There are few movies that are centered around and made for an older generation of stars. Far too often, talented seasoned stars will make an appearance as someone's parent or grandparent rather starring in their own movie. Quartet is a film that peeks into the lives of a retirement home that has been made especially for elderly musicians.
The Premise
An annual benefit has been planned to celebrate Verdi's birthday and to raise money to help with expenses at a home for retired musicians. A group of long time friends are in the midst of rehearsals when the fourth member of their quartet arrives unexpectedly at the retirement home, shaking things up.
My Take
Cissy, Wilf and Reginald are long time friends and opera singers who live together at a home for retired musicians in England. Every year the home puts on a benefit concert on Verdi's birthday to help raise money for the expenses of their beloved home. The benefit is being led by the larger than life, Cedric Livingston, played by Sir Michael Gambon. Cedric is determined to have the event go off without a hitch and it will be his way or no way at all.
Cissy, Wilf and Reginald, once part of a famous quartet, are rehearsing their various parts. One day, a new resident arrives at the estate. It is the much esteemed Jean Horton, the final member of the famous quartet, played by the incomparable Dame Maggie Smith. Jean has come to the retirement home begrudgingly and continues her diva like ways with the staff and her former colleagues.
Reginald (the wonderful Sir Tom Courtenay) and Jean were once married causing friction in the one time group of friends. Cissy, the very talented Pauline Collins, and Wilf, the very funny Billy Connolly, try their best to mend the broken quartet but to no avail. Cedric comes up with the idea to have the group reunite and sing at the Verdi benefit concert. Jean, however refuses to sing. But what Cedric wants, Cedric gets. After all, the show must go on.
The Verdict
Quartet was a wonderful vehicle for director Dustin Hoffman to really show his talent behind the scenes. All of the casting was wonderful from the main characters to the singers to the musicians to the staff at the retirement home. There as not a bad person in the bunch. The cast may have been primarily a cast of, shall we say, seasoned actors, but the movie's themes were still relatable to people of all ages. Love, loss, anger, grief and fear are things that we go through at all stages of life. Quartet (written by Ronald Harwood) was surprisingly funny and touching, given the setting. I give Quartet 3/4 members.
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
That Awkward Moment (2014)
Sometimes you start a movie not really expecting much from it. We were watching one such film for filler one lazy Winter day while the kids were playing outside and my husband and I were tangled up on the couch with one ear listening for screams of pain coming from the yard and the other ear tuned in to the speakers of the television set. Then we had the pleasant surprise of getting involved with the characters and their lives in That Awkward Moment.
The Premise
Three best friends find themselves suddenly single and make a vow to stay that way. Things get complicated (and awkward) as each thinks they have met "the one". They try to pursue their relationships without letting the others find out.
My Take
According to the movie, that awkward moment in relationships always begins with the word, "So". "So where are we going?" "So what is this?" "So what are we?" It's that way of defining a relationship that makes it uncomfortable. I'll tell you what; I've never been so happy to be married.
That Awkward Moment centers around three best friends. Jason (Zac Efron) seems destined to be a perpetual bachelor. He has a girl for every day of the week, called his roster, and he is by all appearances quite happy to live this life. Daniel (Miles Teller) uses his best gal pal, Chelsea (Mackenzie Davis), as his wing man to help him score with the ladies. And Mikey (Michael B. Jordan) has recently been told by his wife that she wants a divorce.
Jason and Daniel treat recently single Mikey to a night out on the town. Daniel is using Chelsea to pick up chicks. Mikey is miserable. And Jason runs into Ellie, played by Imogen Poots. He and Ellie hit it off right away and go back to her place where he naturally comes to the conclusion that she is a hooker.
That Awkward Moment is full of appropriately awkward moments. Affairs, lots of sex, sex toys, mistaken identity, Facebook stalking, inappropriate costumes, car crashes, thievery, drunken nights and dirty jokes made for quite a few chuckles.
The Verdict
Miles Teller was hilarious as Daniel. As a trio, Zac Efron, Miachael B. Jordan and Teller worked together very well. The writing by Tom Gormican was clever and definitely entertaining. The supporting cast was spot on.
So.... What did I think of That Awkward Moment? I give it 3 guys and a girlfriend. It's silly, raunchy and worth an hour and a half of your time.
The Premise
Three best friends find themselves suddenly single and make a vow to stay that way. Things get complicated (and awkward) as each thinks they have met "the one". They try to pursue their relationships without letting the others find out.
My Take
According to the movie, that awkward moment in relationships always begins with the word, "So". "So where are we going?" "So what is this?" "So what are we?" It's that way of defining a relationship that makes it uncomfortable. I'll tell you what; I've never been so happy to be married.
That Awkward Moment centers around three best friends. Jason (Zac Efron) seems destined to be a perpetual bachelor. He has a girl for every day of the week, called his roster, and he is by all appearances quite happy to live this life. Daniel (Miles Teller) uses his best gal pal, Chelsea (Mackenzie Davis), as his wing man to help him score with the ladies. And Mikey (Michael B. Jordan) has recently been told by his wife that she wants a divorce.
Jason and Daniel treat recently single Mikey to a night out on the town. Daniel is using Chelsea to pick up chicks. Mikey is miserable. And Jason runs into Ellie, played by Imogen Poots. He and Ellie hit it off right away and go back to her place where he naturally comes to the conclusion that she is a hooker.
That Awkward Moment is full of appropriately awkward moments. Affairs, lots of sex, sex toys, mistaken identity, Facebook stalking, inappropriate costumes, car crashes, thievery, drunken nights and dirty jokes made for quite a few chuckles.
The Verdict
Miles Teller was hilarious as Daniel. As a trio, Zac Efron, Miachael B. Jordan and Teller worked together very well. The writing by Tom Gormican was clever and definitely entertaining. The supporting cast was spot on.
So.... What did I think of That Awkward Moment? I give it 3 guys and a girlfriend. It's silly, raunchy and worth an hour and a half of your time.
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
What We Watched This Halloween Season - 2014
We have a tradition every October. We try to squeeze in as many horror movies as possible before the end of the scary movie season. This year we took it up a notch and even had a Monster Movie Marathon the weekend of Halloween.
