OMG! It’s going to be October this weekend, which means my thoughts have gone towards decorating. Of course my gifts from John have helped push me there too, along with the opening of all the Halloween stores. I vowed to be good this year and not buy too much, otherwise I’ll need a bigger yard!

I have decided this year I will only buy very cheap stuff I have to replace the cobwebs and “freaky fabrics” I use – CHEAP! I also bought some fun “spider lights” for the side of the house I expanded to last year – after a car plowed through the bushes leaving a gaping hole to be filled. I also bought a cheap $15 dollar ghost from target to hang there as well. I decided the material was light weight (and durable), it was cheap, so I would’t cry if the weather killed it – which I did after the rain killed one last year . . . . what a headache I had trying to rebuild him!

The weather really has been my main concern this year. The past few years we got a few nasty nor’easters that required fixing the outside decore a bit. I have gotten fairly good at securing stuff mind you. But the past two months have just been a lot of rain, way more than we are used to. I have to be mindful this year of where to place things and make the best use of our minimum covered porch space to protect things. I admit, I had thought of scrapping decorating all together or keeping it at a very bare minimum, the lights only. However I have to use what John gave me, it would be criminal not to! So I’m trying to figure out where to put things that are the most sheltered.

Anyways, to change the subject entirely, here are some more Monster Mania photos! No more Monster Mania’s till next March . . . what will I do? Oh there is Chiller Con at the end of the month . . .

Pam and Holly from “True Blood” — Anthony Michael Hall – Farmer Ted!
Zach Galligan “Gremlins” — Tom Atkins “The Fog” — Claire Higgins “Hellraiser”

Yes, some of the photos aren’t the best, we’ll chalk it up to jet lagged stars! Next time I won’t try and meet everyone the first night! They need rest

So tonight I saw the final “Harry Potter” film . . . the end of the road. It’s been years since I read the final book, so I honestly can’t remember every little thing they did right or wrong. I only remember one thing, which I think was a fairly big omission that was briefly glossed over in the film, but had I not read the book I may have not fully understood. I’ll talk about that later under SPOILERS! for those who have yet to see the film and actually haven’t read the books

The film was a fitting end, and for the most part did the book justice. All the “kissing” moments I found awkward, and had to hold my need to giggle in when they happened. Also why they feel the need to make Harry and Ron take their clothes off I don’t know. I get they are English, but holy hell, they need tans!

I saw it in 3D. Is it necessary? Not really. There are only a few parts of the film that really used the 3D well, everything else was just mainly depth. It was a film converted to 3D, not entirely filmed in it. There were a few scenes you know they threw in for the 3D though, and those were the only ones that made the 3D worth it.

If you can see it on the Imax (which I didn’t), I’d say do it! I plan to see it again I know, and I will see it on the Imax next time. However it’s probably hard to find it on Imax not in 3D, the two go hand in hand nowadays.

The action sequences, which this film is full of, are intense. It makes sitting through the first part, which honestly was a bit of a bore, all worth it.

Okay from here on out are SPOILERS! I just can’t talk about my thoughts on this film, without SPOILING things! If you’ve read the books, really I’m not spoiling much at all.

The best scene of the book, Mrs. Weasely’s fight with Beatrix, I wanted to last longer. It was still great, and basically the scene everyone wanted to see above all others, including the end of Voldermort. Aside from the end of the film, I think it got the most applause.

I felt a lot of the Hogwarts battles and the loss of some of the kids were only quickly addressed. For example, I remember the killing of the Werewolf character as being much more grand in the book? I also remember a lot more of the kids gruesome ends. I guess they couldn’t just have a movie with too many kids getting off’d though.

The biggest omission was the back story about Dumbledore and Grinwald. Actually it was completely omitted! In the movie when Harry and his friends arrive at Hogsmead, the only mention of the past is by Dumbledore’s brother who mentions Albus’ quest for power which drove them apart and led to their sister’s death. In the book we learn that Albus and his BFF (gay lover?) Grinwald (who we see in a flashback stealing the Elderwand in Part 1) were on a quest to find all the Deathly Hallows. Given it’s the name of the movie, you’d think this story would have been important enough to put it!

It was Dumbledore’s quest for power that not only put him at odds with his family, but brought about his end. Another glossed over scene was the explanation of “the ring.” The second Horocrux (sp?) was Tom Riddle’s (Voldermort’s) ring, which in fact was a symbol of the Deathly Hallows. Still obsessed with them years later, Dumbledore put it on, only to find out it was cursed and would bring about his death. Snape slowed it down, but Dumbledore was doomed to die, which is why he asked Snaped to kill him . . . to keep Malfoy from doing so as he was ordered to.

