Movie Review: Never Let Me Go (by Dave Machado)

Never Let Me Go is, in very simple terms, an art-house science fiction movie. This is not the science fiction most people are used to though. It is a very subdued movie that takes place in an alternate history where scientists in the mid 20th Century were able to increase the life expectancy of humans to well past 100 years old. It begins very innocently enough, following the lives of three young children who are growing up in a sort of boarding school. We see hints that these children are not treated like normal kids (certain adults seem to act strangely uncomfortable around them) but there is nothing explicitly stated that suggests there is something wrong. It isn't until about 20 minutes in that we learn the role these kids have in society (as told to them by a teacher, who is promptly fired) and from there the movie is able to explore the very interesting themes of mortality and the roles humans have in their own fate.

If you do not want to be spoiled of the 1st act twist, I suggest you stop reading now and just now that I recommend seeing the movie though it can get a bit dry at times. 

What the teacher ends up informing the students is that their plan in life has already been decided for them. They are to be raised in this home and once they reach young adulthood, they will donate their organs one-by-one to other living humans as a way to help keep up the newly high life expectancy.  The children will simply donate themselves piece by piece until they "complete", which is the PC way of telling them they will give their parts until their body can no longer handle it and they die. I love the movie's decision to have us be told of this the same time the children themselves are hearing it. It allows us to feel the same shock they do and it makes for a very heartbreaking scene.

The movie then skips ahead roughly ten years and the three children have grown up into Carey Mulligan, Keira Knightley, and Andrew Garfield. We then follow these three as they are wrestling with the knowledge that their time to begin donating is not too far behind. We learn there are myths about ways to prolong your first donation but are never sure what to believe. I expected the movie to become a chase flick with some of the children taking fate into their own hands but that is not what this movie is about. It's about knowing what your life is set up to be and the sad realization that you have no other alternative.

I will not spoil the second half of the movie but it is a very powerful story that won't soon be forgotten. I have some problems with the pacing and the lack of subtly at times but it really is a movie that people should watch. The performances of the three leads are great. After this and The Social Network, I am very excited that Garfield will be lacing up as the new Spiderman. I hold Carey Mulligan in a similar regard as I have only seen her in two movies but she has been incredible in both so I look forward to seeing her in more things very soon (though her inclusion was not enough to get me to see the new Wall Street. Not even Josh Brolin could get me in that theater). Never Let Me Go is a quiet movie that seems to grow louder the more I think of it. The ideas the movie puts forth slowly creep up on you well after the movie finishes, something I wish happened in more cases. I hope you all enjoy this movie as much as I did because I wouldn't be surprised if you started hearing about it more come Oscar season.

You're Welcome,

Dave

Movie Review: Let Me In (by Dave Machado)

Remakes are a very hard group of movies to properly review. I believe that the only way a remake can be deemed "successful" is if it is able to tell roughly the same story as the original but make everything so fresh and new that it almost seems like a different movie altogether. This may seem like a tall order but every once in a while, a movie succeeds at this task. Examples include The Thing, The Fly, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and even Dawn of the Dead. Let Me In however does not belong in this small group. While it may be amazing to someone who has yet to experience the original (Let The Right One In), this remake simply follows the same storyline and visual style far too much for it to be considered as a worthy remake.

That's not to say I didn't enjoy the movie. I just felt that the it played like a great but very strict cover song. All the same beats were hit in the same style as the original except a few minor changes here and there that really add nothing to the story except to say it had some differences. Nothing from the original is "topped" in this movie but there are times where it comes very close to at least equaling it. The superb acting in this movie by the two kids Owen and Abby (Kodi Smit-McPhee and Chloe Moretz) along with Abby's "guardian" (Richard Jenkins) really saved the movie for me. Without their amazing performances, there would have been very little to enjoy about the flick other than the parts that I already loved from the original.

I really hate to bash Let Me In because if it wasn't a remake and was the first movie to adapt this story, it would probably be in the top 10 of 2010 for me. But I just can't get over the fact that an American studio felt the need to remake a foreign movie not even 5 years old. I am at least thankful that everyone involved did a great job with the movie because it easily could have been made into a terrible cliche vampire film. Director Matt Reeves (Cloverfield) gets some really great performances and some amazing scenery on screen (aside from some very cartoony cgi) and seems to hold the original in high regard. I actually think the issue is that perhaps he holds Let The Right One In in too high of a regard because he seemed afraid to take a chance and try something radically different with the story. 

