This Week In Cinema: November 13-19, 2011

I feel quite ashamed for not realizing that the eponymous character from Puss In Boots was a fairy tale character of old until my wife told me. Not ashamed enough to care about my ignorance, but shame nonetheless!

Three very different movies this week,

Return To Sleepaway Camp (2008, Robert Hiltzik, United States Of America) 1/2*

If not for the obvious effect of Erin Broderick’s Karen running a lot, the admittedly cool idea of having the original Angela, Felissa Rose, return in the role and one instance of good looking prosthetic make-up Return To Sleepaway Camp would have been the worst movie I’ve ever seen. The original Sleepaway Camp was more than your typical slasher, at least I thought so. The director and writer, Robert Hiltzik, had something to say about homosexuality in pop culture during the 80s. Admittedly the film became infamous for its twist ending, but even that was pretty cool. Twenty five years later Mr. Hiltzik, ahem, returned for Return To Sleepaway Camp. Instead of homosexual subtext Return To Sleepaway Camp is a hateful movie, with an all too obvious twist, and acting that makes Sleepaway Camp look like a showcase for tremendous acting. Return To Sleepaway Camp is so bad it made my head hurt, and that means it’s bad.

Puss In Boots (2011, Chris Miller, United States Of America) ***

Remove almost all of the pop culture proclivities usually found in the Shrek franchise and what do you get? Why, you get Puss In Boots, a movie that is actually funny on its own merits, refusing to rely on the cheap jokes that the Shrek films were known for. The narrative is nothing to write home about, but it doesn’t need to be all that since Puss In Boots is about its charming lead character and the lovely animation. Puss In Boots is full of wit in abundance, features some good voice acting, and is an all around good time.

Knowing (2009, Alex Proyas, Australia/United Kingdom/United States Of America) **1/2

The movie that first popped into my head after Knowing had finished was Waterworld. The movies aren’t that similar in anything but the ambition found in their storytelling. Just like with Waterworld, I applaud Knowing for being ambitious and for its willingness to take chances. Also just like with Waterworld, I’m afraid to say that on the whole Knowing never quite comes together. It starts off promising, there’s an eerie atmosphere, decent acting, and a compelling hook. As the film moves along it turns into an episode of Nicolas Cage riding around in cars yelling at people, and ends on an angelic/alien note that didn’t sit well with me. Lots of promise, but Knowing does not live up to said promise.

Wrap-Up:

Three movies this week, and while Knowing was not a terrible disaster like everyone had made me believe, it’s clear which movie was tops. That’s right, Antonio Banderas makes his mama proud as Puss In Boots is the movie of the week. Until next week, watch more movies!

Cheers,
Bill