Rating: 
Summary: "I'm going to make the world a better place..." (4.5 stars)
Review: "A Better Place" is a disturbing and unsettling look at teen violence. This is a film that is so raw and brutal that it literally shakes you when you're not expecting it. Be warned, this is not a film to watch if you're looking for something to enjoy. This is as harsh and intense as it gets.The movie tells the story of Barret Michaelson; the new kid in town. The first day at his new school he is picked on by almost everybody. He makes friends with Ryan; an isolated loaner who doesn't particularly like people in general. As time passes by, Ryan drags Barret further and further into his worldview of hate and darkness. It isn't long before things become violent and dangerous, leading to an unbelievably shocking and cruel finale. It's hard to believe that this movie came from View Askew. Who would've thought they could've come out with something so intense and dark? As disturbing and chilling it is, it's an honest movie. It's not a glamorous film, and it's not trying to be one. That's why it's so effective. It has a raw and brutal feel to it all, and that's what makes it so powerful. I thought the movie was very well-written and directed. I kind of felt that it could've been longer and that Ryan's character could've been expanded more. But for the most part, it's a very good movie. It reminds me of "Bully," except "A Better Place" is much more "slice-of-life" resembling. It's effective because it doesn't feel like a movie, but more like something that is actually happening. The DVD has some special features, such as commentary, deleted scenes and more. There are some really cool Easter Eggs if you can find them. (Look at some of the other reviews, and you will find them.) "A Better Place" is a shocking and unrelenting film that is as honest as it is disturbing. Not too many movies like this are out there. It may be a low budget movie, but the overall product is nothing low, I assure you. Be warned, this is a very uneasy movie to watch. Be prepared.
Rating:
Summary: "I'm going to make the world a better place..." (4.5 stars)
Review: "A Better Place" is a disturbing and unsettling look at teen violence. This is a film that is so raw and brutal that it literally shakes you when you're not expecting it. Be warned, this is not a film to watch if you're looking for something to enjoy. This is as harsh and intense as it gets. The movie tells the story of Barret Michaelson; the new kid in town. The first day at his new school he is picked on by almost everybody. He makes friends with Ryan; an isolated loaner who doesn't particularly like people in general. As time passes by, Ryan drags Barret further and further into his worldview of hate and darkness. It isn't long before things become violent and dangerous, leading to an unbelievably shocking and cruel finale. It's hard to believe that this movie came from View Askew. Who would've thought they could've come out with something so intense and dark? As disturbing and chilling it is, it's an honest movie. It's not a glamorous film, and it's not trying to be one. That's why it's so effective. It has a raw and brutal feel to it all, and that's what makes it so powerful. I thought the movie was very well-written and directed. I kind of felt that it could've been longer and that Ryan's character could've been expanded more. But for the most part, it's a very good movie. It reminds me of "Bully," except "A Better Place" is much more "slice-of-life" resembling. It's effective because it doesn't feel like a movie, but more like something that is actually happening. The DVD has some special features, such as commentary, deleted scenes and more. There are some really cool Easter Eggs if you can find them. (Look at some of the other reviews, and you will find them.) "A Better Place" is a shocking and unrelenting film that is as honest as it is disturbing. Not too many movies like this are out there. It may be a low budget movie, but the overall product is nothing low, I assure you. Be warned, this is a very uneasy movie to watch. Be prepared.
