Abduction

Title: Abduction

Director: John Singleton

Rating: PG-13

Genre: Action, Suspense

Format: In theaters now

Starring: Taylor Lautner, Lilly Collins, Alfred Molina

Nathan is a carefree teen with a normal suburban life, living with his two parents and crushing on the girl next door….

Until one day he sees a photo of him from childhood on a missing person’s website. At first he doesn’t believe that the little boy could be him but he can’t shake the odd feeling he has so with the click of a button he ages the photo and is left staring at a picture of himself…

Which leads me to the question:

What would you do if you discovered that the people you lived with, your parents, weren’t really your parents?

What would you do if your life had been one big lie? Nathan decides to confront his mother who breaks down and admits that she isn’t the baby momma. After telling him how much she loves him she rushes from the room to get his “dad” (not really the baby daddy) but is sidelined…permanently.

Nathan witnesses his faux (but real to him) parents get murdered before his eyes and then a whole chain of events is set into motion…

Who can he trust? Who is he really? And why do a bunch of people want him dead?

The only thing he knows for sure is that the girl next door is hot and he wants to kiss her so he has to keep her safe. (A good tag line – yes?) he he he.

Yeah, Yeah, this is a teenager flick. I know that’s what you’re saying. But clearly something about the movie (could it be Taylor Lautner’s abs?) has you interested enough to read this review. Could it be because the thought of seeing your childhood self on the back of a milk carton is enough to make you shiver? Is it because you wonder what you might do if you found out you weren’t really who you thought?

It’s a good concept. When I saw the previews I was intrigued (and no NOT by his hottness’ abs – well okay maybe a little…) and it seemed like a good plot. So when the opportunity arrived for me to drag my husband off to the theater to watch it I was thrilled.

Was it any good?

I liked it. It wasn’t the best movie ever but it was an interesting plot and had a lot of cool action scenes. I liked Lautner and I thought he did a good job and he easily fits into an action movie. The setting was cool and it changed a lot because Nathan was constantly on the run. There were cool cars, motorcycles and even trains. There was baseball and guns too. Every guy’s dream, right?

It also had Sigourney Weaver, who played Nathan’s head shrink. (Surprise, he suffered from anger management and felt like a stranger in his own life!) I liked her, she is a great actress and she was a great addition to a cast I didn’t really recognize much (besides Lautner, of course).

There were some things about the movie that bothered me. Such as, Nathan’s crush, AKA the girl next door. In the beginning its clear they have some sort of history and they give each other long lingering looks from across the hall. Except, for me, her long lingering looks looked more like “I know you want me but I’m too hot for you”. It annoyed me.  And also, why did she have to be dating a jerk at the beginning of the movie? What point did it serve really? To show that Nathan had anger issues but managed not to bash in the other dudes face? Okay, that happened, but really Nathan didn’t conquer his anger because right after the confrontation he went and got drunk. It’s called drinking away the pain, my friends…

Anywhoo, this girl continued to annoy me (I know I’m not being nice, but I have reasons) during the movie because really did she not own a brush? Her hair seriously needed one. There was one scene when she had finally pulled it back and I was like “Thank You!” but then two seconds later she had it back down. I wanted to tell her that, “Hey, yeah, guys like long hair, but only when combed.”

And then there was this scene where she hurt her shoulder. She’s all climbing out of the rubble (Rubble from what you ask? Watch the movie!) and holding it making a “owie” face and then they are speeding away on his bike to his hospital. I’m thinking, “Wow, people are trying to kill him and he has to run, but he’s making a pit stop at the ER for his girlfriend, she must really be injured”.

Nope.

They slap a band aid on her shoulder.

Yup. A band aid. It’s square.

I wanted to smack her. Seriously, you couldn’t wait to get a band aid so your boyfriend could run from the men trying to murder him? High maintenance, that girl.

Then later, she does something else I don’t care for. Okay, I’ll tell you. The bad guy catches her and wants her to tell him the room number that Nathan is in. She tells him no. The guy threatens to break her finger and she caves…

I mean really? It was nothing another band aid couldn’t have fixed. Way to stand up for your man. Never mind that he saves your life like fifty times during the movie (fifty might be a little exaggerated).

So, aside from a few inconsistencies here and there it was still entertaining. And I think that would be the goal of a movie like this. To entertain and to make you wonder what you would do in his position.

I would recommend this movie to anyone who wants an action movie that doesn’t take a lot of thinking to figure out. It’s just a good time, with a popular actor as the lead. Nothing wrong with that.

So there you have it. My opinion.

Scream 4

Hey Peeps!

