It is always the best idea to live your life the way you want to. Not giving into what others think you should be doing; you need to do what feels right and get the most out of your days on the planet. It is difficult not to bend to the will of others however and once you do, it is very hard to get back to the person that you were before. There is always someone out there that will want to change you, your attitude, or your outlook on life and if it is what you want, then you should succumb to it, but if not, you need to remember that this is your life and it is much too short to not be happy in.
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Los Angeles has almost been taken off of the map with a giant earthquake that measured 9.6 on the Richter Scale but is still standing. Becoming an island off the coast of California, it has become a prison of sorts for those citizens that are deemed undesirable by the President’s new rules. Just like New York, there is no coming back after you are sent to this island. But the streets of L.A. hold a different type of danger since they are monitored even less and with the addition of the President’s daughter and a doomsday device that can take out the United States, preparations are being made to change the balance of power. Under the leadership of Cuervo Jones, the plan is to disable and shut down the United States and the only way to stop this, is to recover the new toy that has been designed to take out all the electronics in a designated area. 

Snake Plissken has been captured again, but not without a fight. After barely escaping Cleveland by the hair of his teeth, he has been picked up on a gun fighting charge and is ready to serve his time. Being pulled away from the regular pack of detainees, Snake knows that there is something special he is going to be asked to do for the government, again. Listing to the sob story about what could happen to the country, Snake is ready to walk away, but finding out that he has already been infected by a ten-hour virus that will kill him without the antidote, he is forced into the President’s employ without question. Needing to find the little black box that the went missing from Air Force One is his primary objective, but when he gets to the island of Los Angeles, he finds out that it will be much more difficult than expected.

Arriving in Los Angeles and losing his ride out, Snake is on his own, but his fame precedes him as everyone that he meets knows who the outlaw is. Getting directions to his final destination, Snake travels throughout the city and finds out that things are not as bad as they seem, that is until he tries to get a bead on Cuervo Jones. Beating Cuervo at his own game, Snake is forced to look for reinforcements to take down the crazy leader and finds that some of his old friends, although reluctant, are willing to help take down the madman. With a plan in place, Snake is in a race against time and will have to move quickly to retrieve the doomsday device and get back to the base before his clock runs out and he becomes just another casualty of Los Angeles.

It pains me to say this, but I think I like this movie better than Escape from New York. It might be because I knew more of the actors in this movie, but I think I liked the idea of a power struggle between two leaders that are wanting the same thing. I know that Snake is his own man and will do whatever he wants, even when he is being directed to do something for somebody else, so that part of the story does not change. But when the President’s daughter comes clean about her father and Cuervo Jones and what she has seen, it appears that both men are crazy about their convictions and even though they are on the opposite sides of the realm, they both want to rule the United States with an iron fist. Although I did not mention Map to the Stars Eddie, he has got to be one of my favorite characters in this movie. He is always in the right place at the right time and wants to back whomever he sees the greatest opportunity with. He is far from a role model, but he is a very entertaining character to say the least and has a way of making dreams come true for everyone that he works for, in Los Angeles. Happy Viewing.

Anytime you are really good at doing something, good or bad, you are always asked to use those skills to help someone in need. As special situations come up, you would be surprised how often you are asked to perform these duties and most of the time, you would not even think twice about doing them. But if you are known for having skills in something that is less than legal, would you think twice about using your skills, especially if you are asked to use them by someone of the government? It is a question that you may be left asking yourself when the situation arises, since they are the ones that are generally trying to stop you from performing them.

The year is 1997 and the island of Manhattan is a now a maximum security prison where there is only one rule, once you go in, you never come out. Once on the island, you are left to fend for yourself since the outside world could care less about what happens to you. Creating a kill or be killed civilization, the convicts have created their own utopia within their confines and do not want to be bothered with any problems from the outside world, unless of course it can benefit them in a positive way.  Receiving a special delivery from the National Liberation Front of America, the island prison now has a new inmate, the President of the United States.

After attempting a rescue mission to bring back the Commander-In-Chief, the rescue team finds out that they are up against a group that is much more powerful than they could have ever imagined. Being told to leave before the President is killed, the police commissioner has a new recruit that might be able to get the job done. Snake Plissken is in the middle of being processed at Liberty Island when he is asked to go into the old city to find the President. Although Snake was once a decorated Special Forces soldier, he has turned his sights on more illegal activities since the country has been falling down drastically. Being promised a full pardon for the return of the President and his briefcase, Snake decides that since he is going to the island one way or another, he might as well try the way that leaves him with a way off of the rock.

