The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)

Directed by Francis Lawrence

Starring Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson

Runtime 136min. - Rated PG13

2.5 Stars (out of 4)

I generally don't go to the theater. Especially not to new releases. I know that seems counterproductive for a movie blogger, but the price is outrageous. Then there's the line, the crowds, the concessions, and all the other stuff I could do without. The screens are awesome, but I'm capable of enjoying a movie on my TV just as well as a theater.

So why make an exception for "Catching Fire"? Two reasons: 1. I had free tickets 2. My wife and I were celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary.

So how was this rare trip to a real live movie theater? Pretty good, actually.

"The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" does a lot of things right. It manages to project a sinister tone without the need for grisly on-screen violence. And of course the costumes and sets are amazing, especially the scenes in the capital. The cast is top notch. Really, the talent is over-qualified for the material. Woody Harrelson is one of my favorite performers and Phillip Seymour Hoffman I consider the greatest actor alive. Jennifer Lawrence is always stunning and a prodigious thespian in her own right.

So now lets get to the important stuff. The stuff I didn't like.

Mike Case in: The Big Kiss Off (2013)

Directed by Justin Baird

Starring Les Mahoney and Devai Pearce

Runtime 76min.

Available on DVD from the Official Website

 
So I'm guessing you haven't seen the trailers advertising "Mike Case in: The Big Kiss Off" during the Sunday Night Football games. And maybe you didn't notice it on the front page of IMDB. And possibly even missed the Mike Case blimp on it's 12-city tour.

No, none of that happened. What I'm driving at here is that "The Big Kiss Off" is a low-budget movie that may have never came across my radar if not for a Facebook friendship with the folks at IndieRights Distribution. It's a surprising friendship since they sent me a literal box full of DVD's of which I've only watched and reviewed a few.

But "Mike Case" didn't end up in the DVD box. I was actually contacted by a producer/star/co-writer on the film who'd hoped I might take a look and offer a review. Of course, if that producer had visited this site he may have not even offered. It's not like I've been active lately. And I confess, my first instinct was to politely decline. But, I was in the mood for something different, and in the mood to write, and I'm a big nut for noir. So I said yes. And the result is as follows.

The Movies I've Watched Recently

As opposed to the movies I'd like to have watched recently. I think you'll see a pattern emerging here pretty quickly.

• The Little Mermaid
• The Little Mermaid 2
• The Little Mermaid 3
• Back to the Sea (Direct-to-video cartoon)
• Rio
• Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs
• Despicable Me
• The Croods
• A Turtle's Tale: Sammy's Adventures
• Epic
• Escape from Planet Earth
• Wreck-It Ralph
• Koala Kid
• The Monster in Paris
• Mars Needs Moms
• Megamind
• Wall-E
• Up

I think you get the idea. I also end up watching a lot of Curious George on Netflix and there's bunches of Land Before Time movies that my wife watches with the kids when I'm not home.

So, if the reviews come slow. This is why. Not that I couldn't review kids movies, but I really don't care too.

Bless Me, Ultima (2013)

 Directed by Carl Franklin

Based on the book by Rudolfo Anaya

Starring Luke Ganalon and Miriam Colon

2.5 Stars (out of 4)

Watch instantly on Vudu or Amazon

Better yet, buy the book!

For whatever reason, I didn't read many novels growing up. Hell, I didn't read many novels ever, until the last couple of years. But now I read constantly. Can't get enough.

"The book was better." is what I've always heard about adaptations. But I've had no first hand experience of this phenomenon until now. I happened to catch Roger Ebert's review of "Bless Me, Ultima" about a year ago and decided to check out the novel. I'm so glad I did. It's an excellent piece of literature that added much to the Chicano culture it celebrates.

Why My Blog Sucks

Yes. My blog sucks. I mean, it's a movie review blog and I haven't posted a movie review since May 9th. What gives?

The Silver Tattoo by Laura Treacy Bentley

 The Silver Tattoo

by Laura Treacy Bentley

Published April '13

Having writer/editor/publisher friends on Facebook often comes in handy. Sometimes an author will make their book available for free on Amazon for a 24 hour period. I've gained a few books that way. But, The Silver Tattoo is by far the best free pick-up I've made.

