This is 38 and a Quentin Tarantino flick featuring a non-badass Samuel L. Jackson

This Is 40:

Story:

Two parents deal with having to mature, as well as their own personal problems.

Review:

Before I start this review I am going to state that my opinion is biased in that I love any movie directed by Judd Apatow. He is one of those few filmmakers that actually knows how to turn a serious situation into a humorous one, even if the humour is somewhat immature. This Is 40 is a perfect example of that.

What I liked the most:

1. Consistent humor.

Every scene is an ongoing bundle of laughs. There were even some scenes that went right up to the edge between funny and disgusting and still managed to be extremely humorous. Even the moments that should have been depressing were funny.

2. Everyone put full effort into their acting.

Even Megan Fox. Yeah, the eye candy from Transformers -and that odd Intel commercial with the dolphins- actually did a good job. Who knew?

3. The story.

I have to admit, it's one of those cliched stories that countless other movies have done. This Is 40 makes the exception of being that movie that does it more humorously than seriously, and pulls it off amazingly.

What I liked the least:

1. The editing.

While every scene is funny, and I felt that This Is 40 was an overall good movie, I think they could have made it just a bit shorter. Some scenes were unnecessary and did absolutely nothing for the characters, while others simply felt like they were added on to squeeze as many laughs out as possible. I don't exactly mind that a lot perse, but it did make the movie just a tiny bit less of a good movie than it could have been.

Who I recommend This Is 40 to:

Stoners, people who like mostly immature humour, and everyone who likes Judd Apatow movies. For most people they're in two of those categories if not three.

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Django Unchained:

Story:

Django, a slave, is rescued by King Schultz, a bounty hunter masquerading as a dentist. Together they embark on a journey to rescue Brunhilda, Django's wife, from the clutches of Calvin Candie.

Review:

Quentin Tarantino is yet another movie director that I have a positively biased opinion of. I love his movies. Kill Bill was brilliant, same with Pulp Fiction, same with Inglourious Basterds, same with Reservoir Dogs. If you want a good violent movie with an amazing story, Tarantino is the man whose movies you should be watching.

What I liked the most:

1. The violence.

Any Tarantino movie is incomplete without violence. If you cut out the violence in Django Unchained, or Kill Bill, or any other Tarantino film, it would be boring. In Django Unchained, Tarantino went to extremes with the violence. Sometimes people were just shot and that would be the end of it, but most of the time people die in what must be extremely painful ways. There were even a few scenes were the violence is the visible emphasis of the scene, not the story. All of that is pulled off successfully because...

2. ...the entertaining plot.

Tarantino likes making movies that are quick paced, and that keeps everything going. Combine that with some stellar performances by amazing actors and you have an incredibly entertaining plot. No scene was dragged out, as such the 165 minutes of the movie went by quickly. There was never a boring moment.

3. The soundtrack.

It's simply perfect. The moments when Jamie Foxx is a badass are amplified by either hiphop or rap songs, while the other awesome scenes are given songs that make you feel like you're watching an old cowboy film. Django and King Schultz have their own introductory songs as well, helping make people feel that much more nostalgic.

What I liked the least:

1. Absolutely nothing.

No, really, I meant it when I said that my opinion of Tarantino films is absolutely positively biased. There was nothing I didn't like.

Who I recommend Django Unchained to:

Any fan of Tarantino films, Westerns, or action films with lots of violence.

The Belgian/French movie with an actor people used to know.

JCVD

Story:

Jean-Claude Van Damme, a fading action star fighting for custody of his children as well as dealing with financial troubles and his fading career, becomes a key element in a hostage situation.

Review:

If you remember Guile from the live action Street Fighter movie, or Jean Villain from The Expendables 2, or were just a fan of 90's/80's action movies in general, you've seen one of Jean-Claude Van Damme's movies. So, suffice it to say, if you're a fan of Jean-Claude Van Damme then you're probably a fan of countless other martial artists such as Jason Statham, Jet Li, and Jackie Chan. IF SO, then you won't want to watch JCVD, as it has maybe five minutes of martial arts action. JCVD is more about the issues that Jean-Claude actually had to deal with after his career more or less fell apart. In essence, JCVD is a fictional story set during real events.

What I liked:

1. The story.

As mentioned before, JCVD is a fictional story that occurs during actual events. Jean-Claude was never a hostage in a violent situation in Belgium, but he did have to fight for custody of his children, and his career went down the drain.

2. The humor.

"Steven promised to cut his couette off." Tiny parts like that light up JCVD every now and then, showcasing that even though this is a very depressing movie, it does has some mildly laughable moments.

3. Jean-Claude.

Whenever I watch a Jean-Claude Van Damme film, I always expect a ton of martial arts and a bit of story thrown in every here and there. With JCVD, it's the other way around. Jean-Claude's performance isn't exactly his greatest, but as the story threads along I felt a tiny tinge of sadness as Jean-Claude's situation was more or less explained.

What I didn't like:

1. An intriguing story that doesn't exactly deliver.

What the average viewer is given is a story about Jean-Claude that doesn't exactly deliver. There's backstory, plot, and emotion, but not nearly enough. JCVD ends up feeling more like the first part of a film that never was completed.

2. The lack of intensity.

Each action sequence is short and to the point. There's no build up and there's no big ending. Everything just happens. Even from a realistic point of view it's still kind of lacking.

Who I recommend JCVD to:

People who like the (somewhat) true stories behind struggling actors. Even with it's somewhat lacking delivery, JCVD still manages to be an interesting enough story that people will at least want to finish it once they started it.

Sleepwalking disorder = Good movie

Sleepwalking With Me:

Story:

A comedian suffering from a sleepwalking disorder, has to deal with his family and his girlfriend pressuring him to marry her.

Review:

I'm not usually too keen on watching films that have gained awards from film festivals, but I decided to make an exception for Sleepwalk With Me. I'm glad I did.

What I liked:

1. A good comedy based on a true story by a good comedian.

Sleepwalk With Me is a true story, and the actual source material probably isn't as funny as the movie makes it out to be, but that's what I liked. The movie is not only relatable at certain points but it's relatable in a humorous way, so your mood will be pretty much the same throughout the whole movie. The fact that the actor portraying the guy is in fact the guy who the movie is based on helps add a real and human touch to every scene.

2. The soundtrack.

There aren't many movies where the soundtrack blends into the background as the movie progresses, but in Sleepwalk With Me it does exactly that. Most of the songs are gentle, relaxing tunes that just kind of slip into the movie, helping make each scene more enjoyable.

What I didn't like:

1. There isn't really anything I disliked about the movie. It was funny, sometimes emotional, and overall great.

Who I recommend Sleepwalk With Me to:

Anyone who likes non-stoner comedy.

Well, this crappy film definitely drags you somewhere.

Drag Me To Hell:

Story:

A bank loan assistant is attacked by a Lamia after a gypsy curses her.

Review:

There are good horror films, then decent horror films, then there's horrible horror films. Drag Me To Hell is simply atrocious. If this was a horror comedy or a parody of horror films then I would have liked it, but it's not. Drag Me To Hell is a terrible film because you can't take any of it seriously.

What I liked:

1. The special effects.

There were some moments where the abundance of special effects were necessary and in some cases even amplified the feeling of terror.

2. Alison Lohman's acting.

Alison Lohman is one of the few actresses who can pull off being a horror film protagonist without making the character sound dumbed down. Helpful when every other actor/actresses in this film has only one expression.

What I did not like:

1. Bland, emotionless acting.

Almost everyone simply goes through the motions, and about half an hour in you'll be so bored, watching any more of Drag Me To Hell will seem almost like a menial job.

2. Sam Raimi's directing.

I haven't seen a lack of effort so terrible since Tim Burton's adaptation of Dark Shadows. Minimal effort on the part of the director makes everyone lazy. You don't feel anything in any scene because no one is trying, including the writers, which brings me to number 3.

3. Bland and simple dialogue.

It's increasingly evident that in the early development stages of Drag Me To Hell, Sam Raimi said something along the lines of, "F*** it, people will watch this because it has my name on it," creating the least interesting dialogue ever. Characters basically become simple minded and seem very directly based on their ethnic origin, basically meaning everyone is a racial stereotype somehow associated with their financial standings. There's scheming Asians that are good with money, but are evil; Caucasians with an incredibly huge abundance of money, and are good; and Gypsies that have no money and are therefore, according to Sam Raimi, evil. For subtle racism created out of just the script, that isn't good to see in a movie.

