Tarantula! (1955)

As a football fan, I should be excited about today, unfortunately, my Steelers were eliminated already and I cannot stand any of the four teams remaining. Honestly, the lesser of all evils is the Giants, and I cannot see myself pulling for them in any way (although seeing Eli with more rings than Peyton would be funny). With my football entertainment limited, I decided to venture back in time for some viewing pleasure with the Sci-Fi classic Tarantula.

Plot/ A spider escapes from an isolated desert laboratory experimenting in gigantism and grows to tremendous size as it wreaks havoc on the local inhabitants.

The 1950s was such a great decade for the Sci-Fi / Horror genre, many films created during that period set the standard for the films of today. Amazingly, some of the best still stand the test of time with their combinations of solid effects and storyline. This flick is one of the finest from that era.  Watching this today, the tremendous story stands tall and the effects are amazing when you consider when it was done. The tarantula (which was real) is believable and the acting and cinematography were solid as well. Sure, some of the dialogue seems dated and the sound-effects are laughable at times, but those a very small flaws and are not detriments in any way.  In the end, this is a great Sci-Fi movie and awesome entertainment. If you have not watched this one, you are missing out.

Bikini Girls on Ice (2009)

While some may say that my review of Alice and Murderland was a bit off, I like to give the benefit of the doubt to no budget indie flicks. I look past some of the flaws and try to see the potential within the idea. This next flick almost fits into that category, here is hoping that the material can live up to the title with 2009s Bikini Girls on Ice.

Plot/ When a bus-load of women's college soccer players get stranded on their way to a bikini car-wash fundraiser, they decide to set-up shop in front of an abandoned gas station on the edge of town. Little do they know the place is the stalking-grounds for a homicidal maniac mechanic?

When I saw this title, it caught my attention. However, I will admit that the title may be the highlight of the film. Do not get me wrong, there are some good points. The idea was interesting (slasher cliché but interesting), the cinematography was solid and the girls were at least attractive. Decent elements considering being a lower budget flick. Unfortunately, it failed to create anything original or exciting with uneven acting, no characterization and almost no gore (or boobs for that matter). In the end, this is a predictable slasher with almost zero originality and you can find better…

Alice in Murderland (2010)

I finally was able to kick back and relax for the weekend, thus enjoying some of the flicks that I had been waiting to watch. To start the evening, I decided to start with some no-budget indie stuff, something that I see as a critical backbone for the horror industry. My first selection for the night was Alice in Murderland (AKA The Alice in Wonderland Murders).

Plot/ It's Alice's birthday and her sorority girlfriends throw her a themed party. Everyone comes as his or her favorite, sexy character from Wonderland. The Jabberwocky was not invited when he brings murder and mayhem to the girls' night out.

This movie was quite a dilemma. To start, I love independent horror, especially the low-budget stuff. While this flick definitely had some elements that I loved, some of it came across just blah.  The acting was uneven, the costuming so-so (especially the Jabberwocky), the characterization was underwhelming and there were many missed opportunities for nudity (not a must, but it could have added something). The effects were also a mixed bag, the actions of the killer definitely did not match the over-the-top gore (which I loved), but at least there was gore (something many films lack).  I did like the storyline, and I could see a lot of potential in it, but some of it was undeveloped within the slow party scenes. In the end, this movie is not for everyone, and some (like me) should enjoy it. It is not perfect, but if you like no-budget indie flicks, check it out.

Evidence of a Haunting (2010)

This has been a crazy week full of weird weather and lot of computer lab, not to mention trying to get used to working again. All that aside, I took a break from the blog for a few days, but I am back again with a review of Evidence of a Haunting from 2010.

Plot/ While shooting their reality TV show, a team of ghost hunters get into the fight of their lives as they investigate the haunted tunnels deep below an old Texas college.

Ahhh, ghost hunting reality movies… These gems are popping up all over the place in varying degrees, and this one may be one of the better ones. The storyline, the soundtrack, and the overall feel of the flick is tremendous and very authentic. In addition, the script does a great job at tying the stories together while developing the characters. Sure, there are some flaws that will noticeable by a trained paranormal investigator and the acting is uneven (but believably amateurish), however, those flaws are minimal.  In the end, fans of hand-cam, paranormal investigational flicks should enjoy this one. If you are not one, give it a shot.

