Let The Right One In - A DVD Review

I just finished watching Let The Right One In and I loved it. Let me tell you why.

First things first; this is a swedish film so if you wanna view it under the best circumstances you'll use the 'Set-Up' feature to make it swedish with english subtitles. Do that for the ultimate performance. Really, do you wanna hear cheesy voice-actors interpretting this film for you? NO!

That said... this film was sold as a vampire film, and was critically acclained, which is unusual for a horror, but relax cos this wasn't a horror. It was lauded by critics because it was well made and told a cool story. A love story.

This was one of the best examples of a coming-of-age love story since Heathers!

I'm not kidding, in case you were wondering.

If you were an awkward tween you'll relate to this film.

The Poop:

Oskar is a bullied kid in Sweden. No one likes him, but he seems cool in a nerdy way. One day he meets a girl who moves in to his apartment complex and they hit it off. Yay, he has a friend! Uh-oh! She's a vampire! We know this because the man (creepy times 100) who lives with her drains random peoples' blood to keep her alive. The only thing is he's not very good at it. Soon she has to fend for herself. That's when her relationship with Oskar is put to the test!

This film surprised me in many ways. I didn't expect the relationship between Oskar (the boy) and Eli (the vampire) to be explored as deeply as it was.

I also didn't foresee myself falling so far back in time while watching this and relating so deeply. I feel like I know these characters.

See this original production of Let The Right One In before the americans re-make it!

You can read sub-titles, I have faith in you.

Drag Me To Hell -A Review-

Sam Raimi easily reestablishes himself as one of the masters of horror after the Spiderman Trilogy with the low budget/high functioning thriller Drag Me To Hell.

After seeing and loving this flick let me offer up one piece of advice; if an old gypsy woman with dead fingernails and one white eyeball asks you for a favour... grant it.

Trust me on this, she will CURSE YOU.

Raimi leaves the mega-budgets of the Spiderman films behind with this foray back to his Evil Dead roots as an horror director. Well done.

He proves he can write and direct a far better horror film than most of the young'uns out there (Eli Roth, pay attention), and reminds us that horror can be kick-ass scary and kinda funny at the same time.

It might still be in theatres, otherwise Drag Me To Hell will be on DVD Oct. 20.

Look it up, bitches.

Quarantine -A DVD Review-

I love movies like this! It's spooky, creepy fun from beginning to end!

This is the American remake of a very succesful Spanish horror flick which I reviewed here back in September. This is essentially the same film save for a few minor differences (and one kinda big difference) which kept it feeling fresh for fans like myself who saw the original.

Here's the poop:

A tv presenter and her cameraman shadow a couple of firefighters for a program about what goes on in the city at night. When they finally receive a call they respond to a building where an old woman is causing a commotion in her apartment. The firemen break in and find her standing in her livingroom foaming at the mouth and catatonic. After trying to urge her out to an ambulance for a few minutes with no reaction she suddenly lunges at the nearest victim and chews his neck off! So begins a wild ride that doesn't let up on the scares and shocks till the credits roll.

For a lengthy dissertation on the films themes an' shit check out the [rec] review from Sept. 26th.

Suffice it to say my only criticisms of this version are:

1) Greg German of Ally McBeal distracted me in his minor role because it seemed sad, him being reduced to such a background part.

2) I don't think they needed to explain the cause of the 'problem'. It felt forced. Is it an American thing that they need everything to be explained?

Anyway it is a good horror show. Check it out when you want a good spook.

Laters.

Catch Up: What I've been seeing lately!

Wow! With this new job I haven't been updating my blog. Not to mention I haven't had internet at home for a few months, but that's another story.

Not to worry tho, I haven't stopped watching movies.

Like Forgetting Sarah Marshall! I know, it's old news, but it's a MUST SEE!

Written by and starring Jason Segel -a Judd Apatow regular- along with Kristen Bell (Gossip Girl, Heroes), and the surprisingly charming and funny Mila Kunis (That 70's Show). I have to mention Kunis almost steals this show from first-time headliner Segel. If he weren't so strong he could've been lost to Kunis' very mature and funny performance. Likewise the part of rocker Aldous Snow as played by the very funny british stand-up Russell Brand. He seems to breeze through some hilarious scenes with a completely disarming nonchalance. His confidence and cockiness suit the character perfectly and he manages to remain likeable throughout. A tough feat to pull off for a dick like Snow! Now as for Segel, he is fearless as the gormless goof Peter Bretter, dating the television star Sarah Marshall (Bell). He's sweet, funny, playful, and about to get the dumping of a lifetime. This particular sequence is one of the funniest dumpings I've ever seen in a movie! If you haven't seen it you'll understand why. Segel is instantly likeable and his devestation is heartbreaking, but don't worry, he still makes you laugh.

When he's finally convinced to change out of his sweatpants and leave the house Bretter plans a trip to Hawaii in the hopes of, as the title says, Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Unfortunately he finds himself staying at the same resort as guess who and her new boyfriend.

Hilarity and highjinx ensues.

Look for hilarious cameos by Kristen Wiig (Knocked Up's tv exec), and Jonah Hill (Superbad).

Great fun with a heart!

Check it out.

Another recent fave was Slumdog Millionaire. Holy shit is this a good movie! It's original, smart, and tragically sad. Being familiar with the director's previous work I was totally unprepared for this one. Danny Boyle is responsible for some of my favourite dark films; Trainspotting, Shallow Grave, and 28 Days Later to name a few. With Slumdog he seems to be growing as a storyteller, using a lighter touch and a less frenetic pace. The actors are all unknown to North American audiences but they became instant stars when this movie hit.

Eight Academy Awards and a fistfull of other accolades have made it feel overrated to some who therefore avoid popular films as though they're above such mainstream pap. Meanwhile these pretentious douchebags have already pre-ordered their tickets for the next Twilight installment. Trust me, this is a thousand times better than anything with a 'Part II' after it.

The story is very involved but unfolds naturally as it observess the interrogation of a young Indian man standing accused of cheating on the Indian version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. In flashbacks we come to understand how he managed to get to the last question in the game without ever getting one wrong, a feat never before accomplished.

I'll leave it at that, as discovering this film is part of the fun.

I've always loved Danny Boyles films, but now I'm adding him to my short list of fave directors.

See ya soon!

Must See Movies: My Own Damn List!

Everybody makes lists of movies you just HAVE to see. Except me. Till now.
So here you go, another useless and totally biased compilation of films you should, nay MUST see.
In no particular order, just as they come to me:
1. Annie Hall (1977)
2. Eraserhead (1977)
3. A Clockwork Orange (1971)
4. There Will Be Blood (2007)
5. Red (2008)
6. South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut (1999)
7. Dancer In The Dark (2000)
8. 28 Days Later (2002)
9. No Country For Old Men (2007)
10. Black Snake Moan (2006)
11. A Christmas Story (1983)
12. Dumb and Dumber (1994)
13. Heathers (1988)
14. Husbands and Wives (1992)
15. Marie Antoinette (2006)
16. Paranoid Park (2007)
17. Lost In Translation (2003)
18. Deconstructing Harry (1997)
19. Goodfellas (1990)
20. Private Parts (1997)