Take 4: More Stuff I Wanted to See (w/Video!)

Figured it was about time to do another review where I just threw a bunch of movies I'd been waiting to see for a while up to the top of my rental list. As an added bonus, check of some of the hyperlinks. They'll either take you to previous reviews that are relevant, or video clips and trailers from the movies discussed. Enjoy!

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The Illusionist (2006)

The Big Question: What happens when a member of the Austrian royal family and a peasant who has become a master illusionist fall for the same girl?

Why This Film?: Well, I'd seen The Prestige, enjoyed it, and was told by many folks that they liked this film more. So added it to my list.

Familiar Faces: Ed Norton plays Eisenheim, a great stage magician in turn-of-the-century Vienna, who tangles with Crown Prince Leopold (played by Dark City's Rufus Sewell) over the love of a young duchess by the name of Sophie (played by Jessica Biel). They are joined by Paul Giamatti, who portrays a police inspector that works very closely with the Crown Prince, but who is fascinated by the skills and talents of Eisenheim.

Interesting Trivia: Jessica Biel replaced Liv Tyler, who dropped out of the film just as filming was about to begin.

And I Quote: Chief Inspector Uhl: [pacing] "Eisenheim, I don't want to arrest you. I'm a cynical man, God knows...but if your manifestations are somehow real...then even I'm willing to admit, you're a very special person. And if it's a trick, then it's equally impressive. Either way, you have a gift. So don't make me put you in jail!"

IMDB Plot Keywords: Balcony; Narration; Based on a Short Story; Distress; Jewel

Curt's Take: Must See - For those of you who missed this, it was the other movie about magic that came out at the same time as The Prestige (starring Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman). It's a bit of a different tale, though. While The Prestige was very much a "thriller," The Illusionist tended not to stray that far, and rooted itself more firmly in what I'm calling "supernatural drama." You care more about the characters and what they're going through, while in The Prestige, it's hard to necessarily feel great sympathy for either of the two leads. I really enjoyed how Paul Giamatti's character (Inspector Uhl) was central to the entire story, acting as narrator, and being the go-between for the Crown Prince and Eisenheim. He also has the most internal conflict of any of the characters, and while we as an audience are definitely interested in how the story of the love triangle plays out, we're just as interested in seeing how Uhl handles the conflicting feelings going on inside himself. I recommend checking it out.

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The Rundown (2003)

The Big Question: How difficult can it really be for a buffed out "retrieval expert" to track down a mobster's smart-ass son in Brazil and bring him back to the United States?

Why This Film?: It seemed from the previews I saw years ago like it would be a good "buddy film," a decent action movie, and an enjoyable comedy, all rolled into one.

Familiar Faces: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson plays Beck, a bounty hunter/aspiring restauranteur, while Seann William Scott plays his quarry, wanna-be archaeologist, Travis. You've also got Rosario Dawson playing a local Brazilian barkeep, and Christopher Walken playing a (surprise, surprise) slightly unstable villain named Hatcher.

Interesting Trivia: There are several references to The Rock's wrestling persona. He uses his signature wrestling move (the Rock Bottom) on a thug. The herd of bulls connects with his Brahma bull tattoo. His character (Beck) wants to be a cook at his own restaurant, referencing his catch phrase: "Can you smell what The Rock is cooking!!!" This is also a reference to Robert De Niro's character Jack Walsh, who is doing one last rundown to open his own restaurant in the movie Midnight Run, on which this movie is loosely based.

And I Quote: Harvey: [looking down the cliff] "You think they're dead?" Hatcher: "What am I, psychic?"

IMDB Plot Keywords: Artifact; Capoeira; Dog; Death; Bounty Hunter

Curt's Take: Worth Considering - Well, it's sort of a cross between Romancing the Stone, Midnight Run, and Tomb Raider. The acting isn't that great, though, and the comedy is hit or miss at times. If that was the extent of things, I'd likely have given this a lower rating. However, two things bumped it up slightly. First, the action scenes are great fun to watch. The Rock's character doesn't like to use guns or knives, so there is a lot of martial arts action and improvised weaponry, using whatever is at hand. Second, Christopher Walken is in it. And when is a Christopher Walken film not fun to watch? You've got Walken facial expressions, Walken monologues, references to other Walken movies (see quote above)...gotta love it. It's really not a bad way to pass a couple hours.

