Paranormal Activity 2 (2010)

Since I enjoyed the first movie, I decided to see the sequel. And, of all the nights - I saw this one on Halloween.

Going into this movie, I would say it's best to reacquaint yourself with the first one. Why? The reason being is that both movies are connected.

To be honest, it's more of a time line kind of issue. But, you will see a few familiar faces from the first movie. For those who have not seen the first one, it may be a bit confusing. So, I definitely recommend seeing the first film before watching this one.

(Note: For those who have seen this film already, you'll know what I'm talking about).

Regarding the film itself, it's very similar to the style of the first movie - documentary style. At first, I thought the home was the same home as the first. But, as the film progressed - it looked a bit different.

Since I had seen the first movie and was familiar with the documentary style, I was in anticipation as I watched the movie. So many times, I thought something spooky was going to happen. As it turns out, many of these scenes in the beginning were probably meant to keep the audience in anticipation.

(Note: So many times during the movie, I thought I saw shadows of monsters in the background during the night scenes. But, they were only regular objects. I'm wondering if they meant to give it that type of effect. Or, maybe my mind was playing tricks on me!)

In the beginning, the scenes were a bit short. And, many times - the camera view switched towards different parts of the home. As this happened throughout the film, it became faster every time (to show a change in day and night).

Compared to the first movie, this film felt like it went a bit faster. It was more the setting of the story and changes between night and day. To be honest, it was a bit tedious to keep seeing the same parts of the home over and over again with no change. Though, there is a reason to show this as the movie progresses.

As for the story itself, just like the first one - it's a bit comical at first. Being similar to the first movie, I would highly recommend watching this one with a group of friends. It's just very funny to watch some of the scenes and even more around a group of people.

(Note: For those of you who saw the movie, you'll know what I'm talking about. I especially enjoyed the pool scene. It was truly spooky and comical at the same time!)

So, I'm sure you're wondering if this is a scary movie or not. Though it follows the same formula as the first one, I would say it's just not as spooky and has the same effect as the first film.

With the first movie, we really didn't know what to expect. So, a lot of what happened in the first film was unexpected. And, I can honestly tell you - I felt extremely spooked out after seeing the first movie.

But, this film just didn't give me the same feeling as the first. To be honest, it was a bit more comical and funny than the first. Even during the scary parts, I laughed. I guess some of the scenes and the effects in this one made it less believable and more comical. But, that's just me.

(Note: For those who have seen this movie, you'll know what I'm talking about. Towards the end, some of the scenes just didn't seem real. I was actually laughing more than being afraid).

As for the end of the film, it didn't seem as disturbing as the first. And, in a way - it seemed like it just didn't have closure. The end was open ended and left to interpretation.

(Note: For those who have seen the film, I'm thinking they ended the movie the way they did in order to do another sequel. Maybe there are a series of movies planned for this franchise).

All in all, I would say this movie had it's moments. There were definitely a few scary scenes. It was "ok." And, it was entertaining at times. But, it just didn't have the same effect as the first film.

If you're in the mood for a horror type movie, I'd say this one is best to watch as a rental.

Film Gurl's 15 Minute Rule: NEUTRAL

(Note: For those who are fans of the film, definitely check out the spoof. Thanks for watching!)

p.s. Feel free to leave comments on any post either here and/or my Facebook Page. Comments are always welcome, thanks for reading!



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The Orphanage (aka "El Orfanato")

"Believe and you will see."

- The Orphanage

In the spirit of Halloween, I had been building my list of scary movies to watch. I was looking for scary movies, both old and new, seen and never seen.

So, I decided to watch this movie based on a recommendation from my tweep, The Horror Digest (thank you!). I had never heard of this film before and decided to give it a go. I'm glad I did.

Since I'm very much into psychological thriller type films such as my last review, I really did enjoy watching this movie. The above quote sums it all.

Basically, it's a movie about perspective - how we see things and the difference between seeing and believing. And, if you start to believe so much in something then you will slowly begin to see things that some people may not see.

In turn, this becomes reality - your reality. And, what is real to you may not be real to someone else. (If you've seen the film, you'll know what I'm talking about).

