THE WEEKLY RANT ARCHIVE

Missed a week? You can check out all of our old rants, polls, and quizzes.

The Oscar Rant: Keeping Score - Oscars Predictions/Cassandra's Dream/Good Luck Chuck/The Savages

This week The Cardinal Review plays tribute to the Oscars by ranting about the people not nominated and under-loved categories. We also have our predictions for who will be taking home Oscar statues and will be keeping score as the events proceed. If you are not a fan of the Academy, come check us out any way, as we have three new reviews and a chance to win a book from Quirk Books Press with the mere click of a mouse (and some typing...).

Well, we can't because of Pillow Pants - Rambo/Teeth

What do Lorena Bobbit, Wierd Al, and Robocop all have in common? They are all related to the content you will find in this week's The Cardinal Review. We only have reviews of two new films Teeth and Rambo, but there are some other bonuses this week including links to a unique re-make of the Be Kind, Rewind trailer and a new chance to win a book from Quirk Books in our Quirk Quiz.

There Will Be First Blood Part IV - The Rambo Experience/Cloverfield/The Diving Bell and the Butterfly/There Will Be Blood/Quick Picks

As we straddle the year end and the new year of movies, The Cardinal Review ties to sort through the two. Monumental films like There Will Be Blood sharing press with films like Rambo and How She Move. This week, we have a feature article documenting what happens when you watch the first three Rambo movies back-to-back-to-back, a video edition of The Quirk Quiz, and a salute to Heath Ledger. If you did not see our Top Picks of 2007, make sure to come by and check them out.

Happy New Year of Movies - Atonement/I'm Not There/Top Five Films of 2007/Quick Picks

We are back and with a new lease on life and film making. Make sure you check out our first post of 2008 which covers all of the big award-worthy films. Feature reviews of the Golden Globe Winning Atonement and the Bob Dylan inspired I'm Not There. In addition we now have Quick Picks - quick reviews of National Treasure: Book of Secrets, Sweeny Todd, Gone Baby Gone, Juno, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead, and No Country for Old Men. Make sure to register to win in our Monster-themed Quirk Quiz for the chance to win a free book from Quirk Books Press.

Happy Trite Holiday Film Birthday Steve! - Bee Movie/The Darjeeling Limited/Lions for Lambs/Lust Caution/Michael Clayton

Congratulations to Shandi for being the first winner in our Quirk Quiz. You could win this week if you correctly answer our new quiz question. In addition, this week we make fun of Fred Claus, wish Steve a Happy Birthday, score and exclusive interview with Tom Cruise on the red carpet of Lions for Lambs, and catch up on Seinfeld's return with Bee Movie. We also fill in some gaps and finally get up reviews of The Darjeeling Limited, Lust Caustion, and Michael Clayton. Plus a brand new poll question and we ask you: What Would NPH Do?

A Quirky Return - 3:10 to Yuma/Eastern Promises/Fracture/Into the Wild/The Jane Austen Book Club/Shopgirl/Zodiac

October 25, 2007 - After a month away, The Cardinal Review returns with a flashy new design, seven new reviews, and the opportunity to win a free book from Quirk Books. Make sure to check out the brand new site and submit your answer for our brand new quiz question. And of course, make sure you read all of our reviews.

On the Road Again

September 7, 2007 - Due to the three of us all moving within a 10-day span coupled with the fact that we are depressed by the current film releases, we are taking this week off to get settled, get internet, and will be back next week to start off our Fall movie watch.

Dear Liz: Why? - Feature Article: X Marks the Spot/Mostly Martha/The Queen

August 31, 2007 - Why does Hollywood feel the need to remake great movies? Why was the Halloween remake released in August and not October? Why are people actually clamoring to see it? Is the Original really that out of date? This week we answer all these questions and more. Steve catches up with the original film that No Reservations was duped from, Kevin finally watched The Queen and we proudly introduce our first feature article and guest reviewer.

There Goes the Neighborhood - Battleship Potemkin/Chinatown/No Reservations/Stardust

August 24, 2007 - Unexcited by anything opening this weekend (sorry Bean fans), we offically deem the Summer over. As we hunker down to get through the month of September (which does have a couple blips of hopefulness like The Darjeeling Ltd. and Across the Universe), we have dug into the vault and caught up with some classics. Kevin reviews Polanksi's film noir classic Chinatown, Chris starts his quest to understand what it is that makes a film Greatest of All Time, and Steve catches No Reservations for reasons neither Chris or Kevin can fathom. Check out the new reviews and vote for your favorite summer movie.

Grappling with Greatness - Death at a Funeral/Flying Leathernecks/Rescue Dawn/Superbad

August 17, 2007 - New this week are two of the best comedies of the Summer: Superbad and Death at a Funeral and we have reviews fresh off the press for opening weekend - of course we do not have a press, but you get the gist. Also this week: Steve finds another Five-Star film with Herzog's Rescue Dawn, Chris finds a dud with Flying Leathernecks as he continues his John Wayne Retrospective, and weighs in on how to review the four supposed Greatest Films Ever Made. Make sure to get the early review on Superbad and Death at a Funeral and vote in this week's poll question.

Is any one else excited that Neil Gaiman is finally on the big screen? - The Bourne Ultimatum/The Simpsons Movie/Stagecoach

August 10, 2007 - This week, Chris extols the virtues of Neil Gaimain and hopes that his entry onto the big screen, Stardust, does not tank. We also have some great marathons lined up for the CRFA including the end of the John Wayne Retrospective and an upcoming Great Directors set focusing on Bergman, Fellini, Kurosawa, and Scorsese. And as usual we bring you the best of what is new with reviews of The Bourne Ultimatum (Steve gives it 5 stars!) and The Simpsons Movie (Kevin was not as impressed). Make sure to vote for the under-the-radar film you are most excited about and be sure to join our message boards and let us know what you think!

Crossdressing Wizards Reignite the Sun! - All About Eve/Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix/Some Like It Hot/Sunshine

August 3, 2007 - We are proud to announce The Cardinal Review version 3.1! We have added a bunch of new features including message boards and a more interactive poll and mixed up some of the old sections. Of course we still offer you the same great reviews and this week we have a great mixture of classics and new hits. Writing for the CRFA, Kevin weighs in one one of his favorite films, Billy Wilder's screwball great Some Like It Hot and Chris finally has a chance to catch the classic All About Eve. We also have Steve and Chris' contradictory reviews of the newest Harry Potter film and a review of Danny Boyle's newest pulse-pounder Sunshine. Make sure to check out the new site, vote in the poll question, and leave us a note on the new Boards.

