Blood: The Last Vampire

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: April 2, 2009 (Japan) / July 10, 2009 (USA)

DVD Release Date: October 20, 2009

Plot 411: A secret government group pairs up with a vampire to find and destroy demons.

Review: Saya (Gianna Jun) infiltrates a U.S. military base on the pretense that she is a typical high school student. But she is far from ordinary. She is the last vampire in the world and has teamed up with a secret agency whose mission is to kill demons. Through her work, she hopes to confront and destroy the demon who killed her father. I didn't realize that this was based on anime, but the cinematography made it clear from the start. The special effects were extremely exaggerated, which I found a little off putting. I'd prefer blood to look like real blood. But because Saya was killing demons, I chucked the notion of "real" blood and figured the chunky blood was purely a demonic phenomenon. If you're into a lot of samurai-sword wielding, this movie is great. Jun does a good job at using the sword to dismember and kill literally dozens of demons. It's a sight to see. She does it with flair and skill. Most of the other characters are inconsequential, even the main human character Alice (Allison Miller). It's like they're just set decoration. Even when their actions have a major effect on Saya, it doesn't really seem like a big deal. Somehow I couldn't get emotionally invested in this film and didn't find myself rooting for Saya. In my opinion, everything just unfolded disjointedly. I was also confused about the title of the movie. For the entire film, I thought that Saya was a demon too (even though she drank blood from a bottle several times). Somehow I just didn't connect it because she never actually bites anyone or shows off her fangs. That's slightly weird for a vampire flick in my book.

Watch It: If you're knowledgeable about the anime and TV series. This may squish the apathy I felt while viewing it.

Skip It: If you're looking for a really good plot about demons and vampires. This is more action oriented.

The Town

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: September 17, 2010

DVD Release Date: TBD

Plot 411: Four townies rob banks for a living until one of them falls for their hostage.

Review: Doug (Ben Affleck) and his crew, which includes Jim (Jeremy Renner), Gloansy (Slaine) and Desmond (Owen Burke), are bank robbers from Charlestown. Just as their fathers before them, these boys are part of the community's continuous wave of criminals. Due to a mess up during their latest robbery, they are forced to take a hostage - the bank manager named Claire (Rebecca Hall). They let her go unharmed, but Doug volunteers to watch her to make sure she doesn't provide info to the cops. However, Doug doesn't only watch her. He ends up dating her, which puts his crew in additional danger. Even with the constant heat from the FBI (Jon Hamm), the boys continue their crime spree and may be pushing their luck one time too many. I really admire the fact that Affleck gives back to his home state by bringing Hollywood to the east coast. I love that he doesn't shy away from the grittier sides of Boston (in this movie and in Gone Baby Gone). He chooses to represent them as they are - flaws and all - and is able to capture the atmosphere to vividly. I think The Town could just be Affleck's come-back movie. He hasn't had many great roles recently. It seems that he's got to create his own roles in order to be cast in them. Renner was also good in his role as the badder of the two friends. I don't think he achieved the same kind of greatness as he did in The Hurt Locker, but at least his character was memorable. The other two thugs were almost non-existent in this movie. Despite having essential skills to carry out the jobs (one had NASCAR skills and the other knew how to work the electrical systems), they were really just props for the relationship between Affleck and Renner's characters. Also putting in a great performance is former The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants actress Blake Lively.

Watch It: For another good realistic thriller written and directed by Affleck.

Skip It: If whacks to the head make you turn your head.

Takers

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: August 27, 2010

DVD Release Date: TBD

Plot 411: A con reunites with his crew after serving four years and wants in on the game one more time.

