Each new trailer makes Solomon Kane look even more exciting. This one is mini-featurette that previews the film’s spectacular fight scenes. From what I can see, this film is going to stick very closely to Robert Howard’s version, which is exactly the way it should be. I can’t wait.

10. Citizen Kane (1941)

“I don’t think any word can explain a man’s life. No, I guess Rosebud is just a… piece in a jigsaw puzzle… a missing piece.”

It may be the stuff of a film professor’s wet dreams, but ask any film student and they’ll tell you, Citizen Kane is a two hour set-up for a three-minute scene. In fact, the whole movie can basically be abbreviated to its closing shot and line.

9. The Usual Suspects (1995)

“The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.”

The conclusion to Kevin Spacey’s best performance makes this one of the best crime movies ever. The final scene turns everything that came before it on its head. More than that, the movie’s final revelation makes the rest of the movie’s fragmented plot make sense.

8. Saw (2004)

“Most people are so ungrateful to be alive, but not you. Not anymore.

What’s the difference between a bad horror flick and a fantastic thriller? The quality of the twist at the end. Saw’s Agatha Christie-style ending vaulted the film from a second-rate slasher to one of the most chilling horror films in recent history.

7. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

“Grant these pilgrims we pray a happy journey and peaceful days…”

Yeah, it may be one of the classics of science fiction, but all the thrill of the film is in its last ten minutes. Without the alien landing, this is just a film about a guy gone round the bend. It’s the big payout that the people come to see.

6. The Wicker Man (2006)

“The drone must die! The drone must die! The drone must die!”

It’s difficult to choose between the 2006 and the 1973 version of this film. Both feature a chilling ending that’s hard to see coming. With a few masterful strokes, the story goes from a rather dull mystery to horror with fantasy overtones.

5. A.I. (2001)

“If you want for my happiness, then you know what you have to do.”

Maybe one of the least understood films released in recent days, the ending of A.I. was so widely criticized that the DVD extras include an interview in which director Steve Spielberg actually explains it. It also happens to be one of the dullest sci-fi movies released in the last decade. However, if you manage to stay awake through the first two hours and do understand the end, it’s a real tear-jerker.

4. Unbreakable (2000)

“I should have known way back when. You know why, David? Because of the kids! They called me Mr. Glass.”

This is the film that gave me the idea for this list. The last minutes of Unbreakable transform it from a film about a character who happens to run a comic book store into a really well executed super hero origin story.

3. Crash (2004)

“It’s okay Daddy. I’ll protect you.”

Crash ends with what may possibly be the most touching bit of child acting in Hollywood history. The scene elevates the film from the obscurity of dramatic films with a similar racial themes like Grand Canyon to a critically-aclaimed Academy Award winner.

2. Se7en (1995)

“Because I envy your normal life, it seems that envy is my sin. Become vengeance, David. Become Wrath.”

Se7en makes the list for riding the fine line between gruesome slasher and intelligent thriller right up until the last possible minute. Had the final twist not been so well executed, it might have been relegated to the same shelf as the last three entries in the Saw franchise.

1. Michael Clayton (2007)

“Do I look like I’m negotiating?”

Here’s the best example of how ten minutes can turn an entire film around. Even the trailers for this film agreed, Michael Clayton is alllll about the last five minutes. The film’s protagonist goes from being a jerk to being the hero of the piece in the space of a few line, and Tilda Swinton’s reaction alone is worth the price of admission.

Near Misses

Before you beginning berreting me for missing the obvious choices, let me reiterate that the theme of this list is movies that were falling flat right up to the last moment. 12 Monkeys, The Blair Witch Project, Momento, Planet of the Apes, and The Sixth Sense all featured memorable twists, but they were fairly gripping prior to their ends. Their special effects and unique premises made them intriguing prior to the last ten minutes of their stories.

Movies like Hancock, Hide and Seek, Vanilla Sky, and a number of others were disqualified because, while they end with a twist, their twists actually ruined the rest of the movie, in my opinion. Still others, such as The Others and The Village were improved by their conclusions, but audiences sat down expecting a twist right from the outset.

So, while further suggestions are welcomed, be prepared for a big, wet “meh.” I’ve ponied up my selections, and I’m sticking to them.