The Cardinal Review Strikes Back... - 28 Days Later/The Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer/Live Free or Die Hard/Rio Bravo/Transformers

July 17, 2007 - After a month away, the Cardinal Review is back and I can honestly say, better than ever. We have a whole new layout and have broken the site up a little better for easier navigation and are diving right into the fray of the height of summer movie-dom to bring you the best of what is new and also classic. We have reviews of three box office hits: Transformers, Live Free or Die Hard, and The Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. We also have two classics, the amazing reimagined zombie film 28 Days Later and the Western Classic Rio Bravo, which ties into our current John Wayne 100th Retrospective. We also have answers to our poll questions about what is so fantastic about Mr. Fantastic and a new question about Michael Bay's attempt at resurrecting the Transformers.

June 18, 2007

Season Finale

It has been a wild and crazy time here for the CR the past two weeks. There is a lot in motion and there are a lot of films out there. This week, we are very proud to give you six new reviews. Over the next two weeks, we will be taking a vacation of sorts and will be doing some maintenance work to the site in perperation for our late-July launch of the new site. There are so many things that we love about our current layout, but with the number of films and feedback responses, we are going to be moving to a more user friendly layout. As our feedback question today, we have asked you what you would like to see in the site re-design. Please be sure to answer as we want to make the Cardinal Review a place for you to come, read, and discuss film. If you feel that you have not got enough and are missing us over the next two weeks, be sure to check out our postings on The Vine at Rotten Tomatoes as we will be posting there while the site is overhauled.

As promised, this week we have a slew of films for you ranging from big new releases to indie hits, classics for the CRFA, and new DVD releases. Steve was able to catch Paris je t'aime, a series of 18 short films that captures stories of love set in the City of Light. Being Steve's first exposure to short films, this collection featuring acclaimed actors and directors has spoiled him and will make his next festival experience a little less exciting. Kevin and I were able to catch Ocean's Thirteen at a DLP screening and we had a blast. Well, kinda. It was fun, but I still hold by my rant from last week that Twelve is where its at. Make sure to check out our full review below.

We also have a review of Adrienne Shelly's Waitress, a touching and sweet film. Adrienne Shelly and her incredible talent and humor will be missed.

I kicked off my John Wayne retrospective with the late John Ford film The Man who Shot Libery Valance instead of Rio Bravo. I have had to delay Rio due to some TiVo issues which left me in the climatic battle sequence without the ending of the film. This change, however, led me to watch what I must assume is going to be the best of the litter. Valance not only showcases The Duke as his strong and Americana-bleeding self, but pits him against Jimmy Stewart, a lawyer from back East. A brilliant film about the nature of law and the taming of the West, Wayne is full of heart and character that I feel will be tough to top from his other more macho roles.

Thanks for taking the time to read all that we have written this week and for your patience while we work on the site. I hope that you are all enjoying the fun summer films that are out there and getting out of the heat to see some great stuff. See ya all in July.

~Chris

Last Week´s Poll Question

Following the opening of Ocean's Thirteen we asked Who is the coolest member of the Ocean's team? and here’s what you answered:

Chris' Pick I like Matt Damon's Linus. He has no idea what he is doing, is kinda outclasses, but manages to pull it off everytime. I figure if I am ever in a group that is that chock full of talent and fancy suits, well I would be the one who is a bit clueless...

Kevin's Pick Don Cheadle! No doubt, first of all, he's playin on Sammy Davis Jr's part, and he was the coolest of the Rat Pack. Secondly, he's Don Cheadle! He does sci-fi, he does comedy, he does drama, is there a hat this guy doesn't where? Plus, his accent in O-11 was killer! Proper villains, hah!

Steve's Pick The coolest cat in Danny's Oceans crew isn't one of those pretty boys with their pretty designer shirts (Clooney, Pitt or Damon), but instead is a guy who's got just as much style without needing the fancy schmancy suit. It's definitely Basher Tarr, played by Don Cheadle. He's got a style all his own, some of the best lines in the film, and he BLOWS STUFF UP! nuff said!

We had another showing of great responses this week. Here they are: Shane wrote: I'd have to go with Carl Reiner's Saul Bloom. He's so good at pulling off the doddering old man bit, no one ever suspects he's in with the cool kids. Plaid is rad! Autumn's answer: "Orlando Bloom! Oh wait, wrong movie..." Dan voted for "Eliot Gould! I also want to repsond to some answers from last week's Poll. Knowing Alexis, she may not think there is enough alcohol in the world, but she is certainly trying to test that theory!" And my personal fave from this week is from Matt Damon who wrote "me".

We also got a great response to our feedback question: Pirates of the Caribbean has made $1,066,200,582 thus far, so some of you had to have seen the film. Do you think Steve's review is spot-on or way way off? Are you a pirate lover or hater? From Spoodles from Key West: Let me tell you something. I love pirates. LOVE THEM!! I love being a pirate and I love being attacked by pirates (**wink wink**), now if only I could make a billion dollars in the process like that steamy, dreamy Johnny Depp! Toodles from Spoodles.

June 6, 2007

Steve got us Knocked Up this week

This week is just the calm before the storm. While we only have one review, the next entry in Judd Apatow's new genre of RomComs aimed at men Knocked Up it is worth devoting our attention to. This film has garnered a lot of press due to both its raunchy comedy and conservative message. With reviews in the NYTimes, Time, and a host of other publications the film's star Seth Rogan (the subject of last week's poll question - answers below) and Apatow have been seen as Hollywood's new comedy team. With a slew of films in the wings and a TV-esque marketing and production strategy Apatow is finally breaking out from behind all of the failed projects. What is your take on all of this? Not having seen Knocked Up myself, I must say that I am excited and curious. I loved The 40 Year-Old Virgin and Apatow's hand in the legendary Anchorman cannot be ignored. I am excited for what is coming and will plan on catching up with Rogan this weekend. If you have seen the film, please let us know your oppinion by dropping us an e-mail at
Feedback@TheCardinalReview.com or dropping a line on the feedback section to the left.

I did mention that this slow week means that there is a lot coming. There are a couple of reasons that we have been slow this summer ranging from site re-designs (coming soon), graduations (Congrats Andrew!), and career changes. Hopefully things will start to settle down soon, but I can promise a slew of new reviews following this weekend. Coming up we have reviews of Paris je T'aime, Waitress, Shrek the Third, and the newly opening Oceans 13 to satisfy your theater going needs. We will also have reviews of The Queen and Letters from Iwo Jima both now out on DVD, and in honor of John Wayne's 100th two weeks ago, I have been spending some time with the Duke and trying to decide if he is really all he's cracked up to be. Coming to the CRFA next week I will be posting the first of my John Wayne retrospective films: Rio Bravo. In addition to all those films, keep a look out for the upcoming essay about Touch of Evil and The Fountain. Both films have had their shakey moments with the public and one has come out a masterpiece and the other is waiting for time to tell. Check in to see how I weigh in on them and how, despite their vast differences, they are more alike than you would think.

