50,000!

Sorry I'm late on this, because I'm sure I passed the 50,000 pageviews mark on Friday. As always, the continued support is appreciated.

Movie reviews should pick up again this week, and I know it's early, but I'm still planning for Horror Month in October, when everything on my blog is 100% horror during the month of October. Hopefully, I won't run into any setbacks and major changes in real life, because Horror Month was a big success last year. Again, thanks for taking the time to read my reviews and other posts on here, and I hope you enjoy my work.

MMR

Willow Creek (2014)(Minor Spoilers Review)

**This review contains MINOR spoilers. No major character deaths or reveals**

It’s Jim’s (Bryce Johnson) birthday, and as a devout Bigfoot (or Sasquatch) follower and believer, Jim takes a trip to Willow Creek with his reluctant girlfriend, Kelly (Alexie Gilmore). In Willow Creek, Jim has plans to film his own footage of Bigfoot to follow in the footsteps of the famous Patterson-Gimlin film. In 1967, Roger Patterson and Robert “Bob” Gimlin captured footage of Bigfoot in Willow Creek, and Jim is determined to capture the creature on film to justify the risky expedition.

During the trip to Willow Creek, Kelly mocks Jim’s beliefs in Bigfoot, and together, the couple receives a stern warning from an angry local about the dangers of searching for Bigfoot.

Eventually, Jim and Kelly revisit the site of the Patterson-Gimlin film. One night, a series of strange noises and the footsteps of an unknown stalker disturb a peaceful slumber in Jim and Kelly’s tent. Are Jim and Kelly the victims of a cruel prank from a group of disgruntled locals? Or, are Jim and Kelly running out of time and options before the real Bigfoot attacks?

You’ll need a lot of patience for Willow Creek. The terrifying and spooky stuff doesn’t kick until the forty-seven minute mark, when Jim and Kelly are all alone in the tent at night. Before the nighttime tent scene, Willow Creek is loaded with Jim’s one on one interviews and sightseeing trips with Jim and Kelly, as they explore and visit different Bigfoot attractions (paintings, eating Bigfoot burgers, the Bigfoot Motel, etc.).

Do you believe in Jim’s mission to capture footage of the real Bigfoot? Well, if you don’t there’s a good chance you’ll have a hard time sitting through Willow Creek. And that’s my big problem with found-footage films most of the time: you’ll run into a conundrum with your suspension of disbelief mindset. On one hand, you know you’re watching a movie, and it’s not “real.” But on the flip side of that, you have to sit back and convince yourself you’re watching a REAL home movie, documentary, or lost tape, where the primary protagonists experience a series of bizarre, supernatural, or unexplainable occurrences.

With Willow Creek, you have to believe in Jim’s journey to find the real Bigfoot, his motivations, and his unwavering determination to uncover the truth. The problem is, the documentary portion of Willow Creek drags on and on, and nothing happens until the tent scene at night. Well, there’s the one scene of tension, where Jim and Kelly run into the angry local, who warns them about following Patterson and Gimlin’s film, but that’s about it. After a while, the rinse and repeat formula for interviewing locals and sightseeing feels boring and tedious. Willow Creek clocks in at one hour and twenty minutes for an overall runtime, and the scary stuff kicks in at the forty-seven minute mark. Think about that for a second.

Director/writer Bobact Goldthwait takes his frist shot at a horror film with Willow Creek, and I appreciate the restrained less is more approach to blood and gore here. In fact, if you take out the one scene, where Jim finds a strand of Bigfoot’s hair with a bloody piece of flesh attached to it, you won’t see any blood and gore in Willow Creek. Goldthwait gives you a chance to think and use your imagination, because you’re thinking about what could’ve happened during the close calls with Bigfoot. Or you’re thinking about the gruesome aftermath, because the attacks are pretty bad, if Goldthwait refuses to show them on camera, right?

As far as Bigfoot goes, you will not see the creature (well, the answer is a reluctant yes, if you count the paintings and the statue) in this film. Not once. You’ll see footprints, you’ll hear the roars, and you’ll see a shot of bushes moving with a hidden Bigfoot, but that’s it. Again, I don’t have a problem with Goldthwait’s less is more approach for Bigfoot, because he did a good job maintaining Bigfoot’s mystique. When you actually see Bigfoot, that’s it. You immediately kill your chances for genuine scares and surprises, because there’s no going back, when you finally pull the curtain open.

