Project X

Project X

2012

Comedy

Rated: R

Running Time: 88 minutes

Starring: Thomas Mann, Oliver Cooper, Jonathon Daniel Brown

Directed By: Nima Nourizadeh

Rating: 4.5 out of 10

Outline

3 nerds throw a party that quickly gets way out of control.

Review

Most people have been to a raging house party before. A party that gets a little out of hand due to crowd size or alcohol consumption. Whatever stories you tell on a daily, or monthly, or yearly basis about said party, will pale in comparison to the beast of a party thrown in this movie. Project X is the story of three unknown, and nerdy high school seniors. They decide to throw a party, and film it to put them on the social map. What starts off as a small party, soon balloons out of control into one of the craziest bashes known to mankind.

I feel I should lead with a couple of comments about why I arrived at my rating. This film may be one of the most pointless movies of all time. To call it a movie is even a stretch. The creators of this film are smart and knew they had a gold mine with people who enjoy a mindless watch. Listen, I am not saying this film isn't entertaining, nor am I saying it was hard to watch. What I am saying is that this is a terrible movie. The rating I gave this film was on pure entertainment value alone. If I was to rate it on quality, than it would be closer to a 1 out of 10. The film has a simple formula, and that is to make one of the craziest house parties known to man. The film starts off and you get to meet the three nerds leading this film. Tomas, Costa, and JB are a bunch of guys, looking to get noticed. Their buddy Dax, follows them around and captures everything unfolding, by recording it using a handheld camera. The movie really doesn’t start until a decent amount of people show up to Tomas’s house, and the music starts cranking. To go into detail about this film is pointless as it really just goes from a big party, to the party of the century with no character development whatsoever.

The acting is nothing to write home about but it is not terrible either. The roles are superficial, so the cast of unknowns seem to be able to pull it off. I was able to appreciate the movie more because of the simplistic roles these people needed to put forth. The character Costa, played by Oliver Cooper, was the only person that stood out negatively for me. He is too over the top, and that is coupled with his stupid tough guy personality traits. He will wear on your senses about 15 minutes into this film.

At the end of the day, you have an easy decision to make if you should watch this film or not. This film has a little a bit of everything you would expect from a party, to a lot of stuff you probably wouldn’t expect. Here is a list of things that take place. Fires, puking, heavy drug use, vandalism, small animal torture, sex, cops, angry neighbors, midgets, creepy dudes, kid bouncers, dj’s, and a host of other things I am having a hard time remembering. If these things appeal to you, then this movie will blow you away. If you need any ounce of story, or interesting characters, then stay away because there are none. What characters you will find are mostly naked girls swimming; naked girls in bouncy castles, and naked girls dancing to loud hip hop montages. The film has some fun and some laughs, and goes on an insane spiral that finishes in a crescendo of destruction that won’t disappoint. With so many random things happening in this film, I am surprised Matthew Broderick didn’t show up with a chimpanzee (See what I did right there with that reference. If you don’t watch many movies than this is not a shot at Sarah Jessica Parker, although that also would have been funny now that I think on it)

Director Nima Nourizadeh does a solid job with his directorial debut. He knows his audience and gives them what they want. That is a film with a party that is all rise. He splashes in a great soundtrack and ample montages of people dancing and celebrating to maximum effect. The film is way out there in terms of story but in line with his target audience. Even though this film did not work for me he did a great job, and the handheld camera shooting was a nice touch for added realism.

I cannot recommend this film, however if you are looking for a mindless watch that is very entertaining than this could work. This is a party everyone wants to be at but no one will want to watch.

T Factor + If you like mindless comedy than this could score higher on the rating scale.

T Factor – If you need any sense of a story than this could score way lower on the rating scale.

If you liked this film reel recommendations: Old School, The Hangover

A Perfect Getaway

A Perfect Getaway

2009

Drama (Thriller)

Rated: R
Running Time: 98 minutes

Starring: Steve Zahn, Milla Jovovich, Timothy Olyphant, Chris Hemsworth

Directed By: David Twohy

Rating: 4 out of 10

Outline

A newlywed couple vacationing in Hawaii is in the wrong place at the wrong time as someone is murdering tourists there.

Review

We have the movie Hostel to thank for the bevy of movies surrounding vacation murders. It seems the beautiful places of the world are now home to the most sadistic and terrible people on the planet. A Perfect Getaway is the story of Cliff and Cydney. They are on their honeymoon in Hawaii when they hear of a pair of brutal tourist murders not far from where they are. As they hike along a fairly secluded trail, they start meeting up with various hikers all of whom may be the killers.

This film never connected with me and took very predictable plot courses right through its entirety. It was too long of a buildup for an actually pretty decent ending. You are introduced to the honeymooners and they set off on their hike through the tropical landscape. The film actually reminded me of a teen flick even though the key players are decidedly older. The film instead of genuine scares boils down into a who is the killer type of film and it gets tiring. The film inundates you with a host of odd characters letting you decide who the killer might be. Without any sense of normalcy you quickly lose interest in the story. There are characters that give threatening lingering looks. There are characters that are hostile and confrontational. There is your not quite right in the head characters. In fact with so few normal characters in this film it seems Hawaii is the place to be for Crazies (yes intended Timothy Olyphant reference). Hawaii is a vibrant and beautiful location but the story about murder unfolding there was dry and stagnant.

Newlywed Cliff played by Steve Zahn and Cydney played by Milla Jovovich were hard to follow as the leads. Zahn should stick to doing comedy as he has this goofy delivery that is hard to take seriously. Jovovich’s voice for some reason got on my nerves also detracting from her performance. The two of them together are an odd on screen pair and bored me right through the movie.

 Now I don’t want to get into much of the odd assortment of characters as to give a hint as to who the killers may be. What I have already said was the multitude of strange personalities that marches through this film will leave you dizzy. About halfway through I stopped caring about who the killers might be and started rooting for them to go on a rampage and end this film. The supporting cast did a decent job with what they were given to work with. One thing I will point out though was Timothy Olyphant seemed to be channeling Bill Paxton's laugh from Weird Science for most of this film and it was kind of comical.

The film dredges its way from one disappointing encounter to the next. Never scaring or intriguing the viewer in any degree. The film is a painful watch until a great ending scene (I am not saying I agree with the ending only it was done well). The ending has many facets to it which includes interesting camera work and black and white shots. If more creativenesses were used like this for the whole film it might have worked. At the end of the day though the script was below par and the thriller aspect was almost nonexistent. Although to be fair there is one of the worst hand injuries I have ever seen in this film. 

Director David Twohy known most for his alien work in such films as Pitch Black and Chronicles of Riddick shows he should keep his sights to the skies. This film with its odd cast and even odder characters was off from the start. The story was a mess and besides the ending the film is hardly worth mentioning. Hopefully he will get back on track with his next film.

