Scary Movie Review Month: conclusion

To bring October (aka Scary Movie Review Month) to a close, I'm going to go back over and give reviews and new scorings to all the movies I watched, including the ones that received the stream of conscious reviews.

The Innkeepers
This was a fun spin on the haunted places schtick. It was subtle and quirky.
7 out of 10

Apartment 143
Jump scares galore. But schizophrenia doesn't cause levitation.
3 out of 10

Episode 50
This was just plain bad. I couldn't bring myself to feel anything for the characters.
1 out of 10

13B
What a strange way to be introduced to Bollywood horror.
4 out of 10

The Descent 2
It wasn't as good as the first one. Which I'm sure is cliche to say. But it was entertaining.
5 out of 10

Catacombs
World's worst sister of the year. All years. But, in the end, they deserved it.
3 out of 10

Dread
This one took too long to get to the real 'meat' of the movie. I felt like the movie was almost over before things actually started happening.
4 out of 10

V/H/S
It had promise, but the execution wasn't as good as it could have been. Thankfully, there's going to be a sequel and they'll get a second chance.
5 out of 10

No Tell Motel
I can't.... I just can't. It's that bad.
-10 out of 10

The Raven
Dark and brooding, gory and foreboding. While I didn't think Cusack looked like Poe, I enjoyed the facade.
7 out of 10

Prometheus
This was an incredibly beautiful feast for the eyes. As well as breathtaking in action and creepiness.
7 out of 10

Paranormal Activity 4
I'm beginning to notice a trend here: I really liked 1 and 3, was disappointed with 2 and slightly disappointed with 4. Which is great, because this means that 5 will be great.
5 out of 10

Silent Hill: Revelation 3D
I really enjoyed this one. The video game nerd in me thrived while watching this and really appreciated the hints at Silent Hill Origins and Downpour.
8 out of 10

Scary Movie Month review: study on fear or meat?

Tonight's movie review is Dread: three college students film their studies on fear.

The philosophy of fear? A study of fear?
This Quaid guy looks like a cross between Michael Fassbender and Willem Dafoe.

And THAT'S why you don't go outside and check on creepers sitting on your porch in the middle of the night.

Heh. "I don't think I want to touch the beast." I agree with you completely, my friend.

This movie is really tapping into my love of editing and filming.
Oh, the old days of being a film major.

I'm... wait. Did you just say that they grew cheese? I really need you to get out. Like, of my house. Of everywhere.

Was that really necessary?
 "The thing that gives you the most terror, can come back at any time."

I really think you should have kept taking your meds.

Ow, that was incredibly awkward, embarrassing and sad. I'm kinda irritated with the main character.

Mr. Fassbender/Dafoe sort of walks that line of overacting/bad acting and being a decent actor/human being.

Wow, temper tantrum much? I hope you plan on paying for that.

At this point, I feel like the movie could have ended.
Oh, wait, Quaid had to go and mess up everything and make the cute guy almost poop his pants.

You know what they say about nosy people...
What sense does it make to wander about other peoples' houses, get all up in their personal stuff, move shelves that don't need to be moved and find things you don't need to find?

Ouch. Right in the self esteem.

An hour in and I'm.. dreading the rest. Oh my! The key to the movie: dread.
I feel like I already know what's going to happen and... yup, it's happening.

No. no no nononononoonononnomonononoonononon
I hate bleach!

What a poorly maintained hospital. Flickering lights, really?

I'm going to need you to not
I'm never going to be able to look at a T-bone steak the same again.

Revenge is a dish best served crazy!

Score: 3 out of 5

Scary Movie Review Month: Day 2

For today's post, I watched Episode 50, which has two paranormal teams with different focuses: one of skeptics and another of believers, getting the assignment of a lifetime.

I picked it because it looked campy and I'm a bit fan of campy.
Also because it had that 'similar to Grave Encounters' feel, which I gave a five out of five, highly recommended recommendation.

So, are there four acknowledged kinds of hauntings? Or is this just for the sake of the movie?

I like that these paranormal inspectors (their designation, no lie) express that they understand haunting and such as part of nature, but something that science can't explain.

