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Out in cinemas this week: A man bonds with his teddy bear, and a techno-created superdude has a dystopian nightmare in a city of forbidden blood.
Ted (2012)
Universal Pictures
Even if anything from Seth MacFarlane weren't automatically worth checking out anyway, the casting of this comedy-fantasy is a bit inspired: there's something still very boyish about Mark Wahlberg that complements, rather than denying, his normal taciturn demeanor and the maturity he's gained on film in the last decade.
The story: A story centered on a man and his teddy bear, who comes to life as the result of a childhood wish.
Starring: Mark Wahlberg (John Bennett), Mila Kunis (Lori Collins), Seth MacFarlane (Ted), Joel McHale (Rex), Giovanni Ribisi (Donny), Patrick Warburton (Guy), Matt Walsh (Thomas), Jessica Barth (Tami-Lynn), Aedin Mincks (Robert), Bill Smitrovich (Frank), Patrick Stewart (Narrator), Norah Jones (Herself), Sam J. Jones (Himself), Tom Skerritt (Himself), Bretton Manley (Young John), Ralph Garman (John's Dad).
Directed by: Seth MacFarlane.
The Vanquisher (2012)
Rising Dawn Productions
Why is it that artificially created supermen always rely primarily on martial arts? From the trailer this looks like a lost MST3K experiment (the subtitle is City of Forbidden Blood, which makes you imagine a city council meeting in which the motion to forbid all blood and blood products passes 5-3, with one absention from the vampire councilmember), but star Ben Seton and villain Daz Crawford can carry a scene whenever a director lets them.
The story: In a noir-ish dystopian future where prosperity belongs to the few, and to those determined to take it, Jarron Brenner did well by the system until his body was invaded by the technology he helped to sell. After a series of traumatic events, a mysterious agent Miranda May takes it upon herself to help save Jarron's life. Soon, however, they find themselves hunted by the shadowy forces of an alien conspiracy. Theatrical feature debut for writer-director Dean Gold.
Starring: Ben Seton (Jarron Brenner), Dominika Wolski (Miranda May), Daz Crawford (Clive Maddocks), Tammy Felice (Vanessa Krauss), Dave Vescio (Dr. Walter Zeigler), Jesse Wang (The Diplomat), May Tan (Queen Zorn), Andrew Amani (Tall Zorn), Tom Beyer (Lt. Jason Gaines), Jon Napier (Andrew Spencer).
Directed by: Dean Gold.