With that business out of the way, I can now address our Pick of the Week. We have been, for the past couple weeks, using the Pick to highlight upcoming films we are excited about. We are going to be switching this up a bit and in addition to pointing out films we have on our radars, bringing classics and overlooked DVDs to your attention. And in the spirit of both of those, I have selected Oceans 13 for this week. I am, judging from the reviews, in the minority in loving Oceans 12. I thought that Oceans 11 was brilliant and that Soderbergh was able to make the ensemble and heist genre riviting like no other film maker has done in years. While many lambasted his Oceans 12 for leaving the thrills of the first, I thought it was even better and more brilliant. Soderbergh did what few have had the balls to do with a sequel, and that is not give the audience what they want, but to use the characters to explore the boundries of genre convention. Much like the brilliant Godfather II, Oceans 12 tips the genre upside-down. The heist is not the focus of the heist film, but instead it toys with the viewer, making the heist obvious, but the real switch is on us. While we are paying attention to the build-up, expecting the same sort of climax that the first film provided, Soderbergh fakes us by showing us what we want to see and putting the tension elsewhere. In a deft move, he stands in for Danny Ocean and fools us. His toying with the characters, the fourth wall, and by reversing expections, Soderbergh has shown that he is in the sequel business not for the buck, but because having established characters and scenarios opens doors to experimention. I am eagerly looking forward to what the next installment has to offer and will be back with you next week to let you know if he was able to once again rise to the occasion.

~Chris

Last Week´s Poll Question

Following the opening of Knocked Up we asked What if this guy got you pregnant? and here’s what you answered:

Chris' Pick All I can say, is who would not want to have a love child with Seth Rogan. I mean true, he may not be the person you ever want to wake up next to, but come on, how many of those stupid "what do you look for in a relationship" things get answered with "humor". Did anyone see The 40 Year-Old Virgin, I'm sorry, but while Steve Carrell was brilliant, it was Rogan who stole the show. And if I was going to be a pregnant man...well I am going to need someone around with a damn good sense of humor.

Kevin's Pick Well, I would undoubtedly consider the odds of successfully navigating an asteroid belt. Multiply that by the square root of the coefficient of the odds of surviving a night on the ice planet Hoth. The resultant vector quotient should be sufficient to calculate the odds of me 1) being susceptible enough to fall for that, 2) actually succeed in being the first male impregnated by a grotesquely hideous man, and then try and figure out where that thing will come out... Okay, there's no REAL answer to this question! I need a beer.

Steve's Pick If I was impregnated by this man, I'd immediately call TIME, Newsweek, CNN, FOX News, The New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal, because the medical miracle that would have just taken place would be absolutely mind-blowing. I'd immediately hire an agent, a publicist, someone to ghost-write my book for me, my own make-up & hair person, and lastly but certainly not least I'd buy a bus to travel the country in. I'd drive all over this great land of yours giving talks, getting morning sickness, eating whatever I want, growing dissatisfied with my rapidly expanding body, but I just figure if I'm going to be the first man impregnated by another man, I might as well enjoy the process!

We had a number of responses this week that were too graphic to mention, but I wanted to single out two that we enjoyed. Alexis wrote "That would require sleeping with him and there's not enough alcohol in the world! To quote Sublime, if it wasn't for date rape, he'd never get laid." and Lord Bartholomew Thistlewaite Greenborough "Catfish" McGruder of Dulcester writes "First off, I reckon I'd pee sitting down from now on. With that said, this gentleman would have to have some potent juice in those flesh balloons seen as how I lack ovaries, a uterus, and the other female accoutrements necessary for a good old fashion birthing. He would undoubtedly put K-fed to shame. I can only assume that I would at some point enter rehab and shave my head (I'm half way there!) before making a marvelous come back dancing like an out-of-shape stripper to a scratched CD. As for the child that will be born into this world, I will groom this child to become a David Hasselhoff look-a-like who will move to Germany and make me millions of euros. Don't forget to watch American's Got Talent, Tuesday's on NBC."

As for our Feedback question - judging from the utter lack of responses it is my guess that no one has been going to see anything this summer. We did have one response from Steve K who wrote in for Hot Fuzz and the three of us here agree with him. Speaking for both (our) Steve and me, it is the only film we have seen in the theater since it has gotten warm and summery that I would consider spending money to see again. I guess you all did pretty well to stay home. There are some great films opening soon - so, let us know what you have seen or anything we should take a look at. Thanks for reading!

May 30, 2007

Captain Jack got me high tonight...

Hey all, this is Steve, and I'm taking over the rant from Chris for the week. Here we are over three weeks past the official start of summer and the summer blockbuster season is already in full swing. In this month of May, we've seen three of the top four biggest weekend openings ever: Spider Man 3, Shrek 3, and Pirates of the Caribbean 3. Unfortunately, the Cardinal Review has not exactly been overwhelmed with Spidey garnering mixed reviews (I'm right, Kevin & Chris - they're wrong), Shrek being completely ignored (we don't have kids of our own forcing us to the theater) and Pirates wasn't exactly cinema at its finest (read my review below for more details).

In addition to our review of Pirates, we've also got a film that Kevin feels was extremely underrated by the public, at least in terms of the box office: The Fountain, which came out in November and left theatres before any of the Christmas decorations were broken out at the mall. This film by unique director Darren Aronofsky takes places over three different time periods with a pairing of Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz throughout each. Check out Kevin's review to see just how Aronofsky was able to blend these various periods into a single, interesting film.

With this light week in reviews at the Cardinal Review, that simply means that we've got a lot in the pipeline to bring to you. We've got an upcoming essay about Touch of Evil and The Fountain, reviews of Knocked Up (starring the absolutely stunning subject of our feedback question), Waitress (starring the much hotter Keri Russell), and I'm leaning towards the recent update of the George Romero zombie classic Dawn of the Dead. What do you think, should I scratch my zombie itch or go in another direction? Feel free to state your opinion either by emailing us at Feedback@TheCardinalReview.com or dropping a line on the feedback section to the left. In addition to all of that, we've got a site redesign in the works which will bring a better, more interactive and easier-to-surf site.

And as one final request, if you would as a personal favor to me, please wish Kevin and Chris (who both celebrated their birthdays earlier this month) a happy belated b-day when you answer our feedback and poll questions. The person with the most enthusiastic birthday greetings will win, ummm........., well, the opportunity to do it again for them next year! :) Thanks so much for reading and if you had a good time, talk about us with your family, friends, lovers, and enemies - because even your enemies deserve a little movie knowledge.