I really enjoyed how the film presented the story to tell both the present and the past, and to connect the past with the present. Though the story went back and forth (present to past and vice versa), I did not feel confused - it had a unique way of telling the story. I also enjoyed the use of older objects and places to unveil past events - this worked very well in the film.

In addition, I also enjoyed the use of sound effects and images. Most of the film took place in the house (aka the orphanage) - there were many creepy sounds within the home being a very old home and all.

As with a lot of older homes, there can be many sounds within the home to make it spooky such as creaky stairs, older plumbing pipes, etc. This was the effect and experience I had watching this film - the whole house felt creepy.

There were a few twists and turns, which I really enjoyed. The film really kept my attention -I wanted to see more. And, the ending is definitely worth the wait. I don't want to spoil it for you but let's just say the film really makes a statement about the power of believing. And, how the power of believing can make things a reality.

If you're in the mood for a psychological thriller type horror movie, I definitely recommend this one.

(Note: For another perspective on the movie, check out my tweep's, The Horror Digest, review).

(p.s. By the way, the entire film is originally in Spanish with English subtitles).

Happy movie watching!



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Silent Hill

"Mother is God in the eyes of a child."

-Silent Hill

In the spirit of Halloween, I've been in the mood lately for scary movies. So, I decided to re-visit one of my favorites based on the video game. (By the way, I'm a big fan of the video game. I've played Silent Hill 2, 3, and 4. Now, I'm currently on this one).

When it comes to horror type movies, I enjoy psychological thriller type films that have more to do with the mind - less blood and gore.

As a fan of the game, I really enjoyed watching this movie. The above quote sums it up quite nicely. It's basically about a mother caring for her child. And, the journey that leads them to the eerie place called Silent Hill.

If you've ever played the game, you'll be able to relate a lot to the film. I really enjoyed watching the different scene changes between daylight and night fall thus turning into what is called "nightmare mode." The whole beauty of the series is the psychological factor and questioning - Is what I'm seeing real? Or, is it all in my head?

I don't want to go into too much detail about the movie as I wouldn't want to spoil it for you. Though, I can say it's one of those movies that just needs to be seen rather than heard.

Honestly, I didn't have really high expectations for the film the first time I saw it. Since I'm a fan of the video game, that was a major part of my decision to go ahead and see it. Now, I'm glad I did.

It's probably one of the few films out there based on a video game that is actually good (in my opinion). I've seen other movies based on video games and I've been mostly disappointed. But, not with this one. It was really an enjoyable film from beginning to end.

It had a good story line and it captured my attention during the entire movie. Plus, the special effects along with the music and sound effects were great. Along with the scene changes, I really enjoyed the whole tone and feel of the movie. I was not disappointed.

As for the ending, it really played true to the eerieness of the film as well as the video game. I don't want to spoil it for you but let's just say it really brought together the real world with the imaginary world. And, this brought about a very spooky feeling.

If you're in the mood for a horror type (psychological thriller type) movie, I definitely recommend this one.

(Note: For another perspective on the movie, check out my tweep's, Action Flick Chick, review).

Happy movie watching!



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Zombieland

"You can't trust anyone. The first time I let a girl in my life and she tries to eat me."

- Zombieland

Ok, I have to admit - I don't consider myself much of a zombie fan. Though, I will see a zombie flick from time to time when the mood strikes me. With Halloween coming, I thought it would be a perfect time to go out and see this movie.

Since I heard a lot of good reviews about the film, I decided to check it out. I'm definitely glad I did!

The quote above sets the tone for the entire movie - it's a little bit of horror meshed in with comedy. It does have a lot of action and kept my attention. It's very unique in it's own sense. When I see zombie flicks, I automatically think it's only going to be scary. This was not the case with this film.

Watching this movie is like being on a roller coaster ride - it has its ups and downs, its twists and turns. There are a a lot of funny moments mixed in with traditional horror scenes. I especially enjoy the part that involves Bill Murray - I felt very nostalgic seeing him on the screen again. (If you've seen the film, you'll know what I'm talking about).