This book is excellent. Voice is something authors are told to develop constantly, but it almost seems like a myth. Bentley's voice, however, is strong. I think I could pick her writing out of a lineup of samples. Part of this is likely due to her poetry background, though admittedly I've yet to read her poetry.

The book is more sentimental than I'm used to, but LTB is so good at building intrigue that you never lose focus. You just have to have those answers. A lot of my reading consists of horror-fantasy and sci-fi. And while I'm a huge fan of Joe Hill and Mark Lawrence, it's nice to expand one's horizons every so often. So there's no beheadings or monsters, The Silver Tattoo still left me completely satisfied.

Horns by Joe Hill

Horns by Joe Hill

4 Stars (out of 4)

Whoa. That was my reaction to "Horns", a novel by Joe Hill. If you're unfamiliar with the author you may have heard of his parents, Tabitha and Stephen King. Maybe it's in the blood, but Hill's certainly got the talent. He's not just finding success based on his famous parents.

"Horns" is the story of Ignatius "Ig" Perrish, a young man who wakes up in his car with a hangover and no memory of the previous night's events. Also, he has horns. It's not a spoiler. Hill doesn't waste time introducing the element. The horns are there from the beginning.

Don't let the supernatural elements fool you, this story is a study of human nature. What do the horns do? Well, they give people the urge to tell Ig their deepest darkest desires. Often they even ask Ig permission to act on those desires. Also, if he makes skin contact with another person he absorbs their memories, often finding out things he didn't want to know. His friends, family, even his preacher has horrible secrets.

The Cabining: A Conversation with the Stars and Director

Melissa Mars as "Celeste"

A recently had a chance to chat with the directors and stars of upcoming horror/comedy "The Cabining". I've seen an unfinished version of the film and I think it's got a bright future. This is a very casual interview and I think my readers will enjoy it.

My subjects are: director/writer Steve Kopera, star Melissa Mars, star/producer Mike Kopera, and star Bo Keister.

I'd also suggest visiting "The Cabining's" YOUTUBE CHANNEL where you can find trailers and exclusive behind the scenes interviews.

Clockwork Phoenix 4 (2013)

Editor: Mike Allen

4 Stars (out of 4)

Order the book HERE.

Clockwork Phoenix 4 takes the reader on a journey through the outer reaches of imagination. You'll find threads loosely tying these stories together, not in plot but theme. That's not an accident. Editor Mike Allen has a fascination with the abstract notion of celestial clockwork. In one way or the other, you'll see that fascination manifested in each of the stories he's chosen.

Even without the author bios you'll recognize many of the authors. If you read the major markets like Analog, Asimovs, Clarkesworld, Strange Horizons and so on, you've probably ran across many of these authors before.

I wrote an comprehensive story by story breakdown of this book a few months ago. Each review was written directly after reading the short story. Unfortunately my hard drive passed on during that time and the review was lost. I've been mourning it's passing for months now and I'm finally ready to move on and give Clockwork Phoenix 4 it's proper due.

The Evolution of DustyOnMovies

About a year ago I walked into this little brick building about five miles from my home. The sign on the front read Public Library. When I walked through the doors there were hundreds of shelves full of little rectangular things with interesting titles on them. Naturally I went to the person in charge and asked"What kind of device to I need to play these movies?" She informed that they weren't movies, but books. So I said, "What kind of device do I need to play these books?" To my dismay, the lady shook her head and walked away.

Fine, I thought. I'll just go check them out myself. So I opened the case expecting to find some sort of optical disc, instead there were a bunch of sheets of paper bound together and printed with words. They were sort of like those things that you read while waiting in a doctor's office or while taking a poop, only thicker and with harder words.

So I took one of these "books" to the counter and asked the lady how much it would cost. It was FREE! All I had to do is sign up for a free membership and I could hang on to it for a few weeks. Obviously, this "library" was a life-changing innovation that should have been around years ago.

Superman: Unbound (2013)

Directed by James Tucker

Starring Matt Bomer and John Noble

Runtime 75min. - Rated PG13

3.5 Stars (out of 4)

Available now on VUDU and Amazon Instant.

This ain't the kind of cartoon your kids watch on Saturday mornings.