The full theatrical trailer for James Cameron’s Avatar was finally released yesterday. I’m still not sure whether I’m stoked or disappointed. The whole thing looks something like Last of the Mohicans meets Starship Troopers, with a pinch of the Battle of Endor. (Seriously, tell me you’re not getting some Ewok vibes.)

Sci-fi in 3D is rare enough that I would probably go see it no matter what, but the way these trailers are unfolding, my review is likely going to look like a Mad Lib.

Rating: Rated R for bloody violence and pervasive language.
Release:
Running Time: 1 hr 52 min
Starring: Sharlto Copley, Jason Cope, Robert Hobbs… IMDB listing

Verdict:

District 9 is a gripping allegorical tale couched in a frantically-paced action thriller that engages both the mind and eye from the first frame through the last shot. The technical aspects of the movie provide a brilliant wrapping for an emotionally harrowing tale of race relations. It combines thundering chase scenes, shoot-outs ripped straight out of a video game, and a morality tale that would be just as at home in mainstream literary piece. The result is a movie that manages to be both intelligent and exciting – a thinking man’s science fiction movie.

Synopsis:

Over twenty years ago, aliens made first contact with Earth. Humans waited for the hostile attack, or the giant advances in technology. Neither came. Instead, the aliens were refugees, the last survivors of their home world. The creatures were set up in a makeshift home in South Africa’s District 9 as the world’s nations argued over what to do with them. Now, patience over the alien situation has run out. The tension between the aliens and the humans comes to a head when a human field operative, Wikus van der Merwe, contracts a mysterious virus that begins changing his DNA. Wikus quickly becomes the most hunted man in the world, as well as the most valuable – he is the key to unlocking the secrets of alien technology. Ostracized and friendless, there is only one place left for him to hide: District 9.

Review:

The Story
Rating: A-

The story’s political resonance is powerful, but, unlike some movies that wield their message like a club, District 9 brandishes its allegorical flourishes lightly, with a Kafka-esque edge of surreality. Though well executed, the story’s trope does suddenly becomes familiar about forty minutes into the movie. In fact, hardcore science fiction fans may find the movie’s second half vaguely reminiscent of a certain old Outer Limit episode. (I won’t spoil the end by saying which episode.) That familiarity doesn’t detract from enjoyment of the movie, however. The movie’s rich political overtones and smart documentary style keep District 9 intellectually engaging while avoiding the

The Cast
Rating: A

The aliens that cross crustaceans with insects into horror-film grotesqueries are certain to go down in history as some of the greatest CGI creations of all time.

Visual Appeal
Rating: A+

Despite a humble US$30 million budget, District 9 is almost pure eye candy.

The Conclusion
Rating: A

District 9 is a hell of a movie that’s worth the price of admission to see it up on the big screen.

Similar Movies

If you enjoy this movie, you may also enjoy these very similar movies:

• Children of Men
• Quarantine
• Cloverfield
• 28 Weeks Later
• Starship Troopers
• Alien Nation

Further Information

• District 9 Trailer and video clips.
• The official District 9 website.
• MNU Spreads Lies (Viral Marketing) website.
• Maths from Outerspace (Viral Marketing) website.
• Multinational United (Viral Marketing) website.

Rating: Rated PG-13 for adventure action and violence.
Release: August 7, 2009
Running Time: 1 hr 58 mins
Starring: Channing Tatum, Sienna Miller, Christopher Eccleston, Marlon Wayans… IMDB listing

Verdict:

After having seen the trailers for G.I. Joe, I went into the theater fully expecting Marlon Wayans to completely ruin this chestnut from my childhood. Unfortunately, rather than sticking out like a sore thumb, Wayans set the tone for the movie, which couldn’t have been any worse if Walker, Texas Ranger had been incorporated into its thoughtless tangle of a storyline.

This movie should have been released direct-to-DVD. Its storyline is roughly on par with a late night Steven Seagull flick. It plays out like a sequel, with almost two hours of non-stop mayhem and special effects without any character development, only to end in an overblown finale and a bizarre twist like something out of a B-movie. The movie’s only redeeming quality is the amazing designs behind the parade of shiny, imaginary tech that pervades the movie from beginning to end.

