REVIEW ROUNDUP

Here are some recent releases that need to be brought up to speed. First post of the new year. My apologies for not posting sooner. With school starting in a few short days, things have been topsy turvy at The Waltz Compound.
First up we have;
HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF BLOOD PRINCE


I could complain that this is the shortest movie with the longest book behind it, but I won't. After all, I haven't read the books. I could complain that the subtitle of the film feels like a throwaway at the end when Snape turns around and announces that he is the half blood prince. Seemed like they forget it until the end of the film. I could complain, but I won't.
The film was brief, nonsensical and probably only made sense to true Potterheads. In other words this movie sucked.
Nuff said.

ER: SEASON TWELVE


Season 12? Really? Do people even watch this show anymore? I took a look and saw nothing that would make the casual viewer or the die hard fan even remotely enjoy this season. The sad thing is that this is only season 12. There are three more after this one before they put this old horse to bed for good.

FINAL DESTINATION IN 3D


Okay, I can understand making a new My Bloody Valentine in 3D. It took an old favorite slasher flick and brought it into the new century with some wicked 3D effects and stayed true to the storyline without changing to much, but it held its own.
But, Final Destination in 3D. Hell, even the regular ones weren't all that good. Why bother with something like this? For a 3D movie all the characters seemed pretty flat to me. Ouch! With a pun like that it's time to bring an end to this review and, hopefully, this dull as dirt franchise.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

This takes care of all of it;

The Snow Vampires

Christmas Stuff

Every year companies churn out stuff that is specific to the holidays. It's not anything new, but what are they gonna do when they run out of things like A Charlie's Brown Christmas? I think this year might be the answer to that question.



Coincidentally, First on the list is I WANT A DOG FOR CHRISTMAS, CHARLIE BROWN! This one centers around ReRun, the younger brother of Linus and Lucy. Lucy is stressing ReRun out and he decides to spend time with his buddy, Snoopy. It isn't long before Snoopy's brother Spike is thrown into the mix and then we get the usual Peanuts chaos. I have to admit that the scenes of ReRun on the back of his mother's bike had me laughing out loud. This is a fun little flick and well worth any true Peanuts' fan's money.



One of my favorite holiday TV specials of all time is A YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS. Apparently, they decided that 34 years later it was alright to make a sequel. Yeah, except the marvelous Snow Miser voiced by Dick Shawn would be a little tough since Shawn has been dead for about twenty years. The replacement voice is an abomination to Shawn's excellent original voice. Am I really doing a completely negative review on this because of the whole voice thing? Yup. Avoid this like a plague.



FOUR CHRISTMASES gives us the unlikely comedy duo of Vince Vaughan and Reese Withersppon. They play an unmarried couple that usually go on vacation to avoid parents every year. This year a fog to end all fogs envelops them and they are unable to leave. Now they have to visit all the relatives which gives us our title. I've always thought these two were funny when they were doing funny. I avoid any of their serious stuff like a pandemic. This was a fun little holiday flick and a perfect addition to many of the other holiday films that come down the pike. While it sure ain't no A CHRISTMAS STORY it's at least as fun as NATIONAL LAMPOON'S CHRISTMAS VACATION.



Finally, we have something that, while it isn't a Christmas film would sure make a great Christmas gift. I am speaking of SUPERMAN:THE COMPLETE ANIMATED SERIES. First aired in 1996, this box set gives all 54 episodes of the series. Riding the coat tails of the Batman series that did so well, this is actually a pretty good series. It portrays Superman realistically as a man from outer space can be and they mixed up the villains pretty well.

There you have it, folks. Another fun filled Christmas of DVD's Have a very Merry Christmas from the folks at Penguin Comics.

Terminator Salvation 2009

I'm pretty sure that between Christian Bale's rant and a director who only uses a nickname, this thing was dead in the water before it hit the screens. I am becoming more and more convinced that Bale is a one note actor who brings the same thing to every picture he is in with the exception of his wonderfully over the top turn in AMERICAN PSYCHO.
That being said, it's a Terminator Movie. Let it go already! Sure, the original was fantastic, the sequel was epic, but that's it. Stop holding onto a franchise that hasn't done anything else story wise for quite some time.

Attack Of The Mini Wolf!!!

My Sister's Keeper (2009)

So, I was sent this little drama in the mail the other day and thought to myself; What the Hell is this about? I vaguely remember when it was on at the theaters and dismissed it as a chick flick.
Then I read what it was about.
What the Hell is wrong with people?
How can anyone call this a drama with some touching, funny moments?
This is a horror movie plain and simple.
Don't believe me? Okay, let's play a game. I'm going to pitch you guys a movie and then it's your tun to fill in the blank for me.
This couple has a kid who has leukemia. She needs bone marrow to survive. They have another kid that serves no other purpose than to supply their first daughter with bone marrow. It finally comes to the leukemia girl going into renal failure and the donor girl realizing that they will be coming for her kidneys.
Okay, what kind of movie does this sound like to you?
It's a horrible, disgusting horror flick of the worst kind.
What kind of people think like this?
Worse, who would think that this would make a good movie. Apparently, it's based on a book so that means some sick bastard thought up this stuff beforehand and thought that it would be a poignant drama instead of the horrible thing that it truly is.
Why would the doctors in charge of this even let this happen?
So, if you're looking for a morally bankrupt, disgusting, vile horror movie that blankets itself in the drama genre, then be my guest.
As for me, I'm sorry I even heard of this film.
Oh and one last thing for Cameron Diaz;
We liked you better when you were sexy and curvy like in THE MASK with Jim Carrey. Stop being in crappy films like this and that new one with the box and half of Frank Langella's face.
Sheesh!
Avoid this travesty at all costs.