The Maine - Pioneer (2011)

Let me start by saying I'd never heard of The Maine until a few days ago, I came across their track "The Way We Talk" on YouTube and was instantly hooked! I went out and bought the first album by them that I came across. That album was Pioneer, just by looking at the cover I knew I was in for a treat. 

Cover Art for Pioneer

Pioneer is kicked off with "Identify", a pretty catchy slower tune. "Identify" is one of those songs that when you hear it for the first time, you know by the end you'll fall in love with the album. Next up is "My Heroine", an interesting track that is jumps between blues, jazz and rock with some southern attitude thrown in the mix. Moving along we come to "Time" and "Some Days", these two tracks show why most people will love The Maine, catchy pop rock that appeals to everyone without sound generic. Tracks 5 and 6 are "I'm Sorry" and "Don't Give Up on "Us"", I'm sure you get the picture with these two songs, put these in a safe somewhere for when you're going through a breakup. Now we come to my favourite on Pioneer, "Misery", this song just works in every aspect, the chorus has been stuck in my head since I heard it, I'll be listening to this one for many years to come! "When I'm at Home" embodies what music is all about, jamming with your mates and having a good time, easily the strongest track on the album. Jumping ahead to "Jenny", John O'Callaghan wrote this one for his mum as a thank you.

John O'Callaghan's lyrics are top notch to go along with his voice that I'm sure makes most young girls fall in love with him, in short, the bloke can sing! The band don't let O'Callaghan claim all the credit though, they've come up with some of the best and catchiest tunes that I've heard in a long time. As I type this I'm humming the riff from "Misery". Job well done to them all.

As a whole, Pioneer was one of the best albums released in 2011, The Maine are a seriously good band who are very close to becoming the best pop rock band out there. Make sure you check them out, you won't be disappointed!

If you are a fan of Every Avenue, This Century, Mayday Parade, All Time Low, You Me at Six or A Rocket to the Moon then you will love The Maine.

Track Listing:

01. Identify - 9.5/10

02. My Heroine - 10/10

03. Time - 8.5/10

04. Some Days - 8.5/10

05. I'm Sorry - 9/10

06. Don't Give Up on "Us" - 9/10

07. Misery - 10/10

08. When I'm at Home - 10/10

09. Thinking of You - 8/10

10. Jenny - 10/10

11. Like We Did (Windows Down) - 9/10

12. While Listening to Rock & Roll - 9/10

13. Waiting For My Sun to Shine - 9.5/10

Overall - 9.5/10

Jack and Jill (2011)

Before I begin this review, know that I love Adam Sandler's work, Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore and The Waterboy are some of the funniest movies I have ever seen. That's why it pains me so much to see the absolute garbage that Sandler has put out in recent years, the end of a career is here, it started with You Don't Mess with the Zohan and will now finish with Jack and Jill.

How I felt during Jack and Jill

Jack and Jill doesn't even deserve a proper review, everything about the film was horrible, the jokes were tasteless, the acting was terrible and it seemed like a cash grab for everyone involved. One thing that has me annoyed with Sandler is his constant reference to being Jewish, we get it Adam, you are Jewish, that doesn't mean you have to write it into every character you play.

The most cringeworthy thing in this film was not Sandler dressed up in drag but the fact that one of the greatest actors of our time, Mr. Al Pacino, would even consider accepting a role in this film. Each time he was on camera I had to look away due to his legacy being tainted with every passing second.

The bottom line is, this movie is one of the biggest loads of garbage that has ever been captured on camera, Jack and Jill should never of seen the light of day. I am now dumber and have lost an hour and a half of my life due to this movie.

The only thing saving this from a 0.5/10 was David Spade's two minute cameo at the end.

Do not watch this! Unless you are a moron.

1.5/10

Falling Down (1993)

This movie came to my attention through a conversation with my parents, as we were driving down to Portsea for lunch on a public holiday. The movie was brought up as we were talking about how McDonalds serves breakfast until 11, and if you are five minutes late they have no sympathy. Falling Down has a scene that touches on that particular subject. I decided to grab it from work and give it a crack, what I witnessed was sheer brilliance, it reminded just how much our society has disintegrated.

