jason06-1 Reviews

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)

Delightful and Exciting Remake

[10/10 · 28 April 2007]

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is one of the best remakes around

*SPOLIERS AHEAD*

Plot: Five teenagers, Erin (Jessica Biel), Kemper (Eric Balof), Andy (Mike Vogel), Morgan (Jonathan Tiersten), and Pepper (Erica Leersen) are driving through Texas to a concert when they pick up a deranged hitchhiker who warns them against the route their taking and promptly shoots herself through her mouth. They drive to an ab anded mill to wait for the sheriff (R.E. Leermy) to come and pick up the body. Weird occurrences happen and as the night progresses the teenagers have to fight to stay alive from the fury known as Leatherface (Andrew Bynarski)

The Good News: This film takes no prisoners and is pretty brutal in dealing with our characters. The family, especially the sheriff played brilliantly by R.E. Leermy really enjoys torturing the kids and I personally think that Leatherface here is the scariest of them all. I love the mask here and the movements he makes and his brutality is really amazing. Andrew Bynarski makes a truly impressive Leatherface. Also noteworthy Is Jessica Biel who delivers a raw and emotional performance which rivals Marilyn Burns performance from the original and she could become the next scream queen of this era of horror if she took on a few more roles like this. The rest of the supporting cast is good with no real standouts, but nobody impresses themselves either. The film is shot beautifully by Marcus Nispel and at first glance a horror film with dark muted colors all through the running time may seem like a bad choice, but it works wonders here and during the second half you get a serious case of claustrophobia. You really believe they are in the middle of nowhere and makes the events that happen that much more urgent. People have attacked the script and called it sloppy and hackneyed, but I seriously couldn't find anything wrong. The score helps the film out Marjory and elevates it to a scale which the actors cant. The score never hurts the film and the prime example of this is the dramatic scene where Erin is forced to kill Andy. It's powerful enough with just the actor's expressions and movements, but with the score it becomes something truly special. You literally feel the tension and feel like you're there and this is really happening which is the object of every horror movie and this one secedes. Very noteworthy. This film also contains a classic use of suspense. The entire second half is incredibly suspenseful and provides shocks and chills. Watching this film at one in the morning made watching the trailer scene almost unbearable. That scene made me want to turn it off and finish it in broad daylight. The torture is pretty impressive and the gore is smartly done, never throwing gallons of blood on the screen at every kill instead making the blood very realistic and nice. The footage in the beginning and end of the movie was also a nice touch. This is definitely one of the better remakes around and does the original justice. The missing dinner scene wasn't a problem and just kept the action at a constant speed. The film never bores you and it has a high re watch ability factor. This could've been a ton worse.

The Bad News: The only complaint I have is there really needs to be a bigger body count and there needs to be more chainsaw deaths.

Conclusion: Recommend highly to fans of the original and for all other who have a passion for horror films or are getting started in watching horror movies, but if you are a expecting a great big massacre go ahead and still watch it and just know that if you want a massacre you'll have to watch a Friday the 13th. Recommend.

Rated: R

R.S.V.P. (I) (2002)

A Great Slasher, But Overrated

[8/10 · 14 April 2007]

R.S.V.P. is one of the best modern day slashers to come out in the last ten years

*SPOLIERS AHEAD*

Plot: Nick Collier (Rick Otto) has been studying serial killers for a while and thinking he can pull of a great mass murder he has a party in honor of his best friend, Jimmy Franklin (Lucas Babin). He invites all his friends including Jordan McNeil (Brandi Andres), Garret (Reno Wilson), Cricket (Jeanne Chinn), Terry (Jason Mewes), and John Skyles (Daniel Joseph). Before the party Nick invites Jimmy over and kills him. At the party they are convinced he is running late and are joined by his mother (Grace Zabriskie), his father (Jonathan Banks), and Leigh (Ora Zehetner). Prof. Hal Evans (Qlenn Quinn) shows up too and later on next door neighbor Callie (Majandra Delfino) joins the party. Slowly Nick begins to pick them off one by one secretly until only Jordan and Hal are left to confront him.

The Good News: The wonderful actors and actresses are one of the main highlights here. The actors are mainly relatively unknown and surprisingly this works wonders here and hopefully we will see more of them in the future. The film does feature a cleverly ingenious scene when Jimmy's mom is trying to call him because he hasn't arrived yet Nick quickly turns on the stereo and turns it up to the highest sound to cover up the fact that Jimmy's body is in the house and nobody can hear his cell phone ringing. Nick later states he should have taken the phone out to begin with, but he needed to style points. Classic! Nick is another highlight. He has the ability to be handsome, manipulative, and trusting. He often lures the victim into a false sense of security before killing them. A classic example is when he is in the bathroom with Leigh and begins to come onto her sexually and he works his hands up to her neck and out of the blue snaps it. Totally unexpected as you know something is going to happen, but you don't know what. In most slashers the music becomes real ominous and your speakers blare suspenseful music and you know the kill is going to happen. Almost like a forward, but in this scene the atmosphere and lighting is upbeat like a disco floor and you're waiting for that ominous music to start to creep in and then Leigh will bite it. This never happens and breaks a standard horror/slasher rule with the music. In fact the whole musical score is original and the Joice of musical keys in places where you wouldn't expect them really helps this out. The way Nick names off a few common reasons why killers do what they do so the people can sleep better at night and how the world thinks they can make sense of every sick thing that goes on this world is hilarious, but not funny at the same time because almost every modern day slasher has this formula where the killer explains his motivation and if you look back at Michael Myers or Jason they have no real motive. Sure Michael wants to kill his bloodline, but it's his choice and yes they did introduce the Cult of Thorn, but as we see in the film they have no power over him and he chooses to kill. Jason may have started off as avenging his mothers death, but as the series progressed he has become a simple killing machine without a motive. My personal opinion is that killers with motives are scarier. The way Nick chooses his victims to be his closest friends is revolting a strange way. The kills are pretty fresh and original and it also breaks three slasher rules. First the music, then that the heroine usually doesn't participate in the drugs or smoking, and that the pot head usually dies. This could've been way worse.

The Bad News: Three very small problems prevent total praise. There is no real attempt into character development and we never get to know the characters and makes the beginning feel a lot longer than it really is. A little gore wouldn't have hurt either as we receive a very dry affair. Also when you look down at the end of the day you realize that this is just another slasher movie and to think critics have praised this movie above others when it is basically the same it gets pretty irritating.

Conclusion: Thriller, Slasher, and Horror fans will want to check this out as it has enough elements for all three. Recommend

Rated: R for Violence, Language, and Drug Use

Seed of Chucky (2004)

Entertaining and Watchable

[8/10 · 13 April 2007]

Seed of Chucky is one of the best in the series

*SPOLIERS AHEAD*

Plot: Glen/Glenda (Billy Boyd) reawakens his parents. The murderous Chucky (Brad Dourif) and his wife Tiffany (Jennifer Tilly) on the set of the new movie, Chucky Goes Psycho. They quickly go about their murderous ways much to the dismay of Glen/Glenda who wants them to stop killing. They agree, but Chucky secretly keeps on killing. On the movie set they run into Jennifer Tilly (Jennifer Tilly) who is in talks with Redman (Redman) about starring in his upcoming film. Chucky plans to posses Redman, Tiffany plans to posses Jennifer Tilly, and Glen/Glenda will posses a new born baby in order to become human again once and for all.

