Demetrius_Stork Reviews

Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

Most powerful animated film I've seen

[10/10 · 20 December 2015]

Movies don't often have the ability to make me weep, and never has an animated film done so, until I saw this film. I found myself in tears for several sequences of this movie. It has the incredible ability to come off the screen and make me feel all kinds of emotions I didn't know an animated movie could make me feel. I laughed, I cried, I was shocked, I was surprised, this movie did it all.

The film starts off with a young boy dying of starvation in a public train station. A janitor finds the body and, upon going through his belongings, finds a candy container. The janitor throws the container away in a nearby field, which opens the container, releasing the souls of the young boy and his sister. We find out, through flash back the boy is a 14 young man named Seita and his sister is a four year-old named Setsuko. The two live with their mother in Kobe, Japan, while the father fights in the navy. The two are forced to live with their aunt after a bombing raid critically injures their mother. They find out that their aunt is a very mean spirited lady who steals from the kid's mother and belittles them constantly. The rest of the story revolves around Seita and Setsuko and we figure out how these two ended up dying.

I think that some people may have a problem with the fact that the movie shows you that these two are dead within the first couple minutes. However I would argue this is actually an incredible strength to this film. Not often is a story told this way, in fact none that I've ever heard, and it's really interesting and ambitious. Sure there's no mystery as to what happens to the kids. But the movie is done so well, that there exists suspense because it doesn't tell you how the girl passes away, or the status of the mother or father. This also works to the movie's advantage because it just makes you want to jump into the movie and tell the two main characters that they're in danger, because you want these two to make it. And the fact that they don't just makes it all the more heart breaking to watch.

The voice acting for this film is absolutely spectacular, some of the best I've ever heard. A lot of this comes from the voice actress playing Setsuko, who does a phenomenal job, especially for a child actress. The actor playing Seita is great too, conveying that sense of a false sense of hope that is present throughout most of this film. These two work off of each other so well and are so well written that it's hard not to support them and their efforts for survival.

Another thing I really enjoyed about this movie is it's Kafkaesque feel. This meaning, a sense of feeling like you're in a bad dream. Sometimes I feel as though Seito is in such a state of sorrow and panic that he's in sort of a dream like state of shock as to how bad his situation really is. The world is also in this sense as well. Everything, and I mean everything, that can go wrong, does and it's all so surreal but at the same time, totally believable and plausible. This poor kid is almost driven to the brink of insanity and ultimately death and it's hard to watch but at the same time, hard not to watch.

Then, of course, there's the animation. How can I not talk about it? The whole film looks fantastic, some of the scenes when nothing is really happening and no dialogue is spoken, the animation really sinks in and I can get really wrapped up in it. The song by the shelter looks beautiful, even though it's just some boring river. The scenes where it shows the city after being completely destroyed by a U.S. air raid is spectacular is how sad and powerful it is. I feel like a lot of the imagery will have the "American guilt trip" effect without even being live action, which is really impressive.

In conclusion, this film has clearly given me a lot of things to think about and reflect on, which for me is the trade mark of a great film. It will make you feel things you didn't know that an animated movie can make you feel. If you're looking for a powerful, animated film, than this is right up your alley.

Princess Mononoke (1997)

A masterpiece of art and animation

[10/10 · 20 December 2015]

Wow. This movie blew me away, to say the very least. All of it was captivating; the animation, the characters, and story, all of it done to perfection. Hayao Miyazaki, whose work I'm only beginning to take notice of, is truly a genius in terms of bringing landscapes and it's many creatures to life.

The plot revolves around Prince Ashitaka, who is told that he must leave his village and never return after he is cursed by a horrible demon. Ashitaka, along with his red elk, Yakul, sets out on a journey to "see with eyes unclouded by hate," as he puts it and his journey brings him to see many things. He comes across a prosperous settlement that produces iron, fittingly named iron town, and its leader Lady Eboshi, voiced by Minnie Driver. Ashitaka finds that Iron town is at war with the creatures of the forest due to the human's attempting to settle in the forest to create prosperity, which of course the forest dwellers aren't happy about. Ashitaka later meets the princess of the wolf tribe San, who happens to be a human despite her title. Ashitaka becomes caught in the middle of a dispute as old as time itself, man versus animal.

Several other characters are added to the mix; a strange little man named Jigo, voiced by Billy Bob Thornton, the lieutenant to Lady Eboshi Gonza, voiced by John DiMaggio (the voice of Bender), Moro, the god of the wolves, and Okkoto the god of the boars. These characters are all brilliantly written, and all have their own likability. One thing that this movie does well is that there isn't really any main villain. All of them have reasonable motivations behind what they're doing. It would have been so easy for this movie to throw in a tired message about how man is evil and how we should save the environment. Many may argue that this movie is trying to set up this message, but I don't think so. Lady Eboshi isn't necessarily a bad person. She's a strong person, who doesn't back down in times of adversity. She's a good leader who protects her people and only wants the best for them, giving a home to the lepers, fighting for the lives of her people against the boars, and sticking up for her fellow women's rights and honor. While on the other side the wolves aren't the villains either; only wanting to protect the spirits of the forest and their home from what they perceive to be their worst enemy, the humans. It's understandable why both sides feel this way, they all have a reasonable motivation and likability.

The animation in this film is breathtaking, the creatures just fly off the screen with how they're drawn and how they move. The creatures in this world are all just so creative and beautiful in their designs. The Spirit of the Forest is one of my favorite designs in animation history, especially when the sun goes down. Even the designs of creatures that already exist, like the apes or the boars, all have a unique design and charm. This movie could honestly be watched on mute and still be thoroughly enjoyed.

The story of this movie is unbelievably fantastic and deserves much more recognition than it gets in the U.S. It's a fantastic movie by a fantastic animator and is now, after seeing this for the first time yesterday, one of my all time favorites.