Who I recommend Drag Me To Hell to:

No one.

I couldn't come up with a clever title for this review. My bad. I guess I shall not pass.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey:

Story:

Bilbo Baggins, a very non-adventurous Hobbit from The Shire, is taken on a quest to help thirteen dwarves reclaim their kingdom from the terrible dragon Smaug. Along the way, he finds The One Ring, a mighty ring of power that will soon affect the fate of his nephew Frodo Baggins and countless others.

Review:

Having read the book, but never read The Silmarillion or any other companion pieces for The Lord Of The Rings/The Hobbit, I was quite amazed at the amount of work thrown into this prequel to the Lord Of The Rings trilogy. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey was quite possibly the most amazing movie of this year, and is definitely the most visually amazing film I have seen as 2012 comes to a close.

I am disappointed I will never get to see what Guillermo Del Toro would have created out of the source material for the prequel. Screw you, New Line, Warner Brothers, and MGM. I was looking forward to Guillermo Del Toro's magical amazement.

What I liked the most:

1. High Frame Rate 3D.

For those who watched Avatar, do you remember the mind-blowing special effects that worked perfectly with the 3D? The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, clearly and perfectly beats that. I was expecting a massive change in visuals, but not as much of one from HFR. Watching non-3D moments felt like watching actors on a stage, and when the 3D effects were used, they simply made everything seem lifelike. Given, there were a few scenes that seemed gimmicky with the CGI, but for the majority of the movie the CGI blends in perfectly with the real shots. The use of HFR also made everything and I mean everything appeal and draw me in, and from what I could hear from the audience, they were drawn in equally if not more than I was. The visuals were already amazing, but HFR manages to make them even better. You watch the movie feeling like what's occurring in the movie is currently happening.

2. The writing.

For a film based on a book that is roughly half dialogue, this first installment of the Hobbit trilogy is in my opinion better than the writing in Lord of the Rings films. Dialogue flows and is as smooth as the HFR, and it helps keep ones interest engaged throughout the three hours, which is very very difficult for any filmmaker to pull off. You watch the film feeling a constant sense of intrigue and wonder.

3. The directing.

Peter Jackson definitely one-upped himself in this one. To summarize this, everything (directing-wise) is perfect.

What I did not like:

1. Minor alterations.

I understand that in order to make an adaptation flow smoothly, sometimes you have to adjust some of the original plot in order to get through certain scenes with the right amount of pacing, but I do wish they hadn't changed the few parts that they did. It's more of a personal dislike and less of a professional dislike, but I still felt that it affected the movie negatively.

2. Too much 3D.

I did like how the 3D seamlessly blended in with the HFR, but I did not like the constant and consistent use of it in almost every scene. There was an incredibly small portion of the film where it wasn't used, and as much as I may have been pulled into The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, I was also getting a mild headache by the end of the film.

Who I recommend The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey to:

Anyone who can stay seated in a movie theater for three hours. Even if you can't, you should watch it. Buy a back row ticket if you must stand up to stretch your legs at some point. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, is well worth the money. Watch it in HFR 3D if you can.

The Dentist Trap

Oral Fixation:

Story:

A dentist's patient falls in love with him, setting in motion a chain of events that change her life as well as the lives of the dentist and his family.

Review:

Oral Fixation, winner of multiple awards from the Long Island Film Festival, was surprisingly disappointing. Even disregarding the subtle sexism (each female character is a stereotype of some kind), there's not enough impact to give anyone a reason to give Oral Fixation a full check up.

What I liked:

1. The story has more to it than just the synopsis...

Unlike most films, Oral Fixation adds layers to its story, giving necessary background for two of the characters, both of which are vital to the story. This helps explain some of the events that occur and why they occur.

What I didn't like:

1. ...But not nearly enough background is given for the other characters.

Normally, most movies can get away with saying someone is just someone, but for Oral Fixation, you want to know who's who and why they are who they are. Since that isn't provided, most of the characters are just typical Hollywood depictions of what film makers think average Joes are. The stereotyping in Oral Fixation is so horrible that they actually ruin any good scenes.

2. Lack of build up leading to lack of overall reaction.

Everything about Oral Fixation is basically a cut to the chase anti-climatic scene, which prevents a lot of tension from being built up. I wanted to believe that there was more to this than just the "oh this is going to happen," straightforward approach that was used. That is especially horrible because Oral Fixation plays out like a thriller.

3. Lack of plot twists.

It's a thriller, and in this type of movie there should be at least a few plot twists. Unfortunately there is only one, and it's a very minor plot twist that you can't really make yourself care about, given the rather weak storyline.

Who I recommend Oral Fixation to:

No one really. If someone wants a very straightforward movie with somewhat decent eye candy thrown in as a distraction, then by all means go for it, just don't expect an amazing story.

Teeth

Teeth:

Story:

A woman's vagina goes on a spree, using her genital Venus flytrap to bite penises off of guys, and even some fingers!

Review:

What I liked:

1. Nothing.

What I didn't like:

1. The premise. Vagina dentata, really? Might as well call the movie VAJAWS.

2. Portrays everyone as a stereotype. Super horny losers, Christians with promise rings (yes, the straight edge types), punk idiots, or promiscuous non-Christian women.

3. Poor character development. The pure Christian girl suddenly, and I mean extremely suddenly becomes a sociopath because HER VAGINA IS A WEAPON. Also, the dad suddenly gets a backbone.

4. The writing consists of crude sexual comments.

5. There's supposed to be humor, but nope.  Just immature and lackluster attempts at genital jokes.

Who I recommend Teeth to:

No one. It's a redundant and amateur entry in any genre. Horribly written, acted, and directed. A waste of time.

The Review of the Unofficial Slenderman Series

Marble Hornets:

Story:

After several encounters with a mysterious entity, Alex mysteriously disappears. Jay investigates and gets more than he bargained for.

Review:

At times unpredictable and ominous, Marble Hornets should be the official Slenderman series. It is an excellent series that proves that sometimes lower budget means better film.

What I like:

1. Different formula.

While most horror films follow the story, then scare pattern, Marble Hornets tends to be a randomization, with most episodes providing story, and a random episode having a scary moment.

2. Random unpredictable scares.

There are moments when I was surprised, and other moments when I would be too drawn into what was happening to suspect a jump scare. As much as I hate them, I don't mind how they're used in Marble Hornets.

3. The story.

Marble Hornets' story keeps going and going and going. In a good way of course. The more that's explained, the more there is that needs to be answered. As such the story has a slight mystery factor.

What I don't like:

1. Slenderman.

Because faceless things in suits are rather terrifying.

Who I recommend Marble Hornets to:

Slenderman fans. And maybe general horror fans. It's a good enough series to check out.

BRAIIIIIINSSSS (and tea)

Dead Set:

Story:

The cast of Big Brother England are unaware of the zombie outbreak outside of the Big Brother house.

Review:

Dead Set sounded like it had a good idea going and something slightly unique for the zombie horror genre, but no! Watch any other zombie movie or tv show and you'll feel the exact same way at the end of it, except in this case a lot less of it, given Dead Set's 45 minute pilot and 20 minute episodes.

What I liked:

1. The humor.

Dead Set isn't all bad, as it does manage to have a bit of humor every now and then. Imagine my surprise when the writers and actors manage to turn some of the most desperate scenes into the most hilarious scenes without turning the show into a parody.

2. The first episode.

Dead Set's first episode is also in my opinion it's only good episode, showing the last moments of civilization in England. It had humor, some clever zombie moments, and some well written dialogue as well as the best acting from each of the characters.

What I didn't like:

1. Repetition/imitation:


When I went into the other episodes of Dead Set I was expecting something different. I was expecting the same brilliance and effort from the cast and crew to be repeated in each of the other episodes, and some cliffhanger endings that would keep upping the ante from the previous episode's ending.

Never happened.

What I got instead was a ton of the same of anything I have seen in pretty much any typical low-grade zombie films. "Oh no, it's a zombie" moments have never been so repetitively typical.


I understand everyone wanting big ratings with something new and unique, but zombies are becoming the most repetitive subgenre in horror. Dead Set is a huge example of this, being a show that tries too hard to emulate The Walking Dead as well as the George Romero zombie films. That wouldn't be so bad if it didn't turn out to be a lifeless copy of both of those. I understand that there's nothing anyone can really change about zombies, but that doesn't mean it has to be the same repetitive content over and over and over. Add some clever twists to the story or make it a parody of some kind. Overall, some new and unique content in the zombie subgenre (story-wise) would be appreciated. Even zombies in space is a slightly different concept that would be kind of creative to implement in a movie.