The Good News: This is the most comedic of the series. There are plenty of laughs and smiles for the fans in here. The change from horror to comedy didn't bother me as most of the jokes are pretty funny including one about violins, but the change may upset people who are not fond of the comedic Chucky. The plot is fresh and hasn't been done before which is not typical for a fourth sequel. The film builds cleverly on from the fourth with Chucky and Tiffany being together to this outing with their child. The idea that he is not like his parents and their murderous attitude is original and how he wants them to stop killing provides for some hilarious conversations between Tiffany and Chucky. The few kills are nicely handled, we get an acid burning, run off the road, head concussion, lit on fire, and a nice gutting. This brings up the gore in the film. It is pleasantly gory with adequate blood in every killing which is certain to please gore hounds looking for a gory good time. Jennifer Tilly is the best thing here playing a very contrived version of herself. Brad Dourif's voice for Chucky hasn't lost its touch and is still the best and it would be hard to find another voice actor to even match Brad. Redman and John Waters do fine in their roles, but the best supporting actor award goes to Hannah Spearitt as Joan. Hannah's charm and quirk makes her instantly likable and you are saddened to see her go. On the other hand her death was one of the best. I also give props to the script as it makes you start to feel sympathy for Tiffany as she tries to put her murderous instincts behind her and her caring attitude to Glen/Glenda who is also a nice character and you can relate to him. Billy Boyd's voice could've been improved, but it still works well. Once again the dolls move so fluently and realistically that is easy to forget that they are just dolls. So much care is put into the dolls from the movements to the design of them and it shows greatly. The film has good entertainment value and has a good re watch ability factor.

The Bad News: There are already people who will be against this because of the comedy. Even though this is mainly comedy it does try to have suspenseful moments, but it feels out of place compared to the rest of the movie and the suspense doesn't sell. The cast needed to be beefed up for a bigger body count as more than a few deaths are a dream or not real. This does contain the clichéd film within a film, but not too much time is focused on that and really doesn't hurt the film. Jennifer Tilly really needed to be more active during the ending and had a real one on two fight with Chucky and Tiffany, but the ending is strong enough to work just fine the way it is right now.

Conclusion: Slasher fans who like comedy with their slashing will want to give this a look and for Chucky fans who aren't to picky about the content in their films this is a safe bet, but if you're not a fan of smart Aleck Chucky use caution. Recommend

Rated: Unrated

Red Eye (2005)

Delightful and Exciting Thriller

[10/10 · 13 April 2007]

Red Eye is enriching, delightful, breathtaking, and exciting

*SPOLIERS AHEAD*

Plot: Lisa Reisert (Rachel McAdams) is flying home when her flight is delayed. Waiting around at the airport she meets Jackson Ripper (Cillian Murphy) who turns on her charm. Going their separate ways they meet on the plane and discover they have the same seat and sit next to each other. He has the aisle seat and she has the window seat. Slowly as the plane takes off he reveals his true intentions. He is a hit-man and needs Lisa to move a political home land security person from his current room at the hotel where Lisa is manager to a room where it will be easier to assassinate him. After a series of delays and tricks Lisa learns if she doesn't make the call there is another hit-man waiting outside her house ready to take out her dad (Brian Cox). She makes the call and when the plane lands she escapes and is in a race against to time to save her dad and stop the assassination.

The Good News: Wow! What a film! I really cannot give enough praise to everyone involved in this production. Everything is nearly perfect and I know I sound like I'm rambling, but it's not often you find a good thriller. This one is beyond good and much better than good! O-Kay, I'll be quiet. The shining light here is Rachel McAdams. Her beauty captivates you and her portrayal as Lisa will guarantee that she will become a star one day or the other. You end up roting for her in every and any situation and you want everything to turn out o-Kay. Cillian Murphy as the bad guy is right on the nail and he plays the character like he is the character. His stare is one of the creepiest and evilest stares in movie history. In an almost cameo role Brian Cox shines and Cynthia is the best character besides the top billed and becomes a very valuable person towards the finale and climax. The cameos almost out number the main cast and are a joy to spot out. It also concludes that fact that you can have two thirds of a movie with two people sitting next to each other other and talking be entertaining. By breaking that up with Lisa's pleas for help and the unique camera movements and the threatening music makes for a very thrilling feeling. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time and once the finale began I was literally falling off. The final thirty minutes have to be the highlight of the movie as it's non stop action to the very end and ends with a good laugh. This film also has a classic use of setting up characters and then using them later on when the action heats up and they are needed. Director Wes Craven proves here he can handle the thriller formula just as well as he can handle the horror formula. The first really thrilling thriller in a long time.

The Bad News: There was nothing really I didn't like.

Conclusion: Thriller fans should check this out pronto and it wouldn't be bad for Wes Craven fans or horror fans to check this out. Recommend

Rated: PG-13: Action Violence and Language

Scooby-Doo and the Reluctant Werewolf (1988 TV Movie)

Fun and Excellent

[10/10 · 11 April 2007]

Scooby-Doo and the Reluctant Werewolf is an underrated masterpiece in the Scooby-Doo saga

*SPOLIERS AHEAD*

Plot: Dracula turns Shaggy into a werewolf and kidnaps him, Scooby-Doo, Scrabby-Doo, and his girlfriend Googie. In order for Shaggy to return to being a human he most compete in the Monster Road Race and win first place.

The Good News: The film may have an effect of nausea on you. It's from 1988 and everything reeks 1988. From Scrabby-Doo from at the time hit T.V. show to Shaggy's old red shirt and the cartoon animation it reminds you what has happened over the years to the recent What's New Scooby-Doo? The story is fresh and hasn't been done before. The three repeated ways to turn Shaggy into a werewolf are pretty original and my favorite one has to be at the supermarket. Going for a midnight snack Shaggy and Scooby are shopping and a hand pops out from behind the shelf and hands Scobby a snack and then the person emerges from behind the shelf and takes off with the cart without Scooby and plows into Shaggy who falls in the cart and they roll him outside to the designated spot for the transformation, but a melon truck pulls up just in the nick of time at the exact spot. The drive in movie scene was also a long and fun sequence and the idea that the hiccups cured a werewolf and turns the victim from a werewolf and then to a person and so on and so on was pretty neat and used to great degree. Shaggy's girlfriend was a good character and the movie surprisingly didn't need the rest of the gang. The monsters at the castle, while nothing new, it was nice to see them all together. Casey Kasem voices Shaggy and you can't find a lot of fault in his performance. Don Messic voices Scooby-Doo greatly and Scrabby-Doo is actually likable here and makes me kind of mad that he turned evil in Scooby-Doo (2002). The way the whole castle is rigged and every escape and hope turns out to be a trap is pretty smart and something most kid movies don't think of. If all else reason to see this fails then the practice round and the actual race are standout sequences which are action packed and fully entertaining from beginning to end and is a great way to end a film. That is the major highlight of the film and is worth to see it as a stand alone scene. The long running time also helps this out because it seems more natural than it would if it was over in five minutes. The failed plans by Dracula to stop Shaggy from winning the race provide much of the action and it also provides a few laughs and a lot of giggles by Dracula's bride as she does commentary on the race.

The Bad News: I don't see how anybody can dislike this. It's fast, entertaining, action packed, and has a slam bang ending.

Conclusion: Recommend to everyone and especially for Scooby-Doo fans. Recommend.