I've heard a lot of critics say that if you have't seen Let The Right One In, then they highly recommend Let Me In. I disagree. I think that if you haven't seen Let The Right One In, then I highly recommend you see Let The Right One In. We don't live in a society where foreign movies are hard to find anymore. You can log on Amazon and have the original shipped to your house in just a few days or simply get it from Netflix (It's part of the "Watch Now" catalog!). As for Let Me In, I wouldn't hurry to see it in the theaters. I still recommend giving it a try at some point on DVD simply for the perfect performances but I do so with hesitation. Studios need to try making more original movies and to stop taking foreign films and "Americanizing" them simply because some idiots won't watch a movie with subtitles. If you are going to remake a movie, prove the remake's existence by having it be its own movie, not a dull copy. I hate to say this about such a well made movie but even if the end result is good, the reasoning behind it's creation is incorrect.

You're Welcome,

Dave

Movie Review: The Social Network (by Dave Machado)

The Social Network is a movie that opened up to a lot of critical praise. I typically worry when a movie is this well liked upon its initial release because the cynical part of me starts to question the validity of the hype. Is it simply good marketing that results in convincing people they loved the movie (fearing they would seem like a crabby contrarian for taking the opposite opinion) or is it the real deal? I'm not saying that audiences are easily duped but it's surprising how often it ends up being just good marketing. Fortunately, The Social Network belongs in the category of "the real deal" because after you strip away the hype you are left with a truly incredible movie.

Now I understand the strangeness of discussing the dangers of over-hyping while at the same time hyping it myself, but it really is just a great film. The one thing that struck me most about this film is that it doesn't feel like a movie David Fincher directed or Aaron Sorkin wrote because it doesn't fall victim to their usual weaknesses. Fincher's movies always have a sort of "bloated" feeling to them for me and Sorkin is known to have his characters be a bit long-winded. Don't get me wrong, just because I think they have weaknesses is not meant to say I am not a fan. It's just important to realize that neither of these things describes The Social Network and so instead of having the movie seem like a generic entry into either of their catalogs, the movie feels fresh and dynamic in the sense that it doesn't come with the baggage of the people who created it. Instead the movie becomes a greatest hits mixtape of both creative forces where it's just the hits and none of the misses.

The Social Network starts off with a bang by opening up with Mark Zuckerberg (played perfectly by Jesse Eisenberg) getting dumped by his current girlfriend at a local bar. Everything you need to know about Mark as a character is exposed in this opening scene that to me was easily the best of the movie. It's always hard when a movie opens so strongly because you sit and wonder just how they could possibly keep this up. While I don't think The Social Network reached the same dizzying heights seen in the opening scene (seriously, it features some of my favorite back-and-forth dialog that I've seen in a long time), I don't consider it a major fault to the film because it would be impossible (and exhausting for the viewer) if the film kept the lightening quick pace of that opening exchange. I simply consider it a fantastic prologue to help you get into the mind of Zuckerberg before we begin the real journey of the film.

The movie is framed around Zuckerberg being questioned for two lawsuits he is currently involved in, both having to do with Facebook. One on side, he is being sued by 3 classmates from Harvard who are claiming he stole their idea for Facebook. The other is a more personal issue because he is being sued by his former best friend and co-founder of Facebook, Eduardo Saverin (played by Andrew Garfield, who to me was the best part of an amazing cast) for being pushed out of the company without proper compensation. Both these lawsuits boil down to one person's word over another, and as someone in the movie even points out, when that is the case, most of what is said is exaggeration and the rest is simply lies.

I've noted above that Eisenberg and Garfield do excellent work but really the whole cast deserves credit. Eisenberg and Garfield may do most of the heavy lifting in the movie but it would all fall apart without the strong supporting cast. Chief amount them is Justin Timberlake, who plays Napster co-founder Sean Parker. I'll admit to being surprised how Timberlake disappeared into a role that could have easily been distracting. It ended up being an example of perfect casting because the role called for someone who is so charismatic that it would be easy to see how an outsider like Mark Zuckerberg could fall under his spell and not see how imbalanced he really was. To me this movie is the beginning of a new era of his career and I really look forward to his next move. 

