribe and the entire world. Meanwhile, the restless Colonel moves forward with his ruthless extermination tactics, forcing the soldier to take a stand. Enlisting the help of the increasingly embittered Dr Augustine, along with fellow Avatar participant Norm Spellman (Joel David Moore) and pilot Trudy Chacon (Michelle Rodriguez), Jake brings together all the tribes of Pandora for an epic battle for the fate of the world once and for all.

If you saw Avatar on its initial release in cinemas then it is fair to say that you will know exactly what to expect from Avatar: Special Edition. Just like the original version of the film, it still boasts the best 3D effects to date (and helps to banish from memory the crime against 3D that was the other Avatar movie – The Last Airbender), the visual effects never fail to dazzle and astound, the action sequences are both superb and epic, the acting if virtually faultless and the writing is strong if unoriginal – this is basically Pocahontas transposed to an alien planet. Suffice to say, the film is still brilliant. But what about the much touted extra nine minutes of footage? Well, depending on how observant you are they will either strengthen the story slightly or go by unnoticed altogether. The extra sequences are relatively insubstantial, not really standing out in any significant way, but this is not because they are irrelevant, as is the case with the extended editions of many movies, and rather because they blend so organically into the film as to make them seem as if they were part of the movie the whole time. This additional footage includes a scene in the abandoned school that was referred to but not shown in the original version of the film, an additional action scene involving an aerial hunt of animals on the ground below, a Na’Vi love scene, a scene where the Na’Vi attack and destroy the human bulldozers followed by a scene of the humans inspecting the wreckage, and a scene featuring the death of a prominent Na’Vi character as well as a variety of scenes featuring new animals that were not seen in the original version of the film and a number of extensions to scenes that did feature in the original release of the film. None of this necessarily adds a substantial amount to the film but there is distinct strengthening of the plot with certain story and character developments gaining new insight and the additional pieces of action help to make an already thrilling movie a bit more so. So, the extra footage does add something to the film but may well not be noticed by less observant viewers. Avatar: Special Edition is still a movie going experience to behold and is certainly worth checking out for the opportunity to see the film once again in the medium it was meant to be seen in but there isn’t anything truly special about this extended cut to make it a must see for anyone but the most devoted of fans and those who didn’t get the chance to see the film first time around.

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Review by Robert Mann BA (Hons)

Michael Cera's Favourite Films

The awesome Intervals of Awesome managed to speak to Mr Pilgrim himself, Michael Cera.  They pinned him down, for two hours.  Cera a handwritten list of stuff to see.

The list is very good indeed, and he has included my favourite and the best film ever made - Rear Window.  Well done sir.

Inspired, I have stuck a quick list below.  Perhaps you could do the same?  Email us?

 

Dead Rising 2 Coming Soon

Dead Rising 2, the new sequel to the award winning and extremely fun Dead Rising, is soon to be released. A 3rd person survival horror/action game, you play as Chuck Greene, who is stuck in Fortune City (a city similar to Las Vegas) which is infested with thousands of zombies. With a bunch of other characters that you can choose to save or not, and a large area to explore, you'll have a lot to keep you busy. It has all the over-the-top gore and violence of the first game, plus many new and exciting features. The first game let you use almost anything and everything as a weapon, but now you can combine things and make your own weapons of zombie destruction. Want to use two chainsaws on the ends of a pole like and take on a horde of zombies? Go ahead. There are tons of item combinations that will get you fantastic and deadly weapons (do they still count as deadly if you're using them on the undead? I'd say yes) and contraptions to fight off swarms of zombies with.

Other new features include online multiplayer, in the form of a mode for up to 4 players called "Terror Is Reality", in which players will go against each other for the most points in a reality TV style gameshow setting. There will be the ability to use weapons and also ridiculously insane vehicles. The mode should provide lots of fun for players who enjoy chopping apart zombies and being competitive at the same time. Dead Rising 2 also features Co-Op online play, where a friend can join in on a friend's campaign and help out with taking care of the undead.

If you're interested in seeing some devious contraptions, here's a good video for you to watch. I present, Satan's Balls. No, that isn't the name of a raunchy adult film, I promise.

Dead Rising 2 hits the Xbox 360 and PS3 in Europe on September 24th, and on the 28th in North America. It also comes out for PC in both Europe and North America on the 28th. If you're a fan of mass zombie annihilation, go pick the game up, because you will have one hell of a time.

Film Review with Robert Mann - Grown Ups

Grown Ups ***

After making a foray into the family movie with Bedtime Stories and attempting something both a bit more serious and a bit more adult with Funny People, funny man Adam Sandler is back to his trademark kind of comedy – low brow, but not necessarily unfunny, laughs that will likely appeal mostly to teenage viewers or those with a taste for undemanding humour – for the first time since You Don’t Mess With the Zohan. One might think that Grown Ups might be something of a return to form after the disappointments of Zohan and I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry but since the very beginning there has been one thing casting doubt as to whether his latest film would actually be any good – Dennis Dugan. Even though Dugan has directed some pretty good comedies in the past, among them 2006’s Rob Schneider starrer The Benchwarmers and Sandler’s very own Big Daddy and Happy Gilmore, he was also the architect of Sandler’s mediocre recent forays into this particular kind of comedy and his involvement here from the get go was not exactly an encouraging sign for its quality. If Grown Ups has one thing going for it that might go some way to making up for Dugan’s involvement, however, it is the cast. You see, this film isn’t merely another Adam Sandler vehicle but rather an ensemble piece not unlike last year’s Couples Retreat, albeit aimed at a slightly younger audience, with a cast that also includes Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade, Rob Schneider and Salma Hayek among others. As it turns out, though, a big line up of stars doesn’t necessarily make for a great movie as, while Grown Ups is far from being one of Sandler’s worst movies, it is also far from being one of his best.

