5 Movies to Sink Your Teeth Into:

In honour of this months Film Four Vampire Season I though I would offer up my opinion on vampire flicks.
I have loved watching vampire movies since I first read Dracula, and simply can't get enough of them, here are my all time top 5:

1. Bram Stoker's Dracula.
An absolute classic, I love everything about this film.
From Gary Oldman's sunglasses and  top hat to Keanu Reeves' English accent, not to mention Anthony Hopkins dazzling, if not eccentric, portrayal of Van Helsing.This version of the infamous vampire is the stuff real nightmares are made of a true mix of love and the macabre, it draws you in but terrifies you at the same time. Makes Twilight tremble in its boots.

2. An Interview With The Vampire.
I'm a huge Anne Rice fan, so perhaps I am a little biased, but this has got to be one of the greatest vampire stories ever told. Not necessarily frightening or terrifying but it humanizes these monsters and brings them up close and into our world, giving us a glimpse into the ethical and moral issues encompassed by these creatures . And by allowing us to empathise with them we are able to relate with, and even love the characters, most of all the glorious Lestat.
Its a bit long but definitely worth it.

3. The Lost Boys.
This is 80's horror at its best. With a tagline like  'Sleep all day, party all night, its fun to be a vampire' what is not to love. With a killer (sorry for the pun) soundtrack, this movie transforms the vampire into cool, motor-bike riding, police man taunting, well-dressed teenagers with the ultimate mean streak. Corey Haim and Corey Feldham team up the slayer pack and add comic value,  making it a well-rounded horror-com.

4. Fright Night.
Continuing on the 80's theme, and similarly on the mixed genre theme, we have Fright Night. The classic 'Vampire next door' story in which a teenage boy believes his new neighbour may be more than he appears. This film offers laughs for light relief, but don't let that fool you, it also has an eerie feel to it and a strange sense of helplessnesses without.

5. 30 Days of Night.
Last but not least, the most frightening of the 5 films. This is vampire horror at its finest, with a real sense of claustrophobia and blood galore. If vampires exist I think this is the closest anyone has come to portraying them, they are animalistic and unrelenting in their pursuit of their prey. Don't watch it alone.

Step Into The Grey...

I admit, I might be a little biased when it comes to Liam Neeson Films.
Since 'Schindler's List' I have been amazed by the Irish actors chameleon abilities to take on any role, and yet still remain effortlessly cool.

His new film 'The Grey' is no exception. Following a group of men flying home from work ,who subsequently survive a terrifying plane crash. (The special effects are brilliant, you can practically feel the turbulence from your seat.) As the men assemble food and wood for a fire, while still trying to get their heads around the situation and loss of their friends, they begin to realise that the extreme weather is not their only problem:
While looking for fuel Neeson discovers the presence of wolves, a large pack to be exact, and the film spirals into a nail-biting cat and mouse game.

I must say, though, that 'The Grey' isn't just your typical survivor movie. Underneath its tough exterior harbour several deep philosophical and moral questions: the overwhelming feeling of loss, the harshness of death, the cruelness of nature and overall the question of the existence of God.If you like Neeson watch it. If you don't; watch it anyway. Probably one of the best films of the year.

   

Watch This Space...

The movies I can't wait to see:

1. 'The Devil Inside'
A relatively cheaply made horror, but none-the-less tipped to be one of the scariest films of the year.
A young girl whose mother was imprisoned for the murder of three people, during an exorcism, strives to learn the truth about what really happened. Expect plenty of jumps.

2. 'A Dangerous Method'
The story of 'Anna' the first female patient treated by Freud and Jung and her subsequent affair with Jung.
This film is set to be a turbulent one and probably not easy-to-watch , it will, however, fill you with insight about the birth of the psychoanalytical movement.

3. 'The Hunger Games'
I don't know much about this film just yet, and haven't had a chance to read the book yet.
However from what I have seen in the many trailers circulating, and heard from people that have read the book, this movie will be one to be remembered: a cross between 'Avatar' and 'Battle Royale'

Time To Find Another Sitter...

