DVD Collectors Online

Paranormal Activity, a review by RossRoy

WHAT THEY SAY

YOU DEMANDED IT and now the surprise hit critics call "one of the scariest movies of all time" can be experienced in the most terrifying place of all...your home. After a young, middle-class couple moves into what seems like a typical suburban house, they become increasingly disturbed by a presence that may or may not be demonic but is certainly most active in the middle of the night. Especially while they sleep. Paranormal Activity builds suspense night after night all the way to the shocking ending. Roger Ebert calls it "truly scary." Go ahead, WE DARE YOU TO WATCH IT AT HOME...at least you can leave the lights on.

MY THOUGHTS

<shivers> that's a creepy movie! I wouldn't say it really scared me, and I did find it a bit too predictable. But, some scenes are just downright creepy and made my skin tingle! But I don't know why it didn't scare me. It's exactly the kind of thing that usually scares the shit out of me: Blair Witch, The Ring, The Grudge.. they fall in somewhat the same mold regarding paranormal activities. Is it because I wasn't alone? Maybe I should have watched it alone.. Either, I still found it to be a good movie. I like how it ever so slowly builds up and how it doesn't rely too much on jump scares. One last thing: I hope they release a new DVD down the line that includes the so-called "Festival Ending" (look it up on IMDb).. It sounds a whole lot more terrifying than what is on the DVD. The "Steven Spielberg"-proposed theatrical ending I found lacking... though it is much better than the "Director's Cut" ending...

RATING:

(From RossRoy's Random Viewings on January 9th, 2010)

Frankenweenie, a review by Danae Cassandra

Frankenweenie
Year of Release: 2012
Directed By: Tim Burton
Starring: Catherine O'Hara, Martin Short, Martin Landau, Charlie Tahan
Genre: Horror, Comedy, Animation

Overview:
From Disney and creative genius Tim Burton (Alice in Wonderland, The Nightmare Before Christmas) comes the hilarious and offbeat FrankenweenieFrankenweenie is alive with enchanting fun for the whole family.

My Thoughts:
First, let me say that I am unabashedly a fan of Tim Burton's work.  I've loved all of his stop motion films, and his live-action stuff is generally good too (if not as much).  I love his dark, atmospheric, gothic style.  I'm also a big fan of old, classic monster movies.  So it's almost a given that I was going to love Frankenweenie. 

There's a lot of homage paid to the classics - Frankenstein, obviously, but also all the old Universal films, Gamera, heck, there's even a Bambi Meets Godzilla moment.  There's some genuinely emotional moments; both mom and I teared up toward the end.  There's also an interesting take on the usual theme in horror films of science as dangerous - here it is the intent behind the science that creates danger, rather than the science itself.  Also the usual message about not being so judgmental, and a condemnation of mob mentality. 

A great film for older kids, especially ones who've seen Burton's other films, as well as adults, I can recommend this for anyone - unless they refuse to see a film where a dog dies (yes, I know that person).

Bechdel Test: Fail

Overall: 4/5

(From Danae's 2013 Horror Marathon on October 6th, 2013)

Tom's Random Star Trek Reviews, a review by Tom

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
3.11 Past Tense, Part I
Writer: Robert Hewitt Wolfe (Screenwriter), Ira Steven Behr (Original Material By), Robert Hewitt Wolfe (Original Material By)
Director: Reza Badiyi
Cast: Avery Brooks (Commander Sisko), Rene Auberjonois (Odo), Siddig El Fadil (Doctor Bashir), Terry Farrell (Lieutenant Dax), Cirroc Lofton (Jake Sisko), Colm Meaney (Chief O'Brien), Armin Shimerman (Quark), Nana Visitor (Major Kira), Jim Metzler (Chris Brynner), Frank Military (B.C.), Dick Miller (Vin), Al Rodrigo (Bernardo), Tina Lifford (Lee), Bill Smitrovich (Webb), Henry Hayashi (Male Guest), Patty Holley (Female Guest), Richard Lee Jackson (Danny), Eric Stuart (Stairway Guard), John Lendale Bennett (Gabriel Bell)

In "present" time, there is a lot of techno-babble which gets ridiculous, just to explain how it could be, that Sisko, Dax and Bashir were transported back in time during beaming. And why the Defiant is not affected by the changes which happen because the past has been changed.
The scenes in the past are also not that exciting, but it's a premise which promises to be at least somewhat interesting.

Rating:

(From Tom's Random Star Trek Reviews on November 2nd, 2011)