Back in 1978, Lenny, Kurt, Eric, Rob and Marcus were best friends. Thirty years later, the guys reunite to mark the passing of their childhood basketball coach. With wives and kids in tow, they spend the Fourth of July weekend together at the lake house where they celebrated their championship years earlier. Ladies' man Marcus (David Spade) wastes no time in ribbing Lenny (Adam Sandler) about his weight, while Lenny's fashion designer wife Roxanne (Salma Hayek) mistakes Gloria (Joyce Van Patten), the somewhat older wife of Rob (Rob Schneider), for his mother! And speaking of mothers, Eric (Kevin James) is married to Sally (Maria Bello), who still breastfeeds their four-year-old son, much to the horror of househusband Kurt (Chris Rock), whose wife Deanne (Maya Rudolph) pays little attention to, and Roxanne. Clearly, the guys have a lot of catching up to do, reliving their high spirited youth and trying to forget they're grown-ups...

One thing that is clear when watching Grown Ups is that the stars are having a lot of fun. Whether you do though will depend entirely on your personal taste in humour – if you like your humour to be smart and sophisticated you will be sorely disappointed (there again, that would be the case with almost any Adam Sandler movie) but if you like your humour to be obvious rather than subtle and not afraid to be bit rude and crude when called for you will probably love this movie, despite its many shortcomings. You see, while pretty much everyone in the cast clearly is having a lot of fun, this doesn’t mean that they performing at anywhere near their best. Don’t get me wrong, almost everyone does manage to be entertaining but there is a distinct sense that no one in the cast is actually at the top of their game, with Sandler in particular definitely not on top form. Individually, none of the stars really manages to shine, although together they do at least make for an amusing ensemble. The main failing of the film is the writing, with there being little genuine plot to speak of and attempts to inject some kind of philosophy to proceedings seeming rather out of place. The puerile humour is something of a mixed bag with even those in the target audience likely to find plenty to be both amused and repulsed about in the film. The film is quite gross, if suggestively rather than explicitly, at times and some scenes may make some viewers feel like hurling, notably gags involving Rob’s much older wife which really push against the boundaries of good taste. Also, a lot of gags revolve around characters making fun of one another or being humiliated, even if it is all in good fun, and some scenes seem present for little more purpose than to provide eye candy for viewers, with there being plenty for viewers both male and female. In spite of all this, however, the physical comedy, the not so witty one liners, the amusing comebacks, the shameless puns and an amusing cameo by Steve Buscemi do manage to raise some pretty big laughs – in fact, the audience at the screening this critic attended was laughing their asses off – and the film certainly provides an enjoyable viewing experience. It’s just a shame, though, that more couldn’t have been made of the overall film. The heartfelt message about enjoying the simpler things in life certainly resonates and there is clear potential for something great here but, despite being funny, there is much missing. With more effort from the cast, a better storyline and a bit less crudeness this could have ranked among Adam Sandler’s best movies but, as it is, it is rather a enjoyable but forgettable comedy, an amusing diversion and not a whole lot more. As it stands, though, Grown Ups is a major step up over some of Sandler’s other recent movies so it is at least a step in the right direction. Somewhat ironically, perhaps, is that grown ups are probably less likely to appreciate this film than younger viewers.

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Review by Robert Mann BA (Hons)

Film Review with Robert Mann - Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Diary of a Wimpy Kid ****

It may not mean much for us Brits but in the states Diary of a Wimpy Kid is actually a bestselling book series with four novels having already being released and another set for release later this year. Written by American author Jeff Kinley (who also executive produces this film), the series provides a view of what life is like in middle school from the perspective of a young boy named Greg Heffley and the books read like a journal (hence the “diary” part of the title). Of course, differences between the American and British school systems likely mean that viewers over here won’t be able to relate to all the themes that feature in the stories (the first of which is adapted in this film) but this hasn’t stopped the film from proving very popular on its release in the states in March, managing to more than stand up to the star powered likes of The Bounty Hunter on its opening weekend and perform well enough to warrant a sequel which is scheduled for release sometime next year. As for this first chapter, however, is it an enjoyable family movie or is it just wimpy?

For Greg Heffley (Zachary Gordon) middle school is the dumbest idea ever invented. Not only is it an “intellectual wasteland”, according to the precocious Angie (Chloë Grace Moretz) but also, as Greg complains, “You've got kids like me who haven't hit their growth spurt yet mixed in with gorillas who have to shave twice a day.” Greg's diabolical brother Rodrick (Devon Bostick) isn't much help either. His advice is “Don't talk to anyone, don't look at anyone, don't sit down...”, but he still reckons Greg will be dead or homeschooled by the end of the year. Thankfully, Greg has his best friend Rowley (Robert Capron) who always looks on the bright side of things - and a colourful crew of fellow middle schoolers like Patty (Laine MacNeil), Chirag (Karan Brar) and Fregley (Grayson Russell) to hang out with...

A poster for Diary of a Wimpy Kid features the tagline “It isn’t a movie. It’s a survival guide.” In many ways this is exactly what the film is. Essentially taking the formula so often applied to high school movies and applying it to a middle school (that’s the American equivalent to junior school for any British people reading this) setting, this film not only manages to avoid many of the clichés that plague that kind of film and feel fresh – high school movies are ten a penny but middle school ones are quite few and far between by comparison – but also provides a refreshingly honest and very funny look at the kind of things that make attending middle school so hard, such as the playground superstitions and the need to be popular. Not all of this translates well to non American viewers but there is still a lot to relate to here, with the horrors of middle school being something that many people may have experienced at one time or another. This relatability, combined with the film’s portrayal of the gullibility of imagination of children – Greg is a kid with big dreams and we are shown these through a number of well integrated fantasy sequences – is the source of much of the humour that is present here and, while not all gags hit the mark, there are some real laugh out loud moments to be found. Sure, the film is occasionally a tad gross but it is kid gross and it ties in to the relatability of it all as much as anything else. A key reason that much of this works is the writing which is both sharp and witty and while the plot is a bit disjointed at times – the story is more like a series of smaller stories reflecting each of Greg’s journal entries rather than one complete narrative – the character development, the lessons learned and the strong payoff ensure that you won’t care too much. The film also stays true to the journalistic style of its literary inspiration, with Greg’s journal entries being presented in the form of voiceover narration and everything being seen from his perspective. There are also some good messages here, making this is a film that may teach kids a thing or two as well as keeping them amused. Another strong point is the animated segments that feature throughout the film, sometimes even integrated with the live action content, that stay true to the delightfully simplistic illustrations of the source material, the animation looking like something that a child might draw and actually working so well because of this. No film, however, would be complete without strong performances from its cast and the film does not disappoint in this regard. The adult actors, notably Rachael Harris and Steve Zahn as Greg’s parents, prove amusing if a bit underwhelming but it is the kids who really shine and every single one of them is cast to perfection. The likes of Zachary Gordon, Robert Capron, Karan Brar, Grayson Russell and Laine MacNeill all bring their characters to vivid life, each their own distinctive and colourful personality, but it is Chloë Grace Moretz (last seen in this year’s brilliant adult superhero movie Kick-Ass) who really steals the show with a mature performance that once again demonstrates acting ability way beyond her years. So, there you have it – a family film that is far from your typical piece of family entertainment. Hotel For Dogs director Thor Freudenthal has made a film that is not just funny but also has lots of heart and plenty of insight. Diary of a Wimpy Kid is anything but wimpy.