Willow Creek is not a groundbreaking film for the found-footage genre, and you need a lot of patience to sit through this one. Also, the problems in Jim and Kelly’s relationship are overshadowed by Bigfoot, but Goldthwait delivers the goods with a tense finale and an eerie cliffhanger, and the tent scene towards the end is genuinely spooky. Although, I’ll warn you now, you’ll have to sit through a lot of “let’s talk about Bigfoot” interviews, but the finale delivers a good amount of edge of your seat thrills, if you have what it takes to endure the documentary side of Willow Creek.

Rating: 6/10

My ebooks are only $0.99, and you can follow the links to learn more about both books-

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EFLI6VK

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EFMYZ0U

Remember Amazon offers free Kindle App downloads for various platforms. Follow this link to find out more- http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000493771

And don't forget to follow me on Twitter here- https://twitter.com/LQuigleyFan1

Willow Creek (2014)(Spoiler Review)

**This review contains spoilers**

It’s Jim’s (Bryce Johnson) birthday, and as a devout Bigfoot (or Sasquatch) follower and believer, Jim takes a trip to Willow Creek with his reluctant girlfriend, Kelly (Alexie Gilmore). In Willow Creek, Jim has plans to film his own footage of Bigfoot to follow in the footsteps of the famous Patterson-Gimlin film. In 1967, Roger Patterson and Robert “Bob” Gimlin captured footage of Bigfoot in Willow Creek, and Jim is determined to capture the creature on film to justify the risky expedition.

During the trip to Willow Creek, Kelly mocks Jim’s beliefs in Bigfoot, and together, the couple receives a stern warning from an angry local about the dangers of searching for Bigfoot.

Eventually, Jim and Kelly revisit the site of the Patterson-Gimlin film. One night, a series of strange noises and the footsteps of an unknown stalker disturb a peaceful slumber in Jim and Kelly’s tent. Are Jim and Kelly the victims of a cruel prank from a group of disgruntled locals? Or, are Jim and Kelly running out of time and options before the real Bigfoot attacks?

You’ll need a lot of patience for Willow Creek. The terrifying and spooky stuff doesn’t kick until the forty-seven minute mark, when Jim and Kelly are all alone in the tent at night. Before the nighttime tent scene, Willow Creek is loaded with Jim’s one on one interviews and sightseeing trips with Jim and Kelly, as they explore and visit different Bigfoot attractions (paintings, eating Bigfoot burgers, the Bigfoot Motel, etc.).

Do you believe in Jim’s mission to capture footage of the real Bigfoot? Well, if you don’t there’s a good chance you’ll have a hard time sitting through Willow Creek. And that’s my big problem with found-footage films most of the time: you’ll run into a conundrum with your suspension of disbelief mindset. On one hand, you know you’re watching a movie, and it’s not “real.” But on the flip side of that, you have to sit back and convince yourself you’re watching a REAL home movie, documentary, or lost tape, where the primary protagonists experience a series of bizarre, supernatural, or unexplainable occurrences.

With Willow Creek, you have to believe in Jim’s journey to find the real Bigfoot, his motivations, and his unwavering determination to uncover the truth. The problem is, the documentary portion of Willow Creek drags on and on, and nothing happens until the tent scene at night. Well, there’s the one scene of tension, where Jim and Kelly run into the angry local, who warns them about following Patterson and Gimlin’s film, but that’s about it. After a while, the rinse and repeat formula for interviewing locals and sightseeing feels boring and tedious. Willow Creek clocks in at one hour and twenty minutes for an overall runtime, and the scary stuff kicks in at the forty-seven minute mark. Think about that for a second.

I emphasized patience earlier, and you’ll need a lot of patience for the nighttime tent scene towards the end. At night, a series of strange noises and footsteps disturb Jim and Kelly. Jim believes it’s Bigfoot, but Kelly thinks a group of locals are playing a prank on the dumb tourists. But Kelly changes her mind after a loud and abnormal moaning sound. The intruder presses one of their limbs against the tent, but the unknown figure runs away again after Kelly’s screams.  Jim and Kelly survive the night, and in the morning, Jim and Kelly agree to finally leave Willow Creek after all the close calls.

What happens after the tent scene? In the morning, Jim and Kelly realize they’re lost after three hours of wandering around, and passing a familiar tree. Jim picks up a scraggly strand of Bigfoot’s hair with a piece of flesh attached to it, and Jim records Bigfoot’s footprints. But he doesn’t have time to bask in the glory for discovering Bigfoot evidence, because Bigfoot’s roar surprises Kelly, but the couple runs away before Bigfoot has a chance to attack.