I know, I've been MIA all weekend. I apologize for letting the blog just sit but hey, a girl's gotta get away sometimes, and I did. But now I am back and ready to blog my little heart out! I thought I would do something fun today, something I haven't done in a while. A movie review. And what movie am I gonna review for you today? A scary movie. A movie that maybe some of you wanted to see and others think is silly....

Title: Scream 4

Director: Wes Craven

Rating: R for violence (lots of blood, peeps), Teen drinking and language

Genre: Horror, Scary

Format: Available on DVD

Starring: Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, David Arquette, Emma Roberts

What’s your favorite scary movie?.....

Sydney Prescott: survivor of vicious, bloody attacks is back in her home town of Woodsboro. But she isn’t a teenager anymore and she has written a best-selling self-help book all about surviving and bouncing back from dark times.

Sydney expected a quick “sign and dash” book signing in Woodsboro but Ghostface had other ideas. With the anniversary of the Woodsboro murders on the calendar and all the main players in town…

Well, it was time for a remake. Don’t you agree?

Sydney reconnects with her old pals Dewey and Gale (now married) just in time to be terrorized by a new Ghostface. But this time the killer isn’t just terrorizing Sydney but her cousin and friends as well.

When I asked a few girlfriends to go see this movie with me they laughed. That’s right, they laughed. They told me I was crazy. My husband laughed too. What? I said, what’s wrong with Scream? I still am not sure why no one wanted to see it, other than a few “that’s scary” comments.

Am I the only one out there that wanted to see this movie? Does everyone else think it silly too?

The first original Scream movies (3 of them) came out in the 90’s, when I was a teenager, a giggly one at that. These movies (bloody as they may be) hold a hint of nostalgia for me. I still remember sitting in the theater, sandwiched between my best friends with a white paper bag in my hand. Inside the bag?  Sour patch kids of course. I would eat them ‘til they burned a hole in my tongue.  I remember sitting there laughing about how hot one of the characters was (if you must know it was Sydney’s then boyfriend…yeah, I know he isn’t that hot looking to me anymore, but hey, I was 16 and having a sugar high from candy) then gasping in shock at the end. We giggled at the guys, screeched over the blood, and laughed at the “I’ll be back’s”…

When Scream 4 came out on video I rented it…and made my husband watch it with me. Ha ha. (One good thing about having a husband is they have to watch your movies- because you say so) I had been expecting the blood, expecting the gore and screaming, but I still jumped and I still hid my eyes. What can I say? It’s gross.

But I liked it.

And why is it the girl always runs up the stairs when the killer is after her???

So was this movie as good as the originals? Maybe. Remember I am not a sixteen-year-old girl with candy in her hand anymore. I did like Scream 4. It was entertaining and it was a blast from the past. I really like Neve Campbell, David Arquette and Courtney Cox. It even had new comer Emma Roberts, who is a pretty good actress. Neve, David and Courtney stepped back into their roles seamlessly. They portrayed the characters they had been years ago like they had been playing them every day for the past few years. I still liked Dewey’s not-so-sharp personality and Gale’s eat- you- up and spit-you- out attitude. Sydney was still “goody” as always but I have to say that she impressed me the way she fought back and charged into danger. The lady has guts.

Was the plot original? Well, it is a sequel. To a horror movie. Aren’t those all kind of the same? You know, killer running around in a mask or disguise, wielding a knife or chainsaw, and exposing everyone’s guts? Scream 4 had that. But the end was pretty good, surprising and it was a sequel brought into the new century….

Meaning there were webcams. (Oh, and cell phones that fit into your pocket)

LOL.

I liked the setting (the movie was filmed in Ann Arbor, Michigan) the town is pretty and looked the same. The newcomers Emma Roberts (yes, her aunt is Julia) and there was a new deputy in town, some blond lady (I don’t know her name) who kind of annoyed me. Okay, no kinda, she did. She had the hots for Dewey and Gale was gonna give her a shiner (AKA a black eye) which I kind of liked.

I would recommend this movie to anyone who likes a scary movie, anyone who wants to be reminded of their youth perhaps (like me) or anyone wanting some entertainment with a bunch of bloodshed.

It is a bloody movie. And it’s creepy too. Not normally the kind of movie I watch, but hey, it’s good to step out of the box sometimes…And the good ol’ days were calling.

In fact, when I finished watching the movie I found myself with a craving for sour patch kids.

So there you have it. My opinion.

What are your thoughts on the Scream Movies? What is your favorite scary movie? (Oh and I promise that I won't come after you weilding a knife if I don't like you answer.... Muh ha ha ha ha ha)

OH wait, don't leave yet. :) I wanted to let everyone know that NO I did not forget about my 100 follower giveaway. I will be announcing the winner this week!! So y'all come back now ya hear?