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Review by Robert Mann BA (Hons)


Search Amazon.com for Diary of a Wimpy Kid

PREVIEW: BONDED BY BLOOD

Revolver’s quality new UK action thriller "Bonded by Blood" is out in cinemas 3rd September 2010 and it looks awesome! Written by Sacha Bennet ("Devilwood") and Graeme Muir and directed by Sacha Bennet. "It’s really a very made and effective movie." according to sources involved with the film.

"Bonded by Blood" stars Dave Legeno ("Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince", "Centurion"), Vincent Regan ("Clash of the Titans"),Tamer Hassan ("Kick-Ass", "Clash of the Titans"), Suzie Amy ("Vampire Killers", "Psych 9") and many more critically acclaimed actors.

The synopsis of the plot reads as follow:

"In 1995, drug suppliers and career criminals Tony Tucker (Terry Stone), Patrick Tate (Tamer Hassan) and Craig Rolfe (Neil Maskell) were blasted to death by a shot gun whilst waiting in a Range Rover in Rettendon, Essex. 'Bonded by Blood' charts their rise to become the most prolific dealers and feared criminals in the south of England, maintaining the hold on their empire with fear and violence until their untimely death."

Now you all know me, I'm reluctant and sceptic about most things that come my way, however judging by the trailer, I'll most probably go watch it as soon as it shows in cinemas here (if it shows in the cinemas in SA). However you can judge for yourself whether or not this is your cup of tea or not by watching this appetising little trailer I got for you... ENJOY!

QUEEN CITY SCARE FAIR: Meridian’s First Film Festival

I’m sure we have a few American horror die-hard Battle Royale with Cheese fans out there, so don’t think that I have forgotten about you. In fact if you’re down in the south in the USA and need a horror fix, then sink your teeth into this nifty little film festival… Temple Theatre will host Meridian’s first horror film festival to celebrate Halloween and Mississippi’s first entertainment district. Roger Smith of Temple Theatre, W. Charles Newell and http://geektyrant.com/ are partnering up to bring independent horror films to Meridian, MS on:

22 October 2010 - 23 October 2010
@ Temple Theatre
Meridian, Mississippi

“Independent horror films have always been a passion of mine, now I finally have the chance to share these films with others.” Newell said (the coordinator of “Queen City Scare Fair” and founder of “Meridian Grindhouse”).

This event will allow top rated films from the festival circuit to connect with a new audience in the south.

“Really, it’s a theatre for the people here” Smith said. “The theatre is very important to the city of Meridian and the people, and we just need to keep as much activity as we can in the theatre.” Smith believes that the QCSF will draw a whole new audience into the historic temple theatre.

“The Queen City Scare Fair” will open its doors at 7pm on the 22nd of October and 10 am on the 23rd of October. Early bird ticketing will be available Monday 31 August 2010.

For Vendor and sponsorship inquiries please contact:

Charles at (601) 980-1579

You can check out the temple theatre’s website http://www.templetheatremeridian.com for more information while you’re at it (coming August 31st).

Dinner For Schmucks Giveaway!

To celebrate the release of Dinner For Schmucks (at cinemas September 3, cert 12A) we are offering you the chance to win one of 5 limited edition Dinner for Schmucks t-shirt packs.

“Dinner for Schmucks” tells the story of Tim (Paul Rudd), a guy on the verge of having it all. The only thing standing between him and total career success is finding the perfect guest to bring to his boss’ annual Dinner for Extraordinary People, an event where the winner of the evening brings the most eccentric character as his guest. Enter Barry (Steve Carrell), a guy with a passion for dressing mice up in tiny outfits to recreate great works of art. From Jay Roach, director of “Meet the Parents” and “Meet the Fockers” comes an unforgettable feast about two unlikely friends and one very memorable dinner.

To be in with the chance of winning, just answer the following question:

Which animal does Barry like to dress up?

Elephants
Monkeys
Mice

Email us at brwc@me.com with your answer, name and address.

© 2010 DW STUDIOS L.L.C. All Rights Reserved.

BRWC Is 2: Birthday Bash Ideas/Top Ten Birthday Films

Birthday Bash Ideas: an at Home Screening

A movie marathon is a terrific way to celebrate a birthday and can be easily integrated into any party.  Birthday movie marathons work equally well for both children and adults. Hosting a private screening of birthday themed movies is a sure way to guarantee fun.  Here are some ways to make a birthday truly memorable with some birthday bash films and some home cinema decor ideas to make the occasion an unforgettable one.

Setting up a Cinematic Atmosphere

Lacking a plasma or LCD TV worthy of screening fine films for your guests?  If so why not rent the equipment?  Companies are willing to lease out audio-visual equipment so that revellers can use high quality equipment for a single evening’s action.   Many rental companies offer short-term hire contracts, and will even install the goods, saving you time and eliminating frustration if you cannot get the equipment to work correctly.  Comfy sofas, popcorn and refreshing cold drinks are an absolute must, while dim lighting, and some candles make for good movie decor.

Direct TV offers direct movie ordering to make movie selection even easier.  Direct TV discount codes and Direct TV movie vouchers make movie ordering very simple, fast and affordable. 

