Kenny & Co. - DVD - Angled Doors Review

 Classic film about childhood. It's a good fun family film by director Don Coscarelli. (Phantasm) This is a fun movie dealing with a lot of things. If you grew up in the 70's or 80's this will have you heading on a trip of nostalgia. Most of the cast from Phantasm was also in this film. It was the Halloween night segment of the movie that made Coscarelli decide he wanted to do a horror film.

- Xtoph

Goosebumps: Creepy Creatures - TPB - Angled Doors Review

 I was never a fan of Goosebumps when it first came out. It wasn't until recently I started to groove on R.L. Stine. I ran across this the other day and decided to check it out. It's three Stine stories in comic book format. First we have "The Werewolf Of Fever Swamp" illustrated by Gabriel Hernandez. (Clive Barker's The Thief Of Always comic) After I started this story I was hooked. Second was "The Scarecrow Walks At Midnight" by Greg Ruth. (Matrix comics) The artwork in this made me feel like I was reading one of my old Creepy or Eerie magazines. Finally the book closed with "The Abominable Snowman Of Pasadena" by Scott Morse. This is where my interest waned. His artwork was too "cartoony" and I just couldn't get into it. But for the price of the book it was well worth it just for the first two stories.

- Xtoph

How To Train Your Dragon ( 2010 )

Starring the voices of: Jay Baruchel, Jonah Hill, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson & America Ferrera

Directed By Dean DeBlois and Chris Sanders

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0892769/



"How to Train Your Dragon" is yet another animated movie taking its cues from the "Star Wars"/"Harry Potter" story frame -- you know, "motherless boy finds his special destiny during a hero's quest full of fantastic creatures and sassy tomboys."

The big difference between "Dragon" and so many other mainstream family movies plotted along those lines is that "Dragon" also happens to be terrific. It's charming, funny, exceedingly well-made and features enough comically thrilling flying-lizard mayhem to cause your child's head to lightly explode.

Set in a Viking village infested with sporadic Scottish accents and livestock-stealing dragons, the movie follows the education of Hiccup (voiced by Jay Baruchel) -- a whelp who questions his desire to become a dragonslayer after he secretly befriends a fire-breathing lizard he wounded.

The filmmakers have clearly digested their "Potter" and their "E.T.," but they've digested it rather well. The animation is sharply staged. The voice talent (which includes America Ferrera, Gerard Butler and Craig Ferguson) does more than simply regurgitate pop-culture references (and given that this is a Dreamworks joint, that's a minor miracle). The sheer variety of dragon creature designs is a riot, and Hiccup's vaguely Pokémon-looking dragon pal ends up being subtly expressive to the degree that the boy-dragon relationship becomes a little moving. That's a nice surprise, given the preponderance of bug-eyed cartoon Norsemen of varying accents.

Take your kids and start saving up for the DVD, because I suspect they'll be asking you to buy it as soon as they leave the theater.

-Mr. What?-

Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant (2009)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0450405/

Director: Paul Weitz

Starring: John C. Reilly, Chris Massoglia & Josh Hutcherson

 Alright... this one is pretty good. Kind of like Buffy The Vampire Slayer for a slightly younger set. Meet Darren, a mama's boy that always does what he's told who has a hard-on for spiders. Then meet Steve, his best friend and polar opposite. Circus sideshow comes through town and the boys sneak out to go watch. There they meet a vampire that Steve recognizes from his vampire book. Steve tries to get him to turn him, but gets refuses. Darren steals his spider. Blah, blah, blah, stuff happens, Darren gets made into the vampire's assistant & Steve gets recruited by his enemies the Vampinese. Darren goes on the road with the circus sideshow and learns how to become a "good" vamp, while Steve gets to be bad. Titans clash, epic battle happens and sets the stage for many sequels to come.

 That's the gist of it. Based off of some kid's books that I have not read. This movie was a blast though. Much better than wasting your cash on the latest Saw. It takes you back to being a kid, when Halloween was cool and anything dark made you happy. Not really much else to say. Can't wait for the next in the franchise.

Verdict: * * * *

- Al B. Damned

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (2009)

Director: David Yates

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter & Alan Rickman

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0417741/

 Another Harry Potter movie. This is his 6th year at Hogwarts. As usual the school year starts out with some shit going down and hte headmaster pulls him in and fills his head with some shit about him being the chosen one.

 Once at school he finds a book once owned by the mysterious "Half Blood Prince" filled in with lots of hand-written notes that make Harry into the little bad-ass. Shit happens, evil comes, someone dies, etc, etc.

 All in all, it's a fun movie. The whole series is great, don't get me wrong. It just seems that after so much time you would hope for a twist somewhere... instead we get everything we expect. Which is nice... but I want more. You know what to expect and that kind of takes away from the fun of the movie. I hope for some big changes in the series future.

Final Verdict: * * * 1/2

- Al B. Damned

Hannah Montana: The Movie (2009)

Director: Peter Chelsom
Starring: Miley Cyrus, Billy Ray Cyrus & Emily Osment
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1114677/

 Based on the tv series, Miley Cyrus plays Miley Stewart who is secretly pop-star Hannah Montana. She keeps it a secret because she wants "the best of both worlds", to be a super-star and a normal girl. In the film she let's "Hannah" go to her head and becomes a real bitch. So daddy decides to put her career on hold and take her back to her down home country roots.