Shark Night 3D (2011)

After hanging out and watching Contagion the other night, I decided to watch something very different for my next review. While I picked up a couple of things for my viewing, unfortunately, I had to watch something a little tamer with the daughters around. My selection, Shark Night 3D (it is only PG-13).

Plot/ A weekend at a lake house in the Louisiana Gulf turns into a nightmare for seven vacationers as they are subjected to shark attacks.

When watching the previews for this one, I got the feeling that I had already watched all of the good moments, and ironically, I was right (glad I waited until it was on DVD to watch it). To start, I was a bit depressed by the PG-13 rating, and after watching it, that disappointment was justified. There was really no blood other than the stuff that colored the water when someone was pulled underneath, no gore to mention and the dialogue was a train wreck. Honestly, this was just like something I would catch on the Sci-Fi channel, complete with the cheesy shark graphics.  There were some good point in this, and in fact, the storyline had some potential and actually a bit of originality. Unfortunately, all of that was lost between the bad effects and numerous flaws in the production. In the end, if you love Sci-Fi Channel originals, you may enjoy this one. If not, stay away.

Contagion (2011)

After spending a few hours at the skating rink for Genesis’ birthday party, (I cannot believe she is 14), it was time to kick back and enjoy some decent virus based entertainment. While zombies are always fun, the tragedy and devastation of a real outbreak may be scarier (especially considering this is the year 2012), fortunately, that is exactly what the 2011 thriller Contagion may deliver.

Plot/ A thriller centered on the threat posed by a deadly disease and an international team of doctors contracted by the CDC to deal with the outbreak.

When I saw the preview for this, I wanted to see it. With the way the media covers outbreaks such as H1N1 or SARS, I felt it was a great time for Hollywood to capitalize on the mass hysteria involved. To me, this one did not disappoint. The cast was solid and their performances were all good. Unfortunately, by boasting such a dynamic cast, the character development did suffer some with all of the divergent storylines formulated to take advantage of the cast, but that flaw was not a showstopper. Surrounding this cast, the storyline was tremendous, perfectly centering the main character of this movie The Virus itself. The scenery and cinematography was awesome, and overall this is a well-put together docudrama. It does have some flaws besides the character development as the pacing was a bit slow and there was a lot of story that went unresolved.  In the end, this was much more a docudrama than thriller and should be viewed with that in mind, but it is an effective venture into the mind of an epidemic that would ravage the world. Check it out!

Monsters (2010)

The end of another week is here, and it was the first full week of teaching at the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics. Ironically, it is also Friday the 13th, and it has been a weird day complete with strange weather and odd happenings (my alarm clock shutting off on its own in the middle of the night truly started the day right). Being in the mood for something different, I decided on the almost no budget Indie Sci-Fi flick Monsters for my evening entertainment.

Plot/ Six years ago, NASA discovered the possibility of alien life within our solar system. A probe was launched to collect samples, but it crashed upon re-entry over Central America. Soon after, new life form began to appear and half of Mexico was quarantined as an Infected Zone. Today, the American and Mexican military still struggle to contain the creatures. Now, a US journalist agrees to escort a shaken tourist through the infected zone in Mexico to the safety of the US border

Sci-Fi and alien movies are always interesting and it is often amazing at how good they can be made on low budgets, and this film is no exception. Done on a shoestring budget, this movie succeeds where many larger budget flicks fail, creating a sound storyline, awesome scenery and some decent atmosphere. On top of that, the characterization and acting are also good and the background hint of the monsters is more effective having them overwhelm the screen. Sure, this is not without minor flaws as some of the pacing is uneven and there is an overall lack of action, but those are not showstoppers. In the end, some will complain about the lack of action, but this flick is more than that and will be enjoyed. Honestly, if you watch it with an open mind and do not expect Cloverfield, you should enjoy it.

Kill Katie Malone (2010)

What a week, started actually teaching FCC regulations to my sixth quarter class (crazy, I take my first FCC exam tomorrow) and on top of that this week is payday with my first post-retirement civilian paycheck… Awesome! Now, time to get back to the blog with the 2010 supernatural thriller Kill Katie Malone.

