#MovieMonday Interstellar Review

Man’s ability to dream and desire to explore has long been one of our defining features and what’s helped make our species, for better or worse, the dominant one on Earth, allowing for travel far beyond what was possible only 100 years ago. However, there is an argument to be made – a valid one – that we’ve stopped looking outward to the stars and the possibility of what lies beyond, and are now entirely too focused on the pettiness of looking down. Though it hasn’t much in recent memory, science fiction can show us a better future or at least a desire to create one. Christopher Nolan addresses this, and a whole lot of other things, in his new film Interstellar, a throwback to the space exploration films of the 1960s, now using state-of-the-art special effects and IMAX camera technology.

Clearly influenced (almost ridiculously so) by Stanley Kubrick’s brilliant 2001: A Space Odyssey, Interstellar is a lofty idea for a film, focusing on mankind’s final efforts to reach a new habitable planet whilst rapid deforestation, debilitating dust storms, and a dwindling supply of food make continued life on Earth a finite prospect. It’s also the only film I can think of to focus so extensively on the Theory of Relativity as it pertains to time near black holes. It shows us a completely fictionalized account of what could happen to a person inside a black hole. The science of a lot of it toward the end doesn’t make any sense, or at least none by what we currently know about science, however, if you are willing to entertain the possibility of the beginning of this movie - an apocalyptic world where man is searching the stars for a new home - then why wouldn't you be able to entertain the ending as well? I'll get more to that later.

Without spoiling too much of the movie or the ending, the gist of it is that Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) is a NASA test pilot and brilliant engineer turned farmer - because everyone on Earth has turned farmer with the lack of food - who stumbles back into NASA and takes on a mission to leave Earth with a team, search for a habitable planet, and return for the surviving humans. The point being to leave Earth altogether because in so many years everything, no matter what, will be dead. Crops refuse to grow, water is drying up, etc. Where will they find a habitable planet close enough to transfer survivors (and not just their children's children) to knowing from basic science that we haven't really even found one in our universe yet? Well, through the black hole that popped up out of nowhere near Saturn when Earth took a turn for the worse, of course.

While the movie focuses mostly on "bending space and time," it also focuses on the human connection to one another as well. It's actually as if 2001: A Space Odyssey had a love child with Contact who had a love child with The Martian who had a love child with Gravity. Actually... that's exactly what it's like. And I even like the fact that I saw The Martian before this movie because the science of it is spot on, and I like the fact that Matt Damon makes an appearance in Interstellar as well. And the ending... Here's a spoiler alert, so if you haven't seen it, read no further.

The ending can go a million different ways depending on it's interpretation, and honestly, I think that's exactly what the film-makers intended. I'm not upset about the speculation of love being quantifiable, or that gravity can transcend time and space, or that if you get pulled into a black hole (and don't get ripped to shreds) you will age extremely slower than you normally would or, I guess, others will age faster because to you it seems like it's only been minutes and to others further away from the black hole it's been years - 7 years to every 1 hour one planet really close to the BH, 2 minutes to 50 years right smack dab in the middle of the BH. But, no, I'm not upset. Why? Because it's a movie. It's meant to entertain. Make you think. If you have no emotion coming out of it, you're not human because it really is a great father-daughter movie, and the movie itself does exactly what it's meant to do. So, if you have 2 hours and 45 minutes to spare, watch it. Just don't be mad about a movie (all movies really) meant for entertainment.

#MovieMonday Deadpool Review

For Ryan Reynolds, third time is the charm as he at last fulfills his superhero destiny with Deadpool, based on the anti-hero created in 1991 for Marvel Comics by Fabian Nicieza and Rob Liefeld. After an abortive first attempt at bringing some sort of version of Wade Wilson to the screen in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, followed by his stoic portrayal of Hal Jordan in 2011’s Green Lantern, Reynolds has returned to Wilson – the character he was born to play – in a movie that he has spent several years with director Tim Miller and writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick practically willing into existence.

Now here it is, in all its crude, ratty glory, and we can tell you that the movie has at least nailed both the tone of the comics and the ragged charm of the character himself. And the tone of the movie seems as if it were a Quentin Tarantino film, if that tells you anything. And also, ladies, be prepared to own this DVD, because you will definitely be pausing it, screenshotting it and putting it in the Skank Bank in order to break it out on dine-alone-Taco-Tuesdays. Ryan Reynolds... Nom Nom Nom. Am I right?