Another thing I felt might be fuzzy if you didn’t read the books, was the back story with Snape and Lilly as well as his patronus. The back story was major parts of books 5 and 6, completely omitted from those movies. So they had to basically condense all of it very quickly into this movie that Snape always loved Harry’s mother Lilly, and because of that love his patronus was a doe because her’s was. It was Snape who brought the sword to Harry in the previous movie, when he thought it was his mother.

In the past Snape came to Dumbledore, defecting from Voldermort, when he learned Voldermort planned to kill the Potters. In exchange for his help (and betrayal of Voldermort) that is why Dumbledore gave him a job at Hogwarts. That is why in the earlier films Voldermort’s followers didn’t trust him. However for the entire series, Snape had actually been looking over Harry . . . remember back to Book/Movie 1 . . . during the Quidich Tournament when it appeared Snape was cursing Harry? He was countering Professor Quirrel’s curse at the time. This scene is quickly shown, along with others . . . but in the book you really realize how many times Snape was there guarding and teaching Harry all along, preparing him.

Other things changed . . . . Snape’s death happend in the Shrieking Shack from what I recall, and I never remember Harry jumping off a cliff with Voldermort

But still, it was a great movie, and for ONCE they actually got the end of the book right! The last few movies the end of the books were all changed for the movies, usually not in the best ways either.

Figured I’d just make a quick check-in post. I’m currently in Virginia getting some unfortunate cavities taken care of.

My tomato garden has become a jungle at home. But even though I have 30+ tomatoes, they are all still green! I might have to open up a lesbian railroad cafe soon!

I’ve seen a few movies over the past month I haven’t reviewed, so here are my quick thoughts on them . . .

Green Lantern – Not as horrible as everyone made it out to be! A bit long, needed some editing, and too much of an origins story. The only real action sequence is at the very end of the movie.

Horrible Bosses – Horrible dirty comedy, nothing terribly special or remarkable. Jennifer Aniston steals the whole movie, and she’s not in it all that much.

Transformers 3 – A-maze-ing! Of course I saw it in Imax and 3D. Definitely the best of all the movies, and more than makes up for that crap fest that was number 2.

Harry Potter on Friday, and I finally have Insidious waiting for me at home on DVD

Monster Mania this August has probably one of the best line-ups ever, including stars from some of my favorite childhood movies and TV shows . . .

I cannot WAIT!

With all the talk of “Super 8,” I knew I had to see it ASAP, otherwise I was going to google for spoilers of what exactly the monster is . . . . even though I had an idea. I will post some spoilers later on in the review, and warn those who want to be spoiler free.

So in case you never saw the trailer, or the commercials, here is the basic spoiler free plot. It’s the summer of 1979 and Charles and Joe, two best friends, are making a Super 8 monster (well zombie) movie. Charles is the writer, Joe does the make-up. Several of their other friends are in it, or helping as well. Charles has hopes of winning a Cleveland young film makers contest. Charles, needing more emotion and drama, asks the local hottie Alice to be in the film. This leads to much of the back/side story in the film . . . Joe and Alice become “teen first loves,” but in a not so mushy and in your face way. Alice’s dad and Joe’s dad have a beef, which has to do with the tragic death of Joe’s mom at the local factory months earlier. However that’s just the side story. The real story is that while filming one night at a local train station, the kids witness an event, as well as capture on their film. The insane destruction of a train, millions of weird cubes flung everywhere, and something (which at first don’t get a look of) escaping from one of the cars. A local middle school teacher of biology, involved in the wreck, warns them to run . . . and speak of this to no one . . . .otherwise they and their parents will be killed. Most of the kids are pretty complacent at this request, especially when the Air Force rolls into town. But Alice, Joe and Joe’s dad the deputy sheriff start asking questions . . . . .

The film itself is top quality. Unlike other films of the summer, the stunts look real, as do the explosions, and your convinced your not watching a 90% CGI film. Clever hiding of the monster for most of the film also helps in this regard.

It’s also well acted. The kid actors are great, especially when they’re trying to be cheesy for purposes of the Super 8 film. The adults are great as well, but make no mistake, the kids are the stars of this film.

The scare factors are there. I jumped several times. However it is very light on gore, save for a few scenes. This isn’t a violent film at all . . . and I think it was done so with the intent that families with older kids could enjoy this one together.