Plot/ College students and best friends Ginger Matheson, Jim Duncan, and Kyle Canning, pool their cash to buy a ghost online. Once in hand, this treasure unleashes the vengeful spirit of an Irish servant girl who has been wreaking havoc on her owners throughout the generations.

It is funny, going in I figured that this flick would offer little new, and sure enough, I was right. While there was some good points with decent effects, firm acting and solid characterization, much of the flick was just a bit cliché and full of uneven plot holes. This is sad because this movie definitely has some potential and would have benefitted from some high production value and budget. In the end, this one is OK, but could have been better. Check it out if you wish, you could do worse.

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (2010)

I have finally recovered from the Steelers heartbreaking loss this weekend, and I have been refreshed by teaching my first two lessons at PIA. So, it is time to get back into the swing of things with a review of the 2010 remake Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark.

Plot/ A young girl sent to live with her father and his new girlfriend discovers creatures in her new home who want to claim her as one of their own.

I will admit, when I saw this had an R rating, I was excited, especially being a fan of Guillermo del Toro's work. Unfortunately, this one did not do it for me like some of the other films he has been involved with. This one seemed to have way too many plot holes and head scratching moments. Yes, there were some good parts with decent acting, a dark tone and a touch of violence. However, it just seemed to be lacking something that would make it something special. In the end, it had some unnerving moments, and I did like the ending, but I would much rather watch the original than watch that version again. You can check it out if you want, but be warned, there are definitely better choices.

Apollo 18 (2011)

Having completed my first week of work, I had struggled with getting in the swing of things and conditioning my body to a new schedule. The same struggles happened with paying attention to movies or my blog. However, with it being the weekend, I was able to get into the swing of things again and watch a few new movies. My first selection for the weekend was the found footage conspiracy themed Apollo 18.

Plot/ Decades-old found footage from NASA's abandoned Apollo 18 mission, where two American astronauts were sent on a secret expedition, reveals the reason the U.S. has never returned to the moon.

Conspiracy theory flicks are always interesting, and when that conspiracy is interwoven within a different conspiracy, it is even better. The moon landings have always been ripe with controversy, and this flick definitely took it to another level. Sure, there were some flaws with pacing and at times, the acting seemed a bit uneven, but all in all, it was a terrific film. The atmosphere was tremendous, creating what I would imagine the natural eeriness of the moon would be. The cinematography did a great job at promoting the found footage realism by combining scenes on par with the video feeds from that era of space exploration. In addition, the plot had some realism to it, as it felt typical of a real covert operation and the information flow that occurs during the process. Being a retired member of the military, the practicality shown in this flick truly hit home and crafted a viable conspiracy thriller. Fans of conspiracies and Sci-Fi should definitely check it out.

Did We Go to the Moon?

As I prepare to write a review of Apollo 18, I decided to enter into my archives of material and pull out an article I did a while ago on the overall lunar conspiracy. Did we go to the Moon? That is a great question. One that sparks different answers from millions of Americans, in fact, 20 percent of all Americans do not believe we did. I guess you could count me into that 20 percent.

To me, the quote "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind," is one of the greatest scripted catch phrases of the generations. True Americans should not fret; the government's choice to fabricate this endeavor was just. At that particular point in time, beating the Russians was all that mattered. It did not matter if it was to the moon or to the grocery store; we had to out-do the evil red machine.

The reasons why we had to win this race led to the small overlooked details, which in the end is a fate-full flaw in the story that changed history. The space agency and government apparently overlooked small items like sound-stage wind, film protection and most importantly a severe lack of technology when coming up with this charade.

As we progress through the technological age, it is easy to look back and say no way! However, the appearance of modern looking technology in that day and age was enough to fool millions. Let us look at some of the evidence. We can start with one of my favorites, the film used to take those great pictures of the lunar surface and the earth. That film is actually the same film used by our Space Shuttle astronauts today. Interesting enough, these astronauts have to keep this film encased in a radiation proof container until use, something that the original astronauts did not do. Anyone that has ever been to the Smithsonian Institutes Air and Space Museum can vouch for this as well, although they may not realize it. Look at the landing capsule on display, the real thing, it is what, three maybe four inches thick at the thickest point. In addition, there was barely enough room for the astronauts to sit and control the unit, let alone carry a load of lined anti-radiation boxes.

