Killers

2010
Rated PG-13

My Rating: 3 out of 5 secrets

Expectation: I expected to simply like this movie. Seemed like a typical ‘boy-meets-girl’ movie with the ‘he’s secretly a hitman’ twist. So, he lies! And then, she gets involved somehow and antics ensue. Been there, seen that several times. Still, it looks cute.

Date Watched: June 13, 2010

Review: While predictable and cliché, I did still enjoy it. Lead actress Katherine Heigl was fantastic. I thought she was fun to watch. I didn’t realize the movie would have as many laughs as it did. The funny parts were from her and Catherine O’Hara. There was a little more death in this movie than I expected. Ashton Kutcher playing an adult was as unbelievable as him playing an assassin.

Who would I recommend this movie to? At first, I was considering to label this a ‘chick flick’. But, there is plenty for guys to appreciate. So, I would recommend this to anyone who is in the mood of a watered-down action-comedy without a lot of plot.

Would I watch this movie again? No.

* This movie gets an Arbie Award for Most Realistic Mother in an Action-Comedy

Drag Me To Hell

2009
Rated PG-13

My Rating: 3 out of 5 gypsy curses

Expectation: I expected a bad throwback to cheesy 80's horror movies. I had no anticipation of enjoyment. It seemed to be a typical group of teens being haunted by something. Admit it, the title doesn't invoke promise.

Date Watched: October 31, 2009

Review: I don't know what possessed me to watch this. Maybe it was the Halloween season. It was not very scary. It was gross with a couple moments when the movie throws in a few loud-sudden moments to try to make you jump. It was not a teen-horror-slasher movie. But, it was actually one of the better “gypsy/curse” type movies I’ve seen. It’s a good October movie if you want to get into the Halloween spirit. The movie kept me wondering what gross thing is going to happen next. I will say this: A lot of gross things go into the main characters mouth. I didn’t like the excessive use of computer graphics. Too obvious.

Who would I recommend this movie to? I recommend this to people who enjoy horror flicks about being dragged to hell. Keep in mind this isn’t a great movie. Don’t hold too high of an expectation except to enjoy demons and running from them.

Would I watch this movie again? Maybe around Halloween it can play in the background while enjoying time with friends.

* This movie gets an Arbie Award for Oldest Violent Gypsy Woman

Irreversible

(French)
2002
Unrated

My Rating: 3 out of 5 creepy red hallways

Expectation: I first saw this film on my own with no knowledge of what it was about. I saw it at the video store under the ‘Foreign New Releases’ section. The summary on the back of the cover is what got my attention. It said –according to my memory- that it told a story about revenge in reverse. It took the story into segments and showed them from ending to the ‘surprise’ beginning. The concept of this storytelling is what got my attention. Other than that, I had no idea what I was getting into. Sounded like the same old story, told differently.

Date Watched: Early 2004

Review: Despite the low rating, I find is amazing. It delivered what it offered. I loved the storytelling aspect. This movie stirs emotion with violence, sex, drugs and anger. It is actually a very shocking movie. It is disturbing and unforgettable. The keystone of the movie is the graphic rape scene that serves as the catalyst for the plot. It is intense. I hate this movie for the way it makes me feel. It is often uncomfortable. But, I respect this movie for boldly telling a tragic story and stirring emotions. My biggest gripe: the ending (aka beginning) wasn’t satisfying. Suffice to say it just wasn’t as good as the rest of the story.

Who would I recommend this movie to? Very few people. I would suggest this to people who aren’t afraid of a controversial movie. You also have to like foreign films.

Would I watch this movie again? I’ve seen it twice. I’ve had enough.

* This movie gets an Arbie Award for Most Violent Death Using a Fire Extinguisher

A Nightmare on Elm Street

2010
Rated R

My Rating: 3 out of 5 claws

Expectation: I expected this movie to suck a little. Most remakes are not so good. Critics were tearing this one up before it hit theaters. The previews made this movie look darker than the original. First, I was upset. Then, I was curious.  I wasn't expecting much.  I just hoped to be entertained. 

Date Watched: April 30, 2010

Review: I liked this better than I thought I would. I was afraid of it being too much like the original or too far from it. It is safe to say that this was a different expression on the same story. It was dark, but not quite as gory as I expected. I was disappointed in the lack of creativity the original Freddie had oodles of. But, I liked it well enough. Very loud at times in the theater. A few jumpy scenes. Watch it with a date.

Who would I recommend this movie to? I would recommend this to horror fans that aren't afraid of a remake. Imagine the same story with a different storyteller.

Would I watch this movie again? Eh. Maybe or not. It was good, but I don't feel a reason to watch it again.

* This movie gets an Arbie Award for Stripiest Sweater in a Sequel