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If you're an extremely hardcore zombie fan then you'll like this. Everyone else should stick to The Walking Dead.

The Review of the Brad Pitt Movie!!!!

Killing Them Softly:

Story:

A mob enforcer is sent in to investigate after two masked men rob a mafia run poker game.

Review:

Killing Them Softly is one of those amazing gangster movies that just never happens anymore. To put emphasis on that, Killing Them Softly is one of those gangster movies that only happens once every decade. Seriously, once every decade. Deadpan humor, amazing slow motion that is not excessive, somewhat specific and realistic sounding mafia-type lingo and an overall dramatically intense story fuel the only majorly hyped gangster movie that has been released this year.

What I especially liked:

1. The effects.

Amazing use of slow motion and what I think is probably the most humorous explosion I have seen in a gangster movie in quite some time (if not ever). These are effects that I wish were used more often, to put more emphasis on bullets.

2. The humor.

There are moments when the humor caught me off guard, causing me and the friend I had brought with me, Keifer, to burst out laughing unexpectedly. Most of the time we were the only people in the audience laughing.

3. The story.

Having known the story from what I read of the movie on Metacritic and IMDB, I wasn't expecting to be so immersed into it. The writing and sound effects were perfect and fully defined a incredibly enjoyable movie.

What I didn't like:

Brad Pitt's lack of acting. He sounds the same for every role and even acts the same for every role. Is there ever any difference between his characters? Nope.

Who I'd recommend Killing Them Softly to:

People who have seen and liked movies such as No Country For Old Men and Killer Joe.

On a just so you know note:

Killing Them Softly is somewhat sexist. There are scenes that some women will get pissed off at, no matter how open minded they are. I saw two women walk out of the theater at certain scenes, due to the sexism.

Dark Castle Entertainment needs to cease to exist

I try not to be too much of an aggressive critic, but sometimes movies deserve to be known as horrid creations. The Apparition is one of those, summoned by Dark Castle Entertainment to wreak havoc upon the film industry. this movie is the epitome of horrid. It is so bad that it makes Uwe Boll's videogame adaptations look amazing. So, without further ado, this is my review:

The Apparition:

Story:

A group of paranormal psychologists summon a powerful entity that feeds on people's brainwaves.

Review:

The Bad:

1. Dark Castle Entertainment and Ashley Greene. I vehemently hate Dark Castle because of their awful horror films that somehow make it to theatres and are not released directly as crappy bargain bin DVDs. As for Ashley Green, she obviously doesn't understand that her almost nonexistent acting is extremely noticeable, especially when she's not a vampire in a horrible vampire film series called Twilight. They both tie for first.

2. Horribly wooden acting by the cast.

3. Predictable jump scares with horrible buildup and execution.

4. People are not as stupid as Everyone at Dark Castle Entertainment seems to think. Every single movie done by this horrible film company consists of stupid people being beyond idiotic in situations where others would be able to solve the problem in less than a minute.

5. Too many "oh my God the lights turned off," or "oh my god that object moved by itself," moments.

6. They took a good story concept and ruined it by focusing on two people instead of the global consequences.

7. Incredibly unrealistic dialogue.

The Good:

1. The movie wasn't long enough to cause me to gouge my eyes out. And (Spoiler alert) everyone dies of their own stupidity.

Swedish vampires are the laziest vampires ever!

Let The Right One In:

Story:

Oskar befriends his new neighbor Eli, who might not be all she seems to be.

Review:

Let The Right One In is one of those films that perfectly blend romance and horror together. It's difficult to find a movie that better compliments the two opposing genres and manages to combine them as near flawlessly as Let The Right One In does.

By the way, this is an actual romantic vampire film. Not Twilight, where all the vampires are sparkly little wimps.

A lot of Let The Right One In happens in the dialogue, especially between Oskar and Eli, as they become closer and closer and their connection grows. Thankfully the script writers did an amazing job writing a good story that perfectly blends into the rawness of what occurs in Let The Right One In.

There isn't a lot of action, or at least not as much action as the American adaptation, Let Me In, would make you believe there to be. Let The Right One In actually favours dialogue, emotional development, and story over the need to have big action moments. As such, it is evident that the filmmakers chose to take their time crafting the film to near perfection, ensuring that this would be a worthwhile vampire film to see (yes I'm still saying Twilight is bad).

Directing is also one of the highlights, and it's great that Tomas Alfredson made sure everyone knew what to do and when to do it. Kare Hedebrant and Lina Leandersson were specifically chosen for the parts of Oskar and Eli, and they performed amazingly.

Overall, Let The Right One In is one of those amazing films that won't occur again anytime soon. Twilight (and its sequels) isn't what a romantic vampire film is, Let The Right One In is what a romantic vampire film is.

This isn't a Hannibal movie? No wai

Shelter:

Story:

A forensic psychologist must find out how a patient's personalities are those of murder victims.

Review:

Despite giving away a big portion of the story in its first half, Shelter isn't actually too bad for a supernatural mystery/thriller film. The story does build up intrigue and plot as it gets closer and closer to the ending. The camera work is hit or miss, as well as the few special effects. Thankfully the dialogue is almost 100% centred around the plot/story. I enjoyed it, despite a few problems that the film had.

On a rather unfortunate note, though Shelter is a fast paced movie, that pace doesn't come without incredibly noticeable holes in the plot. And that does mean that sometimes you'll watch parts of the movie and think "how did they figure that out just from that?". That is probably the most unenjoyable part of the movie, other than Julianne Moore in her portrayal as the forensic psychologist. Seriously, she is the Kristen Stewart of older people. Horrible actress.

Other than that, Shelter is a decent film. An intriguing film with an interesting concept that I thought was creatively original. Other than the concept, there isn't really anything special about Shelter, nor is there anything overly significant. It's just one of those decent movies someone would watch to tide them over until a better movie came out.

Movie Picks for Christmas

People tend to like watching Christmas related movies for the holidays. Or Twilight.

Here are my picks for movies to watch in case you want some holiday films to watch but can't make it to the theater due to MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF SNOW:

1. It's A Wonderful Life

Awesomely heart warming movie. Go watch it with the loved ones. Seriously. Go!

2. The Nightmare Before Christmas

Director Henry Selick and Tim Burton teamed up to make this animated film about the Pumpkin King saving Christmas. It's a good film to watch on either Halloween or Christmas.

3.  A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas.

Yes I put this in and am serious about it. Despite the frequency that drugs are joked about and the frequency in which non-kid friendly material was on screen or mentioned, Harold & Kumar 3 had a very Christmas-flavored theme, just with bongs, coke, babies on various narcotics, and slight nudity.

4. Toy Story

"But wait, this isn't a Christmas movie!"

But it totally is. It's awesome and the story ends at Christmas.

Seriously it's Toy Story.

5. Die Hard 2

Mcclane's antics consisted of running around and shooting stuff while yelling and swearing at an airport during the holidays. Why am I putting this here? Because it's Die Hard and it's an awesome Christmas movie to watch while drinking a beer or two.

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If you are brave enough to journey through the snow and the cold to get to the theater to watch a movie, then Rise of the Guardians is in theaters and is an awesome movie to watch.

For reals, go watch it.

Christmas Christmas Christmas movieeeeeeeee!!!!!!

Rise of the Guardians:

Story: Jack Frost joins the likes of Santa, the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny, and the Sandman against the evil Pitch.

Review: Much like other holiday movies for the family, Rise of the Guardians is one of those heart warming films that will make you leave the theater with a smile on your face. A timeless classic with no subtle political or social commentary.

The story line is great and for a fantasy/adventure film makes sense, yet doesn't conform to typical standards by being restricted to the enjoyment of children. Rise of the Guardians is a movie for those that like adventure, and even has slight similarities to movies such as The Avengers.

Overall I greatly enjoyed Rise of the Guardians. Great animation, enthusiastically involved cast, and some rather emotional moments, coupled with an amazing soundtrack and very well placed humorous lines.

Definitely watch this if you're looking for a great holiday movie.

Mirrors = Soulless reflection of a horror movie?

Mirrors:

Story:

A security guard and his family are attacked and pursued by a vicious spirit that lives in mirrors.

Review:

For a horror film that had a unique idea, Mirrors certainly fell flat.

