If I am going to do this you would think I would do it more regularly lol Sadly I am a little behind. Am enjoying making a blog about movies though. I watch so many it can be really difficult to remember what I have seen and what I haven’t.
The Haunting (1963): Dr. Markway, doing research to prove the existence of ghosts, investigates Hill House, a large, eerie mansion with a lurid history of violent death and insanity. With him are the skeptical young Luke, who stands to inherit the house, the mysterious and clairvoyant Theodora and the insecure Eleanor, whose psychic abilities make her feel somehow attuned to whatever spirits inhabit the old mansion. As time goes by it becomes obvious that they have gotten more than they bargained for as the ghostly presence in the house manifests itself in horrific and deadly ways. Written by Doug Sederberg <vornoff@sonic.net>
I have the seen the 90’s version of this several times but never the original. I have to say it was a fantastic watch and I really enjoyed it 😀 It surprised me how much the story delivered when the re-make tends to feel a little trite although also a fun watch. I would definitely make my kids watch this one as a build up to the big spookers on Halloween 4.5/5
The Enfield Haunting (2015): In August 1977, a series of bizarre and terrifying events begin to take place in a seemingly ordinary house in Enfield, North London.
Not technically a movie as its a 3 part mini-series but a fun watch. Kept a lot better to the original book than the Conjuring 2 did and that made it a whole lot scarier 🙂 Mind you I watched this on a stormy night when I was home alone, just me and the cats, and the sound of the wind was probably enough to set the scene lol Meandered a bit a couple of times but I would watch it again 🙂 4/5
AHS Roanoke (2016): American Horror Story is a horror series in which every season tells a different story. The sixth season is about a farmhouse near Roanoke, North Carolina that is besieged by the ghosts of the infamous lost colonists and other strange happenings. Written by Erica Adina Amaral
As I was still home alone I climbed into this one 😀 It was fun but dragged on far toooooo long. The final couple of episodes could have been missed completely, especially the last one. It was a bit of a shift from all the previous seasons as the first half portrayed itself in the manner of the ‘my haunted house’ genre where they swap between the actual people telling the story and actors who enact it, then the second half was filmed with hidden cameras and first person footage. Even with it dragging on I did find myself enjoying it and am looking forward to season 7:) 3/5
House on Haunted Hill (1959): Eccentric millionaire Fredrick Loren and his 4th wife, Annabelle, have invited 5 people to the house on Haunted Hill for a “haunted House” party. Whoever will stay in the house for one night will earn ten thousand dollars each. As the night progresses, all the guests are trapped inside the house with ghosts, murderers, and other terrors. Written by Tony Mayer <tones120c@aol.com>
I love me a Vincent Price movie and am ashamed to admit that I had not seen this one. Its a really fun watch! From the skeleton that gets his own cameo credit at the end to the spooky old lady who appears to glide along the screen, possibly with the use of a skateboard, frozen into position you are never quite sure whether you should be laughing your butt off or covering your eyes 😀 A really entertaining B grade horror that must be seen before you die. 2.5/5 compared to the general movie population but 4.75/5 compared to fabulous B grade horrors 😀
House on Haunted Hill (2000): When an eccentric millionaire offer a group of opposites $1,000,000 to spend the night in a so called “Haunted House” with a murderous past, they figure it is a quick way to get quick money and leave. All of them are sure it is some made up story just to mess with their heads a little and test their courage. But, once they stay in the house they start to think about the mistake they made in coming there when mysterious things start to happen. Written by Kyle <Kyleshivers@aol.com>
Because I had just watched the original I thought I would re-watch this one. I hadn’t seen it since its release in 2000 so it was kinda fun 🙂 Sadly it didn’t make me laugh much but it did try really hard to pay homage to the original with everyone arriving in hearses and the coffin party gifts. Geoffrey Rush did a fabulous job of playing Price and giving it his own version of what appeared to be a combination of both Vincent Price and Gomez Adams and it did give the film the fun factor even though you didn’t get the LOL moments 🙂 I don’t think the rest of the cast had seen the original and it seemed to end up more 13 Ghosts. Thank heavens the sense of humour came back to horror movies in the mid 200’s because getting scared to death one second then laughing the next is what makes horrors fun 🙂 3/5
Mrs Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (2016): When Jacob discovers clues to a mystery that spans different worlds and times, he finds a magical place known as Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. But the mystery and danger deepen as he gets to know the residents and learns about their special powers… and their powerful enemies. Ultimately, Jacob discovers that only his own special “peculiarity” can save his new friends. Written by 20th Century Fox
I may be the only person in the world to say this but I got bored. I usually love this genre but I nearly needed a nap. I watched it to the end but would not bother again. For me it just waffled on and did not capture me in the slightest. That made me sad 😦 1/5
Mother’s Day (2016): Follows the lives of different mothers on Mothers Day. Sandy (Aniston) is happily divorced, until she finds out her ex-husband eloped with a much younger woman. Now she must learn to deal with big changes in her life as her two boys now have a step-mom. Sisters Jesse (Hudson) and Gabi (Chalke) get an unexpected surprise from their mother, who is not happy to find out Gabi is a lesbian and Jesse is married to a man of color. Miranda (Roberts) doesn’t have any kids and is focusing on her career. Kristin (Robertson) is enjoying life as a new mother but is feeling pressure from her boyfriend to get married. Bradley (Sudeikis) is trying hard to be the best parent for his two girls since their mom passed away last year, however his idea of Mothers Day is pretending it doesn’t exist at all. Written by clancy98-101-791445
I was rather surprised to really enjoy this one. I was a number of story’s that intertwined very successfully into a wonderful, fun, light hearted afternoon watch. Its never going to be an oscar winner as its mostly a fluff movie but it was a nice watch regardless. It had a load of laughs and even a couple of laugh till you cry moments 😀 3.5/5
The Huntsman: Winters War (2016): Eric and fellow warrior Sara, raised as members of ice Queen Freya’s army, try to conceal their forbidden love as they fight to survive the wicked intentions of both Freya and her sister Ravenna.
