Mongul

Foreign Film from Russia (aka Mongul: The Rise to Power of Genghis Khan)

Language - Mongolian

Subtitles are in English

Genre - Adventure/Drama/Semi-Historical Biography

Year Released - 2007

Running Time - 125 minutes

Directed by Sergei Bodrov

Written by Sergei Bodrov & Arif Aliyev

Cast Includes:

Tadanobou Asano as Termudjin - who becomes Genghis Khan

Odnyam Odsuren as the young Termudjin

Khulan Chuluun as the wife of Termudjin

Honglei Sun as Jamukha - the Blood-Brother of Termudjin

Rating: 5 Skulls

Plot Summary:

In the 12th, an orphaned young slave named Termudjin escapes from his captors and begins the journey that will lead him to become one of the greatest conquerors the world has ever known.

This is the 1st in a Trilogy that will span the life story of Genghis Khan

Review:

I saw a trailer for this movie, when I was in Seattle, and was hoping to see it on the big screen. Alas, it did not make it into the theatre while I was there, so I had to wait, impatiently for the DVD.

The movie begins, in the year 1171, when Termudjin (who will eventually become Genghis Khan himself) is only 9 years old. At the age of nine, Termudjin is on his way to the Merkit Clan to choose his wife! Once he chooses his wife, he informs her that he will return, in five years, to take her to his home, as his bride.

On his way back home, his father (the Khan/Ruler of his Clan) is poisoned. The clan then erupts into chaos, without a leader, and Termudjin - who is to become Khan is threatened and left alone to survive on his own. (Those who threatened him swear to return, when he is older, to kill him then, rather as a child)

After being orphaned, Termudjin is eventually hunted, imprisoned, and enslaved. He is then subjected to starvation and humiliation, until he escapes, with the help of another, who then becomes his blood-brother. Termudjin then returns to the Merkit Clan to claim his wife.

I do not know how accurate this movie is to the actual life of Termudjin, but it is different than I would have thought. This movie shows a strong, compassionate side to the Genghis Khan that History tells us about.

The cinematography is this movie is absolutely amazing! It is one of those movies where, watching it, it is as if you are looking out through a window.

I do not want to tell you the entire movie, just know that it is indeed a sprawling epic. This movie is just setting the stage, for what is to come. If the 2nd and 3rd movies in this planned trilogy are even half as good as this one. . . I can't even imagine. . .

Tadanobou Asano is the Perfect Genghis Khan!

After Termudjin leaves his blood-brother's clan, to start his own, some of his blood brother's clan decides to leave with Termudjin, which causes just a little animosity between the two. When the actual brother of Jamukha (Termudjin's blood-brother) is accidentally killed by one of Termudjin's men, it starts a war between the two clans.

It is around this time (I believe the year was around 1196) when Termudjin realizes that all Monguls need laws - even if he has to kill half of the Monguls to enforce them! He creates simple laws: Do not kill women or children. Do not forget your debts. Fight your enemy to the end. Never betray your Khan. Termudjin plans to unite all of the Monguls, to make them strong, by becoming Khan of the Mongul Empire. Though his blood-brother's army is larger, Termudjin uses strategy. . .

Greatness comes to those who take it!

This movie ends, in the year 1206, with Termudjin becoming Khan of all of the Monguls - forever known as Genghis Khan. I so cannot wait for the other two movies in this trilogy!!

Let me leave you with a Mongolian Proverb:

Do not scorn a weak cub.
He may become the brutal tiger.

Jason

UFC 89 Re-Cap

Tonight, I took the family to a Fireflight concert, about 45 minutes south of where we are staying.
Fireflight is a band from the Orlando, Florida area, who in the last few years have started to grow in popularity. Their hit song, Unbreakable, from their second album has been used in NBC's Bionic Woman as well as this year's Olympics. . . I have been following Fireflight for a few year's now, and enjoy their music.
In fact, my oldest daughter's second concert was a Fireflight concert, about two years ago. (her first was Superchick)
My wife, nor my youngest son, or my youngest daughter had seen Fireflight in concert, so when I found out that they would be playing, here in Wisconsin, how could I not go? - even when it conflicted with a UFC event! :-)
I am happy to say that my family had a blast, especially the children, who were rocking out! (you should have seen my 4-year old headbangin' like a pro! :-)

After the concert, we made it home, just in time to see the last round of the 2nd fight (between Chris Lytle & Paul Taylor) Chris Lytle won to a unanimous decision, however I only saw the last 3 minutes of the fight. . .

