tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54124808958475126182024-03-05T16:26:05.811-08:00Thirsty Cat CollectionThirsty->Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11669975237864473615noreply@blogger.comBlogger200125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412480895847512618.post-8831850822898369862016-01-31T12:36:00.000-08:002016-01-31T12:36:47.208-08:00Review: Jellyfish Eyes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Version I Watched</b>: Standard definition, Criterion Edition DVD.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>History</b>: This marked the directorial debut of famed Japanese contemporary artist Takashi Murakami, whose skills also include painting, sculpture, fashion and merchandise.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It was originally released in Japan on April 26, 2013, but didn't make it's way to America until July 15, 2015 in a limited release. It received mostly negative reviews and currently holds a 18% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 4.8/10 on IMDB. It was eventually released on DVD and Blu-Ray in America through Janus Film and The Criterion Collection the following December.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">While unsure how it was received in Japan and despite the negative reviews in America, a trailer for Jellyfish Eyes 2 was released on the American home video release. Very little information is currently available regarding that sequel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Personal History</b>: Honestly... I saw this was coming out on Criterion, checked out a trailer, was able to get a great deal, and went for it. Let's see how this works out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Review</b>:<span style="color: white;"> Leading up to my first viewing of this movie I had only one thing in mind in terms of expectations. I explained it to myself as a live action Pokemon movie solely based on the trailer. This didn't affect my overall opinion of the movie because it both was and wasn't true. It was true in the sense that a bunch of kids have cute, little monsters of a great variety that are stored in small devices using some wildly advanced technology the audience can't possibly understand. But not true in the sense that Pokemon isn't the only IP that's done this approach. It was stupidly ignorant of me to think so simply because tiny monster companions is a big thing in Japan. I can't speak to full detail of the fandom or the history and everything, but I know it's something done in multiple iterations that we've only seen a few versions of (other than Pokemon see stuff like Digimon and Yo-Kai Watch.)</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Guess the movie will have to stand on it's own merits to me because I don't have that 'collect em all' mindset of fandom.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Honestly I'm not really sure what attracted me to Jellyfish Eyes in the first place. I saw it was coming to Criterion, I looked up the trailer and I liked what I saw in that preview. Despite some of the obviously cliched 'anime-esque' stuff that I knew would be present I had a strong feeling I'd enjoy it.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Bought it on a whim and... I'm actually happy I did.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">To be more specific with plot.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The movie is about a boy and his mother who move to a small town for initially unexplained reasons. We later find out his dad is dead ala subtle clues like mama crying over a photograph of the family and later a dream his son has where his dad is murdered by a fucking tidal wave. Subtle. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is also the town the mom's brother lives and works. A rather kooky scientist who works for an even kookier comic book super villian of a company.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Basically how we get to the little monsters... four hooded figures went around town passing out these devices that look like iPhones with a knockoff third party case around it to control these adorable creatures. However these devices are linked to their homebase where they use the negative energy in children (pain, sorrow, anger, etc) for their evil intentions.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The only little monster who isn't controlled by these devices, and therefore finds the star of the show, the little boy who lost his dad, on his own and they quickly become best of friends is a little jellyfish looking dude. Thematically it's ironic that this monster was based on a jellyfish seeing as how his dad died. But maybe that's why he was able to connect with it so well... because it reminded him of his dad? Maybe, maybe not. Either way Karage-bo (or, Jellyfish Boy) is easily one of the most adorable and lovable characters I've seen on screen in a while.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">This is where the movie was going to make it or break it for me. Even if the story isn't great and the human characters aren't good, the movie has to have cute and fun monsters to sell me this as a good experience. Thankfully we had Karage-bo. I just love the hell out of that little guy. He barely speaks but has way more character than characters in bigger features.</span></div>
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<em><span style="color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Just look at him!!!</span></em></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">One thing you may or may not have noticed was the quality of his animation against the real world. You're not seeing it in motion so it's not as noticeable, but it is very noticeable, at least at first. Despite being from 2013 this has shockingly outdated CG for it's characters. Whether it was a budgetary reason, creative reason, or even regional reason (not everyone outside the US have effects as nice as we do) I felt the direction made good use of the effects, or lack thereof should I say.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Once it got going I didn't find myself distracted by the effects. The characters that were animated were so cartoonish that it was easy to forget how 'bad' they looked, especially when they interacted with each other. So much so that I wouldn't mind seeing an entirely animated feature starring only the creatures, as presented by a sequence that is just that during an intense battle in the last half.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I did have some immersion breaks when they interacted with non-animated characters, though, simply because of how differently they moved and acted against each other. And of course how easily one can tell that kid isn't holding the little monster dude, even to the untrained eye. Some scenes looked like they were ripped right out of 1997 cinema when this came out only a couple years ago.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Also one of the characters is a lovable gigantic hairy monster that'd you'd see on the Muppets or Sesame Street. I have no problems with this character as is. Actually I wanted to give him a great big hug!</span></div>
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<em><span style="color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">So fluffly!</span></em></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">But he encountered a similar issue of not melding with the rest of the world around him. He melded well with real people because he's a guy in a suit instead of computer generated. So when he, the kids, and Karage-bo are all hanging out together it's an odd mix.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Come to think of it, seeing those characters together on screen at once is a good visual representation of this movie. It has some cute, fun, and creative ideas, but when put together they don't all quite fit.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The CG doesn't mesh well, the choice to have one in a suit is also off, the main story mixed with the B-stories are jarringly different in tone, and overall I struggle to tell who this movie is for. I get the impression this is for kids but there are a few moments that feel a bit intense for young audiences, like a scene when suicide is heavily implied. Then again I don't know exactly how and what kids are allowed to see at what point in their lives over in Japan so I could just be talking out my ass. But considering how prudish Japan can be when it comes to sex the anime girl in a maid outfit flashing panty shots seems out of place...</span></div>
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<em><span style="color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">She's one of the 'monsters.'</span></em></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">While there's a ton of great stuff here it has a lot of roughness around the edges. I don't mind the over the top super villains but it doesn't mesh well with the very down to earth, dramatic troubles of the other characters during the side story sections. I already mentioned I don't mind the lacking CG but the moments when it doesn't meld well with everything else are painfully noticeable. I also don't mind the multiple storylines, I just wish it was better paced and edited. Sometimes we're left with too much or not enough, making it feel longer than the movie really is.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Despite these troubled I still found it to be a very fun movie that's worth at least a try. I certainly don't agree with the surprisingly low 18% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. I feel that's a bit harsh. It's not great but it's not terrible. It's a fair in-between that would likely be forgotten by most. And that's what sad, is that I see good ideas here just not implemented well.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Which brings me to the elephant in the room... what the hell is this movie doing on Criterion?</span></div>
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<em><span style="color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">How did this happen?</span></em></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><em></em> </span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I know it's a matter of opinion if a movie is good or not, but Criterion specifically selects titles that fall under a specific 'criteria' in terms of quality or significance (or both) in the history of movie making. They then give it their best possible treatment and, in practice, make it the last copy you'll ever have to buy.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Now with those high expectations it's made me wonder how and why some titles got into this collection, whether it be the Beastie Boys Music Video Collection or Supercop (from way back in the laserdisc days.) Titles that aren't bad but may not warrant such an exclusive and extra special treatment. I mean... I like The Cabin in the Woods, quite a lot, but I don't think it deserves a Criterion treatment.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">So why and how did Jellyfish Eyes make it to Criterion? It's not a huge deal, I'm just trying to understand their reasoning. In the eyes of other Criterion pieces it's underwhelming. Doesn't make it a bad movie, only a movie with disappointing expectations because of where it's coming from.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">None the less this was a pretty cute and fun adventure that would be good for a Saturday afternoon. Hell, maybe your anime-obsessed friend will enjoy it at least. Now I need to go get a Karage-bo plushie!</span></div>
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<em><span style="color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I love you!!!</span></em></div>
Thirsty->Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11669975237864473615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412480895847512618.post-47051428933647547992015-12-26T15:43:00.000-08:002015-12-26T15:43:30.264-08:00Clover Reviews... Star Wars: The Force Awakens<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Welcome back my friends to another episode of...</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">CLOVER REVIEWS!</span></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Felt like I was playing a dull game of Star Wars Mad Libs with someone who likes Firefly way too much."</span></span></i></b></div>
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Thirsty->Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11669975237864473615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412480895847512618.post-72097316232529436852015-11-08T16:05:00.000-08:002015-11-08T16:05:34.889-08:00Review: Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<strong>Version I Watched</strong>: Full 201 minute cut on the Criterion DVD.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>History</strong>: Inspired by her own mother's ritualistic schedule, Chantal Akerman wrote what would be the rough script for this film and even received a government grant of $120,000 to film it. The film depicts sequences in real time like cooking, cleaning, eating, and so forth, showing the rigorous and tedious nature of her life.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The film was a financial success in Europe and has been a critical success across the world. Even the slow pace and hefty length are praised, stating the film needs it to be effective. And while Akerman doesn't believe she was a feminist filmmaker, her work here was also highly praised by feminist viewers specifically.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Personal History</strong>: My first viewing with minimal knowledge prior to viewing.</span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><strong style="font-family: inherit;">Review</strong><span style="font-family: inherit;">: </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">You know what's great? When after seeing hundreds upon thousands of movies you still find yourself surprised by something new to you. That when you thought you've seen it all, all the tricks of the trade and approached that work on film, you find something that finds a new way to speak in it's own voice and be truly unique.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Chantal Akerman, may she rest in peace as of a month ago, is one of those filmmakers I've always heard about but haven't seen much of her work. I did get a look at her short films back in college where I got a sample of what I would eventually see here. My favorite being Hotel Monterey, which has cinematography and ambiance </span>eerily<span style="font-family: inherit;"> similar to The Shining years before The Shining...</span><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoUBNdWvZHpPz886zQWWMnX2b0hRBIjVX9swY4jQFnLnv65l1js1NG4TfvPa8Nyx-eID0jnk1j5pf2_Yusn7hZqarkuTSJX64cQ8OK_xW9fg3mBW_wlyUQzfTCgBADG8VkQH6_klIqEIos/s1600/Akerman_Beauvoir_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoUBNdWvZHpPz886zQWWMnX2b0hRBIjVX9swY4jQFnLnv65l1js1NG4TfvPa8Nyx-eID0jnk1j5pf2_Yusn7hZqarkuTSJX64cQ8OK_xW9fg3mBW_wlyUQzfTCgBADG8VkQH6_klIqEIos/s400/Akerman_Beauvoir_4.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<em style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">...as you can see here.</span></em></div>
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">After looking into more of her work I knew quickly that Jeanne Dielman would be the one I would want to see over anything else. One of those films where the concept alone was enough to capture my attention. A unique concept with a unique approach that I'm glad I didn't see til now because I'm not sure how much I would have appreciated it when I first heard of it.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jeanne Dielman has a simple plot. It's about a middle aged widow who has her life stuck in a strict routine of chores, cooking, errands, caring for her teenage son, and turning the </span>occasional<span style="font-family: inherit;"> trick with local men to make ends meet. Her life is portrayed as systematic and boring, supported by the lengthy 3 1/2 hour runtime.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">If this sounds like a dull experience than you are definitely right because it was suppose to be. One thing Chantal Akerman pulls of incredibly well is getting her point across in the most compelling and surprising way </span>imaginable<span style="font-family: inherit;">. Simply put I was more immersed and interested in this very intentionally slow burn than I was in films less than half the length with more than five times as much going on story-wise. How does that work?</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">The first and foremost is the cinematography and how it is laid out. The story takes place over three days but the events we're shown over those three days are shot and played out in real time. Example: Evening of day one she sits down to dinner with her son. She brings in the soup. A single, uncut shot shows them sitting in silence eating the soup. She takes the bowls away. Cut to to the kitchen where she scoops up the meat and potatoes. Cut back to the dinner table where they proceed to eat their main course to the bottom. Riveting.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Okay so that last comment was a bit snarky, I admit. Really, though, it's the long tracking that turns what would otherwise be any other 'this old woman is sick of her dull life and needs change' story and truly makes it dull, forcing you to feel her emotional pain. Again, something that ironically works so well because I grew to care about this woman, even joining in her little victories she gets throughout the day. Little victories and growth that don't exactly bring her joy, at least not from what we're able to tell by her expression.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jeanne Dielman damn near never smiles, if at all, throughout this entire story. She doesn't look sad, either. She doesn't look mad, glad, nothing. She maintains a level of neutral that's to the point of concerning until the third day when she realizes how badly she needs to change. Something that is handled with supreme </span>subtly<span style="font-family: inherit;"> that you may not even realize.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Which brings me to one of my favorite moments late in the film when it's a single shot that lasts at least a couple minutes (I wasn't counting at the time) and she's just sitting in a chair doing nothing but thinking. We don't know what she's thinking. She doesn't say a thing and she doesn't have to. A great deal of character and emotion is expressed in that moment in a way few can actually pull off.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;">Love it cause it's something we've all done at some point. Not doing anything active physically, but mentally running a mile a minute.<br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Have I mentioned there's no music? Well, no non-organic music. The only soundtrack here is when the radio is on and the natural sounds of Jeanne's kitchen, the city streets when she's out and about, and so forth. It sets the environment in a beautiful manner, again aiding the immersion and keeping the very long runtime feeling not as long.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Speaking of, I have an idea why I think such a dull slow experience works better than supposedly fast paced, yet shorter stories. Or at least why I found this so well put together and exciting when for all intents and purposes it really shouldn't. Much like films like 2001: A Space Odyssey or Solaris, where there may be a lot going on but it takes it sweet, sweet time getting there, it takes advantage of the slow pace. What I sometimes have trouble with in stories that come off as fast paced but actually have a longer runtime is burnout. Some flicks, like Lord of the Rings, are so long and they have so much going on and so much to remember that it feels like a longer experience than it really is, and those are so long to begin with.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is a rare example of art that is so well done I have very few complaints because some of the complaints I may have had otherwise were done intentionally and done so well. The slow burn, the bland characters that speak volumes, even the static cinematography that never swipes or zooms, only stays still.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">I did, however, didn't care for the turning tricks and the ending.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Maybe it's the fact that I'm coming from an American, suburban, male perspective but the whole turning tricks thing felt a tad out of place to me. In my eyes that would seen as hitting rock bottom but I never got the impression she was so desperate that she had to resort to such a thing. Maybe it was the easiest and most convenient considering her position, I suppose, or maybe it made her enough money and was easy... labor. I more so got the impression the story was about having a sad and dull life, not one that was a means of desperation and hitting rock bottom. Which is why I also felt the ending was out of place. It was quite an exclamation point to an otherwise long paragraph that was this film. An exclamation that was like a slap to the face of </span>unnecessary<span style="font-family: inherit;">.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">I've read that this is one of the most praised feminist films ever made. I can see why since it exposes what was definitely the dull life of a woman in and of that time and before that, as well as her re-thinking her current life and attempting to rise above it in the only way she knows how, which sound cornier than what this film actually portrays, even if the end is a little extreme in that feminism approach. Still it's ironic that this is considered feminist because Akerman herself never called herself a feminist or so I've heard.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">I highly recommend this to anyone with an artistically open mind who is willing to sit through something so lengthy with little going on. It may not sound appealing at first, me even dreading the experience before i started, worried I wouldn't enjoy it, but you may find yourself surprised. I would tell you to stick it through to the end, but if you made it through the first act and you found it unbearable I have a feeling the following two acts won't save you and your interest in it. The film is subtle to the extreme.</span></span><br />