Getting injected with two micro bombs, Snake is now put on a deadline to return the President to the outside world. In twenty-two hours, the summit between China, Russia and America will be over and Snake's life will end as well. Since the President has something very important in his briefcase it is vital that the information make it to the summit before it ends. Snake is able to make it into the city but following the technology that he is given; he finds that the initial intel is less than promising. Running into an old friend, Brain, Snake is able to find the mastermind behind the plot of utilizing the President to get off of the island. The Duke of New York is holding him and will navigate his way across the bridge to the mainland with the President as his hood ordainment. After promising everyone that helps him safe passage back to the real world, Snake finds that his survival is in question as well when he is brought before The Duke for trying to compromise the leader's plan. Battling for his life may not be enough as the clock continues ticking on the summit and Snake will have to work his magic to get the President and his tape out of New York before the clock strikes zero.

If you ever wanted to see what the United States would look like if it became a major police state, this is a movie that gives you a solid idea. Turning some of the greatest cities into prisons is the wave of the future here since half of the population is deemed guilty of living outside of the rules on a daily basis.  Being given a chance to repent one’s crimes does not seem to be the priority in this new nation shown on the screen, but it does come into play and with his skill set, Snake is the only one that can make a difference. I like how untrusting he is of the government, even when everything is laid on the table for him to complete his mission and it is shown that it is well deserved. With nothing to lose and everything to gain, Snake is the reluctant hero that everyone would want to be, especially since he plays by his own set of rules and no matter what happens, he will be in charge of his own destiny. Happy Viewing.

Criticism is a difficult thing for most people to take and rightfully so when it seems like the world is full of negative people. But if you are willing to read into what these people are saying, some of it might be beneficial for you in the long run. When the same thing continues to be said about you or your work, you can find that one thing to focus on and change for the better. While most of the time you will take these remarks with a grain of salt, listen to them once in a while and you may be surprised to find that some of them might be right.
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Arriving at her boyfriend’s apartment after a long day of sleeping, Gloria is shocked to find out that he has had enough of her party going ways and is breaking up with her. Packing up her clothes and making the long trek back home, Gloria is shocked to see one of her longtime friends Oscar is driving by and he gives her a lift to childhood home. With nothing left to her name, Gloria looks around the house and tries to get some bearings on her life and what she is going to do next, but getting an invite to the bar, she does this over several drinks with her friends. Seeing that his old friend needs help, Oscar steps up to the plate and starts to help in refurnishing the house, along with giving the down on her luck lady a job at the bar.

After a long night of drinking, Gloria stops by the local park and makes a call to her old boyfriend Tim to see how things are going and after he gives her a lecture once again about her lifestyle choices, Gloria hangs up in a huff. Getting back home and passing out, Gloria awakens to Oscar telling her that there is a massive monster terrorizing Seoul. Not believing what she is seeing on the news, Gloria finds herself in a bad place once again and gives Tim a call to find out his take on the situation. Walking through the park once again, the conversation goes the same way and Gloria is not willing to give up on her ways.  Finding out the monster attacked Seoul once again, at the same time she was out and about, Gloria starts to do a little bit of research on the situation, as the times of the attacks are taking place at the same time she is in the park and low and behold, she is controlling the beast.

Sitting with her friends at the bar, Gloria breaks the news to them that she is controlling the beast for the short time it makes its appearances. Dragging them to the park and showing them first hand that she is in control, they find out that she is not the only one with the gift. When a giant robot shows up in Seoul as Oscar is trying to figure things out, the two have a secret that will change their lives forever.  Making appearances when drunk and showing off their moves, Gloria pledges not to ever hurt anyone else again, but Oscar has other plans when he finds out that her affections will not be shown to him in the long run. With the promise of taking out his hatred on Seoul if Gloria does not do his bidding, Oscar is holding all of the cards, or so he thinks as his new-found gift is not only for the world to take note of, but for Gloria to understand what kind of man…and monster he truly is inside.

This is one of those movies that you will either love or hate, mostly based upon your opinion of the actors that this film brings to the table. While I am still a little confused as to what the point of the story was (probably that drinking is bad), the characters transformations throughout were great. Trying to control herself after finding out that she has been killing people without knowing it, Gloria has the eye-opening moment that she needs to take control of her life once again and is ready to move on. Oscar on the other hand is looking for complete control and switching his demeanor from fun loving guy to pure evil was just awesome. With a down on her luck woman, a best friend, a love triangle, a giant monster, a giant robot, a magical park, plenty of booze and pure evil making an appearance, this movie is pretty entertaining overall if you don’t mind not knowing exactly what is going on. While I would hope that dealing with bullies in the past would help to understand how weak they really are, it is important to note that once they feel like they have the power, they will never stop until they are put in their place. Happy Viewing.