To make the rating game easy, I decided to rate the movies on a 1 through 5 scale; 1 being the worst and 5 being the best. But of course, do not let my ratings keep you from watching any of these gems next horror season or any season. Happy Watching!
(In the order in which we watched them...)
You're Next (2011)
A family comes under attack during an anniversary party by a group of masked murderers. Unfortunately for them, one of the guests is better at killing than they are.
You're Next was not that bad. Gory? Yes. Fun to watch? Yes. It was well written and even decently acted, for a slasher flick. 4/5
Tormented (2011)
Daigo has become withdrawn and has formed a strong attachment to a stuffed rabbit. His sister, Kiriko, can't talk and is having trouble trying to convince her father to help. Kiriko has to enter a dangerous dream world when Daigo goes missing in order to discover the truth about her life.
Tormented was a little out there for me. I can see how fans of Japanese horror films would dig on this. In fact my husband enjoyed it more than I, but I had a hard time getting into it. 3/5
The Initiation (1984)
College student Kelly is to be initiated into the Delta Ro Kai sorority. While performing the prank in order to get into the sorority, a killer begins picking all the initiates off one by one.
A classic '80s horror film, that's for sure. It had it all; the hair, the boobs, the gratuitous sex. It was very predictable but fun to watch. But I'm a sucker for the classics. 3/5
Big Ass Spider (2013)
The military creates a killer spider (what?!?!) that grows bigger every time it eats. Eventually it grows so big that even the military can't kill it. It is up to a handful of scientists, and one exterminator, to take it down.
One word, Jose. The banter of the two main characters, Alex and Jose, was what made this movie worth watching. They were hilarious. 3/5
The Town That Dreaded Sundown (1976)
Loosely based on a true story, a Texas Ranger hunts down a serial killer who was terrorizing residents in Texarkana, Texas in 1946.
If you ever get a chance to read up on the true story, it is pretty fascinating. 4/5
13 Sins (2014)
Preying on those who have fallen on desperate times, a game show host calls Elliot and gives him tasks to complete, each with an increasing monetary reward. Each task gets more and more gruesome until Elliot is under threat of incarceration until he finishes the game. And earns the big pay out.
Very good and original idea. It was well written, well acted, and well directed. In fact we shared this one with friends at our Monster Movie Marathon. 5/5
The House of the Devil (2009)
College student Samantha takes a babysitting job at a large and isolated house during a total lunar eclipse. As the night wears on, she begins to realize that her clients are devil worshipers and she has been lured there as a sacrifice.
This was very slow to develop. Very slow. But if you happen to watch it, you may recognize an actor from You're Next. 2/5
ATM (2012)
Three people are trapped in an ATM kiosk overnight by a deranged killer.
I saw about twenty plot holes in this movie, but it was still fun to watch. Plus I was pissed at not ever finding out the killer's motives! I hate that! 1/5
Haunt (2013)
A family moves into a house where a tragedy had befallen the previous tenants. The teen-aged boy of the family befriends the girl next door. They start fooling around with a radio that can communicate with the dead and strange things start happening in the house.
I thought it moved too slowly and was too predictable in its jumps and scares. Plus I had the ending figured out way ahead of time. But overall still an enjoyable watch. 2/5
Dead Silence (2007)
After his wife is murdered, Jamie returns home for the funeral. The killer is later linked to the ghost of a ventriloquist that hails from his hometown. As he digs into his wife's murder, he discovers a grisly folktale that centers around Mary Shaw, a murdered ventriloquist with a vendetta against his family.
Dead Silence was a really unique story. It was a little far fetched, but it was made nearly believable by the way it was written, directed and performed. 3/5
Bruiser (2000)
After years of being treated badly by his boss, his wife, his friends, his coworker and even his dog, a man wakes up one day with a blank white mask as a face. He uses this anonymity to get revenge on those who have wronged him.
This is a George A. Romero film. Though I don't know that it is technically a horror film, it still has its fair share of blood and sex. He is, after all, a masked killer. 4/5
New Year's Evil (1980)
While hosting a Punk Rock New Year's Eve television show, Diane Sullivan gets a call saying that someone will die when New Year's strikes in each time zone, ending with her.
Again, pure 80's cheese, but I love it. 3/5
Tamara (2005)
Tamara is the nerdy, unattractive girl that doesn't quite fit in. But no one knows that she is a witch. When she dies in a bizarre accident she comes back, sexy and ready to kill.
It's like the Carrie for witch lovers. And actually not too bad. 3/5
Hellgate (2011)
After a terrible accident in which he lost his wife and son, Jeff is now living in the shadow world between life and death. He has frightening visions in which he sees demons and ghosts. Now he has to make the choice to live in the world of the living or join the world of the dead.
I enjoyed the different view Hellgate took on the underworld. Another very slow moving movie.3/5
Donovan's Brain (1953)
Dr. Patrick Cory and his wife have been experimenting with brains. When they are unable to save the life of millionaire, Mr. Donovan, they keep his brain to experiment on it as well. Donovan's brain establishes a link with Dr. Cory's brain and uses Cory to seek revenge on his enemies.
A classic movie from the 1950's, Donovan's Brain was fun to watch. What I didn't like was the surprise ending. I felt like I had the carpet pulled out from under me. I like to have some hint at what is going on. 3/5
House of Whipcord (1974)
Young, beautiful girls are lured to an isolated mansion by a handsome young man, Mark E. Desade. Once there, they are forbidden to leave, charged with ludicrous crimes and told they are going to be rehabilitated. In truth they are tortured and some are even killed.
House of Whipcord was an interesting film. I can definitely see how people were disturbed by it in 1974. 3/5
Chillerama (2011)
It's closing night at the last drive-in in America and four movies are on the reels to be shown: Wadzilla, I was a Teenage Werebear, The Diary of Anne Frankenstein and Zom-B-Movie. All promising to be in very bad taste.
And they did not disappoint! I cringed and squirmed my way through the first three, but I turned it off at the start of the fourth and final short film. Too gross. And I can put up with a lot. 2/5
Humanoids From the Deep (1980)
Half-men, half-fish monsters terrorize a small fishing town.
Total camp and fun. Horny half-fish-men? One of my husband's favorites and if I don't give it a five, I'll never hear the end of it. So let's compromise and say 4.5/5
Satan's Little Helper (2004)
A little boy accidentally helps a serial killer, who is dressed up like a character from his favorite video game, on Halloween.
