Pawn Shop Chronicles

After crossing over from his cooler films, Kramer runs scarily amok with this schoolboy attempt to emulate Coens and Tarantino within Sin City’s plot structure.  Walker stands out, but Fraser and Dillon can’t even carry a third.  Senseless scripting qualifies this one for nothing but bargain bins and pawn shops.

The Punisher

Thomas Jane punishes Travolta for killing his family and aging so well. He becomes anti-Batman and delivers brilliantly cruel punishment to… well, everyone. He encounters an apartment occupied by a punk, an obese comedian, and a supermodel, but leaves to go on a killing rampage that ends with satisfying cheese.

Boogie Nights

Compelling look at veritable porn family and even more compelling looks at RollerGraham and most of Moore. Brilliant long shots, great performances, and resurrection of Reynolds lend to nearly perfect ensemble film. Wahlberg accurately predicts ‘big stardom’ despite odd car scene with his ten dollar 13-inch-long. Cast reappears in Magnolia.

Deep Blue Sea

They trapped some sharks, made them smart, and harpooned them with giant hypodermics. What could go wrong? Turns out the sharks are about an even match for Mace Windu, the Punisher, Bootstrap Bill, and LL Cool J. Mediocre plot and dialogue made tolerable by great surprises and hilariously bad FX.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

George Michael vs. Anne (Bland), Superman, and Human Torch in stylized masterpiece from Edgar ‘Shaun’ Wright. Cera gives depth to his usual character. Uses incredible stylization to compliment, not replace, content but periodically goes too far. Struggles to top opening fights and premature Evans introduction but still manages admirably. Epic!

The Mist

Darabont and King team up again with a more typical King storyline, but the same Darabont character development. Similar to Pitch Black, both in design of creatures and in ‘fear humanity’ message. Better in black and white, as pink creatures look a bit silly. Regardless of hue, ending is unforgettable.

Killshot

Joseph Gordon-Levitt shines amidst a sea of half-hearted performances in poorly-paced by tonally loyal Elmore Leonard adaptation. Suffers from overly simple storyline with clichéd two-dimensional characters. Dawson, Lane and the Punisher do their best with shallow characters. Rourke’s performance is inspired. Unfortunately, it’s inspired by Heston’s Touch of Evil Mexican.