Rating:
Summary: "I'm going to make the world a better place..." (4.5 stars)
Review: "A Better Place" is a disturbing and unsettling look at teen violence. This is a film that is so raw and brutal that it literally shakes you when you're not expecting it. Be warned, this is not a film to watch if you're looking for something to enjoy. This is as harsh and intense as it gets. The movie tells the story of Barret Michaelson; the new kid in town. The first day at his new school he is picked on by almost everybody. He makes friends with Ryan; an isolated loaner who doesn't particularly like people in general. As time passes by, Ryan drags Barret further and further into his worldview of hate and darkness. It isn't long before things become violent and dangerous, leading to an unbelievably shocking and cruel finale. It's hard to believe that this movie came from View Askew. Who would've thought they could've come out with something so intense and dark? As disturbing and chilling it is, it's an honest movie. It's not a glamorous film, and it's not trying to be one. That's why it's so effective. It has a raw and brutal feel to it all, and that's what makes it so powerful. I thought the movie was very well-written and directed. I kind of felt that it could've been longer and that Ryan's character could've been expanded more. But for the most part, it's a very good movie. It reminds me of "Bully," except "A Better Place" is much more "slice-of-life" resembling. It's effective because it doesn't feel like a movie, but more like something that is actually happening. The DVD has some special features, such as commentary, deleted scenes and more. There are some really cool Easter Eggs if you can find them. (Look at some of the other reviews, and you will find them.) "A Better Place" is a shocking and unrelenting film that is as honest as it is disturbing. Not too many movies like this are out there. It may be a low budget movie, but the overall product is nothing low, I assure you. Be warned, this is a very uneasy movie to watch. Be prepared.
Rating:
Summary: Smith Knows His Stuff
Review: ... For being shot for an amazing $40,000, this is an amazing looking movie. It was shot all on 16mm film and looks great for the most part. Yea, some parts are grainy and a few transitions are slow, it is otherwise a great deal. The acting is also very good, with a few actors/actresses found in other View Askew films. The plot focuses around teen violence, as the two main characters are deemed outcasts from their school. The ways they handle the emotional scenes is amazing for unknown, under paid actors. Hopefully Pereira will soon be given more money to make a movie with some better visuals, actors and props. With that, we could have almost a perfect movie. Think about it. We got this from a first time director. In short, if you're a fan of the other View Askew stuff and are looking for something other than a comedy, go for this. But be warned: this movie does have its fair share of violence. Overall this is a great movie.
Rating: 
Summary: Vincent Is The Man
Review: Allot of People Chastized Vincent Pereira for being the guy who talks to much on the Kevin smith Dvd's and expected his first film to be a joke, but the jokes on them , Heres a little clue to the critics who rip on vincent he talks allot because he know what he's talking about I was one of the few lucky people to see A Better Place in the theaters, and I have to say it is brilliant, excellent performaces from the entire cast who probobly worked for nothing, and real lesson to filmakers of what you can do with little or no money, much in the style of Robert Rodriguez, Vincent wasn't out to make a movie to impress people he made the movie he wanted to make and I think it's great.
Rating:
Summary: a must see indie film
Review: anyone who is even remotely interested in the power of good indie film-making owes it to themselves to a better place. also, fans of teen angst films will find this to be as poignant & disturbing as anything they've seen before. the film opens up with a young man telling the story of how he moved to "a better place" after his father dies of an aneurism. we see the young gent's father on a ladder in the firs tmontage asking his son to bring the waterhose. when the waterhose is brought to the front of the house, the boy sees his father on the ground bleeding. in the next couple of scenes, we see our protagonist trying to fit in & earn respect a the new high school. on the first day, everything that could possibly go wrong goes wrong. later on, he makes friends with a social outcast finding that he couldn't friends with anyone else. the social outcast has very little interest in anyone & fails to see the worth in most people. this is only the beginning of the film & the rest will literally blow your mind. this is defiantely not a film to view with impressional young minds but one could learn a great deal about teen angst & what things could cause columbine-related crises or tragedies. while this was financed or produced by kevin smith, a better place has very little in common with any smith film we've ever seen such as chasing amy or jay & silent bob strike back. there is nothing light-hearted or sweet about a better place & this does indeed rival "welcome to the dollhouse" & it's easy to see how it could be compared to "lord of the flies". very philosophical & very disturbing, this isn't a film you will forget too easily. again, this should be a part of your film collection if you are truly interested in seeing one of the best independent films ever made. please note, do not click eject on your dvd player until you've each & every deleted scene because this is some incredible material which should've been integrated back into the film in my opinion.