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Rent (2005)

The Big Question: What can happen during a year in lives of a group of singers, filmmakers and activists, living the Bohemian lifestyle in a rundown part of New York City, forever wondering where their next paycheck is going to come from, and how...you guessed it...they're going to pay their rent?

Why This Film?: I'd listened to the soundtrack to the Broadway production a while back, and heard that the film got a lot of buzz when it came out. I'd never seen the stage production, so figured I might as well check out the movie.

Familiar Faces: Out of the eight primary cast members, six are from the original Broadway cast. The two new members include 1) Tracie Thoms (who played a stunt driver in the Death Proof half of Tarantino and Rodriguez's Grindhouse double-feature, as well as the best friend of the main character in the TV series Wonderfalls) as Joanne and 2) Rosario Dawson (who, ironically, was in the above movie, The Rundown) as Mimi. I didn't recognize any of the original six cast members except for Taye Diggs, until I dug around some...and it turns out that Anthony Rapp (who plays filmmaker Mark) also played the annoying best friend, Daryl Coopersmith, in the great '80s film Adventures in Babysitting.

Interesting Trivia: Jonathan Larson, who wrote the music and lyrics for the Broadway musical Rent, was once dumped by a girlfriend the way that the character Maureen dumped her boyfriend (Mark) for another woman (Joanne).

And I Quote: Maureen: "There will always be women in rubber flirting with me..."

IMDB Plot Keywords: Tango; Heroin; Drug Addiction; Apartment Eviction; Transvestite

Curt's Take: Worth Considering - First off, I really enjoyed this. As I mentioned above, I'd only heard the soundtrack, and it wasn't that easy to piece together the entire story of what was going on without some visuals. The movie helped bring everything together (as I'm sure the stage play would have), but it also gave the actors the chance to expand their roles physically beyond a stage into a more immersive environment, so it was fun to see them run with that. It also allowed musical numbers to include flashbacks, voiceovers, and imaginary leaps that would be difficult to do onstage (such as in Tango: Maureen). You could tell that these folks were having a great time working together, trying something new, and the energy in La Vie Boheme is amazing (NOTE: Videos contain adult language and references). Now, the only reason I didn't give it a "Must See" rating is that some folks simply don't like musicals...if you don't, don't bother seeing this. But if you're open minded, or are curious how the stage play translates into a film, definitely check it out.

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Cube Zero (2004)

The Big Question: The first two movies looked at the question of "What happens when six strangers wake up in a series of interconnected, trap-laced, identical cubes, with no memory of who they are or why they're there?" Here, we're looking at "So...who are the people behind this strange project? Who runs this thing? And how?"

Why This Film?: I'd seen the first movie in the trilogy (Cube) back in grad school, and was pleasantly surprised to see that a sequel came out a bit later. When I saw a third installment was out, I couldn't pass it up.

Familiar Faces: Ah...indie films. Don't recognize a single person from this.

Interesting Trivia: When Rains, Haskell and Meyerhold enter the cube with a dead body, Haskell suggests he starved to death, with Rains replying "God, I'm hungry." This is a reference to Cube 2: Hypercube where a character complained of hunger and killed a fellow captive and ate him.

And I Quote: Eric Wynn: "Do you believe in God? It all hinges on that?" Dodd: "Look, I just ask the questions and push the buttons, okay?" Eric Wynn: "What happens if you push 'yes'?" Dodd: "I don't know... No-one's ever said 'yes.'"

IMDB Plot Keywords: Prequel; Mathematics; Alternative Reality; 2000s; Survival Horror

Curt's Take: Not a Priority - If you haven't seen the first couple films, this one isn't going to make much sense. And for those of you who have, unless you're REALLY curious about some of the background goings-on in regards to the functioning of the Cube, you might want to pass on this as well...it isn't the best movie. In some regards, this is a case of the incomplete jigsaw puzzle being somewhat more satisfying than a slightly more completed puzzle. The acting wasn't that great, the story seemed thrown together at the last minute. Plus, even though we don't get the full story behind the Cube, it is a little disappointing being given a glimpse behind the curtain of how this thing operates.

