saywardstudio Reviews

Trailer Park Boys: The Movie (2006)

A Movie Based on One of the Best Shows of All Time

[10/10 · 10 August 2009]

Trailer Park Boys is one of my favorite shows of all time, and this movie is peppered with topics covered throughout the series, such as Trinity stealing BBQ's, Bubbles and his kitties, theft under 1,000, and Ricky trying to 'get back with Lucy'.

Where do I begin? I was turned onto the show several years ago, and started watching it, episode by episode. I could instantly relate to trailer park life because years ago I lived in one, and it looked just like Sunnyvale. There is even a trailer or two in the show that reminds me of my old trailer- same windows, colors and everything- mine was a 1973 Parkwood, I believe. I have met people very similar to these guys,too.

I can say, other than Lucy having a breast job (which she does midway through the series) and Trin being played by a much younger girl (I think the original Trin was grown up by the time the movie was out), the movie is very faithful to the series.

Ricky, Julian, and Bubs start off the movie trying to rob a bank machine. Bubs mentions it's going pretty smooth (they had already gotten the machine open and the dye bomb disabled) when Ricky's Shitmobile goes into reverse and goes into a store behind them. They drop everything and run to the car, but Ricky insists on taking a few smokes, which tally into hundreds of cartons. (I'm not going to just leave them there!) They end up in a high speed chase, Bubbles escapes, Ricky does some fast talking, Julian flubs up and they both land in the pokey, where Julian spends his time making potato vodka and Ricky winning at makeshift hockey.

They are released from jail, much to Ricky's disappointment, early. Ricky was determined to win the upcoming hockey tournament. Then they come up with all sorts of hair brained schemes, mostly trying to keep it 'theft under $1,000.00', for as Julian says, 'You can't go to jail for that.'

All the while, Ricky is trying to get back with the love of his life, Lucy, also the mother of Trinity. Ricky is the most mouthy and rude of the characters, yet he is very endearing to me in ways that the other characters do not, because he has a deep unshakable love for his family. He's always trying, regardless of how crazy it is. I suppose as a product of a broken home where my parents didn't even try, and even though he is a fictional character, I have to respect him for that.

My favorite character has always been Bubbles. Bespectacled and loving his cats, he has the most sense of them all. I like the fact he has little in life, he knows this, and accepts it, and is truly okay with it. Smart, smart fellow. Talented musically also.

Cory and Trevor thankfully were in this one, they left the show and it's definitely different without them. I won't spill too many beans, but it is a great movie, definitely worth a watch.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

One of the Best Horror Movies of All Time

[10/10 · 8 August 2009]

Where do I begin with this gem? I think it's truly scary because it has the possibility to be real, unlike, say, supernatural happenings. The movie starts out with the characters, my favorite being Franklin. I love his accent. This movie was filmed in Texas, and growing up in San Antonio and visiting everywhere around the state, I am in Texas when I see this movie. I have seen farmhouses and weeds and flowers just like the ones in the movie- I have even heard the same drone of summer insects- you can practically feel the heat!-- so I can say it is authentic. :) There is a wonderful view inside an old abandoned farmhouse when the kids first stop. It appears to be a real abandoned house, not a prop. One of the girls mentions she stayed there when she was 8 years old, and talks about her fascination with the zebras on the wallpaper, which is now a dirty grey and peeling off. Franklin mentions in the van his family working in the slaughterhouse, while the girls take a more vegetarian attitude. It's what makes this movie all the more entertaining. All the characters are believable, and likable, except for the bad ones, of course. After they pick up that really weird hitch hiker dude things get weirder and weirder, and they get killed off one by one in very horrible fashion. It's hard to watch, the actors and actresses were flawless. The film is very dated, but this is only because of the clothes and vehicles. Thirty years on, it's now deliciously retro, and has become the stuff of legend. It's just one of those movies that everyone has seen, or at the very least heard about. I have seen all of the sequels and the new remake, and this one is still my favorite. It is the original idea, in all it's boldness. So bold it was banned in several countries for being too graphic. It is very graphic, disturbing, which is why it's such a great movie. Defineately recommended.

Slacker (1990)

Unusual and worth a watch!

[8/10 · 8 August 2009]

This is another strange movie worth a watch. I also watched this on YouTube movies. The title has nothing to do with the movie, as far as I could tell. I was imagining an unemployed man sitting around getting into trouble with his landlord, etc.. but it was quite the opposite, it's almost a look into human relationships and everyday life. There is no actual plot, as I realized about halfway though the film. When a movie first starts out, you meet the characters and the plot starts being revealed. Not so with this movie, because the 'characters' are all different and the plots are constantly changing, with most scenes 'chaining' together- the camera leaves the old character and starts following a new character in the same scene. About 30 different characters are all introduced, each with something different to say, what's going on in their lives, and their views of the world, like everyday people. They tend to be the weirder ones, however, like the artist with the 28 day menstrual cycle cups ("red ones are for you know what and the pink ones are for water retention" ) and the character that took the biscuit in my opinion was the woman that had a sample of Madonna's pap smear, and is trying to sell it on the street (complete with a BLACK pubic hair.) I loved this movie because of these very things- complete weirdness. If you think about it, if we were to see people and follow them for a few minutes in their day to day lives, much like this movie, it would be weird, too. It's sort of like some strange documentary. Different and recommended.

