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Scream 4 (2011)
Snore 4
Here's the thing...I really wanted to like Scream 4, honestly, I did. I love horror movies, I loved Scream 1, and I understand the humor behind the franchise. At the end of the day however, I just couldn't get into the movie, and I was utterly disappointed.
Scream 4 begins well enough, mocking itself as well as countless other horror movies that dish out the same thing, time and time again... With all the satire and focus on how lame the recycled plot lines have become, I started to think that Scream 4 might mix things up. Maybe this time they'll break away from the re-hashed structure they've used for all the previous films. Maybe, just maybe, things might be different... Sadly, they weren't.
Talk is cheap Wes Craven, and I respect that you called yourself out while making this movie (not just other films that have copied you) but that wasn't enough. After calling yourself out you had the chance to reinvent yourself and the franchise. You had the chance to be different, but you weren't. Instead you fell back on literally the same formula you've used over, and over, and over. The same formula you had just so cleverly mocked in the beginning of the film.
It's like saying "here is what horror movies have been doing wrong for the last ten years and this is what has made the horror genre suck." But the hell with it, we exposed the truth behind these weak story lines and that's good enough. We pointed out all the flaws, let someone else make a better movie. Those rules don't apply to us, because we exposed them.
What we're left with is the same movie we've already seen.
Scream 4 did have a few surprises, I guess, but for any true fan of horror, you know that new thing is to expect the unexpected. Of course we're supposed to believe the boyfriend and female cop could be the killers, that's what Craven wants us to believe...But Nowadays any time a director attempts to hint towards a killer, we know that person is not going to be the killer. In an attempt to become uncliche, "unliche" has become the new cliché. My guess from the beginning, was that either Sidney or her cousin would be a killer. It's the only thing that was unpredictable and in being unpredictable, things have again, become predictable. I'm sure I'm not the only person who feels this way.
Looking at the performances, Arquette and Cox play shadows of their former interesting and fun characters. In the first films, these charters were the ones whom truly carried the film and added the comedy aspect that made Scream 1 so good. In Scream 4, Arqutte does nothing but run around town like a chicken with his head cut off, helping the investigation in literally no way whatsoever. But unlike the original, where Arquette's clumsiness was fun and likable, this time he just came off as kind of annoying, which sucked.
We're supposed to believe that Cox adds something to the story, but she really doesn't. I might be wrong, but for a character so crucial to the plot, it didn't seem like she really had all that much screen time. Maybe that's just me? As for Campbell, What can I say? She still goes through the entire movie with the same look on her face, like shes constantly getting dust blown into her eyes or something, and there's nothing new here. Cue the corny remake lines: "rule 1 of remakes, never mess the original!" or something like that...
All in all I am becoming wary of "reboots." Reboot has come to mean "lets do the same thing we did in our first movie" which is good and all but now it appears as if most reboots, need a reboot.
America the Beautiful (2007)
A misguided, well researched documentary
American The Beautiful a documentary that focuses on facts and figures rather than ever hitting on any specific point. Throughout the film we are shown countless examples of how beauty infiltrates our daily lives and how supposedly this factors into our perception of each other as a civilization. I get what the director is trying to do and put across but I guess I just don't really understand why a documentary needs to be made about it
While the creators of the film never come out explicitly and tell us how we should act or feel, there is a sense that as a nation we should feel bad for putting so much emphasis on things like beauty. I can agree to an extent that as a nation we should not discriminate jobs, friendships and talent based on looks but I don't like the idea that I should be forced to feel bad because I may prefer to look at something that may be more aesthetically pleasing than something that isn't. I understand that sometimes unfortunately, we do discriminate based upon looks but you can't fault the majority for the actions of the minority.
I don't think there is anything wrong with someone buying a beauty magazine to make his or herself look better or a health magazine to show us how to get in better shape so I don't really like how that's thrown in my face. For example in the very beginning of the film the camera pans across a magazine stand so we can get an idea of just how many of these types of magazines are in our daily lives. Great, all you proved is that there are a lot of beauty and health magazines. However, they don't show the boating, auto, home or finance magazines that are on the very same stands. We are forced to think we are obsessed with beauty
But are we?
The documentary also takes a look at dating websites that are exclusively based on a person's appearance. Now we should feel that this is a bad thing, but again, is it? I don't think so. Speaking for myself, there is no doubt that personality is the most important aspect of making a connection with another but I would be lying to say that appearance did not factor into my judgment. I personally like to stay in shape and take care of my appearance and I would prefer my partner do the same. I believe a partner that stays in shape, shows that they care about their body, diet and appearance and shows positive traits. Now I'm not saying that every relationship should work like this, because everyone is different and has different tastes, likes and dislikes. I am also not saying that just because you are in shape you a great person, quite the contrary. I am saying that health and appearance are simply two of the traits that I personally take into consideration and I don't like feeling that this is a bad way to feel. I would never date a gorgeous person with horrible attitude but I would also never date someone who is 100lbs overweight and has a great attitude, both possess traits that I do not find appealing. Is this bad?
Again, I understand what this documentary is trying to say but I feel it is missing the mark. The creators should be focusing on specifics rather than exploiting everything that has to do with beauty. Models are model because they are beautiful, that is their job and there is nothing wrong with that. Electricians are electricians because they are good doing electrical work, that is their job and there is nothing wrong with that. Should I feel bad for someone who wants to be an electrician but lacks the necessary skills to become one? No, it is just not the job for that person.
Once again, my problem with this documentary is that it doesn't look to focus on any specific horrible practice of the modeling world or the discrimination that may occur in obtaining a job based on ones looks, if it did it would be a completely different story. Rather the documentary focuses on the entire concept of beauty in America as a whole as if it is a bad thing. We don't stop watching sports because some athletes take steroids and we don't stop allowing people to have dogs because some people engage in dog fighting. I know
bad analogies but my point is that there will always be people who take things the wrong way but I do not need to feel bad or that I am doing something bad because of these peoples' misguided views.
I understand that beauty is far too often a factor in decisions that have nothing to do with beauty, but we should not blame the companies that promote, sell or advertise beauty. Rather, we should blame the everyday people whom let beauty get in the way of such decisions.
Cheongpung myeongwol (2003)
Absolutely Wonderful
After seeing a preview for this film at my local mall where there is a stand for purchasing foreign films, I thought it looked very entertaining. Before watching the movie i went on to IMDb to see what ratings and comments it received. I was worried when I noticed the low numbers and the negative ratings. Despite the hype, I watched to movie and to my surprise I found it unbelievable.
The story was great (just pay attention) and the characters and their relationships within the film is astonishing. I haven't seen such a good combination of leading characters in long time. I really felt for both characters and sensed a strong bond. As reading previous posts about this movie not being "epic" enough or a lack of martial arts I could not disagree more. This film is what it is, its not Braveheart and its not Enter the Dragon but it is still a wonderful film that does an excellent job combining story both and action.
While Sword In The Moon isn't perfect (what movie is?) it still is wonderful and moving. Just wait until the ending scene, with the music and cinematography together, its breathtaking. I only hope more people can see this movie to give it a fair voting.