At night, a frightened Jim and Kelly are trying to hide from Bigfoot, when they spot a local missing woman (you’ll see a picture of her on a flyer at the restaurant in the early stages of the movie). She’s standing alone half naked, she’s in a petrified daze, and she starts moaning out of nowhere.

Jim and Kelly are stuck in a state of shock, and Bigfoot attacks before Jim and Kelly have a chance to react. Bigfoot mangles Jim, and the camera falls to the ground (you can hear Kelly’s screams in the background). From the camera’s POV, Bigfoot drags the camera, or the camera and Jim together (it’s hard to tell) on the ground, and Kelly continues to scream off-camera. To end the movie, Kelly’s screams are presumably silenced by Bigfoot, and you’ll hear a chorus of moans before the credits start rolling.

The tent scene? It’s a mixed bag for a number of reasons. I’ll tell you this right now, if you’re expecting a shocking  payoff, as the tent scene unfolds, you’ll be disappointed. You will NOT see Bigfoot (more on that later). Instead, you’ll just hear the moans, a kooky “whoop!” sound, and the sounds of knocking wood.

With that said, the tent scene hooked me in from start to finish. Is the real Bigfoot moments away from an attack? Or is Kelly right about a bunch of locals playing a prank? Yeah, you can say the tent scene drags after the first five minutes, and I imagine some will be disappointed by the lack of a close up view for Bigfoot, but overall the tent scene works, because the nail-biting teasing keeps you guessing until the next scene, and I had to know what would happen next every step of the way.

If we're talking about the finale, the audience doesn’t know if Jim is dead or not. You can clearly hear the sounds of Bigfoot attacking Jim, but you never see a shot of his corpse. And we’re unsure of Kelly’s fate. Again, you can hear the sounds of Kelly’s agony in the background, but you won’t see Kelly’s attack/struggle happening on-screen. And the chorus of moans in the dark to the end movie? Creepy stuff.

Director/writer Bobact Goldthwait takes his frist shot at a horror film with Willow Creek, and I appreciate the restrained less is more approach to blood and gore here. In fact, if you take out the one scene, where Jim finds a strand of Bigfoot’s hair with a bloody piece of flesh attached to it, you won’t see any blood and gore in Willow Creek. Goldthwait gives you a chance to think and use your imagination, because you’re thinking about what could’ve happened during the close calls with Bigfoot. Or you’re thinking about the gruesome aftermath, because the attacks are pretty bad, if Goldthwait refuses to show them on camera, right?

As far as Bigfoot goes, you will not see the creature (well, the answer is a reluctant yes, if you count the paintings and the statue) in this film. Not once. You’ll see footprints, you’ll hear the roars, and you’ll see a shot of bushes moving with a hidden Bigfoot, but that’s it. Again, I don’t have a problem with Goldthwait’s less is more approach for Bigfoot, because he did a good job maintaining Bigfoot’s mystique. When you actually see Bigfoot, that’s it. You immediately kill your chances for genuine scares and surprises, because there’s no going back, when you finally pull the curtain open.

Willow Creek is not a groundbreaking film for the found-footage genre, and you need a lot of patience to sit through this one. Also, the problems in Jim and Kelly’s relationship (long story short, Jim proposes to Kelly. She rejects him, but they agree to move in together) are overshadowed by Bigfoot, but Goldthwait delivers the goods with a tense finale and an eerie cliffhanger, and the tent scene towards the end is genuinely spooky. Although, I’ll warn you now, you’ll have to sit through a lot of “let’s talk about Bigfoot” interviews, but the finale delivers a good amount of edge of your seat thrills, if you have what it takes to endure the documentary side of Willow Creek.

Rating: 6/10

My ebooks are only $0.99, and you can follow the links to learn more about both books-

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EFLI6VK

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EFMYZ0U

Remember Amazon offers free Kindle App downloads for various platforms. Follow this link to find out more- http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000493771

And don't forget to follow me on Twitter here- https://twitter.com/LQuigleyFan1

2013 End Of The Year Awards- Best Film- Her

"Sometimes I think I have felt everything I'm ever gonna feel. And from here on out, I'm not gonna feel anything new. Just lesser versions of what I've already felt."

