Hereafter-October 29, 2010

What happens after we die? Is it fade to black, the end or does something else await beyond our time here on Earth? These are the basic questions posed in the new Clint Eastwood movie Hereafter. The film follows 3 different characters as each is affected by death in different ways. Matt Damon stars as George Lonegan as a man who suffered an illness as a youth that left him with psychic abilities. He has come to believe this ability is more a curse than a gift and is determined he cannot use his "gift" any longer if he is ever to lead a normal life. Meanwhile in Europe a French TV journalist has a near death experience during a tsunami (cool, but scary, special effects sequence here) while on vacation that leaves her shaken and searching for answers. Also, in London, a young boy Marcus loses the person closest to him and needs to find his own answers. The film follows the 3 on their journey that will inevitably lead their lives to intersect.

Hereafter was quite an effective if not sad film. The whole look of the film was pretty somber and there are not many light moments to be had. However, I found myself very involved with these characters and was interested in where the story would take them. The reactions of the people around them was frustrating yet realistic and understandable. The main actors were all extremely likable and sympathetic. Overall, it was a film that leaves room for much discussion and a feeling, for me at least, of hope.

To be honest, though, this was a hard film for me to watch. I suspect this may be true for many members of my family or anyone else who has lost a close loved one. Much of the film I watched on the verge of tears as I could easily identify with the characters and their experiences. It all hits very close to home so just wanted to send that out as a note to family members. Still a very worthwhile film to see. Maybe not a great "Happy Birthday" movie to see.

Anyways, there you have it. My first review of a new movie. Hopefully not bad for a first entry but expect they will get better. As to the rest of my movie experience, parking at the AMC theaters in Fitchburg was awful. You would think the parking lot was covered in snow! And I wonder why when the concession stand used to put butter flavoring on my popcorn they always put some in the middle then finished putting more popcorn in and put more butter on the top but now that we have to put it on ourselves they leave us no way to put it in the middle or salt for that matter! We also had really good previews. Sharon wants to see all the movies we saw previews of. Unfortunately for me, I can't even remember what they were!

Roger

Overrated Horror Films October 26, 2010

At this time of year there are lists and lists of the scariest horror movies of all time. I like to peruse these lists looking for new gems or reminders of something I may have forgotten. Often, though, I find some films that make me think "Really?" So, since I've already listed my personal favorites, I now must list those horror films that others found incredible but I find just an incredible waste of time.

1. The Shining-This had to be the most boring horror film I have ever seen. I had huge expectations after reading the novel and could not wait to see it. So, I sat there with my friend Sandy and my brother Frankie and his then wife Lupe in shivery anticipation. Even had my big bucket of popcorn. Good thing too because this movie seemed really long. Well, I waited and waited to be scared. Never happened. I was impressed with the look of the Overlook hotel because it did fit the description of the novel and the visuals, in general, were pretty good. Unfortunately, that was the only good part. Jack Nicholson overacted beyond belief. What can be said about Shelley Duvall? That the role of her lifetime was Olive Oyl in Popeye? No wonder Nicholson overacted. He had to act for two. And Danny Lloyd and that whole finger "Redrum" thing. Talk about eye rolling. Now, to be fair, I had to abandon the idea that this was the same story told in Stephen King's book and let it stand on it's own. But, for me, it couldn't. There was some suspenseful music that would lead up to...nothing. And I got the whole Jack Torrance slipping into madness due to the isolation of the hotel, and the ghosts goading him on. But I thought he would have been driven crazy long ago living with Shelley Duvall's Wendy Torrance. She was one scary visual.It does pick up toward the end, but by then I had long given up caring. When Nicholson yells, "Wendy, I'm home!" That's where I was wishing I was.

2. The Blair Witch Project-Major disappointment for me again. Maybe it was just one of those cases of too much hype. There was no reasonable way this was going to meet expectations. But, boy, this one did not even come close! Maybe it was the weather. It was a beautiful afternoon in June when I saw it. Maybe it would have played better in the fall. Maybe not. In any event, I thought this movie was really awful. Not even one little shiver. I was very nauseous at the end though. For me, in order for a horror movie to be truly effective I have to care a little bit for the characters. I hated these characters. They were obnoxious. I would have loved to drive them out to the woods and leave them there myself. It was one of those movies where I really did want to yell at the screen, "You should have thought of that before stupid." Luckily I found I was not the only one who this film failed. It was the last movie I was at where members of the audience booed. When the lights started to come on someone in the audience said "Is that it?" and then came the boos. Luckily I had something better to look forward to when the movie was over. I went home and painted my daugter's bedroom.

3. Paranormal Activity-Not much to say about this. Watched it on video. It scared my wife a bit. The best thing that came out of this movie for me was the spoof Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin performed on the Academy Awards.

