In the "No Brainer" department John Williams will score "Star Wars Episode VII"

     You knew this was only a matter of time.
     According to "Indiewire," at a recent German press conference for Star Trek Into Darkness, Star Wars Episode VII director J.J. Abrams was asked who would be scoring the next film.  His answer:  Taylor Lautner.  Which is what he would have said if J.J. Abrams was a complete moron.  No, Abrams exact words were "going forward John Williams will be scoring the film."
     This news was accompanied by complete shock and awe from precisely no one.  I mean c'mon?  Did anyone really think that short of death or a severe illness that John Williams wasn't going to score this film?
     I will admit that Abrams teaming up with Williams is a bit of a departure as he usually deals with Michael Giacchino.  But don't rule out the possibility that Giacchino might score a Star Wars film down the line, especially if Abrams returns. 
     Star Wars Episode VII is set for release in summer 2015.

Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow--Michael Fassbender and Natalie Portman to take on Shakespeare's MacBeth

     Despite the fact that I thought Shame was incredibly boring and overrated, Michael Fassbender did do a great job in the film. He's quickly becoming an actor that I'll see no matter what he's in. And now it looks like the Irish actor will be taking on one of the great fictional Scottish characters of all time.
    ScreenDaily reports that Fassbender is currently attached to a new version of Shakespeare's MacBeth.  The Snowtown Murders director Justin Kurzel is slated to helm the project, which is supposed to be a newer take on the classic:

The new take on Shakespeare’s classic - about a ruthlessly ambitious Scottish lord who seizes the throne with the help of his scheming wife and three witches - is set in the 11th century and in the original language. The script is understood to be a visceral approach to the story including significant battle scenes.

Honestly I like this approach as the battles were kind of forced to the background in previous versions.  I just hope it doesn't try to rip off Braveheart.
     The production company has also pegged Academy Award winner Natalie Portman for Lady MacBeth as well.  This is perfect.  While traditionally, Lady MacBeth is portrayed as an older woman, Portman has that dynamic period piece thing going for her that would make her perfect for this role.
     Personally I love the Michael Fassbender pick.  Fassbender will be able to do the accent no problem.  Plus I think he's a very versatile actor who can take on anything.  I mean c'mon!  It's not everyday that an actor can play Magneto and then turn around and play a sex addict.
     No timetable is set for production and there is no release date.  Fassbender is currently filming X-Men: Days of Future Past alongside Jennifer Lawrence.  And just because I mentioned Jennifer Lawrence here's a picture:

     You're welcome.
  

Ever notice that the story arc of Superman kind of parallels the story of Jesus?

    

       Now I know this idea is nothing new under the sun.  I mean papers have been written about this notion.  But with the release of Man of Steel less than two months away, I thought I'd reexamine this concept.
     What motivated me to explore this topic was several moments in the latest Man of Steel trailer.  Before reading the rest of this post I suggest you watch it first:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6DJcgm3wNY  All good?  Ok.  Jor-El says to his son Kal-El (aka Clark Kent aka Superman) "You will give the people of Earth an ideal to strive towards.  They will race behind you.  They will stumble.  They will fall.  But in time they will join you in the Sun.  In time you will help them accomplish wonders."  Jesus is an ideal that many Christians seek to "strive towards" (myself included).  The words, "They will stumble.  They will fall" is indicative of how often Christians fall short of this ideal.  It's impossible to duplicate Jesus but we can emulate Him.  Yet if you look at how many great Christians over the years have "accomplished wonders" through the power of Christ it's proof that we can "join him in the Sun."  The old expression "lead by example" holds true here.  Superman and Jesus both led by example, they showed people that we all can become our best selves.
     There's another part early on in the trailer where Superman's birth mother says, "He'll be an outcast.  They'll kill him."  Sound familiar?  If you are a Christian or familiar with Christian ideology it should.  Jesus, like Superman, was an outcast and a rebel.  Maybe the biggest outcast in the history of mankind.  I mean look at the concepts:  Love thy neighbor?  Forgiveness of sins?  All are welcome at God's table not just Jews?  These are radical concepts. Superman's ideas were not too dissimilar from Jesus's.  Truth and justice after all.  And JC was all about truth and social justice.  But as tends to happen with rebels they often are killed.  So too with Jesus.  Again the quote towards the end of the trailer:  "My father believed if the world found out who I really was they'd reject me."  Once Jesus revealed he was the son of God he was crucified, "rejected" if you will.  Heck even Superman (20 years ago) was killed by the villain Doomsday in the DC universe.  Yet eventually his body was in fact resurrected.  Hmmm.  Again sound familiar?
     Another similarity are the supernatural powers both possess.  Superman has the obvious:  super strength, flight, super speed, etc. while Jesus possessed the ability to heal, turn water into wine, feed the 5000, and raise people from the dead. 
     The last  parallel I'd like to draw is the idea of symbols.  Superman has the "S" while Jesus has the cross.  Believe it or not I once read (and this may have changed) that two of the most recognized symbols in the world were the cross and the "S" symbol of Superman.  That's nuts.  Even more amazing is what the "S" actually stands for.  While in some instances the people in the DC Universe have stated that the "S" is the symbol of the house of El, lately (and in the Man of Steel trailer) it is actually the symbol of hope.  So too is not the cross of Jesus a symbol of hope?  A reminder that the grave has been conquered and our souls go on?
     Final thought:  I'm not trying to "prove" anything by this post.  This is merely conjecture.  My intent was not to draw you to Christianity or convince you that Jesus is the Superman of the real world.  I was just thinking that sometimes it's interesting to get a dialogue going.  My blog in some aspects is meant to be thought provoking.  I welcome your feedback on this one.  I have to say this post ended up being a lot more personal than I expected.
     Man of Steel hits theaters June 14th.

