Weird Science

What have I been up to, well I am having an 80’s movie marathon and I’m trying to watch some 80’s movies that I missed during my childhood. 

Name: Weird Science

Year: 1985

Country: America

Tea: Söderblandning, milk on the side because that’s how I like it

Snack: None

Expectations: 80’s fashion. I want to see pink, spandex and headbands. Some great hair and by great I mean big. It would also be nice with some 80’s music.

The movie does not disappoint, it’s so 80’s I want to get a pair of Reeboks and some tube socks. Oh and lots and lots of hairspray, rough and blue eye shadow! I was too young to wear makeup in the 80’s so I can make up for it now.

Don’t get the wrong, the movie is ridiculous but in an 80’s way so that’s okay. For some reason I kind of believe that these two guy can create a woman with a computer, a Barbie doll and this storm that shows up just because they need one. 80’s computers are the best computers.

Best part of the movie: All things 80’s, the fun dialog and an awkward looking Robert Downy Jr. 

The Wolfman

I have not been watching all that many movies lately, and my horror movie challenge is… well I stared watching “Körkarlen” and it’s really boring so the whole thing is on ice at the moment, maybe I have to change that movie to something else…

Anyway… haven’t seen the original “The Wolf Man” but I did read a script for the one with Benico and I really really hope it was an early draft that has been changed A LOT because it was sort of crap. Oh and I don’t like when they toss in real characters in movies and it seems like Inspector Abberline is in the movie. Why? Is there a reason? I remember when I read the script and it said “London 1888” and went, “Okay, so that means Jack the Ripper will appear…” and he did...

When I read the script some parts had a “Sleepy Hollow” vibe about them and it turns out that Andrew Kevin Walker has been working on this script as well.

Oh, I have to go and make some more tea before I start watching the movie… made I’ll find some snacks as well…

Name: The Wolfman
Country: UK/America
Tea: Rhubarb
Snack: Limpa with caviar on it.
Expectations: I like Benico and I like Emily and it’s Victorian times which I like. Hopefully there will be nice sets and costumes; I have more hope about the clothes being pretty than the movie being good.

Golem makes a little cameo, cute…

Thank God they changed the part when he (the werewolf) gets attacked by a crocodile and the wolves running around in London. Why are wolves always such weird psycho animals in movies? In the script I read the werewolf lets the wolves out from the cage at the zoo (after he’s been attack by a Nile crocodile) and the wolves just starts to hunt people in the streets, why? In “Day after tomorrow” the wolves also become weird killing machines; I just doesn’t make sense to me.

I must say that the movie, towards the end becomes a little tiresome for me. It would have been better if it was all taking place on the moors or in London, but if it was in London I would rather have followed the detectives work instead of the werewolf. Two hours is too much.

Best thing in the movie: Garden, houses and of course the topiary!

Repo! The Genetic Opera

God how silly… silly silly silly AND Paris Hilton is in it, what a waste of time. I don’t understand why anyone would put that thing in a movie. No this was not a very good movie, it didn’t suck but it was… If you like Avril Lavigne and think that stuff is punk then you might actually like this and you probably have three different hair colors and striped cut off socks as arm warmers. I like the idea, I enjoy musical and darker things but this wasn't really dark, everything just felt forced.

But get "Phantom of the opera" instead and don't waste your time with this one.

Best thing in the movie: Sarah Brightman

Harry Brown

I really liked this movie, perhaps the first part more than the second but still. Michael Caine is excellent like always and there is something special about vigilantes. I like that concept and I’ll do my best to find more vigilante movies (do you know of any let me know).

Franklyn

Franklyn is a very beautiful movie visually but story is thin I’m afraid but very pretty indeed and I’ll keep an eye out to see what Gerald McMorrow (cool name) will do next. I like movies that have put money on “the look” of it and they have created a certain vibe, but that basically all there is in this movie. Not enough work on the actual story. Lovely darkness in it, I think it could have been a little bit more of that.


Apparently Ewan McGregor was supposed to be in it, don’t think it would have made the movie better but perhaps I would have heard of the movie earlier.

Feels like you can show any picture from this movie without spoiling anything.

I love Eva Green, something about her, she has that cunning secretive look and I hope she gets to play Catwoman if Catwoman is to make a comeback. And she's not a bad actress either.

