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hokiefilm
Donnie Darko
Igby Goes Down
Pulp Fiction
Kill Bill (Vol. 1 and 2)
Reservoir Dogs
Trainspotting
American Psycho
American Beauty
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Garden State
Titanic (I can't help it...)
Cruel Intentions
American Werewolf in Paris
American Werewolf in London
Empire Records
May
Halloween (particularly 1, but I enjoy the entire series)
Scream Trilogy
Half Nelson
The United States of Leland
The Shining
Funny Games (original and remake)
The Omen (orginal)
Silence of the Lambs
Hard Candy
Rocky Horror Picture Show
Rent
Serenity
V for Vendetta
Requiem for a Dream
Clerks (1 and 2)
Dogma
Mallrats
Office Space
Ghostbusters
10 Things I Hate About You
The Believer
*I'm sure I forgot quite a few on that list, and I'm always open to suggestions as far as movies go
Favorite Television Shows:
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
The Office
Firefly
Seinfeld
South Park
Family Guy
American Dad
Friends
Sex and the City
The Daily Show
Robot Chicken
30 Rock
Are You Afraid of the Dark?
Law and Order SVU
Cash Cab
(anything funny)
Reviews
The Last House on the Left (2009)
Better than the original, but far from perfect.
Let me start by saying that I am a fan of the original movie. I'm going to first list the positive aspects of this remake and end with the weak aspects.
What I Like:
1. The gore, and, yes, the rape scene. I've noticed in a few reviews that some movie-goers feel the gore is too much, and that the rape scenes are just too brutal. To this I say: are you kidding?? I understand that people have qualms with pointless gore. I'm sure we all saw the new Friday the 13th--everyone knows that that's just gore for the sake of gore; it's pure entertainment. Here, however, I feel that the brutal reality of the rape scene is a necessity. Take, for example, the original film. The gang in the original is much more "sick" and "twisted" than this gang. They make Phyllis soil herself; they make the two girls have sex with each other; Krug carves his name into Mari's chest. This is great detail, but we don't see any of it; it's all just implied violence. In this movie, the violence is less, but we see it, so it makes a heavier impact on us. I refuse to accept the notion that I must be a sociopath for appreciating the intensity of the rape scene (as I read in one review).
2. (BIG SPOILER): Mari survives and Paige dies. While I dislike the Slasher-movie-like implication that if you enjoy smoking a joint, you'll be the first one dead (aka Paige), I was very pleased that Mari survived. It takes away any doubt in the parents' minds that the gang attacked their daughter. That's something that always rubbed me the wrong way in the originalit was wholly unrealistic that the mother saw the generic peace necklace and just knew that it was her daughter's, and thus felt the need to search the suitcase, saw blood, went to the lake, and found her dead daughter. I mean, that's stretch after stretch. I like the remake better. Mari comes back and confirms their fears. Not to mention the fact that it makes the plot more interesting. These people did not kill their daughter; they attacked her. The mother and father are torn between survival and revenge--the audience is left wondering, to an extent, which is the biggest motivator in the situation. Is it fear or vengeance? This creates a very, very interesting dynamic. Whereas, in the original, the parents are in no danger (they go back into the house after finding the body when they easily could have run to a neighbor's or gotten in a car and driven to the police station).
3. Teamwork. Something that I disliked about the original film was the lack of cooperation between husband and wife. I don't like how, in the original, the husband has the mission of taking out the leader, while the wife defeats the sidekicks with a) trickery and b) cat-fight skills. It prevents the interesting teamwork dynamic--a dynamic that is hugely realized by the new movie. Husband and wife work together to create some amazing death scenes. Not to mention the fact that the wife doesn't just get stuck fighting the woman and seducing the horny sidekick- -she gets in on some very real killing action, which is amazing. The teamwork between the two really makes the second half of the movie, in my opinion.
Some smaller likes: Paige's death scene was very well shot and well acted (kudos to Becca from "Superbad"); there is no "Home Alone"-esquire montage where the dad sets up booby traps throughout the house--give me a break; Francis's death scene is absolutely fantastic.
What could have been better:
1. The backstory. The family had a son/brother, Ben, who died. We hear about this repeatedly, and yet it holds no weight in the plot at all. I think this fact could have been used as a means of exemplifying grief and numbness to death (which, I think, they try at in how brave and somewhat numb Mari is to the whole "I'm kidnapped" scenario, but I don't think it's used to its full potential).
