The Strangers

Picture this, someone has broken into your home and is in the process of torturing you, you manage to ask them “why are you doing this ?” and the best answer they can come up with is, “Because you were home.” Pretty twisted answer right? Well, that is what sold me on The Strangers. The Strangers is a 2008 horror film by Bryan Bertino.

At beginning of the film we meet a couple, James and Kristin who have arrived at James’s family vacation home. James had thought they would be celebrating, because he had proposed to Kristin earlier in the evening, but we learn that she has told him no. After arriving at the home there is a knock at the door and shortly thereafter all hell breaks loose.

The Strangers is a realistic horror movie that could happen to anyone and that is what makes it truly horrifying. The storyline is so believable it will have you wondering how you would react if you were in the same situation. While you are watching the movie you feel so much emotion for the characters, especially Kristin, who is played by Liv Tyler.

The cast list is short and we mainly see only the acting abilities of the two main characters.  They both play their roles beautifully. You can actually see the fear on the face of Kristin and hear the anxiety in James’s (Scott Speedman) voice. We never see the faces under the masks of the intruders and they only speak very few words, which makes them that much more scary.

There are times in the film that will have you on the edge of your seat. There are moments where creepy background music is playing, and moments where it is deathly silent; each moment is equally as terrifying. The camera angles put the audience up close and personal with the characters. There are so many different aspects of this movie that make it the best horror movie made in the 2000’s.

This would be the perfect Halloween night flick, or a scary sleepover film. Basically, I would recommend this movie to anyone who loves horror movies. Regardless of who watches it, after they are done, I bet they will be checking their door locks and windows.

Misery

When one hears the genre “horror” they automatically think of blood, guts, slasher, vampire, or ghosts. Misery was directed by Rob Reiner in 1990, and is what I consider a classic horror. It involves the feeling of helplessness on one end, while the other character is suffering psychologically and adds in some violence and struggle to make one of the most memorable horror movies to date.

Paul Sheldon (played by James Caan) is a best selling novelist. He is on his way home when he crashes his car because of a blizzard. Annie Wilkes (played by Kathy Bates), who happens to be on of Paul's biggest fans, rescues him from his car after he is injured. Annie takes Paul back to her home in the woods where she takes care of him. In the beginning she basically waits on him hand and foot but after realizing Paul is going to kill off her favorite character “Misery” in his novel, she has other plans for Paul.

There are many memorable moments in the movie. I found myself captivated, on the edge of my seat, cringing, and fighting the urge to close my eyes. This movie is an emotional rollercoaster, where one minute is brutal and the next is calm and collected.

The acting in this movie is superb. You can never really go wrong with Kathy Bates, but this masterpiece is definitely a documentation of her finest work. James Caan’s acting abilities are also note worthy. You can see the fear and desperation in his eyes.

I have to note that this Movie is a screen adaptation from a Stephen King Novel; therefore, we know to expect violence, and suspense. This movie definitely delivers. One thing I noticed about the filming of the movie is a lot of the time the camera is angled on Annie when she is talking instead of the big picture. This allows the audience to examine Annie. This effect definitely adds to the movie.

I would recommend this movie to a variety of people.Anyone who loves a quirky, unusual film would enjoy this movie. Horror film fanatics would appreciate the gruesomeness, and it is a must see for all Kathy Bates fans.

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V for Vendetta

"Remember, remember, the fifth of November, the gunpowder treason and plot. I know of no reason, why the gunpowder treason, should ever be forgot."

The above is the tagline for V for Vendetta, which is an action packed political thriller based on graphic novel, same title, by Alan Moore. The movie was direct by James McTeigue and is set in a futuristic Great Britain, year 2020. Even though the movie is set in the future, the government issues that are portrayed really makes one think of America’s government today and the state it will be in in the future. Basically, the story line is about a masked vigilante, known as V, who is seeking revenge against corrupt politicians and trying to help the citizens of Great Britain regain control of their government. At the beginning of the story V meets his soon to be partner in crime Evey, and we watch as their story unfolds.
The lighting in the city that parts of the movies takes place in is dark. It evokes the feeling of “noir” in the fact that it feels dangerous, dirty, and gritty. The lighting brightens when the scenes turn to scene that is comical or enjoyable. The lighting turns dark again when bad things occur such as the scenes where Evey is being held captive. The camera angles are very strategically used in the film. It gets so close to the faces of the leaders of Great Britain. I personally think it was as if they were trying to emphasis the leaders “big head” ideology. The movie uses a lot of CGI animation type tools and is very advanced. Although, T\the tools being used were very advanced in the fight scenes we really only see a type of old fashioned sword fighting. This makes the movie very dynamic because it is futuristic but at the same time it feels like a classic. All of these tools make this movie enjoyable and worth checking out.
The script of the movie is well written. V’s dialogue really added to the movie. It gives him charm and character. The acting from V’s character and Evey (played by Natalie Portman) are brilliant. Both played with such raw emotion that it feels that their passion jumps right off the screen into the audience. Also, the character of Deitrich (Stephen Fry) is a character of comic relief that has many secrets that are exposed. The cast and characters in this film are so diverse and interesting it really draws you into the story.
 I would recommend this film to any interested in politics, thrillers, and action movies. Also, to anyone that enjoys a movie that leaves them feeling inspired and awakes emotions within them would love this film. This is an awesome movie that has really impacted me.