The next fight was between Light Heavyweights Sokoudjou (the African Assassin) & Luiz Cane.
I was hoping Sokoudjou would win the fight, but alas, Cane won via TKO.

Next up was Light Heavyweights Brandon "the truth" Vera & Keith "the dean of mean" Jardine.
Now, I like both of these guys, and it didn't really matter to me who won, though I was pulling for Jardine [I still have to chose a victor!] :-)
I chose right on this one, as Jardine took the win by Split decision.

The main event of the evening - Michael Bisbing vs Chris Leben.
I never had a problem with Bisbing, until he fought Matt Hamill, and took the win by decision, and then gloated about that victory - when, in my eyes, he clearly lost that fight, and Bisbing knew it!
So tonight, I was looking for Leben to take Bisbing out - better yet, in Bisbing's native land (the UK)
Alas, another disappointment. Bisbing won the fight by unanimous decision (and I agree with the judges) Bisbing's reach was just too much for Leben, I guess. Every time Leben went in, Bisbing nailed him with jabs, left and right. . .

I am going to miss next week's UFC 90 Pay-Per-View event between Anderson Silva & Patrick Cote, though I would bet money that Silva will win. [I would bet even more that Silva will win in the 1st round] :-)
I will be attending the 24-Hour Horror Movie Marathon (see my post, dated on the 5th) Funny thing about that is, the fight will be right down the road from where I will be! (they are both in Chicago)

I'm sure I'll be back on here, on November 5th, blogging about the WEC fight between Faber & Brown though, so stay tuned.

Jason

Monsturd

Genre - Horror/Comedy
Year Released - 2003
Running Time - 81 minutes
Directed by Rick Popko & Dan West (who have both since directed this year's sequel RetarDEAD)
Written by Rick Popko & Dan West (both of whom also wrote the sequel RetarDEAD)
Cast Includes:
Hannah Stangel (the little girl, who narrates portions of the movie)
Brad Dosland (the serial killer who becomes the Monsturd)
Dan Burr (the Doctor who unwittingly creates the Monsturd)
Paul Weiner (the Sheriff of the town)
Dan West & Rick Popko (the directors, who play the dim-witted sheriff's deputies)
Beth West (wife of Dan? She plays an FBI agent, on the case)

Rating: 4 Skulls [hear me out on this one]

Plot Summary:

Serial Killer Jack Schmidt is a fugitive who has the police and FBI hot on his trail.
After being cornered and wounded by law enforcement authorities, he falls into a sewage tunnel where the chemical company Dutech has also been dumping its toxic waste.
The poisonous mixture of feces and chemicals mysteriously transforms Jack into a part-human, part-feces monster who sets out on a deadly rampage.


Review:

You are probably wondering why in the world am I reviewing a movie with 'turd' in the title. . .
Well, the other day, my contact at Scars Magazine informed me that he had an interview available, with the directors of this year's RetarDEAD.
When researching RetarDEAD, I discovered that the movie was actually a sequel to the 2003 movie Monsturd. (To be completely honest, I almost said no to the interview, as I wasn't quite sure that I could talk about a sequel to a movie titled Monsturd seriously. Then I realized that was probably the point of the movie, in the first place.)
All I have to say is that I am glad that I agreed to the interview! Not only are Rick & Dan very cool and very funny, so is this movie! :-)

At the beginning of the movie, a little girl cries out in the night. Her father (played by the same actor who plays the Sheriff) rushes in to check on her. The little girl then asks for a bedtime story, and the father jokingly replies that he is always the one to tell a story, and asks his daughter to tell him a story this time. Thus begins the tale of Monsturd. . .

I have seen my share of low-budget, independent horror films, and some are absolutely awful while others are very worthwhile. Luckily, this film falls into the latter category. (honestly, I was not expecting it to, but I am glad to say that this film is well worth it!)

