ONE FOR THE MONEY: EVANOVICH FANS CAN BREATHE EASY

If you like to read, especially modern mystery novels, then you've heard the name Janet Evanovich. Evanovich has made tons of money by writing the best selling series of novels based on her character Stephanie Plum, a young New Jersey girl (completely unlike those seen on JERSEY SHORE) who seeking employment becomes a bounty hunter. Now Plum has made her way to the big screen (and small screens with DVD) and done so in style.

Katherine Heigl stars as Stephanie, the hard working New Jersey girl down on her luck with bills to pay and rent owed, looking to find any job available. Visiting her parents and grandmother (one of those kooky type families we all know and love), her mother suggests she talk to her cousin, a bail bondsman. She goes to her cousin to apply for a filing job only to find it's over with but while there is told about collecting bounties on customers that have failed to show. Given a few easy jobs, she thinks she can handle it.

One big job Stephanie thinks she can handle is Joe Morelli (Jason O'Mara), an old flame of sorts from high school and now policeman on the run for murder. Most think he's innocent but the law is the law and he's on the run. With the keen insight of knowing his old hangouts and how he acts, Stephanie goes after Morelli...only to find him and then have him toss her keys into a dumpster. This job isn't as easy as she thought.

Help arrives with some training. This comes in the form of Ranger (Daniel Sunjata), a professional who knows all the ropes and friend of her cousin's who is willing to spend a little time training Stephanie. The training isn't in depth enough for her to take down public enemy number one, but it does get her enough that she can make her first collar and pick up some cash, learning as she goes.

As Stephanie pursues Morelli she discovers more about why he was arrested and what's actually going on. Morelli shot and killed a possible low life but claimed he was armed and that he was knocked unconscious afterward. Rather than wait in a cell for the outcome of his arrest, Morelli skipped bail and is trying to find the real murderer. Morelli's and Stephanie's paths continue to cross and she eventually helps him on the condition that he surrenders once they find the killer so she can collect the paycheck.

Along the way Stephanie meets a variety of characters. Lula (Sheri Shepherd) is a street walking prostitute who takes a liking to Stephanie and gives her information when she can. John Leguizamo is Jimmy Alpha, a MMA promoter with a top contender. That contender, Benito Ramirez (Gavin-Keith Umeh) is a vicious fighter with sociopath tendencies that have led him to hurt far too many on the street. Each of these characters and more continue to provide the fledgling bounty hunter with clues as to Morelli's innocence or guilt as well as the identity of the killer. Okay face it, his innocence because the chemistry between the two characters is one of the main points of the film as well as the series of books. For the series to continue he has to be innocent.

The fish out of water that learns how to swim concept is worked well with this film and Heigl does a great job. Her combination of real person attractiveness (as opposed to the Hollywood make over style) and portrayal of a person who finds their calling in a round about way makes for a character viewers will not only root for but want to see again. O'Mara has the swagger and sex appeal to make women swoon and want to see more of him as well. And Shepherd turns in a performance that will make you forget all about her time on THE VIEW.

The movie isn't one that will make most rush to the store to seek it out. I know I'll hold on to it to watch again, but can't be sure that most people will feel the same. Fans of the books will keep it around. And while the movie did decent box office when it was released, it didn't quite do enough that you'll be seeing a rush to bring the next book in the series to the screen which is unfortunate. With all the drek that is getting made, this could turn out to be a series worth keeping an eye on. Until the suits in Hollywood decide to make it happen, you'll have to be content with this offering.

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THE INNKEEPERS: HORROR RETURNS!

I was watching a documentary on horror films in the U.S. the other day and while I watched I realized something. There were actually few if any true horror films are being made these days. Granted there are films made that qualify for the genre, but most are more obsessed these days with how far they can push the envelope, how much gore they can include and how disgusting they can make the world seem. Far too many have chosen to go the Rob Zombie route of showing us homes in decay where dirt is far more common than cleanliness. I for one would find it more terrifying to see a serial killer in a well kept home than the unwashed, unbathed louts living in trailer parks more frequently seen today. Then I watched THE INNKEEPERS.

