This film deserves some serious viewing consideration, but not for the reason most are giving it. As know, this is of course the film that Heath Ledger was making when he suffered his untimely demise, so that alone will draw an audience to the movie. But there's more here than meets the eye.

First, consider what had to be done to complete it, including the employ of Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell to take up the reigns of Ledger's character in order to complete the film. An interesting plot twist is sure to unfold to say the least just to pull off that feat.

Then of course, we have the Terry Gilliam factor. His visual presentations alone are a feast for the eyes, and are more than worth the admission price. From Time Bandits, to Brazil, to Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, to the Monty Python collections, there is very little outside of The Brothers Grimm that hasn't received Midas's golden touch.

Shaun of the Dead was perhaps the most brilliant horror movie, spoof or not, to be released in the last decade, and single-handedly reinvigorated the zombie craze. All hail Shaun…

For those of you who wish to go out during a full moon and get your inner lupin on without having to resort to a cheesy love story masked as horror/adventure film, then I present to you The Wolfman from Universal Pictures.

Of course, as suggested, The Wolfman tells the tale of an American Man who returns home and while investigating the death of his brother, gets bitten by a werewolf, which as those who know the legend can tell you, surviving such an attack turns you into one yourself.

An excellent cast headed by Benicio Del Toro, Sir Anthony Hopkins, and the always affable Hugo Weaving, plus what looks to be promising special effects, should deliver what one can only hope to be a strong interpretation. 

So stay away from the retread stuff, and grab your silver bullets for a trip to a quality horror film.

Enjoy!

We've all been there, wandering the video store late at night, looking for a title that will jump out and say "watch me". Problem is, unless we're there with a specific agenda to pick up the latest new release, most of us walk through those doors unprepared for the struggle that is about to ensue. But what if you were armed with a little extra knowledge, something that helped you get over the hump and make an educated decision on a movie that may slipped through your viewing cracks. While not an all inclusive list of the great titles that fall under the mixed sub-culture of movies known as Cult Films, the following may mean the difference between a night with a great film or an empty handed return home.

A Clockwork Orange
Forget The Shining, A Clockwork Orange is Kubrick's crowning achievement. Set against the backdrop of a not so distant future, Kubrick's tale of violence, government control, and eventually retribution is a testament to just how good a filmmaker he really was. Unfortunately, this film was made about 20 before its time, with society still a little too buttoned up to really appreciate the subtleties of the topics approached and the craft that went into the making of the film.

Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas
Terry Gilliam (formerly of Monty Python) has always been thought of as a visionary film maker. With films like Brazil, Twelve Monkeys, and Time Bandits already under his belt, Gilliam decided to tackle Hunter S. Thompson's infamous true story of self discovery and drug abuse. An unbelievable cast that included Johnny Depp as the over the top main character and support him with an equally insane Benicio Del Toro, not to mention Christina Ricci, Tobey Maguire, Cameron Diaz, and others, pulled the viewer through a madhouse romp of drug sequences and overindulgence. If you are a Depp fan in any way, this is definitely worth a gander.

Clerks
The film that started it all for Writer/Director Kevin Smith. Pull yourself away from the fact that movie was filmed entirely in black and white, and that it cost less to make than you put out at the pump in a year, Clerks is the epitome of the momentum an Indie film can gain with positive word of mouth and rhetoric that easily makes the characters identifiable in the eyes of the viewers. Smith's heavy use of dialog and crude humor to give life to his characters and makes every viewer who ever worked in a convenience store, fast food restaurant, or any other menial job stand up and say "dude, I've so been there." Well, maybe not to the point where you've discussed cleaning the glass at the nudie booths, but you get the point. If you want to launch yourself into the ViewAskewniverse, this is definitely you're starting point.

Office Space
Speaking of films that put you in the shoes of the characters, Office Space, perhaps more so than Clerks, really sums up what it is to be a Cult Movie. Mike Judge's retrospective film on being a cubicle drone was panned when it hit theatres, mostly due to the fact that the studio tried to ride the coattails of Judge's success with Beavis and Butthead. Thanks to massive television exposure and video rentals, Office Space may have actually surpassed the dimwitted morons as Judge's greatest work. Forget about The Office, Dilbert, or any other comedic attempt at trying to poke fun at life chained to a desk, Office Space nailed the emotion and irrelevance of office life to a tee, with just the perfect amount of humor and quotable lines needed to make a movie memorable.