Fast Sofa (2001)

Definitely worth a watch

[7/10 · 8 August 2009]

If you're looking for a different movie, this is definitely one to look into. I watched this one on YouTube movies, so you can watch it there if they still have it. The characters are bizarre, the plot is bizarre, and it ends pretty bizarre. There was more than one "What the..?" moment throughout. There is plenty of gratuitous sexuality and drug use as well as some genuinely funny moments. This movie made me laugh out loud more than once, which I thought was unique because it was not listed as a comedy and was funnier than some movies that claim that title. There seemed to be a good level of character development, and even though Rick seems like a drug head porn addict, he is clearly compassionate with his newfound friend, who is passionate about birds (as his father has built a bird store, and now new owners have it), and regrets accidentally killing a bird as a child, and he never quite got over it. The little showdown in the bird store brought the characters around full circle, as Rick sides with his friend about the mistreatment of a hawk. The ending is sad and in a way ambiguous. Rick and his friend are thrown from the car in an accident, and the full closing of one body bag means he didn't make it. Rick's bag however remains open, with a quick shot at the end of the zipper being pulled up, but it's so quick I wasn't sure if he had lived or died. It made me feel weird, much like an unresolved problem in life that I can't fathom out, I can't change. The movie is over, there is no more. I quickly recapped and remembered how many emotions are tied up in this film. It is weird, funny, tragic, erotic, sad. It was over too quick. Then I sat back, thought about it for another second and thought, "That WAS a GOOD movie."

The Grudge 2 (2006)

Maybe I just didn't get it...or something

[4/10 · 3 September 2007]

Maybe I didn't get this movie for some odd reason or another. I hate to admit that, because this one would not be hard to understand, or so it would seem. But this storyline was so jangled and mixed up,I could barely follow it. I have watched a few movies that have characters that look similar to one another (same build, hair color, hair length, etc etc) and this can cause problems. While they are individuals, their physical similarities can make the story hard to follow. For instance, the sister of Karen looked a bit like the wife that hit her husband in the head with the frying pan (which was a highlight for me because when he was berating her I was thinking 'Boy, you should smack the **** out of him with that frying pan!' -- and she did! That almost never happens! For me that was the best scene in the movie, and about the only one that made any real sense. Unfortunately, it's also in the first 5 minutes or so, too. After this the story lines get so broken up and there are so many characters, character development (which is so important for the understanding of a movie) is absent here.It is almost impossible to follow the broken segments because none of them are related, or so it seems, and they jump from one to the next. I tried following them but it was hard. In a way a movie shouldn't make you think this hard to keep up with the storyline. There is nothing wrong with a movie making you think, that's pretty good actually, but just to follow the plot line isn't too good. The only time I was actually scared was when my cat jumped up on the bed at the same time that little blue guy popped up somewhere and they played that screeching music. That was about it.

Freaks (1932)

Every person should watch this movie

[10/10 · 12 August 2007]

This is a true classic, in every way. There has not been another movie made quite like it. The cast is real, no special effects here. All the deformities are real, and in many ways, beautiful. These people, born with afflictions they cannot help, make the most of it, absolutely commandeering life and leading as normal lives as they can. That is beautiful to me. If you don't have arms and hands, use your legs and feet! Are you a woman with manly facial hair? Accept it and LIVE! I suppose the circus life would be the natural choice for many of these people, even though the whole concept of the show is for them to be jeered at or made fun of; this I feel is wrong and exploitive. But, without these 'freakshows' a lot of these people would have had worse lives, I'm sure,so it is one of those things where the feelings are half and half. I am particularly fond of the 'pinheads' the microcephiles, Schlitze being my favorite. He along with the two girls (sometimes referred to as Zip and Pip, or Pip and Flip)... are the absolute definition of meek; full of laughter, joy. Their faces are more beautiful than what 'normal' people call beauty, and even though they are considered 'retarded', they have volumes to teach us about humility, often without saying a thing.

It is neither horror or grotesque. I have researched this movie because it is so interesting to me; unfortunately, since it is so old and was taken out of circulation for years and has in recent years resurfaced, it is hard to find anything out about it. It has been noted that people were sickened to the point of literally getting sick, running away from the threatres, and even a miscarriage from watching these 'freaks'. (I do not like to use such terminology, but I will here because it is the title of the picture.) This is a bit over the top, isn't it? I saw nothing that was that sickening. Bizarre, yes, but nothing disgusting. We are all taught (hopefully) not to tease these types of people;yet this movie seems to bring out the worst in some people. And they call these actors retarded? Every human being should see this movie. It is a classic that will not be repeated, and it is a good storyline also. Excellent.

