The Cell (2000)

For years and years I have seen this movie sitting on the shelf of every video store I walk into, for some reason I have only recently decided to pick it up and give it a crack. The movie's tag-line "Enter the Mind of a Killer" was the main reason I did eventually grab it, judging by that line, it certainly sounded like my cup of tea. Did I mention that Jennifer Lopez was in the film? That just put the icing on top of what turned out to be an unbelievable, mind-bender of a thriller movie.

Vincent D'Onofrio and Jennifer Lopez in The Cell

Catherine (Lopez) is a psychotherapist who treats her patients by entering their mind via a revolutionary new technology that allows her to link her brain with theirs. However, when she is asked out of desperation by FBI agent Peter Novak (Vince Vaughn) to enter the mind of comatose serial killer, Carl Stargher (Vincent D'Onofrio). Catherine must confront the horrors that plague Carl's mind in order to locate his final victim before it's too late.

As good a job as J'Lo did, I couldn't go past the performance of Vincent D'Onofrio, he owned absolutely every scene he was in. In a odd twist I found myself disappointed when he fell into a coma, because I would have to wait another 25 minutes before he was on screen again, but when he returned, he returned much more sinister in his own mind than he was in reality. Vince Vaughn also put in a solid performance with the character he was given, thanks to D'Onofrio though, I didn't pay much attention to Vince.

The Cell offers amazing special effects which still rival those you see in the movies of today, it was the make up effects that really pushed the limits in this film, thanks to the make up each of the demonic kings in Carl's mind were all equally terrifying.

The Cell is one of the best movies I have watched in a while, even though it is from 2000. The Cell prefers to shows us rather than tell us parts of the story, I like that about this film, it is a nice change of pace from movies that force feed us information in order to bring out a complex story.

In short, this movie is amazing, a true thriller, a mix between The Matrix and The Silence of the Lambs. I recommend this for anyone who like a great Thriller/SciFi. If you can't handle detailed murders in film or grotesque characters, then I would steer clear.

Awesome!

9/10

The Browning - Burn This World (2011)

The Browning, sounds like what happens to your pants after a dodgy kebab or when you drink that two day old milk in the fridge. All jokes aside though, I have come across a great new band who fuse Dubstep and Hardcore together to create what can only be described as pure sex. If the first wave of "Dubcore" is anything to go by, then these blokes will be the reigning kings in no time.

Cover Art for Burn This World

In the past three days I have been listening non-stop to Burn This World, each time I listen to it I pick up on something new, something that I didn't catch last time around. The last album that brought me this much joy in the first hit would of been Siberia by Lights, it may be due to my newly found love for dubstep.

What started out as a side project for vocalist Jonny McBee (As Blood Runs Black), has now blown up into a full time wrecking ball which doesn't look like letting up anytime soon.

Every breakdown makes you want to jump, every growl makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up, every drop, every synth line and every electronic melody make your heart beat that little bit louder. I never listened to As Blood Runs Black but am immensely impressed with McBee as a vocalist, his lows and highs are impeccable, while his lyrics sound like the next chapter of the Terminator series. The band also does a great job moulding the synth and regular instruments together to create a terrific balance that keeps the album flowing from start to finish.

It seems the norm these days to mash two genres together in order to push ahead of the pack, while I usually dislike it, The Browning have shown me what can be accomplished if a lot of hard work is put into the making of the album. The standout tracks for me are Bloodlust, Standing on the Edge and Ashamed.

Burn This World has been on constant rotation and will continue to be for the foreseeable future. Fans of The Crimson Armada, Like Moths to Flames, Structures, Fit for a King and Skrillex should check this out!

Track Listing:

01. No Escape - 8/10

02. Not Alone - 8/10

03. Bloodlust - 10/10

04. Standing on the Edge - 10/10

05. Burn This World - 8.5/10

06. Ashamed - 10/10

07. Living Dead - 9/10

08. Forgotten - 8/10

09. Time Will Tell - 8.5/10

10. Tragedy of Perfection - 9/10

11. Dominator - 9.5/10

12. I Choose You - 8/10

13. The Sadist - 9/10

Overall - 9/10