Review- Insidious: Chapter 2

Insidious: Chapter 2
Directed By: James Wan
Starring: Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne and Barbra Hershey 

Well I’ve been a horror fan since the age of 5 and I stand by the fact that old school horror films are far better then what is being done today. I have not seen a good scary film in a very long while, I can’t even remember when honestly. Insidious Chapter 2 didn’t waver this fact at all, it cemented it even more then the first Insidious.

Insidious starts with a backstory before the annoying “music”, it’s more like a sound, plays while flashing the title. The film was as predictable as the first, if not more so, I called the films ending within 20 minutes. I also found myself finding all sorts of mistakes like, how a ghost is supposed to spell answers without a full alphabet. The film was basically a remake of the first but with the father possed instead of the child. It was very much like the remake of Amityville Horror; husband goes nutty and starts trying to kill his loved one.

The acting, by all parties, was horrible and the directing wasn’t any better. This film didn’t even have cheap thrills with surprising loud music/noises to keep me interested. Sadly this film earns 1 out of 4 stars in my book, not worth anyone’s time.

Review: We're The Millers

We're The Millers
Directed By: Rawson Marshell Thurbur
Starring: Jason Sudeikis, Jennifer Aniston and Emma Roberts

I saw the preview for We’re the Millers and really wasn’t interested in seeing it, honestly Jennifer Aniston hasn’t done anything good since friends and I really don’t like Ed Helms, but after many people said it was funny I gave in. It turned out to not be half bad, it wasn’t what it was hyped up to be but it was decently funny.

Jennifer Aniston steps out of her good girl, America’s sweetheart image and into a more grownup role. Jennifer Aniston as a striper was far fetched, to say the least, and we are constantly reminded that’s her profession though out the whole film. Although Jason Sudeikis was funnier then I remember from SNL. Emma Reoberts' acting, and when I say acting I use that term loosely, was not up to par with the other cast and that's saying something. This movie was just mainly a bunch of raunchy dirty jokes and a cheesy escape from drug supplier. The soundtrack was also nothing special, with the exception of TLC’s “Waterfalls” being sung along to by an awkward white teenage boy.

This movie wasn’t horrible nor was it hilarious; rent it with Redbox or wait for it to come to cable. I give it 2 out of 4 stars.

Review- The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Directed By: Peter Jackson
Starring: Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman & Richard Armitage

I am an avid fan of Lord of the Rings, both the movies and the books and was stoked when Peter Jackson announced the making of The Hobbit and that it would be a three-part film. After I watched The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and having read the book I anticipated The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug to be another three hour movie full of walking with a few action parts to keep you interested.

I was surprised to find out there was way more action in this second part. Although the main story line is mildly the same there are added characters not in the book and the events are not necessarily occurring in the right places. If you can get past the adaptation not being all that close to the book the film is truly great. The acting is well done, with the exception of Evangeline Lily whom can’t act a lick if you ask me. The cinematography is also splendidly done. There are many parts that link this film to The Lord of the Rings trilogy in both comical and clever ways. Furthermore the soundtrack is absolutely fantastic including the song that plays during the credits, “I See Fire” by Ed Shreen, I found myself singing it over the next few days and had to eventually download it.

Was this film a great adaptation of a famous novel? Not so much. Is it worth seeing anyway? Absolutely. Looking at it from the perspective of a film and not a full adaptation of a book I give this film 3 out 4 stars.

My Apologies

I am so sorry I have been away for so long. December has been a very busy month with Christmas and me having come down with an illness. I promise that by the end of the week I will make up for it with at least 3 new reviews for you, one of which being The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. Thank you for being understanding.

Review: The Way Way Back

The Way Way Back (2013)

Directed By: Nat Faxon & Jim Rash

Starring: Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Allison Janny, Liam James & Maya Rudolf 

I remember seeing the movie poster for The Way Way Back and telling my husband very sarcastically, “Yeah that’s a cast that draws me in.” I am not a fan of Steve Carell or of Maya Rudolf and until I saw a preview for it while watching The Heat I was dead set on not touching this film with a ten foot pole. I am a huge Indie film fan and before I know what the trailer was for I was captivated, even with Steve Carell I knew this was a movie I had to see.

            The opening scene alone with Liam James and Steve Carell as his mother’s boyfriend was totally relatable to anyone who has been in a situation with someone basically replacing your father. Thought the entire film I was constantly saying, “Ugh, I hated when my stepdad did that.” or “Oh my word, that so happened to me too.” Although it is technically a current setting due to budget constraints, you totally get the 80’s vibe, from music to the unchanged dated waterpark.

The acting by Liam James was great; he pulls off the awkward teen so well you feel awkward just watching him. There of course was a love story, that you will totally see coming but you won’t even care because the film is just so well done. The soundtrack was also cleverly done, it gives you an 80’s summer feel and if you’ve ever spent a summer with you’re parents at a lake house you will be vividly transported back to those memories.

This movie was so well done and relatable, I highly recommend this to anyone and feel for stepchildren it’s a must see. It’s in my high ranking of Indie films, up there with the likes of Perks of Being a Wallflower and Silver Linings Playbook. I give this film a 5 out of 5 stars.

Review: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Directed By: Francis Lawrence

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Woody Harrelson

When I first heard about The Hunger Games I was enraged and swore I wouldn’t watch it because it was a cheesy, teenage girl remake of the Japanese film Battle Royale. I ended being dragged there with a couple of co-workers and found myself secretly enjoying it, although I was too stubborn to admit it at first. I requested my grandma to purchase the book series for me and I began to read.  After reading “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” I knew I wanted to see the film. The new style of game arena was interesting and I was kept wondering what was coming next.

I went to see The Hunger Games: Catching Fire as soon as I could and was as giddy as a schoolgirl to see how they adapted the book into film. As with the first film the beginning was slow going, bleak and went on far longer than needed. This film was a little over two and a half hours and only about an hour of it was spent in the arena itself. Each deadly gambit was touched on only briefly; characters that died did so far earlier in the film, everything in the arena just seemed rushed.

As for the acting it was mediocre at best, but that was expected from this film. The film was also lacking in explanation and portrayals of various things. Finnick was not the suave flirtatious character he was portrayed as in the book and his only love Annie, though mentioned was not explained well enough to understand why her voice was featured in the Jabberjays. Another point that wasn’t explained well was the selection of the Quarter Quell. My husband was confused how there were enough victors from each district to partake in this every 25 years, not understanding that each Quarter Quell is different.

Taking into account the unnecessary long beginning, the lack of clarifications at points in the movie and the poor character portrayals I ended up giving this film 3 out of 5 stars.

Poll Winner

Thanks to those of you who took the time to vote and it looks like my next review will be Iron Man 3 in 3D! I will also do an extra review for you all this week as well, Catching Fire!!