Dead Bodies

Andrew Scott, Kelly Reilly, Darren Healy. Katy Davis

Directed by Robert Quinn

Rating: D-

Tommy (Scott) is going nowhere in life. He lives in an abandoned house, can't hold a job down, and just as things couldn't get worse, his ex-girlfriend moves in. Jean (Davis) wants to give the relationship another try but  Scott doesn't. When Scott's annoyance with Jean escalates they argue and Jean falls back, hitting her head on the coffee table. Scott doesn't know what to do so he buries her but when the police are informed about a dead body in the park, they start digging. Not only do they find Jean's body but another one, long decayed since. Tommy is under suspicion but he claims he's innocent.

"Dead Bodies" does not give a very promising start. It tries to hard in the beginning to be a suspenseful thriller but in reality the first forty-five minutes are boring. It's very tempting to stop watching then and there but the end makes up for it. It doesn't mean it's a great movie all of a sudden but at least it gives you some suspense. The plot is very weak and Tommy's boring life bores the viewer.

The movie takes a new direction when Tommy becomes the suspect for the second found buried body. A woman missing eight years ago turns up in the same grave as Jean's and the original suspect, her husband, turns on Tommy. Tommy and his friend Noel decide to take care of this problem which results in a suspenseful and unexpected ending.

The only reason I spent eighty-five minutes watching this movie was for Andrew Scott, who plays the criminal mastermind "Moriarty" in BBC America's "Sherlock". Scott plays a lethargic role and it's a little hard to feel sympathetic for his character. He keeps digging himself in a hole and by the end of the movie there is no way out. "Dead Bodies" is definitely worth watching once, if you really like Andrew Scott as I do, but only once. I doubt I will be watching this again because there are better movies out there.

Battle: Los Angeles

Aaron Eckhart, Ramon Rodriguez, Cory Hardrict, Ne-Yo

Directed by Jonathan Liebsman

Rating: 3 stars

Sgt. Michael Nantz (Aaron Eckhart) had his share of war time experience and just had his retirement approved only to be put back in the line of duty when the world is under attack by an unknown force. Los Angeles is one of the many cities under attacked by meteors that seem to slow down once they hit the earth's atmosphere. The platoon is being led by 2nd Lt. William Martinez (Ramon Rodriguez) which puts pressure on Nantz since most of the platoon is skeptical of their chance of survival since rumors have spread that the last mission Nantz was on, only he made it out alive. So when the platoon makes it to the police department to save some civilians, they find out that what they are dealing with are literally from out of this world. They must find a way to make it back to their base safely within a set time before a bomb goes off while destroying the aliens after them.

Battle: LA starts off interesting enough, however this movie drags on and on and on. Though it is only a few minutes short of being a two-hour movie, Battle: LA has so much content that it's not overwhelming, it just feels boring. You get tired of the action that keeps going-- or at some moments lack of action, that by the end of the movie you are washed with relief that it is over.

I think this movie deserves three stars because it was worth watching once. I wouldn't want to buy this movie but if you're looking for a good action movie to rent, I would recommend this one. What could have made this movie more successful would be if there was more suspense. Some scenes are suspenseful in the beginning to middle of the movie but then you get tired of it that you don't find yourself holding your breath, waiting to see what happens next. Another weak item in this movie was the aliens. They looked like metal contraptions. You do see the aliens but they are simply shiny, or rather dirty, pieces of metal. At one scene they break apart the alien trying to kill it but you don't see the typical alien accustomed to horror films. In fact, the lighting makes it hard to distinguish what it truly looks like.

Therefore, it is my opinion that Battle: Los Angeles was a film well-made, however, be warned that it is just a film that feels a tad too long.

The Black Swan

Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel

Directed by Darren Aronofsky

Rating: 4 stars

In this twisted tale of The Swan Lake, Nina (Natalie Portman) strives to be perfect. Her dream is to play the lead of the Swan Lake and so she practices and practices and practices. Perfection is her ultimate goal. The choreographer, Thomas (Vincent Cassel), casts Nina as the Swan Queen where she has to dance both as the White Swan and the Black Swan. Nina's "White Swan" is perfect, as it reflects her personality. But as Nina tries to be too perfect, her "Black Swan" suffers. Lily (Mila Kunis) is new to the dance studio and is seen as a threat to Nina. Lily seems nice as she tries to be friendly to Nina. What's threatening is that Lily is the new girl and would be perfect as the Black Swan. Thomas sees this. So Nina is under pressure to break out of her good-girl mold and try to loosen up a bit. However, it costs her life to reach it.

The Black Swan is truly a great movie. The symbolism in it is what makes this movie so amazing. You see Nina, this young woman (her age is never revealed but I'm guessing she's in her early 20's), who dedicates her life to ballet. She's the image of innocence. All she wants is to be perfect. When she gets the role of the Swan Queen, all her dedication to dancing has paid off. However, Thomas keeps telling her she needs to loosen up a bit in order to be the perfect Black Swan. The White Swan represents innocence and precise moves. The Black Swan is flirtatious and full of experience. Nina, being as innocent as she is, can't achieve the perfection to be the Black Swan. She tries too hard, Thomas says. But as the movie progresses, you see Nina transforming herself into the Black Swan, losing that innocence you see her as in the beginning. By the end of the movie, she kills herself because she has done it: reached perfection in her own eyes.