I cannot recommend this film and while people say this story was genius and shocking I say it was boring and forced. The movie title claims perfection all I saw was below average.

T Factor + If you like stories with many twists and turns this could score higher on the rating scale.

T Factor – If you like lots of frights in your movies this could score lower on the rating scale.

If you liked this film reel recommendations: Kiss the Girls, Turistas

Prometheus

Prometheus

2012

Action (Sci Fi)

Rated R

Running Time: 124 minutes

Starring: Charlize Theron, Guy Pearce, Idris Elba, Michael Fassbender, Noomi Rapace

Directed By: Ridley Scott

Rating: 6 out of 10

Outline

A team of explorers heads to a distant planet looking for the answer of humanity’s origins.

Review

So I thought long and hard after watching this movie trying to decide if I liked it or not. It sat right on the fence for me but I finally decided the combination of some spectacular visuals and Michael Fassbender’s acting won me over to tell you to give it a view. The movie Prometheus is the futuristic tale of a group of explorers trying to discover the origins of humanity on earth. It leads them to a planet in the far reaches of space where they find out some questions are better left unanswered.

I am going to start out by saying I am not going to get into a nerdy in depth discussion regarding where this movie fits into the whole Alien franchise. After watching this film it is pretty clear to me it is a prequel to Ridley Scott's film Alien. The whole semantics of it being a standalone film but based in the same Alien universe really is incidental when it comes right down to it. Be warned though this film resembles the first Alien film the most. It is a well built up drama relying on suspense and origin story to win the viewer over. So if you are looking for more action driven story lines like the Aliens films numbered 2 through 4 you will be sadly disappointed. I am a huge fan of the first two Alien films so I was pretty stoked to see this film. While it was not what I expected I found I was totally wrapped up in this pretty cool prequel. The first thing you will notice is the visuals in this film. Everything from the distant planet they travel to, and the spaceship they are on called Prometheus are just crisp and at times stunning. The films camera work is clearly a homage to the first Alien film. The coloring and texture are grainy and tinted, especially on the spaceship making the film look like it was shot years ago which I thought was a neat touch. The film is a well thought up story but has too many unexplained layers to be thoroughly enjoyed in my mind. Now they may clear this up if they have a sequel to this film but it will leave a sense of unfinished business by films end. 

The characters in this film are pretty varied and interesting. I would be remiss if I didn’t start with Michael Fassbender playing the Android David. In a world where all roles should be appreciated at the Academy Awards this portrayal might have been nominated. He is excellent and he steals the show. He has such a grasp of what this character should be that it is hard to believe he isn’t a robot. The leading lady Elizabeth Shaw played by Noomi Rapace is no Sigourney Weaver and yet she is not out of place in this film. She holds her own in this movie and without giving away the scene is involved in one the creepiest moments this franchise has ever had (That includes chest bursting aliens). The film has a solid supporting cast which includes Charlize Theron, Guy Pearce, and Idris Elba. While good in their respective roles I felt the movie did not or use the cast nearly enough. It is hard to care about a character when so many of them have limited screen time.

The film does a good job in always keeping the viewer on its toes. As the team looks for answers on this foreign planet there is always a lingering tension that things are not what they seem. As more questions get answered the more hectic and frantic the feel of the film gets. The film however is very slow and because the crew of Prometheus is too big it is hard to fully invest in its characters. It also does not have enough outright scenes of blood and violence for my taste to break up the slow points.  When the ending arrives the film instead of feeling natural seems rushed and unfulfilled.

It is hard to criticize Ridley Scott as a director but he failed in some key aspects in this film. The story is all over the place and the ending is unsatisfying. The pacing while adding tension also seems stretched detracting from the overall feel of this film. What he did well was the look and style of this film. He knows his original audience and delivers a decent sci fi flick. Although he could have used more scenes of action and or horror they are fantastic when they do occur. His casting is solid if not perfect and he utilizes the best characters to maximum potential.

I am going to give this movie a recommendation but remember it is clearly meant for fans of the first Alien film or dramatic sci fi lovers.

T Factor + If you like the Alien Franchise this could score higher on the rating scale.

T Factor – If you like your films with intense scenes of violence and action this could score lower on the rating scale.

If you liked this film reel recommendations: Event Horizon, Alien

Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes

2009

Action

Rated: PG-13

Running Time: 128 minutes

Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams. Mark Strong

Directed By: Guy Ritchie

Rating: 7 out of 10

Outline

Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson work together to solve a case of dark magic and resurrections.

Review

Cinematic history has many great examples of great on screen pairings. This includes Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid to Captain Kirk and Spock. It also includes the Lone Ranger and Tonto to Anakin Skywalker and Padme (cough). Now we get to watch another famous duo in detective Sherlock Holmes and his trusty sidekick Doctor Watson work their magic in solving a mystery. The story involves the legendary pair investigating a case that involves black magic, murder, and a multitude of other crimes that may rattle the British Empire to its very core.

This film is an entertaining and jocular take on writer Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes novels. It starts off quickly and never lets up. You are introduced to Holmes and Watson and instantly like their easy banter and their rhythmic give and take dialogue. This film probably won’t sit well with traditionalist Sherlock Holmes fans as it never takes itself too seriously but I surely enjoyed it. This film has a great blend of action and comedy allowing you to get into the darker storyline. The camera work is superb and the dark back drop of London suits the story perfectly. I liked how Watson although clearly the supporting role still was very front in centre in most of the big scenes so he was utilized to his full potential. The action sequences are also brilliant with decent editing allowing you to appreciate the little nuances. Having Holmes narrate what he is going to do in a fight in slow motion and then getting to see it in real time was a great touch. If anything Director Guy Ritchie could have added more scenes shot in this style as it was a highlight of the film for me. You will also be impressed by Holmes's Magyver like skills in fashioning weapons out of odd household items. Watching Holmes battle gigantic evil henchmen seems more realistic when he creates weapons from nothing.

I had misgivings about Robert Downey Jr. playing Sherlock Holmes but they were quickly laid to rest in this film and I am sorry I ever doubted him. He is funny and charming when he needs to be and holds his own in the action sequences. Having him testing out his theories with drugs and strange equipment is just and entertaining watch. Watching him drink and bare fist box is even a better watch. His partner Doctor Watson played by Jude Law is the perfect complement to the craziness of Holmes’s character. He is more of the straight man and goes along with Holmes’s shenanigans for the intrigue. The two of them on screen have more chemistry together than I have seen in a movie for a really long time. They fight, and they bicker, they tease, and they joke, but at the end of all of it they make this movie so enjoyable. They have a strong supporting cast with Rachel McAdams playing the shady and slippery love interest Irene Adams and Mark Strong playing the evil Lord Blackwood. They carve their own solid supporting roles and add depth to the story in a film dominated by Downey and Law.

