A recap

Wow, it's been a while since I have last written here. Here are some short bits on the movies I have seen since my last post:
-"Where the Wild Things Are"-big disappointment. Not a lot happens in this movie at all. There are some great visuals, but the film is a bore.
-" "Trick 'r Treat"-boy, did this movie suck. I read reviews that said it was awful that this movie never got a theatrical release. Um, were you all drunk and/or high when you watched this garbage? This has to be one of the worst horror movies ever made, if not the worst.
-"A Christmas Carol"-honestly, I was so tired that I fell asleep. What I saw did not amaze me, though. This story has been done over and over again. The visuals were great, though.
-"The Fourth Kind"-this movie really surprised me. I really enjoyed it, and it was creepy at times.
-"Precious-EXCELLENT movie. Read the book if you're interested-it makes for a good, although unsettling, read.
-"The Box"-boy, was this movie bizarre. I still don't know what to think of it. I do admire Richard Kelly for his creativity. "Donnie Darko" still remains one of my all-time favorite movies.

Paranormal Activity

In an earlier post, I mentioned how much I wanted to see the new movie "Paranormal Activity." This movie had been building buzz for weeks, with critics and everyday moviegoers saying that it was the scariest movie they had ever seen. I had concerns due to its similarity to "The Blair Witch Project," but after seeing it twice (yes, twice) this weekend, I have to say that this is the scariest movie I have ever seen.
I am not easily scared of horror movies. Films like "Saw" (the original, not the crappy, unnecessary sequels) tend to creep me out, but never downright scare me. The original "Halloween" with Jamie Lee Curtis is the only film that ever gave me nightmares to the point where I thought Michael Myers was hiding in my bedroom closet. I never thought another movie would scare me even more. That is, until "Paranormal Activity" came out.
In "Paranormal Activity," we meet Micah and Katie, a couple who live together in a beautiful house in San Diego, California. Ever since she was eight, Katie has been haunted by spirits, or what we later find out might be a demon. Micah buys a video camera to film what goes on in the house at night to see if he can catch any of this activity on video. The result is more than Katie and Micah could have ever imagined.
In 1999, "The Blair Witch Project" took audiences by storm by pretending that it was actual footage of three teenagers who disappeared while exploring a local legend in the woods. The whole film was shot with a handheld camera so it would look like a home movie. "Paranormal Activity" is filmed in the same way, but much more effectively. I found myself disappointed with "Blair Witch" simply because it was nowhere near as scary as everyone had said. The buildup took way too long, and by the time it got scary, it ended. Never did I feel let down with "Paranormal Activity." I have never been so scared in my life, especially with the unforgettable final five minutes.
If you are looking to be scared out of your minds, especially around Halloween time, go see this movie. Do yourself a favor and see it with a big crowd so you can all scream together.

Zombieland

If you haven't seen "Zombieland," go see it...it's hilarious! You are definitely in for a good time with this movie. That's all I feel like writing...sorry. I'm tired.

I'm back

The weeks are so busy, I feel like I have hardly any time to write about movies, which is sad because I could write about movies all day long.
Just some quick notes:
-Go see "Whip It!" It is an awesome movie that shows how awesome Drew Barrymore is, both as an actress and now as a director. I' m sad to see that it did not do well at the box office this weekend. I hope that word of mouth will keep it alive.
-I would REALLY like to see "Paranormal Activity." People are saying it is one of the scariest movies ever made. It does look cool, but at the same time, there are four words that come to mind with this movie: "The Blair Witch Project." I was almost a freshman in high school when that movie came out, and when I first heard about it, there wasn't a movie I wanted to see as much as that. Three people who go into the woods, are never seen again, and then their footage is found and made into a movie? How awesome is that? I did not get to see it right away because I was in overnight camp, and all I could think about was seeing "Blair Witch" when I came home. When I finally saw it, I must admit that I was disappointed. If I wanted to see a bunch of annoying teenagers scream and swear, I could have just waited for my first day of high school. And when the movie finally got scary, it ends. Um...what? I will say that I can appreciate what they tried to do, and for that, I can't say that I hated it.
But back to "Paranormal Activity." This movie looks pretty neat, and I am excited about it. It looks like it could be scary, although hardly any movies these days are scary, so we'll see.

