adamgehrke.com

Ben Geary (Topher Grace) is a young FBI agent tasked with locating and putting an end to a mysterious soviet assassin known as Cassius, thought to be operating in the U.S.. To that end, former CIA operative Paul Shepherdson (Richard Gere) is called in to assist in the search with invaluable knowledge and skills to his credit. As the plot twists and turns the efforts to out Cassius means a challenge to the relationship between Ben and Paul. But who is really hunting who and why? With a minor spin to the typical crime scene investigative drama, old cop, new cop The Double makes attempts to twist and turn, obscuring the truth whilst revealing the same mysteries in the same breath. What does that mean? It tries to be cryptic but then ends up telling you everything you need to know, leaving a mildly interesting plot to drive the rest of the film — and that’s a problem, it’s only mildly interesting. All the parts of a decent film are here, I just wish the order of things and the method of how key turning points are revealed was done to leave more mystery. I guess I’m asking for more of a whodunit instead of a spoon feeder. A rental. The Double is rated PG-13.

Estranged pals Harold (John Cho) and Kumar (Kal Penn) are reunited by chance and tasked with the mission of finding the perfect Christmas tree for Harold’s father in law (Danny Trejo). Before long the two are shot at, wanted by the mob, drugged, and forced to dance in a Neil Patrick Harris Christmas spectacular. But more important than all of that, what of their friendship, and who’s having a baby? Pot Jokes, check, Cocaine jokes, Check, Bathroom humor, Check, Obligatory but Gratuitous sexual humor, check, Wafflebot, check. What did you expect? It’s Harold and Kumar, it’s not a good movie, but it’s good enough. I will say this, this may actually be the first 3D film this year to actually make use of the 3D technology and make it worth while. Otherwise, do I really need to be writing this? You know the drill. A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas is rated R.

Serving as a prequel to the previous two films, Paranormal Activity 3 details the early lives of sisters Katie (Chloe Csengery) and Kristi (Jessica Tyler Brown) and just what exactly sets the stage for their hauntings later in life. Conveniently father-ish figure Dennis (Chistopher Nicholas Smith) is a wedding videographer; and, as the hauntings of the family begin, Dennis decides to investigate further with his cameras positioned around the house. But, proving that things that go bump in the night often don’t want to be found, the investigation goes South, fast. Who will walk away, and why? As one who’s always skeptical of sequels and prequels I must admit the Paranormal Activity franchise has done a great job sticking with a basic premise and then exploiting that premise to a delightful and perfectly frightening degree. And, through exploitation of everyday materials and settings the writers and directors of this installment continue to bring the scares in unconventional ways, methods that will make you laugh after you’ve just screamed out loud. There’s still the implausible issue of why anyone would carry a video camera and tape everything as all hell’s breaking loose, seems to me, most sensible folks would just run. That aside, I laughed, I jumped, I squirmed in my seat, wanted to look away but couldn’t. Just in time for Halloween and worth seeing with a group of people. Paranormal Activity 3 is rated R.