WHAT WOULD TOTO WATCH? — Movie reviews, news and interviews from Christian Toto

‘Descent’ sequel streaks to DVD

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This horror hound has been waiting for the sequel to “The Descent” - no matter that common sense tells me not to get my hopes up.

My favorite horror flick from the last decade didn’t make much noise at the box office but its reputation continues to thrive on DVD.

So a sequel was inevitable – if not necessarily a guarantee of more subterranean chills.

Just found out “The Descent: Part 2″ is heading to DVD April 27. The film’s original director, Neil Marshall, is no longer behind the camera, but this site will review the sequel all the same.

(Photo: ‘The Descent’ proved one of the decade’s best horror films, and now a sequel is coming soon to DVD.)

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‘Attack of the Vegan Zombies!’ – Hold the brains, please

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It’s not easy to stand out in the crowded zombie genre.

We’ve already seen Nazi zombies (“Dead Snow”), funny zombies (“Shaun of the Dead”) and zombies serving as household pets (“Fido”).

Indie writer/director Jim Townsend’s spin on the genre involves zombies put off by eating brains and entrails.

They prefer a nice Chianti, and if they happen to find some in a person’s blood stream, so be it.

“Attack of the Vegan Zombies!” uses that as its twist, one which will likely attract gore hounds like bees to honey.

Writer/director/star Jim Townsend shrewdly sets the stage for his modest zombie affair, but he ultimately can’t decide whether his film is a spoof, a monster mash or an homage to classic zombie films.

It comes up a tad short in each category, but it’s still a diverting feature given the microscopic budget.

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Sunday link love: The ‘America’ edition

The folks behind the upcoming “Captain America” movie may have found their Red Skull … but not their hero.

“Green Zone” flops at the box office … will this finally tell Hollywood the public isn’t interested in Iraq War movies?

Tom Hanks puts his foot in his mouth promoting the HBO miniseries “The Pacific.”

“The People vs. George Lucas” bows at SXSW – long lines ensue, forcing the addition of a second showing at midnight.

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Comment of the Week: The ‘where did all the movie stars go?’ edition

Today’s hottest actors are still referred to as movie stars … but it’s clear the label ain’t what it used to be.

Rare is the actor who can guarantee full houses on opening weekend. Even Will Smith struggled to bring audiences to see his melodramatic 2008 film “Seven Pounds.”

So this rant from frequent commenter JIC really hit home:

There are no major movie stars anymore; just well-known, highly-paid actors. This isn’t the start of some sort of nostalgic rant, it’s a statement of fact: there are no actors active in American movies who can ‘open’ even a medium-budgeted movie – up to about ten years ago, the ability to open a movie was virtually the sole qualification to be a star. Even Will Smith and Adam Sandler can’t do it anymore.

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‘Green Zone’ – Ultimate Rorschach test for film critics?

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The new Matt Damon movie “Green Zone” isn’t just a slam-bang adventure about the search for WMD in Iraq.

It’s also a Rorschach test for today’s movie critics.

The film declares the Bush administration knew all along that Iraq didn’t have weapons of mass destruction, but that it lied to convince the public to embrace the subsequent invasion.

That’s not a spoiler. Nearly every film review puts that fact front and center. It’s the thrust of the whole movie.

But how critics react to that plot, and either ignore or detail the film’s flaws, provides a powerful lens from which to view a critic’s ideological blinders.

After all, the decision to invade Iraq was one of the most emotionally charged debates in modern history.

Suffice to say Roger Ebert gives the film four stars.

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‘Remember Me’ – There’s life after ‘Twilight’ for Team Edward

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Robert Pattinson will always have a gig with “Twilight.”

Sure, the film franchise can’t last forever, but just consider the endless tie-ins, promotions and, one day, comic-cons where he can sign autographs ’til his finger go numb.

That still doesn’t leave him with a movie career.

“Remember Me” could change that.

The drama pushes Pattinson beyond “Twilight’s” limited emotional canvas, allowing him to show something much closer to movie star chops than his detractors would expect.

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Brody’s ‘Splice’ ready for its closeup

Adrien Brody’s post-Oscar career hasn’t been a cake walk.

The actor’s big event picture “King Kong” left some underwhelmed – not WWTW, for the record – and his subsequent features haven’t caught afire with either critics or audiences.

“The Village.” “The Jacket.” “Hollywoodland.” “The Brothers Bloom.”

His latest film, “Splice,” seems like just the changeup his career needs. The movie, which premiered a the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, just got an official release date – June 4, 2010.

The film follows two ambitious scientists (Brody and Sarah Polley) who create something rather remarkable in the lab., but quickly realize they have little idea what their handiwork has wrought. See the trailer below and find out for yourself.

Directed and co-written by Vincenzo Natali (“Paris je t’aime,” “Cube”), the movie is co-produced by Guillermo del Toro – a very good sign.

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