Here’s the latest movie review from Leo Quinones, host of the Film Freak Movie Talk Show, which is heard every Saturday at 4pm Pacific time on KFWB NEWS TALK 980. Or listen online.

Movie Review: Battleship *NO SPOILERS*

Battleship is getting torpedoed by movie critics. It’s what they do. The movie is far from perfect, and is a lot better than I thought. I’m fully aware the dialogue in the movie had challenges. But here’s one of my pet peeves: rudeness in movie theaters. When a lousy line is uttered, I just kinda roll my eyes and think, “That was so cheesy.” But again, this is me, thinking to myself.

I can’t stand when someone who gets to see these movies for FREE has the tenacity to outwardly laugh at bad dialogue. It’s the most selfish thing you can do in a movie. It serves two purposes: (1) You’re attempting to show everyone how smart you are and you know a bad line when you hear it. (2) It pulls anyone out of the film who’s enjoying it.

Regular movie going folks will enjoy Battleship. Based on the 1931 Hasbro game,  it has less to do with real strategic war at sea and more to do with aliens taking over Earth. I will say the sound design was perfect. On the other hand, it feels like whole scenes were lifted from other movies like “Officer and A Gentlemen,” “Independence Day,” and of course, “Transformers.”

Battleship is a long journey from perfection, but I still had fun. My favorite thing about the movie were the ‘Old Salts,’ World War II vets who actually served on the battleship USS Missouri was very cool.

Rated PG-13. You can follow me on Twitter @leoquinones

Watch the Battleship featurette, “Resurrecting the Mighty Mo.”

Here’s the latest movie review from Leo Quinones, host of the Film Freak Movie Talk Show, which is heard every Saturday at 4pm Pacific time on KFWB NEWS TALK 980. Or listen online.

Johnny Depp as Barnabas Collins in Warner Bros. Pictures€™ and Village Roadshow Pictures a™ gothic comedy “Dark Shadows,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.

Dark Shadows movie review

As a kid, I barely remember the TV soap opera, “Dark Shadows.” The eerie theme song is forever seared in my memory. Tim Burton, Michelle Pfieffer and Johnny Depp were also Children of the Corn-y soap. Leave it to Tim and Johnny to pick ‘Shadows’ as their vampire vehicle.

I can’t really compare the movie and the TV series. I did not go back and revisit the old material. It’s widely known that for better or worse, this is now Tim Burton’s vision. As seen in the trailers, Barnabas Collins is a vampire buried alive for almost 200 years and released in the year 1972. This juxtaposition is supposed to the springboard for comedy situations.

But I found the film to be much darker than funny. You know that old saying, “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned?” Angelique (Eva Green) plays a servant who loves Barnabas Collins (Johnny Depp). When the relationship goes south, things are compounded by the fact that she’s a witch. Hence the evil curse she places, which transforms Barnabas into a vampire, doomed for eternal damnation. She gives him the extended dirt nap too.

That’s the central theme at play here. This rivalry is the films’ beginning, middle and end. The bulk of the humor stems from the way Barnabas reacts to the tackiness of the times. Johnny Depp is indeed very interesting to watch on screen. He plays a lot of this through his extended fingers and eyes. His  makeup application was very extreme. A bit too much, I’m afraid.

I always like to go over Vampire Rules. Barnabas casts no reflection in the mirror: 1 point. Resistance to silver: 1 point. He seeks darkness: 1 point. Sunlight sizzles his skin and fingertips: 1 point. Original coffin brought in for slumber: 1 point. His ability to walk around in broad daylight: minus 5 points! It’s a bloody wash, folks.

Hardcore fans of the “Dark Shadows” TV show have been left for scrap. It is what it is. This is signature Tim Burton: weird and creepy right down the line. I liked this world, I just wish there were more laughs. Either it’s a dark vampire movie or it’s an out-and-out comedy. The tone is so tough. As you’ll see, it’s just about impossible to combine the two. Dark Shadows is rated PG-13.

Barnabas Collins is getting with the times. He’s now following me on Twitter. You can too @leoquinones.

What’s all the hoopla about “The Avengers?” Here’s the review from Leo Quinones, host of the Film Freak Movie Talk Show, heard on KFWB NEWS TALK 980, Saturdays, 4pm Pacific time:

Marvel’s The Avengers *NO SPOILERS*

Join KFWB NEWS TALK 980 for a weekend of live broadcasts from the Los Angeles Times 17th Annual Festival of Books April 21 and 22 from 2pm to 5pm on the Campus of USC.

Enjoy music, food, celebrities, authors, KFWB live broadcasts and more! Be sure to stop by the KFWB Broadcast Stage at the Leavy Library to meet the KFWB staff and several authors. Presented in part by SetOntarioFree.com and Safe Kids Los Angeles County.

