orangestar Reviews

The Reaping (2007)

Freaked the hell out of me

[7/10 · 7 April 2007]

I only saw about half of The Reaping because for the other half, my eyes were either peeking out from between my fingers, or buried in my boyfriend's collar. I used to consider myself a horror movie enthusiast, but The Reaping has proved that deep down, I am an easily terrified little girl. I cant possibly overstate this: This is one of the flat-out freakiest movies I have ever seen, and I've seen more than my fair share of freaky movies.

Two time Oscar winner, Hilary Swank plays Katherine, an ordained minister turned miracle myth-buster. She gets called to a small town called Haven, which seems to be going through the ten biblical plagues (if it's been a while since your last bible reading, they talk through a little refresher course about the history and order of them). The townspeople are blaming a young girl from an outcast family that lives near the river which has suddenly turned blood-red. Katherine and her assistant Ben go on a mission to debunk the towns fears and find scientific explanations for all of the events. It doesn't quite work out. The little girl, Lauren, is so similar to the daughter that Katherine lost (in the most bizarre way ever), that she takes pity on her when the rest of the town is calling for her to be killed. I'd bet money that you can't figure out where the plot twist is going to lead you.

Usually I am all for seeing any kind of gross, gory dead body on a movie screen, but this movie took it to a place even I couldn't watch for more than a second. In hindsight, it was a lot of "Boo!" scares and creepy little kid staring, but while I was in the theater, it was so scary. Hilary Swank, brilliant as usual, had to hold the whole movie by herself, with a no-name cast to back her up. The one major (and I mean HUGE) flaw is that it straight up stole a plot point from Rosemary's Baby. But If you haven't seen Rosemary's Baby, then who cares? With all kinds of crazy flashbacks, buckets of blood, frogs, locusts, flies, and some pretty crappy cgi fire raining down from the sky, this movie surpassed all of my religious horror movie expectations. Go see it, and be prepared to be truly freaked out.

Click (2006)

Surprisingly enough...an Adam Sandler movie I didn't hate

[23 October 2006]

Let my start by saying this: I have no respect for Adam Sandler. I hated Happy Gilmore, Billy Madison, The Water Boy, and even Punch Drunk Love. I'm not a fan. However, my boyfriend is of a different opinion and insisted on watching Click the day it was released on DVD.

I was very happily surprised.

Adam Sandler plays Michael, a workaholic father of two who always lets his job as an architect come before his family. One day he walks into the waaaaay back of a Bed Bath & Beyond looking for a universal remote control. He is helped by an eccentric sales clerk played by the wonderful Christopher Walken. He gives him an "experimental" blue remote control with the warning "This item is non-returnable." But this is no normal remote control. Michael soon discovers that he can pause, fast forward, mute, and (kind of) rewind his entire life. Soon, the remote begins fast-forwarding all by itself. Michael misses out on huge important portions of his life, but he can't rewind and do them over. He can only go back and watch how he ignored his family, and neglected everything except his job.

This movie teaches us a very obvious lesson. Family is the most important thing, and it should always come first. I love the scenes when Michael realizes this, and falls in love with his family all over again. I'm not sure Adam Sandler would have been my first though for the role, but after watching it, I can't imagine anyone else.

Overall, Click gave me a tiny bit of respect for Adam Sandler, and I'm gonna go try to watch Happy Gilmore again...wish me luck.

Red Eye (2005)

Good Thriller

[8/10 · 29 September 2006]

RED EYE - 2005 Wes Craven is a master at his craft. His movies are usually scary box-office gold mines and this is no exception. Red Eye is the story of a man and a woman who meet at an airport. After he buys her a drink and they have a little conversation, they find themselves seated next to each other on the plane to Miami. But Jackson Rippner is not who he seems to be. The situation takes a frightening turn and Lisa needs to take quick action to save her hotel, her father's life, and her own life. It is classic Wes Craven directing, and you can see his touch on every shot. I was watching it with another movie buff, and we yelled out every time we saw a shot or an angle that reminded us of Scream. There were more than a few. I really can't say enough good things about the directing. It changed the whole movie.

