Monsters: A Love Story?

Monsters (2010) was made for next to nothing.. The concept is that it's a giant monster movie that's not really a giant monster movie. The execution, though, doesn't live up to the idea.

The basic premise is that alien creatures have infected parts of the Mexican US border. The area is fenced off and crossing it is dangerous. The US military often bombs the area when these giant creatures get restless. The story is about a photojournalist who is asked to get his boss's daughter out of Mexico. Along the way, they fall in love. I'm not sure you would really even get that they fall in love from watching the movie though. Or if you did get it, you probably wouldn't care. The glaring problem with this movie is that it's not supposed to be a monster movie, but a relationship movie set in a monster world, yet, the relationship is just not there. So, what you're left with is a monster movie where nothing happens.

Overall, the effects are good. There are a few scenes where the characters are screaming "Look at that! What was that!?" leaving you wondering the same thing because the shots of what they are supposed to be reacting to are just too dark to make anything out. If you strain, you might see a corner of a tentacle just above the surface of the water, but by then the shock is completely worn out. It's a shame, because the few scenes where you do see the monsters, the designs are interesting and the effects are very well done.

The concept of this movie could have been great. A relationship is basically about seeing a person in a new light. The road is dangerous and scary, yet mysterious. You want to know more. The world can sometimes seem to be against you as you fall in love. Eventually, all the things that you found scary about the other person and love in general, reveal themselves to be very beautiful. All these things should be paralleled in the relationship and the monsters in this movie and you get the sense that the filmmakers thought that's what they were doing. Unfortunately, the monsters had a much more believable courtship than the actors. I give it 2 out of 5 tentacles, and that's mostly for the effort.

Flix - Daybreakers

I remember seeing the trailer for this and thinking it looked like an interesting concept. But I didn't catch up with it until this weekend when I saw it was added to Netflix streaming. Vampires won and now control the world, pretty simple. Except, humans are nearly extinct and now the vampires don't have a source of blood. Right off, I'm not a big vampire fan, but this is apocalyptic territory, which I am a big fan of.

It's sort of hinted that the vampire thing was the result of a virus that spread across the world. Ethan Hawke is a vampire scientist trying to invent a perfect blood substitute. All this time, the corporation he works for has been farming humans, but they are dying off. It's crisis time for the vampires. The lack of blood is turning them into mindless bat creatures. Eventually, Hawke is approached by a band of humans hiding out. Among them, Willem Dafoe, looking like an old, grizzled Oliver Queen (Green Arrow). Turns out, he was a vampire, but was accidentally cured. This is why the humans need Hawke. Together they search for a cure to vampirism.

Ultimately, the movie draws some great parallels between corporate consumer culture and vampires. Some of it is a little too on the nose, but it's still a good try for what's basically a sci-fi action flick.

I wouldn't call this a great movie, but it's a good time killer. Overall, the atmosphere was dark and cold. No one sparkles in this movie, but they do catch fire. I give it 3 out of 5. . . . hmmm. . . . I haven't thought up a good rating system. Anyone?

Manga for the Comics Guy

I've read comics, on and off, most of my life. While I enjoy comics in general, what I find myself reading more are DC books and indies. I'm also a big Sci-Fi fan, going back to the original Star Trek and on through Star Wars, ST: TNG, Battlestar Galactica, etc.

My experience with anime has been limited. Speed Racer, Captain Harlock and Robotech are vague memories from when I was a wee lad, but details are scarce. Sure, I saw Akira back in the day, and liked it fine, but the ending was a little over the top for me. It's what I think of when I think of "typical anime." Then, I saw Cowboy Be-Bop and it became one of my all time favorite series, anime or not. But I just doubt that I'm going to find anything else like that. Still, I think it's high time I try manga.

On a friend's suggestion I'll be starting with Gantz. I have purposely not read any synopsis or description of it. I only know what I was told: "You're gonna love me for getting you on this. It's got Sci-Fi, action, everything you love." So, already, I know I can't admit to liking it, but let's see. I'm starting tonight and will report along the way with thoughts.