I have already heard some complaints that the movie is not true to life but anyone who uses this as a negative towards the film has completely missed the point. The makers of this movie realized that the story to tell regarding the creation of Facebook wasn't found in the facts, but in the emotions of those involved. That is the real purpose of the movie. It's not being billed as based on a true story, but people will easily confuse it as such simply because it deals with characters based on people that really exist. Fincher and Sorkin have taken the conflicting words from all parties involved and made a semi-fictional take on real life events. It doesn't matter that the end result may be all exaggerations and lies because it's an amazing story that has become one of the best movies of 2010.

You're Welcome,

Dave

Movie Review: Hatchet II (by Dave Machado)

There has been an unfortunate trend lately to call any new horror movie that plays like an 80s slasher movie an "homage." However, there is a big difference between an homage to 80s horror and a new original movie that maintains the same gleeful fun mainly seen in those movies from past decades. Hatchet II is not an "homage" to the fun slasher movies of the past. It simply is a fun slasher movie. There are no gimmicks on display to make it seem like a dated horror movie. Sure, the movie wears its love of older supernatural slasher movies on its sleeve, but it does so in a way that allows it to be its own thing. Hatchet II is a fantastic horror movie that does what every sequel should, prove its own existence while topping everything from the first movie.

I love the world Director Adam Green has set up in his movies. There are a good amount of returning characters from the first Hatchet and it truly feels like the continuation of the story that began with the original one in 2006. There are also some clever nods to other things Green has done like Frozen (pay attention to a certain news report) and my personal favorite, Jack Chop. Green's ability to combine the new school of horror with what is now considered an older school was one of my favorite things about this movie. It really comes across that Green loves this genre and Hatchet II is an awesome celebration of all things bloody and gory.

It would be easy to simply rattle off all the cool little cameos and references in Hatchet II (Joe Lynch! Behind the Mask! Newbury Comics!) but that was only part of the fun watching it. The real enjoyment I got out of Hatchet II were the glorious kills. The reason they are so amazing (and the reason I feel like Hatchet II is so important) is because it has been released to major theaters without an official rating. This is pretty much unheard of so I feel like it is every horror fan's duty to seek this movie out. I made a special trip to Boston and encourage others to follow suit. You won't be disappointed either because the stuff they were able to get away with instead of cutting it down for an R rating makes for one hell of a fun time.

Another strong point of Hatchet II is the lead, Danielle Harris. It's great seeing the little girl from Halloween 4 and 5 get a chance to really kick some ass and go full-on Ripley in a horror movie. Danielle is not playing the scared helpless girl in this movie. She gets her hands dirty (and bloody) and I had a blast watching her on screen. It's a great role and makes me look forward to what she does next. Speaking of which, any fans of her and Director Adam Green can actually get to meet them both if you go to Rock and Shock in Worcester on the weekend of Oct. 15-17 (I'll be there!).

Hatchet II is not my favorite horror movie of the year (I had a lot more fun with Piranha 3D) but it is still a movie that every single horror fan should see. Victor Crowley is the best horror monster created since Candyman and I would love to see this series continued even further. I have no problem saying that the Hatchet series will be required viewing years from now similar to how my generation devoured all of the Nightmare on Elm St. and Friday the 13th movies. There will always be critics saying these types of movies are what's wrong with America and that's fine because the reason we love horror movies like this is that they are like a great big in-joke. So while they sit in wonderment at how someone could enjoy seeing a person's head get ripped off from getting choked by their own intestines (Yea, that happens. It's as awesome as it sounds...), we can simply ignore them, sit back, and enjoy the gore that Hatchet II offers by the bucket-load. Just please don't call it an homage movie.

You're Welcome,

Dave

Movie Review: Triangle (by Dave Machado)

Watching a great movie can be a lot like putting together a jigsaw puzzle. A movie typically begins by giving you the basic setup of the story, which is fairly easy to understand. I consider this the "outline" portion of the puzzle, the part everyone always starts with so you can begin to see what exactly you are working with. The complexity of the movie from that point on determines the size of the puzzle pieces that the viewer is left to put together. There are always movies with big pieces for viewers who don't want to do much leg work. Fortunately, there are also movies like Triangle that know certain viewers enjoy a challenge and therefore give them lots of little pieces to work with. Like any big puzzle, you may be frustrated while you attempt to put it all together, but once things fall into place and you take a step back, you really start to appreciate the challenge it put forth.