Sadly Die Hard 6 is coming your way.....

    

     This is the toughest part of being a movie blogger:  delivering bad news about upcoming shitastic movies.  After the abortion that was A Good Day to Die Hard, I was desperately hoping that this franchise would just (no pun intended) die.  I mean didn't anyone take the hint that this wouldn't be a good movie based on the fact that the movie was released in February, typically the doldrums of the movie year?  Not to mention the fact that it was set in Russia.  Oy vey.
     Well nowhere in the world does the adage "money talks and bullshit walks" hold more true than in Hollywood.  Even though I thought the film was bullshit, A Good Day to Die Hard made enough money to garner a sequel.  Unfortunately it will not be called Just Die Already but....wait for it....wait for it....Die Hardest.  <repeated face palm>
    "Total Film" reports that the movie will start out in New York City but primarily be based in Tokyo, Japan.  Let me guess.  Japanese Yakuza?  The concept alone is enough to make me want to fall on a samurai sword. 
     Additionally, screenwriter Ben Trebilcook has been hired to put a treatment together which he says will be "extremely faithful to the franchise and characters and is a natural progression.  It is also a very plausible storyline."  Excuse me while I spit my Coke out from laughter.  Plausible storyline?  Considering that the last film's plot was just this side of a bad "24" episode I'd say there's no where to go but up.  However, the next film will probably find Bruce Willis fighting aliens or something. 
     Listen, Die Hard is my all-time favorite action movie but every film since then (with the except of Die Hard With A Vengeance)  has been forgettable at best, odious at worst.  I just wish Hollywood would stop going to the well on this one and let the franchise die in peace.

Could this end up being the best summer movie season ever?

   

      People love summer for various reasons.  The sunshine, the good weather, picnics, the 4th of July, vacations; all are good examples which I thoroughly enjoy as well.  However, as a movie buff I have an added interest in summer because this is the time of year that (typically) the best movies are released....or at least the ones likely to attain the highest box office returns.
     As I perused summer 2013's list of upcoming feature films I noticed that there were plenty more films on my radar then I typically have on my list.  Usually there's maybe three or four.  Here are some films that, not only do I want to see, I think will make a significant profit at the box office:

Iron Man 3
Star Trek Into Darkness
The Hangover Part III
Now You See Me
Man of Steel*
Monsters University
The Wolverine
Kick Ass 2
Elysium

     And those are just movies that I want to see.  I didn't even mention Fast and the Furious 6, Pacific Rim, or This is the End, all films that again, I think will do extremely well.
     If you ask most movie historians which summer was the "best" most will say the summer of 1982.  Here are some of the highlights:

Blade Runner
Conan The Barbarian
The Thing
ET
Star Trek II:  The Wrath of Khan
Poltergeist
Pink Floyd:  The Wall
Fast Times at Ridgemont High
An Officer and A Gentleman
Tron
Rocky III