Napolean Dynamite
Now here is a curious title. I'll be honest, I watched it more for the hype around it than actual interest, and at first, I wasn't overly impressed. However, after viewing it numerous times after, just looking for what got people's attention, the film has grown on me. John Heder's performance as Napolean manages to latch onto the viewer's attention by showing just how irreverent and ignorant he truly is, but also displays the complexities an outsider has to deal with in the world of popularity and alienation. Take away the thought that this movie is tagged as a comedy and look at the cultural perspective it tried to portray and I'll guarantee it moves higher on your must watch list.

Dark City
Alright, enough of this comedy and drama crap, let's try a little bit of Sci Fi. Alex Proyas is most known for his work on The Crow and I, Robot, Proyas perhaps deserves his most acclaim for Dark City, a film about self discovery set in a future where humans are nothing more than guniea pigs in alien experiments. The plot line is so completely twisted that the viewer is never quite certain as to what is real and what isn't, leaving a lot to the interpretation and debate. Not a film of immense special effects, Proyas uses his expertise to instead develop his characters and mood, something that is often lost on many of today's current film makers.

Army Of Darkness
Many film experts will point to Sam Raimi's first installment in this series as the true ..err..gem, but for me, it was always Army Of Darkness. Filmed almost as a parody of the horror genre, Raimi mixes in just the right amount of absurdity, schlock, and sarcasm to totally move away from the path he started down with the original Evil Dead. Bruce Campbell's continued performance as Ash has made him a cult icon in his own right, not to mention helped him to secure bit parts in almost every other Raimi film ever made. Want to add a bit of fun to the film, make it a drinking game. Every time Ash has to fire off a round with his shotgun, take a shot. His ammunition may last forever, but eventually your tolerance for alcohol will run out. Easily one of those films that can be filed under the "so bad, its good" label.

Have a few more titles you think are worth viewing that may have been passed on before? Feel free to comment with any of your own picks. Above all else though, enjoy the movies.

Let's face it, not all of us have time to scour the various movie sites to pick out the bits and pieces of the latest rumors and news that interest us. Frankly speaking, neither do I, but hey, someone has to do it right? So that being said, let's take a look at the latest news across the reel.

X-Men First Class In The Works

While downplaying the likelihood of a Magneto prequel ever being made, even though a script is in hand from David S. Goyer (Batman Begins), series producer Lauren Shuler Donner did openly discuss the development of an X-Men First Class movie, as reported by IGN.com.  The film would revolve around Cyclops and his coming to the X-Mansion. In keeping true to the series, then we would also likely see new origins for Jean Grey, a non-blue Beast, Iceman, and Angel. In likelyhood, this film, if it comes to light, would reboot the series and would likely mean an end to Brian Singer's purported return to the Marvel mutants.

Jackey Earl Haley to Shed Rorshach For Power RIng?

Over the weekend, rumors started flying that Jackie Earl Haley (Watchmen, Bad New Bears) was about to star across from Ryan Reynolds in the Green Lantern adaptation. Of course, Haley is rumored to be taking the part of Sinestro, the rogue Green Lantern turned arch nemesis. Now don't get me wrong, Haley could take the role in a decent direction, but to be honest, I'd rather see it given to someone like Cillian Murphy, who played The Scarecrow in Batman Begins. You want a tall, lanky, yet imposingly scary actor to take that role and Murphy really fits that bill for me.

Inception Trailer Causing a Stir

There perhaps isn't a movie out there that is creating a bigger buzz that Inception, the latest picture from Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight). Folks are putting the mystery behind it on par with The Matrix. You decide for yourself:

Golem Only Returning Star to 'The Hobbit'

When Guillermo Del Toro's shooting begins for the much anticipated prequel to the Lord Of The Rings, there won't be many familiar faces from Peter Jackson's reign to be seen. As a matter of fact, the only confirmed actor that will be returning will be Andy Serkis, who of course was heavily made-up to play the role of Golem.

Of course, Del Toro, the director behind Hellboy and Pan's Labyrinth, is also ties to some significant comic book adaptations as well, including Deadman and Death: The High Cost of Living, which would be a shame if it hit before an adaptation of Sandman, but that's another story.