4. Friday the 13th-I think this is a horror movie but it kind of plays like a comedy. It works better as a comedy. Originally I was afraid to watch it. I thought I might be too scared. Great promotion of this film. Unfortunately the fear of seeing it far outweighed any fear I had while watching it. No good scares, no suspense, no acting. And a terrible Carrie rip-off ending. Of course the whole thing seemed to me to be a Halloween rip off. I did see it at the drive-in but this is the kind of movie that calls for a drive-in viewing. In any event, I think I may have seen part 2 when there was nothing better at the drive-in one year and the rest I may have caught pieces of on cable tv. It's always good for a laugh.

5. The Silence of the Lambs-This one totally surprised me. I thought it was okay. Not really a horror movie. Decent but nothing special. Then came all the acclaim, all the Oscars, all the lists naming it a top horror movie. What!? I still check it out from time to time. However, to me, nothing special. I do love the ending though. It's pretty (intentionally) funny. The rest was kind of predictable. The jump editing between the FBI agents arriving at Buffalo Bill's with Agent Starling arriving to interview another woman. If this was meant to surprise, it didn't work The whole over the top sequence involving Lecter's escape. Gross, but not scary. But, it is a decent movie. Just, again to me, an overrated horror movie.

There are other movies, The Ring for example, that I hated but they were so inconsequential to me that I don't remember enough about them to post anything.

There you have it. My 5 most overrated horror movies. Drop me a comment and let me know what some of your overrated horror movies are!

Roger

Following My Passion October 23, 2010

Okay I decided to work on another blog. I'm still going to keep my exercise blog going as well but I decide to start another one that reflected one of my passions. I'm going to write my own entertainment reviews and post them. Over the years I've had people say I should have been a movie critic. Well isn't almost everyone a movie critic these days? So I decided to do my own and share them with my friends and family. I'm going to write my critiques of movies, tv shows, and books that I've seen or read. Or even revisit some that I've experienced. So hopefully some of you will join me on this journey and post a comment now and then. There will be no regularly time that I post, just when I see something new or the time seems right.

Since this is the Halloween season I'm going to start by giving you my top 10 favorite horror movies. Not necessarily the ones I think are the scariest, just my favorites. Now some people put Jaws in this category but that is an adventure film to me so I will not include it here. Here is my list of films I feel fit into the horror category:

1. The Exorcist (Original Version)-Nothing really comes close for me. What was achieved using make up and good old movie magic (no CGI) was quite impressive. While the visuals help scare you it's the whole good vs. evil aspect, the question of faith, and the fear as parents of our children and the unknown that gets you.

The rest in no particular order:
28 Days Later-First time I saw a movie with fast zombies. The movie kept me on edge from start to finish.

1408-I loved this movie. The whole haunted room, no way out, mind trip. John Cusack was brilliant in a film in which he spent most of the time alone. This movie has as many detractors as fans but, for me, in was an awesome departure from all the torture horror that is released now.

Rosemary's Baby-An all time classic. Horror in the daytime. Is there a witches' cult or just paranoia? Creepy, suspenseful, relatively gore free. Mia Farrow is perfectly cast as Rosemary. One cannot help but feel protective for this small frail waif, trapped in a satanic web with no way out. This one hangs with you long after it's over and has more than stood the test of time.

Nightmare on Elm Street-A world that didn't have to play by any rules since dreams don't have to make sense. Terrifying since anything is possible in a dream. Introduced horror icon Freddie Krueger before he became comic relief. Favorite scene is Johnny Depp getting eaten by the bed.

Carrie-I initially thought that Carrie was more sad than scary until I stopped to think of how some kids are so bullied and pushed to the edge. Plus best horror film ending ever!

Night of the Living Dead-Another classic that has stood the test of time. The low budget and black and white photography gives the whole film a documentary feel. This one is fun to watch late at night in the fall when the house is quiet except for the wind blowing outside. They're coming to get you Barbra!

The Birds-I was pretty young when I saw this on NBC's Saturday Night at the Movies. I can still remember the green giant commercials being a relief to break up the tension. One of the greatest things about this movie is there is no explanation as to why the birds are attacking. Sometimes evil is just evil. Nowadays the special effects seem quite dated but the film still packs quite a wallop the first time you see it. I was finally able to see The Birds on the big screen a couple years ago and it plays far scarier than it does on television.

Frailty-This is one of those movies that was missed by alot of people. The story of a nice, ordinary religious man who one night gets a visit from an angel with a mission from God. He receives a list of people who are inhabited by demons and must destroy them. He has 2 young sons that he has help carry out his mission. One sees him as evil, the other as a hero. This was a small film the came and went pretty quickly but it is well worth a look if you haven't seen it.

Halloween (Original Version)-Great suspense film with very little blood or gore. I saw this at a sneak preview in the fall of 1978. When the film started, with the music playing and the shot of the jack-o-lantern during the credits the audience was laughing and ready for a good time. They got it. I've never been at a film with so much screaming. The film really grabbed the audience and never let go until it was over. I'm not sure it let go then. This film really holds up. Totally.

There are so many horror movies I didn't get to mention here but it's late. Drop a comment listing some of your favorites for the Halloween season. Maybe I'll find a new favorite to add to my list of must sees!

Roger