Lust for Life (1956)

A movie for ANY Van Gogh enthusiast!

[10/10 · 17 July 2007]

This movie is truly a treasure; any art lover should see it. The filmmakers painstakingly re-create interiors and scenes to make the picture come alive. I truly believe I'm a spectator in his life. The film does a good job of encompassing his entire artistic career, starting from his earliest days. They use actual dialog from his letters, and the close up shots of the artwork is really his. It is hard to say what was truly wrong with him, mentally or physically. There could be a number of conditions that we know more about now than we did back then. I think humanity had a stifling order of things, a 'code' of sorts in which everybody lived, and there was very little or no room for outbursts of any kind, even if you couldn't help it, which I believe was the case with Van Gogh. From his letters (and of course, paintings!) you can see he is a very intelligent person; he realizes things are getting rocky-he himself admits he has a problem. But he doesn't know what to do about it- and doctors at the time are hard pressed to help him, either. I also think the frustration of not having money, sometimes to cover the basics, relying on his brother for just about everything, not selling any paintings, not having his 'studio of the south' artist colony, and on top of all that, the lack of true love, led to depressions that, when you look at it, would be monumental things to try and overcome. Tensions with family didn't help, either. So all of this coupled with a possible physical problem, for example, seizures, something he actually has no control of, and that people really didn't understand, could give the illusion of instability. However I believe he was a person that was honestly trying to do the right thing, and living to the fullest all the time through his art. This movie captures all of these things I am trying to explain. All of the characters and scenes are beautifully acted; something I find interesting is that it was filmed in some locations where he lived and visited, also at a time really not so long after his death. It's been a while NOW but when the movie was filmed he had only been deceased approximately 60 years, give or take a couple of years. A real gem. Very inspiring. One of my all time favorite movies about my all time favorite artist. :)

The Astronaut Farmer (2006)

an interesting movie...sort of

[5/10 · 21 April 2007]

I'm going to have to vote 5 stars, the middle of the road on this one. It wasn't that good, but it wasn't that bad, either. I understood the man's desire to follow his dream, but found it irritating how crazily he pursued it, to the point of arguing with his family, and almost losing their property. I mean, I have dreams,too, we all do, but the more unrealistic ones just simply have to go on the back burner. I mean, that's reality. Of course, this IS a movie, and it was a refreshing twist that this man gets to do what he wanted. I must say when he crashes the rocket the first time I thought it was going to be a dream sequence, but it wasn't, so that nixed the predictablity factor- I liked that. I was wondering if that was going to be the end, but then he builds it again and goes into space. I thought it was a bit weird how easily and conveniently he was able to come back home and they just drive to come get him. I thought that was a bit far fetched.... what if he had landed farther away, like in another country? LOL! I could go on and on, anyone with any knowledge of astronomy and how things work will tell you this is far fetched to say the least, but again it's a 'tale'. Also, before I go, the movie seemed WAY longer than it's posted run time. It's okay. Nothing wrong with following your dreams. :)

Tron (1982)

Good to the last byte!

[10/10 · 31 December 2006]

I had never seen this movie but had heard about it through the years, firstly with the reference to it on the Simpsons (which I must say was somewhat similar but I didn't see anything that mimicked it too closely) and secondly, there was this guy on Jimmy Kimmel Live! that was apparently obsessed with Tron as he made several guest appearances dressed as 'Tron'. So that in itself sparked an interest. But, all that said, it was one of those things that had went on the back burner. Anyway, watching it I was quite surprised at how good it really turned out to be. It seems somewhat dated, but not really. I think the characters in ' the real world' give the time frame away more than any of the technological effects.(The girls big glasses, etc.) BUt the cars were super cool, and I really liked the way the suits lit up...that seemed almost flawless...I am really curious about how they did that... was it some sort of gel or paint or lights in the suits, or what? That was awesome. Definitely worth a watch, and I think that they should bring it back at least once in theatres, maybe as a special release if they haven't already. :)

Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006)

Advertising at it's best....or worst

[6/10 · 6 December 2006]

While I watched this movie and found it somewhat endearing (Ricky's mother helping him out, the Dad coming back into his life, Grandma straightening out the kids,etc...) I found the movie grating at the same time. The product placements throughout the movie seemed a bit overwhelming. It's weird, if you think about it, we don't cover up our soda bottles and pizza boxes and stuff at home, and the scenes where some of the worst 'advertising' was done was at home, so that made it seem real, but the constant referring to almost every brand, and, later in the movie,Applebees (complete with in race commercial.) It was just weird. That was, I think, my personal biggest gripe. LOL!