Great news for comic book fans today. Bryan Singer has told reporters that he is in talks to return to Fox and make another X-Men film.  Let's face it, that's welcome news to a fan base that didn't want their last memory of Marvel's super team to be one placed there by Brett Ratner and a dude saying, "I'm the Juggernaut, Bitch!"

So what should they concentrate on if the series returns? 

Well, its fairly apparent that they have beaten the Magneto storylines to death, not to mention Ian McKellen isn't getting any younger either. That being said, its time to inject something fresh into the series and perhaps return it to its comic roots and adapt an already written storyline.

Here are the top five I'd love to see hit the big screen:

5.) Age Of Apocalypse

Quite simply, this huge crossover created the question, "what would happen if Charles Xavier never passed his dream of mutant equality along." After a tragic accident where the mutant Legion tries to change the past by killing Magneto, but accidentally killing Xavier instead, a new timeline is born, one in which the mutant Apocalypse is born. 

The great thing about making this a movie is that it allows the characters to be rebooted along with the movie franchise. Characters change roles, from heroes to villians and vice-versa. There's also a very likely possibility that it could be stretched into multiple volumes, as it pulls from such a huge collection.

4.) Mutant Massacre

All comic book movies thrive when turned over to darker material, just look at The Dark Knight for an example. They don't get much darker than the mutant massacre, which tells the tale of a band of mutants called the Marauders who are trying to wipe the Earth of the Morlocks, and any other mutants who stand in their way.

This would be a great installment, as many of the main players were already introduced, the Morlocks, Angel, Colossus, Kitty Pryde, etc. You also get a teaser of an appearance from Thor, who Marvel is already developing a movie around. You also get appearances from Apocalypse and Mister Sinister, two villians who could easily carry their own storyline, and who also appear heavily in the Age of Apocalypse above.

3.) Onslaught

Another great crossover that spanned the entire Marvel Universe. Onslaught is the story of Professor Xavier going completely nuts after accidentally taking some of Magneto's personality into himself. Deciding to create a world where mutants rule, Onslaught changes his mind and tries to destroy both after deeming neither worthy.

This was series finally made Xavier interesting beyond his ideology, but in reality, it presents problems from a film makers perspective. First off, Ratner killed off Xavier in the last installment. Secondly, it requires a lot of ground laying that frankly would need to be done in another film or two first. So while it would be fun, it just isn't going to be possible.

2.) X-Cutioner's Song

How about a storyline that introduces one of the most well liked characters that hasn't been used in Cable, has an evil doppleganger, and also unleashes a incredibly horrible disease upon mutants that adds more contempt and fear to their race. Yup, this is that story.

X-Cutioner's song played so hard on the future and past of the X-men, that it was the perfect ode to fandom and continuity, and adapting it to the big screen would be a huge lift. It also would implement new blood in X-Force characters, allow Bishop and Gambit into the storyline films, and provide more fuel for future fires.

1.) Days of Futures Past

This is perhaps one of the heaviest stories told in the X-Men arcs. Everything that the series built itself up to, the coexistence of humans and mutants, gets answered in a storyline that sees humanity's fear of mutants finally winning out, with Sentinels keeping those left imprisoned in interment camps. The only exception to that is Wolverine and Kitty Pryde, who are all that is left of the X-Men.

Speaking of not getting younger, Hugh Jackman may have seen his last X-Men film, unless this storyline is adapted. An older, wiser, yet still surviving Wolverine is pivotal to this story, but it is Kitty that proves to be the lynchpin. Easily one of the biggest thinker stories that the X-Men ever took part in, and aside from the Dark Phoenix Saga, the best work done by John Byrne.

So which stories would you like to see adapted. Feel free to jump in and let your suggestions fly.

Being a Netflix customer and owning the greatest gadget ever for viewing Netflix films, I'm always in search of new things to watch on it. My latest find is a series of shorts put out by Starz called 30 Second Bunny Theater. They are, as mentioned in the title, 30 seconds short, animated reenactments of movies.

Once I started watching a few, I was hooked, as they are addicting. If you want to check out all of them, you can find them here, but in the meantime, here is a small taste for your viewing pleasure.

