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Child's Play (1988)

Child’s Play (1988)



7/10




Starring
Catherine Hicks
Chris Sarandon
Alex Vincent
Brad Dourif

Directed by Tom Holland



To be honest watching Chucky in 2011, still made me shiver. This is one of the best movies we loved back in the 80s, and it was just a cult classic. A magnificent movie about a serial killer's soul getting trapped into a doll. The doll then goes on a killing spree, which involved a young child named Andy.

I'm going to take my time here to discuss the comparison between this Child's Play movie and the rest.

Here is one of the best and only few movies about inanimate objects becoming killers, that is enjoyable.

The movie starts with a serial killer named Charles Lee Ray being chased by a detective. Charles gets shot and still manages to escape to a warehouse. Coming to the understanding that he is about to die, Charles transfers his soul into a Good Guys doll there in the warehouse, using some sort of vodou spell.

A widow named Karen buys a doll from a peddler, as a birthday gift for her six-year-old son Andy. That so happens to be the doll that has Charles' soul.

Charles, still has some set plans for himself, and killing was still something he liked, he killed Karen's best friend who came to babysit Andy, and then started to hurt/hunt Andy and his mother.

What makes Child’s Play 1 better than the rest before the 2013 Curse of Chucky?

The screenplay, when watching a movie especially a horror movie about a Serial killing Doll, the screen play has to be exceptional.
Because I can’t be walking around and a doll will jump me or over power me.
So the screenplay in Child’s Play 1 had scenes were the dolls action’s (although not possible) but were probable. You'd feel, ‘it could happen’ if there was a serial killing doll that was super fast. But the other Child’s Play movies had scenes that were neither possible nor probable.

For example, In Child’s Play 2 there was a scene were Andy tied up to a bed both arms and legs. This was done while Andy was sleeping. So either Andy was a deep sleeper or Chucky has some supernatural muscular strength and with four arms. Or when Chucky used his super muscular arms to knocks him out with the back of a knife.

The director, the second reason why this Chucky is better than the rest is the director, Tom Holland who was also part responsible for the writing and the screenplay. This was the first and only Chucky movie he was involved in. Tom Holland was also responsible for the masterpiece Fright Night which came out 3 years before Chucky.





The movie does put you at the edge of your sit, and makes you feel young again.
The casting of the movie is probably not possibly the reason why this movie is great to see again.

Alex Vincent, who played Andy, acted marvelously well, as his portrayal of a child hunted by a killer doll was intriguing. The fear, the excitement, and the facial expressions were so well done and I believe that all the teen idols of this time need to go learn this.

I even liked his one liner when he had to roast Chucky.

Chucky: Andy, No we are friends to the end, remember

Andy: This is the end, friend!.

Go see Child’s Play 1 if you haven’t seen it and go see it again if you have.

Fright Night (1985)

Fright Night (1985)





7/10




Starring
Chris Sarandon
William Ragsdale
Amanda Bearse
Roddy McDowall


Directed by Tom Holland



Watching Fright Night (1985) alongside Fright Night (2011) (only a day apart), may not be the best way to review the movie. But I must say Fright Night (1985) is a good movie, although it has so much loose strings in the plot, and the CGI not anywhere near what we see now, but yet still I give Kudos to the makers.

The Acting was far much better than Fright Night (2011), but the plot in the later version is much more precise and straight. The Visual Effect was not masterful but it was good, there was a scene where Peter Vincent (Roddy McDowall) killed Ed (Stephen Geoffreys) the visual effect in the transformation was nicely done, as the Camera was changing focus during the transformation, will make you appreciate the 80s.

The plot of the movie is a little like its remake, Charley Brewster (William Ragsdale) has a feeling something funny is leaving next door. He started observing his neighbor and he discovers that a fanged creature is leaving next door. When he expresses his thoughts about the fanged new neighbor Jerry Dandridge (Chris Sarandon) to the police, he was laughed at. But upon telling his girlfriend, Amy (Amanda Bearse) she believes he is avoiding their relationship issues by making up stories. His best buddy Ed thinks his gone bananas and his single mom thinks Dandridge (Chris Sarandon) could be a potential boyfriend.