Seth MacFarlane's Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy (2008–2010)

Worst Cartoon I have ever seen

[1/10 · 18 December 2015]

I don't have very much to say regarding this series, so I'll keep things short. This was almost unwatchable.

The jokes simply aren't funny, at all. Some of the jokes fail to even have a setup and/or punch line. The writing is lazy, not mixing in any creative humor and giving audiences exactly what they think is going to happen. This is also supposedly in the adult category as well. Involving several scenarios entitled Sex with ____, something that is clearly not supposed to be for kids, yet only they would find remotely funny. It's hard to say things simply aren't funny, but this is one of the few instances where I feel completely comfortable saying it.

This was an abomination. Not even so bad it's good either, just so bad it's unwatchable. I would say don't even give this thing a try and stay as far away from it as possible.

Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)

A quality edition to the Star Wars franchise

[9/10 · 18 December 2015]

I, like many others, was filled with excitement and anticipation for this movie. Even if the last few films were bad, it's Star Wars for god sakes! One of the largest movie franchises makes it's long awaited return, it's bound to spark a lot of attention. But as for the actual movie, was it good? Yeah. Was it fantastic? No. Was it an instant classic like episodes 4-6? Maybe for some, but not for me.

Let's start with the acting, it's so-so. Not to give anything away but the original cast members that return do their job. Harrison Ford returns as Han Solo, which is just so cool. Carrie Fisher (Leia), Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), and Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca) return and have to perform roles they haven't played in almost 40 years, which can't be easy. But they all do such great jobs and are a blast to watch. I absolutely need to mention Andy Serkis in this movie. He once again does an awesome job, bringing something that clearly doesn't exist to life. Adam Driver plays Kylo Ren (My favorite character in the movie), who is this movie's equivalent of Darth Vader. This character is awesome, he has the Darth Vader-esque feel of an intelligent, intimidating strategist, but with his own twist. Part of this character's appeal is his voice. Every time this character talks, I can't help but be sucked into everything he says.

Another great thing about this movie is its visuals. One huge problem with episodes 1-3 is the effects. Half of things looked fake and it really took audiences out of the film. But in this one, wow! Special effect and computer generation have come a long way since the days of Phantom Menace and it really shows in this production. The landscapes are beautiful and some of the shots in this movie gave me chill just off of atmosphere alone Daniel Mindel who was also the cinematographer for the two new Star Trek movies, Mission Impossible, and The Amazing Spider Man 2, does an awesome job and deserves props for really taking the look of this movie above and beyond.

The dialogue in this film is a little hokey at times. But this, for me, is very passable. The silly lines are quickly overshadowed and none of them really made me cringe, which has happened before in Star Wars movies. This movie is also oddly funny. I find that people were drawn more to the gaggy laughs in this movie but there's also some subtle humor that finds it's way to the top. J.J. Abrams, who directed and co- wrote this movie, has been known to try to add elements of humor in his action epics (Super 8) and he does a really good job of it here. Making you laugh without taking away from the quality action.

The reveals are great. The movie theatre was erupting with applause in almost every scene. If you're a big fan of episodes 4-6 you'll definitely love this movie. But without giving too much away the reveals, at the same time, are also a slight weakness of the film. Some of them are blatantly predictable and can be scene from a mile away.

That's what brings me to my biggest problem with the film, it borrows too much from the originals. I know this sounds ridiculous as it is, after all, a follow up to the original. But when you see this movie you'll lose count of how many times you see a plot element from the first one copied onto this one. It's not bad necessarily, as these plot elements worked well in the originals. But it just makes the movie predictable, and it sucks a lot of the action and suspense away from this movie as a whole.

In conclusion, I'd highly recommend it. Even with it's flaws it's still a really fun time and can bring forth a ton of nostalgic feeling. A good ride and a blast to sit through, just don't expect it to completely blow your mind.

A Million Ways to Die in the West (2014)

MacFarlane should have stopped with the teddy bear

[5/10 · 17 December 2015]

This movie was really disappointing for me. After MacFarlane showed that he had a ability to make a good feature film like Ted, I expected this film to at least be solid, but it wasn't so. Poorly written, bad drama, not very funny and lame MacFarlane tropes that really shine through.

But let's first talk about the good. The acting is quality, with a lot of clearly funny/talented performers making appearances. Seth MacFarlane stars as Albert, a misfit dweeb in the rough and tough wild west. He's OK but his supporting cast really does an awesome job. Charlize Theron plays Anna, the love interest, and does an alright job. It just looks like she was having fun more than actually acting, which honestly for me is fine in a comedy such as this. Neil Patrick Harris plays a silly, moustached owner of a "moustachery" and as you can probably tell, MacFarlane thinks that jokes about facial hair are grade A comedy. But even though some of his lines are awful, my god does he make them work. Patrick Harris can do no wrong in my opinion, unless he's hanging out with little blue people. I really enjoyed Liam Neeson in this movie. I have always wanted to see him play a villain and boy was my wish granted in this movie. Neeson plays Clinch Leatherwood, a notorious outlaw and gunfighter. It's just great, he just has this atmosphere about him that's so intimidating, you know he's a big deal the second he's in the scene. The rest of the cast is funny as well, Amanda Seyfried, Sarah Silverman and Alex Borstein all bring their talents to the screen. Look out for some celebrity cameos too. A lot of people really didn't like this factor of the movie (which I understand), but I love them, it's sort of a game of Where's Waldo. Keep an eye out for Patrick Stewart, Ryan Reynolds, Kaley Cuoco, Ewan McGregor, and a whole bunch more.

Besides the acting, this movie is just eh. The plot is tired and not really interesting. The whole underdog story with a pro training them has been done to death. The cursing in this movie is a little much at times, it just seems unnecessary and not believable, think Platoon times two. The cinematography is boring, the sets are whatever, and the scenarios are basic. The climax with Leatherwood isn't really that cool either. It just makes me wish I was watching a good old western with Clint Eastwood or John Wayne instead.