Satan's Little Helper is pretty silly, but it was actually a good idea. All kids (and some adults I know) would totally geek out if they met their video game idol. It was an easy, mindless watch. 4/5
Grave Secrets (1989)
A professor of psychic phenomena helps a woman investigate the unusual occurrences surrounding the bed and breakfast she owns.
This was a decent ghost story. It was interesting enough that the lack of scares kept me watching. 3/5
Gildersleeve's Ghost (1944)
Throckmorton Gildersleeve is running for public office so who better to help him out than the ghosts of his ancestors? Except idea of helping is to get him involved with a mad scientist, a giant gorilla, and a (sometimes) invisible woman.
My kids and I watched this movie together and laughed the whole way through. It was basically just good clean fun. 4/5
The Smiling Ghost (1941)
Elinor Bentley Fairchild is one unlucky woman. All of her previous beaus have met a tragic and untimely end due to the Smiling Ghost. Now the Fairchild family has hired "Lucky" Downing to pretend to be her latest fiancee to get to the bottom of this mystery.
Another oldie but a goody, The Smiling Ghost was funny with a touch of mystery. 4/5
Maximum Overdrive (1986)
Based on the Stephen King story, Trucks, the movie is about what happens when a mysterious comet allows machines to come to life and terrorize the people of Earth. A group of survivors try to wait it out in a tiny truck stop.
Another of my husband's favorites, Maximum Overdrive is not necessarily a Halloween movie because there are no monsters in the traditional sense, but rather it is scary because the terror comes from objects we take for granted. 4.5/5
The Fog (1980)
Ghosts in a killer fog come seeking their revenge on the 100th anniversary of the night of their ship wreck. They won't rest until they claim their quota of soles.
The Fog is a good campfire story. That's the feel behind this movie for me. When you can cuddle up and watch a scary story that has lasted through the years, you know you have something good. 4/5
Tucker and Dale vs Evil (2010)
Tucker and Dale are two hillbillies trying to get some work done on their vacation home out in the middle of the woods. After a misunderstanding with some college kids, the bodies start piling up.
This is one of our favorites and it kicked off our Monster Movie Marathon. 5/5
Cockneys vs Zombies (2012)
A group of bank robbers have to fight through waves of zombies in East London in order to get back to their grandfather's retirement home and save him.
Another of our annual favorites. 5/5
The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
An alien and his robot land on Earth with a message of peace to give the world leaders. But the alien is wounded so he decides to try a different approach.
This is the movie that brought us Klaatu Barada Nikto. What more do you want? 4/5
World War Z (2013)
A world wide zombie epidemic has broken out. Gerry Lane is on a mission to help find the cure.
I know some people didn't like the fast moving zombies of WWZ, but I did. I think it made them even more frightening. I haven't read this book by Max Brooks, yet, but I did enjoy this film. 4/5
Strippers vs Werewolves (2012)
The head of a local werewolf pack is killed in a strip club, giving the strippers until the next full moon to prepare for their revenge.
Um, it was a lot better than I thought it would be. The dialogue was actually pretty funny and very tongue in cheek. I could have lived without some of the choices in cinematography and music, but otherwise, eh. 2/5
Halloween (1978)
Michael Meyers escapes from an asylum and terrorizes the babysitters of Haddonfield on Halloween night.
Another classic! 5/5
Halloween 2 (1981)
Laurie has been hospitalized from the injuries she sustained by Michael Meyers. Meanwhile, the hunt for the killer continues.
Too bad the series was never better after this. 4/5
Hell Comes to Frog Town (1988)
Much of the world has been rendered infertile after a nuclear war. Sam Hell, a prisoner, has been tasked with the terrible duty of mating with the few remaining fertile females. However, he and his sexy escorts need to rescue them from Frog Town first.
This was nothing but pure 80's camp and cheese. The only scary thing here was the fact that we actually enjoyed watching this B movie. 2/5
Poltergeist (1982)
A family's home becomes haunted by ghosts. They appear harmless at first but eventually become more aggressive and kidnap their young daughter.
This was the movie that ended our Monster Movie Marathon. The perfect ending to a perfect horror movie season. 5/5
To make the rating game easy, I decided to rate the movies on a 1 through 5 scale; 1 being the worst and 5 being the best. But of course, do not let my ratings keep you from watching any of these gems next horror season or any season. Happy Watching!
(In the order in which we watched them...)
You're Next (2011)
A family comes under attack during an anniversary party by a group of masked murderers. Unfortunately for them, one of the guests is better at killing than they are.
You're Next was not that bad. Gory? Yes. Fun to watch? Yes. It was well written and even decently acted, for a slasher flick. 4/5
Tormented (2011)
Daigo has become withdrawn and has formed a strong attachment to a stuffed rabbit. His sister, Kiriko, can't talk and is having trouble trying to convince her father to help. Kiriko has to enter a dangerous dream world when Daigo goes missing in order to discover the truth about her life.
Tormented was a little out there for me. I can see how fans of Japanese horror films would dig on this. In fact my husband enjoyed it more than I, but I had a hard time getting into it. 3/5
The Initiation (1984)
College student Kelly is to be initiated into the Delta Ro Kai sorority. While performing the prank in order to get into the sorority, a killer begins picking all the initiates off one by one.
A classic '80s horror film, that's for sure. It had it all; the hair, the boobs, the gratuitous sex. It was very predictable but fun to watch. But I'm a sucker for the classics. 3/5
Big Ass Spider (2013)
The military creates a killer spider (what?!?!) that grows bigger every time it eats. Eventually it grows so big that even the military can't kill it. It is up to a handful of scientists, and one exterminator, to take it down.
One word, Jose. The banter of the two main characters, Alex and Jose, was what made this movie worth watching. They were hilarious. 3/5
The Town That Dreaded Sundown (1976)
Loosely based on a true story, a Texas Ranger hunts down a serial killer who was terrorizing residents in Texarkana, Texas in 1946.
If you ever get a chance to read up on the true story, it is pretty fascinating. 4/5
13 Sins (2014)
Preying on those who have fallen on desperate times, a game show host calls Elliot and gives him tasks to complete, each with an increasing monetary reward. Each task gets more and more gruesome until Elliot is under threat of incarceration until he finishes the game. And earns the big pay out.