The film at times goes over the top with the comedy though. Holmes always seems to be cracking jokes when their lives are on the line. It comes off as very cheesy at times and reminds me of old school James Bond dialogue. They could have toned it down a little. I also felt the ending was rather anticlimactic after such a long investigation by Holmes and Watson. Never the less with more than one storyline going on and the decidedly darker content this film will appeal to everyone looking for a little of every genre.

What director do you turn to when you need an entertaining British flick? You go to none other than Guy Ritchie. He knows his audience and he knows how to blend cheeky banter with twisting stories and solid action sequences. He does a great job with this film and bringing Downey and Law together was a stroke of genius. The script isn’t amazing and certainly some of the dialogue could have been toned down but overall another great job from Madonna’s ex.

I give this movie my recommendation as Holmes might think its elementary I thought it was exemplary.

T Factor + If you like your films to have a more serious tone this could score lower on the rating scale.

T Factor – If you do not like Robert Downey Jr. this could score lower on the rating scale.

If you liked this film reel recommendations: RocknRolla, Snatch.

Accepted

Accepted

Comedy

2006

Rated: PG-13

Running Time: 90 minutes

Starring: Justin Long, Lewis Black, Jonah Hill, Blake Lively

Directed By: Steve Pink

Rating: 6 out of 10

Outline

A few college rejects decide to make a fake university to fool their parents.

Review

As long as there are colleges and universities in the States we will never run out of coming of age comedies based on them. This movie kind of resembling a modern day Revenge of the Nerds does some things very well and others not so much but it is always entertaining. The story follows a teenager named Bartleby. He is a high school student who is coasting through life. His life however is ruined by the fact he doesn’t apply himself and doesn’t get into any of the universities he applied to. His parents are furious and disappointed and think Bartleby’s life is over. He then decides with the help of some other college rejected friends to open a fake university to make his parents happy and give him some time to figure his life out.

 I am not sure what surprised me most about this film. It was a tossup between I can’t believe I actually liked this movie and I cannot believe Justin Long is a celebrity. The movie starts off with a few examples of Bartleby’s notorious slacking abilities. He makes fake ids for his classmates and you get to see why he is the class clown and dork all at the same time. After the standard college rejection/disappointment from the parent’s scene the movie gets underway. Lets get this straight right now, the story is appalling and no way could happen but I could look past it. Bartleby and a small group of friends come up with the brilliant idea of making a fake college and calling it the South Harmon Institute of Technology which abbreviated is stupidly named S.H.I.T. Too many jokes arise from this grade three type of humor but I guess some people might find that funny. Getting back to the fake school dilemma the problem is the website they put up to fool their parents has a functional acceptance button that accepted anyone who applied. So naturally hundreds of real rejected college students apply and get accepted and start to show up for school. It is a motley crew of characters including geeks, nerds, strippers, behavioral problem kids, and a plethora of other stereotypical cast outs. The wide spectrum of characters leads to many outlets for jokes and laughs. The development of the fake school from finding a building to support all these rejects and developing a faux curriculum is half the fun of this movie.The film is never hilarious but does illicit more than the occasional laugh when they are not recycling old seen before jokes.

Bartleby played by Justin Long is rarely funny in this film. He resorts to terrible slapstick humor like falling over couches and very rarely delivers quality jokes. He is however a decent lead in a comedy because he is able to drive the story allowing his funny supporting cast to take over. His best friend Sherman played by one of my favorites Jonah Hill delivers time after time in this film. His sarcastic one liners will have you laughing from start to finish. And if you don’t find him funny at least you get to see him dress up as a giant hotdog and ask people about his wiener. Lewis Black plays the fake dean for S.H.I.T and although he is loud and as obnoxious as usual he does a good job with the role in this one. Two other worthy mentions go to actor Adam Herschman and Jeremy Howard playing random students. They add to this film even though they are two ridiculous characters. Blake Lively playing Bartleby’s love interest does her role well but could have been any one really.

The story is obvious and conclusion to it even more obvious. It does allow for maximum comedy though and that is all you need. The cliche everyone is someone undertones this film had were quite awful though and hard to take seriously when people are motorcycling into pools and playing football on ladders. Bottom line the movie won’t wow you but it will not bore you either and it will have a few laughs along the way.

Director Steve Pink does an admiral job in his film debut. He gets a random collection of funny people and puts together a film while not totally original is very respectable. The humor is toned back and not all about swearing and crass punch lines. The story is vanilla but never slow and from time to time you will be surprised at how much you might like certain characters. There is a little something for everyone in this film without taking it to the extreme which I liked.

I give this movie a surprising recommendation especially for people looking for a lighter feeling comedy.

T Factor + If you like teen comedies this could score higher on the rating list.

T Factor – If you do not like Justin Long this could score lower on the rating list.

If you liked this film reel recommendations: Sex Drive, Old School

Goon

Goon

2011

Comedy

Rated: R

Running Time: 92 minutes

Starring: Seann William Scott, Eugene Levy, Jay Baruchel, Alison Pill, Liev Schreiber

Directed By: Michael Dowse

Rating: 7.5 out of 10

Outline

A man heads out to Eastern Canada to pursue his dream of becoming a hockey enforcer.

Review

Hockey movies are notoriously bad. They do not have the sheer awesomeness of a tight football game movie. Nor do they have the electricity of a baseball movie with a ninth inning walk off home run. Hockey is a sport that is too fast paced for the big screen. So when watching a hockey movie, you are always wondering wouldn’t I just like the real thing more? That is until the movie Goon rolled around and stole the viewer’s heart with a simplistic tale of team camaraderie and tenacity. The movie Goon is a story about a simple Jewish boy named Doug Glatt. He is seemingly lost in the world working as a bouncer at a local watering hole.  He sees everyone around him doing things with their lives and he seems lost in the mix. That is until he gets a random tryout as a hockey enforcer with a very minor league hockey team. He realizes this is what he wants to do with his life and puts everything he has into it. He even moves to Eastern Canada to pursue his dream, and finding out about love and honor along the way.

 If you are not familiar with hockey, goons (more commonly known as enforcers) are hockey’s bad boys. They protect the star players of their team by hitting, and more often than not having to fight to make their statement heard. They are often one of the most popular, if not the favorite player on any hockey team. They are blue collar workers representing themselves well. I have to admit it took me a little while to get into this film. I found the opening scene of seeing Doug working as a bouncer a little cheesy for my tastes. But once it gets going this film is a treat. Doug is this honest and trustworthy guy off the ice, and he takes these traits with him onto the ice while he pounds the pulp out of guys on the other team. You root for Doug because he is the nicest guy, and you want him to succeed. The story of following his minor league team is very much secondary to seeing Doug succeed as an enforcer. This movie will make you laugh out loud, but more often than not, you will find yourself smiling for no other reason than Doug’s team scores a goal. The fighting in the film is not the best visually but keeps in tune with the films feel. Blood and teeth will fly and it all seems appropriate. I also really liked the fact that the goons personalities from team to team were so varied. They were not all just dumb jocks. Some were polite, others dumb, some philosophical, while others mean. You never knew what personality Doug was going to run into on the ice so it kept the film fresh.