~Steve

Last Week´s Poll Question

Following the opening of Pirates we asked What Disney ride do you think they will make into a film next? and here’s what you answered:

Chris' Pick I would easily, right-off-the-bat say Mr. Toad's Wild Ride (Everyone wants Mr. Toad's Wild Ride!), but it is already a book turned Disney movie (without the satire of course) turned kiddie ride. So with that one out of the running, I would have to go with The Tiki Room. Not cause I think it will make a good movie, but because it is the greatest place in all of the Magic Kingdom to go. Techno Katz represent! You know who you are...

Kevin's Pick It's a small world after all. It's a small world after all. It's a small world after all. It's a small world after all. It's a small world after all. It's a small world after all. It's a small world after all. It's a small world after all. It's a small world after all. It's a small world after all. It's a small world after all. It's a small world after all. It's a small world after all. It's a small world after all. It's a small world after all. It's a small world after all. It's a small world after all. It's a small world after all. It's a small world after all. It's a small world after all.

Steve's Pick The best next movie from a Disney ride would be the Tower of Terror. I am aware that it's loosely based itself on The Twilight Zone, but I'm going to just gloss over that fact. Think about it, it'd be the ultimate example of playing-against-type. We've got Disney, the studio of Bambi, Dumbo, Cinderella - the ultimate feel-good studio. However, instead of another happy film, we've got a horror movie in the vein of Evil Dead or Saw. I see hit movie written all over this, when Disney does it, you remember to tell them that I thought of it first!

T Bones writes "Get ready for the return of your favorite redneck hero, Cooter Twillen, in Disney's new heartwarming tale, Mano-a-Monorail. Watch as Cooter transforms the sleepy hollow of Mudlick Run into a bustling financial center through the magic and whimsy of single rail travel. Hopefully the shareholders will like it or I'm fired! Coming Soon."

And our regular (thank you!) correspondants's Justin and Autumn wrote "I think they will probably try to make Star Tours into a movie next. Some random science fiction adventure set in deep space... it probably won't do too well though." and "The Maelstrom! I'd like to know how many people even know what that ride is! It's so old and cheesy, I'm sure it would be a fantastic movie..." respectively.

Thanks to all that submitted and make sure to submit your answers for this week!

May 23, 2007

Exes and Zombies and Germans OH MY!

Well, simply put, I messed up. Instead of the wild weekend of blood and humor that was expected, I misread the release list and Severance was only opened in NYC leaving our Philly event slasher-less. We did make up for it with a rousing BBQ and the viewing of the cult classic UHF and the newly released zany over-dub Farce of the Penguins – which for Samuel L. Jackson’s opening narration is worth viewing. So, with Severance still on our radars, we will return to our regularly scheduled blockbuster list and prepare this weekend for the final installation of the Disney-ride-cum-blockbuster Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End.

So, without a slasher flick review, what do we have for you this week? A look at two films you should not go out to see the sequel to the heart-pounding 28 Days Later and the new Zach Braff comedy The Ex. Both films came with high expectations with 28 Weeks poised to follow the thrills and cleverness of the original and The Ex taking two brilliant comic actors Braff and Bateman and pitting them in a rivalry over one of my faves Amanda Peet. While both films elicited screams and laughs (but which did which?!), the solution we came up with for this past weekend: rent a classic and watch that instead. Steve did just that and adds The Great Escape to the Film Academy.

In addition to these reviews and more up-coming blockbuster excitement than we know what to do with, we also have a couple other items that we would like to point out that are new and coming soon to the site. First, in addition to our poll question (answers from last week’s gory poll can be found below) we have added a feedback section. Please let us know what you think of our reviews and any movies you might have seen. In the next week, this section will be posted automatically on its own feedback page so you will be able to contribute your thoughts and ideas as well. We also have some feature articles lined up for the next week with a comparison review of two films that have incredible camera work and direction, but have not fared well with the critics (at least originally) Orson Welles’ Touch of Evil and Darren Aronofsky’s The Fountain. Check in soon as we explore a second look at these films.

Thanks for reading and remember to submit your answer to the poll question and your feedback!

~Chris

Last Week´s Poll Question

Following the opening of Severance we asked What is the goriest scene ever filmed? and here´s what you answered:

Chris' Pick The sad thing is I don't even know the name of the movie. I went to this (horrible) lecture on the history of the horror film and during the "grindhouse" segment, the lecturer showed the most violent and gory clips I have ever seen. The scene had a group of people in a back room with a video camera slowly cutting pieces off of a man strapped to a chair in the middle. The combination of awful camera action, bad film quality, and grusomeness made it look incredibly real. And I would not be surprised if it was...I am just happy I don't remember what it was so I never have to see it again.

Kevin's Pick Goriest scene goes to the recent 28 Weeks Later. The scene in question doesn’t have gallons of blood, it doesn’t have flying disembodied limbs, it doesn’t have guts strewn across the floor. It was a single man, mounted on top of a woman strapped to a hospital bed. It begins slowly, the man deliberately places his thumbs on the face of the helpless woman, who is fully conscious of what is about to happen. The man slowly presses, and over the next eternity proceeds to gouge out her eyes with just his thumbs. I won’t describe any more, but in a bad zombie flick (see my review) this scene alone stood out above all others as the goriest and most disturbing.

Steve's Pick Ok, I'm going a direction that most people wouldn't go. With a shout-out to the tongue scene from Old Boy (which I watched this past Tuesday evening, and can't get out of my head), the most goriest scene when I truly thought about it was the whipping and following scenes of Jesus Christ from The Passion of the Christ. While I haven't attended church since I was much younger, I was genuinely intrigued by what all the fuss was about when Passion came out back in 2004, and the thing that still sticks with me about the film was just how we got to see Jim Caviezel as Christ getting whipped again, and again, and again, and again. That truly is my goriest scene that comes to mind. Side note: It may be noted that just 2 polls ago, I named a particular bloody scene from Kill Bill as my favorite action scene. Why do you ask can I name that scene then and not name that scene again? Well, I believe that that scene is so bloody and so over-the-top, that it was laughter inducing. Thus, it just wasn't very chill-inducing when limbs were lopped off of various people through out the scene.

A couple great answers this week that I want to share:

Pete - I would have to say the depiction of D-Day in Saving Private Ryan. Not only was it ridiculously bloody(there were multiple head-shots, the radio-man lost his entire face, there were guts spewed on the sand, a Nazi was set ablaze) but according to veterans who lived through the experience, this was the most accurate depiction of that horrible, wonderful day.

Justin - Don't go in for horror films... too unrealistic. But if you want gorey - Kill Bill in the Japanese restaurant.