I don't know if it was the dull directing, many tiny gaps, or just overall lack of buildup in the scary moments, but Mirrors definitely wasn't scary. With that said, Mirrors did have one of Keifer Sutherland's best performances since 24. You could actually understand his character and how his character was suffering.

On an additional plus side, you get to see a new supernatural concept that is a refreshing break from the tedious and repetitive "hey look behind you there's a ghost!" formula that's been so popular with directors since the late 2000's.

Besides that, the majority of the cast came off as colorless and soulless, which is unfortunate, because that could have saved Mirrors.

Overall, Mirrors could have been better had more effort been invested in it from everyone involved.

I can't recommend Mirrors to anyone.

Life of 3.14

Life Of Pi:

Story:

Pi, a man of multiple religions, tells a struggling writer the story of his greatest adventure.

Review:

Before I start this review, I am going to say that I did not read the book before seeing the movie.

That being said, Life of Pi is a visual and emotional satisfactory pleaser. It's one of those brilliant movies that is all story, all visual, and all an adventure. It's also one of those rare movies that actually properly uses 3D effects, making you feel like the screen is actually a glass sheet separating you from what's going on behind the glass sheet.

I loved it and this makes me an even bigger fan of director Ang Lee for doing what he had to to make this movie great.

One of the best parts about Life of Pi is that the only majorly known actor is Irrfan Khan. There is no overshadowing because there are no other major actors than the narrator.

The story sweeps you along and keeps you going, despite there only being two characters for most of it, only one of them being human. It is one of those tearjerking movies that almost cause tears to fall down your face if they don't actually fall. Every actor performs admirably and realistically, providing enough for this emotional journey to be downright amazing. Even the CGI tiger is realistic enough that you feel like there's an actual tiger on the screen.

My favorite performance, though, would have to be Irrfan Khan. He does such an amazing job narrating that I felt like he was directly narrating the story to the audience instead of the writer.

I can't really say enough about the visuals, they just swept me into Pi's epic story of tragedy, bonding, and discovery.

I recommend this to anyone who loves those emotional movies that use a lot of effects or just are visually amazing (eg. Big Fish or James and the Giant Peach).

Awesome movie to watch.

Kevin Costner + Luis Berdejo ([REC] and Quarantine) = Good horror film...right?

The New Daughter

Story:

A struggling writer, having recently moved with his family to a house far away from civilization, has to deal with his daughter's sudden change of personality.

Review:

Having watched previous Kevin Costner films, as well as been a fan of the first two [REC] films, I was eagerly anticipating what should have been an intensely terrifying movie.

That anticipation was all for naught.

Predictable scare moments, dialogue that fails to connect, and music that never feels right for the moment all cause The New Daughter to be more laughs than scares. It's truly unfortunate, as The New Daughter could have been so much more than a typical horror movie.

Seriously, Luis Berdejo teamed up with Kevin Costner, and not even that is enough to make a decent horror film.

However, the camera work does sometimes help. The scenic shots more specifically were actually amazing. These few moments in The New Daughter were the moments where you actually felt some intrigue and some pull.

Unfortunately that doesn't help as much as it would need to in order to save The New Daughter from being a typical horror movie.

If there were better sound effects, maybe a few improvements done with the dialogue especially at the calm moments, and less overdone music, this could have been an awesome movie.

I can't really recommend this for anyone unfortunately, unless that person is a fan of jump scare type films?

Previously On Reviews...

Wreck It Ralph:

Story: 

Ralph, a bad guy in the videogame Fix It Felix, realizes he wants to be a good guy, and goes on an adventure to find out what being a good guy means.

Review: 

Finally a film with good videogame references, humor for both adults and children, emotional story and some surprisingly thinly veiled deep commentary on the negatives and positives of imminent domain as well as how guns are perceived in videogames. Wreck It Ralph succeeds as both a childrens film and a film for those that love subtle social commentary.

There is one part that bothered me about Wreck It Ralph, and that was the sometimes apparent and sometimes subtle displays of gun/weapon violence. I get that this film has a slightly veiled political agenda, but why display so many weapons in a kids movie? Throw in a weapon every now and then, but isn't displaying so many kind of telling children that weapons are good?

Regardless, I enjoyed the delightful and at times tear jerking story, amazing effects, awesome humor and references (including a quick Portal joke as well as the universal cheatcode).

I recommend Wreck It Ralph for those that like videogames as well as those looking for a lighthearted movie for the holidays.

---

Seven Psychopaths:

Story: 

A struggling writer gets involved in the wrong side of a gangster's search for his Shih-Tzu. The wrong side being the side that kidnapped the Shih-Tzu in the first place.

Review: 

 funny, sometimes tragic, and all the time clever, Seven Psychopaths is a brilliant movie. An all star cast portrays the Seven Psychopaths and their company of friends in this rather excellent film.

Unfortunately, the humour is not for everyone. only two people in the theatre, including myself, we're laughing at most of the scenes, a big chunk of which were very controversial in nature.

Brilliant writing, acting, and perfectly timed moments all light Seven Psychopaths up.

I recommend this to people who like somewhat dark humor in their movies.

---

The Pact:

Story: 

After her mother's death, a woman comes under attack from a mysterious presence in her childhood home.

Review: 

The Pact was more or less the same typical bland horror that we've been getting lately. It tries to have scary moments and some mysterious story surrounding a house, but it doesn't really amount to too much in terms of scare factor, or entertainment factor for that matter.

Think Silent House, but more cleavage.

In fact, Caity Lotz cast as the main character, Annie, removed any compulsion to watch this movie. I mean, I'd understand if the model/actress was cast in a big budget action movie to provide eye candy, but has eye candy ever produced anything useful in the horror industry? Not really.

Minimal writing, overdone/barely done acting by the cast, and predictable jump scares all amount to a huge pile of nothing.

Regardless, I forced myself to watch this with no expectations and an open mind, and still got to the ending feeling like I wasted an hour and a half.

I can't recommend this movie to anyone.

---

Skyfall:

Story: 

After a hard drive containing the identities of undercover NATO agents is stolen, James Bond is tasked with pursuing the ones responsible, uncovering a vicious revenge plot against M.

Review:

This is probably the best Bond film I have ever seen. Dark, action filled, and full of classic Bond as well as references, this has to have also been the best film I've seen so far of 2012. My worries of Sam Mendes delivering a good 007 film have been washed away. This is an amazing film.

The settings are luscious, with the cameras perfectly positioned so you always get a good feel of where they are. Writing is top notch, with some of the best lines I have heard in the series being delivered by Bond, M, Q, and countless others. To shorten this I will just say that overall I immensely enjoyed Skyfall.

I recommend this to anyone and everyone who wants to see a James Bond movie that's amazing. And action fans as well. Skyfall delivers.

Advice: Don't watch this on a weekend. I arrived at the theater an hour early and barely got a seat.

---

REC3: Genesis

Story: 

A wedding goes awry when a virus spreads through the guests, causing chaos and destruction as the bride and groom fight to survive a swiftly deteriorating situation.

Review:

REC3 unfortunately abandons the formula that became the staple of the previous movies, instead seeming to parody the great work accomplished by REC and REC2. That being said, REC3 could have been one of 

the defining films of the year if it was more serious.

The parts I did like are the sometimes comic dialogue and the intense encounters with the zombies.

For a series that bases itself on realistic scenarios, the latest installment is disappointing. To change up the style is one thing, but to make fun of the seriousness that the previous filmmakers achieved was going too far. While the humor is great, REC3 would have been better as a serious film.

I recommend this only to people who want to finish the series. REC3 had potential, but unfortunately the wrong approach was taken.

---

Chained:

Story: 

a serial killer takes a young boy as a student, training him to follow in his footsteps.

Review: 

Chained is a horror/thriller which actually wasn't completely bad, but lost itself near the end.

Serial killer films in the horror/thriller genres don't seem to be as terrifying if they're in the serial killer's point of view since there's no mystery as to who's doing what, though Chained had a slightly unique element to it.

The camera work was great, as most cameras were positioned so the viewer can either see everything or hear everything and let their imaginations fill them in on the rest.

The story was okay, though I found the idea cliche. Enough is explained for the viewer to understand, yet there's not enough to engage the viewer.

Acting was a highlight, Vincent D'Onofrio provided a very intense and controlling serial killer. Unfortunately, Eamon Farren isn't up to par in his portrayal of the damaged student, lowering the intensity of what could have been some effectively realistic scenes.

