Quick Movie Reviews: Vol 22

Colombiana (2011)

Zoe Saldana is slowly becoming the actress you go to for female led action movies. With Colombiana she had the movie solely on her shoulders and the results are pretty average. I’m not saying that this is a bad movie, but it’s just very by the numbers affair. We have a young girl who becomes a hitman, in order to get revenge on her murdered parents. The action is okay and honestly I seem to be talking myself around in circles. Saldana needs to find something more like The Losers as this at least had some character to it. Oh well I’m sure Avatar 2 will be big for her, even if it’s not really her but a blue cat lady.

The Burrowers (2008)

One of the biggest problems with horror is that it really gets stuck into trends. All genres succumb to this, but horror more than any other seems to love milking a good thing till its dead. Enter The Burrowers that manages to go over ground that is rarely tread except by franchises that have run out of ideas (it’s normally the wild west or space). The horror western is back and it is awesome. This movie was a joy to watch with some original monsters, and such a mean spirit that’s lacking in a lot of horror movies. Add to that some great casting and this movie just sparkles. If there is one thing that lets it down, it’s the special effects but even they don’t ruin the movie. Horror lovers should do themselves a favour and check out this movie.

Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop (2011)

I’ve seen some people review this movie, and say that Conan O’Brien comes off a jack ass in the movie, constantly complaining about the fans that he has. Too me this isn’t Conan being a jerk, but a human being who loves entertaining people, but at the same time likes being alone with his thoughts. This documentary is an enlightening look at the man, and in particular looking at a hectic time in his life. Having left The Tonight Show in a storm of controversy, Conan puts on a show to not only entertain, but to keep those that stayed loyal with him in work. Fascinating, true to life and most importantly damn funny, those who like Conan O’Brien need to watch this movie.

Wizard of Gore (2007)

It’s been a month or so and I’m still confused by this movie. It’s not that I didn’t get the story, but in trying to make sense in its explanation I see several holes. Honestly I think this movie tries really hard to be clever and fails spectacularly. An exercise in style over substance that loses itself and seriously never gets a handle on its characters. As for the gore it is somewhat impressive, but it happens to those we don’t have an emotional connection with so there is no real impact. A highlight of the movie would be Crispin Glover who is just insane as Montag the Magnificent, and he also possess one of the most over stuffed crotches I’ve seen since David Bowie’s cod piece in Labyrinth. Overall though this is a movie with characters that are just flat, and it’s made worse by this pretension that pervades it. Give it a miss unless you are desperate to see some Crispin Glover.