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Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant, a review by KinkyCyborg

Title:Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant
Year: 2009
Director: Paul Weitz
Rating: PG-13
Length: 109 Min.
Video: Widescreen 2.35:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, French: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital: 5.1
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Stars:
John C. Reilly
Josh Hutcherson
Chris Massoglia
Jessica Carlson
Michael Cerveris

Plot:
Welcome to the Cirque du Freak, a traveling sideshow filled with magical creatures, misunderstood freaks, and the mysterious vampire, Larten Crepsley (John C. Reilly). Drawn to the dark, unpredictable world of the Cirque, 16-year-old Darren (Chris Massoglia) decides to trade in his ordinary life for a chance to become an immortal vampire. As Darren explores his newfound powers and faces unexpected enemies, he'll find that his existence as a memeber of the undead is filled with more challenges, suspense and fun than he ever thought possible. Based on the best-selling book series and co-starring Salma Hayek, Josh Hutcherson, Ken Watanabe, and Willem Dafoe, it's a fast-paced, suspenseful journey critics call, "Imaginative!" (Peter Hall, Cinematical.com)

Extras:
Scene Access
Feature Trailers
Deleted Scenes
Featurettes


I really enjoyed this as it was so much more than I was expecting which was a lame comedy that spoofed Vampire movies. Boy was I wrong! While there was some comedic elements, this was the first of what I'm sure will be many entries into an ongoing story about warring vampire factions. Gorehounds looking for buckets of blood will be disappointed.... but what this movie lacks in gore it makes up for with story and mystery.

The two young male leads, Josh Hutcherson and Chris Massoglia were good but the casting for those characters could be completely interchangeable with any multitude of young actors. The real strength of this movie lies in it's veteran cast. John C. Reilly shows us once again that he has leading role savvy as the central vampire, Larten Crepsley. Now if someone could only convince him to stay away from Will Ferrell....  Willem Dafoe, in a rather limited role, clearly pays homage to Vincent Price and is marvelous! His final scenes in this one tease us with the promise of more from him in the forthcoming sequels. Salma Hayek, as the bearded lady, was fine as well, although really... who was looking at her beard??

Throw in Ken Watanabe, Patrick Fugit, Orlando Jones and others in their roles as the various 'freaks', each with their own potential stories to explore made for a spectacular collection of characters and endless possibilities in what should be a franchise. I checked on IMDB and do not see any news of a sequel yet, but I'd be shocked if this one doesn't play out much much more.

Looking forward to the continuing of this story and would recommend this movie to fans of the genre!

KC

Rating:

(From KinkyCyborg's Random Reviews 2010 on October 14th, 2010)

Munyurangabo, a review by Danae Cassandra

Where We Are: Rwanda
wikipedia

What We Watched:


Munyurangabo
Year of Release: 2007
Starring: Rutagengwa Joseph, Ndorunkundiye Eric, Nkurikiyinka Jean Marie Vianney, Harerimana Jean Pierre, Uwayo B. Edouard
Directed By: Lee Issac Chung
Genre: Drama

Overview:
After stealing a machete from a market in Kigali, Munyurangabo and his friend, Sangwa, leave the city on a journey tied to their pasts. Munyurangabo wants justice for his parents who were killed in the genocide, and Sangwa wants to visit the home he deserted years ago. Though they plan to visit Sangwa's home for just a few hours, the boys stay for several days. From two separate tribes, their friendship is tested when Sangwa's wary parents disapprove of Munyurangabo, warning that "Hutus and Tutsis are supposed to be enemies."

My Thoughts:
I found Munyurangabo to be a good debut film for its director and actors. It shows its amateur status with its uneven camerawork, but it has a strong emotional core and is worth seeing.  One might consider the plot uneven, but it could also be viewed as more like real life, where things aren't always neat and reasons aren't always clear.  It's an authentic, gritty little film with a lot to say about friendship, family, violence and hatred, and the power of forgiveness.  The ending, unlike many films on subjects dealing with war and genocide, is one of hope. 

Recommended for anyone who enjoyed Hotel Rwanda.

Bechdel Test: Fail

Overall: 3.5/5

(From Around the World in 86 Movies on May 3rd, 2013)

My PILOT Marathon, a review by Rich

Title: Sledge Hammer!: Season One

Certificate:NR
Year:1986


Plot:In the fall of 1986, an unsuspecting TV nation met a new kind of comedy hero who made Rambo look like Pee Wee Herman. David Rasche starred as the trigger-happy lawman whose hatred of criminal scum and yogurt eatin' creeps was matched only by his love of excessive force and a .44 Magnum. Over the next two seasons, this hilariously deranged lampoon of DIRTY HARRY and plenty of other targets became one of the most notorious series in television history and launched a rabid cult of fans that grows to this day. This is SLEDGE HAMMER!

The complete first season of SLEDGE HAMMER! is now newly re-mastered (including removal of the laugh track) and loaded with an arsenal of exclusive extras that features uncensored footage, all-new interviews with stars David Rasche, Harrison Page and Anne-Marie Martin, audio commentaries and more, all given the "Hammer" seal of approval by Series Creator & Executive Producer Alan Spencer.

Episode List:
1. Under the Gun (Pilot)

My Review:
Great series that begins with this pilot as it meant to carry on, slapstick and stupid, Naked Gun meets Dirty Harry.
The pilot deals with the introduction of Sledge and the gorgeous Dori Doreau, and despite being over 20 years old it feels current in its style and laughter inducers. It takes the piss out of many cop shows, and in Sledge you get a comical hero that you have to love.
Belly laughed all the way through this opener, and it took me back to when we used to view this series on ITV late on Friday nights  after the pub.
 

(From My PILOT Marathon on September 29th, 2009)