Big FIsh

            Big Fish by Tim Burton is a reality meets fantasy film.  It takes you on a worldwide journey all the way from a little town in Alabama, to a beautiful village called Spectra, and even to Korea. The breathtaking scenes and an unforgettable storyline will have you talking about this movie for days. Both young and old will enjoy this tale. The storyline is the life story of the main character Edward Bloom. The audience learns about Bloom’s life in the present time and through his story telling of what has happened to him in his life. The film focuses around the tenuous relationship Bloom has with his son. The son, along with the audience get to learn all about the father’s past, which in turn, helps the son better understand his father, just in time.

            There are many moments in this movie that will touch your heart. You will laugh and cry all at the same time. The relationships between the characters will have you thinking about your own relationships. The ending of this movie is the best part, not because you are ready for it to end, but because this is where the whole film comes together. The ending is definitely pleasant surprise that will bring tears to your eyes and yet leave you with a smile on your face.

            Tim Burton is known for dark, yet visually appealing movies. Burton broke away from his stereotype by making Big Fish bright and lively, he did however, make this movie visually stunning. As we follow Bloom’s life we are taken to various locations that will take your breath away. The design of these locations could only come from a mind as brilliant and creative as Burton.

            There are many big names on the credit list including Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney, Jessica Lange, Alison Loham, Danny Devito, and of course Burton’s own girlfriend, Helena Bonham Carter. With a cast list like that you cannot go wrong. They all portray their parts beautifully with humor and the appropriate emotion. McGregor plays the younger Bloom and Finney plays the older Bloom. They compliment each other well and actually look similar. The same goes for Lange and her counterpart Loham. They both play Sandra Bloom with emotion and talent that mirror one another.

            Big Fish is a go to movie when you want to escape from reality. You will find yourself not wanting the film to end, and when it does you will be tempted to watch it again. I would recommend this movie for a family film night, a lazy Sunday afternoon, a film with significant other, or a bedtime flick. Basically, it’s a movie for anyone and at anytime.

            

Bride of Frakenstein

Cowritten with Emily Barger and Fabio Santos Hernandez

Bride of Frankenstein by James Whale is not your typical monster movie. Unlike others of the genre, Bride of Frankenstein sets itself apart by focusing on a cast of characters that are neither purely good or purely evil- from the scientist whose ambition goes too far, to the monster himself, whose very existence is worth pitying. The movie strives to display an emotional depth that is both uncommon and welcome, while still telling a good story.

The film picks up shortly after its predecessor, quickly establishing that both Frankenstein (Colin Clive) and his creation have survived the inferno meant to destroy the monster. Frankenstein returns home to his fiancé, hoping to put his past actions well behind him. This plan is dashed by the appearance of the nefarious Doctor Pretorius (Ernest Thesiger), who hopes to convince Frankenstein to assist him with his own experiments. Specifically, he hopes that together they can build a new creation- this time a woman- and so begin a new race. Meanwhile, Frankenstein’s creation (Boris Karloff) is again pursued by angry villagers. This becomes surprisingly heart-warming at times, as the monster attempts to find his own place in the world, though it may seem that this is a Sisyphean task.

Bride of Frankenstein tells us about this creature created by a scientist, a creature that soon will find itself between a monster and a human. The movie itself shows us how human beings are used to seeing only what is different from them. It was the dark era in which human conventions were the rule of what was right and wrong. This is why this movie has been particularly well done. Other than that, the film presents how the creature starts discovering the joys of life such as drinking, smoking, friendship and so on. To see how a new life that doesn't have a place, trying to fit into society is the best feature that compounded the movie. That's why the creature is the best candidate to be the protagonist.

In the past and nowadays, people classify others based on their facial characteristics, appearances, nationalities, accents and so forth. This is mirrored by the persecution of the monster. The impression that the creature gives is not evil at all on the contrary, it gives a unique sense of genuine innocence coming from his heart.

There are a few other aspects of this film worth mentioning. First, the title of the movie can be somewhat misleading. The title leads one to believe this movie will be about a female monster, but she does not appear until the last few scenes. The movie’s main character is actually the monster from the original movie Frakenstein. He is the main focus of this movie. Also, the audience may be expecting a different type of movie when they sit down to watch The Bride of Frakenstein, but the main purpose of this film is not to frighten or thrill,therefore, anyone looking for a horror movie should avoid this film. The film focuses mainly on the symbolism of the monster and society.