​It has often been said that hope is a dangerous thing, and that’s something that I fully agree with. But not in the traditional sense. Because there are two sides to hope and while it can definitely get us through some tough times by letting us believe that maybe, just maybe, things will get better in the end, it can also cloud our judgment and allow for us to continue with a proverbial status quo where we find ourselves in a funk, as we use it to cope with a particularly bad situation, one where should be focusing less on hope and more on getting away from or fixing the problem at hand.  
But while that sounds as though I’m down on hope, I honestly think those kinds of situations are far and few between, and that it really does help us get through plenty of rough spots in our lives and that matters because, sometimes…hope really is all you have, and that’s why so many motion pictures and stories in general have explored it because its power and its weight are truly something else. However, when it comes to the many stories out there that ponder upon this uplifting notion, only one sticks out in my mind as the finest possible examination of hope out there; The Shawshank Redemption.
 
Now, there’s going to be little discussion or summary of the plot when it comes to this movie simply because you’ve likely seen it and if you haven’t, well, you gotta get on that as soon as humanly possible. No instead, we’re going to take the time today to talk about what makes this motion picture so incredibly uplifting because it doesn’t matter how many times I watch this one, I walk away from it with my spirits soaring, and let’s be honest, I shouldn’t. Because for the most part, this story is a dark and ugly affair as we walk the dreary halls of Shawshank and really, therein lies the trick when it comes to this story, it works to break the audience just as hard as the prison works to break Andy. 

​It accomplishes that particular feat, by allowing for us to bear witness to life in the worst possible prison imaginable and man, the more I’ve watched this film, the more I realize how much these men suffer, and how little there is for them to look forward to throughout the day, and those moments of levity help us as much as they help them, and really, there’s something to be said about sticking it to the man by surviving another day. But as the movie rolls on, and characters disappear in hopeless fashion, especially Brooks, the audience starts to wonder whether or not this place is going to consume Andy as well.
 
But his unwavering faith is what makes this movie so damn wonderful because good ol’ Andy never lets go of the notion that life has to get better, that there has to be a way out of this situation and it emboldens him to do some incredible things to gain his freedom and well, it also emboldens the audience to not give up on the story because we know he’s innocent and deserves better and while that seems like a by the numbers way to deal with hope, it’s not, and oddly enough it is the ending that takes it all to the next level. Because really, this film takes the time to remind us that sometimes hope doesn’t work on the timeline we’ve set for it, but it will eventually pay off if we stay patient and keep the faith, and that’s just damn beautiful.
 
If anything, this film truly is a masterpiece through and through and I’m hard pressed to find any flaws in the performances, the direction or the screenplay. It’s just a magnificent and uplifting character study, and timeless in its message and it really is one of my favorite motion pictures and one that I re-visit often, especially when I’m having a rough week and need a pick me up and I cannot emphasize this enough, if you haven’t seen this movie, now is the time. It’s simply a wonderful movie and you’ll be glad you took a couple of hours out of your day to enjoy a story this powerful, and this moving. 

​It never ceases to amaze me how science has managed to make our lives better and solve many a problem for mankind over the years. But, despite the incredible strides science has made in knowledge and technology, there are still some things it hasn’t been able to answer, like for instance…what happens to us after we die. We simply haven’t a clue what awaits in the great beyond and while science cannot answer this question for us just yet, our imagination can certainly give it a whirl.
 
Which is why motion pictures and novels serve as a wonderful place to play ‘what if’ when it comes to the Afterlife, since no one can confirm or deny that the story is incorrect in its portrayal of our next steps in death. But while that kind of material often serves as fodder for inspirational and reflective dramas, some filmmakers, like Tim Burton, know exactly how to inject a little showmanship into heavier material such as this, and for proof, look no further than the 1988 film, Beetlejuice.
 
Now this is a motion picture that is near and dear to many people’s hearts simply because it’s more than just a comedic send up of death as a whole, this a wildly unique film on so many levels and really, what we are going to spend a lot of time talking about today over the plot, is what makes this film so special. And really, the first thing that often catches me off guard about this movie, is its portrayal of what the Afterlife looks like and what it’s all about because…nothing changes. Outside of being forced to look at the injury that did you in, it’s business as usual, and you in essence just continue to do your thing for all eternity and that really is a different view on what happens to us after we die since so many stories focus on people finishing unfinished business in order to move on to something far greater in the universe.  

