The Devil Inside (2012)

I have been wanting to go back to my movie-reviewing days, but I haven’t really gotten enough time and will power lately. But I guess after horrifyingly unsatisfied by this movie, I was moved into doing one especially for it. 

I would say that the best way to watch movies like this is with a bunch of other people in the theater who wouldn’t give a flying fuck about the movie itself. All the more reason for the unintentionally funny parts to be hilarious. Don’t get me wrong, the movie will definitely give the audience some chills and jumps every now and then, but not as much as the trailer promises you to have. As for a wimp like me, you’re definitely in for an hour and a half of I’ll-cover-my-eyes-for-now moments. 

I have been intrigued by this movie mainly because it seemed different from all the other exorcism movies lately. It’s seemed more raw…at least that was what the trailer gave me. But as the critics’ reviews came in (combined with a friend’s negative comment), my hopes flopped for the movie, but I was still interested in seeing it.

It follows a young woman, Isabella, in her search for the truth about her mother, who reportedly murdered three people during her own exorcism. Teamed with a camera man and two newly acquainted priests, they set out to delve into a matter much worse than they ever imagined. 

The main problem with this movie is that the plot makes millions (and I’m exaggerating but you’ll get it) of detours, therefore the integrity and strength of the main plot is deteriorated over time, so when it came to what supposed to be a climactic end, we just don’t care for it anymore. The plot is so crazy in fact that most of the movie’s scares didn’t even come from the main story line. One being the scene when the two priests exposed Isabella to a live exorcism, and the other was the death of one of the priests (which in my opinion is the highest point of the movie). After the priests death, it all goes downhill all the way to most disappointing ending I ever witnessed in my existence. Yes, I am all for a movie’s sudden cut to ending, but this one the movie didn’t necessarily end in the case of this one…it just cut. 

I would say, no matter how brilliantly acted the movie was, nothing can save a very lackluster writing. For the average thrill seekers, I would say give it a whirl, but don’t keep your hopes up…that will definitely help. 

Rating: 2.3 of 5

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part 2) (2011)

I remember quite freshly the scenes in the movie I cried on. 

1. The time Prof. McGonagall and all the other wizards started casting a spell to protect Hogwarts.
2. Any scene that had Snape on it.
3. Harry and his parents
4. The aftermath of the first wave of the battle
5. The epilogue

Now then, forgive for being biased in this review…or more so, an account of my experience of the final Harry Potter movie.

To be quite fair, I wasn’t really a big Harry Potter fan, I just like it. In fact, I only read one of the books—Order of the Phoenix. But the fact that I grew up watching these characters grow up as well (and by that I wasn’t talking about the actors) made this franchise an important part of my life. And of course its bittersweet (more bitter than it is otherwise) to see it all come to an end. 

Part 2 of Deathly Hallows focuses heavily now on Harry’s quest to find and destroy the remaining Horcruxes to finally defeat Lord Voldemort. The beginning may prove to be rather trailing for those who aren’t big fans of the franchise since it’s all dialogue, but really the farther the movie goes on, the better it gets. 

It is quite a dark journey all the way to the finish. So as for the whole IMAX vs. 2D debate, I put my vote on the 2D version. Trust me its equally satisfying as the 3D one…and no headaches guaranteed. 

As much as I’d love to comment on production and acting and all that crap I usually talk about in other reviews, I just can’t. Although for one, I support all the people who keep saying that Alan Rickman deserves at least a nod in his performance in the show. Otherwise, I am gonna be biased in my comments so I might as well shot my mouth. Overall the movie is incredibly engaging—both acting and production wise.

For the most part, people keep saying that Harry Potter will never go away…or end for some. The cold, hard fact is it did end…what will not end is it’s legacy. Legacy that will be forever carried in the hearts of those children and those children-at-heart who grew up alongside Harry, and all of Hogwarts. 

A fitting conclusion to a worldwide phenomenon.

Thank you Harry! It has been so much fun! 

Next stop, DVD and Blu-Ray Box set. 

An incredibly biased 5 of 5

Chatroom (2010)

It’s really rather sad that I find the posters for this movie horribly terrible. Anyway, It’s even more sad that every time I see any movie starring British kids, it always has to be something very dark and depressing. 

Chatroom is a film by acclaimed Jap-horror director, Hideo Nakata (Ring). It revolves around five teenagers who found themselves on the same chat room with each other. And when you thought what blossoms next was friendship and love, think again. 

Pretty much what I like about this movie is its creativity. The way they depicted the actual chat rooms is quite cool—I love the contrast it made with reality, which was shot rather pale light as opposed to the chat room’s vivid shots. 

