The Fourth Kind (2009)

The Fourth Kind (2009)

Genre: Science Fiction / Thriller / Horror

Director: Olatunde Osunsanmi

Stars: Milla Jovovich, Will Patton, Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Corey Johnson, Elias Koteas

IMDB

Rating 3.5 of 5

Synopsis

Thoughts:
An intriguing trailer and the lovely Miss Jovovich were more than enough to get me to plop down in the theater for 100 minutes. What I got was not quite what I expected. It's told in a sort of ADD-vision. A mish-mash of "real" footage and movie adaptation you often get split screen action all the way up to four views at once. The acting is very good and quite convincing. The story is compeling and there's even an occasional scare or disturbing moment. Fans of "Paranormal Activity" may very well eat it up but some may not like the style in which it was presented. Me, I wanted more scares and alien action. But you know how that goes.

The Third Man (1949)

Title:
The Third Man (1949)

Genre:
Film-Noir / Mystery / Thriller

Director:
Carol Reed

Stars:
Joseph Cotten, Alida Valli, Orson Welles, Trevor Howard, Bernard Lee, Paul Hörbiger

Rating:
4.5 of 5

Synopsis:
Harry Lime invites his friend Holly Martins, a down-on-his-luck writer to join him in post-war Vianna. Upon his arrival Martins learns that his friend died in a car accident. But as Martins looks deeper and deeper into the incident he finds that his friend was involved in some shady dealings and as the police watch his every move.

Thoughts:
Carol Reed's The Third Man is considered to be one of the (or THE) finest Noir thrillers to grace the silver screen. The fine cast sucks you into the intrigue and the look of the film is replicated beautifully in all it's black and white glory in a recently released (now OOP) Criterion Collection BluRay.

Final Thought:
See IT!

Ghost in the Shell (1995) Version 2.0

Title:
Ghost in the Shell (1995) (aka Kôkaku kidôtai)

Genre:
Anime / Science Fiction / Action

Director:
Mamoru Oshii

Stars:
Atsuko Tanaka, Akio Ôtsuka, Tamio Ôki, Jemasa Kayumi, Kôichi Yamadera, Tesshô Genda

Rating:
4 of 5

Synopsis:
Major Motoko Kusanagi is a member of a high-tech cyber-crime division in New Port City. The section specializes in hunting down cyber-hackers who ply their trade on the networks. The Major comes up against a super-hacker named the Puppet Master but there's much more to this criminal than meets the eye.

Thoughts:
Director Oshii (Avalon, Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence) adapts the much loved Manga into a fantastic cyber-puck anime classic. The ground-breaking film gets a 21st century makeover in this version 2.0 that offers retooled sound, new special effects and re-recorded vocal performances. The new Blu Ray has fantastic sound and picture and also includes the original theatrical version as a bonus.

Final Thought:
See IT!

The House of the Devil (2009)

Title:
House of the Devil (2009)

Genre:
Horror / Thriller

Director:
Ti West

Stars:
Jocelin Donahue, Tom Noonan, Mary Woronov, Greta Gerwig, AJ Bowen, Dee Wallace

Rating:
3.5 of 5

Synopsis:
Samantha (Donahue) is struggling to make ends meet while attending college and afford her new apartment. It desperation she takes a babysitting job for a couple out in the country. The job isn't what she expected and the house holds secrets that may tie into the unprecedented eclipse happening at midnight.

Thoughts:
Director West (The Roost, Cabin Fever 2) certainly makes House of the Devil have a 70's feel even thought it's firmly planted in the 80's time-wise and with stars like Noonan, Woronov and Wallace you can't help but think it's a bit of a love letter to the grind if the 70's. I kept getting the vibe of Bava's Lisa and the Devil while watching it. Great fun for those who don't mind a retro homage.

Final Thought:
See It!