It’s going to be a light week folks; only two releases are coming out for our viewing pleasure, with nothing coming out in limited (at least if you’re to believe The Internet Movie Database). It’s all good though, because we got a sequel to a low budget surprise hit and a Clint Eastwood movie about ghosts. Okay, maybe I take back the “it’s all good”. Let’s see what’s on the docket:
Opening This Weekend in…Wide-Release
Synopsis: No plot has been uncovered, but I assume a bunch of jump scares and attempts to look low budget while having a high budget.
Thoughts: I avoided the original last year for the simple reason that the trailer made it look super boring, and according to some of my friends, it was exactly that. With the ridiculous amount of money it made on like a five dollar budget, a sequel was inevitable (let’s punch originality in the face by turning it into a repetitive franchise!), but I’m iffy on that idea. The reason the first one was so “scary” apparently was because of its low budget and practical effects. Although I’m sure there’s not 80 million behind this, there’s still going to probably be more than 15,000 and with a studio (and new director) backing it, it may lose whatever charm the first one had. I’ll sit on this one over the weekend and see what people thought before I take the plunge. Oh, and probably watch the first one. I should probably do that.
Synopsis: Matt Damon sees dead people. And other things relating to death happen. Death death afterlife death. Clint Eastwood.
Thoughts:
Woo? The trailer wasn’t very convincing in getting me to the theater to see this, and I’m not the biggest Eastwood fan on the planet (maybe when I hit 50), so Hereafter is kind of a “whatever” to me. The whole Damon talking to ghosts thing is going to be a slippery slope; one mistake and it’ll go from being serious to being super hokey. Still, I’m sure it’ll get nominated for something come awards season good or bad, because award shows love Clint Eastwood more than Eastwood hates people who step foot on his lawn.
…And that’s it. Seriously. What’s your movie poison this weekend?
The Hereafter poster is comically bad. Half a floating head plus a blue filter equals intense drama!
Eastwood is hit or miss for me at this point, but what excites me about Hereafter is how unlike Eastwood it feels. I caught the trailer before The Town and it sparked my interest immediately just for the subject matter. Seems a bit outside of his wheelhouse as an artist, but maybe that’s a good thing for him. Either way I’m a big Matt Damon fan, and I could easily see myself checking this out.
I never saw Paranormal Activity. I admit it. I just act like I did so that I can be cool like everyone else. Peer pressure’s a bitch. That said the freaky-outty-ness of the trailers for both films is kind of up my alley, and to this day I’m still not sure why I haven’t seen the first. If I’m appropriately twitchy and freaked out after seeing them, they’ve done their jobs.
Andrew recently posted..Critical Risks
Hereafter’s my choice by proxy. I’ve already decided not to sit through the first PA in order to see the second, so I’ll be skipping that.
I really loathed Gran Torino, so I’m hoping Hereafter will at least be better than that.
Same here. I really was not moved by Gran Torino in the slightest, though I think there was good film in there somewhere. Eastwood just lost it, I think.
I probably won’t bother seeing either PA until they’re both on DVD and I can watch them in succession alone in my own home. And besides, this weekend I’m getting married…I’ve got far better things to do than go out and watch PA2
Andrew recently posted..Critical Risks
Man I loved Gran Torino. PA 2 is a prequel so you could technically see it and be okay.
Wow, I wasn’t aware of that. Immediately any interest I have in seeing PA2 just got shot.
Andrew recently posted..Critical Risks
Prequel? Come onnnnn that’s just lazy.
Jonathan Sullivan recently posted..Cool New Clip From MEGAMIND
Thats what Capone from AICN said.
I liked Gran Torino. It was a bit too corny at times and most of the Hmong actors were barely adequate (they weren’t professional actors) but overall, solid film imo.
Castor recently posted..
Not very excited for Hereafter, the trailer does absolutely nothing for me and even though it’s an Eastwood movie, I will definitely skip it. These kind of supernatural drama are always hit or miss so it’s worth looking out for the reviews to see if you want to eventually see it.
Like Andrew, I never saw Paranormal Activity. I guess the horror genre is my blind spot because I tend to skip all those movies these days
Castor recently posted..
It’s better to Netflix than to Multiplex.
…
I’m making that a thing.
It’s not like you’re wrong, though. VoD is way, way better than going to the multiplex. The only advantage of the multiplex is that you see movies as soon as they’re released instead of waiting several months for DVD. But I saw Monsters through XBox Live, and not only did I manage to catch it before its October release, I managed to avoid having to go out and contend with traffic and crowds and finding a seat in a dark theater as well.
I do tend to skip horror movies in theaters, except for obviously crowd-oriented films like Piranha 3D (though I missed that one anyways). Horror works better for me when I’m isolated and alone. Again, so long as it’s not just about gross-out scares and gore and nudity, in which case it’s best viewed with a rowdy audience.
Andrew recently posted..Critical Risks
If you get a big enough HD (my roommate bought a 65 inch monstrosity), then it’s pretty much the same thing. And not only do you not have to deal with crowds, it’s a clearer picture than the projectors at my theater.
As much as I want to say how “clever” I was with that line, I love going to the movies. Gets me out of the house. A man can’t just masturbate and cry all day, you know?
…
On an unrelated note, be right back…
Jonathan Sullivan recently posted..Cool New Clip From MEGAMIND
What I see this weekend, if I see anything, is going to be dependent on who I can get to see Hereafter with me. Clint Eastwood is one of the few directors with whom I can derive pleasure even out of their weaker efforts.
I was terribly bored by PA1 so I doubt I’ll be venturing out for a second dosage. Unless of course it has a possessed killer baby, in which case I say – SCORE!
Univarn recently posted..
I’ve always said a killer baby would’ve elevated THERE WILL BE BLOOD to an Oscar.
Jonathan Sullivan recently posted..Cool New Clip From MEGAMIND
Ummm… Paranormal 1 was the awesomest and I just saw the sequel. It was a solid followup but probably won’t keep me up like the original. I would suggest seeing them in theaters though as I bet they lose a lot of their effect if you view them in your living room!
Kaiderman recently posted..FILMS YOU DIDN’T KNOW YOU NEEDED TO SEE 666