I won't go too deep into the plot of Triangle because giving you answers (or even clues) as to what the movie is really about would be like turning the jigsaw puzzle into a childish paint by numbers.  Sure the end result could still look the same, but half the enjoyment comes from your own discovery. What I can say is that it is a thriller that focuses on a small group of people who get caught in a severe storm while relaxing out at sea. Their boat capsizes and after spending a while floating in the sea, a giant ocean liner appears seemingly out of nowhere. They board the ship which seems to be eerily quiet and empty except for a few passing shadows and sounds. What's the dark secret of the boat? I'll let you find that out for yourself. 

Lots of movies attempt to unravel a sprawling mystery but end up having at least one small plot hole that can't be explained. To go back to the jigsaw metaphor, it would be like completing a large, beautiful puzzle only to realize there is a small missing piece. Sure the final result is impressive, but whenever you or someone else looks at it, their eyes will go directly to the missing piece. Luckily, Triangle does not have any missing pieces. I was both surprised and impressed at how well everything fit together. It took some re-watching of key scenes after I initially finished the movie to fully understand it, but once I did, it made the movie that much more enjoyable. All the answers are right up there on the screen, it's simply left up to the viewer to put them all together.

That's not to say Triangle is a perfect movie because it's not. But for a small thriller, it has an incredibly tight story and some amazingly haunting visuals that will stay with me for a long time. Director Christopher Smith has an excellent visual style and the movie is surprisingly beautiful at times. I was a fan of his previous horror movie Severance and was happy to see how much range he showed this time around. Severance had a very unique wit (though very dark) that I was happy to see mostly missing from this movie. Triangle is a more serious effort and he luckily didn't feel the need to inject any silly gags that would break the tension. That's not to say I didn't enjoy Severance because the humor worked in the universe he set up for that film. Actually, if you haven't seen it, I highly recommend you check it out. It features my favorite rocket launcher gag of all time.

Triangle is also helped by a fairly impressive (and mostly unknown) cast. The movie is anchored by the role of Jess (Melissa George).  Melissa does a fantastic job with such a complicated character and really adds a lot to the role that could have easily been too "schticky." The rest of the cast does a good job for the most part but since the movie really belongs to the character Jess, most are never given enough to do and therefore become fairly one-note characters. I would have liked to see more complex supporting characters but like I said, Melissa does such a fine job pulling her weight around on screen that it simply makes everyone else seem more 1 dimensional.

The movie goes a little too heavy on symbolism at times but I can forgive it because it's never so bad that it ruins the movie. This is simply a pet peeve of mine and will most likely not even be an issue for most viewers. Other than those few nitpicks, I was highly impressed with Triangle. It's the type of movie that surprises me how little of a following it has. I hope more people check it out in the years to come because it accomplishes a lot for such a small film. I understand it may be too "confusing" for some but as I said before, the answers are right there on the screen. You just need to take the time to put it together yourself. For those willingly to try out this puzzle, you'll be extremely happy with the end result.

You're Welcome,
Dave

Dave's Decorum: Rules for the Movie Going Public - Part 2: NOM NOM NOM (by Dave Machado)

Welcome back to another installment of Dave's Decorum, where I slowly roll out some rules that I think the entire movie going public needs to start following. Last time, I tackled the issue of talking (See post here!). Now that I've hopefully shut you up, let's turn our attention to America's favorite thing about going to the movies, food! Eating at the movies is something that many of us enjoy, including myself. I usually get some popcorn or candy along with a soda before most movies, even though it typically ends up costing more than the damn ticket. I'm not here to say that eating should be removed from the movies or to complain about the high cost of said food.  We all know the prices are way out of line but these are not rules for the movie theater itself, but the people who have already decided it is OK to spend $5 for a soda that will be gone by the time the 3rd preview starts (remember, I'm one of these people!).

1. Chew with your mouth closed - It is kind of amazing that I even have to mention this. I can't be the only person who is constantly annoyed by the "chomp! chomp! chomp!" sounds of the person eating popcorn in the row below me while I'm trying to follow the story on the screen. Granted it's less of an issue with loud action movies, but whenever a movie contains a quiet dialog scene, chances are you can hear at least one person dumbly munching away on their snack. Do people really need to eat that constantly? Take a break once in a while (especially when the scene in question is quiet enough that others will hear you).
   
2. Open all packages before movie starts - I almost have to laugh when I'm watching a movie and become distracted by the crinkling sound of plastic as some idiot fumbles around in the dark trying to open his bag of candy. This rule should be simple enough, when you sit down and are waiting for the movie to start, open up any bags you have while you can easily see them. This way, I won't have to hear you failing at your task while I'm trying to pay attention to the movie I spent money to see. Some people may not do this because they have multiple snacks and want to wait until it is time to start eating that specific one. They should probably read Rule #3...
   