Top Ten Birthday Films

The films you might choose for a birthday bash movie marathon will be as varied as the viewers’ tastes. If you are looking for films that are particularly relevant to the concept of a birthday, consider viewing the following:

Liar, Liar

A five year old’s birthday wish comes true.  His one wish? That his father (a high profile successful lawyer) stops lying. This is ultimately granted, with hilarious consequences. Liar Liar proves that birthday wishes do come true and that lies really do have short legs.

13 Going on 30

Feel like you’re aging too fast?  How about celebrating a 13^th birthday and then finding yourself at 30 overnight, switching from adolescent to adult in 24 hours.  

Taken

An action movie that opens with a girl’s 17^th birthday and her father’s gift of a karaoke machine.  An eye-opening drama about a father’s struggle to retrieve his daughter from Albanian slave traders.

The Celebration

During a 60^th birthday party, some unfortunate and disturbing news is revealed about the father celebrating the milestone.  A Danish film and a serious look at family drama and mayhem.

Kate and Leopold

This romantic comedy depicts a Duke in 1876 who travels through time to modern New York and falls in love with a career woman to replenish his family finances.

City Slickers

A mid-life crisis and a bizarre cattle driving birthday present turns two friends into cowboys and teaches them a thing or two about the Wild West.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

Harry Potter receives initiation into Hogwarts’ School of Wizardry on his 11^th birthday. His clash with Voldemort lasts for a further six films.

The Game 

A San Francisco banker receives a strange present for his 48^th birthday from his wayward brother, which subsequently begins to consume his entire life.  

Harold and Maude

A 1971 classic that centres on a touching love story about ageless romance and a memorable 80^th birthday.

Sixteen Candles

A classic 1980’s birthday film about coming of age, an upcoming wedding and forgotten birthday loneliness.

The Girl Who Played With Fire Trailer

Hot on the heels of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo comes the sequel, The Girl Who Played With Fire. The new film sees Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace) and crusading journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist) caught up in a brutal murder investigation.

Film Review with Robert Mann - Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World *****

If you’ve seen the poster, the trailer or any of the TV spots for Scott Pilgrim vs. The World you will be fully aware that it is “From the director of Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz” and based on this very simply statement you just know that you can expect a movie that wreaks pure awesomeness. Described as “An epic of epic epicness” (try saying that over and over really quickly, I dare you), Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is a film aimed squarely at the geek within everyone one of us and, thanks for successful movies like Kick-Ass and TV shows like The Big Bang Theory, geek culture is really starting to go mainstream, everything that is awesome about geekiness being embraced by more and more people. For those of you not in know yet, however, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World finds its inspirations in a series of graphic novels, released the under the more general title of Scott Pilgrim (the film takes its full name from the second volume in the series), by Bryan Lee O’Malley, a series that both provides a fresh twist on the age old formula of boy-meets-girl and provides a unique and original blend of videogame culture, indie style, fan boy references and manga-esque imagery. And I highly doubt that a much better person could have been found to adapt the graphic novel series into a movie than Edgar Wright, his past films ‘Shaun of the Dead’ and Hot Fuzz, not to mention his television series Spaced showing that he is a director quite like no other, with a unique approach to comedies, one that combines a distinct sense of Britishness (they were British comedies after all, even though Scott Pilgrim blatantly isn’t) with his inner geek. This approach here proves to be a work of unabashed genius, as this film doesn’t merely promise awesomeness, it fully delivers it.

Charmingly nerdy slacker Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera) is the bass player in band Sex Bob-Omb whose members also include ‘ the talent’ Stephen Stills (Mark Webber) and sarcastic drummer/ex-girlfriend Kim Pine (Allison Pill), and whose rehearsals are frequently attended by Young Neil (Johnny Simmons), a videogame player who lives in the house where they rehearse. Scott has never been lucky in love, having been horrifically dumped by ex-girlfriend Envy Adams (Brie Larson) and now lives a somewhat aimless life, sharing a tiny apartment with gay roommate Wallace Wells (Kieran Culkin) and having a ‘fake’ relationship with high school girl Knives Chau (Ellen Wong). Everything is about to change for Scott, however. When Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) rollerblades into his world, Scott believes he's met the girl of his dreams. However, he quickly finds there's a big and totally unexpected problem – Ramona's seven evil exes – The League of Evil Exes –control 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 – Matthew Patel (Satya Bhabha), Ramona’s 7th grade boyfriend who has mystical powers; Lucas Lee (Chris Evans), a skateboarding action movie star with an army of body doubles at his disposal; Todd Ingram (Brandon Routh), a dim-witted ‘vegan’ rock star with psychic and telekinetic powers; Roxy Richter (Mae Whitman), a lesbian ex-girlfriend from a ‘phase’ who has ninja-like abilities; Kyle (Keita Saitou) and Ken Katayanagi (Shotu Saito), a twin brother band whose weapon of choice is their music; and finally Gideon Graves (Jason Schwartzman), a super powerful record producer who has quite a big influence over Ramona. And if he hopes to win his true love, Scott must vanquish them all before it really is 'game over'.

