Zander’s Weblog

Here’s what the MPAA has to say about the film: “Rated R for strong disturbing violent content including a graphic killing rampage, child rape/murder, suicidal behavior, pervasive language and some sexual content – all involving teens.” Now if that isn’t enough to draw in the teen audience, I don’t know what is!
Positive notes: the actors were credible as high school students–well cast. The acting was good if not stellar. The cinematography was good if not great. And the script was almost good, mixing two parts teen angst with one part philosophy, although way oversalted with editorial message. The directorial choices I often found annoying–too much evidence of the director’s presence in the film, such as the background music and the frequent cutting away to show the kids filming each other. But a nice try, nonetheless.

Loved it. Michael McMillian was fabulous as Dorian and Steven C. Fletcher as his caricature homophobic father. What a hoot–I was ROFL.

A teen James Bond thriller without any of the sex. Yes, I know, it’s pretty lame–not nearly as lame as Cody Banks, but still. On the other hand it does feature Alex Pettyfer as protagonist who, at 16, is arguably at the peak of his not insubstantial perfection as a human manifestation and which, if you’re a fan of such, makes up for large quantities of tedium. Call it the teen Bond swim-suit issue.