But the biggest problem I have in this movie is its attempt at drama and wow is it bad. MacFarlane clearly doesn't know how to write good drama, which makes sense considering the type of comic he is. But I have no idea why he insists on spending so much time on drama in this movie. The relationship between Albert and Anna takes up almost the majority of the film's focus and it just isn't interesting. I have also never been a fan of writers writing themselves into stories and I really hate it here. MacFarlane wrote too many lines about how nice of a guy Albert is how much Anna loves him. Bleh, it just seems like an ego trip to me and I just couldn't buy into it at all. It's just not written very well either, the drama at least, and as I said before it never stops. In Ted 2, a much better MacFarlane film made a year later, the drama is downplayed so that you can focus on the comedy. In this movie, comedy takes the backseat, something that should never happen. Maybe this was just an experiment though and now MacFarlane will learn from his mistakes, it certainly seemed that way in Ted 2.

But let's talk about the comedy. How is it? Once again it's just mediocre. There is the occasional joke that can make you giggle and some where I did laugh out loud. But MacFarlane continues the trope of the cut-away, which is a complete hit or miss. Some of the jokes in this movie fall flat too. But when MacFarlane jokes don't work they don't just fall flat, they crash and burn. If a joke doesn't work, it just seems to go on for forever. But ironically when the jokes do work, often times they're just one line or they're brushed over. It's bizarre and it can be really annoying and, at times, even cringe worthy.

In conclusion, I didn't really care for this movie. If you're a huge fan of MacFarlane, then there's a good chance you'll enjoy this film. It has his name written all over it, the good and the bad. Honestly if you want to see a movie that shows all of MacFarlane's positives and negatives, this movie is for you. The good casting and at times clever writing butting heads with poorly written drama and hit or miss gags. Not terrible, but don't expect it to do anything special.

Ted 2 (2015)

Maybe better than the first

[9/10 · 16 December 2015]

I really enjoyed this movie. While the film in it's formula and approach are almost identical, which usually isn't a good thing for comedy sequels (think Hangover 2), this movie I find works really well in it's comedy and in it's presentation.

The first thing that I enjoyed about this movie is that the drama is really downplayed. There isn't really much focus on the antagonist and the climax is very short. Some may argue that this gives the movie less weight but honestly, I love it. When the drama is present, it is pretty lame, but once again, it's short and isn't the main focus. I'd even argue that the main focus of this movie might not really be on the conflict either, in which Ted is trying to gain his citizenship (an interesting idea in my opinion). The main focus and drive of the film seem to be mainly on it's comedy, as a comedy movie should focus on. The film also appears to not dwell on the love interest so much, which is great. The last film spend most of it's time on it, which is fine. But it just seems like MacFarlane didn't find developing this relationship to be as important, which is also interesting how the plot of the last movie was also discarded. It's odd but not necessarily bad.

The acting is alright in this movie. MacFarlane and Mark Wahlberg reprise their roles as Ted and John, and do fine jobs. Amanda Seyfried plays the love interest and is alright. I've always found her to be kind of bland, a lot like Mila Kunis, sort of just another pretty face. Patrick Warburton and Michael Dorn play gay lovers and are both hilarious in this movie. Morgan Freeman does his usual role that makes you say, "well I've seen this 100 times but it's still so damn cool." The last note worthy mention for me is John Carroll Lynch (Twisty the clown and the husband from Fargo!) who does a good job as the dick head corporate businessman. The rest of the cast is all fine as well.

The comedic writing is back full force. MacFarlane still utilizes the same lame cut-away type jokes and in this one it might occur more often. But the difference is some of these cut-aways are hilarious. The scene with the improve group had me dying of laughter and all the pointless scenes with Michael Dorn and Patrick Warburton are awesome, especially the scenes at comic-con. The scene with Liam Neeson might be one of my favorites in comedy history, it's pretty subtle too which is awesome, and it's written beautifully with Neeson saying exactly what you want him to say.

But my favorite part of this movie BY FAR is the ending. IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE MOVIE SKIP THIS SECTION. The ending of this film is brilliant. One of my biggest complaints in the last film was the ending, it was lame. My cardinal rule for endings in movies has been, and always will be, that if there is an ending where a character is supposedly dead but then it turns out they're fine and everything is OK, is automatically an 8/10 or lower no matter how good the movie is. It's an awful "twist" and it's pisses me off to no end. However this movie did something that I really liked, it made fun of it. I was ready to give this movie a 7/10 just for the ending when suddenly it threw me a curve ball. When John fakes his own death just to scare his friends and Ted, it's honestly so awesome. Unlike the first one, this dark joke fits perfectly with the tone of the rest of the movie and is a really good way to end things in my opinion. Kudos Seth, you got me with that one.

In conclusion, I'd highly recommend this movie. It's certainly not for everyone, as most MacFarlane productions are, it's silly and childish and can be offensive at times. But overall this movie is loads of fun and I think that just about anyone can find enjoyment in this movie. Also make sure to stick around after the credits for a hilarious continuation of a previously mentioned terrific bit. I loved this movie and honestly, I can't wait for Ted 3.

Ted (2012)

Overrated but good for some quality laughs

[8/10 · 16 December 2015]

I feel often times the term overrated is used, or rather taken, too harshly. When I say that Ted is overrated, it does not mean that it's a bad movie. In fact, I really enjoyed Ted as far as a Seth MacFarlane creation.

First things first, the music in this movie is fantastic. This isn't usually something relevant in a comedy film, but it simply needs to be addressed. Nominated for an Oscar, Walter Murphy and Seth MacFarlane do an incredible job on the film's premier song, "Everybody Needs A Best Friend." Macfarlane has always been a great songwriter and it really shows in this production.

Another really strong factor in this movie is the animation with the teddy bear, Ted. Animation really can do incredible things and it's remarkable how good Ted looks in this movie. Honestly there are scenes where I actually forget that Ted isn't really there because even though the idea is obviously imaginary, the bear fits in perfectly with the rest of the scene.