From the moment the studio ident appears on the screen at the start of the film – the Universal logo is presented in 8 bit style with the studio’s trademark theme presented in the style of old fashioned videogame music – Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is unashamedly a movie for geeks and in this regard it never disappoints. Almost like a comic book or videogame come to life, this is a film that is sure to satisfy its geek target audience in pretty much every respect. About as in your face as a geek movie could possibly get, the film quite literally throws its videogame and comic book inspirations at the audience, retro and geek references being thrown all over the place, with lots of subtle details that only the most observant of viewers will pick up on and more obvious homages that everyone will appreciate. Raised on a diet of videogames and indie rock music, Scott Pilgrim has a distinctive and unique view of the world, one that is packed full of neon imagery, gaming icons, sounds being displayed in word form in giant comic book style letters and ‘game overs’. It is his view of the world that we see up on the screen, him living his life almost as though it is a videogame, with even mundane tasks such as having a pee coming with their own videogame style power gauge. This particular view of the world gives us a unique insight into the character of Scott Pilgrim and this allows us to appreciate exactly how he functions in the world and perceives what is going around him, emotion being presented in a completely new way, one that won’t be instantly recognisable to everyone but that many a geek should be able to hold some level of understanding towards. Suffice to say, character development is very well done here but not in any way you are used to seeing, Edgar Wright actually doing something that is very rare in mainstream movies nowadays – portray a familiar concept in a way that we have never seen it portrayed before. In the wrong hands this videogame style look and feel could very well have looked cheap and tacky but in the masterful hands of Wright is works superbly. Best described as a romantic beat’em up, the action sequences on display here have a distinctly beat’em up videogame look, feel and sound to them and they don’t just prove to be exciting but also very funny – the film as a whole being totally hilarious and doing so without ever resorting to lame gags or making fun – not to mention boasting trippy visuals that are as vibrant and colourful as Ramona Flower’s constantly changing hair. This film really is as much a piece of art as it is a piece of entertainment, the always dazzling and sometimes enchanting visuals both providing a real feast for the eyes and capturing the manga style essence of the source material perfectly – in fact, there is even a manga style hand drawn animation sequence. The editing offers as much to shout about as the effects too, with the way one scene flows into the next with natural ease being masterful and giving the film a feeling of moving from one comic book panel to another. There is also some superbly surreal imagery as well, which boasts fantastic cinematography. Of course, I called this film a romantic beat’em up and the film is just as romantic as it is exciting, funny or visually dazzling, the relationship that forms between Scott and Ramona being really sweet and heart-warming while also reflecting real life relationships to some extent – the threat of her exes perhaps some sort of representation of the spectre that a person’s exes might pose over their relationships in real life – something that gives the film an additional resonance, beyond just being a geek film. The writing in general is really quite superb, with Wright not only offering up an excellent and refreshing slant on character development but also serving up very funny dialogue and a storyline that ensures there is heart to go along the visuals and that the film is not just a CGI drenched mess. The success of the film, however, isn’t entirely attributable to Wright, of course. The performances on display here are almost unanimously excellent. Michael Cera, while perhaps not the fan favourite to play the part – due to the fact that, while he has perfect comic timing, he tends to be typecast as the sensitive slacker type, with many of his roles to date being very samey and not giving him much opportunity to really act beyond the confines of that particular character archetype, this year’s Youth in Revolt aside – actually proves very successful for the most part, displaying not only his usual comic timing but something more, the role of Scott Pilgrim really pushing him a bit further than he has been pushed before. His performance isn’t completely 100% perfect – to the untrained eye he may seem exactly the same as in every other film he has been in – but look closely and you will see lots of idiosyncrasies in his performance that set it apart from other roles he has played. And he does the lovable slacker in a way quite like no one else. He also shares a likable and convincing, if rather unorthodox romantic chemistry, with co-star Mary Elizabeth Winstead, something that is really quite important as, after all, this is a film with a love story at its heart. Winstead more than holds her own individually as well, there being something almost otherworldly about her performance and her being as strong as she is beautiful in the role. As the other girl in Scott’s life, Ellen Wong is also excellent, starting out quiet and gentle but developing a more out loud personality as the film’s progresses. The Exes all deliver superbly but the real highlights have to be Chris Evans, who is on top form as always, Superman Returns star Brandon Routh , whose presence also makes way for some hilarious, if bizarre, cameo appearances by Thomas Jane and Clifton Collins Jr, Mae Whitman and Jason Schwartzman, who steals the show as the slick and smooth final villain. Also excellent are the perfectly sarcastic Allison Pill as well as Kieran Culkin and Aubrey Plaza (as Stephen’s ex-girlfriend who has a habit of showing up everywhere). If there’s one gripe it is that Anna Kendrick, playing Scott’s sister, doesn’t feature more and that when she does she isn’t given a whole lot to actually do. This is only a minor criticism, though, and one that doesn’t stop Scott Pilgrim vs. The World from being truly awesome in pretty much every way possible. This is a film completely unlike any other that you will see year, and perhaps any other year for that matter. It’s exciting, it looks great, it sounds amazing – with a fantastic indie rock style soundtrack – it is laugh out loud funny and, perhaps most importantly of all, it packs an emotional punch to go with all the (considerable amount of) flash that is on display. Even though box office success might be beyond its grasp (as has been evidenced by its weak performance in the states), this is a film that is destined to be a cult hit. “An epic of epic epicness” indeed.

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Review by Robert Mann BA (Hons)

Film Review with Robert Mann - Marmaduke

Marmaduke **½

From the studio that brought you both Garfield and Alvin and the Chipmunks comes the latest live action talking animal movie based on a beloved creation from the past – Marmaduke. Who is Marmaduke, you’re wondering? Well, in case you’re not familiar with the adventures of loveable Great Dane, Marmaduke is a newspaper comic strip that was created in 1954 by Brad Anderson and Phil Leeming and is still going today, running in 600 newspapers worldwide. Just as with those other aforementioned creations, there is a great amount of affection out there for the source material and clearly a lot of effort has been put into this film, with a lot of big names contributing their voices to canine (and, in one case, feline) characters here. Is the film truly worthy of such talent though? The answer to this probably depends on your age and if you are the right age to fully appreciate the film you likely won’t care about the voice cast anyway.

Clumsy but lovable Great Dane Marmaduke (voiced by Owen Wilson) is about to have his world turned upside down. Marmaduke enjoys his simple life causing unintentional chaos in the Kansas home of the Winslow family – Phil (Lee Pace), Debbie (Judy Greer), Barbara (Caroline Sunshine) and Brian (Finley Jacobsen). When owner Phil lands a marketing job with an organic pet food company in California working for the dog obsessed Don Twombly (William H. Macy), 'the Duke' finds himself being air freighted to Orange Country. Desperate to fit in with the cool local pooches, Marmaduke fakes a fight with his feline friend Carlos (voiced by George Lopez). But disaster strikes when he uses his newfound fame to flirt with Jezebel (voiced by Fergie), the girlfriend of pedigree bully Bosco (voiced by Kiefer Sutherland). Soon exposed as a fraud, Marmaduke finds himself frozen out of the Californian doggy scene while, at home, Phil's work-obsessed behaviour threatens to pull the Winslows apart. Can hapless Marmaduke redeem himself and save the day?