And a very inventive answer from Dan - Heaven Can Wait, when the Rams beat the Steelers in the Super Bowl.

Thanks to all that submitted and make sure to submit your answers for this week!

May 16, 2007

Ok, There are Some Originals Out There...

In my haste to showcase all of the multitudinous sequels that are being released this summer, I failed to mention some of the original films that are also gracing the screen. Films that range from the much anticipated (ok, feared) Michael Bay action extravaganza Transformers to the quirky Eagle vs Shark. There is a lot of good stuff coming out this summer other than follow-up installments and I would just like to single out a few to keep an eye open for. Waitress – a quirky film that says it does for pie what Sideways did for Pino. Once and Eagle vs Shark – two films I caught at the Philly Film Festival and that are definitely worth catching. Knocked Up – a comedy staring the supporting cast from The 40-Year-Old Virgin that looks like it could be a winner. Black Sheep – “There are 40 million sheep in New Zealand and only 4 million inhabitants. After a genetic experiment goes wrong, New Zealand's sheep start turning nasty, and it's the humans who begin bleating.” And Ratatouille – the newest by Brad Bird and Pixar, the team that brought you The Incredibles.

There is one more film that is coming out that we have placed as our Pick of the Week and that is the British film Severance. A comedy slasher pic about an office get-away gone awry, well, this is not the normal kind of film that we would pick as our POTW, and traditionally we tend to send you towards fantastic films that you should catch in while they are out. You may remember, however, a couple months ago we picked Smokin’ Aces as our pick, solely on the basis that we would all be in Philly and wanted to see something quite mindless. Well, you are in luck because that event is happening again. This weekend the whole staff of the Cardinal Review will be in the City of Brotherly Love for another weekend of horrible films and fun. If you happen to be a reader and around the area – drop us a line and feel free to come join us on our filmic rampage.

In mentioning the three of us, I am very pleased to announce that we have another tri-part review and WOW is this one contentious. Kevin and I added our reviews to Spider-Man 3 and a host of debate. How did you feel about the movie? Do you agree with Steve that it was a fantastic film…Or Kevin that it was flawed but a great way to start off the summer…Or me, they should have stopped at number two. Check out the review and let us know what you think.

We also have a review of Paul Verhoeven’s Black Book, a WWII epic that could used a bit more editing. Check out Steve’s review below. Also, in honor of the upcoming screening of Severance and Kevin’s upcoming review of 28 Weeks Later, we have asked you a poll question about the goriest movie scene ever filmed. If you had your eyes open and have a scene that grossed you out, send it in!

Check in next week for reviews of The Ex, Shrek the Third, 28 Weeks Later and Severance. Thanks for reading!

~Chris

Last Week´s Poll Question

Following the opening of Spider-Man 3 we asked What movie-based superhero would you like to be? and here´s what you answered:

Chris' Pick Adam West's Batman. This was tough as I had to choose Batman, but there is such pain and torture in the Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, and Christan Bale versions it was very hard to want to be in their shoes (or for Kilmer and Clooney Codpieces). The Adam West Batman was the obvious choice, because not only would I have all of the incredible Bat-gadgets (who wouldn't leave home without Bat-Shark repellent?!), but I....would....get....to....deliver.......Adam.....West.....dialogue.

Kevin's Pick Superman. The sole reason being that he can fly. As a pilot who is passionate about the greatest pastime ever, I feel very strongly that that is the most desirable thing for me. The super-strength will come in handy if I’m carrying something and the super vision for when I’m traveling at high altitudes and high speeds. I could probably live without the heat vision (unless I was really hankerin’ for a steak… Here Bessie!) and certainly the X-Ray vision, that’s just naughty. Give me wingless flight and I’ll never come down. Oh, I’ve slipped the surly bonds of earth...

Steve's Pick As much as I love Ben Affleck (He was the BOMB in Phantoms), I'd totally love to be Cliff Secord, otherwise known as The Rocketeer. When it comes down to it, I just want to be a regular guy, but a regular guy who also happens to have a jet pack that he stole from Howard Hughes. When I'm not soaring through the skies and taking out Nazis who looks strangely like a James Bond of old, I'd be getting friendly with my girl Jenny who is a Jennifer Connelly look-alike. :) I'd also like to point out that Jenny is way better-looking then Superman's Lois Lane, and definitely hotter then Adam West's "friend", that Boy Wonder!

We had some great responses to this week's poll ranging from Bidget's Wonder Woman to James' Danger Mouse. I would like to single out Autumn's who wrote: After much grief for the Mary Poppins response (which I will eternally defend). I have given this question additional thought and have another response... Harry Potter. According to Chris' definition, he should be considered a superhero. He has powers, a costume (the cape, hat, and wand count!), and Voldemort is at least one villain. (Though I still think the Banks children could be seen as villians in MP!) :) [Sorry again Autumn - technically HP is a fantasy hero...but it is close enough.] Justin also challenged the guidelines with his submission: Magneto is the best movie-based superhero. He upheld his ideals and fought to protect his people from extermination. Further, he tore iron out of a security gaurd- the best scene in X-2. Thanks to all that submitted and make sure to submit your answers for this week!

May 9, 2007

What Happened to Original Plots? a.k.a. Summer Blockbuster Season

Popcorn season has officially begun and the slew of summer films is knocking at our doorstep.  We at the Cardinal Review are poised and ready to guide you through this sea of spiders, pirates, space surfers, and magic wands. And seeing how most of the films this summer are sequels, and that sequels are risky business, let us be your guides and help you sort the great from the should-have-stopped's. We are starting our run with the film kicking off the Summer slew: Spider-Man 3.

Looking over the films that the Summer of 2007 has in store for us, it is a scary prospect that there is barely an original idea out there. There are a handful of sequels (28 Weeks Later, Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer, Evan Almighty), a few third installments (Spider-Man 3, Shrek the Third, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, Oceans 13, The Bourne Ultimatum), a fourth (Live Free or Die Hard), and a fifth (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix).  Of course there are other films coming out too, and we hope to get a couple of those covered (I must say I am amused by The Ex if only because it has Zach Braff and Jason Bateman…). I am a little shocked and scared by all of the repeats that are out there, but must admit while sitting through the trailers for Spider-Man 3, I got really excited by all that I saw. It is not often that you get to return to a characters you love like Jack Sparrow or Harry Potter again and again, and there is something reassuring about seeing the same faces. Of course...I also am an optimist and hope that they all do not go the way of most sequels and end up as see-how-much-more-we-can-pack-in-
spectaculars.