Doug Glatt played by Seann William Scott while not a challenging role was never the less perfectly played. You will love this character from the start until the end. He is funny, open, and Scott does not go overboard with him. There is something so genuine about Scott’s portrayal of Doug that this film had to work. His foul mouthed best friend Ryan played by Jay Baruchel is another great addition to this film. The two of them shouldn’t be friends but relate to each other perfectly. Baruchel makes sure that all the sex and crass humor is fulfilled in this film and he does it well. Doug has a love interest named Eva played by Alison Pill, and she does a solid job of keeping this movie a little grounded as it does get too out there from time to time.  

The supporting cast of actors making up Doug’s hockey team is a great mix as they range from young rookies to alcoholic veterans. They allow for a bevy of different jokes and stories to unfold around Doug’s main storyline and that is a good thing. Another great supporting role was Liev Schreiber who plays veteran goon Ross Rhea. He has the look, he has the demeanor, and he has the presence of a goon down pat. It doesn’t hurt that he has a kick ass handle bar moustache to boot. He was such a great character in such a small supporting role he just completed the movie for me.

The film is never slow no matter if it is on or off the ice. The whole movie is built up anticipation of Doug the rookie, fighting hockey enforcer legend Ross Rhea. I found I was more emotionally invested in Doug’s hockey team than I should have been and that is the sign of a great movie. This film is well written and heartfelt which I also liked. This film will become a cult classic and I was shocked at how funny it truly was. When it ended I easily could have watched more and I am not sure if this story has the strength for another one but I certainly hope they try.

Director Michael Dowse has directed the virtually unknown but funny Canadian films Fubar and Fubar 2 so he knows how to put together a comedy on a low budget. He took a really funny script (Jay Baruchel, Evan Goldberg, Adam Frattasio, Doug Smith) and turned it into something special. The hockey fights and hockey highlights were nothing special but not the worst either and certainly never detracted from the film. The story was perfectly paced with the right amount of on the ice to off the ice ratio. He took a good cast and made a film he should be proud of.

I am going to give this movie a big recommendation especially to Hockey lovers and of course Canadians.

T Factor + If you like hockey this could score higher on the rating scale.

T Factor – if you do not like hockey this could score way lower on the rating scale.

If you liked this film reel recommendations: Major League, Slap Shot

30 Days of Night

30 Days of Night

2007

Action (Horror)

Rated: R

Running Time: 113 minutes

Directed By David Slade

Starring: Josh Hartnett, Melissa George, Ben Foster

Rating: 4.5 out of 10

Outline

A small town in Alaska is set upon by Vampires and the sun won’t rise for 30 days.

Review

Vampires are one of mans worst nightmares on film. They have stalked us since we have been able to record our history in writing. They have stalked us in our cities and our towns. They look for our blood in our subways and our hospitals. They have even stalked us in our dreams. The ends of the earth are not even enough for these blood sucking fiends as they have followed us to the frozen lands of Alaska. 30 Days of Night is the story of the small populace of Barrow, Alaska. Every winter this town is hit with 30 days of perpetual darkness due to its geographical location. This darkness phenomenon brings in a group of Vampires looking to feed on its unsuspecting citizens. It is man versus vampire and 30 days seems like a long time without sun when your life is on the line.

This movie offers moments of greatness but more often than not is dragged down by poor storyline angles and dull movie watching. The film starts off by introducing us to the players involved but more importantly the setting where this battle for survival will take place. The dark and snowy town of Barrow is a great place for mans last stand. The smallish makeshift town does a great job of letting the viewer know how isolated this place really is. The slow build up of random acts of vandalism and increasing snowfall give the movie the right feel for horror. I liked this film for its crescendo of violence. It starts off with random people getting dragged off into the darkness quicker than you can blink. It then quickly escalates into every man for himself chaos. Gun fire permeates the night air and blood is liberally splattered over the stark white snow. The Vampires themselves are the best part of the film. They are not here to seduce young woman or battle werewolves they are here for the blood. They are pale and simplistic and look like hunters of the night with their thin razor sharp teeth. They don’t even stop to wipe the blood off their mouths after a kill which is a nice touch.

Actor Josh Hartnett playing town sheriff Eben Oleson does nothing with the role. Sure he is okay as a cop but there is something about him that is off in this film and it is a distraction. His estranged wife Stella Oleson, played by the actress Melissa George is unremarkable unless you count the fact her teeth are too big for her mouth. Viewers of this film are not here for the humans they are here for the Vampires and they won’t be disappointed. The lead Vampire Marlow played by Danny Huston uses a calm approach to radiate terror. He is supported by a cast of Vampires that have the look and movements down so they come off as quite evil and disturbing. Lastly the vampire’s familiar played by Ben Foster is perfectly cast and offers a great portrayal. Foster is this dishevelled maniac and once again he wins you over with his intense eyes. Not only does he carry out the vampires wishes he adds some merit to the thin story.

I have been praising this movie a lot but it falls apart about halfway through. The film goes from a frantic tale of survival to one of boredom and general malaise. It won’t take a genius to see which townspeople will be slaughtered first. Although it is a cool venue and the director doesn’t hesitate using kids in the slaughter it seems the magic has left the film once the Vampires walk around the streets unmolested. There is something unnerving and exciting about characters being gored from the dark places in the town as opposed to hiding from these creatures in attics and stores. The film drags itself into just an anticlimactic predictable ending ruining such a good start to the film. The film could have worked if they kept it to gun fights and blood spray instead of crawling around and hiding. They also could have provided a little more character development. I normally hate inane back story but the vampires are not explained well. Where do they come from? Why do they talk in a hideous foreign language? Lastly why do they scream announcing their presence when on the kill? There are tons of other unanswered questions about them that they never get to leaving the story unfulfilled.

Director David Slade took on a monster of a film and just couldn’t wrangle it into something viable. He has the gore down and certainly the slow rise of terror. What he didn’t do right though cost this film a recommendation. Going from high action to a slow drawn out drama midway through ruined the vibe of this film. Also while some of the gore and blood was great other times it was highly computerized losing a lot of its realistic feel. I can see vampire enthusiasts really enjoying this film as the setting and vampires are awesome it is just not a well cast or scripted film.

I cannot recommend this film while it is entertaining the story is as bleak and bland as its locale.

T Factor + If you like blood and or vampire movies this could score higher on the rating scale.

T Factor – If you do not like Josh Hartnett as an actor this could score lower on the rating scale.

If you liked this film reel recommendations: Daybreakers, Underworld. 

