Universal Soldier 4: Day of Reckoning (FILM REVIEW)

Universal Soldier 4: Day of Reckoning

Film Review by Kam Williams

Crime Victim Turns Vigilante in Mindbending Revenge Flick

            John (Scott Adkins) was sadistically beaten with tire irons and left for dead by three assassins dressed like ninjas during a home invasion. When he came out of his coma nine months later, all he could remember about the attack was how his wife and daughter had been murdered right in front of his eyes by a creep who had the nerve to taunt him.

            In fact, their assailant, Luc Deveraux (Jean-Claude Van Damme) even had the temerity to remove his mask and show his face. As he recovered from his wounds, John realizes he doesn’t have much to live for with his family gone. So, he decides to take the law into his own hands, rather than wait for the police to bring the perpetrators to justice.

            That is the deceptive point of departure of Universal Soldier 4: Day of Reckoning, a high body-count splatterflick ostensibly revolving around an embittered vigilante bent on revenge, ala Charles Bronson in Death Wish. Directed by John Hyams, the film is the fourth in a grisly franchise launched way back in 1992.

            The plot thickens while John is searching for Deveraux, when he finds himself being relentlessly hunted by a mysterious figure (Andrei Arlovski).

Furthermore, getting to Deveraux proves easier said than done, since he is protected by an army of rogue Universal Soldiers in his capacity as high priest of the Unisol Church of Eventualism.

            Previously, these liberated Unisols had been remote-controlled sleeper agents, operating under the thumb of the government like latter-day Manchurian candidates. But trust me, trying to sort out this complicated storyline isn’t worth the time, since just about everybody is about to get gutted or have his head lopped off.

            Appreciation of this installment doesn’t depend on any knowledge of what’s transpired in the earlier episodes, since this bloody free-for-all is designed for that demo of film fans with an insatiable appetite for gratuitous gore. So gruesome, it makes Peckinpah look like Winnie the Pooh.

Very Good (2.5 stars)

Rated R for profanity, graphic sexuality, frontal nudity and pervasive gruesome violence

Running time: 113 minutes

Distributor: Magnet Pictures

To see a trailer for Universal Soldier 4: Day of Reckoning, visit:     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPcMKd_73Ys 

Rise of the Guardians (FILM REVIEW)

Rise of the Guardians

Film Review by Kam Williams

Mythological Figures Fight for Kids’ Innocence in Enchanting Animated Adventure

            When the Boogeyman (Jude Law) hatches a diabolical plan to dash the dreams of sugarplums dancing in tykes’ heads and to steal baby teeth left under their pillows at bedtime, it’s clear that something must be done. For, if left unchecked, it’ll just be a matter of time before the evil schemer will quash kids’ belief in the Tooth Fairy (Isla Fisher), Santa Claus (Alec Baldwin), the Easter Bunny (Hugh Jackman) and the Sandman.

            Fortunately, these beloved mythical figures have already united to fight their longtime adversary by forming the Guardians, an association dedicated to the preservation of the innocence, imagination and sense of wonder of children all over the world. And at the direction of their sage inspirational leader, the Man in the Moon, they proceed to implore Jack Frost (Chris Pine) to sign-on as an indispensable addition to their ragtag team.

            Initially, Jack proves a rather reluctant superhero, between his immaturity and a traumatic feeling of inadequacy resulting from his invisibility. But he ultimately succumbs to his earnest confederates’ relentless pressuring that, “You cannot say no!” and “It is destiny!”

            With greatness thus thrust upon him, will Jack rise to the occasion to spearhead the charge against the Boogeyman? That is the pivotal question posed by the premise of Rise of the Guardians, an enchanting fairytale loosely based on “The Guardians of Childhood” series of best-sellers by William Joyce.

            This action-oriented, animated adventure marks the auspicious directorial debut of veteran storyboard artist Peter Ramsey who makes novel enough use of state-of-the-art 3-D technology here to warrant an investment in goggles for an amplified enjoyment of all the eye-popping, special f/x. Nevertheless, at heart, the picture remains a sweet story with a universal message about the importance of protecting children’s innocence.

            Although aimed at the very impressionable, still-believing demographic, Rise of the Guardians is apt to resonate with kids of any age with an intact sense of wonder and awe. Yes, Virginia, there is not only a Santa Claus, but a Tooth Fairy, a Jack Frost, an Easter Bunny, and a Sandman, too.