3. Pick one snack/drink item - When did going to the movies become a multiple course meal? People will start eating some candy only after they have finished the giant tub of popcorn I just spent 30 min. listening to them eat (didn't they read rule #1?). Most movies last not much longer than 2 hours. I'm pretty sure one snack and a drink can hold you over until then. If that isn't enough, please don't leave the house because chances are I would not enjoy looking at you.
   
4. No novelty size items - I understand the appeal for a deal is enticing when the person behind the counter explains that for only $0.25 more, you can get a super duper large jumbo tub of popcorn instead of the super duper large tub. But just because it seems like a good deal doesn't mean you need to buy it. Do you really need that much food? I guess this goes hand in hand with Rule #3 which is that you should only need a modest amount to snack on when going to the movies. If you need two hands to carry one item from the concession stand, it's too big for you. The only time this rule is allowed to be broken is when you are sharing a snack with a date. If the snack is just for you, keep it normal sized.

If any of these rules seem too difficult for you, then I'm surprised you even have the ability to read this. Seriously, movies and snacks go together well, but like most things, there is a tipping point. Keep portions down and noise levels low. Remember, the theater isn't your own living room so don't treat it like that. I fully understand some of these rules have no bearing on me as a fellow movie goer (snack size, amount of snacks) but it's just really annoying to look at and these are my rules so please be quiet (OBEY!). If you are upset at these rules, think of it as a wake-up call that maybe you eat too much. Until then, enjoy the movie and please pass the (opened) bag of Skittles my way.

You're Welcome,

Dave

Movie Review: Catfish (by Dave Machado)

Every once in a while, a movie comes along like Catfish that seems to pull people in based solely on the reason that it is being marketed as a "twist" movie that needs to be seen to be believed. I typically have reservations about these movies because I feel like the hype of the movie (and specifically the twist) will have become so big that there is no way the movie can live up to it. The marketing for Catfish makes it out to seem like a pseudo-horror movie with some dark secret lurking in the shadows. Even the poster, with it's red on black color scheme suggests something pretty sinister. This ends up being a fairly questionable marketing strategy because while it does hook people in, it doesn't exactly deliver what it seems to promise. That is actually a good thing though because where Catfish ends up going was genuinely surprising and was done in such an anti-climatic way that I have no reason to question the movie's authenticity.

For those who have yet to see the movie, don't worry, I have no intention of spoiling Catfish for you. The basic setup though is that a photographer (Nev Schulman) begins receiving paintings of his photos from an 8 year old artist named Abby. He slowly develops a friendship with her whole family through Facebook and eventually starts a "relationship" with Abby's older half sister Megan. Two aspiring filmmakers (Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost) who share an office with Nev in New York see the potential for a good short documentary film and begin filming Nev's story as he gets closer to this family. The three of them end up getting a gig not too far from where the family lives and decide that once they are finished shooting there, they would stop by the family's house so they can all finally meet.

It's unfortunate that this movie has come out the same time as Casey Affleck's I'm Still Here, which has turned out to be a fabricated story being sold as a real Documentary. We now know that Joaquin Phoenix was playing a character the whole time and that it was not a documentation of his emotional "downfall." The movie was meant to be an interesting study on the fact that if we see someone playing "themselves" and it's billed as real, then most people will take the creators word for it, no matter how outlandish the subject matter is. I fear this will cause people to be cynical towards movies like Catfish, which I think is in fact 100% real. It would be a shame if the true message of the movie gets lost in the arguments over the authenticity of it.

The screening of the movie I attended was followed by a quick Q&A session with director Ariel Schulman and star Nev Schulman. The question came up about their response to people wondering whether the movie was real or not and their response was quite simple. They themselves never even thought that some people would consider it all a hoax because they lived through it so of course it was real. Nobody likes being duped and I think for that reason, some will still stand by their feeling that the movie was faked simply because that way if it ever came out that it was a hoax, they could line up to give you a nice and quick "I told you so." I don't think that moment will ever come so it's unfortunate that those unwilling to make that leap of faith in the filmmakers are losing out on the important issues the movie brings up.