I recommend only checking Chained out if you're a horror film fan that wants to kill some time. It wasn't a great movie, but it's a decent one to watch for those days when you can't find a good DVD to watch.

---

Safety Not Guaranteed:

Story: 

Two interns and a journalist investigate an ad by someone stating they have a time travel machine.

Review: 

Safety Not Guaranteed is funny in normal and odd ways, while giving us a varied bunch of characters who are all very entertaining in their own ways.

The humor is what I have to say is the best part about Safety Not Guaranteed. Frequent amusing moments help set

 the tone and also give people time to relax after the few serious moments.

Overall an entertaining heartwarming movie that turned out to be a lot better than expected. I could write more, but there really isn't any need to. Check out Safety Not Guaranteed if you like those odd comedies that have a tiny bit of romance in them.

---

Paranormal Activity 4:

Story: 

Based on Stephanie Meyers sequel to the Twilight quadrilogy, a 30 year old demonic Lindsay Lohan and her unholy minions terrorize some white people.

Not really. But wouldn't that make more sense than a demon serial killer hell bent on kidnapping a teen virgin and some twerp?

Review: 

Paranormal Activity 4 is basically the same as every other installment. Sure, it has some new and creative jump scares, but if you're looking for a genuine scary movie, you want to look elsewhere.

The same lack of emotion and lack of overall acting skills ruin what could have at best been an okay horror film, not helped any by unconvincing attempts to make a scene seem realistic.

Oh and the cameras...what are they going to do for the sequel? Skype video calls? Facetime via iPhones? Yes, their use of cameras doesn't help the scares when it's from a stationary camera.

I can't recommend this to anyone other than fans of the previous movies or people that like jump scares. Or you know...people that want a cheap scare Halloween movie.

---

Blood Creek:

Story: 

Two brothers on a mission to exact revenge, unknowingly get in the middle of an occult experiment that started during World War 2.

Review: 

For those of you who like Joel Schumacher's bizarre movies, Blood Creek is one for you. Part supernatural horror and part thriller, this definitely excells when providing us with an imaginative scenario that's supported by both an intriguing and bizarre plethora of characters.

Unfortunately, this is also one of those movies that has its share of flaws.

Perhaps it was simply too campy for my tastes, but I found that the scares were not terrifying, the dialogue too quick, and the moments of suspense far too short. Blood Creek has a lot of too little, which is unfortunate considering Joel Schumacher's movies have sometimes been on par with the likes of Tim Burton.

Michael Fassbender was brilliantly cast as the villain, providing someone that by appearance was purely terrifying. If you're a fan of Michael Fassbender this is definitely worth checking out.

The story is easy to follow, and the plot simple enough that one can digest everything going on, but at the same time a little complexity wouldn't hurt. Considering the movies Hollywood throws our way, having a brain teaser every now and then helps us stay refreshed.

This is an intense movie with minimal build up, but will keep you entertained so long as you don't mind or notice the lacking components.

Check this out if you want a decent Halloween flick and/or are a fan of Michael Fassbender's acting.

---

Bad Ass:

Story: 

A veteran of the Vietnam war is thrust into the spotlight after he handles a dangerous situation in public. After a few months of the quiet life, he uses those same skills to avenge his murdered friend.

Review: 

This is essentially Gran Torino, but with an old Mexican guy and without the classic car.

Bad Ass is a very enjoyable movie, with the humor and the action scenes being the highlight. Danny Trejo is energetic for his age and constantly proves that you simply don't pick a fight with a Mexican.

I do have one issue with this movie, but it's about the opening credits so in all honesty you'll just have to watch the movie to find out.

The cast was chosen more for their comedic value than for serious acting, though this movie does have some serious moments.

Overall it's a funny movie with some very amusing scenes, both action and non-action.

Watch if you like comedic action movies.

---

The Collector:Story: 

a thief breaks into a house unaware that someone with malevolent intent has chosen that house for their activities on the same exact night.

Review: 

Despite a slightly classic type of villain that has the deadly trap knowledge of Jigsaw from the Saw series, The Collector fails to create anything new.

Given, there is some tension build up, but that's it. It's the equivalent of taking apart a Kinder Egg shell, taking half of it off to get to the toy, then discovering there is no toy. Or for more emphasis, it's the equivalent of buying a fancy brand new BMW built with the parts of an old Ford Taurus. It's a lot of build up for a disappointing result.

The characters were lifeless, and the only time you'd see something close to resembling real emotion is when they panicked or freaked out.

That's bad.

Camera work was good, providing somewhat appropriately placed cameras for different parts. One actually feels a tiny bit of tension or adrenaline during the faster paced scenes. Unfortunately that's it. No accompanying dread or sadness.

The story is typical. That's really all I have to say. It's basically a mashup, with the backstory being Ocean's 11, and the current story/plot a scattered mess of Saw, Halloween, and Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Unfortunately, the only parts The Collector takes from those stories are the bare minimum. Not enough for anyone to get pulled into.

This is apparently made by some of the same film crew that made Saw, so I guess that explains the somewhat unsteady attempt to make a slasher horror film on a first try.

I don't really know who I would recommend this to. If you're a fan of the Saw films, this is somewhat different and not as entertaining. If you're a fan of slasher films, there are better films out there. Watch the sequel when it comes out, because that movie looks like it's a more stable attempt at bringing something unique to the slasher horror subgenre.

---

Pontypool:

Story: 

Strange events lead a radio crew to believe their town is in trouble.

Review:

For those of you who are History geeks, do you remember reading about the famous Orson Welles broadcast called, "War of the Worlds?" 

Pontypool is basically the same idea, except it's a horror movie that plays out as a virus themed film. And the events aren't faked (in the world of Pontypool). As far as creativity goes Pontypool is extremely creative, intentionally making one's imagination run wild, as well as providing an all-new type of virus themed horror film for those of us who appreciate realistic scenarios. No, not talking about zombies. This is even better because of how original this idea is.

For the record, zombies aren't horrible, I just don't find them terrifying. No seriously, they stumble around and groan. If you live in Florida they chew half your face off. Note, Americans already do the stumbling around and groaning perfectly, they just need to work on the face eating. They should practice at McDonald's or something.

ANYWAYS, on the note of terrifying, the pacing is terrific, gradually speeding up to a rapid dash of tension and dread, as the camera is either panned out or zoomed in accordingly to fit the situation.

Dialogue is crisp and oddly more realistic. The characters interactions show us what an actual outbreak this extreme would cause people to do and how people would react.

Pontypool is an intelligently creative virus movie. So many movies try to be intelligent and achieve nearly flawless levels of stupidity, especially virus themed films. Pontypool shows how it's done.

Watch if you like intelligent horror AND can let your imagination run wild while watching.

Pontypool is a brilliant film.

---

Skew:

Story: 

What was supposed to be a relaxing trip for three takes a turn for the worse when tensions rise and death follows the trio.

Review: 

This isn't the first Canadian found footage film I've seen, but it's definitely not one of the greatest.

A repetitive point of view film that is dumbed down with an unlikeable protagonist and two side characters that no one feels any emotion for are a few of the many problems that plague Skew. The worst offense is that the director and writers tried too hard to emulate M. Night Shyamalan with the plot and style.

The only bright point of Skew was seeing what I believe were semi-familiar areas. This was filmed in Vancouver as well as nearby cities. It was nice to see those locales in the movie.

The story was unique and wasn't horrible, but there could have been more detail and explanation for all the events. The main character was actually explained to nearly full detail, which helps when understanding characters and their behaviour throughout films.

I honestly wouldn't recommend this movie to anyone. Some of the camera work is nice as far as scenery goes, but unfortunately that's it. To be fair, as this is a locally filmed Canadian film, Skew would have been a better film if the budget was higher and the story more fleshed out. It's easy to tell that this movie had potential, and for a found footage film that is rare.

---

Wreck It Ralph:

Story: 

Ralph, a bad guy in the videogame, Fix It Felix, realizes he wants to be a good guy, and goes on an adventure to find out what being a good guy means.

Review: 

Finally a film with good videogame references, humor for both adults and children, emotional story and some surprisingly thinly veiled deep commentary on the negatives and positives of imminent domain as well as how guns are perceived in videogames. Wreck It Ralph succeeds as both a childrens film and a film for those that love subtle social commentary.

