Oscar season is here again, so once again I get to discuss a bunch of movies with friends and rank them as best and, i get to talk like i know what I am talking about. Alright lets just jump in with a quick list post of how I rank the Best Picture nominated movies I have seen.
5. The Help - Enjoyable yes, Oscar worthy probably not. While the performances by Octavia Spenser and Viola Davis were great, I don't really understand why this movie was nominated as a whole. Dealing with race relations seems to lend itself to getting nominated a lot.
4. Moneyball - Another one that kind of esapes me for why it was nominated. I really enjoyed how the movie looked, and being into baseball helped me like it more, the whole movie just didn't do it for me.
3. Hugo - Alright, this one I agree with the nomination for. Scorsase's tribute to film was mesmerising, the 3D and the sets were beautiful. I was litterally in awe through the majority of the movie. Ben Kingsly's deeply saddened character and the flashbacks to the old days of film were awe inspiring. Would not be suprised if this wins, although I don't think it will.
2. Midnight In Paris - There is no way this movie will win the award. There I said it, Hugo is the better, but this is my list I can put Midnight In Paris further down because I loved this movie, the homages to the Ex-Pats and authors made me so giddy.
1. The Artist - Gushed, I loved this film, I gurentee a win. The ending made me so happy, reminded me of all the movies I was raised on. I cannot say enough good things about this film.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Friday, February 24, 2012
Bloody Disgusting's 2012 Preview
Oh yes, That time of year again, when all my favorite blogs are putting out their previews of movies again. This time i will look into horror juggernaut Bloody Disgusting's Indie Releases for 2012. Color me excited. As usual the best thing about this is that otherwise I would not have heard about these films, as they are the smaller budget ones. This post is getting me excited about the films by giving me just enough information, without giving to much away, which is great because it adds to the suspense.
Of these films listed, I am most excited for Maniac, Lords of Salem, V/H/S, and John Dies at the End. Maniac I'll put myself as cautiously optimistic, its a remake of 1980's bizarre splatter film following the Maniac Frank Zito as he terrorizes New York. Easily the most drastic difference is the portrayal of the lead, Elisha Wood is a young star, small and fit, in contrast to the original who was an over weight middle aged man. I really think this could work. Maniac has a very eerie film style with strange flashbacks, and if they do homage to the original i think it might work.
Lords of Salem is another I am excited about. Rob Zombie proved himself capable with House of 1000 Corpses, and blew away all expectations with the now cult classic Devils Rejects. He has spend his other time doing the Halloween remakes, which I have not seen, but I really expect his new film to continue where Devils Rejects left off in terms of ability.
Of these films listed, I am most excited for Maniac, Lords of Salem, V/H/S, and John Dies at the End. Maniac I'll put myself as cautiously optimistic, its a remake of 1980's bizarre splatter film following the Maniac Frank Zito as he terrorizes New York. Easily the most drastic difference is the portrayal of the lead, Elisha Wood is a young star, small and fit, in contrast to the original who was an over weight middle aged man. I really think this could work. Maniac has a very eerie film style with strange flashbacks, and if they do homage to the original i think it might work.
Lords of Salem is another I am excited about. Rob Zombie proved himself capable with House of 1000 Corpses, and blew away all expectations with the now cult classic Devils Rejects. He has spend his other time doing the Halloween remakes, which I have not seen, but I really expect his new film to continue where Devils Rejects left off in terms of ability.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Movie Trailers
Movie Trailers and I have a long history. I think they are a great way to get people interested in the films that are being released but lately I have decided to give up watching them. I honestly think I have been sold by trailers before, and I am the kind of person who wants to be at the theater early so I can watch all of the trailers. I have a very fond memory of watching the trailer for the 2008 horror film The Strangers, and being more terrified from a 30 second movie trailer than any movie I had seen in a long time. When I finally saw the film I was pretty disappointing but the ending of the trailer still gets to me. However it seems that a recent trend in film lately is to show pretty much the whole movie in the span of a 1:15. The best (or should i say worst) example of this was last years horror comedy Dale and Tucker Vs. Evil, the movie its self is an amazing black comedy/ parody of the genre about two rednecks going away for a weekend and getting caught up in the accidental deaths of teens who think that the Dale and Tucker are cliche horror villains. The movie does these scenes perfectly, the only problem is that every single payoff was in the trailer, honestly every single one. The movie is great, but we as the audience gets nothing new, it is absolutely disappointing. Since then I have read a few articles saying the same thing, people are fed up with trailers. Since watching that movie I have tried my best to avoid trailers, and synopsis of movies, it works out well especially for horror movies, it lets even the smallest twist not be spoiled, and keeps you an objective audience member. I really am trying to push a blackout of trailers, or at the very least turning off the trailer halfway through, to leave some of the wonder and suspense.
