In the wake of Halloween — and never-ending midterms — this week I bring you a very special mini-edition of DVD reviews.
"Kamikaze Girls"
The main character in this film is teenage Japanese girl Momoko, trapped in the mundane, plain suburban cultural wasteland outside of Tokyo, who copes with her frustration with frilly baby-doll dresses and an escapist fantasy world of Rococo-era France. Her life and worldview, however, are turned upside down when she is unintentionally befriended by Ichigo, a persistent moped gang member.
The Good: The dialogue is nonstop witty, with the lead actors playing off each other riotously. It keeps the pace fast and the viewer hooked.
The Bad: A lack of information regarding Japanese subculture may cause a bit of confusion. You may also wish the film was a bit more serious at times.
The Ridiculous: Monologues, brief meta-narratives, cartoon sequences and other luridly colorful, fluffy cinematography make "Kamikaze Girls" fresh and fun.
The Skinny: A great departure from typical coming-of-age teen comedies, "Kamikaze Girls" is definitely worth checking out, especially if you’re a fan of Japanese culture.
4 stars out of 5
"Fido"
In a pleasant, all-American town in a 1950s era alternate reality, the Zombie Wars have just ended, but rather than eradicating them completely, zombies have been domesticated to be used as servants, milkmen, paperboys, etc. Little Timmy Robinson finds a friend in his family’s newly purchased status symbol zombie, whom he later names Fido. Things get problematic when Fido eats the old neighbor lady and a small zombie breakout ensues.
The Good: Carrie-Ann Moss is wonderful as a community woman obsessed with her social image and as a wife who, like the zombies, feels trapped in a loveless marriage in a sexist era.
The Bad: Perhaps it was post-hangover grogginess, but despite the ’50s quaintness being hilariously teamed with zombies, it drags a bit.
The Stiff: The child acting — or maybe just the children — is grating and unpleasantly excessive.
The Skinny: A surprising, unique gem to come out of Lions Gate, "Fido" is a dark comedy not to be missed.
3 1/2 stars out of 5
"Mr. Books"
Earl Brooks is a typical man trying to live the American dream — he works for a successful company, he lives in an enormous mansion and he has a beautiful wife. Aside from his troubled daughter, Mr. Brooks has a pretty perfect life — oh, except for his evil alter ego and addiction to killing. After a hiatus, his sloppy return to killing results in a young female detective on his trail, but she, too, has a different serial killer on her tail, as well as a sloppy divorce.
The Bad: The two (and a half) plots, almost entirely irrelevant to each other for most of the film, only to converge in unbearable levels of the contrived.
The Worse: With two paralleled stories dealing with serial killers, you wouldn’t imagine how dull "Mr. Brooks" manages to be. It’s a two-hour waiting game for something interesting to happen or develop.
The "please shoot me now": Washed-up Costner arguing and chuckling with his alter ego, washed-up William Hurt for two hours, while overweight, scruffy Dane Cook painfully proves why comedians shouldn’t act.
The Skinny: Want a serial killer movie? Check out "Silence of the Lambs," "Se7en," or even "Zodiac." Want a split-personality movie? Try "Secret Window."
1 1/2 stars out of 5
Also out this week: The shock-value horror sequel "Hostel: Part II"; Disney computer-animated "Meet the Robinsons"; and Iraqi War Veteran story "Home of the Brave."
Coming out 10/30: The crude romantic-comedy starring up-and-coming Jon Krasinski and the desperate Robin Williams in "License to Wed"; "Captivity," an unoriginal kidnapping story; and "Day Watch," the second installment in Russian sci-fi trilogy.