The Yankee Pedlar Inn was founded in 1891 and has seen better days. The last weekend the hotel is to be open two clerks are working taking care of just three customers. Claire (Sara Paxton) is an early twenty something working at the inn with no outlook on her future. Luke (Pat Healy) is a laid back older guy who lives at home with his mother and has no future prospects as well. The pair has formed a friendship while working at the Inn and share an interest in the history of the locale as well. Said to be haunted, Luke has set up a web site based in incidents that he has recorded while working there.

On this, the last weekend, the pair hopes to finally catch something worthwhile to include on the site, a real paranormal happening that can be verified with two people on hand. Checking into the hotel we find a young mother and her son, staying to avoid her possibly soon to be ex-husband. Later we have a movie star who's seen better days, Leanne Rease-Jones (Kelly McGillis), here to speak at a convention nearby. Lastly we have an elderly man (George Riddle) checking in to recall the good old days when he came here on his wedding night. But the guests are secondary for the most part though they play important roles as the film winds down. It is the spirits and the search for them that make up the scares here.

Claire and Luke take turns watching the desk and taking care of the needs of their customers. When not working, they sleep or attempt to record EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomenon), recordings of spiritual voices in the room unable to be heard by the human ear. During the times when Claire searches for signs of the afterlife more happens than with Luke. It seems as if the spirits are trying to reach Claire for some reason.

Star struck by Leanne, Claire displays the usual fan klutz attitude. But later the two have the opportunity to talk. It turns out Leanne isn't in town to speak at an acting class or fan fair but to speak about her newest calling, healing via crystals and the like. Assuming the role of medium, she tries to help Claire with the search for the main spirit in the hotel, one Madeline O'Malley. Murdered and her body hidden in the cellar for 3 days by the owners of the hotel at that time to avoid bad publicity, it is said that Madeline continues to walk the halls of the hotel. In attempting to contact her, Leanne offers sound advice to Claire: don't go in the basement. Any guess as to where Claire goes?

Between bumps in the night, a piano that plays itself and several other scares the film does indeed offer some truly frightening moments as it plays out. The first third of the film offers little in the way of horror with the exception of a few jump moments, scenes where things make loud noises causing the viewer to jump. But as it progresses it tells a tale that evokes some haunting images and a story that slowly unfolds to bring about real scares.

The acting is wonderful here, especially from the two leads. They don't appear to be actors at all but two people who work at the most boring of jobs, leading boring lives in search of something else outside of their own level of comfort. When the world they seek appears to be coming alive, their terror seems real as well.

The movie is slow paced but wonderfully so, never rushing to get us somewhere but letting us take in the whole view of the hotel and its history given in bits and pieces. The need for gore is absent and that makes the scares even more disturbing. Horror films that allow you brain to fill in the gaps make for much scarier viewing than simple effects. This film offers the thrill of the old horror film and that's something it should be proud of. If you want to see how a horror film can be done right, then by all means check this one out.

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THE VOW: NEVER FORGET...

There are sappy romance films galore being released to theaters these days that have the most unbelievable stories behind them. So the biggest surprise this week is a romance that is unbelievable and yet based on reality. Not only that but the movie is touching, romantic and draws you in. That movie is THE VOW.

Channing Tatum and Rachael McAdams play Leo and Paige, a young couple deeply in love on their way home from a night out in winter. Stopped at a stop sign, their car is rear ended by a sliding snow plow, sending Paige through the window to suffer severe brain damage. Kept in a coma to decrease the severity of her injury when she wakes she has no recollection of the accident but worse still no idea who Leo is. It's as if the last 5 years of her life have disappeared.

Hoping that time heals all wounds, Leo stays with her even though she recoils from him, a complete stranger in her mind. Her parents (Sam Neill and Jessica Lange) show and try to encourage her to leave the hospital and go with them. Leo convinces her that the best hope she has of recovering her memory is to return to the life they had. She agrees for now with the idea that should things not work out she'll return to her parent's home.

Its slow going as the couple Leo tries to convince the woman he desperately loves that she loves him in return. The Paige from before she and Leo met is a completely different person from who he thought he knew. For some reason she left her home and friends to come to the city, but we never know why. The couple goes back and forth, trying to bring back their life together but eventually Paige's parents convince her to come home.

Helping her sister plan her wedding and still trying to find herself, Paige meets up with her ex-fiancé (Scott Speedman). Her parents try to convince her that she still wants to go to law school even though she was an artist while with Leo. An old friend is shunned but others are brought back into the fold. And as Leo watches, hoping against all odds to reunite with this woman, she slowly begins to distance herself from him for her old self.