National Lampoons Christmas Vacation


CaddyShack

Die Hard

Harry Potter

As a parents of 6-year-old twins, my general movie going excursions have been limited to seeing animated children’s films. Sure, my wife and I get the occasional chance to see a regular movie, courtesy of a babysitter or relative who watches our children, but generally speaking, animation makes up the majority of our movie theater experiences. However, that isn’t such a bad thing.

 We've all been there, flipping through the channels late at night when we happen upon a scary movie. You don't want to watch, because you know the tension will keep you up or you're just a little twisted, like myself, and you don't mind a few nightmares. However, there is just something captivating about it that either keeps you from changing the channel or keeps you flipping back, waiting to see what happens next. Maybe its the quickening pulse or maybe its just some primal need to be scared, but horror movies are just one of those guilty pleasures that we like to say we can deny, but more often than not just can't bring ourselves to.

With Halloween around the corner, that inner most desire is starting to flourish in us all. Here's a list of quality horror movies to help sate that desire:

In The Mouth Of Madness
Sure, John Carpenter's adaptation of this H.P. Lovecraft novel won't get published on many people's lists as one of the best horror movies ever made, but it deserves a view when you're looking for something creepy to watch with the lights off. The story of Sutter Cane, a recluse author in the mold of Stephen King, who is on the verge of publishing his greatest work to date. When his book is late, his publisher and a hired insurance investigator go looking for Cane, only to be lead to Hobb's End, a fictitious town of Cane's own creation, where everyone is a prisoner of an underlying evil. Lots of subtle imagery and site scares pace this film and keep the viewer on the edge of their seats.

The Shining
Sure, Stephen King himself was never truly happy with Stanley Kubrick's adaptation of the bestselling novel, to the point where King eventually remade it for TV, but fans have long loved this film. Jack Nicholson's over the top performance as Jack Torrance was incredible, as he deliciously depicts the slow, but steady change from father to complete psychopath. However, the true star of this film was not Nicholson, or even an underrated Shelly Duvall, but the set itself with its dark colors and twisting hallways, making the viewers feel like they themselves were riding the big wheel through the Overlook. Come play this movie...forever.

The Exorcist
Perhaps the greatest horror film ever made, William Peter Blatty's tale of satanic possession struck a cord in every viewer, especially in uptight early 70's America. The possibility that such evil can get to you, even in the comfort of your own home and under the protection of the Lord, has scared generations. Everything in this movie works to set the mood, from the make-up, to the lighting, to the fact that we are trying to rescue a child. No serious movie lover should spend another Halloween without seeing this film!

Shaun Of The Dead
Zombie movies are a just one of those things that keeps viewers craving more. They are a simple premise really, but for some reason, audiences love them. Perhaps that is the reason that makes this spoof of the genre, masking a comedy and love story around an invasion the brain eating living dead, so delicious. Alright, I'm done with the puns here. Seriously though, this film is intelligent and witty, and for a supposed spoof, it almost carries itself off as a true horror film, an accomplishment in and of itself.

Halloween
Carpenter's second visit to this list, but his most deserving of the two. Halloween may have ushered in the slasher picks, with the unkillable Michael Myers, but it set the mark for a genre that almost killed the horror industry, so much so that it was almost a sacrilege to movie making to do a remake of such a classic film. The struggles of Jaime Lee Curtis to save herself from the rampaging psychopath while her friends were slain throughout the house basically scripted the rules that all horror films now follow.

Poltergeist
The first scary movie I can ever remember seeing, kept me away from closets and clowns for a long time. Tobe Hooper and Stephen Spielberg's tale of haunting had people looking for Indian burial grounds in their backyards and counting between lighting bolts for fear of their own safety. The slow pace by which things start off and then sort of rocket to the climax makes this film a delightfully thrilling roller coaster ride of emotions. The fact that the film seemed to curse those that starred in it only makes it that much better. I know I'll catch flack for not mentioning Hooper's calling card on this list, but this is the one that always did it for me.

The Grudge
After the near death of the industry due to the commercialization of pictures likeScream, new blood was injected into the genre from Japan of all places. Of the remakes of Japanese films to hit the U.S., The Grudge remains my favorite. Piecing together the tales of multiple families, The Grudge sets a very eerie mood, making the audience actually wonder if this film will actually have a happy ending or if all the characters are doomed from the very start. From the hand coming out of the head to the shadowy images coming to life, this is one grudge I'm happy isn't against me.