I've had an interest in Cillian Murphy ever since I saw his awesome performance in 28 Days Later. Well, 3 years later his performance is just as sharp. He steals every scene he's in, but Rachel McAdams showed her talent as well. It's nice to see her diversifying her credits. Brian Cox almost literally "called it in" on this one. But I love that guy, so props to him.

Overall, this was a very well done addition to Wes Craven's long list of films. If you're looking for a thriller to take your mind off everything, this one will have you on the edge of your seat. 8/10

The Descent (2005)

A Claustrophobic's Nightmare

[8/10 · 25 August 2006]

Six adventurous twenty-something girlfriends go on a daring descent into uncharted caves. One woman is dealing with the loss of her husband and daughter, and by the end of the movie she has lost a lot more than that; including her sanity.

With an almost all female cast, The Descent stands out in the field of horror movies. It's a fresh, original plot with creepy monsters and great jumpy scares. But with a misleading trailer and not-quite-wide-enough release, I'm afraid this one will get passed over at the box office.

Throughout the movie, we are thrown into almost complete darkness many times. There are scenes which would make claustrophobics hyperventilate. There's no denying it: This is a scary one. But it's so much more than that. It's a study of how one emotionally damaged woman deals with circumstances that would make grown men wet themselves. Friendships begin and end, secrets come out, and we are left stunned as these women battle not only the cave monsters, but their own instincts.

Final Score: 8/10

Lady in the Water (2006)

Unexpectedly good

[8/10 · 31 July 2006]

I have seen all of the "big" M. Night Shyamalan movies: Unbreakable, The Sizth Sense, The Village, and Signs. I loved some of them, and hated others, but all of them felt like the same type of movie. The Lady in the Water is much different. With Shyamalan taking a more personal story to the big screen, he hit all the right notes.

First off, the cast is superb. The worst acting job came from M. Night himself, but I can forgive him. It's unusual for him to cast himself in such an important role, but I understand why he did it. This film gave me newfound respect for Paul Giamatti. He kept me glued to the screen the way that only great actors can. Bryce Dallas Howard was much better in The Village, but maybe her white eyelashes just freaked me out in this one. She was distractingly wet for the entire film, and she had so few lines I can barely call her the star of this movie. The supporting cast is made up of mostly un-knowns with a few recognizable faces thrown in. Watch out for the not-so-sly Roger Ebert references.

The other 4 well-known Shyamalan movies have his traditional "twist ending". This one is more of a winding road that keeps you guessing the entire time. People say that about a lot of movies, but this one really will stump most people. The ending is done well, but it's not a surprise in itself.

Overall, The Lady in the Water was a surprisingly entertaining ride. It won't suit mass audiences, because it takes it's time with the storytelling. But if you're looking for a good time-out from reality, I'd recommend this flick.

You, Me and Dupree (2006)

Not Bad

[6/10 · 18 July 2006]

I'm a sucker for romantic comedies of all shapes, sizes, and star-qualities. This one has some of my favorite comedic actors of this generation, and it doesn't disappoint with bringing the laughs.

Matt Dillon and Kate Hudson star as a newlywed couple who invite their jobless, unmarried, down-on-his-luck best man (played by Owen Wilson in a mediocre performance) to live in their house just until he "gets back on his feet". Famous Last Words, right? Dupree destroys their living room, injures himself and others, and generally embarrasses himself, while still becoming Molly's dad's fishing buddy and out-shining Carl in every way.

This movie isn't nearly as bad as some critics are saying. It made me laugh, and thats all I can ask for. The dramatic elements fall short, mostly because Michael Douglas was not even trying. If you liked The Break Up, I think this one would be good for you.

See it, and unplug for a couple hours.

Everything Is Illuminated (2005)

Worth a Rent

[8/10 · 17 July 2006]

Everything is Illuminated If I could use one word to describe this movie it would be Unexpected. You can never know what to expect when an actor makes his directorial debut. In the case of Liev Schreiber, I was pleasantly surprised. He kept the movie light and funny, while leaving the darker message intact.

Although Elijah Wood is first-billed, the Ukranian dancer/ladies man/tour guide/translator Alex steals the show. When him and the "seeing eye bitch" Sammy Davis Jr. Jr. are on screen, you get pulled into the scene and can't stop laughing. On the flip side, he also has a few tense scenes that are completely believable.