Good god this was boring. Please don’t ever watch this movie. Your time will be better spent cleaning out that cupboard where stuff that doesn’t have a home goes to die and you won’t feel like you have lost 2 hours of your life that won’t ever come back. 1/5
Stardust (2007): The passage from this world to the fantasy kingdom of Stormhold is through a breach in a wall beside an English village. In the 1800s, a boy becomes a man when he ventures through the breach in pursuit of a fallen star, to prove his love for the village beauty. The star is no lump of rock, it’s a maiden, Yvaine. Tristan, the youth, is not the only one looking for her: three witches, led by Lamia, want her heart to make them young; and, the sons of the dead king of Stormhold want her because she holds a ruby that will give one of them title to the throne. Assisting Tristan are his mother, the victim of a spell, and a cross-dressing pirate of the skies. Will Tristan win his true love? Written by <jhailey@hotmail.com>
This one is fun 😀 I got to see something that I never knew I wanted to see, De Niro in drag 😀 Its a complete family adventure fairy tale romp that doesn’t stop delivering 🙂 If its a rainy Sunday afternoon and you want to snuggle in front of the fire with the wee ones and watch something that entertains them and you at the same time this would be the one. Its as much fun as the Princess Bride and I must have seen that sucker about 100 times 😀 4.5/5
Casablanca (1942): In World War II Casablanca, Rick Blaine, exiled American and former freedom fighter, runs the most popular nightspot in town. The cynical lone wolf Blaine comes into the possession of two valuable letters of transit. When Nazi Major Strasser arrives in Casablanca, the sycophantic police Captain Renault does what he can to please him, including detaining a Czechoslovak underground leader Victor Laszlo. Much to Rick’s surprise, Lazslo arrives with Ilsa, Rick’s one time love. Rick is very bitter towards Ilsa, who ran out on him in Paris, but when he learns she had good reason to, they plan to run off together again using the letters of transit. Well, that was their original plan…. Written by Gary Jackson <garyjack5@cogeco.ca>
I had never watched this. I know right, what the hell. Truth be told, I am not a huge fan of war movies and reading the synopsis put me off. Yea yea, never judge a book blah blah blah. I am now kicking myself. What a fabulous movie! It was way different from what I was expecting and I loved every minute of it. No wonder its a classic. If you have never seen it then go do it right now! 4.75/5
Brokeback Mountain (2005): Two young men, Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist, meet when they get a job as sheep herders on Brokeback Mountain. They are at first strangers, then they become friends. Throughout the weeks, they grow closer as they learn more about each other. One night, after some heavy drinking, they find a deeper connection. They then indulge in a blissful romance for the rest of the summer. Unable to deal with their feelings for each other, they part ways at the end of the summer. Four years go by, and they each settle down, Ennis in Wyoming with his wife and two girls, and Jack in Texas with his wife and son. Still longing for each other, they meet back up, and are faced with the fact that they need each other. They undeniably need each other, and unsure of what to do, they start a series of “fishing trips”, in order to spend time together. The relationship struggles on for years until tragedy strikes. Written by maisie stewart
Yes it was Oscar week on Sky so they were playing all the best pictures winners and I finally got around to watching a few that I had not seen yet. I have put it off for many years as I’m not really into romance movies regardless of sexual orientation. Its wasn’t homophobic avoidance, it was truly that I’m just not a romance type of girl. I actually enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would 🙂 The fact that it was portrayed in a very ‘real life’, unapologetic, ‘this is the way it was back then’ kind of way is what makes this movie great. While it didn’t pull any punches it also didn’t attempt to ‘hollywoodify’ the story and over extend it. The movie is what it is. It reminded me very much that I must branch out of my viewing bubble more often and see some of these movies that are what I would normally consider viewing. 4/5
*All posters and synopsis courtesy of IMDb
Oops I nearly forgot the book.
I love Jilly Cooper books as a rule. I’ve been reading them since the late 80’s and always greatly anticipate the next one. I have a major thing for Rupert. Usually I can’t put them down and will read them in a week/end. This one took me nearly 8 weeks and I now have a $9 fine at the library. I was really rather disappointed in this one. It read very tired and I would suggest its quite possibly the last one. Taggie is still being treated like crap by everyone and doesn’t stick up for herself in the slightest. Now that she is around 50 in age this comes across as drippy instead of adorable. Then to top it all off Rupert cheats, everyone knows and she ignores it! Again this comes across as tired and trite like the series has run out of steam. On the plus side Jilly has not lost her sense of humour and there are lots of pockets of mirth and sheep friends that will have you laughing your butt off in the middle of the night when your husband is trying to sleep 😉 I would say that this would be the last Jilly Cooper that I would ever read but I know that that would not be the truth. Regardless of how long winded and disappointing this one was I will still read another if it were to come out. The Campbell-Blacks and like old friends now and I wouldn’t be able to help myself, I would have to see what they had been up 🙂
A Handmade Life 