"Can anyone tell me what is wrong with this picture?"

Falling Down is the story of unemployed defense lawyer, William (Michael Douglas). William has grown sick and frustrated with all the injustices in our society, all William wants is to get home to see his daughter for her birthday, unfortunately for William, his day keeps going from bad to worse. He gets stuck in a traffic jam, he is disgusted with the prices set by a Korean shop owner and encounters a Nazi sympathizer.

One scene stands out to me more than the rest, it is something that I have always wanted to do but never had the guts. William walks into Whammy Burger, he politely asks to be served breakfast, however, the manager tells him they stop serving at 11.30am, William's watch reads "11.35". He explains that he is having a bad day and just wants some breakfast, again, they tell him no, it is only after he pulls out a gun that they agree to serve him breakfast. William receives his food, he proceeds to look at the picture then his meal, in no way shape or form does what he received resemble what is in the picture, he asks the staff what the difference between his meal and the picture is. I imagine that everyone has had an experience such as that.

Michael Douglas as always, gives an incredible performance, every scene he was in captivated and genuinely terrified me, never before has the quote "the most dangerous man is a man with nothing to lose" rang so true. Robert Duvall also put in a solid performance as Detective Prendergrast, he portrays a cop on his last day in the force trying to track down William as he goes on a city wide rampage.

The messages that are put forward in Falling Down are ones to take note of, society is nearing a fork in the road, we can either continue they way we are going and ruin our future or we can try to change things in order to create a safe and respectable world to live in.

This movie is almost 20 years old yet it will stand the test of time as one of the greatest pieces of film in history. You must see this, it will change your whole perspective on life.

Incredible!

10/10

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

Underworld: Awakening (2012)

Let me start off by saying, I am an absolute die-hard fanboy of the Underworld series (except for Rise of the Lycans, that was terrible). Everything about this series excites me, whether it be Kate Beckinsale in her skin-tight, leather outfit or the never-ending war between the Vampires and Werewolves. Being a fanboy I expected something amazing, I left the cinema with a huge grin on my face.

Selene taking on the Mega-Lycan

Six months after the events of Underworld: Evolution, Selene and Michael are captured by the humans during "The Purge", an eradication of both Vampires and Lycans conducted by the humans. Twelve years after "The Purge", Selene is freed from her cryogenic prison in the lab of biotech company AntiGen. Once awakened, Selene begins searching for Michael, instead she finds her daughter, who has inherited both the Vampire/Lycan abilities from Michael and the Vampire/Corvinus abilities from Selene.

Kate Beckinsale carries the entire movie on her own without any trouble, after a five year absence from the Underworld series you would think Kate might struggle to capture the essence that made her character so captivating, however, she returns with her strongest portrayal of Selene to date. Honorable mentions go to Stephen Rea and Kris Holden-Reid as father/son Lycan duo.

Underworld: Awakening boasts plenty of action and gore along with the added factor of 3D, Awakening has gained points by not overusing the 3D effects, it was mainly used when a bullet would propel through a skull or when a grenade would explode.

Without giving anything else away I would like to say this movie has restored my faith in Vampire movies, a faith that the Twilight saga had almost destroyed. If you love action, gore, vampires, werewolves or you just like staring at a fine woman in skin-tight leather, this movie is for you.

Must see!

9/10

Cedar Rapids (2011)

During a quiet week of new releases I came across Cedar Rapids, plastered on the cover was Ed Helms' grinning face, Ed played Stu in The Hangover if you didn't already know that. Like most people, I grabbed it purely on the fact that Ed was in the film. Cedar Rapids wasn't the worst movie ever, but it wasn't the greatest either.

John C. Reilly in a scene from Cedar Rapids

Ed plays Tim Lippe, an insurance salesman whose life is passing him by, but after a turn of events Tim is sent to Cedar Rapids for the annual insurance convention. For Tim this is a huge deal, he has never left his small town of Brown Valley, as you can imagine he has very little idea of how the world works. Lucky for Tim he has the guidance of Dean Ziegler (John C. Reilly), Ronald "Ronimal" Wilkes (Isiah Whitlock Jr.) and Joan Ostrowski-Fox (Anne Heche).