Rated: Not Rated

Charlotte's Web (2006)

Family Friendly and Fun

[8/10 · 8 April 2007]

Charlotte's Web is sure to delight families

*SPOLIERS*

Plot: Fern (Dakota Fanning) walks up in the middle of the night in time to save a young pig she names Wilbur (Dominic Scott Kay). As it gets older she has to give it to her uncle where he will take take of it on his farm. With the help of a spider named Charlotte (Julia Roberts) Wilbur must find a way to keep from becoming Christmas dinner.

The Good News: The film starts right into the plot and doesn't let up. Four minutes into the movie Fern has already saved Wilbur which makes out for a very fast paced film. Those kind of films are very good. The incident at school was pretty funny and is one of my personal favorite parts. The animals in the barn are voiced beautifully and Dominic Scott Kay's voice fits Wilbur right on the nail and the pig who portrays Wilbur is cute and actually looks like a cuddly pet. Julia Robert's voice for Charlotte is perfect and beautiful. Templeton's underground lair is designed nicely and looks pretty neat. The animals have distinct personalities and it's easy to tell them apart like the horse who's afraid of Charlotte. The CGI looks very convincing and real. The film follows the book pretty closely and the screenplay does a good job of keeping the important parts in. The words in the web still have the impact they had in the book. The dump scene was pretty action packed with a chain of events leading to the next, one of the film's more highlighted scenes. The ending at the fair with Charlotte's demise was sad and heartbreaking like in a good horror movie where a character you've come to like perishes. What really sells the scene and makes it work are the voices of Julia and Dominic and if it doesn't make you sniffle it will make you feel something. The film concludes nicely with life starting all back over again.

The Bad News: The DVD transfer really deserves a widescreen release not the fullscreen it has. Dakota Fanning is sadly underused, but the story couldn't have allowed for more of her without feeling like filler. Since it follows the book so well it gets pretty predictable, but I can live with it.

Conclusion: If you liked the book check this out and others will also want to give this a look. After all it was voted the best family film for a reason. Recommend.

Rated: G

Black Christmas (2006)

Pleaseingly Fun Slasher Remake

[8/10 · 7 April 2007]

Black Christmas is undeserving of its reputation

Plot: On Christmas Eve in 1991 Billy Lenz (Robert Mann) murdered his mother (Karin Konoval) and stepfather (Howard Siegel) after he escapes out of the attic where they kept him locked up after he witnessed the death of his father (Peter Wilds) at the hands of his mother and stepfather. He also gouges the eye out of his sister Agnes (Dean Friss). Flash forward to Christmas of 2006 and Billy's house has become a sorority house where Kelli (Katie Cassidy), Melissa (Michelle Trachenburg), Heather (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), Lauren (Crystal Lowe), Dana (Lacey Chabert), Megan (Jessica Harmon), Clair (Leela Savasta), Eve (Kathleen Kole), and their house mother Miss Mac (Andrea Martin) live. Billy escapes from the mental hospital where he has been kept and heads home with an unknown assailant already at the house slaying the sisters. Clair's sister Leigh (Kristen Cloke) shows up at the house for Clair, but she is nowhere to be found. Kelli's boyfriend Kyle (Oliver Hudson) also shows up and as the night continues they have to fight to stay alive.

The Good News: I really liked this film and though it delivered to my expectations. This film has no problem showing off that this was inspired by the classic slasher films in the eighty's. The stereotypes are all here, but the wonderful actresses and actors portraying the characters turn those stereotypes into 3-D characters. The character interactions are a major highlight and they all have distinct personalities and we care what happens to them. Very impressive for a slasher film. Equally impressive is the fantastic splatter and great kills. This is the first really gory film I've seen in a long time. The gore flows natural and looks realistic. The kills are all so great with many of them having a slow and unnerving build up. My favorite kill has to be the death of Melissa. I won't spoil it, but I must say she put up a fight and she has the most creative death. The phone calls are disturbingly creepy and eerie. The back story was as good as you can get and mixed up my emotions by feeling sorry for Billy. I want to give the cast and crew two thumbs up for the final thirty minutes. The whole ending from between the walls to the stalking in the hospital are excellent suspense thrills and chills and move from one scene to the next with a frantic pace. The whole movie moves along faster than the last scene and the cast provides for a great body count. Unusually the scenery is nice and the snow looks real and all the Christmas lights and decorations around the house including the frequent Christmas songs make the Christmas atmosphere.

The Bad News: I have the tinniest flaw probably in history and that is that the credits look cheap and fake. Lauging yet?

Conclusion: Any hardcore slasher fan will want to give this a look and if you're a fan of the original and are open to change than this is a safe bet, but if you hold the original in the highest regards you may want to skip this one. Recommended

Rated: Unrated

Shark Tale (2004)

Overrated, But Still Watachable

[7/10 · 6 April 2007]

Shark Tale doesn't live up to it's full hype, but it guarantees entertainment

Plot: Oscar (Will Smith) is a fish who dreams of moving to the top of the ocean and leaving everything behind. This happens when in an accident a shark is killed and Oscar claims he killed it. Soon he has fame, fortune, and a girlfriend (Angelina Jolie) much to the objection of Angie (Renee Zellweger) who secretly has a crush on Oscar. He has a manager (Martin Scorsese) and has moved onto bigger and better things. When he runs into the shark's brother that he killed (Jack Black) they strike a friendship and Oscar tells him what really happened. The father Don Lino (Robert De Niro) still believes Oscar killed his son and sets out to find him. Things become more complicated when Angie finds out the truth.

The Good News: The beginning starts out really promising with a look at life in the ocean. The music is really upbeat and modern all the way through. The animation is outstanding and spectacular. When Skye puffs up and squeaks in his little voice it is hilarious and you couldn't find another voice actor to do it better. Besides Will Smith the all star voice cast is all around great and superb. The characters are all well drawn out and you like them. My favorite character had to be Lenny by a mile. The story was pretty original and entertaining. The direction is good and nothing life changing. The sit down scene is a major standout and everything following that leading into the ending is action packed with some new ideas. The character interactions are all nice and they move like real people with fins. It was nice to see some everyday things parodied like the sign advertising Coral Cola (Coke a Cola) and "O" Mints (Thin Mints of Tic Tacs).

The Bad News: Will Smith's voice for Oscar doesn't really fit the character and is really a major distraction. Some of the characters could have been thrown out for their uselessness. The jokes are pretty bad and only a couple of them work which is major foul on the film and maybe it's just my VHS player or video, but there is a large amount of grain. The secondary characters here to provide most of the jokes are downright unlikeable. This film also contains the overly clichéd montage when the main character is feeling down or sad and then the problem is solved which follows into another montage.

Conclusion: Doesn't deserve all its hype, but provides decent entertainment. If you happen to stumble across it on T.V. or at the video store go ahead and watch it if there is nothing else, but I wouldn't recommend buying it. Really hard to say on this one.

Rated: PG

Scooby-Doo (2002)

Underrated

[10/10 · 5 April 2007]

Scooby-Doo is a worthy live action film to a brilliant original T.V. show

Plot: The Mystery Inc. gang have split up and are each off on their own, only Scooby-Doo (Voice of Neil Fanning) and Shaggy (Matthew Lilard) remain together and they own the Mystery Machine. They are called back into action when a strange man shows up and invites them to Spooky Island to solve a mystery. They are convinced when he mentions an all you can eat buffet and are on their way to the airport. There they run into the rest of the gang, Fred (Freddie Prinze Jr.), Velma (Linda Cardellini), and Daphne (Sarah Michelle Gellar). Still resenting each other they refuse contact and once on the island they meet the owner, Emile Mondavariours (Rowan Atkinson) who informs them of the problem. He believes that somebody is casting a spell on the visitors who come to his resort. Starting off on looking for clues by themselves the gang realizes after a attack that they need to put their differences aside and team up if they ever want to solve the mystery.

