VAMPIRO Angel,Devil,Hero.

Starring Vampiro aka Ian Hodgkinson aka El Vampiro Canadiense

Hot off the heels of the success of The Wrestler with Mickey Rourke,comes an even grittier and more rewarding tale of a wrestler who's career is winding down and who's body isn't that far behind.While I felt that The Wrestler was a so so movie with a fantastic performance,this real life documentary is both captivating and sincere in its effort.Ian Hodgkinson tells an honest tale and gives shocking accounts of his early years,as do various friends and family.From humble beginnings in good old Thunder Bay as a high school phenom in the hockey community,to his life as a homeless stick up artist to the ultimate peak in fame in the world of pro wrestling.Accounts are given of a terrible past filled with abuse,violence and more than anyone's fair share of anguish.
This bio pic is an eye opening film and provides for some rather grim story telling,but it has a sense of balance accompanying it,aided by Hodgkinsons frank delivery and remarkable candor.Because the stories are so well told,you lose sight of how gruesome they are in all reality.Not to fret though,we have some moments of levity as well.Have I mentioned that Vampiro was the personal body guard for Milli Vanilli?That,I did NOT know.
Several wrestlers and friends make up a good portion of the movie as they all tell their favourite,and not so favourite Vampiro stories to the camera.The stories are told as we flash back and forth across the world while Vampiro wrestles in small towns and big cities alike,all the while putting together a wrestling company of his own.In doing so,he unites every small organization that there is and only the monstrous WWE stands in his way.As the deals progress,our anti hero is frantically on the phone drumming up money from drug dealers,the mafia,loan sharks and perhaps the dirtiest of the bunch,promoters.The deal is simple.Pull it off and become a legitimate conglomerate.The flip side however,fail and be killed.This is a biography folks,whats unfolding is the real deal.
If we dont start to care for this guy at this point,well,thats understandable.But of course we get the curveball of meeting his gorgeous wife and their beautiful 5 year daughter.Dammit.Now I HAVE to root for him.
To be honest,I fell for this movie after the first 10 minutes and when it ended,I had to immediately sift through the extras on the DVD and get as much out of the story as I could.The extras are fantastic as well and are definately worth the time.
It bothers me these days when new movies on Blu Ray or DVD dont include a ton of extras.An average movie has anywhere from 2 to 16 hours trimmed and that footage is sometimes just as good as the final product.Sometimes.This is definately one of those times.
Without giving too much more away about this one,I'm simply going to throw all of my movie going weight behind this pic and urge anyone remotely interested in wrestling or the movie The Wrestler to run out and find this one.I seldom mention stores due to legalities and such,so check out Net flixx (a sponsor of mine) or head out to SCHMAL SCHMART or Bloock Booster and pick it up.

Rating 4 beaten up pimps out of 5

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TERMINATOR SALVATION

Starring Christian Bale, Sam Worthington

Can a movie be the best action flick you've seen in a while and manage to be terrible at the same time?That's the question I was left with after this one was done and the credits rolled.I was completely conflicted by the end.On one hand,the effects were sensational and some of the new spaceships and terminators were mind blowing.And then....the actors arrive on screen.Ughh.The one bright spot belonged to Sam Worthington's character who was a conflicted cyborg with a heart of gold (that old story).The rest of the crew are rather interchangeable and forgettable.Michael Ironside for example reprises his roll from Starship Troopers almost to the letter and others like Helena Bohnam Carter and Common seem to have just shown up for the paycheck.And don't even get me started on Bale or the kid playing his father.BALE SHOUTS EVERY LINE and the kid playing his dad is a frail and wimpish "hero" that doesn't command a single scene.There's also a little tag along mute kid in this one and I couldn't tell you if it was a boy or a girl.The bulk of the acting was given the handicap of some of the worst dialogue in any of the four films in the series.The director (MCG) seemed to think that simply rehashing lines from the previous films would be substantial enough to hold your interest.Hell,they even use the same soundtrack in parts.
Without really spoiling anything,would you be surprised if this movie did anything but set up the next movie in the series?Nothing is resolved here.Not by a long shot.
All of that makes for a frustrating experience in the end.I wanted to like this one and really tried to just enjoy what I could of the action,but it simply kept grinding to a halt every time the humans were on screen.You're also screwed if this one is the first Terminator you've seen.So much of this entry depends on your knowledge of its predecessors and I imagine that will alienate the casual movie goer.This had the makings of a classic,but in the end its just the loudest of the bunch so far.To date they are 2 for 4.The fifth and hopefully final (hahahaha) one better pick it up a notch or this series will go the way of so many sequel franchises before it.Straight to DVD.

