Guardians of the Galaxy

Guardians of the Galaxy, the latest film by writer/director James Gunn is a movie that should be missed and is only worth seeing if you can find someone to pay for your ticket. If you are a fan of the comic book that spawned this movie then you may enjoy it, but if you're like me, someone who's never even heard of Guardians until this movie then you can skip it and be the better for it. This is the worst film from Marvel Studios to date and I thought Captain America: Winter Soldier was an unfunny joke. Because of that I am giving this poor excuse of a space adventure one bucket of Killer Korn.

Okay, so who is James Gunn, the man behind this garbagepiece? He is a writer/director who's biggest claim to fame to date was a little comedy/horror film called Slither. It starred Nathan Fillion, Elizabeth Banks, and Michael Rooker. It cost $15 million dollars to make (minus the marketing budget) and it made about $12 million dollars worldwide. In other words, NO ONE SAW IT! Tucking his tail between his legs, Gunn then turned back to TV where he began and directed some TV pilots and a short TV series called PG Porn where the tag line read,"For People who love everything about porn...except the sex". Then he wrote and directed an independent film called Super which cost $2.5 million dollars (again minus the marketing budget)and it made in total $327,716. Then he did a segment in a movie many believe is the worst film in the history of film, Movie 43. This is a man who has never had a profitable film in his career and for some strange reason the brain-trust at Marvel decides to put him at the helm of of this franchise (Guardians 2 has already been announced) and give him a budget of $170 million dollars (that's again minus the massive marketing budget). I say all that not to disparage Mr. Gunn, on the contrary. I said that so if you see Guardians and you walk out of it feeling unsure if it was good or not, take heart and know that the reason you feel that uncertainty is because he's a relative newcomer to directing these types of movies. By types I mean scope and potentially profitable.

Guardians stars Chris Pratt as Peter Quill aka Starlord. He's a thief that appears to be a bumbling fool and yet has the skills to locate and steal a force so destructive that people barely notice. Michael Rooker (once again working with Mr. Gunn) plays Yondu, the being that kidnaps Peter from earth when he was a young boy. Zoe Saldana, the one time professional wrestler Dave Bautista, Glenn Close, Djimon Hounsou, John C. Reilly, and Lee Pace round out the human portion of the cast. Vin Diesel and Bradly Cooper voice Groot and Rocket Racoon respectively. It's a decent cast but to say I was less than enthused to see this movie would just about hit the nail on the head. However, thanks to some unforeseen drama in my life, I needed an escape to take my mind off my issues for an hour or two. While Guardians gave me some of what I needed this movie is nothing special. Now as I have already stated, I have never read the comics this movie is based on so I went in with extremely low expectations. They were barely met. Guardians is a movie that seems like it wants you to take it seriously one minute only to go out of its way to let you know it's all tongue in cheek the next. It's that inconsistency that harms the product.

Now I wasn't going to bring up the racial component to this movie but fuck it, here it is. The bad guy in the film, Ronan is a blue shaded evil villian bent on destroying the galaxy. His "henchwomen" are the green Gamora and the multishaded blue Nebula, the adopted daughters of Thanos, who is purple. Ronan particularly wants to destroy the planet Xandar for whatever reason. Glenn Close aka Nova Prime resides on the lovely earth looking Xandar which is populated by white and pink people, with a very light smattering of Black people (I saw three in total). In order to save the white people of Xandar, the beings of color follow the white man as they attempt to destroy Ronan, the villainous being of color. When I left the theater something gnawed at me and it wasn't until I was on my way home did this realization come to me. I know some will roll their eyes at this and others will say, "hey, that's how the comic was." Exactly, that's the point. Further enforcing the stereotype that people of color cannot survive unless they follow the white guy who will save the day from the big bad villain of color. Maybe this was done on an unconscious level, maybe not, who's to say? All I know is that the underlying racial theme of this movie is subversive, subliminal, and destructive. After all, little Black and brown kids read comics and go to the movies too.

