Vacancy

Rating: 9.0

What it's about:
This riveting thriller features Luke Wilson and Kate Beckinsale as a couple whose car breaks down, stranding them at a very dangerous hotel. Director Nimrod Antal carefully builds the suspense as the film gradually leads to horror when the hotel turns out to be a snuff film operation, with cameras everywhere and lots of truly horrific videos of past murders (shot in the same room) lying atop the TV set. The couple needs to think fast before they become the next victims.

Beckinsale and Wilson play down their star wattage and get truly involved in their change-of-pace roles, sucking the audience into their situation far deeper than one might think possible. Meticulous use of the tawdry, low-rent motel setting--lots of rotted wood, stained wallpaper, and ugly sofas--provides a realistic sense of space. Intelligently crafted and unfolding practically in real time, VACANCY is edge-of-the-seat all the way. Other strong points are the punchy score from Paul Haslinger, a PSYCHO-ish credit sequence, a creepy Frank Whaley as the hotel clerk, and lots of references to films like TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE and HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER. Thanks to all this care and attention, the scares linger longer than you might expect, so don't watch it alone.

My thoughts:
Thrilling! This is truly an edge-of-your-seat movie! And it's not filled with a bunch of pointless gore! Bravo to director Nimrod Antal. Nimrod?!?! I love that the movie doesn't take long with the character set up but just jumps right in with the characters driving down a dark deserted road. Then when they checked into the motel and saw their room on the VCR tape I was hooked.

*note to self: Stay away from cheap dingy motels in the middle of nowhere. Stay on the interstate!*

Disturbia

Rating: 7.5

What it's about:
Shia LaBeouf (CONSTANTINE, I, ROBOT) is a young talent to be reckoned with, as he demonstrates in this genre-spanning film from director D.J. Caruso. Part teenage romantic comedy, part horror flick, DISTURBIA stars LaBeouf as the troubled Kale, who is confined to his home under house arrest after he punches out his Spanish teacher in the middle of class. Kale’s array of available diversions dwindle considerably after his mom (Carrie Ann Moss, MEMENTO) shuts off his X-Box and his i-Tunes, and he turns to voyeurism instead, carefully noting the daily activities of his neighbors. These include the swimming schedule of the hot girl who just moved in next door, Ashley (Sarah Roemer, THE GRUDGE 2), whom he ogles with his best friend, the class clown, Ronnie (Aaron Yoo, THE BEDFORD DIARIES). When Ashley unexpectedly shows up and wants to know what the boys are doing behind their binoculars, they concoct a story about their neighbor, Mr. Turner (David Morse, PROOF OF LIFE), and their suspicions that he is the serial killer currently on the loose. The teens’ subsequent stakeout makes them increasingly convinced that this is in fact the case, and their creepy interactions with Turner bring them ever closer to learning the dark secret that lies inside his impenetrable suburban existence. Despite a slight identity crisis and distracting product placements, DISTURBIA is carried by the strong performance of its lead character, and manages to charm with its portrayal of young love. - taken from Rottentomatoes.com

My thoughts:
This is a pretty good movie. It's got some suspenseful moments (but not enough and mostly at the end) and some lighthearted moments. I probably wouldn't have enjoyed the movie as much had Shia LaBeouf not been in it. He's adorable and very talented! I love the idea of this movie. The plot seems very Hitchcockian. I know they added the sexy girl next door, young love element to appeal to a younger audience but I think they overdid it just a little bit. I think he should have spied on her a little less and the killer a little more. It's not too unbalanced though and I know they had to show him spying on all his neighbors. I think they cast the suspicious neighbor, played by David Morse, perfectly. He did a great job in this role! I just feel like this movie is missing something and I can't quite put my finger on it. Overall, I say it's a moderately good thriller.

300

Rating: 10

What it's about:
Based on the graphic novel by Frank Miller and Lynn Varley, 300 takes over the screen like an invading horde. With all the gushing blood of a horror movie and the scope of a classic epic, the second film from Zack Snyder (who helmed the 2004 remake of DAWN OF THE DEAD) is an impressive visual spectacle. Gerard Butler (THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA) plays Leonidas, the king of ancient Sparta. The city is famous for its warrior philosophy, and Leonidas won’t kneel to the demands of Persia's King Xerxes (LOST's Rodrigo Santoro). Instead, Leonidas leads his 300-strong army against Xerxes's army of millions. Meanwhile, his wife (Lena Headley, THE BROTHERS GRIMM) campaigns in Sparta for the city to send reinforcements as she butts heads with the treacherous Theron (Dominic West, THE WIRE). -taken from Rotten Tomatoes

My Thoughts:
This is an impressive movie, and I'm not just talking about all the muscles. What I noticed first about the movie is the color....or lack thereof. I think it was a great idea to lose most of the color. It's unique and fits the overall dark tone of the film. The fighting sequences are choreographed very well and make for exciting watching. They fight to some pretty heavy sounding guitars too! I love the choice of music in this movie. It's very modern and really rocks. Most period films stick to the music in that period but this one doesn't limit itself like that. The characters are awesome in this movie! I was continuously amazed at the make-up for some of these guys. The hunchback was totally believable and Xerxes really seemed larger-than-life. I know the sub-plot with the Spartan queen back home trying to drill up reinforcements wasn't in the comic book but I think it was a great idea to add it to the movie. It gives the movie way more depth.

I have read in different places how some people hated the movie because it is historically inaccurate. It's based on a comic book people! It's just some guy's (Frank Miller) idea of Thermopolylea. And I loved it!

Persian: A thousand nations of the Persian empire descend upon you. Our arrows will blot out the sun!
Stelios: Then we will fight in the shade.

1408

Rating: 8.0

What it's about:

The PG-13 rating given to 1408 belies this film’s truly terrifying effects on its audience. Though it’s far less gory than its peers, it has frightening moments and a creepy mood throughout. John Cusack (IDENTITY) plays Mike Enslin, a gifted writer who has turned his talents to paranormal travel books. His stays in haunted hotels never shake him, but he’s intrigued by New York’s Dolphin Hotel. Room 1408 has been the site of dozens of deaths, and this is a selling point for the skeptic in Mike. Despite the warnings of the hotel manager (Samuel L. Jackson, BLACK SNAKE MOAN), Mike resolves to stay in the haunted room. No one has lasted more than an hour in 1408, and Mike has his work cut out for him.

My thoughts:
This is a creepy movie. John Cusack did a great job portraying someone who is basically losing his mind to room 1408. And the scary part is that he has lucid moments but he can't really do anything to help himself. He can't leave! I love horror movies that have a lot of atmosphere and 1408 has lots of that! I read 1408 (the Stephen King short story this movie is based on ) right before going to see the movie so I could see how close the movie stuck to the story. Of course they had to add quite a bit seeing how the story was only about 30 pages or so. I think they did a great adaptation. Stephen King should be proud. There wasn't a whole lot of jump-out-of-your-seat scary moments but the sinister mood was pretty consistent throughout. Just the thought of being in a haunted room and not being able to get out is frightening enough without needing a ton of the startling frames that make you gasp in terror. Also I should mention that Cusack did an awesome job in this movie considering he was in most of the scenes and by himself! He was very convincing. Overall, it's an eerie movie that I will definitely be watching again. (Just not by myself at night, lol.)