Doom

I am a big fan of the video game so I was excited to see Universal's latest release of Doom starring "The Rock"

Here is a movie that gives you what you expect and a little that maybe you don't. It has blood and gore, suspense, a fairly decent plot, not too bad acting, and a good twist. Of course I won't tell what the twist is, but I liked it.

A slightly misleading tagline boasts "Hell breaks loose" which plays on video gamers knowledge of the original PC game where in a first person action setting, you battle the forces of hell. The story liberty taken by director Andrzej Bartkowiak (who brought you "Cradle 2 the Grave" and "Exit Wounds") brings us demons, but not the kind that come from Hell. By the way, that is NOT the twist.

Something has gone wrong at a remote scientific research station on Mars. All research has ceased. Communication has failed. And the messages that do get through are less than comforting. It's a level 5 quarantine and the only souls allowed in or out are the Rapid Response Tactical Squad - hardened Space Marines armed to the teeth with enough firepower to neutralize the enemy.

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson stars a tough as nails futuristic Marine Sargent sent to handle the problem. Karl Urban (who you may recall from the "The Lord of the Rings" series as Eomer of Rohan) does a great job of playing both a good soldier and a main character drama focus. Also setting the story on fire (as a anthropologist and sister to one of the Marines)with some great acting is Rosamund Pike of "Die Another Day" fame.

Another thing I liked was that two scientists in the movie, Dr. Carmack and Dr. Willits are named for members of Id Software team who developed the award winning video game back in the early 1990's (John Carmack and Tim Willits).

Overall a B+, not a bad night out for a little blood and guts around Halloween, by all means see "Doom" instead of the aweful remake of "The Fog" which was so bad I am not even going to review it, just give it a barely earned D.

Of course I am still waiting patiently for the October 28th release of Saw 2. Until then....

• Today's Cure song is The Exploding Boy from the Join The Dots: B-Sides and Rarities Collection - (2004) An B-side from the Head on the Door sessions from 1985.
  

"Tell yourself we'll start again
Tell yourself it's not the end
Tell yourself it couldn't happen
Not this way
Not today"

CJ

Venom

Who wants another slasher flick?

I do, I do!!!

Well director Jim Gillespie (of "I Know What You Did Last Summer" fame) brings us "Venom"! In the vein of the classic slasher flick, here we have a pack of teenagers running for their lives through the swamps of Louisiana thanks to some voodoo. In a small Louisiana town a tow-truck driver is killed in an accident involving some snakes, but this is no ordinary death and those are not ordinary snakes. These snakes have been cursed with the souls of evil men thanks to a voodoo priestess who 'milked' the evil from criminals, rapists, all around bad men. Soon a dark figure is driving the tow-truck and the killings begin.

Starring Agnes Brucker and Jonathan Jackson, this film will surely get a lot of flack for being a cheesy horror movie, but I think that is its charm! This movie also features Method Man (alias Clifford Smith) who takes a break from his comical slap stick status to portray a fairly serious role as a deputy sheriff. Do not expect a great film, but come with an open mind and you would probably enjoy this one (especially in light of the release of recent failings like "House of Wax").

What I enjoyed most was having a new evil force to cheer on the screen. No, I am not truly THAT sick, but what I mean is it's nice to see some new ideas that show some development and style paying tribute to the rough-edged film style of "Friday the 13th" movies and the classic stalking suspense of "Halloween." Sure, this is never going to be a iconic masterpiece in the slasher hall of fame, but with some gruesome impalings with a crowbar, a few big gashes with some knives,and a severed arm, so there is plenty of screaming and running, yay!!!!

• Today's Cure song is "alt.end" from last year's self titled CD The Cure - (2004)

"Yeah I know I should care if you come with me
Yeah and I should care if you go
Really should care about your love or your hate of me
Yeah I should care... but I don't"

CJ