     That's a pretty impressive lineup both box office wise and from a critical standpoint although I've never cared for Tron and Rocky III isn't exactly Shakespeare.  But if you look at that list there are some pretty significant films, some of which are on AFI's top 100.  That's no small feat.
     Now while I don't necessarily think the movies on 2013's lineup will make an AFI list, I can't say that definitively.  What I can say is that I haven't been this excited for a summer movie season in years and there is a good chance that I'll see one or two of these films twice.  Don't be surprised if just these movies alone account for several billion dollars and possibly 80% or more of the yearly box office gross for all movie studios. 
     To quote NY Jets linebacker Bart Scott, "Can't wait!"

*I seriously cannot stop watching the latest Man of Steel trailer.  If this movie doesn't live up to expectations it's going to be one of the biggest disappoints of all time.  OF ALL TIME!  (Kanye West voice)

It's official: Star Wars Episode VII to hit theaters Summer 2015

    

While numerous reports had Star Wars Episode VII reaching theaters two years from now, there was some speculation that it might reach theaters in 2016 or later.  Well for those of you out there feeling you might have to wait an additional year, fear not. 
      Disney and Lucasfilm recently announced at CinemaCon in Las Vegas that Star Wars Episode VII would in fact hit theaters in summer of 2015.  Furthmore, the new trilogy would be spaced out every two years with stand alone movies involving various Star Wars characters releasing in off years.
     While I'm happy audiences will be experincing the next edition sooner rather than later, I'm a little concerned with Star Wars saturation.  Oh well.  Based on the announcement Star Wars Episode VII should start filming late this year or early next year.

The Rock was offered the lead in the next Transformers??? Shut yo mouth Optimus!

    

As much as I don't like Michael Bay, Pain and Gain actually looks appealing and I hear if you like your comedies dark, it's the film for you.  Furthermore, people are calling it Bay's best film.  That's kind of like calling it the best turd in the shit pile but hey whatever.
     In any case, in a recent Q and A interview via Twitter, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson stated that demolitions expert--er director--Michael Bay actually offered Johnson the lead role in Tranformers: Really There's a Fourth Fucking Movie.  Unfortunately, due to scheduling conflicts with the upcoming Hercules, Johnson was forced to turn the role down and it ultimately went to Mark Wahlberg.
     From a franchise standpoint it's too bad he turned it down as he probably would have been a welcome edition to the group.  From a personal standpoint--good on ya mate. 
     There's no set plans after Hercules for Johnson right now but he said Fast and Furious 7 is a strong possibility and maybe an HBO project with Mark Wahlberg.  It's called "Mark Wahlberg Talks to Animals."  Ok not really but there is a project slated.
     You can currently see Johnson in the aforementioned Pain and Gain in theaters now and in Fast and Furious 6 next month.

Blu Ray and DVD releases for Tuesday April 30th!

Blu Ray and DVD releases:

Silver Linings Playbook, The Guilt Trip, Not Fade Away, Broken City, The Details, Strictly Ballroom, Funny Girl, Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3, All indiviudal Star Trek films on Blu Ray, The Best of WWE In Your House

Ryan Reynolds continues to do movies despite my strong desire for him not to

  

I'm not a huge fan of Ryan Reynolds.  Mostly because I think he plays himself in movies and if it is not a comedy based film it is really a waste of my time.* 
     Deadline reports that Reynolds will team up with director Tarsem Singh for the 2011 Blacklist script Selfless.  The plot is actually quite intriguing as it involves a man who is dying who must have his brain transplanted into a younger man's body.  However, when he wakes up he discovers that the body he inhabits is a murder victim and soon finds himself tracked by killers.
     Alex and David Pastor penned the script.  Obviously I'm a huge sci-fi junkie so this sounds right up my alley but I might have to wait for a rental on this one if only because Ryan Reynolds is in it.  No time table yet on when production will begin.  Reynolds can next be seen in this summer's R.I.P.D alongside Jeff Bridges.

*The fact that he's married to the incredibly gorgeous Blake Lively doesn't help either.

Aykroyd won't give up the ghost....