Wade Wilson (Deadpool) is quick with the quips and the meta references, he breaks the fourth wall to speak directly to the audience (as he has done so famously with the readers of his comic books) and – as we find out when he meets the woman of his dreams, Vanessa (Morena Baccarin of Firefly and, more recently, Gotham) – he’s a romantic at heart.

Reynolds gives his all in the role, and it’s clear from the start that he has immersed himself in this character and worked to create the perfect screen version of Deadpool. He’s endlessly carrying on a running conversation with himself (“Did I leave the stove on?”), reacting like a petulant child when he gets shot or stabbed, and riotously commenting on the comic book movie world around him - including several jokes at the X-Men franchise's expense, previous Ryan Reynolds movies, and even Ryan Reynolds himself.

The movie basically is a one-man show and director Miller wisely derives almost all its entertainment value from Reynolds’ detailed and truly oddball performance. With the main character’s over-the-top-and-beyond behavior and constant self-awareness dominating the proceedings, it's likely Deadpool Movies will be around for a long while.

Deadpool is fun, highly entertaining and, for fans of the comics, does exactly what it promised. Oh, and make sure you stay until the very end -- the post-credits  easter egg sequence isn't the one you might have expected, but it's the one you unknowingly want.

Top 10 Horror Movies

It's almost time for Halloween! And me being the "Scream Queen" I am, I'm willing to share my top 10 favorite horror movies with you so you can binge watch them as well!

10. Carrie (Both versions, new and old)

While the older version could be named the best version by some, and it is the one that I grew up with, I think the new version did a wonderful job at remastering the old one. It didn't seem to change anything about it, only add to it, and the special effects are a million times better now than they were in the 70's.

In the new version, we get to see a little deeper into the relationship between Carrie and her mother, which is a very important relationship... I mean, it's basically the reason she goes all "Carrie" on everyone. And even though you can't replace the original cast, the new cast does a brilliant job as well. It's definitely a new classic. Hey, go a head and watch them back to back and let me know which one you think is the best. I know, it's hard to decide.

Scare rating: 6/10


9. Paranormal Activity Movies

Once again, say what you will, but these movies brought about a whole new genre of horror. It took what The Blair Witch Project did in the 90's (handy-cam horror) and ran with it. I recently watch the Blair Witch Project, because at 10, it was terrifying, and I noticed that you never even see the Blair Witch. NOT ONCE. Actually, the only thing you really ever see is people freaking out and some guy standing in a corner of some old house at the end. There's nothing scary about that movie, except the unknown and shear panic. Well, and the fact that people actually believed that this was real found footage. Brilliant, really, for the creators at least. These movies however, let you see what is caught on tape when you aren't looking. The story line is pretty good, and I love how all the movies tie in together. There were several times during all of these films where I nearly jumped out of my seat.

Scare rating: For all movies in series - 7/10

8. V/H/S & V/H/S/2

Ahhh, once again, the handy-cam genre at it's best. These movies, like the Paranormal Activity movies, were super inexpensive to make, yet to stories are so good that you kind of forgive the bad CGI. I think the first Paranormal Activity only cost around $1000 to make, and made over, what, millions at the box office. Pretty smart, I'd say. You just can't beat good story lines. And with the V/H/S movies, you get great ones.

Each movie is compiled of 4-6 short stories, which I love, and one larger story to tie them all in. Granted, some of the stories are poop, but it's worth it to get to the good ones. And even the bad ones were good ideas, maybe just poorly executed. Either way, they are worth a watch. I ended up buying both of them because I loved them so much. I think you will, too.

Also, each story within the movies were written and directed by different people, which is awesome, because you get stories from different creative minds and aspects on different subjects, as well as different actors and actresses in each one. So that's pretty cool.

Scare rating: V/H/S - 7/10, V/H/S/2 - 7/10




7. The Amityville Horror (Both Original & Remake)

Here's another original/remake like Carrie. The original scared the ever loving crap out of me, but as I get older, the special effects just don't do it anymore, even though the story is wonderfully gruesome. I mean, it's based on the true story of a guy who killed his whole family, even his young siblings, with a shotgun while they slept, yet not one of them woke up. That's odd enough. I mean, if a shotgun goes off in my house, you better believe I'm going to wake up, let alone 5 shotgun blasts. That's just crazy.

