Serenity (2005)

After some debate on what I wanted to watch today, I decided that I needed something that was both thought provoking, yet had enough action to keep my interest. Yes, that can be a difficult combination to find. What did I decide on? Well, that would be the 2005 Joss Whedon classic, Serenity.

Plot/ The crew of the ship Serenity tries to evade an assassin sent to recapture one of their number who is telepathic.

There are times when I need to revisit movies from my past that have provided some influence on who I am today. One of those is Serenity; a movie that I believe was never embraced by the mainstream society. This one has so much to offer featuring a layered storyline, solid effects, and an atmosphere that will appeal to every emotion. Yes, this is likely considered a niche movie (and series), as many did not like the western science fiction overtones, but it is definitely more than that. In the end, this one may not be for everyone (although it should be), and lives on as a cult classic. For me, I believe every Sci-Fi fan should give it a shot; it is an amazing movie that should be seen.

Slither (2006)

After a trip into cannibalism and some global warming propaganda last night, I needed something with a little lighter feel. On top of that, having gone back to work today after a four-day break, it is always nice to find some humor to take some of the edge off the early week frustrations.  What did I find, the 2006 horror comedy Slither starring one of my favorites Nathan Fillion.

Plot/ A small town is taken over by an alien plague, turning residents into zombies and all forms of mutant monsters.

I do not know what rock I have been living under. I believe I had passed this flick hundreds of time until watching it tonight. Damn, I have been missing out. This homage to the classic old-school days of horror is everything in a horror / comedy that I have been searching for recently. Directed by Troma alum James Gunn, this one had it all zombies, aliens, gore, bugs, creatures and more. More importantly, the scripting was spot on with just enough humor and seriousness that you need. The effects are solid, the acting and cast work well with the perfect dialogue and the film is a joy to watch.  Yes, there is a B-movie feel, but that does not matter in this entertaining trip down memory lane. In the end, if you have not watched this one, you are missing out. Do not wait like I did, check it out!!!

White Noise 2: The Light (2007)

I was sitting around looking for something on the tamer side for Scary Movie Night with the daughters and decided on White Noise 2: The Light. Ironically, I had avoided this movie like the plague for some time, as I was extremely disappointed in the first film. However, if I new Nathan Fillion was in it, I would have watched it earlier. No, it is not a man-crush or anything, but he does star in my favorite show Castle and his performance as Captain Hammer is one of my favorites.

Plot/ Following the loss of his family, a man attempts suicide only to discover upon waking that he can identify people who are about to die

As I stated above, I was not expecting much from this one. Fortunately, it was so much better than I could have imagined. Sure, it was not perfect as the ending really did nothing for me and some of the scares were predictable, but to me, it was better than the first installment. Overall, it did boast some atmosphere within the solid pacing, the acting was good, and there was actually characterization that helped the interesting storyline. In the end, while not perfect, it was enjoyable and had a few creepy moments (one that made the daughters jump, which is always a plus). If you have not watched it, feel free to check it out, it is pretty good and you could do a lot worse.

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog (2008)

This morning my wife put on a short film for all of us to watch over breakfast. Not knowing much about it, I had mixed emotions (especially when she said it was a musical). Soon, I discovered that Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog was not your normal musical.

Plot/ Dr. Horrible, an aspiring supervillain with his own video blog, is attempting to join the prestigious Evil League of Evil, but his plans are usually foiled by the egotistical superhero Captain Hammer.

When I sat down to watch this short flick this morning, I had no idea what to expect. But, after laughing and humming along with the songs, I was blown away and left wanting more. This little movie has it all, laughs, drama, action; everything you could want wrapped up in one package. The music, songs, script, and acting are amazing (especially the stars Nathon Fillion, Felicia Day, and Neil Patrick Harris who work perfect together). In the end, this is a great flick that must be seen, if you have not watched it, you are missing 45 minutes of awesomeness.