 If your a fan of the show you'll dig it. It's got some funy scenes. Her acting like a nut and getting in a fight with has-been Tyra Banks. Other than the the movie sucked. More Taylor Swift... if you've read my blogs you know I hate her, and when she goes back home and her family has a country jam it's fucking Rascall Flats!!! WTF!!! On her show her Aunt was Aunt Dolly. Dolly fucking Parton!!! That's what I had hoped to see, but she was nowhere to be found. Apparently they wrote her out of the script. A real disappointment.

Verdict: * *

- Al B. Damned

Race To Witch Mountain (2009)

Director: Andy Fickman
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig & Carla Gugino
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1075417/

 The Rock is a cabbie in Las Vegas and in the middle of a sci-fi convention some alien kids crash land near sin city and enlist his aid to get back to their ship.

 I don't really remember much of the originals, so I can't say how much this re-make holds true to them, but this was a fun family friendly kind of film. Lots of action and laughs. Worth checking out.

Verdict: * * *

- Al B. Damned

Goosebumps "Return Of The Mummy" & "The Scarecrow Walks At Midnight" DVD's

Goosebumps "Return Of The Mummy" DVD

Featured Episodes: Return Of The Mummy, Don't Wake The Mummy & You Can't Scare Me!


Goosebumps "The Scarecrow Walks At Midnight" DVD

Featured Episodes: The Scarecrow Walks At Midnight, Don't Go To Sleep & Calling All Creeps

New pair of Goosebumps DVD's re-releasing old episodes of the show. Good show for kids I guess. I was too old for it when it came out.

On the first disc, "Return of the Mummy" and "Don't Wake the Mummy" were both fun and the Mummy looked kind of cool compared to a lot of the monsters on this show. "You Can't Scare Me!" was lame. The monster sucked and so did the story.

On the second disc, "The Scarecrow Walks At Midnight" is good, but does not compare to the comic adaptation I read of the same story. The comic version had a total old Warren magazine kind of feel. This show was just too watered down for the kiddies. "Don't Go To Sleep" kind of reminded me of a kiddy version of an old episode of "Freddy's Nightmares". Lame story but fun dream-style direction. "Calling All Creeps" was alright too... liked the ending. This was the better disc out of the two.

Neither of the two discs contain any special features whatsoever. Which is kind of lame, but still the price is only Ten bucks, so it ain't too bad.

Verdict: * * *

- Al B. Damned

Monsters Vs. Aliens - 3D (2009)

Director: Rob Letterman & Conrad Vernon
Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Seth Rogen, Hugh Laurie, Will Arnet & Kiefer Sutherland
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0892782/

 A Meteorite falls to earth and hits Susan on her wedding day, turning her into a giant of a woman. The U.S. Government comes in a kidnaps and covers up, taking her to a secret compound with a few other monster movie rejects. (A Mad Scientist/Human Cockroach, The Missing Link/Creature From The Black Lagoon, B.O.B./Kind of like the Blob & Insectosaurus a throw-back to the Godzilla movies) Aliens invade and the government brings out the monsters to take out the aliens.

 This movie was a lot of fun, especially in 3D. Growing up on all the old monster movies from the 50's on made this way too much fun for me. It's got a few jokes in there for the adults, but is not dirty like the Shrek movies. Something I would not be embarrassed to take the kids in my family to. If you see this, make sure to see the 3D version. It's worth the extra couple bucks.

Verdict: * * * *

- Al B. Damned

Jonas Brothers: The 3-D Concert Experience (2009)

Director: Bruce Hendricks
Starring: Joe Jonas, Kevin Jonas & Nick Jonas
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1229827/

 I came in with an open mind, wanting to give this movie an honest chance, because there is obviously a target audience somewhere... far, far from being me. That was out the window in the first few minutes...

 It's your basic concert video that cuts between some behind the scenes b.s. and concert footage. From the get-go all the behind the scenes style footage seemed obviously scripted. Then it has them running down the streets of New York while being chased by thousands of girls, as if they are the Beatles. There is even a reference to them being like the Fab Four later in the film. They are far from it.

 This consists of a lot of poorly constructed pop songs and sped up cut scenes reminiscent of Menudo. These guys have the looks the little girls go for, but lack the talent. It's kind of sad... little girls are creaming their panties over these little boys who actually probably like boys.

 Taylor Swift also made an appearance with the boys singing her "Shoulda Said No" song. That just was too much for me. I really hate these pop singers claiming they are country music. A fiddle and a banjo does not make you country. Sorry. Stop trying.

 I've been trying really hard not to rip into this film... obviously I have not been doing to well at keeping from that. On the plus side the guys did write most of their own songs. So I guess they have more talent than I thought... it's just a shame that even for pop songs they fall flat. The best of the bunch only being "ok" and the worst... well... you don't want to know. I give this one *, only because I can't give it lower.

- Al B. Damned