The acting in this movie is what I'd call a mixed bag. MacFarlane does a great job voice acting for Ted and Mark Wahlberg does fine in his role as Ted's best friend John as well. The supporting cast is all good too; the villain in particular I really enjoyed, as well as Patrick Warburton's character and Mark Wahlberg's boss. The only performance I couldn't get behind was Mila Kunis's. For some reason, her acting has never done anything for me. I've always found her to be just sort of a pretty face. Think a female pre-Dallas Buyer's Club Matthew Mcconaughey.

The ending of this film is sort of lame. I find that MacFarlane usually struggles with writing the sentimental scenes and it's certainly prevalent in Ted. It's a sappy ending and it just doesn't really fit into the sort of Black Comedy style of this movie. Sentimental moments in Black Comedy CAN work, but only if they're done perfectly. Unfortunately for MacFarlane, this is not. But it's not that bad and kudos to MacFarlane for at least trying hard to bring a quality sad scene, because it's obvious that MacFarlane clearly gave it his all in this one at least.

But let's talk about the most important aspect of any comedy movie, the comedy. To be honest this movie made me laugh HARD. MacFarlane definitely has the ability to create funny scenarios and he shows it very much so here. But with this also comes the main problem in all of MacFarlane's writing, the cut-aways. This has always been an issue for me, sure I loved the cut-away bits in Family Guy the first 1000 times but by now the trope is simply getting old. This is interesting too because MacFarlane has shown that he can, in fact, create good comedy just from a story, which works a lot better. Just simply the fact that a Teddy Bear is a pot-smoking, cursing, Boston meat-head is already hilarious in it's own right. But yet Seth MacFarlane still insists on using this cut-away style of humor abundantly in his movies, and more often than not it just doesn't work. MacFarlane can also be a hit or miss at times. When the jokes work, they work great and are good for tons of laughs. But when they don't work, they seem to go on forever and fall really flat and that happens a few times in this film. But to Macfarlane's credit, he did a good job overall, in my opinion. There were certainly more "ha ha" moments than eye rolling moments by far.

In conclusion, not great, but I would definitely recommend. It's certainly a hilarious movie that has some really quality moments. You might enjoy some of the cameos as well. Seriously how did Seth MacFarlane and Patrick Stewart become friends? I've always found that amusing. But anyway, go see this movie, you'll be cracking up and will probably find yourself saying, "Wow I can't believe a Teddy Bear just said that."

The Good Dinosaur (2015)

Underwhelming

[6/10 · 15 December 2015]

Every great production company simply has to have a film that just isn't that great. Like all of the terrible sequels from Disney or Shrek 3 from Dreamworks. I was certain Pixar's worst would be from Cars but it seems they weren't out of the woods yet with The Good Dinosaur.

I didn't necessarily hate this film, but I also feel that I don't need to see this movie ever again. It just wasn't anything original, which I understand is hard to do with so many great ideas having already been done, but this should not be a viable excuse.

Let's start with the positive, the animation is fantastic, specifically the landscape. I have a hard time even grasping how computers and technology in general can make these worlds look real. At times, I almost forget that these worlds aren't real (Very rarely but still). The animation on the people and animals is fine too, but a little too cartoony for me. The realistic landscape combined with silly cartoony people and dinosaur is an interesting clash but it's fine for the most part.

Secondly, this movie did make me laugh. It has a lot of energy and some quality comedic timing. The main character Arlo is clearly meant to be funny and they did a good job with his character. Most of his humor is silly and slapsticky, but works well and can definitely make kids (this movie's intended audience) and I guess me laugh out loud at times.

The voice acting is a mixed bag. Arlo is fine and I loved the voice of the father T-Rex (But I'm always a sucker for those kind of voices so this could be biased). But for some reason I couldn't stand the dad dinosaur. He sounded more creepy than a loving father. More of a seducing tone in his voice, I couldn't buy into it.

But let's talk about the bad and boy there is some of it. This movie's plot is bland and completely unoriginal. The plot of a journey with a small animal like companion is one we've all seen before. The twists were all predictable and could be literally seen from a mile away. But overall there just wasn't any real suspense in this movie. I was never at the edge of my seat, wondering if they were really going to make it or not. This was fine for me I guess the first 100 times I saw it with Pixar/Disney. But it's getting old. If I see another scene where someone is supposedly dead but they come back to live, it will automatically be an 8/10 or lower, I'm just sick of it. Wouldn't so much more powerful if one of the main characters DID die in one of these movies? I think so.

I didn't care for the characters in this movie very much either. Arlo was alright as the protagonist, I didn't mind him but he wasn't anything new and he definitely won't stick with me like Woody or Russell or other timeless Pixar characters will. The family was boring, enough said. The kid was just a pet. The rancher dinosaurs were just Ranching dinosaurs nothing more. The villains were just cookie cutter bad guys that made Attila the Hun from Mulan look three-dimensional. The one character that enjoyed was the stegosaurus. This might be because he just suddenly appears and starts spouting out hilarious lines and has an interesting design. But sadly he's only in the movie for one scene, then is never heard from again.

Overall, meh. This film is fine and at the very least it's a harmless movie that kids will enjoy, but it just simply didn't do anything for me. Hopefully Finding Dory can propel Pixar back to the top real soon.

The Visit (I) (2015)

Good elements, but overall not enjoyable

[4/10 · 13 December 2015]

This movie was an interesting experience. It had elements that I really enjoyed and reminded me of a better time for Shyamalan. But overall this movie was a discombobulated mess that didn't come out, at all, like the film M. Night probably wanted.

Let's start with good. The twist is done really well. I might even argue that it's the best in any Shyamalan film to date. The reason for this isn't necessarily because the actual twist is good either, it's more so because the film tricks you. The twist, in fact, isn't really that hard to predict, but the way it's done is fantastic. The film does this by setting up several other possible twists that are all very well done. Some of these possible twists are really silly and might not seem to make any sense. However, Shyamalan's awful track record actually works to his advantage in this film. This is because while some of the possible twists are stupid and impossible, Shyamalan has done things in film in the past that are stupid and impossible. This ironically makes these false twist, all the more plausible.