Review: This movie tries to lure in its audience with the ensemble cast of beefcakes. From Paul Walker (John) to Idris Elba (Gordon), Hayden Christensen (A.J.) to Chris Brown (Jesse), there's gotta be a bad boy for you. Even the cops are notable heartthrobs - Matt Dillon (Jack) and Jay Hernandez (Eddie). However, even this isn't enough star power to rock this movie. Oh, it was okay for a shoot 'em up flick, but it didn't have the same charisma as Ocean's Eleven. There was just no style or clever humor in this one. I don't think anyone, even Elba, could command a stage like George Clooney. The movie opens when Ghost (T.I.) is released from prison after serving his time for a robbery. He immediately contacts his boys and offers up an armored car job he's been planning since prison. The crew is hesitant, but the money is good (isn't it always?). They decide to risk it because that's what they do their entire lives. There's some great hand-to-hand action by Christensen (during which time I realized how thin he is). Chris Brown also does a good parkour act as he evades capture. But, some of the acting is really bad. The lines are pretty stilted. I mean, you can't necessarily blame T.I. for this because he's a newbie and all, but what excuse can the others give?

Watch It: For some ramped up action toward the end.

Skip It: Because despite the big names there are other movies of this ilk that are more exceptional.

The Last Exorcism

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: August 27, 2010

DVD Release Date: TBD

Plot 411: A reverend and a film crew make a documentary about how exorcisms are fake until they are confronted with a real demon child.

Review: This movie is a faux documentary similar to The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity. It focuses on a charismatic preacher named Cotton Marcus (Patrick Fabian), who is being interviewed by a film crew about his preaching. When the topic of exorcisms arises, he says that while he does perform this for people, he doesn't believe that demons take over people's bodies. He believes it is a psychological affliction and that these people only believe that the devil has their soul. Once he performs the exorcism (complete with rigged picture frames and bed shaking), the person believes the demon is gone and so it is. To prove his point, he takes the film crew with him on one last exorcism. When he arrives at the Sweetzer farm, he realizes that the possessed person is a young girl named Nell (Ashley Bell). After some initial resistance from her brother Caleb (Caleb Landry Jones) but whole-hearted belief by her father Louis (Louis Herthum), Cotton performs the fake exorcism. Later that night, however, he and the crew find Nell in their hotel room on the brink of a psychological break. I didn't know much about this movie before watching it so I didn't really have any expectations. It's similar to many movies of this genre, and when combined with the shaky cam action of documentary-style shooting, the movie definitely has its own automatic tension. Most of the allure is the camera angles and unfocused style of filming. This creates all the mystery and adds to the supernaturalness of the movie. There isn't a lot of blood, although there's a pretty violent scene with a cat. Animal lovers will hate it, but it doesn't actually show anything. Sound effects take the imagination on a ride and you only see the before and after shots, which makes the graphic nature of the scene all in your mind. There really isn't anything unique about this movie. I always have to wonder why the devil only seems to possess girls. And why do all southern people have to be religious zealots? I mean really, it's such a stereotype.

Watch It: Because even if the ending was retarded, you're right there with it till the end just trying to figure out what the hell is going on.

Skip It: Because, well, the ending was retarded.

Armored

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: December 4, 2009

DVD Release Date: May 4, 2010

Plot 411: A group of armored car drivers plot to steal $42 million dollars.

Review: With his parents dead, the responsibility to raise his younger brother falls on Ty's (Columbus Short) shoulders. After an honorable discharge from the military, he takes a job as an armored car driver with his godfather Mike (Matt Dillon). After passing Ty passes his probation, Mike lets him in on a plan that he and his team have been plotting to steal one of their loads. At first Ty refuses to be involved, but with the bank ready to take their house and child welfare knocking on his door, he feels he has no choice but to snag some of that money. Surprisingly, this was better than I thought it'd be (though far from a good heist film). The quality of actors used in this movie was surprising. Besides Dillon, there was Jean Reno and Laurence Fishburne and a small part by Fred Ward. Younger actors included Amaury Nolasco, Milo Ventimiglia and Skeet Ulrich. Unfortunately, they weren't really able to sell me on the plot. There were a lot of sequences that weren't believable, actions that just didn't fit. Also, they introduce Ventimiglia's character only to use him as a human prop. They completely wasted him. The movie didn't go too much into detail regarding the motive behind this heist. I guess as the audience we're just supposed to think that the money is enough. Only Ty had a real reason for needing the money. I guess the others can be summed up with plain old greed.

