Weekly Cinemeh

Hello, and welcome back to Weekly Cinemeh. Last week we watched a Christopher Walken movie called The Suicide Kings, and it put us in the mood for more Walken. Walken is one of my favorite actors. His intensity is great for dramatic roles, and he shows a great sense of humor in comedies. He is great, and I encourage people to watch more of his films.

1: The Prophecy
The Prophecy is actually the first movie in a five movie series. I have seen the first three a few times and had no idea that they tacked on two more movies after completing what felt like a complete story. Regardless, the first movie is pretty good. Walken plays the angel Gabriel who is the leader of a group of rebelling angels who are mad at God because humans are held above all others in God's eyes. Walken's intensity adds a lot to the role of something that is supposed to be conviction personified. I have mentioned this movie before in my list of best portrayals of Satan, and I stand by that. The movie also has a couple of very darkly funny scenes when Gabriel raises humans from the dead so that they can drive cars for him. Its a good movie and the next two in the series are also good (I can't speak for the last two though). Watch it.

Eshi: I dig this series, at least the first three movies. Gabriel manages to be both deeply fucking creepy and wonderfully laid back. Its Walken playing predator and he plays it unreasonably well. I would hesitate to call The Prophesy art, but it is top of the fun list.

2: The Dead Zone
Based on a Stephen King book, which is based on supposed real life psychic Peter Hurkos (at least according to IMDB). I was expecting something a little like Scanners (Both movies are directed by David Cronenberg and involve people with psychic powers) but what I got was something far more tame and with a good message. This gets a little spoiler-y, you have been warned. I have talked about changing the past before in the blog, coming to the conclusion that changing the past is immoral because you can never tell what consequences this action would have. This movie deals with a similar issue, but in reverse. What if you know that in the future a person will become a tyrant, do you stop them? Its a good movie, and once again, Walken's intensity and odd mannerisms play well in the role. I am not a huge fan of Stephen King, but this was a good story. Watch it.

Eshi: One of the few Stephen King movies that he isn't really in and one of the better ones out there. I personally feel like there are a couple of scenes that would have benefited from a little levity (Thanks for keeping that pussy warm for me Walt!) but I'm a snarky dick. Seriously, it's Christopher Walken as a fucking psychic, how could you not love it?

3: King of New York
This was a great movie. Christopher Walken plays a gangster who is just getting out of prison. He starts to look around the city and decides to take over the New York crime world. He does so with some pretty extreme violence, though usually only after attempting to make a deal. The purpose for this power grab is different from most gang movies though: He wants to use the profits from the drug trade to reinvigorate the poorer boroughs. The movie brings up a thought provoking issue. Drugs will always exist in societies and if the drug trade will always be there, are you still a bad guy if you use it to help people instead of just yourself. This movie also deals with the police, and some of the problems with our judicial system in general, and what it means to take the law into your own hands. As I said, its a great movie, watch it.

Eshi: Fuck David Caruso. After you manage to get past "Larry" Fishburne chewing the scenery and making his ancestor ashamed it really is a delightful film. Well, I was delighted but that might not be the appropriate response. There are a few awkward, possibly racist, scenes but for the most part I really like King of New York. Its certainly worth the watch.

Honorable Mention:
You know what this list needs more of?