Dude, I hate to break it to you, but your fixer upper may be built on an ancient burial ground or something.
So... the ghost hates what they're doing with the place?
The kitchen's got a nice set up, but the dining room could use a bit more creativity. I'm going to have to side with the ghost on this one.

Wait, we don't use all of our brain? I thought it was established that we did.

Ewww... I'm... going to need you to get that looked at.

Gratuitious white text on black background, go!

Why does she constantly look like she's offended by something?
Oh, that's why.

Did he really just say that?
*shudder*
There comes a point where I can't tell if they were going for over the top stereotypes or if they were basing this on a particular person.

Oh that was a perfect kilt joke! Please don't change!

BEEEEEEEEESSSSSSS

Her accent doesn't sound real.

Um... does no one see that?

A line of bees.

Yeah, that's gotta be fake. She just... can she die first?

Just punch him!

Creepy nurse dancer.
I would have preferred not having all of that extra, earlier exposition dancing down the hallway.

With a fork?
Wait... before or after all of her bones were broken?

To be honest, I have no idea what they are arguing about. And I'm not too sure I care.

Oh why do you all of a sudden have an accent now?

Ewww...

Aww... you can save me anytime, Mr. Scottish Dude.

Oh, wow. Did I call it or what?

Did he just say, " I filled her with sin?"
Yes, yes it is all your fault.

Wait, what's going on?
I don't...

Did you, did you really just twist your ankle? That's going to show up later.
Huh, guess not.

I would not go in there.. nevermind.

Oh, look, creeper central.

Uh, yeah, what?
That was confusing. Where did everyone else go?

This gets a two out of five. But only because I'm feeling nice.

In the defense of magnets

When doing any sort of PR work, whether for yourself or others, one generally things of business cards, flyers and stickers.
But what about something that works as all of the above? What about magnets?

Being incredibly versatile, magnets can be shaped like business cards, handed out like flyers and peel off like stickers. And the best part, they stick on any metal surface with minimal fuss. Door, car, fridge - as long as it's metal, you just slap it on and you're good to go.

I've been thinking of heading up a small campaign of my own to get my photography, writing and art out to a wider audience. So, of course I've been toying with the general things that come to mind: business cards and flyers to hand out or leave on coffee shop tables and boards and slapping stickers about town.

As I was racking my brain for more ideas, I was stumbled upon a quirky idea: magnets!

Abstract art magnet via magnets.com

As luck would have it, I came across www.magnets.com and drooled over the customization options.

I was fortunate to get a sample pack from the company and tried them out. I actually got rough with them, especially with the outdoor magnet. It's weather resistant, but is it Rose resistant?
The answer was: yes, the magnet still lives.
The magnets are slick and brightly colored. You can upload your own art and give instructions on EXACTLY how you want your magnet to come out. You get free proofs. And they even offer a price guarantee!

There's a variety of styles, sizes and shapes. There's even a Save the Date category, perfect for weddings, baby showers, family and class reunions.
If you're thinking of getting the word about your business, event or gathering, I highly suggest you check out magnets.com.

You can't really forget about a website, business or special occasion if it's looking you in the eye every time you open your door.

Rose vs the World

Recently watched Scott Pilgrim vs the World.
It's definitely a movie I would watch again.
The characters were weird but believable, the effects were fun and the music was pretty good too.
I'm not entirely sure why it got all of the backlash it did and still receives.

Anywho, the movie centers around Scott Pilgrim, an average twenty-something slacker in a band who becomes enamored with Ramona, a girl whose lovelife is, well, complicated. Pilgrim has to defeat her seven evil exes in order to continue dating her. He earns coins, 1-ups and a little self-respect along the way.

The world of Scott Pilgrim looks like average modern-day Canada, but it's tweaked a bit. You can travel in subspace, pull huge mallets (my personal weapon of choice) out of your purse and have vegan powers.
Perhaps that's what a lot of people have a problem with: they weren't able to fully able to suspend their disbelief and take the movie at face value.
It's not supposed to represent or teach anything... well, not really: having self-respect is good, cheating is bad, the girl (or boy) of your dreams may not be who you think they are.
It's just a movie for entertainment sake and I throughly enjoyed it.
Made me wish that I had actually started a band in high school and had a huge group of friends for constant hijinks.

