Review: Accepted (C+)

Accepted (C+)
Directed by Steve Pink
Starring Justin Long, Jonah Hill, Adam Herschmann, Lewis Black and Blake Lively
MPAA: PG-13
Grade: C+

Review by Mark Focus

In Accepted, Justin Long, best known as the "Mac Guy" from the Apple ads stars as Bartleby, a high school senior that can't get accepted in college. Instead of going back to the drawing board, digging in and making something of himself, he decides to build a fake college and tell his folks that he is going there. His loser friends (who also can't get in to college" join the hoax and tell their folks the same.

Is Accepted a comedy classic? Not by a long shot. But it does have its moments. Lewis Black shows up in a fairly funny role as the foul mouthed, straight shooting Dean of the South Harmon Institute of Technology. Black basically tells everyone that they are wasting their time going to a "real" school and that the fake one at least gives them some chance to be creative. He actually makes a good point. Anyway, Accepted is silly, formulaic and at times, a little stupid. But it does move at a nice clip. It has its heart in the right place and it also gets in a few good laughs.

Accepted is a silly film that won't change the world. But it does get in a few mindless laughs. And sometimes that's all you need.

Review: Speed Racer Volume 5 (B)

Speed Racer Volume Five
Grade: B
Review by Scott Standish

When I was film school (back in the eighties) I wanted to do an updated, futuristic black and white version of Speed Racer. Remember, this was the eighties, and for the most part, this show was nothing more than a cult reference. It would be dark. Gritty. Sexy. Weird. I had the casting all in my head. Johnny Depp would play Speed (remember this was a long time ago) and Winona (then his girlfriend) would be Trixie. Mickey Rourke would play the mysterious Racer X and get this: as Pops Racer? Mike Ditka. I still think that Ditka would make a great Pops Racer.

Anyway, there was no way in hell I was going to actually be able to get the rights (I think Warner Brothers owned them at the time), and it wasn't long before I figured out that directing was actually hard work. Writing reviews seemed a lot easier. So my black and white, futuristic version of Speed Racer was not meant to be.

Now there is word on the street that the Wachowski Brothers (Matrix, V for Vendetta) are going to direct a modern version of Speed Racer. Ahh.. This should get interesting. I love the Wachowskis. Bound is underrated and despite the hype, the original Matrix still stands up well as a sci-fi classic. Plus, they always seem to get the best out of their actors. There are rumors that Vince Vaughn could be playing Racer X. I actually like that idea. Anyway, I wish this one well and I definitely will check it out.

In the meantime, this seems like a great opportunity to dust off the original cartoons that started it all, the Japanese made Speed Racer cartoons from the 1960s. They've been released on DVD and I recently had the good fortune of checking out Volume Five. This collection of classic Speed Racer cartoons has it all. The hokey dialogue, the bizarre animation and the cardboard cutout characters. Believe me, Speed Racer is just like you remembered it. Lots of fun. Very strange. All good. if you never really watched Speed Racer as a kid, it might be interesting to check it out now, in advance of the feature film. If you (like me) grew up watching Speed, Trixie and Chim Chim rip it up on the race tracks around the world, then watching these originals cartoons should prove to be a real treat.

Review: WordPlay (B+)

Wordplay (2006)
Directed By Patrick Creadon
MPAA: PG
Grade: B+

I have huge respect for those that can knock out the New York Times crossword puzzle. It's very difficult. But for some of the brains in the wonderful documentary film Wordplay, it's a piece of cake. And that's amazing.

The surprising documentary Wordplay, directed by Patrick Creadon, focuses on Will Shortz, the crossword puzzle editor of the New York Times. Will started a national championship for the "sport" and the film spends a lot of its time showing the race up to the crowning of a crossword champion. While you might think that watching people do crosswords may be boring, the filmmakers do a great job of making this exercise quite entertaining. The squares and their corresponding questions are shown on screen as the contestant answers them. Somehow it works.

The great minds that enter the crossword championships are in good company. Wordplay interviews New York Times crossword fans Jon Stewart, Bill Clinton, Bob Dole and Ken Burns. All of them profess to be addicted to the New York Times crossword puzzle and it's pretty darn funny to see Jon Stewart treat filling out the crossword puzzle as if it's a football game.

Wordplay is inventive, smart and surprisingly entertaining. It is recommended for everyone, even if you (like me) find the New York Times crossword puzzles a bit daunting.

Baywatch Babe Contest!

We loved the Baywatch DVD compilations and now we've got even more cool news to report on the Baywatch front!

In conjunction with the first time ever DVD release of the most popular TV show on the planet, First Look Studios has created a Baywatch Babe contest. Any fan, male or female, can upload photos to the gallery at www.BaywatchOnDVD.com. All visitors to the site can check out the participants and rate the hotties. At the contest’s end those rated the hottest win great prizes like a flat screen TV. Baywatch Seasons 1 + 2 hit shelves on Oct 30th.

Trailer Time: Hostel 2, Jonestown, For Your Consideration

Ah, Wednesday. Hump day. A great day to sip coffee, sort through that leftover Halloween candy and check out some trailers and games. Here are some of our favorites:

• Hostel II (WMV)
• For Your Consideration (Quicktime)
• Jonestown (Quicktime)
• Pale Force (Quicktime)
• Speed Racer (Volume 5)
• The Breakup (Game)
• Mission Impossible 3 (Game)