I Love You, Man

On July 17th, 2010, I will marry the most wonderful girl in the world. In the film "I Love You, Man," Peter Klaven (the comically gifted Paul Rudd) is about to do the same. He has only one problem: no one to be his best man. You see, Peter has always been a girlfriend kind of guy, one that fits in better with the ladies. I am basically the same person as Peter Klaven. I have always had more female friends than male friends. So while watching this movie, I felt as if I was watching myself, which made for a unique experience.
In "I Love You, Man," Paul Rudd plays Peter Klaven, who (as mentioned above) is about to marry the girl of his dreams. The catch? No one to be his best man. After an assortment of "man dates," Klaven finally finds a buddy in Sidney Fife (the hilarious Jason Segel). Pretty soon, they become inseparable, almost to the point where it affects Klaven's future marriage.
Paul Rudd and Jason Segel are the perfect comedic team, and together, they help make this one of the most enjoyable films I have ever seen. Rudd's Peter is so awkward, and when you watch him, it makes you uncomfortable to the point where you feel incredibly sorry for the guy. Segel's Sidney is the ultimate "dude," the kind of friend that anyone would want. Definitely check out this movie!

Drew Barrymore

I have loved Drew Barrymore ever since I was little. Movies like "Never Been Kissed," "The Wedding Singer," and "50 First Dates" are a blast, and it's mainly because of how likable she is. With "Grey Gardens" earlier this year, she proved that she could step outside of her normal roles and take on an extremely challenging part. The result was an incredible performance that would have been nominated for an Oscar had the film been released in theaters.
Last evening, Drew Barrymore was nominated for an Emmy for her performance in "Grey Gardens." I must say that I am EXTREMELY disappointed that she lost. Now, I am glad that Jessica Lange won, because she was awesome in the movie as well. I just really wanted to see Barrymore win a major award. Talk about someone who turned her life around and proved that she can truly act and play any part.
Let's just say that I'm psyched for her directorial debut, "Whip It!"

Jennifer's Body

It seems that you no matter where you go these days, you hear about Megan Fox. She's on the cover of Cosmopolitain. She said something bad about Michael Bay. She's hard to work with. Say what you want about her, but she certainly is hard to ignore, whether you like her or not.
Best known for her supporting role in both "Transformers" films, Fox now comes front and center in "Jennifer's Body," a new horror comedy from the academy-award winning writer of Juno, Ms. Diablo Cody. From the previews, one might think that this is an unintelligent movie that uses blood and Fox's looks to serve as entertainment. The result is one hell of a fun movie that had me entertained the whole way through.
Jennifer (Fox) is one of the most popular girls in school, if not THE MOST popular. Needy (Amanda Seyfried of "Mamma Mia!" fame) is her best friend, an incredibly shy girl who normally would not be friends with someone with a social status like Jennifer's. One night, a local indie band plays in a bar in their small town. The bar sets fire, but Needy, Jennifer, and the band make it out alive. Jennifer decides to take a ride in the band's van despite Needy's protests. The Jennifer that comes back is a Jennifer that Needy does not recognize. This Jennifer is now a zombie who feeds on the flesh of boys at school. Needy, unfortunately, is the only one who realizes this.
While "Jennifer's Body" is by no means a classic horror film, it certainly is a fun movie that successfully combines humor with blood, gore, and scares. I'm sad to see that this movie failed at the box office this weekend. Perhaps it was falsely advertised. Perhaps people are becoming sick of Megan Fox. It's a shame, because she certainly is fun to watch. She plays the role of Jennifer well here, and I am excited to see her in upcoming movies.

My life in movies

Is there something that you are extremely passionate about? For me, it's movies.
Ever since I was little, I have loved movies to the near point of obsession. I remember important dates based on when movies were released. I see most movies on opening night or opening weekend. While on the internet, the majority of websites I am on are about movies. I have met Roger Ebert 3 times. I could talk about movies for hours without becoming bored. And it goes on...and on...and on.
I would like to use this blog to express my true love and passion for cinema. To me, movies are the ultimate form of entertainment, the perfect way to escape the real world. Whether you are a film buff or not, I hope you enjoy what you read.