Paranormal Activity 2

So, upon hearing just as much hype about Paranormal Activity 2 I was a little bit apprehensive. While I would like this little set up to lead you into a “And I was wrong” type of scenario; sadly, it isn’t.

Paranormal Activity 2 is the same type of movie. It is shot in the first person with the help of some security cameras that are placed around the home. This footage is pieced together in order to show how the ‘paranormal activity’ in the home finally destroys the lives of the family it is tormenting. While some people have a problem with this type I actually like it. It adds a sense of realism to the footage.

My problem is with the actual movie itself.

Just Not Scary

I remember the incredibly letdown that came with the first Paranormal Activity movie. I was ready to have the living daylights scared out of me. I welcomed it! Unfortunately, it didn’t happen. This time around, I wasn’t expecting to be scared, but kind of hoping for it. Again, unfortunately, it didn’t happen.

There were some moments when I really thought something big would happen. Only to be let down when the moment passed.

A Family Terrorized

Paranormal Activity 2 is not a sequel to the first. It is its own movie. A different family. A different town. A different reason for the demon to bring terror. This time around there are children (a teen and a new baby) included that go through the ordeal itself. This is where I thought some great scary moments would happen. Especially when the security cameras would stop on a situation. But, it would just fizzle out.

Too Long, Too Quick

I believe I would have liked it much better if the story did not take so long to get interesting. Most of the movie was simply setting up for the incredibly fast ending. Once the real terror began, it was over.

Paranormal Activity 2 Is Still Watchable

It may seem that I am completely against Paranormal Activity 2 at this point. However, there are still some reasons to watch it.

1. The acting was better than the first.
2. The inclusion of the extra people involved adds to the intensity.
3. If you saw the first, then you should see the second to stay consistent.

I do recommend you watch Paranormal Activity 2 if you like watching scary movies. Just don’t expect it to be a movie that you’ll lose sleep over.

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I would like to say that this movie lived up to the hype surrounding it, but the truth is; The Haunting in Connecticut was mediocre at best.

As the hype machine was set into motion when this movie was getting ready to hit the theaters, I just knew that this movie was going to be pretty good. Based in a true story in Connecticut, the movie chronicles the happenings when a family moves into an old home that use to be a funeral home. Just that storyline alone is enough to make you want to see it.

I was very excited to check out this movie when it came to DVD. I wasn’t able to check it out in the theaters when it was here, and now I am glad I didn’t waste a Friday night and $30 for my wife and I and popcorn.

The Good

The Haunting in Connecticut is not that bad of a movie. It was just a little disappointing after getting excited from all the advertisements, and television specials. The movie starts out like any vintage horror movie. A family that is trying to get a new start, in a new town, but ends up in the wrong house. Sort of Amityville Horror-esque. But, since it is based upon a true story (again, a little bit of Amityville Horror) I was willing to give it the benefit of the doubt. The movie does have some pretty creepy parts in it.

The focus of the movie is on the son and mother. The son, played by Kyle Gallner, goes through pretty much hell while he is trying to get better from a rare disease. From the beginning of the movie you begin to feel sorry for the guy because you know what is going to happen to him. However, you begin to lose that feeling pretty quickly. The mother, played by Virginia Madsen, is there being the strong motherly type who never gives up on her son. However, through all of this, some very messed up things begin to happen to her son.

Besides some of the more creepier parts, the acting was pretty good. The brightest spot of the movie has to be the way that the actors seemed to be actually living the horrors of the film rather than just acting them out. There were some points where I felt drawn in by the acting and started to actually “feel” for them.

The Bad

When you go to see a ghost flick, you want to be shown something that you haven’t seen before. I have already alluded to the fact that this movie is much like Amityville Horror than an original ghost story. Every true ghost story can not be the same. The scary moments, while some were creepy, were not all that jumpy. They didn’t give you that “look over your shoulder” moments.

The Haunting in Connecticut Is Good For A Rental

For those of you who are diehard horror fans, adding The Haunting in Connecticut will give you another DVD, or Blu-Ray, to your collection, but nothing truly substantial as far as movie thrills is concerned. You’re better off giving this one a rent through Netflix, or iTunes.