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Thirsty->Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11669975237864473615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412480895847512618.post-47715447167610584832015-10-18T13:00:00.000-07:002015-10-18T13:00:28.551-07:00Stranded With My Movies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">This year I did a lot of purging, especially movies. I was somewhere in the 700+ range and have since sold off / gave away nearly 200 (if not more) of those movies. I did this for many reasons, like the change in attitude to not hold onto so many things, switching to more of a minimalistic attitude in life.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Technically I have a long way to go before my life becomes a strong reality of minimalism, but I'd say I'm making good progress.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">While selling these off I came up with a thought experiment. For someone like me (and other collector dweebs) I wondered what movies I would bring with me if I was stuck on a desert island for the rest of my life. For some reason the number 50 came to mind. It may seem like a lot to the casual observer, but when you take into consideration the thousands of movies made in the last 100+ years it becomes incredibly difficult, even if you're a casual viewer.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So this list is not really my favorites (technically) but the movies I would want to spend the rest of my life with. Will likely wind up being a lot of favorites, but I'll be omitting some titles in favor of variety so I don't fill up half the list with the complete works of Kubrick, Lynch, and other iconic directors.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Also this list will be in alphabetical order. It's not about ranking, it's about the overall set.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Conveniently and appropriately the film that changed my outlook on film as an art is the first to show up alphabetically. Like others on this list I don't know what else can be said that hasn't already been said. This film has been such an influence on not just my life but the lives of filmmakers since it's release nearly fifty years ago. Even as recent as last year with Interstellar's visuals and score showing direct inspiration. A slow yet well paced adventure that leaves a lot up to interpretation and is one of the greatest viewing experience you'll ever have. I don't think I'd ever tire of this trapped on a desert island.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">There's a reason this comedy is so well remembered and adored so much. While some classic comedies are rooted in a specific era or rely on specific references for you to appreciate it, Airplane is a satirical example of what happens when a comedy is pieced together to stand on it's own regardless of who watches it. All is truly asks you to do is understand disaster movies and that's about it. There are some references relevant to the era but everything else stands on it's own. Best of all they play it straight, which is funnier than "trying" to be funny. Easily one of the top 5 best comedies ever put on film!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">A true testament of what an animated film can accomplish not just for the science fiction / action genre, but the appeal to adults as well as the artistic crowd. Akira is adapted from a manga of the same name and delivers top notch animation that was rarely seen then, let alone today. Despite being released in 1988 it stands the test of time in so many ways. That and it leaves it's story cryptic and exciting enough to make you want more, urging for repeat viewings to see what you may have missed. If you can stomach the intense violence then there's no reason to skip this essential animated film.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">If I'm stuck on a desert island I'm gonna need something goofy. Yes, Airplane can help fill that void but sometimes you need something that's just... dumb. Attack of the Killer Tomatoes was made on the super cheap but delivers in a way the filmmakers couldn't try to do if they had a bigger budget. There's something charming about that scrapped together appeal indie flicks like this have, made even better when it's a comedy that works in such a fun and goofy way without trying too hard. Some of the musical numbers are cringe-worthy, but, hey, I'll never claim this is a perfect experience. Only an experience I like to revisit from time to time and is yet to get old.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">One of the many iconic films on this list that I don't feel need explanation. However, with all the legendary sci-fi flicks out there you may be surprised (unless you looked ahead) that this is the only one starring Harrison Ford on this list. While Star Wars is good fun it has worn cold on me over the years. Blade Runner achieves brilliant storytelling in a dark future that is far more satisfying. I'd rather have investigation and chit-chat in a gritty environment over dogfights in space any day. And with all the different cuts implying different endings and theories about what really happens makes it all the more worth rewatching.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As much as I love the masterpiece of found footage horror, Paranormal Activity, I feel Blair Witch did a lot of things much better in the grand scheme. It was low budget at the perfect time because it had that low grade VHS feel that made it so much creepier through and through that later found footage movies didn't. The sense of terror is so much stronger because so little is known. The audience feels just as lost as the people in the movie. It's a thrilling experience that hasn't aged as well as it could mostly due to pop culture constantly referencing it, but that last sequence leading up to the dark ending still makes my heart race, giving me chills.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Bizarre visions of the future are among my favorite sub-genres of storytelling, especially when the dystopian and utopian visions become blurred. As horrible as the world of Brazil is it also is charmingly likable and it's full 142 minute director's cut, hell even the theatrical 132 minute cut is an exciting adventure that horrifies you while making you laugh. It's also very important in film history because of the fighting Terry Gilliam had to do to get his vision out there without being censored. It's a combo package between the brilliance of the film itself and the fascinating story behind the scenes. Just be sure you're not watching the "Love Conquers All" cut, at least not til you've seen the proper movie first.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It may be labelled as a black comedy on the poster but I imagine people watching this won't laugh as much as they expected. This is a dark story about an evil man and the affair his wife has with another man. A chilling experience that is complimented by some fantastic imagery and cinematography. Of all my choices on this list I'd say this one has some of the best cinematography (at times Kubrick-esque in the symmetry it uses) and use of color and costume when transitioning from room to room. Watch it and you'll see what I mean.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Among all the smart and artsy works I have on this list I could not go without my favorite action movie of all time. This 2006 thrill ride gives me what no action movie before or since has given me, literal non-stop action. From the moment the movie starts it kicks it into high gear! Even the slower dialogue scenes are filmed in a way that have energy, keeping the pace alive. Not very deep but the wild action still gives me a thrill nearly ten years later. Thank you Neveldine & Taylor. Thank you so much!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">There are two things that come to mind when I think of Lars Von Trier: depressing & innovative. His films always have a mega serious tone to them (sometimes too serious) but he always finds a way to innovate and expand his horizons as a filmmaker. To me one of his best works and my personal favorite of his that covers these grounds is Dogville. A tough to get through story that is incredibly innovative for being shot entirely on a sound stage with minimal set pieces. It takes a little while to get through, but in the expansive three hour time frame we fall in love with the setting and characters despite not literally being anywhere and essentially being a blackbox theatre show. Exhilarating none the less!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Horror comes in all kinds of flavors but one thing that's been coming up too much lately is the horror comedy. It's like many filmmakers can't make a scary story so they lazily satire it instead. Rarely does a good example come along, thankfully Drag Me To Hell came along to cleanse the palette. I legitimately found this experience to be fun AND scary that makes me want to revisit over and over again. Even better it's a recent example of a PG-13 horror movie done right! How did that happen?!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's hard to explain why Eraserhead is such a great piece of film. According to it's own creator, David Lynch, the true meaning has never been figured out and he never intends to explain it. This does not matter since this art house horror film gives you plenty to take from it including your own interpretations, many of which can be very satisfactory. It's mysterious, bizarre, disturbing, and surprisingly re-watchable for the type of experience it is.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This one is special for many reasons. It's a well put together crime drama with a lot of black comedy mixed in. The characters are charming as they are idiotic but the whole experience is a clever satire, even in ways you wouldn't realize right away. The whole "we swear every bit of this is true" was a satire in and of itself and is pretty brilliant when you take the time to think about why they did it. This also is special to me in the midwest sense. Born and raised in the midwest it exaggerates the people and accents I grew up with to a hilarious extent that make it so much more enjoyable for me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Terry Gilliam knocks it out of the park again with this drug fueled spectacle. Brilliantly adapted, performed, and about everything else by the cast and crew that reflects Hunter S Thompson's book and personality. This is one of the best examples of what it looks and feels like to be constantly high on drugs (from what I've heard at least) and the hallucinations that come with it. Like other Gilliam features it achieves a sense of fun AND terror in so many ways. The inclusion of Ralph Steadman's art in an animated form being one of my favorite bits.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">(<em>Flesh for Frankenstein</em>)</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">This is probably one of the oddest choices on the list because it's not necessarily a good film. Still there's something about it I find absolutely fascinating. Despite Andy Warhol's name being attached he's mostly involved as producer. Still Paul Morrissey's vision is as out there as Warhol himself. It's a bizarre exercise and vision of a legendary character that is as controversial as it is sexually charged. A strange piece that should be walked into with reservations, but you may find it as artistically pleasing as I do. Then you can check out Blood for Dracula, a nearly equally satisfying experience (only not as good) that looks at another legend in a different light.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I have this on my list for special reasons. This was one of my family's favorite movies growing up. It has a special place in my heart. But it's not here for nostalgic reasons. It may not handle the 'time travel' aspect as well as it could, sure, but it's still a very cool and unique perspective I've never seen before or since. It also tugs on my heart strings with the strong father son relationship played brilliantly by Dennis Quaid and Jim Caviezel. The overly empathetic aspects have grown tired on me, yet I can't deny this movie makes me want to give my dad a hug every time I see it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Yes, THAT Frozen. If you've been following my blog or know me well enough on a personal level you'll know I fell in love with Frozen from the first day I watched it. All the frenzy that followed it, surprisingly, did not bother me and I still love this amazing animated piece to this day. The songs, characters, story, and everything about it still steals my heart. And now that my wife and I have some killer homemade Anna and Kristoff costumes we can re-live the experience again and again outside of the movie itself. This topped my personal charts of favorite Disney movies and it still holds that spot. I love you, Frozen. I love you so damn much!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">(<em>Godzilla</em> [<em>1954</em>])</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The giant monster genre is a very mixed bag but is very fun as a whole. I wouldn't want to live on a desert island without one so I may as well go with the one that put the genre on the map. What this first one achieves is incredible especially when you consider when it was made. It, surprisingly, looks, feels and plays out way more realistically than most of the sequels. Godzilla always feels huge and the sense of dread is constant. Something that can't be said for most giant monster movies, especially in modern times when it feels more like a video game with too much focus on the monster and not the people... in all the wrong ways that is.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Technically not a cheat because this was originally released as a single film that contained two movies. Regardless, this was a one of a kind experience upon release. Not only did it include two fantastic throwback flicks from Rodriguez and Tarantino, but it also had numerous fake trailers that played both before and in-between the double feature. I'm still waiting for Eli Roth to make that Thanksgiving slasher flick (the best of the fake trailers) but for now I'll settle with these two beauties that I love to rewatch again and again, especially Death Proof!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Some may say David Lynch is weird for the sake of being weird, especially if they just saw this three hour masterpiece. A film I would not expect many to understand, especially the unwilling or non-Lynch fans, mostly due to the fact that I as a big Lynch fan still don't fully understand aspects of it. The meaning is somewhere in there, hidden. Being so cryptic makes each viewing different and exciting, like his earliest work Eraserhead. I would say this is one not to be missed if it weren't for the 'proceed with caution' I add to the front of that recommendation. It simply isn't for everyone. And for those who do like it, chances are you won't know why you liked it your first viewing. Doesn't matter. It demands repeat viewings and I'm ok with that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">(<em>Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles</em>)</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">A film with an approach that is bold and difficult to pull off. Jeanne Dielman is a story about a widowed woman's life who is stuck in a dull routine from day to day with cleaning, cooking, running errands, and caring for her teenage son, as well as turning the occasional trick to help cover the cost of living. It takes place over three days and a 3hr 21min runtime. It takes a very artistic approach by intentionally being dull in pacing to help push it's purpose. A strangely compelling experience I found myself more engaged in that I did in films less than half the length with more going on. Not to mention it'll inspire you to make something out of your life and existence so you don't fall into something as depressing as this. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Some iconic classics you simply cannot ignore. I still find it hard to believe that something as spectacular (especially in visual effects) as King Kong came out in 1933. I'll never forget my first viewing experience with this in high school. I found it thrilling and even scary in ways modern and not so modern cinema can. There's something special about the saw films were made back then along with the true talent that worked on this piece.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I don't think I could live a life on an desert island without this charming treat. Before Frozen came along this was my favorite Disney dating back to infancy when I would want to watch it all the time. And that's not nostalgia speaking my love for this. Even when my wife bought me the blu-ray a couple years ago I still found it to be a wonderful experience that makes me so happy on so many levels after not seeing it for years. For context, I've been finding childhood favorites to be unbearable as of late. Lady and the Tramp has stood the test of time for me and will always remain a classic, unconventional love story with some of the cutest stars ever to grace the screen.