I think the way the kids were at the beginning was absolutely atrocious...but they turn around in the end. What raked my nerves was that Ricky was so involved in his fantasy land he was forgetting what was important.... all he cared about was winning and being #1. That was grating, too. I, too, found myself hoping he would lose a race-- and then everything sort of gets ruined for him. The ending was nothing like I had imagined, I figured, once he was down he would come back with the proverbial win at the end- not so, and I found that refreshing. I wasn't expecting him to kiss the French guy, either.

My review is starting to be like the movie...jumping from one subject to another... but, in a nutshell, obnoxious as it may be, it's alright. Go check it out.

Napoleon Dynamite (2004)

I love this movie! A true classic!

[10/10 · 30 December 2005]

This movie was recommended to me by a friend,and I was hesitant to rent it, because it seemed so stupid. I had seen a commercial on the telly about it but I was coming out of the kitchen with some hot food so I was more or less listening to it rather than seeing it, but I saw at the very end of the commercial this goofy looking guy in a brown suit and thought, what the ??!?? Anyway, we rented it and I was intrigued by the opening music and credits, very arty! Then the whole story, which is sort of a mix of tiny plots, unravels before our eyes. It's a very lighthearted, funny, goofy movie, basically about a nerdy guy and his friends at school, how they help Pedro win the class presidency, getting the girl, Then there's Uncle Rico, Kip and Grandma. Oh, and Tina the llama. ("Tina! Come get some ham!"....classic!) All of this is brilliantly put together and it is very easy to follow. I was amazed to learn this was more of a student film rather than a big Hollywood production because I have seen' bigger ticket' films that were the pits. This one is a true classic, pure and simple. It is almost timeless, because even though set in modern times it has serious retro appeal. I have been in houses that look just like Napoleons, and I have known people just like the characters, so it was extra easy for me to relate to them. I think everyone has known someone like them, or has someone like them in their family. I like this movie because it was not vulgar in any way, whereas a lot of films these days rely on sexually directed humor, this one was funny because of the characters. Napoleon is a hoot- he's just there, and he doesn't care if anyone likes him or not. He's not trying to fit in or be cool, he's just himself. So are his other friends. I love it when they are moving the chickens- and he asks if the chickens have large talons. That is hilarious, coming from someone into Pegasus warrior mythical creatures. Then they show him putting two flapping chickens in the pens. That is funny!! Personally I think it shouldn't have a sequel, it could ruin what is great because sequels have to be better than the first one and I just don't know if you can top this! Napoleon is just a good kid trying to make his way through life. This movie takes a hilarious peek into a segment of it. Highly recommended!

The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005)

a frightening tale, spoilers deluxe!

[7/10 · 30 December 2005]

I watched this movie late last night and it had me cowering under my 'scary movie blanket'. Yes, I have a scary movie blanket(SMB), one that is big enough to cover me while I'm completely stretched out and I am able to pull up over my head. This one had me pulling it up just under my eyes several times. The whole plot is great, basically a young woman that is overtaken by a demon, and the way this is portrayed is wonderfully scary. The bedsheets being pulled away from her while she is in bed made me clutch my SMB tighter! ;) The way this girls face contorted when she would scream, was that her real face or did they enhance it? I'm not asking in a 'smart' way, I am truly serious. It was very convincing. The scariest part of the movie, for me, and even my husband found it a bit heavy, was when she started seeing things; ie the storm cloud that looked like the devil or , what has to be the freakiest thing I believe I have ever seen in my life was when everybody she saw made a face with black stuff coming out of the eyes and mouth and made that horrendous noise! The scene that really sticks in my head is when she is in class and she sees this shadow or whatever pass the window and it freaks her out, she looks over and this guy is looking at her all weird because she is shaking and shrieking, and then she looks back over to the window and then looks back at the guy and his eyes are oozing that black stuff and is making that noise. That was the freakiest thing ever because it was totally unexpected! And everyone she sees, even people in cars, on the sidewalk or in church looks the same way. FREAKY!!! I must say that was brilliant, and I was thinking this would be sheer pure hell if this was to happen to anyone. I mean, could you imagine? The film dies down considerably after that, as there are some scary things happen after all this but to me it didn't have the punch as the scenes I've just described. I recommend it,I hope I didn't ruin it for you!

House of Wax (2005)

a surprisingly good film

[9/10 · 13 December 2005]

This was not a film that I had aspired to see, but saw it while browsing at the local video store. I thought what the hey and gave it a try. I was pleasantly surprised. Paris Hilton was pretty good,even though I thought hmm, how could this be good? They didn't over expose her although I thought the little strip tease thing, without leading to anything, was a bit un needed.It added nothing to the drama, really.

Anyway, the film moves rather quickly, and I found, other than the strip tease, everything fit into place perfectly. I wasn't expecting the little twists and turns, which there were many. Some of the things I thought were going to develop into a predictable plot line did not.