I did have a few problems here and there with things that weren't explained. Like the starred doors; I didn't understand them until I read the comic. Subspace was only mentioned once, in an off-handish way, so the connection wasn't easy to make.

It's not movie of the year good, but it's certainly something I would watch again and again. Probably even buy my own copy. It comes out tomorrow, btw.
If you liked the movie, check out the soundtrack and original score.
And don't forget, the movie was based on the Scott Pilgrim comics, which are also pretty fun (actually, more fun).

For Technorati: 7MRZ7BZ5XDUP

Horatio?

USA Films? Oh it's gotta be good! lol

So, I was recommended Session 9 and told that it would be an interesting review.
Not necessarily because it was spooky, but because David Caruso aka Horatio Caine was a main character.

The movie opens with Horatio er... Caruso speaking off camera, which caused me to dissolve into giggles.
However, I snapped myself out of it by reminding myself that I needed to put on my serious reviewer hat on and delved into the movie... with the occasional fangirl giggle here and there.

Session 9 tells the story of an asbestos cleaning crew that wins a bid to clean out an abandoned state hospital. The building is beautiful as it is eerie. The perfect backdrop, if you will.
The perfect backdrop to allow the human psyche to reign. Each person has their own story to tell.... well, not necessarily to tell. Perhaps... show. Each have their own conflicts, trials and tribulations.
Think: reality TV in an abandoned insane asylum.

The title of the movie comes from recorded sessions one of the workers find. Taking a little break from work out of each day, he listens to the tapes, getting more and more unsettled as he goes along.
And eventually, basic evils take apart the team: greed, mullets, parenting, bad taste in music....

And those little breaks become purposeful and long.
And then there's that Horatio tone.
And then things start getting a little weird.

Asbestos is a hell of a thing.

My recommendation is to watch this movie with others for laughs. Not something I would pay for, but would certainly watch. Wasn't quite scary enough for me. But certainly had me thinking.

So... it's not true?

I've heard that it was customary, in olden days gone by, to photograph one's self with the recently departed.
And nowadays, you'll think it's just an odd photograph until realization overcomes you when you notice that there's a dead person in the photo.
The Haunting in Connecticut opens with these photos and the words, "based on the true story."

Haunting starts off with basic human tragedy: a mother driving her cancer-stricken son home from the hospital. The parents (which are an ass of a dad and a strong yet vulnerable mom) discuss moving closer to the hospital and the financial issues that go along with it.
Ten minutes in, that you already begin hearing those noises that my parents had always referred to as, 'the house is just settling.'

Well, that's not really the house settling...

And when the door that wouldn't open before, suddenly opens don't be surprised if there's spooky stuff behind it.

And suddenly, crabs!

And would you PLEASE keep your dead people to yourself!

And the theme that holds all of these together? The human tragedy that started off the movie.
Each deals with their feeling of hopelessness in their own way. And even the dad, despite being an ass, needs a hug and some comfort.... to an extent.
Human tragedy laced with creepy, spooky things. And coughing up goo.

And it's this human tragedy that kept me going, that kept me watching.
And then, I got into it.
And then, I wanted to know what was happening, what was going to happen and how it was going to end.


And all I can say is: how did they not notice the smell.

I recommend this movie for your viewing pleasure. It was certainly interesting. Not go to the theatre interesting. But still pretty interesting.

And I'll let you decide if it's a true story or not.

Horror with a heart

I'm apparently on a 'horror with a heart' kick as I'm reviewing another heartbreaking horror movie.
This time, it's the South Korean psycho-thriller Acacia.

via bloody-disgusting.com

Never come between a boy and his tree... errr... mom... er... whatever...

Acacia is another movie that struck me as a work of art. The colors, cinematography and thick emotions attracted me from the start.

The movie begins innocuous enough: Mi-sook and Do-il cannot have children, so they decide to adopt cute and quiet Jin-seong.
And things are going pretty well, Jin-seong meets the girl next door and befriends the tree in the backyard.
But soon, strange occurrences start popping up and you question what exactly is going on.