Cedar Rapids travels along at a reasonable pace, the scenery is very dull and quiet, I can imagine it must feel that way for many people who visit these conventions often. While at the convention, Tim tries new things such as, drugs, sex with a married woman, skinny dipping, bribery and getting his arse kicked. Tim makes some new friends and realizes that the friends he had may not have been his friends at all.

There's nothing bad to say about the film yet there is nothing good, it wasn't boring but it wasn't exciting. Ed Helms did his best to give the character some flair and make it an enjoyable experience for the viewer, unfortunately, you can't do much with a shitty script. The best thing about the movie would be Dean Ziegler, his inappropriateness and his jokes gave me a few laughs.

All in all a pretty average movie, if you are impressed easily then this movie will be great for you, but for the rest of us, steer clear.

4/10

Tucker and Dale vs Evil (2010)

Dale and his scythe, one of the movie's funniest moments.

One day at work I noticed Tucker and Dale vs Evil sitting on the new release wall, I decided to grab it based on the fact that nothing else had been released that week. Needles to say, I found myself laughing out loud at one of the funniest movies of the year, a true hidden gem.

Tucker and Dale, two bumbling hillbillies from West Virginia, are taking a vacation at their "fixxer-upper" cabin, to sink some beer, snag a few fish and to get away from the hassles of life for a few days. The weekend is going to plan until they run into a group of college kids, who immediately assume that Tucker and Dale are in-bred, serial killers. As you can imagine, a case of mistaken identity takes a turn for the worst.

Everything about this movie is perfect, I have nothing but praise for Alan Tudyk (Tucker) and Tyler Labine (Dale), the chemistry between them is hilarious, no pair of actors could have pulled these roles off better than Alan and Tyler.

This movie falls under so many categories, horror, comdey and bro-mantic, it truly is one of the funniest films released this year, if you have a sense of humor while being able to stomach some pretty horrific accidental deaths, then this movie is for you.

DO NOT MISS IT!!!!!

10/10

August Burns Red - Leveler (2011)

August Burns Red have yet again created musical beauty, their latest offering Leveler is an absolute masterpiece. 2009's Constellations was considered their best album so far, however ABR have done what many thought impossible, Leveler improves on everything Constellations offered. Make no mistake ladies and gentlemen, August Burns Red are taking over the world.

Cover Art for Leveler

For those who have followed ABR for the past decade, their crazy time signature metalcore has been seasoned with some improvements and unexpected additions. ABR are no doubt at the top of their game, Jake Luhrs' screams and growls are amazing, while his lyrics are deep and extremely emotional. Matt Greiner goes above and beyond to hold everything together while still being creative, he also offers some of the most complex drumming I have ever heard. Greiner's effort behind the kit lets JB Brubaker and Brent Rambler loose like a gang of thugs on a defenseless victim, that victim is you.

Starting Leveler off with a bang is "Empire", ABR stick to their guns and offer a crushing opener that prepares you for what is to come. The first single "Internal Cannon" goes directly for the throat and doesn't let up with a classic ABR breakdown, the middle of the song transitions into a "heavy" spanish salsa, and towards the end, JB pumps out a salsa-esque guitar solo. "Poor Millionaire" is the 9th song on Leveler and is my favorite, the entire song is a non-stop attack on the senses, a combined effort that leaves you stunned with powerful riffs and brutal breakdowns.

The bottom line is, if you're a fan of heavy music with something extra, Leveler is for you. Whether you are a dedicated fan, or only just getting into them, you will not be disappointed in this epic masterpiece from a band who don't look like stopping anytime soon.

Track Listing:

01. Empire - 9/10
02. Internal Cannon - 10/10
03. Divisions - 9.5/10
04. Cutting the Ties - 8/10
05. Pangaea - 9/10
06. Carpe Diem - 9.5/10
07. 40 Nights - 8.5/10
08. Salt and Light - 8.5/10
09. Poor Millionaire - 10/10
10. 1/16/2011 - 8/10
11. Boys of Fall - 9/10
12. Leveler - 10/10

Autopsy (2008)

Robert Patrick as the worst doctor in history.