Another positive factor in this movie is the character quirks. What I mean by this is the kids both have small quirks in their personalities that come into play later in the film. I really loved this element in Signs, another Shyamalan film, and I'm glad they incorporated it in this one. The quirk, as it did in Signs, also comes into play at the end, and supplies honestly one the greatest gross out moments in movie history, in my opinion.

But now let's talk about the bad. The writing, for starters, isn't organic. It just sounds too "moviesque" it's just not how real people talk. Granted it's not necessarily awful, I do like how the girl is pretentious, because it makes perfect sense for a teenage girl, film maker to act in such a way. But at the same time while it makes sense, it's still really annoying.

This movie isn't funny, plain and simple. Besides one hilarious line during a "Yahtzee" scene, this movie failed to make me laugh at all. The rapping sequences made me cringe, a trope that dates this movie to an insane extent.

Speaking of the rapping scenes, the boy is so annoying in this movie. His character is stupid as hell, which only shows to Shyamalan's complete lack of understanding to kids (As seen in After Earth, Avatar, etc). But at the same time, they try to make him "deep" by giving him some stupid back story about a football game. There's a scene in particular at the end in which he has a burst of outrageous anger, it's hilariously bad. It isn't hinted at whatsoever throughout the movie and it just comes out of nowhere.

But the worst factor of this movie, for me, is also the most important aspect of any horror movie, the scares. This movie isn't scary at all, it's almost insulting. Ninety percent of the scares are horribly telegraphed jump scares that couldn't scare any sensible person. Some of them even let you know, it almost seems on purpose, of when they're about to happen. For example, there's a scene where the grandma is running about the house. She runs in frame, then out of frame a few seconds later. Then the same thing happens again. Then again, all at the same time interval. Then suddenly, they try to scare the audience with a jump scare at the same time interval! It would be truly remarkable for any human being to be frightened by this scene, or the movie in general for that matter.

In conclusion, not worth the watch. This movie just overall wanted enjoyable and really made me hate the found footage genre even more, which I didn't think was possible. M. Night Shyamalan should probably just stop making movies altogether by now and I can't understand how this guy keeps getting work.

Insidious: Chapter 3 (2015)

Huge disappointment

[3/10 · 29 November 2015]

This movie sucked, plain and simple. I'm not sure why amazing horror director James Wan wasn't brought on for this project but it really shows in this film. Wans absence is blatantly seen as the direction for this movie is clearly poor and not in the same vision as either of the first two.

Let's look at the upside first, this movie has some decent scares. While not anywhere near the quality of the first two the film does utilize some good techniques that do work to the film's advantage. The scenes with the main villain are pretty creepy. The main villain is designed well but doesn't meet the kind of caliber of the villain in the second film. The main problem with this villain is that while the second had a character with problems and a motivation behind what it does, this one is just evil for no reason. But overall this film does have the ability to scare occasionally, and I'll give it credit for that.

Aside from that, this film is all bad. Let's start with the acting. Lin Shaye is awful in this movie. While her acting definitely took a step up in the second one, it somehow managed to take three steps back in this installment. It's just too hokey and her reactions are over the top and often don't make any sense. Dermot Mulroney is just there and Stefanie Scott is just a pretty face, nothing more. Specs and Tucker aren't funny in this film, clearly a reflection of inferior writing. Leigh Whannell, who has worked with James Wan numerous times in the past, really disappoints in this film both as its main writer and director.

The scares in this movie might be the worst part, they're laughable at times. Despite this film's aforementioned ability to scare you, it insists on just simply not doing so. Some of the attempted scares are legitimately funny, as if they meant for it to be. The scene where the main character is hit by a car is like something from a slapstick comedy. But while some of these do generate an unintentional laugh, that's not cool at all, in fact it just makes it worse.

Another HUGE problem with this film is the plot, it sucks. One giant problem is that this film had a huge opportunity to make a great plot device that they failed to utilize. This is during some of the first sequences. The main character Quinn is trying to contact her mother who has passed away. Elise tries to contact her but messes up and summons a different spirit. Instead of keeping it secret what kind of spirit is with her, they flat out say that it's an evil spirit. Wouldn't it have been so much cooler if the audience didn't know if the spirit was evil for a little while? The trailers kind of ruin that suspension of disbelief though, thanks to them audiences know exactly what to look for. I hate trailers.

The climax for this movie is also really lame. It ends with a weak twist and a connection that doesn't make any sense and is tied in with an earlier character that had maybe three lines of dialogue. It's just silly and it ruins the foundation of the movie. You really just have to see the film to understand what I'm talking about.

Overall this film is awful. It's sad to see a lot of people buying into this film. Whether or not you like it, you can't doubt the tremendous amount of flaws and hokey acting in this film. Overall for me, I don't get it, and I hope the Insidious franchise just ends here before it gets even worse.

Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013)

Best horror sequel I've ever seen

[9/10 · 29 November 2015]

This movie really exceeded my expectations as far as what sequels to horror movies are capable of. This movie tied in well with the first film, while also developing a really interesting plot of its own. With the full cast returning, Insidious: Chapter 2 works with the same qualities as the first one making it very similar to the same great experience as the first.

The great score from the first one is back, including the same title card that fans of the first will enjoy. This music builds the same great atmosphere that made the first so good. The music cues are used with impeccable timing as well.

I find the scares in this movie to also be really good, arguably as good as the first. Although many seem to disagree with me, I find this movie does a great job of building suspense and paying it off with a quality scare. Many of the scares are similar to the first so if you find the first film scary, you should find this one scary as well.