Rating 2 SHOUTING BALE'S out of 5

VAN MORRISON: ASTRAL WEEKS LIVE

Heres another album so so very good,that it warrants a show all to its own.Like my previous review of the Black Crowes live version of the Warpaint album,this review too,shall be a tad one sided.This album was the soundtrack to my childhood and is one of my first musical memories.From my moms friends to aunts and uncles gathering at the house,it seemed almost automatic and Pavlovian to have this album played in the background.As I listen to an updated version,and a lively one at that,I cant help but picture all those people in my house and the blue jeans and facial hair on the dudes and the long flowing hair of the women.Every one seemed so at ease and I cant for the life of me remember any raised voices or mean faces.I guess we kept good company back then.
The fact that the original album came out in 1968 and I wasn't around until 1974 really says something as well.The staying power is undeniable.Also when you take into account the fact that there wasn't one hit on the album at the time.Odd that many consider it his best when you think about it.But it is.From the fanciful lyrics and vividly descriptive stories to the overall score,Astral Weeks is honestly in a league of its own.
Now take all of this and put it in a live show 40 years later.40???Wow.The audience is pretty much on stage with the band and plays an important part in this production.The hoots and hollers tell the story plainly enough as they seem to be reliving the same great memories as myself.Who can do that?Theres a reason they call him Van the man.
Being that the original album featured some rather lengthy songs,you can imagine how long they are live when Van and the band get into their grooves on stage.Never mind the fact that he takes great liberties with the original lyrics and typically never performs the same song the same way twice.That's part of his appeal.He is the biggest five foot five showman you'll ever see or hear.
If this album ever meant anything to you,then I implore you to find the updated version.I never imagined hearing a crowd respond so joyously to songs like Ballerina and Beside you,but the band that travels with him is simply awesome and a wonderful accompaniment to the man as they play a perfect yin and yang to each other.
The album is also priced nicely for around 13 to 16 bucks depending where you shop and I cant think of better a purchase for the price.Van isnt a poor man but hes not quite burnin up the charts either.Support the arts and the real musicians that work for YOU and not for themselves.
I like to listen to the albums I review as I write them up and this one has taken me a while,I keep pausing and find myself swaying at my desk and much like the afor mentioned Black Crowes live album,here to,with eyes closed I can smile and smell the funny cigarettes.Good company indeed.
Rating 4 dark sunglasses out of 5

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LET THE RIGHT ONE IN

Starring Kare Hedebrant and Lina Leandersson


Knowing full well that the vampire genre has has long lost its "bite",I was overwhelmingly relieved to hear that a little known Swedish film on the subject was making the rounds amongst a few credible critics top 10 lists.It took me two months of searching to just find a copy of this movie.I looked in half a dozen stores in London and a friend found a copy in Toronto for around 30 bucks.After finally getting my hands on this movie,I thought to myself,geez,this better not suck!
Our story begins with Oskar,a 12 year old boy rehearsing outside with a knife.He is rehearsing what he will say when he finally confronts his bullies.He like so many his age are the target of cowardly and misguided thugs that pick on him relentlessly.From flicking his nose and calling him a pig,to soaking his clothes in a toilet,then graduating to actual assault by beating him with a stick,Oskar takes all of this on the chin and never lets them have the satisfaction of seeing him give in,although its close,very close.
Enter Eli (pronounced Ellie),the new kid on the block and Oskars next door neighbour.She meets him outside in the dead of winter in their buildings courtyard on the jungle gym.She is wearing a shirt and pants and nothing else in the brutal cold.After a brief introduction,the two part ways and seemingly don't like each other.Eli later clarifies "I cant be your friend",Oskar replies "good".The friendship slowly builds and the two form a unique bond.While these two get to know and like each other,Eli's "father" who is more or less a partner of hers is having a hard time himself as the townsfolk are slowly beginning to put the pieces of a murderer on the loose type puzzle.You see,Eli's dad is the provider for the family,and by provider I mean,he is the one that goes out into the night and traps,kills and drains the blood of his prey to bring back to Eli so that she may be sustained.With trouble pending and people pointing fingers,Eli is forced to fend and feed for herself.She doesn't have the tact of her father and goes about hunting in a most savage manner.
As the bond between the two young leads grows stronger,Oskar opens up about his problems at school and Eli offers her advice in a rather insisting tone.Oskar takes head and finally fights back.With a renewed sense of pride,he grows even more fond of his female counterpart,and her,him.
The fact that these two actors are not by any means professionals is really quite astounding as their performances seem more genuine than my own memories of that age.I identified and believed every ounce of what was unfolding before me.Oskars handling of finally having the truth revealed about his new girlfriends situation was so completely believable that I imagined I would have been the exact same way had the circumstances involved myself at that age.A vampire must be invited into a room/house and simply cannot enter other wise.Oskar finds that ludicrous and refuses to invite his girlfriend in at one point,then mocks her tradition in disbelief.He asks "what happens if I don't?" Why don't you just walk in,he asks.This makes Eli mad and it looks like she will just turn around and walk away.But she doesn't.She defiantly decides to show her boyfriend exactly what will happen and slowly takes a few steps into the room without having been invited.What happens next is not for the faint of heart.Not in the slightest!
I wont get into too much else,but I will recommend that upon watching this,if given the choice on dvd or blu-ray,you should watch it with subtitles rather than the dubbed version.Their own voices just seem to make it that much more believable.And I cant really end the review without mentioning the whopper of an ending.The ending catapults this movie above and beyond the last few vampire movies Ive seen,and really,the last few regular blockbusters as well.

