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Rosemary's Baby (1968)
Effectively unsettling
I've always thought that horror films work best when we aren't fed all the details. Spielberg did it in 'Jaws' - we never really saw the shark until the end, but we still held our breath as we heard John Williams' chilling score when someone was in the water. We don't have to see something in order to be frightened of it. Don't get me wrong - I love a good slasher film, but they don't affect me as much as psychological horror films. In most slasher films, we get used to the killer's technique; we know when they are about to claim another victim. A film like 'Rosemary's Baby' shows us that murders aren't necessary to provoke fear from an audience. Rather, we learn that mystery is the source of fear: the things that we can't see, or don't know about.
Rosemary and Guy Woodhouse (Mia Farrow and John Cassavetes) are a young couple who move into a New York apartment building, with plans to start a family. Their neighbours are Minnie and Roman Castevet, an elderly couple who are strangely fascinated by Rosemary and Guy. They are nosy and a bit stubborn, however they seem like very kind and generous people on the whole. They are not without their eccentricities; for example, Minnie gives Rosemary a 'charm necklace', which contains a mysterious herb known as 'tannis root'.
After Rosemary falls pregnant, the film takes a rather ominous turn. Rosemary unusually loses some weight, experiences sharp pains in her abdomen and develops a taste for raw meat. It becomes clear that Guy and Rosemary are having some marriage problems, and we are led to believe that this is because Guy is struggling with his career as an actor. The Castevets become increasingly concerned with the progress of Rosemary's pregnancy. There is an extremely disturbing rape scene which occurs within a dream, whereby it looks like Polanski experimented with surrealism, as if he filmed a scene out of a Dali painting, and added his own sinister touches to it .
Polanski does an outstanding job at creating an uneasy atmosphere for the audience. Rosemary's complexion becomes rather pale, as does the film's colour palette. Rosemary no longer wears the bright, pretty dresses she wore before her pregnancy; instead she begins to wear a lot more light blues, whites, greys and browns. One of the most effective devices in a horror film is the 'Me versus the rest' storyline. That is, when one character believes in something, but practically every other character in the film thinks that they are delusional, even though these characters are well-aware of the truth, and are all conspiring against the lone person. A common convention of this plot device is the 'false friend' - the person who you think is there to help the lone person, but is actually 'all in on the act'. Another convention of the device is the 'glimmer of hope' character - the one person who listens to the lone person, who finds some truth in what they are saying, and is of some assistance to the person. Usually, this person will meet some sort of fate throughout the film. 'Rosemary's Baby' is a 'Me versus the rest' film, however not from the beginning, but after Rosemary falls pregnant. Mia Farrow's performance is outstanding. We see a lot of films about the trials and tribulations of motherhood, but not as many about the up-and-down process of pregnancy. Rosemary becomes Polanski's plaything once she falls pregnant. Even as a male, I felt as if I WAS Rosemary, as if I was going through the same harrowing experience as she was. We witness her decline from a beautiful housewife to a paranoid and lonely house...(we begin to get the impression that she isn't married, even though she is).
I didn't give this film 10/10, as I thought the ending could have been so much better. The payoff will either shock you, or be exactly as you expected, depending on how you follow the film. I just thought that such a chilling atmosphere was built up, only to be let down by an ending which had me confused over whether I should fear for Rosemary, or whether I should have one big laugh. The film ultimately preaches that a mother's love for her child is unconditional. I admire Polanski for expressing that message in such a daring way. In essence, 'Rosemary's Baby' works because every character is used to their fullest potential, and they don't look like they know they're in a movie. The film plays on our innate fear of the unknown, and doesn't rely on blood and guts or special effects, but rather on a young woman who is fearing for her own wellbeing, as well as that of her unborn child.
Yes Man (2008)
Impressive and charming
Did I like this movie? YES Do I recommend you to see this movie? YES Will I buy this movie on DVD when it comes out? MAYBE (Maybe's good enough) The last film I saw at the cinemas was 'Step Brothers'. I left the cinema that day disappointed. I was fearing for the state of today's comedy films. Despite this, I watched Yes Man with a great deal of optimism, after being impressed with the trailer. And it was if the laws of attraction pulled through, because Yes Man is a very funny movie. I laughed more times (and harder) in the first 20 minutes of Yes Man than I did for the entire duration of Step Brothers.