Anyone over the age of twelve who is considering seeing G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra in theaters should seriously consider waiting to rent it instead.

Synopsis:

Paramount Pictures and Hasbro (previously was collaborated on making the worldwide blockbuster “TRANSFORMERS.” join with Spyglass Entertainment for another extraordinary action-Adventure: G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra. From the Egyptian desert, the elite G.I. Joe team with the latest in next-generation spy and military equipment will against the corrupt arms dealer Destro and the growing menace from the mysterious Cobra organization to dispute them from plunging the world into chaos. “G.I. Joe: The Rise Of The Cobra” is directed by Stephen Sommers (”The Mummy,” “The Mummy Returns”).

Review:

The Story
Rating: D-

The worst part of this movie is that it attempts to flesh out the motivations of the franchise’s hitherto two-dimensional villains with a series of last-minute twists that utterly fail to make The Rise of Cobra an adult movie while raising the question among franchise loyalists, what’s the point of basing a movie on a cultural icon, only to turn around and change it?

What possessed the writer to do this is unclear, as, whatever their goal was, they failed to achieve it. The end result is that the entire plot reeks of B-movie.

The Cast
Rating: D

With the exception of Dennis Quaid, the cast of G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra are baffling. Sienna Miller has the looks but not the trademark accent of the Baroness. After nailing the role of Doctor Who, Christopher Eccleston is just unnatural in the role of Destro. And, of course, Marlon Wayans, ruins every scene in which he opens his mouth.

Visual Appeal
Rating: B+

There is no doubt that despite the overall disappointing nature of this movie, G.I. Joe is a bright, shiny bit of eye candy from start to finish. The mock tech used throughout the movie is on par with Minority Report, and the highlights of the movies, its two stunning chase scenes, are both very nearly Bond-worthy. Had the powers that be simply stuck with straight G.I. Joe plot material, the effects alone would have carried the day. Alas, they still aren’t enough to carry the day as is.

The Conclusion
Rating: D+

Similar Movies

If you enjoy this movie, you may also enjoy these very similar movies:

• Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
• Wanted
• xXx: State of the Union

Further Information

• The official G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra website.
• The official G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra movie trailer.
• Interview with movie cast members,

Though the “golden age” of horror films probably spanned the second half of the seventies and the early eighties, this past decade hasn’t been too shabby. New technology has allowed directors to push the envelope in movie visuals, while Generation X’s love of fantasy has infused the genre with a new aspect of magical realism that has re-invigorated the genre.

The following is a list of what I have judged to be the best horror films of the last ten years. Each inspires authentic fear with a strongly build story rather than a series of cheap tricks or fountains of blood.

Of course, no one can watch every movie out there. So, if I’ve missed something in my list, or you’re just of another opinion, feel free to weigh in with a comment below.

What didn’t make the list and why:

Audition (1999) – While this movie would easily make the list of the top ten most disturbing movies I’ve ever seen, the sheer boredom of its first hour disqualify it for any list of “best” films.

High Tension (2003) – This is a frightening slasher flick that looses out because of its bad ending. In my opinion, the ending of a horror film, more than that of any other genre, has to stick with you on your way out of the theater. It has to settle in your gut for you really get your money’s worth. If your head is doing the thinking when you get home rather a churning in your gut or a tingle at the nape of your neck, the movie failed.

The Others (2001) and The Sixth Sense (1999) – I exclude these from the list because they fall quite cleanly under the heading of “suspense” rather than “horror,” and I think that the distinction is important. While all good horror films contain their fair share of suspense, suspense movies don’t necessarily contain the horror elements that make a movie frightening even after the repeated viewings.

Saw (2004) – I loved it. It reminded me of my all-time favorite mystery novel, Then there were None. Still, at the end of the film, I wasn’t so much scared as amazed by the twist ending.

Rating: Rated PG for scary images, some violence, language and mild sensuality.
Release: July 15, 2009
Running Time: 2 hrs 33 mins
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Michael Gambon, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Bonnie Wright… IMDB listing

Verdict:

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince is an amazing cinematic experience worth every penny of the price of seeing it on the big screen. It’s far and away the most fast-paced and visually stunning entry yet released in the Harry Potter series, which is, in itself, a monumental feat.