It's a tough call, but I'm going with writer/director Spike Jonze's masterpiece for Best Film. Her offers a unique and thought-provoking form of social commentary with a futuristic twist. Theodore (Joaquin Phoenix) is a socially awkward and lonely man, who's searching for a companion, so he trusts and falls in love with an operating system with artificial intelligence.

Samantha (voiced by Scarlett Johansson) is Theodore's girlfriend, and Theodore forms a deep bond with the new love of his life. Through Theodore's eyes, Jonze provides an inside look for the modern world's troubling dependance on technology.

Remember the scene towards the end, where Theodore panics after Samantha disappears? Theodore pours everything into Samantha to feed his obsession, and Theodore fights the need for human contact and social interactions, so Theodore can't handle the thought of being alone in the world, if Samantha leaves. After all, Theodore had a few dates with Samantha, and Theodore agreed to Samantha's suggestion for a surrogate to fix intimacy problems in their relationship. 

Her features a sweet, moving, and sentimental love story, and Her is loaded with underlying messages. Jonze's quirky sense of humor is good for a few laughs, the cast is top notch (my only complaint is we don't see enough of Rooney Mara here), and you can make an argument for Joaquin Phoenix deserving a spot in the Best Actor category for the Academy Awards.

Well, that's it for 2013 End Of The Year Awards. It's my first year with the awards, so there's a good chance I'll add some new categories for the 2014 awards. As always, I hope everyone enjoyed this new post series, and I'll do my best to start on movie reviews again in the coming weeks!

My ebooks are only $0.99, and you can follow the links to learn more about both books-

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http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EFMYZ0U

Remember Amazon offers free Kindle App downloads for various platforms. Follow this link to find out more- http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000493771

And don't forget to follow me on Twitter here- https://twitter.com/LQuigleyFan1

2013 End Of The Year Awards- Best Performance From A Leading Actor- Matthew McConaughey- Dallas Buyers Club

                                      

"Let me give y'all a little news flash. There ain't nothin' out there can kill f*****' Ron Woodroof in 30 days."

McConaughey's impressive physical transformation for his portrayal of Ron Woodroof? That's just the tip of the iceberg for his Oscar-winning performance in Dallas Buyers Club. McConaughey is a fiery, hateful, and homophobic man, who indulges in an destructive lifestyle, but he slowly changes his tune after a doctor diagnoses Ron with AIDS.

McConaughey shows a more caring side for Ron during his scenes with Jared Leto's Rayon, and you see a man, who's willing to do anything to fight for his life. Woodroof turns the corner, and McConaughey's visible emotional distress for Ron's inescapable plight is believable, because you can feel and see the pain for a man, who's running out of time.

McConaughey is great in Dallas Buyers Club, and I'm not trying to take anything away from him, but Jared Leto's fantastic performance fuels McConaughey's Woodroof. Remember, Rayon willingly befriended a reluctant Ron. After a while, Ron lowered his guard, and he changed his hateful views. On the flip side of that, Ron urges Rayon to eat healthier foods and quit drugs. Leto is McConaughey's foil, and it's an impressive dynamic, when you sit back and look at the big picture, because McConaughey and Leto feed off of each other to deliver two Oscar-winning performances.

Dallas Buyers Club is an important milestone for Matthew McConaughey's career. McConaughey is someone, who's loaded with talent, but he hit a few rough spots in his career with some awful films (Surfer, Dude, Failure To Launch, Fool's Good, etc.), and that's why his recent 180 over the past couple of years is so impressive. McConaughey was an easy target for jokes and ridicule, but now he's an Oscar-winner, who's on an unbelievable hot streak with consistent, high quality performances.   

My ebooks are only $0.99, and you can follow the links to learn more about both books-

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EFLI6VK

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EFMYZ0U

Remember Amazon offers free Kindle App downloads for various platforms. Follow this link to find out more- http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000493771

And don't forget to follow me on Twitter here- https://twitter.com/LQuigleyFan1

2013 End Of The Year Awards- Best Performance From A Leading Actress- Cate Blanchett- Blue Jasmine

                                     


**This post contains spoilers**

"Anxiety, nightmares and a nervous breakdown, there's only so many traumas a person can withstand until they take to the streets and start screaming."