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A remake of the of the 1973 movie The Crazies is getting ready to be released on Feb. 26, 2010. I have to admit that I did not see the original, but after seeing the trailer for the new version, I will be going back through the archives to give it a view.

The Crazies Trailer

Movie synopsis:

About the inhabitants of a small Iowa town suddenly plagued by insanity and then death after a mysterious toxin contaminates their water supply

The Crazies stars Timothy Olyphant, Radha Mitchell, Joe Anderson, Danielle Panabaker, and Christie Lynn Smith.

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Now that was fun!

I just watched Zombieland at my local theater the other day and have to say that I haven’t enjoyed a movie this much in a while. The combination of Woody Harrelson, zombies, and a lot of running and screaming has just too much going for it that it is hard not to like it.

After a summer of a lot of serious movies, and big blockbusters, it is nice to see one come out that is just for fun. Not having a huge budget for this movie, I wasn’t expecting a lot of over the top explosions or action scenes. But, I was expecting to see some zombies and Harrelson being, well… Woody Harrelson.

Zombieland Is A Great Ride!

There are two different stories going on within the movie. Well, I guess you could say that there are really three storylines if you count the quest of Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) to lose his virginity. Anyway, you have Tallahassee (Harrelson) looking to find one more Twinkie, and two sisters, Wichita and Little Rock (played by Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin) trying to get to an amusement park that is suppose to be zombie free. During the entire movie it felt like you were the one on an amusement park ride.

It was a lot of fun. I sat there and had several parts of out loud laughter. It was only a little bit into the movie when I realized that I wasn’t the only one laughing. The rest of the theater was also laughing. There is just something about watching a great movie with a bunch of people who also know that they are watching a great movie. It makes the whole experience much better. It was like we were all on the same ride together.

How Zombieland Was Good

Right off the bat it is two different things that make Zombieland a great movie. The first is Woody Harrelson. The second is zombies. Put the two together and you have one amazing movie! Woody Harrelson has been in some very good movies, while also some incredible bombs. I am so glad that Zombieland was one of the good ones. His character is one that adds a lot to the movie and I can’t think of anyone else who could do as well (Bruce Willis perhaps?).

Plus any movie with zombies is worth watching. Even 28 Days Later was decent because of the zombies.

The movie also had a storyline that, while was a little dumb at the very core of it, provided a sense of “Ok, sure.” attitude. What I mean by that is this; the end of civilization has just occurred and the only thing that these people can think of is a Twinkie and going to an amusement park. Yes, staying alive, but there was something else to it. Something that other zombie movies don’t have. This story added to the entire movie and I actually found myself rooting for Tallahassee to get that stupid Twinkie!

Even the cameo appearance by Bill Murray was pretty good.

How Zombieland Could Have Been Better

Not much I can put here. The acting was good. The story was passable. The comedy was funny. And the ending was pretty cool. I actually clapped my hands!

One thing I would have changed, but this is just me personally, is get someone to play the sniveling little wimp that Jesse Eisenberg plays. His character, Columbus, is just plain irritating. I found myself wishing he would get eaten by one of the zombies near the end. But, again, that’s probably just me. I guess you could have also had a little more suspense in it, but that would have taken away from the ride that Zombieland is.

Zombieland Trailer

Watch Zombieland At Theaters If You Can

There are some movies that you just have to see at the theaters. Zombieland is one of them. I really don’t think that you would get the same experience, or even perspective, of the movie if you wait for DVD. If you have a little bit of time, and it is playing near you, I would recommend going out and checking it out.

Zombieland Movie Clip

There are incredible horror movies that scare the crap out of you and then there are those that will bore you. In the middle of that spectrum are the ones that can cause seconds of jumpiness, while still dragging along. Drag Me To Hell is one of those movies. What made it worse is that I was really looking forward to this movie.

Sam Raimi’s attempt at horror again was not something that I was expecting. I was really expecting Drag Me To Hell to be, well… a lot more.

A lot more scarier. A lot more sick. A lot more something.

What Is Drag Me To Hell?

Without giving away any spoiler or how things turned out, Drag Me To Hell is the story of Christine Brown, who is played by Alison Lohman. Christine is a banker who works in the mortgage department and really, really wants to get a promotion to assistant manager of the branch she is in. In fact, she wants it so badly that she does not help some nasty looking old lady with her foreclosure problem. After that, things just sort of go pretty bad for Christine. Her boyfriend, played by Justin Long, is starting to think his girlfriend is starting to go a little crazy. She starts to see things, hear things, and pretty much be put through hell.