This romance involves not two young lovers meeting for the first time but two lovers who met and fell in love only to lose all memory of that. The only hope is for them to once more come together replacing those old memories with new ones. And the suspense of the film lies in that idea, of whether or not they can come together once more of will Paige slide back into the past that is all she remembers now. And what about that terrible secret that no one seems to want to talk about that forced her out so long ago?

The movie is supposed to be based on an actual couple that went through this trauma and after watching the film many will want to make a point of reading the book based on their life to find out just what is and isn't a part of their story. In the meantime this movie offers a completely entertaining night that won't bore you and actually won't make you break down and cry either, no matter how it sounds. This is a movie where you won't find yourself checking the clock to see just how much is left. It moves along at a steady pace and draws you into the story in steps.

The acting is amazing. Never once did I find myself wondering if I was watching actors or real people and that says something. The gift of a true actor is to make you believe they are the people they are portraying. McAdams and Tatum both do that to great effect here.  With the roles he chose early on many would have thought Tatum was nothing more than a muscle bound action star but he displays a depth of emotion here that is necessary for this story to be taken seriously. McAdams shows the frustration and fear in the character of Paige that makes her part of the story come alive as well.

Toss aside trying to place this film in the category of chick flick. It's a truly entertaining film from start to finish that will leave you waiting to find out if they get back together or not. This is a movie not only worth renting but worth adding to your collection as well.

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CORMAN'S WORLD-EXPLOITS OF A HOLLYWOOD REBEL:CORMAN RULES!

If you grew up in the sixties or seventies more likely than not you spent countless hours at parked at the local drive in watching movies that were never going to win Oscars but were always entertaining in various ways. Horror movies would give you goose bumps, action flicks blew up countless buildings and T&A films titillated the masses. One common thread among all of these genres of films is director/producer Roger Corman. And with CORMAN'S WORLD we finally get an on film look at the man and his movies.

The documentary follows Corman from the early years when he began until the more current Corman, producing movies that most often end up on the SyFy channel. In his earlier days, Corman was a director who had a talent for making a marketable product for very little money. Those films became the fodder for drive ins across the country. While low budget the ingenuity and creativity displayed were amazing. I'll grant that they weren't top of the line movies, but there was heart to them and entertainment always. IT CONQUERED THE WORLD, CARNIVAL ROCK, NOT OF THIS EARTH, ATTACK OF THE CRAB MONSTERS, ROCK ALL NIGHT, MACHINE GUN KELLY, WASP WOMAN and BUCKET OF BLOOD are just a few of the movies that Corman directed during the 50s. Then he took off in the 60s.

During that time he began with a little movie shot in several days called LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS. A staple on late night horror host shows across the country, it was a beginning of cult status for Corman. In 1960 he took off when he directed the first of several films he made based on the stories of Edgar Allan Poe with FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER. This was soon followed with PIT AND THE PENDULUM and PREMATURE BURIAL. Corman's use of color and stylistic forms are noted to this day by film makers around the world.

But Corman didn't just make great movies. He also helped up and coming film makers and stars get the chance to get into the business as well. One was a young actor who was quite unknown at the time but who Corman gave more opportunities than one: Jack Nicholson. In the documentary here Nicholson gives Corman the credit he deserves for helping him along when he got started, coming to tears at one point.

Other notables who Corman gave opportunities to who appear in the film with candid interviews include Martin Scorsese, Paul Bartel, Peter Bogdanovich, David Carradine, Joe Dante, Jonathan Demme, Robert DeNiro and Bruce Dern. All either starred in a Corman film or directed films for him.

But the movie isn't just a tribute to the man. It follows his career from those early B-movies through the creation of his first company, New World. Disappointed in the way films were being green lighted and made in Hollywood, Corman started the company feeling that he could offer movies made on lower budgets but that had something going for them. They were also a chance for movie makers who had dreams to get the chance they needed. An example of that is a man who discusses the way he was able to break into directing. Long before he made films like THE DA VINCI CODE, FROST/NIXON, A BEAUTIFUL MIND, RANSOM, APOLLO 13, PARENTHOOD or BACKDRAFT director Ron Howard was given his first chance to direct by Corman with the film GRAND THEFT AUTO. The movie did great for a small film and began Howard's directing career.