In addition to the summer slew, we are going to be keeping an eye on others films that have not been getting much media attention, recently released DVDs, or continuing on with the CRFA to bring you classics worth checking out. This week we have reviews of Mike Binder's Reign Over Me, featuring Adam Sandler and Don Cheadle in serious roles dealing with post-9/11 traumas and the zany, cult musical The American Astronaut by Cory McAbee and The Billy Nayer Show. And I also want to point out that the film we have been touting for the last couple weeks Once is being released to the American public this weekend with an opening date of May 12.

We are also happy to announce that we have finally figured out our posting schedule. To keep you up to date on all of the excitement this summer, we will be posting weekly on Wednesday mornings. So make sure to sign up for our RSS feed up top and check in for what is going on on-screen. If there is anything that you think looks good and want to recommend or make sure we get to, make sure to drop us a line!

So stay tuned for all of the excitement, get your popcorn ready and make sure to vote in this week's poll. Till next week...

~Chris

Last Week´s Poll Question

Following the power of the music in the film Once we asked What is the best musical scene ever caught on film? and here´s what you answered:

Chris' Pick Anchorman - I can honestly say that I was never shocked more and laughed harder at a musical scene than the impromtu quartet in Anchorman. Without question the funniest moment in a incredibly funny movie and one that inspired three of my friends to try to form the most unlikely of barbershop quartets (with ukeleles....) 'Cause c'mon...love...its just like "Gonna find my baby, gonna hold her tight...."

Kevin's Pick Monty Python and the Holy Grail - Men in tights. Chainmail. Singing. What more could one ask for? Oh yes, the irreverent wit of the Monty Pythons. Oh, and some spam, that too. With a catchy tune and memorable lyrics it has spawned numerous iterations, including a LEGO version. Camelot...'tis a silly place.

Steve's PickOffice Space - This was a really, really tough decision. I had a four way race with Peter Gabriel's In Your Eyes from Say Anything , Otis Day's Shout from Animal House, and Puttin' on the Ritz from Young Frankenstein all coming up short. When it came down to it, the most visceral, exciting, thrilling, funny scene is from the king of office comedies. As the Geto Boys sings the song Still and everyone watching channels their inner gangster, the malfunctioning printer is torn to pieces by our three main protagonists. This scene from the cult classic Office Space will always hold a special place in my heart!

I would also like to give special credit to James Davey for being the first person to answer the poll question - he (and I like his choice) had this to say: The greatest musical scene is going to be Ron Burgundy, Champ, Bryan Fantana and Brick, in a certain media office, singing about what love is. What else is there?

April 24, 2007

Action-packed Double Bill

Exploding cars, lurid women, gratuitous violence, snappy one-liners, and a goose on the loose, we’ve got it all here this week at the Cardinal Review. Following up our last posting of The Namesake and the three romances I ended up seeing at the Film Festival, this week we are presenting an Action-packed Double Bill with reviews of Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg’s Hot Fuzz and the Rodriguez/Tarantino Double Feature Grindhouse. These two films are a perfect pairing with both blending nostalgia and guilty-pleasure films to pay homage to the cop buddy film and the ‘70s grindhouse (respectively). I can only speak for the film I saw (Steve caught and reviewed Grindhouse), but Hot Fuzz was one of the most enjoyable times I have had in a while. Chock full of references to the pinnacles of the Cop genre such as Point Blank and Bad Boys II, if you are a fan of things that blow up or people diving through the air firing two guns at the same time, I would strongly recommend you plan a trip to the theater.

This week also marks the start of a new feature at the Cardinal Review. Linked to the Pick of the Week, we are now going to have a weekly poll question. Each of the three of us will weigh in our opinions and hope that you will send in your thoughts and comments as well. All responses will be posted the following week.

To kick off the poll, the three of us brainstormed our favorite action scene as a nod to Nick Angel. This week’s poll question: what is the greatest musical scene in any movie? This question links to our pick of the week: Once. Kevin and I were able to catch it at the Philly Film Festival and I know that it is making the festival circuit around the US having just played in Tampa this past weekend. The film has been picked up and will be opening to a limited release in May. So, keep your eyes open and make sure to check it out if you happen to be in a town that is lucky enough to have a screening. If not, then keep an eye out for Glen Hansard’s band The Frames as they are on a US tour as well. Kevin and I will be checking them out tomorrow! Very excited!

Well, that’s all for this week. Send in your favorite action scenes and musical moment and any comments you’ve got. Thanks for reading.

~Chris

Last Week´s Poll Question

With our pick of the week Hot Fuzz we asked What is the best action scene ever made? and here´s what you answered:

Chris' Pick The Matrix - While I was sorely tempted to give my vote to the outstanding Anchorman free-for-all, there is only one scene that could receive this honor: the lobby shoot-out from The Matrix. Setting a standard for every action movie post ‘99, this scene is not only stuffed to the gills with guns, explosions, visual wizardry, and a kickin’ soundtrack by The Propellerheads, but even has a sterling performance by Keanu Reeves (who would have thought it possible?!). I played this scene over and over and over while setting up my surround sound and once done is there anything better to sit back and watch with the speakers thrumming behind you?

Kevin's Pick Star Wars - A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, desperate men faced incalculable odds against a daunting Imperial force. A handful of tiny one-man fighters launches headlong against a behemoth space station capable of wiping out whole planets. Like ancient jousting battles small groups of these one-man fighters pitch heedlessly down a small trench to lay waste to a poor, hapless exhaust pipe. Matching palpable tension with a powerhouse soundtrack, this scene was the first time this reviewer found himself anchored to the edge of his seat.

Steve's Pick Kill Bill - The greatest single action scene has to be The Bride taking on the Crazy 88’s in the House of Blue Leaves. With Uma Thurman clad in a Bruce Lee-esque yellow jumpsuit, this extended scene has The Bride taking out countless henchman, and has you hooting and hollering at the splattering blood and flying chopped-off limbs. Not only are the marital arts incredible, but the short quips of Tarantino dialogue add a sense of humor to the incredibly graphic scene. This scene is the wet dream of every action scene that came before it!

April 17, 2007

All Festivaled Out

Well, I only managed to see four, but with all that was going on this week as well I was really happy that I got to see that many.  It was unfortunate that I saw my favorite of the lot on the second night and my least favorite on the final night.  I would have loved to go out with a bang like I did two years ago, finishing my Festival with Kontroll.  I only got to see two in Toronto...so I did twice as good this time around.  I hope that any readers who were in the Philly area managed to get to some films and that what you saw were as great as the ones I saw.  A full recap of the festival from both Kevin and myself can be found below.

In addition to our festival reviews, we also have a review of the The Namesake staring Kal Penn of Van Wilder and Harold and Kumar fame and a new review of Casino Royale.  I was actually surprised by The Namesake and really enjoyed Penn's performance and the story.  The trailer, which was playing constantly all winter led me to believe the film was all about Penn's character, but there is actually a great deal more to the story than the trailer intimates.  The Casino review marks the first film to be reviewed by all three of our staff members.  Make sure to check it out and see if we agreed or not.