I don't enjoy giving bad reviews but Jonah Hill's new comedy 'The Sitter' should probably change its tagline from 'WORST. BABYSITTER. EVER' to the more believable 'WORST. FILM. EVER'.
Don't get me wrong, he is probably the worst babysitter ever, but the film doesn't really progress from there. The concept is decent: lazy student babysits kids with disastrous results, but the execution was poor to say the least. Hill's character is flat and incoherent in his behaviour, the children are just plain odd, and the drug related antics are as unbelievable as the fact that Hill was paid for this film. A drug baron on roller-skates, a child that blows up toilets, with the added bonus of paedophilia jokes: If you don't like the sound of any of these factors, give this one a miss.

Jack and Jill Went up The Hill...

Although I am never normally a fan of Adam Sandler, I decided to give his new movie 'Jack and Jill' a chance, despite the fact that he plays both of the main characters.The film has a slightly complicated plot for a comedy: Jack has a pleasant life as a Jewish advert producer, married with children and one (pain in the arse) twin sister Jill. Fortunately for Jack though, Jill lives all the way in New York, the Bronx to be precise, that is until she comes to stay for a 4 day trip that turns into a 4 week trip, due to Jacks cruel treatment of her.

From the beginning of Jill's stay their are hilarious problems to be encountered: Jill's activities-to-do-before-I-leave-list covers everything from horse riding to featuring on a game show, her attempts at online dating are obviously problematic but side-stitchingingly funny, as are her constant stream of insults to Jack's friends and co-workers including the cringe worthy "Maybe if you believed if God, he wouldn't have given you a rat face".

The best part of the movie for me, by far, was the cameo appearance by the ever brilliant Al Pacino. Playing himself during a break-down, also being pursued by Jack to star in a Dunkin Doughnut's advert, he sees Jill as a reminder of his past in the Bronx and a ticket to love and sanity. Needless to say his attempts at courtly love are cleverly comical: at one point he sends Jill a hot dog with his number penned in mustard and the message 'call me', I have to admit that Al's appearances are reason enough to see this film.
So regardless of whether you like Sandler or not, you will most likely enjoy this movie, very funny, very entertaining.

To Get Things Started: The Woman In Black

I have been waiting in anticipation, for months it seems, for the release of Daniel Radcliffe's new movie 'The Woman In Black'. A revamped version of the novel and stage show, the film boasts plenty of jumps and thrills along with a classic 'ghost story' feel. And I have to say after watching the new release on Friday, that I was surprisingly impressed.

The plot was interesting, with Radcliffe portraying a widower with a young son whose job in a law firm is on the line. In order to prove his commitment to the company he has to journey to a rural manor house in north east England,with the intent to sort-out the paperwork of its late tenant.
The bizzare behaviour of the local residents should be enough to scare anyone, I think we have all had those awkward encounters of a 'local' town and its 'local' pub, and the constant rain and fog add the right sort of atmosphere throughout. Radcliffe's acting is decent, much improved since Harry Potter, but his best quality throughout has got to be his ability to pull of a three-piece suit.

Ciarán Hinds steals the acting stakes, playing Radcliffe's only friend and confidant in the village, his overall demeanour and accommodating charm, give his character a very likeable and very real feel.
As for the thrills, I would say it was reasonably frightening for a 12a, I jumped more than once (and frequently watched the screen through the gaps in my fingers). So if you like ghost stories and you like jumping out of your seat, then give it a try.
A perfect little winter chiller.

Good Afternoon...

After much deliberation on whether to impose yet another opinionated blog on, the already over-crowded, internet; I have finally decided to jump on the bandwagon. Mainly due to the fact, that since Christmas my cinema trips have become more and more frequent, and the lack of decent reviews out there was becoming increasingly annoying. So I have taken it upon my self to start reviewing whatever I am currently reading or watching, in the hopes of educating anyone considering reading or watching said articles themselves.