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As a lifelong Christian (Lutheran) I have no worry about losing my faith. It's very well set in stone. With that said it may be a wonder why the only film about Christ on this list would be one of the most controversial. Well, it's not just one of Scorsese's most well put together film (minus Harvey Keitel... yikes!) it is also one of the most fascinating character studies of Christ I've ever seen. Many would find this film offensive but I think it's interesting because it feels like we see an interpretation (remember that word, INTERPRETATION) of what Christ may have been going through while living his perfect life before the crucifixion. I think more Christians should see and examine this... something I plan to expand on in a full review one day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I don't like to use the term 'guilty pleasure' because if you enjoy something you shouldn't feel guilty for it because it clearly does something positive enough for you. However one of my few exceptions is this. I love Lawnmower Man to death even though it is full of problems. Everything from the insane plot, wild characters, and amazing early CG sequences. To me it is worthwhile as a legitimately fun experience while staying a relatively bad movie.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Once in a lifetime does something like Love Exposure come along. A multi-layered experience that pulls you in and refuses to let go until it's four hour runtime is complete. What starts as the simple pursuit for love transforms into so much more that is both please dramatically and comedically. Parts will make you laugh, others will make you cringe, and even though it goes off in many different directions you will gladly stay with it the whole way. Shion Sono has made many brilliant films including Suicide Club and Strange Circus, but this is easily his best work yet, and while I haven't seen all his films yet I find it hard to believe any of his other works could be this amazing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This was a tough choice because Wes Anderson has made so many great works of art. And while I haven't seen all of his films as of writing this I decided on Moonrise Kingdom because, while it is similar to his other works, I felt he innovated his style enough to make this stand out. I think I could live with this one more than the rest, what with the very strong characters and story, especially coming from the kids. Actually, I found them to be better characters than the veteran, adult actors that show up here. Awesome!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It may be hard to believe that an entire film about two people having dinner and talking could be as good as it is, but it is. Andre Gregory and Wallace Shawn play themselves but this is definitely not a documentary because it's been confirmed the characters are not necessarily reflective of their real life personas. Instead of feeling like two cameras are set up watching two people talk, disconnected, you actually feel like you're at the table having dinner with them. Then when it's all done and over with you're just as surprised the restaurant has cleared out as Wallace is. An immersive, unconventional experience that is worth your time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's very sad how so few have seen this masterpiece of early cinema. What was intended to be first in a long line of Napoleon films, this one, about his childhood and early rise in the French military, is a cinematic masterpiece that needs to be remembered. It used innovative and previously unseen techniques as well as an overall show of mastery in the art of cinema, building engaging and strong character and story in every way possible. Multiple cuts exist but the only version ever officially released (on VHS and Laserdisc) is 4 hours. This is on the top of my Criterion wish list with as long a cut as possible... and maybe alternate cut for film junkies like me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This was a hard choice. The Marx Brothers have made some of the best comedies that remain almost as timeless as they are funny (there's some... old fashioned perspectives in some) and I had a lot to choose from. Still I went with A Night at the Opera for many reasons. One of those most important being that I find it much more memorable than a lot of their other material. It has so much more going for it in laughs and overall bits than their other works, especially when compared to their later material like Go West and At the Circus. Also it doesn't have Zeppo. I never cared for Zeppo.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">(<em>Noriko's Dinner Table</em>)</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Technically a sequel to the haunting Suicide Club but could easily be it's own feature. It takes what we knew in Suicide Club (by revisiting a lot of the events) and expanding on them with stronger characters and story than before. It is definitely more drama than horror but that does not keep it from giving you the chills every now and then. Suicide Club was shock-worthy, Noriko's Dinner Table is worth examining. It offers so much more and is very satisfactory.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I gushed about Napoleon, which was from a similar era, but I definitely fell in love with this one first. Really those two can be put side by side in many ways except for the fact that Joan of Arc stands on its own and is better remembered now. Previously thought to be lost this was re-discovered and eventually re-released with a magnificent transfer by Criterion. The acting is among some of the best I've seen in silent film among other things it does so well. And, sadly, it is merely 82 minutes long. When this experience was over I wanted it to go for another 82 minutes, even longer!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Animation tends to be seen when the story requires wild over the top elements or fantasy. Perfect Blue breaks that mold by being a supremely solid drama that is entirely animated. This story about a retired pop star has many horror elements to it that will definitely shock. It goes very far in uncomfortable directions but it makes it a better story and drama overall. And while this whole thing could have easily been done live action it does take advantage of the fact that it's animated, especially when the mind fuck sequences come up. Much in the same way Requiem for a Dream was a beautiful but uncomfortable experience, Perfect Blue is the same in many respects.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I think many of you reading this can agree that Ghibli/Miyazaki films are great. Among some of the best animated films out there. I agree but one thing that always made me stand out was preferring the less fantastical approach. I've liked his features that weren't as heavy on the fantasy and were smaller in scale with less characters given more screen time. Ponyo is a fantastic combo of that, wherein it does have plenty of fantasy elements but it's so beautifully portrayed that it enhances the experience for me instead of shutting me out. Not to mention it's his cutest feature! Yes, even more than Totoro.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I found The Raid, released in 2011, to be one of the best action movies ever made. Then, three years later the sequel is released and knocks the first one out of the park. Need I say more? The Raid 2 is a powerhouse of ultra violence and killer martial arts fighting. Everyone on screen clearly knows what they're doing without stunt doubles or the use of computers (or at least minimal use.) The sense of creativity in the action is top notch as is the cinematography. One of the biggest highlights for me being the incredible car chase fight scene.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">(<em>Ring</em> [<em>1998</em>])</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">This was actually a tough decision for me. I adore the Ring franchise as a whole but not one film adaptation a ton over the other. Even in rewatching some of the best the franchise has to offer I didn't feel overly empathetic for them. When it came down to it I was deciding between this and Ring 0, the prequel, because of how much better an expansion of the film universe (not book universe) it was. I chose this version in the end because, despite it's noticeable shortcomings, it is an excellent example of what the franchise offers. It was brilliantly adapted in a way that works on screen, making favorable decisions to appeal on screen when things in the book otherwise wouldn't.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Out of anything on this list this shouldn't require explanation. Robocop is fucking incredible! But seriously, not only was this a thrill ride of delightfully 80's proportions but it was also a great satire, whether audiences realized it or not. A seemingly ridiculous concept that somehow works, especially when you take into consideration the culture and era it was rooted in. It really should be stupid and in many ways it is. However those smarter elements hidden underneath make it stand out. That and the gallons upon gallons of blood and guts in the uncut version.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">(<em>Salo, or the 120 Days of Sodom</em>)</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">It's sick, depraved, graphic, and horrifying, but it's also a brilliant work of art. Salo is without a doubt one of the most difficult viewing experiences I've ever had but I can't help but see the artistic value hidden behind all of that. Adapted and somewhat modernized from the book of the same name this piece looks into the harsh nature of power, control, desire, and the darkness in man. This is one of the most discussed and controversial films in an existence. It's important in not just film's history but storytelling history because of those controversial means. It's not sick for the sake of being sick. There's a reason for it being there, it's just a matter of you finding it, if you can stomach it to begin with.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">(<em>Seven Samurai</em>)</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Despite my love for Japan, it's history, culture, and just about everything else it is surprising I haven't seen more samurai films. Since I can't cheat by choosing multiple (the Musashi Miyamoto trilogy, for example) I decided to go with the knockout of a samurai film, Seven Samurai. Like other classics on this list it is not just a good watching it experience, it's all around high quality work AND innovative for it's time. Techniques used here would be used in the action genre even to this day. I can't confirm if it invented some of these techniques but it definitely popularized them thanks to the incredible fight scenes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">(<em>The Seventh Seal</em>)</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">What can I say about this that hasn't already been said? The Seventh Seal is a grim discussion on death and fighting against it. Simply put I adore the theme of playing a deadly game of chess against death himself. This opens so many possibilities for intrigue and discussion not just from the characters but from the audience as well. Don't forget that the title itself is a reference to an event in the book of Revelation. One of the most thought provoking films on this list, for sure.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you remember my top 10 movies of all time list, this one topped it at number one. This is without a doubt my favorite movie of all time and for good reason. It would take me too long to explain so you'll mostly have to take my word for it. There are very few movies I've spent so much time with. Not just in viewings but in research. I love the stories behind the scenes, the intentional and unintentional pieces of symbolism on screen, which of course leads to the conspiracy theories fans have come up with. Above all that it's a creepy, intelligent, and well paced horror story that always creeps me out. Damn I've gotta watch this one again soon!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I hope I don't sound cliche when I say that Shoah is truly a once in a lifetime experience. That's because only once in a lifetime would a piece of art like Shoah be created. A nine hour documentary on the holocaust that tracked down the people who actually lived through it and never using archived footage or photos. It's like a real life tour and discussion making it more of an actual experience instead of a textbook lesson. It understands and respects your intelligence and knows you want something more than the standard documentary on WWII. It took Claude Lanzmann more or less a decade to put together between tracking down the participants and editing down the 350 hours of raw footage into the masterpiece it is today. Out of respect for the people it tracks, out of respect for the filmmaker that put it together, and out of respect for the human condition, this may be one of the most important films you ever experience.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Comparing this to 2001 is definitely unfair but it's one of the few ways I can describe it in layman's terms. It's a slow paced science fiction drama with an even longer running time than the previously mentioned classic. The difference here is that Solaris is much slower and more dense in it's ideas and approach than 2001 was. Solaris tackles some pretty big but personal topics that come up in all people at some point in their lives. And, yes, at nearly three hours long it definitely needs that time to make the proper effect.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We need more animated films like Song of the Sea. It has a fully realized world based on actual Irish folklore. It chooses the proper animation style and approach while taking full advantage of the opportunities they have with it. AND it has lovable and believable characters in a touching story that warms the heart. Not a cringe warming the heart. A true warming experience that makes you want more. I can't wait to revisit this one over and over again. Even if it's not because of the already stated reasons... but the cute factor as well. The level of cute, but not <i>that </i>kind of cute, is through the roof, which helps make it so lovable.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'd be remissed if I didn't bring a Schwarzenegger movie to this desert island with me. And of all of them I thought I'd go for the most obvious because it's still the best over twenty years later. Rarely does a sequel do something as great as this sequel did. Not to mention it was a special effects powerhouse upon release that still stands up surprisingly well today. Only problem I can think of with rewatching this today would be how dated a lot of it's writing is, especially in the "adapting to real life people" aspect the Terminator is taught. Blegh...</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's sad that the main reason this is so well remembered is because of one scene. A scene about a milkshake that was referencing a similar analogy used for the exact same reasons, used during the time period this film takes place. A shame because this modern epic of a film is mesmerizing. It tackles greed, religion, deception, and so much more. And I can't say enough about the brilliant performance by Daniel Day Lewis. He's the main reason I saw this and he's the main reason I go back. It's been a while since my last viewing, though, so I think it's time for me to visit the oil fields of Daniel Plainview again very, VERY soon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Shining may be my all time favorite but there is no movie I've seen more than UHF. I've had more repeat viewings of this cult comedy classic than any other movie. Not necessarily because it's the funniest I've seen. Airplane and most Marx Brothers are better comedic examples. Safe to say it was Weird Al himself and his offbeat sense of humor that kept me coming back. That and this movie has plenty of personal connections to me and my life and friendships with certain people. It's more than a movie for me. But even without the emotional connection this is a mostly forgotten comedy worth a try. Be aware of many out of date references and parodies, though.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">(<em>Un Chien Andalou</em>)</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The only short film on this list. Un Chien Andalou was made in 1929 and it is a supreme example of early art on film. A very surreal 16 minutes that is no hold barred and is better for it. Plenty of moments can and will surprise you since you wouldn't expect to see some of the material on screen at this time. But for a piece of art co-created by Salvador Dali, who makes an appearance here, that was to be expected. Such a rarity. Especially considering the era it came out of!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">(<em>Whisper of the Heart</em>)</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Ever see a film that was so impactful and so enjoyable it entered your top 10 favorites of all time... and it stayed there? That's what this beauty of an animated film did to me. This coming of age story about a young girl in urban Japan trying to find her artistic voice is so touching and sweet that it makes my heart melt every time I watch it. So much of it plays out realistically. And that fantastical poster with an anthropomorphic cat? Total fantasy dream sequence. I could go on for a long time of why I adore this experience. Instead take my word for it. It's a lesser known Ghibli and is not directed by Miyazaki. Doesn't mean it's not worthwhile. If anything I like it more than almost everything else they've done.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's easy to throw around the term "like no other" when a genre film does something a little unique. I only like using those terms when I feel they're necessary. Let me say The Wicker Man is truly a horror film... like no other. Most of it takes place in the daytime, there's lots of singing with minimal traditional horror sound cues, and overall it doesn't scream horror. What is in it's place is environment and character. It's superbly acted and has a sense of dread from the start in ways other horror does not. Some of these elements are likely to be lost to modern audiences... but it's worth a shot.</span>Thirsty->Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11669975237864473615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412480895847512618.post-30775725792031363352015-10-15T09:25:00.000-07:002015-10-15T09:25:19.998-07:00Review: A Serbian Film<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">WARNING! WARNING! The following review discusses a highly controversial film that contains explicit and unsettling material. If you do not want to read about that I suggest you turn back now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>History</strong>: A substantially controversial film from day one.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It was first seen through multiple festivals, starting with the South by Southwest Film Festival on March 15, 2010. During the introduction to the film the audience was warned about it's extreme nature and were given the chance to leave the screening.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">When given a general release it saw many different forms. It ran in Serbia completely uncut at 104 minutes long with all screenings schedule late at night. When released in the UK it received many cuts, running in at 99 minutes. Then, when it hit the US it received even more cuts, bringing it down to 98 minutes, but still received the infamous NC-17 rating. Simultaneously it was released on VOD with far less cuts, totaling the runtime to 103 minutes, but still not fully uncut. The uncut version would eventually be released on DVD.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Due to the extreme nature of the film it has been banned in multiple countries, preventing it from not just a general release but for festival releases as well. These countries include Spain, Finland, Portugal, France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore, Norway, and Brazil. However the Brazil ban has since been lifted.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Across the board the reviews were very mixed. One common response calling it an unpleasant experience, and whether they mean that it was effective or over-hyped depended on the viewer.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The filmmaker provided explanations to why his film was so intense after the release. I will talk about these more within the review itself.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Personal History</strong>: I heard about this after it made it's initial theatrical release, sometime in 2011. I've always been curious about it but never took the plunge on buying the DVD until now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Version I Watched</strong>: The slightly shortened 103 min cut. I chose this because this version was $10 on Amazon but the full 104 min cut was $30. Since I didn't know if I'd even want to keep this I went with the less expensive option with minimal compromises.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Review</strong>: Well... this film experience was not what I expected and not in the way you may think.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Going into A Serbian Film I was fully aware of the explicit content in A Serbian Film. Almost too much. I was so caught up in what this was going to be I accidentally spoiled a lot of what happens in the film. I knew about the horror violence, even some of the things that happen in the climax of the story, but I didn't have full context and how it all happens. So I both did and didn't know what was going to happen next.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Did that ruin my experience? Not a chance!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here's what I didn't expect from A Serbian Film... how well put together it was!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Something I've found in many of these controversial or excessively explicit films is they are either made with a high production value but only have minimal, yet extreme moments that make the film as a whole controversial, or the content is so excessive from beginning to end but has a really poor production value.</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Example of the former...</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">...example of the latter.</span></i></div>
