The Crazies (2010)

Would The Crazies (1973) have got a remake if it hadn't been a George Romero film? It's unlikely. But here we are, and the result isn't too bad.
The combine harvester scene made me think, 'Yes, this could actually be good!' It was soon followed by a lame jump scare and I began to doubt my earlier assumption. But I stayed because I was curious to see what changes would be made to the story. There were many and a lot of them were even beneficial. Good job. Unfortunately, the script doesn't know when to stop trying to be bigger and better than its source, and by the end reaches levels of stupid that ensure I'll not give it a second viewing.
It earns praise for not being a simple rehash - it's modernised both in how it's shot and in how the response team deal with the situation.

3 well-forked ladies out of 5

HORNS [2014]

Director Alexandre Aja adapts Joe Hill's bizarre dark fantasy novel, Horns, for the screen with great ambition.
Daniel Radcliffe plays a young man who begins sprouting devil horns after he's accused of murdering his girlfriend.  Sound pretty weird?  Your assumptions are correct.  Unfortunately the film is a tonal mess of horror, comedy and surrealism that never feels comfortable settling down enough to find a heart.  Radcliffe pulls off his best performance yet as he's surrounded by some beautifully shot scenery but it just isn't enough to make it a memorable film.  Granted it's weird enough to make you wonder just how it's going to play out but once all is said and done it leaves much to be desired.

2½ cherry pies from Annie out of 5

OPERATION: ENDGAME [2010]

A fantastic ensemble cast makes up the comically and ridiculously violent thriller Operation: Endgame.

Sadly that's about all this film has going for it, as each and every single character is despicable and once the plot starts it never really develops into much.

One thing I found fun, despite what the poster art depicts, there's only one gun in the entire film and it's not loaded.  Each character is hilariously killed by something you'd find at an Office Depot.  

2½ footprints of blood out of 5

Control (2007)

Anton Corbijn makes up for that awful Joy Division video he made in ’88 by giving us a beautifully lit, sumptuous monochrome biopic of singer/poet Ian Curtis' short but affecting life. Everyone involved gives it credibility and an intense but never forced integrity. Corbijn’s masterpiece.
The cinematographer deserves a mention, Martin Ruhe take a bow.

5 wasp-swatting dances out of 5