3. The end. BIG SPOILER. Now, this is the most important for me. I feel as though the most interesting part of this film is its ambiguity as far as motive goes. I was wondering, throughout the entire second half, what the motive was--were the parents simply ensuring their own survival and acting out of fear as they searched for the boat keys that would allow their daughter to get to a hospital? Or were they acting more out of anger and the desire for revenge? Was it a combination? Which was more important to the characters? This begs an interesting question concerning humanity--which takes precedence: instinct and fear or anger and revenge? I was fascinated by and ready to praise this theme woven excellently into the plot... until the last minute. Why on earth would the husband come back to finish off the leader of the gang?? That just annhialates any question in our minds as to what the true motive was. It takes the characters out of the moment--there's no adrenaline, only calculating cruelty. The husband comes back and takes the time to paralyze the guy, and then decides to blow his head up in a microwave. This is a horrible, horrible ending (and the main reason I took off 3 stars). The movie should have ended a) with the excellent shots of each dead body or b) with the shot of the survivors on the boat. Either of these two options would have been great (I prefer a, but lots of people like closure, in which case b would probably be better). However, the head in the microwave ending? Garbage.
Overall, there were more good changes to this remake than there were bad additions. Hope this review was enjoyable :)
Southland Tales (2006)
More Than A Movie, But A Litte Messy
Southland Tales is not just a movie. It does not tell a linear story, there is not a great deal of characterization, there is no cohesive plot. It is, however, a work of art. Southland Tales is satirical commentary on the world we live in. It attacks Hollywood, politics, and technology, in general.
What Richard Kelly gives us through this piece is a portrait of our chaotic and destructive lives. There is no coherence and the movie is very difficult to impossible to follow. I feel that Kelly means this to be a metaphor of the way we live today-- so absorbed in celebrity and politics, that we, as a human race and as a world, have grown too chaotic to survive. Southland Tales is a conglomeration of images, static characters, and multiple tiny plots. These different story lines and people seem, at first, to distract from the point. After watching the movie through to the end, however, the viewer realizes that this chaotic conglomeration doesn't distract from the point, it IS the point. Chaos is all we know today. Our society clings to things like celebrity and politics and this has led us to disorder and, at least in the world Kelly creates, will lead to our downfall.
Southland Tales ends as the narrator says it will at the beginning: with an apocalypse. The characters in the movie, however, seem not to care. The head of an electrical plant is quite literally helping to cause the apocalypse, other political leaders turn the other cheek to the destruction in front of them (worried the whole time about the upcoming election and their financial backings, not about the problems that are actually plaguing the world), and celebrities are using the disaster as a way to advance their careers. One of the funniest, most insightful parts of the movie is when the porn star, Krista Now, is performing on-stage for political leaders and other high-profile figures as the world is ending. During her performance we hear an omniscient-like announcement over the speakers:
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is the way the world ends-- not with a whimper, but with a bang. But, there is hope. In the end, we can be reassured by one undeniable truth: nobody rocks the cock like Krista Now... and I mean nobody."
This single quote is what made the movie for me. It gives an insight to the satirical humor Kelly incorporates throughout his work, but also speaks to the message of the piece. Kelly attacks the entire human race, telling us that we KNOW we are destroying our world and our people and yet, we don't care. We, as a people, will be able to (or possibly already can) foresee the end of the world, but what will (or do) we do? Nothing. We sit and we watch. Or, if we're really awful, we'll find a way to use it as a way to make money or acquire fame or power. (I also think the end of the world can be substituted for simply destruction in the overall message-- that we, as a people, know we are ruining our world and our race, but yet, we either don't care or take advantage of the situation).
In the end, I think Southland Tales is just short of a masterpiece. Kelly's message is there, if only people will look. It is a tale of destruction and evil triumphing over our human race. In the story, there are no good guys, no champions or heroes, only people: people who, time and time again, make poor choices or simply do nothing but wait for the apocalypse, or, in some cases, help it come to be. I took two stars off of my rating because, while the message is there and it is, indeed, a strong message, it is hard to get. Kelly does not do a great job of making sure his message is received by every viewer: his style of shooting and writing here is a little too chaotic for its audience. I know very few people who would sit through to the end and even fewer who would attempt to analyze it enough to get some meaning from it. All in all, I think this is more than a movie, it's a work of art. I do, however, acknowledge that it's a little sloppy and incoherent at parts, but still highly recommend it.
