The Haunting of Molly Hartley

This movie was such a waste of time. I totally sat there and tried to make it more than what it was. Okay, so I thought scary movie, right? Well, no! I jumped like twice in the very beginning and that was it.

Throughout the whole movie all you are wondering is why everyone keeps saying, "I know who you are." Okay, me too! I know who I am too!

THEN! You find out the reason this person is hearing stuff, has serious anger, and hears things is because she died when she was born. Yup, she died. Then, someone came and offered this girl's, Molly's, parents 18 years with her. Only 18 years, and then she would belong to them. So supposedly Molly's parents sold Molly's soul to the devil. So, her Mom tries to kill her, so that she doesn't end up doing Satan's work.

Like I said, waste of time.

I have to admit, the acting was not TERRIBLE, but the plot ruins this movie like no other. Plus, I am not very picky when it comes to acting skills either.

Expert Says: 0 Stars; waste of time (did I mention waste of time?); you're not missing out by not watching this film.

Juno

This movie is just all around funny. I love Juno's (Page) sarcasm throughout. There is a lot of symbolism in this movie that shows these kids are in high school, like a hamburger phone. Really? Who had a hamburger phone? Who WANTED a hamburger phone?

I think Juno's Dad (Simmons) and step-mom (Janney) handled the situation WAY too calmly. How would you react if your [future] 16 year old daughter told you she was pregnant? I'd go through the roof! And NO WAY would I let the father of the baby get away with it. Juno's parents don't even tell the GUYS parents that he got someone knocked up! They would be the first people I called. I guess in a way it shows the typical un-involvement on the high school daddy to the [young] woman's pregnancy.

And what the heck was going on with Juno and future adoption baby daddy (Bateman)? Juno totally liked him and he seemed to like her back? But, they never crossed that invisible line. I mean, come one? As much as we wanted Bateman to leave his over the top, neat and control freak, Suzzie homemaker wife and future adoption baby momma (Garner) we would have HATED him if he tried anything with a pregnant 16 year old. So, why even SHOW the attraction in the movie?

I think Juno had one realistic moment in the movie where she was complaining that real baby daddy, Paulie (Cera) was going to prom with someone else, while she was stuck being pregnant and not going to prom. She threw a little fit and she had every right! How dare him. Pregnancy is a 'we' not a 'she.' (I just made that up, how does it sound? Good?).

I don't even know how to categorize the music in this movie. It's sort of, reggae meets alternative meets old school punk meets John Mayer??? Whatever it is... It's good.

Anyway, the movie is still funny, the sarcasm and one-liners are hilarious and I can watch it over and over again. Great job.

OH! My favorite line from the movie is when Juno was taking like her 3rd pregnancy test at the local drug store and the clerk was like, "This is one doodle that can't be undid, Home Skillet."

Expert Says: 4.5 Stars; sarcastically funny

The Gift

Giovanni Ribisi is an amazing actor and his performance in this movie proves it. UGH! It was so frustrating, because the entire time, you are left thinking, "What the hell is wrong with this kid?" He could be in love with Blanchett, he's definitely bi-polar, maybe and little schizophrenic, and there are some definite anger issues.

This movie has stories all over the place. Ribisi has a hidden childhood past and is pissed at his father for some reason.

Holmes and Jeter are getting married, but can Holmes stay faithful long enough to make it to the wedding? Or is one of her lovers going to 86 her when she tries to end it? Most likely the latter will happen.

Blanchett, a single mom of 3 boys makes her money through... reading? No, she isn't a librarian, but a fortune teller. Can she what happened to Holmes while fighting off Reeves?

Reeves, a wife beater married to Swank with a temper. Also, he is a possible suspect to Holmes death. Did he do it or was he framed?

Anyway... Like I said, this movie has many angles, that leaves jumping around from thinking one person being a killer to the other person being a killer. If it wasn't for the whole reading peoples fortune/sci-fi aspect to the movie, I would have liked it a little more. It did, however, keep me up late to see the end.

Expert Says: 3 Stars; Sci-Fi; You'll never guess who did it

Perfect Stranger

I love movies with twists and this one is no different. This movie has a little bit of everything... Online dating, murder, childhood secrets, blackmail, obsessions, and more murder.