What can I say about Autopsy? I went into it open minded and not expecting anything, I now see that my expectations were too generous. My dog has excreted feces more noteworthy than this pile of garbage. I spent an hour and a half of my life watching this, that is time I will never get back.

The basic plot of Autopsy is, a group of friends crash their car, they go to a creepy hospital, one by one they start to disappear. Robert Patrick who some of you might know from Terminator 2 (he's the liquid metal guy) is the doctor of this hospital, he kills people and harvests their body parts to save his wife. That's the plot, I'm not going to spend anymore time on that because frankly, I don't have the patience.

Everything about this movie was horrible, the acting, the gore, the lack of nudity (all b-grade horrors have nudity), the script, the beginning, the middle, the end. I honestly don't see where the 4 million dollars they spent making this film went. If they had of filmed grass grow it would have been a better movie.

The bottom line is, steer clear of this steaming pile, you will regret it forever if you watch it. Don't say I didn't warn you.

0.5/10

Hereafter (2010)

Clint Eastwood and Matt Damon? Match made in heaven. Any movie made by Clint Eastwood is absolute gold, while Matt Damon can't seem to put a foot wrong these days. Hereafter is pure brilliance, and so much credit is due for everyone involved in it.

Hereafter is centered around 3 people who encounter death in different ways. George Lonegan (Damon) is a hardworking American who has a connection to the afterlife. When a french journalist, Marie 

(Cécile De France), has a near death experience, her outlook on life is changed forever. And

Matt Damon and Frankie/George McLaren

Marcus (Frankie and George McLaren), a young boy from London, is shaken to the core when the person closest to him passes away. Each on a quest to find answer, quests that will intersect their lives and change them forever.

The acting is superb, not only from Matt Damon, but also from Cécile De France and the young McLaren brothers. While nothing needs to be said about Clint Eastwood's brilliance behind the camera, 

he has produced yet another masterpiece that will take its place in my DVD collection.

The movie travels along at a slow pace to give the viewer enough time to take everything in, the visual imagery  is awesome and really captivates the viewers. The movie also boasts one of the best computer generated Tsunami's I have ever seen, it look extremely real, believable and genuinely scary.

If you enjoy good movies, this one is for you, regardless of your taste in film. Missing this one would almost be a cardinal sin, so next time you head to the video store, be sure to pick this one up. 

9.5/10 

Winter's Bone (2010)

When a movie receives such high praise from the Academy, you expect a certain standard. You expect something that the critics will masturbate over, something involving hardship, failure and inevitable success.

Jennifer Lawrence as Ree Dolly.

Ree Dolly (Jennifer Lawrence) is a 17 year old girl responsible for raising her younger brother and sister and caring for her mentally ill mother, while trying to stay positive in their horrible living situation. Ree is confronted by the local sheriff regarding her missing, drug cooking father who has an impending court date. He has used the family home and land as collateral for his bond. If he does not appear in front of the judge then they will lose their home. And so begins Ree's journey through the harsh underbelly of the redneck community looking for her father.

The rednecks that live in the Ozark mountains are very distrustful of any outsiders, but surprisingly enough they are just as skeptical of friends and family. They are family, however, even family comes second to the illegal activities they are involved with. Don't ask and I won't tell would be the perfect way to describe them.

Jennifer Lawrence's performance was certainly worthy of all the praise she received, she can act better than half of the females in Hollywood, and will become an absolute star in years to come. John Hawkes has rivaled Jennifer with his portrayal of Teardrop, Ree's uncle. He is one of the most underrated actors in the world today.
Debra Granik the director has captured the bleak and gloomy life that the characters are living through, easily her best work yet.

The script was as good as it could be, using the mannerisms of the Ozark people really improved the entire film. The fact that Winter's Bone was filmed in the local area gave the viewer a real inside look at the harsh realities that are in our world.