Take 4 TV: Eureka - Season One

Eureka: Season One (2006)

The Premise: Welcome to the small town of Eureka, situated in the Pacific Northwest. It was established in the early part of the 20th Century by the government as a safe-haven for the brightest scientific minds in the world. Jack Carter (and his daughter Zoe) accidentally stumble upon the town on one of his stints as a U.S. Marshall...and he ends up staying as the town sheriff. Even though Eureka has more cars run by electricity than gasoline, a local mechanic who likes to tinker with antigravity in his spare time, and a high school where the average senior is barely into his teens...it still has more than it's fair share of trouble.

Familiar Faces: I hadn't seen Colin Ferguson (who plays Sheriff Carter) in anything before, but I did recognize Matt Frewer from his time on two older television series: Max Headroom and Doctor, Doctor. I also recognized Ed Quinn, who plays scientist/entrepreneur Nathan Stark, from...ahem...House of the Dead 2: All Guts, No Glory (which I watched for a different set of reviews).

Random Trivia: The show was originally conceived as an animated series, but ended up being produced as live action.

And I Quote: Marshall Jack Carter: "Let's not shoot the crazy end-of-the-world machine just yet."

Lessons Learned from Eureka: 1) You can't always unplug the death-and-destruction causing piece of experimental equipment. 2) Scientists can be just as difficult to deal with as soldiers. 3) When you live in an intelligent house, try to be home in time for dinner.

Curt's Take - Worth Considering: I had begun to watch Eureka last year when it premiered on the Sci-Fi Channel, but ended up dropping it off my TiVo for reasons I can't remember. The second season of the show began on July 10, so I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to catch back up and see if I felt it was worth trying to get into again. I'm glad I gave it a second chance, because I'd almost forgotten how much I liked the witty writing style of the show, and the novel premise. We get to view the strange happenings of the small town through the eyes of Sheriff Carter, who encounters everything from a layman's perspective, giving us a more grounded viewpoint of all the weird phenomena he has to deal with. The other characters are also likeable, from the gun-loving female deputy, Jo, to the Sarah Michelle Gellar-loving newbie geek scientist, Fargo. So check out an episode or two on DVD, and determine if you want to get caught up in the second season on the Sci-Fi Channel.

Take 4 TV: Grown-Up Cartooniverse

Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law - Season One (2000)

What's the Premise?: Classic cartoon characters, from Scooby and Shaggy to the Flintstones and Speed Buggy, have their share of legal problems, too. And where do they turn when charges of drug possession, racketeering, and vehicular manslaughter come their way? Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law.

What About the Children?: Yeah, keep them away from this. Not much of a filter between Harvey's brain and mouth, and his legal assistant, Peanut, isn't much better.

And I Quote: Harvey Birdman: "Debbie, we're going to need some law books. With pictures this time."

Top IMDB Plot Keywords: Bird; Restroom; Bear; Levitation; Law Partner

Life Lessons from Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law: 1) Gary Cole (of Office Space fame) is a very versatile actor (he is the voice talent behind Harvey); 2) Even Superfriends, like Apache Chief, have the occasional need for legal representation; 3) There are lots of mob references in The Flintstones, if you keep your eyes peeled for them.

Curt's Take: Worth Considering - Well, "Worth Considering" if cartoons that are geared towards adults is your thing. As an added bonus, these things are bite-size, running at about twelve minutes per episode on your DVD player (I think they originally aired on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim in fifteen-minute chunks). Because of this, the comedy is pretty fast-paced. And, call me twisted, but it's pretty fun just watching my favorite cartoons from my youth having to testify to their own innocence on all sorts of legal charges. Plus, I love courtroom dramas. So it's kind of like getting your chocolate in my peanut butter.

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The Venture Bros.: Season One (2003)

What's the Premise?: Hearkening back to the ol' Johnny Quest days, The Venture Bros. follows the adventures of Hank and Dean Venture, their father (Dr. Venture) and the family bodyguard, Brock Samson. The Ventures must deal with the machinations of their arch-enemy, The Monarch, as well as their own incompetencies, as various evil-doers inflict their evil-doing on society.

