Change Your Image
thegrarp
Ratings
Most Recently Rated
Reviews
A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2: Freddy's Revenge (1985)
Better Freddy makeup, worse movie
By far not the worse 80's horror movie I've seen, but this is the worse of the franchise. Which is a shame since I think the makeup used to create Robert Englund into Freddy is the best of the franchise. The movie just doesn't make a whole lot of sense. The leading man is by a gay man who clearly doesn't play straight well. That wouldn't be an issue if that was the point. I'm gay, so obviously I wouldn't care. That's not the point tho. He's supposed to be straight and has a female love interest. On top of that, instead of Freddy killing people in their dreams which is the basis of the character (and the concept that makes him a scarier villain than those in your usual slasher), so it doesn't even follow its own form. You have Freddy instead possessing the male lead. It's a stupid concept that takes away the original scary aspect of Freddy Krueger. He kills you where no one can protect you. Thankfully Newline redeemed itself with the rest of the squeals, but it's no wonder the late Wes Craven wanted nothing to do with this shlock.
Insidious: The Red Door (2023)
Not as good as the others, but not terrible. Still does its genre justice.
While probably not my favorite of the Insidious franchise, it's not quite as bad as others have made it out to be. I don't really understand these people. You don't need constant jump scares and new entities to make a decent horror film. In this movie, the story is what's important. It doesn't depend on cheap tricks to move the story. Movies that do generally do so to distract from the fact the story is rather thin and dialog it corny and stupid. Which is something most modern horror movies are guilty of. Looking back at scenes from the past (or the fist two movies as it were) is to not only create the backdrop and remind the viewer of where we came from, but it also provides context for the events of the movie. Example being, the reason Josh's sons seem a bit distant from their father. People just don't appreciate the art of subtlety anymore. If you need things constantly jumping out at you or the other gimmicks used in horror then you don't really appreciate horror. Phantasm is regarded as a great horror movie, and it didn't depend on those cheap tricks any more than this movie did. Go to a Haunted house of you just want to be scared every 5 seconds.
Haunted Mansion (2023)
An improvement from 2003.
I think those writing negative reviews forget this is a scary movie for kids. That being said, I thought this iteration of The Haunted Mansion was a definite improvement on the 2003 movie. It was funny without being obnoxious or feeling forced (Which is saying a lot since I find Owen Wilson to be obnoxious.). The story line was pretty decent. The back story for the movie was worthy of a major horror film, so it wasn't the usual predictable Disney movie. The special effects were pretty good. Maybe a little too good for really young kids to watch, but not cheesy to the point that older kids and adults won't be ruling their eyes at. Definitely a movie I would recommend for anyone looking for a family friendly scare for Halloween.
Poirot (1989)
Simply a must for any Christie fan.
My grandmother got me hooked on Agatha Christie when I was in junior high. I devoured every book I could get my hands on. My favorite of all her characters was Hercule Poirot. I know Ms Christie loved Albert Finny's portrayal of Poirot in Murder on the Orient Express, but I think it is a shame she didn't live to see Suchet take up the mantel. The way he embodies the Belgian detective is clearly a labor of love for Mr Suchet, and in my opinion, the best embodiment of every detail from the novels. A must watch for any Christie fan, and most definitely for Poirot fans. Watching this series is like getting to meet old friend all over again. Even if you know how the mystery ends, to see Suchet, Fraser, Jackson, Moran, and Wanamaker bring these characters to life is still a treat to enjoy many times over.
Bette (2000)
Gone too soon
This show was hilarious. I was so mad when it was canceled. Those who criticize this show as terrible makes me wonder what slock they were watching or considered good TV. Some of them I swear were written by people who didn't actually watch the show and/ or read something about it on a gossip column. I mean one person claimed that Bette was supposedly hard to work with. Well... Lucy was known for being b*tch with a capital C and people still loved/ love her. Who cares? The show was funny and while about a famous person (satiricaly about Bette) it still had a traditional TV family vibe. The show just got cut before it really had a chance to take off.
Guarding Tess (1994)
Good movie
Reading a lot of the reviews on here make me wonder why people watched this in the dude place. This is a dramatic comedy in the same vein as Terms of Enderment, Fried Green Tomatoes, and Steel Magnolias. This isn't some Will Ferrell or Adam Sandler comedy where every line is an attempt to be funny. That's not how dramatic comedies work.
Guarding Tess is a heartwarming story told with humor. If that's not the kind of movie you like.. then don't watch it. If you're looking for some laugh a minute comedy with zany situations.. don't watch it. If you're looking for a good story, great acting, and and a story that leaves a good feeling... then Guarding Tess is a movie you will enjoy.
Death on the Nile (2022)
Good movie, but strays from Canon
The movie when viewed on its own merits is a good movie. It has the twists and turns often read in Agatha Christie's works that made her the well read author she was/ is. That being said, it does change quite a few things from the original novel and creates things that aren't cannon in regards Christie's depiction of Poriot. While these things may be irritating to hard-core Christie fans, they don't really spoil the overall spirt of the book. All in all, it was a really good movie.