Jasmine (Cate Blanchett) is a complex character. She's a pretentious and pompous high society snob with a snooty condescending attitude. At first, it's easy to look at Jasmine, and label her as an unlikeable character. But as the story unfolds, you see this broken and depressed woman, who's trying to find her place in the world again. After her husband Hal's (Alec Baldwin) death, a homeless Jasmine, relying on medication to push through the day, moves in with her sister, Ginger (Sally Hawkins) for help.

Woody Allen created another memorable character, but Cate Blanchett's marvelous performance breathes life into Jasmine. Should I feel sympathy for this lonely and delusional person? After all, we're talking about a woman, who suspected something fishy with Hal and his affairs, but it's heavy implied Jasmine turned a blind a eye, because she had all the money, the big houses, the fancy cars, and the luxurious jewelry. As long as Hal CONSTANTLY spoiled Jasmine, everything was okay.

But what happened when Hal announced his plans to divorce Jasmine? Jasmine completely snapped, and she revealed all of Hal's dirty secrets to the FBI. After Hal's arrest, he committed suicide in prison. On top of that, Jasmine encouraged Ginger and her ex-husband, Augie (Andrew Dice Clay) to trust Hal with their lottery winnings for a crooked investment. Of course, Hal and Ginger lost the lottery money, and Augie with a limited number of options in front of him, had to take a dead end job in Alaska. That's right. The botched lottery experiment was the deal breaker that ended Hal and Ginger's marriage.

That's why Cate Blanchett's extraordinary performance is brilliant. One minute, Blanchett is the overbearing sister, who scolds Ginger for her poor choice in men (Chili), and she could've saved her sister's failed marriage. But you'll see an emotional train wreck, who's desperate for a second chance during Jasmine's low points in the movie. Blanchett's performance sparks a thought-provoking dilemma for Jasmine's future, and I could feel some sympathy for Jasmine, when Danny (Jasmine's step son) turned his back on her during the final moments of the movie.

Cate Blanchett's impressive career is something to admire, and if you take the time to watch Blue Jasmine, you'll see why she earned the Oscar for Best Actress at the Academy Awards this year.


My ebooks are only $0.99, and you can follow the links to learn more about both books-

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EFLI6VK

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EFMYZ0U

Remember Amazon offers free Kindle App downloads for various platforms. Follow this link to find out more- http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000493771

And don't forget to follow me on Twitter here- https://twitter.com/LQuigleyFan1

 

2013 End Of The Year Awards- Most Overrated Film- American Hustle

**This post contains spoilers**

Wait a minute. Ten Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture. The next American classic?

Let's start with Christian Bale's Oscar nomination for Best Actor. Bale's Irving Rosenfeld? it's a good performance, but an Oscar worthy performance? I don't think so. On top of that, if we're comparing Bale to this year's list of nominees and the winner, Matthew McConaughey, Bale is stuck in the third or fourth spot for the rankings. Need some more food for thought? Here's one name for you: Robert Redford. You can make a legit argument for Redford as a noticeable snub at the Oscars this year, and if you take the time to watch All Is Lost, you'll see why Redford deserved a spot in the Best Actor category.

And let's be honest, if we're comparing American Hustle's Irving to Bale's outstanding career as an actor, Irving doesn't deserve a spot in the top three (in no particular order, American Psycho, The Machinist, The Fighter) for Bale's best performances.

I'll give credit where credit is due. Jennifer Lawrence was on top of her game, as the schizophrenic livewire, Amy Adams deserves praise for her performance, Bradley Cooper is a suitable fit for Richie, and Jeremy Renner proved he's still capable of being one of the best actors in Hollywood, as the devoted Mayor with a good heart. Also, Robert De Niro's cameo during the meeting with Sheik Abdullah (Michael Pena) is a great shocker.

Still, American Hustle didn't win one Academy Award this year. Why? Because American Hustle is not a great film. A star-studded cast, featuring former Oscar winners and Oscar nominees, and the trio of David. O Russell, Lawrence, and Cooper rode the huge wave of momentum from Silver Linings Playbook. On top of that, Jennifer Lawrence is a hot commodity for young actresses with a bright future, so you had to expect a massive hype train for American Hustle.

I don't hate American Hustle. Hell, there's a good chance I'll buy the movie on DVD somewhere down the line, but the final product doesn't justify the hype or any grandiose expectations. 

In the end, American Hustle received a whopping ten Academy Award nominations, but there's a good chance we'll forget about this one in another three or four years. Of course, if someone mentions the name American Hustle, you'll know what they're talking about right off the bat. But we're not going to remember American Hustle as one of the all-time greats, and a decorated Oscar winner that deserves unquestioned praise and recognition.

