Afro Samurai or Seriously a Ninja Teddy Bear?!?

What do you get when you mix a traditional Samurai movie, a Revenge film, Blaxploitation, Animation, and Samuel L. Jackson? You get Afro Samurai! Created in 2007 and put out by Gonzo studios this was not you're traditional anime. Following the story of Afro, as he seeks the killers of his father, the original "Number One" warrior. This story is told through a masterful blend of flashback, present time, and comic relief (provided by Samuel L. Jackson). Not to mention a great soundtrack provided by RZA.

This honestly is one of my favorites of the "new school" of anime. This combined some of the best elements of so many different genres, not to mention being masterfully drawn and "shot". Adding into this great choices for the voice work, and wonderful acting, you get the right combination to create something that would stand up in any theater as a majorly produced action film. This is one that I suggest anyone who is a lover of a good story and great action, go out and get this one now!

 

Afro Samurai

Written by: Takashi Okazaki

Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Phil La Marr, and Yuri Lowenthal

Rated: TVMA

Runtime: 125 minutes



The Order or Did You Want Water to Wash Down Those Sins?

"The term sin-eater refers to a person who, through ritual means, would take on by means of food and drink the sins of a household, often because of a recent death, thus absolving the soul and allowing that person to rest in peace. In the study of folklore sin-eating is considered a form of religious magic." This is the underlying premise of "The Order", a 2003 lesser known film of Heath Ledger's. Made about 2 years after "A Knight's Tale", this reunited most of the cast. Ledger plays Alex Bernier, a Catholic priest belonging to an obscure order focusing of destroying demons, ghosties and things that go bump in the night. Now add in evil prophecies, the "anti-pope" and an arcane tradition from outside the ancient Catholic church, and you get the gist of his story.

Mixing your genres of religious horror and mystery, this is a film that received little acclaim in the box office but has slowly built renown as a cult film. I have really enjoyed this film, and it has made it into my regular rotation. Heath Ledger and Benno Furmann truly offer up great performances, and the supporting cast including Peter Weller really are a joy to behold. So if you are looking for a good horror flick without the blood and gore, but still with a story to keep you on the edge of seat, then go pick this up. I doubt you will be disappointed.

The Order
Written by: Brian Helgeland
Directed by: Brian Helgeland
Starring: Heath Ledger, Benno Furmann, Shannyn Sossamon, Mark Addy, and Peter Weller
Rated: R
Runtime: 102 minutes

White Man's Burden or Johnny T is way gangsta'!

One of America's biggest shames in history is our history of slavery, there have been many movies, books and television shows on this issue, but what if we took a new look at it? Take an America where the white man was the one with a history of being a slave. 200 years later it is the white man who is living in the ghettos and the black man has the power and holds power in the affluent classes. John Travolta plays Louis Pinnock who in one day is mistaken as a voyeur by powerful CEO Thaddeus Thomas. The same day sees Louis beaten by black cops and evicted from his home. In return he kidnaps Thaddeus, demanding payback and justice, and along the way the two begin to know each deeper than just the stereotypes of what the one thinks of the other.

This movie was released in 1995, this was a year that gave us the Million Man March, the death of Jerry Garcia, the beginning of O.J.'s trial, and the first cloned sheep "Megan" and "Morag". Written and directed by Desmond Nakano, also known for "American Me" and "The Last Exit to Brooklyn". This was the first time I have seen this since '95 when it came out., and I will have to say it actually holds up fairly well. Taking a type of story that we have seen over and over in movies and T.V., however it takes a slight step to the left and flips the roles on their ears. Travolta and Bellafonte give fairly decent performances, and the storyline is actually entertaining. This is one that I would suggest taking some time to sit down and watch, but honestly this is one that if you don't see it you won't miss a whole lot. This one just never got off the ground, and despite the big stars was flop in the box office.



White Man's Burden
Directed by: Desmond Nakano
Written by: Desmond Nakano
Starring: John Travolta, Harry Bellafonte, Kelly Lynch
Rating: R
Runtime :89 minutes