Standing in the Shadows of Motown: CR #34

While I did see this week's new release, that being "Pain and Gain", I'm still not a hundred percent sure how I feel about it. So instead, I'm going to review a movie that really educated me. It's a film that not only has great people, but great music throughout. this week, I'm reviewing...

PLOT
This documentary retells the story of the unsung geniuses behind most of Motown's biggest hits from their Detroit age. These geniuses were the Funk Brothers, a 13 man band that played the soul behind the lyrics.



PROS
Like most great documentaries, "Motown" is and stays entertaining by talking about its subject matter in a fun and interesting way. I was engrossed for the whole hour and a half and was kinda sad once it was over.

Most of the movie is interviews with the surviving and some of the dead members of the Funk Brothers and they're a ton of fun. It's mostly just them reminiscing about the good ol' days and telling stories and such, but they make it so entertaining that you want to hear more stories from these awesome musical geniuses.

Between the stories there are scenes from a concert the Funk Brothers did during the making of this film that was a celebration of them and Motown. The musical performances are great and help to get some points across by playing the music that the band members are talking about.

The film making is very professional and feels like a real movie at points. This leads to a lot of great moments of cinematography.

The film has suburb narration that's very light-hearted and also very informative. It's also read by Andre Braugher who does a great job at reading the lines and brings that fun, light-hearted atmosphere.


CONS
It can be difficult to keep up with everyone's name and what instrument they play. To be honest, I didn't really know who played what until the end when they flat out show you.



CONCLUSION
"Standing in the Shadows of Motown" is an awesome documentary that kept me hooked and got me interested in not only the amazing music of Motown, but the history of it as well. This is a film that's perfect for any music lovers or anyone who grew up during this revolutionary time in music.

RATING
RUN TO

Army of Darkness (Evil Dead 3): CR #33

After last week's review, and the fact that my birthday is today, I feel thee need to review a movie from one of, if not my absolute, favorite film franchises. It's the third one in the series and the one that takes the biggest departure, but is it still good? Let's find out in my review of...

PLOT

Taking place right where "Evil Dead 2" left off, "Army of Darkness" places our chainsaw-handed hero Ash into the medieval 1300's. He's been maned by the elders as a man a prophecy and the one who will save them from the deadites, demons that are relentlessly attacking the land. The only way to stop these demons is to get the necronomicon, A.K.A The book of the dead, and read the sacred words. But once he goes through hell and back for the book, he accidently unleashes the army of darkness. Now he must fight with the kingdom and train these primitive screwheads into warriors, and hopefully finally get home.

PROS

What makes this movie, and the "Evil Dead" franchise as a whole, is Bruce Campbell. That guys is one of the best comedic and instantly likable actors around. He gives a great performance in this movie and helps to really define Ash as a character, even if that definition is somewhat flimsy.

Sam Raimi, once again, brings his creative and fun camera work to this film. I love Raimi's creative camera tricks and love to spot them in all of his movies, this one is no exception.

While this is a sequel to "Evil Dead 2", "Army of Darkness" has little to no horror in it, it's mostly an action-comedy, which can throw some people off. While I do think the transition is jarring, I still love this movie's comedy. It's extremely reminiscent of "The Three Stooges" and what's not inspired by them is just as goofy.

The last scene of this movie, where they fight the army of darkness, is truly awesome. It's full of great special effects, exciting action, hilarious comedy, and stop-motion animated skeletons!



CONS
In the film, Shelia is a character introduced to be Ash's love interest, but they have little to no chemistry  She beats him with a rock, apologizes, is with him when he suits up, slaps him, then they become a couple. After that point, she does nothing until she herself is possessed. She just seems useless and forced.



CONCLUSION
I absolutely love this movie. While it is a huge departure from the rest of the franchise, I've learned to love and appreciate it. While not better that 2, "Army of Darkness" is a still a wacky, awesome, and fun time for those who seek it.


