2009 In Review: March (#5-8)

I can't believe at this point of the year I've only seen a little over a handful of movies. I think last year at this point I had already seen over 20 or so. But I have to stay true to my new years resolution of not seeing a ton of movies. Plus, I'm struggling to find a new job, and my last day at my current job is in a few weeks so I can't go around wasting money on movies. But that doesn't mean I didn't see any March flicks, so without further ado, here are my March reviews:

The Last House on the Left: This movie was a bit shocking, but I was expecting it to be so. Overall though, I really found some good movie entertainment from this flick. Obviously this movie has absolutely NO moral messages to deliver, it is a HORROR movie. It's disgusting and brutal at times. The rape scene was WAY to much in my opinion. Could have done away with showing us so much of it, and I just felt it was tasteless. I don't like how movies these days get away with so much, but what can you do? Other than that, this was a good horror flick. I loved the way the parents reacted out of pure anger and fear in their attacks on the bad guys. The actors showed some slight realism, and I believed them to be pissed. Now I don't agree with any actions people take in this movie, but that is why it's a movie. You usually should never connect a film with your real life morals and beliefs, thats silly. I don't watch a movie like this and feel tainted or abused. I don't feel like killing anyone or raping anyone. Quite the opposite. I watch movies like this and realize that sometimes these things actually happen to real people in real life. And for it's a wake up call and a realization that I am a much better person that some people on this Earth and that I can control my thoughts and actions. OK, way of course here. The movie was slick and cool to look at. It was never TOO gory, which I liked. Along with the rape scene, I also took issue with the final few minutes...involving a microwave. I don't care if a microwave can or cannot operate while open...I just thought the way it was used in the end was sort of cheesey. But that's just me! Good movie though, not great, but pretty good! MY RATING: ***1/2 out of ***** (this film is rated R).

Knowing: This movie started off with a really interesting and pretty cool premise...are all the tragic events in our history pre set by some higher power? In the movie a young girl is the medium between said high power and the world. She writes down a list of numbers that point out the dates and locations and death total of all the world's great tragedies. Fifty years later Nicolas Cage and son find this paper and immediately know what they are. Cage spirals out of control literally within MINUTES trying to save the world from the next big disaster that these numbers predict. Mind you, his character has no faith in any God yet his father is a pastor whom he is estranged. The middle portions of the film are very hit and miss. Namely due to some really mediocre performances and weak story points. The special effects are at times incredible but then at times super cheesy and outdated. The fire effects were so bad in my opinion...but the final effects shots are amazing! The ending takes a very predictable biblical turn, but I won't ruin it. The final ten to fifteen minutes are so absurd! Not unrealistic (even though yes, it IS unrealistic) I just mean it becomes WAY to much in WAY to little time. So much information and biblical comparisons (especially that very final scene) are jammed in our faces. The final scenes just become a complete mess and just to much was happening. Now what happens in the end....I wasn't exactly expecting that outcome, I don't recall seeing that happen in a film before...it's pretty bold. But it did not work for this movie. The whole movie never really worked. It just did not come together the way it should have. I think it needed a bigger budget and more current actors to be a good movie. It wasn't terrible, but I really didn't care to much for it. MY RATING: ** out of ***** (This film is rated PG-13).

The Haunting in Connecticut: I have to admit, I was not expecting to like this movie very much. With the trailers and posters making it look like some over the top effects horror film and all. But really, it was much more subdued then all the ads led on. The story was pretty cool, even though it didn't have a lot of originality (despite being based off a not so true, true story). The visual effects were never to much, and when they were on screen they were pretty neat! There were some legit scares which is surprising because I don't get scared to often in films. That being said, there were TONS of cliched jump scenes...more so than I've seen in a horror film in quite some time. Jump scene after jump scene....and screaming audience girls after screaming audience girls. That aspect grew to be very tiresome and downright annoying. Film makers need to learn what really scares most human beings in terms of the paranormal. Yes, if I saw these things in real life...I'd be terrified...but in a movie...not anymore, it's old. Let's work on the unseen aspects of the ghost world shall we?? Also some pretty solid performances. I thought this movie worked rather well as a whole by the end. The story never got to ridiculous and I liked that the "investigation" into the houses history did not come in to the movie until the last third of the story. It was not bombarded with intricate "past experiences" plot details, but more so on the events happening to this family. So this a horror/haunted house story I will definitely recommend! MY RATING: ***1/2 out of ***** (This film is rated PG-13).

The Cross: This is an incredible documentary! It tells the story of Arthur Blessit, a man who has walked the entire world with a twelve foot wooden cross on his back teaching the love of God. It's no surprise the word "bless" is in his name, because this man is a blessing! I felt encourged after watching his story. I felt inspired. This is a beautiful man who has lead an incredible, selfless and humble life. He is all about telling the world that Jesus loves them, not matter their sexual orientation, race, etc. THIS is a true Christian man, not what we normally see in the news. I've never heard of this man before, because all the news shows us is the bad side of Christianity. See this film to know what a real Christian is like, and what a real Christian is all about: spreading the love of God to all people on this earth. Arthur is a loving man of God, and I would love to meet him one day, and would love to have him pray for me one day! This was a really good documentary about his journey. He literally has been to ever nation on the planet, and has walked a distance that is equal to 1 1/2 trips around the outside of the earth. That is a dedicated man! My ONLY issue is that we never really get to know Arthur on a personal level. Yes, we know him on a spiritual level and we know and love his journey. But I would have loved to know how he came to God in the first place way back in the 60's (By the way, this journey has been over the course of 40 years, starting in Hollywood in 1969). I would like to know what his family thinks about his life. We know that his son went on some pretty great treks with him, but what's his son doing now? What about his wife? How has his personal life been effected? What has God rewarded him with over his life span? I would have also loved to seen more stories from people whom he has touched and helped. We only saw one or two people who he prayed with, and they actually listended. I would have liked to see more testomonials from people he's loved on. But I'm not going to really complain about that. This was a wonderful film, that I would urge you all to see! It doesn't thrown Christianity down your throat at all. It's actually quite calmed in it's story. It's just an amazing journey of a incredible man brought to the big screen! MY RATING: ****1/2 out of ***** (This film is rated PG)

AVERAGE MARCH FILM RATING: (rounded out) *** out of ***** (Saw 4 films)

Total films viewed in 2009 to date: 8