Hoodwinked, is expected out in December 2005, which will take a new twist on the story of Little Red Riding Hood. Meanwhile, just out, is a full 81 minute version of the story of Chicken Little. You know, the little chicken who got hit on the head with an acorn and started freaking out, screaming that the sky is falling. Yes, that very same one is back, but of course the story was a little thin so the studios expanded it and while they were at it, gave it a contemporary setting…er, well, I guess as contemporary as one can get for a village of computer generated talking animals.
Continue reading…

In many interviews, Hitchcock has mentioned Shadow of a Doubt as his favorite film. It can certainly be perceived as his first real American film, even though Rebecca officially takes that credit. The plot of Shadow of a Doubt is centered around a small California village called Santa Rosa. Because of the small intimate setting it provides some interesting psychological insights. In many ways the film shows the true craftsmanship of Hitch, even though it may take further investigation to recognize some of the concepts that were used in his most successful films of the ‘50s and ‘60s.
Continue reading…

It’s always risky to embark upon watching a series that has been hyped as much as Desperate Housewives was, so I postponed watching the pilot episode for as long as possible, hoping to forget the hype. As it turned out, the atmosphere and characters of Desperate Housewives made me forget the hype rather quickly as I was sucked into the surprisingly dark and complex world of suburban Wisteria Lane (a strange name they must have come up with in an attempt to find one that really didn’t exist).
Continue reading…

I preface this week’s column with a note of sad news. This will be my last offering for you all here at Choking on Popcorn.

Those of you who have come to enjoy my coverage of the lesser-known, and even lesser covered, titles that hit your video store shelves every week can follow me on over to Film Monthly, where I’m updated regularly. Plus, in short order, you should be able to catch me at my own web site, live at Reel Advice

But don’t let that bring you down, o my readership! Instead, join me for a movie, part one of three, that actually might’ve been pretty good if it hadn’t been for one particularly unpleasant part that botched the whole thing a dozen times over.

Continue reading…

When Alaskan travel agent Paul Barnell finds a dead body in the trash, he decides to pass the corpse off as his long lost brother so he can collect a hefty insurance premium and aid his failing business as well as his ailing wife. This not only attracts the attention of an overzealous insurance agent, but also of the two thugs who placed the body there in the first place, for they need to bring it back to their employer as proof that they performed their murderous task.
Continue reading…

Will Night Watch be the movie that will put Russian cinema back on the international cinematic chart again? That would be quite an achievement if you take into account that Russian cinema virtually perished – ironically enough – with the collapse of the former Soviet Union. Apparently there was no place for cinema during Glasnost and Perestroika and the number of cinemas was reduced from 10.000 to a baffling 70. With this, also the budgets for movies evaporated, subsequently killing off serious cinema. And now all eyes are on the man that has already been called “the Russian Tarantino”, director Timur Bekmambetov. He directed this top-grossing movie about vampires, warlocks and necromancers, and which marks the start of a genuine vampire trilogy.

Continue reading…