4 Razors

What Does a Scanner See?

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: A Scanner Darkly
  • IMDB: link

a-scanner-darkly-posterIn terms of filmmaking A Scanner Darkly is a huge success.  In terms of an enjoyable summer flick…well, let’s just say it’s not something you want to go into without being prepared for.  The film is based of Philip K Dick’s novel of the same name which is an otherworldly fictional semi-autobiographical tale about drug use and drug culture.  Still with me?  It’s an intense picture that at times is very slow and somewhat difficult to enjoy, but by the end what you are left with is an undeniably unique theater experience that you will either cherish or curse my name for recommending it to you.

Agent Fred (Keanu Reeves) is an undercover police agent playing the role of a drug dealer named Bob Arctor.  Even his bosses don’t know who Fred really is, only that he is one of the people in the house which is filled with hidden cameras and scanners.  All his reports are made while wearing a scramble suit which completely hides his identity.

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A Blacksmith, a Pirate, and a Lovely Lass

/ / Home Video
  • Title: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
  • IMDb: link

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A movie about pirates AND it was based off a amusement park ride?  With two strikes like that against it there should be no way Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl is this good.  But it is!

Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) washed up onto a ship as a boy, rescued by Governor Wetherby Swann (Jonathan Pryce) and the royal navy.  Now Will is an assistant blacksmith who is in love with the Governer’s daughter Elizabeth (Keira Knightly), who fancies him as well, but due to social customs is unable to admit his feelings.

Into our story comes the very odd Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) a pirate without a ship whose arrival begins a series of events that leads to his imprisonment, Elizabeth’s kidnapping, and the discovery of a dark curse aboard Cap’n Jack’s former ship the Black Pearl.

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Film Title, Eight Letters

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Wordplay
  • IMDb: link

wordplay-poster

Intellectual pursuits can be fun.  The new documentary Wordplay looks at those who enjoy a good crossword puzzle from the makers, to the casual fans, to those who take the competition seriously enough to challenge each other in open competition.  It’s an entertaining look at a world that many probably aren’t completely aware of.

The documentary breaks down into three different parts.  First, there is a look at the puzzlemakers, most notably New York Times Crossword editor Bill Shortz.  Second, the film documents many celebrity fans of the New York Times Crossword.  And third, it examines the annual contest and the contestants who journey to Stanford, CT to be crowned the crossword champion of the year.

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Stick It

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Stick It
  • IMDb: link

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Once you realize the film isn’t going to be Bring It On and accept for being what it is (which is both more and less) you can really enjoy yourself.  The movie contains the same level of writing but as Jessica Bendinger takes the place behind the camera this time you get a more emotional, intelligent, and well-rounded film that if not quite as funny still provides some great one-liners and humorous moments without going for all the easy jokes.

Tough chick Haley Graham (Missy Peregrym) gets into the trouble with the law and is sent away to a gymastic camp run by Burt Vickerman (Jeff Bridges).  Haley isn’t exactly welcomed with open arms because of her past experience where she quit the gymnastic team during competition losing them all a shot at the gold.  Despite a mountain of talent her disrespect for how the sport is run and past experiences make it hard for her to get back on the horse and train with the other girls (Vanessa Lengies, Nikki SooHoo, Tarah Paige).

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Killer Diller

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Killer Diller
  • IMDb: link

Killer Diller

Killer Diller, which opens today in a limited Midwest release (Kansas City, Columbia, St. Louis, Memphis and Nashville), is about a college half-way house, a guitar playing car thief, an autistic piano player, and some great blues music.  I would highly recommend seeing this film if it’s in your area, and if it’s not yet hopefully it will do well enough to earn a wider release over the next few weeks.

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