What About the Children?: Maybe a little more family-safe than Harvey Birdman, but still enough questionable topics that it can be looped in with South Park in regards to child-friendly viewing. Guessing it would sail over the heads of most kids, anyway.

And I Quote: Henchman 21: "Here is where you are wrong, my friend. This woman has killed before." Henchman 24: "Allegedly." Henchman 21: "Okay, whatever. But she was a big girl. We are talking about a large, healthy woman of questionable stability." Henchman 24: "Oh, you are totally underestimating the never-say-die scrappiness of a survivor." The Monarch: [To Henchmen] "Hey, guess what? Nobody cares who would win in a crazy fantasy fist-fight between Anne Frank and Lizzie Borden. [To Dr. Girlfriend] We never should have brought the henchmen. We're going to be the only ones there with henchmen!"

Top IMDB Plot Keywords: Henchmen; Different Gags During Credits; Inventor; Bodyguard; Scientist

Life Lessons Learned From The Venture Bros.: 1) When you program a killer robot to protect your home in case of an attack, you might want to prioritize making sure that it recognizes your children as "non-threats"; 2) Inviting evil geniuses to yard sales is just asking for trouble, especially when you're marking down all the experimental weaponry you created; 3) Numbering your henchmen is easier than remembering their names

Curt's Take: Worth Considering - This was just fun. Had a bit more pacing and story depth than Harvey Birdman, as it ran as a half hour show (22 minutes on DVD, without commercials). Plus, I think the humor was "smarter" and more developed than that of Harvey Birdman, which relied a bit more on non-sequiters and one-liners. Throw this one in your TiVo, too.

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Drawn Together: Season One (2004)

What's the Premise?: Eight cartoon characters. One house. ONE MILLION CAMERAS!!! It's a twisted satire on reality television, with cartoon stereotypes living together under one roof. You've got Captain Hero (a superhero with a slightly off-kilter moral compass); Princess Clara (a Disney-esque princess who has lived a sheltered life in her kingdom, breeding all sorts of prejudices and bigotry); Spanky Ham (a crass internet download); Ling Ling (a cute psychotic and bloodthirsty Japanese trading card monster); Xandir (a closted video game adventurer on a never-ending quest to save his girlfriend); Foxxy Love (a crime-solving African American musician/band member); Wooldoor Sockbat (like Spongebob Squarepants, but ten times more wacky and annoying); and Toot (an out-of-date black and white sex symbol from the '20s, who has lost her appeal completely in the 21st century).

What About the Children?: For God's sake, keep them away.

And I Quote: Bizzaro Captain Hero: "Oh, hello, hello Captain Hero! I not see you since initiation into League of Heroes." Captain Hero: "Zip it! What happens in Bizzaro World, *stays* in Bizzaro World!" Bizzaro Captain Hero: "Well, technically bathroom at bus station not considered Bizzaro World."

Top IMDB Plot Keywords: Gross-Out Comedy; Surreal; Nudity; Vulgarity; Politically Incorrect

Life Lessons Learned From Drawn Together: 1) The other reality television shows I watch could be much, much worse; 2) Forget food competitions...this summer's Big Brother needs an "Oxygen Competition;" 3) Kissing another girl won't get a woman pregnant, but can inspire the two women involved to break out into a wonderful Disney-esque musical number.

Curt's Take: Not a Priority - On the one hand, I laughed out loud several times during the show. On the other, they were those "I can't believe they just said that" laughs. I managed to get hold of the "uncensored" version of the DVD, so my eyes and ears were treated to all sorts of things they've never experienced from a cartoon before. I'm still recovering. It's hard to get too offended by what is said, though, because while the show takes a cavalier attitude toward how it treats issues such as racism and sexual preference...it doesn't really spare anyone or anything from mockery. One of those equal opportunity offenders. Still, the comedy wasn't as clever as the two shows above, and relied more on shock than on well-delivered humor. But if the concept intrigues you, I believe it is still playing on Comedy Central.