There wasn't much I liked about this movie and I highly recommend you skip this film. Unless of course you like spending money on mindless entertainment with corrosive subliminal racial undertones and significant plot holes. In that case, enjoy, and I'll see you at the theater.

Alive Inside

Alive Inside is a documentary by first time director Michael Rossato-Bennett, and it is spectacular. You think you have some idea what this film is about going in thanks to the trailer, and for the most part you would be correct. Look deeper however and you'll see that this doc is also a commentary on how the world today treats the elderly and the sad state of affairs of the multi-billion dollar a year nursing home industry. This film made me laugh, made me cry, and it touched my heart in such profound ways. That is why I give Alive Inside five buckets of Killer Korn.








Everyone in the world should see this film. EVERYONE!!! I say that because there is a good majority of us that have or have had grandparents in their lives. There is a small number of people who have never known that privilege and that is tragic, and they should see this film too. Michael Rossato-Bennett was asked to tag along with Dan Cohen one day as he went to a nursing home armed with a few ipod shuffles and headphones. Dan wanted Michael to capture what happened when the music was introduced to those with dementia and Alzheimer's. On that first day Dan and Michael met a withdrawn man by the name of Henry. He was a man that no one could reach, there was no engaging him in conversation, they couldn't even get him to tell you his name. After the headphones were placed on him and the play button was pressed, Henry exploded in song and movement and sang along to the gospel music that was filling his heart and soul. Suddenly Henry was answering questions and letting you know about who he was and what music meant to him. It was miraculous and Michael, who was supposed to only accompany Dan for a day ended up following him for three years after seeing Henry's transformation.

Dan Cohen, founder of the non-profit Music & Memory (MusicandMemory.org) is not in the medical profession, he is not a doctor of any kind, nor does he work for a nursing home. Dan is now a social worker who spent his life in the computer industry. He had an idea and went about seeing if it would work. He wondered what happened to people who were seemingly gone from the world, who withdrew from everything and everybody, when you re-introduced them to music. People like Louise, Henry, Mary-Lou, and Nell all showed Dan how life altering his idea truly was. Dan then figured that someone would take this idea and run with it and amazingly nursing homes wanted nothing to do with it. That's when the film takes a darker tone and begins to reveal all that's broken within that industry.

With thought provoking interviews by Bobby McFerrin, Oliver Sacks, and other prominent neuroscientists, caring staff, and loved ones, Alive Inside is a movie that should not be missed. With a great score by independent artist Itaal Shur and great camera work by Michael, you will not only be touched by Alive, you will be entertained as well. From this movie it is obvious that the pharmaceutical companies have nothing in their stockpile of medicines that can do what music can do, and it's obvious that music is the key to everything. With that being said, if you are looking for new music, different music, off the beaten path music then visit my music blog, TastyTunes. I assure you it will expand your musical horizons. Alive Inside is the best documentary of the year so far in my book and when you go I know afterwards you will be more than thankful you saw it. I know I am. I'll see you at the theater! 

A Most Wanted Man

A Most Wanted Man, the latest film from director Anton Corbijn sadly has the unfortunate distinction of being the last film of the very talented and enigmatic Phillip Seymour Hoffman's career. It is a cold, calculating spy thriller of a film which is at times both gripping and humorous. The performances are top notch and Mr. Hoffman practically blows anyone who shares the screen with him away. I will say this, if you are a Phillip Seymour Hoffman fan then this movie rates FIVE bucket's of Killer Korn, for he is spectacular. If you are not a fan, if you always could take him or leave him then A Most Wanted Man drops to three buckets. Still a solid movie, but a better one if Mr. Hoffman is your cup of tea.







