The Black Dahlia

In this review i might have to hold a little history lesson because this review is for The Black Dahlia. The movie is based off the book which is inspired by the story of The Black Dahlia murder. For those that don't know The Black Dahlia was the nickname given to Elizabeth Short who was brutally murdered and mutilated by an unknown killer that has remained unsolved since 1947. I won't give you the details of the murder, i'll let you look that one up yourself. The movie only uses the murder more as a side story instead of the main story. The main story follows two LAPD cops as they investigate the murder and and one ultimately falls in love with the others girlfriend. With all star cast that includes Aaron Eckhart, Josh Hartnett, Hilary Swank, and Scarlett Johansson, this movie falls flat of what could have been a good movie. The only stand out performance in the entire film is that of Mia Kirshner who plays Elizabeth Short. Seen only in audition and sex tapes, Kirshner cares the movie with her minor role. The movie could and should have used a fake murder instead of relying on a historical murder. In the end they use a non existent suspect instead of one of the many potential suspects. I was definitely expected more since this is the only movie about the Black Dahlia. You might like this movie if you enjoy film noir or the video game L.A. Noir, which did a better job with the story, otherwise you will be very disappointed with the movie. Like i was. I will say this though Mia Kirshner deserved some kind of recognition from the Academy Awards. After all the biggest things she is known for is starring on The L-Word and as naked, bisexual assassin Mandy on 24. Also i have never found Hilary Swank to be pretty but i must admit she was very pretty in this movie. Instead of watching this movie i recommend you watch Gangs Of New York, which i haven't seen but is supposed to be really good. One last thing whats sad about this movie is that it is based off a book written by the same guy who wrote LA Confidential, which was a good movie. So watch that instead of Gangs of New York or watch both. But this one i gotta give 3.5/10.

The Sniper

Okay gonna do a flashback here to the year 1993 for the movie The Sniper starring Tom Berenger and Billy Zane. Tom Bereneger known for Major League and Billy Zane known for being the jerk of a fiance to Kate Winslet in Titanic. Story follows United State Marine Sniper Thomas Beckett and Swat Sharpshooter Richard Miller as they attempt to assassinate a Panamanian general. The inexperienced Miller must overcome his hesitancy of actually killing someone to achieve the mission. When only half the mission is complete Beckett decides to stay in finish the mission alone after a new deadly fight with Miller. Miller returns only to find that Beckett has been captured and his being tortured. In the end Miller saves Beckett and they both manage to escape from the jungle alive. While the movies doesn't go into a lot of detail on how to actually be a sniper it is a very enjoyable movie. If your wanting something that will teach you watch the beginning of Shooter and if your looking for something light this is definitely not for you. While it is an action movie there isn't a whole lot of action and what action there is, is spread throughout the movie. So if you dig action or military movies this is a good watch. Overall score 7.5/10

Scream 4

You can tell a lot about a movie by the opening scene. The are great ones like the beginning of Jaws and bad ones like the beginning of Batman and Robin. Well this beginning of this one definitely falls with the latter. When you start a movie inside a movie you know its gonna be bad. What was supposed to be the start of a new trilogy for new generation it fails big time. The survivor of the original trilogy returns to her hometown and the killings start happening again. All the new people die and all the old people survive. Since this is the fourth they have to reinvent the horror movie trilogy rules. That has always been the biggest problem with this series, you don't need to acknowledge horror movie rules without taking something away from your movie. Since i've spoiled the ending for one person i'll do it for everyone else. The killer was the cousin. She wanted to be famous and instead of making a sex tape like everyone else does she decides to kill everyone and make herself look like the lone survivor. Maybe i'm just being biased because i don't like horror movies usually and i thought it was stupid to make a fourth movie ten years after the last. Due to all the talk of the rules of horror movies and that the rules from the previous movies are no longer valid, it feels like they were breaking the fourth wall. What once had the potential to be a promising movie series has just fallen to cliche and shows why its best just to make one great horror movie and stop there. If you want a good horror movie watch something old school, not this piece of #%$! Score rating of 3/10.

Artctic Blast

Next up we have the movie Arctic Blast. In Arctic Blast a solar eclipse opens a rift in the ozone layer just off the coast of Australia. Well the cold air of the mesosphere comes down like a funnel freezing anything it touches. Essentially this movie is like The Day After Tomorrow but with no big name stars, cheap special effects and a budget of about $150. Starring in this movie is Michael Shanks who is famous for playing Dr. Daniel Jackson on Stargate Sg-1 and Bruce Davidson who played the Senator in X-Men. Give this one a skip and just watch The Day After Tomorrow. 4/10

Hanna

Well round two of the evening is Hanna. No its not about somebody I know. Its the story of a girl who lives in the forest with her father who is training her to be an assassin. Eventually she goes after the person she is supposed to kill but to do so she has to be captured and then she escapes takes a vacation cross Europe to meet up with her dad. Along the way she meets a family who take her with them. I know this seems like a short review but im 0/2 tonight on movies. The plot is poor and um still confused about just want went on. Eric Bana and Cate Blanchett star and Hanna is played by some girl I've never heard of. Eric Bana you recall played the Incredible Hulk in the first movie that was a complete disgrace to comic book movies. Skip this one and rent Red State. I know I hated that movie so that should tell you how bad this one is. 3/10

Red State

No this isn't a movie about Soviet Russia or the Republican Party. Although i'm willing to bet some of the characters in this movie probably are. No Red State is about three high schoolers who go to some women's house to get laid only to be drugged and imprisoned in a church. Turns out this church is actually a religious cult. When a Sheriff deputy is killed the ATF get involved and it becomes like Waco. For those that aren't old enough to know what happened in Waco, look it up. What follows is ATF killing people. Unfortunately this movie is boring and failed to live up to its potential. The movie stars John Goodman and was directed by Kevin Smith. I know what your thinking, Kevin Smith that directed Dogma, Clerks, and Jay and Silent Bob? Yes that Kevin Smith. This wasn't a movie that was in theaters and you can tell why. Maybe five people in the entire world would have gone and seen it. Give this one a pass and rent something better like Weekend at Bernie's or Sister Act 2. That's how bad it is. 4/10

Welcome to our new home!

Hola, bienvenue to our new home for Marty's Movie Reviews! It didn't make much sense to keep the old Uncensored web address since it was transformed into movie reviews. Well we have finally fixed that and have our very own address. So welcome to the brand new Marty's Movie Reviews.