I really appreciate the work done by the editor and the cinematographer, making this movie look captivating and the horror scenes engaging that even 26 years later the movie is still interesting to watch and not a mediocre that is only good to watch when in the 80s.

The director Tom Holland (who also directed and wrote the first Child’s Play: Chucky in 1988) who was also the writer put this all together, the thing about when a writer directs his own film is what you get in the end will be what he had in his head. Roddy McDowall won a Saturn Award for best supporting actor that year and the movie won best horror film that year. The movie came out same year and same time with Nightmare on Elm’s street 2: Freddy’s Revenge.

This movie was a critical masterpiece with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 93%, higher than its remake.

All i can say is that movie lovers should go watch this horror flick don't mind the time it was made, it is a classic horror movie that has aged well. The acting is top-notch and the drama gets you glued from the start to the finish.

Fright Night (2011)

FRIGHT NIGHT (2011)





7/10




Starring

Anton Yelchin
Colin Farrell
David Tennant
Imogen Poots
Toni Collette
Christopher Mintz-Plasse


Directed by Craig Gillespie



Fright Night is Dark Night.

This is a remake of the 1985 movie of the same name and it is exceptionally good. This is the second Colin Farrell lead role movie that I enjoyed first being Phone Booth (2002).
This is a movie to go see this weekend with your girl by your side.

With a mix of comic thrill, horror and fantasy, fright night is well packed. This movie is what the Twilight Series is meant to be, removing the melodrama and the watered down life of the underworld which Twilight brings.
Fright Night displays Colin at his best, as we first see him play Jerry as a boring obvious vampire neighbor and in minutes turn to Jerry the sneaky odd  neighbor then to a CGI shark teeth creature, who won’t die easily.

The movie plot has Charlie, a young adult feeling cool with his life right now. He hangs with the famous crowd and has a hot girlfriend. Things start to turn upside down when old time friend Ed, starts to call Charlie that they need to go investigate the missing students. It gets more awkward when Ed further suggest they investigate his theory that there is something odd about his neighbor, Jerry.

Can’t say more than this not to spoil the fun for you so go watch it and be amazed at the fun you’ll have.

The director Craig Gillespie (Lars and the Real Girl) and writer Marti Noxon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), did a good job by not letting the movie turn to a mockery, since horror movies which tend to infuse comedy in it always end up looking lost.
This is a firm upgrade for Marti as she is use to the writing material thanks to Buffy the WHACK! Vampire Slayer, she made the movie dark just how a vampire movie should be.

No one can help but love the two lead cast Colin Farrell and David Tennant (the 10th version of Doctor Who), they delivered wondrous performances, with the later having to act an alcoholic magician with some vampire issues. Like all good movies come, Fright Night doesn't slack in adding its own twists that just keep a smile on your face.

The CGI was graceful, and dialogue unique.

The movie displays fun face-offs between the leads, and the CGI in the movie is well grafted into it.
The movie is a good upgrade to its 1985 version in every way, and it showcases fun scenes that are both funny and scary.
If you are like me and don’t find horror flicks interesting, then this may rejuvenate your thinking.

Final Destination 5 (2011)

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Final Destination 5




4/10


Starring
Nicholas D'Agosto
Emma Bell
Miles Fisher
Arlen Escarpeta

Directed by Steven Quale

Distributed by New Line Cinema
(Warner Bros.)



Based on the same storyline like the previous prequels Final Destination 5 adds nothing new to the already known tale of:

“Death’s revenge on the ones that made it”

This movie coins the phrase “you’ve seen one, you’ve it all”, although the writers were more creative with the death scenes…more likely the plot that leads to the death scenes; Still final destination 5 lacks creativity, and all too predictable.

Although this is the highest rated of all five versions, it still fell in the realm of too predictable.