Death Proof (2007)
Close Second to "Planet Terror"
I gave this title 8 out of 10 stars, which is lower than I give most Tarantino films. Overall, I thought that this movie was a great experience. The first fight scene was perfectly done... I especially enjoyed the Rose McGowen death/knock out scene-- "I told you this was a death proof car, which wasn't a lie. But, to get the real benefit of it, you need to be sitting in my seat" (I'm sure that quote is not exact... I'm doing this from memory, so forgive me). Like other Tarantino movies (i.e. "Reservoir Dogs), he has great characterization at the beginning, which he accomplishes through having most of the characters in one place (in this case, a bar), including the villain, Kurt Russell. This scene makes for great entertainment and character development. It lets you get to know the villain, as well as develop an attachment to the other characters. The first crash scene comes as a pleasant surprise. I didn't expect the seemingly-main characters to be knocked off that soon in the film, but Tarantino throws in a ridiculously funny twist by shifting gears and taking the viewer to a completely different location-- same villain, different main characters/supposed victims. The only complaint I heard (from friends, haven't read these boards yet, sorry), was that the ending was poorly done. I have a friend who preferred the villain to win at the end. However, I think the girl-power/victim's revenge ending adds a comedic element to the whole film, which is what Tarantino seems to be aiming for. If you like Tarantino, you won't be disappointed in "Death Proof." He adds the perfect amount of characterization, gore, humor, and satire to this film and it's an excellent experience.
Sidenote: Definitely watch both this and "Planet Terror." It's awesome to watch the two movies together, and, not to mention that, in my opinion, "Planet Terror" is even better than "Death Proof."
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
Wonderfully Dark
This film was absolutely incredible. I went into it a little skeptical, as it seems Tim Burton has been in a bit of a slump lately. The last film of his I saw was "Corpse Bride" which, I must say, sucked. At least in my opinion. "Sweeney Todd," however, brings back all the perfectly darkly comedic aspects of Burton's work that I (and I think most people) love him for. I loved that they kept the musical bits and Burton did a wonderful job of making the whole thing very theatrical. For instance, the gore (which there is a lot of) is extremely fake looking in a funny way... it emphasizes the theatrical comedy of the whole story. My friend commented that it seemed a bit over the top, which I would agree with completely. She looked at that as a downside, but the over-the-top exaggerations are part of what made this so amazing for me. I highly recommend this film. I knocked it down one star because it left out my favorite song from the original musical and because they changed the ending a bit. Other than that, amazing film... very Tim Burton.
The Last Horror Movie (2003)
Amazing!
Alright, I don't even know where to begin for this review. This movie scared me more than any other movie I have ever seen (with the possible exception of "It"... which I saw when I was 8 and from which I will be forever scarred). Now, honestly, I don't scare very easily. It's really practically impossible for a movie to frighten me... I mean sure, I jump like everyone else at the crap that pops out at the main characters in slasher flicks, but it is extremely rare that a movie will leave me sleeping with my light on for days.
Basically, I watched this movie alone at night... which, obviously, is the ideal setting to be scared. Now, being as I don't scare easily, I did not expect what I got from this film. The storyline is amazingly original... it consists of a man who has taped over some crappy horror film called "the last horror movie". The man has made a documentary of himself murdering countless victims at random. Interesting, yes... unusually frightening, no. The whole plot really is very darkly comedic. Now, this may seem like it contradicts my previous statement that it's the scariest movie I've ever seen, but, somehow (I don't know how) this film pulls off the best of both worlds- the darkly comedic aspects of any horror film, and the keep-you-up-at-nights terrifying moments. I don't want to give away the ending, because, if you know the ending, it really will ruin the whole movie for you. I told my friend how it ended so she insisted we watch it and, what do you know, she thought it was horrible. I feel like this review has done a bad job at giving you an idea of the plot, but, again, I don't want to give anything away because I really feel like it will ruin it for you, and that is the last thing I want to do because this movie is so genuinely creative and good.
Seriously, it's worth a watch. And, while I know that this is not always realistic, I swear to you that you won't regret watching it alone at night. I promise it will scare the crap out of you. I highly recommend this film and I apologize that this comment is lacking in any sort of plot review or in-depth analysis... I genuinely don't want to give anything away because my experience with this movie was so good.
May (2002)
Disgustingly Awesome
Alright, so I know that this movie is technically a "horror" film, but, for me, it was more of a dark comedy. I mean the line "so many pretty parts, no pretty wholes" (or something to that effect) sealed the deal for me. This movie is great. With it's disturbing plot and twisted ending, it will keep you glued to the screen from beginning to end. Angela Bettis is absolutely amazing in this... seriously, this movie really made her one of my favorite actresses (granted, i've only seen her in this, carrie, ang girl interrupted, all three of which are sort of the same type of character, so i'd love to see her in something a bit different). I highly recommend this movie for anyone who is a fan of the horror genre or dark comedies... the molding of the two reminds me a bit of "The Last Horror Movie", although the plots are nothing alike. Great writing, great directing, great cast, great movie. See it!