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Not to mention some of those excessively violent, sexual, or overall harsh films have characters and writing that is terrible or not worth mentioning. Mainly because some (many) of these films that are discussed as such are made seemingly for the purposes of the explicit content with little to no redeeming artistic or cathartic values otherwise.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">There are always exceptions...</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">One of the harshest experiences in film, but underneath that is plenty of social and political commentary done in a genuinely well done artistic style.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">...and A Serbian Film is one of those exceptions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i>I was caught completely off guard by the excellent production value of A Serbian Film. It was shot incredibly well (using a RED camera, naturally.) It didn't just point and shoot, it definitely had a purpose giving the right focus at the right time.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Speaking of which, talk about excellent storytelling and pacing for a film of this kind. Most other examples would jump right to the sick and nasty without much story or setup. Granted it does touch on what your average, conservative MPAA rater would consider NC-17 with some explicit sex scenes right in the opening (seeing as how the star of the story is a porn star.) But what makes this film so infamous don't come into full play until at least the second half of the story. Not that there aren't horrific things happening before that outside the pornos our... hero?... has starred in.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">What surprised me the most about this is that I didn't mind. Seeing as how it was surprisingly well written, for what it is, it left me engaged in the story and characters in a way I never imagined I would be. It wasn't like in Hostel where the audience was forced to spend an hour with unlikable characters you're waiting to be killed off, only to be treated with twenty minutes or less of what you came to see (may be a slight exaggeration, been a while.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Having this well done storytelling and visual style do help the latter half of the film to be way more impactful. We learn so much about the star of the show as well as his family. We meet his wife and son. The relationship he has with them is very likable, regardless of what you think of his career choice. Then all the horrible things in the second half happen against his will and it makes you feel terrible. Especially the final, final moments when something especially horrible happens, only for something even worse to be implied before the credits roll.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">That emotional impact that I did not expect to see helps make A Serbian Film stand out in the 'gross out' genre as I like to call it. Films that are so beyond the pale or so excessive in their content that they only <i>seem</i> to exist to gross out the audience. Whether they do or not the evidence of the excessive 'gross out' elements are on screen.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Which makes me wonder... what would have A Serbian Film been without the excessive content?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am a fighter for these kinds of films to be better understood. To look past the excessive content and figure out why it's there or what is underneath it all. Well the thing that majority of the American audience would not understand is how the horrendous experience that is the last half of this film (well the film as a whole, really) is a big commentary on the Serbian film industry, hence the name.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In Serbia, and really around the world, there's a sense of political correctness in film. A sense of following a certain set of rule regardless of how the film actually turns out in terms of overall quality. A Serbian Film takes a cynical look at that by making their story an un-politically correct as possible. So many horrific things happen in this film that I don't even want to repeat them here. But I'll ask the question again... do they need to be here?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">You bet your sweet ass they do if A Serbian Films wants to be what it intends to be.</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Many of you won't what to see what happens next in this shot.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Something that people seem to forget is the purpose of horror is to make the audience uncomfortable. Whether that's by screaming "boogaleeboogaleebooo!" at them to make them startle slightly or by psychologically destroying them with unique context and character situations. Then when something excessively violent or whatever in content comes along it automatically gets thrown under the bus for being shallow.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The use of violence to an extreme level isn't always shallow. If anything it's shallow for the audience always to assume something is shallow just because it's intense in nature. There's beauty in subtly but that doesn't mean the more excessive elements don't have their place.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The most effective horror films are not based on how much gore is in the story. The effectiveness is what impact it places on the person experiencing it. If the audience leaves a horror film full of excitement because they had fun with the scares, that's not exactly effective. It's better than boring but it's a far cry away from what horror can do. To me it's about feeling uncomfortable. It's about becoming irrationally afraid of what's hidden in the dark or around the corner just because you saw that exact thing in a movie only days prior. It's about getting horrible images stuck in your head that play over and over again like a GIF in a browser window you can't close, and your eyes are held open like in A Clockwork Orange.</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">And now I'm imagining watching A Serbian Film again but like this.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A Serbian Film took a lot out of me. It was a harsh experience that literally had me curled up on my couch during the more intense scenes. That NEVER happens to me anymore. I thought I saw it all after experiences like Salo, Cannibal Holocaust, Caligula, Men Behind the Sun, and the list goes on. But I guess no matter how far out there something is there's always something worse. That is, until you get into snuff film territory. Then it's just illegal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Did you ever see Faces of Death? Overrated garbage. And, no, it's not a real snuff film. The only 'death on film' was footage that just so happened to catch such tragedies and was reused here. Otherwise it was all staged... where was I?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is definitely not something I would watch a lot simply because of the excessive content. And technically I had the slightly cut version because of the price difference. Still that one minute missing did not break the experience. It has more than enough to make this one of the most horrific film experiences I've ever had. Not only that but one of the most satisfying I've had for a film of this kind. There are really very few of these 'gross out' or 'explicit in nature' films that I really enjoy on almost every level. This one is easily up there. For what it is it is a good, no, GREAT piece of cinema... only most of you won't ever see it because you wouldn't want to.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Did I like everything in it? No, definitely not. There were a few things that I felt even went beyond the pale of the pale it already went beyond and were unnecessary. Things that almost destroyed me (if you've seen this film I think you know what I'm talking about.) And there were times when I wish it was either paced or constructed slightly differently, but those are minor gripes compared to all the good here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It sounds and feels weird giving this so much praise and support because of that excessive nature it has. And if you were to ever talk to me about it in person I'm sure I'd talk about it how rough an experience it was. Still I cannot deny what it does right objectively. There's art to what it places on screen, art that may be hard to understand. Simply put...</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">THIS IS NOT FOR EVERYONE! I REPEAT! THIS IS NOT FOR EVERYONE!</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">By the standards set in the film, this is a tame image.</span></i></div>
Thirsty->Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11669975237864473615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412480895847512618.post-42107216686384430732015-10-11T14:18:00.000-07:002015-10-11T14:18:37.114-07:00Clover Reviews -> Winter's Bone<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Welcome back my friends to another episode of...</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">CLOVER REVIEWS!</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Today's review:</b></span><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"A dark and chilling tale with a killer performance by a pre-Hunger Games J-Law. Why did it take me so long to see this?!"</span></span></i></b></div>
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Thirsty->Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11669975237864473615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412480895847512618.post-84414460752543177162015-09-27T08:31:00.000-07:002015-09-27T08:31:23.463-07:00Review: The Green Inferno<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Version I Watched</b>: Theatrical release.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>History</b>: Outside of the obvious, there are many ways this film has connections and references to the classic yet controversial horror movie Cannibal Holocaust. It is one of Eli Roth's favorites so this was and is destined to be homage to that, among other Italian cannibal films from that era. Even the title itself is a reference to the 'film-within-the-film' in Cannibal Holocaust.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">To obtain authenticity in Roth's vision he chose to shoot on location in Peru and some areas of Chile. The jungle natives in the movie were actual villagers who lived there, had never been filmed or photographed, and didn't even know what the concept of a movie was. In a display of how different their society is, at the end of filming the village offered a two year old child to the production designer as a way of saying "thank you" for allowing them to participate. The offer was declined, naturally.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The film premiered at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival. It participated in some other festivals following that. At one of those later screenings, the one in question in France, an audience member literally fainted.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It was originally intended to be released in the US in September 2014 but was pulled a month before due to financial difficulties with the production company. It was eventually releases a year later.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The reviews have been mixed to negative, holding a 38% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 5.7/10 on IMDB.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Personal History</b>: I remember hearing about this when it was first coming around, but not sure what to think. Eli Roth hadn't come out with anything new in a while and his mixed track record didn't exactly have me jumping out of my seat. I mostly wondered if it would be a less intense copycat of Cannibal Holocaust. Then as it came back into the limelight and I learned more details, like using REAL natives from where they filmed, got me much more interested. I was plenty excited to see this theatrically, which is saying something because I don't go out to the theatres nearly as much as I used to.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Review</b>: Paying homage to an older story, movie, whatever it may be is something that starts with good intentions. If you dig deep enough you'll likely find out that some of your favorite titles may not just be based on older works, but have specific elements thrown in as a way of paying homage to an older piece of work. Heck, one of my favorite Ghibli movies (going a different direction for a moment) Ponyo is a huge love letter to The Little Mermaid.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Despite good intentions, sometimes knowing ahead of time something is a direct response or love letter to an older title can damage it's reputation, begging for comparisons. I don't know if it's because these homages are getting worse these days or if it's because our natural reaction is to think the filmmaker is saying "this is my version of [insert movie here]."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Well in a way that's something I was worried about going into The Green Inferno. Having seen all of Eli Roth's other movies multiple times I'm very familiar with his work. He loves the guts and gore. It did not surprise me he chose to make a cannibal movie because of his love for Cannibal Holocaust, Cannibal Ferox, and other Italian cannibal movies from the 70's and 80's. While these are things I can naturally assume based on who Eli Roth is and his body of work, I wish I didn't know these things ahead of time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here's the thing... Cannibal Holocaust is one of the most vicious, violent, and disturbing horror movies ever made...</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Surprising... I know.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So when a modern filmmaker tells the world how much they love these older movies, one that were highly controversial and couldn't even be shown in modern mainstream theatres without cuts then it gives them too high of standards to reach simply because they said they liked a movie. Not to mention Eli Roth has some pretty inherent issues with his stories and they're plenty present with The Green Inferno.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The biggest issue I had with the story was the issue I had with Hostel. None of the characters were likable, relatable, or felt worth saving. Yes there are movies out there with characters that have those same traits but at least the characters in those other stories are more interesting and make the ride more interesting and satisfying. These idiots on the other hand...</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So the story goes like this. A group of college aged activists plan a trip to South America to protest the destruction of a large chunk of rainforest and prevent the deaths of the natives that live there. I wasn't opposed to this idea. I thought it was actually kind of clever, not really seeing that sort of idea in horror movies often. Usually it's a bunch of drunk idiots on spring break stumble upon monsters or murderous psychopaths. So this was pretty cool. If only the characters were worth our time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The other issue, and this is seen a lot generally in horror, not just in Roth's flicks, is that it takes waaaaay too long to get to the cannibals. We all know why were watching a cannibal movie. To see some cannibals. But we don't get treated to the natives until nearly the half way point because Roth felt it was necessary to spend more time with these one dimensional characters, even killing off a couple of them in clumsy ways.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In horror, in action, in so many genres that exploit their movie on posters as horrific, action packed, whatever, why does it always take so damn long to get to what people paid to see? That's why Crank is in my top 5 favorite action movies of all time. It takes all of a minute to get to the action and it does not let up til it's done. It's (almost) literally a non-stop action thrill ride. Then with horror there are examples like Saw that cleverly told exposition in flashbacks while bringing us into the horror right from the start.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Is it because there's not enough material to stretch the actual horror elements out to a longer runtime? Do each of these horror movie filmmakers all think that taking their time to get to the real meat of the movie will pay off? If anything it only makes me more anxious because this kind of horror is the kind that's in your face violent. It's not exactly slow or subtle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is an unfair comparison but one horror movie that KILLED IT with a slow pace was the recent It Follows. That was a dynamite flick with great scares and it needed to take it's time. In The Green Inferno I felt like I spent a lot of time waiting for something to happen, and then when it did I felt somewhat disappointed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's such a shame because the parts with the cannibals I enjoyed quite a bit, for the most part. The fact that Roth gathered actual natives, who have never been filmed or photographed before, added something unique to this movie that wouldn't otherwise be seen. They felt natural in their surroundings because, well, it was literally their natural surroundings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">What's even crazier is not just how foreign they felt, but also how, in a weird way, normal they felt at times. One of the most unique elements of this horror flick was after they make their first cannibal kill.