There is one part that bothered me about Wreck It Ralph, and that was the sometimes apparent and sometimes subtle displays of gun/weapon violence. I get that this film has a slightly veiled political agenda, but why display so many weapons in a kids movie? Throw in a weapon every now and then, but isn't displaying so many kind of telling children that weapons are good?

Regardless, I enjoyed the delightful and at times tear jerking story, amazing effects, awesome humor and references (including a quick Portal joke as well as the universal cheatcode).

I recommend Wreck It Ralph for those that like videogames as well as those looking for a lighthearted movie for the holidays.

---

Skyfall:

Story: 

After a hard drive containing the identities of undercover NATO agents is stolen, James Bond is tasked with pursuing the ones responsible, uncovering a vicious revenge plot against M.

Review:

This is probably the best Bond film I have ever seen. Dark, action filled, and full of classic Bond as well as references, this has to have also been the best film I've seen so far of 2012. My worries of Sam Mendes delivering a good 007 film have been washed away. This is an amazing film.

The settings are luscious, with the cameras perfectly positioned so you always get a good feel of where they are. Writing is top notch, with some of the best lines I have heard in the series being delivered by Bond, M, Q, and countless others. To shorten this I will just say that overall I immensely enjoyed Skyfall. 

I recommend this to anyone and everyone who wants to see a James Bond movie that's amazing. And action fans as well. Skyfall delivers.

Advice: Don't watch this on a weekend. I arrived at the theater an hour early and barely got a seat.

---

Triangle:

Story: 

After an unexpected storm, passengers on a yachting trip board another ship only to experience disturbing events.

Review: 

IMDB has Triangle listed as a Horror/Mystery/Thriller. While it definitely is a movie that could be listed in the Mystery and Thriller genres, it's strange that it's listed as a horror film. I think that Triangle is too bizarre and not scary enough for it to be labeled a horror film.

There is a very slow build up as the movie progresses, with suspense amplifying until after thirty to forty minutes have passed. Unfortunately, there's almost no character backstory to be provided with as the story progresses. We're given a tiny bit of the protagonist, Jess', story and that's it. If the camera wasn't focused on her for the majority of the film, it would be very difficult to tell who the main character is.

The camera work was okay for the parts focused on dialogue, but during the action sequences the cameras seemed to be positioned randomly. There is passable dialogue, but a big portion of the dialogue is just filler until the next action sequence.

I can't say that there's anyone I can really recommend this to as I didn't particularly like it. The lack of backstory for the protagonist, as well as just story in general, was the part that ruined it for me the most.

---

Taken 2:

Story: 

Brian Mills, an ex-CIA operative, is forced into pursuing a group of Albanians hellbent on revenge.

Review:

Sadly, this wasn't a movie that raised the bar from the previous installment, but rather stayed on par.

The action, while intense, didn't last longer than five to ten minutes, though with how frequently they divide each action sequence with brief dialogue most won't notice.

As far as an action movie goes, Taken 2 delivers. The frantic camera work and equally fast pace provide action fans with a movie worth watching.

Be forewarned this is a slightly more comical movie, that given the serious nature of the first movie is a somewhat odd decision.

The soundtrack is rather typical of the genre, mixing in an orchestrated composition with a slightly industrial/digital sound. Not a bad choice, but not a defining choice either.

My only major complaint is how choppy the fight scenes are, as they are extremely edited. A negative effect that I find takes away from a lot of movies (eg. Batman Begins). Gone are the fluid fist fights we know from the first movie, as they're replaced by heavy editing to hide the slower paced fights and lack of effort from the choreographer to provide much more than a quick punch-out segment.

Check out the movie if you're an action fan. Don't watch it if you expect a movie on par with recent spy/action films.

---

Apollo 18:

Story: 

A research expedition to the moon goes awry when ominous events occur.

Review: 

This isn't a bad movie, as far as found footage films go. Unfortunately, like found footage, there are too many phrases of stress or panic that end up sounding more or less the same throughout the movie.

I like the backgrounds, special effects, and the unique presentation. As the title suggests and the trailer states, the setting is the moon, and it is shown beautifully. Special effects seemed realistic enough that they pulled me in and I enjoyed them immensely. This is the first found footage film set on the moon/not on Earth that I've ever seen and the idea is in and of itself unique.

What I did not like was the dialogue, the acting, and the pacing of the plot. The dialogue as mentioned before was mostly panicked bits with an occasional droning that is supposed to be casual conversation. None of it is really helped by the acting, with everyone more or less reciting most bits with either lack of emotion or way too much emotion. Pacing is the one part that just ruined this for me. 45 to 50 minutes of nothing, then the pace suddenly goes into high gear and keeps accelerating. Even for a found footage film that's bad. Most tend to gradually increase the pace but Apollo 18 tries to shift from gear 1 to gear 4.

I recommend this movie as maybe a late-night rental. Also for those wanting a C-grade Halloween flick.

---

Grave Encounters 2:

Story: 

Set 9 years after the events of Grave Encounters, a new group of film makers goes into the mental institution from the first movie.

Review: 

I didn't mind the first movie, Grave Encounters, having thought of it as more or less a relentless jump scare film. This one tries to follow the same vein, but halfway through it loses all momentum.

I like that Grave Encounters 2 not only made fun of the first movie, but also makes fun of other films such as Hostel and Saw. I, however, did not like how much this movie seemed to cheaply remake the first Grave Encounters, and then threw in a story that didn't work with the plot at all.

That being said, some of the scares are genuinely creative, mildly successfully achieving a state of tension for the viewer. Unfortunately, all rest of the scares are predictable jump scares.

The actors and actresses are very unappealing. No character development meant no connection established between the characters and the audience. There is simply no way to develop any connection or even remotely feel bad for what the characters are going through.

Camera work is, of course, from a first person perspective, showing separate characters at the appropriate times, but failing to entertain in any way. Though I give points to the actors/actresses for being able to run with cameras and not smash into something or trip and fall.

Dialogue was more or less "oh my god," and other phrases along those lines, if it wasn't screaming.

Found footage is a type of horror that really just fails to scare or to even provide any feeling of realism. The best of the North American found footage films is probably Paranormal Activity, and that film is fairly predictable. Almost all they do is provide a temporary scare for mediocre movies.

All that said, the creepiest part of this movie is that most of it was filmed a 10 minute drive away from where I work.

Check this out if you're, uh, really bored and don't have anything better to do?

---

The Ring Virus

Story: based on Takashi Shimizu's Ringu. A reporter investigates the deaths of several teens seemingly caused by a cursed videotape.

Review: Ringu did something for its genre that put Japanese horror out on the playing field against North American and European horror films: it introduced a new type of antagonist and gave us a new view of the horror genre.

The Ring Virus tried to do the same, but like the North American adaptation The Ring, it simply failed to translate. To explain this more fully, Korean and Japanese horror are vastly different. 

Korean horror films are usually more subtle and beat around the bush, so to speak. This is a great effect for some films, such as I Saw The Devil.

Japanese horror films tend to be more direct, and try to connect everything intricately so one event in the movie could have more significance than is immediately revealed.

The Ring Virus tried to add something new to the horror genre, but failed to connect.

There are some scenes faithfully recreated to near full effect, but the movie failed to scare.

Camera work was probably the lowest point of the movie, as almost everything is filmed via cameras in stationary positions. You don't often see cameras following characters around, and as such you can't at first establish whose perspective you're supposed to focus on.

The dialogue tried to be philosophical and at times intelligent, but I often scratched my head wondering why they bothered making certain scenes.

Performances were very hit and miss, with almost all of them being miss. Emotions are almost never expressed properly and are either overdone or underwhelming.

The soundtrack tried to be creepy, but ended up cheesy instead.

I wouldn't suggest watching this, unless you can think of it as a thriller film instead of a horror film.

---

Dogtooth:

Story: 

A family isolated from civilization, begins to fall apart.

Review: 

Bizarre, perverse, adult, imaginative, isolating, and in a lot of ways disturbing. The concept itself is relatively new, and to be honest, for all the unsettling content, the new concept for a film is a refresher. This isn't one of those overdone Hollywood films that try to introduce creativity. This is simply put, a unique creative presentation.

Dogtooth is one of those odd films that pop up every now and then for limited release because the majority of audiences won't watch a film that does not have a protagonist or an antagonist.

This is not a great movie, perse, but for what it tries to coherently do it is a good movie.

I'm not really going too far into depth with this review because this is one of those movies that goes so far out of its way to not have a clear depth. Dogtooth is a strange film, and I can't really say I've seen a movie like this inside a theater or outside of a theater, or on a TV screen for that matter. The closest I can think of is Martha Marcy May Marlene, and that movie doesn't even come remotely close to this.

