billyjack90210

With the latest cinematic opus from director Joseph McGinty-Nichol, CHARLIE'S ANGELES: FULL THROTTLE, the audience is treated to a cinematic bauble that refracts the iconography of the classic 70's television series through the sensibilities of one of the most promising American directorial talents of the past 20 years. Drawing form sources including, but not limited to, The Old Testament and American cinematic history, McGinty-Nichol's film is truly one for the ages.

New to this ANGELS installment is Demi Moore, appearing here as former Angel Madison Lee. With her character, McGinty-Nichol attempts to put a contemporary spin on the Biblical creation myth in which the Archangel Lucifer is cast out of heaven and condemned to walk in shadows til the end of time. Enraged at being cast out of Paradise, Lucifer searches for ways to strike back at the Creator and his work. In THROTTLE, McGinty-Nichol has found his Lucifer in the guise of Ms. Moore (returning to the screen from her own cinematic purgatory of the past 5 years). Throughout the piece, Moore's Madison Lee lurks in the background, biding her time and pulling the strings as she orchestrates her plan to destroy that which Charlie (read: God) holds most dear: His greatest creation - The Angels.

Biblical allusions aside, this edition of the ANGELS franchise culls a number of key sequences from a more recent text - namely, the pages of American cinematic history. Homage is paid to several classic films from years gone by. RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, CAPE FEAR, and THE JERK are just a handful of the films that McGinty-Nichol tips his directorial hat to.

But front and center in this picture are The Angels themselves. In this go-round, Lucy Liu's Alex (far and away the "Ice Queen" of the ensemble in the original ANGELS film) cuts loose and appears to be thoroughly enjoying the proceedings from beginning to end. Ms. Barrymore's Dylan proves to be the heart and soul of the piece as her character struggles to come to grips with her fear of emotional abandonment. And last but certainly not least is Cameron Diaz's Natalie. When Diaz is not flashing her dazzling smile, she continues to prove that she is the most gifted cinematic physical comedienne of her generation.

All in all, this ANGELS film is truly a little slice of heaven.

It also has a bunch of hot chicks and stuff gettin' blow'd up real good.

I had the pleasure of attending The World Premiere Screening of this film in glamourous Syracuse, NY. It was quite the gala event. The writer was in attendance, and I got to meet him afterwards. He seemed very excited about having his movie produced. After The Premiere I left the classroom, er, I mean, The Landmark Theater, and I discussed the film with several other cineastes who were in attendance. A number of us walked over to the Post-Screening Reception at Sadler Dining Hall, er, I mean Grimadli's Chop House. The studio that produced the film had spared no expense on The Reception. I ate my fill of chicken nuggets, er, I mean, escargot. Later that evening, one of my fellow attendees suggested we head over to a bourgeois afterhours party off of Euclid Avenue. Once there, I had a few too many glasses of Keystone Light, er, I mean, Pinot Noir, at the open bar. Though I woke up in the morning with a bit of a headache from the movie, er, I mean, wine, all in all, it was a most enjoyable evening. Rent this film if you get the chance. You'll love it! :)