What follows are my no frills, condensed thoughts on 5 films of 2011 that have recently hit the home video market...
Warrior is as much a family tale as it is film highlighting the world of MMA. Tom Hardy, Nick Nolte and Joel Edgerton make a great trio as a father and 2 sons--Each one looking for their own redemption.
Some of director Gavin O'Connor's work here can seem a bit contrived but that is easy to overlook thanks to the performances of the three leads which pack quite an emotional wallop. The MMA scenes were exciting to watch and thanks to some fine work by DP Masanobu Takayanagi and the sound team puts you right at the center of it all.
Rating 8 of 10
Fright Night-A remake of a 1985 cult classic had its moments--but given that I was really rooting for writer Marti Noxon to take Tom Holland's original premise--riding the current Vampire wave--and give it a little extra sparkle. Save for Colin Farrell as Charley Brewster's (Anton Yelchin) Vampy neighbor Jerry and Christopher Mintz-Plasse as his pal Ed--Everyone else was OK here. David Tennant's Peter Vincent should have stole the show...but did not.
Director Craig Gillespie showed off moments of real fun in the film but they were few and far between for my liking.
Rating 6 of 10
The reboot of the franchise Rise of the Planet of the Apes is better than expected--with stunning effects and a story from writers Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver that pays respect to what's come before by laying the foundation for it.
Director Rupert Wyatt has created an engaging and exciting film that delivers much more than the 2001 remake did of the 1968 original. As human lead Will James Franco is effective particulary opposite Andy Serkis as CGI enhanced chimp Ceaser who leads the start of the apes' revolt I look forward to what comes next...and more Freida Pinto please.
Rating 8 of 10
Death stalks another group of victims in Final Destination 5 as the film series continues to be one of my favorite guilty pleasures...This installment has more clever kills, a spectacular bridge sequence and the very welcome return of Tony Todd as Bludworth the Coroner.
Director Steven Quale and writer Eric Heisserer take Jeffrey Reddick's premise and make another winner by rewarding the faithful in ways I didn't expect...Avoid watching the extras on Blu-ray before you see the film as not to spoil those. The series is just fun and yes the cynic in me knows I have no business supporting these films but I do...If you like the rest of them you should have a good time here.
Rating 7 of 10
Straw Dogs is another remake--this time of a film from 1971 and while not as good as I was hoping it would be given who was involved--it's still worth a look.
Solid chemistry from leads James Marsden, Kate Bosworth and Alexander Skarsgård keep this one going as Rod Lurie stays within the structure of the original changing setting and adding modern sensibilities along the way. The climax holds little shock.The 71 pic is better.
Rating 7 of 10
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