Overall, Dogtooth is an odd, yet intricately designed movie.

All that said, this is not a movie for people who like watching movies in theaters. This is not a movie intended for those who become quickly unsettled or very uncomfortable at extreme displays of emotion. Watch at your own discretion.

---

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part 1

Story: 

Based on the story arc by Frank Miller, The Dark Knight Returns chronicles Batman's return from retirement to combat a new vicious menace preying upon Gotham city.

Review: 

NON-SPOILER PART: 

As far as animated movies go, this is one of the best I've seen. Dark, grim, and at times both action and noir, this is one of the most faithful Batman films that has come out.

Frank Miller, known for creating the fictional landscape of Sin City and taking liberties with the story of 300 Spartans fighting to save Sparta from the armies of the Persian empire (aka 300), did Batman justice, and the animation team as well as the writers and director of this adaptation did Frank Miller's story justice.

The one greatest highlight, besides the amazing storytelling and action sequences is Peter Weller, aka Robocop, providing the voice for Bruce Wayne. He brings a darkly humorous Batman to light, faithful to both the character and to Frank Miller's original story.

Moreso, this isn't one of those animated movies that doesn't feel real. This is one of those ones that is very realistic, and if you've watched the Christopher Nolan movies, this movie could be viewed as a companion piece to help your understanding of the story.

The Dark Knight Returns is fast paced, with action sequences dashing by. The moments with heavy dialogue do cause the movie's pace to slow down, but only for those moments, which is in and of itself enough to keep one's interest and let them take breathers from the action sequences when they can.

Watching this made me feel like I was reading the dark noir-ish Frank Miller Batman comics again.

Watch if you're one of those types that likes the aggressive portrayals of Batman over the campy ones. Keep in mind this movie is a very adult movie, even for an animated film. Basically no children should watch this. This isn't the toned down Batman from the animated series, this is Batman as Bob Kane, the creator of Batman, intended him to be.

---

SPOILER PART:

If you've read the entire comic book series of Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns, keep reading the review. If not, stop here.

Besides The Mutants, the only villains that make an appearance are The Joker and Two-Face. But, as the title says, this is part one. Part two is going to have the involvement of Superman and other characters.

The Joker and Two-Face only have minor parts in this, but it is suggested by the ending, when The Joker manages to mumble, "Batman," and laugh, that he will be the primary focus of part two.

As far as the portrayals go, everyone is faithfully reproduced in animated form. Bruce and Robin especially, going as far as incorporating the bond that Bruce and the new Robin develop in the short time that they are a team.

I have to say, I am looking forward to the whole Batman vs. Superman fight, and I hope that it's faithful to the content from the comics. I hope it's still Peter Weller providing the voice for Bruce Wayne,

As I said before, watch this if you like the dark brooding Batman. Watch especially if you're a fan of anything Frank Miller.

---

Flying Swords Of Dragon Gate

Story: 

A group of marauders attempt to find a city buried beneath a desert.

Review: 

Flying Swords of Dragon Gate, or FSODG as I will be referring to it in this review, is a very very story heavy movie. There are at least four or five stories one has to follow during this very long movie, and while this is usually good for a wuxia movie, such is not the case for FSODG. The disorganized stories are in and of themselves really simple, but Tsui Hark went and complicated each thing by over emphasizing everything.

One would think that because this is a wuxia genre movie then there would be a fair amount of martial arts, but I found myself tirelessly waiting for the next fight scene to start, as the very divided and cluttered story played out. The choreography, as it turns out, was hit and miss. Some fights were spectacular pieces involving basically weapon dancing duets, and others were lackluster sequences that would have felt more at home in a Western action movie.

On that note, there is one particular part FSODG that bugged me to no end, and it's the dialogue. The dialogue really was just full of cliches and a rather dull and lifeless attempt to show a developing romance between two characters. The few moments the characters try to be philosophical, whatever point they try to make falls flat.

This is maybe good for a rental, but I'd highly recommend other wuxia films such as Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Hero, and House of Flying Daggers.

---

The Lost Coast Tapes:

Story: 

A tv crew gets more than they bargained for when they investigate a hunter's claim that he killed a sasquatch.

Review: 

Much like The Blair Witch Project and countless other found footage films before that, The Lost Coast Tapes attempts to provide a realistic story with impossible events by using first person perspective and low budget effects.

This isn't a scary film perse, nor does it give definite answer to anything, as it refuses to fully show any of the monsters. The Lost Coast Tapes instead provide 'dangerous' moments and footage of the monster's...uh...feet? The dialogue does nothing truly amazing for the story, as most of it either involves fame lusting stupidity or stupid people freaking out, a feature inherent in other found footage films such as Grave Encounters.

The acting is very overdone. It truly is. I never felt any emotion for the characters. Though that was also because of the horrible dialogue.

The camerawork was hit or miss, sometimes showing amazing footage of the area, and sometimes trying to show panic but failing to engage the audience.

The only explanation given for anything going on is from probably the best scene of the movie, as one of the characters explains his theory for the events.

Watch Trollhunter or Rec if you want to check out a decent found footage film. The Lost Coast Tapes isn't a horrible film, but it could have been a lot better. It's good for a rental or a checkout on NetFlix.

---

Occult:

Story: 

After a mass assault with a knife that leaves several dead, a film crew sets out to document the events surrounding the case.

Review: 

This is an odd movie, no doubts about it. Koji Shiraishi, the director, even goes so far as to insert himself into Occult as the director of the 'documentary'. An odd decision, but it does add some reality to the bizarre events that occur in the movie.

Even more strange is how Occult makes fun of low budget B- grade films from way back, but very subtly, and more specifically at the ending.

This does have a more direct and upfront approach than Noroi did, making one see it directly from the perspective of involved peoples. Like Noroi, Occult's story connects everything, including the smaller events.

The conversations between characters involving religion and 'philosophy' all seem to mash together and it seems like Koji Shiraishi is trying to make some commentary in how religion ties into events that involve the deaths of many people, but he never makes his point.

The special effects tend to be very low budget, but with the way Occult is filmed, it helps carry the story along, proving that sometimes filmmakers don't need an insanely huge budget to make a good movie.

I wish some of the actors in Occult were better and showed more emotion, and I wish the ending was serious, but in that same respect, the movie still is very compelling.

This is definitely an unsettling movie, and in that case it does do a great job. The two big events in the movie, and all the religious dialogue do add an interestingly unique touch to this.

If you liked Noroi, or any horror movie that specifically requires you to pay a lot of attention if not your full attention to the movie, then definitely check Occult out. Occult isn't really for everyone per se, as it's more a thinking person's film, but for the thinking people it is a movie worth checking out.

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Shirome:

Story: A popular Japanese dance group goes to a haunted school to pray for their continued success, unaware that their success comes at a price.

Review: For the first 20 to 30 minutes, this movie looked to be another Noroi (for more on Noroi, just ask). I mean, seriously, the same director filming in a similar style, what could go wrong?

A lot.

Even tolerating the fact that most of Shirome is screaming from the dance group, and that this is more intent on showing the exploitative and dangerous side to being famous, this isn't really a scary horror movie.

In all honesty, this could have been a lot better.

From the cliche dialogue to the poor acting to the so very lame special effects, there really is nothing special about this movie.

Koji Shiraishi messed up big time. I thought this movie would be great, like Noroi, but I was very wrong.

Shirome is almost as bad if not as bad as any of the Paranormal Activity movies.

Only watch if you have no other Asian horror films to watch. So basically what I'm saying is never watch this movie. Ever.

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Dredd 3D

Story: 

Judge Dredd, while evaluating a rookie on an assessment assignment, becomes trapped in a building by a powerful gang leader.

Review:

If you've seen The Raid Redemption, then you've basically seen Dredd. The plot is an almost exact copy of The Raid, but less martial arts and more shooting. 

Surprisingly, that's not a bad thing. Karl Urban is still badass as Dredd and almost but not quite as awesome as Stallone was in the original, but still awesome.

There isn't a lot of story, so the movie compensates with action. Don't expect much backstory either as there's barely any.

Special effects are a highlight and slowmotion is used almost religiously to amp the movie.

I also noticed that while there was dialogue there wasn't much dialogue. Only dialogues for relevant parts of the movie. And for a movie that's mostly action that's not a lot.