The beginning and end of this film are slow moving, with almost no dialogue, but don't let that throw you off. The middle is filled with premium comedy and amazing imagery that will make you continue thinking about it after the movie is over. Have fun with this one :)

The Break-Up (2006)

One of the best romantic comedies I've ever seen

[9/10 · 2 June 2006]

In addition to being one of the best romantic comedies I've ever seen, it is also flat out one of the funniest movies I've seen in the last 5 years.

Vaughn and Aniston have amazing chemistry on-screen, and this is the only movie that I've ever thought Aniston was not playing 'Rachel'. Their relationship is believable and realistic and romantic. They fight and bicker like a real couple, then they try so hard to reconcile something that they don't know is there.

Although the ambiguous ending made me a little disappointed, I would have to say this is a good one. Go see it.

Match Point (2005)

Worth The Wait

[8/10 · 29 May 2006]

I remember sitting in a theater, waiting for the feature presentation to start, and watching the preview for Match Point. It's always a fun experience, because in the trailers, all movies look great. When I saw the trailer for Match Point, I was in a mood where I was sick of Scarlett Johansson and all the attention she was getting. But then I saw the beautiful face of Jonathan Rhys Meyers, and I kinda got excited for this one. When I found out that Woody Allen was directing sealed the deal. Too bad it was rated R. Being only 16 with restrictive parents, this was a bad sign.

When I turned 17 and got a Netflix account, Match Point quickly moved it's way to the top of my queue. I popped it into my DVD player at around 11 o'clock at night and settled in for a night of Woody Allen flavored goodness. It was nothing like I expected, yet still served it's purpose.

Scarlett Johansson plays an almost-but-not-quite stereotypical obsessive, sexy, psycho mistress. Through the first hour, I was pretty sick of her because she looked like she was just showing up for the paycheck, and not really giving it the talent I know she has. Then when the big plot twist comes, everything changes. She turns in one of the best performances of her career thus far. Her and Rhys Meyers have explosive chemistry that lights up the screen from the first time they meet.

This film was definitely worth the wait. It is a rare movie that can keep me awake past 12:30. It's so Un-Woody Allen, but you can see a few elements of his genius. I'd definitely recommend this to a friend.

Hostel (2005)

Better than Cabin Fever...but still not great

[6/10 · 18 April 2006]

If only I could get Eli Roth to sit down for an interview, there is so much I would like to discuss with him. I really enjoyed Cabin Fever the first time I saw it. Although the more I analyze it, the less I like it, it's not a bad movie. When I heard about this new sadistic thriller with Roth's name on it, I was immediately curious. I didn't get a chance to see it in theaters, but I rented it the day it came out on DVD to quench my curiosity. I made sure I avoided any reviews of it, so I went into it with expectations for a really, truly sadistic gory ride.

I was not disappointed. Using three (almost)unknowns as the leads was a good idea. Jay Hernandez was especially believable and sympathetic. The story is not important...lots of booze, drugs, and foreign-girl sex. The good part starts in a dark basement of a huge warehouse. This is where Elite Hunting is headquartered. In the dingy, dirty rooms, people can pay money to torture and kill tourists. Yep...thats basically it.

Roth took this idea and ran. He ran straight for the gore. If you're a gore hound like me, this film delivers. This contains one of the very few scenes which made me feel sick to my stomach.

Overall, I recommend it...but definitely not for the faint of heart.

Evil Dead II (1987)

Classic? Maybe not

[4/10 · 5 April 2006]

I'm going to preface this by saying that I haven't seen Evil Dead 1 or Army Of Darkness, so I'm taking this movie at face value. I can't compare or contrast it to either its predecessor or its sequel.

I watched this movie when I was in the mood for something scary...not hokey. I also watched it with someone who had seen it before and felt the need to warn me before anything happened. But even disregarding these factors, I didn't enjoy this movie. The one-liners for which this movie is so often praised were not only predictable, but they weren't funny. If I had to use one word to describe Evil Dead 2 it would be Boring.

There were a few bright spots, however. Bruce Campbell is undeniably charming as Ash. The other actors were forgettable, but Bruce is a legend for a reason. Also the 'monsters' were well done and satisfied the need for a bit of gore in this flick.