Savages

Savages

2012

Drama

Rated: R

Running Time: 131 minutes

Starring: Blake Lively, Aaron Johnson, Taylor Kitsch, Benecio Del Toro, Salma Hayek, John Travolta

Directed By: Oliver Stone

Rating: 5 out of 10

Outline

Three friends and drug dealers are in a fight for their lives when a Mexican Cartel tries to muscle in on their action.

Review

Films can be made or broken by the final scene or ending. Director Ron Howard is a master of memorable movie endings that can make average films feel great. Oliver Stone the director of this film needs to study up on Howard’s technique a little bit. The ending of this film is what kept it from being a recommendation from me. The Savages follows the story of three young adults named Ophelia (O), Chon, and Ben. They are best friends, lovers, family, but most importantly, fantastic pot growers and distributors. They live the seemingly perfect life in California. They are young and rich but that is all about to change when a Mexican Drug cartel tries to muscle their way into their business.

The film narrated by the character O is a slow purposeful drama with very interesting characters and good dialogue. There are scenes of action but they don’t define this film as such. They are added to enhance the plot and pick up the pace of the film as it does drag at various points. I liked the story a lot because although the main focus is the drug trade the unorthodox love story between O, Chon, and Ben, is certainly a nice change from the typical romantic coupling we always see. The film asks the question what would you do for love? The film answers that with the clear answer….anything. After meeting the three main characters you will instantly like what you see. Ben is this laid back, hippy looking guy, and because he is young and does not look like the typical head of a drug syndicate you instantly like him. Chon is the muscle of the group and his quick hot headed responses fit well with Ben’s more peaceful nature. You will like O also because she is so down to earth and fits perfectly between them. (That is both figuratively and literally). Their friendship is easily believed if unconventional and easy to root for. The film with overt scenes of blood and violence is an easy watch but always seems a tad slow and drawn out.

The battle for the drug trade they started is what makes this story so solid. The three of them are easily outmatched against this Mexican cartel and yet they fight on for the sake of what they love. You like the three of them because they are an odd underdog story. You will find the film has too many story lines and characters and because of this, the movie runs longer than it should. I am not saying this film is confusing because of the story lines. It just tries to make it into this grand tale of intertwining stories and characters when a more linear story would have been much better suited in my mind.

O played by Blake Lively does a solid job narrating and being the love interest. She brings a lot to the film without having a huge part. Ben played by Aaron Johnson of Kick Ass fame shows he can hold his own as a lead in a Dramatic role. He brings a quiet presence to the role and does a good job when his character is emotional and stressed on film. Chon played by Hollywood’s version of a money dumpster Taylor Kitsch (See John Carter and Battleship total gross to budget numbers) shows he can do the job when he isn’t the outright lead in a film. He is solid if not remarkable as an ex army tough guy. The role is not challenging but he doesn’t falter with it, winning back some critical acclaim from me after his other movie flops.

Lado played by Benecio Del Toro is part of the Mexican Drug Cartel and plays the role of their enforcer. He gets what he wants through torture and manipulation. His portrayal is brilliant and he could easily be up for a best supporting actor nod for this year. He is pure evil and is a great watch whenever he is on screen. His boss Elena played by Salma Hayek was awful in the role. People are going to say she was so raw and gritty and it is not like her usual roles. That is true but she is so unbelievable as a drug lord that the film loses traction whenever she is on film. Her delivery is laughable and her presence pales in comparison to Del Toros. She was a big miss for me. Lastly is Dennis a DEA agent played by John Travolta and he was also a big miss in this role. He never changes his style from movie to movie so he always comes off as loud and comical even when he is trying to be dramatic. He detracted from this film with a cheesy portrayal of his character. 

The film has its ups and downs but I was always intrigued. The action scenes with some shaky editing are still great watches and the battle for the drug trade keeps you interested right until the end scene. I was going to make this film a recommendation but the ending ruined it for me. A film that will make you feel a gamut of emotion from fear to sympathy is ruined in that one scene and that is a shame.

Director Oliver Stone has had a rough go at the movie making business in the last few years. It is good to see he doesn’t always have to make a political statement when shooting a flick. The script and casting are solid with a few exceptions and his action sequences are high tempo if not crisp. He spaces the scenes of action out which lets you enjoy the story. His film is slow and runs about 15 minutes too long with too many uninteresting side stories. He also butchers the ending causing this movie from being good to average. I am glad to see he is back though and does a solid job with just a few inconsistencies.

I cannot recommend this film while it never loses your interest Stone somehow savaged the ending.

T Factor + If you like movies about drugs this could score higher on the rating scale.

T Factor – If you do not like slow dramas this could score lower on the rating scale.

If you liked this film reel recommendations: The Town, Heat 

Couples Retreat

Couples Retreat

Comedy

2009

Rated: PG-13

Running Time: 113 minutes

Starring: Vince Vaughn, Malin Akerman, Jean Reno, Jason Bateman, Kristin Bell, Jon Favreau, Kristin Davis, Faizon Love, Kali Hawk

Directed By: Peter Billingsly

Rating: 3.5 out of 10

Outline

Four couples head to a tropical paradise for some fun in the sun and some couples therapy.

Review

There is nothing more frustrating than a falsely advertised movie. From the trailer, Couples Retreat looked like another hilarious and outrageous comedy with Vince Vaughan leading the way. I was shocked to find out that this was more of a romantic comedy and a pretty bad one at that. The movie centers around 4 couples in varying stages of their respective relationships. The couples head out to a tropical island for some rest and relaxation and a little couple's therapy while they are at it.

Since the focus of this movie is the couples themselves. It only makes sense to review them as they fit into the movie. After a short intro where you meet the couples in question they make the trek to the island where the hilarity is supposed to commence but never really does.

The first couple named Dave and Ronnie, are played by Vince Vaughn and Malin Akerman. They are secure in their marriage and have two kids. They are happy in their relationship even though the excitement may be ebbing. Vaughn tries his usual comedic delivery which is to dominate the screen with his gift of gab but he fails for two obvious reasons. The first reason is the PG-13 rating takes most of the steam out of his epic rants. The second with no strong supporting characters in this film he looks lost at sea without a life raft. Akerman his wife has chemistry with Vaughn at points but she does nothing special with the role so this couple was a bust comedy wise.

The second couple is Jason and Cynthia played by Jason Bateman and Kristen Bell. They have been married for a while but are having setbacks. Bateman and Bell work well together on screen. Their characters obsessive planning and preparation for all of life’s activities while not outright funny, is amusing and a very easy watch. They are the best part of this film but really it is not saying much as it was an average performance overall from them.

The third couple is Joey and Lucy played by Jon Favreau and Kristin Davis. They have been married since high school and have lost all passion and interest for each other. They try and find humor with this pairing on screen by the two of them trying to seek out extra marital affairs. It is mostly a sad angle and seems out of sync with the general vibe of the film. Trying to insert awkward sexual encounters in a film geared towards a younger audience is strange and out of place. The two of them are okay in their roles but are big misses with their comedic placement.