Excellent (3.5 stars)

Rated PG for mature themes and scary action sequences

Running time: 97 minutes

Distributor: Dreamworks Pictures

To see a trailer for Rise of the Guardians, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3OmoPtPp0I

Top Ten DVD Releases for 11-27-12

This Week’s DVD Releases

by Kam Williams


Top Ten DVD List for November 27, 2012                          

Sparkle

ParaNorman

Men in Black III

2012 San Francisco Giants: World Series Champions

Christmas in Compton

Speechless

The Day

Lawless

The Apparition

The Swan Princess Christmas

http://www.walmart.com/ip/The-Swan-Princess-Christmas-Exclusive-Anamorphic-Widescreen/21675146

Lawless (DVD REVIEW)

Lawless

DVD Review by Kam Williams

Prohibition Crime Saga Revisits Exploits of the Bootlegging Bondurant Brothers

            It is Franklin County, Virginia during Prohibition, which is where we find the bootlegging Bondurant brothers, Jack (Shia LaBeouf), Forrest (Tom Hardy) and Howard (Jason Clarke), running a thriving moonshining business with the help of a pal with colorful name Cricket (Dane DeHaan). But the siblings’ blissful existence starts to crumble the day Jack sees Floyd Banner (Gary Oldman), a coldblooded gangster from Chicago, shoot one of their competitors dead with a Tommy gun.

            Not long thereafter, a crooked Federal Agent, Charlie Rakes (Guy Pearce) pays a little visit to the Bondurants’ bar to demand a cut of their ill-gotten gains. But hot-headed Forrest isn’t intimidated by the attempted shakedown. In fact, he threatens to kill the corrupt cop with a meat cleaver should the greedy creep ever set foot on the premises again.

            Of course, that’s not the last the lads see of either Rakes or Banner, which soon proves problematical given that the ruthless newcomers are armed to the teeth and will stop at nothing to get their way. That is the ominous premise which sets in motion the grisly goings-on which ensue in Lawless, a picture dedicated to an almost senseless celebration of gratuitous violence.

            Directed by John Hillcoat (The Road), the movie was adapted from “The Wettest County in the World,” a supposedly-factual, historical novel by Matt Bondurant (grandson of Jack). The picture opens with a warning that what you’re about to witness is “based on a true story,” a claim presumably intended to discourage the viewer from questioning the veracity of the screen version, too.

            However, what’s served up is basically a comical cross of Sam Peckinpah and Looney Tunes so farcical that the audience at the screening this critic attended shared a few hearty laughs at moments when none was intended. An over-the-top indulgence in sadism strictly recommended for folks with a stomach for gangster fare so gruesome as to border on the cartoonish.

Fair (1 star)

Rated R for profanity, sexuality, nudity and graphic violence.

Running time: 115 minutes

Distributor: Anchor Bay Entertainment/The Weinstein Company

Blu-Ray DVD Combo Pack Extras: Feature commentary with director John Hillcoat and author Matt Bondurant; deleted scenes; “Midnight Run” music video by Willie Nelson; the story of the Bondurant family; Franklin County, VA: Then and Now; The True Story of the Wettest County in the World; and more.  

To see a trailer for Lawless, visit:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVVThEvrxqM

           

Sparkle (DVD REVIEW)