But adding to the story, like in Carrie, didn't work out with the remake this time. They should have just left the story alone and focused on the super awesome CGI they couldn't wait to use. The whole bit about the Native American burial ground... was stupid. The story didn't need it. At all.

Scare rating: Original - 8/10, Remake - 7/10.

6. The Exorcism of Emily Rose

This is one of those movies that still scares the crap out of me today. I can't watch it alone, nor can I barley stand to watch it with someone if the lights are off. This movie makes me super paranoid. The Exorcist and The Rite come in close behind this one for your possession movies for sure.

This one however, pretty much pits the law/science against religion. It's brilliant, because I love me a legal drama and horror, and this movie is pretty much "Law & Order: Exorcism", which I would definitely watch in place of any overworked Law & Order series right now, no matter how much I love them.

The effects are wonderfully scary and the actress who plays Emily Rose (who is also on Dexter) is probably the best actress I've ever seen. It's a shame I haven't seen her in many other horror films, because I would watch them just to see her acting again.
Scare rating: 9/10.

5. Mama

Okay, like dolls, I also can't handle creepy kids. Maybe those things go hand in hand, but either way I hate it. Usually, you put a doll or creepy kid in it and I'm out. Someone who loves me must beg me to see it with them, and then they have to hold my hand the whole time. I don't know why I feel this way about dolls and kids... Maybe Child's Play has something to do with it. And I still haven't seen Children of the Corn. Not. Going. To. Do. It.

But, Joey talked me in to seeing this one, and it even scared the crap out of him. The CGI was okay, you can usually scare me with over-extended jaws, as well, which is what they went for here. And it worked.

Scare rating: 8/10.



4. The Conjuring

So, once again with the creepy dolls... this movie starts out focusing on Annabelle, which is now a full on movie of it's own. I have NOT seen it yet. Dolls, man. But if it's anything like The Conjuring, it will scare the crap out of me.

This movie has a very 1970's feel, which is why I love it so much. It feels like it could have been made right along side the original Amityville Horror.

It was well written, well shot, and based on true stories. you can't go wrong.

Scare rating: 8/10.




3. Sinister

Creepy kids, man.

This one has a true crime writer moving into murder houses in order to write about them. I'm a horror writer, and I would never EVER do this. The house next door, maybe. I mean, we never hear about people dying who were in the house next door...

This one was pretty creepy. Scare rating: 9/10.









2. Stanley Kubrick's The Shining

Absolutely brilliant screen adaptation. You never know if Jack is really seeing ghosts, or if he's just going crazy. This have been one of my favorite movies for a very long time, and I don't see anything else taking it's place. Actually, I think #1 and this movie share a spot for my favorite.

Scare rating: 9/10 because of the human condition.










1. Dawn of the Dead (2004)

Oh, my favorite zombie movie ever made! And you should know how much I love zombies... I have written 2 novels about them, and had a zombie wedding! Zombies are my favorite because it all comes down to the people still living, not the zombies themselves. What are people capable of when there is no law, no government, no one to tell them what's right from wrong. Will they stay human... in more ways than one? Would you be the kind to kill or be killed? Would you be Rick or would you be The Governor? That's what makes zombie tells so fantastic. You think you know what people will do, but they always surprise you. You think you know someone, but then they betray you. And then you throw race eating zombies in the mix. How will you survive?

And this movie probably has the best opening of any movie I've ever seen. I actually just watched it again last night, and it's still an awesome movie. And I love the ending. No spoiler alerts here, but I'll just say that it's one of the most well made zombie movies to date. It's only followed closely by a TV show - The Walking Dead, of course. And you HAVE to have zombies in your horror movie line-up, so make it a good one.

Scare rating: 8/10

Other Noteworthy movies: World War Z, Shaun of the Dead, The Haunting in Connecticut, Psycho, Tucker & Dale Vs. Evil, Jaws (I'm still terrified of the Ocean), Night of the Living Dead, Evil Dead, The Birds, Cabin in the Woods, Zombieland, The Fly (Probably the most graphic movie I've ever seen, and that's saying something), The Exorcist, 28 Days Later, 28 Weeks Later, Misery, Poltergeist, Scream, 1408, Nightmare on Elm Street (the first and third), The Rite, and Oculus.

The Upcoming movies Annabelle, Dracula Untold, and Ouija (not The Ouija Experiment. That was poop.) looks pretty promising. Let's hope they are good and not poopy crap.