9/24 Edition of The Anthony T Movie Blog

Welcome to this week’s edition of my movie blog. Sorry for being late on this edition. Been a little under the weather but I’m better now. Paramount’s finally have a release date for David Fincher’s cut of Zodiac. According to davisdvd.com, the 2-disc edition of the film will be in stores on January 8th. It is definitely good news to hear that it’s being released in January. Hopefully, this is push to get this film some Oscar nominations, which it rightfully deserves. It’s the best film, I’ve seen so far this year. Also you can now find The Movie Blog on Blogspot too at anthonythurber.blogspot.com.

Reviews

Rating System

5 Stars – Highly Recommended
4 Stars – Recommended
3 Stars – Good / Average Film
2 Stars – Disappointing Film
1 Stars – Totally Awful

In Theaters

3:10 To Yuma
3:10 to Yuma is the latest film from James Mangold (Copland, Girl, Interrupted). The film is about a rancher (Christian Bale) who agrees to help transport a captured outlaw (Russell Crowe) to the train station, so the outlaw can stand trial in Yuma, for his crimes. On their way there, the outlaw tries to escape him and the group by playing mind game them. With his gang of ruthless thugs trying to set the outlaw, the rancher must get him on the train to Yuma, before he is set free by his gang. 3:10 to Yuma is an action-packed western. James Mangold goes a great job keeping the action moving, as there was never a dull moment in the film. I liked how the screenplay tells the story of the two main characters from two opposite ends from each other. It also had good subplot that explores the relationship between the Dan Evans character and his son. Both Bales and Crowe give great performances. Their on-screen chemistry was great to watch, as they both played off of each other very well. 3:10 to Yuma is a film that western fans will enjoy. 5 Stars. Rated R. 117 Min.


New Releases on DVD

Severance
Severance is about a group of employees from a weapons manufacture company, who are out on a company retreat for the weekend. What was supposed to a weekend for team-building turns deadly, when a crazed and vengeful killer begins to stalk them. Soon their retreat, turns into a fight for survival in the wilderness. Laura Harris (24, and the upcoming TV series Women’s Murder Club) and Toby Stephens (Die Another Day) star in the film directed by Christopher Smith. Severance was a fun movie to watch. Both writer-director Christopher Smith and co-writer James Moran did a great job balancing the horror and comedy elements, as it didn’t get too silly or too over the top. Also, the humor didn’t make the villains in the film laughable, which is needed to make a successful horror-comedy. The characters in the film were great, as they were entertaining and not too stupid. Severance will satisfy both fans of The Office and gory films. 4 Stars. Rated R. 96 Mins.

DVD Pick of the Week

Quentin Tarantino’s Death Proof
Death Proof is a send-up of the seventies slasher and drag racing movies where a stuntman (Kurt Russell) who stalks beautiful women with his car. Soon a group of young women (Rosario Dawson, Zoe Bell, and Tracie Thoms) will begin to fight back and try to end Stuntman Mike’s reign of terror. Rose McGowan (Planet Terror) and Eil Roth (director of Hostel and Cabin Fever) also star in the film. The film Death Proof is the serious film of these two Grindhouse films. When we look back at Quentin Tarantino’s career twenty years from now, Death Proof will be his most underrated film. There is a lot of character development here. While some people complained about the film being slow and too talky, I had no problem with, as it made me care about the female characters that were being put in danger here. Also, it helps makes the last half of the film more suspenseful. Also I liked the acting in the film. Kurt Russell gives a great performance in the film, as he was very entertaining. The stunts in the film were great, as they felt realistic and kept the suspense going. Even though I enjoyed both films when I saw Grindhouse back in April, Death Proof was the best film of the two and that’s why it’s my DVD pick of the week. 5 Stars. Unrated. 113 Mins.


I’ll back with a new edition of the movie blog this weekend, which will include reviews for Bug, and Dragon Heat. Until next time, have a good day.