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">They take the guy who is basically the closest to being the most likable and go through what you'd expect from a horror like this. Tear out his eyes and tongue, cut off his limbs and head, all while he's still alive. Pretty intense and graphic stuff. But then it cuts to the villages cooking and preparing the body as if it were cow, pig, or any other choice of meat. It's handled with such a casual approach that it made me think of comedies that play their performance straight and lets the comedy come out of that performance.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A scene later the village is gathered together eating the cooked body. But it's not like a bunch of zombies attacking a living man with blood and guts everywhere. It felt more like a picnic. Something that I couldn't decide was either unintentionally hilarious or disturbing because of how calmly it's played out. Either way I thought that was a really nice touch.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">If only we got to spend more time with the cannibals here. There were some other great moments that did feel worth my while, even if one of them was caused by some of the stupidest logic I've seen in a horror movie, but the end result was what I was looking for so I can't complain too much.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Even the ending was pretty dark. I don't want to give anything away, but the person you expect to survive definitely does survive, and then the way it plays out from there was pretty cool. Naturally it sets itself up for a sequel. Something was already rumored to be in production, which is now rumored to be on hold. Likely because of the financial difficulties the studio ran into that caused the one year delay of The Green Inferno's release.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I know I expected this to be something it never would be. I definitely set myself up for disappointment. I did feel it could have pushed the envelope more. Despite all that it was still a unique enough experience that didn't feel neutered. It was still viciously violent when it became violent. Plenty dark when it needed to be. It just had too much going against it between the bad writing, pacing, and dangling fruit in front of us only to give us a small bite without fulfilling the promise I felt it stated in the first place.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I wouldn't say it's bad. In my eyes it was 'meh' with some cool stuff in the middle that will make a matinee or redbox rental worth your time. Like one reviewer said, it won't bring anyone over to Roth's movies, but it should satisfy the gore lovers that already like his movies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Good thing it only cost $6 million to make. I don't see this being a big success.</span></div>
Thirsty->Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11669975237864473615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412480895847512618.post-16154178183927145402015-08-23T17:24:00.000-07:002015-08-23T17:24:11.224-07:00Clover Reviews - Waterworld<div style="text-align: center;">
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"This alleged disaster of a movie was OK at best and dated at worst. A horrendous mess? No, not quite."</span></span></i></b></div>
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Thirsty->Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11669975237864473615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412480895847512618.post-25306271556087224412015-08-15T18:01:00.000-07:002015-08-15T18:01:51.037-07:00Clover Reviews - Jurassic World<div style="text-align: center;">
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"I don't know who had it worse... the people tracking the hybrid dino or the underpaid service workers dealing with self entitled customers when all the bad stuff went down."</span></span></i></b></div>
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Thirsty->Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11669975237864473615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412480895847512618.post-56929883576415131192015-07-12T08:33:00.001-07:002015-07-12T08:33:49.676-07:00Clover Reviews Volume 2 -> Episode 5<div style="text-align: center;">
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"This may sound like an odd comment... but who knew a magician could have such a bizarre, exciting, even controversial life?"</span></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Don't forget that Clover gladly takes requests. Her aim is to please you, the reader.</span></div>
Thirsty->Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11669975237864473615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412480895847512618.post-13974537131209005102015-07-05T15:15:00.000-07:002015-07-05T15:15:01.356-07:00Clover Reviews Volume 2 -> Episode 4<div style="text-align: center;">
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<b style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"The REAL star of this movie was Felicity Jones in those cute, period appropriate dresses. How ADORABLE was she?!"</span></span></i></b></span></span></i></b></div>
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Thirsty->Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11669975237864473615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412480895847512618.post-58323258127011126652015-06-28T17:21:00.000-07:002015-06-28T17:21:35.355-07:00Clover Reviews Volume 2 -> Episode 3<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOfn26KJ2YicOA9Ka1vRpl9cgTjnUP6m3Yn6s1lspHF4sNhTbK1l4LWYkd7oINFcaPc4vfEPQlPDuFuOaznWIwPqZfMu67UiSs00IrHhcCkpep82XnqmMyiGvhYikle-VOzOjmPPq786Uc/s1600/IMG_1145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOfn26KJ2YicOA9Ka1vRpl9cgTjnUP6m3Yn6s1lspHF4sNhTbK1l4LWYkd7oINFcaPc4vfEPQlPDuFuOaznWIwPqZfMu67UiSs00IrHhcCkpep82XnqmMyiGvhYikle-VOzOjmPPq786Uc/s200/IMG_1145.JPG" width="136" /></a><b style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></i></b><b style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Pixar's most imaginative film yet! Makes me wonder what my little bunny emotions are up to in my little bunny head."</span></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">That's all for today. Join us every Saturday for more movie recommendations from our fuzzy friend.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Don't forget that Clover gladly takes requests. Her aim is to please you, the reader.</span></div>
Thirsty->Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11669975237864473615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412480895847512618.post-38295460923607145222015-06-21T18:11:00.002-07:002015-06-21T18:11:33.080-07:00Clover Reviews Volume 2 -> Episode 2<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Welcome back my friends to another episode of...</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">CLOVER REVIEWS!</span></b><br />
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Today's review:</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXa1Jvr7-ZQW4VuIQb8rFaJ_sCHId9v8WvovdQs7XHE38rNAfi8z6HEcKB_KIrE_UxW3w27LJOBoJL9R7a7jTb6F7jEV_8u4IzTiWO_POUa8XAt0mKL6OFvTeLc39BkkSSglnCfZgF4HMH/s1600/51HPDVN09GL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXa1Jvr7-ZQW4VuIQb8rFaJ_sCHId9v8WvovdQs7XHE38rNAfi8z6HEcKB_KIrE_UxW3w27LJOBoJL9R7a7jTb6F7jEV_8u4IzTiWO_POUa8XAt0mKL6OFvTeLc39BkkSSglnCfZgF4HMH/s320/51HPDVN09GL.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAL_jvJjzdy9XE-O7WeLDcgeyPrv5R0yAgeO6cdOyZkz8VLP4nC6O7k0xUVUPfaTlhurQunCPDh3RgBYyXxKdtz-dbG2SvnAQSiswOBM8XBe3cICjg7cVn46pVq1V6rLLk_kuhNSd_3CSU/s1600/IMG_0050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAL_jvJjzdy9XE-O7WeLDcgeyPrv5R0yAgeO6cdOyZkz8VLP4nC6O7k0xUVUPfaTlhurQunCPDh3RgBYyXxKdtz-dbG2SvnAQSiswOBM8XBe3cICjg7cVn46pVq1V6rLLk_kuhNSd_3CSU/s200/IMG_0050.JPG" width="155" /></a></div>
<br /><b style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></i></b><b style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"An odd, stupid, and obnoxious indie film that has a confusing and mixed message about vegetarians."</span></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">That's all for today. Join us every Saturday for more movie recommendations from our fuzzy friend.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Don't forget that Clover gladly takes requests. Her aim is to please you, the reader.</span></div>
Thirsty->Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11669975237864473615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412480895847512618.post-28800001308016653642015-06-14T08:30:00.000-07:002015-06-14T08:30:33.157-07:00Clover Reviews Volume 2 -> Episode 1<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Welcome back my friends to another episode (and another season) of...</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">CLOVER REVIEWS!</span></b><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Today's review:</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1zUG4IVgtQlG-eqMJGnqtwEwKLWssz6Ca47GZoGXvyopl6jW_zczNlBrmPfYh56KrwaRPicJLnxc05i4k0b-RcQ5Nn2AeiGaIS_aJgZodBMuRDxTvmrvPiwdOYDY5LuoGcynnKocvoaI/s1600/ninth_gate_ver3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1zUG4IVgtQlG-eqMJGnqtwEwKLWssz6Ca47GZoGXvyopl6jW_zczNlBrmPfYh56KrwaRPicJLnxc05i4k0b-RcQ5Nn2AeiGaIS_aJgZodBMuRDxTvmrvPiwdOYDY5LuoGcynnKocvoaI/s320/ninth_gate_ver3.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrkBVzQ4HA9rFVtFeNuZl2XnV2n6IUUXcWzuNS40yJoEZYSsAQlYpFUUaIvh6c0TjGBfdlBzToX7Fyq-6xpgvJfd_lmtIdfDXNTt6xLNc52kXrzaksL8lyo8E-kT4MdUkweYIoTMvKCnoP/s1600/IMG_0013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrkBVzQ4HA9rFVtFeNuZl2XnV2n6IUUXcWzuNS40yJoEZYSsAQlYpFUUaIvh6c0TjGBfdlBzToX7Fyq-6xpgvJfd_lmtIdfDXNTt6xLNc52kXrzaksL8lyo8E-kT4MdUkweYIoTMvKCnoP/s200/IMG_0013.JPG" width="168" /></a><b style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></i></b><b style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Wow. This turned out to be pretty lousy. Color me disappointed."</span></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">That's all for today. Join us every Saturday for more movie recommendations from our fuzzy friend.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Don't forget that Clover gladly takes requests. Her aim is to please you, the reader.</span></div>
Thirsty->Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11669975237864473615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412480895847512618.post-3094152629060419392015-06-07T11:59:00.000-07:002015-06-07T11:59:54.507-07:00Clover Reviews Volume 1 -> Episode 52 (1 year anniversary!)<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Welcome back my friends to another episode of...</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">CLOVER REVIEWS!</span></b><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Today's review:</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdLeFt8l1FU1DkjcnmzTlcx1wCq-6TcsWyQBPFQAX3z8Z9EdrHbQSCA6w5ptvXNhBesfk37tanLQVb7BNqx38eBncNwjj2K1uIN0pZd6fTbbC9i-R9pRCX-59OcFznweyXLPBufPgOxrEL/s1600/misery_loves_comedy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdLeFt8l1FU1DkjcnmzTlcx1wCq-6TcsWyQBPFQAX3z8Z9EdrHbQSCA6w5ptvXNhBesfk37tanLQVb7BNqx38eBncNwjj2K1uIN0pZd6fTbbC9i-R9pRCX-59OcFznweyXLPBufPgOxrEL/s320/misery_loves_comedy.jpg" width="215" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz0hKIUJEh3fGjo04cz4-Rn4eA_d7BxsFrddPuYGsROoFs4P55cnCQSmF4G7u-GGC4zwYRWbaBUyGNNS50WWYyp7FiVd50uMuNyJOGpizRyrdMnjz6tkp5xeM7SSUkhzmLLlK0ntmJ6afh/s1600/IMG_1173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz0hKIUJEh3fGjo04cz4-Rn4eA_d7BxsFrddPuYGsROoFs4P55cnCQSmF4G7u-GGC4zwYRWbaBUyGNNS50WWYyp7FiVd50uMuNyJOGpizRyrdMnjz6tkp5xeM7SSUkhzmLLlK0ntmJ6afh/s200/IMG_1173.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
<b style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></i></b><b style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Didn't have as much 'misery' as I hoped but still provided unique insight into their craft."</span></span></i></b></div>
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<br />
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<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">That's all for today. Join us every Saturday for more movie recommendations from our fuzzy friend.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Don't forget that Clover gladly takes requests. Her aim is to please you, the reader.</span></div>
Thirsty->Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11669975237864473615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412480895847512618.post-4541262592264112112015-05-30T14:32:00.002-07:002015-05-30T14:32:59.782-07:00Clover Reviews Volume 1 -> Episode 51<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Welcome back my friends to another episode of...</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">CLOVER REVIEWS!</span></b><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Today's review:</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgHwBtw9hBfOrXwTUVS6-FgfCFCKRu-5vaDz9IdRNVzwIQmpKB5G3Uh6JcwJueJxdaPRJ-6rSN0lxtx9cbJiensHHMG2PnfrRqA4qfDOauAabadmYybf1aaoytAng-MfyGc2VJB3G-2Lx/s1600/tomorrowland_ver2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgHwBtw9hBfOrXwTUVS6-FgfCFCKRu-5vaDz9IdRNVzwIQmpKB5G3Uh6JcwJueJxdaPRJ-6rSN0lxtx9cbJiensHHMG2PnfrRqA4qfDOauAabadmYybf1aaoytAng-MfyGc2VJB3G-2Lx/s320/tomorrowland_ver2.jpg" width="215" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjGcDiugIq08k6V3a9g9u2StDP4t0FJpXNLxqnqIYCsY8bbdm0TRX7mTrlH3YgKGiCcIzdIsMFTCrYquybPjoZM5yPojGzqm8zKcSuQ5JlxlPqulLDoyg2IabOI9xdjAJFCDpCMR-NbBRK/s1600/IMG_1607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjGcDiugIq08k6V3a9g9u2StDP4t0FJpXNLxqnqIYCsY8bbdm0TRX7mTrlH3YgKGiCcIzdIsMFTCrYquybPjoZM5yPojGzqm8zKcSuQ5JlxlPqulLDoyg2IabOI9xdjAJFCDpCMR-NbBRK/s200/IMG_1607.JPG" width="144" /></a><b style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></i></b><b style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"The concept was a bit underutilized... but it had that old timey future look to it. That was cool."</span></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">That's all for today. Join us every Saturday for more movie recommendations from our fuzzy friend.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Don't forget that Clover gladly takes requests. Her aim is to please you, the reader.</span></div>
Thirsty->Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11669975237864473615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412480895847512618.post-2204732551810547242015-05-24T11:32:00.000-07:002015-05-30T14:24:40.089-07:00Clover Reviews Volume 1 -> Episode 50<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Welcome back my friends to another episode of...</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">CLOVER REVIEWS!</span></b><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Today's review:</b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0rmmo2DDPsgX17nPuoubXr58MHbmRWy_lHidsprmD_qxn_GHMGgazxn_5eAucwZLeI1WuK-U-taeuCduJ4h15gQmjVLEvmDZ5bE83rq6k6EMGoTB-_1K5XYD1VI2ecxpeY44zMPQr6paA/s1600/big+poster+beavers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0rmmo2DDPsgX17nPuoubXr58MHbmRWy_lHidsprmD_qxn_GHMGgazxn_5eAucwZLeI1WuK-U-taeuCduJ4h15gQmjVLEvmDZ5bE83rq6k6EMGoTB-_1K5XYD1VI2ecxpeY44zMPQr6paA/s320/big+poster+beavers.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijxkiLiiSqk436EumiRcBqRIfGmNgWs8iEnNqx-MfU5_Awm9n3Q9bJKApEuxq7XKzqPGYwOQ_WkpUn6rEWvVYBc5M1QPhOWyVFlpNQyM69XYFHidn9Izr-Cci5mcg1ia2s3Cz6G-3kg-Pv/s1600/IMG_1728.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijxkiLiiSqk436EumiRcBqRIfGmNgWs8iEnNqx-MfU5_Awm9n3Q9bJKApEuxq7XKzqPGYwOQ_WkpUn6rEWvVYBc5M1QPhOWyVFlpNQyM69XYFHidn9Izr-Cci5mcg1ia2s3Cz6G-3kg-Pv/s200/IMG_1728.JPG" width="181" /></a></div>
<b style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></i></b><b style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Do I really have to explain how this one turned out?"</span></span></i></b></div>
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<br />
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<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">That's all for today. Join us every Saturday for more movie recommendations from our fuzzy friend.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Don't forget that Clover gladly takes requests. Her aim is to please you, the reader.</span></div>
Thirsty->Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11669975237864473615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412480895847512618.post-55823960099213849522015-05-16T11:11:00.001-07:002015-05-16T11:11:52.937-07:00Clover Reviews Volume 1 -> Episode 49<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Welcome back my friends to another episode of...</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">CLOVER REVIEWS!</span></b><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Today's review:</b></span><br />
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<b style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></i></b><b style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"More delayed, awkward conversations per capita than any movie I can think of... makes it very slow for an 82 minute comedy."</span></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">That's all for today. Join us every Saturday for more movie recommendations from our fuzzy friend.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Don't forget that Clover gladly takes requests. Her aim is to please you, the reader.</span></div>
Thirsty->Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11669975237864473615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412480895847512618.post-8845114802727104292015-05-10T15:14:00.001-07:002015-05-10T15:14:57.328-07:007 Hauntings - Final Night: The Ghost Dimension + My Final Thoughts<div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">When I first started working on this seven part special I was hoping to see The Ghost Dimension to offer a more accurate thought on the status and future of the franchise. It had said online for a while that it would be released in March. Well when I started this special in not so much as a trailer or poster was released so it gave me cause for concern. Sadly (I think) it has been delayed to later this year. Something that has me worried since it's officially been "quite a while" since the last movie in the trend these had been coming out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">But the story doesn't end there.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">After doing some digging I found out this isn't the first time it was delayed. The Ghost Dimension was originally set to be released in October 2013, keeping in the annual tradition. But that made me wonder. The Marked Ones also referenced originally set for October 2013 before being delayed three months, releasing in January 2014. Does that mean The Marked Ones was pushed forward after something happened with the production of Ghost Dimensions? And these movies are cheap and don't seem that complicated to make (comparatively) so why such a long delay? Are we going to get a 2013 movie marked as a new release when 2015 is close to over?</span><br />