The acting in this movie, I think, is an improvement on the first one. The kid has definitely improved as an actor from the first and Lin Shaye, who didn't do much for me in the first film, really stepped up in this installment. Rose Byrne is good once again and Specs and Tucker make a much welcome reappearance. I would argue that Specs and Tuckers are even funnier in this installment but that's just my opinion. Patrick Wilson is awesome in this movie as the main character Josh. He really gives an astoundingly good performance that I think people often over look. Certainly no Jack Torrance, but still creepy nonetheless.

The plot in this movie is awesome and I would argue is even more interesting than the first. The way it all comes together in the end is awesome and it really kept me invested throughout the film what was going to happen next. Not that the first film didn't do that either because it definitely did, but I found this one a little more interesting.

The sets in this movie are great too, albeit a little cliché. The hospital scenes and the secret room scene in Parker Crane's house are both really cool.

The villain is my favorite part of the movie because I end up sort of feeling sorry for him in the end, due to the unfortunate situation he's in and the reason for his insanity. The evil mom is great too, she honestly was the scariest part of the movie by far for me. The ghosts of the brides are creepy too and they have a really scary scene in Dalton's bedroom that I really enjoyed.

But like the first one there are a few things that hold this movie back from being 10/10. The first is close to the climax, where the family is under attack. Dalton has to go to sleep to astral project to save his father from the evil mother. While the door to the basement is getting smashed by a psychopathic killer and everyone is screaming, he falls asleep almost instantly. That's just stupid, how does this kid fall asleep so fast? How does he fall asleep at all? But the worst part is that this plot device goes literally nowhere. When Dalton astral projects, he doesn't do anything. Elise is the one that helps Parker Crane's soul go free and Josh is the one to defeat the evil mother. So Dalton has no purpose in this scene, but why? This is uncharacteristically stupid in a movie that is otherwise so good. It's unfortunate because if they had just simply not included this in the movie, the movie wouldn't have suffered at all. So why would James Wan ruin what could have honestly been his Magnum Opus(in my opinion)? Who knows.

In conclusion, this movie might be better than the first. It's plot is interesting, the acting is great and it's just plain scary. If you liked the first one, go see this movie! You'll have no regrets, I guarantee it.

Insidious (I) (2010)

Terrifying and interesting

[9/10 · 29 November 2015]

Insidious is the kind of film that gives me hope for the horror genre. This film at least lets me know that there is still potential for horror movies to be well made, have original ideas, and most importantly, be scary.

One thing I enjoyed about this movie is the score. A really talented group of sound designers worked on this film and it really shows. From the bright, flashy title card, to the music cue set whenever something scary happens. This score has already become classic and several other movies have utilized this same kind of score, leading me to believe that this movie had significant influence on the horror genre.

Another thing I really enjoyed about this movie is the quality of scares. This movie really has a good idea of how to set up suspense and payoff. The demon in this film is good too, even though many make fun of his uncanny resemblance to Darth Maul. The way they present him is fantastic. Playing "tip-toe through the tulips" along with keeping him in the shadows for the majority, it's all very scary. The rest of the ghosts in this movie are cool too. This movie really isn't afraid to show you what's supposed to scare you, which I give it huge props for. Director James Wan has shown in the past that he knows how to present the scares well and it clearly shows in this flick.

The acting in this film is good. Patrick Wilson always does a pretty decent job, and he does so once again as the lead Josh. I'm always a fan of Rose Byrne and she does a great job here, showing her diversity as an actress. I really enjoyed the two nerdy guys too, Specs and Tucker. Their comic relief kind of comes out of nowhere and isn't really necessary but I enjoyed it none the less. The rest of them are O.K. Lin Shaye I find to be a little hokey at times but it's very passable. The child actor is pretty bad, but what can you really expect?

The plot of this movie might be it's best aspect however. I love the idea of the further and astral projection is something that isn't touched upon very often in films so that's really cool. The idea of going into a realm, the further, that is filled with troubled spirits is really great and offers some great tension. The last third is where I find the most problems with the film though. The scene where Josh fights the Demon in front of the red door is stupid. The fact that he can defeat this thing just because he's the one alive is just silly. If that's the case then why can the main demon kick our main hero's ass without a problem? The other thing I really didn't like also involves the main demon. It's shown throughout the whole movie that this thing is super powerful. And the further is a plain of reality where this demon can move to wherever his wants, this is demonstrated when the demon seemingly teleports behind Josh in his lair. But this demon, multiple times, let's the kid escape when he could easily catch him. The suspension of disbelief is shattered when the demon tries to grab him under his bed instead of just cornering him. Then the demon who is fast as hell is outran by a kid! It's just silly and it's the reason this movie isn't a 10/10.

In conclusion, This movie is awesome, this movie is sure to make you jump and make you turn on a few light after it's over. The scares are good, the music is brilliant, and the movie immerses you in a story you won't want to miss(and the ending is cool). Worth a watch, if you want to get scared.

Sinister 2 (2015)

Insulting to the original

[3/10 · 29 November 2015]

This film actually made me angry. As a person who has a soft spot in their heart for many movies bad or good, this movie invoked a negative emotion that I couldn't shake. When something is bad or is done in an unnecessarily over the top way, I can usually find a way to make fun of it to make the bad not seem so bad. This movie lacked even that enjoyment except for maybe a few sequences.

Firstly, this movie isn't scary. While the last movie enjoyed psychological thrills as well as some well timed jump scares with horrifying images to boot, this film lacks those kind of scares for the majority. For example, when the Deputy is looking at a crime scene photo he clearly sees the Bughuul standing in plain sight(which is completely against what the Bughuul would do in the original) and then at exactly the moment the shot zooms in, the Bughuul steps forward. These scares, which are throughout the majority of the film, don't work because you know exactly when they are going to occur, making them extremely predictable.