Very good and original idea. It was well written, well acted, and well directed. In fact we shared this one with friends at our Monster Movie Marathon. 5/5
The House of the Devil (2009)
College student Samantha takes a babysitting job at a large and isolated house during a total lunar eclipse. As the night wears on, she begins to realize that her clients are devil worshipers and she has been lured there as a sacrifice.
This was very slow to develop. Very slow. But if you happen to watch it, you may recognize an actor from You're Next. 2/5
ATM (2012)
Three people are trapped in an ATM kiosk overnight by a deranged killer.
I saw about twenty plot holes in this movie, but it was still fun to watch. Plus I was pissed at not ever finding out the killer's motives! I hate that! 1/5
Haunt (2013)
A family moves into a house where a tragedy had befallen the previous tenants. The teen-aged boy of the family befriends the girl next door. They start fooling around with a radio that can communicate with the dead and strange things start happening in the house.
I thought it moved too slowly and was too predictable in its jumps and scares. Plus I had the ending figured out way ahead of time. But overall still an enjoyable watch. 2/5
Dead Silence (2007)
After his wife is murdered, Jamie returns home for the funeral. The killer is later linked to the ghost of a ventriloquist that hails from his hometown. As he digs into his wife's murder, he discovers a grisly folktale that centers around Mary Shaw, a murdered ventriloquist with a vendetta against his family.
Dead Silence was a really unique story. It was a little far fetched, but it was made nearly believable by the way it was written, directed and performed. 3/5
Bruiser (2000)
After years of being treated badly by his boss, his wife, his friends, his coworker and even his dog, a man wakes up one day with a blank white mask as a face. He uses this anonymity to get revenge on those who have wronged him.
This is a George A. Romero film. Though I don't know that it is technically a horror film, it still has its fair share of blood and sex. He is, after all, a masked killer. 4/5
New Year's Evil (1980)
While hosting a Punk Rock New Year's Eve television show, Diane Sullivan gets a call saying that someone will die when New Year's strikes in each time zone, ending with her.
Again, pure 80's cheese, but I love it. 3/5
Tamara (2005)
Tamara is the nerdy, unattractive girl that doesn't quite fit in. But no one knows that she is a witch. When she dies in a bizarre accident she comes back, sexy and ready to kill.
It's like the Carrie for witch lovers. And actually not too bad. 3/5
Hellgate (2011)
After a terrible accident in which he lost his wife and son, Jeff is now living in the shadow world between life and death. He has frightening visions in which he sees demons and ghosts. Now he has to make the choice to live in the world of the living or join the world of the dead.
I enjoyed the different view Hellgate took on the underworld. Another very slow moving movie.3/5
Donovan's Brain (1953)
Dr. Patrick Cory and his wife have been experimenting with brains. When they are unable to save the life of millionaire, Mr. Donovan, they keep his brain to experiment on it as well. Donovan's brain establishes a link with Dr. Cory's brain and uses Cory to seek revenge on his enemies.
A classic movie from the 1950's, Donovan's Brain was fun to watch. What I didn't like was the surprise ending. I felt like I had the carpet pulled out from under me. I like to have some hint at what is going on. 3/5
House of Whipcord (1974)
Young, beautiful girls are lured to an isolated mansion by a handsome young man, Mark E. Desade. Once there, they are forbidden to leave, charged with ludicrous crimes and told they are going to be rehabilitated. In truth they are tortured and some are even killed.
House of Whipcord was an interesting film. I can definitely see how people were disturbed by it in 1974. 3/5
Chillerama (2011)
It's closing night at the last drive-in in America and four movies are on the reels to be shown: Wadzilla, I was a Teenage Werebear, The Diary of Anne Frankenstein and Zom-B-Movie. All promising to be in very bad taste.
And they did not disappoint! I cringed and squirmed my way through the first three, but I turned it off at the start of the fourth and final short film. Too gross. And I can put up with a lot. 2/5
Humanoids From the Deep (1980)
Half-men, half-fish monsters terrorize a small fishing town.
Total camp and fun. Horny half-fish-men? One of my husband's favorites and if I don't give it a five, I'll never hear the end of it. So let's compromise and say 4.5/5
Satan's Little Helper (2004)
A little boy accidentally helps a serial killer, who is dressed up like a character from his favorite video game, on Halloween.
Satan's Little Helper is pretty silly, but it was actually a good idea. All kids (and some adults I know) would totally geek out if they met their video game idol. It was an easy, mindless watch. 4/5
Grave Secrets (1989)
A professor of psychic phenomena helps a woman investigate the unusual occurrences surrounding the bed and breakfast she owns.
This was a decent ghost story. It was interesting enough that the lack of scares kept me watching. 3/5
Gildersleeve's Ghost (1944)
Throckmorton Gildersleeve is running for public office so who better to help him out than the ghosts of his ancestors? Except idea of helping is to get him involved with a mad scientist, a giant gorilla, and a (sometimes) invisible woman.
My kids and I watched this movie together and laughed the whole way through. It was basically just good clean fun. 4/5
The Smiling Ghost (1941)
Elinor Bentley Fairchild is one unlucky woman. All of her previous beaus have met a tragic and untimely end due to the Smiling Ghost. Now the Fairchild family has hired "Lucky" Downing to pretend to be her latest fiancee to get to the bottom of this mystery.
Another oldie but a goody, The Smiling Ghost was funny with a touch of mystery. 4/5
Maximum Overdrive (1986)
Based on the Stephen King story, Trucks, the movie is about what happens when a mysterious comet allows machines to come to life and terrorize the people of Earth. A group of survivors try to wait it out in a tiny truck stop.
Another of my husband's favorites, Maximum Overdrive is not necessarily a Halloween movie because there are no monsters in the traditional sense, but rather it is scary because the terror comes from objects we take for granted. 4.5/5
The Fog (1980)
Ghosts in a killer fog come seeking their revenge on the 100th anniversary of the night of their ship wreck. They won't rest until they claim their quota of soles.
The Fog is a good campfire story. That's the feel behind this movie for me. When you can cuddle up and watch a scary story that has lasted through the years, you know you have something good. 4/5
Tucker and Dale vs Evil (2010)
Tucker and Dale are two hillbillies trying to get some work done on their vacation home out in the middle of the woods. After a misunderstanding with some college kids, the bodies start piling up.