It is reasonable to say that kids will find plenty to enjoy in Marmaduke. The humour is perfectly aimed at younger viewers, often being puerile or juvenile but never crude or inappropriate and among the numerous fart gags, scenes of cats being flung through the air, dogs knocking people to the ground, dogs surfing, dogs dancing and dogs partying California style there are some genuinely funny moments that raise more than a few giggles, perhaps for adults as well as children. That said, though, this is not a film that is a laugh a minute and there aren’t many gags that are likely to generate any really big laughs for anyone but the youngest of viewers. Additionally, this is a film which really wastes the talent it has at its disposal. The impressive voice cast – including, in addition to those aforementioned, Emma Stone, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Steve Coogan, Marlon Wayans, Damon Wayans Jr. and Sam Elliott – is good but doesn’t really contribute all that much given that it is hard to actually recognise many of them, only Owen Wilson really standing out, his voice perfectly bringing the character of Marmaduke to life. As for the actors we actually see, there is even more talent wastage. It’s not that any of the cast members are bad but there is really isn’t a whole lot for them to actually do either. Pushing Daisies star Lee Pace is really capable of so much more than what is on display here and the other cast members fare no better, the likes of William H. Macy and Judy Greer also being wasted in roles that require little of them. Also, a very short cameo appearance by David Walliams just seems weird and pointless. On top of this, the plot is predictable, the dog park=high school scenario equally as obvious and the CG animation occasionally proves rather shoddy. Of course, kids won’t care about any of this and will probably love every minute of it. Parents probably not so much but look on the bright side – it isn’t particularly annoying and it is certainly watchable, just not memorable.

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Review by Robert Mann BA (Hons)

Film Review with Robert Mann - The Expendables

The Expendables ***

After Predators, The A-Team and The Karate Kid among others, 2010’s obsession with the 80s continues with the release of The Expendables, a film that is perhaps one of the most eagerly anticipated movies of the year, although it seems to be as much due to who is in the film as how the good the film is itself. One of the year’s most ambitious films, mostly for the impressive ensemble cast that has been assembled, this is a film that boasts perhaps the most impressive ensemble of action stars ever seen on the big screen, bringing back legends of the past couple of decades such as Sylvester Stallone (who is the man behind the whole thing, directing, co-writing and assembling the cast), Dolph Lundgren, Mickey Rourke (whose career has seen a major resurgence in recent years), Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis (the latter two only in cameo appearances despite the impression created by many of the trailers and TV spots) and uniting them with more recent action stars such as Jason Statham, Jet Li, wrestler Steve Austin and Ultimate Fighter Randy Couture, not to mention quite a few other recognisable names. Understandably, a tremendous amount of hype has been generated by this line up, one that may not mean much to younger viewers but will be almost like cinematic wish fulfilment to those of the right age to have enjoyed the action movies of the 80s but, with a trailer that has made it look like a generic actioner with little special about it aside from this cast, does the film truly live up to this hype?

Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone) leads a tight-knit band of battle-hardened mercenaries including ex-SAS man Lee Christmas (Jason Statham), close-quarters combat master Ying Yang (Jet Li), weapons specialist Hale Caesar (Terry Crews), demolitions expert Toll Road (Randy Couture) and sniper Gunner Jensen (Dolph Lundgren). When the team embark on a mission to overthrow murderous dictator General Gaza (David Zayas), Barney and Christmas meet their contact, local freedom-fighter Sandra (Giselle Itie). They also learn their true enemy is rogue ex-CIA man James Munroe (Eric Roberts) and his henchman Paine (Steve Austin). When things go terribly wrong, Barney and Christmas are forced to leave Sandra behind, essentially giving her a death sentence. Haunted by this failure, Barney convinces the team to go back - to rescue the hostage, finish the job and maybe even save his soul.

Dolph Lundgren has called The Expendables “an old-school, kick-ass action movie where people are fighting with knives and shooting at each other” and this perfectly sums up exactly what the film delivers. Coming entirely from the old school of action moviemaking, this is a movie where the action you see on screen is (mostly – there are a few shots that look as though some CGI may have been involved) all real – the 14 injuries sustained by Stallone while making the film, including breaking a tooth, rupturing his ankle and getting a hairline fracture in his neck that required the insertion of a metal plate, are a testament to this – and the old school look and feel that this gives the film makes the viewing experience a much more intense one than the many effects overloaded blockbusters that we see these days. The resulting action sequences, including an attack by a plane, car chases, shootouts, knife fights, hand to hand combat and lots and lots of explosions, certainly get the testosterone up to a high level. This really is hardcore kind of action movie, one meant for adults rather than younger viewers, with violence that is brutal and often bloody and that has greater impact on many levels because it is all done for real. Certainly the predominantly male target audience should find plenty to enjoy in the action scenes that are on display here. That said, though, the overly excessive action – almost everything gets blown up at some point – isn’t exactly inventive and, while it is indeed enjoyable, it is never mind blowing. Additionally, while the action sequences are well done and the film is in general quite technically proficient, the cinematography and editing both being pretty good, in other areas the film doesn’t deliver nearly as successfully. The plot is pretty thin, offering up few genuine surprises and, while we get brief glimpses of or allusions into the private lives of some of the characters, there is little proper character development. On the bright side, however, the dialogue is quite decent and often pretty humorous and, thanks to performances that are better than you might expect, delivered pretty well. The acting on display isn’t all that great, though, the best performances coming from Mickey Rourke, who has very limited screen time, and the enjoyable cameo appearances by Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger in a scene that is very funny with some very good lines but also very dialogue driven and that may leave some viewers a bit cheated about not getting to see Willis and Schwarzenegger in action mode. Elsewhere, Stallone is fairly strong performer, Dolph Lundgren proves very entertaining as sadistic and borderline crazy Gunner, Giselle Itie is suitably tough as the freedom fighter type and Eric Roberts is a sinister if obvious villain. Many of the other cast members, however, don’t really shine that much, whether it be due to the fact that they seem too similar to roles they have played in other movies or simply don’t have that much to actually do. Of course, no one will really be seeing this film for the acting, they will be seeing it for the action and in this regard the film does mostly deliver, with even the older stars proving that they still have it. That said, however, this is a film aimed at a somewhat specific target audience really and while that target audience will (figuratively and literally) have a blast, others may not see what all the fuss is about. The Expendables is an entertaining viewing experience but it is also quite an expendable one.

