Cars, Segues, and a Horrific Children's Book
In the wake of tragedy often we find a beautiful semblance of sanity. Not to undermined the death of Paul Walker, which was indeed tragic and ill-timed (he was so young...), but in the wake of his passing we gain a greater appreciation for family with the latest installment of the Fast and Furious franchise. In this film, the group is faced with dealing with the repercussions from the last movie, which connects to the events of the third movie (the timeline for this franchise is completely whack and I won't get into all of it here), but more importantly it explores the importance of family within the violent chaos that comes with their line of work. Furious 7 is by far the most emotionally centered cylinder in this mega-action engine that keeps on truckin'. Since the fourth installment, these films have progressively gotten better and better. The action is amped up from film to film, the stories get larger, adding heightened themes of family, commitment, love, and personal priorities. And there's still room left over to fit all the sleek car racing and vehicle warfare that can be mustered in a popcorn PG-13 flick. What really added validity to this franchise for me was the added cast and the foundational strength forged by franchise front men Vin Deisel and Walker. Yeah, it's great to see a cast reunite film after film, but when you add the likes of The Rock and Jason Statham to what already works, and it ends up becoming something even better? It's no wonder their success has warranted seven films, with an eighth green lit to premiere in 2017.
The main reason why Furious 7 has reached the billion dollar mark so quick has almost everything to do with Paul Walker. I feel that alone speaks so highly of the guy. Was he the greatest actor that ever lived? No, but that's okay, because he was loved and sometimes that overshadows what Hollywood deems successful. The film itself wasn't bad. It had the over-the-top car-capades we've come to expect from this franchise; it had epic fist fights with awesome action stars (it's tough to decide whether The Rock's fight with Jason Statham was better than Statham and Deisel's. They were both insanely fun to watch). But most importantly, it had Paul Walker one last time. Though this one wasn't necessarily the best of the franchise, it was still one heck of a movie. It's fun, exciting, every bit the movie experience that fans of the franchise has come to enjoy. If you haven't seen it yet, then you're probably one of the ten people in the world who hasn't. It's worth checking out.
Let me just start by saying...I want to be friends with Kevin James. No, for real, I do. He and I would be the best of buds, laughing and riding our segues. It would be magical.
The Paul Blart films are so stinkin' hokey and fun that you can't help but laugh. Kevin James is one of the funniest physical comedians around and it doesn't get old. I mean, they freakin' made a sequel to Paul Blart for cryin' out loud! Who saw that coming?! At any rate, the movie is probably as funny as the first, only magnifying the cheesiness and charm of Blart.
While at a security guard convention in Las Vegas, Blart's skills as a protector of mall security comes into play in a big way when a group of thieves try to steal the art from the hotel he's staying in. The film is one large montage of slapstick comedy of stooge-like proportions. The story isn't much to gawk at, nor is the acting. But the film still works as a piece of hilarious comedy that is suitable for the entire family, which can sometimes be lacking in today's society. If you enjoyed the first film at all, or enjoy Kevin James, or simply need to get the kids out of the house because they're driving you nuts, go see Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2.
DVD SPOTLIGHT: THE BABADOOK
Bedtime stories will never be the same.
I tried so hard to find a local showing of The Babadook when it was in theaters but it only had a limited release. Just barely released for home viewing, I finally got the chance to see The Babadook and it scared the crap out of me.
The story follows a mother Amelia and her son Samuel seven years after the death of Amelia's husband. When a mysterious pop-up book appears suddenly, it's creepy illustrations and eerie rhymes summon a monster in Mister Babadook that questions the sanity of both the mother, and the audience watching. It's some of the most riveting storytelling I've seen in a horror film and is one of the best original films I've seen in quite a while.
Essie Davis plays Amelia and is absolutely brilliant at portraying the emotional density of the character. Her son, played by Noah Wiseman, is, well, a brat. This kid...the thing about him that really gets your goose is that he's equal parts cute, creepy, and annoying. You want to hug him, slap him and lock him away all at the same time. The tension of the film is palpable and the sound editing/mixing is where a lot of the horror really strives from. It's a psychological horror film that doesn't rely on the jump-scare tactic to fuel it's terror, which is SO refreshing. I literally had chills throughout the entire film and found myself unnerved and tense the entire time. The creature is freakin' creepy and the climax of the film will leave you breathless. It's an Australian made film and I gotta give props to the director and creator Jennifer Kent. Well done, madam.
I HIGHLY recommend this movie for all those horror movie fans out there. When you do, set the mood. Make sure it's dark. Make sure you're not alone. And crank up that surround sound. It's amazing.
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