I apologize for being cryptic but this really is a movie that should not be spoiled. I may do a more spoiler filled post at some point depending on the response to the movie as it becomes more well known but in the meantime, I suggest trying to find a local showing in your area. I didn't walk out 100% loving the movie as I felt there were some things that placed the movie in a morally grey area that I am still trying to sort out, but I am glad I got the chance to see it. It won't change the way you use Facebook, but it may make you question how you chose to communicate with people over the internet that you don't personally know.

You're Welcome,
Dave

The State of The Genre: Horror (by Dave Machado)

Tis the season to be jolly! Fall has officially begun and it is time for my favorite season of all to begin, Halloween! I love Fall for many things (cool air, falling leaves, fresh apples) but nothing beats the joy of watching lots of horror movies for a month and half. Sure, horror movies can be enjoyed year round, but there is just something about the the Fall that makes it much more enjoyable. After all, Fall is the season of death as we see the joys of summer fade and the leaves start to drop from the trees, slowly being drained of their color. I felt what better time than now to take a look at my favorite genre of movies and see what recent gems are worth seeking out this Halloween season.

2010 has not been a banner year by any means for horror movies. I can think of only a handful of horror movies that received a major release this year and most have been a disappointment. The saddest part is that most of these major releases were not even original ideas. We had new iterations of The Crazies, Nightmare on Elm St., The Wolfman, and Piranha. Out of these, I'd say The Crazies and Piranha 3D succeeded in being fantastic movies in their own right but still, as great as they were, they were not original. This is the single thing that has been lacking most in horror movies (and movies in general) for the past few years. As of right now, the latest Nightmare on Elm St. is actually my least favorite movie if 2010. Please keep in mind I also saw Sex and The City 2 in the theater. This fact is actually the scariest part of my movie going experience this year. 

Luckily, I also saw good original horror movies like Daybreakers, Devil, and The Last Exorcism this year. None of these stood out as being a new classic, but all were solid entires. Daybreakers especially was an extremely fun flick that I can see myself going back and revisiting from time to time. There are still a couple movies (Frozen and The Human Centipede) that I missed in the theaters and am waiting to see on DVD. I'll share my thoughts on those as I see them in the coming month. Both look extremely interesting and I think will end up being two of the better movies I see this year.

Luckily, there are still a lot of major-release horror movies yet to be released this year. In the next few weeks alone, I hope to see Let Me In, Saw VII, Paranormal Activity 2, and My Soul To Take. These are the ones guaranteed to be playing at a theater near me. If I'm lucky, I'll also get a chance to see Hatchet 2, The Ward, and I Spit on Your Grave. Needless to say, there is plenty of horror left this year and hopefully at least one of these will end up being a cut above the rest we've had so far this year. My money would be on Hatchet 2 but we'll have to wait and see. It's also worth pointing out that all but 2 of those movies are remakes/sequels (*sigh*).

The Halloween season isn't only about seeing new horror movies though. It's also the time of year I try and find some hidden gems through Netflix and see what I have missed from years prior. I encourage anyone reading this to do the same. If you need help finding out where to start, let me start you off with five recommendations:

Splinter is an amazing movie that belongs in the subgenre of a core group of survivors holed up in a small location (in this case, a gas station) while a creature/monster/killer tries to get in. I missed hearing about this movie during its initial release but was told I should see it from a friend. I always love watching a movie that I have low expectations for but end up loving. I understand I am now depriving you of this discovery by already hyping the movie, but it really is a great horror movie and one of my favorite of the last decade. If you love creature features, make this your starting point for the season.

Trick R Treat is an anthology movie that focuses on one town's celebration of Halloween. Everything is connected perfectly by having the same characters show up in multiple stories and not in the ways you would usually expect. This is another movie that didn't get the proper attention it deserved at first but has luckily gained a good cult following. I feel like this is a movie that should be played yearly on TV as it is really an excellent little film that needs to become a true Halloween classic. If you want a fun, supernatural Halloween movie that tackles lots of different sub-genres, this is your best bet to start with.

Deep Red is an Italian Giallo film by the master Dario Argento. Originally released as Profondo Rosso in 1975, it is about a man who witnesses the murder of a woman and is determined to try and solve the case. He knows that when he first discovered the body, he noticed a very important clue but was so flustered, he can't seem to remember it, just the simple fact that he can't recall the missing piece of the puzzle. It's a highly stylized movie with an excellent and haunting soundtrack by Goblin. It's a great movie that keeps you guessing until the end. If you want a more "real to life" horror movie without supernatural elements, Deep Red would be a very satisfying choice.