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Review by Robert Mann BA (Hons)

Film Review with Robert Mann - Salt

Salt ***½

Isn’t it funny when reality reflects fiction? Not long ago, the idea of Russian agents living in secret in America would have seemed preposterous, the Cold War long being a thing of the past, yet the recent discovery of just that – Russian agents living undercover as American citizens – makes the whole premise of Salt all the more credible and poignant. It was certainly a convenient coincidence for the studio behind the film given that the timing of the real life discovery only slightly preceded its release and likely generated a whole new level of interest in it. Were it not for this coincidence I suspect that the film wouldn’t have proved quite as popular at the US box office as it has. This is certainly not for a lack of talent involved though. Originally intended as a star vehicle for Tom Cruise but rewritten for Angelina Jolie after Cruise opted to do Knight and Day instead, ‘Salt’ seems timed to fill the void left by the absence of a new Bourne or 007 movie although it is unlikely to be welcomed as completely as either. Director Phillip Noyce’s recent credits have all been very low key and little seen films although look further back and you will discover that he is the man behind spy thrillers such as Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger, two films that demonstrate a clear knack for handling this kind of spy thriller. Writer Kurt Wimmer has a solid track record as well, his past writing credits including the likes of The Recruit, Law Abiding Citizen and Equilibrium. But does Salt fully deliver on the promise of its intriguing premise or does it prove too salty for its own good?

Evelyn Salt (Angelina Jolie) is a CIA agent brought in to handle a routine interrogation of a Russian defector. Although the Agency are treating his claims with sceptical caution, he insists that a Russian spy is heading to New York to assassinate the Russian President. And then Salt is stopped in her tracks when he reveals the assassin's name is...Evelyn Salt. Now Salt must go on the run, using all her skills and years of experience as a covert operative to elude capture by the pursuing forces of both her long time friend and colleague Ted Winter (Liev Schreiber) and the distrusting Peabody (Chiwetel Ejiofor). But even when she does get caught, breaking free from a fast-moving police car holds little challenge for an agent who is as deadly as any lethal weapon. But as Salt desperately fights to prove her innocence, her entire life story and her identity itself are called into question. Is she really who seems?

In the light of recent real life events it is hard not to find some eerie parallels between the real world and the world portrayed in Salt and this gives the film a bit of an edge that it wouldn’t have had otherwise as it makes a lot of what happens in the film scarily believable at times. Believability certainly seems to be the desired goal for much what is seen in the film and to an extent the film does achieve this. The plot isn’t too fantastical to rule out the possibility of something like it happening in real life and much of the action is also grounded in reality, even if does stretch believability a bit at times. That said, the film’s plot hits a number of stumbling blocks that prevent it from being nearly as good as it could be. As the film progresses the plot begins to become somewhat illogical, making it hard to really keep track of what is going on, a lack of clarity about Salt’s motives make it hard to figure whether or not we are actually supposed to be rooting for her – although this could also be taken as a strength of the film, as we also find ourselves questioning whether she is who she seems – a scene where Salt disguises herself as a man stretches credibility a bit too far and a twist towards the end fails to be as surprising as it should be, not helped by the fact that a certain actor has gone this particular route before in another film. This isn’t to say the film isn’t a worthwhile watch, however, as the story takes a few unexpected turns and offers up a few surprises, the plot not playing out entirely as you might expect and, while more a thriller than an actioner, there are a few decent, well staged action sequences – mostly foot chases, etc. – that provide a few thrills, if not delivering anything that hasn’t really been seen before. The film also boasts solid performances from its cast, with the versatile Angelina Jolie being suitably intense in the lead role and strong support from fellow cast members Liev Schreiber and Chiwetel Ejiofor. Evelyn Salt is not in the same league as Jason Bourne or James Bond but this film has enough going for it to make it worth checking out and enough potential to make the sequel hinted at by the open ending a reasonably exciting proposition, particularly if can follow the example of the Bourne sequels. Salt is an enjoyable and intriguing thriller that could have been great with just a bit of pepper to spice things up but, as it is, proves decent but unremarkable.

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Review by Robert Mann BA (Hons)

Film Review with Robert Mann - The Boogeyman PLUS POSTER!

The Boogeyman ****

Earlier this year I reviewed a delightful short fantasy film titled The Stolen Wings by Irish writer and director Gerard Lough. For his next film The Boogeyman Lough has taken on the horror genre and aimed a bit bigger, making a film with a much longer (but still short at only 26 minutes) running time and that is not an original piece but rather an adaptation of a short story by Stephen King which was featured in his anthology book Night Shift.

In a psychiatrist’s office, Andrew (Simon Fogarty) claims that his children have been murdered and that he is responsible but that no one will believe him. He recalls the events to the psychiatrist (Michael Parle). “The Boogeyman killed them”, he says, “The Boogeyman killed them all.”
The Boogeyman is very clearly a film made on a low budget but it wears its low budget on it’s (suggestively but not literally) blood soaked sleeve, the low tech approach on display here being as much a charm as it is a hindrance. Sure, the digital video camera work does occasionally give the film a slightly amateurish look (something that is hard to avoid when filming in this particular medium) but it often gives the film a rather distinctive glow as well. Just as with The Stolen Wings there is some very beautiful cinematography on display here with simple camera techniques being utilized in place of the gimmickry that tends to be front and centre in the majority of Hollywood scare flicks. Additionally, sound is used to great effect, with sound effects and the score by Cian Furlong both creating a suitably eerie atmosphere. There are no jump scares to be found here and no gore either, a sense of menace being built up as the film progresses towards it chilling, if perhaps somewhat anticlimactic, finish. Lough wisely avoids actually showing The Boogeyman to us for the most part, the entities absence more chilling than his constant presence but when it does appear to us it is a well realised creature of fear even if it isn’t exactly one of the greatest horror creations ever. On the writing front, the film boasts a well structured plot with the approach of the protagonist recalling events proving very effective and the dialogue is also strong if not wholly remarkable. The performances are also quite decent, Michael Parle being suitably cold, uncaring and disbelieving and Simon Fogarty being competent as the guilt ridden father who’s lost his children, even though his despair isn’t as blatant as it could really do with being. All in all, The Boogeyman is perhaps not a horror film in the conventional sense, in that it doesn’t offer up a scare a minute, nor is it one of the scariest films you will ever see, but it is a film that may well linger with you and has more chills and visual flourishes than most of the horror dreck that Hollywood churns out. After seeing this film, you may not want to go near a closet again.
The Boogeyman is currently going around the festival circuit. The trailer can be viewed here: http://www.battleroyalewithcheese.com/2010/07/movie-trailer-preview-boogeyman.html

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Review by Robert Mann BA (Hons)


EDIT - Here is the poster - 

EDIT - Dream sequence clip - 





And....