"Superman: Unbound" took a little getting used to for me. For starters, I've watched every feature-length animated Superman movie and recently finished the animated series "Justice League Unlimited". So I have a certain idea of how Superman should be drawn. It's narrow-minded and unfair, I admit. The animation of "Superman: Unbound" is a pretty big departure from the D.C. Animated Universe. The characters have slender faces with less jawline than I'm used to. Also, when Kal-El changes back into a mild-mannered reporter his voice changes drastically. This is the first Superman since Christopher Reeve to make his secret identity believable. The change in voice was so major that I waited for the credits to who the other voice actor was. There was no other voice actor, just one talented guy named Matt Bomer.

Sirius (2013)

As some of you know, I have a deep interest in skepticism. I follow loads of skeptic related blogs and websites such as Randi.org, quackwatch.com, sciencebasedmedicine.org, michaelshermer.com, whatstheharm.net and when I'm not devouring fiction novels my reading involves such authors as James Randi, Michael Shermer, Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris and Richard Wiseman. I even wrote a couple of skeptic-themed movie reviews for the JREF such as this review for "Resurrect Dead".

This isn't about me though. Author, skeptic and noted UFOlogist (the real kind) Robert Sheaffer recently posted a movie review over on his blog Bad UFOs. The film in question is called "Sirius" and is a pet project of pseudoscientist Dr. Steven Greer. It gained some public spotlight by promising free energy, a concept that physicists agree is impossible, and the corpse of an extraterrestrial being.

Early Favorite for Best Picture Oscar

Fundraising Campaigns supported by DustyOnMovies

 Details

"Truth or Dare" is a horror film directed by and starring Jessica Cameron. This will be her directorial debut.

Why I'm Supporting

Well, I like the premise and always enjoy a good horror film. Jessica Cameron has been acting for a while and I love seeing someone who loves their craft enough to try directing. It also doesn't hurt that she's so damn pretty.

 

CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT "TRUTH OR DARE"

It's in the Blood (2012)

Directed by Scooter Downey

Written by Downey and Sean Elliot

Starring Elliot and Lance Henriksen

Runtime 81min. - Not Rated (R-ish)

3 Stars (out of 4)

Now available on Amazon Instant and Vudu

Typically, when you rent a direct-to-video horror film with Lance Henriksen as its biggest star, you prepare yourself for mediocrity. That doesn't mean Henriksen's low-budget splatter flicks aren't fun, just not good. "It's in the Blood" completely turns that notion on its head. 

*Warning, the following paragraph contains loads of spoilers.*
The film features a father and son who, after an injury, get stranded in the forest where they're forced to fend off some mysterious predatory monster. For most horror films that would be the entire plot but "It's in the Blood" offers exponentially more. In fact, the amount of plot is both its greatest strength and weakness. It's refreshing to see well-developed characters, but sometimes the audience is expected to take on too much information. The lead character is dealing with extreme tragedy. His girlfriend/adopted sister was raped and killed by a stalker. The stalker is the town's deputy sheriff. The lovers' father is the town sheriff. The town sheriff could have saved them but was drunk - he became an alcoholic after his wife's death. Is that enough? No, our lead character also has photographic memory that comes in handy at the most convenient times. Plus he deals with depression by cutting and has been avoiding his dad for over a year. So it only makes sense that they decide to go on a long hike together.

The Host (2013)

Directed by Andrew Niccol

Based on the book by Stephanie Meyer

Starring Saoirse Ronan

Runtime 125min. - Rated PG-13

1.5 Stars (out of 4)

The idea of having two minds in one head has fueled countless sci-fi movie plots. Many of those films were low-budget horror and/or comedy. With "The Host", Stephanie Meyer has shown why the premise doesn't belong in a big budget film, at least not in one geared towards tween romance.

The plot revolves around an alien race that appear as shiny blue critters that look like they came from a deep sea documentary. These critters are then placed into the brain of humans where they take over the body and have access to the human's memories. But when one of these things is put into our resistant hero Melanie, it finds out humans won't go down easy.

Oz The Great and Powerful (2013)

Directed by Sam Raimi

Starring Mila Kunis and James Franco

Runtime 130min. - Rated PG

3.5 Stars (out of 4)

"Oz the Great and Powerful" is "Army of Darkness". Let me make my case in the form of a synopsis.