Watch It: If you're okay with a mediocre turn out by some top-notched actors.

Skip It: And go with one of the Ocean's flicks. Much more entertaining.

Thr3e

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: January 5, 2007

DVD Release Date: April 24, 2007

Plot 411: A serial killer targets a seminary student in his next game.

Review: Marc Blucas is Kevin Parson, a Ph.D. student in seminary school. He was raised by his aunt when his parents died, and after a difficult childhood, he is trying to find meaning in his life. A serial killer known as Riddle Killer has targeted him as the next victim. With the help of his best friend Sam (Laura Jordan) and a cop (Justine Waddell), who has also been Riddle Killer's target, he tries to figure out a way to stay alive and capture the killer. Despite all the markings of a good thriller, this movie really fell short of my expectations. It was like a generic version of the first Saw movie. It didn't have all the blood and gore, but it still tried to use many similar elements (serial killer, confused victims, sins, biblical passages, determined cops, etc.). However, this movie was unable to carry out most of the gimmicks. There wasn't enough suspense. There wasn't enough mystery. There wasn't enough messed up childhood. There wasn't enough of everything. Unfortunately Blucas just doesn't seem able to carry a show as the lead actor. Even the twist ending doesn't seem to have much effect on the outcome.

Watch It: If you've got nothing better to do?

Skip It: And rewatch Saw.

Gone Baby Gone

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: October 19, 2007

DVD Release Date: February 12, 2008

Plot 411: A child is missing and a private investigator must wade through the sordid underworld of Boston to recover her.

Review: This is the movie where Ben Affleck's baby brother Casey proves he's a much better on-screen talent and where Ben's real talents behind the camera are revealed. Casey stars as Patrick, a street smart private eye who is enlisted by a woman (Amy Madigan) to find her niece Amanda (Madeline O'Brien). Amanda was abducted while her mother (Amy Ryan) visited a neighbor. Since the cops aren't getting anywhere, Patrick takes the case and uses his local sources to uncover the truth. However, the truth is never as it seems. This movie is a crazy-good cop thriller that is, in some ways, vey much like those noir films. The seediness of the circumstances, the fine line between cops and criminals and the city all mix together to form a truly great show. The movie excellently deals with tough topics that ask you to reevaluate your moral compass. Like many aspects in life, this movie slips into a grey area rather than remain firmly planted in either black or white. Also in this movie are Michelle Monaghan, Morgan Freeman and Ed Harris.

Watch It: For a dark and gritty cop movie that takes advantage of its neighborhood and its culture.

Skip It: If you're not prepared to question your own morals.

I Am Legend

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: December 7, 2007 (Japan) / December 11, 2007 (USA)

DVD Release Date: March 18, 2008

Plot 411: A cure for cancer mutates and turns humans into monsters leaving those who are immune to the mutation to fight for their lives.

Review: Robert Neville (Will Smith) has made an important discovery, the cure for cancer. However, a few years later, this cure turns into a curse as the strain kills most of Earth's population. The remaining people evolve into light-sensitive beings who have increased agility and speed but decreased mental capacities. Neville, who is immune, finds himself alone in New York desperately trying to find a cure. His only companion is his dog Sam, but he hopes to find other survivors and broadcasts a message on the radio each day in hopes that someone will hear him. I really enjoyed everything except for the ending of this film, which I found illogical. However, other than that, this movie was highly entertaining and kept me on the edge of my seat. I suppose the movie plays on some of our basic fears - the fear of the dark and the fear of being alone. These are essentially very simple concepts but are completely effective in this situation where Robert is alone in the world. We immediately empathize with him and the situation in which he finds himself. What could be worse than knowing that the world is dead and every night is a struggle for you to survive? Injected into such a grim life are the every day routines that Robert manages to complete in an effort to remain normal. Since it's Will Smith, you know it'll be funny.

Watch It: Because it's a good end-of-the-world thriller.

Skip It: Because the end ruins the entire thing.

