Dorkgasm Gonzo Is God

            Stop reading now and see this film IMMEDIATELY. Still here? Damn. Stop-Loss may just be the most important film you see this year. Kimberly Peirce (Boys Don’t Cry) gives us a movie that never preaches. She just shows us how the current war in Iraq affects the people who fight in it and those around them.

This week's releases include The Kite Runner, Wriscutters: A Love Story, The Mist, and Shrooms

            Based on the short story “Kneller’s Happy Campers a.k.a. Pizzeria Kamikaze” by Etgar Keret, the movie is not an instruction annual for the social impaired, as the title might indicate. Wristcutters is actually a lighthearted, enlightening and often quirky spin on life after suicide and coping with not living.

            When word broke that Portishead would be releasing their first album in a decade, I could barely contain my excitement. I have been a fan of the trip-hop act from the U.K. since their first album, Dummy, came out in 1994. The band’s blog teased fans with progress reports and they played some new songs at the All Tomorrow’s Parties festival in England. One would expect a triumphant return, a bold comeback to remind fans why they fell in love with Portishead all those years ago, but then one would be disappointed.

            What does Hollywood do once all the good Japanese horror films have been remade into crappy American horror films? They move on to other Asian countries, that’s what. Sorry folks, not much of a punchline, but then, Shutter isn’t much of a movie.

There are so many new DVD releases each week, I am doing a rundown of all of them to save some time. So here goes.

            When we last left off with the Naruto storyline on the Nintendo DS, Naruto was fighting his way through the Chunin Exams in an RPG. This time, however, we are treated to the first 3D fighter featuring the cast of the imported ninja cartoon. I do have to say though; out of all of the Naruto fighting games, this one may be the best so far.

            If you aren’t familiar with The Dresden Files by now, maybe you have been living under a rock. Between a short-lived SCI-FI CHANNEL series, a graphic novel adaptation by industry licensing mavens The Dabble Brothers, and a forthcoming RPG, it is hard to ignore Jim Butcher’s ne’er-do-well wizard for hire. This newest installment in the series, Small Favor is a prime example of why Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden is at the top of his popularity with no signs of letting up.

Dear Snake Pliskin,
            Please retire. You’ve been replaced. Her name is Eden Sinclair, and she is not only more of a badass than you ever were, but a lot easier on the eyes to boot!

            Neil Marshall’s latest film, Doomsday manages to be gripping, sexy and fun without losing too many brain cells.

            Well, I just returned from seeing the newest cinematic period piece The Other Boleyn Girl. Was it pretty? Absolutely. Was it good? Well, I have to agree with many people who said it could have been better. I, unfortunately, am in a position of unenviable bad luck. Like most movies that I know are based upon a book, I read the book in advance. One of these days, I'm going to learn to stop doing that.