The Roommate

Title: The Roommate

Genre: Drama, Thriller

Directed by: Christian E. Christiansen

Format: DVD released May 2011

Rating: PG-13

Starring: Leighton Meester, Minka Kelly, Cam Gigandet, Alyson Michalka

2,000 Colleges. 8 Million Roommates. Which one will you get?

Sara has a life any normal college student would love to have. She has a few good friends, a really great class list and she meets a hot drummer at frat party who she gets to kiss. One night after a night of said kissing and partying she stumbles home to her dorm to meet her new roommate, Rebecca.

Rebecca is shy and quiet but highly artistic. He beautiful drawings make nice additions to the room walls. She seems friendly enough, offering to share her extensive and awesome clothing and coming to get Sara in the middle of the night when her BFF Tracy ditches her at a party.

But clearly, Rebecca is not right in the head.

Sequences of events begin to happen around Sara and she begins to see that her roommate isn’t who she thought she was.

This movie is a modern day Single White Female. It has been a long time since I watched a movie like this, and it was exactly what I was expecting. It was pretty cliché, but it was entertaining. I kind of found it amusing that it took Sara so long to figure out that Rebecca was cuckoo. Okay, well maybe Sara had an idea, but she tried to be nice and give Rebecca the benefit of the doubt.

Sara was played by Minka Kelly, and she was beautiful and made a great lead. However, in my opinion, she was overshadowed by Leighton Meester, who played crazy perfectly. She managed to capture those flat eyes and empty gazes that are truly creepy. I have seen Leighton Meester acting in her regular role on Gossip Girl, and it was like night and day. The way she was clearly disturbed but managed to appear calm (most of the time) is what was most captivating. I wondered throughout the movie if she was just a mislead girl or truly a psycho.

The movie had all the classic scenes of a thriller. All the characters walked around in the dark half the time, and they never ran from the room when any normal person (or big chicken, such as I) would clearly do. The shower scene where Tracy gets attacked was predictable, and I found myself more horrified by the fact that she was not wearing shower shoes in a common bathroom (Hello, foot fungus!) than I was that she was being stalked. There was even some window dangling and some screaming! I have to say that Rebecca’s manipulation of Sara’s friend Irene was pretty clever and while not completely unexpected-I liked.

And just like any good thriller there was a hot guy. Actually, there were two…but only one makes it out alive…want to find out who? I’m not telling. Rush out to your Redbox, grab your remote for OnDemand or find a video store (do those even exist anymore?) to see who makes it out of this movie alive and who doesn’t. And if you have a roommate….

Sleep with one eye open.

 So this movie and review has left me with a question for all of you: Do you have an bad roommate stories?? Did someone you once (or currently) live with act like a stalker, "borrow" your clothes and never give them back or always ask you to loan them the rent money?? Now, me personally have never had a roommate, other than my hubby, and when he does something annoying I yell at him. LOL. So, i wouldn't even know how to handle a bad behaving roomie anyway....so what did you do when you ended up living with someone who was horrible?

Limitless

Title: Limitless

Director: Neil Burger

Genre: Drama, Thriller

Format: DVD released July 2011

Rating:  PG-13

Starring: Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro, Abbey Cornish

Eddie Morra is a writer with a book contract. But he has writer’s block. What’s a little writer’s block you ask? Well, it isn’t little when you haven’t even written one word.

Eddie’s girlfriend dumps him (well, he is a lazy bum) and he has really bad hair. (I mean seriously dude, do something with yourself!)

But his life changes when he runs into an old friend on the street. A friend who happens to be a drug dealer. (Now that’s a guy with connections!!)

Yeah, ‘cause drugs just make everything better. But this time, it actually might.

Eddie is introduced to NZT a little clear pill that has the ability to awaken the huge chunk of brain that no one uses. He’s skeptical but being that he is already a lazy bum he doesn’t have much to lose, so he takes the pill.

And his life changes.

Suddenly he is able to recall everything he has ever read or watched on TV. He can learn any language in one day, outtalk anyone in an intelligent conversation and suddenly has the drive for self improvement (Yes- finally he gets a haircut!). He also sits down and pounds out that novel. His editor can hardly believe her eyes.

In short, his abilities are limitless.

So he takes himself off to Wall Street where he begins to make millions of dollars. He catches the eye of a prominent and powerful business man and is offered a job. Everything is going great.

Until his supply starts to run low…

Surprise! Taking the wonder drug of the century has side effects.

Eddie soon learns that if he doesn’t take the drug he won’t be able to function and eventually he could die. So he has to figure out a way to never run out while keeping his new boss in the green. But there are some bad guys that find out Eddie’s secret to a limitless life. They want him to share his miracle drug, and they aren’t taking no for an answer. He is also being stalked by some creepy stalker and the police are hot on his tail.