My ebooks are only $0.99, and you can follow the links to learn more about both books-

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http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EFMYZ0U


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2013 End Of The Year Awards- Most Underrated Film- +1

**This post contains spoilers**

Clones? Broken relationships? Murder? A meteor that causes sporadic time warps?

Yep. Plus One is loaded with with a plethora of storylines, and Angad's (Rohan Kymal) wild house party is the stage for an unforgettable night of chaos. David (Rhys Wakefield) begs his ex-girlfriend, Jill (Ashley Hinshaw) for forgiveness after an accidental kiss with the woman, who defeated Jill in a fencing tournament.

David's best friend, Teddy (Logan Miller) chases Melanie (Natalie Hall) for a one night stand. As the outcast, Allison (Colleen and Suzanne Dengel) is struggling to find a place to fit in, and a series of clones threaten the party goers with an inevitable confrontation.

That's a lot to digest for one film, right? When the clones show up, Plus One's transition into the supernatural/sci-fi world feels awkward, because they're trying to progress and tell too many stories at once. David is trying to come up with an apology for Jill, but the sight of David disgusts Jill. Teddy's trying to comprehend the sight of the real Melanie and the cloned version of Melanie at once, and the angry loner (Allison) is stuck on the outside. Oh, and together, the party goers are trying to come up with a solution to stop, hide from, or fight the clones.

With all that said, I had a lot of fun with Plus One. It's a  trippy and bold sci-fi thriller, featuring a handful of genuinely shocking twists and turns. David murdering the real Jill in favor of the cloned Jill? Yeah, I didn't see that one coming, and Teddy doesn't walk away from the party with Melanie on one arm. Instead, the nerdy guy, who's fighting for the unobtainable perfect ten goes home empty-handed. The big showdown between the clones and the real party goers in the pool house during the finale? You can feel the chaos during the big brawl, and Plus One delivered a tense and satisfying finale, because it's impossible to predict the outcome of the fight.

Plus One isn't afraid to take chances, it's a refreshing change, and I appreciate the effort. Also, kudos to Ashley Hinshaw for the best performance, as the angry ex-girlfriend, who's fighting David's plea for a second chance. Bottom line, if you're looking for a unique experience, a wild ride, or something different, Plus One is worth a try.

My ebooks are only $0.99, and you can follow the links to learn more about both books-

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EFLI6VK

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EFMYZ0U


Remember Amazon offers free Kindle App downloads for various platforms. Follow this link to find out more- http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000493771

And don't forget to follow me on Twitter here- https://twitter.com/LQuigleyFan1
 

2013 End Of The Year Awards- Worst Film- Movie 43

"Hey. Here's an idea. Let's put a bunch of noteworthy actors and actresses, including two former Oscar winners (Kate Winslet and Halle Berry), in a sketch comedy anthology film together, so they can humiliate themselves for an hour and thirty-seven minutes. It'll be great!"

Well, there's one big problem with this thought process: the novelty of name actors and actresses humiliating themselves doesn't last long. To paint a clearer picture, the novelty wears off in the first fifteen to twenty minutes of the movie.

I'm not going to stand up on a soapbox for a morality, because if you follow my blog, you'll know I'm a big fan of some nasty and violent horror movies. With that said, Movie 43 features one of the worst cases of overkill I've ever seen.When you constantly go out of your way to shove gross-out gags and profane comedy down the audience's throats, the gags and the jokes quickly lose their intended shock value.

Need some examples? Vanessa (Anna Faris) wants her husband Jason (Chris Pratt) to defecate on her, and Jason loads up on Mexican food to prepare for the big night. Robert (Liev Schreiber) and Samantha (Naomi Watts) constantly humiliate and haze their home schooled son, Kevin (Jeremy Allen White), and one of the pranks involves tying Jeremy to a pole outside, and they use feces to write on his torso. And the short featuring Hugh Jackman's Davis? Oy vey. There's a scrotum attached  to Davis' chin, and for some reason, Kate Winslet (Jackman's date) is the only person, who notices or is bothered by Jackman's abnormal condition.

Movie 43 is unfunny and tedious. That's bad enough, but that's not the most frustrating problem with 2013's biggest turkey. The directors and writers completely wasted different sets of actors and actress with lame humor, dull jokes, and mind-numbing stupidity. Sorry, but it's unacceptable, and I can't look the other way, when you waste an overall cast that's LOADED with talent.