The KFWB personalities will be at the KFWB Broadcast Stage the following times:

Saturday, April 21:

• 2:00pm – 2:30pm Penny Griego and Phil Hulett
• 2:30pm – 3:00pm Cindy Dole and Penny & Phil
• 3:00pm – 4:00pm Leo Quinones & Cindy Dole
• 4:00pm – 5:00pm Dr. Chambers & Leo Quinones

Sunday, April 22:

• 2:00pm -2:30pm Maggie McKay & Michael Shappee
• 2:30pm – 3:00pm Bob McCormick and Maggie & Michael
• 3:00pm – 3:30pm Chef Jamie & Bob McCormick
• 3:30pm – 4:00pm Chef Jamie & Leo Quinones
• 4:00pm – 5:00pm West Seegmiller & Leo Quinones

Here is a list of the authors who will join the KFWB staff. Please note that schedules are subject to change.

Saturday, April 21:

• 2:00pm – Rodney King, “The Riot Within: My Journey from Rebellion to Redemption”
• 2:00pm – Richard Schickel, “Conversations with Scorsese”
• 3:30pm – Nancy Silverton, “The Mozza Cookbook” and Michael Voltaggio, “VOLT Ink”
• 4:00pm – Joel Achenbach, “A Hole at the Bottom of the Sea”

Sunday, April 22:

• 2:00pm – Florence Henderson, “Life is Not A Stage: From Broadway Baby to a Lovely Lady and Beyond”
• 2:00pm – John Buntin, “LA Noir”
• 3:00pm – Alice Medrich, “Sinfully Easy Delicious Desserts”
• 3:15pm – Literary Agent Bonnie Nadell will talk about what it takes to publish
• 3:30pm – Michael Ian Black, “You’re Not Doing It Right: Tales of Marriage, Sex, Death and Other Humiliations”

General attendance is free. USC is located at 699 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles. For more information, visit the Festival of Books website.

KFWB’s Maggie McKay and Leo, host of the Film Freak, discuss the top movies now playing.

By Leo Quinones

(Image credit: AP/Disney Enterprises Inc.)

Disney’s John Carter is a story written in 1912 by Edgar Rice Burroughs. It was his first novel, originally titled, “A Princess of Mars.” I can’t say I’ve ever read Burroughs, but you and I have seen his strong influence at the movies. Have you ever watched a science fiction movie showcasing another planet, another world, aliens, Martian creatures, futuristic societies, incredible flying contraptions and the never-ending battle between good and evil? Then you’ve seen Burrough’s 100 year-old influence in action.

Read the rest of Leo’s review at FilmFreak. Catch Leo’s show Saturdays 4-5pm on KFWB NEWS TALK 980 and streaming live online. Follow Leo on Twitter @leoquinones.

KFWB’s Leo Quinones, host of The Film Freak Movie Talk Show, always has the latest movie news.

Leo interviews the executive producers/writers of “The Lorax,” Cinco Paul and Ken Dario. Learn about “The Lorax” controversy, and how this four-year animated marathon made its way to the big screen. Listen to the podcast here.

Are you a fan of thrillers? Leo interviews directors Laura Lau and Chris Kentis of Elizabeth Olsen’s new horror film, “Silent House” in this podcast.

Catch Leo’s show Saturdays 4pm-5pm on KFWB NEWS TALK 980 and streaming live online. Follow Leo on Twitter @leoquinones.

By Leo Quinones, The Film Freak

(Image credit: AP; Warner Bros. Pictures)

“Project X” celebrates the lost art of the house party. Producer Todd Phillips never holds back. That’s why he connects with his movies like “The Hangover” or “Old School.” This time, you’ve got three high school num-nuts who throw “the game changer.”

Thanks to texting, Craigslist and mass emails, people catch word of the party on Dickens Street in a nanosecond. Along for the ride are two pretty funny security guards and a handful of angry neighbors. The movie builds towards a “no way, this is crazy” kind of reality. While a party of this epic scale elevates a kid’s stature in school, you know he’s going to have to pay a price.

Read the rest of the review at The Film Freak.

(Image credit: AP)

The Lorax is an affirmation that Hollywood’s feature film animation is getting better, smarter and more wondrous.  I really enjoyed the movie.  The world takes the soul of the much-loved Dr. Seuss book and transforms wonderfully onto the big screen.  The Lorax is a magical, bearded creature tasked with protecting the trees of the forest.  What an amazing message, written way back in 1971.

This is perfect family fare.  Though there are a couple of songs in the film, this is by no way a full-blown musical.  As a matter of fact, Ted (Zac Efron) and Audrey (Taylor Swift), who are both talented singers, do not sing a note in The Lorax. You will hear The Once-ler (Ed Helms) singing and playing guitar.

Read the complete review at The Film Freak.

(Image Credit: AP)

Now that the Golden Globes are over –  time to look forward to the Oscars.

Before the Academy Award Nominations are expected to be announced Tuesday, KFWB’s resident Film Freak Leo Quinones talked with Maggie McKay and Michael Shappee about his predictions.

Some of Quinones’ winning picks include The Help and the more recent silent flick The Artist. Listen to the full interview below to hear more predictions.

Listen to more from L.A.’s Afternoon News.