There is just something charming about watching low-budget films.
For instance, in Monsturd - viewing a huge laboratory, in the middle of a crisis situation, with maybe 4 or 5 people running around. Or a Maximum Security Prison, with very few prisoners to be seen. Or the fact that folks are dumping an entire barrel of toxic waste, right in the middle of a residential neighborhood! This stuff just brings a smile to my face! :-) Watching this movie though, you can tell it is a labor of love.

If you enjoy low budget horror movies, then I can almost guarantee that you will enjoy this one!
Rick & Dan did an excellent job Directing and Editing the film. The Sound and the Score were both great, as were the practical special effects. [when you first see the big, steaming pile of poop that is to become the Monsturd, I literally felt like gagging from the smell that my mind was conjuring - it was gross!] :-)

Probably what I enjoyed most about the movie, was Rick & Dan's portrayal of the town's two idiot deputies. They were hysterical. There is one scene where Rick has a ventriloquist's dummy - horribly made up to look like a hippie - the dummy's name is Donnie the Doper, and he is used in the community's Anti-drug program. (the community, by the way, is Butte County, in California) This is even funnier, because when we were in California, last year, and drove through the state, we actually drove through Butte County, and my daughter mispronounced it as Butt County, which fits this movie perfectly! This gives you an idea of Rick & Dan's humor. Just look at the tagline for the movie: Don't get caught with your pants down (also, the icon on the DVD Menu is a little pile of poop) You can see it in the script as well. Lines like, "we need to get to the 'bottom' of this" or "we are going to have to 'flush' it out into the open" And just wait until you see how they end up beating the Monsturd - Too Funny!! :-)
Be sure to pay attention to the little things in the background as well. There is a scene, in the Sheriff's apartment, where there is a mini Oscar statue sitting on a book shelf, right next to - I don't even know what!

There are plenty of 'homages' as well. There is a chili-cook-off, at the end of the movie, that is in jeopardy of being shut down (a'la Jaws) Also, the final preparation to battle the Monsturd is reminiscent of The Evil Dead and Aliens! There is also a jab where Deputy Dan calls Agent Hannigan an X-Files reject :-)
Best of all, is the song that plays during the final credits - hysterical - I can still hear it. . . Number 2, it smells like poo. . . hahahahahahahahaha :-)

I only ask that you do not judge this fecal-humanoid movie, until you have seen it for yourself.

As for me, I will be purchasing the DVD, as it also has a Commentary, as well as some Behind the Scenes footage, which I cannot wait to see. (I rented this from Netflix, which is what I do - then, if I like it, I will buy it for the additional features, etc. So, if you have Netflix, lower your expectations, and add this movie your Queue - you will not be disappointed)

Be sure to visit Rick & Dan's webpage: http://www.4321films.com/

If you are interested in reading the Interview between me, Rick, and Dan - the direct link is http://www.horrordecor.net/scarsinterviews.htm#monsturd (note: the interview is done under my MySpace pseudonym - Thanatos)

Also, Dan West also has a Blog page: http://danwesthatesyou.blogspot.com/

Stay tuned for a review of the sequel to Monsturd - RetarDEAD [coming soon - Rick just mailed me a screener copy, yesterday] I am looking forward to it! :-)

Jason

Max Payne

Genre - Action/Thriller [Video Game Adaptation]
Year Released - 2008
Running Time - 99 minutes
Rated PG-13 (for violence, drug content, and language)
Directed by John Moore (Behind Enemy Lines and the Awful 2006 Re-Make of The Omen)
Written by Sam Lake (creator of the video game that the movie is based upon) and Beau Thorne
Cast Includes:
Mark Wahlberg (Boogie Nights, Rock Star, The Italian Job, and next year's sequel The Brazilian Job, as well as this year's horrible The Happening)
Mila Kunis (Jackie - That 70's Show, Piranha, American Psycho 2, Forgetting Sarah Marshall)
Beau Bridges (older brother of Jeff Bridges)

Rating: 3 Skulls

Plot Summary:

Mark Wahlberg stars as the title character of this gritty crime thriller, centered on an undercover New York City DEA agent who teams up with a female assassin to avenge the murder of his family.