That I Did Like About Drag Me To Hell

From the time that I first heard about this movie, I couldn’t wait to see it. I loved the entire concept of it. The thought of some demon pulling people through the crust of the earth kicking and screaming sounded like a great scare.

I am also alright with how the actors played their parts. Even Justin Long, who had the annoying boyfriend part (a part that he is very good at), was not completely horrid. But, after that it pretty much wasn’t what I was expecting.

What I Didn’t Like

If I were to make a list, I would be writing for hours. But, here are a few of the main points.

It was slow. I don’t mind a story that takes a few minutes to get going as long as it is setting up some background, highlighting some important pieces, or have gratuitous action. But, this movie just took forever to get going.

It did not live up to the hype. I think that if I wasn’t expecting to see this movie so much I would have been a little happier with the outcome. It just didn’t live up to the hypes surrounding it.

It was too fake. A lot of the effects were just too lame. It wasn’t realistic at all. Yes, I know it is a movie, but even when you can make robots look lifelike, then I think you should be able to do the same thing with blood. It just didn’t.

Watch It, But Make Sure You Have Nothing Else To Do

If you start watching Drag Me To Hell and you have some things that you need to get done (even if you have months to do them) you’ll start thinking about it and probably turn it off to go do them. However, if you want to watch it, I would say go ahead. It is not a total waste of time, but you will not be left satisfied.

There are movies that I can’t wait to see and this is one of them. Zombieland looks like a fun time at the movies and stars one of the best “love them or hate them” actors in Woody Harrelson.

In a world overrun by zombies, two guys have found a way to survive. One of the pair is a complete wuss while the other is a zombie killing machine. As they meet up with two girls they find along their journey to find the last remaining Twinkie on Earth. With some pretty cool ways to dispatch the many zombies coming after them, Zombieland looks like it is going to be one of this year’s favorites.

Zombieland Trailer

Woody Harrelson and the cast of Zombieland hits theaters on Oct. 2, 2009.

There are characters in films that are almost timeless. But, there are only a few characters that have the power to control your life through events in a movie. One of those ways that they can control you is through your fears. Three incredibly powerful movie boogeymen, that can control your life, make you look under your bed, and in your closets, before going to bed are Jason Voorhees, Freddy Krueger, and Mike Myers.

Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street, and Halloween are the pinnacle of horror movies because of these characters. I would dare to say that in the world of horror movies there just isn’t any other ‘boogeyman’ type characters as captivating as these three. You could make some sort of argument for Leatherface, Pinhead, or Candyman, but in as far as scare factor goes, it begins and ends with the top three of Jason, Freddy, and Michael.

Each one brings their own “thing” to the table where scaring you is concerned. Freddy comes at you in your dreams, Jason finds you no matter where you hide, and Mike is the shadow in the corner, or in the closet. No place is safe. You can’t sleep, hide, or run. They are always there.

But, for years the question has always been, “Which one would win if they all fought?”

And an explosive question it is! Everyone has their favorite. There are raving fans for Jason Voorhees, Freddy Krueger, and Mike Myers and each one has their own opinion as to who would win in a super throwdown between these three. If you want to take the whole Freddy vs. Jason as concrete evidence as to who would win, that is always an option. However, I would like to think that the cage match between these three would be much better than that.

But, in the face of fairness let’s take a look at all three and a boogeyman tale of the tape.

Jason Voorhees

Jason Voorhees is just plain scary.

He’s intimidating, he’s merciless, he’s relentless. He stalks you until he finds you. With whatever he can find he will impale, cut, or chop you into little pieces and leave you there. I remember the first time I ever watched a Friday the 13th movie. I wouldn’t shut the lights off in my room for months. Every time I saw a shadow, or thought something moved in the corner of my eye, I was ready to run screaming.

Growing up as on the banks of Crystal Lake couldn’t have been all that much fun. Especially after you drowned as a young boy. Talk about issues. I can see wanting to get back at all the camp counselors – they would be the epitome of evil to Jason – but, why New York, or space? Because he can.