Sparkle
DVD Review by Kam Williams

Whitney Houston Shines as Overprotective Mom in Remake of Modern Morality Play  

            Emma Anderson (Whitney Houston) didn’t want her daughters to follow in her footsteps by having babies as teenagers while squandering their future in the futile pursuit of celebrity and bad boys who wouldn’t treat them like ladies. That’s why the overprotective single-mom feels fortunate to be able to raise them in a middle-class suburb of Detroit where she keeps them on the straight and narrow path via a steady diet of Christianity and high expectations.
            All three siblings have inherited the ability to sing from their mother, a blessing they put to good use for the Lord in the church choir every Sunday. However, each girl also has her own distinctive personality yearning to express itself.
            Brainy Dolores (Tika Sumpter) has her mind set on attending Meharry School of Medicine. Self-effacing Sparkle (Jordin Sparks) is a gifted composer who’s too shy to perform any of her heartfelt ballads in public. But seductive Sister (Carmen Ejogo) is just the opposite, being a confident extrovert who craves the limelight and the attention of men.
            Consequently, it’s no surprise that Sister might rebel and run away from home, rather than abide by her mother’s restrictive house rules. She’s only been back in town for two months, but already has a couple of suitors competing for her hand, Levi (Omari Hardwick), a penniless, perfect gentleman, and Satin (Mike Epps), a flashy, silky smooth operator.
            Given Sister’s materialistic nature, it’s easy to guess that that she would opt to entertain the overtures of the latter, a misogynist with a dark side yet to reveal itself. Meanwhile, Sparkle starts dating Stix (Derek Luke) who encourages the talented sisters to form a trio and take a shot at superstardom.
            So unfolds Sparkle, a modern morality play with a sobering message made all the more telling by serving as Whitney Houston’s cinematic farewell. Several of the late pop diva’s lines in the movie induce goose bumps, such as when she matter-of-factly asks, “Was my life not enough of a cautionary tale for you?”
            The film features standout performances by Whitney and Carmen Ejogo, with Derek Luke and Mike Epps appearing at their best as well. Jordin Sparks certainly holds her own when called upon to sing, but she comes across in this big screen debut as not quite ready to handle a title role, at least acting-wise.
            Written and directed by the husband-wife team of Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil, respectively, Sparkle is very loosely based on the 1976 musical of the same name, with the point of departure, the timeline, plot developments, and the score being tweaked for the overhaul, and all for the better. A must-see, between Whitney’s sentimental Swan Song and charismatic Carmen’s coming out party.

Excellent (3.5 stars)
Rated PG-13 for violence, profanity, drug use, smoking, mature themes and domestic abuse.
Running time: 116 minutes
Distributor: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
DVD Extras: Director’s commentary; A Tribute to Whitney Houston; A Dream Come True; and more.

To see a trailer for Sparkle, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBXGhbpMMrw 

Kam's Movie Kapsules for 11-30-12

OPENING THIS WEEK

Kam's Kapsules:      

Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun         

by Kam Williams

For movies opening November 30, 2012

BIG BUDGET FILMS

Killing Them Softly (R for violence, drug use, sexual references and pervasive profanity) Screen adaptation of the George V. Higgins crime thriller of the same name about a hit man (Brad Pitt) hired to investigate the heist of a mob-protected poker game. Cast includes Richard Jenkins, Ray Liotta, James Gandolfini, Sam Shepard and Max Casella.

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

Addicted to Fame (Unrated) Price of fame biopic takes a behind-the-scenes look at the late Anna Nicole Smith during the making of Illegal Aliens, a sci-fi spoof of Charlie’s Angels. Featuring commentary by Larry King, Harvey Levin and Jesse Eisenberg.

Back to 1942 (Unrated) Historical epic, set in Henan province, revisiting the political corruption within the Chinese government which led to the senseless starvation of 3,000,000 citizens during a year-long drought. Starring Fan Xu, Daoming Chen, Alec Su, Tim Robbins and Adrien Brody. (In Mandarin and English with subtitles)

Beware of Mr. Baker (Unrated) Warts-and-all rocktrospective revisiting the rise and fall of Ginger Baker, from his glory days as the drummer for Cream and Blind Faith to the self-destructive behavior which led to the loss of his fortune and his withdrawing from the world into a fortified compound somewhere in South Africa.   

California Solo (Unrated) Midlife crisis drama about a retired British rocker (Robert Carlyle), living in L.A., forced to clean up his act when he finds himself facing deportation after being arrested for driving under the influence. With Danny Masterson, William Russ and Kathleen Wilhoite.

The Collection (R for profanity, graphic violence, grisly images and brief nudity) Horror sequel to The Collector finds a survivor (Josh Stewart) of the sadistic serial killer’s (Randall Archer) previous spree now leading an assault on the madman’s lair in order to rescue the daughter (Emma Fitzpatrick) of a wealthy businessman (Christopher McDonald). With Lee Tergesen, Navi Rawat and Johanna Brady.

Dragon (R for violence) Two-fisted tale of redemption about an unassuming village craftsman with a secret past (Donnie Yen) whose cover is blown by a detective (Takeshi Kaneshiro) and his former martial arts master (Yu Wang). With Kara Hui, Wu Jiang and Wei Tang. (In Mandarin with subtitles)

Elza (Unrated) Roots drama about a Parisian-Caribbean woman’s (Stana Roumillac) return to her native Guadeloupe in search of her long-lost father after completing her master’s degree. With Vincent Byrd Le Sage, Christophe Cherki and Sophie Berger. (In French with subtitles)

Ex-Girlfriends (Unrated) Messy romantic dramedy, set in NYC, about a dude (Alexander Poe) desperate to rekindle a relationship with an ex (Kristen Connolly) who discovers that she and another former girlfriend (Jennifer Carpenter) are currently both dating the same guy. With Noah Bean, Teddy Bergman and Liz Holtan.