    

See what I did there?
     Well it's been a few months so we were bound to have another Ghostbusters 3 rumor at some point and once again it comes from the eteranlly optimistic Dan Aykroyd.  The latest via ABC NEWS reports Dan the man is reinvigorated by the progress of the script.  He also states it is half done and should be completed very soon.  Aykroyd also declared that Ghostbusters 3 would begin filming late this fall.  He also went on to say (regarding the script) that the Higgs Boson, particle theories, gluons and mesons would all be involved.  Sounds like this new Ghostbusters is going in more of scientific direction.  A realistic Ghostbusters perhaps ala The Dark Knight?  Hmmm.
     Obviously this is a blog devoted to speculation and rumor so I'll continue to report what comes along but until I see pictures from the set that indicate that yes indeed Ghostbusters 3 has begun, I'm not buying it.

Review: 42

 

 

 

 

Plot:  Based on the real life of baseball legend Jackie Robinson (Chadwick Boseman), 42 tells the story of Jackie's attempt to become the first black player in professional baseball.  Backed by innovative Brooklyn Dodger owner Branch Rickey (Harrison Ford) and his wife Rachael (Nicole Baharie) Jackie overcomes the baseball establishment, vitriolic racism, and his own temper to become a true American legend.

 

Review:  42 is a solid if restrained telling of the story of Jackie Robinson, the first black man ever to play in Major League baseball.  While it's hard to capture with absolute perfection one of the true iconic Americans of the 20th century, director Brian Helgeland and company do a passable job showing Robinson the legend if not always Robinson the man.

       I have to say that even though I enjoyed 42 I was expecting so much more.  For a man who has worked on films such as L.A Confidential and Mystic River, I was expecting a lot and was unfortunately left wanting.  42 had such potential to be a great film and instead became merely a good one.  Helgeland's pacing is often sluggish and caused the film to lag in spots.  There was also minimal reference to Jackie's life before 1945 where the film picks up.  This is a guy after all who was a four star athlete at UCLA, fought in WWII, and beat a court martial....in Texas.  There was a lot of fodder for Helgeland (who also wrote the film) to pull from and I really think he missed the boat on this one.  Although to some extent I understand his motivations, being that this movie focuses on the Robinson breaking the color barrier. 

     The one thing that I think is unforgivable (although maybe that's too strong a word) is that 42 really pulled back on the racism.  Don't get me wrong there is plenty of brutally racist moments in this film.  The scene where Phillies manager Ben Chapman (Alan Tudyk) berates Robinson with such vile racial epithets that he has a breakdown in the clubhouse was particularly moving.  However, based on what's historically known, 42 didn't even skim the surface as to what Robinson endured.  Consequently, the racism of 42 comes across as diluted and flaccid perhaps due to studio pressure.

     This isn't to say that 42 is a bad film.  It's not by any means.  It certainly isn't up to the caliber of say The Natural but it's not the less than believable Trouble with the Curve* either.  Mostly this is due to strong performances by the film's two leads, Chadwick Boseman and Harrison Ford.  Despite the thin script, Boseman brings Robinson to life, delicately balancing a fiery attitude with quiet dignity.  Boseman has been relegated mostly to small roles in television shows like "Castle" and "Fringe" but hopefully 42 will be his breakout role.  I only wish Nicole Baharie would have had a larger presence as Jackie's wife because she's excellent and severely underused.  Lucas Black was also good as Jackie's teammate and friend Pee Wee Reese.  The scene where he puts his arm around Jackie in Cincinnati in a show of fellowship is particularly powerful. 

     I have to say I loved Harrison Ford in this film.  Over the last decade and a half (maybe longer) we've gotten used to Harrison Ford basically playing Harrison Ford on the screen.  In many ways he's kind of a throwback to movie stars like Carey Grant.  And like Carey Grant, Ford is often a slave to his own persona.  It was great to see Ford step out of his comfort zone and actually play a character.  I think he embodied Branch Rickey to a t, everything from the voice, to the quick wit and mannerisms, to even the bushy eyebrows.  Branch Rickey was a complicated man who took a chance at becoming a total outcast.  But he had fire and conviction and Ford really brought that home.  It's probably his best performance since Witness and if it is a weak crop he might score a Best Supporting nomination come Oscar time.  (He may even get one just for sentimental reasons.)

      While 42 manages to entertain, it doesn't captivate or resonate nearly as much as the life of the real Jackie Robinson.

 

 

 

My rating:  7/10

 

 

*Upon further review and in depth reflection I've decided to change my rating of Trouble with the Curve from 6 to 4.  It really wasn't deserving of a 6.