Well, the pick of the week for this week is the British film Hot Fuzz staring Simon Pegg.  Following on the heels of Shaun of the Dead and the hit comedy Spaced!, Hot Fuzz is one of my most anticipated films of 2007.  Make sure to check in this weekend for a review of it as well as reviews of the Doublebill Grindhouse and some more additions to the CRFA.

~Chris

April 1, 2007

Philadelphia International Film Festival!

Wow is it a big week of reviews this week with seven new reviews for you to read.  But first, this is a request to all of our readers: for the past week, the date on the site has read March 26, 2004.  If you happen to spot mistakes like that, please e-mail us and let me know so I can fix it.  It would also be great to hear your thoughts and comments about the films that are out there.  Have you seen anything we have reviewed?  Do you agree or disagree with what we have written?  Got any recommendations we should see?  Write us...please...  See, I am not beyond begging.

So this week we have a new CRFA posting, Robert Wiene's 1919 silent classic The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.  A fantastic film that has influenced countless others.  Make sure to check out our review and check out the film for yourself.  Also up are three new releases, After the Wedding and Amazing Grace making wide release and The Lookout, which opened this past weekend.  We also have a review of Borat, recently on DVD, and a new review of 300.

The big story though is the Philadelphia International Film Festival which is kicking off on Thursday night, April 5th.  Kevin and I will be catching a couple of films next week, namely the documentary The King of Kong on Monday night and Once on Tuesday.  Kong is the story of two rivals fighting for the high score in Donkey Kong and looks like it is going to be amazing!  I am also planning on catching Eagle vs. Shark and Cashback.  I hope that anyone in the Philly area gets out and sees some great films.  If you do - make sure you write in and let us know what you saw.

Thanks for checking in, ~Chris

March 26, 2007

All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up...

Welcome back to the Cardinal Review! This week, we've got two contrasting reviews of a classic, Sunset Boulevard. Chris has deemed this film as one of the Top 5 Films of All Time (Shameless Plug for our Top 5 Films) , but the question is do I agree with him? Check out our contrasting reviews to find out! We've also have a review of the Oscar-winning Foreign Language Film, Das Leben der Anderen (The Lives of Others). This film about the surveillance of an East German artist surprisingly beat out Pan's Labyrinth in the Foreign Language Film category, and won numerous other awards at various European film festivals and awards. This film is still playing around the country. Did the Academy actually get it right or did they leave Pan waiting at the alter?  In addition, we also have Will Farrell's second stab at serious work Stranger Than Fiction. The main topic of my rant is the pick of the week. Unlike other weeks, this is a film that will be released this coming weekend, and is called The Lookout. It is written and directed by the writer of Minority Report, Get Shorty, and Out of Sight . In addition to this impressive pedigree, this new film stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt, an extremely promising young actor. He is most widely known for his role as the son Tommy in the sitcom 3rd Rock From the Sun, or perhaps as Cameron in the Shakespeare remake 10 Things I Hate About You. Since these films, he has given two extraordinary and contrasting performances. In Mysterious Skin, he played a sexually abused gay hustler in a small country town, and showed his sensitivity and rawness. In last years Brick, (which was my #1 film of 2006) he played a loner high school student who plays a hard boiled tough as nails film noir hero, In these two films, he has shown incredible range, and has became an actor that I'll go see a film for. I'll always be curious to see what Joseph Gordon-Levitt is doing, and I hope that you'll also join me in seeing The Lookout this Friday night! ~Steve

Additional Notes

Just a couple of quick notes on the site and changes that are going to be happening soon.  Firstly, the CRFA films are in with the no longer in theater's films below.  They are designated with a black background.  New reviews still have a dark background.  There will be a separate CRFA page coming soon and we hope to bring the rant into the 21st century with RSS feed this month.  The site will be getting a big overhaul in April as I switch to new software and I would appreciate any input you might have.  Is there anything you would liked changed? Do you like it as it is? I will be adding a message board for all of your comments - so keep an eye out for that as well. ~Chris

March 11, 2004

New Great Films?

After the Oscars this year I started to ponder if any of the film that were nominated for Best Picture or Best Foreign Language film would be added to my pantheon of great films (check out our Top Five Faves here) and it got me thinking (the answer is no btw...).  I was looking at the Sight and Sound Top Ten Lists, published every ten years, which take polls of hundreds of critics and directors to see what films are considered the best of the best.  Looking at the most recent list (2002), there are no films on the list that were made after 1980.  So does this mean that all the great films have past and are we stuck watching inferior ones?  With the start of the CRFA, we have been trying to figure out what is a classic, why certain films are called masterpieces, and how to view such films from our modern vantage point.

Next week we will be posting our first review for the CRFA Billy Wilder's Sunset Blvd.  I am very excited to be spending some time in the classics and gaining an appreciation for what many have said is great.  Please send us your thoughts on the matter as we would like to design the CRFA to benefit you, our readers.  I would also be curious to know your thoughts on the whole modern film issue.  Are any of the films that were up for awards this year "greats"? What makes older films so good?  Was quality different back then? or is it how they have influenced the films we see now?

In the next couple of weeks I will be adding a message board so that we share your thoughts on both these questions and films you have seen or our reviews.  Till then, drop us an e-mail. till next week, Chris

March 3, 2004

The Cardinal Review Film Academy

I really can't recall who first made this joke, but there has been a running joke about me and my taste in the type of media (books, film, TV, etc.) I tend to enjoy: If it was made before I was born (1980), then I haven't seen it.  And sadly this is pretty much true.  While I love watching movies from all genres (trying to describe my film tastes is difficult to say the least, I've never really truly seen many of those classic films that film buffs insist have to be watched.  I haven't even seen Citizen Kane, supposedly the greatest film of all time.  So, in order to educate ourselves more, and hopefully you too, The Cardinal Review has decided to launch the Film Academy.  The purpose of the academy is to watch and review all those classic films that we probably should have seen by this point, and to see if they are as good as everyone says they are.  To kick off the Film Academy, we'd like to present our 5 Greatest Films , and we'll do it again at the conclusion of the Academy to see whether these great classic films will break into any of our Top 5's.   To start the Academy, I'll be watching and reviewingSunset Boulevard, and to see whether it's as good as Chris says it is.  This week's pick is Black Snake Moan, a new film starring Samuel L. Jackson and Christina Ricci.  Of all the films released thus far in 2007, this one might have the most interesting 1-line description: Jackson chains Ricci to his radiator in the rural south in order to cure her of her nymphomania.  While this may be rivaled later in the year by Black Sheep, this film is a unique interesting painting of the rural south, and it should at least be checked out because it is so unique.  In addition to these new segments, we're adding reviews of Black Snake Moan,The Illusionist, Wordplay, and a new take on The Last King of Scotland.  We've also made some graphical tweaks to the site, and coming soon you should expect some featured guest reviews in addition to our normal content.  And as always, please feel free to tell us what you think about the site.  Do you like the recent graphical changes?  Is there a particular upcoming film that you'd like to see us review?  Do you think that we should stop watching films and devote this site to discussing and evaluating the future of livestock prices?  If so, please drop us a line. Signing off, Steve

February 24, 2007

OSCAR NIGHT / Parade of the 1 Star Films!