Here's the plot: Jim Carrey stars as Carl Allen, a middle-aged man who is extremely stubborn towards all around him. He has a lot of trouble saying 'yes' to things and often escapes events and functions with a pack of lies. One night, Carl gets a phone call from his best friend Peter (Bradley Cooper), because Carl didn't attend Peter's engagement party (Carl would rather be at his local video store). Carl says he didn't want to go because he might see his ex-wife. Carl is eventually dragged along to a 'Say Yes!' convention by a friend, where he is singled out by the 'Guru of Yes!' and makes a covenant with himself to say 'yes' to everything.
He first exercises this covenant when he gives a homeless man a lift to a secluded area. This man also uses Carl's phone (and runs out the battery), runs out Carl's gas and asks for all his money (he has to say 'yes', remember?). So Carl runs to the nearest gas station (which isn't near at all), where he meets a young woman called Allison. Allison owns a motor scooter, and gives Carl a lift back to his car. They share a quick kiss then part ways.
Carl thinks that he has a chance with Allison, and realises that saying 'yes' can lead to great fortune (he never would have met her if he didn't give the homeless man a lift). So 'Yes Man' is a tale of serendipity, but it's not all lain out on a bed of roses. Saying 'yes' isn't always the way to go, and Carl learns that as the film progresses.
I can draw comparisons between this movie and Harold Ramis' 'Groundhog Day'. Phil Connors and Carl Allen are both similar, though Carl isn't as cynical as Phil. Both films are about a man trying to sort out his life, while making others feel happy.
The message I interpreted from this film is that life's too short to say 'no' to everything, and that sometimes you should take a risk, because it may turn out for the better. Sometimes the best things pass us by, and we end up regretting not pouncing on the opportunity.
In case you're wondering why I didn't give it 10/10, in my opinion, the ending was a little anti-climatic. Now I think of it, it reminds me of a scene you would see in The Simpsons, which of course, isn't a bad thing exactly, but it doesn't suit the context of this movie. If you love pop-culture references, you will have plenty of fun with this film (from Harry Potter to Red Bull).
I thought that only Judd Apatow and Co. were the only group of people who could pull off the modern-day comedy, but after seeing Yes Man, I believe there is a great chance of the comedy genre making a comeback. Jim Carrey never fails to entertain, he is gifted with this natural aura of effervescence. This role looks as if it was made especially for him, and he passed with flying colours.
The bottom line: It's better to be an optimist than to be a pessimist. Seize opportunities you may feel ambivalent towards, you have more to gain than you have to lose, even if what you gain isn't tangible.
The Simpsons (1989)
I may cry when this show ends
What can I say, The Simpsons is in my opinion, the greatest show of all time. The skits and jokes work on so many levels. Even the so-called "bad" episodes at least have a few great gags in them. I remember in most of primary school (I'm 14 now) I hated this show. I started liking this show pretty late compared to others around me. I would always criticise people for liking this show, saying that it was for idiots. This all changed one day when my best friend told me to watch it for once. Although I can't remember the episode I watched, I really enjoyed it. So I watched it for the next few nights. I was hooked! Sometimes I have this thing called the "Simpsons drought" where for some reason I don't watch it at all for maybe six months for no apparent reason. I finished my last drought early last year. Since then, I have tuned in every night at 6:00 (I live in Australia) and also tune into all the new episodes.
The most obvious aspect of The Simpsons to fans is its unfortunate decline. It starts to get a bit rotten around late season 9 with a fair amount of good episodes in season 10 and beyond.
Every episode revolves around a different character which makes it even more exciting. The characters are classics. I am so proud of the writers and directors of The Simpsons. Just for the record, this show is not just for children and teens. It is meant for every age group. Sometimes the writers like to get a little cheeky and add a little hidden joke about sex or something. Overall, this show is gold.
I love The Simpsons!
The Wedge (2006)
Something different, has it's ups and downs
In my opinion, The Wedge is one of those shows that start off good but starts to run out of ideas for skits. I like The Wedge unlike many other people I have heard about and seen on IMDb. Some of the jokes are lame, eg: A dancing act where a fat lady teaches a dance school. Then there are some good skits, eg: An athlete who is always in trouble with the law; a la Shane Warne, or two Indian telemarketers receiving phone calls about Aussie sayings and having to translate them into simple terms. The Wedge is good if you need a cheap laugh or two but if you want a really funny comedy program, I suggest you avoid this. My advice to haters of The Wedge is "If you don't like it, then don't watch it."