Sorry Folks, Filmguys will come back to life soon (I hope)

Posted by: Tig

Sorry for the lack of activity here on Filmguys. Ian and I have been insanely busy since February, including a move back to Florida for me and a new degree coming in the near future for Ian. The site will become active again as soon as we have enough free time to start writing posts again. Sorry again for the delay, please keep checking back to see if we've stopped being lazy!

CHEERS!

-Tig

Smokin’ Aces: Wish I was that good at cards

Posted by: Tig

Movie Title: Smokin' Aces

Links: Trailer | Official Site | Permanent Link

Jeremy Piven showing he's a master of illusion.

Plot Outline: Las Vegas entertainer, Buddy "Aces" Israel (Jeremy Piven), is offered immunity for his mob ties if he snitches. With a One Million dollar bounty on his head, Israel becomes very popular with low-lifes and hit men.

Tig: I went to see Aces with my friend Pattie, so before I tell you what I thought, I just want to say thanks, and come back to see me when you have more time. I Miss you!

Now, down to business. I thought Smokin' Aces was HOT! I totally expected it to be a brainless action flick, and I wasn't disappointed. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised; It actually had some rather dramatic and, god forbid, well acted parts. Ryan Reynolds gave the best performance I have ever seen from him. I almost forgot that he was in Blade 3 for a moment (bad movie, don't waste rental fees). Piven was and is a brilliant actor and I can't wait to see him in the new season of Entourage. I almost cheered when Affleck was out of the movie. And I absolutely loved the Tremor brothers.

I thought that the action was great, creative, and at times comedic, but it was the main support for the movie, and when it began to fade out, I found myself almost getting bored. Fortunately, I am a simple-minded fool, and had no problem pulling myself back together to watch the final wind down of the film. Pattie and I both thought it was great, so I have to rate it a 4 out of five. Definitely worth seeing in the theater if you like Action!

- Worth Seeing on the Big Screen!

Army of Darkness: BOOMSTICK!

Posted by: Ian

Movie Title: Army of Darkness

Links: Trailer | (Sorta)Official Site | Permanent Link

Checklist of things you’ll need in the 1300’s: Boomstick (check).

Plot Outline: Ash, a chainsaw-wielding, shotgun-toting, slightly insane man from the present is sucked through a portal to the 1300’s. After having battled zombies for two previous movies (see the Evil Dead series), he encounters even more after being captured by the ruler of the surrounding area, a bewildered Lord Arthur. After learning from Arthur’s wise man that the only way he can travel back to his own time period is to find and steal the evil book that started the whole zombie fiasco in the first movie (the Necronomicon), Ash sets out to do so. Shenanigans ensue.

Ian: Tig has been trying to force me to watch this movie for a long time and I’ve been resisting, although I’m not entirely sure why. Suffice it to say that I’ve seen the error of my ways.

This movie is plain hilarious. I totally wasn’t expecting it, either. According to Tig, the first movie in this series (Evil Dead), was a semi-serious horror movie. The second one started making fun of itself a little more, while Army of Darkness mocks the entire B-horror-movie genre as a whole. And I have to agree with Tig… The entire movie is one big joke, with the undead shouting things like, “Arrr, I’ll get your gizzard!” Or legions of miniature Ash-clones using a fork (at “Ramming speed!”) to attack Ash himself. It’s completely over the top. Completely.

Something else… this movie a ton of quoteables that have passed into common vernacular; or at least common vernacular for gamer-nerds such as myself. For example: “I got news for you pal. You ain't leading but two things right now: Jack and Shit. And Jack just left town,” and “This… is my… boomstick!”

Now if you’re like me, you probably have been avoiding this movie for awhile because you thought it actually was a crappy B-movie. However, if you watch it knowing that it isn’t really a crappy B-movie, but a satire piece on B-movies as a whole, then you’ll have a blast watching it. It’s definitely worth renting.

Oh, and if you don’t really feel like sitting through the other two movies in the Evil Dead series before getting to this little nugget of goodness, don’t feel obligated. According to Tig, who I agree with, it isn’t necessary. This movie stands on its own quite well.

Pan's Labyrinth: Dark and Beautiful

Posted by: Tig

Movie Title: Pan's Labyrinth

Links: Trailer | Official Site | Permanent Link

Pan's Labyrinth has been nominated for 6 Academy Awards.

Plot Outline: In Pan's Labyrinth, a young girl and her mother move to a rundown, desolate military headquarters in a rural Spanish mill to live with her regimented stepfather, Commander Vidal. Ofelia, the girl, finds her only pleasure within the pages of her beloved fairy tales. Shortly after her arrival at the mill, Ofelia's life takes a turn towards the fantastic and becomes more like a fairy tale.

Tig: Pan's Labyrinth was dark and beautiful. I did not know a lot about the film going into it, but had heard only great things from friends, and I was not disappointed. The movie has some scenes that are not for the faint of heart; small flashes of violence that you expect to be very short, just alluding to some sort of cruelty and suffering. However I ended up wondering when they were going to end. Regardless, the movie was truly beautiful. Guillermo Navarro, the Director of Photography, did an amazing job. The lighting, the shots; all of it was brilliant. Writer and Director Guillermo del Torro is a twisted genius. I only wish he had been able to do his last big movie, Hellboy (which I thought was terrible), as well as he did this one.

I strongly recommend this movie to any and everyone (but be warned that it is tough to watch at times due to the violence). It is a new favorite, and an instant classic.

- One of the Best Movies Ever

It was a seriously long week.. Glad it's the weekend

Posted by: Tig

Sorry for no posts from me this week. I've been swamped with work lately, and on top of that, my comp crashed on me and had to be in the shop for the last 5 days. On a good note though, I've got my baby back and she's in wonderful working order. They had to replace her inverter, logic-board, and heatsink. Ugh.. glad this week is over.

CHEERS!

-Tig