Strong, brutish, and absolutely, maniacal in the way he pursues his victims, Jason Voorhees must be seen as a top contender.

Freddy Krueger

I must say at the start that the Nighmare on Elm Street movies never did scare me. I got the whole stalk you in your dreams bit, but it just never really scared me. As far as movie boogeymen go, Freddy is one of those that ranks at the top.

He is quite insane. If anything, when I watched the various Nightmare on Elm Street movies, I had to laugh. Some of the things that Freddy does is very imaginative and funny. He comes at you when you least expect it, because… well, you’re dreaming. The premise, or the thought of someone stalking you in your dreams is terrifying in itself. A crazy guy, with blades for his fingers on a glove, chasing you around in your dreams… that is even more insanely scary.

I remember watching one of the installments of the series in the movie theater. The first time Freddy made an appearance the entire theater erupted in applause and cheering. From then on it was like a sporting event. Every time Freddy registered a kill the crowd cheered. One guy was yelling out the score. “Freddy 4, Victims 0!”

It was really pretty weird.

Anyway, in the middle of a cage match, with the likes of the unearthly strong Jason and Michael, would he survive as the ultimate fighter?

Michael Myers

The first time I saw the original Halloween, it left an indelible mark. I viewed Halloween completely different. I wasn’t all that worried the rest of the year, but when the Halloween holiday came around, I started to look around corners, under my bed, and in the bushes. The Michael Myers character was simply overpowering during the last days of October.

Halloweenhas, I think, a little more scare factor to it because of the fact that Myers is a person. He is not an undead kid with issues, or a burnt up psycho who preys upon dreams – he was a regular child who snapped.

Like Jason, he wears a mask that is synonymous terror. The start white mask almost appears out of nowhere and elicits emotions of fear and a “deer in the headlights” posture. Michael Myers, like Jason, is relentless. He stalks his victims with a determination that is not to be altered. Granted, the large majority of the population is fairly safe (unless you get in his way). Myers is only concerned with his family.

With whatever is available, he will find a way to use it to impale, cut, slice, dice, and gouge you with it. He does prefer large, sharp knives though. In a battle of the top boogemen, would his mystique carry him through?

The Battle of all Battles

Unlike the movie version of the Freddy vs. Jason battle, I envision a match between these three as the definition of mayhem. Slashing, cutting, loss of limbs, and beheading is in order. I see the two behemoths duking it out while Freddy slashes with his knife glove on the outside in quick strikes. I do not see Freddy wanting go to toe to toe with either Jason or Michael.

The fight would encompass a wide area with a lot of different utensils, tools, and materials to throw, smash, and impale each other with. Jason, Michael, and Freddy locked in a duel until one remains – or at least pieces remain. Who would it be?

And The Winner Is…

In a battle such as this you must think about the attributes of each. The biggest is that they do not die. You must dismember each one. Would Freddy be able to do that? With is knives he could, but what if Michael or Jason cut it off? Then what? He could grow a new one, but I think with these two it wouldn’t be soon enough.

I believe that Jason and Michael would team up to get rid of the annoying little Krueger and his slash attacks. Then turn their attention to each other. It would be epic. A battle of all battles. In the end, after the dust (and the blood) has settled there can only be one.

Who would it be?

In my opinion, the nod goes to Jason Voorhees. He is a powerhouse and will continue to unleash freakishly ridiculous damage to Michael until he no longer had a shape or form.

Thoughts? What do you think? Please discuss…

This past weekend, I sat down and watched Cloverfield on DVD. I had forgotten that I had it on my DVD queue at Netflix and was a little surprised to see it in my mailbox. But, I figured since it was delivered I would watch it again. I didn’t mind it the first time so maybe it wouldn’t be a total waste of time. I threw the Cloverfield DVD into the DVD player and got ready to relive the movie all over again.

Cloverfield is one of those movies that you can either like it or leave it. Nobody in it is a well know actor, or actress and the movie is shot in a first person view with a hand recorder. Actually, there isn’t anything wrong with that, but a lot of people are put off by the camera view.

The movie itself is about a space alien that has landed in New York City and causing quite a problem. Unfortunately for some people who are having a party, this really breaks up the fun. Through a long harrowing night, in which there is a lot of destruction, carnage, freaky bugs, and people blowing up, the movie ends in a a rather abrupt way that is completely unexpected. Check out the trailer below.