Plus, another thing that I’ve always enjoyed about this motion picture, is quite frankly its visual style since Burton plays with a lot of different elements here. Because on a moment’s notice, this movie can go from a traditional style and look to something jarring and weird and of course, most of the wild visuals come to fruition in the Afterlife when the Maitland’s finally cross over to see what lies beyond and well, despite the ghoulish nature of the film, some parts of the Netherworld are strikingly and hauntingly beautiful and Burton’s unique aesthetic really shines here and its integration into this film is seamless and it is quite frankly, essential to selling the story.
 
But let’s be honest, there’s one element above all else in this movie that makes it so downright memorable and beloved, and that’s the fact that it is a damn funny film. Which of course, is quite the feat since death is no laughing matter, but the black humor here works, thanks to the comedic talents of the cast and the wild moments they are thrust into, like the dinner scene that we all know and love. However, while the cast does their part, let’s be honest, one man truly shines when it comes to the laughs and that’s Michael Keaton, whose manic and outlandish portrayal of the title character (there’s no way in hell, I’m typing that name more than once) takes the comedy to a whole new level and while he isn’t in the film from beginning to end, he makes every single moment he’s on screen count by stealing every single scene he’s in.
 
If anything, this is one of those films that is outright flawless through and through, since it also features an airtight script that flows perfectly and well, it’s an instant classic in large part due to the fact that it’s so incredibly original and refreshing, and also because it withstands the test of time with ease. Because nothing about this film feels dated after all these years and after revisiting it the other day, I’m still in awe of how the most iconic moments in this movie still generate anticipation and joy and are still as hilarious as they were in theaters all those years ago. In the end, this is simply a magnificent film, and a must own, and if by chance you haven’t seen it, jump in the line and get on that, because you’re definitely missing out.  

Within each and every one of us, resides a powerful dream. One that grabs onto our minds and our souls at a young age and never lets go. Because something about this dream, tells us that it will bring us great happiness, if we take the time to chase it, and the pursuit of that incredible dream has been the subject of a great many stories. Both professional and personal. For in addition to enjoying films where the underdog becomes the champion, or the longshot makes the team, we’ve also enjoyed stories at dinner or over drinks from people who are happy to tell us, what it was like to go after what they really want in life. And we love these stories for one reason and one reason alone; because they inspire us and energize us to obtain our dream as well and there’s nothing wrong with partaking in tales that ask people to be more. 
 
But where these stories do fall short, is in their execution. Because the people that tell us their tale, or the filmmakers that provide us with tear-jerking and inspirational finales, often gloss over the tough stuff in regard to chasing one’s dream. Because the harsh reality about this particular pursuit, is that it is not easy in the slightest. For in order to become a star athlete, hours upon hours of practice and repetition come into play before one ever takes the field, and sometimes… the underdog doesn’t win, despite going the distance. And of course, there is the sacrifice that comes with one’s dream as well. Because in order to achieve everything you’ve ever wanted in life, you will have to give up other things that you love, and dedicate yourself to your craft over anything else and to complicate matters further, there’s still more strife that comes with the chase.
 
Because another element about this journey that is heavily glossed over, is the sheer number of times that one will fail in their attempts to obtain their dream. Because what we chase is difficult and we’re not alone in its pursuit and well, sometimes all of these elements overwhelm a dreamer and motivate them to walk away and pursue something else. Which doesn’t necessarily mean that one is an outright failure in doing so. Because the discovery that you’re not athletic in the slightest, does complicate a dream involving becoming an NFL Quarterback. But in the end, these are the things that audiences don’t necessarily enjoy seeing in print or on screen, because it is a touch depressing for some. But George A. Romero is a filmmaker who was fearless in exploring any topic available to him and he went the extra mile in exploring the harsh realities that come with chasing one’s dreams in his next film, Knightriders.
 
For this particular tale holds nothing back in regard to the difficulties that come with ‘going for it’, since Billy Davis, our main character, faces challenges at every turn in keeping his incredible dream alive. For he's created a unique lifestyle for himself and his friends, one where he presides as King over a troupe of motorcycle riding knights, allowing for everyone to live in relative simplicity in a world that barely understands that word. But keeping this kind of life going, is no easy task. For it does indeed require great physical and mental sacrifice on Billy’s part because he is truly trying to embody the nobility that accompanies knighthood and monarchy. And in the 20th Century, or this one for that matter, that’s easier said than done when there are bills to pay and mouths to feed and ideas and ideals that mean more to individuals than what Billy is trying to instill within his troupe, and those external factors force him to work overtime and risk his health in order to keep this whole thing going and that unfortunately, leads Billy to try and rule with an iron fist.