Rating:
Summary: lets see Bruckheimer do this much w/ only $40,000
Review: As a huge fan of all of Kevin Smith's movies, I cannot help but try to find something, anything, of his to enjoy and pass the time before his next pic. There is only so much material out there of his work, and after seeing all his movies, listened to all the commentary tracks, and read his comics, i couldn't help but try to find something more. So lo and behold, on [a] website I found a post about a newly released dvd directed by Vincent. I immediately ordered it, and wondered how he could possibly stack up against Smith's efforts. And the end result was that I was blown away by this movie. I watched it four times in the span of two days, including once with the commentary track. I even made my roommate watch it, and even though he doesn't particularly like indie films, he was equally impressed. This movie has restored my faith in good filmmaking, especially after an uneventful summer of movies. And now I can't wait for Vulgar and Drawing Flies to be finally released on dvd. If you are looking for a smart and edgy alternative to the big effects laden world of modern cinema, I can't think of A Better Place to look than this dark and disturbing movie. But I mean that in a good way.
Rating:
Summary: An incredible picture!
Review: As a long time fan of Kevin Smith's work, I was always curious as to who the heck was Vincent Pereira? Now I know, he is one hell of a writer/film maker! "A Better Place" struck home on many chords with me. Vincent has artfully captured the fellings of angst and isolation that I so often felt in High School. He shows the sort of things that go on that parents and teachers either didn't know about, or didn't want to know about. Things that always caused my jaw to drop in disbelief when an adult would refer to my time in school as "The best years of your life!" You mean it gets worse? (A quick word of reassurance to those of you still in school, don't worry, for the most part it gets better.) Things like being picked on for no apparent reason, getting hasseled, if not actually beaten up, again for little or no apparent reason. Getting mocked, derided, and put upon, for who you are, or how you look, or who you choose to be friends with. "A Better Place" is somewhat like "The Breakfast Club", but without the Hollywood fantasy of problems being solved in a good happy way, and boy getting the girl, and all that (stuff). The Movie:
I don't want to give too much away, suffice to say Barret Michaelson(Robert DiPatri-excellent job) has a rough time at his first day in a new school, falls in with loner Ryan Walker(Eion Bailey-another excelent perfomance, this guy has future STAR writen all over him) and although they share much in common, it soon becomes apparent that Ryan is walking a darker path. His talks of (...), soon turn to rants of sterilization, and genocide. And the longer Barret knows him the more deeply he becomes entwined in his life. Barret becomes Ryan's only connection to a world gone bad, his relief valve, someone he can share his thoughts and ideas with, without fear of (too harsh a) judgement. Barret becomes his anchor, and when Barret fimally begins to make other friends, Ryan finds(sets) himself cast adrift, alone with his own dark thoughts, no way to get them out of his system. Things just get uglier from there. The Extras:
Lots of outtakes, outtakes with commentary, film commentary with Vince and others, old sound to new sound comparisons, and three(count 'em three) intros by Kevin Smith and Scott Mosier(which in all honesty are out of place in this movie, it's hard to justify their yucking it up with the tone of the film, I love these guys, but they could've been a little more serious for this one.) The Look:
Yes it's low budget, yes some scenes are lower quality, or even blurry, but the writing is dead on, and the acting so good as to put a number of so called ACTORS to shame. Vincent talks about a few more cuts he would've liked to make, and I'd agree with him, but as a whole the movie is well shot, framed, acted, edited, and writen. Vincent doesn't offer up any pat answers for his characters' behaviors, although he does give us a look at their family life(or lack thereof), as a way of giving us an idea of how these kids became who they are. Justifiably so. At some point you have to be responsible for your actions, but how you are raised goes a long way to how you behave and act towards others. I have known guys like Ryan, perhaps never knowing how close to the edge they walked. I have had the occasional Ryan like thought, but never acted upon them, and they soon passed. Vicent has acted upon his Ryan like thoughts by making this movie. He deserves all the praise he recieves.
Rating:
Summary: A view askew piece of history
Review: Being a big fan of View Askew I made sure I saw this movie in it's debut at Vulgarthon 2000. It is one of the most effective, well written, and precisely directed films that I have seen. Written and directed by Vincent Pereira who you may know as the View Askew historian, this is a fantastic film with lots of kevin smith influence in it. Very well put together with some unsuspected twists. if that wasn't enough some great DVD features including commentary... check it out!
Rating:
Summary: easter eggs
Review: best easter eggs around....
drunk commentary....
big helium dog...
nice.
| 