I personally did not like this film, however I can look past that and understand why people did enjoy it. If you like your drama's hard hitting and realistic, then by all means check it out.

8/10

Come Fly With Me - Pilot (2011)

I have been eagerly anticipating this show, the commercial certainly got me interested. The trailer even produced some laughs out of me. The show itself however, was average at best.

Matt Lucas as Precious.

The most disappointing thing about this show is the script, it is lacking original humor, most of the jokes rely on age old stereotypes. A homosexual male flight attendant? How creative. A black woman who finds countless reasons to shut up shop early? Nice try at tongue in cheek racism, too bad it lacked the tongue in cheek.

This show seems like it was made by immature primary school children, after creating such a brilliant series in Little Britain, Matt Lucas and David Williams look like they need to take a break from skit shows. Maybe have a crack at a movie or some stand up, because this show does not look like its going to improve from here.

If you have any intelligence I recommend you stay away from this piece of garbage, only people that find generic toilet humor funny will enjoy this.

3/10

Tangled (2010)

Rapunzel and her frying pan, one of the film's funniest moments

Disney are renowned for their timeless animation classics, and Tangled is without a doubt one of Disney's finest. This movie ticks all the boxes, brilliant animation, wonderful characters, amazing songs and hilarious dialogue.

Tangled is Disney's take on the classic fairy tale, Rapunzel. The baby princess Rapunzel is kidnapped in the middle of the night by Mother Gothel after receiving healing powers from a magical flower. Mother Gothel keeps Rapunzel locked away in a tower, because she knows the flower's power has transferred to Rapunzel's hair. One day a bandit by the name of Flynn Rider, climbs the tower in search of a safe haven. He is taken captive by Rapunzel, Flynn strikes a deal with Rapunzel to take her to see the floating lights that are released every year on her birthday.

This movie has enough action and comedy for the boys, while the romance and drama will make the girls happy. A couple of scenes pull at the heartstrings like most Disney movies in the past, the most memorable is the lantern scene towards the end of the film.

Mandy Moore was amazing as Rapunzel, her voice worked extremely well, while her singing was immaculate. Zachary Levi was hilarious as Flynn Rider, the one liners and the comedic value that his character brought to the movie was priceless. My favourite character was Maximus, the Palace Horse. His antics with Flynn Rider brought the movie to life, and kept me laughing until the finish. Maximus certainly reminded me of Altivo from "The Road to El Dorado".

If you love Disney, you will love Tangled. If you think your too cool for kids movies, then think again, one of the best movies in the past year, make sure you watch it.

9.5/10

Various Artists - Punk Goes Pop 3 (2010)

As a big fan of the Punk Goes.... series, I was quite excited to listen to the latest release. I came away from it slightly disappointed. Many of the song were lackluster, only a few bands really did what was expected. This makes me unhappy because these albums are about showcasing the talent of today's heavy bands trying something different.

David Stephens of We Came as Romans

The most impressive cover on the album is "My Love" by We Came as Romans, they show exactly why these compilations are made, the use of synth backed verses with the clean singing blends perfectly with the growling in the choruses. Miss May I's cover of Jay Z's 'Run This Town" comes in a close second, listening to this version of the song gives me a new found respect for it. Number three is one of my favourite bands covering one of my least favourite songs, Asking Alexandria's cover of "Right Now (Na Na Na) manages to get me going each time I hear it.

Honorable mentions go to "In My Head" by Mayday Parade, "Heartless" by The Word Alive, "Hot 'N Cold" by Woe, Is Me and "Paper Planes" by This Century.

The rest of the covers are not even worth mentioning, each one is abysmal and will only appeal to the fans of that particular band.

Hopefully the next Punk Goes.... will be an improvement on this one, and possibly reinvigorate the dwindling series.