Hecho en Mexico (R for profanity, sexual references and brief drug use) Reverential documentary pays tribute to modern Mexico by weaving a cinematic tapestry about some of the country’s contemporary cultural icons, including Don Cheto, Ruben Albarron and Amandititita.

My Brothers (Unrated) Irish road drama, set in County Cork over the course of Halloween weekend in 1987, revolving around the raucous sibling rivalry which surfaces among three brothers (Timmy Creed, Paul Courtney and TJ Griffin) trying to replace their dying father’s (Don Wycherley) favorite wristwatch while riding around in a stolen bread truck.

Otelo Burning (Unrated) Overcoming-the-odds drama about a poor, South African teenager (Jafta Mamabolo) whose fortunes change when he is afforded an opportunity to pursue his passion for surfing. With Thomas Gumede, Sihle Xaba and Kenneth Nkosi. (In English and Zulu with subtitles)

Parked (Unrated) Unlikely-buddies drama about a lonely, middle-aged man living in his car (Colm Meany) who gets a new lease on life when he’s befriended by a 21 year-old stoner (Colin Morgan) who introduces him to an attractive music teacher (Milka Ahlroth). With Stuart Graham, Mark Butler and David Wilmot. 

Silent Night (R for sexuality, nudity, profanity, graphic violence and brief drug use) Holiday-themed horror flick about a serial killer in a Santa Claus suit who goes on a bloody rampage around a quiet Midwestern town on Christmas Eve. Starring Malcolm McDowell, Jaime King and Donal Logue.

Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning (R for profanity, graphic sexuality, frontal nudity and pervasive gruesome violence) Vigilante drama about a man (Scott Adkins) who becomes bent on revenge when he comes out of a coma to learn that his wife and daughter had been slain by a creep (Jean-Claude Van Damme) during a home invasion. With Dolph Lundgren, Mariah Bonner and James Rawlings.

Walk Away Renee (Unrated) Post-Oedipal biopic chronicling filmmaker Jonathan Caouette’s cross-country road trip with his mentally-ill mother. 

The No Excuse Guide to Success (BOOK REVIEW)

The No Excuse Guide to Success:

            No Matter What Your Boss—or Life—Throws at You

by Jim “Mr. Energy” Smith, Jr.

Foreword by Chad Hymas

Career Press

Paperback, $14.99

256 pages

ISBN: 978-1-60163-212-8

           

Book Review by Kam Williams

“Life is not what you’ve been taught; it’s what you believe. It’s not what you’ve experienced; it’s the choices you’ve made as a result. It’s not about what happened to you; it’s about how you remembered it. It’s not what challenges have come your way; it’s what you’ve seen as challenging.

It’s not what has appeared in your path; it is what you have accepted. When we accept personal responsibility for our lives, everything is possible… This book offers my 10 proven principles, Winning Ways that will help you move beyond making excuses and toward living the life you want.”

-- Excerpted from the Introduction (pages 20 and 35).

            Self-help gurus offer different paths to enlightenment, and those in need of a little tough love, might like to listen Jim Smith, Jr. Also known as “Mr. Energy,” for years Jim has led JIMPACT workshops and delivered inspirational speeches for both Fortune 500 companies and non-profit corporations.

            Now Jim has distilled the essence of his message into The No Excuse Guide to Success, a how-to book extolling the virtues of his 10 practical principles. The thrust of the philosophy basically boils down to taking responsibility for your own life.

            Chapter 1 suggests that you hold yourself accountable rather than blame others or outside forces for your failings. Chapter 2 resurrects the late Dr. Norman Vincent Peale’s notion that positive thinking leads to positive outcomes.

            Chapter 3 urges you to “Embrace the Uncertainty,” meaning move out of your comfort zone, while Chapter 4 helps you reinvent yourself rather than search outside for the answers to your problems. Chapter 5 promotes the novel idea of listening with three ears which involves “connecting with another human being on an emotional, even spiritual level.” And so forth.

            Besides advice, each chapter includes a personal action plan with checklists and fill-in-the-blanks worksheets to ensure that you start applying the author’s tools and techniques to reach your goals. The guide’s prefatory pages are replete with remarks from lots of Mr. Energy’s success stories.

            So, far be it from me to argue with course graduates, especially when the text reads like a plausible plan for folks ready to take charge of their lives, for better or worse.