Apart from the comedy and the horror, it also had a message. It made me think and appreciate the little things in life. It also challenged the audience to think that If you've lost everything and have nothing to lose, what else is there? It definitely conveys a sense of courage to get its message across about standing up to your fears no matter how scary they might be.

Speaking of "fears," let's talk about the zombies themselves. These zombies weren't the stereotypical type, like the ones in this movie. These zombies were not slow at all - they were fast, extremely fast. They could run. And, they had teeth - very sharp ones. Plus, they could really bite!

Coincidentally, I saw Night of The Living Dead (NOTLD) again before seeing this movie. The zombies in NOTLD were not even as fast or as close to the zombies portrayed in this film. Watching NOTLD and not being much of a zombie fan, I thought all zombies were all the same - kind of slow and not as violent. Though, it definitely was not the case in Zombieland.

Overall, I enjoyed the movie. The comedy mixed with zombie horror produced an entertaining kind of movie with a sense of humor and style.

Speaking of style, I really enjoyed the special effects (especially the slow motion) in the beginning of the film and through out. Plus, it made me nostalgic seeing Bill Murray on the screen along with seeing childhood treats such as Twinkies and Sno Balls. (If you've seen the film, you'll know what I'm talking about. Hmmm, maybe another reason to go out and see it!)

If you're in the mood for a horror type film that can make you laugh, I recommend checking this out!

(Note: For other perspectives on the movie, check out the following reviews from my tweeps:

Action Flick Chick - Review Link
Zen B. - Review Link
Karen - Review Link

Happy movie watching!



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Paranormal Activity

With Halloween coming up, I decided to get in the "spirit" of things and go see this movie.

I have to admit, when I first saw the trailer I thought this movie would be about aliens - I was wrong. I don't want to spoil it for you, but it's more about the "paranormal" in the realm of films such as this one. Enough said.

This is definitely a documentary style type of film. It reminds me of the style of The Blair Witch Project - same concept and style. Though, just in a different setting. The entire movie takes place in one location - a house. Not a haunted house, but an ordinary house. What attracts the paranormal is not the home itself, but the inhabitants of the home.

If you plan to see this movie, I have to warn you - it's very slow. It's definitely not a big budget type of movie - not much action and no music whatsoever. However, if you enjoyed Blair Witch you might just enjoy this one as well.

The beginning sets the tone for the entire film. To me, it seems more like reality tv - you get to know the main characters and exactly what they are experiencing. Through their experiences, the story unfolds and builds up slowly - this is not an action movie.

Throughout the movie, you are given bits and pieces of the story. I really liked the way sound and lighting were used to set the tone and communicate feelings to the audience. And, little by little the "paranormal" makes an appearance. But, not in the way you expect. I don't want to ruin it for you but let's just say it asks the question "Is my mind playing tricks on me?"

To me, this is a movie you watch with a group of friends. It definitely has it's moments. In the beginning and up to the middle, it really had some comedic moments. I found myself (along with the people in the theater) laughing at some parts and commenting. Some parts in the beginning seemed scary to the main characters but not to the audience - it had more of a comedic effect. Let's just leave it at that.

However, towards the end it does get more serious and more scary. Since I saw this in the theater, I am glad I did. If I had watched this at home, it might have been more scarier for me since the film does take place in a home. (If you've seen the movie, you'll know what I'm talking about).

Was this a scary movie? Yes. Though, it it did not get scary until the end. To be honest, I don't recommend seeing this alone - it's more a movie to see in a group. And, if you get scared easily and it's hard for you to sleep after watching scary movies you might not want to see this at night. Let's just say the scary moments still were in my mind after seeing the film. And, I saw this late at night too!

I'd say this is a movie just in time for Halloween and for those who would like to get into the "spirit" of things. It's definitely low budget and not over the top spectacular. But, it's one of those films that does have an effect.

If you're in the mood for a horror type movie, you might just want to check this out!

(Note: Since the film resembles the documentary style of Blair Witch, the camera shakes a lot throughout the film. Personally, I was able to adjust to it though for some people it does make them dizzy).

Happy movie watching!



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