The creepy guy at the beginning that picks up the roadkill, I thought he was going to end up being a bigger, more sinister character, yet he fades into the background until the end of the film when everything is figured out. (He also leaves it open to a sequel.)

The whole town being wax? Sh!t!! I wasn't expecting THAT!! I mean, I did not even snap to the funeral, everyone being wax! The preacher was looking annoyed,WAX!! The old woman opening and closing the curtain, giving hope that there was possibly SOMEONE real in the town, WAX!! I just would have never thought that! It's rare anymore that films are so twisty and unpredictable.

Also, there was a fair amount for gore, super glueing lips shut(and pulling them apart!!) and cutting off a fingertip! That was super gross! The trifecta was the pole through Paris' head. That was great and she seemed to play being scared to death very real.

This is a great film, definitely worth a watch.

Oviri (1986)

a good art film

[8/10 · 13 October 2005]

I was searching for this movie on here under the title that I know it, Wolf at the Door. Quite frankly I have never heard of this other title, but it is the same movie.

This is a really neat film that I saw years ago and had not been able to see it for years due to the fact it is not available in most rental places, so I bought a copy on Ebay.(It was hard to find there, too.) Anyway, the movie is about the artist Gauguin, after having lived with Van Gogh. It is basically a look into a brief period in his life where he really wants to get back to Tahiti. There is art featured in the film, and the set is true to the life and times of the period. A great film.

Donald Sutherland really was born to play the role. It is interesting to see him then and now, 20 years later, on that new show on TV, and his son on 24. They look very much alike. Also, Donalds' voice is veeeery distinct. There is probably more to say but I don't have time right now. If you can see it, please do.

White Noise (I) (2005)

hmmmm

[1/10 · 23 September 2005]

This movie was confusing and the ending was more weird than anything. I just didn't care for this. Maybe I'm missing something somewhere, but it just seemed that after he found out how to do it his wife kept coming on saying Go! Go now!! It was bordering on corny. They also heavily relied on very low decibal dialog during most of the film(so low that I had to keep the remote handy and have the TV turned almost all the way up just to hear anything) and then they would throw in a super loud scream or noise or something. It wasn't scary, just jarring at times because of the noise. Keaton seemed almost wooden in his role, I had a hard time watching him...he seemed to be an ass most of the time. I guess the only thing I truly enjoyed about the film was that he finally got to be with his beloved wife after he died.(What would make you go into a dark tunnel making all kinds of noise and with no flashlight??!!??)

Carrie (1976)

my favorite horror movie of all time-definitely contains spoilers!!!

[10/10 · 19 September 2005]

I first saw this when I was about 10.... I never saw anything coming, everything was very scary and surprising. The film starts off the bat with the whole concept of the film, teenagers and their interactions with each other, especially with Carrie White. I feel that Sissy Spacek was THE actress for this job, I don't think anyone could have pulled it off quite as good as she could have. She is a grown woman, and yet she totally looks like a young girl. I love her country-ish accent, and her looks in general fit the part. How can I put this? WHen she wanted to look angelic, she could with very little effort, but when she wanted to look scary, she could do that, too! It's magic!

Honestly, I think the whole cast was perfect, and this is probably why this movie is probably my favorite , all generas combined. The girls were truly vile towards Carrie, and it felt real.

The mother played by Piper Laurie was brilliant, too. WHile she was mean to Carrie, it seemed she was more over the top with her than actually beating her up or anything. (Like dragging her into the closet, throwing her drink into her face when they are at the dinner table.) She is just so wrapped up in her religion(which by the way she has it all out of proportion!) that she forgets everything else, I think. Of course, Carrie getting her period was the ultimate sin (to her) and everything gets weirder from there.

WHat an ingenious mind for Stephen King to come up with this tale. A group of kids throwing pig blood on a girl they hate (wrongfully)at the prom? They had it all worked out, and thought they were so brilliant. Carrie sets them straight, though. Maybe that's why I love this movie so much is that the person you feel the most for actually gets back at her attackers in the most heinous ways, in ways in which they deserve. (Example..the little kid saying "Creepy Carrie! Creepy Carrie!" gets knocked over on his bike for his offense,which wasn't nice, but wasn't really a big deal. The pig blood thing was a much bigger deal, thus payback was MUCH worse.)

After everything is said and done, Carrie goes home and realizes, perhaps, her mother is right about everything after all, and after she bathes, she is with her mother, saying, "Momma, hold me," and she does, and then her mom stabs her, literally in the back! This was one of the weirdest parts of the movie to me, because I think after the prom thing Carrie would have been more apt to go along with her mother's views, no matter how wayward. I guess her mom was just around the twist by this time, though. I find it eerily ironic that she dies in the same pose as her psudeo-savior statuette in her 'prayer closet'.

The end was one last little freaky thing, when the hand comes out of the rocks. Of course, I was 10 the first time seeing this, it was dark and I was already scared out of my wits from the previous scenes. Of course, MY mother jumps out at me when the hand comes up, when that scary music is going, and I fall off the end of the couch! It was the greatest!

