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The Hamiltons, a review by addicted2dvd

Title: The Hamiltons
Movie Count: 64
TV Ep Count: 17
Time Started: 5pm
Plot:
 The Hamiltons seem to be the picture-perfect American family. They are hardworking community members; giving to their local charities, attending town hall meetings and always respectful of their neighbors...except for the fact that they usually end up killing them.

My Thoughts:
This movie I am less then pleased with... it was a below average movie in my opinion... not so bad that I will never watch it again... but bad enough that it won't be watched very often. The thing about this one is it is not only very slow... but if it wasn't for a brief nude scene and a couple quick gore scenes I would have sworn I was watching an edited for TV version of the m654ovie. Seemed like for most the movie as soon as it was going to get good it cut away from the action to a new scene. I won't say here what the final twist was... but I will say it didn't feel right... that I didn't feel like it fit with the rest of the movie... so that didn't help either.



(From Month-Long Horror/Halloween Marathon on October 21st, 2007)

The Road, a review by KinkyCyborg

The Road



Title:The Road
Year: 2009
Director: John Hillcoat
Rating: R
Length: 111 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Commentary: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo
Subtitles: English

Stars:
Viggo Mortensen
Kodi Smit-McPhee
Robert Duvall
Guy Pearce
Molly Parker

Plot:Extras:
Scene Access
Audio Commentary
Feature Trailers
Bonus Trailers
Deleted Scenes
Featurettes


Tonight it was my pick and as I have been hearing and reading great reviews of this movie I thought the time had come to experience it.

A very emotionally moving movie and unlike any other post-apocalyptic story I have watched before. This focuses less on the tragic end of days (for which it was never clear what caused it) but more on the enduring love between a father and his son.

I like how it begins, with bright colorful images of nature and life before the event compared in stark contrast to the dirty lifeless grey that permeates the entire world after which leaves no confusion as to the extreme level of desolation. Through a series of flashbacks we see how one family drifts from one state of mind to another.... surprise, fear of the unknown, survival, desperation, terror and resignation of ones fate. The mother, played by Charlize Theron, gives up, leaving her men to the horrors of the world.

The man and his boy, played by Viggo Mortensen and Kodi Smit-McPhee set out for the southern coast of Florida facing starvation, the elements, which include constant rain and earthquakes, cannibals & rapists and worst of all... the unknown. All in the hopes of finding a more forgiving climate and some semblance of civilization.

There are some very memorable cameos in this movie. Robert Duvall as the nearly blind old man Eli who envies the bond between the man and boy as he reflects sadly at the loss of his own son. Michael K. Williams, as the thief who runs off with their only belongings, stripped of everything including his dignity once caught. Guy Pearce, plays a man who could be either the boy's death or his salvation and you find yourself holding your breath until you know the answer.

There are moments of raw emotional feeling that were very touching for me. Already ferociously protective of my own children, I could see where a parents survivalist instincts would increase a hundred fold when safekeeping their own.

Now one of my favorite movies, I must read Cormac McCarthy's book.

If this movie is in your to-watch pile... move it to the top.

KC

Rating:

(From KinkyCyborg's Random Reviews 2010 on January 2nd, 2011)

Angel Marathon, a review by DJ Doena

Synopsis: Fred has returned to her work on physics and she has written an article that has been published. Now she is supposed to talk on a science conference where she meets her old professor.

My Opinion: Damn! I would have bet that there would be a plot twist and that the assistant is the true villain. Even though I haven't predicted the end, that makes the story weaker, because it was so straightforward.

Synopsis: To return Cordelia's memories, Lorne gets hold of a potion. They conduct a certain ceremony. Unfortunately now everyone has lost his/her memories.

My Opinion: Don't get me wrong, the episode was good, even if it is a recurring plot in many Sci-Fi/Fantasy series. But I didn't understand why Wesley had to be there but not Connor. That felt forced. I also didn't understand why all people lost a different amount of years of memories.

Synopsis: Cordelia sees the apocalypse coming but it's not the apocalypse that Wolfram & Hart is planning. She and Connor run right into the demon who happens to appear in the very same alley Connor was "born". The gang, including Wesley try to kill the demon.

My Opinion: Cordelia, why? Can one break the heart of a vampire even if it doesn't beat anymore? It certainly looked that way. I like the new demon, it's bound to become interesting.

Synopsis: The gang has to regroup after they've lost the last battle. And this time their attack leads directly into the heart of evil, Wolfram & Hart.

My Opinion: "So I will walk through the fire, cos where else can I turn?" Granted, Buffy sang this in "Once More, With Feeling" but I am sure Angel feels the same way now. While I really like the new demon because we/they know nothing about it, I don't like what the writers are doing with Cordelia. I hope she comes out of it, but so far Whedon's characters (nearly) always did.

(From Angel Marathon on February 23rd, 2008)