Dead Alive is a New Zealand zombie movie directed by Peter Jackson of Lord of the Rings fame. It's original title when it was released in 1992 was "Braindead" and it focuses on a zombie outbreak in a small New Zealand town. The main thing to know about Dead Alive before seeing it is that it is an insanely gory movie. Blood and gore flow freely and it is one of the grosser movies I have ever seen. I'll admit to feeling a bit off after the first time I saw it but it really is a movie that has to be seen. This movie belongs in the "splatstick" sub genre of movies usually released by Troma. For those who have yet to see one of these beauties, it's basically a movie whose violence is so over the top and "icky" that it is used to comedic effect. If you can stomach it, Dead Alive is a great zombie movie and one of my personal favorites to revisit.

Bride of Frankenstein is my pick for those who want something a bit more "classic." Released in 1935, Director James Wales was able to put together not only a worthy follow-up to Frankenstein (1931) but also created one of the most influential horror movies of all time. This movie really created the blue-print for how sequels should be made, having everything top the original and also moving the story toward more "mature" themes. Bride of Frankenstein is superior in every way to the original and it is surprising how well the movie plays to modern audiences. This is required viewing for anyone who considers themselves a fan of horror.

So those are my 5 picks to get you started. What are your suggestions for horror movies that more people need to discover this season? Share your ideas and if I haven't seen it, I promise to give it a shot. I'll be back with some more of my own suggestions as the season moves forward. Until then, stay scared!

You're Welcome,

Dave

Dave's Decorum: Rules for the Movie Going Public - Part 1: Shhhhhh (by Dave Machado)

2010 has seen a resurgence in my love of going to the movies. For a multitude of reasons (cheap,busy,lazy) I had stopped going to the movies on a regular basis and instead decided that unless it looked like I was going to love the movie, I could just wait for the DVD to come out. But of all the excuses I was coming up with, the one thing that annoyed me the most about seeing a movie in the theater was how one ignorant person could ruin the whole movie experience for me. It seems people have either forgotten or never fully learned how to behave in public, let alone in a movie theater. 

Watching a movie is a lot like experiencing an illusion. You get sucked into a story you know is (usually) not real but it doesn't matter because the power of cinema has taken over. But all it takes is one small distraction from another patron in the theater to cause that illusion to break and bring you back to reality. Depending on the movie, this illusion may be hard to get back into, thus ruining the movie for you. I am paying money to see a movie and not listen to/see anyone else. So in the hopes of saving people from this type of nonsense, I will be creating a list of rules that we all must follow from now on. This will be a continuing series as we focus on one important issue at a time. So without further ado, I present the first of Dave's Movie Etiquette Rules:

1) Shut Up.  This one should be simple enough. Once a movie starts, shut your mouth. I'm not saying you can't laugh or make the occasional uncontrollable exclamation or cheer, but don't make full thoughts come out of your mouth. There are three groups of people that I am speaking to here so I would like to address them both individually:

• Talking to the Screen: What compels people to talk to the screen. This is typically seen when horror and action movies are playing and a character is in danger and some idiot gets so worked up he begins telling the character what they should do. I'm all for getting caught up in the moment, but please keep some level of control and keep your inner thoughts inside your head. Everyone else seems to be doing just fine with that.
• Cracking Jokes: Oh great, a fan of MST3K is in the crowd. The worst thing about this is that in all the times I've experienced a movie with one of these people, they have never said anything that is remotely funny. I'm not sure what makes them think otherwise but it's pretty damn annoying. If you think you are that funny, keep the commentary to video blogs and private screenings with friends. Please don't make me pay to listen to your lame jokes.
• The Questioner: I've saved my least favorite for last. This is the person who is constantly asking questions about the plot of the movie to the person they are with. I'm not sure why these people even go to the movies if they can't understand basic storytelling. I understand that some movies are confusing but guess what, if you shut up and follow along, you'll eventually get it. If you have a hard time concentrating and your mind drifts, then that is your problem and you should be forced to silently sit in your dumb, confused state. Here is a novel idea, how about waiting for the movie to end and then talk about what you didn't understand with the person you are with. That is, unless you can't even remember what questions to ask because your memory is so poor. In that case, stay home and watch QVC.