A man gets sent to a faraway place where he is claimed to be a prophesied "chosen one". He pretends to have great power to exploit the locals but tries to ditch his responsibilities when things get dangerous. Later he redeems himself by leading the people to freedom from an evil force. He doesn't have a real army so he uses his knowledge of technology to outsmart his enemy.

So tell me, is that Ash or Oz?

Then there's the fact that both films are directed by Sam Raimi. Like in AOD Raimi uses his beloved Three Stoogies-style physical comedy. In the beginning of Oz's trip spikes poke through the hot-air baloon's basket and nearly poke him in the eyes. If seeing that doesn't invoke the memory of Ash doing battle with eye-poking underground skeletons then you probably have never seen AOD.

Evil Dead (2013)

Directed by Fede Alvarez

Starring Jane Levy, Shiloh Fernandez and Lou Taylor Pucci

Runtime 91min. - Rated R

3 Stars (out of 4)

I saw this film with Mike Allen and Shalon Hurlbert who will be discussing it on an upcoming episode of "Tales To Terrify", a popular podcast from the guys behind StarShipSofa. I expect they'll have a comical, well-informed take on the movie. It was nice doing something nerdy around other nerds, even though my trivial knowledge isn't nearly as impressive in their presence.

I don't usually review current theatrical releases, but so much hyperbole is being thrown at the "Evil Dead" remake that I just can't resist.

Bee People (2012)

Directed by David Knappe

Starring Gregg McMahan

Not Rated

Playing at the Grandin Film Festival in Roanoke, Va.

Visit the Official Website for more information.
And here's a trailer.

"Bee People" is the story of an alien invasion. It involves a race of creatures that closely resemble bees but can disguise themselves as people.

Okay, so maybe that was a Doctor Who episode.

The alien angle would have been entertaining, but probably have taken away from the documentary aspect of the film.

Thale (2012)

Written and directed by Aleksander Nordass

Starring Silje Reinåmo, Erlend Nervold & Jon Sigve Skard

Runtime 76 min. - Not Rated

In Norwegian with English subtitles

1 Star (out of 4)

Now available on Vudu and in select theaters

I rented "Thale" for a few reasons. Firstly, the trailer looked absolutely excellent. Secondly, I've been writing some sci-fi stories lately and this looked like a film that could provide some inspiration. Lastly, and this is probably the best reason, Scandinavia has been on a roll with films. "Troll Hunter", the Dragon Tattoo trilogy, "Klown", and "Rare Exports" are all prime examples of Scandinavian filmmaking. Oh and there's that guy....what was his name....Lars von Trier! And while I wasn't expecting a von-Trieresque masterpiece, I at least hoped this low-budget Norwegian sci-fi/horror film would continue the region's fine film-making tradition.

Two Thumbs Up

I'm not gonna do it. I just can't. Every other blogger in the world has written about Roger Ebert and there's simply nothing I can add. All I can tell you is that he inspired me in ways that greatly surpass movie criticism. I'd suggest anyone who hasn't to read "Life Itself" and learn a little about the man.

There's a rembrances section on RogerEbert.com that's absolutely wonderful. So instead of wasting your time let me just redirect you there.

Séraphine (2008)

Directed by Martin Provost

Starring Yolande Moreau and Ulrich Tukur

Runtime 125min. - Unrated

In French with English subtitles

4 Stars (out of 4)

Available on Netflix Instant or Vudu

I have a really hard time watching films about painters. It's not that I don't like art, it's just that I'm talentless in that arena. I wish I could draw a straight line but I simply cannot. I've tried. I bought brushes and paints and paper and watched Bob Ross more than any grown man should. When the magic of Bob Ross failed I realized I was completely hopeless.

My lack of talent creates another issue as well. It keeps me from sympathizing with the characters. It's harder to understand their struggles. I'm also frequently perplexed by what separates bad art from good art. I understand that a lot of that boils down to taste, but when everyone else is oohing and aahing I'm frequently shaking my head in frustration.

What I've Been Up To

I haven't been posting much lately. There's been an outpouring from my fans wondering why. Every day my inbox is full of adoring readers longing for fresh movie reviews enriched by my unique insight and wit.