What I didn’t like though is that the movie lacked clarity. The characters weren’t really given enough arches to develop and not much background was given either. As the movie ends I felt as if I wasted my time watching troubled youths chat. I have to say though the climax of the film was rather intense and I applaud Nakata’s boldness for building the right tension. 

As for the acting, it probably would’ve gone better. Aaron Johnson, as much as he’s hot, gave a rather mediocre performance, yes he’s actions were tremendous, but his delivery of lines disconnected me from his emotions. I also came to the conclusion that aside from Johnson and Matthew Beard, the other cast members were horribly misused and wasted. 

Overall, Chatroom is an overly confusing thriller who failed to establish connection from the audience from the get go. Yes, it might give you some heart pounding seconds, but it still isn’t enough of a recovery from massacred writing.

2 of 5

The Adjustment Bureau (2011)

Who knew wearing a fedora could lead so such serious consequences?!

On a serious note, I liked “The Adjustment Bureau” for a couple of reasons.

One, its wire-frame as a movie is very complicated—maybe not as dumbfounding as 2010’s “Inception”, but it was equally enchanting and entertaining. The story follows a political rookie, David Norris (Damon), who accidentally crossed paths with an aspiring dancer, Elise (Blunt). He later discovers that what seemed to be allowed by fate was actually not meant to be and so the chase begins between him and the adjustment bureau…fate in the flesh.

For some reason, the “villains” in this movie annoyed the hell out of me. The fact that they could actually step in to your life and start controlling it just because it wasn’t going “according to plan” is outrageous! (As if parents weren’t controlling enough…yeesh!) . Albeit if it actually makes audiences feel something, well then bravo, the movie was actually effective.

Moving on to the acting department, Damon and Blunt gave great performances separately…but I think once they partnered, the chemistry was lacking just a tad. I just didn’t feel as much spark as I wanted to feel. It’s just one of those cringe worthy pairings for me that I could stare at and go WHAT THE FUCK. 

It was an amazing concept that was executed almost perfectly. Still pretty much, Bureau will give you the much needed thrill ride it promised.

3.7 of 5

Let Me In (2010)

Seeing my mom cry over a horror movie is enough for me to tell that this was an effective movie. 

Let Me In is hardly based on the Norwegian instant classic, Let The Right One In. The story follows a young boy who met a girl with a very dark secret. The movie revolves around complex relationships and characters, making it a very effective giver of frights and chills. 

I’m not gonna comment much on the story mainly because it’s not truly original. But props to director Matt Reeves for finally giving our hopes back that America do can make effective remakes. What I do wanna comment on though is how the story was filmed now that it was shipped to US soil. 

I love the way they filmed the ending better than the original. The movie played with darkness and silence a lot…silence for the most part. And as I feared too much silence caused the movie to crawl. In my opinion, building tension via atmosphere takes accuracy for it to actually work. This movie played on it too much. There will be moments when you just feel the urge to shout “COME ON”. but thank God the peak of the tension is big enough a hook to lure you back in to the movie. 

What is more enchanting about the movie is the brilliance in the acting. Props to Kodi Smit-Mcphee, Chloe Moretz, and Dylan Minette for exceptional job in their acting. Their maturity in this movie is just so commendable.

Well I don’t really anything left to say. Just know that Let Me In did its Norwegian predecessor justice. 

Black Death (2011)

It’s really no surprise, since I mentioned this a lot of times already in my past reviews, that I love movies that make you think. This movie is equally haunting as it is inquisitive. It may not be as elaborate as movies like Inception, but Black Death brings about more profound questions about our faith and our personal strength. 

The movie follows a confused, young monk (Redmayne) who was to accompany a band of knights led by Sir Ulrich (Bean) to a village which was said to be untouched by the current pestilence (black death). As they reach the village, they were greeted by an odd community who was seem to be led by a mysterious woman (Van Houten). The events following the encounter will probably be the most haunting climax I have ever seen in a movie in a long while. 

Director Christopher Smith made a plausible job in making this period thriller. Usually, we are bombarded with a rather grandiose panting of the medieval time in movies…with spectacular overall production value. Smith however chose to paint a raunchy, dark world for us, obviously cursed with an incurable plague. Sticking to what feels more realistic gave the movie a more raw, and tension injected feel.

Also, you cannot help but notice an outstanding cast when they’re just in-you-face brilliant. Sean Bean was as powerful as he ever was and Carice Van Houten delivered a haunting performance which was rather seductive as it was creepy. Props as well to Eddie Redmayne who was very convincing playing his role. 

It was true what the elder monk told Osmund when he was about to leave the monastery. “Even if you survive, the world out there will change you”. It was true. I won’t really “plague” you guys with much spoilers, better just watch it (for those lucky enough to have netflix). Who knows what you’ll believe after?

Rating: 4.3 of 5
Very Much Recommended