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Fright Night (2011), a review by Dragonfire

I decided to go see the new Fright Night.  I tend to keep an open mind about remakes in general.  I do agree that there have been a lot of them in recent years, and many of them haven't been that good...but that doesn't mean that all remakes are automatically bad like a lot of people seem to think. 

I think I first found out about this one when I looked up David Tennant after getting hooked on Doctor Who and I saw he was in the movie.  That alone, even before I saw the first trailer, had me wanting to see the movie.  Once I did see a trailer, I thought it looked like it could be good, though I was really disappointed that Tennant is only just briefly seen in the trailer.  I decided to go Friday and I'm really glad I did.

The plot is basically the same as the original, though a few small things have been changed a bit. Those changes work really well.  The dynamic between Charlie and Ed is a little different, and things with the suspicions about Jerry come about a little differently.  Amy is hotter, and that is the change that seems the most out of place since Charlie is still basically a nerd.  They aren't that believable as a couple, though Amy is fine.  The truth about Jerry comes out sooner, but there is still some decent suspense in a few scenes.  The plot is kind of simple, but it works and the movie is really entertaining. 

This is an R rated vampire movie and while it is violent at times, it isn't overly gory.  This isn't a child friendly movie and it isn't one aimed at teeny boppers - thank goodness.  Jerry is a full on, proper, scary, intimidating vampire who hunts and relishes killing people.  He can be seductive and inviting at times, but there is still a hint of danger to him.  He doesn't mope around and whine about anything and he sure as hell doesn't sparkle in sunlight.  He is a more...traditional vampire I guess you could say.  Holy water, crosses, stakes, and sunlight will do him in.  He has to be invited into a house to enter.  In addition to the scarier moments, there is also a bit of humor here and there.  The humor works well without making things too cheesy or corny.  There is a good blend that makes the movie really entertaining. 

The movie is in 3D and I did end up seeing it in 3D.  I hadn't really planned on that or necessarily wanted to see it in 3D, but the theater here is pretty much only showing it in 3D.  Throughout most of the movie, the effect is subtle, just adding depth to scenes.  There are a few scenes though that use the 3D to full effect, producing awesome visuals.  When it is really used, the 3D is used really well, in a cool way.  It works well with what is happening in the movie too, and doesn't seem like something was added to the movie just so they could have something jump out at the audience.  It truly is good use of 3D and I'm so glad that I saw it in 3D.  This is the most impressed I've been with 3D in ....I honestly don't know how long.  Much of the movie does take place at night or in settings that aren't lit that well, so the glasses do make it a bit darker.  I was still able to tell what was going on, but some people may not like that.

Charlie starts off as more of a jerk, but he gets more likable.  Jerry is a wonderful vampire and a nice change after the vampires of Twilight.  My favorite character is Peter Vincent, played marvelously by David Tennant.  I don't want to say too much about the character.  He is ...well...in some ways, he is the same as he was in the original movie, and in other ways, he's very different.  I like how the character has been changed and updated, and think it works well for the movie.  After seeing the movie, I think it is good that he isn't seen more in the trailers because he was such a surprise when he turned up.  He's a wonderfully entertaining character and Tennant is awesome in the part.  He easily steals every scene he's in and I would have liked him to be in more of the movie.

Overall, Fright Night is a wonderful vampire movie and definitely worth seeing.  People shouldn't dismiss it just because it is a remake.  It truly is a good movie.



I did get a review posted on Epinions.

Fright Night (2011)

Ohhh..by the way Jon, since it is your fault that I got hooked on Doctor Who, it is also your fault that I saw this...because Doctor Who got me hooked on David Tennant.

(From Fright Night (2011) on August 21st, 2011)

The Book Of Eli, a review by dfmorgan

The Book Of Eli

Year: 2010
Director: The Hughes Brothers
Cast: Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman, Mila Kunis
Overview: Eli walks alone in post-apocalyptic America. He heads west along the highway of Death on a mission he doesn't fully understand but knows he must complete. In his backpack is the last copy of a book that could become the wellspring of a revived society. Or in the wrong hands, the hammer of a despot. Denzel Washington is Eli, who keeps his blade sharp and his survival instincts sharper as his quest thrusts him into a savage wasteland... and into explosive conflict with a resourceful warlord (Gary Oldman) set on possessing the book. "We walk by faith, not by sight," quotes Eli. Under the taut direction of the Hughes Brothers (From Hell), those words hit home with unexpected meaning and power.

Watched: 3rd Jul. 2010
My Thoughts: An excellent film which I enjoyed very much. I had guessed what the book was from the overview and that was confirmed less than halfway through but the twist with the details of the book and Eli himself I didn't spot coming. Gary Oldman to me seemed to play the bad guy character very much as he did in other films, Zorg in The Fifth Element and the detective in . Denzel Washington played Eli with a laconic, laidback ease but with power when necessary. Mila Kunis I haven't seen before but she came over not too badly. The imagery with the bright sunlight and washed out backgrounds came over well especially with the subtle change at the end when Eli reached his destination. One section I wasn't too sure off was the scenes at the remote farm with Michael Gambon and Frances De La Tour, when Gary Oldman and his gang arrived it reminded me the house shootdown in Clint Eastwood's The Gauntlet.

My Rating: An excellent 4

Dave

(From Dave's DVD/Blu-ray Reviews on July 4th, 2010)

Sliders Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

13. MURDER MOST FOUL
On a world where R&R takes the form of Fantasy Island-style vacations, The Professor finds himself in the role of a detective.

My Thoughts:
This is a very good episode. One of my favorites. I like the whole Jack the Ripper storyline. And having Professor Arturo being a Sherlock Holmes like character was good.

My Rating:

14. SLIDE LIKE AN EGYPTIAN
On a world where ancient Egypt never fell from grace, the Sliders are experimented on and terrorized by a giant scarab beetle.

My Thoughts:
Another good episode. This is the first time (that I remember at least) that they missed the slide. I also enjoyed the life after death experience that Quinn went through.

My Rating:

15. PARADISE LOST
The Sliders land in a town where no one lives to be over 35 ... for good reason.

My Thoughts:
Another one of my favorite episodes. It is like a twist on the Tremor movies.

My Rating:

16. THE EXODUS (Part 1)
An Earth is threatened by a passing pulsar, and sliding is being developed as a way to save some Americans - but Colonel Rickman, in charge of deciding who stays and who goes, is also mysteriously and systematically putting people into comas.

My Thoughts:
Another excellent episode. And the introduction of Maggie... who is to become the newest regular slider. I like how you see multiple worlds in this episode as they search for a new world for the survivors of the doomed world.

My Rating:

(From Sliders Marathon on September 1st, 2009)