All other final destinations (except Final Destination 2) always have a tragic end where death wins including this one, giving us the idea that you can run as much as you want but death is still gonna catch ya.

For me if i get a premonition am about to die, i guess i will do the same as this our leads and try to make a get away.
Hey!
why not prolong the inevitable?

Horror movies get to go on and on, like SAW but I guess Final Destination was made for those who are mentally OKAY, who just want to see a quick painless death, than the more gore torture to death that SAW provides.

Our main character here is Sam who works in a paper company and was going on a company retreat with his fellow co-workers.
While in the bus, he has a premonition about the death of everyone in the bus on the Vancouver’s Lions Gate Bridge. He saw his colleagues killed in the most horrific way, as they try to escape from the collapsing bridge. Upon waking up and seeing the events unfold just as it did in his dream he caused a scene got off the bus, taking his girlfriend with him. He was chased by his best friend and his girl, then a black guy, a horny dog, a slutty chick and a teacher.

The incident happened as he saw it but the lucky 8 escaped and we then watch as death starts to take them out one by one.

Under the direction of James Cameron’s protĂ©gĂ© Steven Quale who has been working with Cameron since 1989 The Abyss and also worked on hits like Terminator 2: judgement day, True Lies, Titanic, and Avatar.

Final Destination 5 is Quale's debut in a box office movie.
In this movie, he tease’s you each time you are watching a death scene, as you start to guess what exactly is going to send this characters to the next realm, as you are watching you see fire burning here, needles sticking out here, screw loose somewhere, and you just can’t figure which is going to do the deed.

Written by Eric Heisserer, who worked on last year’s A Nightmare on Elm Street remake, he adds a twist to the normal tale we are use to.
The twist though was well snipped at the bud before it got over board.

The Change Up (2011)

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The Change Up





2/10




Starring

Ryan Reynolds
Jason Bateman


Directed by David Dobkin

Distributed by Universal Pictures



Ever get the feeling that Hollywood is mocking us?
I did when i saw "The Change-Up", this movie goes downhill, from the very first GO.

Why do some writers think, Poop is funny?
The movie stars Ryan Reynolds (Green Lantern) and Jason Bateman (Horrible Bosses)
Our first poop joke comes when Bateman gets poop projected right into his mouth.

The jokes in the movie were not funny just eewww...

And the plot is ever so predictable, we were meant to believe that both guys envied each other's lives before the switch, but the dialogue that led to the switch vaguely indicated that.

Directed by David Dobkin, and written by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore, from Hangover and Hangover II. This piece is directed and written for those whose minds can't comprehend a good joke. The movie is more irritating than funny, and a drag.

The predictable plot goes, Two best friends; Reynolds as Mitch, is a jobless loser while Bateman is Dave an overworked lawyer, married with 3 kids. One miserable night (Miserable for me the watcher)our drunken duo, decides to pee in a fountain, while talking about who's life sucks more.

Then...Ta-da!

The old switch-a-roo happens.

At the end, we get to see these two knuckleheads urinate in the fountain again to get their lives back, may i add the writers felt it will be fun that they do it by being a public nuisance, in broad daylight at a party with some people recording.



Well after a taste of what Change up brings I desperately miss watching high budget productions that makes you think and wonder at the mastery of the act of film making.
This is a good reason to stay off films done by these two, but I will have to add, that the problem with films like this is not mostly the actors but the producers, who felt obliged to buy such a script and get a film company to believe that they are investing in a good job well done.

Film production companies need to go back to their roots when shabby mistakes like this will not even pass for a short film, and I think directors and producers should have new aims in like wanting to make movies that will last through all the ages.

Nobody will want to sit down and recall the days when I sat and watched a movie about two men pissing in a fountain.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)

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Rise of the Planet of the Apes


6/10




Starring

James Franco
Freida Pinto
John Lithgow
Brian Cox
Tom Felton
Andy Serkis


Directed by Rupert Wyatt

Distributed by 20th Century Fox





Rise of the Planet of the Apes, is a prequel that drives a stake into the heart of boredom. The movie is thrilling and captivating and will make you look forward to the next part.