However, judged strictly as an adaptation of a novel, this movie is a monumental failure. The movie’s storyline doesn’t simply abridge the novel, it mutilates it nearly past the point of recognition. Most of the book’s best scenes, including Dumbledore’s visit to Privet Drive and the book’s climactic battle between the Deatheaters and the Order of the Phoenix inside Hogwarts, have been completely cut. Worse, the movie actually includes new scenes (which won’t be spoiled here) that not only grossly diverge from the flow of the series but also violate the spirit of the novel.

Sadly, with the movie’s mise en scène and script both likely to illicit strong but opposing opinions from fans of the Harry Potter novels, it’s difficult to say whether this is going down in history as the best or worst movie the series. Hardcore Potter loyalists are likely to love to hate this movie for the liberties it takes with story, but moviegoers simply looking for some big screen thrills and those fans who have followed Harry’s adventure only on the big screen are going to emerge from theaters with a smile.

Synopsis:

Voldemort is tightening his grip on both the Muggle and wizarding worlds and Hogwarts is no longer the safe haven it once was. Harry suspects that dangers may even lie within the castle, but Dumbledore is more intent upon preparing him for the final battle that he knows is fast approaching. Together they work to find the key to unlock Voldemort’s defenses and, to this end, Dumbledore recruits his old friend and colleague, the well-connected and unsuspecting bon vivant Professor Horace Slughorn, whom he believes holds crucial information. Meanwhile, the students are under attack from a very different adversary as teenage hormones rage across the ramparts. Harry finds himself more and more drawn to Ginny, but so is Dean Thomas. And Lavender Brown has decided that Ron is the one for her, only she hadn’t counted on Romilda Vane’s chocolates! And then there’s Hermione, simpering with jealously but determined not to show her feelings. As romance blossoms, one student remains aloof. He is determined to make his mark, albeit a dark one. Love is in the air, but tragedy lies ahead and Hogwarts may never be the same again.

Review:

The Story
Rating: D+

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince fails to tell a cohesive story unless one comes in having read the book. This series has never excelled at convincingly portraying the passage of time, and, in this entry in the series, that shortcoming is more apparent than ever. It’s storyline is more like a highlight reel than a narrative, with frequent, sudden jumps forward and very little in the way of transitions. The effect makes for a very rapid pace but very poor story-telling.

While it’s understandable that the an adaptation of a novel as long as Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince had to be compressed, it is utterly baffling why the threads of the novels which were played out in the movie were chosen while others were not.

Throughout the entire movie, I could hear the audience around me whispering their disappointment and puzzlement as one anticipated scene after another approached and unfolded entirely differently than expected. Gone are the scenes with the Dursleys, all of the puzzling over the identity of the “Half Blood Prince,” nearly all the Quiditch, every scene with Fleur, the action of the book’s final chapters, and Dumbledore’s funeral. In their place, the movie interjects sexual tension and awkward teenage moments in spades, in what feels like an attempt to transform the Half Blood Prince into a coming of age film.

The pity of it is that the novel the movie is based on was the strongest, most suspenseful entry in the novel series. Though it wasn’t the big finish, it contained many of the answers readers had been waiting for. The movie, on the other hand, offers very few explanations as to the plot of the series. This may have been done by design, seeing as how the vast majority of audience will already have read the novel before seeing the movie. Still, it’s distracting.

The Cast
Rating: A

The cast of this film are outstanding. Returning members of the supporting cast give some of their best, if briefest, performances of the series. The newest additions characters – Fenrir Greyback, Professor Horace Slughorn, and Lavender Brown – are each pitch perfect in their roles. Jim Broadbent, in particular, repeatedly steals scenes in his role as the fusty and expressive Professor Slughorn.

Meanwhile, Radcliffe, Grint, and Watson shine like never before. Their rapid shifts between the newly emerged humor of this movie and the dark suspicion that has been a mainstay of the series finally allow the three young actors to demonstrate the full range of their acting abilities.

There were many stiff moments, but they feel more like good actors choking on badly written dialog than bad acting and they come infrequently enough not to ruin the flow of the film.