I became aware of Anton Corbijn thanks to his last film, the George Clooney vehicle The American back in 2010. I thought that movie was impressive and while George acts the same in almost every single movie he's been in, I thought Anton got the best performance from him other than Soderbergh's Ocean movies. Little did I know that I had been a fan of Anton years before that thanks to his music video background. Three of my favorite bands, Metallica, U2, and Depeche Mode have had a number of videos helmed by Mr. Corbijn. Then he did a movie I caught on cable one night that fascinated me called Control and though I still wasn't aware of him, I liked his style. It's that style A Most Wanted Man is completely immersed in. While he doesn't wow you with spectacular shots or use imaginative camera angles, Anton Corbijn's style is a straight ahead, non stop, coming at you juggernaut which is what any film adaptation of a John Le Carre spy novel needs. It doesn't need distractions or subterfuge, those won't do. It needs to grab you by your imagination and not ever let it go and that's just what this film does.

Phillip Seymour Hoffman plays Gunther, the head of a German intelligence agency in Hamburg. He runs a small knit but very effective team of agents who seem to work perfectly together. His rival, Karl is played by Franz Hartwig and the two don't trust each other and they border on hating each other. Gunther is on the trail of Issa, played by Grigoriy Dobrygin, an escaped convict from a Russian gulag. Gunther wants to know why Issa has turned up in Germany and wants to bring him in for questioning. Karl wants Issa for himself and seeks to snatch Issa off the streets and away from Gunther. The big surprise for me regarding this film was the cast. Robin Wright, the only one that can hold her own next to Phillip plays Martha Sullivan, the US Ambassador to Germany, but who is really a high ranking CIA operative. Rachel McAdams, who's seemed to have found her niche overseas plays the good intentioned lawyer Annabel Richter who of course has taken on Issa as a client. Then there is also the amazing Willem Dafoe as banker Tommy Brue, a man with close ties to Issa's family and has a lot of money sitting in his bank in an account started by Issa's father. Gunther wants to use Issa's money to get close to a philanthropic man who he suspects is a jihadist and funneling money to terrorist organizations named Abdullah, played by the great Homayoun Ershadi. That's when things go horribly wrong for pretty much everybody.

A Most Wanted Man isn't a feast for the eyes. It's a drab looking film who's leading man is a chain smoking slob of a man who seems uncomfortable in his clothes. Instead of that Wanted Man is a feast for the mind. It's move and counter move, a game of chess with people as the pieces and Germany as the chess board. The music by composer Herbert Groenemeyer helps keep the tension tight throughout the film but doesn't distract at all. Herbert scored Anton's The American and while I truly enjoyed that score, this was a better marriage of music and image, a job well done. I would highly recommend Wanted Man if you want to see an actor at his best, one who will most undoubtedly receive an Oscar nomination and may even get his performance rewarded with a statue. If you don't care about that then I would still rush out to see it if you like great acting and even better storytelling, and I'll see you at the theater.  

Trailer Alert: Mad Max Fury Road

Here is it Kornheads, the first real look at the Mad Max "reboot", Mad Max: Fury Road that's set to hit theaters on May 15th, 2015. This time around there's no Mel Gibson or Tina Turner, instead we get to see the wonderful Tom Hardy as Max and equally as wonderful Charlize Theron playing Imperator Furiosa. Now I'm having a hard time thinking of this movie as a reboot since the man that directed the original Max trilogy, George Miller, is back almost 30 years later directing this one. Since it'll have the same look, feel, and taste as the first three can it really be called a reboot? I'm seeing it more as a re-imagining myself. Take a look at the trailer and let me know if you agree with me. Personally I can't wait to see it, what about you Kornheads? Leave me a comment and let me know.

Trailer Alert: The Walking Dead

Are you a fan like me? Are you looking forward to the upcoming season like I am? Well the trailer to season 5 of The Walking Dead premiered at Comic Con and it looks intense (though that word just feels to...small). It seems like the gang is going on a little road trip this season with the psychos from Terminus as they seek to find a cure to this particular zombie apocalypse. Rick looks like a man that is truly on the razors edge, wide eyed and as crazed as ever and back to leading the group. The new additions from last season are all here as well and are now part of the "family". Judging from this peek into the future, on October 12th it looks like this season is going to be one hell of a ride. Enjoy!