As everything around Eddie unravels will he be able to hold onto his supply and his life long enough to find a way to get more?

What would you do if the potential for your life was limitless?

This movie was super interesting. For some reason I found myself relating to Eddie (played by Bradley Cooper). No, I am not a bum who lives in a filthy apartment, and I get my haircut regularly. And it is far beyond me how he got a publishing contract for a book that he didn’t even have one page written. But I am a writer too. And I recognized the “yeah, right” looks he got when he told his friends he was writing a book. In the beginning I got those looks too.

When an old friend offers him a pill and the possibility to beat his writer’s block, I’ll admit, I was curious just like he was. (Note: I have never done drugs, nor do I plan to) Well, except for that one time but I didn’t inhale… just kidding J. When he took the pill I found it fascinating the way everything in his way of thinking shifted. He seemed to take in every detail of his surroundings and he was lit from within with motivation to clean, write and better himself.

Frankly, sometimes I wondered how be able to process so much in such a short amount of time didn’t make him insane. But then again, I guess in some ways it did.

I thought Bradley Cooper did a good job portraying a guy who suddenly had full access to his brain. He did a lot of things and acted to the way I would think a lot of people in his position would. He was both parts full of himself over his new money and popularity but there was still part of his old self in there too. I liked the way that he was in awe of what NZT could do for him but he was also a little afraid of it. He had to make a lot of choices during the movie and I think I would have done a lot of the same things he did.

 The movie didn’t have things blowing up and giant robots or anything like that, but it did have really good special effects. When he took the NZT sometimes the viewer would feel as though they were looking through his eyes and seeing the world as he did. There was one part where things seemed to be in fast forward for him and he would walk from street to street, go from place to place and it seemed real and disorienting. When he ‘came to’ in the morning I really felt like I had been through what he had (without the guilt and hang-over effect).

The plot of this movie was really well thought out. While the idea of drugs isn’t unique, I think the idea of one that can open up your mind is. I think most people would be tempted (especially people like Eddie) to try the drug and of course, it is no secret that drugs are highly addictive.

I also think that it isn’t a stretch that people would want what he has especially when they see how rich and successful he is becoming. I find it intriguing that it isn’t just drugs that can bring you down and make you stupid, but any kind of drug (even ones that make you smart) has the ability to mess with your life. I mean, really, do you think that a drug like NZT would be worth the risk?

Would you risk your safety, your health, the safety of those you love for a drug that may make you rich but will most likely kill you before you can spend the money?

Limitless is as thought provoking as it is entertaining. Even my husband (who sleeps through almost every movie we watch) stayed awake. The movie keeps you guessing, leaves you wondering what Eddie will do next and how he will get out of the situations he finds himself in. The movie is face paced and a lot happens and you won’t be bored.

So tell me…what would you do if your potential, your life, suddenly became Limitless?

Transformers 3: Dark Side of the Moon

Title: Transformer’s 3: Dark Side of the Moon

Director: Michael Bay

Rating: PG-13

Format: In theaters now

Genre: Action/Adventure, Sci-fi, Fatnasy, KICK-ASS (yes, this is now a genre)

Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Josh Duhamel, John Turturro, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Patrick Dempsey

Trailer: http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1810159115/trailer

Caution: There may be language in this review because I am very excited.

Sam and the Autobots are back! And they are kicking ass and taking names in the third installment of the Transformer’s Saga.

In 1961, The Ark, a Cybertronian spacecraft left the planet of the Autobots in flight from the war that was wiping out their race and destroying their planet. The Ark was carrying an invention that would stop the war between the Autobots and the Decepticons and save the planet.

Only it crashed.

And no one knew where.

Except, of course, the United States Government. (BIG surprise there)

Can anyone say cover-up?

Turns out the Ark crashed into the Moon, the Dark Side, and Apollo 11 went up there and saw the wreckage…but they never told. Fast forward to present day and the Autobots are helping to maintain order and peace amongst humans and aiding the government. During a mission to Chernobyl Optimus Prime finds evidence that the ship survived, and it holds everything they need to rebuild their planet.

Meanwhile, good ol’ Sam Witwicky has graduated from an Ivy League school, received a medal from president Obama and has a new hottie for a girlfriend. But his life is far from perfect. Why is that you say? Sounds awesome to you, huh?

Well, it turns out that saving the planet doesn’t lend any weight to finding a job. And his medal? Yeah, most of his potential employers are Republicans. Oh, and that hottie of a girlfriend? She’s getting hit on every other second from Mr. Inappropriate (AKA: her boss) who happens to be totally loaded and doesn’t need her to give him lunch money every day. And one other thing, his kickin’ car, Bumblebee, is off saving the planet so he has to drive an old beater. Excuse me, I mean “classic” (or would be if he had any cash to fix it up).

