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Frankenweenie, a review by Danae Cassandra

Frankenweenie
Year of Release: 2012
Directed By: Tim Burton
Starring: Catherine O'Hara, Martin Short, Martin Landau, Charlie Tahan
Genre: Horror, Comedy, Animation

Overview:
From Disney and creative genius Tim Burton (Alice in Wonderland, The Nightmare Before Christmas) comes the hilarious and offbeat FrankenweenieFrankenweenie is alive with enchanting fun for the whole family.

My Thoughts:
First, let me say that I am unabashedly a fan of Tim Burton's work.  I've loved all of his stop motion films, and his live-action stuff is generally good too (if not as much).  I love his dark, atmospheric, gothic style.  I'm also a big fan of old, classic monster movies.  So it's almost a given that I was going to love Frankenweenie. 

There's a lot of homage paid to the classics - Frankenstein, obviously, but also all the old Universal films, Gamera, heck, there's even a Bambi Meets Godzilla moment.  There's some genuinely emotional moments; both mom and I teared up toward the end.  There's also an interesting take on the usual theme in horror films of science as dangerous - here it is the intent behind the science that creates danger, rather than the science itself.  Also the usual message about not being so judgmental, and a condemnation of mob mentality. 

A great film for older kids, especially ones who've seen Burton's other films, as well as adults, I can recommend this for anyone - unless they refuse to see a film where a dog dies (yes, I know that person).

Bechdel Test: Fail

Overall: 4/5

(From Danae's 2013 Horror Marathon on October 6th, 2013)

Role Models, a review by samuelrichardscott

Role Models (2008) United Kingdom Blu-ray (at friends house)

Overview:
Danny and Wheeler, well into their 30s, lack something: Danny feels stuck; he's sour and has driven away his terrific girlfriend. Wheeler chases any skirt he sees for empty sex. When they get in a fight with a tow-truck driver, they choose community service over jail and are assigned to be big brothers - Danny to Augie, a geek who loves participating in a weekend Medieval reenactment society, and Wheeler to Ronnie, a pint-size foul-mouthed kid. After a rocky start, things start to go well until both Danny and Wheeler make big mistakes. Can the two men figure out how to change enough to be role models to the boys?

My Thoughts:
I had seen this before so already knew I found it funny so on this viewing it was all about whether it held up or not. From the off, I loved the casting of this... Paul Rudd, Seann William Scott, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Elizabeth Banks and Jane Lynch but it wasn't until I watched it that I discovered Bobbe J. Thompson, a young actor who delivers hilarious lines one after the other. The story is a competant one with a quick start whilst still developing Rudd and Scott's characters nicely throwing you straight in and then the whole ending had me in stitches, even on this repeat viewing. One of my favourite comedies of 2008. 4/5

(From Never Ending Movie Marathon (short reviews) on May 30th, 2010)

Tom's Glee Marathon, a review by Tom

Glee
Season 1.12 Mattress
Writer: Ryan Murphy (Created By), Brad Falchuk (Created By), Ian Brennan (Created By), Ryan Murphy (Writer)
Director: Elodie Keene
Cast: Dianna Agron (Quinn Fabray), Chris Colfer (Kurt Hummel), Jessalyn Gilsig (Terri Schuester), Jane Lynch (Sue Sylvester), Jayma Mays (Emma Pillsbury), Kevin McHale (Arty Abrams), Lea Michele (Rachel Berry), Cory Monteith (Finn Hudson), Matthew Morrison (Will Schuester), Amber Riley (Mercedes Jones), Mark Salling (Noah "Puck" Puckerman), Jenna Ushkowitz (Tina Cohen-Chang), Patrick Gallagher (Ken Tanaka), Iqbal Theba (Principal Figgins), John Ross Bowie (Dennis), Naya Rivera (Santana Lopez), Heather Morris (Brittany Pierce), Harry Shum, Jr. (Mike Chang), Dijon Talton (Matt Rutherford), Bill A. Jones (Rod Remington), Chuck Spitler (Randy Cusperberg), Max Adler (Dave Karofsky), Earlene Davis (Andrea Carmichael), James Earl (Azimio), Lauren Potter (Becky Jackson)

In this episode Will finally finds out that his wife is faking a pregrancy, which puts a stop to this stupid storyline. And as he leaves her because of this, this means we will see less of her from now on.

Notable music:
I enjoyed the Van Halen cover of "Jump":


Rating:

(From Tom's Glee Marathon on August 28th, 2012)