This is one of our favorites and it kicked off our Monster Movie Marathon. 5/5
Cockneys vs Zombies (2012)
A group of bank robbers have to fight through waves of zombies in East London in order to get back to their grandfather's retirement home and save him.
Another of our annual favorites. 5/5
The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
An alien and his robot land on Earth with a message of peace to give the world leaders. But the alien is wounded so he decides to try a different approach.
This is the movie that brought us Klaatu Barada Nikto. What more do you want? 4/5
World War Z (2013)
A world wide zombie epidemic has broken out. Gerry Lane is on a mission to help find the cure.
I know some people didn't like the fast moving zombies of WWZ, but I did. I think it made them even more frightening. I haven't read this book by Max Brooks, yet, but I did enjoy this film. 4/5
Strippers vs Werewolves (2012)
The head of a local werewolf pack is killed in a strip club, giving the strippers until the next full moon to prepare for their revenge.
Um, it was a lot better than I thought it would be. The dialogue was actually pretty funny and very tongue in cheek. I could have lived without some of the choices in cinematography and music, but otherwise, eh. 2/5
Halloween (1978)
Michael Meyers escapes from an asylum and terrorizes the babysitters of Haddonfield on Halloween night.
Another classic! 5/5
Halloween 2 (1981)
Laurie has been hospitalized from the injuries she sustained by Michael Meyers. Meanwhile, the hunt for the killer continues.
Too bad the series was never better after this. 4/5
Hell Comes to Frog Town (1988)
Much of the world has been rendered infertile after a nuclear war. Sam Hell, a prisoner, has been tasked with the terrible duty of mating with the few remaining fertile females. However, he and his sexy escorts need to rescue them from Frog Town first.
This was nothing but pure 80's camp and cheese. The only scary thing here was the fact that we actually enjoyed watching this B movie. 2/5
Poltergeist (1982)
A family's home becomes haunted by ghosts. They appear harmless at first but eventually become more aggressive and kidnap their young daughter.
This was the movie that ended our Monster Movie Marathon. The perfect ending to a perfect horror movie season. 5/5
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Outlander {Season1} (2014-?)
A new original series on Starz that I absolutely fell in love with this year was Outlander. This is story of a woman who finds love, war and passion in 18th century Scotland. Not so unusual, you say? What if I told you that she had traveled back in time 200 years to find herself thrust into this new life? That is what happened to main character, Claire Randall, in Diana Gabaldon's historical romance/fantasy novels (though they are really not pinned down to any genre) in the stunning new drama produced by the Starz network.
The Premise
Outlander is a tale of war nurse, Claire Randall, who is suddenly transported back in time 200 years in the Scottish Highlands while on a second honeymoon with her husband, Frank Randall. Unable to find her way back to her own time, she is whisked away by a clan of Highlanders who eventually take her in. Over the course of events, Claire is forced to marry outlawed Scotsman Jaime Fraser and her heart is torn between the future and the past.
My Take
Right off the bat I was excited that the show stayed so close to the first book, Outlander, and I hope it continues to do so. It would be a shame to have another True Blood debacle on our hands. The costumes were gorgeous, the settings were breathtaking, and the casting was superb.
Irish actress Caitriona Balfe plays Claire Randall, the war nurse married to Frank Randall (Tobias Menzies) in 1945. They are on vacation in the Scottish Highlands, getting to know each other once again after being separated during the war for a number of years. Frank is doing genealogical research and Claire is interested in the local flora and their healing properties.
After spying on a local chapter's ancient Druid ritual, Claire falls through a crack in time and ends up in 1743 Scotland, a very violent time in their history. The first person she meets is a Captain Jack Randall (also played very convincingly by Menzies), her husband's forefather. He attacks her and she she is rescued by men of the clan MacKenzie. The clansmen take her in, fearing she is an English spy and take her back to their stronghold, Castle Leoch.
But even the English are wary of this stranger among the Scottish. In order to avoid arrest, Claire must marry a Scotsman. Enter the young handsome outlaw, Jaime Fraser played by Sam Heughan. Jaime's conniving Uncle Dougal (Graham McTavish) arranges the marriage. The two are forced into the agreement, but neither expected to fall in love. Claire is now torn between two times, the one she came from and the one with the man she is falling in love with.
Claire makes one more attempt at escape, to get back to her own time, and is captured by Captain Jack Randall's men once again. She is being questioned and threatened with imprisonment and Jaime is the only one who can save her. That is where we leave off at the mid-series finale. Dangit!
The Verdict
There are so many other elements to the story that could be discussed. So many side characters have their own motives and reasons to see Claire and Jamie harmed or even dead. Lotte Verbeek plays the mysterious Geillis Duncan, with her underlying motives and secrets and dark looks. Gary Lewis as Colum MacKenzie is wonderful as the powerful mind behind the clan. Not to mention the special effects that went in to making his legs look as crippled as they did. And of course Stephen Walters and Duncan Lacroix as the men behind the men, adding their support, strength and much needed comic relief to a sometimes heavy drama.
I enjoyed Outlander very much. I recommend this show for those show enjoy history, romance, fantasy and Scottish men (and liked the first book of the series). I think a lot still remains to be seen, though, considering this series is based on existing text and many more stories yet to come. However I am very optimistic because they are off to such a good start. I can't wait until the show picks up again in April. I give Outlander at least 175/200 years. Good Show!
And if you guys are interested in giving this writer a little sneak peak, I promise my lips are sealed!
The Premise
Outlander is a tale of war nurse, Claire Randall, who is suddenly transported back in time 200 years in the Scottish Highlands while on a second honeymoon with her husband, Frank Randall. Unable to find her way back to her own time, she is whisked away by a clan of Highlanders who eventually take her in. Over the course of events, Claire is forced to marry outlawed Scotsman Jaime Fraser and her heart is torn between the future and the past.
My Take
Right off the bat I was excited that the show stayed so close to the first book, Outlander, and I hope it continues to do so. It would be a shame to have another True Blood debacle on our hands. The costumes were gorgeous, the settings were breathtaking, and the casting was superb.
Irish actress Caitriona Balfe plays Claire Randall, the war nurse married to Frank Randall (Tobias Menzies) in 1945. They are on vacation in the Scottish Highlands, getting to know each other once again after being separated during the war for a number of years. Frank is doing genealogical research and Claire is interested in the local flora and their healing properties.