Daybreakers

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: January 6, 2010 (United Kingdom) / January 8, 2010 (USA)

DVD Release Date: May 11, 2010

Plot 411: In a world of 95% vampires/5% humans, vampires must find a way to manufacture blood in order to survive.

Review: Ed (Ethan Hawke) is working to find a viable substitute for human blood to feed the entire world as the population of humans rapidly dwindles. He works for a man named Charles Bromley (Sam Neill), who runs a blood farming company, but is ethically torn. He struggles to keep his own humanity and views humans as a endangered species rather than a food supply. Luckily, there is a group of renegade humans who fight against the vampires in hopes of finding a cure to vampirism. Led by Audrey (Claudia Karvan) and Elvis (Willem Dafoe), the group also searches for wayward humans and tries to provide a safe haven for them. This is an interesting horror, sci-fi movie because it can also serve as an allegory for the present time. Just as we consume our natural resources, the vampires literally consume them by feeding on them. They live in a society that condones the wastefulness and single-mindedness of gluttony just as we seem to. It is only a matter of time before we face a similar fate if nothing is done to change our ways.

Watch It: For a moral gem within a genre film.

Skip It: If you're looking for good special effects. The CGI is pretty awful, but there's a ton of blood and guts.

Salt

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: July 23, 2010

DVD Release Date: TBD

Plot 411: CIA agent Evelyn Salt is accused of being a Russian spy involved in an assassination plot.

Review: Just as Russian expert Evelyn Salt (Angelina Jolie) and her boss Ted Winter (Liev Schreiber) head home for the day, they're called back to interrogate Russian ex-pat Vassily Orlov (Daniel Olbrychski) who claims to have information about a plot to start a war between America and the world. As Salt interviews Orlov, he tells her a story about Russian children who are trained for the ultimate act of terrorism. These children were inserted into American society many years ago and await activation. One of those children was named Evelyn Salt. After this revelation, Salt must prove her innocence and allegiance to America. Despite a few plot holes and a plot that was predictable, this was an enjoyable action-packed thriller that I think many people will like. Jolie is in top physical form and doing a lot of activity - from hand-to-hand combat to riding atop moving vehicles. Despite being out of the game since 2008's Wanted, she's still got her girl power on. One thing I liked about this character is that she didn't use her sex appeal (by way of revealing or skin-tight clothes) to get the job done. She just kicked ass on her own. I found Schreiber to be just as creepy as always. For some reason, he just gives off that vibe to me. Even though I realize this is an action movie and erratic camera movement creates a sense of urgency, I found some of the shots distracting. It's hard to see the true beauty of some fights because the camera is shaking so much and so tight on the subjects. I long for the day when directors reintroduce the wide angle action sequences. C'mon directors! Take a page out of John Woo's action book. Also in this film is Chiwetel Ejiofor.

Watch It: For the wide array of action sequences that go nonstop.

Skip It: If you're susceptible to motion sickness.

Pandorum

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: September 29, 2009

DVD Release Date: January 19, 2010

Plot 411: Two members of a spaceship flight crew awaken after a long sleep and are completely disoriented and must figure out what happened.

Review: Bower (Ben Foster) wakes up suddenly and frees himself from a hyper-sleep capsule in a ship that has lost its power. At first he doesn't know who he is and his memory is fragmented. An hour later, his superior officer Payton (Dennis Quaid) awakens as well. The two decide to explore the ship and find the nuclear reactor in order to jump start the power. On Bower's journey, he meets exceptionally powerful humanoid creatures that are quick and deadly. He also meets surviving ship members and they must piece together their collective memory in order to figure out what has happened. This was an awesome sci-fi action thriller. It even leans toward horror more than most sci-fi movies. The practical effects used for the creatures are great. Unfortunately, it's difficult to see much of them until almost the end. The movie did a good job creating a feeling of isolation, desperation and confusion. As a viewer, I felt caught up in Bower's world. What's happening? Who are these people? Where are they? Is it an alien? The audience can definitely relate to his situation because it's as baffling for us as it is for him. They even include a foreign language, which I'm pretty sure is Vietnamese, without subtitles to add to the confusion. Also in this film are Antje Traue, Cung Le and Cam Gigandet.