There's a reason why I chose the picture with Richard Gere for this post. Gere's body language and facial expressions during the iBabe short capture my "what am I watching????" feelings for this abomination during my trip to the theater. Honestly, I had high hopes for Movie 43, but Movie 43 earned a spot on my list of bad theater experiences, because it's a chore to sit through, and I couldn't shake the felling of someone cheating me out of $10.00.

My ebooks are only $0.99, and you can follow the links to learn more about both books-

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http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EFMYZ0U


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And don't forget to follow me on Twitter here- https://twitter.com/LQuigleyFan1

2013 End Of The Year Awards- Best Horror Film- Maniac

**This post contains spoilers**

I struggled with this one for a while, because I was stuck on a three way tie between Maniac, The Conjuring, and Evil Dead, but I picked Maniac for my final decision.

Why? For starters, Maniac is shocking, grotesque, and bloody. Now I know you can say the same thing about Evil Dead, but director Franck Khalfoun crafts a dark and mesmerizing slasher film. There's a chilling sense of fear throughout Maniac, and Frank's POV is a refreshing touch. The audience sees everything from Frank's eyes, and you can feel the madness behind Frank's disturbing thought process. On top of that, Maniac features an outstanding soundtrack. The eerie scores are a perfect tie-in for Maniac, and it's hard to ignore the nostalgic 80's vibe.  

Elijah Wood is incredible in the leading role. Frank is an unhinged man, who's struggling to control his murderous impulses. The rage, the violent outbursts, the conflict, and Frank's grief during troubled flashbacks with his mother. You can feel everything, and Elijah Wood  taps into his dark side again (i.e. Sin City) to deliver another A+ performance with the leading role in Maniac.

The finale is amazing. Frank's demise mirrors the final moments of the original, and the set up for the fiasco at Anna's (Nora Arnezeder) apartment is perfect. A frustrated Frank is trying to console Anna after Rita's (Jan Broberg) death (of course, Frank murdered Rita after Rita's taunts at Anna's exhibit), but Frank accidentally reveals himself as the killer, when he mentions the short distance to Rita's apartment. And Frank drives the nail into the coffin, when he mentions the recent murders in the city.

The horrified look of shock on Nora Arnezeder's face is spot on, and the tension after Frank's accidental confession is unreal, because you're waiting for that one moment, when Anna attacks Frank for survival, or when Anna makes a move for an escape. Great stuff.

The 1980 original gained a strong following as a cult film, but the 2013 film is on a short list of remakes that challenge the original for superiority, and you can make a legit argument for the 2013 remake taking the top spot for the better film. Don't pass on a chance to watch Maniac 2013 horror fans. If you do, you're missing something special.

My ebooks are only $0.99, and you can follow the links to learn more about both books-

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2013 End Of The Year Awards- Best Science Fiction Action/Adventure Film- Star Trek Into Darkness

J.J. Abrams had to top his own film to justify feelings of newfound excitement and hope for the Star Trek franchise. The 2009 reboot was a critical and financial success, but nine time out of ten, the stakes are higher for a sequel, because everyone is stuck in the on pins needles stage. Was the original (or in this case a reboot) a fluke? Can they give us a reason to come back for more after a second film? Well, Abrams answered each question with a resounding yes. Abrams delivered a darker sequel with sleek action sequences, awe-inspiring visuals, and a tense, thrilling finale.

Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto returned with excellent chemistry, Zoe Saldana is on top of her game the second time around, and the rest of the returning members from the supporting cast deliver solid and enjoyable performances. But Benedict Cumberbatch steals the show as the newcomer here. Cumberbatch is flawless as Khan. He's a sophisticated and devious villain with a chilling dark side, and Cumberbatch's performance is one of the major highlights in the sequel.

Star Wars fans can rest easy now, because the beginning of a new era for the famed franchise is in good hands with J.J. Abrams. Need some proof? Just watch Star Trek Into Darkness. Trust me, you won't regret it.

My ebooks are only $0.99, and you can follow the links to learn more about both books-

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EFLI6VK

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EFMYZ0U


Remember Amazon offers free Kindle App downloads for various platforms. Follow this link to find out more- http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000493771

And don't forget to follow me on Twitter here- https://twitter.com/LQuigleyFan1