Rating 4 angry cats out of 5

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THE BLACK CROWES WARPAINT LIVE album review

Having been a fan of the Crowes since their break out album, Shake your money maker way back when, in the early 90s,this review may seem a tad biased.
Warpaint,the studio album of 08 was a breath of fresh air for Crowes fans everywhere and produced instant classics like Oh Josephine and Goodbye Daughters of the Revolution.And judging by the crowds support while touring and promoting the new album,the boys realized they had a monster on their hands.Its long been said that when you're at a concert and the band announces that they are going to play some new songs,well,that's when you take your bathroom break.This tour erased those notions. You sit down and they play for an hour and a half to two hours or more and when its all said and done,that's when you realize they didn't play She talks to Angels,Remedy or Hard to Handle, but in a weird way,that's o.k.
Logically,the Crowes thought the only way to follow this,was to record a live version of the studio album.Warpaint Live is a double disc and features an absolutely soul drenching version of Oh Josephine and every other track is rife with blues infused guitar work and the token southern appeal that we have come to love.Much like the Rolling Stones,the Crowes are among a small group of bands that often call upon back up gospel singers and languid organ solos during their shows and it all adds to the experience.
The first disc is all Warpaint song for song and on disc two for the purists,we have the following tracks.Poor Elijah/Tribute to Johnson (medley),Darling of the underground press,Bad luck blue eyes goodbye,Don't know why,Torn and frayed and we end with Hey Grandma.Its an actual toss up for me as to which disc I like better.But when you play the whole thing uninterrupted....wow.And I play it sober!!!But I can still smell the weed when I close my eyes.That reminds me,did I ever tell you about the time I got busted for smoking dope while at a Crowes show at the amphitheatre?
Long story short,it was a Crowes show,the cops just shook their heads and let me go.

Rating 4 tokes out of 5

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STAR TREK (an origins movie that doesnt suck)

Starring Eric Bana,Winona Ryder,Leonard Nimoy and the new guys.

Top to bottom awesome.I feel I can just leave it at that,but some people would like to know why.Whens the last time you heard the Beastie Boys on a Star Trek soundtrack?
From the music to the actual origin of the main characters,this movie is great on many levels.A quick head scratch for the casting of Winona Ryder as Spock's mom.She was made up to look older of course,but why not just go with an older actress?And my only other tiny complaint was with young Kirk getting it on with a green girl who's make up looked amateurish (just a hot girl spray painted green).Other than those minor infractions,this is a rip roaring good time.
Eric Bana as the head baddie is virtually unrecognizable and does a fantastic job as the out for revenge psychopath.The new cast does an equally impressive job and come into their own with ease and in an entertaining fashion.Then we have the humour tacked on for good measure,and while the other movies in the series have all had their funny parts,this one has a fair bit more than the norm.
To give you an idea of how enjoyable this movie was,about an hour and a half into it,the power in the movie theater went out and typically in that situation,people will moan and groan and the odd one or two people will actually get up and go do something about it.Well in this case,there was an absolute uproar.People were shouting and swearing and people left in droves to go alert the staff about the power outage.The manager had to come in and ask people to remain in their seats.Ive been to a ton of movies and maybe seen the power or sound go out about a dozen times overall,but I've never seen a reaction like this.People love this movie.And they should.Star Trek doesn't rely on special effects to tell the story either,mind you,there are some pretty sweet scenes.The story itself is so rich and interesting that you are enthralled from the opening sequence til the end credits.After all,people have been wondering about these characters backround's for more than 40 years now,so its cool to watch it all unfold.
Fan or no fan,its easily the best movie out right now and is deserving of your hard earned money.