Then his parents roll up in their home on wheels wearing matching track suits and want to know why baby boy doesn’t have a job.

Shoot me now, right?

Sam decides to swallow his pride and take a job in the mailroom at a multi-million dollar company and things really heat up. He gets caught in the bathroom stall with another man, who has his pants down (Geez, people, don’t be gross! He was giving Sam hidden information) and then an evil Decepticon (a gross bird!) starts shooting up the place.

Interesting first day on the job wouldn’t you say?

Sam learns of an evil plot to destroy the Earth so the Decepticons can take over, so he does the only thing that he does best. And, no it isn’t deliver mail.

He goes about saving the world again.

And he has help in the form of his friends: the Autobots.

This movie rocked my world. I mean I had to pee so bad during the show that I was shaking, but I refused to leave the theater and I actually sat there contemplating diapers. For when you gotta go but don’t wanna leave. LOL.

So, to say that I am a Transformers fan is a bit of an understatement. It has to be my favorite movie saga EVER. I was so thrilled that my husband and I could go and see it because we got lucky and my grandmother was in town to babysit (SCORE!). So date night turned into me drooling over the cars and watching stuff explode. It was awesome.

The hubby really liked it too. J

Let me just say that you might not think that Shia Lebouf is a hottie but he so totally is. Just look at him:

   

But it isn’t just the way he looks, he is a damn good actor. He plays the role of Sam to a tee. He’s the perfect balance of a scared kid and a guy with a lot of guts. He looks very deceiving. He is young, he isn’t a big guy and sometimes he can be socially awkward. But underneath are hidden depths of intelligence and a drive to accomplish whatever needs done even if the task seems impossible. He’s also a smartass - and I do love me a smartass.

One of my favorite parts of the movie was a car chase scene (yes, there are quite a few) on the freeway when the Autobots were being chased my Decepticons. Sam was riding in Bumble Bee (who just freakin’ rocks) and B has to transform and Sam goes flying through the air only to land back in Bumble Bee as a car again. He screams like a girl – like I do when I see a big spider - and it was hilarious but it was also great characterization. It totally encompasses everything I love about Sam. He was scared shitless but he was still doing it.

And do you know what else I love about Sam? The way he runs around the movie looking all beat up in his leather jacket. Yup, I don’t know why, but I like it.

Bumble Bee is my most favorite Autobot (as he is for a lot of people). Here he is:

He’s like that loyal dog that you had as a kid and you just love him so much it wells up in your chest. I sat there the whole movie vowing to send Hate Mail to the director if anything happened to B. I love his relationship with Sam. They just fit together and they play off each other and Sam just gives him hell all the time. At one point during the movie my husband leaned over and said to me “All that technology and they can’t fix his voice?” (For anyone who doesn’t know- Bumble Bee doesn’t talk - he can’t. He uses the car radio and every word he says is a different voice and sometimes it’s a line from a song)

Frankly, I was appalled at the suggestion. Fix his voice?? NEVER! It makes him who is he is. It’s part of him!! (Besides they already explained his busted voice in the last movie. It ain’t happening!!)

I love B so much I actually contemplate trading in my mom SUV for one of my own. I would so rock that car. Hehehehe

The graphics in this movie are over the top and they are awesome. Seeing it on the big screen makes it even better. The explosions and the high speed chases are so exciting. And in this movie the military guys are jumping out of planes and buildings are falling over with people in them; it is one hell of a ride. I felt my adrenalin pumping during the whole movie and it completely took me out of my life and deposited me right into the battle of the ever faithful Autobots and the vile Decepticons. Here's an example of the fun things you will see:

Oh! And another fabulous thing I saw in the movie? Remember my favorite scene I was telling you about (the car chase on the freeway)? Well, a few of the Decepticons were totally robot werewolves!! It was awesome. They moved like them and they had those snarling teeth and they were leaping at the cars...it’s a wonder I didn’t pee my pants.

The Decepticons might be evil in this movie and let me tell ya they roughed some shit up. But they looked cool. There was this one that was like a humungous serpent, like that thing from the movie Tremors (I think) with Kevin Bacon…those things that came up out of the ground and ate you? Yeah, there was one of those except it was a robot.

And of course the oldies but goodies were there. Optimus Prime (my husband’s fav) and the two little guys that live with Sam and then there is the two that are always together and making jokes. Sorry, I can’t remember all their names. You’ll know them when you see them. And you know what else? (No I am NOT done gushing about this movie) The cars were never ever dirty. They rode through the destruction with burning embers and debris and dead bodies and they looked awesome. Not a spec of dirt on them. My husband asked me what the deal with that was and I said because, “that’s how they roll”. Uh-huh.