As I said, not that much of a story but it’s the guys first feature film so I understand but I wish there was more because it’s so pretty. If you appreciate beautiful costumes and comic vibes then you can watch this movie and read at the same time and just watch it since there’s not much of a plot.

Rec

Name: Rec
Country: Spain
Tea: None
Snack: None
Expectations: After watching the trailer I believe this movie to be scary and I’m not sure I should watch it before I go to bed. Oh, I have to go and lock the door!



We get to follow a Spanish TV crew on the show “While you were sleeping” as they follow the firemen. Despite the fact that it’s starting out slow and slightly dull… it manage to remain interesting, how? I don’t really know, maybe because I’m a sucker for reality shows?


It does get a little chaotic at times but the acting is good so I believe it. A few cheap things but all in all it’s interesting and at the end is pretty scary, I had to turn the sound down, things seem less scary when you turn the sound down. I found the last ten fifteen minutes of this really creepy and if more of the movie had been like that I would not have managed to watch all of it, I would have been too scared. It took me awhile to finish the movie because it was disturbing at the end and I need a break or two.

Parts of the end looked like a Marilyn Manson video but I won’t show any pictures or say anything, won’t spoil it if anyone wants to see it. Of course they made an American version of the movie because God forbid those poor souls should have to watch something with… subtitles! After looking at the trailer it looks like they copied it frame by frame, a few differences in the plot and I think I’ll see it just because. The american version is called Quarentine.

Prey

Name: Prey
Country: South Africa
Tea: None
Snack: None
Expectations: None, don’t remember much from the trailer either. But since it’s from South Africa I assume there’s a lion in it.

I don’t know… angry lions in Africa aren’t as scary as an angry shark in New England. Lions eating tourist that invade their space is just animals being animals, I’m with the lions on this one. You see the lion right away so it’s not like a lurking menace in the deep so there’s no mystery of the unknown. It would be scarier if there were attacks in the dark and we did not get to see the “monster” but now it’s just a holiday gone wrong.


Cell phones have messed up horror/thrillers because everyone have a phone so you have to have a scene where they break the phone, lose the phone, the batteries are running low or they have no signal (seems to be the most common one used).

It’s hard to get scared when you see the “monster” and think they are cut. They remind me of my kitties, so cut!


It wasn’t a very good movie as far as I recall but “The Ghost and the Darkness” was better than this one, different kind of movies yes but at least there was some suspense in that one.

What kind of idiots goes out in a car on a safari without lots and lots of water? And why drive like that?

Best part of the movie: The giraff and Mr. Crawfords house. It's a really nice house I have to say.

High Tension

Name: High Tension
Country: France
Tea: Raspberry (milk on the side)
Snack: Raisins
Expectations: None, here we go…

22 minutes: I’m really really bored… very distracted, I want to look at shoes. I’m thinking of getting a pair of cute ballerina slippers, probably black because that’s my favorite color, some say black isn’t a color but I think some people are smartasses so…

24 minutes: Oh dear… I can’t do this right now. I need a break from this one. I’m going to watch Oscar winning documentary The Cove instead.

Okay, I’m giving it a go… this movie just made me forget all about this challenge. I can’t put my finger on it but just as this movie started I was sick of it, so dull and boring. Now I’m hoping that the girl dies, I’m cheering for the killer, get her!!

25 minutes: What the fuck!? What…? I hate this stupid movie! It’s not good when you don’t care about the main character in a horror movie.

33 minutes: Aimée rescued me for a little chat, lovely break…

51 minutes: Oh dear god! I hate the stupid bitch, die! I hate the movie more than I hate her however. I just want this damn movie to come to an end, Jesus fucking Christ!

52 minutes: I’m sure the movie isn’t THAT bad, we just started off on the wrong foot…

The UK title is the best thing about the movie, "Switchblade Romance" sounds sexy. I think I watched this movie in four or five parts, that how long it took me to finish it. DON'T watch this movie, watch "The Cove" instead.

Sid & Nancy

It’s London and the year is 1977, year of punk and Sex Pistols. I want to be impressed, I want to say that I was glued to the screen but I’m not impressed at all, even Gary managed to disappoint me at times.