The Good News: This being the motion picture film to a T.V. series that spawned thousands of imitators it had a lot to live up to and it delivers. Since it was released people have bashed this film to pieces, but if you take a minutes and look at it closely it is a pretty underrated film. The actors all do an outstanding job at bringing the gang to life. At first glance Freddie Prinze Jr. may seem like the wrong choice, but he fills Fred's shoes amazingly well with adequate skill. Linda Cardellini portrays the brainy smart Velma we all know, but Linda plays her with a sensitive side which is new and a a nice choice. Sharah Michelle Gellar is the shining light here bringing warmth and believability to her character as Daphne, everyones favorite danger prone female who proves she is tougher than most think in one of the film's best scenes. Matthew Lillard plays Shaggy well and plays off of Scooby-Doo well even though there was nothing there during filming. Lillard's acting is a key success to the film. It doesn't matter how well the CGI Scooby is made Lillard really has to bring it to life by make believing that Scooby is actually there. The whole thing could have gone completely wrong, but luckily this escapes that. Now the question that most people are asking. How does Scooby-Doo stack up? Neil Fanning's has to be the best since the original and the CGI Scooby looks pretty convincing. The action is a big part of this film as it plays a huge part. There are plenty of action scenes to keep you interested. My favorite one probably has to be the castle scene, a ten minute romp where the gang uncovers clues and it all ends in a big bang, but there are many more to more than fulfill your attention. The screenplay keeps thing's nice and simple and so is the direction. Constant and flashy cuts would've gotten in the way here so the direction they took works the best. The film all ends with more action scenes, big bangs, and many great twists. This could've been a lot worse.

The Bad News: The could've taken out the crude humor, but that's my only complaint

Conclusion: See this at any cost if you are a hardcore Scooby-Doo fan and others will all so want to check this out. Recommend

Rated: PG

Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase (2001 Video)

Lighthearted and Fun

[8/10 · 25 March 2007]

Scooby Doo and the Cyber Chase lacks the punch of "Zombie Island" and Witch's Ghost", but provides enough entertainment for repeated viewings

Plot: The film starts out at a computer lab where a Phantom Virus (Gary Sturgis) is beamed into this world from the computer world and attacks Professor Koffman (Tom Kane) and his students Eric (Bob Bergen) and Bill (Mikey Kelley). The next day Fred (Frank Welker), Daphne (Grey DeLisle), Velma (B.J. Ward), Shaggy (Scott Innes), and Scooby-Doo (Scott Innes) are heading over to meet Eric. There they meet Officer Wembley (Joe Alasky) who regards suspicion against the gang. The gang meets Eric and learns of the problem with the Phantom Virus. They learn the Phantom came from the video game that Eric was designing about the gang and that if they could bring the phantom into the lab they could zap him back into the computer world, but their plan backfires and instead the gang is zapped into cyberspace and must compete in Eric's computer game and win all ten levels to get out.

The Good News: The Phantom Virus is one of the more imposing villains of the Scooby-Doo movies. He's a pretty menacing threat and make the danger that much more higher. He cracks a few occasional jokes, but even in those moments he never comes of as corny or cheesy and remains a threat to the gang. The plot is really modern day with the video game design and the technology is really today. The levels in the video game are designed fantastically and the animation is vivid and bright. The levels get harder and harder and some are pretty unpredictable and they are just a joy to watch them as they unfold in front of your eyes. In the last level there is a pretty good jump which got me the first time I watched it. The gang approaches a woman who's face is hidden in shadows and it turns out to be the Pantom Virus. Meeting up their Cyber doubles was neat, cool, and imaginative all rolled into one. It allows a look back in time and we see how much the gang has changed over the years. As with almost all Scooby-Doo movies what stands out from the entire movie is the ending and this one is no exception. The grand finale at the amusement park is fantastic, but I don't want to give anything away. The voice cast is good, with the standout being Gary Sturgis as his interpretation as the Phantom Virus. The relationship between Fred and Daphne is expanded on a little with this film having their first kiss. Granted it is on the cheek, but you can slowly see it building up. The film moves along at a constant speed and has the best example of a successful beginning: Introduce character, set up problem, and go from there.

The Bad News: This translates back to the original episodes where the villain is clueless. At one point in the film Shaggy and Scooby are being chased by the Phantom and they run into an office and the Phantom follows them only to be fooled by Shaggy and Scooby when they dress up as doctors and "operate" on him. It takes the Phantom far to long to realize what is going on and since he is one of the creepier villains this is a shame. The characters preform some of the dumbest acts ever. Listen to this, Shaggy and Cyber Shaggy have just escaped the Tar Monster and they stop and eat! The clues are also hard to spot, they're right in front of you, but a little more time on the culprit would have made the clues easier to spot out.

Conclusion: Scooby fans will find a lot to like here and non Scooby fans will also find some things to like, but other may want to exercise caution. Recommend

Rated: Not Rated

Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island (1998 Video)

Fun and Suspenseful

[10/10 · 25 March 2007]

Scooby Doo on Zombie Island is the best direct-to-video Scooby-Doo yet

Plot: After years of uncovering phony phantoms and ghosts the gang has split up. Fred (Frank Welker) and Daphne (Mary Kay Bergman) have their own television show documenting their past mysteries. Velma (B.J. Ward) owns her own mystery book shop and Shaggy (Billy West) and Scooby-Doo (Scott Ines) work at an airport. For Daphne's birthday they get back together to try to find real monsters for her T.V. show. Along the way they meet Lena (Tara Charendoff) who tells them about the haunted house she works at on Moonscar Island and invites them over. They except and once there they meet Simone (Adrienne Barbeau). As day leads into night the gang discovers the haunting's may be true.

The Good News: They say the first is the best and this one really proves that true. There is really a lot to like here and not a lot to dislike. This may surprise a lot of people, but this film is really suspenseful. The final half hour really represents this. It had me on the edge of my seat and is filled with lots of twists and turns. The animation also shines here, but I don't want to give anything away. The first ghost sighting is creepy and provides a few chills, actually all the ghost sightings prior to the climax are very unearthly and leave you with a set of chills. The idea of it suddenly becoming cold before the ghosts attack is an old one, but this proves it can still work. The addition of voodoo is thrown into the mix, but it just adds to the film instead of lowering it. The music also adds to the film and gives it a creepier edge. The all-star cast provides a ton of great voices and I have to mention that the great Adrienne Barbeau is in this. The addition of real monsters was nice and provided a lot of great opportunities. The film moves along a fast pace and it is never boring. It also has a high re watch ability factor.

The Bad News: There could have been a few more ghost attacks and the jokes could have been funnier.

Conclusion: If you're a Scooby fan you'll eat this up and it provides more entertainment than a regular Scooby-Doo episode so others will also find a lot to like here too. Recommend.