Normal Adolescent Behavior (2007)
Laughably Horrible
I watched this movie expecting it to be pretty good in the fashion of Dazed and Confused... something like that. It definitely was not. It took about an hour for the plot to get moving- the beginning is nothing but a compilation of scenes of a group of six friends hanging out. They're friends- we get it. Then, when the plot finally does start moving somewhere, it's slow and completely unrealistic. I was a relatively wild teenager not too long ago, but this film is just ridiculous- the group plays some sort of game where they put things in their own little box and they can take things out but have to explain to the other members of their little group why they are doing this. Also, there are rules like you always have to be honest. Oh, and they all have sex with each other. Because, you know, that fits so naturally within the poorly developed rules of the game they play. It really is just outlandishly dumb. While the story hints at a possible interesting twist at times- one of the friends turns out to be gay, but comes out in the last quarter of the movie to the main character, after which it's not mentioned again- the overall story is poorly developed and plays out unnaturally. The main character and her boyfriend are developed relatively well, but the rest of the supporting ensemble is horribly written and two-dimensional. The movie, in perfect over-the-top-attempt-at-artsy-fashion ends with a climactic outburst from the main character, yelling out all of her friends' secrets to the entire school (although, oddly enough, all of her friends seem to find this inspiring-even though she reveals things to the public about STDs and sex games-with the exception of her best friend, aka: the main villain) and then a short dialogue-less scene of the 6 friends finally becoming independent.
Seriously, don't waste your time or money.
Across the Universe (2007)
Music: Great, Acting: Great, Story: Eh...
I'm interested in the range of comments on this movie... from 'incredible... moved me to tears' to 'not artsy... worst movie ever'. I can see both extremes as far as the ratings go. I've seen the movie twice and would see it again in a heartbeat. However, I would like to say that the reason for this is the music... and, very sadly, only the music. Obviously, the songs they chose for the movie were amazing, and I thought most of the remakes, while not surpassing the originals in excellence (with the exception of Helter Skelter- Dana Fuchs does an absolutely SUPERB job with the remake), are very, very good in their own right and definitely deserve a listen.
****SPOILERS****
Sadly, the movie is greatly lacking elsewhere. The acting is great (huge Rachel Evan Wood fan and I thought that Jim Sturgess was great in this), but the story doesn't really go anywhere. Basically, it takes over 2 hours to tell the story: boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl back, boy and girl are assumed to live happily ever after. There are side stories thrown in but they are poorly developed. For instance, we see a snapshot of a civil rights sort of protest/ revolt/something like that (it's not clarified well) in what we can assume is the segregated south, during which a young African American boy is singing "let it be" and, during the song, we see him lying in a coffin, apparently having been killed in the riot. This is used as the reason Martin Luther McCoy's character moves to New York. However, we don't really know how he knew the boy, if at all. He was at the funeral, but the boy is not mentioned again in the movie and, with the exception of a few "deep" lines muttered by Luther's character about music being the only thing left in the world that makes sense, we don't get the idea that he experienced a significant loss. As far as the choreography/cinematography... I'd say it's average. I think that parts were great (Strawberry Fields Forever, I Want You) but some were horribly overdone (I've Just Seen A Face, Hey Jude).
Basically, I'd say this movie is worth watching because it has its strong points- I think this is a good point to mention the amazing performance by Bono. However, consider this a warning to anyone who is expecting to go into this film and see a deep, well developed, eye- opening plot, because it's just not there.
1408 (2007)
Not Impressed
I'd like to preface this by saying that I've never read the novel and I know that sometimes that can make a difference in your opinion of the movie.
(spoilers)
HOWEVER... I thought this movie was in the bad to awful range. There were no shocking moments (no "shocking" moments that weren't pathetically predictable, that is). I got the idea that electronics don't work in 1408 but, like another commenter mentioned, he is able to use wireless internet. but, don't worry, the internet goes down/gets too shaky/something to make communication complicated (i saw it in theaters awhile ago), which makes the fact that he was able to use it to begin with COMPLETELY realistic. The ending was an average one which was not effective in its attempt to pull up the rest of the below average storyline. The only light at the end of the tunnel for this movie was Samuel L Jackson, who I love, and who did a very good, very creepy job. But, even so, I would definitely not recommend this movie.