Okay, none of that is true. Not one damn person has inquired about my meager output. Oh well.

I have managed to stay busy though, just not so much with movies. I've been watching plenty of them, dozens since my last review even. Writing about them? Nah, haven't been doing that. I hope to get back to it real soon though.

What I have been writing are stories, an occasional poem, and book reviews.

Jessica from Cinemadaptation and VirtualMargin has been nice enough to let me invade her book blog. In January I reviewed the formidable Cormac McCarthy classic "Blood Meridian". More recently I reviewed an autobiographical piece by a local writer/editor called "Burning The Furniture".

"Burning The Furniture" is by Dan Smith, editor of Valley Business FRONT Magazine. A magazine which, as of April 2013, will feature my print debut. It will be a short review of a new Sci-Fi Western novel called "Six-Gun Tarot" by R.S. Belcher, another local writer. Don't take that lightly though, "Six-Gun Tarot" is publish through Tor, a powerhouse in the world of sci-fi.

While the review may be minimal compared to the work I've done on this blog, a printed 150-word review means a lot more than a 2000-word review on a blog. At least it does when looking for freelance work. Hell, I'm going to frame the damn thing.

So don't fear loyal readers. I've not gone anywhere. Hopefully I'll have more good news to report in the future. I've gotten some nice feedback on the Ben Affleck "interview" and I plan to offer some more satire in the future.

Until next time,
Dusty

Q&A With Argo's Ben Affleck

Fresh off the Oscar win for Best Picture, "Argo" director Ben Affleck settles in for a Q&A with DustyOnMovies. A big shout out to Ben for donating his time.

The American Scream (2012)

Directed by Michael Stephenson

Starring Victor Bariteau, Manny Souza and Matthew Brodeur

Runtime 91min. - Not Rated

4 Stars (out of 4)

"The American Scream" is available on Netflix Instant.

Part of my Quirky Documentary series.

The town of Fairhaven, Connecticut is obsessed with Halloween. Or at least obsessed with Halloween decorations. "The American Scream" introduces us to three amateur "haunters" who lead the small town pack. Some are noticeably more talented than others, but all three households are veritably crazy.

Victor Bariteau is a perfectionist. He also gets the most face time in the film and rightfully so. His history warrants a little extra exploration. Victor was raised in a highly conservative religious family. There were no holiday festivities in his home. Not just strict Catholics or Protestants, he was brought up as a Branch Davidian. If that name rings a bell it's because the group was part of the infamously tragic Waco Siege of 1993. I'm unsure if he was part of that particular sect. His mother says she left the group when their prophet tried to resurrect a dead body during a service. Victor's daughter postulates that his current obsession with Halloween decorations is just a way of making up for missed childhood opportunities.

Now For Sale: Beauty Beneath The Dirt

Back in June 2012 I had the pleasure of seeing a film called "Beauty Beneath The Dirt". The documentary follows an unlikely trio of thru-hikers on the Appalachian Trail. At the time I offered up an interview with Kate Imp who has been involved with every aspect of the film from filming to editing to distribution. I also caught a local screening hosted by Brandon Imp and subsequently wrote a review.

Since that time I've kept up with the siblings on Facebook and through their official website.

I'm pleased to say that the film is finally for sale.

Actually, Kate Imp just posted a Facebook status update that I will now share with you without her permission. Hopefully she won't mind. I've linked up the crucial parts for viewing the film.

Yes indeed friends!!! My film is finally ready for your viewing!!! Thank you so much for your patience over the years. Blood, sweat, and tears doesn't even begin to describe all the love that went into this 2010 project, 2011 post-production, 2012 G2M Tour & University Tour, and now the 2013 digital and DVD distribution. And I seriously could not have done it without my inner circle of support (cough you cough). Seriously thank you. So, please, enjoy! Right now you can rent the film on YouTube or GooglePlay, and/or you can buy the DVD ... which includes over 3 hours of extra footage. In the coming months, more options will be available as well. And if you like it (or you like me) ... please share this link on your pages and twitter accounts. Email your friends. Let's inspire people together and let the world know how awesome nature can be.

