Skip to main content

Jason and Shawn review: Red State and A Horrible Way To Die

Red State

Shaw: Kevin Smith had fun with this and I’m glad he did. He danced around some serious issues under the guise of a bunch of fanatical religious good 'ole boys. I think he stabbed at the increased security, the "increased protection” the U.S. government is slowly tightening around America’s neck in the name of Homeland Security. He just dressed it up with a great shoot out, some good comedic moments and a pretty good cast. I have to say, if I just pay attention to the surface movie, the entertaining "dress up", and don’t dive into the meanings I think he was really trying to hint at, I give it a Good. But I don't want to look beyond that.


Jason: One of the few movies where, once the end credits rolled, I sat in stunned silence for about a minute before going “huh.” Parts of this are very much like a traditional Kevin Smith movie. It's very talky, the camera is rather static, and a lot of the language is crude and focuses on dicks and cocksucking. Only thing is, this time around, the majority of what Smith does isn't aimed at making you laugh. But I'm not sure what he was trying to do with Red State. It's not a horror film. Michael Parks gives a sermon that goes on way too long. And although Smith does generate some suspense, there's few thrills. I'm not sorry I saw Red State, but I am sorry I didn't "get it." And I will never see it again. A Bad on this one.

A Horrible Way To Die

Shawn: This moves at a snail's pace. Sure, there's lots going on and it got me thinking, but the story is "flip floppy" and jumped all over time. I didn’t care much for that. That said, I understand the connection being made here between the addiction to alcohol and an addiction to killing. They are both a disease. To run them parallel was just weird. I wasn’t a huge fan of this movie, although I got its meaning, but that still didn’t help me enjoy it. I hoped it was building to some ridiculous and awesome climax. It didn’t. It was weak and had a predictable twist. At least there was a bit of gore at the end. Almost an Ugly, but just a Bad from this Basement Dweller.

Jason: This movie plays like gangbuster. I can honestly say I have never, ever seen anything quite like it. Who is worse here: Joe Average or a psychopathic murderer? That is the uneasy question this movie asks. And I don't think we're gonna like the answer. Adam Wingard has made a disorientating, uneasy and jumbled film. We're jumping all over time. The movie starts at a point, flashes back, then leaps forward. It's like pulp fiction for the Se7en set. I loved it. I wish I hadn't consumed two pounds of hot wings and four pints before watching this movie. I needed to have my full wits about me. That said, I enjoyed the shit out of it. It's a film-school grad's wet dream, a thinking horror fan's pot of gold, and I dug it a lot. Good for me!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

#CocktailHour: Slushtail

  Summer approaches, inspiring thoughts of sunshine, backyard parties, and having a tip and sip with friends.  With that in mind, I bring you this week sunny beverage. To make a slushtail, mix a can of frozen orange juice, a can of frozen lemonade (or limeade), a can of pineapple juice, a couple cups of black tea (or English Breakfast), and two cups of bourbon- such as Southern Comfort, in a pitcher.  When it's all nicely mixed, put it in the freezer until it's a nice slushy consistency. Scoop the slush into a cocktail glass, and pour in some Sprite or 7-Up.  Add a little umbrella for some frivolous fun, and a straw. Voila!  Ready to enjoy. This is a very refreshing drink.  The fruit juices, Sprite, and bourbon- when chilled makes for a great punch-like drink.  The bourbon doesn't overwhelm juices.   In fact, they are all nicely balanced in terms of flavors.  The sourness of the citrus fruits contrasts well with the slightly sweeter Southern Comfort.  It was refreshing enou

Unlock your fate with The Puzzle

When my dad wasn't working, building stuff or being my dad, he was making puzzles. It was a guaranteed way for him to unwind. So it was with great interest that I sat down to watch Italian filmmaker Davide Melini's award-winning short The Puzzle. You see, the mother in the five-minute film likes to relax with puzzles just like my dad. Unfortunately, her good-for-nothing son keeps harassing her for money. Losing herself in her favourite passtime, the mother soon discovers that completing this puzzle might unlock a nightmare. The Puzzle has been an official selection at more European film festivals than you can shake a stick at, and was voted Third Best Italian Film at the Rome International Film Festival in 2008. Having watched it, I'm not surprised. It's a tight little film that hits you hard in the final few seconds. You can tell Melini cut his teeth as an assistant director for legendary Italian filmmaker Dario Argento. But enough chit chat on my part. See if yo

The Animated Addict: "The Adventures of Tintin" (2011)

If you're a 40 + white dude, like myself, you may remember a comic series called " The Adventures of Tintin ".  I know I remember them.  This series, dating back to 1929, got turned into a animated feature film by Steven Spielberg in 2011. After buying a model of ship called The Unicorn, teenaged journalist Tintin finds himself on adventure that will take him from the high seas, to the low deserts, and from the distant past to the present.  With his trusty dog, Snowy, by his side, Tintin uncovers a story connecting two men across the centuries.. . The story is really quite good.  It's well crafted, and high paced- with just enough slow moments to build and develop the world and the characters.  This is the sort of adventure story you'd find in the old serials of the 1930's and '40's.  In fact, it felt like it was the sort of tale that you'd find Indiana Jones undertaking.  I found myself swept up, and swept along as our hero swung from one e