(I like this shot)

Gary at the time is 28 and he’s playing 20 year old Sid Vicious, he’s good but not in every scene. Gary is the best thing in this movie and it’s fun to see him in the silly underwear. He apparently ended up in hospital because he lost too much weight when he prepared for the role.

(Nice little pants on a skinny Gary. Do you think that chick looks like she's 20?)

Courtney Love auditioned for the part as Nancy and I think she should have got it. I think she would have done a great job, she wouldn’t have to act that much, just pretend her name is Nancy; she’d be outstanding! She instead got the part of Gretchen and has like two three line and looks surprised most of the time (and is barely recognizable, she has had A LOT of surgery done, and her daughter Francis looks just like her).

(Courtney looking fresh as a daisy like usual)

Instead of Courtnet we have Chloe Webb as Nancy and who goes, “Ahhhhg” a lot. Nancy was only 20 when she died and Chloe is 30 but she looks at least 50. Her voice/accent is… At first I thought she was British and doing an awful American accent but apparently she’s an American.

(A nice shot of Chloe Webb)

Johnny Rotten wasn’t at all impressed with this movie, called it “the Peter Pan version” and I would too if I had such a lame actor portray me and the lip-sync is horrible.

Sid & Nancy at imdb

Best thing in the movie: Gary, dressed in black… Hm, I think I’ll buy a lot of black clothes this winter.

The Order

The Order: A young priest goes to Rome to investigate the mysterious death of his mentor and head of Order. As always when people go to Rome to investigate things within the church all hell breaks loose with a bunch of weird societies, demons and whatnot, you know the drill. There is no reason what so ever to see this movie unless you are a Heath fan and want to see all of his movies. There is no suspense, no nothing…

Best thing in the movie: Heath all dressed in black. Note to self, buy a new black coat this fall.

Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon

Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon The movie starts as a documentary where we get to follow Leslie Vernon who’s preparing himself to début as the new psycho killer in a world where the likes of Freddy Krueger and Michael Myers are real people and events. The film crew with Taylor Gentry in the lead tags along Leslie in his daily life and the preparations for the event that will make him a legend.

Maybe Jason Voorhees brings a crossword with him to the bathroom, maybe he has dinner in front of the TV watching The Simpsons but we don’t want to see that, we want to see what he does best, chasing and killing people with his machete while wearing his stylish mask. But in this movie we get to see the mass murderer in the makings life and it is a sad life with cardio exercise and living with his pet turtles. He makes lame jokes with the film crew and it reminds me of a sad interview with Ron Jeremy (who also has a pet turtle) and his attempt to be a standup comedian except then I felt for poor Ron but here the actor is not good enough for me to feel any kind of pity for him.

The movie makes a sudden turn at the end, from lame comedy to what seems to be an attempt to be an action/horror but it’s impossible to take it serious when we know that the “monster” lives with his pet turtles Church and Zoe. More of one genre and less of the other would have been nice because the mixture of the two is a complete failure.

There are a few interesting events when there’s a hint of chemistry between Leslie and Taylor similar to that of Clarice Starling and Hannibal Lecter but unfortunately they remain only hints and perhaps I was the only one that felt them. I liked the idea of the journalist getting to close to her subject and have a hard time to stay neutral but…

If you listen to the dialog and have seen at least one horror movie before I doubt there will be any surprises in this movie. Apparently it’s supposed to be a fun satire of the genre but I didn’t get it.

Checklist

· Spooky abandoned house
· Stoned teenagers
· Blonde virgin
· Cars that doesn’t start
· Creepy mask
· Things we’ve seen before

The best thing in the movie: Leslies mask and Zelda Rubinstein

Day Watch

Day Watch: Anton is back to fight more forces of darkness… Um I have to admit I didn’t completely follow what is going on. It’s not as good as the first one and by the end of it I’m not really sure what happened or what to think of it.

Because it’s Russian I don’t mind the silliness, I guess this is what it’s like for foreigners when they watch a movie like, “Let the right one in”, I can’t stand that movie but maybe others go, “But it’s Swedish so I don’t mind”’

It does feel refreshing something different from your typical American action film but it’s 140 minutes long!

Best thing in the movie: Svetlanas blue Muppet coat. Only Patsy from Absolutely Fabulous and Svetlana can get away with wearing something like that.