The last couple is Shane and Trudy played by Faizon Love and Kali Hawk. They are a newly dating couple pulling the George Clooney of the dating world. That being Shane is way older than Trudy. It is a strange pairing on paper and even more awkward to watch. This couple does not fit into the flow of the film at all. They try to squeeze jokes out of this relationship where none were to be found. The jokes can be summed up that Shane is fat and Trudy is young and the terrible jokes never get any deeper than that. This couple is easily the worst and had no business being in this film.

Because the couples are so dull and generic the movie never works. The island is beautiful even though the staff there are a bunch of creepy weirdoes. For every funny scene where a shirtless Favreau gets groped by a male Yoga instructor, there is an equally unfunny scene where he goes to get a special massage from the hotel masseuse. The film will lull you to sleep as it rolls along with its predictable romantic comedy story line and conclusion.

Director Peter Billingsly should have stayed out of the lime light instead of directing this film. He is best known for his role as Ralphie in a Christmas Story. He takes a strong comedic cast and puts together a film of very little enjoyment. The couples are either underutilized or miscast. The PG-13 rating handcuffs a lot of the comedy and without Vaughn able to really get going this project was doomed from the start.

I cannot recommend this film and while the island is beautiful to look at the story makes you want to get a Red Ryder BB gun and shoot your eye out.

T Factor + If you liked romantic comedies as a genre this could score higher on the rating scale.

T Factor – If you like riskier humor then this could score lower on the rating scale.

If you liked this film reel recommendations: Fools Gold, Failure to Launch. 

I Love You Beth Cooper

I Love You Beth Cooper

Comedy

2009

Rated: PG-13

Running Time: 102 minutes

Starring: Hayden Panettiere, Paul Rust, Alan Ruck

Directed By: Chris Columbus

Rating: 1 out of 10

Outline

The high school class valedictorian has one day left to tell the woman of his dreams that he loves her.

Review

I Love you Beth Cooper is 2 hours of barely contained contempt from me against the movie industry. I wanted to write angry emails to everyone involved with the making of this film. Instead I will immortalize the awfulness of this film in writing. This is the story of Denis Cooverman. He is valedictorian, virgin, and raging nerd of epic proportions. He is in love with the most beautiful and popular girl in his school named Beth Cooper. It is the last day of high school and his last chance of professing that love and winning over the girl of his dreams.

The film starts off with Denis giving the graduation speech in his school’s auditorium. It is in this speech that you will find out a bunch of things about Denis. He is a shy and awkward guy and that he has alienated himself from his classmates. You will also find out that he has an unhealthy obsession and fascination with Beth. The last and most important thing you will find out is he is not funny in any way, shape, or form. In a scenario that would never happen, Beth and her two friends show up to Denis’s two man after grad party (attendees are Denis and his best friend). There is a big problem though as Beth’s boyfriend is an insane, muscle bound, army guy, who takes pleasure from beating on nerds. The film from that moment on breaks down into watching the small party jump from venue to venue to stay away from the crazed boyfriend. The scenes are either forced or rushed. The chemistry or budding romance between Denis and Beth is both non plausible and strange. Lastly and most importantly the humor is nowhere to be found.

Actor Paul Rust playing Denis actually does an okay job with the role. He certainly has the look of a complete dork. He also delivers his lines effectively. This doesn’t mean I want to see him in another movie anytime soon but he wasn’t the worst. Beth Cooper played by Hayden Panettiere certainly has the look of a head cheerleader (See Heroes television show). She does an average job but does nothing exciting to make her character pop. The thought of them being romantically involved in this film is cringe worthy material.

The supporting cast is an odd assortment of high school stereotypes but no one stands up and takes the lead comically which is disappointing.

This film inundates the viewer with too many scenes of stupid slapstick humor. Denis gets punched repeatedly, hit by a car, hit with skeleton nun chucks, but nothing hits his funny bone. Now while there is some solace in him getting beat on it quickly fades when you realize he actually isn't getting hurt. His is he or isn’t he gay best friend Rich had ample time to shine but fails repeatedly to do so. He quotes lines from movies as his shtick and it never really works (It might have bothered me more than it should because I quote movie lines all day long). Beth is cooler than she is supposed to be but in no way entertaining. High School is supposed to be the time of your life but after watching this film it will make you rethink that. They try everything you would expect from corny gay jokes to a totally unneeded cow tipping scene but bottom line this film just plain sucked.

Director Chris Columbus has been doing this a long time (No not from year 1492). He has such films as Home Alone and Adventures in Baby Sitting on his resume so there is no excuse for this film. The casting was okay but he went way too nerdy with Rust as the lead. The pacing was too frantic leaving a sense of unfulfilled potential as the film rolled along. Sure the screenplay (Larry Doyle) was rancid but he could have done something to make this movie at least watchable.

I obviously cannot recommend this film as it is a testament of bad film watching. I probably should have figured that out when the trailer for Alvin and the Chipmunks the Squeakquel is a preview on this DVD.  

T Factor+ If you like coming of age high school comedies this could score higher on the rating scale.

T Factor + If you like risqué or crass humor this could score lower on the rating scale.

If you liked this film reel recommendations: Accepted, John Tucker Must Die.

The Strangers

The Strangers

2008
Action (Horror)
Rated: R
Running Time: 88 minutes
Starring: Liv Tyler, Scott Speedman
Directed By: Bryan Bertino
Rating: 6.5 out of 10

Outline

A couple is at an isolated vacation house when they are scared by people running around outside.

Review

It pains me to think when you Google the Strangers, Urban Dictionary will pop up before my review. I love these types of movies because they pride themselves on being inspired by true events. That is like saying E. T. is a documentary. If you watch this film you will realize how funny and misleading this statement truly is. Has a couple in real life been terrorized in their house before? the answer is undoubtedly yes. Has a couple in real life been terrorized like they were in this film before? undoubtedly the answer is no. The Strangers is the story of James and Kristen. They are spending the evening at James parent’s vacation home. They are isolated in this house when they realize they may not be as alone as one would hope.

There are two sides to this movie. The first side is the terrible back story and lousy interactions between James and Kristen. The second side is the terror this movie instills as it slowly plods along. For me the suspense won out so I enjoyed this film even though I hated the characters. The film starts off with the arrival of James and Kristen at the vacation house. You quickly realize two things. One is how isolated this place is and it is just a terrible location to be trapped in. The second thing is how much you will dislike James and Kristen. Having to be forced to sit through mind numbing dialogue and unwanted back story makes this film get off to a poor start. A knock at the door changes all that monotony. A creepy exchange with a girl at the wrong address sets the tone and the theme for a mostly thrilling movie.

Scott Speedman playing James gives a mixed performance. He is convincing when scared but below average when upset or agitated. Liv Tyler playing his girlfriend Kristen is basically the same. She drives the film during the scary parts but is dreadful during the downtime. The two of them together is downright painful. They have zero chemistry with each other so when things get crazy the story is unconvincing. They are so unconvincing I am surprised it didn’t degenerate into an everyman for himself game of survival. I would have cast completely different people or at least change one of them for better effect.