The reason I think this movie deserves four stars instead of five is because it's a little disturbing. The thing is, it was necessary in order to make this movie beautiful. The symbolism, the transformation from White Swan to Black Swan, that makes this movie amazing. Yet, seeing Natalie Portman go crazy and imagining things (like the bedroom scene with herself and Mila Kunis), the hospital scene with Winona Ryder, the murder of Mila Kunis in her dressing room, this was all a little too much. Obviously she had some mental disorder. I wouldn't recommend this movie to those who like a happy ending, the faint-hearted, and the sensitive. If you're going to watch this movie, be prepared that it is hard hitting. It's an amazing movie but also on the dark side too. Don't say I didn't warn you.

The Stepfather

Dylan Walsh, Sela Ward, Penn Badgley, Amber Heard

Directed by Nelson McCormick

Rating: 4 stars

Michael Harding (Penn Badgley) comes home for his senior year from military school to find that his recently divorced mother, Susan Harding (Sela Ward), is engaged after a year of knowing her fiance. David Harris (Dylan Walsh) is a murderer, looking to settle down with a new family after killing his last one. Throughout the movie, Michael is suspicious of David and puts together that something is not right. He tells his latest theories to his girlfriend, Kelly Porter (Amber Heard), who tries to get him to stop obsessing over this. Nobody seems to listen to Michael, though we do see that Susan's friend is suspicious as well. David "eliminates" those who are suspicious and as the ending unfolds, we can only wonder what suitable ending is appropriate.

I would rate this movie four stars. This movie has its suspense moments (well put together) and it's a good thriller. It's perfect for those who enjoy the suspense but hate to be scared because it's not a scary/horror movie. I would recommend this to those who like thrillers such as Secret Window or Disturbia. This movie seemed more along the lines of Disturbia such as one of the leading male characters having suspicion over someone and doing what they can to get to the root of the mystery.

There was some things that could be improved to make this movie better. For example, the ending should be re-written. Sure, we can't always have a "happy ending" but it's also cliché for a movie to end with "the killer mysteriously got away" and we see who his next target is. Another example would be that in the beginning of the movie, you see how the police have an open investigation on David Harris but they don't get any more involved.

Overall if you take this movie as it is, then you'll find it pretty enjoyable. However, this is not the ultimate thriller and suspense film as there have been better ones out there. So if you have nothing better to do on a Friday night or want to have a thriller marathon, I would suggest adding this to your list.

Paranormal Activity 2

Brian Boland, Sprague Graydon, Molly Ephraim, Katie Featherston

Directed by Tod Williams

Rating: 4 stars

A prequel to the first Paranormal Activity, this second film gives us a little more insight to the demon haunting sisters Katie (Katie Featherston) and Kristi (Sprague). In the first Paranormal Activity, we are spooked by a demon with no explanation as to why it's bothering a nice, suburban couple. All we know is that when Katie was young, something "paranormal" seemed to be going on in her household that her sister noticed too. In Paranormal Activity 2, we find out why the demon goes to Katie. After first "disturbing" Kristi, the demon moves on to Katie (which we see in the first movie). In a desperate attempt to get his wife back to normal after being in a "possessed" state, Daniel (Brian Boland) has no choice but to consult someone who would know how to fix this. It comes down to passing the "disturbance" to a blood relative and that relative happens to be Kristi's sister, Katie.

I would give this movie five out of five stars. Though slow at first, the director, Tod Williams, has to build up the storyline. However, when the "paranormal activity" starts to act up, it is a scare that will leave you shaking. First it starts subtly, with the pool vacuum always ending up outside the pool by morning, and doors opening wider. As Kristi and her step-daughter Ali (Molly Ephraim) start noticing something strange going on the activity gets worse. Doors slamming, people being dragged by an unseen force, pots falling from hooks and kitchen drawers simultaneously slamming wide open are enough to make you jump in your seat and cower. Paranormal Activity 2 is so well made that while you're watching it, it feels real. Almost as if you could go home and find that it's happening to you.

This is a great example of a suspenseful horror film and perfect for nights at home when you want to be spooked. Paranormal Activity 2 gives you the sense how not even during the day can you feel safe. Involving a one-year old also brings something different to the feel of realism, showing this could happen to anyone. [SPOILER:] Having Hunter -Kristi's baby- be the possible target of the movie (he doesn't get hurt!), makes it a little bit scarier. For example, did you notice how at one point during the movie you couldn't see Hunter's reflection on the mirror?

Paranormal Activity 2 is a great scare and ties up the loose ends from the first film. Like where did Katie go after murdering Micah? But leaves you asking, where did she take Hunter? I hope there will be a third movie -a final installment- to resolve this paranormal phenomenon once and for all. Paranormal Activity 2 proved to be a success and not a flop like some sequels are; though I'm not really sure how a third Paranormal Activity would play off. I would recommend seeing this movie if you like a good thrill and enjoy being spooked. If you get scared easily or are superstitious, I would stay home and watch a comedy or something else a little light-hearted.

Coincidence or not? As I was driving home after seeing this movie, the license plate in front of me said "Hunter 1". Scary...