3 Weeks of Movies and a Book

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 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Movie round up

The weekend started with a couple of hits:

Bridget’s focus on single life and her career is interrupted when she finds herself pregnant, but with one hitch … she can only be fifty percent sure of the identity of her baby’s father.  – Written by Anonymous

 

I did that awful wife thing and subjected my poor defenceless husband to a chick flick.  I think he will eventually forgive me.  I know he enjoyed as he actually laughed out loud several times and I had bought out the good snacks just in case.  Thoroughly enjoyed this 🙂 Bridget always makes me feel better about myself anyway but this just had me laughing the whole way though, even during the cringe moments 😀 The story wasn’t fantastic but it was a really fun watch 😀 4/5

22 years after the original Jurassic Park failed, the new park (also known as Jurassic World) is open for business. After years of studying genetics the scientists on the park genetically engineer a new breed of dinosaur. When everything goes horribly wrong, will our heroes make it off the island?  

After subjecting poor defenceless husband to a chick flick I thought I had better be kind and do an adventure man friendly movie. Totally enjoyed it also 🙂 After 2 rather disappointing sequels (especially the rampaging in New York dinosaur bollocks bit from 2 which was not in the book by the way.  Book was good.) they have bought it back round and its a good watch.  Raptors became almost loveable which I didn’t see coming.  Big scary thing in the water was a just that, scary. It was a great watch 😀 4/5

Now we get to the end of the weekend and the misses.

I had been out up a big hill a couple of times and needed to spend some quality time with my deadline project and stay out of the sun for a bit.  So curtains were closed and A/C was on and it was ghost movie time.  I got these off a must watch ghost movie list.  I will never trust a list online again . . .

A mother and father and their three teen-age children move to a new home that was the scene of a “personal tragedy”. The son meets a mysterious neighbor girl and together they experiment with an old radio they find in the attic, that can be used to communicate with the dead. Something is unleashed that brings new horror.

It was drivel and bollocks.  The staticy radio was meh in the scare factor and movie nearly put me to sleep.  I did laundry without pausing the movie while hanging it out.  This should tell you something. 2/5

In 1977, paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren travel to London, England, where single mother Peggy Hodgson believes that something evil is in her home. When Peggy’s youngest daughter starts showing signs of demonic possession, Ed and Lorraine attempt to help the besieged girl, only to find themselves targeted by the malicious spirits.

Not a bad watch but not great.  Had some good scary moments.  I struggled with the storyline because I know the story.  Have the book even.  They kind of stayed true to it up until the end.  The end was complete fabrication and Ed & Lorraine were never that involved.  They only ever stopped by for a few minutes one weekend and never really witnessed anything.  When you are portraying a story as based on fact I get that there will be some artistic licence but when it reaches that far past what actually happened then I’m sorry it shouldn’t be portrayed as a true story at all.  Just me I guess but it irks me lol 😀  All that aside it was not a bad watch 🙂 3/5

For nineteen-year-old Jay, Autumn should be about school, boys and week-ends out at the lake. But after a seemingly innocent sexual encounter, she finds herself plagued by strange visions and the inescapable sense that someone, something, is following her. Faced with this burden, Jay and her friends must find a way to escape the horrors, that seem to be only a few steps behind. Written by Jose Tamayo

I appear to be in the minority on this as its rated medium high on most websites but I found it to be so bad that I couldn’t watch to the end and switched it off.  I made it 3/4 of the way through and just couldn’t do it. 1/5

A brother and sister move into an old seaside house they find abandoned for many years on the English coast. Their original enchantment with the house diminishes as they hear stories of the previous owners and meet their daughter (now a young woman) who now lives as a neighbor with her grandfather. Also heard are unexplained sounds during the night. It becomes obvious that the house is haunted. The reasons for the haunting and how they relate to the daughter whom the brother is falling in love with, prove to be a complex mystery. As they are compelled to solve it, the supernatural activity at the house increases to a frightening level. Written by Russell West <ruswest@primenet.com>

This was released in 1944, black and white and I loved it 😀 It was fun for an afternoon movie.  Scare factor was completely missing but I can imagine that it would have had them in its day.  In today’s more blood soak and cgi scary times it was more of a romance than a horror but still well worth a watch. Such a great movie 😀 4.5/5

Wanting to escape city life for the countryside, New Yorkers Cooper Tilson (Quaid), his wife Leah (Stone) and their two children move into a dilapidated old mansion still filled with the possessions of the previous family. Turning it into their dream house soon becomes a living nightmare when the previous owner (Dorff) shows up, and a series of terrifying incidents lead them on a spine-tingling search for clues to the estate’s dark and lurid past… Written by Gavin Nelson

I want the house! Such a beautiful old building.  That was about the best part of the movie, the house.  I’m not sure how this made it on to a ghost movie list as it was a thriller with no supernatural stuff at all.  With Stone and Quaid, along with a very young Kristen Stewart, heading the cast I was expecting a lot more but I found it to be rather trite and unbelievable.  Good premise but the actual script let it down. 3/5

All movie synopsis courtesy of IMDb

 

Movie roundup

Its been a few weeks since last movie round up so this will be a bit long I fear.

