The oddest entry this year at the movies, the director of the SAW sequels (II – IV) makes a diligent and odd entry with a rock horror gore fest opera, entitled REPO! THE GENETIC OPERA.

At the film’s start, one wonders what the hidden agenda is behind the mind of filmmaker Margaret Brown as her documentary on the origins of the Mardi Gras in Mobile, Alabama.  Why pick Mobile?  She indicates that there are two sets of king, queen and court comprising of white high society and black.  Yet, an interviewee claims that despite this, the blacks and whites have always gotten along, as evident by their current black mayor.  Is Brown intent to expose the hidden prejudices of Mobile?

Who would imagine that JCVD (short for Jean-Claude Van Damme), Van Damme’s come-back movie, would be one of the action star’s best films?  Directed by El Mechri, JCVD begins with JCVD bashing and shooting up his enemies in a new film he is making. 

This is not the first time a non-action director has been picked to make a Bond movie.  Lee Tamahori made DIE ANOTHER DAY, one of the better Bond movies and that might be the reason Marc Forster (MONSTER BALL, FINDING NEVERLAND and THE KITE RUNNER) was selected.

Danny Boyle (SHALLOW GRAVE, TRAINSPOTTING) plays it safe with his new film, a roller coaster ride that copies a lot of tactics from his most successful hit TRAINSPOTTING.