One would think that would be enough but it isn't. Corman went on to make more films as a producer and even at 80s now hasn't stopped. He's been producing films for the TV network SyFy now going back to his roots using CGI instead of a man in a rubber suit. If you've seen DINOCROC, CAMEL SPIDERS, CYCLOPS, SUPERGATOR, DINOSHARK, DINOCROC VS SUPERGATOR and the like, you've seen a Corman film.

This documentary follows the time line of Corman's life, from those early black and white low budget films through the honorary Oscar he received. It has been a life filled with great and bad movies, with friends that have stayed with him and recognize him to this day that he made decades ago. It shows a man who made movies that might have displayed some artistic value along the way but whose main goal was up front, to make money. To do so means you have to make movies that people actually wanted to see and Corman always did that. He's famous for making the statement that he never lost money on a movie he made (with one exception, THE INTRUDER which is discussed in this film). Having produced over 400 movies that's quite an accomplishment.

If you've never heard of Roger Corman, don't be surprised to discover that he's been involved with more than one movie you've seen. His list of credits available at imdb.com is amazing. This film does him justice with interviews from numerous people from his past and present. It gives short glimpses into the various genres of movies he made. And it pays tribute to one of a dying breed, the Hollywood mogul. Corman deserves to be included in the ranks of Selznick and Mayer. While a rebel when it comes to how Hollywood works, Corman has been one of its biggest players of all time. Watch this film and find out how.

On a last note I defy anyone to watch this film and not find themselves thinking back fondly to some of the movies he made and that are discussed here. Chances are you'll click on to amazon.com and place an order after watching.

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HAYWIRE: BOND WITHOUT TESTOSTERONE

It seems that we've never had a female version of the James Bond character. Certainly Bond has had his share of femme fatales but never has one taken the lead role in a film. The closest we've had in the past was Cynthia Rothrock who starred in a series of martial arts films, but those were always B movie quality. That all changes with HAYWIRE.

MMA star Gina Carano starts as Mallory Kane, an operative for a private group that hires out to the likes of the CIA. An ex-Marine, Mallory is more tomboy than girly girl. As the film opens she makes her way to a diner where she meets up with Aaron (Channing Tatum), a fellow operative sent to bring her in. When she refuses the first of many well choreographed fight sequences begins. Mallory escapes and is on the run with a young man from the diner in tow. As they speed off she begins to tell him her tale.

It all went sour with a job in Barcelona. Mallory's boss Kenneth (Ewan McGregor) has sent her out at the request of Coblenz (Michael Douglas), the head of a secret government agency one would assume is the CIA, and fellow spymaster Rodrigo (Antonio Banderas). It should be a simple snatch and grab, rescuing a hostage and taking him home. When one of the guards for the hostage takes off, Mallory chases him down resulting in another well choreographed fight sequence.

Home after the run Mallory finds Kenneth waiting for her and asking her to do one more job before some well earned time off. This time the job takes her to Ireland where she is to meet up with a member of MI-6 named Paul (Michael Fassbender). At a party hosted by some big wig, Mallory wanders around and discovers the hostage from the Barcelona affair with a bullet in his head. Something seems wrong which becomes painfully obvious when Paul tries to kill Mallory when they return to their hotel room. He doesn't succeed.

Traveling home with the intent of revenge, Mallory has ended where we found her at the beginning of the film. Just who she can and can not trust is in question. The only person she does is her father, an ex-military man himself (played by Bill Paxton). When a hit squad with Kenneth shows there the chances of their survival are slim even though they exude confidence. How the film finishes, just who was it that was behind all the skullduggery and who will pay make for a fine film.

Directed by Steven Soderbergh this is not his usual style of film. This outing into the world of action adventure shows he is quite capable. While not quite up to par with the Bourne films, the movie does take its action sequences seriously and shoots them in the way they should be shot, with the camera back a way so we can actually watch the fight scenes rather than in the middle looking for close ups.

The story is well written and thought out though it takes a while to get to the bottom of things. Perhaps more clues along the way would have upped the ante here, but as it is the movie still tells a compelling story.