After spying on a local chapter's ancient Druid ritual, Claire falls through a crack in time and ends up in 1743 Scotland, a very violent time in their history. The first person she meets is a Captain Jack Randall (also played very convincingly by Menzies), her husband's forefather. He attacks her and she she is rescued by men of the clan MacKenzie. The clansmen take her in, fearing she is an English spy and take her back to their stronghold, Castle Leoch.
But even the English are wary of this stranger among the Scottish. In order to avoid arrest, Claire must marry a Scotsman. Enter the young handsome outlaw, Jaime Fraser played by Sam Heughan. Jaime's conniving Uncle Dougal (Graham McTavish) arranges the marriage. The two are forced into the agreement, but neither expected to fall in love. Claire is now torn between two times, the one she came from and the one with the man she is falling in love with.
Claire makes one more attempt at escape, to get back to her own time, and is captured by Captain Jack Randall's men once again. She is being questioned and threatened with imprisonment and Jaime is the only one who can save her. That is where we leave off at the mid-series finale. Dangit!
The Verdict
There are so many other elements to the story that could be discussed. So many side characters have their own motives and reasons to see Claire and Jamie harmed or even dead. Lotte Verbeek plays the mysterious Geillis Duncan, with her underlying motives and secrets and dark looks. Gary Lewis as Colum MacKenzie is wonderful as the powerful mind behind the clan. Not to mention the special effects that went in to making his legs look as crippled as they did. And of course Stephen Walters and Duncan Lacroix as the men behind the men, adding their support, strength and much needed comic relief to a sometimes heavy drama.
I enjoyed Outlander very much. I recommend this show for those show enjoy history, romance, fantasy and Scottish men (and liked the first book of the series). I think a lot still remains to be seen, though, considering this series is based on existing text and many more stories yet to come. However I am very optimistic because they are off to such a good start. I can't wait until the show picks up again in April. I give Outlander at least 175/200 years. Good Show!
And if you guys are interested in giving this writer a little sneak peak, I promise my lips are sealed!
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
God's Not Dead (2014), The Unbelievers (2013)
Often you will watch a set of movies and notice that they have an actor or a director in common and think, "Huh, what a coincidence?" Less often, you will find a set a movies that are meant to challenge your beliefs with a common theme. Even less often, those same movies will also have names in common. The names, in this case, happen to be those of real life people. In the case of God's Not Dead and The Unbelievers I found that both films were too similar in too many ways to avoid speaking of them separately.
The Premise
In God's Not Dead, a college student finds it difficult to sign a statement in a philosophy class saying that "God is Dead". The professor, an Atheist, gives the Christian student a chance to state his case that God is in fact alive. But if he fails to convince the class, he fails the course.
The Unbelievers features famous scientists Richard Dawkins and Lawrence Krauss who are traveling the globe to spread their message that approaching things scientifically and through reason, thus casting off religious and political views, could improve the modern world.
My Take
God's Not Dead provides a powerful message about faith in God. Kevin Sorbo plays Professor Radisson, who in the movie is a self proclaimed Atheist and wants his students to sign a paper stating that God is dead so that there will be no further discussion of God in his philosophy class. Shane Harper plays the student who, because of his faith in God, cannot bring himself to do so. Radisson gives Josh Wheaton (Harper) a chance to prove his case or fail the course. Josh takes him on despite the odds.
In his arguments, Josh mentions many scientists by name, both past and present, most of whom are renowned Atheists in order to prove his stance that God is not dead. Many of the people this character mentions are in the documentary film, The Unbelievers. In The Unbelievers, Richard Dawkins and Lawrence Krauss are speaking publicly about living life through reason. And part of their reason is that religion is not reasonable and therefore there can be no supreme being.
An interesting dynamic in The Unbelievers is the different faces that Dawkins and Krauss give to Atheism. Dawkins is very adamant and aggressive about his belief that there is no God whereas Krauss is more scientific in his approach and therefore comes across as more approachable. There were also many surprising interviews from celebrities that support their point of view, some quiet and soft spoken, others loud and combative.
The Verdict
Religion isn't something you can put a number on. Both sides are clearly craving more attention. Toward the end of The Unbelievers there was footage from the 'Rally for Reason', a gathering of extremely well known (and not so well known) Atheists. I would never go so far as to call this a revival, in a church sense, but it was definitely a way for people with a common belief system to get together and share their feelings and their message. Christians are happy to have more movies going mainstream, like God's Not Dead. They want their message to get out as well. But what bothers me about both sides is the anger and fear. Why are we so afraid?
If we can both find a way past this, I'll give you as many Darwin fish and Christian crosses as you can carry.
This coming from someone who went to college for Forensic Science and is a Christian.
The Premise
In God's Not Dead, a college student finds it difficult to sign a statement in a philosophy class saying that "God is Dead". The professor, an Atheist, gives the Christian student a chance to state his case that God is in fact alive. But if he fails to convince the class, he fails the course.
The Unbelievers features famous scientists Richard Dawkins and Lawrence Krauss who are traveling the globe to spread their message that approaching things scientifically and through reason, thus casting off religious and political views, could improve the modern world.
My Take
God's Not Dead provides a powerful message about faith in God. Kevin Sorbo plays Professor Radisson, who in the movie is a self proclaimed Atheist and wants his students to sign a paper stating that God is dead so that there will be no further discussion of God in his philosophy class. Shane Harper plays the student who, because of his faith in God, cannot bring himself to do so. Radisson gives Josh Wheaton (Harper) a chance to prove his case or fail the course. Josh takes him on despite the odds.
In his arguments, Josh mentions many scientists by name, both past and present, most of whom are renowned Atheists in order to prove his stance that God is not dead. Many of the people this character mentions are in the documentary film, The Unbelievers. In The Unbelievers, Richard Dawkins and Lawrence Krauss are speaking publicly about living life through reason. And part of their reason is that religion is not reasonable and therefore there can be no supreme being.
An interesting dynamic in The Unbelievers is the different faces that Dawkins and Krauss give to Atheism. Dawkins is very adamant and aggressive about his belief that there is no God whereas Krauss is more scientific in his approach and therefore comes across as more approachable. There were also many surprising interviews from celebrities that support their point of view, some quiet and soft spoken, others loud and combative.
