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John Dies at the End (2012)

I seriously do not even know where to begin with this one…an acid trip gone wrong? A cautionary tale about the dangers of drug use? A cinematic gem that has been severely overlooked?

In the end, John Dies at the End is a trippy journey through time and other dimensions that will make you laugh, creep you out, make you say “What the fuck?” and in the end, make you think a little. Trying to explain the plot of this movie is damn near impossible, and even if it wasn’t, a written explanation of the movie wouldn’t make any sense at all. And yet, the movie makes sense in a very weird way. I will say this…the title is not as much of a spoiler alert as you would think it is.

So, without an ability to give a synopsis, this review is kind of short. I suppose this is me daring you to watch this movie, it’s weird…and creepy…and funny…and…WEIRD. it actually makes for crazy late-night viewing and I highly suggest everyone watches this one, also streaming on Netflix.

[isomniatheater]

Rapture-Palooza (2013)

As I said when I started this blog, my postings would be unpredictable and possibly sporadic. Tonight Mike’s Insomniac Theater is back…and I have two movies for you.

Tonight’s first selection is Rapture-Palooza (2013)

This movie is an absolutely ridiculous comedy and should be taken as such. If you go into this taking it at all serious, you will probably hate it.

Rapture-Palooza is the  story of life after the Rapture, starring Anna Kendrick, John Francis Daley (Many of you will remember him as the little brother from Freaks & Geeks), Craig Robinson and a host of other familiar faces to those who are fans of such ridiculous comedies. It takes place after the Rapture as those who have been left behind are getting on about their lives and as the Antichrist (played by Craig Robinson) takes over the world.

This movie is perfect for those who enjoyed This Is The End, a post-apocalyptic film that skewers religion and the ridiculous beliefs and fears too many Christians have about how the world will end. This movie does not take itself too seriously and it seems like a call for bible-thumpers to do the same. Being a person who thoroughly enjoys a ridiculous, moronic comedy that panders to those who want laughs without any deeper meaning. The end is also a but anticlimactic, though I am guessing this too was done to skewer this belief that the world will end in one ultimate, supremely climactic, world-consuming battle. Instead…it just kind of ends with a chuckle. Again, not very climactic; but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Not an intelligent movie by any means and it has all kinds of shortcomings if you are the kind of snobby film critic who feels the need to pick movies apart rather than enjoy them; but I give it a 4 out of 5 and highly suggest it to anyone with a Netflix subscription.

[isomniatheater]

Love (2011)

I'm back!!! Expect quite a few of these posts over the next few days. With my son in the process of teething, I don't get much sleep these days, so Netflix has become a friend lately.  The best way to describe Love is as a seamless marriage between Kubrick's masterpiece 2001: a Space Odyssey and the recent Gravity produced and scored by the band Angels & Airwaves.  Love is the story of astronaut Lee Miller, sent to the International Space Station by himself to inspect it and see if it can still be used. In the process of carrying out this mission, events on earth spiral out of control and Miller loses all contact with mission control. Though it is never really said what specifically happened, the implication seems to be a world war that has wiped out most to all of humanity, leaving Miller stranded on ISS with no way of getting back. What follows is a gripping and heart-wrenching look into the effects of isolation and loneliness on the human mind. We watch as Miller does anything he can to keep a hold on his waning sanity. Mixed in with this all, is the appearance of a mysterious object much like the monolith from 2001. It is a cube that is eluded to throughout the film, though never actually shown until the very end in a finish that once again parallels Kubrick's 2001.  It would be easy to read that all and think that it is a rip-off of 2001, but the fact of the matter is that it somehow manages to feel completely fresh and original with a surprisingly complex story that not only stands up to multiple viewings but almost requires it to be fully understood. With each viewing you will discover more, see things you missed in previous viewings.  Like most space films, Love is plagued with its share of scientific inaccuracies, but the story is so compelling I found it hard to dwell on them. I can overlook the inexpiable constant gravity aboard the ISS and the host of other tweeks they made to reality to make it all work because the story is one that hits home with most of us. In the end, the message is more important than the details. This is one of the most overlooked gems on Netflix, but I promise you will not regret the time spent watching it. Definitely a must-see!!!  

[isomniatheater]

The World Without Us (2008) / Countdown to Zero (2010)

Welcome back my fellow cinesomniacs! Tonight I have two movies to share.  The first movie of this evening is 2008's The World Without Us, a documentary seemingly filmed to answer the call of those who call for the United States to pull every one of it's troops out of foreign countries and adopt an isolationist policy.  You'd think a movie with this intention would be filmed with a bias that makes it more propaganda than documentary; but, it miraculously manages to stick to the facts and present a realistic view of a world without American troops overseas. I highly suggest this documentary to anyone looking to expand their world view or just their understanding of the part American troops overseas play in keeping the world safe.  In World Without Us, we are presented with past incidents of American intervention overseas, how those situations would have played out without American Intervention and finally the short term and long term catastrophic events that would unfold if the US were to pull every single one of its overseas troops back home today. The results are terrifying. For those who watch this documentary and want to push the bounds of your fears even further, one of the suggested views after completing World Without us is the 2010 documentary Countdown to Zero, a documentary that takes a sobering look at how unsecured the world's radioactive material really is and how easy it would be to set of nuclear weapons whether intentionally or by accident. This documentary seeks to shatter the perception that we are somehow safe from the threat of nuclear explosions by showing how easy it is for thieves, black marketers and those with malicious intentions to attain, smuggle, weaponize and finally use nuclear material to kill mass amounts of people. It is a wake up call to all who live under the illusion that we are safe and the world's nuclear material is safe and regulated. more than that, we are presented with instances of nefarious sources such as Al-Queda attempting to acquire nuclear weapons.  Together, these films serve as a frightening wake up call that will reshape the way you look at world relations and your own safety. I HIGHLY suggest checking these documentaries out.

[isomniatheater]

A Beginner's Guide to Endings (2010)

Well, after throwing in the towel on my SECOND Netflix 365 challenge, I have finally come to grips with the fact that being a father means that there are many days where I won't have time to watch a movie. That being said, there are still quite a few hidden gems on Netflix that most people don't even know exist. these are the movies that I find at 1:30 in the morning when I just can't seem to sleep and though I can't do a Netflix365, I feel the need to share these screen gems with the world. So, welcome to Mike's Insomniac Theater. Reviews of amazing movies I find in my sleepless state. It will not be every day, I will post these as I find them at my own pace, but hopefully I can turn you all on to some really cool movies. First on the block is a movie I found last night...A Beginner's Guide to Endings.  This movie is amazing to say the least. A hilarious story of three brothers who after their father's death, find out that the drugs they have been testing will kill them sometime in the near future. Coming face to face with their own mortality, each of the three brothers set off to undo a lifetime of mistakes and live their last days to the fullest. To say any more than that would be to give away more than I should. With an all-star cast that sees The Daily show's Jason Jones, Royal Pains' Paulo Costanzo, Harvey Keitel, Scott Caan and J. K. Simmons in roles that seem almost tailor made for them, this movie is a comedic delight that will also make you think about what you would do if faced with your own death.  So, for anyone reading this with a Netflix subscription, I highly suggest watching this movie; otherwise, you aren't getting your money's worth.