The Boogeyman and Deviant are both reviewed in the new issue of Diabolique - a US horror magazine. The critic does give a bit of a kicking on Boogeyman yet does praise certain aspects such as Simon's performance and its faithfulness to Stephen King's short story. 

On the other hand, Deviant gets a glowing review and I can't help but smile to read "The film is book ended by shots of the film's bleak but beautiful county Donegal setting, hauntingly lensed by cinematographer Greg Rouladh." 

The Other Superheroes: Mystery Men

It's not difficult to find comedy relief in any superhero film out there. Movies like Kick Ass and Iron Man are full of it, and even very serious and dark films like Batman Begins had some laughs in it. Some of us who aren't very familiar with the comics these movies are based off of believe that superheroes should be serious and professional, because when you're fighting crime, you can't be joking around. When you look at it from a more realistic point of view, you start to see that superheroes are just people like us, except they wear costumes. Comic books have more comedy than one not familiar with them would imagine.

Mister Furious attempting to be... erm... Furious.

Mystery Men, released in 1999, was one of the first films to be a full on comedy superhero film. Based on the Flaming Carrot Comics, Mystery Men was a flop at the box office but in later years it developed a cult following. This is a love-it-or-hate-it film for a lot of people and even those involved with the making of the film have said it's not a good film. It was directed by Kinka Usher whose only other work involved directing commercials. The making of the film had some troubling issues such as arguments between actors and crew, multiple retakes and a dry script. In my opinion it still had a great visual style and art design, and the actors did a lot of improvisation on their part which gives the characters and lines better personality and flow. Mystery Men has a pretty large and well known cast and instead of just running through it in a paragraph, I thought I'd be a bit more detailed this time around.

The Mystery Men

Ben Stiller as Mister Furious: A seemingly powerless vigilante who has anger management issues. He's easily annoyed but can never seem to harness his aggression properly.

William H. Macy as The Shoveler: The man who holds the team together, sort of a father figure and also an actual father and husband in his daily life. He is amazingly skilled with a shovel and uses it as a weapon.

Hank Azaria as The Blue Raja: An odd crimefighter to say the least, he uses a British accent and a variety of silverware. He flings forks like throwing knives, but refuses to actually use knives because he's The Blue Raja and not "Stab Man".

Janeane Garofolo as The Bowler: A woman looking for revenge against the man who killed her father, Carmine The Bowler, murdered by Tony P. Her father's skull is inside the bowling ball she uses, which possesses his spirit and also the ability to move around on its free will.

Paul Reubens as The Spleen: A superhero who has the powers of flatulence ever since he was cursed by a passing gypsy for blaming her for passing gas when he was the one to blame.

Kel Mitchell as The Invisible Boy: The youngest of the group and the first one to join the original trio. He has the power of invisibility, but only when nobody (including himself) is watching, which leads to much skepticism from the rest of the team.

Wes Studi as The Sphinx: Thought to just be a mythical superhero, he later joins the team as a teacher to them. He has the power to cut guns in half, and is "terribly mysterious".

Greg Kinnear is Captain Amazing, a walking billboard of a superhero.

Also aiding the Mystery Men is Tom Waits playing Dr. Heller, a supposed genius who invents 100 percent non-lethal weaponry. His inventions are an interesting addition to the movie and Tom Waits plays the role very entertainingly, making you want to see more of him. Also in the film is Greg Kinnear as Captain Amazing, the typical superhero of Champion City, with a high tech costume and a secret identity known as Lance Hunt, a cross between Bruce Wayne and Clark Kent. On the evil side is Geoffrey Rush playing Casanova Frankenstein, a recently released supervillain who's main goal is to defeat Captain Amazing and then destroy Champion City. He's backed up by the Disco Boys whose leader is Tony P, played by the delightful Eddie Izzard.

Champion City

The story takes place in the previously mentioned Champion City, which visually, is a cross between Joel Schumacher's (terribly horrible) take on Gotham City and Blade Runner's version of Los Angeles. It follows our trio of wannabe superheroes (Mr. Furious, Blue Raja, and Shoveler) as they try to make it big as crimefighters, but ultimately fail multiple times. After Champion City's great hero Captain Amazing mysteriously disappears right after Casanova Frankenstein is released, they decide to go searching for him but get defeated by the Disco Boys gang while trying. They soon get the idea of putting together a larger team and this is how we're introduced to the rest of the squad. The story has lots of comedy and also makes some good points on the lives of superheroes. The Shoveler struggles with a wife who disapproves of his life as a costumed vigilante, and the whole subplot of it makes for a more emotionally driven character. It was the subplots and scenes like that that made me really enjoy this film.

The visuals and art style of the film make it feel like it takes place in the same universe as Batman & Robin did (thankfully it doesn't) but also lets itself feel like a real life city. It even uses the same type of text that the credits for Batman Forever and Batman & Robin uses.The Mystery Men themselves are all unique and colorful characters, who lend some great laughs but more importantly a feeling that most superhero films lack. As I said before, what I most enjoyed about the film is the feeling that these superheroes are real people, just like us. They're the underdogs of society and when they succeed, you can't help but feel happy for them. People may have hated the film, even the actors themselves, but I feel that it's an important film for anyone who is a fan of superheroes. It gives possibly the most realistic look at what it's like for a person to try to be recognized for doing good and fighting crime.

"That little sucker... just saved your life"

If you don't want to watch it for its comedy, watch it for its message. It's a good film that has some action, laughs, and family moments that are entertaining for anyone. I only wish that the people who made it and didn't think it was good can look back at it and at least see that it wasn't terrible or awful. It might have been an awful movie making experience, but it did something new for its time, something that every superhero and comic book movie is trying to do nowadays; feel real.