Exorcismus (2010)

From time to time, I like to take a break from the big budget films I’m more accustomed to and enjoy an independent film. These movies are rarely advertised and generally do not concern themselves with mass appeal. I find that a majority of the blockbuster movies I see seem to follow some sort of unseen formula. Rarely do they surprise me anymore.

Herein lies the beauty of the independent film. The concept of not fixing something just because it is not broken doesn’t cut it for me when it comes to movie, especially in the horror genre. The ability to take risks, for better or worse, is exactly what I appreciate in these lesser known titles. Sure, you will occasionally run into a flop. Who am I kidding? There are a lot of flops, but every now and then you stumble across a truly great movie. In this way, I stumbled across “Exorcismus.”

If there’s one thing “Exorcismus” has going for it, it would have to be the element of surprise. I’m not talking about a “I didn’t expect that monster to jump into frame” kind of surprise. I mean that I sincerely did not expect or anticipate many of the plot developments throughout the film. Sure, the movie begins somewhat similarly to every other exorcist movie. A young girl begins to show symptoms of possession, no one believes her until it becomes obvious, and a priest is brought in to save the day. The rest of my feeble attempts to figure this movie out were in vain. Contrary to what you may be thinking though, I loved every second of it. Why ruin the fun of finding out naturally?

Sliding into a more technical review, I thought the cinematography was excellent given the subject matter. Not over the top, yet definitely capable of setting the mood. The soundtrack did wonders setting the tone, further elevating the already present senses of mystery and excitement.

All in all, I think it would be an understatement to say that I enjoyed this film. Maybe I should review more independent films, what do you think? Let me know in a comment down below. For now, I’ll give “Exorcismus” a 8.75 out of 10.

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X-Men: First Class (2011)

Oh my god, I'm not dead...

Sorry to all my followers for the hiatus, I've been dealing with some personal stuff and battling general laziness. But here I am, back at it again!

Now, on subject. Today I'm reviewing X-Men: First Class. I'll be honest, I had seen little in the way of trailers and whatnot before this movie was released, so I wasn't sure what to expect. The title made me think of a movie that seems to be an inevitable follow-up to this one. The first class of X-Men at Professor Xavier's academy. But alas, it was actually X-Men Origins: Magneto and Xavier. Yet still awesome.

Say what you will about Marvel straying from the canon storyline, but this movie was actually quite good in my opinion. It tied in real world events to make the plot seem believeable, and went deep into Magneto's past (something I'd been looking forward to for a while). The dynamic between Mystique, Magneto, and Professor X was interesting to watch play out. We all know what eventually happens, but it was fun trying to figure out why Raven (Mystique) would leave Charles after so many years together. Small appearances from characters like Azazel and Havok made the movie all the more enjoyable. Though fans may have been unhappy with Cyclop's younger brother being almost as old as Professor Xavier, I thought the addition was at least fun to watch. I have learned to go into movies that are based on a series expecting them to take a bit of artistic license. Plus, it was fun being able to turn to my girlfriend when Azazel appeared and say "Fuck, it's Nightcrawler's Dad!"

Casting was actually done really well in my opinion. I haven't seen Kevin Bacon act in forever, and it appears to be because he was cryogenically frozen for the past ten years. The special effects weren't over the top, but remained outstanding. I won't give anything away, but if you've seen the movie, the part towards the end with the coin. That. Was. Awesome.

All in all, I would recommend this movie to people who never really got into the comic books. I can see where some may have trouble disconnecting the two, but those people are really going to miss out on a great movie. Easily a 9/10.

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Thor (2011) coming soon

Yes, that's right folks, my illness has almost completely gone away and I will be watching Thor tonight. Review could be up as early as tomorrow morning, but I pose a question to my viewers. While it may take longer to post, would you rather my Thor review be in the same format as my previous reviews, or should I attempt this as a video review?

Leave your answers and other comments down below, and I'll look forward to seeing you guys tonight.

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Insidious (2011)

Corny or not, I still have goosebumps.

The plot centers around a young boy, Dalton (Ty Simpkins), falling into a coma after a relatively minor household accident. Things start to happen here and there, and it becomes clear that there is some creepiness going on. His parents, played by Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne, contract the help of a long lost family friend that happens to be a psychic. What ensues is a series of ridiculous, over the top moments that you will either love or hate. But either way, you'll find yourself flinching at least a few times.

This movie was definitely a mixed bag for me. The setup in the opening half of the movie was brilliant. Once things started happening, you really didn't know what would happen next. There were several times where shivers literally ran up my spine, which is something that a movie hasn't done for me since I was a kid. With that being said, let's get real. There were some ridiculously clichéd, horribly overdone, and just plain corny moments. The kind of moments that made Drag Me to Hell (2009) unwatchable. It's up to your personal taste whether the pure chill factor can outweigh the silliness.