Another problem with the scares in this movie is that the imagery is significantly more mundane. By that I mean the images that the movie shows aren't scary or creepy whatsoever, with the exclusion of the family killing scene but I'll get to that in a bit. Many of the jump scares are just of the Bughuul, who is utilized horribly in this movie, which just simply isn't very scary because by this point you're familiar with who he is and what he looks like.

The ghost children are another huge problem with this movie. They aren't scary at all. This is especially frustrating because the first shot with them is actually done very well. Done in a bedroom where the ghost is revealed via quick-shot to a different perspective. Sadly the ghost children in this movie don't live up to the first shot or even come anywhere close to it. This is mostly because, get this, they aren't even supposed to be scary. Yeah, in this film the children are supposed to be more of a focus in that we get some story from their perspective. Honestly I do have to give some props for the movie trying this as it is a very new and risky approach. But with all risks there is a chance of either success or failure, in this case it's the latter. This doesn't work because the children in the first film were such a huge factor in the scares and overall atmosphere of the movie. They never speak, they're in the shadows, their motivations are kept in the dark for the most part, and overall they're just plain creepy. In this film, all of those factors are taken away; they talk, they look like any other kids, and they don't do anything scary. In fact they're friends with our main character. Their motivations are a big problem too. In the first film, it kind of isn't really explained why the kids kill their families. Do they do it because the Bughuul tells them to? That's what it may seem like but if that's the case, then why do they run away from him? Were they forced into it? It's all kind of ambiguous and mysterious. In this movie, the children flat out enjoy what they do. They all talk, especially Milo, like little James Bond villains, it's just silly.

The acting in this film is awful as well. You really just have to watch the movie to know what I'm talking about. James Ransone, who did a good job in a bit part in the first film, is just awful as the lead. His line reading is confused and his emotions never make any sense. The rest of the acting is hokey between the insane asshole ex husband to the insane asshole son Zach who just out of the blue decides to kill his whole family(Wtf).

But there is one thing I found enjoyable in this movie and it's the "film" scenes. Even though the build up is awful with the terrible child actors building no atmosphere and the scene set up making no sense. The family killing scenes are very well done. My favorite has to be the scene where the family is being frozen to death in the snow. This scene is brilliant because the family, while they slowly die, is looking at their big, beautiful home, that they'll never be able to return to, even though it's just a few yards away. This scene is actually probably one of my favorites in horror movie history and is one of only two reasons this movie isn't a 1/10, instead I'll bump it up a whole point for this small stroke of genius. The other point comes from the scene with the rats, which references an ancient form of torture that I've always wanted to see shown on film. Well this movie did it and bravo, it was done very well.

In conclusion, don't see this movie even if you liked the first. Or better yet just watch the scenes with the kids killing their families, those scenes are the only bright spots in a movie that I would say otherwise isn't worth viewing.

Sinister (I) (2012)

One of the best

[10/10 · 27 November 2015]

This film is a masterpiece of the horror genre. It does its job of scaring the audience and then some. It's one of my favorite movies ever and for very good reason.

The film is excellent on all regards but in my opinion the thing that it does the best is its scares. It does exactly as it should, it scares the crap out of you consistently and effectively. Some of this is due to the excellent cinematography by Chris Norr. The opening shot of the movie instantly lets you know what you're in for and it does an excellent job of setting the tone for the rest of the film. The shots in this movie are all brilliant otherwise. Most of them are shot in dark gloomy areas where the film sets a personal, as the film is shot inside of the home for the majority, yet also a very distant, isolated feel as the viewer feels in a state of suspense as to what can truly invade their home. In this case, it's a lot. While the film has the ability to take something as tired and overused as a jump scare and turn it into great horror. The key is the images that jump out at you. Very similarly to Insidious, another great movie in the horror genre, the film contains absolutely terrifying imagery, from the ghosts and ghouls to the tape scenes and so forth. Overall the film is simply terrifying and has the capability of making the viewer jump at every small bump in the night for a while after.

I absolutely can't go without mentioning the 8mm film scenes. These scenes are some of the most terrifying, awesome, well done scenes ever put into any horror movie. And what a great idea to develop a story! Yes, I know it was sort of stolen from 8mm but this movie just did it so much better. These scenes are awesome and whether or not you like this movie I'd find it hard to believe for a human being on this planet to not at least appreciate these scenes.

The main villain is good, possibly the least effective part of this movie but still done very well. This particular boogie man's design isn't particularly scary, he sort of looks like the predator got a bad haircut. But the way that he's shot and the way that the director Scott Derrickson places him throughout the movie is brilliant and can really turn him into a much more threatening villain to our main characters.

The acting in this film is fantastic, aside from maybe the daughter in some scenes but she doesn't get very many lines so it's very passable. Ethan Hawke does his usual amazing performance as formerly successful writer Ellison Oswalt who is trying to regain his fame for reasons that are left up to the viewer as either selfish or to help his family stay happy and secure(Brilliant!). Ellison throughout the film, as he starts getting the picture of how serious of a situation he's in, really struggles with himself and has that inner conflict as the horrible events he sees on the tapes and in his home unfold. The film shows this wonderfully. His reactions are all just. When he shrugs something off it isn't because he's a clichéd movie skeptic like we've seen a million times before, instead he does it for his own sanity and to protect his family which he knows he might have put in danger. Vincent D'Onofrio, who isn't credited in this movie for some reason, is good as the professor. James Ransone does a pretty good job as Deputy So and so and can even get a laugh once in awhile. Juliet Rylance also does a fine job as Ellison's wife Tracy.

The plot for this movie is so well done, with situations that are always in motion and stuff going on to keep viewers constantly interested. There is certainly no phone checking during this movie! The Climax for this movie is also great, with a jump scare that made me poop my pants and a lot of creepy imagery to boot, this movie raps up really nicely.

Christopher Young, who always does a good job no matter how bad of a movie he's in, delivers with a fantastic score that really adds to the creepy atmosphere. It adds a lot to the movie and he clearly knows when NOT to use a lot of sound, which is very important.

