THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT
Hellboy (2004) - Based on Mike Mignola's popular comic book, "Hellboy" tells the conspiracy-laden adventures of the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense. The Bureau is composed of paranormals itself, including Ron Perlman as the reluctant hero Hellboy.
Director Guillermo De Toro delivers in Hellboy exactly what you'd expect from him: dull, uninspired action sequences validated by a few great moments of character story. The plot is about as bad as "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" and the villains are just as ridiculous. This film also rips off "X2" worse than "Masters of the Universe" ripped off "Star Wars".
Still, the movie is lots of fun and Ron Perlman is just excellent. He brings legitimacy to the film and makes it worth watching. Hellboy is absolutely worth the Sunday matinee, if you like this sort of thing.
IT'S OVER... FINALLY
The Matrix Revolutions (2003) - In the final installment of the Wachowski Brother's cyber-punk sci-fi epic, Neo leads the Zionists in their last stand against the oppressive machines. There's a lot of fighting and confusing rhetoric capped with a fairly unsatisfying conclusion.
Revolutions definitely has its strong points, like giant walking robot suits. What it lacks is the mystique, charm and curiosity that made the original "Matrix" so special. The second film, "The Matrix: Reloaded" set up all kinds of possibilities for surprise endings and twists... but "Revolutions" didn't deliver on any of them.
In the end, the Matrix Trilogy has more plot holes than the Terminator movies. Why, for example, are the machines invincible to anything but electric shock in the first film... but gunned down by the thousands via ordinary bullets in the third?
The Matrix films are a lot of fun, but "great trilogy" they are not. Completists only need apply.
A WORTHWHILE REMAKE
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) - Five teens driving through Texas pick up a hitchhiker who has been the victim of a violent attack. When they stop for help in the middle of nowhere, Leatherface and his motley crew of freaks massacre the unfortunate travelers.
Ignoring the fact that this is a remake of a classic film, "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" stands up on its own quite well. The acting is above average for today's horror flicks and the cinematography is gorgeous. This is probably the scariest genuine horror film to come out in the last decade.
The film's dark sense of humor may be a bit too much for some, and you can expect more blood and guts than the original. It by no means eclipses its predecessor, but is certainly better than standard post-modern horror fare.
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