Trailer Alert: Fifty Shades of Grey

Okay, it's finally here! The trailer for Fifty Shades of Grey has dropped and I know quite a few people who are looking forward to this movie. I also know many who have no desire to spend a dime to see it. I don't know if this trailer will change the minds of anyone, but I have to admit that the trailer is far better than I thought it was going to be. Directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson, this movie being her first full length feature film, Fifty definitely has a crisp, sharp look to it along with a slight feeling of the Pierce Brosnan Thomas Crown Affair remake. Fifty has not been a smooth production to say the least with actors accepting one minute and then dropping out the next, but it appears Sam brought it across the finish line. Now the question is, is it a winner? I have not read the books so I am wondering if the trailer holds all the essence of the first novel or is there more to be seen than just what the trailer reveals. Check it out and let me know what you think.

Spoiler Time: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

Welcome Kornheads, this is a new aspect of Killer Korn I am introducing. It's a segment to the blog where I am going to talk about a particular movie complete with spoilers. That being said, if you don't want to know what Dawn of the Planet of the Apes has in store for you, then stop reading right now.



Dawn was directed by Matt Reeves and this is just his third film and it seemed like it. Handing a director who had only done two movies previously a production budget of $170 million dollars is akin to someone knocking on my door, handing me a helmet, and telling me to pilot a fighter jet. The downfall in my opinion was the script. The plot holes were massive and really made this film difficult for me to thoroughly enjoy. There's a moment where the humans give Caesar's wife human antibiotics, now call me crazy but if there was a worldwide pandemic, where in the world would the humans find antibiotics? And why and how would they work on an ape?

The biggest problem of this film was the humans being relegated to footnotes. There is NO sense of true desperation, no moments of anguish, and they were ALL one dimensional. There were no character arcs, no journey's, no evolution in any of them whatsoever. The humans are the same people they are through the film from the moment you see them to the end of the movie. And when it comes to the apes, all the male apes can talk and fight and are far more nuanced where the female apes say nothing, do nothing, and are stuck to the background. Outside of Caesar's wife, the female apes were nonexistent.

There were a ton of character stereotypes that dragged this movie down in my opinion. Jason Clarke's Malcolm is righteous and good right from the start. He needs no convincing on how good, kind, compassionate, and amazing Caesar is. Kerri Russell's Ellie was completely under utilized, Malcolm's son seemed like he suffered from some neurological disorder and had the mentality of a four year old. They all could have been written better.

What I did love had nothing to do with the story (which was weak) and had more to do with moments in the movie. When Koba tells Caesar what "human work" had done to him grabbed me. When Koba takes fellow ape Ash and kills him because Ash wouldn't kill a human was shocking. When Maurice stood up to Koba when Koba went after Malcolm's son made me smile. And when Koba played the stupid monkey with the two humans only to get the better of them and kill them with their weapon was intense. Yes I know all those moments involved Koba but he is what made this movie even remotely compelling. Without him this movie falls completely apart. The motion capture graphics should win this movie a technical Oscar, they are that impressive and the high point of the movie.

There were scenes in the trailers that weren't in the movie and that was upsetting as well. The scene where Jason Clark is yelling into the woods, "I need to speak to Caesar!" is not there. Part of Gary Oldman's speech about how the humans spent "four years fighting that virus and then another four fighting each other, it was chaos" is also missing along with a few others. I don't know about you but I hate when that happens, it feels like a bait and switch to me. I gave this film three buckets of Killer Korn in my review but just barely.

The next apes film has been announced and the director who has now only directed three movies is helming the next one though this time Matt is writing it as well. Here's hoping he crafts something better than what was handed in for Dawn.

So tell me Kornheads, what did YOU think of the movie? Did you love it, like it, or was it meh? Let me know, I'd love to hear your opinion.