Watch It: Because the general concept is pretty awesome and there are so many possibilities.

Skip It: If you're into the technical aspects about space flight and things of that nature. Who knows how accurate this is even if it is set in the future?

Predators

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: July 7, 2010

DVD Release Date: TBD

Plot 411: A group of killers are dropped into a foreign jungle and come face to face with even bigger killers.

Review: The movie opens as a man (Adrien Brody) awakens to find he is falling through the air and unable to open up his parachute. What a way to kick off this film! We soon learn he is not the only person to live through the experience when he meets up with seven other people. They are all fierce soldiers in their own way, some who are traditionally trained, like Nikolai (Oleg Taktarov), and others who are just bad asses, like death row inmate Stans (Walton Goggins). There's also a female operative (Alice Braga), a doctor (Topher Grace) and some other trained killers. As the group tries to figure out where they are and what is going on, they are attacked by foreign creatures. They learn that the tables are switched and the hunters are not the hunted. I thought this was a really good way to reboot the Predator franchise. It's a new imagining of an old favorite. I found some of the action hard to follow though because of all the shaky cam jerkiness. Also, the plot and dialogue wasn't all that great. My biggest critique is that despite being named Predators, it takes a long time for a predator to show up on screen. How is this possible? The special effects aren't mindblowingly good either. Also in this movie is Laurence Fishburne and Danny Trejo.

Watch It: If you're a fan of sci-fi action flicks.

Skip It: If you're expecting this new film to make incredible use of technology.

Inception

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: July 8, 2010 (United Kingdom) / July 13, 2010 (USA)

DVD Release Date: TBD

Plot 411: A team of extractors are hired to insert themselves into a man's subconscious in order to alter his behavior.

Review: This is truly a masterpiece in the sci-fi thriller arena. The main character, Dom Cobb, is played by Leonardo DiCaprio. He is the team leader of a group of hired extractors who can insinuate themselves into your dreams to unlock your deepest secrets. Cobb is hired by Saito (Ken Watanabe) for a job that most think is impossible. He must plant an idea into the mind of Robert Fischer, Jr. (Cillian Murphy), the heir to a corporation that rivals Saito's. Cobb's team consists of Arthur (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), Ariadne (Ellen Page), Eames (Tom Hardy) and Yusuf (Dileep Rao). Together the create a labyrinth of dreams and must synchronize their descent into the subconscious. This is definitely a movie that is worth watching more than once. It is a cerebral film that manipulates reality and fantasy until you're not exactly sure which world you're in. The concepts are quite complex to wrap your mind around and you will leave the theater changed just a little bit. I like how DiCaprio continues to push the boundaries of fact and fiction in this newest forray into the mind.

Watch It: For an excellent effort by DiCaprio, whose performance here is a few steps better than Shutter Island.

Skip It: Because it really is a mind bender.

Death Note: The Last Name

Rating: Not Rated

Movie Release Date: November 3, 2006 (Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan) / May 20, 2008 (USA)

DVD Release Date: February 10, 2009

Plot 411: The battle of minds continues in this Death Note sequel.

Review: In this movie, Light (Tatsuya Fujiwara) and L (Kenichi Matsuyama) face off to capture the notorious Kira (I like how that sounds like "killer" in English). The battle between these two geniuses is intense and you never feel bored. Again, the cops in this show, including Light's father (Takeshi Kaga), are extremely useless. New characters are introduced that create a twist here or there. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. It's interesting that the Japanese are still making movies about the powers of good and evil, yet they're doing it in new ways that will capture modern audiences. I also love how there is humor despite the serious nature of the show. The constant cat and mouse game played by Light and L is great and keeps you wanting more. The CGI could use more work. If this is a style they're going for, I just don't get it. I like how the topic of justice is still being argued with both sides of the issue coming up with logical and relevent reasons to support their views. Is a world with less crime worth the sacrifices being made and the relinquishing of human rights? Does ever human, good or bad, deserve a chance? What happens when obviously guilty criminals are released due to faulty justice systems? Is it wrong for them to pay for their crimes in an eye for an eye way? These are all pretty serious questions to be generated from a movie (and previously a manga).