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<em><span style="font-size: large;">An odd trend lately...</span></em></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOp8N8vS3rJrg6-BaX-ex8SgPqoi38ghNdd_y-FWGmYfYn7pleuwYXTanYCX_-arIZwdmdH9TrrzHSd1RJQAYg40B8Ib72d-4wmdkZZKlpgrLcju05SQPM1RzqHhZgx9R0ZBaQrQ4lX378/s1600/seventh_son_ver9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOp8N8vS3rJrg6-BaX-ex8SgPqoi38ghNdd_y-FWGmYfYn7pleuwYXTanYCX_-arIZwdmdH9TrrzHSd1RJQAYg40B8Ib72d-4wmdkZZKlpgrLcju05SQPM1RzqHhZgx9R0ZBaQrQ4lX378/s1600/seventh_son_ver9.jpg" width="202" /></span></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: large;">...releasing delayed movies...</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: large;">...long after they were promised.</span></em></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><em></em><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Regardless of what The Ghost Dimension is I highly doubt it would save the franchise or give it new life in the public eye. Like other franchises, Paranormal Activity was a fad to many people. It was a scary movie, highly overrated or not to some, that came out a while ago and hasn't been thought of much since. The box office has slowly been dropping so the numbers are there, showing the world isn't interested in this franchise anymore. And you know what... that's fine... cause the story kept getting worse and more convoluted as the movies went on. And it got bad quicker than most other horror franchises.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Story isn't as much of an issue in most horror franchises. Some of the most popular have been popular because of their entertainment value based on the excitement of kills or even the sheer fun of watching over any actual scared. Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street being the most popular examples. Two horror icons of the slasher genre that pumped out oodles of movies including at least one remake of each and a crossover. Do those movies have good stories? Sometimes... but they're stories that don't rely on every movie being connected other than "Oh shit... he's back."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Granted those movies had comical elements to them and had more freedom because of their traditional storytelling style. The filmmakers didn't have to worry about the found footage style. All they really had to worry about was kills and thrills. Which makes me sound like I'm trying to say Paranormal Activity had to hold itself up to a higher standard than other horror franchises. Not saying it had to... but it could have... and instead shat it's pants and passed out in it's own puddle of piss. Mostly because it tried to be something it didn't set out to be and tried to connect all the movies in a wild way when it didn't have to.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Now it <em>could</em> have been cool to connect all the movies in a different way. It had that potential of having a strong arc across multiple movies. Instead it reminded me of what Saw did only much, much worse.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Paranormal Activity started making poor choices very early on, having the "we're obviously making this shit up as we go along" element show up like in Saw. And, yes, Saw had far fetched connections and twists but it was handled so much better and kept things exciting. Part 5 has it's issues and most of part 6 and 7 were fucking stupid... but at least it got through that many before reaching that level, arguably, as opposed to Paranormal Activity that hit a super bad level by part 2.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">There's not much more to say about this franchise that I haven't already said. This could have been so much better a run that could have really done something for both the found footage genre and the horror genre as a whole. Really bring subtly back to the mainstream in horror. So disappointing how it all turned out. At least I have my memories of seeing the original for the first time. A very unique experience that I partially relive every time I rewatch it.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">My predictions from here are simple. The Ghost Dimensions will come out, no one will care, it won't make a lot of money, and will probably be terrible. It will likely keep things open for the potential of more movies but I don't see more coming. It won't have the foresight to call it "the final chapter" like Saw did. It'll just continue the downward spiral out of the public eye like it's been doing for the last couple years.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Rest in peace Paranormal Activity. You may have been a disappointing franchise but I'll always love what made you great in the first place.</span></div>
Thirsty->Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11669975237864473615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412480895847512618.post-72371883224631138872015-05-09T15:06:00.000-07:002015-05-09T15:06:20.333-07:00Clover Reviews Volume 1 -> Episode 48<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Welcome back my friends to another episode of...</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">CLOVER REVIEWS!</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Today's review:</b></span><br />
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<b style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></i></b><b style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"If you like movies about old men losing their temper and swearing a lot, this documentary is for you!"</span></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">That's all for today. Join us every Saturday for more movie recommendations from our fuzzy friend.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Don't forget that Clover gladly takes requests. Her aim is to please you, the reader.</span></div>
Thirsty->Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11669975237864473615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412480895847512618.post-73610782109900186202015-05-08T17:53:00.001-07:002015-05-08T17:53:46.189-07:007 Hauntings - Night 6: Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDFcUi5hQeMWK8emvuf3-qIza-H1H3j_TytZvkOGZ8F2feHzd1B9pt6HPx1W8uWbk87iZOqxXJF6PqdxKYFvtlxk34d2YCTvCGg3lK25pWp-RKLlZkCw61oiKPLV_r5HguNta8Big9Fspg/s1600/paranormal_activity_the_marked_ones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDFcUi5hQeMWK8emvuf3-qIza-H1H3j_TytZvkOGZ8F2feHzd1B9pt6HPx1W8uWbk87iZOqxXJF6PqdxKYFvtlxk34d2YCTvCGg3lK25pWp-RKLlZkCw61oiKPLV_r5HguNta8Big9Fspg/s1600/paranormal_activity_the_marked_ones.jpg" width="215" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>History</b>: Initially teased during an after credits sequence at the end of Paranormal Activity 4, a scene only shown in theatres. It hinted at taking a Latino direction in the franchise, for a lack of better terms.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This installment was different in many ways. One, it wasn't part of the main story. It was a spinoff set in the same universe but not the same characters. Also, due to longer production time it was released in January 2014, breaking the Halloween tradition the last four installments had.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It was received with mixed to negative reviews, but slightly higher than Paranormal Activity 4. With that said it was another financial success like every other installment, but was the lowest earning. Even on opening weekend it ranked #2 in the top 10 just behind Frozen, which was in it's 7th week in the top 10. Says a lot either about the insane popularity of one movie, or the depleting interest in a franchise. In the end it earned roughly $90 million.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Personal History</b>: Skipped this one theatrically after how bad #4 was. Once again I am thankful for Netflix, so I don't have to rent it elsewhere for more money or... worse yet... buy the DVD to satisfy my curiosity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Version I Watched</b>: Netflix instant streaming of the unrated extended cut.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Review</b>: UUUUGGGGGHHHHHbllleeeeeeggghhhh..... I don't want to do this... but for the sake of completion I will tackle this garbage.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">First off it didn't help I didn't even want to watch this. Thinking back to even the trailer of this movie I could tell how dumb and bad it would be. And since I was hot off the disappointment of part 4 I knew I wouldn't like this. And trust me, it's not like I went in with good expectations. I just tend to know what I will like and I was predicting this would be one I would not like. But what about it was bad? Plenty. And to repeat myself from my last review... where do I begin?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">To get the obvious out of the way I hated how paint by numbers this one was.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">My primary complaint of the previous titles, in case you didn't fully read the last few reviews (or at all) one of my most common complaints is how the newest movie is a rehash of the old with some new ideas that don't always work, making it uninteresting. While each entry has had varied levels of success this one didn't event try.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I wouldn't be surprised if this was some separate script rolling around studios (probably called The Marked Ones) and was hastily turned into a Paranormal Activity movie to continue banking on the success of the franchise.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Every step this entry takes is so typical and so cliche of possession movies. There are the people who think it is stupid or not real, our heroes. There's a crazy person who is made fun of but is clearly the first antagonist we meet who will open a door to the insanity that follows. There's a scene when the demon CLEARLY possesses our hero. Then when they realize there's a demon they do demon research and discover it's dark history. Lastly things slowly getting worse and worse in his life until it either A) completely takes him over, or B) there's a ritual to rid him of the demon. Guess what... this one had both, technically.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Almost any other example of this I would pass off as "well that was okay at best" but when it's trying to be part of a long running franchise it will definitely have a standard to live up to. I've said it before and I'll say it again, the first movie in this franchise is hands down one of the best horror movies to come out since the turn of the century. This being the fourth sequel (or I guess spin off as they are calling it online) doesn't mean it has to live up to those standards, but they could have at least tried.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As much as I hated part four at least they TRIED. Sure a lot of it turned out to be shit but they tried. They tried new methods of getting found footage, they tried a new perspective, they tried plenty of new or different things instead of resorting to Demon Possession Script Writing 101.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The Marked Ones is as simple and safe as this whole franchise has been. Everything you expect will happen does happen and it makes for a boring experience. I can't think of a single moment when I felt scared or unsettled, something that happened in at least one or multiple moments in the previous ones (well... the jury is out on four but I digress.) Everything was laid out for you with some of the loosest, laziest, and far fetched connections to the original story as possible. Then when they introduce new elements to the "lore" of the franchise it conflicts with what we've been told, or doesn't make sense to be there. Likely all in an attempt to further "amp it up" like previous titles tried.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I don't even want to try and describe what all I didn't like in the first and second act here, I'd rather talk about the last act and the ending because those were the worst and most far fetched.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">But first I'd like to talk about the elephant in the room... racial insensitivity.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">While there may be truth to this considering where this franchise takes place, southern California, I couldn't help but feel uncomfortable for the Latino perspective given in this movie. Mostly in comparison to the racial perspective of the previous movies.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">From the first to the fourth all the Paranormal Activity movies have taken place in large homes populated by white families. The first time around this was because in order to save money by filming in the director's home, which happened to be pretty dang nice. Then the trend continued for the following titles because, I don't know, the first movie did it?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">But then we get to the Latino story in this franchise and they're in a shitty part of southern California, have a multi-generational home in a two bedroom apartment, have to deal with gangs, and any other insulting stereotype you can fit into that. The whole thing made me uncomfortable and I actually found it distracting. Not because of where it was set or the fact that it was Latino, but because it hit on so many cliches and stereotypes of the race that it distracted from the darker elements of the movie.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Also they would constantly speak like a bunch of idiot teenagers who walk, talk, and act... umm... how do I put this... ghetto? Acting like they're gangsta? You know what I mean?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Moving on...</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, spoiler alert if you care, but I want to talk about the ending of the movie.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">After our hero (whose name is Jesse, by the way) becomes fully possessed, his buddy and the girl he likes (Hector and Marisol) find out about a house where big wig wiccan rituals happen and believe he went there. So they get some help from a hardcore gang leader and <em>his </em>buddy, who show up to this house with guns like they're about to tear the place apart with bullets (okay, okay, they each had one gun but seriously it was overkill the type of guns they brought.)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This is where the attempt to connect this story to the previous comes into play with a slap in the face and/or pander to the fans of the franchise because the house they show up at is the same house from the end of part three. Katie and Kristi's grandma's house... the grandma that turned out to be a witch, which was to clumsily explain where the demon came from... I guess?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It doesn't take long for everything to start going to hell. One after another our heroes are picked off by crazy witches who all look like they're possessed, leaving Hector all alone running from these predators, including the cameo from grandmama from part three.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">What happens next was the dumbest and most pandering thing possible.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">After running around the house screaming a bunch Hector finds himself cornered in an upstairs room where all the windows are sealed from the outside with wooden planks. He is being chased by his possessed friend Jesse and his only two options are out the door he came in, against Jesse, or through a mysterious door in this room. He takes the mystery door, wherein the video jolts and breaks for a moment, and when it becomes clear again he found himself in Katie and Micah's home the night Katie killed Micah in the first movie. He witnesses Katie kill Micah in a perspective we couldn't see in the first movie, runs back to the door he came from and is killed by Jesse before he can make it.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The Marked Ones takes place in 2012, the first movie in 2006. Hector fucking time traveled to a different location in a different city. It didn't entirely come out of nowhere but it doesn't make it any less dumb.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Early in the movie there's a throwaway line about creating a portal to time travel. However this portal will only time travel to an unholy place. Perfect time to throw in some fan service. Because from a context and writing perspective this just didn't make a ton of sense. More of a coincidence. Based on the events presented after the first movie it would have made just as much sense for him to wind up in Kristi's home ala part two, or the end scene of part four when there was a mob of demon witches attacking Alex.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">No, not here, this was a supposed seminal moment that was important to transport to despite later event suggesting bigger things happening in later installments.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Which brings me to something that has bugged me a lot about this franchise.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It seems like since they started making sequels they've tried deflating the experience Katie and Micah went through. In part two they were in more control against the demon, actually drawing it out of Kristi very easily. In part three we get the explosive end with the witches killing Katie and Kristi's family only to take them away (and give them amnesia I guess since they NEVER talk about this.) Then in part four Katie seems to host a coven party of her own. All of which are events and elements that are bigger and seem more prominent than what happened in part one.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So why bring him to that night outside of fan service? Wouldn't it have made more sense for him to come out of the same door, same room, but during the final scenes of part three. That feels more unholy and more appropriate than the since deflated events of the first movie where he only transported there because, well, it was the first movie.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is technically a spin off and has very few actual connections to the rest of the movies so. Unless they make future movies that have key moments connected to what happens here I can't see this as a necessary watch. It's not like the other movies where you almost had to have seen the rest of the movies to understand fully what's going on, or to get references that could be important.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">There's just nothing here worth checking out for the franchise. It doesn't even feel like it lives in the same world. It feels like something made independently and claims to be part of this world, with the exception of the last couple scenes at the end.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This movie is mediocre at best as a possession movie. As a Paranormal Activity movie it is terrible. Worse than four.</span></div>
