Dawn Rider (2012)

Directed by Terry Miles
Starring Christian Slater and Lochlyn Munro
Runtime 94min. - Rated R
(Though I can't imagine why, I'd say PG-13)
2 Stars (out of 4)

"Dawn Rider" is available on V.O.D services. Links below review.

"Dawn Rider" is a remake of the 1935 John Wayne film "The Dawn Rider", which is itself a remake of "Galloping Thru". A third film called "Western Trails" is a retelling of the story as well, making this one the 4th of its kind. It's an odd choice for a remake given that the original wasn't really all that beloved. If that choice wasn't puzzling enough, Christian Slater is cast as the same character John Wayne played. Slater does an adequate job, but why risk bringing on comparisons to Wayne?

The Greats

"The Greats" is the latest feature added to DustyOnMovies.com. It will be periodically updated with mini-reviews, profiles, and essays about cinema's greatest legends. My first topic was an easy decision, Casablanca. Just look for the tabs at the top of the page.

I'm strongly considering adding a feature that is solely devoted to the life and career of Humphrey Bogart. I'll decide based on what kind of reception is achieved by "The Greats".

Black Cobra (2012)

Directed by Scott Donovan and Lilly Melgar
Starring T.J. Storm and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa
Runtime 89min. - Rated R
1.5 Stars (out of 4)

"Black Cobra" is available on Vudu, Amazon and ITunes. Links below review.

Martial arts has a seemingly unlimited amount of disciplines. Most of them have merit. As an MMA fan, I've seen Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Jiu-Jitsu, Capoeira, Judo, Wrestling, Boxing, Muay Thai and even some Kung Fu techniques used successfully in a fight. Cobra-style Kung Fu however, is complete baloney. Any martial art that requires you to do multiple flips, hisses and hand gestures before even engaging your opponent is probably not applicable. I am also skeptical that high-level martial artists can jump high in the air and glide like birds from rooftop to rooftop.

Free Movie Of The Week - Moon (2009)

I guess I should post these "Free Movie Of The Week" segments more than once a month.

Anyways, this week's (month's) recommendation is "Moon". It's directed by Duncan Jones who also gave us "Source Code". Sam Rockwell stars and is really the only actor involved. He plays an astronaut who works on a moonbase. His job is to harvest minerals. One day he makes a startling discovery, himself.

The film is a good example of true sci-fi. There's no laser blasters or aliens, just good ol' fashioned imagination. It currently has an 8.0 rating on IMDB and an 89% Fresh rating on the TomatoMeter. Enjoy.

Stash House (2012)

Directed by Eduardo Rodriguez
Starring Sean Faris, Jon Huertas, Dolph Lundgren and Briana Evigan
Runtime 99min. - Rated R
2.5 Stars (out of 4)

"Stash House" is available on Itunes, Vudu, and Amazon Instant.
Links available below review.

Despite giving it the same star rating, "Stash House" is a better film than Rodriguez's "El Gringo", which was released on the same day and by the same company. I still wouldn't call it a good film, but there were some effectively suspenseful scenes.

Hick (2011)

Directed by Derick Martini
Starring Chloe Grace Moretz, Eddie Redmayne and Blake Lively
Runtime 95min. - Rated R
4 Stars (out of 4)

"Hick" is available on YouTube Movies, Vudu, and ITunes. Links posted beneath the review.

"Hick" probably doesn't need another review. However, I feel compelled to share my thoughts in an effort to stem the tide of negative criticism. "Hick" currently has a 0% rating at RottenTomatoes.com. This is a terrible injustice in my eyes. That rating is compiled from only 14 reviews. Hopefully that rating will get better as more reviews are posted.

El Gringo (2012)

Directed by Eduardo Rodriguez
Starring Scott Adkins and Yvette Yates
Runtime 102min. - Rated R
2.5 Stars (out of 4)

"El Gringo" is available On-Demand through Vudu, Itunes, and Amazon. Links at bottom.

Here's some things that every filmmaker should avoid. When a distinguishing viewer sees these things, they instantly lose a measure of respect for the film.

• A character walks away from a huge explosion without ever looking back.
• When stealing a car, the thief finds keys over the sun visor
• A woman tends to a mans wounds and it leads to sex
• The protagonist takes out multiple machine-gun armed villains with just a pistol
• Villains with machine guns who can't hit a still target.
• A villain gets the drop on a hero, but the gun jams
• A car has trouble starting but fires up just before the hero gets hurt
• Someone uses a bullet to light a fire. (Especially painful to Mythbusters fans)
• A protagonist shoos away a dog unsucessfully, and the dog follows them everywhere
• All melee weapons make "swooshing" sounds when swung, bats/knives/swords/fists

Lake Effects (2012)

Directed by Michael McKay
Starring Jeff Fahey and Jane Seymour
Runtime 90min. - Suitable for all ages
2 Stars (out of 4)

Released May 6th on The Hallmark Channel

"Lake Effects" is shot on location at Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia. That's significant because I grew up just an hour away and have spent many days and nights camping, boating and fishing that very lake. My wife and I once used our entire tax refund to rent a lake house for a week. In my childhood my family made summer trips to the lake where we all crammed in a tent. Not the best sleeping arrangements, but to wake up gazing upon the sunrise reflected off the water made it all worth the hassle. So the idea of having a film shot in a place that I revere gets me excited. It was announced in our local papers that Jane Seymour and Jeff Fahey would be starring in the film. Later I found out that Ben Savage, Richard Moll, Casper Van Dien, Sean Patrick Flanery and Madeline Zima were all a part of the cast. Those names may not be "A-list", but they all have respectable careers. At least I was familiar with the cast, which ratcheted the excitement up ten fold.