I didn't buy an Ouija board. I borrowed an Ouija board.

Paranormal Activity

I'd been wanting to see this in the theaters, as it was hyped up as some monumental event one couldn't miss. Sadly, I missed it so I had to settle for DVD, which is definitely a disadvantage for Paranormal Activity. Sitting in my kitchen with the lights on watching this on my computer definitely made the film lose some of its punch. I'm aware of my surroundings and can't fully disappear into the film. This by all means wasn't the scariest thing I've ever seen but it was definitely creepy.

Paranormal Activity is this decade's The Blair Witch Project. Shot independently and for very little money, this film tells the story of Micah and Katie, a young couple who fear Katie is being haunted by a demon. Paranormal Activity scares viewers with ambiguous noises, the standard door opening and closing, and a sometimes possessed girl. These scare tactics are cheap, but completely effective. Who isn't afraid of that mysterious creak you heard last night at 3 am or a noise that sounded like talking? The suspense gets to be agonizing, as each night the sounds and terrorizing gets worse. The director relies on the audience to use their imagination, as he only gives us a taste of what this demon looks like, with shadows and footprints in powder. Our imaginations can be scarier than what is in front of us.

Newcomers Katie Featherston and Micah Sloat were decent. They relax the audience in the beginning with how natural they are together. They are good at conveying horror but the scares lies in what happens around them, not their reactions.

I honestly have no idea how this can be effectively created again for a sequel. There's just no way. Will it be a different couple, same plot? The conclusion was a bit open ended but not enough for a sequel I think.

Final thoughts: First, don't watch this movie alone in an apartment where there is a lot of ambiguous noise and creaks on the floor. Second, I don't understand why Micah and Katie didn't just call Sam and Dean Winchester. They would've solved the demon problem immediately. Third, rock salt. Put it around your bed, demons can't get to you.

Nathan Fillion on Castle

I just started watching this show and I love it! I can't get enough! Mainly because of the dashing Nathan Fillion as the lead, crime writer Rick Castle. He personifies can't live with him, can't live without him. He's smarmy, annoying, slightly offensive, gets in a the way and sometimes you want to smack him, but he cares. He cares a lot. And that's why you never smack him. You glare daggers at him to his face but try to hide your ever growing smile when he turns away.



Netflix

Pirate Radio-Missed this in theaters, it was supposed to be funny. Great cast!
Lawrence of Arabia-This is really long right? I'll probably wait until summer.
Flame & Citron-Netflix Instant. Danish film about Danish WWII resistance fighters. And I do enjoy Mads Mikkelsen

One, two, Freddy's coming for you.

A Nightmare on Elm Street

I am a sucker for scary movies and it takes a lot scare me, even make me flinch. But A Nightmare on Elm Street has a way of totally creeping me out and making me use blankets to shield my eyes. A freaky story, a freaky lead, and slasher maestro Wes Craven created a hard to forget horror classic.

Sleep is absolutely essential. When one sleeps in a familiar place, one can feel relaxed and safe. If you have a bad dream, no worries, you'll wake up safe in your bed. Not the case with A Nightmare on Elm Street. What a perfect location to set a horror movie, our dreams! The film is original and creative, it scares you in a place you feel safe. The film similarly films the dreams and waking scenes, throwing the audience off balance, which furthers Craven's ability to scare the pants off the audience. The film balances fright and gore well, it never gets out of hand or silly. Craven seems to pick up where Halloween and Friday the 13th left off.

Robert Englund is just masterful as Freddy Krueger, one of cinemas greatest villains. He becomes a new type of bogeyman, not a silent and expressionless shape that hides in your closet. Englund throws his whole body into the role, with the creepy voice, sweeping arm movements and his utter brutality. Englund is shameless and Jackie Earle Haley has big shoes to fill.

One final thought on these classic slasher films, such as Halloween and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. It's a real shame studios decide to make sequel after sequel or remakes. These sequels especially get more and more ridiculous and the original film sometimes gets lost in the comedy of the sequels. I wish Hollywood would leave some things alone. We don't need Saw 25 or another sequel to the remake of Halloween. I know these films make money and this is why I wouldn't do well working for a studio, I care too much about artistic integrity, not the money.

Andy Serkis in King Kong

While he was great as Lumpy the cook, I'm praising him for his portrayal of King Kong. Serkis lived with gorillas, studying their physicalities and interactions. He brings the human out of the ape, and further narrows the differences between our animal relatives. He gains audience sympathy with just how human he makes Kong. Serkis is brilliant when he's on camera as a human or as a CGI creature.



Netflix

Minority Report-I saw some of this at cardio cinema and I really enjoyed it. But I'd like to see the beginning and ending.
The Informant!-I love Matt Damon.
Donnie Brasco-Netflix Instant. Who doesn't love a good mob film, especially with Johnny Depp and Al Pacino.

And remember, a smile is cheaper than a bullet.

District 9

2009 was a great year for sci-fi. Some high quality work was released, District 9 being one of them. The film is incredibly realistic and heartbreaking, and introduced audiences to a great new talent, Sharlto Copley.

The film is gritty and realistic. It goes back and forth between a conventional fiction film and a mockumentary. This change in style keeps the film fresh and engaging, it isn't distracting. The action sequences are well done and heart racing. The story doesn't get lost in the action sequences, which so often can happen. The director had a clear vision which he keeps alive throughout the whole film.

The thing that struck me the most is District 9's realism. I imagine that if aliens did land on earth, events would've unfolded like District 9. The government's reaction to the aliens and Wikus (Sharlto Copley) is incredibly realistic. I'm sure a government would do experiments on the aliens and torture them, and treat them as second class citizens.

What a debut from Sharlto Copley! He spent a lot of the film acting opposite a CGI alien and I heard he improvised a lot of his lines. He's great at portraying the "Everyman," just trying to live a happy life. He's a bit of an ass and smug, until he begins to become the thing he didn't like, an alien. Copley shows great character change and growth throughout the movie, as Wikus physically and emotionally does a 180. I look forward to Copley's acting future.

One part of the film I could do without was the subplot of the Nigerians. It was stereotypical, overdone, and just unnecessary. The film would've been just as strong without it.

This is a great debut film by Neill Blomkamp. He's definitely benefited from Peter Jackson as a mentor and Jackson put a lot of faith in the young director. I'm excited for whatever his next project is, but District 9 will be a tough act to follow.

Scarlett Johansson in Girl with a Pearl Earring

Scarlett Johansson sucks when she opens her mouth. Her line delivery is weak, she sounds the same every time. But she spoke seventeen lines in Girl with a Pearl Earring, and that let her focus on her physicality. It was very strong and she conveyed so much in her character's shyness and submissive actions. But her inner strength juxtaposes the shyness and radiates through as well. She needs to do more films where she rarely speaks.


Netflix

In the Loop-Nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay. It's supposed to be hilarious.
Gentleman Broncos-It has Jermaine from Flight of the Conchords, I'll give it a try.
The Edge of Heaven-Netflix Instant keeps recommending it, and I enjoy German cinema.