Rated: Not Rated

Elf (2003)

A Funny Holiday Film

[5/10 · 24 March 2007]

Elf is fun, but flawed no matter which way you look at it

Plot: When he was a baby, Buddy (Will Ferrell) accidentally crawls into Santa's bag one Christmas Eve. Flash forward a couple of years and Buddy is now an adult. He has been raised as a elf and nobody has ever told him he is human. Buddy is constantly worrying about belonging to the elf's, but can't seem to do anything right. One day his elf dad (Bob Newhart) tells him the truth and Santa (Edward Answer) sends him to New York City to find his dad, Walter Hobbs (James Caan). He learns his dad has lost his Christmas faith and is mean and bossy. He goes to live with his wife, Emily (Mary Steenburgen) and her son, Michael (Daniel Tay). He gets a job at Gimbel's and falls in love with Jovie (Zooey Deschanel). Promlems arise as kids across the world are starting to lose their Christmas faith.

The Good News: This film actually made me laugh hysterically and not just once, probably about seven times. The two biggest laughs are when Buddy wanders into the women's section at the mall and spots a tight see-through red shoulder strap shirt and the sign next to it reads, For Someone Special, so Buddy sends it to his dad and the other big laugh is also in the mall where Buddy walks up to a lady holding a perfume bottle and Buddy tries it out, only he sprays it in his mouth. The slew of great actors and actresses are great in their roles, but there is not a lot to comment on about them except they get the job done. There is very little else to like here except for a few sporadic scenes, but they are placed to far apart for it to be worthwhile. New Line Cineama provides this film with their infinifilm special features which deserves special mention because the features are shorter and more entertaining than the entire movie together! The main highlight is the commentary provided by director Jon Favreau and actor Will Ferrell. They share nifty little tide-bits about making the film and they make it easier to sit through.

The Bad News: The biggest problem is the pacing, the film is ninety-five minutes long and they could have shortened it to about an hour. I'm not a big fan of Will Ferrell, but I do realize he has acting skills and to me he looked like he was bored and wanted to collect a paycheck as soon as possible. A lot of the characters should have been thrown out for their uselessness. Most scenes feel contrived as if they dug it out of a hole in the ground such as the mail scene. What in the world? Although there are laughs some jokes fall flat on their faces and are not funny at all. The script by David Berenbaum and the direction by Jon Favreau suffers a lot and feels choppy and hackneyed. Through most of the running time the film is a complete bore and it is pretty hard to sit through. The awful costumes for the elf's is just well what can you say except awful. It's hard to digest the colors together and to have to see one character run around in the same outfit for the entire running time which is hideous doesn't add to the film at all. One of the most important elements in a film like this is to believe in the make believe world, but here you don't believe at all and it doesn't help that the special effects are really bad and it can get distracting. The relationship between Buddy and Jovie is really tacky and comes almost as an after thought.

Conclusion: Most of the jokes are good and there are enough good things to not declare it a total waste, but according to me... Not Recommended

Rated: PG for some mild rude humor and language

Agent Cody Banks (2003)

Neat and Fun

[9/10 · 18 March 2007]

Agent Cody Banks deserves much more attention than it gets

Plot: Cody Banks (Frankie Muniz) learns he is a secret agent and he is brought in for training by Ronica Miles (Angie Harmon) who ends up his sidekick. He meets the CIA Director (Keith David) and prepares on his first mission while his parents, Mrs. Banks (Cynthia Stevenson) and Mr. Banks (Daniel Roebuck) along with his younger brother Alex Banks (Connor Widdows) have no idea what is going on. His mission is to get close to Natalie Connors (Hilary Duff) in hopes that she will invite him to her birthday party so he can use the opportunity to spy on her dad, Dr. Connors (Martin Donovan) because he is under suspicion for working for ERIS an illegal corporation. Complications arise when Natalie is kidnapped and Cody must rescue her.

The Good News: Right away the film starts with a big action sequence and it's a very impressive one at that. There is so much to like here it's a wonder that this series has never gotten as much attention as the Spy Kids series even if the second film is lousy. Director Herald Zwart brings a lot of flair to this film as the film is shot beautifully and never looks cheap or boring. The script by Ashley Edward Miller, Zack Stentz, Scott Alexander, and Larry Karaszewski is never boring and never loses your interest when nothing is happening. The acting is great, long time friends Frankie Muniz and Hilary Duff star and Hilary Duff shows the talent that would carry her through the next few years and Frankie Muniz is no slacker in the role of Cody Banks and it's no surprise that he would go on to be a star even if he never got as much fame as Hilary. The best supporting roles go to Keith David as the CIA Director and it's not a wonder that he returned for the sequel and the other one goes to Angie Harmon as Ronica Miles. She is energetic on screen and you fell her presence throughout the film. The plot, while nothing new proves you don't have to always have a fresh plot to make the film enjoyable. The film's tag line is one of the best and it sets the tone for the film, the running time is 102 minutes, but it seems a lot shorter than that and has a high re watch-ability factor. The action scenes are outstanding and the two that come off as the best are the diner scene and the ending. There are more such as when Cody is at Natalie's birthday party and he's spying on Dr. Connors and the beginning, it's really hard to pick a favorite one, but the diner scene and the ending come off as the best. I also recorded a few good laughs here and there between the action breaks. One of the biggest laughs is Ronica's first appearance, I don't want to ruin it for you as it is the biggest laugh our of the entire film. I'm also not a big fan of the boyfriend and girlfriend situation, but here is works well and flows well with the plot.

The Bad News: I couldn't find anything wrong except a few logical errors which every film has

Conclusion: If you like action or adventure movies then this film is definitely for you and if you haven't seen it already grab yourself a DVD copy today! Recommeded

Rated: PG for action violence, mild language and some sensual content

Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London (2004)

Horrible Entry That Fails to Live Up to a Fine Original

[3/10 · 18 March 2007]

Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London is a complete waste of your time unless you like crude jokes and nothing else

Plot: During a game of hide and go seek at the training camp a top secret mind control device has been stolen by Kenworth (James Faulkner) and Diaz (Keith Allen). Agent Cody Banks (Frankie Muniz) is sent by the C. I. A. Director (Keith David) undercover as a violin player at a fancy and rich music school where Kenworth lives with his wife. There he meets his sidekick Derek (Anothny Anderson) and at school he meets Emily (Hannah Spearitt). Together all three of them must find the mind control device and take it back before something happens, but complications arise as Kenworth and Diaz figure out how to make the device work.

The Good News: There is really not a lot to like here. Out of the few positives the two fight scenes at the end layered over with the music is all good and I have to say I rewound that part several times. The new gadgets are all nice and neat and cool and any little kid would want them. The action scenes are well thought out, but are not as spectacular as the ones in the first. The one that really stands out is the factory chase with all the crates everywhere that make for great hiding places and it's rather satisfying. The returning actors do great and the new faces are rather horrible. Some parts are unpredictable, but there are only a few of them.

The Bad News: Oh, where do I start? OK, no Hilary Duff. Instead we get some twenty- three year old posing as a high schooler and that story about Hilary not being able to come back because of school is false. On the commentary for A Cinderilla Story she clearly states she didn't go to high school and I would highly doubt that she would be in college by now. Oh well, anyway the new faces have know idea what they're doing and wonder around with a blank stare saying lines like they're reading off an eye chart. Anohny Anderson is the worst and his attempts at humor are ridiculous. At one point he brings up three jars of his pee to distract the guards so Cody can sneak through. The whole thing is not funny and leaves you feeling empty. That's another thing, when the credits roll the whole film leaves you feeling empty and sad you wasted your time on this. The gadgets are cool as I stated earlier, but the whole scene is almost ruined by a terrible actor delivering the gadgets and his weak attempts at comedy. The car that Cody and Derek rid in is too ridiculously to be taken seriously and the brings up another point. Our villains are not scary in the least, in the first one you actually knew what they could do and were capable of. It's heard to be scared of a villain who farts every so often. There are a lot more problems with this film, but I thing I've said enough.