​Which is why we see his troupe begin to break up and drift, because they aren't good with demands being made of them and they really did expect something vastly different out of this unique and challenging lifestyle choice. In fact, they seemed to think this decision would put them on easy street, where the money would just roll in day after day, and that’s where the ‘hard work’ exploration comes into play. Because eventually Morgan and his boys come to realize that if they really want the spiritual freedom that Billy is offering them, they have to fully commit to it and really, all of these elements make for a fascinating story. One that is big on characters and the wonder and the power of dreams and how chasing them in the right manner will pay off in spades. For once everyone is on the same page, and commits themselves to what they desire, they find a peace and a joy they never understood before. 
 
But while that makes it sound as though this film ends in a fluffy and beautiful manner, this is a George Romero film we are talking about here. Which doesn’t necessarily mean that this story slides into dark and dreary territory, but it does take the time to look at the flip side of this notion and examine the dangers that come with chasing one’s dream as well. Because life is all about balance, and we have to find time for ourselves and our hobbies and our own happiness. Which means that we cannot let the dream completely consume us, because to do so blinds us to the realities of our situation and it can cost us what we love. As evidenced by Billy’s fall from grace at the end of the film and really, Romero does deserve serious credit for taking the time to explore this because it is an honest way to balance out some fantastical concepts. 
 
In fact, we would be foolish to not take a moment and talk about those concepts. Because this is hands down, one of the most creative and unique films that George ever filmed. For the idea of modern-day knights in a world that has questionable motives and a lack of honor, is simply fascinating in regard to how the heck that would work. Plus, there is something supremely cool about watching these intrepid knights ride motorcycles and beat the tar out of one another, all in the hopes of becoming champion of the day. If anything, it just seems as though George wanted to ponder upon whether or not honor was something that could truly have a place in modern America and well, it would seem that once again that answer is up to the audience since the movie never quite says whether that is possible or not. 
 
Yet while the story and the commentary present here are quite incredible their own respective rights, what truly allows for this film to shine, is its humanity. Because every character here is properly fleshed-out and they grow and they’re good people that we can relate to and their depth makes this an oddly intimate film. One that screams of something personal that Romero was trying to say about his own life and experiences in ‘fighting the dragon’ that was the studio movie system and if that’s the case, this may have been the first and last time that Romero bared his soul to the audience in such a direct manner. Either way, this really is one special film. Thanks to the fact that it explores some unique and powerful concepts that Romero would never take the time to dive into again. Because from here on out, it was all about terror and the darker side of the human condition, leaving one to wonder what might have been if George had received the opportunity to craft another intimate motion picture.     

When it comes to crime movies, there's something to be said about how these films are in essence, a simple but pure re-telling of the age-old notion of good versus evil. After all, you have your intrepid police officer, bound by oath to protect and serve, squaring off against a bad man or woman, who is hell bent on breaking the laws that mankind has set forth.

Throughout the years these films have made for some incredibly compelling stories, but often times the focus is kept to the crime in question and the man or woman chasing our criminal, only giving us minimal insight when it comes to the people involved in their respective cat and mouse game. Which means that the films that do take the time to let us learn more about the characters are special movies indeed and one such film remains the cream of the crop when it comes to giving us grand insight in regard to the everyday life of a cop or a criminal, 1995's Heat. 

At the time this motion picture was on everyone's radar because at long last two screen legends in Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro were finally going to be in a film together, but this story provides us with so much more. It is in fact a classic Hollywood epic through and through, giving us a grand and sweeping story filled to the brim with colorful and flawed characters, some of them just hoping to make it through the day, while others are hell bent on their goals and well...what makes this film so fascinating and so compelling is that insight into the character's world I mentioned a moment ago. The struggles of being a criminal and what that life looks like is explored in detail and it was also fascinating to see how the next big score, or just one damn good one drives these men since there really is nothing else in life for them to accomplish.

Yet in showing us all of this, the film does not elicit pity from the audience, it humanizes these characters on a fundamental level, allowing for you to hope that they find some semblance of success so that perhaps they can leave this life behind and the humanizing doesn't end with the bad guys, our intrepid cop; Vincent Hanna, played with an edge by Al Pacino, is explored in depth as well. This is a man who has seen incredible horrors during his storied career with the L.A.P.D.'s Robbery/Homicide division and he will give anything to find some sense of normalcy in his world and is desperate to assemble some kind of family life to escape the toughest parts of his daily life. 

Yet, at no point will Hanna ever walk away from the badge and the gun since he truly believes he is doing some good in this world and that's where the film returns to its crime roots, because Hanna and Neil McCauley, played brilliantly by Robert DeNiro are locked into their respective goals and watching these two men play one another to accomplish said goals is stunning to say the least, making the all-important dinner scene where they confront one another absolutely breathtaking, and heartbreaking. Because it is here that we learn just how dedicated these men truly are to their individual cause and despite their best efforts to talk one another down from a showdown for the ages, they both know it is inevitable and when it finally does arrive, it ends up being one costly and bloody conflict. 