Overall, I rated it a 4. Maybe if I saw Evil Dead 1 it would improve the experience....then again maybe not.

The Langoliers (1995)

One of the most accurate adaptations ever

[8/10 · 23 December 2004]

THE LANGOLIERS

As soon as I read the novella "The Langoliers" by Stephen King, I knew it would make an amazing movie. It was by far the scariest piece of writing I have ever read and I was delighted to see that it had already been made into a TV movie. It took me over a year to find a copy, but it was worth it.

People complain about the crappy computer FX and the bad acting, but if you pay attention to the amazing storyline and the logic and thinking that went into this story, you'll find that it is an enjoyable movie that will keep you glued to the screen.

Teen Knight (1999)

Not THAT bad.

[19 June 2004]

If you've read the other comments, you get the feeling that this was absolutely horrible, which it wasn't. It definitely wasn't Oscar worthy, but if you get the chance to watch it, it has some small entertainment value.

The basic premise is this: A teenager wins a trip to a new 'Knights of the Round Table' themed park. He goes and meets up with the stereotypical geek and rich kids who also won the trip. They are supposed to be filming a commercial for the park. Well a big storm comes and hilarity ensues. Dragons come to life, and real knights want to kill them.

Acting is sub-par, and effects are too.

Not rent-worthy but if its on TV, give it a try.

Rollercoaster (1999)

Great movie about real life

[15 January 2004]

**** Roller Coaster **** 7.5/10 Starring: Brendan Fletcher, Kett Turton, Crystal Buble, Brent Glenen, Sean Amsing, David Lovegren

Plot: A Group of teens jump the fence of a defunct amusement park with a plan to end it all. Love stories, surprises and great acting ensues.

Not everyone is going to like this movie. Most people will, in fact, hate it. Its fairly slow, a little boring at times, and has unknowns as the leads. But it has one redeeming factor that makes it all worthwhile: Its so true. Every last bit is like its taken from the life of the average city teenager. Every parent should see this to know whats going on in their child's head.

The Acting is incredible. All except Sean Amsing. Hes just bad. But Brendan Fletcher should go far in his career. A Homosexual homophobic. Its an oxymoron and he plays it like a pro. He denies his feelings, but knows they are there. Crystal Buble's character could have been played by almost any young female actress, and the part about her being a slut wasn't that believable, but the rest rocked!

The character that stood out for me was Darrin (Kett Turton) He was so....disturbed. You could tell what he was really thinking on his face, even when he didn't express it with actions.

This is not a Hollywood fluff movie. It definitely does not have the romantic Hollywood ending, it is depressing, and if you don't watch every minute you wont know exactly what is going on. But if you want a quality movie about real life things then this is a great choice!

7.5/10

Runaway Jury (2003)

Surprisingly Awesome

[9/10 · 22 December 2003]

RUNAWAY JURY (2003) *Gene Hackman, John Cusak, Dustin Hoffman*

I saw this movie without ever reading anything about it or knowing anything about the storyline. For about the first half hour, I had no idea what was going on, but once the light bulb turned on in my head, I was in for an emotional roller coaster ride of a movie.

Acting- I was very impressed with John Cusak, in a rare non-romantic-comedy of his. Hes very convincing. After seeing the ending, I think it would have been hard to do this movie and not give away the shocking end. Gene Hackman, as usual is great. I am a huge fan of Dustin Hoffman and I wouldn't say I was disappointed exactly, but I feel like he didn't put his all into this film. overall the acting is really great.

Action- The action sequences are far and few between, but they got my heart racing. My friend and I were the only people in the theater so we were yelling "Get out, come on he's coming home soon!!!" at the screen.

Drama- I wouldn't classify this movie as a courtroom drama (but that would explain Dylan McDermott's appearance) but it almost had me crying on more than one occasion.

Overall: 9/10 I wasn't expecting much when I went into the theater, but I came out with a new movie on my "must buy" list. I would definitely recommend this as a crime/courtroom drama/thriller that is heart wrenching and heart racing at the same time.