Conclusion: Do not see this if you were a fan of the original or does not find crude jokes funny. If you do think they are funny well what are you waiting for? Grab yourself a DVD copy today! But for me I'll stick with the first one. Not Recommended

Rated: PG

for action violence and some crude humor

The Quiet (2005)

Dark and Depressing, What It's Supposed to Be

[10/10 · 17 March 2007]

The Quiet is indeed truly a Sony Pictures Classic

Plot: After her father dies, Dot (Camilla Belle) is sent to live with her godparents and their daughter Nina (Elisha Cuthbert). She cannot hear and cannot speak and is teased mercilessly by Nina and her friend Michelle Fell (Katy Mixon). She soon begins to win over the heart of the high schools heartthrob Connor (Shawn Ashmore) despite of your disabilities. But soon she learns of a relationship between Nina and her father Paul Deer (Martin Donovan). Her mother Olivia Deer (Edie Falco) is past out every night before nine giving Nina and Paul plenty of time to get it on. Since Dot cannot hear or speak Nina confides in Dot her plan to kill her father.

The Good News: This is truly a powerful film and sticks in your head long after the show is over. The film really represents sexual abuse very well and will hopefully go on to become a classic that everybody will watch thousands of years later. I could go on forever about how powerful the film is, but that would waste my review so let's cut to the chase. The actors all do wonderful in their roles and maybe finally Elisha Cuthbert will get the respect she deserves. Camilla Belle, Edie Falco, and Martin Donovan are outstanding and Camilla Belle has this strange edge to her and her performance rivals the one she gave in When a Stranger Calls (which I liked). Edie Falco may be underused, but she gives it all she's got and Martin Donovan is an embodiment of pure evil without ever being like Jason or Freddy. You actually fear him towards the end as he becomes the meanest he can be. Elisha Cuthbert has been called by critics an actress who cannot act and what I tell them is to be quiet (ha ha) and go watch this film. The rest of the actors do fine. The direction is superb and the plot is fresh and refuses to let go and gives the audience a very accurate description of high school and what goes on. What I really appreciate is that the film doesn't hold back and gives it to us straight and looks us straight in the face and never tells a lie. There are thousands of children across the world that are sexually abused and this film presents it straight as far as I can tell. The pacing is another thing as is never becomes boring. Many people have commented on the humor in this film, but I disagree. Many high schoolers are worried about going all the way and who has who so going back to what I stated early about an accurate description of high school. The film is marketed as a drama/thriller and I really agree with that as the film plays out as a drama at first and then develops into a thriller with hints of drama. It's one of those films that knows what it wants to be and not one of those films that has trouble deciding between the two. By making the first a drama the audience gets to know the characters and which one of them they want to root for. The film also doesn't have a happy ending as it would most likely be in real life because victims of sexual abuse are scarred for life.

The Bad News: The boyfriend girlfriend situation has been done to death and gets less interesting each time

Conclusion: Ignore that minor flaw and you a classic on your hands. Do not miss out on this and prepare yourself for a dark and a thrilling good time. But if you are opposed to sexual abuse then steer clear and otherwise get yourself a DVD copy today!

Rated: R for strong and disturbing sexual content, a scene of violence, language, drug use, and brief nudity

I'll Always Know What You Did Last Summer (2006 Video)

Decent Entry That Fails To Live Up To The First Two

[8/10 · 16 March 2007]

I'll Always Know What You Did Last Summer is entertaining enough to make you wish for a fourth one

Plot: When four teens, Amber (Brooke Nevin), Colby (David Paetkau), Zoe (Torrey DeVitto), and Roger (Seth Packard) plan a prank that goes horribly wrong and results in the death of one of their best friends they agree to keep their involvement in the prank a secret. Flash forward a year the four friends have each gone their own way until Amber receives 50 messages on her cell phone stating that someone knows what she did last summer. She reunites with her former friends and soon it becomes clear that somebody does know and that their lives are in great danger.

The Good News: This is not as bad as everybody is making it out to be. One of the great things is the cinematography. The director feeds us images of trees and mountains that help create the atmosphere. There were some decent and jump out of your seat scares and then tension leading up to the scares was well built up. The acting is another strength, Brooke Nevin displays strength well and is ready to go up against the killer, Ben Easter does great in a role which ends up crucial to the plot and has a charismatic edge to him, David Paetkau also is a rising star and has had some previous horror film experience in Final Destination 2, Torrey DeVitto has screen presence, and Seth Packard gives his performance two thumbs up in the short time he is on screen. Another good thing is the gore. It looks realistic and flows natural. The death scenes are well built up and end with a bang and almost everybody gets a chase scene. My favorite is Colby's death, but I won't ruin it here as you have to see it for yourself. The Fisherman also has some good attacks on his victims such as when Amber is riding a gondola down the mountain all by herself and she spots the Fisherman in another gondola behind her and Colby's late night swim are fantastic suspense scenes. The idea to resurrect Ben Willis as a crazy zombie is a neat idea and I think I would have been disappointed if it had been somebody else. What I mean is that they spent two films telling us that this guy cannot die and it is also never a good idea to establish a series about a certain villain and then throw it out the window. With Ben Willis resurrected as a zombie makes him more imposing as he can just appear anywhere at any moment. The climatic ending is well thought out and concludes the film nicely.

The Bad News: The flashy constant cuts can get annoying very easily and sometimes during the chase scenes the cuts get in the way of you seeing what is happening on screen and also the film uses a lot of black tones and that also sometimes makes it hard to see what is going on. There are plot holes galore, but this film was meant with the sole purpose of being entertaining and that it is.

Conclusion: In the end this film is gory, entertaining, and makes you hope a fourth movie. Recommended

Rated: R for Horror Violence

The Perfect Man (2005)

The Perfect Man is Much Better Than the Bad Reviews State

[8/10 · 11 March 2007]

The Perfect Man deserves much more respect than it gets

Plot: Holly (Hilary Duff) is tiered of her mother (Heather Locklear) keeping them on the go and always moving whenever she gets dumped. This time they move to New York along with Holley's little sister Zoe (Aria Wallace). Her mom has found a job at the bakery and has started to fall in love with a fellow co-worker, Lenny (Mike O'Malley). While her mother is blind to his flaws Holly is horrified to learn her mom is dating him as he is the entirely wrong person for her mom. She enlists help from her new school pal Amy (Vanessa Lengies) to create an imaginary admirer for her mother based on Amy's uncle (Chris Noth) and they contact through email and letters and slowly her mom begins to fall for him all though they have never met, but Lenny is determined to keep her. When Holly finally realizes that Amy's uncle is the perfect man for her mom she realizes they can never meet because of her scam. She has to find a way to make them meet and cover up for her plan.