The Verdict
Religion isn't something you can put a number on. Both sides are clearly craving more attention. Toward the end of The Unbelievers there was footage from the 'Rally for Reason', a gathering of extremely well known (and not so well known) Atheists. I would never go so far as to call this a revival, in a church sense, but it was definitely a way for people with a common belief system to get together and share their feelings and their message. Christians are happy to have more movies going mainstream, like God's Not Dead. They want their message to get out as well. But what bothers me about both sides is the anger and fear. Why are we so afraid?
If we can both find a way past this, I'll give you as many Darwin fish and Christian crosses as you can carry.
This coming from someone who went to college for Forensic Science and is a Christian.
Thursday, September 4, 2014
The History of Future Folk (2012)
There are some movies out there that still have the ability to surprise you. The History of Future Folk is an independent film, which you know I have a penchant for, that manages to be quirky, romantic, touching and even absurd at times, yet rolls it all together in a script that works. Whether it's the dry delivery of the main character, the clueless nature of his sidekick or the catchy tunes of their songs, The History of Future Folk managed to get me swept up in their story line all the way through till the end.
The Premise
The History of Future Folk is quite literally the history of the folk duo, Future Folk. After crash landing on our planet, General Trius of the planet Hondo, abandons his mission to destroy Earth's inhabitants after discovering one of our greatest commodities, music. General Trius goes on to change his identity, marry an Earth woman and raise a family. When fellow Hondonian, Kevin, is sent to assassinate him, things get even stranger.
My Take
One of the things that makes this movie so successful is the dry, deadpan delivery of Nils d'Aulaire. d'Aulaire is General Trius who has taken on the identity of Bill Hunt. When he crashed on Earth, his planet was on a collision course with a killer comet and taking over Earth was their only salvation. However, General Trius heard music for the first time before he could release a virus that would wipe out Earth's population. After falling in love with music he fell in love with Holly (Julie Ann Emery) and settled down.
The years goes by and Hondo's eminent destruction is still looming. They send an assassin to kill General Trius, who has made a happy life for himself on Earth moonlighting as a folk musician. Fellow Hondonian Kevin comes to Earth and fails miserably at the assassination attempt. He is captured by General Trius who introduces him to music for the first time. Jay Klaitz, who plays Kevin, does the greatest job acting like a full grown man who is hearing sounds put together in such a way for the very first time.
In fact he is so impressed, he runs out and learns to play the guitar and sing and write songs overnight in order to join his new friend on stage. They form the duo, Future Folk, and that is the history of Future Folk. But the movie doesn't end there. Hondo is still on a collision course with a killer comet, another assassin alien is coming after the virus, General Trius (AKA Bill Hunt) has to win his family back and Kevin needs to win the heart of the Earth woman he loves (April L. Hernandez).
The Verdict
The History of Future Folk is a surprising must see. When it first started and I saw General Trius put on his bright red costume before going onstage, I decided to give the movie my requisite fifteen more minutes before giving up on it. And I'm glad I did. Turns out the goofy red costumes are a pivotal part of the plot and they are actually quite endearing. Future Folk are very talented musicians and songwriters. Their songs are witty and goofy and their stringed instrument playing is impressive. I give The History of Future Folk 2/2 Aliens From Hondo. My only regret is that I didn't discover them until after they went on tour.
The Premise
The History of Future Folk is quite literally the history of the folk duo, Future Folk. After crash landing on our planet, General Trius of the planet Hondo, abandons his mission to destroy Earth's inhabitants after discovering one of our greatest commodities, music. General Trius goes on to change his identity, marry an Earth woman and raise a family. When fellow Hondonian, Kevin, is sent to assassinate him, things get even stranger.
My Take
One of the things that makes this movie so successful is the dry, deadpan delivery of Nils d'Aulaire. d'Aulaire is General Trius who has taken on the identity of Bill Hunt. When he crashed on Earth, his planet was on a collision course with a killer comet and taking over Earth was their only salvation. However, General Trius heard music for the first time before he could release a virus that would wipe out Earth's population. After falling in love with music he fell in love with Holly (Julie Ann Emery) and settled down.
The years goes by and Hondo's eminent destruction is still looming. They send an assassin to kill General Trius, who has made a happy life for himself on Earth moonlighting as a folk musician. Fellow Hondonian Kevin comes to Earth and fails miserably at the assassination attempt. He is captured by General Trius who introduces him to music for the first time. Jay Klaitz, who plays Kevin, does the greatest job acting like a full grown man who is hearing sounds put together in such a way for the very first time.
In fact he is so impressed, he runs out and learns to play the guitar and sing and write songs overnight in order to join his new friend on stage. They form the duo, Future Folk, and that is the history of Future Folk. But the movie doesn't end there. Hondo is still on a collision course with a killer comet, another assassin alien is coming after the virus, General Trius (AKA Bill Hunt) has to win his family back and Kevin needs to win the heart of the Earth woman he loves (April L. Hernandez).
The Verdict
The History of Future Folk is a surprising must see. When it first started and I saw General Trius put on his bright red costume before going onstage, I decided to give the movie my requisite fifteen more minutes before giving up on it. And I'm glad I did. Turns out the goofy red costumes are a pivotal part of the plot and they are actually quite endearing. Future Folk are very talented musicians and songwriters. Their songs are witty and goofy and their stringed instrument playing is impressive. I give The History of Future Folk 2/2 Aliens From Hondo. My only regret is that I didn't discover them until after they went on tour.
Sunday, August 3, 2014
My Night With Paramore... Sort Of
My family thinks I have an uncanny ability for winning tickets on the radio. And maybe I do. I won tickets to AstroWorld (once upon a time ago) and about half a dozen concerts over the years. So I guess my sister wasn't terribly surprised when I called her inviting her to join me on a Meet and Greet with Paramore. I may have been lucky before, winning just the nosebleeds and lawn seats, but this would be my first Meet and Greet and I was stoked.
The instructions given to me by DJ Lauren from Mix 96.5 were to be at the Woodlands Pavilion by 4 o'clock, so of course there was an accident en route and we were ten minutes late. Fortunately for my sister and I, we were the first of our group to arrive, ahead of even the lady from the record label; so all we had to do was wait.