Thirsty->Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11669975237864473615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412480895847512618.post-8043335527324059672015-05-07T17:03:00.000-07:002015-05-07T17:03:50.063-07:007 Hauntings - Night 5: Paranormal Activity 4<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2NpFeYDvtXN89uDWGLevwg4OaFm9dNo8ryy_nrN4Oke5Pz9Hm2qvdBBdj_QUXEdClIAVRYcJyLIBK_fI5t4PyMYYBEpJsuwvO3Oz5I7ijg1Rf2i4GHSfENmy12bZ66YrOjAip5TtaQvk1/s1600/paranormal_activity_four.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2NpFeYDvtXN89uDWGLevwg4OaFm9dNo8ryy_nrN4Oke5Pz9Hm2qvdBBdj_QUXEdClIAVRYcJyLIBK_fI5t4PyMYYBEpJsuwvO3Oz5I7ijg1Rf2i4GHSfENmy12bZ66YrOjAip5TtaQvk1/s1600/paranormal_activity_four.jpg" width="215" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>History</b>: Despite being the fourth installment, this was the first sequel in a literal sense. Set several years after the events of the first two, this installment focuses on a teenage girl who lives across the street from the house Katie moves into years after her last appearance and is raising the one year old she abducted at the end of the second movie.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Just like the last two this was produced and released a year after the last and kept the small budget going. Saying this was a financial success is no surprise, earning roughly $140 million. But it is currently the poorest reviewed of them all. The main criticisms stating it "played it safe" and "is for diehard fans only."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Despite the negative reviews this was the most varied in the way the "found footage" was recorded. Utilizing not just home video cameras, but also smartphones, Macbook Pro, and XBox Kinect.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Personal History</b>: Seen it only once when it was in theatres fall 2012.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Version I Watched</b>: Netflix instant streaming of the unrated extended cut.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Review</b>: Remember all the positives I said for part 3? How it felt like there were still good ideas coming out of this franchise despite the flimsly and inconsistent story connections with the movies that came before it? Well put any hope of that coming up here because part 4 threw anything and everything that made the last three any good and threw it out the window to make this one something devoit of any suspense, tension, subtlety, or interest at all.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I desperately wanted to like this one. Desperately. At first I was surprised how good part 2 was (not so much anymore) and really enjoyed part 3, so I wanted to keep that trend going while avoiding the inevitable that the franchise would grow stale fast. Little did I realize just how quickly it would grow not only stale but mold and deteriorate right before my eyes.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">When I first saw this I didn't know what to think because I wanted to like it so much, thinking it would get better with repeat viewings. The opposite happened.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I don't even know where to begin...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Well one thing this movie does is it attempts to move the story forward instead of going back with another prequel. Also it attempts to tell the story of a seemingly unrelated family experiencing this haunting with no connection to Katie until she and her abducted child show up. The plot kicks off when Katie (who we don't realize is her until the movie is almost done... but really who are we kidding here?) checks into the hospital and the family in focus is asked to watch over her kid for the time being. A creepy ass kid who, of course, causes a ton of weird shit to start happening.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Copy + Paste and print.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">No it's not that simple. This is not a copy and paste job to cash in on the franchise. This experience was even worse than that. The execution of this was so bad that you'd think it was made by people who only heard about the previous movies but never saw them. And the main problem is... teenagers.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Having a movie starring teenagers isn't necessarily a bad thing. But it is hard for people to care about them in a low effort, R rated horror movie where your core audience can't get in. Regardless we mostly follow a teenage girl (anywhere from 14-16) and her kinda sorta boyfriend walking, talking, and acting like teenagers in all the worst ways.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This may seem like an unfair complaint but it really overflows into the tone and execution.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The main problem is it feels like it was written and shot by teenagers, performed by their family and friends, and therefore meant for a very specific audience, an audience that wasn't Paranormal Activity fans. Really this felt like it was made to be a PG-13 summer horror flick for teens to get scared by cheap thrills on a Friday night while sneaking in Buffalo Wild Wings and making out with their BF/GF in the back of the theatre. Or... this is the farthest the franchise fell from it's intelligent and subtle origins.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It's hard to rack up all the things wrong with this installment. They missed the mark on almost every single aspect.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As you can imagine I didn't like the characters but for different reasons. In the past I've disliked characters because I felt they were making bad choices or were jerks and idiots. These characters are simply nothing. They're blank slates covered in cookie cut characteristics and are non-memorable. Our hero, the teenage girl, could have been anyone that age. Her pseudo-boyfriend is obnoxious. Her parents barely exists as with her little brother. The kid they're watching over, Katie's "kid" looks like a poor man's imitation of Damien from The Omen. There's just nothing memorable character-wise.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Even poor Katie, the girl whose been a part of all these movies in some way, shape, or form was given jack shit to do and didn't even need to be here. Her delivery and motivation is lackluster at best, making it easy to see that she did this for the money and nothing else.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Characters aside the biggest crime was the tone of the movie and the presence of the demon.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">There is no sense of dread or terror. It would have been better if this was handled closer to part 2, which had little going for it as is. Any real attempt at scares either fall flat or are the safe bet of jump scares. Nothing imaginative, nothing well thought out, just... nothing. Which is a shame because the best part of this movie was the new use of new cameras, giving potential to new scares.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In case you skipped the History section, part 4 utilized not just a home video camera, but also smartphones, webcams, and even the then new XBox Kinect. This is creative, inventive, and makes sense considering who stars in the movie. More sense than them running around with a home video camera constantly. There are extensive scenes shot entirely on iPhone and a webcam which caused a downgrade in video quality in a good way. Makes it feel a tad more real knowing they used the actual devices kids that age would use. It's the only element of the movie that truly enhanced the experience.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">That enhanced experience is quickly destroyed by the piss poor way they handled the demon this time around. Before the demon's presence was hardly made known, and when it was it built plenty of tension around it, and even then it was minimalistic. Here he shows up so much he may as well have been a floating sheet screaming "BOO!"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The worst offender in this is the use of the Kinect. At one point our hero's boytoy shows everyone via night vision on his video camera how Kinect uses thousands of little lights to pick up body movement.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-cnItfkv8t4Mx82cB9Wwl2AwYUaxcaHnP137O7k0OSefGRfjn1HK7ImslcFCwoFMi01SZkkgDnvpngLoiIobbla-8gH4IKt4OwsVFKxlTjRROcS8RAhq6gVcfCfoZjWSe186dXQc-FHQ/s1600/paranormal-activity-4-kinect-lighting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-cnItfkv8t4Mx82cB9Wwl2AwYUaxcaHnP137O7k0OSefGRfjn1HK7ImslcFCwoFMi01SZkkgDnvpngLoiIobbla-8gH4IKt4OwsVFKxlTjRROcS8RAhq6gVcfCfoZjWSe186dXQc-FHQ/s1600/paranormal-activity-4-kinect-lighting.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: large;">As you can see here.</span></em></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Well... you guessed it... there are multiple scenes when there's a body of a person we can't see formed out of those dots. It's predictable, happens multiple times, and when it does it's not even scary. It looks stupid and is uninteresting. When they first showed the Kinect trick I thought it had potential. After seeing the results I realized I was wrong.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This, among other poorly paced and poorly placed scares, all leads up to an ending I'll admit I didn't see coming. I didn't see it coming because it came out of fucking nowhere and only made me ask questions like "what the hell?" and not in the way a good storyteller would want you to ask questions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I could sit here and talk in more detail about what makes this one so bad but... ugh... that would be exhausting and rambling. Just take my word for it that this is the worst of the lot so far. As of writing this review I haven't watched The Marked Ones but it can't possibly be this bad. Could The Marked Ones do more to make the overall story more conviluted? Likely. But will it be this bad an execution? I doubt it. Little to nothing is redeeming here outside of the fact that it starts a pretty white blonde girl... a detail that hasn't won me over on a shitty movie since I was the same age as her...</span></div>
Thirsty->Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11669975237864473615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412480895847512618.post-10908705708348910132015-05-06T17:34:00.001-07:002015-05-06T17:34:35.105-07:007 Hauntings - Night 4: Paranormal Activity 3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC4PnlWoPad5thoTpq3A7IjS1erDnO8vrI6zZdg-HMgRiT91_-ls4cEFYyVNgX5aH-4QMQnruEJxCtCidweYxF6GT16FZAx4m04-1ODnRYBGm0dTFK0K-n-IY6Q1AzPMskGrWlJH1wLDo9/s1600/paranormal_activity_three.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC4PnlWoPad5thoTpq3A7IjS1erDnO8vrI6zZdg-HMgRiT91_-ls4cEFYyVNgX5aH-4QMQnruEJxCtCidweYxF6GT16FZAx4m04-1ODnRYBGm0dTFK0K-n-IY6Q1AzPMskGrWlJH1wLDo9/s1600/paranormal_activity_three.jpg" height="320" width="216" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>History</b>: Produced and released a year after Paranormal Activity 2, making it another annual holiday tradition much like the Saw franchise which had it's final installment released around the same time as Paranormal Actity 2. This installment was another prequel rather than a sequel. But this time it went back to the late 80's when Katie was still a kid. Giving an origin story of when the demon started haunting her.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Financially it became the highest grossing in the franchise, raking in a little over $200 million worldwide. Also it broke another midnight opening record for a horror film previously set by it's own franchise a year earlier, raking in $8 million in a single night. While not as highly praised as the original, it got slightly better reviews than the last installment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Personal History</b>: Only saw it once before via Redbox. Skipped it in theatres since 2 was pretty much just OK so I didn't have much to get excited about for 3. However I remember really enjoying it when I rented it. A lot more than 2.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Version I Watched</b>: Unrated extended cut DVD.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Review</b>: Once again this franchise moves back in time with a sequel that's actually a prequel. However, unlike part 2 which was a prequel showcasing Katie's sister's family and their experience only weeks before Katie's, part 3 takes us all the way back to the 80's when Katie and her sister, Kristi (who I never mentioned by name in part 2, my bad), were kids.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">A logical and smart move especially since this goes all the way back to the first movie when Katie talked about how this presence has been around since they were kids. Even the movie poster is a great reference to a previous quote, saying how when they were kids they would wake up in the middle of the night and dark presence would stand at the foot of their bed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">You can tell the writers and filmmakers realized part 2 wasn't up to snuff. So in part 3 (or part 0 I guess? Maybe?) they take a different but familiar route. Set in the 80's, the video is captured by Katie and Kristi's stepfather who shoots wedding videos for a living. So, again, having video cameras around make sense here. And of course all it takes is one odd, accidental moment that causes him to obsess over the possibility of a supernatural presence and takes a note out of Micah's book twenty years earlier by setting up cameras all over the house at night. Very convenient but... whatever.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In this version the build in tension isn't quite the same and that's not necessarily a bad thing. Yes they work with the "kids can see and interact with the supernatural stronger than the adults" cliche but better than part 2 and other demon movies. In this Kristi is the focus instead of Katie who is otherwise the major focus of the franchise. Kristi has an imaginary friend who is obviously the supernatural presence of the story. Like Danny and Tony from The Shining, but this is a demon instead of a telekinesis power. And as far as everyone except Kristi knows this friend is just imaginary. An awkward, writer's block approach but I guess it works.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The most awkward being the turning point. The mom and stepdad of the movie are recording a sex tape. A couple minutes into the foreplay their house is hit by a rough earthquake. They rush out of the room to check on their daughters, the camera falls to the ground and it captures dust covering an unseen presence. And so the rest of the movie begins.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It does clumsily go through some of the obvious steps it had to go through... like "what the fuck is this?!" and "you're crazy and being obsessive" and of course "I checked out a demon book from the library and we're fucked!" But inbetween is some of the best moments outside the original movie because they made new paranormal moments that maintained an element of subtly we wouldn't see in later installments.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The demon's presence is stronger than before but it's all off camera. Most commonly used at night in the girl's bedroom. Kristi will wake up in the middle of the night, walk up to the camera looking just behind it and softly speak to her "imaginary friend" and it's definitely creepy. Then there's the Bloody Mary scene when Kristi and her babysitter (her stepdad's assistant) play the game in the bathroom mirror only for there to be an earthquake-like attack from the demon, throwing shit everywhere. But my favorite is easily when what appears to be Kristi walking around under a bed sheet like an old fashioned ghost, then suddenly vanishes, leaving the sheet behind as if she fell right through the floor, all done very well and seemingly organic on camera. It's actually quite beautiful an effect.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">While far from super scary or haunting, it's because of moments like this that make this the most unsettling of all the sequels.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's unfortunate that despite the good this installment brought to the table it also brought a lot of convoluted details, raised more questions that will go unanswered while answering questions that didn't need to be answered in the first place, a lot like the last movie.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I think it's best to jump right to the ending.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">While the girl's stepdad is researching demons he finds out about this coven that communicated with the underworld and introduced the below symbol...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0A5i41SdCku7ayrcg0g4iWhDK7_kow8uPlDdfpqHwJL2w6iKTZBv64QGUfAxlOupl1NjcpST-yqRrLH1U3Cw8VUlWd_rGs_eOPiUU_CjmPH3ri2eicixEb-B0BssOhZ2p0S8gV8Rnvz5Z/s1600/vlcsnap-2012-10-24-08h58m11s231.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0A5i41SdCku7ayrcg0g4iWhDK7_kow8uPlDdfpqHwJL2w6iKTZBv64QGUfAxlOupl1NjcpST-yqRrLH1U3Cw8VUlWd_rGs_eOPiUU_CjmPH3ri2eicixEb-B0BssOhZ2p0S8gV8Rnvz5Z/s1600/vlcsnap-2012-10-24-08h58m11s231.png" height="180" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: large;">...that I think they thought would be more iconic than it actually became despite appearing to have an actual, real world history behind it...</span></em></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><em></em><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">...and everything went a direction it didn't need to.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I cannot stress enough that these are questions that don't need to be answered. For some reason when it goes a direction like this, unless it was thoroughly thought out from the beginning, an attempt to make the story seeming bigger it actually makes it smaller and less interesting. It answers the questions of "why them?" and "where did this come from" simply with... witches.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It's like the writers felt the demon needed a reason or motive to be present instead of everything they told us up to this point.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">To quote the first movie "Basically, they're these malevolent evil spirits that only exist to cause pain and commit evil for their own amusement. It's pretty creepy- I mean, they stalk people for years, like decades, and sometimes they're really intelligent in the way they do things to freak you out."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And that's not a good enough motive?!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">No, instead what we find out is this demon is connected to this coven who called the demon. I don't know if the writers realize this but that deflates the demon quite a bit, making the coven seem like a stronger enemy than an EVIL SPIRIT that ONLY EXISTS to CAUSE PAIN! Made even worse when we find out it affects Kristi and Katie because their grandma is part of this coven. Which brings me to the ending.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Spoiler alert.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">When things seem to be at their worst, after one BITCHING effect when the demon picks up and drops literally EVERYTHING in the kitchen from the ceiling, the family leaves the house to stay with gramgram.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">That night Mr Stepdad can't sleep because of some noise so he goes to check it out. He can't find gramgram anywhere. It's dark, there are cars outside, and everything seems odd. He goes into the dining room and the paintings are off the wall, revealing the triangle circle and a pentagram. He looks outside and there's a circle of mysterious people around a bonfire. Eventually he goes back upstairs to get his wife and kids to leave because shit ain't right. Looking up the stairs he sees his wife held up in the air by nothing but the demon's evil powers and she's thrown right at him. They fall down the stairs and she is looking dead. Badda bing badda boom gramgram catches up with him with her witchy powers over Kristi and Katie, kills Mr Stepdad, and they walk off. Roll credits.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now this end scene, while I don't like the direction it took, did give off some creepy imagery and shows the filmmakers had some sense of keeping it scary in all the right ways. Yeah Mr Stepdad's murder was a tad over the top but this scene is one of the best scenes in the movie. Story-wise not so much.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This last scene bugs me more than anything else in the movie for reasons I've already stated but also for inconsistencies later on in the canon. When Kristi and Katie talk about their childhood experiences it's all very vague and seems personal. Like it was there, haunted them, but never did anything to the point this prequel explains. You'd think after this experience Kristi and Katie would be more prepared than they were depicted in the later stories. Since these were written out of order that wasn't going to happen, but this is a great oversight that was made for the sake of the franchise being more exciting with a new sequel.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Also there's no mention of the fire that burned their house down. A key element brought up in the first movie. Well... outside of a blurred, single frame that pops up at the very end of the movie. The one major detail talked about in the previous movies is glossed over like it was no big deal and was replaced with a story that had no connection little to no reason to exist in this franchise.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Still this is the best of the sequels so far. If you were to ask me I'd say watch the first, skip 2, then go right to this one. But at the same time I can't help but feel this one is good only because it was a lot better than part 2. So is it good by comparison? Because it's the best of a drivel of sequels that never needed to be made? Hard to say... I still think it's worth checking out for the good bits. I only wish the writing went a different direction than it did.</span></div>
