This week's new movie releases can hardly admit to the summer's end. Rob Zombie slasher flicks, irreverent comedy ? la Will Ferrell and "Saw" director concoctions are not the stuff of a new school year. They are the entertainment fare that feeds the lazy summer hours. But, alas, summer's days are quickly waning, so enjoy the silly and superfluous summer entertainment while it lasts.
"Halloween" Directed by Rob Zombie Starring Scout Taylor-Compton, Malcolm McDowell and Tyler Mane
Rob Zombie's newest slasher flick is an adaptation of an old horror standard, the John Carpenter-directed film of the same name. It tells the story of the mentally insane Michael Myers (Tyler Mane), who escapes from a mental hospital and goes on a killing rampage. Zombie uses his adaptation to delve further into Myers' back story, depicting him as a mentally disturbed child. Horror fans should expect an intense movie experience. Variety reported that guests attending the "Halloween" premier in Hollywood "were squealing and jumping out of their chairs during the screening, and some super squeamish ones even had to exit the theater for a smoke on Hollywood Boulevard."
"Balls of Fury" Directed by Ben Garant Starring Dan Folger, Christopher Walken and George Lopez
"Balls of Fury," a comedy about an underground ping-pong competition, hopes to capture the same sports-humor charm of "Dodgeball." The film is directed by Ben Garant, writer of such family-friendly comedies as "Night At The Museum" and "The Pacifier." With its PG-13 rating, "Balls of Fury" may turn out to be just the opposite of family-friendly entertainment. Most surprisingly, though, is the fact that Garant is also the creative mind behind "Reno 911!"
"Death Sentence" Directed by James Wan Starring Kevin Bacon, John Goodman and Kelly Preston
James Wan attempts to redeem his first 2007 release, the poorly received "Dead Silence," with "Death Sentence." Part modern Western, part gangster, shoot' em up, "Death Sentence" follows a man grieving his son's death when the boy is killed in a local gang initiation. The father, played by Kevin Bacon, deems that it's too risky to leave his family's safety up to some police force, thus deciding to take out the gang himself.