My advice: beware of red, woolen yarn!
I highly recommend this beautiful movie.

Paranormal doodads

Paranormal Entity is today's movie of choice.

Reviews hailed it as the poor man's Paranormal Activity, but I was certainly willing to give it a shot.
And I've got to say, I was not really impressed. The main thing about Paranormal Activity was the feeling of realness. The attention to detail was fantastic; you felt like you were in the couple's home.
However, in Paranormal Entity, while bedrooms were panned over, they felt sterile. It was as if they were lifted from a Sears catalog. Rooms perfectly neat, no posters, no mess, no personal effects.

Well except for the guy's room, which looked like it was purposely made messy. As if the director was like, "Hey pull back the sheets on the bed. Yeah, that's good. Oh! Throw some random change on the bureau. And for the money shot, put some rumpled pants on the floor over there. Oh yeah, it looks like an average dude's room now!"

Except it doesn't.

And then the sister doesn't know how to use a kettle.
Seriously, I had to rewind it because I couldn't believe it the first run through.
Attention to detail, folks. Learn to use a kettle, please.

The 'bickering' between the brother and sister was forced. I was cringing through it.
The mom was.... wishy washy at times, but that might have been the point, so I can't really fault that. Although, it was a bit too easy to change her mind.

So, at one point, the women leave and the brother turns into MacGuyver, complete with fishing wire and bells.
And I must simple ask this... do guys normally have bells? Just, you know, random bells? Hanging around for situations like this...
I felt like I was watching Home Alone for a minute there.

Movie Rule to stay alive #78: don't taunt demons, ghosts or anything that can hurt/kill/maim you. If you do, you're asking for it.

Bells can't save you, you know.
And your doors suck, by the way.

Also, a word to the wise: if you have some sort of demon haunting you, stalking you and touching you while you sleep, you really shouldn't wear provocative things. Sleeping in matching bra and panties set is just asking for trouble.

My recommendation is to watch this movie with friends so you can make fun of it.

In the end, all I could say was, "Wut?"

A tale of love; a history of terror

El Orfanato/The Orphanage was highly recommended by friends, movie reviewers and horror buffs.

The movie opens at, you guessed it, an orphanage where you see children playing, specifically Laura, whom would be adopted shortly after the children's game.
Years later, Laura would renovate and reopen the orphanage as a home for special needs children.
All seems pretty normal.
The house is beautiful, she has an adorable son and a sweetie for a husband.

Then, the movie took a dramatic turn I didn't expect.

And gave me an ending that I adored even though it broke my heart.

I really liked the eerie presence of the movie and the lack of obnoxious jump scares. The intriguing setting and mysterious goings-on didn't hurt either.

I highly recommend this movie watched with the lights turned off and while staying in a creaky house.

The poster and the tagline fit perfectly once I got to the end.

By the way, for those of you that saw it, what do you think Carlos saw?

Pass the candy corn, please

October's here and it's going to be pretty fun; I'll be watching and reviewing a few choice horror movies.
My plan is to post every other day as time and annoying things allow.
Grab a big bowl of popcorn and your closest plushie as we delve into the frightfest.

There are a few must-see movies that have already been reviewed.
Be sure to check them out here, here, here, here and here.

We can't stop here, this is zombie country

If there's one thing I've learned from watching movies, it's this: if there's an old guy who seems to know an awful lot of what's going on, it's best to listen to him.
Generally, if there's zombies, monsters, etc. out there, and he's warning you about it, it would do you great justice to get the hell out.
As a matter of fact, as soon as a strange, old guy shows up at your door, pack your bags. You can listen to his story as you make your way out.
Better yet, as soon as you open the door and he's standing there: leave. Just go. Offer to have him walk with you if need be to get helpful hints and strange lore. Whatever. Just go.

Besides, old people are easier to trip and you might need a decoy/distraction.
Just saying.

Dead Snow, or what I like to refer to as: Zombie soldiers of the SS, almost made me want to rent a cabin and see what happens. Almost.
Snowball fights, snowskiing, snuggling together to keep warm, sitting around while chatting and playing board games; all sounds wonderful... until the whole Nazi zombie thing puts a damper on your day.
And it's freezing cold, yo.
And outhouses... seriously?