The film while not entirely original does a nice job of mixing differing degrees of frights. The director uses a nice blend of loud knocks and sounds combined with subtle hints of rising terror. Although the bad guys in the film have the uncanny ability to be everywhere at once it doesn’t go super overboard with it. Truly the best part of the film is glimpsing these masked monsters. The slow build up of what are the bad guys going to do next to terrorize this couple. Is coupled perfectly with creepy glimpses of the tormentors in what looks like twisted Batman inspired masks. The bad guys take their sweet time with the torment and that is what made this movie work for me.

Director and writer Bryan Bertino does a decent job in his film debut. He uses a great blend of slow rising tension and succeeds in delivering great shots of the bad guys in action. He gets his vision across of the couples despair and that is all you can ask. Certainly the buildup in the middle of the film is better than the start or conclusion so a more evenly paced film would have had an easier flow. The dialogue was also spotty for the most part and the casting far from great, yet never the less he does a fine job in making this movie into a decent finished product.

I give this movie my recommendation especially to those people looking for frights without excessive blood and guts. It also will tell you not to have a working record player in isolated locations because it can be traumatizing.

T Factor + If you like thrillers more than slasher films then this could score higher on the rating scale.

T Factor – If you are all about the big payoff killing scenes with your horror this could score less on the rating scale.

If you liked this film reel recommendations: Vacancy, Joy Ride      

TED

TED

2012

Comedy

Rated: R

Running Time: 106 minutes

Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Giovanni Ribisi, Joel McHale

Directed By: Seth MacFarlane

Rating: 4 out of 10

Outline

A man must choose between his talking teddy bear and his woman.

Review

South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker famously ripped on the cartoon Family Guy a few years back. They said the show was riddled with cheap easy gag jokes and that they hated it. I still felt/feel that Family Guy is a really funny show and I am a huge fan even though it is not so called “clever” in some comedy circles. Now we find ourselves in the present with this movie titled Ted directed and written by Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane. I would really be interested in a review from Stone and Parker if they do watch this film because their assessment of Family Guy then is bang on with this movie now. Ted is the story of a loner kid named John Bennett. He wishes that his Teddy Bear (named Ted) could talk and magically that wish comes true. They become best friends and do everything together. Shoot many years into the future and they are still best friends but John has been dating a girl named Lori for the last 4 years. John and Ted’s friendship is putting a strain on his romantic relationship with Lori and something has to give.

This was one of the movies I most wanted to see this summer outside of the typical blockbuster actions and it was a total let down for the most part. The movie starts off with the simple back story with John Bennett as a kid. A short scene of him making a wish and his teddy bear coming to life has the movie off to the right start.  After that we find John and Ted as adults and the film lacks both storyline and decent joke selection to pull this movie off.  Ted the bear is a foul mouthed, drug smoking, sex maniac with Peter Griffin’s voice from Family Guy. I like the voice of Peter Griffin so although it was a cheap tactic to use this voice for Ted it still is awesome. I also thought Ted was animated very well in this so you actually never are thinking to yourself this is ridiculous for some reason. Because Ted is so realistic you are able to appreciate the story more. The story itself is a mess though. It has no depth to it and because the jokes are at points terrible you cannot help but notice how bad the story truly is. John courting Lori, a woman way out of his league and Ted getting in the way is painfully thin and obvious. When obviously that turns out to be not enough depth a creepy and strangely placed bad guy named Donny comes on to the scene to provide unneeded plot developments.

John played by Mark Wahlberg was a good fit in this film. He plays the down on his luck stoner character quite well. Matching him with Ted the stuffed animal voiced by Todd McFarlane and they have an easy and carefree friendship. They have chemistry together and it allows for easy banter and hilarious situations to unfold. Unfortunately they have not the best of dialogue to do it with. Girlfriend Lori played by Mila Kunis is also a seamless fit as the straight laced but very understanding girlfriend to John. She fits into John’s life perfectly in this and seems like she is having a good time doing it.

My favorite two characters in this film were creepy Donny played by Giovanni Ribisi and Rex (Lori’s Boss) played by Joel McHale. They both had small supporting roles but actually added a lot to the film. I found them funnier than the leads even though their characters were strange additions to this movie.

Bottom line is I am pretty sure you know going in what you are going to get with this movie. If you don't know it is replete with pop culture references from the 70’s until the present. It will add a liberal amount of pot use and an excessive amount of cursing to get the laughs. While there are some scenes that will make you laugh out loud there are certainly too many scenes that miss the mark. I found when Mcfarlane stuck to the present and made references to Katy Perry, Channing Tatum, and other celebrities the movie worked. More often than not though the film goes old school with things like Knight Rider cellphone ring tones and Flash Gordon references that have been done to the brink of it not being funny anymore. The story fumbles it way through awkward unfunny racial stereotypes and a cricket inducing 9/11 reference until the end of the movie where Fenway park somehow gets involved. Although using a talking teddy bear is a really funny angle for a movie, not doing anything really funny with him is inexplicable to me.

Director and cowriter Seth MacFarlane is a funny man no doubt. He also knows what his audience wants and he shamelessly gives it to them in this movie with below average humor. What he does do well in this was the casting. It was spot on and they blended perfectly together for maximum impact. The movie does have funny parts and it was never slow. The story and dialogue though is terrible and MacFarlane never seems to get the best out of this great cast. I am interested to see him direct something else because he is a super funny guy he just didn’t bring his A game with this film.

I cannot recommend this film for many reasons but mainly for its lack of laughs. I can see it working for fans of Family Guy/American Dad or for anyone who likes crass humor but be warned it is a tired looking finished product. This movie was a huge disappointment to me so I hope you like it better than I did.

 T Factor + If you have not seen much of Family Guy this could score higher on the rating list.

T Factor – If you need strong storylines with your comedy this could score lower on the rating scale.

If you liked this film reel recommendations: Half Baked, Super Troopers

Scream 4

Scream 4

2011
Horror
Rated: R
Running Time: 111 minutes
Starring: Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, David Arquette, Hayden Panettiere, Allison Brie, Emma Roberts, Anthony Anderson, Adam Brody,
Directed By: Wes Craven
Rating: 3 out of 10

Outline

Sidney Prescott is back but so is the killer Ghostface to try and finish off what he started so many years ago.

Review 

Should movie franchises ever go 4 movies deep? I will let you debate that question amongst yourselves but after viewing Scream 4 I would have to give an emphatic no. This franchise needs a complete overhaul as it is like watching the same movie over and over again. Scream 4 takes place 10 years down the road from Scream 3. Sidney Prescott is back and promoting her new book in the town of Woodsboro. Unfortunately for her the notorious Killer Ghostface is back as well to finish the job of killing Sidney and everyone and anyone remotely close to her.