An American Haunting

A little scared as I’m about to put the disc in, keeping on light on and I’m watching it on the computer which is extra scary because you’re so close to the screen then. 87 minutes and go…

It begins with “based on a true story” so naturally that means that it is not. It’s 1817 and strange things are happening in the Bell family house in Red River Tennessee. Betsy the family’s precious daughter is suffering from violent nightmares.

It starts off as being very promising, I got scared. Angles, creepy noises, the wind through the trees and mist but it doesn’t last I’m afraid (well actually it’s a good thing since I’m off to bed). Turns cliché in the middle and by the end of the movie I’m no longer scared at all.

I like Donald and Sissy but you need more than good actors to make a good movie. The movie could not live up to my expectations, you’re better off to watch the trailer or the first 40-50 minutes of the movie.



The trailer is pretty misleading, it makes the movie look scary and I did feel it wasn’t the same story as the actual movie. The feeling I got when I watched the trailer was better than the movie and it’s not the first time I’ve been fooled by the trailer, and probably not the last.

Saw

People have been talking about these Saw movies and they’ve made five(!) of them so I thought it was time to see what the fuss was about, and I still don’t know.

Twenty minutes in and it feels more like forty, it’s going to be a long movie. At times it looks like an old 90’s video but without music. The setup with flashbacks makes the story less scary, well it’s not scary at all, I didn’t even feel the need to pick up feet up from the floor until was tired and lay down on the sofa.

They put a lot of focus on the “scary” details to make sure no one misses them which make them less scary and like I’m being treated like an idiot.

Maybe I have seen too many movies because there were no surprises in this one. A little like “The Village” where you quickly realize that things aren’t what they seem and they will try to make as many “unexpected” turns as they can to surprised us which makes it so much easier to figure out what is going to happened next.

The whole movie makes me thing of “The Shinning” and when the black guy rushes up to the house on a scoter (if I remember correctly) only to get an axe in the back minutes after entering the house.

Best thing in the movie: Danny Glover (mainly because I watched a lot of his movies growing up so I just like to see his face)

V for Vendetta

I find it a little hard to take Natalie Portman serious at time because she (speaks with a British accent) looks like a child, a very pretty child but a child none the less. She’s a good actress but she looks so young I expect her to stomp her feet, throw fits and slam doors.

I like the theatricals of the film but… there was something missing for me to really like this movie. I feel like such a snob because I’m so picky about movies.

Loved Stephen Fry, he was the best thing in the movie, he’s always so adorable. I want to sit down and have tea with him, seems like a nice tea drinking buddy.

Day after tomorrow

“Day after tomorrow” is one of those movies where they rely on “cool” effects and pay very little attention to plot and characters.

When the hurricanes hit LA I wanted to laugh, it was such bad acting if felt like a parody. The lovely Ian Holm was in the back and didn’t get any room and did you ever find out what happened to him? Assumed dead but it was never confirmed, I like to believe he made it but I’m very doubtful.

The movie left me without making any impressions whatsoever, well other than “Hey, that Emmy chick is really cute. What is she up to these days?” that and, “That Jake guy is kind of cute too.”

Last seen movie…

Tristan + Isolde, what a waste of time… Yawn, the only thing I liked in the movie was perhaps Isoldes hair, and the names Tristan and Isolde, got a certain ring to it.

The Fall

“What a mystery this world. One day you love them and the next day you want to kill them, a thousand times over…”

I just saw a still from this movie and felt that I had to see it. Distracting myself from reality at the time, have been saving this movie for the right time and today was the day. And what a distraction it was… I have a crush on Roy/The Bandit. Such colors and lovely costumes and sets. Wonderful, but I would have liked a little more satisfying ending but you can’t have it all. Defiantly worth watching if you get the chance, The Fall.

It’s not on the list?

How the H can it be that “Rebel without a cause” is not on IMDB top 250!? It’s better than Se7en, it’s better than Fight Club, The Matrix, The Usual Suspects and I can go on… What the H?! Anyway, I really like it, they don’t make movies like these anymore. If you haven’t seen it, do it now!


Movies left to see on IMDB top 250: 141

Last seen movies

Managed to watch some movies between all the books, “Atonement” and “Pan’s labyrinth” and both of them were somewhat of a disappointment. I expected more, I guess my expectations were just too high.