Scifi Watch » Film Reviews

‘Taken’ Review

David Halpert — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 19:43:14 +0000

WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD!

Recently, 20th Century Fox released its newest film ‘Taken’ starring Liam Neeson, Famke Janssen, and Maggie Grace. It’s essentially a thriller/action film that revolves around Bryan Mills, an ex-CIA operative, who comes out of retirement to rescue his seventeen-year-old daughter Kim after she is kidnapped in Paris by European slave traders.

Before I go into explicit details about the movie let give you some background on the film itself. The film was produced by the studio ‘EuropaCorp.’ owned by Luc Besson, who most of you know was made a household name as a director of such films as Nikita, Leon, and The Fifth Element. Apparently ‘Taken’ was released a year ago in Europe and just recently was distributed for DVD (in Europe) making it easier than ever for North Americans to download a perfect DVD rip just weeks after its theatrical release here — a practice I don’t promote or condone.

This is a great film, and not because it’s necessarily brillantly acted, or masterfully written, but because it relishes in the fact that it doesn’t take itself too seriously. It would be a stretch to call this a B-movie because it isn’t. The production values are through the roof but there’s also a rawness and authenticity to the fight scenes that you rarely get with many action films. The film sets itself up to not be taken too seriously straight from the get-go. Whether it is Mills (Neeson) having a beer with his ex-CIA buddies (”Remember that time in Saudi Arabia when you killed all those terrorists with only a knife” [laughs ensue]), or if you could believe Maggie Grace as a seventeen year old teenager, you can forgive the film about thirty minutes into the movie when Neeson turns into complete badass mode.

This film is kind of a mix between The Bourne Identity and Hostel. And while my first impressions of the film were that of a typical cliched action film you get a lot of original action scenes in terms of cinematography. Without ruining too much, some of these scenes include: shoving thin steel rods into a man’s shins and attaching the rods to jumper cables electricuting him, going into a mobster’s headquarters armed with nothing but a business card, and a litany of objects used to incapacitate thugs (i.e. trays, champagne bottles, guns barrels, etc.). What really ramps up the tension is the fact that he only has a 70 hour window to work with before his daughter is permanently untraceable within the sex trade.

Just like what Die Hard did for the action film in the late 80’s and how the Bourne Series brought a resurgence to the thriller genre in the early part of this decade, Taken does some things that are both refreshing and original. And while the journey of how he gets from point A to point B is plausible (albeit unlikely) you will enjoy what this film has to offer. Just be thankful Neeson didn’t sustain any permanent injuries as a result of making this film. I was.

‘Repo: The Genetic Opera’ Review

David Halpert — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 07:38:06 +0000

Click Here to View Repo: The Genetic Opera Products on Ebay

Click here to Purchase Repo! The Genetic Opera at Amazon

For those who don’t know this, but I’m a huge fan of rock operas. Tommy, We Will Rock You, Rocky Horror, Evil Dead, I love them all. I even went as far as creating a two act rock opera based on Coheed and Cambria’s discography entitled “The Amory Wars“. So don’t be surprised if this review is a little biased. I’d just completed watching “Repo: The Genetic Opera” and it is an awesome musical.

The story takes place in the mid-twentienth century where organ failure has become a worldwide epidemic, leading to death on a massive scale. Gene Co. has the solution. You can be put on a surgical installment plan if you can’t pay for your operation in full. However, should you miss one payment, the ‘Repo Man’ comes after you to kill you and relinquish your organs. The plot revolves around Shiloh, a seventeen-year-old girl who’s isolated from the outside world by her father and a rare blood disease. Unbennounced to her, her father Nathan is the Repo Man who lives a second life killing people so she can live a decent life.

This is an instant cult-classic, not since Hedwig and the Angrey Itch has there been a rock opera so quirky, violent, and bizarre. The production values on this film is through the roof. The film was directed and produced by the man who brought us Saw, Darren Lynn Bousman, and this is a real boon to his career. My only complaint about the film was I wish there was more dialouge. A lot of the time they were merely saying what they were talking with really no depth to some of the songs. Overall this film is a real accomplishment that should not go unwatched. I never thought I’d see Sarah Brightman and Paris Hilton in the same movie.

Feel free to view the trailer below.

‘King of Kong’ Review

David Halpert — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 01:24:07 +0000

: Image via Wikipedia

Click Here to View “King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters” on Ebay

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When my friend told me the premise of the documentary film ‘King of Kong’ I laughed at him. I’d heard of the movie, even viewed the trailer more than a year ago but never brought myself to actually go and rent it (either that or I completely forgot about it). Fortunately last weekend my friend, Brian, downloaded a copy of it off rapidshare and we watched it in front of my other friend’s computer (his name is Dean).

The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters is a documentary that follows Steve Wiebe as he tries to take the world high score for the arcade game Donkey Kong from reigning champion Billy Mitchell.
This is a great film. For those who might be skeptical at first as to the initial premise of the movie, rest assured this film is so much more than simply an arcade game and the culture surrounding it. At the end of the day this film is about honor, friendship, and family. Billy Mitchell holds onto this record throughout the film as if it’s his only accomplishment in life (a record that has gone unchallenged for more than twenty years). You’re always rooting for Steve as the classic underdog. By the film’s end you get a real sense of what’s important in life, win or lose, and the lengths some will go to achieve it.

Again, this is simply a great film.