DVD and Blu Ray releases for the week of April 8th!

Here are your Blu-Ray and DVD releases for Tuesday April 9th:

Hyde Park on the Hudson, Down the Shore, Gate of Hell, Naked Lunch*, Richard III, Rolling Thunder*, Father's Day, Boss Season 2, Family Ties Season 6**, The Dick Van Dyke Show Season 1*

*Blu Ray only
**DVD only

Don't look now but Mel Gibson may direct The Expendables 3

     This rumor may be as crazy as the man himself.
     With the success of the first two films, it was inevitable that we were going to get a third Expendables movie, probably next year.  The real question is who is going to direct the film.  Well star of the two action extravaganzas, sextagerian Sly Stallone, took to his Twitter account to propose a name:  Mel Gibson. 
     Old Mel has had some outrageous moments in recent years that have led  to his career coming to a screeching halt.  (When you go anti-Semitic, especially in Hollywood, it often times doesn't end well.)  Nonetheless there is no denying the man's talent.  Braveheart remains my third favorite all time film (behind The Shawshank Redemption and The Lord of the Rings) and despite the past I still think Mel has the directing and acting chops. 
     I could seriously see this happening and with a director like Mel Gibson it might even entice me to see it in the theater.  In the meantime you can next see Gibson in Machete Kills and Stallone in September's The Tomb alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger. 

Warner Bros to announce DC characters geting their own movie in the next month!

     Man heavy superhero day.
     No sooner do I bring you guys news of Charlie Hunnam and The Flash than we get this announcement from Warner Bros. via "Entertainment Weekly."
     WB president Jeff Robinov tells the magazine that the Brothas will be revealing what DC characters are getting their own films in the next couple of weeks.  More importantly it looks like the world of Man of Steel will be the foundation where these characters can exist:

I think you’ll see that, going forward, anything can live in this world,” he said. “[Nolan’s] Batman was deliberately and smartly positioned as a stand-alone. The world they lived in was very isolated without any knowledge of any other superheroes. What Zack and Chris have done with this film is allow you to really introduce other characters into the same world.”

     The plot to Man of Steel has been pretty hush hush, just like producer Christopher Nolan likes it, but I'm wondering if this means we could see another DC character make a cameo on this film.  Charlie Hunnam as The Flash?  Wonderwoman?  A new Batman?  We already know there is going to be a Lex Luthor cameo so why not this?  It's things like this that really make me wish I didn't have to wait two months for Man of Steel.*

*With Iron Man 3, Star Trek Into Darkness, The Hangover III, Man of Steel, Kick Ass 2, and The Wolverine all set to hit this season this may turn out to be one of the best summer movie seasons ever.

Charlie Hunnam to play The Flash?

     I'm proud to say that I've been an avid watcher of "Sons of Anarchy" from the beginning.  It's a brilliant show that I for the life of me can't understand why it doesn't get any recognition come Emmy time.  On the FX show the character of Jax Teller is played by excellent British actor Charlie Hunnam who will next be seen in this summer's Pacific Rim.
     However, Hunnam may be eyeing down the role of The Fastest Man on the Planet--The Flash.  According to "CHUD" Hunnam is currently being used as the model for the concept art for the possible Flash film.  Often times this leads to the actor himself being offered the role although it doesn't always happen this way. 
     Since the Justice League film is starting to ramp up it is important that Warner Bros. get some stand alone films in first ala Marvel.  The Flash may be there first step in that direction.  But who knows?  Hunnam hasn't been offered the role yet and buzz is that Hollywood execs are waiting on the box office success or failure of Man of Steel before they move forward.
     Nonetheless I could definitely get behind this choice.  Hunnam is a great actor and this film could propel him into A-List status.

No Kryptonite in "Man of Steel"???

     Well this is odd but maybe not totally unexpected.
     According to Entertainment Weekly Superman's greatest weakness, kryptonite, will not appear in Man of Steel.  In keeping with the reality based nature of the film (as much as film about an alien with superpowers CAN be realistic) the producers felt at this point kryptonite wasn't essential to the film and in any case it's been in every previous Superman film.  To me this is just another example of how much the people behind Man of Steel want to distance themselves from the previous films which I'm all for.  Additionally, the producers are all about relatability.  Check out what producer Charles Rowen had to say:

You want to give the audience great spectacle. You want them to go to the movie, be eating their popcorn and be like, ‘Wow!’” But it’s just not good enough to give them the ‘Wow.’ You want them to be emotionally engaged. Because if you just have the ‘wow,’ ultimately you get bludgeoned by that and you stop caring.