Watch It: If you liked the first movie. This one continues the story and seals the deal.

Skip It: If stereotypes of Japanese girls annoy you. This one girl Misa (Erika Toda) was just so annoying with her whining and little girl tantrums.

Death Note / Desu Nooto

Rating: Not Rated

Movie Release Date: June 17, 2006 (Japan)

DVD Release Date: September 16, 2008

Plot 411: A college student finds a magical book that gives him the power to kill anyone just by writing their name inside it.

Review: This movie is based on a manga of the same name and stars Tatsuya Fujiwara as Light, the son of a police officer. He is a law student who wants to work in the police force, but he is jaded when he discovers that many criminals do not receive the punishment they deserve. One night he finds a book that has been dropped by the god of death. By writing in this book, Light learns that he can kill all the bad people in the world who escape the hand of justice. Soon he is killing people around the world in the name of bettering humanity, and his father is put on a taskforce to find the killer (aka Kira). His father collaborates with the mysterious L (Kenichi Matsuyama), who is a genius at uncovering mysteries. This movie is a great crime thriller, despite the cheesy animation used to portray the god of death. I mean, c'mon. The main actor looks like he stepped out of an anime, but they can't make the one animation in the film look legit? What's wrong with that picture? This was a good movie because it was essentially a match of wits and the smartest man will walk out as the winner. It played out that age-old saying: "Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely."

Watch It: For an interesting foreign flick that visually looks a lot like an anime but is really live action.

Skip It: Because how can the Japanese get the animation so wrong? How?

Traitor

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: August 21, 2008

DVD Release Date: December 16, 2008

Plot 411: Samir Horn is a devout Muslim who straddles the line between patriot and terrorist in his participation in the jihad.

Review: Another great performance by Don Cheadle! Cheadle is Samir, a half American, half Sudanese man who is caught by FBI agents while trying to sell explosives to a terrorist group in Yemen. Despite intial misgivings from the Islamic group, especially by Omar (Said Taghmaoui) who believes he's a traitor, he is soon welcomed and becomes an essential part of their jihad. Samir, Omar and the other men escape the prison and begin to initiate their plans. FBI agents Clayton (Guy Pearce) and Archer (Max McDonough) quickly uncover all the intel they can and call a meeting of the minds in order to find Samir. The lines between right and wrong are severely crossed, especially when human lives are taken. This movie is a good example of the choices people must make in the service of what they believe to be the betterment of mankind. Sometimes these sacrifices are personal and one must live with his choices even though all intentions were honorable. It also highlighted the ingenuity of terrorists and how they are able to infiltrate everyday society. Their motivations and commitments are just as serious as the U.S. government's and the lengths they go to in order to complete their missions are simply incredible. The juxtaposition of both sides make it clear that the two forces are similar in many ways. Also in this movie is Jeff Daniels.

Watch It: Because even though it's entertaining, this movie is out there to make you think.

Skip It: If you're too busy flag waving to see the more serious issues involved in this conflict.

Surrogates

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: September 24, 2009

DVD Release Date: January 26, 2010

Plot 411: In a society where people live via their surrogate robot selves, a new weapon is unleashed that can kill the human operators when their robots are killed.

Review: This was an interesting sci-fi thriller starring Bruce Willis as Tom, a cop who is put on an unusual case. He and his partner Peters (Radha Mitchell) arrive at a crime scene with two damaged surrogates, one of them unmarked. They chase down clues to discover that the operators linked to the surrogates are dead. Now the pair must find the weapon and people responsible for this before all of mankind is killed. The idea that people no longer live their lives in their physical form and use robot replacements instead is interesting. It's a comment on our society's reliance on and fascination with technology. The movie highlights how we've actually become crippled by technology as more things are automated and done for us. The deterioration of our human bodies is already reflected in the rise in obesity. I imagine that we aren't too far away from lives as portrayed in the film. Also in this film are Rosamund Pike, Boris Kodjoe, James Cromwell and Ving Rhames.