Visual Appeal
Rating: A+

Amazing. Every scene of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince is a feast for eyes, from the iconic Warner Brothers production symbol, right through to the closing shot. Not only does the movie introduce new sets and settings, like Fred and George’s lively Diagon alley shop, it also makes drastic improvements on old favorites like the Weasleys’ Burrough.

The special effects are also superb. In the weeks running up to the movie’s premiere, there were countless news stories and promotional documentaries on the topic of the cutting edge technology behind the movie. It was a pleasant surprise to discover that all of the hype was well-deserved. Every aspect of the film was vibrant and seemless, from the characters’ spell to what was the first good Quiditch match of the series.

The final result is that not only is it the most visual of the Harry Potter films, it’s one of the richest fantasy films ever released.

The Conclusion
Rating: B-

Don’t miss seeing Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince in theaters. It’s value as an adaptation may be virtually nil, but it’s entertainment value is off the charts. So, buy a ticket, try to forget you ever read the novel, and enjoy.

Similar Movies

If you enjoy this movie, you may also enjoy these very similar movies:

• The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
• The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
• Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End

Further Information

• The Official Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Trailer.
• The Official Movie Website.
• The Official Website of the Movie Series.

Rating: Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, brief strong language, smoking and a scene of teen drinking.
Release: July 7, 2009
Running Time: 1 hr 51 mins
Starring: Chris Evans, Dakota Fanning, Camilla Belle, Djimon Hounsou… IMDB listing

Verdict:

This film is the latest in the long line of bitterly disappointing contemporary superhero movies churned out by Hollywood, including Babylon A.D. and Jumper, which have taken an excellent underlying concept and sterilized it with poor casting, mediocre acting, and dumbed-down storyline.

Despite the film’s lively cinematography, interesting special effects, and great story concept, it just isn’t long enough to gain the moment necessary to overcome the burden of its actors’ dull performances. Had this been a miniseries, it could have been amazing, but as a two hour movie, it’s a bore. It might make for a good weekend rental, but plan on having something else to do while you watch.

Synopsis:

For decades, a shadowy government organization simply known as The Division has been experimenting on members of the psychically gifted community, the members of which are gifted with the ability to see the future, track people, create new realities, alter memories, or kill without touching their victims. When a young clairvoyant girl named Cassie whose mother was one of those taken for experimentation enters the life of a rough-and-tumble telekinetic named Nick, the pair find themselves in a break-neck race to escape their own future deaths. Together, they navigate the Hong Kong underground to escape, outwit, and overthrow The Division for the good of all their kind. Their escape is complicated when Kira, Nick’s former girlfriend, breaks out of the medical facility to join them. She may be the key to victory, but she may also spell the end of free will for psychics everywhere if The Division gets ahold of her.

Review:

The Story
Push follows the tried-but-true troupe of a group of super-powered everyday Joes running from a shadowy organization. Think FireStarter or the television series Heroes. Unfortunately, the story suffers for its break-neck pace, which precludes almost all character development.

The Cast
Dakota Fanning is utterly unconvincing in her role as the Cassie Holmes, and she sticks out from the rest of the cast like a sore thumb. The role is clearly intended to follow the comfortable and frequently-used archetype of the obstinate but loveable young damsel in distress, but Fanning comes across as awkward and irritable and lacks any authenticity as a street smart orphan. The issues surrounding her acting are compounded by the complete lack of chemistry between her and her co-star, Chris Evans.

Fanning, however, isn’t alone in her lackluster performance. Chris Evans’ performance as a man on the run trying to protect a willful teenage girl from her fate is reminiscent of Vin Diesel’s performance in Babylon A.D..

The villains of the movie steal the show. The menace Djimon Hounsou embues his role with, in particular, is one of the few high points of the film.

The Conclusion
Rent, don’t buy this movie. It’ll be entertaining to watch once, especially if you’re a comic book fan, but after that, you’re very likely to be bored out of your skull.

Similar Movies

If you enjoy this movie, you may also enjoy these very similar movies:

• Babylon A.D.
• Jumper
• Next
• Paycheck
• Wanted

Further Information

• Watch the official Push trailer
• Visit the official website of Push.