Only watch if you're an action movie fan that can leave your mind at the door. It's a good movie for action fans.

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Red State:

Story: 

A group of teenagers are lured, drugged, then held prisoner by a cult. This chain of events leads to the FBI's involvement.

Review:

There's a lot to say about Red State. It's one of the few movies that has two types of villains. One of them is religion, the other and more threatening one is the government. It is also one of those movies that doesn't have a happy ending for anyone except the FBI characters.

This is also a Kevin Smith movie.

Yeah. That Kevin Smith.

Having seen other work by the man behind Dogma, Clerks, Mallrats, and If You Seek Amy, I was not expecting a movie so profoundly serious and at times terrifyingly sinister.

The dialogue switches from crazy cult gibberish to panicked screaming to stress and emotion very very quickly and realistically, as cameras are placed accordingly to match the tone and setting of each scene.

Suffice it to say, Red State is a scary movie. Not scary in say, the typical horror way, but scary in what it implies.

Also, this is another movie in which Kevin Smith makes it clear that he doesn't like a particular religion, even though that religion is not the particular point of focus towards the end of the movie, as the true villain is revealed.

Check Red State out. It's an interesting movie.

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Megan Is Missing:

Story: 

Based on actual events. Megan and her friend Amy encounter an online predator.

Review: 

I almost couldn't finish watching this, and when I did finally get to the end credits I nearly broke down in pure revulsion and disgust.

This is a disturbing movie. I watch horror movies as a hobby, and this movie is still sending shivers down my spine.

Anyone who can watch this movie through and through without stopping or muting parts of it has severe psychological issues. I had to pause it at least 10 times just to take a break and distract myself with random funny videos online.

The fact that the acting is good and the camera work is even better really does not help. I would've actually preferred it if the acting was worse, then the scenes would be less realistic and thus less disturbing.

Megan Is Missing definitely achieves its purpose. I mean, it's a realistically disturbing horror/drama movie made to seem like actual events via found footage, and in that it succeeds. In fact, it does too much of a good job in that regard. Way too much.

Unfortunately, with how disgustingly revolting this movie is, I don't think I can recommend it to anyone. Anyone sane.

Er, if you're insane, check this out. Maybe you can enjoy it. I can't. I mean, on a technical level, this is good for a found footage film. On an enjoyment level, I don't know if anyone that is sane or partially sane can enjoy this movie. I felt more disgusted by this movie and stunned than anything else. I also had to take frequent breaks from watching it to distract myself with random funny videos on youtube.

If anyone ever recommends a movie, and I see that Megan Is Missing is in the "people who liked this also liked," section for that movie on IMDB, I will not watch said recommended movie.

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The Tunnel:

Story: 

An investigative journalism team goes into a series of tunnels underneath the city to discover why homeless people are going missing.

Review:

One part documentary, one part found footage, this low budget film from Australia is rather jarring.

For a movie with as many jump scares as this one had, the difference between this and other movies is that most of the jump scares don't stop after a minute. The creature itself, a lanky humanoid giant, is brutal in how it hunts and kills its prey. Throughout the movie all it did was follow and hunt and follow and hunt, luring the protagonists to what should have been their death.

The acting was realistic. Each character was shown as any human would be shown in a situation like that, when the only emotions that are felt are pure fear and panic.

The hour of death was disturbing to the point where I had to take a break from watching every 20 minutes.

It's a truly scary movie that proves that sometimes the explanation for a monster's existence isn't necessary, it just needs to be there to be scary.

Aggressive, savage, and unrelenting, The Tunnel is possibly the most terrifying movie I have seen all year, with the exception of Lake Mungo, another Australian horror flick.

If you're a fan of other Australian horror movies such as The Descent, this is a movie for you.

It was advertised as free on some sites until midway through 2010. It may still be free on other sites.

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The Bourne Legacy:

Story: 

During the events of The Bourne Ultimatum, Aaron Cross, an Outcome operative, is dragged into a conspiracy to eliminate all connections to Outcome.

Review: 

For a movie that took so long to make, it was definitely worth the wait. The action is a dazzling spectacle of excellently choreographed moments, mixing freerunning and fistfights with cars and guns. Every moment of dialogue is what any spy movie should be, mixing conspiracy with emotion and intelligence (think Girl With The Dragon Tattoo). And on that note, the shaky blur of the camera is used accurately for once, highlighting every moment with an immersive sense of urgency.

Despite others negative thoughts on the ending, I rather liked it. Leaving the movie open to another sequel is the best route, as the story isn't quite finished.

I do wish there was more work put into composing the score, as Moby's Extreme Ways was the only memorable part of that soundtrack.

It's a thinking man's (or woman's) action flick, so it's not a movie suited to everyone's taste. Watch only if you liked the previous Bourne movies.

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The Expendables 2:

I actually watched this movie two days ago but never really got around to putting this review up until now.

Story: After one of their own is killed during a mission, Barney Ross and his team of mercenaries seek revenge.

Review:

Corny, funny, and at times violently brutal, The Expendables 2 delivers and does a better job than its sequel. Chuck Norris takes out an army of bad guys (and a tank), Arnold Schwarzenegger tears a door off of a smart car, Jet Li and Jason Statham show their martial arts skills off, and more in this immensely entertaining sequel.

There might not be a lot that separates this movie from the first installment, but as I mentioned before, it does add a lot to it. My only major complaint is that Jet Li doesn't have as much of a part in this, as he's replaced by Nan Yu, whose martial arts prowess is only seen in five seconds, but her presence does add a tiny dose of gender equality to this testosterone filled killfest. But seriously, why did they remove Jet Li from the other hour+ of the movie?

The best part of the movie, besides Chuck Norris being Chuck Norris, is the martial arts sequences. They're quick and brutal, like any fight scene should be. Jason Statham, Nan Yu, and Jet Li kill bad guys like the cannon fodder they are without using anything besides knives, sticks, and frying pans.

Also, the Chuck Norris joke is worth mentioning:

Barney Ross: I heard you got bit by a King Cobra.

Booker: I did. After five days of excruciating pain, the cobra died.

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The movie was a brilliant action movie, though maybe my opinion of it would be different if I didn't watch it in the Ultra AVX.

Anyways, go to a fancy schmancy theater with surround sound and enjoy this movie. Leave your mind at the door too, it won't do you any good watching this and thinking about every scene.

Also note that the movie is a very genre-specific movie. If you're not an action movie fan you're not going to like it.

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The Dark Knight Rises:

Story: 

Batman returns after eight years of self-imposed exile to face the terrorist Bane.

Review: 

To properly review The Dark Knight Rises, I have to mention the comics it takes material from: Knightfall and No Man's Land.

Knightfall is the epic tale of Batman's defeat at the hands of Bane, and his uprising from that defeat, while No Man's Land is about Gotham recovering from a brutal attack that leaves the city divided.

Christopher Nolan is what Batman movies have sorely needed for years and years, and he delivered an amazing end to an amazing trilogy.

Christian Bale finally finds a middlepoint in his portrayal of both Bruce Wayne and Batman, allowing people to see a shattered and destroyed man return from the ashes to becoming a symbol of justice in a dying city. Plus he finally found some semblance of a scary voice for Batman.

Anne Hathaway was amazing as Catwoman, which was surprising considering she doesn't look like a Selina Kyle type.

Tom Hardy as Bane was most definitely the highlight of the movie. He was a terrifying mass of evil personified and, dare I say it, was a better villain than Heath Ledger's Joker. Bane was the highlight of the movie, and his character may have just brought the 'super terrorist' character type into movies.

I could go on about all the cast's performance but it would spoil the inevitable outcome of the movie.

Dialogue, story, and effects were top notch. I just wish they had a better choreographer for the fight scenes, since seeing most of the same punch-and-grapple techniques again and again is rather tiresome.

The Dark Knight Rises is definitely not a movie for everyone, as people who haven't read the source material will more than likely find the movie to be boring and jumbled. Still though, most will find Bane terrifying. The supporting cast, including Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman, had amazing performances as well.

Seriously the best Batman movie yet. Christopher Nolan and everyone involved with the movie did the Dark Knight Story justice.

All that being said, those who are light of heart will not want to witness some of the scenes and instead may want them summarized. I was wincing at a few of the disturbing moments of the movie, and I was not the only one in the theatre who felt the impact. It is a very immersive movie. Definitely not a film you want to take your child to. Though on that note, The Dark Knight wasn't a film anyone should've taken their child to either.