Category: Movies

Z-View: “Soylent Green”

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The Pitch: ”Hey, what about Charlton Heston and Edward G. Robinson in a big screen scifi film?”

“Let’s do it!”

The Tagline:  “What is the secret of Soylent Green?”

The Overview:   *** Beware –  spoilers are found below ***

The year is 2022.  The world is overpopulated and (thanks to climate change and pollution) without resources to house or feed most of the population.  The divide between the haves and have-nots has never been worse.  Most of the poor survive on rations provided by the Soylent corporation.

Charlton Heston plays a cop assigned the murder of a wealthy man with connections to the Soylent corporation and important politicians.  When Heston refuses to stop his investigation he becomes marked for death.

The Good

  • The state of the world without food, water, shelter and resources for any but the wealthiest is well done.
  • Leigh Taylor-Young as Shirl.  Chuck Conners vs Charlton Heston!
  • Edward G, Robinson in his final role.
  • The scene of Robinson and Heston enjoying a real meal of food Heston had confiscated.
  • Heston going to save Robinson and becoming mesmerized at the video playing.
  • The last line of the movie is a classic.

The Bad:

  • The state of the world.
  • The cops are crooked… including Heston.
  • How much people like Soylent Green.
  • The movie has a bit of a 1970’s futuristic vibe to it, but overall still holds up well.

The Ugly:

  • When your best choice is to check out.

 

Rating: 4 out of 5

“The Last Stand” / Z-View

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The Pitch: ”Hey, what do you think about having Arnold as the police chief of a small town up against a Mexican cartel? “

“Let’s do it!”

The Tagline:  “Not in his town.  Not on his watch.”

The Overview:   *** Beware –  spoilers are found below ***

When a Mexican drug cartel kingpin busts out of custody and makes a break for the border surrounded and supported by his hired killers, the only thing standing between him and freedom is a small town sheriff and a couple of green deputies.

The Good

  • I like the premise.
  • It is always great to see Forrest Whitaker, Luis Guzman and Harry Dean Stanton.  Arnold is Arnold!
  • The kingpin’s escape is well done.  The magnet was a nice touch as were the orange suited running men. [I really liked Forrest Whitaker’s interrogation scene with the Dutch soccer fan.]
  • There is plenty of action.

The Bad:

  • Some of the humor felt out of place [Arnold telling the diner people to leave, the “schmuck” line at the beginning and end of the movie, etc.].  Let Johnny Knoxville be the comedy relief and let everyone else play it straight.

The Ugly:

  • What happens when Arnold dives into you knocking you both off a two-story building.  And landing on a car with Arnold on top of you will be the least of your worries.

Rating: 3 out of 5

“Insidious: Chapter 2” / Z-View

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The Pitch: ”Hey, lnsidious was a hit, let’s make another!”

“Let’s do it!”

The Tagline:  “It will take what you love the most!”

The Overview:   *** Beware –  spoilers are found below ***

Renai, Josh Lambert and their three young children survived the first film although it left Elsie Rainer dead.  While the police investigate her mysterious murder, the family moves into Josh’s childhood home with Grandma.

It isn’t long before Josh is acting weird and the strange sounds and happenings begin again.

The Good

  • Leigh Whannell [screenwriter], James Wan [director] along with original cast members Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, and Barbara Hershey pick up right where they left off in the original.
  • If you liked Insidious, you’ll enjoy Insidious 2.
  • There are enough scares and creepy moments to satisfy fans.
  • When figures that shouldn’t be there are silently seen in the background.
  • The ending!

The Bad:

  • The use of humor feels more slapstick in this one.
  • The Black Bride Killer is creepy.
  • The Black Bride Killer’s mom is even scarier!

The Ugly:

  • Did I mention The Black Bride Killer?

Rating: 3 out of 5

Z-View: “Insidious”

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The Pitch: ”Hey, let’s make a really scary haunted house, possessed kid movie without the gore!

“Let’s do it!”

The Tagline:  “It’s not the house that’s haunted!”

The Overview:   *** Beware –  spoilers are found below ***

Renai and Josh Lambert recently moved into a new home with their three young children. Strange noises and happenings begin to occur and their son, Dalton falls into a coma. Doctors at the hospital can find no reason for the coma. Months later Dalton (still in a coma) is moved back home.  When the supernatural events begin to intensify Renai and Josh move the family to a new house.

Almost immediately the strange happenings begin in the new home.  A psychic team is called in and it becomes clear that the house isn’t haunted… Dalton is!

The Good

  • Leigh [Saw] Whannell has created a story that puts a twist on the classic haunted house tale.  There are plenty of creepy moments and a few great scares!
  • Director James [Saw] Wan knows how to scare an audience!
  • Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, and Barbara Hershey do an excellent job as a normal family trying to figure out what is going on.
  • The fact that the family doesn’t wait too long before moving from what they perceive to be a haunted house.
  • There is just the right touch of comedy when the two paranormal researchers show up in the second half of the movie.
  • The ending!

The Bad:

  • How you’d feel moving away from a haunted house only to have the supernatural events continue to intensify in your new home.
  • The second half of the movie isn’t as scary, but is still a lot of fun!

The Ugly:

  • Traveling to the other side.
  • How you sound when you scream out loud at some of the scary parts.

Rating: 4 out of 5