Review:

I do not mind movies that are based on video games, as long as they are well made.
[Good Example: Resident Evil - Bad Example: House of the Dead]
However, I do not understand the point of taking a video game that is rated M (for Mature) and making a PG-13 movie out of it. . . With that said, this movie still maintains the "grittiness" of the Max Payne games, which is a good thing.

I remember when the video game first came out, in 2001. I had a friend that owned the game, and watching the action in the game was like watching a John Woo flick! So when I heard that they were making a movie, based on the game, I thought Cool!
The movie was good - just not as good as I was hoping for. (perhaps my expectations were too high)

My thoughts:

Mark Wahlberg was Great ( as always) portraying Max Payne
Donald Logue (Grounded for Life) was a good choice for Max's ex-partner
Mila Kunis (whom I like) I felt, was not a good choice as Mona Sax, the female assassin - she did not pull off playing an assassin well, at all [had Angelina Jolie not been pregnant with twins - that would have been a better choice!] ;-)
Nelly Furtado (the singer) was in the movie, all of two-minutes, yet they were superbly acted
Olga Kurylenko (the new Bond Girl) is Smokin' Hot! (you'll recognize her from last year's video game adaptation of Hitman)
Beau Bridges did an excellent job as well

If you are a fan of the game, then you will probably enjoy this movie - though once again we have a case of the game being better than the movie.
If you do decide to watch this movie, in the theatre, and enjoy it - be sure to stay through the credits, for an additional scene afterwards. . .

Jason

Sex Drive

Genre - Comedy
Year Released - 2008
Running Time - 108 minutes
Rated R (for crude & sexual content, nudity, and language)
Directed by Sean Anders
Written by Sean Anders & John Morris
Cast Includes:
Josh Zuckerman (who played the young Dr. Evil in the third Austin Powers movie. He was also in Feast & Surviving Christmas)
Clark Duke
Amanda Crew (Final Destination 3 - she is also in the up-coming The Haunting in Connecticut)
Katrina Bowden
Seth Green (Oz from the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series, Scott Evil in Austin Powers 2 & 3, Idle Hands, Knockaround Guys, Without a Paddle, The Italian Job - as well as next year's sequel The Brazilian Job)
James Marsden (Cyclops in the X-Men films, The Notebook, Superman Returns, last year's Re-make of Hairspray, and Enchanted

Rating: 3 Skulls

Plot Summary:

Determined to lose his virginity, 18-year-old Ian grabs two pals and drives from Chicago to Knoxville, Tennessee to meet Ms. Tasty, the girl of his dreams... or at least that's what she seems like on Facebook.
Sweetening the deal is the fact that she's offered to go "all the way" as long as he can make it all the way to see her, of course.

Review:

If you know me, then you know that I rarely see comedies in the movie theatre. However, I just watched Superbad (see prior post) the other day, and then I saw a trailer on TV for Sex Drive, and the trailer stated it as "the Superbad of 2008" So, how could I not go and see it in the theatre?
(I mean, after all, I missed out on the audience laughter that I am sure must have accompanied Superbad, so I was looking forward to the "theatre experience" of Sex Drive)

I am sorry to say, that this movie is nowhere near as funny as Superbad! I mean, it has its moments, but overall it is nothing that needs to be seen in the movie theatre.

In my opinion, James Marsden & Seth Green stole the movie. Pretty much every scene that they were in, I laughed. Other than that, it's a wait for DVD.


Jason

Superbad

Genre - Comedy
Year Released - 2007
Running Time - 113 minutes
Directed by Greg Mottola (it looks like this is his first big feature film)
Written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg (who also wrote Pineapple Express - which I haven't seen yet, but am looking forward to. They also wrote the screenplay for the forthcoming The Green Hornet, due in 2010)
Cast Includes:
Jonah Hill (Grandma's Boy, Knocked Up, Evan Almighty, and Forgetting Sarah Marshall)
Michael Cera (Juno - he also plays Nick in Nick & Nora's Infinite Playlist, which I haven't seen yet)
Christopher Mintz-Plasse (this is his first movie)
Seth Rogen (Donnie Darko, The 40-Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up, Pineapple Express, as well as Kevin Smith's up-coming Zack & Miri Make a Porno)
Bill Hader (You, Me, and Dupree, Knocked Up, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Pineapple Express, and Tropic Thunder)
Emma Stone
Martha MacIsaac (she will be in next year's Re-make of The Last House on the Left)

Rating: 5 Skulls

Plot Summary:

A high-school comedy about two best friends facing separation anxiety as they prepare to go off to college. Attempting to score alcohol for a party (believing that the babes will follow) the boys' evening quickly dissolves into chaos.