Is it the film of the summer? Probably not, we all know that one will go to Harry Potter. Is it the film of the week? For sure. Is it a film, amongst the onslaught of films this summer, that will stand out? Yes most definitely . . . . . . But is it original? Yes and no. Obviously the storyline is original in part, but at the same time it almost seems like a masterful retelling . . . or perhaps a mash-up of well loved 80s kid adventure movies.

*SPOILERISH FROM HERE ON OUT!*

(more…)

Last night I watched “Vanishing on 7th Street.” I gotta say, the movie was creepy, but only because of the timing . . . you know with the end of the world upon us this weekend and all.

The movie is about a couple of survivors who make their way to a bar one night to meet and try and escape whatever is going on. The sun comes up later each day, and sets earlier each night. When darkness descends, shadowy figures claim lives and make people disappear. Voices of the dead are also heard speaking to the living. Inexplicably electricity and other things like batteries are quickly failing too, which makes the dark more menacing.

This, unfortunately, is one of those movies that wants you to interpret what is going on based on your beliefs or ideas, but I also feel is very “Rapture” oriented. Is Kirk Cameron a secret producer here I don’t mind having to interpret a little in a movie, but not the whole damn movie. Nothing is really explained at all as to what is going on here. Those kind of films generally irritate me. I like to be told a story, not to have to guess what the story is.

The only reason I can say to watch this film is to creep you out about Saturday. Once Saturday is over, don’t bother Save it for 12/21/12

So I went to see “Thor” yesterday. To my surprise, it was actually a good movie. I really don’t know anything about Thor other than he’s the Viking God of Thunder, and made a few appearances in the Spiderman cartoons in the 80s. So I can’t say how much they screwed up the comic book story.

I really thought the whole “aliens” aspect was going to make it ridiculous, but it worked well and they didn’t go over the top. Basically Thor and his people are a very advanced race that were worshiped by primitive Norse peoples as gods. Then there are the race of Frost Giants, and some others who didn’t play into the movie. Basically Earth and humans are one of the 9 realms in the universe, and we just haven’t advanced enough to understand and make contact with the other 8.

Thor gets cast out of his realm by his father Odin, after being betrayed by his brother Loki. That is kinda a spoiler, but if you know anything about Norse mythology at all, then it’s really not. Then he lands on earth, meets a team of scientists studying the wormhole he came through, fights to regain his crown . . . yada yada. There are no huge twists in this story, there is no mystery. It’s a comic book genre film, but unlike the later Spiderman films, doesn’t suck and doesn’t try to do too much (i.e. introduce 8 million villains).

Thor plays into Iron Man with the Shield Agent from those movies in this film, and at the end of the film your told “Thor will return in The Avengers next year.” Like the Iron Man films, and my guess the upcoming “Captain America” film, there is a secret scene after the credits worth sticking around for.

The only things I can say bad about the film is 1) Thor didn’t take his clothes off enough at all. In fact the scene above is all you get to see of him. 2) It’s not worth paying extra to see in 3D. There was nothing I was wowed at. I don’t know if this was filmed in 3D or just converted to buy into the 3D format that’s so big now.

First up, the shoutbox is back! After I could not figure it out, I emailed my awesome hosts Downtownhost.com and within 5 minutes had a reply and everything was fixed. If you ever need a new host, I highly recommend them. Anytime I’ve had an issue I’ve had a response within 5-10 minutes from them.

Okay moving on, it looks like Thanksgiving will be me cooking dinner again. I had planned on it, but this year I’m actually cooking for two (maybe three). John’s mom has gone to Texas every year for the past few years. His sister, the kids, and the thing have been going to one of the thing’s other grown kids (1st marriage) house. John and his brother usually get invites to dine with a family of a guy that works at the farm. I went one year, but skipped last year as I had started my boycott and simply found it awkward. Plus I also just don’t like going to spend Thanksgiving with someone else’s family that I really don’t know. Even more awkward!

This year John’s brother is going elsewhere, and the farm guy and family are going to see his huge family up in Boston. So it might just be me and John, though the brother might always decide to stay . . . who knows.

I bought a small young turkey (the kind with the legs removed) which only is about 11 pounds. I thought that was plenty for me and maybe John. His brother however has a large appetite. I planned to attempt to grill it, but wasn’t sure how well that would turn out. I had planned turkey burgers in case it didn’t :-\ I’m now thinking maybe I need a backup cheap turkey just to be safe! – - – Though I don’t need to end up with an excess of turkey honestly.