Track Listing:

01. Down - Breathe Carolina - 1.5/10
02. Hot 'N Cold - Woe, Is Me - 6/10
03. Bad Romance - Artist Vs. Poet - 4/10
04. In My Head - Mayday Parade - 7/10
05. Right Now (Na Na Na) - Asking Alexandria - 8.5/10
06. Paper Planes - This Century - 6/10
07. Heartless - The Word Alive - 7/10
08. Bulletproof - Family Force 5 - 1/10
09. Blame It - Of Mice and Men - 3/10
10. Run This Town - Miss May I - 9/10
11. Airplanes - The Ready Set - 4.5/10
12. Dead and Gone - Cute is What We Aim For - 2/10
13. Need You Now - Sparks the Rescue - 3/10
14. My Love - We Came as Romans - 10/10

The Killer Inside Me (2010)

After hearing such great things about this movie I decided to watch it for myself, what I witnessed was nothing short of brilliant. Everything about the film was spot on, I don't have a bad word to say about this movie.

Casey Affleck in a scene from the film

Lou Ford is a mild mannered deputy sheriff in the 1950's. He goes about his business like a gentleman and doesn't set a foot wrong, until he is sent by his boss to push a prostitute out of town. She doesn't take kindly to the proposition. She slaps him; he retaliates, and so begins a two week long relationship of sadistic daily sex. Soon she becomes a factor in Lou's revenge plans. As the bodies begin to pile up, Lou must stay cool in order to throw off a hard nosed district attorney who suspects Lou for the murders.

Casey Affleck plays Lou Ford perfectly. He is certainly better than his older brother Ben and is one of the most charismatic actors in Hollywood. His role in this film is amazing, he really made me believe in the character and made me sympathize with the fact that he kept trying to stop yet he couldn't help himself. What Casey brings to each of his characters is a level of believability. If we need to believe he is a murdering sadist then thats what he makes us believe.

The rest of the cast were all above standard and acted wonderfully, both Jessica Alba and Kate Hudson portrayed their characters beautifully. However, Casey truly makes this movie his own. When he is on screen you can't look away, and when he isn't, you wish he was. The directing is amazing with Michael Winterbottom churning out another great movie.

This movie is not for the weak at heart, the violence is brutal, the sex is quite realistic and the mind of Lou Ford is enough to make most people feel physically sick. If you think you're up for it then by all means check it out, if not then maybe you should watch something else.

9.5/10

Monsters (2010)

I have just finished watching Monsters and can honestly say it is one of the most enjoyable and intriguing movies I have watched in the past few months. This movie shows how an extra terrestrial concept can be executed perfectly on a small budget ($15,000) without needing extravagant special effects.

Whitney Able in a scene from Monsters

The premiss behind Monsters is that aliens have inhabited half of Mexico for the past six years, while the US and Mexican military try to keep the aliens at bay. The story follows Andrew Kaulder (Scoot McNairy) who is a photographer trying to get a picture of an alien in order to elevate his career, he is however roped into bringing Sam Wynden (Whitney Able) who is his boss's daughter home from Mexico.

The journey of Andrew and Sam almost becomes a travel documentary, we as viewers become companions who share this experience with them rather than an audience. The aliens play a big part in this feeling , although may not see them, they are always there, keeping us on edge and full of enjoyment.
Too many science fiction/extra terrestrial films have the tendency to overuse certain elements. Due to the little amount of alien we see, the film becomes about the pair and their journey, rather than a fight against aliens.

The film as a whole was wonderful, the acting was superb, the camera angles and use of real light was also a refreshing change. The film gave me the feeling that it was also showing how border crossing is sometimes the only option, in real life and in the film. The use of a problem in the world being portrayed in a completely different way reminded me very much of District 9 and the provoking nature of that film.

An outstanding effort, check it out if your up for a movie with something more.

9/10

Paul (2011)

Paul (Seth Rogen) and Simon Pegg

I went to see this a couple of days after it was released and had quite high hopes for the film after seeing Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz. Needless to say, my expectations were passed with flying colours.

Simon Pegg and Nick Frost reunite for the third time to bring us another bromantic comedy adventure. However, what this one lacks in blood and guts (Shaun of the Dead/Hot Fuzz) it makes up for with a hilarious stoner alien named Paul (Seth Rogen).