RATING
RUN TO

Evil Dead (2013): NR #40

I would say sorry for missing last week, but I didn't, cause I put up that totally serious review of "Twilight", so HA! Take THAT! Anyway, this week's movie is one that I've been excited for, and somewhat dreading as well. The reason for this is that I love the original films that this is a remake of. Did this new version do the original justice, or even hold a candle to it? Let's find out in my review of...

PLOT
In this re-imagining of the 1981 classic, "Evil Dead" follows five friends going up to a cabin in the woods for a weekend. The reason they're going is because one of them, Mia, is a struggling drug addict who's trying to go cold turkey. They've all come along for support, and to make sure that she doesn't try to run like last time. While at the cabin, they unwittingly find the Book of the Dead and read a passage from the book. Now Mia is possessed by a demon and terrorizing her friends who are trying to survive until dawn.



PROS
If you've seen any of the trailers or commercials, you know that this film is heavily advertising it's gore, and I have to say, that's one area that "Evil Dead" passes with flying colors. It starts out cringe worthy enough, but tries and succeeds in one-upping itself at every new and creative kill. You definitely don't want to go in with a full stomach.

Another praise for the gore is that most if not all of it is done with practical effects. This basically means that they never use CGI effects for the blood and gore. This makes every cut of skin and pint of blood spilled seem real and hurt even more.

I really enjoyed the new setup to the story. The idea that the person who get's possessed is going through withdraw is a clever idea and allows the characters skepticism to make sense.

All throughout the film, you're wondering who's gonna be the new Ash, the main character from the original "Evil Dead", and the film does a good job at that. It throws a lot of red herrings to throw you off the trail and makes a few of the references and homages seem clever.



CONS
Like most horrors films today, "Evil Dead" suffers from a huge lack of characterization. While the first 20 minutes has a little bit, once they find the book, character development stops completely. All five people become sheep for the slaughter, which takes some impact out of the kills, at least it takes out the emotional punch.

There are a ton of references to the original "Evil Dead" trilogy, from the glaringly obvious to the extremely minors. The biggest problem with the references is that they keep reminding us how inferior this remake is the original. While I would try to separate the two, this version won't let me.



CONCLUSION
I'm sure I know what you're wondering, and I'll answer your questions now. Is it better that the original, no. I never thought it would, and it's not. Is it worth seeing, yes. While it doesn't hold a candle to the original, it's fun on its own and definitely worth seeing with a crowd, or with your friends. Does Bruce Campbell make a cameo? Yes, but it apparently sucks, I didn't stay past the credits to see it. Does that answer your questions?


RATING
RENTABLE

twilight moivie review!!

i'm probably not going to be able to put up a review next weekend so i'll just review this today. this is amovie that id stayed away from for a while and now i see that i was wrong. this is my review of...

plot:

bella is the new girl is town and she's lonely, that is until she meets edward. hes a really sexy vampire and he loves her too. they soon start seeing each other, but the other vampires dont like her and try to stop edward from seeing her but true love wins in the end



pros:

kristein stewart is an amazing actress in this movie, shes full of emotions and chrisma. i know i dissed her in my snow white review but shes amazing in this movie. orsan welles eat your heart out.

the dialouge is surpurp, it feels like were watching real teens talking to each other. move over tarintino, stephinie myers is taking your place as best dialouge writer!

the stroy and plot are very good and interesting. this may the best love story since that last nicholaus sparks movies i saw, the last notebook, or was it dear the vow?


cons

THERE IS NOTHING WORNG WITH THIS MOVIE, WHAT ARE YOU RETARTED ARE SOMETHING, YOU SO GAY AND REATRTED!!!!

conclusion:

twilight is the bestest movie EVAR. ive never seen a movie better than this one. the story is great, the actors are great, its all great. SEE IT NOOOOOWOWWOWOWOWOW

rating:

CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT x10000000

And by the way....

APRIL FO-

Why must you interrupt my joke...