Attack The Block
The animated gif above brings me so much joy, it is the centerpiece of the film that is Attack the Block, and it is quite possibly my favorite depiction of alien life in a film since John Carpenter's The Thing. Attack the Block is also probably one of the most unlikely sci-fi horror movies. The movie revolves around a group of ne'er do wells living in a project in England. The movie starts with the gang mugging a nurse named Sam, who eventually gets away because of an unidentified object falls from the sky. After they search they discover an alien like creature which they kill and bring back to the project. The gang leader Moses however is apprehended by the police but is able to break free when more aliens arrive on earth and attack and kill the police. The rest of the movie involves the gang running from the aliens, and killing and being killed by the beasts. Eventually the nurse Sam is saved by Moses and his crew, and in the end Moses survives but is apprehended by the police, but not before the entire project stands up for him and all he's done with bringing down the alien life forms.
The movie, once it gets going seems formulaic, having the woman from the beginning eventually have to confront her muggers, and they both end up with a respect for each other. However, it really doesn't matter, the thrills come every minute, and the special effects are amazing. It is funny, heartwarming, violent, and thrilling. Honestly one of the freshest movies I have seen in a long time.
Paranormal Activity 3 Review
So I have explained what I like about the series on a whole, it is time to dissect the most recent film. I originally saw this movie in the theater, but just rented it again which is why I am doing the review. The film starts with a pregnant Kristi, and her sister Katie dropping off video tapes from their child hood. Now after the last film we know Kristi is now dead and a possessed Katie is missing. We now are transported back to 1988 our camera man is Dennis a comical younger looking wedding photographer who is obsessed with documenting everything. This man just so happens to be dating Kristi and Katie's mother Julie. We are introduced to this seemingly happy family, and soon to their guest, Kristi's imaginary friend Toby. After an earthquake shakes dust onto an invisible being Dennis decides to record everything. After strange events and sickness, the family finally decides to leave the house and go to Julie's mothers house, where we find out more about the Paranormal activity series as a whole, and the whole movie comes to a dramatic close. I made the synopsis as brief as I could, because really you should watch the movie, but also I would like to dissect what I love about this movie.
The cheap scares are a plenty, but they seem to be done this time with a wink and a nod to the movie goer, almost to say "we know why your here." The two that stand out are when the babysitter jumps in front of the camera, and when Julie jumps out of a closet wearing a werewolf mask. These parts aside we get real tension and real suspense. The audience who has already seen these tactics twice before is given different types of scares in this movie. One of the best scares is so utterly simple, but brilliant. Because it is 1988 and cameras are expensive Dennis creates a surveillance camera by modifying an osolating fan and attaching a camera to it. The scare comes when some one in a bed-sheet looking like a Halloween ghost approaches the babysitter from behind, and then just when our view is leaving the sheet drops showing no one was underneath. The tension builds and builds and the payoff is incredible.
The second thing I love about this movie has been at play since the first film, the back story about the demons, and the coven of witches is so creepy, and when things start happening, after dark the pay off is wonderful. For me this is the series, campy, funny, creepy, and terrifying. This third installment is easily my favorite, it is a little formulaic but it is insanely fun. I highly recommend this film for any fan of the genre.
The cheap scares are a plenty, but they seem to be done this time with a wink and a nod to the movie goer, almost to say "we know why your here." The two that stand out are when the babysitter jumps in front of the camera, and when Julie jumps out of a closet wearing a werewolf mask. These parts aside we get real tension and real suspense. The audience who has already seen these tactics twice before is given different types of scares in this movie. One of the best scares is so utterly simple, but brilliant. Because it is 1988 and cameras are expensive Dennis creates a surveillance camera by modifying an osolating fan and attaching a camera to it. The scare comes when some one in a bed-sheet looking like a Halloween ghost approaches the babysitter from behind, and then just when our view is leaving the sheet drops showing no one was underneath. The tension builds and builds and the payoff is incredible.
The second thing I love about this movie has been at play since the first film, the back story about the demons, and the coven of witches is so creepy, and when things start happening, after dark the pay off is wonderful. For me this is the series, campy, funny, creepy, and terrifying. This third installment is easily my favorite, it is a little formulaic but it is insanely fun. I highly recommend this film for any fan of the genre.