Cloverfield Trailer

The first time I saw the movie was at the theater and I thought it was pretty good. I actually thought about buying the DVD when it came out, but never got around to it. I do remember that watching it in the first person camera view, much like Blair Witch Project and Quarantine, I felt a sense of being there. It might of had a lot to do with being in the theater, because watching it home I didn’t get the same sense. It was more like trying to keep up with what was going on. I didn’t have a hard time with the camera, I had a hard time with the action.

The acting… well, it could have been better and is probably the reason I have a lesser view of it now than I did watching it in the theater. The action does make up for the lackluster acting, but the real beauty of Cloverfield is actually in the story itself.

The imagination, to me, was off the hook as far as crazy, giant alien destroying New York and the people who live there goes.

In the end, I have mixed feeling about Cloverfield. I liked it, but it wasn’t quite as good as I remembered it to be. I do still recommend it as a good movie, though. If you haven’t seen it, then do yourself a favor and pick it up for your next movie night.

I’m thinking this is going to be a little bit creepy. But, I could be wrong. I thought Cabin Fever was going to be a good movie too.

Dark Woods is about a couple who moves to a secluded cabin out in the woods (which never turns out good) to cope with the wife’s terminal illness. As things progress things become increasingly darker and sinister.

I’m intrigued and would love to hear more about this movie.

The Amityville Horror is one of those timeless horror classics that if you saw it when it was first released in 1979, you still remember the nightmares.

I know I do.

I thought I was all grown up at nine years old and ready for my first foray into the world of horror movies. I was wrong. I actually didn’t make it through to the end my first time watching it. It took me another six months before I got the nerve to watch it again. And it was during the day.

The Amityville Horror is about a large house on the coast of Long Island where newly weds George and Kathy Lutz and their three children move into the house that they hope will be their dream house but it ends up in terror. The most terrifying aspect of this movie is that it is based upon actual events that happened to the Lutz family while living in the house.

To a young kid… that’s the stuff nightmares are made of. I was always a little leery of entering houses I didn’t know, especially very large, very old homes. Which would be just about every house where I live.

It is a documented fact that a troubled young man, 28, had shot his entire family to death in the house, on 11/13/1974, including father, mother, two brothers and two sisters. Thus, in the film, the history of the house allows the Lutz’s, in the fall of 1975, to make an offer of $80,000 on the home, which, we are told, is easily worth $120,000.

Despite knowing all this happened in the home, George (played by James Brolin) and Kathy (Margot Kidder) agree to still move in. Once there a priest comes and tries to bless the house only to be told in no uncertain terms to “Get out!” Father Delaney (Rod Steiger) encounters several troubles in trying to bless the home, including a room full of flies, out of season, violent stomach sickness, and later, blisters on his palm when trying to make even a phone contact with Kathy at the home. In his further efforts to confront the evil, he suffers a car wreck from brake and steering malfunction, a lack of support by his superiors in the diocese as he describes the occult things he’s seen, and ultimately, blindness and a mental breakdown.

And that’s just what happened to the priest.

The family went through a lot more.

In a horror movie, you want to be scared. But, I think, more importantly than that you want to see that the people in the movie are scared. I am truly impressed with both Brolin and Kidder in this film. Throughout the course of events that happen within the Amityville House they never really looked like they were acting. It looked like they were actually living it out before our eyes.

Add the realistic portrayal by the actors and the fact that the house is real, and the events based upon true happenings, you have one scary movie that can make you jump and squirm.

What about the remake?

In 2005 a remake of The Amityville Horror was released starring Ryan Reynolds as George and Melissa George as Kathy. I feel that the producers wanted to just bring a new edgier, updated version of the movie to a new generation, but it just didn’t deliver the quality of “scare” that the original did. It was ok, I just didn’t think it was as powerful as the first.

The Amityville Horror Is Definitely A Must Own DVD

DVD libraries are usually the domain of the one who owns it. And within that library are movies that are special to the person for a variety of reasons. However, there are those movies that are just “must-have”. The Amityville Horror (original 1979 version) is one of those movies.

If you like to be scared, this one will do it.

Here’s a look at the original trailer for the movie back in 1979.

Also, here’s a short little news clip about the house and events.