But the film constantly feels a need to go above and beyond any tropes from this particular genre, because in a way, the diner scene serves as a last chance for both men to save their souls. If Hanna walks away, he doesn't have any blood on his hands, if Neil chooses to go straight, his life is never in danger and the fact that the story blurs the line between good versus evil since both men feel they have brought forth both sides of that proverbial coin into their lives is another stroke of genius, one that makes the ending of the story all the more insightful since in a strange way, both men find redemption. Either way, this is a wonderful motion picture that is filled to the brim with subtle moments and plot points that we could fawn over for days since it seems every character has a rich backstory and because of that, this is a film that you need to experience if you haven't already because of the fact that it is a crime film that is unlike any other and it's one with a story so rich and endearing that it will stay with you long after the screen has faded to black. 
 
Also, if you enjoyed this review and love all aspects of cinema, we also recommend you check out our Podcast, ‘Movie Mumble’, located here.

​If you had the ability to go back in time and make your life better, would you do it? I know that there is a resounding yes from the masses on the matter and I would be in the same boat. Not wanting to think about the consequences of what could happen if you changed the outcome of your life however starts to make me wonder if it would really be worth it. Without anyone being able to travel through time that we know of, we do not know what would happen to the world, much less ourselves when we get back and that is a frightening thought. I just hope when time travel is unlocked, that we use it for the benefit of the world, rather than the individual. 

David Raskin is a smart kid and wants to take his smarts to the next level and applies for a full ride scholarship at MIT. Thirty days after sending in his next attempt, he receives a letter back from the office of admissions and although he gets into the school, there is a snag. He is only given five thousand dollars in the scholarship and that leaves him and his mother trying to figure out how to get the other forty thousand that would cover the first year.  Brain storming with his friends at school, David comes home to see that his struggling mother has put the house up for sale to pay for his future.

Not wanting to be a burden, David tries to find one his father’s ideas from back when he was alive to try and capitalize on it for his last attempt at getting another scholarship, but only finding an old camcorder in the attic, David is starting to let go of his dream. But watching the tape that was left in the old unit, he sees something that has blown his mind, his grown-up self at his own birthday party when he was seven. Showing the tape to his friends and sister, they try to figure out what they are seeing and follow the clues from the tape to find a hidden compartment in his father’s caged off workspace. Seeing blueprints from DARPA, the group start putting one and one together and find out that David’s father was trying to crack the code of time travel. Wanting to follow in his father’s footsteps, David takes the next steps in trying to get the seemingly harmless hard drive started and see if what they have seen on the sheets and read about in the notes is at all possible.

Assembling the machine, the group isn't able to muster enough power to keep it running to produce a leap, but when David sees his crush pull up in her hybrid, he knows the secret is in the battery that they use. Hooking up jumper cables to power his machine, the group is able to transport a toy car back in time two hours. This only being the start, Jessie suggests that they start on human trials as soon as possible and the group is able to go back in time twenty-four hours. Seeing that it worked when Quinn draws on the back of his own sleeping neck, the group has unlocked something that has never been tampered with before. With the ability to travel through time at their fingertips, the group comes up with plans of how to fix things in their lives, but every time they go back in time, something massive changes in their lives going forward. When seeing this, the group decides that they will only travel together to minimize the ripple effects that they have seen, but when David wants a second chance at love, he takes matters into his own hands and things start to get out of control.

This is a pretty good premise when it comes to time travel stories, I liked how the ripple effects, no matter how small started to show right away after time started to be messed with. The group goes through experiments left and right to make their own future better and even wind up winning the lottery once, but not for too much money. I liked watching David try to walk in his father’s footsteps when the time was right and wanting to enhance the machines capabilities is his number one priority so he and the group can travel back in time further and further. David’s breakdown however is the best and when he loses focus of what the group has promised to do, he is on his own and nobody will be able to help him. Some people say that there are no second chances, but this movie goes to prove that wrong. Happy Viewing.

There is no greater topic to tackle in storytelling, than life itself. Because we all share in important moments that are both foundational to our growth and our future and exploring them in fiction, be it through books or any visual medium, helps us to better understand this crazy ride and what it means. Which is why we see motion pictures and shows and books that explore the power of death and how the trauma it creates, can impact our lives and our future. Or we see tales that focus upon the power of love and how it lifts us up and how it can indeed complete us when it is exactly what we are missing, and we’ve even seen tales that explore some of the darker stuff people go through, such as addiction or abuse. 
 