Se7en (1995): A film about two homicide detectives’ (Morgan Freeman and (Brad Pitt desperate hunt for a serial killer who justifies his crimes as absolution for the world’s ignorance of the Seven Deadly Sins. The movie takes us from the tortured remains of one victim to the next as the sociopathic “John Doe” (Kevin Spacey) sermonizes to Detectives Somerset and Mills — one sin at a time. The sin of Gluttony comes first and the murderer’s terrible capacity is graphically demonstrated in the dark and subdued tones characteristic of film noir. The seasoned and cultured but jaded Somerset researches the Seven Deadly Sins in an effort to understand the killer’s modus operandi while the bright but green and impulsive Detective Mills (Pitt) scoffs at his efforts to get inside the mind of a killer… Written by Mark Fleetwood <mfleetwo@mail.coin.missouri.edu>

After moving to a vineyard to start a new life with her husband, a pregnant woman begins to experience terrifying visions.

After moving to a vineyard to start a new life with her husband, a pregnant woman begins to experience terrifying visions.

Turns out the kids had never seen se7en so that was our selection for educate the children night.  I love this movie.  I’m not a huge Brad Pitt or Gwyneth Paltrow fan as a rule but I forgive them both for any and all past sins in this one. Morgan Freeman was, is and will always be mine, and everyone elses, favourite actor so no surprises that he’s good in it.  One of the best thrillers of the 90’s 5/5

Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension (2015): The Ghost Dimension, follows a new family, The Fleeges – father Ryan (Chris J. Murray), mother Emily (Brit Shaw) and their young daughter Leila (Ivy George) – Who move into a house and discover a video camera and a box of tapes in the garage. When they look through the camera’s lens, they begin to see the paranormal activity happening around them – including the re-emergence of young Kristi and Katie.

Same old same old really.  The only thing that changes from all the past Paranormals is the cast.  They did mix it up a little by giving you the scary ‘hole to hell’ in the wall above the little girls bed but it really is just another rehash.  However, I love ghost movies so I didn’t care and enjoyed myself and will probably watch the next instalment as well 😀 2/5

Independence Day: Resurgence (2016): Two decades after the freak alien invasion that nearly destroyed mankind a new threat emerges. This Alien mothership is more than twice the size as the last one and once again, the world’s armies must band together to save the world. Do they have enough firepower or will this battle change and will aliens take over?

First daughter said not to watch it as she thought it was bollocks and nothing compared to the first one.  Favourite husband and I watched it anyway.  If you are expecting the epic blockbuster that the first film and sit comparing it constantly then you will be very disappointed, HOWEVER if you go in with an open mind you will probably enjoy it which is what we did.  The story has advanced all the people the full 20 years from the first film so you get a fun ‘what did they do next’ vibe and the kids now for the most part take centre stage.  The movie really is a bit of a rehash but as a stand alone movie its a good adventure/disaster flick and I had fun watching it 😀 3/5

After moving to a vineyard to start a new life with her husband, a pregnant woman begins to experience terrifying visions.

Visions (2015): After moving to a vineyard to start a new life with her husband, a pregnant woman begins to experience terrifying visions.

Not great but ok.  The big twist at the end I had figured out from the first time the character was introduced.  Everything about this was mediocre but worth a watch if there is nothing else on and you like a thriller/scary movie 2/5

Lost River (2014): “Lost River” is a dark fairy tale about love, family and the fight for survival in the face of danger. In the virtually abandoned city of Lost River, Billy (Christina Hendricks), a single mother of two, is led into a macabre underworld in her quest to save her childhood home and hold her family together. Her teenage son Bones (Iain De Casestecker) discovers a mystery about the origins of Lost River that triggers his curiosity and sets into motion an unexpected journey that will test his limits and the limits of those he loves. Written by Warner Bros Home Entertainment

This was one of the weirdest things I have seen for a while.  I really did want to like it but it just never gripped me.  I found that it just meandered a long with little to no point nor any point of interest.  I usually persuasive watch till the end with nearly all movies but I just couldn’t.  I got to about half an hour to go and I just had to turn it off before I either fell asleep or threw something at the screen.  0/5

The Good Neighbor (2016): A pair of mischievous high school kids create the illusion of a haunting on an unsuspecting neighbor. While keeping his every reaction under surveillance, they see much more than they bargained for. 

This was another odd one but strangely compelling and hard to put down.  Much like a bad book that you just have to keep reading to find out what happens next.  Does bring up some interesting ideas as far as home invasion and accountability are concerned.  It shouldn’t be high on your must watch list. 1/5

Anne of Green Gables (2016): A retelling of L.M. Montgomery’s story of Anne Shirley, an orphan who is accidentally sent to a couple looking to adopt a boy instead

I absolutely loved the original TV series from the 80’s and it was with some trepidation that I decided to watch this.  I put it on in the afternoon while I was alone and prepping dinner as I fully expected to be disappointed by it and was rather shocked that I wasn’t.  Martin Sheen is a wonderful Matthew and the rest of the cast are equally well chosen for their roles.  Its never going to replace the original for me, nor is it going to be a mega award winner, but I really did enjoy it and am waiting impatiently for the next instalment. 3/5

Well thats my round up for now 🙂

All synopsis courtesy of IMDb