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Aqua Teen Hunger Force: Season One (2000)

What's the Premise?: Three roommates, Master Shake (a milkshake), Frylock (a floating container of fries) and Meatwad (a wad of meat) live together and get each other out of the various situations they inexplicably find themselves in.

What About the Children?: Of the four shows reviewed, this is the most child-friendly. Besides, they might be able to make more sense of it than I did.

And I Quote: Meatwad: "I don't have any real dolls, I prefer to use my infinite imagination... cause I ain't got no damn money."

Top IMDB Plot Keywords: Boston; Cartoon; Hero; Death; Explosion

Life Lessons Learned From Aqua Teen Hunger Force: 1) Mad scientists who reside off the Jersey shore can make your life a living hell; 2) It pays to have a neighbor with a pool; 3) Boston overreacted.

Curt's Take: Don't Bother - I'm not sure if there are any cartoon-watching purists out there, but I have the feeling this isn't going to be a popular call. I just didn't get it. I didn't find it funny, and I think the entire premise just shot way over my head. Like Harvey Birdman, this series aired in fifteen-minute chunks, so it's pretty quick and painless to sit through an episode. But there was nothing really likeable about any of the characters, and...I don't know. It just wasn't funny. And cartoons (especially ones on Adult Swim) should be funny. But what do I know...they made a movie out of it and scared a city. So if you're a cartoon maven, you've probably already seen this and formed your opinion of it, and like it. If not, don't bother.

Take 4: 4-H Review

The Pitch: No, not a review of movies that deal with Head, Heart, Hands and Health...nor four movies that deal with youth organizations. Simply, it's four movies in my queue that being with the letter "H"...only partially influenced by the fact that Hostel: Part 2 is in theaters now...

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Hostel (2005)

What's Going On?: Two American friends, Paxton and Josh, decide to backpack Europe after graduating college, and, along with an Icelandic slacker they picked up during their journeys, they make their way to Amsterdam. The pot bars and brothels there don't really do it for them, but a local tells them of Slovakian city that houses one of the best undiscovered hostels in Europe...where the women, apparently, are the most beautiful in Europe and worship the ground that Americans walk on. Seems like paradise...but once they get there, their Icelandic friend disappears...as does a young Asian girl who was also staying at the hostel. What's happening to the rapidly disappearing hostel-dwellers? Let's just say it's not for the squeamish or faint of heart.

Familiar Faces: I didn't recognize anybody in this film except for Jay Hernandez (who played Paxton), who also played Carlos in television's Six Degrees.

IMDB Plot Keywords: Surprise After End Credits; Train Station; Throat Slitting; Surgery; Murder

Lessons Learned from Hostel: 1) Never visit hostels that aren't listed in certified travel guides. 2) Always carry bubble gum to bribe the local pre-teen gangs to do your bidding. 3) Don't play with chainsaws and ball gags. They aren't toys.

Curt's Take - Worth Considering: Like so many of the things I review on here, I wasn't entirely sure what to expect from this. I'd heard it was one of the most terrifying films of 2005...but not sure I agree with that. It was definitely bloody and cringeworthy, I'll give it that...there were a couple times I had to look away because of some rather graphic torture scenes. But between the brief moments of blood and gore, you've got a decent thriller. I mean, what do you do when you're in a foreign country, and your friends slowly start to disappear from around you...and you can't even be sure you can trust the authorities? A good deal of the mood in this film is built up by the slowly mounting helplessness of the characters. That having been said, Eli Roth (the writer and director), does a good job of sprinkling in small bits of humor throughout, so that keeps things interesting. In the end, though, you've got an interesting commentary on sex and violence that asks the question...what if certain establishments catered to violent appetites as well as sexual ones?

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House of 9 (2005)

What's Going On?: Nine strangers wake up locked in a strange building, not knowing how they get there. All they know are the rules, which were explained to them shortly after they all gain consciousness: one of them will win five million dolllars...the one person who remains alive amongst all the others.

Familiar Faces: Dennis Hopper plays an Irish priest, one of the nine locked up in the house. I didn't recognize any of the other actors, but I believe this is a British film...so I'll fall back on that as my excuse.