Paranormal Activity Series
The Paranormal Activity films are much disputed in the horror community, it seems you either love them or hate them. I myself have to go with the ones who love them. I was very cautious when the first one came out, the commercials on television claiming it to be the scariest movie of all time really made me doubt it, I did hear good things from my friends, and I eventually rented it, and rather liked it. My problem with these movies, as well as most critics of the film is the "jump scare." The jump scare in my opinion is killing the horror genre, having someone focus on a screen then having a loud noise and a sudden movement is cheap, it is easy it is a simple thrill that leaves nothing else to be disired. The movies I love and that stick with me and genuinly scare or creep me out are ones with actual suspense, terror, or a sense of dread.
On the surface Paranormal Activity 3 should be a movie I hate, it is a found footage film that relies on the cheap jump scare to make massive amounts of money because of the low budget. People go see this series because they know what they are getting cheap thrills, and cheap horror. I keep watching these movies because, well, the story is actually kind of awesome. Where Saw failed the PA series are doing quite well. The Saw series and PA series actually have a lot in common. Saw is generally considered the father of the splatter film sub genre that launched hundreds of gory rip offs, while Paranormal Activity launched the blossoming found footage, that hasn't been done well since The Blair Witch Project. Every year around Halloween one of these movies comes out, for 7 years Saw sequels came out, and now for the past 3 years we have gotten a Paranormal Activity film. The thing that PA3 does well is keeps a cohesive story line, there may be a plot hole here or there, but it has been fascinating that over three films we still have an original story. PA1 focused on Katie and Micah, PA2 on Katie's sister Kristi, and now we get a prequel set in 1988 with both Katie and Kristi and their demon friend Toby. Paranormal Activity 4 has been announced, and I for one am excited about where this one will take us this fall.
On the surface Paranormal Activity 3 should be a movie I hate, it is a found footage film that relies on the cheap jump scare to make massive amounts of money because of the low budget. People go see this series because they know what they are getting cheap thrills, and cheap horror. I keep watching these movies because, well, the story is actually kind of awesome. Where Saw failed the PA series are doing quite well. The Saw series and PA series actually have a lot in common. Saw is generally considered the father of the splatter film sub genre that launched hundreds of gory rip offs, while Paranormal Activity launched the blossoming found footage, that hasn't been done well since The Blair Witch Project. Every year around Halloween one of these movies comes out, for 7 years Saw sequels came out, and now for the past 3 years we have gotten a Paranormal Activity film. The thing that PA3 does well is keeps a cohesive story line, there may be a plot hole here or there, but it has been fascinating that over three films we still have an original story. PA1 focused on Katie and Micah, PA2 on Katie's sister Kristi, and now we get a prequel set in 1988 with both Katie and Kristi and their demon friend Toby. Paranormal Activity 4 has been announced, and I for one am excited about where this one will take us this fall.
First Post; Side One
In this first post I would also like to introduce myself, I am Terry Sweeney, a college senior studying Information Systems. I enjoy playing music, whether it be alone or in a band. In searching for a topic to start a blog around, I was given the advice to write what you know. This lead me down to one topic, Movies. Therefore I started this blog, mainly as a place where i can write movie reviews, but also there will be times, when i rant about genres, upcoming movies, what is wrong with Hollywood, or the movie going public. .
One of my main interests in film are horror movies. I did not grow up watching the genre, and in fact I was terrified of even watching them. I remember as a child crying after I saw the final reveal in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho of Norman Baits' mother's skeleton in the chair. When family members, or friends watched horror movies I would just leave the room. It wasn't until I saw Shawn of the Dead when i was in high school did I have any interest in the genre. After that I began going to see the teen scream and horror remakes that went to the local theater. I was interested but not sold. It wasn't until college when I began watching horror classics like The Thing, Rosemary's Baby, Dawn of the Dead, and Texas Chainsaw was I hooked. Since then I tried to make it a point to get together with friends to watch a horror, or sci-fi film a week. I consider myself versed in horror and I look forward to documenting it in this blog.
One of my main interests in film are horror movies. I did not grow up watching the genre, and in fact I was terrified of even watching them. I remember as a child crying after I saw the final reveal in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho of Norman Baits' mother's skeleton in the chair. When family members, or friends watched horror movies I would just leave the room. It wasn't until I saw Shawn of the Dead when i was in high school did I have any interest in the genre. After that I began going to see the teen scream and horror remakes that went to the local theater. I was interested but not sold. It wasn't until college when I began watching horror classics like The Thing, Rosemary's Baby, Dawn of the Dead, and Texas Chainsaw was I hooked. Since then I tried to make it a point to get together with friends to watch a horror, or sci-fi film a week. I consider myself versed in horror and I look forward to documenting it in this blog.
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