Intown Rundown: Stormy weather

In the wake of tragedy, it feels very trivial to be writing about movies, music and television.
Last week, I wrote about a fellow Fredonia High School graduate who was beginning her movie career; this week, my graduating class lost another member much too soon. My condolences and deepest sympathy go out to all of the family and friends affected.

MOVIE MADNESS

Inspired by a bit of sun-induced delirium on Sunday, I thought my days of being cooped up inside watching more movies than any one person should see within a six-month period were over. How wrong I was.
For those looking for some cinematic entertainment during what will likely be a cold, soggy weekend, here are some reviews of the recently-released films in theaters and on DVD that I've seen over the past two weeks. I continue to be baffled by the critical acclaim bestowed on some films I've found to be pretty unworthy while other films of comparable or higher quality are panned or ignored.
I used to rely heavily on a film's RottenTomatoes.com rating, but lately, it's a gamble. For those who don't know, the site compiles reviews from numerous movie critics and computes the percentage of favorable ones – anything over 60 percent is considered “fresh,” and anything less is “rotten.” The following are my assessments in comparison with their Rotten Tomatoes ratings:

“Sucker Punch”
Rating: 22 percent
It's a beautiful film to behold and star Emily Browning is pretty breathtaking. Altogether, however, it's a confusing, convoluted tale about a young girl in a mental facility who envisions an alternate reality as a means to escape. It was difficult to savor the mesmeric visuals while struggling to understand what, exactly, was really happening. If girl power-driven, stylistic eye candy is what you're after, “Sucker Punch” might not be a bad choice. However, if you thought the promos for the film made it look extremely awesome (as I did), be prepared for some disappointment.
- The verdict: Keep your expectations low and you might enjoy it.
“Sucker Punch” is now in theaters.

“Limitless”
Rating: 69 percent
It's an interesting premise: with the help of a tiny, transparent pill, the user can completely maximize their brain power. This pill, called NZT, completely changes the life of a struggling author (Bradley Cooper), instantly curing him of his writer's block, helping him to learn entire languages in a matter of hours, dazzle at dinner parties, conquer the stock market and win back his ex-girlfriend who dumped him in the midst of his loserdom. As he begins to get deeper and deeper into NZT, he begins to find that it isn't quite what it seems. If you're just taking “Limitless” at face value, it's a pretty entertaining thriller. When you really break it down, though, it's slightly-science-fictionalized story about a user with a habit worthy of an episode of “Intervention” and I'm not sure I completely condone the way it seems to glamorize addiction. Doesn't every addict feel on top of the world when they have their fix? Whether it's a fancy chemical compound that allows you to expand your mind like NZT or something less glamorous, like crack or meth, it's all the same, really.
- The verdict: Starts strong but starts to fizzle halfway through.
“Limitless” is now in theaters.

“Unstoppable”
Rating: 86 percent
This film represents everything I've grown to hate about today's sub-par blockbusters. If you've seen the trailer, you've essentially already seen the entire movie. Yes, that train is unstoppable – but thankfully, the DVD wasn't. I struggled to stay awake as the characters – which I never ceased to see as actors failing to be convincing in their roles – tried to prevent a full-throttle train gone awry from wreaking total havoc. I'm buying star Chris Pine as a young Captain Kirk aboard the Starship Enterprise, I'm buying him as Lindsay Lohan's love interest in a weak romantic comedy (“Just My Luck,” just terrible), but I'm not buying him as a train conductor wearing more mascara than I am.
- The verdict: Bunk!
“Unstoppable” is now on DVD.

“Catfish”
Rating: 81 percent
This documentary has been on my radar since I read an article during Oscar buzz saying that “Catfish” was the more important Facebook movie instead of its big-budget fictionalized counterpart, “The Social Network.” For those who befriend random strangers on the site, I'd have to say I partially agree. “Catfish” is a documentary about a 24-year-old guy in New York City who gets to know an interesting family in Michigan through Facebook. What unfolds is pretty mind-boggling. It's a very engaging, suspenseful story that is impossible to stop watching once you start. The advertisements for the film warn viewers “Don't let anyone tell you what it is.” The tagline is a great way to reel in views but in the months before I actually got to see “Catfish,” I had envisioned so many crazy, shocking conclusions that by the time I finally saw the ending, I was ever-so-slightly disappointed. I really recommend that you see it for yourself.
- The verdict: Very much worth watching.
“Catfish” is now on DVD.

WHAT REALLY GRINDS MY GEARS

Why is it necessary to remake every movie that was ever successful? Some movies do not need to be remade, especially perfectly good films that were released within the last 20 years. This rant comes fresh off of reading an article on Bradley Cooper being in talks to star in Brandon Lee's role in “The Crow.” The movie was made in 1994 and while it may seem a little dated, that doesn't mean that we need to make an updated version for those who may have missed the original one 17 years ago. What is the point?

WATCH THIS

It seems like royal wedding fever hasn’t exactly swept across America but I, for one, am excited. Those who are similarly intrigued by the upcoming union of Prince William and soon-to-be princess Kate Middleton should tune in Monday for the Lifetime movie “William and Kate,” premiering at 9 p.m. It’s pure fluff and liberties are certainly taken with the material, which is to be expected for a made-for-TV movie slapped together within a couple of months in order for it to air just before the nuptials take place on April 29. Complete with a completely fabricated “Bridget Jones”-style scene featuring Kate crying in the bathtub with a glass of wine and, judging by the trailer, devoid of British accents, it’s the stuff Lifetime movies are made of: romance and melodrama.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

- Rookie's will open at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday for the Sabres playoff game at 5. Rinky Dink will play that night from 8 p.m. to midnight.

- The Beaver Club is having live music by Trio on Friday night.

- 41 West will feature the Dixieland Band on Friday at 9 p.m. and a mechanical bull on Saturday from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

- All Of Them Witches will be at BJ's tonight. This Buffalo based math rock duo consists of Cameron Rogers on drums and Phillip Freedenberg on guitars. Freedenberg actually plays two guitars simultaneously live. He even manages to find a free hand to work a synthesizer from time to time. Their mostly instrumental songs would appeal to fans of Battles, Hella and Lightning Bolt. Arctic Death is also playing. The show starts at 10 p.m. It's free for the over 21 crowd and costs $3 for 18 and up.

- Saturday is the annual Record Store Day, an event to celebrate independent music stores everywhere. Many bands, such as Sonic Youth, Nirvana and Deerhoof are releasing special limited edition records for the occasion. Townhouse Records in Jamestown is participating in the fun with contests, specials deals on vinyl and a screening of the band Deerhunter's 3D music video. Local indie rockers Thee Audience will be playing at the neighboring Labyrinth Press Company at 3 p.m. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Townhouse is located at 10 E. Fourth St.

- Bflo Pnk 1.0, the video history of the early years of Buffalo's punk rock scene, will be shown on the SUNY Fredonia campus on April 19. It will be screened in Room 202, McEwen Hall, at 7 p.m. Admission is free. The film, produced by Elmer Ploetz, an assistant professor in the SUNY Fredonia Communication Department, was shown Wednesday at the Market Arcade theaters in Buffalo during the Buffalo Niagara Film Festival. The project is an oral history of Buffalo punk's early years, when bands like the Enemies, Jumpers, Electroman, Secrets, the Good, Pauline & the Perils, the Fems, the George and Paper Faces were making a noise that far exceeded any commercial success the bands enjoyed. Bflo Pnk 1.0 includes interviews with over 40 of the era's icons, plus live footage, posters and photos.

April Diodato is the OBSERVER Lifestyles editor. Send comments to adiodato@observertoday.com