But what’s fascinating about these explorations, is that they all feature one common thread. In that, they all revolve around something specific that we can learn and grow from. Meaning that these stories focus heavily on direction and purpose and everything in between. Which isn’t a bad thing by any means, simply because that’s the kind of stuff that audiences outright find inspirational, and these types of stories really do give people guidance that are lost. But the fact of the matter is, there is a lot more to explore about life, and only the bravest of filmmakers and writers will ever take the time to tackle the parts that others are unwilling to. Because unfortunately, sometimes life is simply mundane, and despite our best efforts to find purpose and direction, sometimes it simply isn’t there and it just so happens that George A. Romero took the time to explore this darker side of life in his next motion picture.
 
For There’s Always Vanilla focuses heavily on the mundane and the listless existence that people sometimes experience. Something that is explored by way of our main characters, Chris Bradley and Lynn Harris. Because these particular folks simply don’t know what the hell they want out of life, they just know that they want more. Which does in turn make them supremely realistic in their own right because we’ve shared in some of their experiences. For we’ve all wondered if there is more to doing the laundry and bouncing from job to job, especially in our youth and well, by taking us on this mundane ride through the grind of daily life, one really does expect this story to begin to guide Chris and Lynn, toward something better, since they are indeed determined to put together successful careers that will fulfill them. 
 
But that’s the trick of this film, since we never see these characters grow, for supremely unique reasons. Because in essence, Chris is a man who simply doesn’t believe in anything the world has to offer. Sure, he wants to be part of it and contribute to it but doing so seems dirty to him. For he’s noticed that everything about modern life involves some form of servitude to either a boss or another human being and that bothers him to no end. To the point where he drifts from job to job and notion to notion in the hopes of finding something that will allow him to have his freedom and sustain him in the process and it is quite frustrating to watch him sabotage himself at every single turn and treat everyone around him in a pompous and superior manner. Because it is simply unnecessary and if he just took a moment to treat something or someone with respect, he would see his respective dreams come true and well, that makes he and Lynn supremely sour characters to say the least. 

​Because Lynn is just as bad as Chris. For she’s the pretty girl that can easily have whatever she wants in life, something evidenced by the fact that she is able to model and star in local commercials whenever she pleases and of course, she can have any man she wants because she’s gorgeous and knows it. But she is simply empty inside, for none of this fulfills her either. But rather than drift in the same manner as Chris, she quickly attaches herself to men that are emotionally unavailable, specifically Chris in this tale, in the hopes of fixing them up and making them the model man that she wants them to be, and that leads to disaster of course since neither of them are good for another one, and use each other on a regular basis to fill their respective voids. 
 
Which should make this film as off-putting as possible. Because who in their right mind would want to sit through a movie that’s focused upon two seemingly irredeemable characters that use one another and only care about themselves? But as it turns out, you simply cannot turn away when it comes to Chris and Lynn simply because they feel so familiar and relatable. Because from time to time, we’ve been both of them. Where we didn’t believe in the world or used others to fill a void, and we know those folks who drift from job to job and constantly have excuses why they couldn’t do it, or they bounce from relationship to relationship because they firmly believe that the right partner is only way that they will find peace and fulfillment in life.
 
Something that quite frankly, makes this a supremely nihilistic and dystopian film at times. Because there’s just no hope to be found for Chris and Lynn, especially when one considers that they settle in the end. But that also lends credence to the film’s brilliance as well. Because that is life, and there are a lot of people that drift and settle and hope for something better but never find it, or never put in the work to be more or do more simply because they don’t know if they can handle bigger things. But what’s truly impressive about this motion picture, is that it doesn’t look down upon Chris or Lynn for being ‘average’ and ‘lost’, it simply uses them to point out that the world is filled with people like that, who simply want to forge a good life full of good memories and that there’s nothing wrong with that. In essence, the movie makes it clear that it is up to viewer to decide what path they need to take in life, and that they need to stick with their decision, and that’s quite the bold message to send the audience’s way since it offers such indifference in an environment where we expect answers.
 
But while we’ve discussed a great deal about the film’s construction and themes, we’ve yet to answer the million-dollar question; is it any good? And the answer to that question, is yes. Because the subtlety and intelligence that you only find in Romero’s direction is present here, despite the fact that he didn’t pen the script. But this movie works, and like the rest of Romero’s body of work, it requires multiple viewings to properly capture everything it has to say. If anything, the only real odd thing about this movie, is that George took the time to direct a melodrama. Because going from the beginning of the end of the world to a big-time drama is quite the unexpected deviation. But it just goes to show that Romero was capable of telling just about any story out there and while this one may not be in the same echelon as some of his other work, it is a fine palate cleanser, one that prepares the mind for the incredibly dark and powerful films that he had planned for the future.