The movie seems made for Carano, forming around her and her incredible fighting skills, showing them off as best as they can. One would think that her acting ability would be lacking but she demonstrates an ability to do better than most real life action stars pushed into the world of film. Her character does offer a rather stoic look more often than not, but for a first feature role she does outstanding. Future films will tell if she can get the acting chops she needs or not.

For an action film the action must be non-stop and well thought out. It must be paced at regular intervals and those scenes must work well within the story. That is done here in spades. It also must feature someone who can handle the action as well as co-stars who can do the same. That's also well done here, including having Fassbender do his own stunts in the fight sequence he performs with Carano. It all results in a fast paced, well made action film that's worth your rental fee.

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WE BOUGHT A ZOO: FUN FAMILY FILM

It's not often that a movie exceeds any negative expectations you have for it. That holds more true when a movie is marketed as a feel good movie that seems so saccharine sweet you're afraid you'll go into a diabetic coma should you watch it. Those were the feelings I had when I heard just the title of the film WE BOUGHT A ZOO. When I saw the trailer for it I felt it had to be as bad as I expected. What a rude awakening I had when I finally watched the movie. It's fantastic.

Matt Damon stars as Ben Mee, a journalist who spends most of his career traveling to exotic locations and facing danger. But nothing has prepared him for the death of his wife and being alone with his two children. The same holds true for dealing with where they live, a location where everything he sees reminds him of his wife and his loss.

Son Dylan (Colin Ford) has had the most difficulty dealing with the loss. He's in trouble non-stop at school where they're concerned about the themes of his art work (severed heads and gore) and where he lashes out by breaking rules. When he has his third strike, he's expelled and a new school needs to be located.

Dylan's sister Rosie (Maggie Elizabeth Jones) is the adorable one. She's the most uplifting thing this family has to offer. She never dwells on the loss of her mother and helps Ben to hold the family together be it talks the two have or packing lunches for the next day.

With all that's going on Ben decides he and the children need a change. They need a different house, a different location and something new in their lives. He quits his job and begins house hunting. When he and Rosie find the ideal house they discover there's a hitch...the house is part of a zoo in need of much repair. But he sees this as a challenge and something to do so they buy the zoo.

Some things go as expected with Dylan seeing this as unfavorable and thinking more of him than the family. Ben shows the usual frustrations with dealing with a teen filled with angst as well as a new job. But with the help of the staff he inherits they work toward the goal of having the zoo ready for inspection and opening come June.

Heading that staff is Kelly Foster (Scarlett Johansson). With more knowledge than most she has kept the place running and taken care of the animals while a suitable buyer was sought. Along with her are several staff members, most notably Peter MacReady (Angus Macfadyen) as a zoo designer with a grudge against the zoo inspector who can determine if they are permitted to open or not.

The movie follows the ups and downs of trying to keep the zoo afloat and remade in time to meet their deadline for repairs suggested by the inspector. Money is tight and it seems they might not only have little time but little cash to accomplish their goal. But the film doesn't focus solely on this problem. At the heart of the film is the emotional turmoil going on in this family, as much with Ben as with Dylan. And as they try and cope with their own problem, the staff gets involved as well.

This is a film about people trying to rise above the worst situation they can possibly imagine. It's about people being brought together for a reason even if they aren't aware that fate has driven them into each other's arms. It's about love and the meaning of it all and about loss roped in the middle of that love.

The movie is never boring and never overly sentimental, a trap that many movies with these themes tend to fall into. Instead it deals with the problems the family faces as well as the predicaments they find themselves in while rebuilding the zoo.

The acting is fantastic doing what the best of actors do: make you believe that they are the character and not an actor playing a role. Everyone from Damon on down turns in a performance you can believe.

The movie is supposed to be based on a true story and if so then I'm hoping the zoo is still up and running. Perhaps the romance in the picture isn't real but we can hope so. And in the end we can hope that Ben Mee and his family are at peace and loving life again while we have the chance to share in their story and their triumph with this film.

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THE DARKEST HOUR: RUSSIANS AND ALIENS

Forget the cowboys/alien movie, this one offers more entertainment. THE DARKEST HOUR begins with two young inventor/businessmen traveling to Russia to make a deal for the newest internet craze they've come up with, a hook up site that offers directions to the hottest nightclubs and more for anyone joining. Unfortunately their idea was stolen by their Russian partner, Skyler (Joel Kinnaman) and they've been tossed aside. After traveling halfway around the world to find a failed business adventure what do they do? What all twenty somethings do, head to the local clubs to hook up!