Frailty
Perhaps the least known film on this list, Bill Paxton's tale of a serial killer was incredible and remains underrated to this day. Matthew McConaughey plays a man who was raised by a God fearing and demented father that thought he saw demons in people, and would subsequently kill them. He then enlists his sons to help him on his Holy mission. This tale is told by McConaughey to a police detective, as he unfurls the tale of how his brother became the God's Hand Killer. Possibly one of the single best twists in any movie I have ever seen.

And what list wouldn't be complete without one for the kids:

The Nightmare Before Christmas
Seriously, Tim Burton is a whack job, but his imagination and presentation are flawless, and no where does it show any better than this children's (?) classic. The tale of Jack Skellington and his obsession with replacing his boredom for Halloween by taking over Christmas is incredibly well thought out and a spectacle for the eyes. Burton does a fantastic job of making you sympathetic to Jack, who, whether he's good intentioned or not, is essentially out to ruin the most sacred of holidays. A must have for families trying to give their children something enjoyable to watch for Halloween to show them that the holiday can be about more than the scares.

Well folks, that's my list. I'm sure there are hundreds of other titles I could have added or mentioned, but this is not a top ten nor is it a scariest of all time list. This is simply a forum of suggestion for those looking for a little something spooky to do on Halloween night. Enjoy!

 Well folks, the day that always seemed so far away has finally come and gone. At the beginning of this week, I officially shuffled my twin sons off to kindergarten, starting what will undoubtedly be a vicious cycle in life.

So there the little men were, eager to mark up the street with their oversized backpacks only matched by the size of their expectant eyes, and I got to thinking, "what are some of my favorite school movies?" Well, I've got five that are essential to me.

Back To School

You can't talk about back to school without paying homage to the namesake film. Rodney Dangerfield plays Thornton Melon, a tycoon who in an effort to reconnect with his son, decides it's time to re-enroll in college. As would be expected with a Dangerfield role, hijinks ensue (always wanted to say that), and Melon ends up making a mockery of the establishment. It may be a crime to say because of Caddyshack, but this is perhaps Dangerfield's best role, and left many wishing he had managed to hit his stride earlier in his career.

Animal House

While Mrs. Robinson ushered in perhaps the first known cougar, Dean Wermer's wife was a close second! Animal House remains the epitomy of the school movie, the one that ranks above all others and any college movie made afterwards strives to be. It is a right of passage for any incoming freshman in college who hasn't stumbled upon the film on film before, and is a must view the very first night on campus. While others like PCU, Van Wilder, and many more have tried, they have done nothing more than hold a tribute to the masterpiece.

Billy Madison

Okay, so truth be told, Billy Madison is one of the most idiotic films to ever attempt to be called a movie. That being said, its also a guilty pleasure. Billy Madison actually had a decent plot, making a rich kid turned washout (see Hilton, Paris) complete school all over again in order to prove that he can run his father's company. Sandler obviously left the thinking there when it came to the character, as the rest of the film was proof positive at just how low a comedian will got to get laughs. Still, I occasionally mutter, "what are you looking at swan?".

Ferris Bueller's Day Off

I think it is somewhat ironic that we're talking about films to what when going back to school, while putting one on the pedestal that is all about skipping school don't you? This masterpiece by the late John Hughes was the essential character comedy, from rotten Principal Rooney to tightly wound Cameron Frye to the hero Ferris Bueller. Hughes may be remembered best for his Brat Pack flicks, but Bueller was the film that we're all still quoting today. Anybody, anybody, Bueller?

Fast Times at Ridgemont High

Ever wonder what Sean Penn was doing before becoming a political prick? Well, he was catching waves, ordering pizzas, and skipping classes as Jeff Spicoli. Fast Times was like the ultimate combination of Police Academy with American Graffiti; an equal part sex romp with pivotal coming of age storyline. And then there was the infamous Phoebe Cates pool scene. Don't lose the irony that Judge Reinhold was dressed as a pirate when he got caught either. Argghhh.

Alright, that should get you back in the spirit, whether you're sending kids off to school or going back yourself. Got some favorites of your own? Feel free to jump in and share them.