It is easy to see why Bride of Frankenstein has remained a classic- more so, perhaps, than its predecessor. The movie provides the viewer with an introspective look at societal flaws through the marginalization of the monster. At the same time, it manages to do so while retaining a unique blend of humor, horror, and heart.

Rashomon

Rashomon

By: Akira Kurosawa

                        What should be a simple recount of a rape and murder that occurred, turns into a surprisingly complex story about what MAY have happened.  The movie takes place under the gate of Rashomon where a woodcutter, a priest, and another man are seeking shelter out of the rain.  They begin talking about a murder that has occurred, in which the woodcutter has witnessed. We learn the story of what may have happened entirely through the flashbacks of four people: the lady that was raped, the man that was murdered through the use of a medium, a bandit who allegedly murdered the man and raped his wife, and the woodcutter who was the only witness. The audience never truly learns what actually occurred because each account is vastly different. I found that the purpose of this movie is not to tell us a story about the crimes, it is to makes us think about mankind and truth. To make us realize we can all see the same event but interpret it differently, that every human has a different version of the truth that we tell, even to ourselves.  At the end of the movie we find out the woodcutter had stolen a dagger from the crime scene in which makes the audience trust him even less. Shortly after finding this out, the men discover an abandoned baby. The woodcutter ends up taking the baby home to raise with his other children. By ending the movie with the woodcutter taking the abandoned baby home is almost like redeeming mankind.

This film contains brilliant acting and a choreographed fight scene that, although occurs at a serious moment, will have you giggling.  The acting of the bandit, played by Toshiro Mifune, is note worthy.  We see his character constantly scratching himself, which automatically gives the audience a feeling of him being dirty. Also, the acting of Machiko Kyo, and her ability to act out vastly different emotions in an instant is magnificent.

An aspect of this film worth mentioning is the use of weather.  The present day of the movie at the gate of Rashomon, it is raining. I found the rain to be symbolizing tears for human nature. We then flash back to the events and they are shown in bright sun light. Also, at the end of the film when the woodcutter is taking the baby home the weather breaks and bright sunlight comes pouring out as to indicate hope for humanity.

The downside to this movie is it can be tedious. The beginning starts out slowly but it does pick up the pace. There are parts in this movie that will have the audience forward to the next scene.

            Rashomon is definitely a film everyone should experience at least once, if not for the entertainment itself, but for the truth it reveals about human nature. This film is thought provoking and entertaining.  Just when it begins to lose the interest of the audience it jerks them back in with superb acting, great cinematography and thought provoking storyline.  A great film that will have you talking about it for weeks.

For the Love of Movies

           For the Love of Movies by Gerald Peary is a must see film for anyone interested in film critiquing and has found themselves wondering how the profession came to be and exactly what film critiquing entails. Many famous film critics of the present and past are discussed in this movie. Some of today’s critics and those still alive from the past give interviews and excerpts, telling their own stories and offering advice.  This film covers the history of film critiquing in depth. We get to relive the 1920’s until the present through the eyes of some of the most popular film critics. Through this film we discover what has influenced film critiquing over the years and what influences it has had on the film industry, advertising, and society and the way they choose what movies to watch.

            This films main purpose is to give a glimpse inside the past and present film critiquing industry. It also lets the audience peek inside and see the interaction within the industry. This film is not meant to inspire or encourage future film critics. Many of the critics featured in the film say that they actually planned on pursuing other writing professions before they became a critic. Many of them do jokingly give advice to those who are contemplating this career by saying “try everything else first”.

This film also offers insight into what the future holds for the film critiquing industry. Some influential people in the film critiquing industry offer their views on how the industry is evolving and the role the internet is playing in this. They also discuss film critiques in the form of a blog or website. In this portion of the film they introduce some of today’s film critics that use the internet as their platform.

One thing that should be noted about this film is that it is imperative to give it your full attention, because it can be hard to follow. One minute it will be discussing the past and then there will be an excerpt with a present day film critic and then it will continue on with the past. Also, make a mental note of all the critic’s names when they are first introduced because they are not reintroduced and you could spend the rest of the film wondering who is who. This film does need a little spice to keep the audience’s attention. I found myself growing bored and restless but stuck it out because there was so much knowledge to obtain from this film. 

This film will educate you about on a profession that is not often discussed. You will learn the ins and outs of film critiquing from the actual critics themselves. It will also dispel rumors that the film critiquing industry is depleting when it is actually just evolving. Whether you are looking to make a career out of film critiquing or just enjoy blogging about the latest flicks, this film is a must see for any opinionated movie buff.