Ben (Max Minghella) is the smart one who came up with the program while Sean (Emile Hirsch) is the one with the supposed business savvy that got them there. Having used the program earlier in the day they're at the hottest spot and hoping to meet two fellow Americans, Natalie (Olivia Thirlby) and her friend Anne (Rachel Taylor). While partying hard a noise outside drives the crowd to the doors to see what the commotion was. They discover what they first think is a lightshow in the sky. In reality it's an invasion of aliens hurtling to the Earth.

The first encounter they all witness is a policeman walking up to a fluctuating, glowing mass that looks like a holographic image floating in the street. When he pokes it, the alien wraps around him and disintegrates the policeman before the eyes of the crowd who immediately panic and begin seeking shelter. As they run various members of the scene are disintegrated one by one and our heroes only escape with luck by hiding in the backroom of the club. Along with them and necessary to help them translate is none other than Skyler.

After several days they travel out to see what has happened. It's basically the end of the world as we know it with no one in sight. They learn how to tell if the aliens are nearby since the energy that flows from these creatures brings light bulbs to full glow. Using this method they travel the city in hopes of finding other survivors and to see what's happened.

They do find others and join with them in hopes of finding help. A radio signal lets them all know that a Russian sub will be located in a pier on one of the main rivers running through Moscow but only till a certain time. It seems the aliens can't see through the water or through glass which reflects light. They head out encountering other survivors fighting back and taking the chance of being picked off one by one before they can make it to the sub.

The movie does have a rather simplistic plot at use here but it works. This is a classic sci-fi low budget flick produced with a much larger budget and a bit of creativity. The concept used for the aliens is cost effective yet works, giving us something we haven't seen before. As the heroes find a way to somewhat short circuit the alien's force fields we get a crude glimpse of them and don't have the need to see more.

But its not just sci-fi being used here. While I watched I thought back to films like RED DAWN (amusing since this film takes place in Russia) where we had a group of teens trying to take on an enemy far advanced than they are at that age. The combination of sci-fi and action make this film work.

Perhaps what made this movie more interesting yet for me was the fact that it was actually shot in Russia, something that would have been unheard of 10-20 years ago. Times have definitely changed, but movie perhaps not as much. The locations take center stage much of the time as we get a glimpse of a country we've not been privy to for long. And after the history the U.S. and Russia have shared, it's also nice to see characters from both countries uniting to take on a common enemy.

Don't get me wrong, this film is not an Oscar contender but it doesn't pretend to be that either. It is what it is, a simple sci-fi film that tells a story and tries to get us involved with characters in the shortest amount of time possible. This is Roger Corman with the chance to play in the big boy's sandbox and it offers a nice evening's entertainment.

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WIZARD OF GORE/GORE GORE GIRLS: MORE H.G. LEWIS BLU-RAY

Fans of the classic drive in genre can rejoice knowing that Image has made the effort to release the films of Herschell Gordon Lewis on blu-ray. That's not to say the movies are spectacular in any way, but fans of H.G. and the films he made will be dancing in the street knowing they're now available in high format quality. Which seems odd since the movies were released on about as low a quality budget as was possible. In any event, the movies are a part of movie history, though at the bottom end.

The first film, WIZARD OF GORE, is the lesser of the two if that's possible. Montag it Magnificent is a magician who performs the standard tricks until the finale of his show. At that time he pulls out all stops and taunts the audience to decide if what they are about to see is real or merely an illusion. His first finale is to saw a woman in half. But this isn't the usual fare. Instead, he does so without placing her in a box but has her entire body in view. Pulling out a chainsaw, he proceeds to saw her open, guts and blood spewing forth in great profusion. Moments later the stunned audience watches on as the girl rises from the table, unharmed. The only problem is that later that night she goes to a restaurant and before she can order she's found on the floor saw in half.

A local talk show host having seen the show the night before with her boyfriend sportswriter sees the body being carted off and it accidentally touches her hand. The next day when she tries to get Montag on her show he declines until the bloodstain appears on her hand, a stain that only he can see. He invites her back that night and she goes this time to witness another grizzly scene, a woman with a spike driven into her skull. She too walks away unharmed only to be found later dead of the same injury seen onstage.