Seth Rogen is "the man"!

Review:

I just watched this movie, for the very first time, and found it to be absolutely hysterical ~ laugh-out-loud funny! [I watched this while my son was taking his nap, and I am surprised that he slept through my constant laughing!] :-)

If you have not yet seen this movie, I definitely recommend it, though be warned: it is extremely crude & raunchy, and it has a ton of language! (If you are easilly offended, then this movie is not for you!)
Aside from that though, the movie is superbly well written by Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg. Actually, the two main characters are named Seth & Evan - I wonder if Rogen & Goldberg were writing from experience :-)

Seth Rogen (who, I think, is one of the funniest actors out there) and Bill Hader play two dim-witted police offers, who are an absolute riot!

One of my favorite scenes in the movie is when Seth (the character/played by Jonah Hill) admits to his best friend Evan, that when he was younger he had an unhealthy obsession with drawing a certain part of the human anatomy. . . I had tears in my eyes, I was laughing so hard! :-)

Another favorite part is when the three friends (Seth, Evan, and Fogell - aka McLOVIN) attempt to score some alcohol from a Liquor store. . . 1st Seth and then Fogell. . . Too funny!!! This movie is one that can be watched repeatedly and will be just as funny, every time!


Jason

This Just In. . .

Yesterday, the agency that my wife is working for asked her to extend for another three months, which means that we will be staying in Wisconsin through February (rather than through November)
After some family discussion, we all decided to stay. We have really enjoyed our time here, in Wisconsin thus far, and are absolutely loving the Fall Season (the changing colors of the leaves on the trees, etc) Both my wife and I were born and raised in Florida, and we have never experienced a full Fall before. (this time last year, we were in Arizona - no Fall there either)
We are a little concerned about the Winter (again, we are both from Florida) Last Winter, we were in Northern California, so we were able to experience the snow and all, but nothing like what we will be getting here! However, the current agency that my wife is working for loves her (who doesn't?) and she has enjoyed working for them. She works four ten hour shifts, so she has every Friday off, which makes for 3-day weekends, which we (the kids & I especially) love!
As an added bonus, the agency is giving my wife 10 days off (with pay) during the holidays, which rocks! So, we figure that we will brave the Winter here, and hopefully we will not freeze to death! :-)

In other news, today has been a very good day!
For those of you who may be unaware, I have been posting my horror movie reviews on "Horror Reviews" [on MySpace] for close to a year now. In that time, I have developed a friendship with the gentleman who runs the site, which has led to me getting some advance screeners of books and movies, which has been really, really cool.
Recently Scars Magazine has taken notice of his site, and today I just finished my first interview, with Two Independent Filmmakers that have worked in the horror genre, for the magazine.
(They were both extremely cool and very funny - I am hoping that I will able to post that Interview on here, so stay tuned)

Even better, I am now officially "on staff" at The Hacker's Source Independent Horror Magazine.
About five or six years ago, I met Independent Horror Author Franklin E. Wales at a Horror Convention. At the time, he had just finished his first novel, Booger (an excellent debut novel about the Boogeyman!) He has since written a second novel, Game Master, (a psychological thriller) which I enjoyed even more than Booger! Anyhow, over the years, we have kept in touch, mainly via e-mail. When, just the other day, I got a call from Frank.
Frank informed me that he has become the Managing Editor of Hacker's Source and, unknown to me, he has been following my reviews on Horror Reviews (and now, here on my Blog as well) Frank told me that he likes my style and the fact that I write/review just for the pure enjoyment of it all. Hacker's Source is currently in the process of "re-vamping" themselves, and now is the perfect time to jump on board. (I have already received some CD's and a book or two are already on the way to me, so once I have written my reviews, and after they have been published in Hacker's Source, I will post them on here, with the issue number, etc.

Needless to say, I am excited about all of the above! :-)

Jason