The story line was clever and all the actors did a good job. I was surprised to see Patrick Dempsey (AKA: Mr. Inappropriate) in the movie and he played his part well too. The new lady in Sam’s life, Carly played by Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, did a good job. I will say that I think she was more eye candy than anything, but she is gorgeous and for her movie acting debut she did good and she looks good next to Sam. And frankly it was amazing that she helped save the world while wearing stilettos. That’s a woman for ya cause I would have fallen on my face.

So. What have we learned here today? Transformers rocks, and if you haven’t seen it you should RUN to the theater. There is something for everyone in this movie and I dare you to not like it. That would be practically un-American!

I don’t usually rate my movies or books (which you all probably know) but I would give this movie 5 stars.

Grab some candy (I stole a pack of my kids sweet tarts) and your favorite beverage ( I snuck in a skinny caramel latte inside my purse) and go to the theater. This movie is totally worth the arm and leg they charge to get in.

On a side note: Do theaters ever creep any of you out? I mean really your sitting in a dark room with a bunch of strangers who are probably hiding weapons in their pants. Frankly, sometimes I worry so I locate all the exits and form a plan of attack if ambushed by a hostile movie go-er. There was this one guy in my theater who sat through 25 minutes of previews (what is up with that anyway?) then the movie started and he got up to pee. Yes, I know he was going to pee cause he announced it to his buddies. I thought for sure he was toting a weapon. I mean who sits through crappy previews then gets up to pee?? Weirdo.

So here’s some advice. Go before the movie starts, huh? There might be someone in the theater you are freaking out with your bathroom breaks.

So there you have it. My opinion.

For your enjoyment, here are a few more photos from the movie and of the cast:

  

Here's a little eye candy for the guys:



Red Riding Hood

Got the Monday Blah's? I kind of do. So lets perk things up with a werewolf!! Nothing like a roaring, stalking, menacing wolf to wake up your day!  Oh, and no I did not forget about announcing the giveaway winner, I will do it as soon as Nat emails me the winners name! Until then, let the werewolf chase away those Monday blah's!



Title: Red Riding Hood

Director: Catherine Hardwicke

Book by: Sarah Blakley-Cartwright (Ebook and Paperback)

Format: DVD

Rating: PG-13

Genre: American Horror, Paranormal

Starring: Amanda Seyfried, Shiloh Fernandez, Max Irons, Billy Burke, Virgina Madsen

Believe the Legend. Beware the Wolf.

I do. Do you?

The town of Daggerhorn is a town ruled by fear. Those who live there look over their shoulders and protect their children from a violent beast who threatens the lives they lead. Every month during the full moon they sacrifice their very best livestock trying to appease the wolf.

Wolf, you say? What wolf?

A werewolf. A giant, black hairy wolf with dripping chompers and a menacing growl.

But the sacrifices are no longer enough and the wolf slaughters one of their own. A girl. A daughter. A sister. Valerie’s sister.

Valerie is the daughter of the town drunk, her hand is promised to the son of the wealthy blacksmith, but her heart belongs to the sexy woodcutter, Peter.

 Oh, and the wolf wants to bite her.

Panicked by the recent death of Lucy (Valerie’s sister), they call upon Father Solomon, a famous werewolf hunter. He arrives in town with the calvary and a giant iron elephant.

An elephant that he uses to torture people.

But, the wolf is more cunning than the town might once have thought. As it terrorizes the entire town during the Blood Moon (when a bite from a were will turn you), everyone begins to look around them…at each other. Toward their neighbor. Their friend. Their wife.

Who is the beast that lives among them? Who is the beast that has blended in for decades and never once shown the second skin that lies just beneath their human façade?

Valerie knows that the only way to escape the claws of a rabid, yet wily, menace is to kill it. But as she searches the faces of everyone she loves looking for answers, only then does it become crystal clear…sacrificing herself may be the only way to discover the truth.

Grandmother what BIG teeth you have…

As most everyone who knows me even a slightest bit, you know then that I am a card carrying, full moon howling, werewolf stalking kind of gal. So clearly this movie had my name written all over it.

I’d actually like to share a secret…SHHHH. And yes, this is the truth. I myself had an outline and a document saved on my computer and it was titled “Little Red Riding Hood”. I know a real shocker right? Hardly. But it seems that someone beat me to the punch, however…I would have done it better. J

Now onto the review…

Red Riding Hood was first written as a screen play and then adapted into a novel. The powers that be wanted to create buzz around the movie with the book…and Catherine Hardwicke (also the director of Twilight) wanted another blockbuster on her hands and in her pocket.