This is one of THE classic stories and movies of all time,psychological,thrilling, suspenseful,everything! Highly recommended!

GhostWatcher (2002)

worth a watch

[6/10 · 15 September 2005]

My daughter saw this movie in Blockbuster and wanted to see it. I was hesitant, it being rated R, but upon watching the film there is no sexual content, just a few foul words.

Anyway, the story develops rather quickly, and keeps you pretty wrapped up. It seemed longer than what it was, but in a good way.

I have read some comments about this movie, and it seems it's right down the middle. SOme people loved or hated it. Yes, it seemed low budget, sometimes the acting seemed heavily put on, but the character Laura seemed very genuine. I could totally feel her agony about not wanting to leave the apartment.(I would have been making tracks if I experienced what she did INSIDE the apartment.) I mean, how could the outside world POSSIBLY be worse than an evil ghost RESIDING with you?

ALl in all, I would say this film does the trick, because there are some genuinely creepy features. Laura's bathroom items being moved from one side of the cabinet to the other, while not scary altogether, if you were the only person living in a place and that happened to you, wouldn't it freak you out? LOL!! The picture on the computer of the other girl (the one that always brought stuff to Laura) before the ice pick or whatever went through her hand....that was FREAKY!!! The ghost hunter when she was washing off her Halloween make up and it's all running down her face was pretty creepy looking in itself, and that's not even supposed to be scary!

ANyway, it's creepy and definitely great for beginning directors/actors. Keep up the good work!

The Meaning of Life (1983)

wow, what a flick!!!

[10/10 · 9 March 2005]

I can't say I have ever seen a movie quite like this one. And I mean it!! This movie is beyond in your face. My husband had seen it but it was a long time ago, and I hadn't seen it yet, so I asked him if our daughter (she's 10) could watch it. "Are there any sex scenes or boobs or anything like that?" "I'm not sure, I think so." So anyway, we settle down to watch the movie. She watches with interest about the accountants at the beginning of the movie, but then goes to her room to study. Boy, not a moment too soon, either. Before long, there is a birth scene, which, is not too bad in itself, but then there is the chanting -no-ode, if you will--"Every Sperm is Sacred!" and then the actual talk of vaginal fluids(that is actually what they say!!!) and a demonstration(not full-from the shoulders up with complete commentary) of the sexual act. I guess what I am trying to say is,it didn't seem offensive, somehow, and even porn pales in comparison to this, again, somehow. I guess the actual talking about it was so direct it overshadows actually seeing someone do it!! The guy in the restaurant was beyond gross, I could have went a lifetime without seeing that one! ;) The Death scene was also pretty awesome, too, with a twist! I would have never seen that coming.Everyone at the dinner party dies from eating a tainted fish dish. Even the person that didn't eat it died!! It was just very humorous! ANd the guy dying from falling from a cliff when all those naked chicks were chasing him? (They even show them in slow motion!!!)Now THAT'S the way to die!!! It had a LOT of laughs and is good all the way around. However, not a show to watch around the kids. Very entertaining, highly recommended.

Driven (2001)

this was an OK flick...I suppose

[6/10 · 9 March 2005]

My husband and I like racing, so we thought this was a good choice. It is and isn't a good movie for reasons I will elaborate on later. I must say some of the things that happened were a bit over the top- ie; the coin pickup thing during trials, the wreck that goes into the woods...just how far did this car fly, anyway?..the race between the two guys in the new racing models...(although I must say while unrealistic, it WAS action packed.) and I think above all, the humming! What an element of cheese this was! The good news is that they really didn't play into what again the 'classic' movie would have you played into....the guy gets the girl...he thought he had her but in the end she goes back with her husband. I thought he was going to die(Bly) trying to save that guy trapped under the car in the water... but they all got out OK.. because they have you liking this guy (Bly) throughout the film, and I really thought they were going to have him die off in a crash or something. But he ends up championing the last big race and becomes Champion, which is cool because you like the guy and you're happy to see him win in the end. I really like the way he plays a confused young man...I thought he got too steamed too quick about the girl...although I guess she WAS leading him on...or something. Stallone and Reynolds, I guess because they have been in so many movies, and, with all due respect, they are true relics, they make a movie seem almost unwatchable, because they ARE Stallone and Reynolds. I mean, they could have produced it but let some new person who needs the break star in it! That would have given it a shot of reality that it needed. I would say it is an okay movie. Action packed, not graphic, good racing footage.