This sci-fi movie is a reboot of the Planet of the Apes five film series which were created between the years of 1968–1973 and were produced by Arthur P. Jacobs, and based on Boulle's original novel.
Rise of the Planet of the Apes was both a critical and commercial success making over 5 times its production budget in the box office and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.
Directed by Rupert Wyatt (The Escapist 2008) we are led through a movie where we get to look at things from the eye view of a Chimp.

Although you will not get surprised, since you can kind of figure-out where the movie is going, the fun I guess will be how Rupert is going to get you there.

James Franco, who was magnificent in 127 hours, and as Harry Osborn in the Spider-Man trilogy, pulled a stunning performance.
The real reason this movie is so cool is the blend between live-action and CGI. It is something you will want to see.

Well, as we all know when science tries to mess with nature the result is always something trying to kill mankind. Well I guess that’s the spoiler of this flick.

James Franco plays Will Rodman, our “Scientist” who has been injecting Chimps with some super-serum and he meant no harm (as they always do) but as it so happens, the serum which was meant to generate cell growth in their brains did not only that but it also made them more intelligent. So something led to something and Will gets left with a baby Chimp. He trained the Chimp, which later turned around and went all Hitler on the human race.

Also in this movie is Tom Felton (Harry Potter’s arch nemesis Draco Malfoy) well he played his part well and also gave me some smiles.

This movie ran on its own for the better part without live-action and I have to give the director credit for that. Although this movie may not be the best movie of this year it is certainly one to watch and the sequel is worth anticipating for.
A sequel to the film, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, is set for release in May 2014.
 

The Smurfs (2011)

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The Smurfs















2/10




Starring
Neil Patrick Harris
Jayma Mays
SofĂ­a Vergara
Hank Azaria
Jonathan Winters
Katy Perry

Directed by Raja Gosnell

Distributed by Columbia Pictures



I remember way back then when I actually watched the Smurfs and enjoyed it, I guess I must have not known much then because I can’t even remember one episode.
 
But Just imagine watching a movie where little blue creatures sing la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la all the opportune time…it was nauseating.

The Smurfs is a 2011 3D family film that has both CGI animation and live action. The movie is based on The Smurfs comic book series created by the Belgian comic artist Peyo and the animated TV series it spawned in the 1980s. It was directed by Raja Gosnell, who brought about Scooby doo 1 and 2, well the apple didn’t fall far from the tree with the Smurfs same over acting and the same irritable feeling I got watching Scooby doo. Every scene was filled with words of smufs, and it went more like, What the smurf is this? And smurf that...

The plot of this movie has the Smurfs in their magical “relm” when the evil Gargamel discovers their hide away. So in trying to get away they get sucked into a wormhole, and find themselves in Manhattan (also Gargamel followed), where they meet and befriend a cosmetic marketer Patrick Winslow (Neil Patrick Harris) and his wife Grace (Jayma Mays). For the rest of the plot go to Wikipedia and don’t waste the time watching this.

The storyline could be better and the acting was bad, it was obvious Neil Patrick and Jayma Mays are not use to acting with CGI, because their hand movements when holding or hugging the Smurfs betrayed the idea that this characters weren’t really there.

Gargamel….well concerning this character I will let you watch the movie and come to a conclusion yourself of how a character should NEVER be portrayed. 

Due to its commercial success making 5 times its production worth in the box office Sony has not hesitated to have a sequel produced.

Right from the inception of this movie Sony had planned to make a Smurf trilogy with this being the first. A sequel titled The Smurfs 2 will be released on July 31, 2013. Director Raja Gosnell and producer Jordan Kerner will return, along with all the main cast.

I guess since a new season is not yet on air, Neil Patrick as Barney of How I Met Your Mother, decide to make some cash of his own, by lending his talents to this mistake that happened on 3D.