The Good News: Hilary Duff is the brightest thing in here, keeping the film alive with her preppy and energetic energy. I also have to admit that there are some scenes in here that will stick in your head after the show is over. For example when there is danger that Holly's mom and Amy's uncle may meet, Holly sets off the sprinkler alarm in the restaurant that they are both in and it is truly a memorable scene. The whole wedding interruption was hilarious and is another great scene. Hilary Duff's reaction is priceless. The delivering of the flowers is another. There is also a moral to parents about their kids that when they keep doing something their kids are going to follow in their footsteps. Because Holly's mother can't keep a guy and she gets dumped so often Holly refuses to fall in love, believing that she will get her heart broken too. The supporting actors do fine in their roles, the best supporting actor is Vanessa Lengies who shines during her screen time. Going back to Hilary Duff she got nominated for a Golden Rasberry Award for worst actress, thankfully she lost and why she was nominated is beyond me. I wouldn't nominate her for an Oscar, but she doesn't deserve a Rasberry. It also has a tenderness and a family message along with plenty of laughs.

The Bad News: There are some HUGE plot holes and errors. The plot is pretty idiotic and you have to suspend your disbelief a lot. Heather Locklear's acting should be nominated for a Rasberry and the whole boyfriend and girlfriend part between Holly and her friend is a waste of time. It also doesn't invite to many repeated viewings.

Conclusion: Some plot holes and errors should not stop you from seeing this. In the end The Perfect Man sets out what it's supposed to do.

Rated: PG for some mildly suggestive content

Scooby-Doo and the Legend of the Vampire (2003 Video)

Neat and Fun

[9/10 · 10 March 2007]

Scooby-Doo and the Legend of the Vampire is fun

Plot: After solving a mystery aboard a cruise ship while on a vacation to Austraila the gang, Fred (Frank Welker), Daphne (Heather North), Velma (Nicole Jaffe), Shaggy (Casey Kasem), and Scooby-Doo (Frank Welker) are looking forward to a relaxing vacation. They get word of a concert way out in the Outback and head on over. When they arrive they meet the concert's finalists, The Hex Girls and The Bad Omens. They also learn about the Yowie Yahoo, a vampire who is kidnapping the finalists and turning them into vampires. The gang thinks there is more to the mystery than meets the eye and agree to investigate. Their search propels them forward and learns that their is a connection between the Yowie Yahoo and a band that disappeared last year. After the Hex Girls are kidnapped the gang heads up to Vampire Rocks where the Yowie Yahoo lives to end the madness once and for all.

The Good News: For once there are some great action sequences towards the end that lead logically from one event to another. The animation is suburb for a direct-to-video and the director knew what he was doing as the film looks like it actually could be transferred into theaters. The voice cast is better than before and the returning actors and actresses have matured well into their roles and the new voices are a welcome addition. The scriptwriter designed a clever and ingenious script and the film moves along at a fast pace, never slowing down. It is also never boring and is sure to leave you hooked till the end. The addition of vampires as the monsters is nice and the setting of the outback is used to it's full purpose. This is also very straight forward and that is another bonus and it never detours from what it is supposed to be. My favorite scene has to be where Fred, Daphne, and Velma going looking for clues in the managers trailer and not only does it have a laugh that gets me every time the whole scene is a reminder of the early episodes with searching for clues or being somewhere your not supposed to be. The running time is short so it doesn't take to much time.

The Bad News: Several of the jokes where not funny and the revelation of the vampires is a throughly confusing one and takes many times before you finally get it.

Conclusion: The bad jokes and the confusing ending should not let you stop from seeing this Scooby gem as it is truly one of the best.

Rated: Not Rated

Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986)

Friday the 13th: Jason Lives Goes out on Top and is the Best One Yet! From a Grand Entrance to a Crowd-Applausing Finale "Jason Lives" Never Outstays it's Welcome!

[10/10 · 4 March 2007]

Background: Friday the 13th: The first film in the series and kick-started the slasher sub-genre and even created the term! The killer in this film was Mrs. Voorhees who was seeking revenge against the camp counselors for her sons death, Jason, he supposedly drowned in the lake

Friday the 13th Part 2: The second film in the series and one of my personal favorites. Jason is the killer in this film and he seeks revenge against anybody who ventures into his territory for his mothers death

Friday the 13th: Part 3: Jason kills again, picking straight up where Part 2 left off. Awesome flick

Friday the 13th: Part 4: Jason kills again, picking straight up where Part 3 left off. A little overrated

Friday the 13th: Part 5: Jason is not the killer in this film instead it is a paramedic who seeks revenge for his sons death. Underrated

Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives:

Tommy Jarvis and his friend go to the cemetery to cremate Jason. When Tommy pries open the coffin and stares at Jason's body a fit of rage overtakes him and he precedes to stab Jason repeatedly with a metal pole. Suddenly lightning strikes it and Jason is brought back to life! He kills Tommy's friend and tries to kill Tommy, but Tommy escapes and heads to the police station to warn them about Jason. They don't believe him and he is proclaimed mentally unstable and is locked up. Jaosn regains his hockey mask and heads out on another killing spree. Together with the help of the sheriff's daughter Megan, Tommy and Megan must stop Jason at all costs.

The Good Pionts:

The direction is the best the series has ever had and the director knows his craft

The director also wrote the screenplay and he proves he can handle the stalk and slash well and has created a screenplay that has all the slasher elements you could want

The added humor is great and a change of pace for the series, but it didn't transcend into Freddy Kreuger type humor

The acting is above par and almost every cast member proves that they have talent hidden under their pretty faces

There are some great action sequences like the beginning, the 2 car chases (and no, Jason does not drive a car), and the ending are all great action sequences

The paint ball scene has to be mentioned because it is a ingenious concept and it delivers

The characters where all likable enough

The music receives an update and is far more creepy

The makeup effects are great and better than last times

The Bad Points:

Despite a few logical errors, nothing!

Conclusion:

This is the best in the series and deserves a look by anybody interested in the slasher sub-genre

Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (1989)

The Best In the Series

[10/10 · 13 February 2007]

Halloween 5 is truly a underrated gem in the Halloween series. I consider it the best entry since the first one.

The Good Things * Something that has been missing from the series is character development, we get to know every character before they are slashed and we are saddened to see them go. I almost always weep when Michael kills Rachel, as other people have stated she was the heart and soul of the fourth and her death leaves us with an empty hole in our hearts. Another character I felt sad for is Tina, she gave up her life to save Jamie's and that alone deserves a pat on the back. The scene following with Tina being carried away on a stretcher combined with the music and Jamie's reaction makes me want to weep.

* The acting for a slasher movies rises the bar. Giving a standout performance is a big round for Danielle Harris! Harris is the shining light in the cast and she is such a tremendous actress. She plays Jamie to perfection and makes you care for her character to the hilt. Donald Pleasence gives he's performance all he's got and it shows. I rooted for him to kill Michael, but you can't keep a good killer down! Rounding out the cast Ellie Cornell and Wendy Kaplan who perform to the best of their ability.

* A big plus is the film is never boring and has some great action sequences. Who can forget the chase with the car and the laundry chute sequence? Another thing this movie has is the ability to scare the viewer. I haven't jumped this many times since the first Halloween.

* Although most people trash the new mask that Michael wears, I think it's the creepiest mask he's ever worn. The director got Don Shanks to play Michael and he plays Michael with a creep, unnerving style that makes you fear him.

* This thing has to commented on. I loved the way how Michael was treated like a real person and that added to the effect of the film.