Just who Montag really is and how he's completing these gruesome murders would be the normal movie one would expect to see. Instead we get all sorts of goofy speeches from Montag about illusion and reality and a twist ending that would have seemed half smart had the rest of the film not been so bad. Worst of all is Montag himself, played by . When the term ham actor comes to mind from here on out this is the actor I'll see in my mind's eye. Couple that with some tremendously bad make up that has his hair changing color from white to brown and eyebrows that look like they've had shoe polish brushed over them and you have one really bad movie.

THE GORE GORE GIRLS is the better of the two films. Had this story been done with a bigger budget, better actors and a better script it could have been an A picture. The idea is quite good, it's just the execution that's lacking.

The dancers at the local strip club are being killed off in gory fashion. Heads opened, eyes gouged and more should be a reason to chase people off from visiting the joint but they continue to come to watch the go go girls dance away. The local newspaper hires top private eye   to investigate paying him top dollar to do so if he'll give them the scoop. He takes the job and the money and begins tracking down the killer.

Following a trail of clues and suspects he frequents the club where the girls work. This gives viewers plenty of time to see the main reason folks went to see this movie, semi-clad women shaking everything they had with the limited restrictions of the time. For those who don't understand that means pasties and panties are the wardrobe of choice.

Between sleuthing and dancing we witness the killer strike again and again in even more blood and guts scenes than Lewis has done in the past. It was the thing that brought people to see his movies and he delivers the goods.

As I said, this movie at least has a plot that you can follow and that makes sense. It was done, as were most of Lewis' films, on a budget set just below shoestring but the heart and soul that he put into his films is seen on display on screen.

H. G. Lewis may not be a familiar name to the majority of people. He probable will never be honored with an Oscar. But he was a pioneer of the times and did create a genre, the gore film, which has been copied and replicated over and over again. The biggest difference between his films and those being made today (other than budget) was that he was at least attempting to make something different, to offer a story that the gore became a part of rather than the center of.

Movie lovers who remember the days of the drive in will want to pick this one up. It may not be the best that was offered in that locale, but it is something memorable.

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BOB-THE COMPLETE SERIES: NEWHART'S LAST FORAY INTO SERIES TV

Bob Newhart has been a staple of American TV for years. It began when he was a stand up comedian making albums that are still considered classic comedy to this day. When he took to the airwaves with his first hit TV series, THE BOB NEWHART SHOW, fans went nuts. The antics of psychiatrist Bob Hartley, his wife, friends and patients was a hit on CBS from 1972 through 1978. He followed that with NEWHART that ran from 1982-1990 (tell me you don't recall the phrase "Hi. I'm Larry and this is my other brother Daryl and my other brother Daryl.") Newhart joked on Johnny Carson's show that his series always featured his name and the next would have to be called Bob. While a joke at the time, it became reality.

BOB stars Newhart as a comic book artist who lost hold of his dream. The creator of Mad Dog, a comic book hero with the abilities of a dog, folded after several issues. Bob then went on to become a greeting card writer/artist. As the series opens he's still doing that but is contacted by a major comic publishing company owned by a reclusive millionaire to bring Mad Dog back to life.

The only problem is that the nostalgic idea of Mad Dog brought back were founded by comic book whiz kid Harlan Stone (John Cygan), a comic book genius who is more about blood, guts and explosions than the simple stories Bob had in mind. Trying to get these two different types of personalities to work together forms the basis for the series with all other items surrounding it brought in.

At home Bob has his loving wife, Kaye (Carlene Watkins) and his college aged daughter Trisha (Cynthia Stevenson). And family life becomes the fodder for his stories, including one episode when his daughter's break up becomes the theme of the first story that Bob and Harlan come up with. How that affects the family and how Bob circumvents the sell out of caring vs. creativity makes for some great laughs.

The craziness of the comic book world was little known when this series came out. It was just the beginning of what would eventually blossom into a world where comic book heroes were turned into the biggest blockbusters Hollywood has delivered in some time. So perhaps it was just ahead of it's time, the show only lasted two seasons. But for fans of Newhart and his work the release of this boxed set is a treasure. While some of the other series have been released sporadically this is the only complete one released at one time. It may not compare with the other two series, but for fans this is a must have set.

