Fool's Views (1/1 - 1/31)

OFFICIAL DISCLAIMER

Hey kids,

2015 has been a very weird year in and out of the Doc’s office. Due to time constraints, I haven’t given any critical attention to films not specifically submitted for review; as such, posting the weekly Fool’s Views kind of fell by the wayside.

However, in this brief calm before the storm that is the annual October Horror Movie Challenge/Scare-A-Thon, I found myself with just enough time to catch up in the cataloging of titles consumed over the past nine months. And, being the generous soul that I am, I figured I’d post them on the blog, as is, in monthly blocks, for your perusal. Without any opining, of course, this is simply a matter of record as opposed to an array of recommendations or admonitions – the very definition of trivia. But hey, there’s a place for that as well, I suppose. This seems like the place.

There are, as you will see, numerous links to extended reviews. However, if you have any questions about any specific titles that didn't manage to garner any virtual ink, I’m happy to offer up any feeble retroactive thoughts I can conjure. In other words, your two cents will still get you some change back.

Enjoy!

Another satisfied H101 customer

CANDYMAN: FAREWELL TO THE FLESH (1995) Blu-ray Review

Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh (1995) d. Bill Condon (USA)

An unnecessary sequel to the 1992 mini-classic that basically tells the vengeful hook-handed boogeyman’s (a top-billed Tony Todd) origin story all over again, relocating the action from the housing projects of Chicago to the sultry climes of New Orleans. Screenwriters Rand Ravich and Mark Kruger – working from executive producer Clive Barker’s screen story – deliver a much weaker narrative this time: The daughter of a Candyman murder victim (Kelly Rowan – not Kelly Rowland of Destiny’s Child and Freddy vs. Jason fame as I first thought) seeks answers to free her brother, jailed for the killing of a sleazy author (who lays out the “say his name five times in the mirror” legend in the opening minutes to catch latecomers up to speed). What follows is a string of gory slayings and murky investigations, with Rowan’s character ultimately discovering a closer personal connection to her bee-spewing nemesis than she could have imagined.