Final Say: If you see this, grab it, buy it, go home and pop it in your DVD player and sit back and enjoy the masterpiece that is Halloween 5

Final Destination 3 (2006)

The Best Entry Out Of The Trilogy

[10/10 · 7 January 2007]

Plot: When Wendy has a premonition of a roller coaster crashing killing her ,her boyfriend Jason, her best friend Carrie, and Carrie's boyfriend Kevin and everybody else on board she causes a riot and gets herself, Kevin, Ian, his girlfriend Erin, Frankie, Lewis, Ashley and Ashlyn, Julie, and Perry chucked off the ride. The roller coaster does crash and the survivors realize they narrowly cheated death. A month later the survivors start to die in weird accidents and Wendy discovers clues in her pictures that she took of the survivors the night the roller coaster crashed that they show clues to each character's death. Using the pictures Wendy and Kevin race against time to save the survivors from their fate.

The Good News: As I stated in my summary this is the best out of the trilogy. It's action packed, brimmed to bowl with blood and guts, clever death scenes, and an awesome roller coaster crash that takes minutes to finish. Wendy's premonition of the roller coaster crashing tops the plane crash in Final Destination and the highway pileup in Final Destination 2. Before I go on I just want to say that this is the first Final Destination movie I saw and it got me started in the series. I then watched Final Destination one and two, with 2 being better if not by a lot. Then we come to this entry directed by James Wong who directed the first movie. I didn't really care for the first Final Destination so I didn't know what to expect. What I got I couldn't believe, everything was played out to perfection. The clues in the pictures was also a neat twist that I enjoyed although some people might say it's just a gimmick. The best death would have to be in my opinion the first one at the tanning salon. Beautiful, ditsy cheerleaders who want the perfect tan, we all know what happens to them in these kind of movies. Which brings up another point that I stated before, the gore. DO NOT see this movie if you are squeamish or have a weak stomach. For a movie buff like me the gore is a plus. Remember how bloody Freddy vs. Jason was? This one almost tops it. The deaths are played out very well and could happen to you today, this afternoon, or thirty years later you never know when you will die which is what I find so scary about life. You never know when your life will end and when you will die.

The Bad News: None

Characters: Wendy Christensen (Mary Elizabeth Winstead): Mary did a great job bringing the heroine to life on the screen and you feel sorry for her character as she goes from happy-go-lucky teenager to the best heroine the trilogy has had yet. Kevin Fischer (Ryan Merriman): As the boy next door Ryan really brings the hero of the picture and Wendy's love interest to the screen although he could have been a bit more believable at places. Ian McKinley (Kris Lemche): As the goth kid Kris brought a lot more to the screen then just being around for the sake to be killed, which he is of course and he is really the most developed character next to Mary Elizabeth Winstead and you believe every word he says and it send a shiver down your spine especially in the finale. Erin Ulmer (Alexz Johnson): Her death I rate the second best in the film, but other than that her only purpose in the film is to be a character to get killed by a very complex nail gun accident. She is the angry goth chick who is just really mad quote FD3 special features and she is also very pretty. Frankie Cheeks (Sam Easton): The most annoying character in the whole film and one would wish he would just shut and be killed. Which I think was intentioned by the filmmakers and it certainly wasn't Sam Easton's fault who actually preforms pretty well although it's not hard to play a sleaze bag. Lewis Romero (Texas Battle): Along with Frankie Cheeks the second most annoying character in the film and he goes out with such a BAM that one can not feel like cheering death on when it's his time. I look forward to seeing Texas play the hero in Wrong Turn 2 with Final Destination 3 co-star Crystal Lowe. Ashley Freund (Chelan Simmons): Unknown actress Chelan Simmons delivers the goods in this film and is very pretty and is part of my favorite death in the entire series where she and Ashlyn burn to death in a couple of tanning beds. Ashlyn Halperin (Crystal Lowe): One of my favorite actresses, Crystal Lowe delivers the goods in the film and is extremely HOT! She is also part of my favorite death in the entire series where she and Ashley burn to death in a couple of tanning beds. I look forward to seeing her in the remake of Black Christmas co-staring with FD3 lead Mary Elizabeth Winstead and in the upcoming Wrong Turn 2 co-staring with FD3 co-star Texas Battle. Julie Christensen(Amanda Crew): One of the most likable characters in the film. Amanda Crew did a great job of bringing her to life on screen and she's a joy to watch and one hopes she survives. Perry Malinowski (Maggie Ma): She's in the film for 2 seconds and she's Asian, and she's Julie's friend, and she gets speared by a flagpole and thats all we know of her.

Final Verdict: If you haven't seen this film already go see it, you will be happy you did.

Rating: R for strong horror violence/gore, language and some nudity

I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)

I Know What You Did Last Summer is an exciting, tense, breathtaking film

[10/10 · 1 January 2007]

I Know What You Did Last Summer or IKWYDLS from hear on out is an outstanding slasher film in the Post-Scream era.

Plot: Four teens are driving down the road and accidentally hit a man and fearing manslaughter charges they dump the body in the nearby ocean. A year later each one of them receive notes stating the somebody knows what they did last summer and as seemingly harmless jokes turn into bloody murder they have to figure out who could've seen them that night and maybe the man they hit didn't die and he's back for bloody revenge.

What a film! I remember I was at Hollywood and I had to chose between this movie and Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter so I picked this movie and as I pulled out of the parking lot I felt I had picked a dud so I put off watching this for a while and then one morning I decided to check it out and stuck it into by DVD player. From the first shot to the last shot this film is beautifully shot and directed. You get to know the characters and feel like you want to reach into your T.V. set and pluck the characters out of harms way and a lot of that is due the performances of the actors. Jennifer Love Hewitt was the perfect choice to play the heroin and Sarah Michelle Gellar delivers a heart wrenching performance and the audience really gets to know her more than the rest of the cast mostly to Mrs. Gellar's talent. Which brings up Sarah's chase scene. Words cannot describe the shear terror eating away at your body as Mrs. Gellar runs for her life from the killer. The director did an outstanding job with this sequence and it goes down in Chase Scene Hall as number 1. Remember the chase scene in Prom Night? Expect that and much, much more and you will be no doubt satisfied. Freddie Prinze Jr. is likable as Jennifer Love Hewitt's character's boyfriend and serves as a great red herring twisted around into s great fake reveal and Ryan Phillipe proves he can make the most unlikeable character likable and you can feel for him when he meets his demise. The rest of the cast are great and are there for fodder or red herrings. The only thing I have to say now is if you haven't seen this go check it out and you will now be disappointed. IKWYDLS gets 10/10

Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998)

Despite all the hype about this being the best sequel Halloween H20 falls flat on its face

[5/10 · 1 January 2007]

Let me say something before I begin this review. The first Halloween movie I saw was Halloween: Resurrection and it received a mixed bag for me. It was not life changing, but it was a decent piece of entertainment. Most critics and fans have labeled this as the best sequel. Why? Simply because Jamie Lee Curtis returns to her roots. Don't get me wrong I love Jamie Lee Curtis and her screen presence is strong and upholds the movie, but there are many problems else wear in the movie. The character development is nonexistent and you don't care for the characters one way or another if they live or die, save Jamie's character Laurie Strode/Keri Tate. The kids are just thrown into the film for no reason other than to get killed and Laurie's son John is only in the picture to argue with his mother. I was expecting that Jamie would be our main character and our star, but even Halloween: Resurrection let us get to know the other characters. What can possibly save this crap fest? The ending, beginning ware Sarah is killed and the other teens find her body and discover that Michael Myers is behind the killings. This ending is fast paced, a great one on one battle between Laurie and Michael, and it is one of the best endings you will find ever in a movie. Does Halloween H20 deserve all the hype it got? Certainly not, the only thing good is the ending and even that is not enough to save the film. I give Halloween H20: 20 Years Later 5/10