Fear Changes Everything

A freak storm unleashes a species of blood-thirsty creatures on a small town, where a small band of citizens hole-up in a supermarket and fight for their lives.

Dave Drayton, an illustrator, is happily married and spends a weekend at his picturesque vacation home with his wife and son. One night there is an enormous storm and his boathouse is wrecked by his neighbors tree. This neighbor, a fancy lawyer, isn't the most social fellow around, but they decide to together get to the local supermarket to pick up some supplies and tools. Meanwhile an eerie mist starts to creep over the mountain and lake but they don't think much of it. When they are in the store the same opaque mist starts to envelop the entire surroundings. A man comes running out of it screaming at everybody to stay inside. Strange things start to happen. The people, together when the mist appeared, are now entirely dependent on each other.

I've always been an avid Stephen King reader, especially as a kid, and I fondly remember this short story in one of the bundles. Later in my life we were all treated by Frank Darabont on some excellent movie renditions, like the Shawshank Redemption and the Green Mile. Stephen King and Frank Darabont have developed this fantastic relationship of trust. That trust is validated yet again with this movie. Not only does it have fantastic actors, pacing and visual effects, but it gives you that visceral feeling of really being there. Nothing is over-played, there are no false emotions or forced situations. Actually, this movie was exactly how I imagined it when I read the book. The only thing different is the ending, which is even better than it originally was. Wow.

My opinion; I am biased, but hail to the King 9/10.
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Don't hide the truth. Just filter it.

Satirical comedy follows the machinations of Big Tobacco's chief spokesman, Nick Naylor, who spins on behalf of cigarettes while trying to remain a role model for his twelve-year-old son.

Nick Taylor has a way with words. He will twist your words and distorts reality as he sees fit. The basics of his job description are; "if you argue correctly, you're never wrong". His job is representing the tobacco industry, with his closest friends doing the same for guns and alcohol. One day reality strikes back and he is kidnapped by activists. When he barely survives he discovers that his girlfriend is a reporter, only in for the scoop. Something has to change.

It's hard to say if this movie fulfills any promise of a storyline. But Aaron Eckhart is captivating to watch and his lines, especially when he addresses the public, are hilarious. The movie is filled with many great moments; like the toxicity 'experimentation' on rats by an vaguely Eastern-Europe accented professor, or the cameo by Rob Lowe (who steals every scene totally). The story is a testament to the denial happening every day.

'Cigarettes in space?', "It's the final frontier, Nick.", 'But wouldn't they blow up in an all oxygen environment?', "Probably. But it's an easy fix. One line of dialogue. 'Thank God we invented the... you know, whatever device..'".

My opinion; more of this please 8.5/10.
IMDB

This city is afraid of me. I've seen its true face.

In an alternate 1985 where former superheroes exist, the murder of a colleague sends active vigilante Rorschach into his own sprawling investigation, uncovering something that could completely change the course of history as we know it.

The Doomsday clock reads 5 minutes to midnight. Just around the time Nixon is elected for his third term one of these former "superhero's", the Comedian, is brutally murdered in his apartment. Rorschach, still patrolling the streets, visits his friends from the glorious days past, which now mostly lead ordinary lives. With a failed assassination on one of them and the mental breakdown of slightly out-of-touch friend Dr. Manhattan, the USA's "breathing, living, walking nuclear deterrent", everything seems at odds. How are these incidents related? Things turn out to be different from how they appear.

I thought Watchmen was an excellent movie. If you take some time, say 3 hours, for watching the Director's Cut you'll be in for a real treat. Every movie about superheroes tend to get a bit on the geeky side and this is no exception. Yet it has none of the 'rated PG' drama but shows real people and real problems. Of course you'll have to take a leap of faith here and there but it never distracts. There is a thick atmosphere which really confines you to this alternate reality. Zac Snyder amazes yet again with his latest project.

My opinion; a well deserved 9/10.
IMDB

Everyone just pretend to be normal

A family determined to get their young daughter into the finals of a beauty pageant take a cross-country trip in their VW bus.

It all starts with a growing insight into this rather distinct family. Richard, the father, tries to sell his self-help product but is not very successful. Since he is heavy invested in it the family tries to get by with little money. When Sheryl, the mother, invites her suicidal brother Frank he immediately clashes with the rest of them. One evening during an interesting family discussion they get a phone call; the youngest daughter is finally allowed to participate in a beauty pageant. Because of cost they all have to make the long trip there in an old Volkswagen van. Hilarity ensues.

This movie has a lot going for it; strong actors, an insane story and excellent cinematography. It is obviously designed to make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside and it takes no hostages. I fell out of the couch laughing seeing them hurry to reach their destination, especially during the final half hour. There are some emotional notes throughout the movie, but nowhere they are misused. It all concludes with a small and hilarious suprise for us, the viewer. I wish there were more movies like this.

My opinion; *honk* *honkhonk* *hoooooooonk* *honk* 9.5/10.
IMDB

The End Begins

After Skynet has destroyed much of humanity in a nuclear holocaust, a group of survivors led by John Connor struggles to keep the machines from finishing the job.

The Terminator series may be one of the best (known) franchises from Hollywood. I must confess I am biased because of my reverence for James Cameron. Just another three months for Avatar! But I digress. Terminator's future is bleak: an A.I. decides for whatever reason to nuke mankind back to the stone age. Some pockets of resistance remain and that's why killer robots are being sent back from the future. This should make sense when you watch the movies

'The Terminator' (part one) really is the best of the series. Then came Terminator 2 which to be honest, did not do much for me. Where there are junk bonds there is a way and we got Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines. I must say that was kind of a guilty pleasure but it pretty much ripped apart the (last part of the) story. The hottest thing right now is to 'reboot' a series (Reboot tr.v., rē-bōōt', see: Batman Begins). This movie represents a pretty decent effort to do the same for this franchise. I'm all for another chapter.

My opinion; recommended with a 7/10.
IMDB