Overall, wow! This movie really kept me on the edge of my seat (and up until three A.M.), and really gave me hope for the horror genre at least until I saw the sequel. Nonetheless this is one of the greatest horror movies ever and I would without a doubt recommend it to anyone who wants to hear a great score, see great acting, and of course get scared.

Beauty and the Beast (1991)

Perfection (almost)

[10/10 · 27 November 2015]

This is one of the great animated feature films of all time plain and simple. To say that it is anything short of great would be an insult.

Winning two Oscars and being nominated for four others (including being nominated for best picture), this film truly broke the bounds of what animation can really do and put Disney on the map as a production company not only for kids but for all audiences.

The music is fantastic, some of the best I've ever heard. All of the songs succeed in not only being catchy and whimsical but also with developing the plot and furthering the development of both the characters and the story. The songs run through different genres of tune and pitch while still maintaining a central sound and general feel.

The characters are also some of Disney's best. Belle will always be my favorite Disney princess, she has too many good qualities to not be. Her character, despite her name being the French word for beauty, isn't focused around her looks entirely, instead focusing more so on her existential feelings of just wanting to find something greater than herself. This along with Paige O'Hara's terrific job as the voice, bringing the character to life and performing excellently in all of her musical numbers. The Beast, voiced by Robby Benson, is wonderful too in his journey that takes him to understand compassion which is done beautifully. Gaston, voiced by Opera singer Richard White, is fantastic as the movie's villain. Normally in any other Disney movie Gaston would play the part of the dashing handsome man who woos the heart of the main heroin, but this movie takes a delightful twist that may be painfully obvious to some, but to me is wonderful nonetheless. The supporting cast is great too. Legends like Jerry Orbach(Lumiere), Angela Lansbury(Mrs. Potts), and David Ogden Stiers(Cogsworth) add their talents to the film and just make it all the more grand.

The animation is also so wonderful. The town looks great, the castle looks great, the woods look great, the people, the animals and everything else just looks beautiful and still can manage to take my breath away.

Now with all of my seemingly endless praise for the film out of the way I have to address the films one flaw. The one thing holding this film back from being perfect is one thing that I absolutely can't stand. The ending.

For those that haven't seen the film please don't read the rest of this review.

The ending scene where the beast turns human just could've been done better. If the movie had ended the same way as Shrek (another great movie) and the beast would've stayed a monster, the movie would've been so much stronger. The whole movie is trying to convey a message of "beauty isn't skin deep" and all that jazz but if this is what they are trying to convey, then why does the beast have to become handsome for there to be a happy ever after? Wasn't the fact that a beautiful young woman could fall in love with a giant hairy monster the driving emphasis behind the whole freaking movie?

But in conclusion, this movie is wonderful. I would without a doubt recommend checking it out and seeing for yourself what a great piece of animation this really is.

The Babadook (2014)

Genius

[10/10 · 27 November 2015]

This movie is insane. This film managed to stick with me like few others have been able to do. Never since Sinister has my heart been beating so quickly, my mind racing and my senses heightened to even the slightest bump in the night. Needless to say, I enjoyed The Babadook very much.

For one thing, the film is heavy on atmosphere and immersing the viewer in the experience without even being completely aware of it doing so. This film is very blue, the walls of the house, the curtains, most of the furniture is all in a sort of melancholy indigo that has a habit of creating an atmosphere of sorrow and general negativity. Meanwhile other scenes appear grainy and often have a dull sort of hue that really emphasizes the overall presence of a dilemma for our main characters to face.

Another great quality of this film is it's acting, predominantly the two main characters Amelia and her son Samuel. These two both give great performances. Amelia is someone that I find more and more real as I watch her. Sure her actions in the film are at times not something normal human beings would typically do. But with the things that she goes through it can be said that there is a reasonable motivation behind her behavior. Huge props to Essie Davis for her role as Amelia. Noah Wiseman also does a great job as Samuel who is a psychopathic kid who is prone to violence and sporadic behavior . But along with his mother, Samuel's reactions are strange but certainly not unreal.

But most importantly as a horror film should be, this film is horrifyingly scary. There were several occasion where I had to cover my eyes. The movie even had one scare during the climax involving Samuel that gave me chills and my jaw actually dropped as the scene unfolded, it was that scary folks.

In conclusion, go see this movie! I can honestly without a doubt say this is one of the greatest horror movies I've ever scene. Even if horror isn't your thing, I'd still highly recommend giving The Babadook a shot. You won't regret it.

Annabelle (I) (2014)

Decent flick worth checking out

[7/10 · 26 November 2015]

The credits from the movie are still rolling as I type this, so the film is still fresh in my mind as it should be. Coming in, I saw the somewhat negative reviews and had low expectations as a result. In that respect at least, Annabelle did well in it's mission.

For starters, the movie is shot very well. Cinematographer James Kniest and director John Leonetti deserve props for some really quality shots especially in some of the opening sequences. There are some really good long shots in this movie as well, where the shot will be on something scary or intimidating and instead of cutting as any other film might do, it stays on said shot creating tension and good scares on occasion.

Secondly, the movie does contain some moments that made me shudder or almost cover my eyes, which I give the movie a ton of credit for. The main villain of the film is designed well and really gave me the creeps especially during one sequence close to the climax. You'll know the one when you get to it.

However, aside from those positives, the film does have many faults. The acting is mediocre or even just plain bad at times. During the climax, when the actors are supposed to really show their best stuff, I was very underwhelmed to say the least. The climax was lame too, with a weak resolution that doesn't make any sense and scares that couldn't live up to some of the quality scares of earlier in the film.

The movie falls into a lot of tired clichés as well, which is unfortunately something that is to be expected now in horror films. Overall the film really didn't do anything new in terms of scares, plot or even characters, you've seen it all before.

In conclusion, despite it's many faults, I would recommend it. It certainly can scare you and sometimes the movie can really get you drawn into the action. I'd say check it out but don't expect it to blow your mind.