Paranormal Activity

Independent movies are a gambling man’s game. The chances of an Independent film being picked up are small to say the least, but every so often a gem does emerge. Paranormal Activity is one of those gems. It seems like the last few movie I have reviewed have had small budgets, but this one makes those look like big budget films. At $15,000 this movie is, dollar for dollar, one of the best movies I have watched in a long time.

The film is directed by Oren Peli who previous worked as a video game designer, and has had zero film work prior to this film. Paranormal Activity is a mockumentary horror film that centers on a young couple that is being haunted by a supernatural menace. Katie and Micah are played by Katie Featherston and Micah Sloat. Both actors have little acting experience but pull off the roles with ease.

Although he is uncredited, Steven Spielberg produced this movie after being given the movie to view by the higher ups at DreamWorks. Rumor has it he took it home to watch and the next day brought it back to DreamWorks in a garbage bag because he thought it was “Haunted”. Spielberg cited that “his doors locked themselves” minutes after he viewed the film. Needless to say he loved the film and helped it get green lighted and bought by Paramount for $300,000.

The film went on to be remade and that remake would have been put out if it was not for one screening of the original. Movie goes started to walk out during the movie due not to the films being bad but because it was “too scary” After a few delays the film finally came out in theaters with a viral marketing campaign that let the fans decide where the movie would be shown.

Paranormal Activity is shot on a typical store-bought handheld camcorder and looks great. The lack of polish from the handheld adds to the feel of the movie, and is without a doubt the only way to pull this movie off. There is not much negative that can be said about this movie. I was not overly scared but there were scary parts. I was freaked out by this film more than once though. The effects in this film look real and at times you find yourself wondering “how was that pulled off”.

This movie is what we as film fans need. This movie is what makes people want to make movies. It is a well directed, well laid out story that keeps you wondering when the bubble will burst and scare the crap out of you. You care about what happens to this young couple. You care about what is going on in this house. Watch this movie in the dark with a few friends, and let yourself go. You will not regret it.

-The Blind Reviewer

Zombieland

Nut up or shut up is the de facto slogan of Zombieland. That phrase sets the tone of the movie from the start. Zombieland is a non stop ride of action, comedy, and thrills. Zombieland is a movie that will make you laugh out loud and even scare you a few times

Set in a post-apocalyptic America, two months after “patient zero” took a bite of a contaminated burger at a Gas ’n gulp, zombies out number humans by the thousands. With only six humans seen in the movie you get the idea that things are not going to be easy for the 4 main characters, and at times it is not.

With a budget of $23,600,000 this movie looks remarkable. The make-up is top notch, and the effects are simply stunning. The man behind the make up is no other than Tony Gardner. His most known work was on Michael Jackson’s Thriller. The Director of this film, Ruben Fleischer, is a rather new to the directing scene. It is safe to say that Zombieland will be Ruben Fleischer’s calling call from here on. The movie is written by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick who are mostly known for TV shows like “The Joe Schmo Show”.

The acting is where this movie shines. Woody Harrelson plays Tallahassee, the lovable psychopathic bad-ass. Jesse Eisenberg plays Columbus, the cautious rules for survival making loser. Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin play the sister con team of Wichita and Little Rock. All four roles are strong despite a little more character development needed on the part of Wichita and Little Rock.

I must devote one small part of this review to the cameo to end all cameos in this film. Never would I say that a cameo that doesn’t further the story at all and that takes up near ten minutes of a movie was a good decision before Zombieland. I stand corrected. The ten minutes in question steals the show and gets some of the strongest laughs. Epic is not even close to what I would begin to call it. If anything Zombieland is a must see for this cameo.

So at the end of the day what is Zombieland? Is it as good as Shawn of the Dead? I would have to say it is as good as and better in some ways than Shawn of the Dead. It holds its own as a comedy and as a horror movie just the same. Some have also said it is Left 4 Dead the movie. I would say that is very close to that, if you are a gamer and know what Left 4 Dead is. Zombieland is one you need to see. Drop what you are doing and go see this movie. You will not regret it at all. As for me, I am off to find a damn Twinkie.

District 9

First off I would like to say sorry for the delay in putting up this review. Between computer issues and a small bit of procrastination I have finished. I am also going to promise a speedy review to the new film in theaters “Zombieland”.

District 9 is a low budget ($30 million to produce) sci-fi flick with a no name and little or no acting experience cast. Those two stipulations will normally net you a straight to DVD movie, but with the backing of Peter Jackson and an amazing script you get a surprise success.

District 9 is directed by Neil Blomkamp, who is known for the halo short “landfall” and more for his visual effects work than directing. The movie is about of a group of aliens, whose ship becomes stranded a few miles above the earth in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1982, and come to be held and not able to leave the slums of “District 9”.

The first item to catch your eye is the visual effects. Not only do they look amazing, but also real to this world. The ship looks to be entwined with the clouds in the distance and the “prawns”, named so for their shrimp like body shape, look to be as real as the actors if not more in some scenes. The detail alone in the effects earns this film enough credit to stand on its own.

The story is a straight metaphor for a number of issues, from racism and xenophobia to forced evictions in South Africa. Those issues are so brilliantly woven in to the main story that they do not take away from the action or take you out of the mythos of District 9. This movie can do more for those issues than most other tactics will ever do.

Last but not least is the acting. The actors in District 9 are not the typical bunch. The main lead of Wikus van de Merwe is played by Sharlto Copley. Copley is known as a commercial and music video director. District 9 is his first major acting role. Even with no acting experience he blows the part out of the water. The rest of the cast is just as unknown to most as Copley yet do the film justice.

This is a movie you want to show your friends. This is a slam dunk by Neil Blomkamp. Movies as visually stunning, as action packed, and that have as thrilling of story as District 9 only come around a few times a generation. This is a must see for any fan of the sci-fi genre.

-The Blind Reviewer