And wait.
And wait.
Fortunately we had some good company from Caren and Kelsey from two local radio stations. We exchanged stories of past concerts and favorite bands while they continued to pass out their respective merchandise and take pictures of fans. Seriously, these two girls are awesome.
I think the problem with winning tickets as opposed to buying a really expensive merchandise packet is that (for obvious reasons) we get pushed aside like the red-headed step child. I was told to go Will Call when we arrived. Will Call didn't know what I was talking about and didn't have a list of winners' names and directed me to the VIP table. The VIP table didn't have me on their list and said that radio winners would go in separately and to just "mill about". The people at the radio booths didn't have my name either. It was all up to poor Nadia from the record label who had gotten stuck even further behind the same wreck than we had.
When Nadia finally arrived (safe and sound) we got our wrist bands and felt official. But not as official as those lucky jerks in the merchandise line that had VIP passes dangling around their necks like shiny little nooses. Those guys got to go in first, with their little bag of swag. I really wanted a bag of swag. We got to stand in the hot August sun for yet another hour sans noose and bag of swag.
When the time finally came to meet Paramore we were herded in, searched for illegal contraband (that we could have successfully hidden away in our sweaty clothes for the last two hours), and allowed entry to the Pavilion. Where we stood waiting around for another half hour.
Here is where we were given a lecture about how to act when we finally met the band. In order to keep the spread of germs down (they were currently battling the flu backstage), we couldn't shake hands or hug anyone. And unfortunately for this writer we wouldn't have time to ask any questions because of the tight schedule. Bummer. By this time the venue was about to open up to ticket holders and I definitely wanted to get a good spot out on the lawn, so I guess I couldn't complain too much. So here we are, two and a half hours after arriving at the Pavilion and we are about to meet Paramore!
And we did. And they seemed super friendly and happy to see their fans. I would have loved to have been able to have a true meet and greet but this was still pretty awesome. Plus I got an autographed picture.
After the Meet and Greet, my sister and I found some great spots out on the lawn with the free tickets I scored off the radio and had an absolute blast. I have to say, there are some mighty inappropriately dressed teenagers out there. But then, I guess I'm just showing my age. I did once win tickets to AstroWorld, after all.
The Verdict
The Meet and Greet could have been better organized and had the stations not been on top of things, the whole thing could have fallen apart. But in the end it was, without a doubt, very exciting to meet three people whose music you love and helps to inspire you in your own creative life. The members of Paramore seemed to be smiling because they were genuinely happy to see the fans that make their success possible. Not to mention, the concert was fantastic. New Politics opened up and Fall Out Boy closed it out. New Politics was amazing and made me a new fan out of me. I give Paramore 3/3 members for a giving us a show we won't soon forget.
However, the Woodlands used to be one of my favorite venues, but considering I spent $7.50 on a bottle of water and $15 on parking, my concert days are few and far between. The Woodlands gets a solid 0/$22.50 for gouging us on ridiculous prices. For shame. Take a hint from Fall Out Boy, and Save Rock and Roll by making it more accessible. Music is for everyone.
The instructions given to me by DJ Lauren from Mix 96.5 were to be at the Woodlands Pavilion by 4 o'clock, so of course there was an accident en route and we were ten minutes late. Fortunately for my sister and I, we were the first of our group to arrive, ahead of even the lady from the record label; so all we had to do was wait.
And wait.
And wait.
Fortunately we had some good company from Caren and Kelsey from two local radio stations. We exchanged stories of past concerts and favorite bands while they continued to pass out their respective merchandise and take pictures of fans. Seriously, these two girls are awesome.
I think the problem with winning tickets as opposed to buying a really expensive merchandise packet is that (for obvious reasons) we get pushed aside like the red-headed step child. I was told to go Will Call when we arrived. Will Call didn't know what I was talking about and didn't have a list of winners' names and directed me to the VIP table. The VIP table didn't have me on their list and said that radio winners would go in separately and to just "mill about". The people at the radio booths didn't have my name either. It was all up to poor Nadia from the record label who had gotten stuck even further behind the same wreck than we had.
When Nadia finally arrived (safe and sound) we got our wrist bands and felt official. But not as official as those lucky jerks in the merchandise line that had VIP passes dangling around their necks like shiny little nooses. Those guys got to go in first, with their little bag of swag. I really wanted a bag of swag. We got to stand in the hot August sun for yet another hour sans noose and bag of swag.
When the time finally came to meet Paramore we were herded in, searched for illegal contraband (that we could have successfully hidden away in our sweaty clothes for the last two hours), and allowed entry to the Pavilion. Where we stood waiting around for another half hour.
Here is where we were given a lecture about how to act when we finally met the band. In order to keep the spread of germs down (they were currently battling the flu backstage), we couldn't shake hands or hug anyone. And unfortunately for this writer we wouldn't have time to ask any questions because of the tight schedule. Bummer. By this time the venue was about to open up to ticket holders and I definitely wanted to get a good spot out on the lawn, so I guess I couldn't complain too much. So here we are, two and a half hours after arriving at the Pavilion and we are about to meet Paramore!
And we did. And they seemed super friendly and happy to see their fans. I would have loved to have been able to have a true meet and greet but this was still pretty awesome. Plus I got an autographed picture.
 |
| Jeremy, me, Hayley, my sister, Taylor Paramore picture property of Laura Romero |
The Verdict
The Meet and Greet could have been better organized and had the stations not been on top of things, the whole thing could have fallen apart. But in the end it was, without a doubt, very exciting to meet three people whose music you love and helps to inspire you in your own creative life. The members of Paramore seemed to be smiling because they were genuinely happy to see the fans that make their success possible. Not to mention, the concert was fantastic. New Politics opened up and Fall Out Boy closed it out. New Politics was amazing and made me a new fan out of me. I give Paramore 3/3 members for a giving us a show we won't soon forget.
However, the Woodlands used to be one of my favorite venues, but considering I spent $7.50 on a bottle of water and $15 on parking, my concert days are few and far between. The Woodlands gets a solid 0/$22.50 for gouging us on ridiculous prices. For shame. Take a hint from Fall Out Boy, and Save Rock and Roll by making it more accessible. Music is for everyone.
 |
| Fall Out Boy picture by Laura Romero |
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