Caution: This review of ‘Two Ways to Go West’ contains spoilers.
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The whole notion of ‘starting over’ is something that we hold in high regard in modern society, and understandably so. Because when the daily grind of life starts to get you down, or life’s more difficult moments put you in quite the tough spot mentally and emotionally, the thought of simply packing up and heading into the proverbial sunset so you can awaken in a new place where the possibilities are outright endless, is quite the appealing thought for certain. But while there is much wonder to be found in pondering upon what our lives would look like if we were able to reinvent ourselves on a moment’s notice, the reality of this particular notion is far more complex than we give it credit. For in the end, one cannot simply just ‘up and go’ and expect life to start over again in the simplest of fashion.
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Because we have family members that rely upon us and need us, and we have friends in a similar boat, and leaving them behind is far easier said than done. Plus, a lot of what motivates us to want to get a fresh start in the first place, is related to issues that are far more internal in nature. Which means that no matter where we go or what we do, the root causes of our troubles are always with us. If anything, this is a notion that perhaps needs something of an update, since starting over really entails some serious self-work and perhaps the best way to begin to change our view of this mantra, is by way of popular media. For it too tends to propagate the wonder of just escaping our daily strife. But thankfully, there are some stories out there that don’t shy away from what this notion really entails, and recently this reviewer had the opportunity to enjoy a motion picture that makes a point to embrace the tough nature of the fresh start in Two Ways to Go West.

Now in this particular film, we are introduced to a man named Gavin, who is at quite the crossroads in his life right now. Because not that long ago, he packed up and tested his fortunes in Hollywood and betting on himself, paid off in spades. For he enjoyed a little fame in tinsel town, but unfortunately some tough injuries and the wonder of painkillers, took him down a dark road. That kind that eventually ended with a stint in rehab. But after cleaning himself up and finding a support network in his new love, Gavin is ready to start over in life and what better way to make that happen, then by swinging by Las Vegas for the weekend to spend a little time with some old childhood friends before one of them ties the knot. But this seemingly innocent act and attempt to test one’s mettle will be far more difficult than Gavin expects. For surrounding himself with the past and a town that thrives on the party lifestyle that he left behind, will test him like never before. 

So, make no mistake about it, this is quite the bleak drama for certain. Thanks in large part to the fact that it presents addiction in the raw and how difficult it is for folks to come back from that. Because Gavin really is at the point in his recovery where one wrong push will send him over the edge and truly, being surrounded by booze and temptation is a poor choice for him in the first place. Which in turn leads to some powerful scenes where he struggles mightily with his sobriety, and really this is a direct result of the fact that Gavin doesn't quite take his sobriety or his recovery all that seriously. Because in essence, Gavin thought a week or two in rehab would cure him of well, everything. But that's simply not the case, since sobriety takes dedicated work and effort on the part of the addict and ironically, his inability to understand what it takes to stay sober is what lays the foundation for the film's exploration on what is truly needed in order to get a fresh start in life.

Because another key misstep in his long road to recovery, is the sheer fact that he never bothered to address the root causes of his addiction. For he really did turn to drugs to ease the ache from wounds he never healed and transitioning into that exploration is really where this motion picture shines. Because it really does make it clear that we cannot escape our past and our demons in the slightest. Instead, we have to confront them and deal with them, and outright make peace with them, and only then will we find the freedom that we seek since we are now in command of what once hurt us. And seeing Gavin confront the hurtful things that his friend Shane did to him, and seeing him make peace with Marty over their sorted past, is oddly inspirational. For we get to watch Gavin grow right before our eyes and prove the film's philosophical themes to be true, giving one hope when all is said and done.

In the end, this is a supremely unique independent film. Because of the fact that it handles this kind of subject matter in an intimate manner. For most of what is discussed and dissected in this review, in handled within the confines of a hotel room, which allows for us to truly get to know Gavin and his friends Marty and Shane and understand exactly what makes them tick and that’s a wonderful approach to the story since it keeps the plot free from silly gimmicks. Yet while all of those elements make for some powerful storytelling, what truly makes this movie worth your while, is the realism it exudes. For the conversations we are privy to, and the epiphanies that these characters come to, feel natural since they aren’t accompanied by musical stings in grandiose settings. Which makes this story a refreshing and fascinating ride, one that stays with you after it has come to an end. Since it does a phenomenal job of reminding the viewer that the freedom we so desperately seek sometimes, is available to us if we are willing to put in the work.      
   
‘Two Ways to Go West’ is available to watch now on Amazon Prime.

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