I was watching this movie, and I was tired; I really just wanted to go to bed, but I couldn't. I HAD to find out how this movie ended and if the killer was fried for it in the end. There is some creepy/stalkerish obsession between characters played by Ribisi and Berry. Anyone ever notice hot Ribisi's characters are always super creepy?! Oh! and that the writers always make it seem as though he is the "bad guy," but it turns out he was the good guy?

I couldn't picture any other actors or actresses playing the roles in this movie. Well put together.

Expert Says: 4 Stars; you'll never guess who did it.

10 Things I Hate About You

This movie has been playing on HBO a lot lately this month, (well at least it was in September). I finally got around to re-watching it.

The movie is about a single Dad out to destroy is teenager daughters' lives. Well, not entirely, but that is how is seems to Bianca (Oleynik), when her Dad enforces the new rule of her only being allowed to date when her older, socially challenged sister (Stiles) dates. This creates new challenges and controversies on who gets the girl in the end. Is partying, drinking, relationships, popularity, or even prom in Bianca's future?

Okay... So the movie is a little corny, a little realistic, and a lot unrealistic. But I love Heath Ledger, the music kicks ass, and everyone gets what they want in the end. Oh yea! And Bianca "beats the hell out of some guy." A chick beats up a guy? Perfect! It has good morals and the Dad is totally funny! He makes the girls walk around wearing the "baby belly." It will make any teenage girl realize her Dad isn't so strict after all.

Expert Says: 4 Stars; chick-flick; cute romance

Capitalism: A Love Story

This is the first Michael Moore film I have seen. Yes, I admit it, I was not part of the crowd that lined up to see Sicko. In fact, I don't remember that movie coming out. This could be attributed to the fact, that at the time, I could care less about universal healthcare.
I digress...

First, let me point out that I was completely shocked at the turn-out for this movie. It was a mixed crowd of all ages, sex, race, backgrounds, and walks of life. I was more shocked at the +40 years of age turn out. I usually attribute these +40 to be of the of close enough to the Baby Boomers and the vial, Republican, closed-minded, capitalism loving people they are.

Secondly, I was to put a halt to the hypocrisy of Moore versus Capitalism. You cannot criticize anyone who makes a movie about the lack of success of a capitalistic society. Yes, it is hypocrisy. It would be hypocrisy if I myself made a movie "dissing" capitalism, that does not mean a movie should not be made about it.

The irony here is that this movie is funded by Paramount Advantage, a HUGE company founded and ran by capitalists. However, Michael stated in an interview with Jay Leno that he "tricked" the company into funding it to begin with. He knew Paramount would not fund the movie he was working on, so he made them think it was a comedy about the subject. Once he had something to work off of, he showed them the documentary, knew they would like it, and viola!
Now. My opinion on the movie:

I don't like documentaries, but this is not like a documentary I have ever seen, or thought to see. It is filmed nicely, the camera quality is great, there are snippets in between takes, and it is humorous at times. Michael's affection for his home town of Flint, MI is very apparent throughout the entirety of this film.

The research and accuracy of events, statements, and encounters is hard to ignore and Michael does a great job of making his case. Hopefully, some of us 99% will heed his advice and do something about the 1%!

Paranormal Activity

Holy crap! Holy crap! Holy crap! Filmed in 2007, but more popular in 2009 this is a MUST SEE movie that will not be playing everywhere. You can see if it is playing in a theatre near you or vote for a theatre near you here. Yes, HERE!

I don't think I have been genuinely scared at a movie, since... Well, okay, since H2, but this was way different! Because after H2, I could go to sleep; after this movie, my adrenaline was pumping FAR too much to go to sleep and it took awhile for that to settle.

Don't be fooled into thinking that this movie is real! I never thought it was real, it just had me going.

Now, a lot of people have been comparing this movie to the Blair Witch Project. This can be explained do to the filming style. This is filmed much the same, with great exceptions. First, Paranormal Activity is mainly filmed from a tri pod as we are viewing the activity happening as the couple is asleep. Second, when the camera is moving, it is moving slowly and not flopping all over the place, like in The Blair Witch Project.

Another thing that makes this film so realistic and believable is that it is an Indie film, meaning no one in the movie is on the Hollywood A list, or the F list for that matter.

OH! The ending is also left open for a second movie; although building off of this would be a mistake and probbaly bomb and destroy the originality.

Expert Says: 5 Stars; if you have the chance, don't miss out on this movie!