The Ring (2002)

***1/2 out of *****

[22 November 2003]

THE RING(2002)

***1/2 out of *****

Naomi Watts, Martin Henderson, Daveigh Chase, Brian Cox, David Dorfman

Plot- Some teenagers are killed when they watch a weird tape at a lodge. Rachel (Watts) is a journalist and she decides to find out what really happened to those kids, and the story behind the infamous tape.

This Movie is not as bad as some people claim, I have to admit, it had me white knuckled, grabbing the arms of my chair, jumping and sometimes screaming. But, it used cheap methods to get me to do that jumping and screaming.

The acting is top notch, Naomi Watts was meant for this role, this girl can act! Brian Cox is also wonderful as Richard Morgan. Little David Dorfman is my only annoyance, hes just to serious and over acts a bit.

My huge problem with this film is all the loud noises that indicate scene changes. Horror movies like this should have you feeling suspenseful and wondering whats going to happen next, not sitting there panicking about when the next huge loud noise is going to be. And literally, panicking is the only word for it.

This film in one word- CREEPY. I recommend it to anyone who likes horror and doesn't mind a ton of jump scenes.

Bowling for Columbine (2002)

Bowling for Columbine ***** out of *****

[9/10 · 15 November 2003]

Bowling for Columbine ***** out of *****

Two words to describe this movie- "Eye Opening". Bowling for Columbine is not just a movie, its an experience. Sorry to use the cliche, but it made me laugh, it made me cry. Michael Moore has some definite talent in the field of making documentaries. I'm an American and I'm patriotic and all that, but this movie made me think more than any movie has before. He takes on the issue of guns in America, shows us the good, the bad, and the ugly. We meet people who have had bad experiences with guns, and we meet the vice-president of the NRA. Bottom line, its a great movie.

My favorite part is when we have a little visit with Charlton Heston. Watch it to see what I mean. I would definetly recommend this movie to everyone.

Friday the 13th (1980)

One of the Original Slashers

[15 November 2003]

Friday the Thirteenth ***1/2 out of *****

A killer with a vengeance takes his anger out on a summer camp, killing horny teenage counselors along the way.

This movie, In my opinion is much more entertaining and scarier than the other big horror franchises "Halloween" and "Nightmare on Elm Street", the direction is decent, the sound effects rule, and the killings are merciless, creative, and gory! What more could you want? Well, for one, I could ask for some better acting, its pretty bad.

What really makes this film worth watching is the kills! They aren't Over the top gory, but they satisfied me for the day!

Overall, this is your average slasher flick, watch it if you are looking for mindless, gory entertainment for a couple hours.

Perfect Partner (2002– )

Fun to watch

[19 August 2003]

Perfect partner has some good qualities and some bad ones. This is really just another reality dating show. Basically, a man or a woman is picked for the show and two of his/her friends and two family members are picked to go around town and find people that want to date the person. The two family members are in a group and the two friends are in a group and each group finds five or six people that they think are their persons type. The person goes on a date with the one that each group picks then at the end of the show he/she decides whether her friends or her family know her best. The Host is INCREDIBLY annoying. Unbelivebly is a better word for it. She laughs like a sick cow...and she laughs all the time. On my scale of 1 to 5 this show is a 2.5, meaning it's watchable, but not a great show by any means.

What Lies Beneath (2000)

Good Thrills, too many cliches

[2 July 2003]

I saw this first in the theater with a friend and it was the first movie that I actually screamed at. It definitely has some quality thrills and shocks. It successfully leads you off trail of the actual killer for a while but after it gives it away it kind of ruins the end of the movie. *POSSIBLE SPOILER* The part that really scared me was the scene when Michelle is in the bathtub and you aren't sure if Harrison Ford is dead or knocked out or what on the floor. *END OF SPOILER* But honestly, how many times have we seen movies where the husband deceives the wife, come on. One of my favorite parts of this movie is that it is very scary with almost no gore at all. A little blood and a little rotting body once, but thats all. If I can handle it, anyone can. I give it an 8/10

The Lion King (1994)

Great Music, Great Movie

[9/10 · 9 January 2003]

First and Foremost, this is a great Disney animated film, as almost all are. The story is endearing and Simba, Nala, Timon, and Pumba all capture your heart. The other outstanding part of this movie is the wonderful music of Elton John, this movie showcases his amazing musical talent in a great way!