     God bless you Mr. Rowen.  I wish everyone in Hollywood felt this way.
     You know I'm really not as upset about this as I thought I was going to be.  I think there's no doubt this film is going to kill at the box office and have sequels so there will be plenty of time to have kryptonite in the next film.
     Man of Steel opens June 14th.

Review: Evil Dead

Plot:  A reboot of the 1981 horror classic, the 2013 version finds friends David (Shiloh Fernandez), Eric (Lou Taylor Pucci), Olivia (Jessica Lucas), and Natalie (Elizabeth Blackmore) on a retreat to David's childhood cabin in the woods.  There the four are determined to end David's sister Mia's (Jane Levy's) drug addiction.  But when Eric discovers the Necronomicon, an ancient evil Book of the Dead, he unwittingly unleashes a demon that possesses Mia and looks to consume the souls of the other four. 

Review:  When I first heard Hollywood was making a reboot of The Evil Dead I was leery to say the least.  Recent reboots of classic 80s horror films like A Nightmare on Elm Street and Friday the 13th were just God awful.  But as time progressed and I saw Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell were on board I got more interested and when the trailer hit I was intrigued. 
     Thankfully the 2013 Evil Dead lived up to, and in some cases exceeded, my expectations.  A balls-to-the-wall horror fest that grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go for 90 minutes, Evil Dead is the rare re-make that actually works.
     It all begins and ends with the writing and Fede Alvarez (who also directs), Rodo Sayagues, and Diablo Cody's script is excellent.  While the original film had several friends vacationing at the cabin, the writers in a genius move decided the circumstance to revolve around Mia's drug intervention.  The actual demon that possesses Mia makes for a brilliant, if not always subtle, metaphor for the physical demons possessing Mia.  There are a few bits of dialogue that didn't quite work but then again it's a horror film not A Beautiful Mind. 
     The writing also dovetails perfectly with Alvarez's direction.  The scares start out strong and build from there.  Several of them are absolutely cringe worthy (the brutal demises of Olivia and Natalie), eerily creepy (a possessed Mia singing a lullaby from the basement), and shocking (Mia's initial possession by the demon in the woods.)  Alvarez keeps a steady and constant pace throughout Evil Dead that builds to a strong climax.  There are also plenty of nods to the original such as the car that appears in all Sam Raimi's films, several lines of dialogue, the infamous "tree rape" scene, and even a gross out scene where the color of the blood is exactly like in the 1981 film.  There's also surprisingly some nods to classic horror films like
The Exorcist and Hellraiser. 
     I also have to give credit to the set designers and effects crew for Evil Dead as they did a fantastic job.  The cabin is an exact replica of the 1981 film and the setting in a New Zealand forest makes for great scenery.  I was also impressed with the fact that the CGI was virtually non-existent as Alvarez and his crew made the bold choice to go with regular effects.  It worked and really enhanced the film.
     Evil Dead wouldn't succeed without a cohesive cast and for the most part the chemistry between the actors meshes quite nicely.  The lone exception is Dave's girlfriend Natalie who left me flat.  She seemed superfluous and annoying and the best thing about her performance was the way she went out.  Also Pucci seemed awkward at times in the role of the dorky Eric who reads from the Book of the Dead and sets off the shitstorm.  I wish his resentment toward David was slightly more subtle.  Fernandez was very strong as David Mia's brother.  He's hiding his own personal demon that Mia strongly resents and may have pushed her into drug use in the first place.  Their chemistry is very solid and the fact that he has to confront her as a demon is sometimes heart wrenching.
     The real standout here however is Levy.  After watching the awful show "Suburgatory" which she currently stars in, I was not expecting this.  She nailed this role.  It's not easy to do one scene capturing a desperate moment of drug withdrawal and another where you're being buried alive.  Mia's vulnerability makes her endearing but she also possesses an inner strength that ultimately creates a great heroine.  Hats off to Levy.  I really hope this is a springboard to greater things.
     Evil Dead works not just as a reboot but it's also one of the better horror films I've seen in the last five years.

My rating:  8.5/10