She's So Lovely (1997)

don't know what to think

[3/10 · 11 February 2005]

I saw this one on TV on a weekend, when I was cleaning house and had the tube on, and it started, and I watched a few minutes of it, and I thought, OK, I want to see what happens to this wretch of a girl. I think she played the part brilliantly. Eddie really loves his girl. The thought that him and this girl are going to procreate...>shudder< but the little girl turns out really cute, sweet and unbelievably normal in the end...more on this later... I liked the way they went up to the restaurant when it was pouring down rain and just asked for food... that was pretty cool...seemed old fashioned. I also thought the way Eddie was getting edgier and edgier as the film went on and finally broke was played well, and the fact that he had no clue he was gone so long...he seemed like he really didn't have ONE CLUE about what was going on. Then comes the day when he gets let out and here is where the film actually struck a raw nerve with me. He gets out. The girl has been married to this other guy for like 10 years, and Eddie comes back, and she's like, OK this is your Daddy, THIS guy we've been living with all your life is NOT your dad...he's your two sister's dad, but NOT yours. And this poor little girl has to absorb all of this AND meet the guy and he has to tell her and it gets all emotionally draining way too much way too fast. (There goes the normal life!!!) And then the mom LEAVES WITH EDDIE!!!! WTF???? SHe has been married to this guy for 10 years, has cleaned up her life and was living in a wonderful house and had a wonderful life, and then she leaves(leaving her husband of 10 years and her kids behind!!)and goes with this bonehead. In a way, it was beautiful that,I guess, her love for him never died. But it came across as shrill and like she just 'used' him all those years until her 'true' love came along. I guess she never knew the meaning of 'moving on' or 'getting over him'. Maybe this film is just too 'real' for me because I personally have dealt with this same thing.(I was the little girl in a similar, but not quite the same situation) Not to such an extreme degree, and it just grated my nerves. It was weird, different, and unforgettable, but I wish I could!

S.O.S. Titanic (1979 TV Movie)

pretty good flick

[7/10 · 11 February 2005]

I have not seen the new 1997? version of the Titanic. Yes, I live somewhere deep in a cave under the ocean on a faraway planet. Anyway, I saw this one at the local library and thought, what the hey. (My daughter is enthralled with the Titanic, and she has seen the new one.... she lives on Earth, by the way! ;)) anyway, I thought we could watch it together.

This movie is good for several reasons. Not blockbuster good, but good. There are very few, if any, 'special effects', which is something I find really cool. You get the effect of the ship actually sinking and all this water rushing around and everything without any 'digital' enhancement, to my knowledge.(Ex, today, the water very well be computer generated.) Special tiltings of the camera and general good acting made it seem real.(Although the guy that was falling in love with the girl--the older, blonde guy...not the young Irish guy, who was also in love, but with a totally different girl..) seemed a bit sleepy or dazed or something throughout the whole thing. When he is on the lifeboat and there are people floating in the water, he's like, "come on." barely putting his arm over the side of the boat, and he could have been smoking a pipe and in his pajamas for all anyone would know, not "Come on!!!COME ON!!!" All wild eyed and loud as I would picture myself to be in that situation, not to mention trying as hard as I could to get as many people in the boat with me as I could. I chalked it up to he was dazed, confused, scared, and possibly tired.

I also found it refreshing that he and his 'girlfriend' meet and are talking earlier in the night, and they sort of 'break up' even though they weren't officially 'together', and I thought for sure they would be showcased in the lifeboat scene, "Ill save you, honey!!!" or whatever, but it didn't happen. I also thought one of them would die, but they're on the Carpathia(I love the sound of that name...have no idea what it means, it just sounds cool) "Well, that was scary, blah blah blah...) They totally leave you hanging! Are they going to go out again? Did they get married? After that, did they talk again? So, the movie makers didn't do two 'classic' movie moves in them saving each other or getting torn apart in death.

Also, it was fairly historically accurate from what I have read about the music being played right up to the end. Personally, who the heck is going to be actually listening to music running around trying to survive??

The ship going down was really cool the way they did it. It sounded eerie, too.

We are rolling up on the 100th anniversary of the ship going down in a few years. It is a never ending reminder to me that man is not always as smart as he seems, we can never tame nature, anything can happen at any time, and that segregating people by class is stupid and wrong. High society and finery will get you nowhere on a sinking ship.

Moulin Rouge! (2001)

unusual flick, that's for sure

[7/10 · 9 February 2005]

I just saw Moulin Rouge for the first time...yes, I am a bit slow getting around to watch the films. Anyway, this one was hard to categorized for me. I liked it but at the same time I didn't. The costumes and colors are very awesome. The plot seems to run a bit fast and if you don't pay close attention you will miss something, although the actual plot is not that hard to follow(Duke wants girl, girl wants penniless artist/writer,Duke gets insanely jealous but doesn't win in the end.)

I had seen some ads for it years ago when it first opened up, but as I said before never got around to seeing it. I thought, well, Toulouse Lautrec frequented Montmartre' and the Moulin Rouge, but surely they won't be so brazen as to put him in a fictional love story, conveniently titled M. R..... but there he is! Of course I have no idea if he was that 'hyper'?is that the word I'm looking for? or what in real life (I wasn't there! ;) ) but they portrayed him as being very annoying. First time I can honestly say Toulouse Lautrec has gotten on my nerves.