On a side note, I just want to say that the camera work and visual style really went a long way to set the mood. Cocked camera angles and drastic perspective changes heightened the tension, making only slightly creepy moments drag you to the edge of your seat.

All in all, it was worth the watch. I'll give it a 7/10, being that it was only slightly filled with disappoint. If you are a fan of the horror genre, especially older films, you will love this movie. If not, I think you will still enjoy it. Trust me though, bring a friend, lol.

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Source Code (2011)

Groundhog Day but with no laughing.

All joking aside, Source Code was actually an interesting film. Kind of a stretch, but no more so than Inception or any other conceptual movie like it. They are both movies that depict fictional science. But if you can get past reality of the situation, it was definitely an entertaining watch.

Larking back to my previous Groundhog Day comment, I could definitely make some comparisons between the film. You got the same feeling of boredom watching a series of events happen over and over. And there was a similar moment where Colter Stevens (Jake Gyllenhaal) predicted mundane happenings directly before they occurred, puzzling the female lead, played by Michelle Monaghan (Eagle Eye, Due Date). But these small similarities didn't take away from the film, which was much more action based. Didn't laugh once, promise.

The film tackles some heavy subjects if you're into that sort of thing. I mean, how much is a soldier expected to sacrifice for his country? This guy has to die over and over and over again. Don't get me wrong, saving lives is a priority. But the ethics of the situation is the real question.

The visual effects were decent. Nothing really outside of the box. I definitely appreciated the choice to keep Jake Gyllenhaal in place even when inside the source code. Bouncing back and forth between two actors would be confusing. Sound on the other hand was a mixed bag for me. I didn't notice anything throughout the film, but I found myself despising the background music during the introduction. I felt like I was transported back to some bad 80s movie. Ughh *shiver*

All joking aside, I would still recommend the film. Maybe don't go out of your way to see it in theaters, but a DVD is definitely an option. Don't worry about Blu-Ray, the only difference will be how crisp Gyllenhaal's five o'clock shadow looks. 6.5/10, maybe a seven. But only if you still haven't gotten over Donnie Darko.

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Limitless (2011)

A ridiculously exciting roller coaster from start to finish. I seriously do not know where to begin.

The visual effects were stunning. Moments where Eddie (Bradley Cooper) was on the drug gave you, the audience, the feeling that you were actually on some sort of drug. The entire world became more vivid, giving his moments of "lucidity" a much more grey feeling. Time and space seemed to have no meaning. I can only assume that if I was the type of person to actually do drugs, I would have this movie on repeat for the rest of my life.

The plot circles around the rise of a poor writer, played by Bradley Cooper, to phenomenal heights in a short span of time. When on the drug, the film is wild and fun. I caught myself laughing out loud on occasion, which is always a good thing. When off the drug, the film is dark and, if I may be so bold, even scary at points. You never quite know what is going to happen next, and in that I think the true beauty of the film shines through. All of the normal predictions got thrown out the window on this one. 

The characters are definitely believable. Eddie, the main character, is a phenomenal protagonist. Even though he is willingly imbibing an illegal substance throughout the entire film, you are with him all the way. I found myself thinking out loud, "If he could just get a little more..." in several instances. His girlfriend, played by Abbie Cornish (Sucker Punch, Candy), was a very convincing person to be dating someone with Eddie's personality. The stereotypical "girl with everything going for her" falling for the "poor, nearly homeless artist" has played out many times before. At least this time it payed off for her. A lot of her interaction with on and off drugs Eddie seems a little odd, like she lets him get away with almost anything. But, after realizing how much she put up with him before NZT, you can kind of get the picture.

I don't want to get into much more. Honestly, I could write a lot about this movie. I really enjoyed it, and it is definitely worth going out and seeing. Don't wait around for DVD, this is a
film worth talking about now.

Easily a 9/10, if not more. 

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The Rite (2011)

Finally, an exorcism movie worth watching.

The past few years have been pretty lacking when it comes to good movies about demonic possession. I think the last one I watched was ironically "The Last Exorcism", which finalized my desire to see them anymore. When I saw previews for "The Rite", I was immediately drawn back in. I don't think I've ever seen an Anthony Hopkins movie I didn't like, and he didn't let me down this time either.

The movie opens up with the main character, who works with his father at their own family funeral home, preparing a woman for her wake. Even in that first moment, there was a certain creepiness already settling around me. It was probably the hair or whatever he sewed in her mouth.



Moving on, he decides to go into the seminary for free education, something a Christian might frown upon. He eventually ends up in Rome with Anthony Hopkins's character, Father Lucas. You are immediately thrown into a fast paced series of scenes, at least for a movie in this category, leading all the way up to the ending.

While this movie definitely had an air of preachy-ness in the conclusion, it wasn't enough to deter me from enjoying this movie. I'm giving it an 8/10, bonus for getting me to enjoy a demonic movie again.

And, being the first post of this blog, I'd like to know some movies you might be interested in having me watch and review. Leave your answers in a comment and I will see you guys tomorrow

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