These are typically the most most common offenders of this rule. I've actually seen an old man even answer a cell phone and proceed to talk over the movie! I tried to give him this sad made up back-story of how he is a widower whose only child has moved away and started a new family. Most of his friends have died or moved as well so he doesn't have much of a social life anymore. In order to help him get out more, he likes to go see movies. However, on this occasion, his one son called during the movie and he was so delighted that he could hear the voice of someone he loves that he picked up the phone. I have a weakness of creating elaborate stories to make excuses for the actions of strangers. Luckily, another woman in the theater didn't share this hobby as she began screaming at him to get off the phone. 

This brings up the other side of the argument about talking in theaters, how do you deal with the offenders. I myself am far too passive to tell someone to shut up so I will simply glare at them from the corner of my eye (and complain on a blog they don't know exists). I think instead of needing to provoke them in the theater, we need to simply raise awareness on this issue so everyone knows just how moronically rude it really is. I wouldn't be opposed to wearing ribbons to support this cause.

How do you deal with talking in a movie theater? Does it bother you as much as it bothers me? Let me know because I'd be happy to hear from someone else on this issue. Maybe you have a bigger pet peeve instead? Share that too so we can discuss it in a later post. I have a few other rules I'll be posting in the coming days but I'm sure there are some I missed or some things that may not annoy me as much as it annoys others. This is a shared like of rules so please contribute! Lastly, please keep in mind I am simply talking about when you see a movie in the theater. I couldn't care less what you are doing when watching something at home alone or with friends. It's time we take back the movie theater for the people who actually know how to behave in public!

You're Welcome,

Dave

Rant/Rave: Moving Forward (by Dave Machado)

I've had this blog for a couple months now and felt it was time to take stock of what I've done so far and look forward to what I would like to do with it in the future. I started this on a whim on my birthday basically out of boredom and didn't have a real vision for what I wanted. I assumed it would be a mix of pop culture rants with a few reviews every once in a while. However, it quickly turned into a movie review only blog due to a renewed interest in going to the movies this summer. I had even given myself a new rule that any movie I watched, I must review at some point, regardless of how much I think no one else will care about it. I've enjoyed doing this so far and plan to continue with this rule while at the same time, I feel I should branch things out a bit so it doesn't get too stale.

I love watching movies. I am pretty sure that is obvious by now for the dozen or so people who decided to waste their time reading my thoughts on important topics like killer turkeys and the genius of Christopher Nolan. But the one thing I enjoy even more than watching movies, is talking about them. It's that fact that I want to keep front and center going forward with this blog. It may be too ambitious of me to say, but I would love for these writings on here to be the beginning of a conversation that continues within the comments section. If you like/hate/love something, make note of it below! I plan to begin writing more unique entires that don't focus on just one movie as an attempt to get people to join in. In fact, if you have ideas on things you would like discussed on here, let me know. I've already been given one idea for a recurring column that you will see in the near future and would love to have more ideas.

The one thing I didn't want my decision to create a fun blog to cause was a sense of homework when writing down a review. It would be absurd to feel that way because this is all just a fun little hobby that I've decided to start up. When your main hobby is something passive like viewing movies or listening to music, it's good to have some outlet where you actually do something with that interest. That's where Dave's Constant comes into play. Luckily it's been fun so far and I think it will continue to be as long as there are good things to write about (something I doubt will ever disappear).

I have tried to have a unique way of reviewing movies that hopefully people enjoy. I will continue to be as spoiler-free as possible. I am even toying with the idea of having separate "Spoiler" posts on the movies I've written about so I can go into more detail. I'm not here to deeply criticize movies, for two main reasons. First being I don't have the proper background to do that, and secondly, I watch movies to be entertained, not to gleefully turn around and rip it apart. I tried going the route of rating movies but that just seemed too boring to me.

Even movies that I had a lot of problems with (Devil), I still make it a point to let you know that they have some good in them. If I can find at least one redeeming thing in a movie that I can take away from it, then it was a worth viewing. I feel like positive thinking is missing from a lot of online criticism. I also agree that flat out loving something can have an equally negative effect on the reader so I will try to remain somewhere in the middle when not being obviously tongue-in-cheek. I'm new to this type of writing in general so it will take a while so hopefully you enjoy the ride. I fully admit they won't always be winners.

I hope you are enjoying what I've put up so far and continue to read my random posts as they keep coming throughout the year. I look forward to hearing about the things you would like discussed on here. Best case, you might even realize you would like to contribute as well. This isn't created just for me and I would love to begin posting stuff from other people as well. Now if you'd please leave me alone, I have some TV that needs watching.

You're Welcome,
Dave