I read the book first then went to see the movie in the theater…I was excited to see this book come to life, but I was also extremely skeptical because I saw Twilight and it practically slapped the book in the face with injustice. I mean, seriously.

Anywhoo, I figured because in my mind I cannot and will not separate the book and the movie this review will most likely read like a comparison. You’ve thus been warned.

Now because of my werewolf  lovin’ ways, I am very picky about my wolves. And this movie/book combo did not disappoint me in the way of the beast. I liked him. I really, really liked him. He was mean and big and black. He had the perfect yellowish eyes and fangs that dripped with yuck….MmmmHmmmmm. Now, that being said, he could have been uglier, scarier, and more gruesome looking. But, you know, the movie didn’t really need him to be any scarier looking because the way he behaved made him very vile. I giggle as I write because I liked it. And let me just say that there is a scene in the movie when the town men decide to be brave and go into the cave where they believe the wolf to live and the screen goes black and silent….then I got my first glance at the wolf….

I screamed.

People laughed at me.

(But hey, I wasn’t the only one screaming…so there)

So, aside from my wolf, how about the rest of the movie? It was good, but not great. The setting was beautiful, the mountains, the snow and the way the town nestled into the earth. But the town and townspeople were very primitive, which isn’t a bad thing because it was done well…almost too well. I’m going to tell you the resounding feeling I got from this movie and the way the people and town came off to me. Don’t laugh. I know not a better way to describe the way I thought and only one word came to mind: dirty.

And not the “Hey baby, is that a gun in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?” kind of dirty.

I mean actual dirty. Like they lived so primitively in one room shacks and traveled by horse and cart…and they all looked well, dirty. The food that they continuously spooned into bowls turned my stomach, and they wore the same outfit throughout the movie (GASP! Have they not been to the GAP?). Okay, I will say that the people back in the day probably looked the same but it made me queasy.

Now, onto the cast. I like Amanda Seyfried, but I kind of thought her acting was fake at times. She was forever taking heaving breaths that pushed her chest up to her throat (and that just made everyman run to their remote for OnDemand) and when her sister died I didn’t really feel her grief, it seemed forced. The woodcutter (Fernandez) and the blacksmith’s son (Irons) were attractive…but to be frank I think Catherine Hardwicke cast them trying to get the next “Edward”. Both boys had that tousled, careless hair (which is hot, but Hell-oo its already done!) and their movements and build reminded me of Edward, it was almost distracting. Sometimes even the lines they said reminded me of Edward.

And NO I am not obsessed with Rob Pattison…Clearly, I am Team Jacob.

Anyway, I almost felt like Hardwicke tried too hard to make the movie into what she thought would be a hit instead of making the movie into what it could have been. Know what I mean?

Now onto the book. I liked it. Was it better than the movie? Not sure about that, but we’ll get to that. The thing about the book (well one thing) that I didn’t like was the writer’s style. Sometimes her descriptions were too much. They could have been simpler and more effective with better wording. Now, that is, of course, my opinion. The book was written well, but style is something you like or you don’t. And might I just say that any writer who has to write a book and develop the characters around a screenplay…well you go girl! Cause what a job that had to have been!

The other gripe I had about the book was the ending….Hell-O..someone forgot to add it.

Oh, wait…they left it out on purpose.

Ooops.

Yups, that right. You buy an incomplete book. No, werewolf reveal here (what a rip off!). But, the final chapter is online. I did not know this and neither did my girlfriends, so we went to the movie and didn’t realize that we would find out who the wolf is…until WHAM! It smacked us in the face.

We were like WHAT?? But I’ll give it props - I liked it. It was a good shock factor.

In fact, I would recommend this. Read the book and then see the movie without reading the final chapter online. Plus, I don’t know about you but I am too lazy to hunt down that chapter. I could put the link here…but I already said that I was too lazy to find it. Just watch the movie.

So was the book better than the movie? I can’t say. The book had a lot more time, you get to know the characters and their backstory A LOT more. In fact, I might not have understood the significance of some of the characters and their stories, in the movie, without the book. But, the book had the awesome factor going for it with the surprise ending. Although, if you read the chapter online, I guess you won’t be surprised. It also has the rockin’ visual of me wolf.

So, it’s a draw. Read the book and then watch the movie. You decide and I would love to hear your thoughts on this. It is after all a subject very near and dear to my heart. So find me on GoodReads, JournalStone.com or leave me a comment right here and tell me what you think.

We can dish and talk fur.

Just remember the werewolf is mine.