Thirsty->Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11669975237864473615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412480895847512618.post-43056411763393319862015-05-05T16:08:00.003-07:002015-05-05T16:08:56.429-07:007 Hauntings - Night 3: Paranormal Activity: Tokyo Night<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>History</b>: This sequel of sorts was released the year following the major success of the first Paranormal Activity. With so little information available it's hard to say how it came about or how it is connected to the original. But from what I can tell all signs point to this being an independent production with no real canon or connections to the original or it's sequels outside of using the original as a starting off point.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is similar to when Lucio Fulci made Zombie in 1979 but it was marketed as if it were a sequel to Dawn of the Dead, even though George Romero had no involvement on the project.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Personal History</b>: My first viewing of this unofficial sequel.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Version I Watched</b>: The whole damn movie is on YouTube. That's where I watched it because any and all DVDs and Blu-Rays I can find online were either Italian, German, French, or the original Japanese home video release. They were either subtitled in their respective language or it wasn't clear enough if there would be English subtitles. Thankfully YouTube had me covered.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Review</b>: Even though this review is coming up third I actually watched this entry last. The reason being I knew I would not enjoy the later entries in the franchise and I was hoping the Japanese copycat would be a better experience because of that wonderful style of terror Asian horror tends to have.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The results were... not what I hoped.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />In the History section I compared this to the Italian pseudo-sequel to Dawn of the Dead, Zombi 2. For those who don't know the story, in Italy Dawn of the Dead was titled Zombi. It was so successful that Lucio Fulci's latest horror piece was named Zombi 2 despite not having any sort of connection to Dawn of the Dead with no one similar involved. But it still had a similar theme, idea, etc, but totally different.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">That's really the easiest way to describe Tokyo Night. It was made by an unrelated group of people but straight up called it Paranormal Activity anyhow. And again, they took similar themes, ideas, styles, and so forth and tried to make their own movie out of it. The results are what you expect. It feels like an uncreative ripoff that's trying to cash in on a popular franchise.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Watching this did make me feel like I take some of the official canon entries for granted. While I have issues with the overall story, how it all works when placed next to one another, and so forth, one thing the canon entries have is consistency in style and execution after the first movie. They all feel like they live within the same universe and convey a certain tone each time around regardless of how effectively they pull it off from movie to movie.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Tokyo Night just felt so cheap and lazy by comparison. Makes me feel like I should stop talking now and not even compare it. But since they decided to include it as a Paranormal Activity movie I am going to use it.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />When I say cheap I mean it felt so slapped together without much thought or care put into it.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The core problem is it tries way too hard to emulate Paranormal Activity with little to no original thought. It goes through many of the same motions, poorly, and straight up copies scenes and scares from the first movie so closely it may as well be plagiarism.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It would be one thing if it were a Japanese shot for shot remake of the first movie but it isn't. Especially since it doesn't convey any sort of weight or empathy. All the characters are poorly fleshed out and the acting is wooden. The male lead looks like he's making his first movie and is nervous about all his lines. The female lead is a little better but not by much, as she's given little to do besides scream a lot and react to her brother, the male lead.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">What also didn't work was how the copycat scares are put in an odd order. Placing very intense moments early on that you normally wouldn't see until the second or third act of the story. It makes it feel unbalanced, especially towards the end when similar scares happen. It doesn't build up. It jumps to the top and stays there throughout.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />I do have to admit there were a couple moments I enjoyed and/or the movie gave potential if implemented differently.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">For one, at roughly the halfway mark the brother decides having a camera in both his room and his sister's room would be a good idea. Immediately we are shown both cameras on screen at the same time instead of cutting between the two (which happens a little but hear me out.)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I loved this idea because it has that potential of unique scares. So many times in this franchise's sequels they'll cut from camera to camera. But something that could be great are sequences where they're all running at once, giving a better sense of 'real time,' and something scary could be happening in multiple rooms at the same time, giving a stronger sense of fear and the inability to escape the threat.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This entry doesn't implement it in the way it could have been, but did show they had at least some creativity and some originality.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />The other thing is actually one of the last things to happen in the movie. One thing I didn't mention until now was that the sister's legs (from foot to knee) are in casts as can be seen on the movie poster. That alone adds another terror element because of her inability to run, despite the fact you can't really run from a demon haunting your home. It simply enhances your fear because you can't resort to that natural reaction. That's not what I'm referencing, though.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In a scene very close to the end we see her slowly standing up onto her own two feet when she otherwise needed a wheelchair to get around. Once she's on her feet she shuffles out of her room and into her brother's room as if she were possessed. The way she walks was so creepy and unsettling. The shuffle and thumping of the casts against the hardwood floor... it felt like something out of Silent Hill.</span><br />
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<em><span style="font-size: large;">Seriously, you've got to see it in motion.</span></em></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />That's about all I enjoyed. Two or three things out of the whole experience. And what's weird is I wouldn't necessarily call this a bad movie. It's simply boring and unimaginative. This was an independent project that loosely connects itself to the franchise it based itself on with an ending that felt more like something out of Ju-on.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Paranormal Activity 2 may have felt like the Hollywood remake of Paranormal Activity 1, but Tokyo Night feels like a video project a small group of fans made in high school. A video project where they want to make their own version of said popular movie but wind up making a worse version of said movie with all the same material and little to no new ideas.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Since this isn't canon it's not necessary to watch. If you're curious you can watch it easily on Youtube. Not the best versions as the translations are poor, with indescribable subtitles at some parts, and one of the videos I found the audio was off with the video.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I don't blame the low quality of the Youtube uploads for my experience, I blame the filmmakers. It didn't infuriate me like other entries in this franchise, it just bored me.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">May be worth a watch for the curious fan. Otherwise don't feel you need to go out of your way as it only has a couple of good ideas and good moments. The rest you can see in the first movie.</span></div>
Thirsty->Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11669975237864473615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412480895847512618.post-40836718935562720022015-05-04T16:49:00.003-07:002015-05-04T16:49:19.601-07:007 Hauntings - Night 2: Paranormal Activity 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>History</b>: As a surprise to no one this sequel came out a year after the original was mass released. And while it has a '2' in the title, this movie serves more as a prequel than a sequel, with events taking place before and during the events of the original but in a different home.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Peli did not return as director but did stay on as a producer, something he would do for every Paranormal Activity after this. The budget was also raised but kept at a Hollywood modest $5 million. Despite the price jump it kept a similar approach to the original, keeping the 'found footage' style instead of a traditional style.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It received mixed reviews but more positive than negative, mostly because it was very similar to the original and didn't cover much new ground. But it was nearly as successful as the original financially, bringing in $177 million. It also broke box office records at the time by holding the biggest R-rated midnight gross and the biggest horror movie weekend opening.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Personal History</b>: Only saw this once before when it was in theatres fall of 2010.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Version I Watched</b>: Unrated extended cut DVD.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Review</b>: This was bound to happen. It happened with Saw, an independent horror film that got attention at festivals, and built an entire franchise around it. In time I would notice similar trends between this and the Saw franchise, while I'll discuss as they come, especially the bad, but that also means it had the potential to be a fun and creepy ride. I liked most of the Saw sequels. Even their first sequel was pretty good all things considered.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Paranormal Activity 2, however...</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The last time I saw this was in theatres. My thoughts at the time were "better than I thought it would be but still not great." I didn't not like it. So going in I imagined it'd be a similar experience. Sadly that wasn't the case. Not like I had high expectations on my second viewing. It was all based on remembering I enjoyed it the last time I saw it... a little over four years ago.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I'll cut right to the chase here... I feel Paranormal Activity 2, minus the stuff that connects it to the first movie, is exactly what Hollywood would have made if they chose to remake the original.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In case you didn't read the History section in part one of this extravaganza, the original plan was for Paramount to buy up Paranormal Activity, remake it for mainstream markets, and release it that way. Until they realized the movie that played at festivals was so fucking good and they should release that one as is.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So when sequel-time came it was no more a shoestring budget indie movie and the budget was inflated. Not to absurd proportions. $5 million is very low for major studios and makes for easy success. Still it was supposed to be a sequel to a movie that had a lot of it's charm and scares by working so well within their restrictions. And now they still have to work within restrictions, but with more cushions and professional help.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The biggest problem with number 2 is it tries to replicate number 1 in too many ways. Would it be a similar experience for these new victims if haunted by the same demon? Of course. But the same experience? Especially when they act and react differently than Katie and Michah? Not a chance.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It is almost beat for beat the exact same thing that happens in the first movie. There are small signs of a presence early on but nothing that couldn't be written off by logic and reason, giving little reason to be worried or jump straight to demon. But since this family has no reason to have a camera outside of fun with the family the writers had to come up with a reason to have cameras watching at all times. What they come up with is clever, but how they get there is clunky.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">One of the first big events is their house is broken into for unknown reasons by an unknown assailant. Their house is trashed but almost nothing is stolen. The only thing stolen is the mother's bracelet that was given to her by her sister Katie... see where this is going? As a reaction to this break in, the family goes completely overboard with security by installing hidden cameras throughout the house.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Clever way to keep an eye on things but unrealistic if you ask me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's through these cameras we see the terror begin... what little there is that's actually interesting.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I cannot stress enough how much this feels like a remake of the original rather than a sequel. And in this psuedo-remake so much of it has been neutered and streamlined to include lovely modern horror cliches such as a child/animal (both, actually) who can sense the evil presence more than the adults, the foreigner who knows more about casting out demons than any lifelong priest knows, and a ritual/seance-type attempt to drive out said demon. This along with attempting to do the same scares but bigger make the whole thing feel really unoriginal and not scary in the least.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It also doesn't help the characters are uninteresting and unlikeable.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The stars of the show are definitely the baby and the teenage daughter. The baby is a baby so there's not much to say. And the daughter is a modern teenager so obviously everything she says and does is bullshit. Teenage girls can't be trusted, right? Well that's what the dad seems to think.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Speaking of the dad... he reminds me of Micah... he's an idiot, a terrible husband... but unlike Micah... the dad is a straight up asshole. I swear, every time he's on screen he's either annoyed, pissed off, or being a jerk to his family. Like when he plays a practical joke on his poor wife after she was legitimately terrified by something that was so obviously supernatural the husband should have noticed. Yes, this idiot looks at recorded footage of very real supernatural happenings and he chooses to pass it off as the wind or some such shit. All leading up to the obvious cliche of not being concerned until it's too late when he calls their foreigner maid into the mix so she can tell them HOW TO DRIVE OUT A DEMON!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">WHAT?! If a professional psychic or whatever the hell that guy was in the first movie couldn't help Katie and Micah how the hell does this lady just happen to know how to do this? AND IT WORKED! I'm sure that's something that'll be explained in The Marked Ones since that has a Spanish setting (as I'm writing I still haven't seen The Marked Ones.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, yeah, spoiler alert they find a way to drive out the demon but it can only transfer to a relative of the possessed. The asshole's wife is Katie's sister. They drive out the demon so it can enter Katie. Oh yeah, did I mention Katie appears multiple times in this movie? And she hasn't had her "experience" yet? Did I mention this is a fucking prequel?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Yep. Paranormal Activity 2 is a prequel that supposedly shows the events that lead up to the terror we all know and love in the first movie. I wonder who thought this was A) necessary and B) thought it would work. It has the Star Wars prequel effect of deflating the mystery of the original by explaining things that didn't need to be explained (which is even worse as these sequels go on from my memory of them.) Not to mention a lot of what happens here raises other questions that never get answered because they weren't thorough enough in their "expanding" of the universe within this franchise. Like why do they give the impression that Katie didn't experience this presence in her adulthood until they drove the demon out of her sister when in the first movie Katie clearly explains it is something that has followed her for year and years?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Wow. I have a lot more deep seeded hatred for this installment that I thought I would. That's probably because it's a sad excuse for a sequel and an even sadder excuse for a prequel. It adds little to nothing to the franchise outside of an open door for more sequels. The theatrical release of the original was open ended, and this one also ends open ended when Katie comes, kills almost the entire family the same night she kills Micah, and abducts the family's one year old baby. Roll credits.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'm probably giving this one a harder time than it deserves. If it was it's own movie released outside this franchise it would probably just be a mediocre demon possession story. But since it's part of this franchise and doesn't just fail to comprehend the right tone and approach but falls flat on it's face in comparison to the original... kinda makes it hard to like.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I will say there were some good, creative aspects. Like I said earlier I thought the use of security cameras was a clever approach along with the traditional handheld camera. There were also a few cool tricks done by the demon that didn't exactly scare me but caught my attention. Also I liked how the demon's presence was generally speaking very subdued. Something I can't say for the rest of the franchise... of which we're yet to see the worst of.</span></div>
Thirsty->Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11669975237864473615noreply@blogger.com0