Now, as the movie or your own situation progresses, the survival of everyone drops.
If no one followed the advice of the strange old man and gotten the F out of Dodge, there's still a few more hints of doom that may be dropped and will give you reason to leave.
Some more subtle than others:
You find a a dead body or bloody tracks made by no known animal = get out.
If there's a box of valuables, you can be sure that SOMEONE is coming to get it, one way or another.
If there's strange or mysterious lore about the area, you may want to keep out.

If, for some reason, you didn't heed the aforementioned hints for survival and find yourself stuck, then please, PLEASE make sure to have these items handy:

1) guns -  I don't care if you don't know how to aim; I don't know how to shoot one and I'm sure I've got terrible aim. But it can't be too hard to shoot something in the brain area when it's knocking on your door.

Now, I'm not particularly a fan of guns; they make me flat out nervous. But, during a zombie apocalypse, I'm sure I can get over that. Especially with one of these...

What is it about making things smaller that makes them cute? Even a gun.

2) bullets -  Duh. Kinda obvious.
3) mass amounts of gas -  I don't mean just fill up your car/scooter/truck/etc. You're going to need enough to fill five vehicle at the minimum. Gas will mysteriously disappear or your vehicle will become a gas guzzler overnight.
4) other weapon-type items - If a zombie challenges you to a fist fight, make sure to bring a chainsaw. There's no shame in fighting dirty.
5) necessities - Food and water are good things.


In closing, Dead Snow was a fun ride and I would recommend it to anyone who loves dark comedy and zombies.

P.S. If you're planning on a trip and your choices are: cabin in middle of freezing nowhere or a beautiful beach. Go with beach every time; there haven't been any reports of zombie beach bunnies.

Or have there?

Currently loving

Not to toot my own horn here or anything, but I've always been complimented on my smooth complexion. And I'll admit, it's rare a blemish pops up on my caramel skin.

However, I do have a problem with dry patches and cracking, especially during the cold months. My poor hands get the brunt of all blows, leaving them absolutely pitiful looking after a day of work.

I'm also a bit of a consumer junkie and bright packaging and consumer promises have led me down some disappointing paths.
Thankfully, the last time I stopped by Target I wasn't disappointed with what I picked up.

via Yes to Carrots

Sweet and unassuming, I've glanced at and walked by these products many a time, not thinking too much about it. Yet, when I was hovering around Target Pharmacy, I noticed a travel-sized container perfect for testing out this cute and intriguing product.

And I wasn't disappointed.
The container says deliciously rich and, for once, the packaging isn't lying! The body butter feels lovely on my skin. (as a matter of fact, I'm currently running my fingertips across my cheek because of how silky this makes my skin feel)
And the scent isn't overly pungent. It's a floaty, airy sweet smell, not unreminiscent of carrot cake...

Now if only they offered lip balms, I'd be able to feed my dry lips....

also via Yes to Carrots

Oh, holy carrot cake! They do!

Speaking of carrot cake.....

via Lizze's Tea Party

Also currently loving:

via Mandee

via Michael Kors at Zappos

This blazer and these boots via net-a-porter.com

via Anthropologie

via J Crew

Om nom nom... or the one about food

I was given an hour lunch break from a training session yesterday and used that time wisely... at least in my opinion.

When rumors popped up a while back that the 'burg was getting a Qdoba, I was immediately interested; Smoothie King and Qdoba are within the same chain family. And since I enjoy the occasional delicious smoothie, I had high hopes for Qdoba Mexican grill.
And I wasn't disappointed: the layout was fun and fresh and the choices were appealing. And they offer REALLY good guacamole.

I ordered the grilled chicken three-cheese nachos. The chicken was marinated, beans and rice came with it, the service was good and I got a brownie!

However, I believe I've been spoiled by Caliente Grill, the locally owned Mexican inspired grill: as I got to the fifth bite, I was already bored with my meal, something that hasn't happened to me at Caliente.

And while I'll probably return to Qdoba (mostly for the brownies!), if I'm really craving Mexican inspired, I'll be headed to Caliente.
And as far as price, they are quite comparable.