I actually had high hopes for this film as the start of the movie was neat if not completely scary. However the opening scene was false advertising as the rest of the movie never holds up. These films are always hard to review because director Wes Craven knows what he is doing. What he is all about is making a profit not a good movie. He has a built in following of this franchise and the teenage crowd so why alter anything to make this a good movie. If you have seen one Scream movie you have seen them all but here we go. After the opening scene you are introduced to all the same players that survived the original trilogy plus a fresh crop of new teens. The new crop of teens are basically red shirted Star Trek ensigns and little more than that.  Lets understand something, this movie is not even remotely scary it is more comical and campy. This story has a two prong approach following the path of Sidney Prescott and her cousin Jill. The film is just a tiring watch. Ghostface has the same voice but it has lost its power of dread. He jumps out of random closets and places where he should not be and stabs people, but his sudden appearance has lost its effect. The characters in the film are as dumb as ever going alone to places they never would in real life. Bottom line is the movie is terrible and the scares are nonexistent because this product has hit its point of effectiveness long ago.

The acting is hard to rate as with campy films it is supposed to be suspect. It is cool to see Sidney Prescott back played by Neve Campbell but she looks tired of this role. She has no energy and it is quite noticeable. Gale Weathers and Dewey Riley played by Courtney Cox and David Arquette are also back but forgettable as their characters haven’t even remotely evolved. Lastly the new crop of characters led by such notables as Emma Roberts, Hayden Panettiere, Alison Brie and others are okay and mostly there for look instead of substance as the dialogue is a mess in this.

Bottom line is this movie will only appeal to people who don’t take films even remotely seriously or have never seen a Scream movie before. The killer Ghostface should inspire feelings of fear and tense excitement not feelings of disdain and boredom. You are supposed to try and guess who the killer is not want the move to end. Even the movie itself knows it sucks as it pokes fun at itself from time to time. It shows the spoof movie of the Scream franchise called Stab hitting new heights of awfulness within this film shadowing what it has reached in real life. The characters are cheesy, the killing scenes are standard, and the story is god awful. This franchise is done beyond belief with these players. I will say this though Rob Zombie could probably make a kick ass version of this film. Things that bother me with this film include why after 3 homicidal killing sprees would you ever go back to this town? Why are the FBI not called in? Why are the cops all as believable as Don Knots in uniform? The list goes on and on.

Director Wes Craven has been doing this a long time so it is hard to knock on him. He is smart and caters to his audiences perfectly. It is sad to say he can never bring this franchise to greater glory though as it has run its course. It is like an old pet that needs to be put down but no one can bring themselves to do it. The casting was okay and within reason. The opening scene was solid but the rest of the frights are nonexistent. The ending was just absurd. Craven dialed this film in and he knows it.

I cannot recommend this movie as the scariest thing in it is Courtney Cox’s plastic surgery. This film needs a fresh take or it will never work.

T Factor + This may score way higher on the rating scale if you like campy movies.

T Factor – If you were expecting something original after 10 years this may score lower on the rating scale.

If you liked this film reel recommendations; I Know What you Did Last Summer, Sorority Row. 

Grave Encounters

Grave Encounters

2012

Horror

Rated: 14A

Running Time: 95 minutes

Starring: Sean Rogerson

Directed By: The Vicious Brothers

Rating: 3 out of 10

Outline

A ghost hunting team films their overnight stay at an abandoned mental facility only to find they may not be alone.

Review

Many of you probably have never even heard of this film. I was interested in watching it for a while as it had a solid trailer with over 23 million views on YouTube alone. Sadly the trailer was better than this movie ever was. The story follows a small crew of ghost hunters as they film their amateur television show called Grave Encounters. For this episode they find themselves at the Collingwood Psychiatric Hospital. This place has had rumors of and stories of paranormal activity for decades and the Grave Encounters television crew is here to document such goings on. They decide to lock themselves in the Hospital overnight to try and catch any ghostly phenomenon on tape. The crew quickly realizes there may be more to these rumors than expected.

I was excited to watch another horror film shot in the found footage style. I know a lot of people say that if you have seen one you have seen them all but I fully disagree with that statement. A good director with a little style can make anything fresh and new. This was clearly not the case with this movie though. The film starts off with the crew arriving at the psychiatric hospital during the day and getting acquainted with the location. They tour the building and set up their equipment to catch any paranormal activities. They interview some people who are familiar with the Hospital including construction workers, a local historian, and a caretaker. It is the typical buildup to any movie shot in this style. The building itself is actually not that creepy during the day. When night hits though it is a place no one would want to be so it is a great setting for some creepy footage.. I usually am the first person to say I hate the cheap scare tactics like overtly loud sounds but I wish they used it more in this film. When things go bump in this film I literally got shivers. However they only used it a couple of times close to the start so I was disappointed in that regard.

The acting was solid to start the film but deteriorated quickly once things started to spiral out of control in the building. I found when they were filming the opening of the show the crew and people they were interviewing were quite believable. The way they portrayed not being perfectly comfortable on camera will come across as genuine and realistic. When things started to get a little scary and out of control in the building I found the lack of acting experience clearly showed. I found the actors to be forcing a lot of the dialogue and never really capture the true essence of the tense situations.

The film had a nice buildup of random scares and great camera work but never sustains this level for the whole movie. The building is full of many hallways and doors so there are great suspenseful scenes as a camera man slowly walks down the hall checking around corners. You always feel something is going to jump out at you. The first half of this movie really worked for me but not the second. It seems the directors must have read making horror movies for dummies. That is because the second half of the movie they literally try every cliché technique in the book. Never choosing one style this movie degenerated into a seen that before of horror films. Movies like Blair Witch, Gothika, REC and many more will pop up into your head as this film progresses. The building becomes tiring to watch as it is never changing. The scares become a jumble of unconvincing encounters and random blood. Then towards the end you will be literally exhausted from the terrible dialogue and predictable plot course. Instead of scaring you this film will hold your hand and guide you to an unsatisfying ending.

Directors the Vicious brothers have put forth a solid try with their debut film. They needed to keep more with the start of the movie and provide one main storyline instead of multiple side stories. The casting was decent for a low budget film and they did an okay job with this team. I found the camera work to be average at best. More scenes of individual walk throughs of this hospital would have worked better instead of the plethora of shaky camera work in a group setting. The film was super done before and the story and scares will surprise no one by the end. This film could have worked they just tried too many things to scare the audience while never succeeding.

I cannot give this movie my recommendations. It will cater to people who do not watch many horror movies besides that I would say just watch the trailer and you will get all you need from this film.

T Factor + If you have not watched many horror movies this could score higher on the rating scale.

T Factor – If you do not like found footage movies this could score lower on the rating scale.

If you liked this film reel recommendations: Quarantine, Gothika