Maybe I’ll finally look up what Turkey Hash is (“Christmas Story”) and make it?

John is also very excited to see “Burlesque,” so we’ll probably be checking it out as well.

So on Monday I finally got to see the last film in the “Millenium” trilogy, “The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet’s Nest.” I’m still trying to process it. I don’t know if I was disappointed in the film, or if I have that “it’s the end of a trilogy” feeling that I’ll soon feel about Harry Potter (which yes isn’t a trilogy, but same point).

Unlike the other movies, there was a lot less thrills, action and butt kicking. In fact Noomi Rapace (Lisbeth Salander) kicked NO butt in this film. How is that possible ?!?! I think that was the biggest let down. In fact watching this film now makes me WANT to read the books to see how the final book may have really ended.

The final film, I felt, had few shocks or surprises, unlike the first two. This one was more of a court/legal drama than anything. I felt like everything that was revealed, we knew or had an inkling about already. That’s why I think I felt disappointed. Yes it was good to see justice served. We knew that was coming though . . . where were the shocks and revelations we weren’t expecting? The first two movies delivered there.

No, that’s not just it. SPOILER AHEAD! I think I hoped Lisbeth would have ended up with her doctor from the final film. I thought that’s what they were leading up to, but it never happened. In fact the end to the whole thing, while I guess true to Lisbeth, fell flat in the expected happy Hollywood ending. Since this wasn’t a Hollywood film, I guess it wasn’t expected or needed, and says something about how the Hollywood ending is overrated . . .

I really wonder how the third book panned out in comparison, and now I need to read them all. First though I need to read through the rest of the Percy Jackson books, then I probably need to finally read the Sookie Stackhouse books. I have a list before I can get to the Millenium books. With the success of the films, and the fact they are being redone for American audiences, the original author is now contemplating a fourth book (though doesn’t that mean a new trilogy really, so 3 new books?).

For those who have invested in the movies, it’s a no-brainer, see it. Just don’t be expected to be completely fulfilled (unless you really like the anti-climactic ending genre).

Wow, a very packed and fun filled convention. Let me tell you my ass is laying on the couch all day today to recover. Late nights, fun fun fun, even some fun drama!

Friday night I met up with my friends Michelle and Nick, who travel down from North Jersey for the convention. We decided to try and deal with the lines and meet as many people as we could that night, but in reality didn’t really get to all that many people. I think we waited the longest for “The Boondock Saints.” I have to be honest, I only saw half the movie, and I wasn’t sure how it fit into a “Horror Movie” convention. I only really wanted to meet Sean Patrick Flannery. I got him to sign a “Young Indy” photo, but because it was getting late, they decided for photos to just have us all do a group photo with all the starts.

I will say, after talking to them, hearing them talk, and the fact that they really hung out with all their fans, I’m gunna have to finish the movie. It’s not that it was bad, but it’s not my normal cup of tea, and I shut it off one night to go to bed. I do hear the 2nd one stunk royally, and they only gave hints of a possible third one (that might take place in between one and two I think they said).

We also met Felissa Rose that night. What a hoot she was! She was Angela in “Sleepaway Camp.” She was so funny and had such cool stories to tell. Michelle then got it in her head that I must have a certain item at home I could bring Felissa, which would make taking pictures even more humorous and fun for her. Felissa thought it was a hysterical idea . . . I said I knew of a store and would see if I could get one. However shucks, time wasn’t on my side! I will admit, I did not fancy the idea, it made me uncomfortable! If you know the movie, you can probably guess what the item is

Friday night was the first bit of drama at the hotel. After all the signing was done, everyone hangs out in the loby and restaurant/bar at the hotel. A couple showed up in wedding attire and was taking photos with all the people who dress up and walk around as characters. I don’t know if they specifically got married because of/at the convention, or if they just wanted the photos for fun. The honeymoon didn’t last long though . . . as later a mysterious couple was having a fight and throwing clothes from the 5th floor window of the hotel. The cops came, and it turns out it was the newlyweds!

Saturday was a new day, and I was beat. I got very little sleep the night before, so I was dragggging. However it was a great day and I met a lot of cool people. Sadly I still need to practice my smiling as apparent from some photos

Much of the cast from “Pet Semetery” was there. Meeting Dale Midkiff was a treat, cause he was the sexy in that movie! I also told him that I got sucked into alllll those 8 million “Love Built Me An Outhouse” movies on Hallmark. He said “I am so sorry!” He asked if I saw the first one with Kathrine Heigl, saying that was his favorite. That to me says something, cause there are always rumors out there about her attitude and difficulty.