I really thought it was clever the way Sutine was thinking the guy was not actually wanting to read poetry to her, but to make love to her, and she was getting all raunchy. That was slightly erotic and hilarious at the same time. The guys peeking around the corner was a bit...cheesy at best.

Also, I liked the elephant. I'd have that, and live in it if I could.

I guess this is what they call a musical, and I don't particularly care for musicals, I know it's just a show and they ARE entertaining, but it just seems, again, cheesy and almost incomprehensible when everyone knows the lines and can all sing in perfect key and they all just met. Another thing that drove me around the twist was splices of todays music in something that was set in 1899...what the..?? >opinionated!!!!< ;)

I would say, if you have a couple hours to spend, go for it. Not a must see for me, but if you like bright colors, costumes and makeup, this is good. That's about all the enjoyment it was for me, and the over riding theme of Nothing matters but love, I'm a big IL' softy when it comes to that. :p So those parts were good.

The Amityville Horror (1979)

interesting flick, not quite what I was expecting, though...

[31 January 2005]

While searching on the web yesterday I ran across a link for Amityville, and of course it made me think of the Amityville horror story, which I had seen one of the sequels for, but not the original. So, off to the video store I go after reading about it. Ghost pig in the window, bleeding walls, demonic voices, etc..etc... sounds scary enough. And, of course, I suppose if these things happened in real life it would be to the insane asylum I go,but these scenes were no more than a flash, at best.(Esp. the pig...in fact, it happened so fast, had I not read about it before watching I would have missed it completely!I also never actually saw a pig, just some glowey eyes...I have the tape for another week, maybe I'll watch it again to see if I see it.) And also, it seemed I had seen this movie before, but it wasn't the same. I was about 11 or 12 at the time, but I remember the kids being much older and they were living in the creepy eye windowed part of the house, and didn't the brother start messing with his sister or cousin or something? Or am I thinking of another movie altogether? Or am I somehow splicing a movie with Amityville? It was so long ago, but I remember the real estate woman and the dog Harry(he looks pretty scary when he barks!) and I remember the Dad saving Harry and I remember the Nun but I don't remember anything else about it. I swear I remember some older, teenage kids. Was that a sequel??? Bottom line, it was long, interesting for sure, spooky, but not what I would call 'horror', and some of the parts were just boring..the spooky parts were spooky for sure, but it wasn't what I had expected. Sometime I will read the book. It's almost always true that movies never live up to the book. Oh, and, why, oh why would they tease with side shots only of Kidder's breasts? I mean, goodness, let's have a look, they're halfway out! Not to sound perverted or anything but they show half and just move on to another scene just when you're taking a closer look. >sigh< If you don't have a lot to do, check it out, it's alright.

Nosferatu (1922)

a very unique film, to say the least

[7 December 2004]

This is a great movie, and has become one of my faves. I will have to say that this film, IN CONTRAST with today's graphic horror movies, is visually 'tame', but if you can put this behind you and actually picture this thing (Nosferatu)after YOU, it changes it a bit. It is scary without actually being too graphic. Also, you have to remember this is one of the first motion pictures,so just right there it's great.( The ship scene,ACTUALLY ON A BOAT!! Nosferatu disappearing,polyps with claws, etc.)Even though it is a silent film, it's still great, and not as bothersome to read everything as you would think. The decor, the clothes, everything is awesome. Personally. and it's not a slam on Max Schrek, but he's pretty ghoulish even without makeup, so they chose THE right person for the role. That guy is thin and TALL!!! I like the way they made him seem scary, unlike, as David Carradine said on the version that I have, the 'suave, sexy Dracula.' It can make a story line a bit hard to follow when there is some sort of attempt at sex appeal going on. Although I can safely say I have never had a thing for IL Drac. In a nutshell: This film was ahead of it's time, and is worth a look. A Fave.

Night of the Living Dead (1968)

Why didn't Ben say SOMETHING??!!??

[23 November 2004]

I have this movie on DVD, it was on a disc that had a few vintage 'thrillers' on it, and this movie was one of the weirdest movies I have ever seen, period. It's not exactly 'exciting', and I remember the first time watching it getting a bit squirmy in my seat and glancing at the clock.(I always watch movies from start to finish without fast forwarding or rewinding the first time to get the 'full effect of them.') It just seemed to drag on and on forever! And then, there are MORE people in the basement! Good grief, how much longer can this go on? Anyway, I won't give away the end, but I was shocked and blown away by the ending. OK, we have zombies, we have blood and gore(but not too much) but the ending? Didn't EVEN see that one coming!! It left me with a weird feeling. I mean, WHY didn't he say SOMETHING? Like, Help! Help! I'm not a zombie!!! HEEEELP!!! Oh well. All in all, a great classic flick. I really liked Ben.