Caliente Grill
pros: ultra yum, love the seasonings, neat layout
cons: their desserts (sopapillas) are a bit lacking in flavor

Qdoba Mexican grill
pros: desserts (awesome, chewy brownies!!), love their smooth guacamole, bright layout
cons: got bored while eating (maybe too much juice in the marinade and not enough seasonings?)

Jellies and nerdness

While watching an episode of CSI Miami entitled 'Kill Clause,' everyone makes reference to a tank filled with box jellyfish, certain species of which are "known amoungst the most venomous creatures of in the world" according to Wikipedia.

However, I was distracted from the action because the tank contained not box jellyfish, but moon jellyfish, a jelly which I find to be sweet natured. I realize this makes me a supernerd.

The two have very different demeanors and don't look that much alike.

Box Jellyfish via The StashBox

Moon Jellies via Saatchi Gallery

I've swam through a tide of moon jellies with nary a sting.
However, box jellyfish will kill the F out of you.

Cracks

Many thanks to Cat Party for alerting me to a beautiful new film titled Cracks.
Cracks is set in a 1930s all-girls boarding school. Not only does the story look intriguing, but it is set in a time that houses a fashion era I adore.
I can't wait!

Watch the HD trailer:

Weekend schedule

Viewed a screener copy of Paranormal Activity Sunday night.
I agree that this ending (possibly the original) didn't flow with the theme of the movie. However, the theatrical ending, while spooky, seemed sudden. Jarringly sudden. And there is still one more ending unaccounted for.
In my opinion, a combination of the theatrical ending and the third ending would have been best.

Saturday was a very productive night: a former classmate asked me to keep her company while documenting bar party. Throughout the night: someone bought me a drink, I talked with lots of new people and was told I was a smoking hottie or similar.

Friday night, I went to a dance social where I learned to tango, merengue, waltz, cha cha and East Coast swing. They hold dance socials every Friday and since I had such a good time, I'm thinking of returning.

Still unemployed, still searching for a job.... still searching for what I want to do. In general I mean.
Looking forward to what this Halloween weekend will bring.

Spooky movies for you and I

Saw Paranormal Activity last night and I really recommend watching it. I loved the innovation and idea behind the movie. It was really inspiring to see that something that big budget Hollywood wanted to remake get released in its original form; as well as the fact that it was made on $15k and has made over $30 mil.
There's no gore; the movie mainly relied on the atmosphere that got steadily more unsettling.
I would definitely say that I will purchase the movie, if not to just get at the additionally shot endings as I'm very interested in them.
I'm not a fan of spoiling things, so I won't say too much on the fact other than.... I'm not a fan of badly done trailers aka: the ones that give too much away.
So, I have included a handpicked, Rose-approved trailer for your perusal.

Currently interested in watching:
Zombieland
Where the Wild Things Are
Law Abiding Citizen
The Fourth Kind (which I also put up a trailer for you guys)

Movies, m'dear

Finally saw The Happening... uh, yeah. That's all I've really got to say about that.
It wasn't terrible, but, first and foremost.... Zooey Deschanel is not a good actress in my opinion. She's got a cute look, but her quirkyness comes out as if she's trying too hard.
And she creeps me out.
The movie started strong and... hmm... However, I really liked the last scene.

I'm hoping to watch Paranormal Activity this weekend. I've been hyping it up to anyone that will listen (and many who didn't want to listen). I've been crazy-excited about it since I heard whispers of it on 4chan months and months ago.
I really want to be scared out of my mind.

Friends and family think I'm bizarre because of my fetish for horror movies (in addition to other things) yet can't take watching the news.
I'll try to explain: It's similar to getting on a rollercoaster. Many people get on rides for the exhilaration. I watch horror movies for the exhilaration from that. Horror movies have no repercussions the way news can. News, be it in a newspaper or on TV, is real. Stories of serial killers, burgleries and epidemics will get under my skin, will terrify me in a completely different way that horror movies do.
Horror movies can't hurt me, other than causing me to question shadowy corners.
Serial killers, burgleries and epidemics can.

P.S. don't forget to check out The Rose Happiness Project. Link's on the right side!