Oh and here's a little extra treat for your Monday from me to you. It's the trailer for the movie, so if you are curious or just want to take a break from your day check it out!

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1810157569/trailer



Beastly

  

Title: Beastly

Director: Daniel Barnes

Format: DVD released June 2011

Rating: PG-13

Genre: Young adult, Romance, Fantasy

Starring: Alex Pettyfer, Vanessa Hugens, Mary-Kate Olsen, Neil Patrick Harris

Kyle is a total hottie. He’s tall, got a perfectly tousled head of blond hair, a chiseled jaw and a rockin’ bod. What’s not to love? Ummmm, his personality. Sure he’s looking hot, but then he opens up those kissable lips.

Ooops. Should’ve left them closed.

Cause now my dreams for the prefect man are shattered….

……or are they?

Upon acting like a complete and utter jerkface, he pisses off the one gal you should never cross: a witch. And she isn’t so nice. But hey, would you be if some guy called you an ugly cow? Crap, I’d make him suffer too.  And she does just that by turning him into something he can never imagine: an ugly person…an outsider.

Right after spoofing away his handsome good looks she tells him that only three little words can cure his plight. You guessed it: I love you.

Oh, yeah, and that he’s got only one year to earn some love or he will be stuck like this forever…

Let me start off by saying that I am a complete sucker for this kind of movie. Yeah, so maybe I’m a little cheesy with a little dash of hopeless romantic thrown in, but there you have it. I’m just keepin’ real….keepin’ it real.

I read the book Beastly by Alex Flynn that this movie was adapted from, so when I saw the trailer for this movie I was excited because I really enjoyed the book. But my like of the book is for another time…

I will admit that I was skeptical about the movie because the books are usually so much better. And then there’s the way he looks. In the book he was a beast. Like a real beast, with hair and fangs and claws. In the movie he was tattooed up and bald. A little different - wouldn’t you say?

Turns out, I didn’t mind so much. In fact, I was kind of fascinated by the way he looked; he wasn’t scary in the least to me. I kept wondering what it would be like to touch him. Would his tattoos be raised, would his skin be rough? What about the other ways he was deformed and the way those red lines ran through his skin…would they feel like embedded metal?? My fingers itched to touch him…

And, really, it was a nice twist on the way someone could be made into a beast.

The plot was unoriginal…but it was supposed to be. It was a retake on a classic. It was romantic, and it was much better than I expected it to be. I actually really liked it. When I was looking at pics to save for this review I came across some other reviews…a lot of them unfavorable.

Those people must be grumpy with hardened hearts…maybe they need a visit from Kendra (the witch). Or, maybe, I’m just sappy.

I liked Alex in this role. I thought he did a good job portraying a kid who was being who he thought he should be – not who he really was deep down. I thought Vanessa did a good job as playing a girl who actually saw what the guy tried to hide. I thought the pair had pretty good chemistry.

Some people might argue that he was whiny and stalker-ish. If some witch turned me ugly and then my dad dumped me off in hiding because he couldn’t deal I might whine too. But to be fair, he didn’t really whine. He just hid. Hid from himself as much as from the way he looked. And, I liked the way he watched her…the way he followed her. Because when he was following her he wasn’t thinking about himself he was thinking about her. She exuded the qualities that he himself wished to possess…and did, but didn’t know it.

Something else I really enjoyed about the movie was the quality. The color and the settings were eye catching and beautiful. The colors were so clear and somehow pure. The settings were real and didn’t look staged. And the lake house…I might give up an appendage for that house. In fact, I’d seriously consider it. (especially if hottie was there too.)

The movie did vary from the book, but let’s be frank: the movie usually always does. It has to translate from page to screen and be almost like eye candy for the viewer. Things are always changed because a movie doesn’t have the time a book does.

If you like classic fairytales and classic storylines, you will probably like this movie. If you like hot guys and pretty girls you will like this movie. If you like Neil Patrick Harris playing a funny blind dude you will definitely like this movie. Here’s the thing: don’t sit down to watch and expect it not to be a little corny and romantic because then you are cheating yourself out of that little smile that plays on your lips (that you try and hide) when you watch, or the way you pause when you think he might kiss her or the way your belly flips when he realizes that she sees well beyond his face.

If these things aren’t enough to get you to pay a buck at the Redbox then how about this: while I was watching this movie I was not making mental notes of things to write in this review (I do that a lot when I am watching or reading and know I am doing a review) because I was involved with the characters. If anything can get me out of my head like that then I know it’s a winner.

I wonder how many hopeless romantics are out there that feel the same as I do or am I a dying breed? Grab some candy, a blanket and your honey and curl up to watch this movie. After months of waiting to rent this movie, I can honestly say that it was worth the wait.