IMDB Plot Keywords: Voyeur; Dancing; Bag of Money; Audio Surveillance; French Accent

Lessons Learned from House of 9: 1) Always wear a belt...you never know when it will come in handy. 2) You can pretty much always trust a priest and a policeman. 3) Five million dollars isn't always the answer to life's problems...sometimes it's just the beginning.

Curt's Take - Worth Considering: This movie seemed like a hybrid between Saw 2, the Cube trilogy (for those of you who have seen it), and TV's Big Brother...only more artistic. And because those are all things I've enjoyed, it wasn't a big shock that I also enjoyed this. I was expecting a little bit more in the way of tricks and traps in the house, but with the nine people that ended up there, you really didn't need anything else to make the house a pain in the ass to try to survive in. Basically, this is one of those movies that has won me over at the premise...providing that the script wasn't completely botched (and I don't think it was). I also have to say, the "twist" of the ending was great...it left me wanting more. Finally, the soundtrack was pretty nifty...keep your ears peeled for some catchy tunes during the movie.

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Howl's Moving Castle (2004)

What's Going On?: As far as I could tell, a young woman named Sophie angers a witch, who curses her with a spell, ageing her a good sixty year or so. Sophie departs her village to seek a cure, and meets up with a local wizard named Howl, and his mechanical, moving castle. Sophie, Howl, his young mentor (Markl), a turnip-headed scarecrow, and a trapped fire-demon named Calcifer (who powers Howl's castle...as well as his stove) get caught up in an epic struggle between rival kingdoms, the Witch of the Waste, and the curses that haunt their respective lives.

Familiar Faces: Well, this is an animated film, so no familiar faces, but there are some voices that might sound familiar: Christian Bale, Lauren Bacall, Blythe Danner, Billy Crystal, and Jena Malone.

IMDB Plot Keywords: Self-Discovery; Young Woman; Humor; Vanity; Witchcraft

Lessons Learned from Howl's Moving Castle: 1) Fire-demons can make a swell breakfast of bacon and eggs. 2) Don't be too hasty to rely on magic to get the job done. 3) If you need a creepy cartoon made, you can always rely on Japanese animators.

Curt's Take - Not a Priority: I was pretty disappointed by this, actually. I'd heard about this last year, when it was nominated for an Academy Award in the category of Best Animated Feature Film. Because of that, I had expected some great animation...which I didn't get. I'd also expected more of a clearly developed storyline, but like a lot of Japanimation, this didn't necessarily shine through (even though it was based on a British children's book). So, it wasn't visually engaging for me, I didn't get sucked into the plot...and it was two hours long. Those added up to something I probably could have just as soon not seen at all. That having been said, while it didn't interest me, it was up for an Oscar. So, the only thing keeping this from getting a "Don't Bother" is the fact that this could very well be one of those good films that just didn't click with me.

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High Tension (2003/2005)

What's Going On?: In this 2003 French import (Haute Tension) that Lionsgate brought to US screens in 2005, two young law students, Marie and Alexa, take a vacation to Alexa's parent's place in the country for relaxation and to study. While there, a mysterious killer, whose motives are unknown, terrorizes the family, forcing the young women to fight for their lives.

Familiar Faces: None...unless you are well-versed in French horror movies, in which case you might recognize Cecile de France and Maiwenn Le Besco.

IMDB Plot Keywords: Car Crash; Disturbing; Surreal; Axe; Blood Splatter

Lessons Learned from High Tension: 1) Psycho killers apparently don't know how to properly search under beds for people who are hiding. 2) Ditto bathrooms and bathroom stalls. 3) Some twists you never see coming...or, at the very least, you briefly consider them as possibilities, then promptly dismiss the idea.

Curt's Take - Worth Considering: Unlike Howl's Moving Castle, I didn't have high expections for this movie. In the end, though, I was pleasantly surprised. Word of warning, though...this movie is very graphic. We're talking decapitations, throat slitting and axes to the chest. And yet, in spite of all that...I rather liked this. I was surprised to find this movie dubbed, and had no idea it was French, but once you get used to the mismatched lip movement, you'll pretty much be on the edge of your seat for most of the film. If you've ever asked yourself whether or not you might survive a situation in which all those around you were literally losing their heads, this flick is for you.