In watching the series I found that I enjoyed the shows, especially the craftsmanship displayed by Newhart himself. He is a tremendous comedian who never turns in a bad performance. Also in watching I realized that he was never one to hog the camera to himself and very often aided in developing the rest of the cast into characters that he could either work off of or present at their own personal best. That's a rare thing with most actors. It always helped the shows he was involved with, including this one.

It may not rank up there with the likes of the two previous series Newhart put together, but this one does offer some laughs. It's a must have for fans of Newhart and worth watching for everyone else. You'll most likely walk away wondering why this series didn't last as long as the other two.

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IMMORTALS: HEROES FROM THE PAST

The genre of film known as "sword and sandal" has gone up and down over the years. A staple of films in the late 50s and early 60s the genre lost favor when the age of the anti-hero and film student film makers took over. But in 2000 that changed when GLADIATOR hit the screens and planted Russell Crowe firmly in the position of movie star. More movies followed like TROY and 300. And so it is we now have the latest film based on Greek mythology, IMMORTALS.

The story opens by telling us the history of the Gods of Greece, having risen up against the Titans and imprisoning them in Mount Tartarus. The only weapon on Earth that could possibly free the Titans and thus open the world to a war among Gods once more is the Epirus bow, now being sought by King Hyperion (Mickey Rourke).

As the army of Hyperion moves forward in search of the bow, villages fall and inhabitants try to stay one step ahead avoiding capture. Young Theseus (Henry Cavill) is a highly skilled warrior trained by an old man in his village (John Hurt). But since his birth was the result of his mother being raped, both are looked down upon and when the time comes to leave they are left behind. This results in Theseus' mother's death when the village is attacked by Hyperion's men and Theseus is captured.

While this is going on Hyperion has captured the oracle Phaedra in hopes that she will lead him to the bow he seeks. But it is visions of Theseus that fill her head and she knows that he is the key to stopping Hyperion. When their paths cross Theseus helps leads a revolt against the few guards that hold them prisoner organized by Phaedra and with the help of a thief named Stavros (Stephen Dorff) they set out to bury his mother in his home village.

While in the village they discover that the Epirus bow was buried there all along. Theseus recovers the bow but is attacked by Hyperion's beast the Minotaur. Theseus survives and knows his destiny lies in stopping Hyperion. They travel to Phaedra's home only to be overtaken by Hyperion's men and losing the bow. Now it's up to Theseus to join the army that stands against Hyperion and prevent the release of the Titans. And this is just the main story going on here.

Along the way Theseus and Phaedra fall in love, politicians fall for Hyperion's tricks and nearly cause the downfall of the civilized world and the Gods speak to Theseus. It seems that the person who trained him was Zeus posing as the old man. Having already told the rest of the Gods that they are not to interfere, he tells Theseus that the Gods can not assist man; they must shine on their own. These were the rules written long ago when the Titans were first imprisoned.

Of course this all means that we're bound to see a major battle scene involving the good army against the bad one, a face off between Theseus and Hyperion and the possibility of the release of the Titans if Theseus doesn't quite take care of things. And should they be released, a battle among Gods will surely follow.

The movie offers the tale of a hero extremely well and perhaps it's time we told stories of heroes once again. It seems there we find few out there these days in the spotlight and so many are toppled from their pedestals by those who feel we need more truth and less heroes. Myself I'm glad we have heroes to inspire us even if they are in movies and stories only.

The special effects are dazzling to watch and fit nicely into the story rather than take it over. Battle scenes are bloody but they would have been since they involved more bludgeoning and blades than anything else. But at least those involved have that gritty look to them as opposed to the freshly starched togas seen in some films.

The acting done by all shines here, especially Cavill. That's great to see since he's been tapped to portray Superman in the new film being made. He has the presence to carry that role off which many were concerned about when he was named. If he can make you believe he's the Grecian hero seen here then Superman should be a breeze.

The movies being turned out in this genre have all been exceptional and well worth our time as a viewing audience. Many have been worth adding to our collections, including this one. Let's just hope they continue to make them and then discover that the past treasures deserve blu-ray treatment as well. For now we'll have to be content watching releases like IMMORTALS which offer tremendous entertainment.

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