Clive and Graeme (Pegg & Frost) are two British comic book fans who venture to Comic Con for their own road trip across the US. They visit all the famous science fiction related places, from The Black Mailbox to the where Kirk and the lizard fight from Star Trek. Along the journey they encounter Paul, a foul mouthed alien who enjoys smoking and drinking. As you can imagine the trio wind up in all kinds of mess.

The humor in this film will keep you laughing until it ends and you will find yourself quoting it for weeks to come. The bottom line, Paul is a non stop comedy roller coaster that will leave you with a huge smile when the credits begin to roll.

8/10

The Loved Ones (2009)

After seeing countless torture horror movies such as Saw, Hostel and Misery I didn't think that I would watch one that I would enjoy so much and feel every bit of pain inflicted. Enter the small budget Australian movie The Loved Ones.

First and foremost, Xavier Samuel is brilliant in playing Brent, the guilt ridden teenager who blames himself for his father's death after wrapping his car around a tree while trying to avoid a person in the middle of the road. Xavier is certainly a star on the rise and will become a force to be reckoned with.

Xavier Samuel and Robin McLeavy in a scene from the film

The directing is without fault, Sean Byrne in his first full length feature film delivers a production that many experienced directors would kill to create, the soundtrack is a perfect blending of Australian music that range from Parkway Drive to Kasey Chambers.

Equally impressive are the performances of Robin McLeavy (Lola) and John Brumpton (Daddy), they star as the deranged father and daughter pairing who kidnap Brent, the reasoning behind their actions stem from Lola's request for Brent to accompany her to the school dance, Lola does not like hearing the word "no" so together with her father they subject Brent to some of the most brutal yet creative torture I have seen in a while.

Many of the scenes are as disturbing as they come, the one that comes to mind most often is shortly after Brent's kidnapping while hanging out in the woods, his dog returns home late at night bloodied and severely injured at the hands of Lola's father, the sickness I felt in my gut after witnessing this I have not felt in a long time while watching a movie and is a credit to all those involved in creating this film.

If your up for a solid horror movie that doesn't involve spirits from another world or killers who hide behind masks, then do not miss this one, its an absolute gem.

9/10

Asking Alexandria - Reckless and Relentless (2011)

Asking Alexandria

Reckless and Relentless is the second album from British Screamo/Post-Hardcore band Asking Alexandria, they have a brilliant sound, but an unforgivable fanbase of teenage girls who found some dye and their mum's hair straightener.


If you have listened to their first album Stand Up and Scream then you should know what to expect. Danny Worsnop is an absolute machine when it comes to screaming, his lows are nastier than a nun with herpes, and his highs make you want to punch an infant in the face. Danny has improved his clean singing immensely since Stand Up and Scream, these improvements give the album a better feel overall.


The music is as creative as it can be in this genre, the band do well to push the limit of their abilities. The band all play their part perfectly, Ben Bruce the lead guitarist offers some wonderful riffs and breakdowns, while James Cassells, the drummer, holds everything together with his catchy rhythms, double bass and drum fills.


Reckless and Relentless as all albums has its flaws, but those go unnoticed due to how good the album is overall, most of the elements have been improved on from the last album, breakdowns, catchy choruses and synth breaks. Worsnop said in an interview that the album was influenced by "1980's hard rock", as a fan I only found one instance of 80's influence in the album and that was a guitar solo with a bit of wah-wah action.


I have had the album on constant rotation since I bought it, it will take a long time for me to wear out this album. If your a fan of We Came as Romans, The Devil Wears Prada, Bring Me the Horizon or Woe, is Me then you should definitely check this out.


Track Listing


01. Welcome - 8/10
02. Dear Insanity - 8/10
03. Closure - 9/10
04. A Lesson Never Learned - 9/10
05. To The Stage - 8.5/10
06. Dedication - 10/10
07. Someone, Somewhere - 10/10
08. Breathless - 10/10
09. The Match - 8/10
10. Another Bottle Down - 8.5/10
11. Reckless and Relentless - 7.5/10
12. Morte et Dabo - 10/10


Overall - 9/10