Denise Crosby was a hoot and like Felissa, had soooooo many good stories to tell. I really should have asked her to film a message for John, something like “John, if you didn’t work 24/7, you could have met Tasha Yar.” John is a big Trekkie. She also had a stuffed “Church” cat from the movie to pose with in photos if you wanted.

Finally there was little Miko Hughes, who played baby Gage in the movie. However he’s best known as the kid who said “Boys have a penis, girls have a vagina.” It was fun to hear him talk about the few memories he had of filming the movie, as well as Denise and Dale’s story’s about him on set.

Of course the big star of the convention, aside from the Boondocks, was John Carpenter himself. It was so cool to meet the guy who wrote and directed my most favorite movie ever “The Fog!” His Q&A session was also amazing, as he is just so hilarious and has a mouth on him. I also got to meet Ty Mitchell, who played Andy in “The Fog,” Adrienne Barbeau’s son.

Finally . . . I got the answer to a question that has always bothered me, and one that even google has been unable to answer (except for what people have assumed). In the movie Andy wakes his mom up to show her the neat gold coin he found, which then turned into a piece of wood. He then asks if he can have a “Stomach pounder and a coke.” What the hell is a stomach pounder? I have always wanted to know. People on google believe that it is code for pop rocks, alluding to the myth that Mikey from the Life cereal commercials died while eating pop rocks and drinking a coke. Others say it’s a QuarterPounder, but with a name change as they didn’t want to pay royalties. Not so though! It is actually a small single serving heavy twinkie/poundcake-like confection. The name was something between mom and son, a family dish/nickname for the item. Mystery solved!

However meeting one guest, someone who I was not expecting to be there as she wasn’t on the original guest list, blew my mind. It turned out she was John Carpenter’s rep/agent, and was there for him, but the convention people told her she should just bring some photos and set up a table in the room with him just in case. Good thing she did, cause I was one of the people who wanted to meet her. Seriously, I think she probably made the whole convention for me. Not that the others weren’t awesome, but this was a surprise treat from my childhood.

Oh yes, I am talking about Miss Erin Gray, Colonel Wilma Derring herself! Next to “Wonder Woman,” “Buck Rogers” was probably my most favoritist (kid word) show to watch when I was little. I of course had to have her sign the “Space Vampire” photo for me, as I remember that episode used to terrify me (along with the guy with the glowing hands).

After all the signatures, line standing and Q&A sessions we went to, it was time to relax a bit before calling it a night. Michelle and Nick had decided to stay Saturday night too, which they normally don’t. They booked a different cheaper hotel a bit later on though. It was right down the road, they thought it would be okay. Thought being the key word . . . The problem is once you pass the hotel the convention is, you are caught between Cherry Hill and Philadelphia, and in between is Camden and the outskirts of Camden. It gets ghetto fast, and this hotel was Gheeeeettttooooo!

From the minute we pulled in and walked around looking for the lobby, we knew it was bad. There was one hotel/building clearly where the (white trash) guests were staying, and a second separate hotel that had clearly been converted into a weekly/monthly renters complex. We got the room key and were afraid to go in. At first it didn’t seem bad, oh it had not been updated in decades, but it didn’t seem bad.

Then the music from the room next door began pounding through the walls. Then I noticed the baby cockroach crawling on the mini-refrigerator. Michelle dared to use the bathroom, screaming “There are pubes on the floor!” Then for some unknown reason we found toilet paper wadded in the doorframe corner, a long with a hell of a lot of cobwebs in the ceiling corner. Nick said he’d forgo the 75 bucks and they could drive home, but Michelle took charge and got them a full refund. Oh did I mention as we were leaving a domestic dispute occurred? Apparently some white trash guy smacked his girlfriend, and they all started screaming and getting the neighbors who they apparently knew involved in it. YEah, it was time to go!

We just went back to the convention hotel and hung out for a bit. Many of the stars were in the lobby just talking to people, taking photos and what not. Then there was some poor unfortunate kid who drank far too much and put on a show for everyone. We all watched him try and keep from falling down, and we were just waiting for him to puke everywhere. He eventually vanished, to where nobody knows. He swore to everyone though he wasn’t driving. He kept trying to call people on his phone until some girl took it and put it in his pocket saying he didn’t seem to be having much luck on the phone.

So that was Monster Mania in a nutshell!