 

Would You Rather (2012)

Directed by David Guy Levy

Starring Brittany Snow and Jeffrey Combs

Rintime 94min. - Not Rated

2 Stars (out of 4)

"Would You Rather" is available on Amazon Instant and ITUNES.

Would you rather: A. Watch this film - or B. Cut off your pinky finger? Hmmm. Well it would certainly limit my guitar skills but it'd be over so much quicker. Just take the damn finger.

Ok, so it's not that bad.

"Would You Rather" caught my attention thanks to its odd ensemble cast. I have a crush on Brittany Snow who stars in the film. Also, she did an amazing job in the 2009 film "The Vicious Kind". Playing the lead villain is Jeffrey Combs, the memorable mad scientist from the "Re-Animator" franchise. Former porn star Sasha Grey makes yet another appearance in a mainstream film. You may remember her from Steven Soderbergh's experimental indie flick "The Girlfriend Experience". Eddie Steeples is a name you may not know, but he played the Crab Man on "My Name is Earl". If you watch a lot of TV then you'll recognize the face of Enver Gjokaj as he's had several guest roles and starred in Joss Whedon's "Dollhouse". Johnny Coyne played the sadistic warden on the short-lived series "Alcatraz". Oddly enough, I am both familiar with, and a fan of, this entire band of misfits.

Wrong (2012)

Directed by Quentin Dupieux

Starring Jack Plotnick, Eric Judor and William Fichtner

 Runtime 94min - Not Rated

4 Stars (out of 4)

Now available on ITunes and other VOD services.

This review contains spoilers. Why? No reason.

What I like about "Wrong" is not the ridiculous events happening around the characters, but the passive nature of their reactions. Dolph Springer has a palm tree in his back yard. One day it's no longer a palm tree, but a pine tree. Instead of expressing wonder at this impossible transmutation he simply asks his gardener to remove it and put in a palm tree. He also works in an office where it's constantly raining, or maybe the sprinklers are perpetually activated. He and his coworkers just go about their business, using their laptops and phones while filling out soggy paperwork. He gets called into his manager's office where things are nice and dry. She asks him to use a towel before sitting down marking the only spoken reference to the situation throughout the entire film.

Klown (2010) (NSFW)

I'm including 3 movie posters. They're all excellent.

Directed by Mikkel Nørgaard

Starring Frank Hyam and Casper Christensen

Runtime 89 min. - Rated R

4 Stars (out of 4)

Available on Netflix Instant, Vudu, ITunes and Amazon Instant

Klown is a victory for raunchy comedies. It manages to be absolutely offensive and filthy while still maintaining a high standard of cinematic quality as well as a touching story. Wait, you love raunchy comedies but haven't heard of Klown? It stars Frank Hyam and Casper Christensen. You haven't heard of them either? That's because they're Danish and we stupid Americans just don't watch foreign films. Don't worry, there's already a remake in progress and I'm sure everyone will rush to see that inferior knock-off version lest they be forced to read a few subtitles.

(Related: Korean rapper Psy encourages people to watch foreign films in Gangnam Style.)

So what makes Klown raunchy? The opening act sees the main protagonist ejaculate on the face of his fiance's mother. That's just the tip of the iceberg.

On the set of "Restitution" - with lots of photos

"Restitution" was filmed with a Red Epic camera.

"I am a filmmaker, not a painter. I have a gift for arranging men and horses." - Werner Herzog

On January 4th I spent some time on the set of a film called "Restitution". It was a KickStarter project that met it's donation goal thanks in very small part to DustyOnMovies' $10 offering. I've donated to projects before, but this is the first time one has been filmed within 20 miles of my home. So I contacted the director, Matthew Pickett, and asked if I could come for a visit. To my surprise, he gave his consent without protest.


 

Matthew Pickett directs a shootout.

Being a western, "Restitution" required a location untouched by modern civilization. Pickett found that location in the mountains of Blacksburg, VA near a horse refuge called Advantage Ranch. This was a double win considering horses would be needed for the shoot. I parked at the ranch and was led down a wooded path and over hills of frozen mud until I came upon a small clearing. Invading that clearing was a cast and crew of about 20 individuals. Reflectors, shades, a camera dolly, make-up kits, sound equipment; this was clearly a rare event in this clearing, whose only other inhabitant was a busted picnic table.