Rating 3 3/4 green chicks out of 5

BLUES BROTHERS 1980

Starring Jake and Elwood Blues

Approaching the 30th anniversary (head shake) of the now iconic movie,I cant help but smile at just the thought of this flick.Boasting a legendary cast of musical entertainers and cameos alike from Ray Charles,John Lee Hooker,Aretha Franklin,Cab Calloway and James Brown to Frank Oz,John Candy,Carrie Fisher and Steven Spielberg,this one is a sure fire good time even 30 years later.
Its the timeless tale of redemption set against the backdrop of some jaw dropping musical numbers and the most fantastic car chase to ever appear in a comedy.In the name of raising money for the financially doomed orphanage where our duo was raised,the two brothers set out to get the band back together that has since disbanded over the years with the absence of their incarcerated singer.What follows is a joy in every sense as our heroes are put through there paces at every turn and overcome and out smart many opposers along the way.
If you've never experienced this movie and are the mood for some blues and gospel fueled numbers,then this one is a must see and suitable for any occasion.I don't think Ive ever been to a video store that didn't have this movie in stock,so head on out and check it out.Fans will tell you there's something in it for everyone.
I miss John Belushi every time i see this movie and I end up listening to a briefcase full of blues for weeks afterward until sated.
As a matter of fact,I'm going to watch it again tonight for the umpteenth time!

Rating 3 1/2 dark sunglasses out of 5

X-MEN ORIGINS :WOLVERINE

Starring Hugh Jackman,Liev Schreiber,Green Screens and T.N.T

Hugh Jackmans last movie was the biggest bomb of 2008(Australia)and lost tens of millions at the box office.The opening weekend for Wolverine should heal his ego nicely.I went to the 1:15 showing today and saw that terrible parents everywhere had taken their kids out of school to see this movie.If that's any indication of the next few days,then this one should open between 60 and maybe more than 100 million at the box office.
That being said,I hated it.
This movie was utterly ,madly and deeply in love with itself.I cant tell you how many times our hero brandished his claws as if to pose for posters here.I stopped counting after a dozen or so.The dialogue was laughable and the effects were terrible in some scenes.For instance,in one of the many big movie ripoffs,in this case The Fugitive,our hero jumps off the top of a big waterfall and is then photoshopped into the mist and disappears seamlessly.The 1990s technique of throwing a dummy down the falls was better looking.It just seemed sloppy at times and blazingly apparent that his claws were computer generated and almost cartoonish.In another big movie ripoff scene,this time Superman 1978,our naked hero ends up on a farm in front of an old couple driving an almost exact replica of the truck in Superman.In Superman,the Kent's couldn't have kids but wanted one,in this movie,the old couple makes reference to a son that they lost and look at wolverine as a reminder and they too take him in.Geez.I wont even get into the Terminator comparisons here because to be fair,Wolverine came first.But I digress.
You will not be convinced of his his love interest,you will not be convinced of his motivation either.He flexes,he shows his bum,he kills lots and lots of people.
Now onto my problems with the discrepancies in the prior films.Sabretooth was a towering monster standing nearly 7 feet tall in the first one,here he is about one inch shorter than his "brother" Wolverine.That's the most glaring one and I wont bore you with the other minor alterations through out.
I can only hope that the next origins movie (Magneto) tells us a bit more about the inner conflict of mutants in these stories without making them seem so black and white.This was cut and paste movie making at its finest.Easily the worst of the X-Men movies so far.Daredevil was better.And I hated Daredevil.

Rating 1 1/2 ego trips out of 5