What better way to kick off the weekend with a pile of horrible films.  2007 is off to a terrible start.  So far the only two films that we have reviewed in 2007 have been one-stars.  It really pains me to say that Smokin' Aces is is the best film of the year so far.  Joining these two in the parade of shame is Mike Judge's newest Idiocracy and Jim Carrey's The Number 23.

2006 had its fare share of horrible films, but this weekend we honor its greats.  Make sure to tune in to the 79th Academy Awards.  We have posted our picks: 79th Academy Awards Picks.  The list may look different from others, but that is because we did not select what we thought the Academy would pick, but what films we thought deserved to win.  (You will notice a dearth of Departed's).  To see what else we thought was so great in 2006, check out our Top Films of 2006

Chris

February 14, 2007

WHAT IS SO GREAT ABOUT THE DEPARTED? / VALENTINE'S DAY / and other news...

Happy Valentine's Day! This week's pick of the week...you should have seen it coming...(it ties in with another announcement too (#3 in case you are curious))... #1) TOP FILMS OF 2006!  We've made up our minds and put together our favorite films of the year.  Let us know what you think!  Please send in your favorite films of the year and your thoughts on ours. #2) The Cardinal Review is going to get a write up in The Cherwell - the student paper at the University of Oxford.  I will see if I can get a link up when the article is posted. #3) We, the staff of TCR, have decided to beef up our film knowledge and will be putting together a new reviews page focusing on classic and critically acclaimed films.  There will be more on this in next week's rant. #4) This week we have two new reviews up: The Last King of Scotland, End of the Spear. #5) The Departed - I saw this film again this past week and really cannot understand what the fuss is all about.  I have not liked a Scorsese pic since Taxi Diver and think that The Departed was a fantastic film, but does not deserve all the press and excitement that is being piled upon it.  I would really like to know if anyone else has seen it and what you think about the film.  Please write us - we are really looking forward to some feedback.  (New reviews for The Departed from both myself and Kevin will be up next week.) #6) Be sure to check in before the OSCARS (Feb 25) for our Oscar special where we will post our picks. ~Chris

PS - (I would like to apologize for the incredibly late post.  This is an international post and I am updating the site from across the pond in Oxford.  Have had some trouble finding an internet connection...)

February 4, 2007

Happy Superbowl weekend everyone!  Just a couple of reviews to post this week - thank you greatly to Kevin for being on top of the deadlines and making sure that we have something to post.  We have seven reviews in the wings including my reviews of Pan's Labyrinth and Children of Men that will be up very soon.  It has been a good week for movies.  Kevin and I have been able to catch two great ones The Last King of Scotland and Volver thanks to the pre-Oscars wide-release.  There is a lot of great stuff out in the theater and now with the Oscar list posted you should clear some time to catch what is out there.  This week's pick of the week is Volver.  While I would love to give it to Forest Whitaker for his portrayal of Idi Amin in Last King, there is something magical about an Almodóvar film that I cannot resist.  Try to catch it in the theaters.

So we now have four films by Spanish speaking directors that are all on our outstanding list.  So in this week's rant, we at The Cardinal Review would like to take our hats off to Alfonso Cuarón, Pedro Almodóvar, Alejandro González Iñárritu, and Guillermo del Toro.  Easily the creators of some of the year's best films.  Make sure you check out Children of Men, Volver, Babel, and Pan's Labyrinth.

Many thanks to Scott Feather for writing in and giving us some comments on the site.  We have changed the layout a little and the reviews below are now separated by what is in the theater and what is no longer out.  Hopefully this will help in that decision of what to go see.

Check in often as we will be adding reviews as soon as we finish them.  Hopefully after the awards season we will fall into a more regular posting schedule. ~Chris

PS - Our meet up in Philly was a blast!

January 20, 2007

This week we have something special to offer.  All three of us will be in Philadelphia and are planning to go see Smokin' Aces.  Sure RottenTomatoes has given it a 24% and sure it looks like it is going to be a trainwreck, but c'mon it is an absurd cast (Jeremy Piven, Ben Affleck, Andy Garcia, Jason Bateman, Ray Liotta) with a completely bizarre plot: a team of hitmen targeting a Vegas magician.  So, while you may not have any interest in the film you will get three reviews on our next posting.

Regarding postings, I wanted to mention that we are working on our posting schedule and while our original plan was to post on Thursdays, we will be experimenting with different days of the week to see what works best.  For now we will just be doing a rolling posting schedule, so make sure you check in often.  We hope to have some new reviews posted by the end of the week.

Also wanted to say thanks to Autumn for being the first person to send us feedback.  She recommended that we get a female writer to cover chick flicks...either that or we should just watch them with the ruling that we cannot write "nasty stuff" about them.  Right.  We'll let you know how that works out...

~Chris

January 11, 2007

Welcome to our new, refurbished site! We have some very exciting things to announce including the addition of Kevin Feather to the review team.  In addition to eight new reviews (finally got around to posting my Prestige and Break-Up reviews), there are a couple new features to the site.  Firstly, we have our own domain name now and our own e-mail address.  Please feel free to write us and let us know what you think, if you agree or disagree with our reviews, and anything else you would like to share.  We promise we will read your letters and we will try to comment on them in our weekly rant the following week.  We will also be cataloging the weekly rants so that you can return to any past ones you might want to look at.  Other than that, things are still pretty much the same.  If there is anything you would like us to add, please feel free to let us know.

With that out of the way - there are a couple of films that I am really excited about seeing that are finally coming to the Philly area: Children of Men, Letters from Iwo Jima, and Volver.  Of those, I have singled out Children for the pick of the week since it is the newest.  Starring Clive Owen and taking place in a future, dystopian England in which the human race is on the verge of extinction, this film has garnered incredible reviews and looks like it will be one of the most exciting and provocative films of the winter.  We will have a review up soon, but if you see if yourself, please send your reviews and thoughts as well.

Happy New Year! ~Chris