One more thing on the film, before I move on, those cameras must have had the best auto-focus feature ever made. The pictures taken are flawless, clear as any picture I have ever seen. I wish I had that camera, I have a thousand dollar digital SLR and I cannot keep my hands steady here on earth. It is amazing the there are no signs of shaking going on in those pictures. I would think that walk around on a desolate rock; thousands of miles above the earth would be a little scary. Maybe I am wrong, but let me see, no oxygen, no gravity, no chance of survival if something goes wrong would put some fear in me. How about you?

The flag planting, a great moment in history, that is until starts fluttering in the wind. In zero gravity, the flag should have stayed flat. I could buy it if the astronauts were shaking it, but it did not flutter like that when they were walking with it, if you can believe the video footage, we have been fed.

There are other small things. The lack of moon dust movement when the ship is landing and taking off, the lack of stars in those brilliant photo's, the lack of audible noise in any of the audio tapes (a great one, that Lander had to be loud) and disparities of light contrasts throughout the video clips and pictures. However, the largest question is how did they do it with out the technology? The computer systems in the entire rocket, the entire rocket including the landing craft, guidance systems, everything had less computing power than the Timex watch I am wearing right now. It is a known fact that there are light bulbs that we can go buy at Wal-Mart right now that could compute more stuff then anything on that mission. Yet, the American Government (and people think Republican Presidents lie) want us to believe that we not only left the atmosphere, made it through the radiation belt AND flawlessly landed on the moon with this technology. I think not!

Do not get me wrong, those astronauts were great pilots. They surely could fly anything on earth. However, landing on the moon is a very different dynamic; there was absolutely no way to prepare. Of course, as we sit here today, today's government has the technology to prove without any doubt whether we actually went to the moon. All they would have to do would be point the Hubble Space Telescope or one of the other spy satellites in the sky toward the landing zone one the moon. ALL of the rovers, carts, materials, and such we supposedly left behind. Even after all of these years something had to survive. Right?

However, as with any controversy, they shy away. This is not the first time and it will not be the last. Look at the original Mars Pathfinder. Is not it ironic that it fell off the known world when it entered the Cydonnia Region of our great Red (or maybe brown and green) neighbor. Once again, the truth is out there, we just have to look to see it. Unless, soundstage 21 is actually the landing zone, then we could be searching forever.

Deadline (2009)

This week has been long as I try to get back into the swing of working every day. My job as an Electronics Instructor at the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics is awesome, now if I could get myself retrained into the full workday. Early in the week, I watched Deadline and planned to post it yesterday, however, watching the Mountaineers destroy Clemson was much more important. Therefore, (and finally), here is the review for Deadline (2009)

Plot/ A screenwriter who travels to an abandoned house to finish a script on time, but a series of strange events lead her to a psychological breakdown.

Enjoying the ghost story genre, I put this on the other night to get something different from the hand-cam fare I have been watching lately. Unfortunately, there was nothing truly original here to keep me totally focused. In fact, the whole thing was rather slow and dull. Sure, there are not many glaring flaws (maybe character development), and everything fits, it is just blah. In the end, I would not watch this again and really cannot recommend it to anyone, there are much better choices out there.

11/11/11 (2011)

Wow, what a few days we had travelling to end 2011. We went from Pennsylvania to North Carolina, then to Virginia and now back home to prepare for my first day at work tomorrow at the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics. To help get my mind right, I decided to hit Netflix and check out something different, 11/11/11.

Plot/ Jack and Melissa are frightened by their son's bizarre and violent behavior; they soon learn that he is the gateway to the Apocalypse, and it will happen on his birthday, 11/11/11.

I like movies that make sense, and have at least some semblance of a plot, and this one did not have any of that. It is a shame, because the first few moments were actually interesting, but from there it went straight down hill. There was little to no character development, the plot jumped from hole to hole, the effects were troublesome and the ending was just there (was there an ending?).  Even for me, a person that likes more horror than I hate, could not get myself into this one… STAY AWAY!