Film: Pitch Black (2000)

DVD: Anamorphic


"He just escaped from a maximum prison."
"So do we just keep him locked up forever?"
"Well, that would be my choice."
"Is he really that dangerous?"
"Only around humans."

Review: This is an excellent sci-fi horror film about a transport ship crashlanding on a sun-blasted planet with deadly underground creatures who must remain in the dark. I forgive the coincidences of them crashing so close to an abandoned settlement on the eve of an eclipse because that is all just window dressing for the main conflict between the passengers trying to escape. Vin Diesel is great as the dangerous convict who must help out for them all to survive, but trust issues quickly surface.

"Excuse me, I think you should see this."
"Three suns?"
"Bloody Hell."
"So much for your nightfall."
"So much for my cocktail hour."

"Why don't you shut your fucking mouth for two seconds and let me come up with a plan that doesn't involve mass suicide!"
"I'm waiting... How much you weigh, Johns?"
"What's it matter, Carolyn?"
"How much?"
"Around 79 kilos, to be exact."
"Cause you're 79 kilos of gutless white meat. That's why you can't think of a better plan."

"Like I said, it ain't me you gotta worry about."

4 out of 5 Stars

Film: Late for Dinner (1991)

DVD: Anamorphic?


"What the hell are you doing? That's three-ply vinyl! Phyllis, get Dwayne in here. This lunatic is marring my furniture."
"Oh yeah, watch this."
"Dwayne! He's on my shag! He's on my... I got that in Vegas!"

Review: I am sad to say that this movie is not as good as I remembered it, not bad but not great. Two brothers escaping from a unscrupulous land dealer in 1962 are frozen and woken back up in 1991 where they try to reunite with their family. Peter Berg is good as the slow brother with kidney problems tricked into the cryogenic chamber. His emotional performance saves the movie from mediocrity.

"Frank, I'm peeing green here. What did that man do to us? Makes me fearful about doing the big job."

"Are you mad at me?"
"Frank?!"
"You always have to love a brother, no matter what, right?"
"C'mere, Frank."

3 1/2 out of 5 Stars

Film: Collateral (2004)

DVD: Enhanced 16x9


"How long you think this'll take?"
"Seven minutes."
"Seven. Not eight? Not six?"
"Two minutes from the 110 to Normandie. Normandie to Venice, three minutes. Over to Union is one, plus one for 'shit happens'."
"Okay if I time you?"
"Knock yourself out."
"What do I get if you're wrong? A free ride?"
"An apology. Already offered my free ride today."

Review: This is another of Michael Mann's films that get better with each viewing. Tom Cruise gets a chance to play the villain and makes one of his best films. He plays a hitman who coerces a cab driver to drive him around the city all night as he completes his 5 tasks. Jamie Foxx is good as the other side of the complicated relationship that grows between them. Los Angeles at night has never been filmed so beautifully.

"He's not paying you a damn thing."
"Who the hell is this?"
"Albert Ricardo, Assistant U.S. Attorney, a passenger in this cab, and I'm reporting you to the D.M.V."
"Let's not, oh, let's not get excited."
"Not get excited? How am I supposed to not get excited? Listen, you try to extort a working man. You know goddamn well your collision policy and general liability umbrella will cover the damages. And what are you trying to pull, you sarcastic prick?"

"Why didn't you just kill me and get another cab driver?"
"Cause you're good. We're in this together. Fates intertwined. Cosmic coincidence, you know... all that crap."
"You're full of shit."

4 1/2 out of 5 Stars