Overture

The Crazies
(Overture Films, 2010. Based on the 1973 
motion picture "The Crazies" by George E. 
Romero. Written by Scott Kosar and Ray 
Wright. Directed by Breck Eisner. Starring 
Timothy Olyphant, Radha Mitchell, Joe 
Anderson and Danielle Panabaker.)
         
    Some people will walk out of this 
remake and say 'Ya seen one seen 
'em all." Maybe. Maybe not.
Depends what you're lookin' for.
True, we've seen dozens of flicks
about the infected, people running 
for their lives, killing their 
neighbors and trying to save
their pregnant girlfriends. Some are
known for their great stories and
plot twists, like Zack Snyder's 
"Dawn of  the Dead  (2004)." While
the new fangled version of "The 
Crazies" has an O.K. story, what's
going to keep your blood pumping
are the well-staged seiges and
scares.
   Click here to read the review. 

Warner Bros.

Where the Wild Things Are
(Warner Bros, 2009. Based on Maurice 
Sendak's children's story.  Written by 
Spike Jonze and Dave Eggers. Directed 
by Spike Jonze. Starring Max Records, 
Catherine Keener and the voices 
of James Gandolfini as "Carol," Paul 
Dano as "Alexander," Catherine O'Hara 
as "Judith" and  Forest Whitaker as "Ira.")
   Sure. It was kind of fun and strange. 
But I understand completely why this
$100 million magnum opus wasn't 
exactly a box-office smash. It took 
chances (many of which I respected) 
and it's really geared to the art house 
crowd. It might warm the hearts of 
fans of "Phantasm (1979)," "Donnie 
Darko (2001)" or a few "Dark Crystal 
(1982)" geeks. But a family going to 
see this with their children at the 
IMAX might come out a bit fucked 
up.
    Click here to read the review.
Copyright 2010 by Stephen Pytak