Watch It: For a glimpse into our future?

Skip It: Because the plot is predicatble. I think they could've done a better job at storytelling.

AVPR: Alien Vs. Predator - Requiem

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: December 25, 2007

DVD Release Date: April 15, 2008

Plot 411: When an alien bursts from a dead predator's body, the battle between the two species continues and humanity is once again caught in the action.

Review: This movie takes place right after the original Alien Vs. Predator ends. Aliens burst from the dead body of a predator within the predator spaceship. In the ensuing battle, the ship crashes in the Colorado wilderness, and aliens escape. They quickly reproduce by implanting embryos into humans. Receiving the ship's distress signal, one predator is sent back to clean up the mess and do battle with the aliens. Once again, the two species duke it out and human casualties occur. This one wasn't as brainy as the first tried to be, and instead used a different tack. This movie went with more action and more carnage. The plot was just a feeble attempt to link one sequence with the next. The characters are pretty forgettable as well and barely distinguishable from one another. Again, this movie mostly happens at night (of course) and it's hard to see some of the action. I wish they'd just make a villian who was bright yellow so he'd stand out at night.

Watch It: For the carnage and kills.

Skip It: Because despite the action, it's pretty unbearable.

AVP: Alien Vs. Predator

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: August 12, 2004 (Puerto Rico & Thailand) / August 13, 2004 (USA)

DVD Release Date: January 25, 2005

Plot 411: A group of scientists and mercenaries trek to Antarctica to research an environmental anomaly only to find themselves amidst an alien death fight.

Review: Eager to find and explain a heat bloom in Antarctica, Charles Weyland (Lance Henriksen) hires a group to uncover the mystery. The group is led by wilderness guide Alexa (Sanaa Lathan), who is hired by Weyland to lead the team into the cold conditions. When the group arrives at the site, they find a deep shaft in the ice and proceed into the hole. They find a sacrificial chamber deep in the ice, which soon activates a dormant alien. The alien quickly produces mini aliens in the form of facehuggers in order to populate quickly. A predator enters the scene and the killing begins. For a horror flick, I thought that this movie was exceptionally deep in plot as it linked the predators and aliens back to early civilization to explain and confirm all the theories that involved alien species. However, other than that it's your typical horror movie with lots of killing and jump scares around every corner. The dark lighting throughout most of the film was disappointing though as it made it hard to see the action. The aliens and predators both looked appropriately hideous. I particularly loved all the drooling and acid.

Watch It: For double the fun with aliens and predators lurking in the darkness.

Skip It: Because, not surprisingly, the dialogue sucks and it's one big gore fest at best.

Blood Work

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: August 9, 2002

DVD Release Date: December 27, 2002

Plot 411: A heart transplant recipient investigates the circumstances in which his donor was killed.

Review: Clint Eastwood stars as FBI agent Terry McCaleb, who has a heart attack while chasing a suspect down an alley. Two years later, he receives a transplant and is recovering well when his donor's sister visits him on his boat. Graciella (Wanda de Jesus) implores McCaleb to help her get answers about her sister's death. As McCaleb digs deeper into the case, he ruffles the feathers of local law enforcement officers, played by Paul Rodriguez and Dylan Walsh. He also gets a hand from a former colleague, played by Tina Lifford. Anjelica Houston makes a couple of brief appearances as McCaleb's heart doctor and Jeff Daniels is his neighbor. This movie seemed like every other run-of-the-mill cop thriller and wasn't enhanced in any way by Eastwood's star credentials. I didn't realize it was only made in 2002. Instead, I thought it was one of Eastwood's earlier works. This, I suppose, is due in part to the lackluster production quality and special effects. It could've been an '80s classic rather than a turn-of-the-century effort. The pacing was also less than perfect, which made the movie drag for me.

Watch It: To see old Clint in action just like the good old days.

Skip It: Because the requisite love scene was totally unnecessary and came out of no where, in my opinion.